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Oeeembeir 6, 1V11 ]
THE NEW CONSTITUTION AND THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN CHINA.
The more intelligent of the Chinese
Christians are at present very much
concerned in securing a religious toleration
clause into the new constitution
that is being formed. In the draft of
this constitution made public up to this
time the Christians as such are entirely
Ignored. The Christians say, that,
when the constitution goes into effect,
the causes in the treaties between China
and the foreign powerB which have so
far protected their reUorir.no m.?* * ?
. D.^uo HOC 11/ Will
no longer be effective and the Christians
will be without any official protection
at all. Some go so far as to say
that under such conditions the Chinese
church will not be able to stand. So
not a few of them have very grave
fears for the future unless they can succeed
in having a clause Inserted in the
constitution securing their religious
liberty. They are not only agitating
this matter in the papers, but are preparing
to send up delegates with a petition
at the proper time to press their
claim before the parliament when In
session at Peking.
Taking into consideration all the nn
mwara circumstances and conditions. It
Is easy to see that with this young and
as yet weak church this is a very serious
matter, and we cannot but sympathize
with it In Its attempt to obtain
religious freedom.
In the local assemblies that have
been forming the Protestant Catholic
Christians have been excluded from
membership, and thus classed with
these of the population who are incompetent
for membership. The officials
contemptuously call the Christians
"Ch'aomln," that is, "church people,"
and treat t^em rather as renegades and
under foreign control.
Not long since it was reported in the
native papers that the officials have forbidden
Chinese to open chapels for
Christian work. They say that they
cannot prevent foreigners from opening
these, but the Chinese must not be allowed
to do it. The reason given was
that the Chinese use these chapels for
unworthy purposes. There are no
doubt tbose wbo have been using the
name of the church to further their
own ends, but this has been by no
mepns a sufficient reason why the
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THE PRE8BYT~R1
Chinese should be forbidden to open
chapels In which to preach the Gospel
and for worship.
So taking the above facts together,
the present outlook is not altogether
assuring to the church In China.
One cannot but question sometimes
some of our methods of work and procedure
here. I seriously doubt whether
it was wise in the first instance to make
Chinese Christians under the nroteo
tlon of the treaties made with foreign
powerB. These treaties were forced out
of the Chinese government in times of
war, and while they give more or less
of protection to the Christians, this is
given very reluctantly. Now when this
protection is taken away the Btorm of
persecution that may come will be all
the more severe In that it has been
forcibly restrained so long.
Again, one cannot but question the
wisdom of putting Into our work the
amount of foreign money that is now
expended here. The costly and often
elegant plants that are put up in the
way of hospitals, school buildings and
sometimes church buildings projects
into the more distant future the day
when the Chinese church can become
selfsupporting. In discussing the subject
of the self-dependence of the church
in the native papers?something which
leading Christians have been doing for
years, they are constantly confronted
with the financial problem. They see
the large amountB of money that we
expend and they seem to have the impression
that when they undertake the
work, they must raise similar amounts.
One feels that we are attempting to
transplant Western Christianity with
its civilization into China Instead of
the pure and simple Christianity of
apostolic times.
Your correspondent is by no means a
revolutionary, hut such thought will not
always stay suppressed, and <t certainly
is wise at times to consider whether In
all thlnes we are workfnr nlnnv the
wisest and most Scriptural lines.
GRANDMA BRIGHT COMING TO OUR
HOME MISSION FIELDS.
Miss Barbara E. Lamdin.
Those who have read "Grandma
Blight's Missionary Even'ngs," compiled
by Miss 8. O'H. Dickson and pubPreparatory
and College Courses for
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ringing quality that is rapturous in I
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Sutler Caw
AN OF TH?jBOUTB
lisbed by our Nashville Committee, and
who have used with the children that
delightful collection of true stories by
our own missionaries in foreign lands,
will be glad to know that Miss Dickson
has introduced this dear old lady to our
Home Mission Qelds.
Under the authority of the Executive
Committee of Home Missions Atinn*^
MIbb Dickson has collected from our
workers in the home land, among the
Indians, the Mexicans, the Italians, the
Cubans, among the Miners, in the West,
and far back in the Mountains, true
stories of little children whose hearts
have been won by the message of Jesus'
love, and who, responsive to the good
news, have tried in their earnest, childish
way to bring others to the Savior.
Most of us know Miss Dickson as the
author of many beautiful poems and
charming children's stories, and the
mere fact that th's collection is edited
by her. and that she has added to each
story questions on the work It represents,
will assure the Interest and
worth of the book.
"Grandma Brlght's Home Mission
Evenings" furnishes what our people
k*-* 1 * *
ua?c luug neeaea?a book of stories for
our own children about our own work,
and by our own missionaries. Leaders
of Children's Bands, Young People's
Societies, teachers in Sunday Schools,
and mothers, all who are concerned that
the young people of our Church shall
have a real and an Intelligent interest
in our work, will And this book Just
what they have been wanting.
