542
THE KING'S BUSINESS
In the Prayer Watch, that ceaseless mis sionary meeting of the Moravian Church, at Herrnhut, when “twenty-four brethren and twenty-four sisters engaged each to spend an hour as fixed for them by lot, in their own rooms, to bring before God all ■ the needs and interests of those around them,” their custom was “to meet once a week, when all news that had, been received from far and near, concerning the needs of persons, congregations or nations, was com municated, to stir them to praise for an swers given or lead, to more hearty and definite prayer." When the new Methodist concrete dor mitory for boys was opened, one of those present was Archbishop Aglipay, who led the split from Rome in the Philippines. The courts refused to give his followers, title to the parochial buildings which they had put up with their own hands, -but in - spite of this staggering blow the Agli- payano movement continues and in some provinces is growing. It has become, how ever, largely political and rationalistic in stead of evangelical. A version of the Bible with the first chapter of Genesis re written according to modern geology was recently issued. In Hainan as elsewhere in China, the changes in government are having their natural and normal effect, and the mis sionaries report that while in some places there is opposition and even persecution, there never was a time when there were such great demands for the Gospel and when a revival in religion was more likely to occur than at the present. Nothing need hinder the Church presenting a Christian Hainan to her Master in a short time save the apathy of the Church at home or the adoption of methods which are not in ac cord with the teaching of the Gospel. With the missionary force even as it is at pres ent, full of enthusiasm and consecration, one cannot help but look forward to the time when the seed which is now being sown will appear in a glorious harvest. Missions have been long enough in Hainan
so that there are Some now connected with the Church who represent the fifth, gen eration of Christians, and history tells us that such a condition can be used of God in raising up a sturdy and vigorous Church, “The Things Which the Gentiles Sacri fice They Sacrifice to Devils.’’ One is con scious, in observing the variety and ab surdity of idolatry, of a Satanic cynicism venting its hatred and contempt of man by rendering him both ridiculous and repul sive. “She used to worship her own ear,” writes Mr. Hardy of a West African negro woman before her conversion. “She had offered ten goats and four pigs as sacri- , fices to her head, besides constantly sacri ficing to the devil.”- On the other hand, a missionary in India tells of an old woman who could never believe that a girl was ' married tjll her feet had been worshiped, and describes women sitting on- the edge of wells and worshiping their own feet. “This, too, is God,” said a Hindu villager in the hearing of a mission worker, reverently folding his hands in front of a zebra in a circus procession. But what about the birds and golden eagles ' American women sacri fice to their heads; the diamonds to their ears; the fortunes to their dogs! Today, along with Mr. Tracy, I revis ited the Dehra Dun Leper Asylum after a lapse of four years. We sent in our cards to the superintendent, who is a European leper. .He invited us in, and we saw what once had been a strong man, now griev ously disfigured, sitting up in bed. He said he had been confined to his bed for more than a week suffering pain, and waiting until the surgeon could come and take a bone out of his foot. The poor chap felt very lonely; said he seldom saw a white face. He would be glad of reading-matter, • which we promised to supply. Mr. Tracy asked him how he passed the time, and what his hopes, were. The poor, lonely, pain-furrowed face took on a softened, happy look as he answered quietly, “All my hopes are in Christ, my Saviour.”— Sam Higginbottom.
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