: > ft W '-V SKETCH o" the iMOY MISSION CHINA OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA NEW YORK 1906 QUltna for (Eliriat “ Lo, these shall come from far; and lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.” Isaiah. “ It is a great step towards the Christianization of our planet if Christianity gain entrance into China.” Neander in 1850. “ This mysterious race, with the Anglo-Saxons and the Russians, will divide the earth a hundred years hence. Three empires fill the vision of the future — the United States, Russia and China” Speer. “Asia is now the field. The coming question will be Asiatic. It may come with the youngest and the oldest civilizations — the United States and China — face to face.” London Times. The hope for China is “in the miraculous spread of Christianity. ” Sir Robert Hai t in 1900. “China has made more progress during the past five years than any nation on the face of the earth.” A. H. Smith in 1906. “The present outlook in China is ‘never so hopeful,’ but it is a critical time.” W. A. R. Martin, quoted at banquet to Imperial Commis- sioners, New York, 1906. “The greatest opportunity which has con- fronted Christendom since the Reformation, if not since the coming of Christ.” Bishop Ba.shford in 1906. THE AMOY MISSION, CHINA. BY Rev. a. L. WARNSHUIS. Board of Foreign Missions, R. C. A. 25 EAST 22D STREET, NEW YORK. 1906. WHERE THE REFORMED CHURCH IS WORKING IN CHINA. BY REV. A. L. WARNSHUIS. Of the provinces on the Pacific coast of China, Fukien is next to the most southern. “ Happily Established ” is the meaning of the two charac- ters, Fukien. It covers an area of 38,500 square miles, which is about the size of Virginia, or about two-thirds as large as Michigan. Its popu- lation is estimated at 22,190,000, or 574 per square mile. Compared with the whole state of New York, its population is more than three times as large; and it is almost ten times more than the population of Michigan. In the Empire of China, since Formosa was added to Japan at the close of the war in 1895, Fukien is the smallest of all the provinces, and it is also the most densely settled. The land is almost entirely hilly or mountainous, and a German writer calls Fukien “the Chinese Switzerland.” The Chinese have a saying, in rhyme, “Under all heaven there is nothing com- parable to Fukien.” The Reformed Church in America, by agree- ment with the Missionary Boards of other church es, has assumed the responsibility for the evangeli- zation of about one-third of the southern half of this province. The districts assigned to us lie in the two prefectures of Chiaug-chiu and Chin-chiu, and have an estimated population of 3,000,000. 4 The Amoy Mission, China. A portion of this Reformed Clinrcli territory lies north of the port of Amoy, including almost all the county of Tong-an, hut the greater part of it lies west from Amoy in the shape of a great triangle, spreading out as one goes farther in- land, and extending to the borders of the prov- ince. These districts are among the most fertile and prosperous in South Fukien. The Chiang- ehiu and Sio-khe valleys are ever green with ver- dure. Clumps of graceful, overhanging bamboo line the streams and cover the hills. Wide- spreading banyans and fruitful mango and lychee trees shade the numerous villages. Great stretches of ricefields, sugar cane and tobacco plantations and banana groves give variety to the landscape. The lofty hills are terraced almost to the very top, yet tlie area of arable land is insufficient for the support of the inhabitants. The farms are small, not averaging more than two or three acres, and they are cultivated with the utmost diligence. Two and three crops a year are gath- ered from the same piece of ground. No sooner is one crop ripened and garnered than another croj) is put in. Tobacco, hemp and sugar cane are often planted together in one field at the same time, the products being gathered in order just as the succeeding crop has grown large enough to overshadow the preceding one. The farms and gardens are kept surprisingly free from weeds. Cities and Towns. — The principal cities in South Fukien are Amoy, Chiang-chiu and Chin- The Amoy Mission, China. 5 chill. Amoy Avas one of the first five ports opened to Western commerce hy the treaty of 1842. It is beautifully situated on an island, and has an excellent harbor which is one of the most pic- turesque on the China coast. In the harbor lies the small island of Kolongsu, of about three miles in circumference, on Avhich the foreign population lives, and AAdiich has been made an international settlement, governed by a Municipal Council chosen by the foreign residents. The population of the city of Amoy is at least 200,000. It has been the centre of a foreign trade for nearly two hundred years. Its trade with the United States consists largely in lily bulbs, and in Formosa tea, and in the imports of kerosene oil and fiour. Chiang-chiu, on the West river, thirty miles west of Amoj’, Avith a population of 200,000, is the capital of a large prefecture, and the centre of a large inland trade. From the hills in the city, seAmral hundred villages, with an uncounted population, can be seen on the vast plain sur- rounding it. Until 1905, annual government examinations were held here, bringing thousands of students to the city from all parts of the pre- fecture. According to the new educational scheme, it will continue to be an important centre of learning, for it will be the seat of the