China and the Gospel
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öay lissions Librar) CHINA AND THE GOSPEL A N ILLUSTRATED REPORT OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION 1909 CHINA INLAND MISSION LONDON, PHILADELPHIA, TORONTO, MELBOURNE, SHANGHAI T he late E mpress-D owaoer ok Ch in a . The late Erapress-Dowager Tan Hsi, for many years the de facto ruler of China, was born In Novem ber 1835, and died in November 160S. She was the daughter o f a T&otai, to whom was granted the posthumous rank of Dule, and came of the patrician Mancliu clao o f Yehonala. She afterwards became the wife o f the Emperor Hienfeng, the mother of the Emperor Tung Chih, and the aunt of the late Emperor Kwang HsU, and o f the present Regent, Prince Chiin. As Empress, Regent, and Empress- Dowager she has had a paramount place In China's history for the last flfty-flve years. What part she has really played during this eventful period it is not easy to ascertain, for in association with Prince Kung, H.Ç. Li Hung Chang, H.E. Yung-lu, Prince Tnan, and Prince Ching, she is credited with an ever-varying rôle. Frontispiece. INTRODUCTORY NOTE O nce again, with grateful thanks to God, the Report of another year’s work is sent forth. Especial attention is called to the brief review of “ The Last Seven Years11 on pages 16-18, which will enable the reader to see how wonder fully God has been blessing and providing for the work during the last few years. That with a comparatively small increase of income the work has in many departments been doubled and trebled is much for which to give praise. The retrospect, it will be seen, is full of subjects for thanksgiving. The prospect with all its problems is as “ bright as the promises of God.” “ Difficulties,” to quote the helpful words of Bishop Handley Moule, “ things which challenge trust and test it, are the necessary environment of Faith.” “ A hundred difficulties are around us; but Faith, that is to say, God trusted, is a master key for the prison doors of life. Solvitur ambulando, it was said of old—the problem is solved by walking. We will extend the saying by two words: Solvitur ambulando cum Deo—the problem is solved by the walk of Faith with God.” “ B r e t h r e n , p r a y f o r us, t h a t t h e W ord o f t h e L ord MAY RUN AND BE GLORIFIED.” CONTENTS PAGE R e v i e w o p t h e Y e a r — G e n e r a l . 1 Review of the Year — C.I.M .......................................................................7 T h e L a s t Seven Y e a rs .....................................................................................................1 6 G l e a n in g s f r o m t h e R e p o r t s . 1 9 P r o v i n c i a l R e p o r t : S i n k i a n g ....... 3 1 „ 33 K a n s u ....... 3 3 „ „ Shensi . 37 „ ,, S h a n s i ....... 4 1 „ „ C h i h l i ....... 5 4 „ S h a n t u n g ...... 5 6 ,, ,, H o n a n . 5 9 , , „ K i a n g s u ......................................6 5 „ ,, S z e c h w a n ....... 7 0 „ „ K w e i c h o w ........................ 7 8 „ ,, Y u n n a n ...................................... 8 1 „ „ H u p e h ......................................8 4 „ „ K i a n g s i ......................................8 6 „ „ A n h w e i ......................................9 2 j j „ C h e k i a n g ....... 9 7 „ „ H u n a n .................................... 1 0 9 S t a t i o n s a n d M issionaries o f C . I . M ........................................................................1 1 3 A lphabetical L i s t o f M issionaries ........................................................................ 1 3 0 M artyrs of C.I.M .....................................................................................................................138 Statistics of C.I.M. .. 140 ,, „ Medical W ork ..................................................................................... 1 5 4 F i n a n c i a l S t a t e m e n t s .................................................................................................. 1 5 6 C . I . M . H o m e C e n t r e s a n d C o u n c i l s ........................................................... 1 6 4 G e n e r a l I n d e x ............................................................................................................................1 6 9 Index of Stations of C.I.M ..............................................................................................172 v THE ILLUSTRATION ON THE COVER T h e portrait shown on the cover is that of one o f the scholars in the Changsha school. The school group will be seen facing page 26. He is the son of the late Evangelist Li, who so nobly assisted Dr. Keller in his pioneer work in Hunan. Both his parents were Christians, and he was born in the C.I.M. house at Changsha, in which city Mr. Hudson Taylor died. Being the son o f Christian parents, he is one o f the ever-increasing Dumber o f Chinese children who have never been taught to < e bow the knee ” to an idol. ILLUSTRATIONS T h e L a t e E m p r e s s -D o w a g e r o f C h i n a . Frontispiece FACING PAGE C h i n a ’ s A n t i -O p i u m C r u s a d e . 2 R i c h a r d H a r r i s H i l l ...... 7 In M e m o r i a m ........................................................................................... 9 T h e A l t a r o f t h e W h o l e -B u r n t S a c r i f i c e . 15 T h e D a y -S c h o o l a t C h a n g s h a . 26 Mr . G. W. Hunter in Sinkiang . 31 T h e S w e d i s h M is s io n B i b l e T r a i n i n g S c h o o l 51 T h e Y e l l o w T e m p l e , P e k i n g . 54 T h e O l d a n d N e w C h e f o o G i r l s ’ S c h o o l 57 T h e T r e a s u r e r ’ s D e p a r t m e n t , S h a n g h a i 65 T h e W e s t C h i n a C o n f e r e n c e . 70 T h e C h e n g t u B o o k -R o o m . 76 T h e B u r r o w s M e m o r ia l B i b l e S c h o o l . 8 8 T h e G i r l s ’ S c h o o l a t K w e i k i . 90 T h e S h a o h i n g W o m e n ’ s B i b l e S c h o o l . 97 Map of China, showing a ll C.I.M. C entral Stations End o f Volume “ HELPING TOGETHER BY PRAYER ” “ As torrents in summer, Half-dried in their channels, Suddenly rise, though the Sky is still cloudless, For rain has been falling Far off at their sources ; So hearts that are fainting Grow full to o’erflowingj And they that behold it Marvel, and know not That God at their fountains Far off hath been raining.” I REVIEW OF THE YEAR—GENERAL “ I exhort, therefore, first o f all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made fo r all men ; fo r kings and all that are in high place ; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity."— 1 Tim. ii. 1-2. It speaks well for the stability of the Chinese Government, and for the loyalty of the people, that the review of the past year does not contain any record of widespread disorders. Had part of the history of 1908 been known beforehand, the prospect might have been viewed with considerable appre hension. The retrospect, therefore, calls for a corresponding spirit of thankfulness. On November 14 and 15, 1908, respectively, the Emperor Kwang Hsu and the famous Empress-Dowager Tsu Hsi died. Pu Yi, a baby two years old, was immediately proclaimed Emperor, under the reigning title of Hsuan Tung, with his father, Prince Chun, a brother of the late Emperor, as Regent. This change of rulers was speedily followed by the dismissal from office of H.E. Yuan Shihkai, who for some time had been regarded as China’s strongest and most able statesman. A mutiny of the troops at Anking, incendiary fires in Peking, rebellion in the south of Yunnan, the smuggling of arms at various ports, proved that there were forces of disorder which, if not restrained, might cause serious trouble. Yet, in spite of such important changes at Peking and local disturbances, with widespread floods in some provinces and drought in others, peace and quietness have to a remarkable extent prevailed throughout the country, and the affairs of state and nation have progressed without serious interruption.