CHINESE MISSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 6

CHINESE MISSIONS.

In the Boxer uprising of 1900 hostility was exhibited towards Christian missions in China because the Chinese wished to halt China's advance from her old isolation toward a place in the modern world. A similar hostility towards organised Christianity is now being manifested in China, but the reason is exactly opposite to that which impelled the Boxer movement. Owing to the spread of rationalism among the student classes it has come to be believed that Christian missions are reactionary and a hindrance to material and social development. Part of the opposition is also due to the growing spirit of nationalism in China, since it is contended that the Christians interfere with civil and military affairs and help forward Imperialism and foreign exploitation. In the past the Powers have frequently used attacks on missions and missionaries in order to press claims for territorial and other concessions. Thus France in 1858 used the murder of one of her missionaries in order to claim a wholly unjust compensation, and she joined with Britain in the march to Peking when the claim was resisted. Germany got her lease of the Kiao Chau peninsula as compensation for the loss of two missionaries. There is, therefore, some foundation for the claim made by the Anti-Christian Federation that organised Christianity has been used as the forerunner of foreign exploitation. But against this must be set'the enormous value of the social work done by the missionaries, . One of the members of the American delegation which visited.China in connection with the Consortium said that'he had not found a'single movement that made for the moral and social betterment of the people which did not owe its origin to Christian missions. He had inquired everywhere, but could not find one instance; The social work done by the missionaries is acknowledged by many of those who. are opposed to organised: Christianity. It' is significant of this anti-Christian movement in China that, though there hostility, toward many Christian organisations, there, is very .little hostility towards- the ethicar teachings Of the New Testament. It is perhaps natural that the "East -should interpret what was originally an Eastern religion in different terms from the West."';-..Many-of the leading, missionaries are now agreed that the time has come to build up a'native Church in China. " This-Church may help towards a better realisation of the real meaning of Christianity, and a truer perception of the social and ethical value of religion. v

i During the hearing of a elaii— for damages at ihe Magistrate's Court to-day, arising out of a collision .between a car and a motor van, the driver of the latter vehicle stated that he was always very careful "when turning in the main road. Counsel for plaintiff remarked: "Not always, because you nearly landed mc on one occasion.

The congestion of space at the Town Hall for the municipal administrative officers and their staffs has been acute for some time past, but relief was expected from this state of affairs when the civic square scheme was carried out. Since the rejection of this project the City Council's Finance and Legal Committee has been endeavouring to devise a plan for lessening this congestion of accommodation at the municipal offices, and after investigation it was decided to obtain a little further space by building over a part of the light well: By this means, although it ha« reduced in some measure the original usefulness of the well as a source of natural lighting) two additional rooms have been secured, one for the staff of the City Engineer and the other, which is now in course of construction, for the Town Clerk's staff. The orderly office is also being enlarged and glassed all round, so that in future it will immediately arrest the attention of strangers upon entering.

The aesthetic aspect was reviewed by the Northcote Borough Council last evening when dealing with an application for permission to erect poles by the Waitemata Power Board. The council unanimously desired to ensure the observance of due symmetry in regard to the poles to carry the wire 9, and to that end resolved to support the lead of the Birkenhead Council in asking for dressed poles, and to appeal to the four North Shore members of the board to back this request. The Mayor (Mr. C. A. Deuxbcrry) complained that there were already some pretty unsightly poles in the district, and considered the council should set its face against anything likely to be inartistic. He understood the original proposal was that dressed poles were to be provided for the boroughs, and it should be made plain to the Power Board that the council viewed with disfavour any departure from that course. Though the "undressed" poles might not be more than some four or five inches out from top to bottom, the substitution of these for dressed poles was altogether undesirable.

Mr. J. P. Carroll, Dairy Expert for Australia, is being sent across to watch the judging of the world's butter championship at the forthcoming Auckland Winter Exhibition. Mr. Carroll will arrive in Wellington from Sydney on Tuesday next and will then come on to Auckland. Butter judging for the world's championship and other classes will commence at the King's wharf grading stores on Monday, August 17. The judges will be members of the New Zealand Government grading staff, and will be drawn from all parts of the Dominion.

When about to cross-examine a witness in a case in the Supreme Court this morning counsel for accused asked the Crown Prosecutor to have witnesses sent from the Courtroom. Counsel then stated that it was always done without having to be asked: His Honor: "That is not so, Mr. , and it is not right to say such a thing." Counsel then asked that his request be granted, and the order was accordingly made.

Rather an amusing outline of the functions of local bodies was given by Mr. A. T. Scrivener at the Norfolk Cooperative Dairy Co.'s reunion of suppliers, when he was proposing the toast to the local bodies. Mr. Scrivener said the local bodies were necessary evils to make roads, to let them get into disrepair, and to cause a lot of bad language thereby. Those present probably agreed with the speaker, for it was noticed that the usual musical honours were not accorded this toast, as was the case with all the others.

With the idea of endeavouring to beautify the foreshore at St. Helier's Bay, and thus make one of Auckland's marine suburbs more attractive, the Tamaki Road Board has completed a certain section of the work, and wishes to proceed with the remainder. In order to do this a certain portion of the public reserve will have to be encroached upon to a- very limited extent.

William Bell, a married man with three children, attempted to commit suicide at a house in Le Cren Street, Timaru, on Monday. The police received a telephone call, and when a constable arrived Bell was lying in one of the rooms unconscious. The injured man, who was a recent immigrant from Home, had been unable to obtain employment. He regained consciousness, and was making satisfactory progress, but it will bo some considerable time before he will completely recover.

After a lengthy period of idleness spent at Sydney owing to the seamen's strike in Australia, the Huddart-Parker steamer Ulimaroa is expected to sail from the New South Wales port on Friday of this week. She is now expected to reach Auckland on Wednesday of next week and is to sail on her returne trip the followin Friday. A fortnight later she will clear Wellington for Sydney. °

A collision between a St. Bay motor bus and a tram car occurred in •Symonds Street, about 10.30 o'clock this morning. Both vehicles were damaged, but fortunately no one was injured. The tram car was taken to the repair shops

A record that has been kept of the industry reveals that so far this season over 5000 sacks of oysters have been picked in North Auckland harbours, half of which came from Russell. It is anticipated that the 8000 mark will be reached before the close of the season

Association telegram from Whakatane states that an Indian named Rangi Kanchhod, age 55, employed as a farm labourer, expired suddenly yesterday at Thornton. An inquest followed and a verdict of death due to heart failure was returned.

At a meeting of the Thames Harbour Board, it was announced that Mr. Henry Lowe had been appointed as Government nominee, vice Mr. Albert Bruce, resigned. Air. Lowe is chairman of the County Council, and an ex-Mayor of Thames. He « a member of the Harbour .Board fifteen years ago.