Norwich bulletin., 1919-01-18
A CHINESE MISSIONARY.

Dear Sisters of The Social Corner:
When I read of your happy meetings,
agree with North Dakota who wrote:
Such good times, and l amt in EN-"
/ recently attended missionary
meeting where there wer4 several
| speakers. and each told his experience
in foreign lands. The 1Gost inter
esting speaker was a native Chinese
| minister. Rev. Mr.. Tong. He was con-
verified and educated in an American
| college in China. He is now in Ameri-
| ca to take an advanced theological
! course SO that he can fill a higher po-
sition in the missionary field and be of
more serbice to his people. He spoke
| English f1uently. but in the Chinese
| tone and accent. He described his
feelings when he first heard of the
Christian religi<l. He asked what
could the Christian God co for him
| more than the Chinese's gods could do.
| 1t puzzled him how the Christian re-
| ligion was any better than what the
Chinese had been taught to believe.
He was finally converted anil became a
minister with a great Cesire to en-
| tighten his own people.
! He opened what he called Pigeon
| hole" which is the same as a vacant
store in a block of bulldogs in any
! town, and arranged it for church ser
! vices. Then he went about the town
| and spoke to people ami invited them
to come in and hear him preach about
the Christian religion. Tho heather
in his blindness bows down to wood
and stone" When the Chinese came
into the "Pigeo~ hole" they looked
about them, not seeing any images of
God, or pictures they asked:
Where is your Col? We don't
| see Him.
! They must have something visible.
So the minister had notices printed in
| Chinese cflaracte God il; Love, y
Cod is Light and others similar, to
take the place of the idols Of wood
and stone.
Sometimes he had an audience of
| 80 to 40 people seated II. the room
and he was earnestly speaking to
them. Suddenly a ChinarGan thinks
he wants something to ca! and he
leaves thf room. Another thinks he
wants to speak to some one outside
ane he goes cut. Then the whole au-
dience walks out without any cere-
mony and the minister ;inds himself
addressing empty benches. This is
very discouraginS, especially when he
has prepared an Interesting sermon
and is anxious TO win them to Chris.
tianitE. But the day cones wher
a group of Chinese become. interested
and then they stay and stay, ant
don't know when to go.
He said the Chinese can ask more
questions than a theolog:ca. studen
ever thought of: and it requires grea
patience and tact to explain and hole
their attention.
Eleven o'clock At night finds then
still with the ministc~. asking ques
| tons. aud lhny only ,C.izn him thar
with the promise that he will tel
them more the noXt day.
Then when he reaches his home
; Mrs Tong says: "Where have yo,
been all this long tinle2 Supper
all spoilt"
There would bo a domestic TRACED,
only Mrs. Tow Is a good little mis-
! sionary, too and thinks Of her hus
bands comfort but is reiojced wher
his efforts Ire crowned With success
and he is able to lead his people to
> Christian life.
Each one when he or SO become
a Christian. is taught it is & DUTY an
r part Of religion to bring i'll others an
| help spread the Gospel, They ar
taught it is not right to say: oh, til
; minister is paid for saving people. 1e
| him do the work: but each one mus
/ hcip.
: give"
) In this way there are many nativ
missionaries IN China doing faithful
t work, VINO ara happy in teaching 9th
F crs.
2 Tho Chinese are Very grateful to tn
Americans fer bringing the Christia
, reliEion and education mo China.
EFETA