WITH its eighteen large provinces, each one of which contains on an average a population equal to fully one fourth the population of the United States, China, one of whose names is the Middle Kingdom, presents an almost unlimited field for missionary effort. Missionaries of the various denominations are stationed in every province, Hunan being the last one to be entered; and the total number of native Christians now reaches many thousands, scattered in a large number of cities and villages throughout the whole empire.
PAGODA
THRESHING FLOOR
It is only about five years since missionaries under the direction of the Mission Board of the Seventh-day Adventists began to proclaim in China the distinctive gospel message which includes the Sabbath reform, and announces the second advent as near. During this time the number of stations has been steadily increasing until they are found in the following provinces:—
1. Kwang-tung: three stations, Canton, Fat-shan, Kongmoon.
2. Fukien, one principal station at Amoy, with several out-stations covering quite an extent of territory.
3. Kiang-si: one station at Shanghai, where a printing-office is located for supplying literature in the native tongue.
4. Honan: three principal stations, Shang-tsai, Siang-cheng, Cheo-Chia-K’Ou. There are three others where work has been done, but at which foreign workers are not at present located.
5. Hunan: one station, Chang-sha.
Definite plans have already been adopted for opening one or more stations in the province of Chihli, with headquarters either at Peking or Tientsin.
Systematic efforts are being put forth at the different stations for the training of native workers, and a good number of these helpers are now regularly employed as colporteurs and preachers. Schools for children are also being successfully conducted at some of the stations.
While this may seem quite a small beginning for such an immense field,—and so it is,—yet in view of the large number of fields in which this denomination is already supporting missionaries, the progress in China has been most encouraging, and the near future will doubtless see large additions made to the present supply of workers, and other provinces entered with this proclamation of a soon-coming Saviour.
NATIVE CHRISTIAN MEN AT THE SIANG-CHENG CONFERENCE
An Evangelist’s Experience
By A. C. Selmon, M. D.
BAPTIZING A NATIVE CONVERT
The evangelist Wun made a trip to one of the railroad towns about sixty miles from the mission station, taking with him a supply of Sabbath calendars and portions of the Gospels. The railroad towns have a bad reputation throughout the country. The Chinese are very apt in copying the vices of the railroad and business men. The enemy is making the most of his agencies; for not only the large towns, but all through the country the villages and small places are being placarded with cigarette advertisements.7Not only cigarettes but foreign liquor as well finds a ready sale. Practically every inn in the railroad towns is an opium-joint.
DE LUXE
It was to such a town as this that the evangelist went to give the gospel message. He first began preaching in a place near the railroad station; but a crowd of soldiers came up to him, and, with much cursing and threatening, ordered him to leave. Leaving the station and going into the city, he began preaching on one of the principal streets, but no one stopped to listen. Finally he became discouraged, but, as he sat down and asked the Lord to help him, the words of John the Baptist came into his mind, ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Standing up, he began to cry out, ‘Moh rih chin liao, ni men ing tang whei kai’ (Repent; for at least the end of the world is near). It is needless to say that he soon had a large crowd around him to hear what he had to say.
A COMPANY OF MISSIONARIES IN CONFERENCE AT SHANGHAI
A PEKING CHAIR
NATIVE CHRISTIAN WOMEN ATTENDING A CONFERENCE
In a short time he sold all the calendars and Gospel portions that he had on hand.
A. C. SELMON, M. D.
A Providential Opening
By E. H. WILBUR
THE Lord has in a most unexpected manner opened the way for us to carry on permanent work in Ngoi Hoi, a wealthy village of over ten thousand inhabitants, five miles from Kongmoon. The people nearly all belong to one family, named Ch’an, who are noted for their great learning, many being distinguished scholars. About three months ago six or seven of these brethren came together to see us, and asked many questions. Early in February, about twenty from this village came twice to attend our Sabbath services in Kongmoon. E. H. WILBUR.
The Sign Over the Door
By Mrs. J. N. Anderson
OUT in the country two or three miles from the village of San-li-tien, we came across a home having over the entrance of its enclosure, in large Chinese characters, this inscription: “MAY THE GREAT TRUTH COME TO THIS DOOR.” It is quite common for these people to express their New-year’s wishes in proverbs over the doors of their dwellings.
An atmosphere of thrift and neatness prevailed, which was not common in these homes. But, as might be known from the mute witness over the gateway, temporal things were not the chief concern of the occupants of this home, or, at least, were not so with the wife, who at her first visit, related her experience to the missionary.
AROUND THE RICE-BOWL
Some time last summer a portion of the Scriptures had fallen into her husband’s hands, and through his reading, the suggestion of a new and fuller life had come to her. So earnestly did she desire to know more of this heavenly doctrine, as she called it, that she had committed to the arch of her gateway the longing she knew not how to satisfy.
No one who was present to see how eagerly she pressed to the side of her new teacher, gazing almost rapturously into her face as she read from the beautiful words of Jesus, her own expressive countenance radiant with the light kindling within her soul, and saw how tenderly and lovingly she stroked the New Testament given to be her very own, could for a moment doubt the sincerity of her words.
