A Tour Through the Asiatic Division by R. C. Porter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 14, 1914

A Tour Through the Asiatic Division

By R. C. Porter

R. C. PORTER

After spending two weeks settling in our comfortable home at Shanghai, and holding a brief committee council, in company with Elder R. F. Cottrell I attended the general meetings in Hupeh, Honan, and Hunan, three provinces of Central China.

The Lord has greatly blessed the labor of our workers in that field the past year. Two hundred and thirty-two converts, most of whom were from heathenism, were baptized. An intermediate training school for workers was started in Honan, with buildings and equipage free from debt. It opened with a full attendance, with promise of doing successful work. Although Central China is the scene of unusual brigandage and revolution under the leadership of White Wolf, a former army official of high rank who is now seeking revenge against the government, so far none of our missions have been disturbed.

The homes for workers at Hankow and Yen-cheng are now occupied. This is a great relief from the insanitary conditions that have been a menace to the health and life of these workers. Many expressions of praise and thanksgiving arise to God from appreciative hearts for the gifts from the homeland that have made possible this exchange. There are upward of forty outstations being operated in this division.

Returning home, we spent two weeks attending to delayed business and correspondence, after which a tour through South China, Malaysia, and the Philippines was begun.

South China

While in this territory we visited Hongkong, Canton, Fatshan, Three Eye Bridge, Wia Chow, Swatow, and Amoy. Hongkong being a natural center for the work in that field, it was at first thought advisable to remove the headquarters to that city. However, when the committee on location investigated available properties, they found rents too high and lots too expensive to admit of such an undertaking. The headquarters will remain in Canton unless a providential opening indicates otherwise.

In Canton two new homes for foreign workers, and a girls' school building, have just been completed. The former girls' school building in the city will now be used for a boys' school, and city evangelistic work will be continued there. The new buildings are located a mile and a half from the city. A steam car runs within five minutes' walk of the compound.

The general meeting held at Fatshan was a spiritual feast. There were many heartfelt prayers and testimonies given by the Chinese members present which revealed a real depth of Christian experience. The workers showed a spirit of humility and devotion to the work that insures a successful advance for the future.

Dr. Law Keem and family have removed from Hongkong to the province of Kwang-si to open a new field. They went in response to a call from fifteen Sabbath keepers living in that province who desired further instruction and baptism. I am sure that our brethren and sisters in the homeland will rejoice with us that in another large province a lighthouse is established.

At Pakhoi a good work is progressing, and there are four outstations in operation where encouraging work is being done. Elder E. H. Wilbur, with his family, has moved there to take charge of the work. Brother A. H. Bach and his family are moving to Shanghai.

At Wai Chow, which was reached by a twenty-four hours' ride by river steamer, packed so thickly with Chinese that it was impossible for our company to lie down or sleep, we found our workers comfortably situated. They have two foreign houses, a girls' school, and a good location in the city for evangelistic work. While the committee was in session at Hongkong, it was decided to purchase the lots lying in the rear of their foreign compound, upon which to erect a building to accommodate both a boys' and a girls' school. Elder J. P. Anderson and Brother S. A. Nagel with their families are located at this place. They are successfully operating outstation work in the vicinity.

At Swatow a good foreign residence is occupied by Elder W. F. Hills and family and his father and mother. Brother Ang conducts a school for girls. They had also planned for a boys' school, but owing to the lack of funds, they sent their boys to Amoy last year. Money is needed with which to purchase lots and erect modest buildings for conducting their educational work. Good work in both evangelical and school lines is being done. A call for help came from a country village. These people had opened their heathen temple for the proclamation of the message. Our workers are successfully operating eight outstations in the outlying district. An effort to prevent our mission from maintaining a foothold in the city was checked by two members of the city council, who suggested that if there was not room for all some of the others might retire.

