Text
jforb
VoL. I.
No. 5,
THE IDEA
1ball jfolRs
January 26, 1913.
IS SPREADING.
Last week in Rochester, N. Y., I
talked with Paul Moore Strayer and
,valter Rauschenbusch who are the
leading factors in the People's Sunday
\ Evening movement of that city. Their
work is conducted somewhat different, ly from the manner of our Ford Hall
1 Meetings but It serves very largely the
. same purpose. Here again is a free
i popular Sµnday evening gathering of
the people which owes its Initiative
i and continued success to the churches.
It has been running nearly five years,
having started just before our meetings began. ,ve are trying to arrange
a date when Mr. Strayer can speak to
the Ford Hall folks.
It was interesting to me to note that
these meetings in Rochester are having a reactive effect on the churches
, thei·e just as I believe our Ford Hall
Meetings are exerting an Influence on
the church life of Boston. When I
called on Mr. Strayer I found him in
his study In the new parish house
which the Third Presbyterian Church
' has added to its already commodious
and beautiful edifice. In this parish
house, In addition to a model Sunday
School room and beautifully homelike
parlors and an office for a paid secretary and another for a social secretary,
l found a ·billiard room, a bowling
alley, a Rathskeller, an expansive and
up-to-date Jdtchen and other signs of
the times too numerous to mention.
The building waa of stone and looked
as though it must have cost a hundred
thousand dollars. It is less than three
years old. Maybe there is no connec, tion between the two enterprises. I
think there is.
Professor Rauschenbusch's work is
growing amazingly. His new book is
attracting very wide and very favorable attention. In one mail recently he
Price Ten Cents.
received a dozen or more requests for
lectures and articles from cities scattered all over the map from San Francisco to Paris. This is indicative of
the active part the church is beginning to take in the social movement.
When I returned to my desk Satl1rday moming I found my mail full of
letters about the Ford Hall Meetings
Including requests for information
from several cities that, are planning to
start similar meetings. In Detroit they
are expecting to raise a fun°d of $10,000 to start the work. If a man were
free to do It he could spend his whole
time effect! vely In organizing popular
forums in all the principal cities In the
NEXT
SUNDAY'S
SPEAKER.
Rev. John A. Ryan, D. D., one of
the progressive Roman Catholic clergy of the Middle West, is to be our
speaker next Sunday evening, his
topic being, "The Right and Wrong of
the Labor Union." This timely subject ought to be very interesting as
set forth by a priest who has made a
special study of the "living wage"!
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FORD HALL FOLKS
2
HAVE
YOU
YET JOINED
"FOLKS?"
THE
THE AWAKENING OF CHINA.
· If you haven't yet joined the Ford
Hall Folks, and want to, drop a line
to Miss Crawford at room 707 Ford
Building, and then come on along to
the meeting in Kingsley Hall at 3.30
next Sunday aftemoon. At half-past
five we all have supper together;
price tweuty-fl,ve cents each, A company of forty-two thus established a
friendly bond at the last gathering of
the "Folks."
THE PRAYER.
(Preceding Dr. Kin's Address.)
Our li'ather in Heaven, help us to
realize that we have m!llions of brothers and sisters in ·China stamped like
ourselves with the image of God, made
of one blood with all the race ·of men,
and yeamlng and striving for a better
life just as we are here. Some of
them, like some of us, have drawn
very close unto Tllee, Many of them,
like many of us, have tried to live
without Thee. vVe thank Thee for
the light and blessing we have been
permitted to carry to them and we
pray that our hearts and minds may
be open to the great lessons which
they have to teach us. Help us to be
as keenly alive to the value of an
ever-increasing exchange in spiritual
gifts as we are to the blessings that
flow from the wide interchange of
material things.
And as we struggle, here in America, for au extension of the brotherly
relationship into the realms of industry, commerce and finance, in order
that our democracy in government
may be purified and made enduring,
wo pray Thee with great eamestness
to watch over the new Republic of
China, to give it wise and powerful
friends, to sav.e it from its enemies,
and to make it possible very soon for
our own great Republic to extend to
the new govemment of China a brotherly recognition and a helping hand.
Amen.
Address of Dr. Yamel Kin at the Ford
Hall Meeting, January 19, 1913.
Eight years ago when I was last in
Boston, I talked a little of how we of
China feel toward the great world
movement for peace. But I hardly
thought then that the time would
come to us so soon to show practically that we believe in peace! For, al:
though there has been some bloodshed
in our Revolution, we can point with
pride, I think, to what we have done
in this last year and say truly that
nowhere throughout the world has
there been so great a revolution as
has taken place in China-the passing
of a dynasty which had an absolute
hold upon the country, the heritage of
thousands of years of precedentswith so little bloodshed! (Applause).
How has this awakening come
about? The awakening, as you call
it, as shown by the events of the
revolution of the past year? Many
factors contributed and perhaps l
would best outline a few in order that
you may get' a background for recent.
developments.
Because you will
please remember that so great events
as you have seen In the last year did
not spring up like mushrooms from a
night's growth-they are simply thr/
visible result of years of toil and etncient endeavor. Just as when you
see lhe little shoot come up througl!
the ground it does not mean that at
that moment has the s,
When I left here eight
returned to my own cou
I knew there was this a
Ing on and I wanted to s<
why or how, a.nd what wa:
I traveled for the first 1
the Norlh, the Middle .i
West of China, even Lo II
clers of Thibet as far as ,
for a woman to go unal
alone. I found that it was
ble, even eight years ago,
nese woman under suitable
In suitable dress, to travel
tho length and brEadth or
molested, unattehded, att1
curiosity, perhaps less tha1
here as I go about In
(Laughter). But twenty y,
could not have gone the I
breadlh of the Empire In
with only a casual glance
passer-by!
I went up into a far West
Ince for a few months In on!
out what the feeling of the P<
there because they were far
from the ports by lmpassab
and the very dangerous and
navigation of the. river Yang
Its source. People there ca
great eagerness to visit me,
friends and were most an~
lrnow about the Western co111
which they had been reading R
An enormous amount of l!ternt
being translated; for some yer
there had been a good deal, to
since the Boxer trouble. 'rhP
Revolution which shook lhP
North of China, had given II t
dons Impetus throughout to el'(
and they wanted to know whnt
foreigners were like who brough
troops Into ·the North of Chin
did so much damage.
(Appl
One day in the middle or my t
11 fellow traveler, seeing that I:
dress I was from another part <
country, said to me:
"May I make bold to ask you i
FORD HALL FOLKS
:HINA.
the Ford
I, 1913.
.1s last in
ow we of
at world
I hardly
1e would
practicalFor, albloodshed
oint wit.h
,ave done
rnly that
·orld has
llltion as
e passing
absolute
urilage of
Clidents,pplause).
:1g come
you call
s of the
·? Many
erhaps l
Jl'(Jer that
·or recent
1·ou will
·al events
year did
is from a
111ply tlHJ
I and effi1·lien you
i through
ll that at
that moment has the seed sprouted,
When I left here eight years ago I
returned to my own country because
I knew there was this awakening going on and I wanted to see for myself
why or how, a_nd what was being done.
I traveled for the first year through
the North, the Middle and the far
West of China, even to the very borders of Thibet as far as was possible
for a woman to go unattended, and
alone. I found that it was quite possible, even eight years ago, for a Chinese woman under suitable escort and
In suitable dress, to travel throughout
the length and breadth of China un.
molested, unattended, attracting no
curiosity, perhaps less than I attract
here as I go about in your city,
(Laughter), But twenty years ago l
could' not have gone the length and
breadth of the Empire in that way
with only a casual glance from the
passer-by!
