Lanchow at Last
It was the last day of our journey to Lanchow — provincial capital of Kansu — and in some ways the hardest. Up in the dark and cold of that December morning, we were out by 3 a.m. and travelled miles by starlight along a frozen river-bed, one interminable stretch of rocks and stones. Oh, the jolting of the springless cart, the bitter cold of those darkest hours before the dawn! But they prepared us the more to appreciate all that was in store of hospitality and home.
And the welcome came sooner than we anticipated. We had crossed the last range of hills, and were wondering how long it would take to reach the city, when in a little town where hill and plain met, we saw a number of people standing round a cart. What was the attraction? Could it be “foreigners”? A gentleman and lady in Chinese dress but with the look of Westerners were coming to meet us. Mr. and Mrs. Mann — how good it was to see them! The rest of the journey, with one of them and one of us on each cart, was a time of delightful fellowship.
One of the first things we noticed, with something akin to surprise, was that these were not out-of- % the -world, buried -alive people at all. Separated by many a range of mountains and several weeks’ journey from the railway, they were as bright and keen as if in the heart of London. Mr. Mann’s alertness was stimulating, and Mrs. Mann filled all the time from the foot-hills to the city with interest¬ ing information.
Oh, that great plain — populous and far-reaching — what a field for evangelistic work! One mission¬ ary’s time might well be spent in this alone. Mr. Mann is too busy to be out much, with all there is to be done in church and schools and guest-hall, not to speak of the street chapel. Talking all the way, we hardly noticed that we were nearing the suburbs, until we caught sight of a long line of people on the road in front of us.
“What a nice-looking set of boys! Who can they be?”
“Our scholars and teachers,” was the reply. “They have come out to welcome you.”
My husband alighted at once to receive and return their greetings, and as we passed between the double row in which the boys were ranged, according to ages, we obtained our first impression of the size and importance of the Lanchow schools. Dr. R. Parry and Mr. Botham were there and rode ahead of us on horseback. With several of the smaller boys on our carts and the rest following, we were quite a procession as we entered the city.
Massive gates, crowded streets, a sense of life and activity, fine shops, temples, mosques, and public buildings — could this be far-away Lanchow? On the main street, near the Governor’s Yamen, the mission-house was reached. A crowd gathered about the door, and many of the Christians were there to greet us. Other friends appeared from an inner courtyard, including Mr. and Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Parry, and their children. It was a joy to be there at last and see face to face many of whom we had been hearing, and then to stand together between the church and the fine new buildings of the school and give thanks to God for a safe journey and for His work at this important centre.
The first thing, of course, was to see the school, for the new buildings had only been opened two weeks previously. A need for higher education for the sons of Christian families had long been felt, and at a Conference of the three Missions working in the province the Chinese delegates had urged that steps might be taken to meet it. Lanchow was decided upon as the best centre for a Union Middle School, which Mr. Mann undertook to develop by adding the necessary classes to his already well-organised junior department. But funds for suitable class¬ rooms were needed, and much prayer was made about the matter. Some months after the Conference, Mr. Andrew (then Superintendent of the C.I.M. work in the province) was entertaining at dinner his friend, Deacon Kuoh, when the subject came up. Mr. G. F. Andrew — beloved for his own as well as his father’s sake — was present, and said smilingly:
“Well, Mr. Kuoh, what willyow give?”
The prompt reply was, “Fifty dollars.”
“And what are you good for?” went on the questioner, turning to Mr. Mann.
D “If you give fifty, I will! ’’ was the unexpected answer.
Mr. Kuoh, warming up, said that Deacon Li in the Salt Gabelle would surely give fifty. At a dinner in his own house, however, Mr. Li surprised them by going further.
“Deacon Kuoh must not stop at fifty,’’ he exclaimed. “I will give a hundred, and so must he! ’’
This was soon agreed upon and reported to Mr. Andrew, who, while rejoicing in the turn affairs had taken, was obliged to call a halt as far as his own share was concerned, for he had promised to double whatever contribution the church made, little thinking there would be giving after this sort. It was something new indeed, and showed that God’s time had come for larger developments.
