Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-01-21
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

Nopfc For the Week Degfnuinz Jan.
25-certuent by Rev :. u. DoSle.
Tople-AA evening with chinese nits-
sions.-At IS XVII, S4-h.
One special feature Of the Christian
Endeavcr topics for 1903 IS the pTolai-
hence given to missions. The last
top.c Of each month is devoted to this
subject. and in most cases definite mis-
sion fields are selected for study. such
as China. Africa, South Anne. ica. India
and Japan. Such course of mission
arr studies should arouse great inter.
EST and. properly conducted. cannot
brit greatly increase our IN ssiouary in
terest, information and zeal.
To what extent this will be done de
ponds entirely upon the intelligent d.
rection given to this work. Glitter.ng
generalities may be INDUCED in on the
general subject of miss ons, hut not
SO on Chinese missions. Information
will be needed, which can be obtained
only by consecrated effort. Every N s
sionary committee should obtain or
prepare a special programme for each
of these evenings with ~ ss;ons and.
cost what labor or sacrifice it may,
should see that they are made sue
cess.
In an evening with Chinese missions
the following phases of the subject
should lie covered by papers or ad-
dresses or by one treating the entire
subject:
1. The Chinese. Mission study among
any people should begin with a study
of the people. And what an interest
ing subject of study the Chinese are!
The area inhabited by them embraces
q million and a half square miles. The
population of the empire is not less
than }50.0O0000. The Chinese occupy
one-tenth of the habitable globe and
form one-fourth of its population.
Their history runs back for forty cen
turtles. the most of which time they
have been practically isolated from
the rest of the world. Their recent
history is well known and most inter
esting.
2. Chinese religions. China has three
religions: ~ Confucianism. which is
more philosophy than a religion. deal
ing principally with the duties toward
the state and in the home: (2I Taoism.
and the author of Taoism was Lao Use.
who lived at the same time as Confu-
cius, and ii is an abstruse system
full of superstitions and of idolatry:
(3) Buddhism, which was imported
and claims many of the Chinese among
Its devotees.
n rstx, asFa . IN,
these we see their weakness. Morally.
socially and politically the Chinese arr
an inferior people. The most revolving
vices are practiced. immortality is wide
spread, woman is degraded. and the
masses of the people are hopeless for
time and for eternity.
4. Chinese missions. The HISTORIANS
first introduced the gospel into China.
The Protestant missionary movement
covers three periods-first 1907 to 1912;
second, 1912 to 1860; third, 1860 to the
present time. While there have been
many discouraging features in Chinese
missions in recent years, yet there is
great hope for the future. The great
est obstacle is their intense hatred Of
foreigners, which caused the Boxer pc
bellion and the martyrdom of mission
aries. But it is fervently expected that
here again 1.-The blood of martyrs will
become the seed of the church and
that present adversely will aid TO ulti-
mate success.
s. Denominational Chinese missions.
In addition to surveying the mission
Aeld in general, each society should pay
special attention to the work of its
own denomination in this great orien-
hal empire.
With these millions In China calling
b us by their need for the gospel, how
can we be Indifferent to foreign mis-
gions? If one soul is worth more than
all the world, what about the 0.0G0.-
600 souls of China? Is there nothing
we can give or do to make it possible
for them to hear and to be saved?