A TOUCHING story is told of a young man who was rapidly losing his eyesight; the physician told him he would be able to see but for a few months. At once, accompanied by a sister, he set out to travel over Europe, taking a last look at the beautiful things of this world before his eyes should be closed forever upon them, in order that he might have his memory stored with the lovely pictures of mountains, lakes, and the beautiful creations of God's hand, to lighten his gloom. Even so in years to come, when we are separated from friends, may we have helpful memories of meetings together; may they be as cords of light connecting us with past pleasant days. Womanhood is really the polishing of girlhood. Even diamonds require polishing to be of value. We all know the characteristics of girlhood, all of which, when we merge into fulness of womanhood, vanish as the dew before the radiance of the morning.
Friendship comes to the young as the glory of spring, a very miracle of beauty. Friendship is the greatest thing in world relationships. It is the second great commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” A Scandinavian proverb says, “Go often to the house of thy friends, for weeds soon choke up the unused path.”
A girl should never permit herself to comment unfavorably upon one friend to another. One says, “Loyalty is the life-breath of real friendship.” If we would have the noblest friends, do not continually chatter about trifles, for heart confidences and soul-inspiring purposes do not grow in the soil of idle gossip.
A few weeks ago I heard Dr. Cadman, of New York City, speak on the subject of “The Puritans in Two Worlds.” He said he was delivering this lecture to his own church, and was speaking of how the Puritans would listen to the reading of the Bible for four or five hours. One of his flock, who could play whist for five or six hours in succession, came to him at the close of the lecture and wanted to know if that was really so. “If I listen to you,” she said, “for twenty minutes, I’m all in a squirm.” “Well,” he said to her, “I don’t doubt it; you can’t pour more than a pint into a pint bottle, but the Puritans were not pint measures.” Let us be able to hold more than pints.
Happy indeed is the girl who is not occupied with the impression she is making. Clothes count for little, as every woman knows. Here and there one finds an emancipated woman, who is independent of her toilet. One reason why the educated woman is so often a bond-slave is that she is determined not to be outdone by anybody.
Each girl should have an older friend. I mean some one she can hold in a different relationship than she does the girl who has been so closely associated with her home life that each seems a part of the other. I mean a woman in whose friendship she will find a fulness of life that she has never known—a woman who really helps her grow up, not down in any way. It gives a little zest to life to have to stand on tiptoe to meet some one’s charm and intelligence, to try to be like her, as gracious or as pleasing or as good.
Friendship moves us to action; we must do something to show it. If we remain passive, with friendship at our side, there is something unnatural and cold-blooded about us.
The big opportunity it holds out to us is to do something for some one. We must not take from an older friend without giving in return the best there is in us. She needs it. There should be no place for sickly sentimentality, which is so apt to steal into friendship, but purebred common sense. We may speak and think of friendship, but unless we act, it is a dead thing to us. Do you know an older woman discouraged? Give her your young enthusiasm and gentle understanding.12Be sunny in your manners, and sympathetic.
Take a little thought for mother, so dear to us all. Make her feel she knows the most, has the best judgment, is the dearest in all the world, and you will be rewarded with an overflow of joy and peace which is closely akin to divine love in its lasting. Give it to mother; she is bound to feel in this modern time a little behindhand, out of date; cheer and encourage her. This is a true daughter’s first delight. She is tired, and perhaps faded, but she has an experience that is in itself worth as much in mental discipline as that which a college can bestow. Is it fair for you to take everything and give her nothing? You are to prevent her underestimating herself; she is the essence of winsome womanhood.
We do not know ourselves; if we did, we would see things so differently. For example, one girl prides herself on her sincerity, and openly declares that she always speaks her mind without reference to the opinion of the rest of the world. She would be offended if told that her bluntness is merely an expression of aggressive self-esteem. Another girl makes herself and others miserable through jealousy. Another spends much time in private devotion, but is so negligent of her own mother that the latter has to engage help for what ought to be a daughter’s joy. Another has such a burden for the poor that she hasn’t a moment to cheer her father with music or song at night. In her own view she is philanthropic, quite unaware that the truest altruism and sweetest sincerity begin at home.
