A LOST CAUSE?

Wairarapa Age, 18 March 1927, Page 5

A LOST CAUSE?

CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN CHINA. CONVERTS REVERTING TO OLD WAYS. BITTER ENMITY OF STUDENTS. (Received Thursday 7.30 p.m.) PEKIN, March 16. Missionary endeavour in China has reached a critical stage, possibly leading to its extensive curtailment. As a result of restrictions imposed by the Nationalists, several organisations are contemplating abandoning their work aD together unless the recently promulgated regulations of the Canton Government are amended. Representatives of foreign mission circles in Shanghai arc leaving for Hankow to negotiate remedial measures. The regulations, which become effective on April 1, basically demand that all institutions within the Kuomintang jurisdiction shall be placed under Chinese control, otherwise their doors will be closed. A movement is afoot among the different organisations to unite to resist. Some have already evacuated their establishments; others are readjusting themselves to meet the regulations. Moro than two thousand missionaries out of a total of eight thousand in China arc working in areas under Cantonese control. Many schools will be effectively eliminated by the new regulations, which specifically state that a Chinese must actively control them .as president, that the board of directors shall consist of a majority of Chinese, and that no private school shall be allowed to compel students to participate in religious exercises. Another regulation says that the instruction of Kuomintang policies and principles must be added to the curricula of private institutions, which must accept the orders of the party headquarters in observing a weekly memorial service for Sun Yat Sen and must participato in all mass movements. Further, funds must be deposited in a bank to be designated by the Education Department. IRRITATING REGULATIONS. The regulations, which are generally irritating, aim at undermining the foreign mission movement. Opinion in missionary circles in Shanghai is divided as to what steps to take. Some suggest quitting; others are reluctant to leave millions of pounds’ worth of property. The chief concern exists in American circles, three-quarters of which are suspended from their activities and are sheltering in coast Treaty ports. It is estimated that abandoned American mission property is valued at a hundred million dollar's. It consists of colleges, hospitals and homes, chiefly in Szechwan Province. A majority of the buildings have been, wrecked by mobs. They were originally built by contributions from" the United States. A majority of the missionaries are pessimistic regarding Christianity ever regaining its stronghold. The head of the largest United States mission said: “I doubt whether we will ever Christianise China. After centuries of effort and the expenditure of millions, I see only failure. As fast as Western ideas penetrate China, as fast do the Chinese seem convinced that their native religion is superior. Many Christian converts are reverting to Buddhism. Students educated in the United States are the most bitter foes of the Christian faith. On their return to China these preach the futility of spreading Christianity, and urge their compatriots to adhere to the aneient faiths. A majority of the recent anti-Chridtian riots were instigated by students. A wave of anti-Christianity has swept over tho ports, penetrating to the interior. Refugees from the latter assert that mobs incited by Cantonese agitators have started to run nut all foreigners. Five thousand missionaries, mostly British, have practically ceased their operations. Many missionaries are urging China be granted complete autonomy, hoping to gain prestige by a liberal attitude, but the best-informed people have doubts.”—(A. and N.Z.)