Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-21
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning July IS, 1900.
BY REV. S. H. DOYLE.

Matt v, 1916.
In Chinese missions we see an apt
illustration of Christ's sayings in the
Sermon on the Mount, ''Ye are the salt
Of the EARTH" and "Ye are the light OF
the world" China has been preserved
by the church, and its light is bright
enirg the great conservative empire
today as never before. But IT has
been a great task. China of all the
nations Of the world has been the least
susceptible to outside influence. For
centuries it excluded all foreigners
from its shores. and it was not until
the early part of the last century that
Its doors were thrown open and
treaties made with England, Japan
and other nations. But with this adj
vanced step the hatred of the people
for foreigners did not cease and has
been especially active against Chris
tian missionaries. and many martyrs
lie buried in Chinese soil. The Chi
nese have no one religion. Confucian-
ism, Taoism and Buddhism have III
held a place among the people. Chris
tianity, had it been presented as one
of other religions, would undoubtedly
have been accepted more readily. but
its claim TO be the only true religion
has greatly hindered it, for to make
progress under such claim it WIS
compelled TO antagonize the existing
so called religions. But Christ is the
only real Saviour and the mission
aries could take no other stand, even
Mt the risk of their lives. And they
not only risked them. but many gave
them in service for Christ. The early
missionaries and indeed all who have
gone to China as such have been he
roes indeed.
Robert Morrison was the first mis-
sionary hero to China. The London
Missionary society. which was organ
ICED in 1895, soon had its attention
called to, China through the discovery
in the British museum of an ancient
Chinese manuscript But the East In
dia company was antagonistic TO all
missionary effort. and the Chinese
themselves objected to the coming of
religious teachers to their land. II
was only through the kindly offices of
an American business firm, Ollyphant
& Co. Of New York. that the London
society was enabled to send its first
missionary to China in 1906.
The missionary was Robert Morri-
soa. No English vessel would trans
port him to China. and Morrison was
compelled to go via the United States.
He came to New York and thence
went to China in an American sailing
vessel, arriving at Canton on Sept Z,
1907, 102 years ago. He soon had TO
take refuge in Macao, which belonged
to Portugal. Here later ON other mis-
sionaries found haven of rest until
China was opened to missionaries, In
cities outside OF China there We're
many Chinese, and the missionaries
worked among them as preparatory
work until they could enter the empire.
Morrison baptized but one convert
after many years of labor and in all
his labors saw but several converts.
but they were the first fruits of a fu-
ture great ingathering. Morrison's great
work was the translation of the Scrip
lures into Chinese.
William Milne was Morrison's first
associate in China. He arrived in Can
ton In July, 1913, and labored at lara
and Malacca. Then he returned 10
Canton, but. being prosecuted there
returned to Malacca. where he labored
until his death in 1922 The London
society in 1922 sent out William H.
Medhurst to re-enforce the mission to
the Chinese in lara at Batavia.
Other names of Chinese missionary
heroes are Rev. E. C. Bridgman and
Rev. David Abeel. to whom Mr. Oily
plant presented printing press. the
first to be used by missionaries. In
1884 Peter Parker, the first medical
missionary, was sent to China and
through his medical skill removed
much prejudice and won many people
In 1899 DIR. Hobson established a med
ical mission at Macao. ]. Hudson
Taylor was the founder of Chinese in
land missions. John Nevins labored
In Shantung and was the pioneer in
establishing self supporting mission
stations. William Murray was the
great apostle to the many blind people
In China" These heroes of the past
should inspire us to renewed zeal and
energy in winning the world for Christ.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. II, xxi. cxxxv: lisa. tx. 6. I; lii.
II; Nah. i, Is; Matt. xviii, 10. 20;
Acts !. TIA; ii, Ill; Rom. X. IA. ID:
II Tim. Ii, 10