Yea <^itYiimianWeat Qhina* Yea Ohi,^ 20X932 lir. and >r^3* Vernon M ITewlandf University Station, CQclahoisay U.S.A. Dear Vernon and IS^Iona t- About two weeks agOfln a letter to lay inotlieryl asked her to write you at once with the news that you folk are very decidedly our choice to join us in Chinese Tibet. I gave her a "brief outline of how and when we "believe it can "be worked out,and fully intended to send a letter to YOU in the next week's mail. But ri^ht after that a young Chinese T?orker in oizr I^isaion decided to make trou"ble,the first and only disharmony In our group during the two years we have "been here* lie raised a disgraceful racket,and went off with dark threatenings of what he would do to the reputations of almost everyone of us. Hardly anything hurts me so much as spiteful ingratitude after treating a fellow according to the Golden Hule* '^^elljit's over now and our ^Ussion not hurt much either,"but I was awfully downhearted for ahout ten days and just didn't know how to write to you* Perhaps it's better that you know the discouraging things right at the start. We value your friendship too highly to lead you unprepared into un expected hardships. Better "put on the whole armor of Grod",for you will need it if you ever get out here. V/e recommend that you re-read all our ITewsletters (5*our to date,and another due goon),which will save i&e the work of reviewing such matters at this time* Truly,we very much need your help out hereiHIGIIT HOW,and the need will undoubtedly be greatly increased by the time you have reached the field and then completed the two years of uninterrupte,d Language Study s^lch every nev; missionary MUST have at the beginning of his first term ^e believe that the best plan would be for you to take a Christian Service I^edical Course beginning in the fall of 1932 at either Bible Institute of ^os -^ngeles or Moody Bible Institute of Chicago,and then take ship from Los Angeles in August of 1933. You would probably reach Yea Ohl on or before t^rlstmas of that year,and we would try to have things In good enough shape so you could start on your Two Year's I^anguage Course soon after ^ew Year* Tiaus you might finish your uninterrupted language study (but you should continue systematic study of the native languages for YEAHS after) just at the beginning of 1936,about the time when we shall be due to go home on furlough* I fear that TliEJSf OH you would have very little time for language study,as you would have to take mA over all our field work during our furlough- So you should plan to take best advantage of that first two years,during which I should try to carry all the work without calling on you to take any responsibility except your language study. (Because of problems with the children's Odu- cation and I.^s. 2.Iorse's health,It may be necessary for her to take them back to America about the time of your arrival,but we are not settled on that yet.) Meanwhile,! must say that ALREADY the work has grown so that we cannot do justice both to it and the connections with the home churches in the U.S. Letters have to wait unanswered,reports be postponed,and "promotional work" be practically undone,because of the needs of our present converts and "enquirers'*. Even the best of our native workers should be supervised,and only a firmly grounded "foreign" missionary can do that properly* I love THOROUGH work,and it makes ray heart ache to see things done otherwise,but we have already arrived at that place through lack of trained and highly spiritual leaders. So we are finding ourselves temporarily forced to a - 2 - to Ifewlanda - policy of restriction of field of laTsor (leaving unheeded many new oppor tunities of witness which develop from time to time),meanwhile placing a strong emphasis upon preparation of native leaders. To this end#we are preparing to launch a regular Bihle Institute course this next fall* Sub jects will he taught "by three or four of us who have specialized on theiD and we who teach will also study in the OTIIER courses along with the com mon students# Well,now can you begin to imagine that we need yovir help ? As for the field and its possibilities^-If you are looking for "teeming millions" you will be greatly disappointed. 3!fone of us would be equal to a ministry to "teeming millions" anyway,and also most of the G^ospel seed and Christian Influence would likely be lost in the rush. I can only say that a great land lies before us,most of which had never heard the Grospel before we arrived here. There are no large towns,but you must be a go-getter if in your ^ole lifetime you are to preach to all the small villages where Christ has never been named. The darkness is THICK^and the people are poor and blin4 and hungry. Despite all that the tribal kings and wizard-priests can do to oppose us,there arc more opportunities for the Gospel than we can take advantage of. If you have a creative mind,a passion for souls,can see work,and are ready to "eat bitterness" for Christ 8 sake,you will not be disappointed here# Othea^wlse you would want to turn back at first sight# It is just a little over TWO YSAHS since we arrived in Yea Cjii# T ua they have been both eventful and blest of God. Despite numerous diseases of the region our lives have been sparedfand we have gathered together some very good native helpers. Well over a thousand preaching services have been held,and ITXHSTY-SEVSlf souls have been baptized into Christ,besides those received into our group who were previously immersed elsewhere. In Yea Chi and our outstations we now have well over a hundred ChrlstlaHs ' ore trying to build their lives and churches after the Hew Testament pat tern# We have given about 5000 or more treatments to the sick,and I can safely say that several score of lives have been saved and thus given another chance to know and accept the only Savior. Evangelistically,I believe that we can truly say that we,by God's trace,have accomplished more in tia years than was accompli^ed in B^ang about 18 caravan stages north of usi during its more than years under the U.C.M.S. program and methods and attitude of mind,and that we have done it far more economically. V/e have set ourselves,as far as possible,to use only spiritual means to accomplish spiritual ends,and we still believe that the idea is fiindamontally sound,especially in such times of financial depression. S"ow the ^^3 work at -^at^g (we have been