The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-10-09
CHINESE BECOME
SOCIAL PIONEERS
Men and Women Form Good Eel.
Iowship Club Together Under
Y. W. c. A. Leadership.

The Good Fellowship Club has made
its appearance in society in Hangchow,
China.
1t began with the desire of q pro.
gressive young Chinese doctor to give
his compatriots, especially the Chris
tians, some healthful form Of social in.
tercourse.
Channels for a good, clean, social
life among Chinese people are very
limited. Until recently becoming a
Christian often meant cutting oneself
off from ones friends and relatives,
also from feast days and festivals.
AS for joint meetings Of men and wom-
en-well, such a thing was never heard
Of in decent society.
The young Doctors plan of having
a club where men and their wives
might come together Il enjoy a good
time with each other was discouraged
and shifted ut. However, a 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
q success.
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 II house and then at another.
Soon the men got over the feeling of
s~trangeness at starting out with their
wives on Tuesday evening for q
friends home. The women began to
enjoy the outing and to take part In
the discussions-an intelligent part,
too-much to the surprise Of their hus-
bands.
The membership grew. The clubs
fame began to spread. At frst the dis.
cussions Of the club were conducted In
English. Soon it became necessary
for them to be carried on in Chinese
so that more Of the ONE 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 or
the fourth Tuesday met together for 9
Joint session, with a special program
Students just returned from Ameri
a 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 tn,
mems side Of the room. The womel
are still a bit shy about talking II
front of 80 many people, but many o
them show signs Of great executive
ability and power Of leadership. The!
are all we'll poised, clear thinking indi
viduals, who will have a great infu
ence on China's future. They discuss
among themselves group meetings IL
their various churches, the lack o.
amuselnents for Chinese women, socia
service work, subscription lists for tn
orphanage, cake making, types O.
stoves, baby diets, the latest engage
ment and other topics such as on
would hear discussed by a group o.
women gathered together any place II
America.
The social part Of the evening is Civ
en- wei to games, which at frs
astound the sober Chinese gentlemen
but which they take up with great zes
after the first evening. And theil
wives enjoy it just as greatly.
Real American picnics are the lates
thing which the club has tried. ant
they are a great success. A Christmas
play is being planned now.