gOAmrn- ment Middle School. Chin-chin, sixty miles north of Amoy, Avith a population of 300,000, is the capital of another prefecture, and is also an important literary centre. The English Presbyterians carry on a large and 6 The Amoy 3Iissio7i, Chma. most promising work in this city. Their mis- sionary force here numbers three men with their families and four unmarried ladies. Their work includes two hospitals, a Middle School for boys, a girls’ boarding-school, a woman’s school and the two churches in the city together with the churches in the surrounding towns. Tong-an, at the head of the estuary reaching out from Amoy to the north, with a population of aboiit 40,000, is the capital of a county. Its principal business is the shipping of large quanti- ties of home-grown opium, which is ruining the country round about. Chioh-be is a town at the head of the estuary reaching out from Amoy to the west. It extends a mile along the river bank, and is a lively busi- ness centre. Twenty miles west from Chiang- chiu is another busy market town, Soa-sia, which has a trade extending to the limits of the province. Ten miles beyond Soa-sia and sixty miles from Amoy is Sio-khe. It is at the head of boat navi- gation on the West river, and is, therefore, an important business place for all the country to the west and south. It was formerly the capital of the county of Lam-peng, which was later divided into two counties. That in which Sio-khe is now located was named Peng-ho, and its capital was located on the extreme western boundary, in order to control the bandits which infested the moimtains there. Sio-khe has, however, remained the business and important centre of the district. The Amoy Mission, China. 7 Its population is abo\it 10,000. It lies in a large and exceedingly fertile valley with a correspond- ingly large population. The People. — The Chinese of South Fukien are a fine race physically. “Their constant conflict with rugged hills and barren soil has called forth a spirit of enterprise and endurance Avhich has developed an energetic, independent and self- reliant race. They are smaller than the large- boned agriculturists on the plains of the north, who are heavy in their movements and mentally dull and slothful. They are more like the inhab- itants of Canton, but happily lack their rudeness and hatred of foreigners.” Still they are counted among the most conservative of this very con- servative race. The literati are peculiarly proud and conceited. Practically all the emigration from China is from the two provinces of Canton and Fukien. Nearly all the emigration from the Fukien province has been from the region of Amoy, and in the early months of the year the records show as many as 10,000 emigrants leaving Amoy in a month. These emigrants go to the Pliilippines, the Straits Settlements, Bangkok, Rangoon, and the Dutch East Indies. All western Formosa is settled by Amoy Chinese. Wherever they go, they are the shopkeepers and plantation workers. Language. — Fukien is noted among the prov- inces of China for the great number of its local dialects and for their mutual unintelligibility. The Amoy vernacular is spoken by five million 8 The Amoy Mission, China. people on the mainland of China, and is under- stood throughout all the districts where the Re- formed Church is working. The surrounding dialects differ from each other as much as Eng- lish from German and German from Dutch. “The so-called ‘written language’ of China is indeed uniform throughout the whole country; hut it is rather a notation than a language ; for this universal written language is pronounced differently when read aloud in the different parts of China, so that while as written it is one, as soon as it is pronounced it splits into several lan- guages.” Of this written langiiage, Dr. Morrison observes that “ Chinese fine writing darts upon the mind with a vivid flash, a force and a beauty, of which alphabetic language is incapable.” WORK AND WORKERS OF THE PAST. The Amoy Mission is the oldest mission of the Reformed Church and its only mission in China. The English fleet bombarded the port of Amoy on Aug. 27, 1841. Their troops were still occu- pying the island of Kolongsu when our first missionary in Amoy, the Rev. David Abeel, landed on Feb. 24, 1842, six months before the signing of the treaty of Nanking, which made Amoy and four other ports open to the commerce of the world. He had labored among the seamen at Canton; he had been chaplain for the foreign community at Singapore for a year ; he had made extensive tours to Borneo, Java and Siam with a The Amoy Mission, China. 9 view to the establishment of missions among the Chinese, who had emigrated to those parts. When the war threw open the port from which all these emigrants came, he immediately went there. He began his work in a hired hoiise, nnder an over- shadowing banyan, on the island of Ivolongsn. By his courtliness, affability and manly consecra- tion, he won the favor of both the literary and official classes, as well as of the common people. He had interested hearers from the beginning; but his health, never vigorous, soon utterly failed, and he returned to the United States in 1844, where he died not many months after. Before Abeel left. Rev. Elihu Doty and Rev. William Pohlman came to Amoy. They had gone out from our Church and had been engaged in missionary work among the Chinese who had settled in Borneo, but the far greater opportunity now open for missionary work among the Chinese