The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-21
BISHOP WILSON TALKS
Of Missionary Work Of Nelhodsts 10
China
the CHINESE WANT ENGLISH TEACHING
missionaries Are Doing Great
work in nm Educational Way.
Schools Needed.


of the Methodist Episcopal church, soutn,
preached last night at the shearn church
to a large congregation. 7 acre we're no
services at the other Methodist churcnes
in the city in order that the members
might hear Bishop Wilson.
Bishop Wilson is in charge of the foreign
missionary work OF the Methodist church
and has been actively engaged in the
prosecution OF that work for the past
twenty-five years, having spent consid-
cradle time in China and Japan establish
ing missions for his church. He has had
an opportunity to see the effects OF mis-
sonary work among the heathen people
OF those countries and he talked very in
terestingly last night OF what he had seen
in those far-away lands He said that 1t
was with regret that he made the confess
sion that some who called themselves
Christians oppose foreign missions, that
such opposition shows ignorance Of tho
very basic truths OF Christian religion as
set forth in the Scriptures. They think
thai ali progress must be maze IN for
eiSn countries through sectaran institu'
lions and agencies. Another class is gov
erned by sentiment. Their hearts are
touched by the ignorance. vice and suf-
through sympathy; it is not matter of
profound conviction with them, As rulo
they are not steady enough 10 sustain the
large demand made on the church for mis-
slonary work. The true attltude-.the
Christian attitude-is profound rengious
conviction, There are men who have
given themselves to the work and are
ready to do and to suffer; that is the
Christian attitude, and IL takes great
deal Of religion TO reach it-tmOre than the
masses of our church members have A
work that does not advance our direct or
local interests touches but lightly the
mind anu conscience Of the many. Our
work at home is simply for ourselves; it
is not charity We get back more than
we give out for work at home, but when
we lend to the heather we do not ge, it
back in improvement of our own country
or our own people. My attitude on the
subject Of foreign missions is not simply
one Of profound conviction, but it is a
practical attitude know those people
for whom am pleading. | went to China
first In 1856 when | found about one
church building in our mission aud few
ohapels. The congregations were then Of
a shifting character; the people coming
and going while our missionaries preached,
but now this is greatly changed. In 1898
when we held our jubilee missionary meet
ing at Shanghai the people came from ali
Of our stations and crowded into a large
church building remaining there from
early morning until night, listening to the
preaching Of the missionaries with the
greatest Interest and decorum. The meot-
ing continued thus for week.
We have now hundreds OF Cinnamon
converted from heathenlsm. Many chill
dren have been born in native Christian
families and there are now Christians
among the Chinese who have Christian
great grandchildren. There are many calls
FOR work there, but there are few mis-
sionares
great change. amounting in fact TO
almost a revolution, has come about in
China in the attitude toward the Christian
missionary. Ten years ago a Chinese Of
fetal, mandarin or merchant, had nothing
but contempt for the missionaries, and
they never thought of having social inter
course with a missionary But now it is
different The last time l went to China
was received into the families of officials
and merchants and ate at their tables.
They talked with me about the work of the
missionaries and were greatly interested
in them
Five prominent Cinnamon of Suchow,
the literary city Of China have given
more than $4,000 toward the erection OF
CHRISTIAN university In that city, and
we are trying 10 raise funds with which
10 build the university.
DR. Wilson talked very interestingly OF
how the Chinese young men are seeking
after the teaching OF the mission schools
the number applying being far greater
than can be accommodated. They are glad
of an opportunity to pay tuition to the
mission schools and are very assiduous
students
The sermon was a very practical one
and disclosed many interesting things rel
alive to mission work In China
Dr. Wilson will remain in the city until
tonight He will return to China within
few weeks,