The earthquake to which I refer occurred August 16, at ten minutes to eight in the evening. I was taking a walk out of doors, at my home in Pitrufquen. If, upon entering the house, my family had not told me that an earthquake had occurred, I should not have known it, so gentle was the shock in the more southerly parts of Chile. Nevertheless the buildings trembled and quaked, and many persons ran out of their houses in dismay.
On my journey to the north I stopped at various places, and found that the shock was felt gradually a little more severely as I proceeded to the north. In Terunco, Victoria, Los Angeles, and Chillan there was no damage done. At the latter place some old walls were thrown down, but no buildings were destroyed. As we neared Talca, the effects could be noticed in a more marked manner, solid fences having been thrown down, and the walls of houses badly cracked.
When we reached Talca, some one spoke of the earthquake, and was understood to mean that another one was taking place, and the movement of the train nearly caused a panic. The coach was almost full of passengers, and nearly all smote their breasts with their right hands, and cried for mercy, calling upon the Virgin Mary and the Lord. Some cried aloud, and when the train stopped, they were so dismayed that some of the women could not stand on their feet. Soldiers stepped into the coach, and inquired into the reason of the disorder. There was no earthquake that day, but the hearts of men are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming to pass.
At Talca, a city of a number of thousands, many houses were badly damaged, and a number of lives were lost. In all the villages and cities from there on to Santiago there was more or less damage and loss of life. A nun teacher, with forty children, was killed by the falling of the school building.
Some of the massive buildings in Santiago were cracked, and damaged more or less, and showed that some mighty force had made a severe attack upon them. The fancy trimmings were broken, and thrown to the ground, and parts of the houses were thrown violently into the streets.
The earthquake seemed to have passed like waves through the capital city of Chile. Santiago, with her four hundred thousand inhabitants, was shaken, and a dread of coming events was impressed on the minds of the people of this city, the pride of Chile's excellency. Some lives were lost, and several churches were greatly damaged. Some of the priests at Chillan and Santiago said that these judgments were visiting Chile because there are so many Protestants in the land, and that when the Protestant heresy shall be preached in all the world, then the end will come.
We appealed to the government for a pass to visit Valparaiso, which was granted us, by the help of the United States of America legation, where I had made myself known nearly two years before.
RESULTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON GRAND AVENUE, VALPARAISO, CHILE
On our way to Valparaiso we saw that the results increased in severity from station to station. Lives were lost in many of them. What wrecks of houses we passed as we proceeded on the journey! How severe are the judgments of the Lord! Houses shattered, and literally torn to pieces! Nearer Valparaiso the earth was cracked in many places, and these extended for long distances.
At Vina del Mar, a small city about three miles from Valparaiso, where many wealthy people had built fine houses, the destruction was terrible. The once beautiful homes were all torn to pieces. It is reported that one thousand persons perished. How vain are all earthly things, when the hand of the Lord touches them!
When we entered Valparaiso, ruin and the smoke of ruined buildings met our eyes everywhere. I can not begin to describe the horrible disaster, and so I shall not attempt it, but will just say that strong buildings were laid in ruins. Old and massive churches were thrown down and broken in pieces, and the great Victoria theater was broken, and crashed together. The catastrophe happened at an hour most favorable. If it had been a little later in the evening, the theater would have been full of people, and the loss of life would have been many times greater.
None of our people were injured, for which we praise the Lord. Great fires broke out, and many thousand dollars' worth of property was destroyed. Our mission office was burned, and our entire stock of books that we had on hand, also. These books were sent us as so much cash on our appropriation to sustain our workers in the field, and so we feel the loss heavily.
Buildings are very scarce, and we shall necessarily be at great expense to become settled again. Therefore, I will say that if there are any who wish to give something to help restore the loss, it will be greatly appreciated. We had no insurance, and if we had had, it would have availed us but little; for some of the companies do not consider themselves under obligation to pay the insurance, on account of the fires having been caused by an earthquake.
