MISSION WORK IN CHINA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1816, 29 July 1891, Page 6

MISSION WORK IN CHINA.

A LADY'S EXPERIENCE. The following letter was recently received from a young lady who went from Melbourne with other.s on the service of the China Inland Mission, and has been handed to the 'Argus. Mmy telegrams have appeared describing riots and attacks on mission stations in China. The letter was written immediately after one of these riots. I*< is dated from Yang-Tchow :— " We went from the boat to the home in sedan chairs, and never shall I forget that ride. My chair was minus a curtain in front, so I was a sort of walking show to every passer-by, and more than once my chair was stopped so that they could have a good look at me. Not all that was ever written or said about ' the Chinese at home ' could in any way help you to realise what they really are. I never could have imagined anything half so dreadful, and as we went further and further into the city it got more and more dreadful. I had a strong impulse to turn right round and come home as quick ac possible. Fortunately I restrained myself, and in due time we arrived at the mission house. . . I really must confess that I never expected to b 3 so utterly shocked with Chinese life, but, all the same, that first night, as I lay thinking, I thanked God for having brought me here. The next morning, and indeed most of the diy, we spent in makiag our room homely. YVe three girls have a large room together ; we have a door opening on to a balcony, which is nice, though the view consists of roof upon roof, and still more roof. On Saturday evening we were sitting enjoying the effect of our work and resting, when one of the sisters came in to tell v? to be sure to have all windows fastened, for there was a riot going on in the city. It seems that the Roman Catholics are the only foreigners in Yang Tchow except the China infond missionaries, and the Nativeß have a great 'down' on them, owing to a report that they killed babies and took out thnir eyes. On Saturday evening things reached a climax. The mob of Chinamen went up and attacked the place, breaking windows, smashing in doors, and doing all the damage, they very well could. I heard this morning that they set fire to the building, and some of it was destroyed. We sat in our comfortable room trying to read,; but not managing very well, for we could hear the shouts, shrieks, and yells of the mob.

Gradually we became aware that the voices were corning nearer, and presently the whole mob gathered in front of our house. Ours is a front window, and got a full share of sticks and stones ; but the shutters are strong, and stood it very well. Just try and imagine our position. Twenty-four girls, only three or four of whom could speak the language, and the rest having been in China for only a month or less. No Englishman within miles and miles, for there are no other foreigners in the city. Shut up in a rickety old house, with a mob of raging Chinamen outside, ready to do anything to get us out of the oity. As far as human help goes we were utterly helpless, and really were altogether in the hands of those men. But, thank God, greater is He who is for us thau all who can be against us. I can really say that in that little while I felt more of God's own peace in my heart than I had ever done before. I think God is quite ready to teach us quietly and gently, but we wou'c learn, and so He has to put us in such a position that we have only Him to lean on, and then we learn that with Him all else is needles?. We had absolutely no one on earth to look to, and bo we looked to Heaver, and found our refuge and safety in Curist our King. While all the noise was going on I lead my evening portion, which was the 37th Psalm. It was a direct message to me, and I never understood it before. Never shall I forget it. I waß just wondering how long they would go on when there Was a Budden lull, and we heard that the mindarin bad sent the aoldiers down. The next day, Sunday, everything was so quiet that it seemed more like a dream than a reality. Everybody seemed perfectly cilm, and there was no excitement. The only unusual thing during the day waa th-j crowds that attended the meetings. One thing that we find tiresome is that we cannot go out, and dare not even look out of windows, for there is such a crowd outside waiting for a glimpse of anyone, and the usual consequence is a stone. I feel sure that the result of it all will be that the gospel will be spread, for bo many come to Bee * the devils who fear nothing.'"