Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-24
NEW CONDITIONS
CALLING FOR NOBLER MEN
BY BISHOP
w. 4. GAMBLER

will be communicated to the heather
nations before they have acquired the
christian motives necessary to doml-
nate these forms and direct these
forces TO safe and happy ends. Japan,
for example, has learned the arts of
war and medicine, and she is using
these in the most pagan way. Japan
is not christian enough for a placs
among the powers of christendom,
and yet she aspires to such position,
She has learned too fast the lessons
of a material civilization. The East
ern question would be in far more
satisfactory condition today il the
christian nations had sent missiona
ries to japan a generation ago in as
great numbers as they sent traders
and adventures. The Japanese ma
ton is now too advanced to be ut
terly pagan. and too heather to be
altogether christian. BY consequence
it is in a state which is perilous to
itself and a menace to the world
But it is quite possible that some
of the so-called christian nations, the
United States included, have adj
vanced more rapidly in material
wealth than they have in moral life
during the last twenty-five years.
and that their case is not unlike that
of Japan. Mammonism in America
is as dangerous as Buddhism in the
Orient, If not more dangerous. Big
fortunes without big men to own
and dispense them are big misfor-
tunes Big commerce conducted by
little conscience is big with the ele-
ments of revolution and ruin. Big
purses in the hands of men of base
principles will pollute society, rather
than purify it.
This Chinese gentleman and schol-
ar, Mr.. Cheng Ching-Yi, sees clearly
that the need of his country is a new
and nobler type of men; and he
knows that christianity only can
produce the type required. Are our
business men and publicists as wise
as this man, who has been converted
from heathenism only a few years?
Do we believe in manhood and chris
tianlty as sincerely and strongly as
this recent convert to, our holy re-
ligion?
We do we'll to lay to heart also
the principles which Mr.. Cheng
Ching-Yi sets forth as the wisest
method for the speedy propagation
of christianity in China He shows
lift Of that great nation, and by so
doing he suggests what we must be
doing to keep our own civilization
from declining. He, relies much on
the christian school, and so must we.
His programme for the enthronement
Of christian truth in China is set
forth in the following propositions:
81 The evangelization of
China depends largely upon the
men and women of the soil. The 4
Chinese can understand their
fellow countrymen more thor
oughly and more easily than
those who are of foreign ma
tionahty; and only by the using
of Chinese workers can we meet
the cost incidental to having the
work efficiently done.
''2. The chief occupation of
the missionary in the future is
to devote more and more his
energy and time to training and
educating the Christian youth of
China, in China, for the ministry
and similar works.
IS. The Church work as far
as possible should be gradually
in the hands of Chinese pastors.
The task of the missionary is
the founding of the Church and
not the raising of the structure.
"a. The Church Of China must
be scientifically taught and train
ed for self-support and self
government. Responsibility and
privilege go hand in hand. and
cannot be separated. The train
ing is by no means an easy
task. especially with those who
have been Christians for years,
and have not learned the art of
working and giving. But what
ever pains we take now will be
repaid with great profit in the
days to come"
This man, Cheng Chfng-Yi, is evil
IDENTIFY a wise man. Let us learn from
one who but recently learned the way
of life from missionaries; his words
may call us back to some things to
forget which would be bad for US.