p. 12 | Untitled article by Ida E. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Jun 21, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 25.

FROM CANTON, CHINA.

By Ida E. Thompson

[A letter, dated March 5, 1905, from Sister Ida E. Thompson, to the Wisconsin Reporter.]

To you who have so kindly and generously given of your means to open and support the Chinese Girls' School, we feel indeed grateful. Could you spend a few hours with us, you certainly would say it was not given in vain. The school opened March 17, 1904, and continued until January 15, 1905. Of the first twenty-five girls who enrolled, twenty-two remained with us throughout the year. About the middle of October, we added a second teacher, and increased our number of pupils. We spent the first half of the day on Bible and Christian Gings, as the lessons from the Bible for beginners are called, and Chinese books teaching semi-foreign ideas of education, industries, Chinese customs, etc. The latter books are written in the scholarly language, while the former are colloquial. We refused to teach Confucian books, which was not well received by some at first, but none left the school permanently on this account.

Our first class studied the Gings mentioned, and then committed to memory Mark's entire Gospel. I could begin where I would in any chapter, and any one in the class would take it up, and repeat from memory to the end. I was surprised and greatly pleased to see what such small children could do. This class consisted of girls thirteen years of age. We also learned to sing thirty-five hymns translated from "Gospel Hymns." All above the primary class were required to write any character in their Chinese books which they read. I conducted oral reviews each week, and, at the close of the year, gave regular examinations by which they are to be graded this year.

On Sabbath we held Sabbath-school for two hours, and all attended unless there was a reasonable excuse offered. It was not a hard matter to interest them in Bible lessons, nor did the hours seem to drag, only too soon the time was gone. The majority of the girls assure us they do not now worship Joss. In a few instances we have proven them true to their Christian teaching. One little girl, nine years of age, lost her grandmother by death. The Chinese custom would demand of her to worship the departed spirit, and also worship at the altar, entreating evil spirits to depart from her and the home; also they must send gifts in the form of paper, clothing, money, and food to the departed spirit. This ceremony took place right in view from my window, but this dear little girl took no part in the worship, tho she walked in the procession of relatives, all of whom took part. By this one act I felt paid for all my efforts put forth in her behalf.

The girls come to my rooms on Sunday, and learn to knit. On Friday afternoons the teachers taught them to sew. They made the greater part of five pieced quilt covers, table spreads, etc. These articles were sold, and thus but little, if anything, was lost in the purchase of needed materials. If we could buy prints here as cheaply as you can in America, it would help us much; but common calico is twenty to twenty-five cents a yard, or about ten cents or a shilling, gold. Remnants sell the same as a whole bolt. Some did very neat work, indeed. I took some work to a friend, who declared it was machine work, so even were the stitches.

The entire expense of the school for desks, books, house rent, teacher's salary, and material for work, amounted to about $125 of your money. The balance of the money is on deposit, drawing a small rate of interest. I hope next year we may be able to build a simple schoolroom, if we can buy a mission home. What do you think of the plan? We must have a boarding-school, but this has been deferred one year more, for several reasons. It would require my whole time, were we to open it this year, as we are so dependent on others for help, and we do not want to train our girls, and then find they are taught doctrines not founded on the Scriptures.

This year we have engaged a teacher who is not a church-member, feeling we could better manage affairs under her supervision. We are praying daily for God to send us another teacher who will not be an injury to the work, and who loves God, and will forward the cause of truth.

I am sure it is not easy for you to understand our situation in starting the work in China. In the first place, we have a peculiar truth which makes other missions slow to allow their teachers and helpers to come to our assistance. The remaining alternative is to select from heathen, who know not God, and who, in most cases, are idolaters. We are not discouraged, for our trust is in Israel's God who opens ways in the sea. "He shall save the children of the needy." "Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."