There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.
The tragedy of communism is well summed up in the Apostle Paul's great indictment of the natural man at the beginning of Romans. Communism is the product of man's heart when he refuses all knowledge of God, and trusts to his natural wisdom. So they "became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened: professing themselves to be wise, they became fools". Inevitably, "as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge" they filled up the list of evil, ending by becoming "full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. Ro. 1:21-31. It is amazing how accurately and in detail they are here described!
Communism is a tragedy because many of its adherents earnestly and unselfishly seek to serve their fellowmen, and yet there is destruction and misery in their ways. Many of the Communists truly believe that they are bringing good to the country, they look upon themselves as the liberators and benefactors of mankind, and they practice their beliefs with a fanatic zeal and earnestness only to be equaled by the zeal inspired by religion. But because they refuse to admit a belief in God, they have no standard and no check outside themselves, and the very good that they do becomes perverted into evil. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" as a result "they have done abominable works" Ps. 14:1.
Communism is an answer to those who say, Why does God allow evil? Why does He not compel us to be good? One of God's most precious gifts to man is freewill. This does not prevent the fact of God's absolute sovereignty; it is a paradox, which we cannot explain now, because here we see only "the imperfect arc". God says "I have set before you life and death...: therefore choose life" Deut. 30:1919I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19). We may choose; God does not compel man to be good, does not compel man to obey Him, because it is only free-will that makes love and joy and development of character possible. Communism uses the language of freedom, and is always talking about liberty; but you are compelled to be diligent, and clean, and chaste, and loyal. So all the goodness and joy is gone out of it. They even understand that it must not be only an outward thing, but must come from the heart; so they have their campaign of Hand over your heart. But they cannot give man a new heart. So the Rectification campaigns are followed by the terrible purges, and the labor camps are filled with those who cannot be forced into diligence and chastity and a loyalty to the Party, which means the over-riding of any independent thinking. And as it is control by failing man, it not only allows, but compels, evil; compels hatred, and produces deceit, and is slavery.
There are three things of which the Communists are always boasting-Truth, Peace and Liberty. By Truth they mean deception, as may be seen everywhere in their propaganda. It is clever enough to have just that half or quarter of a truth in it which makes a lie more effective. But their lies are often very clumsy and obvious. I suppose it is because "their foolish heart being darkened", they simply cannot see the difference between Truth and falsehood. By Peace they mean hatred, and this is only too apparent in their propaganda inside the country. At the beginning of their regime there was a tremendous campaign for "world peace". Everywhere there were tables set up collecting signatures to "world peace". Everyone must sign, millions, tens of millions of signatures. At the same time they were equally vigorously preaching war in Korea, hatred against America; and in a few months the campaign had switched to collections for airplanes. Their third slogan, Liberty, is where there is the most bitter contradiction. Their arrival anywhere is known as the "liberation", but actually is the enslavement. It is this universal subjection of spirit, mind and body which has vitiated all that they have accomplished. For it is true that they have accomplished much; but because there is no liberty, and no love to God or to man, no Charity, it becomes "as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal", calling great attention to itself, but "profiteth nothing". 1 Cor. 13:1-31Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1‑3).
In this chapter I would like to tell you something of the background of the life in China, so that you may picture it to yourselves, and realize something of the conditions of those for whom you are praying. The subject is too great, and the conditions vary too much according to place and time, for this to be more than fragmentary notes of things I encountered, and some of the principles which seemed to be working behind them.
Let us begin with the rulers; and let us remember that definite command, "First of all" pray "for all that are in authority" 1 Tim. 2:1, 21I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2:1‑2). Communist rule is an oligarchy, rule of the few. It is imposed from without, and does not even pretend to represent popular opinion. Its business is to force popular opinion into the mold of Communism. It cuts across the traditions and customs of the nation. The most flagrant example of this is the destruction in the communes of family life, the very foundation of Chinese life. It was guaranteed in the constitution that there should be no interference with family life, but of course that is a matter of indifference to "covenant breakers", "without natural affection". They say that the Party is only two percent of the entire population; and probably a very small proportion of the Party controls its policy. There is a semblance of constitutional government; there are elections at which every one is compelled to vote. I remember one such election: I think there were eleven positions to be filled, and eleven candidates, arranged by the Government. If any voter did not approve, he might suggest some one else; but the voter must give his name and address, and of course no one dared to do that in opposition to the State.
