The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-30
CONDITIONS
IN CHINA
A Churchman'S Point
Of View.
REV. Y. H. k|TCAT'S SERMON
Difficulties Under Which Mission
aries Have labored for
Many Years.

ReA V. II. Kitcat preached last even
ing at st. Andrews Cathedral on the
present conditions in China. His text
was, Fight lie Good Fight Timothy,
6:12, and he spoke, in part, as follows
There is not a heart that has not been
stirred during the past week by the news
that has come from China. Expressions
of horror are heard on every side. But |
one cannot help noticing at the same time |
how slender and shadowy is the knowl- !
edge, not merely of the details of recent |
events, but of the general conditions that
exist in that wonderful land. We concern
ourselves with the conditions spiritual, So
cial and material, that play around us in
the circle in which we live; we know lit
TIL of the great forces that are moving
and swaying the vast Empire of China
We are face to face, in one sense, with
NJ new situation. 1t is not the first time
in the history of the world that the meet
ing of Christianity and civilization with
heathenism and barbarism has broken
out in the flames of massacre. We may
well stay our hands for a moment, and
ask whether the events that have stirred
us so deeply are altogether the product
of darkness and prejudice. Is there no
fault in those forces that claim for them
selves the bright names of Progress, Civ
ili1ation and Christianity? Is there no
greed of power? No lust of empire? No
grasping after commercial wealth at the
lexpense of millions less enlightened yet
no less human, in their sense of nation
al right and property, than We? What
must be the effect-and the effect would
be enhanced and not diminished where
means of communication are difficult and
uncertain--when word is passed that one
foreign Christian nation has seized a
province, that another has gained control
OF a port, that another claims exclusive
rights upon a river etc.?
There is. in some sense, a special reason
why We in these Islands and members of
this church should be closely touched by
the events at Picking, for that city has
been since 1850 the center whence the
Bishop of North China has directed the
operations of his vast diocese. The rec
ord of work there is one that impresses
on the mind a sense of reality, patience,
wisdom and progress. Bishop Scott went
out to Chefoo as priest In 1874. In 1897
the 8. p. C. was able to report that he
had a staff of nine English priests, five
European and six Chinese lay helpers
and four English ladies; the baptized
Chinese numbered between 800 and 900
while school for boys and another for
girls had been brought into existence in
Tien-Tsin.
But all this has not been done without
lccst. Continued anxiety has eliminated
in the realization OF the worst fears. In
December of last year, just after Christ
mas Day. Sydney Brooks laid down his
life as he was endeavorng to join hands
NTH, tx;f -
[ was in danger at Ping Yin. In the cur
rent number of The Mission Field we
. read of the martyrdom of Charles Robin
son and Harry Wise Norman; while from
, the kilograms of last week there is but
too good ground for fearing that he who
has led this diocese for twenty years has
himself been called to taste of the cup
of suffering. With this elimination OF
the past in view there some tempted
to speak with impotence of missionary
work, and to ask whether the end is
lwcrth the sacrifice.
Mission work that involves sacrifice such
as this in China is mission work indeed
- 1t reminds us of the early days of Chris
tia nifty when the Roman Power for the
security of the Empire, sought to extir
pate religion which it considered hos.
tile to it's interests. 1t seems to lift u:
out of the world of conventionality ant
place amid the realities of life. Chris
0 rifice whatever; the other hand, it il
a distinct advantage; we should be anx
ious, if we felt conscientiously obliged
to reject it; 1t means to many nothing
mere than accordance with the custom
of the world in which they move. But
is not so In China.
The Chinaman in embracing the Chris
tan faith, steps out of the ancient Gus
toms amongst which he has been brough
. UP He rises Ia new ideas, new concep
= ttions of life. lie parts company with hi
4 fellows; he ceases to accept the approve
K rules of daily life; he becomes a strange
Y among his brethren.
y 1t Is this practical outcome of Christi
@ anity that stirs in the minds of it's oppo
a nents such a feeling of hatred. Were
x merely a philosophy or theory of life b
Z which man sought to explain to him
Y self the mystery of the universe. it woul
q arouse no opposition. But 1t is pract
4 cal faith. 1t claims the control of tn
X life; 1t forbids certain lines of conduc
and enjoins others; 1t knows no compro
mise, and therefore when it is not under
q stood II Is regarded as superstition big
4 otry, stubbornness and lack of patrio
x ism.
Z When we consider all this-what 1t Is
y China to be a Chrstian-it makes us wor
q der how much of our own duty Is rea
Z how much of it would stand the test
4 persecution, how much is personal, cor
trolling, INDIVIDUAL, possessed of a livin
N existence, apart from the convention;
Y standard amidst which we live?
Z II there be indeed a living faith among.
= us, the news of this last week will imp
us to do more than hold up hands
horror. 1t will prompt us to do the lit
We may to dispel the darkness of supe
stition and heathenism. Bishop Scott tt
years ago pointed out how that the Oh
nese were slow to be moved so long
they dwelt I'm their own land, althoue
very accessible wnen they found then
selves In foreign countries beyond Il
reach of ancestral traditions and pref,
dices; but that IL slow to move, it W,
e notorious that they were very staunt
y Christians when once they had MAJ
their profession.
Surely this word from China might ha'
We been spoken directly to the people
these Islands. The church has her mi
sion to the Chinese-one branch carri,
on In these Cathedral grounds, the 9th
at Kohala. Both are doing steady al
good work. Are you doing anything
help them? One act of practical aid W
be worth all the expressions af hor,-