I went up into a far Western ProvInce for a few months in order to find
out what the feeling of the people was
there because they were far removed
from the ports by impassable rapids
and the very dangerous and difficult
navigation of the river Yangtse near
its source. People there came with
great eagerness to visit me, niaking
friends and were most anxious to
know about the Western countries of
which they had been reading so much.
An enormous amount of literature was
being translated; for some years past
there had been a good deal, too-eve1·
since the Boxer trouble. The Boxer
Revolution which shook the whole
North of China, had given a tremendous impetus throughout to everyone,
and they wanted to know what these
foreigners were like who brought such
troops into the North of China and
did so much damage,
(Applause).
One day in the middle of my travels
a fellow traveler, seeing that by my
dress I was from another part of the
country, said to rne:
"May I make bold to ask you if you
3,
have traveled in a foreign land and
do you speak a foreign language?"
• "Well I have, yes."
"And 1:ead books in a foreign language?"
"Yes," I admitted.
He said: "I have read a lot of these
translations and they interest me, but
what I want most lo know is are
those adventures of Sherlock Holmes
really true?" (Laughter),
As I passed into the capitol I found
there were uniformed
policemen
standing on the corner. "Oh yes,"
they said very proudly, "We have policemen now, this is a new introduction by some of our officials who had
been abroad to Japan." And also
they were beginning to take up street
lighting and the practice of blowing
bugles. Bugle calls, in all keys, true
and false, ;night be heard morning,
noon and night.
Then I found there were schools
established. They had been projected
soon after the Boxer trouble-a vast
system of education throughout all
China beginning with Priniary schools
for children of six or seven, then a
higher ·grade, which we call middle
schools, corresponding sbmewhat to
your high schools, and then what we
call colleges or universities where
they were employing a staff of Japanese, English and French-professors
of different nationalities. 1 looked
and found that in this college-the
highest school - there were nearly
four hundred pupils, all men. But although the Government in the beginning projected the education mainly
for men, one of the thoughtful men of
the town said:
"\,Ve must include
woman's education, because if we educate the men only in these new
branches of knowledge and do not
bring the women up in this knowledge, also, we will be like a man with
one long leg and one short leg." (Applause). So some of the enterprlsing
citizens of the town started a school
for girls and equipped it very nicely
.
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FORD HALL FOLKS
indeed out of their own private purne,
The·y ,had brought In the dauglJ_ters ot
the literate families-their o\\'-.familles, and their friends' families, and
they had a little school of about 150
pupils. And they also had· gone to
this exceedingly progressive and en,
lightened Western country of Japan
and brought back two young Japanese
ladles at a very great expense and
trouble to be teachers and supplement
the staff then In the school.
Before my stay was finished other
schools sprang up-Industrial schools.
It was very remarkable to see
throughout the whole of this regioncut off though it was from the main
part of China, and having to depend
upon its own act! vi ties for Its own
light and power-that even there In
this far-off region they were thinking
-they were working; and so far had
they ascended from the point of view
that only the old was good-that they
had begun to realize there was something In the future for them, something In the outside world.
Along with all this there was a
very great movement toward making communication from one place to
another with more facility, and although the railroad Is not yet laid out
-because of the extreme and difficult
problems presented to the engineers
who must either lay rails across those
very precipitous peaks, tunnel through .
very long stretches or go around the
mountain for many miles-although
these difficulties have not been entirely overcome yet already the people are
beginning to Improve transportation
facilities and better navigation. So
that Instead of taking a long time to
go up the rapids with a small play-·
thing of a boat drnwn by coolies strung
on the end of a barn boo rope they are
now using steam navigation. 'ro be
sure the difficulties of navigation are
still so great that their little steamer
makes very irregular passages; bnt
iievertheless we find there is the beginning-that the people are using steam
rather than human power, though It
will be yet many years before machinery supercedes human labor entirely; for we still have the problem
in China of a great many mouths to
feed and the, object we must yet for
some years to come keep In mind is
how to divide the labor among the people so that each one shall have some
work to do and so earn something to
eat. Thus we shall avert that great
divergence between the very rich and
the very poor (applaus.e).
('rhen followed an interesting acs
count of Dr. Kln'-s personal experience
In developing the schools, hospitals
and reform Institutions of North China
of which she Is still the official head.
Particularly did she bring out the
growing feeling that women in China
must be educated.)
This women awakening Is perhaps
the greatest awakening of all in China,
because I think It is quite true, what I
have heard others say:
That they
judge of a people by Its women.
You have heard much of this revolution. Now, what were the beginnings
-the causes of this? All through
these years that I am telling you of
there was an immense amount of
translation going on. Everything was
being translated and this literature
spread among the people. Vve make a
large part of our paper from bamboo
which produces a fine paper that is
good for printing the Chinese charac~
ters; but our mills and factories could
not turn out enough for the supply and
every year we had to Import tons of
imper In order to supply the printing
presses. In every corner of the streets
almost you could find little presses or
little establishments, and everyone of
them was as busy as could be.
Another force which brought about
this change of attitude on the part of
the people was the return of students
who had been studying In America and
Europe and who, when they came back,
desired to make a change, And that
not only in a humble way, but in a way
that has had Its effect upon the people
and the country. Then these Chinese
!migrants who had been here-the
laundrymen, the laborers whom you
have striven to put out-came back
and in their humble way they have told .
the story of what America has done
and they have had considerable Influence In bringing the mass of the
people to wish for something different.
From time to time before, this de-'
sire· for change, this feeling that the
Dynasty had done its work and must
be put· down has come upon the people; bt1t this Is the firs[ time In the
history of the Manchu dynasty that the
feeling has been shown where there
was not a certain amount of sedition
and revolution. In 1854 in the great
revolution the people rose against the
Manchu dynasty and ha.d It not been
for Gordon who then helped the Imperial troops regain their hold · upon
the people, the Manchu dynasty would
have gone at that time; but with their
hold upon the people strengthened
again they lasted for a while. But
'FORD HALL FOLKS
'Jllowed an interesting ac'l'. Kin's personal experience
ling the schools, hospitals
, institutions of North China
lw is still the official head.
r did she bring out the
ding that women in China
ncated.)
nen awakening is perhaps
l awalrening of all in China,
llink it is quite true, what I
l others say:
That they
people by its women.
l!eard much of this revolu,vhat were the beginnings
es of this? All through
that I am telling you of
nn immense amount of
going on., Everything was
lated and this literature
1g the people. \Ve make a
it' our paper from bamboo
L1ces a fine paper that is
intlng the Chinese charac~
r mills and factories could
enough for the supply and
we had to import tons of
1<,r to supply the printing
every corner of the streets
•onld find little presses or
,;l1ments, and everyone of
, busy as could be,
irce whi<lh brought about
ot attitude on the part of
as the return of students
1 studying in America and
d10, when they came back,
a lrn a change. And that
lrnmble way, but in a way
ii s effect upon the people
try. Then these Chinese
110 had been here-the
the laborers whom you
to put out-came back
mnble way they have told .
what America has done
ve liad considerable ini11ging the mass of the
1 for something different.
to time before, this de•
~e. thifl feeling that the
clorie its work and must
lias come upon the peois the first time in the
1\lanchu dyriasty that the
r•en shown where there
·tain amount of sedition
1.
