CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY ARCHIVE
Section I: East Asia Missions

Part 21: Periodicals for South, Central and West China, 1899-1970, and Japan, 1905-1941, including Papers of Fukien Conferences, 1906-1937

Publisher's Note with Extracts

Section I Part 21 is devoted to periodicals for China and Japan together with Papers of CMS Fukien conferences, 1906-1937.

The periodicals we include for China come from the Home Papers of the CMS archive now held in Special Collections, University of Birmingham Library. Most of the periodicals cover a major part of the twentieth century and are therefore invaluable for researchers studying the development of CMS work in China in the early part of the century, the effects of two World Wars and their aftermath. The periodicals included are:

• Fukien Diocesan Magazine retitled Fukien News, 1917-1949
• Light and Life Magazine of the Dublin University Missions, 1935-1970
• From Month to Month (newsletter of the Hong Kong Church Missionary Association), 1899-1906
• Fukien Christian University News, 1930 and 1932
• Fukien Star, 1924 and 1925
• Prayer Cycle and Newsletter for the CMS Chekiang Mission retitled The Chekiang Newsletter,
  1928-1950
• The Kwangsi Hunan Newsletter and successors, 1904-1952
• Chengtu News Letter, 1936-1946
• The Bulletin of the Diocese of Western China and successors, 1904-1958

The periodicals included for Japan also come from the CMS Home papers, held at Birmingham University Library. The periodicals listed below are included:

• The Church’s Call to Action, 1919-1922
• Tokyo News Letter, 1910-1928
• CMS Japan Quarterly, 1905-1941

These periodicals for China and Japan contain interesting articles related to the work of the missions. They include accounts of itinerations by missionaries, reports on hospitals, schools and colleges, work among women, details on local festivals and religions, descriptions of fighting and damage incurred during periods of war and details on post war reconstruction. Information is provided on the arrival, departure, retirement and death of missionaries and bishops. Also included are photographs, maps, statistics related to hospitals, schools and evangelisation and lists of contributions to the mission funds.

The following notes and extracts provide more details:

Fukien Diocesan Magazine retitled Fukien News, 1917-1949

Contents for January 1923 include:

• An editorial
• The Bishop’s Letter by John Hind
• News of Trinity College by L C Conlin
• An article on the arrival of the Southern Army in Foochow City by H T McCurry
• News re converts in the mission station, Lienkong by M A Onyon
• Notes on itineration in Longtau, Hiongliang and Saloh by K M Griggs
• An account of the arrival of the Southern Army in Kutien City by Miss A A Bridges, CEZMS
• A description of the flood at Fuan on September 29th 1922
• News from Ningteh by J C Clarke
• A description of a visit to a leper settlement by Florence E Oatway
• A report on the medical work in Kienning and on Kienning Kindergarten School
• Notes on the “City of Peace”, Chungan by A S Weekes
• Notes regarding Hinghwa and Sienyu
• Items of general news on missionaries in Fukien

Contents for May 1940 include:

• Editor’s Notes
• A note by the Bishop
• Notes on the arrival of new missionaries
• Articles on bishops of China
• Episcopal visits to Lienkong by C Bryant
• Reminiscences from Loyuan by K S Loader
• Notes on the Red Cross
• A report on Kienow

The following extract from Fukien News Summer 1941 gives a missionary’s impressions of Peking in 1940:

“…. It is a thought provoking experience for a foreigner to go from war-time, progressive, Western-looking South China, to the atmosphere of Peking. They are old-fashioned there, with their ornate weddings and funerals, their Temple worship, their long-gowned men, and their love of flowers, birds, and gardens. After the regimentation and discipline of the South they are even a little childish. The cherry trees are in bloom in the Central Park, the peonies at the Pei Hai, and the whole population drops its tasks and turns out to do them honour. But such childlikeness is precious in these days. Especially precious in China, so much in danger of forgetting the old dignity and respect for the individual, in the face of the stress of circumstances. The Northerners are poorer than the Southern folk; famine, flood and climate have always made that so. They only eat twice a day, and then rarely more than steamed bread and cabbage soup. But they are richer in the gracious things of life.

