H 
 
 L \ ■**\_ 
 
 
 East 
 
 EXPERIENCES AND IMPRESSIONS 
 DURING A TOUR IN ASIA IN 
 1912-1913, BEING EXTRACTS FROM 
 PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN R. MOTT 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/experiencesOOmott 
 
EXPERIENCES AND IMPRESSIONS 
 DURING A TOUR IN ASIA IN 
 1912-1913, BEING EXTRACTS FROM 
 PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN R. MOTT 
 
 PRIVA TEL Y PRINTED 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Itinerary 
 
 September 26 — October 1, 1912 
 
 Meeting of the Continuation Committee at Lake Mohonk, 
 New York 
 
 October 5 
 
 Sailed from New York on the “Lapland” of the Red Star Line 
 
 October 14-16 
 
 London, in consultation with leaders of the Missionary So- 
 cieties and of the World’s Student Christian Federation 
 
 October 17 
 
 Paris, conferring with leaders of the French Students’ Chris- 
 tian Federation 
 
 October 19 
 
 Sailed from Marseilles on the “Kamo Maru” of the Nippon 
 Yusen Kaisha 
 
 October 24 
 Called at Port Said 
 
 November 6-13 
 
 Colombo, Ceylon, conducting Continuation Committee Con- 
 ference, and participating in Conference of Christian Associations 
 and in meetings of men 
 
 November 15 — January 16, 1913 
 
 In India, conducting Continuation Committee Conferences at 
 Madras, Bombay, Jubbulpore, Allahabad, Lahore, Calcutta, and 
 Rangoon ; co-operating in Student Evangelistic Missions at all 
 five university centres ; and, during the Holidays, participating 
 in the All-India Student Conference 
 
 January 21-23 
 
 Conducting Continuation Committee Conference at Singapore 
 
 3 
 
January 29 
 Arrived at Hongkong 
 
 January 30 — March 24 
 
 In China, conducting Continuation Committee Conferences at 
 Canton, Foochow, Shanghai, Tsinanfu, Peking, Hankow, and 
 Mukden ; cooperating in Student Evangelistic Missions at all 
 principal student centres ; conferring with leaders of national 
 Christian movements and of inter-mission agencies 
 
 March 25-29 
 
 In Korea, conducting Continuation Committee Conferences and 
 participating in meetings of men 
 
 March 31-April 19 
 
 In Japan, conducting Continuation Committee Conferences, 
 co-operating in student meetings ; and conferring with leaders of 
 national Christian movements and organizations 
 
 April 28 
 At Honolulu 
 
 May 5 
 
 Arrived at San Francisco 
 May 15-18 
 
 International Convention, Cincinnati 
 May 26-30 
 
 General Committee Meeting of the World’s Student Christian 
 Federation at Princeton, New Jersey 
 
 June 2-8 
 
 Conference of the World’s Student Christian Federation at 
 Lake Mohonk, New York 
 
 4 
 
Continuation Committee Conferences in India 
 
 Puri, India, January 4, 1913. 
 
 “You will remember that the principal object of my tour in 
 Asia was to try to bring about a closer relation between the Con- 
 tinuation Committee, which in a sense represents the foreign 
 missionary forces of Europe and North America, and the leaders 
 of the Christian forces in the non-Christian nations. Now that 
 my work in Ceylon and India is nearly finished, I write to report 
 to you some of the developments. As the time at my disposal 
 for this journey was so short, I adopted the plan of a chain of 
 conferences with principal missionaries and Indian leaders, at 
 which opportunity would be afforded to study the whole situation 
 and to consider the problems of common and most vital concern. 
 Accordingly, the field was divided into convenient areas, and I 
 conducted a conference in each, namely, at Colombo in Celyon, 
 and at Madras, Bombay, Jubbulpore, Allahabad, Lahore, and 
 Calcutta in India. One is to be held in Rangoon later. 
 
 “Each conference has been of three days’ duration. The 
 aim has been to limit the attendance to fifty or sixty persons — 
 a number sufficiently large to ensure a satisfactory representation 
 of all important interests concerned, and small enough to 
 facilitate the most free discussion. The personnel of these 
 gatherings has been truly notable. With very few exceptions, 
 every mission in each area has been represented. This means 
 that all of the home countries which are related to the missionary 
 movement in India, such as Great Britain, Ireland, the United 
 States, Canada, Germany, and Scandinavia, have had a part in 
 these gatherings. There have been delegates present from all of 
 the Protestant 'Christian Communions represented in India. The 
 Syrian Church sent delegates, including the venerable Metro- 
 politan, Mar Dionysius. For the first time in history this ancient 
 Church was officially represented in a gathering with the other 
 Christian forces in India. 
 
 “At the suggestion of the Governor of Madras, I had a long 
 interview at Government House with the Roman Catholic Arch- 
 
 5 
 
bishop in Madras, in the course of which he showed deep interest 
 in the cause of Christian unity. He emphasized the point that 
 although the difficulties in the way of reunion are very great, it 
 is our duty to seek to attain this end. In answer to my question 
 as to what are the most helpful means for promoting true unity 
 among Christians, he said, ‘First, prayer; secondly, the exercise of 
 gentleness and courtesy; thirdly, we must see more of each other.’ 
 
 “Most striking of all was the unusually full and able repre- 
 sentation of Indian Christian leaders. Those who know the facts, 
 said that we had present at each conference the fifty persons most 
 important for the purpose of considering questions involving 
 united action, and the fifty delegates at each area who could do 
 more to influence missionary thought and practice in their respec- 
 tive fields than possibly any other company could have done. 
 
 “The conferences were devoted not to addresses but primarily 
 to discussions, based on a syllabus of questions which I had pre- 
 pared in consultation with the leaders of the missionary forces in 
 the West and on the field. These questions were calculated to 
 focus debate upon the most important and pressing problems of 
 missions. Brief papers had been written upon each main topic, 
 and in most cases these were printed and circulated among the 
 delegates before the conference assembled. Each topic was 
 opened by the writer of a paper and then followed open discus- 
 sion, each speaker being limited as a rule to five minutes, though, 
 as a matter of fact, the speeches averaged in length more nearly 
 three minutes. Committees on findings or recommendations 
 were appointed with reference to each principal topic, and toward 
 the close of the conference the reports of the committees were 
 discussed and adopted. I had not contemplated having findings, 
 but those in charge of each conference expressed their unanimous 
 and strong desire that there be findings, and that these should be 
 sent to all missionaries, Indian workers, and home Societies or 
 Boards concerned. The debates throughout the whole field 
 reached a high level. The contribution made by the Indian dele- 
 gates was sometimes even more valuable than that by the mis- 
 sionaries. The greatest freedom, frankness, and courage char- 
 acterized the discussions. The only complaint was that there 
 was not sufficient time for a thorough consideration of some of 
 the topics. A deep spirit of true unity dominated all the pro- 
 
 6 
 
ceedings, reminding one again of the memorable days of the 
 Edinburgh Conference. 
 
 “At the end of the series of Provincial Conferences in India 
 a National Conference was conducted in Calcutta. This was 
 attended by five leaders appointed by each of the Provincial Con- 
 ferences, with several co-opted members, making like the others a 
 gathering of some fifty or sixty members. The object of this 
 Conference was to review nationally the points agreed upon by 
 the Provincial Conferences, and also to discuss certain questions 
 which could only be considered in a national meeting. Its per- 
 sonnel included recognized leaders of all of the principal Societies 
 at work in the Indian Empire. The sessions were' held in the 
 rooms of the Asiatic Society, and the delegates lodged together 
 during the days of the Conference, thus promoting the closest 
 fellowship. During part of the time the delegates worked in ten 
 committees, while the rest of the time was spent as a committee 
 of the whole in considering the reports of these committees. The 
 findings of the Provincial Conferences, of the last Madras 
 Decennial Conference and of the Edinburgh Conference, were 
 reviewed by the committees and constituted the basis for their 
 own work. Never have I spent more intense days than during 
 this Conference. All the delegates took their work seriously ; 
 for example, the Bishop of Lahore, the new Metropolitan of 
 India, shifted important engagements and travelled two days to 
 come to the Conference. 
 
 “A very representative Indian leader stated that one of the 
 Provincial Conferences had advanced by a full generation the 
 cause of missions in the field concerned. The Bishop of Madras, 
 in writing about this series of conferences, stated that they ‘have 
 been unique in the forethought with which they have been planned 
 and organized, in the thoroughness of their work, in the com- 
 pleteness of the arrangements made for eliciting and focussing 
 the best thought and experience of the Indian field, and in the 
 wise provision of an adequate machinery for making the findings 
 effective in the future.’ The Governor of Bengal, who received 
 the delegates at Government House, characterized the National 
 Conference as in some respects the most important gathering 
 ever held in India. 
 
 “Without doubt the National Conference and the provincial 
 
 7 
 
gatherings which preceded it gave a great impulse to the cause 
 of co-operation and unity. Many old plans for co-operation were 
 revived and strengthened, and new ones were launched, includ- 
 ing several measures of far-reaching importance. It was agreed 
 to make a united scientific survey of the vast Indian Empire with 
 reference to its ultimate actual occupation. A Board of Survey 
 has been appointed, and steps taken to secure a qualified secretary 
 or director. Much was done in the direction of improving the 
 rules and practices relating to comity between missions. The 
 Arbitration Board created by the Madras Decennial Conference 
 was endorsed, and its hands have been greatly strengthened. 
 Educational unions are to be established or improved in different 
 areas, thus ensuring a better co-ordination and development of 
 the educational missionary work. United women’s Christian col- 
 leges have been recommended for southern and western India, 
 where vast presidencies each containing from twenty to forty 
 million people, are yet without provision for higher education 
 for women. Union institutions for training Christian teachers 
 have also been proposed, and in some cases projected. Pro- 
 posals for union medical work have been made in different 
 quarters. In nearly every area the conferences voted in favour 
 of union language schools for the better preparation of new mis- 
 sionaries. United evangelistic campaigns have been recommended. 
 
 “Most important of all, potentially, was the decision to estab- 
 lish in each area Provincial Representative Councils to ensure 
 united planning and action ; and the initial steps were taken lead- 
 ing to a National Missionary Council, which will link together 
 for the first time in any true sense all the Christian forces of 
 India. This National Council will be composed of two persons 
 appointed by each Provincial Council, and a few additional co- 
 opted members. Pending the completion of this organization an 
 Interim Committee has been appointed to perfect the Provincial 
 and National Councils, and to give effect to other recommenda- 
 tions of the recent Conference. The new Metropolitan of India 
 is the Convener of the Committee. I found India ripe for this 
 union of forces. It is this promise of a permanent, united, pro- 
 ductive force which lends special significance to the activities of 
 these recent weeks. When the reports of the Committee on Co- 
 operation presented by the new Metropolitan was adopted by a 
 
 8 
 
unanimous standing vote, and we united in prayer, it brought 
 vividly to the memory of many that moving moment when the 
 Edinburgh Conference delegates united in the one creative act of 
 forming the Continuation Committee. All felt, to use the ex- 
 pression of a foremost leader, that missions had indeed entered 
 upon a new era. Thus, any distinctive service I may have been 
 permitted to render on this my third visit to India has been that 
 of furthering the cause of unity — the drawing together of all the 
 Christian forces, the uniting more fully the Indian and foreign 
 Christian leaders in planning and working, and the linking of the 
 forces at the front more closely with those at the home base.” 
 
 9 
 
Syrian Church Unity Conference 
 
 Calcutta, India, January 9, 1913. 
 
 “Let me tell you briefly about another important experience 
 not referred to in my last letter. As you know, the Syrian 
 Church of Travancore is the oldest and one of the largest Chris- 
 tian Communions in India. It has for a long period been seriously 
 rent into divisions which have stood aloof from each other. Some 
 of the younger and more progressive members of different parties 
 asked me whether before leaving India I would not, as Chairman 
 of the Continuation Committee, consent to meet deputations of 
 leaders of the various Christian bodies in Travancore to promote 
 a better understanding and co-operation. I told them I would 
 gladly do so but that owing to my crowded programme it would 
 be necessary for them to come to North India, a three days’ 
 journey. The result was the Syrian Church Unity Conference, 
 held at Serampore, near Calcutta, January 1-2. The number of 
 delegates from each body was restricted to six. The Jacobites 
 were represented by their Metropolitan, Mar Dionysius, and five 
 of his leading members. The Mar Thoma body was represented 
 by their Metropolitan and his strongest workers. The Bishop in 
 Travancore and Cochin and a group of young men represented 
 the Anglicans. The Metropolitan of the body which recently split 
 off from the Jacobites had started to the Conference, but owing 
 to the illness of his associate was unable to proceed, but his com- 
 munity was represented by two students, and he sent a message 
 pledging himself to help carry out the conclusions of the 
 Conference. 
 
 “After the Conference convened I was asked to serve as 
 Chairman, and Mr. Eddy as Vice-Chairman. The discussions 
 during the two days were characterized by such wonderful frank- 
 ness, unity, and constructive work as to be inexplicable to those 
 familiar with the sad state of friction hitherto existing between 
 the bodies concerned, on any other ground save that of the over- 
 mastering power of God in answer to prayer. Among the mat- 
 
 10 
 
ters on which unanimous agreement was reached were these: To 
 unite in Christian student camps; to unite in local conferences 
 for the deepening of spiritual life, the development of missionary 
 spirit, and the promotion of true fellowship ; to unite in apologetic 
 lectures to the educated non-Christians and in missions to the 
 depressed classes ; to co-operate with the National Missionary 
 Society of India — a highly significant action because during long 
 centuries the Syrian Church has not been missionary ; to unite in 
 establishing a modern, model high-school which might evolve into 
 a college ; to combine in the training of workers ; to observe the 
 principle that no person shall be received into another Church 
 without the approval of the Church to which he originally be- 
 longed, and that in cases of dispute the matter shall be referred 
 to arbitration on a plan adopted at the Conference ; to forgive and 
 forget the past and to regard each other as brothers in the future ; 
 to constitute a continuation committee for giving effect to the 
 decisions of the Conference and for fostering these remarkable 
 beginnings of unity.” 
 
 ll 
 
Student Evangelistic Meetings in Ceylon, 
 India, and Burma 
 
 On the “Ellora,” 
 
 Approaching Rangoon, January 13, 1913. 
 
 “You will recall that one of the important objects of my 
 present tour was to further the Christian propaganda among the 
 students of Asia. Foremost missionaries and native leaders had 
 pressed me earnestly to combine with my work for the Continua- 
 tion Committee special evangelistic meetings for students. Mr. 
 Sherwood Eddy kindly consented to co-operate with me in this 
 special undertaking. We alternated in the evangelistic addresses. 
 As a rule I took charge of the after-meetings, and we joined forces 
 in the meetings of Christian workers both before and following 
 the campaigns, while he assumed responsibility for the daily 
 meetings with the Christian students and also for most of the 
 personal interviews. Fortunately the Conferences of the Con- 
 tinuation Committee were held in the principal student centres, 
 thus enabling me to devote the days to conducting the Conferences 
 and the evenings to work among students. 
 
 “Never have I known more thorough preparation for student 
 evangelistic meetings throughout an entire country than was made 
 in the recent months in India and Celyon. The local committee 
 had done their part magnificently. Prayer had been enlisted in 
 almost every country of the world. It was necessary to utilize 
 the largest available halls in the different cities, such as the Parsi 
 Theatre in Madras, the Royal Opera House in Bombay, the 
 Bradlaugh Hall in Lahore, and the Curzon Theatre in Calcutta. 
 The attendance was confined to students and to a very limited 
 number of graduates and other prominent members of the edu- 
 cated classes. Colleges in neighboring cities were permitted to 
 send deputations. Only those who had been provided with 
 tickets were admitted. This ensured audiences composed entirely 
 of the class at which we were aiming. The campaigns lasted 
 usually five nights, and we had the remarkable average attend- 
 
 12 
 
ance throughout India and Ceylon of over one thousand each 
 night, a record unsurpassed in any other country. This is the 
 more striking in view of the fact that in all but two of the cities 
 the meetings came just before examinations, and in India examina- 
 tions mean everything. 
 
 “Even more impressive than the attendance was the remark- 
 able attention shown everywhere. When it is remembered that the 
 audiences were composed almost entirely of Hindus, Mohamme- 
 dans, Buddhists, Parsis, and the followers of other non-Christian 
 religions, the proportion of Christians possibly never being as 
 great as one in twenty, that we laboured under the serious handi- 
 cap of being regarded as the emissaries of a foreign religion, and 
 that we proclaimed the Christian message in the most direct and 
 uncompromising manner, it would be impossible to explain the 
 wonderful attention and responsiveness of the audiences on any 
 other ground save that the living God Himself was striving with 
 the hearts and consciences of men. It is a common experience in 
 India for students to get up and go out in the middle of an 
 address, and the fact that there was so little of this was com- 
 mented upon again and again. Notwithstanding the profound 
 interest and absorbing attention shown in every place it was not 
 without significance that there was active and even organized 
 opposition in different centres. This had its encouraging aspect 
 because experience shows that where there is opposition the 
 minds of the students are awake to the real issues. Whenever an 
 after-meeting was called, invariably large numbers remained al- 
 though the invitation to stay was so expressed that to do so im- 
 plied serious interest or concern. 
 
 “After much reflection and discussion with those most 
 familiar with Indian conditions, we decided to ask all students 
 who might wish to become enquirers to indicate the fact by the 
 three-fold promise: (1) to make a thorough study of the Gospels; 
 (2) to pray daily for guidance and courage that they might dis- 
 cern and follow the truth; (3) to obey the truth as fast as reason 
 and conscience told them that they had found the truth. By the 
 time Mr. Eddy and I finished our work in India, 1578 men, nearly 
 all non-Christians, had in the most open manner put themselves 
 on record as making this decision. The great problem in this 
 land is to carry enquirers on to the stage of baptism. This is a 
 
 13 
 
far more difficult process here than in any other country, save 
 in certain parts of the Mohammedan world. I met missionaries 
 who after twenty-five years’ labour had not seen an educated 
 Indian baptized. It was most encouraging, therefore, to learn 
 before we sailed from India that already six of the enquirers in 
 India and Ceylon had been baptized, that at least twenty others 
 had definitely decided to take this step, and that many more were 
 being definitely instructed with the hope that they would soon 
 press on to baptism. 
 
