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and is now spending a month with one of our Biola Evangelistic Bands in order to get fully in touch with the spirit and method of the work. Empty Baskets and Full Heart The enthusiasm with which men come to the Nanyoh Conference was well il lustrated this year by a Mr. Chen, a man of about seventy years of age. Mr. Chen had been led to faith in Christ by some of the Biola workers several years ago, and had longed to attend one of the conferences, but his home was five days’ journey distant and he did not have sufficient money to pay the travel ing expenses. This year he determined that he would manage some way to at tend the conference. He made up a large quantity 6f sugared oranges, and with his heavy load he started for Nan yoh selling the oranges by the way to pay expenses. His load grew lighter as the. distance grew shorter, and at last he reached Nanyoh with empty baskets but with a full heart, and there he made captive of us all by his joyous and tri umphant smile. Before the conference closed the Chinese delegates made up a little purse for him so that his return trip was not so difficult. Others Following Our Plans Just at this point- the* letter carrier brought a letter from the Honan mis sionary referred to above which increases the flood of thanksgiving and praise in my heart, for he writes that his mission has fully decided to undertake this form of work at once. They have a band of workers already organized, a leader ap pointed and funds in hand by what seems to be a direct provision of God for this work. He also writes that they have decided to use the same books that we are using and asks us, if possible, to send them a supply sufficient for the first few months that they may not be delayed in making a start. Another missionary who has tried this plan of work for two sea sons writes us: “There Can be no doubt that it is THE WAY to reach the people; the results are sure to be great and last ing. All the men say so and are en thusiastic for this form of service.” Band No. 9 Going Out Eight bands are now at work and, God willing, Band No. 9 will begin work next week. The history of tHe forming and sending out of Band No. 9 is most stir ring and demonstrates God’s guidance and care. A few days before starting for Nanyoh a letter came from a friend in the States asking if it would be pos sible to put out an additional band if
Where Is Dr. Torrey? On all sides there were Inquiries about Dr. Torrey. “Will Doctor Torrey be here next year?” This was put to us over and over again and our reply was: “He told us that he wanted to come next year, and we hope that he may be able to do so.” And now I want to give all the friends at home the opportunity to take a definite part in making arrange ments for next year’s conference. Pray Doctor Torrey out here for the whole of September, 1921, if that be God’s will for him and for us. This Is not rhetoric, • but a genuine request hot from the heart of one who absolutely believes in prayer as the most practical possible working proposition. Now who will do it? I wish that I might get a post card, or very short letter from everyone who is willing to do this work for next year’s Nanyoh Bible Conference. Please write it now; don’t wait until tomorrow. The Best Conference Ever The 1920 conference was not only the largest, but in some respects the best we have ever held, and gives promise of the most wide-reaching influence. Mis sionaries and Chinese visitors came to us this year from other provinces as well as from Hunan, coming to study the general plan of the work, and to investi gate the practical working out of its de tails, their object being to institute sim ilar work in their own fields. One mis sionary came from the province of Ho nan, a week’s journey, and brought three Chinese workers with him. The more they saw of the work the more enthusias tic they became. One of these Chinese evangelists stirred every heart in the conference as he stood up one evening and with burning words told of his deep gratitude that he had been permitted to attend the conference. This missionary and two of the Chinese evangelists who came with him have returned to their station with the firm determination to organize and start the “Evangelistic Band” work as promptly as possible. The third worker who came with him, a bright Chinese scholar, has remained be hind and has entered the Bible school at Changsha for a year of close study of God’s Word and practical methods of Christian work. From the southern part of the prov ince of Kiangsi a Chinese evangelist came a journey of nearly two weeks. He is to be the leader of an “Evangelistic Band” to be formed and carried on by a missionary of the China Inland Mission who is in charge of that part of Kiangsi,
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