The Republican journal., 1919-10-30
Chinese BEC0MF"
SOCIAL PIONEERS
wen and Women Form Good Fel-
'owsh'p Club Together Under
Y. W. c. A. Leadership.

Inc Good Fellowship Club has made
us appearance in society In Hangcbow
China. "'
1t began with the desire Of nro
gresslve young Chinese doctor to qtvo
MS compatriots, especially the Chris
tians, some healthful form of social in.
tercOurse.
Channels for a good. clean socia,
hle among Chinese people are very
llliilted. Until recently becoming q
Iii istiah otten meant cutting oneself
OH from ones friends and relatives
also from feast days and festivals
as lor JOINT meetings of men and wom-
el-Well, such thing was never heard
or IN decent society.
The young doctors plan of having
club where men and their wives
might come together TO enioy poos
time with each other was discoura ged
ana shifted at However, a few people
agreed to be pioneers in the cause Of
social intercourse, and Y. W. C. A. sec
Fetaries 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.
hfSt at one house and then at another,
Soon the men got over the feeling of
stfangeness at starting out with their
wives on Tuesday evening for a
trends 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 1t became necessary
for them to be carried on in Chinese
so that more of the women could m
derstand and take part. Many of the
scotfers 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 1t became so large
that it had to be divided into two sec
tons, which met separately three
Tuesday evenings in the month and on
the fourth Tuesday met together for
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 bit shy about talking i'll
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
giduals, who will have a great influ
ence on Chinas future They discuss
among themselves group meetings in
their various churches, the lack Of
amusemeuts for Chinese women, social
service work, subscription lists FOR the
orphauage, 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 it just as greatly.
Real American picDics are the latest
thing which the club has tried, and
they are 8 great success. A Christmas
play is being planned now.