definitely approached^^DoutouirTf^^ taking it over),after having expended somewhere around S750,000.oo,and testifies that work on the Tibetan border is neither easy nor quickly fruitful. Take warning,if you favor the type of work done by that organization I On the other hand, consider that today we have more converts than the J^ataug ^'asslon has,and leas backsliders. But they had many good buildings,while we had none;they had a goodly number of American missionaries,while we are the only white family within 4 days of hereI they had the backing of a great and experi enced Mission Board with all its wide resources,whlle we have had only scattered individual friends and local churches of Christ to support us# To fully answer the question "Why the difference would take more time than I can apftre,and would perhaps take more understanding of mlssi- naxy procedure and history than you now possess. Briefly,we are convinced that it was not merely that they chose a more stubborn field but also that they used the "social service" methods In a way that crowded evangelism into the background. Kany of the converts were spiritually nursed to death* - 3 to Newlanda - So far as I know, only one of the misaionaries sent to work there was an out and out '*mederni3t","but most of the others were colored v/ith it* Perhaps it would he pretty near the truth to say that few had much definite theology at all,and in general seemed to be sent out "by the Board "because they had College degrees and good intentions for the uplift of suffering humanity* "Unspiritual conditions arose which caused violent internal di3sansion,and coffiDined with the natural diffioulties of the field itself and the finan cial depression in America led to the order from "headquarters" for the abandonment of the station# SoVernon and I^onafiaake sure of your spiritual foundations (a faithful prayer life is perhaps even more important than doctrinal soimdness) before you take the leap oYcrseas* ITowjyou mustn't think I hare made the mistake of going out of my way just to say things against the U.C.K.S, The "general remarks" I have made so fully are very fundamental to missionary vjork in general and ours in particular. You should be familiar with suoh basic principlesfbefore cast ing in your lot with such outcastes as we "independent" missionaries are* Also we want you to understand that we revere the memory of A.L. %elton and also have a very high personal regard for -Norton H. Bare and Harion H, Duncan ^o have been working in Batons since Sholton*8 passing* I also have a very warm personal regard for Alexander ^bxlI now of the home staff# He is an unusually fine fellow#and I am sure that he is a godly man,al80 of evangelistic mind and remarkably free from the organization complex# But the sad thing is that people of such admirable and lovable character should be bound up in an organization which olironically has ac quired the wrong ESIPIIASI3. It has become the increasing conviction of an increasing number of close observers that throu^ the U-C.lt.S. the mighty movement for the restoration of ^^ew "Testament Christianity has been betrayed to the denominations and to modern liberalism to such an extent that it ia now almost unrecognizable as such* Birds of almost all feathers have been flocked together into an extra-Scriptural organizationtcompromising apos tolic convictions to acquire a wider unity. Bat en^h of giat* Wft wflnt mia^iion^riea out here who are motivated hv their LOTS fnr Cbri Rt and 4ia Churfth.not bv their ANIMOSITY toward a nrgnnlnation#. *6 are in high hopes of your joining usnot because of any stand you have taken con cerning the U.C.^.3,,but because we are assured that you are soundly estab lished in the faith and practice of the JTew Testament^and because we believe you will neither betray nor compromise the principles of the Restoration Movement. Quite a number of candidates have written us about joining this Hiss- ion.but not all of them have shown the common sense you did by correspona- ing simultaneously with members of our Advisory Council, w also commend you for going to the doctor for examination as to physical qu^ifioations, and for having Prof. C.C. Taylor pass upon your ioundness As we had already conferred with you during our last ^rlou^.^d ^ you know that we like you personally so that wa would moat likely get ^ong well togetherthe moat important points as to your qualifications settled. "He don't eare particularly ^ether le^TestLient Ti r IT siiaf an VQU affTe with us about Jesus Christ and ^*ia -^ew J-es&aiaenw ^d'th^^ov'e^ert ?rrtf?ore1^d propagate churches after that pattern. One is a matter of opinion,the other is fundamental. JSy education and training you are both hi^ qualified for and I have no doubt but that when the proper time comes you will be worthy to relieve xoy weary shoulders of the burden of leadership. ?or some I have been impressed that ny earthly years would not 1 many. Yo^ graduate iid lostflraduate work in itoillips Universitytyour experience in both ^reaching and teaching^your long experience in ^risti^ ?^mbe??l^a,whln I wks superintendent of the Intermeaiate C.S. whidh - 4 - to JTewlanda - you were then a Life Work l^ecrult ?) and Bi"bie School workand the way you have PERSISHSD In the heavenly calllng-all have commended you* It Isn't "brilliant men we need out here^for they would most likely get discouraged and give up. We just need faithful stev/ards* plodders like Ab Lincoln "w^io have humbly and devoutly said "I shall prepare rnyselffand sometime my time shall come". We need folk like Jacob of old will take hold of tlie 2?ivine Being with a stubborn grip and not give up until the blessing is given- We rather believe you are that kind of folk* Anywayfthe strong reconnnend- ation from sudi a widely respected champion of the faith as Prof* C.C, Taylor means a great deal to me and I believe will carry weight elsewhere too* Concerning your farther educational preparatlonwe "believe you would find a B.B. degree of very little use out here* You already have your Ma3ter*s degree,while I still lack my thesisfand Eugene K* ^arn has only an A.B. from West China Union University at Chengtu (which ia really a very fine school of the interdenominational kind)* %s* ^ov3q has only an A.B# from the University of Oklahoma (and was elected to ?hi ^eta ^appa honorary scholarship fraternity),and some postgraduate work in ^ible at fillips