Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-12-09
Rev. and Mrs. Coonradt OF Shan
tung, China Address Large Aud
ience at Presbyterian Church
SPENT PAST EIGHT
YEARS In THAT COUNTRY
People Are Told of Chinese Gus
toms and Entertained by Songs
Rendered in Chinese Language

Wednesday evening at the Presby-
terian church large number of peo.
pie was entertained by interesting ad-
dresses given by Rev. and Mrs.
Coonradt, who are engaged as mis-
sionaries in Shantung, China. The
speakers have been engaged in this
work for some time and have spent
eight years in China. Last evening
they, with their little daughter, Miss
Grac.a Jane, appeared in Chinese cos
tune. Also they sang songs and Off
cred prayer-thase in The Chinese
language. Then Miss Gracia sang the
children's hymn, Jesus Loves Me" in
the foreign language.
-Shantung Sacred Province
Rev. Coonradt spoke first. He told
of how the province of Shantung was
considered the sacred province of the
Chinese republic for two reasons,
namely, that it was the center OF the
country and that it was the old CAPT
raj 0f Chinese civilization. The speak
er said that the city of Kiaochow in
Shantung was really the key to the
country and up to short time ago,
this city was held by Germany. Then
Japan seized it and built temples
there in which to worship. But all who
worshiped there must worship as the
japanese demanded This caused a
sort of religious war.
In China the Methodist church has
one large missionary station and the
Presbyterian church has nine sta
tions. The station in which the Coon
radts are located controls a popula-
tion of three million people. There are
no hospitals, except those maintained
by Christians.
Travel BY WhekIbarrow
The Chinese do not travel by auto
as Americans do, but in what is
known as a wheelbarrow This is
not like our wheelbarrow. 1t is a sort
of cart with one large wheel in the
center; this wheel is boxed in and a
place is built on either side of it for
one person to sit. Then this contri-
vance is pulled by donkey and push
ed by man. Another curious custom
OF this foreign country is that no one
may ride his animal through the
streets Of town or village. To do so
is considered, by the natives, to be a
disgrace to the rider and also to the
animal
Chinaman as Cook
Mr. and Mrs. Coonradt employ
Chinaman as cook The latter was
converted to the Christian belief some
time ago and when the natives want
to really know what the Christian re-
ligion is, they go to the Chinese cook.
Nevertheless they also go to hear the
talk.
The speaker also told the story Of
a very wicked man who owned three
shops in which he sold opium and
liquor. This man was finally convert
ed and turned over the shops to be
made into boys school, girls
school and chapel.
Mrs. Coonradt told of the home Gus
toms of the people. She had shoe
belonging to girl seventeen years
old. The shoe measured about five
inches in length. This was because as
a little child, she had had her feet
bound The speaker told of how the
cries Of these little girls were heard
in the night.
Mrs. Coonradt also spoke Of how
those who have been converted al
ways beg for more prayers and bible
verses whenever a missionary calls
She said, too, that prayer was the es-
sential thing to save China and the
world.
Many Souvenirs Shown
After the benediction, which was
pronounced by Rev. Rademacher all
were invited to examine the souvenirs
brought from China. These included
idols, flags, shoes, overshoes, a purse,
an incense stick, a bow and arrow,
lady's headdress, chopsticks, spear, a
"Boxer" knife and many other things.
The Coonradt family expects to
leave next August to return to their
work in China.