A Chinese heathen woman has been coming for some time to our meetings. Her husband has been very prejudiced and forbade her to come. One of the great evils among the women of Java is that of gambling. This woman spent whole days and weeks at it, until she forgot everything else. Her husband has done his utmost to earn enough money to keep his wife well supplied, and then he has sent her away to gamble so that she should not attend the meetings. Since she has learned the evil of this, she will not go any more, and this has made her husband still more furious.
Their smallest boy, a little lad about four years of age, seems really to be moved in a special way by the Spirit of God. He always pleads with his mother to take him to the meetings. He comes and sits for one hour without moving, and listens like an old man. He often speaks to his father and shows him by example how he must kneel down and pray to the God who made all things, and tells him that their dead gods cannot help them. Whenever the father sees him kneeling down and praying the Lord's Prayer, which he has learned from us, the father whips him with a big stick; but the boy does not seem to mind in the least, and goes right on worshiping the true God. One day this little lad took the stick and hit the long candles and joss-sticks, which are used in worshiping the idols, and broke them all to pieces. God is able in these last days to raise up children who will become witnesses for him.
P. TUNHEIM.
Java, East Indies.
DINNER-HOUR AT A JAVA SCHOOL
CHILDREN OF THE PHILIPPINES
CHILDREN’S PAGE
By Vera Chilton
Out of the Mouth of Babes
As a rule, Mohammedans in this city are not kindly disposed toward the teaching of the gospel in their homes, and often at the first two or three visits it is difficult to make a beginning. As far as possible I prefer to wait for them to ask me to read; they take it so much better than when they feel it is being forced upon them. In such cases, after the first few kindly greetings, I sit very quietly, gazing earnestly at my book, praying that God may move by his Spirit on their hearts to ask me to read. Very often I find this seems to touch a chord in their hearts, and they are given up to the Spirit’s working.
THE SAME CHILDREN (WHAT A DIFFERENCE CLOTHES MAKE)
It was in such a house one day I sat. The women’s faces seemed so hard and indifferent, and time was passing swiftly; still no one asked me to read, and my heart was yearning over them. As earnest prayer was ascending for an opening for the precious seed to be sown, the baby of the house, a tiny mite scarcely able to walk, leaving his mother’s arms, came to my side, and patting my book with one little hand and looking up into my face, with his sweet little baby lisp, said, “Parhiye,” which is Urdu for “Please read.” It was as if an angel spoke. Silence fell upon those assembled there, as the Word, the true bread of life, was broken to them at the child’s bidding.
Verily, “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.”
VERA CHILTON.
Lucknow, India.
The School Around a Rice-Sieve
By Hung Hei Ying
WHILE visiting among the country villages back in the interior from my home, I was surprised to find in one village the children intelligent in Bible knowledge. They seemed to know about the Bible characters, and could answer readily a great many questions. This was very strange indeed, for the women and even a great many of the men did not know how to read. Where, then, had these children learned?
I asked if they had a school in their village. No, there was no school there. A chapel then? — No, there was no chapel in that part. Where, then, have you learned these things? One boy answered that a certain man in the village taught the boys a little every evening.
I made it in my way to search out this man, and this is what I saw: He was a farmer, and lived in a little mud-brick house with a straw roof and no floor. He was a poor man, too, for he must pay a high rent to the landlord on the fields he tilled. But every day after the evening meal was finished, he gathered into his little home his own children, and as many others as were willing and free to come. The big rice-sieve was turned over on the bottom of23a grain basket, and the children clustered around it for their lesson. This was their table, and the plain farmer was their teacher. The school went merrily on for an hour or more, the teacher naming the characters, and the children, all together, repeating them after him. Afterward each child took turn in reading by himself, after which their teacher spent a few minutes explaining the meaning of what had been studied.
Baby Konigmacher learning to ride, Mantandane Station, Nyasaland.
The table was then inverted, and became a rice-sieve again, and the teacher was transformed into the farmer. “Come, children, we must work the harder now to make up for the time spent in reading. All hands move fast.” The children flew to their work with the same willing spirit they had shown in their study.
These people were too poor to spare the children from work during the daytime, too poor to help support a school, or even to afford a table upon which to lay their books; but earnestness and zeal made up for the lack of these things, and eternity alone will reveal the influence of that faithful farmer and his school around the rice-sieve.
HUNG HEI YING.
A Little Missionary of South India
By Mrs. G. G. Lowry
Embroidery workers in our girls’ school.
Boarding-school at Nazareth, south India.
Soon after we came to India, we met a little boy about eleven years of age who is exceptionally bright in many ways, and who was very anxious to know our reasons for believing and teaching the Bible. We talked with him upon different points of truth, and he became much interested. After a few days he was convinced that we have the truth, but knowing what it would mean to him (his elder brother had accepted this message and undergone some very severe trials), he endeavored to keep all this from his parents.