We are now getting out a special number of the Senales, and shall publish about thirty thousand, and use this opportunity to tell the people what these events mean. We hope to warn many of the great earthquake that will soon take place in the earth, and invite them to prepare for that great day.
Valparaiso.
The Way to the Hakkas Opened
By E. H. Wilbur
E. H. WILBUR
IT is a source of constant encouragement to us to know of your interest in the work in China, and we are glad to be able to report that the last message is gaining ground here.
Sabbath, June 16, was another good day for the Canton church, when five young men, ranging from twenty to twenty-four years of age, followed their Lord in baptism. Four of these had formerly been connected with the Basel mission, but one had never professed Christianity before. Several months ago they came to our mission, desiring to be taught the Scriptures, and since that time our workers have held Bible studies with them three times daily, considering the various points of our faith.
THE FIVE HAKKA BRETHREN
With the baptism of these candidates, a new field has been opened to the message; for these young men are Hakkas, a people numbering about ten million in this and adjoining provinces, a population greater than that of the Central Union Conference in America. They are a hardy and industrious people, and take great interest in education. Very few of them have gone to America, but in the Malay Peninsula, and the islands of the sea, they are more numerous.
Of the five youth above referred to, one who has been in mission schools about fourteen years, gratuitously assisted us in the translation of a new tract on the signs of the second coming of Christ. Another has been teaching a class in the Sabbath-school. All have expressed a desire to have some part in the work, after further instruction. Just now, and during the months of July and August, while the heat is most intense here, they are having a vacation from their regular Bible classes, but three of them are spending the time selling our Chinese literature, and it is truly wonderful how the Lord is blessing them in this work.
It is one of the mysterious workings of Providence that these young men, whose home is about one hundred and fifty miles inland from Canton, and in a part of the province never visited by any of our workers, should hear of the truth. It came about on this wise: A Hakka student, named Lam, while attending the Methodist school in Singapore, met Brother Timothy, our Chinese preacher there, and from him received a copy of our Sabbath tract, in Chinese. Becoming convinced of the Sabbath truth, and having to return home on account of his health, he got our address, and came to Canton in August, 1905, remaining with us about ten days. I gave him several treatments, and held some Bible readings with him. (I have since learned that after his return home, he fully regained his health.)
Leaving us early in September, he visited the Basel mission theological school, not far from Hongkong, and distributed tracts among his former associates, two of whom are of the five who have now united with the Canton church. While Brother Lam himself has not yet united with us, he has repeatedly by letter expressed his desire to do so.
Now this new field has been opened to the message. The language is as different from the Cantonese as Portuguese is from Spanish. The Bible and other books are printed in their local dialect. Yet the language is not the only barrier that separates them from the Cantonese: the latter have a hatred of the Hakkas, which renders impracticable the working of the two classes together.
For more than three years, since I first learned of this people, I have been longing to see a way opened for them to receive the truth. Now the Lord has taken the matter in his own hands, and opened the way by sending us these young men. Soon they must go back to their own country, to hold up the light.
Shall we send them forth as sheep without a shepherd? Or has the Lord some consecrated minister and his wife in America, who would be glad to come and give their lives in helping this people to get a clear knowledge of the truth? I sincerely hope that suitable workers, of experience, will volunteer for service in this field, and that their coming will not be long delayed.
Canton.
Progress of the Work in the German Union Conference
By L. R. Conradi
L. R. CONRADI
If we consider the results of the work performed in the German Union Conference last year, and until the first of July this year, we have every reason to thank God for his rich blessing, and for the progress he has given the cause, in spite of our imperfections and the many difficulties we have had to encounter.
New Organizations
Various changes have been made in the reorganization of Russia. Heretofore, this great empire has been divided not according to geographical or political divisions, but rather in harmony with the languages spoken there. Last year the three fields which formerly existed in Russia were rearranged, and two new fields were added—the South Russian Mission and the Russian-Asiatic District. Further, the German Union District, which might almost be compared to a conference, was also organized; so there were really three new organizations effected during the last year. The East and West German Conferences have each reached that stage where they could be profitably divided, and steps have already been taken looking toward such a division for the East German field, beginning with Jan. 1, 1907.
