The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-28
THE WAR AND THE CHURCH
Missionaries From the Orient
Say Their Work Is Not
Retarded.
THE ULTIMATE EFFECT GOOD.
Both in Japan and China The Con-
yertS Are Becoming
More Sincere.

Among the passengers who arrived on
the China steamer Sunday night were the
Rev. S. T. Woodin and wife, Rev. George
NJ Rowland and wife, and Miss Caroline
NJ. Telford, missionaries from China and
Japan. All are returning to their native
land for much-needed rest, after several
years of effectual service in the cause of
Christianity among the Orientals. Miss
Telford, who is suffering from an incurable
disease, became very i'll during the latter
part of the voyage and was taken to St.
Luke's Hospital as soon as the China was
made fast to her moorings.
The war between Japan and China does
not appear to have seriously retarded the
missionary work in those two countries,
and some who are engaged in the work of
the churches think the ultimate effect will
be good.
The Rev. S. F. Woodin has been mis-
sionary in China for thirty-five years.
being located most of the time in Foo
chow, the capital of the province of Fun
ken. He was sent out in 1860 by the
American Board of Commissioners of For
eign Missions, and he has naturally wit
messed many changes in the country and
the people during his long residence there.
1.-The success of the missions in South
ern Onlna mas Oeen SOOQ on the WnOle,
he said, land / do not think the war will
do more than temporarily retard the work.
One striking feature of the war which
must have impressed all foreign and
Christian residents especially was the
total lack of loyalty and patriotism on the
part of the Chinese. The jewellers of any
district, so long as they felt no fear of
attack, lost all interest in the war or its
influence, unless it threatened their COM
mercial welfare. Formosa was given over
to the Japanese, but the people where
was did not appear to have the least feel
ing in the matter. In fact, the lack of
patriotism and loyalty is such that if all
China should be captured except an acres
width surrounding an individual China
mans house or business property he
would not care-he would whistle, if he
could, and the musical puckerings of a
Chlnaman's labial appendage are rare as
hens teeth.
''As to the effect of the war on our mis-.
sionary work, think it will in the end be
beneficial. Converts will be more sincere.
Among all converts there are those who
lack sincerity, and from now on the work
will be more real, more enduring. In
Foochow and the surrounding districts
We have three or four thousand converts.
In the province of Fuhken there are up-
ward OF 10 900. In the province the Con-
gregational church has ten missionaries.
five women and five men,"
The Rev. Mr.. Woodin and wife intend
visiting their sons in New York and Rhode
Island Tor year and half. At the ex-
piration of their visit it is their desire to
return to China, though they are subject
to the will of the A. B. C. F. NJ.
The Rev. George NJ. Rowland of Tottori,
Japan, said that for many years past the
missionary work in Japan has been very
successful. Within the last two years the
strong national feeling has retarded the
work somewhat, but it will greatly advance
the cause Of Christianity in the time to
prove more sincere than their Chinese
neighbors. They seem to be more mod
ernized in their thought and are easier
susceptible of Christian influences.