The Washington herald., 1909-03-13
HOW RELIGION CROWS.
Dc International sunday $500 80


Even historical truth has its chief value
as IL is linked TO the present The rea-
son for The weekly study of the Sunday
school lesson by 100000 OF persons is
not the desire TO acquire a certain
amount of historical data so much as il
is to obtain motive power for current con-
duct. and light upon contemporaneous
problems. The life depicted in the old
Book Is needed as a help for the life that
is lived in this year 1909. For three
months the Sunday schools have been
working in the Book OF Acts, considering
the beginnings Of Christianity. Now. at
the end Of he quarter. they pause for a
backward look
The story unfoIded in these nine chap
ters is the story of an expanding church.
At once the observing reader is struck
by the parallel between this ancient mar
rative and present conditions In some
mission lands. A perfectly proper as
well as an eminently interesting method
of presenting the underlying truths OF
the quarters lessons is by q frank con-
temptation OF modern missionary growth,
ever keeping in mind. Of course. this first
missionary story.
THE ROMANCE OF KOREA.
A mere handful OF inconsiderable per-
sons held the foreground in the opening
Of this story The faith-flled company
of disciples was very small They were
like the apparently negligible missionary
force that has dared 10 go up against
intrenched error in many lands. Yet as
a result of their character and teaching
and witness, a multitude of others were
influenced in the succeeding ten years.
and the little church grew like a snow
ball, even as il has grown in the past
dozen years In Korea
SOME WONDERS OF MISSIONS
The conspicuous event in the early
church was Pentecost. This is a stumb-
ling block to the materially minded.
Simply because spiritual things are
spiritually discerned." they can find no
parallel or rational explanation for this
supernatural enduement OF the infant
church. Just so recent events in India,
China and Korea have staggered ohserv-
ers- The first equipment Of a strong.
growing church must be a profound and
memorable spiritual experience.
There have been in the growing Chris
tian community OF Northern India such
manifestations OF the presence of the
Divine Spirit as are almost too strange
TO be told TO Occidental ears. I heard
Bishop Warne, Methodist Episcopal
bishop Of India. narrating some expert
ences in the India revival TO great con-
gregations at Ocean Grove last summer
IN conversation with him afterward
asked why he had not described certain
phases Of the revival about which we
had talked together Is India He frank
" admitted that the American churches
were scarcely able 10 bear such testi-
mony: their incredulity would hinder the
effect OF his message. so he had 10 feed
them with milk. rather than with meat
Up in sordid, material. administrative
Manehuria there is at present in progress
a revival Ike unto nothing which tbs
Western world knows Whole village,
are gripped by a spiritual power; strong
men fan PROSTATE and writing, confess
ing their sins and crying aloud for mercy
Christians are being baptized with a con
seriousness Of peace and Joy which send,
them gladly out to neighboring villages a,
evangels Of their faith. OF like fashion
and even more extensive was the reviva
that began 10 sweep over Korea tw,
years ago. purifying the native church
causing men TO bring forth fruits nee
for repentance. and confounding skeptic,
everywhere.
Inexplicable all this may be upo,
grounds Of human reasoning. yet no mar
ready TO accept credible testimony car
doubt II. II is the infant church's Pente
cost repeated; also, II would seem to b,
IN order that, like the company Of dis
cIples Of old, they may be equipped 70
the propaganda of their faith
PERSECUTION AND PROGRESS.
Opposition attracts attention. II make,
Christianity living issue. When ner
nave, TO light for their faith they. and tn,
world around them, begin to realize #,
significance. Unbelievers are won n !
religion which is worth suffering FOR tn,
eternal appeal TO the heroic has its effect
young Philadelphia churchnan Ia,
gone TO India to be a friar. or q Christiar
sadhu, or holy man." His method is Il
seek out the worst possible pIaces-
plague villages. pest camps. leper set
Elements. and such like-and there civ,
himself TO the service Of the lowest
10 the men utterly beyond caste. He wa.
spat upon, reviled, despised by the na
ives IN short time, however. the,
discovered that persecution could no
shake him. and that the more thew 70
WED him the kindlier he became. Thh
Spirit broke their opposition. The villag,
mat treated him worst soon was he
seeching him TO remain with them per
manently as their holy man" Alread,
he has had conspicuous successes in tn,
way OF converts won TO Christ
WINNING BY WITNESSING.
Up IN village near Sendai. Japan. III,
town drunkard became a Christian Hi
wife followed suit Straightway such ,
transformation in his character ensue,
that the whole community took notice
The result was that the entire com
munity turned to Christianity. eftbe
with respect and Difference. or in oper
conviction and conversion The apostoli
method OF increasing the Christian
church was by the witness OF the dis
clpies. Every Christian testified TO hi
faith This he made his chief bushes
in life
The same principle holds true Z,
Korea There It is a common thing 70
a man 70 move his home and bushes
from Christian village OF to a non
CHRISTIAN village, In order that he may b
witness and teacher Of the Jesus way.
one OF the missionary bishops Of Chin,
was surprised to have a request from,
theological student that he be permitte,
TO 90 to certain part OF China. after hi
training had been completed. He OK
planned his unusual request by savini
that during the Boxer DAYS of 1900 hi
family had lived in that town. Hi
Christian father was called out hv m
Boxers and given his choice OF recantint
OF perishing. When he remained faith
ful he was cut down. Then his nothe
was brought out into the road ant
shown the dIsmembered body Of he
husband, and hidden to burn incense be
fore an idol and to repudiate the Jesu
religion. She told them that they coul
cut out her tongue, but that they coui
not make her deny her Lord. Thereup
on she, too. was slain. young siste
was put through the same ordeal. an