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The West China 11

Missionary News ||

O c t o b e r — 1930

EDITOR4L

This Chinese Puzzle

There no doubt will always be those who think that a Chinese puzzle can be worked by radio. Tho se of similar mentality assume that if one ’s methods are only modern enough, the unevangelized world of the Orient can be saved by advice from over-seas. Yet Chinese and westerners face to face with the puzzle will all bear testimony to the fact that hère is a problem which can and will be solved only by hard work on the field, by sympathetic but discriminating cooperation, and by the grace of God. It is interesting to note, nevertheless, how great stress is put upon this matter of advice as an i'ndex of o ne’s alertness to the issue and his ingenuity in finding the solution. Ta ke the situation in India for example. A brother editor writes, ‘ ‘Christians anywhere who fail to recognize and reverence the Christlikeness of the great Indian leader (Gandhi) are themselves revealed as no Christians at all.”

Sauce for the Gander.

For some time we have realized that silence on this question might easily be misinterpreted, for there are apparently so many moral issues involved, and to ignoré them would seem to indicate a solidarity among the whites no matter how unchristlike their treatment of the Asiatic. There have been two reasons for our silence : first, we admit the force of the old proverb about “ sauce

2 TH E W E ST C H IN A M ISSIO N A R Y N E W S

for the gander” and realize that the India problem is not so simple as it may seem to one outside of India. W e have the highest admiration fo rG and hi as an outstanding spiritual leader, a real indignation against those governmental practices which have brought India to its present state, a qualified approval of the method resorted to, and a very great bewilderment as to his specific aim. “ Soul force” sounds Christian, but it may be one of these evocative words or phrases to which clear thinking people have such an aversion. W hen expressed through civil disobedience as interpreted by non-Christians, the term may have a designative usage to which we would have to object. W e are led to think that Gandhi is truly representative of a united India, and that he stands for democracy, independence, and a people free in the /highest sense of the word. But as a matter of fact there :are leading National statesmen, such as Mr. K . Nata- rajan, with a large fo l lowing who do not approve of G and hi ’s aim or methods, while Gandhi himsel f admits that he was led into the independence movement against his better judgement, and his support among the high

.caste Hindus reveals that his definition of democracy ■ might be different from that of westerners.

India Salt

Our second reason for silence has been our innate distrust of propaganda. The propaganda habit is a deadly thing. It deadens the conscience of the propagandist so that half of the facts are suppressed, inadvertently or intentionally. It hypnotizes the conscience of those folk who are easily swayed by sentiment, who thereupon speak out as it was intended they should do without waiting for the facts. A n d it wears a defensive callous upon the conscience of him who has develooed the power of inhibition until all the facts are in. W h e n we are told that the doubling of the salt tax thereby deprived millions of people who were already l iv ing below the line of subsistence of the only condi ment that they could afford to buy to give taste to their 0ne meal of rice a day, and this in order to meet the government deficit on the new viceregal palace and more palatial buildings for the secretariat at New Delhi, notwithstanding the unanimous vote of the Indian elected representatives in opposition, our anger at the

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injustice rises. O n the other hand, when we hear from equally responsible sources that the tax on salt would average about ten cents a year for each family of five members, and that the real issue is the abolition of all taxes, our anger cools down somewhat. W h i l e we are not experts to pass on the merits of the Simon Report and propositions, and are inclined to feel that the dictatorial veto power reserved for the viceroy comes near to nullifying the concessions made, yet there would seem to be some advance made. England is said to be notoriously slow in pushing reform measures, but like the abol ishing of suttee, she is sometimes in advance. A Chinese leader in Peking told of the change of attitude on the part of students toward England and America. The former promises little and grants more. The latter promises much— on paper, butthe Senate refuses to ratify. So say the students.

Then and Now.

But there are other and longer-standing issues which a Christian cannot and will not ignore, and these issues are so closely related to the impact of western materialistic civilization upon China that it is well to note them. It is therecord of two centuries of British rule upon India and this “ before and after” picture is enough to cause every one of us to do some very careful thinking. Then, India was known as the richest country in the world and had only two famines in a century ; n o w they are become an impoverished people, enduring 31 famines in the period fol lowing the loss of independence, with an estimated mortality of 33,000,000 lives. “Food enough, but the people were too poor to buy” , we are told. Then, according to Sir. Thos. Munro, there were “ schools in every vil lage for teaching reading, writing and arithmetic” ; n ow about 93% of the people are illiterate. Then they were a land-owning populace under the communal system and income was adequate ; n o w every cultivator is a tenant farmer of the British government which claims to own all land, and from whom, as J. Ramsay Ma cDo nal d wrote, “ the habit of the government has been to exact the uttermost farthing over and above a standard of life which has been much too low.” Then a self-supporting, independent, manufacturing race

4 T H E W E ST C H IN A M ISSIO N AR Y N E W S

producing fabrics noted for their fineness and beauty ; n o w a country of forgotten arts, aue to those methods used by Britain “ to make of India a great source of raw materials and a great market for Britain’s manufactured goods.” Then a country of native rulers and of civil wars, quite likely-, but taxes used within the country; n o w a land where within the last half o f the 19th century, they were made the fighting tool of alien rulers for the waging of 33 imperialistic wars, some of which were in E gy pt and China, and of which they were not only taxed to pay the expenses of the army which held themselves in subjection but also bore a large snare of the costs of other wars, amounting to about $450,000, 000. Then a populace whose three native religions had guided them into habits of total abstinence from alcoholic l iquors; n o w a race 80% of whose labourers are said to have become victims of the temptations set before them in the omnipresent grog-shop of a“ Christian nation” which has thereby increased its revenue seven fold in the last fifty years, and whose organized opium traffic for the same purpose is unique in India ’s history and a dark chapter in interracial relationships. Then a nation with a horizontal system of caste; n o w a race which has had superimposed upon that the vertical system of caste of the resident alien and the native Indian. Then a nation with a proud history and culture ; n o w a race which C.F . Andrews, a close British friend of Gandhi , characterizes as having those “ vices in personal moral character which are inherent in a foreign rule— the servility, the subjection, the flattery, the hypocrisy, by which men gain titles and power .”

“ Where is thy Brother ?'*

Th e Cain spirit in the world is something against which every Christian should unite. G o d ’s voice still challenges the one from whose altar the incense refuses to float heavenward,— “ W h e r e is thy brother?” And the nonchristian world listens intently in China as well as in India to learn whether our answer will be, “ A m I my brother’s keeper?” Christian missionaries working in India have been admitted under pledge that they will not “ interfere” in political matters. Protests against the abuses of power enumerated above, and praise of or

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alliance with revolutionaries of G and hi ’s type are in- t e r D r e t e d by Government as such interference. Hence a Methodist Episcopal bishop in India ñnds it necessary to withdraw from the episcopacy and take up an American pastorate because his representative ecclesiastical position and his anomalous situation as the guest of the Raj made it impossible to function as a New Testament prophet. He had to resign, he says, “ in order to save my soul .” So other missionaries like C. F Andrews nave had to move out to claim moral liberty, while the majority of missionaries stay on and receive upon their brows the mark of Cain, and wherever we go throughout the eastern world, ' “everyone who sees us seeks to slay us” as Cain lamented when he received his sentence.

The Function o f Missions.

Should we advise these missionaries to revolt? Should we criticise them as those who stultifyc or.- science? Let us not be too hasty in our judgement. If there be two sides to this story, if evocative words are stirring up the purely sentimental sides of our natures, if we ourselves feel the injustice of many of the criticisms of u u p work in China, let us give pause. There is more than one way in which to overcome evil, and the most effective way is not by preaching nor by editorials but by doing good. The people of India recognize their friends and trust them though they do not turn into soap-box orators. The Christian patriots of China feel encouragement in the sympathy and steadying influence o f the associated missionaries, even though they are not electioneering for Chiang Kai Shek or for Yen Hsi San. Since the writing of our September editorial, the letters of two men of high standing in church and mission circles have appeared in print in answer to the articles to which we then took exception. The first was from the Rev. Dr. Carl Knudsen. In response to the words of a Congregational state superintendent of the New England Regional committee for the promotion of missions, who had contended that “ the test of missions could not be whether or not missionaries took leading positions in revolutionary movements” , Dr. Knudsen w r o t e , “ Should we not be more interested in foundations than in immediate leadership? D o we not invade the

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sovereignty of our intended converts when we propose a direct control of their practical l i fe?” In these rhetorical questions he allies himself with the state superintendent who concluded that the real test was “ whether he were losing his life in the interest of the people whom he serves, becoming the yeast that makes social progress inevitable.”

The Dead Moon Shines On.

