Education, we may say, is the seeking for truth and knowledge and the process of training for useful service to society. It knows. no imitations in national boundaries, in racial distinctions, in religious do~ aminations oF in class differences, Its appeal and usefulness is universal, and for this reason itis worthy of Our support, But Christian education ims at not merely imparting, useful Knowledge. It further aims. to develop the Christian character unselfish service and to apply the Christian principle of universal brotherhood, The world to-day is so much torn by strife and unrest because nations fare still dominated by greed, solishhess, jealousy and misunderstanding. Until men have learned to understand and appreciate each other and eck guidance in the hands of our Maker, this world catinot have @ new and better social order. The movement of Christian education in China Is therefore not only educational and religious In character: it also. helps to further goodwill and_'friendship modern development is _generally Feeognized, But this work woul have been' even more successful. those responsible or the Christian] Institutions in the past been more! broad-minded" and more farsighted. They would have enjoyed greater support and produced more valuable results had they been more ready come in line with the requirements fof the Government and to meet the! needs of the people. While we must! ive due credit for the good work of the Christian Institutions, we must Also realize that there is' still room for improvement and progress.
1am glad, however, to note that! during the recent years the, Christian Institutions have, in increasing meos lures, demonstrated. their willingness to. ce-operate with the Chinese warm welcome by the Chinese Gov-authorities so that they may become ernment and the support of the truly Chinese and indigenous. So people in this mission." Jong as these institutions. are ready to. do their best and are loyal to ur national aspirations, we welcome. them and wish them to. stay and grow. I believe I can promise them the ce-operation of our people.
Your Chairman alluded to my personal connections with various Christian institutions in China. 1 count it a privilege to have been able to contribute to the cause of Christian education in my country. may add that, In evidence of its apprecia~ lon, our "Government has in its national budgets for the recent years! provided funds from which grants! have been made to the Christian' universities among others in order to help them carry on their good work, Interpret China to the West Before closing, T may say that! Christian education has another mission to full. As I think of, your! own institutions of learning, remember the useful services they have rendered in. giving enlightenment and Inspiration not only to your own youths but also. to those from other lands. Through these Institutions, moreover, scholars from other countries have. come to you.
brought with them such Cle ments of their national culture as. have helped to enrich your intellec~ tual life, Similotly, I hope that the' Christian institutions in China should iso serve og a medium through which the culture and civilization of China may be interpreted and] Drought to the West.
I know you will appreciate the attitude which we Chinese people have to the foreign educators who have come to us in the spirit of unselfish service and to the. many foreign friends who have supported them Ananciaily and otherwise. T take this opportunity to thank your Committee for all that you have done and are doing among my people and to say} that we hope your work in connec tion with the Christian universitcs In my country will meet with con-Ainued support and increasing success.
Christian institutions have a long and notable history in China, In the Meld of modern education, missionary Institutions certainly were the pioneers in China. To-day Christ Universities slond side by side wi our own institutions in their standa fof discipline and scholarship, They fitroot large numbers of our keenest young men and women students. In obtain subjects such as education, medicine and. social they have performed invaluable ser vices, Through the stormy years of national rebirth, they have held aloft the torch of light and truth, of modern. knowledge" and religious faith. 'The ood work of these Christian institutions in their particu Tar fields is, therefore, recognized and appreciated among' the broudminded and progressive elements our people.
The Chinese people believe in religious freedom, Our revered late Yeader of the Kuomintang, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, received his Christian faith while attending a Christian school, Among our leaders in all. walks life, many have received their early training in the Christian institutions. Others, including Gen. Chiang Kaishek, "have come to embrace Christianity through the influence of those who were educated in Institulions. Mme Chiang Kai-shek, who was largely responsible for sponsoring the New Life Movement, received her inspiration from Chris: tian education. The character and influence of the Christian institutions in China Is thus evident.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.