4 Chinese Students in America a Factor in Missions at Home Their Part in Controversy Between the Native Church aiwi the Missionaries; Criticism of Bible Revision (By tile Religious Humbler) They. .ire fourteen hundred Chinese students at present in the United States, of whom a large proportion are Christians; and they have a curious and by no means unimportant relation to the missionary enterprise in their native land. These students are feel ing and expressing, in an increasing degree, their responsibility for China's future, religious as well as political. They are organized In this country as the "Chinese Students' Alliance" and as the "Chinese Students' Chris tian Association." The former Is en gaged in various forms of service for the homeland and the latter does really noteworthy work for Chinese along Christian lines, both in this country and across the Pacific. The students maintain their own maga zine in this country, the Lieu Mel Tsing Nlen. Chinese Question Missionary Trans lation The keen interest which the stu dents take in the affairs of the Church in China, as well as in the republic. Is shown by the magazine's comments upon the controversy which has arisen over the new revision of the Bible in the Mandarin dialect. The Chinese pastors, who are organized into an association the name of which when translated is "The Christian Volunteer Army," have published a criticism of the work of the translators, who are a hoard of eminent foreign missionaries, representing various denominations. Each of these translators is assisted py a native scribe, or "teacher." The pastors say that the native church and ministry have been Ignored In the translation and that these "hirelings." who often know only the letter of the text and not its spirit, have had an undue importance in this work so vital to the future of the cause of Christianity in China. The situation sizes up in about this way to the Cihnese students in Amer ica. as expressed in their magazine: "We have, on the one hand, a "na tive literati." who knows Chinese, but chiefly its morbid and old style, whose Interest is the pay he gets, whose gen tlemanly courtesy and ignorant indif ference combined make him a splen did "clerk." working merely as a tool. On the other hand, we have some men whose Chinese is by no means inferior to those 'literati* (us is shown in their published writings), but whose interest goes beyond the pay. who re gard the Scriptures are the Holy Writ and the foundation of what is most sacred to them, who regard the ""hurch as their own and the Bible as the authority of their own Church. They see the possible misinterpreta tion of certain phrases and certain wording and unhesitatingly raise pro test against any points that are seem ingly correct but could be better. The are unwilling to let anything pass until the.v see the justification for it. The Bible is the Book from which they preach and the source of their in spiration. They certainly have the right to have a share in its trans lation. "Now. both these classes do not know any Hebrew or Greek. Which should be chosen as the co-worker in translating the Bible? Ts It fair to set the former against the latter? is it fair to be satisfied with the former help?" Chinese Scholars for China's Bible The fair-mindedness of the Chinese students in American colleges is shown by the admonition to the pastors at home—and, avowedly, these articles are written for consumption in China: "To our pastors may we suggest that if missionaries appear to he un sympathetic, or 'having too much air' fto use the Chinese expression), it is safer always to give them the benefit of the doubt. It is their heads and not their hearts that err. Moreover, the statements made in Chinese in the name of the missionaries are often the work of some 'native helper." Mis sionaries are\ at the mercy of their inability of expressing themselves in written Chinese. One who reads the article written by the missionaries in English on these questions will not be slow to realize the difference. We must not forget our own limitations. "U'e are not yet equipped to do inde pendent work. "Finally, let us remember that the PLAY BERG PRINCESS --- i4S TO GOWN, Royal Headgear Already For Romper Day Coronation Ceremonies— Now For a Proper Coiffure! The Crown of Playberg is ready unci waiting for the coronation ceremonies of Romper Day. The big open-air play, produced by some 500 odd youngsters to tell In sons and story all about Harrisburg's