The second communication was from Dr. A . L . Warnshuis, the American secretary of the Inter national Missionary Council. After paying a high tribute to the missionaries “ eager to share their faith and hope with others’', he calls attention to the fact that the Missionary Boards are pledgea to realise the highest spiritual and practical findings of the Jerusalem Council of 1928, but find themselves “ far in advance oi the thougnt and purpose of the homeside constituency.” He further suggests in quite forceful language that the people who talk and write so much about the inadequacy of the missionaries and the sending Boards but do little else, should “ either put up or shut up.” T he C h ris tia n C en tu ry 's editorial writer’s reaction to this reminds us vividly of the good old brother in the “ Amen corner” at whom the preacher had been aiming in a sermon 011 “ Motes and Beams” , who saw its application to everyone else in the congregation but himself, and pronounced the sermon the nearest to pure Gospel that he had heard in many a month. But let us beware of being too self- righteous ourselves. Just what are we doing to justify our presence in Chi na? A woman missionary at a well-known summer-resort in China reported in jubi la tion that in a certain mountain village scores of hands were raised in response to the call, H o w many of you would like to be Christians ? A nd the visiting Cnristia n worker from America writing up the experience in a church periodical comments that this was perhaps the most depressing experience of her visit to the mission fields. Another missionary speaks with satisfaction concerning a new chapel which has recently been built without mission subsidy, and a group of churches m a k ing splendid headway toward complete self-support. W h e n this has been accomplished may we consider our goal to have been achieved ? A report has been circulat

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ed telling of the activities ot Christian students in the Mass Education movements and the Daily Vacat ion Bible School. H ealth M a ga zin e stresses certain achievements in the “Swat the Fly Campaign” and other public health enterprises. Every such advance is to be welcomed and we would certainly be among the last to underestimate their value. But are not these means to a greater end? The conversion of individuals (even when genuine), the building of churches, the various religious and social service activities,— are they not all merely tne rudiments of Christianity, its by-products only? Have we not a greater objective ? The church everywhere is thus engaged, yet Wi l l iam W a t s o n could write of us,

“ Outwardly splendid as of oldInwardly sparkless, void and coldHer force and fire all spent and goneLike the dead moon she still shines on.”

The Great Mobilization.

But Paul in the fourth of Ephesians having mobilized apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors and teachers, conceives of them as being directed by Christ for the perfecting even of the saints unto the work of ministering, unto the building u p o f the church, the visible body of Christ. His goal, it would seern, is perfection and unity in faith, in divine knowledge, in love ; in a l iving organism which like a full-grown man finally a'ttains unto the full measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, ever living, ever efficient in its coordination and ever growing in its capacity to love. The whole object of our lives or our call to missionary work and of our presence here is to be found in this. "We have not come to build up a society or “ go lao hwei” for mutual benefit and protection merely. W e came not to run a Chautauqua of popular entertainment and intellectual inspiration. W e were not appointed to increase the number of college graduates. W e have not been authorized to open up a supreme court for the judgement of our neighbours and the separation of the heaven-bound from the damned. The Church is neither a fire-escape for those tired of sin and wanting to escape hell, nor a cold-storage plant for the preservation of pious ascetics


who are afraid they’ ll spoil before setting to heaven, It is not a secret center for the planning of a revolution nor an underground railway for the transportation of political refugees, nor even a hospital for the healir g of sin-stricken souls. Though in truth, there might be a time when the Church should render a service coming under one or the other of these heads. W e are mobilized for a Revolution, we admit, but like His Ki ngd om, the Revolution is not a “ this-world” one.

Infinite Reality.

In this new ideal of the Church (new, yet old as Paul) the saints are still in process of being perfected through the ministries of every type of spiritual talent- But the object is not that they may be set aside upon some pedestal for our admiration and semi-worship. Not man, but God must be all in all in this Church, No, they are to be perfected unto the work of ministering, and their ministering is in order that Christ’s body may be built up, may more fully express G o d ’s purposes. The perfect Church may not be consummated here, nor in our time, but oh; may we in our helping of the Church in China lead them to see that there cannot be two perfections but only o ne ; not two absolutes,— only one. Let not His Church be the expression of a pass ing revolution, a temporary expedient, a Utopian dream, but of reality.

“ Reality, reality,Lord Jesus Christ, is crowned in Thee In Thee is every type fulfilled,In Thee is every yearning Grilled For perfect beauty, truth and love ;For Thou art always far above The grandest glimpse of our Ideal,Yet more and more we know Thee real,A.nd marvel more and more to see Thine infinite Reali ty . ”

L . F . H .

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TO C L IF F O R D S T U B B S .

^ e, who have loved thee in the simple meal

Or kindly sharing of the deeper thought,

Have something of thy loving spirit caught

And may not falter when the common weal

Asks our love too— sueh love as was the seal

O f all thy friendly effort, •whether wrought

In lands afar with many a danger frought

Or ’midst our homes, this world at strife to heal.

Oh, worthily thou tooks’t the way of love—

Christ’s second mile, and met what stones were flung

W ith thy brave Stephen-smile. I see it yet

Speaking an angel unawares. Above

Our loss of service Chinese friends among

Shines out thv light of love which does not set.

Gwladus M. Tuckett.

( I n “ T h e F e i e n d ” , London.)


P L A N T L IF E

A n d D i s t r i b u t i o n i n R e l a t i o n to C l i m a t e a n d H e a l t h *

The inquiring mind is always standing on the borderland of discovery. Most of the Universe is still unoccupied, and there is room for all. W e are particularly favored in W est China by the nearness of many intriguing lines of investigation ; the ethnology of the tribes and nomads; the physical geography of the Border Marches; social and religious conditions; plant, human and other animal life and climatic conditions. J. Huston Edgar has spoken to us about geographic controlT There are other factors and phenomena still to be studied. W . R . Morse has gotten anthropological data; so has Paul Stevenson of Peking. The writer has reported in a preliminary wav on the Medical Botany of the Border. To-night, let us consider plant life in three relationships.

I . As an index of human biologic vital statistics.I I . As Source of accessory food factors .V itam ins).

I I I . A s a source of drugs for treatment of disease.These are all related to each other.The study of plants is a very old one. I t was begun back

in geological ages when herbivorous animals like the huge saurians ate the herbage of enormous forests of tree ferns. W hen man appeared, he is represented as being domiciled in a garden, where all kinds ©f good things grew. This delectable picture appeals to all imaginations and is little disturbed bv the mechanical minded E volutionist; for practically every healthy man and woman either loves a garden or wishes periodically to breathe the same air as our plant friends, in field and forest. That is admirably the case with the Chinese.

The most astonishing thing on earth is Life itself. How it started? and for what purpose? Teleology, or the science of the purpose of-things, is a fascinating “ gam e,” and requires the study of plants, and their habits, as well as the study of animals. W e take it rather for granted that plants are for the use of man and other animals ; and yet we know that plants get the better of us all in the long run. For the animal kingdom

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returns to “ dust” with the assistance of tiny plants called bacteria. There would be no putrefaction without bacterial action, which reduces animal tissues to primordial elements which become the food, in turn, of visible “ plants” . This life cycle is always going on like a Buddhist “ wheel of life,” and suggests to our mind a kind of continuous re-incarnation. For in Nature nothing is wasted; all the wheels in the clockwork of cells and tissues, strangely enough, keep on going after death and are brought together in new clocks of living organisms as the im mortal germ cells pick them up out of their environment.

Y e t we cannot but conclude that the mechanistic philosopher’s interpretation of Life is inadequate, if not stupid. A t any rate, as Huxley says, the teleologist “ can always defy the evolutionist to disprove that the primordial molecular arrangement was not intended to evolve the phenomena of the Universe” . So we may say with Marcus Dods, that “ Evolution, in short, by disclosing to us the marvelous power and accuracy of natural law, compels us more emphatically than ever to refer all law to a supreme, originating intelligence”. And it is, ipso facto, a supporting intelligence, also.

I t must be highly amusing to the Great Architect of atoms and universes to observe us little puzzle -- wits. As the ancient poet said ; “ He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh” . An atheist is usually a person wanting in a sense of humor. I believe the Creator enters into our seekings and helps us to find answers to life’s riddles ; and wants us moreover, to rejoice, and join in H is artistry.

In this essay, however, we want to spend this space, not only in philosophizing, but in taking a walk around God’s garden world and enjoying some of the things to be discovered. The true naturalist finds a great deal mere than plants when botanizing ; and finding a new species of plant may be as exciting (and more “ humane” ) than knocking the “ stuffing” out of our animal neighbors with a gun, for sport.

A t home it is now fairly easy to acquire a m otor car and gypsy across the States and Provinces. W ith such an outfit one can go prospecting in such wonderful National Parks as Canada and the U . S. A . Or, it is not impossible to study swale, forest and farm land from an airplane,— if one has the cash and nerve.

The forest areas of North America have been rapidly shrinking. W e may note that the more inaccessible W est is the home of the remaining great forests. In Oregon there are pine forests that would require a century of modern lumbering to cut


and reduce to lumber. This matter of forest destruction has become a serious menace in our home countries and only in North Europe has the situation been met with sound economic and scientific methods. In Central America the forest smothered the great temples and cities of the dead Maya civilization, whose monuments have onlv lately been rediscovered. I t is uot likely that the forest will similarly swallow up American and European civilization. But who can tell? St?range things have happened in human history.

Scientists have been considering the giant trees of our W est. They have recently concluded that their great size and age are due to the absence of tree diseases. Climate, sea- winds and soilchemistry doubtless have a bearing. Has this any connection with climatic conditions?

