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The West China Missionary News

S e p t e m b e r 1931

EDITORIAL.

Discoveries in China.♦

W h a t will t'his per iod o f Chinese H is tor y be famous for when the news o f today has beco me the history o f tomorrow ? It has been a per iod o f d iscover ies . Dinosaur ’s eggs and the Sinanthropus have held p r o m i n ent places in the illustrated papers. F e w pe op le guessed that China was to produce such a rich treasure as a few broken bits o f an old skull that should set the heads o f modern sc ien ce w a g g i n g with delight. Few er still could have foreseen the co m i ng o f a greater d iscov ery o f recent years in China o f infinitely greater import, the d iscovery not o f ancient man but o f Modern W o m a n . Now, o f course, Modern W o m a n is a lw ays a fruitful subject fo r any sort o f conversat ion , sacred or profane. Y o u can get fun or fury by sett ing your con versa t io na l sails to the right wind. But at the moment we will leave the humour o f the situation till another time. The discovery of Modern W o m a n is one o f the greatest d iscoveries o f this age and China is but one example o f a movem ent which is wo r l dw id e and which is to be seen in India, E gy pt , Turkey , Persia and a multitude o f other places.

Mr W a lt er Page, the great A m er ic an statesman o n c e m a d e a famous speech called “ The Forgotten M a n ” He was ta lking about the rise o f de m o c r a c y and the d isc overy o f the plain, ordinary citizen and his rights in society.

T h i s decade , or at least but little more, has seen the emergence o f the “ Forgotten W o m a n ” . In Eastern lands she had s imply been mislaid. It was certainly

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careless, but by some mistake this useful co m m odi ty had got h idden awa y in purdah, zenana or harem, coate d with the dust and dirt o f pre judice and mis understanding . A s a help-meet or a co mr ade she was lost, d ead , fo rgot ten . T h e twentieth century, the century already remarkable for the discover ies o f ancient relics, has re -d iscovered this long- lost be ing and the forgotten w o m a n has been brought out into the l ight o f day. E ve n in the west great progress has been made. The w o m a n has emerged f rom the home to the glare and blare o f the hustlings and parl iamentary controversy . T h e woman o f the Brontes is a rarity se ldom seen today. Stil l more rare, thank Go d, is the smirking, baited type o f F ie ld in g and Smollett , all sex, but wit^i no rights and no education . A hundred years in the W e s t have wo rk ed wo nder s . But that is nothing to the sudden and compl ete emer gence in the East. T w e n t y years

-ago w o m a n was h idden, not only not seen but not talked o f . N o w she has equal rights and privi leges with men, while all posi t ions and off ices are open to her. T h e rapid progress o f education o f wom en in China is phenom ena l . H er free and unattended app ear ance in the streets, in publ i c meet ings and in social funct ions could not have been dreamed o f by the last generation . A l l this o f course is well k n o w n to residents in China. T h e woman student, the woman secretary, the wo m an inspector and even the wo m an bandi t are taken for granted. Surely this d iscovery o f •“ T h e Forg otten W o m a n ’’ will rank as one o f the greatest discover ies o f this period.

T he Christian Church has been awake to this movement. In fact it woul d not be far from the truth to sav that the Christian Church is one o f the prime causes o f it. Scnoo ls , co l leges and other institutions have done and are do in g their share to help this tide flow in clean and useful channels . By the way , while sp ea k in g o f this, we would like to see the Chengtu Y . W . C . A . in a mo re healthy and active co nd i t i on . No organizat ion has a more urgent need to meet, or a readier field o f operation, yet we hear o f this branch be ing in very low water and ha v in g difficulty in carr y in g on. Cann ot Tthis be remedied ?

W e have been told, but have had no opportuni ty o f v e r i f y in g the statement, that a large number o f girls

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com e f rom prov incial towns to the capital and have no place to go to except hostels under pr ivate m a n a g e ment where there is little or no personal interest or supervision. Here is a field o f research open to any enterpris ing missionary which mi ght lead on to very practi cal and valuable results.

P r o b a b ly greatest o f all d iscov er ies in mode rn times has been the d iscove ry of “ T he Forg otten C hi ld ” . An essay on this sub ject appears on another page . It reminds us that much has been don e in Eur ope and A m e r ic a in re -d iscover ing the lost chi ld. Much has yet to be done to br ing the d iscovery to its most useful ana valuable fruit ion but, such a's' it is, the d iscovery has spread to China, where modern methods o f education or at any rate the machinery o f education, has been spread througout the country and the language richly inter larded with the ja rg on o f c h i l d - p s v c ho l o g y . But we are not sure that all is well here- The schoo ls are full o f pro pag and a, pol i ti cs and party creeds. The ch ild is l ooked upon as a potential supporter on som e supposed plat form. Litt le interest is taken in the personality o f the chi ld be y o n d his pol i tical p o s s ib i lities. Can very much be done until the spirit ol Christ pervades the schoo ls and reveals the infinite value of each li fe for time and for eternity ? The chi ld has been d iscovered in one aspect only . His worth, his spiritual potentialit ies, his highest and richest values can only be d iscov ere d under the influence o f Hi m who, when He would teach His disc iples , took a little ch i ld and set him in the midst.

“ The Chinese R e c o r d e r ” for June is an e x c e p t ionally interesting number and conta ins .so i re useful and st imulating writing. In the Edi torial the fr ict ion between Chu rch-centr i c and Miss ion-centr i c organization is a lluded to. But alas, no solution is offered. O f course, there is no cut and dried solution. T h e problem will work itself out in years of. exper ience as so many prob lems in Church history have been wo rked out, not by a po l i cy , but by a spirit ©f g ive and take or mutual forbearance . It will -take years o f patient experiment, trial and error to work out this devo lut ion f rom Mis s ionary Soc ie ty to Church, and we are glad to hear that in some places. “ d o w n East” the question is be in g clearly faced .


•For those o f an argumentative turn o f mind there -is pleasure in reading things for the sake o f d is agree ing with them. W e co n fes s to f inding this i l l icit pleasure in ,the reading o f the R e c o r d e r quite often- That is wh ere the stimulus to thought c om es in and where the value o f a period ica l often lies. The article by Mr. Butterfield on the Christian Church in Rural China is well worth study. W e have.much to learn in rhe matter .of training pastors for rural work. T he problem o f the Christian attitude and work in registered co l leges is bo ld ly faced by Mr Y . P . Mei w h o .finas a solution in the t w o fo ld appl i cat ion o f personal influence and a wise tea ch in g o f ph i l os op h y . Mr T h r o o p o f St. J oh n ’s U-nivers.ity, Shanghai, .deals wi th the same question as it affects the schoo l , but he is-more b o ld and definite in his a d v o c a c y o f teach ing and wors hip out o f sc hoo l hours. The co ntr overs y on the Virg in Birth started in March by Mr. Paul G. H a v e s continues. T h e Scriptural v ie w finds som e doughty de fenders both in the c o n tributed articles a.nd in the c o r re sp o n d e nce columns.

Dope of Stimulant

W e are gett ing very tired o f hear ing rel igion spoken o f as a “ d o p e ” . W e are ,not sure who started the fashion but it has not lon g reached W e s t China in the form o f jjUJl** ^ very s l ight study o f history will show that Christianity has been the very op pos i te o f a dope , whether in the form o f HiH* or a nyth in g else and is much more like a stimulant. T h e history o f d em ocrac y is studded with the names o f great Christian leaders l ike Ambrose , Savanoro la , Francis , W y c l i f f e , Bunyan, W e s le y , Raikes , Fry, King s le y , Maurice, Gladstone , W a s h i n g t o n and L in c o ln , to mention on ly those whose names fly into one's mind at the mom ent . In fact it would be true to say that there would never have been any such thing as d em ocr acy without the incent ive which Christ iani ty gives in its teaching o f the worth o f every indiv idual . Certain it is that the governme nt o f Ath ens in P er ic l es ’ time was not a d e m o c r a c y as we know it today . It is admi ss ib le that d e m o c r a c y is far t rom per fect and is be in g d iscarded in favour o f d ic tatorships here and there. Communists

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and other extremists are forget t in g both the pit f rom which d e m o c r a c y was dug and also the princ ip les a long whi ch a lone a true d em ocr acy can be conducted .

The very substance o f soc ia l reform throughout the ages is threaded in warp and w o o f with Christ ian characters. Owen , H ow a rd , Shaf tesbury , Night ingale, Josephine Butler. T hese all ac ted a v o w e d l y in the name o f Christianity, but the influence o f mutltitucies o f others inc luding poets and authors must be credi ted to the practi cal fruits o f Christiani ty, for, even if they did not op en ly a c k n o w l e d g e their work as the work o f Christ, they were v o ic i n g ideas and ideals which had re ach ed them through Christian influence. T h e more one studies it the more Christiani ty seems to be l ike a spur urg ing on to greater heights o f social progress.

A thousand years be fore it becam e a pol i t i ca l programme Soc ia l R e fo r m was be ing quietly put into practi ce by Christians. Such little known names as those o f Te lemachus , who s to pped the g ladiator ia l shows o f R o m e at the cost o f his ow n life, a n d F a b i o l a , wh o fo u n d e d the first Christian hospital in R om e , are names which g ive the lie to the d o p e story. T h e pract i ce of ex p o s in g unwanted babies was wiped out o f Euro pe by Christian influence, s lavery was abo l i shed and pr isons re formed. A curious k ind o f dope this, wh ic h sets people busy at t acking impo ss i b le tasks and b r i ng ing them to success. A little history will soon d isso lve this myth. A nd yet, within the last month, two pro fe sse d ly educated Chinese gentlemen, one a Colone l in the Army, raised the argument that Christianity is be in g used as a dope to quiet the masses and prevent progress.

Chr ist iani ty has been a ferment, an incentive, a spur that has cont inual ly urged the way for wa rd to h igher standards and better l iving . Not a lways as rapidly or consistent ly as it should. That is true and therefore we need to emDhasize this practi cal s ide o f Chr ist ianity. On the other hand it is fatal to regard Christianity as merely a p ro gram me o f Social Re for m. W e must insist on the G o d w s r d aspect first as the root and fo undat i on ; the -Social aspect must f o l lo w as the fruit.