This handful of men and women control the country by fear. This was the first thing inculcated by the Communists when they arrived-by the public trials, by the truckloads of victims driven through the streets, by the terror stories circulated. And they brought with them a reputation for ruthless cruelty. Shanghai was not so bad as the rest of China. There were still numbers of foreigners there of all nationalities when the Communists entered, and they probably did not want accounts spread abroad of the mass executions, of the torture of suspected anti-revolutionaries, of the endless suicides. People were impressed by the good behavior and discipline of the red army. But it is disciplined into a heartless weapon for carrying out the wishes of the Party. And it is still the same.
When there was revolt among the students in central China in the spring of 1960, the army was turned on them, and thousands were machine gunned. In the Chinese papers in Hong Kong were pictures of the piles of dead bodies. There may be some disaffection even in the army. The week before I visited Macao in 1959, six soldiers had attempted to swim across to liberty; four were shot on the way, two escaped. But the following night others made the attempt. More effective than the army is the fear of everybody. Everyone is expected to inform on everyone else: children on parents, friend on friend. One of the charges against me was that I had not informed on a man living in my house. If you do not inform, then some one else may inform on you. The sorrow and disunity and suspicion thus created is unspeakable. Everywhere there are police. This of course has its advantages: the old robbery and kidnapping have been almost abolished. On the whole the regular police are friendly and helpful; but they may interfere in anything; if a father punishes his son the boy may appeal to the police. Much more dreaded are the secret police. They may be anywhere; anyone may be watching to pick up a chance word; before speaking to a friend, you give a quick look round, and over your shoulder, that no one is eavesdropping-a complaint about taxes, about food, about overwork, might land you in jail.
Everything in China is organized. I do not know about the higher departments of Government; but no one can avoid contact with the organization of the common people. In the country were the co-operatives, which seem to have swallowed up the individual farmer even before the communes were introduced. In Shanghai the city was divided into "Lanes": all the houses along each short street which branched off the main streets, constituted a Lane. It is a little organization with a managing committee, often with a woman at its head. All privacy and individuality and liberty are being pressed out. The Lane complained and scolded when we put matting along our fence, so the neighhours could not all gaze in, and the children shout at my housekeeper as she worked in the garden. They said she must be doing something wrong if she did not want to be watched. The Lane committee holds constant inspections, ostensibly looking for dirt and untidyness, and seeking for anything suspicious. So they have access at all times to every house.
The special means of control over the people is by meetings. Everything is managed by or through them. In government offices or business firms the better part of a day may be devoted to discussing some point of policy, which should have been decided by the manager in five minutes. One difficulty is that in many businesses the manager and the experts have been dismissed, or reduced to doing coolie work, and the office boy has been made manager. Everything is managed by the young, and the test of efficiency is not knowledge of the business, but loyalty to the communist ideal. It is a sign of their "liberty", that in these meetings all the employees may criticize the manager, especially if the manager is still one of the bourgeoisie. The meetings are supposed to be free discussions, in which all share in forming the policy. Actually, the Government has decided on the decision to be made, but the political representative who is put into every organization must talk the people into doing it so as to give a semblance of freedom. They say there were 300 meetings before the Shanghai Bureau of Commerce decided on the method of levying income tax. This glorification of the working man has resulted in a certain glorification of ignorance, and a tremendous self-conceit. They are of course very ignorant, and are determined not to learn from the West, or from History. When the Communists entered Shanghai we were all sent an English copy of a book by Mao Tzu Tung called "Practice". This was really a glorification of a trial by error system.
There are meetings in the Lanes, meetings in the factories, meetings in the Churches, every one is expected to attend several meetings a week, for political instruction and discussion, for criticism of yourself and of others, for arranging business. No one may be silent, and what is said is criticized by every one else. No one dares to express an independent opinion, so the criticisms and confessions are mostly parrotlike repetition of political teaching. Those who do not agree with the political teaching may pass through torment in these meetings. And everyone must—speak. Sometimes they are held in working hours; several times when I have gone to some public office about something it was impossible to see anyone, "They are holding a meeting". Very often they are after or before working hours. The weary worker finishes his eight or ten hour day; then, snatching a hasty meal in the public dining room, he goes on to attend a meeting until ten or eleven at night. What chance is there for home life? or for spiritual, or mental, or physical refreshment? or for any private thought? That is just what Communism wishes to suppress.
