p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 23. (6/16/1914)

The Ripening Harvests of China

By Francis E. Stafford

Earnestly Asking to Hear the Message — A Tour of Investigation — Encouraging Omens — More Out-Stations to Be Established

FRANCIS E. STAFFORD

PLEAS E, honorable pastor, can you not send us a teacher to tell us more about the warning message? We have seen a copy of your paper published at Shanghai, and are anxiously waiting to be instructed about Christ's coming and the end of the world.

BRIDGE AT SUCHOU, SHOWING CITY WALL THROUGH THE ARCH

Thus read one of the letters that we had received from time to time during the last year, and that led us to decide to make a trip to Suchou, to investigate openings there for the preaching of the third angel's message and the establishment of permanent evangelistic work.

A TRAIN OF BOATS

Leaving Shanghai at four o'clock in the afternoon, our little house-boat was attached to a train of boats pulled by a steam-launch, and the next morning by eight o'clock we were in sight of the city of Suchou, called by many "the Venice of the East."

The Chinese regard this as one of their richest and most beautiful cities. A common proverb says: "Above is heaven. Below are Suchou and Hangchau." Another saying is, that to be happy, one should be born in Suchou, live in Hangchau, and die in Canton; for in the first are the handsomest people, in the second the costliest luxuries, and in the third the best coffins.

The canal on which we traveled skirts the city wall for several miles; and as it was greatly congested by traffic, we were several hours in reaching our stopping-place. Our boat was drawn up and fastened to the shore near the launch company's office, just outside the west gate of the city.

NATIVE WORKERS IN ACTION

We immediately started out with our force of native workers to visit as much of the city as possible during our short stay. In the two days' time we were there, we were enabled to place several hundred copies of our Chinese Signs in the homes and shops of the city, besides giving away a large number of small tracts on the "Signs of the End," which we have prepared for free distribution. We also saw a considerable part of the city, making notes of prospective openings to be entered later for permanent work.

There are several fine gardens in and around Suchou, as well as a number of historical old pagodas. One pagoda, called Pozi-ta, in the center of the city, is nine stories high and in good repair. A circular stairway leads up to the top story, from which is afforded a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding country.

A BEAUTIFUL SCENE

Outside the city, the fields as far as could be seen were a blaze of yellow from the blossoms of a plant that resembles the mustard plant, and that is raised for the purpose of making oil from the seeds. Here and there among the fields were patches of bright green, which is the winter wheat just beginning to head out. Dotting the whole landscape could be seen little clumps of trees, from which the white country houses shine out; and the numerous canals running in every direction appear like tiny silver threads, binding the whole scene into one harmonious picture, which will be long treasured in memory.

However, the traveling public is not allowed this fine view without some adequate compensation to the old monks in charge of the pagoda. When we entered the doorway, a monk met us and asked an alm; and as is customary, we gave him a few coppers and passed on in.

He was not satisfied at this, though, and seeing we were foreigners, very indignantly demanded some silver. Thinking we had given him enough, we went on in, intending to go up-stairs; but try as we would, we could not locate the stairway.

Every passage we entered, after turning and twisting, finally led back to the main doorway again, where the old monk was still waiting for his dues. We therefore decided to give him what he wanted, and he then very solemnly lighted an oil taper, and escorted us through a pitch-dark passage that led abruptly to the stairway, and after some arduous climbing we emerged at the top.

Turning from the beautiful view of the country, back to the city below, we were forcibly reminded how far man has departed from God's original plan of living. There in the great city at our feet were close to a million men, women, and children, huddled together in dark, dirty houses, running to and fro on the narrow, congested streets, appearing from our elevated view as a great human ant-hill. The majority of these people are living in depths of degradation, misery, and disease, that can never be comprehended by our brethren and sisters brought up in Christian homes of the home land.

How to reach this great people with the third angel's message in this generation, and tell them the good news of deliverance from their misery and woes, and the prospect of a happy home in the new earth, is a problem that taxes the workers to the breaking point at times. Truly the harvest is great and the laborers are few. Who will come and help reap China's already overripe harvest?

