The Bible Women

An important aspect of the missionary work of all the Protestant denominations in China was the training and involvement of native evangelists, both male and female. These native evangelists were active not only within the confines of the mission station and its environs but they also traveled to the outlying villages to bring the Gospel there and to encourage those who had converted. The male evangelists were called just that -- evangelists -- while the female evangelists were called "Bible women".

When the Danish Missionary Society sent Anna Bog to Manchuria in 1919, her mission was to take charge of the apostolate to women in Siuyen -- a calling she faithfully lived out until her departure in 1946.

Anna Bog wrote, "My work consisted mainly of education in the mission school, Sunday school, confirmation, catechesis, bible classes, home visits, spiritual support, village work and youth work." (1)

"My main work was to teach the Bible: . . . we covered all 66 books . . . , some of the books more than once. In my work as a Bible teacher I also had the opportunity to teach many, many women to read." (2) *

Rev. Niels Buch had this to say about Anna Bog:

"She worked among the women, preaching, teaching, singing and doing home visits. Among other things, she was singing many Bible words into their minds and she did not shrink from teaching the book of Isaiah. 'It is easy for the women to understand,' she once said at a missionary conference. Some among us had a smile flickering across our faces. Easy? She must have had a gift for making it understandable; maybe she gave them the words and texts that they needed in their daily life." (3)

In the course of this endeavor, Anna Bog worked closely with several Bible women. One was a Mrs. Kuo. Born about 1876, and baptized at age 26, she had been a steadfast Christian ever since. Anna Bog wrote of Mrs. Kuo, "Even during the Boxer Rebellion, she accompanied the missionaries. During the many years she acted as a Bible woman, her sage and good counsel could always be followed." (4)

Another Bible woman with whom Anna Bog worked was Mrs. Fu, the lady on the left in the first picture above. Of Mrs. Fu, Anna Bog said, "She is a lovely woman, both bright and clever. With a great memory, none of the women is as at home with the Bible as Fu. And she is also a prayerful person, an intercessor. There are many, many that she prays for. . . she has found her place and vocation as a good example for the congregation." (5) (The lady on the right in the photograph is Mrs. Chang, widow who had also been a Christian for many years.)

In 1922, Anna Bog participated in a conference for male evangelists and Bible women in Fenghwangcheng (northeast of Siuyen). The second photograph above was taken of those in attendance. Anna Bog is eighth from the left in the back row.

What follows is Anna Bog's account of the conference:

"The earth puts forth produce, first the blade, then the spike, then the corn in full ear."

"Here you see a picture of the entire happy, joyful flock of God's workers here in Manchuria. We were together for the annual evangelists' and Bible women's meeting, which began on September 2 and lasted for three weeks. The first week there was a joint meeting of everyone. Then during the last two weeks there was special instruction for the Bible women. How I have wished that the Danish parishioners could have been there. They would have delighted in seeing God's work being accomplished in each individual heart. It could be read also in their faces they they sought greater knowledge and assistance for their great undertaking, which is for each of us to build Christ's church in this region where in many places the seed has never been sown.

"What came to my mind was the charming metaphor, 'The earth puts forth produce, first blade . . .' Here [in Manchuria] one can see many, many instances of blades sprouting and reaching upward toward the sun, toward God. But these lovable workers reach higher; they are the ear and the fruit of the seed that the Danish church has sown. It can confidently be said of [the Danish faithful] that on the Day of the Lord they will bring a great harvest of China's children, because by their prayers they have perhaps done more than those of us who have the great joy of living as Christians among pagans and bringing them the message of salvation.

"During the first week of our common program, the schedule was as follows:
6:00 a.m. - Reveille
6:30 a.m. - Morning vigil **
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast
7:45 a.m. - Flag-raising, during which we sang the national anthem
8:00 a.m. - Morning devotions, led by Rev. Waidtlow or one of the evangelists
9:00 a.m. - Bible study, during which we assembled in small groups with a leader. Many spoke later of the blessing they received during this hour, which always ended with a brief question and answer period.
10:00 a.m. - Introduction to a discussion that would be continued during the afternoon.
11:00 a.m. - Leaders' meeting, during which the Chinese spoke freely of their views about the meetings, both about the good side and also about what could be changed so that the subsequent sessions would be even better.
3:00 p.m. - We met again and discussed topics from the recent large meeting in Shanghai. The theme of that meeting was 'China for Christ', and it became for our missions, 'Manchuria for Christ'. Each of us received from these discussions a great deal of help to move forward, and these sessions often lasted until 6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. - There was another meeting of a different kind, such as a question period, slides, choral practice, and the like.
9:00 p.m. - Lights out. It was delightful to go around from one kang [heated brick bed] to another to say goodnight to the Bible women. It was a blessing for them to be together for three weeks. Many of them work in very lonely and remote places and often have difficulties, but when they get together with the others every year at such good meetings with such good fellowship and are able to speak to each other about the work, they feel strengthened and encouraged. Often during the meetings we were reminded to 'bear one another's burdens' and to make the effort so that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout our entire district and to help the Christians read the Bible.

