Shortly after 1900 a book was published entitled, China in Convulsion, a very appropriate title indeed, as the book described the stirring events in connection with the Boxer Uprising, which threw the country into violent agitation, and brought consequences for good or ill that have affected China to the present day.

In 1928 Dr. Paul Monroe of Teachers' College, New York City, published a book entitled, China in Evolution. I recall suggesting, while the manuscript of the book was still in preparation, that the author should put an R before the E of the last word in the title, since China was then passing through a mighty upheaval, which culminated in the triumph of the nationalistic cause in the events of the never to beforgotten year 1927.

The present volume has grown out of circumstances and events which we believe to be very auspicious and to hold out great promises for the future of China. May the hope and promise ex-pressed in the title, "China in Revival," come to a complete fulfillment, so that China will truly experience a rebirth on the basis of her ancient virtues, so long held in esteem, but so seldom practiced, but more especially on the basis of a revitalized and reenergized Christianity, effecting a transformation of the social structure of this great nation from core to circumference!

Someone may interpose that the present is not the proper time to write up a movement that is barely begun. This may be true from one point of view, and if one were attempting to write a history of the movement. From another point of view, it is always in order to record the things which God is doing in our midst. One of the major books of the New Testament was written while the stirring events which it records were still in the making. The closing sentence of that book reminds one of the familiar phrase, "Continued in our next issue." The Acts of the Holy Spirit were not completed when the Book of Acts was written, nor are they completed today, but are still going forward. We have tried to catch a few fleeting glimpses of what is going on, and have recorded them as a testimony to what God is doing in our day in China, and as a stimulus for us to lay hold on God for even greater things to be done through His Spirit in the future.

The present account does not lay claim to being a history of the revival movement in China. Rather is it in the order of a composite testimony to what has taken place, by those who have stood by and observed or participated in the events. It is in the nature of a mosaic, with an ever recurring pattern, seen under different lighting effects, with different colorings. In the end we hope the figure of Christ may be discerned in the midst of the "golden candlesticks." Our God is indeed "marching on" in China today, and we have but endeavored to trace the marks of His footsteps.

No claim to completeness in the record is made. Only a fraction of the wealth of material at hand has been used. Not every area where the revival has taken hold has been covered, nor have all been covered to the same degree of thoroughness. Re-quests for material and for information have not in every case been heeded, doubtless for reasons that seemed valid to each one concerned. In such cases no disappointment will be experienced if this account fails to cover happenings or record results that have not been brought to our notice.

Early in the spring of last year a circular letter was sent out to about two hundred missionary workers in areas affected by the revival. In a Chinese translation the letter was sent to more than three hundred Chinese workers and also published in the Lutheran weekly, Sin I Bao. Students of the Lutheran Theological Seminary were enlisted to help gather material and to record their own experiences and impressions. Material came in from many sources. This was supplemented by reports, and by magazine and newspaper articles bearing on the revival. A complete list of references will be found at the end of the volume, and also a copy of the circular letter sent out. My sincere thanks are due to the friends who have generously assisted in the gathering of material. Mr. Yang Ging Siao, a divinity student, has been of much assistance in gathering material in the Chinese language and in assisting in its preparation for translation.

Material has come to hand in Chinese, English, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. The translations from the Scandinavian languages follow closely the original. Translations from the Chinese have naturally been more free. With the exception of a few translations from the Chinese, I am responsible for all the work of translation. Acknowledgment has been made in every case where material has been borrowed from other sources than my own.

It has been a genuine pleasure for me to work over this material. I have been benefited and stimulated in my spiritual life from reading the accounts of God's working, and the glowing testimonies to His grace in the hearts of men. I hope I have been able to carry over into the account some measure of the spirit and the purpose of the testimonies given. It is also my hope and prayer that this report may prove a blessing in the lives of those who read it, and bring glory to the Name of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

Kikungshan, Honan, China, August 8, 1935.

GUSTAV CARLBERG.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I. PREPARATION:

How God Prepared the Way for the Revival through Circumstances and Events 15

The decade preceding the revival-Harbingers of a better day-Events preceding 1927-Banditry and warfare-The year 1927-Effects on the churches-Aftermath of the Revolution-Natural calamities-Famines-Earthquakes-Floods-Five-Year Movement-Individual reactions and impressions-Summary of causes-God's ways not our ways.

II. EVANGELISM:

How God Raised Up Leaders to Carry Forward the Work of Broadcast Evangelism...: 35

Pastor Hsieh and his Revival Society-His zeal and power-The story of his life.

Marcus Cheng-His record-His own testimony. Gia YU, Ming-A fruitful ministry-His spiritual experiences.

Leland Wang-How a naval cadet became an ardent evangelist.

Wang Ming Dao-A man of worldly ambitions becomes a flaming gospel herald.

Gih Djih Wen-An indifferent Buddhist becomes a warm-hearted preacher of the gospel and fares forth to "save his country"-His work with the Bethel Bands.

Djao Shih Guang-Who found Christ during the time of student agitations and became a preacher of conviction and power.

Sung Shang Dzieh-The scholar who gave up a teaching career to preach Christ to his country-men.

III. REVIVAL:

How God Prepared Special Instruments for Use in Beginning and Carrying Forward the Work of the Revival 65

Marie Monsen-Her life and work-Experiences on bandit-ridden ship.

Liu Dao Sheng-Preacher of repentance-His spiritual experiences and growth.

Si Shih Deh-A product of the revival-His work in reviving others.

Gao Shu Liang-A youth from the ranks-God's wonder-working power in his life.

Wu Djen Ming-One who found grace to repent and to lend a helping hand to others.

IV. PROGRESS:

Showing the Spread of the Revival from Province to Province, and from Place to Place... 105

Revival spreads by contagion of sanctified personality-General course from north to south-Man-churia Field of Danish Missionary Society The plowman overtakes the reaper-Revival movements in other parts of Manchuria-Revival in Shantung Work of the Spirit in the field of the Southern Baptist Convention-God visits the Presbyterian churches in Shantung-Revival fires started on field of American Lutheran Mission in Eastern Shantung. The Revival comes to Honan-Quickening of churches on the field of the Augustana Synod Mission-The Spirit's power in Miyang Hsien Awake, Awake, Put on Thy Strength! A challenge to the Lutheran United churches in China and U. S. A.

V. PROGRESS: (Continued) 147

Life and renewal in the Norwegian Lutheran Mission How the Revival came to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Shekow, Hupeh Missionary Covenant experiences revival-God's work of grace in North and South Covenant fields in Honan and Hupeh Spiritual springtime in Hunan on the field of the Norwegian Missionary Society God visits the Western Hunan Lutheran Mission, the field of the Finnish Missionary Society Spiritual stirrings in South Fukien Spiritual awakening in the American School, Kikungshan-Widespread movements Shansi, Kansu, Yunnan, Kweichow-The Oxford Group in China Indigenous groups-New Life Movement.

VI. TESTIMONY:

Individual Testimonies to God's Renewing Grace and Power 193

Testimonies, impressions, reactions, of individual missionaries-"Called," Alice C. Anderson-Wang Chong Sheng, A brand plucked out of the burning-My Impressions of the Revival: Wang Yong Sheng, of Yenshih, Honan-The Life of the Born-again, before and after: Tsi Shui Lu, of Tengfeng, Honan-How I Received Grace and Salvation: Tsai Shen Tsuen, of Western Hunan-One Who found Peace with God: Li Chin Tsai, of Central Hunan-How God Performed a Miracle in Me: A Bible Woman, from Central Hunan-How I Received God's Grace and Forgiveness: Ding Hsiao Ming, of Tenghsien, Honan-Christ and I: Wang Djen Wu, of Paofeng, Honan-How God Saved Me: Wang Tien Siu, of Kaifeng, Honan-How I Came to Believe in the Lord: Yin Ren Sien, Provincial Treasurer of Honan.

VII. MANIFESTATIONS:

Excrescences and Aberrations Following in the Wake of the Revival 229

Every revival tends to extremes-Evil influences at work to destroy the good-History repeats it-self-Need for careful investigation and cautious judgment-The history of the Yesu Giating (Jesus Household) movement-The Ling En Huei (Spiritual Gifts Society)-Aberrations and excesses-Zeal and devotion of their adherents-Doctrinal peculiarities.

VIII. RESULTS: Impressions 239

Time not come for thorough appraisal-Results: Workers transformed into zealous soulwinners Members quickened to new life-A new burst of song-Large accessions to membership-Impetus towards self-support and self-propagation-Present movement largely indigenous-Vital preaching-Law and Gospel each emphasized-New consciousness of sin-Confession and restitution-A Bible-reading church-New powers and gifts-Physical healing-Summary of impressions: Danger of schismatic tendencies-Revival a judgment from God on lukewarm church-A work of God, not of man-God no respecter of persons or denominations-A revival individualizes people-Repentance and new-birth-Man-made methods of no avail-Wisdom and tact needed in guiding the movement Opposition, its source and how dealt with-Prayer and the means of grace effective in promoting revival.

References 255

Appendix 257

Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; For he hath torn, and he will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us.

On the third clay he will raise us up, And we shall live before him.

And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: His going forth is sure as the morning;

And he will come unto us as the rain,

As the latter rain that watereth the earth.

Hosea 6. 1-3.

CHAPTER ONE

Preparation

How God Prepared the Way for the Revival through Circumstances and Events.

PREPARATION

The decade preceding the coming of the Revival in power were years of unprecedented upheaval in China. Yet, through these tremendous events in the political, social, economic, cultural, and religious spheres, shaking the country and its institutions to their very foundations, God Himself was at work preparing the soil for the spiritual movement which is now growing in various parts of China.

Those of us who have passed through the stirring events of the decade beginning with 1922 will never forget the seven years of travail and anguish. Nevertheless, during the years when chaos and danger and anxiety were at their height, there were not lacking encouraging signs and harbingers of a better day coming.

I will never forget the summer of 1926 on Kikungshan. All of central China was then in upheaval. North of the Yangtse River the war lords were holding sway; banditry wag rife in many sections. Many missionary workers saw no prospects of returning to their fields of labor. War clouds were looming up on the southern horizon. Already the national armies under General Dziang Kai Shek had advanced into Hunan and such strategic centers as Changsha and Yochow had fallen into their hands. They were just then preparing to march on the Wuhan center.

It was near the end of the summer. Some of us had already made preparations to go north to such stations on the Peking Hankow railroad as could be reached with reasonable safety.

The sky became suddenly overcast with ominous clouds. Claps of thunder reverberated from crag to crag. A terrific storm swept over the mountain tops, drenching everything in a mighty downpour of rain. But before long the dark clouds dispersed and in the light of the setting sun we beheld a magnificent rainbow to the east, glorious in its splendor and tantalizingly near. We instinctively felt that here was a token of God's goodness and a promise of His protecting care. We returned to our work with a new hope and a resolve to face the future with new courage, come whatever may.

Events followed in swift succession. The Nationalist armies advanced on Wuhan and laid siege to Wuchang on September 1. After about six weeks, of bitter opposition the city fell into their hands. During the progress of the siege missionaries and their Christian friends shared with the residents of the city the dangers of the situation, bullets and shells frequently coming near to causing them loss of life.

Wu Pei Fu with his army was forced out of Hankow and went north, taking up his position at Chengchow. During the summer Feng Yu Hsiang had been forced out of Peking and had made his way by forced marches westward into Kansu. From there he was advancing into Shensi with an army 130,000 strong.

Dr. Alfred Trued, as president of the Augustana Synod Mission in central Honan, reporting for the year 1926, has this to say about general conditions: "China is like one turbulent sea, with one wave of lawlessness and danger after the other. The conditions about us are much like those in the time of Israel. There is a grave danger of forgetting the glory of the goal we are striving for by fixing our eyes on the awful horrors and tragedies around us. `China does not have a single clean, peaceful spot where its people can rest.' This statement was made by a Chinese brother while preaching the other day. Much robbing, killing, and kidnaping by soldiers and bandits has taken place on our field this year."

The years immediately preceding this had been characterized by warfare, banditry, famine, turmoil, and political agitation. To those of us who lived through those hectic years, it seemed at times as if society had indeed come to the point of utter dissolution. I was then located at Hsuchang, in Honan.

The traffic on the Peking Hankow Railroad was completely disorganized. One war lord succeeded another, only to be again ousted by some new combination, which, directly it came to power, would disintegrate because of internal dissensions and maneuvering for power on the part of the various factions. Taxes were collected at exorbitant rates, sometimes as many as six years in advance.

The year 1927 will long be remembered as the year of evacuation by a large number of foreign missionaries. The Chinese churches being deprived of many of their leaders, and at the same time being subjected to tremendous pressure by political agitators, were put to a severe strain on their loyalty.

The national armies were preceded on their march northward by the Propaganda Bureau. Students from disbanded mission schools were enlisted in the propaganda corps and in the army. There were numerous defections among the rank and file of the church members. Some pastors and leaders went in to government service.

Some of the depressing effects of 1927 on the churches are listed by Bishop L. H. Roots in the China Christian Year Book for 1928. He estimates that about half of the missionary forces left their stations during the year. There were losses in the missionary force due to failing health and lowering of morale. There was much destruction of property and curtailment of the work due to closing of churches, schools, and hospitals. He concludes the tale of depressing features by mentioning the "sad fact that in some crucial cases trusted Chinese Christians went back on their faith, while a considerable number of church members proved to have no root, and so, in the time of persecution, stumbled." However, stimulating effects of the revolution were not wanting, and the bishop mentions among such the cheerfulness and fortitude displayed on the part of many of the Christians, as well as the many examples of marked faithfulness of Chinese leaders during a time of stress and danger.

The aftermath of the revolution proved a more difficult time for the churches than the years of excitement and danger preceding and during the height of the nationalistic movement. The editor of the Chinese Recorder, Dr. Frank Rawlinson, commenting on the Aftermath of the Revolution, says:

"Many of the lingering shadows of a passing night hung over 1928, some see and feel the shadows alone. Their presence and chill are, of course, evident enough. General conditions have been bad. Banditry is still rife. Economic destitution is appallingly widespread. Famine stalks in at least ten provinces. All this is in part the inevitable result of revolutionary disruption and in part the outcome of unavoidable natural calamities¡­ In short, unsolved political, social, and religious issues clutter the roadways in every direction. 1928 brought to light the debris left in the wake of the revolution.

The spirit of the Chinese church exhibits both the weeds and the fruits of the revolutionary after math. On the one hand there is evident in some places spiritual lethargy! ?thus some churches, once more alive than their environment, are now almost moribund compared therewith."

Writing on the State of the Church, in the 1929 China Christian Year Book, Dr. C. Y. Cheng has this to say in regard to the spiritual depression in the churches: "Not a few of our Christian people feel utterly depressed and exhausted; a kind of flatness seems to reign in the hearts of many-a lack of spirit and energy to make any forward move. The bitter experiences of the past and the uncertainty of the future have made many shy of attempting great things for God and expecting great things from God! ?this has been made very clear to the writer in his travels in different parts of China."

The decade in question was not only a difficult one from the point of view of political movements and propaganda; it was also a time when China was visited by tremendous natural calamities. In 1921 a very severe famine was experienced by the central and northern provinces, and in 1928 and 1929 another of still greater proportions and severity ravaged the country. According to the report of the International Famine Relief Commission of Peiping, practically all the provinces of China were affected by some sort of calamity during 1928, and during 1929 there were at least 50,620,000 people awaiting relief; a multitude nearly equal to half the population of the United States in need of food in varying degrees. The causes of all this misery were given as economic depression, banditry, militarism, and especially calamities. Kansu suffered from depredations of Moslem brigands 20,000 strong, and was still suffering from the effects of the earthquake two years before.

The year 1931 will go down in the annals of China as the year of the Great Flood. According to Mr. H. S. Liang, writing in the Chinese Recorder: "In extent and effect the flood that is today menacing the country is undoubtedly the greatest and the worst that China has ever experienced. It is generally estimated that 16 provinces are affected by this catastrophe, and that more than sixty millions, or about one-sixth of the population of China are directly involved. Of this number at least 30,000,000 are rendered homeless and destitute. The total number drowned in the different stricken districts, according to various official estimates, easily reaches the figure of half a million."

That these natural calamities and the difficulties in the political sphere and especially the deplorable state of the churches, should create in the hearts of many a longing for higher and better things is only natural. That these untoward circumstances were a means in God's hands to prepare the way for a revival in the church and an awakening among the people at large can scarcely be denied. In fact, during the height of these calamities and difficulties we find the leaders of the churches girding themselves for a more intensive effort towards the arousing and reviving of the churches. It was during the depth of the spiritual depression described above that the Five Year Forward Movement for the reviving of the churches was conceived and launched.

This movement had its inception in an interchurch conference in Canton where the following resolution was adopted: "In order to hasten the fulfillment of Christ's last commission, to meet the deep religious needs of our people, and to vitalize the spiritual life of our fellow-Christians, we, after fervent prayer and careful consideration, earnestly request the church in South China and in the whole nation to consolidate all their Christian forces, and by individual and united effort to carry out a vigorous evangelistic movement, in the hope that within the next five years the number of Christians will at least be doubled." (Quoted by Dr. C. Y. Cheng, in the China Christian Year Book for 1929, page 152.) At its meeting in Hangchow in May, 1929, the National Christian Council voted to sponsor this movement, and it was officially launched on January 1, 1930. As the movement had for its chief aim the enrichment of the spiritual life of the individual through a deeper knowledge of Christ and a more intimate fellowship with Him, the prayer-slogan adopted for the movement was singularly appropriate: "Lord, revive Thy Church, beginning with me."

I mention the Five-year Movement in this connection merely to show that the leaders of the church at this time had come to realize the desperate lack of the churches and the need for concerted and vigorous action to get things back on a better basis.

A letter was sent out in February, 1934, to various leaders in the parts of China where the revival had then taken hold. A request was made for material regarding the revival in the form of personal testimonies, records of progress or personal impressions. I suggested that it would be desirable among other things to know what were the underlying and contributing causes of this revival. Numerous replies were received from which I quote representative portions.

The Rev. Wm. H. Nowack of Miyang, Honan, writes in his Missionary Letter, Echoes from In-land China, for January, 1934, in a five-year retrospect as follows: "As we look back over these five fast-fleeting years, filled with glad service for Him, they almost seem like so many days... We praise Him anew for all the goodness and mercy which have again followed us throughout this brief span, and feel confident that nothing but His own all sufficient grace could ever have taken us through. When we think of the chaos into which we were obliged to come back, the awful famine which had to be faced immediately upon our arrival, and the two succeeding that, the awful years of wholesale banditry throughout the entire district, the frequent occupation of our city and mission buildings by the unscrupulous military, and the many trials which these involved, the fiery Bolshevistic persecution of 1930, and the physical testing and family sorrow added to all the rest, we realize that it was only through the faithfulness of our Almighty God, `El Shaddai,' that we have been brought hitherto, and in His dear Name we would raise another Ebenezer to the praise of the glory of His grace.

"We praise Him too, for all the blessings which He sent to counteract the trials, for the successful reorganization of our Ebenezer work in 1929, and the steady progress it has experienced ever since; for the many precious souls that have been saved, and added to our ranks; for our dear Pastor Liu and his faithful evangelistic band, as well as for all that the Lord has done for them and through them.... The last year has been without exception the best of them all. The precious revival already recorded in our last Echoes, the Spirit's gracious working which has been following in its train ever since, and the material prosperity and peace of our community throughout the year, have indeed been causes for gratitude and thanksgiving."

Rev. I. W. Jacobson of the Covenant Missionary Society writes from Nanchang, Hupeh, in a letter dated February, 1934: "As to underlying and contributing causes of the movement, I can distinctly see three very outstanding. In the first place, the faithful preaching and teaching of a clear gospel message during a longer or shorter period of time, diffusing sound Christian instruction and doctrines, until a certain component part of the community has become more or less enlightened regarding Biblical truths. This I can see constitutes a very favorable and necessary setting, an indispensable environment, for revivals such as I have been privileged to see and take part in. Secondly, the fact that God had prepared certain workers-especially Chinese-in a very special way, having anointed them in large measure with spiritual insight, power, and love for the salvation of souls, constitutes one of the great forces in maintaining and spreading the present revival movement. Thirdly, I firmly believe that the many national calamities with accompanying intense suffering of the common people have had very much to do with the preparation of the hearts and minds for the gospel message, and the working of the Holy Spirit upon their deeper nature. In fact, I have been told time and again that the many movements, and calamities, and innovations of recent years have so influenced the usual mode of thinking and inherited conceptions that the common people find themselves without guiding and directing principles, without comfort in their sorrows, and without vision and hope for the future, and that at a time when these values are needed above everything else. To hearts and minds in such a state the revival comes as a refreshing rain on dry ground, and spring after a long and cold winter."

Rev. J. L. Benson, President of the Augustana Synod Mission in Central Honan, sums up the under lying and contributing causes as follows: "United and continuous prayer. The noon-day prayer meeting at the stations. The faithful and constant sowing of the seed by preaching and teaching of the Word, spreading of tracts and portions of Scripture and other books. The sacrificial lives of such men as Dr. Friberg, Rev. Lindell, Doctor Lindorff, Mr. Li Meng Beh, and others. The hospital work and famine relief. The trials of the church in recent years, wars and national discouragements and disillusionings. The New Life and allied reform movements."

Dr. John Darroch, of the Religious Tract Society, says in his circular letter of April, 1934: "I have been truly astonished when reading some of the accounts of work in the interior which we have printed in this office. These tell of revival meetings with numbers weeping and confessing their sins. These things were impossible in the days when I was in charge of an inland station. They are possible now because the knowledge of the gospel is widespread. The conception of the God whom we preach has become clearer in the minds both of Christians and of the unconverted. Both now realize that God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. They believe in their hearts that He searches the hearts and is not mocked, and they are humbled before Him."

Rev. Einar Smebye, President of the Norwegian Missionary Society of Hunan, reports the work of his mission for 1933 in part as follows: "The revival is an answer to prayer. We have often carried the precious seed under weeping. We have often traveled with a heavy heart among the churches, because we saw so little of real fruitage and so little of real Christian life. We saw some fruit, and we saw what we thought was true spiritual life in some individuals. But we often said with the hymnist: `The baptized crowd upon land and shore, But faith's pure fire we find no more.' (Av dopte vrimler land og strand, men vhor er troens brand?) What was the trouble? Why was it thus? We sought comfort in many things. One of our co-workers writes in his annual report: `Since during the course of a number of years we have seen so little of a new, rich life in Christ within our churches, it has almost come to this, when facing these many disappointments, that we have said to ourselves, We possibly can not expect anything better in China for the present.'

"However, even if the Chinese are not just like we are in matters of religion, should not the Spirit of God be able to bring also the Chinese to the same experience of sin and grace as the Christians in other lands go through.

"We heard about the revival in Madagascar. We had read about the revival in Korea, and we heard similar news from Manchuria, and finally news came to us of revivals in the northern synods of the Lutheran church in China. Would not God also visit us in the same manner? The prayer for revival became a cry to God, lest His servants should lose heart. Then the revival came to Shekow. Some of the students who had been most thoroughly gripped by the Spirit of God, together with one of the professors, requested to be allowed to come to our field. In connection with this visit we were permitted to see the answer to our prayer."

Rev. Marcus Chang of Changsha, Hunan, professor in the Hunan Bible Institute, writes about 'harbingers of the coming revival in "Missionsforbundet." He mentions in particular the great spread of Christian literature during recent years due to the change from the Wenli to the Guoh Yu style of writing, making the literature comprehensible to the masses. The great increase in Christian publications shows that there is a hunger and a thirst after literature for the deepening of the spiritual life. He makes a special point of the many leaders especially among the Chinese that God has raised up, who have prepared the way for the revival. Many of these have not been trained in theological institutions, but have been raised up and taught by God and prepared for a special work in connection with the revival.

Rev. Hans M. Nesse, of the Lutheran United Mission in Honan and Hupeh, writes in the Lutheran Herald under date of September 19, 1933: "We are at the present time experiencing a spiritual movement on our mission field in China, which fills us with hope. Truly the saying of Jesus, "I am come to send fire on earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled," is fulfilled in our midst.

"Ever since the inception of Christian work in our midst, this holy fire from God has been burning. At times it has been burning low; at other times it has blazed up and become an ardent flame. In this connection we can not but think of the many faithful witnesses, both Chinese and missionaries, some of whom have already gone to receive their reward. Courageously these witnesses have blazed the way, faithfully they have sowed the seed, often in pain and tears they have toiled on, holding firmly to the promise of God for a glorious harvest.

"A renewal of the Chinese church has especially of late been made the object of united prayer both by missionaries and the Chinese Christians. And then the present time is opportune for spiritual awakenings. The Chinese people stand more disillusioned today than at any time earlier. To their suffering there seems to be no end. They have no way of escape. The proverb, `Man's extremity is God's opportunity,' is holding true also in this case."

In summing up the underlying causes of the revival as depicted in this chapter, I shall follow an outline prepared by Mr. Yang Ging Siao, graduate from our Lutheran Theological Seminary of this year, who himself is a native of central Honan and has passed through the testing years we have been reviewing. He has been tried in the furnace of affliction and has allowed God's judgments to go over his soul. He has come forth purified and strengthened and equipped for service in God's kingdom. His summary is in effect as follows:

Of fundamental causes he lists: God's fulfilling of His promises, and manifesting His power. His love has prompted Him to send this revival which is the work of the Holy Spirit, giving testimony to the truth, thus glorifying the name of the Triune God.

As to contributory causes he lists first the more remote: The weakness of China due to internal causes and to aggression on the part of foreign powers; the international divisions and discord and oppression of the people by the militarists and unjust government officials. Civil wars, with soldiers everywhere, killing the people and burning their homes and occupying church property. Robbers and communists swarming over the country, despoiling the fields and the homes, burning, killing, raping, stealing, kidnaping. Natural calamities, droughts, and floods. Moral depression, the old religions and sanctions removed and the new sanctions not established; all go their own way, all sense of sin and humanity gone. From this state of affairs many have revolted; they realize their sin, and welcome revival.

As direct contributory causes he lists: Opposition to the church on the part of the Boxers in 1900, the student agitations beginning with 1922, and the nationalistic uprising in 1927, with its anti-foreign and antichristian propaganda. In the name of advancing the national cause, destructive doctrines were preached against the church, which harassed the church, but at the same time helped' it to deeper humiliation and greater dependence on God. Difficulties because of evacuation by the missionaries, and later the lack of funds to carry on the work. The tremendous problems before the church in connection with self-support and self propagation have caused it to look to God as never before. The low status of the church, with many backslidden members, making it as decrepit as some of the old heathen temples of China. The prevalence of gross sins among members and leaders. All this caused a longing for a change and for better things. Lastly are mentioned the prayers of the saints, the preachers of repentance raised up by God, the earnest and living witness of those who have been revived, bringing the Spirit's fire from place to place.

As we ponder these underlying causes of the revival we marvel at the wonderful counsels and methods of God for furthering His plans. Truly His ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts as our thoughts. When man sets about to rehabilitate the church, he is prone to begin with the outward things. He sets up a program and institutes a campaign for man's social betterment, and the improvement of his physical environment, thereby thinking to make man himself good.

God begins at the opposite pole. Instead of making the environment good, He makes it intolerable. Instead of making man satisfied with his own achievements towards the bettering of his own condition, He takes away from man every prop and stay on which he has relied, and brings him to a state of utter despair and disillusionment as regards his own power to help himself. At this point God is ready to step in and do for man what he is not able to do for himself. He causes man to lose confidence in his own methods and devices, so that he may turn to the living God for help in his extremity. When man comes to the point where he is willing to "let go, and let God," then God can begin to undertake for him. God well knows that as long as there is any outlook possible to man, he will not try the up look. It is only when man has come to the end of his own resources, and when he turns to God in abject poverty and bankruptcy, that God can step in and release for him His own unbounded resources of grace and power.

A little chorus has been ringing in my ears that contains in compact form this very idea of total reliance on God for help. It has been used much by Rev. Gia Yu Ming in the meetings conducted by him, and is attributed to him as author. I give it in free rendering:

Do not fear; Just believe;

Look not 'round you, nor within you, nor to man. Look to God; Much in prayer;

See by faith His glory now.

CHAPTER TWO

EVANGELISM

PASTOR HSIEH AND HIS REVIVAL SOCIETY

How God Raised Up Leaders to Carry Forward the Work of Broadcast Evangelism.

One of the most picturesque and interesting characters it has been my privilege to meet is Pastor Hsieh Meng Dzeh of Anhwei province. To meet him is as refreshing as a spring tonic, and to sit down and listen to his Scripture messages is a unique privilege.

Pastor Hsieh may be definitely put down as one of the most important precursors of the present widespread revival movement in China. Since 1916 he has been on the road almost continually, going from place to place, holding meetings, usually of about ten days' duration, preaching from two to three times each day. His sermons are seldom less than one and one-half hours in length, and oftentimes they are extended to two hours with a short intermission about halfway through.

He spends several hours each day in meditation and prayer and intensive study of the Word of God. His method of Bible study is as unique as his messages are original and gripping. He makes no use of commentaries, but believes in direct contact with the Word of God, with reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance in its interpretation. Consequently he is a man of one book, and he has become so steeped in the Word of God that his messages are vital, powerful, and convincing, as well as practical, fit-ting the needs of his hearers.

Many of his themes are chosen from the Old Testament. By means of constant meditation his material has grown to almost inexhaustible proportions. Thus he will preach a whole series of sermons on the Deluge, drawing many warnings for the ungodly, as well as lessons for the lives of believers from this gripping story. He has a reportoire of at least ten sermons on the story of the little Jewish girl who, as the slave of Naaman's household, influenced her master to seek cure for his leprosy at the hands of the prophet of Israel. His interpretations of Scripture may seem to be somewhat far-fetched to western minds, but they come home with peculiar force and appropriateness to the oriental mind.

Pastor Hsieh gives the impression of being a man wholly devoted to God and imbued with one consuming purpose, that of bringing the gospel to his fellow men, leading them into a vital, saving relationship with God. One of the favorite songs he uses at his meetings is an urgent call to sinners, "Dzui ren men, lai ting fu yin." In a free translation it runs as follows:

"Sinners all, come hear the Gospel call;

Right and wrong discern.

Profound the Word that saves the world; God makes His grace abound;

Saves the souls of men;

Rescues them from death and' sin.

Come, then, scholar, peasant, workman, merchant, Man, woman, grown or child, come, heed the gospel call."

On arriving at a place Mr. Hsieh never cares to know what he is to receive for his services, or if he is to receive anything at all. He thankfully receives what is offered and directs that it be sent directly to his headquarters in Anhwei. The money is credited to the account of the Revival Society, from the funds of which Mr. Hsieh and his family receive a modest allowance, the rest being used to promote the work of evangelism in various parts of China.

How explain this man, how account for his zeal, his power, his influence, his ability to endure hard-ship and the rigors of travel for his master's sake? The story of his life and conversion and empowering for service is of absorbing interest.

On more than one occasion have I heard Mr. Hsieh recount his experiences. When during the course of some of his meetings it is announced that on a certain occasion he is to tell the story of his life, there is an accession of an unusually large group of eager listeners who hang on his words fearing to miss a single sentence.

One such occasion stands out distinctly in my memory. It was an evening meeting in the assembly room of our Hasselquist Middle School at Hsii-chang, in Honan, a winter evening in 1925. The room was filled with eager listeners, mostly young people from our schools, who followed the narra-tive from beginning to end with intensest interest. At that time a faithful record of the main events in Mr. Hsieh's life was made by Rev. Anton Lundeen, and later reported in the Honan Glimpses. We also draw from the absorbing account of Mr. Hsieh's life written by his life long friend Mr. Alexander Mair, for twenty-six years a worker in the China Inland Mission. This account, entitled, "Pastor Hsieh, a Wayfarer for Christ," was published in 1933.

Being a native of Ho Yiieh Chow, a small town on the banks of the mighty Yangtse River, in the province of Anhwei, Mr. Hsieh was thirty years old before he heard the message of salvation through faith in Christ. He was at that time employed in a pawnshop connected with a gambling den.

Through the persuasion of a friend, Mr. Hsieh came into contact with the preachers of the gos-pel. What he had heard of the strange doctrines preached by the foreigners had only served to arouse his suspicions and prejudices against these strange teachings. When he learned that a Chinese was to speak at the newly opened preaching place of the China Inland Mission in his town, he consented to attend, but he took his place by the door as far away from the speaker as possible, not wishing to compromise himself by entering the room and sit-ting down.

The text of the evangelist was, God is love. His heart was gripped. He was familiar with the term for God, "Shangdi," from his readings in the Chinese classics, but that he should be a God of love and that he should care for each individual, was something entirely new to him. He had heard enough to make him desire to hear more, and he returned from time to time to talk with the evangelist and inquire further into the way of salvation.

