794
THE KING ’S BUSINESS
EXPERIENCES IN CHINA
Interesting Sights, and Events Quickly Crowd into the Life of Missionaries Who Graduated from the Bible Institute of Los A ngeles- Annual Pilgrimage of the Natives
"V/TR. and Mrs. Albert Johnson, who were among last year’s graduates o f the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles! are now working in Siang Yang, Hupeh, China, under the Swedish Board. Mr. Johnson writes interestingly o f their first days in ' their new home: “ The people around here are always numerous, but more these days than usual, as thousands o f pilgrims are daily worship ping at a temple on a hill just outside of the City. This is a very noted temple and people come in long processions from this and adjoining provinces to worship, leav ing their respective homes just after their New Ypar’s, celebration. “ I wish you might fly over hero some day and sit down on the hillside, and watch the long processions, one after the other, come marching along with banners flying,' as they wend their way along the trails lined With beggars o f all descriptions. When they come nearer you hear the sound o f trumpet, drum, cymbals, and I do not know what all. It must be something like Moses heard when he cable down from the mount. No wonder he smashed the tablets o f stone. Perhaps they will stop when they reach the portal at the base o f the hill and go through some o f their ceremonies, but that does not. take more than a few minutes, and again they march up the hill, unless they stop at a lower temple before ascend- in to the summit. Usually the lower tem ples are visited on the way down. It will be noticed as they pass that each one has a package o f papers, candles, firecrackers and other, things used difring their wor ship. “In the temple on the hilltop is the great est .rush. The priests are stationed at the different altars to receive the money arid
give- orders. Some o f these orders are given by the drum-beat alone. When they have gone the rounds, they sit down on the hillside to rest and to eat, for even th,at is provided. There are lunch counters (minus the counters) just like our own streets are lined with stands o f different kinds on gala-days. Besides, there are numerous small boys with baskets on their arm selling peanuts, millet-crisp, rice-crisp, etc. “A fter having watched them ‘k’ow t’ow’ (bump their heads to' the, ground) to those ugly images, burning paper and going through other ceremonies, in order to meet fhe great need o f their souls, one can hardly contain his feelings, j “W e are trying to reach some with liter ature, but there are so many pilgrims now that our tract supply is too short. 1Tent meetings have begun by our neighbor mis sion across the river, in order to give out the word to those who pass that way; How I wish that I knew the language that I might tell them o f Christ.” ----------0 ------- | A missionary about to sail for China explained his purpose as follow s: “ The Standard Oil Company has adopted the slogan, A Standard Oil tin in every vil lage in the Orient;’ the American Tobacco Company is using the motto, ‘A cigarette in the mouth o f every person in China;’ so I, as a member o f the Church o f Jesus Christ, have taken the watchword, ‘Chris tianity and its teachings in every hamlet within the boundaries o f China.’ ” ----------O--------- In order to combat the high death rate' among Chinese^ babies, a missionary phy sician o f the American Board has opened a mission dairy at Shaowu, Fukien Prov ince.
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