Soon after, the son of the Governor, a young man who had been much helped by Mr. G. F. Andrew’s friendship, said that his father would want a share in the good work. The Governor fulfilled these expectations, not only giving five hundred dollars himself but saying that other officials would help also. The Mohammedan General and several others gave liberally, feeling it a good thing for the city to have a strong Christian school, so that when Mr. Mann returned to take charge of the station he found over seventeen hundred taels in hand, and the total soon reached two thousand.
The building just completed has used about half this sum, but a second structure is planned for, and if by the blessing of God the school continues to prosper, large extension will be needed. The open¬ ing of the present building, just before we came, was a great occasion. The Governor, his sons, and seventeen leading officials took part, magnificent in robes and retinue. An amusing difficulty arose about finding a chair spacious enough to accommodate His Excellency, whose proportions are in keeping with his office; but one was produced at last, and carried with dispatch from place to place, wherever he might wish to be seated. Finally it found its way to Mrs. Mann’s dining-room, where a repast had been prepared — a foreign dinner in twelve courses, which had taxed even her ingenuity, but which was greatly appreciated. The new Manager of the Government Bank said to Mr. Mann afterwards:
“I was not here when gifts were being made for the school. But if you want help in future, please let me know about it.”
With seventy boys on the premises, visitors at all hours, a Girls’ School for which there is no place save the inner courtyard, patients coming for medicine, and all the Sunday and week-day meetings of an active, growing church, no wonder the Lanchow mission-house is overcrowded. The premises consist of only two courtyards, divided by the chapel which overlooks both. There is no upper story, save in the new school building, and the rooms at the back in which the missionaries live are somewhat dark and damp. But the situation right in the busiest part of the city is splendid. Whenever the street-chapel is open, usually every day, it is filled with listeners; and if more time could be given to this work, and to preaching in the country round about, it might become richly productive.
It is productive now. For the first fifteen years there was little to encourage in the way of genuine conversions. Up to the dark days of 1900 there were only about ten baptized believers. Now there are more than ten times that number, and they are taking a large share in the affairs of the church, both secular and spiritual. The school, which is entirely self-supporting, is managed by a Committee of three Chinese and two foreigners. Church matters are dealt with by the deacons in consultation with the missionary in charge. They have no Chinese pastor as yet, but are praying for a good man and are prepared to support him. The deacons mean¬ while do much of the preaching and pastoral work, without remuneration. They are keen about the new church building that is needed, the present chapel being far too small for the numbers who attend the services. Talking with Mr. Mann about it recently, one of them mentioned that he would give a hundred dollars toward the building. Another deacon who was present added fifty, and the third coming in just then said he would give three hundred. Upon this, the first raised his gift. Others joined in, and in a few minutes eight hundred dollars had been promised. The building would cost much more than this, but the church members are eager to do all they can — though many of them are poor — and will probably subscribe another thousand. More cheer¬ ing still is their readiness to join in outdoor preaching and evangelistic missions, and to help in the street-chapel on Sundays.
One elderly man came in, soon after we arrived, from a preaching journey. He had promised to give ten days’ work, as he could not afford money, and after six days in the villages had returned for more books, full of joy because many had listened to the message. It was beautiful to see his love and earnestness. Preaching as he went, he had sold out all his books in the first week. The money paid for them he had brought in to give to the Lord, deduct¬ ing nothing for his expenses.
“I carried bread from home,” he explained, “which was all I needed. The people gave me shelter for the night.”
With a fresh supply of books, for which he paid in full, he was soon on his way again, eager to carry the message to those who had never heard.
“The barren days for Kansu are past,” said one of the missionaries with thankfulness. But how urgently more labourers, Spirit - filled men and women, are needed!