"Receipts from December 30th to February 6th,£17083" Feb. 6th to Mar. 12th£1774511"Funds advised, since received20000—————£1974511
"This, it will be noticed, waspreviousto the circulation of the 'Occasional Paper,' and, consequently, was not the result of it. It was the response of a faithfulGodto the united prayers of those whom He had called to serve Him in the Gospel of His dearSon.
"We can now compare with these two periods a third of the same extent. From March 12th to April 18th the receipts were £529, showing that whenGodhad supplied the special need, the special supply also ceased. Truly there is aLiving God, andHeis the hearer and answerer of prayer."
But this gracious answer to prayer made it a little difficult to circulate "Occasional Paper, No. I.," for it stated as a need that which was already supplied. The difficulty was obviated by the issue with each copy of a coloured inset stating that the funds for outfit and passage were already in hand in answer to prayer. We were reminded of the difficulty of Moses—not a very common one in the present day—and of the proclamation he had to send through the camp to the people to prepare no more for the building of the Tabernacle, as the gifts in hand were already too much. We are convinced that if there werelesssolicitation for money andmoredependence upon the power of theHoly Ghostand upon the deepening of spiritual life, the experience of Moses would be a common one in every branch of Christian work.
Preparations for sailing to China were at once proceeded with. About this time I was asked to give a lecture on China in a village not very far from London, and agreed to do so on condition that there should be no collection, and that this should be announced on the bills. The gentleman who invited me, and who kindly presided as chairman, said he had never had that condition imposed before. He accepted it, however, and the bills were issued accordingly for the 2nd or 3rd of May. With the aid of a large map, somethingof the extent and population and deep spiritual need of China was presented, and many were evidently impressed.
At the close of the meeting the chairman said that by my request it had been intimated on the bills that there would be no collection; but he felt that many present would be distressed and burdened if they had not the opportunity of contributing something towards the good work proposed. He trusted that as the proposition emanated entirely from himself, and expressed, he felt sure, the feelings of many in the audience, I should not object to it. I begged, however, that the condition agreed to might be carried out; pointing out among other reasons for making no collection, that the very reason adduced by our kind chairman was, to my mind, one of the strongest for not making it. My wish was, not that those present should be relieved by making such contribution as might there and then be convenient, under the influence of a present emotion; but that each one should go home burdened with the deep need of China, and ask ofGodwhat He would have them to do. If, after thought and prayer, they were satisfied that a pecuniary contribution was what He wanted of them, it could be given to any Missionary Society having agents in China; or it might be posted to our London office; but that perhaps in many cases whatGodwanted wasnota money contribution, but personal consecration to His service abroad; or the giving up of son or daughter—more precious than silver or gold—to His service. I added that I thought the tendency of a collection was to leave the impression that the all-important thing wasmoney, whereas no amount of money could convert a single soul; that what was needed was that men and women filled with theHoly Ghostshould givethemselvesto the work: for the support of such there would never be a lack of funds. As my wish was evidently very strong, the chairman kindly yielded toit, and closed the meeting. He told me, however, at the supper-table, that he thought it was a mistake on my part, and that, notwithstanding all I had said, a few persons had put some little contributions into his hands.
Next morning at breakfast, my kind host came in a little late, and acknowledged to not having had a very good night. After breakfast he asked me to his study, and giving me the contributions handed to him the night before, said, "I thought last night, Mr. Taylor, that you were in the wrong about a collection; I am now convinced you were quite right. As I thought in the night of that stream of souls in China ever passing onward into the dark, I could only cry as you suggested, 'Lord, what wilt Thou havemeto do?' I think I have obtained the guidance I sought, and here it is." He handed me a cheque for £500, adding that if there had been a collection he would have given a few pounds to it, but now this cheque was the result of having spent no small part of the night in prayer.
I need scarcely say how surprised and thankful I was for this gift. I had received at the breakfast-table a letter from Messrs. Killick, Martin and Co., shipping agents, in which they stated that they could offer us the whole passenger accommodation of the shipLammermuir. I went direct to the ship, found it in every way suitable, and paid the cheque on account. As above stated, the funds deemed needed had been already in hand for some time; but the coincidence of the simultaneous offer of the ship accommodation and this munificent gift—God's"exceeding abundantly"—greatly encouraged my heart.
On the 26th of May we sailed for China in theLammermuir, a missionary party of 16 (besides my four children and their nurse, and Miss Bausum (afterwards Mrs. Barchet)); in all 22 passengers. Mr. Berger took charge of the home department, and thus the C. I. M. was fully inaugurated.
The battlements of Pekin
THE events sketched in the last two chapters have been more fully delineated by Miss Guinness in her interestingStory of the China Inland Mission, which continues its history to the present date. It is indeed a record of the goodness ofGod, every remembrance of which calls for gratitude and praise. We can only here briefly mention a few facts, referring our readers to Miss Guinness's work for all details.