As a study in S o c i o l o g y the O l d Tes ta m en t Prophets and N ew Testament writers are dist inctly d isappoint ing*


T h e few and far between are the maxims that we can lay h o ld o f as p lanks for a soc ia l re forming p lat form. W h y is this? S im p l y because those inspired writers were immersed in the fundamental task o f gett ing men right with G o d . T h e y are co n c e r n e d with righteousness, s i nce r i ty , honesty, pur i ty . T h e y were so busy s temming the tide o f god le ss ness which, if left to f low woul d wreck humanity, that they co uld do no more than lay d o w n eternal pr inc ip les that wo u ld serve for their own generat ion and all generat ions that were yet for to come . T ho s e pr inc ip les are eternal. ^11 re form and progress must be base d upon them. Al l great social m ovem ents in the right d irect ion have had a tw of o ld source ; an intense co n v ic t i o n o f the reality o f G o d and a deep rea li sation o f the value o f every human be ing . Both these are fundamental teac hin gs of Christiani ty. F r o m this t w o f o l d source have f lowed rivers o f l iving water, b r i n g in g new li fe, ph ys ica l and temporal as wel l as spiritual to mi l l ions o f people . Doe s that mean then that miss ionar ies are to leave their p re a ch in g o f the Gos pel and busy themselves with soc ia l re form ? Som e special i sts must o f course be fo u n d to guide the way and to teach the direct appl i ca t ion o f general truth to parti cular needs. A l l honour to them. Such are leaders in Publ i c Heal th, Sc ien ce , Agr icu lture , E d u c a tion and spec ial ists in o ther fields. But they are Christian miss ionar ies , a v o w e d l y putting into pract i ce and teach ing others the p r a c t i c e o f appl i edChris t iani ty . T h e Cause needs them and will gain immeasurably by their work. T here is ho we ver in some parts o f China a tendency to regard Chr is tiani ty as nothing more than a soc ia l programme. Tha t attitude is fatal. It leads to a fl imsy, w i s h y -w a s h y kind o f Christ iani ty that will s oon be lost in a maze o f po l i t ica l programm es. It woul d be futi le fo r H e n r y Ford to spend his t ime w o r k i n g out ‘bus t ime-tables for the purchasers o f his cars. H e must concen trate on the c h ie f business, the p ro duct io n o f cars, and there will be p lenty o f peo p le to de c id e how to make use o f them. In the same w ay the c h ie f business o f miss ionar ies is to proc la im the p o w e r and love o f G o d , His r ighteousness aud sa lvation, in other words , to produce Christian characters. A n d i f these characters are as useable and practi ca l as F o r d cars the w or l d will p r o v id e p lenty o f o p p o r


tunities for their Christianity to find outlets o f service.

Miss McNaughton.

T h e very sad news o f the death o f M is s M cN aught on reached us after the last issue o f the News had gone to the Press. W e were only able to print the letter f rom Mr. G ord on Jones tel l ing o f the tragic occurrence . It is difficult to think o f a miss ionary more b e lo ved and respected in W e s t China , or one wh o will be more greatly missed. W e tender our deepest sy mp ath y to all her f r iends and relatives and espec i a l ly to her fe l low workers in Chungking . The descript ion o f her passing over, so full o f courage and joy , is itself an inspirat ion . A memorial o f Miss M cN a u g h to n ’s li fe and work will be f ound on another page.


A W ONDERFUL RECORD.

T h e C h e n g t u E y e , E a r , N o se a n d T h r o a t H o s p it a l .

The Annual Report of the Shensi Kai Hospital for 1929- 30 which is just published is a splendid record of hard work, efficient organization and thorough attention to the details of hospital routine. It is more. It is a personal document and breathes humanity and individual interest.

The record of the hospital’s history since the first small beginning shows what vicissitudes and difficulties have been encountered and overcome. For years the Hospital stood unused as such, but with strong faith and courage the work was restarted, first as a dispensary and clinic for women and children by Dr. Marian Manley, later on a larger scale by Dr. Peterson. In 1929 it became the centre of special work for eye, ear, nose and throat (everything above “ here” as the Chinese say) and soon became known far and wide as a centre of thorough and efficient care. The storv of the growth and progress of the last two years is remarkable reading. The staff has increased from a small nucleus of nurses to a group of four experienced doctors, twelve trained nurses and two probationers. Dr Lii Chong Lin is proceeding to England to pursue special studies in tropical medicine in Liverpool University. D rG .B . Lo and Dr Wang remain on the staff. Dr. Den Kueh Chuen has gone to be physician to the Hanchow Municipal Hospital.

The In-patients for the year 1930 number 999, Operations 961, the out patients (including return visits) 52,861. This is a wonderful record. These figures include patients who travelled from places as far distant as Batang on the Tibetan Border, Kansu, Yunnan and the Eastern parts of Szechuan. Thus it is clear that the hospital is far from being of mere local interest in Chengtu, but has a wide reputation and is serving the needs of the whole of West China.

In the out-patients department four separate clinics work simultaneously. There are two clinics for special registration cases in eye and in ear, nose and throat respectively and two clinics for the lesser free ordinary regsitration in eye and in ear, nose and throat. Following these clinics the free cases are seen.


In one dav 318 out-patients were cared for, while at the same time 62 in-patients -were being attended to in the wards, and on that dav 11 operations were performed in the operation room.

To quote from the report itself, “ The entire hospital staff has attempted to emphasize the type of personal, friendly relations with the patients that should attend relations with a guest. The friendships andappreciation shown by the patients show that there has been at least a measure of success in helping our friends to appreciate the motives activating Christian medical mission work. The staff holds that hospital and dispensary work is not piopaganda for Christianity, but is Christianity in action and as such joins with the mission schools in the most vital expression of the Christian dynamic on the Mission Field.”

This little grev book is one that should be carefully studied. Bv the wav we should like to congratulate the Canadian Press on the splendid workmarship of its product icn. It is verv well printed and artistically bound, a real credit to the Mission Press.

There is one paragraph which we cannot refrain from quoting “ The staff of the Chengtu Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital have seen their work grow in two years until it is one of the largest special clinics in Asia. It accepts the fact of this growth as a responsibility and a challenge. The re- S D O n s i b i l i t v can be analyzed into five obligations. These five obligations are the relief of pain and suffering from disease, the spreading of knowledge for the pievention of disease, the training of medical students and doctors in these fields of special work, the opening of extension woik into other areas and research into diseases and conditions peculiar to West China for the advancement of present knowledge in the solution of problems that are not now clear. These five obligations also constitute a challenge to the Christian dynamic of love in action as expressed in medisal mission work. The answer to this challenge rests in the type of service consecrated bv the Master Phvsician and dedicated to the ideal that through it men mav know and follow Him.”

We most warmlv congratulate Dr. Peterson and the other members of the staff of the Shensi Kai Hospital on the excellent work they are doing for our Lord’s Kingdom in thia area. We thank them for this carefully prepared and most informing and interesting report and strongly recommend it to the careful study of our readers.

E d i t o r .-

10 the; w e st ch in a m is s io n a r y n e w s

HELPING PEOPLE GROW.

All missionaries who are wise enough to read this book by Dr. Daniel <1, Fleming will readily acknowledge a deep debt of gratitude to him for setting our minds going along vital avenues of thought.

The book “-Helping People Grow” is correctly described as “ an application of Educational Principles to Christian work abroad” The author states the aim of the Christian Missionary Movement as the bringing about of a transformation from within “ the re-m.aking of mankind-^the ereation of a type of person having the quality and spirit of Jesus Christ * * * Hence the important question for the Christian worker would not be what he has taught his people to know, nor what he has trained them to do, but what kind of people he has trained them to become.”

On soqnd psychological grounds Dr. Fleming takes his stand and shows that the best ideals of educational method have their counterpart in missionary work. After reading the book the very phrase “ missionary work” seems to be out of place, for Dr. Fleming makes us feel that there is too much “ missionary” and not enough Chinese initiative and there is too much “ work” and not enough leaving of people to grow.

The fact is, Dr Fleming tells us, the busy hard-working Westerner in China is deceiving himself by his own exuberance. Facts are screened from him by the smoke of his own engine. After describing a very “ successful” evangelistic campaign led by a very earnest and faithful worker who “camped in 113 places, travelled 800 miles, talked to 462 individuals, held 214 public meetings, yisited 168 villages and hamlets and talked in 432 houses” Dr. Fleming points out that our real interest is not in big figures and planned itineraries but in changed lives and the spirit of Jesus assimilated by individuals.

“ Often a district worker plans out a winter’s itinerary to reach all the villages in .his district. In. some he may stay only a couple of hours, but he has the satisfaction of ‘covering

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the ground’. This tradition for reaching so manv villages during the camping season may actually warp the judgment of a worker who feels that a protracted stay in fewer places would bring better results.” In other words our aim is to be results in inner change of character rather than miles covered in itineration.

“ It seemed worth while recently for a student of missions to urge a whole mission to ask, not how manv had been baptized, but how many of those who had been baptized had caught the spirit of Jesus Christ in their manner of living and in their relationships, and to make mere increase in numbers, not the primary concern, but secondary to the Christianization of those already on the rolls of the chureh.”

After reading a few pages one feels that there is need for a different aim. and arrangement in much of the “ work” Performances of prodigious effort are indeed praiseworthy, but what we want to see is changes in the realm of life and conduct. “ Too often we have limited our outlook to exterior things such as acceptance of doctrine, membership in an organization, coming forward in a meeting, and have not concentrated attention upon those inner changes which result in a Christian life.”

Dr Fleming warns us repeatedly against too great anxietv in seeking outward conformity to a routine of religious observances, w hile missing the spirit of appreciation of spiritual values which alone can work transformation of lives from within.

i;We may well ask with reference to those in whose growth we are interested are they growing in their thinking process as applied to moral and religious questions, and are their guiding convictions as to the way of life ever clearer and stronger ? Are they developing skill in meditation-and prayer, in digging for themselves into the source books and literature of the Christian faith and in expressing their Christian convictions? Are Christian appreciations of Christ and of the fellowship through which they can best express and apply their loyalties increasingly central, in their lives?”

The book has much to say on the question of leaving responsibility to the Chinese (or Indian or African) Christians. It is true they may make what seem to us mistakes, they may get into difficulties, but by these things men learn and grow. The missionary apron-strings must be cut. A missionary has to learn that a job is better done by Chinese Christians, even if “ he could do it much better himself.”


“ In some areas it is the custom for missionaries to send boys who fail in their studies to an industrial school. The dread with which parents receive such a provision for their child shows that the above practice has led to a very undesirable incidental learning— that only intellectual failures take up industrial work.”

The book abounds in illustrations of all kinds which give point to may of its lessons and make it an interesting book to read. Here is one which deals with missionaries when “ off-duty” (which, by the way, they never are.)

