Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-02-24
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Topic For the week TcGinning Feb.
2S-Comment by EeS. :. Il. Doyle.


Topie.-Heroism anu stner lessons from
China.-Acts xiv. i3-s3
There is no Christian mission neiu
that has not it's stories of self denial
and heroism to tell. These character
Istics are seen in the apostle Paul upon
his first great missionary journey. as
illustrated in the passage before us.
Paul is at Lystra and has been re-
ceived with favor for his works sake.
But enemies come from Antioch and
Jconum The people are stirred up
against the apostle. They stone him
and carry him out of the city, suppos-
ing him to be dead. But he was not
so, and as the disciples stood about him
he arose, went back into the city and
thence to DcrJe, cont auing to preach
the gospel Is not this heroism! And
yet it is but the story that may be told
of every missionary field.
Turn from Asia Minor to China aud
to modern missions. and you will find
this assuredly true have on the wall
of my study a picture containing the
portraits of five comparatively young
people, two ladies and three men. l
look at them now. Their faces are
handsome, intelligent and cheerful in
appearance. Their every expression
shows culture and refinement Be
meath this little group l read these
words: ''Martyred Missionaries of Pan
tiupfu China lime 70 1900"
June 80, 1900! Over 1880 years since
Paul was supposedly martyred at
Lystra, yet still the work of martyr
dom goes on in leading the world to
Christ, and without going further this
group of martyrs may teach us hero
ism and other lessons from China"
The names of these missionaries are
Rev. F. E. Simcox and wife, DR.. C. V.
Hodge and wife and DR.. George Y.
Taylor.
I. Missions in China teach heroism,
and nowhere is this better illustrated
than In our group of martyrs. They
knew Of the Boxer movement and of
their danger. yet they heroically stood
at their post of duty. When their mis-
siSa house was attacked Mr.. Simcox
hsa firearms, with which he might
have caused great destruction among
his prosecutors, but he threw them
down, refusing to use them. The house
was set on Gre, and there they stood,
thsoe FIVE heroes and their children, and
died as heroically as any martyrs ever
died for Christ The last seen of them
was Mr.. Simcox holding the hand of
his little child as the flames leaped all
about them. Such examples should
spur us all to Christian heroism. We
should dare TO 9 our duly nc matter
what may be the difficulties or dangers
that surround us.
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
2 Missions in China teach lessons of
sacrifice and self denial These young
people were all from Pennsylvania DIR.
and Mrs. Hodge We're Philadelphians
and members of two honored Philadel-
phia families, They all left homes of
eomfort-yea, even of luxury--to 20 to
China to preach the gospel and heal the
sick for Christs sake None but those
who 60 knows what ii costs to leave
home and country and to go TO a for
eign mission field, where you are cut
off from all familiar associations eX-
cept with the little band of people at
the mission station. We speak of our
self denial for Christ. but what is it
in comparison TO the sacrifices of those
who leave all for Him and risk all for
Him? Let US think of the Hodges and
Smokes occasionally and ask our
selves, What have we done for Christ
In comparison TO those who have died
for Him in distant lands with nc hui
man eye to pity and no human hand to
save?
8. Missions in China teach lessons of
loyalty. This is beautifully illustrated
in our little group of martyrs. DR..
Taylor was absent from the mission
house at Pantingfu when the danger
became most imminent. He had gone
away on business trip, but had prom
Used to return. But before returning
he heard of the danger that threatened
his friends. Other friends pleaded
with him not TO return, but he listened
not to their entreaties, but went back
70 keep his promise and to face life or
death with his associates, as the case
might be. What a story of loving
loyalty and how it should teach US to
be loyal to our friends, and especially
to our greatest friend. the Master Him
self
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. Xxi, s. 1f-19; lisa. vi, Is; xxxv,
lilo; Matt. X, 1888; Luke K, lip; xiv,
45-4S; Acts i, Iii: XIV, 20: Rom. x, IA,
Is; II Cor. xi. 1888.
He's My Brother.
A gentleman once met a little girl