i f; y*0> s Ys l s> dpi 4) r> ?* ®\© SUMMARY OF TUB ANNUAL STATION REPORTS OF THE l/ CENTRAL CHINA MISSION OF THE r gm s /V SHANGHAI : Printed at the American Presryterian_ Mission Press. 1894. Te <1 C T A <§p f si Iwsigtcviatt ®jjuw| iit % It. j$. || Jor Tear ending August 31st, 1894. I jjj| I i r-A LL t i U xj .c 4/J .O sTi // : . V Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library https://archive.org/details/surnmaryofannualr00pres_0 SUMMARY OF THE ANNUAL STATION REPORTS OF THE CEUTBAL CHIUA ZMZISSIOUsT OF THE PRESBYTERIAN 6HUR6H IN THE U. S. A. For the year ending Aug. 31st , 1S94. Unharmed by the plagne which raged in the South, and free from serious trouble from the war complications in the North, the past year of the Central China Mission has been characterised by comparative tranquillity, steady work, and moderate yet en- couraging results. However brief this condensed report is we must, therefore, find room for a thankful acknowledgment of God’s manifold mercies during the past year. To understand the following summary of the various depart- ments of the work and study intelligently the appended table of statistics, as well as to realise the vast work ahead of us and the other missions at work here, it is well to mention that the Central China Mission is located in the provinces of Kiangsu and Chekiang, among a population of over 64,000,000. The work is centred at, and radiates from, the four centres of Ningpo, Shanghai, Hangchow, Soochow and Nanking. In 56 preaching places the Gospel is regularly preached, and in connection with these and the work among the people we hear of many enquirers and faithful and zealous Christians, many of whom are patiently enduring persecution and trial and witnessing mightily for the Master. Of course there are many indifferent hearers, but we hope and pray that the word heard by seemingly chance hearers who have gone beyond the knowledge of the missionary may be blessed by God, and that the seed sown in tears, and yet with faith, may grow up and bear fruit to be reaped, may be, by some one else, somewhere else. FOREIGN MISSIONARIES. The accessions and depletions of the past year, with their accompanying joys and sorrows, have left the foreign force much the 4 same as last rear, so far as regards numbers, there being a total of 35 foreign workers, including two who are absent in America. With the transference of Dr. Smith and family, and the arrival of Mr. Kennedy and Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker (also of Miss Rollestone, since the close of the mission year), Ningpo station has been satisfactorily reinforced. Hangchow station rejoices in the arrival of Mr. Judson’s sister — Mrs. Justus Doolittle — an old and tried worker ; while to Soochow station we cordially welcome Mrs. Crozier. With the recent transference of Dr. Smith and family to Ningpo, and the approaching furloughs of Dr. and Mrs. Farnham, Mr. and Mrs. Silsby and Miss Posey, Shanghai Station is in sore need of speedy reinforcements. More workers are also urgently needed to enter the open doors the Lord has graciously opened. We mourn the death of Rev. W. J. McKee, and our sorrow for the blank left by a much loved family is increased by the regret that the Partch family are not returning to Central China Mission. We rejoice, however, that they will be able to return to China, although to another part of the field. NATIVE WORKERS. The reports from the different stations indicate that there is a growing efficiency and helpfulness in the force of native workers, of whom there are now 140 in our mission. Whilst there yet is a general need for more native helpers the need of the Hangchow station seems a specially emphatic one. An important work has been done by the Bible women in endeavoring to reach the wives and mothers of the people around us ; much good work is also done by voluntary workers who, without receiving salary, give as much of their time as possible to preaching and Sunday School work. CHURCHES. The total number of communicants in connection with the 17 organized churches of this mission is 1.244, being a gain over last year of 43. The ratio of increase can hardly be compared with the former year, as the present reports cover ten months only, and in some cases the statistics are not complete. On the whole the churches seem