What Missionary Motives Should Prevail? 93 passion, and to press forward with uplifted faces to the rapt urous and victorious meeting with Him who one day will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God ? Such motives as these are not simply con straining; they are invincible and triumphant. AN ILLUSTRATION Some years ago, while living in Toronto, I received a call from a Miss Kathleen Stayner, of that city. Miss Stayner had come to confer with me about the possibility of her serving in China. I saw at once that she had been born and bred a gentlewoman; and I learned afterwards that she had had an exceptionally good education both in Canada and in Europe ; that she was an heiress; and, being an orphan, that she was free to come and go as she might choose. Also, I perceived, as our conversation advanced, that she was a young woman of great devotion, having turned her back upon all social allure ments and having committed herself to an earnest and self- sacrificing service for Christ, including work for the Chinese in Toronto. The situation in respect to her going to China, therefore, was a most promising one, for there was nothing to hinder her proceeding to that land. But my growing con fidence as we talked was suddenly arrested by Miss Stayner, for she unexpectedly declared that there was one difficulty in her way which was insurmountable. Asking what this was, I received this reply: “I have to confess that I do not love the Chinese.” And then she explained: “They are so ignorant and dirty!” This was a real obstacle, especially as she had been work ing among the Chinese. But in spite of it I replied: “Do you know, Miss Stayner, I do not think the question whether or not you love the Chinese is the one to be consid ered; it seems to me that the real question is whether or not you love the Lord.” At this, her eyes kindled and she exclaimed: “Oh, yes, I do love Him!”
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker