Misplaced Pages

#250749

36-805: The ELCRN grew out of work done by the Rhenish Missionary Society starting in 1842. The denomination was established in 1957 as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South West Africa (Rheinische Mission) . It adopted its present name in 1990, following Namibian independence . It joined the Lutheran World Federation in 1970, and the World Council of Churches in 1992. Together with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia ,

72-492: A clear sense of superiority over Chinese medicine. In particular on internal diseases, Olpp commented on the underdevelopment of Chinese Medicine by recounting many examples of patients who, after unsuccessful treatments with Chinese doctors, recovered thanks to European doctors. On the other hand, the failure of European treatment methods for internal disease was attributed to patients first consulting Chinese doctors. Yuan suggests that Olpp, along with other medical missionaries of

108-536: A similar opinion. In one of his writings, he remarked that Chinese doctors make empty promises to patients and simply take money. In another description of modern Chinese doctors on the Munich Medicine Weekly, he emphasized their negative work ethics and encouraged youth to "pursue the train to an education in Western medicine." According to sinologist Yuan, the frequent comparison with European medicine demonstrated

144-561: A specialized training in Tropical and Infectious Disease. The hospital, called Puji Hospital 普济医院, was the first German missionary hospital in China. At the time of his arrival, Olpp was the second medical missionary from the Rhenish Mission in China, working alongside the first medical missionary, Dr. Johannes E. Kühne , and a male nurse who came in 1901, Johannes Baumann . The hospital compound

180-718: A station in North Sumatra , Indonesia , was launched and it lasted until 1940. A book concerning the missionary work there was written by the first evangelist woman who joined the Society, Hester Needham . RMS was also active in South China, where they constructed a Hospital in Tungkun, the area is now called Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. The hospital was supported by several notable medical missionaries, including Dr. Johannes E. Kühne, Dr. Gottlieb Olpp , Dr. Eich, Dr. Zeiß. During

216-472: Is supported by Difäm, originally created to take care of those returning home from tropical areas. Olpp held an address about the clinic and its importance in global medical missions at a conference by natural sciences and medicine organization in Tübingen on 14 May 1916 and wrote about it at length on the magazine Deutsche Medizinische Zeitschrift in 1936. On 2 July 1917, he became an associate professor in

252-730: The SS Kaiserin Auguste Victoria . He came to New York City on the 22 September with a final destination in the US of Washington, DC . In Summer 1914, he was giving lectures on Tropical Disease and Tropical Hygiene for the Medicine Department in University of Tübingen. In 1916, he was appointed as chief physician for the newly opened Tübinger Tropengenesungsheims (Tuebinger Convalescent Homes), also called Tropical Clinic Paul-Lechler-Hospital. The institute has direct connections with and

288-653: The University of Tübingen . As of 1926, he was teaching Tropenkrankenheit ( Tropical Diseases) as a medical faculty at the Nauklerstrasse 47 building. The building was originally built in 1908–1909 to serve medical missionaries. During his tenure, he oversaw 32 dissertations from his students. On 19 October 1934, he received an honorary degree in theology by the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg . Due to deteriorating health, Olpp left Difäm,

324-920: The Vereinte Evangelische Mission . Gottlieb Olpp Gottlieb Friedrich Adolf Olpp (3 January 1872 – 24 August 1950) was a German missionary and tropical medicine doctor, accredited with spreading Traditional Chinese Medicine and aiding the development of sinology in Germany and the West in early 20th century. As a medical missionary from the Rhenish Missionary Society from 1898 to 1907 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China, he conducted extensive research on local diseases and healing practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and wrote extensively throughout his life for publication in Germany on

360-592: The Xu Hui Xi Xian Sheng Shi San Zhong (《徐洄溪先生十三种》 Thirteen Kinds of Books. Consistent with the negative views of TCM in the West at the time, Olpp did not have a high evaluation of TCM, calling the practice “a tall building of numerous errors and a few golden grains of truth." Portraying TCM as backward, Olpp compared the anatomical and physiological findings of TCM to the work of Galen, whose many theories have been scientifically disproven in Europe at

396-693: The 20th century, the Society focused on its work in southern Africa. The Society ultimately amalgamated all of its mission stations in South Africa into the Dutch Reformed Church , except for Wupperthal which chose to join the Moravian Church . The mission stations in Namibia became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church there. In 1971, the Rhenish Mission and the Bethel Mission were combined into

SECTION 10

#1733085400251

432-698: The Christian student fraternity, Wingolf , where he remained in touch for life. His doctoral dissertation on Ein Fall von eitriger Pyelonephritis nach Nephrolithiasis ( A case of Kidney Infection festering to Kidney Stones) was completed magna cum laude in 1895 in Munich. In 1896, he graduated. In the following years, he continued to build expertise in the areas of Infectious-and-Tropical Diseases by studying in London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Berlin and Paris. On 26 October 1897, he entered

