We Beheld His Glory (Christmas, 1963)

In 1963, Anna Bøg (left) and Elise Bahnson sent this Christmas card to relatives and friends. They are in front of the home in Kings Lyngby (a suburb of Copenhagen) which the two missionaries shared in retirement. The lettering of the text is in the precise script of architect Elise Bahnson.

Above the picture of the two women is a quote from the Gospel of St. John proclaiming the incarnation of Our Lord:

"The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; we beheld his glory." [Jn. 1:14.]

Below the picture and above the names of the two women, it says, "Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year".

May our readers have the same joy and blessing.

Farewell to the Nielsens (Early 1941)

Even prior to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, hostilities between the United States and Japan were such that the missionaries who were American citizens had to leave Manchuria. This included Dr. and Mrs. Niels Nielsen who, though Danish-born, had become Americans.

In a letter to the D.M.S. dated February 17, 1941, that was published in the missionary newspaper in April, 1941, Anna Bøg wrote of the Nielsen's departure:

"After 32 years of service, Dr. and Mrs. Nielsen are breaking away from D.M.S.'s Mission Hospital in Siuyen. It is not easy to have one's roots pulled up after working and living in one place for so many years.

"When the local people speak of Dr. Nielsen, they call him, 'Merciful doctor'. Or they say, 'He has saved countless human lives.' Or, 'He practiced true charity.'

"How sad it is to see the old pioneers break away. They belong with the place and people.

"It was typical of Dr. and Mrs. Nielsen that they continued their work until the day before their departure. They have always been diligent and took good care of the hospital. They helped each other and supported each other. Their home has always been harmonious.

"At the congregation's farewell party, many good and warm words were said to them by representatives of the congregation council, the congregation, and the co-workers [evangelists and Bible Women]. When there was an opportunity for anyone to speak, women and men stood up and thanked Dr. and Mrs. Nielsen for what they had been to them.

"We will long remember Dr. Nielsen's farewell speech: 'A farmer took all his savings to purchase wheat and sowed his field. And then came Winter and laid his icy hand and a thick layer of snow over the field. The farmer was about to lose heart and was afraid that all was lost. But one early spring day, his little son came running and said, "Father! The field is full of green sprouts!"'

"In 1939, we took leave of Miss Bahnson; in 1940, of Dr. and Mrs. Asschenfeldt; and now Dr. and Mrs. Nielsen. And there is no one yet to fill all the empty places. Of the relatively strong missionary staff we have always had here in Siuyen, we are now only three single women."*

Source:
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Afsked med Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 108, Nr. 15, April 11, 1941; pp. 196-197.

Image:
Dr. and Mrs. Nielsen on Manchurian cart. From the Nielsen estate, courtesy of Mike from Monterey.
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*When Anna Bog said, "We are now only three single woman", the other two must have been Dr. Marie Nielsen and Nurse Anna Busch at Siuyen Hospital. Next week's post will be about Dr. Marie Nielsen, who took charge of Siuyen Hospital when the Nielsens left.

Architectural Surprises (Elise Bahnson, Late 1940)

During 1940, missionary architect Elise Bahnson toured Denmark for the D.M.S., giving talks about the Manchurian missions. Although ordinarily her home leave (furlough) would have ended in November, 1940, because of the German occupation of Denmark, she was unable to return to Siuyen to collaborate with Anna Bøg in the work with the women.

In December, 1940, Elise Bahnson wrote an article about her architectural work in Manchuria that D.M.S. published in the missionary newspaper in early 1941. It was a short piece where, among other things, she related some of the difficulties she had in seeing her designs realized in Manchuria because of changes made by the local congregation. This was a common occurrence for Christian architects working in China.

In 1937, Bahnson had written:

"During the year, I have been helping with the design of churches in Feng-Huang-Ch'eng, Antung, Dairen, and Sui-Hua. The drawings were not always followed as made, for example in Feng-Huang-Ch'eng. For D.M.S., I have also helped plan buildings, such as the Danish School, the alterations of the mission station in Antung, and the extension in Hsin-Ching."

The buildings in Siuyen and Pitsaikou, where Elise Bahnson's drawings were implemented without alteration, were cleanly designed structures that very subtly allude to both Asian and Scandinavian architecture. They seem to communicate stability and permanence, which no doubt was Bahnson's wish for the Christians in Manchuria.

We know from Kirsten Berggreen Buch that the women missionary's residence that Elise Bahnson built in Siuyen is still standing. Miss Buch told us, "There is a very little part of the hospital left, but the nice building built by Elise Bahnson . . . is now used by a 'cadre', [a Communist] official. (It is too solid a building to give back to the church. . .)."

Here is what Elise Bahnson had to say in December, 1940:

"It has been a great joy throughout the years that I could assist the congregations and missions. It has been mainly design work. Beyond that, I supervised [the construction] at the Siuyen mission station and the church and evangelist school and seminary in Pitsaikou. [I supervised] at Pitsaikou once a month [while] Rev. Aagaard Poulsen provided daily supervision and accounting.

"Port Arthur Church was the first that approached me about design. I must say, however, that various surprises awaited me when I saw the building constructed. Three important changes had been made. The tower had been designed with a pitched roof and corbiestep gables similar to the wings. Since they wanted a Cross raised high above the church and town -- and idea the Manchurian Christians love -- they had completed the tower with a pyramidal roof. Also, they wanted to use the space in the tower for the congregation council meetings, so they moved the bell onto the roof and placed four small garrets in the sound apertures. An arched roof resting on columns over the door of the main entrance, and other things I heard about, were among the little surprises. Since there are building professionals among the friends of D.M.S. around the country, I wanted to write this little addendum.*

"My final examination at the Academy of Arts twenty-five years ago was a design for a church with a parish house, deaconess residence, and minister's residence. That became a banner over God's plan for the use of my practical training in service in the mission field.

"How delightful it has been during the past year to move around the country and meet with the faithful friends of D.M.S. who support the work before God's Throne.

"There are many old church buildings that have closed. Apparently, people have left them. Where can the Danish people hear the eternal Word, which is everlasting when all else passes away? Would that the bells that call in the New Year would speak of God's goodness towards Denmark.

"'God's goodness leads to repentance.' That saying is not by any means just for us these days. If we, his people, were more completely turned toward him in prayer for all who are baptized to hear him, then we could be better used by him."

Thus, while Elise Bahnson had been building churches in Manchuria, churches had been closing in Denmark. In reading this piece written by Bahnson in December, 1940, one senses the sadness she felt over the growing secularization of Denmark, especially when compared to the growth and excitement in the young church in Manchuria. One wonders what she would have to say now, 70 years later, when the secularization of Scandinavia has become nearly complete.

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise, D.M.S. Arsberetning for 1937, p. 132.
Bahnson, Elise, "En Berigtigelse og en Tilføjelse", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 108, Nr. 2; January 10, 1941; pp. 22-23.
Buch, Kirsten Berggreen; letter to the authors, dated August 11, 1999.

Images:
Top: The Evangelist School and Seminary in Pitsaikou.
Bottom: Interior of the Church at Pitsaikou.
Both photographs are from the 1941 article cited above.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.
--------------
*"Addendum" - This article apparently followed an earlier one about architecture in Manchuria published sometime in 1940 that we have not yet accessed. We will try to obtain and post it.

And Then There was One (Late 1939)

At the end of 1939, architect Elise Bahnson was once again due to return to Denmark on home leave (furlough) as she had done in December, 1932. Meanwhile, although the articles from Siuyen did not speak of it, during the intervening years, Japan had engaged in considerable aggression in the Far East, including attacks on Peking, Shanghai, and Nanking in 1937.

In 1939, the Japanese aggression continued. There were significant border hostilities between Japan/ Manchukuo and the Soviets in Siberia that resulted in a cease-fire signed September 15. Because of the Soviet superiority in this conflict, some war analysts believe the outcome made a significant difference in how World War II developed. That is, the strength of the Soviets made it clear to Japan and Germany that they would not be able to link up their geographic areas of control via Russia. This might have made a difference in the Japanese decision to attack the United States at Pearl Harbor.

There were oblique references to the Japanese-Russian conflicts in the D.M.S. newspaper as it reported on whether Elise Bahnson would be able to make the trip home. In the October 20, 1939, D.M.S. wrote that it was doubtful whether Elise Bahnson and another woman missionary, Katherine Thomsen (who was based in the Manchurian capital city of Hsinking/ Changchun), would be able to travel via Siberia and Russia in early November as planned.