“ A short term teacher who was somewhat of a trick cyclist delighted to ride rapidly through the crowded bazaar of an Indian citv to his appointment for open-air preaching in that street. There is something ludicrous— if it were not so deplorable— in the contrast between the possible good his preaching did and the almost inevitable indignation that must have been aroused as he startled the unsuspecting pedestrians into dodging him. Those who connected up these two considerations would doubtless “ learn” that a young American Christian in almost the verv act of preaching the good news showed remarkably little of the loving thoughtfulness involves in his message.”

The point of this whole section of the book is that people learn more from the little, incidental, unconsidered observations of life than thev do from the body of doctrine presented for their study. The “ marginal learnings” as Dr Fleming calls them impress their consciousness more than the direct teaching-

Again with regard to teaching aims, the teacher’s temptation always is to cover a “ period” or a section of a book in a given time. “ One conception of Bible teaching has no more specific objectives in mind than covering a certain amouut of ground— Old Testament stories the first term, New Testament stories the second, on the general assumption that is general assumption that it is desirable to bring everybody in contact with the happenings of Biblical times. A more specific object is the development of an appreciation of certain definite parts of the Bible to which the learner mav spontaneously turn in time of need. Or the specific objective may be to train people in a critical attitude toward the historical material. The critical question is not “ What Biblical content is to be covered this term ?” but “ What new ability or attitude am I trying to bring about in these pupils?” He will not attempt to “ teach Acts” but will be aiming through this book to enable his


pupils to attain some definite inner transformation.The chapter on “ Loss of Growth through co-ercive

measures” is full of meat. Space will not allow of the quotation of more passages. The whole book should be read bv all missionaries and English-reading Chinese workers.

Compulsion whether in giving, in attendance, in studv or other performances is to be shunned like poison (though sometimes, like poison, it may be useful in pathological cases). Readiness and willingness are the railwav lines along which educative processes go forward most smoothly and swiftly. “ We are told that in citv after city in China it was found that the more radical leaders of the anti-Christian movement were former students of mission schools. In some instances these students have been aroused to opposition as the result of the way the Bible, the Church and the prayer serv ice of the school were forced upon them when they were students in mission schools. Many of these students believed that the aim of the mission schools is not the development of free personality, but the manipulation of the lives of students in order to make them Christian converts. They often referred to the process as a kind of “ spiritual imperialism.” Again Dr Fleming warns us “ In our anxiety to have prevail what we think best, let us not forget that'swhich men freely accept is likely to be the best and most lasting, and that it is only by the gradual, costly process of education— the way God deals with us— that truth wins its way in the world and folk grow larger, nobler beings.

There has been a good deal of discussion on the University Campus as to the place of agricultural teaching in the training of rural evangelists. Here is a whole chapter that will comfort Mr Dickinson’s heart. Dr Fleming strongly urges the importance of using the dominant interests of rural folk. The demonstration of the use of improved agricultural tools, how to prevent and cure animal diseases and plant pests and how to improve the grade of rice or cotton all help to form contacts and establish friendly bonds between evangelists and the people in country places. Christianity and its preachers are shown from the start to be something connected with the everyday interests of life and the church is saved from remaining an extraneous factor in people’s lives, unrelated to the things which consciously and vitally concern the interests of the people. At the recent Summer School for teachers and religious workers in the University it was noticeable how popular this course was. and in conversation


with some of the students it was found how greatly they valued this part of the teaching.

The growth of a new church or a new Christian comes by doing things, bearing responsibility, by getting into difficulties and getting out again. The task of the leader is to stand by with advice when needed and with encouragement and good cheer always.

The last short chapter on “ Learning from Jesus” is bv no means the least valuable in the book. Each chapter is provided with a list of questions for discussion, raising thorny problems which need to be talked and prayed over by us all. Very great profit might come to the whole of our work in West China if foreigners and Chinese Christians would get together in groups and study this valuable book, discussing franklv and fully the questions suggested and many others that would arise. There would be differences of opinion no doubt, but a.spirit of comradeship and mutual understanding would be fostered. Prayer would be intesified, and much light might dawn on the road ahead.

We wish that Dr Fleming had given some space to the importanceofprayer for others, the realandindispensable work of intercession and reliance on the work of the Holy Spirit in people's lives. Probably he thinks this so obvious and axiomatic that it was not necessary to state it. But in a book of this description it thould certainly be given a prominent place, for it is o£ first importance and must never be forgotten.

A CHINESE EVANGELIST.

He came among us quietly and unobtrusively, almost Unexpectedly, for he had been delayed by political troubles and it was doubtful if he would be able' to come at all. His appearance was not unduly prepossessing, strongly built and vigorous, he had the appearance of a farmer in moderate circumstances ; his hair was grey and cropped short and his face had an unshaven appearance, which, during the ten days be was with us seemed to remain unchanged. When he preached he wore a common blue cotton gown, at other times he


appeared in a coat and trousers of but moderately respectable appearance. He was taciturn except when he got on his favourite theme, then he changed completely. He could not be said to possess much in the way of personal magnetism and his manner might be considered at first rather repellent. One of the things which impressed us unfavourably was the way, severe and almost harsh, in which he rebuked those, who by talking or in other ways, disturbed the quiet of his meeting. Chinese preachers, as a rule, are somewhat indifferent to noises, but he resembled in this respect the more irritable foieigner. At his first meeting speeches of welcome were made in the usual Chinese way, but he listened to them without interest, perhaps with impatience; when he rose to speak he dismissed them with the remark that he was not concerned about that kind of welcome and proceeded with his legitimate business.

I was only a, visitor to the station to which he first came, and I have not written the above with any desire to criticise, the man is far above any criticism of mine, but for the sake of the coutrast with what we discovered later. He paid visits to two of our stations and to one outstation. I do not think he won us all at that first meeting, and some he probably did not win at all. We are used to short meetings, we do not like long ones, and still less long sermons. We got both now. A hot June morning in a more than ordinarily hot meeting house, a sermon lasting an hour and three-quarters. But rather surprisingly I found myself still there at the end of of the two hours, bodily weary and pained with the hard, uncomfortable seats, a little, but not deeply, impressed by the preacher and rather concerned as to whether the hearers would continue patient with such long measure. But 1 noticed that most of the audience had remained and that many paid close attention. I attended three morning meetings and one evening (he preached three times daily at similar length) and I found the disturbances got less, the attention paid increased and the numbers kept up. Being only an observer at this station I know little of what was thought of the man and so will reserve further impressions until I speak of him as my guest. He and I departed on the same day, he to pay a three days visit to an outstation and I to my home with the expectation of being further acquainted.

He arrived here on Saturday evening for a short weekend visit; he was travel-stained and less prepossessing than before; he must have been wearv for he had walked 80 li in a hot sun, but, apart from the copious draughts of tea he took, he showed


little sign of it. A few friends had come in to welcome him and he rushed at once into his subject and only with difficulty could I get him away for a much needed bath and change of raiment. I do not wish to suggest that he was burdensome in his talk, far otherwise for he never obtruded himself without encouragement.

He appeared for supper about 7 o’clock and there began my real acquaintance. Only two of us, but we #at that table until 10 o’clock; but the supper occupied but a little of that time. The only regret I had after that three hours was that he seemed to think he had tired me as I gave the first hint to rise, but it was only concern that he should get the rest he was in need of. It may as well be said first as last that he belongs to that class of Christians who are stvled-or stvle-themselves- Fundamentalists. If I called mvself anything, it would be a moderate Modernist but neither name appeals to me as thev both seem unnecessary and are all too often a hindrance to the cause we have at heart. We talked and differed, but we found many points of contact which no difference of opinion could break. Respect for the man had been growing and one found that there was arising a warmer feeling-a love which we cannot deny for one whose heart and soul and mind and bodv is given in devotion to our common Master.

Sunday came and knowing the man’s methods he was given a free hand. Our service was more than double its usual length, the preaching lasted for two hours with a break in the middle for a hymn and an opportunity for the children to leave, but no one seemed to notice the length. It was a varied audience-—ignorant working men and women, some who had better opportunities, business men, a good sprinkling of that class whose time is given to explaining the Sacred Edict from street pulpits, middle school bo}7s and girls and at least one university graduate.

It was the quietest meeting that even our Quaker meeting house had known for along time ; even the children kept quiet. There was no restlessness, no turning over the leaves of books or looking at the time ; close attention was given right through. The preacher had no great gift of eloquence, he had some mannerisms which might be considered amusing or objectionable, but they were lost sight of as his message was listened to. It was a plain simple statement of what the man belived intensely— sin, Christ, the cross, the power to save, the call to the saved, though as simple as the shepherds of Judea, to be messengers of the Christ. Ever as he went on one felt:

THE WEST CHTNA MISSIONARY NEWS 17

that the urge was upon him to tell of what he had experienced, of what he knew and what he knew we all needed.

In the late afternoon we met in the garden under the shade of the bamboos, a similar audience but smaller. The sermon was even longer, there was no sound save the preacher’s voice and the song of the birds which only harmonised like a well- played accompaniment. The boys in the audience brought both eves and ears into service to receive what was given. There was no striving for sensational effect, no excitement, but just a direct giving of his simple but urgent message, and there it was left. * One has heard something of how one or two were affected, but of results we know nothing. W e know that the impression left was deep and not felt only by any one class, the ignorant man and the university graduate, both felt the power which emanated from the man, and none would be quite the same again.

The preacher left us as quietlv as he arrived ; he was ready to leave at 5 o’clock in the morning and called “ Goodbye” to me as I lav asleep. But common politeness would not allow of a srnest ;ioing off like that, so I got out of bed and in my undress accompanied him the rather long distance to the street gate, no word was spoken during the walk, then at the gate a bow, a “ please return”, a “ go slowlv” and he was gone. I had told mv guest the previous evening of the great happiness it had been t'> me to have him, and this was some consolation to me as [ thought later of the coolness of the farewell. But a sweet savour was left behind and the influence of the visit has been felt during the davs which have passed since. It is hardly likelv that our paths will cross again, one, at least, will not forget the visit of that humble and single minded disciple of Christ.

