Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-19
Story Is Told Of Christian Work
Nou Being Done In Northern China

l-GreetinEs from Tungcho1" IS the
title OF a pamphlet In which Is out.
lined the work OF the Christian mis-
sfonarles fl Northern China, two of
them being Mr.. and Mrs. Dean r.
Wickes, sent there by. Central Union
church Of Honolulu. The pamphlet
contains six chapters. One chapter
will be printed each week on the
church page of the Star-Bulletin)
FoREWoRD.
Tuneehou, the Snip City.
In an old, old country that counts
lis years by milleniums. rather than
by centuries, lies an inland city that
is. none the less, known as the ship
city
For six hundred years II was the
port Of Picking, and an endless, crook
cd line OF quaint. high-powered gal.
leys, languid from the journey from
all parts OF China, crept Nthe Grand
Canal and the Pei river TO the gates
OF the city, these disgorging their
millions OF sacks OF tribute rice, to be
stored in enormous, pfison-like gran
aries until such time as the swarms
or sleek officials in charge saw fit to
forward Il 10 the emperor's feet, by
the massive stone road or the five
locked canal. Fat fortunes came a.
sailing up to Tungchou's walls on
those sleepy tribute ships. as well as
the empefor's rice. or the priceless
bits OF porcelain and carved work. or
strange trUpic fruits; and because Of
what the ships brought, the city
waxed rich and famous.
Not only so. but the city had of old
laid claim to being itsclf ship
When first the broad, battiemented
walls that now enclose Il we're laid.
the space within was long and mar.
row, rather than foursduare. Near
the north gate. somewhat later, sprang
ND a graceful. ivory-tjnted pagoda.
TO delight the eye? More-to press
down the fatefhl eyeiid of that great
dragon who by enc wink could shake
the earth.
But 70 the smiling city, rubbing its
hands in satisfied pagan Joy over its
gorgeous temple and mansions and
gay Streets basking eontentedly III
its big place in. the sun camo
clouds. black clouds that sent down
floods Of gray rain for which there
was no escape over the great flatness
that stretched. about. The CHEAT sea
dragon himself came floating up the
swollen river and carried off huge
timbefs for his palaces under the sea.
The terror-stricken people poured
their gifts At the feet of their wise
men and soothsayers.
How could they save the city!-save
themselves? The mystic answer was
ready. To show themselves more
subtle than the Jealous gods who were
obviously seeking IN destroy the great,
prosperous city in the sxiriing yellow
waters. let them make their city into
a shin. which nouid BID defiance to
the floods of the gods. Long, mar
row. the slender pagOda It's mast
even the gods could see Il was like
ship. To make sure, aegrest hole was
pierced in the eastern wall. and mas.
sive chains DANGLING huge anchor
were run through who doubts this
tale may behold there the chains to
this dayI And To-" the chroniclers
tell us, because the gods beheld II
ship, never did the floods overcome
t."
But the envious gods had other
weapons than floods. they sent per.
verse blindness of spirit, and mis-.
fortune after misfortune; upon the
proud ships neonle. till there was
left but q shell or the city that had
been.
Some fifty years since. before its
glory had quite waned, few foreign.
efs quietly made their uuwelcorne
homes In the heart of the Ship City.
In the face Of cold scorn and Insult
they urged tidiiigs Of good things upon
the ears Of the bitter people. and
babe them not regret the crunibIine
OF fortunes. OF great temples and
tawdry Idols. They started schools,
they preached. they healed. they lived
TIL new life began to CLEAN here
and there amid the ruined hopes OF
men and women. Those who follow
cf them to the gray old stricken shin
CITY send Won the brief chronicle
written hereafter, that you may know
how the little, wandering flames
Hebted so long ago have, within the
past year. burned together into a
steady beacon. till the Shin City once
more has hope TO give gifts unto men.
CHAPTER |.
Where Christianity Steers Instead Of
the Dragon; Why Everyone Goes
TO the Street Chapel.
At the central point sof the Ship
City. where East street pours its un.
ceasing Eood of men and donkeys,
carts and 'richshaws into the equal
rood that surges back aud forth along
fIie great street leading north from
the north gate, near the pagoda, 10
the srnEh gate. stands the chapel, Just
sonth OF the drum tower.
IN the shops on these thronging
streets. merchants from every prov
inee of China do business. Only a
small minority are Tungehou-born.
Merchants trained in Tungchou go to
the far ends of the empire. And the
ends of the empire meet in Tungchou.
The missionary sat in the prosperous
shop of man from the Province OF
Shensi end asked him why he had not
-. Il a.