I? 
 
Yuan Shi Kai 
 
THE POLITICAL SITUATION 
 
 The Rev. Stanley White, D.D. 
 
 No one can grasp the political situation in China 
 without realizing its relation to the marvelous trans- 
 formation that IS going on in that great nation. The 
 birth of a Great Republic is a momentous event. 
 The unrest and revolution represent the intense 
 growing pains of a suddenly maturing giant. 
 
 During a recent trip in the East it was my priv- 
 ilege to be brought into close contact with some of 
 the leaders of the so-called revolutionary party, and 
 no one could talk with them without believing that 
 their underlying purpose is absolutely a sincere one. 
 Naturally they will make mistakes, but they are 
 mistakes of immaturity rather than of their motive 
 or ideal. They are sincere men who are endeavor- 
 ing to plan for the welfare of China. The diffi- 
 culties lie in the attempt to establish the Republic 
 on a basis of Western ethics at a time when the 
 nation at large has not as yet escaped from the old 
 and drastic methods of one of the most complete 
 monarchial systems that the world has known. To 
 expect a nation whose previous governmental sys- 
 tem has been a network of graft to suddenly yield 
 to methods of unselfishness and patriotism untouched 
 by lower motives is almost impossible. 
 
 The strength of Yuan Shi Kai lies in the fact 
 that he is a connecting link between the old and 
 the new. From the practical point of view, China 
 for the time being must have at her helm a man 
 who can use both methods: On the one hand he 
 must deal with those who know no authority but the 
 sword, and who can only be controlled by the fear 
 that they may lose their heads, and on the other, 
 he must be able to command the confidence of the 
 progressive element of China. Yuan may be more 
 or less of a time-server, and his motives may be in 
 a measure subterranean, but he has the power of 
 leadership at the present moment. The situation 
 might be summed up by saying that Sun Yat Sen 
 has the vision without the ability to make it a 
 reality, and Yuan Shi Kai has the ability without 
 the vision. 
 
 1 
 
It was my privilege to be present at an afternoon 
 session of the new Parliament in China. Though 
 I could not understand what was said, it seemed to 
 me that some great State question was being de- 
 cided. It would hardly seem that the excitement 
 which was manifested could be accounted for on 
 any other ground. The body was composed largely 
 of young men. There were only two queues in the 
 whole Assembly, and very few gray hairs. A large 
 proportion of the members were dressed in Euro- 
 pean costume. Gradually the excitement increased, 
 many men being on their feet at the same time, 
 shouting for recognition and pounding on a desk 
 with their fists, which is m China considered the 
 greatest discourtesy. Presently the Speaker, having 
 lost control of the House, escaped from the dilemma 
 by leaving the building. Instantly one of the mem- 
 bers essayed to take his place, when two others 
 grasped him by tbe arms and dragged him down. 
 Within a few moments that session of the Parlia- 
 ment broke up and all left the building. 
 
 The next day I discovered by the English paper 
 that the great state question was what punishment 
 should be meted out to a member who on the day 
 previous had thrown an ink bottle at a fellow 
 member. 
 
 With China’s vital affairs in the hands of a body 
 as untried and inexperienced as this, one can real- 
 ize the seriousness of the problem that is before 
 her, and the necessity of a strong hand at the helm. 
 These men were intensely in earnest but their 
 patriotism was imperiled because of their youthful 
 impulsiveness. 
 
 The question is often asked as to the possibility 
 of China's again returning to the Monarchial form 
 of government with Yuan or some other man of 
 the old regime at its head. Humanly speaking this 
 would not seem possible. China is wide awake to 
 her future possibilities. If such an attempt were to 
 be made it would start a blaze of protest that would 
 endanger the integrity of the Republic. Even should 
 China attempt to recede from her present Republi- 
 can form of government I believe it would be but 
 temporary. One feels the new life stirring every- 
 
 2 
 
where. The air is tingling with it. Not only in 
 her assemblies but in her bazaars one recognizes the 
 new sense of freedom and power. The coolie with 
 his wheelbarrow does not turn aside to avoid col- 
 lision with the foreigner. He shouts his warning, 
 and if his shout is unheeded, the foreigners’ toes are 
 likely to suffer. It is a question whether China as a 
 whole either understands or is competent for, the 
 responsibilities of a Republic — but that she has 
 caught the vision and is determined to turn it into 
 reality there can be no doubt. 
 