After a voyage of many mercies theLammermuirparty safely reached China, and during the first ten years stations and out-stations were opened in many cities and towns in four provinces which hitherto had been unreached by the Gospel. At home Mr. and Mrs. Berger continued their devoted service until March 19th, 1872, I having returned to England the year before. Shortly after this the London Council was formed, which has now for several years been assisted by an auxiliary Council of ladies. A Scotch Council was also formed in Glasgow a few years ago.
A visit to America in 1888 issued in the formation of the Council for North America, and a similar Council for Australasia was commenced in Melbourne two years later. In the field a China Council was organised in 1886, composed of senior missionaries who meet quarterly in Shanghai.
Closely associated with the C. I. M. are seven Committees—in England, Norway, Sweden (two), Finland, Germany, and the United States—which send out and support their own missionaries, who in China have the assistance of the educational and other advantages of the C. I. M., and who work under its direction.
The staff of the Mission, in May 1893, consisted of 552 missionaries (including wives and associates). There were also 326 native helpers (95 of whom were unpaid), working as pastors, evangelists, teachers, colporteurs, Bible-women, etc., in 14 different provinces.
Duly qualified candidates for missionary labour are accepted without restriction as to denomination, provided they are sound in the faith in all fundamental truths: these go out in dependence uponGodfor temporal supplies, with the clear understanding that the officers of the Mission do not guarantee any income whatever; and knowing that as they will not go into debt, they can only minister to them as the funds sent in from time to time will allow. But we praiseGodthat during the past twenty-eight years such ministry has always been possible; ourGodhassupplied all our need, and has withheld no good thing.
All the expenses of the Mission at home and abroad are met by voluntary contributions, sent to the offices of the Mission without personal solicitation, by those who wish to aid in this effort to spread the knowledge of the Gospel throughout China. The income for the year 1892 was about £34,000 from all sources—Great Britain, the Continent of Europe, North America, Australasia, China, etc.
Some of the missionaries having private property have gone out at their own expense, and do not take anything from the Mission funds.
Stations have been opened in ten of the eleven provinceswhich were previously without Protestant missionaries; from one of these, however, we have had to retire. The eleventh province has been visited several times, and it is hoped that in it permanent work may soon be begun.
More than 200 stations and out-stations have been opened in fourteen of the eighteen provinces, in all of which stations either missionaries or native labourers are resident. Over 6000 converts have been baptized from the commencement, some 4000 of whom are now living and in fellowship.
The year 1894, in which the first edition ofA Retrospectappeared, was marked by the erection of large and commodious premises for the work of the Mission, and early in the following year the houses in Pyrland Road, which had so long formed the home of the Mission in England, were vacated, andNewington Green, London, N., became the address of the Mission offices and home.
From that date until the Boxer outbreak of 1900 the Mission made steady progress, the development of the work in China being accompanied by corresponding developments in the home departments of the Mission in England, America, and Australasia.
In January 1900, before the Boxer outbreak, there were in connection with the Mission, 811 missionaries, including wives and associates; 171 stations; 223 out-stations; 387 chapels; 581 paid native helpers; 193 unpaid native helpers; 8557 communicants in fellowship, 12,964 having been baptized from the commencement. There were 266 organised churches; 788 boarding scholars; 1382 day scholars; 6 hospitals; 18 dispensaries; and 46 opium refuges.
During the terrible year of 1900, when no fewer than 135 missionaries and 53 missionaries' children and many thousands of Chinese Christians were cruelly murdered, the China Inland Mission lost 58 missionaries and 21 children. The records of these unparalleled times of suffering have been told inMartyred Missionaries of the China Inland Missionand inLast Letters, both of which books will be found advertised at the end of this volume. Apart from loss of life, there was an immense amount of Mission property destroyed, and the missionaries were compelled to retire from their stations in most parts of China.
The doors closed by this outbreak have all been reopened in the goodness ofGod. In those districts which suffered most from the massacres the work has largely been one of reorganisation; but throughout China generally there has been a spirit of awakening and a time of enlarged opportunity; which is a loud call for more men and women to volunteer to step into the gaps and fill the places of those who have fallen.
Among recent developments we would specially mention the opening of a new home centre at Philadelphia, U.S.A. The total income of the Mission for 1901 was £53,633 = $257,712, and the total received in England alone, for 1902, was £51,446 = $246,912. The total membership of the Mission in June 1902 was 761.
Current information about the progress of the work in China may be obtained fromChina's Millions, the organ of the Mission. It is published monthly, and may be ordered through any bookseller from Messrs. Morgan and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, E.C., for 1s. per year, or direct by post from the offices of the Mission, Newington Green, London, N., for 1s. 6d. per annum.
The Australasian edition ofChina's Millionsmay beordered at the same price from M. L. Hutchinson, Little Collins Street, or from the Mission Offices, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. The North American edition will be sent post free from the Mission Offices, 507 Church Street, Toronto, for 50 cents per annum.
Prayer meetings on behalf of the work in China are held at the principal home centres of the Mission, as follows: Every Saturday afternoon from 4 to 6 o'clock, at Newington Green, London. Every Friday evening at 8 o'clock, at 507 Church Street, Toronto. Every Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock, in the Office, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. A hearty invitation to attend any one of these meetings is given to any one residing in or visiting any of these cities.
Donations to the Mission, applications from candidates, orders for literature, requests for deputation speakers, and other correspondence should be forwarded to
The Secretary,China Inland Mission,Newington Green, London, N.
The Home Director,China Inland Mission,507 Church Street, Toronto, Canada.
or
702 Witherspoon Buildings, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
or to
The Secretary,China Inland Mission,267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia.
MAP OF CHINA
Shewing{1. All Protestant Mission Stations in China up to June 1866, when the C.I.M. was founded (they numbered fifteen) These are underlined in black.2. The Stations of the China Inland Mission which (with the exception of Ning-Po & Fung-hwa) have been opened since June 1866. These are printed in red.
1. All Protestant Mission Stations in China up to June 1866, when the C.I.M. was founded (they numbered fifteen) These are underlined in black.
2. The Stations of the China Inland Mission which (with the exception of Ning-Po & Fung-hwa) have been opened since June 1866. These are printed in red.
China
Native woodcut of a landscape
(BEFORE THE BOXER OUTBREAK)
The best guide to the stations of the Mission is the newChina Inland Mission Map(size 44 × 38 in., mounted on linen, coloured, varnished, and hung on rollers), price 8s.net, carriage and packing extra. Mounted to fold, 8s.net, post free.
Provinces.[4]Stations.[5]WorkBegun.Kan-suh, 1876Liang-chau1888Si-ning1885LAN-CHAU1885Ts'in-chau1878Area,[6]125,450 square miles.Fu K'iang1899Population, 9,285,377.P'ing-liang1895King-chau1895Ts'ing-ning1897Chen-yuen1897Tong-chi1899Shen-si, 1876.Lung-chau1893Feng-tsiang1888Mei-hien1893K'ien-chau1894Area, 67,400 square miles.Chau-chih1893Population, 8,432,193.Sang-kia-chuang1894Hing-p'ing1893SI-GAN1893Ying-kia-wei1893Chen-kia-hu1897Lan-t'ien1895K'ien-yang1897Ch'ang-wu1897San-shui1897T'ung-chau1891Han-ch'eng1897Han-chung1879Ch'eng-ku1887Si-hsiang1896Yang-hien1896Hing-an1898Shan-si, 1876Ta-t'ung1886Hwen-yuen1898Soh-p'ing1895Tsö-yuin1895Ying-chau1897Hiao-i1887Kiai-hiu1891Sih-chau1885Ta-ning1885Kih-chau1891Ho-tsin1893Ping-yao1888Area, 56,268 square miles.Hoh-chau1886Population, 12,211,453.Hung-t'ung1886Yoh-yang1896P'ing-yang1879K'üh-wu1885I-shï1891Yüin-ch'eng1888Mei-ti-kiai1895Hiai-chau1895Lu-ch'eng1889Ü-wu1896Lu-gan1889Kiang-chau1898Chih-li, 1887T'ien-tsin1888Area, 58,949 square miles.PAO-T'ING1891Population, 17,937,000.Hwuy-luh1887Shun-teh1888Shan-tung, 1879Chefoo1879" Sanatorium1880" Boys' School1880Area, 53,762 square miles." Girls' "1884Population, 36,247,835." Preparatory School1895T'ung-shin1889Ning-hai1886Ho-nan, 1875Siang-ch'eng1891Chau-kia-k'eo1884Ho-nan...Ho-peh...Ho-si...Area, 66,913 square miles.Ch'en-chau1895Population, 22,115,827.T'ai-k'ang1895She-k'i-tien1886Kwang-chau1899Hin-an1899King-tsï-kuan1896W. Si-ch'uan, 1877Kwan-hien1889CH'EN-TU1881Kia-ting1888Area of whole Province, 166,800 square miles.Sui-fu1888Lu-chau1890Hiao-shï1899Ch'ung-k'ing1877Ta-chien-lu1897E. Si-ch'uan, 1886Kwang-yuen1889Sin-tien-tsï1892Pao-ning1886Ying-shan1898Population of whole Province, 67,712,897.Kü-hien1898Shun-k'ing1896Pa-chau1887Sui-ting1899Wan-hien1888Hu-peh, 