Peking is probably the most peaceful corner of occupied China. The Central Government’s programme for the restoration of old buildings has been continued. Life goes on very much as usual for the average citizen except that there are more forms to fill in. One wonders whether in the midst of the turmoil of this war, leading as it is to such strides of modernisation and Westernisation in free China, Peking may not be being left – a little island of culture in which both old and new matter, and where people are comfortable and leisured enough to guard the heritage of the past, where Chinese ways of doing things, are still held in respect, and where they still believe that China’s ancient culture has a contribution to make to the modern world. And one wonders whether when peace comes again, there may not come out of this old city something new: a modern Chinese culture, rooted in the national genius, and not precariously based on the superficial study of Western philosophies, and yet answering modern questions….”

Light and Life - Magazine of the Dublin University Missions, 1935-1970 was published twice a year. It gives general news and reports on the work carried out by the Dublin University Far Eastern Mission working in Hong Kong, Malaya and India and the Dublin University Mission to Chota Nagpur in India.

Contents for Michaelmas 1954 include:

• News on the missionaries – movements, resignations, retirement, sickness
• Extracts from “Prayer for China 1954” and “The Church in China Today” by Margaret Kiesow- updates on Christianity in China
• News on China from the World Council of Churches
• News of the Chota Nagpur Mission by R S Peters
• A description of the hospital in the Chota Nagpur Mission
• News on the Hassardganj Christian Compound by Elizabeth Ferrar
• “Here and There and Roundabout” – news on the missionaries of the Chota Nagpur Mission

The following extract is from ‘Prayer for China’, 1954:

“Life in China continues to be lived in an atmosphere which is a strange combination of enthusiasm and fear. The churches maintain their witness under considerable difficulties, but with less of what might be regarded as active persecution than was felt a year or so ago.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Constitution, but this should not be understood as meaning more than permission to attend regular religious services and meetings, provided no other duty imposed by the regime conflicts with such attendance. Freedom of religion definitely does not mean that one’s whole attitude to life may be governed by Christian principles, if these in any way conflict with the teaching of Marx-Leninism as interpreted by the present leaders….”

The Prayer Cycle & Newsletter for the CMS Chekiang Mission for April-June 1932 contains a description of a doctor’s work among the civilians affected by the war between China and Japan:

“In response to an appeal for medical workers I have recently spent three weeks as surgeon, in an emergency hospital for wounded civilians, well within the danger zone of the struggle between the Chinese and Japanese armies in the suburbs of Shanghai….

On arriving in Shanghai I reported to the head quarters of the Shanghai Citizens Emergency Committee, and was heartily welcomed, as the scope of the relief work had broadened to such an extent, that those already engaged in it could not cope with the demand for assistance. The outlines of the relief work were kindly explained to me and then I was conducted on a tour of inspection, to the various camps, where refugees had been concentrated. I cannot describe here the squalor and pestilential condition of some of these places, which, in several cases, were situated up nauseating alleys. Those conducted by various religious bodies were all that could be desired, but outside of these, there were only two, one in the Chinese YMCA building, and the other in a large building in course of erection, that were really fit for human habitation. The Committee had done what it could, in the emergency, to find places, but the rush of terror stricken refugees was so tremendous that it was impossible to do other than they had. However, medical supervision was daily rendered, and inoculations freely given, to prevent the outbreak of epidemics, which would have spread rapidly. Some forty-five of these camps were scattered over the Settlement containing about fifty thousand civilian refugees.

But my interest was in the medical side of the refugee work. Consequently, I was taken out to the Jade Buddha Temple, where the head monk had kindly offered commodious quarters for the purpose of carrying on an emergency hospital. It was most admirably adapted for the purpose being situated well within the danger zone, and easily reached by wounded civilians from the war area. Some 150 beds had been collected, and were already filled with refugees suffering from every imaginable forms of gun shot, shrapnel and shell wounds. But there were no facilities for operating. A vacant room, yes, but no auto-clave dressings, or instruments and no surgeon till my arrival. A fine body of graduate nurses, girl high school students, medical students from the devastated Woosuug Medical College, all eager to do their best to relieve the sufferings of their unfortunate countrymen. So they looked to me to equip the operating room, and start on the serious work awaiting….”

