Hongkong, China by S. A. NAGEL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1913

Hongkong, China

By S. A. NAGEL

S. A. NAGEL

Two Sabbaths ago Brother Hill’s father was with us here on his way to Swatow. Last Sabbath Brother and Sister Wood, Brother and Sister Peugh, and Sisters Wilson and Ruoff were here, stopping off on their way to India. We greatly enjoyed the visits of these fellow workers, and I feel sure they will indorse what I say when I tell you they enjoyed their visit and the good meetings we held with Chinese brethren and interested ones.

They all insisted that I should report how God has opened and is opening up the work in this city. Ever since arriving in south China, I have felt that a strong work should be built up in Hongkong. But some said, “It is a commercial center, and we can do nothing there.” A few books were sold here long ago by Brethren La Rue and Caldwell, but aside from that the third angel’s message had never been preached in this city. Nothing had been done for the Chinese.

I have always believed that God has natives here with special talents and good education who would make valuable workers in his cause. By God’s help I am finding some of that kind. Being able to read English, they have books of reference that our other Chinese workers can never have; therefore they are better established in the truth, and can teach it better, than those hearing only the foreign pastor.

I had a little interest here this spring before our general meeting in Shanghai, having come to this city after the revolution broke out, and after my experience with the robbers. I asked the brethren in Shanghai to send some one here, but they did not deem it best.

Coming south again after our meeting, I found the way hedged up so that we could not return to Waichow. Even yet the American consul will not issue us traveling permits to go into the interior. So the South China Committee sent us to this city to labor till after the hot weather, and later asked us to continue until the end of this year.

We have now been here about six months. With Sister Thompson’s help we organized a Sabbath-school. It grew to twenty-five the first quarter, with thirty dollars’ offerings. It now numbers thirty-five, with several regular visitors. The offerings last quarter amounted to forty dollars. Our company is blessed beyond others in China with this world’s goods. A good church here will be a great help to our work throughout south China. One brother plans paying over two hundred dollars’ tithe as soon as the year’s accounts are closed. Sister Thompson has been in Amoy since her sister’s death.

The first work I did on coming here in April was to send out nearly one thousand seven-page typewritten letters to English-speaking people. I wrote concerning Christ’s second coming. I received many answers of various kinds, many requesting further study. In this way I began to get acquainted with the people. A few weeks ago six were baptized. I expect that about ten others will go forward soon. I am now holding ten meetings a week, and studying personally with about fifty. Some are heathen, and some are the very best members of other missions.

I wanted to hold some public meetings this summer, but was unable to secure a hall at the price we could afford. Perhaps cottage meetings as a rule are the most successful. I am now getting well acquainted, and I enjoy my work, though I seldom get home until eleven at night.

In August it occurred to me that it might be well to write a series of articles for some daily newspaper here in the city. I visited one editor who had recently published much on Christian Science, and he said he would print fifteen articles of two thousand words for one hundred fifty dollars. Well, that was too much for me. I then visited the editor of the China Mail, the best family paper in this part of the Far East, and the most widely read. I prayed much over the matter, and to my great surprise he agreed, if the articles were suitable, to print an article of two thousand words every Saturday free. At first he was going to print two each week, but afterward we decided the Saturday paper was the best, as people would have time to read on Sunday.

He has now printed seven articles,—some on the signs of Christ’s coming; two on the judgment; one on the darkening of the sun, connected with Daniel 7, which stirred up many Catholics, and several are now studying. Last week’s article was on the second angel’s message, and to-day I wrote another of twenty-four hundred words on the third angel’s message and the Sabbath. The city is being stirred by these articles, I hope to the glory of God. Next week when the Sabbath is presented, I look for a greater interest. I have gone to some homes by invitation where I found that every article had been cut out and pasted in a book. Last week the editor told me of a ship-captain who called and insisted on having all the back articles.

Last Wednesday I received a letter from a Chinese asking me to go and hold a study. He said that he and others had been reading the articles and wished to know more. He told me where to meet him, and said he would take me to the meeting. To my surprise, he led me to a large Chinese chapel, where eighty persons were waiting to hear. They had secured one of the best interpreters in the city, as I do not speak their dialect. I shall meet with them again. I am studying with some of them in their homes, and some were out last Sabbath to hear Brother Wood tell why he is now a Seventh-day Adventist.

One Chinese recently baptized is manager of the largest firm of Chinese printers, bookbinders, and stationers in the city. He is now superintendent of our Sabbath-school. When I have more meetings than I can handle, I send him, and he can really do about as well as I on the topics he knows best. He likes to talk on the special truth for this time. He knows and appreciates the difference between our work and the work of other churches, something some of our other evangelists do not seem to distinguish. He was formerly of the London Mission, and they were sorry to lose him. He is now studying with others of that mission, and says he will get all the honest ones before he stops. I am thankful for such good help.

One other experience, and then I’ll close. Two weeks ago I received a letter written by a woman in our college

in Australia. She had been for four years a missionary in the Church of England in China. Two years were spent in St. Stephen’s College here in Hongkong. Since returning to Australia she has accepted this blessed truth, and writes asking me to do my best to reach those to whom she ignorantly taught error here. Her letter has helped me in reaching a class of Japanese young men she taught. I had my first study with them last night.

I hope and pray for a rich harvest erelong. It takes just as much moral courage to give up your positions and your friends and loved ones for the truth here as in the home land. Pray that God will abundantly bless the work in this dark land.