In 1854 in the great
people rose against the
,ty and had it not been
110 then helped the Imregain their hold· upon
, Manchu dynasty would
hat time; but with their
e people strengthened
,ted for a while, But
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this last year among the thoughtful
bee'n hurt ill any way except those
:and conservative people of 'the North things that were directly connected
,and South tliere was this feeling that with ,politics. 'Such a thing· has never
there must be a change. Tl1is was
occurred before in a1I the history ot
' about six months before the revolution
'China. ·whenever t11ere has been a
1lroke out. 'l'hey didn't know exactfy
change before there has been blood•
what they wanted, some people wanted
shed and there has 'been war and
,one tJilng und some people another ,there has been pi1lage and there has
tiling and I sometimes said to some ·of
been ravaging in the coun'try from one
my frieni1s fhat foe people wantei1 to
end to the ot11e1\ It was hard for the
Temove the prnsent ·government before
people to believe tliat the new spirit
they knew what the next one would
had come to China-tlrat we deshed
:be and wltl1 no way of telling. This
to change our Government and that
:shows w1rnt I have always content1ed- we could change a pollcy without
that t110 Chinese were an exceedinglY
br1nglng bloodshed, without bringing
,emotional l)eople, although you have
'trouble to 'the people fit large. So
been told tliat they are impassive and
after all had apparently passed peace:stolid.
fully suddenly one night the soldiers
"V{hy not," I sa'id, "do as ot1ier na•
rose in the city and they fired one portions have done, leave the monarchy
tion of It and pillaged another i[)ortlon
,in place as a constitutional monarchy
wlrnre we find the pawn shops and
'-with the addition of a House of Par- - rich fur ·shops and silk shops,
liament, as is done in England, vir·
"Why was that 7" people will ask.
tually making the king a figurehead."
Now, friends, it was lllre this. Al·
But the Chinese said': "'That will never
t110ugh there was th1s feeling through,do because we know ourselves. If we
out the country that we could make a
leave this Dynasty on t110 throne lt
change 'in a peaceful way we must
wm mean that we will constantly remember that Chhia is a very large
1rnve to struggle against it-that we
country and that there were many
, will always have to strive with them,
p'eople who felt tliat In the good old
'!'hey will be patient and gradually
times when there was a change of
take back from us onr various privi- Government it was a free-for-all and in
leges and we shall be no better off
a certain sense, to borrow your own
tllan we were before. We know ourpolitical phrase, "to the victor the
:sel ves wen enough and we realize that
spoils." So the soldiers said, "we see
we ought to do this t11ing, Let us do
tl10 officials getting money and 'See it
'It at once." "But," I said, "what are
passing back and forth, but we have
you going to do afterwards?" "Let us
nothing of it; we have 110 share in
1iave a republic." "A republic," I
it." Which shows again the funda•
said, "Do you lmow what a republic
mental feeling of socialism that there
is'/" "Oh yes. A place where everyls in China from the lowest official to
·one has a right to speak." ,,.Well, if
the highest official. In China when•·
that's your idea of a republic then per- ever anyone gets a promotion, a birth·
1iaps we may have 460 millions of reday, or any kind of advancement or
1rnbl!cs ln C11ina." Bnt t1ie people
anything that brings increase to him
said to me, and I think the events will
or to any member of the family, he is
prove the wisdom of their choice, "We
expected to share it somewhat with
Will arrange and we will settle the maall the members of his family; and
-cl1inery of om· government as necesthe soldiers felt that in this new ordel'
sity arises, but we feel we must put of things others were getting a share
upon ourselves a spur all the time, beof t11e spoils and they had not had
cause if we do not we will get interesttheir share. So that was the reason
ed in other tl1ings and we will leave
for the mutiny.
the government to itself." Therefore,
In spite of this and the other sporathey made t1Jls change,
dic disturbances, which we would wish
I lived in the city tlrnre in October,
were not so, it is, however, an unde•
November and December when we
niable fact that this revolution has
were 11earlng reports from the centre, been apcompllslied with less violence
''.Don't be anxious."
and bloodshed than any before, not
You can see how wonderfully it has only in the history of China, but I
been done. Even the robber troops, think in the history of any nation ot
bandits who were infesting the country this size in all the world (applause).
1vithheld their hands from Injuring
Then we have had other advance
any foreigner and hone In all this time movements. You have been told that
has bee~jured; no charitable )nstl· the Chinese idea of the Republic is
tutlon 1rns been injured; nothing has not to give everyone the franchise as
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FORD HALL FOLKS
you have it here, but to make it a limited franchise.
And limited very
strictly indeed. Because It was not
only the person who could merely relld
and write, but the person who had
completed the common school education; in fact, if the bill goes through
which is now before the different assemblies, it will be a high school education that will qualify a person to
vote. And not only as you have it in
your own Constitution that people who
have been in State's prison shall not
vote, but in our Constitution It is the
fact that any prison offence disfranchises a man.
And then we hear of women voting.
In the general loosening of the bond
the women, also, have come forward;
and many women have become anarchists. Even one of my own girls became a bomb maker against my
wishes, She said she was so filled
with a desire to do something for her
country that she thought she could at
least carry bombs from Tien-Tsin to
Peking. We heard in middle China of
girls who went to the different commanders and asked to be given unifortns and arms. But as these girls
were largely women who still have
the old compressed feet it was not
surprising that the commander said
that he thought it was not best to give
them a rifle and unifol'm because, assuredly, if they attempted to shoot the
ordinary rifle the recoil would lrnocl{
them over.
Some of the women in Canton Province and a few others did come forward and say they desired to have
the suffrage together with the men.
But it must be miderstood that there
are not very many women who can
pass, in China, the requirements for
suffrage, For, although we have had
in China from time immemorial educated women and cultivated women,
women of high executive ability, In
the main the work of the women has
been in the home-circle and reading
and writing has been an accomplishment, not an absolute necessity with
her for advancement in her sphere of
life. Until we are able to get more
teachers (we are constantly turning
out staffs of teachers but we are not
able to produce enough for our needs),
we cannot make education in the new
schools absolutely compulsory.
What wlll be done in the coming
election when we select our delegates
who shall frame the constitution, who
shall represent the provinces and
make a government for the whole of
Cblna, what will then be done with
the women? I cannot say.
vVhen women shall have more education, when they shall und/erstand
what it is that they are doing we will
have our women comirig forward to
take the vote as you are beginning to
do it het·e in the United States; but
remember, friends, your women here
Jn the United States have had education for many years and for the last
ten years perhaps as much in the way.
of colleges, in the way of higher educational advantages as men have had·
and our women are not yet equal t~
that standard and I feel, friends that
although you have many well-me~ning
people who desire to go to us and to
urge our women to grasp at the privileges of suffrage, yet I think It is a
case of trying to make the corn grow
a little faster and it will be better
to wait a little while until our women
know better what they are to do before urging them to grasp the vote,
And yet the lack of ·the vote does not
mean that the Chinese women do not
exercise a very great and real influence upon the political life of the
country.
Just a word now about the philosophy of woman's position in China according to our old ideas; and out of
the old will grow the new. You all
know of the doctrine of duality which
has influenced China since the days of
Confucius. It was that this whole
world was kept in order by the Influences of two opposing forces. Sometimes people have translated these as
being force and matter. In the Chinese life they were typified by light
and darkness. It was sunshine and
rain; it was the sun and the earth.
They figured that the sun in the Heavens alone by itself would produce
nothing, but shining upon the earth
the earth brought forth Its produce
and thus the joint influence of the sun
and the earth made the universe a living thing. Or again it is said that although the sun's rays were hot yet
heat alone was not sufli'clent to accomplish anything; there must be the
action of water. With the sun's rays
shining through the water the different vegetation grew and brought forth
green to feed the world. Now remember, that was one· of our great ideas
in the philosophy of Chinese life. Confucius said, "In this same way in the
family life there is the father and the
mother. The two together working
together make up the family." It is
not so unlike your Christian doctrine
where you say "Male and female ere-
FORD HALL FOLKS
then be done with
annot say.
oltall have more eduev shall und!erstand
1~y are doing we will
1 coming forward to
you are beginning to
2 United States; but
's. your women here
1les have had educa,ars and for the last
; as much in the way
2 way of higher edu•
i,s as men have had;
1 re not yet equal to
l I feel, friends, that
, many well-meaning
~ to go to us and to
o grasp at the prlviyet I think it Is a
make the corn grow
ti it will be better
ile until our women
they are to do be- ,
to grasp the vote.
