Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-06

from nobody knows where for their
service. The big Sarlor In the house II
cleared up and they squat In orderly
rows on the floor, from fifty to one
hundred Of them, to learn the hymns
| which Mrs. McCandliss and the lame
| bible woman teach them. At eleven
the church service begins. The con-
grcgation consists largely Of adults a
! strange sight to US school teachers
| from tho other stations. The hymns
| arc printed In large characters and
hung In front Of the church, as for
| such q more or less transient congre-
cation hymn books are a temptation
Bibles are wired to the seats. The
service begins, and after the offering
(Which. by the way, usually amounts
to nearly $l.so. tho given IN sums
ranging from three to nearly two hun
drca CASH. Mrs, McCandliss takes the
children back to her house. Mrs Me-
Canaliss and Miss Ruth take the larger
and smaller boys in separate groups.
while n capable Young Chinese woman
takes the girls, DR.. McCandlisss or one
or tho Chinese assistants breaches the
sermon, and. then there Is Sunday
school for the adults, After strenu-
MAS iuNti'iHS anu TcSl until VltCk
six in the evening, unless there Is an
emergency call for the doctor.
About six Mrs. McCandliss takes her
baby orsan and goes to, the hospital
chapel where she holds a song ser
vice. AT present many of the patients
are soldiers from LUIS Tsi-koans's
army They speak no Hiananese nor
do they understand any. but can read
hymns as they are hung up and they
seem to enjoy the music. Mrs. Nc
Candliss gives little talk In Canton
csc Cher native tongue, as she was born
In .Canton), and one of the assistants
speaks in Mandarin so some Of them
get little. Some time perhaps the
results viii be apparent, but now it is
bread cast upon the waters In faith
and not In sight.
These are only a few OF the interest.
ing points about the work there. The
ieper work Is also well worth men
tioning. but fear this letter is already
too long so just brief account will be
sufficient There are great many
lepers in Hainan. poor wretched crea-
lures driven from their homes and
villages when the disease shows itself.
congregating with others OF the same
affection in miserable dirty villages on
the edges of the more prosperous mar
kets. There is quite village of them
just outside Hofhow, A little chapel
has been built for them where a leper
preacher does very faithful work.
Once a week the doctor or his assistant
gives the hypodermic treatment Of
chaumoogra oil to all who are willing
out and holds a service. 1t WIS my
privilege to accompany her last week.
There are twenty or more Christians
among them, and how they do love TO
sing! Some have no toes, some no
fingers, almost Ill show traces OF the
scourage. One man has the variety OF
the disease causing great red bloiches
on his face. But they are happy and
jolly and so eager to see strangers. and
1t is pleasure to go to see them. They
are supposed to receive pittance from
the official. which they sometimes do
and sometimes do not get. Many Of
them are professional beggars, some
make a great deal OF profit by receiv-
ing stolen goods and others by running
pawn shops. Our Christians are CIV
ing up all disreputable means Of liveli-
hood, often at considerable financial
loEs. There are wives Of lepers in the
village who have no trace OF tho dis
ease. and two young girls about nine
teen years Of age who have lived there
all their lives but are untainted. The
chaulmoogra oil treatment, that, used
In the Philippines, does not claim 10
effect complete cure but it does
greatly alleviate suffering. DR.. and Mrs.
Kelly are beginning the same treat
mcnt in the leper village near Kachek.