Smyrna times., 1919-11-05
CHINESE BECOME
SOCIAL PIONEERS
Men and Women Form Good FeI-
= .Iewship 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 a 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 thing was never heard
of In decent society.
The young Doctors plan Of having
a club where men and their wives
might come together to enjoy good
time with each other was discouraged
and shifted at However, a few people
agreed to be pioneers in the cause Of
social intercourse, and 7. W. G. A. Sec
retaFies agreed to help make the club
a success. ?
At first the meetings of the club
were laughed at by outsiders and the
whole affair considered q 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
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 first 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 women could IN
derstand and take part. Many of the
scoffers began to apply for admission.
The members began indulging 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 Gee
tions which met separately three
Tuesday evenings In the month and on
the fourth Tuesday met together for a
joint session, with a 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 the
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 well poised, clear thinking indi-
viduals, who will have a great influ-
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 Of
women gathered together any place in
America.
The social part Of the evening is CIV
en- over to games, which at first
astound the sober Chinese gentlemen,
but which they take up with great zest
after the first evening. And their
wives enjoy 1t just as greatly.
Real American picnics are the latest
thing which the club has tried, and
they are great success. A Christmas
play is being planned now.