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WINNETKA TALK June 18, 1927 PAUL REYNOLDS SPEAKS ON CHINESE SITUATION Missionary for Winnetka Congre- gational Church Returns Home From Orient Editor's Note: The following two ad- dresses were given by Rev. Paul Rey- nolds, ame of the two foreign ministers of the Winnetka Congregational church, at the church in the morning and eve- ning services of Sunday, June 12. Rev. Reynolds has just returned from Fen- chow, Shansi, China, and will be in Win- netka again in September. Morning Service May I bring to you all, children, young people, and older folks, the . greetings and sincere best wishes of the people in Fenchow? Perhaps you would like to have me give you their greeting in Chinese as they said it to me. They asked me as we were leav- ing Fenchow to tell you about the present problems and difficulties of China and to ask for your sympathy, understanding and help. You may know that China is now in difficulties which are a great deal like our own country had at the beginning in 1776. Just as at that time we were fighting to free ourselves from a for- eign power, so now China is waging what may be called war to get rid of the foreign control of her territory, her tariffs, etc. However, in China there is a further complication. They are really having two wars at once. Just as in 1860 our country fought a great war between the North and South, so in China today there is a civil war going on. In spite of the fact however, they have these two great problems, they will gradually win out and China will have a free and democratic government patterned in a great measure after our own American government. The three main things which the Nationalist armies are now fighting for in China are: first, for national freedom; second, for national unity; third, for a better life for the common people. * Relates Stories May I tell you two or three stories this morning which will help you under- stand why it is that we have come to care so much for our Chinese neighbors? In our Mission Station in Fenchow we have a little old ramshackle Ford which was given to us by the Red Cross en- gineers after the building of the motor roads in 1921. One day a bunch of us piled into the car and were driving out to a little valley about eight miles from Fenchow for a picnic. On the way we met a man coming to town leading a mule. Seated upon the animal was his wife with a baby in her arms. The mule was also carrying panniers or side baskets. In the one there were some packages and in the other a little boy about four years old. We slowed up for fear the mule would be frightened. How- ever, since it manifested no fear we started on again. Then, just as we passed them the animal suddenly began to act up. It kicked and reared and breaking away from the man, dumped the woman and the baby, the bundles, packages and the little boy all over the embankment and went racing away. We stopped the car and rushed back terribly frightened for fear someone was seriously hurt. Some farmers came running up from the fields. Now you might have expectéd them to be very angry with us for causing such a serious mishap-- driving our foreign old ramshackle Ford out through the country. However, in- stead of trying to lynch us they helped the woman to her feet, picked up the little boy, two of them went off with the man to catch the mules, and they said to us, "You folks go right on, there is no serious damage here and you are in a hurry, so don't bother to wait." I ask you fairly, was that not a real mani- festation of the finest kind of gentleness of spirit? Collides With Farmer Upon another occasion I was riding down from this same valley on my bi- cycle. The grade runs down very steep- ly, and for about four miles we can coast without pedaling at all. I was coming down this long incline at high speed one day when ahead I saw an old farmer. I began to ring my bell and whistled hoping that he would get out of the way. He failed to hear me how- ever, and in a moment I was upon him. I turned out to go around him, but just at that moment he heard me and made a dive for the same side of the narrow trail that I was taking. I struck him square in the back and knocked him about ten feet, going over him myself, bicycle and all. We began to pick our- selves up, bruised and skinned, and I said in true American style, "What's the matter, are you deaf? This unlet- tered old Chinese farmer made me so ashamed of myself that I wanted to sing into the ground, by responding, "I am sorry I did not hear you coming." These are mere samples of the kindly and friendly way which this people have. Even the most unlettered are apt to be followers of Confucius, who so long ago counselled them not to do anything to others which would be unpleasant to one's self. Last fall, Timothy Cheng and I were out on the mountain trails visiting some of our churches. Cheng is a graduate of Boston University and I was not ab- solutely sure how he would stand the hard going of the mountain trails. I need not have worried, however. One day we were going up a steep and rocky bit of trail when glancing ahead I saw Cheng just in the process of falling backward off his mule. The back saddle girths had slipped or broken and Cheng in grabbing to keep himself from falling succeeded in pulling the mule over back- wards on him. Down they went, mule, bedding, pack boxes, and Cheng, with Timothy on the bottom. I was afraid that he was seriously crushed if not actually killed. I jumped off my animal and ran toward him. The mule driver came running also and we both pulled the struggling animal off and were delighted to find Cheng had no serious damages. Just cut up a bit, but no bones were broken. Very luckily he had fallen into a pocket in the