in China itself brought them to Amoy. On March 21, 1844, a Bible class of twelve members had been organized. On Dec. IG, 1845, “ woman’s work ” was begun by the organization of a special meeting for women. The first fruits were gath- ered April 5, 184G, when two converts were bap- tized and received on confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The son of one of these first converts is now (190G) the pastor of our 0-kang church. Pohlman will always be remembered as having solicited and secured $3,000 for the first Protestant church edifice for distinctively Chinese worship in China. He superintended its erection 10 The Amoy Mission, China. at Amoy (Sin-koe-a) in 1848, and the substantial building still stands and Cbristian congregations still assemble there. He went to Hongkong to escort an invalid sister and to buy furnishings for the new church building. On his return the ship “Omega,” in which he sailed, was wrecked off Breaker Point, 120 miles north of Hongkong, and by the overturning of the boat in which he and the captain and part of the crew were trying to get ashore, he was drowned. Mr. Doty continued .with the mission for twenty years, and by his character and work left an endiiring impression. Forty years after his death, he is still affectionately remembered by the older Chinese Christians. He was privileged to see the work grow from year to year. In 1856, the First Church of Amoy (Sin-koe-a) was organ- ized. On March 18, 1864, for the first time in the history of the Church, two Chinese were ordained to the ministry. One of these. Rev. Lo Ka-gu, died in 1870, but the other, our grand old man, Rev. lap Han-chiong, is still (1906) in active service, known and honored throughout South Fukien. The name that stands out preeminently in connection with the Amoy Mission is that of Rev. John Van Nest Talmage, D. D. He not only helped lay the foundations but built thereon, and never knowingly, through upwards of forty years of service, put in one trowelful of untem- pered mortar. He was a man of unusual weight and power of personality. His soundness of PASTOR lAP, 12 The Amoy 2Iission, China. jiidgment made him an adviser and arbitrator whom foreigners and Chinese alike sought, and from whose advice they were not qnick to turn away. He was one of the earliest advocates of union and co-operation in foreign missions, and was mainly instrumental, so far as our Chiu'ch was concerned, in the establishment of indepen- dent churches on foreign mission fields, Avith wholly autonomous Classes and Synods. Dr. Talmage’s special literary achievement was the preparation and completion of a Character-Collo- qiiial Dictionary in the Amoy language, intended to he of special service to the missionaries and the Chinese Christian Church. In the midst of mul- tij^lied duties and many distractions he worked at it for upwards of twenty years. To him, too, belongs most of the credit for the introduction of Romanized Colloquial, by means of which the whole Bible and many other books are now read by many Avho other Avise Avould neA^er haAm been able to read more than a few paragraphs of some one Bible chapter. Great and good man, fervent preacher, inspiriog teacher, Avise and sympathetic counsellor, generous friend, affectionate father, the fragrance of his name canwot be dissipated, the memory of his life the inultiplyiDg years cannot croAvd out. Rev. Daniel Rapalje joined the mission in 1858, and for upAvards of forty years years gaA'e most faithful and efficient serAuce to the planting and groAvth of the Amoy Church. His unusual acquaintance with the Chinese language, both The Amoy Mission, China. 13 y written and spoken, and his remarkable accuracy and facility of utterance, made him a highly re- spected and much valued missionary. Rev Leonard W. Kip, D.D., went to Amoy in 1861, and returned finally to America in 1898. He has been the geographer of the mission. He put as much painstaking accuracy into his maps as Dr. Talmage did into his dictionary. He was a constant traveller and a pioneer in the estab- lishment of mission stations in the region beyond Chiang-chiu. Among the hundreds of towns and villages located on his map there are few which he himself had not visited. The evangelization of the Sio-khe and tributary valleys is due princi- pally to this unwearied touring and the testi- mony, planning, and supervision of Dr. Kip. To these men the privilege was given of not building on another man’s foundation. When Dr. Talmage arrived in Amoy there Avere no churches, no schools, no Christian homes, no hos- pitals, and only three coiiA^erts. In faith and prayer they toiled. When at the close of the century the last of these pioneers had been com- pelled to Avithdraw, there Avere in Amoy, con- nected with the work of our Mission alone, 1,400 converts, eleven organized churches, forty-seA^en preaching places, eleven ordained pastors wholly supported by their own churches, a theological seminary, two boarding schools for boys, five boarding schools for Avomen and girls, and three hospitals. How that Avork greAV from year to year it is impossible to describe in this Sketch, if 14 The Amoy Mission, China. we would leave room to write of the work that is being done to-day. Neither can we mention the names of all the other men and women who have been sent out by the Reformed Church to do its work in Amoy. The proportion of those who could not endure the climate and were compelled, by reason of broken health, to return to