STRIKING GOVERNMENT ORDER.
THE following very interesting piece of Christian news from China has appeared in the press, and copies of the note have been circulated by the National Bible Society of Scotland. May the forward step be the precursor of glorious days of the Spirit’s power in China!
Last Sabbath a Christian service was held in Pekin at the request of the Chinese Government to offer prayers for the success of China at the present critical juncture, and was attended by representatives of all Protestant denominations and by a representative of the President. To-day the following message adopted by the Cabinet was telegraphed by the Chinese Government to all provincial governors and other high officials within whose jurisdiction there are Christian communities and also to the leaders of the Christian Churches in China, both Catholic and Protestant:—”Prayer is requested for the National Assembly now in session, for the newly established Government, for the President yet to be elected, for the Constitution of the Republic, that the Government may be recognised by the Powers, that peace may reign within our country, that strong virtuous men may be elected to office, that the Government may be established upon a strong foundation. Upon receipt of this telegram you are requested to notify all the Christian Churches in your province that 27th April has been set aside as a day of prayer for the nation. Let all take part.”
This is the first time in the history of the world that such an appeal has come from a non-Christian nation, and it has given extraordinary satisfaction to the Christian communities in China, while the oldest foreign residents consider it a striking and extraordinary proof of the changes being accomplished in China with amazing swiftness since the revolution.—Press Association Foreign Special
PEKIN, 17th April, 1913.