580
THE KING’S BUSINESS
sicians competing more or less successfully with the firecracker brigade which marched ahead. The din reminded one of an election night at home. The parade consisted of several “floats” borne on the shoulders of men who were dressed appropriately, I suppose, to the oc casion. But the “Queen”, of this carnival was'a little wooden idol about three feet high, seated on a small bamboo chair arid borne on poles on the shoulders of men. He was a little old man with long black whiskers, and his face and hands had re ceived a fresh coat of bright red paint. I wish I could help you to see that inno cent little chunk of wood as these poor peo ple had carved *and painted it for their worship. If you can imagine the youngest son 6f a cigar-store Indian as he might look while suffering the after effects of eating green apples, you will then have a fair pic ture Of this hideous object of worship. A little farther down the street we came to Wai Kwong’s home, and as we entered a group of the Christians who were at Bible study at a large square table arose to-greet us. This was the hardest day of the year for them. Old memories and habits would draw them back into the gay crowd of idol worshippers. Their non-Christian kinsfolk would urge them to join in the celebration of the day. They might even be deprived of their rightful share of the pork which is annually distributed on this festival day. Beset as it were within and without, they looked to us much as a small besieged gar rison would at the coming of reinforce ments ; and for my part I praised God in my heart for the privilege of being of any help to these young Christians at this crisis. We began our service at once and I gave them a short talk on the words of Jesus, “Watch and pray lest ye enter into tempta tion,” showing how Peter’s- denial of Christ was the result of failure to heed this warn ing. The Elder and Colporter both added a few thoughts, and after announcing a serv ice for the evening we closed the meeting with prayer for strength in time of temp tation.
Wai Kwong then told us that he had something he wished to show us and asked us to take a walk about the village with him. While the idol was being paraded about the town, carried into each house where offerings of food and incense were presented while the men of the house en gaged in a contest of wine drinking, we visited thé temple, which is his home. It consists of two rooms about, teri feet square, lying side by 'side. In the room on the left was the idol’s abode and a table loaded with food-stuff for him to eat on his return. In the room on the right there was another table loaded with offerings, and above’lt.the characters, “To the unknown God.”1' This is what the Colporter wished us to see, for he had read Acts 17 and knew we would be interested in this. We then re turned to our host’s home and had a bounti ful supper of noodles, rice, chicken and several nameless viands. Later the women of the household and their friends had their supper, and shortly afterward the brethren began to gather for the evening service. I ' shall never forget that- service. Elder Leung spoke on the passage in Acts 17, “To the unknown God,” and he faithfully de clared to them the true God. The Chris tians were gathered around a smoky lamp on the big square table, and outside of them stood a circle of villagers, drawn away from the idol worship by the singing. Not only did they come but they stayed to the very end and listened to every word with an at tention that would gratify your pastors at home. I added a few words on the verse in 1 Thess. 1, telling them how those young converts not only “turned from idols” but at once began “to serve the living and true God.” After singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” and receiving the Benedic tion, the meeting was over, and so was the crisis. The revellers were carrying the little painted god back to the shed. Wai Kwong’s plan had not only helped to strengthen some weak-kneed brethren but it had given us the inestimable privilege of declaring the
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