® 0^19 (g) MISSIONARY HAND-BOOKroper!y sustained in tlie future, of becoming as aggressive and useful in the 25 Missions of the M. E. C., S. East as the Church that planted it is in the West.” He says, in a letter dated December 14, 1869; “The present year has been one of great encouragement even in our own Mission. Our work has been extended and op- erated successful!}', though w’e are still comparatively bound to Shanghai. The prospect is good, therefore, for a cheering report by the next mail, which I hope will be in time fur the meeting of the Board in March.” Rev. J. AV. Lambuth is now devoting all his time to I'egular itinerant missionary labor. He travels and preaches through the country, visiting the stations at Soochow and Nantziang and other cities in the province. This he is able to do because Brother Allen sur- renders his part of the appropriation sent by the Board to him. Brother Allen's Anglo-Chinese school furnish- ing him ihe means of support. Brother Lambuth has associated with him in his itinerant work a native Chinaman, who was for some time in this country with Dr. Kelley, known as C. K. Marshall. He is a young man of promise, and we hope will make an efficient helper. He is supported by Dr. Deems’s Church in New York. Airs. Lambuth has a girls’ school of twelve pu- j'ils under her care, to which she gives much of her time, and from which good fruit may be expected in due time. Brother and Sister Lambuth are deeply j)ious, earnest, faithful, efficient missionaries. Rev. Young J. Allen has charge of an Anglo-Chinese school, under the patronage of the Chinese Govern- ment, in connection with the native college at Shang- hai. This school not only furnishes him the means of support, but an opportunity of doing much good as a missionary. No position attainable by a missionary in the empire affords greater facilities for usefulness 2G American Methodist Missions. than this. He is also editing and publishing two news- ]iaj)ers in Chinese — one a religions paper, the other literary and scientific. Both })apers have a wide cir- culation and are doing good. The Church paper — Mis- sionary Christian Advocate — is a beautiful weekly publi- cation of sixteen pages, illustrated by neat engi avings of Scripture scenes, etc. I cannot speak too highly of this 2)aper and of the enterprise and taste with which it is conducted. It is patronized by missionaries and native Christians of all denominations. Among the most frequent and able contributors to its columns are the native preachers of China, Notwithstanding Broth- er Allen’s hands are thus full, he preaches regularly in Chinese and performs his part of regular mission work. Tlie native Church is growing steadily, though slow- ly, in numbers. Our missionaries are exceedingly cau- tious in receiving candidates. It would be an easy matter to swell the list of Chui'ch-members rapidly, and they could soon astonish the anxious doubters at home by “great successes,” if not strictly conscientious in ad- mitting none to membership but those who give satis- factory proof of their sincerity. The native members are active in their efibrts to build up the Church, and liberal with their means in its support. The Chinese Christians contribute more per member for the support of the gospel than the Christians in this country. Among those most active and useful in the Church at Shanghai is a widow woman by the name of Quay. She is known as the “ Bible-woman.” She spends her time in distributing Bibles and tracts, praying with and exhorting her neighbors. I baj'tized her and knew her well for years, and do not hesitate to say that a more consistent Christian I never knew at home or Missions of the M. E. C., S. 27 abroad. Many will rise up at the last day and call her blessed. As the year 1870 drew to a close Eev. Y. J. Allen wrote: “We review the year with pro- found gratitude to God, whose providence hath shielded us and our work during its eventful passage. Kumors, alarms, and dan- gers have threatened us all this year, and in some places have actually culminated in real violence. But none of these things have moved us, except it be to renewed devotion and a more entire devotion of ourselves to the Lord of glory. We hope to date from this period a turning point in the history of Mis- sions in China, and have no doubt the crisis through which we are passing will accomplish that long desired object, to wit: the arrest of the Chinese mind, and the wider diffusion of missionary influence. Our own Mission work is still contracted, and comparatively meager of results, from lack of sufficient re-enforce- ments and qxialified native help, but it is not without encouragement.” We mention the two native helpers, Dzau (C. K. Marshall) and Ying, as having rendered efficient service. Dzau was stationed at Soochow, whicli had been visited by Liew in 1859. At that place five had been baptized and eight were on pro- 28 American Methodist Missions. bation. Yiiig bad extended bis labor from Sliangbai to tbe Great Lake, and bad also vis- ited Nantsiang, when two persons bad been baptized. Tbe two Bible-women were active- ly at work visiting the homes of all who would receive them, and exhorting and jjraying with all who were seeking tbe truth as it is in Je- sus. Several of tbe probationers bad been brought into that relation by tbe labors of tbe Bible-women. One of these Bible-women was Quay, who bad been baptized by Dr. Cnn- nyngbam at the first Quarterly Conference in 1855. The two boarding - schools