‘V 
 
 RESOLUTIONS AND APPEAL 
 
 CKANIMOUSLV ADOPTED BT THK 
 
 ]jf ||lUl{EStaut piSSbltiU’iTS 
 
 / 
 
 Gr Cx j evTt \ ' ^ Hit tvr=^“ '^e. aY ~flr^ Ve : v 
 
 ^V\?,‘b\cnar'ies. ^ ^>V\ar^V>a\ _ ' " 11 
 
 ^HANGHAI, JAaY i6tH, 1877. 
 
 shanghai:. 
 
 MDCCCLXXVH. 
 
 I 
 
RESOLUTIONS 
 
 UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE 
 
 CONFEHENCE OF PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES 
 
 ^HANGHAI, j'A.AY i6th, 1877. 
 
 In view of the magnitude of the field of labor and of the 
 inadequacy of the present mission force in China to occupy 
 the fields white unto the harvest, therefore 
 
 Resolved. That a Committee be appointed consisting of the follow- 
 ing persons : — 
 
 Mr. A. Wylie, of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 Rev. L. H. Gnlick, M.D., of the American Bible Society. 
 
 Rev. A. Williamson, LL.D., of the United Presbyterian Chnrch 
 of Scotland. 
 
 Rev. C. Douglas, LL.D., of the English Presbyterian Church. 
 Rev. C. Goodrich, of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions. 
 
 Rev. G John, of the London Missionary Society. 
 
 Rev. M. T. Tates, D.D., of the Southern Baptist Convention, U.S. A. 
 Rev. J. H. Taylor, M.D., of the China Inland Mission. 
 
 Rev. J. W. Lambuth, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 U. S. A. 
 
 Rev. E. H. Thomson, of the Protestant Episcopal Church,U. S. A. 
 Rev. S. L. Baldwin, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, U. S. A. 
 Rev. J. V. N. Talmage, D.D., of the Reformed Church, U. S. A. 
 Rev. J. R. Goddard, of the Baptist Missionary Union, U. S. A. 
 Rev. C. R. Mills, of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. 
 
 Rev. B. Helm, of the Southern Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. 
 Rev. D. Hill, of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. 
 
 Rev. F. F. Gough, of the Church* Missionary Society. 
 
 Rev. R. Lechler, of the Basel Mission. 
 
 Rev. C. P. Scott, of the Society for the Propagation of the Gnspel. 
 Rev. W. N. Hall, of the Methodist Hew Connection, England. 
 Rev. R. Swallow, of the United Methodist Free Church, England. 
 
 Resolved. That said Committee prepare, in behalf of this Confer- 
 ence of over one hundred missionaries, a fervid and earnest appeal to 
 the various Mission Boards, Colleges and Churches of the world, for 
 more men and women for China. 
 
 Resolved. That an edition of four thousand copies of the Programme 
 of this Conference, these Resolutions and the Appeal, be printed, to be 
 circulated by the missionaries of the different Mission Boards among 
 all the centres of influence in their respective connexions. 
 
2 
 
 In accordance with the foregoing resolutions, the Com- 
 mittee invite the most earnest attention of their brethren 
 throughout the whole world to the following facts and 
 thoughts : — 
 
 I. China is by far the largest heathen country in the 
 world. Including its dependencies, it embraces a territory 
 larger than the whole continent of Europe ; or, excluding 
 the Mohammedan kingdoms, it is about equal to all the 
 rest of the heathen nations combined. 
 
 II. It is also beyond all question the most important. 
 The discoveries of Livingstone revealed a grand future for 
 Africa ; the wealth of India is well known ; but no heathen 
 country in the world can for one moment be compared to 
 China. Its mineral resources alone rival those of the Wes- 
 tern States of America, and indicate that China will be one 
 of the great nations of the future. 
 
 III. The Chinese, though the oldest nation in the 
 world, are as full of vigor and promise as ever. Intel- 
 lectually they are fit for anything. In diplomacy and 
 mercantile enterprise they have proved themselves a match 
 for the ablest and most far reaching minds among ourselves. 
 There are those among them who have mastered every new 
 art and science we have set before them. Their enterprise 
 and perseverance are proverbial. 
 
 IV. At the present moment, one feature of the Chinese 
 character deserves special notice. They are the great 
 colonizers of the East. The natives of Cambodia, Sumatra, 
 Java, the Philippine Islands, Timor, Borneo, the Sandwich 
 Islands, etc., fall before civilization. Europeans cannot 
 cope with the insalubrity of these climates. The Chinese 
 alone have proved themselves able to maintain vigorous 
 physical life in these regions. They are entering them by 
 thousands, and in some cases tens of thousands, every year, 
 and that in an ever-increasing ratio. They are also rapidly 
 colonizing Manchuria, Mongolia, and Thibet. It is clear, 
 therefore, that the Chinese will ultimately become the 
 dominant race in all these vast countries. 
 
