The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-16
MISSIONS IN INTERIOR CHINA
The Story of 80 Years of Devoted Chris
tian Labor.

The Story of 30 Years of Devoted Chris
tian Labor
ANY one who reads the history of this
mission. started 80 years ago, will feel
as If he were reading a modern book of
the acts of the apostles Starting with
the belief that all the promises of the
Bible are sure all its commands posi-
BILE to obey, the mission has had Won
derful success. and its history reads like
a romance Deeply impressed with the
spiritual needs of China, which in 1865,
had only 81 Protestant missionaries,
principally along the coast, ]. Hudson
Taylor of London was led to form this
mission. His purpose was to carry the
gospel into the interior provinces of
China devastated by war and opium, ii
| of which, with nearly 150,000,000 people,
were without a Protestant missionary.
Mr.. Taylor said later: II was anxious
not to conflict with the work of the
older societies, nor divert any help
from them, but that our methods
should draw fresh laborers and open
new channels for pecuniary aid" Like
the British and American Bible socie-
ties, the mission Isl evangelical and in
interdenominationai. 1t is also inter-
national in having its work in China
carried on by superintendent, assisted
by experienced missionaries and its
home departments, with quarters in
London, Toronto, Canada, Melbourne,
Australia, and Dunedin, New Zealand.
It's workers represent nearly every
leading Protestant denomination in the
world They have come from Ger
many, Norway Sweden, Denmark,
Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, the
United States, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and far away Finland. They
are both ordained and un-ordained,
married and single They live in Chin
csc quarters, wear the Chinese dress,
and seek to go where no one else does.
1t Is purely faith mission. While a
few have gone out at their own eX-
pense, most have gone in sole depend
ence upon God for temporal support.
No personal solicitation of funds Is au-
thorized, voluntary offerings alone be-
ing received. The donors names are
never published, but each has a dated
and numbered receipt, whereby he can
trace his own contributions in the pub
lished lists. No funds given for mis-
sion work have ever been used for trav-
cling or other expenses, a separate fund |
being given for that purpose. The So
ciety has never been in debt, and yet !
has never lacked for funds and work |
ers. both coming in answer to prayer
There is a prayer union of 1000 MEM
bers that now belts the globe. Differ |
Of nh, &c |
by the various missionaries.
as seems best, and as soon as possible |
the work is turned over to the native |
In the first stage China was explored |
by evangelists, and by 1878 20 pioneers
had covered 10000 English miles. They
explored every province OF China, in
Guiding Manchuria, Mongolia and as
far west as eastern Thibet and upper
Bufmah. Driven from one province,
they crossed to another; driven from
1ne city, they entered the next, scatter
ng Bibles as they went. They preach
I'd in the market places, where country |
Ind mountain people gather, often ind
ng a large sale for Bibles Christian |
books and tracts. Following st. Paul
is a guide, they next opened stations
n the - capitals and large cities of the
provinces that were previously without
Protestant missionaries.
At the beginning of the present Chin
se troubles there were in the IL pro
'inees Of China $50 workers. 147 of
hem associates, OF these 11S We're
rom North America. Also sos native |
helpers were at work. In 1865 stations
md 1913 out stations there were either
or native helpers in
barge. Two hundred and fifty-tWo Or
,anized churches existed, with 1895 |
onverts. Also seven hospitals, 16 dis !
,ensaries, and 2S refugees for opium