MISSION WORK IN CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 227, 26 September 1898, Page 3

MISSION WORK IN CHINA.

Some interesting information remission work in China was given in the Beresford-st. Hallon Friday evening by Dr. Sewell S. MacFarlane, L.R., C.S.P., who is at present on a visit to this city as a deputation from the Lon- ! don Missionary Society. The meeting j last evening took the form of a weli come soiree to Dr. McFarlane, tea bei ing partaken of at 6.30 o'clock. At | the afternoon meeting the Rev. F.WarI ncr, pastor of the Edinburgh-street I Congregational Church, presided. Mr i Warner as President of the Auckland i branch of the L.M.S. briefly welcomed the visitor. The proceedings were not of a formal description. Dr. McFarlaue simply answering questions as to the mission' work in China. Dr. McFarlane stated that he had been ten years in China, arid was stationed at .Chi Chou, having gone out there to take up the medical work. Dr. McFarlane I pointed out that the medical man could often reach where the minister would not be admitted. He referred to the great ignorance of the Chinese in respect to medicine, and more particularly of surgery. The old barriers were, however, being broken down. At the medical colleges 40 Chinese stu-. dents who spoke English were being trained in modern medicine and surgery. Dr. McFarlane also referred* to the opium habit, and said it was about equal to the evils of alcohol among western nations. The Chinese were, he considered, the jolliest people going if they were treated properly. When dealing with the question of the i religion ot the Chinese, Dr. McFarlane said if they followed entirely the teachings of Confucius and Buddha the Chinese would be one of the most moral people in the world. In fact, western nations had a lot to learn ; from the teachings of Confucius and Buddha, The difficulties of learning the Chinese language were pointed out by the speaker, who mentioned that there were 4000 characters, each with 20 different meanings, besides aspirates and tones. EFFECTS OF THE LAND GRAB. The Rev. Joseph Parker asked Dr. MeFarlane to explain the effects of the recent political developments in China. Dr. McFarlane said so far it had not affected Chi Chow, as that place was 200 miles west of Tiensin. It was \\ years since he left China, so that all this land grabbing had taken place since. He thought if the Powers were to adopt the English policy and open all the ports instead of grabbing the land so as to equalise trade all round it would be better than what they were doing. 'China,' said Dr. McFarlane, 'is a great plum pudding, and so far they have only been pulling out some of the plums. Why, if you tied all the pig-tails in China together you would have a rope long enough to go five times round the world!' The proposed railways, Dr. McFarlane said, seemed to create the ■wildest panic amongst the people. Placards were posted in the villages telling the Chinese to kill the foreign devils because they were trying to make railways right through the place, and every third mile of sleepers had the body of a Chinese child under it and also each bridge. The placard also stated that although the Emperor had consented to the railway still he would thank everyone who killed a foreigner. The placards were taken down, but he believed that supestitious idea had a good deal to do with foreigners being murdered. A HIDEOUS SIN. Dr. McFarlane, in answer to a question, said the article entitled 'A Hideous Sin,' giving details of how the lady missionaries suffered in China was not true.He had contradicted it in Sydney, Wellinjrton. Christchurch and Dunedin. The ladies connected with the Mission never preached on the streets, because that was opposed to Chinese etiquette, and if they did so they might be mistaken for others. They travelled in Chinese carts, accompanied by another woman, and only addressed gatherings of women either in houses or churches. As to travelling in boats with Chinese and contractingloathsome diseases, that also was untrue.