Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-08
MEETING At SHANGHAI
Centennial of the Coming of
Robert Morrison.
A THOUSAND MISSIONARIES
Laymen Hold Conference and Pass
Resolutions.
HAS UNUSUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Names of Some of the Prominent Men
Who Took Part-The Social
Features.
THOUSAND MISSIONARIES
HAS UNUSUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
STEAMER KIANG YUNG,

En- Route From Shanghai to Hanl<ow.
May 3, 1907.
The conference of the missionaries held
In commemoration Of the centennial Of the
coming of Robert Morrison the first
Protestant missionary to China, in 1907, will
doubtless go down into history one of the
most significant religious gatherings the
world has ever seen. Men and women at
work as missionaries in China, representing
every Christian nation and every denomi-
nation in Christendom, have come together
and adopted policies and plans which In
their unity of purpose exceed anything yet
seen in the propagation of the Gospel. They
have effectualIy answered the criticism that
they were teaching denominationalism by
their action in deciding that the Christian
church In China shall be organized with
out denominational divisions.
More than a thousand missionaries have
been in session for ten days, and in this
time every phase of missionary effort, evan
geistic, educational, medical and social, has
been discussed and permanent policies for
united action outlined.
Members of Boards.
In addition to the missionaries, there
have been in attendance upon this confer
ence the representatives of the missionary
boards in the home lands and many Chris
tan laymen of Great Britain, America and
the continent of Europe. These men have
been studying missionary problems from
the point of view of the home church, and
they gathered from all parts of the far east
to attend this centenary conference.
A meeting of these laymen was held at
the Aston House in Shanghai April y, at
which Sir Alexander r. Simpson of Ed1n-
burgh presided. The great need of the In
creased participation of laymen in mission
airy interest and support was discussed at
considerable length. and It, was the conVlc-
ton of all who participated in the discus
sion that the time was ripe for forward
movement of large proportions with this
end in view.
Among those present at the conference
were representatives of the recently organ
lied laymens movements in Great Britain
and North America, and the laymen of the
continent of Europe were also represented
After an hour of discussion the following
prea and resolutions were adopted:
Whereas the educational and political
situation in China today offers unprece-
dented opportunities for the propagation OF
Christianity, and
whereas the Protestant missionaries are
united in spirit and purpose, and are keenly
alive to the possibilities of the hour, and
Whereas, in order that these great OPP
portunties should be fully met, 1t is essen
tial that the church at home should make
a marked advance in interest and support;
therefore, be it
Resolved by this gathering of laymen
from Great Britain, America and the CONT
nent of Europe, held during the China CEN
tenary conference in Shanghai, April ~
1907, that we urge upon the missionary
boards of our respective countries that they
endeavor by every possible means to arouse
the church at home to the urgency of the
call, the uniqueness of the opportunity and
the marvellous possibilities of vigorous,
united and Well-suStalned effort to push
forward the cause of Christ in China during
the next few years; and
BE it further resolved. That recog
niZe the necessity for larger measure or
cooperation and unity of action among the
missionary organization at home If the
union of forces on the field is to be rem
dered most effective; and -
BE 1t further resolved, That we urge our
fellow laymen in Great Britain, America
and the continent of Europe that they join
earnestly in the efforts now being proposed
by this centenary and other missionary
conferences for the speedy CHARACTERIZATION
of the world.
Distinguished Men Present.
Those present and participating in the
action taken were:
Sir Alexander R. Simpson, Edinburgh,
Scotland; Prof. Alexander Macalister, Cam
bridge, England; Mr.. Francis William Fox,
London; Mr.. Duncan McLaren, Edinburgh;
Capt Alfred Bertrand. Geneva, Switzer-
land; Mr. Edward H. Haskell, Boston; Mr..
w. Henry Grant, New York; Mr.. Edward
c. Moore, Cambridge, Mass; Mr.. William
staley, NJ D., Bristol, Tenn; Mr.. c. v.
Vickrey New York; Mr.. David P. Leas,
Philadelphia; Mr.. Richard G. Morse, New
Mr.. S. w. Woodward and Mr.. John B. Sle-
man, jr., Washington, D. c.; Mr.. L. H. Sew
erance, New York; Mr.. E. S. Osgood, Chi
cago; Mr. Basil H. Baokhouse, Darlington,
England; Mr.. S. Earl Taylor, New York:
NJ. e. Eubank, NJ. D., Kansas City, Mo-;
A. l. Ludlow, NJ. D., Cleveland, Ohio
Later in the afternoon these laymen en-
Sow .aip he mi ripS receptOn a
the Astor House in Shanghai. Practically
the entire conference responded to the lnVl-
tation and for two hours the laymen from
the home lands shook hands with the repre-
sentatves on the mission field.
We left the conference before its con-
clusion, in order that we might get the
trip to Hankow and Picking, which was not
possible at the earlier stage of our journey.
Coming up the Yang-tse we have been able
to make two-hour visits to Marking, Wuhu,
Nganking and ku Kiang. We reach Han
kow at o'clock this afternoon. Going from
there by railroad to Picking and Tientsn
we will take steamer from Taku, the port
of Tientsin, for Korea, and from Seoul we
will go by rail to Fusan and thence to
Japan. joining our steamer, the Mime
sofa, at either Nagasaki or Kobe.
At Shanghai.
While in Shanghai we had the pleasure
of meeting many Chinese Christians, some
of them holding high positions in official
and community life Tong kason, the
editor of the South China Daily News and
a Yale graduate; Wong Kok-shan, the di-
rector Of the Shanghai-Nanking railroad
and president of the Chinese Young Mems
Christian Association of Shanghai; DR..
W. w Yen of st. Johns College, Shanghai,
a graduate Of the University Of Virginia,
and Mr.. S. K. Tsao, secretary of the Chi
nese Young Mems Christian Association at
Shanghai, who spent several months in
Washington three years ago, were the
speakers at dinner given to the foreign
visitors by the board Of directors of the
Chinese Young Mems Christian Association
of Shanghai.
The sessions of the centenary conference
were held in Martyrs Memorial Hail." in
the superb new building of the Chinese
Young Mems Christian Association in
Shanghai. This building would do credit to
any city in America and fittingly represents
the place which the association holds in the
hearts Of the Chinese. A large part Of the
money for the building was contributed by
Chinese merchants and all the running ex-
penses are borne by the Chinese.
At the recent national convention of the
Young Mems Christian Association of
China Korea and Hong Kong, held in
Shanghai, over 800 Chinese delegates were