Letter One

The following letter appeared in The Dawn magazine, II, 1925-26, 285, in response to an article that had appeared in The Dawn called “Testing the Supernatural.”

Testing the supernatural

Dear Sir,

Your valuable article on “Testing the Supernatural” in the May Dawn has interested us deeply. Here in China demon powers are manifesting themselves in new ways; and even in the Churches there have been cases of evil spirits pretending to be Jesus Christ.

One case may be of interest. Last autumn, near Amoy, in a preacher's house one night, a voice was heard in the ceiling and a light appeared. The voice professed to be that of the former preacher who had lived in that house, and had died there twenty years ago. It soon became known all over the country-side that the old pastor was speaking from the roof of his former dwelling, to any who would go and hear, and crowds flocked day by day. The utterances were extraordinary:full of Scripture; exhortations to live a holy life were frequent; and people of evil character dare not go, because no sooner were they seated, than the voice would address them by name, and ask them to repent of their sins. In most cases, sins known only to the person and the spirit addressing them were revealed. There is a well known man in Amoy, a Chinese physician trained in America, and a real Christian. His fees were very high; and to his amazement, when he went to the house, the spirit called on him to repent of the sin of covetousness, and commanded him to reduce his fees. So great was the effect on him that he now treats poor patients for nothing and is in many ways a transformed character.

A brother who preaches the Gospel in the Amoy district came to see me and asked me if I did not believe that this spirit was really the voice of God. He said, “No one in Amoy, scarcely, doubts it; though a few missionaries perhaps may be a little sceptical.” I told him about testing the spirits, and advised him to use the test of 1 John 4:2. The spirit never becomes visible, but often a brilliant light is seen hovering over the house.

Ultimately the test was put by a worker we know and trust. After putting the test, there was silence for about half an hour; and then the voice said, “Read 1 Corinthians 13:13.” As you say in the article, the “not confessing” is sufficient proof of the origin of the manifestation. Many Chinese Christians have been utterly deceived; they well know the supernaturalism of heathenism, but it has never entered their heads that a demon could manifest himself in a Christian church, use Scriptural terms, exhort to goodness instead of evil, and press the reading of the Bible.

I am, etc.,
MARGARET E. BARBER

Pagoda Anchorage
Fukien, China

Letter Two

The following letter was sent to D.M. Panton regarding Brother Watchman Nee, a brother of 23 years of age. Permission has been kindly granted by Lewis Schoettle (Schoettle Publishing Company) to reprint this letter, the original of which is in his possession.

Pagoda Anchorage
S. China
April 2, 1926

Dear Mr. Panton,

I am sure you will be interested in Dr. Huang's letter. I sent him Govett’s “Race & Crown.” I only lent it as I have only that one precious copy. He has also the “Vanguard Reprints” which are so precious. Can I get the leaflets from Mr. Tilney? Nothing you ever printed was more valuable than those concise rich Bible Studies called “Vanguard Reprints.” Why not print one each month in The Dawn?

Please do not let Faithful Luke & Watchman Nee (Henry Nga is his home name) worry you with letters. It is so good & kind of you to have written once to them. They are likely to be tiresome. They write to Mr. Wright Hay or any Editor whose address they can get & do not understand how precious time is to a busy Editor. For many reasons I think you should not be feeling obliged even to answer their letters. These two young men are in great danger. They have a mental apprehension of God’s Truth which unless lived out will be their peril.

Three sisters & one brother [were] baptised here this week by Leland Wang. We have precious bands of village men & women coming for teaching. Faithful is splendid with personal work & this work amongst men & Miss Fek & Miss Ding are much used among the women.

Satan hates this witness. I feel his rage at times but Jesus is Victor & the Lord God is a sun & shield. The Lord will give grace (for today) & glory (Rapture!). So we press on.

May you be shielded. We pray for you. May you be kept in God’s quiver!

Yours ever gratefully
Margaret Barber.

“His Truth shall be thy shield.”

Hallelujah!

[Written along the left edge:]

Dear Folks — Helen Clark! Her last letter drove me to my knees. The Lord keep her.

Miss Barber’s letter to D.M. Panton (dated April 2, 1926) is reproduced here in her own handwriting.