CHINA INLAND MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21984, 20 June 1933, Page 13

CHINA INLAND MISSION

INTERESTING LECTURE An interesting lecture on the work carried out by the China Inland Mission was given by Mr R. S. Hamilton before a large audience in the \ork Place Hall last evening. The lecturer, after a period of training, left Enfield, near Oamaru, in 1925. is now on leave with his family, and expects to return to his field of labour in August. Mr John Wilkinson presided, and introduced the speaker,' and at the same time extended a hearty welcome to him. The chairman mentioned that Mr Hamilton carried out his mission work about 300 miles inland from Shanghai and about 50 miles north of the Yangtse River. He also said that between 40 and 50 missionaries from New Zealand were now teaching the Gospel in China. Two retired missionaries (Misses H. L. and Lilias Reid), at present living in Christchnurch, expected to return to their old province in China in the spring. Mr Hamilton’s lecture was illustrated with many views of China, its cities, fields, rivers, temples, mission stations, missionaries, and native Christians. The lecturer said that although China had been much before the public during recent years there was nevertheless considerable misunderstanding on the part of many with regard to the actual conditions which prevailed in that great Eastern Empire. A mere passing visit to Hongkong or Shanghai gave the traveller but a one-sided idea of Chinese life. Then, too, an expression of opinion by one who had lived in any part of the interior would to some extent, at least, take on the local colouring of that district. Mr Hamilton said he had spent some, seven years in missionary work in th e central province of Anhwei, and during the past four years had lived in the typical oldfashioned Chinese city of Fowyang, with its ancient protective brick wall and moat. This wall and moat were very necessary to-day, and afforded a fairlv secure protection from roving bandits, which, unfortunately, were stiT prevalent in almost every province of China. The area of the city of Fowyang was approximately two square miles, and within that limited space was a crowded population of 60,000. The streets were not more than 12 feet in width, but well paved with stone slabs. However, there was no adequate system of drainage, and appalling unsanitary conditions prevailed, especially during midsummer, when the temperature rose as high as 108 deg F. in the shade. The wealthiest peopM lived in brick houses, with tiled roofs and brick floors, while the poor were huddled together in small gloomy huts having clay walls, earthen floors, and thatched roofs. Fowyang, said the lecturer, was some 500 miles inland from Shanghai, and was reached partly by rail, river boat, and motor bus. One hundred and twenty miles of clay road connected the city with the railway, and the bus service operated only during fine weather. The city was situated on an extensive fertile plain, which was wholly under cultivation. The farms were, with few exceptions, small, and might average about live acres in area. The principal crops were wheat, sorghum, soya beans, peas, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. One of the amazing features of the district was that a crop of wheat could be taken off the same land for many years in succession, and the average yield would be about 30 bushels per acre. Generally speaking, the people of our district were hard workers, friendly, peace loving, and law abiding. They sincerely appreciated anything the missionaries could do for them. This was particularly noticeable' when they were giving famine relief during 1932. The City Fathers wished to give a public demonstration as an expression of their appreciation of the work done, and it was with difficulty that they were dissuaded from doing so. Fowyang was one of the 297 stations of the .China Inland Mission, a mission founded by Dr Hudson Taylor in the year 1865. The mission was international and interdenominational, in character, and to-day there were 1327 missionaries connected with the work. The mission was established on faith lines, and was a striking and convincing testimony to the efficacy of prayer. During the past T 5 years the Lord's work at Fowyang had made singular progress. Within the past four years that progress had been even more striking, for 351 converts had been won from heathen darkness and admitted to church fellowship. Throughout the whole district the doors ■were wide open for the preaching of the Gospel, and hundreds of people attended the various services and showed a deep interest in the old story of redeeming love. These fruits made their own deep impression, and it was believed that they could not be explained apart from the prayer support which was behind the work.

Mr Hamilton was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion ot his lecture.