The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1921-07-27
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and women who have laborcd for
over one hundred years in taking
Christian ideals to the people there
Chinese Christians are today the
most hopeful sign Of change They
are setting the standards of the ma
ton.
The following are some of the out
standing causes which have helped
within the past few years to awaken
China:
The China Japanese war, which
made her realize her weakness as a
fighting power and which cost her
The presentation to the Empress
Dowagcr by the Christian women of
the world, and the interest which
it aroused in the palace and the in
flucncc which it had upon the young.
Birthdays in China are great days
indeed, especially after fifty years.
The Empress was to celebrate her
siNticth birthday. Preparations were
made year ahead. New roads were
laid down and great sums of money
were spent to celebrate this. The
Christian women decided that the only
thing they could do was to present
her with copy Of the Scriptures, so
they got together small sums of
money and sent it to China as a gift
from the women of the world. New
type were used to print this and the
best Of paper was obtained. It was
bound in silver and then placed in a
red plush case. This was then put in
a sandalwood box and finally placed
in pine box. This gift was sent to
the British and American foreign
bureaus and was finally presented to
the Empress. The Chinese are fond
OF ceremony. This gift was then
opened in the presence Of the En-
press. They took off the cover and
outside box at signal and came tc
the Sandalwood box. Sandalwood is
this was opened, thyc found the red
plush. Red is the Chinese happy
color. At weddings, birthdays and
other celebrations, red is the color
used for decorations. All this had
a meaning to the Empress and she
understood it. Out Of the plush
case came the silver case containing
the Bible, and, opening it, she saw
that it was a gift from the Chris
tlan women Of the world. Could they
nave given her more precious
gift? Before the next day had pass
ed, the young Emperor had sent
and procured ii copy of the New
ana ola Testament and everyone in
the palace became interested Even
the vegetable vcnders coming to the
palace were questioned. The young
emperor was very much influenced
and this is shown by the reform
edicts, and how, following these, the
Boxer uprising developed and
brought to the palace another shock
fro mthe arms Of the outside world
The educational reforms gave
China new system of schools to
take the place of the mcmoriZine
Of the, classics. Their system is now
one of the best. Then the fearful
curse of opium and foot binding
were thrown off, both the direct
work of missionary effort.
Next followed the granting Of n
constitution and the formation Of
local self government organizations,
many of which did good work.
In 1911 came the Revolution and
the establishment Of the Republican
form of government, at least nomi-
nally. Graft, corruption, party
strife, and the sclfshncss of the
leaders have done much to hinder
progress, but education is making a
Roadway and there are few good
men in the government who are
trying to hold things together
one OF the most hopeful signs of
today IS the student movement. The
educated young men and women
nave begun to express their ideals
ana their hopes and to agitato for