How They Hear | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 10, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 35.

How They Hear.

THE Toronto Globe, of recent date, contains the report of an interview with Mr. Randle, a returned missionary from China. The missionary presents a picture of the way the Chinese listen to the gospel, which indicates that there is not much difference between human nature in China and in America. Let each reader ask himself how much of the following touches his own case:—

"You may see in the missionary periodicals the statement that the heathen listen very attentively to the proclaimed word. But my experience goes to show that our heathen audiences seem much more attentive than they really are. Though quiet and looking straight at the preacher, they are often engaged in wondering how old he is, how much his hat cost, what a strangely high nose he has, what funny eyes and hair. If a preacher wears foreign dress, they will wonder at the strange shape, at its close cut, whether the poor man is warm enough, and whether his short hair ever grows long. If he wears native dress, they will wonder whether he is a real foreigner or a native of Ningbo or Canton. They will in their very inquisitive hearts wonder why he wears the native dress, and numberless like things will pass through their minds while the preacher is trying to tell them who God is, and how and why we are responsible to him, or trying to explain the nature of sin and the provision made for its expiation and forgiveness."