In the issue of November 17, 1939, the D.M.S. reported that it had been arranged for Bahnson, Thomsen, and also woman missionary Petra Nielsen to travel from Harbin on November 1. There was concern about the trip, however, and the article noted, "We will keep this return in our prayers."

Then on November 24, 1939, the D.M.S. reported, "We have received a telegram that the three women missionaries, Misses E. Bahnson, K. Thomsen, and P. Nielsen, can be expected in twelve days. They have departed from Harbin. We can now hope to have them here around November 26." The women must have traveled via the Trans-Siberian Railway, to which there was a connection from Harbin.

The parting between the close friends and collaborators, Anna Bøg and Elise Bahnson, must have been a sad one. And, it would have been even sadder if the two had known that -- except for a very brief time in late 1946 -- they would not see one another again until they retired from the D.M.S. nearly twelve years later. Moreover, as far as we can determine, Rev. and Mrs. Bjergaarde had already left Siuyen by the time Elise Bahnson departed, so at that point Anna Bøg was the only missionary left at the mission station. She would remain so throughout World War II.

Elise Bahnson, Katherine Thomsen, and Petra Nielsen did reach Denmark safely. In an article published in the D.M.S. newspaper on April 19, 1940 -- just 10 days after the German invasion and occupation of Denmark -- Elise Bahnson referred to the trip before giving an account of the work with the women in Siuyen that had gone on after her departure, based on letters she had received from Anna Bøg:

"Three female missionaries sat in Harbin for 11 days, waiting for passports for transit through Russia and Finland. Authorization came, so we departed November 12 from Harbin and arrived by God's will and your intercession safely home just a week before the disturbances began.*

"It was hyggeligt and homey to come in to D.M.S. where everything had been arranged for us so beautifully and conveniently. For this, we owe a big debt of gratitude to the many who so kindly thought of us.

"In the work [in Siuyen] it is good for there to be two working together. When one is on home leave, the other feels the solitude more deeply but it also has the great advantage that there is no discontinuity in the development of the work out there.

"Miss Budtz Christensen from the Danish school in Antung spent 14 days in Siuyen during the Christmas holidays. She flew in,** helped Miss Bøg Madsen, and experienced Christmas at an inland station.

"At the Sunday School Christmas festivities in the church, there were approximately 1,100 to 1,200 children. The Sunday School workers prepared a Christmas cantata for the celebration. There was a fine Christmas snowfall.

"On the morning of the 24th, 34 were baptized, as can be seen in the accompanying picture, and 20 in Sao-tzu-ho.

"Mrs. Shun, who stands holding the Bible, was baptized shortly before I had to leave. She is from a village between Sao-tzu-ho and Chien-shan-yao. During the difficult years, the entire family sought shelter with some relatives in the village of Hung Ch'i 3-4 miles north of Siuyen on the north side of the River Yang. A group of women there received regular instruction once a week for a year.

"Now Mrs. Shun had to go back. During the final days before baptism, she came in to live at the mission station in order to study in peace and be well prepared. In a letter, Miss Bøg Madsen wrote about her, 'Mrs. Shun departed one of the first days. She can now read the first four chapters of St. Mark's Gospel. She says, "When I cannot sleep, I read." She starts at 5:00 in the morning and reads all day until bedtime. She does not see or hear what is going on around her.' It will open up new opportunities for us in her village, when we can work from such a home.

"In the large picture, there are also some rural residents. Mrs. Ch'en, third from the left with the child in her arms, is from Lohr Ch'uän Kou. Her husband has been a Christian for many years.

"Mrs. Chou (No. 1 seated) is the mother of Ch'en Pou En (far right) who is bringing her son to be baptized. Mrs. Li (No. 3 seated) is the mother of Li SSii Ch'üan who is a farmer (No. 3 from the right). All are from Pei-Wa-Kou, 30 kilometers to the northwest.

"Lawyer Chao (in front of the right window), whose wife is a member of the church council and whose daughter is our Bible Woman, Chao Chu Lin, has been a particular pleasure to see among the baptized. His daughter and wife have fought for him in prayer.

"Old Mrs. Feng (second from the right, seated), Reverend Shun's mother-in-law, is a sweet old woman. She spent 1 - 1/2 years in the minister's home, did not advance much, but was always punctual for instruction, could not learn to read but was not difficult to engage in conversation, and walked slowly but willingly forward until she came to baptism. Now she has left her son-in-law to return to kinsmen somewhat north of Peking where none of the others are Christians. -- Reverend Shun will now have his final year at the seminary in Pitsaikou while his wife and children stay in Siuyen.

"It would take too long to tell about them all. Each has his history with his difficulties and his way to the Savior. Newly baptized persons need special intercession so that now after finishing instruction they do not stand still but remain awakened and continue to move forward. They must really take charge of their lives and renew them daily.

"Thank you to any of you who will remember them before the Throne of Grace."

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise; "Vær stille for Herren og vent paa ham!", Dansk Missionsblad; Vol. 107, Nr. 16, April 19, 1940; pp. 206-208.
Christoffersen, Ragnhild; "Noter", Dansk Missionsblad; Vol. 106, Nr. 46, November 17, 1939; p. 689.
Holt, Axel; "Fra Markerne meldes," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 106, Nr. 42, October 20, 1939; p. 627.
R., J.; "Noter", Dansk Missionsblad; Vol. 106, Nr. 47, November 24, 1939; p. 704.

Images:
Top: Mrs. Shun from Hung Ch'i. Photograph from the article by Elise Bahnson cited above.
Bottom: New Christians baptized in Siuyen during Christmas 1939, from the same article. We do not know for sure, but we think the man in the back row on the far left might be the Rev. Shun referred to in Elise Bahnson's article and that he performed the baptisms during Christmas, 1939.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.
------------------
*We do not know to which disturbances Elise Bahnson is referring, since she was home a few months before the German invasion and supposedly the Japanese-Russian conflict had ended.
**The Danish phrase used is "kom flyvende derind" ("came flying in there"). We do not know if this was meant literally (i.e. by airplane) or as a figure of speech. Given the limited transportation facilities, it seems rather unlikely -- although not impossible -- that Miss Christensen traveled to Siuyen by airplane.

Teacher Wang's Home and the Christians at Sao-tzu-ho (Early 1939)

This week's post is a continuation of architect Elise Bahnson's account of the 16-day cycle tour she and two Bible women made in March, 1939, around the countryside south of Siuyen. Due to the travel restrictions, it was her first such trip in many years.

Elise Bahnson's description of the visit to Teacher Wang's home requires a little explanation. This was not the same Teacher Wang referred to in last week's post who was 89 years of age. This one was a Christian who had taught at the mission school for a time. Apparently his son, who was not a Christian, had recently married a Christian girl named Feng Ch'un who had lived at the women's mission station and worked in the mission Sunday School for many years. Her husband, Teacher Wang's son, was a postal employee in the area north of Siuyen, so the couple by then lived in the northern part of the district.

As for Sao-tzu-ho, our readers may remember previous mentions of the mission outstation there, such as in our post Invited Everywhere (1932) and the one about the pastoral visit that Rev. Ch'eng made to the Christians in that village when he was in Siuyen during October, 1936.

Teacher Wang's Home

"Up over a high mountain road we went, where there was the glorious view of the landscape. The road went past 'Front Mountain Village', up past a very fine new brick temple to the 'fox goddess', over a small ridge, and then we came into a large mountain village.

"[Teacher Wang's] oldest son is employed by the postal service to the north. He had been home for the wedding in the autumn. At that time, two of our Bible women were there to attend the young Christian bride, Feng Ch'un. When she was motherless and the only Christian in her home, she stayed with us and worked in the Sunday School for many years. Her father-in-law was a teacher in our school during the troubled years and had been baptized. The rest of the family had heard some [of the Gospel] here in town but they are still in the inquiring stage.

"Unfortunately, Feng Ch'un had just traveled northward, having visited us [in Siuyen] on her way. Up there, there is no congregation so she is the only one. [Her] young man is not a Christian, but he is willing to listen. In this home, one realizes that Feng Ch'un was a blessing to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law during the short time she was there.

"Teacher Wang is a very busy man, the inspector for seven schools in the area. He is the only Christian in the place. He said that he sorely lacked a Christian man in the vicinity to share with. Mrs. Wang is a busy housewife, so for her the evenings were the best. Then we sat on the kang and talked until late about the things of God's kingdom.

