CHINA MISSION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 309, 23 May 1941, Page 5

CHINA MISSION

REV. G. H. McNEUR'S SERMOJ?

Speaking at the Whakatane Presbyterian Church on Sunday last the Rev. G. H. McNeur referred; to the work being done by missionaries in China. He said a Cihurch member asked the Rev. Robert Scott, of St Columbus Church, London : "Don't you think it is wildly venturesome of your Church to send out missionaries, and to maintain mission work in the foreign field, when our own nation is involved m a life and death struggle?" Mr Scottfs reply was; (, * Jesus, when He sent His disciples into all the world, was| sending them on a wildly venturesome task." Mr McNeur went on to say that Paul's words to the Gqrinthians (found in the last chapter) "I am staying on . . , for I' have wide onportunities here . . . and there ar« many to thwart me," expresses the attitude of the missionaries in China During the Boxer Rebellion, in 1900, the missionaries had to fly for their lives'. Some in North China, who could not get away, were massacred. In 1925-27 there was a serious anti-British, anti-Christian move ment, engineered by the Soviet. At this time missionaries left their posts because their presence-increas-ed the danger for the Chinese Christians. The ultimate result was that the natives Church became more independent. During the present upheaval in China, the British Government is sympathetic with the missionaries who, in spite of orders to go, remain at their work. One result of the Japanese invasion is that hundreds of refugees have flocked to the mission compound. This, gives a great opportunity. Another surprising result was that the Universities and other cultural institutions are driven far inland, into the hinter-lands of West China, thus bringing culture and education to thousands hitherto' unreached. So good has come out of the seeming evil of Japanese invasion of China. Mr McNeur is confident, that because the most High still rulette in the kingdom of men, some national goodwill evolve from the present world upheaval.