This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from the King’s Research Portal at https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/ Let the world come to union and union go into the world Union theological seminary in the city of New York and the quest for indigenous Christianity in twentieth century China Sneller, Christopher David Awarding institution: King's College London The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without proper acknowledgement. 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Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 29. Sep. 2021 Let the World Come to Union and Union Go into the World: Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and the Quest for Indigenous Christianity in Twentieth Century China by Christopher D. Sneller King’s College London, University of London Department of Education and Professional Studies This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 16 January 2015 Declaration This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing that is the outcome of work done in collaboration except where specifically indicated in the text. It has not been previously submitted, in part or whole, to any university or institution for any degree, diploma, or other qualification. In accordance with the Department of Education and Professional Studies, King’s College London, guidelines, this thesis does not exceed 100,000 words. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without proper acknowledgement. Rev. Christopher D. Sneller, M.A.T.S., M.A.C.E., B.A. 15 January 2015 2 Abstract Founded in 1836, Union Theological Seminary sought to be a school where moderate theological views could be taught in the heart of America’s most important city, New York City. Scholars have recognized Union’s role in the fundamentalist-modernist controversy of the 1920s, but few have noticed its impact in Chinese Protestantism. From 1911-1949, 196 Union alumni—an average of five students for each graduating class—went to China. Thirty-nine of these former students were Chinese nationals. Many of these Chinese graduates became key leaders in China’s Young Men’s Christian Association, the Christian colleges in Republican China and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Men such as Y. T. Wu (Wu Yaozong), K. H. Ting (Ding Guangxun), Timothy Tingfang Lew (Liu Tingfang), William Hung (Hung Ye), and Andrew Y. Y. Tsu (Zhu Yuyue) provide interesting case studies into how Union influenced Chinese Christianity. I apply insight from two sociologists, James Davison Hunter and Mark Granovetter, to new archival findings to contend that Union Seminary developed a dense network of influential Chinese and American Christians in the Sino-Foreign Protestant Establishment. The New York seminary acted as a social hub where Christian leaders established and strengthened their relational ties. Over time these ties formed a dense social network that influenced Sino-American relations and Chinese Protestantism. Union advanced the indigenization of Christianity in twentieth century China, helping “Christianity in China” become “Chinese Christianity.” Union’s role in China has been largely unnoticed until now. 3 Table of Contents Declaration ....................................................................................................................... 2 Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 3 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ 4 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 8 List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................... 11 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 12 1.1 The Research Question(s) ........................................................................................... 12 1.2 The Growth of Christianity Globally and in China ............................................... 12 1.3 The Aim of this Thesis: To Demonstrate Union Seminary’s Influence on Chinese Christianity via a Dense Social Network ....................................................... 15 1.4 Chapter Structure ........................................................................................................... 16 1.5 Sources of Information ................................................................................................. 19 1.6 Methods of Analysis ....................................................................................................... 22 1.6.1 Collecting Primary Historical Data .................................................................................. 22 1.6.2 Locating Union Sinologically: Bays ................................................................................. 23 1.6.3 Describing Union’s Influence Sociologically: Hunter and Granovetter ........... 25 1.6.4 Final Research Considerations .......................................................................................... 25 1.7 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 26 2 The History of Christianity in China ................................................................ 28 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 28 2.2 Tang Christianity: Alopen and the Nestorians Arrive in 635 AD ................... 28 2.3 Yuan Christianity: The Khans Marry the Christian Keraits ............................. 30 2.4 Ming Christianity: The Jesuits Engage the Highest Levels of Society ............ 31 2.4.1 Ming Christianity: The Society of Jesus ......................................................................... 31 2.4.2 Ming Christianity: Matteo Ricci ......................................................................................... 32 2.4.3 Ming Christianity: The Rites Controversy .................................................................... 33 2.5 Qing Christianity: Protestant Missions into China .............................................. 34 2.5.1 Qing Christianity: The Unequal Treaties and Opium Wars .................................. 34 2.5.2 Qing Christianity: China Inland Mission and Student Volunteer Movement 37 2.5.3 Qing Christianity: The Rebellion ...................................................................................... 39 2.5.4 Qing Christianity: Boxer Uprising .................................................................................... 41 2.5.5 Qing Christianity: Qing Dynasty Collapses ................................................................... 42 2.6 Christianity in Republican China (1911-1949) .................................................... 42 2.6.1 Christianity in Republican China: The New Culture Movement ......................... 42 2.6.2 Christianity in Republican China: The May Fourth Movement ........................... 43 2.6.3 Christianity in Republican China: YMCA ....................................................................... 45 2.6.4 Christianity in Republican China: The Chinese Christian Colleges ................... 46 2.6.5 Christianity in Republican China: The Indigeneity Struggle ................................ 47 2.6.6 Christianity in Republican China: The “Three-Self Principle” ............................. 47 2.6.7 Christianity in Republican China: Allen and Paton’s Critique ............................. 48 4 2.6.8 Christianity in Republican China: C. Y. Cheng ............................................................. 49 2.7 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 50 3 The History of Union Theological Seminary (NY) ....................................... 52 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 52 3.2 Union’s Founding Amidst Presbyterian Controversy 1830s ........................... 52 3.3 Union’s Distinct Characteristics: The “Lines” Marked out by its Founders 54 3.3.1 Union’s Urban Line ................................................................................................................