the United States, has been relatively large. Some have passed away, and others are still living, who would gladly have given their whole lives to the evangelization of China, but it could not be. To the Reformed Church God gave remarkable men of unbounded faith, deep piety, and marked ability, to found its Mission in China. To look back at their labors, to see what God hath wrought, is to hear the voice of our Lord and Master calling us to a larger faith and greater earnestness in hastening the completion of this great work — “our share in the work of bringing- back to allegiance to our Lord this the greatest of His rebellious provinces.” PRESENT DAY WORK. (A) Church Work. The Amoy Mission began as a preaching mis- sion. This was indicated in the words of Mr. Pohlman in 1846, in a paper in which he urged all the missionaries coming to China to learn to speak the language accurately, and adds, “ Be sure you are understood, then preach, preach, PREACH.” This principle has guided the mis- The Amoy Mission, China. 15 sioii in the development of all its work, and now not only is he himself a preacher, but also the leader of a company of preachers. He is settled in a centre of a circuit of several hundred square miles with a million or more population, among whom have been established between ten and twenty stations, each with its native pastor or preacher. At each of these stations the full work of the ministry goes on continuously. There is daily preaching to the unconverted, either as they visit the chapel or as the preacher meets them in the surrounding villages. There is even- ing worship for the members and incjuirers. There are regular services every Lord’s Day. Round the circuit of these stations the missionary itinerates several times a year. He encourages, stimulates, instructs and directs the preacher. He exhorts the members, examines those apply- ing for church membership, and dispenses the sacraments. He sells and gives away thousands of scripture portions, tracts, and other evangel- istic literature, and has much opportunity for preaching directly to the heathen. In this way the work of the missionary has developed from that of preaching only to that of a bishop or su- perintendent of a large number of congregations, ministered to by native preachers, and, so far as possible, governed by native consistories, who ex- ercise practically all the authority with regard to the admission and discipline of church members. As much work as possible is devolved on the capable native, who can do most of it more efb- 16 The Amoy Mission, China. » ciently than can any foreigner. “We believe that in this manner we are the real successors of the Apostles. We follow the footsteps of the great missionary to the Gentiles, whose modes of work are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. We believe that every missionary sent out by the 'Church should be not the pastor of any native congregation but an Imitator of Paul. From this can be inferred what manner of man the mission- ary should be, intellectually, physically, and spir- itually.” (See Ross’ “Missionary Methods in Manchuria.”) In addition to this work of preaching, the missionary is still compelled to do much work in the organization of the growing Church and the ecclesiastical work of Classis and Synod. Such work in Amoy has always been governed by the principle that the Chinese Church must as rapidly as possible become a truly independent, self-sup- porting, self-governing, self-propagating Church. In one paragraph we can merely suggest some of the methods employed to accomplish all these ideals. The opening of new stations is deter- mined by the missionaries with the advice of na- tive pastors. These stations are organized into groups, which form one church organization with a membership of seventy-five or one hundred communicants. As these numbers increase by the admission of new members or by the opening of new stations, they are divided and sub-divided, forming new church organizations. Each group of stations unites in the support of a minister. 17 The Avioy 3Iission, China. who, together with the consistory, representing the stations, is responsible for the government of the church. The finances of this organization are all borne by the native church itself. The mission has never paid a cent to the salary of the pastor of any church. It only assists these churches by appointing preachers or evangelists for the out-stations, and paying their salaries. This year (1906) the Synod has adoihed a plan by which it is hoped that the churches will also gradually assume the salaries of these preachers, and it is expected that, in a comparatively short time, no more American money will be needed for the support of native evangelistic workers. The missionary’s evangelistic work will not then be at an end, for he will still have the privilege of working with these men, and helping them so far as his training and ability make that possible. So the local church governs itself, and will soon wholly support itself. In 1905, 1590 members contributed $10,829.12 Mex., which is an average gift of $6.81 per member, which represents be- tween eight and ten per cent of the annual in- come of the average church member. In the building of churches and parsonages the mission also insists that the local church must give to the full extent of its ability and always at least one- third of the total cost. These churches are all organized into Clasess and Synod on true presbyterian