Heathen Astonishment at Warring "Christian Europe"—Finances Hindering Railway Extensions
Extensive Floods and Famine Following Them
By R. F. COTTRELL
*Elder Cottrell, in this short article, gives some interesting glimpses of conditions in the Chinese field, where he is faithfully laboring. It is literally true, as suggested some time ago by one of England's great leaders, that "it is as though the world were indulging in a fit of political alcoholism."
In view of these world-wide conditions, how cheering is the "blessed hope" to which reference is made at the close of the article!*
THE noted White Wolf, who has destroyed so many towns and cities during the past year in China, is now reported to have been killed; while others affirm that he died of dysentery, was buried, and was afterward exhumed and beheaded. At any rate, the soldiers who secured his head, claimed the large reward that had been offered by the government. Whether the real White Wolf is dead or only in hiding, is still a mooted question with many.
In the meantime, numerous other bands of outlaws have arisen, and are committing outrages in various parts of the country. As soon as one party has been put down, others seem to spring up to terrify the people and annoy the government. Among these bandits are large numbers of soldiers who were disbanded following the revolution of three years ago.
RAILWAY BRIDGE IN LILING, HUNAN, CHINA, AFTER THE FLOOD IN JULY, 1914
HEATHEN ASTONISHED
Added to this comes the unrest caused by the great European war. With astonishment the heathen behold the so-called Christian nations rushing at one another with the fury of madmen. Commerce in China is largely at a standstill; and on the east coast there has been the landing of Japanese troops for the conquest of the fortified German colony of Tsingtao. This place was forcibly leased from China in 1898 for a term of ninety-nine years, the pretext being the murder of two German Catholic priests. Therefore the people in central China, as well as those in other parts of the country, have their eyes turned toward Tsingtao; for no one is quite sure as to the designs of Japan, and the consequences of this move on her part.
BOTH DROUGHT AND FLOOD
The present crisis has also crippled the Chinese government financially, and the construction of the Hankow-Szechnen and the Hankow-Canton railway is abandoned for the present.
While in some parts of the country there has been excessive drought this season, so that thousands have been reduced to beggary, in other parts there have been disastrous floods. In Hunan province we had two floods within three weeks. Throughout large sections of the country, the rice crop was entirely destroyed, and hundreds of cities and towns were suddenly made to appear surrounded by lakes and ponds.
In one place where our mission has a church and an outstation, the water rose rapidly during the night. A man who has come from that place tells us that the evangelist and his family retired in the evening as usual, but were soon aroused by the rising of the water. From the bed, they climbed up on tables and boxes, piling things higher and higher as the floods increased. Finally they were compelled to tear a hole through the roof, and climb to the top of the chapel for safety, and there they were when morning dawned.
HOUSE AFTER HOUSE SWEPT AWAY
It was a time of great anxiety for them. All about were the cries of the helpless and distressed. House after house was swept away. Even their own house at the back of the chapel went down, and with it all their earthly belongings. But they were most grateful to God that their lives were preserved.
In that city of some forty thousand inhabitants, two thirds of the houses were destroyed. The photographs shown herewith were taken at or near this place. It will be months before the railway bridges can be fully repaired.
ASSISTANCE URGENTLY ASKED
The government has distributed large quantities of rice to those left destitute. Nearly all the missions in the province have given some aid to the famine sufferers. We have been compelled to borrow money from the operating funds of our mission to assist our own people at this time. We trust that gifts from America to a famine relief fund may enable us to replace this loan.
THE CHEERING AND BLESSED HOPE
The signs of our Saviour's return to earth, the omens of that glad event foretold by seers of old, are fast multiplying in the Orient. "Distress of nations with perplexity," which the Lord gave as a sign of His coming, is as truly fulfilled here as elsewhere. But the sorrow and suffering about us increase the intense longing of our hearts for that land of happiness and perfection which our divine Father has promised. Present conditions give fresh impetus to the message of Christ's second coming, and many from this dark land are thus brought to work and pray with us for the speedy consummation of the blessed hope.
NOTE.—Any one desiring to relieve the distress of those suffering people, may send their donations to the treasurer of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California.
