General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7
SIXTH MEETING - Report of the China
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson
May 18, 2:30 P. M.
W. T. Knox in the chair. GCB May 19, 1913, page 42.20
H. R. Salisbury offered the opening prayer. GCB May 19, 1913, page 42.21
W. T. Knox: When we adjourned this morning, we were receiving reports from the Asiatic field. Quite a number are yet to be submitted, and we will devote the time this afternoon to listening to those that have not yet been submitted. We shall first call upon Brother J. P. Anderson. GCB May 19, 1913, page 42.22
I. H. Evans: This is Brother J. P. Anderson, from the Kwangtung province, in China, who is working for the Hakka people. GCB May 19, 1913, page 42.23
J. P. Anderson: I bring greetings from our Hakka brethren to our brethren in America. Out of China’s millions, all of whom are in a general way here represented, I wish to call your attention for a short time to what I may term a division known as Hakkas. GCB May 19, 1913, page 42.24
The original home of the Hakka people was in north central China, from which place they were driven several centuries ago. At present the largest number of them live in the northern part of Kwangtung province. They also occupy some parts of Fukien, Kiang-si, Hunan, and Kwongsi provinces; also parts of the island of Hainan. These people have emigrated in large numbers to Indo-China, the Federated Malay States, Java, and Sumatra. GCB May 19, 1913, page 42.25
By their fellow Chinese, they have been given the name Hakka, which means stranger, wanderer, or guest, and was originally applied to them in a disparaging sense. However, taken as a whole, they are an industrious people, living mostly in the mountains, which are dotted from base to summit with villages. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.1
Their customs differ somewhat from those of their fellow Chinese, mainly in the fact that the women do most of the heavy work, and for this reason do not bind their feet. But, regardless of customs and opinions of others, these people are certainly included in the “every kindred, tongue, and people” of Revelation 14:6-12. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.2
Pioneer mission work among them has been done by the Basel and the Berlin Mission Societies, who have carried on most of their work by establishing schools. Later the American Baptists have opened work among them. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.3
Our work among the Hakkas started through the conversion and labors of five young men, who had left the Basel Mission Seminary, coming to Canton; while here they called upon Brethren J. N. Anderson and E. H. Wilbur, requesting instruction in present truth. Some of their friends had previously told them something of the belief of Seventh-day Adventists. Of course their request was granted. After some study and a noticeably deeper Christian experience, they requested baptism. These young men were anxious to tell others of their new-found truth, and for a time labored in Canton. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.4
In the year 1906 I was sent to China, and soon afterward I was asked to give my time to the study of the Hakka dialect. One of the young men mentioned acted as my language teacher. For three years I remained in Canton, studying the language, and having charge of the Cantonese boys’ school. During this time much thought and prayer were given to the matter of finding a permanent central location for the work among the Hakka-speaking people. After investigation, it was decided that Wai Chow, a city of 250,000 inhabitants, situated 150 miles east of Canton, was the proper place. So in the spring of 1909 I moved to Wai Chow. The following spring I was glad to welcome as colaborers Brother S. A. Nagel and wife. As time goes on, we are more and more convinced that this was the place chosen of God for the central station in the Hakka field. Two other stations were opened in the country, one at Moi Lung and one at Pat Vui. For some time the people at Moi Lung had been calling for a worker. When we visited them, a good interest was found. For the past two years a native evangelist has been working among them. The Sabbath services have a regular attendance of forty, some of whom have been baptized. We plan that, with God’s help, we may soon have an organized church at this place. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.5
One of my visits to this city was at a time when the plague was claiming as many as fifty victims daily. The people in their distress sent to the mountains for a noted god. But only on condition that the city be cleaned, and that a payment of several thousand dollars be made, would the priests consent to make the journey. On reaching the city, the idol was placed in a new chair, and carried through the city. The literary of the place followed. They were dressed in sackcloth, and marched with their bodies bent forward, as do the mourners of the country. A man carrying a pail of clear spring water, into which were dipped branches of trees, went before the procession. This water was sprinkled upon the people, houses, and streets. It was pathetic indeed to see such an appeal for help. I was glad, by the Lord’s help, to point some of them to him who can “cleanse and make pure by the washing of water by the Word.” GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.6
To the west of Wai Chow the good news has been heard, and they desired to hear more. So a house was rented to serve the purpose of a chapel. We have now an average attendance of one hundred, and oftentimes when the chapel will not contain all the people, we go out into the open, with the moon and stars for our lamps. There are often as many as two hundred people present. Just before I left I had the privilege of baptizing ten persons. Our place of meeting was soon too small, and I suggested to the evangelist that it would be a good thing to build a church. He passed the suggestion on to our members and interested ones. All were delighted, and wished to help. Pledges were made, but not collected till after harvest. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.7
