Evening star., 1901-05-24
WORK OF CHURCH IN CHINA
ACCOUNT GIVEN BY MEMBER OF
WOMEN's MISSIONARY SOCIETY,
Present Condition of Affairs In Orient
Under Direction of SOUTH
ern MethOdists.

In letter received here from prominent
member of the Women's Foreign Mission
airy Society Of the Virginia conference, M.
E. Church South, an account is given of
the present condition of the work Of that
denomination in China, as made at the last
session of the China mission conference,
recently held in Shanghai, and over which
Bishop A. w. Wilson, well known in
Washington, presided
There Is nothing dscOuraging from be-
ginning to end, the letter states. Every
report is full Of encouragement and hope
for the future. United States Consul
General Goodnow, speaking before the con-
ference praised the native Christians, say
ing that whatever skepticism he had had
of the genuineness of the faith Of the con-
verts from heathenism had been broken
down, and that he. with many others. be
lieved there were many thousands in China
who valued their faith in Christ more
highly then their lives" He still believed
that when, in an interview with Ii Hung
Chang in the summer, he said for every
who lost his life for being a Chris
tian, ten would rise to take his place. he
had spoken prophetic words.
There are thirtytwo members Of the con-
ference-twenty foreign ministers and
twelve native. Two hundred and fOrty-one
were baptized during the year. There are
Senior Epworth Leagues, with 27S members,
and twelve Junior Leagues with 90 men,
bers. The membership Of the church is
y3S.
The church in China has about the same
collections as have those In America
pastors salary. church extension, mis-
sions. bishops collection, etc The amount
contributed for presiding elders and preach
ers in charge was 81 1850; bishops, $40;
missions, $40. 9.2s: church extension, s476 10;
Bible society. s21.21 rs this" the writer
asks. bad for an infant church so lately
gathered in from heathenism? We must
remember, too, the fact that the church
is composed of the very, very poor
The schools Successful.
Regarding the schools. it is stated that
the past year has proved a successful and.
on the whole. a satisfactory one in the
progress of the Anglo Chinese College in
Shanghai. The attendance was 200 for the
fall term and 1sO for the spring term,
these numbers being the limit set for the
two terms, respectively. The progress of
the students was good in the regular course
of study
The church work, Epworth League and
Y. NJ. c. A. work have been carried on sue
cessfully. Five young men joined the the
illogical class last spring. The religious
condition of the college is good. Regarding
the work the president, Mr.. D. l.. Anderson.
wrote: School work has had many him
ORANGES in the interior since September,
1898. when the empress dowager overthrew
the reform. party and tIssfped the powers
of government. Schools Of the new learn
ing are not nearly so popular as they were
previous to that time, and the bitter perse
cution which was but recently ended has
cooled the ardor of many who seemed anx
ious to acquire the new learning, and one
after another has dropped out"
Continuing, Mr.. Anderson says: THE
continued success of the two institutions of
learning-the Anglo-Chinese College and the
Soochow lo-Chinese Schools a matter
for grateful appreciation.
1T Is true the distressful condition of the
country, especially the bitter persecution by
the government. aimed at the new learning
could hardly fail to have somewhat de-