The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-16
WORD FROM NIPPS
Former WaShburn Student
Writes of Conditions in China.
Despite War, People Are Re-
spOnSive to Christianity.

Despite the fact that Christian
Europe has for more than a year been
engaged in war on a greater scale
than has ever before been attempted,
there never was a time in the history
of China when all classes were more
accessible and more responsive to the
efforts of Christian missionaries, &C
cor1ing to John Nipps, a former
Washburn student, who with Mrs.
Nipps is now in Tientsin, China, in
foreign mission work for the Young
Mems Christian Association.
Government schools that in the past
have been bolted and barred against
Christianity are now opening up and
giving missionaries free and friendly
access to their students, says Nipps in
a letter to friends in Topeka. A Strik-
ing example of the change that has
been wrought in China is seen at
Changsha. Five years ago in an up
rising against Christians in that city.
native Christians were killed, mission
aries driven from the country and
property destroyed. Lately, on the
ruins of schools destroyed during the
uprising, a school for girls, union
seminary and a fully equipped church
have been erected.
Surprise for Them.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Nipps came to
Changsha to take up their work in
the COVE rnment schools there, they
were aware that conditions had
changed during the past five years.
They feared, though, that the natives
could not be aroused to take an IN
terest in the work.
No greater surprise awaited them
anywhere. After the first meeting
| in Changsha,- which incidently was
one of the most successful that the
Nipps have held anywhere in China,
Mr.. Nipps asked the principal of the
school why he had given them an OPP
portunity to reach the students. His
reply came instantly: 81 know that
/ China is facing problems that she is
| utterly unable to meet and l know
| that these students have temptations
in their own lives that they are help
less to overcome. If Christianity has
any help for us we want it.
In All Parts of China.
Since going to China a little more
| than two years ago, Mr.. and Mrs
Nipps have had an opportunity t.
take part il: missionary work in vari-
Gus parts of that country. Before go
/ ing to Tientsin, n month ago, they
spent a year in Marking. A consider
! able portion of their time last winter
/ was occupied in studying the dialects
of the different provinces. Much ac-
tive work was done, however. and ar
unusual opportunity of coming into
close contact with the CHI istian WORK
of the city was afforded them.
A personal workers group at tbs
Union seminary, a Bible class for the
second year at the Middle school. and
participation in the organization of al
association at the same school, two
classes in English at the city associa
ton, work with Dadisman in getting
some boys work opened up in the cit.
for the first time in the thousands o
years in its history, participation il
the work of the student association
at the University of Marking, the or
ganization and training of tire usher
and personal workers committee 70
both the mems and women's evangel
istic campaign led by Mr.. and Mrs
, Eddy, and teaching two classes eacl
I day at one of the girls Schools wer
, some of the duties that occupied tn
, time of Mr.. and Mrs. Nipps from DC
! tober, 1914, to March of this veal
This was in addition to the hour
: spent in language study.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nipps and their youn
E daughter were sent. to Tientsin las
E September and immediately took u
t their work in the association there
Mr.. Nipps is a nephew of T.
r Nipps of Topeka, q member of tn
e county hoard of commissioners
a also has a number of relatives in Phi
r lips couEty-