Wor Te Hung.
He asked us for a tract, which we gladly gave him, with some copies of the Youth's Instructor. He took these to the school and read them to his classmates. His father, who is head master of the school, seeing him reading the Scriptures to the boys, said, “That is good, my son, tell them about the Bible,” and passed on. A few days later the boy was reading the tract alone, when his father caught him and took it away from him, telling him he could not read it nor come to see us any more. That night the father, supposing all the boys were asleep, took the tract and read it through before stopping. But this boy was watching him all the time. The boy is now permitted to visit us, and says as soon as he is a little older he is going to join our mission.
In speaking to us concerning the work that he is doing, he said: “In the school of five hundred boys to which I go, all are Hindus and Mohammedans except twenty. Whenever our teacher leaves the room, I take the opportunity to talk to the boys about ‘the Christ’ and ‘the Christianity.’ They sometimes make fun of me, but I don’t care for that, because the Christianity is the best religion. One very pious Mohammedan boy, who has always laughed at the Christianity, said to me, just before the examination came, ‘You please pray to the Christ that I may pass in the examination.’ I give the boys papers on the Christianity to read, and about twenty say that when they are older they will accept the Christ.” The boy’s mother came to see me, and says she will come often.
MRS. G. G. LOWRY.
Home on furlough.
Carrying Loads in Korea
By Ella Camp Russell
It is interesting to watch the women and girls in Korea as they go to the public wells for the household supply of water. They walk very erect and look straight ahead, for they carry the jar of water upon their heads. I have seen women carrying loads in this way that must have weighed more than one hundred pounds.
Korean girls with water-jars.
Often at the well, where the family wash is taken to be beaten upon a flat rock, when the work is finished and the pile of wet clothing stacked up on a huge wooden tray, the woman finds she is unable to lift the load from the ground. Then two other women, or more if necessary, will lift the tray, and after a moment in which the bearer seems to be trying to get her load to balance, she will walk off with it on her head, not slowly and painfully, but with a swift, firm tread.
I saw a woman returning from market with a large collection representing her purchases packed away in a very wide straw basket, upon the top of which was a red rooster with his feet tied. The effect, as she went down the road with this upon her head, was strikingly similar to some head-dresses worn by her fashionable Western sisters.
ELLA CAMP RUSSELL.
Soonan.
About a Few African Snakes
By S. M. Konigmacher
SOME little time ago we were all gathered in the church for morning worship. We read from God's Holy Word and knelt down to ask his blessing for the day, and were going out to begin the work of the day, when one of my teachers spied a snake coiled under the seat where we had bowed in prayer a few moments before.
At another time, just a few days past, one of the boys while on his way to school saw a large snake over six feet in length coiled under a fruit-vine only fifteen feet from the house, where the baby goes at will. I was busy at the time, but on hearing a commotion, went out to see what it was, and the boy cried out, “Mamba!” which means cobra, a very poisonous snake. Another boy came to help, and the three of us finished him. After he was stretched out, we found it was not a cobra. The following day I killed a small snake which was swallowing a frog by the side of the path. We were out in the field gathering African holly, and Mrs. Konigmacher put out her hand to pluck a bunch of berries, as a very poisonous snake, just the color of the wood, was crawling along the branch. I killed it as it was creeping into another tree. So the Lord protects from poisonous serpents, and we thank him for his care.
S. M. KONIGMACHER.
Mantandane Mission, Nyasaland.
Chinese Testimonies
J. J. WESTRUP, of Honan, relates two testimonies he heard lately:—
One man, named Hsueh Dao Ming, two years ago was the most powerful lawyer in a large city of several hundred thousand people, and made money fast. At one time he was also a mandarin. He said:
“You see me here firing under my own kettle and preparing my own food, and perhaps you think it strange, but I have learned to imitate my Master and to know that it is more blessed to serve than to be served. Before I knew Jesus, I made a great deal of money, but I never had any peace. It was a constant trouble and worry. Now I have peace in my soul, and I value that above everything else in this world. I am determined to follow after Jesus, and to serve him.” This brother and his wife have given up the opium habit, to which both were completely addicted, and many other things for Christ. The gospel is certainly a power.
Another brother, Tu Fu Chu, who is now one among the most powerful preachers we have, said the other day to his wife, who is rather slow in yielding her life to Jesus:—
“Can’t you see what a great change there is in my life? Some time ago I used to swear and gamble and whip you and the children. I was a terror in the home as well as in the neighborhood. Now I have overcome all that, and all the time I treat you kindly, lovingly, and patiently. Can’t you see what a power there is in this doctrine (tao li)? You turn to Jesus and he will be the same power in you.”
