The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-10-14
CHINESE BECOME
:. SOCIAL; ! Il PIONEERS
/! Il HIftj tfT
Men and Women Form Good Fel'
iowship Club Together Under
! Y. w. c. A. Leadership.

The Good Fellowship Club has made
IN appearance in society in HanEchow.
0ina.
IT began with the desire of a pro-
kressive young Chinese doctor to give
his eompatriots, especially the Chris
tdana. some 'healthful form Of social in
tercsurse
Channels for a good, clean, social
life among Chinese people are very
limited. Until recently becoming
Christian often meant cutting oneself
Of from ones friends and relatives,
also from feast days and festivals.
AZ for Joint meetings Of men and wom-
en-well, such thing was never heard
Of in decent society.
The young doctors plan of having
q club where men and their wives
might come together to enjoy q good
time with each other was discouraged
and shifted at. However, few people
agreed to be pioneers in the cause$of
social Intercourse, and Y. w. c. A. Sec
retaries agreed, to help make the club
atsuccess
At first the meetings Of the club
were laughed at by outsiders and the
whole affair considered a joke. How
ever, the members kept on meeting,
first at one house and then at another
Soon the men got over the feeling Of
strangeness at starting out with their
wives on Tuesday evening for a
friends horne The women began to
enjoy the outing and to take part in
the dlscusSions-an intelligent part.
too-much to the surprise Of their hus-
slantiS.
The membership grew. The clubs
fame began TO spread. At first the dis
r:ussiOnS OF the club were conducted in
English Soon it became necessary
for them to be carried on in Chinese
20 that more of the women could un-
derstand and take part. Many Of the
scoffers began to apply for admission.
The members began INDUCING in much
friendly chatting and occasionally for
got their dignity to play Jokes on one
another. Finally it became SO large
that It had to be divided into two Sec
lions, which met separately three
Tuesday evenings in the month and on
the fourth Tuesday met together for
joint session, with special program
Students just returned from Ameri-
can and German colleges, an old Bud
dhist scholar who is particularly inter-
ested in the discussion on Buddhism
and Christianity, merchants, railroad
and government officials compose tho
mems side of the room. The women
are still a bit shy about talking IN
front Of so many people, but many OF
them show signs Of great executive
ability and power Of leadership. They
are all we'll poised, clear thinking indl-
viduals, who will have great lnfiu-
ence on China's future. They discuss
among themselves group meetings IN
their various churches, the lack OF
amusements for Chinese women, social
service work. subscription lists for the
orphanage. cake making. types OF
stoves, baby diets, the latest engage
ment and other topics such as one
would hear discussed by a group or
women gathered together any place in
America.
The social part of the evening is CIV
en- over to games. which al nrSt
astound the sober Chinese gentlemen.
hut which they take up with great zest
sitter the first vcning. And their
wives enjoy it just as greatly.
Real American picnics are the latest
thing which the club has tried, and
sbev are n great success A Christmas
MAY is being planned now.