New Forces in Old China: An Inevitable AwakeningBrown, Arthur Judson
History
New Forces in Old China: An Inevitable Awakening
Brown, Arthur Judson
China -- Commerce; China -- Foreign relations; China -- Politics and government; Missions -- China
The experience of the Presbyterian mission at Chining-chou
is an illustration of what has occurred in scores of communities.
When Dr. Stephen A. Hunter and the Rev. William Lane tried
to open a station in 1890, they were mobbed and driven out,
barely escaping with their lives. But in June, 1892, the Rev.
J. A. Laughlin arrived and was permitted to buy property and,
in September, to bring his family and begin permanent residence.
There are hereditary bands of robbers in the neighbourhood,
and more than once they attacked the mission compound.
But gradually the peaceful purpose and the beneficent
life of the missionaries became known and active opposition
ceased. When the Boxer outbreak occurred, there were about
150 baptized adults, besides a considerable number of children
and adherents. During the troubles, only two of the Christians
recanted, the rest holding together and continuing regular services.
The mission property was undisturbed during the
whole period. It is true, the officials were friendly; but even
Governor Yuan Shih Kai's influence could not prevent some
loss in his own capital. In Chining-chou not a thing was
touched, a striking testimony to the friendliness of the people
towards the missionaries whom they had learned to love. As
I approached the city with the returning missionaries, a group
of thirty met us with beaming faces. For nearly a year, they
had been without a missionary and their joy at seeing Mr.
Laughlin was unmistakable. As we passed through the city to
the mission-compound in the southeast suburb, people in almost
every door and window smiled and bowed a welcome.
Nor was this cordiality confined to the Christians; many of all
classes being outspoken in their manifestations of respect and
affection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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