CHINESE CHRISTIANS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 February 1927, Page 2

CHINESE CHRISTIANS.

ANTI-FOREIG N MANIFESTO. SHANGHAI, Jan. 19. A new turn has been given to the anti-foreign movement in China by the publication of a manifesto by the Christian China Continuation Committee at Wuhan. After reference to Christ as a “great" revolutionary force,” ,the document states: Imperialism is not only the worst enemy of the people, but also of Christianity. In support of this statement, the false allegation is made that at Hongkong the Government has prohibited the importation of religious literature, and that Christianity has been attacked by the Imperialists in their homelands. Consequently', it says, the Chinese Christians are struggling, not only for the emancipation of their own people, but also for “the emancipation of our religion.” The document further states: Should there be any' foreign missionaries who love their own countries more than they love Christ, and who are unwilling to help us in our national revolution of the moment, we wish them to go back to tlieir countries as soon as possible. After stating "that its aim is the independence of the Christian church in China from foreign control, the manifesto proceeds: “We recognise the antiChristian movement as our candid friend,” and concludes by expressing the hope that Chinese Christians will save their country, as did Cromwell and would not follow the example of •Judas.

The North China Daily News, in an editorial, points out that the Wuhan Christians claim to be the candid friends of bandits who put man, womau and child to the sword, and of the mobs who desecrate foreign graves, violently seize foreign hospitals and colleges, attack priests and nuns, and even abduct Chinese orphan girls. In a comment on the relations between the National Christian Council and the China Continuation Committee, the News asks whether the former, mainly a foreign body of missionareis, condemns the manifesto, or whether, it will continue its time-serving tactics of betraying fellow-nationals, who are also fellow-Ghristians.