November 27, 1°05.]
VERZA VRATA Zavesong 3
DUTY.
WITH PARTICULAR APPLICATION TO
MISSIONARIES.
[Written for the Daily Press.] There are two expressions very closely allied, when one comes to consider them carefully, and these are 'Mind your own business' and 'Do your duty in that state of life to which yon are called. Notwithstanding the frequency with which these expressions are used, and in spite of the nuisance to his fellows that a man is who neglects to act up to them, how many we encounter in life who choose a method of behaviour in direct opposition to the spirit of advice contained in the two short sentences in question. Take a few examples haphazard from acquaintances such as we all have. The Army, the Navy, the Church, the Stage, Medicine, Law, in fact any profes- sion one can mention has its examples of a misguided sense of what is its representative's actual business and duty. Where, however, as in Military and Naval Services there is a certain coercive discipline which prevenis a man going far away from his obvious duty, instances of wrongheadedness are comparatively rare. It is a sad but nevertheless more evident fact daily that the duties of clergy require strongly and clearly defining for them in the public Press. It appears to the ordinary lay mind, considering the terrible distress in England to which the Press has daily alluded of late and which, as the years go on and the population grows larger, increases rather than diminishes. that it is an act of wilful neglect of duty to the Country and the Church for olergy to leave the shores of England on the pretence of converting the heathen in far distant lands. It may be said, after many years of travel at home and abroad and personal obs r vation by the writer, that in proportion to its population England has probably the highest percentage of heathen and deliberate sinners. The highest classes who have the opportunity of hearing God's word at almost any time may be left out of the question as they have their many fashionable churches and fashionable clergy who supply just that class of religions instruction that suits society itself, and for which society is quite willing to pay, in fact "just as much religion as my William likes." The per- centage of genuine heathens amongst these, both leaders and followers, is appalling indeed. There is no excuse here, but-turn to the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
At, much
impress its doctrines upon its own nation. home it is frequently customary to look upon the Missionary as a bit of a Fero. We hear of him risking bis life for the sake of the Gospel s I have met very few examples of this class of clergy who have not made quite a handsome liv- ing, however, during the crusade. The genuine trader may be considered far more of a hero as he risks his life frequently in foreign lands but has the honesty to own to himself and the world that he is doing so for bis living; and further that if the same class of living could be earned! at home and his sphere of duty were in England that he would certainly stick to his post on behalf of his firm in the old country. Tha greatest hero in the missionary field, of course, is the sailor, marine or soldier who is inevitably called in eventually to settle any international complication caused by the unwelcome intrusion of the cleric into other people's countries, coupled with his interference with old established relig- ions. These men have everything to risk for nothing and frequently consider it a shame to slaughter inoffensive natives for not believing or enduring what they certainly in many cases do not believe and would not endure themselves.
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as possible for the benefit of local charities. Unfortunately the weather left something to be desired, but though the skies were overca and rain fell intermittently there appeared to be no diminution in the attendance when compared with last year. The stallholders were:-
Flower and basket stall-Mrs. Swan and Miss Paterson.
Work stall-Mrs. Rout, Mrs. McIntyre, Mrs Pierpont and Miss Vanstone.
Pin-cushion stall-Miss Lillie, Miss Rich, and older members of the League.
Sweet Stall-Mrs. Jones Hughes, Misses Loureiro and the Misses Seth.
Toy stall-Mrs. Stephens, Miss Loureiro Miss Berkeley and Miss Cocker.
Parcel stall-Older members of the League. Tea tent-Mrs. Dickson, Mrs. Hastings Misses Rodger, Misses Berkeley, Misses Shelton-Hooper, Mrs. Pinckney, Mrs. Slade, Mrs. Marcus Slade, Miss Wilkinson, Miss Barnes Lawrence, Mrs. Grimble.
Ice tent- Mrs. and Miss Koch, Mrs. Lamble Miss Blair.
Amusements were provided for the young people, and the Band of the Royal West Kents by kind permission of Colonel Fitton and the officers, attended during the afternoon and enlivened the proceedings by the performance of pleasing selections.
Though not engaged in warlike pursuits per- sonally I frequently thank the God I do believe in that I still have a fairly whole skin on my back, and that my future duties in life connected with foreign nations are not likely to throw me into close proximity with men trading in the At 5 o'clock a concert, arranged by Mrs. Gospel line Were I ever despatched to a mission Badeley, took place in the ballroom, which had field again in the course of my duty I should been tastefully decorated for the occasion. The insist upon a suitable monetary consideration performers acquitted themselves creditably and for the risk run from a native attack when his received the applause of a large audience. The patience became exhausted. It is also question-programme was as under- able whether, considering the financi I side of 1-Song..... "Beauty's Eyes". the question, the amount of genuine good done
Mr. Grace. by the missionary is either sufficiently great or 2-Violin Solo..." Menuetto". lasting to warrant the money sent out from England to support "the good (?) cause." There is so much feeling amonrst several alien converts which resembles the religious per- snasion of the black chief whose Christianity lasted the exact length of time that the rum held out. His convictions were expressed in the brief sentence "No more rum, no more
Bible."
