THE DRAW NET LET DOWN INTO THE SEA
AN ACCOUNT OF FRESH EFFORTS TO REACH THE MULTITUDE AND BRING THEM TO
DECISION
METHODS in mission work are many, and the diversities of gifts bestowed
by the one Spirit are manifest in the striking variety of means put
forth to bring to a knowledge of Christ the people of the lands in which
the members of His Church are called to work.
The teacher rejoices to see the change brought about by discipline and
regular life in those committed to his care. The doctor, exercising his
gift, succeeds where others have failed in establishing confidence and
friendly relations which prepare a road for those who follow. The
itinerant missionary sacrifices the comfort of a settled dwelling to
carry the Gospel to those who dwell outside the radius touched by the
central station.
By the exercise of his peculiar gift, each expresses the longing that in
the hearts of the people he sees around, without God and without hope,
may take place that greatest of miracles called conversion.
Nevertheless, every missionary has ever to guard against a most subtle
and deadening influence which may be likened to poisonous gas in the
enemy's country, lulling him to a condition wherein the idolatrous
practices of the people around, instead of stirring him to greater
activity, come to be regarded as customs of the nations amongst whom he
lives, deplorable but interesting practices.
The horror experienced on first seeing men bow down to wood and stone
may give way to a complacency which ceases to expect an immediate
response to the quickening and convicting power of the Spirit of God,
and philosophises on the gradual emergence of light from the kingdom of
darkness. The deadening of that vitality which drives a man to the
seeking of the lost is one of the master-strokes of the enemy of souls,
and one which no man doing spiritual work can afford to ignore.
The sense of this urgency, and a great desire that our Chinese
fellow-workers might realise the fullness of their vocation as
evangelists, emboldened us to move in what was then a somewhat new
direction so far as North China was concerned, by the holding of a six
days' Mission for women in our new church in the spring after its
dedication.
Miss Gregg of Hwailu, in the Province of Chihli, when travelling through
Shansi some years previously had conducted meetings for schoolgirls in
several stations, upon which the blessing of God manifestly rested. From
that time plans were being matured in the minds of the missionaries at
Hwochow for a Mission to women in that city at the earliest possible
date. The erection of a church building which could hold the number
expected made that dream a possibility. The city and villages were
visited by the women evangelists, placards were posted on the walls, and
every effort was made to widely advertise. Prayer was offered throughout
the Church that God would so prevent us in all our doings that we might
see His salvation.
The men gladly undertook the arrangements for catering, made necessary
by the fact that women cannot go to the shops to buy food for
themselves, and this department was splendidly managed. We prepared to
receive three hundred guests, and about three hundred and fifty took
advantage of the invitation, who, with schoolgirls, Bible School
students and helpers, provided a resident congregation of little short
of five hundred. They came long distances on donkey-back, in carts, or
even walking many miles.
Large numbers of heathen, attracted by the unique sight of so large a
concourse of women, swelled the numbers at the daily evangelistic
meetings, and it was an inspiration to see the new church packed with
women and girls quietly and reverently listening to the Gospel message.
A room was set apart where silence was observed, that those who wished
to do so might pray without fear of disturbance. A band of helpers was
appointed to teach the passage for the day, and outside the church in an
adjoining court was a book-stall, and here a brisk trade was done in
hymn-sheets, gospels, and block-printed texts.
The elder scholars, anxious to do their part, acted as stewards; each
one had charge of some part of the building, so that should a baby cry
and threaten to divert attention, she could carry the small offender to
an adjoining room and keep it there until such time as it was prepared
to enjoy the larger gathering. One of the "old girls" took charge of
small children, and managed her creche so successfully that we were
undisturbed by the younger portion of the community.
Each morning before seven a gong sounded and all assembled for prayer.
After breakfast a short Bible-reading was given, the subject chosen
being the sevenfold "I Am" of St. John's Gospel. These meetings were
simple and evangelistic, and many testified to blessing received as they
saw afresh all the wealth laid up in Him who is the Way, the Truth, and
the Life.
It was to the eleven and four o'clock meetings that the crowds gathered.
While the congregation was assembling a choir of schoolgirls sang hymns,
and after reading of Scripture and prayer by a Chinese lady, the address
was given by Miss Gregg. The women listened intently as she talked, and
illustrated her remarks by objects so familiar. The fan used for
winnowing the grain is, I think, now never used by those who attended
without the thought asserting itself afresh that thus He will separate
the wheat from the chaff.
This Mission accomplished all that we had hoped. Christ the Redeemer was
revealed to some who, in obedience to the wishes of the head of their
household, had passively substituted Christianity for that system of
idolatrous observances which had constituted their religious life.
Christ the Master laid His claim upon some who had believed, but never
served.
Even heathen women, listening to the earnest, convincing words, were
startled to a realisation that the offer of salvation with which they
were faced compelled a decision on one side or the other, that the
detached view with which they had hitherto regarded Christianity could
no longer be maintained. Amongst the schoolgirls were some, daughters of
Christians, who were in precisely the same position as girls in a
homeland. They neither doubted nor questioned, but they now realised
that the whole matter had assumed a personal aspect, and the individual
spirit was summoned to an audience with its Maker.
The Evangelists, Bible women, and ripe Christians amongst us suddenly
saw the fields white, and every dilatory thought which suggested the
perennial excuse: "There are yet four months and then cometh the
harvest," was silenced in a sense of immediate urgency: "I must be about
my Master's business." This gathering affected a wide area, for our
visitors came from the counties of Hungtung, Chaocheng, and Fensi, now
all gladly welcomed by the Hwochow church, and missionaries from those
districts came to share with us in the campaign.
* * * * *
Six years have passed, and once more a Mission for women is advertised
to be held on the occasion of an idol procession which brings thousands
into town from the neighbouring villages. This time our own evangelistic
band was sufficiently strong to undertake the speaking to an audience
almost entirely composed of heathen, who now heard, not from a
foreigner, but from their own people, of the Truth as it is in Jesus.
Once more we saw decisions made and the evidence of the working of God's
Spirit.
Thus was a further step taken in aggressive work amongst the women, and
a further impetus given to the self-propagation of the Gospel, and to
the fulfilment of the prophecy of Pastor Hsi that even Hwochow should
see a Resurrection morning.
LIFE AMONGST THE UPPER TEN THOUSAND
"Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters!"
CONFUCIUS.
"All within the four seas are brethren."
CONFUCIUS.
"Society and solitude are deceptive names. It is
not the circumstance of seeing more or fewer
people, but the readiness of sympathy, that
imports."--EMERSON.