in better condition ; there being a faithful pastoral oversight, a greater diligence in seeking the purity of the church, and a wide and deep desire for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In some cases praiseworthy efforts were made towards support- ing the pastors, and generally the contributions to all purposes, considering the circumstances of the people, compare favorably with the liberality of the home churches. The total Sunday School membership is 1,342, and in addition to the good given and received 5 by teachers and scholars much real good has been accomplished and helpful influences exerted through the members and adherents of the churches uniting in Christian Endeavor, Anti-opium, Anti-foot- binding and other Societies. OUT-STATIONS AND ITINERATIONS. With the comparatively small numbers of foreign workers to attend to the different departments of the work less time than is desirable has been spent in the work of evangelization among the heathen masses. Notwithstanding this, however, a number of the foreign workers have been able to itinerate frequently, and in some cases extensively, in addition to regular out-station work. Many thriving cities and numerous large towns and villages in country unoccupied by missions have been visited ; a few hardships have been experienced and rebuffs encountered, but on the whole the workers were well received, and thankfully acknowledge God’s watchful care and wise leading. As a result of such work we hear of encouragement, stimulus and assistance given to the native brethren, while with regard to the attitude of the heathen suspicions have been removed and opposition broken down. The native pastors, evangelists and licentiates have also helped in the work of itineration and in the selling of Scriptures and tracts, which is such an important auxiliary to the preaching. woman’s work. The patient labor and substantial help of the native and foreign women, aud the numerous odds and ends of good advice and wise suggestion which have been so helpful to the male workers, have been powerfully felt in all departments of the work. In addition to the labors of the Bible women, referred to already, and the efforts of those engaged in educational work, there has been a gratifying amount of voluntary house to house visitation. Mother’s meetings, prayer meetings (sometimes conducted by the women themselves, and in one case the idea originating with them), industrial, Bible study and other classes have been regularly held. Au important element in woman’s work is the hearty co-operation iu Christian Endeavor, anti-foot-binding and such Societies. DAY-SCHOOLS. In the 48 day-schools connected with the mission there is a total enrollment of 951. During the year there has been a good attendance, a careful oversight, and faithful teaching. Special prominence has been given to Christian teaching, and rejoicing in the spiritual attainments of the scholars we know that through them many opportunities are afforded for visiting the homes of the pupils and carrying the word of life into new districts and important centres. BOARDING-SCHOOLS. In the five boarding-schools for boys there are 183 pupils, 66 of these being communicants, 13 of whom were admitted to the church during the year. There are also three boarding-schools for girls, with 103 pupils, 45 of whom are communicants, 8 being admitted to the church during the year. The various reports show an improvement in conduct and scholarship. The practical part of the pupils’ training has not been neglected, while special prom- inence is given to studies which fit the pupils for Christian work. There is thankfully reported a spiritual growth manifested in the every-day life of the pupils in school, as well as in their intercourse with each other. This is also evident in the sincere desire to do missionary work and in the actual assistance given in evangelistic work among the women. In some cases there have been encourag- ing contributions from girls — the earnings of odd moments. TRAINING AND THEOLOGICAL CLASSES. Twenty-two native women have attended training classes in three of the stations for the purpose of being fitted for more effective Christian work. Six theological students have prosecuted their studies under the care of Drs. Farnham and Smith and Mr. Garritt. In several