THE CANTON VILLAGE MISSION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1510, 18 April 1902, Page 3

THE CANTON VILLAGE MISSION.

Ipy <tht lUv. 6««. M'tfew.) Canton, 29—1—02. There's no place like home, and no country like New Zealand. I don't know when I shall bring myself to the extremity of the Chinese politeness which demands that I should speak of my country as a " miserable place." No, even at the risk of being impolite a most terrible sin in China—l caimot speak slightingly of my own my native land. China is a strange place, and the home of strange people. The more I see of them the more they are a puzzje to me. Just now it is getting near 8 o'clock at night. Usually the Chinese knock off work at dscent hours, but this is the evening of the Chinese year, and things are topsy-turvy. A lot of Chinese are at present engaged digging a big well in the hospital grounds just in front of my house. They have got down abo«t 30ft, and there they are with a couple of lights that make darkness visible, shouting, yelling, and pulling. If they were any other than Chinese folk you would think that some terrible accident was happening every minute, hut I have got accustomed to the row now. It is amusing to see the watchman coming with his gong—rap—tap, tap—and walking right round the spotwhere tkese men are working. You would think that the noise the workmen are making would be sufficient to let any would-be thieves know that there were people about, but I don't suppose .that idea ever enters the watchman's old pate.

It will be snlendid if they strike good water here. The river water, which is generally used by the people, is mixed with all the sewage of the city, and as there is yery little rain except in the rainy season, it is hard to keep g supply of good water, espeeially in a big place like the hospital. I pay 10 cents for two Bucketfuls of pure water each week—this is hill water brought into the city and hawked round. I was across the river last week looking at a Chinese house which is to rent. It was in a nice neighbourhood, but was rather large for me, and there was too much paint about it. Why they should spoil the interiors of good houses with so much flaring colour I don't know. lam finding my way about now, and take walks on my own account. The shops and the people in the streets are always interesting. Just now the streets are overrun with beggars—you meet them every few yards. The evening of the year is their harvest time, and they are making the most of it. Some of them are big, strong-looking fellows. Yesterday I was passing through a back lane, and came across an old fellow sitting on some steps. By the number of his baskets I think he had been out marketing, and he was fairly well dressed. However, he thought he saw a good mark, aid, holding out an empty basket, he opened fire on me. I did not think him a proper object of 6!|a*jty, and so walked right on, but I eVuld aear kis voice until I got o«t »f sight. The beggars do the tkiig in quite a systematic way here. They are united in strong societies, and the shopkeepers know that it is to their advantage not to refuse them. Willie Chan and his brother went home this morning, and so the cook and I have the place to ourselves. My cook is rather old and slow, but is a professing christian, and a decent old fellow. We have Chinese prayers every morning in the hospital, with a Gospel address of about 20 minutes. Just now lam busy with study, and find plenty opportunity of using all 1 have learned. Quite a little colony of missionaries live around here, and at this season of the year little mission work can be done, as people are all busy with their New Year celebrations.

About a fortnight or so after New; Year—February Bth—l intend going j up Poon Yu again. Last Sunday 11 went to a Presbyterian Church on the other side of the city. Walking thrqugh the streets one sees no trace of the day of rest. A native preacher conducted the service, and preached an excellent sermon on " The grace of God." The church is a fine, big new one, and alongside of it there is being built a commodious hospital for women. This morning a Chinese from up country, who had been many years in Sydney, came in to see Yan Kum, so as Willie was away I showed him over the place. I pointed out to him the church, and he wanted to know where " Jesus was set up." Evidently he had been among the Catholics. He wished to know if the English Government paid the rent of my house for me. The idea that we missionaries are the agents of our respective governments is very deeply rooted in the Chinese mind. The Catholics do .a lot of harm about here ; they are noted for their lawlessness, and have brought the Christian name into great discredit. Most people do not distinguish between them and the Protestant sects. The other day a Chinese called on me with the request that I would go to his village in Lower Poon Yu, where there were a number of men who wished to be baptised. He said no missionary went there, and that if one would go they would be willing to build a church. Ih all probability he has some axe to grind. Those men who wish to become Christians are likely involved in some quarrel, and want to get the weight of foreign protection on their side. How wanly one has to walk in a land like this ; you have simply to distrust everybody until you find that they are honest by careful investigation . Great comfort and strength are to be got out of the Psalms ; I don t know what w« would do without them. Surrounded with heathenism as one is here, many of the expressions stand out in a new light, and come so much nearer to the heart, "Oh Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto Thee ?" " 0 come, let us worship and bow down : Let us kneel Uefore the Lord our Maker, for he is our God." "The fteathen worship gods that they make, we worship a God who made