At the close of 1905 we had just seven thousand members in the German Union; this has now reached 7,604, showing a net gain of 604; there were 954 baptized, and 175 were received by vote during this half year. This growth has been chiefly in the northern and middle part of the German empire. During the last eighteen months Russia’s growth has been but one hundred. The chief reason for this is, that before we had such liberty in that land, quite a large number were received into church-membership who were not fully convinced with reference to the payment of the tithe, and in regard to some other principles that we as a people hold, so that in reorganizing the Russian field, about four hundred had to be stricken off our list. We thought it wiser to take this step than in any way to allow the principles of the message to be lightly regarded by our brethren.
There is also another point to be reckoned with: a number of our people have left the Balkans and other fields, for North and South America, where they will still, we believe, hold aloft the standard of truth. Again, through the removal of the Basel institution to Gland, about forty-three members were transferred from the German to the Latin Union. We believe we are warranted in saving that at least one hundred brethren have gone to other fields, during the last year and a half, and they, with a number who have been taken from us by14death, will make the loss to the cause smaller than one would at first think.
Finances
One can best appreciate the growth of the work if he looks at the development of our finances. Our tithe for 1903 was $35,640; for the first six months of 1906 it has been $41,335, or nearly $5,000 more than for the whole of 1903; and if we look at the gifts, we see that they also have increased: in 1903 the Sabbath-school donations were $3,007; for the first six months of this year they have been $2,884, or within $123 of the whole twelve months three years ago; the First-day offerings for 1904 were $1,525, and for the first half of 1906 they have been $1,797, $272 more than for the whole of 1903; and almost as great an increase is noticeable in the week-of-prayer donations.
Death of Brother Wunderlich
It is with great sadness that we must refer to the first offering we have been called upon to make for the German East African Mission, in the death of our beloved Brother Wunderlich, who is now awaiting the first resurrection in our Friedensau graveyard. O that the neat little tombstone may ever remind our students of the spirit that it takes to build up missions and spread the gospel for this time! Aside from this, we can say that the Lord has wonderfully protected our laborers, especially in the troublous times they have had in Russia.
Scarcity of Laborers
Our greatest need to-day is a number of devoted workers, who will enter the vineyard of the Lord, and give to him all their powers, going forward in the unity of the Spirit, and pressing the battle into the enemy’s land. In this respect we feel grateful for the blessing God has made our mission school here, for we have from year to year received a number of workers who have been able to do good service.
Visits in the Field
It has been possible for the president to visit every field in the union, during the past year, with the exception of German East Africa. There were twelve annual meetings, which, with the union meeting, occupied fourteen weeks. Aside from this I spent several Sabbaths in the German Union District, and also was able to be with the brethren in Austria-Hungary and in the Balkans. I can say that these various gatherings were the best we have ever had; and where there had been good preparatory work done in suitable halls, a further interest was developed through the winter gatherings.
Attendance at the Union Conferences
That which is the stronger proof that our people are anxious to become better acquainted with the Word is the large attendance at the summer union conferences, and this present meeting is doubtless the largest we have ever held in the field.
Institutions
As to our institutions, we can look back upon the past year as the best in their history. The Hamburg Publishing House is our oldest institution; it has been better equipped through the purchase of a new press, and the introduction of electric lights and steam heating. Although our illustrated books are published in Leipsic, still on account of the increasing circulation of our papers (we have a monthly output of over one hundred thousand copies), there is now a great lack of room. We feel especially thankful to the Lord that the German Little Friend and Herald of Truth have increased their circulation so well; the Russian paper also, which was begun in 1905, has already seven hundred subscribers.
The Friedensau School
The school has been so rapidly filled that we have recently found it necessary to convert all the open spaces left in the construction of the buildings into rooms, so that now one hundred and fifty students can be accommodated. It gives us much joy to be able to say that, through the Lord’s help, the school building and equipment is to-day free from debt.
