Shanghai, China by K. H. Wood

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

Shanghai, China

By K. H. Wood

K. H. WOOD

EARLY in September, Brother F. E. Stafford and the writer began to lay plans for conducting a series of meetings in Shanghai. After some difficulty, we were successful in securing for this purpose a commodious foreign building on one of the main streets of the city.

CLASS STUDYING THE MESSAGE IN THE GREAT ROOM IN RENTED CHAPEL, SHANGHAI.

As is the custom in China when opening a business meeting or meetings of any kind, we decorated the outside of the chapel with evergreen and flowers, and the inside with bamboo branches.

Posters and window cards advertising the services were scattered over a large portion of the city. We also hired a man to carry a large flag through the streets announcing the coming meetings.

“The Chapel of the Great Warning” was the name given our hall, and this alone drew many curious hearers, as the events of the recent rebellion in China were still fresh in the minds of the people.

From the first, the meetings have been well attended, and many times standing room has been at a premium after some two hundred persons have been seated.

No doubt our congregation would be quite interesting to our friends in the homeland, as it is composed of nearly all classes of Chinese. On the front seat may be seen two or three little blacksmith boys, with faces as black as the smoke in which they work. Again, a trio of Buddhist priests may take their place among the hearers. They do not seem certain that they are in just the right place at a Christian meeting, but are perhaps interested to hear of a power above men, spirits, or demons. Then, there are a number of coolies, with their long queues, who sit during the entire service with their caps on. However, the majority of those who attend are well-educated business men or of the teacher class, and many show marked interest in the truths presented.

We have adopted the plan of distributing cards among those who seem interested. On these they write their names and addresses, and by this signify their desire to learn more of this great warning message which is going to all the world. This gives an opportunity for us to visit them, and to follow up the interest. Many who made their start in the Christian life by signing these cards have attended the services regularly, and are now coming to the Sabbath meetings.

We have set apart the Friday evening meetings for interested inquirers only, and at every such service there are good testimonies and prayers offered, thanking God that this great truth has been given them.

One evening each week is used for a general prayer and social service, and it is encouraging to hear those who only

a short time ago knew nothing of Christ, now praising his name for the great sacrifice he made that they might have eternal life.

There has also been a good attendance at the Sunday afternoon service for English-speaking Chinese. This service is followed by a stereopticon lecture in the evening, on the Signs of the Times, Life of Christ, or some other subject that can be well illustrated. This meeting seems to renew the interest for the following week; and at the present writing, after six weeks' meetings, we have many encouraging omens, some in new Sabbath keepers, and others in those who are intensely interested, but who need more instruction as to just what a Christian's life should be in this world of sin.

CHAPEL IN SHANGHAI WHERE MEETINGS WERE HELD; ALSO GROUP OF WORKERS CONDUCTING THEM

Although there is much for encouragement, there are also many forces working to hinder our efforts. We have encountered much antichristian influence from those who pose as Christian societies and teachers.

A young man brought us a Bible study prepared by one of these societies, and asked for some explanations. We did not wonder that he was somewhat confused, for in this study the name of Christ was included with the names of Buddha, Mohammed, and Confucius as "the four holy men whom God has used to reveal himself to men." In this, one may see the same commingling of paganism and Christianity as that which gave the world the Sunday rest day in the time of Constantine, in lieu of the Sabbath of the Lord.

It is truly a pity that, when there is an opportunity to give the pure gospel to this people, it should not be presented in such a manner as to leave no doubt in their minds as to what is Christianity and what is heathenism.

When we look about us and see the great amount of work to be done, and the few workers to do it, we feel to pray that more of our young men and women may realize their duty toward this benighted race, and help in giving it the gospel before the day of opportunity is past and it will be forever too late.