n and bitter persecution arose, just as
they had become settled. The mission premises were attacked by a mob,
and everything was looted. The two men were roughly handled, one being
dragged about the courtyard. They found themselves at last left alone,
their lives spared, but everything gone.

Their position was serious in the extreme--several days' journey away
from friends, with no money, no bedding, and no clothes but those upon
them, and the cold winter begun.

In their extremity, they knelt down and committed themselves to the
Lord. And according to his promise he delivered them out of their
distresses; for even while they prayed a brother missionary from a
distant station was at hand. He arrived unexpectedly, without knowing
what had occurred, a few hours after the looting had taken place. His
coming at such an opportune moment filled the hearts of their heathen
enemies with fear. Money and goods were returned, and from that time the
violent opposition of the people ceased.

* * * * *

A few months after the above incident several families moved into Honan,
and a permanent occupation was effected; but the hearts of the people
seemed as adamant against us. They hated and distrusted us as if we were
their worst enemies. The district in which we settled was known for its
turbulent and anti-foreign spirit, and as a band of missionaries we were
frequently in the gravest danger.

Many times we realized that we, as well as our fellow-workers at the
other stations, were kept from serious harm only by the over-ruling,
protecting power of God in answer to the many prayers which were going
up for us all at this critical juncture in the history of our mission.
The following are concrete examples of how God heard our prayers at this
time.

We had for our station doctor a man of splendid gifts. He was a gold
medalist, with years of special training and hospital experience, and
was looked upon as one of the rising physicians in the city from which
he came. Imagine his disappointment, therefore, when month after month
passed and scarcely a good case came to the hospital. The people did not
know what he could do, and moreover they were afraid to trust themselves
into his hands. We, as a little band of missionaries, began to pray
definitely that the Lord would send cases to the hospital which would
open the hearts of the people toward us and our message.

It was not long before we saw this pray