A. C. SELMON, M. D by A. C. Selmon, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 14, 1904

A. C. SELMON, M. D

By A. C. Selmon, M. D.

China

SIN TSAI HSIEN.—It is not a year yet since the Lord first put it into my mind to come to China. Coming to the mission field has been the best experience of my life. Neither myself nor my wife has for a single moment regretted the step, or longed for the land we had left behind—I do not call it the homeland, for China is our homeland.

As I look about me on every side, and see the multitude of people who have never had an opportunity to hear of a living Saviour, in whom they can put their trust, rather than in their departed ancestors and idols of wood and stone, it makes me feel as if I were in reach of a drowning man, and yet powerless to put out an arm to help him. But even though we can not speak to them, we can live Christian lives before them. And it is a marked characteristic of the Chinese to imitate. They must have things presented to them in a concrete way.

It is well known in the city and in the country about that we keep the Bible Sabbath. Other missionaries use the term Li Pai rib, meaning simply worship day, for Sunday; and they name the week after Sunday. Monday is Li pai ib — one day after Sunday. We use the terms An Sib rib for Sabbath, meaning rest day. We tell them that we have worship every day, and so every day is a Li pai rib. They are earnest Bible students when once they begin to seek the light. In several places from forty to sixty miles from here there are little companies that have banded together, and meet regularly for Bible study. They have to work alone, for Brother Pilquist can be in only one place at a time.

You can understand from this something of what it means to us to learn the language. It surely deserves the reputation it has of being the most difficult

there is to learn. The Lord is blessing us greatly in our study. As soon as we get a little command of the language, we shall make a trip through some of the neighboring cities and country round about, and a part of our company will probably go to another city.

Dr. Miller and myself have been studying the matter very carefully, and praying the Lord to show us what plan to pursue in the work here. We were greatly encouraged when we read that Testimony in which is found the statement that the Lord will give his workers his understanding, that they may know how to carry on his work. The method that seems best from every standpoint is that which Paul used—itineration—preaching the truth in a place and caring for the sick until a little company is raised up, then passing on to another place and doing likewise, and at the same time visiting and keeping watch over the churches already established; for these people must receive help, and they must be looked after very carefully to keep them in the right way. If this method in a few months is indicated to us by the Lord as clearly as it is now, we shall fit up a Chinese cart as a sort of traveling dispensary, and start out to preach the gospel and heal the sick. We want to get in a place that will give us access to as large a number of people as possible, and it is the people in the country and villages who are the most fruitful when the gospel is preached to them.

Brother Pilquist has the work well established here in Sin Tsai, and he is itinerating. He has found that to be the best way. The Lord is very good to us, and it gives us courage in our work.