The Manchurian revival of 1908 was a period of spiritual renewal in the life of the Protestant Christians at churches and mission stations in Manchuria, (Liaoning Province, China). Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Revival in a Christian context generally refers to a specific period of spiritual renewal in the life of the Church Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast ( is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National It was the first such revival to gain nationwide publicity in China as well as international repute[1]. The revival occurred during a series of half-day long meetings led by Jonathan Goforth, a Canadian Presbyterian missionary with the Canadian Presbyterian Mission, who, along with his wife, Rosalind (Bell-Smith) Goforth went on to become the foremost missionary revivalist in early 20th century China and helped to establish revivalism as a major element of missionary work. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of Presbyterian and reformed Theology A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. Canadian Presbyterian Mission was an Canadian Presbyterian Church in Canada Missionary society that was involved in sending workers to countries such as Florence Rosalind Bell-Smith (Married name Rosalind Goforth ( 6 May 1864 - 31 May 1942) was a Presbyterian Missionary, and The effect of the revivals in China reached overseas and contributed to some tension among Christian denominations in the United States, fueling the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy[2]. The Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy was a religious controversy in the 1920s and '30s within the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
Contents |
Beginnings
A major revival had recently taken place in Pyongyang, Korea in 1907 that involved more than 1000 people during a series of meetings where there was an emphasis of teaching on the work of the Holy Spirit. Early life Son of James Morrison a Scottish farm laborer and Hannah Nicholson an English woman who were both active members of the Scottish Presbyterian Church. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The following is a Timeline of the History of China. Between the changing of the dynasties, most dates overlap as ruling periods do not transfer immediately This timeline of Christian missions chronicles the global expansion of Christianity through a sampling of missionary outreach events Christianity in China is a growing minority religion that comprises Protestants (called 基督教 Jī dū jiào or Christ Religion) Catholics See also Christianity in China First Centuries Some Christian tradition suggests that St See also Christianity in China The second major thrust of Christianity into China occurred during the Thirteenth century. The history of the missions of the Jesuits in China in the early modern era stands as one of the notable events in the early history of relations between China and See also Protestantism in China China and the West were virtually unaware of each other’s civilizations until the nineteenth century Life Born at Pyritz, Pomerania, he was apprenticed to a Saddler in Stettin, but was able to secure admission to Padagogium in Youth and early work Taylor was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, the son of a chemist ( Pharmacist) and Methodist The Lammermuir Party of 1866 May 26, 1866 &ndash September 30, 1866) !-->was a British Protestant Christian Virginia plantation roots Moon was born to affluent parents who were staunch Baptists Anna Maria Barclay and Edward Harris Moon The Cambridge Seven were seven students from Cambridge University, who in 1885 decided to become missionaries in China; the seven were Charles Eric Henry Liddell ( January 16, 1902 – February 21, 1945) was a Scottish athlete and Rugby Union international Beginning in 1807 with the arrival of Robert Morrison of the London Missionary Society and ending in 1953 with the departure of Arthur and Wilda Mathews of the OMF International (formerly Overseas Missionary Fellowship and before that the China Inland Mission before 1964 is an interdenominational The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational Missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM was the first American Christian foreign mission agency The Church Mission Society, known as the Church Missionary Society in Australia and New Zealand is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Church American Presbyterian Mission was an American Presbyterian missionary society operated by the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Main article List of Protestant missionary societies Protestant missionary societies in China 1807-1953 See also Bible translations (Taiwanese The creation of Chinese Bible Translations began in the nineteenth century but availability only became widespread in the early Medical missions in China by Protestant Christian Physicians and Surgeons of the 19th and early 20th centuries laid many foundations for modern The following colleges and universities were originally founded by Christian organizations Colleges and universities Anglo-Chinese College Xiamen A List of Chinese Christian Hymn Books published between 1807-1912 The Romanization of Chinese is the use of the Latin alphabet to write Chinese Standard Cantonese is the standard variant of the Cantonese (Yuet language Opium is a Narcotic formed from the Latex (ie sap released by lacerating (or "scoring" the immature seed pods of opium poppies ( The Taiping Rebellion or Rebellion of Great Peace was a large-scale Revolt against the authority and forces of the Qing Government in China The Opium Wars ( also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860 the climax of a