Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1922-06-29
umber 50
REV. FRANK t. CARTWRIGHT
ADDRESSES LARGE AUDIENCE


| ADDRESSES LARGE AUDIENCE
In response to request from
Rev. R. O. McRae, pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal church, his
| former college classmate, and friend,
Rev. F. T. Cartwright, returned
missionary from China, delivered an
address in the opera house here
Sunday evening Some of the other
churches also dismissed their even
ing services in order that their con-
gregations might enjoy and profit by
Mr.. Cartwright's address, so there
was a large audience present. Mr..
McRae presided at the meeting, and
besides congregational singing there
were some special quartet numbers
by Messrs. H. c. Betz, F. N. Gray,
W. R. Sears and w. D. Danford.
Rev Cartwright who is the son-in-
| law of Mr.. and Mrs. c.. H. Morris
of this place, arrived here recently
with his family from China, and af-
ter a years furlough in this country
they expect to return to China to re-
sumo their work. They have spent
five years in that country, sometimes
known as the land of mystery Mr..
Cartwright said that in very pecu-
liar sense China is now "his coun-
try" as he expects to spend the
greater part of the remainder of his
life in pursuing work there.
He stated that he hardly knew
what line to take up in his address,
as the country is such an immense
one, with so many people, and the
subject is such a big one-there be-
ing so many phases of life connect
ed with the Chinese people, that one
might discuss if he knew them. His
work, he said, had been confined to
the northern part of the province
of Fukien, and the territory with
which he is most familiar and where
he has worked principally, is per-
haps about half the size of Pennsyl-
vania Their home is in Foochow.
The section where Mr.. Cartwright
is located is the one that is most
thickly settled with missionary
workers, and is rather a Christian
and educational center.
His theme, if he would take any
particular one, was "The Turning of
China" He referred to the handi-
caps of this people, chief among
them being illiteracy, as the great
mass of them can neither read nor
write, and in some cases persons re-
ceiving letters have had to make
their way to another village to get
some one to read the letters for
them, as they themselves were un-
able to read them or find anyone in
their village who could. One sees
much disease among these people,
a very common one being leprosy.
He said that if any have the idea
that China, the "old," has turned in
the main to the ''new," they are
mistaken. They are turning, to be
sure, but the evolution will take
generations yet to complete. He
referred to the fact that as one gets
farther away from the larger cities
into the villages and rural districts,
he sees the people conforming more
exclusively to the ancient forms.
Foot binding among the girls has
not been done away with, only in
! part. 1t is practiced quite extern
sively even yet. Also mothers sacri-
flee their babies to the gods. Super
stition and idolatry still hold their
sway, and these are the shackleS
that bind the people and from which
the Christian foreigner" who is
working among them, preaching and
teaching, is trying to release them,
through means of the gospel and ed
ucation. Centuries of inbred ideas
concerning their gods, and the
prevailing illiteracy of the people,
are to be overcome. The effort is a
noble one, smiled upon of God who
has commanded us to $50 into all
the world and teach the gospel to
every creature"
Mr.. Cartwright spoke of the kind
ness and hospitality of the Chinese
people, and of their marked and
never failing courtesy. They are
people of wonderful possibilities, as
the light of western civilization and
Christianity pours in upon them.
One of their changing views is in
their improved attitude toward the
women of the country.
Following Mr.. Cartwright's ad-
dress proper he had a number Of pic
lures thrown upon the screen giving
scenes in and about Foochow, con-
trasting views of the old and
modern methods of doing things by
the Chinese, and showing some of
their hideous gods. In referring
to the latter Mr. Cartwright said it
is no wonder it is hard to tear the
Chinese people from the idea that
these gods have unlimited power.
and that they must go through all
kinds of sacrifice and hardship to
appease them, since they are taught
from childhood to believe it and to
revere and fear them.