"Right beside the school lives Shu Ch'ing, a girl of eighteen years. During the turbulent years, she too lived in town and went to our school. She had also been at the hospital because of a bad foot. Finally, it was amputated and she received a wooden foot in its place. Recently, she had been to Mukden to a specialist and gotten a rubber foot. She could now walk freely without a cane, and stand a little on the leg. But best of all was that she had not forgotten what she had heard, either at school or during that half a year in the hospital. She prayed constantly and was aware to whom she belonged, and whom she would serve. How pleased she was to see us, and when she was invited over to the Wang family to stay as long as we were there, it was her joy to be together with us, touching us.

"We had the opportunity to talk both to the women from the neighboring homes and to the school girls, two and three times.

"We parted ways. The Bible Women went directly to Sao-tzu-ho. I cycled back to town [Suiyen] for a whole day in the city, and then went down to where they were in Sao-tzu-ho.

Sao-tzu-ho

"The River Yang meanders down towards the south from Siuyen and at its termination in Sao-tzu-ho (ho means River) lies the town of the same name: Sao-tzu-ho. The road to there runs along the other side of a ridge and over four high mountain ranges, four Danish miles.

"The Bible Women had come there from La-tzu-kuo, where we had parted. They had begun work on spreading the Gospel. Here in Siuyen we have an older couple who tend the church. They lived before in Sao-tzu-ho and took care of the chapel there. Now it has passed over to a younger brother. These two families, and Mr. Chang No. 4, were the only Christians when I was in Sao-tzu-ho seven years ago. [At that time] Mr. Chang No. 4 had just been released from his opium habit at a revival meeting in Nabo Town. His wife was a Christian, but far away from God because of his opium smoking. She had in her time been baptized at the hospital here. How completely different it is now.

"There is a congregation there of 64 Christians. It was truly a feast to meet with them and go around to their homes and get to know them in their surroundings.

"We had to go out to see the new lot with a three-room house that the congregation has recently purchased. When I went and looked at it, Mr. Chang No. 4 came along and told me how they had imagined it: they would now build four rooms that could be used as church halls. Later, when they could build a large church, this could be used to feed the Christians who came in from more distant places.

" [']We have a stonemason, a builder and a carpenter in the congregation and when we have finished sowing [our crops] we will start work. Then you will have to come down and see us and give us good advice.['] Later, he told me, 'Yes, when I've got everything in order, I can depart in peace.'

"I could not help but compare this visit to his home to the first time. Now the spirit in the home was quite different. All three sons and two daughters-in-law were Christians, together with their children. The oldest daughter-in-law's mother also lived there on the farm and had recently been baptized. I was permitted to teach his grandson's wife and daughter.

"In the village where Mrs. Wang, an assistant in our work, is from, I looked in at four different Christian homes.

"Across the other side of the River Yang, we went to the home of an 82-year-old Christian woman who was severely ill and fighting to live. We were allowed to sing to her and talk and pray with her. Two days later we heard that the Lord had taken her. Now her son was the only Christian left in the village.

"Not very far from there in a small village we went in the three Christian homes where there are in all ten Christians. Liu Ch'ing Wen and his brother, who is a carpenter, had built the houses himself. They were very new and not quite finished. On account of the bandits, they had been forced to move out of the mountain valley they had lived in.

"Over a high mountain in a completely different direction, I was in two Christian homes. On the way there, I saw a house I had visited when I first went down there. Very few of the walls were standing. The house had been completely demolished. During those years, all who lived near one of the mountains or in between the mountains had moved out of their villages.

"In the village that was now our goal, there was a Christian home. A daughter from the home is a [nursing] student at the hospital here. Her parents and grandmother are Christians. The old grandmother, who is 80 years old, lay on the kang. Her hearing is bad and it was hard for me to communicate with her. It is difficult for a woman so old to understand a foreigner, especially when her hearing is not so good. Another Christian daughter was home visiting and they have a Christian son and daughter-in-law in Dairen. In that home, the oldest Christian was the husband. One could feel it.

"On the way back, we visited another home with three Christians -- the husband and his parents. The old man was over 70 years. He could not get around but sat on the kang. His wife was a good deal younger. She got off the kang and sat to the side so that we could pray together.

"During one of the other trips and during this last trip, a church woman from Siuyen came with me. We had an opportunity to talk about the difference. I said to her, 'The old woman in this last home, she was a light. How is it with you?' She replied, 'I have for many years not taken my Christianity seriously, but now it is entirely different. I came down here to my old neighborhood because I wanted to follow you around and quietly do a little work for the Lord.'

". . . Now I have been on this little rush tour and seen a little of the inside of these Christians' homes. Then there is even a large group in a home where the son is an evangelist. They live on the other side of the Sao-tzu-ho River. I did not reach there. But is it not wonderful what the Lord has done during these years? They were feast days when I was allowed to speak to them and visit them."

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise; "Endelig paa Landtur igen"; Dansk Missionsblad; Vol. 106, Nr. 17, April 26, 1939; pp. 249-252. Translation by Marie-Jacqueline.
Bahnson, Elise; "Besøg i Sao-tzu-ho", Dansk Missionsblad; Vol. 106, Nr. 20, May 17, 1939; pp. 292-293. Translation by Marie-Jacqueline.

Image:
Teacher Wang and Family (1939), from the first article cited above.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.

The Round Mountain Village and the Fox Goddess Cult (Early 1939)

By the 1930s, the city of Siuyen had a population of about 20,000, although there were fluctuations during the famine and the bandit attacks when people came into town by the thousands. The entire Siuyen mission district was comprised of about 3,500 square kilometers of land and had about 180,000 inhabitants.

The travel restrictions referred to in our earlier posts such as Landlocked (Early 1936) were not self-imposed or imposed by the D.M.S. Rather, the Manchukuo government imposed them and the police enforced them. Although by mid-1936 the new motor coach line had made it possible to travel via bus to other towns and to reach the passenger railroad line, the kind of missionary journey to outlying villages described in our post Invited Everywhere (1932) had not been possible for many years.

In early 1939, however, Elise Bahnson, Anna Bøg's collaborator in the work with the women in Suiyen, received governmental permission to make just such a trip in the company of two Bible Women.

Here is Elise Bahnson's account:

"There came the first authorization for foreigners to travel in the country in Siuyen District. None of us had thought it would come so quickly.

"In the month of January there was a big hunt for the bandits to get them rooted out. The result was that the two remaining bandit chieftains along with their some twenty cohorts were either captured or surrendered. It was said in town that there were no more bandits in the District.

"When we held the co-workers' meeting on February 27, the Christian Mrs. Chao came from the 'Round Mountain Village' to invite us out there. The last beating of the bushes to find the bandits had been a very difficult passage. Everyone in the village made offerings to the fox goddess to obtain help. The fox goddess is very much worshipped in Siuyen and its environs. But Mrs. Chao stood firm and would not.

"When the push [for the bandits] was over, and there had been a good outcome, the village people said, 'That woman has something to hold onto'. They came and wanted to hear. Before they had not wanted to listen.

"Since that place was also the native village of the Bible Woman, Miss Chao, we thought there was every reason to go there right away. Our minister, who handles most of the police matters, thought I would receive permission. I too had high hopes. The Bible Woman and I went in and came back beaming, with authorization for a 16-day tour in the country. It was as if a new page had been turned, that we really had permission to move freely in the country.

"Cycling Tour

"The first of March, two Bible Women and I left on our bicycles by way of the Takushan Road. Our things came after us on a little pushcart. They may be driven on the highway, as they have motorbike wheels, so these days there are many of them.

"[We traveled] approximately one and a half Danish miles out along the main road over two [mountain] passes. Below the last was a side road that went alongside a little stream into a valley. This road was not as good as the main highway, with only bridges over the streams in a few places.

"I felt almost as if I had not been in this country all these years because we have not been able to go outside of town. It was almost like being released from prison -- wonderfully glorious.

"In four and a half hours' time, we reached the village. During the last stretch, the road ran out. There were only paths, as usual everywhere before in the old days. There we had to walk our bicycles.

"The Round Mountain Village

"South of a bend in the River Yang is 'The Round Mountain'. The valley goes completely around it on all sides in a circle, and the mountain is quite low. South of the mountain, the village lies midway between a collection of villages.

"This time we did not visit all the villages. Some nine years ago, the Bible Woman Miss Chao's family moved into town, and during those nine years the daughter had not been home. Now she came with light and ardor to give her kinsmen the Gospel and the Savior she herself had come to love and serve.

