The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-15
MISSIONARIES IN CHINA.
Rev. August Langs Tells OF Religion In
the Far East.

kev. August Louge Iolls OF keugiOu IN
the Far East.
An interesting sermon was preached
at the Hickory Street Presbyterian
church yesterday morning by the pas
tor Rev. August Lange, based on a let
ter received by him recently from two
young Presbyterian missionaries In
Gan King. China. One Of them, Rev.
F. C. H. Dreyer. Is well known In Scran-
ton He lived In the Tenth ward for
several years. The other missionary
Is Rev. Ernest Saure. who was fellow
student at Bloomfield seminary, N. j.,
with the preacher. They left for China
five months ago to take up the work of
evangelizing the MongOlian idolators.
Rev. Mr.. Iange clothed In his own
eloquent words the trials and tribula-
tions OF the faithful missionaries In
foreign lands. especially In China. In
the town where they have taken up the
Masters task, is a population Of more
than $1,000 inhabitants, all but 120
Christians are heathens. Messrs. Drey-
er and Laure are equipping themselves
In the dialects OF the language to be
able better to extend the Christian reli-
gion by teaching II to the nations.
Chinese SuperstitiOns.
In this town a very small church Is
built for the edificatioh Of the small
number Of Christians. The Chinese are
very superstitious. and many Of them
believe that by burning up brown paper
on the body Of their deceased friends
their souls go up with the smoke to
Heaven; or rather to the celestial re-
giOn. Some of them build churches.
place a statue Of the devil in them and
bestow burnt offerings at the base Of
the statue Of His Internal Highness.
The greatest trouble experienced In
converting the Chinese to the true God
is their aptitude in learning everything
about idolatry. and refusing to listen to
any exhortation that would lead them
to a knowledge Of the Christian reli.
gion.
The Chinese were the first to use gun
powder and apply II in warfare, though
that Is not to their credit in a moral
sense. although 1t exhibits their inven-
tive powers; they used printing blocks
before Gutenberg discovered the art Of
printing; they knew what the mariners
compass was before any other nation.
In the sciences and the arts the Chinese
have taken prominent place; yet
themselves and the Japanese are as
much in the dark as the .barbarous
tribes Of the lower races Of Asiatic
paganism. The teachings Of Buddha
and confucins are espoused by almost
400 0O0. 900 souls.
The fame Of China all the world over
through the exquisiteness Of its por-
celain ware shows that they are In this
respect superior to their more civilized
coexistent Christian. The parts Of the
celestial empire that the missionaries
find the most lucrative for souls Is the
Interior provinces.
Small Proportions Of Christians.
The cities Of Shanghai. Canton, Ming
kpo, Annoy and Dugutschen are where
the Christian religion has taken the
most root, but its progress has not been
at a ratio that Is much better than the
condition that exists in the city Of Gan
King; where the speaker said that only
12O Christians can be found among co.
900 inhabitants.
Rev. Mr.. Lange, following up the
tenor Of the letter. spoke to his people
on the necessity of encouraging with
material assistance the missionaries
among the Chinese. The statistics
showing the population Of China to be
upwards Of 100000, 900 souls, without of
that number only meager percentage
believing In the living God. 1t Is. in
cumbent on every follower Of Christ to
assist his brother.
The speaker hoped that the congrega-
tion Of the Hickory Street church would
do Its share toward the extension of
Christianity among the eastern heath
ems. 1t may incur some labor and
trouble but the cause is worthy of all
effort.
He cited the example of the two
young men who have given up friends
ana prospects. They are doing It for
the Lords sake. whose yoke is sweet
and burden light.