Places for Investment by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 28, 1913

Places for Investment

By Editor

WE present in this department of our paper the funds which have been donated through the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and Our Little Friend during the last year. Part of these donations have been for objects outside of our regular mission funds,—that is, they have been just as needy as any of the objects to which the regular funds go, but which limited funds seemed to make unavailable for appropriations. The donors have the satisfaction of knowing that, like the gifts of God, they have given to needy fields, even as our Lord Himself came to the most needy place in all His universe; and these fields still call for large liberalities on the part of His children.

In the year to come the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has one special object to place before its readers, which lies outside of the appropriations for this year, but which is one of the most worthy objects.

China made marvelous history last year. In the space of a few months it changed from an old, traditionary empire to a republic. A new spirit swept over its people, awakening them to new life and new inquiry. It could almost be said that a new nation had been born in a day. Now is the time to work for the Chinese with the gospel of Jesus Christ as never before.

A Training-School

There are two things in the way, however, of foreigners doing this: the understanding of the language and the people, and the greater expense. But neither of these is in the way of the Chinese worker. He understands his own language; he knows his own people; he can live upon what a European or an American would starve on. Therefore the sensible policy of the men in that great, foreign field ought to be to educate the native worker,—to fit the devoted, earnest, soul-burdened Chinese with such an education as would enable him to give the gospel to his countrymen. Remarkable results have already followed efforts of this kind in China, but a training-school is needed,—not a training-school for a course of years of study, but a training-school which will prepare Chinese as rapidly as possible in a knowledge of the Word of God, to an assurance that they themselves understand the message, in order that they may be sent out in far greater numbers than white people could go, to the different parts of that great country.

We are glad, indeed, that so many, in the brief notice that has been given of this, have responded. The $435 listed in this issue should practically come within this year, but we received it before January 1. We have received a number of donations since that time, which will appear in our donations for January.

We hope that there may be many among the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, who will not take from their donations to regular work, either local or foreign, but who will feel that they can do something toward providing a school in China for the training of workers. The great field, with its millions of unwarned, must appeal to the Christian; and when in so many places there are agonizing calls to our missionaries in that great field to “come over and help us,” tell us of Jesus, those of us who know Him ought to be anxious to do all in our power to give the blessed gospel of His kingdom, in the shortest time possible, to the millions in China. May God bless those who are engaged in this great work in that large land, and may He give large-heartedness to His children everywhere, that the work may be soon finished, that the Master may come.

Our special object in the year to come, therefore, will be the Chinese Training-school. Will not our readers help us to establish this needed institution?