 The leaders of China are also fully alive to the 
 fact that the eyes of Powers not necessarily friendly 
 or unselfish are watching to take advantage of the 
 moment of her weakness. Her safety lies in her 
 unity and solidity. Knowing this fact the present 
 leaders are not likely to press any advantage they 
 have for their own personal aggrandizement to the 
 extent of setting up a monarchy. The throne they 
 erected would stand on volcanic ground and would 
 begin to tremble as soon as it was erected. The 
 part of the friend of China is to believe in her, to 
 trust her, to treat her as a nation to be respected and 
 honored. As one who was in China when the 
 United States gave her recognition and who was 
 stirred by the sight of the American and Chinese 
 flags flying from the same flagstaffs — and who felt 
 the response from Chinese both high and low, there 
 is little doubt in my mind that China will win her 
 battles with herself, maintain her dignity among the 
 nations and some day in all probability contribute 
 a large share to the world’s welfare. 
 
 CHINA’S RESPONSE TO THE CALL 
 FOR PRAYER 
 
 NAN HSU CHOW: 
 
 Rev. Geo. C. Hood writes: “You will be inter- 
 ested to know how we observed the day of prayer 
 for China, April 27, 1913, in this new Station where 
 work has been opened for little over a year and where 
 the foreigners have not yet taken up their residence. 
 On Saturday the City Magistrate called and asked 
 us to conduct a prayer service in Nan Hsu Chow. 
 
 3 
 
The request came from Peking officially through the 
 Provincial Governor and the Hsien Gwan. It is 
 significant to note that the official did not go to the 
 Catholics who have been established here for a 
 number of years. When we personally asked the 
 Catholic priest to attend this service he said that he 
 would gladly do so, but he was afraid his superiors 
 would not contenance his worshipping with Protest- 
 ants. It is too bad that we who worship our Heaven- 
 ly Father could not pray together for this great 
 
 nation. The Buddhist priests were invited by the 
 official and also by ourselves, and they attended. 
 
 "Our school IS too small for such a public service, 
 and inasmuch as it was at the request of the city 
 magistrate, we decided it would be all right to use 
 the Temple of the God of War. I cannot imagine 
 a more dignified, quiet and orderly service being con- 
 ducted anywhere in the world than was held 
 
 in this temple, and in a city where our work 
 
 IS scarcely established with an audience of over 200 
 sitting and many standing in the large open door. 
 Three of the city schools were represented, so no 
 small part of the audience were small boys. In the 
 entire audience there were less than a dozen con- 
 fessed Christians, counting ourselves and helpers. 
 
 "Everything was done with the greatest simplicity 
 and with clear explanation, so all could follow. Our 
 schools sang two patriotic hymns and two with the 
 audiences, — one of these was written for the occa- 
 sion by our teacher. The Principal of the Govern- 
 ment Schools in the City read the President’s call 
 for prayer and explained each request. Mr. Carter 
 gave a short talk based on the Lord’s Prayer, after 
 which we all united in repeating it. A Psalm — 
 part of the 34th, was read and explained. Our 
 doctor and evangelist led in specially prepared pray- 
 ers. All were quiet for a period of silent prayer 
 in which all were requested to take part, and we 
 closed by repeating two short petitions which were 
 ^vritten and hung before us.” 
 
 PHILIPPINES: 
 
 "The call went round the world and we, who are 
 not far away, heard it, too,” writes a missionary. 
 
 4 
 
"At Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippine 
 Islands, there is a wonderful place. It is called 
 the Amphitheatre. It is at Camp John Hay. Its 
 sides were hollowed out by Nature’s hand; its 
 dome is heaven’s blue; the eternal hills are all 
 around. One speaks in whispers and is heard far 
 upon the topmost terrace. General Bell declares 
 This place was made by the Creator: we but dis- 
 covered it.’ 
 
 "And on the Sabbath of April 27th, in the late 
 afternoon, there gathered here well nigh all of 
 Baguio, or at least it so seemed. There were offi- 
 cials, clerks, teachers, tourists, soldiers, men, women 
 and many children; Burton Holmes, the lecturer, 
 was there; Americans, Britishers, Japanese, Fili- 
 pinos, and far up on the highest terrace the sturdy 
 little Igorote girls from the Bua School in the pic- 
 turesque garments of their people. 
 