principles. In this ecclesiastical organization, our churches are organically united with those established by the 18 The Amoy Mission, China. mission of tlie Presbyterian Church of England. Together they form an independent Chinese Church, whose doctrine has been summed up in a short creed of eight articles, which is in com- plete harmony with the standards of the two home churches. Evidences of the far-sighted- ness of the early missionaries, and the wisdom of the home churches in proposing and approving such an organization were never more conspicu- ous than at the present time, when in various parts of China there is manifested a spirit of dis- content and a desire for independence of foreign connection and control, and attempts are made to organize new churches, separate from those estab- lished by the missions. By reason of the nature of our Church organization, agitation of this kind has been almost entirely avoided in Amoy, and we cannot be too grateful to the men who in the laying of the foundations of this Church planned and wrought so well. In Classis and Synod, the missionaries, by constitutional right, enjoy the same privileges and powers that the native min- ister does. They have a part in all deliberations, voting and holding office, yet not subject to their discipline. This unique position has been main- tained for more than forty years ; but it is clear that it is only a temporary position, continuing so long as the infant Church is immature and in- experienced. The first Classis was organized in 1862, on the 2d of April, which is thus a memor- able date, for this is the first Classis or Presbytery that ever met in this great Empire. In 1893 this The Amoy Mission, China. 19 Classis was divided into two, and the organiza- tion of a Synod of South Fukien was completed. The time is rapidly approaching when these Classes must be again divided. Plans are also being developed by which this Synod will be united with other similar Synods in China to form one great Presbyterian Church in China. For the number of churches, communicants, pastors, and other statistics, it is best to refer to the annual report made to the Board, for these figures grow larger each year. The Church is propagating itself by the work of its own indi- vidual members. It has also organized its own Board of Domestic Missions, which is supporting- stations and preachers on several of the larger islands along the coast. Its work has been largely blessed, and some of its stations have already at- tained the stage of self-support and are (1906) preparing to call their own minister. In 1905 this Board received from churches and other sources the total sum of $15,046.72 Mex., about $7,526.00 U. S. gold. The work of the ladies of the mission must also be mentioned in this account of the Church work, for beside their work in schools they visit the homes of the people and tell the Gospel story over and over again. In this way they succeed in reaching many women who, secluded as they are in their homes, could otherwise have little opportunity of learning about the Lord Jesus. “Were the women only converted, we believe that idolatry would soon cease out of the land.” (Muirhead.) 20 The Amoy Mission, China. The other two Missions in South Fukien must also be named here. They are the London Mis- sionary Society, whose first missionaries came to Amoy in 1844; and the Presbyterian Church of England, who first came in 1851. These two, with onr own mission, as an illustration of Chris- tian comity, and for the better prosecution of their respective work, have divided all South Fukien into three well defined sections within whose hounds each mission is to carry on its work. This makes the Reformed Chiarch spe- cifically responsible for the evangelization of at least three million people. (B) School Work. Educational work includes the teaching of inepurers and new converts how to read the Bible. It is possible, by reason of the peculiar genius of the Chinese language, for a man to know enough character writing to make out a business an- nouncement and write a bxisiness letter, to whom the characters and combinations of characters constituting the religious vocabulary are an un- explainable puzzle. Hence, more or less educa- tive work of this kind, teaching them how to read the Bible intelligently, must be done among all classes all the time. Parochial schools were begun as soon as the number of children connected with Christian families seemed to justify the additional expense of money and labor. There is now a primary school in connection with all the churches and The Amoy hSLission, China. 21 larger out-stations. If any place can guarantee an attendance of ten i)ui:»ils and a third of the teacher’s salary, the mission is willing to provide the teacher and pay the balance of his salary. These schools are under the control of Synod and the Classes. A prescribed course of study has been prepared by Synod, which conforms to the government standard so far as secular studies are concerned. On Kolongsu the mission has also a Boy’s Primary Boarding School, at present and for years under the care of Miss K. M. Talmage. These parochial schools are almost entirely for boys, and in only a few of them are there found two or three little girls. To provide opportuni- ties for the girls, the mission has established boarding schools on Kolongsu, in Chiang-chiu, Sio-khe and Tong-an, and day schools in Amoy and a few other places, wherever the number of pupils