THE "SWORD POOL"

About a mile north of the city is the little village of Huchou, nestled at the foot of a hill upon which stands a very old pagoda, crumbling in decay, and which leans to one side, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Just below the crest of the hill there is a rock cavern and a pool called the "Sword Pool." It is said that here, as far back as two thousand years ago, the famous Chinese warriors came to sharpen their swords by rubbing them upon the smooth stones by the pool, before going out to battle. The stones are still visible, with deep grooves worn in them by the rubbing.

Suchou was at one time the capital city of the ancient Wu kingdom, and is often mentioned in Chinese history. It is at present the capital of the Kiang-su province, one of the largest cities of the Yang-tse Valley, and a great educational center. It is famous for its silks and brocades, and has also some cotton manufacturers and a valuable trade in rice. The city is so large that in order to cover any ground we were obliged to ride donkeys, which are very plentiful, and can be hired almost any place along the street.

HUNGRILY DRANK IN THE WORDS

Not long after our arrival, our friends who wrote the letter hunted us up, and we asked them to come back at night for a Bible study. They were on hand promptly at the appointed time; and as we opened the word of God, and explained the prophecies showing the nearness of the Saviour's coming and the end of all things, they listened with rapt attention, drinking in the words of truth as hungry souls that could not be satisfied. They begged us to stay longer; but as other work was pressing, we were obliged to leave the following day. So we committed them to God's care, encouraging them to take a firm stand to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. They besought us to return soon and open permanent work in Suchou.

On our return trip, we stopped at a place called Nanziang, about twelve miles from Shanghai; and after looking over the place, we were so impressed by the excellent opportunities, that we decided to open an out-station and hold a tent effort next month.

THE LORD HAD GONE BEFORE

It was plain to all that God had gone before and prepared the way; for although we were there only about eight hours, yet in that time we located a new store building on a good street in the center of town, an excellent location for a chapel, and were enabled to rent it for a year for about thirty dollars gold.

Not far from the chapel is a vacant lot that we thought would be an ideal place to pitch our tent; but the native evangelists feared that the landlord would not be willing to rent it for that purpose, or in case he was willing to rent, they felt sure he would ask an exorbitant price. We took the matter to God in prayer; and when we interviewed the landlord, and explained to him what we wanted to do, he told us to go ahead and use the land for one or two months or as long as we liked, and that he would charge us nothing for it.

MORE OUT-STATIONS

We returned to Shanghai just in time to attend the annual meeting of the Kiang-su Mission. The yearly report showed sixteen persons baptized. In the past, most of the work has been confined to Shanghai and the immediate vicinity; but plans were laid, at this meeting, for strengthening and enlarging the work, and we hope to be able to open several out-stations this year. This meeting was followed by a workers' institute, where careful study was made of methods of work, Elder Porter giving much valued assistance, and important instruction especially applicable to our needs at this time.

REMEMBER THIS WORK

We are now very busy preparing for our tent meeting, and we hope to be able to send in a good report of this meeting later. The workers here are all of good courage, and thank God for His manifold blessings to us the past year, and especially for the many remarkable providences in which we have seen His hand going before us, opening doors of opportunity, and working upon the hearts of men to move them to repentance, conversion, and salvation.

We request the Signs readers to remember this work in their prayers, that the warning of China's millions may be hastened, and thus the way be quickly prepared for the Saviour to come and gather His people home; and may He at that time find many souls from the Kiang-su province ready for the heavenly kingdom, is the most earnest prayer of the missionaries laboring here.

F. E. STAFFORD SELLING THE CHINESE "SIGNS OF THE TIMES" IN SUCHOU

HUCHOU PAGODA, SUCHOU — "SWORD POOL" UNDER CROSS

The Grace of Hospitality

By Mary Alice Hare Loper, M. S.

"How Long Are You Going to Stay?" The "Great Woman" and Her Guest

DID you ever enter a home where you had reason to expect a hearty welcome, and have your hostess in an unequivocal manner say to you during your introductory conversation with her, "How long are you going to stay?" If you never did, you have missed an experience that you can well afford to do without; for one thing that is indispensable to the happiness of every guest, whether an old-time friend or a new acquaintance, whether the visit be of one day's duration or of many, is a sincere welcome.

