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Show - 107 - business men of the town met at Christmas time to do honor to the church on the occasion of the birthday of the church's Master; presenting the little chapel, in Chinese ceremonial fashion, with great red banners adorned with gilt characters. The inhabitants thronged the street while the town police escorted the astonished missionary (perspiring and dirty from a bicycle ride over roads buried in mud and snow) to the gaily decorated chapel. There he was invited to lecture to the guests, while at the feast afterward the head o Tidal graciously took the part of the cordial host. It was a happy day for the little group of Christians. After all, scarlet banners and official smiles are plesant things on Christmas Day, - and after years of quiet work amid ostracism and slander! A similar manifestation of cordiality was exhibited by the non-Christians in Fragrant River, to celebrate the purchase and opening of new and more convenient premises in their midst. In spite of the snowy day, the shop-keepers and gentry ventured out to present the gorgeous inscription they had prepared, and later to partake of the little feast given in recognition of their courtesy, while the sturdy church-members, ( thinking back to the bitter persecutions and evil words of but a few years before,) smiled and bowed a welcome,-and were glad. Not long ago. Mr. Frame observed the priest of the temple at which one of the greatest of the fairs and theatres is held, sitting in the crowded courtyard of the little Christian chapel close by, while thousands were thronging about his own temple and the open-air theatre platform, and genially remarking "Isn't this fine! a few years age these people wouldn't have dared to come in to 'our' church" ! The unconscious humor of the dingy old priest's remark does not hide its striking truthfulness. People are daring, nowadays: daring to be friends, daring to form societies with us. daring to venture inside our church and chapel doors. They are proud and glad to be invited to our lectures, to our homes. Some of our long-prayed prayers are coming true. Ts it the prayers we have not dared to pray that are holding us back? |
