1
October 29, 1906.]
REVIEW.
Griffith John. The Story of fifty years in China. By R. WARDLAW THOMPSON London. The Religious Tract Society. Price 7/6 net. A capital summary of the main events in the history of the China Mission Field has been put together in this volume, The work of the pioneer of the Central China Mission is narrat. ed in a simple and effective style which should make this brok a useful addition to the library of affairs Chinese. In its early parts the account is auto-biographical and the remainder of the narrative is from the pen of the Forsign Secretary of the London Missionary Society So great, however, has been the nga made of Dr. John's own letters and reports that the sub-
stance of the entire volume is in effect anto. biographical. The narrative begins with Dr. John's early life and training for the ministry, and without showing partisan feeling
many controversial points the author proceeds to collate a straightforward and direct account of the leading events in the story of the beginnings of missionary work in Central China, which is bound up with the life of Griffith Jobu. Boru at Swansea, in 1831. "little Gito
was brought up in a religions atmosphere and at the age of eight years joined the church and six years later preached his first sermon.
In 1850 he entered Brecon College and comparatively early in his training the desire arose in his heart to become a mis- sionary. He first fixed upon Madagascar as a
suitable field of labour, but subsequently the
London Missionary Society intimated that ther desired him to turn his thoughts to China. He complied with their requests and sailed for Shanghai in 1855. It was not long ere he found that while the infinence of idolatry on the general mind was superficial that of Confucianism penetrated the depths of the Chinese souls, entwined itself around their thoughts and Affections, and held them with a tenacious grasp. The chief obstacle, however, to the spread of Christianity in ('hina was the custom of ancestor worship, while the natives were sunk in cross materialism and eaten up both soul and body by the world. The work moved very slowly, and we find that after two years in the country Dr. John expresses himself as sometimes ready to give up in despai and think that China is doomed to destruction." A large portion of his time he devoted to the study of the language and books, and made repeated journeys into the interior, often in company with the late Dr. Edkins throughout his missionary career. Dr. Jolin has shown an eager willingness to press on to new enterprises, and amongst his journeys we find that he visited the headquarters of the Taining rebels at Nanking. He found that the religious element entered very powerfully into the revolutionary mora- ment and that the rebels entertained most friendly feelings towards foreigners. They were, however, "treated by us and our allies, the French, in a way that reflects disgrace on our flag.
53
The year
1861 found Mr. John still unsettled
to £8
his permanent location 88 8 missionary. The two great cities of Suchow and Hangchow he had visited again and again, while Ninchwang had also been suggested to him. But when the Treaty pf Tientsin osme into full operation in 186 and the Yangtse and bine new ports were thrown
open Mr. John decided to settle at Hankow.
Hitherto his work had been largely that of pioneering and he was now determined to proceed with teaching, training, consolidating and building up. For twelve months the mission of the London Missionary Society was the only representative of Protestant Chris- tianity in Hankow and the whole of the province of Hupeh. In 1862 the Wesleyan Missionary Fociety sent a missionary to the city, and he was followed two years later by a second. The early days of the mission were a time of great and permanent importance, and the energy and enterprise of the yenng missionary were so constant and tireless that ere long the sphere of labour was being developed and ex- tended. A medical mission was firmly established in the city and a school for western learning opened. We find that throughout the whole of his career Mr. John maintained the practice of making evangelistic tours in the district, and the bright descriptions of Chinese life and
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
character which are introduced in so many of his letters make most fascinating reading. For fifteen years he remained in China without a change and when at length he arrived in England there were many demands upon his time so that it is not surprising to find that his strength gov› way. His furlough was extended; but Dr. John was anxious to return to the field of his labours where work rapidly grow and influence w dened. The dreams of his years were being fulfilled one by one, and ere very long a strong mission in Central China had been firmly established, the Gospel had been carried from Hankow through Bunan to the borders of Canton, and an important educatiqual institution in connection with the mission had been inaugurated. But Dr. John remained at his post a distinguished and zealous worker.
amazing And exerting an
far reaching influence by the work of his pen and spreading the knowledge of Christianity by the power of the living voice.
and and
or
can
to
Dr.
11
297
Dock can show a gain of nearly Tls, 100,000 for the past year the first of its existence, while there has always been more work offered than could possibly be accepted owing to the present circumscribed limits of the Dock yard. Ever since the inauguration of the new régime, with the exception of a few weeks' stoppage caused by the inundatious last year, there have, at any one time been no less than ten vessels on an average undergoing repairs at the hands of the Dockyard people-which, under the circum. stance, appears to be pretty good.
PROPOSED MATCH TRUST.
A NEW COMPANY.
The vice-president of the Diamond Match
of Company, America, had an interview on Oct. 15th with Mr. Morita, Director of the Commercial and Industrial Bureau, at Tokyo, to discuss the proposed Japanese-American match trust.
