I MUST AGAIN RETURN to those early days in camp, when life had not as yet taken on regular routine. A Sunday School had been started for the children, and they had called for volunteers to teach; but knowing those who had the control, we did not feel we could take part. At the same time we longed to see many children in camp hearing by some means or other the simple Gospel. Mrs. S. and Mr. and Mrs. P. were ready to help in any effort that might be made; so we asked permission to have an hour on Sundays when we might teach the children Gospel choruses, hymns and stories. The authorities had many objections, and would not agree to allow this: the weeks went by, and we could get nothing definite from them. They knew very well there was no reason in the world why such a request should not be granted: indeed, there was every reason why it should, as it was so important to keep the children occupied. But, as another has remarked as regards a testimony to Christ: "It is the badge of war now, because of the opposition which unbelief always creates against the truth.”
Now it so happened that I had brought up with me to camp, quite a roll of large sheets of blank newsprint paper; and as far as I know, this and my drawing paper were almost the only papers in camp available for any large notice or drawing. Indeed, the drawing of the Sword and Balances, just described, was made on some of my paper. Just at this time someone in camp composed a "Camp Song" to be sung as a cheer to the Campers, and the man who acted as choir-master composed a tune for it. He was extremely anxious to have the new song written out in large letters on a big sheet of paper, so that he might teach it to the Camp as a whole. This particular man was one of the most influential in the matter of permission for our Gospel Chorus service for the children; so when he came to me for a sheet of paper, I said: "No, not until you get us permission for our Gospel Choruses." He was rather surprised, but stated that he thought probably something could be arranged. I told him that if he cared to arrange for our service, I would not only give him a sheet of paper, but would print his song for him. He said he would see what could be done. I think it took him about five minutes to come back with full official permission, and we had the privilege of holding this service until camping days were done.
In the early days of the service, quite a lot of children came to it, and we had some very happy times together. Then the Roman Catholic priest arrived on the scene, and immediately forbade the Roman Catholic children to attend.
For a year and a half, or perhaps longer, the attendance at the Gospel Choruses kept up well, and many children heard the Gospel. Some, I trust, found the Lord. One of the first to confess the Lord was a charming boy of perhaps eight years of age. We had had a lesson on John-Three-Sixteen, and on some of the blank paper we had in stock, a sheet had been prepared with the verse printed in large letters, so all could see it: but blank spots were left in place of certain words, as below:
“God so loved.... that He gave His only begotten
Son, that if.... believes in Him,.... shall not perish,
but have everlasting life.”
Each child was invited to put his or her name in the blank, for example, if your name were George, it would read:
“God so loved George that He gave His only
begotten Son, that if George believes in Him, George
will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
On Monday morning this dear lad arrived with a pocket New Testament, and showed me the last page, which had been blank, but now contained John-Three-Sixteen, printed out in big letters, with his own name substituted, as had been suggested the day before. My wife made him a little case for the New Testament, and for many months, it was his constant companion: and I believe he read it also.
Another boy who was a very constant attendant was attracted in rather a strange way. Several months before coming into camp, I had had an order for a certain Text to be prepared in light and dark blue, shaded, and gold. It had to have Chinese plum blossoms on it, as a decoration. It took me quite a long time to make, as the work had to be the very best I could do. I had just finished it, and stood it up, still pinned to my drawing board, on the kitchen sink (the kitchen was the only part of the house with any pretense to a fire). I was looking it over critically, to see if there were any further touches required, when the cat jumped against it, and succeeded in upsetting it and the Chinese ink, which spread itself over the text. It was hopeless to use it for our order, so another was prepared, and that after being cleaned up, came to camp. In the early days, in our first room, while taking roll-call each evening, I had to call on a family where the father was British, and the mother Russian—a very fine woman. There was one boy, of perhaps twelve, a rather slight delicate looking boy. We soon became friends, and I gave him my spoiled text, which now looked quite good, to go over his bed. His delight knew no bounds, and we were friends, I hope, for life. So when the Choruses started, he was one of the most regular, and his mother often came as well. Mr. P.'s daughter, C., was of course always there. She was a true Christian, and sought earnestly to follow the Lord. She had two friends, who lived near her on the same floor, girls of perhaps fourteen and fifteen. Their mother was a particularly nice Scotch woman, and also one of the Lord's own, I believe. She often came downstairs to our little Bible reading, held in our bedroom on Wednesday evenings. Her two daughters were lovely children, and I trust both the Lord's. They always came, as long as we were in Camp.
