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Show CHAPTER SEVEN "ejnto 6@e" Among the by-products of foreign missions, there is a deal of work that can be classed under the head of social service. The amount of work that has been done by missionaries in China for the social emancipation of women, including anti-footbiuding agitation, for the discouragement of the opium traffic, for improved sanitation, for the education of the masses, and for many other services of distinctly social value is simply incalculable. The emphasis which the Protestant church rightly places on the ability to read the Bible has led many an unlettered man to learn to read, and with very rare exceptions, there is no agency for the education of older women except the station classes of the missionaries or Bible women under their direction. While not many illustrations of this type of work have been included in the reports, it has seemed worth while to gather such as there are in a separate chapter. In last year's report, extended reference was made to the work among the women who gather to sew for the soldiers in the old imperial granaries in PEKING. This THROUGH THE GRANARIES work has been continued with increasing friendliness and appreciation on the part of every body except the surly Mohammedan gatekeeper, who seemed to think these preaching women were only troublesome. This winter has been hard for many of the women, who come from Manchu homes which, under the Republic, have lost their former stipends, and so have now little means of support. The Christian women, visiting in their homes found many in most pitiable condition. Hospital "Wards," Fenchow Children there have shivered through the winter with not enough clothing to cover them. Often the women in the homes would have only one j itj £A B; MM J0-rj8n5 r?**&&&m |