Long ago she and her husband had ceased to worship idols directly; but knowing no better way, had sent out their petitions to earth, sea, and sky. Into the vast universe of the vaguely known, in search of the Great Unknown. Feeling after God, she had found him, and now she knelt in reverent thankfulness before the Creator of earth, sea, and sky. Mrs. J. N. ANDERSON.
WAIFS
A Blaze of Light in Korea
KOREA, the “hermit nation,” the land of mystery and of demon dancers, one of the darkest and least-known countries, is hearing the advent warning.
The blaze of light in far Korea is one of the gleaming signals of the new time in God’s work. “He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness.” Into the darkest corners of the earth the light of the last message is now streaming. “The day is at hand!”
DRAWING AN IDOL IN THE STREETS
Korea tried to shut itself away from the world, like a hermit in his hut. Its coasts were patrolled to keep out the foreigner. Cities and villages were laid in ruins along the Manchurian border, in order to make a wide waste, more easily guarded. But the day of opening doors came, and Korea’s long-barred gates were swung ajar.
The treaty of 1882, with the United States, permitted foreigners to enter. In 1884 the Presbyterians planted the first mission. Even before this, however, the Scriptures had entered, and the Word of God was bringing forth fruit.
A missionary in Manchuria, John Ross, of Mukden, sent a Chinese servant to the border towns to seek for a Korean who would teach him the language. It was a hard quest, for Korean laws forbade such intercourse with foreigners. One day a Korean merchant had his barge of goods sunk in the Yalu River, and landed on the Manchurian side a ruined man. Just then the missionary’s servant arrived, still looking for a teacher. The merchant engaged himself secretly, and the result was the translation9of the New Testament into Korean.
Another providential “accident” then brought a Korean to set the type. In the process, the typesetter became a Christian. Before ever the full Testament was brought out, this man was set free to go back to his native valley in north-western Korea with a supply of the Gospel of Luke and a few tracts. He came back with the books all sold, and word that there were those who wished to be baptized. His story was not credited; and again he was sent out to other valleys with the printed Gospels. Erelong wandering Koreans brought word to Mukden that many people in Korea were praying to the “God of heaven.” Then the missionaries scaled the mountain passes and entered these valleys. Scores were found anxious for baptism, and hundreds were reading the Scriptures and praying. Later came the opening of the country, and fruitful mission work was begun in Seoul, the capital city of the hermit kingdom.
CHURCH AT SOONAN
THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE
In May, 1904, a Korean passing through Kobe, Japan, stopped to study a sign written in Japanese and Chinese characters: “Meeting Hall of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.” A brother within saw the stranger, and beckoned to him to enter. That friendly wave of the hand brought the first Korean Sabbath-keeper to the study of the advent message. It was a silent conversation, for they could talk only by writing in Chinese characters on a slate. Again the Korean came, bringing a younger man. Both were Christians, hungry for more light, and the truths of this message captivated their hearts.
MISSIONARY'S HOUSE, BUILT BY KOREANS
The last study, which was on baptism, lasted till midnight. The older man, Ryn Un Hyun, was to sail in the morning, and with tears our first two Korean Sabbath-keepers begged for immediate baptism. By the light of paper lanterns, after midnight, they were buried in baptism,—the older to go on to Hawaii; the younger, Song Fun Cho, to return to Korea.
On the return passage, Song Fun Cho taught the new-found truth to Lim Ki Pan, journeying to Chinnampo, on Korea Bay, across from Port Arthur. The light spread in the region about Chinnampo. Then came this message:—
A QUARTET OF TYPICAL KOREANS
“MY DEAR OLD BROTHER: When you read this, hasten to take the boat and come to us. In your letter you wrote that you can not understand our language; but if God is with you, why need you fear?”
Then our missionary, Kobe preacher, Brother Kuniya, went over, and later Elder F. W. Field, director of the Japanese mission, followed. Seventy-one persons were baptized in the brief fortnight’s visit, four churches were organized, and the Sabbath truth was “spreading like a blaze.”
This was the method of work:— “Brother Kuniya talks the little Korean that he has picked up, and what little Japanese the Korean brother knows, with an occasional English word. When words fail, he writes on a slate in Chinese characters. Then Brother Lim Ki Pan speaks to the inquirer in good Korean.”
THE SANITARIUM FOR THE JAPANESE AT KOBE
But notwithstanding all, the Word of God had free course and was glorified. No wonder the brethren reported that “this message is let loose in Korea,” and called for a missionary to locate and labor there.
Meanwhile Song Fun Cho had reached his destination in southern Korea. Not much was heard of him; but after a time he returned to Kobe to plead for help. Then word came that round about Fusan, across the straits from Japan, where he has been living, thirty-five Koreans were keeping the Sabbath, and many more were asking for light.
A BUDDHIST PRIEST
Thus like flaming beacons the providences of God in the darkest and uttermost parts of the earth flash the signal to arise now to the finishing of the work. Not long years of waiting for entrance or for fruitage have we now before us. The Holy Spirit is being poured out upon thirsty souls. Swiftly the final message of “the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” is speeding to every tongue and tribe. “A short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Thank God for this lesson from Korea, or the land of Cho-sen, as its people call it, meaning the Land of Morning Calm.