The Chinese border also has its great forests, alpine meadows, and valleys. A startling transition from much cloud and haze and little sun. to much sunshine and sparse rain and cloud is seen on journeying from Chengtu westward. Between Yachow and Tachienlu, for example, are three moderately high ranges running generalW north and south, As you cross one after another, you find yourself, each time, in a much drier and less verdant country. These mountain ranges are successively taller, and bv the time the moist winds from the East pass the last, they are robbed of much of their water vapor. Result,— a semi-arid region, characterized by plants that can grow with a minimum o‘f water,— like the prickly pear (thought to be an importation) and the thorn apple,— known in medicine as datura stramonium,— horehound, dwarf chrysanthemum, artemisia, and a great many others.

The clear atmosphere of these higher altitudes, also, allows more of the ultra-violet rays of the sun-spectrum to reach the earth and this seems to have a powerful effect in the production of medicinal principles in many plants. The presence of aconites,chenopodium, solanaceous plants, (to which the familiar “ deadly night shade” belongs— as to potato, tomato, tobacco, henbane and numerous others), are an interesting biological index to the “ medicinal virtue” of the sunlight in these semi-desert regions. Aconite rejoices in the lush alpine meadows on the eastern faces of the mountains at 1 4 ,000— 15,000 feet, and as you go down these heavenly natural gardens you see rhubarbs, larkspur, yellow meconopsis and purple poppies. Specimens of these interesting inhabitants have been collected and sent to British, American and Swedish botanical collections by the Cunninghams of Tachienlu, by Smith of Upsala, W ilson* of the Arnold Arboretum , and the writer. Dr.

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W ilson has introduced a thousand new plants to American gardens,— a real reason for indebtedness to W est China.

In and behind these “ rain screen” mountains, therefore, and in Yunnan are all combinations of altitude, sun and rain, resulting in probably the most prolific display of plant geneia on the face of the earth j and it is not to be wondered at that the Chinese pharmacopeia finds many of its herbs in this “ western heaven”. Here, as well as in the sunny wastes of the north, grows “ ma hwang”, a “ horse-tail” , now extensively used under the name of Ephedrine in the Western W orld since being investigated by workers in the Peking Union Medical College. Plants for medicinal use choose a habitat less favorable for food plants, unless special help is given the latter by irrigation. The new knowledge of the vitamine content of plants and of the relation of vitamines to sunlight, is revolutionizing not only dietetics, especially the feeding of childien, but also the treatment of diseases which now are known to be due, wholly or partly, to a lack of vitiamines in the daily food. Osteomalacia, or softening of the bones, is a disease prevalent in the north, where aridity and extreme temperatures conspire to rob the people of a supply of green vegetables and of sufficient sunning, even tho there is an abundance of sunshine.

The distribution of sunlight being such a vital matter to plant life, and what it accomplishes is thus vital, also, to our human life. Stored sunlight in green plants is essential not only to our health and well being but to our very existence. It is essential to the growth, mentality and reproductive powers of all animal life.

A radio speaker recently propounded the question W hat is the most essential substance in the world?” The answer is— chlorophyll— the substance in leaves that give them their beautiful green color. W ithout it plants could not breath nor make use of the sunshine. Green leaves, modest things, quietly working all through the season, are the one thing that the world cannot go on living without. And they cannot live and remain green without sunshine ; hence the importance of the sun as a factor in plant health. The green leaf absorbs sunshine and carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere, and these join forces with the water drawn up by the roots and carried by electrical elevation to the leaf laboratory. There'sugar and nitrogenous substances are made out of these simple elem ents; sunshine, carbon, ammonia and H 2 0 . N ot only so, but the plant is endowed with some occult wisdom by which it packs the sugar molecules into bundles called starch, and stores these in roots and tubers, (like potatoes, which forthwith are the


sustenance of Irish w it !) and creates perfumed oils, and powerful medicinal alkaloids.

As green plants require sunshine, which seems to be a form or ultrasubstantial or electrical emanation, or “ spirituous substance” so, animals get their life sustenance from plants,— that is, indirectly from the sun. But the sun can also produce a chemical change in the superficial layers of the skin and fur and feathers of animals, and this chemical effect preserves young animals especially from getting tohe disease called rickets, a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, and bones.

Hence the enormous value of sunshine in sufficient quantity for the health of ourselves and our plant friends who work so faithfully for those who are wise enough to appreciate them. Countless children “ do poorly” for the simple want of green vegetables and m ilk-fat, made by the cow from “ greens” ; countless other m ortals l-inguish for want of “ insolation”, i.e ., exposure to the sun. Even a little “ sunning” each day will maintain fair health, which will drive away “ blues” (mind shadows) and distempers.

The kind and quantity of plants is therefore an index of life conditions. Plants are not only factors, but, it may safely be said, thev are essential for the maintenance of life.

The E ight Im m ortals sought in this western heaven the fruit of im mortality, represented by the peach. This may be part legend and part myth : legend, in that men have always hunted for an elixir of life ; myth in that im mortality was thought to come from “ nature” magic, such as plant principles. I t ’s a fundamentally sound “ superstition”, is’nt it, after a ll?

For us it may be given to seek renewed life for this people, bound as they are by disease, in the “ sunshine belt” behind the “ rain-screen” ranges. There in the future may be sanitaria where children crippled by bone tuberculosis may have the healing of unstinted sunshine day by day, and wherepuimonary tuberculars may have dry, cool, air and sunshine. These are the “ Chinese drugs” par excellence that hundreds need. There, too, we may some day see medicine farms on the high sunny m oors; and the “ trees of life shall be for the healing of the nation”.

S. H . L i l j e s t r a n d


T H E C H U R C H ’S B IG G E ST C O N T R IB U T IO N

“ The Church’s biggest contribution,” writes Canon E . S. W oods of England, ‘ :is to keep on breeding Christians who will insist on treating things and all material goods in the lisrht of the life of the Spirit and from the point of view of the family life of the children of God ; who realize and act on the realization that there is no ‘private’ spending, that there are social relations for everything that a man is and does, and that a cheerful and beautiful simplicity of life is a beacon light for Christ in the midst of a hard and money-grabbing world. One such Christian is worth a thousand sermons.”

B IR D N O T E S .

The Fall and W inter season is an excellent one in which to make a beginning of bird study. M ost young birds have by this time assumed mature plumage, migrants and rarely-seen visitors are few, and as the foliage becomes thinner the chances for observation of course become greater. So the “ N otes” for this month will introduce to you a few of our common, larger birds. Those mentioned last month are all still with us, except, perhaps, the Mosque Swallow, which leaves us in October.

I am glad to report that since writing the first article some copies of “ Shanghai Birds”, by W ilkinson, have come to town. The illustrations in this are, for the most part, excellent, and will be a great help to us all in bird identifications. See Plate I for the three Crows mentioned in my last, Plate I I for the Magpie, Plate X X for the Spotted-neck Dove, and Plate V I I for the Daurian Redstart.

The Chinese Bulbul, or (usually pronounced BehTou Gwer) is very common all through the year. I t is often


seen in our vegetable and flower gardens, and is fond of our garden fruits. The bird is about eight inches in length. The plumage varies quite a little with age and season, but the mature birds are readily distinguished by the while spot at the back of the head, and the general greenish olive of the mantle (back and folded wings). A t times ihere is a wash of vellow on the underparts, but more frequently the abdomen is just light grey. (See “ 'thanghai Birds'5, PJaie V .) The bird is quite a songster, but opinion may differ as to the musical quality of its notes. One of its songs I have helped rnvself to remember by translating it as “ H ark, hark, the lark” . (I t is onlv the liquid rk sound which made me select the word “ lark” , the name does not apply at all.) The Bulbuls comprise quite a large family of Old W orld birds, of which at least five varieties are found in Szechwan,

Another bird which is an enemy of the fruit in our gardens is the Black Thrush, or Chinese Blackbird, This beginsto show itself on our campus about the first week in November (an occasional one is seen earlier), and from that time until the end of June it is one of our commonest birds. Moreover it is very easily recognized, and our readers probably need no introduction to it. As it hops around on our lawns, pulling up worms, etc., one can easily see that it is related to our American robin, which is also a thrush. W hen the young birds appear they also betray the thrush relationship by spotted throat and breast. In the mature male the bill is orange-yellow, but one frequently sees members of the fam ily in which this is not a pronounced characteristic.

Still another bird which frequents our gardens, though seen more often along our hedge rows, is the W hite browed Laughing Thrush, or . I t is a first cousin of the ‘ -GinH w am i” Jg j which is one of the favorite Chinese cage birds, and which is quite a songster. The fam ily of Babbling, or Laughing Thrushes, differs from that of the true thrushes,and is mostly an Old W orld group. The nestlings do not have the spotted breast, as the thrushes do, and, in general, these birds are larger. They resemble true thrushes in being generally brown in color. This member of the family is about nine inches long, with tail long in proportion to the rest of the bird. In color and size, as well as in habits, it reminds one of our American Brown Thrasher. The crown and tail are quite a bright rufous, the mantle a chestnut brown. There is considerable white about the face, both over and under the eye. This is not mentioned in “ Shanghai Birds” , but its cousin, the


“ Gin Hwam i” is depicted on Plate IV . I t generally keeps near the ground, and is frequently seen skimming across our paths, or along our hedge-rows with a peculiar kind of running jump There are usually from three to eight together. They have a* loud shrill call which is often the last bird note one hears at dusk.

