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 REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MISSIONARY CONFERENCE 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 SHANGHAI, MAY 1890. 
 
 SHANGHAI : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE “ NORTH-CHINA HERALD ” OFFICE. 
 
 1890. 
 
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 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/reportofmissionaOOgene 
 
THE MISSIONARY CONFERENCE. 
 
 First Day, IJ'ednesday, 7th May. 
 
 The proceeding-s of the first day of the 
 Missionary Conference were begun with a 
 pi’ayer meeting led by Rev. Henry Blodget, 
 D.D., of Peking, from 10.30 to 11 a.m., at 
 the Lyceum Theatre. 
 
 The opening sermon was preached by the 
 Rev. J, Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland 
 Mission, from Matt. xv. 32-38. The dis- 
 course consisted of a plain and forcible 
 statement of the analogy between the work 
 give!i to the disciples in feeding four thou- 
 sand persons with but seven loaves and a 
 few fishes,, and that committed to the 
 Church of the present day in the commis- 
 sion to preach the Gospel to the whole 
 creation. Mr. Taylor is a unique persona- 
 lity among the missionaries in China, and 
 great weight is attached to whatever he 
 says, on account of his phenomenal experi- 
 ence as the organiser of the great China 
 Inland Mission, of which he has been from 
 the beginning the life and the soul. Mr. 
 Taylor’s discourse was extemporaneous and 
 apparently unstudied, and commanded the 
 closest attention of an audience which 
 nearly filled the body of the theatre, as 
 well as the first gallery. Mr. Taylor’s know- 
 ledge of China at first hand is probably 
 greater than that of any member of the Mis- 
 sionary Conference. It is therefore a matter 
 of general interest'to learn that so high an 
 authority does not put the population of 
 the empire at the high figure which is still 
 so frequently assigned. He intimated that 
 the estimate of two hundred and fifty 
 millions is the very lowest which can be 
 reasonably given. Mr. Taylor made an 
 earnest plea that a call be uttered by this 
 Conference for at least a thousand new 
 labourers to work in China, with a view to 
 the presentation of the Gospel to every 
 family in China within the present genera- 
 tion. Mr. Taylor has recently visited 
 Norway and Sweden, and is confident that 
 from those countries one hundred labourers 
 can easily be secured. He also cites letters 
 which he has received from persons in 
 Germany, declaring that a hundred workers 
 could be depended upon from that country, 
 some of whom are said to be actually 
 secured. From Great Britain and Ireland, 
 he thought it not too much to look for 
 three hufidred recruits, say a hundred from 
 
 the Church of England, a hundred from 
 the English, Scotch and Irish Pres- 
 byterian Churches, and an additional hund- 
 red from the great Methodist bodies of the 
 United Kingdom. This would make five 
 hundred from Europe. Jn America there 
 are said to be nearly or quite four thousand 
 students, who are pledged to 'engage in 
 mission work in foreign lands, should the 
 way be opened by Providence. From 
 among such a multitude, and from so vast 
 a continent, l\Ir. Taylor considers five 
 hundred recruits a contingent absurdly 
 small. It is ftlr. Taylor’s idea tha^ this 
 body of one thousand recruits would be 
 able to make a beginning on the great 
 unevangelised masses of China, at the rate 
 of fifty families a day. It is a matter of 
 general interest to know that so experi- 
 enced, so sympathetic, and so successful 
 a worker as l\Ir. Taylor, expresses his 
 opinion that no new agencies are required 
 for the regeneration of China, and that he 
 has never heard of any agency at present 
 in use which has not been greatly blessed, 
 when riglitly used. What is needed, 
 according to this authority, is the wide 
 extension of the agencies already in use, 
 agencies which must be very greatly ex- 
 tended and developed, before the Church 
 makes an approach to accomplishing its 
 duty. 
 
 TVediiesday Afternoon. 
 
 The Conference met in the afternoon at 
 2.45, and was called to order by Dr. Faber, 
 Chairman of the Committee of Arrange- 
 ments. Rev. Dr. Blodget was chosen 
 temporary Chairman, and Rev. G. F. Fitch 
 temporary Secretary. Mr. Fitch then read 
 the roll of the members of the Conference, 
 with the memorandum of the places to 
 which they are assigned, a proceeding which 
 occupied more than half an hour. It a]>- 
 peared that thus far the number reported 
 as in attendance is 419, which includes the 
 children of delegates from abroad, but not 
 the children of those living in Shanghai. 
 It was stated that at the Conference of 
 1877, the number in attendance was only 
 120. 
 
 The Committee of Arrangements reported 
 certain recommendations in regard to the 
 choice of Chairman for the Conference. 
 The majority recommended that two 
 
2 
 
 permanent Chairmen be chosen, one from 
 Great Britain and one from the United 
 States, as was done in 1877. The minor- 
 ity recommended that the Chairman be 
 changed every day, in order of seniority. 
 The recommendation of the majority was 
 adopted. After a great variety of nomina- 
 tions, Rev. John L. Nevius, D.D., of Che- 
 foo, and Rev. David Hill, of Wuchang, were 
 by ballot chosen Chairmen, and the choice 
 was made unanimous. 
 
 The Committee of Arrangements recom- 
 mended that three Secretaries be chosen 
 without reference to nationality, but after 
 some discussion this number was enlarged 
 to six. The following were chosen secret- 
 aries : Rev. W. J. Lewis, of the China 
 Inland Mission, Editor of the Mensevger ; 
 Rev. B. C. Henry, D.D., Am. Pres. Mis., 
 Canton ; Rev. W. T. A. Barber. Eng. Wes. 
 Mis., Wuchang ; Rev. John R. Hykes, Am. 
 Meth. Mis., Kiukiang ; Rev. H. W. Hunt, 
 China Inland Mission ; Rev. Arthur H. 
 Smith, Am. Board, Shantung. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor was appointed 
 by th% Chairman, in accordance with a vote 
 to that effect, to send a telegram from the 
 Conference to the meeting now being held 
 in Exeter Hall, in the interest of the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 An address of welcome was delivered by 
 the Chairman of the local Committee of 
 Arrangements, Rev. G. F. Fitch, to which 
 an appropriate response was made by Dr. 
 Nevius. Well-deserved praise was bestow- 
 ed upon the indefatigable industry of this 
 Committee, ably backed by a most efficient 
 committee of ladies, and by the residents of 
 Shanghai generally, to whom the warmest 
 thanks of the Conference are due. 
 
 The Business Committee reported a 
 series of resolutions on procedure, which 
 were adopted by the Conference and are 
 follows : — 
 
 RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFERENCE. 
 
 1. — That the Cliairman observe in the 
 conduct of business the ordinary and gener- 
 ally accepted rules for deliberative bodies. 
 
 2. — That the Committee on Arrangements 
 and Entertainment be continued. 
 
 3. — That a Committee consisting of Rev. 
 Chauncy Goodrich, Rev. D. Hill and Rev. 
 J. L. Gibson be appointed on devotional 
 services. 
 
 4. — That a Committee of five be ap- 
 pointed by the Chairman to receive and 
 introduce to the Conference any resolutions 
 on matters of business not included in our 
 printed programme, this committee to be 
 called the Committee on Business and Re- 
 solutions. 
 
 5. — That when thought desirable by the 
 Conference, committees be appointed com- 
 posed of not less than twelve persons 
 
 to report to the Conference what ac- 
 tion, if any, is desirable, on the sub- 
 ject or subjects of the day ; that these 
 Committees be nominated viva voce and 
 approved by the Conference and that two- 
 thirds of the whole number constitute a 
 (juorum of the Committee for the transac- 
 tion of business. The reports of these Com- 
 mittees shall be read before the Conference 
 if practicable one day before the time ap- 
 pointed for considering and acting on 
 them. If the members of a Committee be 
 found to be divided in opinion they may, 
 if they see fit, present both a majority and 
 a minority report, and 5 minutes may be 
 given for stating tlie reasons for eacli re- 
 port, the reasons for the majority report 
 being heard first. 
 
 6. — Authors shall be restricted to ten 
 minutes in presenting a re'sumS of their 
 essays. 
 
 7. — The discussion of the subjects intro- 
 duced by the essays each forenoon and 
 afternoon of the Conference shall be opened 
 by two jjersons specially proposed for doing 
 so, who shall be selected by the Committee 
 on Business and Resolutions. Members of 
 the Conference thus proposed are requested 
 to hand their names to that Committee. 
 
 8. — Persons opening the debates shall be 
 restricted to 10 minutes unless extension 
 of time is voted by the Conference. 
 
 9. — Others following in the discussion 
 shall be restricted to 5 minutes. 
 
 10. — Authors shall have 10 minutes to 
 close the discussion on their essays if they 
 wish. 
 
 11. — In all discussions which may arise 
 in the Conference, whether on re.solutions, 
 substitutes or amendments, speakers shall 
 be restricted to 3 minutes. 
 
 After the adoption of these resolutions, 
 the first paper was read bo the Conference, 
 by Rev. Young J. Allen, D.D., of Shang- 
 hai, on “ The changed aspect of China.” 
 This papertreated the nature of thechanges, 
 under the head of compulsory changes, 
 semi-compulsory changes, spontaneous 
 changes, and imperial changes. This part 
 of the paper consisted of a comprehensive 
 summary of the external facts in the rela- 
 tions of China to foreign nations, since the 
 year 1860, with a discussion of the mean- 
 ing of those facts. Special prominence 
 was given to the wide scope and great 
 value of the clauses in the treaties regard- 
 ing extraterritoriality, which was treated 
 as the lever by which China is yet to 
 be brought into the comity of Christian 
 nations. The duties entailed upon the 
 missionary body by the changes in China 
 were shown to be unity, in a wide and 
 effective way ; an organ for tlie native 
 Church ; a uniform series of school and 
 text books ; a national Christian uiviversity ; 
 
and a wise division of labour. This ex- 
 ceedingly able paper was listeuedto with the 
 closest attention, but the lateness of the 
 hour prevented any discussion. 
 
 Wednesday Evening. 
 
 The meeting on Wednesday evening 
 was held in the Union Church, and was 
 called to order at a few minutes past 8 
 o’clock by Rev. Dr. Mapper of Canton. 
 After singing and prayer. Dr. Mapper 
 introduced the subject of the evening, 
 which was the relation of Christian Mis- 
 sions to the foreign residents. Dr. Mapper 
 spoke of the cordial relations which have 
 always subsisted between the merchants 
 and the missionaries in Canton, where the 
 first medical missionary society in the world 
 was founded. 
 
 The paper of the evening by the Ven. 
 Archdeacon Moule, was read with admirable 
 clearness of enunciation by Rev. Mr. 
 Modges. This paper has already been 
 published. It is a brief but compendious 
 statement of the subject in all its aspects. 
 At the close of the reading of the paper. 
 Rev. Professor E. P. Thwing, M.D., of 
 Brooklyn, N.Y., was introduced. Me has 
 just returned from a visit to India, and has 
 spent some time at Canton, cooperating 
 with Dr. Kerr in the establishment of an 
 asylum for the insane of China ; Professor 
 Thwing has been a wide traveller, having 
 made eight foreign tours, this last involving 
 about a year’s absence and 30,000 miles of 
 travel. Dr. Thwing spoke of the mighty 
 momentum of truth in the world, and of 
 the acceleration of God’s movements in 
 modern history. Dr. Edward Beecher was 
 wont to say that an idea is mightier than a 
 million men. It is a great thing to have 
 an idea ; a still grander thing when the idea 
 has us, but the ideas must embody truth, 
 essential and absolute. Ideas are greater 
 than men, because immaterial, abiding 
 ubiquitous and eternal ; institutions are but 
 the lengthened shadows of men. Luther gave 
 the world Lutheranism, Calvin — Calvinism. 
 To try to arrest an idea is to commit the 
 folly of trying to stop cannon balls ; it is a 
 perilous thing to antagonise ideas that have 
 within them essential truth. Thomas 
 Arnold said that nothing is so futile as to 
 try to keep things fixed, it is a deadly 
 error not to improve. Into that error Con- 
 fucius fell. Me said that the duty of China 
 was to conserve, not to create. China has 
 been aptly compared to Lot’s wife, her face 
 ever turned in stony gaze to the dead past. 
 There are two forces, inertia and momen- 
 tum. An evangelist at one of Moody’s 
 meetings said ; “ The Lord himself cannot 
 switch a motionless engine.” Stationary 
 objects cannot be directed. 
 
 The mission of ideas is not transient. 
 Their voice cannot be silenced. When 
 
 we are convinced of a truth, \Ve arc not to 
 hesitate, as the proposer of a new law in 
 England used to stand in the market place 
 with a rope about his neck to be hanged 
 with it if his measure was not adopted. 
 Mothing in the world is so intolerant as 
 truth. What is truth 1 Simply the reality 
 of things, and therefore it is unchangeable. 
 It is a great comfort to a missionary when 
 he rests upon this pivotal centre, upon 
 ideas that embody eternal truth. It was a 
 saying of Father Taylor, that God’s chro- 
 nometer never loses time. God’s move- 
 ments seem slow, sixty generations have 
 passed before the mighty Gibraltar of 
 heathenism. The rock has been smit- 
 ten again and again, but there it stands 
 still though fragments fall. Meantime 
 scoffers laugh, but results cannot be 
 measured by us. Truth will wing its way, 
 and do its work. Labour seems lost, but 
 some day the long-lost inscriptions on the 
 human soul, like the ancient palimpsest will 
 burst forth in clearness. Pessimists may 
 doubt. Macaulay said that in his day he 
 had seen nothing but progress, but had 
 heard of nothing but decay. I once saw a 
 Russian Cathedral which cost ten or fifteen 
 millions, on which years were spent in 
 cutting down a whole Russian forest to 
 make into piles for the Cathedral to stand 
 upon ; then the marble, malachite and jasper 
 pillars and dome were lifted in beauty and 
 order. So years were spent, and millions of 
 money in excavations at Mell-gate in Long 
 Island Sound, but the whole great reef was 
 in an instant blown to atoms by the baby 
 finger of Mary Newton pressing on the 
 electric knob. When our work is done, a 
 nation may be born in a day. 
 
 At the conclusion of Professor Thwing’s 
 address, which was frequently interrupted 
 by applause. Dr. Wm. Ashmore of Swatow 
 spoke on the subject of the paper, with 
 great force, and with the weight of forty 
 years of missionary experience behind him. 
 Dr. Ashmore dwelt upon certain Western, 
 forces at 'ivorlc in China and their general 
 relationship to the missionary body. The 
 forces mentioned were : — 
 
 1. — The Foreign Communities. 
 
 2. — The Diplomatic Body. 
 
 3. — The Maritime Customs. 
 
 4. — The Secular Press. 
 
 5. — The Travelled Chinaman. 
 
 The travelled Chinaman was included 
 because he represented a native importa- 
 tion of foreign force in his ow'n person. 
 
 After this the speaker mentioned still 
 another foreign force which was at work 
 on China, Christian missions. 
 
 And then he concluded with the great 
 encouragement to vigorous and rapid evan- 
 gelisation found in the words of the Saviour 
 “This gospel of the kingdom must first be 
 
4 
 
 preached in all the world for a witness, 
 and then shall the end come.” Among the 
 things included in this consuniination of the 
 great work of all the ages called “ the end” 
 were ; — 
 
 1. — The building again of the fallen 
 Tabernacle of David. 
 
 2. — The unconditional outpouring of the 
 Holy Spirit upon all flesh. 
 
 3. — Trooping in of the nations in sub- 
 mission to Christianity. 
 
 In a few words after the meeting was 
 dismissed, Mr. Muirhead called attention 
 to the gift at various times by the foreign 
 residents of Shanghai, of live hundred 
 thousand taels, for missionary and bene- 
 volent purposes. 
 
 The (juestion of what should be done by 
 them in aid of education is a pressing one, 
 and will be discussed at a future evening 
 meeting. 
 
 All speakers are received and dismissed 
 as well as frequently interrupted with 
 applause. 
 
 Second JJay, Thursday, Sth May. 
 
 The morning prayer-meeting was led by 
 Rev. W. Wright, D.D., of the Britisli 
 and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 At 10 a.m. the Conference was called to 
 order by Dr. Nevius. 
 
 After some discussion the programme 
 drawn up by the Committee was formally 
 adopted. The Chairman made a statement 
 as to the nature of the rules under which 
 business was to be ccmducted, with special 
 reference to economy of time. It was 
 announced that except by special permis- 
 sion of the Conference no one was to speak 
 more than once to the same (juestion. 
 
 As it is understood that the ladies do 
 not desire to occupy ten minutes in closing 
 the discussion, they are to be allowed 
 twenty minutes at tlie beginning. Mem- 
 bers of the Conference are retjuested to 
 present .all motions in writing. 
 
 Attention was called to the fact tliat in 
 the printed rules, the XII was omitted, 
 anthorising ladies to vote on all subjects, 
 brought before the Conference 
 
 Mr. Muirhead then presented a resume 
 of his paper on a historical summary of the 
 different versions. Mr. INIuirhead’s paper 
 is already in print, and in the hands of the 
 Conference. 
 
 Rev. G, L. Mason, of the American 
 Bap. Missionary Union, Huchow, read the 
 paper of Bishop Schereschewsky upon the 
 same topic. This paper, like the preceding, 
 advocated a new version of the Scriptures, 
 but laid especial stress upon the need 
 of a new version in the mandarin dialect, 
 and the easy men U or literary dialect, 
 while the paper of Mr. Muirhead empha- 
 
 sised the necessity of a new version in the 
 higher literary dialect of China. 
 
 At the close of Bjj. Schereschewsky’s paper 
 Rev. J. Wherry of Peking, read a third essay 
 upon the same topic, giving an estimate of 
 the value of each of the existing versions 
 pointing to the need of a single version 
 in the easy literary dialect for all China. 
 
 After the reading of these papers, it was 
 voted to proceed to the discussion of them, 
 before proceeding to the remaining topics 
 of the morning. 
 
 Mr. Archibald of the Scotch National 
 Bible Society, Hankow, spoke on the 
 feasibility of a union version of the 
 Scriptures ; and the desirability of such 
 a version is universally admitted, but 
 unless the three great Bible Societies 
 , should unite upon such a version, it must 
 ; fail. Unless very cogent reasons are brought 
 to bear upon these societies, the union 
 j version cannot become a fact. The report 
 I of Mr. Sloan, Secretary of the Scotch 
 i National Bible Society, who travelled from 
 1 Canton to Peking, to his Society was that 
 the versions are not satisfactory, and that 
 a new one is needed. All present versions 
 i are valuable, but preliminary. The multi- 
 plicity of versions is not of necessity a dis- 
 advantage. There can be no union ver- 
 sion without a common term. Other diver- 
 gencies besides that of terms must arise. 
 The ultimate version must be made by 
 natives themselves. The best version should 
 be chosen as a basis. The time has 
 not come for a union version, which is 
 a mere will o’ the wisp, retreating the more 
 the longer it is pursued. Dr. Wright of the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society, said that 
 he was here to get information. He re- 
 ported that his society had made a careful 
 arrangement for a union version with the 
 I Scotcli Bible Society, that elaborate rules 
 I had been made, and word was sent to the 
 ; missionaries in China to secure a union 
 I version, but tlie batter had reported that 
 ' this was impossible. Dr. Wright does not 
 believe tliat it is imjiossible. No side issue 
 at home should turn us awaj^.from the 
 ' main end. 
 
 _t)n motion this wliole subject was refer- 
 . red to a committee of twenty-five persons 
 ! as follows : Rev. Wrn. Muirhead, London 
 I Mission, Shangh.ai ; Rev. C. W. Mateer 
 I D.D., Am. Pres., T‘ungchou Fu; Rev. .1. 
 j C. Gibson, Eng. Pres., Swatow ; Rev. .Tos. 
 
 I Edkins, D.D., Shanghai ; Mr. .Jno. Archi- 
 bald, Scotcli Bib. Soc., Hankow; Rev. ,J. 
 Wherry, D.D., Am. Pres., Peking ; Rev. 
 Henry Blodget D.D., Am. Board, Peking ; 
 j Rev. Chauncey Goodrich, Am. Board, T‘ung- 
 I chouFu; Rev. Chas. Hartwell, Am. Board, 
 
 ' Foochow; Rev. H..H. Lowry, Am. Meth., 
 Peking ; Dr. W. Wright, London ; Rev. 
 Ernst Faber, D.D., Shanghai ; Rev. Jno. W. 
 Davis, D.D., Am. So. Pres., Soochow ; Rev . 
 
5 
 
 R. H. Graves, D.D.,So. Bap., Canton; Rev. 
 Nathan Sites, D.D. Am. Meth. Foochow ; 
 Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., Am. Pres., Can- 
 ton ; Rev. E. T. Williams, Nanking ; 
 Rev. E. S. Little, Am. Meth., Kiukiang ; 
 Rev. Timothy Richard, Eng. Bap., Tien- 
 tsin ; Rev. T. Barclay, Eng. Pres., Tai- 
 wan Fu, Rev. Alex. Williamson, LL.D., 
 Shanghai ; Rev. David Hill, Wesleyan, 
 Hankow ; Bishop Burdon, Hongkong ; Rev. 
 A. Elwin, Church Mission, Hangchow: 
 Rev. F. Hartmann, Hongkong. 
 
 Of this Committee, Mr. Muirhead is 
 convener. The Committee of arrangements 
 has designated a sub-committee consisting 
 of Dr. Williamson, Rev. G. F. Fitch, and 
 Rev. J. W. Stevenson. 
 
 The Committee on resolutions and busi- 
 ness consists of Rev. J. W. Stevenson ; 
 Rev. L. W. Pilcher, D.D., Am. Meth., 
 Peking ; Rev. A. Elwin, Hangchow ; Rev. 
 T. Bryson, London Mission, Tientsin, and 
 Rev. C. F. Reid, Shanghai. 
 
 Rev. J. C. Gibson of Swatow read a 
 paper on the advantages of colloquial ver- 
 sions, and the comparative merits of roman 
 letters and Chinese characters. This paper 
 had unfortunately not been printed in 
 time to be in the hands of the Conference. 
 It was an able and exhaustive presentation 
 of the necessity of simpler methods for un- 
 educated Chinese, than can be had by the 
 written character of China. A paper on 
 the same topic by Rev. S. F. Woodin of 
 Foochow, was read by Rev. G. H. Hubbard 
 of Foochow. 
 
 Another paper on this theme by Rev. 
 Bishop Burdon of Hongkong, was read by 
 Rev. J. B. Ost of Hongkong. On 
 motion these papers were referred to a 
 committee composed of live English, five 
 Americans, and two Germans, as follows : 
 Rev. J. C. Gibson, Swatow ; Rev. Wm. 
 Cooper, C.I.M., Nganking ; Rev. W. D. 
 Rudland, C.I.M., Taichow ; Rev. W. E. 
 Soothill, United Meth., Wenchow ; Rev. 
 \V. Wright, London ; Rev. G. H. Hub- 
 bard, Am. Board, Foochow ; Rev. C. W. 
 Mateer, D.D. , Presbyterian, TbingchowFu ; 
 Rev. B. C. Henry, D.D., Am. Presby- 
 terian, Canton; Rev. ,1. R. Goddard, So. 
 Bap., Ningpo ; Miss L. A. Haygood, So. 
 Meth., Shanghai ; Rev. F. Hartmann, 
 Hongkong ; Rev. Martin Schaub, Li-long, 
 Basel Mission. 
 
 Thursday Afternoon. 
 
 The meeting was called to order at 2 
 p.m., by Dr. Nevius. 
 
 It was voted to amend the fifth rule 
 adopted yesterday, by providing for a 
 nominating committee of twelve persons, 
 representing all parts of the empire. The 
 following persons were chosen as this com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Rev. J. C. Gibson, Swatow ; Rev. C. W. 
 Mateer, Tuugchow Fu; Rev. J. Lees, 
 Tientsin ; Rev. T. Richard, Tientsin ; Rev. 
 E. Faber, D. D. Shanghai ; Rev. A. W. 
 Douthwaite, M.D., C. I. M., Chefoo ; Rev. 
 W. Bridie, Wesleyan, Fatshan ; Rev. Y. 
 J. Allen, Shanghai ; Rev. D. Z. Sheffield, 
 Am. Board, T'ungchow ; Rev. L. W. 
 Pilcher, D.D., Peking ; Rev. J. R. 
 Hykes, Am. Meth., Kiukiang ; Rev. Mr. 
 Eldon. 
 
 Dr. Mateer resigned from the committee 
 on colloquial versions chosen in the fore- 
 noon, and Rev. L. W. Kip, D.D., Am. 
 Ref., Amoy, was ajjpointed in his place. 
 It was voted to refer the question of a new 
 version of the mandarin colloquial to a 
 committee of twelve chosen from the inan^ 
 darin speaking districts, this committee to 
 report to the Conference. 
 
 Dr. Williamson summarised his paper on 
 the need of notes and headings for the 
 Chinese Scriptures, after which Mr. S. 
 Dyer gave a synopsis of his paper on bible 
 distribution in China. 
 
 The ensuing discussion was exceedingly 
 animated, and evidently stirred the deepest 
 interest on the part of all present. Mr. 
 Archibald admitted the need of such notes 
 as Dr. Williamson advocates, but showed 
 the great difficulties in procuring them. 
 The existing societies are hampered by 
 definite regulations. But to show that 
 these societies are ready to meet the 
 wishes of the missionaries, extracts were 
 read from the report of the Sec. of 
 the Scotch Bible Society, Mr. Sloan, 
 who reported to his society the general 
 desire for such notes. There are grave 
 constitutional difficulties in the societies, 
 which cannot be ignored. Then there is 
 the difficulty of knowing exactly what 
 is wanted. There is danger of getting too 
 much, not a note, but a commentary ; 
 translations of handbooks are not wanted. 
 Four years ago the Scotch Bible Society 
 asked for samples of this work, and with 
 all urging, it took four years to get them 
 done. An able review of the first instal- 
 ment recently appeared in- the North China 
 Herald. Then the making of notes once 
 begun, no one can tell where it will stop. 
 Other countries may want the same, and 
 an explosion may follow. On .the other 
 hand some notes are needed. No book is 
 translated until the reader knows what is 
 in it. 
 
 Tlie Bible Societies are far too strict in 
 their interpretation of their rules. Col- 
 porteurs give verbal ‘ notes,’ why not allow 
 able men to do the same in printed charac- 
 ters 1 King .lames’ version is a precedent 
 for matter that is not a part of the Bible, 
 introduction, and comment in the shape of 
 headings. After these things the Bible 
 
6 
 
 Societies have hot a logical leg to stand 
 on, ill refusing notes that are needed. 
 Again there is danger of heretical teaching. 
 This is what is feared at home. The indis- 
 pensable notes will be neither many nor 
 long, the question of a new version is more 
 of annotation than of translation. 
 
 Dr. Nevius thought this subject should be 
 presented to the Bible Societies in a strong 
 light. With this view he had prepared a 
 paper, which he would not read, but express- 
 ed himself as strongly in sympathy with the 
 demand for notes and explanations. At the 
 request of the conference, Dr. Nevius read 
 his paper, which excited warm approval, 
 and equally warm dissent. The points in 
 it of special interest were the claim that 
 the Bible is of necessity more or less unin- 
 telligible without some accompanyingexpla- 
 nations. The Bible is not the book to 
 begin work with in China, but should be 
 preceded by Evangelists. Rev. H. C. 
 Dubose, So. Pres., Soochow, strongly dis- 
 sented from this view, and showed that 
 the Bible alone is often quite sufficient 
 without notes of any sort, which may even 
 detract from the value. The difficulty can 
 be met by using tracts, keeping the Bible 
 free from interpolations. Mr. Leaman, 
 Am. Pres., Nankin, took the same View. 
 Rev. R. U. Graves, D.D., Canton, thought 
 the Bible" was often sufficient with uti ex- 
 planations, good as these might be. Mr. 
 Stevenson, of the Union Church, thought 
 that the demand for notes and ex- 
 planations quite consistent with the 
 highest reverence for the Bible. Rev. 
 C. G. Sparham, L. Mission,- Hankow, 
 advocated words of explanation. Dr. 
 Mateer of TungchouFu thought it important 
 not to convey the impression that we are 
 opposed to the circulation of the Bible. 
 We must educate the sentiment of our 
 home lands. The bible societies are greatly 
 ahead of the public. He wished a vote of 
 all who had been twentj' years in China, 
 as to the need of notes of explanation. A 
 Chinaman will not read far in a 
 book the first few sentences of which 
 do not impress him favourablj’. Dr. 
 Wright of London thought that if the 
 views advocated by Dr. Nevius’ paper 
 should prevail, the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society would greatly contract its 
 work in China. He regretted the paper 
 in its present form, and deprecated its 
 publication. He gave illustrations of diffi- 
 culties in translating into Arabic, similar to 
 those mentioned in the Chinese. The 
 discussion was continued by Rev. J. 
 B. N. Smith of Shanghai, and Rev. 
 Evan Bryant of Tientsin, agent of the 
 British and For. Bible Soc. who strongly 
 deprecated theological notes in Bibles, and 
 gave cases showing the value of his col- 
 porteurs, and instances of churches formed 
 
 , from the results of their labours. Dr. Wil- 
 1 liamson and Mr. Dyer then replied briefly 
 to the arguments advanced. It was voted to 
 close the sessions at noon, and at five p.m. 
 
 Thursduy Evening. 
 
 j Rev. Dr. Wright of London addressed the 
 ; Conference, on the work of the British and 
 i Foreign Bible Society, with illustrations 
 from his own experience as a missionary in 
 Damascus. The influence of the Bible was 
 compared to the rivers Aibana and Pharpar 
 irrigating the arid plains of Syria, and 
 ! producing beauty in the desert. As in the 
 I vision of Ezekiel, ‘ everything shall live, 
 i whither the river cometh ’. The difficulties 
 of the versions in Chinese were compared 
 : with similar ones in the Arabic ; two 
 , energetic missionaries who wished to rush 
 j things in Damascus, went up and down 
 ^ the streets of that ancient city, and by 
 mispronouncing the word ‘kalb’, which 
 i" means ‘heart’, told the people to get a 
 j new ‘dog’, although the city was over- 
 flowingly full of dogs already ! An old and 
 j experienced missionary persisted to the 
 j last in the mispronunciation of another 
 word, by which means he daily confessed 
 in his pi-aj-er that those who joined with 
 him all had ‘ tails ’. Dr. Wright con- 
 cluded by urging the missionaries to give 
 the bible societies the very best n.eii for 
 colporteurs, who have a hard and trying 
 work, with few of the helps which mission- 
 aries enjoy in Christian society, and in the 
 i moral support of their countrymen. 
 
 Mr. L. D. Wishard, College Sec. of the 
 I y.M.C.A. in the U.S., gave an account of 
 the inception of the present extended 
 ' movement to organise associations of this 
 j nature in Japan, India, and to some extent 
 : in China. To what degree these asstjcia- 
 i tions are to be formed in China, will depend 
 ' wholly upon the wishes of the missionaries 
 I at each station. College-bred men have an 
 influence peculiar to themselves. It was 
 I stated that of the four thousand young 
 men and women in the U.S. who are con- 
 I ditionally pledged to go to the foreign 
 I field, 194 are already in the field, and hosts 
 I of others are preparing. 
 
 ; Mr. Wishard’s mission in China is one 
 > of inquiry, to study the condition of the 
 I field and to see what is needed. The meet- 
 ing was closed at a quarter to ten, by a few 
 ' remarks from Rev. D. Z. Sheffield of Tung- 
 ' chow, who occupied the chair. 
 
 Third Day, Friday, 9th May. 
 
 The prayer meeting was led by Rev. G. 
 W. Pilcher, of Peking. 
 
 At 10 a. m. the Conference was called to 
 order by the Chairman, Rev. David Hill. 
 The minutes of yesterday’s meeting were 
 1 read by Rev. \V. T. A. Barber, one of the 
 
1 
 
 Secretaries, and after some corrections ] 
 adopted. ' 
 
 The suggestion was made that it would 
 be a desirable thing to have a list of the 
 obituaries of the members of the Confereiice 
 held in 1877. ' 
 
 The Committee on Nominations, (Rev. C. 
 W. Mateer, D D., being chosen for Chair- [ 
 man) reported the following names as a i 
 Committee on Bible Distribution : — Rev. 
 
 R. H. Graves, D.D., Canton, Rev. Jno. L. 
 Nevius, D.D., Chefoo, Rev. AV. F. Walker, ’ 
 D.D., Tientsin, Rev. Chauncey Goodrich, I 
 Tungchow, Rev. F. Hiibrig, Canton, Rev. I 
 C. Shaw, Foochow, Rev. J. Ost, Hongkong, | 
 Rev. J. Lees, Tientsin, Rev. A. W. ' 
 Douthwaite, M.D., Chefoo, Rev. D. Barclay, j 
 Taiwanfu, Rev. H. C. Du Bose, Soochow, i 
 Rev. C. Hartwell, Foochow. j 
 
 On motion this Committee was chosen 
 by the Conference. i 
 
 The Nominating Committee then report- i 
 ed the following names, as a Committee on | 
 the Revision of the Mandarin version of 
 the Scriptures : — Rev. Jno. R. Hykes, 1 
 Kiukiang ; Right Rev. Bishop Burdon, I 
 Hongkong ; Rev. Henry Blodget, d.d., | 
 Peking ; Rev. A. G. Jones, Chouping ; ' 
 Rev. A. S. Sydenstricker, Chingchiangpu ; i 
 Rev. D. Z. Sheffield, Tungchow ; Rev. F. | 
 M. Wood, Gankiiig ; Rev. H. H. Lowry, i 
 Peking ; Rev. C. G. Sparham, Hankow ; 
 Rev. D. Bryson, Tientsin ; Rev. W. T. A. 
 Barber, Wuchang ; Rev. C. W. Mateer, 
 Tengchowfu. 
 
 This Committee was then accepted by 
 the Conference. 
 
 Rev. W. E. Soothill, of AVenchow, moved 
 the following resolutions : — 
 
 1. — In view of the representative nature 
 and importance of this Conference, moved : j 
 That a Memorial to the Emperor of China 
 be drawn up and afterwards signed by 
 every member of this Conference, congra- 
 tulating him on his accession to the 
 throne, expressing our earnest wish for his 
 long and prosperous reign, our constant 
 praj'er on his behalf for God’s protection 
 and blessing, also explaining briefly the 
 tenets of our holy religion, as well as our 
 determination to inculcate the principles 
 of loyalty, not only among the native 
 Christians, but among all classes with whom 
 we come in contact. 
 
 2. — That this memorial be drawn up by 
 a Committee of seven, to be appointed by 
 the Conference, and be submitted for ap- 
 proval as soon as possible. 
 
 .I. — That the Ministers representing the 
 Protestant Powers, Great Britain, the U.S., 
 and Germany be requested to present the 
 memorial. 
 
 After a brief discussion these resolutions 
 were adopted. 
 
 Rev. C. F. Reid, of Shanghai, and Rev. 
 Geo. A. Stuart, of Hangchow, presented 
 the following resolutions : — 
 
 Whereas Miss Jessie Ackermann, the 
 world’s missionary of the “Women’s Christ- 
 ian Temperance Union,” is at present in 
 Shanghai, attending our Conference ; 
 
 Resolved : — That we extend to her a 
 hearty welcome, as a fellow-worker in the 
 cause of extending Christ’s kingdom, that 
 we invite her to address this Conference on 
 the subject of her mission, and that a part 
 ofThursday evening, 15th May, be devoted 
 to that purpose. The Committee of Arrange- 
 ments reserve the right to add one or two 
 names of additional speakers. 
 
 Rev. C. F. Reid spoke in favor of the 
 resolution, and was followed by Rev. Thos. 
 R. Stevenson, of the Union Church, who 
 spoke of the excellent spiritual results of 
 Miss Ackermann’s labours. He deprecated 
 the strong prejudice against the appearance 
 of women in public. 
 
 Dr. Nevius made an explanation in the 
 Committee that there had been no pre- 
 judice against women’s speaking. The 
 fullest sympathy was felt with woman’s 
 w'ork. 
 
 Dr. J. M. W. Farnham insisted upon his 
 right to protest against the proposition, 
 saying that the Committee were divided 
 upon the propriety, of the proceeding. 
 
 Rev. D. W. Herring (Shanghai) had no 
 objection to the temperance discussion 
 desired, but thought it not germane to the 
 Missionary Conference, and opposed the 
 resolution. 
 
 Rev. R. H. Graves, D.D., Canton, pro- 
 posed to leave Thursday evening open 
 without specification. This was not second- 
 ed, and loud calls for “vote” were heard. 
 The question being put, the resolutions 
 were carried by a large majority. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Happer proposed the following 
 resolution ; — 
 
 Resolved : To recommend that Monday 
 evening, the 12th inst., be kept free in order 
 to allow friends to arrange for denomina- 
 tional and social gatherings separately. 
 
 The resolution was carried. Attention 
 was called to the fact that the speakers 
 could be heard by but a small proportion 
 of the audience, and the Chairman was 
 urged to compel every speaker to make it 
 plain who he is and what he wants. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor then read a paper 
 on “ The Missionary ; his qualifications, 
 introduction to his work, and mode of life.” 
 
 At the conclusion of this paper. Rev. 
 David Hill left the chair, and read a paper 
 on “Lay agency in Chinese missions; to 
 what extent desirable and on what con- 
 ditions.” 
 
 At the close of the papers, the discus- 
 sion was continued by Rev. Arthur Elwin, 
 
8 
 
 of Hangchow, who said the Church Mis- 
 sionary Society would welcome lay agency, 
 if suitable men can be found. He also 
 spoke of the difficulty of employing 
 money in aiding the poor Chinese without 
 doing harm. The Chinese think that if 
 one foreigner is tall, all the men from his 
 ‘ honourable country ’ are long. 
 
 Rev. Timothy Richard, of 'lientsin said, 
 that the qualifications for highest service 
 are : the spiritual ; then the missionary is 
 to be qualified to establish all branches 
 necessary for Christian work ; he should 
 feel that the amelioration of sufierings 
 arising from the material, mental, national, 
 and international relations are within his 
 province, as well as the salvation of in- 
 dividual souls. He should be fullj' ac- 
 quainted with the methods which God has 
 so largely used for the salvation of the 
 world in all ages and lands. 
 
 IMr. Edward Evans, of Shanghai, an in- 
 dependent worker, expressed his feelings 
 in view of the papers read and the difficul- 
 ties of tlie work. 
 
 Rev. ChauHcey G(jodrich, T'ungchow, 
 said that the missionary should have love — 
 he should be a man of forth-putting power. 
 His life should impress itself upon others. I 
 M e do not want men simply because they I 
 are good, but men who shall leave their 
 mark on China, men of Holy Ghost power, 
 men of hopeful cheerfulness, with no tomb- 
 stone faces. 
 
