The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-24
E CHINA
UP TO DATE

anu not the him OF the
mancnus: IS described SO we'll in the
report Of the Shanghai agent ~ 49,
American Bible Society that one Gets
an ADMIRABLY picture of Far East life
= year has passed since the maui
suratlon of the new republic and he |
reconstruction period has been re-
markably free from disorder. Mis-
sionarleS are back at their stations
ana pursuing their work in peace and
4ule'' ana under more favorable con-
dltions than ever before. The ont
burst Of ridicule with which the adop-
tion OF d republican form of govern
1nent was received has died away. and
II is generally recognized among
those who know them best that the
Chinese are capable Of solving the
problem of self-government. and
that they Will evolve the system I'M
der whatever name best suited to their
needs. They are a very r~esourceful
people, and will not fail in anything
they undertake.
1here are very knotty problems for
the new China to solve in connection
with nance and the outlying posses
sions. particularly Mongolia, but she
VIII arrive at a correct solution some
how, some day.
The haughtineSS and O~Nerbearing
manner Of the old mandarin has been
replaced by a democratic spirit which
is truly commendable. Our represen-
tative in the capital had some bust
ness with an official high in one of
the principal departments Of the cen
trail government. He called several
times at his office and found him out,
but left his card. One day he met him
riding up one of the principal streets
Of the city IL a brOugham. The Of
fetal saw the foreigner walking in
the opposite direction, stopped him,
got out of his brougham and attended
to the business on the street, Such
a thing was unheard of under the
old regime. The new officials are
courteous, easily approached and
prompt in the dispatch of business.
With the new China has rome a
new era for Christian missions. The
profession of Christianity is no longer
a bar to Offiuial employment. Many
high Offices are filled by earnest, ac-
tive Christian men h live their re-
Iligion and make no secret of it. The
ban on Christianity has been re-
moved, and it looks as if the most
perfect religious liberty will be ac-
corded to all classes of the people
The GregOrian calendar has beer
adopted and all public Offices in Pc,
king are closed on Sunday. This
recognition Of the Sabbath as a day
of rest is a distinct influence in Oul
favor.
the most notable and re.
markable change is in the attitude
of the common people toward thu
!. foreigner. In the old days one couie
not put his head out of his hous<
without being reviled as a "foreigT
devil or worse, n on a JOurne!
the ring of epithets was never GU
: of ones ears. Now it Is the rares
: thing possible to hear a single dis
, 49,, x,or1 oror Union fra yelling IN
!. the interior.
! On the streets. in the markets.. a
the fairs the sales ave been I'm
{ precedented. This is perhaps due t
. the fact that for the first time tn
: people feel that they are perfectly
. free to buy if they want, and tn
possession Of Christian books will no
great fairs in Picking Mr.. Strong him
y self sold on an average one thou
y sand copies a day for twelve days.
u Another very remarkable thing
y the demand for Bibles and Tesla
e ments from students-not only thos
e in the mission schools, but those !
! the schools as we'll. l
e some cases this may be accounte
for by the influence of Chrlstla
e teachers in the government school
o In some cases these pupils go SO ia
le as to demand to know the teacf
y ing Of the Bible. and the teacher
r. were forced to add the Bible as
u Textbook to the curriculum. Llterall
n hundreds of copies Of the Bible haN
"a been sold to these students who bt
Is fore the revolution would have bee
As conspicuous by their opposition
Z Christianity.
On New Years Day the Temp
Of and Altar of Heaven were for tf
r. first time freely thrown open to tf
public. Mr.. Strong was given a piat
I'd on the balcony of the Temple
at Heaven, directly opposite the ma
is entrance for selling Scriptures. Tn
ly is the first time any one has na
official permission to sell Bibles ar
ed preach the gospel from this sacr'
8 place. He and the cOlpOrteurs co
f. tinued his work for ten days.
The fact of the matter is that z
"a of the barriers have been brok'
bv down. China is open. as never befor
to the Gospel. h attitude OF Il
people is that of honest, intereste
tr~nioC after tho SSll