Indoctrination is perhaps the greatest activity of the professional Communist, both in and out of his own country. Thousands of young people, "Cadres" are trained as specialists in it. They attend many of the meetings, there is one or more in every organization, they are active in schools and colleges, and wherever people gather.
Another method of whipping up enthusiasm at first was by processions. The first two or three years there were a good many holidays, and they gave two days, one day for a procession, and the other to rest after it. But in that first summer there were processions any time: every group, including the Christians, organized a procession to protest their loyalty. Hundreds, thousands, would march through the streets, shouting carefully prepared slogans, all exalting the Party and Mao Tzu Tung, and crying Down with imperialism; all carried paper flags, and huge red banners, and generally a portrait of Mao Tzu Tung; often they were accompanied with dancing, always with beating of drums. That first year one seemed never free from the beat of drums. These processions could not be publicly advertised beforehand, for they were afraid of air raids. Suddenly I would find myself six miles from home and all transport cut off, to leave the streets free for the procession. Only once I had to walk all the way home; that day it was pouring with rain as it usually was, when there was a procession. The processions and street dancing ceased later. They had never been spontaneous; the people did not want them; and the Government later looked on them as a waste of time. Holidays became fewer and fewer; people were required to volunteer for work, instead of holidaying. In 1957 many did not even have the new year holiday.
Another important instrument of indoctrination are the newspapers. There is no real news in them, they are discussions of communist principles, occasionally illustrated by current events, dressed up to reflect glory on Communism. Everyone must read the newspaper: shelters are prepared at bus stops and other places along the road, where they are posted up for people to read. Schools, shops, business firms, have a blackboard at the entrance where one of the members has the duty of writing up a summary of the most important articles. Everyone is expected to be familiar with them, and ready to report on them at the meetings. Someone in the Lane reads them aloud to those who cannot read. Any western news that is given is twisted to show the excellence of Communism, and the wickedness of Imperialism. South Korea, Hungary, the State of Israel were held up as examples of wickedness; Egypt and Iraq were glorified. Of all the imperialists, the archenemy of communism is the United States. All along the streets, painted on the walls, in the shop windows, on the hoardings, are cartoons, caricaturing Uncle Sam. John Bull is often with him. Occasionally these will be painted over, when some delegation is expected that might be unfavorably impressed, and moral maxims are painted up or illustrated. But the hate cartoons are soon back.
In spite of all their indoctrination against Imperialism, and their anti-foreign propaganda, the common people are not anti-foreign, certainly not those in Shanghai. Again and again I was offered a seat in the bus, or the conductor would turn some young man out and give me his place. When there was some extra fierce anti-foreign campaign, the greater was the courtesy I met. In shops they would bring out some secret supply of milk powder, or peanut butter, for my benefit, or give me preference in the queue. I never encountered rudeness in the shops or streets. But there are many anti-communists. What fierce growls against them I have heard in the market from little stall holders whose business was ruined by them-Mao Tzu Tung, very bad man. There was the well-known case of the tax collector who was murdered in a sudden fury at a meat stall. The butcher killed himself at once, knowing what the retribution would be. But his act was wildly applauded by all in the market.
Now let us consider some of the things which they have accomplished. Increased production is the great demand of the authorities. This is the object of the Five-Year Plan, the Seven Year Plan, the Great Leap Forward, with its motto displayed everywhere, "Faster, Better, More, and More Economically". For this, men are compelled to volunteer to work seven days a week, ten or more hours a day. There are constant "Labor competitions", between factory and factory, between man and man; who can produce the most in the shortest time? Who will be a "labor hero"?
Just before I left there was the great campaign for production of steel, when they were going to surpass Great Britain in a few years. Everywhere were cartoons of China whizzing past in a motor car, and John Bull panting behind. Everyone had to collect iron and steel and brass and hand it in. In the country women had to bring their cooking pots, and even their brass earrings. Shanghai was denuded of its beautiful wrought iron gates, such an ornament to its streets, and even of the iron gratings in front of shops: there was supposed no longer to be fear of robbers. Little blast furnaces were set up in every vacant lot, and every one, down to primary school children were working at them. I do not know if any good steel was produced; when I left, most of it seemed to be rusting away in great piles of pig iron.
