The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-31

>AoSAhS pea %tHC GVu9SCltiiull i
under the last Kahn, Toghun Timur
who flourished from 1893 to 1858.
The succeeding 800 years Of native
Chinese rule, the Ming dynasty,
blanks Christianity for that period
Saint Francis Xavier was inspired to
go to China from Japan in an attempt
to spread the faith. He died miser-
ably of fever on a small island near
Canton. saying: 20 rock, rock! When
wilt thou open?" A dent was made a
little later when the Portuguese con
trived to get their hands on the island
of Macao. To the Jesuits goes the
credit of establishing the first perma-
nent post. This was done by the
priests Pasio and Ruggieri. learned,
clever, courteous men. who, with he
later assistance OF Matthew Ricci, the
profound mathematician, were able to
extend operations over a goodly por-
ton Of South China. In 1895, Ricci set
out from Hangchow for Pekin. reach
ing there after six yesr RS of toll and
obstruction. He converted even the
prime minister in Pekin and became
superior Of all the Jesuits in China.
From Ricci and his successors the Chi
nese of that time learned a great deal
about astronomy, geography, architec-
ture and art.
by 1890 Catholicism had progressed
Sd far, despite a number of reverses.
that over 10000 Chinese were in the
fold, the emperor of China shared with
King Louis XIV Of France in building
a magnificent cathedral in the palace
grounds. and the question Of China be-
coming officially Christian was SER
iously discussed.
"A long fight over just how much Of
Chinese forms should be allowed in the
rites of the church, in which the Fran
CT cans n Dominicans from Manila
would not agree to the compromising
view of the Jesuits, lost forever this
great chance to Catholicism. War fol-
lowed between Chinese emperors and
popes. In 1880 hundreds Of Chinese
Catholics were massacred and over 300
churches were destroyed or turned into
temples, and the priests who were not
killed were exiled. From that, time on
Catholicism had it's ups and downs in
China as far as officialdom was con-
cerned, but the membership grew
steadily. The Tientsin massacre of
1oiV was dAIIcu dl INeI1 dHu Iudny
helpless nuns were killed. Gerard,
minister of France to Pekin from 1898
to 1897, did much to restore the pres
tige of the church in China. Until a
short time before the revolution Of
1911, French Catholic bishops were ac-
corded all the honors of a viceroy.
This. together with Interference with
native courts in behalf of a Cathonc
Chinese, of which Protestants were
likewise guilty at times, has always
caused hostility among the Chinese.
At the present time there are about
1900 900 native Catholics and IS, 900
chuches or chapels. AS a rule the ma
tive Catholic stood the test of their
faith during the terrible Boxer move
ment.
Robert Morrison, an Englishman,
was the first Protestant missionary to
China, reaching Canton. September Z,
1907. This was destined to become a
mighty day in Chinese history. For 16
years he endured %privation and hos
tility from foreign traders, Catholic
priests and Chinese en- masse, until
the publication of his Chinese diction-
airy OF five volumes. In later years
the translation of the Bible into Chi
nese by himself and William Milne
was a great spur to the cause. Nor
rison's name heads a long list Of no.
BILE Protestant workers whose influ-
ence is now apparent in the dynamic
upheaval Of the nation.
Organized, concerted missionary
work in China began after the treaty
OF 1860 ended the war of Britain and
France against China and opened
many new treaty ports to foreigners.
Americans, Britishers and Germans
began to flock in, and later the Scan
%dinavians added their quota. Within
four years 200 foreign Protestant mis-
sionaries, representing "a different de-
nominations of mission boards, We're
zealously at work at the 10 treaty
ports n about 80 outlying places.
The Methodists, Presbyterians, Bap-
lists. Episcopalians, and, in fact. all
Protestant bodies Of Great Britain and
the United States are well represented
in mir with churches or schools or
hospitals, n some ave all three de-
partments. Allied to, and auxiliary
with all this has been the work Of
the Young Mems Christian associa-
ton. which was begun by Americans
in 1887. Protestant schools were the
first to teach western learning in
China, and now many of the young
men who are directing public affairs
in Pekin are Christians. The work of
the western Protestants Is honored to-
day by the same men who sneered at
it a short decade ago. There were
about 100 societies represented in
China when the revolution broke out,
having 1000 American workers, 800
British and Scandinavians, in addition
to 700 workers, British and American,
Of whom less than SO were ordained, of
the Chinese inland mission. The in
land mission was started in 1866 by ].
Hudson Taylor. who died in 1906. Two
distinctive features Of this work was
that the members went far into the
interior, and that many were well-to-
do and supported themselves. There
are approximately 100000 Chinese
Protestants. but the mission leaders
look for a tremendous increase in
membership under the republic.
Martyrdom has endeared China to
- -.