playgrounds—"The Princess of Play berg"—will he the feature of Romper Day, Tuesday, at Reservoir. That goes without saying. The stage is being set. To-day car penters began the construction of the forty foot platform with its comfy throne, on the grass slopes of the park just east of the bandstand. Final instructions to the playground instruc tors who will help make the event his torical in city park department his tory have been given; the youngsters Bringing Up Father $ $ ® (0) # ® By McManus 1 j * <lNhlE A] | | MONAHAN - ) HAVEN'T E J N=, ' S I* * PUOnN ' ARM? "EVEM HAVE. SEEM Vou FER MONTHS - | ,y T tOOLONT k ] VERY CARE- DOCTOfVb IN |* M <OIN'ISACK TOTHF 1 FRIDAY EVENING, BUUUSBUR 2 <dsHib TEIfiGRAPS AUGUST 27, 1915. work of collaboration can never be ideal. The translation of the Bible of Protestant Germany was the work of a Deutsche monk, and the translation of the English Bible was the work of English scholars. Not until we pro duce scholars and a number of schol ars who drink deep at the springs of classical training and are also well grounded in our own literature and language can we expect to have a Bible that we can claim 'to be our own'." The "Christian Volunteer Army" Nobody understands better than these Chinese Christians, who stand In the detached position of observers, the problems of the Church in China. They sense the significance of the growth of the national spirit among the Chinese disciples and their occa sional impatience at foreign control. They caution their fellows at home to go slowly, and yet they show sym pathy with them. As T. T. Eew says: "The Chinese Christians are awak ened. They realize their responsibili ties. They are perhaps, in some cases, over-self-conscious and over-anxious. Sometimes they make blunders, some times they misunderstand the mission aries or misrepresent themselves. They may over-emphasize some petty points at the expense of the essentials. They nny make blunders and even at times lack the sense of humor. But these weaknesses should not be judged too harshly. A workinginan who is making errors but steadily working is better than one who is sleepy and do ins nothing. If heresy is dangerous, then indifference is fatal. The doc trine of interest' is just as vital to religious life as it is to t'he educational work." The alertness of the Chinese Church is well represented by "The Christian % olunteer Army." an organization of pastors effected at the time of the framing of the constitution to fight for stiflrage for Christian ministers. When the government appointed a bureau of national history to prepare the his tory of the Chlng dynasty the pastors saw an opportunity "of rendering a valuable service to the Church. They realized that the so-called 'church cases' during the last half-century often involved the question of national dignity. The unjust demands, The shameful dealings some foreign gov ernments had made with China under the pretext of protecting Christian missionaries, have both shattered the respect for the so-called Christian gov ernments and caused unfortunate mis understanding toward Christianity. On preparing the history of the last dynasty the view of the self-conscious 'nationalists' may be one-sided. Preju dice is very likely to have a chance to dominate. The Christian Church may then be branded with a permanent mark by the historian's pen. which is always mightier than the sword. "Petitions were then made to the bureau and suggestions and guidance were offered to the appcinted his torians. They also sent the bureau some Christian literature and re quested that a fair studv from the Christian point of view should be made before giving the permanent stroke of the pen to any point regard ing the Christian Cchurch—her po sition. aim and activities. The petition was accepted." Social Service by Cliinese Christians loung and weak though the Chinese Church may be, hev activities are tak ing many modern forms. Thus, prison preaching is carried on in many Chi nese cities. A social service club ex ists in Peking which does work for the jinricksha men and for the poor children. Chinese students in this country make the laundr.vnien a special field of service, teaching them English and I brif ianity. Several Columbia Uni versity Chinese students teach Bible classes of their fellow-countrymen Street preaching in Chinatown". San Francisco, is also done by students. At the summer student conferences of the Young Men's Christian Asso ciation and Young Women' Christian