U. Most of our other workers are quite intelligent,"but far "below us in educ ational ranking* As for the other missionaries in this great ^*rovince,I "be lieve only about half have college degrees. And as for the common people,- you will be astoimded that such l^orance could exist in this modern world. I believe that only about 4% or 5% of the people in our region can even READ,and there ia very little reading matter available* Our little school of about sixty pupils is a very simple affair poorly equipped In miserably inadequate rented quarters,but the iVovlncial Inspector of J3<jucation "who recently visited us stated that there is no other school nearer thsn Likiang (ten days to the southeast) that will compare with it* The few and scattered 30 called "teachers" use the old Confucian classics aa textbooks,and **teach" by the ancient nethods of hundreds of years ago* This is the rirst time an Inspector has visited these regions,and he BDRHSD many armloads of long obsolete textbooks in about a dozen schools. Our school was almost the only one that escaped drastic treatment. The Inspector yias so angry with the tribal king at Kang Pu that he lashed him sepaatedly with his riding-whip* Both he and the Yea Chi king were publicly reprimanded for owresj^ing the common people ajid conspiring to keep them in Ignorance and iupjrstition* These two have done all they oould to prevent their subjects listening to the Gospel or sending their children to our school,and have persecuted our Christians at almost every opportunity. The Inspector's visit has greatly atrengthenc:" our position here Well,enough about education,which is a sideline with us although the children of all our native workers and Christians need to be educated somewhere,if possible \inder Christian super vision. Any farther educational preparation you make had best be in the way of technical training such as the Christian Service Ifedlcal Co^se, with special emphasis on pharmacy and therapeutics. Also r^eraber that after you reach the field you will acquire yiii^aww practical ability in contact with actual situations many T?hlch will require more or less rese^ch and study. First-hand acquaintance with the field will prepare you to ^oose suitable courseo of additional study during your furlough in teerica* xt is inadvisable for you to overprepare yourself In a theoretical way having that practical experience on the field. We are rell pleased to learn of some of your '*ineldeHtal abilities", 8u^ as being able to play mslcal instruments,do electrical work,having stenographic experience,tip. Altogether,WE shall quite be put i^to shade II But I feel M sure that we shall be able to wpplement each other quite well. Perhaps I shall te the COMIC SXTPPIEMEHT !% the way, if you have a sense of humor,by all means don't let It desert j'ou east of the Pacific. Bring it along to nixrse you through some of the situations that would otherwise be too mch of a Out hsre^^ oi grief and premature baldhoadctoess by taking EvEKXTHiiiu too aeriou8J.y 5 - "feo' Newlanda Prepare to bring along all the B:8ical Ingtnaments you can play (except a piano which would hare to he left at Yunnanfu T^ere the railway ends) or think you can learn to play* V/e do not afiree with the '^non-progresaire "bretheren in eliminating isuslcal instruments from Christian worshipOTen if we have partly come to their position concerning missionary sooletlea. Tibetans and Lisu of our region are specially fond of music,and some of them are apt in learning to play.on various instruments. A3 for your electrical ability,we have long wished that we might at least have "radio receiving" facilities out here,v?hlch would cut in half our time of eommunications with the outside world, ^it the only electrical outfit we have is one ^dison Alkaline All-Steel Battery and a small generator which could be operated band or water-power,and some accesaories such as wiring and small bulbs, 5po. arumme and other friends In the "Cottaffe Missionary Society** of Chicago presented these to us,but to date both my time end training have been insmfficient to use them. We have often wished we had a MEDICAL ELECTRIC BATTSRY outfit. More about suoh matters later. I suggest that you write to AMBRIWA$r COlffSULATE, yinjnTAS7U| CIIIITA. - - concerning Qhlnese regulations on foreigners operating wireless radio outfits In this Province The fact that you are both well under 50 years of age, and have no child ren yet,Is in your favor. It is not easy for those having small children to adapt themselves pjid learn the native languages under these primitive and often trying conditions. The problem of our children's education per plexes us continually,and takes most of Mps. J^rse's time awfty from direct missionary work. Yet our three boys are a distinct blessing to us,and they may be far better'missionaries in future than v/e have been- %en you get here,they may even servo as interpreters for you#as all three of them speak both Chinese and Tibetan fluently,and the two older ones are picking up the Lieu language also Your youth also favors your being able to learn foreign languages more readily,but we would like to know in detail what study of foreign languages you have already had,and whether you found them very difficult. However,one cannot necessarily judge by that,as I took only a small amount of language study in America and did poorly at that,yet I have done quite creditably on these lEinguages# If you are attracted to PEOPLE,and like to make friends, the chances are In your favor. As for your dentistry,have everything done up shipshape to last a long time,for even the Japanese dentist at Yunnanfu (over a month's oarava?i trip away) left the country in haste because of the Chinese indignation over Japan's seizure of Manchuria. A trip to ^rench Indo-Chlna or ^bngkong would be expensive* But I could PULL your teeth^and save the expense Hotwithstandlng the rather heated opposition which some of our rope- holders make againsi vaccination,we ourselves must advise you to be vacoin- ated against smallpox,at least,before you leave the States* Inoculation against typhoid and paratyphoid,perhaps dlptheria also,is advisable if done by a competent physician. Qmc.llpox is specially prevalent in China, and our region has cases of It every year. Often it strikes in the most virulent and horrible fo3?m,-Black Smallpox,-which took Miss Irma *arnick last year in Yunnanfu. The