At Amoy, Elder and Sister B. L. Anderson are carrying the work in the absence of Elder W. C. Hankins and wife, who are away on furlough. Here the workers have good homes which are well located. Both boys' and girls' schools are being conducted, and an evangelistic campaign is carried on in the city. Lots have been purchased, bounded on one side by the seashore, upon which permanent buildings for both boys' and girls' schools are to be erected. They very much desire to purchase a good garden spot in the rear of these lots, upon which to raise their vegetables, but they have not the money. Elder N. P. Keh is conducting a successful station farther inland. Nine other outstations are doing good work in bringing converts from heathenism to Christianity. Another family and funds are needed to open up work in an adjoining province, where another dialect is spoken.

Malaysia

Elder F. A. Detamore, Brother and Sister H. E. Sharp, and a company of faithful native assistants are doing very aggressive work in Singapore. Last year a tent effort was conducted, which resulted in the conversion of fifteen persons. The church there has a neat building, which accommodates about one hundred and twenty-five persons. The Sabbath I met with them it was filled nearly to its capacity with believers. A church school is being conducted. Sister Mamie Yarnell is now en route in response to their call for a teacher to train workers.

A good work is being done at Batavia, Java, under the supervision of Sister P. Tunheim and Brother and Sister Van de Groep. While there, Brother B. Judge, from Padang, Sumatra, met with us. He and his wife are in need of a furlough, but they are remaining until other workers reach the field. They have a prosperous school, and an inland station operated by a native worker. Thus the light is beginning to spread in that island field.

Brother and Sister G. A. Wood are conducting a very aggressive campaign at Surabaya, Java. Four were baptized while we were there, and six others desire baptism after a little more instruction. The work has a good start in this place. Both ends of the island have been entered, and urgent calls are coming for labor in the interior. A good work is being done with our literature.

A good beginning has been made in opening up the work in North Borneo by Elder and Sister R. P. Montgomery, assisted by Brother Chan, a Chinese evangelist.

We have not yet entered the Celebes Islands. However, a native who became interested through our literature is making an enthusiastic canvass in that field for our books. Thus God's providence is going before, beckoning us onward. It will require workers and means; but the time has come, and the Lord will supply them. In our work, as in the building of the wall of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah, there is a constant call for more mortar. Those who furnish the material with which to build are as important to the work as the builders. What a privilege to be partners with the Lord in the finishing of his work!

Brother A. R. Duckworth and family are doing good work at Kuala Lumpur. They have some substantial members who are joining them in carrying the message to the people.

Philippines

Brother L. V. Finster and family and Brother and Sister W. E. Lanier are leading in a very fruitful effort in Manila. There are one hundred and twenty-five members in that city. With the aid of some good native evangelists and literature salesmen, they have conducted a tent effort and have sold a large amount of literature the past season.

During the recent visit of Brother and Sister C. N. Woodward, Mrs. Porter, and the writer, after a careful search for a location, very desirable lots were purchased in a good section of the foreign residence portion of the city, upon which two dwellings and a printing plant will be erected. This opening seemed providential. A teacher whose house had burned was leaving for America, and she offered the lots, all prepared for building, with water laid on, grass and trees in good condition, for less than other locations not so desirable could be purchased.

At Malolos, about two and one-half hours' ride by train from Manila, the first church in the Philippines was dedicated January 25. Among others in attendance was the first Sabbath keeper to accept the faith in the Philippines. The building was erected at small expense, most of the work being done by the brethren. The outlay in cash did not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars. The church membership there is twenty-five. There is still a good interest, and a native evangelist remains to continue the meetings.

Dr. Fattebert and wife and Brother Floyd Ashbaugh go to open up the work in the Cebu province. Elder E. M. Adams has removed to Iloilo to open that new field. So in all parts of the division the message is spreading, and hungry souls waiting for light gladly accept it and pass it on to others. Thus an ever-increasing army of workers is pushing into unentered territory with the sealing message. Will not the readers join us in the prayer that the angels may hold the winds of strife in these dark lands that the work may not be hindered until God's servants are sealed for his kingdom?