>f ·the vote does not
nese women do not
mat and real lnfluulitical life of the
about the phllosomiUon in China acideas; and out of
the new. You all
ne of duality which
a since the days of
s that this whole
order by the influ,iug forces. Some( ran slated these as
atter. In the Chie typified by light
was sunshine and
nu and the earth.
,e sun in the Heavlf would produce
g upon the earth
forth its produce
1fluence of the sun
the universe a Iivit is said that al·
,1ys were hot yet
1 • suflfoient
to ac•
lliere must be the
ith the sun's rays
water the differand brought forth
,rld. Now rememf our great ideas
Chinese life. Consame way in the
he father and the
together working
1e family."
It is
'.hrlstian doctrine
: and female ere·
1
7
ated He them In the beginning and the suppression of opium than was
the twain shall be one," Woman did done under the Manchu dynmity two
not occupy so high a position as she years ago, and that was a marvelous
does in modern times with your pres• thing, Remember that you in the beent education; but the woman was ginning of your Republic had your own
given a tremendous power through troubles before you settled down to a
her motherhood; through motherhood perfect understanding of your circumthe woman had power equal with the stances; and perhaps you may have
father over the entire family and in some trouble In the future (applause).
control of all the children, the sons
IE there are any questions you would
like to ask I would be very glad to
included.
Now to return to this philosophy, give a few moments to answering
We have this philosophy of the dual them.
principle of the man and the woman;
the two co-operating together to make
QUESTIONS.
the perfect unit of the family which
is the basis of all political organizaQ. 'l'o what extent does the speaker
tions. With this dual principle we think that the missionary influence In
have also the teaching of the great China has been helpful in bringing
philosopher, who says this:
"The about the present change?
great principles of nature are feminine
A. The missionaries have done a
in their action. Water has always great deal of , educational work in
stood for the feminine principle'." , He China and educational work has helped
said, "Look at water, it may come in people to understand the change going
an overpowering torrent and may
on in other countries and the way in
crush and may destroy, but," he said, which people make their voice heard
"that ls not its normal action, The in other countries. Some people ask
normal action of water is that it comes whether this missionary influence was
down so softly like a stream as it not paramount in bringing about thif\
comes down a gentle slope; it curls change, I cannot honestly say that I
around every angle, it fits !tseH to
think it was because I think It was the
every hollow, It does not brealc and political, the economic pressure toyet, by its gently solvent power it gether with the translation, the enorsmooths the angles, It smooths the mous translation of this miscellaneous
outlines, -it comes to the level and it literature which has been the main
covers all the unevenesses below so,"
thing; but the economJ.c and political
he said "the man who would be great pressure has been the thing that has
in the ~vorld must get that permeating caused the ·people to look at matters
action and by graciousness and hy
In a different way.
winsomeness win the hearts of the
Q. What Is the official language of
people the reason of the people, China?
becau;e," he said, "if you coerce
A. The official language of China
people it is very much like · the old has always been the Mandarin dialect.
proverb you have that 'A man con• Out or the 18 main provinces of China
vlnced against his .will is of the same 15 speal, only the Mandarin dialect.
opinion still.'" So we find these two
Q. ·wm the people of China develop
great princlples-tl'ie dual principle of as quicldy as events will call for theil'
philosophy and the feminine action of development?
the great forces of nature; and with
A. Necessity, you know, compels
these two I think you will find that people to do many things and we have
we will develop our idea of woman'a been under the pressure of necessity
work in a way which shall make that and were it not for the very great nework greater than it has ever been cessity we should not have moved as
before, so that her power may be felt fast as we have even now.
not only in the home but In the whole
Q. Are there many Jews in China?,
social and political organization.
A. Now, friends, that is a very
One of the greatest proofs of the sensible question . (applause). '\117hoprogress of the pcwple Is in the sup- ever aslrnd that que·st1011 has been
pression of the opium traffic wlllch reading history, Vve have had a flourhas gone on steadily and with greater ishing colony of Jews In one of tlie
vigor than ever, even through the provinces for many thousands ol' years.
change of organization, and I think we We do not know just when they came,,
will find that when we come to the but we lmow tlrnt from the year 700 on
next convention on June 1st the peo- there was a very flourishing Jewish
ple will have gone even farther with community. The Jews in China have
8'
FORD HALL FOLKS
never been persecuted as they have
been elsewhere. But year by year they
have lost their old' customs and only
some twenty years ago they deliberately disbanded their last synagogue,
the best relics of which are in the
' British museum and when some .of
their learned brethren came over and
offered to take some of them back
into Palestine to learn again the .Jewish religion they made answer that
they were quite satisfied to become·
Chinese.
Q. Is the Chinese nation at the
present time strong enough to grapp.le
with the Russian Bear and drive him
(T)Ut of territory where. he does mit be.long?
A. Well, a good many of our Chi- ,
nese people think so. They are sending troops all the time to the Nortrr,
but it is not the question of Russia
alone, it ls England back of R'tlssla.
That's tfie question.
Q. Do you think it is the spirit of a
republic to deprive certain men from
voting?
A. Of course, the Idea of the republic has been in China not exactly the
same idea as here that every unedu-·
cated man can rule every other man.
We desire to make a government of
the educated, the well-behaved-not·
the man society has to look after.
Q Does the use of opium fn China
<'late back very far'!
A. Oh no. The use of opium In
China dates back to the encroachments,
of the Englsh (applause);: that Is a
matter of very recent history.
Q_ How about the Chinese morally?
A. Do yon mean trade morals or individual morals? Indfvidually if we
compare those of the Interior they
compare very favorably with the other
peoples;, but in the outer ports where
the very worst of tl\e ·west meets the,
very worst of the East the morals are,
not to be admired.
Q.
How ls religion organized in·
China? Is it by the, Government or as:
In this country?
A. Oh,, the Govemment !\.as nothing
to do with religion; every man ls free,
to worship as he chooses.
Q. What is your opinion of our laws:
restricting Chinese immigration to our·
country?
· A.. Probably if I were, In your place:
I would do the same-.
Q. How far has music and. art pro••
15ressed in China?
i A. Art has progressed to a very
great degree, but In the matter of music we have yet a great deal before us ..
Q. How did the Chinese obtain their
education before the, school system.
was started?
A. They had to obtain their educa-•
tron as best they could by private,
teachers or schools. Examinations;
were held by the Government but the
teaching was what was obtained by
learning wherever they could.
Q. Is capital punishment stm pram-•
tlced in China?:
A. It Is.
Q. Are there any Rlaves in China?'
A. The slave In China! There Is a.
certain amount of domestic· slavery·,.
that ls, the cf11ldren of very poor par•·
ents are bound out to other people,
who can take care of them until· they·
are grown. They are mostly girls that
are thus bound' out and at five or six.
tl'ley must be- given some education and
at 16 or 17 a husband must be found'.
for them so that they shall have m
family of their own. Ours ls not a
perpetual slavery as waa the slavery
here In olden Unies ..
SUBS:CRI PT ION BLANK
Name....... .. ..... ,. ............ ,. ................................... ,. ............ -· ,.,. .. ,, ......... .
Address ................................................. ,, ... _.,, .................. ., .............. .
.Amount Enclosed ................ ., ........... ., .................... ., .......... .,.,. .... .