Another of our larger birds which is an enemy, not of our fruit, but of small bird and animal life, is the Great Red-backed Shrike. Another name sometimes used, which gives more idea of the family characteristics? is that of Butcher Bird. W alking across our campus one day two of us espied what seemed to be a Shrike putting some meat out to dry on a small cedar. Sure enough, on going over to the spot after the bird had flown we found a small fledgling impaled on a broken twig. The bird is about eleven inches long, and is really handsome, especially in flight, when he shows off to advantage his bright rufous back, set off by black wings and tail. The light blue-grey crown is also set off by a black band across the forehead and through the eves. H is picture is given on Plate I X in Wilkinson's book, but our Chengtu birds usually show more rufous on the abdomen, and more of a real blue-grey over the crown, than the bird depicted there. During the Autumn months this bird loves to perch on the very tip-top of a high willow and sing continuously, sometimes for half an hour at a time, a great variety of song, frequently mimicing other birds in the course of its repertoire. Its most characteristic note, however, is a. harsh, scolding one. A nd its most characteristic pose is one of watchful waiting on some high pole or. branch. In this attitude the tail always points straight dow7n.

I f I do not mention the Chinese Blue Magpie soon, someone will be sure to ask about it, for it is our most striking bird, as well as quite a common one. I t usually surprises folk to find that it is a magpie, for the long sweep of tail, and striking coloration lead one to suppose that it belongs to a more aristocratic group. But if it is watched closely, both in flight and song, one will realize that there are many similarities between this and our common magpie. Black face, throat, and breast are the same in both birds, with white abdomen below, but this bird has bright red bill and feet, and crown of head light blue-grey. The mantle is dark blue, with black and white markings. ' The tail is seventeen inches long, and each successive pair of tail feathers, from the short ones at the side to the longest pair in the middle, is tipped with white. I t is this tail which simply demands notice, whether one is a real bird lover or not. Several of the notes of this bird are harsh and


coarse, but there is also a more musical call which sounds something like pic-a-ree, pic-a-ree, with the accent on the last syllable. This is not mentioned in W ilkinson’s book, but is pictured by David and Oust-alet on Plate 85,

September, 1930.

Jake B. D y e .

H E A L T H H E R O E S , 2.

Louis P a s t e u r ,

Just a little over a hundred years ago, in the little city of Dole, in France, this celebrated and world famed scientist was born. To be exact, Pasteur was born December 1822.

The little chappie was the son of poor parents, tanners by trade, and the business was not very good during the childhood of our hero. H is father was compelled to move about to find work. But he had one great desire for his son and that was that he should receive an education. So Louis was sent to school. H e was not a brilliant student. He was just average in his studies, However he fell under the wise guidance of averv fine headmaster who inspired him with a desire to go to the great normal school in Paris. W hen he did succeed in getting to the N orm al school, he was so homesick' that he caused the headmaster of the school great alarm and it was necessary to send Louis home for a time.

But it was while he was at home that he realized that if he were to fit himself for any world famed work he would have to fivercome his homesickness, and with more determination than ever he went back to school and plunged into his work so hard that he had no time to think of anything but the task in the school. Thus he soon overcame his homesick tendancies. In school he worked so hard and was eo modest that he won the love and respect of his teachers and school fellows. W hen he graduated he stood fourth on the list.

Pasteur early showed a liking for chemistry and soon he was making a special study of crystals. H e spent long hours in tha


laboratory and never seemed to become fatigued. But his studies soon took him along the line of fermentation. Many of the merchants who manufactured wines and alcohols were having trouble with their yeasts. Pasteur took up the study of fermentation, and tried to find out what the yeasts did in the process of fermentation. H e found that the yeast ate the sugars and threw off as waste material., alcohol and carbonic acid, just as our own bodies do, when they throw off the waste from the food we eat.

About this time there was a serious controversy as to the origin of life. There were some who claimed that it originated spontaneous! v, bv what they called “ spontaneous generation.” Pasteur, bv a series of experiments, proved that life came from life through, eggs, seeds, etc. He continued his studies to prove that everv form of life, no matter how small, springs'from a germ or seed peculiar to itself. He also proved, at this time, that there were manv living forms in the dust of the air, and the water.

Now, Pasteur reasoned thatif these tiny organisms lived in the air, the water and in other plants and animals, why should not some of these be the cause of disease. He began an intensive studv in this direction and together with the German scientist K och, was able to show to the world that every disease had its specific organism and could be caused only by that organism. He arrived at this conclusion after his brilliant work with silkworms and with the sheep anthrax. He also conceived the idea of vaccinating the sheep against anthrax. So sure was he that he could save the sheep by vaccinating them that he was willing to risk his whole reputation on the experiment. H e chose fifty sheep, twenty-five of which he vaccinated. H e repeated the dose of protective vaccine twelve days later, and in another fortnight declared that these twenty-five', sheep were protected against anthrax. N ow he innoculated all fifty of the sheep with a strong virus of anthrax. By the second of June the unprotected sheep were all dead while those which Pasteur had vaccinated, were not even sick. Thus he demonstrated the valve of vaccine. The saving of animal life through these discoveries, at the hand of Pasteur, more than paid the Prussian W ar indemnity of 1871.

Just about this time the silk industry of France was threatened because of the illness of the silk worms. After six vears of the most ardent study, Pasteur was able to discover the cause of the illness, cure it and thus save the silk industry to the south of France. H is research work had saved billions of francs

or his country.

•20 THE WEST CHINA MISSIONAIIYNE WS

In 1869 Pasteur suffered a paralysis of the left side of the body. This greatly discouraged the scientist but he was encouraged by his friends and six months after his stroke, was able to carry on in his government laboratory. But the Franco Prussian war came on and be was compelled to postpone his activities. However at the close of the war he resumed his studies and was able to discover a chicken-cholera vaccine which was instrumental in saving the chickens, ninety percent of which had died heretofore.

A ll of these discoveries led Pasteur to the germ theory of disease and he worked on with this one thing in his mind, all other tasks being subsidarv to this great search.

W hile he was studying anthrax he had begun a study of rabies. Hydrophobia is caused, in human beings, by the bite of a mad dog. Owing to the tragic death caused by this disease, it was d readed by the people. And there was such a lot of suspense connected with the bite of a dog, as the symptoms of the disease do not develop for such a long time, —as long as fort;y days— after the bite. This led Pasteur to think that the disease attacked the nervous system, and he thought that the disease virus might stay in the system a long time before reaching the nerve centres. He experimented with the blood and saliva of the mad dog without success, then he decided to inject “ nerve matter” from a rabid animal,directly into a dog’s brain. Pasteur never liked to see any animal suffer but he felt that even if such an experiment should cause suffering, it should be tried. He was so timid that he delayed the experiment,andone day when he was absent, an assistant performed the experiment on a dog, and told Pasteur on his return. Pasteur wras very solicitous for the dog bur was overjoyed to see that no paralysis has ensued. However after fourteen days the dog became mad, thus proving that Pasteur’s surmise, that the virus of hydrophobia does attack the nervous system, was correct. He immediately began to study how to attenuate the virus and gradually evolved the present system of manufacturing/virus for the celebrated Pasteurs treatment for hydrophobia.

But it took Pasteur a long time to get up courage to try the experiment on a man. One day a little Alsatian boy, Joseph Meister, nine years old, was brought to Pasteur. H e had been bitten by a mad dog. H e had received fourteen bites and had been rescued by a man, who no doubt saved his life from the rabid beast. It took a great deal of persuasion on the part of the mother and friends to get Pasteur try the experiment on the wee laddie. Even after he had begun the injections, Pasteur


would walk the floor night after night, sleepless, with anxiety and apprehension as to the outcome of the injections on the boy. But instead of their being any adverse affect on the little Meister, he continued well and happy and the dreaded rabies did not develop. Imagine Pasteur’s delight and the great joy of the mother when her boy was delivered to her well and free from rabies. Then another case of a wee laddie 14 years old was brought to Pasteur and he treated him with the same marked success. People who had been bitten by dogs now flocked to Pasteur’s laboratory and it was necessary to build a large institute for him. His name and fame spread through the world and he could not make his virus fast enough to supply the demands.

Pasteur had now become, one of the greatest benefactors of humanity of modern times. W ith his treatment, the death rate from rabies was less than one percent, while it had been one hundred percent before. This was the last great achievement of his career.

Pasteur was still very keen and anxious to make further discoveries, but his health was failing. H e never fully recovered from the paralytic stroke which he had suffered in 1869. On his seventieth birthday, the Republic of France gave him a great birthday party. H e was introduced to the guests by the President of the Republic with the Republican band playing a special march written for Pasteur. He was too weak, physically, to replv to the great honors thrust upon him and his son had to make the speech for him. In that speech Pasteur said, among other things,

“ Students, say to yourselves, what have I done for my instructors ? and as you go on further, what have I done for my country ? until the time comes when you may have the happiness of thinking that you have contributed in some way to the progress and to the welfare of ham anity.”

Pasteur died at the age of seventy three, in 1895, a man revered bv all and with world wide fame, having spent his life for others. H is motto, if he had lived to-day would have been the Rotary motto, “ service above self” .