Little by little some intellectual ambition will draw us away from our true place in life if we are not careful, and will make cold, unloved, and unhelpful women of us, instead of the joyous and unselfish ones we might have been. Ambition is all right, but let us give it its just proportion; let us use our talents, but keep them forever subordinate to simple human duties of life. If the instinct of daughter, sister, or mother dies out of a woman, no matter how brilliant her achievements may be, the world will forget to love her. Lyttleton’s advice to a lady was:—
“Seek to be good, but aim not to be great,
A woman’s noblest station is retreat;
Her fairest virtues fly from public sight.”
Once a perfect life was lived on this earth. Whoever would gain what is highest and deepest in self-knowledge should study and imitate that perfect example. We must have affectionate womanliness if we would lift the fallen, and comfort and bless those about us.
Do not underrate little things. In the scheme of life, nothing is trifling. As the dainty collar sets off the toilet; the trim belt, the neat glove,—all small items,—are of more value than the gowns in height of fashion; so the tact that sets people at ease, helpfulness that is unobtrusive, ability to comfort a disappointed child—all little things—reveal real character and nobility in womanhood.
It is said Tennyson considered the asking by an outcast how to live a better life a greater compliment than praise of queens.
A most unhappy disposition is that which indulges in fits of the blues and refuses to recognize any brightness unless self is the center of it.
Reading the good and true, no young woman will fail to grow better and more lovable. Is there on our shelves or table the well-worn Bible, to read with a thirsting for knowledge? Whatever other books are noble, this is nobler; whatever else is sweet, this contains fulness of sweetness and light.
In the young woman’s friends we must take account of those of the other sex. True women are a help to their gentlemen friends.
Ask yourself if the young men you associate with in class, hall, at gatherings, are elevating and ennobling your lives. Are they making you more womanlike? Are you enriching their lives with that touch of tenderness, of gentility, which is woman’s place to impart, and which reacts upon herself, making her fit for the lifelong companionship of married life when the day comes for that happy culmination of an earthly friendship?
May the blessing of each girl’s quiet life fall on us like dew. Some one said we may fill our lives with music if we know what chords to touch. Let us be brave and true.
“O none should deem it wasted time
Who stands in a humble spot,
And digs and waters a little space
Which the hurrying world heeds not;
For the Lord of the harvest equally
Sends the blessed sun and rain
On the large work and the little work,
And none of it is in vain.”
South Lancaster, Mass.
Religious Statistics
By Dr. A. C. Ames
DR. A. C. AMES
The Census Bureau at Washington has published a bulletin on the religious bodies in the United States, which may be had free by addressing the director of the census, Washington, D. C., and asking for Bulletin No. 103 on Religious Bodies. It contains a mass of statistics which are very interesting to church workers, from which we glean the following:—
There were in the United States, in 1906, a total of 212,230 church organizations, of one hundred eighty-six different denominations; of which one hundred fifty-four are grouped into twenty-seven family groups, and thirty-two are classed separately.
Seven denominations are grouped under the name of Adventists. They are Seventh-day Adventists, Evangelical Adventists, Advent Christians (or, as we know them, First-day Adventists), the Church of God, and Churches of God (unattached congregations, two bodies split from the one that left the Seventh-day Adventists in a factional movement in the early days), Life and Advent Union, and Churches of God in Christ Jesus. These bodies have church organizations as follows: Evangelical Adventists, 18; Advent Christians, 555; Seventh-day Adventists, 1,889; Church of God, 10; Churches of God (unattached congregations), 10; Life and Advent Union, 12; Churches of God in Christ Jesus, 62.