According to Japanese papers Baron Shibusawa, Mr. Doi Kametaro, and others are forming a large match-making concern with a capital of Y6,000,000, to be subscribed by Japanese and Americans. Japan has a vast field in which to extend her match trade, which according to the vernacular papers includes Europe, America, Africa, and the South Sea Islands. The present system of manufacture, together with the competition seriously hinders the development of the industry, and it is with the new company is about to be formed. a view to eliminating these difficulties that
A Tokyo dispatch states that the arrival of the vice-President of the Diamond Match Company, has caused considerable commotion among match manufacturers in Japan, as he is believed to have in hand a scheme to form a trust of match-manufacturers in England, America and Japan. It is also stated that the Govern meat is again investigating a proposal to take over th industry as a Government monopoly.
MISCELLANEOUS,
"Two or three hundred cash a week," he wrote, "have a greater attraction to a Chinaman than the salvation of his soul." He realises that the conversion of Cathay is a task that is as difficult as it is certain. It will cost the Church her treasures, the colleges their brightest ornaments, and the missions the lives of their best men." The difficulties with which they are confronted are to be found in the rastness of the field, the vastness of the population, and the antiquity and civilisation of the Chines John alludes to the “selfish and ucaristian conduct" of the British government in respect to the opium trade, which he characterises as
blot immoral, and a foul on England's
says escutcheon,"
it speaks more eloquently
convincingly
the Chinese mind against Cristianity that the missionary doas
do for it. Still, he feels that if the "
open door policy could be maintained they would have everything to hops for aud nothing to fear, so far as the Protestant missions are concerned. Dr. John is an optimist of the most pronounced type, and, notwithstanding the violent attack: so frequently made ou missionaries by European writers, believes that there are glorious days for missions in China still to come. Saturate China with a knowledge of the arts and sciences, and secular learning of every kind he says; introduce railways, telegraphs and all our mechanical inventions and applianses, but without something to make them good, holy and happy the Chinese must ever remain the untruthful, dishonest, The deceitful, and impure pople they are. religions of Chins are powerless to accomplish this. The object of the missionary is not to It has now been definitely decided that Mr. make them skilful, more rich, more powerful, H. H. J. Gompertz, First Police Magistrate, but simply to make them holy and happy ever-shall act as Attorney-General on the retirement And this has been the lifework of the of Sir H. S. Berkeley, K.C., at the end of this "Father of the Central Chins Mission whose month. Mr. A. G. Wise, whom we previously influence in China for fifty yars must always mentioned as the probable successor, will retain remain closely associated with the awakening his present position of Paisue Judge. Mr. of the Empire. Thus it is that the story Gompertz, who attended at the Sessions yester- of his life has exceptional interest, for being day with a view to getting an insight into the closely interwoven with fifty of the most work, will take over his new duties on November fruitful and significant years in the modern 1st. history of China, it covers a period of transition which bas been as remarkable in relation to missionary work 88 to the general conditions of the Chinese Empire and the Chinese mind. The book of Griffith John's autobiography and correspondence makes up the record of a life unselfishly devoted to the benefit of his fellows, and testifies to the worth of the missionary besides revealing at once the difficulties, the dangers, the joys and rewards
more.
of his labour.
11
THE KIANGNAN ARSENAL DOCK.
Another Japanese died at Shanghai on October 16th as a result of injuries received in the affray with German soldiers on the night of the 13th inst. reported in our telegrams. In consequence, after a brief inquest, the five sailors from the German gunboat Iltis, already remanded, were brought up at the German Consulate and again remanded, under arrest, for trial by courtmartial.
•
The Central Government at Peking has sent intructions to the Viceroys a nd Governors of the various provinos of the Empire to send up without delsy a detailed statement to the num ber of mow of land in each province devoted to the cultivation of the poppy, the names of districts where it is cultivated; the quantity and quality produced annually; the annual revenue obtained by each provincial government in the shape of Customs duty and likin on raw opium; how much is consumed locally and how much is exported to non-producing provinces.
The Shanghai fire reported in a recent Daily Press telegram is attributed to the ignition of With reference to a statement which appeared part of the roof by a soldering stove while the a few days ago in a native local contemporary workmen were away for a meal. The building concerning the above institution, which was also is insured for about Tls. 60,000 in Hongkong translated in sɩms of the Foreign newspapers and Copenhagen companies. It is believed that at the time, we [N.-C. Daily News) are in a with the exception of the attics and third flood position to deny the pronounesment that the the building has suffered no structural damage, Kigangnan Dock had lost some Tls. 300,000 and that only these portions will have to be during the past year in consequence of which rebuilt. No windows had been put in so the
a new Manager had been appointed in the person wind played havoc with the flames when once of laotai Cheng Shih-han, the present Director the woodwork had caught. The N.-C. Daily of the Kiaugcan Arsenal. As a matter of fact News comments: This fire would seem to point under the superintendency of Admiral Sah and to the danger of centralisation of the cable the capable management of Captain Y. F. Wa, offices here, for serious interruptions in the both of the Paiyang Imperial Navy and experts service would have ensued had the whole of the in their profession, the books of the Kiangnan offices been burnt out.
€