The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1911-12-26
CH|NA'S CIVIL WAR
AIDS MISSIONARIES
Or. Cochran Writes Interest
ing|y Of "Open Door.


Extracts from letter written by
DR.. Cochran, missionary in China,
stationed at Hwai-Yuen, are inter-
esting. DR.. Cochran writes:-
.sTimes have been very interesting
in this part of the world and you can
imagine the eagerness with which we
read the daily papers 1t is certainly
disturbing to peaceful thought to be
conscious of the fact that nation
of 400, 900, 900 is in the throes OF a
great revolution and that We are IN
side here, to a certain extent tied
up to her fate, and yet things are SO
different from what one would have
expected even "a few weeks ago.
.sFirst, there is the surprise of the
universal overturning, so eloquent Oh
the almost complete unanimity OF
opinion against the dynasty and the
disgust of the people with it. A short
time ago one would have said that
most of the nation did not care a
rap WHO fufSu, but nv" w 'i' y >SS7
in the past few years a great ma
tional consciousness has been born
which determines to have real Chinese
rulers, and cares whether or not they
are good and wise.
sSeeond, is the almost universal
orderliness of it, the lack of mas
sacre and pillage and the keeping OF
order in the places taken by the new
party.
sThird, is the astonishing change
OF attitude toward foreigners and
Christianity Think Of the contrast
between the Boxer year and the pres
ent time Dr. Foster and others IN
Wuchang report that never have
they been treated with such courtesy
and consideration as in Wuchang
since the revolutionary occupation
Just think of Chinese city with its
usual government abolished and for
eigners and Christians not only not
molested but treated with unusual
consideration.
1T is a general phenomenon all over
China thus far and shows a complete
change Of feeling, for the present at
any rate. 1t is a sign full of the
greatest hope for the future of the
church here and shows that possibly
some of the greatest obstacles of the
acceptance of the gospel are done
away with, At least for time. 1t is
"a thing can feel everywhere.
..People have been so good to us
since we came back to the interior,
one can feel it at every turn. Never
have we had such an open door for
preaching as now
.sThere are no doubt several causes
for this both locally and, genera ly.
One of the foremost is the generosity
of foreign nations, especially America
in the matter of famine relief. or
course famine relief is often discour-
aging and disappointing when one
sees sefishness and desire to profit
illegitimately by it, but the main re-
suit of it has been good beyond be-
lief in the friendliness it has caused.
II has told on the largest possible
scale, that the professions of Chris
tianity, of compassion for the needy
are no more simply words and that
money and personal sacrifice Will be
fraolu oivan for the peODlp
s'It made us proud of our country
men last spring to see the way they
were willing to give to the starving
and they have made an investment
that will pay big dividends
Another cause of friendliness is
the more general acquaintance with
the church on the part of all classes
of the community. The patient work
of our hospitals. orphanages and
schools and the just dealings which
we may truly say are characteristic
of our mission force, in their relations
with their neighbors, are. at last win
ming the good opinion of the nation
and obliterating the natural prejudice
which has been felt so long.
''Another thing is the great con
sideration shown by foreign nations
in international matters. The most
important sign of which is the aboll-
ton of-the opium traffic, which is
greatly appreciated. Another is the
cessation on the part of missionaries
of taking part in lawsuits to protect
their Christians. This was very
natural thing to do, considering the
great injustice that was often pres
ent in the courts, but it was seen
to be unwise and has been dropped
by common consent and a great
cause of friction removed. Most
foreigners feel strong sympathy
\ with the reyo.utionaries because We
see that all our friends believe in it
heartily and in their cause and hope
and expect to win. 1t seems true
national movement and may be the
beginning of wonderful new things
for China. OF course there are many
dangers ahead and that may be pro-
(. longed apd perhaps a general spirit
OF disorder raised that may mean
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