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FOREIGN MISSION BOARD 239
can. Pastor Wang would preach to his Chinese congregation and Mr. Wu would
interpret for the sake of about fifty American sailors and marines in the
audience. To the pastor's ministry the Americans were responding with prayer
and with purse. He was their pastor. One sailor gave $140 (U. S. currency)
of his tithe for building repairs! In Pastor Wang's ministry I saw exemplified
the fact that when we give for missions the gift will rebound as a blessing
to ourselves.
We are here in Tsingtao, surrounded on every side by American marines and
officers, who are the most courteous and accommodating men you have ever
met. They have extended to us every courtesy and helped us in so many ways.
One sees only politeness and kindliness on every side. Chinese swarm around
the boys all over the streets so that sometimes traffic becomes jammed, but no
one cares. Gone is the old militaristic spirit and fear of soldiers. Peace reigns
in the city. Everyone is working frantically to bring order out of the chaos
left by the former regime. American houses are being evacuated and many
of them being renovated at Japanese expense. Stolen furniture is being collected
so people can claim their own. Now is the time our missionary force
should be here, for the opportunity is ripe to reopen our work. Tsingtao
presents a wonderful opportunity for the beginning of a new missionary enterprise.
With the proper force, work for Chinese can be started in many sections,
and work among our boys is desperately needed. If we only had a few missionary
homes with wives to help, we could do wonders for the boys. Let wives
and families come quickly. This city is perfectly safe for women and children.
This city can also furnish a beachhead to reopen work in the interior.
The story is a little different with our interior cities at the present moment.
National troops have not arrived and the whole interior is largely in the hands
of bandits and Communists—irregulars. The railroads are broken in several
places and it is practically impossible to get to interior stations at the present
writing. German Catholics are being driven out of the interior by these bandits
and some are suffering. Things are too unsettled and communications are
disrupted, so that at present, we will have to remain in Tsingtao.
Tsingtao. Our property is in fairly good condition. Just needs redecorating
and refinishing. No major repairs necessary. All houses are bare,
of course—furniture gone. The church has been used, by the local congregation
and has not suffered.
Pingtu. The school buildings have suffered the greatest damage—doors and
windows gone, and even floors of some buildings have been torn up and burned
—though not all of them. All buildings have been stripped of every movable
thing. The north dormitory two-story building of the girls' school suffered
heavily, part of the building walls being damaged. The church building also
suffered heavily. The doors and windows are gone; the inside walls blackened
by fires of occupying soldiers, and the roof has suffered some damage. The
boys' school buildings are in the worst condition of all.
Laichow. The hospital buildings have been pretty well destroyed—some
burned. All the compound buildings have been occupied by Japanese, and
doors and windows gone. Only the Orphanage has remained intact and open
for the use of the Christians. There are about thirty orphans, and that work
has been carried on; and the Christians meet there.
Laiyang. About half of the buildings have been destroyed. The place has
been stripped of all equipment and now Communist forces are in control and
little can be done at present.
Hwanghsien. The hospital and one residence have been burned. No other
buildings have been destroyed, but all are minus window glass—broken by
bombs and cannon-fire concussion. The compound church building remains,
though minus most of the seats, organ, etc. The city church (south suburb)
has lost most of its benches, organ, windows, etc., but is now used for the
Kindergarten, I believe. The Hartwell house and nearby school buildings have
all been emptied of every movable thing, glass gone. The same is true of
Dr. Bryan's house.
Chefoo. Church building is all right. The boy's school buildings are used
by government schools. The pastor was forced to vacate and secure residence
elsewhere. The girls' school and residence buildings are in bad shape. Most