warrants such a school. These schools in- clude both primary and secondary grades, and teach sewing and simple household duties as well. Their influence is felt far and wide for good in the homes of the Christian Chinese, and is one of the most powerful forces which must transform Chinese home life. These schools are entirely under the control of the mission. Tuition fees are charged, but every case is considered on its own merits, and no girl, with proper credentials, is ever turned away on account of poverty. On Kolongsu, there is also the Charlotte W. Duryee Bible School, founded in 1884 and con- ducted by Mrs. J. V. N. Talmage, which draws 22 The Amoy Mission^ China. together under its roof women from many places in the Amoy region, who never had an oppor- tunity of any schooling in their childhood and wish, now that they are Christians and have the opportunity, to learn to read and understand the Bible for themselves. In 1881 the beginnings of a boys’ academy were made. This is known as the Middle School. During the past twenty years, 297 boys have re- ceived instruction in this institution. Of these, forty-five are now engaged in teaching, forty-five are preachers, nine are ordained ministers, one is a licentiate, forty-two are doctors or druggists, having for the most part received further training in the missionary hosj^itals. The grade of the school is about equivalent to that of high schools or academies in Amex’ica. It has always been a union school, supported jointly by our mission and the English Presbyterian Mission. Now (1906), plans are completed and partially ap- proved by the three Home Boards, according to which the London Missionary Society will also unite their Middle School with this in one insti- tution. At the same time, in response to the new demands for western education and teachers qualified to give such instruction, a normal course is being developed as fast as our very small force of workers permits. The school occupies the fine building, the Talmage Memorial Hall, the funds for which were raised by Rev, P. W. Pitcher, and which occupies one of the most commanding sites on the island of Kolongsu. The building is The Amoy Mission, China. 23 now used to its full capacity, and the enlarge- ment of our educational work, which must come with the new educational movement in the empire, demands that a fully developed plan he adopted which shall provide larger buildings for this school and the Kolongsu Boys’ Primary School, as well as the Boys’ Schools in each of of our missionary centres. The Theological Seminary is also a union in- stitution, in which the students of both the Eng- lish Presbyterian Mission and our own mission are given a three years’ course in Systematic The- ology, Exposition of Scripture, the Art of Preach- ing and some of the Chinese Classics. Men of character, ability and consecration have gone out from this institution and are now serving the churches. The buildings occupied by the Sem- inary were erected by and are the property of the English Presbyterian Mission. A similar propo- sition for still broader union in this school, which shall also include the London Missionary Society, has been laid before the home authorities. It has been a cause of deep regret to the mission, that on account of the small force of men on the field, it has been unable for many years to appoint one of them to share in the work of training our future preachers and pastors, and each year we owe a greater debt of gratitude to our brethren of the English Presbyterian Mission, as they undertake our share as well as their own in this work. Beside these institutions, and in order to en- 24 The Amoy Mission, China. courage our j'reacliers to continue their studies, the mission each year sends out a list of subjects upon which they are required, unless specially excused, to pass examinations. For the school teachers, institutes are held from time to time. (C) Hospitals and Dispensaries. Medical work by missionaries was begun in Amoy as early as June, 1842. However, our own medical work must date from 1889, when Neer- boscli Hospital Avas opened in Sio-khe by Dr. J. A. Otte. This hospital has proved a most effective agency in breaking down prejudice and opening the way to many homes and villages for the preaching of the Gospel. But we must again record our deep regret because, for lack of workers, this hospital, during a period of twelve years, has been open less than five years. On Dr. Otte’s return to China in 1897, Hope Hospital and the Netherlands Woman’s Hospital were built on the island of Kolongsu, at the meeting-point of junk and river-boat traffic from manj^ directions, just opposite the citj’' of Amoy. In connection with these hospitals, a dispensary is maintained and a limited number of in-patients are received in a building adjoining the Tek chhiu- kha church, in Amoy City. In 1905, these hos- pitals were both enlarged, and in recognition of the friendliness of the queen and the liberal sup- port of the friends in the Netherlands, the Wom- an’s Hospital is now known as the Wilhelmina Hospital. Its expenses are borne entirely by the The Amoy hSIissiou, China. 25 friends in the Netherlands, who have also sent out and support a nurse in the hospital. Hope Hospital, excepting only the doctor’s salary, has HOPE AND WILHELMINA HOPITALS. 