The sum of $650, Mexican, was raised. Of this amount $50 was kindly given by the mission, and $300 by our heathen friends. The remaining $300 was given by members of the church. I visited the place just before leaving China, and saw all the materials on the ground, and the foundations being laid for what is to be not only a church, but a school as well. In these buildings will be rooms for the evangelist and teacher. Brother Nagel writes that it is nearly completed. Because of the light emanating from this chapel, neighboring villages have asked us to open work among them. They desire to become “tame,” as they term it, by hearing the truth for this time. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.8
Another chapel is located in Chin Phin, where over fifty persons meet regularly for Sabbath services. As this station is farthest inland, for some time during the revolution, it could not be visited; yet our faithful evangelist stood at his post of duty, sometimes amid very discouraging circumstances. Many interesting things might be said of this station. The home station at Wai Chow has a growing attendance. Many of our inquirers are the refined people of the city. Here we have an organized church of twenty-five. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.9
By the liberality of our brethren in raising the $300,000 Fund, and the thoughtfulness of the Mission Board for their workers, in disbursing the same, two foreign houses have been built at Wai Chow. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.10
Literature
About fifteen hundred copies of our Chinese Signs of the Times have been sold monthly. I have often been encouraged in my work while traveling through the country to find in many market places that our Sabbath calendar had found a place in most of the shops. At San-on a brother is keeping the Sabbath from reading our paper, and gathers a small company about him, teaching them the Sabbath, and other truths, as best he can. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.11
We have one boys’ school at Pat Vui, with an attendance of twenty-four. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.12
Our donations have amounted to $25; tithes, $72. We have one ordained foreign minister, one foreign licentiate, four native evangelists, two canvassers, and one teacher, to spread this truth among ten million people. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.13
Our membership numbers 35, with Sabbath-keepers to the number of 200. We, like you, have set our faces like a flint toward Zion, and purpose by God’s help never to rest till the message has gathered out every honest soul. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.14
Following Brother Anderson’s interesting report, the chairman called upon C. L. Butterfield to render his report of the Korean Mission. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.15
C. L. Butterfield (reading):—
Korean Mission Report
Korea is a peninsula on the east of Asia, bounded on the north by Manchuria, on the east and south by the Japan Sea, and on the west by the Yellow Sea. It has 80,000 square miles of very mountainous surface, inhabited by about 13,500,000 Koreans and 500,000 Japanese. It belongs to the empire of Japan, which has done much during the past five years in improving the country in general. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.16
The work in Korea for the past four years has been marked by much of the blessing of God. Advancement has been made in all lines, and especially in the matter of the stability of the Korean church. As no statistics had been compiled, it was impossible to know the exact membership at the organization of the mission, in November, 1908. From a published report of the work in 1907 it seems that about two hundred had already been baptized and taken into church fellowship. However, it had been impossible to thoroughly instruct all these members, as our first worker, Elder W. R. Smith, had only gone to the field in the fall of 1905, and it takes some time for one to get the language so that he can do effectual work. There were no Korean believers who spoke English, and before Brother Smith arrived there was no worker with a thorough knowledge of the truth, speaking the Korean tongue. Therefore the Korean church was weak, and some were led away by those not in harmony with the organization. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.17
Shortly after the organization of the mission, some of the native workers, who had formerly been employed by the Japanese Mission, became dissatisfied, and when it became necessary to drop the leader of the opposition, it seemed, for a time that the majority of the believers would also leave us. Nevertheless, since our number of workers from America has increased the past five years from one ordained minister and one Bible worker, to three ordained ministers, four licentiates, and two Bible workers, we have been able to instruct our evangelists and believers, and today there are 389 baptized church-members rejoicing in the third angel’s message and doing what they can to quickly give the truth to their own people. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.18
I said 389 had been baptized, but that was the number when I left Korea one month ago. Since that time Dr. Riley Russell has without doubt baptized more than the needed eleven to make the four hundred, as after I left he was to visit two places, to baptize those prepared. So our Korean church today numbers more than four hundred members, and 350, at least, of them have been baptized since the last General Conference. The attendance at our 32 Sabbath-schools for the first quarter of this year was 776. We hope that many of these will be baptized this year. GCB May 19, 1913, page 43.19
