University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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THE DAILY CHAPEL SERVICE 93 THE DAILY CHAPEL SERVICE ouiz nENoM1NA'r1oN AL -'MEL'r1No Por Aside from helping us begin our day aright, the daily Chapel service is one of the greatest factors in the promulgation of harmonious fellowship among the students. This service brings us into a verit- able forum where the numerous and inevitable problems are often helpfully solved by the rich experiences of those older in the Service who have forcefully and eloquently attested to the riches of grace in Christ Jesus. One could no more afford to be absent from Chapel than from the New Words class, for this period of quiet morning worship is, in very reality, another kind of New Words class. From the lips and hearts of the students and distinguished Veterans in the Service whom we are privileged to have visit us occasionally, come messages which guide and sustain, as well as inspire and challenge us to a better fulfillment of our task. u - The business of being a Missionary is an enormous realityy intertwined with as many problems as there are temperaments, there- fore we are very grateful for the many helpful solutions which set us aright in our thinking and strengthen our hearts for the task. The ideals which motivated our coming to China are held aloft in these Tervices and we are constantly reminded of our great purpose in this and. VVho could express our gratitude for the insight of Chinese religious thot as given to us by such earnest and prominent Chinese Christians as Dr, Herman Liu, Pastor Ding Li May and Dr. Timothy lliu? Tho engaged in different fields of work, they each one emphas- 1SQCl the necessity of training Chinese leaders so effectually that they be able to direct the affairs of the Chinese Church according to Chinese conception. Urging the cultivation of Chinese friendships and a more intimate knowledge of the Chinese people in their home life, Miss Rachel Lee, a charming and 'cultured Chinese girl of Nanking., bespoke for her-own people the joy which she has had in her friendships with foreigners. We would not know where to begin or end were we to attempt to present to our readers the thots which have come from those who have given years of faithful service to the land of their adoption. Time and space do not permit of such a review but we want to share with you some of the especially helpful messages. Miss Rouzee of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, a brilliant and eloquent exponent of the Bible now teaching many classes m Nanlcing, stressed the necessity of a Philosophy of Religion--a philosophy which would makelour lives radiant. Bishop Birney of the M. E. Conference, whom we so love to have visit us made this stabilizing point in one of his messages, V At times one's life is God' centered but ,it very easily becomes self-centered, therefore it bee hooves onealways to place God at the center of one's life. Dr.

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92 THE LINGUIST The pace for the day's' study is set by the Chinese teacher' who presents the new words orally to the students. Chia Sain Sen, our Principal, cleverly and energetically presents the new words by the use of acting, story. gesture and only in terms ofthe words previously learned. Students repeat phrase by phrase the Chinese sentences spoken by the teacher. At no time is English resorted to except at the end of the new word class when the Dean, C. S. Keen, clears up any misunderstanding and writes on the board the phoneti- cized new words for copying in note books. Then when the sounds are still fresh in the students' minds they are rehearsed audibly under the leadership of a qualified teacher until their pronunciation and use become habitual. In the review classes and in the. conferences with the individual teachers no- Chinese teacher is permitted to introduce into the reviewing any word that has not been previously given in the new word classes.- Certainly a remarkable discipline. In the conversation classes the student is made to construct sentences in reply to questions in Chinese. The sentence is the minimum unit. The consistent following of these simple principles prepares the student in an academic year to understand and use--if imperfectly at times--most of the common idioms of the spoken language. The course in Chinese is continued for five years, the first year in residence at the Language School and thereafter at the stuclent's station, by correspondence and the use of a private teacher. The Chinese spoken language is terse, forceful, logical and beautiful, but it is difficult. Given a right attitude, however. proper conditions and modern trained teachers it would seem that any intelligent person with the patience to apply himself may acquire such degreeof progress in the use of the Chinese language as will enable him to express himself with acceptance to the Chinese as well as with some small satisfaction to himself. C. S. K. W. C. L. ,

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94 TI-IE LINGUIST Richardson of the Nanking Theological Seminary also gave us opportunity for deep reflection when he said. One is responsible for the power one might have. In the light of such a thot one dare not neglect the privilege of prayer or fail to make the effort to develop the best in oneself. The indispensibility of Love was beautifully interpreted by Mr. Frank Garrett of the Disciples of Christ. Love was given first place and tho knowledge is necessary, the facts of knowledge should be interpreted in the light of the spirit and life of.jesus,,Christ. Faith justified! Yes, fully and truly in the relating of stories about the harvest of souls from seed sown years before and so Mrs. Smith of the China Island Mission, proved the infallibility of God's powers. A strong message from Dr. Coulter of Western Reserve Univ., helped quicken us in guarding against the snare of perversity. For the good that I would, I do not but the evil which I'would not. that Ido. One felt consciously strengthened as one listened to Dr. C. T. Paul of the Disciples of Christ, who measured life in its every dimension, proving the wondrous capacity for service possible to everyone. Miss Porter. of Teacher's College, Columbia Univ., re- freshed our memory about the need of self-control. 'We had already learned the vital truth that in this land especially, loss of temper is a detrimental attitude. Everyone surely desired more than ever to get a firmer grip on himself after hearing Miss Porter. Truly no greater inspiration was derived from anyone than from Mr. Saunders, the blind evangelist of the China Inland Mission. Thru privations undergone during the Boxer trouble he has been deprived of his sight but not of his faith! Keen and vigorous he preached the joy of the Christian religion and his radiant countenance gave proof that one can overcome all things. Had he not spoken, the joyousness of his personality would have been an inspiration. Thus, week by week, new treasures are unfolded to us, new visions of our task come to us leaving us stronger and happier. Whoever could inwardly cherish and foster denominational barriers after such infallible proofs of the four-square love of God truly needs a new vision and a larger faith. ' ' I4.M. S.? M. s. g BUDDHISM Lccfwcs by K. L. Reiclzell, Plz. D. Christian Mission to Buddhists, Nauking. On November 21 and 24, 1922, Dr. K. L. Reichelt of Nanking, with two illuminating lectures gave the students of the Language School an insight into the mysteries of Buddhism. In speaking of the approach to Buddhism Dr. Reichelt emphasized that it is Christ and not Dogma that is at the center of Christianity. It is the Missionary's duty to give to the people of China the whole Christ, the