Arthur W. Hummel Sr., notebooks, Fenchow, China 1914-1924

Chinese ash, how much an government gives us for coming here and what official position we get at home when we return

Rev. C. R. Mills of Tengchaoln introduced the foreign peanut into Shantung and it has entirely displaced the native peanut. Dr. Nevius introduced foreign fruit. Missionairies also developed the lace industry - for the support of christians

Pathetic to see so many fine faces of children on the streets and in the obscure country villages, refined, intelligent, clean, strong - but no chance to develop themselves and to lift themselves out of dull poverty. So many fine promising boys came to enter school, but no money and we have to turn them away.

"The life of the missionary is a really a 1 life with everything that heart - my heart, I mean - could wish - Robt. L. Stevenson

One of our lay preachers is an ex-Buddhist priest, who formerly when a colpateur came to his tau to sell bibles or tracts he bought all he could afford in order to burn them - deeming this a real act of grace.

We give our preachers only a living wage The rest they must earn for themselves

96 and 166 bu. of wheat per acres has been grown in part of China - King's farmer's of early centuries"

The principal of an government school at Tung Chia Chang - Mr. Lei are of an earnest Christians told Mr. Pye "You know I am what the Chinese call a learned man formerly I lived only with educated people. Then I became a Christian. Jesus taught that we should love those below us as well as those above, that in reality all are alike and there is no above or below. I haven't succeeded thus far in making myself feel the same towards all men even tho some are poor and dirty. So I want to give my time to teaching poor boys in a night school which I conduct this year, free of charge. For then I shall be making for the people towards whom I can't yet feel as I should, and perhaps it will change my heart." Evidently it has helped to make the change for he has been most happy and enthusiastic in his work.

The Standard Oil as a missionary agency. It has lighted up dark corners of China morally as well as physically. Now one reading is done at night. Formerly the people had nothing to do when darkness fell but to gamble and smoke by the light of a feeble grease wick. Now the

industrious Chinese can ply his trade far into the night, and what is better still for our Christians, can read and study. This is helping us in the night schools and station class work - Mr. Pye.

Ring the rising bell in the dormitory of other people's lives. Be a hiding place for the wind

Your love has a broken wing if it cannot fly across the sea - Maltbie B. Babcock

The world has many religions; it has but one gospel - George Owen

A word from China P.

It is said, you know, that statistics are like little children, they should be seen and not heard" We do not lack much on [?] here in Fenchow because the influence of a church is much larger than any statistics can show. But I do want to give you some idea of the advance in just one phase of our work - namely church memberships. When Mr. Pye arrived in Fenchow eight years ago our church numbered less than twenty members - the Boxer convulsion in 1900 had reduced it almost to nothing. Today our church numbers 580 full members and 1069 people have taken the first and second steps toward church memberships and are therefore awaiting baptism. The pend

of probation before admittance to full memberships lasts from two to three years, depending on the advance made in Christian instruction. During much of these eight years Mr. Pye was the sole missionary in charge except that Dr. and Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Pye, and Miss McCannaughy came later to assist him. Furthermore during this time Mr. Pye had to acquire the language; for two full years he was laid up with serious illness - and much of the rest of the time could work with only half his normal energy. Only his initial[?] contract[?] with God and his wonderful power with Chinese workers made these things possible. The future is big with possibilities if our churches at home stand by us heart and soul. "Your love has a broken wing" said Maltbie Babcock "if it cannot fly across the sea" We are accustomed to progress in China now. No one any longer prefers fifty years of Europe to a cycle of Cathay". So long as this war lasts we prefer fifty years of China to a cycle of Europe.

If you hear Chinese talking on the street or in homes, you may safely say it is about Chinese money, about the cost of things

Chinese suspicion

When coal is brought to Yü Tao He one of our trust men must accompany the carts or the carters will sell part of it along the way.

When Chinese ask Mr. Pye why China isn't materially prosperous and why many of their business ventures fail he tells them it is largely do to their lack of faith. Chinese capitalists have money, and when they wish to erect a flour mill they have no trusty men to handle the money for them.

When our Ser Sin Chen church contributed 7 tiaos toward the new church building in Shang ta village they would not entrust the amount to any one. One of their members walked the whole distance (_ miles) to carry it in person and so make sure it got to the right source.

All detachable water lifting apparatus in Chinese wells including cranks, ropes and buckets must be taken in at night if they are to be considered safe, from thievery.

The old oriental custom of sending two men on any mission is justified here, as it has in biblical times. At the watch of two or three witnesses truth is established.

Chinese proberbs in A. W. Smith's Chinese Characteristics "Two men should not look together into a well, and one man should not go alone into a temple".

Chinese honesty is not strictly ethical honesty, but clan honesty.

Chinese told Mr. Pye that the pre-Boxer missionary Mr. Price of Fenchow he knew to be an honest man. Because when a Chinese came to ask him for a loan of money he never said "I have no money to give" as Chinese would. But he said "altho I have money I can't loan it".