The preaching about the cross seemed to be his chief stumbling block. He did not see that there was need for any one to die for his sins, or why he could not by his own efforts make himself into a better man.

He resolved to put away every known sin. To aid him in this work he hit upon a novel plan. He drew the picture of a heart, his own heart, on a piece of paper. He then determined that if he ever caught himself saying something or doing something wrong he would mark a black dot in the heart as a re-minder to leave off doing such things. It was not Tong before his poor heart was full of black dots, and he began to realize that he was not getting any-where with the work of cleansing his own black heart.

For an entire year he pondered the problem of the cross and redemption. He was in great agony of mind. Then one evening God revealed His Son to him. "It was in the gloaming," says he, "as I sat in my own room at home. I have no explanation as to what happened; I simply state the facts. In a flash, as it seemed to me, the room was flooded with light and before me a cross was upraised, and upon that cross was the Son of God. With eyes of love He looked at me and said, `I suffered this for you.' When I came to myself I found my face wet with tears; and from that hour I have never had the shadow of a doubt as to the necessity of Christ's atoning death on Calvary for my redemption and the redemption of every sinner."

It seemed that the vision of the crucified Saviour followed him for days and nights until at last he prayed God to take it away as now Jesus had come to be his Saviour and Redeemer.

He immediately began testifying before his family and friends, with the result that soon both his mother and his wife became believers. He moved to the city of Anking and there began taking part in street chapel preaching.

According to Mr. Mair, "here his genius in attracting and influencing individuals was early perceived. He was genuinely interested in people, and those with whom he spoke were immediately aware that here was a man with a truly vital message to impart. Not only had he rare understanding of their ordinary everyday needs and problems, but also a peculiar insight into the feeling, desire, and condition of their hearts. Sin was ruthlessly exposed and condemned and the sovereign remedy invariably presented: `Behold the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sin of the world.' There was no faltering in his proclamation of the truth; he himself had received the revelation, and his supreme passion was to lead others to the crucified Saviour."

Later, he accompanied the missionaries in arduous tours in the district around Anking. In after years he often spoke of the "priceless benefits received in this wonderful school of faith and service."

Soon Mr. Hsieh, who so ardently had begun to witness to the new life and blessing found in the Saviour, was to be led into wider fields of service for his Lord and Master. The human instrument in God's hand to lead him into a place of greater vision and usefulness was none other than the well-known Dr. Jonathan Goforth, who was at that time holding special evangelistic meetings in northern Honan.

Mr. Hsieh heard of the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit in connection with some of these meetings, and this created in him a desire to see this work spread to other parts of China. Accompanied by Mr. Westwood, of the China Inland Mission, he attended the meetings of Dr. Goforth. "From that time," according to Mr. Mair, "there came to him a new accession of power, and his message was charged with fresh unction and urgency. The awfulness of sin was revealed to him in a new way. He saw men and women stricken down by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and crying to God for pardon. And he witnessed those same people, changed by the transforming touch of God's Spirit, testifying to the possession of a priceless peace, which the world could not give. Hsieh yielded himself to the Lord, body, soul, and spirit, for anything, and thus there commenced for him a new spiritual epoch."

He returned to Anking to announce his newborn conviction that God was calling him into a larger service. He made arrangements for his family. He himself would set out to go where God might lead him. He organized a Revival Society which really turned out to be Mr. Hsieh himself, as he was its chief agent and promoter. Pastor Hu at Anking was to be the custodian of the funds, but Hsieh himself set forth on what was to become a nation wide ministry.

A scheme to start a Bible Training School for the promotion of evangelism in connection with General Feng Yii Hsiang's army, then in Hunan, was providentially side-tracked, and Mr. Hsieh was again free to set forth on his journeys with all China as his parish.

Soon invitations began to come from various parts of north China. He spent upwards of ten years in the northern part of China from 1916 on. By the year 1925 he had visited our Central Honan field no less than three different times. He was then about fifty years of age. He is still engaged in the same work. Since 1931 he has been in the western provinces, Szechuan, Kweichow, and parts of Hunan.

Who can estimate the value, for the cause of Christ in China, of the work of this devoted servant of His who in his simple, direct, and uncompromising way has preached God's truth and his way of salvation to countless multitudes of his own countrymen.

His life and example, his zeal and fervor, his willingness to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, has had its silent influence on many a life. Among outstanding men who have been personally helped by Pastor Hsieh's ministry can be mentioned Rev. C. K. Cheng, and Mr. Li Yoh Han. Doubtless there are others.

His love of the Word of God, and his faithful use of it for the nurture of his own soul and the souls of others, His untiring zeal and devotion to the Lord's cause, have prepared the soil for, and helped to bring about, the present great outpouring of God's power in many parts of China.

MARCUS CHENG

During the past two decades Rev. Marcus Cheng has taken prominent part in the work of broadcast evangelism. His name has become a household word in Christian circles throughout China.

During the past six years he has served as professor in the Hunan Bible Institute at Changsha, but his work there has not hindered him from devoting a large part of his time to traveling among the churches. He has had an outstanding experience of God's grace in his own heart and has therefore been able to help many others to a vital experience of Christ.

Marcus Cheng was for some years teacher in the Theological Training School of the Covenant Missions at Kingchow, in Hupeh. Later he was released for broadcast evangelistic work among the churches. For about two years he served as chaplain in the armies of Feng Yu Hsiang, then known as the Christian General, during their marches in northern China. In 1928 he attended the International Missionary Conference at Jerusalem as one of the representatives of the Chinese churches. Later he visited the Scandinavian countries and the U. S. A. He has a good command of both the Swedish and the English languages, and is therefore a welcome guest as speaker in the various churches in the homelands, having made in all three trips abroad.

Besides his work of preaching and teaching, he has done much work as a writer. He is editor in chief of the bimonthly magazine Evangelism, now in its eighth year. It is the most widely distributed and read church magazine in China. He has given us the story of his conversion in "Preachers' Experiences," published in 1925, from which we cull the following testimony:

"Having been baptized at the age of sixteen, I graduated from Boone College, Wuchang, at the age of twenty. I planned on serving the church in the educational sphere, not caring to take up the study of theology or to engage in evangelistic work.

"In the fall of 1906 I experienced a spiritual renewal. At that time I met a genuine preacher, one who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Being originally a doctor of medicine, he had been called by God to preach the gospel. His name is Li Shu Tsing, and I look upon him as my spiritual father.

"He preached at Wuchang during several days. When I saw him and listened to him I realized that he had something which I did not have. He preached the gospel in its truth and purity. I understood his words, but not the spirit that was in him.

"Then one evening I went to visit him to have a talk with him about spiritual things. I asked him: `How can Jesus live in my heart?' He replied: `Jesus lives in one's heart by faith. "How can I know that He is in my heart?' I asked. `When your conscience is ill at ease it is Jesus knocking at the door of the heart,' he replied. `Jesus is not like a mischievous boy who knocks at your door and runs away when you open and then comes and knocks again when the door is closed. Jesus does not play with you in this fashion. Therefore, when you feel this disquietude in your conscience, open your heart, and Jesus will come in immediately.' `How shall I go about it ?' I asked. He looked at me and said: `Return to your home, go into your room and close the door. Open your Bible at Ephesians 3. 14-19. When you have read this through, kneel down before the Lord. Then receive Jesus by faith into your heart. Obedience is of the utmost importance; whatever the Lord Jesus wants you to do, do it.'

"I then went home and did as Dr. Li had suggested. I received Christ into my heart. The light of His Holy Spirit penetrated my sin darkened heart and I realized my own sinfulness and impurity. I confessed my sins and pleaded for forgiveness. Whatever I had sinned against others I confessed before them and asked them to forgive me. From this time on I knew the joy of the forgiveness of sins and the meaning of repentance and rebirth.

"From this time on my Bible had a new flavor and my preaching had a new power. In fact, I didn't merely lecture about certain doctrines, but gave a testimony about Jesus. In bringing Christ to people I have been despised and laughed at and even cursed, but praise and thanks be to God, I have also seen people moved to repent and turn to the Lord. Many a time there have been those who have been pricked in their conscience and have come to me to inquire about the way of salvation. We have prayed together, and I have led them to the Lord to be saved. In my work in churches and schools, before congregations and individuals, I have seen evidence of the Holy Spirit's power through me in the lives of others. To Christ my Lord who loves me, gave Himself for me, and chose me, be all the glory and power. Amen.

GIA YU MING

Rev. Gia YU Ming is a native of Shantung. In "Preachers' Experiences," he tells us some facts from his spiritual experience.

He says that his last two years in college and the three years in the theological seminary were his happiest period, as then he lived in close communion with his Lord. He then gave himself unconditionally to the Lord to serve Him, allowing God to mold him as the potter does his clay.

When twenty-four years of age he was ordained to the regular ministry in the Presbyterian church, and served in a pastorate for twelve years. His wife was heart and soul with him in the work. They agreed together to read at least twenty chapters of the Bible each day, and in one year they covered the entire Bible seven times.

He enjoyed a fruitful ministry, having baptized no less than one thousand people, young and old. He finds great satisfaction in not having asked the church for any salary, but depending on individual contributions, and going forward in faith, he has never experienced any lack. His rule has been: "Never borrow a cent; and never owe anyone a cent." He says these years of utter dependence on God were his golden age.

Later he accepted a position as professor in the Ginling Theological Seminary for Women in Nan-king, where he is now serving as principal. He says he desires nothing so much as to go forth in the Spirit's fullness and power to preach the gospel to his countrymen, sowing the precious seed of truth, witnessing for his Saviour in word and in life. This he feels to be his God given duty.

LELAND WANG

Some are called to the work of preaching from following the plow; some are called out of the deep, dark mines; others are called out of the shops and busy marts of trade to carry the banner of the cross forward to victory. Leland Wang has the distinction of receiving the call to be a preacher from the deck of a naval vessel, after having been in the service of the Chinese navy for nine years.

We have the story of his life and experiences from his own pen as recorded in a book of collected sermons (published in 1927, by the Christian Missionary Alliance Press). He relates: "I am from Foochow. From youth I was an idolater. As a young man I heard someone say Jesus was crucified. I asked, `Why? "For His friends,' I was told. At that time I realized Jesus was a good man. While I was going to primary school, someone gave my father a gilt edged Bible, but he did not read it. I went and read it, but could make nothing of it and thought it was worthless. At the age of thirteen I was longing for spiritual consolation."

In 1912 he enrolled in the Naval Academy at Yen-tai, in Shantung. At that time he was asking himself: "Whence am I? Whither do I go? How shall a man live this life?" The emptiness and transitoriness of life seemed to bear heavily upon him.

After completing his course of study at the naval school, he was married. His wife had previously at tended a mission school and had there definitely given her heart to the Lord. One evening he saw his wife kneeling and praying, and he thought her foolish, as he did not know the meaning of prayer.

Since all nations had believers, he thought the Christian religion must be a good one, so he got his wife's Bible and began to read. He read Mat-thew 5. 8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." He thought, "My heart is not pure, how can I see God?" In the sixth chapter he saw the admonition, "Do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them." He then knew this was the pure doctrine and conceived a love for it and became an inquirer, asking God to help and en-lighten him.

He was now transferred to Nanking to attend the military academy there. He was the only believer in the entire school. He began to neglect his Bible reading. Someone asked him if he read his Bible every day. He was pricked in his heart and made a resolve to get up at 5:30 each day to read his Bible and pray. This practice he has kept up ever since.

"From this constant reading of the Scriptures," he says, "I came to see that Jesus was nailed to the cross for me; He arose and sits on the right hand of God as my high priest and will come again to receive me. One is saved through Christ's merits alone and not by one's own righteousness. From this time on I was full of peace, I preached the truth, and first helped my mother to believe."

After graduating from Nanking he was transferred to a naval vessel. While he was walking the deck of the ship one day, the question came to him:

"Shall I become a preacher for life or shall I remain on ship?" He prayed earnestly. Isaiah 52: 11, 12 helped him to a decision: "Depart ye, depart ye, go out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; cleanse yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of Jehovah. For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight; for Jehovah will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your reward."

He left the navy in April of 1921 and first went to Anhwei and then returned to Foochow. He received a call to a church, but refused, preferring to leave himself in God's hands for any work He would have for him to do. "I walked the path of faith?" says he, "from the very start. I had many a test, sometimes in my home there was not a cent of money, but this circumstance only made me the more happy. When I went out to preach I had along a basket, a bell, and some tracts and booklets. At places where many people gathered I took a position a little higher than the rest and rang the bell and sang and preached. From that time on the Lord has never failed me. Discouraged, He has comforted me; sick, He has healed me; in want, He has sup-plied me; weak, He has given me strength. God's grace has been sufficient for me."

Since giving his heart to the Lord and yielding his life to God's service, Mr. Wang has traveled extensively throughout China. God has owned his work and blessed his ministry to the saving of many souls. His itinerary for the months of April, May, and June, 1935, included places in twelve or more provinces from Hangchow and Shanghai on the east coast of China, through Hankow and Wuchang in the Yangtse valley, then to Kaifeng and Loyang in Honan, and from there westward through Sianfu and Lanchowfu, the capitals of Shensi and Kansu respectively, traveling by rail and airplane, spending two weeks in a tour of inspection of the work in the Northwest, and on the borders of Tibet, then northward over Suiyuan to Peiping, and from there southward through Tientsin and Tsinan in Shantung, and then back to Shanghai and on to Hong Kong in south China. Surely this is an ambitious and formidable itinerary and all the more remarkable as a venture of faith and reliance on God for the supplying of the necessary means for the carrying out of the project.

WANG MING DAO

Wang Ming Dao is another of the better known men who are engaging in broadcast evangelism. He is a native of Peiping. His father was a doctor of medicine and was killed during the Boxer uprising in 1900. Mr. Wang relates regarding his early youth, in "Preachers' Experiences," 1931:

"I am a man who has had great worldly ambitions. From my fifteenth year I desired to go into government service and become a great official. When the Lord first sought me I opposed the Spirit's call for the space of three or four years."

At the age of twenty he gave his heart to the Lord. He was then teaching in a Presbyterian school. He relates: "That year in the fall, as I was teaching, I was suddenly aware in my heart of a great longing and spiritual lack-a great, inexplicable pain that could not be eradicated. Day and night I prayed earnestly, hoping that God would give me what I was longing for. One evening I received His answer: `Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither His ear heavy, that it can not hear; but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, so that He will not hear."

Mr. Wang fell at the foot of the cross and confessed his sins and received remission. That day became a memorable day in his life.

Immediately he was filled with zeal, and began to lead the pupils of the school to his new-found Lord and Saviour. Through inner conviction and independent study of the Scriptures he had come to the conclusion that he should be baptized by immersion. According to Marcus Cheng, Mr. Wang's newly awakened zeal not only led him to bring the pupils to Christ, but also to persuade them to accept baptism by immersion. This being unacceptable to the authorities of the school, he was obliged to leave his position.

The next three years were spent in his home. This became a time of special testing for him. He relates: "Persecution in the home, misunderstanding on the part of friends, all came upon me at once like a storm. I did not know how to meet all this. When I looked around, there was no help. I could only pray and read the Bible in a small room by myself. Praise the Lord, at this time He opened my eyes to behold the mystery of His salvation. God gave also joy, hope, and glory. The Bible became my precious treasury and daily food. All my former ambition, great name, education, all became like a vanishing cloud."

Mr. Wang, like several others, was led to go forth and preach the gospel in faith, looking to God for support. His messages are quiet, but powerful, appealing to the will rather than to the emotions.

GIH DJIH WEN

Pastor Gih Djih Wen is one, of the several young men who were converted at a time of great crisis in the political life in China. This was the time of the great student agitations and demonstrations following the unfortunate so called Shanghai incident, the killing of some student demonstrators by the Shanghai municipal police, which took place May 30, 1925. Even during those days of riot and anti-foreign agitation, God was quietly at work raising up His own instruments for a forward campaign, which in His providence may transform all of China.

Pastor Gih is known in wide circles in China through his work with the Bethel Bands. He, with Dr. John Sung and others, making up these bands, has traveled extensively in northern and central China with pronounced results in renewed lives and revived churches. He relates about his early life in "A Short History of the Bethel Bands":

"I was born in a home where religion was not much thought of. From of old we had followed Buddhist doctrines, but without much zeal. Although we worshiped and burned incense, we did so more according to custom than anything else. As we went into the temples and I saw the evil-looking idols, I used to fear in my heart, and I ran as quickly as possible to my mother's side. I knew that the idols were to be feared."

Desiring to learn English so as to enter one of the foreign business firms, he applied for admission to the Bethel Middle School at Shanghai, and was accepted into the second class. In the winter of 1923 a lady missionary came to the school to hold special evangelistic meetings. Mr. Gih attended, but he remained unmoved until one afternoon when she spoke on the text, "All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God," he felt that he was before the judgment seat of the Holy Spirit. But he saw also "the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." "Suddenly I saw Jesus on the cross suffering for me," he relates. "I cried out, `Lord, save me!' I asked a pastor to help me and pray for me. Thank and praise the Lord, who said, `He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' He saved me, a sinner."

In July of 1925 there was a big meeting in Shanghai. The Holy Spirit worked mightily. Many were deeply moved, among them Mr. Gih. The speaker invited all who had made up their mind to preach the gospel and "save the country," (a phrase current at the time among the student agitators), to come forward. After an inward struggle Mr. Gih stepped forward, and from that time onward he has given his all to the Lord to serve Him.

DJAO SHIH GUANG

Pastor Djao is another outstanding example of God's providence in raising up spiritual leaders for a forward movement in the church at a time when the spiritual outlook was utterly dark and discouraging. He was converted at Shanghai in July of 1926, at a time when all China was in turmoil and uproar, due to the unfortunate incident of May 30th the previous year.

Due to the widespread political unrest, the usual Kuling conference and spiritual retreat was arranged to be held at Shanghai. The meetings were scheduled to continue ten days, and were held in the large new Church of the Heavenly Rest. A British missionary was in charge of the meetings, which were extended to forty days. Many remark-able conversions resulted, among them that of Pastor Djao. After his conversion he suffered intense persecution in his own home. His mother, who was an ardent Buddhist, refused to eat until he should recant his new religion. He remained steadfast and was finally driven from his home.

He was befriended by some Christian families, and after a few years of private meditation and ardent personal testimony to his new-found faith, he was called to be pastor of a vacant church in Shanghai. He is a preacher of deep conviction and power, and fills his church each Sunday to overflowing. We note some highlights from his personal experiences, as related by himself in "Preachers' Experiences":

"I was born and grew up in a non-Christian home with a mother who burned incense every night and prayed toward high heaven. It might be said we lived under the power of the devil and we had never heard the good news of salvation in Christ, though grown a little older I heard people mention that Jesus had died on the cross. At that time it meant nothing to me."

In July of 1921 he was persuaded by his cousin to attend Sunday school, which he did for the space of four years, taking enthusiastic part, especially in the singing, and was eager to learn the lessons well so as to gain the rewards. He was especially impressed by the lesson about Paul persecuting the church, and his subsequent conversion. How truly this experience of Paul was to reflect his own experience only a few years later!

In July of 1925 he attended a spiritual retreat and heard a message on the theme of the second coming of the Lord and other spiritual teachings. He hardened his heart and did not repent, but before the month was over, he had received grace to believe and accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. This experience was to be deepened and intensified during the meetings in July of the following year, of which we have already made mention. He arrived at the meetings in time to attend the ninth session. He was deeply moved on entering the meeting hall by the singing of the hymn: "I give my all to Jesus."

In the course of the meetings he was given grace to confess and make right certain things that were wrong in his life, among other things he was convicted of having taken forty-five cents from someone six years previously. He struggled for peace for some time, but could get no relief until one day he enclosed one dollar in stamps in a letter and sent to the man in question, when peace came at once into his heart. He also confessed before members of his family and his neighbors. After a period of deep contrition, often weeping bitter tears of repentance, he was given grace to trust in the blood and merits of Christ, and was given the assurance and joy of salvation. Besides his work as pastor of the Shanghai church, he is often called upon to lead special meetings elsewhere. He is an excellent singer and often opens his meetings with a solo. God has blessed and prospered his work in a remarkable way.

SUNG SHANG DZIEH

(John Sung)

The personal testimony of Dr. Sung is intensely interesting, showing God's guidance and provision in a remarkable degree. He is very dramatic in his gospel presentation and has been characterized as the "John the Baptist" among the evangelists of China. Everywhere he attracts large audiences and many are led to the Lord through his ministry. For some years he was with the Bethel Bands, but now he is working independently. The following story of his life and experiences is taken from a pamphlet, "My Own Testimony," by Dr. Sung himself, and from, "A Brief History of the Bethel Bands."

Dr. Sung is a native of Fukien Province. His father was a warm-hearted preacher of the gospel, intensely interested in rural evangelism. There was family worship every day, even the very small children being taught to pray, As he grew up he loved to study. While in school he did not join the various patriotic movements and was accused of lack of love for his country by his schoolmates. He paid no attention to their jibes and maintained he was a child of God. He thanks God for a Christian environment and influences during early youth and for the Father of Lights to guide him on his pathway.

When eighteen years of age, he went to the United States of America to study. He finished his college course in three years and was one of the four of his class to finish with the highest grades. Due to overwork, he was taken ill and had to undergo an operation. He prayed God to forgive his sins, and wrote to his parents saying he did not fear to die. During these years his Christian faith suffered a serious setback, due to neglect of prayer and Bible reading, and the too assiduous pursuit of scientific studies, putting his faith in science rather than in God.

He received a scholarship of three hundred dollars per year to Study at the Ohio Wesleyan University. After nine months of study he was granted the Master's Degree, and after another year and a half he secured the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. While at the university, he took a prominent part in the work of the International Students' Association and the International League for Peace. He contracted tuberculosis, but recovered shortly. Concerning his spiritual condition he says: "I believed in God, but not in Jesus as God. I looked on Him as the best man in the world who lived an exemplary moral and religious life." In spite of the honors heaped upon him by his associates, his conscience began to trouble him and he was ill at ease.

In 1925 he was offered a position and took up the work, but he heard a voice within him saying: "What shall a man be profited if he gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?" He remembered his father's prayers and heard him saying, "When I wanted you to go to America, was it not for the purpose of studying theology?" He also seemed to see a cross and to hear a voice: "Aside from the way of the cross there is no personal or national salvation."

He made up his mind to study theology and to dedicate his life to Jesus. With this in view he en-rolled as a student in the Union Theological Seminary of New York City.

"I was surprised," he says, "when I found out that the great professors questioned the virgin birth of Jesus and the resurrection as well as other fundamental doctrines. In their opinion, things not in accordance with science were not worthy of belief; prayer was in the nature of self hypnotism. As I had been immersed in the study of science for three or four years, my true Christian faith had melted away in the furnace of the social gospel. I made myself at home and began to persecute the fervent Christians and ridiculed them as insane and superstitious. I questioned the authority of the Bible. I thought the teachings of Confucius, and Buddha were far superior to the doctrines of the Bible.. I made a thorough study of several religions and was especially interested in Buddhism. I translated the Dao Deh Ging of Laotze. However, at the end, I was more despondent and was sorely disappointed in the study of other religions. My soul was wandering in the wilderness and I did not know what to do. I could neither eat nor sleep. At times I locked myself in a room to meditate on the teachings of Buddha for the purpose of getting at eternal truth.

"My religious faith at that time was so confused that I was like a small boat floating in a great ocean. But God, who does not will that anyone should perish, delivered me from the road of perdition."

At this time he chanced to attend a meeting where he heard a Spirit filled message by a young woman. Hiss withered soul began to revive. He felt that the Christian preachers of today had no life, and he determined to ask God to give him new life.

One evening, the last evening of the year 1926, while praying, he heard God's voice in his heart saying, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise." "It made me tremble and quiver," he says. "My spiritual burden became heavier and heavier. On the tenth of February my burden was so heavy I could not bear it. I had no peace. My heart was filled with darkness and conflict. I prayed earnestly. Tears of repentance ran down my cheeks. I asked the Lord to cover me with His blood and to make me live not for myself, nor for the vain glory of this world. I opened my heart, asking God to take pity on me and deliver me from the iron heel of the devil and set me free."

While struggling with the problem of his own sin, he thought of his Bible. He found it under a pile of books in his trunk. He read about Jesus suffering for his sins. He followed the Saviour to Golgotha, carrying a heavy cross. His burden of sin became unbearable and he fell at the foot of the cross, imploring forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Christ. His prayer was heard. "My Son, thy sins are forgiven thee." With these words of the Saviour his sins were taken away. "It was the night of my spiritual birth," he says. "I also received a call to go out and preach the gospel to all people, bearing witness in these last days. I gave myself a new name, John."

He began to read his Bible and went out to preach. He left off reading what he called, "devil-inspired theological books." People thought him insane and locked him up in an insane asylum. Of this experience he says: "I was kept in the asylum for 193 days. While there, I read the Bible through forty times. I was led by the Holy Spirit and I could understand the mystery of truth. The asylum was my theological seminary. The day of leaving the `seminary' was the day of receiving my `diploma.' "

He returned to China, willing to take up tasks which other people were not willing to do. His father and mother doubted at first, but after a week's examination and observation they perceived he had received a new life and new power. His father encouraged him to bear testimony telling what God had done in his life.

He was called to a school to teach chemistry. "I accepted," he says, "and the first lecture I gave I taught them a great lesson on chemistry, how five loaves and two fishes provided food for five thousand people. Boys and girls were brought to repentance." Here he spent half of his time teaching and half, preaching. Every day he took students out to preach in the villages. He spoke up to eight times per day. He was taken ill and was near to death. People prayed for him and he was restored. He secured a job yielding six or seven dollars a month, but he had ten months of the year in which to preach and he was happy.

Later the door was opened for him to preach to all of China. With the Bethel Bands he traveled in Manchuria, in the southeast, and in many places in northern China. After three years he left the Bethel Bands and has since been holding meetings alone in many places, in many churches. He ends his testimony: "The rest of my years I ask the Lord to preserve me in His holiness, and to help me walk in His paths, until the day when He call me to meet Him face to face."

CHAPTER THREE

Revival

REVIVAL

MARIE MONSEN

One of the outstanding instruments God has used for the reviving of the churches in northern China is Miss Marie Monsen. One of her own coworkers describes her coming to Chenping, one of the stations of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission in Honan, in effect as follows:

How God Prepared Special Instruments for Use in "The second of November of 1931 we were in Beginning and Carrying Forward the Work of the pressibly gladdened by the news that Miss Marie Revival. Monsen had returned to our field and was then at Nanyang. The early summer of 1927 God had sent her from Shanghai to Manchuria and later to Chili, Shantung, and Shansi. In these various places God had used her in a marvelous way for the reviving of the churches. "It seemed strange that she should thus be taken away from us to be used in the reviving of the churches elsewhere while we were longing and praying for a revival on our own field.

"Our older missionaries had quietly but tearfullly striven with God in view of the deadness of the churches. But with the news of God's visitation of the other churches our prayers took on new life. With every letter from Miss Monsen our prayers received a new impetus and became more intense as the time went on, until finally they were in the nature of distress calls. God, who is no respecter of persons, can not but send Miss Monsen back to us and make use of her among us as He has used her in the northern provinces.

"Then the news reached us that she would be with us at our annual conference at Chenping from November 13 to 15. There was a general feeling of expectancy as we journeyed to this meeting, and we were not disappointed in our expectations. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience to have her again in our midst.

"Already at this meeting it became clear to us that God had fashioned Miss Monsen into a seasoned soul winner through the experiences she had gone through in the north, and that she was in possession of a power from God that was well nigh irresistible.

"The first text she used was from the third chapter of the Gospel of John, `Ye must be born anew.' The greater part of this address consisted in short questions, cast forth with holy, penetrating seriousness: `Why are you a Christian? Is it not that you wish to enter heaven? What does Jesus say here? "Except ye be born anew, ye can not enter the kingdom of God." Ye can not, ye can not.' These words sank like lead into the hearts of the listeners.

"The next text was from Rev. 20. 12, about the sins that were written in the books with such clear ness. `Also in Jer. 17. 1 we see that your sins are written "with a pen of iron" on the tablets of flesh in your hearts so that no one can erase them.'

"Other texts were, Mark 14. 3-11, about Judas. `He was a preacher of the gospel; he was a member of the church; he was a disciple. But he was false; he was a thief. Are you a preacher of the gospel, or are you a thief T

"She aimed in the first place at our leaders and the workers in our congregations. She spoke from Prov. 28. 13, about covering one's transgressions. All are born with an inclination to cover their sins. Other texts used were, Is. 59. 1-4, `Your iniquities have separated between you and your God': Is. 64. 6, `Our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment'; 1 Cor. 6. 9, with the question, `Is this a catalog of your sins? Read and find out if your sins are there.' Also Mark 7. 21-23, with the same question and the same admonition.

"Then came John 1. 14, `He is "full of grace and truth," He will not permit you to remain full of falsehood and deceit.' And Is. 1. 18, `If you will only acknowledge your sins before God they "shall be white as snow."' Finally there was an address to believers about being in the will of God. `The unsaved have God's will behind them. The saved have God's will before them. Some are in God's will; others are outside of it. They try to stretch God's will so as to make it conform to theirs.'

"At the end of each service she took her place near the door, and few were those who managed to get by without having the question asked them, `Are you saved? 'It felt like the thrust of a sword,' they explained afterwards. After the next meeting they received another sword-thrust, `Are you still on the road to destruction.

"Many came to see her and to confess their sins, but she sent them away, some as often as three to four times. They were not in a condition of real need. `Pray that God's Spirit may enlighten you concerning your sins,' was the admonition they received to take away with them. She never tired of admonishing us, `Do not gather unripe fruit.'

"After the annual meeting there was a special meeting for workers and leaders. Those who were present told of the powerful working of the Holy Spirit manifest at these meetings. During the course of the meetings Miss Monsen spent one night in prayer before she could find courage to step up to Pastor Han Liu Ging and tell him she was afraid he did not have life in God. He came under deep conviction and after two days found release.

"He said afterwards that there was something that melted within him when she took him aside. He felt the love of God was impelling her and that he must give in. Later on he became Miss Monsen's helper during a series of meetings, and is one among those God has used to further the revival.

"Pastor Liu Dao Sheng was another leader who had been used of God with much blessing. At these meetings he also experienced a renewal and em-powering. His eyes were opened to the need of bringing people to the point of being saved and re-leased from the power of sin. Together with others who had experienced renewal, he began immediately to enter the work as a definite soul-winner. Liu Dao Sheng became Miss Monsen's chief helper as long as she remained on the field of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission, and he is perhaps the one God has used the most since her departure.

"Miss Monsen's plan was first to destroy the false security of the church members. She spoke of the various kinds of patches the unsaved used to hide behind when they tried to persuade themselves they were saved. Then she spoke of sin, one sin at a time. It had cost her several days of prayerful struggle before she became willing, as she expressed it, to `descend into the miry cesspool of sin' in connection with the sixth commandment, against adultery. But it turned out that one of Satan's well-nigh impregnable strongholds was at last broken into when this particular sin was brought out into the open.

"Another text that was laid heavily on her consciousness was, `It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.' People by means of this text were placed face to face with God.

"Finally, the words of gracious promise from the Scriptures came as balm on open sores. `Unless He, who was without sin, had been made sin for us, God could never have said to the sinner, Come, when you are in earnest about your sins, God, who can not away with sin, will speak words of comfort to your heart.

"At each series of meetings there was no pronounced movement or great visible result. She was ever alert to hinder strong emotional outbursts, or public confession. Everything was done quietly. After she was gone it became evident that God's Spirit had plowed deep furrows. We could begin to gather in the harvest of souls."

As we ponder this gripping narrative by one of Miss Monsen's co-workers we are bound to ask ourselves, what is the secret of the power this worker of God possesses? Is there anything in her nature or bringing up that would give a clue to the effectiveness of her service? What means did God use to bring about such marvelous results in her own life, and through her in the lives of others?

We are indebted to another of Miss Monsen's coworkers, Mrs. Karoline Samset, of Laohokow, for some intimate touches regarding her youth and early training and first impressions on meeting her before she was sent out to China as a missionary under the N. L. K. Board.

"Miss Monsen was confirmed in the church of Sandviken in the outskirts of Bergen, Norway, under the charge of Rev. Grimnes, the pastor of the church, who was of great spiritual help to her during these formative years. Elder Tormod Retterdal of the China Society was of especially great help to her in a spiritual way. According to her own testimony she never tired of listening to him as he always had so much to offer."

It appears that from early childhood Miss Monsen loved to wander about among the mountains and hills of her native land, and when school vacation arrived she always set her gaze towards the high mountains. The majestic Jotunheimen and other tall peaks were familiar places loved by her.

The year she was to take her examination for teacher's certificate she was too young by one year, and it was just at this time that she came to clarity regarding her call to the mission field.