 “Many regard as equally encouraging the quickening of the 
 Christian students and the placing upon them of the burden of 
 responsibility for their non-Christian comrades. Discerning men 
 like Professor Hogg consider this fundamental to any truly great 
 expansion of Christ’s Kingdom among the educated classes. These 
 meetings did much to create an atmosphere of confidence and 
 belief in the sufficiency and conquering power of the Christian 
 faith. Too many workers had become discouraged or had drifted 
 into the attitude of not expecting conversions ; for example, the 
 principal of one of the leading Christian colleges stated in my 
 hearing that he did not expect conversions in his college in this 
 generation and he was glad to add that his home committee had 
 become so intelligent regarding the difficulties that they likewise 
 did not expect to see conversions in this generation. I pointed 
 out that this is not the attitude and spirit which ensure conver- 
 sions in the next generation. 
 
 “As thoughtful and earnest attention was given to the prob- 
 lem of conservation as to that of presentation of the claims of 
 Christ. In each place meetings were held with enquirers em- 
 phasizing the further steps which they were to take. While on 
 the way to India we prepared two pamphlets for this class. Ex- 
 tended meetings were held with the missionaries, Indian teachers 
 and pastors, and Christian students, at which the best methods of 
 conserving results were indicated. Letters were sent later to all 
 enquirers, seeking to confirm them in their resolution. 
 
 “We have come to realize more vividly than ever what is at 
 stake, and will appreciate all that you may do to enlist intercession 
 on behalf of these young men who are groping their way toward 
 the light, and on behalf of the workers, that these may be given 
 Divine wisdom and perseverance. If large and enduring results 
 
 14 
 
do not issue from the effort, prayer, and sacrifice which have 
 been devoted to these campaigns, it will be much more difficult 
 to unite the forces for similar meetings in years to come. I came 
 away from India with the overwhelming conviction that in spite 
 of all the obstacles the time has come to reap, and that the great 
 thing now needed is that workers, both missionaries and Indian 
 leaders, should live more under the sense of immediacy-bearing 
 in mind that it is characteristic of the living God to work here 
 and now. 
 
 “One of the most notable events in the student world in late 
 years was the All-Indian Student Conference held at Serampore 
 during the recent Christmas holidays. This gathering was attended 
 by students and teachers from some seventy of the leading col- 
 leges of India, Burma, and Ceylon, and constituted the largest 
 and most representative Christian Student Conference ever held 
 in this part of the world. We met in the place made sacred by 
 the toil and prayers of Carey and Martyn. The Conference was 
 devoted to the reorganization, or, one might say, to the Indian- 
 izing of the Christian Student Association Movement of India 
 and Ceylon. Its chief distinction was the constructive work done 
 in drawing up and adopting a practically new constitution for 
 the Movement. For the first time the Indian Christian students 
 themselves have been given the dominant voice in determining and 
 directing the policy of the Movement. It thus becomes truly in- 
 digenous. Moreover, the Christian students of all sections of the 
 vast Indian Empire have been united, thus ensuring the solidarity 
 of the Movement. A powerful evangelistic and missionary im- 
 pulse has been communicated to the bands and societies of Chris- 
 tian students so that we may confidently expect to see them be- 
 come an aggressive force in the evangelization of India. One 
 striking incident exerted a profound influence on the entire Con- 
 ference — the baptism of two Hindu students who became en- 
 quirers during the student meetings in Calcutta. This solemn 
 and inspiring act took place one evening in the Hooghly River at 
 the very spot where Carey baptized his first convert a century 
 ago. They were baptized by Bishop Azariah, formerly one of the 
 Secretaries of the Indian Student Movement and one of the 
 officers of the World’s Student Federation, who only two days 
 
 15 
 
^efore in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Calcutta, had been consecrated 
 Bishop of Dornakal, the first Indian to be made bishop. 
 
 “One word regarding another exceptional opportunity which 
 came to me. I was invited to visit the Mohammedan College 
 at Aligarh, the most influential modern college in the Moslem 
 world. Among its students I found men from widely separ- 
 ated Mohammedan fields. While there I was permitted to give 
 an address to the students, and nowhere in India did I have a 
 more enthusiastic reception. The door has been opened and steps 
 taken to ensure visits by other representatives of our Move- 
 ment.” 
 
 “P.S. Since writing the above I have visited Rangoon and 
 conducted a Conference there in the name of the Continua- 
 tion Committee, attended by the leaders of the Christian forces 
 from all parts of Burma. Each night while there I addressed 
 audiences of over 1,500 non-Christian students, chiefly Bud- 
 dhists. There were impressive evidences of God’s presence and 
 power. Over 300 students and members of the educated classes 
 decided to become Christian enquirers. A visit was also paid to 
 the two theological seminaries of Insein where I met with nearly 
 two hundred young men representing the various races and tribes 
 of Burma preparing themselves for the evangelization of their 
 own people — one of the most hopeful signs of the coming Kingdom 
 which I have witnessed.” 
 
 16 
 
Meetings With Students and Leaders in China 
 
 Hankow, China, March 10, 1913. 
 
 “I shall delay writing about the Continuation Committee Con- 
 ferences, which have chiefly occupied my attention in China, until 
 the National Conference in Shanghai is over, but will today write 
 you of the wonderful work which has been accomplished within 
 the past few weeks among the Chinese students. As so many 
 student centres were open and appealing for help, Mr. Eddy and 
 I, instead of uniting our forces as we did in India, decided to 
 divide and thus reach twice as many students. Thus far I have 
 had evangelistic meetings in Canton, Shanghai, Nanking, Tsinanfu 
 and Peking. The attendance has ranged from one thousand to 
 three thousand, and has been composed almost entirely of govern- 
 ment students. The average attendance has been over two thou- 
 sand. It was necessary to utilize the largest halls in the dif- 
 ferent cities; for example, in Canton we had the new theatre, 
 the largest building of its kind in China; in Tsinanfu the great 
 hall of the Provincial Assembly was kindly granted to us by the 
 Government; in Nanking and Peking it was necessary to erect 
 great pavilions. 
 
