Conflicting Views of Christianity in China
The Eighty-fifth Year Book of the Berlin Missionary Society, quoted from by The Literary Digest of September 18, declares that the sentiment of the Chinese Government is distinctly hostile to Christianity. “The Wai-Wu-pu, or Board of Foreign Affairs, at Pekin, has issued a decree forbidding any Chinese to found an independent church, or to collect any funds for the church. A general desire seems to prevail that the extension of Christianity in China should be checked.” This certainly is a discouraging aspect; and yet another gentleman recently from China, the Rev. Lord William Gascoigne-Cecil, declares that he found great friendliness to his work throughout China, and that there is no bitter feeling against Christianity in China; and yet in the light of both of these statements there is probably great difference of opinion in the Chinese Empire regarding Christianity.