It was in 1898 in the Laksevag church in Bergen that Mrs. Samset first learned to know of Miss Mon-sen, who was later destined to become her close friend and co-worker. The Rev. Prydz was occupying the pulpit and the text was, "Thy kingdom come." During the course of the sermon the preacher mentioned the name of a young woman who had sought for acceptance by the China Society to be sent to China. The Board had asked her to testify as to her spiritual life and outlook. During their conversation, the Rev. Prydz and Miss Monsen had both agreed that it was impossible to explain just how they had become heirs of the kingdom. The main emphasis in his sermon at this time was on the kingdom of God within us.

The following year we find Miss Monsen at Lovisenberg Hospital and Training School in Oslo as the choice of the China Society's Board for work in China. Through a friend whom Miss Monsen had nursed, Mrs. Samset came for the first time into direct contact with her. She relates:

"It was evident from the first moment of contact with her that Miss Monsen was an unusually gifted woman. She possessed considerable originality of mind, and, as a rule, was never found treading the beaten paths. In contact with the deaconesses at Lovisenberg she was never afraid of expressing her opinion freely. In those days such behavior was not always well received, so she had many heavy burdens to carry at that time, but she was always ready to take the part of those who were weak.

"She wrote to Brandtzeg, then General Secretary of the Board from Lovisenberg, `Verily, you have sent me to the North Pole.' He replied, `Yes, but I know that you have both pick and axe so you can dig yourself out again.' She made it, and when she was the hardest pressed, the head physician came to her assistance.

"From that time on her life was unusually rich in experiences. She grew up in a home where she was supplied with only the necessaries of life. Money has never appealed to her as of any worth. She has always been willing to extend help to such as were in need. `Prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven.' She has done this and the Lord has never permitted her to come to grief.

"She has gone to the steamships without money to buy a ticket; she has traveled by rail across the United States without provisions; she has made a journey to the Northland without a steamer berth. `Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of.' This verse came to her at one time when she was suffering from hunger. She was led to a loaded table without the payment of money, and afterwards was in a position to help a fellow traveler who was on his way to tell his mother that there is no God. She has stuck to the promises, and God has never failed her. But to surrender everything unconditionally into the hand of God is not a lesson that is learned in one day. She has had to go through the deep waters to come to the place of utter dependence on God.

"When she came to China in the fall of 1901, her health failed her. She fell down a stairway in Shanghai and sustained a concussion of the brain, and when she arrived on the field she was taken down with a bad attack of malaria, so that even her life was despaired of.

"She was very much handicapped in her language studies the first few years. She struggled against the malaria, and her head gave her constant pain. During the summer of 1906 she was healed through prayer. Since that time the Lord has been her Great Physician, and she has needed His help on more than one occasion.

"Something that has always stood out before me as remarkable is her prayer life. She has always been an early riser, and the first two or three hours of the day have been holy to the Lord. The precious dewdrops from the Lord's altar have sustained her step by step on the way of sanctification.

"As a co-worker she was always sympathetic and considerate, and, on the whole, easy to get along with. Her aim was to go the way of the Lord and do His errands, so that also out here it was never a question with her of following the beaten paths. Consequently there were times when some stood wondering and questioning. But that it has paid her to follow the way of the Lord and to be in His will, that has been amply shown by her life during recent years."

This sketch of the life and work of Miss Monsen would be entirely inadequate if we left out all reference to an experience she had in the spring of 1929 when she was marvelously kept during twenty-three days of captivity at the hands of a band of sea rovers who had captured the ship she was traveling on from Tientsin, to meet an appointment to hold meetings at Hwanghsien in Shantung.

The story of this adventure in faith and dependence upon the Lord was told by Miss Monsen in her own characteristic way in an address before the Peitaiho Conference in North China, July 29, 1929, and recorded in a booklet, "We Are Escaped," published by the China Inland Mission in 1931.

In reading this wonderful testimony to God's faithfulness and power to help those who trust fully in Him, we are impressed by the place and value of prayer in the scheme of God's government of the world, as well as by the wonderful provision of God for our every need, if we are only willing to trust Him to undertake for us.

There is no doubt but that Miss Monsen's experiences during those twenty-three days on that bandit-ridden ship were a means in God's hand to prepare her for greater work for Him during the years that followed. The narrative is full of interest from be-ginning to end.

In the providence of God she was led to take a boat that sailed one day earlier than she had planned. She was also led apparently without any reason to purchase several pounds of apples to take along on the journey. Likewise she was led to keep four boxes of chocolate that had been sent her by friends. "Never before in my life," she relates, "had I carried about with me four boxes of chocolate. From the last part of February I began to get those packages of chocolate, and every time I got one, I heard the words, `Keep it for an emergency.' I had a few biscuits, dry biscuits, fourteen or fifteen of them. Many, many times I had been wanting to leave them behind and not carry them along, but I always heard, `Keep them for an emergency.'

For nine days she had those apples, that chocolate, and those biscuits, and during those nine days she could not get any one of the crew near enough to tell them she wanted anything.

The ship left Tientsin on the 19th about noon. The next morning, as they were nearing the Shantung coast, she heard shots all over the ship. About twenty robbers had come along with the ship as ordinary passengers and now they took possession of the ship. The words came to her, "This is the trial of your faith," and a thrill of joy went through her at the thought of it.

"I was immediately reminded," she says, "of the word that I had been using much in years gone by, in Isaiah 41. 10, and I will read it to you as I had been reading it on the Honan plains, `Fear not, Marie, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, Marie, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, Marie, with the right hand of my righteousness. Fear not, Marie.'

Suddenly the doors were opened and the passengers were commanded to go outside on deck. Miss Monsen did not move. She knew she was on that ship that left Tientsin on the 19th because the Lord wanted her to be there, and that she had that cabin as an answer to prayer, so she did not leave it. A line from a Danish hymn came to her: "My door-posts have been marked by the blood of the Lamb."

She kept singing this over and over, and firmly believed it was so.

A young robber came into her cabin and demanded to see her watch. He told her to put it away, thinking that later he would come and get it. In the meantime another robber came and asked that she make him a present of her watch. This she refused, whereupon he threatened to shoot her. She replied: "Oh, no, you can not shoot me. You can not shoot me whenever you like." She quoted the promise and told him what it meant. "My God says that no weapon that has been formed against me shall prosper. You can not use your pistol whenever you like on me and shoot me. You must have special permission from the Living God to do that." He jumped up again and pointed the pistol at her. "You can not," she said, "you can not. It has been promised to me, no weapon that has been formed against me shall prosper." She repeated that to him four or five times. Later during the twenty three days they were. together on that ship, she heard that young man repeating those words to himself almost every day. They just stuck.

Another promise that she claimed was from the third chapter of Malachi: "And I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not." She asked God that there might be such a difference between her, a child of God, and the others, that those two hundred passengers on that ship might see that she had a living God, that her God was God, and was to be praised. In this respect also her prayers were answered.

Miss Monsen tells about the advent of another visitor: "I saw two robbers standing outside, looking into my cabin. I have seen quite a few robbers down in Honan, but I have never seen more vile looking men than those two. One pushed the other into my cabin and shut the door and tried to lock it, but the key had been broken. There was that man in that little cabin, I felt the devil himself was there. His face and neck and hands were all covered with hideous sores, open sores. He sat down on my suitcase, almost breathing in my face. I repeated the promise that had been very precious to me many times down in our robber province: `The angel of the Lord encampeth around them that fear Him and delivereth them.' And there was another promise I went over that moment, `The Lord is like a wall of fire round about His people.' Round about me. Once when I had to travel through a robber district, the night before, the Lord allowed me to see it. I suddenly awoke and it seemed to me the roof was lifted off the house and I saw a wall of fire higher than the house, round about me, and I heard a voice saying, `The Lord is like a wall of fire round about His people.' I could see the arrows coming from the out-side, arrows without number, and I could see the flames consuming them and not a single one of them passed that wall of fire round about me. I had known those words for years and years, but I had not known what they meant before that time. So I claimed the promise that He would be like a wall of fire round about me then, and that vile man sitting there was up against the wall before he could touch me.

"I started the conversation. Is your mother still living? `Yes,' he said. How old is she? He told me. Well, she is about my age. I asked him about his father and the rest of the family, and we had a good long talk together. I had asked him to open the door and he obeyed me. It could not be locked. I found out that he knew a missionary, and he said about him, `Truly he is a good man, there is no better man in this world.' He knew some real Christians too. I believe we talked together for an hour, and when he went he had tears in his eyes, and he went out very quietly indeed. I never saw him again near my door."

For five days and nights the robbers looted every junk they came across and sent the loot ashore. On the second day a junk had arrived with guns and ammunition and the number of bandits had been increased to fifty or sixty men. The passengers were fed, but Miss Monsen consistently refused to eat any of the stolen food. The apples and chocolate and biscuits lasted her nine days. On the tenth day the second officer came to her door. Up to that time not one of the crew had dared to come near her cabin. He asked if she had anything to eat, and on learning she had nothing, said, "Well, I have a box of eggs in this cabin, which I bought in Tientsin with my own money, clean money; you needn't fear. I have a box of Chinese cakes too. You can have it all."

"From the tenth day till the end of the twenty-three days," she says, "I had for breakfast one egg, for the noon meal, one egg, sometimes two; and for the evening meal, one egg. I prayed that the Lord would make that egg into a real meal and that He would make it good for vegetables and fruit and all that I needed; and He did. I had no trouble what-ever on account of the food, and when I had eaten one egg I seemed so satisfied I don't think I could have eaten more if I had had it."

Every day as they were having their meals, Miss Monsen handed out tracts to them. One would read aloud, and the others would explain the meaning. She relates: "Many and many a time I saw tears in the eyes of those men. They said, `We can not but be bad,' and the one they wanted me to look upon as chief and to deal with came every night as I was standing outside the cabin door to get fresh air.

"We talked for hours together. Even that last night before we left the ship-I didn't know it was the last night-we talked together for two hours on what I wanted to talk about. I told him what was coming, the Lord's return and the Lord taking His own people unto Himself, and the tribulation that was to come upon the earth. I must confess it, the day I saw those robbers leave the ship, I sighed be-cause my work among them had come to an end. By that time I had been made perfectly willing to go with them, to be carried off, with them, although I could not see how they could carry me off as long as r had this Book and all the promises in it."

During all this time she was perfectly delivered from impatience. Some of them remarked: "Can you understand the peace she has got? You can see it on her face. Look at the passengers; they look yellow and worn and impatient every day." She knew it was so and thanked God that they could see the difference.

The last five days the one question was how to carry her off the ship. At three different times they had planned everything to carry her off, but each time something turned up to frustrate their plans. They had commandeered forty or fifty junks which they carried alongside. They pointed out to her the junk she was to be in; bedding had been taken into the junks. They were just on the point of leaving and taking her with them when a sudden storm arose, so the junks had to go near the shore for cover. So they didn't leave the ship that time.

The twenty third day was Sunday. At three in the afternoon suddenly a shot was heard. A gunboat was in pursuit. Most of the robbers immediately left the ship. Ten were left behind. The captain was ordered out of his cabin, and there was a lively race for the space of two hours. The pirates planned to leave the ship and take Miss Monsen with them. "We must have the foreigner with us;" they said, "we can not go without that foreign face; they won't shoot us if we have that foreign face with us." At last they had to go into the junks, and she heard one voice saying, "What is the use of carrying the foreigner with us? She has not been eating anything for twenty-three days; she won't be able to run; she won't be able to walk. You see the circumstances we are in; leave her behind!" And I was left behind: of course I was. `Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered.' "

Miss Monsen says the only difficulty she had on board ship was about how her old parents would take the news of her captivity. She was given grace not to be anxious for her parents, and God under took for her also in this respect. Seven days before her deliverance, word came to Norway that she had been released, so that during the last and most difficult days on board ship they were having praise meetings in the home land. She testifies as to what prayer did for her during the days of her captivity.

"The first four or five days, people did not know we were missing, so no one prayed for the missing ones, of course. Those five days I felt like one swimming against the current, but I felt that strength was given to me and that I would be able to make it. After people got to know we were missing and started praying for me, there was a marked difference. I felt like one floating on the waters, just floating, resting on the promises. And those seven days that they were having praise meetings at home, the hardest part of the time really, because there was this terrible struggle between the powers of darkness and the powers of light, during those days I was so filled with joy that I felt like bursting out with joy more than once."

After the pirates had left the ship, the passengers swarmed around her asking for tracts. They said: "We have seen that your God is God, and we want to believe Him too." She concludes: "Friends, I thank God for the Book of promises, and I do thank Him that He is faithful to His promise, and that I was allowed to see His faithfulness."

LIU DAO SHENG

Pastor Liu Dao Sheng of Nanyang, Honan, has been used of God to kindle revival fires in many churches in Honan, Hupeh, and Hunan. He is a humble, unassuming man, who lives close to his Lord. His messages, couched in simple, everyday language, are Scriptural and Spirit filled and come home to the hearers with singular power and effectiveness. Pastor Liu deals unsparingly with sin in all its forms, usually taking up one sin at each meeting and in this way producing conviction and contrition. When the hammer of the law has done its work of breaking to pieces the stony hearts, he allows the balm of the gospel to do its appointed work of healing and bringing peace to sin-burdened souls.

Through a mutual friend the story of Pastor Liu's life has been obtained, through which we can learn of God's wonderful ways of dealing with a human soul, as well as see how God goes; about it to perfect an instrument for His use. Pastor Liu relates:

"I was born in a heathen home fifty years ago, in the city of Lushan in Honan. My father, a scholar and a merchant, died when I was only fourteen years of age. I knew nothing whatever about Christianity in my early youth, though news did reach us about some missionaries who had been captured by bandits in a nearby city.

"My mother was a devout Buddhist and an ardent worshiper of idols and also read the sacred books of Buddhism. In my early childhood she taught me from these books, and later, when her eyes became dim, she had me read to her from these books and to offer prayers on her behalf to the Buddha. In this way I acquired a good understanding of Buddhism and accepted many of the good ideas and teachings of that system. Such teaching as on the law of reward for good and punishment for evil became clear to me, and I desired to attain to the perfect ideal of becoming a Buddha, although I did not formally enter Buddhism. One of my cousins embraced Confucianism, and through him I received a strong impetus for good from this system of ethics. At this time I also wrote poems for a living.

"When nearing twenty, I became seriously ill with stomach trouble. As a result I became very weak and downcast. I embraced asceticism as an outlook on life. My conscience being awakened, I saw nothing but evil around me and I wanted to die. I continued to lead an empty life of despair, always hoping I could soon leave this world. On account of my mother, whom I loved, I did not commit suicide, but planned to wait until after her death to do this awful deed. This condition of despair continued for two full years. I avoided people as much as possible and desired to be alone.

"One day while walking about the streets of Lushan aimlessly, I suddenly came to the door of a mission station.. I stopped and listened to an old man who was preaching and selling books. What he said was something extraordinary and it sounded very interesting to me. I wanted to hear more. After going home to get something to eat, I came again, and that day I heard the gospel preached three times. I said to myself, `This is a better place than any in the world. This message can not be heard in any other place.' From that time on, I went to hear the gospel preached every day. Later on I heard a man praying, and this was wonderful to me, as we were brought into the very presence of God. I went back home and prayed to God alone in much fear and trembling. Every day after the meetings I went back home and prayed. This state of affairs continued for about three months.

"I decided to study Christianity, bought books, and was received as a catechumen. Our pastor, Mr. Samset, became my instructor and taught me every day. Later I attended a conference and found some peace while there. I became convinced I had found the true way of life. I realized there was something to live for and my desire to die passed away. I knew I should get busy and make a living, so went into business. My heart was centered in the Word of God. Often I knelt in the open and prayed.

"About this time I began to testify to others about the new light I had found. Though my preaching was convincing and powerful, I was not yet a saved man. I continued to study and inquire into the truths of Christianity, and began to feel convicted of my sins. Because of my sins I became downcast again. However, I did not understand my sorrow, and no one else could explain my condition. I confessed my sins, but could not get release. My burden became unbearable. I continued studying the gospel doctrine for a year and half, but was not yet baptized.

"One night while I was attending a series of meetings at the mission station, the burden of sin was heavy on my heart and I could not sleep. I prayed, but got no relief. This condition continued for some months longer. Then after I had prayed time and again in church, the Lord finally appeared to me Himself. The experience I had is not easy to speak about. The glory of the Lord made me tremble, and as I saw Him on the cross, the burden of my sin became heavier. I fell to the floor and could not even pray. I could only say, `Lord, save me; Lord, save me!' As I beheld this vision, faith was given me and praise flowed into my heart. The following day I went home full of joy. Everything was new., "I did not know I was saved, but salvation had come to me without my knowing what it was. Whoever I met I could not help but tell of my new found joy. Now I wanted to see people and tell them about my joy. In the spring, some months later, I was baptized. I was then a little over twenty years of age.

"In 1909 I was employed for the first time as an evangelist. Through my work I received much new light and power. I loved to pray. I gathered the people together by beating on a brass gong, walking through the streets praying earnestly in my heart for them. At this time I did intensive Bible study and committed much to memory. In 1910 I was appointed as a regular evangelist, and enrolled for the prescribed course of study. In the autumn of that year I attended Bible school for two months. I continued to study and to preach for some years, but my spiritual life was unsatisfactory, and I did not have the success I wished for in my work.

"In 1915 I came into contact with the evangelist Hsieh Meng Dzeh, and later I received much help from Rev. England of the Swedish Mission in Shensi.

When Rev. Englund preached, the whole atmosphere seemed charged. I had never heard or seen such things before. There were confessions of sin, and the power of God was present. In these meetings I received a great blessing and began to think more seriously about spiritual things. Before these meetings commenced, my eyes were very bad, but during the meetings they were instantly healed.

"About the year 1917, while returning from the Bible School at Nanyang, I met with a serious ac-cident. It was summer, and I was traveling by cart. I tried to jump into the cart, but fell and was run over by the cart, sustaining a broken rib and an injury of the spine. I was brought to Lushan, where I remained ill for about a month. Miss Monsen and Mr. Hsieh Meng Dzeh came to pray with me. During my illness I studied the Acts of the Apostles. A short time after that, my wife died.

"In 1919 I followed General Feng Yu Hsiang's troops into Hunan to the city of Changteh and preached the gospel to them there. My spiritual life was not as steady as it should be; there were many ups and downs. In 1924 Miss Monsen experienced a quickening, and became a powerful instrument in God's hand, and had a great influence over me.

"In 1925 and 1926 I studied at the Laohokow Theological Seminary, and was ordained to the ministry in 1927. In 1929 at a meeting at Chenping I received a special blessing and the following year, at a special meeting at the same place, I was used of the Lord in the lives of many of the young people who came to the meeting. In 1931 I spent the summer in Kuling and received much spiritual guidance and help. The Holy Spirit corrected me again in regard to many sins. At the same time I received release and new power. In my work after that year, there has been more of the power of God. The Holy Spirit began to make use of my testimony in a new way. Since then I have received very special help from above.

"That same year Miss Monsen came back from her tour in North China. We met in Nanyang and asked her to give her testimony there. She spoke twice, and we felt the power of God. I especially received a strong impetus from the Holy Spirit. I saw myself in a new light and realized how sinful I was, and at the same time God's abounding grace was revealed to me all the more. Later we had a meeting at Chenping, and she spoke on faith. I was especially convicted of my shortcomings. I felt as if I had no ground under my feet. The Holy Spirit convicted me and rebuked me, and I learned to know myself better. I wept much. When walking outside, I often wept alone. I especially felt sorry over my work for the Lord. There had been so much beating of the air. I had zeal but not true courage. I could not approach people about their spiritual condition. From that time to the present the Holy Spirit has brought me through the fire. My work during these years has been the conducting of revival meetings, of which I have held about sixty.

"In 1932, in the spring, while conducting a meeting in one of the China Inland mission stations in Honan, I received the fullness of the Holy Spirit and freedom and joy. I have prayed much that the spiritual revival might continue in the churches. God showed me definitely through Ezekiel 37 that He wanted me to continue conducting revival meetings. Since then I have walked with great assurance and courage, relying upon the grace of God for the reviving of the churches.

"I have definitely continued to pray for the fullness of the Holy Spirit, for the deepening of my spiritual life, that I might be an empty vessel for the use of the Spirit of the Lord. Often I have though that everything was right with me, but the Holy Spirit has again enlightened me, and I have again felt my miserable condition, like the man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. Then again I have gotten new and definite power and grace and light.

"Although I have received many and great manifestations of God's grace, I feel entirely unworthy of them. The Lord has manifested His love to me. But before the Lord I am the greatest of sinners; I am but dust and ashes in His sight. I have often recounted my sins before His eyes, and have hum-bled myself before men. I have confessed my pride, and I have had to make good some material losses to my fellow men. In my home, before my wife and children, I have felt constrained to confess my sins and shortcomings. My list of sins is not easily writ-ten, but each man has his own burden.

"During these years the grace of God has been great towards me. As to the future I have but to rely on the grace and love of God and to press on. I also hope that my friends and the readers of this testimony will pray for me, that I might be saved from backsliding and causing disgrace to His name.

At the same time I pray that the Lord may protect me and keep me, so that my completed life story may redound to the glory of the Lord."

SI SHIH DEH

Mr. Si is a native of Yuhsien, Honan. His mother sent him to the mission school when he was fifteen, his father having died when he was nine. He received and early impression from hearing a sermon on the text John 3. 16, from which he knew God was a God of love and loved also him. He attended Sun-day school and Bible class and in due time was baptized by Rev. V. E. Swenson.

Later he was received into the Hasselquist Middle School at Hsuchang, where he studied for some years. Later he completed the two year course at the Hunan Bible Institute in Changsha. In the fall of 1929 he was enrolled in the regular four year course of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Shekow. While in his last year there, he underwent an experience which proved to be the turning-point in his life. He relates concerning this experience:

"The great spiritual turning-point in my life took place Jan. 14, 1933, when the revival came to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Shekow. Suddenly God's hand gripped me, and I was made to sigh and lament because of my sins. I found no way of escape from God's wrath. The more the Holy Spirit enlightened me, the more I felt I was at the very door of Hades. I felt as it were a knife in my heart, and my bones were sore. I knelt before God and tremblingly pleaded: `God have mercy on me a sinner, forgive, forgive!' During three days and three nights I was before the judgment seat of a fearful and angry God without eating or drinking. I confessed, was restored, and was reconciled to my fellow man, but I could only see death staring me in the face. That morning, as we were in the chapel praying, the whole room was filled with sorrowful confessions and prayers. I could only see myself as a sinner worthy of death. From head to foot, all was sin, and inside there was nothing good. I confessed until I could think of nothing more to confess.

"Suddenly there came to my mind they words: `Christ was nailed to the cross for me.' I seemed to see the Saviour in living form nailed to the cross before me. The blood which flowed from His hands, His feet, His side, dropped like balm into my anguished heart. My body felt light as if a heavy burden had been removed.

"The words of Paul, `If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new,' could be applied to me. Thank God, even my former enemies became my warmest friends. I was in close communion with God and loved to pray and did not grow tired when praying. God heard my prayers, and made my wife well from a serious illness, and brought my brother back from the army, and saved him to a new life. Before I graduated from the seminary, God used me in the lives of my fellow students and others to the glory of His name."

Mr. Si was one of the band of students who with Prof. Korhonen went to Hunan in the summer of 1933. Later, with Mr. Gao and Mrs. Swenson, he spent four months in the N. M. S. field of central

Hunan. Returning from Hunan in the late summer, he and three other members of the band, and others who had experienced renewal at the seminary and in Honan, led a meeting at Kikungshan with definite results. The work was later continued at the Lena Dahl Middle School for Girls and the Men's Bible School at Sinyang, Honan, on the L. U. M. field. He was called to Yuncheng, Shansi, as head teacher in the Bible School for Boys of the S. M. C. A pronounced movement towards renewal was begun among the students as a result of his stay there. In company with Rev. Swenson he visited the American Lutheran Mission field in eastern Shantung. God used his messages especially among teachers and students of the Middle School for Boys at Tsi-mei, as well as in the meetings at Tsingtao. He closes his testimony by saying: "What I have written is not with the intention of glorifying myself, but only to testify to the grace and glory of God manifested in me, a sinner. Glory to the triune God. Amen!"

CHRIST'S WONDER-WORKING POWER IN MY LIFE

Gao Shu Liang

As the revival began to take hold, men and women were raised up and equipped for service to carry the torch of the Spirit's fire from place to place, causing the revival to spread into ever widening areas. God is no respecter of persons, and sometimes He will fashion instruments for His service and glory out of seemingly common and uncouth material. Sometimes He will pass by those in high places and with high training, and reach down into the ranks of the common people for such as He can use for His purposes.

Gao Shu Liang is an outstanding example of how God can use a young, unpretentious, and ordinary person, as judged by all human standards, to do a great work in His kingdom. It is evident from this young man's life and experiences, as well as those of others, that God has been silently but surely working to prepare His chosen instruments for the carrying forward of His own work at the opportune time.

At my request Mr. Gao has prepared a detailed account of God's dealings with him, beginning with the years of preparation in early youth, continuing with the time of crisis and renewal in his life, and lastly recounting the Spirit's wonder working Dower through him in the lives of others. The significant details regarding his early life and conversion are given here in a free rendering, while the story of his share in the spreading of the revival will naturally find its place with the material showing the progress of the revival.

Gao Shu Liang was born in a little village of Mengtsin County, in Honan. His parents were simple farmer folk, but nevertheless desired a good education for their boy, who showed early signs of ability. His schooling was cut short at the sixth grade due to financial difficulties in the home.

From early youth he liked to worship the idols, evincing a piety which has since characterized him in his relation to the one true God.

In 1923 the preaching tent of the Augustana Synod mission at Loyang was pitched in his village. He went to listen to the gospel each evening in company with the other pupils of the local school. Before the tent-band left the village, young Gao, his mother, and a younger brother, were enlisted as enquirers. He was then twelve years of age.

The following year witnessed the bitter struggle for supremacy between Djang Tso Lin and Wu Pei Fu, the two greatest war lords of northern China at that time. Young Gao enrolled in the army of Wu Pei Fu and was made a member of his body guard. When Wu's soldiers were defeated and scattered, young Gao made his way precariously back to his home village, continuing his life on the farm.

During 1926-27 he made rapid progress in his religious life and was in due time received into the church by baptism. He was married at this time. He says he loved to pray and read his Bible. Sometimes he would take his Bible and his candle lantern and betake himself of a dark night to the top of the highest hill in the neighborhood, and there spend the entire night in Bible reading and prayer. At times he would live the life of a lonely hermit on the sandy shores of the Yellow River. At times he would be sorely troubled and weeping, but at other times his heart would be filled with joy and praise. Many of the local Christians, seeing him so young, yet so zealous for the Lord, also were moved to greater warmth and zeal.

In 1928 a detachment of the national army under General Feng Yu Hsiang was marching southward into Honan. The reputation of the "Christian General" and his model army had preceded him. "What better could I do," thought young Gao, "than to join the forces of the Christian army and devote my life to the saving of my country?" Taking a Bible under his arm, and a few belongings, he said farewell to his family and set out to join the army. He was sadly disillusioned, as he did not find the spirit in the army to be at all what he had expected. Two years later, when Feng's army disintegrated, Gao picked his way back home again, resolved to be done forever with the soldier's life. From hence forth he was to be a soldier of Jesus Christ, though at the time his forward path was hidden from him.

He stood facing the problem of his future, uncertain which road to take. Just then he heard that the Bible school at Hsiichang had again opened its doors to receive students. He applied for admission, was accepted, bade farewell to his family and once more set forth, this time with rejoicing in his heart because of the wonderful guidance of God in his life.

He spent two years in the Bible school, pursuing his studies with interest and diligence. During the last term of his course an event took place which proved to be a turning point in his career and a source of faith, strength, and light in his life. We let him relate about this experience:

"During February of that year (1932) Miss Marie Monsen and Pastor Liu Dao Sheng came to Hsiichang to hold special evangelistic meetings. The first time I heard Miss Monsen talk about the rebirth she said: `Baptism, preaching, piety, zeal, sacrifice, good works, are not evidences of salvation. True rebirth means true repentance, complete confession, and absolute reliance on the cross.' Her words reverberated like thunder through my soul. I was moved to the point of distress. Each day, besides attending the meetings, I went to the basement of one of the foreign residences, there praying earnestly, seeking for salvation. Friends tried to com-fort me, but I refused their comfort, saying, `Please do not try to comfort me, only pray for me; I know very well my own condition.'

"At that time the Holy Spirit enlightened me to see all my own uncleanness, falsity, pretence, unrighteousness, and shame. I was just like one condemned to the lake of fire. I cried day and night without eating or sleeping. Day seemed like night to me. As David said, `My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer.' Therefore men who saw me wondered and thought I was sick with a deadly disease. In reality it was `sin-sickness.' Though I wept, confessed, and restored, yet I could not get release or comfort."

On the morning of the seventh day he asked the Lord despairingly for an evidence of salvation. "Lord, I have exhausted my own resources, my way is finished; now it is for Thee to save or not to save.' Praise the Lord, `man's extremity is indeed God's opportunity.' He gave me the well known verse from 1 John 1. 9 for my comfort and release. Suddenly my misery, doubt, despair, and fear, all the bonds which had kept me bound these seven days disappeared like a mist in the sky. Before my eyes there seemed as it were a veil rent, and a lovely sun shone down upon my miserable face. The Lord had loosed all my chains. Praised be His Holy Name. I jumped and sang for joy."

Young Gao became eager to testify about the Saviour who had dealt so wonderfully with him. After finishing his school term, he took part in meetings at various places on the Augustana Synod mission field and that of the sister mission to the south, the Lutheran United Mission.

In the summer of 1933 he was one of a team of five young men from the Augustana Synod mission, four of whom were students at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Shekow. Together with one of the professors of the seminary they toured the field of the Norwegian Missionary Society in central Hunan. God worked mightily at each of the places visited. Mr. Gao and Mr. Si Shih Deh, another member of the team, were invited to return in the fall to spend four months in the same field. Accompanied by Mrs. Swenson of the A. S. M., and some of the local leaders, a tour was made of the entire district with pronounced results at each of the places visited.

In the fall of 1934 Mr. Gao enrolled as a student in the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Shekow. In the early spring of 1935 he was again invited to Hunan to lead a series of meetings, first at Tsing-shih in the Finnish Missionary Society field, in the western part of the province, and then at Yuen Kiang on the N. M. S. field. At the former place there were some outstanding conversions among the outsiders, while at both places the believers were strengthened and refreshed.

I AM ONE WHO HAS RECEIVED GRACE

Wu Djen Ming

"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory." 1 Sam. 2. 8.

"These two sentences apply to me perfectly. I am the child of a family of gamblers. My forbears all gambled, and this sin was easily transmitted to their posterity. Also I carried on a small business. This was insignificant in comparison with my gambling activities, like a cup of water in comparison with a fire from a cartload of firewood. What I earned each year was not sufficient to pay all my gambling debts. The result was extreme poverty, and the death and destruction of several members of our family."

Pastor Wu goes on to tell of the things that happened to members of his family as a result of their passion for gambling. His uncle gambled till he was crazed, and destroyed some property belonging to others, so that a crowd of people pounced upon him and beat him to death. His father gambled and used up all the money of the home, and then skipped away and has never been heard of in thirty-seven years. His elder brother got into a fight with his uncle; went to a temple to live, and died there in abject poverty. His second oldest brother stole things from people on the street, and was pounced upon and killed by them. The third brother ran away from home, and led a wandering life for twenty years. His wife died from hardship and privation.

He returned home as a paralytic. A fourth brother died shortly after marriage. He himself was the fifth in the family. He continues his story:

"Between the ages of eight and fifteen I was in school learning the classics. From sixteen to eighteen I attended the newer schools of the government. At no time did I have any difficulty in keeping up with my classmates. Studying the classics gave me no incentive to keep from sinning, and the sciences which I studied later were still less conducive to a belief in God.

"My sole object in going to school was to get an education so as to become a high official, when I hoped to be able to take revenge on those who had ill-treated and killed members of our family. As I grew up, I did not realize my ambition of becoming an official, but merely learned how to write bills of indictment, and to defend all sorts of criminals in lawsuits. I employed my pen to help bring people to jail and to their death. Because of these and other sins I am not worthy to live, except by the grace of God who saved me. I learned in this work to be proud and cunning, to drink wine, carouse, and smoke opium. I was given to avarice, not to mention my old sin of gambling.

"If Christ had not come into my life, given as I was to all kinds of unmentionable sins from early childhood, my fate would have been like to that of members of my family or worse. Thanks to God, He gave me His Son Jesus Christ. Now at the age of forty nine, `for me to live is Christ.' He has saved me from utter destruction. He has given me a happy home life. He has given me the hope of eternal life.

