{ title: 'Cardinal Points. (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) 1940-current, February 15, 1907, Page 1, Image 1', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/np00010003/1907-02-15/ed-1/seq-1/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00010003/1907-02-15/ed-1/seq-1.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00010003/1907-02-15/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00010003/1907-02-15/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Northern NY Library Network
THE CARDINAL 73 Shanghai, China, February 15, 1907. Dear Friends: The days and weeks have passed so rapidly that I can hardly realize that I have been in China three months. Yet when I recall the many new experiences through which I have already passed the time seems much longer thaii that. There is little I can tell you of Association work as yet. My time this year and next is wholly given (o study of the language, the people, and the field for work in Shanghai. Present conditions indicate that the student field will be entered first. China is as eager now to educate her women as she was determined formerly to keep them in ignorance. Recently a thorough investigation of schools for young women in Shan- ghai was made by Miss Yen, and it was found that there are at pre- sent twelve non-missionary girls schools in Shanghai alone, and all are reported to be in good working orler. All have been organized since 1901 and seven since 1905. Miss Yen reports that previous to 1901 the only schools for girls in China were conducted by missionaries and were rarely patronized by the wealt'hy classes of Chinese. Of these twelve schools five re- quire the feet to be unbound upon entrance. The aim as stated is to \promote patriotism\ to \develop Chinese young women physically morally and mentally\ and \to en- able them to be upright, indepenclent women.\ Physical culture is becom- ing very popular in all schools now and annual exhibitions are not un- common. There is no doubt but that China is awake after a long sleep, but now as never before she needs patient leading. What China is ten years from now remains wholly with the Christian people of this age to determine. And this (responsibility rests equally upon all. I count it the greatest possible privilege to be here, but missionary work is by no means limited to those on the field. It is not an easy thing for a Chin- ese girl to become a Christian nor is it easy for her to live a consistent Christian life after her heart is will- ing. We who were born in a Chris- tian land have no idea of the hold idol worship has on one whose an- cestors for generations have been heathen worshippers. I have already come to know girls who after at- tending Christian schools and learn- ing of Jesus Christ have given up heathen worship to become true disciples of His but when they re- turn to their homes at vacation limes they have met with bitter op- position because they refused to worship their ancestors. These young Christians need to be held' up' daily before Him that they may have the strength and courage to stand and furthermore that they may bear the message into their dark homes. Though I have not been in China long T have through daily associa- tion come to know some of the girls very well, and the most surprising thing to me is that they are no dif- ferent from the girls I have known at home. They have the same temp- tations to overcome and much the same battles to fight. Many seek our prayers and many know noth- ing of what prayer is, but all need our prayers. Do you want a part in making China what God aimed her to be. Are you willing to \spend and he spent\ that this may be ac- complished. This is the privilege of every Christian today. We believe that the members of the Young Women's Christian Associations in America will not lose this oppor- tunity of splendid service. I remain very sincerely GRACE L. COPPOCK. 18 Pekin Road, Shanghai, China,