natives have a crude form of vaccination with locally- produced serum,which seems effective,but I don't think you would care for It. The dried vaccine Is blown Into the nostrils of the candidate How we oome to the setter of HELATIOITSITIPS IN TITS HOMBLAKD# The "Christian Standard" has for many years done much to disseminate Information and secure support for "independent" missions,without organic connection with any of them. They believe in the autonomy of the local churches,and in 8U8h local churches doing their own missionary work directly as far as - 6 - to ^fewlanda - possible. Wq ourselves "believe that this ia the ITevr Tastaraont wayaBd that the voluntary moral support which the "STATOAHO" has given us from the very beginning has been one of the ciain factors In enlisting and holding enough "ropeholdera" for our work. In giving auoh puhlioity support to our work they have never suggestedfsiuch Xes3 requestedf that we oaiapaign against the U.cai.S. Both they and we have been busy on a OOITSTRUgTIlfe proaram. ^''e are Bure that they will be glad to help you. ?he Christian Hestoration Asaociation (James Deforest Jtech.Pres.) has also done much for independent missions^along dieent lines. During our first year on furlough we wore under contract with them,but became convinced that the siWpie ^ew Testament way of direct connection between the Hiagion on the foreign field and the fa better. So we terminated the contractwlth best wishes not even one of the Associated ?ree .Vgencies so as eOHTIUCT is oonoerne(i,but nevertheless ^ve are happy to be in the s^e with the other "independent" missions. V/g are sure that the C.R.A. Will be i^erested in your coming to Tihet,and will give you commendation to those who support such work. n T. Mission ."Board back of us#such as the U.C.M.S. y the C.R.A. Do you think this is a vital we^lcness ? Yet neither Christ nor the apostles made any provisions for sucli organiatlons#except inasmuch as the local congregations were to be missionary societies and the apostles and evangelists wero to be missionaries and all Christians were to be soul-winners^ In this way rre are surprisingly unorganized and individualistlciyet never theless we find ourselves a vital spiritual organism which is able to func- ^on co-ordinately. Our 2 living-link churchec and-one living-link ^i^le p.ass,and other churches and Individual with whom we have main tained an informal and Informational fellowship,have stood with us ^th in prayer and financial support through all these Boat troublous timea* Tliis coiriradeahip has been all the more precious because it has been purely voluntary and prayer has been given e leading place# There are no written contracts with our living-link ohurche5,and v-e do not conalder our ropeholders as strict financial pledgee* We have sent out* only 5*0UR general ^^ewsletters alnce leaving the TJ.3.A, in August of 1929 Yet we h&Te acconpllshed all our work without going into dcbt^and even have a small I^taergency ^ederve on hand* Does it not seem to you that tJod has placed Rls stamp of approval upon the apostolic way of doing missiionary work in modern times ? Dear friendsmake n aure you are In the Ijord*s will#then trust in Kim and go forwardieven though you may not be able to see more than one step at a time* Our Advisory Coimcil has given moat decided help,but they are only an ADVISORY Council,the members of which have no financial obligations to our Mission except n4iat they voluntarily and individually undert^e. The Western Section centers around my living-link church in Los Angeles Ulollenbeck Heights); the JIastern Section centers around C^ertrude's living-link church in Sprlngfield,HI (Vestside)! and the Central Section centers around Mother Korse who has become aome^"hat of a missionary veteran- *e cannot say that any sfectlon has the pre-eminence (altho In the "Western Section Is also Eugea K. Tarn's living-link 5!lzpah Bi'ble Class represented by %s* Lulu Scott Its teacher),and there ian^t even a regular chairman for any of the sections unless it Is Kother ITorse. Tibw sad It Is that we should be so slipshod in general organization,constltution,and by-laws 12 This will present some problems as the Sfflsslon continues to grow,but we believe that prayerful atudy of the Kew Testament will solve them. Perhaps you will be able to show ua a more excellent way than the present one* Well,where on earth will YOUR J'llIAHGIAL SUPPORT come from V ^o will guarantee that you will not be left stranded in the Orient ? Strange that such capable men as Paitl did not think of such tilings and give us all the details Perhaps he was so sure that God wanted him to get to l^cedonia - 7 to ^evlaads - It to Home) with the Ooapelf&nd was so eager to "be al>out itthat he let oae other consideratione slip into the background* ^e hlinduess resultant from "beholding the risen and ascended Christ on the road to Bamaaous lasted more than three daya- he was thereafter effeotiyely hlind to stafiy things that had loomed large "before. The fact that Qhrist was truly risen from the deadfa liring and reigning oaTiortWas to him the key of hope in every im- possihle situation* Do I seem fanatical ahout this ? Ygt we apeak with the aaaurance of experienoetand it is difficult to argue against experience* If you can think of anything that is more worth proving experimentally than that Christ lives and reigns and is afcle to save unto the uttermostfthen you have a different scale of values than we have* ^t here's your chance to PHOVS it. If you "believe it is Ood's will for you to join us in this Mission,trust in Him and go resolutely forward#commending yourself to the "bretheren "by the earnestness of your manner and the effective way in idiioh you carry out each step. Pray God that He will "block the way to all that is contrary to His will and open the way in all that is His will for you* ^t do not "believe that HE has "blocked the way until YOU have tried YOUR urMOST. If God "be tot youfWho can Toe against you ? If these things "be true# they are worth living and dying for in our heartiest way? if they are false# the sooner w find it out and give them up the better- As for salaryffit will he well if you can have the same amount as the U.CM,S. pays its missionaries#which will "be considerably less thaji you might receive in America. (Bit I dou"bt whether the Lord wants us to &SQUIHE the U.C.M.S. stajidard.) Aa living conditions