Our Sisters in Anhwei by Bertha L. Selmon

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 7, 1913

Our Sisters in Anhwei

By Bertha L. Selmon

BERTHA L. SELMON

THE work in Ying Shang Hsein for the past two years has been in charge of the Chinese evangelist, Brother C. D. Han, and his wife. A Bible woman, Mrs. Dzan, assists Sister Han with the women's work. We were much pleased to find a good interest among the women and girls, and were able to assist them in starting a church-school during our recent visit to Ying Shang. This place, being removed quite a distance from any of our mission centers, does not receive a visit from foreign workers very often. It took us one week from Shanghai to reach them. We remained seven weeks with them, and conducted a general meeting and Bible institute during our stay. We also devoted two hours daily to dispensary work.

Sisters Han and Dzan have done good work in visiting and teaching. Besides eight women members in the church, a goodly number of inquirers, in addition to the members, meet for Sabbath services. As none of our women there had sufficient education to act as teacher of the girls' school, one of the young evangelists, an earnest Christian, is doing the teaching. A class of six or eight women, including the teacher's wife, attend the school. Some cannot attend full time, but come when they can. Others would like to come, but opposition at home prevents them. One young woman can attend only the Sabbath services, when her husband is away from home. If he learns of it, she is sure to get a beating.

A young woman whom we could not see at all is trying to live the truth as far as she knows it, in spite of the fact that she is forbidden by her father either to leave the house or to let any of our workers come to see her. One young woman, a widow of the son of one of

the church-members, was so much interested in the dispensary work that she desired a nurse's training. She seemed to us to have a natural ability in that line, and arrangements were all made for her to go to Shanghai to attend the school; but her mother, who is a heathen woman, learned of it, and the story was told that the father-in-law had sold this young woman to us for one hundred and sixty dollars. The mother opposed so bitterly that the matter had to be given up for a time at least. This young woman will continue to attend the school in Ying Shang, however, and we hope will be a useful worker.

Another woman, who was left a widow with three children about thirteen years ago, and made a livelihood by selling flour, till her children were grown, is now bitterly persecuted by her son and his wife. The daughter-in-law would take the mother's portion of the food prepared and defile it with mud, to show her contempt for the mother's religion. This woman is now leaving her home to the children, and seeks to support herself elsewhere, so that she can be free from heathen entanglements, and be a Christian, as she desires to be.

Some of these women who learn now for the first time to read in their own language, will make good workers in the future. The best workers, however, will be those who begin to learn at a younger period, so now the boys and girls in school have the greater advantage. There are five girls in the advanced class in the Ying Shang girls' school. Three of these are not tied by marriage engagements, and one other will break an engagement already contracted with a heathen man, so at least four give every promise of making good workers when they finish their training. Fourteen other younger girls are attending the school, besides a class of four small boys. The teacher cannot look after both the older women and the children, so Sister Han and the Bible woman take turns in the schoolroom, teaching the women. They have a good visiting work besides, going out into the homes of the interested ones, so they are quite busy.

When we left, all the schoolchildren and workers, and a goodly number in addition, accompanied us to the riverside. Our house-boat was filled with people. As we sang, "God be with you till we meet again," there was hardly a dry eye in the room. The older girls had been crying all the forenoon because we were leaving them. We believe that many of these will be found in that great gathering that knows no parting.