From 343 "student volunteers in China" comes an address to "the Christian student of all lands", in which we find this interesting paragraph: "We firmly believe that nowhere in the world can a Christian man of sound learning and humble spirit more easily discover his special bent, and having discovered it, whether as preacher, teacher author, physician, administrator or philanthropist, find more ample scope for his activities than among the missions of the Christian church in China." SOME INTERESTING FACTS.       "For practically the first time since the age of Confucius China has turned her face from the past. During two thousand years no place has been found for any learning outside of the Confucian Classics. They alone have been taught in the schools, and have formed the basis for the examination of graduates, while an intimate acquaintance with them has been the sole criterion of a scholar. Today the educational system is undergoing rapid changes. Western mathematics, science and history have been included by the Imperial Government amongst the subjects for examination, thus creating amongst many students a real desire to study these subjects. The central government is attempting to establish schools based on Western models in every city of the empire, and colleges in all important centers. Missionary colleges are crowded. During the past year more than one thousand picked students have been sent to Japan to learn from a country China has hitherto despised. Publications dealing with Western subjects are in eager demand, and have reached the very highest officials in the land. In 1900, when the Emperor's rooms were entered by the foreign troops, a large collection of such books was discovered, including copies of the Christian Scriptures. Newspapers, at one time almost unknown, are now being rapidly multiplied and are eagerly read throughout the empire. It is the circulation of such literature that has largely helped to create a widespread desire for reform, a desire which has shown itself so strongly that the most reactionary officials are unable to ignore it. The opening up of internal waterways to steam traffic, and the construction of railways, are also helping to break down the conservative spirit and to pave the way for still greater innovations. In every phase of the nation's life, and in every section of the country, the past five years have brought unmistakable evidences of a changing attitude of mind."
========== [From The Baptist Argus, April 21, 1904 p. 6; via Baylor U. digitized documents. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

---

More on China Baptist Missions
Baptist History Homepage