rock and the mule had rested across upon the two sides of the hole. When 1 said something about the mule falling on him this way, Cheng with a smile expressed great appreciation of the mule's having pocketed him in this hole in the roc<. The trail at this point was narrow and dropped away to some three or four hundred feet to the rocks and river be- low. Cheng said that the mule perhaps kept him from rolling over the bank to destruction below by as neat a pocket as could be imagined. I could continue all day telling you stories of my friends; of the times that I played basketball with the boys over at the school, or played tennis with my friend K. K. Chang or others. I could tell you of the glorious times that Bobs and Haps have playing with their little Chinese friends, but may I merely say in an added word that we have found the Chinese' a most friendly and compan- jonable folk. We love their sense of humor. We like them not because of any sense of duty, but because they are worthy of being held in affection and high esteem. May I, this morning, present to vou this banner which was given to us und to you as a token of their good wishes when we were, leaving Fenchow ? Evening Servie2 Dear Friends: There is no need this evening for me to seek to discuss in any detail the poli- tical situation in China. The main facts have been presented many times by such able speakers as Grover Clarke, editor of the Peking Leader, Paul Hutchinson who is one of your own members, and others. May I therefore, spend most of my time in discussing che particular situ- ation at Fenchow and the meanings im- plied by the circumstances which we find there. First then, let me say that the Nation- alists Movement in China is winning. Sooner or later it is bound to control the whole country. There is a light in the eyes of our men at Fenchow which can not be mistaken. Years since 1911 have brought trouble, disappointment, and great shame to hundreds and thousands of our Chinese friends. Now there is an opportunity for China to free herself from foreign control and to establish herself as a real nation. You can scarcely over- estimate the joy which this brings to them all. At the time we left Fenchow the North was still in the hands of the Northern forces, but our men at Fenchow jokingly said that for months it had been impos- sible to get a suit of clothes made at the provincial capital because all the tailors were busy making Nationalist army flags. These flags were hidden safely away, but when the proper time comes the whole North will join the Southern cause. Take just the fact that this Southern army is abie to operate hundreds of miles from its home base with prac- tically no method of communication to the rear. This is only possible because of the fact that the country they are conquering believes so absolutely in the Sause that this Southern army is fighting or. In brief, the main principles of the Na- tionalist Movement are these: First, Spliee the treaty relations; second, "the nati "*life ; third, improve the life of the common people. Is not this the sort of a program to which we Americans 'can give the heartiest and most sympathetic approval and support? Superiority Complex Problem One of the problems underlying much of the difficulty mn the far east today is due to the superiority complex we west- erners have developed. Someone has said that there seems to be a virus in the blood which comes out whenever a man gets east of the Suez. Men who at home are quiet, peaceable and unoffensive, sud- denly develop a desire to kick somebody around a bit. With the greatest shame I say that I have myself seen mission- aries strike Chinese servants. While in Language School in Peking we were liv- ing with the Lenning Sweet family. Sweet is Boy's Secretary in the Peking Y. M. C. A. One evening, Lenning, his wife, and a friend were walking down one of the narrow Peking side streets. A foreigner on a bicycle came around the bend and ran into a 'rickshaw coolie. The coolie was knocked over and the foreigner also fell off his bicycle. Although the fault was absolutely his, he jumped up and be- gan to curse and kick the rickshaw man. Having vented his ill temper he mounted his bicycle to ride on. Sweet has as good control of his temper as any man I have ever known, but this was too much for him. Running up he pushed the man off his bicycle again and said, "Now kick me, damn you!" I could tell many simi- lar stories. The worst part about the whole matter is not this outward physical violence, but the inner and often unconscious feeling of superiority with which the westerners approach all eastern people. Blind to the feelings of these people we often trample ahead in a most ruthless man- ner. May I say in passing, that one of the things for which we are most thank- ful at Fenchow is that we have no such bad traditions tnere. There is no story on record, and you may be sure that such things are never forgotten if they come to pass--there is no story on record of Dr. Watson or Dr. Pye having mis- treated or even having become seriously angry with any Chinese. On the con- trary dozens of stories are told of their kindness and patience even under trying circumstances. Must Appreciate Values Unless we westerners can begin to ap- preciate more the values of eastern civilization and the fine kindliness of the people with whom we live and work, not only the business men and those in government service, but also the mission- aries are going to have an increasingly difficult time. The days of the old polite Chinese who could accept insult and even injury calmly because of his inner Con- fucian peace, are past. Young China re- sents being kicked and cuffed about whether it be physicial brutality or in the realm of inner attitude. As