Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-16
BETTER GLASSES
IN CHINA ADOPT
CHRISTIANITY
Y, M, c, A, Leaders Assert
That Roadway Is Gradually
Being Made and Are Highly
Optimistic,

s--a---s
associated rcrss CerresRandenrel
pekinc. Jan. lA.~~ChriStianltN is at
last affecting the better classes in
China. according to leaders OF the
Young Mems Christian association.
Reviewing some 81 their recent sue
cesscs, they tell ~ the establishment
OF large meeting place within the
Forbidden CITY, ana of cvankehssic
being welcomed In some Of
the interior provinces where a few
wears ago such workers were actually
In peril Of being killed or being driven
out by angry mehs,
one OF the y. NJ. q. A. secretaries,
"a prominent Princeton man, says
there is no warrant for the impression
that great numbers OF converts have
been made ny the recent campaign
conducted by Sherwood Eddy. NOR
that il was the Plan of the Y. NJ. c.
a. to attempt sweeping conversions,
vet with the assistance of the Protest
ant missionaries. q few hundred Chi
nese OF the student and official classes
have become Christians and several
thousands have begun study 81 the Ri
bile. The student and official classes
have been the last to seriously COM
slider Christianity for the reason that
thcv were more ihoiNughly rrcunded
in Contucianlsm and with rare eN-
ceptions the missions were able TO
appeal through their chapel and
street preaching only TO the lower
classes
Revolution Was Helpful.
"Thc revolution with many Chris
tan men among the leaders" says the
secretary. "set It's seal Of dlsapproVnl
ON hostility TO Christianity, The "
NJ. G. A. ranked among Us members
most Of the returned students from
America and some OF those from Eu.
rope OF whom the present govern
meut is making use In It's efforts e.
modernige and reform China, Not all
Of these returned students are Chris.
tinn. indeed, the majority are not But
they haNc found In the y. NJ. g. a.
buildings places where they could
gather IN an atmosphere similar to
that which they have learned to re-
spcct and like in foreign countries. Sc
the Y. NJ C. A, had a nucleus OF
friends 60 help obtain the privileges
which they required.
ITO take this city as an example
we applied to the authorities for per
mission to erect n pong or tent-lik'
mat shed capable Of seating foui
thousand people In the open space IN
front of the Forbidden city that be.
ing one OF the most convenient ant
central positions The reply cam'
that as certain new walls were heinl
constructed the pong had better hi
erected Just inside the front gate o.
the Forbidden CITY
"Thls permission Immediately rave
distinction to the meeting for the
gates of the Manchu palace enclos'
ure are seldom, even now, open "a
the public. In other cities the cam-
paign was similarly favored by the nn-
thorlties. important temples some
times being turned over TO the organ
ization for the time being.
"The necessary organization was
completed by obtaining from each
Protestant mission the assistance Of
one Chinese worker. This represent
alive committee was placed under The
leadership Of two executive seorctar-
los, one Chinese and one American.
Bible classes were arranged at the
different missions throughout the
city, and men were enlisted who were
capable Ct teaching these classes and
whA understood the manners and sus-
capabilities OF the students
Great care was put upon special
courses OF Bible study prepared es-
pecially to meet the need of tho keen
and critical minds of the Chinese COLI
lege students In peking alone dur
ing November there was an average
weekly Attendance on the newly or
ganlzed Bible study classes Of over
five hundred students old and young
Eddys campaign, which extended
to many of the principal cities of CHI
ma, was completed this month, In q
letter to friends IN pekinR, he writes
or Chanesha. the capital city 90 the
interior province of Human;
as we left the steamer and entered
the great gates of the ancient walled
city we say posters announcing the
evnngellalic meetings on the very no-
tlca boards whore a few years ago
hung posters to KIN The Foreign pev4
ill.,. who had come 90 make medicine
out Of the eyes Of their kidnapped
children. Here fourteen, or even four
years ago. wc would have beou driven
out BY angry moha,
u shall never forget The scene on
the second day. After hard hitiing
on the bribery. graft and dishonesty
of HE officials aud merchants, aud
of the students, aa the
lcause Of Chlna's present weakness, we
had expected falling Off In the at
tendance. Nearly half an hour before
the time Of the lecture, however the
doors had 20 be closed. We round
over three thousand studenis crowded
In the hail, and five hundred were
gathered outside IA an overflow meet
Ing addressed by ono of the mission
aries our subject was The Hone OF
China We asked the students "
they Ind anything that could save
their country and make honest otfl-
clais, merchants ANA students. bnt