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COM.MUNION AT TAK HING, CHINA.
By Dr. E. J. il. Dickson.
Our first communion dn China was enjoyed in
Tak Hing on May 10th, and was a new and rich
experience. The Tak Hing Chapel has a seating
capacity of 250 and it was well filledat all the
preparatory services. With the exceptions of a
strange language, a strange 'people and the men
communing at one table with the women at another,
the service was much the same as ours
at home.
The session met on Friday afternoon and spent
the greater part of the time in examining candidates
for membership. Everything was done decently
and in order and with a thoroughness that
would be a credit to any session in the home
church. Rev. J. K. Robb has his native members
well trained and they asked the most of the
questions and handled each candidate with an
earnest and kindly sipirit. It was an inspiration
to see men who a few years ago were in heathen
darkness, taking such responsibilities and becoming
real leaders in God's work.
Ten of the number examined on Friday afternoon
were admitted and baptized the next morning.
It was truly a grand sight to witness this
decidedly impressive service.
Communion Sabbath was very warm, but nevertheless
a beautiful day. The Chapel was filled
and the audience made up of men and women
clothed with padded blue shaams and many of
of them with shoeless feet were just as earnest
in the attention they gave as any of the nicely
dressed audiences that I have seen at home. The
singing was good and the spirit of the service was
caught even by those of us who knew very little
of the language.
Rev, David R, Taggart and Rev, Julius Kempf
assisted the pastor in addressing the tables.
At the evening service, which was opened by
short addresses trom the different members of
session and closed by an appeal by the pastor for
greater service for the Master by each individual,
there was much enthusiasm shown. Mr, Robb
S'poke about the unreached portions of our field
and the responsibility that rested on each one
for bringing Christ to these people and finally
asked all those who were willing to make special
effort to bring another to Christ to raise their
hands. In an instant, a hundred or more hands
went into the air. I was fortunate in having
little Joe Robb with me at this meeting who
translated what was being said as quickly as he
could, so that I got more out of it than at any
previous service I attended.
The enthusaasm that was stirred at this service
passed on into an after meeting that was
held by the native members in which they talked
over plans for reaching their friends and neighbors
with such interest that it was nearly two
o'clock Monday morning before they adjourned.
Again on Thursday, at the men's prayer meeting,
the leader gave an enthusiastic talk on the
great possibilities of individual effort in developing
the work. It did seem that a new spirit
of service was coming into the lives of the native
Christians and that China also would share
in the revival that seems to be visiting the
church at home.
*The accompanying picture will make the
church at home more familiar with the faces of
the Tak Hing Session which, since its organization,
a little more than four years ago, has had
the blessed privilege of allowing 135 Chinese to
make a public profession of Christ through our
church.
The diagram will show the growth of our
church in China in a little more than ten years.
The increases tbis spr'ng are as follows: Tak
Hing 10, DU Sing 6., Lo Ting 4, Lo King 4, Tung
On 3, Chi Tsai 1. Totl 28.
•These will be used later.
THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol. 61.
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT IN THE COVEN­
ANTER CHURCH.
By the Rev. J. M. Coleman.
A program for action. It may be unwise to
suggest a plan of campaign when the forces are
rather potential than actual, when the Spirit
has not yet prepared the church as the body of
Christ for her work. But it is possible that a consideration
of a plan of campaign would give direction
in preparation for it. In proposing each
she is liable to put forward that interest which
lies nearest his heart to the neglect of other
things no less important. Therefore the firstdemand
of the program is that it must be comprehensive.
But before any program is workable,
it is necessary that there should be readiness.
The enthusiastic disciples were bidden- to wait
for the Spirit in larger measure. The rich young
man who knelt in the road before Jesus, to learn
what particular advance movement he was to
lead, could not meet the flrst demand made on
him. He claimed that he had kept all the commandments
and failed on his test under the first
one. The flrstabsolutely necessary thing for him
was to get rid of the thing that was choking the
channel of hSs connection with power. That was
to be his start on a forward movement.
A life must be surrendered to be used. How
many members have gotten that essential of a
forward movement How many pastors have it
How many congregations have even a majority
of members who have taken Jesus
Christ at his word and put their lives in
his hand to be cleansed and used Even
a single member who, ref uses to make this surrender
makes a schism in the body of Christ. A
foot, or a hand, which does not function properly,
cripples the body and the whole body suffers
with it. It is altogether likely that the Spirit will
supply the iprogram as soon as we are ready to
use it, nevertheless some 'people want it and
some lines of attack on sin may be suggested,
and these may suggest others.
