The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-27
in CHINA
DISCUSSED BY REV. A. A. FULTON,
AT TABERNACLE CHURCH.
Tells of Missionary Work in the ORR
ent and Speaks of the CONNER
ciaI Possibilities.


cooler weather and the announcement that
a returned missionary from China would
address the congregation. Excellent music
was furnished by a trio composed of Miss
Emile Lindsay, of Pittsburg, Pa. and
Messrs. Mercer and Newton of this city.
Rev. A. A. Fulton, of Canton, China,
talked in an entertaining manner of mis-
sionary experiences in the Celestial king
dom. Mr.. Fulton has a rapid, nervous
style of speaking. due doubtless to his ac-
QUESTION of the native language. He is
a tall man, of spare build and impresses
his hearers with his evident thorough sin
certify and earnestness. Contrary to ex-
pectation, he failed to touch upon the in
teresting subject of the Boxer movement
in China. He did, however, make some
pertinent observations concerning the ma
ture, habits and readiness of conversion
of the Chinese people. In order to arouse
interest in China as a field for large mis-
sionary endeavor, he called attention to
the enormous population of 300, 900, 900. He
declared the country TO be the grandest
missionary field in the world. He said
that the home of China proper is in eigh-
teen provinces, having an area of 1900. 900
square miles. There are whole cities in
which the inhabitants have never heard of
the Christian religion. A strange feeling
comes over one who looks from the city
gates into the darkened streets at night
mo illumination of any kind-and reflects
that among the thousands dwelling there,
is not to be found a solitary Christian.
The Chinese are among the most indus
trious people on the face of the globe This
is conspicuously demonstrated by the great
ChlneSe wall, built by one OF the EmperorS
before the time of Christ Great must have
been the executive ability of the ruler and
great also the activity of the people
through whose labors this mighty work was
constructed. Some of the traits of the
Chinese are industry, economy, patience
and perseverance.
CHINA A MARVELLOUS PRIZE.
Mr.. Fulton declared that. If the American
people are not interested in China because
of its missionary value. they should turn
their eyes toward the country from the
lower motive of commercial sagacity. 1t
is a marvellous prize, viewed commercially
the speaker declared, with its 600, 000,0O O
acres of ground under cultivation. "You
get up on one of those great walls and look
out over the territory before you and it
appears like an immense garden" he said.
anu Il UO llOl D6lltNt there Is a HdllOU Oh
the face of the earth that could go to China
to-day and make out of it what the Chinese
have made, agriculturally at least" China
has large coal fields and immense beds of
ore. 1t is a tempting field for railway in
vestors and promoters. there being not
more than 400 miles of railway in the entire
empire. Many of the richest resources of
the land are untouched on account of the
foolish SuperStititionS of the people, but
with the advent of the European powers
they cannot continue TO live isolated any
longer.
Mr.. Fulton said he wants the United
States to have its full share of the COM
mercial value of China and, If there is to
be a division of the empire-Germany to
get a part, France a part and Russia a part
he fears the people of this country will
greatly suffer commercially. He urged
that we do nothing to stir up luminosity
toward us on the part of the Chinese. They
look upon Americans now as patriots, not
as politicians. They believe that we have
no eye upon their territory, but Tia we
want to get in for purposes of trade only,
and also TO spread the gospel among the
natives. Hence, we have their respect
and regard. The time is coming said
Mr.. Fulton, IF peace prevails once more
In the Chinese empire and if that empire
rest on stable foundations, when the trade
OF the United States with China will be
$500, OOO,0OO Now ! say you ought to be in
terested in China, If for no other reason,
Tor that il is the mightiest
commercial prize on the face of the earth.
we a. 1DIlStld1S nave a TlRnt 10 our snare
or the profits that may accrue from that
land"
CONVERTING THE CHINESE.
Nh. Fulton dwelt at some length on the
difficulty encountered by missionaries i'm
converting the Chinese. He said that when
he visited Tabernacle Church ten years
ago, on his first return from China. he
had not baptized twenty-five converts.
Since then, however, he has administered
the rite of Christian baptism to over a
thousand natives. I'VE have shaken the
old, idolatrous structure a great deal since
l last had the pleasure of standing i'm this
church." he said. Mr.. Fulton has under
him in his district in and about Canton.
eighty native preachers and eighty physi-
clans or medical missionaries. With edu-
c%ational, medical and %evangelistic in
fuences playing upon the people," he said,
something is bound to happen in time. Mr..
Fulton's time is practically taken up in
baptizing converts and in giving instruc-
ton to native preachers under his charge.
so that they may go forth and continue the
work unaided.
The speaker said that one reason for his
belief that China will be easy to Chris
tianlze is the fact hat the people are
spiritually dead. Enter almost any CITY.
and one is struck with its deadlike quiet.
, he said. Again, il is a fertile field for
mission work because of the helplessness
OF the people. They are all idolaters. from
the Emperor down to the poorest ~'cooly."
They will never turn away from that
form of worship until you give them the
gospel he declared. Mr.. Fulton urged
that American women ought to be especial
IL interested in Chinese mission work be-
cause OF the vast number of women and
girls who are in the degrading bondage of
idol worship. There are $50, 600, 900 of these.
Another reason for having conf
dence in the evangelizing of the
people of china is the encourag 70
ment which is given the missionaries.
Except in troublous times like the present
they are permitted to go about and preach
the gospel with perfect freedom. On ac-
count OF the educational and medical
features of mission effort the natives are
coming to regard the gospel work with
great favor. Mr.. Fulton impressed upon
his audience the value of native preach
ers, saying that twenty-five of them could
be maintained more cheaply than one
american missionary. He declared that the
Presbyterians have a plant in China which
Is second 10 that supported by no other
Christian denomination.
THE BOXER UPRISING.
At the conclusion of his address Mr.. Full
ton was asked If ne had read a recent
magazine article which stated that the
Poker uprising is in large part due to the
doctrinal dissensions among missionaries
OF various Christian churches. He said
that he had not read the article referred
TO. but that there Is probably some truth
in its statement. He corroborated the writ