The publication has been undertaken
by our Committee at Richmond, and is
being pushed so that Grandma Bright
may make her bow on the Home Mission
platform by December 16th. The
collection, besides being suitable for
use In organized children's work, will
make a splendid gift book for Christmas
or Now Yonr
Copies will be 15 cents each. Save
time by sending money and order direct
to the Presbyterian Committee of
Publication. Richmond, Va.
THE CALENDAR OF PRATER FOR
HOME MISSIONS FOR 1912.
Miss Barbara E. Lamdfn.
In several ways the Calendar of
Prayer for Home Missions will register
next year a distinct departure.
It will as formerly be issued in the
hanger form, which met w'th such general
acceptance in the editions for 1909 <
and 1910; the price will remain the
same; it will give condensed statistics
of the work of Assembly's Home Missions,
and the names of our men and
women missionaries in Miss'on Sunday i
and Day Schools, in the monntain, on |
the plains of the West, among the Indians,
the Foreigners, the Negroes, in \
Mill and Factory districts, in the city,
and at local places, with special seasons |
ui juajcr lur iuw worn ana me worKers,
and it will, of course, contain many
choice Scripture selections. i
But the scope of the Calendar of
Prayer for Home Mlsslong for 1912 will ,
be enlarged to Include the work of the 1
Executive Committee of Christian Education
and Ministerial Relief, Lonisville.
Ky., and the Executive Committee (
of Publication and Sabbath 8chool 1
Work, Richmond. Va.
In the compilation of former editions,
our best modern authors were placed (
under tribute, with the result that a
reputation was gained for beautiful and \
appropriate quotations, and in a short
time this new publication of our Church
had won a large place in the affections
and prayers of our people. The edition
for 1912, -with Its wider range of causes,
promises not only a broader outlook on
the work and needs of our Church at
home, but another treat In the changed
character of Its principal quotations,
which will giro a glance hack In Terse
(1171) 19
over the procress of the Church universal
from post-Apostolic times.
In the rush, the whirl, and restlessness
of the present day It helps us to remember
that In all the centuries since
our Lord established his Church on the
earth there have been choice souls who
nave lived close to the Master, and
whose love to Christ, perhaps Is even
their sacrifice for him, inspired them to
bursts of sublime thought, frequently
finding apt expression in song. One
of these saints was Thomas A. Kempls.
Through his meditations, following the
thought and often the very wording of
Holy Writ, we can traoe the conflict of
soul endured by this monk of the fourteenth
century, and share In his victory
over the flesh won through faith. Perhaps
the extracts from bis matchless
"Imitation of ChrlBt" will bring to our
twentieth century a needed message of
the transltoriness of this life, of the inability
of the world to satlBfy our deeivest
longings, of the unsearchable
depths of the love of Christ, snii
us anew, following In paths of the Revealed
Word, to place our affections
more upon things above, and to give
ourselves wholly to Christ
As far as space permits there will be
quotations also from poems and hymns
of ancient and medieval Christian
writers. Probably to some It will be a
glad surprise to read these exquisitely
expressed hymns of praise and devotion,
wh'ch echo down the years In choral
antlphones. "The Holy Church throughout
all the world, doth acknowledge
Thee."
What blessings may not these three
beneflclent Committees of our Church
expect when our people unitedly and
regularly pray for the work assigned
to them by our General Assembly, and
the workers upon whom God has placed
the responsibility for Its accomplishment.
The Calendar of Prayer for Home
Missions for 1912 will be ready for delivery
on or before December 15th. but
as a large demand is confidently ex
pected, it would be wise to place orders
at once. 10 cents each. 50 cents for six,
$1.00 per dozen. Address the Presbyterian
Committee of Publication, Richmond.
Vs.
WORKS WITHOUT FAITH.
Faith Came After Works Had Laid the
Foundation.
A Bay State belle talks thus abont
coffee:
"While a coffee drinker T was a sufferer
from Indigestion and Intensely
painful nervous headaches, from childhood.
"Seven years ago my health gave out
entirely. I grew so weak that the exertion
of walking, if only a few feel,
made It necessary for fe to lie down.
My friends thought I was marked for
consumption?weak .thin and pale.
"I realized the Hnnmir T nr.. -
tried faithfully to get relief from mediclnea.
till, at last, after having employed
all kinds of drues. the doctor
acknowledged that he did not believe
nt was in his power to cure me."
"Wh'le In this condition a friend Induced
ine to quit cocee and try Postum,
and T did so without the least hope
that It would do me any good. I did
not like it at first, hut when it was
properly made T found it a most delicious
and refreshing beverage. I am
especially fond of it served at dinner
Ice-cold, with cream.
"Tn a month's time T hegan to Improve.
and in a few weeks my indigestion
ceased to trouble me. and my headache
stopped entirely. I af so perfectly
well now that T do not look like the
same person, and I have so gained In
flesh that T am 1K minima 4V?
? . UOMTigi vuiati
ever before.
"This is what Postum has done for
me. T still use it and shall alwavg do
bo." Nome given by Postum Co., Battle
Creeic. Mich.
"There's a reason." and it la explained
in the little boob, "The Road to
Wellville," in nfega.
Ever reed the above lettert A new
one aimeera front time time. They
are genuine, true, and fall of tramnu
interest