The faithfulness of our believers is evidenced by the way they have helped in the matter of tithes and offerings. Four years ago the native tithe did not equal a tithe of the salaries paid to native workers, but now nearly all our church-members are faithful in paying their tithe. The tithes and offerings for the past four years, including tithe of workers from America, has been as follows: 1909, $637; 1910, $801; 1911, $969; 1912, $1,379; total, $3,787. This is an average of $3.55 per capita. When the extreme poverty of the people is taken into consideration, this speaks well of their faith in and devotion to the work. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.1
Spread of the Work
Four years ago, work had only been carried on in one of the thirteen provinces, and only one mission station had been opened. Eight churches have now been organized in five provinces, and companies established in four others. Workers from America are now located in four stations, Seoul, Soonan, Wonsan, and Kyong San. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.2
All these stations, except the Wonsan station, have been made possible by the $300,000 Fund. At Soonan there are two foreign houses, although not the best. These are occupied by Dr. Riley Russell and family, Brother Howard Lee and family, and Miss May Scott. Our industrial training-school is located here. There are forty-five acres in the school farm. The principal crops raised are rice, millet, and beans. Last year one thousand fruit-trees were set out and are growing nicely. The school building is a small building with mud walls, and the girls both study and live in small Korean houses with mud walls and straw roofs. However, a contract was let before I left for the erection of a school building, a girls’ dormitory, and a dispensary. These buildings are all to be built of brick, and to be completed by the first of October of this year. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.3
PHOTO-FIRST CAMP-MEETING IN KOREA, 1912
Seoul
The headquarters of our work moved to Seoul, the capital of Korea, in the fall of 1909. We occupied rented quarters until last year, when we were able to build outside the East Gate, on one and one-fifth acres of land, three dwellings and a building for a publishing house, mission offices, and a chapel. These buildings are all substantial brick buildings. They add stability to our work in the eyes of the people, and make it possible for the workers to live with healthful surroundings. These houses have been occupied by Brother and Sister H. A. Oberg, Sister Mimi Scharffenberg, myself and family, and Brother Frank Mills. We are indeed grateful to God and the donors of the $300,000 Fund for the great help that has come, and will come, to Korea through these buildings. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.4
Kyong San
Kyong San is in southern Korea, sixty-seven miles north of Fusan. In the fall of 1910 an acre of land was bought, a frame house erected, and Brother and Sister R. C. Wangerin went there and opened up work. A church building which will seat about one hundred people has been built, and a church of forty-five members has been organized. Three or four Sabbath-schools are also being conducted in near-by places. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.5
Wonsan
Wonsan is quite removed from the rest of our work, as it is located on the East Coast, and there is no railroad there yet. After attending the last General Conference, Elder W. R. Smith went to this place, bought a piece of land, and built a house. A church has been organized at Wonsan and one at E Won, a place about two hundred miles north of Wonsan. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.6
School Work
Our school work was commenced in 1907 by Elder Smith and Miss Scharffenberg. The attendance, though small at first has grown until there are over seventy students at the present time, and many have been turned away, as we could not accommodate them. In the spring of 1910 Brother H. M. Lee arrived, and has since had charge of that work, being assisted by Miss May Scott, who takes charge of the girls’ department. It has taken some time to get the work thoroughly organized, but a four years’ course is now being given, equivalent to the American sixth to the ninth grades. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.7
Besides the training-school at Soonan, we have eight schools in the country doing primary work, with an enrollment of over one hundred. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.8
Publishing Work
The publishing work was commenced in the spring of 1909. Our first outfit consisted of an old George Washington proof press, and a small font of type. This was set up in one end of the school building at Soonan, and operated for about six months. It was then removed to Seoul. But before we moved into our own spacious building last December, we were compelled to move our plant no less than five times. For two years we worked along with the old press, and then purchased a cylinder press, of Japanese make. The Pacific Press Publishing Association gave us machinery to the value of about eight hundred dollars, for which we were indeed grateful. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.9
In the fall of 1910 we began to publish a twelve-page monthly paper, but it was later increased to a twenty-eight page magazine. Four special campaigns were made with this magazine, and as high as 13,500 of one edition were sold. This year we have averaged about four thousand copies a month. Last year more than one thousand dollars worth of books and papers in the Korean language were sold. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.10
Medical
You have all read of the work being carried on under the direction of Doctor Russell in his twenty-dollar dispensary. They have had over twenty thousand patients during the last four years. Many of these patients have traveled long distances in pain and suffering to receive physical aid, and have, while receiving that aid, heard the glad news of the soon-coming Saviour, who is able not only to heal our bodies, but to heal our souls of the dread disease of sin. The new dispensary now being built will add much to this branch of the work. We trust, however, that the new building will not keep the doctor away from the field work, where he is so much needed, and where he has rendered such signal service as a minister. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.11
Workers
At the time of the last General Conference we had only eight workers from America, and five of these had been in the field but six months. Now we have fifteen workers from the United States, all speaking at least some of the language, and some speaking it very well. Then we had six native laborers employed; although four of the six have since dropped out of the work, there are now over forty in the various departments giving their full time to assisting in the great work of giving to their own people the message of the soon-coming Saviour. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.12
God has been very good to our workers the past four years, keeping them in health and strength, for which we praise his name. In June, 1911, Brother and Sister W. R. Smith were called upon, for the second time in Korea, to lay away one of their little ones, Jethro, to await the call of the Life-giver in the resurrection morn. Last September, while our mission houses were being built, and we were living in tents, our own little boy, called Kenneth, was snatched from us by the cruel hand of death. But these little graves on Korean soil only endear our hearts to the work there, and make us long for the day to come when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.. GCB May 19, 1913, page 44.13
Needs
Our needs, briefly stated, are as follows: A new house for Brother H. M. Lee; rooms for Sister May Scott; houses for new workers as they are sent out; and a church building for Seoul, a city of two hundred thousand population. We need two families, one to locate at Kyong San, with Brother Wangerin, and one at Wonsan, with Brother Smith. These two workers are alone among their millions, and we should give them help soon. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.1
I thank you for your time, and I trust that as you give of your means to assist in the work, you will also give of your prayers, that God’s blessing may continue to rest upon the work in Korea, and that it may go forward as never before. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.2
C. L. BUTTERFIELD, Superintendent.
At the conclusion of Brother Butterfield’s report of progress for the message in Korea, the chairman called upon the representative from the East Indies and Federated Malay States, G. F. Jones, for his report, which he presented as follows:— GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.3
THE MALASIAN MISSION
Malaysia has a population, approximately, of fifty million. Part of these people are under British rule, but the greater part are under Dutch rule. The British territory was entered in October, 1904, by G. F. Jones and wife and R. A. Caldwell, who went, at the request of the Australasian Union Conference, to Singapore from Australia, to begin mission work there. Brother Caldwell first canvassed that city for “Desire of Ages.” Then he canvassed the other towns in the Straits Settlements and Malay States. After this he went to China and the Philippines. G. F. Jones and wife remained to do evangelical work. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.4
Singapore, the Metropolis
Singapore, lying half way between India and China, is a cosmopolitan city of three hundred thousand inhabitants. It is the seventh largest seaport in the world. Nearly all the nationalities of Asia are represented in the city, each speaking his own language. Thus the city is a Babel of tongues and religions, and its evangelization is therefore a difficult problem to solve. There are pagodas, mesjids, shrines, and churches. All seem satisfied with their ideas of worship, and aggressively resent any novel introduction of ethics among them. The Straits Settlements is a British colony, and is well governed. Its ports are free; perfect liberty is accorded to all nations; and no passes are required, nor any questions asked of those who enter. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.5
Resources and Advantages
There are millions of acres of rich jungle land which may be had from the government at ten or twelve dollars an acre. Rich syndicates from England and America and Australia buy thousands of acres of land for the cultivation of rubber, which thrives well. The smaller capitalists, mostly from China and India, settle on smaller lots and find comfortable homes, but, as in the home lands, the natives crowd into the cities and live from hand to mouth, ever slow to learn that the land offers them wealth and prosperity and a happier existence. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.6
Railways are running from north to south of the peninsula, at a cost of less than one cent a mile to the traveler. This makes the mainland and cities accessible to all, and makes travel for the missionary. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.7
Besides our own missions established here, the Church of England, Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Plymouth Brethren, and others, are represented. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.8
The educational work is a strong feature of most of these missions, and the government has up-to-date schools, where young people of over one hundred nationalities, sit and study together, and are carried into the higher education of the Local Junior and Senior Cambridge certificates. We find them generally better educated than in the home lands. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.9
Malay is the lingua-franco of the Malay field, although each nationality retains its own language. Malay is spoken perfectly only among the Malay people proper. They are Mohammedan in religion. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.10
The Dutch Division of the Field