To these we may add the Seventh-day Baptists, classified with thirteen other kinds of Baptists, who had 77 church organizations. These numbers are all small, compared with our own membership. But ours, in turn, is small when compared with the following: Fourteen Baptist bodies, with 54,880 church organizations; two bodies of Disciples, or Christians, with 10,942; twenty-four Lutheran bodies, with 12,703; fifteen Methodist bodies, with 64,701; twelve Presbyterian bodies, with 15,506; or the Roman Catholic, with 12,482 church organizations.
Every denomination given above has made marked growth since the last statistics in 1890, except the small denominations more closely related to ours; and these have all fallen off very decidedly, while ours has grown more in proportion than any of the others given.
Mountain Grove, Mo.
Recompense
THERE is no day but has its share of light,
And somewhere in the dark there shines
a star at night.
There is no cloud, however black and
grim,
That does not touch the sunlight with its
outmost rim.
There is no sorrow borne without its
gain,
No perfect joy that was not ushered in
with pain.
There is no pain that can outlast the
years,
No smile so sweet in life as that which
follows tears.
We learn to do without our own because
There is some recompense in all of nature's laws;
No sun can rise until it first has set;
No life be lived that has not somewhere
known regret.
This thought, my friend, take with thee
for the days;
God were not God if man could fathom
all his ways.
And as thy day goes down its western
slope,
Know, next to faith, his greatest gift to
thee is hope.
— Selected.
A Home and Health Society
By Iza E. Clement
MRS. IZA E. CLEMENT
The ladies of the Boulder (Colo.) church have organized a Home and Health society, with the motto, “A united effort for the improvement of our homes.”
Our program consists of papers and discussions on topics pertaining to the spiritual and healthful welfare of the home. The lady doctors of the sanitarium present the scientific and medical subjects, and then answer questions; thus affording us golden opportunities, which we appreciate very much. Different ones are appointed each week to lead out in the spiritual themes, and these are followed by a free discussion.
We have weekly prayer bands, which meet every Wednesday afternoon, and pray for some special object or soul, and cling to the promises of God until that particular prayer is answered.
Another feature of our work is the circulating library, consisting of such periodicals as Life and Health, American Motherhood, etc. We also have a scrapbook, given us by Dr. Kate Lindsay, in which we paste the most interesting articles from other magazines, thus providing ourselves with the best reading-matter obtainable.
A class has been organized in which a thorough training in Bible and periodical work, and Bible study will be given. This class expects to gain a good practical experience in the REVIEW campaign and Signs work this winter.
That this organization will be a blessing to our homes is already apparent, and its influence has extended beyond the boundaries of our own denomination, and been the means of interesting two women not of our faith. One of them attended Sabbath-school and church services last Sabbath, as well as the woman's meeting in the afternoon, and declared her determination to be present at every session of our society.
Boulder, Colo.
Personal Feeling
“O, it was no matter of principle, you know,” answered a lady, when a friend expressed surprise that in aiding to carry out an enterprise in which she was engaged with others, she had accepted plans and associations known to be disagreeable to her. “It was only a little personal feeling of mine, and it was not necessary that it should have the right of way.”
The reply revealed a character sweet and strong, trained to reasonableness and unselfishness. With too many the personal feeling is always first, and claims free course whatever may be hindered or pushed aside by it; mood and prejudice, like and dislike, take the right of way, and dominate the life.
It is rare self-control when one has learned to govern one's likes and dislikes, rather than be governed by them; to say to such feelings, “You may exist, but you shall not rule. Duty, justice, the right of others, shall take precedence always.”—Forward.
What You Can Do
“I THINK a Christian can go anywhere,” said a young woman who was defending her continued attendance at some very doubtful place of amusement.
“Certainly, she can,” rejoined her friend; “but I am reminded of a little incident that happened last summer when I went with a party of friends to explore a coal-mine. One of the young women appeared dressed in a dainty white gown. When her friends remonstrated with her, she appealed to the old miner who was to act as guide of the party.
“Can’t I wear a white dress down into the mine?” she asked, petulantly.
“Yes’m,” returned the old man. “There’s nothin’ to keep you from wearin’ a white frock down there, but there’ll be considerable to keep you from wearin’ one back.”—Selected.
