The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 127

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER 127

on many subjects and. may perhaps be called the
popular preachers of the heathen. In this way they
obtain much influence. For the last two Sundays,
Lee has had one of his former pupils with him in
church at Kachek. This man, we were told, had
been able to make much money by his skill in
several false rites practised by the heathen; but
last week, with the assistance of Lee, he took out
his books and all idols and the instruments con-
nected with his former practises and burned them
upon the hillside. Some one said that in Western
phrase he had practically “burned his bank ac-
count.” This side of the subject, however, is not
uppermost in his mind; for after the Sunday ser-
vice he asked the prayers of his fellow-Christians
that he might be kept faithful and that his family
might be preserved in health. He knows that if
any sickness comes to them now, his heathen neigh-
bors will declare that he has brought this trouble on
himself by forsaking the idols and will wreak their
vengeance on him.

The missionaries of Kachek are earnestly pray-
ing for Lee and for his converts that Lee may be-
come the Paul of Hainan to lead not only his
former pupils, but many others to the Savior.

Rev. F. P. G.

Some Curious Marriage Customs
of China.

Marriage customs in China are peculiar. A mis-
sionary was asked by one of his converts, a young
man of twenty, to find him a wife. In China this
is the proper proceeding; so the missionary has-
tened to help the young man. In the girls’ school
a young woman was found who was both ready and
willing, and consequently negotiations were started.
The gifts presented by the young couple to each
other teach a good lesson in appropriate giving.
The young man’s gifts consisted of ten pounds of
fresh pork, ten pounds of sweetmeats and tea, cotton
cloth for a dress, and two silver rings overlaid with
gold-leaf. In return the young lady gave her future
husband cotton cloth for a suit of clothes, a pair of
shoes, a bag in which to carry money, and a hand-
kerchief.

According to custom the courting was all done
by older people representing the young people; for
the two most interested do not correspond with, or
see, each other until they meet at the wedding-
ceremony. The gifts of the prospective groom were
carried on a tray by two servants to the house where

the compact was to be written; for the betrothal
ceremony is very serious and binding. The repre-
sentatives of the interested parties met, pen and
ink were brought, and a Chinese teacher, opening
a big red paper folder, richly decorated, inscribed in
it the full name of each of the young people, to-
gether with the year, month, day, and hour of their
birth. In the four corners of the page were written
“heaven long” and “earth old,” meaning as long as
the sun shines and the ages the earth stands. After
this ceremony tea and cakes were served, and the
girl’s return gifts to the young man were placed on
the tray. Among the educated and progressive
classes the old order is changing, and the style of
the Western nations is being followed at the wed-
ding-ceremonies. The bowing to idols or ancestral
tablets has already been done away with, and a
friend—a teacher—stands up and receives the
spoken vows of each party.

How the Doors were Opened.

An old man came to a missionary in Africa and
asked him whether he could cure his daughter, who
had a very painful disease. “What is the matter
with her?” inquired the missionary. “That I cannot
say,” replied the father, “but she is in great pain
and is unable to walk.” “How long has she been
ill?” the missionary asked. “Five or six months,”
was the reply. “How far from here do you live?”
“About three days’ journey.” “But how will you
bring your daughter here if she is unable to walk?”
“We will bring her in a cart; and then you will be
sure to make her well again, will you not?” :“I can-
not promise that,” said the missionary, “but bring
her here, and I will do what I can for her.” So the
girl was brought into the mission-hospital, and after
being treated for some months, she was able to go
home again. The way home led through territory
to which the missionaries had for some time been
trying to gain an entrance, but which had been
closed against them. Now these people everywhere
gave testimony of what the missionaries had done
for them. ‘They told the heathen people, “We have
not understood the missionaries. They have come
here only to help us; therefore we should welcome
them into our midst.” When next the missionaries
visited these parts, they were surprised to find that
on every hand they were received with open arms,
and the ears of all were opened to receive their
Gospel-message. — The Australian Lutheran.