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Show NORTH CHINA KUNG LI HUI REPORT OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIES TO THE COUNCIL, MAY, 1956. The war clouds this year were thick; travel has ^een difficult, or cut off. Apart from going en opportunity to a few places, cur feet have not traveled otherwhere. We are deeply aware of the deficiency. It is now the end. of a secretarial term.. In thinking of the matter, we feel we ought to make a summarizing report for a period longer than one year, which may afford a basis for examination and comparison. May we then respectfully describe China Church (the Kung LI Hui ) in certa in you the progress of our North points. 2. The r e is t he r osy bud, n o t yet f u12y ope n, Responsibility, (or the Mind-to-Work}. For many u f the Heart-for-rs the sole reliance of our North China Kung Li Hui for staff and funds was our mother, kind mother, the American Board! So each Station Association had concern only for Its own urgent needs, and its future imagined needs; towards the Board, like a beggar child it raised its unceasing cry. In the minutes of each Station and District Association and of the Council, those many pages of figures, like ants swarming to battle, or like silk worms laying eggs in full layers-these were the evidence of our grasping heart. This unappeasable ocean of desire, - it certainly could not be satisfied by a Board which still falls short of omnipotence. We have sung loudly every day for the independence of the Chinese Church, and for the carrying of responsibility by the Chinese. But this unmeasured begging, has it not been an obstacle standing like an ox in the path of our own psychology? Fortunately, in this stage of inconsistency, we lately have awakened out of our daze. We have set limits in the requests for recruits; and albeit with reluctant hearts we have wiped out from the pages not a few of the dim and vague and and unhoped-for money requests. Of late the mounting flame of begging and grasping has gradually died down; while the tide of self-preparation, of finding our own staff here, has come surging up. This honestly is the first step towards carrying responsibility ourselves. We earnestly hope we may restrain our dependency of conduct; that we may follow this path of responsibility riding steadily straight on. Then our longed-for self-dependent Chinese Church may early appear. 2. Unity of Spirit in the whole Body. The Station Associations are for the most part joined up from two living legs, called "American Board" and "Woman's Board". Each lag goes forward vigorously on its own intention. Unity between the two is often seriously lacking. Although there are united "Evangelistic Committees" and "Educational Committees" to give central direction, yat in the actual sitution it still Is not avoided that each goes his own regardless and arbitrary way. If we depend upon this kind of legs, and look for rapid progress of the whole body, is it not adding one difficulty to another? Furthermore, each Station Association is making plans for its own Station; each District Association is taking thought for its own District; so in matters of staff and funds it's all a case of "You contest, I seize". Whenever a matter of material advantage comes forward, the tigers come cut to fight for food. Who Is willing to yield a point? A certain District Association was called a "Division of Spoils Association". Although the satire goes rather far, yet there were near likenesses. Unexpectedly, of late, the |