The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-08
SOME PRESENT CHANGES
IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE

Read at Ministerial Union Nov. srd.
by Rev. L. w. Thwing.
AS we look toward this colossal en-
pjre, it is difficult for us to know or
realize the many changes that are slow
ly but surely taking place. During the
past year OF two since the troubles at
Pekin, We have heard much of the So
called reforms In government n ad-
ministration. Alas, much Of this is
My on paper. Because of greed for
O and territory the nations have
missed the grand opportunity of inau-
gurating real reform. But changes Will
come, and are now working, but as is
generally the rule 1t is from the people
FIRST. HI missionary. the newspaper,
the school, are making the people think.
OF present changes. I might speak of
the progress Of railroad building, or of
the new coinage for China to take the
Place of the cash that has held first
place for over 1000 years; or of mining
that is opening up China's wealth. But
I want to speak especially OF the new
education that is to give real life n
power to these people.
EDUCATIONAL CHANGES IN
CHINA.
The future of China must depend
largely on the enlightenment of her
people. Important changes are now
being made in the educational system
all over the empire. The Chinese Re-
corder says. much of the new educa-
ton in China has originated from the
proposition made by the Protestant
missionaries of Shansi that, as one of
the settlements Of the terrible massa-
ores in that province IN 1900, a univer-
sity be established to teach western
learning. and fifty thousand taels per
annum be devoted to 1t. This proposal
was made in June, 1901, n the two
Chinese Plenipotentiaries approved of
1t.
Two months after this, al edict was
issued for establishing a university in
each of the eighteen provinces. In the
autumn of the same year the young
and progressive governor Of Shantung,
Yuen Shihk'ai, promptly opened the
sShantung University, asking DR.. Hayes
to be principal. After being promoted
to be the viceroy of Chilli, Yuen open
ed a university in that province in May
of this year with DR.. Tenney as prin-
cipal. The University OF Sfiansi. though
first conceived, was, owing to unavoid-
able delays, only opened in June, with
Rev NOR Duncan, M. A., as principal.
1t begins with a larger foreign staff of
professors and better equipment of ap-
paratus than any of the Others"
Another remarkable change is taking
place in the matter of education for
girls. This year on June 7th witnessed
the departure for Japan of eight young
Chinese lady students, under the chap
eronage of a Madame WI, the wife OF
a Chinese M. A., Mr.. WI Chih-hui, a
of wusieh, who also accom-
panies the party. These eight young
ladies are to undergo a course of three
-four years education in Japan. This
is a decided step in advance for China;
all the young ladies belong to distin-
guished families amongst the gentry
and literari of this province.
UNION WORK.
One Of the most important educa-
tional changes in China, from a mis-
sionary standpoint, is the plan for de-
nomenational union and cooperation,
in the educational and medical work of
different mission boards.
/ can best explain this plan for union
work by giving extracts from a recent
by DR.. Sheffield of the American
Board. He sums up the work already
done separately by four of the Protest
ant missions in North China. The Pres