 Rev. .1. Edkins, D.D., spoke of the 
 difficulties of the commercial men in China 
 — silk merchants and tea merchants, who 
 ought to have Christian men as their agents 
 and assistants. 
 
 ■Rev. Win. Ashmore, D.D., of Swatow, 
 thought we were laying the burden of our 
 work on the Lord, when it belongs to us. 
 
 In a tnilitary enrolment of all men between 
 the ages of 16 and 30, it is not the business 
 of the government to invite men to join 
 the army, it is the business of each man to 
 show, if he can, that he is exempt. AVe 
 should influence our friends at home to see i 
 that men should show cause why they I 
 should Jiof go abroad. M’by is it so hard to I 
 showmen the way to be saved? Hebrew 
 and Greek are not necessary for this. The i 
 commission includes our- sisters too. The j 
 first missionary society in the world was 
 composed of - women who ministered to 
 Christ of tlieir substance. There is a dis- 
 tinction between evangelists and pastors. 1 
 Tlie great need of the world is for evange- | 
 lisers. In tlie home colleges, when a supe- | 
 rior man is f.iund, some church gets a clutch , 
 on him. Then he begins to talk about I 
 serving God at home, and that is the last 
 of him. We none of us want ignorant i 
 men. The world demands too much of | 
 us ; we are required to be encycloptedic. 
 We do not ask a physician if he knows 
 
 music and astronomy. If he knows how 
 to cure us, that is enough. A missionary 
 " should understand the Bible. We must 
 emphasise the study of the Bible. Our 
 j battle is to be fought with the Bible 
 I in our hand. The distinction between 
 ' clerical and lay workers is not very jiro- 
 ! ininent in the Bible. Every man that has 
 the root of the matter in him should go 
 i from town to town preaching. We differ 
 i about the time of the millennium, but we 
 j agree as to this matter of preaching. 
 
 1 Something should be sent from this con- 
 ' ference to England and America on the 
 I great needs of China. The home churches 
 should bestir themselves and men will be 
 had in abundance. 
 
 At the conclusion of Dr. Ashmore’s ad- 
 dress, the time for which was extended by 
 special vote. Dr. Wright briefly said that 
 he should bring Mr. Hill’s paper to the 
 notice of the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society, and all colporteurs should be in 
 connection with some society, under some 
 ordained missionary. 
 
 Rev. W. Muirhead observed that the 
 topic was far from exhausted. 
 
 Various announcements of meetings of 
 Committees were made, and the meeting 
 closed with jjrayer by Dr. Blodget. 
 
 Friday Aftertwon. 
 
 Rev. David Hill in the chair. 
 
 Dr. J. L. Nevius read a resume of his 
 paper giving a “ Historical review of Mis- 
 sionary Methods, past and present, in 
 China and how far satisfactory.” 
 
 The next paper read was by Rev. B. C. 
 Henry, D.D,, Canton, on “Preaching to 
 the heathen in chapels, in the open air, 
 and during itineration.” Another paper 
 i on the same topic was then read by Rev. 
 
 H. H. Lowry, of Peking. After Mr. 
 j Lowry’s paper, Rev. F. H. James, of Cli'ing- 
 I choufu, gave his on “ The Religious Sects 
 of Shantung.” 
 
 After the reading of these papers, notice 
 was given that those who had spoken on 
 the various papers were requested to hand 
 in to the secretaries their remarks in the 
 form in which it was desired to have them 
 appear. Rev. P’. Olilinger, of Corea, spoke 
 against the pride of denominationalism. 
 He advocates the sending out of young 
 men, who should trust themselves to 
 God. The home societies will give all 
 the liberty wanted. A message should 
 be sent to the Y. M. C. A. through 
 Mr. Wishard. Tlie next speaker was Rev. 
 Y. K. Yen, of Shanghai, who was greeted 
 with great applause, and who was by 
 special vote granted an extension of time. 
 He said that Chinese Christians are not in 
 the same favourable circumstances as 
 Christians in other lands. The former 
 have fifty generations of heathenism behind 
 
9 
 
 them. They have much to contend nitli. 
 We should not expect the same enterprise, 
 activity and piety as from foreigners. 
 Missionaries often speak disparagingly 
 of Chinese Christians. This, considering 
 the circumstances, is unreasonable and 
 unjust. Western civilisation is marked 
 by diversity, Eastern civilisation by uni- 
 formity. Chinese are not active physi- 
 cally, morally and spy:itually. If they 
 wei’e active physically, I should not ha\ e 
 tills queue to-day. If any other Chinese 
 would cut off his hair, and shorten his 
 skirts, I would do so too. They have a 
 load upon them. They look with disfavour 
 on Christian civilisation, and laugh behind 
 their backs. A series of good Hongkong 
 primers, which I made my boy study, were 
 called Ch'uhsiao, that is, the beginnings of 
 (English) learning. A Chinese friend made 
 a pun on this name, and said he would 
 have no ‘vinegar’ study, nor any ‘soy’ 
 study either. Foreigners often mistake 
 Chinese superstition for piety. All Chi- 
 nese worship is for selfishness. They have 
 no knowledge of God — no recognition 
 of being His sons. We can not expect 
 them to get to your level at once. 
 Try to lead them on. I am sorry to 
 hear a missionary’ say’ “There is not one 
 real Christian in my’ congregation ”. Do 
 not pick out the worst phases of Chinese 
 character, and keep the others in the back- 
 ground. The Chinese do not like to hear 
 that tl\ey are liars. Chinese Christians 
 also feel hurt at this. The foreign com- 
 munity are not friendly to the Chinese. 
 They say it is of no use to teach 
 the Chinese, and prejudice increases. If 
 that happens, the spread of the Gospel 
 will be hindered. Be more friendly’ and 
 sympathetic with the Chinese Christians. 
 In Christian lands, that pastor is most 
 useful who is most a friend, not he who 
 preaches the best sermor.s. It is a great 
 bore to have the Chinese in your studies 
 talking about insipid things. Do not there- 
 fore break off intercourse. Show that y’ou 
 are glad to see them. Have a Chinese 
 parlour furnished in good Chinese style. 
 The foreign arrangement of furniture con- 
 fuses a Chinese — he does not know where 
 to sit. In a native room all is different, 
 and he does not fear to dirty the floor with 
 his shoes. Have scrolls and other Chinese 
 things. Write to your friends to send 
 more men. Times have changed in twenty 
 years ; there is danger that some will come 
 wit|i no preparation. Get men who are 
 patient and forbearing, no one who is un- 
 kind and will stamp and pound on the 
 table in settling accounts with ‘.he Chinese. 
 — Some may’ say, let men come and develoji 
 these traits, but China is not a good field 
 in which to develop them. The Chinese 
 are slow, dull of hearing and understand- 
 
 ing,[so let only the kind, loving and forbear- 
 ing come. At the close of his remarks, 
 which wei’e vociferously applauded, IMr. 
 Yen was asked as to his views on the pro- 
 priety’ of wearing the Chinese dress. To 
 this he replied that it was like the matter 
 of married or single missionaries, to be 
 decided by location, with no fixed rule. In 
 places where foreigners are well known, 
 they should wear their dress, in other places 
 the Chinese dress. The Rev. Arthur 
 Elwin of Hangchow spoke on the matter of 
 denominational differences. At his station 
 they have a union meeting once a month. 
 They also have a ‘Chinese Society of Chris- 
 tian endeavour.’ On some Sundays all the 
 missionaries are gathered around' the 
 Lord's table from Bish’ p Moule to the 
 latest c<imer. This influences the Chi- 
 nese. Rev. Wm. IMuirhead paid a high 
 tribute to the great value of Mr. Yen’s 
 intiuence in Shanghai. He is a two-fold 
 man. IMr. IMuirhead suggested a Con- 
 ference of natives similar to this. We 
 should ask for their opinions in this matter. 
 We need their counsel more than we ask 
 for it. This is the central topic of the 
 whole Conference, the work, and the kind 
 of workers. Much will depend upon the 
 missive to be sent from this Conference to 
 the U. S. and England. A few y’ears ago 
 the London ^Mission raised the question as to 
 lay’ workers, and Mr. Muirhead, alone among 
 all the missionaries returned frrim India 
 and China, favoured them. The Sec., Dr. 
 Thompson, also favoured them. The matter 
 was dropped, but we hope it may be revived. 
 The Rev. W. H. Watson thought we stood 
 too much aloof from the Chinese and should 
 take new ground. The Rev. Wm. Bridie 
 of Canton said that as yet no testimony 
 had been given as to what the Chinese are 
 doing, yet they’ are the ones that must do 
 the Work. The Rev. J. Hudson Taylor 
 summed up briefly’, by expressing his opi- 
 nion that this matter must be brought to 
 the attention of the churches at home. An 
 efficient committee should be appointed 
 to discuss it. He wished to see recruits 
 on a great scale for ecenj Mission in Chi- 
 na. A Union church can not be built 
 by architects only, others must help. 
 Di'. 2sevius made an earnest closing 
 address, dejnecating the demolition of 
 denominations. It is denominationalism 
 that is the trou'ole. We do not wish at 
 present to be other than we are. We 
 would not change the noble church of 
 England. We have fed on its literature, 
 and been fired by its martyrs. Such union 
 as that at Hangchow makes our harmony- 
 conspicuous. We ought to have Sfune 
 permanent results of this Conference. We 
 come not here to talk, but to act. We 
 want an organisation, something like that 
 at Haiigchow, coming together around the 
 
10 
 
 Bible. We should have some organisation 
 to connect this conference with the next. 
 The wisdom of this body is surely equal 
 to this. Mission boards are more and more 
 willing to be instructed by their mis- 
 sionaries. Such a body as tliis will have 
 a tremendous power in Europe and 
 America. Not to bring this Conference 
 to some practical result, would be a 
 disgrace after a century of experience. i 
 The Rev. J. N. B. Smitli of Shanghai, said ] 
 that our work is two-fold, sowing and 
 r-eaping. Results will in due time appear. 
 The Rev. Thos. Stevenson gave notice of a 
 juvenile service at four p.m. on Sunday, in | 
 connection with the Conference. After ' 
 some discussion it \yas voted to appoint a I 
 committee to consider the matter of la}' 
 agency, and report to the Conference. It I 
 was voted to appoint a committee consist- 1 
 ing of members of each of the various 
 denominations, to consider and report | 
 upon Christian union, and the formation i 
 of a Protestant Missionary Association 
 for China. The Committee to prepare 
 a memorial to the Emperor of China 
 was announced as follows : Rev. A. P. 
 Happer, D.i)., Rt.- Rev. Bp. Burden, Rev. 
 
 E. Faber, d.d.. Rev. Y. J. Allen, n.n.. Rev. 
 Wm. Ashmore, d.d., Mr. John Fryer, 
 Shanghai, Rev. Timothy Richard, Tien- 
 tsin. It was voted todevote a part of afuture 
 meeting to the presentation of obituaries 
 of those members of the last Conference 
 who have since died, and a list of their 
 names was read. The Rev. Henry D. Porter, 
 a delegate from the National Council of 
 Congregational churches of the U.S. was 
 announced to ofier an address on their be- 
 half at a future meeting. (Ireetings from 
 the English Methodists are also to be re- 
 ceived. A Committee is to be appointed 
 to make an appeal for an increase of 
 missionaries to China. It was voted to 
 adjourn at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, to 
 accommodate the ladies, who have a meet- 
 ing of their own at that hour. The evening 
 sessions are to close at 9.30. The Rev. 
 
 C. F. Reid was appointed a Committee to 
 secure good ventilation with his cane. 
 Notice was given of reunions of Presby- 
 terians at the rooms of the Mission Press 
 on Monday evening, and also of the 
 Methodists the same evening. 
 
 Friday Erening. 
 
 The evening meeting at the Union Church 
 was devoted to an address by Rev. Arthur 
 H. Smith, of the American Board, Shan- 
 tung, on the subject of “ the relation of j 
 Christianity to univer.sal progress.” There 
 was a large attendance. Mr. Smith, who 
 is an extraordinarily fluent speaker, occu- 
 pied the attention of the meeting for an 
 hour and a half, his address being cha- , 
 racterised no less by vigorous argument I 
 
 j than quaint illustration. He began by 
 I first asking. What is Christianity \ It is 
 the practical application of the teachings 
 of Jesus Christ. It is based upon four 
 great facts, exemplified in the history of 
 the world from the time of Christ — the 
 existence of the Jewish nation ; the exist- 
 ence among the Jewish nation of a pure 
 and perfect morality ; the separate existence 
 of the Jewish nation ; and Jewish hopes. 
 Long before the coming of Christ the world 
 had been becoming prepared for His 
 coming. Alexander, though he knew it not, 
 was an instrument raised up in the hands 
 of God. Alexander was said to have wept 
 because there were no more worlds to con- 
 quer. Neither Alexander nor his generals 
 knew that a greater conquest of the 
 world was to come — that of Christ. One 
 great factor in the changes which had 
 taken place was the power of the Roman 
 Empire. The Roman took his faculties of 
 building and organising to all parts of the 
 world to which he penetrated. Passing on 
 to speak of the state of the Roman Empire 
 at the time of the introduction of Chris- 
 tianity, the speaker rapidly drew a vivid 
 picture of the horrible state of society in 
 those days. The records in the Catacombs 
 showed what a reception Christianity met 
 with. How was it that there was one 
 little people who did not despair? The 
 I Roman, with the whole world at his feet, 
 despaired ; the Jew, ground down into the 
 dust, did not despair. It was a character- 
 istic of the Jewish mind in all times that 
 it did not despair. In the earliest portions 
 of the Scriptures there are evidences that 
 the Jews looked forward to a time when 
 I the world should be rejuvenated. It was 
 ! not necessary to recapitulate the history 
 of the persecutions which took place, 
 
 I from the time when, as Tertullian said, the 
 I blood of the martyrs became the seed of 
 the Chui’ch. The change spread, the in- 
 fluence of Christian principles made itself 
 felt, and the Church attained its present 
 position-. Some people were inclined to 
 deny that the improvement of civilisation 
 was due to the spread of Christian prin- 
 ciples. But since these principles became 
 known, the state of society had very 
 much changed for the better. In the 
 Roman Empire itself Christianity caused 
 the repeal of the cruel law which gave a 
 father the power of life and death over his 
 son. In those days were practised vices 
 which are practically unknown now; in fact, 
 we know nothing of the license of antiquity. 
 In the Roman ifempire it gradually became 
 law that the child of a freeman should be 
 free, and little by little came the movement 
 to abolish slavery, until that hateful 
 institution was now practically abolished. 
 These changes occurred in obedience 
 to a certain law ; and that law is the 
 
11 
 
 principle that there is a God above and 
 that every man on earth is His son. Pass- 
 ing-on to deal with the Middle Ages, which 
 he said were justly regarded as the dark 
 ages, marked as they were by the scan- 
 dalous history of Alexander VI and other 
 things unnecessary to mention, the speaker 
 said the existence of tliat period was not 
 on account of Christianity but on account 
 of tile kind of Church which there was in 
 those days. Since then all had been 
 changed by the power of Christianity, which 
 is the only religion that has had power to 
 effect such a reformation. The difference 
 between Christianity and other religions was 
 illustrated by the fettered prisoner grinding 
 his heel against the stone floor of his dun- 
 geon. The floor became worn away, but 
 the heel, through its recuperative power, 
 remained undiminished. Other religions 
 have no recuperative power. An important 
 point to be considered is the influence of 
 Christianity upon dilferent races. The 
 gospel of Jesus Christ and nothing else has 
 made the difference between the Persian 
 and the Englishman, though both belong ; 
 to the Aryan family of ma)i. The influence 
 has been felt in many nations which, though 
 apparently differing greatly, all belong to 
 the Aryan race. It would be difficult to 
 imagine a nation composed of a mixture of 
 Frenchuien and Scotclimen, yet they have 
 points in common. The Frenchman is all 
 for glory. The Scotchman will run all over 
 the settlement for y<.iu but will not give 
 you a cent, whereas the Irishman is very 
 generous with his money but does not care 
 to spend his time on you. The English- 
 man’s great fault is that he he is too self- 
 satisfied. As the boys say when playing 
 games, he is “in”, and he knows it. An- 
 other characteristic of the Englishman 
 is a lack of sympathy. The American 
 is a being who spreads his arms and is 
 willing to take the chair when there is a 
 meeting of the human race, and who is 
 also prepared to make a speech on that 
 occasion. What W'Ould be the result of 
 mixing these nationalities ? It. would be 
 chaos gone mad. Yet there is something 
 which can take these being.s and make 
 them one — the religion of Christ ; and there 
 is no other religion which even began to 
 realise such an idea. Two great events in 
 the march of progress were the discovery 
 of America and the invention of moveable 
 types. For what was that invented ? In 
 order that men might print copies of the 
 Word of God. In more modern times the 
 power of Christianity has continued to work. 
 It is a slow moving power : but those who 
 have lived thirty years can remember the 
 abolition of serfdom in Russia and of 
 slavery in the United States. There are 
 no signs or the millennium yet ; the history 
 of the human race shows that these 
 
 operations of God are very gradual. Never- 
 theless, there is a great force working in a 
 very small way ; and as it has produced 
 results in a fixed period of time it may be 
 expected to produce still greater results in 
 an indefinite period. Missionaries in China 
 are among those who are working for the 
 great change to come. It seems a prepos- 
 terous idea for them to undertake the 
 regeneration of a vast empire like China ; 
 but they have faith that the change will 
 come. 
 
 On the motion of the Chairman (Rev. 
 W. Muirhead), supported by Dr. J. A. 
 Leonard (U.S. Consul-General), a cordial 
 vote i)f thanks was accorded to Mr. Smith, 
 and the proceedings closed with a hymn 
 and benediction. 
 
 Fourth Fay, Saturday, 10th May. 
 
 At 9.30 a.m. the devotional meeting 
 was led by Rev. J. R. Goddard, of Niirgpo. 
 
 At 10 a.m. the Conference was called 
 to order by Rev. Dr. Nevius, Chairman. 
 
 The minutes of yesterday’s meeting were 
 read by Rev. W. T. A. Barber, secretary, 
 and after some corrections adopted. At- 
 tention was called to the fact that by an 
 informality yesterday the motion in regard 
 to a Committee on Lay Evangelists was 
 amended and the amendment only was 
 adopted, and not the original motion as 
 amended. On motion the resolution as 
 amended was then passed. 
 
 The Secretary read the following resolu- 
 tion introduced by Dr. Happer: — “Moved, 
 that a Committee be appointed to prepare 
 an appeal to the churches of Europe and 
 America, for an increase of missionaries 
 for China.” 
 
 Rev. .1. N. B. Smith, of Shanghai, pro- 
 posed as an amendment “ That those mem- 
 bers of the Conference who are about re- 
 turning to the home lauds be appointed a 
 Committee to enforce this appeal.” To 
 this it was objected that, the ‘ appeal ’ not 
 having been made, there was at present 
 nothing to ‘ enforce ’. The amendment 
 was lost. 
 
 Rev. W. T. A. Barber moved to amend 
 by postponing this subject until the report 
 of the Committee on Lay Agency should be 
 presented. This amendment was adopted. 
 
 The following resolutions were proposed : 
 
 (1) That Rev. H. D. Porter, M.D., the 
 representative of the National Council of 
 the Congregational Churches of the U. S., 
 be requested to present the resolutions of 
 that body, and to address the Conference 
 on Thursday evening, the loth instant. 
 
 (2) That the resolutions sent to the Con- 
 ference by the English New Connexion 
 Metluxlist Mission of North China, be pre- 
 sented at the same time. 
 
 On the motion of Rev. J. Wherry, D.D., 
 these resolutions were adopted. 
 
12 
 
 Rev. K. S. Little, of Kiukiang, asked 
 that those who present resolutions and 
 motions be allowed to meet the Committee 
 on Resolutions in person, as such motions 
 are frequently much altered before being 
 presented to the Conference. 
 
 The Chairman ruled that so reasonable 
 a request might by common consent be 
 considered as granted. 
 
 Rev. C. Leaman, of Nankin, wished to 
 rise to a point of privilege, to ask that the 
 younger members of the Conference have 
 an hour or a whole session in which to 
 bring forward questions to be answered by 
 the older and more experienced members. 
 He moved that the Committee on .\rrange- 
 ments be instructed to provide for this need. 
 
 Rev. D. W. Nichols, of Nankin, thought 
 that the meeting on Tuesday evening next, 
 devoted to “Missionary information and 
 experience ”, would be a suitable opp"i tu- 
 nity for such questi'Uis. 
 
 Rev. H. D. Porter, of Shantung, sug- 
 gested a question -box. 
 
 The Chairman said that no formal resolu- 
 tion was necessary on this latter subject. 
 
 Rev. W. H. Watson, of Kwangchi, 
 thought that the evening meetings were 
 especially for the foreign community. 
 
 Questions being asked as to the ‘ age 
 limit’ of ‘young men,’ and whether the ladies 
 are included, the Chairman said that in 
 these matters there is no distinction of age 
 or of sex. 
 
 Rev. .1. W. Stevenson propcjsed as an 
 amendment to the motion of Mr. Leaman, 
 that a part of Tuesday evening next be 
 devoted to this purpose. The ameiidment 
 and the original motion as amended were 
 then carried. 
 
 A card was read from one of the ladies 
 saying that they desired Wednesday even- 
 ing for the ladies to meet for conference on I 
 matters connected with their own work. 
 
 The Chairman said that the ladies would 
 be sure to get what they wanted, and their 
 request was considered as granted. 
 
 Mrs. J. L. Stuart, of blangchow, then read 
 the paper prepared by Miss .\. C. Safibrd, 
 of the same [ilaco, on ,r “(ieneral view of 
 woman’s work in China and its results.” 
 At the close of this paper the Chairman 
 re.ad an announcement that the author of 
 the paper was prevented from attending b}' 
 serious illness, and a request was made 
 that Mrs. Stuart be asked to convey to her 
 the sympathies of the Conference, and that 
 Rev. J. W. Stevenson should lead the 
 Conference in a special prayer for her. 
 
 Miss Hattie Noyes then read her paper 
 on “Girls’ Schools.” At the close of the 
 paper the Chairman read a request that the 
 rule re'juiring motions to be in writing be 
 rigidly enforced to save the time of the 
 Conference. 
 
 Miss L. A. Haygood, of Shanghai, then 
 read her paper on “ Girls’ Schools.” The 
 paper of Miss C. M. Cushman, of Peking, 
 oU the “Best methods of reaching the 
 women,” was read by Miss J. G. Evans, of 
 Tungchow. 
 
 At the conclusion of Miss Cushman’s 
 paper, the hour of adjournment having 
 arrived, the time was by unanimous consent 
 extended, to hear another paper on the same 
 topic, by Miss C. M. Ricketts, of Swatow. 
 
 At the conclusion of the papers notices 
 were given of meetings of Committees, and 
 of services on Sunday. 
 
 The following names were reported by 
 the Committee on Nominations, as a Com- 
 mittee on Union. 
 
 Rev. J. L. Nevius. D.D., Am. Pres. North, 
 Chairman ; Rev. Wm. Muirhead, London 
 Mission ; Rev. F. L. A. Pott, Protestant 
 Episcopal ; Rev. Arthur Elwin, Ch. IMiss. 
 Soc. ; Rev. Timothy Richard, Eng. Bap. ; 
 Rev. T. Barclay, Eiig. Pres.; Rev. W. H. 
 Watson, E.ig. Weslej-an ; Rev. J. Hudson 
 Taylor, C. I. Mission ; Rev. Jonathan Go- 
 forth, Can. Pres.; Rev. Alex. Williamson, 
 L.L.I)., Un. Pres. Ch. (jf Scotland ; Rev. 
 W. E. Soothill, Un. Meth. Free Church; 
 Rev. C. Goodrich, Am. Board ; Rev. 
 J. R. Goddard, Am. Bap. Miss. Un.; Rev. 
 H. H. Lowry, Am. Meth. Episc.- North ; 
 Rev. D. H. Davis, Seventh Day Baptists ; 
 Rev. R. H. Graves, D.D., Am. So. Bap. 
 Soc.; Rev. Y. J. Allen, D.D., Am. Meth. 
 Mis. South ; Rev. L. W. Kip, D.D., Am. 
 Ref. Mis.; Rev. J. L. Stuart, Am. Pres. 
 South; Rev. F. Hartmann, Berlin Found- 
 ling House ; Rev. M. Schaub, Basel Mission; 
 Rev. F. Hiibrig, Berlin Mission ; Rev. F. 
 E. Meigs, For. Chris. Mis. Soc.; Rev. G. 
 Sickafcose, Am. Un. Brethren. On motion 
 this Committee was confirmed. 
 
 The Committee on Nominations reported 
 the following names as a Committee on Lay 
 Agents: — Rev. David Hill, Chairman, Eng. 
 Wesleyan ; Rev. C. F. Reid, Am. So. 
 IMeth. ; Rev. Hunter Corbett, D.D., Am. 
 Pres. North ; Rev. J. W. Davis, D.D , 
 .A.m. Pres. So.; Rev. J. W. Stevenson, C. 
 T.M. : Rev. B. C. Heiny, D.D., Am. Pres. 
 North ; Rev. L. W. Pilclier, D.D., Am. 
 Meth. Epis., North; Rev. T. ,W. Pearce, 
 London Mission ; Rev. Arthur Elwin, Ch. 
 Mission ; Rev. N. J. Plumb, Am. Meth. 
 Mis., North ; Rev. F. H. .Tames, Eng. Bap. 
 Mission; Rev. Win. Bridie, Eng. Wesleyan. 
 
 On motion this Committee was confirmed 
 as tile choice of the Conference. 
 
 After the announcement of several meet- 
 ings of Committees, and of Sunday services, 
 the session was brought to a close with a 
 prayer by Dr. Nevius. 
 
 Afternoon Session. 
 
 The Conference was called to order at 
 2.30 by Dr. Nevius. The Chairman stated 
 that the Committee on Union lacked one 
 
18 
 
 oir two names, as the Bible Christians were 
 not represented. On the motion of Rev. 
 
 ]\f. Harrison, of Niiighai, the name of Rev. 
 
 S. r. Thorne, of Yiinnanfu, was added to 
 the Committee to represent the Bible Chris- 
 tians. Rev. Jno. R. Hykes explained that 
 any omissions were due to inadvertence 
 and to the pressure for time. 
 
 Miss M. Murray, of the C.I.M., Yang-, 
 chow, then read a paper on the “ Feasibility 
 of unmarried ladies engaging in general 
 evangelistic work in new fields.” 
 
 Mrs. J. M. Foster, of Swatow, followed 
 with a paper by Miss A. M. Fielde on 
 
 The training and work of native female 
 evangelists.” 
 
 The next paper was read by Mrs. Arthur 
 H. Smith, on “The Christian training of 
 the women of the Church.” 
 
 At about half-past three the discussion 
 of the various papers of the day was opened 
 by Rev. A. Williamson, LL.D. He said the ] 
 immense importance of woman’s work in i 
 Cliina is not sufliciently realised by us. As 
 a rule the women of China can be reached 
 only by and through women. This implies i 
 not a few women going from village to village, 
 but the evangelisation of all China, from the 
 Amoor to Tontcking, from the Eastern 
 Sea to Central Asia. This is the duty of ; 
 the Christian women of the Church, and it | 
 is no small business. The permanent | 
 
 Christianisation of China depends upon the ! 
 women of China. We shall never win i 
 China till we have won the women. What i 
 can a man do when the women are i 
 all against him? We are command- 
 ed to preach the Gospel to every crea- | 
 ture. Do we fulfil our duty if half the ! 
 • human race ■ are left out ? He believed , 
 they were authorised to say that the com- | 
 ing of our Lord depends upon the action of 
 the Christian women of the Church. Not 
 merely the salvation of souls, but the end 
 of slavery, of intemperance, of impurity, ; 
 and of all evil upon earth depends upon : 
 the action of our Christian sisters. It is 
 therefore reasonable to say that woman’s j 
 work is root work. To engage in it is the 
 highest .duty. How can we reach the wo- i 
 men of China? There is nothing like the : 
 living voice, but our living epi.stles are few. I 
 Is there no way except through the living i 
 voice? He believed there is, through j 
 illustrated books. The women of a family ! 
 will take hold of such a book. Illustra- i 
 tions are found fault with, but we are ' 
 improving them all the time. There is no ^ 
 other way to reach the women. The women ' 
 it is true can not read, but there is a 
 reader in nearly every family, prepared by 
 God. The husbands and sons become God’s 
 teachers. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylot called for a paper 
 which had been prepared by Dr. Nevius. 
 The latter gentleman said that his whole 
 
 mission in Shantung are a unit in desiring 
 the help of foreign ladies as much as pos- 
 sible. In the country stations there was at 
 first ditiiculty, but the way is now open, 
 and foreign hidies are coming in greater 
 numbers. The paper read contained several 
 propositions. Men can sometimes be reach- 
 ed only by women, and better than by 
 men. Cases were cited in Shantung, and 
 in the history of the Inland jMission, where 
 churches have grown out of the labours of 
 women. There is an urgent and intrinsic 
 need in China of educated Christian 
 women. 'The work of training women is of 
 great importance. Four country stations 
 in Shantung, almost entirely made up of 
 women, have been in existence for ten 
 years. A fifth is largely composed of women 
 solely instructed by a man. No Christian 
 women ever went there. In one case the 
 work was begun by a father influencing 
 a daughter In one case for seven or eight 
 years there was nothing left of a little 
 church but women, and a blind woman who 
 could repeat parts of the Bible led them on 
 Sunday. There is a like need for Chinese 
 Christian men. The work of evangelisation 
 is most successfully prosecuted by the har- 
 monious combination of both sexes in it. 
 Hitherto there seems to have been a 
 divorce between these methods. This is 
 not scriptural. 'The command is to 
 preach irrespective of sex. Man is a 
 creature, and woman is a creature. God 
 has set his children in families. If the 
 Gospel gets a strong hold of a man, he will 
 get hold of the women. It is not done so 
 well as by women, but still it is done. So 
 it was with Lydia, a strong minded woman 
 by whose means was founded one of the 
 strongest, purest and noblest of the Chur- 
 ches of the New Testament. There is 
 reason to think from the hints in the salu- 
 tation in the Epistle to the Romans, that 
 Priscilla was a more leading character than 
 her husband, Aquila. Probably she in- 
 fluenced Apollos. The work of man and 
 of woman is warp and woof. “ What God 
 hath joined together, let not man put 
 asunder.” Dr. Nevius .also called atten- 
 tion to the concluding paragraphs of 
 IMiss Fielde’s paper, in regard to the 
 use of foreign money in hlission work. 
 
 Rev. .1. Hudson Taylor thought that 
 special emphasis should be put on the first 
 propositions of Dr. Nevius’ paper. He had 
 found in England, Canada, and the U.S. 
 that while it was thought that India needed 
 Christian women from abroad, China does 
 not. 'This is partly true, but there are 
 many Chinese women, especially in the 
 higher classes, whose husbands are (<f all 
 men least accessible to male missionaries, 
 where Christian women may find access. 
 It is supremely important that when access 
 is gained, the opportunity should be used. 
 
14 
 
 This Conference should make clear the 
 need of women. The results of their work 
 are indeed a surprise. Are not the parts 
 of China which are closed to us, open to 
 women ? There is less fear of women as 
 political agents. They are allowed to go 
 where male missionaries cannot enter. 
 Women often have invitations to go and 
 stay as guests. The influence of these 
 visits prepares the way for the male mis- 
 sionaries wlio may follow. In some places 
 where male missionaries are coldly received, 
 women can get, a footing. This occurred 
 in Louchoufu, the capital of Kansu, where 
 an unmarried woman got a house inside 
 the city, when the male missionary had to 
 stay outside the walls. This gradually 
 opened the way for a married missionary. 
 We have not yet learned how God can use 
 single ladies in opening China. 
 
 Dr. Y. .1. Allen said that an influence 
 goes abroad from the presence and labours 
 of women of which they are not aware. 
 Tlie sentiment of the Chinese in regard 
 to female education is changing. The 
 Chinese newspapers claim that tlie Chi- 
 nese are not indifferent, but have allowed 
 female education to lapse into de- 
 suetude. Women have been comparatively 
 neglected. The men are now becoming 
 ashamed of this, and apologise for it. This 
 is due to the presence of educated ladies 
 from abroad. China is not the same 
 country .as thirty years ago. It is chang- 
 ing its .sentiment in regard t" things that 
 we have forced upon them. The influence 
 of the Chinese who have been abroad adds 
 to this force. Some of them would rather 
 stay abroad. At the establishment of the 
 Anglo-Chinese College, some Cliinese 
 wished to educate both their sons and 
 their daughters, and some who had only 
 daughters wished to educate their daugh- 
 ters. The Roman Catholics are to-day 
 prospering from our indift'erence and slow- 
 ness. We have not provided for the 
 demand growing up around us. Miss 
 Haygood is to take charge of an institution 
 for the higher education of Chinese 
 women. At the start of tlie College, the 
 Chine.se young men were shy of being 
 taught by women, but after trial they 
 greatly prefer such teachers. The Chinese 
 w!uit educated wives. The movement of 
 women’s work is gaining momentum. 
 
 Dr. Edkins said that thei’e is no reason 
 tvhy the work of women should not be 
 greatly extended. He confirmed what Dr. 
 Allen had said. Educated Chinese women 
 can teach Chinese boys. This would re- 
 move the difliculty of finding suitable 
 Chinese school-masters. When catechists 
 become indolent, send a pair of Bible 
 women to the district, and the result would 
 be success wherever they go. There is every 
 reason to be hopeful as to woman’s work 
 
 in China. Dr. Williams Was cited as 
 authority for the statement that the educa- 
 tion of Chinese women has always been 
 considered respectable in China. Foot- 
 binding will disappear before education. 
 This custom is but eight centuries old — a 
 short time in a country like China. 
 
 Rev. David Hill called attention to a 
 .branch of the subject hitherto overlooked, 
 the education of the many Eurasian chil- 
 dren in China. He gave some account of 
 the institution in Hankow under the care 
 of Rev. Arnold Foster and Mrs. Foster. 
 It is a home for the children, where they 
 have a parent’s care and love. As yet 
 there are few applications. Help will be 
 gladly welcomed from the residents of the 
 various treaty ports, and information will 
 be given by Mrs. Foster, who is attending 
 the Conference. 
 
 Rev. H. C. Hodges gave an account of 
 the foundation ot the Eurasian home in 
 Shanghai, which it is hoped soon to extend. 
 It is hard to get hold of the children, but 
 when taken they are handed over absolutely 
 to the institution. These pupils may be- 
 come missionaries to their own people. 
 
 Dr. C. W. Mateer wislied to saj a word 
 to men, on behalf of the women. Mission- 
 aries should facilitate the desire of their 
 wives to do missionary work. Some will do 
 it in any case, but some need stimulation. 
 Encourage them to learn the language, and 
 to have a share in the great work, as well 
 those who have children as those who have 
 not. A woman’s capabilities are large. If 
 she feels that slie has a mission, she will 
 find a way. The children of those wo- 
 men who do missionary work will be 
 found not inferior to those who do none. 
 He also observed, uprujws of one of the 
 papers read, that when a person takes up 
 a hobby and pushes it with great ene’^gy, and 
 then fails, the advice which that person 
 gives is not worth much. It is the advice 
 of those who succeed that is wanted. 
 
 Rev. J. B. Ost, of Hongkong, gave some 
 account of the Chinese and Eurasian work 
 in that colony. It is largely rescue work, 
 to .save girls from being sold into lives of 
 vice. There are at present i58 girls, five 
 of wliom are Eurasians. Tlie effort is to 
 get friends interested in them, and to pray 
 for them specially. Of seven such outcasts, 
 six have recently applied for baptism. 
 
 Rev. D. M. Lyon, of Soochow, gave an 
 account of his methods of teaching the 
 catechism and hymns to women at work, 
 while their husbands were absent gambling. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore asked for tliirty ticks of 
 the clock in which to say that woman’s 
 work in that region is not a ‘ hobby ’. 
 There is a grand work done there. 
 
 Dr. Wherry asked for the appointment 
 of a committee of twelve ladies to take this 
 important matter discussed in the papers 
 
15 
 
 of the daj', with a special reference to a 
 strong appeal to Europe and America fed- 
 large reinforcements for woman’s work in 
 China. This was voted. 
 
 Dr. Pilcher resigned from the Committee 
 on Lay Agency, and Dr. Sites was ap- 
 pointed in his place, Announcements 
 w'ere made of various meetings, and the 
 session closed with prayer by Dr. Ashmore. 
 
 At the close of the session, the ladies 
 held a meeting in the Union Church, 
 Miss Ricketts in the chair. The revival of. 
 the magazine called ll'oman’s TUo/A- to 
 China under a new name was discussed, in 
 include the work in China, Japan, and 
 Siam, and to be called Woincuis ICorJc in the 
 Far East. The matter was referred to the 
 Committee of tw.elve. 
 
 The devotional meeting on Saturday 
 evening, led by Rev. Thos. Bryson, of Tien- 
 tsin, was a memorial service. 
 
 Rev. Y. K. Yen, of Shanghai, spoke of 
 the life and services of members of the 
 Am. Prot. Episc. Mis., who were mem- 
 bers of the Conference of 1877, and- who 
 have since died ; — Bliss L. M. Fay, Rev. 
 Robt. Nelson, D.D. ; Blrs. E. H. Thomp- 
 son, Rev. K. C. Wong. 
 
 Rev. D. Barclay, of Formosa, spoke of 
 Rev. Carstairs Douglas, D.D. , of the Eng. 
 Pres. Mis. 
 
 Rev. A. Elwin, of Hangchow-, spoke of 
 Bishop Russell, Rev. Blr. Valentine, and 
 Mr. and BIrs. Gough, of the Church Blis- 
 sion. 
 
 Rev. R. H. Graves, D.D., spoke of Rev. 
 BI. T. Yates, D.D.,and Rev. E. C.Lord, of 
 the So. Bap. Blis. 
 
 Rev. J. Lees, of Tientsin, spoke of BIr. 
 Alex. Wylie, BIrs. Edkins, BIrs. Bluirhead, 
 and BIrs. John, all of the London Blission. 
 
 Rev. Geo. F. Fitch spoke regarding 
 Rev..Jno. Butler, and Rev. Albert Whiting, 
 of the Am. Pres. Blis. North. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Cooper spoke of Rev. George 
 Stott and BIrs. Douthwaite, of the China 
 Inland Blission. 
 
 Rev. David Hill spoke of BIr. Nightin- 
 gale, of the Eng. BB'esleyan Blission. 
 
