Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-27
C,alr,,age
sermon
Ay Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmase. ID. ID.

Los Angeles, Cal, Feb. 23.--In his
>crmon in the familiar figure Of hus
Jandman the preacher shows us how
o secure the richest harvests by using
)ur opportunities for rendering loyal
;orvicc to God and our fellow men. The
ext is Haggai, |. 3. &: Consider your
ways. Yc have sown much and bring
little
A short time ago had a most inter
sting conversation with an American
missionary who had spent many years
IN China. He was telling me about the
marvellous changes which have been
initiated in China since the Boxer up
rising of 1900. had asked him to tell
ne something about the Japanese peril
md what would he the condition Of
the east II the mikado succeeded in
dominating the whole Asatic CONT
nent.
Much to my surprise he answered.:
japan will never dominate the east
Japan will never dominate China. The
great peril of the east is not to be
found In Japan, but in China. The
oldest civilization on earth was IN
China. All the civilization Japan has
ever received has come from China.
The dominance Of the east will come
not from military but from CONNER
cial power, and the greatest merchants
of all the east are the Chcamcn. They
can buy and sell all rouad The Japa-
nese. They have the koCnest mcrcan-
tile brains of the eastern hemisphere.
Furthermore they have military gen
ius. Lord Wolscley ms we'll as General
Grant testified that wien he is rightly
trained and handled the ChiAaman
makes the greatest soldier that ever
lived. lie is a man absolutely Win out
nerves. He can exist upon the dainty
diet Of q handful of rice. And he Is
man who knows no fear.
"Chlna has been dead for .. 900 years.
But the giant of the cast is now wax
ing up. China has never been govern
ed by set of practical men. nut only
by set of scholars. or of what is
called the literary class. For instance,
four years ago In my p-avincc 10000
students came up for eXamina ton upon
the teachings and the legends Of an
cient China. From among those schol-
ars would be selected the future rulers
of China. But now all that is done
away. Two years ago by an cdlCt
from the throne the Chinese literary
students were wiped from the face Of
the earth. When that little handful of
foreigners marched from the seacOast
up to Picking, the Chinese court was
compelled to acknowledge that west
ern civilization was more potent civ
llization than theirs. Now China is be-
Ing recognized upon the lines of our
western civilization. Her armies are
being disciplined by German officers.
Her students are being educated along
technical lines. Her mines and re-
Eources are being developed. Her
opium curse in ten years will ne COM
pletely wiped out by governmental
power. And within thirty years Il new
China will arise which will not only
dominate the east. but will be q mighty
factor in dominating the world And
II we are going TO Christianize China
we must do it within the next thirty
years, for after that it will he 100 late"
In Thirty Years.
This was the testimony of a Chris
han missionary who knows China
well. Now, if it is true, as | believe
It IS, 1t indicates that the Chinese gov
eminent has statesmanlikc sagacity.
They found that their method of eIu-
cation did not produce good results
lid not produce the results they eX-
pccted from 1t, so they have changed
IT, That is n wise course. Thinking
pver it, | wonder whether we, as 9
Christian community, ought not to &c
the same thing Our methods are not
producing the effects we expected
Where is the fault? What is the cause
of the poor spiritual harvest: SO this
morning ! want you TO join with me in
following the prophets advice. Let us
"consider our ways"
Now, l think the fault is not tha,
you are unwilling to work for Christ
You are like the people Of my text
who as husbandmen have scattered
the seed far and wide But at the time
Of harvest you have only gathered In
few miserab be grains of wheat, al
wthercd up and almost useless. Now
are YOU willing 10 let mo diagnose thc
spiritual faillngs Of your life? AnC
remember that when am preaching
against your spiritual faults | am SiiaC
nosing my own spiritual Shortcomings
Us well.
Our scanty spiritual harvests, in III,
frst place, are due to our lack of 10y
nlty TO God. We are not as class DE-.
voted heart and mind ana soul TO hi:
service. We only give TO him luke
warm allegiance. Indeed, most Of us
and | speak the words calmly and de
ibcrately-do not know what the Wort
"1oyalty' means in any department o
llfe We do not know the full signlii
lance Of allying ourselves to man o
Institution And VIC are just as luke
warm TO our spiritual king.
The Spirit of Loyalty.
go down TO the store and find
clerk behind the counter. Now, b.
every law of common sense that cler
should be devoted to his masters in
terests He should do all he is able t
ielp his employer in every way. If h
S asked about his employers charaC
ier, he should say in his favor all tina
he can truthfuly. He should spea
well of him. He should publish hi
good qualities and the good qualitie
Of the store. He should speak well Q