Our Sanitarium
The sanitarium has also made progress; it has been full this and the previous season. During the year we have been able to enlarge the kitchen, and provide necessary office room, but we still ought to see to it that the patients have a better parlor, for our reception parlor is not much larger than you would find in any common dwelling—smaller than the average city physician would have for his practise. Until we have this, we can not call the institution complete. We have also been able to erect another building for our employees, and to provide better office rooms for our growing business. The laundry and power-house has been completed. These improvements have considerably increased the indebtedness of the institution, but we are glad that through the gift of that excellent book, “Ministry of Healing,” which will soon come from the press, the sanitarium may be financially assisted, just as the school was helped through the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” The net earnings of the institution were the best last year they ever were.
Old People’s Home
Another important matter which this meeting will necessarily have to decide, is the erection of an old people’s home. We are glad that about two thousand dollars has been placed at our disposal by German Switzerland for this purpose, aside from large private donations. We hope that the erection of such a home may be assured ere we leave these grounds.
Ship Mission
We have taken an advance step in this mission, as we have secured another mission boat, which will be used in the harbor at Rotterdam. Thus we can to-day serve the thousands of seamen who visit the harbors of Hamburg and Rotterdam, and awaken among many an interest in the message.
Difficulties
We are very thankful that during the year we were able to hold our meetings in Russia, right in the midst of the insurrections, strikes, and revolutions, more freely than ever before, having both the Germans and the Russians in attendance. Our address of thanks presented to his majesty the czar was favorably received, and we enjoy greater liberty than heretofore.
Conditions in Germany
In various parts of Germany, especially in some of the smaller States, we do not yet enjoy the liberties that we wish we might. In certain places, we dare not hold public lectures for the purpose of presenting the truth. In consequence of our ever-increasing activity, they seek more and more to hinder us in our operations; but in spite of this, the work advances, and we can in truth say that, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
We are glad that the work in Austria-Hungary and the Balkan States continues to make advance, although there is much to be wished as to the freedom allowed us in some of the districts there. We are also happy that we have one worker in Asiatic Russia, in Omsk, Siberia, and we hope that in the near future we shall have other believers there. We have already some scattered Sabbath-keepers in Siberia.
Military Service
Many of our young men who have been called into the army have shown themselves true members of the body of Christ, although they have had a great many difficulties to contend with.
Missionary Work
There should be greater earnestness manifested by our brethren in the circulation of our publications. We should procure additional means through the gifts and legacies of our brethren, for the institutions already established, and for the erection of the proposed old people’s home. It is also necessary that we here select a man who can connect with our mission in German East Africa. We hope soon to have the pleasure of being able to report that the first converts in that mission have been baptized.
Canvassing Work
We are pleased to state that the canvassing work has continued to make progress; our sales during 1903-04 amounted to $48,550, during 1904-05 to $52,650, during 1905-06 to $55,300, and we have about 230 canvassers who will be engaged in the work the coming year, so we trust there will be a still further advance in this department of the cause.
“Education”
This new book of Sister White’s has been translated, and printed by our Hamburg House. It is to be had here on the grounds. It is a beautiful book, and we recommend it to all our brethren.
May this meeting be led by the Spirit of God, that here the necessary steps may be taken to give the cause of God still greater success in the future, is our earnest prayer.
Friedensau.
Our Work Moving Southward in Ireland
OUR work is moving southward in Ireland, toward the intensely Catholic portion, where sentiment is more Romanist than anywhere else in the world. Elder Altman, the leader of our Irish mission, has his home in Dublin. Sixty years ago the population of Ireland was eight million. Now it is but four million four hundred thousand.