The greater part of the Malay field, under the Dutch government, comprises Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, Dutch New Guinea, the Moluccas, and hundreds of smaller islands. The liberties of the people are much circumscribed under this government, excepting the privileged class, called European, who enjoy all home advantages and education. The Dutch policy of governing is considered severe by the natives, and conduces to an unfriendly feeling toward the government. Missions are not allowed to have a free hand, and cannot work how and where they please. Special permission must be obtained from the governor-general, not only for the mission generally, but for each individual worker, European or native, who is also circumscribed to a certain district or town, and must petition for a new permit if he desires to change his location. There is a marked difference in freedom for the missionary between the British and Dutch territory of Malaysia. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.11
PHOTO-EVANGELIST CHAN AND FAMILY, SINGARPORE
Our Work in Singapore
The work in Singapore grew until it was necessary to erect a church building. This was done by three fourths of the funds coming from America and one fourth from Singapore. Australia promised to provide more if it was needed. So a neat and well-built church was put up on land purchased from the government in the best and most prominent quarter of Singapore. The membership is about eighty, and continues to increase. The Sabbath-school membership is about one hundred twenty. The whole church is a live missionary society. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.12
The interest spread from this church to other towns in the Malay States, and it was necessary to open up missions in them; so in September, 1911, a mission station was opened in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of the Malay States. The interest there is gradually growing. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.13
There is a church-school of about thirty children in Singapore, and an industrial training-school for young people is much needed. These we hope to soon provide. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.14
The British and Dutch Malay Field
The British Malay field has now one ordained minister and five native helpers. The field has been canvassed with several of our large and small books and yearly subscriptions for our periodicals taken. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.15
This mission field lies close to the equator, and is humid and malarial. The sanitation of the towns is good, and continues to improve under strict municipal care. The Lord is blessing his work in British Malaysia, and inquirers and converts are multiplying. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.16
The Dutch Malay field has a population of over forty-five million. It is beginning to show returns for eight years of faithful, patient labor. The providing of native converts to help the European workers has done more to solve the problem of carrying the message over these large islands than the continual call for foreign workers, who, after a short stay have been obliged to return home. The coast cities are intensely malarial and pestilential, and our workers in Java are now confined, by order of the governor-general, to three cities—Batavia, Soerabaya, and Samarang. GCB May 19, 1913, page 45.17
In Java
Our first church in Java was organized on June 23, 1912, with twenty-seven members. On July 29, the Soerabaya church was organized with nine members. On the mountains in East Java, three thousand feet above sea level, are two mission properties, which were purchased several years ago. A school for the Javanese children was started on one of these properties, but it was discontinued in 1912, because only four children attended. Thus our valuable workers were released to labor in the needy and large city of Soerabaya. The mission properties are now used as rest homes for the benefit of our workers. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.1
Of the first workers who began to work in Java, Sister Tunheim remains. She is conducting a mission in Batavia. Brother and Sister Wood, who later joined the work there, are conducting the mission at Soerabaya. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.2
In Java, with its thirty-two million people, we have no ordained minister and only four foreign workers, with about eight native helpers. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.3
Sumatra has a population of about four million. About fourteen years ago Elder Munson and family began work in Padang, the principal city on 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 organized there as yet. Brother and Sister Judge and two helpers are now carrying on the work in Padang. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.4
In the interior and on the northern heights of Sumatra is Immanuel Siregar, laboring among the Mohammedans, the uncivilized tribes of the interior, and others who are seeking the truth. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.5
The Message Enters Borneo
British North Borneo has just reported an interest there of a score keeping the Sabbath through one of our Singapore converts, who is employed selling Bibles for the British and Foreign Bible Society. Our Singapore native evangelist, Brother Chan, later went there to investigate, and he reports a lively interest among the well-to-do Chinese. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.6
Other Portions of the Field
The message is traveling through the Celebes, and is finding converts among the Menadonese. It has also gone to Amboyna, Banda, and other islands. We have not one worker in those islands, yet the truth somehow has found its way to those far-out-of-the-way places, and awakens the people to cry, “Come over and help us.” GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.7
There are hundreds of islands in Malaysia that must speedily hear the third angel’s message, but “how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?” The isles are waiting for God’s law. “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law.” “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” G. F. JONES. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.8
At the conclusion of Brother Jones’s report, conference adjourned. GCB May 19, 1913, page 46.9
W. T. KNOX, Chairman, . .
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.