Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-05-10


HE dwelt on the work in China, saying |
in part: geographically China IS
about the size OF the United States. |
including Alaska. but her population |
is Ave times as great Exterminate |
tho railroads, horses, and all vehicles. |
all mines and manufactures We
would be in the same condition rs
China commercially.
"TheChinese are conservative by ma.
ture and training Tho religion OF
ContNcius inculcatcs the doctrine OF
the worship OF ancestors, so that the
living are chained to the dead. rhe
spirits OF deceased ancestors have
power to bless or curse Prosperity
In business is supposed to depend up
on the blessing OF dead ancestors.
Hence men will spend large sums to
make the spirits happy. by furnishing
food, raiment and all necessities. The
food is placed before the tomb or cor
fin and paper money and pictures OF
articles are burned, and are supposed
To change into real coin and articles
for the use OF tho spirit The spirit
accompanies the corpse and hence il Is
important that the corpse IL buried be
buried IN lucky place, or whore the
spirit will be happy Hence there are
millions or unburlod corpses, because
they cannot determine he lucky SPOT
There are two other religions as
grossly supeStitious as this, and In
some respects, antagonlstlc. stu ey-
cry man believes all three religions,
which are az thrcofod cord cnslny-
ing them in soul. mind and body.
Mission work began with Moinson In
1867. In 1872 when Hong Kong was
eeded to England and FIVE Chinese
ports opened To western commerce.
there were only six living converts To
protestant Christianity When the
treaty OF fient Sin was signed In 1861,
opening several other ports and giving
missionaries right to Gravel and re-
side In all parts OF the 7ompire. there
were only 1000 converts Today there
are more than 100000, and we are ban.
''F.ihA iutVuH
Tho people are coming faster than
We can care for them. It will do no
good to haptise them unless we can
put them under suitable pastors and
teachers. There has been more
general movement toward Christianity
since the Chino japanese war. Our
great need liz more missionaries to
train native pastors and teachers. This
Is the time to do the best work nor
China
Our schools are crowded with eager
students after the needed learning.
and ! am convinced there are thous-
ands OF scholars who have never been
In our schools who are convinced OF
the truth Of Christianity and would
make public acknowledgment OF faith
in Christ were II not for their dread
OF displeasing their parents and rela-
tiyes. They have been diligent stu
dents OF the word OF God perhaps for
years
Many Chinese Christians suffer Sc
we're prosecutions for their faith and
many are making great financial sac
rifices that they may do Gods work
yet people hostile to our work stu
persist in saying there are none but
rice Christians In China There have
been % young men graduated from our
Picking university and 20 Of these
have chosen TO give their lives To
Christian work. when they could have
commanded three or four times the
salary In secular pursuits Our col
leRe at Loo Chow has graduated sew
eral young men who have consecrated
their lives 10 Christian work. one Of
whom Is Mr.. STA Lieng Aug, lay dele
gate to this general conference.
The reform spirit Is not dead,
though the empress dowager has
forced the emperor 10 abdicate. II Is
| significant that all those young men
undertake % reform China had their
training In mission schools, one OF
them a member OF our church at Foo
Chow Several OF them lost their
lives, and they were real martyrs TO a
righteous cause, but the principles for
which they died still live.
One OF the most far-reaching
achievements Of the closing years OF
the nineteenth century In the maInte-
nance OF the Open Door, which will
prevent the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the
empire. The Chinese have long felt
that England was their best friend.
but since the Spanish American war,
there has been growing conviction
that their salvation would come from
America; and so II has come 10 pass.
| There Is a great open door In that
| vast empire for the missionary the
philanthropist, the teacher and the
merchant Let us enter In and take
| possession.
MethodIsm In Mexico.
Chicago May 9.-Rey John w. But
Ier ,yag a leading Anf.akpF AZ the mig