"It was a joy to follow her on her first country visit in the district to her own native place. Her aunt and uncle were our hosts. They inhabit a 5-room house with side houses. The grounds are divided in two by an invisible center line. The eastern part belongs to her uncle. The west was her old home, now rented to a relative. Her aunts and uncles had also lived in town, had heard the Gospel, and had been baptized. They were now out to invite people to our meeting.

"From the first evening, the kangs were full of women and children, the chests and tables of boys, and the benches of men. So it was every evening during the five evenings we were there. Many heard the Gospel proclaimed for the first time.

"The first day we were out on house visits, an old woman, a zealous Buddhist, was visited. She did not come [to the meetings] the first few days but the last two evenings she came. She wanted to hear her young relative speak. She was not unaffected. She had otherwise said to her sons that those who wanted to be Christians would be disinherited. One of her sons had decided he wanted to be a Christian, he and his house.

"The next day we went on a visit to the 'Mountain Village Behind', a larger village. We went to the home of the Shih family. The 70-year-old woman was born a Chao. The [home had] two wide kangs and two large rooms. The rooms were soon full. There were several who had never heard the Gospel.

"In the audience was a man who made his living as a soothsayer and with continual satanic power misled the local people. That sort is called 'Ta Shen', which is directly translated as 'the great God'. He is gone for and questioned when there is illness, death, or other difficulties.

"He said right out, while the others heard it, 'I know mine is fake -- that is true. I will wait until after the 15th [in the Chinese calendar]. (That day is an important day of offering to the idols.) 'If you believe, then we will follow,' said several. Poor thing! He was trapped. Soon thereafter one of his assistants came and got him as there was no one at his home who sought him.

"A small cluster of houses stood alone. We went in. A schoolteacher came along with the children, and in a moment there was again a great assembly to speak to.

"The evening before the 15th, the Bible Women talked about how at Ephesus they had burned the costly sorcery books.

"That evening, some boys said to their father that they wanted to be Christian. 'Shall we take the idols down?' That evening they did not come down, but neither was there a sacrifice to them in the morning.

"We heard about a second home where the man had taken down the idols. As we talked about it, the woman went over and tore down the god of wealth. He had been glued to the wall right behind me. The man took down the threshold god, and to get [the home] entirely clean, the Bible Woman took down the kitchen god. 'It gives me particular pleasure,' she said, 'to help clean out the rooms where we lived, my old home.

"There was a bundle of joss stocks that the man had recently purchased. It was a little hard to get them under the pot, but they got them there and they were also burned.

"On Sunday (the 15th), the Bible Woman came and said, 'May I go over to my old teacher in the village near here? I have been repeatedly reminded of my old Teacher Wang, now 89 years old. I must go over and see him.' Then she went with a relative and came back radiant. 'As soon as I told him about the true God and Jesus, he was ready to believe. He has now decided that he wants to be a Christian.'

"The next day when we left, I went there to greet him. He was quite clear of mind, could still read, and did so wonderfully. We left a few books and promised him a Bible. He is very poor and alone. His family has relocated to other districts."

There will be more about this trip in next week's post.

Source:
Bahnson, Elise; "Endelig paa Landtur igen"; Dansk Missionsblad; Vol. 106, Nr. 17, April 26, 1939; pp. 249-252. Translation by Marie-Jacqueline.

Image:
Chao home in Round Mountain Village, from the article cited above.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.

The 'Old Mushih' and the Other Ministers in Siuyen (1898-1939)

In the last two posts, we mentioned pastoral visits to Siuyen by Rev. Ch'eng in October, 1936, and by Rev. Bolwig during Christmas, 1936. These visits were particularly important to the Siuyen congregation because Rev. Bjergaarde had been back in Denmark on leave since June of 1936 and the congregation had been without the sacraments for the entire time, except during those visits.

In the D.M.S. annual report for the fiscal year 1936-1937, Elise Bahnson wrote that during the past year the worship services had been well attended. Since they had not yet been permitted to rebuild the church, they were holding the services at the school. After Rev. Bjergaarde left, however, they had only been able to receive Communion twice -- that is, during the visits by Rev. Ch'eng and Rev. Bolwig. The male evangelists had preached, and Dr. Nielsen had preached once a month after his return in October. And, all of the evangelistic work (Sunday school, Bible studies, hospital devotions, home visits, and so on) had been carried on as usual by the women missionaries, male evangelists, and Bible Women.

In view of the foregoing, this seems a good time to provide some details about the ministers in Siuyen over the years:

Rev. Ole Olesen and Rev. Johannes Vyff, established the mission in Siuyen in 1898. In August, 1898, they purchased a Chinese house and lot enclosed by a tall wall and the two ministers and their wives took up residence there. They opened a street chapel and began holding services that were soon well attended.

There was an interruption during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 when the Olesens and Vyffs were forced to go to Port Arthur for several months. Apparently, it was after this that Rev. Olesen took sole charge of the work in Siuyen and remained in charge until he left in 1923, the year after he supervised the building of the church.

Rev. Olesen's full name was Ole Peter Svenning Olesen. Altogether, he served in Manchuria from 1896-1927. Rev. Olesen's first wife was Magdalene Sørensen. It was she who began the work with the women in Siuyen that Anna Bøg took over.

On September 25, 1921, there was a big celebration in Siuyen for the Olesens' silver wedding. It was a "triple feast" because they were also commemorating Rev. Olesen's 25th anniversary as a minister and as a missionary to China. Anna Bøg and nurse Anna Busch organized the celebration while the Chinese Christians decorated the yard and chapel as beautifully as they knew how. Not the least of the joy came when Rev. Bolwig arrived. He had cycled all the way from Takushan for the occasion.

Sadly, Magdalene Olesen died only a few months later, on January 13, 1922. In 1923, Rev. Olesen was transferred to Fengcheng and remarried. His second wife, Marie Thomsen, died in 1926, and he returned to Denmark in 1927.

Rev. Hagelskjær succeeded Rev. Olesen in Siuyen, serving there until September, 1929. His full name was Laust Lauridsen Hagelskjær. Altogether, he worked in Manchuria from 1909-1930. He was married to Jacobine C.C. Larsen.

There was no immediate successor to Rev. Hagelskjær in Siuyen. In a short article by Anna Bøg written in early 1930, she related:

"There was a large empty spot in the congregation here when the minister left and no substitute could be found. The congregation very much hopes that the Hagelskjærs will come back. The chairman [of the parish council] said to me the other day, 'Here in Siuyen we cannot do without a missionary minister yet. There should be both a Danish and a Chinese minister. But now there are neither.' The chairman also asked me if I thought the old Mushih could come out for a year's time. He meant Rev. Olesen."

("Mushih" is a term the Chinese used to refer to ordained Christian ministers. It apparently derives from the Hebrew verb for "to anoint", which is "mashach".)

The congregation in Siuyen was without a minister until late 1931. Our readers might remember that in our post entitled Difficulties to Overcome (1931-1932) we quoted from articles by Elise Bahnson where she talked about how the congregation had been without a minister for two years and hoped for one soon. The construction of the women missionary's residence had been delayed so that she could build a home for the minister they expected to come.

In late 1931, Rev. Jens P. Bjergaarde arrived and took up residence in the home Elise Bahnson had prepared for him and his family. Rev. Bjergaarde was married to Maria Kruse. Altogether, Rev. Bjergaarde served in Manchuria from 1912 to 1939 and Maria from 1915 to 1939.

Here is what Gullach-Jensen had to say about the Bjergaardes in her 1937 book on the work of D.M.S. in Manchuria:

"[Rev. Bjergaarde] was born March 14, 1881 in Brovst Parish. His father was a farmer. Until his confirmation, Bjergaarde lived at home, of which he has many good and bright memories.

"He would have liked to study, but it could not be afforded so he was placed in a commercial apprenticeship. As a shop assistant in Vendsyssel, he came into close contact with believing people for the first time and that touched a spiritual longing that had slumbered in him since his school days. He awoke to new life and came into a conscious relationship with Jesus Christ.

"Almost simultaneously, the idea of serving in the mission field presented itself but his obligations to his family prevented him from pursuing it for another five years. In 1907, he began to educate himself with an eye on the mission field, first at Norre Nissum Seminary, next at the Mission School in Hellerup, and finally during a term of study in England. Resources for his training and travel came from believers who were merchants in Vendsyssel and Han Herred. In 1912, D.M.S. sent Rev. Bjergaarde out as a missionary to China. He has worked at various stations and since 1931 he has been in Siuyen.