and standard are quite primi tive out here#you can cut doum on personal expenses and atill find the amoiint to "be quite sufficient for your reasonable needs. Costa of living in all foreign lands have "been steadily rising for some years* According to the latest information we havc#the U.C.M.S. has "been paytn tfl500oo p3P year to each missionary couple in Tibet (in Japan it is i?2600*oo} #and extra allowance for ohildrenjbesides fArnishing a resideaoe#and some minor con siderations such as annual vacation allowancetextra allowance for freight beyond the seaport so that inland missionaries will not suffer in comparison with those on the coast,etc. During your first two years out here,when you wiUhave no duties or responsibilities except language stud3t#you will find the above items quite sufficient for you. Every Missionary Society also gives an "Outfit Allowance" to all new missionaries,as nearly all of them axe just graduating from achool and have little if any money with which to outfit themselves* ^or its Tihetan misa- ionaries#the U.C.Xl.S. custom has been to give i-SOO.oo outright,as they have to go so much farther and stay longer aad there are no places in Chinese Tibet where outfit items oan be purchased as one feels the need and has the money to spare* Upon leaving AmeriCB#you should have enough of all Itass for at least two years afeead and in some cases for the entire first term* We should prepare a list of suggested items ishich our experience most U3ef\a#and send it to you for purchasing. Our experience is that it is better to have everything forwarded by the ^Sxport Division of i^ontgomery Ward Sc C6. Chicago.as they are specialists in oaoking and shipping export orders for mi8sionariea#and will also give 10^discount on things p^chased from them. They will also forward with your order things which you have purchased elsewhere and committed to them for shipment* A3 transportation from the States to the Tibetan border is very expensive#it is experienced advice be given about things to bring,to avoid unnecessary expense Then it is customary for every Mission Board to pay the Travel Expense, within certain reasonable limits concerning which I shall write you later, of its missionaries to and from the field. This will "be much the largest sirigle item connected with your coming,not even excepting your smiuai living-link allowances# Yovv IJrje of travel will be as follows? Vnext page; - 8 - to ^evlands - fx^oia your "home town" to ths -^aoific Coast; from port of embarkation to Hong kong on one ship via Japan and Shanghai; from Hon^ong to Haiphong on a second ship) from Haiphong to Ytumanfu three days hy railroads from ""/unnanfu to Yea Chi T?y oararan* You will need certain definite information for each of the ahove stages of the tripand certain definite preparations must "be n made for you at eaoh point of ti'ansit* '%en the proper time cornea# I ahall furnish you with such information and maike such preparations# Please don't let me forget ahout italso the suggeated list of outfit* Another important matter waiting to be definitely worked out is that of YOUR nJXATIOlr TO US AJTD THIS MISGIOS"# "^ia^and the problem of your sup portyare the two phases of the situation v^ch hare been giving us most thought* It aeeaa t}:uit they are inter*related*too* Although this letter is already long*X feel that ve might better atta^ the tvo above problems at onoethus uniting all basic considerations into this one letter* ^t I confess to hardly knowing ^ere to take ahold* We believe in a rssptoaibls Miaaion organization on the field#to pre sent ,a united cause to the supporting churches in the homeland#and to also istpresa upon the native peoples that the missionaries love one another and can co-operate# (But there is such a thing as "independent co-operation")* Out hero the native churches are young and weak,so there is temporary need of an extra-congregational Uisaion organisation* ^e do not want to make ourselves the '^big boss" over other individuals or groups#but necessity seems to call for a "big brother**. It is the verdict of all experienced mission aries that a FI<31I0D 035' TuTELAGS is necessary,both forrthe aew oh^arches and for the new missionaries. In nor observation#that period is the most difficult and important of all times in missionary development#muoh as "child training is of central importance to church and state. But the trouble most new miss ionaries have is in realizing that#although having graduated froai University and probably having had ministerial experience too#AFTERj^y arrive in tMs new world ftf the foreign mission field they naist BEG015E CJIiAhe& AND GO TO SCHOOL AGAlH,-that they must again become DISCIPLES before they can be ified as apostles* The very decision of character#power of will#and individ uality of action which contributed so very much to their coming to the foreign field is likely to hinder them from submitting to that period or tutelare" and becoming CO-.OPSHATIVS miasionaries* ^t here we are so iso lated that all if us are in danger of becoming too individualistic eccentric,which frequently leads to such frictions as 'tep)cramental differ ences",etc. So you should be patient with the old mossback mi3sioncrie3,who really have good intentions and kind hearts even if they are a bit cranky* It is quite likely that##after your "period of tutelage tyou te in charge of a atatlon.or even teoome Blreotor of the "isslon* mi^t come sooner than any of us expect,and you should take fullest advan tage of every opportunity to prepare yourselves for it. The advisability of recognizing your responsibility to the Director of this Mission.at least until you have completed your years of uninterrupted language 3tudy#may be seen in two other phases oi the problem of sending out new missionaries* (I). The supporting public will have more confidence both in you and in us.and toward the project aa a whole. Wg were not well known when we resigned from the U.C.M.S. at Batang in l926 and laxmched out into this nev/ field* The U*C*M.5. atta(^ed our project as unreasonable,and^sa^ we were just young and nervous up3tarts#with We z^al propaganda prevented our getting any support from the Church at -^nld# of which we had both been living-links,and we got o?