In conclusion, without bitterness, the public should repeatedly call the attention of clergy to their duty-the bringing of God's word to the millions of heathens at home. When this duty is done, then, let the missionaries go out to other nations confident that their own is such an example of piety and religious fervour as God would wish to see imitated; but for the sake of the lives of other people, both English and foreign, to carry out the Divine Master's instructions to the disciple missionaries of old to sbake the dust of such towns as would not receive them from the soles of their feet and leave them severely alone.
LEAGUE.
ANNUAL FETE.
ignorant, the hopeless and neglected lower classes of the cities of England. Are they in need of a missionary to bring the comfort of the Gospel to them? Yes, a thousand times far more so than the heathen of any foreign lands I have yet visited. Take the savage of any Islands of the South Seas. He is a gentle- man and a highly religious and moral character as compared with the roughs of London, THE MINISTERING CHILDREN'S Birmingham, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Man- chester or any other large English town. Compare the Red man, now nearly extinct, Isince the murderous march of 'civilization, with his ideals, code of morals and religion, with the population in our manufacturing districts. It is regrettable to have to state that our home heathen suffer badly in the comparison. It is just possible that many have heard of what we suggest is the true God, but, if they bare, it is astonishing that prac- tically no outwerd and visible signs are noticeable in these districts of this knowledge. Observe the Chinese from highest to lowest at their devotions. Surely such religious observances as this nation or any other so-called heathen nation (e.g. the Japanese) observes, however erroneously, are better than none at all. What Missionary will come forward with an earnest belief and earnest self-denying works to turn the Christian Sabbath from a day of jollification and excess into the day of rest aud religious observance by all Christians that we pretend that it is? How with any hope of success can we suppose even Hongkong's example of the blessings of Christianity and its observance impresses the heathen of many nations so intimately associated with our virtuous and Christian mode of life here. Surely the heathen must resent any attempt at conversion on the part of a Christian organisa- tion which has apparently grievously failed to
The annual garden fête promoted by the Children's Ministering League was held on the 25th November. This year H. E. the Governor showed his interest in the society and in consequence the ladies responsible for its organisation were fortunate in having the beautiful grounds of Government House placed at their disposal for this annual erent. That the League justifies its existence by useful work is already well known, and Mra. Barnes Lawrence, the president, and Mesdames Peter, Swan, and J. A. Hastings, the respective secretaries of the Victoria. Kowloon and Peak branches, are to be congratulated on their efficient management of the institution. On Saturday afternoon the six stalls, laden with fancy goods, etc., were accommodated in the arcade of Government House while the tea tent and ice tent were situated on the lawn. It bardly needs to be added that the articles for sale on each stall were attractively displayed, and when the fair stallholders and their assistants used all their natural arts to effect a sale, they invariably met with success, especially as those who attended were in sympathy with the object
to hand of the sale, which was
over
A9
......... Tosti
Mozart Mr. Jokl. 3-Song..." Who'll buy my Lavender German
Mrs. Badeley. 4-Piano Solo "Automne
Mr. Denman Fuller.
"1
11
.Chaminade
5--Song.." Hush Me, O Sorrow" { Lord Henry
6-Song.
Mr. Kruger. "Nirvana' Mr. Lammert.
警辈
Somerset
Stephen Adams
Following the concert was a theatrical per- formauce, arranged by Mrs. Painter. The comedyMy Lord in Livery
was very well enacted by the following ladies and gentlemen: Lord Thirlmere (H.M.S. Phlegethon), Mr. Au- derson; Spiggott (An Old Family Butler), Mr. M. H. Kendall; Hopkins (a Footman), Mr. F. C. Kendall; Robert (Small Page), Willie Hunt, Sybil Amberley (Daughter of Sir George Amberley), Mrs. Painter; Lauba and Rose (her friends), Miss Blair and Miss Berkeley.
PUBLIC OPINION IN INLAND
CHINA
Writing from Shaohsing, Che., a corres- pondeat of the N.-C. Daily News has the following suggestive story to tell:-
The Boycott is still in force to a certain extent. Placards were posted in the neigh- bourhood of one of our country chapels, saying that since the power of foreign nations was waning because the Chinese had agreed not to buy foreign goods any longer; now was a good time to root out the foreign religion, therefore all the people were asked to come together on a certain day at noon (being Sunday,) to tear down the chapel and kill the Christians. The matter was presented to the district magis- trate, who is a very incompetent old man, but no satisfaction could be obtained from him so, there being only four days to spare, we took it to the prefect who is a very competent official. He said we need not trouble about the matter further as he would see to it at once, which he did. Soldiers were sent and so, of course, nothing occurred. We were gratified, too, that the leading men of the village of their own accord agreed to see that nothing of the sort should occur again. Some firms still will not sell American oil but others are selling it again. A business firm which deals largely in foreign goods and which has cashed our cheques for us. now refuses to do so any longer, although it is a greater accommodation to them than it is to us.
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