468-793: The ELCRN operates Paulinum Theological Seminary . In 2007, these two denominations. along with the German-speaking Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia , formed the United Church Council of the Lutheran Churches in Namibia. The aim of this body is ultimately to achieve church union . In December 2015, the ELCRN postponed its synod , which usually meets every six years, "pending the rectification of alleged irregularities regarding administrative procedures." The synod took place from 30 January – 4 February 2016, but then

504-619: The Paul-Lechler Hospital and Tübingen on 1 October 1937 and moved to Schwarzenbruck-Rummelsberg. There, he continued his medical practice, support for medical missionary and research on submerged intestinal bath . Olpp died on 24 August 1950 in Esslingen am Neckar , Germany. His last work on submerged intestinal bath was published posthumously. Olpp's work was well received by his peers during his lifetime and recognized by later historians. His translations of Traditional Chinese Medicine

540-616: The Rhenish Missionary Society. He married Agnes Christine, née Wagner, in Hongkong on 21 March 1899. From 1878 to 1891, he received schooling in Johanneum, Gütersloh and was raised in Salm-Horstmar. After completing his Abitur primus omnium in 1891, he pursued medical schooling in Marburg (1891–1893), Tübingen (SS 1893) und Munich (1893–1895). While at these three places, he was active at

576-617: The Sanitation Corps in the Bavarian Army ( Bayerische Armee) . He was also listed in their handbook as a doctor and a Landwehr for Munich. In 1898, he began his medical residence period ( Spitaldienst) in Tungkun, in Canton Province, China (now Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China). Olpp became a member of the Rhenish Missionary Society in 1897. In 1898, he travelled to subtropical Dongguan (东莞), China, then called Tungkun, for

612-594: The area, and a closer working relationship was formed with them. The Society established its first mission station in the Cederberg in 1829, named Wupperthal , and predated the naming of the German city by 100 years. Very soon, the missionaries started migrating north through the barren and inhospitable south-western Africa. Here they encountered various local tribes such as the Herero , Nama and Damara , and were frequently in

648-717: The book on surgery  Jin Jian Wai Ke  (《金鉴外科》  Golden Mirror of Surgery ), Wang Shu He Tu Zhu Nan Jing Mai Jue  (《王叔和图注难经脉决》 Work of Wang Shuhe about Classics of Difficult Inquiries and Rhyming Book of Pulse) , Ben Cao Gang Mu ,  Xuan Er Chuang Tu  (《旋耳疮图》  Picture of Ulcer Behind the Ear ), Chen Xiu Yuan Yi Shu Er Shi Yi Zhong  (《陈修园医书二十一种》  Twenty-one Kinds of Medicine Books by Chen Xiuyuan ), the  Zeng Ding Yan Fang Xin Bian  (《增订验方新编》  Revised Edition of New Compilation of Empirical Formulas ), and

684-548: The election of members to the national church council was "reportedly conducted improperly as some members with voting rights were denied participation in the election process." The elections were declared null and void and an extraordinary synod was then held in July 2016. No consensus could be reached, however, and the term of the current church council was extended until 31 August 2017. Rhenish Missionary Society The Rhenish Missionary Society ( Rhenish  – of

720-552: The general Chinese population as helpless and unaware are likely used to give meaning to the "civilized Christian purpose" of medical missions in South China. In 1907, Olpp returned to Germany. From 1908 to 1909, Olpp pursued further studies in Hamburg on Ships-and-Tropical Diseases, Work in Labor, Chief Physician in Herford . On 1 May 1909, he left the Rhenish Missionary Society to undertake

756-480: The magazine Deutschen Tropenmedizinischen Zeitschrift and Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift (Munich Medicine Weekly). He translated and introduced parts of TCM literature, mainly from TCM classics during the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the  Ming Yi Lei An  (《名医类案 》  A Compilation of Healing Methods of Famous Doctors ), the  Shou Shi Bao Yuan  (《寿世保元 》  Longevity and Life Preservation ),

SECTION 20

#1733085400251

792-517: The mass spread of tuberculosis in South China, he attributed a partial cause to the Chinese's lack of awareness about the dangers of infection. On the leprosy pandemic, Olpp described the Chinese population as struggling victims and criticized the lack of effective response by the Chinese government. At the time, the negative evaluation of Western physicians about TCM led to a general disregard of Chinese doctors as not "real doctors." Olpp seemed to share

828-584: The middle of wars between them. The missionaries tried to broker peace deals between the tribes, and for this reason were later seen as political assets by the tribes. Around the same time, debate started in Germany regarding its colonial empire, with the activities of the RMS in distant Africa fanning imaginations. The unclaimed area to the north of the Cape Colony was proclaimed German South West Africa in 1880, but they quickly ran into numerous problems, since Germany

864-523: The monograph Beiträge zur Medizin in China mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Tropenpathologie ("On Chinese Medicine from the Perspective of Tropical Pathology"), consisting of his extensive multilingual research, 9-year observations and medical experiences in Dongguan. The monograph also served as his Habilitation post-doctoral thesis on Tropical Medicine in Tübingen, opening doors to professorship. On 12 September 1912, Olpp departed from Hamburg on

