February 1929
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
Î05
lief. “The idea of blood redemption,” he says, “came from the ancient Jewish rite of sacrifiée.” We would not have pur chased this book, for we never invest in books unless we believe we shall find something that will really prove food for
the soul, but since this book was presented to us by Willett, Clark and Colby, pub lishers ($2.00), we will lay it aside as a fair specimen of the ancient unbelief dressed up in a new suit of clothes. The title tells the story: “DRIFT of the Day.” —K. L. B.
said: “Tell us what is the trouble ? What are you trying to do? Even my reputa tion as an official, you are ruining. People will say, when I can’t manage one small girl; how can I manage an army.” I re plied, showing him my Bible, “I want to study this Book, and to do this I must go to Nanking.” They of course could not understand my desire, so I was again imprisoned. ■•‘Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” I gave myself to prayer. I remembered fasting was also included in prayer, .so I began to fast, hoping God yfquld opep the way. When my parents saw me fasting they thought I was attempting suicide, so agreed to my entering the Women’s Bible School at Nanking. A soldier and ser vant woman were to accompany me. As I departed all came to see me off. My mother said: “Remember you have no home, no father or mother, you can never return. If you come back we will break your legs.” I wrote constantly to them, but not once did they reply. At the end of the term when other girls were preparing to return home I decided also to go. I said: “If they cripple me I will be crippled.” No one welcomed me. Even the servants were allowed to curse me, but I was not beaten or abused. When I had completed the course and was ready to graduate, I received a letter from my father demand ing my return home,—that I was too .young and could not be an evangelist; roaming about the country. I knew that meant imprisonment and no .church privileges, so T refused to return, As I was discussing with myself what best to plan, I received a letter from Hangchow asking me to go and help with an evangelistic movement. I went to Shanghai to make connec tion for Hangchow, which meant passing my home at Kahsing. As we neared the station at Kahsing I heard trumpets and firecrackers and asked the cause. “The official is being changed,” was the answer. I knew that must, mean my father. As we came up to the station there sure enough stood my father. I forgot all those years of separation and difference. I just knew I was his child, and he was my own dear father. So I rushed from the train to the platform where he was taking leave of his friends. I called, “Ba-Ba,” my name as a child for father. In the confusion he did not notice me, so I went close, pulling his coat, still calling “Ba-Ba.” Then God heard my prayer. My father looked ten derly upon me, and recognized me as his child. I learned my mother and the fam ily had already moved to Hangchow. So my destination was my home and I was welcomed home at last, My father had been transferred because the bandits were becoming troublesome and he knew how to deal with them. The family would remain in Hangchow, but he was going to a country town. I begged to go with him. Dangers were ahead, and I wanted to be with him to pray for his life, but especially for his soul’s salvation. My parents were highly amused at such a request, but finally con sented to my going. [This is the most re markable part of her story.] We secured the services of a converted Buddhist nun from Nanking to accompany me. This woman of little education was a power in faith and prayer. My father was greatly affected by her spiritual life. When she (Continued on page 109) ■
A Chinese Girl's Trial and Triumph : A, MjgsijoMARY S tory
M ISS WANG is a young woman of twenty-six but looks much younger; the daughter of a mili tary official, and shows by appearance and manner her social position. She tells her life’s Story as simply as a girl not yet in her teens—modest, humble, unembar rassed, yet dignified and unassuming, she tells in j simple language the deep mystery of salvation. She speaks most distinctly. The way she is understood is a remarkable feature of her ministry. She reminds us of the day of Pente cost when all heard their own tongue. No matter what dialect her listener uses, all understand. , She has given us a lesson in how to speak to the Chinese, using narrative, in. detail, simply giving one’s own experience. She kept women, girls, boys, pastors, helpers, students, old and young in rapt attention during a two hours’ service, many in tears, and all wonderfully im pressed. I sat with her on the platform and could watch the faces. I feel many of them will never be just the same again since hearing her. I report Miss Wang from memory, hav ing taken no notes, so can hot claim these words to be her very oyvn, but her mean ing :, When about fourteen the desire came into my heart to study. I had learned some at home, but I wanted to really en ter a school. My father was a military official at Hangchow, so I could not go as a day pupil, for every time I went out I must ride in a chair and be escorted. The government schools do not receive board ers, so it must needs be a Christian school. My mother was a devout Buddhist. She had a small temple in our home and wor shiped at the idol’s shrine many times daily. She consented to my going if I would promise not to become contaminated with the foreigner’s religion. This I could easily promise, for at that time I knew nothing of it. After a term in the school I became convinced that Christianity was true, though I had not yet been baptized. I returned home and refused to kow tow to ancestral tablets and to images. This produced great consternation in my family. The mother blamed me and the father blamed my mother for having sent me to a Christian school. They made me a prisoner in my own home. I was not per mitted to attend school, or church, or allowed to see a Christian. But my Bible was left in my possession. Truly this was God’s providence. I read the Bible from Cover to cover. It was my daily food. In praying for guidance, and reading, I came upon the text in Acts, sixth chapter,
“We will give ourselves to prayer and preaching the Word.” As I read this I received a message in my heart as though some one spoke, that God was calling me to be an evangelist. Shut up in my home prison, what could I do ? I wrote to a pastor in the city and asked him to pray for me. As I was in an of ficial’s home the pastor was unable to help me, so gave my letter to a mission ary lady. She had the courage to call at the ya- men. My mother was very angry and re fused to see her, but as she had already entered the yard, I went out to receive her. I told her my difficulties. She said |—“You ask God for guidance, and what He tells you to do, do it. Don’t fear.” After much prayerful consideration I decided to leave my home and go to Nan king^—in plain English, to run away. Then came my difficulty with Satan. How could I leave my father and mother, and what about my reputation? •The fight was hard. God answered me through His Word and gave me courage to overcome obstacles. There was no way to leave the ya-men through the front door, as soldiers guarded it, but there was a back door. We were then living at Kahsing. My plan was to seek my missionary friend at Hangchow. Ij removed all jewels and expensive clothing, taking only money sufficient for the railroad fare, and with my Bible ven tured forth. I wrote a letter, leaving it in my room, stating my destination. To my disappointment, my mother was up next morning as soon as I. How to evade her I did not know. If I put on my skirt my mother would know I was going out, as that is worn only when dressed for the public. So I decided to put my skirt with my Bible, leave the house thus, and dress at the back door. To my distress I met one of the servant women at the back door. She proved God’s messenger for me, for with out her il could not have escaped. ;She was responsible for my movements, so I told her my plans. I said: “You know I am not allowed to worship here, I am go ing out to worship my God.” She as sented to my plans without remonstrance, opened the back door, and to my conster nation, three soldiers stood on guard. She spoke to one and told him to accompany me as I was going to worship. He took me to the station, bought my ticket, and put me on the train. I reached my missionary friend’s home to find I had been missed. A telegram had come from father and the next train brought a servant woman to take me home. I returned with her. My home re ception was icy cold, and stormy indeed were the words used. Finally my father
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