 Fifth Day, Monday, 12th May. 
 
 The devotional meeting was led by Rev. 
 G. F. Fitch, Shanghai, with special refer- 
 ence to the topic of the day, “Medical 
 Work and Charitable Institutions.” 
 
 At 10 a.m. the Conference was called to 
 order. Rev. David Hill in the chair. 
 
 The minutes were read by Rev. W. T. A. 
 Barber, secretary, anti after correction 
 adopted! 
 
 A resolution ^v'as proposed by Rev. Thos. 
 Boyson that the Conference accept the in- 
 vitation of the China Inland Blissionaries at 
 present in Shanghai, to meet in a social 
 gathering on Friday, from 5.15 to 7 p.ni. 
 
 ’ On motion this resolution was adopted. 
 
 Rev. A Elwin introduced the following 
 resolution. 
 
 “That Rev. .1. B. Ost take my place 
 on the Wen-li Committee 
 
 “ That Rev. C. Shaw take my place on 
 the Union Committee.” 
 
 It w-as stated that the same individuals 
 are on several difl’erent Committees, and 
 hud it impossible to be in several places at 
 once. 
 
 At the suggestion of the Chairman this 
 matter was, without formal vote, consid- 
 ered to be in the hands of the Committee 
 on Nominations. 
 
 A question was ftsked as to when the 
 Committee on Blandarin Revision would 
 report. Some members of the Conference 
 are returning to their homes. Could this 
 matter be taken up to-morrow ? 
 
 Dr. Mateei-, Chairman of the Committee 
 on Nominations, observed they must re- 
 member that these subjects require time 
 for their consideration. Some of them can- 
 not be discussed deliberately, without dis- 
 placing a part of the programme. The 
 members of the Conference were asked 
 to make sacrifices for the sake of the final 
 result. 
 
 Dr. Nevius said that the business of the 
 Committees is the most important of all 
 the work of the Conference. We should 
 have something to show for coming so fai- 
 at so great an expenditure of time and 
 money. Dr. Nevius suggested that those 
 who are planning a return to their homes 
 should reconsider this matter. What- 
 ever is w-orth doing, is worth doing 
 well. Let us finish up the business. 
 He said that he was himself about to 
 return to the L^.S., but would wait two- 
 weeks if necessary to complete this work. 
 This matter must be looked squarely in the 
 face. We come together only once in 
 twelve years ; let us see that the work is 
 ■done thoroughly and well. 
 
 Dr. Graves asked if the Conference is 
 ready to hear the report of the Committee 
 on Bible Distribution. 
 
 Dr. Nevius said that whenever a report 
 is ready, it should be heard, and they would 
 assign it a special time. 
 
 Rev. H. H. Lowry w-ished to inquire 
 if these reports can not be printed and put 
 into the hands of the Conference to save 
 time. 
 
 Rev. A. Elwin remarked that the ex- 
 pense would be great, and might be saved. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Davis, of Soochow, suggested a 
 blackboard. 
 
 Mr. Archibald, ot Hankow, said that 
 he had printing work that he wanted done, 
 and no office in town would touch it before 
 Tuesday morning. 
 
16 
 
 Dr. Wright remarked that he had tried 
 in the same way, and his work would be 
 done at 11 a.m. to-day. 
 
 Rev. E. S. Little wished to know if the 
 printed reports would not afterwards be 
 read. 
 
 Rev. N. J. Plumb said that the reports 
 should certainly be read, and corrections 
 made afterwards. 
 
 Rev. J. N. B. Smith said tliat if the 
 reports were printed, it would greatly 
 facilitate action upon them, and that the 
 cost Would be money well spent. The 
 resolution to print the reports, was then 
 put and carried. 
 
 Dr. Graves, Chairman of the Committee 
 on Bible Distribution, then presented the 
 following report ; — 
 
 Resolved, that we heartily thank the 
 BibleSocieties for the constant and generous 
 aid given by theni to the missions in the 
 matter of Bible distribution in China, "and 
 trust that efforts will be made to render 
 that distribution still more effective. (2) 
 That the Bible Societies be requested to 
 publish|editions of the Scrijrtures with short 
 introductions, headings, and brief explana- 
 tory, non-doctrinal notes. (5) That such 
 editions be published only as they may be 
 called for, and that the ediiions ‘without 
 note or comment’ be issued as heretofore. 
 (4) That we recommend that the several 
 Bible Societies which j)rint the annotated 
 editions, be requested to select a committee 
 of twelve missionaries to decide what notes 
 shall be adopted, and that the unanimous 
 approval of all the members of the com- 
 mittee be required before any note be 
 printed. This committee shall consist of 
 two Baptists, two Congregationalists, two 
 Episcopalians, two Lutherans, two Metho- 
 dists and twoPresbyterians. (5) We earnest- 
 ly recommend that all Scriptures be issued 
 in clear type, and in an attiactive form. 
 
 Rev. L. W. Pilcher, D.D., moved that 
 this report be received and printed, and 
 that 11 a.m. of Tuesday, 13th, be set apart 
 for its consideration. This motion was 
 carried. 
 
 The Committee on Vernacular Versions, 
 Rev. .Jno. C. (Jibson, Chairman, then sub- 
 mitted the following report 
 
 Resolved ■ That the Conference is per- 
 suaded of the great importance of the use 
 of the vernaculars in translations of Scrip- 
 ture for the edification of the Native 
 Church ; and find that th.e use of Roman 
 letter in writing the vernacular is recom- 
 mended by a large amount of testimony 
 from different parts of the Empire. The}^ 
 therefore commend this subject to the ear- 
 nest consideration of missions working in 
 the various dialects, and appoint those 
 named below to be a permanent Committee 
 to watch over this subject, with a view to 
 assist generally in the development of this 
 
 branch of mission work, and in particular 
 to secure uniformity in methods of Roman- 
 ising so far as may be compatible with 
 the requirements of each dialect, and 
 with the full liberty of those at work 
 in it. The Conference further request 
 all missionaries undertaking work in 
 Roman letter, to communicate with this 
 Committee. 
 
 The Conference heartily recommend’ to 
 the liberal consideration of the Bible So- 
 cieties any application that may be made 
 to them for aid in the production of verna- 
 cular versions . in Roman letter undertaken 
 by any mission body. 
 
 The following to form the Committee : — 
 For the Mandarin Dialect, Rev. S.W. Cooper; 
 Shanghai Dialect Rev. J. A. Silsby; Ningpo 
 dialect, Rev. J. R. Goddard ; Taichow 
 dialect. Rev. W. D. Rudland ; Wenchow 
 dialect, Rev. W. E Soothill ; Foocliow 
 dialect. Rev. F. Woodin ; Amoy and For- 
 mosa dialects. Dr. W. Kip, and Rev. T. 
 Barclay ; Swatow dialect. Rev. J. C. Gib- 
 son ; Cantonese dialect. Dr. B. C. Henry ; 
 Hakka, Rev. G. ’ Rensch and Dr. Maci- 
 ver ; and Hainanese, Rev. F. P. Gilman. 
 
 This Committee shall have power to fiill 
 up vacancies, and to add to their number if 
 they shall see cause, Mr. Gibson to be 
 Secretary. 
 
 Dr. Corbett moved that this report be 
 made the order of the day for Thursdaj’, 
 the loth inst. Gn motion it was voted to 
 amend by making it the order for the be- 
 ginning of the se.“sion Thursday p. m. 
 
 The Chairman rend the following sugges- 
 tion by one of the secretaries, remarking 
 that it was a matter of importance and aid 
 to the secretaries in keeping a record of 
 what will be an important feature of the 
 conference. It is suggested that those who 
 have questions which they wish to have 
 answered by members of the conference, 
 should prepare these questions in writing, 
 and submit them to the busine.ss commit- 
 tee, by whom the topics may be referred 
 to the individuals from whom the inform- 
 ation is sought, in advance of the meeting 
 at which the questions are to be answered, 
 viz., Thursday evening, with a view to se- 
 curing fullness, conciseness and dispatch. 
 
 A notice was also read, asking any ladies 
 wishing to ask questions to be answered 
 at the ladies’ meeting, on Wednesdaj^ even- 
 ing, to write these questions out clearly, 
 and drop them this afternoon or to-morrow 
 a.m. in a box placed at the door. ' 
 
 Rev. A. W. Douthwaite, M.D., then read 
 I a paper on ' Medisal Work as an evange- 
 lising agency.’ This was followed by a 
 paper by Dr. Mary Niles, of Canton, read 
 by Miss E. M. Butler, of Canton. At the 
 close of this paper it was suggested that it 
 would be well to have two brief prayers 
 at the opening of the discussions, Rev, 
 
17 
 
 Gilbert Reid, of Chinan Fu, and Rev. J. A. 
 Silsby, of Shanghai, then led the meeting in 
 prayer. 
 
 The discussion of the papers was opened 
 by Rev. b . Ohlinger, of Corea. He wished 
 to acknowledge the indebtedness of the 
 missionaries in Corea, to medical work. 
 The beginning of missionary work in Corea 
 was due to medical skill. Several years 
 ago one of the Royal family was severely 
 wounded by a mob, and Dr. Allen, of the 
 Pres. Mission, by his skill saved the life of 
 one who was much appreciated by the 
 government. It is the medical man who 
 stands between the missionaries and the 
 government, which has frequently served 
 notices on the missionaries. We hope to 
 be able to remain quietly. He wished to 
 testify to the intelligent devotion of the 
 medical brethren in evangelistic work ; in 
 Corea they take the lead in the transla- 
 tion of the Scriptures. They are doing a 
 grand work quietly and without ostenta- 
 tion. They receive pay from some of the 
 patients, in a small Hospital with but few 
 patients ; nearly $40 a month has been 
 thus received. 
 
 Rev. Jno. C. Gibson said that in Ssvatow 
 the benefit of Medical Missions had from 
 the beginning been great. The object 
 might be considered as having two proposi- 
 tions lying at its root, although t(j some 
 they may appear contradictory — First, the 
 Medical Missionary is first of all a physician 
 bound to do the best he can for his patients. 
 — Second, he is an evangelist bound to 
 aim at spiritual fruit and to judge his work 
 by the spiritual fruit of it. The medical 
 missionary should give the larger part of his 
 time to medical work and should have ampel 
 time at the outset to learn the language. 
 There are great ten)ptations to treat patients 
 at once. There is great missionary economy 
 in having a medical man who is a personal 
 friend of- the missionaries, and who by his 
 watchfulness and timely counsel, prevents 
 them from breaking down. There is in 
 Swatow in regard to this branch of work a 
 marked sympathy between the missionaries 
 ‘and the foreign community. The medical 
 work is largely supported by the foreign 
 community. 
 
 Professor Thwing said it was a privilege 
 to pay his tribute to the toilful service of 
 missionary physicians in the East. This 
 service is three fold. It maintains the 
 moral tone and professional ability of this 
 sacred vocation. The medical missionaries 
 have broadened the field of investigation 
 and enriched the accumulations of science, 
 the aetioh'gy and natural history of 
 diseases peculiar to the East having com- 
 petent observers and careful statisticians 
 among the medical missionaries. Their 
 direct ministry to the body and soul was 
 of the utmost importance, 
 
 Dr. H. W. Boone, of Shanghai, said that 
 the Chinese, like ourselves, are especially 
 tender, accessible and open in time of sick- 
 nesss, sorrow and affliction. When idol- 
 atry has been seen to be useless, they can 
 be reached. 'While endorsing the remarks 
 of previous speakers, h^e called atten- 
 tions to other aspects of the subject. There 
 is great need that the Chinese themselves 
 should carry on the w'ork which medical 
 missions have begun. 
 
 Rev. R. M. Ross, of Chiang-Chiu, pointed 
 out that the question of ordination is not 
 important in some places, but very import- 
 ant in others. 
 
 The following resolution upon this subject 
 was then moved, and voted : — “That this 
 Conference recognises with gratitude to 
 God the valuable voluntary service rendered 
 to the cause of Christian philanthropy 
 among the Chinese, by medical men in 
 practice among the foreign communities at 
 the open ports, and we express the hope 
 that such service and sympathy will be 
 increasingly proffered.” 
 
 Rev. J. Lees spoke of the late Dr. 
 Mackenzie and his great work. AVe now 
 have as a result of his labours, a hospital 
 thoroughly equipped for about fifty patients, 
 and a large dispensary. The results have 
 extended far away into the interior. In 
 one instance a man, who had heard of Dr. 
 Mackenzie, came from the province of 
 Szech'uan, past Shanghai, to Tientsin. 
 Yet this was a simple case with which any 
 surgeon could liave dealt. This shows how 
 sympathy works on the native population. 
 One important result of Dr. Mackenzie’s 
 work is the training of native physicians. 
 His classes were very successful. He was 
 sorely tried by the difficulty of placing 
 them. If he could only have known that 
 after his death some of these students 
 would be in high places ! One is in charge 
 of a large institution in Tientsin, and 
 another in a position of importance at Port 
 Arthur. Another is physician to the 
 Seventh Prince, still another is working 
 at the south with the London Mission. 
 The men who have stood, who have made 
 their work a success, show the largest hope- 
 fulness as to Christian character. Some 
 who were unimpressed by Christianity, 
 have failed to make their mark. Dr. 
 Mackenzie’s work was of the greatest value 
 to other Missiotis. In his case there was 
 no question about ordination. He was 
 heart and soul with the Missionaries. This 
 is the relation that should exist every- 
 where. 
 
 Dr. Douthwaite, in summing up the dis- 
 cussion upon the papers of the morning, 
 expressed his opinion that a newly arrived 
 medical missionary should have a clear 
 year for study of the language, before 
 entering on his duties. 
 
18 
 
 After some further discussion, it was 
 agreed to refer the question to the Commit- 
 tee on Lay Agents. It was then -pointed 
 out that the Committee contained no phy- 
 sicians, upon wliich an amendment was 
 carried, adding the names of Dis. Doutli- 
 waite, Lyall ami Boone to that Committee. 
 
 On motion Dr. Williamson was elected 
 Treasurer of the Conference, and the ses- 
 sion was closed with praj-er by Rev. T. 
 Bryson. 
 
 Monday Afternoon. 
 
 The Conference was opened by prayer by 
 Mr. D. E. Hoste, of the C.I.M. 
 
 The Chairman of the Committee on 
 Nominations, Dr. Mateer, repi/ited the 
 ' names of the following ladies as the Com- 
 mittee to report on the papers presented 
 to theConferencenn Saturday : — Mrs. C. W. 
 Mateer, President ; Mrs. T. Bryson ; Miss 
 Gertrude Howe ; Mrs. D. A. Lyall ; Mrs. 
 Dr. J. G. Kerr ; Miss C. M. 'J’almage ; Mrs. 
 J. M. W. Earnliam ; Mrs. G. Stott; Miss 
 L. Haygood ; Mrs. E. Tomalin ; IMiss M. 
 Vaughan ; Miss M. Murray. On motion 
 this Committee was contirmed as the choice 
 of the Conference. 
 
 The Secretary read the following com- 
 munication ; — 
 
 The Central China Mission of the Meth. 
 Epis. Church urgently bring before the at- 
 tention of the General Conference in Sltang- 
 hai, the present condition of the opium 
 traffic, and would earnestly request them to 
 formulate some scheme by which missionaries 
 in China, Chinese Christians, and all others 
 interested in the prohibition of the opium 
 traffic may unite with the friends of this 
 cause in England to bring pressure to bear 
 on the British and Indian Governments to 
 forbid the exportation of the drug from 
 India. 
 
 We feel assured that now is the time to 
 take strong action and rouse the British 
 public by petitions to the Queen and Parlia- 
 ment, and through the Anci-opium and 
 Tract Society ; and with the aid of all the 
 pulpits of the United Kingdom to declare 
 that as far as India is concerned the abo- 
 minable traffic must cease. 
 
 The following communication was then 
 read : — 
 
 Friends’ Meeting House, 12 Bishops- 
 gate Street w-ithout, London, 7th of 3rd 
 month, 1890. From the representative 
 meeting of the Society of Friends in Great 
 Britain, to the Missionaries Assembled in ■ 
 Conference at Shanghai. 
 
 Dear Brethren — We greet you in the love 
 of God, and desire for you that your Confer- 
 ence may be blessed by a fresh anointing for 
 service, through the presence of our Lord 
 and SaviouyJesusChrist. We have had from 
 time to time under our consideration the 
 terrible evils of the opium traffic. These ' 
 
 evils must be deeply deplored by those 
 who, like yourselves, are living in their 
 presence, labouring to spread the glad 
 tidings amongst the Chinese. Especially 
 will this be the case as regards those of 
 you wdu) are subjects of our beloved Queen, 
 and who must feel that the unchristian 
 course pursued by the British Government 
 toward China in this matter adds the sting 
 of national complicity in the trade. Since 
 the great missionary conference held in 
 London in the summer of 1888, the con- 
 sciences of Christians in this land have 
 been re-awakened on the subject. We 
 believe that this re-awakening has been 
 granted in answer to believing prayer, 
 both in China and in England. 
 
 In view of the gigantic forces arrayed 
 against us, which, from a human stand- 
 point, appear overwhelming, and which 
 may have caused the Chinese Government 
 ti) accept this traffic as inevitable, may we 
 who are followers of the Lord never forget 
 His word, “the things that are impossible 
 with men are [)ossible with God.” In this 
 assurance, and with the knowledge that His 
 will is that we should be made righteous, 
 both personally and nationally, let us not 
 cease to pray and to work for the termina- 
 tion of this soul-destroying traffic. 
 
 While we rejoice to know that many of 
 our fellow Christians at home are resolved 
 to do all in their power towards putting a 
 stop to the Indian opium trade, we believe 
 that an inqtortaiit share in this great con- 
 flict with evil rests with our brethren in 
 China. It is our earnest prayer that you 
 may be guided by the Holy Spirit in your 
 deliberations and actions as regards this 
 important question, as well as in all other 
 subjects that will claim your consideration. 
 
 We remain in the bonds of Christian love. 
 Your friends, 
 
 Signed in and on behalf of the aforesaid 
 meeting, 
 
 Caleb R. Ke.mp, Clerk. 
 
 The following additional communication 
 was then read : — 
 
 To the Conference of Protestant Mis- 
 sionaries in China, to be held in Shanghai, 
 May, 1890. 
 
 Having heard that atyour Conference the 
 subject of the opium trade is one of those 
 which will be discussed, we think you will be 
 glad to receive some information as to the 
 prospects of the agitation we are carrying on 
 at home. Although we have not your privi- 
 lege of carrying the gospel to those amongst 
 whom Christ has not yet been named, we 
 are thankful to be permitted to assist you 
 by striving to remove the great hindrance 
 which the opium trade, and the British 
 Government’s connection with it, place in 
 your way. 
 
I 
 
 19 
 
 I We are glad to be able to tell you that 
 
 ' there are signs of renewed interest in our 
 
 I cause, especially amongst the Christians of 
 
 the United Kingdom. The attention given 
 ' to it at the Missionary Conference held at 
 
 Exeter Hall in the summer of 1888, led to 
 I the formation of a Christian Union for 
 
 prayer to God on this subject, which now 
 ! counts 3038 members. To-day some of us 
 
 have attended a prayer-meeting intended, 
 henceforth, to be held regularly on the first 
 Wednesday of each month, at the Mildinay 
 I Conference Hall, London, in connection 
 
 ' with this Union. In answer, doubtlesss, to 
 
 I the prayers which His own Holy Spirit 
 
 has taught His people thus to unite in 
 ‘ offering, the past year has witnessed great- 
 
 ly renewed activity in connection with 
 the work of our own and other similar 
 ' oi'ganisations. The division in the House 
 
 of Commons during the past session 
 showed a larger number of supporters of 
 our cause than we have ever before been 
 able to rally, and we have good reason to 
 believe that, owing to special circumstances, 
 it by no means represented the full amount 
 of support upon which we can count in the 
 representative House of Parliament. An 
 appeal for a special fund to enable us to 
 conduct a more, vigorous agitation during 
 the present season, has alreadj' met with a 
 generous and encouraging response. During 
 tliepast three months, meetings held insome 
 of the most important centres of population, 
 as well as in smaller towns, have elicited 
 cordial sympathy with the movement on 
 the part of some influential leaders of public 
 opinion, as well as amongst tha masses 
 of the people, though to audiences of the 
 latter class the sad history of our national 
 dealings with regard to opium generally 
 comes as a strange surprise. Some, again, 
 who had begun to despair of putting an end 
 to the opium trade with China, have been 
 aroused to fresh activity by the information 
 that has lately reached us with regard to 
 the spread of the opium vice amongst our 
 own fellow-subjects in India, through the 
 opening of state-licenced opium-dens in 
 many of the cities of that country, and the 
 revelations made on this point have mate- 
 rially assisted us in gaining the ear of the 
 public on the whole question. 
 
 We are encouraged bj' these tokens of 
 progress and blessings yet our dependence 
 is not placed on them, nor do we forget the 
 great difficulty of the task that lies before 
 us. We rest in the assurance tliat, wlien 
 (iod’s own time shall come, the opium 
 vice will no longer disgrace and dis- ^ 
 credit our country, just as tlie slave- 
 trade, West-Indian ^lavely, public lottei ies, 
 duelling, the cock pit, and the prize ring, I 
 have, one by one, ceased to be tolerate(l , 
 amongst \is. As in these cases, so with | 
 regard to the opium trade ; it will be by ' 
 
 persistent Christian efl’ort, accompanied 
 and inspired by earnest prayer to Al- 
 mighty God, that the wished for consum- 
 niation will be attained. We believe it 
 wouhi be possible for you to give most 
 valuable assistance in this work, and we 
 take the liberty of submitting for your 
 consideration a few practical suggestions as 
 to the means by which, as it a^jpears to 
 us, missionaries, and especially medical 
 missionaries, may be able to do this. (1) 
 By inserting, in the reports you send home 
 for publication, or for the perusal of your 
 committees, facts with regard to the opium 
 habit calculated to interest the readers, 
 showing how degrading a vice it really is, 
 and how greatly the connection of the 
 British Government w ith the trade hampers 
 your efforts to make known to the peo- 
 ple of China the love of God in Christ 
 Jesus. (2) By promoting the formation 
 of anti-opium associations in China, and 
 sending to us, either direct or through 
 your correspondents in London, particulars 
 of the work of such associations. (3) By 
 prayer, both united and individual, • for 
 the following definite objects : — (a) That 
 the rulers of Great Britain and of India 
 may be made willing to put aw’ay the 
 national sin of complicity in the opium 
 trade. (b ) That a blessing may rest 
 
 upon the eflbrts of those who are seeking 
 to enlighten the minds and consciences of 
 the Christian public of this country with 
 regard to this question, (c) That the Chi- 
 nese authorities may be encouraged to deal 
 vigorously with the native growth of the 
 puppy, (d) That they may embrace the 
 opportunity afforded by the expiry in May 
 next, of the term of four years from the 
 ratification of the additional article of 1885, 
 to renew their remonstrance against the 
 import of Indian opium, in such a way 
 as to show clearly that they still desire 
 to rid China of this curse, notwithstand- 
 ing the large revenue they now ob- 
 tain from the imported drug. 
 
 Prayer meetings of Christian missionaries 
 and native converts for these objects might, 
 in some places, be possible, and would, 
 doubtless, be attended with much bles- 
 sing. 
 
 (4) We would also suggest the appoint- 
 ment by the Conference itself of a standing 
 Committee to deal with tins question. Such 
 a Committee might collect information and 
 transmit it to this country, assist in the 
 organisation of Anti-opium Societies, and 
 united ju-ayer meetings in China, and 
 watch for opportunities of influencing 
 Chinese officials. 
 
 In conclusion it is our earnest prayer 
 tliat j’our Conference may be abundantly 
 blessed, and that it may greatly promote 
 the efficiency and fruitfulness ot your 
 labours in the gospel of Christ. 
 
20 
 
 bn behalf of the Committee of the 
 Society for the suppression of the Opium 
 Trade, 
 
 Donald Matheson, 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 Joseph G. Alexander, 
 iSecretanj. 
 
 Broadway Chambers, Westminster, 
 
 1st Januar)', 1890. 
 
 The Rev. F. Har^malm then read a paper 
 on “Orphanages, asylums for the blind, 
 deaf and dumb, and other chaiitable ins- 
 titutions.” 
 
 This was followed by a paper from Rev. 
 W. H. Murray, of Peking, on the same 
 subject. At the conclusion of Mr. Mur- 
 ray’s paper and remarks. Rev. D. N. Lyon 
 called for a specimen of the reading from 
 raised types by a blind Pekinese, whom 
 Mr. Murray had brought with him. Dr. 
 Edkins then read a verse from the New 
 Testament, which the blind man first wrote 
 in the letters in which he had been taught, 
 and afterwards read it aloud. He was then 
 asked to take his Testament written in 
 raised dots, to find a place, and to read the 
 sounds in Pekinese, which he did without 
 a mistake, to the manifest delight of the 
 audience. Much amusement was caused 
 by the fact that the raised-dot Testament 
 seemed to puzzle the man at first, which he 
 soon saw — much sooner indeed than those 
 wlio have eyes — to be due to the fact that 
 the book was upside down. The blind 
 man then played two tunes on the church 
 organ. Dr. Nevius stated that when he 
 was in Peking he had sung to this Chinese 
 a tune which probaldy no one in Peking 
 had ever before hoard, and that the Chinese 
 had noted the tune by a system of his own, 
 and in a very few moments reproduced 
 the tuue perfectly on his instrument. A 
 suggestion was made that Ur. Nevius 
 sing that tune at this time. 
 
 Rev. T. W. Pearce proposed that as 
 opium is a topic distinct from the foregoing 
 subjects, discussion slinuld first be had 
 upon them. This was voted down. 
 
 Mr. H. T. Witney, M.D., then read a pa- 
 peron the “Value and methods of opium re- 
 fuges.” At the conclusion of Dr. Whitney’s 
 paper, it was proposed that Dr. Dudgeon’s 
 paper “Statistics and res(dutions on the 
 evils and use of opium ” be consider- 
 ed as read. Mr. Muirhead thought that it 
 should be read, at least in part. In this 
 Dr. Happer concurred. Dr. Williamson 
 said that the resolutions contained the 
 cream of the paper. Dr. Blodget agreed 
 with Dr. Happer. Rev. Gilbert Reid moved 
 that the paper be given ten minutes and 
 be read by Dr. Kerr, which was carried. 
 
 Dr. H. W. Boone gave an address in 
 which he said that, inasmuch as large quanti- 
 ties of morphine are being introduced into 
 
 China, under the guise of foreign raedicinei 
 by various persons, and as morphia eating 
 is becoming prevalent in many parts of the 
 country through the sale of so-called anti- 
 opium remedies, the China Medical Mis- 
 sionary Association respectfully requests 
 this Conference to take this subject into 
 consideration in order to see if any means 
 can be devised to prevent the rise and 
 spread of a new evil, viz., morphia eating. 
 Also the Medical Missionary Association 
 respectfully submits a recommendation to 
 this Conference that it pass a resolution 
 requesting all missionaries to discourage 
 and if possible prevent the indiscriminate 
 sale of anti-opium pills containing morphia 
 or any other pi-eparation of opium, by native 
 Christians or by missionaries, as it believed 
 that the indiscriminate sale of these pills 
 though originating in a good intention is 
 developing a tendency worse if possible 
 than the one intended to be cured. 
 
 Dr. Boone spoke in explanation of the 
 resolution, which he regarded as a very 
 important one. 
 
 Dr. Lyall, of Swatow, said we have had 
 our eyes upon this for some years. We are 
 more afraid of morphia than of opium. 
 Large quantities are introduced at all the 
 southern ports, and on the Yangtze, as well 
 as' in the northern ports. The southern 
 headquarters of this trade is are Hongkong. 
 In Swatow so far as we know the native 
 Christians are not implicated in the trade. 
 In Hongkong they have Chinese agents, 
 who push the trade in the interior districts. 
 A few years ago this was a small trade, 
 now it is a large one and does much 
 harm. In Amoy there was a bad case, in 
 which the use of morphia was introduced 
 by a foreign physician in connection with a 
 missicmary society. He trained Chinese 
 lads in the hospital, and then gave them 
 foreign medicines to sell. The principal 
 medicine used was morphia. How does 
 this matter aflfect us? We are interested 
 in the well-being of the Chinese. We have 
 popularised Western science. Morphine 
 is introduced under the guise of philan- 
 thropy ; it pays no duty, and so can be sold 
 at an enormous profit. The disastrous 
 results must recoil on our heads. Chinese 
 do not distinguish between different classes 
 of foreigners. They look on this as foreign 
 opium or even as “Jesus Opium.” The 
 speaker then read a paper of instructions 
 from the English Presbyterians of Amoy, 
 in regard to the presentation of this matter 
 to the Conference. Few' missionaries en- 
 courage this. We feel that while they do 
 not encourage it, they do not sufiSciently 
 discourage it ; we feel that it afi'ects us 
 keenly ; as medical men, we are proud of 
 our profession, but prouder of the cause of 
 Christ. If unchecked, the evil will be in- 
 calculable to the growth and to the spiritual 
 
21 
 
 life of the church. A comparison was 
 made between the use of alcoholic liquors 
 and the use of opium, in which it was 
 affirmed that the latter is more enslaving 
 than the former. Even if we are helpless, 
 let us not use dubious plans which are 
 utterly and radically wrong. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead read a letter of greeting 
 from Dr. Lockhart, the oldest surviving 
 medical missionary to China, and gave 
 some account of the arrival of Dr. Lockhart 
 in 1843 with Dr. Medhurst. He went to 
 Peking in 1861. 
 
 Dr. Main, of Hangchow, corroborated 
 the remarks of Dr. Lyall. It is ‘ large 
 trade and splendid profits’ that draws' the 
 Christians into the business ; some of them 
 argue for it. VVe have tried the experi- 
 ment faithfully ; the profits were large, but 
 the benefits nil. We have a hundred opium 
 patients per annum in Hangchow. There 
 are many plans, and we have tried them 
 all ; we have come to the conclusion that 
 the best one is to cut off all opium and 
 morphia at once. We do not believe in 
 gradual diminution. S 'ine medicines do a 
 little good, and some do no good ; cold 
 water is often as good as anything. How 
 many remain steadfast? Many come to 
 be cured simply from economy — having 
 smoked forty cents’ worth a day, they are 
 ‘cured’ and come down to what they can 
 afford, say one cent’s worth, and then come 
 up to the forty cents again, and then come 
 again to be cured. We have known men 
 to come in this way seven times. The 
 better way is to prevent tlie beginning. 
 
 Dr. Mateer spoke of Mrs. Dr. Mills, of 
 T'ungchowfu, as a successful teacher of the 
 deaf and dumb. She has lately had $500 
 given to her by friends in institutions for 
 the deaf and dumb to use in her work. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore introduced resolutions to 
 refer this matter to a Committee of twelve. 
 
 Dr. Kerr called attention to the near- 
 ly simultaneous introduction of Chris- 
 tianity and opium into China. He spoke 
 strongly of the hopelessness of expecting 
 anything from the Chinese Government or 
 the mandarins. The only resource is the 
 introduction of Christianity. He agreed 
 with the previous speakers as to the evils 
 of morphia pills, and said that in some cases 
 the hypodermic syringe had been used to 
 satisfy the opium habit. Pills answer to 
 satisfy the cravings, and are more conve- 
 nient than the pipe. 
 
 Dr. Williamson wished the subject re- 
 ferred to a Committee of twenty-five, but 
 the unmanageable nature of such large Com- 
 mittees being pointed out, this proposition 
 was withdrawn. 
 
 Dr. Happer closed the debate by saying 
 that these evils have been growing for fifty 
 years, and they are ten-fold worse now 
 than forty-six years ago wheir he came to 
 
 China. Meahtime the (bhinese Goverirls 
 ment has been demoralised by the treat- 
 ment they have been forced to give this 
 matter ; their backbone has been taken out. 
 The Emperor Tao Kuang said “ I cannot 
 receive revenue from that which causes 
 misery to my subjects.” Now the Govern- 
 ment does not feel so, for there is a revenue* 
 from opium. Up to within three years, 
 memorials could be presented to Li Hung- 
 chang through the American Minister. 
 Now the American Minister finds his hands 
 tied by the treaty between the U.S. and 
 China ; Great Britain would say that he 
 was interfering with their commerce. The 
 evils are greater than ever. The quan- 
 tity of opium sold is greater than ever. 
 Formerly ic was all imported. Now the 
 native is two-fold, some say three-fold, more 
 than the imported. The number of opium 
 smokers 46 years ago as compared with the 
 present, is two millions to twenty millions. 
 Then smoking was confined to adult males 
 — now women and children are the victims. 
 The evils are so great that we must use 
 strong and efficient instruments to influence 
 public opinion in England and America as 
 well as in China. 
 
 The resolution proposed by Dr. Ashmore 
 was then passed as follows ; Kesolved, 
 
 That the subject of the opium and mor- 
 phia evils forming the subject of the essays 
 and discussions of this afternoon be refer- 
 red to a committee of twelve, a part of whom 
 shall be medical men. 
 
 It was then proposed by Mr. J. McMullen, 
 of Soochow — 
 
 “That a committee of twelve be ap- 
 pointed to take into consideration the 
 several systems in use in China for teaching 
 the blind to read, with the view of adopting 
 one system, with the necessary modifica- 
 tions for all China, and that the names of 
 the Revs. W. H. Murray, F. Hartmann, and 
 D. Hill be placed on that committee.” 
 
 The session adjourned after prayer by 
 Mr. Hill. 
 
 Sixth Day, Tuesday, 13th May. 
 
 The devotional meeting was led by Rev. 
 J. vV. Stevenson. 
 
 The Conference was called to order at 
 10 a.m. by Dr. Nevius, Chairman. 
 
 The minutes were read by Rev. W. T. 
 A. Barber, Secretary, and after corrections, 
 adopted. 
 
 The following resolution was introduced 
 by Rev. Jno. Walley, of Wuhu, who moved 
 that there be a committee appointed to 
 consider the best method of instructing 
 the mutes of China. 
 
 Dr. Edkins seconded the motion and 
 spoke of the correspondence which had 
 been held on this subject, on the part of 
 missionaries both in Peking and in Shang- 
 hai, with friends in Christian countries. 
 
 I 
 
22 
 
 He mentioned an interview with an in- 
 fluential Taotai who is prominent in 
 commercial afl'airs, in which this official 
 stated that the Chinese are not yet convinc- 
 ed of the existence of the need of an 
 education for the deaf and dumb, or for 
 the blind. An additional difficulty is the 
 existing commercial depression in China. 
 Eight years ago the scheme might have 
 been floated. We, as a Conference, ought 
 to take this as a part of our future ])lans. 
 He hoped the opportunity for action would 
 not be allowed to pass. A short time ago Mr. 
 Hodges, Chairman of the body in Shanghai 
 having the interests of the deaf anddumb 
 education at heart, received a letter 
 from a gentleman in Birmingham, who 
 has been prominent in this work. This 
 gentleman favours the old manifold letter. 
 In conversation with an eminent Roman 
 Catholic Father in Peking Dr. Edkins said 
 he learned that as yet the Roman Catholics 
 have not opened such institutions. This 
 Father said that he should be delighted to 
 know that Protestants were opening in- 
 stitutions, of this sort. 
 
 The resolution was then put, and carried. 
 The report of the Committee on the 
 Memorial to the Emperor of China, was 
 presented by Dr. Happer. In order to a 
 better comprehension of the matter the 
 resolution appointing such a Committee 
 was read. Dr. Happer said that he was in- 
 structed to request the reporters to refrain 
 from publishing the substance of this report. 
 After the reading of the report, the Chair- 
 man asked if it should be assigned to a 
 definite time. 
 
 Rev. F. Ohlinger moved to make it the 
 orderfor Wednesday a. m. after the reading 
 of the minutes. This was carried. 
 
 The following communication was them 
 read by the secretary : — 
 
 China Branch of the Royal Asiatic 
 Society, 
 
 Shanghai, 10th May, 1890. 
 
 My De.vr Dr. Faber, — This seems a 
 suitable time, now that the IMissionary 
 Comference is on, to mention, say at one 
 of the meetings, liow glad we shall be to 
 receive answers from as many missionaries 
 as possible — north, south, east, and west — 
 to the Circular on “ Inland Communica- 
 tions ” — copies of which I inclose, — in order 
 to make the information as complete as 
 possible. I have many more copies .shonld 
 you want some for distribution. 1 fear 
 that those stationed in the south and west 
 have not seen the circnlai', and it is very 
 desirable that everyone who can aid ns 
 should have a copy. With apologies for thus 
 troubling you when you are so bu.sy, 
 
 I am, yours very truly, 
 
 Wm. Brkjht. 
 
 The Chairman said there was no occasion 
 for special action on this letter, the request 
 being a very suitable one, in which all 
 would be glad to co-operate. 
 
 Dr. hlateer. Chairman of the Committee 
 on nominations, moved that the names of 
 Mrs. Dr. Yates, Mrs. D. Z. Sheffield, and 
 Miss Ricketts be added to the Committee of 
 ladies chosen yesterday. This was carried. 
 
 Di-. Craves mentioned that Mr. Bostick 
 had been summoned from a contemplated 
 visit to the Conference by a telegram an- 
 nouncing the serious illness of his wife, and 
 suggested that prayers be asked for her. 
 Dr. Graves was asked to lead in a prayer, 
 which he did. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Barber, secretary, said that a 
 representative of the Chinese church in 
 Hawaii was present, and suggested that he 
 be heard from on Thursday evening. It 
 uas suggested that if guests other than 
 those whose names are already reported, 
 are present, they send in their names to 
 the cominittee of arrangements. 
 
 Rev. .1. N. B. Smith moved that the com- 
 munications received yesterday on the 
 subject of opium be referred to a committee. 
 
 Rev. Mateer announced the names of 
 those nominated as a committee on opium 
 as follows : — ■ 
 
 Rev. J. G. Kerr, Chairman ; Dr. Alex. 
 Williamson ; Rev. Wm. Muirhead ; Dr. W. 
 11. Boone ; Dr A. P. Happer ; Dr. A. 
 Lyall ; Rev. J. B. Ost ; Dr. F. C. Roberts; 
 Dr. D. D. Main ; Dr. H. D. Porter ; Rev. 
 D. W. Mclver ; Dr. S. A. D. Hunter. On 
 motion this choice was confirmed as that of 
 the Conference. 
 