"From my twenty-seventh year I came to the mission to study, and from my twenty-eighth year onward for six years I preached the gospel. When I was thirty-four years of age, I went to the Lutheran Theological Seminary, where I spent four years. Then I spent some time at Chengchow, preaching. At thirty-nine I moved to Hsuchang to teach in the Bible school. At forty two I was at Weichuan preaching, and at forty-three I was again in Hsu chang, leading the tent band. At forty four I was ordained at Yuhsien. At forty-six, in the month of March, I attended the meetings at Hsuchang led by Miss Monsen. I was moved by the Holy Spirit and was born again.

"From the time I entered the church my life was outwardly better than that of the outsiders. It was not a spontaneously good life, but I was good from compulsion. I made up my mind to learn to be good. But my motives were all according to the law. My heart was not changed. All kinds of sins were still in my heart. That I did not fall into gross outward sins was not because I hated to sin, but because I did not dare, and because I did not have the opportunity. I did not overcome temptation, but feared to yield to temptation, and thus lose my position. I did not fear to shame the name of Christ, but I feared the punishment of God.

"The grace of God was great over me, so that I did not leave the church. If I had gone out from the church, I would sooner or later have come forth as my true self, and become worse than the heathen.

Thank God for His longsuffering with me during these eighteen years. He did not cast me off. He sent his servant Miss Monsen to lead those meetings. Each sentence of what she said rebuked me. I had never been moved like that before, causing me to know myself thoroughly. I saw that from the time I had entered the church I had been false.

"I prayed and confessed, but could get no peace. The Holy Spirit led me to confess before Miss Monsen. Even then I did not know what it was to be saved. Then Miss Monsen prayed God to give me faith. She prayed so earnestly and sympathetically and I was moved by every word, but still I did not feel I was saved. Then she gave me several passages of Scripture to read. Thanks be to God, His Word became His voice to me. The eyes and ears within were opened, so that I was able to hear the promises of God. I read as far as John 3. 16. Then I praised God that he had given His Son for me, that I should not perish.

"I had read this verse repeatedly during the past eighteen years, but had never realized that it had this great meaning for me. My eyes thus opened, and my thoughts thus changed, I looked up and saw all things as new. Looking back over my life, I realized that I was now in a new world.

"It is now three years since I received grace. During these years I have gone forth to lead meetings, not that I feel that I have any special qualifications for this work, but merely with a desire to help others. I am still pastor of the church at Yiih sien and I do not feel I should leave off that work. I do not use any special revival methods or means.

I do not preach any new doctrine, but I pray the Lord to help me to stand in His Word and to lift up Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God, I have seen the Holy Spirit work in many places, that His own name might be glorified. Many have been converted from their sins and saved from death to life. This is not said in self-praise, but merely as a testimony to God's grace, of which I am not worthy."

CHAPTER FOUR

Progress

PROGRESS

Showing the Spread of the Revival from Province to Province and from Place to Place.

The progress of the revival has been in general from north to south. In the following pages we shall endeavor to trace the main lines of its development. Beginning in the lower part of the Liaotung peninsula of Manchuria, it has spread over large parts of Manchuria, Shantung, Hopeh, Honan, Shansi, Hupeh, Hunan, and also into provinces adjoining these. Though the ramifications of the revival would include the greater part of China, we shall trace its development mainly in the parts where the movement has been the strongest and most outstanding. Since the movement is still going on, it is impossible to gather complete data at this time. The available data are sufficient to gain a comprehensive view of the movement and to under-stand its main characteristics.

The present revival in China has certain characteristics which are noted in all the places to which it has spread. It spreads by the contagion of sanctified personality. Certain individuals are revived in one place and these go to other places and spread the contagion there. The simile of a fire is often used, and expressions in connection with the revival such as "fire," "burning," "firebrand," etc., are common. A fire spreads by contact; wherever the fire-brands are cast, there a new fire breaks forth and spreads.

A forest fire is a familiar phenomenon. When conditions are ripe for it, all that is required is a little spark to start a big conflagration. There must be a forest of trees, close enough together, and dry enough to burn. There must be a lot of underbrush and accumulated rubbish on the ground. Then, a tiny spark, or a smoldering campfire, fanned to a blaze by a rising wind, and before long the forest is ablaze. At first the progress of the fire is slow, but later it takes on momentum and may at times spread by leaping from tree top to tree top, and make progress at a rate so rapid as to leave the swiftest horse behind.

Thus also a revival may have an apparently small beginning. But the conditions must be favorable and the materials must be ready to hand. There is not what one would term spontaneous combustion of the material, but the Spirit's fire is lit by some one who himself has been set on fire by the Holy Spirit. Where this "firebrand" is cast, there spring up revival fires which soon become self propagating units, ready to thrust out new brands into ever widening areas. Where the revival meets with op position, it is often driven underground, where it will smolder and smoke, to break out again at some favorable opportunity, or, if conditions remain unfavorable, it may die out completely.

In the following rapid survey of the revival we trace only the general development without stopping to note special characteristics. What we want to do in the next few pages is to get the spirit of the revival as seen from the reactions of those who have come in contact with it in the various places.

The Danish Missionary Society, with headquarters at Hellerup, Denmark, began work in lower Manchuria in 1891. They now occupy important centers about Harbin in the north.

The revival in these parts began in 1928 and 1929 through the work of Miss Mari Ruspergard and Miss Marie Monsen, both of the Norwegian Luther an Mission in Honan. The movement has continued to the present so that the superintendent, Rev. N. Buch, reporting the work of the Danish Lutheran Mission in Manchuria for the fiscal year May 1, 1933, to April 30, 1934, could say:

"There is real growth as regards both the widening and the deepening of the work. There is a steady revival going on throughout our field. It is a blessed time in the work. Sowing and reaping at the same time. There is a reaping of what was sown earlier, and there is sowing anew, in constantly widening areas, and meanwhile the reaping comes close upon the sowing. The words of Amos, in 9:13, have come true: `Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.'

"Thus it has come to be out here: sowing and reaping; reaping and sowing. Let us be glad and give thanks!"

Let us go back to one of the first weeks in May of 1929. The place is Dairen in lower Manchuria. Miss Marie Monsen has just been released from her twenty-three days of captivity on the pirated ship, which finally was brought to harbor in Lungkow, on the northern coast of Shantung. From there she has taken a Japanese steamer and has arrived at Dairen. Meetings for the church members and the church leaders have been announced. Quiet, Spirit filled messages are given by one who has gone through an experience akin to that of Jonah before his appearance in the streets of Nineveh. Here is holy seriousness, an uncompromising attitude towards sin. God's judgments through His Word sweep over the soul. There is agony over sin, sincere searching of the heart, unburdening, release. Workers come forth with a new life, a new message, a new power, and a new joy in the service of their Lord and Master.

From Dairen Miss Monsen went to Chinchow. Miss Olga Kristensen describes the coming of the revival to Chinchow in a letter dated June 24, 1929, written for Dansk Missionsblad, the weekly organ of the Danish Missionary Society:

"The Lord God, mighty to save" (Is. 63. 1).

"Also in Chinchow we have had the unutterable joy of seeing men convicted of sin by God's Spirit, bent and undone under its burden, finding their way to Him who came to the world to save sinners, later to burst out in joyful praise in their new-found freedom and salvation.

"We can never thank God sufficiently for what He has done among us and for us. But, dear friends, my God has humbled me deeply through all this. For the space of twenty-one years I have fought and striven, hungered and thirsted, longing to see this: souls really being saved, and as sinners meeting with their God. But the Holy Spirit, the only power to accomplish this work, has not had full sway. Only as we ourselves are nothing, and He is allowed to put a one before all our ciphers, our own excellence, eloquence, organizing ability, and other virtues when my entire self lies in the dust when this unspeakable gift, the Spirit from on high, and Jesus dwelling in me, can come to me, then all is transformed.

"The instrument God sent to gather this harvest was Miss Marie Monsen. We thank God that in the right time and by strange paths He sent us what we so long have prayed for. I accompanied her to Ta-kushan and there we were permitted to experience the same things as at Chinchow, old and young people on their knees before God. At this place we also saw the good fruits of Miss Ruspergard's previous work."

The late Rev. J. Vyff, writing from Hellerup, August 17, 1929, sees the importance of the movement and rejoices over it:

"There have been harbingers of revival from time to time, especially in 1908 as a natural continuation of a revival in Mukden. No doubt, there were at that time those who through these scattered movements received life in God, or at least were spiritually renewed.

"But now the revival has come; our prayers have been heard. The time for giving thanks has come."

Mr. Vyff sees as the two fundamental characteristics of the revival, first, the full and complete conviction of sin on the part of the individual, together with a full appropriation of God's grace; and secondly, that the news of such an experience goes naturally from heart to heart, as it goes from mouth to mouth.

Describing a meeting in Antung, Miss Kathrine Thomsen writes in the December 4, 1929, issue of Dansk Missionsblad:

"On my way to the meeting in Antung I stopped over a day in Feng Hwang Cheng, where there had been meetings going on for about a month. That Sunday was the last day of the meetings. I had heard previously regarding the revival among our Chinese co workers, but that God had accomplished such great things was far above what I had expected. Among the ninety or more workers, there were only a few who had not experienced the meeting with Jesus and received salvation from Him.

"From Feng Hwang Cheng I proceeded to An tung, where plans had been made for four days of meetings for the Christians. Miss Monsen, who had been one of the speakers at the meeting for leaders in Feng Hwang Cheng, was invited here as a speaker. Her message was quiet, unassuming, and Spirit filled. During the days I was present, I saw what I have never seen out here before: people under the influence of God's Spirit, in deep distress over their sins. What a lot of sins were laid at the foot of the cross those days! I had the feeling that the floodgates had been opened, as one after another, regardless of those who heard them, confessed their sins. How foolish of me ever to think that the Chinese could not come to conviction of sin and be saved in the same way as we westerners! I thank God for what I saw of the Spirit's work in their hearts. It surely is the same Spirit that works in the hearts whether of Chinese or of foreigners."

An interesting summary of impressions gained from letters and information from the entire field is given by J. Nyholm, the Editor of Dansk Missionsblad, in the February 12, 1930, issue, in effect as follows:

"It is commonly known that the revival began about two years ago in the Japanese district of our field. At that time evangelist Chang was converted at a meeting at Dairen during the visit of Miss Monsen. He has been used of God to bring great blessing since then. In Dairen souls are being regularly added. In Chinchow people are continually being saved, and the effects are being felt out in the country districts. In Takushan there is rejoicing that several of the evangelists have been aroused to new life; many have been saved and the fire is spreading.

"In Feng Hwang Cheng we have experienced great things. Thank God for the life that has burst forth in the congregation. It is genuine and it is growing.

"In Antung we are told about an outsider who had never before heard the gospel message and did not know what sin was. As the Holy Spirit worked in his heart and as he heard the confessions of the Christians, he came to deep conviction and became a saved man."

And so on along the line from the various stations reports came to hand, telling of the work of the Holy Spirit and of great receptivity and expectancy. At the end of this summary, covering the revival on the field of the Danish Missionary Society in Manchuria, the question is asked: "What is it that has taken place, and is taking place in China?" And the writer concludes: "Shall we hesitate to express it in the words of Peter on the Day of Pentecost: `I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh'? `Born again' has become the motto. It is used in a sense somewhat foreign to our common usage, but let us not allow this to deprive us of joy at what has taken place. Several of our missionaries have had a new experience and have surrendered more fully to Christ, and thus have greater boldness and more power in the Lord's work. Something has happened to our Chinese brethren, this is very clear, and it has come to renewal in the case of some and in other cases to a complete conversion."

REVIVAL MOVEMENTS IN OTHER PARTS OF MANCHURIA

Some interesting and significant reactions towards the revival in large parts of Manchuria are given by members of the Irish Presbyterian Church Mission and the United Free Church of Scotland Mission, in the December, 1933, issue of the Chinese Recorder. These two societies, together with the Danish Missionary Society, occupy the greater part of the two eastern provinces of Manchuria, Fengtien on the south and Kirin on the north. These two provinces together with the Provinces of Helung kiang and Jehol have been organized since March 1, 1932, as an independent state under the name Man chukuo, with its capital at Changchun.

A few extracts from the symposium of the missionaries from the P. C. I. and U. F. S. fields will give us an idea of the extent to which revival has come to this widespread territory, which for the last few years has been prominently before the eyes of the newspaper-reading world.

According to Rev. J. McWhirter of Kirin, in not a few places, flood-tides of spiritual power have swept people out of the complacency of their former lives and carried them on waves of emotional confession and agonizing prayer into church member-ship."

He mentions, as prominent among the leaders in connection with the revival movements, Wang Ming Dao of Peiping, the Bethel Band from Shanghai, and Pastors Han and Chi, and Miss Hou, the latter three of Manchuria.

"The spiritual results are self-evident," according to Mr. McWhirter, "and every effort must be made to conserve them. Genuine conversions have taken place, and backsliders have been reclaimed. Bible classes are full, and meetings are crowded. Dead churches have come to life again. We thank God for these signs of His presence; but we wish at the same time to eliminate the hindrances which limit the fullness of His revelation."

The Rev. A. A. Fulton, writing from the same place, feels that "though the movement has unfortunate excrescences, basically it is not without soundness. It is in touch with reality, for one thing, in its enthusiasm for conversion." He also mentions that from among those without the church conversions have been numerous and sometimes quite striking.

The Rev. Laurence D. M. Wedderburn, writing from Hailung on the U. F. S. field, says that he found an entirely different spirit in the church on his return from furlough in the fall of 1932. Churches were crowded and there was an entirely new interest in Christianity both inside and outside the church. He thinks the new movement due largely to two causes: first, the political condition of the country, which was deplorable, practically anarchical. For many the very foundations of life seemed to be shaken and this made them eager to listen to the Good News of "things which can not be shaken." The second cause was the visit of the Bethel Band. He mentions Dr. Sung as "an evangelist of power and persuasion," and says there were many remark-able cases of conversion and confession.

The Rev. D. T. Robertson of the same mission, writing from Acheng, deprecates that in Harbin Christianity is "almost fanatically wedded to revivalism"; and that it gives little welcome to any other kind of constructive effort. In his opinion the revivalist outlook seems to have as a correlative a conservative view in theology, and feels that "the emotional appeal, if long continued, wearies, and that out of the ensuing yawn arises questioning." He notes a rising doubt "whether instruction should not be an ingredient more plentifully present than religious feeling, when one has on hand the up building of Christian men."

In the northern Mukden district signs of a new stirring of life in the church are everywhere in evidence, according to Miss Dorothy Rutherford of the U. F. S. She feels that the most hopeful sign in connection with the movement is the tremendous keenness which is everywhere shown for systematic Bible study, and adds: "This rising tide of spiritual life is strongly felt in our district. Who can tell what the future may hold for the Christian church and for China?"

"If by `revival' is meant a revivifying of interest on the part both of those inside and those outside of the church, in the gospel of Christ, then there has been revival in Manchuria, and Hsin Min has shared therein," writes Rev. T. Ralph Morton of the P. C. I. While deploring certain schismatic tendencies in the movement, he maintains that today in Manchuria there is everywhere quickened life in the church, and that everywhere churches are well attended, the giving is more generous, the number of catechumens greater than for many years, while the general level of understanding and knowledge is definitely higher. He attributes this awakening to new life in the church to three causes: First, the passing of the old hopes and faiths on the part of the people, forcing them to fundamental questioning. Second, the passing of the old suspicion that the church is a semi-foreign institution. Third, suffering has brought understanding and a new charity. Old slogans have died, and men can now confess an interest in the things of Christ.

From Harbin in the far north comes the following joyful testimony from one of the workers there: "God has been working mightily in the Harbin Chinese churches the last four years. Wang Ming Tao has been used to bring many into a deeper spiritual life. He is always listened to eagerly, in spite of his fearless dealing with sin. Pastor Han of New chwang and Miss Monsen have both contributed largely to spiritual growth. But the visit of Dr. Sung and the Bethel evangelistic band has, perhaps, brought about the greatest results.

"The big Lutheran church was crowded day after day. It was a joyful sight to see many reconciliation's between pastors and workers, whose churches had been split by factions of one kind and another."

"At the union prayer meetings which met in church after church on several occasions, when one or two were asked to lead in prayer, the whole group burst into prayer simultaneously. One night all the Chinese pastors and some women workers spent the night in prayer around the altar of the Lutheran church."

REVIVAL IN SHANTUNG

Miss Mary Crawford describes the coming of the revival to the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention in a booklet entitled, "The Shantung Revival," published in 1933.

This revival was born out of prayer groups, definitely asking for revival, some of them dating back as far as 1925. The progress of the national armies in 1928 showed up the work of some of the churches as "hay and stubble," and caused the workers, both Chinese and foreign, to "humble themselves under the mighty hand of God." A few months after her experience on the "robber ship," Miss Monsen visited several of the stations on the S. B. C. field with evident blessing both to the workers and the churches.

Her meetings at Tsinan, the capital city of Shantung, are typical of those held at other places, and they are described as entirely free from the taint of sensationalism. Her addresses were quiet, but in full dependence on the promises of God, especially the one in John 16. 8: "And he, [the Holy Spirit] when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."

Sin was dealt with in a definite and fearless manner. With this preaching of what the Bible says about sin, there came the most terrible conviction of the righteousness of God, with surety of judgment. Definite prayer was made for the "key person" of the church, the young pastor's wife, who later came to deep conviction and to a point of surrender and assurance of salvation.

"Nothing like it has been seen in old Tsinan," is the verdict of one missionary in a private letter written from Chefoo, July 4, 1932. He says, "God's power came mostly during prayer services, while studying earnestly the Holy Spirit and His work, by men and women who met separately in rooms of the church. People were broken up and wept for their sins. There were then special manifestations of the Spirit's power and great rejoicing."

He mentions some wonderful results also among the students of the Shantung Christian University, adjoining the compound of the Baptist mission. "Many were led to the Lord by a professor, also blessed in these meetings. Missionaries, pastors and others, willing formerly to work only as average Christians, became dissatisfied, put themselves on the altar anew, were filled with the Spirit, and now see the Lord in a different way."

The following notes of victory and joy are culled from the annual report of the North China Mission of the S. B. C. for 1932: "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert" (Is. 43. 19).

"In the revival here at Hwanghsien last spring, the North China Baptist Theological Seminary and Bible School came in for a great blessing. Every-one of the faculty got a distinct blessing, and nearly everyone of them was filled with the Holy Spirit. It has become a new school. The hospital (Warren Memorial) was mightily blessed during the spring. Many of the personnel were saved and some filled with the fullness of the Spirit. At Tsining our people have become of one heart and mind in the Lord Jesus as never before-we feel that the year has led us on to new spiritual heights. Laichow: This has truly been one of our very best years spent in China-It is absolutely beyond the power of human tongues to express the sheer joy and rapture of this new, marvelous, intimate fellowship into which we were brought with the glorified Redeemer Himself. At Pingtu, God has been adding daily to His church. The general estimate is that three thousand souls have been saved this year. There have been about nine hundred baptisms, with others waiting. The `Acts of the Holy Spirit' are being reacted in a remarkable way right here in our midst."

And so on from various other places. Only time can tell how much of this work is genuine and of a lasting quality, but it is evident that something new has come into the life of the church. As evi-dence that the revival is a work of God, the author of the booklet quoted above mentions: "the evidence of changed lives; opium given up, idols torn down, quarrels of years' standing made up, village hoodlums turned into humble men of prayer and soul-winning. Many, many giving up home and land and going out to the lost around them."

GOD VISITS THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SHANTUNG

There have been far reaching revival movements in the field of the American Presbyterian Mission, North, in Shantung. As a typical example of what has taken place, I shall give the substance of an article in the March 20, 1935, issue of the Lutheran Weekly (Sin I Bao).

The church at Weihsien experienced revival after the Boxer uprising in 1900. Then during the interval of twenty years there were thirty-seven out-stations established together with four preaching places. Believers increased to the total number of seven thousand. However, during the decade from 1919 to 1930, the church became more and more lukewarm, and the membership decreased year by year, until there were only four thousand left. The fine preaching halls became empty during the busy seasons of the spring and fall harvests. One pastor complained that there were only he, his wife, and an elder who kept the Sabbath. Opium smoking, wine drinking, the taking of concubines, these were common sins among the church members. Old churches of many years standing descended to this pitiful level, and the situation was desperate indeed.

In the summer of 1930 some pastors from the Weihsien district attended a meeting at Feihsien. They were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, confessed, and repented. They felt that the lukewarm-ness of the church was due to the failure of the pastors to do their duty. Returning to their charges, they arranged for revival meetings in the fall. Members came under conviction, confessed their sins and made up their minds to repent. Sunday after Sunday the churches were being filled with people.

Since then, in five years' time, the church membership has been increased by four to five thousand souls, making a total of more than eight thousand for the whole district. In 1934 there were thirteen Chinese pastors in the district who did not receive any help from the foreign mission towards their salaries. Many of them did not have a fixed salary, but accepted what the members were willing to give them.

Church members went out to preach, and it became unnecessary to hire evangelists in many places. The gifts for all purposes increased from an annual sum of $8,000 to $13,000 for the entire district. There remain only three or four pastors who are still depending on the mission for support; the others are independent and self supporting.

The school and evangelistic work is all under the direction of the church members themselves. Some members give one tenth of their annual produce. During the last five years, fifteen new churches have been built. Among thirty-seven outstations, there are only some ten that are not self supporting. And it is hoped by God's grace to have these also come to a place of self support in the near future.

Pastor W. was one of the men who attended the meeting at Feihsien and who has been used much by the Lord to revive the churches. In a personal letter to the author, dated March 15, 1934, he tells of his experiences in connection with the revival, in substance as follows:

"As a servant of the Lord, I wish to testify to His grace. I have been a preacher for the last twenty-two years, but for seventeen years past my ministry has been as it were in a dry and thirsty land, without fruitage and without flavor, and my work has been by constraint rather than by inner inclination. There has been a felt lack as to both faith and power.

"In the summer of 1930, at the Ding Family Village in Feihsien, the Lord made me feel an especially deep conviction of sin, and His judgments fell heavily upon me. I confessed my sins. Jesus revealed Himself to me on two occasions there. The most difficult of all to bear was to see the nail-prints in His hands. From this time on there was a change in my spiritual condition. I did not have any doubts now about the doctrine of the cross. My faith was strengthened.

"During the past four years I have led revival meetings. Many members in many churches have been revived. Many have been changed from coldness to warmheartedness, their lives are different. Miracles of healing and driving out of evil spirits have followed my ministry. I am now at Anchiu preaching. These four years the members here have been truly revived, they have confessed and been converted, and their lives have become changed. Men and women have received power to testify for the Lord. Members have established Bible classes and prayer groups in their own villages, all by their own volition, none of the leaders urging them to do so.

"In one village, Bao Tsuen, an elder by the name of Kong Siang Gieh, although an elder of the church, was still addicted to opium. I entreated him very much, but he did not overcome this habit. He had no intercourse with the rest of the members. He had no interest in testimony or in the Bible and prayer groups. In the spring of 1930, during a seven-day revival meeting, the Holy Spirit worked in his heart. He cried to the Lord seven days. The opium habit disappeared. He has received power from on high. He has family devotions in his home. He testifies in his surroundings. He goes in and out among the members. He has become a new man.

"During these five years there have been not a few members who have thus been changed. There are also those who have gone back from following the new life."

THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN MISSION

The revival in Shantung has been accompanied by many extreme movements and excrescences, which will be dealt with more fully later on. In view of these extreme, and often disruptive and divisive influences, which have followed in the wake of the revival in various places, many of the church leaders have found themselves questioning the value of the movement as a whole.

Rev. P. P. Anspach admits that he is frankly puzzled by the movement. He feels at times that al-though the movement has brought a great blessing to the church, yet because of the many irregularities that have crept in, there has been considerable harm accompanying the movement. On the whole, however, he is able to take a sympathetic, though cautious, attitude toward the movement. In a letter written May 21, 1934, he says: "While this revival movement has here revived many of our people, yet it has made spiritual bigots of some. There is much evidence of new life in many places. Accessions to our downtown church last year were ninety-two, the most we have ever had in any one year." He feels that his portion of China was ill prepared theologically for the revival, and that there has been too much shallow thinking on the part of many, and that what is needed is more emphasis and insistence on the Word of God.

With a view to promoting a genuine revival, on the basis of the Word of God, Rev. Anspach invited Rev. Wu Djen Ming and later Rev. V. E. Swenson and Mr. Si Shih Deh, all of the Augustana Synod Mission of central Honan, to hold series of special meetings in the A. L. M. field. The latter two men spent a month there in the fall of 1934, visiting Kiaochow, Tsingtao and Tsimei. One of the A. L. M. workers, Miss Elvira M. Strunk, writes regarding these meetings as follows:

"This last month a retreat for the preachers, teachers, and Bible women of the whole mission was held at Kiaochow. It was a wonderful privilege for all who were there, and quite a few were convicted of sin, repented, and had an experience that words fail to describe.

"When the meetings closed, Rev. Swenson and Mr. Si came to Tsimei, and on October 24th began a series of meetings for our schools. We had been praying for this meeting for several weeks. From the very beginning the Holy Spirit began to work, and conviction grew deeper and deeper.

"Rev. Swenson and Mr. Si gave powerful sermons. Quite a few of the students began asking for forgiveness for things they had done, cheating, deceiving, and appropriating things that did not belong to them.

"Not only the students, but also members of the faculty, experienced a change of heart, although most of the latter are church members. It is a privilege to be here and to witness such changed lives and to hear their testimonies.

"From the sixth day on, a Bible class was held in order to give them a deeper Scriptural basis for their new life. They are radiant with joy, and an inner peace shines out of their eyes.

"About fifty boys and girls have become Christians. Some of these come from homes and even villages where the gospel has not yet been preached. In other places it has been preached, but is little understood. What a joy these boys and girls will take home with them! Let us continue in prayer for them, that they may truly be such `little children' as are able to lead the members of their homes to the Lord.

Miss M. Clara Sullivan writes from Tsingtao under date of May 23, 1934, regarding an experience in the Bible Institute for women and girls at that place. It began with a case of discipline which Miss Sullivan was called in to help settle, since she was in charge of the district from which the offending girl came. She relates as follows:

"I went to the school to see if the study period was still in session. In case it was not, I would have an opportunity to talk with the girl. I found the school and the matron on their knees in prayer. Souls were crying out to the living God. Confessions were made and forgiveness was asked by many, among both the pupils and teachers. The Lord blessed and led on. After ten o'clock we were still on our knees. The next morning there was more prayer and more making right of old wrongs among us. Miss Moody and Mr. Hung, a member of the faculty, and later Rev. Scholz, the principal of the school came. Oh, it was good to be there!

"I was grateful that I had come back that week, for my heart was gladdened and my faith strengthened. The work of the school continued, but class work, Mr. Scholz definitely reminded all, was not then, nor at any time, of prime importance, the most important of all being a right relationship with God and with one another. And more were led to repentance. We believe all have benefited. Possibly four to six have not had a definite experience. We all feel we want more of God's grace and power and that we have not started to get to the great depths.

We want none of self and all of God, that all may see Christ ever and always living in us."

Miss Erva Moody, of the same mission, writes from personal observation in connection with the revival, and mentions among desirable manifestations the following: Ability to lift the voice in public in prayer to Almighty God; eagerness to witness, whereas formerly there was no desire to witness; deeper appreciation of the meaning of stewardship; enthusiasm for reading and studying the Bible. On the other hand there are the undesirable manifestations such as: babbling, which is called "tongues," and believed by some to be an indication of the fullness of the Holy Spirit; Phariseeism, a pious attitude eliciting men's praise; cases of people possessed by evil spirits instead of the Holy Spirit; a feeling of superiority over a person who does not see eye-to-eye in the revival movement.

She mentions the specific case of Mr. Li, of Hsueh Fang village, who was formerly a Bible student under one of the German missionaries, but whose spiritual life had relapsed. He has now come back into the fellowship of believers, and his whole family is eagerly studying the Catechism. The placing of his light on the stand is a direct result of the present revival.

As a case of an outsider being converted, she mentions Mr. Liu of Hsieh Fu Ssu. As a result of his conversion, ten people of his clan have been brought under the influence of Christianity. A sister, Mrs. Li, has been mentally deranged for six years. Her people are all looking to Christ's power as their only hope for this poor woman. Another sister of Mr.

Liu and a younger brother had not spoken to each other for many months, but they have now become reconciled through the influence of the good tidings.

THE REVIVAL COMES TO HONAN

Although practically all the church bodies doing work in Honan have experienced showers of blessing from on high during the past few years, I shall not try to cover the whole ground in describing the progress of the movement, but merely give samplings of what has taken place as typical of the work as a whole. In doing this I shall naturally concentrate on the places and the features with which I am most familiar and regarding which the most ample material has come to hand. The object, as has been pointed out, is not to write a history of the movement, but merely to endeavor to convey the spirit and various aspects of the movement in its progress over large parts of China.

Signs of revival were multiplying in the Augustana Synod mission field in central Honan as early as 1930 and 1931, and much prayer had been going up to the throne of God for an outpouring of blessing on the church. Souls here and there were being born again and others were being revived. The workers at Hsiichang had been gathering for daily noon-hour prayer meetings for some time, for the deepening of the spiritual life, and for intercession. Prayer lists were issued, and all the stations and workers were remembered before the throne of grace systematically every week.

During March of 1932 a meeting was arranged, and Miss Monsen with Rev. Liu Dao Sheng were invited to speak. The ground had been well prepared, and results were evident from the very first meeting. "During those memorable days," writes one who was present, "as Miss Monsen and Rev. Liu Dao Sheng spoke to us, the intensity increased and a holy hush and expectancy came upon the audience, such as I have never before experienced, and probably never will in the future."

During these meetings several of our prominent Chinese leaders were quickened to new life and have since been used of God in various places with great blessing, among them Rev. Wu Djen Ming, and Mr. Gao Shu Liang, whose testimonies appear elsewhere in this book, along with many others. Many of the students in the Bible schools for boys and girls and the Industrial School for women and girls were blessed at this time. The fearless preaching of God's Word, with special emphasis on God's judgment over sin, caused a deep conviction of sin, in some cases lasting for days. This state of contrition was termed "sin-sickness," a very apt term, as those who have experienced it will know. With confession came re-lease, and then words of Scripture containing gospel promises would be administered for comfort and assurance. Those who in this way "came through" with a thoroughgoing repentance would invariably be filled with a new joy and power and zeal for the salvation of others.

In looking back over that year's work, the President of the Augustana Synod Mission, Rev. V. E. Swenson, in his annual report says: "We as a mission have much to thank and praise our God for, as we look back on the past year. The awakening that has come to our church here in China is destined to take on large proportions. We are living in historic times, and God is at work in our midst. God is preparing, the church for a new and fresh advance. It is a day of grace, wonderful, unmerited grace. What a privilege to be here and witness His Spirit's work amongst us. It humbles us and we can only thank our prayer-answering God. May we be given grace to be wise shepherds to lead this movement along sound evangelical and Biblical lines."

The secretary of the mission, Miss Ethel M. Akins, in writing up the minutes for the same year, prefaces the report with the following words: "God has been very good to us on our field this year. For some years we have been praying definitely for a revival, and God has now sent a genuine awakening among us, both inside and outside the church. It has been evidenced more or less all over the field, even taking in the Seminary at Shekow in its sweep. We are especially happy that it has touched so many of our leaders. Many a leader or church member has come to realize that he or she has been Christian but in name, but by God's grace is now a saved soul in Christ. Others outside of the church have been brought into the fold as well. The numbers added to the church roll have not been great, but there has been a real cleansing within the church. We trust that the Lord will now use these cleansed souls in bringing in others."

As a typical example of one worker who has been revived and especially empowered for service I shall mention one with whom I have been in contact from the time I first came to China over twenty years ago. He was then an evangelist in the district of Juchow along with five others. It would be interesting to follow up the history of all of these men, but suffice it to say that only two are left of the original six. One died after a few years, two have been dismissed, another fell away during the nationalistic movement in 1927 and has not come back.

The worker I have in mind was a good preacher and seemed to live an exemplary life. However, he had very little fruitage in his ministry and even the closest members in his family did not seem to care for the doctrine. Then something happened in his life. He is now one of our most zealous workers, preaching the Word with power, and there are results of his ministry. His wife has become a Christian and helps her husband in the work instead of persecuting and opposing him. In a letter to Rev. Swenson he says concerning his experiences:

"At the evangelist course in 1932, I heard some-thing that made me angry. The Holy Spirit and my evil heart were at war with one another. After some months a pastor came to our city and conducted a series of meetings which were used greatly in my life. After much sorrow over sin, I finally confessed the sins that had been piling up for over fifty years. As far as I could remember, I went to people whom I had sinned against and made things right, and when it concerned myself and the Lord, I was obedient to the Holy Spirit. Thanks to the Lord, His wonderful grace paid my debt on the accursed tree.