 “The experiences in all of these meetings were most in- 
 spiring. There was the same eager, intense, responsive attention 
 which characterized my meetings among the Russian students a 
 few years ago. It all stands out in striking contrast with my 
 first and second visits to China, sixteen and eleven years ago, 
 when it was impossible to obtain access to the literati or govern- 
 ment students, and even with that of my third visit six years ago, 
 when the tide was just beginning to rise. My meetings this year 
 have usually lasted three hours, and in each, three addresses have 
 been given through an interpreter. They were attended with the 
 largest fruitage in definite decisions which I have had in all my 
 experience among students. There have been in three cities alone 
 over 2,400 enquirers. 
 
 “The greatest results were obtained in Pdking where there 
 had been most thorough preparation and where the Govern- 
 
 17 
 
ment had invited the students in government schools to attend 
 the meetings. In this city there were over 900 students (609 
 in one meeting) who, after as thorough sifting processes as I 
 have ever employed, and after clear and reiterated explanations, 
 signed their names to signify that they had formed the three 
 following resolutions: (1) to make a thorough study of the 
 Gospels, not only in private but also in attendance upon a weekly 
 Bible class until the end of the college year; (2) to pray daily 
 to God for wisdom and courage to find and follow the truth; 
 and (3) as soon as reason and conscience permit, to accept Jesus 
 Christ as personal Saviour and Lord. In addition to this test 
 some 200 or more of this number, those who had been longer ex- 
 posed to Christian truth, accepted Christ as their Divine Lord and 
 Saviour. 
 
 “The unprecedented response in every centre has placed a 
 great burden of responsibility on the missionaries and Chinese 
 workers. In no country have we made more extensive and thor- 
 ough arrangements to conserve results. In each place from one 
 to five persons have been set apart to devote all their time to 
 guiding the forces in the work of conservation, and a staff in- 
 cluding scores of the most experienced lay and clerical workers 
 have undertaken to give special attention to teaching Bible classes 
 and to doing individual work with the enquirers. Reports are 
 reaching me of the baptism and admission into the Church of 
 some of the enquirers. These impressive manifestations of the 
 power of the Spirit were due more largely than we realize to 
 the intercession of earnest Christians all over the world; for 
 example, I cannot explain the marvelous response in Tsinanfu 
 on the last Sunday of February, when over 500 Government 
 students decided to become Christian enquirers, on any ground 
 other than that that day was the Universal Day of Prayer for 
 Students, when Christian students and professors throughout 
 the world were associating their prayers on behalf of the students 
 of all lands. Never have I found such a dead-ripe field as that 
 presented by the students of China to-day. It is not unlike that 
 of the government schools of Japan in the late eighties. God 
 grant that more fully than in those days we may recognize the 
 day of our visitation and press our unprecedented advantage! 
 It would be difficult to set a limit to what might be accomplished 
 
 18 
 
among the students of China were there a sufficient number of 
 reapers. ' 
 
 “Wherever I have gone in China I have sought to get in touch 
 with the Chinese students who have studied in American and 
 European universities. I have met them singly, in groups, and 
 in three of the cities I was given the opportunity of meeting 
 large companies of them at special dinners. A disproportion- 
 ately large number of them are holding positions of prominence 
 in the Government of the new China. It has been a source of 
 great satisfaction to find so many who have been influenced by 
 our Christian Student Movement in the West throwing the weight 
 of their influence on the side of righteousness and unselfishness 
 in public life. The facts I mention here confirm the judgment 
 which I have expressed more than once that there is no more highly 
 multiplying work being accomplished in our Western universities 
 than that of surrounding with Christian influences these students 
 from the Orient. On every occasion during these recent weeks 
 they have heartily supported me. For example, one of them who 
 is now Commissioner of Education in his province presided at 
 the opening meeting in Canton. Another who is Chief Justice 
 presided the following night. Still another who is now Governor 
 of his province opened the Government building for the meet- 
 ings, gave a reception in his yamen to the members of our Con- 
 tinuation Committee Conference, and on the following day came 
 with his Commissioner of Education and spent an hour discus- 
 sing with me matters of vital concern in the moral and religious 
 education of the young men of the province. 
 
 “In this connection let me refer to another remarkable ex- 
 perience — that of my visit to the President of the Republic, 
 Yuan Shih Kai, who received’ me very cordially. We spent 
 nearly an hour together discussing the work of educational mis- 
 sions and the problem of moral education. He spoke in the most 
 appreciative terms of the practical result of Christian missions 
 and of their invaluable influence in preparing the way for the 
 new China. It was both encouraging and solemnizing to see 
 what great reliance he is placing in the Christian Association 
 Movement, especially the part dealing with students, for the 
 strengthening of character to resist the tremendous temptations 
 which beset young men entering public life at this time, and for 
 
 19 
 
developing a truly unselfish patriotism. He was particularly im- 
 pressed by the message which I bore from the President of the 
 United States to the students of China, which among other things 
 emphasized that, ‘It would be difficult to overstate the importance 
 of the work which awaits these students in China who in these 
 days prepare themselves thoroughly for leadership in the con- 
 structive work of the world. It is vital that in their prepara- 
 tion they give careful attention to all that ensures the develop- 
 ment of strong character.’ ” 
 
 20 
 
Continuation Committee Conferences in China 
 
 Tokyo, Japan, April 4, 1913. 
 