 “On the platform were the Governor General, rep- 
 resenting the Civil Government and speaking for it, 
 the Commanding General of the Army, representing 
 the Military and speaking, too, for them; several 
 clergymen of different denominations, one of whom 
 presided and two of whom made addresses, a fourth 
 leading in prayer, the Chinese Consul General who 
 had come up from Manila to represent his Govern- 
 ment and behind him thirty-five of his countrymen 
 from the Chinese colony of Baguio. 
 
 "With perfect attention the audience received each 
 part, music, address and prayer. No one could say 
 from whence came the deep impression which set- 
 tled over all. Perchance and indeed it was in the 
 enfolding glory of God’s great world about and 
 the quiet of God’s deep voice within? 
 
 “There were pleas for China: — and there was a 
 deep plea for prayer. And the sun went down in 
 glory, falling on the hills. The Justice of the 
 Supreme Court and the little Igorote girls went home: 
 The Governor General and the Filipino house boy: 
 General Bell and the Chinese laundryman. They 
 were all thinking — each his own thought and each in 
 his own way. So many said. ‘Of all services in 
 my memory that was the most unique. When, where 
 or how could it be reproduced?’ ’’ 
 
 5 
 
(i 
 
 Chefoo Y. M. C. a. — A Social Gathering 
 
NINGPO: 
 
 It is very significant that the courts do not try 
 cases on the Sabbath. It would almost seem as 
 though this might grow into a legal recognition of 
 the Sabbath. The government schools never hold 
 session on the Sabbath, and in Yu Yiao those who 
 have charge of the new schools that are being opened 
 tell their pupils that it is perfectly proper for the 
 pupils from government schools to attend either 
 Christian or Buddhist worship, but that Confucius 
 favors a king and is therefore not friendly to the 
 Republic. 
 
 Forty Shantung men went to the National Y. M. 
 C. A. Convention at Peking. 300 delegates ex- 
 pected; 450 attended. President Yuan Shi Kai 
 invited them to his palace; graciously received in 
 person; addressed them in sincere appreciation of 
 their work; sent some of his higher officials to par- 
 ticipate in their Convention program. 
 
 S. CHINA: 
 
 There has been a return to opium growing in the 
 districts north of Yu Yiao and it remains to be 
 seen whether the stringent measures now being taken 
 to stop it will be as successful as were the efforts of 
 two or three years ago. Fortunately the people 
 recognize the reasonableness of the effort to get rid of 
 the opium curse and there is little likelihood of armed 
 resistance when the officers try to enforce the law. 
 
 CANTON: 
 
 June 27th, 1913 — To-day the city authorities are 
 tearing down idol shrines in public streets, and no 
 one objects. 
 
 CHEFOO: 
 
 Of the first six men examined by a missionary on 
 an Itinerating trip it was noticed that four of them 
 had their queues cut off, and mentioned this as a 
 testimony to their desire to become Christians. A 
 strange way of showing Christianity, but in that 
 region all who are without queues are regarded as 
 Christians and also treated accordingly, for the people 
 have not yet taken to the new regime. The absence 
 
 7 
 
of the queue is really a political badge showing ap- 
 proval of the new republic in which our Christians 
 in China have taken such a lead. 
 
 THE EDUCATIONAL OUTLOOK 
 
 CANTON: 
 
 W. K. Chung, Commissioner of Education, 
 Kwangtung Province: "One of the foundation 
 
 principles of China is, that EVERY CHILD IS ENTITLED 
 TO AND SHALL RECEIVE AN EDUCATION. How far we 
 can carry out this principle depends not only on the 
 Government ' t also on the open-minded and public 
 spirited citizens of the Republic. The Government 
 of Kwangtung desires to be in the forefront as re- 
 gards education and expects its enlightened citizens 
 to help in advancing this important matter.” 
 
 Mr. Chung is working in this matter through the 
 Educational Association of Kwangtung. He asks 
 that all report blanks be fully made out in order to 
 secure complete data. Linder the subject ‘ morals” 
 in the Government curriculum, the Bible may be 
 taught and it may be so stated in the curriculum 
 which each Mission school sends in. Mr. Chung 
 requests that it be inserted in the following way : 
 "Morals — Use BIBLE as Textbook.” 
 
