The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-03-17
The Mission Mail Bag.
A Great Moment in China's History,

A Great Moment in China's History.
All things considered the awakening Of
China is probably the most important
event thus far in the twentieth century.
1t is stupendous task to undertake the
organization Of new army and navy, to
plan for the adoption of a constitution,
and to cast aside hoary system of edu-
cation which had been in operation 3, 000
years, in favor of modern methods.
These and other progressive measures
call for the highest type of leadership,
and that is precisely what China lacks.
Never was there more opportune time
for the United States to stretch forth a
friendly hand, especially in the matter of
education, for we are distrusted less than
any other foreign nation. 1t is a mis-
take to limit our interest in China to
commercial relations when there is such
| chance to lay broad and strong founda.
tons for new moral and intellectual
/ life there, through the influence of
Christian schools and colleges. Student
from these institutions, under the care
of various mission boards, are eagerly
sought to fill positions as teachers in the
government schools. To meet this and
similar demands there is imperative and
immediate need of Christian university
with the highest standards of scholar
ship, the largest appliances for investl
cation and the most modern meth
DDS of instruction. Such university
would prove an inestimable boon to
China at this turning point of her history.
Two members of the faculty of Chica-
go University, Prof. Ernest de Witt Bur-
ton and Prof. Thomas c. Chamberlain,
were recently commissioned to make a
tour of that great empire for the express
purpose of seeing whether those inter-
ested in education in both countries
could not be of service to one another. A
similar movement has started in Oxford
and Cambridge, joint committee of
educators and missionaries having been
engaged for the last ten months in max
ing thorough investigation of the
whole subject. Institutions of the charac-
ter proposed would not only train up fu-
ture administrators for China, but would
serve as models for the native universe
ties. The legacy of million and half
of dollars from John S. Kennedy to Rob-
ert College, Constantinople, is a fine ex-
ample of the estimate which one wise and
successful business man put upon the
value of Christian college in Turkey
Given equally adequate provision for the
youth of China and most beneicent re-
suits would surely follow. From the point
of view either of commerce, foreign rela-
tions, world economics, racial develop
ment, or the kingdom of Christ, the
most important question confronting
Europe and America today, as it is
question concerning one quarter of the
worlds population.
LOVERS OF LEARNING
Some idea of the value which the Chi
nese place upon education may be gain
ed from an imperial edict issued about
two years ago which reads: "All boys
over eight years of age must go to school,
or their parents or relatives will be pun
ished. If they have no relatives, the Of
ficials will be held responsible for their
education The carrying out of this
simple but comprehensive order will re-
quire million schools, for China is
densely populated, and the government
is hampered by the lack of a sufficient
number of competent teachers. English
has been officially adopted as the Ian
guage for instruction in what is called
the new learning because the Chi
nese language cannot yet express this
able textbooks. But under modern in
fiuences great change is gradually tax
ing place. New words are coming in,
old words are charged with new meaning.
and in time Chinese, which is really
wonderful language, capable of express
ing clearly the most subtle thought, will
resume its sway in the schools of the en-
pire, and native scholars will be able to
prepare proper textbooks.
1t is no exaggeration to say that up to
the present time the best educational
work in China has been done by the mis-
sionaries. They have developed all grades
of schools from the kindergarten up to
the college, and have few institutions
which are universities in the process of
making. Their graduates are eager to
help spread the new ideas and high ideals
of life which they themselves have alb
sorbed, and are doing good service for
their country by filling posts as teachers
in the government schools and colleges.
They form one of the most enlightened
elements in the social and political life of
the empire, and whatever is done to
strengthen that element is not only good
Christianity but sound principle in
other than ethical relations. The Bos-
ton Herald said not long ago, ''There is
no more certain method of creating
honorable trade relations than that rep
resented by the mission work in other