A Moon Festival Celebration by James E. Shultz

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 22, 1914

A Moon Festival Celebration

By James E. Shultz

JAMES E. SHULTZ

THE middle of September we experienced our first heathen festival celebration in China. The occasion was the celebration of the festival of the new moon. It is usually a very joyous occasion; especially is this the case in the autumn, as it is also the harvest season of the year. But at this time, just as the celebration began, the moon suffered a total eclipse. It was a very peculiar eclipse as witnessed here, bringing vividly to mind the prophecies of the Word concerning the darkening of the sun and the turning of the moon into blood before that great and memorable day of the Lord.

Immediately the scene of mirth became one of perplexity. Incantations were chanted, gongs clanged, trumpets were blown, and the endless succession of exploding firecrackers made weird the night with one vast bedlam. Tradition teaches that an eclipse is occasioned by the appearance of a mammoth dog which makes its way through the heavens and seizes the moon in an effort to devour it. Should the effort be successful, the world would be without a moon; hence their anxiety to frighten the animal away, which they seek to accomplish by the medley I have described. And this is still believed by a majority of China's

millions today, despite the fact that China boasts herself a republic.

As I stood contemplating the scene, I could but reflect upon the need of a people whose heart longings seek expression in such crude ways. I conceived that Sinim was confessing her deplorable lack, and appealing for protection against an evil day that shall try men's souls. Truly this is a needy people, a people ready to perish. Our prayer is that God's blessing may be ours as we endeavor to exalt the Christ before those who are perishing.