Our Work in China by F. E. Stafford

Our Work in China

By F. E. Stafford

WHEN the brethren here read the "Call to Warn the Cities" in America, we were sure that it meant this great city of Shanghai of half a million souls, and we felt convicted that we were not doing as much as could be done. We had been searching for some time for a more suitable location for a street chapel, and the way has been opened for us to secure an excellent location in a thickly populated district, not over half a mile from our mission press, conveniently close to a car line, and yet far enough away to escape the noise. The building itself, being a Chinese shop, was very dirty, and uninviting; but with the aid of carpenters and painters, in a month's time we had it transformed in a way that astonished the near-by neighbors. We removed the entire front of the building, and put in a new glass front with a glass door, so as to make the place as light as possible; and with the inside freshly painted and calcimined, it presented a very inviting appearance.

When all was ready we hung out our great white sign, Foo-iung-dong, which means Gospel Hall.

New Year's Day was the day decided upon for opening, and we printed neat invitations with gold ink on red paper, and circulated all through the district, inviting the people to come to our opening day reception at two o'clock in the afternoon.

Long before the time of opening, the people commenced to gather in the street; and when the door was thrown open, the room was filled to overflowing in a few minutes. The women and children were conducted up-stairs, to the guest room, while the men were received down-stairs. After singing a few hymns we explained to the people the purpose of opening our chapel, and gave each one an invitation to the preaching service in the evening. We also distributed some of our Chinese tracts called "God's Love for Man" and "Know Thy Creator." We then dismissed them, and made room for the people on the street who had not been able to get in. We went through the same program with them, and thus continued to refill the hall until evening.

The opening sermon was preached by Brother Woo, a Chinese teacher of marked ability. He has been studying the truth for over a year, and last September definitely decided to observe the true Sabbath of the Lord, and to give himself wholly to the Lord's work. He is now throwing his energies into our work, and we trust that he will be a great help to us.

Since then we have held public preaching services three nights a week, with afternoon meetings for the women. All these services, as well as our regular Sabbath meetings, have been well attended by an intelligent and inquiring class of people, for which we praise God and take courage.

In fact, the crowds continued to be too large for the hall; so we have opened negotiations to secure the shop next door, and will take out the partition between, and make the room twice the present size.

Woosung Road, a busy street on which our Shanghai chapel is located.

Brother Woo, who preached the opening sermon in our Shanghai chapel, and Clarence Stafford, dressed in Chinese clothes, who helped in the distribution of tracts and invitations.

Interior view of chapel. Back of the pulpit is a scroll of the Ten Commandments in red on a yellow background. The room seats about 75, and is altogether too small. The shop next door will probably be added, and the partition taken out.

In front of our Shanghai chapel. Li Fah Kung, our evangelist, at the door.

Opening day of our Chinese chapel. Crowds came like this all the afternoon.

As I am writing these words, a message comes from our evangelist, that two men whom he has been studying with are convinced of the truth for this time, and will observe next Sabbath, the fourth of February, as their first Sabbath. Thus our hearts are cheered as we witness the power of Christ working in our midst to regenerate the hearts of men, freeing them from the bonds of heathen traditions, and delivering them into the glorious light of the truth.

Brother Li Fah Kung, our evangelist in charge of the chapel, has an interesting history. He was invited to attend our meetings in Honan a number of years ago, and came bringing his opium pipe with him, as he was addicted to this terrible habit. As the great truths of the soon coming Saviour were presented, the power of the Holy Spirit manifested itself and convicted him of his sinful condition.

He was converted, and of his own free will went out and cast his opium pipe into the well, and has never tasted any since. After the meetings he walked to his home, a distance of nearly ninety miles, and arrived there in good condition; while before his conversion, if he missed his opium for one day he was sick and unable to work. Thus we see that the power of the Gospel is the same to-day as it was two thousand years ago, when Christ walked upon earth; and it manifests itself in the same way, by working that most marvelous of all miracles, changing the lives of selfish, sinful, sin-cursed men into lives of usefulness and happiness on this earth, with a preparation for eternal happiness in the world to come.

Our Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the China Union Mission Committee has just closed in Shanghai, and we have

all been greatly blessed and strengthened by the encouraging reports that have been brought in from the various parts of the field.

Two of the most encouraging features of the work of the past year are: first, the way in which our native brethren are taking hold of the work, and how the Lord is blessing their efforts in places where we have no foreign workers; and second, the great increase in the sale of our literature, and the many good results that can be traced directly to its influence. As report after report was read telling of little companies scattered here and there through every district who have been brought to a knowledge of the truth and are faithfully keeping the Sabbath, through the efforts of our Chinese brethren or through reading our papers, we were greatly encouraged, but also saddened to think that many little companies have been sending in appeals, saying: "Send us help. The people are ready and eager to hear the truth. Why do you not send us a man to teach us?" At least thirty appeals like this from companies who have never heard a foreigner preach, are to-day unanswered, and will be so until more help comes. Who, on reading these words, will take this appeal to yourselves, and resolve in your heart to answer one of these calls?

The people are waiting for you, with hands and hearts uplifted to God, praying earnestly that help may soon come. You can answer one of these prayers if you will. ONLY COME.

F. E. STAFFORD.

Shanghai, China.