 Dr. Mateer then announced the follow- 
 ing a.s a committee on the blind ; — Dr. 
 Eclkins, Chairman ; Dr. Wright; Rev.'F. 
 Hartman ; Rev. W. H . Mui ray ; Rev. Y. 
 K. Yen ; Rev. J. C. Gibson ; Mr. Jno. Fryer ; 
 Dr. E. Faker ; Rev. T. Barclay, Rev J. 
 Lees ; Rev. F. C. Fulton ; Rev. D. Hilt. 
 The choice of this committee was moved 
 by Mr. Hykes, and was adopted. 
 
 Mr. Abbey suggested that as Mr. Rob- 
 bins is here from India with especial refer- 
 ence to the o])ium matter, he should sit 
 with the committee. 
 
 The Chairman said that at any time a 
 mere suggestion of this sort is sufficient, 
 as the committees are glad of all available 
 I help; 
 
 I A resume of the paper of Rev. R. Lechler 
 I on “Method of dealing with inquirers, 
 conditions of admission to Church fellow- 
 ship and best methods of discipline,” was 
 road by Rev. F. lliibrig. 
 
 'I’his was followed by a paper of Rev. 
 Hunter Corhetr, 1>.D. on the .same topic, 
 but especially restricted to the (jnestion of 
 discij>line. 
 
 A jiapor was then read by Rev. R. 
 
 ' H. Graves, D.D., on “Deepening the 
 
23 
 
 spiritual life and stimulating the Church to [ 
 aggressive work.” 
 
 A telegram to the Conference was an- 
 nounced from a native church at Shaiihai- 
 kuan, in the province of Cliihli, in con- 
 nection with tlie -Am. Methodist Mission, 
 giving greetings. It was sent by the native 
 church at their own instance. Mr. Little 
 moved the appointment of a committee to 
 reply, and the Cliairman said that the com- 
 mittee on nominations would appoint a com- 
 mittee of one to reply. The report of the 
 committee on Bible dictribution was then 
 read, as follows : — 
 
 Resolved : — (1.) That we heartily thank 
 the Bible Societies for the constant and 
 generous aid given by them to the mission 
 in the matter of Bible distribution in China 
 and trust that efforts will be made to render 
 that distribution still more effective. (2.) 
 That the Bible Societies be requested to 
 publish editions of the Scriptures with 
 short introductions, headings and brief ex- 
 planatory non-doctrinal notes. (3.) That 
 such editions be published only as they 
 may be called for, and that the editions 
 “ without note or comment” be issued as 
 heretofore. (4.) That such notes occujiy 
 no more comparative space than that allow- 
 ed for the marginal notes in the English 
 revised version. (5.) We recommend that 
 the several Bible Societies which print the 
 annotated editions be requested to select a j 
 committee of twelve missionaries to decide 
 what notes shall be adopted, and that the ! 
 unanimous approval of all the members of 
 this committee be required before any notes j 
 be printed. This committee shall consist j 
 of two Baptists, two Congregationabsts, j 
 two Episcopalians, two Lutherans, two j 
 Methodists, and two Presbyterians. (6.) j 
 W e earnestly recommend that all Scriptures 
 be issued in clear type and attractive form. | 
 
 Rev. D. Hill was appointed a Committee 
 to reply to the telegram from the Slianhai- j 
 kuan native church. 
 
 A motion by Mr. Lyon to adopt the j 
 report as a whole, was apparently lost. ! 
 The vote being uncertain a show of hands j 
 was had, when the motion was seen to be 
 lost by a large majority. 
 
 Rev. E. S. Little moved a preamble to j 
 the report, which was postponed until after 
 the report shall have been considered. 
 
 Dr. Mateer moved the first article of the 
 report, which was read. 
 
 Mr. Bryson said that this article takes 
 no notice of the work of translation. Jt is 
 utterly insufficient. We should speak of 
 the great work of translation, publication 
 and distribution. 
 
 Dr. Graves said that the word “ distri- 
 bution ” includes all these branches of the 
 work. 
 
 Mr. Bryson said that no one outside the 
 Conference w'ould so understand it. 
 
 Dr. Blodget suggested that an amendment 
 embodying the additional words be made. 
 
 Mr. Bryson moved that the words “the 
 various missions ” be substituted for the 
 words “the mission,” and for the word 
 “distributing,” the words “translating, 
 publishing and distributing.” 
 
 Rev. H. L. Gray asked if we were not 
 taking out of the hands of the committee 
 what we entrusted to them. Any change 
 should be definition ; we should not put in 
 other matters. 
 
 The Chairman of the Committee w’as asked 
 to say what were the matters considered in 
 committee — distribution or translation. 
 
 Dr. Graves again explained that “ distri- 
 bution ” includes the whole tojiic. 
 
 Dr. Williamson said that we can not 
 change the meaning of words ; “ distribu- 
 tion ” does not mean “ translation.” He 
 wanted the word “ distribution” changed 
 for “ annotation.” 
 
 Mr. Little said that theie is very little 
 about “ distribution ” in the whole report. 
 
 Mr. Barber said that the phraseology 
 was intended to include all the topics. 
 
 Dr. Wright said that this matter of words 
 is of no great importance. Translation is 
 done by missionaries. 
 
 The Chairman said that we are not really 
 fully ready to express ourselves upon the 
 report. It would be well to recommit the 
 report for further consideration, when it 
 would be n.ore acceptable. 
 
 Mr. Sickafoose moved to recommit the 
 report, w'ith liberty to the Committee on 
 Nominations to add five names. 
 
 Dr. Mateer suggested that all who have 
 emendations hand them to the Committee. 
 
 Mr. Archibald said that if we recommit, 
 we shall still be in darkness. The Com- 
 mittee has not expressed the feeling of the 
 Conference. 
 
 The Chairman said that we cannot re- 
 commit a part without the whole. 
 
 It was decided to hear expressions of 
 opinion on the report, before voting on the 
 motion to recomiiiit. 
 
 Dr. Williamson suggested that two or 
 three names be added to the Committee. 
 Few of the Committee as at present con- 
 stituted have any experience in annotation. 
 
 Rev. 1'. W. Stevenson said that there is 
 a strong feeling about this matter, and it 
 should be ventilated. 
 
 The Chairman said that this is exactly 
 what we are after. 
 
 Mr. Bryson said that the second para- 
 graph is not strong enough. We should 
 urgently request the bible societies. 
 
 Dr. Kip was opposed to this proposition. 
 
 Dr. Wherry moved to strike out the 
 words “ non-doctrinal.” He said that the 
 words “God,” “Christ”, etc., are doctrinal. 
 
 Dr. Williamson thought that a preface 
 should also be added, and agreed with the 
 
24 
 
 last speaker. It is divine truth with which i 
 we have the most difficulty. The Chinese ! 
 language has no way in which to express ; 
 these ideas. Notes are the most import- 
 ant of all. 1 
 
 Mr. Bryant said that while the conference [ 
 is agreed on such words as ‘’God,” “sin,” 
 &c., there are other words such as “atone- 
 ment,” “justification,” and “baptism.” 
 He objected to the motion decidedly. 
 
 Mr. Sparham moved to reaffirm the re- 
 solution of the Conference of 1877 as fol- 
 lows ; “XI. In regard to printing Bibles 
 with a preface and comments. Resolved, 
 that since, in the opinion of the General 
 Conference, it is highly desirable that the 
 Holy Scriptures designed for circulation 
 in China should be accompanied with a 
 short preface, and brief unsectarian notes, 
 therefore we do most earnestly request 
 the various Bible Societies in Europe and j 
 America to secure, if possible, a change i 
 in their rules or constitution, so as to 
 permit these to be added to their future 
 editions, subject to the supervision of 
 their respective Committees in China.” 
 
 The difference between these articles and 
 the report was then explained. There are 
 certain points of general agreement, with 
 some differences. A short note would go a 
 long way to make difficult words compre- 
 hensible. If the Committee were ready to 
 agree in recommending any doctrinal note, 
 it would probably be satisfactory. 
 
 The Chairman said in regard to the 
 words suggesting a change in the constitu- 
 tion of the bible societies “if necessary,” 
 that some of us think such a change is not | 
 necessary. 
 
 Rev. F. Ohlinger said that he was 
 heartily in favour of notes and comments, 
 and therefore hoped that the' friends of 
 this measure would not run into extremes. 
 He should regret bo see the words ‘ non- 
 doctrinal’ struck out. He did not like 
 to have the Conference advise the Bible 
 Society. 
 
 Rev. J. Ross supported tfie motion to 
 omit the words ‘ non-doctrinal,’ and desired 
 the words ‘non-sectarian’ instead. 
 
 Mr. Archibald apologised for occupying [ 
 the time of the Conference, but thought | 
 that he knew more about the matter than j 
 many on the floor. He said that from i 
 600,000 to 650,000 copies of the Bible or 
 parts were circulated in China every year, of 
 which, say, 600,000 were distributed among 
 the heathen. He had acquired his views 
 from practical and extended work among the 
 heathen. Our books were largely unintel- 
 ligible. The Conference should reaffirm 1 
 the position of 1.1 years ago. The ob- j 
 jection to articles 3, 4, and 5 is that 
 they try to get impossible notes in an 
 impracticable way. ‘Non-doctrinal’ notes, 
 would omit all reference to ‘God,’ ‘Christ,’ 
 
 and ‘Jesus.’ Number four provides that 
 the notes shall not exceed the space in the 
 English Bibles. This will amount to no- 
 thing. It is impracticable, because if a 
 single member objects, it cannot be passed. 
 The great Bible Societies are willing to ex- 
 plain the value of a shekel in copper cash, 
 but none of them, the Scotch Bible Societj’ 
 included, will do more that we want, unless 
 pressure is brought to bear upon them. No 
 change is necessary in the Bible Societies. 
 It is implied in the reasons for which they 
 exist. There is no reason why they can 
 not do what we want. Let us make the 
 demand, but not in the form of this report. 
 
 Dr. Kip said that he was thoroughly in 
 favour of notes and comments for use 
 among the heathen. But the Bible Societies 
 of England and the U.S. are not in a posi- 
 tion to give us this. The Am. Bible Society 
 was organised on the principle of without 
 note or comment. Number two asks for 
 something which the Bible Society is for- 
 bidden to do. He mentioned a case which 
 happened some years ago, when an excellent 
 edition of the Bible was published by the 
 Am. Bible Society, eliminating many mis- 
 takes, the most perfect copy of the English 
 bible that it was possible to produce. A 
 certain individual came forward and said 
 that they had violated their constitution, 
 and he raised such a storm that the Bible 
 Society had to destroy the plates. This 
 individual still lives. (Laughter.) If this is 
 the case with the Am. Bible Society, and 
 they have no moral and religious right to 
 do this, we should not ask what their 
 constitution forbids. In these days there 
 is too much of a disposition to do away 
 with trusts. We should press this only if 
 the societies see their way to it. 
 
 Dr. Williamson endorsed the statement 
 of Mr. Archibald. We should prepare the 
 notes, and then tell the Bible Societies ; if 
 they will not accept the work, then go to' 
 the Christian public of Europe and America, 
 and ask for help to print it. 
 
 Dr. Blodijet said that he had been silent 
 at the former discussion. He felt the 
 necessity for notes on the Bible ; he had 
 felt the force of the text about giving that 
 which is holy to dogs, in connection with 
 Bible distribution, but he saw difficulties 
 that others did not appear to see. The 
 American Bible Society formerly had a 
 good introduction. It superintended the 
 publication of the Bible with that introduc- 
 tion, which was prepared by Bridgman and 
 Culbertson. Then the publication of these 
 prefaces was stopped, and nothing could 
 induce the societies to print them again. 
 We see the differences on this floor. They 
 represent the differences in the U. S., and 
 doubtless in England ; in the case of the 
 Scotch Bible Society where they represent 
 largely Scotch Presbyterians, the matter is 
 
25 
 
 different. They may do it. The American 
 Tract Society publishes a New Testament 
 with such notes as are desirable. Tract 
 Societies might do this work. (Here a 
 member spoke up and said that the Loudon 
 Tract Society does the same.) Why not 
 direct our appeal to them ? Christ hung 
 before the coarsest men on the cross for our 
 salvation. He taught up and down the coun- 
 try, before the multitude. Hetalked tothose 
 who were dull and careless, and who could 
 not understand what he said. The follow- 
 ers of Christ are often spit upon and de- 
 spised throughout China. Are tlie paper and 
 print more sacred than the body of our Lord? 
 Many who have 'no notes at all, get great 
 good from their Bibles. A man in Peking 
 read through the whole Bible, but like 
 Nicodemus he was not willing to profess 
 faith. The Roman Catholics are every- 
 where. We should be known as the church 
 that gives the Bible. 
 
 The Chairman wished to say that there 
 was nothing determined by the Confer- 
 ence as to the handing in of cards. The 
 rules provide for two names. The younger 
 men are too much shut out. The elder 
 ones are coming to the front too exclusively. 
 The person who rises can .be heard with- 
 out any card. 
 
 Rev. C. F. Reid said that it is important 
 that the Bible Societies be informed of the 
 sentiment of this body. He proposed that 
 these papers be printed, and sent to the 
 Bible Societies and to the Church at large. 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that the action of 
 thirteen years ago resulted in nothing. 
 We shall get nothing from the Am. Bible 
 Society, however it may be on the other 
 side of the water. He would like to see a 
 Bible society in China, and have an appeal 
 to England and the U.S. He could easily 
 get more Bibles than he knew what to do 
 with, but not one with a note or a comment. 
 He was ready to second the motion of Mr. 
 Reid. 
 
 Mr. Hubbard said that though corpora- 
 tions have no souls, the men who form them 
 have consciences. ’ The Bible societies can- 
 not do what we want. Why not have the 
 Bible and the tracts go together ? Give 
 Luke and Acts, witli a tract. Can we not 
 get as much as we have in English — a re- 
 ference Bible, with head liiies ? 
 
 Dr. Ashmore appreciated the value of 
 notes, but would like to say a word in 
 favour of the good plain text. He had not 
 lost faith in the word of Christ. He was 
 not understood. We do not understand all 
 his words, nor all the Epistles. The Bible 
 was addressed to unconverted men. The 
 difficulty is not in the Bible, but in the men. 
 He was impressed with the value of portions 
 taken out of the deep things that people do 
 not understand. Take out simple portions. 
 We take a great deal to ovu’selves, when 
 
 we think that Christ cannot be understood 
 without us at his elbow. 
 
 Dr. J. W. Davis, of Soochow, wanted a 
 practical outcome, a modification of the 
 plan proposed just now. We want a book 
 with notes and comments. Ask the Bible 
 Societies to print it, and then if they refuse, 
 cut it down to something that they will 
 print. The Bible Societies are anxious to 
 print with notes and comments. (Cries of 
 No, and Yes.) He said that Dr. Wright 
 knew' more about this matter than others. 
 By notes and comments he meant something 
 akin to what we have in English. It is a 
 question of degree. Let us have a small 
 Working committee to prepare a book to 
 lay before the Bible Societies. We shall 
 ask more than they will grant. If we make 
 reasonable demands that are in accordance 
 with their constitutions, we shall have a 
 better state of things than now. Half a loaf 
 is better than no bread. 
 
 Mr. Gibson thoroughly believed in ask- 
 ing the Bible Societies to give portions with 
 notes. We do not want all parts of the 
 Bible thus annotated We would not put 
 Ezekiel into the hands of colporieurs. He 
 would agree to ask for commenPs, but not 
 for commentaries. What Dr. Williamson 
 and Mr. Archibald had described were 
 commentaries, at least this was his impres- 
 sion of the description given. IMr. Archi- 
 bald says that the space given in the Eng- 
 lish Bible for headings, is insufficient. This 
 means a prolonged commeirtary. If pro- 
 duced we could not agree in it. The offer 
 of the British and Foreign Bible Society 
 is a liberal offer. We should not represent 
 that the Bible Societies are bigoted and 
 that we cannot get what we want. 
 There are two questions confused here — 
 what it is desirable to have and 
 what it is desirable to give. The Bible 
 Societies have not funds for what we 
 want, because they cannot unite donors 
 on that basis. If you ask for more, you may 
 cripple the work of the Bible Societies in 
 all their parts. If we want more than they 
 can give, we should either go to the Tract 
 Societies, or pay ourselves for what we 
 want. 
 
 Dr. Wright said that Mr. Gibson had 
 said nearly all that he himself w.anted to 
 say. It is not fair to ask certain things, as 
 that a close coiiununiim Baptist should 
 commune with (hirers. This report is a 
 reasonable pa[)er ; he would recommend 
 almost all that is in it, but he could not 
 bind his own Society, but he would urge to 
 them that it embodies a large amount of 
 common sense. One society cair not be ex- 
 pected to do everything, the British and 
 Foreign Bible Society publish the Bible in 
 294 different languages, and 74 committees 
 are W"rkiirg on them, all men of like 
 passions with oirrselyes. In some parts 
 
26 
 
 of Africa, the peo))le have only grunts 
 for a language, and in some places the 
 people are half lish and half man, yet 
 they understand the Bible. The British and 
 Foreign Bible Society and the S. P. (1. were 
 once enemies, but now they divide tlieir 
 work, the latter producing illustrated books 
 and booklets, and such pictures as those 
 with which Ur. Williamson wants to break 
 down, the great wall of China, and then 
 take the ramparts with the ‘ notes and { 
 comments.’ He suggested that the Religious I 
 Tract Society be urged to do what is needed, 
 and not have a false divisi<m of labour. The 
 Bible Society is prepared to cut up the 
 Bible into little sections, as the ‘Creation,’ 
 the ‘Fall,’ the ‘Flood.’ We can give ex- 
 planations of Pharisees and Sadducees, and 
 why not say that “ ‘Shang-ti’ is god of all tl‘C 
 earth”? “ Baptism, a religious rite. ” The 
 committee at home changes every year, 
 and we can only urge this. He was prej)ared 
 to push for a reasonable amount <jf ex- 
 planations and marginal references out of 
 the authorised version, and out of Scrivener’s 
 Cambridge Bible, the most perfect Bible 
 ever prinyjd. Knowing the cinnmittee and 
 the American Bible Society, he felt sure 
 that if that preamble were to be sent to 
 them, it would defeat the object. 
 
 The following is the language of the 
 preamble to which objection was made ; — 
 Whereas the members of the (Jeneral Mis- 
 sionary Conference of China are thorough- 
 ly convinced, from their long and varied 
 experience in Bible work amontr the Chin- 
 ese, that the Bible without note or com- 
 ment does not and will not produce the 
 best results ; and whereas the great major- 
 ity of the missionaries in China are of 
 the deliberate and decided opinion that the 
 Scriptures without note or comment are in 
 most cases not intelligible to the heathen ; 
 and whereas brief introductions, notes, and 
 comments are in the opinion of the mis- 
 sionaries absolutely needed in the present 
 state of the work ; resolved, &c. 
 
 Dr. Wherry said that Dr. Davis had 
 begun right, but did not continue to the 
 end. We should have an edition of the 
 Bible with such notes as we think advis- 
 able. These should be offered to the three 
 societies, but if they do not accept them, 
 we should not modify them, but form a 
 Bible Society of our own. The wealthy men 
 of England and America will help us to 
 publish what we need. 
 
 Mr. Archibald wished to point out that 
 he was not speaking as an agent of a Bible 
 Society, but as a colporteur. Dr. Williamson’s 
 admission is of importance. If this is all 
 we want, all very, well, but it is not so. We 
 want a great deal more. 
 
 Mr. Painter said that he had engaged 
 largely in Bible work. The report is ex- 
 cellent. The word ‘ non-doctrinal ’ con- 
 
 I tains the soul of the paper. The differences 
 at home are against us. It is not showing 
 much gratitude to talk of establishing a new 
 Bible Society. An American citizen should 
 yield to the majority. He protested against 
 the preamble. 
 
 Various suggestions in regard to the 
 addition of names to the committee were 
 then made. 
 
 Dr. Mateer desired that the number of 
 new names be specified. 
 
 The Chairman said that five were suggest- 
 ed. 
 
 The question to recommit was then put, 
 and the motion was carried. 
 
 This matter was made the order of the 
 day for to-niorrow [).m. 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that Mr. Hill was the 
 committee to reply to the telegram. By 
 request Dr. Roberts was substituted for 
 I Dr. Doutliwaite on the Opium Committee. 
 Dr. Mateer asked for suggestions as to 
 names for the Committee on the Deaf and 
 Dumb. The following names were reported 
 as nominations for additional members of 
 the Committee on Bible work, and were 
 confirmed as members of that committee: — 
 Dr. Williamson, Dr. Kip, Rev. J. G. Gib- 
 son, Rev. F. H. James, Rev. J. L. Stuart. 
 The session closed with prayer by Dr. 
 Nevius. 
 
 Tuesday Afternoon. 
 
 The meeting opened with prayer by Dr. 
 Nevius. 
 
 The Secretary read a resolution that the 
 Chairmen of Committees have 500 copies of 
 each of their reports printed. This was 
 voted. The subject assigned to this hour 
 was the report of the Committee on Verna- 
 cular Versions. This report was read, as 
 follows : — 
 
 The Committee on Vernacular Versions 
 recommend the Conference to resolve as 
 follows : — 
 
 Resolved that the Conference are per- 
 suaded of the great importance of the use 
 of the vernaculars in translations of Scrip- 
 ture for the edification of the native Church; 
 and find that the use of Roman letter iu 
 writing the vernaculars is recommended 
 by a large amount of testimony from dif- 
 ferent parts of the empire. 
 
 They therefore commend this subject to 
 the earnest consideration of missions work- 
 ing in the various dialects, and appoint 
 those named below to be a permanent Com- 
 mittee to watch over this subject with a 
 view to assist generally in the development 
 of this branch of mission work, and in par- 
 ticular to secure uniformity iu methods of 
 Romanising, so far as may be compatible 
 with the requirements of each dialect, and 
 with the full liberty of those who work in 
 it. The Conference further request all 
 missionaries undertaking work in Roman 
 letter to communicate with this Committee, 
 
27 
 
 The Conference heartily recommend to 
 the liberal consideration of the Bible Socie- 
 ties any applications that may be made to 
 them for aid in the productit)ii of vernacu- 
 lar versions in Roman letter undertaken 
 by any mission body. 
 
 The following to form the Committee : — 
 For the Mandarin Dialect, Rev. W. 
 Cooper ; Shanghai, Rev. J. A. Silsby ; 
 Ningpo, Rev. J. R. Goddard ; Taichow, 
 Rev. W. D. Rudland ; Wenchow, Rev. 
 W. E. Southill ; Foochow, Rev. S. F. 
 Woodin ; Amoy and Formosa, Dr. L. W. 
 Kip and Rev. T. Barclay; Swatow, Rev. J. 
 C. Gibson ; Cantonese', Dr. B. C. Henry ; 
 Hakkas, Rev. G. Reusch and D. Maciver ; 
 Hainanese, Rev. F. P. Gilman. This Com- 
 mittee shall have ^sower to till up vacancies, 
 and to add to their number if they shall 
 see cause. Mr. Gibson to be Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Hykes moved its adoption. 
 
 Mr. Bryson called attention to the fact 
 that it should have a iiiaii from the north, 
 and suggested Mr. Bryant’s name, Avhich 
 was added. 
 
 Mr. Painter wished to know if the Soo- 
 chow dialect was not to be represented. 
 
 Mr. Du Bose said that in Soochow the 
 character answered every purpose. It was 
 stated by the Committee that the effort 
 had been to represent dialects, not so- 
 cieties. 
 
 Dr. Ashmoreohjected toself-perpetuating 
 committees. Is it wise to appoint commit- 
 tees that are responsible to no one ? 
 
 The Chairman said it was desired to have 
 a permanent committee to whom all these 
 matters can be referred. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore thought the question of 
 self-perpetuation came tir.st. 
 
 Mr. McMullen said that the missionaries 
 in West Cliina do not favour Romanising. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylorwas much interest- 
 ed in this matter. The resolution is of great 
 value, binding no one to anything, but secur- 
 ing considerable help to those who believe 
 that Romanising is valuable. The C.I.M. 
 have been Romanising b"oks for twenty-one 
 years, and much valuable result has been 
 seen. We have found that Romanised Nan- 
 kinese is useful as well in Yunnan. He 
 thought it not the case that the mis- 
 sionaries in West China do not favour 
 Komanising. There should be a system as 
 uniform as possible. At one time he 
 had to buy typo for tlie Ningpo dialect, 
 where the small quantity of type required 
 for the four double letters cost as much 
 as all the rest combined. This suggests 
 simplicity. The British and Foreign Bible 
 yociety have kindly supjdied us with a com- 
 plete New Testament in Romanised Manda- 
 rin, which we never before had. 
 
 Mr. Ohliiiger said that in Corea Roman- 
 ising is not necessary. Wherever the 
 
 Romanised cjlloquial has had a fair trial 
 in China, it has held its own. 
 
 Dr. Wherry thought it absurd to have 
 but one man from the Mandarin-speaking 
 region, and that one on the extreme 
 border. He criticised the Romanising of 
 the C. I. M. version, and suggested the 
 name of Rev. J. W. Lowrie as an addition 
 to the Committee, which was adopted. 
 
 Mr. Leaman thought this an important 
 topic only second to that of the forenoon. 
 The first thing is to have the true word of 
 God, then to have it in a tongue that every 
 one speaks. The fact mentioned by Mr. 
 Taylor of the wide availability of a Romanis- 
 ed version, is a wonderful fact. Many will 
 never have the Gospel but in the Romanised 
 colloquial. The name of Blr. Stewart was 
 then added to the committee, and also that 
 of Mr. Leaman. After this the report was 
 adopted. 
 
 The committee appointed to reply to the 
 telegram reported a return message to the 
 native Chinese church. 
 
 Rev. C. Goodrich then read a paper on 
 “The service of song in China.” 'This was 
 followed by a paper by Rev. T. Richard on 
 the “Relation of Christian missions to the 
 Chinese government.” After this another 
 paper was read by Rev. G. L. Mason, on 
 “Best methods of developing self-support 
 and v-oluntary effort.” The report of the 
 Lay Committee was then read, with resolu- 
 ticnis as f.dlows : — 
 
 The Committee on Lay Agency recom- 
 mend that the accompanying appeal for 
 additional Lay Agents be sent to the Home 
 Churches from the present Conference. 
 
 2. — That the Conference does not deem 
 it expedient that Medical Missionaries be 
 ordained to the Pastoral Office. 
 
 3. — That the Conference recommends 
 that Medical Missionaries desiring ordina- 
 tion to the office of Deacon, Elder or Evan- 
 gelist apply for such ordination in connec- 
 tion with their respective Churches. 
 
 On motion this was made the first order 
 for W ednesday p.m. 
 
 It was moved to consider the papers for 
 Thursday a.m., on the school and text 
 book work, as read, to admit of a fuller 
 debate. 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that the u)atters before 
 the Conference should not be rushed 
 through. The success of the Conference 
 depends upon the completion of the busi- 
 ness in hand. The last Conference over- 
 ran three days, and those were the most 
 influential days. He deprecated that dis- 
 cussion should be pushed aside and busi- 
 ness rushed. 
 
 Mr. Bryson said that the business com- 
 mittee did not wish to curtail, but to facili- 
 tate discussion. 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that there was not a 
 word of discussion on the papers of the 
 
28 
 
 morning. The question of considering the 
 papers for Thursday a.m. as read, was put, 
 and the motion adopted. 
 
 The Rev. F. Htibiig then read the paper 
 of Rev. R. Lechler on “Metliod of dealing 
 with inquirers, conditions of admission to 
 the Church fellowship and best methods of 
 discipline.” 
 
 Rev. Y. K. Yen spoke on the topics of the 
 papers, especially as to the mode of dealing 
 with inquirers. We must understand the 
 peculiar character of the Chinese. They 
 have hazy ideas about gods. A Chinese 
 who went to the U. S. was written to by 
 ills father that his sixtii mother was well. 
 What can a man who has six mothers, 
 know of a mother’s love 1 The Chinese 
 have liazy ideas about sin, which they con- 
 found with crime, treading on one's toes, 
 being late to dinner, the same character 
 for all. They have hazy ideas about a future 
 life. At a Chinese death bed, there is never 
 a word about future happiness, but only 
 about mourning and money If they did not 
 think that the gods could affect men’s 
 bodies, the temples would be deserted, and 
 ancestral worship would decline, 'i'hey are 
 not to blame. It is their misfortune and not 
 theirfault that this is so. TheChinesecan not 
 see Christianity as we see it. All inquirers 
 ask fnim other motives than love of Chris- 
 tianity. Cases of those who have originally 
 entered the Church from unworthy motives 
 were cited, yet they became prominent and 
 valuable men. The ancient church had 
 ‘ catachuiliens,’ i.e. those who were piepar- 
 ing for Baptism. As soon as. they are re- 
 ceived in tliis way, they are then under 
 your influence. In getting iinjuirers face { 
 to face, talk is better than preaching. Have j 
 a room in wliich to receive them. If you i 
 preach in public on the street, do not do it 
 in a way which to the Cliinesc seems undig- | 
 nitied. ! 
 
 Rev. .1. C. .lones,’ wlu>se time was by 
 vote extended, spoke on the topic of self- 
 support. Sincerity lies at the base of i 
 religion. Salaried men may be sincere, 
 but wherever the money exists least, tliere 
 is most sincerity. We sbould do our work 
 on such principles that if we were witli- 
 drawn, the work would remain. How can 
 Cliina be evangcli.sed with foreign money? 
 We cannot cover China with foreign mis- 
 sions. It must be done by disinterested 
 natives. We must use money ceitainly, 
 but there is a great di.spropm tion in the 
 salaries which we pay, and those paid out- 
 side. Hasty employment of natives is a 
 great injury. In his work, out of (50 sta- 
 tions, 17 are dependent upon a single indi- 
 vidual. If in any case that one man should 
 be taken into employ, the station would be 
 ruined. We have been engaged thirteen 
 years in working out the. problem, ' and 
 with us self-support is a fixed fact. 
 
 Self-support is not cheapness, it is the ex- 
 pending of the money in such a way as not 
 to corrupt the man who receives the money, 
 Our Boards are writing to us about^conomy. 
 Self-support is not coercing the converts in- 
 to the Levitical practice of giving tithes, it 
 is the planting of principles which will 
 make self-supporting Christians. It is not a 
 light esteeming of others. He deprecated 
 the words ‘ silver method,’ ‘ Mexican 
 method,’ and the bke. It is not a denial of 
 the Gospel principle that those who preach 
 the Gospel should live of the Gospel, but 
 merely that they should live on Chinese 
 and not on foreign 'money. Self-support 
 I does not contemplate tlie preaching of the 
 j gospel far and wide on a self-supporting 
 I basis. It means that Christians should 
 I propagate the Gospel at their doors and 
 j what they can not do, we must do. At 
 home they can and will do it, if you put 
 it to them. It means that tlie Chinese 
 churches should be self-supporting, and 
 I self-propagating. If you do not look for 
 these things in the Chinese you do not 
 find them. The difficulty is not to get 
 willing workers, but intelligent workers. 
 Lastly the thing lies with the missionary 
 himself. You must take it for granted that 
 tliere will be earnest sincere men to help 
 you in your work. Refrain from employ- 
 ing, however strong the temptation. Be 
 content to await growth. We want to get 
 the Chinese to keep step with our ideals. 
 Make the Chinese cooiierale with each 
 other. If the church is a tree it must grow 
 on natural sound principles. 
 
 On motion the topics of the afternoon 
 were made the first order for Wednesday 
 moniing. 
 
 The session ch.sed with prayer by Rev. 
 T. W. Stevenson. 
 
 Tuesday Evening. 
 
 The evening session w^as begun with 
 Dr. Ashmore in the chair, who led in 
 jirayer, and Mr. Bryson acting as clerk. 
 
 The Chairman said that the meeting was 
 to be devoted to mi.ssionary experience, 
 and on motion the time for each reply to a 
 , (inestion was strictly limited to two minutes, 
 j not to exceed three minutes. The Chair- 
 I man announced that the Business Com- 
 mittee had divided the questions into the 
 topics ‘missionaiy,’ ‘preaching,’ ‘medicine,’ 
 ‘schools,’ ‘charity,’ and ‘ mi.scellaneous. ’ 
 In most cases the person who fir’st answered 
 a (luestion did so by request. 
 
 The first (juestion was asked of Rev\ J. 
 H. Taylor as follows ; What does medical 
 authority and experience say as to the 
 hygienic value of full Chinese dress ? 
 
 Dr. S. A. Hunter was asked to reply, in 
 the absence of Mr. Taylor. He said the idea 
 seemed to be that the Chinese dress is 
 dangerous. It does not affect the health. 
 
29 
 
 it is wanner in winter, and cooler in sum- 
 mer, and has every advantage in its favour. 
 
 Q. — Are there any arguments for Chinese 
 dress in. any case, other than the preven- 
 tion of curiosity and sympathetic conformi- 
 ty to harmless customs ? 
 
 A. — This does not re(iuire discussion. 
 After ten years of Chinese costume, I change 
 according to situation. It is matter of self- 
 denial to most persons, but a man who 
 cannot deny liimself to that extent, can 
 hardly be a missionary. 
 
 Q. — Where Chinese dress is chosen, would 
 not a compromise be advisable — the adop- 
 tion of articles hygienicaUy uninjurious, 
 the rejection of those not popular with 
 sensible Chinese, and especially objection- 
 able for hygienic reasons 'I 
 
 A. — The Chinese dress is perfectly safe. 
 
 Mr. Hill was asked what reason there 
 is for wearing the Chinese dress in a port, 
 and replied that it was because a man very 
 often had occasion to go out of a port. 
 
 Q. — What should be our attitude towards 
 Roman Catholics, foreign and native, whom 
 we meet in the ports, or inland, especially 
 the latter % , 
 
 A. — Mr. Richard replied that it should be 
 the same as to tlie Cliinese generally. We 
 feel that they are wrong, and should do 
 all we can to lead them into the right way. 
 
 Q. — What is the opinion of the senior 
 members of the Conference as to the average 
 length of time a missionary should study 
 the language before taking up work, either 
 medical or evangelistic ? 
 
 A. — Dr. Blodget said that no definite 
 rules can be made. Some 'commence wfithin 
 one year and do well. Mr. Aitchison plan- 
 ned for a long life, and wanted to study 
 five years, but did engage in work soojier. 
 It d'epends upon qualifications and natural 
 gifts. 
 
 Q. — Is special study neces.sary for sermons 
 to crowds in the street or in chapels 1 
 
 A. — Mr. Hykes replied in the affirmative. 
 No man should preach either in the street 
 or m chapels, unless he is prepared. 
 
 Q. — Is the iteration and reiteration of 
 doctrinal preaching statements the kind of 
 ])reaching that the power of the spirit 
 attends ? 
 
 A. — Mr. Hykes replied that all preach- 
 ing should be doctrinal. 
 
 Rev. A. H. Smith was asked to speak, 
 and said that he thought the truth of the 
 unity of God all that an average Chinese 
 congregation could take in the fir.st time. 
 The case of Rev. Win. C Burns was cited, 
 who was at first very anxious to preach the 
 atonement to ignorant heathen, but who 
 after some years of experience told a mis- 
 sionary in Foochow that he thought the 
 preaching there ‘too evangelical,’ that is, 
 beyond the capacity of the hearers to 
 take in. 
 
 Q. — Where there is no English service 
 in a station during Sunday morning, do 
 you think young missionaries should attend 
 the Chinese service from the time of their 
 arrival ? 
 
 A. — Dr. Blodget replied that they should 
 do so from tlie first day they set their foot 
 in China. They should take pencils and 
 paper and learn words and later get the 
 character. Some can lead the singing by 
 writing the sounds in Roman letters. 
 
 Rev. G. Reid said that if there was 
 work at a port for sailors, it might be bet- 
 ter to do that than to go to a service which 
 one does not understand. 
 
 Mr. Bryant testified to the value of at- 
 tending the services to catch the sounds. 
 It is the best way for every missionary if 
 he wishes to be a speaker. 
 
 Mr. hluirhead spoke to the same effect. 
 The questions put at the close of the preach- 
 ing were helpful also. 
 
 Q. — Is it in accordance with Chinese 
 ideas of reverence, to use the second per- 
 sonal pronoun (ni) m addressing the Deity! 
 
 Dr. Edkins said it was. We should 
 get out of the trammels of etiquette, when 
 we get into religion and prayer. 
 
 Dr. Blodget said the Roman Catholics 
 use it extensively, in translating Thomas 
 a Kempis. It helps out the difficulty if 
 one gives the address to the Deity first. 
 Too frequent use is repulsive to the Chi- 
 nese. A native assistant, of twenty-four 
 years’ standing, will never use it. Some 
 use “ Heavenly Father.” 
 
 Mr. Goodrich said that this veiy native 
 helper always put him (Mr. Goodrich) out 
 when he said the Lord’s Prayer. A large 
 jjroportion of our native Christians say ni 
 not always but often. 
 
 Mr. Hubbard said that at Foochow the 
 Christians use ‘ F ather. ’ 
 
 Dr. Blodget added that if we do not use 
 the personal pronoun, what we gain in re- 
 verence we lose in nearness. 
 
 Q. — What is the opinion of experienced 
 missionaries as to the \ alue or otherwise of 
 the slight medical knowledge obtainable by, 
 say, six months’ training ? and should such 
 training if desirable be obtained entirely 
 before coming out, or partly after arrival 
 in the. field? 
 
 Dr. Boone said he thought such training 
 entirely worthless. 
 
 Dr. KexT said that he should differ from 
 Dr. Boone. There are many simple diseases 
 the mode of treating wdiich could be well 
 studied while acquiring the language. 
 Much good could be done if they w'ould 
 confine themselves to these simple diseases. 
 A man, to have charge of a hospital or dis- 
 pensary, should be fully qualified. 
 
 Dr.Lyall said that if a man is going into the 
 interior away from a doctor, he should have 
 a certain amount of training in a hospital. 
 
30 
 
 if hot separated from a physician, -a mis- 
 sionary should stick to his profession. 
 
 Mr. Hykes .said that Ire had seen this 
 tried, and it all depended on whether the 
 man had a well-balanced mind. He had seen 
 some who began to^ive some simple re- 
 medies, such as ointments, and before they 
 finished they would amputate a man’s he-ad. 
 
 Q. — Do you think it advisable to charge 
 any fee for treatment or medicine in a mis- 
 sionary hospital '!■ 
 
 Dr. Beebee .said he charged a fee for 
 registering, 2(> cash. 
 
 Dr. Kerr said that it depended upon 
 circum.stances. In opening a new station 
 he would not charge a fee. In Canton he 
 charged in-i)atieiits 20 cents and out-patients 
 nothing, unle.ss they have separate rooms. 
 We charge $3 per month for room rent, 
 nothing for medicine or attendance. 
 
