Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-24
Council Bluffs
CHINA AN AWAKENING GIANT
Dobson Says Revolt Identified with
Christian Movement.
MISSIONARIES DO BIG WORK
Real Power of New Force in China
Due to Converted Chinese
Empire Too Great for
Mind to Grasp.

China, the giant of the world, who has
been asleep for centuries, is awakening,
and when fully aroused will stir this
world as It has never been stirred before,
China is one of the greatest countries
on earth, IL not the greatest, and the
world knows least about IT, The present
uprising will succeed II the people can
get the necessary arms. It's success will
be the greatest benefit that can possibly
come to the people The Christian re-
ligion is what has aroused the sleeping
giant. American missionaries have
sounded the trumpets that have disturbed
the sleeper. They have awakened the
spirit of liberty that has caused this re-
bellion Of the new against the old, and
every man and woman in America who
believes in the gospel of Christ should
feel a personal interest in the success of
this uprising.
These were some Of the declarations
made IN an hours address yesterday aft
ernoon at the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION building by George L. Dobson,
former United States consul at Hankow,
China, and for four years Iowa's secre-
tary Of state. Mr.. Dobson paused in his
duties az Des Moines, where he 10 now
treasurer of Polk county. and came to
Council Bluffs to give two addresses for
the purpose Of promoting the foreign
missionary movement.
Missionary Work Important.
Mr.. Dobson dwelt largely upon the inn
portance and extent of the missionary
work in the Celestial kingdom. and de-
clared that the greatest part OF It Is
being done by the Methodist churches Of
the United States. The missionaries have
started the work and it has gone ON
gathering strength and weight like a
huge SNOWFALL or an avalanche. The
missionaries are the leaders and teachers.
The real work is being done by the
converted Chinese. They have started
an enormous energy that cannot stop
until It sweeps over the whole kingdom
and comes to rest after completely
changing everything in the social and
religious lives of a people that has with
stood the assaults Of thousands Of years
II is the greatest place on earth for one
to realize the virility and strength of
Christianity as a world religion. It only
costs $50 a year to keep a Chinese mis-
sionary preaching the gospel every day
and night.
No mind is great enough to grasp
China. The world knows little about II,
only little shimmering knowledge. like
distant survey Of shore line from the
sea China is accredited with having
$50, 900 people, but no one knows
within 10O,O0O,0OO OF the number. There
has never been a census taken OF the
country, A square mile has been meas
ured and the people on It counted, and a
total estimate made this way.
Mr.. Dobson said he was obliged to re-
wise all OF his supposed knowledge of
China when he went there in 1905. He
had read Marco Polos description of the
city OF Hankow. which was declared 70
be the most beautiful city in the world,
with 1900 public baths. When he got
there he found there were about 200
people in the city who took a bath once
a year. He had heard so often about
American trust magnates selling farm
machinery and threshing machines In
China at less cost than at home. The
! only threShing machine from America
he ever could hear OF was when some
Yankee went over there and licked a
Chinaman