^y from my home church, First Christian of TuiaaiClaude S* Hiii#minister* But - 9 - to Hevlands - we knew God had called ua outand we followeci ^the still#small Toice" With the moral support of those previously mentionediwe plodded riaht ahead with our preparationsfgathering frienda month hy month,proving ourselves to the hretheren* lToW judging from the nuzneroua letters we receive from widely scattered sources, the "bretheren seeia to feel that "both our otto faith and th faith of our living-link churches has "been vindicated* Confidence and good will toward us and our Kiaaion is widespread#so that i^ere it not for thia terrihle^ySHjA^IAL HEPHSSSIOJr there would he no douht ahout funds to hring you outrv/ir ilSVS COUyiJJEHOS IIJ Tim mSTHSRM HAVB SHOW OOHPIIEHCE IH mj HAVE OO^im^OE IK YOU* Uow.while you are hoth unproved and unknown as foreign missionarios^it is better that you associate yourselves in a definitely reaponai"ble way under the direction of those t^o' through years of testing irave earned the confidence of the churchea^even though we i^ay not "be ahle to GUAEAHTE13 you ASYTHIUG financiallytlargely due to the financial depression. We are satisfle-'' thatfhowever little support you fflight get to start with,it would he more than you could do indepesdently of U8 (2). Partly "because of your "being untried as foreign missionaries, and partly due to the finanoiea deprea3ion,it is pro"bahle that ^e shall have to rc-dlrect at least a pQr,tion of our eurrent ropeholder's contributions your way,and maybe evenffut ao-vvn on field expenses for a year or so,in order to meet the heavy initial expense of launching your miasionary career* An that we may be able to help financially may not "be enough,and you will probably have to raise a considerable proportion of yojitr support yourself* ^e feel sure that you will gladly do your beat in that regardtbut we hope it will not interfere too much with your Christian Service ^-e^ical Course* However that may "bei you can realize that in Justice to those who have contributed to this Mission we must insist upon your responsibility to its director in rctuBfl for sponsoring you and for actual funds advanced. Ifother liorse has suggested the idea of enlisting four churches to give $600.oo each for the first year,and $400*oo each annually thereafter as long as you remain in missionary service. I incline to favor the idea for several reasons. 5*iret,most of the churches which have been supporting "independent" missions are smaller than the churches which support the U.C,M.S.,and so a leas proportion are able to support living-link mission aries. Secondly,the financial depression has still farther effected missionary giving,so it is likely that the burden (or PRlVIi^GE) should be divided between more than the customary two churches- % the way,the U.C.M.S# did not grant any church a living-link misai^les3 it gave $1000.00 for that purpose. The extra $500*oo per yearT^^^cy^said was for expenses ICItENTAL to the maintenance of the missionai^ytSUeh es sending them to the field and returning them on furlough,rent and repair of residcnccv^cation allowance,children*6 allowances,etc. But the C.K.A. r9queate(^ only ^750*oo per year from the Springfi elf. Ill .Church for %3. Hopge a living-Hnk^^p- port,irtille the Hollenbeck Los Angeles Church pays ^lOOO.oo for ming* lae extra $250*00 per year pays the customary children's allowance of 'dSO-oo for Kobert and lldo.oo for LaVerneiwhile Eugene's has m to come out 0^^" miscellaneous receipts. But it is well for you and Hona to each have living-link church if possible,- ijflg. church responsible for iinfi missionary* We say this in the light of what fellowship with our own living-link churches has meant to Undoubtedly it could be done for you except for the financ ial depression. But with God all good things are possible,-pray about it* Juore about the money LA. (Matthew 6;33). Perhaps you have already enlisted some definite support,and we are hoping you will soo^ write us definitely about it,so we ourselves can take further steps* ^atever you dOfWe suggest that you co-operate with the members of our ^dviao:^ Co^oi:U and especially with Kother Morse* I shall send a carbon copy of this letter ^eaot Section of the Council and also to Ur. Edwin Errett of the "Staadaid' - 10 - to l^ewlanda - and shall folloiv it next week with a letter to thsm outlin^g a definite campaign for your support. You will do well to keep our friend Edwin Srrett informed about developments# j'rienda of our work will be interested in oh- serving idiether you are co-operatively minded* About sending urgent messages "by cable# ^^e believe that it is seldom practical and worth the coat,considering the primitive development of the Chinese Qervice>and our distance from it. Butfin case you should feel the need of sendin^^ us a message somotlmetwe can be reached by the following address,- MOHSS,YSACHI,CAHE ALLEir,YTJinUHKJ,CHINA. The -^anghai receiving station would radio the cabled message to Rev. H.A.C. Alien of the ^ina Inland >-li53ion,who would then forward it to mo by the telegraph line to its end at Li^iang (ten days southeast of hereitfrom whence it ^ould be re-forwar#- .ed by postal runner. Postal service is once each week between X^iklang and^ here. So,if your message made good connections all along the line,it HICrHT reach ua about ten days after sending, ^t it would be much more difficult for me to send a telegraph-radio-cable message to you from ]afira,for a com bination of reasons not easy to explain. It would be easier for me to send the message and accompanying instructions by post to Anen at Yunnanfu, with whom we have funds,and he could have it sent from there with auite reasonable safety of its reaching some easily addressed and readily loeatable group such as "STAITDARD PUBLISHI^TG^CIHCIimTI". HoW|in connection with that year of medical training,there is another iiiiportant consideration#- that of making friends for the Miggion ftnd for yourselves in the region of the school where you take the course. Present and prospective supporters of the Hlsalon must be given as widf> as possible an opportunity to meet you and get acquainted and to acquire confidence In you. Our first recommendation was that you take the Christian Service Medi cal Course in Los Angeles,but lately we have about decided that you had better take it at the Koody Bible Institute of Chicago,which I believe is just as good. As for meeting the California friends of our ^/ork,you might do that in the summer of 1933 before you take ship for the Orient* % that time our