 This is required in order to save confusion in pos- 
 sible changes of administration. The mission school 
 is thus fulfilling the law without compromising what 
 we all hold as a most important principle, that of 
 religious freedom. 
 
 TSINGTAU: 
 
 Rev. C. E. Scott: "Peking has an American 
 College Club, composed of men of all nationalities 
 who have attended American schools. The great 
 majority of the members are Chinese. At the an- 
 nual banquet this year, some 250 members sat to- 
 
 Note. — Mr. Chung recognizes the large place the 
 mission school has taken in molding the public senti- 
 ment which is now working out the salvation of 
 China. He is anxious to help these schools in every 
 way he can in harmony with his position. The first 
 step is the recognition of the mission school as 
 part of the general educational system of Kwangtung. 
 
An Accident Facilitating Conveyance — School 
 GIRL Starting Home on Vacation 
 
 9 
 
gether and renewed their college days. Some of 
 the highest officials of the Chinese Republic were 
 present. The organization numbers many of the lead- 
 ers of Young China among its members. At this ban- 
 quet, the principal speakers were Chinese, high in 
 the government, and they eloquently, and, in plain 
 English, advocated a league between the two Repub- 
 lics. The spirit of the young Republic is their spirit. 
 And the spirit that is in them, which they expounded 
 that evening in connection with the Y. M. C. A. 
 Convention, is the spirit that they affirm they caught 
 from their Alma Mater in America. 
 
 ‘‘America has a new asset in China, to strengthen 
 mutual understanding, create good will, foster friend- 
 ship between the two Republics that is without paral- 
 lel. The other nations covet it, but cannot possess 
 it. It is the Ching Hua School of Peking, estab- 
 lished by the Chinese Government in the palace 
 grounds of a defunct princely family, with the indem- 
 nity money returned by America to China, — which 
 money is being used to prepare Chinese young men 
 for American colleges. All the teachers are Ameri- 
 cans, Christians selected by the American Y. M. C. 
 A. authorities, except the President, who is a Chinese. 
 The opportunity is unique, and it is being steadily 
 and carefully and patiently improved. A finer set of 
 young Americans than the Faculty, it would be hard 
 to find. “ 
 
 TUNGCHOWFU: 
 
 Rev. J. P. Irwin: “One poor old Christian 
 woman pleaded with us to take her grandson into 
 our Boys’ Boarding School, but they were not able 
 to provide for him and pay the necessary part of 
 his board, so it seemed best to insist that he find 
 work in some place, rather than to enter school. The 
 boy was disappointed and so were his father and old 
 grandmother, and we were sorry to disappoint them, 
 and yet we have more really poor boys now than we 
 can provide for. The question is what to do with such 
 boys. Most of them are from Christian families, and 
 promise to make good workers in the future for the 
 Church. We help all we are able to but some must 
 be turned away. ’ 
 
 10 
 
SHANTUNG: 
 
 Rev. J. a. Fitch: ‘Revolutionary changes are 
 the order of the day not less in the Chinese educa- 
 tional world than in its world of politics. The Con- 
 fucian classics, no longer made sole text book in 
 primary and middle schools, is one of these. The 
 child is no longer asked to commit tomes of classics 
 without understanding a word. In place of them, 
 graded pictorial readers, filled with matter interesting 
 to a child, have been prepared, and he learns the 
 character and its meaning at the same time. Again 
 the new books make teaching in classes possible, 
 while teaching in classes make larger schools pos- 
 sible. This increase in efficiency produces two de- 
 sirable results. The expense of the school is spread 
 over a larger number of patrons, while at the same 
 time the teacher receives a substantial increase in 
 salary. Last January a teachers’ institute, of some 
 four weeks’ duration, for instructing our country 
 teachers in new methods, was held at the compound. 
 It IS too early to have the new methods fully under- 
 stood and perfectly taught, but already the results 
 are showing larger schools, more pupils for the same 
 number of teachers, more emulation in the schools 
 and better grade of work done. ” 
 
 WEI-HSIEN: 
 