 V. A stream of immigration has of late set in towards 
 Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific States of America, 
 which is widening every year. It will prove a blessing or 
 a curse just in proportion as the fountain is cared for. 
 
 We will not pursue this line of thought further : the 
 dark features of Chinese life and character oppress us. 
 
3 
 
 Chinese civilization has been set against Christian civilization. 
 Those who draw this comparison cannot have mingled with 
 the Chinese people. Underneath their showy exterior, the most 
 pityful, debasing and cruel customs prevail. The highest 
 authority in the land testifies to this. ThePe^m^ Gazette, day 
 by day, demonstrates the prevalence of the grossest super- 
 stitions among all classes, from the emperor downwards. 
 
 We will not seek to harrow your feelings by entering 
 into details. Of old it was said that men “changed the 
 glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to 
 corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and 
 creeping things.” The Chinese go further than this. They 
 not only worship the dead, and idols of wood and stone, 
 but also, in many districts, the most loathsome creatures. 
 Mere civilization is no criterion of the moral condition of 
 the people. We have aU read of the debasing worship of 
 the ancient Egyptians, the horrid rites of the cultivated 
 Phoenicians, and have stood aghast at the immorality of 
 Greece and Rome during the most glorious epochs of their 
 history. We do not say that the Chinese have reached the 
 same depths of iniquity, but we do affii-m that, with the 
 exception of inimoral rites in religious services, parallels can 
 be pointed out in China, at the present day, to almost 
 every form of degradation, cruelty and vice which prevail- 
 ed in those ancient kingdoms. Human nature is the same 
 in all ages, and, left to itself, more or less faithfully fulfills 
 the appalling picture drawn by the apostle Paul. And 
 what aggravates the case is that the literati and rulers of all 
 grades — notwithstanding occasional proclamations to the 
 contrary — make use of the prev^ailing superstitions to in- 
 fluence and govern the people. Thus the educated, instead 
 of seeking to enlighten and elevate the masses, only bind 
 the fetters of ignorance more efiectually upon them. There 
 is therefore no hope for China in itself 
 
 Under these circumstances millions pass into eternity 
 every year ! What an agonizing thought ! Souls of men, 
 endowed with the most glorious faculties, perishing lor lack 
 of that knowledge which has been entrusted to us for diffu- 
 sion ! — Souls which might be emancipated from sin, trans- 
 ferred into the kingdom of God, and thus established in a 
 career of ever-widening intelligence, and ever-deepening 
 joy, to “shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as 
 the stars for ever and ever.” 
 
4 
 
 How long shall this fearful ruin of souls continue ? 
 Ought we not to make an effort to save China in this gene- 
 ration f Is God’s power limited ? Is the efficacy of prayer 
 limited ? This grand achievement is in the hands of the 
 Church. If we faithfully bring our tithes into the storehouse, 
 and preach the Gospel ever}’where, then the windows of 
 heaven shall be opened, and blessings showered down upon 
 us, till there be not room enough to receive them. 
 
 There are many indications of promise (1) Thirty-seven 
 years ago, there were only three native Christians in all 
 China, in connection with Protestant Missions. Now there 
 are at least twelve or thirteen thousand. (2). A much larger 
 proportion have applied for baptism during the past year 
 than in any previous year, and the candidates have been 
 generally of a higher type of character. (3). The empire is 
 more open than ever for the preaching of the Word, and the 
 Chefoo Convention of last year, together with the proclama- 
 tions agreed upon, is proving a mighty instrument towards 
 the more effectual opening up of the vast interior. (4). Not 
 only is the country open to our efforts, but the minds of 
 many, in different quarters, have been more or less aroused 
 from their lethargy. (5). Multitudes are reading our books; 
 and not a few are eagerly investigating the nature and bear- 
 ing of AVestern innovations. 
 
 AVe earnestly appeal to the whole Christian world for 
 help. There are stiU eight Provinces in which there is not 
 one resident Missionary. In others there are only two or 
 three ; and taking China as a whole, we stand as one IVIis- 
 sionary for Massachusetts, or two for Scotland. 
 
 Young men, first of all, we appeal to you. Standing 
 on the threshold of life, it is clearly yom* duty to consider 
 how you may employ the talents God has given you, so as 
 in the highest degree to promote His glory. There is no 
 field in the world where devoted Christian workers may so 
 effectively and extensively serve their generation as in China ; 
 and where the foundation work of the present is connected 
 with such grand results in the futm’e. 
 