His blood cleansed me from my sin. How wonderful to receive complete assurance and to experience the life of Jesus filling my soul.

"After some days I went to some nearby cities to conduct meetings. About eight hundred were in attendance and the Holy Spirit was poured out in a wonderful way. There was much crying and groaning and confessing of sin. During these meetings about one hundred people were saved."

That the work is continuing steadily, though with less outward manifestations, is evident from reports from the field. Thus, in a letter from Miss Akins, written from Yi hsien April 23 of this year, we find the following:

"The last month we have had meetings and classes at the station here. We had meetings for eleven days and then we had two weeks of classes. Easter Sun-day thirty adults and ten infants were baptized.

"Surely we continue to praise the Lord that He is still working in our midst. Our meetings were very quiet in an outward way, but it seems that there is evidence of much definite work of the Spirit. Quite a few that we know of will thank the Lord for what He did for their souls these days. We are so glad about some of them especially. How the Lord will draw souls unto Himself, often where one feels it is impossible! We truly praise Him."

THE SPIRIT'S POWER IN MIYANG HSIEN

The Rev. Wm. H. Nowack, head of the Ebenezer Mission, with headquarters at Miyang, Honan, writes in his missionary letter for May-August, 1934:

"They shall spring up among the grass as willows by the watercourses." Is. 44. 4.

"The above Scripture is one of a number of promises greatly quickened to us some years ago, which is now being fulfilled in many parts of our field." Mr. Nowack goes on to tell about an outstation tour when he had the joy of greeting many new inquirers at various places, and then adds: "At our main station the new inquirers have been coming in so fast that it is almost impossible to keep track of them all, and many homes have been taking down their false gods during the past few months."

This increased interest in the gospel of Christ on the part of large numbers of outsiders is a direct result of the quickening that has come to the church. In the news-letter for May of the previous year, Rev. Nowack describes in gripping terms the coming of God's Spirit in power to the Miyang church:

"During the latter part of February, the Lord visited us with the most powerful revival that we have had here thus far. Though the Lord had greatly blessed us during the fall months, and especially through our fall meetings, we felt that there was a still greater work for Him to do, and that the real break had not yet fully come. It seemed clear to us that the work had reached a spiritual crisis which could only be met through the mighty operation of God's Holy Spirit through some instrument especially chosen and prepared for the occasion. Isaiah 66. 9: "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith thy God," was the word greatly quickened to us in connection with the passage from Isaiah, 37. 3: "The children are come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth." This Scripture, God's own precious promise for the hour, was kept before Him in prayer, as day by day we waited upon Him for a special pouring out of His Spirit upon our Miyang church. And, praise God, this promise was soon to be fulfilled through the coming into our midst of a dear Spirit filled Chinese pastor, Liu Dao Sheng, whom the Lord had already been mightily using in other places and missions, and whom we had therefore invited with the hope of seeing similar blessing here. We praise God that in this hope we were not disappointed, and that He did exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Glory to His Name!

"Pastor Liu's very first message, on the Ten Virgins and "Ye must be born again," delivered in the following forenoon, greatly gripped the audience, and by night the Spirit had already begun to work in many hearts. At the close of the second day's morning session, as soon as an opportunity was given for prayer, more than a dozen were on their knees before God, pouring out their hearts in confession of sin, and weeping in agony of soul as if smitten by some irresistible force. This convicting work of the Holy Spirit continued to increase from day to day, until there was not a person in the audience who had not felt His power.

"Never before had we seen such mighty conviction of sin rest upon a Chinese audience, though we had seen much of God's wonderful working in the past. Some were pounding the benches with their hands, and calling out, "I am face to face with God, I am face to face with God," while others could be heard to say, "I am going straight to hell, there is no hope for me." Several struck their heads with their fists out of sheer hatred of themselves, while one or two seemed to feel that even hell itself was too good for such great sinners as they were. Many were unable to eat or sleep for several days and nights, until they had made full confession of their sins, and then, through some passage or message from God's Word, had received the assurance of His forgiveness.

"Perhaps one of the most impressive sights in connection with these meetings was that witnessed in the orphanage on the fourth night. Their teacher, Mr. Chang, came over just before the evening session, seemingly in great distress, asking me to come over to the orphanage at once, as many of the boys there were crying at the top of their voices, and they were at a loss to know what to do with them. As I entered the class room where they had gathered, I found about a dozen or more under the most awful conviction I had ever witnessed in a company of children of their ages.

"Some stood pounding the walls; others were in a sitting posture, beating their desks; several were prostrate on their knees, while one little chap was in such agony of soul that he kept rolling around on the floor. Each one seemed entirely unconscious of all the rest, all being equally occupied with their own sins, which in the floodlight of God's unspeakable holiness, seemed more than they could bear. Later, when they became more quiet and it was possible to speak to them, they began to pour out their little hearts in confession, and oh, such a catalogue of sins! As we kept quoting 1 John 1. 9 and similar passages, assuring them of the Lord's forgiveness, they finally stopped crying, and began to praise the Lord instead, and the wonderful sense of His presence that filled the room at that time I shall never forget. It was a real foretaste of heaven, indeed. Since then they have been rejoicing in His forgive-ness, testifying to the joy of their newfound salvation, and witnessing for Christ to others.

"I shall never forget the solemn impression made upon my own mind, as at the close of one of the last meetings I listened to the happy, overflowing testimonies of those who had just been saved, on the one hand, and the weeping and wailing of those still under conviction, on the other. It brought before me most vividly the great difference that will exist between those who are saved and those who are lost when the Lord comes.

"Oh, the wonderful grace and mercy that we can be brought into the white judgment light of His holiness here and now, while the day of grace is still on, and thus see ourselves as sinners, plunge into the `fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins,' and then receive the assurance that our sins are forgiven, that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and the Spirit's own witness within that we are the children of God!

"I am glad to be able to say that the good work begun at those meetings is still continuing, and quite a number have been coming into the blessed experience of salvation since.

"We praise God for the way He is working throughout this province, and China as a whole at the present time. From every direction comes the cheering news of revivals similar to ours, through which hundreds and thousands are born into the kingdom of God, many, perhaps most, of whom have been dead church members or mere inquirers for years."

"AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH!"

This cry of the Prophet Isaiah to Almighty God, to come in power to His people of old, is used by Rev. Daniel Nelson as a word of challenge to the leaders and members of the churches, not only in China, but in the home lands as well. Mr. Nelson, writing for the Lutheran Herald of March 20, 1934, from Chengyang, Honan, in the field of the Luther-an United Mission, sizes up the present revival movement as follows:

"Those churches which have a positive evangelical background and where the Word of God has been diligently taught seem to be fertile fields. In this connection we might mention that the Lutheran missions of central China, such as the Norwegian Lutheran Mission, the Augustana Synod Mission, the Covenant Missionary Society, the Lutheran Brethren, the Lutheran Free Church, and our own dear Lutheran United Mission, have all experienced awakenings to a lesser or greater degree. Those of us who are missionaries during these times cannot help but see the positive fruits of this movement, and it seems as if the Lutheran church of China, at least the churches in central China, is waking up and putting on strength. After seeing the fruits of this movement and carefully watching the aftermath for twelve months, we have come to the conclusion that the movement is of a positive Christian nature, and is now being used of God to wake up our Chinese church and to help us put on the strength of God.

"We feel that the Spirit of God is definitely working in our midst in a wonderful way. We feel that God is using His servants in China to awaken the churches and make them put on the strength of God. If there is any challenge in the present awakening, it is a challenge to the ministers of the gospel in both China and America to preach the Word of God boldly to our people, lest they lose their grip on the very heart of the Christian message."

In a personal letter written from Sinyangchow October 31, 1934, Rev. Harold H. Martinson says: "The revival here started a year ago last spring, when Rev. Wu Djen Ming and Rev. David W. Vik-ner held a series of meetings with a gathering of Bible students and workers and others. Other speakers have also been used of God, as Si Shih Deh, Hsu Stith Djong, Li Hsiian Djih, and also a Bible school student, Ding Hsiao Ming, besides the workers who themselves had been previously revived.

"There has been a distinct emphasis on sin and the law and confession of sin. Buddhist vegetarians, opium sots, adulterers, thieves, hypocrites have been converted, and the testimony of their renewed lives is powerful. There has been a fresh impetus to witness for the Lord, even children taking part in the spreading of the gospel. A deepening of the prayer life and a new love for the Word of God are manifest among those who have been touched by the revival."

Rev. Thomas Lee tells about the revival in Juning, in the northern part of the L. U. M. field, in a letter dated Feb. 7, 1934:

"November 16 to 30, 1933, was an unusual season of spiritual refreshing for the Juning district. For years there had been much prayer that a revival might come. But the biggest demands did not measure up to what God gave. Jer. 33. 3: `Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not,' was fulfilled anew to us.

"The vessels which God used for this work were two Chinese pastors, Rev. Liu Dao Sheng, of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission, and Rev. Wu Djen Ming, of the Augustana Synod Mission. The messages, though taken from simple Bible texts, were charged with power. An unusual power, it seemed, but the secret was that the speakers spent much time in prayer during preparation.

"The text for the opening sermon was John 10. 10: `I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.' The speaker drew comparisons between the living wood in the tree outside the church window and the wood in the church pulpit. The first had life and growth, the latter, though beautifully carved, was dead. From these objects he turned to the audience and made similar comparisons. They were so graphic that one could almost hear the crackling of dry branches, `cast into the fire, and burned.'

"I can not describe the meeting in detail, but this I know, it was of God. There was a striking difference when one compares this type of meeting with the `revival meetings' in some churches, where there is generally an urge to take a stand for Jesus or on God's side. Here there was a constant urge to heartsearching prayer. After each meeting a time was given to prayer, with the whole congregation kneeling and each one praying, aloud if he so wished. It was a new experience to see people in deep agony of soul for their sins, crying to God in mercy to save them from hell."

Rev. C. W. Landahl, veteran missionary of the L. U. M., with work in the western part of the field, describes the coming of the revival to Fancheng, in Lutheraneren, under date of November 4, 1933:

"From October 15 to 22 there was held a revival meeting in Fancheng, when Pastor Liu Dao Sheng from Nanyang was invited to speak. He is a powerful voice in China. A man whom God has been permitted to use for bringing great blessings to others. I often think of the sermons of Lars Linderoth when I hear Pastor Liu speak. His messages sink deep down into the human consciousness. He paints sin and the consequences of sin with colors that people can understand. Sins are named. Sin is condemned. And this is necessary.

"There were many visitors from Tengchow, Sinyeh, and Taipingtien, especially workers. Sister Thone and Miss Olson were there with people from over the Honan border. Rev. and Mrs. Holm came from Taipingtien. Evangelist Hu from Laohokow accompanied Pastor Liu. His messages were used to awaken and to guide.

"Many and earnest prayers had been offered to God for these meetings, that He would send a special season of searching and visitation.

"Some of those who attended have told us about their experiences. `We came here,' said they, `against our will. We fought against the Holy Spirit. We thought we were as good as any and that we did not need any revival or renewal. As to doctrine and life we were as good as others. As far as these revivals are concerned, they are only a form of make believe and hypocrisy.'

"Friends, this kind of talk I used to hear fifty years ago among so-called Lutheran Christians. They did not need any revival, even though there might not be a single believer in the entire neighborhood. It is only the self-righteous hypocrites who think they do not need repentance. They are not honest before God. True believers feel that they need daily renewal.

"Now let us hear some of those present tell about their experiences: `We became convinced that we were not right with God. The hammer of the law drove deep dents into the armour of our conscience. The righteous judgment of God became a living reality. We became sinners. Our sins were named. We could not sleep. We were unable to eat. A painful unrest filled our souls; and there was a burning as of fire in our conscience. We had tried to deceive God, our fellow men, and ourselves. Our many and great sins dragged us down to the abyss. We were lost! Then we cried to God to save us as we confessed our sins. And the Spirit brought us light through the Word and gave us promise of forgiveness and peace. At the foot of the cross we laid the burden of our sin down. There we were permitted to hear: `Thy sins are forgiven thee.' Oh, what wealth of blessedness! But there were many around us against whom we had sinned. We must ask their forgive-ness one by one. All must be made right before we could feel ourselves happy.'

"There are many who arise from among the dead these days. The dry bones in the valley are taking on life. Christ takes charge of them and through His Spirit and His Word He gives them power from God to salvation. Miracles are happening. The many who were asleep are waking up. It was high time they were waking up that Christ might shine into their hearts. He has become for them a power to salvation and a new life.

"We missionaries are also being greatly blessed. We thank God that He has allowed us to be along here during these times. We have prayed for a revival. We needed awakening and renewal, all of us. This we felt. But this is a time of self examination for all of us. When the bright light of the Spirit enters the heart, then we discover so many things that ought not to be there. Each one becomes the greatest of sinners who needs the most of grace. Sin becomes known in these days and it becomes big. But, thanks to God, His grace becomes still greater."

The Rev. Geo. O. Holm, President of the L. U. M., lately stationed at Taipingtien, Hupeh, now at Chioshan, Honan, describes the awakening in the churches in Honan and Hupeh, in the Nov. 14, 1933, issue of the Lutheran, Herald:

"Many missionaries and Chinese pastors and evangelists in several of the Lutheran missions working in Ronan and northern Hupeh, as well as in other missions, have been revived and stirred up to new zeal for the salvation of souls. Among these may be mentioned Pastors Liu, Hau, and Li of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission; Pastors Wu, Dong, and. Ai of the Augustana Synod Mission, as well as many others. During the past months these men have been greatly used to awaken sleeping sinners, both within and outside the churches, and assisting them to get right with God through confession of their sins and faith in the Lord Jesus."

Rev. Holm goes on to mention some of the characteristics of this movement. First he mentions the earnest preaching of the holiness and righteousness of God, and that no effort is made to get men pre-maturely to "hit the sawdust trail." The leaders rely on the Holy Spirit to produce conviction of sin and willingness to confess all known sins. He also points out that this awakening is not a brief emotional storm, lasting only while the people are in church, under the influence of the preacher, but that those who are touched are often under deeper conviction after they return to their homes than they are while listening to the preacher. He feels that what is needed to safeguard the movement and lead it along sane Biblical lines is sound teaching of the Word of God and not to depend on set formulas or methods to be used everywhere. Among his concluding remarks are the following: "We are exceedingly grateful to God, that at a time when the very foundations of our faith are being questioned by many `appraisers,' it has pleased the Lord to vindicate the simple preaching of the gospel by transforming men and women into new beings. We have heard the `sound of marching in the mulberry trees,' but shall we not agree to continue unitedly in prayer for a greater outpouring of God's Holy Spirit among us, so that what we have seen so far shall only be as the first-fruits of this movement."

CHAPTER FIVE

Progress

(Continued)

PROGRESS

LIFE AND RENEWAL

Showing the Spread of the Revival from Province to Province and from Place to Place.

The revival took early and firm hold in the field of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission, with stations in southwestern Honan and northern Hupeh and with headquarters at Laohokow in Hupeh. Miss Marie Monsen, who has been used of God so extensively in the revival of the churches in various parts of China, spent twenty five years as a worker in the N. L. K., lately with headquarters at Nanyang, Honan. In 1932 she returned to the home land where she has since resided, but vement which by the grace of God she has been permitted to further in China is still continuing under native and foreign leadership. In tracing the course of the revival in the N. L. K. field we take a few extracts from the Yearbook of the society for the year 1932, 193the spiritual mo3, and 1934.

The Rev. Arne Tiltnes, writing from Laohokow, February 10, 1932, says: "The last few months of the past year, there has come a spiritual uplift in our field, beginning with the meetings of Miss Marie Monsen at the various stations. She returned this fall after several years of work in northern China. She has received great grace from God for the work of revival and renewal. The law, which is a tutor to bring us to Christ, is permitted to rouse the drowsy hearts and sleeping consciences. Many of our Chinese workers and other Christians have been made to face a reckoning, a crisis, and they have found that they have been building on sand, and they have become new men and new workers.

"This work of the Spirit is still going on, and we pray that it may continue. The outward props of the Christians and the churches are now falling in this land, and the quantity is growing less. But the quality is what counts. May we be given power for a new advance, may there be a new day of grace for China. A more general awakening like that in Korea twenty to thirty years ago, which many believed would come after 1927, is still in the future. Perhaps it will not come. But we can have a new advance in our work-depending on a renewal from within to begin with. As for the rest, God Himself will appoint times and the means. It is for us to be found believing."

"The 13th of December is a day to be remembered in our work out here," writes Rev. Knut Nordhaug from Laohokow the same year. "On that day began the six days of meetings led by Miss Monsen. The workers of the mission were gathered from an area comprising Yiinyang to Icheng. The spirit of revival was present from the very first meeting. It was a period of self examination for both foreigners and Chinese. Many came to see that they had been building on a false foundation. It toppled, and they came to sorrow over sin. I came to see that I had been a poor worker. But there is grace and forgiveness even for missionaries. May the Lord give us grace to make use of the opportunities we have for winning souls among this people. It is plain that there has come a turning point in our work. Another standard has suddenly been set up. If the Lord is permitted to continue the work He has begun, we shall see great things."

"What I will remember longest from the year that has just gone by is not the heavy and the difficult, but that God has visited us with His Spirit," writes Rev. Jon Orstavik. "I began in Chenping in January of 1931 at the course Rev. Karstad was conducting for young men. It was a great month. Afterwards we had a special course at the station, and God was there with His Spirit. God sent Miss Monsen to us, and she was the instrument in God's hand for great things. The whole working force came into the melting furnace. Am I really saved?-this became the great question. No one wanted to go out into the work before this was settled. These were heavy days, yes, weeks, for some. The result was a new working force. The fire that began to burn seems to be spreading to the outstations.

"As could be expected, the devil is raging. His tools are two who were formerly in the employ of the mission as evangelists. Now they are in the employ of King Mammon. I am wondering how long God will permit His Name to be derided for their sakes."

"We have in years gone by noted God's awakening and renewing Spirit at work, but never so powerfully and so generally as during the past year," writes Rev. Olav Espegren from Laohokow in January of 1933. "Practically all of our stations have been affected.

"God has found revival voices among men as well as women, Chinese and foreigners. Perhaps the Chinese workers are somewhat stereotyped in their order of salvation, but they are afraid that some may slip through with only a temporary emotional stir.

"Not a few of those awakened are baptized people -also some evangelists-who now confess that they really never had a general reckoning with God. They had merely learnt the doctrine and reformed. Others say they have had communion with God, but have backslidden on account of unconfessed sins. It is not always easy to determine whether it is a rebirth or a renewal by the Holy Spirit they experience. The main thing is nevertheless that they get right with God, and receive the spirit of sonship and power to lead a holy life."

We are indebted to Rev. Olaf Lie for a description of the style of preaching that takes place at some of these meetings. With other workers he attended meetings at Laohokow where Pastor Liu Dao Sheng had been invited to speak. Mr. Lie says of him:

"He stood at the pulpit forenoon and afternoon. His message was that of John the Baptist: `Ye off-spring of vipers, repent!' He painted with colors so strong, true, and living that it was impossible not to see. Sin, forenoon and afternoon, Monday and Sunday. The same thoughts over and over again. `Repent, ye offspring of vipers!' It seemed as if he were afraid that some had not been listening-and then over again: sin. It is not to be wondered at that some were undone. I have never before heard a sermon of brimstone and fire in China, but this was such a one. He followed the presentation of Paul in the latter part of the first chapter of Ro-

mans. If it is a fault to be one-sided, then Pastor Liu has a big fault; but we are very thankful that here at least he was one-sided.

"It was just such preaching that was needed. Hearts were prepared, and God added His blessing. One thing struck me, Pastor Liu did not find time to prepare his sermons. Therefore they appeared very common, not eloquent, and sometimes rather tiresome, but there was always a streak of practicality that breathed reality into his sermons. I sat there with the feeling that he was taught of God."

As to the nature of a true revival, the Rev. Even Staurseth has this to say in an address in the home land, reported in Kineseren, in February of 1933:

"Every sound spiritual revival has its ground in this, that the soul of man bows before the judgment of God. The solemnity of eternity is poured into the `now,' so that the honest soul understands that he must inevitably stand to acount before the omniscient God. He stands a debtor before God. The work of the Holy Spirit in the conscience has made it clear that it is not a question of worship or service or sacrifice, but to love God. And it is when the soul is confronted with these questions that it becomes clear that the whole personality is against God. The course of the will is away from God. This becomes so clear that there is not an answer in a thousand. One finds oneself adrift from God `over a 70,000-foot deep, as Soren Kirkegaard said, without even the least scrap of wreckage to which to cling. If it is a case of being saved, then the help must come from God. The soul stands alone with God.

"Then there arises a cry in the soul: How shall I win victory over my sin? There are many who are trying to settle this question out in China these days. And where each one had a great deal to do with the faults and shortcomings of others, there each one suddenly finds more than enough to do with oneself. With deep feeling the cry arises: My sin! And true revival makes the soul put as much emphasis on the `my' as on `sin.' "

Reporting for the year 1933, the President of the mission, Rev. Olav Espegren, writing from Nanyang January 24, 1934, notes that the revival is still going forward at all of the stations in that field. He emphasizes the great need for pastoral care of those who have "come through." The defections are among such as had simulated repentance, but had not really come through. Otherwise his impression is that very few of the newly saved fall away. In a couple of places there have appeared signs of an ecstatic movement resembling heathen "spirit-possession." In this condition they will claim to speak on God's behalf, dispense forgiveness of sins, etc. Also he mentions signs of the pentecostal movement which had taken firmer hold to the east. He voices surprise that the Chinese, who are so practically minded in the affairs of the world, can be swept off their feet so easily when it comes to religious things. A very subtle temptation comes in the form of a desire for holiness; and the fullness of the Spirit and holiness seem so easily achieved through this one ecstatic experience. He emphasizes the need for responsible shepherds who can exercise authority. The true churchly authority, however, is of a spiritual nature, without which even the missionaries stand helpless.

How THE REVIVAL CAME TO THE LUTHERAN

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Reports of the revival in Honan and elsewhere had been coming to our seminary at Shekow, Hupeh, and this caused many to search their own hearts and to look forward with longing to something better in their own spiritual lives than they had been heretofore experiencing. Others took a more or less critical attitude toward the movement, at least desiring to wait before committing themselves as being for or against it.

In the fall of 1932 God sent us a student for our special two-year course who had himself gone through a deep spiritual experience in connection with the revival at Hsuchang and also previously. His name is Hsu Siieh Djong. He had formerly studied at our Hasselquist Middle School at Hsuchang, from which he graduated in 1924. At that time he showed little inclination toward spiritual things, and even less inclination to study, but God sometimes makes use of seemingly impossible material to fashion special instruments for His own use.

During the nationalistic movement which swept over China in 1927, this young man, along with so many other young men from our mission schools, was carried along. He entered the army, where he had a checkered career. But God sought His erring child; He found His wandering sheep and brought him back to the fold. He received peace and joy and certainty of salvation, and, moreover, was filled with a new zeal for the salvation of others.

This young man was used mightily in the lives of the other students. He was a man of prayer, filled with a love for souls. He talked with the students individually and prayed with them, and results were beginning to be in evidence.

It was during the meeting of the board of directors of the seminary in January that the floodgates burst and we had the signs of a real revival in our midst. God used at this time the Rev. Ai Shui Sheng, of Hsuchang, a member of the board, who had just recently gone through a thorough spiritual experience. He was now filled with fire and zeal for the Lord's cause.

He gathered the students in prayer groups and also met with them individually. Soon there were cries for mercy to the living God, and souls came into deep agony over their sins. Oftentimes the prayer sessions lasted far into the night, and, need-less to say, they continued through all hours of the day. The first chapter of Romans and other portions of Scripture were used to bring conviction of sin. I had never previously understood why there should be so many and so detailed catalogs of sin in the Bible, but now I perceived they had a very practical use. God knew what He was about when He caused the Bible to be written just the way it is. Scripture is indeed, "profitable for reproof and correction," when occasion requires.

Some felt constrained to confess their sins in public, though not urged to do so. One student had a long, hard struggle, lasting several days. Finally he wrote his sins in a book and recounted them one by one after the services on Sunday morning before the whole congregation. He found peace and assurance and has to this day remained steadfast and loyal to His Saviour.

Well over half of the students came through at this time with a genuine repentance and renewal, and all of these have remained steadfast in their faith, though most of them have experienced ups and downs in their spiritual life as a part of God's necessary discipline. Many of them have now gone forth into the great harvest field to garner souls for the Lord of the harvest. What a satisfaction to know that these men go forth, not only equipped with a head knowledge, and with other equipment necessary for the work of a pastor, but that they have been specially equipped by God with a living experience of His grace in their lives, and a special anointing of His Spirit of power, with which to cope with the arduous details of their responsible positions!

The change of atmosphere at the school, as well as the attitude of the students towards their professors, their fellow students, and their tasks is very marked. Problems of discipline are now practically non existent. Each one feels his responsibility before God for an honorable conduct. Observers, both from within and from the outside have noted with satisfaction the change for the better. After a visit to the institution in May of the same year, Rev. V. E. Swenson, of Hsuchang, Honan, writes in a letter to the Lutheran Companion:

"While visiting the seminary, I had occasion to talk privately with a number of students and also had one group meeting with our twenty students. It is truly inspiring to see the way these students pray, and how their souls are filled with a fresh hope to do something for their fellow men. During the private interview, sins were confessed, problems in regard to the church and the spiritual life were discussed. During the prayers, which were sometimes made in tears and deep yearning, there was always manifest a passion for souls and a love for God. How grateful we should be that this spirit of prayer has been poured out upon us!

"Our seminary is surely a different institution from what it was some years ago. The meetings were so full of the spirit of prayer and thanksgiving. They were not as demonstrative here as on our field, although the work has been just as thoroughgoing as in Honan. This is just a beginning. The hard crust of heathendom is being broken, and God's Spirit is working in the hearts of men."

Prof. Sten Bugge, at that time president of the Seminary, in his annual report for that year says: "We celebrated this year the twentieth anniversary of our school. But I believe that this year will not be remembered for this, but for the fact that 1933 was the year of the revival. Everyone who has been in touch with the situation for some years will bear testimony to the fact that this year has been a year of change, and, as I profoundly believe, a change for the better. For this we must again and again thank our Heavenly Father, who has wrought it through His Spirit. His is the gift. We see too, how-

ever, that with the gift He has also given us a task, namely of consolidating the spiritual life so that it shall remain with us, not as a passing incident, but a constant possession. May He help us to be faithful to the vision which we have had!"

Our senior professor, Dr. E. Sovik, who also by the grace of God was given vision to help found the institution, rejoices over what has been accomplished in our midst through the revival. In Gleanings, for April of 1934, he says: "The revival we had at the seminary last fall was a wonderful manifestation of the power of God. It was extensive, including almost all of the students. It was also very intensive, penetrating into the very innermost depths of the soul. Even those few who made no public confession were deeply touched. And yet there is perhaps more heart-searching made by these this year, after the outward manifestations have largely disappeared, than last year. Then it was expected, if not hoped by them, that most of those who had been converted in such a spectacular way, would soon fall back into their previous state and, possibly, even come to condemn their experiences as false. As it now is, when all of them, with apparently not a single exception, are living a consistent and strong spiritual life, a life that stands in definite contrast to their own, they are beginning to grow uneasy about their own condition.

"After the boys had passed through the extremely narrow gate of conversion, most of them became extremely happy. Exultant joy was in evidence everywhere. But this joy soon disappeared and they found themselves in the `slough of despond.' The old sinful habits reasserted themselves and a fearful struggle ensued. They were overcome, but the experience was most disconcerting. One could hear through their prayers and testimonies that they were almost on the verge of despair. One could hear that the cry came from the very depths. But they kept on praying, alone and in groups, and reading their Bibles, until they found comfort again."

Prof. Sovik goes on to mention some of the distinguishing marks of this revival, as, the intense study of the Word of God, the willingness to witness, brotherly love, and that sin is taken most seriously, also that there is a strong emphasis on assurance and certainty in the Christian life.

We can easily see the importance of the revival in the Seminary for the Lutheran group as a whole when we consider that the seminary draws its students from ten affiliated Lutheran bodies, and several others not yet affiliated with the Lutheran church in an official capacity, representing a total constituency of upwards of 40,000 members, scattered over a dozen provinces, ranging from Manchuria in the north to Kwangtung in the south.

MISSION COVENANT EXPERIENCES REVIVAL

The Covenant missions have work in western Hupeh and along the Yangtse Valley. The Covenant Missionary Society, with headquarters at Hsiang yang, Hupeh, represents an American constituency, while the Swedish Missionary Society, with headquaters at Wuchang, represents a Swedish constituency. In China they are referred to as the North and South Covenant Missions, and are closely affiliated in various school and other union enterprises.

Not only are they closely associated as to organization and work, but they have much in common as to history and outlook, both having originated in the great revival movements in Sweden, which began in the fifties of the previous century and continued through several decades.

Leaders within the Covenant group have pointed out that a body like theirs, having had its origin in revival, and depending on revival for its growth and expansion, needs a revival as a justification for its very existence. May we not go a step farther and assert that the church universal needs a revival to justify its existence, and that without such a revival of true religion in the church today, the church as a whole has already lost the warrant for its exist-ence. The salt having lost its savor is good for nothing, and is cast on the dung heap, and even there it fails to justify its existence, not being capable even of serving as a fertilizer.

Recognizing the need of a revival as the very life principle of the church, the leaders in the Covenant missions have rejoiced, and we rejoice with them, that God has graciously sent into their midst what promises to become a deep going and extensive revival movement. We let representatives from various places in the fields mentioned bear their own testimony as to what has taken place.

The Rev. I. W. Jacobson writes for the home papers under date of October 31, 1933: "As early as last spring we tried to get Pastor Liu Dao Sheng.

On February 14th of the year following, he writes: "In looking back over the events that have taken place in this part of our field within the time of a brief year, the heart leaps with joy in praise to God. Of course I do not mean to disconnect the results of this one year from what has been done during the many years preceding. That relationship is vital, but here I am only linking up the chain of events in the present revival movement. It is marvelous to see how God has led in choosing His own instruments and sending them to us in His own time, so that within a year's time we have had three big revival campaigns within the Siang-Fan and Icheng districts, with a continuous work going on between each campaign. Indeed it has not been smooth sailing, but the greater the conflict, the sweeter the victory. And what matters it if the tears of an agonizing heart can be blended with tears of joy.

The way that God rules and overrules in adverse circumstances has been illustrated right before our eyes. For several reasons Icheng could not `officially' be the place where a great revival should begin, but it was the place of God's choice, and He led it so that a revival broke out there. Had the church been asked to select speakers, they would not have voted for some representative of a `small mission' from a very `small country' (as someone remarked), but God did not even entrust that part to the church. It is possible for the church to sink so deeply into sin that God can not entrust them with the least responsibility. In the last moment, without consulting flesh and blood, we waved to our brethren in Laohokow, and God put it into the hearts of the Rev. Olaf Lie and the Rev. Knut Nordhaug to come to our assistance.

"There is something very solid about Scandinavians, especially in religious matters, something that we in America are in danger of losing. It seemed very prominent in these brethren. There was no shallow element that appeals only to the emotional. There was scarcely any trace of humor, and at times they seemed solemnly stern. Their speech was slow, but not lacking in emphasis. People said, `There is nothing wonderful about their preaching, but still it cuts to the core.' Sin was pictured in its blackest colors, but they did not forget to place the cross in the foreground."

In a letter written May 26, 1934, Mrs. Amelia C. Conradson describes, "Pentecost in Siangyang": "The past week has witnessed the greatest wonders that I have ever seen in Siangyang. In the early morning prayer meeting we could feel a spirit of expectancy. Mr. Dwight was led to say to Pastor Kiang, who led the meeting, that we must not let our program interfere with the work of the Holy Spirit. Mr. Dwight preached the morning sermon, and his text was that of the day, from Acts 2. There was unusual quiet through the whole service. As soon as Pastor Kiang gave the invitation at the end of the sermon, they began to come, confessing their sins, and pleading with the Lord for mercy. One was not through till another got up, and sometimes there were several up, talking at the same time, pouring out their sin, so anxious were they to be rid of the burden.

"Quarrels were made up, and enmities were abolished. Daughters-in-law were reconciled to their mothers in law, co workers, who had for years been carrying a grudge against each other, confessed and were made friends in the Lord. Sisters made up their differences. All the sins of the calendar were confessed: idolatry, disobedience to parents, Sab bath breaking, hatred, murder, adultery, theft, lying, gambling, covetousness, smoking tobacco and opium.