The Most Needy Field
By E. J. Harvey
Not only is Alabama considered the most needy field in the United States, but it is written in an article that was given us March 2, 1897:—
“The Southern field is a hard field, a very unsightly field, because it has been so long uncultivated. All who take hold of the work in the cause of God and suffering humanity will have to be one in their designs and plans. They will have plenty of trials and discouragements to meet, but they must not allow these to hinder or dishearten or handicap them in their work. In love for Christ, who died to save this poor, down-trodden people, in love for the souls of the perishing thousands, they are to labor for this worse than heathen country.”
“Brethren, you have a work to do which you have left undone. A long-neglected field stands out in plain view before God to shame the people who have light and advanced truth, but who have done so little to remove the stones and the rubbish that have been accumulating for so long a time. Those who have enjoyed every privilege and blessing have passed by on the other side. As a Christian people, God has called you to prepare the way of the Lord in this unpromising field.”
Many words might be quoted with profit showing how clearly the Lord has pointed out our duty and privilege in working for this neglected people. Who among the lowly walks of life will enter this needy field and help us scatter the printed pages of such literature as is best adapted to this part of the great harvest-field? Our Saviour says, “Go work to-day in my vineyard.” “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Some who can not enter the field as active laborers can give of their means, even if they have but little. Remember the widow’s mite. God’s blessing on a small amount will cause it to feed many hungry souls with the bread of life, even as the few loaves and fishes fed the hungry thousands who followed Jesus to hear him. All can do something; even the children can give pennies, and this will encourage them in missionary work.
This part of the world has recently suffered greatly from a severe storm, and many are now in great distress because of this. Two negroes were lynched a few yards from where Brother L. W. Dortch and the writer canvassed a few days ago. Only last Sabbath the16dark deed was done. Surely some of us who know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren and all souls for whom Christ died, are willing now to fight the good fight of faith, even in the forefront of the battle, that we may win souls to the truth and point them to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
All who love the appearing of our Lord can at least pray for us, that wisdom from above may be given us to keep us from all evil, and enable us to work with caution, heeding every word of instruction and walking in every ray of light the Lord has graciously permitted to shine upon our pathway. Brethren and sisters, “the coming King is at the door.” The time to win souls is very short. Let us do our utmost just now. We who are here are but a little company of canvassers. We feel our great need of help from God, and the need also of the sympathy and prayers of our brethren and sisters in the truth.
If any are disposed to write, please address us at Mobile, Ala., and seal the letter with sealing wax, as the climate has been very damp since we came last month. E. J. HARVEY.
Missouri
By Chas. G. Bellah
When presenting the needs of the ripened harvest-field for consecrated canvassers, I am often asked such questions as: “Will it pay?” “Do you think I could make a success of it?” “Could I earn a living for my family?” etc. Now these are legitimate questions, and require a candid answer. And I know of no more satisfactory way of answering them than by giving some brief reports of work that has actually been done this summer.
Thinking that perhaps the readers of the good old REVIEW would be pleased to see the faces of some of our Missouri canvassers, as well as to get a report of their work, we had the accompanying picture taken on the Versailles campground. We placed “Patriarchs and Prophets,” in morocco binding, with the photographer as part pay.
We would not ask for a more earnest, consecrated army of workers than we have had this summer. We have endeavored to advance as Luther did up the stairway of Pilate, on our knees, and as a result the Lord has most wonderfully blessed.
The following brief report shows the work done from Jan. 1 to Aug. 1, 1906:—
MO.
AGTS.
HRS.
ORDERS
AMT.
PER HR.
Jan.
2
...
...
$ 268.50
...
Feb.
6
296
85
320.75
$1.08
March
7
467
200
720.25
1.54
April
11
835
427
1,297.35
1.55
May
19
1,663
875
2,493.80
1.50
June
30
2,898
1,110
3,496.50
1.20
July
20
1,746
641
2,276.25
1.30
Totals
7,905
3,338
$10,873.40
$1.38
This gives a general average of $1.38 an hour for each canvasser for the summer.
Six students came from Union College, and earned their scholarship for the coming year. They made the following excellent records:—
NO.
