HAVE WE ANY RESPONSIBILITY?
"In the watchman see the sword come and blow not the trumpet and the people are not warned; if the sword come and take any person from among them he is taken away in his iniquity but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand" (Ezek. 33:6).
In view of the many evident signs of the approaching day of judgment and tribulation have we not a very serious responsibility to do all in our power to warn the unconverted of the coming storm and point them to that shelter which our God has so graciously provided? (See Isaiah 32:2). Whether it be to be absolved from responsibility as the watchman of the Old Testament or to be acting in the constraining love of Christ, beseeching men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God we should be endeavoring by all means, either to proclaim the Gospel or to uphold by prayer and fellowship those who are more actively engaged in this work.
The following are a few brief extracts from recent letters of brethren on the foreign field.
CHINA
Brother Kautto writes:
Taitowying, June 22, 1933.
Glad to hear that brother Searle is on the way again and trust he will have a safe and happy trip. It does indeed seem that the shorter the time grows for work, the greater the hindrances, whether directly or indirectly, from the enemy of souls. We noticed the account in Help and Food of the new opposition facing our brethren in Africa, and our sympathies go out to them for it is not easy to see, like Elisha, the armies of the Lord filling the mountains around us. It would appear, from the letters of missionaries on every continent, that Rome is making a special effort the world around. It might be added that this corner is no exception. Before we opened work at Mutouteng there was no Romish place nearer than IS miles, but with the awakening of heathen minds to the truth, there came adversaries to draw as many unanchored souls as might be attracted by the offer of protection from bandits (not that they could always fulfil the promises) or from legal conflicts, there being no question as to spiritual things. This vicinity has seen the same changes, so that with the war troubles, bandits and soldiers, the people have more and more flocked to the Roman profession until almost all of those who had taken the name of any denomination have joined the Roman membership.
This has surely been an unusual season in that it has collected all the characteristics of the past and put them into a few months. We had hoped to be out with the tent long ere this. That has been true of every summer -a late start. Other years it was bandits and soldiers or repair building, but this spring it was Chinese soldiers, then Japanese invasion and the insecurity with it, and now it is bandits again.
A couple of days ago bandits came and surrounded Taitowying, some 2,000 of them. It so happened that the small force of Japanese soldiers stationed here had a replacement coming that very day and when the company arrived from Chienanhsien (to the west) th«" Chamber of Commerce notified the bandits that soldiers had arrived and it would be better for them to depart (instead of waiting the three days of grace for the $60,000, they had demanded of the Chamber), and the bandits accordingly withdrew. But the incoming soldiers simply replaced those here who went on to Shanhaikuan. The bandits learned of it and renewed their demands. Next morning there was some machine-gun firing and since then we have not heard of any more threatening.
A condition peculiar to China, perhaps, now obtains in this region. A bandit leader, who styles himself the Tiger, went to the newly installed district magistrate, at the town of Shuangshantze and "joined" his protective forces with his band of followers. Shortly afterwards a stronger party of bandits from the north came down too close for the safety of the Tiger band who then came inside the Great Wall. After the bandit visit here the chief of police sought out the Tiger and discussed the situation with him. Now the Tiger has frequented this region for a number of years and his "face" is desirable with those who might profit him, and the result is that the Tiger has promised not only that he will not molest the city but that he will not permit other bandits to do so. But the surrounding villages are not escaping the ravages of "alien" outlaws. One town of a "hundred homes," which means more than that many families however, which lies less than eight miles northwest of here was burned by bandits because the people who had guns would not give them to the bandits. No lives were lost by fire but two men were shot. Another village about three miles east of here was burned also. The men of the place had fled and the bandits incensed at this forced some women and children into the fire, where they soon perished. Now we hear that from the first of these two villages the bandits have taken seventeen women to hold for ransom. So from a human standpoint it is impossible to say what authority holds sway over this part of the country, but, as always, we know that the Lord is over-ruling.
The mission compound is filled with refugees again and many have had to turn elsewhere for shelter, so we have an audience every night, made up of those who have been "compelled" by circumstances to come in. Through your prayers and the prayers of the saints, with the "inviting" influence of the Holy Spirit, we pray they may hear and understand and accept the call to the prepared feast before the doors are shut. So no matter what the conditions the Lord is able to furnish a company to hear the Gospel, and it does seem most surely that the time for them to hear is fast drawing to a close.
May His grace, mercy and peace sustain all His own the little while till He come, enabling them to still seek and sound the rescue call.
With our united Christian love and greetings to all in the Lord, Affectionately yours in Christ.
Charles and Esther Kautto.
Our last news of Brother Foggin informed us that he was about to leave Kansu for Peking hoping if possible to proceed to Taitowying to labor for a little time with our brother and sister Kautto.
SOUTH AMERICA
A Missionary in Paraguay writes as follows:
The Lord is sustaining us here in the midst of all the political trouble and our meetings are well attended by civilians as well as by soldiers and much interest is manifested especially now when so many are suffering the consequences of this awful war. There are so many young men passing into eternity, so many wounded and sick, and a scarcity of the most necessary things. All these things make the people think of something beyond this life; and the message of the Gospel is the only message which brings joy and peace to the sin-sick soul. May we be faithful in the proclamation of this glorious Gospel. Continue praying for us that we may be kept from danger and sustained in the midst of all the difficulties.
INDIAN WORK
Miss Rose Olsen at Kingman, Arizona writes:
Dear brother:-I want to thank the saints for their ministry and token of fellowship just received. I praise the Lord for his constant care and the help and encouragement He gives along the way. What a blessed privilege in these last dark days to sow the precious seed. May He richly bless it wherever it goes forth.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson of Valentine, Arizona and Miss Clara Holcomb of Shiprock New Mexico tell of being much refreshed in body and spirit through attending the conference at Flagstaff, Arizona. Mrs. Anderson says:
It is such a treat to come up here where it is cool and where they get some rain once in a while. The ministry is so good and it means much to us to meet with other missionaries and talk with Christians from all the Indian tribes.
HARBOR WORK
MONTREAL
Brother Holwill has been able to devote considerable time to the ship work during the summer months and has been much encouraged . He has been able to show helpful fellowship to many isolated Christians found on board ships visiting that port.
NEW YORK
We are glad to have the following report from our brother West:
The Lord has answered prayer as to the opening up of a new part of the great port of New York for work among seamen. This is the Bayonne waterfront where most of the large oil companies are located. It is estimated that 20% of the shipping of New York touches at this point and while for several years we have wanted to visit the many steamers going there, the distance to be covered, the time and expense involved together with the demands our own work made upon us led to the foregoing of this privilege. The Lord however was not unmindful of our exercises in this direction and now, in answer to prayer, there is a young brother from Hoboken, living not far from these oil piers who regularly visits the ships there and he reports access to four of the largest companies, including the Standard Oil Co., and a substantial number of ships reached every week for the past two months.
Through the kindness of our brother S. Holmgren, superintendent of the James Slip Gospel Mission, located on the East River waterfront, we have been able to use this place as a storehouse for literature and a working center at the same time. Last Spring the base of operations the Lord opened for us five years ago in South Brooklyn was lost, through no fault of our own, and within a week we were located at our new quarters. Since then a new line of work, visiting the vessels along the East River, a privilege long denied us, due to stringent regulations on the part of the shipping concerns, has been opened up and we thank God for the many openings gained in preaching the Word to men hitherto unknown to us. One company particularly, a Spanish American concern, owned and operated by Jesuits, is no longer in their hands, having become the property of the Spanish Republic since the Revolution in that country. Thus, what was once a closed door is now wide open and it has been very gratifying to observe the reception the personnel of these steamers give the worker and his message. We ask the prayers of our brethren that these new fields may be kept open for the Gospel.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" (Jer. 8:20).
What a pathetic cry for Israel in the days of Jeremiah but how much more pathetic for those who have heard the Gospel during the summer months now ending, if they have not believed. Surely we should pray earnestly that God's blessing may rest upon the word preached and the tracts distributed during the season now drawing to a close.