"I am sure there were fifty or more who came that day to the foot of the cross. The Lord was purging His church, as well as `bringing other sheep' into the fold. It was 2:30 P.M. when we were through with the meeting, which had begun at 10:30. The Lord is hearing the prayers of years. The Siangyang church has never been so shaken as it is now... Pray for us that the Spirit may continue to work so that the Lord may add to the church daily such as should be saved."

It is interesting to note the impressions produced on a visitor from the home land as he attended a revival meeting in Kingmen. The Rev. Fritz Peterson has been making a tour of the mission fields of the world, and he happened to be at Kingmen when Pastor Liu Dao Sheng had been invited to hold meetings there. Rev. Peterson writes about his experiences in the Covenant Weekly for January 29, 1935:

"It was interesting to talk with the warm-hearted brother and sister, Rev. Oscar Anderson and Miss Mabel Olson. They carried the spiritual needs of the church, the native workers, and the delegates, as a real need on their own hearts. We now were five who could bring this need, both individually and collectively, before the Lord. God gave us a remarkable answer to our prayers.

"I was here permitted to see the most deep-going revival I ever saw in all my life. I was here per-witted to see an instrument of the Lord, entirely different from any revival preachers I have ever met with. The method of preaching, as well as the results produced, were for me something entirely new and unusually gripping. I have often seen efforts put forth by men, which of course should not be undervalued. But here I was permitted to see in an unmistakable way the mighty works of God. I have seldom seen a more quiet man than Pastor Liu. There was neither in his praying nor in his preaching any striving after effect, nor any of the usual revival technique, the show of hands, suggestive massprayer, tricky pauses, use of mourners' bench, etc., etc. In order not to be misunderstood, I want to say that naturally I do not undervalue any of the things I have mentioned. All of these may be used, if one has nothing else to fall back upon. I only want to state that here there were none of these things.

"The message given was not a sample of artistically expressed thoughts about the Word. The speaker stood in the shadow, or back of the Word that was preached. It was the message of the Word in all its unescapable severity, laying bare sin even to the hidden thoughts and intents of the heart."

The Rev. Marcus Cheng, himself a product of the south Covenant mission, after making an extensive tour of the Covenant fields, writes an account of his impressions for the home papers, under date of April 12, 1934. He prefaces his account with the following:

"My heart is full of praise and thanks to God, be-cause I can say definitely that the Day of Pentecost has come to China and has come to our own mission field. For many years, friends in Sweden and America have been praying for us with this in view. Now I am glad to say, God is answering your prayers.

"During the last few years here in China, many of us have been praying, `Lord, revive Thy church and begin in me.' And God is answering our prayer. I can say there are revivals all over China, more or less. Today I complete my trip through all the head-stations of the American Covenant Mission, and now I am writing to tell some of my experiences.

"The recent revival started out last year in Icheng, at which place you would least expect a revival. If you can use the comparison about death, Icheng was the most dead church in our field, but God always surprises us with His grace and mercy. Today we have there one of the most hopeful and lively churches. This is the third time I have visited that church and I have found some very earnest and warm-hearted Christians there. With these living Christians it will be possible to build up a strong church in the future.

"In the month of October last year, Pastor Liu Dao Sheng was invited to conduct a two weeks re-vival campaign in the cities of Siangyang and Fan-cheng. He is a man whom God has raised up and has used greatly these last two years. People there now call him John the Baptist, because he preached a message of conviction. Many were convicted and felt the burden of sin. Especially were many of the young people converted at his meetings."

Rev. Cheng goes on to tell about his journey through the field, stopping at all the principal places, holding meetings of several days' duration in each place, with the view of establishing the Christians. In concluding his account he says:

"I believe, and everywhere I ask my co-workers to pray, that this revival is only a small beginning. We must pray and work to carry on and to extend the movement to all our churches, not only that church members be quickened and edified, but that many, many outsiders be saved and added to the church. We need quality and quantity. The Christians in China are too few, and these few are too low in standard. This revival movement is to raise the standard of our Christians, and also add new members.

"During my travels, I often was reminded of the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel. Everywhere I see dry bones, very dry and very many, on the large plains of our field. Here and there I see small groups of Christians, but, sad to say, many of these have only skin and flesh, but no life. Thank God for this revival. The wind of Pentecost has blown into many souls, and they have become living Christians. They stand up and become a great army."

The Rev. D. R. Wahlquist, of the Swedish Missionary Society, describes the meetings at Macheng, Hupeh, about fifty miles north of Hankow, in Ungdomsvannen, under the caption, "We Saw His Glory." The meetings in question were held September 22 to October 5, 1934, under the leadership of Pastor Liu Dao Sheng. Meetings were afterwards held at the various outstations under the leadership of the missionaries and local workers. Rev. Wahlquist remarks that on setting out for China six years previously, a missionary from Congo had said in parting: "You China missionaries who now go out are fortunate. You shall be permitted to see the glory of God revealed in a remarkable way out there."

"Now we have been permitted to see some of this wonderful glory," writes Rev. Wahlquist. "The winds of revival which have been blowing over wide areas of China have also come to our field, the martyr district, where the blood of the martyrs now bears its richest harvest. No wonder our heart rejoices with an unspeakable joy.

"Many, many of our Christians have experienced the wonderful mystery of the new birth. Entire homes have been won. Not a few of the raw heathen have bent their knees at the foot of the cross.

"Sins as black as night have been confessed, such as child murder, fornication, etc. One woman had killed six girls during the course of her wedded life. Another had killed four, etc., etc. The latter was the widow of a church member. As long as the husband lived, she cared nothing for God, but now she was gloriously saved.

"Some tried in the beginning to confess their sins in a lump. `Forgive me all of my sins.' Or they tried to mention only the `small' sins. But peace did not come in that way. Only when each individual sin was mentioned by name, whether `small' or `great,' and when no sin was purposely hidden, could assurance of forgiveness come, and the heart be filled with peace and joy. Many sought us privately for confession and prayer. We sang frequently a little stanza: `The sins of the heart pour out, pour out; Your sin's account make clear, make clear!"

In Missions forbundet, under date of October 19, 1934, Rev. Wahlquist mentions the gains of the revival: "All these dear Christians, who now from experience can testify to the life in God, are gains enough. But we look forward to the holy fire spreading to ever wider areas. There is a new joy in the work, a new power. We are breathing purer air. We feel there are many who know us as never before.

They have experienced the same vital things. Christ

has become real to them.

"The work is going forward. We have prayer meetings in one of the homes of the missionaries, in an unused room. The room is packed full. A wonderful spirit of power is manifest. Last night my wife prayed with four sin-sick women. Today she visited a church member who was ill. Also she confessed her sins. God is in our midst.

"Dear friends of missions! The harvest is being gathered on the field that has been watered by the blood of our brethren. How they must rejoice with us over these victories! Continue to pray for us!"

The Rev. Richard S. Bjorkdahl describes a series of meetings held at Wuchang, October 7 to 21, 1934: "Rev. Wu Djen Ming of the Lutheran church in Honan had promised to help us out. We had many meetings daily: morning watch, class for catechumens, reading class, and a class for voluntary workers, but the three public meetings per day led by Rev. Wu we must needs attend. He is humble and considerate and gained our hearts. He had no idiosyncrasies that tended to repel. A quiet, warming, searching spirit took hold of the hearts, and one by one people fell at the foot of the cross, confessing their sins.

"Unfortunately Rev. Wu could not stay the full fourteen days. He had only promised to be with us ten days, and when these were over, we said fare well to him with deep emotions and gratitude to God. After Rev. Wu, we had four days' help from the so called Bethel Band, from the institution planted by Dr. Mary Stone in Shanghai. It was composed of two pastors, Chi and Lin, and a singer by the name of Sun. Their aim was mostly to win outsiders. They were very lively and somewhat noisy. They would make sketches on the blackboard illustrating their sermons, they sang and played and sold their books with a good deal of flourish. Some of our members, who had not fully come through during Rev. Wu's meetings, were awakened and helped. People differ much as to nature and disposition, and God has many means at His disposal. What seemed distracting to me, sometimes even repelling, proved liberating to others. A very good result of the meetings of the Bethel Band was the formation of voluntary preaching bands, which have started to go out witnessing about the salvation in Jesus. We have long been praying for voluntary workers for Wuchang, and now God is answering our prayers."

SPIRITUAL SPRINGTIME IN HUNAN

When the revival came with power to the Luther-an Theological Seminary at Shekow, one of the Board members present was deeply impressed. This was the Rev. J. Torset, of the Norwegian Missionary Society of Yiyang, Hunan. He says he returned from Shekow with a deep feeling of the power and glory of the Spirit of God in the salvation of sinners, and that stronger than ever became the prayer in his heart: "God, may something soon take place in our churches in Hunan." He says that from that time on the condition and the need of the churches in his field lay like a heavy burden on his heart, and the prayer was constant: "Lord, send us a revival-in Thine own way, but soon."

The same longing was voiced by other members of the mission. "We had heard about the revival in the field of the Danish Missionary Society two years ago in Manchuria," say the Rev. Erling Gilje, in Norsk Missionstidende for September 30, 1933. "We heard there was revival also further south in the field of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission, and the fields of the Augustana Synod Mission, and the Lutheran United Mission in Honan and in Hupeh. We rejoiced that spiritual breezes were blowing over the congregations of our sister churches. And at the same time we were praying that the revival would also come our way. We needed it just as much as they, possibly more. We were so cold and dead. There were so many indifferent Christians; there was so little of the Spirit's power.

"The revival came further south until it came to our union seminary at Shekow. Here the revival

came in contact with people from our own field in Hunan. We have students in the school, as well as teachers on the faculty, and assistants there. The pupils went in for the revival, many of them heart and soul, but the teachers held aloof. Not necessarily opposing, but cool and waiting. There was so much in the revival methods and manifestations that they did not understand.

"The news of this state of affairs naturally was noised abroad in their home localities in Hunan. And there the effect was to work up a spirit of opposition against the revival. Would this hinder the progress of the revival with us? Were there other things that hindered? Would we not be permitted to experience any of the wonderful things that had taken place in the Lutheran churches in the northern part of China?"

As this longing among the workers in Hunan was becoming acute, and the prayers for revival more persistent and urgent, the good news suddenly came of the proposed visit of an evangelistic band from the Seminary of Shekow, with an offer to visit the Lutheran fields in Hunan in the summer of the same year. The superintendent, Rev. Einar Smebye, was eager to avail himself of this opportunity and sent word immediately that the band would be welcome to the N. M. S. field, and an itinerary was made out.

This evangelistic band was composed of one of the professors of the seminary, the Rev. Kalle Kor-honen, of the Finnish Missionary Society of Hunan, and five young men from the Augustana Synod Mission in Honan. These young men were: Messrs. Sih Shih Deh, Duh Sinn, and Wang Djen Wu, graduates the same spring from the seminary; together with Mr. Hsu Siieh Djong, then enrolled in the seminary, and Mr. Gao Shu Liang, graduate of the Bible School at Hsiichang, Honan.

Meetings commenced at Changsha, in the first part of June, and continued with meetings for leaders at Yiyang, and later at Ninghsiang. At this point the group divided, Messrs. Sih and Gao re-turning to Yiyang and Taohualun, and then going on to Yuenkiang, and back to Changsha, where they remained until the first part of July. The rest of the group went on to the field of the Finnish Missionary Society in western Hunan.

The Rev. Smebye tells about the meetings in Yiyang and Taohualun, in Norsk Missionstidende for August 19, 1933: "Allow me to say that this was the most glorious experience I have had in China. I counted it an unmerited grace to see and to hear and to participate in the blessings that were poured out over the two leaders' conferences during these days. I was permitted to see the Lord's work and the Spirit's power as I never have seen them out here.

"Those present will never forget the insight they now received into true knowledge of sin and true Christianity and in the power and fullness of Christ.

"Allow me also to say that in spite of all the wonderful things we witnessed, I saw nothing that was unsound. It was revival after the old Hauge pattern, as far as I could see. There was deep contrition and sorrow for sin, until one would come through to the cross and receive assurance of forgiveness in the heart."

Having seen the beginning of the working of the Holy Spirit in reviving the churches in some places, the Rev. Smebye was anxious to have the work continue and therefore sent an urgent call to the Augustana Synod Mission to allow two of the workers to continue in the fall. This request was granted, and from September to January two of the Chinese workers, Messrs. Sih Shih Deh and Gao Shu Liang, together with Mrs. V. E. Swenson from Hsiichang, toured all the main stations of the N. M. S. field, accompanied at most places by Rev. Smebye, Miss Sigrid Kvam of the N. M. S. and Mr. Li Chin Tsai, re-cent graduate from the Lutheran Seminary, who had come through at the meetings at Yiyang in the sum-mer.

The Holy Spirit worked with power at all the places visited. Church members and leaders were revived. At Yuenkiang, where two weeks were spent, the results were good from the very start. Forty or more came through to assurance and power. Even at Sinhwa, where the dialect is radically different from that of any other place in China, and where the workers hardly expected to make themselves understood, there were deep-going results from the very start. Over fifty came through with a vital experience of God's saving grace, including the pastor of the congregation. He was a graduate of the 1928 class of the Lutheran Seminary, but had never had any results in his work, and was about to give up the ministry. He came under deep conviction of sin, confessed, and came through to assurance and power to witness. At Anhwa, where ten days were spent, there was considerable opposition, which was finally broken, and several came through to release and assurance. The Spirit worked mightily at Taohualun and Yiyang, where a beginning had been made in the spring. The work now was more thoroughgoing and extensive, embracing the School for Blind, the orphanage, the Bible schools for men and women, the Junior Middle School, the hospital, and other groups. During the course of the meetings at the various places, some of the more outstanding leaders were signally blessed. These included pastors in the various congregations, the main teachers at the Bible schools for men and women, and the senior pastor of the Central Hunan Synod, the Rev. Dzu Gi Wu.

The foregoing summary of results are gleaned from the report by one of the members of the evangelistic group. From the annual report of Superintendent Smebye we cull a few impressions by those who participated in the meetings. The Rev. Torset writes about the meetings at Taohualun: "We have experienced the awakening, life giving, and renewing power of the Holy Spirit. There were a couple of hundred persons at the meetings this fall. There was a wonderful spirit of prayer in the congregation. Oftentimes there was a mighty torrent of prayer. At times there were heard confession of sins and imploring for grace. Several tens of men and women-the latter in the majority-were given grace to press onward, through mighty struggles, until they arrived at faith, hope, and victory, and to peace and rest in the finished work of Christ."

He goes on to mention that it was in the Bible school for men that the fire of the Spirit first descended in connection with the meetings at Taohua-lun. The first one to come through was the head teacher of the school. A special meeting in the school at which only the teachers, pupils, Rev. Torset, and the superintendent were present, proved to be the turning-point, and it happened just on the day when the students had decided that there should be no tears or open confession in their midst. In Mr. Torset's opinion the greater majority of the pupils came through during the school term in the fall as new men in Christ, with the joy of salvation in their hearts.

Miss A. Rokke writes from Tungping: "I had never thought that we should ever experience what we have experienced this year among our proud Hunanese. We have seen the Chinese fully gripped by Christ, filled with power by God's Spirit, preaching the gospel among their own people. We have seen the power of God transform and renew people here, in a different way than formerly, and our hearts are filled with joy and thanksgiving."

The Rev. A. H. Eggen writes from Sinhwa: "As early as the second day of the meetings the revival broke out. All the workers came through with the exception of one who also later came through. Many of the ninety visitors also came through, so that during the last day there was a large group who gathered around the altar railing and dedicated their lives to God."

He goes on to tell about meetings in the various outlying districts under local leadership. At Chumei the results were especially striking, where during the six days the entire congregation, and some visitors besides, numbering altogether fifty to sixty souls, were awakened and confessed their sins. He adds that this movement in Chumei came as a surprise to them and they could see no special reason why the people should be so gripped. He felt that the leaders did not have any special qualifications for bringing about a revival, and that their own lives were anything but rich and overflowing spiritually. He can only find the explanation, as to what happened, in persistent prayer, and that there are powerful breezes of the Spirit blowing.

Dr. Ragnar W. Nilssen describes the meetings in Sinhwa, in Norsk Missionstidende for Jan. 13, 1934, in part as follows:

"The preachers from Honan are Spirit-filled breezes. Their message is simple and fundamental. The cross of Christ, our only hope, may be said to be the central theme of the discourses. At first they never speak of grace, but of death, judgment, sin, and eternal damnation. But through it all one notices also the gospel of the cross. Both of them are mightily gripped and feel a deep responsibility for the salvation of others. Their messages remind one a great deal of the thoughts Rosenius brings forth in his little book: "A Faithful Guide to Peace with God." In their personal work they are thorough going and careful. No word of comfort until the sinner has confessed every known sin, so that nothing stands between the individual and his God, then and only then can the Spirit of God fill the human heart. If they feel that the one who has come to receive help is not honest before God, or is not quite ready, they send him away with a word of Scripture

in the hope that it will thoroughly awaken him. To be as young as they are-and those who are leading the revival in Hunan are young folks-they are unusually temperate and efficient.

"How much we have to thank God for! Just think of it, dear friends of missions, a whole congregation in a Lutheran church on their knees many times during each day, crying over their sins, and being helped forward to life in God. It is of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes! I am sure that our friends would have thanked God with tears in their eyes, if they could have been present in the Sinhwa church last night."

Superintendent Smebye concludes his report: "The revival seems to have taken hold in some of the districts, and none of them is untouched. Our prayer is that the fire may spread to all the churches and throughout all of Hunan.

"We are clear, however, on this point, that what we have experienced in 1933 is only a beginning. My personal impression is, that although many individuals have been gripped deeply, it must nevertheless go even deeper in individuals and in the churches if it is to bring us what we are praying for, namely, a fire kindled in the hearts and in the churches, a fire that will consume all that is unclean, and that will spread from man to man, and from place to place.

"It seems to me that if there is to be a real Christian life in the mission field, a victorious, conquering Christian life, the gospel must be preached in the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit. May God give us the strength and grace needed. May He also give us wisdom to work together with the Chinese. For, although this movement is mostly, humanly speaking, in the hands of the Chinese, we nevertheless have a God-given opportunity, seldom falling to the lot of missionaries in our times, an opportunity to serve as instruments in God's hand to restrain and to guide, where the Chinese lack experience. This is the first time they are experiencing a powerful revival. May God help, that the opportunity He has given may be used, and that we may, each one in his place, be instruments meet for the use of the mighty Spirit of God!"

GOD VISITS THE WESTERN HUNAN LUTHERAN MISSION

In a brief report regarding the work of the evangelistic band that visited Hunan in the summer of 1933, Professor Kalle Korhonen says: "This trip of our band, which took a full month, was prepared by continued and earnest prayer and carried for-ward and completed in prayer. No special methods or means of approach were used. The alpha and omega of our messages were simply sin and grace, and were presented in that order. The law and the gospel were both preached. Law in the fearful presence of the Holy One was made severely binding, and the gospel about the crucified Saviour manifested its releasing power. As to outward manifestations, there was much weeping and much praising. Souls were convicted of sin and then made free.

"Trembling in our hearts, but at the same time confident in our hope, we set out on this trip, and we were not disappointed. Once again, God proved faithful to us. Full of joy and praise, we returned. We, the band, and many others have to thank God for the wonder which He showed during this month of June, 1933. Our Hunan missions entered into a new era of their history. Soli Deo Gloria!"

The greatest results on the field of the Finnish Missionary Society were experienced at Tayung during this visit of the evangelistic band. Almost from the beginning, there were manifestations of the Spirit's wonder working power. The Rev. E. V. Koskinen reports the meeting, in Missionstidning for Finland, under date of October, 1933:

"It seemed that the speakers had a real message from the Lord. The Word sank into the conscience and broke all opposition. The hearers were under deep conviction of sin, the like of which I have never seen in China. Coarse crimes and sins, committed several years ago, were confessed before God and the congregation under weeping and distress. Among other sins, murder, attempted murder, fornication, theft, idolatry, and child-murder, were confessed. Many of these had been committed by men and women before their baptism, but only now were they fully confessed and forgiven. Others they had committed after their conversion, which made the guilt all the greater. Also two of the evangelists had fallen into grievous sins, but were given grace to confess them publicly. Among the first to come to the altar, without being invited to do so, was a heathen who knelt weeping, imploring God for forgiveness of sins.

"In this way God in His great mercy has visited even the Tayung congregation, as also the Christians and workers in the northern part of our field. He has done for us over and above what we could ask or think. Also I had to confess before the congregation my lack of faith and love in His work, making it impossible for Him to use me to any greater extent in His service as a soulwinner. God has heard the prayers of the many friends of missions and has caused the wind of His Spirit to blow among us. Praise be to His holy Name! "Thy lovingkindness, 0 Jehovah, endureth forever; Forsake not the work of Thine own hands."

In February of 1935, Mr. Gao Shu Liang made a visit to various churches in Hunan. He relates regarding his visit to Tsingshih on the field of the F.M.S.:

"During this visit I aimed especially to reach non-Christians. Every evening there were about three hundred people in the audience, most of whom were outsiders. I preached about sins very pointedly. Not only did they not seem to tire, but the more they heard, the more they wanted to hear. I preached for more than ten days. The Holy Spirit worked every day. One night hundreds knelt, confessing Jesus as their Saviour. The most wonderful thing of all was that those proud military and political leaders also confessed their sins. This reminded me of the passage in Acts 11. 18: `Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.' "

One of the military leaders, who gave his life to Christ during those meetings, testified later: "I had some acquaintance with Buddhism and Mohammedanism, but when I heard Mr. Gao preach about Christianity, I understood that it was just what we, old and young, need; just what we sinners require. This is such a good religion that if we ask, then we surely receive. During these ten days I grasped a good deal, and I feel that I am entirely bound by sin. Surely, no one from his birth on has escaped sinning, and no matter how he may try, he can not get rid of the power of the devil. But Christ alone can deliver us, for He died for you and me, for all sinners all over the earth. I do not know how to pray, but I asked Mr. Gao to help me twice a day, so as to learn it carefully, in order that my sins may all be put away, as this is my desire."

Later on in the spring of this year, the Rev. V. E. Swenson, Rev. Kalle Korhonen, and Pastor Liu Dao Sheng were invited to speak at several of the main centers on the field of the F. M. S. The various stations have but lately been relinquished from the terrible grasp of the communist forces. In some places mission buildings and churches have been razed to the ground. There were encouraging results at all the places visited. The Rev. Swenson writes from Tsingshih, April 24:

"We have had good meetings here. God has convicted many of sin. We were told that at Tzeli about thirty were converted. I do not know how many here. The Lord worked mightily among the children here a few days ago. Quite a number of others also have been saved. It is a time of searching and a spirit of burning was poured out upon us. Some are resisting as usual."

SPIRITUAL STIRRINGS IN SOUTH FUKIEN

Rev. W. Short, of the English Presbyterian Mission of Amoy, reports a strong indigenous revival movement in South Fukien as a result of a month's visit by Dr. John Sung. Dr. Sung is himself a native of Fukien, and on his return from the United States traveled extensively in the Hinghwa district of that province, stirring up the churches to new life.

Mr. Short characterizes the work of Dr. Sung as follows:

"Dr. Sung dresses simply in a cotton robe. Each time the meeting lasted at least two hours. During the meetings he used very effectively a series of choruses which he taught his audiences, and these choruses made a useful break in his talks, serving to give the audience an outlet for its feelings, to relieve the strain and to recall wandering attention.

"Most of Dr. Sung's teaching was very good. He not only knows how to manage a large crowd, but is also a good teacher. He made his congregation read the Bible with him section by section, and explained it very clearly and graphically. He used a black-board, sometimes covering it with grotesque sketches which riveted the attention, at other times writing down the heads of his discourse, and the points he wished to drive home. His manner was highly dramatic offensive to some, but effective with the crowd.

"He denounced the sins of Christians, or, rather nominal Christians, which, he said, were the greatest hindrance the church has to contend with. I think that possibly the highest level was reached in his address on the love of God as seen in the cross of Christ. It was an exposition of 1 Cor. 13.

"Other parts of his teaching were not so good. He holds that heaven is in the northern firmament where there are fewer stars, and hell is in the center of the earth where there is fire. He is entirely pessimistic regarding this world; we have nothing to hope for, but only to take care to purify ourselves and wait for the coming of Christ.

"Before Dr. Sung came, there was an atmosphere of expectancy and longing. God has answered the prayers of His people. If pastors and preachers will only work hard and care for those who have been gathered into the church, the results should be lasting."

The foregoing account was taken from the July number of The Honan Quarterly, published by the Honan Mission of the United Church of Canada, Margaret L. and E. Bruce Copland, editors, who append a note to the effect that Dr. Sung has been twice in Changte, Honan, and that there is no doubt that as a result of his preaching many lives have been changed and certain sections of the church stirred to new life.

SPIRITUAL QUICKENING IN THE AMERICAN SCHOOL

One of the bright spots in the picture of the present revival movement in China is the way God has been blessing some of the children of the missionaries. The American School now located at Kikungshan had a wonderful blessing poured out upon it in the spring of 1933, while the school was temporarily located at Kuling. Some of the pupils came in touch with the revival in Honan while home for their winter vacation, and on returning to school they formed into prayer groups to pray for a blessing for themselves, as well as for their comrades. God visited them in power. There was intense conviction of sin with confessions in public and in private. Many young lives found their Saviour that winter and spring, and as soon as one had been quickened, he or she would immediately begin to pray for others and help lead them to Christ.

The following year a still more deep-going work of the Spirit was experienced both in the high school and in the grades. One of the pupils in the high school wrote home to her parents at this time:

"Dearest mother and dad: I am saved. I am very happy. I will tell you how it came about. Last night K. wrote me a note asking me if I were sure I am saved. The question of course could not be evaded. I wrote him I knew I wasn't saved, but that I wanted to be, and asked him especially to pray for me that night.

"After the lights had gone out and we were in bed, I told L. and A. the truth and asked them to tell me how to be saved and to pray with me. L. talked for a while and told me how I could be saved. Then the three of us knelt by my bedside and prayed.

"For a while it seemed that I could not find Jesus. I could not get near Him. L. and A. prayed. Then I prayed, and while I was praying, pleading for Jesus to come to me, to forgive and save me-suddenly peace came to me, and I felt Jesus near me, and I was assured that I was saved. We all praised God for a while. Then, while still on our knees, L. talked with me for a while and told me of the trials to come and what to do. A. told me about her conversion.

"I have been busy confessing sins today. There are so many I have sinned against. I have many things to confess to you."

The principal, Rev. Palmer Anderson, in an article to the home papers says: "In this spontaneous way the Spirit began His work among us. Starting with a few, the prayer groups rapidly increased. Every morning the boys and girls met in separate prayer bands. And, oh, what prayer meetings they were! What joyous and thankful prayers on the part of those who had experienced forgiveness of sin and the peace of God in their hearts! What intercessions on behalf of those who had not yet yielded to the Spirit! What pleadings on the part of those who were convicted of sin and who hungered for the assurance of salvation! There were those who tried to resist and to keep aloof, but the Spirit of God proved the stronger. Steadily and quietly He con-tinued His convicting, reviving, and assuring work in the hearts of the boys and girls. Besides the morning groups, evening prayer groups also spontaneously began. It seemed as natural and vital to pray as it did to eat and sleep.

"And what of the fruits? We thank God for the changes that have been wrought. For the consciences made sensitive to sin. For wrong attitudes righted. For a spirit of life, forbearance, and humility, instead of bitterness and pride. For a spirit of appreciation and willing co-operation, instead of fault finding. For a new love and understanding of the Word of God, and a keener realization of the need of prayer, and of the constant use of the means of grace. For these, and other fruits of the Spirit, we give thanks to God."

The principal of the school has later voiced the hope that this quickening process may become a permanent feature of the school life, so that the young people, when they arrive at the proper age, may normally yield themselves to the Lord as His children, to serve Him throughout life.

WIDESPREAD MOVEMENTS

What has been written so far regarding the spread of the revival over large areas of China represents only a mere fraction of what could be written at the present time. I have used only a few select portions of the material actually at hand. Re-ports have also come to my notice, both written and verbal, showing that the present movement is very widespread, including practically all of China in its sweep. Thus there are strong revival winds blowing over the fields of missions in Central China, besides those already included in this report. I have in mind the fields of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Free Methodist Mission, with work at Kaifeng and Chengchow in Honan as center. Then there are the fields of the Lutheran Free Church in eastern Honan and the Lutheran Brethren Mission in southwestern Honan, where the revival has taken more or less strong hold. From Yuncheng, Shansi, the Rev. Morris Bergling, of the Swedish Mission in China, reports a strong revival movement in their

r

Bible Training School at that place. The Rev. Alfred B. Gjelseth of the Scandinavian Alliance Mission, with work in southern Kansu, reports the beginning of a revival there.

In the March, 1935, number of China's Millions, Mr. Stark reports encouraging conditions in various sections of the far-flung battle line of the China Inland Mission. The following are some of the sub-captions in his Shanghai letter: "Revival in Shansi; Blessing in Hunan; Conversions in Kweichow; Days of Blessing in Shensi; A Reaping Time in Kansu; A Bethel Band in Yunnan; A Work of Grace in Che-kiang," etc. All these reports go to show that the Spirit of God is gripping people in a marvelous way all over China, and many are these days being brought into the Kingdom.

The Oxford Group Movement, though not making a large direct impact upon the church in China at the present time, has nevertheless had an important influence, in that several workers, particularly among the foreign missionaries, have come in con-tact with the groups, and having themselves been revived, are now being used in the work of reviving others. Mr. Gardner Tewksbury has given his testimony as to what he has received from the groups in a recent issue of the Chinese Recorder. He is now going forward in his work of broadcast evangelism with a new vision and a new joy, and with greater results than ever before in his work.

As a direct result of the revival movements, there has sprung up an indigenous group movement in China. It is composed of those who are definitely seeking for the deepening of the spiritual life for themselves and others. They meet at regular times for mutual edification and for breaking of bread as a token of spiritual communion. It is a church with-in the church, composed of those who are seeking for a deeper spiritual experience. These groups are not inherently schismatic in their tendencies, and with the proper sympathy and guidance on the part of the church leaders, they may prove to be of in-estimable help in releasing dormant spiritual forces in the church.

A movement that is proceeding parallel with the revival is the New Life Movement, originated and sponsored by General Kiang Kai Shek. Dr. Hu Shih has pointed out, in the Tientsin Da Gung Bao for March 25, 1934, that the New Life movement has its roots in the religious convictions and devotion of General Dziang, who is himself a member of the Christian church. That such is the case, General Dziang himself will not deny, but he is not able to appeal to Christian motives in the furthering of the New Life Movement, since so few of the people have as yet embraced Christianity. He therefore appeals to the best elements in the philosophy of the sages of China and draws from them the governing principles and concepts for the furthering of the movement.

The object of the movement, according to a statement of General Kiang in the Hankow Herald for September 7, 9, 1934, is to "raise the standard of the people's livelihood and create a new society." Four principles are enunciated as guiding norms for the movement: "Li, I, Lien, Chih." These are de-fined as follows: "Li" means regulated attitude in mind as well as heart; "I" means right conduct, in all things; "Lien" means clear discrimination, honesty, in both personal, public, and official life; "Chih" means real self-consciousness, integrity and honor. The movement is a conscious, well-directed effort to achieve personal as well as national reform. In this drive for better habits and living conditions on the part of the people of China, General and Ma-dame Dzang have done their utmost to enlist the interest and co-operation of the Christian forces in the country, a co-operation which has been unstintingly given.

This movement is one of the most hopeful signs of many in China during recent years. However, it needs to be emphasized that outward reform, no matter how necessary and desirable, can never succeed except as it has its roots in individual reform. National rehabilitation must proceed from individual regeneration. There must be a new birth before there can be a new life. On the basis of the new life instilled in the heart by God's Spirit through the process of the new birth, the individual will be transformed. And on the basis of a new citizenry, a new social structure can gradually be evolved. In bringing this to pass, let us hope that the church of God in China will have an important part to play. The present revival in the church gives promise of releasing spiritual forces for the successful accomplishment of such a task.

CHAPTER SIX

TESTIMONY

Individual Testimonies to God's Renewing Grace

As we enter into the more intimate personal experiences and reactions to the revival recorded in the following pages, we realize we are treading on holy ground. Let us not betray the confidence so trustingly bestowed upon us, by an unworthy attitude, nor let us by unholy touch defile the sanctuary of the Spirit's indwelling. It is no easy thing for one to lay bare his inner life and thoughts to another. The friends who have given us their testimonies have done so with the sole purpose of glorifying God. So like in some respects, but so infinitely varied in others, they combined to form a glorious symphony of praise to the wonderful grace and saving power of God.

Dear reader, as you read these testimonies and personal impressions and reactions, do so reverently and prayerfully. Then, when you are through reading them, stop and ask yourself whether or not you think the church needs revival. Then stop and ask yourself: Do I need revival? May the Spirit of God use these testimonies to His glory, and for a blessing in your life!

