The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15

tan association.
TT STEP of considerable interest in
IL the awakening of Chinese is the
formation, just completed, of the
first national and autonomous church
in the Chinese empire The new or
ganization takes the name of the
Chung Hua .Sheng Kung Hwei," and
includes all branches of the Anglican
communion in China.
The union was cemented at a recent
conference held in Shanghai, consist
ing of the four bishops of the Church
missionary society (English) from
southern and western China, Kukien
and Chin Kiang; the two bishops of the
S. p. G., from northern China, and the
two American bishops from Kiang Su
the tremendous territory of Hupeh
Human. Anhui and Kiang Su. Be-
sides the bishops, each diocese was
represented by four Chinese and two
foreign delegates. These delegates
represented an aggregate of 1000
trained Chinese workers. and $4,000
baptized communicates, besides much
larger number of adherents. In carry
ing on the conference, the English
language was the most useful, and the
Mandarin second, but to reach all the
delegates present six languages had
stand such things, even more remark
able was the divergence of the vary
ing ecclesiastical sympathies repre-
scented, which included every shade of
churchmanship from the broadcast
evangelical to the most strict ritualistic
of the type of Newman and Pussy; yet
all differences were forgotten in the
common purpose of forming national
church for China.
The council that met at Shanghai
had full power from the church of
their communion in Great Britain. Cam
ada and the United States to act in
the matter of establishing in China
national and autonomous church-co-
ordinate to. but entirely independent
of, the Anglican church in other
lands. Henceforth the Chinese church
will have it's own synod, and elect its
own bishops. There Is absolutely no
provision as to whether the members
of that synod, the bishops and other
officers, shall be Chinese Christians
or foreigners In fact, there is alb
solutely no racial distinction in the
constitution just promulgated. But as
matter of policy, most of the bishops
for some time will doubtless be for
eigners.
Some of the Chinese Christians
seemed to fear that the new consti-
tuition contemplated the withdrawal of
foreign support before they should be
able to bear the entire responsibility.
On the other hand, they were assured
that the establishment of the national
church was for the purpose of the
development of leadership among
them, and that it would be the signal
for the Introduction of strong rein
forcements from abroad. The Rev.
William C. White Canadian, was des-
ignated bishop of a new diocese in
Honan, populous district on the new
Hankow-P Picking railway, and the
Canadian church has the men and the
money ready to man the field with a
strong educational work. Another do
cese was formed in the southwest, in
which the Church missionary society
is ready to begin work
The chief debate of the conference
centered around the name of the new
national church. The name which ives
finally agreed upon, Chung Hus. sheng
Kung Hwei' was suggested by the
native Christians themselves. Literally
translated it means Middle Flowery
Holy Catholic Church." or. in plain
English. Chinese Holy Catholic
Church" the word catholic lKung)