The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-05-01
THE RICE CHRISTIANS
MISSIONARIES FOUND III EASY
ro CONVERT THE CHINESE.
For Daily Supplies of Rice Coolies
Could Be Made TO Swear CheS
Relieved Anything.

ronh Re Made TO Swear They
Relieved Anything.
HANKOW, China.-The Rice
Christian that type of Chinese con-
vert which was easily won over to
any creed so long as he was support
I'D in ,dleness, has had its day. ac-
cording to the American Episcopal
mission in this city. The missions OF
ali denominations today are making
their appeal to the better class.
There was a time when missionar-
;es came to China with the idea that
thora was no time to lose in muster
mo tho whole army of Chinese under
christian standards. To make rice
christians was easy. For daily
spnnyies of rice millions of beggars
and coolies could be induced to swear
thew were believers in anything. But
that was not converting China.
There were, however, few mission
aries of any denomination who work
ed 60 unwisely. In the present day
sucb men have a hard time living in
tha mission community. 1t cannot
be said that the man of fanatieal
enthusiasm has been entirely elimi-
mated. but the average type OF mis-
sionary today is far more practical
Chinese to Convert Own People.
It is the idea of the Episcopal mis-
sionaries and their British associates
to prepare Chinese to convert their
own people They point to the re-
cent formation of the independent
Holy Catholic Church in China,
which is conducting its own affairs.
This successful establishment of an
independent church, the first in
China, is the result of the. system OF
education conducted jointly by the
Church of England at home and in
Canada and the Episcopal church of
the United States.
In the matter of preaching the
Chinese themselves cannot be beaten.
Phraseology prescribing virtues is
the common stock in trade of most
politicians. The politician 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
requirement, under the Manchu rule.
for eligibility to Office. The man
who could repeat the greatest length
of words from them was considered
the greatest scholar and shown the
greatest difference by the nation. He
was of great advantage to the gov
eminent because it was the fashion
and the trick to embody extensive
declarations of piety-Often quoted
verbatim from the sages-in the i'm
peria1 edicts. If words were deeds
China would be a splendidiy right
eous and we'll governed country. But
even those .edicts which appeared
years ago abolishing such evils as
slavery and footbinding have not yet
been put into force, and continue
even under the republic.
Chinese Pastors Developed.
From the theological school of
Boone university, which requires
over ten years of study, Chinese pas
tors go out to convert their own PEG
pie. The Chinese have recently, OF
their own accord, sent missionary
to a remote walled city in the south
of this province, seven days journey
away from the YiangtZe river.
Some Chinese are able to gu
abroad to get their knowledge of for
eign things, but most of them have,
to turn to the mission schools and
colleges. The government sought to
supply the demand and engaged for.
eign teachers for the state universi-
ties. In these cash compensations
we're granted students for attending
but politics and corruption and lack
Of discipline prevented them from
being as efficient 81 what the mis-
sionaries offer.
The Wuchang government univer-
sity, across the Yiangtze from here,
should be one Of the great centers of
teaching In this country, but having
no money 1t has been unable since
the revolution to pay foreign staff.
Consequently the Chinese of this dis
trict go to Boone university, the
American institution there, which
has over 800 students,