To the Editor of the "Noru-Cuina Datty News Sin,—A local missionary engaged) in the education of the younger]
Chinese generation writes to me business man asking my co-opera tion in helping to solve some of the problems connected with his work. This question appears one which would have an interest to many of your readers, and which I would lik" to seo answered by other men coming in contact with graduates from mis sion schools. He ask, "Is it true that the graduates of our mission schools find it difficult to get positions because some-of the business lack confidence in'
Tt seems to me lack of confidence is not ily in the missionaries but is in missionaries' prep: of] men to take their place in the outside world.
In reply to the question as to why, business men employ non-Christian employees when Christians are avait. fable, it must be clear to all that} nationality and religion play little [Part in the efficiency of an employee. Neither of these guarantee integrity and character in the employee—nor /do they express any ability to handle everyday problems.
Graduates of non-Christian schools} appear self-reliant when compared with those of Christian schools. The Christian school gives the graduate] a self-reliance which is a personal pride—making the graduate unwilling to begin at the bot tom of the ladder, learn what the business man has to teach him, and take his place in the organization. He has been guarded, nursed and fostered in his development, and during his years of training, and is unable to think or act, without the advice of his teacher—the foreign—missionary—without which aid he soon falls back into his Chinese ways.
One peculiar question asked is—, Why are many Christian young men forced to accept positions where the salary is so small that they yield to temptation?" No business man would force a Christian young man to accept a position at a small salary. No Christian young man if properly trained would yield to temptation. Surely, therefore, the salary question is not the fault, but! rather the fitness of the Christian young man, If the missionary objects to the Christian young man being compelled to work on Sunday, the business mao will answer—"Let him seek' other employment." Or let the missionary} convert follow the practice common throughout the East of the nonobservance of the Seventh Day. There are' other questions asked with respect to the connexion between the church and the young man after he leaves his training' the first consideration of the Nation-/a] Christian Council and the Chinese Church rather than some of the other problems which are very much discussed at the present time. It has appeared to me that this questionnaire should receive the cor sideration of. such a conference has just been meeting in Shanghai as to why young Christian Chinese are not followed up when they go place in the busi-
One interesting case recently coming to my attention was where a [graduate of a Christian school aplied to a business firm in Shanghail for a Position. Three months later he again applied stating that he had been ill, but that-the doctor had now, passed him as fit and he would be glad to take up any possible appel ment. Inquiry proved that the Plicant had entered into an agreement to serve in another institution connected with the same Mission at [the same Mission station for a eried lof not less than eighteen months, and that in his second applicati jhe was violating his obligation—to that very Mission and breaking faith both with his missionary school teacher and with the others of the Mission who were employing. him. Men of his character would never be worthy of their place in any honz in Shanghai There is also the young man who} is not prepared to start at_ the bottom. Who feels that his qualifications warrant an advanced position at a fairly high salary, Such men have failed to learn the lesson of the desirability of working from—the bottom and making their own place in the world, and therefore find the of Shanghai unable applications. any consideration whatsoever.
I must ajfologize for taking up 20] (much of your valuable space, but hope that others will contribute their views on these questions—which may be of benefit in—the development of China's younger gen-
Tam, ete.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.