The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-16
CHRISTIANIZlNG THE CELESTIALS.
Rev. W. f. Walker, Missionary. Thinks the
Chinese Can Be Converted in Tine.

Owing, doubtless, to the severity Of the
weather. there was but q small congrega-
tion present last night at Roberts Park
Church to hear the Rev. w. +. Walker. q
missionary lately returned from China
talk on the work of christianizlng the
populace of that country. He spoke first
briefly. of the history of missionary work
in the Celestial EN- pire. saying:
Missionary work in China be-
gan very much earlier than
is popularity supposed. AS early as sos years
after the birth of Christ men teaching the
gospel invaded the country and stayed
there unmolested.. In $50 accounts tell us
that there was general uprising against
the men OF God. and some idea of the foot
hold which they had obtained can be
gained from the tact that at that time over
three thousand missionaries were driven
from the country. No more are heard of
then ntil the end of the thirteeth century,
when Catholicism gained Abundance.
It's work grew and prospered until another
eruption occurred, and again they were
expelled. Again they tried il in about 1900
and after doing most successful work for "a
number OF years lost all that they had
gained by reason of diesensiOns in their
church and a declaration of enmity be-
tween the Pope and the Chinese Emperor.
The history of the missionary In China
from that time until the beginning of
the present century Is in the dark.
The first Protestant was sent to that coun
try from London in 1909. He was alone for
about twenty years. and an American So
ciety sent several emissaries. Missionaries
were looked on with disfavor ct that time
10y the Chinese. but in 1897 i've ports of the
empire were thrown open TO them and
shortly after the first Methodist was sent"
From that time on the success of the la
borers became greater and greater, said the
speaker. Stations were established in the
interior, and at the present time the Meth.
odist Church has four missions in as many
parts of the empire. each being the center
of work of q certain district. He touched
but lightly on the work of the other de-
nominations. but praised the work of all,
and saying that there il mattered little
whether q man be n Methodist a Baptist.
SO that he was believer There
are. he said. about 1.400 Meth
odist missionaries In the country now.
| and then went on to explain some of the
difficulties under which they are compelled
to labor to accomplish their ends. He
spoke of the mental position that women
! occupy there, and said thst it was years
before missionaries couid get access TO
them. Ii was finally accomplished by the
skillful medical attendance given to the
wife of the governor of one of the provinces
| by a Miss DR.. Howard, o missionary. The
| life of the wife was saved, and
| the governor, cut of gratitude. gave
| the missionaries access TO the women OF his
province. He said that IL was the general
| belief that the missionaries in China were
/ not accomplishing any good. and that he
! wished to refute with all the earnestness
possible. The Methodists. he said. had now
about ten thousand communicates, and