(Sums of $r.oo or more;· the raper costs ten cents pe1· issue ..)
[Remit to
J. S. London, Room 707, F·ord Building, Boston.]
01\11)'.~,5
VoL. I.
No. 5,
THE IDEA
1ball jfolRs
January 26, 1913.
IS SPREADING.
Last week in Rochester, N. Y., I
talked with Paul Moore Strayer and
,valter Rauschenbusch who are the
leading factors in the People's Sunday
\ Evening movement of that city. Their
work is conducted somewhat different, ly from the manner of our Ford Hall
1 Meetings but It serves very largely the
. same purpose. Here again is a free
i popular Sµnday evening gathering of
the people which owes its Initiative
i and continued success to the churches.
It has been running nearly five years,
having started just before our meetings began. ,ve are trying to arrange
a date when Mr. Strayer can speak to
the Ford Hall folks.
It was interesting to me to note that
these meetings in Rochester are having a reactive effect on the churches
, thei·e just as I believe our Ford Hall
Meetings are exerting an Influence on
the church life of Boston. When I
called on Mr. Strayer I found him in
his study In the new parish house
which the Third Presbyterian Church
' has added to its already commodious
and beautiful edifice. In this parish
house, In addition to a model Sunday
School room and beautifully homelike
parlors and an office for a paid secretary and another for a social secretary,
l found a ·billiard room, a bowling
alley, a Rathskeller, an expansive and
up-to-date Jdtchen and other signs of
the times too numerous to mention.
The building waa of stone and looked
as though it must have cost a hundred
thousand dollars. It is less than three
years old. Maybe there is no connec, tion between the two enterprises. I
think there is.
Professor Rauschenbusch's work is
growing amazingly. His new book is
attracting very wide and very favorable attention. In one mail recently he
Price Ten Cents.
received a dozen or more requests for
lectures and articles from cities scattered all over the map from San Francisco to Paris. This is indicative of
the active part the church is beginning to take in the social movement.
When I returned to my desk Satl1rday moming I found my mail full of
letters about the Ford Hall Meetings
Including requests for information
from several cities that, are planning to
start similar meetings. In Detroit they
are expecting to raise a fun°d of $10,000 to start the work. If a man were
free to do It he could spend his whole
time effect! vely In organizing popular
forums in all the principal cities In the
NEXT
SUNDAY'S
SPEAKER.
Rev. John A. Ryan, D. D., one of
the progressive Roman Catholic clergy of the Middle West, is to be our
speaker next Sunday evening, his
topic being, "The Right and Wrong of
the Labor Union." This timely subject ought to be very interesting as
set forth by a priest who has made a
special study of the "living wage"!
1'
I
I
[
l
I'=--~-----------------.---------------..:.---
\
'/
FORD HALL FOLKS
2
HAVE
YOU
YET JOINED
"FOLKS?"
THE
THE AWAKENING OF CHINA.
· If you haven't yet joined the Ford
Hall Folks, and want to, drop a line
to Miss Crawford at room 707 Ford
Building, and then come on along to
the meeting in Kingsley Hall at 3.30
next Sunday aftemoon. At half-past
five we all have supper together;
price tweuty-fl,ve cents each, A company of forty-two thus established a
friendly bond at the last gathering of
the "Folks."
THE PRAYER.
(Preceding Dr. Kin's Address.)
Our li'ather in Heaven, help us to
realize that we have m!llions of brothers and sisters in ·China stamped like
ourselves with the image of God, made
of one blood with all the race ·of men,
and yeamlng and striving for a better
life just as we are here. Some of
them, like some of us, have drawn
very close unto Tllee, Many of them,
like many of us, have tried to live
without Thee. vVe thank Thee for
the light and blessing we have been
permitted to carry to them and we
pray that our hearts and minds may
be open to the great lessons which
they have to teach us. Help us to be
as keenly alive to the value of an
ever-increasing exchange in spiritual
gifts as we are to the blessings that
flow from the wide interchange of
material things.
And as we struggle, here in America, for au extension of the brotherly
relationship into the realms of industry, commerce and finance, in order
that our democracy in government
may be purified and made enduring,
wo pray Thee with great eamestness
to watch over the new Republic of
China, to give it wise and powerful
friends, to sav.e it from its enemies,
and to make it possible very soon for
our own great Republic to extend to
the new govemment of China a brotherly recognition and a helping hand.
Amen.
Address of Dr. Yamel Kin at the Ford
Hall Meeting, January 19, 1913.
Eight years ago when I was last in
Boston, I talked a little of how we of
China feel toward the great world
movement for peace. But I hardly
thought then that the time would
come to us so soon to show practically that we believe in peace! For, al:
though there has been some bloodshed
in our Revolution, we can point with
pride, I think, to what we have done
in this last year and say truly that
nowhere throughout the world has
there been so great a revolution as
has taken place in China-the passing
of a dynasty which had an absolute
hold upon the country, the heritage of
thousands of years of precedentswith so little bloodshed! (Applause).
How has this awakening come
about? The awakening, as you call
it, as shown by the events of the
revolution of the past year? Many
factors contributed and perhaps l
would best outline a few in order that
you may get' a background for recent.
developments.
Because you will
please remember that so great events
as you have seen In the last year did
not spring up like mushrooms from a
night's growth-they are simply thr/
visible result of years of toil and etncient endeavor. Just as when you
see lhe little shoot come up througl!
the ground it does not mean that at
that moment has the s,
When I left here eight
returned to my own cou
I knew there was this a
Ing on and I wanted to s<
why or how, a.nd what wa:
I traveled for the first 1
the Norlh, the Middle .i
West of China, even Lo II
clers of Thibet as far as ,
for a woman to go unal
alone. I found that it was
ble, even eight years ago,
nese woman under suitable
In suitable dress, to travel
tho length and brEadth or
molested, unattehded, att1
curiosity, perhaps less tha1
here as I go about In
(Laughter). But twenty y,
could not have gone the I
breadlh of the Empire In
with only a casual glance
passer-by!
I went up into a far West
Ince for a few months In on!
out what the feeling of the P<
there because they were far
from the ports by lmpassab
and the very dangerous and
navigation of the. river Yang
Its source. People there ca
great eagerness to visit me,
friends and were most an~
lrnow about the Western co111
which they had been reading R
An enormous amount of l!ternt
being translated; for some yer
there had been a good deal, to
since the Boxer trouble. 'rhP
Revolution which shook lhP
North of China, had given II t
dons Impetus throughout to el'(
and they wanted to know whnt
foreigners were like who brough
troops Into ·the North of Chin
did so much damage.
(Appl
One day in the middle or my t
11 fellow traveler, seeing that I:
dress I was from another part <
country, said to me:
"May I make bold to ask you i
FORD HALL FOLKS
:HINA.
the Ford
I, 1913.
.1s last in
ow we of
at world
I hardly
1e would
practicalFor, albloodshed
oint wit.h
,ave done
rnly that
·orld has
llltion as
e passing
absolute
urilage of
Clidents,pplause).
:1g come
you call
s of the
·? Many
erhaps l
Jl'(Jer that
·or recent
1·ou will
·al events
year did
is from a
111ply tlHJ
I and effi1·lien you
i through
ll that at
that moment has the seed sprouted,
When I left here eight years ago I
returned to my own country because
I knew there was this awakening going on and I wanted to see for myself
why or how, a_nd what was being done.
I traveled for the first year through
the North, the Middle and the far
West of China, even to the very borders of Thibet as far as was possible
for a woman to go unattended, and
alone. I found that it was quite possible, even eight years ago, for a Chinese woman under suitable escort and
In suitable dress, to travel throughout
the length and breadth of China un.
molested, unattended, attracting no
curiosity, perhaps less than I attract
here as I go about in your city,
(Laughter), But twenty years ago l
could' not have gone the length and
breadth of the Empire in that way
with only a casual glance from the
passer-by!