26 The Amoy Mission, China. been self-supporting for a immber of years. Local fees and donations have met all expenses. Owing to local customs, the women in the Sio-khe region are exceptionally secluded, and, therefore, are reached with the Gospel message only with great difficulty. For this reason, a W Oman’s Hospital, under Miss Elisabeth H. Blauvelt, M. D., was opened in the Fall of 1906. The funds for a new building to accommodate this work are already on hand. These hospitals are “ keys which unlock many Chinese hearts closely sealed against all other influences. It is when sick, weak and helifless, that the love and comfort of the Gospel appeal most strongly to all. * * * Chinese medical science is little better than a parody on what it professes. Surgerj^ is practically unknown. Chi- nese medicines are nauseous, expensive, and for the most part inert. Superstition vitiates every kind of treatment. Nursing is a ‘lost art’ never discovered. Foods for the sick are everything which they should not be, and dieting is both inconceivable and impossible. Antiseptics are as unknown as the X-rays, and in the absence of sanitation, ventilation, proi)er clothing, isolation and general common sense, nothing but a strong cojistitution and the mercy of God prevents all patients from dying daily of unconscious but age- long violation of all the laws of nature. One’s faith in the germ theory of disease is much shaken by the unassailable fact that the Chinese race still survives.” (Rex Christus). 27 The Amoy Mission, China. (D) Literary Work. To our own mission, at least in its initiatory stages, is due the Romanization of the Amoy vernacular, though it would never have reached its present usefulness without the hearty and combined co-operation of the other two missions. This work was begun in 1853. “ It was nothing less than the formation of a new written language, or, to be more precise, the transformation of an ideographic language into one composed of Roman letters. It marked a revolution in the mode of conveying thought through the Amoy vernacular. It opened a channel for acquiring information to hundreds and thousands, if not millions, in the days to come, who otherwise would have been debarred from gaining any knowledge at all. The work of Dr. Talmage in preparing his dictionary has been described in another connec- tion above. The other members of the mission had a prominent share in the preparation of the Bible in the Amoy Romanized Colloquial, and in 1905 the preparation of an edition of the New Testament with references was done almost en- tirely by the members of our own mission. A number of text-books, both in Chinese character and Amoy Romanized, have been prepared by our missionaries. The number of books in the Romanized Colloquial is now more than fifty volumes, and more than half of these were trans- lated or written by our own workers. Much more of this work would have been done had not the pressure of other work prevented. 28 The Amoy Mission, China. PRESENT OPPORTUNITY— IMPERATIVE DUTY. ‘ ‘ The Chinese Empire is by far the most ex- tensive field ever opened to the conquests of the Church of God. Gibbon estimated that the Roman Empire contained 120,000,000 persons; hut it is certain that China has a population be- tween three and four times as great. ” The present transition state through which this great empire is passing as it enters the twentieth century, presents to the Christian Church a greater oppor- tunity than has ever been offered to it. A fourth of the human race is laying aside age-long cus- toms, is reforming its government, is adopting a new system of education. The country has cast off its old moorings, old China is passing away; and the question presses — what course will the cox;ntry steer, and what will new China be ? A multitude of forces are actively influencing China to-day. Oh, that the Church of Christ woixld arise in all the power of His might and, becoming the strongest among all these forces, make China a God-fearing, Christian nation! A glance at the accompanying map shows how limited a field has been assigned to us by mutual agreement with other denominations, and it also shows how much still remains where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not preached. To evangelize our whole field, and to do our share in the theo- logical seminary in the training of the men who shall do most of the preaching, five ordained men, giving all their time to this work, would be a full force. Five other men, physicians and The Aiiloij Mission, China. 29 educationists, and tlie present number of ladies for work among women sliould be kept on the field. With this force, kept good by the filling of vacancies as they arise and the ultimate ad- dition of one or two men for educational service with the anticipated development of that work, the field occupied by the Amoy Mission would be well supplied with foreign workers. As regards financial needs, the native Church is preparing to assume the full support of all its evangelistic workers, and it, therefore, remains for the Re- formed Church to supply the money only for the work of its own missionaries and the support of its educational work in so far as this is not met by the fees of the students. To meet these de- mands, and all special appeals for needed equijD- ment of land and buildings, the Church has but to continue her benevolent offerings, as these have been liberally and increasingly given from year to year in the past. Until our full duty in China, specified and limited as it is, is done, there should be for us neither rest nor satisfaction. In 1849 (almost sixty years