Religious education and reform in Chinese missions: The life and work of Francis Wilson Price (1895-1974)

This dissertation explores the life and thought Francis Wilson Price (1895-1974), a Presbyterian missionary of the Presbyterian Church U.S. in China. The study uses a dialectical model to interpret the cultural and theological tensions experienced by American missionaries in China generally and Price in particular. It argues that Price and other missionaries in China found themselves torn between the respective appeal of Chinese or American nationalism, and a new internationalism, between an idealism that sought to identify the Kingdom of God on earth and a Christian realism that questioned the limits of all human structure.; A brief history of the Protestant missionary enterprise in China, from 1807-1952, is offered, arguing that during that time a definite shift in the missionary work occurred, moving its emphasis from evangelism to social reform. The shift resulted in greater importance attributed to education, medicine and material reform.; After sketching a biography of Price's life, his work and thought are presented in the context of the major roles that Price played in China. His missionary work as a religious educator took form at Nanking Theological Seminary. Having been influenced by Bushnell, Dewey, Coe and the idealism of the Social Gospel movement, Price traced a direct connection in the Chinese experience between religious education and rural reform. He not only trained Chinese seminarians for rural work, but he sought to construct a Church-centered rural program as a Christian approach to the revitalization of rural China.; Price also was active during the Sino-Japanese War as a vocal supporter of Chiang Kai-shek and his government. He tried to influence American policies by writing, radio broadcasting, lobbying and speaking out on behalf of China. Largely, his support for the Nationalist government reflected his close relationship with Generalissimo and Madame Chiang.; Later in his missionary career on deeper reflection, Price seemed to have moved away from a rigid nationalism whether American or Chinese to a greater international spirit. His earlier idealism, with its optimistic hopes for Chinese reform became chastened by the Christian realism of Reinhold Niebuhr and others.