China -1913 news items

The 1913 Primitive Methodist Magazine contains two news items relating to thoughts of establishing Primitive Methodism in China. Transcriptions of the articles are given below.

Transcription of report published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine (i)

Our readers will remember that a Chinese evangelist is supported by gifts from our people in this country. His nameis Wang-teh-i, and Mr. A.F. Scott, of Norwich, to whom this new departure is mainly due, read an interesting letter from him. It was in Chinese, but happily a translation accompanied it. The letter stated that there were twenty scholars in the school and twenty inquirers, and that the evangelist longed to open up work in districts beyond where as yet nothing is being done. We hope this tentative movement may lead the way to a regular Primitive Methodist Mission in China.

Reference: Primitive Methodist Magazine 1913/24

Transcription of report published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine (ii)

The request of the Chinese Government that the Christians throughout its dominions should make the 27th April a day of prayer for the Republican Parliament, the President about to be elected, and the peace and prosperity of the country, is one of the most astonishing events in modern history. We have no doubt the ten thousand Protestant Churches of China complied with alacrity and fervour with the request. In this country both Church and Chapel gladly offered earnest prayer for the objects above named. The motive prompting the request may have been mixed, as are most human motives; but it would be difficult to over-estimate the significance of the event. 

The change that has made such a thing possible would a year or two since even have seemed impossible. The Christians of China are a mere drop in the bucket of her 400,000,000 of people; but the impression they have made on the Government and people of China must have been immense. But the significance of the event lies in the possibilities to which it points. The impact of Western science and civilisation on the Chinese is rapidly causing their ancient faiths to crumble. In Japan already the results are manifest in a growing laxity and agnosticism. What are we going to put in the place of the ancient religions of China—Buddhism, Confuscianism and Taoism? That is the question for the Churches. 

There is to-day not only an open door such as would have filled the hearts of Morrison, Griffin John, and Hudson Taylor with unspeakable gladness, but a crisis of enormous magnitude. China Christian will be a force for good in Asia such as the world has never seen. China Agnostic may become a force before which even Western civilisation itself may go down in ruin. We have begun in a small and tentative way a mission in China. Is it not time we tackled the work in down-right earnest? If the seriousness of the situation were realised we should furnish the money necessary for this work within a month. We are well able.

Reference: Primitive Methodist Magazine 1913/502