"The amiable young Rev. Yen was to all a great blessing. He was both warm and sincere in all that he did. Old Rev. Yen*** was also a great blessing as were all of the evangelists that led the meetings. Hou and Wang from Port Arthur played the violin for us every day.

"The last Sunday there was a solemn Communion service. Evangelist Hou spoke about Christian love and old Rev. Yen served at the altar. The same evening there was the leave-taking. It was sad to part after our lovely time together.

"Young Rev. Yen called the workers from one station after another up to the front so that we could be really clear about where they belonged and could better pray for them.

"When old Rev. Yen rode out of the yard in the last cart, he said his farewell in both Danish and English as well as Chinese.

"Then came the two weeks of training for the Bible women, where every hour of the day was filled with the pleasure of being together. There were hours spent in Bible study of the book of the prophet Zechariah, 1st Peter, and Christ's Passion; outline exercises, geography, accounting, hygiene, singing, and games. And, in addition, there were discussion sessions, question and answer sessions, etc.

"The Bible women from Siuyen and I later attended meetings in both Antung and Takushan during which the local women who had remained at home were informed about the meeting in Fenghwangcheng.

"At the conclusion of the meeting, a prayer list was formulated. Some of the friends of D.M.S. may also wish to join. We pray for both the work and the workers, that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost.

"Monday - Port Arthur and Petune
Tuesday - Dalny and Harbin
Wednesday - Takushan and Sweihwafu
Thursday - Siuyen and Kwantien
Friday - Fenghwangcheng and Huanyen
Saturday - Antung and Chinchow"
(6)

Two years later, in 1924, a permanent school for the Bible women was founded in Fenghwangchang about which more will be said in the future.

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*In 1927, Anna Bog told an Iowa newspaper reporter that illiteracy was the "curse of China" and that 9 out of 10 Chinese could neither read nor write their own names. (Cedar Falls Daily Record, 1927, exact date of clipping not known.)
** It is not clear whether the "morning vigil" consisted of individual mental prayer or a communal matins. At another time, Anna Bog wrote of community evening prayer. It is interesting to learn of these vestigial Catholic practices (Liturgy of the Hours) by Danish Lutheran missionaries and converts in China.
***Yen Hsing-chi (referred to here as "Old Reverend Yen") was the first Chinese minister ordained by the D.M.S. in Manchuria. He was ordained November 23, 1913. His nephew Yen-Baoding ("Young Reverend Yen") was ordained in 1922.

Referenced sources:
(1) Olsgaard, Susanne (Danmission), letter to Preben Jorgensen dated February 27, 1997.
(2) Bog Madsen, Anna; "The Old Missionary's Brief Story", Nazareth Lutheran Messenger; Spring, 1971.
(3) Buch, Rev. Niels; Dansk Missionsblad; Vol. unknown, Nr. unknown; March 3, 1973.
(4) Bog Madsen, Anna; letter in D.M.S. files at the Danish National Archives dated December 5, 1946.
(5) Bog Madsen, Anna; "To Guldkristne", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 97, Nr. 10, March 5, 1930, pp. 145-146.
(6) Bog Madsen, Anna; "Fra Evangelist og Bibelkvindemodet i Fenghwangcheng"; Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 89?, Nr. 49, December 27, 1922, pp. 654-657.
Translations from the Danish of (1)(3) and (4) by Preben Jorgensen
Translation of (5) by Betty Christensen
Translation of (6) by Marie-Jacqueline

Other sources:
Jensen, Anne Hviid; I Lys og Skygge (Unitas Forlag, Copenhagen, 2005), p.110. (Information regarding the ordinations of the two Rev. Yens.)

Images:
Photograph of Mrs. Fu and Mrs. Chang from the 1930 article
Photograph of the evangelists' and Bible women's conference from the 1922 article

D.M.S. articles and photographs used with permission