I went up into a far Western ProvInce for a few months in order to find
out what the feeling of the people was
there because they were far removed
from the ports by impassable rapids
and the very dangerous and difficult
navigation of the river Yangtse near
its source. People there came with
great eagerness to visit me, niaking
friends and were most anxious to
know about the Western countries of
which they had been reading so much.
An enormous amount of literature was
being translated; for some years past
there had been a good deal, too-eve1·
since the Boxer trouble. The Boxer
Revolution which shook the whole
North of China, had given a tremendous impetus throughout to everyone,
and they wanted to know what these
foreigners were like who brought such
troops into the North of China and
did so much damage,
(Applause).
One day in the middle of my travels
a fellow traveler, seeing that by my
dress I was from another part of the
country, said to rne:
"May I make bold to ask you if you
3,
have traveled in a foreign land and
do you speak a foreign language?"
• "Well I have, yes."
"And 1:ead books in a foreign language?"
"Yes," I admitted.
He said: "I have read a lot of these
translations and they interest me, but
what I want most lo know is are
those adventures of Sherlock Holmes
really true?" (Laughter),
As I passed into the capitol I found
there were uniformed
policemen
standing on the corner. "Oh yes,"
they said very proudly, "We have policemen now, this is a new introduction by some of our officials who had
been abroad to Japan." And also
they were beginning to take up street
lighting and the practice of blowing
bugles. Bugle calls, in all keys, true
and false, ;night be heard morning,
noon and night.
Then I found there were schools
established. They had been projected
soon after the Boxer trouble-a vast
system of education throughout all
China beginning with Priniary schools
for children of six or seven, then a
higher ·grade, which we call middle
schools, corresponding sbmewhat to
your high schools, and then what we
call colleges or universities where
they were employing a staff of Japanese, English and French-professors
of different nationalities. 1 looked
and found that in this college-the
highest school - there were nearly
four hundred pupils, all men. But although the Government in the beginning projected the education mainly
for men, one of the thoughtful men of
the town said:
"\,Ve must include
woman's education, because if we educate the men only in these new
branches of knowledge and do not
bring the women up in this knowledge, also, we will be like a man with
one long leg and one short leg." (Applause). So some of the enterprlsing
citizens of the town started a school
for girls and equipped it very nicely
.
4
FORD HALL FOLKS
indeed out of their own private purne,
The·y ,had brought In the dauglJ_ters ot
the literate families-their o\\'-.familles, and their friends' families, and
they had a little school of about 150
pupils. And they also had· gone to
this exceedingly progressive and en,
lightened Western country of Japan
and brought back two young Japanese
ladles at a very great expense and
trouble to be teachers and supplement
the staff then In the school.
Before my stay was finished other
schools sprang up-Industrial schools.
It was very remarkable to see
throughout the whole of this regioncut off though it was from the main
part of China, and having to depend
upon its own act! vi ties for Its own
light and power-that even there In
this far-off region they were thinking
-they were working; and so far had
they ascended from the point of view
that only the old was good-that they
had begun to realize there was something In the future for them, something In the outside world.
Along with all this there was a
very great movement toward making communication from one place to
another with more facility, and although the railroad Is not yet laid out
-because of the extreme and difficult
problems presented to the engineers
who must either lay rails across those
very precipitous peaks, tunnel through .
very long stretches or go around the
mountain for many miles-although
these difficulties have not been entirely overcome yet already the people are
beginning to Improve transportation
facilities and better navigation. So
that Instead of taking a long time to
go up the rapids with a small play-·
thing of a boat drnwn by coolies strung
on the end of a barn boo rope they are
now using steam navigation. 'ro be
sure the difficulties of navigation are
still so great that their little steamer
makes very irregular passages; bnt
iievertheless we find there is the beginning-that the people are using steam
rather than human power, though It
will be yet many years before machinery supercedes human labor entirely; for we still have the problem
in China of a great many mouths to
feed and the, object we must yet for
some years to come keep In mind is
how to divide the labor among the people so that each one shall have some
work to do and so earn something to
eat. Thus we shall avert that great
divergence between the very rich and
the very poor (applaus.e).
('rhen followed an interesting acs
count of Dr. Kln'-s personal experience
In developing the schools, hospitals
and reform Institutions of North China
of which she Is still the official head.
Particularly did she bring out the
growing feeling that women in China
must be educated.)
This women awakening Is perhaps
the greatest awakening of all in China,
because I think It is quite true, what I
have heard others say:
That they
judge of a people by Its women.
You have heard much of this revolution. Now, what were the beginnings
-the causes of this? All through
these years that I am telling you of
there was an immense amount of
translation going on. Everything was
being translated and this literature
spread among the people. Vve make a
large part of our paper from bamboo
which produces a fine paper that is
good for printing the Chinese charac~
ters; but our mills and factories could
not turn out enough for the supply and
every year we had to Import tons of
imper In order to supply the printing
presses. In every corner of the streets
almost you could find little presses or
little establishments, and everyone of
them was as busy as could be.
Another force which brought about
this change of attitude on the part of
the people was the return of students
who had been studying In America and
Europe and who, when they came back,
desired to make a change, And that
not only in a humble way, but in a way
that has had Its effect upon the people
and the country. Then these Chinese
!migrants who had been here-the
laundrymen, the laborers whom you
have striven to put out-came back
and in their humble way they have told .
the story of what America has done
and they have had considerable Influence In bringing the mass of the
people to wish for something different.
From time to time before, this de-'
sire· for change, this feeling that the
Dynasty had done its work and must
be put· down has come upon the people; bt1t this Is the firs[ time In the
history of the Manchu dynasty that the
feeling has been shown where there
was not a certain amount of sedition
and revolution. In 1854 in the great
revolution the people rose against the
Manchu dynasty and ha.d It not been
for Gordon who then helped the Imperial troops regain their hold · upon
the people, the Manchu dynasty would
have gone at that time; but with their
hold upon the people strengthened
again they lasted for a while. But
'FORD HALL FOLKS
'Jllowed an interesting ac'l'. Kin's personal experience
ling the schools, hospitals
, institutions of North China
lw is still the official head.
r did she bring out the
ding that women in China
ncated.)
nen awakening is perhaps
l awalrening of all in China,
llink it is quite true, what I
l others say:
That they
people by its women.
l!eard much of this revolu,vhat were the beginnings
es of this? All through
that I am telling you of
nn immense amount of
going on., Everything was
lated and this literature
1g the people. \Ve make a
it' our paper from bamboo
L1ces a fine paper that is
intlng the Chinese charac~
r mills and factories could
enough for the supply and
we had to import tons of
1<,r to supply the printing
every corner of the streets
•onld find little presses or
,;l1ments, and everyone of
, busy as could be,
irce whi<lh brought about
ot attitude on the part of
as the return of students
1 studying in America and
d10, when they came back,
a lrn a change. And that
lrnmble way, but in a way
ii s effect upon the people
try. Then these Chinese
110 had been here-the
the laborers whom you
to put out-came back
mnble way they have told .
what America has done
ve liad considerable ini11ging the mass of the
1 for something different.
to time before, this de•
~e. thifl feeling that the
clorie its work and must
lias come upon the peois the first time in the
1\lanchu dyriasty that the
r•en shown where there
·tain amount of sedition
1.
