THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE
When first Mr. Lü began to attend the services his wife did not like
it. She exhorted him to continue in the old way, living a quiet and
respectable life lest he should be involved in difficulties and trouble
because of his friendship with the foreigners. But when she saw that
his mind was made up, she left him alone.
The writer's first acquaintance with Mrs. Lü dates back to the spring
of 1902, when the out-station at Kucheng was opened. The house that
was rented adjoined that belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Lü, and when the
writer, in company with a Christian woman who was to fill the office of
chapel-keeper, arrived in Kucheng late one evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lü
were there to receive us. The enquirers had had the house cleaned up
and prepared for our coming, and the key to the house had been given to
Mr. Lü. His wife's mind was rather in a state of confusion. She tried
to persuade herself that the coming of this strange religion, which
seemed to take a wonderful hold on the minds of people, could be
nothing to her, as her way was the only right one. But, of course, she
must be neighbourly. Moreover, the strangers were friends of her
husband, and her loyalty to him bade her do all in her power to be kind
to the new-comers. Thus it came about that she, together with her
husband, gave us a hearty welcome, and informed us that supper had
already been prepared. Our heart went out to Mrs. Lü, and very soon a
firm friendship was established. She was exceedingly kind, but there
she stopped. She was very pleased to see her husband and other members
of the family becoming Christians, and even exhorted them to be
steadfast and give their whole hearts to what they believed. But they
were not to ask her to accept their creed. She must go her own way,
and pursue the path she had marked out for herself for so many years.
The doctrine was very good, she said, and she did not mind attending
the meetings. That could not do her any harm, as she intended to go no
further. Thus everything went on smoothly, Satan left her in peace,
whilst others kept on praying for her and claiming this precious soul
for the Lord. It was impossible not to realize what a power this woman
would have for good, if only she were won for the Master, and very soon
some of us received the assurance that one day she would become a
trophy of His grace.
[Illustration: The out-station at Kucheng. The place where Everlasting
Pearl was converted.]
All during that summer Mrs. Lü continued to attend the meetings, and
she enjoyed them thoroughly. In spite of herself she got more and more
interested in what she saw and heard. In the autumn of that year the
writer stayed at Kucheng for a fortnight, and while there held Bible
Study for the men twice a week, and although visiting some of the
villages around, gave a good deal of time in teaching the women and
children to read. Mrs. Lü came as usual, and as she was more
intelligent than the average Chinese woman, she not only obtained a
good deal of knowledge concerning salvation in Christ Jesus, but
learned to read quite a little and enjoyed it with all her heart.
Something happened at that time which made a great impression on her
mind. Early one morning a dreadful quarrel broke out in Mr. Lü's
house. It seemed incredible, as they were a very affectionate family.
But there was no doubt about it; Mrs. Lü had completely lost her temper
with her brother, and was scolding and swearing like any other Chinese
woman. For a while the writer kept quiet, but as the quarrel continued
and increased, we dressed quickly, and made our way to the place from
which the angry voices came. Mr. Lü was sitting there, meekly
listening, and evidently on his wife's side, but not opening his lips,
while Mrs. Lü could not control her voice for anger. The writer,
putting her hand on Mrs. Lü's shoulder, said, "Mrs. Lü, what are you
doing this morning? I never heard you like this before." Then she
narrated all, and added, "If only he would keep quiet and not answer
back, I would get over my anger; but when he retaliates, I lose my
temper altogether, and he ought to have done what I told him!" We said
it was quite true, but she was wrong in saying all these things against
her brother, which she really did not mean, and which would only rile
him instead of bringing him to his sense of duty. After being exhorted
to keep quiet, she calmed down.
When returning home, we met the brother, who had been hiding in the
kitchen, and had evidently been listening to what had been said to his
sister. Going up to him we said, "Look here, you know you are in the
wrong. Your sister has your good at heart, and has only asked you to
do what it was your duty to do. Now say nothing more about it, but go
and do it, and you will all have peace again." He looked very
shamefaced for a moment, then he got the victory and said, "Very well,
I will do it." And with that he went out to do his work, and the
quarrel was ended.
But the best result was yet to follow in two hearts. Towards noon Mrs.
Lü appeared, looking very sad and dejected. She said how miserable she
was because she had given way to anger; that after all these years of
trying to live uprightly and do her duty by all, she had no control
over herself when she was roused to anger. "So that is all your many
years of vegetarianism have done for you," the writer added. The tears
started to her eyes, and she answered, "That is all. I have no more
control over myself than I had seventeen years ago, when I first
started as a vegetarian." Solemnly and tenderly we pointed her to the
cleansing and keeping power of Christ. She listened eagerly, for her
heart was sad and weary.
Her brother, as yet, had not been willing to come to the meetings,
although his brother-in-law had tried earnestly to persuade him to do
so. But that night he walked in and smiled happily, evidently glad
that the little domestic scene had ended so well. So there was a
double victory won, for from that time he came off and on, till about a
year later, when he started to come regularly, and ultimately became a
real enquirer after the Truth. When the writer left for home in
November it was impossible not to praise God for all the blessing He
had given in Kucheng, and to hope and pray for greater things.