Association the Chinese delegations are notably active. All the girls who are studying in America on the indemnity fund were delegates to summer con ferences this year at Lake Geneva. Three Chinese were baptized. are rehearsing their parts and the cues. And Miss Evelyn Jovce, who wil take the part of the "Princess" is having anxious, joyous . and even weepy sessions, with the court seams tresses 'tis said. The chances are she hasn't had time to think about her crown—except perhaps, the busy moments she puts in trying out -var ious auburn coiffures that would look best a la glistening crown. The "court smithy" or whatever you call the fellow who makes crowns for kings and queens and princesses and so on—Prof. Harry Johns, of Technical High school in this instance —has been a busy man however. He's devoted much time and thought to his job. It doesn't fall to every man's 3bsJ You Pav ess f° r Better Quality at Miller & Kades I We Offer You a Genuine Homefurnishing Opportunity-Don't Miss It | The greatest money-saving furniture opportunity If ever there was an opportunity to buy with every §: of the entire year! We are now making an absolute inducement in the purchaser's favor, that opportunity ?• clean-up of thonsands of dollars' worth of good, sound* * 8 here, tj* e completeness of variety, the sterling char- * trustworthy, new style furniture, beds, carpets, rugs, '°[ ™ ?° f 0 " low prices andliberal g . . i . j ,i i r .i • . , terms give homefurnishing seekers an extraordinary ® curtains, draperies and other homefurmshmgs—tremend- advantage. Now is the time to buy a complete outfit 1 ously large quantities. at an unusual saving. _ §s | A Wonderful August Sale Value I G - at B*En g i; s k $0 ocrl 1 | F ° r Fireside Rocker I Bed Comcm in White Enamel Finish, and Has 2-inch Con- This 1j( Ij| fe? a good one. You may use it thirty nights and if it does not Home l prove satisfactory you may exchange it. -^arT The Mattress Upholstered in Boston Leather I The mattress is as good as anybody could wish. It has A „ of these Rockers are rjch , ho|stered j,, „, e best f | H a sou top. which assures sohd con,tort, and is covered with Bo>ton lcather _ a fabric that looks for a| , the wor , d , ike §3 !a good grade of ticking. \\ e guarantee it all new material, _ and wi „ wear alnlost as we „ when put to the test of actua| service _ L nilK cin <u ' nirg " The inner construction is in strict accordance with our specifications, ■ n and is first class in every way. 4-Piece Fumed Oak Library Suite They're Actual $14.00 Values j Seats covered with If you will look around and compare styles and qualities, you will go ®°» ton Art Leather readily agree with us that there is nothing elsewhere to equal these w1 | *-•-constructed to last Rockers for less than $14.00. Our price for to-day, as you see is al- Ply |Q|SCT ;? r »sl 0.85 most half their actual value—an opportunity that should make an in- I $Pi {JM I time. To- IQ— stant appeal to almost every home d»o qj " " " morrow only in this city. Our price «p0»OD MILLER and KADES I Furniture Department Store r Cr "'i' 1 1 I ££ 7 NORTH MARKET SQUARE T £x„ I 1 ' J gj j THE ONLY STORE IN HARRISBURG THAT GUARANTEES TO SELL ON CREDIT AT CASH PRICES ] lot to mould a crown. And to-day j official announcement was made that the crown is ready. It's a very effective crown, too; scroll work and a star and so on and it glistens—albeit it is hammered brass—just like real, old gold. EDISON'S EYES AMi RIGHT lt< |)ortod That He Suffers Xo 111 EfTeets From Accident in laboratory Orange. N. J., Aug. 27. —Thomas A. Edison was able to be at work this morning, suffering no ill effects from the mishap at his Sliver Lake labora- Tory, when potash was spattered upon his face. The accident is one that hap pens very frequently in that section where Mr. Edison was at the time and the men there are always prepared for it. The result was that the moment Mr. ' Edison was struck by the liquid wet cloths were clapped to his face and then he bathed h'is face in cold water until the heat, was all gone. None of the potash got into his eyes. I TO ATTEND REUNION Special to The Telegraph New Bloomfleld, Pa., Aug. 27. i About sixty members of Mackinaw Lodge, No. 380, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, will attend the second ! reunion of Odd Fellows at Hershey | Park to-rnorrow. They will go by | automobile. Blain. and Newport lodges will also send large I delegations.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers