SUNDAY READING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 209, 2 March 1912, Page 6

SUNDAY READING.

MISSIONS i -T CHINA. Extract from address delivered by Miss L. Stewart to the Endeavor Society in the Queen St. Primitive Methodist Church. History is making in China faster than in any other part of the world, and largely on account of the missionaries and the new light they have brought. The Chinese are introducing railroads, telegraph and telephone, modern education, newspapers, hospitals, education for women, European dress, and many other phases of civilisation. Consequently Chinese superstitions are rapidly disappearing. No comparison could better fit the case of China before the recent wonderful awakening than the valley of dry bones of Ezekial's vision. There seemed nothing left to do but to divide it among the nations that were alive. The great lesson of history is: "Never despair of man." Never ask, "Can th:se bones live?"

Among the many changes that are transforming China are the lessening hold of idolatory upon the hearts of the people, and the many opportunities given to women which were formerly withheld. Mrs. Howard /Taylor has written the following article on the women, of China:—"One fifth of all the women in the world are found in the homes of China—a number so vast as to be almost inconceivable. One baby girl out of every five is cradled in a Chinese mother's arms, unwelcomed and unloved, born to a life too often ended ere it is well begun. One little maiden out of every five grows up in ignorance and neglect, drudging in the daily toil of some poor Chinese family, or crying over the pain of her crippled feet in the seclusion of a wealthier home. One young girl in every five questions life with wondering eyes from behind the paper windows of the women's courtyard of a Chinese dwelling. Amongst all the youthful brides who, day by day, pass from the shelter of their childhood's home, one out of every five goes weeping in China to the tyranny of a mother-in-law she dreads, and the indifference of a husband she has never seen. Of all wives and. mothers in the world one out of every five turns in her need and longing to a gilded goddess of mercy in some Chinese iemple, counting her beads and murmuring her meaningless prayers in hope of help and blessing that never come. Of all women who weep, one out of every five weeps alone, uncomforted, in China. Out of every five who lie upon beds of pain, one is wholly at the mercy of Chinese ignorance and superstition. One out of every five, at the close of earthly life, passes into theshadow and terror that surround a Chinese grave, never having heard of Him Who alone can rob death of its sting. One-fifth of all the women in the world are waiting, waiting in China for the Saviour Who so long ha 3 waited, for them'. What a burden of responsibility does this lay upon us, the women oi Christendom?"

Miss Weissner, Chinese missionary, when writing recently of her first impressions of China, gives the following account of a church service:—"Yesterday, Sunday, we went to a Chinese service for the first time. The narrow, winding streets are almost too strange to describe. They are like narrow lanes, w >jth high walls dn either side, with a door Jiere and there leading into a courtyard, and occasienally.. one sees a row of shops, if they can be ~ib scalled. As we walked down the streets of a real"' native city for the first time to church, [ our hearts were saddened with the J thought of the non-observance of our day of rest. After having gone in and out for some distance, we stopped at a door which was opened in response to a thump on it by the native woman with us. I had taken my Chinese hymn-book, and tried to follow the hymns of which 1 knew the tunes. I learnt the Chinese character for Jesus. As I sat and looked on those ,women, I though how lovely that some of/these poor souls have been enlightened; but oh! how sad to think of the thousands in this city that are yet in darkness. The population of the city is 360,000, and there are only about 100 Christians. A short time ago, several fires destroyed some hundreds of homes in this city, and the poor people thought they had not been worshipping the sun-god enough, and so some of them sat for hours in the blazing sun, thinking that thereby they might ap-i pease his wrath." c.e: societies in china. ;

I It is interesting, and a cause of joy to us, to know that Christian Endeavor j Societies flourish in China. The seventh National Convention was held recently ,m Nanking, the average attendance a"t the sessions being 1100. There were delegates from all parts of China. The unique features of the convention were the attention given to Junior Endeavor in that land where so much" needs to be done for the children, and the large part played by the women, testifying to the wonderful emancipation of Chinese women from the bondage of centuries. For example, a Chinese girl led, with the greatest sweetness and power, the "Quiet Hour" services in the mornings, attended by from 500 to 690. China is now open to the reception of the Gospel, but the day will pass unless the churehes of Christ realise their responsibility. When the Church finds it is her duty—not her pleasure—to preach the Gospel, the latter will go forward instead of markin? time. 6

"COME OVER AND HELP US." The following Chinese petition will prove to us the great scareity of missionaries. Some three years ago, when the deputation of the American Board was visiting China, in the course of its journey, it was descending the Min river, in the populous Fukien province. At noon, their boat was tied up at the foot of the wall of one of China's many walled cities, for lunch. Soon after their arrival, a group of nine well-dressed Chinese gentlemen appeared upon the shore, and asked permission to come aboard the beat to present a petition to the representatives of the missionary society from the West. A petition several feet long, with text and signatures, wa3 interpreted to the deputation by a missionary who was present. It 'was an urgent plea that the Mission Board send to their city a missionary to live among them to open Christian school?. ■ They pointed out a lot overlooking the city, which they declared had been secured by them for the residence of the missionaries who should be sent. They spoke of the great population in the city, as well as in the regions outside, who were without Christian instruction. A year later these people wrote a letter referring to their petition, and expressed regret that during the whole year they had received no response to their urgent appeal in the form of a resident missionf ry. And even to the present time this appeal is unanswered. Now, what can we do? We can all pray for China in her need. J. R, Mott says: "Prayer is the greatest force we san wield. It is the greatest talent God has granted us. He has given it to every Christian. Therefore no one i 3 excusable who commits the great sin of omitting to-pray." i