A Voice From Australia
IN a praise meeting, when missionaries from all lands were telling their experiences, A. W. Anderson, attending the World's Conference in Washington, D. C., last May, from Australia, a native of that country, spoke as follows:—
“All the other missionaries who have spoken have been missionaries from this country to foreign lands, but I am from another land, though at home among you. It is twenty years since I accepted this gospel truth in Australia. I was told by my relatives that I should lose all my friends, but I have always taken comfort from this text of Scripture: ‘Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.’ I used to think this was a mere figure of speech; but I had not been long with this people before I found it was literally true. Wherever I have traveled and found Seventh-day Adventists, I have found brothers and sisters, and fathers and mothers, and houses and lands; for I am made welcome as a part of the great family. In Tahiti, in San Francisco, in Portland, wherever I went, it was just the same. And now here in this great General Conference, it is like one great family. When I came on this ground, I found that my relatives had multiplied a thousandfold. I am thankful to be one with you.”
VOICES OF PRAISE
By Y. Seino
The Way of Happiness
I DESIRED to find the way of true happiness. With this object, I began to study Buddhist books. About this time I met Matsukura San, a Seventh-day Adventist. I had hated Christianity while I was in school, and now I hated it more when I heard his teaching. I protested; but he testified for Christ and never took his words back. Then I began to study Christianity in order to oppose him. As I studied, I found that this was the way of happiness for which I was seeking. I found power in God's Word. I now believe, and I am rejoicing in it. Y. SEINO. Tokio, Japan.
SIAMON BUNYANI
From Nyasaland
(Translated)
LONG ago we drank beer, and danced, and worshiped idols, and fought one another; but because of the power of God that caused you to send teachers here to teach us of God and his Word and his Sabbath, we do not do these things now. But please, brethren, do not get tired sending teachers here, because the sheep must have a shepherd. I have finished.
SIAMON BUNYANI
Mantandano Mission.
(Translated)
WE here love the Word of God very much. O, send more teachers here, because our brothers in other parts of this country have not heard the message. Pray for us and for our schools here, that all may understand that God is here and gives us the rain and the sun to make our food grow. Let us thank him for all his goodness. These are my words. I am finished.
I AM BEN K.
Malamulo Mission.
(Translated)
I HEAR the Word of God every day; and I pray God that he will help me that I may tell my people also. I have sorrow because the Word of God has not gone to our country — Kumpanyila [Portuguese Angoniland].
ERICO SUSENI.
Malamulo Mission.
(Translated)
I AM learning the Word of God all the time, and I am praying God that he will teach me quickly that I may go and tell my brothers also, because my brothers will die if they do not hear the gospel. I am praying God and to Jesus with my life, and I ask you, Help me by praying that God will teach me quickly.
JIM GUNDY.
Malamulo.
ISAAC XIBA
By Isaac Xiba
From Snake-Worship
(As written in English)
I AM glad to let you know about me. I am born in Rhodesia. When I grew up, I was taught nothing. I didn't know how to read or write. So I did grow under all heathen customs. As my parents were snake-worshipers, they taught me also to pray to snakes. I didn't know anything about the true God. But now I praise the Lord, for he has sent the missionary in our country. They have taught me the true God, the God of love, the Maker of heaven and earth. For all these blessings I have received, my soul feel thankful to the Lord. And now I am going to help the work at Selukwe new station.
I WAS employed as a teacher in the Seventh-day Adventist mission school in Pragasapuram, south India. One day the head teacher, Mr. Thomas, was writing some texts on the board for a Bible class. The matter interested me, and from that day we had regular Bible study. The Word of God broke my heart like a hammer. Soon I came to a definite conclusion to obey God. One Friday evening, just before the Sabbath, I said, “Brother Thomas, I have decided to keep God’s Sabbath from this day forward.”
My parents threatened me. They even hired magicians to poison my mind against the truth; but their attempts had no effect. I said to my parents, “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in them.” The Word, which made a thorough change in my life, has comforted me in all the threatenings and persecution, and now I am rejoicing in the truth.
ARPUTHAM ASERVATHAM.
South India.
A Note of Praise From Japan
During the same meeting, T. H. Okohira, of Japan, said:—
“Dear friends, I do not know how to express my heart this afternoon before God and before you. God has done me great things in the past; he has chosen me as the first from my nation, and he has given me a chance to study in this country about twenty years ago. And then I was sent back to Japan, and I was working there sixteen years. Now God has sent me here to attend this great meeting. God has done to me so good! I have received a great blessing during this great meeting. I was inspired by what I saw, by what I heard. I learned many things. I do believe the Lord will help me that I may do ten times better work when I return to Japan. Dear friends, I heard that a number are going to Japan this fall. That has been my prayer for a long time. This afternoon I met one brother and sister and baby who are going to Japan. How I was glad, indeed! I will take good care of them, don’t be afraid; don’t worry about them; send more. We can take care of them. Now, dear friends, pray for me that I may be faithful to the end. I don’t think I meet you again on this earth; but, friends, I thank God I know where I meet you again soon, in near future. The Lord so good to me! I am so thankful for your kind, warm way of conversation. Dear brethren and sisters, be faithful till the Lord Jesus comes.”