 Dr. Boone said we must be governed by 
 circumstances, he believed we should teach 
 the Chinese to help themselves. He never 
 charged the poor. The rich he charged ac- 
 cording to their means ; those of moderate 
 means pay the actual co.st, and the poor 
 who are-eight tenths of the number, j)ay 
 nothing. Where they are able, it is a duty 
 to make them ])ay. 
 
 Dr. Kerr added a word as to the Wesleyan 
 Hospital at Fatshan. He said that Dr. 
 Wenyon was in the habit of making charges, 
 and does not in consequence limit his j)rac- 
 tice to any considerable extent. His lios- 
 pital is very nearly self-sup])orting. 
 
 Dr. Porter .said that in .Japan it is the 
 practice of .Japanese physicians to charge 
 five cents a day for prescriptions, and the 
 missionaries conformed to it. 
 
 Mr. Hul)bard said that in Foochow they 
 had a fee, and their receii)ts for the year 
 had been about §40.00. 
 
 Dr. Hunter said that after several years 
 of free dispensing he changed his opinion, 
 as he thought, wisely. He now charged for 
 medicines half the co.st price ; and the 
 receipts la.st year at Weihsien were over 
 §200. It works better than free dispensing. 
 
 Q. — Do you think that heathen school- 
 teachers should under any circumstances be 
 employed in country schools ? 
 
 Mr. 'Jones .said that he recalled the views 
 of Mr. -Lechler at the last Conference. 
 Heathen teachers of Chri.stian schools 
 may be of great use. 'I’hey slnndd l)e used 
 only in extreme circumstances- -if po.ssible, 
 never use them. 
 
 Dr. Edkins .said we should employ them, 
 as tliey may J)ecome Cliristians. Let us 
 not lose the opportunity. 
 
 Dr. Blodget spoke of his discouragement 
 in Shanghai, by seeing no results. He had 
 a heathen teacher, and he now finds liim as 
 the compradore of the Presbyterian Mission 
 Press, and thousands of taels pass through 
 his hands, and none of them stick. 
 
 Mr. Painter said that the teacher may 
 become convinced of Christian truth. 
 
 Mr. Plumb cited a case of this sort in 
 Foochow, in which the man is a valuable 
 \\*orker. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead said that such teachers 
 have been converted to God, and have died 
 happy deaths. 
 
 Q.— In starting boys’ .schools do you 
 think it possible or practicable to attempt 
 to work on a self-supporting basis, or to 
 what extent would you advise putting the 
 school on a self-supj)orting basis at tir.st 1 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that there is such a 
 thing as jiaying too high a price for a self- 
 suj) 2 Jorting scluJol. The first thing is to 
 have a Christian school, and the second to 
 keej) tlie i)iq)ils. Do not sacrifice the.se to 
 self-sujjport. At ])resent we cannot hav'e a 
 really self-siq)i)orting school, in which the 
 l)U 2 iils pay the salaries of the teachers. 
 
 Q. — Is it 2 )o.ssil)le to carry on a Sabbath- 
 school successfully in a city where there are 
 no Christian day schools ? 
 
 Mr. Hartwell said that he has a Chri.stian 
 service in the morning, and a Bible School 
 in the afternoon. He believed in Bible 
 Schools half the day. 
 
 Mr. Lacy said that there were many 
 l)laces in the M.E. Mission, Foochow, where 
 there are no day-scliools but where Sunday 
 schools are successful. 
 
 Q. — Is it 2 »racticable to carry on a night- 
 school for tlie natives? 
 
 Dr. J. II. Taylor had tried it with 
 success. 
 
 Mr. Bryson began one a year ago to 
 teacli Christians to read. Instead of Chris- 
 tians, a numJjer of heatlien came. He 
 formed a class of young men from 12 to 20 
 years of age. ’I'hey read through two cate- 
 chisms, and Mr. Foster’s book for begin- 
 ners, and the Peej) o’ Day. When they came 
 they could not read a single word. In a 
 few months they could read intelligently 
 tlieir own hinguage. 
 
 Q. — Dues experience demomstrate that 
 it is wise to teach English to Chinese boys 
 in training classes or theological schools ? 
 
 Dr. Allen said lie had never tried it, and 
 could not say. In his .school they had two 
 young men who have Jjeen trained. One 
 was sent to Vanderbilt University, where he 
 stands with the best students. Another 
 will ultimately study thecdogy. So far we 
 have worked only in this preparatory way. 
 There is no hindrance whatever, and the 
 results will jirove tliis. 
 
 Q. — Should luissionaries at the outi)orts, 
 .say like Shanghai and Hongkong, oi)en 
 Anglo-Chinese l)oarding or day-schools, with 
 a view to bringing boys under Chri.stian 
 instruction ? 
 
 Dr. Allen said that in Shanghai there 
 are a great many schools, nut all of them 
 taught by Christians, however. He saw no 
 
31 
 
 reason why they miglit nob bo in the hands 
 of Christian persons. They anight be an 
 opening to reach persoias mat otherwise 
 reached. In his college, they were some- 
 times afraid to unite with tlie Church lest 
 their parents make objectioii.s. 
 
 Dr. Sites said that at the M. E. Anglo- 
 Chinese College they had 95 scholars 
 eni’olled. The second cla.ss has five boys, 
 all Christians. The lower class has seven 
 or eight, nearly all Christians. In Mr. 
 Wishard’s visit, there was a great ingather- 
 ing, largely from jarepai'atoi-y work in the 
 College. Half of the 95 are either members 
 < or probationers. The College was founded 
 in 1881. There is every reason to expect 
 success in this woi-k. 
 
 Mr. Little wanted Dr. Allen to give 
 cases of boys that had gone from the 
 school as Christians. 
 
 Dr. Allen said that maiay have passed 
 through the institution. Some are in 
 government employ, in the Customs, iia the 
 railroad employ, and in private emjaloy. 
 Many of these became Christians, and we 
 hear of them and from them since they left. 
 At Tientsin, the Chinese in charge of the 
 telegraph received several of our boys. He 
 says that they are studious and reliable, 
 and they are given better pay than those 
 not Christians. Mr. Stevenson has often 
 met our boys. They do not go back on 
 their religion ; they attend religious services 
 wherever they may be. Upon leaving they 
 were urged to do this. He mentioned a 
 case of a lad who met a missionary lady on 
 a steamer, and made himself known to her. 
 
 Q. — In case of falacai’ds and official inter- 
 ference with a new work, should the place 
 be revisited, and if so when ? 
 
 Rev. J. H. Taylor said that iia cases of pla- 
 cards on a journey there is no reason for 
 not revisiting the city. Official intei’ference 
 is more serious. After a time a wise mis- 
 sionary might go again. There is no gen- 
 eral rule. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore remarked tliat Paul was 
 stoned and .went again the next day. 
 
 Q. — If a passjaort right to live in an inn 
 be questioned, what course would you re- 
 commend 1 In opening a new station, 
 when is the earliest advisable moment to 
 begin building ? 
 
 Mr. Taylor said that if a passport were 
 questioned, he would I’etire quietly. He 
 would delay building as long as possible. It 
 is like the rule to keep as far from a preci- 
 pice as you can. 
 
 Q. — Should cases of persecution be taken 
 to aia official for settlement ? 
 
 Mr. J ones said it was bettei’' to try all 
 other possible ways first. Going to the 
 official is the last thing to be done. 
 
 Mr. Elwin said that depended upon 
 whether it was a direct violation of treaty. 
 In that case we may go to the official. 
 
 Dr. Sites said that he had found that 
 where a direct, violation of the treaty 
 occurs, it is well to take the matter to the 
 official, and the people are instructed by 
 the officials. He explained that he meant 
 taking the matter to the official through 
 the consul. 
 
 Q.— Will Dr. Nevius give an account of 
 the work in Shantung, with special re- 
 ference t<a lielp to members or converts 
 which will not pauperise '] 
 
 Dr. Nevius said that by help he supposed 
 pecuniai’y help was meant. He did not know 
 of any but special cases, or in famine time. 
 There is a good deal of this but there is 
 no fear of pauperi.sing in fanaine as it is 
 temporary and special. When it is over 
 the Chinese are expected to depend on 
 themselves. The Chinese ai’e like all others 
 — if you help regulai'ly, it is hard not to 
 paupei'ise. When the famine is over the help 
 ceases ; sometimes we help the poor. It is 
 ourpi’ivilege to help them, not as Christians, 
 but as human beings. 
 
 Q. — Native chui’ches are generally needy ; 
 how far should the foreign missionary 
 accede to requests from the jJoor for help 
 and loans of money 1 
 
 . Dr. Nevius said that he and his colleagues 
 had formed a fixed resolution never to lend 
 the Chinese money. The habit is a veiy 
 bad one ; to lend means to give. It is getting 
 money under false pretences. In many of 
 the cases, nothing is got in i-eturn. When 
 he thought it wise, he gave, not lent. 
 
 Mr. Bryant said there was a case in 
 Hankow where a factory was burnt down. 
 The man was heljaless, and a.sked for money 
 to piece out a loan by laatives. He pro- 
 mised to pay on a certain date. When the 
 day arrived, every cash was paid. 
 
 Mr. Little said that he helped through 
 the church. He put his money into the 
 church collection, and it thus reached the 
 poor through the native preacher. 
 
 Mr. Ohlinger said that while he did laot 
 encourage such loans, yet, by the exercise 
 of caution, he had thus far never lost a 
 cent. 
 
 Mr. Ross said that he had found it a 
 safe course to form a church committee, 
 and to report the matter to them. The 
 chui’ch .subscribed to this fund. 
 
 Mr. Hartman, said that missionaries agree 
 that to loan money is to drive tlie Chinese 
 away. A man in your debt will not come 
 to church. 
 
 Q. — Shall our desire to answer the 
 urgent requests of the street beggars, be 
 restrained ? 
 
 Mr. Hill said that if they were ordinary 
 professional street beggars, the desire 
 .should certainly be restrained. 
 
 Q. — Is it wise to provide dinner for 
 natives who travel upwards of thirty li to 
 attend our sabbath services ? 
 
32 
 
 Rev. Arthur Smith was asked to reply, 
 and said it was not. 
 
 Mr. Du Bose said we should ask our 
 foreign brother to dinner; why not the 
 native brother ? 
 
 Q. — Have there ever been any cases of 
 genuine conversion of chii jen, or second 
 grade graduates ? 
 
 Dr. Blodget said that he had received 
 two Buddhist priests, and some hsiu tsais, 
 but no chii jen. 
 
 Dr. Henry said that at Canton they had 
 one such man, but he has just been exclud- 
 ed. 
 
 Some one inquired if there was not one 
 formerly in Ningpo, but no one responded. 
 
 It was also said that tliere was one at , 
 Hankow. It was added that there was one I 
 from K‘aifeng F u. Another person said that 
 the late Mr. K. C. Wong, of Shanghai, was 
 a chii jen. 
 
 Dr. Walker said that there was a literai-y 
 graduate in Peking of tlie grade of chii jen. 
 
 Q. — How many Mohammedan converts ( 
 are there in China? I 
 
 There was said to be one converted in | 
 Hankow in a hospital. Another said that j 
 an early convert in the province of Anhui ; 
 was a Mohammedan. Another person sajd 
 that there was a case in Hankow, but he j 
 was a poor specimen. ' 
 
 Dr. Walker said that there were two in ! 
 the southern city of Peking in connection | 
 with the M. E. work. [ 
 
 Dr. Blodget said that several have been ' 
 inquirers, but have been prevented from 
 ■professing Christianity by their co-religion- 
 ists. 
 
 Mr. Bryant said that he had lately had a 
 letter from a convert of this class. 
 
 Mr. Goodrich quoted Dr. Edkius as say- 
 ing Hui-chang-naii-fe, “the Mohammedans 
 are hard to get.” 
 
 Dr. Wherry said that he had had them 
 in the chapels for sixteen years, and that 
 not a single one had professed Christianity. 
 
 Dr. Edkins mentioned that a leading j 
 difficulty is that the Mohammedans are not j 
 Chine.se. 
 
 Mr. Lees said that he had many Moham- [ 
 medan hearers. He went to a mosque and | 
 had, for the only time in his experience in | 
 China, a really stiff religious argument. It | 
 was so hot that a man who came in said to I 
 the Mohammedan, “It is of no use ; you { 
 will never give way, and Mr. Lees I 
 would rather die than give way. There | 
 will be a hot awakening for one of you.” 
 
 Q. — W’hat is the probablfe origin of the ' 
 phrase lao-t'ie)i yeh ? Is it to be found any- 
 where in Chinese literature ? 
 
 Dr. Edkins said it occurs in the Sacred 
 Edicts, and is good Mandarin. It belongs 
 to the extended phraseology which has 
 grown up in the Mandarin. Its use does 
 
 1 not probably date back more than 1,000 
 I years. 
 
 j , Q. — Is the need of a much greater num- 
 ' ber of foreign missionaries in China a real 
 I one, or can the necessities of the case not 
 be better met by a much larger and better 
 trained class of native evangelists and 
 I pastors ? 
 
 ‘ Mr. Taylor said we have been in danger 
 of employing those who are not fit. The 
 need can at present only be met by foreign 
 workers. 
 
 [ Q. — Is it advisable to engage and pay 
 
 j with foreign money an efficient church 
 member to work in the district where the 
 church is ? 
 
 Rev. H. H. Lowry .said paying an efficient 
 church member depends upon the man. 
 In some cases it wmuld be wise, and in others 
 not so. 
 
 Q. — Would it not be profitable to issue a 
 version of the Scriptures without verse 
 divisions, and somewhat in the style of 
 Chinese books ? 
 
 Dr. Blodget said that this subject had 
 been up to-day in the Conference. It w'ould 
 be a good plan. 
 
 Q. — Is it contrary to Chinese notions of 
 propriety for single ladies to open new' 
 stations ? 
 
 hlr. McCarthy said it is contrary to 
 Chinese notions of propriety for single 
 ladies to come to China at all. 
 
 Q. — Is it advisable or practicable to es- 
 tablish a Union Missionary College for the 
 study of Chinese for Mandarin-speaking 
 districts ? 
 
 Dr. Mateer said it waS not, unless they 
 had men enough and money enough. The 
 travelling expenses would be heavy. Time 
 may develop it — at present they could not 
 afford it. 
 
 Q. — What observance of the Lord’s day 
 must pastors enforce or expect from native 
 Christians, who are employed by heathen 
 masters, who might discharge them, thus 
 depriving them of their means of subsist- 
 ence, if they will not work on the Lord’s 
 day ? 
 
 Mr. Muirhead said that in Shangltai this 
 is a very difficult matter ; there are many 
 such ])ersons. 
 
 Dr. Sites said that in Foochow many 
 native Christians have a definite arrange- 
 ment with their masters, and take less pay 
 than if they w'orked on Sunday. 
 
 Mr. Taylor a.sked if we should not lose one 
 of the most valuable tests if w'e did not 
 teach the Chinese that God requires the 
 observance of His holy day ? We can not 
 afford to lose it ; can they ? Ought they not 
 to be taught to trust in a living God to 
 supply their need if they are faithful to Him ? 
 
 Q. — To w’hat extent is manual training 
 practicable in schools ? 
 
33 
 
 Mr. Hill .said that the blind can be 
 taught to make baskets ; knitting and nett- 
 ing are all practicable. 
 
 Mr. Hartmann spoke of sewing and em- 
 broidery in girls’ schools. 
 
 Mr. Little spoke of carpentry, carving 
 and silver plating. 
 
 Q. — Will Dr. Mateer give his views about 
 the C. I. M. training home at Ganking '!■ 
 
 Dr. Mateer said it was a delicate subject, 
 but that he was very favourably impressed 
 with what he saw there. 
 
 Q. — Should a street chapel be rented in 
 the name of the native evangelist, where it 
 has been refused to the foreign nikssionary 1 
 
 Dr. Nevius said that if the evangelist 
 had a good reputation it might be done. 
 
 Q. — Should new missionaries have the 
 help of their older colleagues in their first 
 three months of Chinese study ? 
 
 Mr. Goodrich said if the older colleagues 
 speak the Chinese language well, and can 
 do it, let them do so. 
 
 Q. — Do you not think it advisable to ■ 
 admit the crowd to witness the communion, 
 in spite of their saying ‘ they are eating the 
 pill ’ ? 
 
 Mr. Hartman said outsiders should be 
 kept out. 
 
 Mr. Little thought they should come 
 in. The Roman Catholics kept them out. 
 Protestants should not have so many mys- 
 teries. 
 
 Dr. Blodget said, they could not destroy 
 the distinction between things secred and 
 things profane. In Peking they have a 
 domestic chapel. They excluded none, all 
 could stay if they behaved with propriety. 
 
 Q. — Up to what age would you baptize 
 the children of Christian parents ? 
 
 Dr. Nevius said the practice varies 
 slightly with circumstances. Say from four 
 to six years of age. After that, wait till 
 they can make an intelligent profes.sion on 
 their own knowledge. 
 
 Q. — Should we instruct the Chinese to 
 keep the ‘ Sabbath ’ with its prohibitions. 
 This appears impossible, even missionaries 
 do not keep it. Should we not rather lead 
 them to enjoy the blessings and privileges 
 of the Lord’s Day ? 
 
 Mr. Goodrich said that he recollected 
 the story told by Dr. Talmage at the last 
 Conference about a man who was in deep 
 trouble, as he should have to starve if he 
 kept Sunday. Dr. T. was in a difficulty, 
 but he recalled the words ‘ remember the 
 Sabbath Day ’ and gave this advice. The 
 man afterwards kept Sunday, and did not 
 starve. 
 
 Mr. Ross of Amoy said that in the south 
 it is kept in the .spirit and not in the letter. 
 
 Q. — Is it recorded anywhere in the 
 Chinese classics that the Chinese at one 
 time did worship the one true God ? 
 
 I Dr. Edkins said that the classics recognise 
 a • Supreme Ruler,’ he believed that this is 
 I the one true God. He believed that mono- 
 j theism spread all over Asia, and was fol- 
 : lowed by polythei.sm. 
 
 1 Q. — Rev. G. Jones was asked these 
 
 I following (pie.stions ; how many native 
 preachers in his mission receive no salary 1 
 a comparative statement of tJie growth of 
 self-siqiiJort for tlie last five years ? 
 
 Mr. Jones said that about sixty stations 
 are supiilied by unpaid men. 'There are 
 ten or twelve evangelists who go to places 
 a hundred li away. These men are paid. 
 The progress of growth could not be given 
 at this time. 
 
 Mr. Yen was asked if it is advisable to 
 take ofl’ the Chinese cap during prayer ? 
 
 Mr. Lyon said it was barbarous to ask a 
 Chinese to take oft’ his cap in cold weather. 
 
 Mr. Elwin said that they take oft’ their 
 caj) to idols. As Mr. Yen was not present 
 a Chinese gentleman .said that it would be 
 as disrespectful to take off the cap in this 
 audience, as it would be for a foreigner to 
 keep his on. 
 
 Dr. Nevius was a.sked his opinion as to 
 omitting the word ‘ Jesus ’ and substituting 
 ‘ Saviour. ’ He said that in many cases 
 there is very little difference. The change 
 would conciliate ; some object to using Jesus 
 because it is too familiar, as the Chinese do 
 not apply names even to men. It seems 
 disrespectful. Those who object to Jesus 
 .substitute ‘ChiuChu.” Some one said 
 that we should always say ‘ Lord Jesus” in 
 speakingtotheCliine.se. Mr. Ohlinger added 
 that we should say ‘Lord Jesus Christ’. 
 
 Dr. Macklin said that in Nanking a chapel 
 could not be rented with the word Jesus 
 in the deed. 
 
 Mr. Du Bose said that ‘ Christ ’ is not 
 understood, ljut ‘ Saviour ’ is a term that 
 can be used and understood. 
 
 Rev. J. H. Taylor was asked why flood 
 the country with foreign missionaries, who 
 would be useless for three years, when a 
 few native evangelists are worth so much 
 more ? Mr. Taylor replied that there are 
 no men fit to be used in this way as evan- 
 gelists, who are not already used. Perhaps 
 more are already used than is for the good 
 of the church. If the missionaries are ‘ use- 
 le.ss for three years,’ they would be better 
 out of China than in it. 
 
 Dr. Aslimore said that the time had ex- 
 pired. Mr. Hill led in a closing prayer. 
 
 i^erentli Day, Wednesday, l^th May. 
 
 Tlie devotional meeting was led by Mr. 
 L. D. Wisliard. 
 
 The Conference was called to order by 
 Rev. D. Hill, Chairman. 
 
 The following resolution was moved 
 by Mr. Hykes : — Resolved : That all 
 
34 
 
 Comnnttees be instructed to select one of 
 their number to present and enforce their 
 report, for which purpose tea minutes sliall 
 be allowed. The report shall tlien bifopen 
 for general discussion of the Conference 
 with the understanding that the members 
 of the Committee in question reserve their 
 remarks until the close of the discussion. 
 
 The resolution was lost. 
 
 The following resolution was then moved : 
 — In view of the shortness of the time 
 remaining to the Conference, and the num- 
 ber . of questions 3 'et to be considered, 
 P.esolved, — That as the essaj’s j-et iinpre- 
 sented are already printed and before the 
 Conference, such remaining papers be not 
 read, but be referred to Committees for 
 consideration, the authors of the papers 
 being members of such Committees, and 
 that general discussion of all these subjects 
 he delayed until after hearing the report's 
 of the Committees. The resolution was to 
 allow the authors of t'<e es.says five minutes, 
 and the amendment was carried. 
 
 It was then voted that the two leading 
 •speakers on the essays be' limited to five 
 minutes. 
 
 Tlie following resolution was proposed 
 and lost : — That the Report of the Com- 
 nrittee on , a memorial to the Emperor 
 of China, be recommitted to the com- 
 mittee, and that this committee also take 
 into consideration Mr. Richard’s paper read 
 yesterday. The report of the committee on 
 the memorial to the Emperor of ' hina was 
 their taken up and debated with great 
 animation for about an hour by Rev. Dr. 
 Happer, Rev. Y. K. \en. Rev. D. . 
 Herring, Rev. Jno. \V. Davis, D. D , Dr. 
 Wm. Ashmore, Rev. >Vm. IMuirhead, Rev. 
 R. T. Brj’an, Rev. L. W. Pilcher, 1). D. , 
 Rev. F. Harmon, Rev. J. A. Silsby, Rev. 
 T. W. Stevenson, Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, 
 Rev. Chas. Hartwell, Rev. C. Leaman, 
 Rev. H. C. Du Bose, Rev. E. P. Tluving, 
 Dr. J. G. Kerr, Rev. S. I. Woodbridge, 
 Rev. Gilbert Reid, and Rev. C. \V. Blateer, 
 D.D. It was understood that the substance 
 of these debates should net be refrorted. 
 
 It was moved to lay the report on the 
 table to be taken up at the pleasure of the 
 Conference. The motion after a showing 
 of hands was declared carried, and the 
 report was laid on the table. 
 
 The Chairman said that yesterday’s 
 papers were now to be taken up, but as 
 there were objections to this, it was put to 
 vote by a show of hands and was declared 
 the will of the house to take up these 
 topics. It was moved to refer the paper 
 of Mr. Goodrich on the service of song to a 
 committee of twelve. 
 
 Mr. Goodrich did not see that this was 
 necessary, and no such reference was pres- 
 sed. 
 
 I The Chairman announced that any 
 j speakers could claim tlie floor, after the two 
 i ■who are allowed ten minutes each had 
 ; spoken. 
 
 Rev. G lbert Reid said that the question 
 : that w’as brought up by Mr. Richard in his 
 ])aper yesterday, although apparently not 
 important, would be before they meet again, 
 one of the most vital of issues. Mr. 
 i Richard’s paper was a thorough reviewof the 
 j situation: there was much misunderstanding 
 I of their work on the part of the high officials 
 of China and he referred to his experience 
 * in Peking two years ago. 
 
 , He met there some of the high offi- 
 cials. The topic of conversation was 
 Christianity and Missions. They all said 
 that within the Christian Church there 
 are bad men. They know nothing to the 
 I contrarj’. They know only ab'iut the 
 i complaints coming through the foreign 
 ! ministers. He replied to them that the 
 previous year the missionaries had excom- 
 ' n.unicated more than they had received, in 
 j order to keep the church pure. There were 
 I toleration clauses in the treaties and in the 
 j edicts. Still there was a'large amount of 
 ' intolerance toward their religion. How shall 
 thej' meet misunderstanding and intoler- 
 ' ance I Thej' should all together do their 
 best so to train the native converts that 
 w henever they come before theoflicials, they 
 should meet with approbation, while hold- 
 ing to the truth. 
 
 Then they must give all tolerance and 
 support to the men who feel called upon to 
 remove this intolerance and misunderstand- 
 im;. The plan has been to present the 
 business through foreign Ministers and thej' 
 
 I should insist that they had have the right to 
 I do so. In the interior it is now a fact that 
 1 the missionaries deal with the officials and 
 not with the ministers. Some of the latter 
 will not receive missionary memorials. 
 
 I There is a radical difference between the 
 imperial and the provincial authorities, 
 i Dr. Faber said that while the Chinese 
 Government is based upon law, “that law 
 is only the external expression of the 
 internal power of •will.” The law of 
 any state is the enforced will of those 
 I in authority; in China it is. tlie will of 
 an absolute Emperor in theory at least. 
 
 I As with other ancient nations Chinese 
 ' law does not distinguish between civil, 
 
 I moral, and religious law. Religion in 
 China is determined by law, not only as to 
 the deities to be worshipped, but also the 
 mode, time and j)lace of worshipping ; the 
 established religion of China is Confu- 
 cianism ; Buddhism, Taoism and other 
 religions are merely tolerated. Confu- 
 cianism is often represented as no religion 
 j at all. Religion, however, pervades every 
 movement of official life in China; a glance 
 I at the reking Gazette will convince the 
 
35 
 
 hiost sceptical of the truth of this state- 
 ment. We find there mentioned not only 
 worsliip of ancestors, of Confucius, of in- 
 numerable deified worthies, but also of the 
 duality of heaven and eartli, of sun ;ind 
 moon, the stars, wind, clouds, rain, thun- 
 der, the ocean, mountains, rivers, the four 
 regions, the four seasons, the year, months 
 and days. Astrology, selection of luckj' 
 and unlucky days, omens, charms, exor- 
 cism and other superstitutions are sanc- 
 tioned by im[)erial authority. Followers 
 of the Christian religion cannot submit 
 to such laws. They are of necessity trans- 
 gressors of law which is based upon 
 idolatry and superstition. There is no 
 compromise possible. Christians have every- 
 where been regarded as irreligious, because 
 they refused to conform to the established 
 religion of the state they were subject 
 to. They were punishable by law because 
 non-conformity was legally a crime. The 
 otdy possible remedy in China, as every- 
 where else, is, that Christians prove they 
 are not lawless individuals, but are in con- 
 cord with divine law. As subject to divine 
 law Christians have a right to claim tolera- 
 tion. We have however, to keep in mind 
 the difficulties to the Chinese Government. 
 Toleration means the grant of privileges. 
 Christians become liberated from the force 
 of existing law to a certain extent and 
 exempt, so far, from all the corresponding 
 duties and obligations. Christians form a 
 society within Chinese society. The 
 Chinese government has already been 
 forced to give up its idea of being the 
 absolute state of the world. It has to 
 acknowledge foreign ])owers on terms of 
 equality. By the exterritoriality clause it 
 has to submit to the jn-esence of foreign law 
 within the sphere of its own jurisdiction. 
 By granting permission, in the treaties, 
 for Chinese subjects to become Chris- 
 tians and practise the Christian religion in 
 China, imperial sanction is already given 
 to exempt Christians from Chinese law 
 as far as Cliinese law is in contradic- 
 tion to divine law. But Chinese law- 
 does not recognise individuals as units 
 to the State, but families, . clans, village 
 communities, and other cor])orations. It 
 seems of great importance that Christian 
 Churches should aim at recognition by 
 Chinese law. Ever}- Christian Church 
 should be placed legallj- on the same level 
 as village communities. The elders and 
 pastors of tlie church slmuld hold a position 
 anahigous to that iif elders of villages, or of 
 clans, with all the privileges and duties of 
 this class of Chinese subjects. This would 1 
 be possible according to Cliinese law and 
 would remove almost all existing difticul- i 
 ties. 
 
 Dr. Faber then proposed the following 
 resolution — That a Committee of fifteen ^ 
 
 I be appointed to consider the Relations of 
 Christian Missions to the Chinese Govern- 
 ment, and to report to the Conference. 
 This was passed. 
 
 Dr. Wherry said that it is quite possible 
 to exaggerate the opposition of the Chinese 
 ofiicials to Cliristianity. There is much 
 tolerance, more perhaps than they had a 
 reason to expect. In Peking at least, tlie 
 right of Christians to exercise their rights 
 of conscience is largely respected. He had 
 in mind a member of his church in that 
 city who is the private steward of the pre- 
 sident of the Tsung-li Yamen, w-ho is not 
 only not molested as a Christian, but on 
 account of greater diligence in business 
 since he has become one, has been put in 
 the line of promotion. 
 
 Mr. Watson spoke of the trouble which 
 comes because Christians are not allowed 
 to enter their names on the clan register. 
 The Conference says that the Gospel can- 
 not win its way without external power. 
 They give up the w-liole question if it can- 
 not ; tlieir work is a failure. 
 
 Mr. Woodbridge thought that it would 
 be best to let the matter alone. 
 
 Mr. Richard said that there is a great 
 improvement in the rela ion of the Christi- 
 ans to the government as compared with 
 t .venty years ago. But the condition might 
 have been far better. They were excluded 
 from some provinces and from many cities. 
 They had just heard of a fresh series of 
 risings in Hunan, reaching to Ichang and to 
 Nanking, just such as they should expect 
 after these blue books. This is contrary 
 to the growing friendliness of the Chinese. 
 These papers are sold in government book- 
 stores, having a semi-official character. If 
 nothing is done, it looks as if they could 
 not answer them. This will put many in a 
 position of the utmost peril. The toleration 
 of any religion can never be got without an 
 understanding with the State. At present 
 this is unsatisfactory. They should have a 
 better understanding, but should take care 
 lest they put back the work for many years 
 to come. 
 
 Dr. Faber’s proposal for a committee of 
 fifteen was seconded and on motion was 
 passed. 
 
 It was voted to discuss the paper of Dr. 
 Graves in the p.m. on Wednesday, and 
 the morning time was extended to 12.20. 
 
 Notice was given that Rev. Gilbert Reid 
 has prepared a pamphlet on the purchase 
 of Chinese property, which will be given to 
 those desiring it. 
 
 Dr. Corbett spoke of the remarks of hir. 
 Yen yesterdaj’, and thought that Mr. Yen 
 had done his people an injustice. Dr. 
 Corbett maintained that not all Chinese 
 enter the Church from interested motives. 
 The exjierience of a quarter of a century 
 showed the speaker that a large uiajority 
 
36 
 
 Were not thlie influenced. Unless taught by 
 the spirit of God, their views, like ours, are 
 of course “hazy.” In referring to Mr. 
 Jones’ address of yesterday he said tliat 
 self-support is a subject vastly misunder- 
 stood, it is like a two-edged sword. In the 
 Eng. Baptist Mission they liave a right 
 to be heard, the blessing ot God has been 
 upon them. 
 
 Mr. Jones said that if in any one of 
 seventeen stations, the leader should be 
 removed, it would be destructive. He had 
 had many such stathms without any such 
 leader. How could they nourish these sta- 
 tions ? They must in si.me way provide com- 
 petent instruction — some man or woman 
 who can build them up. Some believe that 
 the fourth commandment is as binding as 
 the rest, so they must enforce it. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore said that there are two 
 conceptions of what a self-su|ipoi ting 
 church is ; one is the modern one based on 
 money ; the other is the apostolic one 
 based on the possession of grace. At home 
 the question is of money, not of grace ; if 
 there is no money the church will starve. 
 God has not left the church to sucli a con- 
 tingency, he will give spiritual gifts, he 
 will let Christians edify and build uji one 
 another, this was illustrated by an explana- 
 tion I'f passages in I Cor. XIV. 
 
 Rev. R. E. Abbey thought that this 
 form of self support was a yiiantiing idea 
 which works well in the country. He said 
 that it was impossible for chapel-keepers 
 and others to live in the city without money. 
 In the city this plan is uti'{)ian. Some say 
 do not have street chapels in the city. 
 
 Dr. Mateer thought th.-it the talk was 
 largely a cross-fire. The church is not self- 
 supporting when it is lying by without 
 pastors. There are many such in the Pres. 
 Church at home. 
 
 Mr. Ost wanted to gat more definite 
 ideas as to the nature of Mr. Jones’ work, 
 but the time had been already extended 
 once and there was no more available. 
 
 Dr. Xevius referred to the fact mentioned 
 by Mr. Taylor that we have no adequate 
 supply of labourers. It is therefore better 
 to let the churches alone, than t<j put over 
 them men who are not suitable. V e can- 
 not manufacture to order the supply we 
 need. If we have them not, we cannot 
 create them; 
 
 Rev. B. M. R '.ss gave an- f)Utline of the 
 history of the growth of self-support in 
 Amoy. He said : — We have seven or eight 
 churches which have called pastors and are 
 self-supporting. They do not receive a 
 farthing of foreign money. The pastors 
 receive $14, $12, and tl le lowest $8 per 
 month. Besides these, we have thirty 
 churches that call ordained men for a 
 part of the time, at $5, $0 and $7, per 
 month. Mr. Sadler has lately opened 
 
 seven stations. The Missionary Society 
 helped to the extent of $1,000 for 
 two or three years. Now’ tliere are 150 
 Christians, and as many more adherents. 
 This year they do not w^int more than 
 $300, or $400. There is not a station in that 
 district that is not contributing in some 
 ineasure to the support of a native preach- 
 er. Preachers as a rule get from $4 to 
 $7, and some churches give $1, some up to 
 $7. Amoy is full of the atmosphere of self- 
 support. We have not the difficulties of 
 the north. The women contribute as 
 well as the men, if only a pittance. A 
 question was asked as to the houses of 
 worship, to which it was replied that the 
 money came chiefly from the natives. Not 
 a jienny from home was put into two chapels 
 seating some 300 each. 
 
 Mr. Cardwell though the Gospel should 
 be preached in China in the same way as in 
 England. The Gospel should not be toned 
 down to Confucianism. This toning down 
 is one reason for the inertness of the 
 native church. The missionary is as much 
 to blame as the society, which keeps 
 calling for ‘statistics.” They ask how 
 many converts have you made, not how 
 many has God made. 
 
 It was said replying to Mr. Jones’ 
 criticism of. the phrase ‘silver method,’ 
 and the like, that n.o disrespect was intend- 
 ed ; it was simply a convenient descriptive 
 term. 
 
 Rev. .1. R(jss of Anmy said that the mem- 
 bers of the L.M.’s are 1,500 in number, and 
 raised last year $3,500, from natives alone. 
 
 Mr. Sheffield suggested that the whole 
 missionary body is a ‘ paid agency.’ 
 
 Mr. Lees spoke of the desirability of 
 getting the native Christians to give to a 
 specific object if they are not equal to 
 self-support, and cited a very satisfactory 
 boys’ school as an example, thus they 
 could get in the thin end of the wedge. 
 
 An explanation was made in re.gard to a 
 prop()sed photograph of the Conference, 
 and a vote upon the method of having it 
 taken was called As the result was an- 
 nounced Mr. .Barber suggested that if the 
 aj’es and noes were photographed together it 
 would make a more complete representation, 
 it was moved to have three separate groups, 
 one, of those who have been in China ten 
 years or more, and the other two a division 
 of the rest ; this was carried. 
 
 Thanks were voted to the Am. Episc. 
 Mission for their invitation to St. John’s. 
 The session closed with prayer by Mr. 
 Stevenson of the Union Church. 
 
 Wedncsdayj Afternoou- 
 
 The meeting was opened wdth prayer by 
 Mr. Cooper. The meeting being called to 
 
37 
 
 otder, the report on Lay Agency was moved. 
 This report is as follows : — 
 
 1. — The Committee lecommeud that the 
 accompanying appeal for additional lay 
 agents be sent to the home t hurches from 
 the present Conference : — 
 
 That this Conference, whilst strongly urging 
 upon the home Chui'ches the sustentatiou and 
 continued increase of the staff of thoroughly 
 trained and fully qualified ordained mission- 
 aries, and the further development of native 
 agencies in every branch of Christian work, 
 is still so profoundly impressed with the 
 manifold need of this vast country, that it 
 would present a direct appeal to the laity of 
 the home Churches for lay missionaries, and 
 in doing so would lay before them some of the 
 departments of service in which their help is 
 more especially needed. 
 
 Beginning with the highest service, and 
 touching the deepest need of the country, 
 they would point to the many millions of our 
 fellow men who have never heard the Gospel 
 of the grace of God, and to some millions more, 
 who, though they have possessed themselves 
 of some portion of His Word, still fail to com- 
 prehend its meaning for want of some one to 
 guide them in their study of it ; and they 
 M ould urge the claims of these uuevangelised 
 millions on the youth of the home Churches 
 and would emphasise the nobility of the ser- 
 vice ^^•hich a Christian evangelist may thus 
 render to the Lord in China. 
 
 The country long closed is open. The 
 people, if not decidedly friendly, are not 
 hostile. The work of the Bible colporteur 
 has prepared the way. The promise of in- 
 gathering is yearly brightening, but the 
 labourers are few, and with the abundance of 
 Christian workers in the home lands surely 
 hundreds or even thousands might be found 
 to hasten on the evangelisation of this empire 
 by their personal effort and conversation. 
 
 Passing now to the intellectual require- 
 ments of China we rejoice to record the pro- 
 gress of missionary education in the East 
 during recent years, but are admonished by 
 the fact that purely secular instruction 
 largely tinges the educational movements 
 both of Christian and heathen governments, 
 and in this fact we hear a loud call to the 
 Christian Church to supply in larger numbers 
 Christian educationalists for China. The in- 
 tellectual rtuaisnaiiee of the empire is just 
 commencing ; there is an incipient cry for 
 'A estern culture, and the response which the 
 Christian Church may make to this cry will, 
 to no inconsiderable extent, decide the 
 course which the education of the country 
 will take in the future. 
 
 With Christian men in the chairs of the 
 colleges of China what may we not expect 
 from so powerful an auxiliary in the evan- 
 gelisation of the empire. University men 
 may find here at no distant period some of 
 the most influential posts in the mission 
 field, and we would earnestly invite all such 
 Christian co-workers to weigh over with all 
 seriousness the question whether they may 
 not more efiectively serve their general in 
 China than in the home lands. 
 
 But besides the intellectual need of the 
 country there is also the chronic and often 
 dire necessity of physical distress. 
 