The Silent Threads of Gold
LITTLE self-denials, little honesties, little passing words of sympathy, little nameless acts of kindness, little victories over favorite temptations,— these are the silent threads of gold, which, when woven together, gleam out so brightly in the pattern of life that God approves. — Canon Farrar.
Come, Lord Jesus!
By Worthie Harris Holden
WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
THOU Mighty One of Israel,
Exalted King on high,
Defender and Preserver still,
Our Helper ever nigh,
We laud thee with our humble praise,—
Our best and truest Friend,—
And for thy guidance all our days
Our grateful prayers ascend.
At this the threshold of the year
We claim thy might and love,
And know thy presence still more dear,
All earthly gifts above.
Know as the years fly sure and fleet
The coming draws apace
Of Israel’s Mighty One, to greet
His children face to face.
Speed on more swiftly in thy flight,
O years that intervene,
Ere faith shall wake to glorious sight
Of Israel’s Hope unseen!
Portland, Ore.
Tinnevelli, South India
By J. S. James
J. S. JAMES
UPON our return to Tinnevelli, after a brief respite at our Mussoorie hill station, we found ourselves literally buried in work. The first thing of importance was the dedication of our new bungalow, which was set for October 14. A program was arranged as follows:—
Songs in the Tamil language, reading of the one hundred fifteenth psalm, prayer by the pastor of the Church Missionary Society, reading of the one hundred forty-fifth psalm, an address, songs, and benediction.
In my address I dwelt largely on Mark 16: 15, 16, the chief points of our message to the world, and our relation to the unwarned millions. Fully fifteen hundred people from a number of villages, representing nearly all sects, participated in this occasion. We were profusely sprinkled with scented water and sandalwood paste, and literally buried with bunches of plantains and garlands of flowers. These proceedings are customary with the Indian people on all such occasions.
In the evening, after dark, I gave a stereopticon talk on the life of Christ. This was attended by all who attended the dedication services, and was much appreciated, as it was the first thing of its kind ever seen in this neighborhood. This stereopticon was donated by the Young People's Missionary Volunteer Society of the Utah Conference. It is a good machine, and forms a very important part of a missionary's equipment in this country. If the evening is quiet, the screen can be pitched in some village street (so the views can be seen from both sides), and old and young will stand spellbound for hours, listening to the explanation of half a dozen views. These pictures make a profound impression on their minds, and do much toward fastening the things that are taught. I wish here to express my thanks and appreciation to the young people of the Utah Conference for this most useful addition to our mission work.
We have now reached a critical point in our experience in connection with this so-called Sabbath-keeping sect. From our first acquaintance with them, a number of the leaders have stoutly opposed our work, keeping the congregation and community in a continual state of ferment. At the same time a considerable part of the congregation has been favorable to us. In the beginning, the leaders made us certain promises when a gift was made to us of two acres of land. These promises they have since repudiated. The past year those favorable to us have endeavored by every possible means to make their leaders fulfil their promises to us, but they remained obdurate.
The second Sabbath following the dedication the crisis came. In the morning at the usual hour for meeting, some twenty-five families, numbering over one hundred souls, publicly left their congregation and joined us in a service on our front veranda. Many of those whose sympathies and confidence we hold are in Ceylon (only a night's voyage by boat from here), and there are many more here who have not yet mustered the courage to step out. It has now been five weeks since these people came to us, and during this time the numbers have increased, and the attendance at meeting has been most faithful. The people have brought their offerings of produce and money and placed them on my table, and some are beginning to pay their tithe.
The coming of these people in this fashion means more than the reader can fully appreciate. No people on earth are more bound by custom or governed by tradition. To vary from these time-honored customs many times means social ostracism and banishment from home and business relations. These people have not become members of the church. They have simply placed themselves under our instruction and influence, and severed their connection with a system of heathenism which has held them for the past fifty years. They must be fully instructed and grounded in all our doctrines. This is an individual work, and will require time.
