MISSIONS IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 4 June 1938, Page 23

MISSIONS IN CHINA

“A VITAL CONTRIBUTION” TRIBUTE BY MADAME CHIANG Some two weeks ago a paragraph appeared in the Otago Daily Times stating that the ban which was placed on the use of the Bible in Christian schools in China by order of the Government 10 years ago had been removed through the influence of General Chiang-kai Shek. This announcement was made by Madame Chiang at a recent meeting of the missionary body in Hankow, and the text of her address has now come to hand,

“ The Generalissimo,” said Madame Chiang, “ wishes me to tell you that he deeply appreciates the fine work which you have been doing to help our people. Please take this as a persona] tribute to your courage and self-sacrificing spirit, to your valour and determination to help our people, regardless of the danger to your own persons and lives. On this point I may say that we both feel deeply that words are inadequate to express our thanks to the whole missionary body in China, who has stood so loyally to their ground in spite of Japanese threats and abuse, and to those foreingners who have shown their sympathy with us in practical ways, and who have been, and are, articulate eye-witnesses to the scandalous behaviour of Japanese troops on Chinese soil The fact that you not only risked your lives in succouring the wounded, but also helped the destitute, and saved many of our women and girls from a fate worse than death, and gave hope and support to all the refugees, has moved the whole Chinese nation to a sense of appreciation of the true Christian spirit which animated you in your actions. “I would say, from my personal experiences, that almost without a single exception all missionaries who a r e now in the Chipa field have shown themselves to be possessed of those qualities which were so admired in those missionaries of other days whose names have become famous. “When 1 was at the front with the generalissimo last week, I heard stories of women missionaries whose heroism, and whose undaunted resolution to help and work among the stricken people, kept them within the fighting area. There is one woman missionary 30 miles from Hsuchowfu, in a district formerly overrun by bandits, and which is now in daily danger of being invaded by the Japanese troops. She was the only foreigner in that district. There is another woman, 50 miles north of Hsuchow, who also is the only foreigner at her station. Then there is the case of two women missionaries going on their way in a sampan. They reaqhed a village where the Chinese troops were destroying all available boats to prevent the Japanese from crossing over the Yellow River. Understanding the object of the destruction, and sympathising with our people, these two women voluntarily gave up their sampan to be demolished. one of them remaining to work with the people in that village. “ It was the missionaries who foresaw the need of refugee zones, and they established them early in various places. The missionaries in Kaifeng, I understand, are now planning a refugee zone on a large and well organised scale, in which they expect to take care of 30,00(1 women and children should necessity arise. You, in Hankow, have Undertaken and are continuing to undertake, the stupendous task of succouring the wounded and refugees through the International Red Cross. “ You have asked me how best you can help in this national crisis. I can only say, continue your efforts in the same direction in which you have employed them in the past. From the most unexpected sources I have heard admiration of the work that you have done and are doing, One of the Cabinet Ministers, who is a non-Christian, remarked one day that he was studying the Bible, When asked if he were a Christian, he replied, ' No, but I notice that the Christians throughout the copntry show a greater self-sacrificing spirit than others, and, therefore, I feel that there must be something in Christianity. Another high Government official, who is also nonChristian, said that the spirit to resist and defend the country has been similar to that spirit of sacrifice which actuated Jesus Christ when He went to Gethsemane. “If you remember, some years ago. there was much criticism of missionary effort among our Chinese people. To-day, those who criticised you in the past have been completely won over by the knowledge of what you are doing, It is certainly true that actions speak louder than words, and this period of trial and suffering has proved this axiom, “ gome years ago the Government issued an order which forbade religion to be made a compulsory study in any private school. It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to tell you that by your work and the spirit that underlies it, you have made manifest the true meaning of Christianity. The results of your efforts are so appreciated by the Government and the people that the generalissimo has now found it possible to have that law forbidding religion to be compulsorily tapght in Christian schools amended, so that religious subjects may henceforth be taught in registered mission schools, This decision is the greatest testimony in the history of China of our appreciation of the value of the real, vital contribution that Christianity has made to the spiritual well-being and the livelihood of our people, I am pleased to say that you have had the leading share in making this realisation possible, by interpreting practical Christianity in its widest sense.”