Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-03
DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY
 OPEN TO CHINA.
Message Brought by Two Speakers at
 Church Federation Meeting.

Gnurcn r eoefdfton Meefnqs
 An interesting and well attended meeting was held at the Broadway Congregational church Sunday evening under the auspices of the mission work committee of the Church Federation. Rev. G. H. Ewing pastor of the Nor wich Town Congregational church and chairman of the committee, led the meeting. The addresses were by James M. Clinton of Tokio and Y. $. Tsao of China now d student at Harvard uni versity. There was special music by the choir of the Broadway church, and Rev. +. w. Coleman offered prayer. Seated on the platform with the speak CTS were Rev C. H. Ewing, Rev F. w. Coleman, Rev. F. o. Cunningham, and Rev. E. s. Worcester, pastor of the church. MT. Tsao was the first speak CT, and he said in part:
 AS this meeting is held under the auspices of the mission work commit tee, you doubtless desire to hear of mission field. China is such a field.
 "Thy Kingdom Come"
 If l were to select text for my address, it would be the three often spoken words, Thy Kingdom Come" was once asked to speak on Interna- tiopal Peace, and I took those words for my text. for with the words of our prayer come true there could be
 
 a mission plea. If sincerely wish the kingdom to come "on earth as it Is in heaven" then we have the op- portunity to aid in bringing our desire to come to pass.
 Some may imagine that the recent revolution in China was sudden and unexpected, but if we read the history of my country we will find a chain of names of rulers, and eachs name rep resents a new dynasty. Kings became corrupt and were replaced. Thus his tory shows long series of ups and downs. Tn 1e96 China was defeated by Japan. The reformers then want ed to reform, but the conservatives held them back The Boxer uprising resulted in 1900, and following that black pa se of history there was a re- action, a series of reforms. The Boxer trouble was the result of the opera tons of the conservative element. But afterwards the various departments of the SoVernment,-the army. the navy, the police, the judiciary, the educa- tional system-were reformed and inn proved. From 1900 to 1906 were years of the height of progress Then the conservatives again gained control and things went from bad to worse up to 1911. The people were disappointed | rebellious, and the revolution resulted.
 Problems and Opportunities. We now have the after problems to solve and cannot dwell on the past. A ! coWl does not make monk, and China l has many more processes to go 1! through before she can be full dedg- | ed republc. Social business and re- l hgious upheavals follow the change in the order of things. There are also | great opportunities-oppor for | adv ancement, for education. The new | government does not frown on Chris | tian institutions. The government en- courages the !. M. C. A. for in the new order of things. where equality l reigns. the individual man must be developed
 The churches of all denominations and the Y. M c. A. are cooperating in China, tor the church realizes that the Y- NJ. c. A. can reach the young men as the church cannot. The young man joins the Y. M. c. A.. attends Bible class and desires to join the church. Thus the two institutions join hands in their work
 MT. Tsao told of the work and posi- tions of high importance of some of the Christian members of the Y. M. C. A. We pray, he said. that God may build up there a strong and vigorous Christian manhood to help in the civ ilization of the world.
 J. M. Clinton Spoke.
 Mir Clinton spoke of the nigh char acter of the Chinese The door of op- portunity. he said. is opened now in China. and the only need is for us to step in. The churches are uniting in China as they are in Nor wich, for the missionaries of all de-
  work together in the common cause. They are nearer even, perhaps, than they are here, joining in all kinds of work. even in their theological teach inEs.
 China is nation of vigorous, indus trial people. We have been sending men and moTey to them. but if we help them now, they will soon build up and will no longer need our help. Our Lord Christ was an as they are, and they are in terpreting the problems of the Bible in a way that is going to help us. Help China today, now that the door of op- p6rtunity is open. I am not beggar, but I am making a plea for the new China. The door of opportunity is open. and we need a larger number of lives of dollars and of prayers invest ed for China. That Is the cali to you tonight: may some of you respond, and some day you will see China talk Ing her place as one of the great, I strOuss 'hristian nations Of the world, 1