Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26

NEW YORK. July 25.-The most nota-
BILE body of missionaries to leave New
York in many years is that which will
start in various directions within week
under the auspices of the Protestant
Episcopal Church. Included in the num-
Der is one of the best known society
girls OF New York. one we'll provided
with money in her own right. and with
her will go Wellesley College graduate
and several other young women, all Of
whom feel that they have found their
life opportunity in the mission field
Those who are going to Cuba and
Porto Rico will sail direct from this port
but the larger number are to leave for
Vancouver. where passage will be taken
for the far east. The society girl of the
party is Miss Ethel j. Wheeler. daughter
of one of the we'll known lawyers of the
metropolis. and the college girl is Miss
Ann r. Terrence. who for several years
has been teacher at New PaltZ, n. Y.
They are considered more notable addi-
tons to the mission staff of the Episcopal
Church than any gained in years because
they may be taken as an indication that
the young women of today are becoming
serious minded despite very general
belief to the contrary
has had all the advantages that wealth
and fond father could give her. She has
spent much time in travel and knows
thoroughly the Hangkow section OF China
to which she is now bound. She has
many accomplishments which will tend
and exceptional traits of character that
will attach her to the women among
whom she will labor.
Her determination to go to China Is not
a sudden one. Under the rules Of the
Episcopal mission board the women are
given two years in which to withdraw
their application for stations after they
have undergone all the tests of inquiry
and examination to which they are neces-
sarily subjected in order that none but
the most earnest ones may be taken.
Miss Wheeler. however, goes in an indie
pendent capacity. which counts for much.
She will nominally. at least. be attached
TO the Hangkow mission and the work
that she selects TO do will have to be APP
proved by the officials of that station.
but in many ways she will have her own
way. She will defray all her own eX-
penses and she will be at liberty to re-
turn home at any time, as she is enlisted
under the voluntary class. Her
friends believe she will remain In the
field for the rest of her life. for they know
of what caliber the girl Is.
1t is Miss Wheeler's intention to spend
her time teaching among the women of
the upper classes. field of great prom
Use. for 1t is only comparatively recently
that this has been made possible. The
Manchu women. the ones who belong to
the blue-blooded class of the empire. have
taken hold of the educational problem,
and it will be for this portion of woman
kind that Miss Wheeler will work her
thought being to secure their attention to
Christianity by bringing their mind to
realization of the better and nobler side
of life.
1t will not be hard to secure an en-
trance into the upper class. for already
Lady Pao, a sister Of Prince Su, and Miss
Chi. highly educated Chinese woman,
have done work on their account and the
government has further recognized the
American plan of teaching in that IL has
the freedom Of the feet among
women. 1t is hard and fast rule in the
mission schools that girls shall not be
admitted who bind their feet. and it 10
surprising how many have given it up.
In one case a girls school was kept closed
for some time because the parents were
unwilling that their offspring should not
follow the immemorial custom of the en-