 If, after careful consideration and earnest prayer, this 
 call awakens a response in your heart, say not hastily that 
 you have no qualifications. Perhaps you are better qualified 
 than you suppose ; or it may be your duty to qualify your- 
 self for this service. There is in China a wide sphere for all 
 kinds of talent. While we chiefly need men able to preach 
 
the Word, to instruct the converts, and watch over the native 
 church, training it for self-government; we also need medical 
 men, to heal the sick and train up native physicians ; 
 men of science, to elucidate the works of God; and men 
 of literary tastes, to translate or compose books and to 
 wield the pow'er of the press in guiding and mordding public 
 opinion ; also, teachers, colporteurs, printers, etc ; and last, 
 but not least, devoted women, to penetrate the homes of the 
 people and save the women of the country — their Chinese 
 sisters. 
 
 Young men, let us freely speak to you. You hold in 
 your hands the incorruptible seed of the Word, fitted to 
 awaken eternal life in dead souls, and transform worms of 
 the dust into heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. 
 Can you hesitate to respond to our call ? Can you prefer to 
 spend your lives in comparatively narrow spheres, when 
 you might exert an influence on vast multitudes ? The 
 fields are white unto the harvest, and everything is inviting 
 you to noble ser^fice. It is a field where the most varied 
 gifts and graces, the loftiest talents, the most extensive and 
 accurate erudition will find abundant room for their highest 
 exercise. It is a service in which an archangel would 
 rejoice. Can you turn a deaf ear to our solemn appeal, 
 to the call of God, — and the silent cry of the millions of 
 China. In the name of Christ Arise. Let the dead bury 
 their dead ; go ye, and preach the kingdom of God. 
 
 Fathers and Mothers, we commend these thoughts to 
 you. Your afi“ections are centred on your sons and daughters, 
 growfing up in strength and beauty, and your highest ambi- 
 tion is that their powers may be utilized in the utmost pos- 
 sible degree. Draw their attention to this land, so vast and 
 varied, so rich and populous, in which the people are just 
 beginning to arise from the ashes of the dead past, and, in- 
 stead of restraining them, rather rejoice if God inclines the 
 hearts of your children to bring to this people that light and 
 guidance which they so urgently need, and which Chris- 
 tianity alone can impart. 
 
 Pastors of churches, heads of schools and colleges, 
 and aU in charge of the young, we appeal also to you. We 
 are in dead earnest. We do not know what to do for lack of 
 men. The country opens; the work grows. Think of stations 
 with only one man to hold his own against the surging tide 
 of heathenism ! We are ready to be overwhelmed, by the 
 
6 
 
 vastness of the work. Many among us are tempted to under- 
 take too many duties. Hence the broken health and early 
 death of not a few of our best men. We beseech you, there- 
 fore, to place this matter before the minds of the young. 
 Show especially to students that the completion of their cur- 
 riculum synchronizes with China’s need, and that they are 
 therefore under the most, solemn obligations to give the 
 claims of this empire their earnest, unbiassed, and prayer- 
 ful consideration. 
 
 We want China emancipated from the thraldom of sin 
 in this generation. It is possible. Om' Lord has said, “Ac- 
 cording to your faith be it unto you.” The church of God 
 can do it, if she be only faithful to her great commission. 
 When will young men press into the mission field as they 
 struggle for positions of worldly honor and affluence ? When 
 will parents consecrate their sons and daughters to mission- 
 ary work as they search for rare openings of worldly in- 
 fluence and honor ? When wiU Christians give for missions 
 as they give for luxuries and amusements ? When will 
 they learn to deny themselves for the work of God as they 
 deny themselves for such earthly objects as are dear to 
 their hearts ? Or, rather, when will they count it no self- 
 denial, but the highest joy and privilege, to give with the 
 utmost liberality for the spread of the Gospel among the 
 heathen ? 
 
 Standing on the borders of this vast empire, we, there- 
 fore — one hundred and twenty missionaries, from almost 
 every evangelical religious denomination in Europe and 
 America, assembled in General Conference at Shanghai, 
 and representing the whole body of Protestant Missionaries 
 in China, — feeling our utter insufficiency for the great work 
 so rapidly expanding, do most earnestly plead, with one 
 voice, calling upon the whole Church of God for more 
 laborers. And we wiU as earnestly and unitedly plead at 
 the Throne of Grace that the spirit of God may move the 
 hearts of all, to whom this appeal comes, to cry, — “ Lord, 
 what wilt thou have me to do ?” And may this spirit be 
 communicated from heart to heart, from church to church, 
 from continent to continent, until the whole Christian world 
 shall be aroused, and every soldier of the cross shall come 
 to the help of the Lord against the mighty. 
 

 PROGEAMME OF MISSIONARY CONFERENCE, 
 
 ■ A 
 
 n 
 
 
 May lOtli, 11 A.M. Sermon, The Missimiary Worlc, Rev. J. V. N. 
 
