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l VOL III. K1CHMO
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I THE OPE
Sermon 'Preached by L
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The text: "Behold I have set before thee an
open door, and no man can shut it."
Ax* i.i iuoc uaja nc icau muuu ui tiie upun uuui
in Asia for commerce, the open door in politics;
I wish to speak to you today of the open door for
the Gospel of Christ, most important of all. The
text gives us the words of the Divine Lord to
His Church. He declares that he places before
the Church an open door, a great opportunity
for the spread of the gospel and the
upbuilding of His Kingdom, and that all the
powers of evil cannot close that door, and
prevent the final triumph of the Gospel
throughout the world.
Let us now think of some of the Great
Changes Providence is bringing about, by
which He is opening up the Chinese Empire
to the gospel and giving His Church a rare
opportunity to win that great nation for
Christ.
I CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT.
1. The first great change which has come
about in the past few years is the Change in
Government; the change from absolute monarchy
to representative government. Prom
ancient times the Emperor has been an absolute
ruler, governing by divine right; He is
the "son of Heaven," "the Lord of a myriad
years," the source of all power and privilege.
Of late years, largely through the influence
of Christianity and causes produced
by it, a change has come about and the people
have been clamoring for a share in the
government. On the 3rd of October last the
first Imperial Congress convened at Pekin;
this was the forerunner of representative
assemblies of the people, and marks a change
from the custom of 4000 years. Best of all
this change of government means civil and
religious liberty, the great gift of the Protestant
Reformation to the world, the right
>f mandarins and common people to worship
rin/1 +rv +V?a I a4-a4-^w. a-C Al.??? a?
!mvu atwiujug tu bUC uiuiatca U1 LllCir UWJLi
conscience, without priestly interferences or
legal prohibition.
INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CHANGES.
2. Second, Note the Industrial and Commercial
changes which are opening the Empire
to Christianity?28 years ago when we
^ went to China, the ordinary means of travel
< * were sailboats on the oanals, or wheel bar,
3 rows and springless mule-carts by land. "What a
contrast to the luxurious vestibuled express
trains that whirl through the country here! Now
railways are being built everywhere in China?
a irunK line over <uu miles long extends irom
Peking to Hankow, a centre of the Empire on the
Yangtse River; and branch roads are being conftfc
8|a
JjBHI
ND. NEW ORLEANS, ATLANTA. AUGI
if soor i
)r. Henry Woods at Tinkling Spring Church, A i
strueted in all the provinces, many of them by
the Chinese themselves. Just before we left China,
we traveled on a line from Hangchow to
Shanghai which was entirely built and operated
by the Chinese. Steam launch lines are found on
all the leading canals. Here is God's will to en
imp Jratfjer?a jfypmn
{By William Reed McElroy
(This posm was written in competition for a prize of $1,000,
offered b> some wealthy person, for the best poem about
Fathers. The author would be glad if any of our readers
could furnish the address of fhe person who offered this prize.)
I stood one day in tender mood,
By grave unknown to fame;
And 'Neath the weeping willow there
The scenes were these, which came:
A strong hand at the plow, I saw,
Myself astride the beam;
A father's arm about me held,
* As homeward strode the team.
Chorus:
My father's voice! My father's voice!
How once it made our hearts rejoice;
A tower of strength, his rugged face,
His walk replete with Christian grace.
The household now was sunk to rest,
Save father's weary feet,
As to and fro with babe in arm
He trod his lonely beat;
'Twas Christmas Eve at midnight hour,
His face betray'd distress,
That failing crops and sickness wan
Mado Vnlo-tida invi orrr?w 1pm
I heard he morning prayer bell ring,
Again its evening call;
Saw filing in with rev'rent tread
United family all.
No low-ring clouds in haying time,
Nor ear-ripe harvest need,
E'er seized the hour of daily prayer,
Cut short its proper mead.
One glorious Sabbath autumn day
About him those who weep?
The sun was sinking in the west,
God kissed his eyes to sleep.
* Well done thou good and faithful one
In home, in church, in state;
Come share a Father's heav'nly home,
Among the good and great.''
Charlottesville, Va.
ter the open door by improved facilities for
travel. We also see expensive modern machinery
introduced; huge cotton mills are springing up.
Pig iron has already been shipped from Chinese
mills to America, and, after paying duty and
freight for thousands of miles, is sold cheaper
than it can be manufactured in Birmingham,
1
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vesternPresbyter/a/}
al Presbyter/an
-hern Presbyter/a n
LJST 2. 1911. NO 31.
N CHINA I
igusta County, Virginia
Ala. The national currency is being reformed.
The old Chinese Code of laws are being revised,
and brought into accord with International law.
All of these things mean the opening up of
men's minds to the Truth, a willingness
to learn.
EDUCATION.
13. Perhaps the most remarkable change is
that in Education from the old Confucian
svst.em tn wputem loominn
? ivuxuuig. xuc viiauei ui
Chinese pride was in Confucian learning.
The old Chinese classics, the venerable examination
halls with thousands of students, the
essays and poetry have all been put aside,
and modern methods are in vogue. Students
are eager for English, for mathematics, the
sciences and history. This means a death
blow to the influence of Confucianism; and it
means a grand opportunity to the Church to
mould the flower of Chinese youth for
Christ. China is determined to have Western
learning. Shall she receive it through Christian
channels or through infidel ones? Shall
the Church use this mighty instrument God
lias put in our hands to turn the mind of Chi
na to the Gospel, or shall we neglect it and
education be the means of leading this naI
tion farther away from God? This is the momentous
question you and the Church must
answer.
MORAL CHANGE.
4. Fourth, Christian Missions in the past
few years have brought about a great moral
change in China as reeards nmim Wo nil
know how opium was forced on China by
England at the cannon's mouth in 1842. All
know what a curse it has proved, destroying
the bodies, the intellect and the souls of men.
The opium habit spread over the Empire like
a pestilence. Dens for smoking were formed
everywhere in city and county. The poppy
was widely grown, and India poured thousands
of chests of the black poison into the
seaports daily. Ten years ago the prospect
was dark enough, but the Anti-Opium Society
was working and praying; and largely
through the noble efforts of Dr. DuBose of
our Mission an Imperial Edict was promulgated
forbidding the use of opium. Now a
great change is visible. The dens are closed,
the poppy is no longer grown in many places
and there is good reason to hope that China will
soon be entirely delivered from the thralldom
of opium. "What hath God wrought!" The
greatest obstacle to the salvation of the people
is being removed.
QTTTJCnn A XTfirr A T
wwwiiuniau riMJUnTiOO,
5. Did tfcne permit, it would be helpful to
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