It will be noticed that there are a few restrictions. The competitor must be a Christian; he must be a graduate or a senior student of a college, either Government or Mission; he must write on the prescribed topic (this year "My Idea for a Religion for the Twentieth Century") and he must, if be wins, spend the. next year in advanced study under the direction of a committee of the Council, of which the Rev. J. Leighton Stuart, up., president of Peking University, is chairman. After this year of postgraduate study, made possible by the prize, he will undoubtedly find. many opportunities for connecting himself with one of the agencies producing Chinese Christian literature, almost all of which are represen in the China Christian Literature Council.
It will be noted that the subject upon which these essays are written gives the contestant every opportunity to display originality of thought. No limit has been set on the length of essays, but the judges will place more value upon vigour and originality of treatment and good Chinese style than upon other features. A short essay has an equal chance - with longer efforts. It is quality and not quantity that is desired.
The China Christian Literature Council does not intend to require that competing essays.be written in any fixed style. However, is i8 well to bear in mind that it is the purpose to contribute to the future of Christian literature, and the Council is of the opinion that the future literature of China will be. largely composed in the style commonly known as kuo yuh.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.