bad 22 boarders and 10 day scholars. Tbe Chinese Christian Advocate, published by Brother Al- len, was now in its third year. Though not exclusively religions, it was open to the dis- cussion of all questions pertinent to mission- ary work. Its circulation extended from Shanghai and the regions round about to For- mosa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mongolia, and Japan. It had the sanction of more than twenty Missions, was subscribed for and read by a large number of the literati and mandarins and sold in the streets of Peking. It enabled the missionary to confront, among the higher classes, tlie errors that prevailed among them. It is not every one who can 29 Missions of the M. E. C., S. make a paper or magazine a success either at home or in the mission field. The man who achieves the success has multiplied his influ- ence many fold. The “Preachers’ Text Book,” sent out by Dr. Summers for that purpose, was translated and ready for press. The status of the work was shown by the following figures. Two foreign missionaries with their families, two student native helpers, two Bible-women, fifty-six native members, four- teen probationers. The following extract from a letter written January 29, 1871, from Brother Allen to W. H. Foster, superintendent of the Felicity Street Sunday-school, N. O., indicates the character and results of Sunday-school work in Shanghai; I have previously had occasion to mention to you the great interest the school seemed to take, in being instructed, and how hopeful the indications that before long signal results might be expected; but even my fondest anticipations had not foreseen the pleasure of this day. ’Twas in the Sabbath-school, and during the closing exercises, about half- past 4 o’clock p.m., that Pay Yoong-Tsung, a boy of fourteen years, the son of a military officer, and a most serious, thoughtful youth, arose from his seat, and, addressing me, said; “ I would like to join the Church.” His modest manner and the tremulousness of his voice attested his sincerity, and I Avas surprised to find that a similar feeling and a like 30 American Methodist Missions. earnestness on the subject cliaractcrized the other mem- bers of the school. When he sat down, Yang Tuh Kwe arose and urged a like request, and thus did they all. I was astonished; the scene took me unawares. I could but pray : “ Lord, increase my faith ! ” The children wept. I wept too. Then we sung, “Happy day, 0 happy day, that fixed my choice,” and knelt together, as we never knelt before, to pray for pardon, forgiveness, and acceptance. My soul yearned for them as we drew nearer and nearer to God in prayer. Our hearts were softened, melted, as we bowed together. The children dedicated themselves voluntarily to God. We arose, and I received them in the name of the Saviour, and placed their names on the list of probationers. Thank God for the scene of this day! thank God for the kind friends of Felicity Sti'eet, New Orleans ! A good work is begun ; the Lord is with us, and it shall go on. Who shall hinder it? Pray for us, my brother. Tell your school to praise God for his blessings on their gifts, and pray for yet a larger mani- festation, both among themselves and us. The labors of our two faithful missionaries in 1871 were still confined to Shanghai and its vicinity, with Dzau at Soochow and Ying in Shanghai and interior towns and cities. In addition to the chapel at Shanghai there was one at Soochow and another at Nantziang. The last-named place is mentioned as “ a large village of thirty thousand inhabitants, about fifteen miles from Shanghai.” They were anx- ious to occupy Kading, a walled town eight 31 Missio)is of the M. E. C., S. miles from Nantziang, where a lot had been secured. The religious interest in the Sun- day-school was continued. A house was pre- pared for the girls’ boarding-school at a cost of $300, which was contributed by friends in Shanghai. Brother Dzau had charge of a day-school in Soochow, with eight scholars. 00,000 copies of the Chinese Christian Advo- cate were printed during the year; and of these, 50,000 were sold. The membership re- ported in 1871 was 68. The following extract from a letter from Brother Lambuth, published in the annual report, exhibits the .condition of the work in 1872: Tlie number of additions to the Church the past year, ending 1872, has been eleven. Three have died, and two have been excluded from the Church. One man has withdrawn his membership and returned to the London Mission. There were eleven probationers, at the close of the year, in Shanghai, and three in Soo- chow. Number of churches, three — one at Shanghai, one at Nantziang, and one at Soochow. In Shanghai there are two boarding-schools for boys, numbering twenty- one boarders and eight day scholars. In Shanghai, boarding-school for girls, one; number of boarders, nine, and three day scholars. One day-school in Soo- chow of twelve boys. Two Bible-women engaged in the work in Shanghai ; two Sabbath-schools of about forty persons. 32 American Methodist Missions. The work among the women in Shanghai the pagt year has given us great encouragement, and we trust that the coming year this work of grace may be more abundantly manifest, and that many souls may be con- verted to God. Our congregations in the city of Shang- hai have been, for the most part, large and attentive. During the year almost daily services have been kejit up eat;h day of the week, and three services on the Sabbath, in and out of the city.