The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 7, July, 1881 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 7, July, 1881Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 7, July, 1881
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
There are many reasons for going before the idols, but I have no
chance to tell so much as I like to. A few weeks since I was in San
Francisco. I found some of the people from the town near my home in
China, getting money to send and build a temple over there. Every
one who give to help build it can have their names hang up in the
temple, but if any one who give $20 to $50 they have a present, and
at the time of first worship or dedication a band of music to honor
them on their way home. Some of them asked me to give, but I said,
“No, I cannot, I rather put money in the missionary fund.” They
said, “Your parents will feel sorrow and disgrace if they not see
your name; but if you don’t want your name you can give and have
your parent’s name put there; no one of your Christian men know it;
you can be a Christian just the same.” I said, “I do not wish to
help my parents to sin; I don’t believe idol worship and I cannot
help about it. If I be a Christian I must try to live like one.”
There is a great difference in the religion taught by the Saviour
and that of the heathen. It is great change to me to try to be a
Christian, to know the true God who sees us all the time. I have
worked many things for the idols. I feel thankful I shall do so no
more. Before I come to the light my life was gloomy, miserable,
hopeless; always was fearing the evil spirit going to trouble me;
but I don’t fear them now.
Would I go back to idolatry? No; the Bible says, “Thou shall not
make unto thee any graven image, or likeness of anything that is
in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down thyself to them nor
serve them.” I cannot serve idols again; but I will try to serve
my heavenly Father, and bring all I can to bow down to Him. I wish
every one in China and America knew about the Bible. I thank all
Christian people that they led me to the true way. I hope you will
pray that I may always be faithful, and at last receive the crown
of life and dwell with God in the world to come.
* * * * *
WOMAN’S HOME MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
Room 20, Congregational House, Beacon St., Boston.
MISS NATHALIE LORD, _Secretary_.
MISS ABBY W. PEARSON, _Treasurer_.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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