The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-20
CHRISTIAN WORK In CHINA.
Bishop Boone Tells What Missionaries
Have Done Among the Celestials.
The Needs and Possibilities of the Church's
Work--Rev. DR.. McLeod's Exhortation
Last Evening to Christians

Bishop Boone, who has charge of the Episcopal
missionary field in China with residence at
Shanghai, preached at st. Paul's Church yester-
day morning and at Christ Church in the even
ing, on the conditions, needs and possibilities of
church work in the cause he represents. At the
morning service he said it was plain declaration
in the thirteenth and fourteenth verses of the
twenty fourth chapter of ST. Matthew, which he
took as his text, that missionary work should ex-
tend throughout all time. The early disciples
did this service, and the heroic life of ST. Paul is
a complete exemplifcation of it. No doctor or
teacher has equalled him. Wherever there have
been life and spirit in the church there it has
prospered through the stirring power of the
Holy Ghost The Bishop referred to the spread
of the gospel and the magnificent results in this
country through the activity and energy OF the
several denominations of Christians It is the
will of God, he said, that this work shall be done.
Christ gave the message to the apostles and sent
st. Paul into foreign lands to establish religion
for the benefit of man. 1t is the same religion
today, meeting the needs of people in all things
wherein socialism, humanitarianism and other
theories fail to take hold.
The Bishop regards China as the center of
missionary effort in pagan lands. All nations are
not only pouring their light and knowledge into
that vast country, but are introducing their
evils among people who number three hundred
millions Yet the success of missionaries there
has been marked and sufficient to encourage
expectations of constantly increasing results in
the spread of Christianity among this enormous
body of people. This service is no new thing
for the Episcopal church. for, as far back as
1888. it was settled movement 1t was about
That time the Bishops honored father went to
China as the first missionary bishop of his
church in that country. He remained seven
years, facing difficulties that have been greatly
lessened. The present Bishops mother died
there, leaving the grief stricken husband to care
for their two children. He returned home with
them and a Chinese servant. In this country
the latter learned more and more thoroughly
the spirit of Christianity and in time, becoming
we'll versed in English returned to his native
country, where he began the work of mission
airy among his people and continued it until a
few weeks ago. Indeed, it was only day before
yesterday that Bishop Boon received letter
telling of his death. He was an active Christian
preacher and teacher for thirty five years.
The church has now In China 1000 young
people under Christian instruction in schools,
where part of the day is devoted
to learning some branches that are
taught in Chinese schools and the
rest is given to English. which covers
Scriptural teachings through the Catechism
Genesis. Exodus and after them the gospels
The pupils are apt and diligent. They can quote
verse after verse and explain the meaning, for
that is thoroughly taught as we'll as the mere
reading of the text. Of these schools there are
forty, and system of ministerial imitation is
SO arranged that minister is able to visit each
once week and impart more extended religious
instruction. On these occasions the children
are always ready with common sense and correct
answers. These results alone would be well
worth the trouble and expense, but it leads
many of the pupils to pursue higher instruction
that is laid out far their benefit in schools of an
upper class. Out of these institutions come the
native preachers well equipped for carrying the
glad tidings among their people.
The spirit of the teachings so Thoroughly imbues
the children that they themselves become mis-
sionaries in their simple way. Home festivals
are numerous among the Chinese, although they
do not observe AZ We do, one day out of seven as
a day of holy rest. Said mother on the event
of one or these festivals, to her child, lyon need
not go 20 school to-day. We will 90 to the tenn
pie"
mo, would rather go to school," replied the
child Il am taught to worship God, not idols !"
1t was this simple act that brought the mother
to reflection. and afterwards into the church
and TO Christ Through the children clergy
men got nearer to the parents. There are now
sixteen clergymen in this work. and besides
there thirteen natives who are candidates
for holy orders. Besides the work of the Ameri-
can church. there is that of the Church of Eng
land, which has three missionary bishops. The
church in China is not that of England or
America It is the purpose to plant there
new branch of the Holy Catholic Church. In
all there are 10000 Chinese Christians, and the
ratio Is increasing. Shanghai is the head city
of a missionary field that extends eight hundred
miles up the Yangtse Kiang. and out on the
farthest limit is a successful mission. The
Bishop recently confirmed 80 persons, the
greater part of whom were brought to Chris
tianity through these missions far in the interi-
or. A great work is also done through
the hospitals and dispensarIes, and noticeable
result is that China herself is sending Christian
teachers from among her people into the Corea,
which in turn is to become greaS mission field.
He closed with an appeal for assistance in main
tanning the work that through God, has been so
wonderfully prosperous.