1.. A prayer list for each member chosen by
himself in which he agrees to pray daily for
the salvation of the persons named.
If each member has singled out certain persons
he would bring to Christ by prayer, it will
give him a new interest in their salvation and he
will try to answer his own prayer; it will give
him a new interest in him who saves.
2. A pledge from each member in the congregation
that he will give at least one-tenth of his
income each year to the Lord's work.
If he begins to pray well he will pay well; indeed,
it seems easier to get men to pay well than
to pray well.
3. Attention to discipline in the congregation.
This is quite as necessary as a doctor occasionally
in the home if the congregation is to be in
good health., Doubtless if it is a praying congregation
there will be less need for discipline, but there
are times when a lawless member paralyzes the
witness of a whole congregation. All other
remedies failing, it is a case for surgery. A revival
which makes men tolerant of sin may not
be from the Lord.
4. The congregation should be a center of
propaganda for Jesus Christ and his kingdom. It
should be known in the community as a congregation
which has an interest in men, in the body
as well as in the soul.
Every opportunity should be used to bring its
principles, distinctive or otherwise,, before the
community. At present there is opportunity to
use the material furnished by our Temperance
Committee to reach children and teachers as well
as legislators. It is public opinion, and not certain
men, or parties, that rules.
The Lord will not deny opportunities to those
who are ready for service and getting ready is the
present need.
EDITORIAL.
Vi^AR IN EUROPE.
The assassination of the heir to the Austrian
throne, and his wife, by a Servian, has led to war
between the two nations, formally declared by
Austria on July 28, and followed immediately by
Moody battles. Germany, as Austria's ally, waa
on July 31, declared to be under martial law,
Russia, Great Britain and France, to protect their
interest, are said to be mobilizing their troops. On
July 31,. as a result of these conditions, the Xew
York Stock Exchange was closed indefinitely, for
the first time since 1873, and the Stock Exchanges
in other large cities also closed. Germany has
invaded France and Russia has invaded Germ-any.
The principals likely to be involved in
what may prove to be the most terrible war in
the world's history are, Germany, Austria, and
Italy, forming the Triple Alliance, and Russia,
France, and England, forming the Triple Entente,
OUR NEED OF FORGIVENESS,
The greatest blessing given us by the Savior
and the beginning of unending blessings is the
forgiveness of sins. Lacking this, all other blessings
are superficial and temporal, and will finally
fade away. Wp are all sinners, and the thing we
need most is that we may escape from the penalty
of our sin. If we are not forgiven, our light
fades into darkness and our hope into despair.
The prodigal needed forgiveness when he came
back to his father's house. It was his faith that
he would receive it that brought him hack. Wanting
that, he would be turned away; gaining that,
he would meet with a joyful welcome. The difference
between his reception by his father and
by his elder brother was that one forgave and
the other did not. To the elder brother the prodigal
spending his substance in riotous living
and the penitent at the door were one and the
same. He recognized no repentance and gave no
forgiveness, and without forgiveness the penitent
prodigal was a homeless wanderer.
Physical law has its penalty. If we walk into
the fire, we are burned; if we are submerged in
water, we are drowned; if we fall from a precipice,
we are dashed to death. What we need is
to have one like the Son of God walk with us
through the fire of our sins that the flameof
punishment shall not kindle upon us. When the
flood of our sins overflows us, we need the God
of Jonah with us that we be not drowned. When
we fall into sin,, we need some messenger like
Paul to revive us. If Christ be between us and
our sins, we shall be safe; the penalty will strike
him and he will be our shield. Under his protection
there is the safety we call forgiveness.
The world's great need is to feel this need of
forgiveness. Where this is felt, all things are
possible, nothing of good is possible. The prodigal,
feeling his bitter poverty and disgrace, was
taking the first essential step toward better
things. The world and our hearts, feeling no
great need of forgiveness, turn a deaf ear to the
•Savior. The first work of the Holy Spirit in our
effectual calling is the conviction of sin.
The Word of God read or preached may bring
this; the consequences of our sins may
bring it; pain and sickness may bring it;
serious reflections may bring it. God sometimes
moves in a mysterious way in bringing us
to feel our lost and undone condition, but it is his
flrst great work of mercy that he brings us to
feel our need of mercy.. This is the truest and
most needed revival, that we are profoundly,
even distressingly conscious of our need of i'"''
giveness.