Sketches from Formosa.

26 SKETCHES FROM FORMOSA
Christ, and, especially to receive instruction from the
lips of our much esteemed Chinese co-adjutor. He
conducted the forenoon service and administered the rite
of Baptism, while Mr. Ritchie dispensed the Lord's
Supper in the afternoon. There were joyful hearts in
the Bak-sa valley that evening. God had caused His
salvation to pass before us, and we lay down to rest
making mention of His goodness, even of His only.
On Monday we crossed over to Poah-be ; and there also
we had much to assure us that God's mighty Spirit is still
working amongst these Pi-po-hwan aborigines. Four
men and six women were passed for baptism. I was
very sorry for one aged brother who wished to be received,
but whose knowledge of spiritual things was most painfully
defective. He appeared to have no conception of
the Scriptural meaning of sin, and of his need of pardon
through the merits of Another. One felt sorry for the
poor old man. He appeared to think that some sort of
magical change would be wrought upon him by the water
of baptism, and in no way concealed his dissatisfaction
and surprise at being advised to delay his coming forward
at this time. We had large meetings at Poah-be on the
Sabbath.
Our next visit was to the village of Kong-a-na, where
we examined thirteen candidates, and saw our way to
admit three of them to the membership of the Church.
Things are not so prosperous with the brethren there
as they once were. This may largely arise from the
fact that it has not been possible for some time to have
a properly qualified preacher residing amongst them.
Every available worker was required at other churches,
and until the three young men now under training in the
city are somewhat further advanced in their studies*, we
are shut up to allow several of the older stations to suffer
a little temporary loss.