Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-11
TALKS OF CONDITIONS IN CHINA
DR.. RACHEL BENIN ADDRESSES
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Appeals for Aid in Advancing Cause
Of Women in the Flowery
Kingdom.

"The faith Of the Chinese is based upon
the unnatural doctrine Of debasement Of
woman and divinity Of man. In conse-
quence there is q fearful state Of affairs
among the womanhood of the Flowery
kingdom, which It is our particular prov
ince to improve as much as lies in our
power, DR.. Rachel Benn, q medical mis-
sionary Of Isl an Flu. Shantung, China.
declared today at the annual meeting OF
the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society
Of the District OF Columbia in Wesley
chapel, 9Th and F streets. DR.. Benn and
two other foreign missionaries, Miss Mary
Peters Of Ku Cheng. China, and Mrs.
Harry Farmer Of Manila, are the official
missionary guests of the meeting.
THE real sovereigns OF the people
are the heather priests. who parade in
their gorgeous robes upon all and any
Of the superstitions Of the people. It is
the work Of these priests and the super
stitions which they have instilled in the
people which, the missionaries find, pre-
sent the greatest obstacles to the intro
duction of the teachings of Christ.
There Is bright spot in all Of it, how
ever. and that is when a Cinnamon is
once convinced Of the right or justice of
anything 1t is extremely difficult to make
him change his mind They are naturally
and when once We have a genuine con-
vert he is always a. Christian.
Responsible for Sacrifices.
THE doctrine I have spoken Of is re-
sponsible for the binding of the feet, the
cruel secret sacrifices Of children and the
association of women with everything
which is vile and debased. The heather
Chinese husband looks upon his wife and
female children as stock in trade, 80 to
speak, and they are subjected to all the
humilities one might expect from such a
faith. One OF the worst features is the
selling of young girls as slaves to China
men Of affluence for immoral purposes.
Il don't suppose there is any place in
Of the tenets Of the Christian faith revo-
lutionizes men and women more than 1t
does in China. With the acceptance of
Christianity among these orientals their
whole manner OF life changes. One would
suspect they knew nothing else but Chris
tianity from their infancy.
1T Is the work Of us missionaries to
labor for the womanhood of China, and in
this way pave the path for the future
generations Of an enlightened China.
which Is bound to come sooner or later"
Miss Peters and Mrs. Framer will adj
dress the meeting late this afternoon on
the subjects Of their respective labors as
missionaries In Ku Cheng and Manila.
Work Among Foreigners.
The meeting was called to order at
1890 o'clock this morning by Mrs. r. NJ
Moore. president, and after the prelimi-
maries Of seating the representatives of
the society branches and a devotional
service by Mrs ]. M. Sylvester the dele
gates were addressed by Rev. Dr. w. 1.
Mckinney upon the subject of missionary
work among foreigners. DIR. Mckinney
told of the duty at home in the interest
Of foreign missions and the difficulties
which beset 1t. He commended the un-
selfish labors of those who shouldered the
burdens, urged a continuation Of the
work and predicted future success Of a
substantial nature.
Routine reports were made by Mrs. B.
A. Colonna on Little Light Bearers"
Mrs. L. B. Fouts on reading circles, Mrs.
A. B. Lacy on mite boxes and Mrs. M. E.
Edwards on the bureau Of supplies. Dur
ing the mornings meeting Mrs. Charles
B. Bayly sang solo.
The meeting will conclude with this
evenings session, when the election of
officers for the coming year will be held.