The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-13
CHRISTIANITY In CHINA.
The Results of Missionary Work Among
the Disciples of Confucius.
An Interesting Address on China by DIR. 0. P
Happier, One Of the First Mission
aries Sent Among the Chinese.

sfs 10 the new. LIT. ~. L. dapperS Talk OF
China and the missionary work there. DR.
Harper has been engaged in the Chinese
missionary field since 1914. For ten minutes he
particularly addressed several Cinnamon in the
audience in their own tongue. In the prophetic
utteranees of Isaiah, where he speaks of the
coming to God of mnltitudes from the East and
West, and the land of Sinai, the speaker said, in
his English address, it was accepted by many
Bible students that the land of Sinai meant
China. This great country occupies nearly the
same position on the Pacific coast that the
United States do. 1t is between nearly the
same degrees of latitude north. In the south
of China the climate is similar to that of
southern Florida. Shanghai has a climate
nearly akin to that of Richmond, Va, and the
climate of Pekn is almost the same as that
Of New York. The greater part
of China is exceedingly fertile,
both the southern and middle provinces being
well watered and drained by rivers from the
east and west. The middle division is vast
valley, excelled only by that of the Mississippi.
Another similarity exists between these two
valleys Both are watered by immense rivers,
the Yanetse -Kiang being known as the Child of
the Ocean, as our Mississippi is the Father Of
Waters In the north of China the rivers are
not SO large or so navigabe, or the lands so fer
tile. 1t was here the great famine of 1878 did
Its dreadful work. because the facilities for
transporting breadstuffs were wanting.
From early ages China has been a continuous
nation. 1t dates back 1900 years, and while
Babylonia and Egypt, once her contemporaries.
have fallen, the Chinese have preserved their ma
ti0nality. This is attributable in large part to
She many principles of good government. We
are inclined to look upon the Chinese as being
under an unmitigated despotism, when, in truth
their government is in every particular
for the welfare of the people, not for
she wealth or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of rulers.
The people have inherent right to dispace
rulers who misrule them. Two of the most dis
tinguished rulers of China overthrow tyrants
and their names are as we'll known to every
Chinese school boy as the names of Washington
and Lincoln are in this country. Another rea-
son for the national stability of this people is
found in the fact that the principles of govern
ment are studied in all the schools. The writ
ings of Confucius the great text for political
philosophy. There is nc appointment to office
except from those who have taken literary de-
grees. The educated class furnishes the rulers
of China. Hence the greatest interest is taken
in competitive examinations. Fer the first de-
gree these are held annually in the county towns
of the various provinces. He had known 5000
students to come up to Canton to compete for
the great honor, when only thirty-fve could be
chosen Every third year all the gradu-
ates of the first degree come to Can
ton to compete for the second degree.
At these examinations there were as many as
$4,000 students. when only 12O could be selected
Thus the grades are attained until the final eX-
animation takes place before the Emperor On
such occasions the graduates are Toasted and
honored by the Emperor
Il great deal has been said about the popu-
lousness of China Some statisticians have given
it at 400 00O O00 others at $40 600 900 or $50
coo. Forty years ago the last estimate was more
nearly correct He doubted If the population
had ever reached the first named figure. But a
great elimination has been going on. The Mo-
hamedan rebellion in the north west and south
west provinces, which lasted twenty years. de-
stroyed Is 000 600 lives; the famine of 1878 car
ried off IL 000 900 more-the Chinese themselves
say 20. 600, 600. 1t was during this period that
Christian beneicence was exalted. The United
States and Great Britain. and other Christian
countries contributed $780, 0O0 The missionaries
were devoted in caring for the sufferers. Five
of them lost their lives in this service.
The Prime Minister said to the English consul
that he could not understand why gentlemen
educated and refined should leave the comforts
of home to undergo hardships and persecution in
disseminating new religion, and relieving the
distressed among foreign people The Prime
Minister'S wife became sick. Native physicians
Mcpherson, but Chinese etiquette prohibited the
presence of man in the chamber or private
apartments of a woman. The difficulty was
overcome by sending eighty miles away TO Pekin
for a lady doctor. Mrs Howard. She came. and
upon her diagnosis, the two doctors prescribed
for the sick woman She recovered. and heI
husband, the Prime Minister, IN his gratitude
endowed two hospitas-one for women, the
other for men. Mrs. Howard was given the
management of the first, DR. Mcpherson that OF
Dx.~ h,w,o all ~
to teach the Christian religion to the patients
Another great cause in diminishing the
population was the Tapping rebellion
Its influence existed in the eighteen provinces
OF China, and continued fifteen years, at cos
of $4,000 600 lives. The Chinese population
will number now about $50. coo 900
The speaker then spoke of the religious con
dition of China. Up TO 1860 the Chinese laws
coming down from 1928 forbade the introduc
ton of Christianity. Before 1922 the Jesuit:
were foremost in missionary work, but becoming
powerful in political intrigue they were banished
In 1874 Dr. Morrison went out from England
and laid the groundwork for the new coming o.
Christian teachers. The opium preceded
this in 1889 and 1912. resulting. among the con
cessious of China to England, in the opening O
five cities to foreigners for commercial purposes
Nothing was said about missionaries. In 1885,
the American treaty with China contained ,
stipulation as to admission of Christian
missionaries. Other nations soon secured
aries resident in sixteen of the eightee,
provinces. In 1874 there only thirt,
missionaries, three native assistants and tel
converts Down TO 1860 only 800 converts wer
made DR.. Happier was there ten years bef0r
he performed his first baptism and eighteen
years before he organized chnrch-with onl
six members. Now there are in China 400 mis-
sionaries, 400 native assistants and 20 900 con
verts, distributed among 400 churches. Out O
all this comes an influence that cannot be tabu
lated. He spoke of the conversion of Prime,
Kings wife to Christianity. Prince Kung is
next to the Emperor, the highest member of tn,
imperial family. Converts are subjected I,
great persecution from their families. friends
and conntrymen, bur they remain steadfast I,
their new faith. If. said the Doctor in closing
Christianity does for China what it hiss done To-
the Anglo Saxon race, great results can be ex
pected in Asia
A Fugitive Found in PrisonA
Chief-of-police Lawler of Terre Haute. dur