Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03

Catholic missionary. 1t has been impossi-
bic to ascertain the number Of American
Catholic missionaries inr China, since they
are sent out not by central organization,
but by the various orders to which they
belong. According to officers Of the Society
for the Propagation OF the Faith. the Cath
Ollie missionary organization which buses
itself raising money for the support OF mis-
sionaries sent out by the missionary or
ders, the number is very small indeed. the
church's Chinese work being almost wholly
in charge Of continental priests.
X
The strongest of our missionary boards
in China is the board of foreign missions
of the Presbyterian Church In the United
States of America. 1t has pa missionaries
In the field, garrisoning twenty-seven sta
lions and 1856 out-stations. Its native help
ers number 600 1t has 1870 organized
churches, with nearly fifteen thousand
communicates, twenty-six hundred being
added last year. In its 252 schools are five
thousand pupils and students Sabbath
school scholars number over FIVE thousand.
Its two printing presses turned out over
eighty-one million pages of reading mat
ter last year, and its twenty-three hospi-
tails and seventeen dispensaries took care
of nearly one hundred and forty thousand
patients.
The work of the Missionary Society of
the Methodist Episcopal Church is a close
second to that of the Presbyterian board.
Among the leaders are also the American
Baptist Missionary Union, the Domestic
and Foreign Missionary Society of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. the execu-
tive committee of foreign missions, Pres
byterian Church South. the board of foreign
missions, Reformed Church in America;
the board of missions of the NJ. E. Church
South and the American board of commits
sioners for foreign missions {Congrega-
tionaD- These societies do the great bulk
of the work along all lines.
1t is interesting to note however that
many religious organizations, which are
more local than national in reality. If not
IN name or purpose, are In the China field.
For example. the Christian and Missionary
Alliance, the Rev. DIR. A. B. Simpsons
ganization, and the Scandinavian Alliance
Mission of North America. Then, too, there
are five womens boards at work, chiefly
engaged in maintaining schools, hospitals
and dispensaries. Indeed, one of these
boards the Womans Union Missionary So
ciety, treats about thirty-fve thousand pa
tients In its one hospital and dispensary
combined, doing more In this direction than
any of the other societies, except the Pres
byterian North, the American board, the
Protestant Episcopal1an and the Presbyte-
rian South
Most of the missionary effort is confined
to China proper, as is also the case with
other Protestant bodies and the Roman
Catholics. OF the dependencies Manchuria
has the greatest number of mission sta
tons. Mongolia is now being developed
evangelically. Very little attention has yet
been paid to Thibet and Hsin-chfang. Ac-
cording to Harlan p Beach. a retired mis-
Sionary and authority on the China field,
our boards are leading factors in thirteen
of the nineteen provinces of China proper
and in Mongolia.
In the province of Chill. wherein is
Picking the capital the Congregatlonalists
and the Methodists. north, are dominant;
| In Shan-tung, which the Germans desire to
seize the Presby terians, north; In kfang-
su, wherein is Shanghai the PreSbyterians,
north and south. and the Methodists, south;
in Che-kang. the Baptists and the Presby-
terians south; in Fo-kien, the Method SITS,
north. and the Congregationalists; in
Kwang-tung. wherein is Hongkong, the
Presbyterians, north, and the Baptists: in
Kwang-si, across the boundary from Indo-
China the Christian and Missionary ALI
ance.
In Sze-chwan. horder'ng on Thibet the
center of which is J. 100 miles in stright line
from Shanghai, on the coast the Baptists
are leaders; in Shan-si, directly west OF
Chilli, the Congrega tio1aiists; in Ngan-
hwei the Protestant Episcopalians and the
Foreign Christian Missionary Society; In
Hu-pei. in the very center of China proper,
the Protestant Episcopalians ana the
Swedish Missionary Society; in k1ang-sl,
the Methodists, north, and in Human,
where the deepest prejudice and luminosity
exists against foreigners, whether mission
aries or laymen. the PresbyterianS north.
the Protestant Episcopalians and the Cum
berland Presbyterians.
me American Bible Society, through Its
handful of missionaries. and its consider
able army of colporteurs, are influential IN
every province. Mongolia and Manehuria.
X
Missionary work In China is unmistak-
ably institutional. There are today schools
for poor boys and girls. where the three
RS are taught; kindergartens, libraries, in
dustrial and training classes blind asylums,
boarding schools for picked students and a