NOT SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY

Roomy apartments, lavish furnishings, elegant table appointments, of themselves are not sufficient to satisfy the inmost longings of that soul who for the time is separated from the hallowed associations of home, with all that is dearest on earth, and who longs for the blessed communion of friend with friend. The one thing that finds a responsive chord in the heart of an individual under such circumstances, is the sweet assurance that his presence is esteemed, and that he need not commit himself as to the exact time of his departure.

THE COIN OF FRIENDSHIP AND THE HEART OF STONE

Yes, "How long are you going to stay?" is the unpleasant echo that one sometimes hears when the coin of friendship drops unexpectedly upon the stony heart of a selfish, pessimistic hostess. The atmosphere in which she dwells is so close and so devoid of the health-giving oxygen of hospitality, that her guest, as well as herself, regrets the evident intrusion of a visit. But O, the sweetness of the association of friends where —

The twining rose of love so softly clambers About the threshold, while the ivy green Of happiness there delicately wanders, And spreads o'er all its magic emerald sheen!

The morning-glories bloom just as beautifully on the lowly cottage as on the palace of a king; and the cordial welcome so necessary to the happiness of every guest is just as sweet in the little mountain cabin as in the more pretentious home of the fashionable city suburb.

A GREAT WOMAN AND HER GUEST

I have found myself much interested in reading the fascinating and instructive story of "a great woman." The setting of the story is at the little ancient town of Shunem, between Jezreel and Mount Tabor, in that land so sacred to every lover of Holy Writ, which lies adjacent to the Jordan and the sea. This "great woman" and her husband were friends of the prophet Elisha, an itinerant missionary of those days, who had a standing invitation to share in the hospitality of their home; so as often as he passed that way, in company with his servant, Gehazi, he "turned in thither to eat bread."

“O, THE SWEETNESS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS”

BUILT A ROOM ON PURPOSE

Realizing that she lacked a room suited to the needs of her "sometime guest," this "great woman" said to her husband, "Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither." Her husband granted her request, and Elisha greatly appreciated the little room built especially to supply his need. We can imagine him after the day's travel, tired and footsore as he neared this haven of rest, where it was his privilege to find a temporary home, and to enjoy the blessedness of Christian hospitality.

In reading the brief story of this "great woman" of twenty-eight centuries ago, one is forced to conclude that one element of her greatness consisted in cheerful service to others. One can not be great as measured by the divine standard, without this beautiful characteristic.

PRIZED HER OPPORTUNITY

This "great woman" was willing to work as well as pray, for she improved the opportunities that came to her for Christian service. She did not "weary in well-doing," and say: "Elisha, I think you would better go to the inn, or find some other stopping-place where you may eat bread. I am very busy now, caring for figs and grapes, and a little later the olives will need attention. Besides, I think that I have done my part in caring for you, and that it is about time some of the other Israelites did their duty along this line."

No, she did not talk in this strain, nor did she go among her neighbors, to gossip about how much Elisha ate, or how many candles he burned. On the contrary, we are assured that he was always a welcome guest at mealtime, and we have no record that a meter was ever placed on the candle-box. This "great woman" was willing to sacrifice to supply the needs of the "man of God," and her husband gave his support to the blessed work. He was not of the lazy, selfish type, whose circle of service includes only "me and my wife, my son John and his wife, us four, no more," or he never would have consented to build the little room on the wall just for the accommodation of guests.

THEIR OWN SON WAS SAVED

This "great woman" and her husband later experienced the joy of having their son restored to life through this same prophet Elisha. Were no further reward in store for them, that surely repaid them for all their kindly service. But to those whose lives are filled with loving ministries to Christ in the person of His saints, the promise is sure, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

"Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall." That ancient guest-room was ideally located up in the sunshine and fresh air, just where sleeping apartments should be. The "great woman" did not assign her guest to a musty

room, nor did she doom him to spend his nights in damp sheets. How do I know this? — Because Elisha would not have accepted repeatedly hospitality that at any time might result in fatal illness.