In the later months, shortly before the Camp drew to a close, the conflict became more bitter; and many of the children were strictly prohibited from attending. This included the two boys of whom I have just spoken. It was most difficult to find a place to hold this little service: one place after another was closed to us, but for some months, perhaps a year or more, at the end, we held it in a covered court, the front of which was open, but faced south, so that in winter it was not so bitterly cold as it otherwise would have been. The seats were generally logs of wood, old stools borrowed from the bakery, or anything that could be found. It was a very feeble effort, often very falteringly carried out: but "that day" will declare the results.
I have mentioned our Wednesday evening Bible Reading. We tried to have this every week from the time we went into Camp. The faithful few I have described were always with us, and gradually others began to drop in, until the cramped quarters of our part of the room were often filled to capacity. We sat all along the beds, and we proudly boasted four chairs for the three of us, as our good friend Mr. G. had given us a little folding motor-car chair, having a steel frame. As nearly as I can recall we read Leviticus first, and then Hebrews. We had a delightful time over Ezra and Nehemiah, getting a good deal of help from an old book by Dr. Kitto that we happened to have with us in Camp.
We were much encouraged by God's goodness in connection with the large text in the dining room, and not long after that was put up, just before our first Easter in Camp, Mr. Grant asked me to prepare a card for each of the other two Camps in Yangchow, for an Easter Greeting, as well as a special one for our own Camp. These texts seemed to give a little touch with the outside world, from which we were cut off so completely. The Easter text for our Camp, based on the Resurrection, hung just below the Camp Clock, by the dining room door, and was, I believe, a comfort and joy to many: for most hearts were very sore in those early days of Camp life, and perhaps "the comfort of the Scriptures" proved a healing balm.
The dining room door was made in two leaves, one of which was generally kept shut, while the other as a rule stood open. I think Mr. Grant's suggestion to put up a special text for Easter, and the pleasure which it seemed to give to the "common people" of the Camp, originated the idea of putting a new text on the dining room door every morning. As I recall, permission was obtained for this from Mr. Grant. We had brought up with us a number of rather nice texts, and each morning as I came down to cut the bread for breakfast, before anyone was about, I would pin a new text on the door. New texts were prepared, and many in the Camp began to watch with real pleasure for this daily message. I remember seeing a Roman Catholic gentleman, who held a high business position, stand for a long time gazing at one of those texts. It had those lovely words: "Jesus himself drew near and went with them." It was done in crimson and gold, and decorated with a spray of Canadian autumn maple leaves. As I passed him, he turned and remarked: "I do love these texts. This one especially gives me such a 'homey' feeling." He took that text home with him when he left Camp. From the most unexpected quarters we heard of those who were finding comfort and help from the texts, for there were few in Camp who had such a thing as a Bible; and this was all the majority received in the way of real spiritual food. I have seen some of the boys and girls in their 'teens, stand gazing at a text; and I hope drinking in its message.
There were amusing incidents as well. For instance, one day we had put up a rather handsome copy of part of the Thirteenth of First Corinthians: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind," etc. The gentleman who had finally granted us permission to have our Gospel Choruses, stood for a long time enjoying it. As I passed him, he remarked: "Beautiful words! I never saw them before; I wonder what Book they are taken from?" He had charge of the choir in the church.
In the days of old, "The common people heard Him gladly." And as it was in those days long ago, so was it in the Camp in our day. The common people rejoiced in the gracious words that daily came fresh from the Fountain of Life. But the religious leaders, also like those of old, soon began to oppose. They could not bear to see their authority set aside, and the hungry sheep being fed by other than themselves. How often have those words come to me in the Camp: "Ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in" (Matt. 23:1313But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13)). Or again, "They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matt. 15:1414Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:14)). By this time a Roman Catholic priest had arrived in Camp, and he found that he could make common cause in this matter with those who should have known better, for I have seen a "Protestant missionary" deliberately tear down one of those texts: not that there was anything in it to upset the morale of the Camp, or to make the people disobedient or unruly: quite the contrary: but the natural mind "is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)). And so one day I received a letter from the Camp Committee strictly forbidding any more texts to be put up anywhere without express permission. Mr. Grant had fought hard for them, but had been defeated. That door was closed.