In 1854 in the great
people rose against the
,ty and had it not been
110 then helped the Imregain their hold· upon
, Manchu dynasty would
hat time; but with their
e people strengthened
,ted for a while, But
'
l
''
I
5
this last year among the thoughtful
bee'n hurt ill any way except those
:and conservative people of 'the North things that were directly connected
,and South tliere was this feeling that with ,politics. 'Such a thing· has never
there must be a change. Tl1is was
occurred before in a1I the history ot
' about six months before the revolution
'China. ·whenever t11ere has been a
1lroke out. 'l'hey didn't know exactfy
change before there has been blood•
what they wanted, some people wanted
shed and there has 'been war and
,one tJilng und some people another ,there has been pi1lage and there has
tiling and I sometimes said to some ·of
been ravaging in the coun'try from one
my frieni1s fhat foe people wantei1 to
end to the ot11e1\ It was hard for the
Temove the prnsent ·government before
people to believe tliat the new spirit
they knew what the next one would
had come to China-tlrat we deshed
:be and wltl1 no way of telling. This
to change our Government and that
:shows w1rnt I have always content1ed- we could change a pollcy without
that t110 Chinese were an exceedinglY
br1nglng bloodshed, without bringing
,emotional l)eople, although you have
'trouble to 'the people fit large. So
been told tliat they are impassive and
after all had apparently passed peace:stolid.
fully suddenly one night the soldiers
"V{hy not," I sa'id, "do as ot1ier na•
rose in the city and they fired one portions have done, leave the monarchy
tion of It and pillaged another i[)ortlon
,in place as a constitutional monarchy
wlrnre we find the pawn shops and
'-with the addition of a House of Par- - rich fur ·shops and silk shops,
liament, as is done in England, vir·
"Why was that 7" people will ask.
tually making the king a figurehead."
Now, friends, it was lllre this. Al·
But the Chinese said': "'That will never
t110ugh there was th1s feeling through,do because we know ourselves. If we
out the country that we could make a
leave this Dynasty on t110 throne lt
change 'in a peaceful way we must
wm mean that we will constantly remember that Chhia is a very large
1rnve to struggle against it-that we
country and that there were many
, will always have to strive with them,
p'eople who felt tliat In the good old
'!'hey will be patient and gradually
times when there was a change of
take back from us onr various privi- Government it was a free-for-all and in
leges and we shall be no better off
a certain sense, to borrow your own
tllan we were before. We know ourpolitical phrase, "to the victor the
:sel ves wen enough and we realize that
spoils." So the soldiers said, "we see
we ought to do this t11ing, Let us do
tl10 officials getting money and 'See it
'It at once." "But," I said, "what are
passing back and forth, but we have
you going to do afterwards?" "Let us
nothing of it; we have 110 share in
1iave a republic." "A republic," I
it." Which shows again the funda•
said, "Do you lmow what a republic
mental feeling of socialism that there
is'/" "Oh yes. A place where everyls in China from the lowest official to
·one has a right to speak." ,,.Well, if
the highest official. In China when•·
that's your idea of a republic then per- ever anyone gets a promotion, a birth·
1iaps we may have 460 millions of reday, or any kind of advancement or
1rnbl!cs ln C11ina." Bnt t1ie people
anything that brings increase to him
said to me, and I think the events will
or to any member of the family, he is
prove the wisdom of their choice, "We
expected to share it somewhat with
Will arrange and we will settle the maall the members of his family; and
-cl1inery of om· government as necesthe soldiers felt that in this new ordel'
sity arises, but we feel we must put of things others were getting a share
upon ourselves a spur all the time, beof t11e spoils and they had not had
cause if we do not we will get interesttheir share. So that was the reason
ed in other tl1ings and we will leave
for the mutiny.
the government to itself." Therefore,
In spite of this and the other sporathey made t1Jls change,
dic disturbances, which we would wish
I lived in the city tlrnre in October,
were not so, it is, however, an unde•
November and December when we
niable fact that this revolution has
were 11earlng reports from the centre, been apcompllslied with less violence
''.Don't be anxious."
and bloodshed than any before, not
You can see how wonderfully it has only in the history of China, but I
been done. Even the robber troops, think in the history of any nation ot
bandits who were infesting the country this size in all the world (applause).
1vithheld their hands from Injuring
Then we have had other advance
any foreigner and hone In all this time movements. You have been told that
has bee~jured; no charitable )nstl· the Chinese idea of the Republic is
tutlon 1rns been injured; nothing has not to give everyone the franchise as
6
FORD HALL FOLKS
you have it here, but to make it a limited franchise.
And limited very
strictly indeed. Because It was not
only the person who could merely relld
and write, but the person who had
completed the common school education; in fact, if the bill goes through
which is now before the different assemblies, it will be a high school education that will qualify a person to
vote. And not only as you have it in
your own Constitution that people who
have been in State's prison shall not
vote, but in our Constitution It is the
fact that any prison offence disfranchises a man.
And then we hear of women voting.
In the general loosening of the bond
the women, also, have come forward;
and many women have become anarchists. Even one of my own girls became a bomb maker against my
wishes, She said she was so filled
with a desire to do something for her
country that she thought she could at
least carry bombs from Tien-Tsin to
Peking. We heard in middle China of
girls who went to the different commanders and asked to be given unifortns and arms. But as these girls
were largely women who still have
the old compressed feet it was not
surprising that the commander said
that he thought it was not best to give
them a rifle and unifol'm because, assuredly, if they attempted to shoot the
ordinary rifle the recoil would lrnocl{
them over.
Some of the women in Canton Province and a few others did come forward and say they desired to have
the suffrage together with the men.
But it must be miderstood that there
are not very many women who can
pass, in China, the requirements for
suffrage, For, although we have had
in China from time immemorial educated women and cultivated women,
women of high executive ability, In
the main the work of the women has
been in the home-circle and reading
and writing has been an accomplishment, not an absolute necessity with
her for advancement in her sphere of
life. Until we are able to get more
teachers (we are constantly turning
out staffs of teachers but we are not
able to produce enough for our needs),
we cannot make education in the new
schools absolutely compulsory.
What wlll be done in the coming
election when we select our delegates
who shall frame the constitution, who
shall represent the provinces and
make a government for the whole of
Cblna, what will then be done with
the women? I cannot say.
vVhen women shall have more education, when they shall und/erstand
what it is that they are doing we will
have our women comirig forward to
take the vote as you are beginning to
do it het·e in the United States; but
remember, friends, your women here
Jn the United States have had education for many years and for the last
ten years perhaps as much in the way.
of colleges, in the way of higher educational advantages as men have had·
and our women are not yet equal t~
that standard and I feel, friends that
although you have many well-me~ning
people who desire to go to us and to
urge our women to grasp at the privileges of suffrage, yet I think It is a
case of trying to make the corn grow
a little faster and it will be better
to wait a little while until our women
know better what they are to do before urging them to grasp the vote,
And yet the lack of ·the vote does not
mean that the Chinese women do not
exercise a very great and real influence upon the political life of the
country.
Just a word now about the philosophy of woman's position in China according to our old ideas; and out of
the old will grow the new. You all
know of the doctrine of duality which
has influenced China since the days of
Confucius. It was that this whole
world was kept in order by the Influences of two opposing forces. Sometimes people have translated these as
being force and matter. In the Chinese life they were typified by light
and darkness. It was sunshine and
rain; it was the sun and the earth.