trade dispute between China under the Qing Unequal Treaties is a term used in reference to the type of Treaties signed by several East Asian states including Qing Dynasty China, late The Yangzhou riot of August 22 - 23, 1868 was a brief crisis in Anglo-Chinese relations during the late Qing Dynasty. The Tianjin Massacre ( Chinese: 天津教案 Pinyin: Tiānjīn Jiào'àn occurred in Tianjin in 1870 The Boxer Rebellion, or Boxer Movement, was an uprising by members of the Chinese Society of Right and Harmonious Fists against foreign influence The Xinhai Revolution or Shinhai Revolution ( also known as the 1911 Revolution or the Chinese Revolution, began with the Wuchang Uprising The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Liang Fa (梁發 Pinyin: Liang2 Fa1 (梁發 1789 - 1855 was the first Chinese Protestant minister and evangelist. Keuh Agong or Kew Ah Gung, Kew A-Gang, Wat Ngong, Wat Angong or simply Agong (1785 &ndash 1867 was a Chinese Protestant Sun Yat-sen ( November 12, 1866 &ndash March 12, 1925) was a Chinese Revolutionary and political leader often Feng Yuxiang ( (1882&ndash1948 was a Warlord during Republican China. John Sung Shang Chieh ( aka John Sung ( 29 September 1901 – 18 August 1944) was a renowned Chinese Christian Wang Mingdao ( (1900-1991 was a Chinese Christian Protestant leader Allen Yuan Xiangchen (1914 &ndash August 16, 2005) was a Chinese Protestant Christian pastor Samuel Lamb or Lin Xiangao ( b October 4, 1924) is a Christian Pastor in Guangzhou, China. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance This influenced revivals in China, including the Manchurian revival of 1908[3].
Goforth’s initial observations of the Manchurian Revival are recorded in his book, By My Spirit:
| “ | Hitherto I have had a horror of hysterics and emotionalism in religion, and the first outbursts of grief from some men who prayed displeased me exceedingly. I didn't know what was behind it all. Eventually, however, it became quite clear that nothing but the mighty Spirit of God was working in the hearts of men. [4] | ” |
Goforth arrived in Manchuria in February, 1908, but according to Goforth’s account, he ‘’…had no method. I did not know how to conduct a Revival. I could deliver an address and let the people pray, but that was all. [5]”
Shenyang
Goforth held a series of special meetings at Shenyang (Mukden), with some initial opposition from church leaders, there. Shenyang ( Ch: 沈阳 pinyin Shěnyáng, or Mukden ( in Manchu) is a Sub-provincial city and capital of Liaoning
After Goforth’s address the first morning an elder stood up before all the people and confessed to having embezzled church funds. The effect on the hearers was “instantaneous”. One person gave a “piercing cry” then many, now in tears, began spontaneous prayer and confession. For three days these incidents continued. Goforth recorded, "On the fourth morning an unusually large congregation had assembled. The people seemed tense, expectant… Just then the hymn ended, and I rose to speak. All through that address I was acutely conscious of the presence of God. Concluding, I said to the people: "You may pray. " Immediately a man left his seat and, with bowed head and tears streaming down his cheeks, came up to the front of the church and stood facing the congregation. It was the elder who, two days before, had given vent to that awful cry. As if impelled by some power quite beyond himself, he cried out: "I have committed adultery. I have tried three times to poison my wife. " Whereupon he tore off the golden bracelets on his wrist and the gold ring from his finger and placed them on the collection plate, saying: "What have I, an elder of the Church, to do with these baubles?" Then he took out his elder's card, tore it into pieces and threw the fragments on the floor. "You people have my cards in your homes," he cried. "Kindly tear them up. I have disgraced the holy office. I herewith resign my eldership. " For several minutes after this striking testimony no one stirred. Then, one after another, the entire session rose and tendered their resignations. The general burden of their confession was: "Though we have not sinned as our brother has, yet we, too, have sinned, and are unworthy to hold the sacred office any longer. " Then, the deacons one by one got up and resigned from their office. "We, too, are unworthy," they confessed. For days I had noticed how the floor in front of the native pastor was wet with tears. He now rose and in broken tones said, "It is I who am to blame. If I had been what I ought to have been, this congregation would not be where it is to day. I'm not fit to be your pastor any longer. I, too, must resign. " Then there followed one of the most touching scenes that I have ever witnessed. From different parts of the congregation the cry was heard: "It's all right, pastor. We appoint you to be our pastor. " The cry was taken up until it seemed as if every one was endeavouring to tell the broken man standing there on the platform that their faith and confidence in him had been completely restored. There followed a call for the elders to stand up; and as the penitent leaders stood in their places, with their heads bowed, the spontaneous vote of confidence was repeated, "Elders, we appoint you to be our elders. " Then came the deacons' turn. "Deacons, we appoint you to be our deacons. " Thus were harmony and trust restored. That evening the elder whose confession had had such a marked effect was remonstrated with by one of his friends. "What made you go and disgrace yourself and your family like that?" he was asked. "Could I help it?" he replied. [6]"
That year hundreds of members returned to the church fellowship, many of them confessing that they did not think that they had ever really been converted before[7].