 Rev. J. a. Fitch: “The Wei-hsien College stu- 
 dent has come to love his field day as much as any 
 student in America. But a field day without an audi- 
 ence is like an oyster soup without oysters. Hence 
 the Athletic Committees got busy inviting the crowds. 
 All the new Government Schools in Wei-hsien City 
 were invited, and 23 responded, including two girls 
 schools who were the special guests of our Wei-hsien 
 girl’s High School. The local officials, civil and 
 Military, came in force, and also many of the con- 
 servative gentry of Wei-hsien City. And strangest 
 of all, not a few carts occupied with their women 
 folk were present. Not satisfied with the local 
 crowds, invitations were sent to at least two out- 
 side cities, and two schools from one of these actu- 
 ally came 81 li, or 27 miles, having to walk fully 
 half that distance before reaching the railway sta- 
 
 ll 
 
tion. These two schools of about 80 Government 
 students were the guests of the college over Satur- 
 day and Sunday, attending worship with our students 
 in our Church at the Compound. It was a great 
 success in the way of a crowd, for there were fully 
 5,000 present. School uniforms were in evidence in 
 every direction (for the New China is going in for 
 the military dress and training of its students). 
 Trumpet and drum sounded welcome to every arriv- 
 ing school, to the intense delight of the band-loving 
 boy. But what of the significance of it all? It 
 means that China is intensely awake all of a sudden. 
 She Is bent on learning all there is to be known about 
 Western Schools and Colleges. This was shown 
 again a few weeks later, when the annual debates 
 came off. Our College has had training in debate 
 and public speech. Their schools have not as yet. 
 And again crowds came from the city schools, in- 
 cluding the Hsien Official who was a Judge. They 
 came to see, to listen, and to take note. It means 
 too that the old barriers are down, and a freedom 
 of access to them enjoyed, that has never been 
 known before. It means that all that the Gospel of 
 Christ stands for can have such a hearing now, as 
 it has never before been possible in China. It spells 
 
 GREAT OPPORTUNITY.”’ 
 
 THE EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITY 
 
 HWAI YUEN: 
 
 Rev. DuBois S. Morris: “There is a great 
 overturning of old ideas and giving up of old customs 
 and beliefs, and we know in many parts of China 
 idolatry is surely going. This must mean that now 
 is the supreme hour for the Christian Church. May 
 we have the strength to go forward with unfaltering 
 love to open to this people the new Door, on the 
 threshold of which there is no death, — no, but that 
 Life which China not only needs but now begins to 
 she needs, and which can come only by faith 
 in the Son of the Living God. 
 
 “Passing through a village, I happened to look up 
 at a Temple at the end of a street, and there, fallen 
 face downward, on the threshold, and with out- 
 
 12 
 
stretched arms, as though prostrate and supplicant 
 before the idols, was the body of a little beggar boy, 
 — dead. We did not stop, but as 1 traveled on I 
 could not forget it. Again and again it came back 
 to me, — the arms of that young boy so piteously out- 
 stretched for help. Dead before the idols! Help- 
 less in the face of those who have no help to give! 
 Lifeless before the wood and stone of the temple 
 god ! ” 
 
 CHEFOO: 
 
 Rev. W. O. Elterich; ‘ On a recent itinerating 
 trip I found a surprising lack of opposition to the 
 candidates for baptism on the part of their rela- 
 tives which is found almost invariably. This is but 
 another evidence that the country is becoming more 
 and more leavened by Gospel influence. The friend- 
 ly attitude of the government and of the literary 
 classes is also helping to break down prejudice and 
 opposition. In fact the whole country is ripe for 
 Gospel effort as never before. 
 
 On the other hand the heathen forces are realiz- 
 ing this and are exerting all kinds of efforts, not so 
 much to oppose Christianity as to preserve their own 
 sects. This in itself is a striking proof of the power 
 Christianity is exerting in China. A Confucian So- 
 ciety has been started to preserve the teachings of 
 the Confucian classics as the same are not being 
 taught any more as formerly. Buddhist and Taoist 
 priests in great numbers have been holding meetings 
 to consider how to prevent the cessation of idol 
 worship and thus their competence. They propose 
 to open schools and orphanages in the temples and 
 thus secure the friendly attitude of the officials and 
 the favor of the people. 
 
 "I also heard of a spiritualistic sect which was 
 organized last autumn and for a time was very popu- 
 lar. The devotees of this sect, both men and women, 
 gather at night in some room about a table on which 
 incense is burnt. Worship is made and spirits are 
 called to attend, either the spirits of departed ones, 
 or of the sages, Confucius, etc. Questions are ad- 
 dressed and the answers are supposed to be written 
 by the spirits on the paper by the suspended pen. 
 