The experience has raised questions in one’s mind which are not easv to answer. Some minor ones as-why do we tire in services of more than 60 or 90 minutes long ? hy do we vawn if a sermon exceeds 20 or 30 minutes? Why do so many find it a burden to come to services at all, and only come from a sense of dutv and not as a privilege to offer their worship to Him to whom we owe all. But a more difficult question than these presents itself— W7hv, after fifty years of work in this province'are there so few Chinese who have become so filled with the spirit of our Master that they will go out voluntarily, as this man does, cut themselves off from their homes and families, as he does, that they may preach the Gospel to their own people? This evangelist is a product of a period when modern schools were ra re in China, of a missionary society

1 8 THE WEST CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS

which has not specialised in education, and one judges that such education as he has had is entirely Chinese; but he has obtained the power which enables him to gain the hearing and the hearts of men, he has a message to give which is eternally new. In these latter days we have had our schools of all grades from primary to university, the professed aim of these schools is to raise up a Christian element in the community which will leaven the lump, and especially to train men and women who may be used of God to bring the message of the Kingdom to those of their own nation who are beyond our reach. I would not for a moment decry the work that has been done, nor dare to say that any of it was undesirable or unnecessary, but one is compelled to ask is the result commensurate with the amount of time, energy and money spent? Have we not been too much concerned to build beautiful institutions rather than beautiful character; do we not rather boast of our institutions than of the men and women we have turned out? As one who realises his own failure I ask the question, and not for a moment as a critic. Here is a man who has had no great educational advantages, with a rough exterior and no beauty to make us admire him but the beauty of his devotion. But, like a greater than he, his influence is felt wherever he goes and stays a few days; he makes people feel that he carries with him the spirit of his Master, indifferent people listen to his message, Christians talk with enthusiasm about ■what he has said and he softens with love those of us with the hardest of hearts. On the other hand our schools have turned out hundreds of young men and women equipped, as we hope, to face this new world in which we live, but how many of these are ready, for the love of Christ and men, to give up everything-or anything-to take to their own people the message they so much need. Are not the most devoted ones to be found among the class to which this preacher belongs and far too few, in proportion to their numbers, among the students of our schools and university.

I do not wish to stress too strongly a criticism our evangelist made in my hearing, but I think we should give it some attention. In conversation with him I gathered that he had not found acceptance for his message in such colleges and universities as he had visited; he thought that students had been taught to doubt rather than believe, that doubt seemed of more importance than faith, therefore there was no place for his message, which was essentially one of faith. So he avoided such places and refrained, when in Chengtu, from visiting our university for fear of being unacceptable. He felt he was


labelled and the label was enough to condemn him. The message that we as missionaries, and as members of the Chinese Church, have to give is one of faith In Christ and not one of doubts of this or that about Him. He who gives faithfully such a message, no matter what label he may wear, should be accepted by us. It is faith in Christ which will bring salvation and a full and perfect life to individuals and to the nation, and nothing else will. Education is good and a thing to be desired for itself, but education alone never has and never can bring life to a dead people. Social work is always needful, but without Him who inspired it in Western lands, it will not do what is necessary in Eastern lands. A question which has often presented itself to me in recent years is— Have we not been inclined to lav a greater emphasis on the things which are ancillary to the message of Christ than on the message itself, and has it not led us to pursue these things as the end in themselves rather than simply using them as means to the greater end. It is so easy to become so absorbed in teaching chemistry or historv with the desire to make our pupils proficient that we forget about the chief end of our being here. It is easy for the physician or surgeon to become so interested in his “ cases” that he is liable to forget that these also are living souls with needs deeper than those of the body.

This has been written first of all to tell of this singleminded man, but great soul, who has given 23 years of his life to travelling about the country giving the message which is more than life to him. My second object is to encourage ourselves to face the question as to ho w far we have succeeded in producing in Szechwan meu and women of like mind and devotion. Failure, I am sure, has not been complete, but it has been enough to make us profoundly dissatisfied. Pride in the mere material success of our work mast be subdued before our sense of the lack of power and the thought that had we been poorer we might have been richer, had we been satisfied with less we might have obtained more.

20 THE W EST CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS

THE PAIDO-CENTRIC TREND OF EDUCATION.

F. Boreham.

The nineteenth century will always stand out as a period of unparalleled development in Science and Technology, but it is probably true to say that the advance in that direction is surpassed by the advance in educational ideas and methods during the same period. If the changes and modifications that have taken place in Education can be summa rised at all, the title of this essay may suffice for that purpose as well as anv cut and dried phrase can do so.

The doctors of education have taken the little child and set him in the midst. The question they ask is now not so much “ What must we teach this child ?” nor yet “ What kind of man shall we train this child to vecome ?”, but “ What is this child?” and “ What can we learn from him of the equipment and potentialities with which Nature has sent him into the world ?” The title chosen therefore, is “ The Paido-centric trend of Education” and the aim will be to show how this change has come about and what is its significance for the future.

The period following the Renaissance, though a time of great progress in many respects, was still characterised by adherence to the disciplinary conception of Education, that is to say the greatest emphasis was not on the utility of the subjects to be learned, still less, if at all on the personality of the learner, but almost entirely on the process of learning as a means of discipline for the formation of character. 1632-1704, Probably John Locke is the best example of the type of that period.

Locke was above and beyond all things an enthusiastic lover of truth In his writings he was honest and courageous in its pursuit, and in Educational matters his only desire was to bring the youth into the attainment of truth. In his own words:—

“ The great work of a governor is to fashion the carriage and form the mind, to settle in his pupil good habits and the principles of. virtue and wisdom, to give him little by little a view of mankind and work him into a love and imitation of

THE W EST CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS 21

what is excellent and praiseworthy ; ard in the prosecution of it to give him vigour, activity and itidustiy. The studies which he sets him upon are but. as it were, the exercise of his faculties and employment of his time ; to keep him from sauntering and idleness; to teach him a ppi ication and accustom him to take pains and to give him some little taste of what his own industry must perfect/

We cannot but notice the attitude he takes here. We notice the phrases “ the exercise of faculties’, “ accuHcn: him to take pains’ ', “ give him some taste” and “ work him into a love”. Such phraseology sounds strange and discoicant in a day when the air is laden w ith the tones of child-studv enthusiasts.

The aim then was “ to form character” by a rigid svstem of formal training, consisting chiefly of mathematics, logic and classical studies. To this end lie did not overlook Physical training. He opens his ‘ ‘Thoughts concerning Education” with these words :—

“ A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world”. He advocates “ plenty of open air, exercise and sleep, plain diet no wine or strong drink, and very little or no phvsick, not too warm and straight clothing, especially the head and feet kept cold, and the feet often exposed to cold water and exposed to wet.”

A similar Spartan regime is advocated for the mind as for the bodv :—

“ Tis Virtue then, direct Virtue, which is the hard and valuable part to be aimed at in education, and not a forward pertness or any little arts of shifting. All other considerations and accomplishments should give way and be postponed to this. This is the solid and substantial good which Tutors should not only read, lecture and talk of, but the labour and art of education should furnish the mind with, and fasten there and never cease, till the young man had a true relish of it, and placed his strength, his glory and his pleasure in it.”

Again he writes:—“ As the strength of the body lies chiefly in being able

to endure hardships, so also does that of the mind, and the great principle and foundation of all Virtue and Worth is placed in this. That a man is able to deny himself, his own desires, cross his own inclinations, and purely follow what Reason directs as best, though the appetite lean the other way * * * * I would advise that, contrary to the ordinary wav, children should be used to submit their desires and go without


their longings even from their verv cradles. The first thing they should learn to know should be that thev were not to have anything because it pleased them but because it was thought fit for them.”

Locke advocates corporal punishment because “ the wav to harden and fortify children against fear and danger is to accustom them to suffer pain” and he adds, “ How much education may reconcile young people to pain and sufferance the examples of Sparta do sufficiently show.'-’

Education then, is discipline for mind and body. That is the main point, and disciplin being provided for “ Learning mav be had into the bargain.”

This is typical of the attitude taken by nearly all educationalists until very recent times, and even today not a few hold to these views. The influence of later writers such as Rousseau, Pestalozzi and Froebel has been confined to a i-elect circle and has not until recent years found wide acceptance or general application to practice. More lately still their principles have been developed and translated into school method by Madame Montessori. It is the growth of this movement which we must now pass on to consider, a movement which has taken the child as the main object of study and consideration, and adapted method and aims to the nature of the child himself. It was necessary to quote Locke at some length and deal more particularly with his views that we might see from what basis the revolution of ideas turned and in order to contrast the new aspects with the old.

In the early eighteenth century there grew up in Germatoy and France a body of independent thinkers who revolted- against the formal and rigid disciplinary methods then in vogue. These Illuminati, as they were called, were, perhaps the harbingers of the later socialistic and anarchic tendencies in Europe. At all events they struggled for freedom from the trammels of formalism in Church and State and School. They believed supremely in the independence of every individual, and his right to fashion his life as reason taught him. Toleration in religion, freedom of thought and the rights of each individual such were their watchwords. The movement did not immediately grow to any extent, and later subsided into a formality of rationalism almost as dead as the formalities of the Scholastics and humanitarians who preceded them. But the fire was not quenched. It sent forth one vivid flame casting a lurid glare over Europe in the person of Voltaire. Voltaire however, directed hi* attacks against Church and State,

THE WEST CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS *23

and the effect on Education was so indirect that it can hardly with propriety be considered in detail in connection with his name.

1712-1778. The one figure which emerged from the un rest of that period whose influence on education was profound and lasting was that of Jean Jacques Rousseau. This man, without much education himself, with no high standard of morality ana very little practical ability, was inspired with great emotional force, aided by a fascinating literary style, to work out new ideals in life and show how education, bv studying the nature of the child himself, could bring a new spirit and vitality into society.

Rousseau was the initiator of the Paido-centric trend in Education. One of the main causes of his work ami influence was the contrast between the simple domesticated nature of society in Geneva where he was brought up, and the superficial, cynical and artificialljfe of society in Paris v. here he afterwards found himself. Emotion and sentimentality were over developed in him while still a vouth. His mind was nurtured on romance. He learnt a trade but became a vagrant, was converted by kindness and lived a well-meaning but aimless life until about forty, when one prevailing idea laid hold of him, namely that human happiness is the great aim of life and all early training should tend to produce it. Government, discipline, science and art were hindrances rather than helps, and should be avoided in the up-bringing of the young. He produced several books and tracts on this and similar themes, but his great work was <;Emile, ou de l’Education” published in 1762, in which he advocates -‘Education according to Nature.”