The Kwangsi Hunan Newsletter and successors, 1904-1952

In May 1908 its title was The Newsletter CMS Central China Mission and Tokyo Student Mission

Contents for May 1908 include:

• Editorial Notes, including news on the Anti-Opium Campaign and missionary news
• Notes on the number of Chinese students in Tokyo
• A note on the picture reproduced on the front cover of the magazine
• A description of the way of life of women in Kweilin
• A supplement containing news on the Tokyo Students
  

The following extract describes the women of Kweilin:

“…. Our station here has now been opened nearly ten years, and in all that time we have only had two female baptisms; one that of a little girl (since dead), and the other that of an old woman who is now acting as Bible woman…. We need helpers also – single ladies with, if possible, private means who would come out to work amongst the women and children…. I always thought Chinese women were very busy, and had to work hard, and had very little time for learning to read, but such is not the case. Let me give you a little glimpse into the life of an ordinary respectable Kweilin woman, the daily life of a small tradesman’s wife or daughter.

On rising in the morning she has not even to dress herself, for she goes to bed with all her clothes on, and gets up ready dressed for the day…. Her hair is done up once a week, therefore that calls for but little attention. There is no bed making, not even a pillow to shake up, for her bed consists of a plank with a wooden box for a pillow, and just one thick wadded quilt for covering. Once a week she may sweep the middle of her floor of beaten earth, which of course can never be washed, but the corners are absolutely neglected – so this occupies a very short time…”

The Kwangsi Hunan Diocesan Newsletter, 1933

Included are:

• News on mission stations and staff
• Letter from the Bishop
• Report on the Synod of 1932
• A description of work in Yutinghsu by M C Cannell
• Details on Kweilin Medical work in 1932
• A description of evangelical work in Hengcho by R N Bland
• An account of a tour in Taochow by Elsie M Holden
• A list of prayers for the week
• Special contributions paid to the fund
• A list of the Secretaries

This extract from the issue for April 1933 describes Elsie M Holden’s journey to Taochow:

“School holidays have afforded the long-looked-for opportunity of paying a visit to some of the country stations. The journey began with the usual three days overland by chair to Taochow. This time it was done over ice-covered roads, which made carrying, for the bearers, a matter of real danger. One walked for long distances where it was too dangerous to be carried, and as leather shoes were quite impossible of negotiation in some parts, I had the novel experience of propelling myself along on straw sandals tied on to Chinese cloth shoes, and was quite surprised at the success of this first attempt! Naturally, this method of procedure for all of us was slow, and not accomplished without many falls, and so it became necessary to pass three nights in wayside inns instead of the usual two….”

The Bulletin of the Diocese of Western China, 1904-1958

The issue for January 1924 includes:

• Letter from the Bishop
• Diocesan Snapshots – including the description of the looting of Suiting, work in a girls’ school, local superstitions
• Plea for more missionaries
• Evangelical news from the missions stations
• A description of a Chinese wedding
• News on missionaries
• Editorial notes
• Financial Statement for the quarter

The following is an extract from A Chinese Letter, a letter written by the Catechist, Mr Yang stationed at the city of Lin Shui:

“From the 29th of the first month to the present time (August) there have been eight fights here; on the second occasion soldiers entered the city and slew over 1,000 people and stripped the place….

Outside the city every place and market was full of brigands, who robbed and dragged off people…. In the fifth month the 37th Division of soldiers passed along and were quartered (on the people)…. every man whose face was seen, whether old or young, was impressed (to carry). In the sixth moon Yen Teh Chi’s troops entered the city and pillaged….”

CMS Japan Quarterly, 1905-1941

This periodical, published four times a year by the missionaries of the CMS Japan mission, contains fascinating information on the mission stations in Japan.

Early issues contain reports from the mission station, schools and hospitals, together with extra articles on related subjects and statistics of the Nippon Sei Ko Kwai (the Anglican Church of Japan).