 Taknage, D.D. — 2.30 p.m. Election of Officers. Address, 
 Prayer for the Holy Spirit in Connection with our ivorli. — 7.30 
 P.M. Prayer Meeting ; subject. Entire Consecration essential to 
 Missionary success, Rev. R. Nelson, D.D. 
 
 ,, lltb, 9.30 a.m. The field of labour in all its Magnitude, Rev. A. 
 Williamson, LL.D.; Confucianism in relation to Christianity, 
 Rev. James Legge, D.D. , LL.D., Rev. C. Holcombe. — 2.30 p.m. 
 Taouism aiid Buddhism, Popular Aspects, Rev. J. Edkins, D.D. 
 
 ,, 12tb, 9.30 A.M. Preaching to the Heathen, Matter and Manner, 
 
 Rev. W. Mnirbead ; Itineration, far and near, as an Evange- 
 lizing agency ; Rev. B. Helm ; Rev. J. H. Taylor. 
 
 „ 14tb, 9.30. A.M. Medical Missions, J. Gi. Kerr, M.D., W. Ganld, 
 M.D. Feet Binding, Miss S. H. Woolston. — 2.30 p.m. Woman's 
 Worlc for Woman, Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., Mrs. M. E. 
 Crawford. 
 
 ,, 15tb, 9.30 A.M. Relation of Protestant Missions to Education, Rev. 
 
 R. Lecbler, Rev. C. W. Mateer ; Bay Schools, Male and Female, 
 Rev. S. Dodd, Miss M. Lawrence. 
 
 „ 16tb, 9.30 A.M. Christian Literature, What has been done and 
 
 what is needed. Rev. C. C. Baldwin, D.D. Importance of a 
 Vernacular Christian Literature with special reference to the 
 Mandarin, Rev. C. Goodrich. — 2.30 p.m. Secular Literature, 
 Rev. W. A. P. Martin, D.D., LL.D., Rev. T. J. Allen. 
 
 „ 17th, 9.30 A.M. Standard of Admissio^i to full Church membership, 
 Rev. J. W. Lambuth, Rev. C. A. Stanley. The Best Means 
 of Elevating the Moral and Spiritual Tone of the Native Church, 
 Rev. E. E. Gongh, Rev. H. L. Mackenzie. — 7.30 p.m. On the 
 Duty of the Foreign Residents Aiding in the Evangelization 
 of China, and the best means of doing so. Very Rev. Dean 
 Butcher, D.D. 
 
 „ 18th, 9.30 A.M. Self-support of the Native Church, Rev. J. 
 
 Goddard ; Rev. S. L. Baldmn. The Native Pastorate, Rev. 
 H. Corbett ; Rev. J. Butler. — ^2.30 p.m. The Training of 
 Native Agents, Rev. W. McGreg(^y 
 
 '\ 
 
 A 
 
8 
 
 „ 19th, 9.30 A.M. Advantivjes at\d I}isadvantages of the Employment 
 
 of Native Assistants, Rev. T. P. Crawford, Rev. N. Sites. 
 Hoio shall the Native Church he stimulated to more aggressive 
 Christian work? Rev. R. H. Graves, M.D. — 2.30 p.m. The 
 use of Ophim, and its hearing on the spread of Christianity in 
 China, Rev. A. B. Moule, J. Dadgeon, M.D. 
 
 „ 21st, 9.30 A.M. Ancestral Worship, Rev. M. T. Yates, D.D. 
 
 Questionable Practices connected with Marriage and FunercCL 
 Ceremonies, Rev. C. Hartwell, Rev. D. Z. Sheffield. — 2.30 
 P.M. The Treaty Rights of Native Christians and >the Duty 
 of Missionaries in regard to their Vindication, Rev. J. A. 
 Leyenherger. 
 
 „ 22nd, 9.30 a.m. Principles of Translation into Chinese, Rev. J. 
 S. Roberts. Should the Native Church in China he united eccle- 
 siastically and indepoident of Foreign Churches and Societies, 
 Rev. J. V. N. Talmage, D.D. — 2.30 p.m. Inadequacy of the 
 present means for the Evangelization of China, and the necessity 
 for far greater effort and more systeinatic Co-operation on the 
 part of different Societies, so as to occupy the Whole field. Rev. 
 
 
 
 A 
 
X 0 T ] C E . 
 
 llECGIiCDB OF FEE G- 
 ^ COJOFEIIEJTOE, coiz- 
 
 tarinviTig Essays, as pe~r pTogi^aiYirrLe , (Fis- 
 ^ ozLssions, a JiOap of CTirina, shelving 
 JvLzsszon Btaiions andy ozci- stations , an, 
 B j±bst~raci of fvyszness, and, faTl Btaiis- 
 tzcal Qiahles ; foinnzng a hooh .jof aloozii 
 I 700- pages, 
 
 I . Can he Jiad, hy appZicaiion to. 
 
 M. T. YATES