F A M I N E N E E D S IN K A N S U

In your July-A.ugust number I notice your statement regarding the dire famine devastating Kansu, Shensiand other parts of N . China mentions that in Szechuan there has beenlittle said and little done to aid in relieving the suffering of the victims. From your way of putting it I infer that you think Szechuan missionaries ought to do something to help relieve the distress. In that case you will be interested in knowing some details of the Kansu famine and what is being done bv missionaries there in the way of relief, in order that the Christian forces of Szechuan may participate to some extent in giving much needed help.

I have been a missionary in Kansu since April 1 895, located in Taochow and Minchow. My work covers practically all of South and most of Central Kansu, having Gospel H alls in 28 Hsien and several market towns of the province. In 1928 wheu the famine began I visited all but two places where we have work and know from personal contact as well as correspondence with our nearly 100 Chinese evangelists just wrhat the conditions are.

The chief cause of the present famine in Kansu is the persistent drought which began early in 1928 and hascontinued with a few exceptions to the present time. Some Hsien had enough rain in ’ 28 to produce partial crops, others had enough in '29, and still others this year, but taking the whole three year period there has been in the entire region only about enough rain for one ordinary year, so that one year’s produce has had to suffice for three years’ need.

Contributing causes of the famine are : (1 ) The locating of immense armies of Kuominchun in Kansu consumed all surplus food supplies before the drought began. (2) The planting of about half the best land in poppy for many years greatly reduced the production of grain. (3) The exorbitant m ilitary taxes of many years forced multitudes to leave their farms desolate rather than pay them. (4) The attempt of the Kuominchun Government to collect the poppy tax, now called ' ‘Land tax”, from the large Moslem population ofH oehow brought on


a fierce Mohammedan rebellion which began in April '1:8 ai d continues to the present. (5) The ceaseless fighting between the Kuominchun and the Mohammedans, native Kansu armies, and numerous bandits so exhausted the resources of the people that they lose hope and thousands preferred to starve than to live such a miserable life.

Realizing that the adult population v.eje n oie or let-s to blame for the famine, I determined to give relief only to the innocent children I saw treking along along the roads begging a miserable pittance from people who were themselves on the verge of starvation, and such aculis as I knew had rot contributed to the famine by planting poppy, being Christians. I sent reports to many papers and friends in many lands who responded generously, and, with the efficient aid of our Chines-e Pastors, preachers, evangelists and teachers, opened three Homes for Famine Children where 500 destitute children from all over our field were fed, clothed, taught to believe in Christ and read a little, and also taught to work a little with a view to becoming self-supporting.

To our great grief the pestilence which always accompanies famine came among our children and for months we had to bury their poor little exhausted bodies, four or five each day, until about 150 were gone. Then the Mohammedans and bandits took about 20 of them. About 40 have returned to their homes. But we still have about 300 that we support while training them to be Christian citizens of China, able to earn their own living.

The International Famine R.elief Commission has done considerable relief work in Kansu but their regulations prevent their giving us any help with our Homes for Children, hence we have had to depend entirely on the voluntary gifts of those who learned what we were doing and desired to share in it.

W ith my familv I came to Chungking last May expecting to get our eyes and teeth attended to, get a few supplies, arrange to get our money from Shanghai through Chungking to Minchow, Kansu, permanently, and then return to our field in Kansu. A las! the incessant banditry, rebellion,and general lawlessness have closed the way for our return. On Aug. 10 we received a cablegram from our Board approving our going to America on furlough. Since I have been in China over twelve vears this term and my wife over six perhaps it is best that we go home for a rest hoping that the country will quiet down, a stable government be established, and we can return a vear hence to continue our labors in Kansu.


I have just sent money to Minchow through some merchants to’ keep our general work and Children’s Homes going for some months, until about the end of this year. I f anv of our fellow- missionaries and other friends in Szechuan should desire to help support these famine children and enable us to take in more than we are now training, Pastor Meng Ming Sh’ i

who is in charge during my absence will gladly receive their gifts and use them for that purpose. I am asking Rev. Gordon R . Jones of the United Church of Canada Mission Agency, Chungking, to receive such gifts and forward them to Minchow.

In this work for the starving children of Kansu I know I am obeying the teaching of our Lord W ho said, “ Suffer the children to come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven” .

Yours in Christ’s Service,

W .W . S i m p s o n , S u p t .W e s t C h i n a A s s e m b l i e s o r G o d .

C H E N G T U S T U D E N T S U M M E R C O N F E R E N C E

Men are the most wonderful creatures in the world. The progress of the university is based on the spiritual, intellectual and physical phases of human beings. But the secret of world progress is in the hands of young people. A ll the activities of social movements have the purpose of building up tne ideal for the next generation. M en'of the present period are responsible for the coming world. N o one can refuse his duty if he be a faithful citizen in the Kingdom of God.

Chengtu is the second student centre of China. I t has about thirty thousand students above the middle grade. Most of them come from various places of Szechuan. As they come they bring fresh ideas to the general thought of the young students in W est China. W hat a wonderful opportunity for student work there is here!


As time goes on and radical thought pervades China from the coast cities the ideas in the minds of the young people are complicated. Rich experience and good judgement have little influence so that radical notions, that make their actions d ifferent from those of ordinary students, are inevitable. Nearly every one of them has some very urgent problems to be solved, but, because of their ^unnecessary misery most of them become gloomy. Regarding questions of economic situation, sexual control, family reformation, political matters and religious problems, they are enthusiastic in trying to find the solution for all in accordance with the pictures in their minds which are piinted by certain riotous ideas from somewhere. According to such doctrines they do not care whether they will bring calamity or safety to the community around them. The tremendous problem before them is, W hich is the right direction to go. Some of them miss their opportunity to be a real man or to make noble sacrifice of their whole life interests and even to lose their lives. It is a most tragic story that three years ago fourteen young students were shot by the government on account of their too extreme views.

Their great deed is for persons of deep clear thought and rich religious experience who will take a sincere interest in leading along the right road. How I wish the students could realize that their future destiny is based on a right and reasonable outlook derived from their religious experiences. The Christian Student Movement has come into existence to meet this problem. The great purpose of this new organization is to give a reasonable and distinctive view of God through the teaching of Jesus Christ. On that aim our whole momentum is directed.

“ The discovery of the young man’s new road” was the aim of the Student Summer Conference. Y .M .C .A ., Y .W .C .A ., Student Activities Committee of the W est China Union University and the Fellowship for Promotion of the Christian Student Movement all cooperated in the Conference this year. The prog ram was entirely in the hands of the Student Movement, and the business was largely done by the fine able students. Forty girls came from the M .E .M . girls’ school, the C .M .M . girls’ school, the Girls’ Norm al school and the W om an’s college of the University. Fifty-three bovs came from the University and the W est China Senior Middle school. Unfortunately no governmentstudents came because the conference date conflicted with their examination period. The Conference lasted six days. The lectures and discussions went on smoothly. Practically all the students were interested in social and personal problems.


W e enjoyed the great privilege of having Dr. J. H . Franklin, the foreign secretary of the A .B .F .M .S ., give excellent addresses to the students whom he impressed deeply. Sunday, June :49th was the last dav of the Conference and it was the climax of the spirit of the meetings. Sunday morning the special service was conducted by Bishop Song. In the afternoon two special gatherings took place one after another. “ Sex and Y outh” was given by Dr. Dryden Linsley Phelpsand “ Vocational Guidenee” by M r. A .J . Brace. A fter the lectures many questions were asked by both boys and girls. The students caught Dew light from these talks.

One will never forget the valuable critisism ofieied in the farewell meeting Sunday evening. The students apparently took great interest in this sort of work, and best of all, they looked upon this conference as their-own. Such high appreciation from the students proves the necessity of the Student Movement. From this reasonable and lucid critisism future Student Summer Conferences may be even more wisely planned. W’e all are hoping that an ideal conference mav result from the thoughtful and religious group of students in this area.

On the whole the Conference was successful. It had, however, several weak points which we should not overlook. First, the question of place. The University campus is too fam iliar to the Conference members and it could not inspire them much. Secondly, the discussion leaders were too busy with their own business and could not give their whole time to enjoy close fellowship with the students. Third, we regarded the discussion groups as the essential thing in the conference but we spent very little time in preparation. So students did not always take much interest in them. W e shall do our best to remove these deficiencies in the next conference.

Such a student managed conference, however, teaches a great lesson. First of all is the appreciation of work. Every one in the conference enjoyed doing his best. To work is the expression of one's ideal. “ An ideal is a poor thing until it be incarnated”. Second, the spirit of cooperation. A ll the executive members were doing their best. I t was very much like a machine, every part af it went on smoothly and harmoniously. Close fellowship and intimate friendship increased by living and working together. The Conference gave more opportunity for the students to know one another better. Third, a deepened religious experience God worked in the Conference. I t was entirely based on the teaching of Jesus Christ and the promotion of H is Kingdom . Every small item in the meetings had spiritual meaning to us. This


message gave us more power to work and made us experience the real value of His teaching. A great opportunity was given to offer ourselves for use of His cause.

W allace Wang.

( S e c r k t a r y of C .S .M .)