 “I know you will wish to have as soon as possible at least a 
 brief and unofficial letter regarding the Conferences recently 
 conducted in China in the name of the Continuation Commit- 
 tee. The country was divided into six areas and sectional con- 
 ferences were held in Canton, Shanghai, Tsinanfu, Peking, 
 Hankow, and Moukden respectively. Of the twenty-two provinces 
 of China all but the distant provinces, Kansu and Kweichow, 
 were represented at one or more gatherings, even Szechuan, 
 the westernmost province, having delegates at three. The aim 
 was to hold down the attendance to fifty delegates, but it was 
 found necessary to admit seventy-five in order to ensure the 
 representation of all important interests. Approximately one- 
 third of the delegates were Chinese. Of the seventy or more 
 Missionary Societies at work in China nearly all sent delegates. 
 This included the various Lutheran bodies of Germany, of the 
 four Scandinavian countries, and of America; the different sec- 
 tions of the Anglican Communion, which had among its delegates 
 seven of the eight bishops who were in China at the time; and 
 the many other regular Societies of Europe and America. In 
 all the conferences the discussions were interpreted into Chinese. 
 Each conference decided for itself whether or not to have 
 findings. As a matter of fact all determined to have them. No 
 conference knew the findings of the preceding conferences. This 
 made the striking unanimity of their conclusions and recom- 
 mendations on certain subjects all the more significant and valu- 
 able, and made the differences on other points equally suggestive 
 and useful. 
 
 “The tour in China culminated in the National Conference. 
 This was held at Shanghai in the famous Martyrs’ Memorial 
 Hall, first used for the sessions of the Centenary Missionary 
 Conference of 1907. The delegates numbered one hundred and 
 twenty, or double the number who attended the National Con- 
 ference in India, and even then it was difficult to include all the 
 
 21 
 
leaders whose presence was deemed essential. As in the case of 
 India the personnel was truly notable and will command confi- 
 dence in the decisions reached. Among the delegates were many 
 of the missionaries of China who took a prominent part in the 
 Centenary and Edinburgh Conferences. I was told that the forty 
 Chinese delegates constituted by far the most able company of 
 Chinese Christian leaders ever assembled. The Conference was 
 fortunate in having present Dr. Haigh of the Wesleyan Mission- 
 ary Society, Mr. Bardsley and Mr. Baylis of the Church Mis- 
 sionary Society, and Dr. Franklin of the American Baptist Mis- 
 sionary Society, the first two being members of the Continuation 
 Committee. The Conference was divided into ten committees. 
 An entire day at the beginning and many subsequent hours were 
 devoted to thorough committee work, each committee taking as 
 the basis for its deliberation the printed findings of the five sec- 
 tional conferences of China, and also consulting carefully the 
 reports of the Committees of the Centenary Conference of 1907, 
 the reports of the Commissions of the Edinburgh Conference, 
 and the Findings of the National Conference held in India in 
 January. 
 
 “Many assured me that nothing less than a grave crisis in 
 the relations between the Chinese Christian Churches and certain 
 of the important Missions was impending. The Chinese were re- 
 ceived into these conferences on an equality with the missionaries 
 both in the general deliberations and in all the committee work; 
 their full worth was recognized by assigning them to positions 
 of leadership, such as the chairmanship of some of the com- 
 mittees; the fullest opportunity was afforded them to express 
 their point of view and convictions on all subjects, including even 
 the training of missionaries ; absolutely nothing was done apart 
 from them; they were given their place in the new Committee 
 appointed to carry out the conclusions of the Conference ; and as 
 a result of all this the possibility of such a crisis seems happily 
 to have been averted. This is most important, for if ever the 
 Chinese Church needed to be closely related to the organized 
 forces of historic and vital Christianity throughout Christendom, 
 it is during the present stage of development. 
 
 “In a wonderful and effective way this National Conference 
 blended the streams of experience, ideas and influence of the 
 
 22 
 
Centenary Conference and the Edinburgh Conference and also 
 brought to bear, as it were, the superinduced current of present- 
 day thinking and discussion on the same problems. The findings 
 of the Conference register the best thought and outlook of many 
 of the most discerning Christian leaders in China in this critical 
 and eventful time. It would be difficult to overstate the value 
 this should be to the entire Church of Christ in the West at a 
 time when so vast and imperative demands are being made upon 
 her for co-operation. Moreover, the Conference inaugurated 
 lines of investigation and processes of study of mission problems 
 which, if pressed with patience and care, will help greatly in 
 evolving a science of missions and in promoting missionary ef- 
 ficiency. In other words, this Conference, like its prototype, 
 Edinburgh, can best be interpreted not as an end but as a be- 
 ginning. In different departments of missionary activity the Con- 
 ference afforded gratifying evidences of the development of a 
 truly adequate missionary policy. This was possibly most notice- 
 able in connection with educational missions and the Chinese 
 Church. With reference to medical missions also, the findings, 
 based largely on the report of the National Medical Conference 
 at Peking, which was addressed to the Chairman of the Continua- 
 tion Committee, afforded similar grounds of encouragement. 
 While one finds not a few indications in China of ably conceived 
 and conscientiously followed missionary policy on the part of 
 individual workers and individual missions, there has been sadly 
 lacking in this as in other fields of Asia, and for that matter 
 in Western lands, truly comprehensive missionary policy in the 
 sense of plans entered into intelligently and adhered to loyally 
 by all the Christian bodies at work in the field. 
 
 “It would require a long letter even to catalogue the definite 
 schemes of co-operation which were considered and recommended 
 by the national and sectional conferences. In this matter of 
 closer co-ordination and unification of the forces China bids fair 
 to lead the world. The Conference after careful consideration 
 decided to create what is called the China Continuation Com- 
 mittee. This is composed of fifty-one missionaries and Chinese 
 leaders with an Executive of fifteen. The whole Committee plan 
 to spend a week together each year and the Executive to hold an- 
 nually at least three meetings. The Chairman is Bishop Roots 
 
