Gainesville daily sun., 1909-09-13
DIR. II. W. M'CUTCHAN
WRITES OF CHINA
INTERESTING LETTER FROM MIS-
sIoNARY OF THIS CHURCH.
Explains Mode Of Habits and Living
OF People Of Far-on Orient
and Reports Progress.
From Thursdays Daily Sun:

Ice, Rev. Thos. p. Hay OF the First
Presbyterian church read 10 the con-
gregation a most interesting letter
from Rev. II. w. McCutchan. the mis-
sionary sent out by this church 10
China.
Inasmuch as many members of the
church were prevented from attend
ing this service. and taking into con-
sideration the fact that the letter will
prove of deep interest not only TO
them, but To the public generally. The
Sun is permitted 70 publish the same.
through the courtesy of Mr.. Hay.
The Letter.
Suchien. China. July l, 1909.
My Dear Dr. Hay: In my last let
ter 10 you ! think I mentioned the fact
that Rev. Ii. G. Patterson was suffer
ing a very severe attack of pneumOn-
IA. ! am glad to say that In due time
he recovered his health. About the
same time, Rev. w. r. Junkin met
with a very painful accident. in which
one Of his lower limbs was broken,
not far from the hip joint. He was
I'm bed six or eight weeks. but now he
has gone out on an itinerating trip.
Notwithstanding these misfortunes.
the condition OF affairs here Is very
encouraging. In general. the oppOsi-
tiOn to Christianity seems to be grad
ually decreasing. and the native
Christians do not suffer SO much per-
secuti0n and ridicule as they formerly
did. The women here have manifest
ed a strange desire to learn. and the
missionary ladies are kept busy teach
ing them from the catechism and
Gospels. Several women are learning
TO read, a task which. for them. is
difficult beyond our power 20 imagine.
The Chinese women themselves say
that they are stupid 20 kill" and no
one can dispute that statement.
During the past few months eighteen
persons have been received into this
church. including one teacher and ter
students from the boys school, anC
two students from the girls school
We now have four native teachers
and fifty-eight boys in our school
Three OF the teachers and twenty foul
Of the boys are church members. anC
several other boys have asked TO b
baptized. but have been advised 4
wait a while. so you see that the
weight Of influence In this school u
very strongly In favor Of Christianity
We hope that at least a few OF thes,
boys will become ministers Of the Cos
pei, and II you could see their bright
intelligent faces, and think Of th'
good work they may be able TO d.
In the coming years. believe yo'
would agree with me that, after all
the school work Is the most promising
OF all our missionary activities. d,
not mean to underestimate the i'm
portance OF all kinds Of work, but o
course the final issue. from a humal
standpoint, rests with the educate'
native Christians themselves. A feV
weeks ago heard a splendid sermon
by one OF our native helpers. Hi
subject was, Evidences Of Christian
ity," and he showed n breadth o
scope which was really wonderful.
have heard this man preach so oftel
that I am familiar with his peculiar
tiles OF expression. and can under
stand him fairly well on some sui
jects.
A good deal OF work has been don
on the new school building. and W
hope to build more next fall. We ar
building only one story high. plal
which does not impress American
very favorably: but the Chinese cor
slider these buildings quite symmt
trical and handsome; and ! am learr
ing 70 like them better.
For several months this region suf