Issue July 1909 contains an interesting article by Loretta L Shaw on the graduation of girls from the Bishop Poole Memorial Girls’ School:

“The greatest event in a Japanese girl’s life is her wedding but next to that, and perhaps hardly less in importance, is her graduation day. Everywhere in Japan along the narrow paths between the rice fields, on the lonely mountain roads and in the crowded cities are the school girls with their dark red skirts and their laughing faces. And from the first proud day when as a tiny dot of six or seven she dons her “hakama” (the school skirt prescribed by government) and trots off to school with her little bag of books and a tiny china box containing her lunch, all through her ten or twelve years of school life she looks forward to the crowning glory of her graduation.

The graduating class this year is the largest in the history of the school and the thirty-one girls in it are of all ranks, daughters of the rich and of the poor, of the “samurai” and of the workman, for in school all meet on common ground and there is no distinction made of class or rank….”

The following extract is from the April 1911 issue and gives a vivid description by S Heaslett of the funeral of the Emperor of Japan:

“The writer was fortunate to secure a ticket of admission to the Aoyama Parade Ground, through a Japanese friend. This, while it did not allow of entrance into the Pavilion in which the Emperor and Foreign Envoys took part in, and thousands of invited guests viewed, the last funeral ceremonies, afforded a near and unique view of the entrance and departure of the Emperor and the Foreign Envoys, and of the complete funeral procession….

There passed in front of me Buddhist priests in purple and pink, black and buff, orange and blue; Shinto priests in black and white robes wearing their queer shaped ancient style hats; Soldiers and Sailors and Civil Officials in dazzling gold and silver braided coats, jingling with medals and decorations; Civilians in evening coats, new and old, who, between the rough walking on the newly stoned road and their starched fronts, made slow and not always dignified progress towards the Pavilion. Occasionally a woman’s figure completely draped in all black European mourning hobbled by, but women were few….

Nearer and nearer came the sound of mourning, and at last we could see the Imperial Funeral Car. It was preceded by musicians who played a quaintly plaintive air on curious reed instruments, and was drawn by four oxen led by farmers from the village of Yase, near Kyoto, whose immemorial right it has been to perform these last duties to the Emperor. There were no springs in the Car and it creaked heavily as it moved along flanked on the right and left by men famous for exploits for their country on land and sea….

After the car came in procession hosts of Military and Naval Officers, Members of Parliament, and Civil officials. They glittered and gleamed in gold and silver braid and the waving of the feathers in their hats as they hurried past was as the waving of pampas grass in the Autumn wind….”

Issue July 1915 contains:

• Notes on Hokkaido by D M Lang
• A report from Nagasaki including a report on the ordination of a new deacon by A B Hutchinson
• “Notes from our Boys School” describing the celebration of Christmas Day at the school by C H B Woodd
• A report on Momoyama Boys School with details on the latest conversions by Sheldon Painter
• A report on the work in Osaka, describing a visit to a Grammar School in the country by O Julius
• A description of the National Evangelistic Campaign in Osaka by Loretta L Shaw
• A report on a accident at the Hojo coal mine in Naogata in the Kokura District by A C J Horne
• “Seed sowing in Nagasaki” -news on evangelistic work in Nagasaki by Ethel A Perronet Sells
• An account of a trip to Minamata by F M Freeth
• A report from Ikebukuro College by Hilda Heaslett
• News from the Tokushima district
• A report on a new conversion by Jessie C Gillespy

The following extract is from an account of F M Freeth’s trip to Minamata, May 1915:

“…. We decided to spend a night at Misumi, instead of rousing the household at an unearthly hour on Wednesday. We caught the 4.55 pm train from Kumamoto on the 11th, and reached Misumi about 6.45pm, where we put up for the night at an inn convenient both to station and ferry.

There were very few people in the inn, and after a good night we were quite ready to continue our journey to Minamata. The boat left at 11am. There was a fairly stiff head-breeze, but we did not think the sea at all rough. We shared the small deck-cabin with three Japanese…. On account of the wind we were an hour late in reaching our destination. It was 3.50pm when we stopped, and all had to get into a sampan to be rowed ashore. The sampan was pretty crowded as there was a good deal of luggage and cargo, as well as about 30 passengers. On landing at the pier, Miss Freeth was welcomed to Minamata by Ogata San, Yokuta San and Akaboshi San.