Advisory Council there could have made plans to receive you and for you to speak in as many churches as possible. We already- have a large niamber of friends in the Central States I Illinois, Indiana Ohio,Kentucky, etc*; but during this last furlough we didn't get around to many of the individual churches, i^rs. I'lorse's living-link churoh in Illinois would surely be glad to meet you and perhaps could give some additional assistance^as the congre gation is several times the size of own living-link church. Ait they *aK3^ carry a heUvy home-missionary work too,and there are so m^y other churches now that vfill v/elcome independent missionaries that you will be su^rised. For inatance,right there in Chicago is the iletropolitan Church of '-Tirlstt asd Ashland Church which Is not quite so strong. As for material to use in speaking in the churchesjfIrst master the material in the newsletters v;hich I have written. Then Anna iic^alla has a set of my own original lantern slides,and could let you use them. Ify mother could probably give you the Information about e^ch picture. Ag for books and magazine orticles about our regionyou would find material, as no missionaries have ev^er v^orked here before and plorers and scientists have visited the region. I have about everything worth while right here (up to 1929),but took a lot of hunting to collect it.^ Several of Joseph F. Rock^s articles in "National Geographic i-^.f-azine touch on our region,but are more about the environs of the pictures I have sent Mother Morse since I9S9 might be made into IrJitern slides,and I have a lot more here that should be sent. Jooks nd Batanp work by Dr. Shelton and others Y/ould be helpful^but our field ^4 f8 still different, fine thing the churches everywhere should be maae sufe of ia tLt yorire not coalnl out here to "aee the -orld'.or to " - II - to I^^ewlania - do reaeaxch work for a Ph,I). thesis#or just to do "social service" work as auchtbui; to extend the Kingdom of Christ "by preaching the Gospel of the ITe^ 'Gstament where tt has never been known "before and by saving individ ual souls out of aln*s darkness tlirough repentance toward God and faith in Jeaus Christ. Anyway,^ conceive that as yotnr calling* asked is^ether lona should take either one or hoth of the medical ^ answer is that she ahould take all she can,for so-eare3 you will -bo out on itinerating work and she may T>e left alone in ^ take one course, V Tv. supplement each other or perhaps even teach each other the courses not already taken. To date we have used practically all our reme-ies already compounded,as v/e have had neither the facilities nor extra time nor training here. Dut there are several very srood reasons whj our i.i.33ion ahould have a licensed pharmacist if oossi'ble* Also we would like one of you to maJce a survey and get materials for further study on the ayatema of druglesa healing,auoh aa Oateopathy.ChlroBraetlc.Hatur- opatny^eto. However,we want you to come out in the fall of l933 As to recominendationsj-you ahould have as many of these as you can get To date you have Prof. C.C. Taylor's,also our own,and the certificate from the medical examination* It would "be well to have letters from churches where you have minlateredfchurches where you have been memhera,teachers under whom you have trogtefc studied,schools where you have taught,and persona who iiave known you well over a fairly long period of years* So far as poss- i'ble,recora3iiendation8 should ma||^ definite statements as to your personal character,training,reputation as to co-operative aMlity,soundness in faith and practise. These recoramendations should be passed around cur A^jvigory Council,to the eijitor of the "Christian Standard",and then to those others "vvho are interested in our lliasion. May 25.1952. - Dr. and Mr^f* Norton H, Bare and children (three,and another expected) passed through here over a month ago en route from Sattog to America. 'D-iey stayed with us two days and saw a little of our work* They are the only white family we (excepting n^rself) have seen in two years* Tliey seemed very favorably impressed with our field,workers,and methods, and said they would "speak a good word for us"* wherever they go In the U.S.A. 'i*lielr permanent address will be Clearwater,Nebraska,and I suggest that you get in touch with them for some first-hand information about us* They are both good workers and true Christians,and we believe it will do you good to know them. V/e only regret that the problem of their children makes it unlikely that they will be pliable to return to West China* IJow I must close this letter,w1iich,llke Noah's Ak,haa everything in it. Probably it will be some time before I Will write you such a letter again,for aany important things are waiting to be done. Believe me,we have confidence in you,and high hopws of your joining us,else we would not have taken our precioua time to go into these matters so fully* If the reading has been tiresome to |t0U,plea8e remember that I have spent many hours before this typewriter,thinking and witingrsearching ray heart and racking my l.rain and reviewingexperiences, Just so the way fflight be made both solid and easier for your launching out into foreign mission service* we shall remember you very often in our prayers,and we request that you write to us often even tho our ov/n letters to you may not be frequent. Cordially and faithfully,your brother in Christ, i ^.nPUAAAJLLiTTttmiL' ^ -'orse? ' Yea Chi, Yt^nnnnf w'eat China* l^unnansHibetan Cbristian /llbission M ^ a * m # f ipeacbl aii& atuntse, lOunnan, Cbtnese ^ibet ADVISORY COUNCIL (WBSTBKK) Mrs. W. B. Scott, Long Beach, Calif, L. F. Stephkns, Loz Angeles, Calif. W. K. CHAAfBBRLAiK, Los Angelts, Calif. E. G. Mdrhay, Los Angeles, Calif. Dr. A.D. McCalla, Los Angeles, Calif, (central) Mrs. Roth Morse, Talsa, Okla, R. W. BorkRart, Tulsa, Okla. Mrs. Charles Barry, Guthrie, Okla. W. PAULjofES, Tonkaiva, Okla, E. R. Amrs, Eldorado, Kan. Gi50. B. DalSymple, Brenham, Tex. (bastbrk) Mrs. B. L- Renfrow, Springfield, III. C. E- Gard, Springfield, III. Mrs. Lorbn E. Grobb. Springfield III. F. J, BRCMME, Chicago, III. Rov Gateu, Council Bluffs. Iowa. TIBET LHASA INDIA * > y CHENCTV Vdatano mandal'Iv'? SI.