EAST INDIES
By S. W. Carr
Lads of the New Guinea Wilds
“Come quickly, master, come quickly! Kaiavi wants to kill me.”
Thus breathlessly, Oriro, one of our students, informed us of trouble at the mission. It was but the work of a moment to run down the hill from the mission house to a group of excited boys surrounding Kaiavi. Because of a misunderstanding, Kaiavi had threatened Oriro with an ax, but his companions had restrained him.
“The wrath of man shall praise Thee,” however. After Benny and I had talked and prayed with each boy, they came together, explained matters, asked each other’s forgiveness, shook hands, and the incident ended with a season of prayer.
S. W. CARR.
Bisiatabu, New Guinea.
Won From Mohammedanism
By P. TUNHEIM
It has often perplexed us to know how to get the glorious light before the Mohammedans, blinded as they are. But we have had some evidences that the Lord is able to change their hearts. One Javanese Mohammedan woman was baptized some time ago, and she is as devoted a Christian as I have ever seen. Her earnest prayers are touching. She has been teaching her mother, who now has also accepted the precious truth.
Also a Mohammedan baboe (servant) has recently been baptized. Though very poor, she brings a tithe of her earnings regularly for the Lord's work.
ON THE NEW GUINEA COAST
A Chinese family who have just come out of heathenism are people of prayer. They often go out to the woods to seek the Lord alone for strength to overcome all their evil habits and to be fitted for the glorious kingdom soon to appear.
The truth works reformation in the habits of those who accept the light. It is a great wonder to me as I see changes in some who were heathen gamblers, with mouths black and filthy with tobacco and betel-nut, which they constantly chew. A few months pass, and the desire for gambling is gone, the appetite for opium is lost, their mouths are clean, and many evil habits have been overcome. It is nothing but the mighty power of the gospel, the message of preparation for the soon coming of our blessed Saviour, that does this good work.
P. TUNHEIM.
Batavia, Java.
The Metropolis of the Malay Straits
By R. P. Montgomery
OUR Sabbath services in Singapore are conducted in three languages,—English, Chinese, and Malay. We have with us a few young men from Borneo, who have come to learn more of the message of the soon coming of the Lord. A man has also come to us from the island of Moa, on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. He is very zealous for the cause of Christ. We have a fine class of young people in training. Just a ride down one of the busy streets of Singapore, jammed with people of scores of languages and divers religions, is enough to inspire any consecrated Christian with a desire to do all possible to direct their feet in the way of life eternal. There are in the Malaysian field, of which Singapore is our mission headquarters, fifty million people, of over one hundred tongues and nearly every heathen religion and shade of Mohammedan belief.
R. P. MONTGOMERY.
CHINESE GIRLS OF THE SINGAPORE CHURCH
Entering Borneo
By G. F. Jones
British North Borneo has just reported an interest there of a score or more, through one of our Singapore converts, who is employed as a colporteur. Our Singapore Chinese native evangelist, Brother Chan, later went there to follow up the interest among the well-to-do Chinese.
G. F. JONES.
The Field White for Harvest
By I. H. Evans
WE find that wherever in the East the consecrated worker goes, he finds a whitened harvest ready for the sickle. This same condition exists in the East Indian field.
It is certainly most astonishing how God has gone before us and planted the standard of truth in islands where the foreigner has never done any work. Thus the work has opened in Borneo, and there are more than thirty believers earnestly pleading that we send some one to instruct them more fully in God's Word.
The opportunities to preach this message are so great that it almost staggers our faith when we see what could be done with consecrated workers, but we have none to send. Surely the Lord has called us to this great work. It seems he can no longer wait for our planning, but plants his own standard in these heathen lands, calling upon people to follow where he leads. He sort of thrusts us into these fields, and wherever we go the harvest is white.
I. H. EVANS.
The Great Commission
“ALL power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28: 18-20.
In Java
Our first church in Java was organized June 23, 1912, with twenty-seven members. The next month the Soerabaya church was organized with nine members. On the mountains in east Java, three thousand feet above sea-level, are our two mission properties, purchased several years ago. These properties are now used as rest homes for the benefit of our workers. One sister is conducting a mission in Batavia. Two other workers are conducting a mission at Soerabaya.
Sumatra has a population of about four million. Fourteen years ago Elder Munson and family began work in Padang, the principal city of the west coast of Sumatra.
A beginning was made in that difficult pagan and Mohammedan city. Other laborers followed, and there is now a prosperous day-school of more than sixty pupils, and a Sabbath-school of more than thirty members. There is no church at Padang, but we still have workers there.
