Milford chronicle., 1908-02-28
Caln1aQe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmase. D. D.

sermon in the familiar figure Of hus-
bandman the preacher shows us how
to secure the richest harvests by using |
our opportunities for rendering loyal |
service to God and our fellow men. The
text is Haggai. i, 3, 6: Consider your
ways. Ye have sOwn much and bring
IN little"
A short time ago / had most inter
esting 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. bad asked him to tell
me something about the japanese peril
and what would be the condition Of
the east If the mlkado succeeded in
dominating the whole Asiatic conti-
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
ciaI power, and the greatest merchants
Of all the east are the Cinnamon. They
can buy and sell all round the Japa-
nese. They have the keenest mercan-
tile brains of the eastern hemisphere
Furthermore they have military gen
Jus. Lord Wolseley as well as General
Grant testified that when he is rightly
trained and handled the Chinaman
makes the greatest soldier that ever
lived. He is a man absolutely without
nerves. He can exist upon the dainty
diet of a handful of rice. And he is
man who knows no fear.
"China has been dead for 1000 years
But the giant of the east is now wax
ing I'D. China has never been govern
ed by a set of practical men, but only
by a set Of scholars, or of what Is
called the literary class. For instance,
four years ago in my province 10000
students came up for examination upon
the teachings and the legends Of an
Gent 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 edict
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 a more potent civ
ilization than theirs. Now China IS be-
ing reorganized 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-
sources are being developed. Her
opium curse in ten years will be COM
pletely wiped out by governmental
power. And within thirty years new
China will arise which will not only
dominate the east, but will be mighty
factor in dominating the world. And
If we are going to Christianize China
we must do it within the next thirty
wears. for after that it will be too late"
In Thirty Years.
This was the testimony of a Chris
tan missionary who knows China
we'll Now, if it is true. as | believe
it is. it indicates that the Chinese gov
eminent has statesmanlike sagacity.
They found that their method Of edu-
cation did not produce good results
did not produce the results they eX-
pected from it, so they have changed
it. That is a wise course. Thinking
over it, l wonder whether we, as a
Christian community, ought not to do
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 that
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
a few miserable grains of wheat, all
withered up and almost useless. Now,
are you willing to let me diagnose the
spiritual failings of your life? And
remember that when l am preaching
against your spiritual faults am dag
nosing my own spiritual shortcomings
as well.
Our scanty spiritual harvests, in the
first place. are due to our lack of 10y
atty to God. We are not as class de-
voted heart and mind and soul TO his
service. We only give to him luke
warm allegiance. Indeed, most Of US
and 1 speak the words calmly and de-
liberately-do not know what the word
Loyalty" means in any department OF
life. We do not know the full signih-
canoe of allying ourselves to man OF
institution. And we are just as luke
warm to our spiritual king.
The Spirit of Loyalty.
20 down to the store and find a
clerk behind the counter. Now, by