A "prominent evangelist" is quoted as saying that the church lacks spiritual life because in the frequent disorders the missionary ies fly for their lives. The inference is that if they would remain the Chinese church which is "so spiritually barren" would be athrob with life and faith. We are not told the name of this prominent evangelist but from the description we: would infer that he must be a relative of the prominent Western Christian leader who was idealized in the July Recorder as not wanting his con—sul's protection, and who has not replied to our offer to help him make a practical test before a waiting world."
This "prominent evangelist" was evidently speaking of some particular missionaries in West China. Had they remained during thg disorder they would either have been killed or not been killed. Would their murder have been a spiritual impulse to the Chinese Christians? Has the author of this theory any practical observation of the Chinese attitude towards actions that in western lands are deemed heroic? Is he unaware that in the minds of the great mass of Chinese, when ther. Christians or not, hero and fool are very nearly synonymous? Does he not know that Chinese of all classes, especially Christians urge the missionaries to seck safety? They say: Your prominence makes jit impossible for you to escape. We Chinese are easily lost in the mass of the population and need have ne fear unless it be, from some personal enemy pointing us out. Your going will greatly enhance our safety." The "prominent evangdist"" would probably roll his eyes heavenward and tell Chinese and Missionary al] to stay and die together, We wonder if even the two editors referred to would take his advice!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.