"In 1920, Bjergaarde married Marie Kruse, who since 1915 had been a D.M.S. Missionary in Chinchou."

As mentioned above, the Bjergaardes went home to Denmark in June, 1936. As far as we can tell, they came back to Siuyen after this home leave and remained in Siuyen until 1939.

From 1939 onward, there was no minister in Siuyen during Anna Bøg's time. In fact, during World War II, Anna Bøg was the only remaining missionary at the mission station, although there were still medical missionaries at Siuyen Hospital outside town.

When Anna Bøg returned to Denmark in late 1946, she carried with her a letter in Chinese from a representative of the Chinese congregation in Siuyen addressed to the congregation in Denmark. It may or may not have been from the same man who years earlier had hoped Rev. Olesen could return. He used the Chinese nicknames for the Danes he referred to. We know from Kirsten Berggreen Buch that "Ma" was the Chinese nickname for Anna Bøg Madsen (based on the similarity in sound to the first syllable of Madsen) and that "Yang" referred to nurse Anna Busch (because of the first syllable of her first name). We do not know whom he meant by "Rev. Shao" but we believe that by "Rev. Yuan" he must have been referring to Rev. Jens Bjergaarde, since as far as we know he was the last Danish minister in Siuyen. (Perhaps "Yuan" sounds like "Jens" to the Chinese.) Here is the letter:

"Since Rev. Yuan left Siuyen . . . We have for years not been able to find a pastor for our flock, God's sheep. Everything has developed into such a difficult situation!

"We now send greetings to everyone in the congregation and to Rev. Yuan at the same time, as the missionaries Ma and Yang are now going back to Denmark.

"Our profound wish is that Rev. Yuan would return to Siuyen. If he cannot come back, we shall certain also wish Rev. Shao a heartfelt welcome. If that minister cannot come here either, then the Lord must help us to find another suitable pastor.

"Missionary Ma will certainly tell you about our situation."

When we reach the year 1946 in these posts, it will become much clearer to our readers what this faithful Chinese Christian meant by the phrase, "Everything has developed into such a difficult situation". That was an understatement. It was a very difficult situation indeed.

Sources:
Bog-Madsen, Anna; "Et Sølvbryllup i Hsiu-yen", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 89, Nr. 4, January 25, 1922, pp. 38-40.
Bog-Madsen, Anna; "Fra Missionærerne i China," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 97, Nr. 14, April 9, 1930; p. 214. Translated by Marie-Jacqueline.
Bahnson, Elise; "Beretning fra Frkn. Bahnson og Bøg Madsen," D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1936-1937, p. 131-132.
Gullach-Jensen, Thyra; D.M.S. i Manchuriet (D.M.S., Copenhagen, 1937), pp. 32-33. Translated by Marie-Jacqueline.
Hviid Jensen, Anne; I Lys Og Skygge (Unitas Forlag, Copenhagen, 2005), pp. 159-163.)
Representative of the Siuyen Congregation, letter to the Danish congregation; May 18, 1946. Translated from Chinese to Danish by Kirsten Berggreen Buch and from Danish to English by Preben Jørgensen.
Vyff website, "Ophold i Siu-yen"

Images:
Top - Rev. and Mrs. Olesen visiting Siuyen Hospital in Chinese cart, from D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1921, p. 141.
Center - Rev. and Mrs. Jens Bjergaarde and family from one of the Danish Missionary Albums
Bottom - Letter from representative of the Siuyen Congregation to the Danish congregation, dated May 18, 1946. (From the D.M.S. archives in the Rigsarkivet.)
All D.M.S. items used with permission.

Bookseller Hsü and Chang Wen Ch'ing (Early 1937)

In early 1937, the D.M.S. missionary newspaper published a vignette by Anna Bøg about Bookseller Hsü, an itinerant salesman who sold separate books of the Bible in the countryside around Siuyen. Our readers might remember that Elise Bahnson introduced Mr. Hsü in one of the articles excerpted in our post Difficulties to Overcome (1931-1932).

In the early 1937 newspaper, there was also a vignette by Elise Bahnson about Mrs. Chang, an elderly Chinese woman who had recently been baptized, and Elise Bahnson reported that, thanks to the new motor coach line, Rev. and Mrs. Bolwig had been able to travel to Siuyen from the town where they lived in order to spend Christmas with the missionaries and Chinese congregation. The Bolwigs had many friends among the Chinese Christians in Siuyen.

Here are the two vignettes:

Bookseller Hsü

"Bookseller Hsü has just returned from a trip of a little over two months during which he sold 4,700 individual books of the Bible. Not all homes could pay with cash, but they were willing to trade a bowl of corn for a little book.

"To the question, 'Are you sure they will now read in the books?', he replied, 'I find some parts that I know they would like to read and mark them, because if they begin with Jesus' genealogy they might easily stop there.'

"He had spent a week in the home of a schoolteacher who has previously been a patient at the hospital [in Siuyen]. Food was not so difficult to come by in the country dwellings, but a couple of times it was 1 o'clock in the morning before he found his night's lodging.

"He experienced many answered prayers, spoke with many about God's Word, and witnessed [to them]. If there were sick people in the home, he talked with them and prayed for them. . . .

"On such a trip, one cannot escape a chance encounter with a troop of brethren who live in the mountains [bandits]. But, despite the winter cold, snow, and many other difficulties, the bookseller returned fresh, happy, and empty-handed, having left behind the many books."

Chang Wen Ch'ing

"A truth-seeking soul, eagerly she had served Buddha and other gods for many years. She had abstained from meat with the intention of honoring the gods.

"Now 75 years old, she came with her daughter to the worship service during the month of October, the first Sunday Reverend Cheng was here. During the entire week [of women's meetings] she sat in the first pew, listening. She had reached her destination; she had finally found the truth.

"She lived here in those days, and started to eat meat again, an important sign that she had begun to break away from idols to serve the living God. She was full of questions. Even though she was advanced in age and she could not learn to read, she could go home and do away with all the idols. We told her about Christmas and invited her to come back.

"She came at the appointed time, worn out and motion-sick from riding on the rigid cart. During Christmas, she lived here again in order to be with us as much as possible, and her hope was fulfilled: the Sunday between Christmas and New Years, she was baptized 'Chang Wen Ch'ing'.

"For three weeks, she lived with her daughter and came for further instruction. Now she is back home in the country."

Source:
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Smaabreve fra Siuyen - Bogsælgeren," and Bahnson, Elise; "Smaabreve fra Siuyen - Gamle Fru Chang"; Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 104, No. 9; 1937 (exact date unknown); pp. 127-129. Translation by Marie-Jacqueline.

Image:
Photograph of Mrs. Chang (front), Bible Woman Miss P'ei, and Anna Bøg, from the article cited above.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.

The Nielsens Return; Reverend Ch'eng Visits (Late 1936)

In an article published in the Danish missionary newspaper in late 1936, Anna Bøg related that the long-anticipated government-sponsored long-distance motor coach line had finally opened. It connected Siuyen with Ta-shih-chiao [Dashiqiao], a stop on the main line of the South Manchurian Railway 25 kilometers southwest of Haicheng (the closest passenger station to Siuyen). As a result, the missionaries in Siuyen were no longer as isolated as we described in our post Landlocked (Early 1936).

Missionaries from other locations in Manchuria had taken the new bus to Siuyen and some of the missionaries had by then discovered Sorai Beach in Korea as a vacation spot. Although they now had the means to join them, Anna Bøg and Elise Bahnson had concluded it was God's will for them to remain in Siuyen that year.

The high points of the latter part of the year had both occurred in October. Dr. and Mrs. Nielsen had returned to Siuyen after the three-year furlough that followed Dr. Nielsen's release from captivity by the bandits. And, Reverend Ch'eng Chan Yuan, a Lutheran minister ordained in 1934, had traveled by bicycle to Siuyen all the way from Lin-chiang, northeast of Siuyen on the Manchurian side of the Yalu River that divides Manchuria from Korea:

"It was a great joy when the new bus route opened July 2 between Ta-shih-ch'iao and Siuyen. It is a stretch of 150 kilometers. There are eight villages along the route where the bus stops. It costs five cents per kilometer and $5.25 for the entire trip. Those who have tried it are all very excited about the wonderful nature scenery, especially about one of the mountain passes, which is very beautiful. Now we no longer feel as confined as we have during recent years.