Except where so stated, the following testimonies have been written at the request of the author, and represent a careful selection from a large group of similar material that has come to my desk.

Miss S. of Shantung writes: "Since the visit of Miss Monsen to our little Lutheran group at Peiping in the spring of 1930, I felt that I wanted more grace and power than I had received. In December of that year she made a brief visit to Tsimei. She asked me if I were born again. The following spring I met her again. She prayed and talked with me. Though I felt I had been born again before coming to China, sins still humiliated and saddened me. I began asking for complete freedom. Miss S. prayed with me and I confessed to God in her presence some past sins. I had release as to most of them after I had made right some matters with those against whom I had sinned. Until the summer of 1933, I still had one person with whom I did not feel I had the right relationship.

"After Rev. Wu had preached on, `Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,' I was more eager than ever to forgive. I thought I was, but later the trouble sprang up anew. Then a morning spent with a missionary's wife we two praying and waiting upon God revealed that I had not fully surrendered my will. I am thankful that God overcame and helped me to decide to follow only His will. The following day I was enabled to hate myself for harboring ill-feeling, and was given strength to confess to the one I disliked, and to ask for forgiveness. Then, I believe, I was freed from the old dislike. I would gladly, eagerly seek to help the one I formerly disliked. There have been struggles since, along other lines, but not affecting directly any one person. Praise the Lord, He is conquering even my stubborn heart and will."

Mr. S. of Honan writes: "I praise God most sincerely for His abounding love. At times the Lord

would flood my soul with a heavenly rest and would take me into the full secret of His abounding grace and friendship, so that I felt as though transported into the heavenly mansions above. My soul almost perished because of spiritual drought while struggling against misunderstanding and adverse criticism.

"While walking on the city wall one day, I knelt in prayer. The Holy Spirit descended upon me like a wind, the tears unbiddingly began to flow profusely. My soul was flooded with light, and a heavenly peace that can not be described. If I had not had those long, weary trials and months of struggle, I would not have been in a condition to enjoy the shady palm trees of Elim. My parched and weary soul was thirsty, and consequently the Lord opened up the fountains of salvation and graciously filled me with His glory. The Lord saw that I was losing heart and wanted to comfort me with the sweetness of His presence, that I might be encouraged to continue the journey and walk the way with Him.

"Probably no missionary has been in the hot center of conflicting opinions and cross currents of emotions to the extent that I have. This sorrow has been so intense, of so long duration, that many a time I wondered if I could stand it any longer. Month after month the weary days dragged on without relief. The nights were often spent in prayer, agonizing, interceding. Many tears have flowed, and in due season the Lord graciously lifted the burden.

"In the beginning many mistakes were made because of lack of understanding and experience. However, I dare say in the presence of my Lord that I have always wanted to know the Lord's will in every question that has arisen. When errors of judgment and conduct have occurred, it has always been my policy, even with only a shade of suspicion that I was wrong, to ask for forgiveness. This has been very humiliating and hard on the old nature. I inherited a strong will from my parents, but the Lord has given me grace to abase myself again and again before my fellow workers, both Chinese and, foreign. I can only thank God for all these troubles and experiences. He permitted them to come into my life for some purpose. Praise be His holy and precious Name!"

The following joy-notes were culled from a "Round Robin" circulating among present and former China missionaries:

Kiahsien, Honan, April 18, 1934 Dear Friends:

Miss A., Dr. F., and I are here for a few days, helping in a short course for women.

How I praise the Lord for His mighty work in so many hearts in Juchow. Pastor and Mrs. Djao have such love for souls. How we praise God for saving so many of our pastors and leaders. It is so wonderful to find saved pastors and Bible women here and there who are praying and bringing in souls.

Friends, God has opened my blind eyes too. How I praise Him for that grace and power which was just too strong for me; that made me, in spite of my being a missionary, bow under His mighty hand in conviction, receiving cleansing and freedom, along with our Chinese sisters and brothers. M. T.

Kiahsien, Honan, April 17, 1934. Dear Friends

"Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." How wonderful to have Jesus here in our midst doing just that! Certainly that is what the revival is, the taking away of sin. When the revival started, it seemed just too good to keep on, and yet that is what it is doing.

Only in heaven can I praise Him enough for what I have seen the Spirit doing these years in the lives of others, to say nothing about what He has done in and for me. My daily praise is that His working has not been limited to Chinese, but that He included foreigners, and me too.

Oh, the unspeakable joy and peace and love with which He has filled my soul! My blind past! To think it is all forgiven, and that He has opened my eyes to see what I never saw before. Precious, precious Jesus! Never for a day do I want to go back to where I was before. A mystery to me now how I could go on so many years like that. But it is different now. All praise to His Name! E. A.

Kiahsien, Honan, April 18, 1934 Dear Robin Friends:

You have been hearing so much of what the Lord has done and is doing for our Chinese friends, that I feel it my privilege to give you another cause for rejoicing in what He has done for at least one foreigner. Yes, praise God, He does not have regard to persons. The human heart is the same, and His wonderful salvation is for all, even for me.

Oh, the unspeakable joy of really knowing one is a child of God-not only thinking it in the mind because of training but the experience of realizing one's every sin is forgiven. I can never thank Him enough for bringing me to China to see my own utter wretchedness, the depth of sin in my heart as I had never seen it before, and to realize how truly my own righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and then to find in Christ forgiveness, cleansing, and sanctification. Glory to His Name! V. I. F.

Loyang, Honan, April 26, 1934. Dear Co-workers:

I was just reading the last letter in the chain, when a rap came at the door. One of my former school girls from my first term in China came to ask for forgiveness for having hated me and talked about me. I, too, had to get down on my knees and ask her for forgiveness for having been concerned only that she should get some learning into her head, and not being concerned about her soul. May God help me to see souls as He sees them!

I came home Monday night from Huei Guo Dj en, where we had classes for sixteen days. The Lord was with us. There was a wonderful devotional atmosphere all through the day and night. At all hours of the day one would hear prayer. Either by individuals, who were under deep conviction of sin, or those who had been saved, and were praying for the unsaved, or by those set free, praising God.

At times it seemed as if everyone was praying. Early in the morning, before daylight, someone would begin to pray, and soon it grew into a chorus.

Sometimes at midnight I would be awakened by someone who was praying. If they were not praying, they were reading their Bibles or singing. It was so different from last year; then there was a group that opposed. One man came again this year and tried, but he soon saw how useless it was, and became a silent listener at the classes. Every knee shall bow before Him. E. P.

Hsiichang, Honan, April 8, 1934. Dear Co-workers:

I often feel rebuked in my own mind when I see these Chinese Christians. They are such rejoicing souls, so happy in their newfound Saviour. We spent our Easter holidays at Chang Go, fifty li north of here. We were there from Good Friday over Easter Sunday.

They had started their spring mission before we came. We found four people possessed by demons. Some claimed they were filled with the Holy Spirit. There was considerable excitement and confusion. After a day of waiting on the Lord together in prayer and meditation, the demons departed, and we were permitted to carry on our meetings undisturbed. There was much confession of sins. Early in the morning and late at night we were busy hearing confessions and pointing them to their Saviour. Many received assurance and forgiveness.

J. L. B.

Hsiichang, April 8, 1934. Dear Robin Family:

We praise God daily that He brought us back here to share in the great opportunities there are here now. Never have we seen such a willingness to listen and receive the Word. How our hearts rejoice that so many born-again souls are serving Him in our midst these days. It seems our hearts just continue to rejoice and praise Him.

To us, too, has come the great joy of having Hilda and the three boys at school arrive at an assurance of salvation this last month. The letters we receive from them these days are gems to be treasured as no precious stones ever could be. How we praise Him for the American School on Kikungshan, and what His Spirit is there performing. L. B.

Hsuchang, April 12, 1934. Dear Friends:

We out here have had all kinds of experiences since "Robin" was here last; both the happiest and the saddest of our whole lives. We couldn't begin to tell everything. Naturally, the thing that gives us the greatest joy is seeing souls really repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus as their personal Saviour.

We have seen many hundreds in agony over their sins, and have also seen how their faces have just radiated joy when they have received assurance of the forgiveness of their sins. It surely is joy to point such burdened souls to the precious promises of God. This kind of joy God has given us in rich measure, for which we truly praise His holy Name. Not only on our own field have we seen how the Holy Spirit has worked, but also in several other missions.

We had a wonderful time last summer on Kikungshan, when many souls were born again. We had wonderful, unforgettable times in our own home. Such prayer meetings! Then I had the privilege of traveling in Hunan with Si Shih Deh and Gao Shu Liang in the N. M. S. field for almost five months, holding meetings at all their main stations for their leaders and Christians. We had some wonderful times. Down there we saw almost two hundred souls confess their sins and find peace with God. Some-times the whole audience would break down and weep aloud. It certainly was only the work of God.

E. S.

Hsuchang, April 11, 1934. Dear Friends and Fellow Workers:

I just got back from Weichuan, one of the out-stations of Hsuchang, the other day. There was quite a stir there. The revival fires are being lit there also, and God is drawing souls by the power of His love into His kingdom.

A young man and his wife, who were employed by the local tax bureau, were converted. The young man listened very carefully to the messages. On Saturday night he went to his home. The Holy Spirit had pricked his heart, and upon retiring he could not sleep. He did not sleep that whole night, but was making things right with God.

When morning came, he had made a clean breast of all his sins and trusted the blood for cleansing. He was a different person. His young wife also yielded to the Master's call, and now the young couple are so happy in their new found joy.

They had a servant boy of about fourteen years of age. When the young tax collector had found peace with his Lord, he immediately spoke to his servant about becoming a Christian. He asked him if he believed in God. The servant boy answered, "Yes." "Do you accept Jesus now as your Saviour?" he asked. "Yes, I do," was the answer of the servant boy. "Prove what you say by doing obeisance (ko-tow) to this book," pointing to the Bible. The servant boy knelt on his knees, and as he knelt, the young lad was gripped by the Holy Spirit and began to confess his sins.

The wife called us to their home, and when we came, we found the young lad kneeling by the bed, moaning and confessing his sins. He said he had stolen a book, had cursed his playmates, and had been disobedient to his parents.

Quite a number of others were saved at this meeting. May the Lord keep us all thankful and happy in His service till He comes in glory. Kind greetings to all. Sincerely, V. E. S.

"CALLED!"

God, something hallowed comes o'er me,

Thou art calling me to prayer.

It's so blessed, so peaceful, so wondrous,

Being filled in Thy presence here: Just filled with praises immortal

For Thy love that calleth me-

The poorest, most sinful of sinners,

To pray on bended knee;

To speak with a Father so tender, So loving, so good, so kind,

To receive the joy of forgiveness For the awful sins that are mine.

Oh, 'tis sweeter than words of music,

Or aught that earth could give,

To rest in Jesus, my Saviour,

And with Him daily to live!

But oh, these lines have failed,

To express what the soul hath felt;

For the sweetness of kneeling and praying, 'Tis to kneelers that blessing is dealt.

'Tis to them that Jesus grows sweeter,

And to them that He calleth, "Pray on!" Friend, have you lived such moments,

Have you Jesus as your all in all?

Alice C. Anderson.

WANG CHONG SHENG

Wang Chong Sheng is indeed a "brand plucked out from the burning." When I look at him, I say to myself, "What hath God wrought!" He has just completed a two-year special course at the Lutheran Theological Seminary. I knew him in former years as a pupil in the Hasselquist Middle School at Hsii-chang, Honan, of which I was then principal. He was at best but an indifferent student and gave no promise for the future.

When the middle school at Hsiichang was discontinued during the northward march of the revolutionaries in 1927, he, like many other young men, was swept into the maelstrom of political events. He joined the army, but what an army! It was the miscellaneous, nondescript, "questionable" troops, or rather rabble, that swept around the country-side under the infamous leader, Fan Lao Er, who later met a tragic death during an air raid on his troops while camped at Hsuchang. Mr. Wang's story follows:

"At the age of 17 I loved the world, left school and joined the army. When I think of it I feel very bad. During eight years I went through several battles, many of them very fierce. Once the men of my company were all killed except I. Several times I was with retreating forces and had nothing to eat. I experienced hunger, thirst, heat, cold; I have tasted all kinds of suffering to the full. I have committed all kinds of sins against others. Psalm 40. 12 describes my life in sin: `For innumerable evils have compassed me about; mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; and my heart hath failed me.'

"Each time I was in danger I called upon the Lord to save me, but afterwards I was the same as before, with mouth full of cursing. The Lord held up the cross before my inner vision several times and asked me to lay my sins there and be released, but when the danger was past, I would harden my heart and go deeper into sin.

"My father and mother and younger sister loved the Lord and prayed for me. Also Mrs. Swenson prayed countless prayers for me. Many times I was in despair and wanted to take my own life. Many a time I would go along with those who were in the gravest danger, the `dare to die corps,' wanting to be killed."

When twenty-six years of age, while serving as "lien djang" with one hundred men under his command, his troops were encamped at Huai Yuan Hsien in the Province of Anhwei. This was after Fan Lao Er's death, and the troops had been reorganized under a new command and taken into the regular army. At this place God sought His prodigal son. He came to himself and arose and went to His Father's house. We let him relate about his experiences at this time:

"Sometimes I would take my Bible and look into it. Each time I turned to Romans first chapter and saw the sins recorded there, I saw a faithful picture of my own heart. This was the beginning of the Holy Spirit's work in my heart. Each time I was moved upon, I would go into all kinds of sins to quench the Spirit's work. All this tended to increase my pain and, distress, and I could find no peace.

"I began to visit the local church and got acquainted with the pastor and several members. I talked with them and attended divine worship at church. I was still unhappy and ill at ease.

"My superior officer was a baptized church member and my good friend. He belonged to the China Inland Mission. We talked over the matter of or ganizing a Bible class in his battalion. In this way it was hoped all the officers of the battalion would learn something about the gospel. We asked Rev. Geng, the pastor of the place, to lead this class. All the passages that were read and expounded rebuked me. Thus for a month or more I was most miserable, each day worse than the one before.

"At this time Rev. Gardner Tewksbury came to Hwaiyuan to lead Bible study groups. I also went along. Once the Spirit beat upon my heart as with a hammer, but I resisted and the opportunity went by. I went back to the army and still kept up the old life of sin. Thank God He did not leave me to perish. Mr. Tewksbury came back to lead another meeting. As we met, he took my hand. Immediately the Spirit of God spoke to my heart. I knew God's love was in his heart.

"That day in the afternoon I went to the meeting. The Holy Spirit rebuked me, `You love your own friends more than me.' I was ill at ease. Everything at that meeting, the songs, the prayers, the Bible reading, all rebuked me. But when the group knelt and prayed, I wept, and after all had gone, I returned alone to camp. The Lord made me see all my sins before my eyes and they became a burden too heavy for me to bear. For three days and nights I could get no relief. I prayed constantly, but my sins were still there and I could get no peace.

"Mr. Tewksbury, seeing me in this condition, suggested to me that it might be of some help to me if I would write my sins on a piece of paper and lay them before the Lord. I went home and wrote out all my sins and handed them to Mr. Tewksbury. I prayed earnestly. He read Scripture promises which sank into my heart and I received a great peace and consolation. 1 In. 1. 9 was of especial help to me. At once I got up and went out. All whom I met I told I was at peace and happy. I laughed and sang, knelt and prayed, and witnessed to Jesus' wonderful power to save. So my friends in the army thought I was crazy. I said, `Some days ago I was the chief of sinners, but now I am a child of God.'

"That day, the last day of the meetings, I came to the conclusion in my heart that I must leave the

army. Immediately, without delay I asked for leave of absence. The next day I got my things together and returned in company with Mr. Tewksbury, and later entered the Bible School at Hsiichang."

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THE REVIVAL

The following testimony was written by Rev. Wang Yong Sheng, graduate of the 1934 class of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, now pastor of the congregation at Yenshih, Honan, on the field of the Augustana Synod Mission.

"I was born as a child of the church and have gone through many revivals and have heard many famous men preach, but I felt that these things did not concern me. When others repented and confessed, I was moved to some extent, but I felt I had committed fewer sins than they. I saw many times the revivals lasted only a short time. I felt they were very common.

"But this revival came. The light of the Spirit entered my heart and caused me to see my true position. I could not look people in the eye and could not pray to God. The words of Isaiah 59. 10, 11, were fulfilled on me: 'We grope for the wall like the blind; yea, we grope as they that have no eyes; we stumble at noonday as in, the twilight; among them that are lusty we are as dead men. We roar all like bears, and moan sore like doves.'

"I came to the place of despair and hopelessness. But God is full of love. When I was in this condition of despair, He revealed His gospel of salvation to my heart. He enabled me to look to Christ. He helped me to trust in Him, and gave me assurance of the forgiveness of sins. This is not from men nor from myself, but from God. It is His power and doing alone.

"God helped me to walk in close fellowship with Him. I did not now read my Bible according to schedule and the clock, but from a genuine desire. I did not pray to God according to habit, but was crying to God at all times. I lived a life of freedom under God's guidance, and not according to my own ordering.

"In the summer of 1933 I went to my home church. The first Sunday during wheat harvest, I thought there would be few members present as they were all very busy. But in the forenoon there came sixty to seventy with their entire families. They did not talk about the crops, but sang songs. Outsiders saw this and longed for a similar blessing.

"There was a neighbor of the mission, who formerly did not believe in the true doctrine. When he saw that in the church there was this kind of a change for the better, he was moved, confessed, and repented. Although he was persecuted by his people, he remained steadfast. Some members who were from places distant from the church would work during the day, and in the evenings they would get together for meetings and talk over what the Lord had done for them and admonish one another. I at-tended one of these groups and saw their mutual love and fellowship. I was much impressed and I thanked the Lord."

THE LIFE OF THE BORN-AGAIN

Rev. Tsi Shui Lu is a classmate of Rev. Wang Yong Sheng and is now pastor at Tengfeng, Honan, about thirty miles south of Yenshih. He contrasts his spiritual life before and after the vital experience he passed through while a student at the theological seminary.

"After I was enlightened by God's Holy Spirit, I was given a spirit of prayer and a desire to read the Bible and to get into contact with other people. For-merly I read the Bible, but more from habit and compulsion and I could not get the real benefit and consolation of the Scriptures. Praise God, He gave me a desire to read the Scriptures. I felt I could not read enough. It was to me sweeter than honey, and it gave me food for my hungry soul.

"Formerly my prayers were mechanical, insincere, and not in earnest. Now I speak up and tell the Lord all I lack, as a son to his Father. Sometimes He consoles me; sometimes He warns me. Whatever He gives, I feel happy. Whenever I am tempted, I go to the Lord in prayer and gain the victory.

"Formerly my relation to men was not satisfactory, as I was lenient with myself, but strict with others. Praise God, He has changed my heart. God has helped me not to hate or dislike anyone. God re-minded me that my behavior must have His sacrificial love as its model. So now I can have patience under all circumstances, and have the peace and consolation of God in my heart.

"Formerly I lived the self life. Some things I gave to God, others I reserved for myself. I knew I should surrender to God, but could not get beyond the hindrances to complete surrender. God showed me how to cast all my burdens upon Him, and I feel now that His burden is light; His yoke is easy, and now I rest in Him.

"Formerly I disliked my work. Now I love God's work. He has shown me that my greatest privilege in life is to preach the gospel, to raise up the cross and lead sinners to repent and believe. God said, You must fight the good fight, hold fast to eternal life; you are called for this. If you do it willingly, there is a reward.

"Formerly I was afraid of God; like a slave be-fore his master. There was darkness and secret sins. Now this feeling has disappeared, and my feeling is one of boldness to come before God. He witnesses with my spirit that I am a child of God. This son and father relation can not be broken. This is all by the grace of God. All praise and glory to Him!"

How I RECEIVED GRACE AND SALVATION

Tsai Shen Tsuen, who writes this testimony, is a graduate of the 1934 class of the Lutheran Theo-logical Seminary, and is now doing evangelistic work in the field of the Finnish Missionary Society in Hunan.

"I was born in a Christian home and was baptized as a child. At sixteen years of age I was' confirmed. For ten or more years I studied in a mission school. Then I came to the theological seminary to study. I was still not a sheep of the Lord's fold. I had not been born again, but was still on the road that leads to destruction. I shudder when I think of my former condition; how I was poor, naked, blind, and bound by sins, and oppressed by the devil.

"In January of 1933 the fire of the Spirit flared up mightily at the seminary. Many of my school-mates were revived. The Holy Spirit also knocked at the door of my heart and enlightened me so that I saw the darkness and filth of my own life. Too bad, I did not obey at this time. The Holy Spirit worked in me many times and I had many opportunities to confess before others.

"One day I was reminded by the Holy Spirit of one sin. I had been unfair in an examination under Prof. Korhonen. The Holy Spirit moved me many times to go and confess. Several times I had decided to go, but let it pass. Once I had started, but turned back halfway. The Holy Spirit left me because of my disobedience. The devil came in. I opposed the revival in secret. I also opposed those who were most warmhearted in furthering the revival. I hated them and avoided them.

"Good reason why I should be afraid to meet them. If they had asked me if I were saved, I would have had no way of answering them. Prof. Korhonen is one of the pastors of the F. M. S. He was my former Middle School principal, and was now my teacher. But because of the revival I became averse to him, since he had admonished me several times. I op-posed him and criticized him. My heart was thus hardened so that for several months I had no peace. My prayers had no power.

"In December of 1933 one evening I went to Prof. Korhonen to ask him about something. Suddenly I was pricked by the Holy Spirit. I remembered my sins of hatred and deception. My conscience rebuked me. I shook all over with fear. I returned to my room ill at ease. That evening I felt bad over my sins. I knew they were great and heavy. Sad and pained to the limit, I wept and confessed all to God. At once I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to Prof. Korhonen to confess. Now I fully obeyed.

"The next day in the evening I asked God to help me confess before men, and then went boldly to Rev. Korhonen and confessed. Thanks to God, he for-gave me. The third day I confessed publicly all my sins. Thank God my Saviour, He has saved me. His blood has cleansed my sins away."

ONE WHO FOUND PEACE WITH GOD

Mr. Li Chin Tsai is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of the class of 1932. He has since been doing evangelistic work in the field of the Norwegian Missionary Society of Hunan. During the visit of the Evangelistic Band from the Semi-nary in June, 1933, he was one of the first ones to be quickened to new life and power. We give part of his story as reported by the Rev. V. E. Swenson in the Lutheran Companion.

"During the month of June I attended revival meetings conducted by members of the Evangelistic Band from Shekow. The first four days I opposed the work of the Holy Spirit. I was hard and proud and did everything in my power to hinder the work of God in our midst. Mr. Sih was especially solicitous for my welfare and constantly asked me to go with him to his room where he prayed with me.

"The members of the band prayed and fasted for me, hoping that I would be converted. The Holy Spirit worked in my heart, and my conscience was accusing me of sin. One day I went into the visiting preachers' rooms and learned some songs. I was greatly gripped by the songs, `The Lord died on the cross for me,' and 'Lord, work in my heart.' The more I thought about the Lord dying on the cross for my sins, the worse I felt. My heart was greatly moved like the waves of a turbulent sea, and I could not sleep at night.

"On the last day one of the evangelists spoke on the text about the Samaritan woman. The following day was the Lord's Day and we were to celebrate the Lord's Supper. I dared not eat and drink to my own condemnation. A tremendous struggle was going on in my heart. The Holy Spirit urged me to confess, and my heart was broken and bleeding. After the sermon was over, we bowed in prayer, and how the tears did flow! I thought to myself, I must confess or I can not live, but I will not shed any tears while I make my confession.

"But when I got up in front of the audience I lost control of myself and fell on a table and wept bitterly. There were several hundred people in the audience, but I saw none of them. I was blind to everything but my own sins. When I had made a full and complete confession, the load was lifted and I became happy in the Lord. He forgave my sins, and I was washed clean in His precious blood."

How GOD PERFORMED A MIRACLE IN ME

The following testimony was given by a young Bible Woman of the Norwegian Missionary Society in Hunan after she had been quickened during the visit of the Evangelistic Band in June of 1933. We are indebted to Mrs. V. E. Swenson for the transla-tion from the Chinese original.

"When Mr. Sih and Mr. Gao came, I wondered what kind of men they were, as I had heard that God had used them in helping many souls to be born again and that they had revived many churches. At this time I certainly had not seen that I myself was a big sinner that needed to be saved. I thought only to receive from them to use in my own preaching. Most of all I wanted power to fulfill my own duties.

"Since I had such thoughts and prejudices in my mind, not a sentence entered my heart the first day of the meetings. Moreover, I said to others, `Why doesn't the Holy Spirit come into my heart?' This question was intended to make fun. But later I heard others say, `They truly have power! When they preach, they certainly can convict the hearts of people!' This caused me to wake up. I prayed God to come into my heart. After this I did not attend the services in vain. When I listened carefully, I heard that they only preached about our sins. Later it seemed as if they only preached about my sins. The sinner they preached about was I, who had received the grace of God in vain.

"The next day, as I listened to the sermon on the text where Jesus speaks of coming to the tree and looking for fruit and finding none, and commanded the tree should be cut down, my heart was fearful and sad, for I saw that I had not borne any fruit.

That evening the text was, `Ye must be born again.' This is not being born again, and that is not being born again. One must be repentant and sorrowful over sin and really leave sin and receive the life in Jesus. I always thought I was saved, but now I saw that I was still a lost sinner. That night I could not sleep.

"The next afternoon when I saw the poster showing all the sins of the human heart, I hated my sins. I felt I was the chief of sinners. God made me see all the sins of my past life. They were all spread out before my eyes. At this time I felt that death was not too big a punishment for me.

"Suddenly a voice said, `Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.' I believed that God is to be trusted, that He is faithful, that I could leave all my sins at the foot of the cross. Christ had already died for me. All at once my heart was relieved and happy! All was well! The heavy burden weighing me down was gone, the hatred, bitterness, loneliness, sorrows, sighs, and groanings were all gone. There was no limit to the joy that filled my heart. This was not the joy of the world. Speak of heaven after death! Had not heaven now already come down to my heart? I thank God because He has performed such a great miracle and forgiven me so many sins. Friends, the joy of salvation, who can tell? Only those who have tasted the grace of the Lord can know it. Friends, come, let us all sing His praises!"

How I RECEIVED GOD'S GRACE OF FORGIVENESS

Mr. Ding Hsiao Ming is a product of the revival that has swept over the churches of the Lutheran United Mission. He is enrolled as a student of the regular course at the Lutheran Theological Seminary and has completed one year of his studies. His testimony follows:

"I am a native of a small village near Denghsien, Honan, but our family moved into the city on ac-count of the robber menace. We settled near the mission station and I was soon enrolled as a pupil in the mission school. At the age of sixteen I graduated from the primary school and then enrolled as a student in the government normal school in the city. After graduation I taught in the government schools. Later the mission engaged me to teach in the missions schools. I became baptized as a matter of fulfilling the regulations that teachers in the mission schools must be baptized.

"In 1933, when the winter vacation came, I went along with another teacher to the church of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission in the south suburb to hear Pastor Han Dzi Gu. At this time he had newly been revived and was full of zeal and power. He received us kindly and eagerly and told us about some of his experiences. He told us of a number of workers in the churches who had repented and been saved. Also how many sinners, publicans, and harlots had been saved. He told us all this very clearly and in detail.

"The Holy Spirit began His work in my heart. I was deeply moved. At other times he would say to us with compassion in his voice, `Would to God we could see you saved in like manner.'

"Pastor Han's church had a daily Bible study class. I went there regularly. Each time I was deeply moved. I knew I was a great sinner. I asked him, How shall I be saved? He said, Pray, and obey the Holy Spirit. That evening I took my Bible to read and opened it at 2 Timothy 3. 1, and read: `But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof.'

"All these sins caused me to see my own sins. All rebuked me. I had committed all of these, some of them many times. I came under conviction. I feared my folks would know what was in my heart. I went to a dark classroom, knelt and prayed: `Lord, I am a great sinner. I want to be saved; Lord, save me.'

"Early in the morning I went up on the city wall to pray. Temptation came, saying, Repentance is a matter of the deathbed, or when sick, or when you are old will be time enough. The Holy Spirit then rebuked me thus, How do you know you will live till tomorrow? I kept up praying, but felt all the more ill at ease. At eight in the morning I went to Rev. Han, asking him to help me. I confessed, but still could not get peace. This continued for two days. Finally I got Luke, seventh chapter, last verse as a promise to me: `Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.' I received a marvelous peace and joy. I knelt and thanked God."

CHRIST AND I

Wang Djen Wu, Paofeng, Honan

"In 1920, in the fall, a friend recommended me to the mission to teach school. In 1923 I was baptized. In 1924 I was appointed as evangelist at Kiahsien. In 1926 I went to the Bible School at Hsiichang. The next year I returned to Kiahsien to preach. In 1929 I entered the theological seminary at Shekow. My purpose was to become a pastor and to serve the Lord for life.

"During these years I had been harassed several times by robbers, and soldiers, and by Satan's at-tacks. But God had kept me in His love by bands of compassion. Although I had experienced all these benefits, I was not clear on the matter of salvation. I was depending on the flesh and at bottom did not know the Lord. I tried in my own strength to better my spiritual condition, but could not get rid of my sins. I felt like a bent reed and pitied myself.

"Later God's Spirit moved mightily in the church, and many were revived. In my ignorance I laughed and spoke against the movement. After a year my nephew, Wang Chong Sheng, sent me a letter saying he had been converted and saved. He asked me if I had been saved. I was glad that he had been saved, but when he asked me if I were saved, I did not like it and was angry.

"In January of 1933 when the board met at She-kow, my nephew had sent a letter to me with one of the pastors. When this pastor saw me he urgently and lovingly admonished me. He led me to pray and asked me to confess my sins. I did not approve of his attitude. I went to a pastor and criticized his actions. That day I saw my comrades were confessing their sins, and I felt very much put out about it.

"That evening during the meeting I felt the hand of the Lord upon me from the time I entered. His eyes did not leave me. All I heard, prayers and Scripture reading, pricked my heart. A fire burned within, and I could not rest. When the meeting was over I fell to the floor and confessed my sins. The next day I sent letters asking for forgiveness and also made some restitutions. But something held me back. During ten days my heart was not at rest. My face had no smiles. I knew God wanted to cleanse me.

"One morning after prayers I knelt and prayed in my room and confessed the sins that were causing me trouble. God released me. `There is there-fore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.' Thanks and praise filled my heart. Thank God that by His grace He did not throw me off, this earthen vessel, but allows me to work in His king dom. When my work is over, I hope to see Him face to face and to live with Him in His eternal habitations."

How GOD SAVED ME

Wang Tien Siu

"I was born in a home that worshiped idols. No one had preached the true gospel to me. One day a poor carpenter, Chen Bao Yu, came to my home. I asked him, `What religion have you been following lately?' He answered confidently, `I believe in the Lord Jesus, and have received the true doctrine of eternal life.' `Where is there a church I can go to,' I said. He replied, `In the south country there is a church at Shuitien. If you wish to hear the gospel, they will welcome you there.' At once I decided that next Sunday I would go.

"During this first visit to the church I met Rev. Trued, who was there preaching. His theme was about Peter three times denying his Lord. Although at that time I did not clearly understand the gospel, nevertheless the seed of the Word entered my heart.

"I, my father, and mother, my wife, and elder brother, all eventually believed. Our guest-hall for-merly was a place for drinking parties, now it came to be a small church. Formerly those who gathered there were drinking friends, now they were changed into believers and church members. Formerly there was the sound of drinking bouts, now this was changed into singing and, praising the Lord.

"In the spring of 1922 I was baptized. In the fall I was set to preach the gospel. Later I entered the Bible School, and before finishing my course was sent to Chang Go to preach. When the revolution broke out in 1927, the church was much disturbed, so I was asked to go to the church in the city of Hsuchang and take charge.

"In the fall of 1928 I was sent to the seminary at Shekow. There I stayed four years. After grad-uation I was appointed to go to Kaifeng to open a new mission there. Thanks be to God, at this place I was enabled to see the glory of the Lord in a definite renewal and assurance of salvation. Philippians 1. 19 was the first passage I received after my experience of salvation: `For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.'

"The beginning of God's work in my heart came through the prayers of many dear friends. Also, Pastor Liu Dao Sheng had approached me at Shekow, while I was studying, about the condition of my soul. Later when I heard about the happenings at Hsuchang during Miss Monsen's meetings, I was inclined to belittle these things.

"In the spring of 1933 there was the meeting of the Synod and Conference at Loyang. This annual meeting turned into a revival meeting. Rev. Vikner told me I was very pitiful. I asked him to pray for me. He said he would not pray for a dead one like me, and asked me to pray for myself. I talked with Miss Person about my experiences and how I had led many to the Lord. `These all are no evidences of salvation,' she told me. `You must still earnestly seek for grace.'