They seemed very pleased to see her again. There were several school-children at the pier to welcome her, and after we had seen our luggage off by “kuruma”, we formed quite a triumphal procession to Miss Freeth’s home. On the way we were met by more children who attached themselves to the escort….

When we got to the house about 5 o’clock, we were welcomed by several more ladies, and given Japanese tea and biscuits. The “aisatsu” took some time and the neighbouring children were much entertained by all that went on.

…The children seem much better behaved than the Kumamoto ones, and when we went out for a walk the day after our arrival, we were not stared at nor followed about.

We hear that vegetables are not sold in the shops. Everyone grows his own, so Miss Freeth will have to depend on what her Japanese friends send her as presents. The fish, of course, is fresh and there is plenty of it, but there is no meat to be had….”

Later issues, such as the one for September 1926 commence with an Editorial detailing news in the mission and in Japan in general, followed by articles on events and politics in Japan; News from the Stations describing the latest news from the CMS stations; News In Brief giving Japanese news regarding school children, women workers, the Temperance League of Japan, factory acts, vice regulations; Letters to the Editor, news on missionaries such as resignations; Obituaries; a list of the missionaries with their addresses in the dioceses of Japan.

The Editorial for September 1926 summarizes news of the preceding three months:

“….The factory laws passed in 1923, are at length being put into operation. Hours of labour are to be shortened in most factories to 10, and in three years’ time night work will be prohibited for women and for minors under 16.

In 1931, the silk-yarn factories will also have to fall into line and observe the 11 hours’ working day, inclusive of one hour’s rest.

The next item for thankfulness is the result of the persistent Christian fight against legalized vice. According to the new rules the police are no longer to act as agents to prevent the escape of “white slaves” from the dens of licensed evil. Contracts between the girls and their employers are to be considered less binding than they have hitherto been regarded.

Thirdly, a Bill has been passed controlling “soshi” ie, youths, who, under the misnomer “patriots”, take the law into their own hands, break up meetings, and even violently attack people whose opinions differ from their own. These “soshi” are the Japanese equivalent of the Ku Klux Clan, although they wear no distinctive dress. Since the earthquake their activities have increased. Henceforth they are to be controlled.

Fourthly, there is to be an improvement in the educational standard of the police force. Henceforth recruits must be graduates from the Middle Schools. Police in Japan have greater powers and a far wider sphere than in the West, they act as film censors, factory inspectors etc. Therefore this step to raise the educational standard of the force is an excellent one….”

The following extract is taken from the September 1926 issue and is written by Miss Loretta L Shaw who describes the changes taking place in Japan:

“BROADCASTING A year ago last autumn, the restriction forbidding civilians to use radio was removed. The invention was quickly taken up by the people, thousands of licenses were issued and three broadcasting companies formed….

WOMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS One of the most striking signs of the times is the rapid growth of women’s organizations and their gradual tendency to unite in one association, as in America. The women’s clubs of Tokyo and Osaka are thus becoming powerful levers to influence public opinion, and the more advanced newspapers whole-heartedly support this movement. The women call attention to the fact that though the Manhood Suffrage Bill is a step in the right direction, yet it has given no voice or scope to the thirty million women of Japan, and therefore cannot be called universal suffrage….

DRESS REFORM The women’s organisations are also bringing about a much needed reform in regard to their homes and their manner of dress. For the past thirty years men have adopted western dress and office buildings and equipment as being much more suitable for modern business, and now the women, led mainly by graduates of mission schools who have gone abroad, are beginning to adopt the same western style for themselves and their children.....”

The Papers of CMS Fukien Mission include Minutes of Conferences, 1906-1912; reports of the CMS and CEZMS Fukien Church Day Schools with statements of accounts, 1912-1934; minutes of the Fukien Anglican Mission conference and of the committees of the Diocesan Board of Foreign Missions, 1923-1937; minutes of the Fukien Women’s Conference, 1913 and 1917; Annual Reports of the Dublin University Fukien Mission, 1948 and 1950 with General Report, Women’s Auxiliary Report and China’s Children’s Helping Band, 1938, 1946 and 1947. There are also various interesting papers related to Fukien Christian University, 1916-1935.

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