"Miss Bahnson and I talked about also trying out the route and taking off for summer holidays to be with our colleagues at the beautiful beach in Korea. We prayed for God's guidance and saw several reasons why we should stay home. The same day we made that decision, we, together with all our co-workers, the evangelists and Bible Women, began to study Japanese with a very nice young Manchurian as a teacher. He is an interpreter. We studied five times a week.

"Several times, our co-workers wanted to give up as they were not accustomed to studying languages other than their own, but now they have come so far as to enjoy it. Some of them are really adept. And we find it very amusing when we get visits [from Japanese officials] because we can understand a little of what they say.

"One afternoon a senior official was here on a visit. As it was approaching the time when we were going to study, I asked him if he wanted to teach us. 'Yes,' he was more than willing. Another day, the dean of the Japanese school listened to us and corrected us. The same young man has come to our worship service several times and on Sunday morning comes into my Bible class to sing for the women.

"The Manchurians have been able to come and go, but for several years no missionaries have visited here. Rev. Witt was the first to try the bus route. . . . After that, Miss Bech-Andersen was here. And now it is ten days since we had the very great pleasure of welcoming Dr. and Mrs. Nielsen home. We were eating our midday meal when old Yang stuck his head in the door and said, 'Dr. Nielsen has arrived!' We got up from the table, got on our bicycles, and minutes later were at the bus station where the two oldsters, as we call them here, were standing happy and excited among all the suitcases. The news traveled rapidly all over town, and a group of Christians was on the way over to welcome them home. It was exactly three years previously that Dr. Nielsen came home from the mountains, and almost three years since they left Siuyen. In God's time, doors open and what God unlocks, no one can lock in.

"At the same time, we were also visited by the young Reverend Ch'eng from Lin-chiang. It had been about two and a half years since we'd had a visit from any outside minister and we had not expected that he would be the first to come. We had received a card, "Reverend Ch'eng will come the 15th of October," but not from where he would come, or how he could come. The evangelists arrived by bus, but no minister. A little later, he came by bicycle from Takushan. He had cycled the entire way from Lin-chiang to Siuyen, approximately 67 Danish miles, on unlevel roads through mountain passes and across rivers, sometimes in Korea and sometimes on the Manchurian side, stopping at outstations and Christian homes along the way and the entire time testifying about his Master and Lord. Spontaneously, people said, 'I wish there were many like Reverend Ch'eng.' . . .

"Reverend Ch'eng immediately put himself at our service. 'I will work for you all, so you can rest a little,' he said. He was with us for ten days, held seventeen meetings, two large Communion services, a baptism, and a wedding. One morning, he cycled out to Hsing-lung-kuo, where he spoke to the Christians. The last two days he was at the hospital, where he held four meetings and took old Mrs. Fu to Communion.

"We had meetings for the women every morning and for the men every afternoon. For reasons of space, we limited our invitations to the Christians and catechumens. Every morning, we were overcrowded, so we put extra benches out in the sunny yard and with the windows open one could hear well. He was used by the Lord for blessing. He clarified many issues that we all have to face in these uncertain times. Some of the catechumens received so much help that they were very sad when the meetings were over and we could no longer keep the minister here.

"One day he asked about the outstations and we understood that the minister was also willing to travel to the only place open in our district in these times, Shao-tzu-ho. When a Christian from there, Mr. Liu, who had come here to attend the meetings, heard this, he immediately went back to tell the Christians about this unexpected joy. They are all rural residents and had to arrange their work so they could attend. Tuesday a small cart drove off with two men and two Bible Women. Most of the approximately four Danish miles of the road [to Shao-tzu-ho] consist of four long mountain passes. Wednesday morning, Reverend Ch'eng and evangelist Chang left by bicycle.

"They had four days of meetings with Communion services. We were very pleased about the glorious autumn weather, which helped everyone to attend. Also, we were glad that all the Christians could assemble in their own little outstation for Communion. It has been many years since they could do that. All those who were baptized from Shao-Tzu-ho last Christmas and Pentecost said, 'We are the fruit of Mr. Liu'. . . How glad we were when this little band came at Pentecost and asked for baptism.

"Here at home in Siuyen we are all very busy. There are 63 women on the catechumens' list and 25 schoolgirls. With all the weekly Bible studies, devotions, prayer meetings, Sunday school and home visits, we can say that we are fully occupied.

"And in all circumstances, we can attest to experiencing Jesus' promise, 'Behold, I am with you all days.' "

Source for article:
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, No. 50, 1936 (exact date unknown), pp. 741-744. Translation by Marie-Jacqueline.

Source for additional information regarding Rev. Ch'eng:
Jensen, Anne Hviid; I Lys Og Skygge (Unitas Forlag, Copenhagen, 2005), p. 111.

Image:
Photograph of Rev. Ch'eng during his 1936 visit to Siuyen, from Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Smaabreve fra Siuyen, Bogsælgeren," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 104, No. 9, 1937 (exact date unknown); p. 128.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.

Landlocked (Early 1936)

In 1936, the editor of the D.M.S. missionary newspaper wrote, "The way out from Siuyen seems still not passable, so none of the Siuyen missionaries have been out on vacation in the last few years."

It was not just that the Siuyen missionaries were not able to take vacations, however, but that they were basically imprisoned in Siuyen because of the bandit activity. Thus, neither Anna Bøg nor Elise Bahnson was able to make the kind of missionary journey to outlying areas described in our post Invited Everywhere (1932).

Nevertheless, Anna Bøg and Elise Bahnson carried on their work within the city limits of Siuyen, making home visits, teaching catechumens, giving Bible courses, leading prayer circles, organizing and presenting New Year's meetings, and participating in devotions at Siuyen Hospital. Both were also active in the Sunday School, which had a large attendance.

In a 1935 publication, the Y.W.C.A. said about Anna Bøg and Elise Bahnson, “Young, clever and warm-hearted collaborators, they are a good support for the work done among women and children.” They were also a good support for one another. In late February, 1936, Anna Bøg wrote, "It is good that we are two during this very difficult, tense time."

Anna Bøg related that besides being unable to travel they had been oppressed by cold and illness. "The entire month of January was very cold. There was hardly any snow. Despite the extreme cold, we had sunshine every day. Much illness followed. At our house, Miss Bahnson was ill with a high fever, influenza. She got better twice but then relapsed, and she was very tired when she began to recover."

Because of the travel restrictions, Elise Bahnson was not able to bring her architectural skills to the other missions where they were needed. Her design skills did not entirely lie dormant, however. Dr. and Mrs. Bertelsen wrote, "The congregation here has received a baldachin designed by Miss Bahnson -- it is very beautiful. . . . Earlier the pagans frequently said, "We don't understand you Christians; you do not do anything for your deceased!" But even the pagans say that the baldachin is beautiful." (The baldachin was an ornamental canopy to be used in funerals.)

In the February, 1936 account, Anna Bøg described the recent activities at the women's station, which we summarize here:

During Chinese New Year, they held a week long Bible course for the Christian women and catechumens, along with special meetings for the children. In spite of the very cold weather, there was a full house every day. Although the Chinese ate special meals during the New Year's celebrations, there were only two such meals and so the Chinese women were nevertheless able attend the Bible course. It was held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily, not counting recreational time.

There were fifteen local speakers plus two young male evangelists who had just graduated from the evangelist school and brought a breath of fresh air from the outside. The women read John's letters, Jesus' parables, practiced new songs, and heard and saw special New Year's texts and pictures.

On the last day, several women attested to the deeper conversion they had experienced as a result of the meetings. One woman said, "The image of the snake that winds about people and holds them, has spoken to me about that sin that binds me." Another intended to go home and speak to the brother-in-law who lived on the same farm but whom she had not spoken to for a year.

About 30 children participated and the children were observed to pray very devoutly. At the end of the meetings both the women and the children asked, "Isn't there more?"

The missionaries and Bible women had planned meetings for the pagan women that were to take place the following week but shortly before the meetings something occurred that upset the pagan woman and as a result the attendance was less than had been anticipated.

Currently, many women were attending the Bible studies on Friday afternoons and about 50 were being prepared for baptism.

In the D.M.S. Annual Report for the fiscal year 1935-1936, Anna Bøg noted, "For the weekly work, we have three devotions in school, one to two devotions in the hospital, three Bible classes in town, and ten prayer groups. On the catechumens list, including both adults and youth, in the fall we had 110. Most were studying twice a week. There were countless visits in homes, intensive work among the pagans, Sunday school work, and so forth."