1874Lao-ho-k'eo1887Area, 70,450 square miles.Han-kow1889Population, 34,244,685.I-ch'ang1895Gan-hwuy, 1869T'ai-ho1892Ving-chau1897Ch'eng-yang-kwan1887K'u-ch'eng1887Fuh-hing-tsih (Lai-gan)1898Luh-gan1890GAN-K'ING1869Area, 48,461 square miles.Training Home...Population, 20,596,288.Wu-hu1893Kien-p'ing1894Ning-kwoh1874Kwang-teh1890Ch'i-chau1889Kien-teh1892Hwuy-chau1884Kiang-su, 1854Gan-tung1891Ts'ing-kiang-pu1869Kao-yiu1888Yang-chau1868Training Home...Chin-kiang1888Area, 44,500 square miles.Shanghai1854Population, 20,905,171.Financial Department...Business Department...Home...Hospital...Evangelistic Work...Literary Work...Yun-nan, 1877Bhâmo (Upper Burmah)1875Area, 107,969 square miles.Ta-li1881Population, 11,721,576.YUN-NAN1882K'üh-ts'ing1889Kwei-chau, 1877Kwei-yang1877Gan-shun1888Area, 64,554 square miles.Tuh-shan1893Population, 7,669,181.Hing-i1891(Work among Aborigines)...P'ang-hai1897Hu-nan, 1875Ch'ang-teh1898Area, 74,320 square miles.Shen-chau1898Population, 21,002,604.Ch'a-ling1898Kiang-si, 1869Kiu-kiang1889Ku-ling Sanatorium1898Ta-ku-t'ang1873Nan-k'ang1887Gan-ren1889Rao-chau1898Peh-kan1893Kwei-k'i1878Shang-ts'ing1893Hü-wan1899Ih-yang1890Area, 72,176 square miles.Ho-k'eo1878Population, 24,534,118.Yang-k'eo1890Kwang-feng1889Yuh-shan1877Chang-shu1895Kui-gan1891Feng-kang1891Kan-chau1899Sin-feng1899Lin-kiang1898NAN-CH'ANG1898Uen-chau(Itinerating)...Yung-sin1899Cheh-kiang, 1857HANG-CHAU1866Shao-hing1866Sin-ch'ang1870Kiu-chau1872Ch'ang-shan1878Lan-k'i1894Area, 39,150 square miles.Kin-hwa1875Population, 11,588,692.Yung-k'ang1882Tseh-k'i1897Ch'u-chau1875Lung-ch'uen1894Uin-ho1895Song-yang1896Siao-mei1896Tsin-yun1898Ning-p'o1857Fung-hwa1866Ning-hai1868T'ien-t'ai1898T'ai-chau1867Ling-he District...Hwang-yen1896T'ai-p'ing1898Wun-chau1867Bing-yae1874
Elder Liu and wife, Kwei-k'i
Printed byR. & R. Clark, Limited,Edinburgh.
FOOTNOTES:[1]Since the above was written Mr. George Pearse has died.[2]For words and music see the end of this chapter.[3]Isaiah lv. 8, 9.[4]Arranged in three lines from west to east, for easy reference to Map. The dates in this column in many cases are of itinerations begun.[5]Capitals of Provinces in capital letters; of Prefectures in small capitals; and of Counties in romans; Market Towns in italics.[6]Areas and populations are fromThe Statesman's Year Book.
[1]Since the above was written Mr. George Pearse has died.
[1]Since the above was written Mr. George Pearse has died.
[2]For words and music see the end of this chapter.
[2]For words and music see the end of this chapter.
[3]Isaiah lv. 8, 9.
[3]Isaiah lv. 8, 9.
[4]Arranged in three lines from west to east, for easy reference to Map. The dates in this column in many cases are of itinerations begun.
[4]Arranged in three lines from west to east, for easy reference to Map. The dates in this column in many cases are of itinerations begun.
[5]Capitals of Provinces in capital letters; of Prefectures in small capitals; and of Counties in romans; Market Towns in italics.
[5]Capitals of Provinces in capital letters; of Prefectures in small capitals; and of Counties in romans; Market Towns in italics.
[6]Areas and populations are fromThe Statesman's Year Book.
[6]Areas and populations are fromThe Statesman's Year Book.
CIM Emblem
Transcriber's Notes:Certain images are linked to larger versions to aid in closer views of faces or Chinese characters. The first of these linked images is theLammuir Party. The remaining linked images are found on pages35,97,104,110, and136, as well as themap.Inconsistencies in spelling of Chinese names were retained such as Bhâmo and Bhamô.Corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.
Certain images are linked to larger versions to aid in closer views of faces or Chinese characters. The first of these linked images is theLammuir Party. The remaining linked images are found on pages35,97,104,110, and136, as well as themap.
Inconsistencies in spelling of Chinese names were retained such as Bhâmo and Bhamô.
Corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.