In this book, which gained him the hostility of the Jesuits and the hospitality of Hume, he tells how an imaginary youth “ Emile” is allowed, under a wise and discriminating tutor to develop his faculties naturally without strain of progress or restraint of discipline. The child's own nature is set free among the beauties and wonders of the natural world and blooms like a flower to maturity. The tutor does not teach, he but regulates the liberty of the child. He allows natural results to follow natural causes. Tnere are no inhibitions or repressive measures. The child is to suffer the natural results of his own acts without the intervention of human agents to protect or'punish. If he does wrong nature will show him the evil of it. If he is virtuous he will be encouraged therein by the happy results which follow. The tutor was to study the child himself his tastes desires and interests and to bring him


into contact with Great Mother Nature herself, the best teacher of all. In giving instruction, a symbol should never be substituted for the thing itself. Geography for instance,should be learned by the child in the ■woods fields and hill, by direct observation of the position of the sun and the earth, by the study of stream, rain and air. There is much that is good in it. all, and much has been absorbed into modern educational literature, but manv of Rousseau’s theories were based on pure sentimentalism which had never been put to the test of practice and could not be worked out even in individual tuition, much less in class or school. That, however, is immaterial. Rousseau’s great contribution to education was that he made the nature of the child the first principle to be considered. He set the child in the midst and demolished all svsteiLg. tl tcj it .s and formalities to which child-nature could not respond.

It is from this principle that the most important developments of modern education have evolved. There opened anew era. The discussion shifted from the subjects to be taught to the child who was to learn. Psychology especially the psychology of the child came to the fore. Questions of instinct interest, and attention, the equipment and functions of the mind were set stirring in the thoughts of men and led ultimately to such developments as Rousseau himself eould never have dreamed of.

1746-1827. Among the many people who had been deeplv influenced by Rousseau's writings and the general spirit of enquiry which was abroad was a young man, already fiied by revolutionary ideas named Heinrich Pestaiozzi. He made it his aim to put in practice the new theories of natural education. He started with a benevolent institution for destitute children, but either the material was too poor, or he lacked the practical ability to organise the work, and the result was a failure. He turned his attention to his own child, whom be endeavoured to bring up after the pattern of Emile, and wrote his observations on the nature and development of children in his “Journal of a Father ”. He thus became one of the verv earliest practical psychologists of whose work we have any record. His writings continue the ideas of Rousseau, modified by the results of his own experience, but still maintaining two main principles ; first, that education should be the natural development of human nature, and secondly that social reform could only come that way. He felt when he was fifty rears old the need for practical demonstration of his theories and so decided to turn schoolmaster. But in practice he did not


shine. His influence was spread abroad more bv those who came from other places to see him and question his methods, and, with more practical ability than the master himself, returned to apply them m their own schools. Pestalozzi this expressed his ideals:—

“ Seek first to open the heart of the children, and, by satisfying their daily needs, mingle love and benevolence with all their impressions, experience and activity, so as to develop these sentiments in their hearts.”

He still had his eye fixed on the ultimate goal of social reform, and, to that end, demanded the same consideration and opportunities for every child, no matter how poor and humble his surroundings, or how limited his capacities, that Rousseau had provided for Emile.

Tnus we find the new era of psychological education ushered in by Pestalozzi and his work. The aim was to develop iu the child the elements of power implanted there by nature by furnishing him with appropriately selected and graded series of materials of experience for which his opening faculties would find a natural use. The novelty was not the discovery of psychology. That had been done centuries before. The new departure was in applving psychological method to child nature and adapting education to its dictates.

1776-18-1:1. The movement was carried a great distance forward bv the work and influence of Johann Friedrich Herbart, one of the very men who visited Pestalozzi in his school to study his principles and work. But Herbart was a philosopher and a practitioner. Though there was none of the sentimental emotion apparent in his work he made the findings of R-ousseau and Pestalozzi the starting point and showed how the elemental principle which thev iiad emphasized, namely sense-perception could be used in the apperceptive process for the formation of ideas and how the knowledge acquired could by instruction, be made to form moral character. From sense-perception to moral-character, there we see a summary of Herbart’s method and aims.

B y Herbart the work of R,ousseau and Pestalozzi, which had been largely emotional and empirical, was welded into a logical and philosophical system.

Rousseau had taken the little child by the hand and led him forth to notice. Pestalozzi had experimentea on him in schoolroom and playground, and Herbart systematized and gave scientific basis to their findings.

Besides svstematising psychological study and its applica


tion to education Herbart gave a great amount of attention to the method of instruction and the technique of the schoolroom.

From this point the general trend of education in spite of much criticism and controversy, took a definite turn in the practical working out of the new principles which had been revealed. Of course there were dissentient voices. Criticism of the new ideas was hurled with vigour by many pious and well-meaning people. Among these were Mrs Sarah Trimmer who was horrified by the growing influence of R.ousseau and edited a magazine “ The Guardian of Education'" to stem the tide, and Mrs Sherwood who, in “ The Child’s Pilgrim’s Progress” built up a new Vanity Fair with Pestalozzian teachers for its inmates and their “ toys ai d bautles of the schoolroom” for its furnishings.

1 782-1852. But the tide came flooding in. A new understanding of the mind of the child is revealed by the literatuieof that period, as, for instance in William Blake’s “ Songs of Innocence” and Thomas Day’s “ Sandford and Merton” .

With the coming of Fi oebel we enter a period of practical application to the working of the school. Froebel, andotheis on the continent have been concerned with the application of these principles to the education of small children. In one sense Froebel’s work was a reaction from the philosophical aspects of Herbart’s work. He, like Rousseau and Pestalozzi, laid stress on the child himself, his interests, experiences and activities as the basis and canon of instruction. Herbart had to some extent turned from the child to the teacher and Froebel returns to the contemplation of the child. Thus, with Pestalozzi as the pivot, Herbart had gone in one direction to study the philosophy and ethics of education as formation of moral character. Froebel worked back more to the position of Rousseau in the study of the inherent character of child nature, but making use of the philosophical principles and the practical experience of his predecessors.

Froebel, in his book, “ Education as Development” says that education “ must not only be founded on life as it actually appears, must not only be connected wTith life, but must also form itself in harmony with the requirements of life of the surroundings and of the time, and of what they offer:” That is to say the means used for instruction must be selected from life as the child sees it and as it affects him at the time and comes within his own experience. The school is the society in which the child lives, to which he learns to relate himself


and in which he finds in a simplified form the inter-actions and correlations of society as he is to meet it in later life. It is to Froebel we owe the “ Kindergarten the name which was given to his school in the village of Blarkenburg. Manv oeople who have never heard of Froebel are familiar with the results of his work under this name and all that it implies. Much of his writing is difficult to interpret and the meaning often obscure, but the fact remains that he united in a wav that had never been done before practical me;hod with philosophical principle. We mav look to Froebel as the fountain head of most of the educational thought and practice of the present day particularly in relation to small children.

Froebel laid open the rich resources of plav as a valuable aid in theearlv stages of education. In fact he denrionstratf d that all spontaneous action on the part of a child may be made a part of the educational process. He believed profoundly in the creative activity of the child’s mind and to this end encouraged various forms of handwork to develop constiucti\e capacity. Expression work formed an important part of his system and nature study was fostered by actual practice in horticulture. Free self expression by action, song and speaking were all gathered into his armoury of educational material.

Modern educational method owes more to Froebel than to any other recent writer. The influenee of his practical work has been greater than that of his philosophy which is often obscure and tiresome.

A further impetus has been given to this movement by Dr. Montessori. She, like Froebel, insists on the freedom of the child and his right to unfettered action. In principle and theory there is little difference betyveen the two, but in practice Montessori makes a more radical appeal to the natural resources of the child, and, with an unbounded faith in child nature, allows it far greater liberty than the Kindergarten would grant. There is no class organisation or group instruction. The child may do as he or she likes and is free to come and go so long as he does no harm. The “ Directress” will encourage a natural and healthy employment of the child’s curiousitv and not interfere with the tendency to explore his environment in his own way.

The Montessori Method provides an elaborate equipment of apparatus (“ toys and baubles” as Mrs. Trimmer would have called them) by which the sense-perception of the child may exercise itself and his mental capacities develop piece bypiece. In the direction of activities the Montessori Method is less

•28 THE W EST CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS

formal than that of Froebel in that it is more voluntary and elastic in its organisation yet it seeks to direct the child’s energies into actions that are of real social value. Thus instead of playing at being farmers or builders as in the Kindergarten, they are actually making a garden caring for pets, building a toy house, washing up or sweeping the room. On the whole the Montessori Method may, with certain inodifications, le regarded as an elaborate development of Froebel’s ideals, with an even greater emphasis on the ideals of Rousseau.

One further movement of modern times may be noted before we attempt to summarise the processes we have surveyed. The Dalton Plan worked out and propounded by Miss Helen Parkhurst in America and England is an attempt to introduce a similar element of freedom and self-expression into schools for children above the age of the Kindergarten period. B y means of assignments, covering a month’B work in eaeh subject., which are subdivided into periods of shorter durauci). with questions, hints and “ interest pockets,” the pupil is stimulated to search and enquire for himself and to learn in a wav that will appeal to his own interest. So long as the assignment is worked through and mastered satisfactorily the child is allowed entire liberty to choose when, and to a certain extent v. beie. he will do his work. Oral and formal instruction is reduced to a minimum, and the pupil is free to grow strong in that path of enquiry to which his natural bent leads him. It is, on the whole not much more than a further systematization and elaboration of similar kinds of work that have been done elsewhere, as, for instance, by Sanderson at Oundle and copied from him by other public schools.

The road we have followed has led us a long war from John Locke. The disciplinarian aspect has given way to what may be called a biological and sociological aspect of education. The pupil is no longer a subject to be “ worked into” a taste for learning or to be exercised in self denial by a rigid and formal discipline. He is regarded as a member of society ■with his own rights as an individual and above all the right of self- determination and the liberty to work out his own personality.

It has been a long road, and by no means a smooth one. There have been storms of controversy and the set-backs of reaction. It must not be supposed that at any time the leading of the pioneers has been universally followed. Some of them were subjected to a good deal of persecution, suspicion and even exile. All have been opposed by criticism and invective from the more conservative champions of their day. Even now

•THE WEST CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS 29

there mav be found not a few schools where the old hard and fast discipline is maintained, ■where children are put through a regime and turned out as from a mould, having passed the formative years of their life with no opportunity to develop as nature meant them to. Such schools exist today, ana it would not be true to sav they are all bad, nor would it be true to say the other are all good. We hope that education is on the right road to a perfect system, but it may be a good deal of modification of the new will be necessary and a good deal of the old mav yet be retained, for history has often demonstrated in the past that the right way is a via media which retains the best in the older methods and selects only the most valuable parts of the new.

At least the trend is more and more to keep the child in the midst. He has established his inalienable right to that central position and the work of education in the future will be more and more to make him the object of study and to build up its systems not according to a rigid fpj;tn of d it-cipline which his elders think tq be good for him but as attractive avenues of attainment inviting him to climb to tja.e realisation of his best and noblest self.

