CHRISTIAN FIDELITY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 13.

CHRISTIAN FIDELITY.

TRUE Christianity is the same in all hearts, regardless of race, color, or previous condition. It makes men earnest, humble, honest, industrious, courageous, solicitous for the welfare of others, self-sacrificing, "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." As an illustration we give the following incident from the Youth's Companion:—

A few years ago, in Peking, China, there was a young Chinaman who had been for a time a pupil in the school sustained by the Presbyterian mission. Not being so apt a pupil as the others, he had found his studies too much for him, and had finally left the school. But if his brain was dull his heart was not. The Gospel that he had heard had become a part of his life, and he was determined to follow its call. He begged the missionaries in charge of the school to give him some Christian work to do. They saw his earnestness, and fitted him out with a colporteur's pack, and from that time on he gave himself to the task of carrying Bibles out into the country places.

In the course of his journeyings he learned much of the Boxers, and knew that their menace was no trifling one. Going up and down he listened and learned all that he could, in order to be able to help his friends, the missionaries.

The hour came. It was June 13, the day of one of the early massacres. The young colporteur himself was in a place of safety, but others were not. He hurried into the city to give warning at the Methodist Compound—the one in greatest danger—and to Christians throughout the city. Of those whom he saved none ever saw him again. His warning given, he had gone out into the country once more. Thirty miles away were villages with other Christians; he must save them.

He did save them. So far as is known, all whom he warned escaped; but it was too late to save himself. The infuriated mob surrounded him.

"Are you a Christian?" they asked.

"I am," he replied, and straightway began to preach. They beat him upon the head and mouth to silence him, but still the eager words came. Finally they killed him with the most horrible torture. He died with his Master's name upon his lips.