Since this division has taken place, the leaders have asked us to give up their school building which we have been using for a dispensary. This leaves us without any suitable building in which to carry on our medical work for the present. We are hoping to have some funds in hand shortly so we may put up a suitable building of our own. We must continue to push our medical work at all costs. It is chiefly the strong influence of our medical service to the people that has bound them to us, and helped them to separate themselves from their old ways. As I look over this audience, I see the faces of mothers whose lives we have saved, men, women, and children rescued from cholera, fever, dysentery, and other dread diseases.
A new feature of our work which demands immediate and serious consideration is a school for the children of the people who now look to us for help. A well-conducted school is a fruitful means of teaching the truth to both parents and scholars. I felt that it was necessary to strike while the iron was hot and conditions favorable, so a school was organized on November 1, with an attendance of thirty-five pupils, under two instructors. The school is being held in a rented building which is much too small already. We need some more land for a building site, and funds to put up a schoolhouse. We are powerless to go forward any faster unless help is sent to us soon. Since the school was opened, the attendance has grown to fifty-two. At the beginning of the new year some students from other schools belonging to our congregation will join.
We hear that help is being sent to us in south India. This makes us rejoice and thank God most sincerely. Their coming is none too soon. They will be given a hearty welcome by both ourselves and the native people of this community. Brethren, we need your prayers to the end that God will help us in establishing a bright beacon light in southern India.
Circulation of Our Literature in China
By Louise H. Roberts
MRS. LOUISE H. ROBERTS
IN the attitude of China toward literature, there is much to encourage the Christian printer. In no other missionary country is literature honored as it is in China. While the existence of many dialects may be considered to be a hindrance to the circulation of literature, it is a great blessing that the written character is used in all parts of the empire, so the difficulties to be overcome are not so great as in countries like India, where there are many languages, distinct from one another.
Formerly the ancient classics were all that the average Chinese desired in the way of literature; but the fact that conditions in China are greatly changing is not more manifest in any other thing than in the demand for modern literature. No longer content with being acquainted with only his immediate surroundings, the intelligent Chinese is grasping after a wider knowledge. He wants books on geography, history, science, and books dealing with the problems14that confront the Chinese empire at this present time, as she is seeking for the secret of the greatness of the Western nations. We believe that the demand for books on general topics is being well met by societies which have the good of the Chinese at heart, and it is not our mission to carry the burden of this kind of work; so we will leave that with them, hoping they may do well their part at this time when the enemies of truth and purity are ever vigilant. These latter are circulating books of questionable morals and atheistic teachings, and it will be only by the missionaries’ circulating sufficient Christian literature that deplorable results can be averted. General knowledge, however good it may be in itself, will not save the Chinese any more than it will us.
One authority on Chinese affairs says: “Though the production of mission presses is very large, yet this is but a foretaste of the demands to be laid upon them and upon authors in the awakening that is now beginning.”
What is our duty as missionaries and representatives of the Sabbath truth in view of these facts? Does China need our literature?—Most assuredly she does. We know that had the true Sabbath always been kept by man, there would never have been an idolater or an atheist. China is a nation without a Sabbath. How important it is, then, that the heavy-laden millions of China should be told of God’s holy rest day! and what a privilege it is for us to be allowed to carry to them the knowledge of the true Sabbath! To the Chinese a spurious sabbath at best can be only a form, and often is not more than a burden.
TRAVELING IN INLAND CHINA
China must also receive the warning, “Prepare to meet thy God.” We must have literature dealing with the signs of the times and the second coming of Christ. We can all see the need of health and temperance literature. We must have literature on every phase of our message, and it must be strong and unquestionable in doctrine, and as nearly perfect in regard to Chinese language and idiom as it is possible to make it.
It may be said that the large percentage of illiteracy prevents the circulation of any great amount of literature, and that even many of those who read will not be able to understand the meaning, but we must remember that conditions are rapidly changing in these respects. Education is becoming more general and more practical, and besides, a man who can read is usually the center of a small group of listeners. Then there is nothing that is not properly discussed in China, and I believe that curiosity often helps as much as any other natural means to spread the knowledge of the truth here.