THE HOSTESS AND THE DEATH CHAMBER

That hostess who does not place any higher value upon human life than to provide death-dealing sleeping apartments for guests, need partake of this sort of hospitality but once in order to become convinced that this is not a pleasant death to die. It requires little stretch of the imagination to believe that many an epitaph might truthfully be written after the style of the ancient churchyard, something like this:

Here lies a poor man who thought it quite clever To sleep free of charge—alas the endeavor! The bedclothes were damp, They gave him a cramp, And now he is sleeping forever.

The world needs hospitality now just as it did in the time of ancient Israel. And where a "great woman" resides to-day, she is imbued with the same self-sacrificing spirit that was so manifest in the life of the hostess at Shunem. She, too, is a believer in fresh air; and she advocates not only a "dry state," but dry, health-giving sleeping apartments.

NO DUST-CATCHERS

There is no record that the little sunny guest-room at Shunem had any proverbial dust-catchers in the form of tapestries, curtains, or carpet. But in these days of more civilization and less health, those who entertain ministers usually have guest apartments furnished with those things which may become harbingers of disease. However, this need not be the case. If one has no vacuum sweeper, tapestries and curtains may be removed during the process of sweeping, and with gentle dusting before being replaced, they need not become a serious menace to health. Rugs are preferable to floor carpets from the standpoint of health, being easier to keep sanitary.

California is blessed with a climate much resembling that of the Holy Land. And it is gratifying to know that here and there in this garden spot on the shores of the "Sundown Sea," is a "great woman," a modern Shunammite, who loves to dispense hospitality, and the atmosphere of whose life is fragrant with the aroma of little deeds of loving service to others. O, the blessedness of such a home! And when the time arrives to "eat bread," it is the welcome that rejoices the heart of the weary traveler now just as it did that of the prophet of old. And the blessed assurance remains to-day, "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Try it, and you will never have just cause to regret the experience.

Humility

By H. E. Sawyer-Hopkins

MAN'S highest aim should be to secure the approbation of his Maker. But how natural it is to desire to be of some account in the eyes of one's fellow men! The wise man has declared that “before honor is humility.” Prov. 15:33.

From the pen of a well-known writer I find these words: “The humble soul whose main dependence is upon the Almighty, He can best use to the honor and glory of His name.” “If they would cherish humility, the Lord could do much more for His people; but there are few who can be trusted with any large measure of responsibility or success without becoming self-confident, and forgetful of their dependence upon God. This is why, in choosing the instruments for His work, the Lord passes by those whom the world honors as great, talented, and brilliant. They are too often proud and self-sufficient. They feel confident to act without counsel from God.”

We read of ancient Israel meeting with repeated failures when they ventured any undertaking in their own strength and wisdom. Let us not forget, then, that the humble, praying men are the ones who accomplish most for God, and that He will do great things for all who give Him opportunity.

H. E. SAWYER-HOPKINS.

Cooperation Corner

By Editor

THE opportunity is offered to help some one not so fortunate as ourselves. Many calls—in fact, a continual stream—are received at the office, for copies of the SIGNS for those who can not afford to pay for them. They, as well as we, desire to study these important subjects, but are not able to supply themselves with papers.

We call your attention to this from time to time, and many of our readers gladly contribute to our Cooperation Corner Fund. Here is a letter just received:

“Enclosed find $2.00 for Cooperation Corner. Please use anywhere most needed, from a SIGNS OF THE TIMES reader and one who believes and is interested in the message.”

This good offering is much appreciated, and in behalf of the beneficiary, we acknowledge the gift.

Remittances should be sent to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Cooperation Corner.

To Church School Teachers

By Charles C. Lewis

Your vacation is just at hand. Perhaps it has already begun. No doubt you are thinking about those studies you will need to pursue in order to obtain a higher grade certificate. The Fireside Correspondence School is able to help you, and would like to do so. We will start you at once, and let you pay the tuition by instalments, or in any other way that will better suit your convenience. Write at once for calendar, stating what subjects you would like to take up. C. C. Lewis, Principal, Takoma Park, D. C.

SMALL WORKS ON

By Editor

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