GETTING BACK IN STEP

Bi7 S ol Metzgeb From the Country Gentleman

-Doctobs do not know why the present day human gets off on the wroDg foot. Nature never intended that we should walk as many do. Trail a savage and you will find his footprints point straight ahead. But modern woman has too often got out of step with her uncivilized ancestors. She toes out as she goes and is thereby a great loser in both comfort and activity.

In this whole matter of posture, which influences our health so tremendously, much depends upon our foundation. Our “ dogs,” as the doughboys called them, frequently do an unnecessary amount of barking,, too much for our peace and


contentment. Those with daily jobs that keep them moving about house and yard sometimes walk in pain. Thev have led themselves into no end of discomfort, to put it mildlv, either by overworking the pedals or by the tendency to toe out as they tread.

The immediate cause of this discomfort is flat feet. They are not cheering objects for a -woman to drag about with her. They prevent her from being quite up to snuff, are always uncomfortable and often quite painful. A ladvlknew possessed them without knowing it. Pains were so sharp in her legs that she believed the cause rheumatism. A careful diagnosis located the trouble. ..It was flat feet. They are no joking matter.

Cheeking Up on Your Arches

I t ’s no trick at all to tell whether vour own them. Wet the soles of your bare feet with water and stand on wrapping paper. Then have the outlines of each foot traced in pencil. If they are flat the long arch that extends from ball to heel will press upon the paper.

Have you calluses on the soles of the balls of vour feet ? If so, you are out of luck. Your transverse arch, the one that spans the ball of the foot, has given way. These calluses are caused by the pressure of the knuckles of the toes upon the skin of the sole of the ball of the foot. There are, as you see, two arches to each foot. Either or both may break down. The excessive high heels that some women wear usually break down the transverse arch by throwing too much weight upon it.

It is no simple matter to right flat feet. Usually they are due to too much strain upon certain muscles. Standing for long periods to do certain work may cause them, just as babies sometimes develop bowed legs by walking too much when learning to toddle. Like rounded shoulders or protruding abdomens, the cause of flat feet is chiefly due to overstretched and undeveloped muscles, muscles used so much in but one way that their tone and elasticity have vanished.

Why Have Flat Feet?

W e D e p e n d upon our muscles for correct posture. They support the bone frame and various organic parts. When thev weaken from lack of use or from overwork something sags and


some of our anatomy slips out of place. To replace it we have to tone the supporting muscles. Healthy ones are short and elastic. Weak muscles, long and flabbv. They can’t do their job. The posture we must habitually maintain to insure perfect health is gone.

When muscles give way from overwork or neglect such vital organs as the lungs and heart, in one case,or the stomach, liver and kidneys, in another, are pushed together. They cannot function. Tone departs from them and health from us.

When this occurs in the case of the feet we are also in a bad wav. In spite of automobiles women must ever walk, especially those who liveon farms. M uch misery may accompany the effort the good for reason that when our arches break down the great weight of our bodies, relatively speaking, presses down upon the weakened muscles tbar no longer can keep the foot normal.

Flat feet are not bevond redemption. While their bones are out of position, they are not deformed, as the appeaiance of the feet themselvesmav seem to indicate. Sagging, stretched muscles are the main trouble. The remedy, as in all incorrect posture troubles, is to so strengthen the muscles concerned as to make them replace and hold the arches in normal position. But even strong muscles cannot do this unless we walk as natuie intended.

The tread of the Indian, or of any old campaigner, is the one to adopt. They point the toes stra ight ahead. When you turn them out the long arch of the foot is subjected to side strain it was not built to carry., Thev break inward toward the other foot just as an arch of a building would do if the weight it is planned to carry was suddenly shifted to press on its side.

Several exercises help one habitually to walk correctly. Thev also help correct flat feet. The first, the tightrope walk, is merely a matter of walking barefooted with the inside line of each foot on a crack in the floor or a seam in the carpet or rug. That points the feet straight ahead, as they should be pointed. In the second you walk on your heels, toes straight and up as far as you can pull them. The latter takes the weight off the weakened arches and also gives the foot muscles the needed exercises that are different from those to which they are accustomed. That’s the meat of toning any muscle.

There is no better exercise to correct flat feet than to sit in a chair, and try to pick up either a pencil or a marble with the toes. This will bring into action pedal muscles you never


dreamed existed. It also tones those in the sole of the foot that have long given up working for you to support the arches.

A corking corrective for flat feet, which are some times referred to as broken arches, is to sit in a chair, right, and twist the feet, one at a time, in upward circles at the ankle joint. Both exercises slowly but surely strengthen the flabby muscles that we force to get that way by reason of our lack of knowledge of the proper care of phein.

As with all posture correctives, the end sought—perfectly normal feet— is not gained in a day. But the effort is well worth the time expended, for flat feet, always anything but comfortable, often lead to almost total incapacity. They very often develop for their owner a rundown nervous condition, so constant is the pain from them.

The need of correction becomes paramount in their case because all posture is dependent upon the feet. If the latter are deformed from muscular breakdown or from incorrect treading or both, it is almost impossible for one to carry her body as she should. They tend to round shoulders and to protrude abdomens, two abnormalities of posture that are anything but good for our state of health. Fit your feet for the daily job. You’ll be far happier if you do. First, consult your doctor in case of foot trouble. If rheumatism or some bone deformity isn’t the cause he’ll tell rou the best kind of shoes to wear and recommend certain braces and supports.

But in the end the cure is up to you, decidedly up to you, as are all these matters of posture. And if you love life and 'the blessings of health one of the certain ways to insure both is to carry yourself as nature intended.

Healih


SILHOUETTE

Sometimes I used to wander about the streets of this great citv with the one and only purpose of getting lost so as bo have the fun and excitement of finding myself again. That was in old, far-off and happier days when the streets were narrower, noisier, dirtier and smellier than they are now. But in those days a foreigner was an honoured guest and could be pretty sure of deference and kindly help in any emergency. When foreigners first came out here there was naturally an attitude of doubt and suspicion, and again more recently there have come changes which make his position one of verv doubtful privilege. But in between these two periods there was a spell of ten or more years when things went smoothly and relations were easy. The crest of the wave was during about ten years after the Revolution. That is how we speak of the onset of the movement in 1911 though everybody knows that the Revolution is not yet complete, and is not likely to be for some considerable time. Let me see, where was I ? Oh, yes, lost “ of malice aforethought” in the streets of the old-time citv. Being well brought up I used to adopt the well-bred manner of any civilized citizen and “ ask a policeman.” My delight was profound, but well concealed, vhen 1 found that he understood my question, for my knowledge of the language did not even keep pace with my knowledge of localities. But the delight was always short-lived and I soon gave up the foolish habit when I found his instructions utterly incomprehensible and could do no more than smile out a weak “ fei hsin” and follow the direction indicated by his tilted chin.

What a lot of interesting things there are to see in the streets if one goes along in a leisurely and dignified way with one’s eves open. These degenerate days of rickshas, bicycles and motor cars are making us unobservant of the details of city life. I remember once stopping to watch a lacquer worker at his task. What patience he puts into i t ; filling up the holes, smoothing out the surface, polishing it and then leaving it for days on end while he gets on with another piece of work. The jade workers and stone polishers impressed the Confucian

34 THE WEST CHINA M ISSIONARY NEWS

quotation from the Odes indelibly on mv mind and set me busv comparing a stone worker with an educational missionary. Their tasks have much in common.

But I remember one old man, thin, wizened, bespectacled and smoke-dried who sat stooping over a large embroidery frame. His body was wasted to skin and bone and his fingers were so thin that I expected to hear a click as he moved them. He was rapidly urging a silk-threaded needle through a piece of satin and producing a most exquisitely beautiful embroidery in the fairest tints of silk. Around him sat about eight little bovs, his school of apprentices, each one busy on some minor piece of embroidery, but taking their lesson from the skill of the old, old master.

I wonder how many hours I have spent watching this ancient artist at his dainty work. I have looked round that squalid little hovel of a shop many a time and wondered how manv thousands of pieces of delicate artistry have passed out from this- dingy den of their origin to grace the spacious chambers of the Pulcherias of East and West. Manv a room has been adorned by the skill which gleams with stifled flame in this little shop, many a downy couch beautified by the labour done on these hard benches.

Just as the toil and sweat of the mine brings warmth and light to myriad homes and the toil and strain of the sailor brings the wealth and store of other lands to our shores, so here in this dingy little shop where I used to stand and gaze I see at present an almost universal rule that poverty ministers to riches and squalor produces beauty for those with money to buv it. At present, but what of the future. That old, old man was aucient and wizened even then. He must have passed over the border long ago and perhaps he could tell us more than we can imagine now to solve these eternal riddles of life.

Spex

FOOD W AYS TO HEALTH,

Begin and end the day by drinking a glass of water, and in between drink at least four glasses.Eat a good breakfast every day, Breakfast means “ break fast”. Eat slowly, at regular hours, and chew all food well.Drink at least two cups of milk each day. This means you.

THE W EST CHINA MISSIONARY NEWS 85

Eat some cereal every day, cooked cereals preferred.Eat at lease one vegetable besides potato every day. more if possible.Eat some fruit every day, fresh fruit is best, eat it instead of candy.Eat bread and butter every meal, dark, hard breads are best. Eat an egg everv dav when possible, but remember that meat is not necessary every day.Candy is all T i g h t at the end of a meal, not at other times.Do not eat or touch food without first washing the hands.Do not eat nor drink from a cup or dish which has been used by another without first washing the dish.Do not eat from the same dish with any other person.

About Vitamins.Vitamin A,

This vitamin produces strength. It is found in raw eggs, butter, cod liver oil, orange juice, fresh or canned beans, carrots, cabbage, spinach, squash, tomatces, and turnips.

Vitamin B,This vitamin helps to keep your nerves in order. It is found in raw cabbage, bran, wheat germ, yeast, fresh or canned apples, beans, corn, carrots, peas, and tomatoes.

Vitamin C,This vitamin is the one to keep your blood in good condition. It is found in orange, turnip juice, fresh and canned apples, beans, cabbage, carrots, peas, raspberries, spinach, tomato.

Vitamin D,This vitamin helps us in bone building. It is found in butter, egg yolk, lettuce, fresh or canned apples, or spinach.

Vitamin E,This' vitamin gives you pep, and helps creat new cells for old ones. You can get it in cream of wheat, germ meal, red meats, vegetables and canned soups.

You will note that tomatoes, contain Vitamins A.B.C. which purify the blood, rejuvinate the nerves, and supply strength.


TORONTO NEWS

B y D b G e o . E . H a h t w e l l .

