WHAT CONVERTS MEET IN CHINA.
The following story, told by the veteran missionary, Rev. George Owen, of Peking, in the Chronicle, of the London Missionary Society, illustrates the character of many of the converts in China, and the arguments and methods by which their kindred and neighbors seek to keep these converts from the confession of their faith. The story is somewhat long, but it is very interesting:— “I was anticipating Sunday,” writes Mr. Owen, “with more than usual pleasure, as there were to be seven baptisms. But disappointment was in store, for only six of the candidates appeared. Chang Shun did not come. All wondered why, but none knew. He had been a candidate for two years, had a good knowledge of Christianity, had often openly confessed his faith in Christ, and publicly exhorted others to believe. What had happened? He had told us that his friends were strongly opposed to his becoming a Christian, and that he had not informed them of his approaching baptism. Had his friends over-persuaded him? Or had his courage failed him at last? We were not kept long in doubt. Monday afternoon he sent us a letter. It read as follows: ‘Just before my baptism, which was to take place on the 26th, I met an old friend, Jung Ho, who made inquiries regarding my intentions. I grew very excited, and spoke warmly of entering the church. He wondered at my enthusiasm, and urged five reasons against my becoming a Christian. “First, the emperor is not a Christian. You are a Mancho and live on his bounty, and it would be forgetting on which side your bread is buttered to become a Christian. Secondly, Christians are not allowed to burn paper money or offer sacrifice to their ancestors, and thus they not only destroy human relationships, but violate the customs of their forefathers. Thirdly, your venerable mother is strongly opposed to your becoming a Christian, and to oppose her would not only be unfilial but a breach of public morals. Fourthly, not one of your ancestors, and not one of your friends, but would hate such a step on your part. Not one of your family has ever been a Christian; your becoming one will be a disgrace to your ancestry, and even your wife will revile you. Fifthly, your baptism will no doubt please foreigners, but your own countrymen will hate you, your ancestors will hate you, and all your relations and friends will hate you. For these five reasons I urge you not to be baptized.”’” “‘As I listened I became utterly stupefied; but suddenly light broke in upon me, and I felt thoroughly ashamed of myself.’ “We read this letter with a good deal of doubt and wonder. The reasons given are so commonplace, and he himself when speaking in the street chapel had exposed their fallacy, what could be the real explanation? We had no clue to guide us, so could only pray and wait. A few days afterwards whispers reached us that the letter was a forgery, and that Chang Shun remained steadfast. In about ten days he himself appeared and told me his story. It was this: Two days before he was to have been baptized he told a friend, whom he supposed to be well affected towards Christianity, of his baptism. That friend told his elder brother. On Saturday this brother invited him to his house to consult him about some business. It was late when the business was over, so he was urged to stay the night. Next morning when he rose to dress he had no clothes. Every thing except his undergarments had disappeared. He made inquiries about them. They had been pawned to meet a pressing debt, and would soon be redeemed. Meanwhile would he not have some breakfast? He suspected a trick, but was not quite sure. Breakfast over, he begged for his clothes, saying he had a pressing engagement. Oh, yes, his clothes! they should be redeemed at once. But morning wore to afternoon, and afternoon to evening, still no clothes were forthcoming. Monday passed and he was still a prisoner. On Tuesday12his brother suddenly said, ‘You need not think any more of entering the church; I have written them a letter in your name which makes that forever impossible. Here is a copy with their reply; read them.’ The reading was distressing work. ‘I wondered what you would all think of me. But I said nothing. Feeling giddy and ill, I lay down on a mat in the court for about two hours in silence. I could not speak, I could only mourn and pray.’ Still they kept him prisoner, and it was some days before he was allowed to leave the house. “‘When he had finished his story he said, ‘Will you baptize me next Sunday?’ I said, ‘Yes, with joy.’ We then prayed together, and the following Sunday he was baptized.’”—Missionary Herald.