THE NEW CHINA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8612, 24 December 1913, Page 8

THE NEW CHINA

INTERESTING IMPRESSIONS OF A MISSIONARY. THE NEED OP SAGE LEADERS. Dr John R. Mott, chairman of tho continuation committee of the Edinburgh Missionary Conference, last month gave a representative of the “Westminster Gazette" some interesting impressions of tho new China, gathered from his recent visit to that country. Dr Mott is not simply a globe-trotter, but has obtained opportunities on several occasions of studying the educa.tional and religious conditions of tho country in a unique manner. With the President and tho statesmen in his Cabinet and with. the heads of colleges and universities, as well as the students, ho has discussed principles and methods of education, religious and otherwise. His qualities and his knowledge of China may be gauged by the fact that the President qf the U.S.A. offered him the post of American Minister to tho States, which however, ho refused, owing to the necessities of his work. In a telling phrase he has been describee! a® “the Ambassador of Christianity to . the world.” “One of the Chinese Governors told me,” said Dr Mott, “that what China needs at the present time ii one hundred safe leaders. By that he meant unselfish leaders—leaders who are lost in a cause, who consider the welfare of their country regardless of their own financial interests and ease. ‘Even if we had fifty, China could be led out into its true destiny.’ ” To-day China needs preeminently leaders who will efface themselves, and with persistence and efficiency devote themselves to the service c£ the State. Sho has been weak in that direction for many generations. China possesses comparatively few unselfish leaders and it would require a great transformation for China to break away from the attitude of looking on offico for financial betterment and to turn to consider just tho public service. China lias to look for leadership from the student class. The four classes in the order of thenrank in China ore as follows: —(1) The scholars; (3) the farmers; (3; the merchants; and (4) the soldiers. In Japan the order is different—first, tho soldiers or the knightly class—the Samurai; second, the students; third, the farmers; and fourth, the merchants. It is recognised in China that the scholar or student class has been on tho top from the beginning. Thus it is not foreign to the new China to look for her leaders from the student class. . “Therefore can be soon, 1 ' continued Dr Mott, “the significance of the Student Christian Movement and other good work In order to surround that class from whom come their leaders with those Influence? that make for righteousness and unselfishness. This is most" important, especially when the fact is remembered that one-fourth of the human race. belongs to China. Above all things else at the present time China must be assured a supply of sage leaders. THE EAGERNESS OF STUDENTS. “Everywhere 1 went in China I found tho modern Government students eager to know the secret of tho greatness of a nation. That was my point of contact. I did not have to talk long in order to show that the greatness of a nation does not depend upon army and navy, millionaires, or the extant of territory. Nor did I find it difficult to show chat tho secret does not depend upon education. The Chinese know that, notwithstanding Japan’s care for education she has experienced a groat breakdown of character and that fact caused her ro convene tne Congrats of Religion*. The true greatness of a nation depends upon the character and spirit ot tne people. History shows that character cannot be made symmetrical and strong, and its spirit possessed in freedom anti conquerng. faith, without the heip ot superhuman religion or pure Christianity. On that point I distinguished between pure Christianity and accretions which were not essential, and vital, Christianity that deals with the P®!’ senal Christ, His teachings, and His work in relation to the superhuman aspect, showing the need of a Power greater than our own, and that there is a Power and Life related to ire. ... “This led up to these Chinese students becoming ‘investigators’ on the i following three conditions: First, they promised to ‘make a thorough and conscientious study of the four little books known as the Gospel, and to help in such study we will give one hour each week with our comrades who wish to make the same investigation’; second, 'we will pray daily to tho great holy God for wisdom to find tho truth ana courage to obey it when w© find iv; third, ‘when reason and conscience permit us to do so we will take Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord.' Seven thousand Chinees students during those - weeks Dr Mott spent in China signed the promise, and eince that time it is estimated that oyer KWO of that number have been, baptised or are probationers for Christian baptism. Dr Mott adds that there, has been no such turning of non-Chnetxan students in anv country in any age towards Christ and His way as during this time when his friend, Mr Eddy, and himself addressed the students oi China. Moreover, the present results have stimulated a spirit of inquiry far and wide. In an interview with the President of the Chinese Republic, Yuan Mhih-kai urged Dr Mott to remain in China for a longer period and not confine hie addresses to the students, but visit the elementary schools and there deliver similar addresses. The President discussed wi,h Dr Mott at considerable length the points be had raised with the etudents. Dr Mott was asked by the representative of the “Westminster Gazette” what attitude he adopted in dealing with the students respccemg their old beliefs and teachers. . “During my last tour in China, he said in reply, “I went to visit the tomb of Confucius, and was deeply stirred in that place associated with the sage and teacher of ten thousand generations. I was always glad to put myself in touch with tho students by that fact that 1 had regard for their greatest teacher. 1 did not go there to achvre that influence, and in order to touca their hearts, but just as an American visits your Westminster Abbey over and over again. The Chinese students felt concerning me, ‘This man is not coming hero to figlu us.’ Then I went further, and said in the addressee, “You hold on to everything your reason and experience show you is true in the teachings of Contucius. But do not let that cheat you out of laying hold of the truth which comes only through Jesus Christ. Submit Him to a scientific test.' That al-ways-appeals to the Chinese mind because they are a very practical people, and want something that they can work out.