To take the initiative in the circulation of our literature in China, we must, of course, have native colporteurs. These men should be staunch Christians, well acquainted with the truths they are handling, and able, in case they meet interested parties, to conduct a Bible reading with them, or explain intelligently the points of our faith.
The question of the support of these colporteurs is something we should consider. It may be that in some parts of China the colporteurs can not get a living from the proceeds of their sales, and will have to be helped with a small salary; but we must work toward the aim of making this work self-supporting, as that has proved in every field to be the most satisfactory. We are glad that we are to have foreign workers who will become acquainted with the language and act as leaders for the native colporteurs.
I believe that one great mission of our literature in China will be to open up new places to the foreign worker. A colporteur can go into a new district and scatter literature. Soon an interest to hear springs up, and perhaps a call is sent to the foreign worker to come down and teach them. The newly arrived missionary finds in the literature a source of satisfaction, for while he can not speak enough yet to preach, as he is fairly aching to do, he can speak enough to sell and distribute literature, and in this way feels that he, too, is helping to give the gospel.
I quote from the little book, “Dawn on the Hills of T’ang:” —
“Practically every Protestant missionary and native worker in China aids in the distribution of this literature. Inquirers are taught to read through books; schools and training classes can not exist without them; and they are the best and almost only agency through which to reach the gentry and officials of the empire, from local Nicodemuses to the occupant of the Dragon Throne. Missionaries and colporteurs sell books or judiciously loan or give them away in chapels and tea shops, at fairs and near the gates of government examination halls. Books are a legitimate excuse for the foreigners’ presence in a hostile district, and the native book-lending societies of the south gain an entrance for Christian truth by their means into country schools and the homes of grandees.”
Even in the home land, in the conferences that have been most thoroughly worked by our ministers, a large percentage of the church-members first came to a knowledge of the truth through reading-matter. Can we not see that if such is the case there, in China we must regard our literature as one of the most important factors in reaching the people with the message for this time? For even according to our most sanguine hopes, there will undoubtedly be millions who will never hear this message from the lips of the living preacher. The message in printed form does not arouse prejudice so readily as the spoken word may do, and is more likely to be given a thoughtful and careful hearing. God has richly blessed the printed page in all lands, and his Spirit is as ready to bring conviction to hearts who read it in China as in any place. The work with our literature is a live question with us now, and one that must be given our earnest consideration. If we put forth our best efforts in the preparation of our literature, and then send it out with our prayers that God will use it to bring light to many who now sit in darkness, we may safely leave the results in the hands of him who has promised that his word shall not return unto him void.
Shanghai, China.
The Kwang-tung General Meeting
By W. C. Hankins
W. C. HANKINS
THE Kwang-tung general meeting (the Canton district) opened the evening of October 1 with a good attendance. The first Sabbath there were one hundred eleven present at the Sabbath-school services, and on the last Sabbath of the meeting there were about one hundred fifty who attended the preaching service.
Four meetings were held each day. A regular program had been previously made out, and those who were to take part were notified some time before the meeting; thus everything was done decently and in order, with no confusion or uncertainty as to what was to be done. The program was written in large characters, and posted in a conspicuous place.
The meeting was full of interest from first to last, and the Holy Spirit was present to add his blessing.
On the last day of the meeting thirteen were baptized and received into the church, and one was received by profession of faith, who had previously been baptized by the Baptist mission. Nearly15half of those received were young people from the two schools. All the women and girls who were baptized, were pupils of Bethel School (Canton), who had entered the school at the beginning of this school year. The woman who was received on profession of faith was the teacher of the East Gate Girls’ School.
One young girl, who had been a day scholar at the East Gate School, but had entered Bethel School this year, came to Sister Amanda Vanscoy and asked if she too might be baptized. She had waited for some one to speak to her about it, but no one had done so, as it was thought best to allow each one to take the step without any persuasion; so she had finally mustered courage to speak of it herself. Her parents are heathen, but did not oppose her in taking this step.