"I was filled with self righteousness. I felt, if any one was a saved man, I was. In the first part of March the same year there was a meeting at Kai feng, sponsored by several churches, to which Rev. Gia Yu Ming had been invited as a speaker. I did not want to meet the leaders who were out and out for the Lord. I particularly avoided Rev. Taylor of the Free Methodist Church. However, I could not avoid him. He would meet me and greet me with a `Hallelujah, Praise the Lord.' I did not like to hear this.

These days I could not pray. I could neither eat nor drink. I could not read; I could not sleep. In-side or outside, there was no peace. I was in distress; my sins burdened my soul.

"Once I tried to go up and confess, but I grew faint and changed my mind. Formerly I had made up my mind I would rather go to hell than confess my sins and lose my face. God was too strong for me. The next day when in the prayer meeting of my own church I said, `The Holy Spirit has taken hold of me, please pray for me.' They all knelt and prayed for me. My tears flowed like fountains of water.

"During the forenoon meeting, after the sermon of Rev. Gia Yii Ming, when the invitations were given to come forward, the Holy Spirit urged me to go forward. I overcame the hindrances of the devil. I went forward in great haste to the altar and before the congregation of 1,500 people I poured out all my sins. What pierced my heart most of all was my unfairness at examinations at the seminary and that I had received my diploma by unfair means.

"Later I sent the notes I had used in cheating to Dr. Edwins, asking him to forgive me. I experienced great release before God. I had all my life never experienced such heavenly joy. God has since chastened and purified me. I feel that I am still lacking in love.

I asked God to give me His fullness of love and to keep me in His love.

"Praise the Lord, who has saved me from the mire; from uncleanness to purity, from a low estate to a high estate, from a prodigal to a beloved son. All this by the grace of God's love and the blood of Jesus Christ, through the guidance of His Holy Spirit."

How I CAME TO BELIEVE IN THE LORD

The following testimony by Mr. Yin Ren Sien, provincial treasurer, of Kaifeng, Honan, is a sample of how the gospel of Jesus Christ is taking hold among the men high up in government service. In his position as treasurer of Honan, and in his former capacity as provincial customs commissioner, he has consistently witnessed among his associates in government circles. He leads a Bible class twice a week for his underlings, and in his home he has regular family prayers. He has opened his home for meetings of worship and prayer, where a large group regularly meets. This is a very effective way, he says, of leading men to the Lord. His own story is given below, condensed from a report in Evangelism for November, 1934.

"Jesus said, `Except a man be born anew, he can not see the kingdom of God.' I was blind, but thanks to God, He has given me a rebirth, and has caused me to see.

"My life can be divided into five periods. The first period comprises the time spent in my home in early years. I had not heard of the name of Jesus before I was twenty years of age. My father was an official in Kiangsi. In his official capacity he had to do with the missions. He said the foreigners in China, who are preaching the gospel, are constantly having law-suits. This gave me an early prejudice against the church. One day I saw a poster with the verse from John 3. 16. I did not understand it at the time, but this has stuck in my memory.

"The second period comprises the six years spent as a student in America. I lived in the home of a church member. They were ardent Christians. They always asked me to go to church with them. Many times I asked to be excused as I still had my prejudices. Sometimes, to save their face, I went along to listen. Then I went to Harvard. Here I heard only the social gospel. This I can now clearly distinguish.

"The third period comprises the years immediately after returning to China. My plan now was to save China by means of industrial development, to erect spinning mills, promote agriculture, commerce, and journalism. I wanted to use all these methods to help China in her weakness and poverty. I was very busy and had no time to think about religion. Sometimes I heard about it but only laughed.

"The fourth period. I was now running a spinning mill with Mr. Nie Yun Tai as my partner. He was my relative and a Christian. He took me along to Ging Ling Tang to worship. The pastor sometimes came to our factory to talk over the finances of the church with Mr. Nie. He talked with me, admonishing me to believe in Jesus.

"In 1924 I went to Loyang to inspect cotton. The train arrived in the night. Wu Pei Fu was celebrating his birthday, and all the great officers had come to Loyang to pay their respects to General Wu. All hotels and hostels were full of guests. I had no way, so I hired a ricksha man to take me to the Lutheran mission station. Rev. Lindbeck received me very politely and allowed me to live in his home.

"Fortunately just at that time the church was having an annual meeting and people were in from all the country around. I saw how the foreigners in our country preach and open schools and help to educate my people, using the gospel to help raise the ignorant people of the villages. I then thought of my country's important government officers, Yen Huei Ching, and Wang Djeng Ting, both of whom were sons of pastors, and had been educated at mission schools. How could I know that from among these that were coming from the villages there should not be a Yen Huei Ching or a Wang Djeng Ting. I heard Rev. Ding Li Mei preach. I then decided to join church. I was baptized in the Presbyterian church at Nanking and became a nominal Christian.

"The fifth period. I was baptized, but not reborn. I was of the world. It was the first of September, 1931. I was in government service. My family was at Tsinan. I was at Yentai on the coast of Shantung. In the night I had a bad dream. I thought it must be that one of my family had died. I got a telegram the next day asking me to return to my home. As I got to the station of my home town, my wife met me and told me that our five-year-old boy David had fallen into the water and drowned. He was a dear and intelligent boy. He was thus suddenly taken away, and I was deeply saddened and depressed.

"That evening Dr. Thornton Stearns, of the Shantung Christian University, came to my home to sympathize with me and to comfort me. He said he also had a son by the name of David who died. He said this was the occasion of his conversion and salvation. He said he had been several years in China, but had not repented, nor had he been born again. God used the death of his little boy to arouse him and to cause him to repent. He then met a Miss Monsen and was moved to repentance.

"He told me one thing I shall never forget: `Your little boy David died that you might receive life, that you might truly repent and receive the new birth and the life of Jesus.' He showed me how to reckon up my sin account. As I heard him speak, I realized there was a power come over me. I felt rebuked over my sins. I knew I was a sinner and needed salvation. I knelt before God in my room and confessed all my sins. I was forgiven and ex-perienced salvation. My outlook on life and my convictions were now totally unlike what they had been before."

MANIFESTATIONS

Every revival movement is accompanied by more or less undesirable manifestations. This was true of the great revival of religion led by the Reformers of the sixteenth century, which saw the extravagances of the Anabaptists and the excesses of the Zwickau Prophets and others. Such extravagances and extreme tendencies are not inherent in the movement itself, but represent unhealthy outgrowths and blemishes. It is a good thing gone to Excrescences and Aberrations Following in the extremes.

Wake of the Revival People are prone to extremes one way or another. Some are given to extreme coldness and worldliness; no spiritual appeal seems to reach their hearts. Others go in for religion with a vengeance and become fanatic. The tendency to both of these extremes is inherent in sinful human nature. The emotional strain attending a revival will bring out these extreme tendencies in bold relief..

The devil will do all in his power to block a revival and hinder it from breaking out. When the movement gains headway in spite of his machinations and manipulations, he changes his tactics and begins to work from within the revival, introducing disrupting and divisive influences. He sows his tares among the wheat. He will transform himself into an angel of light and pose as a promoter of the movement. He will bring subtle temptations to bear on those who are prominent in the movement. He holds before them the appeal of a higher spirituality, and works upon their desire for a greater and more perfect holiness, and pushes them on to employ wrong means to attain these worthy ends.

During a revival there are those who have been especially gripped by God's Holy Spirit and have been used by God in a great way. From a life of comparative obscurity and insignificance they are suddenly thrust into the limelight, and find themselves in a place of influence and authority. It is now extremely easy to fall for the temptation to pride and self exaltation; to endeavor to satisfy long hidden desires and ambitions for prominence, and leadership, and pre-eminence in the spiritual field. With the feeling of superiority comes the corresponding feeling of mistrust of others, and looking down upon them, coupled with a critical and censorious attitude.

It is not a pleasant thing to dwell on such aberrations and excrescences in connection with a revival, but it must be done in order to have a complete and true picture of the whole. Also it may help others to be forewarned, and thus forearmed, against untoward tendencies that may arise in other places.

That there is some good accompanying even the extreme tendencies is freely admitted. It is just this mixture of good and evil that forms such a subtle temptation for some. False prophets usually appear in sheep's clothing; only after a long acquaintance, will their wolf like qualities be apparent, and often after it is too late to remedy the damage done. Some point to the good done by some of these extremists as proof that their work is of God. The end is thereby made to justify the means. Because a stolen lot of grain will sprout, when thrown into the ground, and bear a harvest to feed many people, that does not justify the means employed for procuring it.

"By their fruits ye shall know them," says Jesus. Here we have to look to the permanent, long range results of their work. If their work results in division and strife in the church, and shows lack of love, and things that do not bring honor to the name of Christ, we can be sure that it is note of the Spirit of God. On the other hand the things that make for peace and harmony and good fellowship, that result in turning men from sin to righteousness, so that they exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in their lives, these things are prompted by the Holy Spirit. There is need for infinite caution lest we fail to differentiate between the true and the false, so that we do not call black white and white black. There is particular danger in snap judgments, and in condemning a movement or persons without sufficient prayerful and careful investigation. Above all we need to maintain a charitable attitude even towards those whom we feel to be in error. A firm yet sympathetic attitude, together with sound Scriptural teaching, will in time tend to overcome all extreme tendencies.

There are particularly two movements in connection with the revivals in China that have shown marked extreme and radical tendencies. Both of these are indigenous movements and have sprung up more or less spontaneously. Both are native of Shantung Province. These two movements are the Ling En Huei (Spiritual Gifts Society) and the Yesu Gia Ting (Jesus Household or Home). The former of these has been stronger in the eastern portion of the province and has spread towards the north; the latter has its headquarters in the western part of the province and has spread toward the south and west. Both of these are alike in emphasizing the physical and the psychical manifestations and accompaniments of religious experience.

The Ling En Huei is the more moderate of the two movements. According to Rev. Paul R. Abbott, Moderator of the American Presbyterian Mission, North, of Shantung, in an article in the China Mission Year Book for 1932-33, this movement first sprang up at Feihsien, being introduced there from Nanking. He says that this movement has been more "indigenous, more emotional, and more spontaneous" than other revival movements in the province. He mentions the phenomena of open confession of sins, swaying of body and arms in singing repeatedly simple choruses, "tongues," and zeal in witnessing, and he goes on to say: "The earnestness and sincerity, the joy and reform of life, the healed family and church quarrels, the willingness of those stirred to give as never before, seemed to commend the movement as desirable for the church. It spread to many parts of the field, notably Weihsien, where almost the entire church and the ministry have accepted the movement. The presence of an educated ministry and the fact that they have led, has tended, to a large extent, to a gradual moderation of the emotional excesses and aberrations. The Presbytery has passed restraining and delimiting regulations discriminating between what is, and what is not, Scriptural and permitted." Among some of the things prohibited he mentions, footwashing as a substitute for baptism, the "spiritual feast" as a substitute for the Lord's Supper, forced confessions of sin, on threat of church discipline, the use of the trance to divine the sins of others, confession of sins for the departed, and such "hocus pocus" as, "the descent of manna," communication with the dead, and the like.

The Yesu Gia Ting is a communistic organization and has its headquarters at Ma Djuang in Taian Hsien. The movement originated as an independent society, with strongly anti-denominational tendencies, within the Taian District of the Methodist church. The leaders held that the Chinese church should be entirely self-supporting and independent of mission control, and that all denominational boundaries should be eliminated. The organization was known to begin with as the Society of Believers, or Saints, and was run on a co-operative, profit sharing basis, with pooling of resources. Excess profits were used in preaching and in propaganda to advance the interests of the society.

After four years the society was reorganizezd under the name, Yesu Gia Ting. As the name im-plies, it is organized on the plan of the Chinese family, with a Gia Djang, or head of the family, who regulates all the affairs of the society. All help as they are able, each with his special ability, and the life of the community is lived on a throughly communistic basis. There is a farm and some fifty "gien" of houses at the home base. When the members are not busy with the local work, they are sent out to preach, some near and some far. Each year there are two large festivals or homecomings when all those who are within a thousand-li radius, or so, will return to headquarters for special meetings, for the upbuilding of the spiritual life. These meetings are held the first to the tenth, of the first month, and the first to the seventh, of the sixth month, Chinese old calendar.

The society has spread in parts of Shantung, Honan, Kiangsu, Shansi, Kansu, Suiyuan, and other parts, where several branches of the parent organization have been established.

They seek to establish the principles of self sacrifice and love. They do not fear hardship, and go great distances with no visible means of support, except dependence on prayer, and the bounties of those to whom they minister. They especially emphasize the filling with the Holy Spirit, and regard "tongues" as an indispensable sign of such infilling. They lay great stress on various ecstatic phenomena, such as visions, dreams, trances, shaking, jumping, singing, holy laughter, and praying in unison with loud voices.

Trances and visions are much prized, and in order to induce these states certain prayer phrases are repeated over and over again, such as, Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, the latter sometimes shortened to Ahlu, over long periods, prayer sessions lasting through the night. In this way a condition of hysteria is induced when control over the speech organs is lost, resulting in incoherent jabbering, termed "tongues." Some fall into a condition of unconsciousness, or trance, lasting sometimes up to twenty-four hours.

Sometimes incoherent talking proceeds during the trance. In other cases those who have come out of the trance will tell of wonderful experiences, such as visiting the celestial city, eating of the heavenly fruit, peaches and other kinds of fruit being mentioned. Others describe the horrors of hell, which they have been permitted to visit, in order to warn others. Some are seized by an unseen power, and will represent themselves as God or Jesus, and purport to speak with divine authority. Dr. Abbott mentions antinomian tendencies, where the distinctions between the sexes are minimized, and where freedom, and even laxity in the relations between the sexes, have been sufficient to discredit Christianity in the eyes of the non-Christians.

In doctrine the movement stresses the filling of the Spirit to the neglect or exclusion of the doctrine of redemption through the cross of Christ. There is a tendency to elevate personal experience above the Word of God as a criterion in spiritual matters. Oftentimes the Word of God is not used as a basis for sermons, and when it is used, it is interpreted in a highly allegorical way, without regard for the common-sense meaning or the principles of true exegesis.

RESULTS IMPRESSIONS

It is impossible at the present time to make a thorough appraisal of the revival movement which is now sweeping over large parts of China. One can not get the proper perspective while the movement is still going on. The hope has been expressed that what we have witnessed may be only a beginning, and that the movement may continue and gain momentum and grow in depth and intensity, until the entire church in China will have been revived and cleansed and made more fit to be a channel for God's blessing.

An appraisal of the movement will have to be left to some future time, when the complete history of the movement can be written. However, at the present time we can make a list of the results that have been observed. It is hoped that these can be con-served and made a permanent possession of the church in China.

In the first place we have occasion to rejoice that the present revival has given to the church a corps of ardent, devoted men and women, who have in a special way been equipped for the service of God in the church. They have been quickened and given a new life purpose, and a new power and zeal in their work. They do not work any more from compulsion or of necessity, but as a service to God, in gladness and freedom of heart. They have been transformed, from the spirit of a hireling, to the spirit of joyful, spontaneous, loving service as soul-winners. They have been given a love for souls and a zeal for God's cause. And God is owning them and using them to the glory of His Name and the salvation of many souls.

Then there are the quickened church members, who have received a new conception of what it means to be a Christian. They have come into a new and vital relationship with God. Whereas for-merly they had heard of Him and read of Him and had accepted Him as a matter of belief, now they have experienced Him, they have seen Him, and tasted of His goodness and mercy. They have vital communion with Him and draw upon the divine resources for their daily walk. They have a new sense of their privileges as members in the body of Christ and a new conception of the duties and responsibilities that follow from membership in the church of Christ.

There is a new joy in the Lord expressed in a new burst of song. The Chinese have never been heard to sing as they sing now. Short choruses and snatches of song are committed to memory, and are sung with a spontaneity and fervor that makes the heart glad. Many of these choruses and songs are of native origin and have been composed during times of deep religious feeling.

There have been large accessions to the church membership in many places. Not only are the losses, sustained during the period of the revolution in 1927, and afterwards, being retrieved, but new members are being gained. In some places the new enquirers are so numerous they can with difficulty be taken care of. In the Lushan district of Honan there is reported what almost amounts to a mass movement toward Christianity on the part of the outsiders. I have been rejoiced to see former students of our schools come back to the church. Just at the time of this writing, news has come from Hsiichang that a prodigal of ten years, a graduate of our middle school there, has just come back to the fold, through a thoroughgoing repentance.

The present revival movement has given a mighty impetus towards making the church in China a truly indigenous church. No longer do our Chinese Christians feel that the church is an imported institution. God visited them; He has given them the same blessings as He has given to the church in other lands; they have had the same experiences. They now feel themselves to be members of the church universal in their own right. This gives them an interest in the church and a desire to further its activities as never before.

The present movement is an indigenous movement to an overwhelming degree. Though foreign workers have been used in the movement, they are few in comparison to the army of Chinese God has raised up for the carrying forward of the movement. Through this movement the Chinese leaders have come into their own, they have found themselves, they have acquired a new self-consciousness, and at the same time developed a sense of responsibility for carrying the work forward. Coupled with this is a new love for the foreign workers, and an appreciation of what their work has meant in the way of difficulties overcome, and value of the results attained. I will never forget the glowing appreciation of the missionaries and their work, given by one of our Chinese workers at a church conference at Loyang. This man had just come through a genuine quickening in his own life and was being used of God in a mighty way. He had now come to love and appreciate his missionary friends and co-workers as never before.

The goal of a self propagating, self governing, and self sustaining church has been brought appreciably nearer in the districts where the revival has taken hold. Well do we all remember the conferences, the committees, the reports, and appraisals, and recommendation of former years, all with the view of bringing about this much desired goal. When God enters the church with His revitalizing influence and power, then the problems that seemed so far from solution and so difficult of approach be-come overnight easy of attainment. With spiritual renewal comes a new sense of dignity, a new power and authority in spiritual matters, and the matters of the church can be safely left into the hands of those who have gone through these experiences of God's renewing grace.

It has been a matter of surprise to some observers that even young men and young women have exhibited a wonderful tact and ability in the fundamental aspects of soul winning and soul nurture and care, more so than many who have taken elaborate courses in psychology of religion or in practical theology. They have in a special manner been taught of God and used of Him in these special lines of work.

There is a very noticeable improvement in the kind of preaching one hears from those who have been quickened by God's Spirit. They no longer preach doctrines learned from books merely, or repeat what others have said. They do not occupy themselves so much with the sins of past generations, but they have a vital message for the people in the pews in front of them. The message comes home to them with power, and their conscience is pricked. There is a prophetic note, a note of "Thus saith the Lord," in the preaching. It is vital, pulsating with life, gripping, and goes home to the heart with a direct appeal.

There is more dependence on prayer in sermon preparation. There is more attention given to the demands of God's holy law as binding on the con-science. When the hammer of the law has been al-lowed to do its work, the balm of the gospel is ad-ministered to do its appointed work of healing and building up. Those who listen will have to admit that this is indeed the voice of God speaking to the conscience. When the word, "Thou art the man," is heard, then the answer comes, "Yes, I am that man, Lord, have mercy on me a sinner."

There has thus been brought about a new consciousness of sin and guilt before God. Sins have become specific, and they have become troublesome. They must be gotten rid of at all costs. The lack of this consciousness of sin, on the part of the Chinese in the past, has been a source of much trouble and grief to the missionary workers. Some were at a loss to explain it. Were the Chinese psychologically different, or was it due to a difference in temperament, or environment? All these conjectures have been proven to be false in view of the almost over whelming sense of sin that has been produced by God's convicting Spirit, and exhibited before the eyes of wondering observers.

Not only have specific sins been confessed, but they have been put away. There is a new note of victory, where formerly there was only defeat. Family quarrels have been made up. The lives of individuals and groups have been cleansed, and hindrances to real progress removed. Instead of hatred, jealousy, and backbiting, there is sympathy and giving of self for others in loving service.

The church has become a Bible-reading church. The Bible has come to have a new meaning, a new flavor. No longer is it read from mere habit or as a matter of routine, but from a genuine desire to secure from it help, guidance, and sustenance for the daily walk. Passages formerly little used or little understood have taken on a new meaning, as they are seen in the light of a vital experience of seeking and finding God.

New powers and gifts have been bestowed upon the church in its various members. It is wonderful to see how the Holy Spirit thrusts forth individuals into special lines of service as soon as they have been revived. Each can now serve effectively with his or her special talent. Gifts have become suddenly diversified, and members have become individualized, through the operation of God's Spirit, where formerly there was only the dead and monotonous level of uniform mediocrity.

Gifts of physical healing have been bestowed. The well. authenticated cases of divine healing have been very numerous, but no attempt has been made to record them, so overshadowed have they become by what seems an even greater miracle of God's grace, the turning again of a soul from sin and evil to serve the living God in righteousness and purity of life. Except in connection with the spurious movements already noted, these gifts of healing have not been emphasized nor have they been capitalized. Special meetings with the purpose of divine healing are conspicuous by their absence.

In summing up the impressions that have come to me in connection with the present revival, I wish to make use of a statement drawn up at the request of the editor of The Lutheran Companion and published in its pages during the spring of this year. After some months of intense occupation with this theme I see no reason for changing this statement, except to add that as I look back on the experiences of the past few years, it is with thankfulness to God that He has permitted me to see what He has been doing in China.

It is my earnest hope and conviction that the present movement is only in its infancy, and that with proper nurture and guidance from within, it will continue with untold blessing for the entire church in China. May God continue His reviving work in His church and in my heart by means of a daily renewal. Mistakes have been made in connection with the revival, due to overcautiousness on the part of some, and due to overenthusiasm on the part of others. But God's cause will triumph in the end in spite of human frailties and in spite of the machinations of the evil one to frustrate the work of God.

In a time of spiritual ferment such as this, there are of course tremendous problems that come up for solution continually. There is the constant danger of schismatic tendencies and movements. Locally there often arises divisions and factions on the basis of the saved and the unsaved, those filled and not filled by the Holy Spirit, those who possess spiritual gifts and those who do not possess them. The Corinthian church is a good example of a church in such a condition of ferment, with the many problems of discipline arising from faction and strife, and questions regarding the use and abuse of tongues and other spiritual gifts. Verily, to pray for a revival is to pray for trouble, but who would shirk the trouble in view of the blessings that follow?

The trouble and pains manifest are in the nature of growing pains. Where there is life there is movement and action, though not always in the right direction. Some people, in their zeal, insist on running ahead of the Holy Spirit; others follow the Saviour's footsteps at such a distance that they fail to catch the contagion of His love and compassion for lost souls.

The impressions and lessons gained in close con-tact with a movement such as this are many and varied. First of all, I have come to see that a revival is not the pleasant, gracious thing most people imagine it to be. I'm becoming more and more convinced that a revival is in the nature of a judgment from Almighty God, visited upon a dead or lukewarm church. Peter says that, "it is time for judgment to begin at the house of God." This is God's judgment over sin and lack of love and zeal for God's cause. This judgment is brought about by means of God's Word, which is, "sharper than any twoedged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." Those who are willing to enter into judgment, and acknowledge their sins, are given release and cleansing, but until this takes place it is useless to pray for the showers of blessing, for they will not be forthcoming. These must be preceded by the thunders of Sinai, which make way for the gentle showers of God's grace to follow.

Secondly, a revival is the work of God and not of man. It can not be brought about by human manipulations or human methods, however clever. When God's time is at hand, He will begin His work, often in mysterious ways, using simple means, and obscure people to further His cause. Hence it is use-less to say we want a revival of this type or that type. It is for us to accept what God sends us, and fall in line with His purposes.

Usually God does not show Himself a respecter of persons, nor even of denominations. Any church or individual who will lay hold on God's promises, who will honor His Word, and give it the right of way in their hearts, will be in the line for receiving God's blessings, provided the judgments are previously accepted.

In the third place, a revival will tend to individualize people. God does not deal with men en masse. Each one must come face to face with God, and see himself as God sees him; only then will the revival make progress. "God, revive Thy Church, beginning with me." This must be our prayer, but it must be a sincere prayer from the heart, if it is to bring the desired results.

Some who pray this prayer do not feel that any-thing in particular is wrong with them. They have not yet begun to search their hearts in earnest. Or perhaps they hesitate when they think of the cost of renewal. Christ's advice to the rich young ruler was, "Go and sell all that thou hast." The price of renewal is a complete surrender of self and all that one has.

Someone will say, I have certainly been born again, and I do not need to have the same experience over again. Do not be too sure on this point. Paul speaks of his little children of whom he is "again in travail" until Christ be formed in them, and these words are addressed to the Galatians who had been Christians for some time, but were in danger of falling away.

Those who have strayed ever so little from the strait and narrow path to follow the easy way of conformity to the world must get back to the narrow path by way of the narrow gate. This means a new experience of repentance from sin and dead works to serve the living God. "Repent therefore and do the first works; or else I come to thee and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent." This is Christ's admonition to the church at Ephesus, which had left its first love.

In the fourth place, a revival can not be promoted by man-made methods and means. Mourners' benches, show of hands, and calls for decision are all beside the mark where God's Spirit is not present to convict of sin and work repentance. These are produced by the right use of the Word of God alone, in the hands and on the lips of instruments chosen by God, cleansed and empowered by Him, and consecrated to do His will. Where self enters in, God's Spirit is relegated to the background, and no results will be in evidence.

A study of the great revivals of the past will show that the emphasis on particular methods have been associated with the decline of the movements. Where the Holy Spirit is in charge, there is infinite variety of expression, and there is no need, nor even time, for any special methods to be used.

This does not mean that wisdom and care are not needed on the part of those who are doing special work in connection with revivals. There is need for the utmost tact in the handling of audiences and individuals. There is a time for the preaching of the law, for fierce denunciation of sin, for rebuke, but there is also a time for the gracious administration of the balm of Gilead to torn and bleeding hearts, sorrowing over their sins. Much harm is often done by inexperienced workers in administering comfort before contrition has had time to do its appointed work. The result is an imperfect conversion, with consequent slipping back into the old way of life.

In the fifth place, there is bound to be opposition to every revival. The devil will use every device in his power to frustrate and hinder the work of God. He will sow the seeds of discord among the workers. He will cause division and strife over nonessentials. He will clothe himself as an angel of light in order to deceive and mislead, and thus bring the movement into disrepute and cause it to fail. There is no revival movement so perfect that it does not give ample occasion for criticism. There is no doubt but that some of the criticism proceeds from a sincere purpose, and from apprehensions that the movement may be going too far and heading towards extreme and undesirable tendencies.

More often, however, the opposition springs from an unwillingness on the part of the individual to face the issues in his own life, and the challenge presented by changed lives around him. He has become enough aroused to feel uncomfortable. The revival is getting dangerously near to his own person. If it proceeds further, it will expose and condemn certain things in his own life that do not bear inspection. It is safe to say that he would not bother the revival if the revival did not bother him. He must either fall in line, or oppose. Here is a momentous decision. Let no one make a mistake, and later find himself to be fighting against God.

In many cases open opposition is a hopeful sign, since it shows that the individual is coming to grips with himself. With proper guidance he may yet come out on the right side. Much patience and prayer are needed to guide such individuals into a place of full surrender, peace, and power.

Lastly, the only means for really promoting a revival are a faithful use of prayer and the means of grace. God's Word brings conviction, it also brings assurance. The citadels of the enemy must be taken by an army on its knees. When Moses kept his arms extended over his head in prayer, the Israelites prevailed over their enemies. A prayerless life is a defeated life. When God can get hold of someone to "stand in the breach," to do the work of an intercessor, then He can begin to release spiritual forces for the renewal of His church.

REFERENCES

1. Augustana. Rock Island, III., U. S. A.

Dr. L. G. Abrahamson, Editor. Files, 1932-1935.

2. Augustana Synod Mission. Minutes, 1923, 1927, 1932-1934.

3. Augustana Foreign Missionary, The. Rock Island, Ill., U. S. A.

Rev. Anton Lundeen, Editor. Files, 1932-1935.

4. Covenant Weekly. Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.

Erik Dahlhielm, Editor. Files, 1933-1935.

5. China's Millions. China Inland Mission, London, Eng- 6. 7. 8.

9. Det Danske Missionsselskab. Kobenhavn, Denmark. Report May, 1, 1933, to April 30, 1934. 210 pp.

10. Evangelism. Changsha Hunan.

Rev. Marcus Cheng, Editor. 1934 (Chinese).

11. Echoes from Inland China. Miyang Hsien, Honan. Rev. Wm. Hi Nowack, Editor. Files, 1933, 1934.

12. Gleanings. Sinyang, Honan.

Rev. Rolf Syrdal, Editor. 1934.

13. Honan Quarterly, The. Hwaiking, Honan.

Published by the Honan Mission of the United Church of Canada. Margaret L. and E. Bruce Copland, Editors. July, 1935.

14. Kineseren. Oslo, Norway.

Organ for Det Norske Lutherske Kinamissionsforbund. Files, 1933-1935.

15. Lutheran Herald. Minneapolis, Minn., U. S. A. Rev. J. R. Birkelund, Editor. Files, 1933-1935.

16. Lutheraneren. Minneapolis, Minn., U. S. A.

Rev. J. R. Birkelund, Editor. Files, 1933-1935.

17. Lutheran Companion, The. Rock Island, Ill., U. S. A. Dr. Ernest Ryden, Editor. Files, 1932-1935.

18. Lutheran Theological Seminary: Report, 1933.

19. Missionstidning for Finland. Helsingfors, Finland. 1933.

20. Missionsforbundet. Stockholm, Sweden, 1934, 1935.

21. My Testimony. Sung Shang Dzieh, Shanghai, China. 97 pp., 1934. (Chinese).

22. Norsk Misjonstidende. Stavanger, Norway. Files, 1933-1935.

23. Pastor Hsieh: A Wayfarer for Christ. Mr. Alexander Mair. China Inland Mission. 1933.

24. Preachers' Experiences. Mr. Yang Dao Yung, Editor. 1925, 1931.

25. Shantung Revival, The. Mary K. Crawford. The China Baptist Publication Society, Shanghai, China. 106 pp., 1933.

26. Short History of the Bethel Bands, A. Shanghai, China. 66 pp. (Chinese)

27. Sin I Bao Lutheran Weekly). Shekow, Hupeh, China.

Mr. Yang Dao Yong, Editor. Files, 1932-1935.

28. Ungdomsvannen. Stockholm, Sweden. 1934, 1935.

Organ of the Swedish Missionary Covenant.

29. Veckobladet. Minneapolis, Minn., U. S. A. 1934.

30. We Are Escaped. China Inland Mission. 1931.

31. Arsbok: Det Norske Lutherske Kinamisjonsforbund.

1932-1934.

32. Replies to a Circular Letter sent out in English and Chinese, February 9, 1934, and also published in the Sin I Bao. (The letter follows.)

Esteemed Friend:

God is graciously visiting the churches in various parts of China with a revival in answer to the earnest prayers of His people. This is a matter for joy and praise, and we can only hope and pray that this revival may continue and become ever more widespread and deepgoing.

For some time it has been in my mind to make a collection of material showing the progress of the revival so far, in order that some kind of record may be preserved in permanent form. It is felt that such a record of God's work in China at the present time would serve as a great stimulus, as well as an inspiration, to the churches of the home lands, aside from the value of such a record from a historical point of view.

Kindly make this matter a subject for earnest prayer, and if you feel led to co-operate, please send me as much of the material designated herewith as you are able at your earliest convenience. The following are some of the forms the material might take:

1. Your own experiences in this revival in the form of personal testimony to spiritual benefits received; or a narrative of your own part in furthering the cause; or a record of what you have observed in the lives of others.

2. A record of the progress of the revival in your own church or district over a certain period of time.

3. Individual testimonies of those who have experienced a spiritual renewal.

Testimonies and narratives should be brief and to the point. Only such matters should be included as will glorify God and up build the church. The English, Chinese, or Scan dinavian languages may be used. Copies of articles to home papers, printed reports, or any material you have used else where is acceptable.

You are held responsible for the facts stated; I shall hold myself responsible for the form of the finished product.

Names of persons and places should be given, but will be withheld from publication on request or where it seems advisable.

It would seem desirable at this time to know:

1. What are the underlying and contributing causes of this revival?

2. What means are being used by God to further the revival?

3. As to human instruments employed, what are their qualifications?

4. What manifestations accompany this movement, desirable, and undesirable?

5. What are the results in individual lives as to transforming and empowering?

6. What results in church and community in the line of sacrifice, service, and love?

7. What attendant miracles of healing, spirit exorcism, or others, and how authenticated?

8. What effects on the non-Christian community; any signs of awakening?

9. Appraisal of permanent benefits.

10. Wherein have I failed God during this revival, as a warning to others?

11. What should be done to further the movement in China and throughout the world?

Thanking you in advance for your prompt and prayerful attention to this matter, allow me to remain,

Yours in Christ,

GUSTAV CARLBERG.