stations classes for biblical instruction have been held for the benefit of helpers, teachers and others who were gathered together for one or several weeks. LITERARY WORK. Various members of the mission have rendered service to the American Bible Society and the Chinese Religious Tract Society iu the work of Biblical revision, editing of religious periodicals, preparation of Sunday School Lessons, etc., while other works have been prepared which will be widely acceptable to many missionary workers. The Mission Press at Shanghai celebrates this year the fiftieth year of its existence, and rejoices in having a new chapel which makes possible the more effective carrying out of evangelistic work ; whilst in the room afforded by the old chapel relief will be given to the congested condition of some departments of the work. Without including several editions for the Bible Societies not yet completed the total output for the year is 36,702,967 pages. "7 7 CONCLUSION. Considering the gradual advance indicated in the appended statistical table the foregoing summary may appear to have been written in a tone inconsistently bright with the results and with the hope and expectation of rapid and greater expansion, but when we consider the nature of the field and the inadequacy of men and means to meet the demands of a steadily growing work we feel that the year’s retrospect affords much reason for profound gratitude to God and encouragement to go forward. The hindrances and discouragements have been many, but without unnecessarily min- imising these we would emphasize the prominent feature of the various reports, viz., that the real advance of the year has been on the lines of purity and spirituality. Among native and foreign workers there is a prayerful expectancy (and may God grant there may also be a true preparedness) for a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Statistics of Central China flIMssion. Tear 1893-1894.* | Shang- Nm 3PO j hai. Hang- chow. Soo- chotib. Nan- king. Totals. Station Begun 18441850 1859 1871 1875 Foreign Missionaries : — * Ordained Missionaries * • • » . , 1 3 3 4 3 14 Laymen ... ... 1 1 Married Ladies • * • • • • 1 4 3 3 3 14 Single Ladies 2 2 2 6 Total Foreign Workers • • * . . . 4 10 6 7 8 35 Native Workers : — Ordained Ministers... . . . » * « '8 5 4 17 Licentiates ... • • • • • • 4 3 3 3 13 Local Evangelists ... . . . . . . 6 3 3 3 7 22 Bible Women • • • . . . 6 4 2 3 2 17 Male Teachers 10 +12 +6 8 8 +44 Female Teachers . . . , . k 9 13 1 4 2 29 Total Native Workers . . . . . . 43 39 18 21 19 140 Churches, Sunday Schools, etc. : — No. of Churches . . . , , , 9 3 3 1 1 17 Communicants, Male . , . • • • 288 109 118 23 45 583 „ Female • • • • « • 409 101 98 19 34 661 Total No. of Communicants 697 210 216 42 79 1244 Added on Examination ... ... 43 10 20 8 14 95 ,, „ Certificate ... ... 15 12 3 1 31 Dismissed by letter... ... ... 21 12 5 38 Suspended or expelled ••• 2 6 1 1 10 Deceased ... ... 23 8 3 34 Gain over last year... ... ... 16 —8 13 7 15 43 Baptisms, Adult ... ... ... 41 8 11 8 14 82 „ Infant ... ... ... 15 12 6 2 1 36 Contri. from all sources in M. Dollars $660 1075 291 52 19 2097 Preaching Places, inclu. Churches... 22 9 12 6 7 56 No. of Sunday Schools ... ... 8 7 2 2 1 20 Teachers in Sunday Schools 31 36 13 7 13 100 Pupils „ „ „ 430 490 132 80 110 1242 Total Sunday School Membership... 461 526 145 87 123 1342 Educational ; — Candidates for the Ministry ... 5 2 1 1 9 In Women’s Training Classes 12 4 6 22 Pupils in Boys’ Boarding Schools... 24 54 50 33 22 183 Communicants in ,, M ••• 9 19 25 3 10 66 Admitted to Ch. during the year ... 3 5 3 2 13 Pupils in Girls’ Boarding Schools... 48 29 26 103 Communicants in „ M ••• 15 IS 12 45 Admitted to Ch. during the year ... 3 1 4 8 No. of Day Schools for Boys 5 4 3 3 15 „ „ „ „ for Girls 7 1 1 1 10 ,, „ ,, „ admit, both sexes 12 9 2 23 Boys in Day Schools ... ... 84 454 50 94 38 720 Girls ,, ,, ,, 89 112 9 16 5 231 Total Enroll, in B’ding& Day Schools 245 649 109 143 91 1237 No. of Out-stations... 18 3 8 1 33 * These statistics aro for the most part for 11 months ending August 31, 1894, but In some eases arc brought up to Sept. 30th. The Foreign missionaries who arrived this fall aro not counted in these statistics, having come after August 31. t Includes two licentiates acting as teachers.