Friday evening, June 12th, a most interesting meeting was held in the China Inland Mission Hall. The speakers were Bishop Mowll, who gave a graphic description of the work in Eastern Szechuan and M r. and Mrs. Cunningham of Ta Chien Lu. The latter are on their way back to China with tents and other paraphernalia that will enable them to reside among the nomads who roam on the roof of the vrords. Mr. and M rs, Cunningham have the spirit of pioneers and will be fitting fellow-workers for that prince of pioneer workers, J. H. .Edgar,

Saturday, June 13th, one of the most beautiful picnic centres in Toronto was turned into a wee bit of Szechuan. The occasion was the annual picnic of the West China Club. The day was perfect, the place, Centre Island, from whose outer beach the surface of the water was lost in the horizon. Eighty six men, women, students and children surrounded the food-laden tables. It was a great Re-Union. Fresh introductions were necessary when confronted with the young men and women who, like the ancient gourd, have sprung from boyhood and girlhood into manhood and womanhood. West China can well be proud of her children in the homelands. Only the day before Miss Marian Mortimore, Miss Kathleen Carscallen, Edward Jolliffe, Egbert Carson and Gerald Ferguson knelt before the Chancellor of Toronto. University to be hooded. Cecil Hoffman obtained his degree of Doctor of Medicine. The Misses Jolliffe, Earle and Crutcher have finished their Nurse’s course. It will also be interesting to know that Mrs. Dr. Agnew obtained the degree of Master of A.rts and Miss Turner, Bachelor of Pedagogy. West China looms high in the professional world of Toronto.

Sunday, .Tune 14th in Trinity United Church a very earnest and solemn ceremony was performed. Four individuals were dedicated to mission work. One of tbese with Miss Kathleen Ferguson B. A. as his wife will soon be on his way to Szechuan. The Church Bulletin stated “ We are glad today to do honour

THE WEST CHTXA MISSIONARY NEWS 37

to these young people -who, in these troublous times--, are ready to ‘carry on’ in adventurous li\ing. Mr. Roy C. Spooner, a graduate of Victoria College, is to join the staff of "We.-t China Union University this Autumn as Professor of Chemist] y.”

Notwithstanding the pressure of financial depression, the churches of Canada are intensely interested in the work and workers in far distant fields.

Today, June 15th, our jov has been turned into sorrow as the sad news of Miss McNaugh ton’s death arrives. Surely her years of consecrated service will continue to bear much fruit among those who have had the privilege of coming under her loving influence.

FOWCHOW.

Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Ross left yesterday on the S. IS. Iping for Shanghai en route to Canada, For some month Mrs. Ross has been in poor health. A week ago while on their way to Omei for thesummersvmptoms of analarming nature developed. A medical consultation was held in Chungking at which it was unanimous]v recommenced that Mrs. Ross should immediately return to Canada. Though Dr. and M rs, have been on the field less than a rear thev have won the deep respect not only of their fellow-missionaries but of the Chinese as well. Their deDarture leaves a decided gap in our ranks and genuine sorrow in the hearts of all their friends.Miss E. D. Graham of the W .M.S. left this morning for Omei, we think. Chungchow is the only district of the U.C.C. Mission where the W.M.S. has not sent foreign workers. In response to the very urgent request of the Chinese of the district thev decided at their last Council meeting to do the next best thing ana appointed two of their well trained Chinese teachers to begin work in Chungchow this autumn. They also appointed Miss F.F. Jack of Chungking to visit the district ar.d make a report to their Executive on the opportunity for Girls’ school work there.


Miss Jack in company with Mr. and Mrs. Morgan visited the district in June. As her time was limited she was able to see only three centres— Gao JDjia Djen on the river, where a primary school attended by both boys and girls is carried on. rShih Dzu and Chungchow both of which are hsien cities.

Cshih Dzu is a snug little mountain citv 100 li to the south of the river. Because of its location it is more or less cut off from the other stations of the district. But they have a large school there approximately two fifths of the pupils being girls. We spent two days at Shih Dzu. The first one was largely given up to the Graduating Exercises of the senior class of the school. This Hi JVyie whei was the first of its kind thev had and it was indeed a lao reh affair. The District Official, the head of the Educational Bureau, representatives of the other departments in the city, teachers from the Government schools, together with other leading citizens were present for the program and for the feast that followed. These, with the parents arid friends of the school child ten made a gathering of three or four hundred people. Speeches -were mace bv manv leading citizens and certificates were presented bv the Educational Bureau to.the members of the graduating class. Miss Jack in her speech by a happy quotation from the Classics sent a ripple of good humour round the circle on the platform. The meal that followed offered good opportunities for friendlv intercourse. The feeling throughout the whole afternoon was most cordial. One could not but feel that the Christian school was made welcome in that citv.

The following day a women’s meeting was held in the church compound. At this meeting some two hundred women, as many children, and approaching one hundred men were present. The men could not be kept away and crowded the back part of the compound garden. The school girls formed the centre front of.the gathering and felt that this was their special day. About and behind them sat their mothers, sisters- in-law and other friends. Very few present had seen foreign women before. Christian hymns were sung and Christian addresses were given, and the meeting was closed bv praver in which the local pastor prayed specially for the child ren before him and their parents that they might be led bv God their Father and kept in His good care. The women were of everv class. They lingered about after the meeting was over, the less timed for a chat with the foreign women, the others to see them and to give back a friendly smile for a word of recognition from them.


Before leaving S’n’ih Dzu Miss Jack met the Board of the local church and in response to their urgent request for W.M.S. teachers promised to do her best to 'meet their med at the earliest possible opportunity.

The meeting at Chungchow was not 90 large nor so impressive. Foreign women were not a strange sight here. About fiftv women attended. Here too addresses were given setting forth the purpose of the church in its school work. Here Miss Jack met the District Educational Committee, and had opportunity to consult at length with the Chairman of the district regarding opportunities for work. It is hojt-n that as a result of her visit the Woman’s Missionary Society at their next annual meeting may be able to f rab e a more definite policy for Girls5 school work on the district.

Mr. McAmmond made a flying visit recently to Chungking to see the Dentist. It is reported that in his excavations Dr. Anderson found a most unusual tooth.

Andy— “ Strange—never saw another like it.”Bystander— Why Andy?—Never saw another like

Mac.

THE GARDEN

The month of September is with most of us a very busy one filled with planning for and getting our work restarted after the summer holidays. But anyone who has a garden will be well repaid if they will during this month give a little time to it. It is now, of not al ready done, that the Winter and Spring sowings of both vegetables and flowers should be made. Some of the vegetables that should now be sown are cabbages, cauliflowers, onions and celery. Sow these in carefully prepared seed beds and when large enough prick off and plant in the positions where they are to be grown’. Parsnips, turnips and beets will do much better if not transplanted; therefore sow them in the space that thev are to occupy, in rows about two feet apart, and later thin them out giving each plant plenty of room to grow and develop.


A constant supply of fresh radishes may be had all through the Autumn. Winter and Spring by making a succession of sowings. These also do not transplant well and should te sown thinly in the space that they are to occupy. Lettuce is another vegetable that may be sown in succession during three quarters of the year. Sow in a seed pan and when the plants are large enough to handle prick out into the plot prepared for them placing the plants some four or five inches apart.

The present month is also a good time for sowing manv kinds of flowers. Annuals are many of them not hardy enough to stand anv frost and such should be held over for a Spring sowing. However we may now plant our bi-annuals and perennials. Of these we may mention the more common such as stocks, pansys, wallflowers, daisies, sweetwilliam, antirrhinum or snap dragons, pinks, and carnations. Sow in pans or specially prepared seed beds and when the plains ate large enough plant out into the garden. A plan-that the writer has found successful in sowing these small seeds is when the box or pm has been filled with light soil to press this down firmly and evenly with the hand, then thoroughly wet and when the water has soaked away scatter the seeds on the surface, and finally covering them lightly with very fine soil. Thereafter see to it that the seed pans are kept damp. Manv good seeds are lost through the pans becoming dried out while the seeds are germina'ting. To cover the pans with a pane of glass will help to prevent a too rapid evaporation of moistuie. The above flowers if sown early this month have time to make good sized plants for spring blooming.

Two other things will need your special attention this month. These are the dahlias and chrysanthemums. Both are now approaching the time for flowering, and are growing very rapidly, They need careful and sufficient staking. Without this the plants are almost certain to be blown down and greatly spoiled if not altogether broken off, by one of the wind and rain Btorms that are frequent at this time of year. Seme of the dahlia plants have been blossoming all through the summer and these now require pruning and the removal of all old wood and flowered pods. Chrysanthemums will also need to be debudded leaving but one or two buds on each stalk. To neglect this will bring you very many more flowers but of a very inferior size and quality.

Sweetpeas are another spring flower very much beloved. These may also be sown in September or during the early half of October. These are best sown in rows. Prepaieadeep


trench and manure well, covering lightly with perhaps an inch of soil. On top of this scatter your seeds and cover in to a depth of two or three inches.

G.M.F.

Y.M.C.A. REPORT

A. J. B r a c e , G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y

Inasmuch as most of the members of the foreign com* munity give practical assistance to the Chengtu Y.M.C.A. it seems but right that abrief report of the year’s activities should be made occasionally. The local Association is self-supporting. That is the money required for the local budget is all raised in Chengtu. Only the Fraternal Secretary’s salarv comes from abroad. The local budget is approximately $11,000 and this year wa"s closed with all accounts paid. At the annual membership campaign nearly four thousand dollars was raised ; seven hundred of this came from our foreign community. The balance of the budget comes from Chinese suhscrjptH i s. shop rents and rental from use of gvmnasium for moving pictuies. This year dormitory rooms have been fitted out ; these are all full now and promise another good source of income when outfitting expenses are met. We have ten secretaries, three of whom are full secretaries and seven are secretaries in training : all are Christians and either church members or catechumens.

The local Association has local autonomy although supe rvised by the National Committee from Shanghai. A local Board of Directors is responsible for the policy of the Association. The Board is composed of twelve Christian men. all church members, representing the various communions in Chengtu. Four new men are elected each year at the annual meeting .and elected for three years. The present President is Dr. Lo Pin San of the Friends Mission.

The student department is one of the most promising features of the work. We work in close cooperation with the Student Christian Movement. During the past year, Mr. Wallace Wang, B. A. Executive Secretary of the S.C.M. has been a director of the Y.M.C.A. and has led weekly a live Bible


class with the secretaries. The writer is teaching in six Government schools, including the Normal College and Chengtu University. Beside this program he has also lectured in fourteen Government schools and made contacts that have filled up the Bible classes. Two of these have been held in the Yr.M.C.A, and one in the writer’s study “ on Conversations of Jesus”. Then the Y cooperated with the Student Summer Conference, with the General Secretary acting as treasurer and financing the conference of eightv lecently held at Chin Chen Shan.