ago), Dr. Talmage wrote: “God’s dealings with this mission would seem to be enough to arouse the Church. Heretofore He has given success to His servants. He has given us favor with the authorities and with the people. The Church has seemed to be satisfied with this. She has thanked God for His smiles, but has made little effort to increase the number of her laborers as fast as the demand for them in- 30 The Amoy 2Iission, China. creased.” With emphasis, the Amoy Mission can repeat these words, almost unchanged, to-day. Will the Reformed Church permit this for many years more ? The mission has for many years been seriously undermanned. The present un- paralleled opportunities emphasize the need for strong reinforcement, in order that the Reformed Church may fulfill its responsibility in the Em- pire of China. MISSIONARIES OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA TO AMOY, CHINA. WENT OUT, RETIRED. Rev. David Abeel, D.D., 1842 1845* Rev. Elihu Doty, 1844 1865* Mrs. Eleanor (Ackley) Doty, 1844 1845* Mrs. Mary (Smith) Doty, 1847 1858* Rev. W. J. Pohlman, 1844 1849* Mrs. Theodosia R. (Scudder) Pohlman, 1844 1845* Rev. J. V. N. Talmage, D.D., 1847 1892* Mrs. Abby F. (Woodruff) Talmage, 1850 1862* Mrs. Mary E. (Van Deventer) Talmage, 1865 Rev. J. S. Joralrnon, 1855 i860* Mrs. J. S. Joralrnon, 1855 i860 Rev. Daniel Rapalje, 1858 1901 Mrs. Alice (Ostrom) Rapalle, 1878 1901 Rev. Alvin Ostrom, 1858 1864 Mrs. Susan (Webster) Ostrom, 1858 1864 Rev. John E- Watkins, i860 1S60** Mrs. John E. Watkins, i860 i860** Miss Caroline E. Adriance, 1859 1864* Rev. Leonard W. Kip, D.D,, 1861 1901* Mrs. Helen (Culbertson) Kip, 1865 Rev. Augustus Blauvelt, 1861 1864* Mrs. Jennie (Zabriskie) Blauvelt, 1861 1864 Rev. J. Howard Van Doren, 1864 1873* Rev. John A. Davis, 1868 1871* Mrs. Emma C. (Wyckoff) Davis, 1868 1871 Miss Helen M. Van Doren, 1870 1877 The Amoy Jlission, China. 31 WENT OUT. RETIRED. Miss Mary E. Talmage, 1874 Miss Katharine M. Talmage, 1874 Rev. David M. Talmage, 1877 1880 Rev. Alexander S. Van Dyck, 1882 1896 Mrs. Alice (Kip) Van Dyck, 1886 1896 Rev. Philip W. Pitcher, 1885 Mrs. Anna F. (Merritt) Pitcher, 1885 Miss Y. May King, M.D., 1887 1888 Rev. John A. Otte. M.D., 1887 Mrs. F. C. (Phelps) Otte, 1887 Rev. John G. Fagg, 1887 1894 Mrs. Margaret (^Gillespie) Fagg, 1889 1894 Miss Elizabeth M. Cappon, 1891 Miss Nellie Zwemer, 1891 Miss Margaret C. Morrison, 1892 Miss Lily N. Duryee, 1894 I. S. F. Dodd, M.D., 1894 1895 Mrs, Mary (Carpenter) Dodd, 1894 1895 Rev. A. D. D. Fraser, 1S95 1898 F. T. B. Fest, M.D., i8g6 i8g8 Mrs. Emmy M. (HartwigI Fest, 1896 i8g8 Rev. Hobart E. Studley, 1896 1903 Mrs. Edith J. (Holbrow) Studley, 1898 1903 Miss M. Van B. Calkoen, 1896 1899 C. Otto Stumpf, M.D., 1899 Mrs. Eleanor (Barwood) Stumpf, 1899 Miss Angie M. Myers, M.D.. 1899 1904 Miss Louise Brink, 1899 1902 Rev. A. L. Warnshuis, I goo Mrs. Anna (De Vries) Warnshuis, 1900 Rev. D. C. Ruigh, 1902 1905 Mrs. Christine (Carst) Ruigh, 1904 1905 Rev. H. P. Boot. 1903 Mrs. Nettie (Kleinheksel) Boot, 1903 Rev. Frank Eckerson, 1903 Miss Susan R. Duryee, 1903 1905 Miss Alice Duryee, 1903 Miss Elisabeth R. Blauvelt, 1905 Miss Gertrude Wonnink, 1906 In addition. Miss Marie Kranenburg was sent out in 1905 as a trained nurse, by the Netherlands Committee, * Deceased. ** Rev. John E. Watkins and his wife sailed from New York to join the Mission in i860, and were never heard from. STATISTICS OF THE AMOY MISSION OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA. 32 The Amoy Mission, China. O vO 'O vn O O O N sO rh O O O CO O O On O' CO CO 00 O "2 n S 5 g o O S ^ c ^ ^ t: ^ § cd *0 U cfl CO 3 o o a . OJ rd Q b c o w (U ctf O M o o oS 4^ M M "i « a, Cu > >, u5 x; O oi Q a Contributions, I477 $964 $1,288 $2,900 $4,892 $7,491 $5,445 A QUironirlf of iBpginntttgs in Amng. 1663. Captured by Dutch, assisting Manchus. 1678. East India Company builds a factory. 1832. R. C. A. co-operating with A. B. C. F. M. 1836. (Sept. 15) R. C. A. missionaries arrive at Batavia, Java. 1839. They locate in Borneo. 1812. (Feb. 21) Abeel arrived in Amoy. 1811. (April) Doty and Pohlman leave Borneo, and arrive in Amoy on June 22. 1814. (Sept.) Missionaries moved from Ko- longsu to Amoy City. 1816. (April 5) First two converts baptized. 1817. Talmage arrived. 1819. (Feb. 11) Sin-koe-a church dedicated. 1850. (Dec. 22) Tek-chhiu-kha opened. 1853. U Teng-ang, first Amoy martyr, be- headed. 1851. Chioh-be opened. 1856. Sin-koe-a elects consistory — fully organ- ized. 18-57. R. C. A. Independent Board. 1862. Classis organized. 1863. First ministers called and ordained in 1861. 1867. Mission buys site on Kolongsu. 1886. Missionary house built at Sio-khe, first country station. 1889. Hospital opened in Sio-khe. 1892. Synod organized. Books Referring to Jlmoy mission History of Amoy Mission, . . P. W. Pitcher Forty Years in South China, . . J. G. Fagg The Biography of Dr. Talmage. Far Hence, . . . . , H. N Cobb Chinese Slave Girl, . . . . J. A. Davis Tells how gospel entered Sio-khe Valley. China and Formosa, . . . James Johnston Describes work of English Presbyterians in Amoy. Rex Christus, . . . . A. H. Smith Dawn on the Hills of T’ang, . . H. P. Beach Middle Kingdom, . . . S. Wells Williams Pp. 127-137 of Vol. I. refer to Amoy. History of Protestant Missions in China, China (a brief ’ sketch). New Forces in Old China, Educational Conquest of the East, Atlas and Geography of Missions, . Leaflets published by the Boards. I . D. W. Lyon J. T. Gracey A. J. Brown R. E. Lewis H. P. Beach