 13 
 
Pastor IIwoa and Wife — Chefoo Field 
 
 14 
 
This cull has a political aspect as the question most 
 frequently asked of the spirits was whether the 
 Ching dynasty would be restored or the new Re- 
 public continue to exist.” 
 
 TENGCHOWFU: 
 
 Rev. W. F. Seymour: ‘ The closing day of the 
 dragon festival, or feast of lanterns, when the vari- 
 ous dragon processions come from the city and sur- 
 rounding villages, 1 had the privilege, in company 
 with Mr. Irwin and quite a number of native pas- 
 tors and church members, of preaching and distribut- 
 ing tracts at Peng Lai Koa Temple, which was 
 visited that day by several thousand people. 
 
 ‘ We secured permission from the priests to oc- 
 cupy a large hall in one of the buildings as a 
 preaching place for the men, while the ladies had a 
 tent pitched in one corner of the grounds. In our 
 preaching hall we put up quite a number of pictures 
 and scrolls with Scripture texts from which to preach 
 and for the people to read. The room was filled 
 many times and the evangelists preached till they 
 were tired. Many tracts were distributed, the people 
 being very glad to get them. Gospels were being 
 sold also in the temple grounds by the Water City 
 Church members and others. We were glad of this 
 opportunity for spreading the Gospel, but were made 
 sad when we stepped into the temple in the next 
 courtyard and saw many men and boys bowing or 
 kneeling in worship before the idol. 
 
 It was a pleasure to see a man receive the rite 
 of baptism, who is, so far as I know, the first Mo- 
 hammedan to unite with the church in Tengchow. 
 He is a native of Tsingchowfu, and came to us as 
 a sick soldier during the Red Cross work. He was 
 very sick for some time, and once he went out on the 
 street and was so out of his head that he stayed 
 away over night. After a long search he was found 
 and brought back, and in due course of time became 
 well. Then, when workers were needed in the hos- 
 pital, he preferred to stay with us rather than go 
 back into the army, and stayed with us as washer- 
 man. Since then he has studied the doctrine,’ and 
 seems quite ready to bear testimony for the Lord. ” 
 
 15 
 
HENGCHOW; 
 
 Mrs. G. L. GelwicKS: "'The Evangelists’ Train- 
 ing School of the Hunan Mission has just closed its 
 three months’ session with the largest attendance yet 
 on its records, — twenty-six being the number. In 
 addition to their studies where their chief text book 
 was the Bible, the men were given their regular ap- 
 pointments for practical work. The two street 
 chapels of the city were open every evening for 
 preaching services. They were also sent out two by 
 two for a systematic house-to-house visitation of the 
 city, taking with them copies of the Gospels and 
 Acts to sell, and tracts to be left in each house. As 
 a result every street and alley of Hengchow Fu has 
 been visited, many of them a second time. 1 ,900 
 copies of the Gospels were sold, and twice that num- 
 ber of tracts given away. It was impressed upon 
 the men that the chief purpose was not to sell books, 
 but to use them as a tool in their personal work. In 
 a conference at the close of the work, when they 
 were telling of some of the rebuffs they received, 
 one, who had completed his course in the school a 
 couple of years ago, suggested that if before start- 
 ing out on such work he prayed for a blessing on 
 the work and to be kept from such experiences, he 
 found the amount of friction greatly lessened. His 
 suggestion was greeted with such a chorus as to indi- 
 cate that this was their practice.” 
 
 ICHOWFU: 
 
 Rev. Roy M. Allison: “On our trip we found 
 a small village of 26 families, but 34 Christians. 
 The entire wealth of this village consists of 66 J /2 
 acres of land and 4 oxen. They were already plan- 
 ning to build a church. After Pastor Chia talked 
 to them, one man gave the land valued at 200,000 
 cash and with what they had already given 109,000 
 cash was pledged. This was no small sum when 
 we consider that 1000 cash is equivalent to three 
 days’ work. Pastor Chia says they must double this 
 amount. This will surely be giving out of what Paul 
 would call their 'deep poverty.’ ” 
 
 16 
 
17 
 
 Chinese Women Studying the Bible at Kiungchow 
 
SHANGHAI: 
 
 Miss Emma Silver: “The spring class for 
 women inquirers has closed. I never saw anything 
 like the ravenous’ hunger these women, young 
 and old, have to learn the truth that they expect to 
 make them free. I cannot comprehend it and asked 
 a group of a dozen old and young Why,’ but could 
 get no motive but the longing to know the truth of 
 the Gospel, to be able to sing the hymns and not 
 sit like wooden women at the services and also that 
 they could tell what the preacher was talking about. 
 