WEEKS
ORDERS
VALUE
1
10
113
$ 387.50
2
8
92
402.25
3
10
144
446.25
4
11
185
568.25
5
9
253
779.00
6
14
318
1,021.75
A COMPANY OF SUCCESSFUL CANVASSERS IN MISSOURI
We have many good strong home workers as well. One canvasser in six weeks secured two hundred and forty orders for “Great Controversy;” value, $723. Another, a boy aged thirteen, in ten weeks secured one hundred and forty-eight orders for “Bible Readings;” value, $397.50. Still another boy, aged nine, left home one Sunday afternoon with small books, and came in the following Wednesday, having made thirty-one cash sales. These records are certainly encouraging.
We could give other good reports, but space forbids. This reveals only the monetary feature. The real results of souls saved, will be known in the better land. May God help us to pray, trust, toil, and sacrifice till every sin-sick, benighted soul has had shine the light of present truth upon his darkened life, thus giving him an opportunity of preparing for the speedy return of Jesus. If this report should encourage some doubting, halting one to enter this ripened harvest, and labor for perishing souls, it will accomplish what the writer had in mind in preparing it for publication.
CHAS. G. BELLAH,
State Agent.
Western Pennsylvania
By W. F. Schwartz
DUNCANSVILLE.—October 3 we held a baptismal service at this place. Several hundred persons witnessed the ordinance. Ten precious souls were buried with their Lord in baptism, and there are still others who desire to be baptized soon.
We had expected to take the tent down on the first of October, but on account of the rain last week, we were compelled to let it stand until October 8. The new Sabbath-keepers at Duncansville and Spring Meadow will worship together in the Union Chapel at Spring Meadow.
W. F. SCHWARTZ.
Montana
By W. F. Martin
THE camp-meeting for the Bitter Root Valley was held this year at Darby, a small town in the upper end of the valley. The meeting began October 4, and continued ten days. There were ten tents pitched, and a number occupied rooms. The average attendance was about seventy-five, at least half of whom were children. Although the attendance was not so large as in some past years, yet those who came were unanimous in saying it was one of the best meetings ever held in this part of the State. Elder H. W. Decker was present during the entire meeting, and his words of counsel and admonition were much appreciated. Elders J. C. Foster and W. A. Gosmer and the writer were the home laborers present.
From day to day the needs of the field were placed before those present, and they were ready to respond; $10.52 was collected for the Southern field; $450 was pledged for the Mt. Ellis Academy; $26.80 was given toward the expenses of the camp-meeting; $45 worth of books and tracts was sold. Seventeen subscriptions for the Signs, two for the REVIEW, nine for the Bivouac, and six for the Gleaner were secured. The subscriptions for the REVIEW may look small, but nearly all were already taking it. The last day of the meeting, six willing souls were baptized near the camp. A large but orderly crowd witnessed the baptism. These figures simply give the statistics, and can not show the great amount of good accomplished in the hearts of those who attended.
Almost from the first, there was a good interest manifested by those not of our faith. In the evening services the tent was well filled. Quite a number are deeply interested, so Elder Gosmer will remain to continue the meetings as the interest demands and the weather will permit. It is our sincere prayer that the good seed sown at this meeting may bear much fruit to the Master's glory. W. F. MARTIN.
Central America
By Carrie Stuyvesant
CARTAGO.—Being compelled to find a cooler climate and a change of diet, we left St. Andrews the first of September, and went to San Jose. We stayed there only seven days, and came to this place, twelve miles distant. We find the climate delightful. It is very cool. The sun shines in the morning, and at this season it rains every evening. The scenery is much like that of Colorado, and we have found all the vegetables of the temperate zone, combined with those of the tropics. A strange thing about it all is that they are in season all the time. Four crops of potatoes are raised in a year, and one can plant any day, and have an almost endless variety. One day at dinner at the hotel we had ten kinds of vegetables; and when we went down to the market, we found over twenty other varieties.
