Sketches from Formosa.

36
SKETCHES FROM FORMOSA
most lovely spot, while in not a few of its poor homes, a
work is being done which must tell throughout this part
"
of Formosa. Lift up your eyes and behold the fields,
for they are already white unto harvest."
After a smart walk we reached Toa-sia in time to conduct
evening worship and administer the rite of baptism.
The condition of things at this aboriginal village is not
quite so satisfactory as at Lai-sia. Not that the people
fail in attending the services, or show any lack of willing-
ness to become members, but that little headway is being
made in getting them to understand the spiritual nature
and functions of the Church of Christ. It would almost
seem as if the petty officials and older people of the place
had taken the matter into consideration, and had decided
in favour of Christianity because no loss, at any rate,
could arise in following the advice of foreign teachers
who were quite as influential and far more sympathizing
than the Chinese around them. This theory would
account for the easy acquiescence of the younger people,
and the irrepressible desire for baptism by many who do
not possess the slightest knowledge of its meaning.
In any case, what we require is more personal action, as
opposed to any mere general movement or acceptance of
Christianity in the slump,
clearer views of the Divine
character, a deeper sense of sin, and, in short, all that
which comes to a man " not by might nor by power, but
by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." Still, there are
encouragements. A good beginning has been made, and
one must not forget that every Lord's day our assistant
delivers God's message to a congregation of nearly two
hundred persons.
On Tuesday morning preparations were made for
continuing our work at three more churches in the central
part of the Island, away eastward from Toa-sia. As the
visit to this Po-li-sia Plain involved two days more of