 “I suggested that they could not expect to teach 
 school and earn anything with so little knowledge 
 as that was what I had thought might be the motive 
 in the cases of some who needed sorely to earn 
 their own living to escape from unhappy homes or 
 to avoid being engaged to bad men, or rather being 
 kidnapped to marry wicked men to whom they had 
 been engaged. But to this suggestion they offered 
 an emphatic disclaimer stating more decidedly than 
 I should have done that they could not think of 
 teaching with the little they could get at their age. 
 I speak of this to give you a glimpse of the ama^ened 
 life of women in China to-day and to let you feel, 
 if I may, ihe wonderful situation we face. Before 
 1 went home we could never by any means of per- 
 suasion induce more than twenty women to attend 
 a class, so what was our surprise to have thirty- 
 five last fall. ” 
 
 TSINING: 
 
 Rev. T. N. Thompson: “The Chinese evan- 
 gelist is a wonder and always saves the situation. 
 They are, it seems to me, the most fluent men I 
 have ever met, and can talk under any circumstances. 
 No matter how the children about them shout and 
 scream the evangelist keeps going on and on. Some- 
 times their talk seems rambling and you think they 
 hit wide of the mark, but you are often surprised 
 by their apt illustration, as you are moved to many 
 a quiet smile on hearing some old childhood story 
 done up in a new dress, and made fit to be pre- 
 sented to a Chinese audience. 
 
 18 
 
"We are getting into more homes than ever be- 
 fore. In the last two weeks in the same district 
 where 1 have had so much trouble, 1 was able to 
 visit in several homes. They were willing to admit 
 us men, where formerly not even the Bible Women 
 were permitted to enter. The women listened most 
 intently. Could the people at home have seen what 
 great need these women have, just as it appeared to 
 us out in those village homes, I am sure they would 
 never question the value of the work done in the 
 homes of the villagers in this great land. How can 
 you call them homes, where there is not a single 
 home comfort to be found! Not a flower in the 
 yard! Not a picture on the wall, and everywhere 
 babies, dust, dirt and frowzy-headed women. But 
 they are the homes of the myriads of China, and it 
 is from just such homes that the church gets its 
 pastors and teachers.” 
 
 WEI-HSIEN: 
 
 Rev. J. a. Fitch: "Many Christian Chinese 
 are saying that there is now a large element of in- 
 telligent people in the nation who are strongly 
 drawn to Christianity as the religion of the true God, 
 but who are repelled by the fact that it seems to 
 them to be so largely under foreign tutelage. They 
 would ally themselves with it far more freely if it 
 were under complete Chinese control. Moved by 
 this situation independent churches have been formed 
 in Peking, Tientsin, Tsinanfu, and other cities. What 
 would seem strange to home churches is that much 
 of their best support comes from those still in con- 
 nection with the regular churches. Missionaries 
 recognizing in this genuine loyalty to Christ, have 
 given the movement their full sympathy. In Shan- 
 tung, two rich Christians have contributed $13,000 
 (Mex.) for the establishing of the independent 
 Church in Tsinanfu, the capital of the province. At 
 a dinner of the high officials of the province they 
 announced their plan and their own contribution 
 toward its realization. Upon this these high officials 
 gave a tract of 20 acres, Chinese (about three and 
 one-third English), taxes free, in the newly laid out 
 section of Tsinanfu, in the general region of the 
 
 19 
 
Railway Station. This is another striking indication 
 of the new attitude being evinced at the present 
 time by many in high places toward Christianity. 
 Whether it will last we cannot say, yet we can but 
 say that these changes are indeed wonderful. 
 
 ‘It is the LORD’S doings and it is 
 marvelous in our eyes.’ 
 
 20 
 
The Board of Foreign Missions 
 of the 
 
 Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. 
 156 Fifth Avenue, New York 
 
 October, 1913 
 Form 2024