|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 24
There are Chinese in whom we have come to be deeply interested, for whom
we have long prayed, who have for years been among the most constant and
most pleasing of our pupils, and for years have been convinced that an
idol is nothing, but that the God of the Bible is the only true God, and
the Christ of the Gospel the only true Saviour, who stop just there.
Over and over again we ask about them, only to find them still _just
there_. Not a step forward seems to have been taken, and meanwhile
time--weeks that grow to months, and months that grow even to years--
time that might be full of service, runs to waste. The heart gets sick
with this hope deferred.
Then there are cases of disappointment. Bright hopes have darkened
almost to the blackness of very despair. A brother whose conversion,
(_must_ I say _apparent_ conversion?) has seemed to be unusually clear;
whose walk as a Christian seemed, while he was with us, to be well-nigh
perfect; whose spirit was singularly humble, devout and Christly; who
was growing rapidly in knowledge of the word, and could already preach
the word with power, goes back to his home in China. Sore pressure is
brought to bear upon him, and he pays some sort of homage at an idol's
shrine. He feels forthwith condemned. He will not be a hypocrite, and
therefore will no longer profess to be a Christian. Now that he has
returned to California, he is ashamed, he says, to show himself among
the brethren. He stands aloof; keeps out of sight, and thus takes the
very path along which Judas hastened to his doom. In vain do we show him
the better way of faith; in vain speak to him of Peter, or of the
Father's welcome to the prodigal, and the delight we once had in him
adds soreness to the heartache of our disappointed hope.
These are not solitary cases. Yet we may thank God that they represent
not the general rule, but the exceptions. The general rule is that of
constancy and faithfulness, and these exceptions are such as occurred
even in the Apostolic ministries: how much more to be expected in ours!
Yet the pain they bring and the shadow they cast are none the less real
and deep.
Another element in shady side arises in a quite different quarter.
"Coming events cast their shadows before," and these shadows just now
obscure our sunny side. We resolve not to be worried about to-morrow,
and yet we must not enter doors that open except we first count the
cost. That coming event is a deficit that seems inevitable, unless we
shut our ears to what sound like the calls of God. Our plan heretofore
has been to listen to these calls and answer them if possible, believing
that he who gives the commission will not fail to supply the means. Nor
has this faith been put to shame. Yet, when the rules of arithmetic
confront one at every summing of his probable resources and subtracting
of his fixed expenditures, and the figures, like fleshless, bony
fingers, point him to deficits and unpaid bills impending, then, even
while faith maintains her hold, it cannot be denied that shadows cross
our path. Our friends who have helped us hitherto must expect some
urgent appeals before this fiscal year is ended. The utmost economy
shall be practised. Each dollar shall be made to do full service, if
care and watchfulness on our part can assure this, but the work must not
be hindered. Souls are at stake, priceless and immortal.
I have not yet reached the end of my catalogue of shadows, but I soon
tire of looking at the shady side. Shadow pre-supposes sunshine, and
sunshine there is, clear, abundant, having cheer in it for the present
and promise for the future--promise of harvests such as may make this
year to be as the last and even more abundant.
* * * * *
ANNIVERSARY OF CHINESE MISSIONS.
Superintendent Dr. Pond is a modest man, and we, therefore, take the
liberty of quoting from the _Congregationalist_ a little sketch by our
friend Dr. Holbrook, of the recent anniversary of the Chinese Mission as
presenting a broad ray of sunshine over the "Shady Side," as given in
Brother Pond's candid article above.
The Chinese Mission of the A.M.A. on the Pacific coast, under
the superintendence of Rev. W.C. Pond, D.D., is very efficient
and successful. Its thirteenth anniversary was held on Sunday
evening, December 9, in the First Congregational Church in San
Francisco, Prof. I.E. Dwinell presiding. The exercises by the
Chinese converts indicated remarkable proficiency in the English
language and in music, both in solos and choruses. Jee Gam, the
first convert, and now employed by the courts as an interpreter,
read an address on "The Congregational Association of Christian
Chinese," of such merit in thought and language, that some
doubted its originality, which, however, was vouched for by Dr.
Pond. The writer sketched its origin in 1871 and the progress of
the Association since, and said it had been the means of the
conversion of more than 700 Chinese, and that it designs to send
missionaries to China. It is self-supporting, though the
expenditures during the year have been $9,619.50, of which
$2,066 were for rent. Dr. Pond advocated the appointment of
itinerant preachers to labor with the Chinese in the moving
camps on the railroads. Rev. Dr. Barrows made a very effective
appeal for funds, and a collection was taken. Dr. Pond certainly
deserves great credit for his labors in this department, in
addition to the pastorate of Bethany Church in San Francisco, in
which there are a large number of Chinese.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|