^M VV ,J3URMA /'i r^' c A MANKfNC ,* CHUNCKtHC CHINA CANtON k &HO.MCKONC c POSTAL ADDRESS: YEA-CHI, YONNAN, CHINESE TIBET (VIA YUNNAN-FU AND WEI HSi) FORWARDING SECRETARIES Mrs. I.orbn E. Grdbb, Miss. Treas. WEST side church OF CHRIST 808South English Ave., Springfield, HL Mrs. W. K. CHAMBERLAIN, Afiss. Treus, HOLLBKBECK HEIOHTS CHOnCH OP.CHRIST 251 North Herbert St., Lo.s Atigeles, Calif. Mrs. Rdth Morsb 114South Denver Ave., Tulsa, Okla. Standard Publishing Co. Station N., Box 5. Cincinnati, Ohio THE MISSION STAFF J. Russell Morsb, Director Gertrude H. Morse Eugenic K. Tarn Shd-chbnq Tarn CtirFORD R. Fo Della M. Fc Sdwin 3rrett,Iilditor> "Cliristian Standard Cinoinnati, S.A. Yea Chi,August I2)l952' Tlie n. ear Prother Srrett i- We have "been much ehcouraged to hear from my mother ani from various friends that you are still interested in our Mission to Aihet^and have of fered to help "by Viay of publicity. 7/e have gotten ourselves so involved in the DOIEfG of the work that v/e have let nearly ten mnnths slip "by without TELLIHG ahout it. You must not* think that vie undervalue your friendshin^ or^thpt ve feel "but little need of it- Mother i^Iorse "VTrote us of her attending the recent Missionary Conven tion together v/ith !;&:. and Fd?s. Vernon H. Kewlandjwhom we hope will "be ahle to join our v/ork out here next year. I hope you met those two eminently qualified young folk and v.dll give them the' support -vrhich you know so v;ell hov/ to give. Both-^^irs. Korse and I wish to add our hearty approval of the Ilev/lands to that of my mother,our Advisory Counciland Prof* C.O. Taylor- ITor your information I enclose a copy of our Hay 20th letter (our latest) to the I'Teivlands. It is long,hut I trust that your experienced eye will require too Eiuch time to master its contents. Should'certain parts,or a con densation Ox the whole,seem likely to interest "Standard^" ^readers,please use them as you judge "best. Certainly the sending of the l^lewlands cannot he accomplished unless widespread interest is aroused. Tou can help greatly* In connection wi^th the financing of the JTewlanda^we have fciven much_ prayerful consideration to the extremely serious financial depression which .no doubt has cut dov/n the support of other Free Agencies as well as ours* '^e conclude that only unusual PHAYIIR and SACP.Ij'IGS on Oin part can accomplish it. To call for much ADDED support,perhaps at the expense of other ^ree Agencies-^t)^ld hardly "be fair to those eaually-deservine missionaries- So vfe-^Sire developed a general plan calling for only a minimum of ADDITIOITAL Support. Pae bulk of the ITewlands supT)ort will be met by cutting our -Dresentl field T/ork to the bone,temt)ora,rily diverting oiir ro-nenoiaer. current Qonitributions to the "inc\7 IIISSltOIiAHIES ,and for field expenses even dra^irfg upon our modest Emergency 5*und if necessary. '-2 - -to Sdwin ^rrett* The details of this tentative "budget and plan are set forth in a letter to our Advisory Council,a copy of which has been sent to Mother Horse. The heart of the prohlem seems to he to find two living-link churches, between rfhioh to divide the salary for Vernon and Mona I-Je?rland. The ^plSoo.oo. might "be divided equally,or perhaps 5800*oo per year might he asked for Km Vernon Fevdand's support and :!?7no,oo for the support of Mona S'ev/land. If these living-link_churches could he enlisted from outside the present sun- ^--ission,! helieve that the amounts needed for outfit and travel 0 the field could almost entirely he made up from reflp^lar current contrib utions,v/hich should be sent to any of the JTorwarding Secretaries listed. % virtue of combined economy and loyal support we now have a modest Emergency J'und in the bank. Tiie financing of the K^ewlands will probably necessitate our drav^ing on those emergency funds for field expense,which IS a dangerous undertaking. For instance,Sugene K. Tarn and family are sup ported by the Mizpah Glass of J'irst Christian Church in Long Seach^i-^rs Lulu Scott teacher. If Mother Scott's health should fail and the Mizpah Class disband,we would either have to draw on those reserve funds for their sup port or pay their travel expense back to Chenp:tu,Szechwaawell over two months caravan journeyv/hich would mean the loss of one of t>ie finest miss ionary families (Cliinese) in all West China* Or Hussia and Japan might go to war involving China,and cut off our trans-Pacific line of communication (in ohat case our mail should be re-directed vie, Hang0 0n,Sham0fand Tengyueh.) But we are used to living dangerously in our King's service,and PKSi'EH it because it gives proof of the Living Cod. In this particular instance we shall feel amply repaid if the ITowlands are sent to work with us. The work on the field has come to require so much of our time and m. strength that we need more constant help from our Advisory Council,in order that spiritual help and sSeBMgiSK general sup-oort in the homeland may be maintained. Hence we are Eeorganizing our Advisory Council along more active lines. This almost unprecedented financial depression has hit us TilRY HARD, but it's STjiritual depression we f^ar,for spiritual results cannot be had without spiritual support. Brother Sawin,T)lease include us in your prayers- V/e re,ioioe to tell Jou of EIGHTEEN MOHE baptized Intn sir"'- writing the enclosed letter to I^ewla,nds,making a total of 41 (]?ORTY-OKE) already in 1932. All have shoivn satisfactory "fruits of repentsjice" and have passed thorough examination as to their faith. An Is live in our Tobalo district,4 being of the V/u-ba-lo village and l4 of Dra-tsi- village. We are convinced that present worldwide developments-whi^H inspire dread in so many people are fulfillments of God's prophetic Word concerning the end of the Gospel age and ushering in the return of^our Savior, ^e are^ convinced that the evangelization of Cliinese Tibet and Inner Tihet,the last great unevangelized region on earth,has a concluding part^in the Divine Dlan. Truly missionaries to Tibet are forerunners to the Second Coming of CIirist,a3 John the Daptist was to Kis gefflisag. So^in obedience to the Great Comr,iission,Tilease send us these new missionaries,and so hasten the day of our Lord's Return. Your brother in "The Blessed Hotdr". J# Russell Morse, Yea ChT Yunnan,West Chi'^-. P.S.- 'ffe haven't received the "CI-EI3TIAJI STAIIDAllD" for a year, tferough some oversight or other. Recently we got to missing it so.much that i wrote.mother to investlfl'ftte and make sure that it set^ started being sent to us again. To us it's the one indispensable periodical of llew Testament Christianity.