Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18

pupils-which means an equal number of
teachers-although the attendance varies
at different times OF the year. The work
Is in charge of Mr.. Arthur NJ. Poynton of
I'll French street, who has been most sue
cessful, not only In teaching, but in in
structing those who teach. Under his d.
rection the Sunday school has risen from
mere handful of pupils and teachers to
its present membership. The work is also
supervised by the rector of the Pro-cathe-
dral. Rev. Clement Brown. whose activity
In mission work in this. city is too well
known to need any mention. Mr.. Brown is
very enthusiastic over the work and be-
lleves that it Is constantly gaining ground.
During the last three years large num-
Der of infants have been baptized and one
or two adults. This the rector considers
quite enough. II not more than enough en-
couragement, to warrant the continuance
of the work.
Chinaman to a Sunday school is the oppor-
tunity to learn English. This is admitted
by all workers in the field. But once
there. he can be grounded in the tenets
of Christianity, and the seed that is thus
scattered most frequently bears fruit. The
greatest difficulty that the teacher expert
ences is the presenting of his teaching in
conformity with oriental ideas. The orien-
tai and occidental minds differ radically,
and what Is perfectly clear to the western
born teachers is uninteiligibie 10 his east
ern pupil. and vice versa. The idea of
God OF love and kindness, not Vindict1ve
and terrible, is a little hard for him to COM
prehend. In fact. the greatest sticking point
Is the absence OF fear and mysticism in the
Christian religion. He has been brought
up TO look upon the gods as personages
more powerful than himself, ruling severely
and arbitrarily, for no other reason than
that they have the power. In the Chinese
pantheon the gods of evil are always the
more powerful.
Chinese Gods.
This can be illustrated by taking few
names from the list of more powerful del
ties. The Chinaman believes In: god of
rain. god Of wind, god Of thunder, god
of wealth, a god Of thieves, a god of fire,
a god of measles, god of smallpox. and,
as one of the least powerful, a goddess of
mercy. OF course this applies only to the
lower classes, as all the more educated
Cinnamon are Confucianists; but few,
except members of the coolte caste, ever
emigrate to America, it Is most pertinent
here
With these ideas firmly rooted in his mind
1t is hard to turn the Chinaman toward the
simplicity and mercy of Christianity. 1t Is
hard to convince him that God could
set aside his majesty and become other
men, suffering indignities and bodily pain,
simply to save mankind from the results of
their own transgressions.
To quote an instance: A teacher was ex-
planning to her Chinese pupil, a merchant
of no mean intelligence, the crucifixion He
listened to her explanation attentively. an
swered a question or two, which showed
that he perfectly understood what had been
said, and then asked in perfect seriousness
(omitting the dialecD, Did the other gods
put him to the torture because he so for
got his godship as to become a man?'
The inadequacy of the medium Of teach
ing is great difficulty. The Chinaman's
comprehension Of English Is comparatively
slight and the workers who can speak
their language are all in the foreign mis-
sion field. The first step is to teach him
English, and teach him in the most rudi-
can never be taught to speak it perfectly
at least none have yet-owing to a differ
ence in the vocal organs, but he can be
brought to point where he can under
stand the majority of the things said to
him.
Patience Required.
When he reaches this point the active
work of converting him begins. But the
point Is only attained after long and un-
firing struggles, and when it is attained
the difficulties OF mental direction, before
mentioned, present themselves. The task
is strenuous one and after the results |
that have been accomplished the workers
deserve the greatest of credit
'Ihe person who has converted one Chi
nese pupil to Christianity has accomplished |
comparatively as much as the missionary |
who has reformed the entire bad section |
OF a city for he has worked in the face of |
difficulties quite as great, if not greater" !
was recent comment.
ABOUT -FOUR years ago Chinese mission was |
Conducted In this city on Sd street between |
street and Indiana avenue, over the shop !
or laundryman. 1t was we'll located and |
attracted large congregations at the Sun !
gay evening services but 1t has become |
disrupted Its plan was to give the China |
man church of his own, where he could |
meet and worship with people of his own |
nationality, and listen to addresses pre- |
pared especially for him and carefully |
gaused 10 ran within his comprehension. !
Inc FORM OF service employed was the An |
glcan and each member of the congreRa-
ton was given a service card and hymn |
book, with parallel passages in Chinese and |
English.
Queer TRANSACTIONS.
The TRANSACTIONS were made by a Chinese !
resident missionary, and so far as is known |
were adequate and ineligible. In the way
or TRANSACTIONS however where a China |
man Is the translator, some humorous In
stances have come to light. mission In
one of the large cities some time ago had q
translation prepared of Toplady's majestic
old hymn, SO dear to every churchman's
heart, Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me-" The,
chinese version was printed in the mission !
hymn book and had been in use for several
years, when missionary recently returned
from China CHANGED to look over II |
Transiating 1t literally back into English, |
he read Venerable fragment of stone, d.
vided expressly for my benefit, permit me
to conceal myself behind thee,"
Since the abandonment of this mission in ;
Washington no other similar ATTEMPT has |
been made here. The field Is still open and
awaiting any who may care to take up the
work. By all those who came in contact
with the former mission the results are |
said to have justified the effort