you probably know, we missionaries have been doing our work in China under the toleration clause of certain treaties which were wrested from China by force of arms. The incongruity of preaching a Gospel of peace while under special military pro- tection has become so glaringly apparent that today most of the missionaries are seeking to dissolve this special protection. Many of them are indeed going farther and are doing everything in their power to bring pressure to bear upon home governments to negotiate new and fair- er treaties. The situation is simply this: If the western powers, or more especially, if America can see her way clear, without waiting for one well established govern- ment, to agree to a consideration of new treaties, the friendship between America and China will be established on sure foundations once again. If we allow the matter to drag along until the National- ist forces gain control of the whole coun- try and become the recognized govern- ment, they have definitely declared that they will abrogate all the unequal treat- ies. The bitterness growing out of this struggle will last for years. Business re- lations between America and China will suffer. Missionary work will be carried on under an almost impossible handicap. On the other hand, if America could break through as China is hoping she will, and now agree to a revision of the treaties with what representatives, North or South China might choose, the bonds of friend- ship would be drawn close enough to mean years of. the finest relationships ahead. The reaction on business and upon our missionary work would be al- most incalculably good. p : Missionaries Have Departed Most of our missionaries have left Fenchow. They did so for the reason that they have become under present conditions more of a liability than an as- set. Whereas in the days the foreigners could help protect their Chinese friends, their presence now tremendously in- creases the danger. There is an added fact that many of us at present do not wish a special protection guarantee by the treaties. For a number of years some of us have been trying to dissolve this special protection, but our government steadily replies that until the treaties are changed they have no choice but to give us the protection guaranteed. These are great days in China. Personally I Sympathetic Club Members Call to See Burnham Mumps The whole Burnham family, save only the pater familias, has the mumps. But this calamity did not keep them from receiving 250 visitors Wednes- day evening at 1407 Tower road, for, although they were not able to invite the guests into their house, as they were quarantined, they did entertain them in the back yard. The Prairie club, led by Mr. Hale, and consisting of no less than 250 members, called on the Burnham family Wednesday night. They built a bonfire in the yard, and ate their supper there, gath- ering around the fire' Indian fashion. Mr. Burnham, in his address of wel- come, informed his guests that this was the first time in years that he had a chance to talk uninterruptedly, this golden opportunity, having come his way, he said, because Mrs. Burnham is inarticulate with the malady that has fallen upon the household. Attend Young People's Conference in Michigan This week Margaret Huddle and Isabel Milton are at the first Young People's conference at Tower Hill, Michigan, as delegates of the Win- netka Congregational church and Young People's club. Rev. Thomas A. Goodwin will act as dean of the second conference which begins next Thurs- day. This is his third year as dean of one of these conferences to which the young people of all the Congre- gational churches of Illinois may go for a week of study, fellowship and recre- ation. Miss Margaret Lee Connelly of Northampton, Mass.,, and Dr. Rosa- mond N. McKenney of Rome, N. Y., motored here, after a trip through New York and Washington, to attend the mass read by the Rev. Luke McKen- ney Sunday at Sacred Heart church. Miss Connelly is an instructor in the school for the deaf at Northampton, where Mrs. Coolidge taught. Dr. Mc- Kenney is connected with the depart- ment of mental hygiene. Richard Goble, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Goble of 511 Ash street, re- turned Wednesday from Massachus- etts Institute of Technology, from which he will graduate next year. Richard and his brother Sherman, who also attends Boston Tech, were in the Tech show, which traveled to Hart- ford, New York, and Northampton. Dick had the part of the confidence man, and his brother was in the chorus of the show. Op A Mrs. Charles Homann of 567 Provi- dent avenue entertained twelve guests at luncheon and bridge Thursday in honor of her sister, Mrs. O. F. Lien, of Grand Rapids. Mrs. Lien came last week for a visit, and will remain un- til July 1. --0-- i Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Hardy and their children, of 1039 Private road, left June 10 to spend the summer at Cape Cod. They expect to return to Win- netka October 1. feel that whereas mission work as such may be and should be open, the Chinese Christian Church is going to forge to the front. The devolution of the missionary forces is after all to the advantage of the indigenous Chinese church. Denominationalism will also be cut down for many of the Chinese have little patience with the effort to perpetrate our old denominational differences. These days of war have changed, of breaking down of old customs and days when re- ligion has an almost unparalleled op- portunity. If we as individuals and as a nation can in these trying hours give the brotherly, sympathetic help, and un- derstanding which China asks, who can foresee the consequences in deepening friendship and new growth of the King- dom of God on earth. ER EL De