OUR friend, Mr. W. C. Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, kindly encloses for our young readers the following happy incident.
At the commencement of the last Chinese New Year a lad of about ten years of age was entered on the books of our boys’ school in Sin-tien-tsi. He was not a very bright lad, and, like all other heathen boys in China, he had been trained all his life to worship the idols which are to be found in every house, as well
“on every high hill and under every green tree,” in that land. He had never been to school before, and he gave us some trouble at first, but he soon took to his reading and writing, and made good progress. The Scripture portions and hymns taught him were well committed to memory, and he showed great interest in all that was told him about them.
During the early months of the year, on his return home at night, he repeated to his parents and friends what he had learnt during the day, and, more than that, he pressed upon them the truths he had been taught. This pleased his parents, as it indicated that he had made progress in his ordinary studies, and they listened the more readily to what their little son told them of God and His Word.
After a time the lad’s grandmother commenced attending our Sunday services and classes. At first my wife found her very dense, and it was most difficult to get her to understand. But the Holy Spirit had begun to teach her, and soon the old lady began to rejoice in the Saviour. Then she brought her brother-in-law to the class. I was particularly struck with the simple, quiet earnestness of this man from the first time he came. The Lord gently led him also to His feet.
After awhile they all saw that to go forward meant severing their connection with idolatry, and one Saturday afternoon the little lad came with a beaming face into my study, carrying under his arm his grandmother’s idol, which she had had the courage to take down from its position in the home. It was brought to me to be destroyed at the next public service. It was my custom to have a fixed day—viz., the first Sunday in each moon—for destroying idols, and for taking the names of any who desired to know the way of God more perfectly. This was done before the whole congregation, and I have found it to be a great help to the candidates to make a stand in public from the very first. Before the day came round the old lady’s brother had followed her example. He himself brought his idol to be destroyed. Never shall I forget the Sunday when we committed these idols to the flames, while we sang praises to the living God, nor can I forget the joyful countenances of the members of that little country church—joyful because more from their midst had learnt to worship their God.
At the close of the service we entered the new names as candidates for baptism.
The story does not end here. The grandmother has brought another old lady of about her own age with her, and the man has brought his own son, a young fellow of some twenty years of age. The little scholar’s father is also coming now for instruction, and is showing interest. Thus five of the boy’s immediate relations have been led to the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, a little child shall lead them.
The foregoing should encourage all interested in the education of the young in heathen lands. What have they who argue so much against these schools to say against this? And “who can tell whereunto this thing will grow”? True, the seed corn was this little boy, but how big a tree it has developed into! The child’s name is Li Hua Chang, which means “transformed and prosperous.”
Could he have a more suitable name?