MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10738, 18 August 1900, Page 3

MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA.

: «- ITS DIFFICULTIES, DANGERS, AND ACHIEVEMENTS. Missionary effort was first formally recognised by the Chinese Government in 1844, in a treaty with France. This convention extended Imperial protection to the French missionaries, who were all representatives of the Roman Catholic Church. Although its provisions did not extend to others than the French, the right of all missionaries to labour in China and to make converts has been tacitly recognised since that time, while occasional Imperial decrees have been issued commanding the viceroys to extend protection to all missionaries within their provinces. Twenty years ago you would meet a million worshippers of Confucius to a single native Christian, but although it is impossible to give accurate figures, the Christian population of China now numbers several hundreds of thousands, thanks to the work of the various missionary societies connected with England and America. The Church Missionary Society has 25,000 native adherents, and many other societies are equal in numerical strength. The people of the United States are more interested in missionary endeavour in China than in such work in other parts of the world, and have almost as many missionaries in the Celestial Empire as England has. Are these missionaries safe? It is impossible, of course, to answer absolutely in the aftirmitive, for if John Chinaman gets thoroughly aroused by the agitators he will massacre the missionaries with as little com-. punction as ibe European forces sent against him. On the other hand, the missionaries have so gained the respect of the people that they are not looked upon as "foreign devils" in the same sense as the ordinary European or American, and they are allowed; to act very much as they please. There are many places where a, few years ago a lady missionary dare not have ventured except with a strong escort, but previous to the outbreak there were scores of lady missionaries who travelled alone hundreds of miles in terior without coming to any harm. It is useless to pretend that John Chinaman is a grateful individual. He is, however, fairly sensible, and he knows that the various dispensaries that have been' established in all the large centres of population in China are more useful to him than all the pigtailed"d-ctors in his own land. The medical missionaries have done more for Christianity in China than any other set of people, because after curing the body they have been enabled to persuade those who have benefited from the treatment to listen to and profit by their spiritual advice. Even after favours received it is often very difficult to get John Chinaman to listen to the missionary, but when once he embraces the new religion he is thoroughly loyal, and ready to withstand persecution that dwarfs the sufferings of other Christian martyrs almost into insignificance. The reason that the mandarins and men of eminence in the administration of Chinese affairs strive against Christianity is because the work of the missionaries tends to discredit their dishonesty and treachery. John Chinaman as a Christian does not put up with abuses he overlooked when he was a worshipper of Confucius, and if he is Bold enough, for instance, to allow the feet of his daughters to grow and to do aw_y with the terrible custom of binding them, he at once arouses tremendous hostility and the intense hatred of his fellow men and women. It is a sign of the times, however, that a society was formed not long ago expressly for the purpose of doing away with THIS BRUTAL CUSTOM, which the enemies of Christianity rightly

put down as a result of the work of the mis* ( siouaries. About this custom a most amusing story is told. A lady missionary once asked thes wife of a mandarin why she was. content to bind her feet in such a manner. Her retort was to the point. "English ■ lady pinchee waist, Chinese lady only pinchee feet." Next to the medical dispensaries the schools for the children of the Chinese are popular institutions. The missionaries are willing to instruct any Chinese children, and there are thousands of instances where the parents have not the courage themselves to become Christians,' but who are wise enough to realise the advantage of the learning given by the workers of the mission to their children. To become a Christian in China is a difficult matter, for in the majority of cases it me_— the severance of all family ties, and i-fc recp-tres a. great deal of conviction 'before the-Chinese are willing to make this big. sacrifice. Fortunately, Li Hung Chang is <a good friend to the missionaries. Whether he is honest in his admiration, or whether he is their adv_oa>t_ FROM PRUDENTTAL.MOTIVES, is "doubtful. (It is remarkable, however, that he possesses' the finest copy'of the New i Testament printed in the Chinese tongue which is to be found in the Celestial Empire, and when he accepted tlie varum- he promised the donor that he would read it. The Dowager-Empress oddly enough also possesses a New Testament, which- was presented to her on her sixtieth bh*t*bd_y, an_ subscribed for by the thousands of native girl Christians who wished to give the august lady a nice present, and one in strict keeping with the principles that they professed!. ..■'■■. When the present trouble is over the missionaries will have a much better opportunity of carrying on their work. Some years ago Lord Elgin received an address from the merchants of Shanghai, and in his reply—which is equally applicable to to-day —said: —-"When the barriers which preventfree access to tbe interior of the country shall have been removed. Christian civilisation of the West will find itself face to face, not with bax-barism, but with an ancient civilisation in many respects effete and imperfect-, but in others not without claims to our sympathy and respect. In the rivalry which will then ensue, Christian civil_ation will have to win its way among jt. sceptical and ingenious. people b~ making it manifest that a faith which reaches to heaven furnishes better guarantees fof public and private morality, than one which does not rise above the earth."