The Church's Message

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13270, 21 February 1941, Page 2

The Church's Message

VERSE FOR TO-DA Y

If it be possible as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. —Romans 12:18. HUMILITY (Related by Sadhu Sangar Singh) A poor Indian of the sweeper caste became a Christian and a high caste man, who knew him was much struck by the great change in him. "You used to sweep my house; you had no education, and yet I cannot help honouring you. What has changed you?"

The sweeper tried to explain, the new life that had come to him, but still the high caste man did not understand. Especially he wondered at one thing: "You are so good and yet you are not proud!" "Why should I be proud?" asked the sweeper. When Christ rode an ass into Jerusalem people brought clothes and palm branches and laid them upon the road. Yet the feet of our Lord did not tread on them; only the ass walked over them. Who ever heard of such honour being done to the feet of an ass! It was only because the ass carried Christ. When he had done riding the ass the beast was of no account. So I am of no account. Only I am, as it were, bearing Christ and it is He you honour. If He left me, I should be nothing at all. GENERALISSIMO AND MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK The following most interesting account of a visit paid to China's great leader has been published by the "Christian Advocate": A certain Canadian, one time avia-. tor in the World War, was in attendance upon some official business in China's capital, and in the course of his visit had an opportunity to meet General said, "Must you go immediShek. As he prepared to go, the Genera Isaid, "Must you go immediately? We would be happy if you would stay and join us in our evening devotions." The General began by reading some Scripture. Then the three joined in prayer, the General leading. Says the Canadian, "I never expect to hear such a prayer again in all my life. The General began with a simple expression of thanks for their personal safety. Then he added thanks for the courage of the nation under fire. They he prayed for strength for the men in the field and along the firing line; he prayed for strength for himself, and added a most earnest plea for guidance and wisdom, that he should not fail the people. But the most amazing thing in his prayer was a plea that God would help him, aifd help China, not to hate the Japanese people. He prayed for the Japanese Christians, and all the /suffering multitudes of Japan, whose impoverishment was making the war on China possible." LORD HALIFAX AGAIN Writing to Dr. W. Paton, Secretary of the International Missionary Council, Lord Halifax says: "I have received your letter of July 29th, in which you say that some of those who regularly support the work of Foreign Missions are in doubt whether it is right in time of war to send money out of the country, and also whether war charities and Avar work ought not to 'take precedence over everything else. "As you know, action already taken by several Government Departments has shown the desire of the British Government that the services rendered by Christian Missions should continue. I am myself clear that the support of foreign missionary work in time of war is an essential part of the Church's witness. I should much regret if the responsibility which Christian people- rightly feel towards the special needs and charities that press upon us in war time should lead them to desert this permanent and universal Christian obligation."