And, even though the missionaries could not leave town, the Bible Women could. In the article written in late February 1936 summarized above, Anna Bøg related, "Our nice young Bible Women who have learned to cycle, have been out to several villages and held meetings. We Danes cannot leave town [but] we hear about places where it is peaceful, and then they cycle there."

In the same annual report for 1935-1936, Elise Bahnson wrote about the specifics of the work in the outlying areas, apparently all of it accomplished by the Bible Women:

"Hsing-lung-kou was visited twice a week in the spring. The young Bible Women had a baptism class there. Before the six woman and six children were baptized, they came here for a short time for education. A young girl from there was confirmed.

Shao-tzu-ho was visited twice and two women were baptized at Christmas.

Lohr-chüan-kou - From the Pang's home, daughter-in-law No. 4, a widow with a small son, was baptized. They are now in Antung in the children's home. Daughter-in-law No. 1, also a widow, had her daughter-in-law baptised.

Su-Tzu-kuo - From the Li home, a young girl was confirmed and shortly after that she went back to the pagan home that she had been given to as a small child.

Chien-shan-yao - The Christian Mrs. Shen brought her adult daughter in for education. As many in the countryside, she had for some time been under Tao-te-hui's influence.* [In that religion] after a year of study, young girls can proclaim the teaching and earn their living. This tempts many young persons."

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise; "Frk. Bahnsons Beretning," D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1935-1936, pp. 137-138.
Bertelsen, Peter and Dorthe; "Hospitalet i Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, Nr. 49, 1936 (exact date unknown).
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, No. 16, April 15, 1936, pp. 230-232.
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Frk. Bøg Madsen skriver," D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1935-1936, pp. 136-137.
"Fra Redaktionen", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, Nr. 26, 1936 (exact date unknown).
Young Women's Christian Association; Vest-Øst, 1910-1935, (Kristelig Forening for Unge Kvinder, 1935), p. 64.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.

Image:
Photograph of Elise Bahnson (left) and Anna Bøg in front of the old women missionary's residence in Siuyen, May, 1931. Courtesy of H.B. Petersen.
-----------------------------
*This was not the only reference to the influence of Tao-te-hui during this period. Dr. Bertelsen also mentioned it in the 1936 article quoted above when he wrote about the baldachin designed by Elise Bahnson.

A Cruciform Church (1934-1938)

Our readers will remember our post on the original construction of the church at Siuyen in 1922. We mentioned that there was a fire in the church in 1935 and that the church had to be reconstructed. Here is the story in detail:

After finishing the women's missionary residence in 1932, architect Elise Bahnson went on a furlough that lasted from December 1932 to January 1934. On her return, one of her first tasks was to remodel the interior of the church at Siuyen, including the altar, the pulpit, and the pews.

About the remodeling in 1934, Rev. and Mrs. Bjergaarde wrote in the missionary newspaper:

“The church in Siuyen has undergone a thorough interior renovation and is difficult to recognize. Miss Bahnson and the handy Chinese craftsman worked hard to make it as beautiful as possible and they succeeded beyond expectations."

And Dr. Peter Bertelsen (assigned to Siuyen Hospital) and his wife had this to say:

“This spring and summer the church here in Siuyen has been remodeled, and now we think it is one of the most beautiful churches here [in Manchuria]. It has been a real pleasure to see how interested the congregation has been. The chairman of the parish council, Mr. Sung, did a great job last year of embellishing the square in front. The work inside the church had to wait for the return of Miss Bahnson, and she has had a deft hand in creating a beautiful church interior, which earlier was rather desolate.

“An earlier less successful altarpiece has been replaced by a Cross overlaid with green marbled Siuyen stone* that is very simple and beautiful. The interior paint of the church is pale yellow oil as far as the windows, and above that a frieze of a somewhat darker golden color. Many gifts were received, among others a lovely carpet to lay in front of the altar that was donated by a member of the board and his adult son.”

On the night between December 16, and December 17, 1935, however, a tragedy occurred: the recently remodeled church was destroyed by fire, although the pews were saved and the granite walls remained standing.

Here is Anna Bøg's description of this event and its aftermath, written on February 25, 1936:

"All our plans for Christmas festivities collapsed after the fire in the church just before Christmas. It was for us an unspeakable sadness to see the church burning. Many of the [Chinese] Christians wept with sorrow over our beautiful house of God. The next morning, the pagans mocked us saying, 'Could God not protect his house? Now I will not go to church anymore, for Jesus is burned," etc. We thought, 'I wonder if all the women who have requested baptism this Christmas can stand firm in the face of this mockery?' During a meeting, Miss Bahnson asked them, 'How will you respond to the pagans' ridicule?' Old Mrs. Chao responded quickly and boldly, 'We still have Jesus.' Immediately the next morning some of the Christians said, 'Did the church burn because it was too small? Perhaps God meant that we should build it bigger.' One of the Christian women, who lives near the church, was so upset and worried by seeing the church burn that she went in and out watching the fire until she found rest in Hebrews 9:24: 'For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself for now to appear in the presence of God for us.'"

In spite of these difficulties, there were many baptisms that Christmas. In the annual report for the fiscal year 1935-1936, Anna Bøg wrote:

"The fire in the church was one of the saddest events I encountered in Siuyen but then my happiness returned when 37 persons were baptized at Christmas. The walls of the poorest schoolroom were witness to this great glory."

In the same annual report, Elise Bahnson related:

“In the spring [of 1936], my time has by request been occupied in planning buildings, especially churches, in Pikou, Dairen, Feng-huang, and now also restoration of the church in Antung as well as our own."

In order to rebuild the church, however, it was necessary to obtain building permits from the Japanese/Manchukuo authorities and there were many delays such that the restoration of the church was not completed until 1938.

In 1936, Anna Bøg wrote in the missionary newspaper:

"It has been a great pleasure to see the women's zeal in collecting for the restoration of the church. Three of the Christian women have visited all the homes. 'We are so warmly received,' they say. In three days they collected more than a tenth of the cost to rebuild and the second tenth is just about complete. The three of them received a great blessing."

In the annual report for the fiscal year 1936-1937, Elise Bahnson wrote:

"Up until now the authorities have not authorized the reconstruction. . . . Permission was requested to reconstruct the church in an enlarged cruciform shape. Materials were bought, and we awaited the answer, as nothing in the new 'empire' [Manchukuo] may be constructed before permission is received. This is a new rule... Now, one year later, we are still waiting for the response.

"The damaged church has impaired our work . . ."

Finally, in 1938, the church was rebuilt. In Guds Kirke Bygges, D.M.S. described the restored church:

"It was reconstructed as a cruciform church. The tower was renovated with corbie-step gables as it was impossible to restore the biblical pictures. The roof is, as before, covered with gray tiles, and the outside is still white, black and gray. One hundred seats were added. The ceiling is flat, the walls light yellow, the pews green, and the rest of the furniture has been coated with a reddish-brown Chinese lacquer. The old baptismal font burst in the fire. The new one is granite. The baptismal bowl and pitcher are of brass made in Mukden. . . . on September 25, 1938, Rev. Ch’en reconsecrated the church. Miss E. Bahnson helped with the plans for restoration and expansion, and Rev. Shun directed the restoration. The vessels and candleholders are gifts from missionaries, and the altar cloth was a gift from Danish friends, who also made large contributions to the restoration.”

From this account in Guds Kirke Bygges, one can see that -- contrary to what Tobias Faber reported in his biography of Johannes Prip-Møller -- it was not until the reconstruction in 1938 that the church acquired its corbie-step gables and that was only because the original tower could not be restored.

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise; "Frk. Bahnsons Beretning", D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1935-1936, pp. 137-138. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bahnson, Elise; "Beretning fra Frkn. Bahnson og Bøg Madsen," D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1936-1937, pp. 131-132. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bjergaarde, Rev. and Mrs. Jens; "Siuyen", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 101, Nr. 35, 1934 (exact date of publication unknown), p. 513. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bertelsen, Dr. and Mrs. Peter; "Hospitalet i Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 101, Nr. 43, 1934 (exact date of publication unknown), p. 637-638. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Frk. Bøg Madsen Skriver", D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1935-1936, pp. 136-137. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Fra Missonsmarket i Manchuriet", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, Nr. 14, 1936 (exact date of publication unknown), p. 201. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Siuyen", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, Nr. 16, April 15, 1936; pp. 230-231. Translated by Marie-Jacqueline.
D.M.S., Guds Kirke Bygges (Copenhagen, 1941), pp. 52-53. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.

