--------see if 'we could open work, WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1924 Reynolds' Party Reaches Shensi Where Opium Industry Thrives Place Is Mecca for Beggars, Bandits and Gamblers; Invad- ing Outlaws Drive Families to Mountains; All Folks Dress Alike Editor's Note: This is the third of a series of letters written from China by 'Paul R. Reynolds. My. Reynolds needs no introduction to readers = of WINNETKA TALK. He is a product of Chicago university and is now foreign missionary for the Winnetka Congre- gational church in the land of Confu- cius. Mr. Reynolds is master of a facile pen and his epistles are both interesting and instructive. Yung Ping Chen, Shensi, March 15, 1924. Dear Folks: Where shall I start? We have been off on the West Road for a bit over two weeks and have about four weeks more ahead. Then home for a few days at the provincial meeting and then off once more for six weeks in the Northern part of our West field. We are over in Shensi of course,--and it is a sad contrast to well ruled Shansi. Gambling is outlawed in Shansi but here you see it everywhere. Beggars are sent to the work house over there, here you see them in hordes. Opium is outlawed in Shansi and I have never seen any growing. Here it is not only allowed but in many districts the officials compel the people to plant poppies. Friday we were in a county seat city. Two years ago the bandits raided it, broke through the North gate, burned and looted the city and left it a wreck. Even today not more than 30 or 40 families have ventured back. They are sort of camping out in the ruins of some of the houses. Almost every village and city has its stronghold up on the mountains near and when the bandits come the people flee to that refuge. The stores do not display much goods. All men dress like farmers--in the cheapest of blue cotton padded garments. If any display of decent clothes was made the bandits might think it worth while to raid. Church Makes Progress The only--almost the only stable force is the church. Let me tell you the story of this place where we are today. Its name is "City of Eternal Peace." Jut it belies its name. We had col- porteurs in this district and so a bit less than three years ago ~ preacher named Lu was sent here fo A group of soldiers were in power--ex-bandits, and likely to backslide at any moment. They heard of Mr. Lu and called around to see him. Asked his business and finding he was of the church, gave him a week to leave town. He is just a young chap and not much bigger than a postage stamp but he failed to leave town. More threats. Still he stuck. By this time he had six men who were coming around regularly to study the Bible. They took the first step in church member- ship--merely putting down their names. Then the soldier force brought pressure an them. Called them in and warned them that they must leave the church. But by this time they had the same fire in their souls that little Mr. Lu has and so they refused. After isome threats they finally were taken into custody, starved a while and finally all six of them beaten so severely that one man had both arms broken and another had one arm broken and all were Lruised and bloody. But they refused from then on the to recant. Well church grew by leaps and bounds. Missionary Marries 'At the end of the year just to show they intended to stay, the church quit renting and bought property and re- modled it into a church and living place for Mr. Lu and he got married and settled down. With those who were baptized today the church now has a bit over a hundred members. They are reaching out into the vil- lages. Mr. Lu makes every church member give a few days each year to do gospel-team work in the vil- lages around about. Wouldn't old St. Paul glory in a chap liRe this little preacher here? But let me go back and try to bring up the schedule to date. Then from now on I shall try to keep a sort of a 'journal and send you a section once in a while. We left Fenchow, Friday, February 29th, thus just missing a wild Leap Year Party which was pulled off that night. It was a lovely clear day, warm and fine. Party consists of Mr. Pye, our boy, three mules loaded with packs and bedding, mule driver,--and your humble servant. First night we got up into the edge of the mountains and stayed at Shihchiachuang. The young man who has been in charge of the chapel there is just now going to Peking to have six months special training in the Boys Department of the Peking Y. under Len Sweet. When he returns he will have charge oi the Boys Work at our Fenchow City-Work-Building. We had a meet- ing, talked a while with the old church members and then had a bite to eat and turned in. Off early next day for we had a long grind and were, in fact, 13 hours on the trail that day. Most all day long we were toiling up (Continued on page 10) "God" Will Be Subject for Christian Science Service For the morning of July 6, the sub- ject of the lesson-sermon of First Church of Christ Scientist, will be "God." Services are held at Masonic temple, East Elm street at 11 o'clock; Sunday School convenes at 9:35 o'clock. Wed- nesday Testimonial meeting is at 8 o'clock. The Reading room at 746 Elm street is open daily except Sunday from noon to 5 o'clock and on Wednesdays from 9 o'clock in the morning until 9:30 in the evening. "Backbone," Story of North, in Film Here Friday evening, July 11, "Backbone" comes to the Community House. This is a drama of the frozen north packed with thrills and mystery taken from a Saturday Evening Post story by Clar- ence Budington Kelland. The new cool- ing system insures absolute comfort, the exhibitor announces. --because, according to myth, a piece of the forbidden fruit stuck in Adam's throat. 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We do a regular job of greasing and oiling. WASHING AND POLISHING is properly done day or night at our garage. un im 0 0 Richardson's Garage WINNETKA 724 Elm St. Phone 841 and 25 723 Oak Street WINNETKA ~ BENZOL ~ MOTOR FUEL BRAUN BROS. TELEPHONE SERVICE STATION