The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-07
America Is Best Beloved
Country In China, Says
Returned Missionary

guage only the educated attempt
English.
HELP RICH AND POOR
! while we have the sons of the off
Gals of the city, we also have indus
trial classes for poorer people So
that we really think the Christian in
/ fluence is reaching the need of people
as a whole"
In the membership of Grace church
will be found many poor people, to-
! gether with the gentry and leading
officials of the city. A great many of
! the latter who are not Christians, have
contributed $4,000 toward the erection
of a big church, because they see the
good we are doing.
1T is on the same principle that
many people in this country contribute
I toward some community service, who
realize its merit, without being person
ally interested.
Among my church members now, Is
one of the most profound Buddhist
philosophers in China Mr. Yang Liam
Kong. His interest began when he as
sisted the work of our orphans home.
The humanity of it appealed to him,
and in rendering assistance he became
associated with Christians. He began
studying the Bible and lives of the
missionaries merely as matter of in
formation, afterward accepted the
!
| Grace church This Is an example or
the convert who comes from the higher
welks of life" said Mr.. Patterson.
| 'As example of conversion among the
poorer classes, we might consider the IN
| fluence of Kong Papa. Papa, in Chlnese'
| is term of respect Cor a poor person
who is not illiterate, or for one who has
been prosperous, but has lost his high
estate. 1t is used somewhat like we use
the term Uncle" for Il respectable old
colored man.
| Kong Papa was 4 prosperous mer-
chant until he began taking opium, when
he was finally reduced 20 beggardom. A
Chinese preacher found him in his rags
won him to Christ, and saved him from
the opium habit
NEW CHAIRMAN OF BOARD
| HE accumulated mercy again, became
a prosperous merchant, and is now chair
man of the board of stewards of Grace
church.
| Eat service one evening so the story
ran that Mr.. Patterson told, Kong Papa
told his experience, which was followed
! by a sermon on Belief in Jesus Many
| beggars were just outside and inside the
church, when some one called to them
| Even the poorest may come
| Upon hearing this, enc of the wrecks
of humanity, with streaming eyes and
| bent FORM made his way to the front and
said: Does that man mean that the lke
of me may come to this friend he tells
aboutT
I'm flash Kong papa, clad in silken
robes and jewels rare, with every marx
1 Of the gentry in his bearing, rushed To-
ward the beggar, and, srasping his hands
exclaimed: Certainly, they may. 1 was
in the depths as you, and l could not save
myself. Through his guidance and con-
tinued interest the heggar accepted the
Christian faith"
How wonderful, Mr.. Patterson, to tell
the old old story to people who nave
! never heard it, 1t must be like giving a
! child his first glimpse of hero, except
more real" said Mr. Patterson.
] "You know, the Chinese are the gentlest
of people, Many of them are profoundly
| observation-disclosures Of the highest or
der"
do you think the Shantung decision
will awaken the leIhargy of people Of
such wonderful heritage, to the modern
DEVELOPMENT of their capacity, such as
opening mines, building railroads
THE SHANTUNG SETTLEMENT
| srThe Chinese, since the peace con-
| ference and awarding of Shantung 10
the Japanese, have become vividly
aware of what before they had felt"
| answered Mr. Patterson, that the
|
| capturing the whole country.
| '"There is no evading the conclusion
! he declared 1.-The japanese excel the
Germans in peaceful penetration. and
lin capturing a country by trade. In
the Shantung case, Japan has. Macbeth
like, gone too far. She has aroused the
Chinese thoroughly to the danger they
| are in.
'HThe reply of China to the Shantung
decision was the student movement.
| This is wisely led organization of
element of those Of modern education.
Their programme is to develop China
economically and politically, along con-
| stitutional lines, so they can throw off
| Japanese power and become coordinate
with Great Britain and America. The
| student movement to boycott Japanese
goods is still in effect, and, to be very
| conservative, has reduced Japanese
trade in China so per cent.
'In addition to the boycott" con-
tnued Mr.. Patterson, 'the organization
is undertaking to produce in China that
which was formerly purchased Twenty
cotton mills have been ordered recently
| from America to manufacture thread
that has heretofore been bought from
Japan. 1t now seems the Chinese will
| organize their own industries in army
and navy, so probably Japan has taken
her first step toward determination.
TT seemed almost pathetic to me in
| Columbus at the centenary the way
! the Chinese students look up to Amer
ica," said Mr.. Patterson.
AMERICA LOVED BEST
| do they think so well of us in China?"
| america is the best loved country in
China" he fastened to reply THAT is
the reason this is the supreme moment
not only for missionary development but
for American trade. America is not slow
to realize this either over 100 new
American firms have opened in Shanghai
within the last year. There is magnifi-
cent opportunity for trade between
America and China. The countries are
about equal in size and resources, at
opposite ends of the earth, and are nat
ural friends in trade.
But the La Toilette seaman's bill has
taken American trade on the Pacific,
sewed 1t in a bag and handed it to the
Japanese. American shipping companies
working under this bill cannot possibly
compete with Japanese, British and other
countries which have no such restraint
Everybody appreciates the govern
ment's efforts to take care of labor"
said Mr. Patterson, land It is earnestly
hoped some method may be devised to
meet conditions on the Pacific. Otherwise
the whole trade of that vast ocean will
finally go to Japan and Great Britain.
1.-The Chinese are our friends" con-
cluded Mr.. Patterson. "They have what
America needs, and we have what they
need. The greatest need of China today
is young business men who will devote
themselves and their means to high pur-
poses as laymen do in this country"