efore us, we shall talk of the Chinese question with more
seriousness.

We are like the two American boys. One says to the other: "My father is
a Christian; is your father a Christian?" The other boy replies, not
wishing to be outdone, "Oh, yes, my father is a Christian, but he is not
working much at it just now." That is about the way with this nation,
nominally a Christian nation; we are not working much at it in the way
we are treating the Indian, Chinese and colored man. We want the nation
to act out the principles it believes in.

Mr. Gladstone said he divided the English nation into classes and
masses. The masses, he added, have as little regard for the doctrines of
the Gospel, as the upper classes have for its precepts. Now we have not
only to give the precepts of the Gospel to the Chinaman, but we must
inculcate its principles in the heart beyond all danger of eradication.
If we do not do this, we shall act little better than the Chinese do
themselves. A man was once asked how much he weighed. He replied, "I
weigh 160, but when I am mad I weigh a ton." We need the madness born of
a great zeal, the enthusiasm kindled by the Gospel, then shall we be
able to lift up all classes and conditions of men.

When we get anointed for this work, and carry the Gospel with all the
earnestness of our faith, and all the patience born of the example of
Christ, then we shall realize our fondest hopes for the Christianization
of the Chinese and of other races in our country.

We have only a few thousands of Chinese in our country, and whenever one
of these becomes a Christian he is much like a Christian in apostolic
days. He is raised above his former life, loses largely the sympathy of
his own people, and is regarded as an apostate from his ancestral faith.
It costs, therefore, a great deal to become a Christian under such
circumstances, yet there are joyous, devoted Chinese Christians
preaching, with signal power, the Gospel to their brethren, and living
so as to be Christian luminaries among their idolatrous kindred.

I consider it no inferior part of this Association's work that it is
expending its efforts among the Chinese now resident on the coast. We
have, however, only made a beginning; much, very much, remains to be
done. We have to conquer political prejudices, and invite to our faith
with warmest welcomes those for whom Christianity has such priceless
boons. If we raise up amongst them missionaries to go back to the