p. 13 | Chinese Liberality by J. P. Laird

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 16, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 23.

Chinese Liberality

By J. P. Laird

The following incident will be an encouragement to the kind friends who have been subscribing to the Seventh-day Adventist Mission Press Fund in China. Last Sabbath it was arranged that special collections should be taken up for this purpose in all our stations in China. After a few remarks by the writer calling attention to the map of China which was hung before the small congregation at Changsha, a few texts were quoted in concert, special emphasis being laid upon Paul's injunction: “He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly. . . . Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work.” 2 Cor. 9: 6-8.

Tears of joy filled our eyes when Brother Huang Hanyong said he would be glad to donate ten dollars provided he could pay it in ten instalments. Finding this was acceptable, his head dropped to hide the gathering tears of gratitude. This brother previously received seven dollars a month, but last month was raised to eight dollars. He does not live on the mission compound, and has a wife and little girl to support. He pays his tithe regularly, and his Sabbath offerings are usually about five cents, with an occasional cent or two from his wife and daughter.

The others asked me to wait until the morrow when a slip was handed to me containing four names with two pledges of 3,000 cash each, and two of 2,000 cash each, to be paid in ten monthly contributions. (One dollar is equal to about 1,330 cash present local currency.) One is unable to say anything definite of these men's income, but one is glad to accept a free lodging from us. His wife refuses to have anything to do with him because he attends worship here. Another contributor has not been with us more than two weeks.

Later, I asked Brother Huang if he thought he could really afford so large a donation. With choking words he replied: “God is able to give me much more than this.” Surely such self-sacrifice and beautiful faith will be abundantly blessed by our common heavenly Father. Moreover, such men will cause the truth to spread rapidly among their fellow countrymen. We await word from two absent brethren, trusting they will show that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Your brother, J. P. LAIRD.

Changhai, Hunan, China.