There were also many schemes for increased production of food. There were tremendous irrigation flood control schemes. The wonderful irrigation projects of which they boast are carried out, not by bulldozers and steam shovels, but by pick and shovel in the hands of men, the slave labor recruited from the prisons. These men have been sent to these labor camps for some crime against the state, perhaps the crime of putting God first, of venturing to differ from the beliefs of the Communists. There have been times when the rivers rose, that the farmers were driven to form a living dyke, to hold the flood waters with their bodies. The individual does not matter.
Much has been done in reclaiming waste land, but it has involved terrible hardships on those sent out to occupy it. Children in orphanages, who had no other home, people out of work, anyone who had been in prison, or out of favor with the Government, students who failed in Higher Middle School or University examinations, all were apt to be sent out to those desolate lands in the far northwest near Siberia and the Gobi desert, with freezing winds in winter, and intense heat in summer. In places they were without water, so that sometimes one thermos flask of water a day was the ration for all use, drinking, cooking, washing. There they must develop farm lands, search for oil and minerals, cut wood. There were many Christians among them, many girls and boys from Christian orphanages, many Christian students who could not make satisfactory answers to the political examination papers, many true men and women who put God first, and refused to submit their consciences to the authority of the Three-self. No doubt this scattering may be turned to good by our God, just as the persecution at the time of Stephen's death carried the Gospel to distant parts.
Another way of getting the people out to the country, and relieving the overcrowding of the big cities, especially Shanghai, was by the slogan "Up to the mountains, down to the valleys". Employees of business firms had to volunteer to go out to work in the mines or farms. One large firm sent out over a thousand of its employees, some for a few months, some for two years, some for life. They say that one third of the employees of most business firms had to volunteer to go. Of course, another reason for this was that business in Shanghai was almost dead, when most trade with the Western world, and all tourist trade was killed. All along the streets of Shanghai were empty shops.
With this great drive for increased food production, how is it there is such a terrible famine and food shortage in China? There are at least three reasons. In the first place, they are exporting quantities of food. For at least a year before I left no eggs could be bought. We always looked forward to the delicious strawberries which flooded the markets in May and June; for the last two or three years none could be bought, all were being made into jam for export. Peanuts had been a staple food, eaten at meals, and all day long; all had disappeared. And they say that while her people starve, China is one of the greatest exporters of rice.
In the second place, agriculture has been sacrificed in the effort to convert China into an industrial state. I have been told that at any time there was a shortage of labor in a factory, farmers might be called in. They would be promised free time to harvest their crops, but if the crops ripened in September, and their free time was given in August, it was not much use. I know that at the time of the great drive to make steel, it was almost impossible to get vegetables. They said the cabbages were rotting in the fields, but no one was free to gather them, or bring them to the city, they were all busy at the blast furnaces. This of course is all part of their silly idea that every one should do everything.
And thirdly, God is not mocked. Blasphemous denials of His existence, and mockery of His Name; arrogant claims that man has subdued the powers of nature, must bring an answer "to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." Dan. 4:1717This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17). And so the Lord "called for a drought upon the land... and upon all the labors of the hands" Hag. 1:1111And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands. (Haggai 1:11). And He smote them with floods and with insects. Yet still they have not turned unto Him.
They have accomplished wonders in hygiene and sanitation. Flies and mosquitoes were destroyed; the streets were cleaned up, garbage disposed of. The lane by our house, which had always been a quagmire, was paved, and the garbage dump at its entrance was removed. It is true they set up another dump exactly opposite our gate, but it was cleared two or three times a day. The last year I was there no garbage was allowed to be dumped in the city; a man went round with a pushcart several times a day, ringing a bell, and the housewives brought out their garbage and emptied it into the cart.
Enlarged drains were put in along many streets and there was a definite relief of the flooding in the Western area, though it was not eliminated; I have waded home a good many times through flooded streets after a violent rain. The floods in the city, near the river, were continually worse, perhaps due to the lack of dredging of the river. One did not care for some of their methods. Girls in their teens from the middle schools were digging drains; and children from primary schools at one time spent their holidays sweeping the gutters. There was a tremendous campaign to stop spitting. At all the bus stops were groups of children about ten years old with megaphones, chanting choruses about cleanliness on the streets; and armed with brooms and pails to clean up after any one who spat. As you got off the bus, the conductor wished you a polite goodbye, Have a good walk, and be sure not to spit!