During the year over two hundred volunteer workers have associated themselves with us in carrying out our various projects. We have had the privilege of forty interviews with men about their own lives and the meaning of God to them. In our Bible classes we have been rejoiced to meet with six men who clearlv gave themselves to the service of Christ, and introduced two of these to church membership. Beside these five men definitely committed themselves to God during the Student Summer Conference.

The following brief facts point to the leading activities of the vear. A new feature is the opening of an Industrial School giving a two years course in motor mechanics and batteries, the course well balanced with Chinese, English and mathematics with bookkeeping.Paid up membership 1008, of whom 122 are active members, Christians and church members, who elect our Christian Directors each year. This is the highest record we have had in twentv years in Christian members.Bible classes attendance 1060, at all religious meetings 2100, Forum attendance 2195 —this in fourteen Government and Christian schools for lectures on ‘The Institute of Pacific Relations— A better wav than war to settle disputes’ in the first term. Last term, ‘Gandhi of India— A New Way of Nationalism— Suffering— an Antidote to Communism’.Bov's Club activities 3500— carried on in the Private schools with our secretaries and volunteer workers putting on ‘Fourfold Program’. Using Reading-room 7198. Books loaned from Library 3619. Health campaign 5210— Two day campaign at time of National Independence holiday and these visited the building to view charts and hear lectures.Games indoors, 7360 men, largely billiards ; boys, 2746 mostly pingpong. Games outdoors, 5400 mostly students with tennis,


vollev and basket-ball. Socials, largely movies, for quarterly membership rallies, 5400. Baths, 11,700— tapped hot and cold water— both showers and tubs. This is the most popular feature in our new building, and much appreciated.Our real big record of the year came with Prof. Robertson’s Science Lectures on the‘Phono Film’. In 1 J days Dr. Robertson drew record crowds'—one day at the Union University and 11 davs at the Association in our large gymnasium, he held 34 meetings with a total attendance of 33,000 of whom 26,000 ■were students of High School and College grades. A technical class of 400 registered senior i-cience students met him for four davs in a highly technical course.The other outstanding feature of the year was the visit of our statesmanlike General Secretary of the National Committee of China, Dr. David Z.T. Y ui, who was accompanied by his wife and R. R. Service, P^egional Secty. He came in May when the annual student agitations and memorial days weie in full swing. He met violent opposition and newspaper recrimina- t ion like the great Christian that he is, and indelibly left, his mark on our Association work. He addressed forty large meetings and conferences in ten days, beside innumerable interviews with a host of officials who clamored for his advice on major Chinese Educational and political questions. Our work has gone much easier since the visit and wise advice of our great General Secretary. Our Secret aries and Board members will never forget his masterly presentation of large Christian programs and the fine quiet Christian influence he carried to all discussions.At this time our Association concludes twenty years of active service in this Capital citv of Chengtu among the three quarters of a million ppople. Throughout the entire period one man has been the guiding genius of its destinies— Yang Snao Chen—Foreign Office diplomat, Post Office expert and Middle School Principal. He has served this loDg period with great distinction and without monetary consideration of any kind as President of the Association. Be was associated with Dr. Henrv Hodgkin, and R. R. Service in the early days of organization, and has wisely piloted the Association through manv serious situations. He retires as President this year in the face of determined effort to retain his valuable services. As a leader among the Friends he has made a rich contribution to the whole Christian life of this city and province. He is now Honorary President.

44 THE WEST CHINTA MISSIONARY NEWS

N.C.C. SZECHUAN CAMPAIGN

Rev. Kan Shao Fang has returned from the Coast where he went to represent the U.C.C.M. in the Educational Con ference. Also Bishop Song and Yang Hsao Chuan have returned from Shanghai and bring word of the coming to Szechuan this fall of the visiting delegation. Mr, Kan reports fine conferences with S.C.C. leaders in Shanghai, but expresses doubt as to the large party mentioned earlier coming to Szechuan on account of the cable received from Dr. Mott in America cutting down the grant owing to financial stringency in the U.S.A. The delegation will come for the three con ferences in Chungking, Suining and Chengtu, but it looks now as if the delegation will consist of three instead of seven members. The three mentioned are Dr. C. Y. Cheng, the Moderator, Miss Kwan of the Sunday School Board, and Bishop Wang.

The dates suggested are November and earlv December. As soon as definite dates are fixed, the good news will be relayed all over the Province. The Chengtu Committee are well organized and meeting weekly. The churches have been asked to appoint men to represent them in an organizing capacity, Donald Fay is enthusiastic over the visit and has infected the committee with his enthusiasm. H. J. Openshaw, for years a leader in the Szechuan Christian Council is behind the committee. Dr. Lo Pin San is the Chairman, S. F. Kan is Chinese Secretary and A. J. Brace, English Secretary. Please report the matter to the churches and ask for special prayer for the coming conferences.

A.J.B.


SUMMER TRIPS “ INSIDE”

Accompanied by his son Brockman and Rev. A.C. Hoffman the writer enjoyed a brief trip into the Tribes country during August. The Home Missions of Lifan and Tsa Kao Lao were visited where Rev. Mao Su Sen and Mr. Ren have been carrying on active Christian work for more than ten years. The churches in both places have grown in numbers and spiritual power. On this trip several new candidates were baptized including one entire family in Lifan. Several “ Chai Tzes” were visited, and of course the well known Tsa Kao Lao Lamasery. The writer was particularly interested in the change of attitude there. On three previous visits it was impossible to get into the lamasery and the lamas often proved quite truculent. Due to Christian contacts and the friendly attitude shown bv the local workers and visiting missionaries quite a change was noticed this year. The doors were thrown wide open for inspection while special services were put on that were highly interesting. The deep base of the 200 lamas mingled with the fine soprano of forty boys made a combination of fine music that will be long remembered.

Everv where we went we found health and Gospel tracts and placards in prominent places, testifying eloquently to the fine work of one of the previous parties this year, namely, Miss Wellwood, Miss Kilborn, Miss Su and Mrs. Cheo. We heard too of their fine messages and of the large amounts of santonin and other specifics given out to needy ones. Then Messrs Hibbard and Longlev made a good trip later and gave add lesses both in Lifan and Tsa Kao Lao. The ladies are enthusiastic about Wei Chow as a medical center. The salubrious climate gives promise for the success of a health sanitorium. It would prove a fine center of healing for all the “ Inside Country”, beside saving to the work the Wei Chow Mission property, now woefullv gone to ruin, and in the hands of the local magistrate to save it from further military depredations.

Last but not least, we came oft on the trail of Rev. 1 homas Torrance. He spent well on to two months itinerating through the hill country, visiting dozens of “ chai tzes” , dispensing medicine'and tracts and preaching the Gospel everywhere. At


one place twenty five li west of Wei Chow we came upon a new neat little building painted white, with the sign “ Fu Yin Tang” plainly marked over the door in bold characters. On enquiry we found that Mr. Torrance had raised the money for this fine building and had a real cause there. We met him at Tao Tze Pin, in company with his faithful missionary mule, and we enjoyed lunch together and a good chat. He told us of Miss Thoering of the C.l.M. Kwan Hsien making a fine itinerary doing women’s work. So the Tribes Country has seen many visitors this summer and they all bring back good reports.

A.J.B.

To The Editor.

West China Missionary News,Dear Sir.

That was a very interesting list of questions put by “ enquiring Minds” which appeared in the last copy of the “News” . We want more of this kind of thing, by which we can compare our experiences and get help from each other.

Many of the questions could of course be answered very easily by any well-informed Christian teacher and could present no difficulty to a properly instructed pupil in a Christian School. The trouble is that so few people do ask questions. How did this missionary persuade his or her pupils to ask so many questions? I would do anything to have my students in such close relations with me that they woul,d come asking questions about Christianity. What is the secret which I have not learnt?

Some of us got together round these questions andhad some interesting talks. Thank you, Mr. Editor, for that suggestion.

Sincerely,Anon.


I c h a n g ,

J u n e 15-1931.The Editor

West China Missionary News.The Airmails three times a week seemed at first to be a

howling success, but— “ The best laid plans o’ mice an’men, gang oft aglee.”

Of the three machines that brought the mails, two are laid up with engine trouble and the third is commandeered bv Chiang lvai Shek. So we are back to the slow and shore (perhaps I should say S u r e ,) way of the ships. Acting upon medical advice, Mr. and Mrs. Squire are reluctantly going to Ruling from the first week in July until early in September, so that the C.l.M. Home in Ichang will be closed for that period. Many are going to Kuling early this year to be sure of getting a week or two at least, respite from the heat : things are not looking too secure in that direction, and the time on the hill top may be curtailed as last year.

H.J.S.

I c h a n g .

J u n e 22 : 193 1 .Editor.

West China Missionary News.Glad to see friends have taken me at my word and are making use of me for forwarding air mail letters. I sent a letter to Peking the other day and it reached there in Two Days. If friends enclose stamps, kindly wrap in wax paper. 1 have had a letter from Chentu, in soak for twelve hours in order to unglue the stamps so firmly affixed.

Important Notice. Letters not strictly private should 1 e addressed to The Missionary in Charge and not to any individual. Much inconvenienc and delay has been caused by not adhering to this rule.


I once before mentioned the case of a Papa who had to carrv the babv for six months because he sent the Bill of Lading to Squire of Ichang when the said Squire was in England and the B/L followed him there, and the P r a m was in Ichang. Troops are flocking down here from the West, it looks as though war with Canton may come about but we pray it may be averted, for it will give the Reds just the opportunity they want. All is peaceful here so far. Ichang home will be closed from first week in July to 2nd week in Sept.

H.J.S.

BORN

B k o w n — On July 31st, 1932, at Behluding, Sze., to Rev. and Mrs.EL G. Brown, U.C.C. Mission, CheDgtu, a son, Homer Grant.

P a t c h e t t —On July 19th, 1932, at Mt. Omei, Sze., to Mr and Mrs. C. J. Patchett, C.I. M., Chukentan, a son, Kenneth John.

C O D E A D D R E S SB E A M A N ' S S H A N G H A I P H O N E 3 5 4 5 9M I S S I O N S C O D E U S E D

BEAMANS.

A REST HOUSE FOR TRAVELLERS

W. F, B E A M A N P R O P

3 3 8 A V E N U E J Q F F R C C O R . R U E C H A P S A L

S H A N G H A I

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