MISSION WORK IN CHINA

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 3, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 36.

MISSION WORK IN CHINA.

The Boxer movement has not stopped the work of the missionaries in China. The question whether to return to the mission stations and repair or rebuild the mission buildings has been answered unequivocally by the God-fearing and soul-loving men and women who have had the work to do. Many whose eyes were open more to the obstacles in the way than to the power behind the Gospel message have advised the missionaries to abandon their stations, at least for a considerable time. But those whose hearts were in their work have not heeded such advice. They have gone back to their posts, to the great joy of the faithful native converts, and the work of re-establishing their stations has been taken up with a zeal that does honor to the cause which they represent.

At Lin Ching the re-opening of the mission chapel has had a good effect upon the people. The missionary in charge says that "The audiences are better than two years ago. Probably the examinations in western learning last month have had something to do with this interest. Several men have stated their desire to study western books. I can not learn that any one here recanted. There are some notable changes in the attitude of the people, indicating a feeling of interest, mingled with some degree of shame. On the part of the officials there continues to be the same anxiety lest the foreigner by some means meet with accident, so that, when traveling, they compel us to accept a guard, if possible."

This missionary reports a number of additions to the church since the re-opening of the mission. At Shao-wu, where another mission station is being rebuilt, the one in charge reports a great many calls for medical work, more than can be handled satisfactorily; and at this station also the officials manifest friendliness and much interest.

At Nam Tsun, where a church costing $3,500 had been razed to the ground, another substantial building has been erected in its place.

Bible work is extending as never before in this land so recently racked with the terrible work of the Boxers, whose avowed purpose was totally to exterminate the Bible, the foreigner, and especially the Christian. The people are inquiring for the Bible as never before, and, in whole or in portions, it is being sold as never before. China is waking from her long sleep to listen to God's message out of His Word. The harvest is waiting and it is high time that God's harvesters were pressing into the field in China as well as in other parts of the earth.