Our Chinese brethren think that some of these, among their own countrymen, and even among the pupils in our schools, are peculiarly annoying. Jee Gam was telling me, a few days since, of an experience with one of these, which I asked him to write out for the readers of The American Missionary:
“Several months ago, while Mrs. Lamont, Gin Foo King and myself, were busily engaged in teaching the other scholars at the Barnes school, our attention was diverted by the voice of one who was not studying, but talking aloud. He was a pompous fellow, who, though he is only a servant, dresses like a very rich man. Working for $16 per month, he wears a purple figured silk coat and a gold bracelet. He puts on the appearance, in the school-room, of high breeding and great learning. As we listened to him, this is what we heard: ‘What doctrine have the foreigners? They have no duty between Emperor and officials, parents and children, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, or even between friends; but we, Chinese, are taught by our great sage, Confucius. His teaching on these duties is above all that men ever taught on earth. The foreigner has not the son of heaven (meaning the Emperor). When he is 21 years old he leaves his home and thinks no more of his parents; not only so, but leaves them to take care of themselves. The husband lends his wife to his friends, who walk with her arm in arm on the street. The way of courtship and marriage is like that of beasts. He knows no politeness, no integrity, no modesty, and no shame; in fact, all foreigners are barbarians. Confucius said: “I have heard of barbarians becoming Chinese, but have never heard of Chinese becoming barbarians.”’ He continued at length in that way. Gin Foo King and I listened till patience failed us. ‘Where did you get your knowledge about the foreigners?’ I asked. ‘What do you know of the Bible?’ He gave no answer. ‘Who are these people that Confucius called barbarians? Were they Americans, or English, or Germans? Would you take your teacher, Mrs. Lamont, for a barbarian? Would you claim that you are more enlightened than she?’ I then explained to him that those whom Confucius called barbarians were people within the Chinese Empire; his China was a small country, covering only a few of the present central provinces, and all the people outside that district were esteemed to be barbarians. There were no Americans when he lived, and as to English and Germans, he knew nothing about them. He did not call them barbarians.”
When the pupils heard this, they laughed at the pretentious scholar. Since then he does not loudly and boastfully contend; at least, in our presence; but I have reason to think that he works against us privately. We pray for him, and we hope that God will answer our prayers and open his eyes and change his heart, so that he may see the beauty and the excellence there is in Christ.
Our brethren are justified in praying for such adversaries. Some years ago one who had (for the sake of learning English) been very constant at the Oakland school, on becoming a Christian confessed that for months he had carried a pistol in his pocket, determined, if he could with safety, to shoot Jee Gam because of his zeal in leading his countrymen to Christ. We did not labor for that “adversary” in vain.
Another was formerly a constant attendant at the Bethany school, and a constant student of the New Testament. But it was in search of material with which to counteract the influence of helpers and teachers, and hold his fellow pupils firm to the ancestral faith. Among other passages he came upon that one in Matt. ix, 17, which speaks of the new wine in old bottles. It served his purpose admirably. “China,” he said, “is an old bottle, very old; you must not put this new doctrine into it; it will burst.” But Hong Sing, who was then a member of this school, answered him well: “It is not China that is old and weak, but our heathen customs of worshipping ancestors and buying luck at the shrine of Joss, etc., etc. Put the doctrine of Christ into these and it will burst them certainly; but put it into China, and it will make her stronger and fairer than ever.”
One Sunday evening, sitting in my study, preparing for our evening service, while the Chinese Sunday-school was going on in an adjoining room, I overheard some Chinaman vigorously exhorting the pupils. I went out to see who it was. It was this “adversary.” I asked what he was saying. “He is telling us,” a pupil replied, “that he has found out that Jesus is the true God and only Saviour, and asking us all to believe in Him.”