Liaoyang
Goforth then traveled to hold a series of meetings at the Liaoyang congregation. Liaoyang ( is a city in China Liaoning province located in the middle of the heavily polluted Liaodong Peninsula. "The revival at Liaoyang was the beginning of a movement which spread throughout the whole surrounding country. Bands of revived Christians went here and there preaching the Gospel with telling effect. At one out-station there was a Christian who had a notoriously bad son. During the meetings that were held by one of the revival bands at his village, the young man quite broken up, confessed his sins and came out strongly for Christ. His conversion produced a remarkable effect upon the whole village. Heathen would say to each other on the streets: "The Christian's God has come. Why, He has even entered that bad fellow, and driven all the badness out of him. And now he's just like other Christians. So, if you don't want to go the same way you had better keep away from that crowd. " [8]"
Guangning
Goforth proceeded to Guangning (Kwangning) (near Beizhen, Liaoning) where it was told him by another missionary that, "Reports have come to us of the meetings at Mukden and Liaoyang. ( is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. I thought I had better tell you, right at the beginning, that you need not expect similar results here. "
After Goforth had given his sermon, he said to the people: "Please let's not have any of your ordinary kind of praying. If there are any prayers which you've got off by heart and which you've used for years, just lay them aside. We haven't any time for them. But if the Spirit of God so moves you that you feel you simply must give utterance to what is in your heart, then do not hesitate. We have time for that kind of praying. Now, the meeting is open for prayer. " Spontaneous prayers come forth from several individuals at every meeting, followed by more confessions of sin and wrongdoing among church leaders.
"After the meetings, bands of revived Christians toured the surrounding country. At every out station that was visited, except one, a deep spiritual movement resulted. When the bands returned to the city this particular place was made the occasion for special prayer. Then another band was sent to the village, and a movement set on foot which quite eclipsed anything which had been seen in any of the other out stations. [9]"
Jinzhou
From the very first meeting that Goforth led at Jinzhou (Chinchow) a renewal movement began to develop. Jinzhou ( is a Prefecture-level city of Liaoning province China. Intense prayer and anxiety to get rid of sin characterized the effect on these believer as it had done at the other mission stations[10].
