Protestant Missions
We are now prepared to take a survey of Protestant missions in China.
On the 7th of March, 1798, a most interesting circular, pleading for the translation and circulation of the Scriptures in the Chinese language, was sent forth, dated from Near Daventry, Northamptonshire,’ by the Rev. William Moseley, who also issued a powerful appeal on behalf of China. There seems much reason to believe that the efforts of this earnest servant of Christ had a direct connection with the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and with the sending forth of Dr. Morrison to China in 1807, by the London Missionary Society, which had thus the honour of sending the first Protestant missionary to China. Owing to the jealousy felt by the East India Company, Dr. Morrison had to go by way of America, and arrived in Canton in 1808. In the year 18 14, he published the New Testament in Chinese, about half of it being his own translation, and the remainder a revision of a manuscript found in the British Museum; and in the same year the first convert, Tsai Ako,
Fifty Vears* Progress. 1 5
was baptized. In 1818 the whole bible was published, the joint work of Morrison and Milne; and Dr. Marshman’s version was published four years later. During the years 1817 — 23, Morrison’s Dictionary was being compiled and carried through the press. When, in 1834, this devoted pioneer entered into his rest, the prospect of the evangelization of China was nearly as dark as when he landed twenty-seven years previously; and during that time only three additional workers had come to labour in China itself. Indeed, until the year 1842, the efforts of Protestant missionaries were for the most part of a preparatory nature. Stations had been formed in the adjacent islands, tracts and Scriptures had been translated,- books had been printed and circulated, and a few converts had been made; but it was not till 1842 that China was really open to missionary effort. Canton was then worked with more efficiency, Hongkong” was in our possession, and Amoy and Shanghai were opened as missionary stations. In 1 844 permanent missionary work was commenced in Ningpo, and in 1846 in Foo-chow. In 1844-5-6, edicts of toleration to Christianity were issued by the Chinese emperor; and since that time the work has continued steadily, if not always rapidly, to progress.
The Church Missionary Society’s first agents reached China in 1 844; the two agents of the General Baptist Missionary Society arrived in 1 845; the Rev. W. C. Burns, of the English Presbyterian Mission, arrived in 1848; in 1 85 1 the Rev. George Piercy, now of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, reached China; in 1854 the writer arrived at Shanghai; and more recently, agents of other British Missionary Societies have joined in the good work. A further number of labourers has been sent forth by various American Missionary Societies, while the Continental Societies have contributed not a few earnest workers. In 1 860-1, the number of Protestant missionaries in China reached 115; but in March, 1865, when the China Inland Mission was projected, it had fallen off to about 9 1. Since that time many have gone out and laboured in China, and in March, 1884, there were 428 missionaries in the field, and 52 absent on furlough, giving a total of 480.
The labours of these missionaries and of their predecessors have been fruitful — more so than under the circumstances could have been expected, or even hoped for, as the following retrospect will strikingly shew. In 1833, the year before Dr. Morrison died, Dr. Wells Williams — author of the well-known treatise, “TAe Middle Kitigdom’” — arrived in China; and in 1834, Dr. Peter Parker arrived. Both these servants of God were spared to witness fifty years’ progress, though not all the time in the mission field. When they arrived, Dr. Bridgman and Mr. Stevens were at Canton, where missionary operations
Fifty Years Progress.
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CANTONESE fUNKS:
could only be carried on by stealth — then the profession of Christ by a native was a capital crime. In the Straits of Malacca, there were six missionaries working among the Chinese, and there were there seven converts and one ordained native evangelist, but none were to be found in China itself. Even foreign merchants were confined to Macao, and to the factories at Canton: for exercise they could walk backwards and forwards in front of their prison -like residences, but might go no further. And no foreign woman was allowed to reside even there.
How great the contrast now! There are some twenty free ports open to our residence and commerce, our diplomatic representatives reside at Pekin, and men and women with proper passports may and do travel in every province of China. Protestant missions are carried on by 32 Missionary Societies (English, American, and German), and Li Hung-chang, the most influential Chinese mandarin in the empire, openly patronizes a missionary hospital, to which he is the largest contributor. There are now iioo native helpers assisting Protestant missionaries, 22,000 communicants, and probably 100,000 Chinese, more or less fully instructed in the truth, and regularly attending Christian services. Some of the aboriginal tribes have been reached; a few of the Miao-tsi have been baptized, and the Thibetans are receiving the Scriptures in their own mother tongue. Shans and Kah-chens have been brought into the fold of the good Shepherd. In China 428 missionaries, connected with the 32 different societies, were at work in March, 1884. Japan is also open, and has
Rate of Progress. 1 7
many converts: Corea is likewise open, and has a few converts. Though these countries are not part of China, they are so closely connected with it as to merit mention here. “What hath God wrought!” is the grateful exclamation which a survey of the results of missionary labour calls forth.