LECTURE ON CHINA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1138, 27 May 1911, Page 6

LECTURE ON CHINA.

A A lecture was delivered last evening in tho Y.M.C.A. Hall by Mr. Oliver Burgess on "China." Mr. J. G. W. Aitken. presided, and tho attendance, was large. •Mr. linrgoss has been a missioner in. China for twenty years, and his work in that connection was referred to by the chairman. Banners given to Mr. Burgess by 100,000 famine-rescued people, wero displayed. In his address, Mr. Burgess said that tho history of China went back 2000 years; In her very early history China was not idolatrous. Idolatry came, from India, and Siam and fitinnah had a form, and it was introduced into Southern China. The Confucians for-somo timo persecuted tho Buddhist priests, but after a. whilo llio religion became tolerated, and it remained in tho country. Mr. Burgess remarked on tho growth of Christianity' in the country. Forty years ago tho whole of China was practically closed to foreigners, but in no part now wore missionaries blocked. Ho also referred to tho growth of athletics there, but feared that the movement might develop into militarism, so strong was becoming tho spirit of discipline-. China in time would probably bo able to raise an army of twenty million, men—the greatest in the world. The lecture was of absorbing interest, and at the conclusion Mr. Burgess waa. accorded hearty thanks.