Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10
MISSIONS IN CHINA
SEEN ON NEW BASIS
Dr.. Ramsey Says, After Tur-
.;1oiI Subsidies, Natives Will
Promote Christianity.

Christian missions in China will he
on a new basis after the present tur-
moil has subsidized, with Chinese act
ing in executive capacities, IN the
opinion of DIR. Herbert p. Ramsey,
8l3 Massachusetts, avenue northeast
who returned last week from more
than four years duty at 500 CHOW
Hospital, so miles from Shanghai.
DIR, Ramsey was in charge OF oo-
stetrics and gynecologY at the hos
nital and was supported by the Ep-
worth Methodist Church, one of three
missionaries supported in distant
countries by that church. Today he
vi give a detailed account of his
activities to the local congregation.
I'm the past Christian institutions
have been administered by foreign
ers." DR.. Ramsey explained, but
there is a growing tendency to per-
init the Chinese to act as executives
with foreigners serving in advisory
capacities. When the missionaries are
willing TO accept this type OF Chinese
control a new day will dawn for
China, think"
Missionaries Get New View.
". Ramsey said that missionaries
%Lte beginning to realize that they
cannot expect to operate successfully
4 they continue to occupy dictatoriai
positions. There is a growing realiZa-
lion, also. he said, that Chinese can
not be taught set western forms OF
services, but must be allowed to ex-
press their religious concept in their
own ways.
In the past. he tated, schools. hos
ritals and other institutions estab
iished by mission workers had been
created with the primary objective OF
gaining converts, but the modern id
is not to operate such agencies for
the j. .-'"ose of gaining conve'+e but
for the "nason that the work. which
they do is important in itself.
The Chinese. he added, have become
quick to dis anguish between mat rial
advantages and the substance of re,
ligion. At first, religion was accepted
on account of modern lateral appli
ances which appeared to the Chinese
to be miracles wrought by religion,
but now that concept has been altered
he explained.
Schools and Hospitals Needed.
THE fact that there are people to
be educated and to be heale1 is reason
enough for the establishment and
maintenance of schools and ospitals, "
that they be used mainly as entering
wedges for the PRONUNCIATION f Chris
tianity."
The situation in China was char
acterized by DIR. Ramsey as funda-
mentally the clash of a new social or
der against an old social order. Eek.
ponents of the new order. he said
while numerically small are il. the
main we'll educated-some of them in
this country-and possess modern
training and ideas capable of spread
Ing rapidly.
There is a generally favorable i'm
preston among all classes, he said,
regarding Chang Kai Shek. military
general in command Of the Nationalist
army, and he expressed the opinion
that the nationalist movement will
mean ultimately the hope of China, al
though many mistakes will be made
during the necessarily loHg and pain
full process of establishing a perma-
nent,r stable government. Political
powers will rise and fall, but the main
idea of the movement will go on. he
prophesied.
Yangtsee Valley Becoming Quiet.
Conditions are quieter in the Yang.
tsee Valley, DIR. Ramsey stated. The
chief military problem lies in north
ern China, he said, where there are
indications that eventually Gen.
Chang Tso Lin, the "Manchurian war
lord" will agree to retire outside of
the great wall Of China and take up
his domain in Manchuria.
Already missionaries are beginning
to return to their fields, he said. al
though not to the far interior stations.
DIR. Ramsey was consecrated as a
medical missionary at Epworth
Church March 25, 1923. His wife and
3-year-old daughter Barbara, who
caught her first glimpse of this coun-
try when they landed last week, re-
turned with him. He indicated that
he may engage permanently in pri-
vate practice in this country.