The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1919-11-06
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.
II began with the desire Of a pro.
gressive young Chinese doctor to give
his compatriots, especially the Chris.
tians, some healthtul 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 woln'
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 a good
time with each other was discouraged
and shifted at, However, few people
agreed to he pioneers in the cause OF
social intercourse, and Y. W. c. A. Sec
retarles agreed to help make the club
a success.
At first the meetings OF the cluf
were laughed at by outsiders and thu
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 o
strangeness at starting out with thel
wives on Tuesday evening for
friends home. The women began t
enjoy the outing and to take part Il
the dlscusslons-an intelligent part
too-much to the surprise Of their hus
bands.
The membership grew, The club
fame began to spread. AT first the di'
cussions Of the club were conducted |
English. Soon 1t became necessar
for them to be carried on In Chimes
50 that more of the women could III
derstand and take part. Many of tt
scoffors began to apply for admission
The members began iadulging in mu(
friendly chatting and occasionally 70
rot their dignity to play jokes on OF
another. Finally It Became so lari
that 1t had to be divided into two Sc
: tons, which met separately thr
Tuesday evenings in the month and I
the fourth Tuesday met together for
Joint session, with a special progra'
Students Just returned from Anne
can and German colleges, an old Bu
J. dhlst scholar Who Is particularly int
d ested In the discussion on Buddhis
o and Christianity, merchants, ra'Iro
), and government officials compose t
3. mems side Of the room. The won
j. are still bit shy about talking
u. front OF so many people, but many
them slow signs Of great execut1
D. ability and power Of leadership. III
N are all we'll poised, clear thinking In
D. vldtals, who will have a great mi
ls ence on China's future. They DISC
d among themselves group meetings
their various churches, the lack
NJ amusements for Chinese women, sot
h. service work, subscription lists TOR
NJ orphanage, cake making, types
fl stoves, baby diets, the latest ensa
W. ment and other topics such as
NJ would hear discussed by a group
% women gathered together any place
. America.
The social part Of the evening Is
en- over to games, which At
lie .,tound the sober Chinese eent'en
ii, but which they take up with great :,
y, after the first evening. And u
' ~, wives enjoy 1t Just as greatly:
Oh Real American picnIcs are the IA
tut thinr which the club has tried,
,ut thew are a great success, A Christ
in. play is being planned now.