The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1905, Page 61

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

The Lutheran Pioneer:

moment,’’ said the missionary, ‘‘I thought of the
deep meaning of the words, ‘God so loved the
world that He gave his only-begotten Son.’ I com-
mended my dear mother to the care of our heavenly
Father, and joyfully sped on my way to bring to
the poor people of China the glad news of God’s
great love for sinners.”’

He landed at Shanghai, China, in 1854, and
adopting the native costume, at once set to work.
He declined any salary, and gave up butter and
milk as ‘‘luxuries,”’ living chiefly on rice and oat-
meal, thus reducing his living expenses to as little
as possible.

After several years of hard work he returned to
his home in England to recuperate. His bad health
compelled him to stay at home for some years. But
these years of weakness were not wasted; for dur-
ing them he planned the China Inland Mission,
which was founded in 1865. His heart yearned
over the millions and hundreds of millions in the
distant provinces of the vast country of China, who
were passing into eternity without God and without
hope, at the rate of thirty-three thousand every day.
He founded a society whose aim it is to spread
abroad the Gospel among the large inland prov-
inces of China, where the foot of a Gospel mission-
ary never trod before. From the beginning the
plan of this society was to offer no salary to the
workers, take no collections, beg no money, but,
making the needs known, pray for the funds to
carry on the work. And the society has prospered,
and is increasingly prosperous. There is no lack of
money, although ‘“‘there is no begging for money.’?
When we met Rev. Taylor, he told us the voluntary
contributions in that year amounted to $170,000.
“‘God hears the prayers of His children,’’ added the
devoted missionary. The mission has penetrated to
the farthest parts of China, and has secured an in-
creasing number of workers, some of them from
‘‘the best families of Great Britain.’’ It now oper-
ates 200 central stations, 520 out-stations, and its
staff includes 825 missionaries and their wives.

In the China. Inland Mission Hudson Taylor
will be greatly missed. At the age of 78 years he
has been taken home from his beloved mission field

-in China. ‘‘The workmen are called to rest, but

God’s work will go on.’
eo

The Nature of Faith.

It is the nature of faith that it feels nothing at
all, but only follows the Word, which it hears, and
depends upon it. Whoever believes it, has it; who-
ever does not believe it, does not have it. — Luther.

The Indian Boy’s Friend.

A missionary among the Indians relates the fol-
lowing:

I found the Indian boy dying of consumption,
and in a state of the most awful poverty and desti-
tution, in a small birch-rind covered hut, with noth-
ing but a few fern leaves under him, and an old
blanket over him.

After recovering from my surprise I said, ‘‘My
poor boy, I am sorry to see you in this state; had
you let me know, you should not have been lying
here.”

He replied, ‘‘It is very little I want now, and
these poor people get it for me; but I should like
something softer to lie upon as my bones are very
sore.”?

I spoke with him about his soul, and he told me
that he was very happy; that Jesus Christ, the Lord
of glory, had died to save him, and that he firmly
believed in Him who hath taken away the sins of
the world.

Observing a small Bible under the corner of his
blanket, I said, ‘‘Jack, you have a friend there;
I am glad to see that; I hope you find something
good there.”

Weak as he was, he raised himself on his elbow,
held the Bible in his thin hand, while a smile played
on his face, and slowly spoke in precisely the follow-
ing words: ‘‘This, sir, is my dear friend. You gave
it tome. For along time I read it much, and often
thought of what it told. Last-year I went to see my
sister at Lake Winnipeg (about two hundred miles
off), where I remained about two months. When
I was half way back through the lake, I remem-
bered that I had left my Bible behind me. I di-
rectly turned round, and was nine days by myself,
tossing to and fro, before I could reach the house;
but I found my friend, and determined I would not
part with it again, and ever since it has been near
my breast, and I thought I should have it buried
with me; but I have thought since, I had better
give it to you when I am gone, and it may do some
one else good.’’

Soon after, the dear boy fell asleep, repeating
with his weak voice the words of the twenty-third
Psalm: ‘“Though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art
with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.’’

———_e-o-o___—_—__
I bo not envy a clergyman’s life as an easy life,

nor do I envy the clergyman who makes it an easy
life. — Samuel Johnson. ;