DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 75, 20 June 1927, Page 3

DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

WHAT CHRISTIANITY NEEDS (Copyright , 1927. J /CHRISTIANS in China are being subjected to the treatment that has always ( been beneficial to Christians. Christiauit yhas always thrived under persecution. It only needs a few well-timed deaths to give it impetus. . The blood of the martyrs has always been the seed of the church. This makes it pretty hard on martyrs, but it is a good thing for the church. Heretofore they have been uniformly polite except for occassional instances and have been entirely too liberal-minded. Nothing hurts the Christian propaganda more than indifference. ’ . Air. Cresterton sees a distinct decline of interest m religion, thinking it is because religious people no longer have heated arguments over leligion. He thinks that tolerance is a sign of indifference and perhaps it is. Some one has sai dthat no movement fo rthe beenfit of the common people has arisen anywhere in China except among the Christian missionaries. If that is true these missionaries ought to meet the fate of most progressives and it is the rule that most persons who try to jog this old world forward a little bit are persecuted for their plans. Ever since the day when Christ was crucified in Galilee the reformer has had hard sledding. People can stand most any sort of guilt among their great men, but they can’t stand to be hectored by them. If anybody thinks this world is anxious to improve and mend its ways he has nother think coming. This world wants to be let alone. It is very much of the mind and custom of the foolisli boy. Spanking may do the boy good, but he doesn t like it. He may need it, but he doesn’t want it. So jerking the world along on its upward path may be necessary, but this earth is liable to turn on its benefactors and rend them.