Dr. Walter Phillips, who was present at two of the meetings in Jinzhou, wrote: "It was at Chinchow that I first came into contact with the Revival. Meetings had been going on there for a week, hence, I was ushered into the heart of things unprepared, and in candour, I must add, with a strong temperamental prejudice against 'revival hysterics' in every form, so that mine is at least an unbiased witness. At once, on entering the church, one was conscious of something unusual. The place was crowded to the door, and tense, reverent attention sat on every face. The very singing was vibrant with new joy and vigour . . . The people knelt for prayer, silent at first, but soon one here and another there began to pray aloud. The voices grew and gathered volume and blended into a great wave of united supplication that swelled till it was almost a roar, and died down again into an undertone of weeping. Now I understood why the floor was so wet - it was wet with pools of tears! The very air seemed electric -- I speak in all seriousness - and strange thrills coursed up and down one's body. Then above the sobbing, in strained, choking tones, a man began to make public confession. Words of mine will fail to describe the awe and terror and pity of these confessions. It was not so much the enormity of the sins disclosed, or the depths of iniquity sounded, that shocked one. . . . It was the agony of the penitent, his groans and cries, and voice shaken with sobs; it was the sight of men forced to their feet, and, in spite of their struggles, impelled, as it seemed, to lay bare their hearts that moved one and brought the smarting tears to one's own eyes. Never have I experienced anything more heart breaking, more nerve racking than the spectacle of those souls stripped naked before their fellows. So for hour after hour it went on, till the strain was almost more than the onlooker could bear. Now it was a big, strong farmer groveling on the floor, smiting his head on the bare boards as he wailed unceasingly, 'Lord! Lord!' Now a shrinking woman in a voice scarce above a whisper, now a wee laddie from the school, with the tears streaking his piteous grimy little face, as he sobbed out: 'I cannot love my enemies. Last week I stole a farthing from my teacher. I am always fighting and cursing. I beseech the pastor, elders and deacons to pray for me. ' And then again would swell that wonderful deep organ tone of united prayer. And ever as the prayer sank again the ear caught a dull undertone of quiet sobbing, of desperate entreaty from men and women, who, lost to their surroundings, were wrestling for peace. [11]"
Xinmin
The Christians in Xinmin (Shinminfu) had suffered persecution during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Xinmin ( is a County-level city within Shenyang, Liaoning province, People's Republic of China. The Boxer Rebellion, or Boxer Movement, was an uprising by members of the Chinese Society of Right and Harmonious Fists against foreign influence 54 of the church had been killed and were considered "martyrs" for dying for their faith at the hands of the Boxers. The " China Martyrs of 1900 " is a term used by Protestant Christian churches to refer to those members who were killed in 1900 when attacks took place across China The survivors had prepared a list, containing 250 names of those who had taken part in the massacre. It was hoped by some that revenge would one day be possible. However, after the revival meetings, the list of names was brought up to the front of the church and torn into pieces and the fragments were trampled under foot[12].
Yingkou
Goforth ministered at Yingkou (Newchwang), the final resting-place of Scottish missionary William Chalmers Burns. Yingkou ( is a Prefecture-level city of Liaoning province in northeastern China. Life Burns was brought up in a well-to-do household The third son of a local church minister William Hamilton Burns (1779-1859 and Elizabeth Chalmers (1784-1879 Burns’ impact was still being felt 40 years later among the Christian community of Yingkou. However, the same kind of repentance and prayer broke out, here as Goforth wrote: "On entering the pulpit, I bowed as usual for a few moments in prayer. When I looked up it seemed to me as if every last man, woman and child in that church was in the throes of judgment. Tears were flowing freely, and all manner of sin was being confessed. [13]"
References
- ^ Blumhofer, Edith Waldvogel (1993). Modern Christian Revivals. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252019903. p. 162
- ^ Blumhofer, Edith Waldvogel (1993). Modern Christian Revivals. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252019903. p. 167
- ^ Lee, Young-Hoon (2001). Korean Pentecost: The Great Revival of 1907. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 4. p. 73-76
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 1
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 3
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 3
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 3
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 3
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 4
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 4
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 4
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 4
- ^ Goforth, Jonathan (1929). By My Spirit. Evangel Publishing House. ISBN 1928915655. ch. 4
Bibliography
- Rosalind Goforth,Goforth of China; McClelland and Stewart, (1937), Bethany House, 1986.
- Rosalind Goforth, How I Know God Answers Prayer (1921), Zondervan.
- Ruth A. Tucker, From Jerusalem to Iriyan Jaya; A Biographical History of Christian Missions; 1983, Zondervan.
- By My Spirit (1929, 1942, 1964, 1983)
- Rosalind Goforth, Chinese Diamonds for the King of Kings (1920, 1945)
- Alvyn Austin, Saving China: Canadian Missionaries in the Middle Kingdom, 1888-1959 (1986), chaps. 2, 6
- Daniel H. Bays, Christian Revival in China, 1900-1937
- Edith L. Blumhofer and Randall Balmer, eds. , Modern Christian Revivals (1993)
- James Webster, Times of Blessing in Manchuria (1908)
- "Revival in Manchuria," p. 4; published by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
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