Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-23

dlsO reports ulueleSit 9IldtlNei preachers,
seventeen licentiates, eighty-four
teachers and other helpers. Total. 2O9
Americans and 103 natives.
The American board Of commissions
ers for foreign missions reports thirty
at its Foo Chow mission, five in south
China, sixty in north China and fifteen
in Shan ST.
DIR. BARRows ON MISSIONARIES.
Speaking OF the way missionaries
should work. DR.. Barrows declares
that there is a certain modesty becom-
Z ing the ambassador of Christ and he
said the wise hearted missionary did
not proclaim the perfection Of Christen-
Il dom and did not picture his own church
as the stainless bride OF Christ. He
said:
Many things besides the wockedness
of the human soul prevent pagan ma
tions for coming rapidly into the
ranks Of Christendom. Memories of
wrongs, rapacities, all the more bru-
tai because perpetrated by strength
upon weakness, liquor traffic, opium
shames. rude and domineering ways.
official discourtesies, mike races rising
up in the oriental cities as proof of
licentiousness, careers of vice and vil-
lainy. to say nothing Of the divisions Of
Chrlstendom-all these things have
stood in the way. The non-C Christian
world sees principally the defeats of
Christendom. 1t is predisposed to look
leniently upon its own Shortcomings.
1t has not fallen in love with Chris
tianity In some of its manifestations.
The tide Of infidel literature pours
In upon the orient so that educated
young men OF the east have come TO be-
Slieve that Chrstendom is abandoning
Christianity. The result is that they
are not looking with clear, unpreju-
diced eyes upon the gospel OF Christ.
1t is sometimes badly Interpreted to
them. do not wonder that China has
mot fallen in love with all the nations
of western Ghristendom. Even Japan
thinks she has some old grievances to
remember. Before there can be an UNI
tprejudiced estimate Of Christianity
sChristendom must clear its skirts of
many shams and iniquities. The earn
est and self denying missionaries of
Asia are surrounded by a European
population not wholly in sympathy
with Christianity. Directly or Indirect
lly these do great deal to hinder the
progress Of the gospel christendom is
not fitted at present to make the.very
widest conquest in non-christian
lands
/ HILLS SCORES BRIDAL ROBES.
The pastor of Plymouth says the
gown and not the woman Is the thing
at weddings:
The bride OF today comes to the all
tar burdened under a donkey load of
5tulle: She is simply an incident TO the
marriage ceremony; but it is the gown
that is the thing. How different the
simplicity OF the Grecian maidens, who
put the pieces OF her white garment
over her shoulders and rose in her
breast and went to- her nuptiais in
grace and beauty The woman was the
thing then; today 1t is the dress.
When the Rev. Newell Dwight Hills
made this reference to the extrava-
gance of some of the modern weddings
In Plymouth church at. his morning,
service there was an audible litter and
the sounds of much subdued laughter
among the congregation. DR.. Hills
preached on the Simplicity and
Breadth OF Christ as a Religious
Teacher. He deplored the tendency
to the renewal of belief in the teachings
of the old philosophers. and counseled
his hearers to stand fast by their be-
lief in Christ's simple creed.
In the church we have no end OF
rubbish and theological ragpickers,
whereas Christs teachings are SO sim
pie that child can comprehend them.
Then. too, the churches are divided be-
tween little water and much water for
: baptism, white gowns versus black
gowns. and complex creeds versus the
simple creed of Christ.
The time will come when the great
churches Of New York will not be
on Broadway but in the suburbs OF
the city. There will be simplicity
everywhere"