Appreciation Without Imitation

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 14, 1907

Appreciation Without Imitation

A MISSIONARY in China tells, in the Baptist Magazine, of a convert who, after having ferried a man across a river one dark night, found some bracelets worth four hundred dollars in his boat. The Christian boatman went with his native preacher to the mandarin, to seek for the owner:—

“Well,” said the mandarin, “I have never seen nor heard anything like this. Your religion must be a true religion, and your God a living God, thus to influence a poor man to give up wealth for conscience’ sake.” He praised the boatman, who went to his damp, mat hut on the banks of the river with a contented mind. The Christians had a special time of prayer and praise over the matter.

“A few days after, it was found that a wealthy Chinese had been robbed, and the man who crossed the river and dropped the bracelets was the thief. The owner received the bracelets very thankfully, and gave the mandarin twenty-four dollars reward for the finder. The official kept some, and sent the rest by his lieutenant to our convert. The lieutenant kept some, and sent the small remainder by a soldier, who kept the remnant himself, so our poor brother got no reward after all. Yet he did not lose the reward of a clean conscience, a peaceful heart, and the joy of having honored the Lord.”