Land is high-priced; but we hope to get a little spot to make a home, where we can have a garden, chickens, and a cow, and have a chance to devote as much time as possible to giving this people the message.
Within twenty miles of us, there are one hundred and fifty thousand Spanish-speaking people, and there is only one family of Sabbath-keepers here, besides us. That is the family of a Bible worker, who is in San Jose. There are very few in this city who speak English. This is called the “holy city.” There are churches every few blocks, and the bells ring day and night. Thousands of Catholics from all over this country visit a spring of holy water here every year. We think we are in the right place, and pray for health to earn our living, and to do all we can to give the light to these souls in darkness.
Spanish tracts are much needed. Perhaps some of the Young People's Societies in the States would like to send us some. We have no fund as yet to draw on to buy them.
Our family was organized into a Sabbath-school last Sabbath. We have regular meetings, and give our offerings as usual, and will use this fund, when it grows a little, to work this field.
We are all feeling better than when we came, and hope soon to be able to do more definite work. We want to canvass every part of the field that is not being worked.
Several have spoken to me about starting a class in English. I may do so later, but am not strong enough yet. We find our little start in the Spanish language of great help, but we know so little yet. CARRIE STUYVESANT.
H. W. MILLER
By H. W. Miller
China
SHANG-TSAI HSIEN, HONAN.—Our printing work has made steady progress from month to month, and we have seen the blessing of God attending the production of literature. This only confirms us in our view that this is to be one of the greatest agencies in warning the millions of China. In view of this fact, and that our present equipment is not adequate for carrying forward the work, and our present building not suitable, being plastered with mud, the dust continually falling upon the ink-slab and type forms, making it necessary to clean these frequently every day, it was decided to remove the printing-office to a railroad station here in Honan.
Already we have secured a plot of ground, located only about one hundred yards from the railway station at Sin Jang Cheo. Over one thousand dollars, including some donations received which could be applied to this fund, was raised by the workers here. The land was purchased for the small sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, and the remainder will make a good beginning on a publishing house. We are beginning the erection at once, and Brother and Sister Allum and I will remove to Sin Jang Cheo, and Brother and Sister Westrup take up the work at Shang-tsai Hsien.
The enemy has not hindered the work, but he has made it difficult. Our brethren all have a feeling that now, as never before, is the time for recruits to enter this field, and there is a spirit of self-sacrifice in the hearts of all to forward this work at any cost. The difficulties we are all meeting, especially in the matter of opposition by other missionaries, are drawing our hearts together.
Last autumn a man who had been in the China Inland Mission, and who had17attended our meetings for some time, came here, endeavoring to overthrow our doctrine. I took the time to go over each point carefully in a Chinese Bible with him; and while I did not find the Chinese Bible exactly the same as our English Bible, still I found plenty of proof in this free-hand translation to convince him that the seventh day is the true Sabbath of God, and that the soul does not go to heaven at the instant of death. After studying with me two weeks, he confessed faith in our doctrine, and desired to connect with our church. He also wrote a letter to his pastor, a Church of England minister, saying that if he would take his Bible and prove that Sunday is the Sabbath, he would return to the China Inland Mission. He never received a reply. And while the pastor has fifteen other members here in this city, and came frequently to visit them previously, he has not been here since. This has left his members in rather an embarrassing situation. We do not seek their members, but feel free to teach those who come to us inquiring for the reasons of our faith, for we have a higher authority than man for our belief in this closing message of salvation.
Within the last three weeks this brother's wife has begun reading the Bible. The progress she is making is remarkable, and we fully expect her to develop into a Bible worker for the Chinese women. Their oldest girl is now in Misses Simpson and Ericksen's girls' school at Sintsai Hsien, preparing to become a Bible worker. They have a boy about ten years old, who can read almost any passage in the Bible, and who is also a very earnest little Christian. It seems good to see a whole family embracing this message in China. I have every reason to believe that their faith is genuine. Our work does not seem in vain when we can occasionally see some fruit, and realize from what depths of sin and degradation it has come.