Among the men was an old man who had been a robber chieftain, but who had given his heart to God, and was one of the most earnest of those at this meeting. Another was an old man who had spent many years in America, where he had made and lost a large fortune. He heard the gospel from Brother E. H. Wilbur while in Kongmoon. When he was being examined as a candidate for baptism, he said that he was happier now in his knowledge of the gospel than he had ever been when in possession of his fortune.
Two of those baptized were students in the Canton Boys’ School. Nearly all the thirteen who were baptized at this time had never been members of any other church, and you may be sure that it rejoiced our hearts to see these dear souls come out of heathenism into the light of the gospel of Christ.
After the baptism the girls were inquiring of Sister Vanscoy as to when we expected to hold another meeting like this one, and when told that it would probably be about a year from that time, one of the girls said it would be nice to have the meeting, but she didn’t think that she could ever be quite so happy again, as she could be baptized only once.
At one of the morning meetings one of the canvassers related his experience. The theme of the meeting was, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” and this brother was telling how much he had to rejoice for. He said that one day he met a preacher of one of the other missions who began to pity him. This minister compared the canvasser’s hard lot with his own easy time. He pitied our brother because he must work hard every day, and move from place to place, and tramp over so much territory, while all the minister had to do was to stay in his chapel and preach once or twice a week and have a good time. But the canvasser told him that he was the one to be pitied, because he must always stay in the same place and see the same people all the time, while the canvasser could move from place to place and see new faces every day.
It was in the same morning meeting that Brother Hung, of Chow Chow Fu, told how the Lord protects those who trust him and rejoice in him. His story was concerning the time before the Western nations had made treaties with China. At that time a young man from Hongkong went up into the Chow Chow district to preach the gospel. He had quite a hard time, but he was enthusiastic and zealous, and persevered in spite of hardships. He finally went to Hongkong and tried to persuade other young men to go back with him, but they refused, saying that there was no treaty made yet, and that they would have no protection. But this young man said that he had a treaty,—the Bible,—and that God was his protection.
He finally persuaded two young men to go with him, and they started for the Chow Chow district, trusting in God for protection. When they reached there, they were immediately arrested by one of the local officials and thrown into prison. “See,” said the young man, “how foolish were your doubts! You feared that no one would receive you, and here the mandarin and his soldiers have come to meet you; you feared that you would have no place to stay, but here the official has provided a place for you; you feared that no one would listen to your preaching, and now look at the crowds that have assembled to stare at us!”
The case of these young foreigners was soon brought to the notice of one of the higher officials, who commanded that they be released and sent back to Hongkong. He told the mandarin that his business was to catch evil-doers, but that these were good men. So they were released and sent back to Hongkong in safety. Just three days later the British attacked Canton, and if those young men had been in the hands of the Chinese at that time, they would surely have been murdered. Thus we see how God protects those who trust him.
After the meeting we went up to Fat Shan, where Dr. Law Keem is stationed. While there, we saw a Congregational minister who has recently become interested in the truth. We were much interested to learn how he came to be studying the truths of the third angel’s message. The story is, as nearly as we can remember it, like this:—
One day a former member of this man’s church came to him and asked him why he didn’t preach from the Bible, as they did over at the Sabbath mission? He also told him he thought that was much the best way to preach. The result was that the minister went over to hear Dr. Law preach; and then he began to study his Bible and prepare his sermons the same way. Some time after this there was a large union meeting in that city, and this man was asked to preach. After the sermon an old acquaintance came to him and said, “The Lord has been blessing you lately, and you have been studying your Bible more than usual, have you not? Your sermon was more spiritual than it ever was before.”
This minister has accepted many points of the truth, and is still studying. We are in hopes he may soon come into full harmony with us. Pray for him.
God is impressing many hearts and opening many doors, but the laborers are so few and the means so limited that it is impossible to follow up all the interests. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”