T Z E O H O W D rS T R IC T R E L IG IO U S E D U C A T IO N

L E A D E R S ’ T R A IN IN G CLASS

Text books for the Religious Education Leaders' Training Class had been ordered mouths before, and had already arrived when one day in Mav eight or ten leaders of Tzechow Christendom met to make plans for the Class. The meeting was marked with enthusiasm. The course as outlined for the first year by the University Extension Department was adopted and teachers were decided upon. D r. Havermale, M r. Dsang Lin Gao, and Mr. Liu Dsi Min were to be the “ out-of-tow n” workers, and were expected to furnish most of the steam which would propel the undertaking to a successful destination. So plans were made on the crest of a wave of enthusiasm. These plans were forthwith printed and distributed throughout the District.

Then came the slump !It was impossible for D r. Havermale to come. M r. Dsang’s

ability to arrange his affairs so he could come was exceedingly doubtful, and Mr. Liu, while hoping to come, could not definitely promise. And it was less than a month until the opening date ! W ith this discouraging news, darkness settled upon the Committee ! The pastor, M r. W u , whose moral support we sadly needed, was away. “ I t can’t be done !” rang like a refrain for days, and at last a definite decision was announced— postpone it until New Years. W e received the news with ill- concealed disappointment, but it was settled.

The darkest hour was just before daicn.The very next day a letter from M r. Liu said he could

come. A letter from Miss Rao, of this year’s graduating class


at the University, offered her services in any capacity in which she could help. The same day an article appeared in the local Kuomingtang paper stating that on a certain date an institution was to be opened for the creation of ‘ ‘foreign slaves” . Suddenly, all began to talk and to act as though there had been no decision the day before. A letter should be written to Miss Rao immediately accepting her offer and asking her to teaoh a class. Time was short. W e must work fast. So we thanked God and took courage.

And truly our troubles were ended.M r. Dsang came after all, and so did M r. Liu and Miss

Rao. F iftv people, mostly teachers, gathered from all parts of the district. Seventeen of them were men. A l l settled down with notebook and pencil to get the most out of “ Social Principles of Jesus”, taught by M r. D sang; “ Child Study” under Miss R a o ; “ How to Teach Religion”, presented by M r. L iu ; and Old and New Testaments taught by our local leadei s. In the middle of this array of studies came a half hour of song practice under Miss Dsong.

The Class continued for three weeks— three of the hottest weeks of the summer (109F . one day 1). Because of the heat it was voted to have Morning W atch at six o’clock and to begin classes at seven-thirty, running straight through to twelve- fifteen. The afternoons were thus free for seeking the coolest places and storing up energy for the last pull of the day, the evening gathering in the spacious open-air gymnasium. Here three times a week messages of power and inspiration were given by our ministerial leaders. Did any come into these meetings with a sense of defeat and wondering if a dignified retreat would not be the best way out of the dilemma in which we as a church find ourselves ? Such an attitude could not long live in the atmosphere of these services. W ere there those whose best efforts for the Kingdom had seemingly failed and who were therefore on the verge of despair? H ear the Parable of the Talents as enlarged by M r. Dsang. A fter the first and the second and the third servants had brought their lord’s money before him and given an account of their stewardship, then came the fourth servant who also had received a talent. Kneeling before his lord he said, “ Lord, behold thy empty-handed servant. I took the talent thou gavest me and traded with it, hoping to return it to vou with interest. But, behold, I lost it all, and have nothing to bring before my lord .” Then his lord said unto him, “ W ell done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast served to the best of thy ability. Enter thou into the joy of


of thy lord.” Hearing this message, more than one heart resolved not to bury his talent for fear of failure, but to merit the Master’s commendation for having done his best.

Three nights each ■week, the evening meeting took the form of a discussion group. “ How can we Christianize our students?” was the subject one evening. Some one suggested that another word, such as “ moralize be substituted for “ Christianize”, as the latter sets the m orality of Christ as a lim it to our moral progress, whereas it is conceivable that Christian morals mixed with Confucian and other native morality, might produce a type of character superior to Jesus. This speaker was satisfactorily answered by another who defined “ Christianize” as meaning the production of the highest tvpe of character. N o matter how far the race may progress bevond what we now know as the highest, there is room for all that progress in the word “ Christianize” . From that point on the discussion followed practical lines— interesting, but too long to repeat. Other subjects discussed included, “ Should the Bible be Taught in our Primary Schools?” “ How can we raise the place of our Christian Schools in the community ?”, and “ The Contribution of Christian Schools to Chinese civilization”.

"One special feature of the program was a debate presided over by Miss Rao on the question, “ Should there be Christian Schools in China N ow ?” The debate was one of the most orderly procedures I have ever witnessed in China, and the judges rendered a characteristically Chinese decision, giving the strong points of each side and leaving each side free to suppose thev won, thus offending nobody. Good sportsmanship -was revealed when each side gave the other a heartv cheer.

On a hot night at the end of three weeks, the Committee with the teachers sat out under the stars and planned for next year’s Class. No one’s enthusiasm had suffered through the excessive heat. Everybody was ready for the next advance. A Committee on Course of Study was appointed and teachers were spoken for in advance. Three weeks were found to be too short, so four weeks were advocated for next year. There was an optimistic hope that the Class could be held at Douglas Heights but it was agreed that “ if we can’t have it on the mountain, we will hold it on the plain.” Examination over this year’s work was planned to be given at the opening of next year’s Class to encourage a continued study of the books throughout the year. The name “ Training Class” was changedto Norm al Class (ftjjfrgSE) as the former was considered to have an imperialistic sound.


Thus the first Religious Education Institute in Tzechow passed into history, and its success is numbered among our definite answers to prayer. It was certainly not bv might nor by power nor by any wisdom of men, but by the direct working of H is Spirit, to whom be all the praise. Through the same Spirit, we are expecting a better Class next year.

Orvia Proctor

B E L A T E D N O T E S F R O M S U M M E R Y R E T R E A T S .

B e l u d In H a p p e n i n g s .

There have been at this resort this year a total of 40 missionaries, 32 children and 22 Chinese students and teachers. A ll the bungalows have been occupied but one. I t has been fine to have so many children, several old enough to enjoy tennis at hours when the adults were not playing. The students were mostly from the university, and shared largely in social and other affairs with the missionaries. Several were out at daylight playing tennis.

On the sabbath there were the service in English, a separate service held at the same time for the younger children. In the evening there was a song service. On Thursday afternoons were held prayer meetings, special attention being given to requests for prayer for various kinds of work and its needs.

On Sabbath morning there were well-attended Chinese services, a Chinese presiding and missionaries and Chinese taking turns in speaking. W hile these services were chiefly for the mountain people, there was also a good attendance of students and servants. Out of this grew a Sabbath evening inform al gathering for answering questions concerning Christianity. Two carpenters employed at the resort seem truly interested inquirers.

Students of both sexes occasionally met together at dinners etc., being properly chaperoned. They were also often invited out by the missionaries, some of whom had been their teachers for several years. Several were employed by missionaries as language teachers, assistants in literary work, etc.


Every summer, near the close of the season, there is given an entertainment by students and servants for their own pleasure and for the mountaiu people who can attend, closing with fireworks. This year was voted the best ever. Some of the plavs were quite clever.

There were three hiking parties, two of them of Chiu Feng (Nine peaks), lasting five or six days and reaching an altitude of about 12,000 feet. Another and shorter trip was bv M r and Mrs. Brown, with seven of the older girls. Muriel Brown met with an accident is a cave. The place was dangerous, but the guide stupidly refrained from giving warning, with t ie result that Muriel pitched downwards and cut a nastv place just above one eye. A doctor was sent for, and after returning she was quite ill for a week or more.

Several missionaries have been studying rather hard iu order to get off some examinations in Chinese before going down the mountains. Others have been getting ready material for teaching purposes. A ll, we are sure, will be readv to report a healthful and pleasant summer here more than a mile above the sea. During the two weeks phenomenal heat below, there was no reason to complain here.

C H U N G K IN G N O T E S

Thirty-tw o bungalows are occupied on the Chungking Hills this summer. Eighteen are out of commission as a result of the 1926 and subsequent looting. Tv.o only are unoccupied ard it is understood these are in such bad repair that they could not be rented on that account. Some of the looted bungalows might be repaired and used again but most of them are now completely in ruins. Three new bungalows have been built this summer at the North end of the H ills.

U p to date (August 19th) we have had about the hottest summer on record with only a few short thunder storms since the end of June and these thunder storms all too s,hort; sometimes onlv reaching one part of the H ills. I t is doubtful if even Omei, where we understand everyone was complaining of the unusual heat, was any hotter than Chungking this summer.

As frequently happens when there is a long dry spell there have been several fires in the City during the summer. None


were allowed to spread very far but all did considerable damage. One burned the new theatre near the Guild and the Guild itself had a narrow escape. Another (on August 15th.) burred the South W est corner of Hsiao Shih Dsi and endangered the Church outbuildings. Less dangerous but more spectacular was a fire on a lighter on August 11th. The lighter was loaded with oil and was released into the river and guided down stream by sampans which kept near, passing along the whole front of the city.