In the days of old, the same enemy was equally anxious to close the doors for the Gospel, and to close the mouths of Christ's servants. And so, with that purpose in view, he had the Apostle Paul locked up in prison: and what was the result? He writes: "But I would that ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (Ph. 1:12). And as usual, "Out of the Eater came forth meat, and out of the Strong came forth sweetness." So was it, I believe, in our Camp.
It was a bitter disappointment to see this door closed, just at a time when it seemed to be most encouraging. Not a day passed that someone did not come to tell of the help and comfort the Texts had been to them. And now, they were to be no more. And the hungry sheep once more looked up unfed.
My leisure had been very fully occupied in preparing a new text for each day: and that was now at an end, so once again I had some free time. We were teaching the children at the Gospel Choruses two verses of Scripture a week; or at least, they were supposed to learn these through the week, and some did so, but the majority did not. It was now a new door opened. We offered the children each a text, if they learned their two verses, and immediately the number of learners increased greatly. Every week, we would have from ten to twenty texts to make. These texts went to every part of the camp, and generally went up on the wall, over the bed of the winner. In a place where presents were at a premium, one of these texts would make a birthday gift, and find its way into some other room, where there was no text. By our first plan, one text only was up for one day in one place in the Camp: now hundreds of texts were up, and scarcely a room in Camp did not have at least one; and some walls were almost covered by them. I could not but smile to see one up on the wall of one of those who had opposed them most of all. What can not a child do?
“O what can I do for my Lord?
I am foolish and small and weak.
And I know not what to do,
And I know not how to speak!
“O child there is naught thou canst do,
Sit down at His feet and be still.
But what can He do with thee?
O child, He can do what He will.”
But that was not the only way the texts were spread abroad. An old lady, worn and weary with camp life, came one day and begged for a text to go over her bed, to comfort her. A fine young Jewish lad in his early twenties, brought a Hebrew and English Text that he had tried for himself, and it had not gone right: would I make it for him? It turned out rather a nice one, and was put away to be given to the Synagogue! And his mother made the very nicest cake we tasted all the time we were in camp, and our young Jewish friend brought it over with unmasked pleasure. We tried hard to get some texts into the Hospital, but that was not allowed, even though three doctors out of the four were missionaries, and I am sure it was not the fourth who objected. However, the nurse in charge of the Clinic asked for a Text for the Clinic, and from that time till the camp was disbanded, a text was always to be found there. Each New Year's a large calendar, with a big bold verse above, was sent to Mr. Grant for the office, and he always boldly pinned it up where all could see it. Strange, is it not, that it is not the business man, nor the sinners even, who oppose and are ashamed of the Word of God, but those who are supposed to be preaching and upholding it? And so as one door closed, a multitude more opened.
Some of the doors that opened for us were very unexpected. One Christmas it was suggested the Camp send greetings to each of the other Camps where Allied Civilians were interned. I forget how many there were, but quite a few. It fell to my lot to prepare the greeting cards, and each carried a message from the Scriptures. When School closed, they wanted certificates prepared, and again it was my privilege to make these, and once more each carried its own verse. My Roman Catholic carpenter friend asked for a special text, quite a large one, for some special purpose he had in mind: and his daughter, a fine girl of about sixteen, kept a text over her bed all the time she was in Camp.
And so instead of one Text up, day by day, the Camp was filled with them, and many have taken them to their homes, where some we have since heard have borne fruit to strangers coming in. The enemies of the Truth thought they could muzzle the Word of God; but, praise His Name, "The Word of God is not bound" (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
It was about this time that the Secretary of the National Bible Society of Scotland, who was interned in our Camp, posted a notice on the board, offering a copy of the New Testament to anyone who wished to apply. There were many requests, and further supplies had to be obtained from Shanghai. That was good seed sown, which I trust may even yet yield a rich harvest. It was delightful to see the eagerness of some for this precious little Book.