They figured that the sun in the Heavens alone by itself would produce
nothing, but shining upon the earth
the earth brought forth Its produce
and thus the joint influence of the sun
and the earth made the universe a living thing. Or again it is said that although the sun's rays were hot yet
heat alone was not sufli'clent to accomplish anything; there must be the
action of water. With the sun's rays
shining through the water the different vegetation grew and brought forth
green to feed the world. Now remember, that was one· of our great ideas
in the philosophy of Chinese life. Confucius said, "In this same way in the
family life there is the father and the
mother. The two together working
together make up the family." It is
not so unlike your Christian doctrine
where you say "Male and female ere-
FORD HALL FOLKS
then be done with
annot say.
oltall have more eduev shall und!erstand
1~y are doing we will
1 coming forward to
you are beginning to
2 United States; but
's. your women here
1les have had educa,ars and for the last
; as much in the way
2 way of higher edu•
i,s as men have had;
1 re not yet equal to
l I feel, friends, that
, many well-meaning
~ to go to us and to
o grasp at the prlviyet I think it Is a
make the corn grow
ti it will be better
ile until our women
they are to do be- ,
to grasp the vote.
>f ·the vote does not
nese women do not
mat and real lnfluulitical life of the
about the phllosomiUon in China acideas; and out of
the new. You all
ne of duality which
a since the days of
s that this whole
order by the influ,iug forces. Some( ran slated these as
atter. In the Chie typified by light
was sunshine and
nu and the earth.
,e sun in the Heavlf would produce
g upon the earth
forth its produce
1fluence of the sun
the universe a Iivit is said that al·
,1ys were hot yet
1 • suflfoient
to ac•
lliere must be the
ith the sun's rays
water the differand brought forth
,rld. Now rememf our great ideas
Chinese life. Consame way in the
he father and the
together working
1e family."
It is
'.hrlstian doctrine
: and female ere·
1
7
ated He them In the beginning and the suppression of opium than was
the twain shall be one," Woman did done under the Manchu dynmity two
not occupy so high a position as she years ago, and that was a marvelous
does in modern times with your pres• thing, Remember that you in the beent education; but the woman was ginning of your Republic had your own
given a tremendous power through troubles before you settled down to a
her motherhood; through motherhood perfect understanding of your circumthe woman had power equal with the stances; and perhaps you may have
father over the entire family and in some trouble In the future (applause).
control of all the children, the sons
IE there are any questions you would
like to ask I would be very glad to
included.
Now to return to this philosophy, give a few moments to answering
We have this philosophy of the dual them.
principle of the man and the woman;
the two co-operating together to make
QUESTIONS.
the perfect unit of the family which
is the basis of all political organizaQ. 'l'o what extent does the speaker
tions. With this dual principle we think that the missionary influence In
have also the teaching of the great China has been helpful in bringing
philosopher, who says this:
"The about the present change?
great principles of nature are feminine
A. The missionaries have done a
in their action. Water has always great deal of , educational work in
stood for the feminine principle'." , He China and educational work has helped
said, "Look at water, it may come in people to understand the change going
an overpowering torrent and may
on in other countries and the way in
crush and may destroy, but," he said, which people make their voice heard
"that ls not its normal action, The in other countries. Some people ask
normal action of water is that it comes whether this missionary influence was
down so softly like a stream as it not paramount in bringing about thif\
comes down a gentle slope; it curls change, I cannot honestly say that I
around every angle, it fits !tseH to
think it was because I think It was the
every hollow, It does not brealc and political, the economic pressure toyet, by its gently solvent power it gether with the translation, the enorsmooths the angles, It smooths the mous translation of this miscellaneous
outlines, -it comes to the level and it literature which has been the main
covers all the unevenesses below so,"
thing; but the economJ.c and political
he said "the man who would be great pressure has been the thing that has
in the ~vorld must get that permeating caused the ·people to look at matters
action and by graciousness and hy
In a different way.
winsomeness win the hearts of the
Q. What Is the official language of
people the reason of the people, China?
becau;e," he said, "if you coerce
A. The official language of China
people it is very much like · the old has always been the Mandarin dialect.
proverb you have that 'A man con• Out or the 18 main provinces of China
vlnced against his .will is of the same 15 speal, only the Mandarin dialect.
opinion still.'" So we find these two
Q. ·wm the people of China develop
great princlples-tl'ie dual principle of as quicldy as events will call for theil'
philosophy and the feminine action of development?
the great forces of nature; and with
A. Necessity, you know, compels
these two I think you will find that people to do many things and we have
we will develop our idea of woman'a been under the pressure of necessity
work in a way which shall make that and were it not for the very great nework greater than it has ever been cessity we should not have moved as
before, so that her power may be felt fast as we have even now.
not only in the home but In the whole
Q. Are there many Jews in China?,
social and political organization.
A. Now, friends, that is a very
One of the greatest proofs of the sensible question . (applause). '\117hoprogress of the pcwple Is in the sup- ever aslrnd that que·st1011 has been
pression of the opium traffic wlllch reading history, Vve have had a flourhas gone on steadily and with greater ishing colony of Jews In one of tlie
vigor than ever, even through the provinces for many thousands ol' years.
change of organization, and I think we We do not know just when they came,,
will find that when we come to the but we lmow tlrnt from the year 700 on
next convention on June 1st the peo- there was a very flourishing Jewish
ple will have gone even farther with community. The Jews in China have
8'
FORD HALL FOLKS
never been persecuted as they have
been elsewhere. But year by year they
have lost their old' customs and only
some twenty years ago they deliberately disbanded their last synagogue,
the best relics of which are in the
' British museum and when some .of
their learned brethren came over and
offered to take some of them back
into Palestine to learn again the .Jewish religion they made answer that
they were quite satisfied to become·
Chinese.
Q. Is the Chinese nation at the
present time strong enough to grapp.le
with the Russian Bear and drive him
(T)Ut of territory where. he does mit be.long?
A. Well, a good many of our Chi- ,
nese people think so. They are sending troops all the time to the Nortrr,
but it is not the question of Russia
alone, it ls England back of R'tlssla.
That's tfie question.
Q. Do you think it is the spirit of a
republic to deprive certain men from
voting?
A. Of course, the Idea of the republic has been in China not exactly the
same idea as here that every unedu-·
cated man can rule every other man.
We desire to make a government of
the educated, the well-behaved-not·
the man society has to look after.
Q Does the use of opium fn China
<'late back very far'!
A. Oh no. The use of opium In
China dates back to the encroachments,
of the Englsh (applause);: that Is a
matter of very recent history.
Q_ How about the Chinese morally?
A. Do yon mean trade morals or individual morals? Indfvidually if we
compare those of the Interior they
compare very favorably with the other
peoples;, but in the outer ports where
the very worst of tl\e ·west meets the,
very worst of the East the morals are,
not to be admired.
Q.
How ls religion organized in·
China? Is it by the, Government or as:
In this country?
A. Oh,, the Govemment !\.as nothing
to do with religion; every man ls free,
to worship as he chooses.
Q. What is your opinion of our laws:
restricting Chinese immigration to our·
country?
· A.. Probably if I were, In your place:
I would do the same-.
Q. How far has music and. art pro••
15ressed in China?
i A. Art has progressed to a very
great degree, but In the matter of music we have yet a great deal before us ..
Q. How did the Chinese obtain their
education before the, school system.
was started?
A. They had to obtain their educa-•
tron as best they could by private,
teachers or schools. Examinations;
were held by the Government but the
teaching was what was obtained by
learning wherever they could.
Q. Is capital punishment stm pram-•
tlced in China?:
A. It Is.
Q. Are there any Rlaves in China?'
A. The slave In China! There Is a.
certain amount of domestic· slavery·,.
that ls, the cf11ldren of very poor par•·
ents are bound out to other people,
who can take care of them until· they·
are grown. They are mostly girls that
are thus bound' out and at five or six.
tl'ley must be- given some education and
at 16 or 17 a husband must be found'.
for them so that they shall have m
family of their own. Ours ls not a
perpetual slavery as waa the slavery
here In olden Unies ..
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