900-675: The position of director of the German Institute for Medical Missionary ( Deutsches Instituts für ärztliche Mission ) in Tübingen, which he held until 1937. The organization supports worldwide Christian healthcare efforts, particularly for economically poor countries. Olpp attended the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh as a delegate. There, he described "the work that has commenced auspiciously in Germany" and ended his address with reverence to "the great missionary, Livingstone " and "our Lord Jesus Christ." In that same year, he compiled

936-455: The river Rhine ; German: Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft , RMG ) was one of the largest Protestant missionary societies in Germany . Formed from smaller missions founded as far back as 1799, the Society was amalgamated on 23 September 1828, and its first missionaries were ordained and sent off to South Africa by the end of the year. The London Missionary Society was already active in

972-637: The second of seven children in a missionary family. His parents were members of the Rhenish Missionary Society (Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft) and married in Africa. His mother was Louise Regine Karoline Olpp, née Wagner. His father, Johannes Olpp , was ordained on the Rhenish mission in Southwest Africa from 1864 to 1879, stationed first in Berseba until 1868 then Gibeon after. Olpp's father dedicated himself to

1008-528: The spread of TCM to the West and development of sinology. On 5 October 1916, along with many in his military cohort, he was given the Wilhelm Cross with Sword Medal (Wilhelmskreuz mit Schwerter ) issued by the State of Württemberg for his service as a doctor and Landwehr. He was recognized as a great storyteller and writer (composing 259 articles alone in 1942) and was successful as a book author. In 1930, he

1044-532: The study of Nama language , tradition and customs and published many works on this field. As a reverend at the local Gibeon church, he educated Hendrik Witbooi , one of Namibia's national heroes, and maintained correspondences with Witbooi even after his return to Germany. In 1883 to 1913, Olpp's father became a preacher in Herford , Germany, and continued to composed several books on the Rhenish Mission in Southwest Africa. Olpp's oldest brother, Johannes, and his younger brother, Theodor, also became notable members of

1080-448: The time, did not encounter actual TCM because the majority of their patients belonged to the lower class, who can only afford "quacks and European hospitals and doctors, where cheaper or free treatments are offered," whereas those from the upper social class, by and large, continued to use Traditional Chinese physicians. Regardless, the Western perception and portrayals of TCM as unmedical, Chinese doctors as morally lacking and unskilled and

1116-419: The time. Olpp was also critical of both Chinese people and Chinese doctors, seeing their practices as an unnegligible factor in the development and spread of illnesses in China. In his later monograph On Chinese Medicine from the Perspective of Tropical Pathology , he wrote that Prolapsus uteri is partly caused by "new mothers who stood up too soon and the unskilled handling of ignorant local midwives." On

Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia - Misplaced Pages Continue

1152-558: The topic of tropical medicine, theology and missionary work. After his return to Germany, he was appointed to be the director of the German Institute of Medical Missionary ( Deutsches Instituts für ärztliche Mission ), a director of the Tübingen Convalescent Homes and associate professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Tübingen . A street in Tübingen is named in his honor. Olpp was born 3 January 1872 in Gibeon , Namibia,

1188-447: Was highly critical of its medical benefits, Olpp highlighted its cultural and historical significance. Since up until that point, translations of TCM literature have only come from a non-medical professional, Olpp's medical expertise and deepened cultural knowledge from interactions with his patients produced important Sino-German works that radically changed the interpretation and translation method of TCM and made him an important figure in

1224-544: Was highly valued by sinologists and medical historians, in particular Dr. Franz Hübotter. Olpp's reports to the Rhenish Mission Society, his own publications on missionary experiences and frequent articles on the Munich Medicine Weekly provided a lot of valuable information about the medical and hygienic conditions in China at the time. Different from his contemporaries, Olpp did not entirely reject Traditional Chinese Medicine but approached it factually. Although he

1260-462: Was inexperienced at colonization. The Herero and Namaqua Genocide during 1904–1907 proved to be the nadir of their rule, and combined with the effects of World War I , Germany was unable to maintain a foothold so far from home. South Africa annexed the area in 1915, renaming it South West Africa . During this time, missionaries' reactions ranged from compassion and help for the local tribes, to patriotism and support of colonial interests. In 1861,

1296-701: Was initially located entirely within the city walls, surrounded by Chinese dwelling, but since 1903–1906, it was relocated the bank of the East River, where cases from afar can be brought by boat directly. It was constructed to accommodate 100 patients. In order to better communicate with the local patients, Olpp spent one and a half year studying Chinese, which subsequently allowed him to perform extensive research on Tropical Diseases and to read and translate Traditional Chinese Medicine directly. Along with yearly missionary reports, Olpp wrote many academic papers and reflections on his medical experience in China to Germany via

#250749