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March 31, 1909. THE PRESBYTER
societies who have engaged in China in exchanging
our ideas of the greatest of all truths which concern
the immortal destinies of man.
"In the name of my august master, the Emperor of
China, I beg to tender to you his best thanks for your
approval and appreciation of the protection afforded
to the American missionaries in China. What we have
done is but the duty of our government whiln tiio
sionaries, as you have so ably expressed, have not
sought for pecuniary gains at the hands of our people.
They have not been secret emissaries of diplomatic
schemes. Their labors have no political significance;
and, last, not least, if I might be permitted to add, they
have not interfered with, or usurped the rights of, the
territorial authorities
"As a man is composed of soul, intellect and body. I
highly appreciate that your eminent boards, in your
arduous and much-esteemed work in the field of China.
nave neglected none of the three As for intellect,
you have started numerous educational establishments
which have served as the best means to enable
our countrymen to acquire a fair knowledge of the
modern arts and sciences of the West. As for the material
part of our constitution, your societies have
started hospitals and dispensaries to save not only the
soul, but also the body, of .our countrymen. I have also
to add that in the time of famine in some of the provinces
you have done your best to the gieatest number
of the sufferers to keep their bodies and souls together.
Before T hrincr in\r rsnlir tr, - T t 1
?.?b i v|yi^ lu a V.UIIV.1U31UII, 1 nave onIV
two things to mention:
"The first, the opium smoking, being a great curse
to the Chinese population, your societies have tried
their best, not only as anti-opium societies, but to afford
the best means to^stop the craving for the opium;
and also you receive none as your converts who are
opium smokers.
"I have to tender, in my own name, my best thanks
for your most effective prayers to God to spare my life
when it was imperiled by the assassin's bullet, and for
your most kind wishes which you have just now so
amy expressed in the interest of my sovereign, my
country and my people."
WORLDLY CONFORMITY.
We, the pastor, the elders aiid deacons of the First
Presbyterian Church of Bristol, Tenn., to whom is
committed the duty of taking the oversight of the
members of this church, are moved to call the attention
of our people to certain influences, which we
deem hurtful to the spirituality of God's children, and
detrimental to the cause of Christ among non-professors;
who in large and necessary measure test Christianity
by the lives, of those who profess its principles.
First?The Habit of Card Playing.
This we believe ought to be discouraged hv nrnfpcc
w c-? ? J I ?
ing Christians for the following reasons:
i. The church, time and again through her courts,
composed of intelligent and consecrated ministers and
ciders, has declared against card playing. Loyalty to
an organization, voluntarily entered, is justly obligatory.
f ' ,
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IAN OF THE SOUTH. f
2. The associations of cards. Cards are used large
ly by professional gamblers, and it seems incongruous
to find the deck of cards in the Christian home, and
also in the gambler's apartments. A
Presbyterian minister of national reputation, in a
book written by himself, urges this as a strong consideration
against participation in this game by followers
of Christ. Doubtless, the fascinations of the
social game have in many instances, encouraged par
"v-.pa.ii3, lu give expression to tneir skill where the
main purpose is to acquire gain. We can not know
the person who may be thus encouraged, and even the
possibility of, in any measure, influencing one individual
to adopt the deplorable occupation of gambling
is sufficient to cause serious thought.
3. As to prize features in these contests, it may be
that some of the players, or all of them, arc not prompted
by any sinister motive. They may regard the prize
as merely a compliment to the skilful contestant?
npvprthplpcc if it? rvrAknkl,. f-"" 4. U ? * 1 r r
..~, 11 .o |;n,u?ui^ nuc, niiii me prizes oncred
have much to do with the intense fascination and excessive
prevalence of this indulgence. Not long since,
an Honored and eminent southern judge had some
strong words to say on this subject in his charge to
the grand jury. What he said was earnestly endorsed
by one of the best and purest men the South has everhad
in public office.
The judge said: "That to play cards for valuable
prizes, purchased with funds to which the players have
contributed is a violation of the law against gambling."
He also said, "It is not less criminal to play for a silver
card-case, than for a plain silver dollar as it comes
from the mint."
All around us there are those whose moral sense is
not so keen, whose liability to sinful excess is. enhanced
by even the apparent conformation of those, whose advantages
are superior, whose professions are greater,
and whose responsibilities are augmented.
4. The valuable time squandered, in this practice by
those whose efforts are needed for theif own spiritual
culture, and for their persistent service along nobler
lines is a rnnsiflerntirm that tln? thr-mrrhtful if
ford to disregard. We are fully persuaded that women
are too good to give themselves to this indulgence.
"We believe woman is the finest of all God's earthly
workmanship: we are reluctant to put the angels much
above her at best. Cherishing such views about woman,
we feel perfectly sure that God made her for some
higher, nobler purpose."
5. If it is right and expedient for church members
to play cards, why is it not right and expedient for
ministers to do so? They serve the same Lord: they
have virtually assumed the same vows: they are all
sinners by nature and onlv saints bv trrace.
The standard that church members exact of their
Pastor is the standard that God exacts of them. "One
is your Master." If the Pastor of this church were to
give a card party in his home, we feel sure that the
regret and surprise of professing Christians, and
from non-professors would be sincere and profound.
His members and others would scarcely take pleasure
in a continuance of his pulpit ministrations.
In this connection we would express our Christian