Among the out of town visitors to the Chungking H ills this summer have been. Mrs. Forbes Tocher and daughter Agnes from Ichang. M r. Tocher paid one flying visit also, being on the H ills just one dav ; Miss C. Trotter of Suining, MissesC. L . Brooks and C. E . Ward of Luchow, Rev. F .G . Snow of Paoning, Miss Seidenberg and'M r. and Mrs. W . A . Martin of Shunking. Rev. A . M. Stibbs of Shunking also spent a few days on the H ills having come to the City to officiate at the wedding of M r. and Mrs. M artin. Rev. W . W . Simpson and fam ily of Minchow Kansu have also spent the summer on the H ills. The Simpsons came down from Kansu with the intention of having a few months rest in Chungking and then returning to Kansu but they have had word from their Board and are leaving for America on furlough at the end of August. They were the victims of an armed robbery during June. Two of the robbers have since been arrested and imprisoned.

One unusual feature on the H ills this summer has been a Boys Scout group organized by Rev. W . A . McCurdy. The boys have weekly hikes. One of «these to which the fathers of the boys were invited went to. W entang, the H ot Springs thirty li up the valley between the two ranges. Here the hikers visited the H ot Springs, the Cave and had a dip in the small river which is a feature of the place.

Tennis teas have been, as usual, a regular feature of the H ills ’ Social life but no tournament has been attempted. N or have there been anv cricket or baseball games during the summer. W ith most of the community on the H ills the W hang Gin Miao C r o l f course has been somewhat neglected during the summer. In this connection your Chungking Correspondent must express a degree of condescending pity for the Editorial staff of the News. In the Chungking Notes in a recent issue “ Crolf” had been changed bv the Editor to read “ G olf” . Apparently the Jtliditor of the News has never heard of the great game of C r o l f which is attracting so much attention in the more wideawake section of the province. N o doubt this rscinating game will reach Chengtu in time. In the meantime


Chungkingites who have enjoyed its thrills can only be sorry to think what Chengtu is missing.

L . E . W illm ott and family, Misses Irene H arris and Laura Riddell of Chungking decided to continue their missionary work during the summer months and went to Omei. I t is understood their trip to K iating in a motorlaunch which broke down was more interesting than pleasant. They were passed on the river by Rev. W . H . Clark of Changsha who left Chungking five days later.

M r. Clark escorted Dr. J. H . Franklin down from Omei and passed through Chungking during the last week of July. In boarding the Kiaw o their sampan got entangled with a mooring cable and they had a narrow escape from being pifcipated into the swift flowing Yangtse. M r. Clark was expecting to return to Changsha but on reaching Hankow found the missionaries from Changsha in Hankow as they had had to evacuate Changsha before the advancing Communist arm v. The Com munists were eventually driven out by the Government troops but not before most of the foreign buildings in the citv had been looted and many burned.

Miss Freda W a ll reached Chungking, returning from furlough, on July 27th. and after spending a couple of days on the Chungking H ills proceeded to her Station— Suifu.

W ith Kuling considered unsafe because of the m ilitary operations in the district a number of people who usually go to Kuling thought of coming to the Chungking H ills. Several who had this idea were unfortunately unable to find accomodation. M r. and Mrs. C. H . Derr of Hengchow, Hunan however made the trip to Chungking coming up with M r. Clark. They returned by the same steamer having only a few hours on the H ills. Miss E. Riebe of Ichang arranged for accomodation on the Chungking H ills but to date (August 19th.) has not put in an appearance.


F IE L D G L E A N IN G S

Chengtu :

The University Campus is being crowded these days owing to the review of troups. Chinese friends of the University are somewhat concerned over the official alliance of the Chengtu m ilitary heads with the Peking antagonists of the Nanking government, being convinced that this means active operations against the Chungking general, and a consequent unsettled condition in the capital city giving the radical enemies of the university their opportunity to strike.

The U niversity opened without incident of unpleasant nature. Faculty members returning from the hills were caught by severe rain storms and seriously delayed by exceedingly bad roads. Those coming by boat from Omei in some instances reported taking five days to travel forty li. In many instances travellers by road required three days to make a one day stage, arriving on the campus as late as one A . M . In one instance, the young daughter was separated from her parents who thought she was far in advance of them and arrived at the city after the gates were closed and locked. H er parents having arrived at their home in the late evening walked the floor in their anxiety until, in the early morning after daylight, the chaircarriers, who had guarded her all night outside the N orth Gate brought her safely home.

Students were sim ilarly detained in many instances, but over three hundred in the associated M iddle School and U n iversity appeared on the dates originally set for the physical fitness test. Great progress is reported by the H ealth Com m ittee as a partial result of last year’s examination. Two dormitories have altogether stamped out active tuberculosis. Trachoma in others has been reduced to three percent or less, with the possibility of obtaining complete cures for these within the present term. A decided contrast is shown between old students and in-com ing students as a class, the form er far excelling them in most medical items. The physicians and the H ealth Com mittee are greatly encouraged as thereby a concrete evidence of the truthfulness of their claims and prophecies can be laid before the eyes of all.


Chungking :

Miss G. K . Palmer of Chu Hsien. five davs from Wanhsieu, has come to help Mr. Lambert in the C .I .M . Business Department.

M r. F. G. Snow of Paoning, Sze. summered with D r. and Mrs. Parry, going on late in August to his new station, Ta Chug, west of Wanhsien.

Mr. and M rs. Bernard W igham are preparing for homego- rng in October and will leave behind them many deep friendships with both Chinese and foreigners. W e all regret that they cannot again return to Chungking.

E arly in July M r. and Mrs. V . R . Butts of the Brunner Mond Co., received word of their appointment to Shanghai. They will leave in September and will be greatly missed by their many friends here.

M rs. C. B. Rape returned from Shanghai early in July accompanied by Miss M iriam . They were forced to give up summering on K u lin g . so joined M r. Rape and Paul and spent the vacation days at their Dsen Jia N gai home, save for a weeks-end as guests of the W .F .M .S . on the H ills . M iriam will go back to Shanghai for her third year H igh School work in September.

M rs. Sadie M cCartney has been at Pine Lodge again this summer after a year in the States with her son, D r. Lincoln. She has had as guests M r. and M rs. M artin who were married in May and who will go on to their C .I .M . station in Shun King very soon.

M r. Howard Veals and M r. James Endicott attended a conference in Fuchow two weeks during August.

Miss Lamb came up from Fuchow for ten days in the early summer, Miss Jack going down to relieve her. In August Miss Jack took a short trip to Lan ,Chwan to inspect their newly acquired schools.

Dr. George Basil has been quite ill for some weeks but it is hoped that with rest and cooler weather he will improve.

E . M .

Suifu ;

M rs. A . Olsen of the China Inland Mission died in Suifu on September 1st and was buried on the Suifu H ills. (I f we are correctly informed, M r. and M rs. Olsen were stationed at Yungning, Sze. and came out to China in 1927. The N e w s desires to express the sympathy of the Szechwan Christian com-


munitv for the husband and near relatives in their bereavement and in this premature cutting off of a promising period of missionary service. E d itor.)

Pastor Shueh of Anhwei Province will conduct daily Bible Classes in the C .I .M . Church during the month of September, Nearly thirtv Chinese leaders from the C .T .M . Churches of Szechwan have come to Suifu to attend these meetings.

During the past summer, the weather was exceedingly hot. Manv were sick with dysentery or typhoid and there were not a few deaths. The Suifu Baptist Church lost by death five members in this city alone. Am ong these was JVI iss Y an g, teacher in the G irls ’ School, who was a prominent Christian leader.

N ear L i Chuang a band of over one hundred robbers was surrounded by soldiers and all but two w-ere either killed in fighting or were executed.

Miss Frieda W all has returned to Suifu, serving as foreign nurse in the Men’s Hospital, and is a most welcome addition to the Suifu community.

D .C .G .

Tutigchwctn :

The work of the Friends Mission has been carried on as usual through the summer. In July a Bible School was attended bv nearly forty men and women from city and country. M issionaries and Chinese workers shared in the work of the teaching. One of the latter, T . W . Liu, came all the way from Tungliang and was warmly welcomed by his old friends here. The two weeks fixed for the school proved to be about the hottest days of the summer, and it was wonderful how well teachers and scholars kept to the programme, involving four classes a day. Biblical, moral, and social subjects were seriously and intelligently considered.OnSundav theFriendsvisited many neighbouring towns and villages and preached the Gospel.

During August three lady missionaries took refuge on the mountains, leaving three foreigners in the city,— two m issionaries and M r. Archangelsky of the Salt Gabelle. The latter, to our regret, is leaving for England.

M r. and M rs. L . W alker of Tungliang, spent some weeks herein the early summer. M r. W alker giving valuable assistance in the building of the hospital and other work.

D r. Davidson came for some weeks to help D r. H arris who had for a long time beeen running both men’s and woman’s hospitals.

THE WEST CHINA MISSIONARY NE W S S7

W e welcomed also M r. K itson from the Chungking Con- sulate and Messrs. Boreham and Donnithorne of the Church Missionary Society who had arduous labour negotiating with Marshall Tien about the school and other property of the C .M .S . at Mienehow which has been occupied for some time by soldiers and others interfering seriously with the work of the mission.

The Mission’s equipment has recently received the addition of two bicycles, a man’s and a lady’s. These are proving useful for travelling on our well-paved streets. The weather has not yet made it possible to do much riding on the m otor roads.

The building of roads goes on apace and we hope before long to have uninterrupted communication with Chengtu, Pao- ning, and Saining. This will make the visitation of several of our out-stations by bicycle an easy matter.

A new city gate has been opened elose to the rear of the M ission’s hospital premises, and the new street leading to it seems likelv to encroach a bit on those premises. The gate opens on a flat tract of country, which is intended to be adapted as an aerodrome. W e presume, therefore, that aeroplanes may be expected here shortly.

M r. W igham visited Suining in June and went thence to Chengtu to escort M rs. Stubbs and son Jack to Chungking. A fter a short stay there, he returned to Tungchwan having been absent just a month.

Miss Tebbutt’s summer recreation has been the oversight of workmen pulling down a large part of her residence and rebuilding it. She tried to live in the house at the same time and largely succeeded in doing so.

W e have welcomed M r. C .H .H o , the Boy’s School principal, with great pleasure after nearly a year spent visiting many places down river, The visit seems ro have been a great advantage to himself in everv wav, and we believe it has greatly enhanced his usefulness to the cause of Christ in Szechwan.

The G irl’s School has for years suffered from cramped conditions, the classrooms and space for exercise being sadly inadequate. I t was possible last year to buy an adjacent plot of considerable size, and now the necessary alterations and building being finished, the school is entering upon a new lease of life. These various efforts in building show that the Christian body at Tungchwan takes no defeatist attitude but is hopefully building for the future.

L . W .

38 THE WEST CHINA MISSIONARY NEW S

Here and There:

Y en ch in g Receives Record Chinese G ift

W h at is probably the record gift by a Chinese to a Christian institution hasbeen made anonymously to Yenehing U niversity . The Rockefeller foundation for many years has been making an annual grant to the support of the college of natural sciences of that institution. I t recently offered to give outright a capital fund which would provide the same income as the previous annuity on condition that the university obtain a like amount in permanent endowment. A Chinese friend, who desires that his name be withheld, has matched the amount with a g ift of U . S. $2 50 ,0 00 . This half-m illion endowment was alm ost immediately raised in effect to a million by the offer of the foundation to give another $2 50 ,0 00 if the sum could again be duplicated by the university within five years, and to pay meanwhile the income upon that amount annually if the university could raise that amount in subscriptions. Eriends in Am erica immediately under wrete such an annuity for five years or until the permanent capital fund is obtained.

G ifts from Chinese Sources Growing

The general assembly offices of the Church of Christ in China report that financial support for its national work from Chinese sources in the first year of its existence was $516 ; last, year it was $1 ,147 and this year $2 ,000 . A sa result of his latest trip to China, Dr. John R . M ott has recently secured a fund of U .S . $5 ,000 to be used exclusively in meeting the expenses of a national general workers conference for the administrative leaders of that church, and for eight regional conferences of pastors, evangelists, Bible women and other local church leaders. The conferences are for B ible study, for the deepening of the spiritual life and for richer equipment for Christian -service.

I t takes but two months or so for cholera to spread from Shanghai toChengtu under certain conditions. W e hope that the N orth China enthusiasm on the part of Chinese philanthropists noted above will be equally catching.

Homeside News.

The Rev. W .R .O . Taylor, wife and two children, sailed from England for China on September 5th, but are appointed


to Chekiang for this term of service. Our W est China field regret.« losing his service.

Mrs. Stubbs and Jack travelled on the M . S. “ Hikawa Maru” via Victoria, Canada, where they expected to arrive on August 1st, according to a note just received.

D r. R . R . Brewer has been very ill with pneumonia but convalesced rapidly after passing the crisis. H e has accepted a position as head of the Department of Bible and Religious Education in the College of theOzarks, a Presbyterian College in Clarkesville, Arkansas.

Miss Grace Ellison completed her sem esters work at Columbia U niversity and has accepted an excellent position as Assistant Dean in a large W om an’s College in New Jersey.

M r. a . E . Johns, who has been doing postgraduate work in the University of Chicago, would have accepted the emergency call to return to W e st China owing to D r. Stubb’s death, but finds that his own health is sufficiently doubtful to make his return to the field inadvisable. H e had already resigned his former position with a view to return.

D r. S .H . Liljestrand and family sail from the United States about Sept. 19th on their return to the field.

W ord has been received that Mrs. Beech has had a relapse and at that writing had been in the hospital for treatment for a number of weeks. D r. Beech was expected within two days, the London meeting of the Board of Governors having ter minated.

D R , F . F . A L L A N W R I T E S U S A S F O L L O W S :

W e have come from Luchow, "West China, to Cincinnati, Ohio, over 11 ,000 miles in fifty-seven days.

Of course we were not racing with Am v Johnson, but we took every opportunity to visit both mission and other institutions. From our home in Luchow we took one of the 5 rickshaws of which the city boasts, but in spite of speed we missed the steamboat by 10 min., and hired a small junk for the 4 days’ trip to Chungking, for $14. silver, as a private boat but other passengers crowded on till we had about 20, interesting but very inconvenient for me.


W hile at Chungking the Church elected of Board of Directors for the H ospital and they were about ready to begin on the new hospital building. The Chinese Red Cross Hospital superin- tendant was having a difficult time with her boy nurses. I advised her to get women. I was most fortunate in getting a thru boat for Shanghai, 1500 miles east, floating the Am erican flag. I had a most interesting trip as the other first class passenger was »Chinese gentleman, in his late fifties, a graduate of Edinburgh many years ago in Engineering, an ex-m ayor of Greater Shanghai and well versed in European politics and allied subjects. A ltho not Christian he is sympathetic and knows W estern weaknesses.

A t Wanhsien we poured into our hull over 600 tons of woodoil and at Hankow we discharged it. A t the latter city I was greatly pleaded at the order and cleanliness of the city, as well as the new citv park and the progress made in the New Union H ospital. H ere I took advantage of the air-m ail, 650 miles, daily for Shanghai. It worked.

Shanghai, what a city ! made up of two big Chinese cities, between which are sandwiched the Intel-national and French Settlements, population over two million, with many nationalities and languages, streets noisy, narrow, crooked and crowded. W here else is found such a cosmopolitan city with such acute international problems ? H ere I had the pleasure of attending the graduation exercises of the nurses, 21 women and 1 man, of the Red Cross H ospital, entirely under Chinese management. I also spent some time in two other big hospitals, the one making extensive additions and the other temporarily in a new concrete warehouse and starting a million dollar, 300 bed new structure. Elsewhere we found the same activity., with rents and land values rising rapidly.

The Empress of Canada, what a luxurious giant, luxury and waste even in second class while scores of millions of our brothers and sisters of Asia are hungry. A t M oji as we entered the beautiful Inland Sea of Japan, the pilot brought aboard a letter from Mrs. Allan. A t K obe I called on M r. Tench, the principal of our Canadian Academ y and he showed me the new 25 acre site where levelling and building is just beginning fo ra 200 pupil school. They are certainly planning for many years of mission work in Japan. A t Tokyo I visited our fine new Tabernacle, our East Tokyo slum work and our G irls’ big school of 500 pupils, every seat occupied with bright black eyes.

After 10 davs of water we were indeed glad to see Victoria A fter immigration and customs passed, I spent Sunday with M r

THE W E3T CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS 41

and Mrs. Small and saw many West China people. Then I took a 14 hr. bus ride to see an old class mate at Portland and D r. Barter and fam ily at Tacoma. Returning to Vancouver I took the C. N . R . Confederation, thru Jasper Park, saw the great snow capped peaks and the plains, and 4 davs brought me into Union Station where Mrs. Allan and Robert were waiting for me. Then a call at the mission rooms, other important business attended to, valises repacked and many W est China faces seen again, and then we stepped on the gas for Cincinnati, 600 miles away, via Niagara (saw it by white and colored illumination at night), Jamestown, N . Y . , attended a big Gage re-union and dinner at Cambridge Springs and June 15th found us safely with the other 4 children at 421 Ludlow Ave., Cincinnati. I am tired travelling.

In August we are all moving to Toronto, to 17 Humewood Drive.

F . F . A l l a n .

KiatingMany travelers, returning from M t. O.mei, passed through

K iatin g at the end of the summer holidays. H eavy rains and extremely high water have made all kinds of travel d ifficult, even making it impossible at times for steamers to unload. The highest water entered K iatin g through several citv gates; houses outside ,the wall were washed away and some lives lost.

Earlv in September, the Jensen fam ily made a hurried visit to Chengtu to see the eye specialist and dentist.

The K iating Community is most unfortunate in losing from its number Miss Mary Gormley who has been transferred to G irls’ Middle School work in Chengtu. Miss Gormley will be greatly missed both in the work and in the life of the Com m unity.

Mrs. Bridgeman and Jean arrived by steamer Sept. 13th and left for Chengtu on the 15th. Other parents also a,re escorting their children to Chengtu to enter the Canadian School, Mr. Hugh Taylor having left on the 13th with June and M r. Lovegren on the 15th with Mildred and August. (W here is “ July” ?)

School work is opening up nicely. M iss Swann and Miss H arris report large enrollment in Girls' and Wom en’s Schools a>nd the prospects for Baptist Evangelistic work are promising.

L .B .J .

a s

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