 The masses of the people are poor. Physi- 
 cal sufi'eriug meets us at every turn. Medical 
 science is almost unknown. Charitable in- 
 stitutions, though established both by the 
 government and by private effort, fail to 
 compass the need of the masses. Flood and 
 famiueslay their thousands, and yet the wealth 
 of the world is in C hristian hands and might 
 by judicious distribution both save the lives 
 of thousands yearly and give completer ex- 
 pression to the Life we preach. On behalf of 
 these destitute masses therefore we earnestly 
 plead with the men of wealth in the home 
 Churches that they will consider the claims 
 of these suflering ones, and not only by their 
 gifts and prayers will largely aid the re- 
 inforcement of the noble staff of medical 
 I missionaries already in the field, but will give 
 themselves in larger numbers to benevolent 
 enterprise abroad. The blind, the aged, the 
 orphan and the destitute mutely plead for 
 ('hristian compassion, and the Lord Himself 
 has said, “Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of 
 these my brethren, even these least, ye did it 
 unto me.” 
 
 We appeal then to our lay brethren of the 
 home Churches, to men of sterling piety, of 
 strong common sense, that they would lay to 
 heart the needs of this vast empire, its spiritual 
 destitution, its stunted education, its physical 
 distress, and that they wou d solemnly ask 
 themselves whether for the greater glory of 
 God they are not called to meet this pressing 
 need and to devote themselves, their service 
 and their wealth to this missionary, enterprize 
 in China. We would offer to them a most 
 hearty welcome to our ranks and would as- 
 sure them that whether they come out as 
 ordained or as lay workers this welcome will 
 be equally cordial, and in conclusion we would 
 earnestly pray that this appeal may be brought 
 home to the hearts of many by the power of 
 the £)ivi;ie .Spirit. 
 
 2. — The Committee further recommend the 
 following resolutions for the adoption of the 
 Conference : — 
 
 (a. J That this Conference does not deem it 
 expedient that medical missionaries be ordain- 
 ed to file pastoral office. But 
 
 (b.j That the Conference recommends that 
 medical missionaries desiring ordination to 
 the office of deacon, elder, or evangelist apply 
 for such ordination in connection with their 
 respective Churches. 
 
 Various amendments were proposed, of 
 which the one to alter the word ‘ expedient ’ 
 in the second resolution (a), to the word 
 ‘ necessary ’ was carried. It was also voted 
 to strike out tlie words 'lay’, and ‘the 
 laity of’ in the first and second paragraphs. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore wanted this referred to 
 another committee to incorporate -all the 
 other appeals which the Conference might 
 make. 
 
 Mr. Archibald was satisfied with the re- 
 port except that it seemed to imply, in the 
 paragraph referring to the poverty of the 
 
38 
 
 people, thatthey asked for moneyfrom other 
 than ordinary charitable institutions. 
 
 The previous question having been called, 
 the vote was put on the amended report, and 
 it was adopted. It was voted to proceed 
 to the papers for this day, and five minutes, 
 only were, allowed to the reader of each 
 paper for a summary. 
 
 Rev. N. J. Plumb then read a paper on 
 the “ History and present condition (d 
 mission scIkjoIs and what further plans are 
 desirable ? ” 
 
 This w'as followed by a paper from Dr. 
 C. W. Mateer, entitled ‘ How may educa- 
 tional work be made most to advance the 
 cause of Christianity in China ?’ After the 
 ccmclusion of Dr. Mateer’s paper, Rev. D. 
 Z. Sheffield read a paper on ‘The relation 
 of Christian education to the jrresent con- 
 dition and needs of China’. 
 
 This was followed by a paper from Rev. 
 M. Schaub on “ the best method of select- 
 ing and training efficient native assistants” 
 (preachers, school-teachers, &c.). 
 
 Rev. A. P. Parker not Ueing present, 
 it was proposed to take his paper as read. 
 
 Rev. ,J. W. Stevenson thought this 
 would not be fair. 
 
 Rev. F. H. L. Pott spoke of the im- 
 portance of educational work. The dis- 
 ciples were sent out before the Apostles, 
 and were the material out of which the 
 Apcjstles were made. There is in China no 
 such ])reparation as Christianity had in 
 •ludaism.- 
 
 Rev. W. H. Lacj', of Ft'ochow, spoke on 
 behalf of the Anglo-Chinese College in 
 that port. He combated the arguments 
 of Dr. Mateer’s paper, and showed in 
 what way they were equally applicable to 
 the. Converse proposition. He said that 
 there is a demand for English education 
 which they must meet. The education there 
 is thorough ; semi-annual written examina- 
 tions are required in all English branches. 
 Dr. Mateer’s argument leads to the con- 
 clusion that we should teach English, if in 
 that way pupils will stay with us for “ a 
 term of years.” In Foochow they remain a 
 long time, some to the tenth j’ear. They 
 pay all their own e.xpenses, books, and 
 tuition. 'J'hose who have left without com- 
 pleting the course, and have a good know- 
 ledge of English, arc in useful situations and 
 maintain Christian characters. Not one is 
 known to have gone astraj’ from the church 
 or to have suft'ered morally through his 
 ability to use English. Mr. Lacy showed 
 that the sciences, in the Foochow College, 
 are extensively taught. During the 2>ast 
 two m’onths fifteen of the students have 
 been received intothe church. In the higher 
 classes seveial are loriking to the ministiy. 
 Four are already licensed. The Chinese 
 classics are not neglected. The study of 
 English does not destroy a taste for Chinese 
 
 literature. The Bible is not neglected, bub 
 is a text-book all through the course. The 
 Foochow Missionary Union of all the three 
 missions is a unit in affirming the value of 
 English education, though opinions were 
 formerly divided. The ten years’ history 
 of the College show.s that ic is a success. 
 
 Rev. J. Lees then read a paper, the toi)ic 
 of which was the same as that of the last 
 one read. Rev. C. F. Reid read the paper 
 by Dr. Parker, on “The place of the Chi- 
 nese classics in Christian schools and col- 
 leges.” 
 
 Rev. F. Hartmann spoke of the educa- 
 ti(jiial work accomplished by the late Rev. 
 Mr. Genaehr. His life was spent in edu- 
 cating. Two men whom he educated are 
 most valued authorities, and great aids to 
 the missionaries in giving advice. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Barber said that he considered 
 that he was preaching as a school-master, 
 a jilace which Dr, Arnold has shown to be 
 the very highest and as much a cure of 
 souls as a jiastor’s. He asked for sympathy 
 for those who work for the upper classes. 
 There are only two doors by which to get 
 at them, the doctor’s and the school- 
 master’s. The latter stands up every day, 
 and shows that he knows oceans more than 
 the Chinese do, and they cannot look 
 with contempt upon such a man. There is 
 a great dill'erence between schools for hea- 
 then, and those for Christian boys. His 
 were the former, but the scholars outshone 
 English boys. A son of a Cliristian book- 
 seller heat the son of a mandarin. There 
 is something in Christianity which enabled 
 him to do so. We must not let the native 
 schoolmaster come in befcjie us. As long 
 as we teach in high schools China wdll 
 move. By Christian scholars, China shall 
 be' brought to the fountain of all jrurity — 
 (rod, and Christ His son. 
 
 Mr. Ohlinger was surprised that some 
 prominent educators object to the English 
 language in schools. It was like a j)roposi- 
 tion to make the Yangtze navigable for 
 junks only. 
 
 Mr. Silsbjf contended that the arguments 
 against English education worked the other 
 waj\ He could .say for the school in Shang- 
 hai what Mr. Lacy said for it. 
 
 Dr. Kip wanted to speak about the native 
 j)astor. He gave an account of the history 
 of the pastors in Amoy. The first man 
 ordained has been f-r twentj’-seven years a 
 faithful minister. They had now in the 
 ])rcsbytery, coinirosed of two missions, 
 tif teen churches organised. Some are compos- 
 ed of several villages. Thirteeii are sup]died 
 with native pastors of their own. They 
 are all sterling men. In ijuestiuns (»f 
 difficulty, the missionaries took the pastors’ 
 judgment in j)reference to our own. 
 
 Mr. Elwin said that in the training of 
 efficient native assistants, the question is 
 
39 
 
 how to employ the material that the schools | 
 turn out ? Ill the C. M. JMicl-China Mission’ ! 
 College, the pupils are taken between 12 
 and 19 years of age. Tliey are examined by I 
 a G'uiiinittee of two or three, and if tit are 
 appointed to schools as teachers for live [ 
 years. They are watched and superintend- 
 ed. At the end of this period, they nui}' 
 continue to teach. If they desire to advance, I 
 they may apply to be evangelists. Then 
 follows a further course of two years for 
 preaching, accomjianied with praciical work 
 of all kinds. They are then examined, and if 
 satisfactory, appointed as evangelists, not ! 
 pastors. The calling of [lastors is in the ^ 
 hands of the native church. One of the 
 worst boys in school was prayed for by a* 
 band of ladies. The knowledge of this , 
 fact so influenced him, that he became . 
 converted, and is now one of the best I 
 workers in the inissitm. The s)ieaker was i 
 asked how these boys were supported. He 
 answered, partly by the church and partly 
 by parents. iSix dollars a year towards each 
 boy’s expenses is always required from the 
 parents. 
 
 Rev. W. Bridie wished to speak for a 
 class which he thought had thus far re- 
 ceived but scant courtesy at the hands of 
 many S|>eakers. He would stand up for 
 paid native agents. He described an inland 
 station three hundred miles from a treaty 
 port, in a city of 30,000 people. Here 
 there are two chapels, a day school, and a 
 dispensary. I’rom this as a centre, work is 
 carried on at four other stations, and these 
 again are centres for work. In this way a 
 population of a million and a half are being 
 brought in contact with Christianity. The 
 staff consists of two foreigners, one missiem- 
 ary, or doctor, and four native preachers. 
 Throughout the year, regular itineration 
 goes on in the districts, and the men divide 
 the time between the country and the I 
 •town. A word as to results. The work ] 
 was begun about twenty years ago. As 1 
 usual the earl}' years were comparatively j 
 unproductive, but the growth of the : 
 work has been steady. During the last j 
 few years, over 200 members have been ! 
 added. Besides the numerical increase, 
 the members have given nobly to the sup- 
 port of the work, subscribing all the ex- 
 penses for the building of one church, and 
 giving the principal part tif the cost of j 
 another. There is one point upon which I 
 he wished to lay special stress. The chief 
 success has been at the stati(Uis directly 
 under the care of the native preachers, 
 and not where the foreign missionaries 
 live. The same thing to a large extent 
 may be i)redicated of all the successful inis- 
 sion stations in the Kuangtung province. 
 Does not this show that the system of 
 paying native preachers necessarily pre- 
 cedes the development of self-support 1 
 
 Certainly not ; they are growing up side 
 by side. He had seven men who preach 
 without receiving any salary. One man is 
 a doctor trained by a medical missionary, 
 and shews his gratitude by attending to a 
 disjjensary two or three days in a week. 
 In conclusion he would say, let us trust 
 our native preachers, and seek to raise 
 them intellectually and spiritually to a 
 higher standard, and they will amply 
 rei)ay all the labour and loving ■ care be- 
 stowed upon them, and the result will be 
 that G(jd will give us through them still 
 greater and more abundant proofs of His 
 power and willingness to bless China, and 
 bring this' great empire to the feet of 
 J esus. 
 
 Rev. T. W. Pearce said that he had 
 much satisfaction in seeing that recognition 
 w'as given to different branches of mission- 
 ary work. He gave much of his time to 
 2 )reaching. The country work depends 
 largely u^ton keejhng up the preaching in 
 busycentres. Itisacommonchargethat they 
 were hidden, atid were afraid to relit or build 
 on a busy street. Each jn’eaching jilace in 
 the city helps to make country work pos- 
 sible. ,It is inqiossible to preach without 
 the aid of the best Chinese who are uji in 
 classics and in western science. The ques- 
 tions put to the native preachers in the 
 Canton chapels show this. Christ gave an 
 example of j^reaching, and so did Confucius 
 and hlencius. The sjieaker advocated go- 
 ing about with country evangelists to show 
 them how to do the work. IMost direct 
 and pointed preachers are the ones that 
 have been trained thoroughly. 
 
 Mr. Herring spoke briefly on the matter 
 of jiaid agency, and insisted upon a call of 
 God as prerequi.site. 
 
 The Chairman said that a call of God is 
 understood. 
 
 Rev. J. Ross, of Moukden, spoke of the 
 w'ork of his mission there. In seventeen 
 years 1,200 persons had been bajitised. 
 Thousands were secretly with his cause. In 
 almostall cases, thetirstlessoncanie from the 
 native, and not directly from the foreign 
 mi.ssionary. He had a few native agents. 
 Each man in the church is a volunteer 
 w’orker. Niue out of ten are instructing 
 their fellow-countrymen in Christian truth. 
 When they are very successful, he selected 
 and trained them in Bible and cognate 
 truth to make them efficient preachers. 
 They are under training for several years. 
 Then, if they are found efficient, they are set 
 apart for such work as missionaries are set 
 apart for, and receive the .same sup|iort 
 The important question before the Con- 
 ference is the training of the native evan- 
 gelist. An appeal should be made not 
 only for missionaries and lay agents, but 
 for a few talented and earnest men, the 
 best men in the Church at home, w’ho will 
 
40 
 
 stand head and shoulders above us all, to 
 be an example to the most intelligent, and 
 to train up native evangelists through 
 China. 
 
 Mr. Ost said that he had between 700 
 and 800 children in his schools. Last j'ear 
 he opened an Anglo-Chinese school with 
 140 boys. It does not cost the Society a 
 cash. The boys are thus under Christian 
 influence. He mentioned the case of a 
 Japanese who was brought in through an 
 Anglo-Japanese school in Yokohama. This 
 man has started six or seven churches, 
 and baptised over a thousand converts. 
 Mr. Loomis, from Japan, said that this 
 man is looked up t", because he is a 
 man of culture, power, and prayer. The 
 Chinese are willing to have their boys under 
 our influence ; in Hongkong this is certainly 
 true. This is a very encouraging feature. 
 
 Mr. Abbey spoke of the ill effects of 
 Confucian schools, and of the dangers of 
 training men for the examinations. The 
 errors in the classics should be pointed out 
 in a wise way. Workers should trust to . ■ 
 the direct teaching of the Bible. 
 
 Mr. Shaw, of Foochow, spoke on the sub- 
 ject of day-schools. At his station these 
 schools are supported by friends at home. 
 
 It is a mistake to employ heathen teachers. | 
 Hespokeof thegreatutility ofcareful exami- 
 nations twice a year, witlu ut which there 
 had been confusion and lack of system. 
 The pupils havea four years’ course, and the 
 teachers have rewards in proportion to the 
 progress of the pupils. Many schools begin 
 with large numbers and the scholars fall 
 ofl’. The teachers have a reward for such of 
 their scholars as pass. 
 
 The Church Mission has 4,007 baptised 
 Christians, and 3,555 inquirers, a total of ' 
 7,562. They have 99 ‘ caiechists,’ or paid 
 agents, and 234 unpaid agents, who give 
 most valuable help. They tried all they 
 could to develop self-support. 
 
 In reply to a question, Mr. Shaw said 
 there is an average of about fifteen pupils 
 in his 96 schools, and he declined to open 
 a school with less than 30 pupils. There 
 were three girls’ boarding schools, one with i 
 60 pupils, one 30 and one 23. The schools ' 
 in the country are for both sexes. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead called attention to the 
 question before the Municipal Council of 
 Shanghai as to the education of the 15,000 i 
 or 20,000 Chinese children in the Settle- 
 ment, and urged all who could do so, i 
 especially practical educators, to respond to 
 the invitation of the Shanghai Literary and 
 Debating Society to attend their meeting 
 that evening. He hoped the Council would . 
 have schools like those of Hongkong. He i 
 hoped that the evening’s meeting would be 
 gratefully remembered in after days. 
 
 Dr. Nevius said that there had been an 
 unnecessary antagonism made between paid 
 
 and unpaid agents. He was not opposed to 
 paid agents, when they had been tried from 
 four to six years and God has manifestly 
 chosen them. He would then most cordially 
 bring such men forward. He objected to 
 bringing them forward from the first for 
 employment. There is the danger that 
 they be called of men and not of God, and 
 no way left of sifting them.- First see what 
 is in them, and whether they are useful. 
 They should give evidence snuilar to that 
 i-eijuired of candidates at home. 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that he was not opposed 
 to education in English, or in any other 
 language. He was set to write on the 
 most advantageous way to advance the cause 
 bf Christianity in China. That was the super- 
 lative decree. There was also a comparative 
 and a positive. He believed in all kinds of 
 education, but none to precede or to super- 
 sede the preaching of the Gospel. In 
 Foochow the brethren have secured a con- 
 dition of things that has gained thorough- 
 ness and permanence in education. Many 
 other schools have failed in this. He 
 had been misapprehended ; when he said 
 that English education 'lifts a man up’, 
 he meant not mentally or morally, but 
 in clothes and food. Unless he keeps 
 himself in close contact with foreign 
 civilisation, he can not live on ihe scale 
 which he has lived on. As to the ‘ influence’ 
 upon his own people, the man who is 
 educated in English will connect himself 
 with foreigners in the Government, Cus- 
 toms, and similar occupations. His in- 
 fluence may be great but it will not be 
 broad. The nian who is educated in Chinese 
 will exert influence everywhere. It is 
 said that we ‘ must ’ teach English. That 
 means that there is money in English. 
 English is not wanted in order to preach 
 the gospel. It looks to high salaries and 
 positions. It may be vei-y useful, and we 
 do not discredit it. If he were a young 
 man, he might be willing to go into such 
 woi*k. At his time of life he preferred to 
 use the acquirements he had. If we can 
 point these young men in a different direc- 
 tion, we are working on the superlative 
 line, rather than on the comparative. 
 
 Mr. Plumb saids that by “higher” 
 education he understood that which is 
 genuine education — that which makes a 
 man strong. It had been said that a 
 classical education turns out Pharisees. 
 This is combatted by the papers of the day. 
 Genuine education humbles. It comes from 
 without. The be’st reasons for the usf* of 
 English are that it gives a wide range, that 
 one may go on acquiring. In a Chinese 
 education, it finds an end in itself. There 
 is no more to read than has been already 
 studied. In the West the completion of 
 a course is called “commencement”. 
 When we have thoroughly educated men. 
 
41 
 
 tliey will know English. There was a case 
 in Fc)Ocli()w of a C’inese preacher who was 
 offered $50 a niontli in some outside ein- 
 ploynient. He refused this, choosing to 
 serve the Church for $3.50 a month. He 
 is one of the best preachers, faitliful and 
 earnest. No one gives a more complete or 
 a better discourse than he. Tlie students 
 in the College seem to grow in the spiritual 
 life. Truly directed and properlj' guided, 
 higher education will do a grand work for 
 China. 
 
 Rev,. D. Z. Sheffield spoke c.f the place 
 of the classics in Christian schools. He 
 said that Mr. .Abbey would modify the rules 
 that had been mentioned for his schools, 
 before the next Conference. He said tlia’t 
 his mission once directed him to make an 
 epitome of the four books. It was thought 
 that the Chinese classics must be expurgat- 
 ed. He did not succeed in carrying out this 
 direction. The study of the Chinese classics 
 is to the Chinese student a means of study- 
 ing the Chinese language. The classics 
 should have a Christian commentary. Ht 
 did not wish to antagonise Christiati educa- 
 tion and evangelistic work ; these depart- 
 ments are essentially oiiC. The evangelistic 
 work is the right hand, education is the 
 left hand. If we would make our work 
 extensive it must be intensive. We are 
 all striving toward self-support. There is 
 danger in foreign money as there is danger 
 in the hammer or the axe, but they are a 
 power in the hands of a skilled workman. 
 We should not tie our hands by rules in 
 advance of experience as some have done. 
 His mission had carried four classes through 
 their high-school and theological school, 
 fifteen of twenty young men ; they were the 
 leaders in the evangelistic work. Three of 
 these have been ordained, and three others 
 recommended for ordirtaiion. 
 
 Mr. Lees said that his subject though an 
 important one, had hardly been mentioned. 
 We want to reach the living Chinese of the 
 present generation. Our object should be 
 to take Chinese that have some education, 
 and give them Bible training. We must do 
 this now so as to bring in the present gen- 
 eratifiii. This needs to be insisted upon. 
 
 Notice was given of the preparation of a 
 commentary on the Chipese classics by 
 Dr. Faber. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Plumb, the last Thurs- 
 day in .lanuary, generally observed in 
 England and in the U.S. as a day of prayer 
 for colleges, was recommended for observ- 
 ance. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead announced that the sub- 
 ject of the IVen-li version, which had been 
 thought so difficult, was settled most har- 
 moniously in the committee on that topic. 
 
 A resolution was introduced that the 
 proceedings of the Conference should be 
 put into Chinese for the native Christians. 
 
 The motion was carried. The session 
 closed with prayer by Mr. Hill. 
 
 Eighth Day, Thntsday, 15th May. 
 
 The Devotional Meeting was led by Rev. 
 T. R. Stevenson. 
 
 The C(mference opened at 10 a. in. 
 
 The minutes were read, and after cor- 
 rection ado])ted. 
 
 The following Committee was announced, 
 and on motion made the choice of the Ct>n- 
 ference : 
 
 Committee on Preparing a Report of the 
 Conference in Chinese : — Mr. Jas Ware, 
 Rev. Y. K. Yen. 
 
 The folio wing nominations were announ- 
 ced by the Committee on Nominations, 
 for a Committee on the Relation of the 
 Christian Church to the Chinese Govern- 
 ment and was chosen by the Conference: — 
 
 Rev. T. Richard, Chairman, Rev. Y. .1. 
 Allen, Rev. .1. Edkins, Rev. F. H. .James, 
 Rev. .1. McCarthy, Rev. N. H. Sites, Rev. 
 Fryer, Rev. Ernst Faber, Rev. Gilbert 
 Reid, Rev. B. C. Henrj', Rev. W. Painter, 
 Rev. Dr. Williamson, Rev. A. H. Smith, 
 Rev. C. Shaw, Rev. Hunter Corbett, D.D. 
 
 Rev. .1. Hudson Taylor moved to extend 
 the time of the Conferenca as long as 
 necessary for full discussion of the subjects 
 before it. This motion was carried. 
 
 Dr. Kerr presented the report of the 
 Committee on Opium as follows : — 
 
 U'liereas this Conference regards the 
 rapid extension of the growth of native 
 opium, in addition to the use of the imported 
 drug, with profound alarm ; the consequent 
 vast increase of the opium-habit demands our 
 most serious and unremitting consideration. 
 
 We Resolve — 
 
 1. — TliatVe as a Conference re-affirm and 
 maintain our attitude of unflinching opposi- 
 tion to the opium-traffic. 
 
 2. — That we recommend the Christian 
 Church in China to use every endeavour to 
 arouse public opinion against the spread of 
 this evil, and to devise means to secure, as far 
 as may be, its final suppression. 
 
 3. — That we advise the formation of a 
 Chinese anti-opium society, with branches 
 at all mission stations. 
 
 4. — That we have learned with alarm the 
 rapid increase in the consumption of morphia 
 in China ; and that we urge all missionaries 
 to discourage and prevent the sale of .so-called 
 anti-opium medicines containing opium or its 
 alkaloids, by mi.ssionaries, native Christians 
 or others, not qualified by medical education 
 to prescribe the use of these drugs. 
 
 5. — That we earnestly impress upon all 
 Christian Churches throughout the world, the 
 duty of uniting in fervent and continual 
 prayer to God that He will in His wise pro- 
 vidence direct His people to such measures as 
 will lead to the restriction and final abolition 
 of this great evil. 
 
 6. — That we deeply sympathise with the 
 efforts of the societies in Great Britain for the 
 
42 
 
 suppression of the Opium Trade (and similar 
 societies) and recommend them to continue 
 and increase the agitation for the suppres- 
 sion of the growth and sale of opium iu India, 
 for the supply of the Chinese market. 
 
 It was moved by Dr. Mateer that this 
 report be made the order of the day after 
 the reading of the minutes of Friday. 
 
 The motion was passed. 
 
 ]\Ir. Muirhead presented the report of 
 the C(>mmittee on a IFen-Zt version : — 
 
 Your Committee would respectfully re- 
 commend that this Conference elect by ballot 
 an Executive Committee of ten representative 
 men from the Mandarin-speaking regions of 
 China, to whom shall be committed the work 
 of securing an improved version of the Old 
 and New Testaments in Mandarin, and that 
 this ' ommittee proceed according to the 
 following plan : — 
 
 1. — That they select and secure the services 
 of a corps of competent scholars for the work 
 of revision, consisting of not less than seven 
 men, to be known as the Committee on 
 Mandarin lievision, and shall further make 
 all necessary arrangements for the vigorous 
 prosecution of the work. 
 
 2. — That this Committee of Revision may be 
 as representative as possible, it shall be 
 selected with reference to denominations and 
 nationalities, but competent scholarship for 
 the work to be undertaken shall be made the 
 paramount consideration. 
 
 3. — The Committee on Revision shall make 
 constant and careful use of the Union Man- 
 darin version of the New Testament prepared 
 in Peking and widely employed in the Alan- 
 darin-speaking regions of Cliina ; and also of 
 the recent version prepared by Dr. John, and 
 the Medhurst version formerly in extensive 
 use in central China ; and in Old Testament 
 revision, of tlie version of Bishop Sclieres- 
 chewsky ; and further that afl questions 
 relating to the translation itself shall rest 
 with the translators, — not with the Execu- 
 tive Committee. 
 
 4. — That the text that underlies the revised 
 English versions of the Old and New Testa- 
 ments be made the basis, with the jjri\'ilege 
 of any deviations in accordance with the 
 authorised version. 
 
 5. — That in order to secure one Bible in 
 two versions, the Executive Committee is in- 
 structed to enjoin upon the revisers, that in 
 settling upon the text and in all questions of 
 interpretation they act in conjunction with 
 the translators info simple Wen-li, and that 
 for these purposes they constitute one Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 6. — The Executive Committee shall con- 
 tinue to act and to superintend the work of 
 supervision until its completion. If any 
 member of the corps ef revisers shall for any 
 cause cease to act before the completion of 
 the work, the Executive Committee shall, if 
 they think best, supply his place 
 
 7. — That in ease of absence from China or 
 other disability of any member of the Execu- 
 tive Committee, he shall have the right to 
 name his own proxy or successor, but if he 
 
 fail to exercise this right it shall revert to the 
 Committee. 
 
 ■ 8. — ^The Executive Committee shall ask in 
 the name of this Conference the concurrence 
 and financial help of the Bible Societies of 
 Great Britain and America in carrying for- 
 ward this work ; and that when completed it 
 be the common property of the Societies which 
 have given their patronage .to the work, each 
 having the right to publish such editions as it 
 may choose, and with such terms for God, 
 Spirit and Baptize as may be called for, and 
 also to add explanatory readings, page, chap- 
 ter and sectional headings, maps and such 
 other accessories as it may deem expedient. 
 
 After hearing this report, the Conference 
 United in singing the Doxology. It was 
 moved by Dr. Wherry to make this report 
 the second cirder of the day for Friday. 
 
 Dr. Mateer made some explanations in 
 regard to this report. 
 
 Dir. Watson moved to consider the report 
 immediately after the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Union. 
 
 Dr. Blodget said that the Conference 
 would gain time by taking the subjects in 
 detached portions. 
 
 Dr. Graves stated that the question of 
 union and that of versions are distinct. 
 
 Dr. Mateer was opposed to complications. 
 Each subject should be considered on its 
 own merits. To mix the subjects, would 
 be to shipwreck the matter. 
 
 The motion to postpone the report Until 
 after the report of the Committee on Union, 
 was then lost, the vote being unanimous. 
 
 The original motion to make the report 
 the order for Friday a.m. after the reading 
 of the minutes was then put and carried. 
 
 Rev. D. Z. Sheffield presented the re- 
 port of the Committee on the Revision of 
 the Bible in Mandarin, which is identical 
 with the report on the Wenli version pre- 
 sented on the previous day by Mr. Muirhead 
 
 Mr. Sheffield said that it was not neces- 
 sary to add much to what Dr. Mateer had 
 said, as the Wen-li and Mandarin versions 
 have so much in common. In the two 
 sessions of the Committee which had been 
 held, and which were protracted ones, 
 there was a unanimous feeling that there 
 is need of a new Ms^ndarin version. It is a 
 common conviction that though there is a 
 considerable difference between the speech 
 of Central and North-China, a common 
 version that will be satisfactory can be pro- 
 duced. The chief discussion had been over 
 the third section. As to style, there was a 
 feeling that in the Mandarin there is need 
 of more careful reference to the original. 
 There is an increasing demand for exact- 
 ness of translation. 
 
 It was moved that Mr. Archibald and 
 Dr. Wright have each five minutes to re- 
 present their respective Bible Societies. 
 
43 
 
 Rev. G. Reid moved to accept the report, : 
 and to make it the order for to-morrow | 
 afiernoon. This was carried. 
 
 Dr. Wright said tliat it was impossible 
 to present liis topic properly in live minutes. 
 
 Dr. Pilcher moved that the two gentle- 
 men be asked to print their communications. ^ 
 On being put to a vote, this motion was 
 lost. 
 
 Mr. Hartman moved to give them all the 
 time they needed, say ten minutes, with 
 the understanding that they do not after- 
 wards speak. This was voted. 
 
 Mr. Archibald then spoke on behalf of 
 the National Bible Society of Scotland, and 
 its great work for China. The conference 
 desires a union version, and the key is in 
 the hands of the Bible Societies. In their 
 sphere these societies are very powerful. 
 The reason for the comparative failure of 
 the revised English version, was said to be 
 that the Bible Societies did not take it up. 
 Two years ago, not a copy was to be had in 
 Shanghai. If these societies agree to sup- 
 port it, the union version is gained, but not 
 till then. They can be brought to agree 
 by showing them that the old versions are 
 defective, that a better one can be made, 
 that the better version will be accepted 
 when it is made, and lastly that the old 
 ones will be withdrawn. 
 
 Mr. Archibald then explained his own 
 relations to the Bible Committee, and to 
 the version of Dr. Griffith John, a letter 
 from whom was read. He concluded by 
 saying that it would take a long time for a 
 new version to be settled, and that the time i 
 for such a version has not yet come. 
 
 Dr. Wright spoke of his extreme gratifi- 
 cation that this difficult matter appeared 
 so near a solution when the report was 
 presented that morning. He then gave 
 a detailed history of the correspondence 
 between the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society and the National Bible Society of 
 Scotland, and also with the Am. Bible 
 Societj', to show the urgent desire which 
 existed for a union version. 
 
 Dr. Williamson was anxious to read later 
 letters from the Scotch Society but the 
 Conference decided that they could not 
 now be read. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead then read ain abstract of 
 his paper which is a “ Report of School and 
 Text-book Committees.” 
 
 Mr. Lacy objected that the papers were 
 not to be read, but the secretary showed 
 by the minutes that they were to have five 
 minutes each. 
 
 Dr. Williamson then read a part of his 
 paper on “ What books are still needed.” 
 
 It was voted that Mr. Fryer be allowed 
 fifteen minutes, whereupon he read a part 
 of his paper on “Scientidc terminology; ' 
 present discrepancies, and means of secur- i 
 ing uniformity.” I 
 
 At the conclusion of Mr. Fryer’s paper, 
 Mr. .Yen addressed the Conference. He 
 wished to explain that the remarks which 
 he made the other day on the motivfS of 
 the Chinese in uniting with the Church, 
 were intended to be general, and not 
 universal. 
 
 The Chairman asked Mr. Yen to restrict 
 himself to the subject of the papers. 
 
 Mr. Yen then spoke with reference to 
 the chemicarand other technical terms used 
 by translators. Why invent new terms, 
 when according to eminent Chinese scholars 
 there are suitable terms in existence I 
 Translators should employ scholars, not 
 writers, when translations are to be made, 
 and adequate salaries should be paid. 
 Sometimes this is neglected, and improper 
 terms are used. In such work there must 
 be ideas that have no corresponding terms. 
 So it was in England, before Queen Eliza- 
 beth. Words spring up in a hundred 
 years. Rather than translate technical 
 terms, it is better to “ phoneticise ” them. 
 For example such words as “ultimatum,” 
 “telephone” &c., which are now common 
 in the Chinese press. This is better than 
 making a definition. 
 
 Dr. Mateer remarked in regard to the 
 Text-b(3ok Committee, of which he has been 
 a member from the beginning, the report 
 in two particulars does not represent him. 
 Many of the books published are not school 
 books, but are tracts. He was opposed to 
 these all the while. He was not opposed to 
 tracts, but to their publication by this Com- 
 mittee. Then, the books have been too dear, 
 thestyleof printingtoo high. Heagreed with 
 the most of Mr. Fryer’s paper. They want 
 a technical dictionary, but it should not be 
 authoritative. It should collate, reject- 
 ing only what is ridicuhnisly unsuitable, 
 each term standing on its own merits. He 
 wished to emphasise the proposition of Mr. 
 Yen, to phoneticise, though not to have a 
 hard and fast rule. In the main it i.s the 
 true policj’. 
 
 He dissented from Dr. Faber on the 
 topic of Arabic numerals, and pointed our 
 the evils, of the Chinese notation. L^ltima- 
 tely Arabic figures will prevail in China. 
 Western figures take 1.3 strokes, the Chi- 
 nese 27. Western mathematic.® will never be 
 adopted, except with western nomenclature. 
 
 It was then voted to extend the time 
 until 12.15. 
 
 Mr. Barber advocated the Arabic nu- 
 merals which he said can be learned by 
 schools boys in half an hour. At present 
 Chinese mathematicians are few, not a fourth 
 of one per cent of the people. This is the 
 time to dam the stream. Do not perpetuate 
 the great mistake of the past. 
 
 Mr. Fryer spoke on the subject of the 
 schcjol and text bonk series. The present 
 Conference must do something about that 
 
44 
 
 dommittee. tresli blood infused would 
 have an advantage. Only educational men 
 should be" on this Committee for others 
 tannot tell what is wanted. We do not 
 want a Society to take over what the Com- 
 tnittee haVe gathered. A society Would be 
 entirely independent. The Committee 
 should form a definite constitution and 
 by-laws. They should have a place to 
 store the stock, and to sell the books in. 
 A depository is necessary to supply bocks. 
 I'he Presbyterian Press has been the depo- 
 sitory, and we cannot do better than to con- 
 tinue it as such. More funds are needed, 
 and a general editor in Shanghai, who is 
 willing to be the patient drudge of the 
 Committee. Several of the books are not 
 text-books, and should be handed over to a 
 Tract Society. 
 
 Rev. Chas. E. (korst, of the h'oi'eign 
 Christian Mission Society of Japan, spoke 
 of the debt of .Japan to China. Row the 
 Japanese have thousands of terms which 
 they are ready to send back to China. 
 The terminology of the two countries 
 should be the same. 
 
 •Dr. (Jraves moved the reappointment 
 of the old Committee, with the addition of 
 five names, and that the property be 
 handed over to them. 
 
 The Chairman decided that this motion 
 was out of order. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead said that there was no 
 place for the property. 
 
 Mr. Fryer declined t(j reply to the dis- 
 cussion on his paper. 
 
 Dr. Williamson asked to resign his posi- 
 tion on this Committee ; as he had. much 
 other work on hand. 
 
 Dr. Corbett moved a vote of thanks to 
 the Committee. This was amended, so as 
 to make special reference to Dr. Williamson 
 and Mr. Fryer, and was unanimously voted. 
 
 It was moved to receive the report, and 
 to refer it to a Committee of twelve. It 
 was moved to amend by committing the 
 subject to the Committee on Nominations. 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that the matter should 
 not be crammed through. 'I’hey wanted a 
 repre.sentative Committee to feel the pulse 
 of the public, and then they would be pre- 
 pared for all sorts of ])roj)ositions. 
 
 Dr. Williamson said that the fJd Com- 
 mittee would meet the new, and give in- 
 formation. 
 
 Dr. Ihlcher remaiked that the Commit- 
 tee had expired by limitation. 
 
 Dr. Wherry feared a thorough misun- 
 derstanding. The Committee would not in- 
 sist upon resigning if the Conference wishes 
 them to continue. 
 
 The motion for a new Committee was 
 lost. 
 
 The question was then taken on the 
 motion to appoint a Committee to report 
 on the whole subject of the papers of the 
 
 morning in the usual way, to include any 
 other papers on the same general subject. 
 
 The motion was carried. 
 
 A resolution was proposed that members 
 of the Conference he requested to pay one 
 dollar, it being understood that a man and 
 his wife are separate members. 
 
 Dr. Williamson said that owing to the 
 great generosity of the Shanghai community 
 the amount to be raised is not large. 
 
 The resolution was carried. 
 
 Explanations were given as to the price 
 at which the Conference papers are sold. 
 The session closed with prayer by Dr. 
 Nevius. 
 
 Thwadau Aftei noun. 
 
 The session opened with prayer by Rev. 
 D. L. Gifford, of Corea. 
 
 Dr. Faber then gave an abstract of his 
 paper on “Christian Literature in China ; 
 its business management ; a discussion of 
 Dr. J. Murdock’s report.” 
 
 At the conclusion of this report a paper 
 was read by Dr. J. M. W. Farnham, on 
 “Christian periodical literature.” 
 
 After this paper the discussion was 
 opened by Mr. D. S. Murray, who said 
 the great want is that of a standing Com- 
 mittee on Christian Literature, to make a 
 list (J books. Requests often come for 
 tracts without specifying which. It is diffi- 
 cult to make selections. There is great 
 waste in publishing the same tract in four 
 different places. T'eachers should draw the 
 attention of pupils to periodical and other 
 literature. Every school should have a 
 lending library. Every mission should have 
 a book-shop and a literary department. 
 Especially should there be literary men for 
 this work. Some of the best work is indeed 
 done by hard-worked men, but this is 
 exceptional. The different societies should 
 have intercommunication. There should 
 be a standing committee in Shanghai, and 
 a central depot. He had looked over some 
 fifty or sixty of the tracts, and had found 
 some that were very unsatisfactorj'. Trans- 
 lations are the most unsatisfactory. Good 
 literature is not a translation. We should 
 work fiiir ideas into natives, and they can 
 put them into good idiomatic Chinese. 
 
 Mr. McIntosh spoke of Dr. Faber’s 
 paper. He said that good Chinese books 
 are sold at good prices. The photo-litho- 
 graphic books that are the cheapest are 
 those that are immoral. The art of photo- 
 lithographing miyht help the quantity and 
 the ([uality of missionary printing, but 
 missionary printers have generally no time 
 to develop the resources which they already 
 have. A common catalogue would prevent 
 the confusion which now exists, both in 
 i terms and in prices. In one case a book was 
 i sold in one place for $1.75, and in another 
 place for $0.60. 
 
