CHINA

"And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not" (John 1:5).

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

The following extracts taken from the 1929-30 report of the Religious Tract Society for China shows what darkness there still is in that part of the world.

May we pray much for this distressed country, and especially bear up those who are witnesses of the Light.

Recent investigations have shown that Sun-worship and Animism, in the form of stone-worship, have a wider range than has been believed, and these more primitive forms of religious thought still need to be challenged with the message of the Sun of Righteousness in whom all things consist. There probably has been no period in the life of the Chinese race when general morality has been at so low an ebb, when the sanctity of home life has been so seriously endangered, and when parental authority was so little regarded. The disintegration of the home in itself constitutes a call to the Christian church to come to the help of China by showing her the true nature of the freedom which Christ came to bring to men and women.

Like Confucianism the Taoist religion is under a cloud. In this case the situation is one to be viewed with satisfaction, for Taoism is superstition and magic run riot. It has no message and no moral value. It is a fetter which binds human minds, and more particularly the minds of illiterate women. Its teachings lead to despair, and the outcome of its mystic rites is often terrible. During the year under review a number of cases have been noted where the devil has operated through evil minds under the guise of Taoist instruction. Several cases have come to light in Hankow alone, where little children have been killed by their parents on the advice of these charlatans in order to avert the wrath of the gods.

Alone of all the religions which sway the masses of the Chinese people, the Buddhist religion has accepted the challenge of the age and is making efforts to purify its practices. The widespread criticism which has been aimed at the priesthood as idle drones and itinerant beggars, the demand from the Government that the revenues of the temples over what is needed for religious purposes shall be used for education, and the prohibition of mendicancy among the priesthood, have led sincere and thoughtful minds among the Buddhist laity to enunciate a new program. Idolatry is to be sublimated into the worship of the god rather than the idol; purity and abstinence are to be observed by the priests and nuns, in fact and not in theory; uneducated beggar-priests and nuns are not to be assisted, and boys and girls may not be received as novices by these parasites; and the principles of the founder of the faith are to be- studied and taught. It is evident that any wholesale suppression of Buddhism is no longer contemplated, and that there is a real determination among the Buddhist laity to place a reformed Buddhism before the people of China as the one religious faith suitable to their needs, this program being greatly helped by the admiration and reverence which the women of China bestow on the one goddess in the Buddhist Pantheon, the Goddess of Mercy.

This challenge has to be faced. It becomes increasingly clear that the final struggle in China will be between Buddha and Christ, because the forces which disintegrate morality and so place Confucianism in a hopeless position, and the forces which enlighten the mind and so bring Taoism into ridicule and disgrace, are not the forces which can overthrow the spiritual appeal of a reformed Buddhism.

It only remains to add that the Mohammedan sect in China seems to be increasing in numbers and in activity. Whilst the Nestorian Church and the Jewish colony failed to maintain their individuality and have become merged, to the point of extinction, with the pagans around them, the followers of the Prophet maintain their faith and witness, to those who worship many gods, that God is one.

"I am the Light of the world, he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).

In a letter dated Dec. 26 brother Kautto states as follows:

Brother Foggin will be continuing in the Language School, but I will be returning to Taitowying. I am not sure, but I may have to leave Mrs. Kautto in Peiping at the Language School also, for I received a letter from Taitowying a few days ago that the soldiers and bandits are fighting in that district, and that soldiers have broken the lock from our door at Shuang Shan-tze, and have taken the clothing that was there. So I wrote to them and asked them to let me know if the soldiers are acting unlawfully at Taitowying, as if so, I would leave Mrs. Kautto at Peiping.

AFRICA

We rejoice to learn from our young brother William Deans that he is almost fully recovered from his illness. As he puts it himself, he is now "back on the job." The following are brief extracts from letters:

Nov. 11. – For several weeks I have been here at Miseberi under the Doctor's care, and have rapidly gained the strength that I lost when the rheumatism re-appeared. While recovery is not complete as yet, improvement is so marked that we can thank God for this answer to prayer.

