BROTHERHOOD

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21977, 29 December 1936, Page 11

BROTHERHOOD

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TRESS Sir, —I only wish I could give "Another Pagan" the information he asks for—it is many years since that valued book went astray, stolen, or lost, as lent books are apt to be—my memory is too hazy to give with any accuracy the title, or how the author was designated—l would like to get it myself. "Another Pagan's" description of the Samoan guest house reminds me of the "swagger" days on the sheep runs. It is probably true that we and the Chinese have indulged in the past in a too free pot and kettle calling business, which the zealous efforts of the missionaries seemed to increase, rather than minimise. If these efforts could have been focused instead of being diffused through the ramification of all the sects, Christianity might have made a better showing in its impact against paganism, which in the past raised certain peoples to fairly high levels.—Yours, etc., PETER TROLOVE. December 28, 1936. TO THE EDITOB Or THE PRE3S Sir,—The reference by Mr Trolove and "Another Pagan" to a plea of a mandarin that the Chinese be left alone with their paganism is no doubt the outcome of their own wish to be left alone with theirs. There are others of all nations who, feeling their desperate position as sinners before a Holy God, were overjoyed to hear the glorious news of a free and full salvai tion through faith in Him Who left the throne of God to become a man for the express purpose of conquering death and thereby obtaining eternal redemption for every man. Those who do not want Him and His mark will not be forced to accept Him as Saviour now. But at a future date every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. After that confession, we read, they will go into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his

angels. Paganism is the outcome of changing the truth of God into a liethat truth which He has written in the constellations and which He gave to man upon stone with star names. which give the meaning. Many, like your correspondents, who do not hesitate continually to restate perverted truth would like to shut the mouths and silence the pens of those who under God's guidance seek to tell out the "truth" of good news—a free salvation to all who will come and receive Him as the One Who left Heaven to obtain salvation through death lor them, that they might escape the judgment to come. Many thousands of so-called pagans are now praising Gcd in China for the missionaries who brought the good news which has freed them from the fear of death, and changed their lives, many of which were previously sunken in vice and superstition.—Yours, etc.. WINGED DISK. December 28, 1936. TO TB> IDITOJI OT TH» PB*aJ Sir— Having read with interest th« two 'letters in your correspondence columns on the subject of "Brotherhood" I would like to bring before your readers the story of an incident which took place on one of the Pacific islands, to which your correspondent "Another Pagan" has already referred. An English nobleman, in a conversation with a Fijian chief, expressed suri prise that he should accept the teach--1 ing of the missionaries. "Intelligent people," said he, "don't believe in the 'Bible nor in the story of Jesus Christ. Raising his hand and pointing to a large stone nearby, the chief replied. "Do you see that stone over there? Well, it was on that stone that we used to lay the heads of our victims and club them to death. Do you see that native oven over yonder? Well. in that oven we roasted the human bodies for our great feasts. Now. if it had not been for the missionaries, and that old Book, and .the great love of Christ which have changed us, you would never leave this spot. You have reason to thank God for the Bible. for without it you would have been killed and roasted in yonder oven, and we would have been feasting on you now." Needless to say, the Englishman must have bee.n thankful just then, that although he professed not to believe in the Bible, the Fijian chief did. and sought to obey its teachings. I venture to say that if "Another Pagan" had visited Samoa before the advent of the missionaries with the Gospel message of a full and free salvation through faith in the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ, he would have been taken, not to the "strangers' house," but to the roasting oven. In closing, let me just say this. If either "Another Pagan" or Mr Trolove, or anyone for that matter, can tell -me of a book other than the Bible, which when read and believed on in the heart, can change a man so that the fiercest cannibal becomes as gentle and harmless as a child, and the poor drunken wretch of the very lowest type becomes a respectable man. I should be most grateful if they would do so.—Yours, sincerely, W.A. December 28. 1936.