45 
 
 Dr. Edkins then gave an abstrack of his 
 paper on ‘•Current Chinese Literature; 
 how far is it antagonistic to Christianity?” 
 the time being extended by vote. 
 
 Mr. Oltlinger spoke against giving away 
 books. If a man wishes to give them away, 
 he should do all the work on them himself. 
 
 Dr. Williamson said that there is no 
 country in the world so prepared for 
 periodical literature as China. This appears 
 from the immense number of readers that 
 there are in China, and from the fact that 
 there is an immense number of educated 
 men who can be editors. Putting these facts 
 together, we see that when periodical 
 literature begins in China, it will spread-like 
 wildfire ; there will be such a demand for 
 periodical literature in China, as has never 
 been matched. This stamps our initiatory 
 movements with the highest importance. 
 
 Rev. G. Reid mentioned two works by 
 natives, additional to those referred to in 
 Dr. Edkins’ paper. One of them is by 
 Li Hung-chang, and contains a digest of 
 cases which have occurred between China 
 and foreign countries, and a great deal else. 
 It is an important work. Tlien there is 
 the “Death-blow to corrupt doctrines.” 
 This is constantly reprinted, and reappears 
 in the form of placards. Chinese education 
 is mental aud moral science. We should 
 not bring forward only mathematics and 
 astronomy. Confucianism is sometimes 
 more of a help to Christianity, than is 
 Western science. Theology is the highest 
 science. This is the science that we want 
 to bring to this laud. Dr. Faber’s com- 
 mentary on Mark had been put into the 
 hands of a Chinese, who said that the com- 
 mentary was much better than the text. In 
 the same way, it is sometimes said that 
 Dr. Martin’s Evidences of Christianity are 
 better than the Gospels. The Chinese 
 officials have no time for large bo(d<s. 
 but they could get through a small practical 
 tract. 
 
 Mr. Elwin spoke on the paper of Dr. 
 Farnham. He said that a periodical, in 
 order to .suceed, must have a man to give 
 his whole time to it. It can not be 
 edited in the odds and ends of time. 
 Contributions should be examined to see 
 that they are suitable. In one case 
 mentioned two young Chinese carried 
 on a literary duel through the columns 
 of one of these periodicals and pub- 
 lished many things which libelled a mis- 
 sion hospital in Hangchow. In another 
 case, an account of a ‘ beauty show ’ was 
 published in one of these papers, and the 
 impression was conveyed to the Chinese, 
 that this is the way we do things in our 
 countries. 
 
 Mr. Archibald thought that we should 
 send a petition to the Chinese Customs not 
 to charge duty on Christian books. A duty 
 
 I is at present levied at the rate of one tael 
 ! a picul. Ten years ago all these books were 
 1 free, and even now no duties are charged 
 I at the lik'm stations. This tariff puts us in 
 bad company, as in the lists missionary 
 j books are classed with lottery tickets. 
 
 ] Chinese newspapers go free. Cheap books 
 cannot be had while this tariff is enforced. 
 Books have to pay duty twice if they go 
 from one port to another, an export and 
 i an import. This costs the National Bible 
 I Society of Scotland two hundred taels a 
 1 year. 
 
 Mr. Plumb referred to what Dr. William- 
 son had said about the preparation of China 
 for periodical literature, and said that China 
 lacks a great deal of being prepared. The 
 Chinese will not take literature unless it is 
 adapted to the tastes of the people. We must 
 sugar-coat our pills. An important practical 
 i difficulty is the lack of postal communica- 
 tion. The Foochow periodical publishes 
 I 700 copies a month, but the difficulty is toget 
 it into the interior, though it is easy enough 
 ; to send the copies to the outports. Once 
 ' messengers were hired for interior distribu- 
 tion, but the expense of this was greater 
 than all the other expenses of the paper 
 and it was abandoned. In the preparation of 
 books, we should have Christian men, who 
 can reach perfection in that department. 
 In Foochow two books prepared by native 
 preachers have had a wide circulation ; one 
 of them, on ‘ faith’, is in constant demand 
 all over China.. 
 
 Mr. Bryant thought that definite in- 
 : formation should be collected as to the 
 impost tax, which he said was not on the 
 ' books, but on the paper, which is Chinese. 
 
 Foreign paper pays no tax. 
 
 I Mr. Hykes moved to refer this matter to 
 ' the Committee on the relation of Christian 
 r missions to the Chinese government. 
 
 The Chairman suggested that two of the 
 brethren who had raised the question might 
 form the comuiittee. 
 
 Dr. Wright stated that he had just ob- 
 tained the desired information from an 
 official in the Chinese Customs. All Chi- 
 nese books, wirh the exception of tho.se 
 which are official, pay duty as first quality 
 paper. It is not an impost on missionary 
 books. 
 
 A telegram in reply to the one sent to 
 tlie Exeter Hall meeting of the Bible 
 Society was read, as follows : — “ Committee 
 greets Conference.”’ 
 
 Mr. Reid moved to refer the subject of 
 periodical literature to a committee to re- 
 port to the Conference. This was carried. 
 
 • Mr. Archibald proposed that a committee 
 of two or three be appointed to inquire into 
 the tax on books. The Chinese do not 
 levy a talx on benevolence. 
 
 I Dr.^ Happer stated that this matter was 
 ■ gone into ten or fifteen years ago. By an 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 \ 
 
46 
 
 appeal directly to Sir Robert Hart, he said 
 that notliing could be done, and things 
 were better as they were for the Protestant 
 missionaries, as the Roman Catholics would 
 make such use of the advantage as to do the 
 Protestants more injury than the duty. 
 
 The question being taken of reference to 
 a committee, the motion was lost. 
 
 Dr. Faber, in replying to remarks on his 
 paper, pointed out that Chinese literature 
 is the outgrowth of 4,000 years, and West- 
 ern literature the outgrowth of 1,800 years. 
 He spoke of the new Chinese mind, which 
 is to express its ideas in the Chinese lan- 
 guage, a new language in the old classical 
 style — a good style, faithful and clear. 
 
 Dr. Farnham waived the right to reply 
 on the topic of his paper. 
 
 Mr. Ware said that Chinese manuscript 
 is often sent in to the office in as bad a 
 condition as the manuscripts in English 
 for The Chinese Reconier. He made a ‘plea 
 for the printer’. 
 
 Mr. McIntosh proposed a resolution to 
 refer the matter of Christian literature to a 
 Committee, but this was withdrawn, as 
 Dr. Faber had already prepared a similar 
 resolution as follows : That a committee of 
 twelve be appointed, to consider the pre- 
 sent state of Christian literature. 
 
 Mr. Gtibson wanted a clause added, say- 
 ing that all tracts should be for sale in 
 Some central depository, and pointed out 
 the inconveniences of the present distract- 
 ed state of atfairs. 
 
 Dr. Faber’s resolution was put and car- 
 ried. 
 
 The Report of the Ladies’ Committee 
 was then presented by Mrs. Mateer, Chair- 
 man, as follows : — 
 
 An appeal from more than two hundred 
 ladies, members of the Missionary Conference 
 held in .Shanghai in May, 1890 : — 
 
 To the Christian Women of the British 
 Empire, the United States, Cermany and all 
 other Protestant Countries : — Greeting, 
 
 We, the women of the Missionary Confer- 
 ence now asseml)ledin Shanghai, come to you 
 our sisters in Christ with an urgent appeal in 
 helialf of the one hundred millions of women 
 and children of (diina who “sit in darkness 
 and in the shadow’ of death.” 
 
 The work of women in (.'hina has been 
 prosecuted at the oldest stations for about 
 fifty years, at first, chiefly by the wives of 
 missionaries, b\it in later years single ladies 
 have largely augmented this working force. 
 There are now ladies engaged in educational, 
 medical and evangelistic work in China. 
 Much has been done by them, many lives 
 have been uplifted from the degradation of 
 idolatry and sin, many sad hearts comforted, 
 many darkened minds enlightened, and much 
 solid good effected. But our Iiearts are 
 burdened to-day with love and pity for the 
 millions of women around us, our sisters for 
 whom Christ died, still unreached by the 
 sound of the Gospel. 
 
 Beloved sisters, if you could see their 
 sordid misery, their hopeless, loveless lives, 
 their ignorance and sinfulness, as we see them, 
 mere human pity would move you to do some- 
 thing for their uplifting. But there is a 
 stronger motive that should impel you to 
 stretch out a helping hand, and that " e plead 
 — the constraining love of Christ. We who 
 are in the midst of this darkness that can be 
 felt, send our voides across the ocean to you, 
 our sisters, and beseech you by the grace of 
 Christ our Saviour that you come at once to 
 our help. 
 
 Four kinds of work are open to us : 
 
 1. — There is school work in connection with 
 our various Missions, which in many cases 
 the men have handed over to the women in 
 order that they themselves may be free 
 to engage more directly in evangelistic work. 
 
 2. — There is a work to be done for the sick 
 and suffering women of China, in hospitals, 
 dispensaries and homes, for which skilful 
 physicians are needed. Most of this work 
 can be better done by women than by men, 
 and much of it can be done only by women. 
 
 3. — There is work for us in the families of 
 the Church. There are converted mothers 
 and daughters who need to be taught the way 
 of tlie Lord more perfectly, and to be trained 
 in whate\ er is necessary for their full develop- 
 ment into lively members of the great house- 
 hold of faith. 
 
 4. — There is a work of evangelisation among 
 women, similar to that being done by men 
 among the people at large. It is not claimed 
 that the evangelisation of woman cannot be 
 done at all by men — but that there is more 
 of it than men can do, there is much of it that 
 will never be done unless women do it, and 
 much that men cannot do as well as women 
 can. There is nothing in this kind of work 
 transcending the recognised scriptural sphere 
 of women, ^^'omen received fr m the Lord 
 himself upon the very morning of the re- 
 surrection their commission to tell tlie blessed 
 story of a risen Saviour. What they did then 
 u e may continue to do now. 
 
 Rut you will ask, who are needed for this ? 
 Knowing the conditions of life and work in 
 China, we should answer that ; — 
 
 1. — Tliey sliould be women of sound health, 
 of good ability, and good common sense, also 
 wo 1 educated — though not necessarily of the 
 higliest education — apt to teacli, kind and 
 forbearing in disposition so that they ma5’ 
 live and work harmoniously with their asso- 
 ciates, and win the Iiearts of the Chinese. 
 Above all, they should be women who have 
 given themselves vho/ly to tlie Lord’s work, 
 and are prepared to bear hardship and exer- 
 cise constant self-deni d for Christ’s sake. 
 
 2. — It is desirable that they should pursue 
 a systematic course of Bible study before 
 coining to China, .and have some experience 
 in Christian work at home. 
 
 Further, we would suggest that upon reach- 
 ing the field they should Lbonr in connection 
 v'ith established missions in order that the 
 good results of their work may be preserved, 
 and that they may have, when needed, the 
 
47 
 
 assistance and protection of their brother 
 missionaries. 
 
 Open doors are all around us, and though ! 
 idolatry lifts a hoary head, and ancestral I 
 worship binds the people as with chains of j 
 adamant, yet with God “all things are I 
 possiljle,” and mountains of difficulty melt j 
 like snow-flakes before the rising of the Sun i 
 of Righteousness. i 
 
 God is on the side of His own glorious life- 
 giving word ; we ask you to come in the 
 power of consecration and faith, with sober i 
 expectations atid readiness to endure hardness j 
 as good soldiers of Jesus, and take your 
 share in the most glorious war that was ever 
 waged on earth — the war against the powers ; 
 of darkness and sin, assured that God will , 
 accomplish His own purposes of love and ! 
 grace to China, and will permit you if you ! 
 listen to this call, to be His fellow workers in i 
 “ binding up the broken hearted, proclaiming j 
 liberty to the captives, and the opening of the : 
 prison to them that are bound ” | 
 
 That the Holy and loving Spirit of God may ’ 
 incline your hearts to respond to His call is ' 
 our earnest prayer. 
 
 Yours in our Lord, 
 
 Signed on behalf of the two hundred and 
 four ladies assembled in Conference at Shang- 
 hai. 
 
 The adoption of the report was moved by 
 a rising vote. 
 
 Attention was called to an omission in 
 the enumeration of the forms of missionary i 
 work for which new labourers are required, j 
 as there is no notice of medical work. It ; 
 was suggested that in the enumeration of j 
 lands to which an appeal is made, Austr alia i 
 or Australasia be added. Some one also ! 
 added Scandinavia, and Switzerland. [ 
 
 Mr. Lyon thought that it was disrespect- j 
 ful to the ladies not to vote upon the report ! 
 at once. It was stated on behalf of the | 
 ladies that they had never seen the report 
 at all. 
 
 Mrs. Mateer explained that this had | 
 been impossible, for lack of time. 
 
 Dr. Nevius pointed out that this is an j 
 appeal, not from the ladies, but from this 
 Conference. 
 
 It was then moved to make the report 
 the first order of the day after the reading 
 of the minutes on Saturday, and this was 
 carried. 
 
 Mr. Hykes moved that the report on 
 the memorial to the Emperor be taken 
 from the table for further discussion. 
 
 Dr. Mateer said that it was discourteous 
 to the Committee not to discuss their re- 
 port. If this was not the time, then let 
 them take another. 
 
 Mr. Hykes said that it must be taken 
 from the table. 
 
 Rev. J. N. B. Smith moved to refer the 
 subject to the Committee on the relation of 
 Christian Missions to the Chinese Govern- 
 ment, 
 
 Mr. Barber said that the Committee 
 should have instructions. 
 
 Mr. Lancaster said that if referred to 
 another Committee the old Committee 
 should go with them. 
 
 It was moved that the two Committees 
 be combined to consider this. 
 
 Mr. Ohlinger did not want it referred. 
 
 Rev. A. H. Smith said that the Com- 
 mittee would not know what to do with the 
 matter when they took it up. Now was the 
 time to discuss it. The debates on the sub- 
 ject are as private as if held in a house, as 
 the reporters had refrained from reporting 
 them. 
 
 The motion to commit to the 'Committee 
 named, was lost. 
 
 Mr. Reid moved as an amendment that 
 the Conference express thanks to the Com- 
 mittee on the Memorial to the Throne for 
 their report but that owing to the delicate 
 nature of the question, it was deemed in- 
 expedient to present the memorial at pre- 
 sent to the Throne. 
 
 The debate was then proceeded with 
 by Messrs. Harmon, J. Hudson Taylor, 
 VVoodbridge, Dr. Corbett, Dr. Watson, 
 Hykes, Gibson, James, Bryant, Reid, and 
 Bryan. 
 
 Dr. Graves read the report of the Com- 
 mittee on Notes, Comments, and Distribu- 
 tion of the Bible. This report had been 
 recommitted and was .now brouglit in for 
 consideration a second time. The Report 
 w'as sub.stantially the same as before. 
 
 It was moved to make this report the 
 second order of the day for Friday p.m. 
 This vvas carried. 
 
 The session was closed with prayer by 
 Dr. Hunter. 
 
 Thuisdiiy Evening. 
 
 The Conference met at 8 p.m., Rev. 
 Chauncey Goodrich in the chair. 
 
 . Rev. C. F. Reid read a letter from the 
 General Council of Congregational Churches 
 in the L'nited States, conveying greetings 
 til the Conference, and appointing Rev. 
 Henry D. Porter, M.D., a member of that 
 body, and of the Conference, to convey 
 those greetings to the Conference. 
 
 Dr. Porter then addressed the Con- 
 ! ference. 
 
 Rev. Alvin Ostrom, Pastor of the Union 
 Foreign Church in Kohala, Hawaii, com- 
 municated the greetings of the Hawaiian 
 1 Evangelical Association, and gave some 
 I account of the condition of ati'airs in the 
 Hawaiian Islands. 
 
 ! Rev. F. Ohlinger presented greetings 
 j from the foreign Christian community in 
 Corea. 
 
 A letter of greeting was read from the 
 I English Methodist Mission, in Lading, 
 ' Shantung, 
 
48 
 
 A letter was read from Rev, S. L 
 Baldwin, D.D., one of the secretaries of 
 the former Conference in Shanghai. 
 
 Miss Jessie Ackerman presented the greet- 
 ings of the Christian women of the U.S., 
 and especially of the women of the Women’s 
 Cliristian Temperance Union, to the Con- 
 ference, and gave an extended account of 
 the vast and varied work accomplished by 
 that agency in all parts of the world. 
 
 A vote of thanks was extended to Miss 
 Ackerman, at the close of lier interesting 
 address, wliich vote was made emphatic by 
 the rising of the entire audience. 
 
 The session closed w'th prayer. 
 
 Nhitli JJatj, Fiidaij, 16fh May. 
 
 The devotional meeting was led by Rev. 
 N. .1. Plumb. 
 
 The Conference was called to order, Rev. 
 D. Hill in the chair. 
 
 The minutes were read and adopted. 
 Notice was given In regard to the Confer- 
 ence photograph, and a motion to include 
 friends in Slianghai was made. After some 
 discussion it was exj)lained that any friends 
 who were interested in the Conference and 
 identitied with it, were invited to join the 
 Conference group without a formal vote to 
 that effect. The motion was then laid upon 
 the table. 
 
 It was voted to send appropriate replies 
 to the letters received on the previous 
 evening. 
 
 Rev. Robert Mateer moved that a com- 
 mittee of twelve be appointed to appeal for 
 more missionaries, and that this appeal be 
 combined with tliat of the ladies. 
 
 Rev. J. H. Taylor said that a .siiigle 
 appeal would have more eflect than several 
 scattered appeals. 
 
 Mr. Mateer said this matter was distinct 
 from that of tlie report on lay agency. 
 Educated men also were wanted. 
 
 Mr. Watson proposed that the three 
 appeals should be united in one grand, 
 appeal. 
 
 Mr. Elwin called attention to the grave 
 objections to a long appeal, which editors 
 will not print. 
 
 Mr. Lyon, said that this was an objection 
 te putting them together— no paper in the 
 L^nited States would print, them. 
 
 Dr. Nevius asked if any paper would 
 publish tl'.eni separately ? 
 
 Dr Williamson inquired why both forms 
 should not be utilised? 
 
 Mr. Lees said that the appeal should be 
 pervaded with earnestness and tenderness. 
 No one need be kept away. 
 
 Dr. Wherry objected that this seemed 
 to be throwing away the ladies’ appeal. 
 
 Mr. Herring said he wanted the appeals 
 printed both together and separately. 
 
 Dr. Mateer proposed that the Confe- 
 rence should appeal for a thousand men to 
 
 be sent within five years, without mention- 
 I ing whether they are to be ordained, lay- 
 I men, or physicians. Let the ladies have 
 their own appeal. 
 
 Rev. J. 11. Taylor said there was much 
 force in naming a grand number worthy of 
 such a Conference. If there are difficulties 
 in combining, a call for a thousand men 
 would bring the matter into focus. 
 
 It being asked what the ladies wished, 
 
 I Miss Ricketts said that the ladies desir- 
 ed their appeal sent separately. The 
 I omission of the appeal for medical workers 
 . was merely an accident. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore thought that as there was 
 a separate appeal for lay workers, it would 
 be proper to have another appeal for 
 j educated men. 
 
 A motion to lay the subject on the table 
 j indefinitely, was lost. 
 
 I Mr. Lees moved an amendment incor- 
 I porating a call for a thousand men. This 
 j motion was lost. 
 
 1 IMr. Mateer’s motion calling for a Com- 
 ! mittee of twelve to prepare at once an 
 appeal for more missionaries was then put 
 and carried. 
 
 1 The following nominatimis were then 
 j submitted by the Standing Committee on 
 j Nominations for the Committee on School 
 ! and Text Book Series : — Messrs. John 
 i Fryer (Chairman). W. Lacy, W. T. A. 
 j Barber, F. L. H. Pott, W. B. Bonnell, C. 
 j W. Mateer, M. Schaub, F. Hiibrig, L. W. 
 
 Pilcher, J. H. Judson, S. Conling, J. C. 
 
 ! Ferguson. 
 
 On motion this Committee was chosen, 
 j The following names were then sub- 
 j mitted by the Standing Committee on 
 i Nominations for the Committee on Periodi- 
 j cal Literature : — Messrs. A. Williamson 
 I (Chairman), Y. J. Allen, .1. M. W. Farn- 
 ham, .John Fryer, J. Edkins, D. S. Mur- 
 ! ray, N. J. Plumb, T. Barclay, C. G. Spar- 
 ham, Wm. Cooper, J. C. Gibson, J. N. B. 
 j Smith. 
 
 i The clioico was confirmed. 
 
 : The following names were submitted by 
 
 I the Standing Committee on Nominations for 
 the Committee on Harmonious AVorking in 
 Christian Literature in China : — Messrs. 
 
 ; E. Faber (Chairman), A. Kenmure, J. M. W. 
 Farnham, W. Bridie, T. W. Pearce, A. G. 
 Jones, John Wherry, P. D. Bergen, J. 
 Ross (Manchuria), F. M. Wood, G. W. 
 Painter, and F. H. James. 
 
 On motion this Committee was made the 
 choice of tlie Conference. 
 
 Dr. Nevius, as Chairman, then read the 
 report of the Committee on Union. He 
 stated that the Comn)ittee had held several 
 protracted meetings and had had great fluc- 
 tuations of opinions. As presented the 
 report did not include all that was wished. 
 
49 
 
 but it was passed unanimously. The Com- 
 mittee were to be congratulated on their 
 unanimity. 
 
 Mr. Hykes moved that the report be 
 received, printed, and made the second 
 order for Saturday morning. 
 
 The motion wa^ carried unanimously. 
 
 The Chairman said that in view of the 
 beautiful spirit of unanimity which had 
 just found expression the Conference 
 would indicate its thanksgiving by singing 
 the Doxology, which was done. 
 
 Dr. Nevius then read two res(jlutions, 
 which were supplementai’y to the report 
 just read, upon which subsequent action 
 was taken in another form. 
 
 The report (T the Committee on Opium 
 was then taken up. 
 
 Dr. Kerr explained that the name of Dr. 
 Williamson had been omitted because that 
 gentleman was unable to be present, but 
 he desired his name added. 
 
 The report was then discussed at length 
 by Rev. G. Reid, Mr. Barclay, Mr. Hoste, 
 Mr. Hill, Dr. Whitney, Dr. Williamson, 
 Mr. Bonnell, Dr. Porter, Mr. Plumb, Mr. 
 Gibson, Mr. Ohlinger, Mr. Richard, Mr. 
 Abbey, Dr. Ashmore, and Rev. A. H. 
 Smith. On motion this report was recom- 
 mitted to the Committee, for further con- 
 sideration. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead presented the supplemen- 
 tary report of the Committee on the Ti'en-U 
 version of the Old and Kew Testaments, as 
 follows ; — 
 
 Your Committee would respectfully re- 
 commend that this conference elect by 
 ballot an Executive Committee of twelve 
 representative men, five Englishmen, five 
 Americans, and two Germans, to whom 
 shall be committed the work of securing a 
 translation of the whole, Bible in the high- 
 er classic style ; and that this Committee 
 proceed on the following plan : — 
 
 1. — That they select by a two-thirds 
 vote a Committee of not fewer than five 
 competent translators, and make all ne- 
 cessary arrangeme.nts for the convenient 
 and vigorous prosecution of the work. 
 
 2. — That this Committee of translators 
 may be as representative as possible, it 
 shall be selected with reference to denomi- 
 nations and nationalities, but competent 
 scholarship for the work to be undertaken 
 shall be made the paramount consideration. 
 
 3. — That a new version of the Old 
 Testament be made, using ihe Medhurst 
 and Stronach and the Bridgman and Cul- 
 bertson versions wherever available ; that 
 in the New Testament the Delegates’ 
 version be taken as a basis, and that the 
 Bridgman and Culbertson version and the 
 version by Dr. Goddard be also employed 
 wherever available. Also that for both 
 Testaments all other existing material be 
 used at the discretion of the translators ; 
 
 and further that all questions relating to 
 tlie translation itself shall rest with the 
 translators, not with the Executive Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 4. — That the text that underlies the re- 
 vised English versions of the Old and New 
 Testaments be made the basis, with the 
 privilege of any deviations in accordance 
 with the Authorised Version. 
 
 5. — That in order to secure one Bible in 
 three versions, the Executive Committee is 
 instructed to enjoin upon the translators, 
 that in settling upon the text, and in all 
 questions of interpretation, they act i.i 
 conjuncti<ni with the Committee on Man- 
 darin revision and the Committee on simple 
 ven-U and that for these purposes they 
 constitute one Committee. 
 
 6. — That this Executive Committee shall 
 continue to act and to superintend the work 
 until its completion. If any of the first 
 Committee of translators shall cease to act 
 
 ! before the completion of the work, the 
 Executive Committee shall, if they think 
 best, select others in their places. 
 
 7. — That in the case of the absence from 
 : China, or other disability of any member 
 ! of the Executive Committee, he shall have 
 
 the right to name his proxy or successor, 
 j but that if he fail to exercise this right it 
 shall revert to the Committee. 
 
 8. — That the Executive Committee ask, 
 
 I in the name of this Conference, the concur- 
 f rence and financial help of the Bible Socie- 
 ' ties of Great Britain and America in cany- 
 i ing forward this work ; and that when 
 
 completed it be the common property of 
 j the societies, which have given their patron- 
 age to the work, each having the right to 
 publish such editions as it may choose, and 
 ' with such terms for God, Spirit and Bap- 
 I tise, as may be called for, and also to add 
 i explanatory readings, page, chapter and 
 ! sectional hea’dings, maps, and such other 
 accessories as it maj’ deem expedient. 
 
 Dr. Mateer explained the relation of 
 . this report to the one previously submitted. 
 
 ' This present report united the Committee, 
 and would probably unite the Conference. 
 The result was a concession by both sides. 
 The reason for requiring, in the first article, 
 
 I a two-thirds vote to choose translators was 
 ! that in this way it would be necessary to 
 : have at least one representative of each 
 nationality in order to make a selection. 
 
 ]\Ir. Barber asked what part of the report 
 was ‘•supplementary.” 
 
 Dr. Mateer replied that it was all sup- 
 plementary. The Committee had agreed 
 upon this unanimously. This article was 
 , based upon historical facts. In Committee, 
 i on settling the texts, the mandarin and the 
 t 'u-en-li versions were united. 
 
 It was then voted to make this report 
 the first order of the day on Saturday. 
 
50 
 
 The report of the Coimiiittee on the easy i 
 vren-U version being the order for the day, | 
 was tlien taken U[), and read by Mr. 
 Muirhead. It was amended so as to make 
 tlie Committee’s recommendations cover 
 the higher and tlie easy weii-li and the 
 words “two versions” were altered to 
 “three versions.” After some minor 
 alterations the cjuestion was taken upon 
 the adoption of this report, and it was 
 adopted unanimously. 
 
 Upon motion of Mr. Du Btise, Mr. 
 Muirhead led the Conference in a prayer 
 of thanksgiving to God for this unanimous 
 action. 
 
 Rev. Henry Loomis, of Japan, represent- 
 ing the American Bible Societj' in that 
 country, addressed the Conference, express- 
 ing gr.-at pleasure in the action just taken, 
 and enquiring whether . the i)roposed 
 headings in the Bible were to be the same 
 in all the publications, or different. He 
 suggested that the Committee (>f I'ranslators 
 as being most qualified should decide what 
 headings are important. He said the 
 American Bible Society was willing to do 
 all that it could. Its constitution was 
 copied from that of the Britisli and Foreign 
 Bible Society. It was organised on the 
 basis of 'no notes or comments,' and trusts ■ 
 must not be violated. They wanted all 
 Bibles just alike. 
 
 Dr. Wright expressed great gratification 
 with the resolution to which the Conference ! 
 had come. The object was to save a very 
 large amount of Christian money. Efforts ' 
 would be made to get the very best : 
 Chinese type, and have electrotype plates t 
 in duplicate placed in the hands of all , 
 the Societies. Bibles would be printed 
 from these plates, instead of being as now 
 set up each time. The’ saving would be ; 
 enormous. Each Society mjght have to 
 add notes, because union in this matter 
 is not certain. It was to be hoped that the 
 Societies would all fall in. 
 
 It was then voted to receive nominations 
 for the Executive Committee which is to 
 choose the translat(;rs of the new version, | 
 the balloting to take place to-morrow. All 
 the names of those nominated were to be 
 printed on slips, the nationality and time 
 of arrival in China being clearly indicated. ' 
 All names not voted for were to be crossed 
 out. The session closed with the Doxology, 
 and a prayer by Mr. Hill. 
 
 Friday Jftcrnoun 
 
 The meeting was opened with prayer by 
 the Chairman. 
 
 It was proposed by the Business Com- 
 mittee that the following be recorded : — 
 Whereas no lives were lost by the collapse 
 of the staging erected for photographing | 
 the Conference, and no injuries sustained, 
 but such as may be healed : Resolved, that ‘ 
 
 we record our deep sense of our Heavenly 
 Father’s care in protecting us in an accident 
 fraught with such grave j)eril. 
 
 The Committee of arrangements were 
 requested to learn the facts in regard to 
 the accident at the photographer’s, that a 
 correct report might be sent to the press. 
 IMeantime Dr. Williamson was asked tt> 
 take steps to prevent the dissemination of 
 alarming rumours. 
 
 Dr. Kerr asked for the privilege’of intro- 
 ducing a resolution which was not approved 
 by the Business Committee. 
 
 On motion of Dr. Porter this was voted, 
 and Dr. Kerr read his resolution as 
 follows : — That a permanent committee of 
 seven be appointed to collect facts in 
 reference to the use of alcoholic liquors bj’ 
 native Christians, and to report to the next 
 Conference. The resolution being seconded. 
 
 Dr. Kerr said the matter was one to which 
 he has devoted much attention, and one 
 which affected the native church very 
 deeply. Many were not aware of the 
 extent of this'evil. If the missionaries did 
 not give it the attention which it deserves, 
 the time will come when the missionaries 
 will be compelled to do so. The ladies of 
 England and the United States had taken 
 up the Temperance question, and they 
 would not let this matter rest. 
 
 Mr. Hubbard suggested that an annual 
 report in the Record r, would be better than 
 waiting ten years. 
 
 After some further discussion Mr. Hykes 
 moved to lay the matter on the table, 
 which motion was lost. After still further 
 discussion by Mr. Hartwell the previous 
 question was moved and carried, and the 
 question being then taken on the resolu- 
 tion of Kerr, it was passed. 
 
 The Committee on Nominations reported 
 the following names as a Committee to 
 prepare an appeal for more missionaries: — 
 Dr. Corbett ; Rev. A. G. Jones ; Rev. J. 
 Ross; Rev. A. Elwin ; Rev. R. Mateer ; 
 Rev. D. Z. Sheffield ; Mr. A. Orr-Ewing ; 
 Bev. J. Goforth ; Rev. J. R. Hykes; Dr. 
 D. C. Henry ; Rev. J. Lees ; Rev. D. 
 Mclver. On motion this Committee was 
 made the choice of the Conference. 
 
 Nominations were then made for the 
 Executive Committee to choose translators 
 for the version of the Bible in the easy 
 icen-li. 
 
 The report of the Committee on the 
 Revisi(;n of the Mandarin version was then 
 called up, read, and its adoption moved by 
 Dr. Mateer. After some verbal alterations 
 in the text of the report, it was unanimous- 
 ly adopted. 
 
 It was then moved to proceed to the con- 
 sideration of the high whi-U version, as 
 involving substantially the same principles 
 as the others, but as it had been already 
 made the order for next morning and some 
 
61 
 
 might be absent now who would be present 
 then, the motion was withdrawn. 
 
 The report of the Committee on Bible 
 Distribution and Notes, which was discus- 
 sed on the 15th, and at that time recom- 
 mitted, was then taken up, and read by 
 Dr. Graves as follows. It is now called the 
 
 KEPOKT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE NEED 
 
 OF BRIEF INTRODUCTIv NS AND NOTt.S TO 
 THE SCRIPTURES AND ON BIBLE 
 DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 Resolved, 
 
 1. — That we heartily thank the Bible j 
 Societies for the constant and generous aid 
 given by them in Bible translation, publi- 
 cation and distribution in China, and trust 
 that eSorts will be made to render such 
 work still more eflective. 
 
 2. — That in view of the special and ser- 
 ious difficulties which the heathen in China 
 meet with in understanding the Bible, we 
 request the Bible Societies to publish in 
 addition to their present issues editions of 
 the Scriptures with summaries, headings, 
 and brief introductions and explanations. 
 
 o. — That such explanations occupy no 
 more comparative space than that allowed 
 for the marginal notes in the English 
 Revised Version. 
 
 4. — We recommend that the present 
 Conference select a Committee of twelve 
 missionaries to prepare such explanations, 
 and that the unanimous approval of all the 
 members of this Committee be required be- 
 fore they be printed. This Committee 
 shall Consist of two Baptists, two Congrega- 
 tionalists, two Episcopalians, one German 
 Reformed, one German Lutheran, two 
 Presbyterians, it being understood that 
 when any member of the Committee shall 
 cease to act, the Committee shall notify the 
 missionaries of his denomination, and 
 request them to choose his successor, and 
 in default of such choice the Committee 
 shall select another, if possible from the 
 same denomination. 
 
 5. — We earnestly recommend that all 
 Scriptures be issued in clear type and 
 attractive form. 
 
 0. — We further recommend that tliis 
 Conference elect by ballot an executive 
 Committee of twelve representative men, 
 nve Englishmen, five Americans and two 
 Germans who choose a Committee of not 
 fewer than five men to prepare an annotated 
 Bible for general use, and that this execu- 
 tive Conimiitee ask in the name of this 
 Conference the concurrence and financial 
 help of the Tract Societies of Great Britain 
 and America in carrying forward this work. 
 
 It was moved to take up the report by 
 sections, and the result of this vote being 
 a tie, the Chairman gave his casting vote 
 in favour of the motion. In section 4, the 
 word “ explanations” was altered to “sum- 
 
 maries, headings and brief explanations," 
 The report was then adopted as a whole. 
 
 Nominations were made for the Execu- 
 tive Committee to select revisers of the 
 Mandarin versum, the ballots to be cast 
 on Saturday afternoon. Nominations were 
 then made for the Executive Committee of 
 1 twelve to choose a Committee of not less 
 than five to prepare an annotated Bible, the 
 I ballots to be cast at 4 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
 On motion of Dr. Graves, the Committee 
 referred to in section 4 of the report on 
 brief introductions to the Scriptures, was 
 referred to the Committee on Nominations. 
 Nominations were there received for the 
 Committee of twelve mentioned in section 
 t) of the same report. 
 
 On motion of Dr. Ashmore, the report 
 of the Committee on a Memorial to the 
 Emperor of China, was recommitted, with 
 instructions to the Committee to report on 
 j the expediency of the proposed action. 
 
 1 The motion was carried. 
 
 It was voted to send a letter of loving 
 sympathy and greeting to all the mission- 
 aries in China, not able to attend the Con- 
 ference. 
 
 It was voted to substitute the name of 
 Mr. Goodrich for that of Mr. Sheffield, on 
 the Committee to draft an appeal for new 
 missionaries, as the former gentleman is on 
 the point of leaving China. 
 
 The session closed with prayers by Rev. 
 .1. C. Gibson and Rev. .1. W. Stevenson. 
 
 At about half past five, the Conference 
 met, by invitation of the China Inland 
 Mi.ssion, at their new premises in Woosung 
 Road, for a lawn party. A brief address 
 was made by Dr. Blodget, on behalf of Rev. 
 .J. Hudson Taylor, who was not able to be 
 present, and the meeting closed with prayer 
 by the senior missionary. Rev. A. P. 
 Mapper, 'D.D. 
 
 Teuth JJi'u, Satunluij, 17th May. 
 
 The devotional meeting was led by Rev. 
 T. Barclay, Formosa. 
 
 The meeting was opened with Dr. Nevius 
 in the chair. The minutes were read, and 
 after correction adoi>ted. On motion of 
 hlr. Barber, Rev. W. B. Bonnell was ap- 
 pointed Corresponding Secretary for the 
 Conference. 
 
 The Business Committee made a com- 
 munication on the subject of a photograph. 
 It was moved to appoint a Committee of 
 three to inquire into the matter, and a 
 motion to lay the subject on the table was 
 lost. It was then voted to have the picture 
 taken in three groups. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore jiresented the second report 
 on behalf of the Committee on a Jlemorial 
 to the Emperor, as follows : — 
 
 “ While we see no impropriety in the 
 presentation of a simple memorial of 
 
32 
 
 'congratulation auoh as was contemplated on 
 behalf of ourselves and others enjoying 
 treaty privileges in tlie empire, yet there 
 appears to be such a divergency of opinion 
 about the course to be taken, and various 
 proprieties involved in the proceduie, that 
 we reccmmiend that for the present furtlier 
 steps he not taken.” 
 
 It was proposed “ 'J'hat the Committee 
 on a Memorial to the Emperor be consoli- 
 dated with the Committee on the Relation 
 of Christian Missions to the Chinese Gov- 
 ernment.” 
 
 The motion was carried. 
 
 Dr. Kerr, on behalf of the Committee on 
 Upium, then presented the report which 
 had been recommitted to them. 
 
 A long discussion upon tliis subject then 
 ensued, and the report was materially 
 amended and tinally adopted in the follow- 
 ing form : — 
 
 Whereas this Conference regards the 
 rapid extension of the growth of native 
 opium, in addition to the use of the imported 
 drug, with profound alarm, and whereas 
 the consequent vast increase-of the opium 
 habit demands our most serious and unre- 
 mitting consideration, therefore resol ' ed ; — 
 
 1. — That we as a Conference reaftirm and 
 maintain our attitude of unflinching o])posi- 
 tion to the opium traffic. 
 
 2. — That we recommend all Christians 
 in China to use every endeavour to arouse 
 public opinion against the spread of this 
 evil, and to devise means to secure as far 
 as may be its hnal suppression. 
 
 3. — That we advise the formation of a 
 Chinese Anti-Opium Society, w ith branches 
 at all mission stations, and we recommend 
 the appointment by this Conference of a 
 Committee of seven to carry out this reso- 
 lution. 
 
 4. — That we have learned with alarm of 
 the rajiid increase in the consumption of 
 morphia in China, that we find this in- 
 crease is largely owing to the indiscriminate 
 sale and conseciuent abuse of so-called 
 anti-opium medicines, and that we now, on 
 the suggestion of the Medical Slissionary 
 Association of China, urge all missionaries 
 to discourage, and :rs fai' as possible prevent 
 the sale of such anti-opium mediciiies as 
 contain opium, or any of its .alkaloids. 
 
 d. — That we earnestly impress on all 
 Christian cliurches ^liroughout the world, 
 the duty of uniting in fervent and continual 
 j)r,ayer to (Jod that He will, in His wise 
 jirovidence, direct His jieople to such mea- 
 sures as will lead to the restriction and 
 final abolition of this great evil. 
 