There is a colony of lepers isolated on a nearby hill and I have had the glorious opportunity of telling them of our Saviour's love and sacrifice for them. Physical deformities, missing members and loathsome ulcers make them unwanted in native society, and it is indeed a blessed privilege to tell them of One who does love them. Our natures were leprous before we were cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and I was so happy to tell them that "There's power in the Blood" to wash their sins away and give them everlasting life through believing in His Name. The Lord willing, I expect to return to Nyangkundi as soon as transportation is available, and remain there while seeking the Lord's mind in regard to the forest work. In one way it would seem folly to return to the dampness of the forest, yet the Lord may will it thus. Continue to beseech the Lord for our guidance from above that His wisdom may overrule, and we may see a clear path to serve Him where He wills.
Dec. 1.-I am lots better and expect soon to return to Nyangkundi, D.V. I have so little mail since I have been here that I hardly know who to write to or what to answer.

Dec. g.-Praise God, here I am back on the job again. He has certainly answered prayer, glory to His Name! I wish you to know how grateful I feel to Him and toward the saints who so faithfully remembered me in prayer. We can rejoice together for the wonderful way God has worked.

There is one thing for which I can be thankful, that I was able to read more of the precious truth of the Word while I was laid up.

From Mr. Robert Deans:

There is no doubt in my mind that when the Doctor returns to this station it will be a scene of activity. The new hospital will serve as a means with one thing in view, namely, of leading souls to Christ. We have a very earnest young married woman who gave her heart to Christ some days ago. There was great rejoicing. The natives rejoiced to see how God in wondrous goodness spared Bob's and my life last Saturday as we narrowly escaped being struck by a falling tree during a high wind. The tree was 28 inches in diameter and 120 feet long. Truly,

"His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me."

Mrs. Searle writes:

We are closing the last term of the school for this year. It has been a very busy three months, and we trust profitable to many. There has been good interest right along, and a number came from the outside villages, and we know the Word given out daily will not return void, although we see no fruit at present. The twenty-seven boys who lived on the station will be missed when they return to their villages. A great number are being reached by the four day-school teachers, and continually there are those who ask for Gospels, having just learned to read. Youeri's quiet work among the natives has been attended with blessing, several having accepted Christ as their Saviour.

We are having hot high winds which are most unpleasant, but we trust the Lord for giving us strength each day as He has promised.

BRAZIL-Parintins, Jan. 6th.

By the end of this month (D. V.) I expect to set out on another evangelization trip. My (our) brother, the pharmaceutist, is coming with me as a drug-seller and attending sick people. He is earnest and very concerned over the lost. Our conveyance is a hired canoe. It will take about three months. We expect to call and testify at hundreds of homes, the plan being to hold a gospel service every evening in the home we shall lodge for the night. Will the dear children of God bear us daily in prayer-definite prayer-that the Name of the Lord and His word shall be glorified by the conversion of many. We feel the Lord is coming, and our endeavor is that not one in the District should be ignorant of God's salvation by the time He comes. He has laid this very strongly on my heart. The Lord bless you all! J. P. Ribeiro.
Brief Notices:

Doctor Woodhams and family arrived in Chicago, January 28th. He expects to stay there a little while and visit assemblies in that district. His address will be, 635 N. Taylor St., Oak Park, 111. The Doctor speaks of the goodness of God in giving them journeying mercies and much happy Christian fellowship on his journey from 'Frisco to Chicago, having covered by auto about 3,650 miles since leaving San Francisco, and visited many assembles.

A brother writes from Nassau, Bahama Islands, reminding us that the difficulties and hardships in connection with preaching the gospel in the outlying islands and. districts are almost as great as with those laboring in foreign lands. We have no doubt this would also be true of conditions in Latin American countries and would be a reminder that we should be continually helping our brethren together by prayer (2 Cor. 1:11).