Images:
Altar and interior of Siuyen Church after the reconstruction, from D.M.S., Guds Kirke Bygges (Copenhagen, 1941), p. 53.
All D.M.S. material used with permission.
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*Siuyen is renowned for its jade. One wonders if the "green marbled stone" of the Cross was jade. Dr. Bertelsen does not say so, however. Rather, he says "der er beklædt med grønt flammet Siuyensten".

Feeding the Multitudes (Elise Bahnson, 1935)

There was a poignant explanation for the particular joy that Anna Bøg took in watching the completion of the harvest as she returned to Siuyen by freight train in late August or early September, 1935:

The Manchurians often suffered from famine. Sometimes it was caused by flooding and other times by drought. The heavy rains that impeded Anna Bøg's departure on furlough in June, 1934 must have been the first of many such storms because by spring, 1935, there was famine and the poor starving people came to the missionaries in Siuyen for help. Although the missionaries had limited financial resources, they nevertheless decided to give a bowl of grain to everyone who came to them with a genuine need.

At first, the missionaries distributed the food to both the men and women together. By late May, however, they had divided the work so that Elise Bahnson and Mrs. Bjergaarde distributed food to the women and girls at the women's station while Rev. Bjergaarde provided for the men and boys at the adjacent men's station.

On June 4, 1935, Rev. Bjergaarde reported to the D.M.S., "Today we fed 230-250 persons. The number is growing day by day as we await the harvest that will bring new grain."

A few months later, on October 4, 1935, Rev. Bjergaarde wrote, "[T]he number of needy persons increased steadily as foodstuffs became entirely depleted in the countryside. . . . The women's yard was too small to accommodate all the needy women. It was a great relief when Miss Bahnson and my wife could move to the new schoolyard where a tent was set up to provide shade from the sun and protection from the rain like we had in the men's yard. Daily, we had about 800 men and 200 boys in our yard, while in the schoolyard there were 1,500 women, girls, and small children, mostly from the countryside [.]"

In the same article, Rev. Bjergaarde noted that in all they had distributed a total of 178,361 bowls of grain -- 114,823 to women and 63,538 to men. The types of grain used had included millet (the standard fare of Manchuria), beans, rice, and corn.

According to Rev. Bjergaarde, the total cost of the famine relief for the three months between June 8, and September 4, had been $4,376.19, of which $103.00 had been donated by the Chinese parish in Dairen, $87.18 had been from other Chinese friends, $2,217.26 had come from Denmark, and $1,968.75 had been donated by the Danish missionaries themselves. One missionary, Rev. Johannes Rasmussen, had donated $900.00.

In the annual report for the fiscal year 1935-1936, Elise Bahnson wrote, "With the rainy season, the misery grew among the poor ones and all our energy and strength were consumed. We could only resume our normal work after September 4th [1935]."

On October 16, 1935, Elise Bahnson wrote an article describing the work with the women during this difficult time. Here is her article in its entirety:

"They came to the gate and knocked -- the many poor people who were in distress this summer. And, as the Lord fed the multitudes, we were able to do the same this summer.

"Already the last week in May, they began to come.

"The new gate of the women's station was not as well known as the old gate of the men's station to the south, so it was some time before they found their way here.

"About the first of June, many came. We took turns being on watch for them and talking to those who came, many of whom were from afar and had never heard the Gospel. When approximately fifty had assembled, we distributed grain to them -- a large bowl for each woman and a smaller one for each child. Soon, however, we understood that it was difficult to control the situation so that some did not come back twice in one day.

"On June 5, we decided to be open from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The first day there were about 150 women and children. On June 8, it rose to 550, and June 13, to 800. We opened the gate about 1:00 p.m. and they came in, taking a place on the ground under a tent of matting that had been put up in the east yard as protection against the intense sun. We used the stone stairs of the gable of the women missionaries' residence as a speaker's platform. We sang, prayed, and talked for about a half an hour before the grain distribution began.

"We had been prevented from traveling to the countryside because of the bandit disturbances. Now the country people came to us. This time it was the poorest, who were driven by hunger to do so. But God is able to use all things, and we understood that a wonderful opportunity to sow the seed [of the Gospel] had been given to us.

"We did not attend the conference or leave for a summer vacation [this year], but I would not have had it any different. We saw clearly that the Lord had seen fit to block our passage.

"We began in faith and were not disappointed. Every day the Lord gave us what we needed for the day. One day, the grain was already used up while there remained many in the yard who had not yet received anything, but then we went to our own and our employees' households. And it happened not just once but many times that we had just what we needed for the day. Grain purchases were made every day.

"Rev. Olesen's old cook, who is now our cook, was a good source of support in that he had been in charge of grain purchases for the women's station. Some days we had to scrape the bottom of the money jar, but it turned out that just in time for the next day's purchase, we received additional funds.

"At the beginning, all the women and children came in at the women's station's north gate. Then one day the yard was filled to capacity with 800 women and children and I locked the gate. There were many who did not get in. I had no peace in my conscience that day. I believed that it was God's will that they should all have food. Then on June 15, we opened the inner yard, where women without children could gather, and then the clinic entrance and small yard where 250 children quickly came together. We sang and spoke at all three different locations every day. The [Chinese] Christian women came and helped us with oversight, etc. From that day onward, we began to distribute at the west gate (hospital entrance). Until the end, Mrs. Bjergaarde was my steadfast coworker, both at the [grain] distribution and as a speaker.

"Normally, the number of women and children was around 1,400. On July 1, it went over 2,000 but then fell again.

"Gradually, the women became friendlier toward us as well as quieter and more willing to listen, particularly those in the inner yard without children. It was for the most part the same people who came every day, but there were not a few who were only here a short time, then went home for a while, and then came back again later.

"Our Bible Women were not able to attend the meeting in Fenghwang this year but had to have their summer vacation here at home. They made good use of it. Old Mrs. Li (mother of the Bible Woman Miss Li at the hospital), Mrs. Liu-Yung-Hsi and Mrs. Liu-Kuei-Chen helped us to speak with the [famine victims]. During their summer vacation, we had both hospital Bible Women and students helping daily. Since school had ended, the woman and children were moved to the school grounds -- the new schoolyard located just west of the mission station. There was ample room. The tent of matting was moved and enlarged, and they sat on boards on the ground. We gathered the big children outside the large school playground to the east, but when it rained they came in to two large schoolrooms. Also when it rained the number was fewer.

"It was clear that all the small, malnourished children could not survive, and many died. Often the women came bearing tiny children such as you might say to yourself: Can they live through the day? They died on the street and they lay in rows on mats down by the river. Here, they do not bury children, but rather throw them out or cast them into the water.

"Each day, when we were at the end of the grain distribution, the mothers with sick children would come to the back where we gave them tickets for free medical treatment at the hospital. This last part of the work was the most difficult -- to witness all this suffering every day. We were happy to be able to refer them to the hospital. It was a relief where the need was the greatest. The suffering was so great that the women often could barely hear or take in [information].

"When the big cauldron that had daily cooked them a meal was taken out of use, they journeyed to their home district to gather grain in the field during the harvest. It was a great pleasure during the final days to feel their joy and gratitude for the help they had received.

"It was a mighty season of sowing [the Gospel]. When we are again permitted to go out into the countryside and meet them in their homes, we will learn how much they really took in, but the seed of the Word was sown, and God's word does not return void.

"In this way, I would like to bring the women's thanks further and to add our own. Thank you that we were able to accomplish this relief work.

"God is faithful, and faithful to his promises. I was again allowed to experience confirmation of the Word: 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' [Matt.6:33.]

"Affectionate greetings,

"Your devoted envoy,

"Elise Bahnson"

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise; "Giv Dem at Spise"; Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 102, Nr. 49, 1935 (exact date unknown); pp. 757-759. Translated by Marie-Jacqueline.
Bahnson, Elise; "Frk. Bahnsons Beretning," D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1935-1936, pp. 137-138. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bjergaarde, Rev. Jens; "Hungersnød og Dyrtid i Siuyen"; Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 102, Nr. 27, 1935 (exact date of issue unknown), pp. 413-414. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.
Bjergaarde, Rev. Jens; "Nodhjælpen i Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 102, Nr. 45; 1935 (exact date of issue unknown); pp. 674-678. Translated by Preben Jørgensen.

Image:
Photograph of malnourished infant in Siuyen, from the article by Elise Bahnson, "Giv Dem at Spise," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 102, Nr. 49, 1935 (exact date unknown); p. 759.
All D.M.S. material used with permission.