Evening journal., 1908-12-26

does not impress its believers with
sense OF sin. or any hope or faith Many
Chinese are Confucianists. Taoists and
Buddhists. all at the same time. using
one religion on one occasion and another
on another.
These religions do not Offer what is
needed by the Chinese people. They need
a faith not merely a religion, that Will
lift them mp and that viii keep them IN
their belief by love and not by fear. Aud
they have never found that until Christi
anlty was brought TO them. II Is their only
hope
The first Christian Missionary was Rot
ert Morrison. who reached China in 1897.
Thus Christianity has been preached Just
one hundred years 10 people who have
waited thousands Of years for Il. That IL
is eagerly received Is evidenced by tho
great number OF converts, In constantly
increasing proportions, in spite OF the
handicap OF lack OF workers and money.
The first prejudice against missionaries
has largely gone The change even since
the Boxer uprising Is astonishing. and re-
Gently a Viceroy OF the kingdom has urged
federation for the Western religion be-
cnuse their own religions fail 10 '1ift them
/ from their present plight"
DO they need Christianity The way in
which 81 Is received answers that question.
/ The cry Is for more missionaries and
money 10 help here whore the harvest is
indeed ready. For China has reached a
critical time Against all hope, against all
expectation. she Is awakening TO a change,
new life after centuries OF dormancy.
How do we know thisl Tho old system OF
education Is being replaced by modern
schools. paving and lighting the streets
OF the cities. and even fire protection are
a few Of the civic Improvements. A mod
ern army Is being evolved with the aid OF
foreign officers. A postal system has been
established. Foreign commerce is admit
ted Railroads are extending across the
Kingdom A revision OF the laws is being
attempted. Antl-footbindlng reform. under
n Chinese society without foreign aid has
made good progress And the OPIUM Edlct
10 stop the use Of the drug. has been
passed These arc a few OF tho many
proofs.
What are the causes for thisY There are
several. The progress which Christianity
has already made is one. The example OF
Japnn and her success I'm the China-Jap-
anese war a few years ago. rs another.
The gradual Introduction OF foreign COM
morce. showing the people, conditions and
possibilities that thev had never dreamed
Of. Is another The education abroad Of
the sons Of royalty and the leaders of the
nation. and their return with new Weston
ideas. is another There arc several others
and vet city years ago "fNe Chinese wore
apnarentlv unaware Of the existence Of
FOREIGN nations" Napoleon said. when
China Is moved 81 VIII charge the face
Of the globe" To-day Sir Robert Hart a
chinese resident for n half century SAYS
they are moving themselves, preparing IA
take their place among the ranks Of the
~ations Where viii that place be? II q
people can remain for so long time true
10 itself. unaltered undegenerating. what
will they do when they come forth foul
hundred million strong with modern idea,
and civillzatonl The question is one e
make men think.
What then must we do? They are com
ing 10 life. there is no doubt Of that and
now, right now, we must stamp then
with Christianity. or their power, once
! tull grown, VIII pe an aMlul lhhuehce lol
evil in the world. With China Christian
the world will have made tremendous
strides towards the universal kingdom
/, OF God on earth. With China heather the
gospel OF Christ will have received a set
back that will exceed anything we have
known And who viii be to blame-the
people awakening 10 newer, fuller. life
seeking knowledge, or we who refuse tC
offer them the life-givlng message? The
work is easier now that they are in ths
infancy Of their new life. Woe to US Il
we wait to bear them the gospel wher