St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-10-04
A Day In Shanghai,
My DEAR FRIENDS:

MY DEAR FRIENDS:
Yesterday was the first Sunday of the
month and after family worship started
across the city upon a bicycle. Along
the streets there was the ceaseless clatter
of carpenters, smithes and wide open
shops, wheebarrows creaking under
their loads, rickshas jammed at crowded
corners, and carriages recklessly driven
by native mafoos. Out of a miserable
half-barred doorway stumbled five Amer
lean sailors leading by the arm a dis
heveled, rollcking courtesan. and further
on the masons were busily grooming the
workmen's song IS they built the walls
of great business block. Past quiet
church people, Chinese and foreign, on
the way to worship, past the closed
doors OF great publishing house, man.
aged by Christian whose 400 en-
ployees remember the Sabbath day and
abstain from labor, past Irish and then
French police patrols, past the abode of
the Taoist Abbot, past the benefcent
Women's Hospital, and after mile or
two more l alighted at the Japanese
Civil Service College, where we have a
Bible class of ninety-one members-all
Japanese-preparing for service in the
interior.
On the way across the city the very
human thought crossed my mind was
this the most effective way to spend
Sunday mornings? But l was rebuked
for my lack OF faith. After the class
session several men remained behind by
request, and one of them senior and an
old friend finished his struggle and ac-
cepted Christ.
After tiffin the children were sent in
rickshaw to Union church Sunday school,
and at $50 went to the Central Chi.
nese Department, where the religious
work committee met me to pray for the
conversion of several OF the men. During
this time Mr.. Kong; the Chinese Secre-
tary, was conducting a meeting in the
Shanghai dialect and at SIS we went
into the meeting for English speaking
Chinese, forty eight being present. The
searching address by Mr.. Haywood of
the c. l. M. ended, l took charge of the
after meeting, and one none Christian
expressed his desire to follow Christ.
He met Mr.. Kong and me in my office
and for half an hour we had delightful
communion. His name is Chiu.dat.tse,
he is an insurance man, forty years of
age, and twenty years ago finished his
college studies. He decided to prepare
for baptism Immediately, but warned
me that his wife would no doubt resent
and oppose his new made decision.
1t was seven O'Clock and then took
charge Of the song service, travesty on
music, at which we are breaking in from
20 to 80 heather young men who do not
know even "Iesus Lover Of My Soul"
but they were lusty in their attempts to
learn the Christian songs. and after the
singing they were divided into two
Bible classes under Mrs. Lyon and as
sistant Secretary Chur. AS they were
dispensing man remained behind, and
asked him into the private office. He
was former student of the Canton
College, but doubt and difficulties had
been in his way. We talked and prayed
the great question was decided. pre-
sented him with testament and he
went to his lodgings radiant.
1t was nine o'clock before l got home
to supper, but of what account was
that. Three men had decided and had
passed out of the nightmare Of heathen-
ism into the rational world of Love ard
Light.
Yours faithfully,
ROBERT E. LEWIS.