The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-29
Chinese Who Sought to Be Sup
ported In IdIeness Are
Now Ignored

Hankow, China, March 29.-The rice
Christian" that type of Chinese con-
vert which was easily won over tn any
creed SO long as he was supported in
idlcness, has had his day, according to
the American Episcopal Mission in this
city. The missions of all denomina-
tons today are making their appeal
To the better class.
There was "a time when missionaries
came to China with the idea that there
was no time To lose in mastering the
whole army of Chinese under Chris
tian standards. TO make rice Chris
tians" was easy. For daily supplies
of rice, millions of beggars and coolies
could be induced To swear they were
believers in anything. I'ut that was
not converting China.
There were. however few missionar-
les of any denomination who worked
so unwisely. In the present day such
men have hard time living in the
mission community. 1t cannot be said
that the man of fanatical enthusiasm
has been entirely eliminated but the
average type of missionary today is far
more practical.
1t is the idea of the Episcopal mis-
sionaries and their British associates
To prepare Chinese to convert their
own people. They point to the recent
formation of the Independent Holy
Catholic church" in China, which is
conducting It's own affairs. This sue
cessful establishment of an 'independ-
ent" church, the first in China. is the
result of the system of education con-
Quoted jointly by the Church of Eng
land at home and in Canada, and the
Episcopal church of the United States.
Chinese Masters Of Classics.
In the matter of preaching, the Chi
nese themselves cannot be beaten.
| Phraseology prescribing virtues is the
common stock in trade of most poll
| ticians. The population knows by
heart the best and longest passages
of the Chinese classics. which abound
in admonitions to certain virtues. To
know the classics was the first require
ment, under the AIanchu rule, for elig-
, fbility to Office. The man who could
repeat the greatest length of words
from them was considered the greatest
scholar and shown the great difference
by the nation. He was of great advan-
tage To the government because it was
the fashion and the trick To embody
| extensive declarations of piety--often
quoted verbatim from the sages, in the
| imperial edicts. II words were deeds
China would be splendidly righteous
and we'll governed country. But even
those edicts which appeared years age
abolishing such evils as slavery and
footbinding have not yet been put into
force and continue even under the re-
public.
From the theological school of Room,
University. which requires over ter
years of study, Chinese pastors go out
to convert their own people. The Chi
nese have recently of their own ACCORD
sent "A missionary To "a remote walled
city i'm the south of their province
seven days journey away from tn,
Yiantze river.
Some Chinese are able to go abroad
to Get heir knowledge of foreign things
but most of them have To turn to tn,
mission schools and colleges. TIL,
government sought to supply the de-
mand and engaged foreign teacher,
for their state universities. In thes,
cash compensations were granted stu
dents for attending. but politics an,
corruption and lack Of discipline pre-