HUMAN BLINDNESS In the realm of scientific knowledge the world is in the juncture of a rapid progress. Witness the large number of sciences and scientific societies that are included in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which has just held its seventy-third meeting in the University of Chicago. In the place of seven or eight sciences a few years ago, there are today no less than seventeen separate sciences recognized by this Association. Even such philosophical study as education has lately taken on the scientific garb and formally assumed the title of a science. This is one side of the picture. Turning from the side of "human knowing" to the side of "human doing,' what a contrast we see! It takes no powerful microscope to discover that the average people of today in their daily relationships are just as conservative, blind, prejudized and traditionally-minded, in a word "unscientific" as they have ever been. The great scientists told us that the basic foundations of modern science are: impartiality, objectivity, openmindedness, suspended judgment and verified conclusion. None of these great virtues of science as well as of human conduct has influenced us to any great extent in our thinking and doing, as will be proved by the following occurrences that have come to the writer's notice. As a result of the recent Sunday School survey conducted by the Interchurch World Movement, it was revealed that the status of religious education for young people in this country at large is nothing but alarming. The churches are not paying one-tenth as much attention to it as they ought to. One means of remedying the situation would be to pay the Sunday School teachers as a basis of requiring some special preparations on their part for this important work. Thus a certain rich church in the state of Illinois was requested by the pastor to consider this proposition as a means of improving Sunday School instrucion. The matter was finally referred to the Boad of Deacons. Without the least hesitation this group of venerable people reached the following conclusion: "This church shall not pay its Sunday School teachers, because Sunday School instruc tion is a voluntary service. To have our children receive their religious instruction from hired men-that is something we will be ashamed to do." The question that every sane person wishes to ask is: "What is the difference between paying the pastor and paying the Sunday School teacher? If the adults should have a salaried man to take care of their religious instruction why should not the children?" (To be concluded.) "IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE" Charles D. Hurrey Occasionally one meets a critic who complains that "China is a beggar nation." "It is just one appeal after another for victims of famine, or plague or flood; what is China doing for the world," he inquires, "will there never be an end to these cries for help?" Such critics are poor students of history; they are usually provincial nationalists with well developed miserly instincts. They do not recognize China's contribution to invention, literature and the moral and religious philosophy of the whole world. So shortsighted is their view and so hardened their hearts that they do not realize the significance of China's commercial possibilities or the spiritual achievements of her people. It may not be out of place, however, to ask Chinese students whether the spirit of giving is keeping pace with the pleasure of receiving, as far as the student class is concerned. After four years of study and other privileges in America, Europe or Japan, what is the attitude of Chinese students toward their own people and toward the people of the foreign countries in which they have studied. Too often we hear of students who have received much from their residence abroad, but who are not disposed to sacrifice or serve among their own people; they seem to feel above drudgery and hard work and sometimes declare that their government owes them a living. Such students are a menace to the welfare of any people. Regarding the attitude toward other nations, I have no doubt that a majorty of Chinese students who have studied in Japan enter tain feelings of suspicion and even hatred for the Japanese government. However, having received education from Japan, are they not morally obligated to give their best efforts toward helping Japan solve her vexed problems? Is there any solution to be found in continued social and commercial boycott? Are not the fruits of such spirit alienation of many good friends and a reciprocal feeling of hatred? America is grateful for the friendship with Chinese which has been greatly strengthened by the returning students. The people of China are most generous in declaring that they have received much from the United States and the American people are not slow in recognizing the splendid response of those Chinese who were our fellow students a few years ago; they are to-day boosters of American education, missionary enterprises, industry and trade. Toward Europe the Chinese have always looked for co-operation in certain lines of education and commerce. The ancient universities of England, Scotland, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have to-day scattered throughout China their sons, of Chinese parentage. In the heart of these graduates there is love and respect for their Alma Mater and for European culture. A recent evidence of this esteem is the presence of fifteen hundred Chinese students in France. What can China give to Europe? A labor battalion, two hundred thousand strong, bravely toiled on European soil during the war; generous gifts went forward from the Chinese people for Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. activities. Now European cuture is in danger of extermination through the starvation of students and professors. The World's Student Christian Federation is uniting the students. of the world in relieving the suffering of students in Central Europe. Above the smoke of battle we see the majestic figure of Christ, and in the stillness that has followed the cannonading we hear Him say, "Love your enemies." "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Everyone admires the loyalty with which the Chinese students are contributing to the relief of the famine sufferers and we feel confident that these same students will join heartily with others in rescuing those who are perishing in Europe. WHAT MAGAZINES SAY ABOUT CHINA CHINESE SHALLOWS AND DEEPS By John Foord Asia, February, 1921, pp. 122-124 "In regarding China and the Chinese close at hand, the impression grows on the open-minded observer that we should make better. headway in our efforts to help them if we brought to the business less of the consciousness of superiority . . . Young China has been, perhaps, a little too much disposed to relegate the old civilization and all its institutions to the dust heap. In short, the real Chinese is one with the head of a grownup man and the heart of a child, and the Chinese spirit, therefore, is a spirit of perpetual youth, the spirit of national immortality . . . . . The problem for the people of Europe is where to find an effective moral force that will make militarism unnecessary, and the contention is by no means without weight that they find this new moral force in China." AN AMERICAN IN ASIA: VI. WILLARD STRAIGHT IN THE FAR EASTERN FINANCE By Louis Groves Asia, February, 1921, pp. 160-166 This article tells how Willard Straight tried to break down the Russo-Japanese control of Manchuria by building with BritishAmerican or American capital a railway paralleling the Japanese and M. R. CHINA AND THE WEST By G. T. Orme The 19th Century and After, January, 1921, pp. 60-70 "It will be my object to probe rather more deeply into the nature and aims of this civilization which through some 20 centuries has held the affections and guided the lives of a quarter of the population of the world, itself unchanged the while by dissension within, invasion and even subjection from without." In China, governmental interference is reduced to a minimum. "The village, consisting nearly always of one family is the beginning and end of all Chinese life, social, political, and religious." "In recent years Chinese civilization has had two dangers to face one from its own sons, the other from its neighbors, the Japanese." Those of her sons who are westernized are ready to give it up for everything western. Japan, step by step, is invading Chinese rights and introducing into China, militarism and materialism. Why should the West bother with China now? "The answer is that in this poor and antiquated civilization there lies the greatest potential force for good or evil that the world has ever seen; that by no efforts of ours can it be dissipated or destroyed, but must one day in the irresistible march of events play a great, perhaps a decisive part in this world's history; that on the help and guidance she lacks or receives from the best spirit of the West, will depend her future relations to us and to the world." The needs of China may be summarized as follows: (1) Freedom from political pressure from without. (2) Abolition of foreign extra-territorial rights. (3) Appointment by China, on recommendation of the League of Nations, of foreign advisers. (4) Loans to provincal governments for construction work. (5) A strong central government. The time has come for a new international policy in China, "a new spirit, . . . . . not of jealous competition in exaction and concessions among less powerful races, but of friendly rivalry in sympathy, generosity, and disinterested help." "And even now China has lessons to teach us if we are willing to learn. Not the road to armed power or wealth or luxury; to political organization or administration; or to scentific discovery, but to the art of living in simplicity, often maybe in poverty, but none the less in cheerfulness and honesty, in mutual understanding and forbearance.” SHANGHAI REVISITED The National Review, December, 1920, pp. 520-535 "One is, then perforce compelled to face the question whether, as the world stands to-day, it is not an impertinence and a waste of |