They made a great effort to produce more doctors, and at first had a two year course to turn them out in quantity. But they found it did not work, and they went back to a five year course. One young doctor said to me bitterly, It is no use being a doctor; the Communists do not really care whether the people live or die. If you want to get on, be a scientist. There certainly was an improvement in health. After the first four or five years people were no longer required to take injections against cholera and typhoid, for they said those diseases had been eliminated. Students were not allowed to use mosquito nets, but I am afraid there were still mosquitoes. There was a great reduction in infant mortality; this of course brought its problems, population increased too quickly, especially in the cities. They tried birth control, but abandoned it again; it brought evil in its train. They say Shanghai was increasing a million a year, and they were always trying devices to reduce its population.
There was a great deal of talk of raising the standard of living, and bringing in equality, and many of their projects stemmed from this. There is no doubt there was a leveling down. This began in the country parts with the murder of the landlords, and the distribution of their land among the peasants. I am thankful to say I had no personal knowledge of that. It must have been unspeakably horrible when these men were dragged out and executed before the mob howling for their destruction. No doubt many of them had been wickedly oppressive; but the callousness induced in those who witnessed it was a grievous evil. And everyone was forced to witness it, even the families of the victims must be present and applaud. And moving pictures were made of these executions which people in the towns were expected, almost compelled, to view.
In the cities, the change came more slowly. Salaries were reduced, again and again. Then business was taken over by the State. There were no mass murders, but people who were considered "parasites", those who, we would say, were living on a private income, were sure to suffer. I know of those who were condemned by their Lane, and had to leave their big house and valuables, and go out with what they could carry to find a home elsewhere; and very hard it would be to find, for who would give work or asylum to a "parasite", and so make himself a suspect in the eyes of the Government? I heard of one young man, the son of rich people, who wanted to work; for a time, he was allowed to teach, but then objections were raised, he was one of the despised bourgeoisie. I do not know how it was settled.
For a time, while the peasants were reveling in the riches looted from the landlords, there was a period of prosperity among them. But that soon passed; and I doubt very much whether the poor are very much better off. I had letters at the Book Room speaking of the great things promised after the next Five-year plan, but saying that for the time being they were worse off than ever-no money, no leisure. The peasants were delighted to have each his own land; but that has been taken from him again by the cooperatives and then by the communes. Everyone said that country people were far worse off than in Shanghai, and that was proved by the constant drift into the big cities. Present reports are that everyone is thin and hungry. After the last reduction in the rice ration a mother wrote sadly that now it was not possible to give the children breakfast. And there is no rich relation now to whom the poor man can turn for an occasional good meal. The old clans were very closely knit, and many benefits trickled down to the poor. That is all gone now.
There was a great campaign against beggars, Shanghai had always had its supply of professional beggars, many of them children, under the direction of some woman. Others exploited their wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. Some appalling creatures would run along by a rickshaw threatening to spit on the occupant if money was not given. Others were truly pitiable starving people from the country. And as the great dumping ground of refugees from all nations, there were foreign beggars of all kinds, mostly doing it on a grand scale. For a time they all disappeared from the streets, both Chinese and foreign. The foreign beggars had been collected into an internment camp, and set to work, but in 1958 they were suddenly again dumped on the Shanghai streets. There were almost no foreigners left to help them, and it was a pretty desperate situation. A Christian Book Room was considered fair prey, and I had constant visits from them. Some were very pathetic; most were very bad. The Government helped many to get down to Macao, but they were certainly no asset there, and finally no more could go. Chinese beggars were also returning to the streets when I left. Conditions in the country were so bad, that they risked imprisonment in Shanghai, rather than starvation in the country: even though, the prison was Hell, as one beggar vividly described it to me.
Prostitutes were also collected, and trained to do profitable work. The innumerable nightclubs and brothels of Shanghai were abolished. Morals were very strictly controlled. A young man who had a baby five months after marriage was condemned to two years in a labor camp. She was not a good Communist; I do not know if all would have been treated so strictly. One heard of terrible immorality in the schools; but measures were taken, and they say there was improvement. Stringent measures were taken against corruption, first among Government employees, and then in all business. One heard of merciless condemnation of any corruption found in Party members but apparently it persisted.
In the field of education, the Communists have done a great deal. When they took control everyone was to be educated, especially the poor and the working class. Everywhere nightschools were set up for teaching adults to read. For a short time the national phonetic was to be taught everywhere. Then simplified characters were introduced and used in all newspapers, and by progressive publishers, and very awkward it was for those who knew only the old forms. Then Romanized was being introduced, the "Latinhwa", and it was being taught when I left. But I was told it was not satisfactory; Chinese is a monosyllabic language, and fifty words may have the same sound, and have to be spelled the same way; so nothing seems to suit it except its own beautiful characters. There is a great political motive under this use of Romanized. In one way the characters unite China; there are endless dialects, thirty two or more in the province of Kwangtung alone. Along the coast, every river valley has its own dialect; we could not travel in our district in south China twenty miles without coming to villages which spoke a dialect unintelligible even to our Chinese helpers. But every one who can read understands the characters. It does not matter how they are pronounced, they still mean the same, just as 1, 2, 3, 4, are still the same whether named in English, French, or German. In this way the characters also divided the country, for there is nothing in them to draw their readers into a common speech; so the dialects persist. But if a phonetic language is taught in all the schools, then all must learn to speak the Peking language which is the standard set up for the country. If the characters are no longer taught, there would be a great break with the Literature of the past, almost as effective as the notorious "burning of the books" by Shih Huang Ti in 213 B.C. Another serious consideration is how it would affect the reading of the Bible. Already the problem has arisen with the Miao and Lisu, who have New Testaments in, their own phonetic scripts, which are no longer being taught.—The Bible Society is under the heel of the Three-self; would they allow funds to print a Romanized Bible? Or, if they did, would it be the "Bible" already threatened, with everything omitted which the Communists do not like? So far the danger has not arisen, no phonetic script has been successful. But we need to pray that there may be no famine of the Word of the Lord in China.
The Communists realize that their opportunity and hopes are with the young, and everything is done for the children. School children had such special consideration that they became absolutely insufferable, rude, lazy, immoral. Teachers told me that it was almost impossible to do anything with them, and respectable parents hated to have their children associate with the "progressive" child. At last the authorities took notice, there was a great campaign to teach them manners, and there was an improvement. The Communists begin young. There are no end of nursery schools; everywhere along the streets one met processions of tines, just able to toddle, each in white pinafore, with embroidered symbol, conducted along by young teachers. The mothers were at work, servants forbidden as "imperialistic", and the babies must be entrusted to the State to bring up and instruct.
Consider what this means to Christian parents. Their children from their babyhood have to attend these atheistical schools, where they are taught there is no God, taught to worship the State, and the doctrines of Communism. If the parents teach them the truth, and the children stand by it, it will draw mockery upon themselves from teachers and students, they will probably be discriminated against in exams, and it may bring persecution on the parents. But almost the only hope for the continuance of Christianity in China is that children of Christians hold fast the faith of their fathers. This of course depends on the parents, depends on their being so persuaded in their own mind of the value of Christianity, that they are willing to take the risk for their children.
In the effort to promote the education of the working classes everything was free for them at first, even food and room at the Universities. Even those who could not pass the examinations-except in politics-were pushed on. The Communists believe in good stock and heredity in animals; it was strange they could not see that there was also a heredity of mental excellence among those who had been trained for generations. But they found they could not make silk purses out of pigs' ears. Another very practical difficulty was that there were not enough either of teachers or buildings. So they became more selective. Except in special cases, and after a means test, everyone had to pay for food, and I think a small fee. Whatever course was studied, political indoctrination took precedence. The first thing when the Communists entered Shanghai they appointed political teachers, one of the young cadres, in every school. In all schools and colleges it is essential to pass the political papers: other subjects are of comparatively slight importance. In 1951 schools began with three months of intensive training in the tenets of the new democracy. Medical students have twelve hours a week political studies. In one university instead of midyear exams and holidays there was intensive political training. The next year they asked not to have holidays. In every study communist principles are dragged in. All school books of course were rewritten. Besides studying Communism the students must practice it. All must take a turn at manual work; all go for a week to work in factories, or on farms. In the holidays, all must do several weeks on the farms, both teachers and pupils.
Those taking the exams to enter the university were supposed to put down first, second, and third choice as to what they wanted to study, and where they wanted to be. The better their standing, the more likely they were to be allowed to do what they wished. But their wishes might be entirely disregarded; even before they tried the exam it might be decided what would be done with them. When they graduated the Government assigned them a job. They could express a preference, but again it was by no means certain that it would be regarded. Whatever their qualification they must first do a year of manual work. It was great waste of time: a girl who had graduated as a doctor must first do several months as wardmaid, then as assistant nurse; finally she would be allowed to use her medical training if she had not forgotten it. Or she might just be sent for a year to work on a farm, to dig drains, or work in a factory.
Before leaving the subject of education consider the Christian students. There were many Christians in the universities, and they made a splendid stand, especially in the medical schools. For a time, though meetings were not allowed, they were winked at. In one university the students gathered in the home of an old woman near by. In another, they went out under the street lamps to read, and then gathered for prayer in a dark classroom. In another, the Christians gathered in a dormitory, and had their quiet time while the other students were at breakfast. "I have esteemed the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food." Job 23:1212Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:12). At another, sometimes two or three Christians went out into a field and sang hymns. And if they were not allowed to have Bibles, they carried the tiny S.G.M. daily readings, Words of Comfort, in their pockets. Restrictions grew tighter and tighter; all meetings became impossible. And as time goes on there are fewer Christians. In the spring of 1958
special indoctrination meetings were held for the Christian students in various universities. In Shanghai there were just over 300 students, and the meetings lasted three weeks. They were held by the Three-self Committee, with communist observers. The students were called on to criticize themselves, each other, some Pastors who had worked amongst them, and others. All had to express their opinions, and it went hard with those who dared to confess their beliefs in separation from the world, that God must come first, or if they refused to inform against others when questioned. It was an anxious time too for their parents. One courageous young man who held to his faith was told to be ready at the station at a certain time. He was given a ticket, and sent off to labor in the far West. One girl, a very brilliant student, made a point of strengthening the faith of her companions, reminding them, God must be first. It was said that she was distributing too much poison and she was degraded from being a student, to be a servant in the university. She said it made no difference to her, if that was the work the Lord had for her, she was satisfied. And if by her sufferings she could hasten the day of His coming, she would gladly die. I met her soon after on a tram; she looked well and happy.
Not all have such faith. And it takes strong faith to resist the unceasing pressure of materialism all round. We must give thanks for those who do hold fast, but our prayers are more needed by those whose faith is ready to fail. There are many young people, brought up in Christian homes, or Christian schools, who want to believe, who at bottom probably do believe. But the pressure is so great, they cry in agony, I cannot believe there is a God. Satan desires to have them; and one remembers Peter. It was for him his Lord prayed "that his faith fail not" Lu. 22:31, 32. Even if in their temptation they have denied their Lord, they can still be restored if only they will look to the Lord Jesus, so as to see Him looking at them.
Conditions have changed now, since the communes have been fully introduced. They were preparing for them in the whiter of 1958. Even in Shanghai new blocks of flats were being built without kitchens, and lanes were preparing communal kitchens, nursery schools and factories. In the country, I believe it has been more extreme. Chinese in Borneo have told me of letters from their relations telling of villages being burned, and the villagers moved into barracks, separate dormitories for men and for women, and the children in nurseries and schools. Little boys are often taken away at nine years old to grow up knowing no parent but the State. While I was in Hong Kong two little boys of nine swam across to freedom to escape. Old people are put out of the way in their "Happy Homes". So much for the promise in the constitution that the family would not be interfered with. Women must bring in their metal pots to melt down to make machines or munitions. And as they spend their days toiling ten or fifteen hours in fields or factories they are comforted with the grand idea that they have been delivered from the bondage of being housewives! In the cities perhaps it is not so extreme. I was told that in Shanghai all Chinese must take the communal meals, and it was so difficult to get food, that perhaps they were thankful. It seems that they may take the little portion of rice and vegetable home with them, and eat it there. So perhaps a little family life still remains. But food is so scarce, life is so hard, I was told that in Canton they say, "Better to be a beggar or a dog in the streets of Hong Kong than to be anything in red China.”
In the British Empire, in the free world, the State exists for the individual. Individual opinion is encouraged, even that of the minority in opposition. In Communism, the individual exists for the State. As long as the State goes on it does not matter how many individuals perish, how unhappy and uncomfortable they may be; but they must not feel discontented, for they should find perfect satisfaction in the service of the state. Nobody's opinion is encouraged; there must be no opposition; if such should arise it will at once be liquidated; all must accept, not only acquiesce in, but enthusiastically support the opinions of the Party. Remember that for them there is no soul, therefore no continuance of life for the individual; the only thing that lasts is the State. If man has no soul, at once his value falls to that of a machine. That is all the Communists want, efficient machines which will make their state greater than other states. One of their favorite expressions for a right frame of mind is that the individual wishes to be "a little screw" in the mighty machine of Communism.