 23 
 
of Hankow, the Vice-Chairman is the Hon. Chang Po-ling, 
 possibly the most influential Chinese Christian, and the Honorary 
 Secretary is Mr. Bondfield, of the British and Foreign Bible So- 
 ciety, who did so much to ensure the success of the Centenary 
 Conference. Two Executive Secretaries have been called to 
 devote all their time to the service of the Committee — Mr. 
 Lobenstine, who is well qualified by years of efficient work in the 
 Presbyterian Mission and as Secretary in Famine Relief Ac- 
 tivities, and Mr. Ch’eng Ching-yi of the London Mission, remem- 
 bered by all Edinburgh delegates for his remarkable seven-minute 
 speech and as the one there appointed to represent China on the 
 Continuation Committee. I am glad to add that both of these 
 men have accepted their appointment. The Committee as a 
 whole is one of the ablest related to the missionary enterprise 
 in any field. They are taking up their work seriously. Wher- 
 ever I went in China I found missionaries and Chinese workers 
 eager for the wise leadership which such a representative and 
 trustworthy committee can afford. They assured me they wanted 
 no more conferences which would result simply in talk and resolu- 
 tions. These same persons expressed the greatest satisfaction at 
 the end of the National Conference because it did result in some- 
 thing constructive and tangible and does afford promise of giving 
 effect to the conclusions of the Conference.” 
 
 24 
 
With the Students in Manchuria 
 
 Tokyo, Japan, April 4, 1913. 
 
 “It has occurred to me that you would like to have a word 
 about my recent visit to Moukden. At the request of the Scottish, 
 Irish and Danish missionaries who attended the conference held 
 in Peking, I decided on short notice to conduct a similar confer- 
 ence in Moukden for the three Manchuria provinces. It was at- 
 tended by a large majority of the missionaries of the three 
 Protestant Missions working in this large and important area, 
 and also by the leading Chinese Christian workers. It was highly 
 successful, considering its necessary brevity. The evangelistic 
 meetings which I had there with the government students were 
 remarkable. The Governor of Manchuria assumed responsibility 
 for the working up of the attendance and for the providing of 
 a suitable place for the meetings. He had erected at his own 
 expense a vast pavilion which was crowded to the limit with 
 fully 5,000 government students and teachers on the first day. 
 The following day the meeting was confined to a selected com- 
 pany of students, but it was a meeting of even greater power. 
 In all there were more than 700 enquirers, of whom 412 definitely 
 accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord. The 
 number of enquirers might have been easily doubled or trebled 
 had we felt it wise to do so with the very limited number of 
 workers available to guide them. As it is, the problem will be 
 to conserve the results already secured. The Commissioner of 
 Education sat on the platform during all the meetings, including 
 the after-meetings, and although not a Christian man, exhorted 
 the enquirers and those who decided for Christ, to adhere to 
 their purpose at all costs. Before I left the city, he promised 
 that we might hold Bible classes in any or all of the government 
 schools and colleges. All of the enquirers pledged themselves 
 to attend such classes until the time of the summer vacation.” 
 
 25 
 
Visit to Japan and Korea 
 
 On the “Tenyo Maru,” 
 Nearing San Francisco, May 2, 1913. 
 
 “In my work for the Continuation Committee, in Japan a 
 different plan was followed from that used in India and China. 
 First was held a conference of missionaries, then one of Japanese 
 Christian leaders, and finally one composed of nearly all the 
 members of the two preceding gatherings. These two sectional 
 conferences used the same syllabus and each had committees on 
 findings. The discussions of the joint conference were based on 
 the reports of the committees of the sectional conferences. In 
 all of the gatherings we had the benefit of several carefully 
 prepared papers which were the result of investigations and 
 studies by commissions. 
 
 “The personnel of the conferences was all that could be 
 desired. Six of the seven Anglican and Episcopal bishops were 
 present, one being unavoidably detained. Bishop Hiraiwa, the 
 only native bishop in the Far East, was present as the head of 
 the united Methodist bodies; Bishop Sergius, of the Russian 
 Orthodox Mission, the successor of the late Archbishop Nicolai, 
 and three other delegates from this Mission, including the editor 
 of its periodical and the principal of its theological college, 
 attended and manifested a truly fraternal spirit. They were 
 invited with the hearty approval of the members of the various 
 Protestant Missions. The two Missions of Formosa, the English 
 and the Canadian, sent able delegates. There was a Japanese 
 representation made up of outstanding Japanese ministers, 
 educators, writers, and administrators. Possibly in no other 
 non-Christian country has the Christian Church such a strong 
 native leadership. 
 
 “The debates throughout the conferences reached a high level, 
 and take rank with the very best in other parts of Asia. They 
 were characterized by the greatest frankness as well as by the 
 best spirit. The marked good-will and unity which pervaded the 
 
 2R 
 
final conference were the subject of comment on the part 
 of many. 
 
 “Among many forward steps which were taken I will mention 
 a few. As a result of the thorough work done by the Com- 
 mission on the Distribution of the Forces and by the committees 
 whose work was based on this report, the Conference took very 
 advance ground with reference to the effective occupation of 
 the field. The findings reveal a demand for nearly double the 
 force of evangelistic missionaries, that is, an addition of about 
 four hundred. This is not a general estimate or a round figure 
 but is the outcome of the most careful study of the field which 
 has been made in any part of Asia. This policy met with the 
 approval of missionaries engaged in educational, literary, and 
 other work, and commanded the assent of the large majority of 
 Japanese leaders. Another subject which received careful atten- 
 tion and for the final treatment of which most exhaustive study 
 has been made was that of a union Christian university. The 
 Conference came to unanimous agreement in favor of the early 
 establishment of such a central institution to be located in Tokyo 
 and to serve as the cap-stone of the Christian educational system. 
 With like unanimity the Conference called for the establishment 
 of at least one very high grade Christian college for women. 
 The plan for a thorough-going three years’ united evangelistic 
 campaign, recommended by the Committee on Evangelization 
 under the inspiring leadership of Mr. Miyagawa, was heartily 
 adopted by the Conference. This is a most timely measure, for 
 seldom if ever has a great field been so ripe for such an effort. 
 Even more important than these significant steps in the direction 
 of practical co-operation was the decision to establish the Con- 
 tinuation Committee of Japan. As is well known, Japan as a 
 result of its Federation of Churches and its Federation of Mis- 
 sions, is leading the mission fields of the world in the matter of 
 comprehensive co-operation. These two bodies, however, were 
 not organically united and certain important Christian Com- 
 munions were not included in either of them. Since the Con- 
 ference each of these two Federations has appointed fifteen mem- 
 bers to serve on the new Continuation Committee and these 
 thirty persons are electing fifteen others in order to include 
 members of such bodies of Christians as have not been related 
 
 27 
 
to the Federations. There will thus be in Japan an agency 
 composed of members from all the Christian forces represented 
 at our recent conferences. This will be of great value in co- 
 operating with the Edinburgh Continuation Committee and in all 
 Christian undertakings which concern Japan as a whole. 
 
