A MISSIONARY IN COMMUNIST CHINA

A Missionary Life:
Rev. J. Wesley Day
China, Malaysia, Indonesia

Sidetrip: Under the Communists in Chengtu

In West China people were better off than in North and Central China. We heard stories of corruption in government. Such would be circulated by Communist propagandists, but undoubtedly had some truth in them.

Why We Stayed: There was just a chance we might do work if we stayed -- no chance if we left.

The Coming of the Communists.

People were well prepared -- there were golden hopes of a new day with "Liberation." West China people welcomed the Communists in, hoping for honest government, economic opportunity, and, above all, peace. The soldiers were always courteous to people -- they believed themselves liberators -- made a very fine impression.

When the Communist soldiers marched into town, students went out to welcome them. The pink members of foreign staff went in parade with the students. Most foreigners were advised to stay home and did. The university borrowed my friend's truck, so I went along to help him drive.

The welcome was very real. One student cheerleader, spying us, led a cheer for the Americans, but the response wasn't too good -- it wasn't in the book. That was New Year's 1950.

There were very few changes at first. We were under a military government, which proclaimed that property of those who obeyed the government would be protected, and churches and foreign institutions would be protected.

There were giant parades everywhere, welcoming the liberation of the people.

Foreigners were registered after a month or two. I was told after registration was complete, I must get permission each time, but would be allowed to preach in churches of the district if the roads were safe.

This was promised in March. I inquired fairly regularly when I might go out, till the anti-American developments in the summer when the Korean War started -- when I stopped asking.

The Communists required all people they could reach to study.. They had mass meetings on the campus, followed by small discussion groups. The pinks among the foreigners organized a study class for the study of Mao Tze Tung's works and most of us joined. In every house people were required to go to office early, spend the first part of the day in study -- of Mao. Often only one person could read -- and he would read to the rest.*

Property of Chiang's friends was confiscated.

Along in the spring, taxes were levied -- the poorest people of a section fo the community wee called togther in a tea house, and they assesed taxes in their section of the city according to what they thought people should pay. They had a high levy to meet -- there were free to assess more if they wished.

Furniture and furnishings from rich homes began to appear on the streets for sale for lowe prices, as propertied people tried to meet their taxes.

In June we thought of leaving -- but students acted quite disappointed when we suggested it. I preached in our downtown church in August.

In the fall, another anti-American wave was carried out, when Chinese volunteer troops went to the aid of the North Koreans.

About that time one of our friends, principal of a school for midwives, was put in jail 5 days because, so she was told, she had interfered with the Hsin Yang (Faith) and Li Pai (Worship) of her students by having taken down a picture of Mao Tse Tung from her assembly room after a meeeting, some months before.

At about this time, all over Chian -- at the same time -- foreign teachers werer called to the police to confess their indiscretions -- like saying in private conersation that North Korea had invaded South Korea.

Their confessions were put into the papers all over China at once, and generally they were allowed to leave the country.

Some missionaries were put in jail on various charges in November 1950. One American, a Methodist missionary, was put in jail then, and is there still, almost 2 years later, with no formal charges against him.

We applied November 6, 1950 for permission to leave. After various difficulties we were allowed to leave on January 4.

Travel through China in Jan 1951.

We travelled by old car to Chungking, arrived Jan 6, where we waited till Febraury 2, (I think) for our turn on a ship down the Yangtze.

We took the tickets which came -- we were not discriminated against -- we got 5th class tickets , as most people did, so we travelled on the deck to Wanhsien.

At Wanhsien we passed Chinese New Year, forbidden to leave our hotel. On desk of police chief: "Love to our friends, hate to our enemies, should be engraved on the heart of every policeman."

Each night along the way our rooms were searched by a party of soldiers. Chinese New Year's night they came in about 2:30, usually it was earlier.

Out baggage was searched altogether nine times on the way out.

From Hankow we proceeded after two days delay, by train to Canton, then the border.

At the border -- offical examined my pass -- as I looked at the British Union Jack on the other side of the barbed wire.

Official: "This is no good -- it has expired." Discussion. Then Australian missionary student held his up -- said, "Mine is good for today." Official looked at each in turn, then at mine. "Go", he said.

We singled filed to a hole in the double row of barbed wire, gave up our travel permits to the guard, crossed a bridge, quietly sang the Doxology to ourselves.

A British Customs officer a few minutes later said to us, "What will you have, folks? A Coke or an orange juice? It's on the house."

-- Presentation to Rotary in Teluk Anson, Malaya, Tuesday 30 September 1952.

*Dr. Dryden Phelps, an American Baptist missionary who was there, wrote a letter which appeared in the November 1950 issue of Soviet Russia Today in which he reported, “We are having the thrilling experience of reorganizing every phase of our university life of Chinese society. It is the most profoundly religious Christian experience I have ever been through. I absolutely believe this to be the most comprehensive renaissance the human spirit has ever experienced, and the most dynamic change in human history. God is working alongside of these Communists.”