CHINA TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1938, Page 13

CHINA TO-DAY.

NEW LIGHT MOVEMENT. MISSIONARY'S EULOGY. ________ « On furlough after eight years of missionary work in China, the Rev. C. J. Patchett is an enthusiastic admirer of that country and its people, according to his address delivered to members of the Auckland Botarv Club.

The speaker dealt mainly with the province of Syechwan, in wicli he had worked, and outlined the activities of the China Inland Mission. This, he said, was part of the great New Light movement carried on in recent years under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek and his illustrious wife.

The mission, he said, was based on the Christian precept that God would care for his children. No levies or appeal for funds were made, yet the mission had received £7,000.000 to carry on its great work of creating a new Christian spirit in the country.

There were no reserve funds, and no guaranteed salaries, but missionaries wer© well kept and were taken care of on retirement. Mr. Patchett spoke in the highest terms of the great work being undertaken by fieneral Chiang Kai-shek in unifying the communities of the various provinces, in stamping out undesirable features, and generally bringing to China a now spirit of nationhood.

The province of Syechwan, he said, was rich in agriculture and rawmaterials, and would provide a great retreat from the Japanese invaders, as its chief waterway, the Yangtse River, was surrounded by gorges which were ideal for defence.