The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
Brings Message of Hope
From Chinese Missions
Br cARoLYN \. ELLrorr

hail from one of the oldest cities OF
China; one OF the nine earliest named
cities in Chinese history, where Marco
Polo once resided as governor.
Marco Polo-where did / meet him
1 wonderd- "Oh. yes. twas in my history
long. long ago. So long ago. in fact, that
had almost forgotten the gentleman
who lived a great many years before
my history dreamed OF saying so.
Marco Polo" was the reply that
finally emerged from so many dark
ages" Certziniy--It was because he lived
in Yangchow and wore medals OF honor
and wrote SO many nice things about
China that Columbus several centuries
hafer planned to stop there route to
India but 10 bumped into a new world
and upset an his plans, didn't he. DR..
AncelI7'
DR.. Ancell agreed that he really did.
and we both decided we we're glad Marco
Polo lived in Yangchow and that he in
spired Columbus to travel far enough not
OF the beaten track to find a home for
us. And when I wondered provincialIy
how anybody could leave such happy
home as America to live in Yangshow,
even il it was Marco Pofo's old. stamping
ground. DR.. Anceil expressed the same
love for China that my ears had grown
accustomed to hearing from Miss Vfr-
gina Atkinson. DR.. and Mrs Patterson
AND other missionaries who have been
ITO America and to Birmingham recently
on fur.ough.
WENT FIRST TO SHANGHAI
81 didn't go direct to yangehow from
America" explained DIR. Anceli Under
the auspices OF the Domestic and For
eign Missionary society OF the Episcopal
church / went first to Shanghai whore
spent three years, then six years in 500
chow, and the past IL years in Yang
chow"
It was while in Soochow that DR.. An
cell in 1902 established the Soochow acad-
envy, which is now recognized as one of
the leading high schools of the Episco-
pal mission in that section. Here, too.
he met Mrs AnceH, who, at that time.
was physician in charge OF the TooIer
Memorial hospital of the Northern Pres
byterian-e Church. And since 1908. when
DR. Ancell was sent by the bishop TO
open work in ..orth Kiangsen. he has
been located in Yargchow, where he is
now rector OF Emmanuel church and
principal of the AIahan school he estab-
lished. With the help of Mrs. Ancelt.
who. in addition to her duties as teacher
in the school, mas done remarkable uedi-
cal and social work among Chinese
| women, an influence has spread through
that section that will tell in the new
China that is eagerly adopting Christian
ideals and western standards.
The two potent factors OF this new
! civilization of the giant that is awak-
| ing" are Christian education and the
ministry to the physical man through
properly equipped hospitals While Mr..
and Mrs. Ancell, who represent these two
| factors OF the new world to thousands OF
| people in the old, were talking so quietly
to me about the work in which they are
! interested. remembered the bold type
of a leading American secular magazine
in headlines that challenged: You May
Think that the American Ambassador
Represents the United States in the Far
East, but Does lie Do So? You May Be
| Surprised When You Read This Now,
il you ever chance to read this story of
Henry James Forman about China
called And Forty-five Missionaries"
you will be Impressed By this statement
among others. with regard to his visit to
/ the Orient:
STANDING OF MISSIONARIES
Being of curious and inquiring tenn
per-" Mr.. Formans story ran, II deter
mined to seek some knowledge as to the
standing and accomplishments of mis-
sionaries in the Orient" And Mr. For
mans conclusion, as an eyewitness
Here it is, quoted verbatim:
| 7 concluded that any one of the large
| missions in these ORIENTAL countries ac-
complishes, 50 far as concerns American
| standing and prestige more than all
other diplomatic representation there put
| together. I do not believe it to be an
/ evaporation to say that for the Orient
the missions are perhaps the only use
| ful form OF what is called diplomatic
| representation.
And let me say at once" the story as
sured, that I am putting wholly % one
side the primary object OF the mission
ary's presence there-that IA, the religion.
object am speaking exclusively or the
general service to civilization in cduca-
tions cleanliness. nsedicine-in bringins
1 hope and aspiration where there is dr-
lection and indifference. and III actually
lifting up the hearts of the people,
Along the same lines with Mr. Fcrrlan
ip another secular magazine (ia.ner's)
of the same n,cnth. DR. Gcerre e Vim
cent. president ~ the Rockefeller Foun-
dation, in an article on Americas f;p-
portunity for Service in China" states:
"a large part 81 credit fo- educational
progress of China is due to example set
4 by a, system OF schools and colleges ass b.
lished throughout The country hv mission
airy societies. More than four million nec-
pie are now enrolled Orlx beginning
full OF promise fer new China.
THE MAHAN SCHOOL.
As n part OF thss beginning among the
400 900 go people cf China is Mahar cne
or the leading high schools in the I<ans-
sen province, nnrth of the Yangste rivsr
with y patronage that extends fror
Marixsden on. tho borders of Manchuria
to British NORTH Rorneo. on the SOUTH
Our school cmpha sizes especially th'
teaching of Enclish.'. reminded the prin-
cipal DIR. Ancell. The name 'Mahan, II
Chinese characters means Americo-Chi
nese school. Yet because onlv the cdu
Gated classes are ready TO study Engitsa
he have afiliateG with Mahnn. an sxce''
lent Chinese school that offers instrn =
ton to pupils al the low rate OF 10 Gems
term. This amount is charged in ordsl
not to rauperize the poorer students. ane
the school offers opportunities for ar'ni
tious bows to gain scholarships into Ma
han English school, A diploma from Ma
ham will admit the student to any uni
versitv Of China without examination
There is never any difference j
charges At Mahar to Christian and non
christian students" continued Dr. An
CELL ''And although it is true that nc
more than three boys Of the school wer'
reared in Christian families. more tina,
4 80 have become Christians in the last few
wears. and our graduates have taken cx
/. cellent positions in business
sThe high schools, more than any othe
institutions. supply the native clergy. aai
|, the Is young corgymen who have en-
. tered university recently. II have com
: from Soochow academy and Mahal
school
"The appreciation of the Chinese 10
, the work OF the missionaries is proven.
S said DR.. Ancell. from the fact that Ma