The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-17
From a Chinese hamlet it grew under German rule to be a
thriving city Of 10000.

NJ peasant homes. and the breakup Of
an elaborate German system Of edu-
cation for chinese youths. were rem
dcred vastly more serious by the
worst floods Of forty years.
h annual rainy season in our Sec
ton Of the world comes between Jun$
and September. rendering the country
roads and districts well nigh impassa-
hle. The land has for ages been
of us forests. n when the
summcG downpour begins the soil l.,
unani" to absorb ~. the Hooded rivers
rush IN unrcstraIned fury against their
banks, eating through them. beating
them down. and then spreading them
selves in devastation and ruin far and
wide over peasant fields. The angry
waters gnaw the mud walls Of villages.
topping In" roofs upon the heads ut
the peop,c. and many drown and star\e
IN the wreck and chaos unless prompt
relief is given. for the fresh garncrcd
harvest, stored Tor the months to come.
Is destroyed I'm a day.
The German Government heretofore
mad rendered important assistance. II
mad kept lis railroad entertainments all
through the province in repair. and
a contributed generously To the suf-
f'rers and collected large sums -
money and foodstufs from the foreign
ana thinese merchants and had greatly
facilitated missionary distribution II
the amc In THE fateful summer Of
world war al, that assistance failed.
the rains fell, reminding one of the DAYS
"f Noah. the waters rose and covered
tn" fields stretching from the coast
westward 10 Wei Hsicn. half the length
or II province. The railway embark.
ment was destroyed for miles. with NJ
possibility Of repair 10y the Germans.
Tsingtao sat on her hills. cut of from
the province not only by the japanese
nut by the Hoods, and the Chinese
population. vast and dense all about on
mat fertile plain, rotted in their ex-
'rtinlty. The Government and the
MISSIONARIES were this time unable 10
help. And this condition is only n
incident of the economic arrangement
~'hinawide II worldwide. due 10 this
war, as irrational as wicked.
but there : something more ap-
Palllng than the unbridlcd rush of the
devastating flood and trade ruin the
nreak up of the native church in all
mat section. And be Il remembered
the cause of Christianity in Tsingtao
where Is located one of the newcs, sta
lions, has n distinction unique amonr
the missions Of China.
There in the German capital was a
prosperous native church, many of
whose members are college graduates.
men exceptionally able and influential
and exceptionally generous tithers. So
far as We have been able TO ascertain
il IL the only prominent church in
Chtna that has not received financial
aid from the mission with which II is
connected; that from its organization
mas been self-supportinG. self-goyern-
ing and self-propagating.
The men of this church have done
remarkable things, buying their own
land. erecting their own brick and
stone church building, paying their
taxes and making many improvements
Growth in membership has necessi-
tated twice charging the church build
ing, once doubling its seating capacity,
From the beginning they have called
'h''' W l'dSAbI, erecting u TWO story
manse for him. They have built tAcir
own Young Mems Christian Associa
ton building and called their own Y.
NJ, {. \. secretary. In addition they
have paid the salaries of an evangelist
and two Bible women, organized and
supported their " three schools and
built and manned two suburban
chapels, while contributing generously
10 mission work in the province.
Finer elders than constitute the Of.
dcrship of this church would he hard
To find in mission lands. one of the
elders. once "A begGar boy. is now the
owner Of city blocks. by his integrity
and remarkable reliability ne has Dor.
roWcd money for large enterprises a,
lower rates than other men could do
Quiet and ~unassuming, he possesses
the confidence and respect Of every
class of men and is widely known all
over China.
' He has adopted several children