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Show 110 The spiritual purpose, of course aims to permeate all departments of the Association work. Of a directly religious nature are the weekly Bible classes, ten in number, enrolling two hundred, and with an average attendance of over one hundred. The Sunday afternoon meetings, held at the Association rooms, are attended to the full capacity of the room, which seats about seventy. During this first year the work has been held in check by the lack of equipment and money and also by the fact that the foreign secretaries have made their chief work the study of the language. However there are hopes for a good site and an adequate building; the students and educators are approachable as never before; and opportunity looms up bright before us. Throughout the summer Mr. and Mrs Price were the only SUMMER missionaries at the station The regular force of five Chinese WORK evangelists were in the field, supplemented by four students from college and seminary whom we employed through their vacation months One reported thirty inquirers at the end of his summer's work. Another spent his time among five or six villages. In these were held some of the best station classes of the past winter. Two of these villages have secured places of worship, and one place has since organized a boy's school, two thirds of the expenses of which the local Chirstians are meeting. We would like to put student workers into the field again this summer, but have not yet the means. For another year, Mr. Gait has been too busy with the "INTO THE general supervision of affairs at the central station, and with COUNTRY language study, to do any touring. In recent months, the ROUND purchasing of materials and the many details of carrying ABOUT" forward the projects of rebuilding a compound wall and of remodeling a missionary residence have consumed much of his time. His only trip was to attend a three days' meeting in a distant district of the field. Mr. Price has given liberally of his time and strength to this work of touring. He has not hesitated in the coldest of weather, and he has gladly lived on the native food that he might break the bread of life to those hungry for its nourishment. During the year he has visited over fifty cities and villages in which there are Christians. He has also helped conduct station-classes in eight different centers, and has superintended the Bible-sellers employed by the Bible societies, a Chinese committee helping share his responsibilities. A constant effort is made to have them feel that they are ambassadors of Christ and in that spirit scatter wide the Gospel portions. Mr. Sun. acting pastor has visited twenty-five places. Regular weekly services are now held in twenty places in our field. Seventy-six days have been devoted by the women missionaries to country touring. Of this, the majority has been done by Mrs. Smith and Mrs Price, the latter making a most helpful tour of twenty-five days' length in the fall. Miss Chapin toured for six days in the spring before leaving on furlough, and Miss Phelps has been on two country trips Everywhere the opportunity seems tremendous, for we find willing ears and ready hearts to receive our message. Our Bible women also return from their trips saying, "How different things are from a few years ago! We have crowds of listeners now." |