 “In connection with my visit in Tokyo there was held a Chris- 
 tian student conference attended by over four hundred students 
 and professors. Nearly all of seventy or more student Young 
 Men's and Young Women’s Christian Associations of Japan were 
 represented, including delegates from all the leading educational 
 institutions of the Empire. The convention was one of power 
 and of practical helpfulness. On my first visit to Japan sixteen 
 years ago I found only eight little bands of Christian students 
 having in all but a few score of members. Now there are over 
 seventy Christian Associations with a membership of fully three 
 thousand. Then we had the most difficult struggle in which I 
 had ever engaged to ensure the establishment of a national 
 movement on a thoroughly sound basis. This year I found the 
 same movement waging a triumphant Christian propaganda 
 throughout the wonderful student field of Japan. The greatest 
 menace to the cause of Christ in Japan, if not in the entire Far 
 East, is that of the pronouncedly secular and agnostic govern- 
 ment educational system of this country. The principal hope of 
 counteracting this serious influence is that of the Christian 
 Student Movement. 
 
 “In Japan almost every day I had opportunities to thrust in 
 the sickle for evangelistic results. This field, like China, is 
 dead-ripe unto harvest. According to old missionaries and Jap- 
 anese Christians the conditions for evangelistic work among 
 students are as favorable now as in the memorable days of the 
 late eighties. Every meeting which I had was characterized by 
 great openness and responsiveness to the direct presentation of 
 the claims of Christ. This was just as true in government colleges 
 as in Christian schools. Nowhere was the response more marked 
 than among the students in that head centre of Buddhism, Kyoto, 
 where there are at least ten thousand Buddhist priests. While 
 the largest results were secured among the undergraduates there 
 were not a few decisions for Christ among the graduates. In 
 my meetings among Japanese students there was seldom a meet- 
 
 28 
 
ing with less than one hundred enquirers, and the average was 
 more nearly over two hundred. The proportion of non-Chris- 
 tians present who become enquirers or who accepted Christ was 
 unusually large, ranging all the way from one-fourth to seven- 
 eighths of the non-Christians present. 
 
 “As you know, there are still over three thousand Chinese 
 students in Tokyo. In two meetings with them some three 
 hundred and fifty of these keen young men, representing all of 
 the provinces of China, definitely and courageously indicated their 
 purpose to become followers of Christ. As a result of a retreat 
 which Mr. Brockman conducted, quite a number are already pre- 
 paring for baptism. Another meeting which I shall never forget 
 was the one held with the hundreds of Korean students in 
 Toyko, where seventy-six accepted Christ — an unusually large 
 proportion, considering the number who were already Christians. 
 In view of the fact that many of these students have been the 
 source of dangerous political agitation and that so many others 
 are to sustain an important relation to the development of the 
 new Korea this work among them was especially important. 
 
 “The days spent in Korea were very full. The Continuation 
 Committee Conference which was held at Seoul was attended by 
 leading missionaries and Korean Christian workers and afforded 
 an invaluable opportunity to get into touch with the entire Chris- 
 tian movement of Korea and to further wise plans for its future 
 development. Much time was devoted to the delicate and grave 
 problems which just now confront the Church in that land. In 
 addition to special meetings with the Japanese and with mem- 
 bers of Government, I was glad to throw myself into a short 
 series of meetings for Korean students and other young men. 
 The large pavilion erected for this purpose was crowded each 
 night with three thousand men and hundreds definitely accepted 
 Christ as their Divine Saviour.” 
 
 29 
 
Objects for Intercession 
 
 (These objects or requests for prayer were sent to friends before the 
 
 tour began.) 
 
 For intercessors, that Christians of reality in all parts of the world 
 may early realize the possibilities and limitations of this special mission 
 in Asia and devote themselves to faithful intercession. 
 
 For the members, officers, and special committees of the Continuation 
 Committee, that they may have a realizing sense of the seriousness of the 
 trust committed to them by the Edinburgh Conference, and the power of 
 initiative and of patient continuance in constructive work necessary to 
 accomplish their task. 
 
 For all those in any way associated with the conduct of or the prepara- 
 tions for this mission, that they may be shielded from physical and spiritual 
 dangers and be controlled from the beginning to the close by the power of 
 the living Christ. 
 
 For the twenty or more Conferences of the Continuation Committee 
 to be held in different parts of Asia, that men and women of vision, 
 penetration, right judgment, courage, constructive ability, and irenic spirit 
 may be sent to them as delegates and that all the discussions and personal 
 fellowship may be dominated by the Holy Spirit. 
 
 For the Student Evangelistic Missions to be conducted at the principal 
 student centres under the leadership of Mr. Sherwood Eddy, with whom 
 the General Secretary of the World’s Student Christian Federation will 
 co-operate, that the abounding Gospel may be proclaimed to multitudes of 
 students, and that many of these future leaders of all lands of Asia may 
 be energized by God to accept Christ. 
 
 For the gatherings of Christian students and of leaders in the 
 Christian activities for students, that as a result of new plans and efforts 
 there may be an offering of many lives for the leadership of the forces 
 of Christ in Asia. 
 
 For the Conference and General Committee Meeting of the World’s 
 Student Christian Federation, that right conclusions may be reached 
 and that a lasting spiritual impulse may be given to the Christian Student 
 Movements throughout the world. 
 
 For the realization of Christian unity, that, as a result of activities 
 and processes employed in connection with this special mission, the answer 
 to the prayer of our Lord “that they all may be one” may be hastened. 
 
 30