 (i. — That we deeidy symijathise with the 
 efforts of the societies in Great Britain and 
 elsewhere for the sujtpression of the opium 
 trade, and recommend them to continue 
 and increase the agitation for the suppres- 
 sion of the growth and sale of opium. 
 
 It was voted that the Committee requited 
 by the report be nominated by the Com- 
 mittee on Nominations. 
 
 The report on Women’s Work was then 
 I read by Mr. Barber. 
 
 Mr. James objected to thephrase “cannot 
 take too decided a stand ” in the reference 
 , to foot-binding. He thought that it might 
 I be p<jssible to tiike too strong ground on 
 the n.attert and that unbinding the feet 
 I ought not to be made a condition of church 
 membership. 
 
 A motion to amend having been made, 
 
 Dr.Kerr said the meeting ought not to 
 make a change in the ladies’ report. 
 
 Dr. Hunter exjiressed his dissent from 
 this view', and said that the subject be- 
 longed to the Christian Church in China. 
 
 Mr. Goodrich said the report was 
 thoroughly admir;ible, and he wished for 
 no change. 
 
 Dr. Wherry called attention to the 
 fact that the Presbytery of Peking had 
 once made unbinding the feet a condition 
 of church membership, and that the Synod 
 of China had reversed the action. 
 
 The phrase “ continue to maintain a 
 decided stand ” was proposed. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor said that when- 
 ever men undertake to improve ladies’ 
 work, they generally make a botch of it. 
 He wanted to hear from the ladies them- 
 I selves. 
 
 One lady said that footbinding is still 
 practised in Mission schools. 
 
 Mr. Painter opposed all amendments. 
 
 Mr. Noyes approved (jf the amendment 
 substituting the words “continue to main- 
 tain ”. 
 
 Oil motion this amendment was carried, 
 and the question on the report as a whole 
 being put, the report was adopted in the 
 following form ; — 
 
 The Committee appointed by the Con- 
 ference to consider Women’s Work present 
 the following resolutions : — 
 
 ]. — That the Conference desires to ex- 
 press its cordial approval of the able papers 
 read on Saturday last by the ladies who 
 had been appointed to write upon the 
 various subjects presented. 
 
 2. — That we rejoice in the greatly in- 
 creased number during the past ten years, 
 liotli of lady-workers and of native helper.s, 
 ami the corresponding advancement of the 
 work among the women and girls of China 
 in all departments, as set forth in these 
 papers 
 
 3. — That we fully agree with the idea 
 brought forward in these papers that in all 
 our mission schools, whether boarding or 
 day schools, while due attention should be 
 given to intellectual and physical training, 
 the tirst place must always be reserved for 
 
 ’ religious instruction, and the ti rst obj ect must 
 
53 
 
 Bvet be to bring the pupils to a knowledge 
 of and belief in Christ as their Saviour, 
 
 4 . — That the importance of schools for 
 women, church members, and others, where 
 they can receive an intelligent idea of 
 Christian truth and become able at least to 
 read the Scriptures in their native tongue, 
 cannot be over-estimated ; and while we 
 rejoice that the ladies could report some 
 such schools as already established, we 
 would earnestly recommend that tlie number 
 begreatly inultipliedand that they be opened 
 in connection with our native churches and 
 out-stations, and assistance should, if 
 deemed necessary, be given, in order to 
 enable the women to give their time to 
 study. 
 
 5. — That we fully endorse the sentiment 
 expressed by one of the gentlemen of the 
 Conference, “that the wives of missionaries 
 should have every encouragement and 
 assistance from their husbands to enable 
 them to be engaged in direct mission work.” 
 
 6. — That missionaries should use every 
 lawful means to prevent the marriage of 
 Christian girls to heathen men, especially 
 when one of, or both the parents are church 
 members. 
 
 7. — That we as missionaries continue to 
 maintain a decided stand against the cruel 
 custom of foot-binding ; and we would urge 
 that renewed and persistent etf rts be made 
 to arouse public sentiment against this 
 evil, with the hope that the time is not 
 far distant when the education and cul- 
 ture of the young ladies of this country 
 will be properly appreciated, and bound feet 
 no longer be considered the standard of 
 respectability. 
 
 In conclusion the Committee desire on 
 behalf of the ladies to express to the Con- 
 ference their appreciation of its action in 
 devoting an entire day to the consideration 
 of women’s work, and allowing an extension 
 of time for the full presentation of the 
 papers ; and in making them full members 
 of the Conference. 
 
 Dr. Graves brought up the report of the 
 Committee on Union, which was read. He 
 deprecated discussion, and moved its ad- 
 option as a whole. 
 
 A division of the question being moved, 
 the report was taken up by .sections. It 
 was moved to strike out the words in the 
 third section providing that the Committee 
 of Correspondence shall be resident in 
 Shanghai, but the motion was lost. 
 
 After some alterations the report was 
 adopted in the following form : 
 
 Recognising with devout thankfulness to 
 the Great Head of the Church the spirit of 
 unity and brotherly love which has brought 
 together so large a body of missionaries 
 from all parts of China, of different nation- 
 alities, of various denominations, and of 
 diverse preferences as to methods of work, 
 
 and has united them in one harmonious 
 Christian Conference, and which has, 
 moreover, enabled t'lem to take united 
 action with regard to versions of Scrip- 
 ture, methods of work, and other sub- 
 jects ; and in order to maintain and 
 increase this spirit of unity, and to per- 
 petuate the benefits of mutual conference 
 it is resolved to recommend — 
 
 1. — That members of this Conference and 
 all other missionaries in China set apart 
 a portion of every Saturday evening as a 
 time of special prayer for each other’s 
 success in bringing souls to Christ, and 
 that we may be united still more closely in 
 the unity of the spirit and the bonds of 
 love. 
 
 2. — That a Committee of Correspondence, 
 consisting of seven members residing in 
 Shanghai, be elected by this Conference by 
 ballot, whose duty it shall be to communi- 
 cate with the missionaries on all subjects 
 of common interest, to collect and publish 
 missionary information and statistics, and 
 to seek the views of die missionaries in the 
 different parts of our common field on any 
 subject where they may think united action 
 desirable, including provision for the next 
 Conference. Any vacancies in this Com- 
 mittee to be filled by the Shanghai Missio- 
 nary Association. 
 
 3. — That we urge the missionaries in the 
 various missionary centres who have not 
 yet done so to unite in local conferences or 
 associations, and that such bodies select one 
 of their number to correspond with the 
 Shanghai Committee, and to act in con- 
 junction with them in carrying out the 
 work above assigned them. 
 
 4. — That with the consent of the proprie- 
 tors the Chinese liecurder and Missioitai y 
 Journal and The Messenyer \>n adopted as 
 organs of this Committee. 
 
 The following resolution was then offered : 
 
 Resolved, that as Rev. Dr. Happer, the 
 oldest member of this Conference, is 
 obliged to leave Shanghai this afternoon, 
 we hereby express our great pleasure in 
 having had Dr. Happer with us in this 
 Conference ; our gratitude to God for hav- 
 ing spared his life for active and useful 
 labour so long ; and our hopes that we may 
 have the benefit of his labour and counsels 
 for many j’ears to come. 
 
 The resolution was passed by a unani- 
 mous vote, and was made emphatic by the 
 rising of all present to their feet. 
 
 Dr. Happer, being called upon to 
 respond, returned thanks to the Con- 
 ference for this unexpected honour. 
 He said that a wonderful contrast existed 
 between the present state of missions in 
 China, and that forty-six years ago when he 
 arrived. At that time there were thiny 
 missionaries in Hongkong, a few in a little 
 section of Amoy, a few in a section of 
 
54 
 
 Jfingpo, and m a small part of Shanghai All I 
 else in China was utterly dosed, now there 
 are more than twelve hundred missionaries, , 
 or, as compared with then, forty times as 
 many. Then there were only six native con- 
 verts, mostly those who had come from other ; 
 places to Hongkong ; now there are 37,000 
 who have embraced the Christian faith. 
 IMissionaries can go through the length and j 
 breadth of the land, in any part of the I 
 eighteen provinces, and in Maiichuria, and ! 
 have an open door. And w’hat should he I 
 say of the resolutions of brotherly love 1 | 
 Could they estimate the feelings with which ' ' 
 he rejoiced in the action of' yesterday ? 
 After forty years of separation, they were | 
 able to rejoice in one united action to give j 
 the Word of Goil to the whole people of 
 China. This he regarded as the crown- 
 ing work of the Conference. Union was 
 in the air, and if they might not have 
 organic union, they might work on in 
 their several lines, and have organic 
 union within those lines. Tlie first step 
 had been taken by five Presbyterian bodies 
 scattered over China, who had formed for 
 themselves a plan of union. Could not the 
 Methodist brethren unite in the same way '!■ 
 Could not the il])iscopalians severally form 
 one united Church ! He rejoiced in this 
 opening work in China. The only feeling 
 of regret was that he was not young again 
 to enter on this blessed work with these 
 glorious opportunities. Might the present 
 generation witness a thousandfold greater 
 results, and if any of those present should 
 be spared for an additional forty years, 
 might they see the whole land pervaded 
 with the blessed (lospel I 
 
 The report on the appeal for more 
 missionaries was read by Kev. R. Mateer, 
 and it was made the order of the day for 
 Monday afternoon. It was voted that the 
 balloW to be cast in the afternoon should 
 be signed on the back. 
 
 The session closed with prayer by Dr. 
 Happer. 
 
 licit ni day After nou i. 
 
 The meeting opened with inayer by 
 Rev. J. Ro.ss. 
 
 The report of the Committee on School 
 and Text-Rook.s was read by IMr. Fryer, 
 and it was accejited and made the order 
 for Tue.sday morning. The ballots were then 
 taken for the Committees on thee;isy urii-li 
 version, on the mandarin version, and on 
 the annotated Bible. The report of the 
 Committee appointed to consider the work 
 for the blind and the deaf and dumb was 
 then read by Dr. Edkins, as follows ; — 
 
 The Committee recommend the Confer- 
 ence to resolve as follows : — 
 
 1. — ^That a permanent Committee be ap- 
 pointed to watch over and develop Christian 
 work for the benefit of the blind, and of 
 
 the deaf and dumb, and to bring local 
 workers into correspondence. This Com- 
 mittee shall have power to add to their 
 number and to fill up vacancies, and shall 
 report to the next general Conference. The 
 folhjwing shall form this Committee : — 
 Rev. Win. Campbell, Dr. Edkins, Mr. J. 
 Fryer, Rev. .J.C. Gibson, Rev. F. Hartman, 
 Rev. D. Hill, Rev. H. C. Hodges. Mr. W. J. 
 Lewis, Rev. W. H. Murray and Rev. Y. K. 
 Yen. Of this Committee 'Dr. Edkins, Mr. 
 d. Fryer, Rev. H. C. Hodges, Mr. W. J. 
 Lewis, and Rev. Y. K. Yen, shall be a 
 Sub-Coinmitttee, with power to meet, and 
 initiate action. 
 
 2. — That this sub-committee be instruct- 
 ed to co-operate with the committee of the 
 proposed Deaf-mute Institution in Shang- 
 hai, and to aid them in carrying out their 
 phins. 
 
 3. — That the Conference receive and put 
 on record the following recommendations 
 of their Committee with regard to methods 
 of writing Chinese for the use of the blind : 
 — (1) That the Committee unanimously re- 
 commend the system of the Braille dots as 
 by far the best for general use in writing 
 and printing for the blind. (‘2) That in 
 ap])lying this .system to Chinese, two 
 methods are recommended ; (a) A system 
 of writing by initials and finals, expressed 
 by Braille dots; (b) a system of spelling 
 on the European metliod. (3) That in 
 dialects w ith a small syllabary, the use of 
 initials and finals may be found sufficient, 
 while ill those where the syllabary is large, 
 Europe 111 spelling will probably be more 
 satisfactory. (4) That the respective merits 
 of these two methods must be determined 
 by consultation on details, and by experience 
 and comparison of. actual results. (5) That 
 the marking cf tones seems necessary in 
 some dialects, and unnecessary in others. 
 
 4. — That the Conference recommend 
 that wherever the teaching of the blind is 
 undertaken, some industrial training be 
 added so far as practicable, and we invite 
 all missionaries to give what assistance 
 they can in all such work. 
 
 On motion the report was accepted and 
 adopted. 
 
 Dr. Faber presented the report of (he 
 Committee on Harmonious \Vorking in 
 Christian Literature in China. 
 
 Dr. Wherry made some explanations as 
 to the report. One of its main features 
 was to recomme'td the jneparation of a 
 classified catalogue of books. One had 
 been in preparation for some time. It 
 would be a large pamphlet, probably cover- 
 ing 150 pages. This would be one of the 
 most impvirtant parts of the work. 
 
 After further explanations of the report, 
 it was accepted, and made the second order 
 for Tuesday morning. 
 
55 
 
 Tlie Supplementary Report of the Com- 
 mittee on the wen-U Bible was then taken 
 up, anti read by Mr. Muirheatl, and on 
 motion of Dr. Mateer was adopted unani- 
 mously. (This report has been already 
 printed in full). 
 
 Nominations were then taken for tlie 
 permanent Exeeutive Committee for a high 
 icen-li version and for the Committee of 
 Correspondence referred to in the report 
 on Union. 
 
 A motion was introduced calling for a 
 committee of live to draft an appeal for a 
 thousand men, and after some discussion 
 it was laid over until the report of the 
 committee already appointed should be 
 presented. 
 
 On motion, Dr. Edkins and Mr. Fitch 
 were added to the committee to prepare a 
 report of the Conference in Chinese, and 
 Dr. Edkins was appointed Chairman of that 
 Committee. 
 
 This business having been concluded, the 
 Conference proceeded to hear the papers 
 which should in regular order have been 
 read on Friday forenoon. Rev. J. W. 
 Stevenson read his paper on “Division of 
 the field.” Rev. J. McCarthy’s paper on 
 “Co-operation,” was read by Rev. \V. \V. 
 Cassels. A communication was read from 
 the Swedish Missionary Society, stating 
 the probable arrival of Swedish mission- 
 aries in China during the year, and ask- 
 ing for advice and f(n- the kind co- 
 operation of the missionaries already 
 in the field, in assisting the expected 
 Swedish brethren. It was voted to refer 
 this communication to the Committee of 
 Corresjiondence to be elected on Monday. 
 
 It was then voted to proceed to the 
 discussion of the papers already read. 
 
 Mr. Elwin said the point of diflerence 
 would be as to what was' “ occupation of 
 the field.” Upon this point there was 
 often a misunderstanding. Was a place 
 “ occupied ” when there was one missionary 
 among thousands of people whom he could 
 not possibly reach ? Cases of this sort were 
 adduced. He did not venture to define 
 what “occupation” is. In such cases 
 brethren should be welcomed. There 
 were several things in the paper of 
 Mr. McCarthy with which the speaker 
 disagreed. Missionaries are not sent out to 
 represent doctrinal and denominational dif- 
 ferences. They brought their own ideas, 
 but they regarded their work as prepara- 
 tory. The Church Mission was willing to 
 take a back seat, and let the Chiiiese 
 adopt whatever form of government they 
 liked. He was not speaking without the 
 book when he said this. They must have 
 co-operation. They should co-operate 
 with one another in trials and difficul- 
 ties. They should try to grow together in 
 every way they could. In Hangchow they 
 
 had had ladies coming from the interior, 
 broken down. These ladies went to a mis- 
 sion house not so airy as some, and when 
 invited to other missionaries’ homes the 
 ladies had to decline, they not being at 
 liberty to leave their own houses, and stay 
 with other missionaries. 
 
 Rev. W. J. Hunnex said that Mr. 
 McCarthy had taken a pessimistic view. 
 This Conference was a contradiction of 
 such a view. He should be sorry to have 
 an impression given by this paper that the 
 missionaries were not agreed. The Chinese 
 were not being lost because there was a 
 want of union among missionaries. If the 
 workers could all draw closer together, the 
 work would not go on much faster. He 
 deprecated newspaper paragraphs about 
 missionaries and their replies to such at- 
 tacks. Missionaries should not defend 
 themselves in the papers, but in private. 
 He concluded by expressing the opinion 
 that Mr. McCarthy had in this paper 
 misrepresented himself. The China In- 
 land Mission had done more to bring missio- 
 naries together than any other mission. 
 
 Dr. Williamson said there were two 
 different kinds of division of the field, of 
 which one was the hard and fast kind. He 
 did not believe in that at all. The other 
 way was to overtake the whole field. 'I'he 
 local associati('iis should consider the whole 
 field, look about them and see what places 
 need missionaries, and so arrange the work 
 that the whole of that district be overtaken. 
 They should not touch existing stations at 
 all. The object to be kept before them in 
 working was the establishing and extension 
 of the Church <if God in China, not this or 
 that denomination. When they had all 
 co-operated in the establishment of the 
 Church of God, the natives could fix upon 
 a polity which may be suitable to their 
 own idiosyncracies. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor hoped they would 
 not separate in any misunderstanding. 
 Thus far they had been united. He then 
 gave an account of conferences held in 
 London with the Secretaries of the Church 
 Missionary Society in regard to a division 
 of the field in Western China, and exjrlained 
 the liberal principles which are acted upon 
 by the Inland IMission in such cases as the 
 arrival of new societies in regions where 
 the Inland Mission has first gone. They 
 welcome new comers in all the eighteen 
 provinces. In case of any difficulty the 
 principles of Matt. x\iii, if carried out, 
 would remove objections. He spoke of 
 the growth of the Inland Mission, and 
 the loving hospitality which it had re- 
 ceived, such as no words can express. 
 Sometimes from other missions had been 
 received letters saying that the Inland mis- 
 sionaries were too numerous to be enter- 
 tained. They hid now opened stations 
 
56 
 
 largely for the lodgment of those going 
 through. They had valued the hospitality, 
 but when they had gone to inns others had 
 sometimes been grieved. He would take the i 
 opportunity to acknowledge the kindness 1 
 which the C. I. M. had received, specially 
 the case of Dr. Main’s hospital in Hangchow. 
 As to the paper of Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Tay- ] 
 lor agreed with the last speaker, and wished 
 the paper might be revised. If they could 
 Come to some arrangement by which some ; 
 societies could take some districts and 
 divide China into parishes, the rapid 
 evangelisation of China would be accom- 
 plished. 
 
 Rev. F. W. Bailer said that he had been 
 a ureat traveller, and he desired to testify 
 to the extreme kindness which he had re- 
 ceived from all missiouarie.s. He had had 
 a feeling tliat the entertaining of the grow- ' 
 ing numbers of the Inland Mission was 
 getting to be too much of a good thing, j 
 Inlanders by the dozen are “ too much ” 
 and might be rather a nuisance. He wel- 
 comed the fact that they were getting 
 places of their own, for the line must be 
 drawn somewhere. 
 
 Rev. ,J. N. B. Smith said that union 
 must be braced with prayer, and must not 
 be has'ened. It must not be pushed too 
 far. Each denomination had its own part 
 as a division of the whole grand army. 
 They must give up personal preferences, 
 for the sake of unity in Christ. 
 
 It was theil moved and carried that the 
 discussion be suspended, and after prayer 
 the se.ssion closed. 
 
 Eltrenili Day, Monday, 19th May. 
 
 The devotions were led by Dr. Thwing. 
 
 The Conference was called to order, Mr. 
 Hill in the chair. 
 
 The minutes were read, and after correc- 
 tion, adopted. 
 
 .\n ann uncement was made as t<) the 
 Committees elected by ballot on Saturday. 
 The following had been elected as the 
 Executive Committee (>n mandarin revi- 
 •sion : — Revs. C. W. Maleer, D.D., F. W. 
 Bailer, E. Faber, D.D., David Hill, C. 
 (Joodrich, T. Bryson, A. Elwin, John R. 
 Hykes, R. T. Bryan, and John McIntyre. 
 
 On motion the Conference chose Dr. 
 Mateer as Chairman of this Committee. 
 
 The following persons were announced 
 as the Executive Committee on the easy 
 vrn-ti version : — English : Revs. David 
 
 Hill, J. \V. Stevenson, J. C. Gibson, C. T. 
 Bryson, and Yen. Archdeacon Wolfe. 
 American ; Revs. Win. Ashmore, D.D., 
 
 C. F. Reid, H. Corbett, D.D., G. F. ! 
 Fitch, and A. H. Smith. German: Revs. 
 
 R. Lechler (Chairman), and F. Hiibrig. 
 
 On motion Mr. Lechler was chosen Chair- | 
 man of this Committee, 
 
 The following were announced as chosen 
 a Committee on the annotated Bible : — 
 English: Revs. J. W. Stevenson, A. 
 
 Elwin, J. Edkins, D.D , T. Bryson and A. 
 Williamson, D.D. Americans: — Revs. J. 
 L. Nevius, D.D., Wm. Ashmore, D.D., C. 
 Goodrich, H. R. Graves, D.D. and H. ’H. 
 Lowry. Germans : — Revs' E. Faber, D.D., 
 (Chairman) and F. Hiibrig. 
 
 On motion Dr. Faber was appointed 
 Chairman of this Committee. 
 
 The Business Committee presented the 
 following resolution, proposed by Mr. Lyon: 
 ‘‘That while we regard the educational 
 and literary branches of our work as in- 
 dispensable, and likely to yield large fruits 
 in the future, we nevertheless recommend 
 that, in view of its paramount importance, 
 the evangelistic work be pushed forward 
 with increased vigour and earnestness, in 
 order, if possible, to save the present 
 generation.” 
 
 This resolution was passed unanimously. 
 The following resolution was then in- 
 troduced, signed by Rev. J. H. Taylor : — 
 “That a Committee be appointed to 
 consider and report on comity in mission 
 work and on the division of the field. That 
 they be requested to advise on the subjects 
 (1) of dealing with persons who are recog- 
 nised candidates for baptism (2) and with 
 church members under discipline(3) with the 
 employment of members of other churches 
 (a) for spiritual work and (b) for secular 
 work without the concurrence of their own 
 I pastors. That they also consider the question 
 of division of the field (I) with reference to 
 common occupation, how far desirable, and 
 , (2)to division of the whole field, with a view 
 j to early occupation, so that no important 
 pait of the whole may be neglected.” 
 
 After some discussion. Dr. Williamson 
 presented the following, which was moved 
 j as a substitute : — “ As regards the discussion 
 on the division of the field we recommend 
 (1) That the missionaries in each province 
 meet together or consult together by corres- 
 pondence, ascertain the circumstances and 
 necessities of the province in which they 
 are located, and endeavour by mutual co- 
 (iperation that the whole province be 
 visited either by foreign or native evange- 
 lists. (2) That as regards those provinces 
 in whicli there are few Protestant niis- 
 sionaries, the Committee of Correspondence 
 be instructed to bear them specially in 
 mind in case of new societies .seeking 
 spheres of labour or large reinforcements 
 arriviirg to churches or societies already on 
 the field.” 
 
 Rev. ,J. H. Taylor explained that the points 
 covered in his resolution are all practical 
 ones, which continually arise. Mutual 
 consideration was necessary, and they would 
 do well to settle these questions before 
 separating. 
 
57 
 
 Mr. Watson and Mr. Ost spoke of the 
 understanding in the Committee on I'nion, 
 that questions involving church discipline 
 were not to be considered. Had it been 
 otherwise, there would have been a majority 
 and a minority report. 
 
 Dr. Nevius said it was desirable that a 
 Committee should consider these and 
 similar questions. He suggested that all 
 persons having motions or suggestions on 
 this subject should present them, to be 
 embodied in the reports. 
 
 Mr. Taylor suggested that these persons 
 should appear before the Committee. 
 
 Rev. R. M. Ross thought the passing of 
 this resolution would be a mistake, and 
 that Dr. Williamson’s resolution was much 
 better. 
 
 Dr. Nevius said they were only to lay down 
 principles. How should particular cases 
 be dealt with ? They were to be left to 
 individuals. 
 
 Mr. Sparham proposed to lay the whole 
 subject on the table. The contemplated 
 action was likely to lead to misunderstand- 
 ing. The discussions were to be put into 
 Chinese, which would be likely to lead to 
 misapprehension. 
 
 The motion to lay the subject on the 
 table was then put, and lost. 
 
 After some further discussion, and a few 
 minor amendments, a substitute was adopt- 
 ed, as follows : That a Committee be ap- 
 
 pointed to consider the question of comity, 
 and division of the field.” 
 
 It was moved by Dr. Henrj' that- the 
 choice of the members of the Executive 
 Committee on the simple iren-U and man- 
 darin, and of the Committee on the anno- 
 tated Bible be made unanimous. 
 
 The motion was carried. 
 
 In view of the necessaiy departure of 
 Dr. B. C. Henry, it was voted that Mr. A. 
 Kenmure be chosen to take his place as a 
 Secretary. It was voted to continue the 
 afternoon session as usual, and that a letter 
 of thanks be sent to Mr. Pott for his invi- 
 tation to Jessfield, with regrets that the 
 Conference could not accept it, owing to 
 the press of business. 
 
 Dr. Williamson then read the report of 
 the Committee on Periodical Literature, and 
 made some explanations witli regard to 
 the recommendations which it contained. 
 
 On motion the report was accejtted and 
 made the third tirder for Tuesday a.m. 
 It was voted to hold an evening session 
 from 8 till 9.30. 
 
 Rev. F. Ohiinger then read a paper on 
 the subject “How far should Christians be 
 required to abandon native custoins ?” 
 Another paper on the same subject, pre- 
 pared by Rev. H. Y. Noyes, was read b}’ Or. 
 Henry. The paper of Dr. Martin entitled 
 “The worshipof ancestors — a plea for tolera- 
 tion,” was then read by Rev. Gilbert Reid. 
 
 This was followed by the paper t>f D». 
 Gilbert on “ The attitude of Christianity to- 
 wards ancestral worsliip,” which was greet- 
 ed with great ajtplause. In each of the last 
 mentioned papers, but five, or in one case 
 ten, minutes (without opportunity to reply) 
 were allowed for a rapid summary of the 
 papers presented. 
 
 Mr. Herring then gave notice that 
 through the kindness of Mrs. Yates, copies 
 of Dr. Yates’ pajjer on ‘ Ancestral Wor- 
 ship ’, would be presented at the close of 
 the. session to all who desired it. The 
 Conference moved a vote of thanks to 
 Mrs. Y^ates. 
 
 Dr. Faber tlien spoke upon the topics of 
 the last papers, and a long discu.ssion en- 
 sued, in which Rev. M. Schaub, Rev. W. 
 Muirhead, Dr. Thwing, Rev. J. Ross, Rev. 
 Gilbert Reid, Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, and 
 others took part : and it was eventuallj’ 
 agreed to postpone further speeches on the 
 to])ic until the evening. 
 
 Dr. Faber said the principal features of 
 ancestral worship, formulated into short, 
 paragraphs, might be helpful to many in 
 forming their judgments. (1) Ancestral 
 worship presupposes the disembodied souls 
 to be subject to the same desires and wants 
 as souls living in the body. (2) Ancestral 
 worship demands real sacrifices (even 
 bloody), in the sense of ceremonial, of sup- 
 plying the wants of the departed, of propitiat- 
 ing them, (d removing calamities, of gain- 
 ing special blessings. (3) Ancestral wor- 
 ship presupposes the happiness of the dead 
 depending on the sacrifices from their 
 living descendants. (4) Ancestral worship 
 presuj)poses that the human soul, at the 
 moment of death, is divided into three 
 portion-souls, one going to Hades, one to 
 remain at the grave, and one to reside in the 
 tablet of the ancestral hall. (5) Ancestral 
 worship presupposes that these three souls 
 are attracted by the sacrificial ceremonial, 
 and partake of the ethereal parts of the 
 sacrifices. (6) Ancestral worship presup- 
 poses that all departed souls not favoured 
 with sacrifices, turn into hungry ghosts, and 
 cause all kinds of calamities t<) the livii.g. 
 (7) Ancestral worship presupposes the wel- 
 fare of the living to be caused by the blessing 
 from the departed. (8) Ancestivil worship 
 is not merely commemorative, but a pretend- 
 ed intercourse with the world of spirits, 
 with the powers of Hades or of darkness, 
 forbidden by Divine law. (9) Ancestral 
 worship, in transgressing the boundaries of 
 human obligation, evokes evils of a very 
 serious nature. (10) Ancestral worship 
 is destructive of a belief in future retri- 
 bution, adjusted by God’s righteousness. 
 There are only distinguished rich and 
 poor, not good and bad. (11) Ancestral 
 worship places the Imperial ancestors 
 on an equality with heaven and earth. 
 
58 
 
 and the common gods or spirits (shen) are | 
 placed two degrees below. (See Mayers’ ! 
 Chinese LTOterninent, pp. 124, 120). (12) 
 
 Ancestral worship is the source of geouiancy, 
 necromancy, and other abominable super- 
 stitions. (13) Ancestral worship is the cause 
 of polygamy, and of much unhappiness in 
 family life in China. (14) Ancestral worship 
 creates and fosters clannishness, as each clan 
 has its own ancestral protectors. Frequent 
 disastrous village wars are the results. (ID) 
 Ancestral worship has developed an ex- 
 treme view of paternal authority, which j 
 crushes individual liberty. (10) Ancestral , 
 worship enchains millions of talented people j 
 bj’ ancient institutions, and prevents sound ‘ 
 progress. (17) “Honour thy father and 1 
 thy mother,” is the divine law, which , 
 every Christian is bound to fulfil. There 
 can be no doubt whatever about our 
 Christian attitude to ancestral worship. | 
 
 Rev. Martin Schaub said they must be i 
 careful not to take in hand mere patchwork 
 reform. Anything that must and should 
 develop itself from within, was not to be j 
 absolutely laid down as an external com- . 
 mand. There was, for instance, the ques- i 
 tion of the betrothal of infants, which must 
 be dealt with m much wisdom and patience. ' 
 Missionaries formerly hoped to tight with ■, 
 strict church rules against this native cus- ; 
 tom, especially in vogue among the Hakkas, ' 
 but they could not help perceiving that in 
 many cases the fundamental condition for 
 the fulfilment of these rules was lacking. The ■ 
 breaking with those deep-rooted customs 
 must be the growth of a living faith. By I 
 dint of positive law and external authority, 
 only improvements in the outward attire | 
 were introduced, like fragments of undressed 
 cloth on an old garment, and so a worse ^ 
 rent was often made. But all should be i 
 united to make it a rule that native teachers, | 
 preachers, and elders must have broken j 
 with the betrothal of infants. 
 
 Mr. Muirhead said he did not know i 
 that there could be two opinions on 
 the subject of Chinese ancestral wor- 
 ship. He could but think that the tolera- 
 tion of ancestral worship would be most 
 injurious to the Christian Church. Hither- 
 to this had been a kind of postulate with 
 missionaries, and on good and substantial : 
 grounds. The Chinese converts fully allow- i 
 ed that this worship is inconsistent with : 
 the principles and practice of Christianity. 
 
 Of this proposition, cases were then ad- 
 duced. He thought that Dr. Blodget had 
 admitted in his paper too much, as 
 regards the Roman Catholics. The lat- 
 ter adopted a practice which from a Pro- 
 testant standpoint was one and the same 
 with that of the Chinese at large. A 
 Roman Catholic whom he met in a temple, 
 said that at certain times he took the 
 tablets of his five ancestors who were 
 
 connected with the Roman Catholic Church, 
 and called a priest to perform the service, 
 not a foreigner but a native, because the 
 latter was so much cheaper. When a 
 PTench Admiral was killed, a Chinese 
 convert who witnessed the services held 
 at his funeral, said that Roman Catholics 
 anti Taoists use the same phraseologj’, 
 such as “rescuing from a slate of misery 
 in the other world, the soul which has 
 now departed.” However the Pope may 
 have interdicted it, the actual practice is 
 one and the same with that of the heathen. 
 
 Dr. Thwing said that the same questions 
 confronted them which confronted the 
 Jesuits centuries ago, when the Legate of 
 the Pope was imprisoned. In 1840 the 
 Amoy Conference discussed this question, 
 and unanimously decided that all emblems 
 of ancestral worship must be destroyed. 
 Dr. Yates had said that toleration of idola- 
 try is treason to Christianity. 
 
 Rev. J. Ross said that all missionaries 
 were of one mind as to superstition 
 and idolatry of all grades. He cited 
 the case of a Taotai, who said that 
 the one thing which debarred many man- 
 darins from entering the Church, was 
 the position of the Church on ancestral 
 worship. This man said that, eliminating 
 the modern superstition and idolatry of 
 this worship, his conscience was void 
 of offence in practising these rites. If 
 they could compromise — not with idolatry 
 — and eliminate idolatrous accretions, then 
 there would be many who W'ould become 
 Converts. The unqualified negative de- 
 barred them, and they could not find their 
 way. Some Chinese had been known to 
 read the Scriptures and have family 
 prayers, but they could not enter the 
 Church, because the custom of ancestral 
 worship was forbidden. The Corean Prince 
 who was brought to China some years 
 ago, and imprisoned at Paotingfu, ssw 
 there many Christian books. He returned 
 to Corea, and according to report, assured 
 his attaches that if Protestant Christianity 
 would in some way so adapt ancestral 
 worship as to exclude idolatry and super- 
 stition, he saw no reason why Corea should 
 not be a Christian country within three 
 years. The speaker said that his own 
 mind was not definitely fixed, not on account 
 of the paper read, but on account of these 
 facts which should be taken into considera- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. Richard wished to say a few words 
 on the real questions at issue, the princi- 
 ples to be considered in regard to it, the 
 Scriptural view of some aspects of it, and 
 on the practical view of it. The term 
 “ancestral worship” prejudges the whole 
 question. Although the reading of Dr. 
 Martin’s essay seemed to plead for tolera- 
 tion of ancestral worship. Dr, Martin really 
 
59 
 
 did not plead for any such thing, for he 
 distinctly said, that whatever is idolatrous 
 cannot for a moment be entertained. It 
 followed, then, that the real question is 
 not toleration of what is idolatrous, but 
 toleration of such rites in ancestral re- 
 verence as are not idolatrous. Again, 
 however different the rites in China 
 might be from the rites of the West in 
 regard to this subject, that was no reason 
 for condemning them, unless it could be 
 shown that they are contrary to the best 
 interests of man. As to the question of 
 prostration, this seemed to be a matter of 
 national taste and association, and was 
 certainly more sanctioned in the Scriptures 
 tlian were our Western customs. The 
 Scriptures, old and new, abound in instances 
 of prostration. In regard to the practical 
 view of the question, the speaker went 
 on to say that the country people in 
 connection with the English Baptist Mis- 
 sion, after becoming Cliristians, had given 
 little or no trouble in regard to this subject. 
 The Christians at once recognised the dif- 
 ference between the worship of God, and 
 the reverence due to ancestors, and easily 
 gave up their numerous superstitions. Forms 
 of funeral service have been prepared by 
 various missions in the north, to show to the 
 heathen that Christians are not wanting in 
 respect to the departed. The feast of 
 ch'iay miiuj, when the Chinese visit the 
 graves, so nearly coincided in time with 
 Easter, that it afforded a very suitable 
 opportunity to dwell on immortality, and 
 the resurrection of the dead. The Greek 
 Church in Russia had settled this difficulty 
 by holding periodical Christian services at 
 the grave-yards. 
 
 Rev. Gilbert Reid objected to the in- 
 sinuation that ancestral worship was 
 altogether idolatry. This was not fair to 
 Dr. Martin. There were two sides to 
 this question, for there were two papers. 
 This question would be a most trying one 
 when Christianity conies to the literary 
 classes. Could Christians not modify their 
 position ? The trouble was that the native 
 Cliristians had no “ usage.” The question 
 of conscience was analogous to that of 
 dancing in Western lands. It must be left 
 to the consciences of the people to decide for 
 themselves. If their consciences could be 
 trained, let it not be said to them dog- i 
 matically, “ It is wrong.” IMissionaries 
 had no more infallible authority tlian the 
 Rope of Rome. The “ eight permissions” 
 were representative of all the Roman Catho- 
 lic bodies, and not a mere ".Jesuitical ' 
 permission. Dr. IMartin was not taking 
 the permission of the .Jesuits, but a via 
 noediu of those who adliere t<j reverence, 
 but not to idolatry. Away witli supersti- 
 tion, both in China, and in the West 1 „ 
 Make the worship of Christ the foundation, ! 
 
 and the Chinese \Voulti nbt \Vorship ah- 
 cestors as they worship God. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor wanted the 
 time extended, and without making a mo- 
 tion to that effect asked those who dissented 
 from the conclusion of Dr. Martin’s paper 
 to rise. Most of the audience then rose, 
 upon w hich one of the preceding speakers 
 protested that this was not a fair way to 
 treat such a subject. 
 
 Mr. Tajdor explained that he thought 
 that however orthodox a man might be, 
 others had the right to protest against his 
 conclusions. 
 
 After some further remarks, it was 
 voted to postpone the further discussion of 
 the topic, until the evening. 
 
 It was moved to appoint a committee of 
 five to express the sentiments of the Con- 
 ference on the subject of ancestral worship, 
 but the motion was unanimously rejected. 
 
 The Business Committee proposed that 
 tlie remaining papers be taken as read, 
 except that of Dr. Davis on statistics. Dr. 
 Davis was willing to have his included. 
 
 Mr. Muirliead hoped that five minutes 
 would be given to each paper. 
 
 It was decided that the papers be pre- 
 sented in re'smne's of five minutes each. 
 
 Mr. Bonnell presented to the Conference 
 the letter which as corresponding secretary 
 he had prepared to be sent to the missiona- 
 ries unable to be present at the Conference. 
 The letter w.as read, accepted and adopted, 
 and ordered to be printed in the Etcorder 
 and in the Messenger. I'lie session closed 
 with prayer by Mr. Muirliead. 
 
 Mondaij Afternoon. 
 
 The meeting was opened with prayer by 
 Rev. C. Leaman. 
 
 The report of the Committee appointed 
 to draft an ajipeal for ordained missionaries, 
 was presented by Mr. R. Mateer, and its 
 adoption moved. A number of amend- 
 ments having been proposed, some of which 
 were adopted, and others of which were 
 lost, it was voted to recommit the report, 
 and to add the names of Mr. Bryson and 
 Dr. Ashmore to the Committee. The 
 liallot was then taken on the Permanent 
 Executive Committee on the high whi-li 
 version, and on the Permanent Committee 
 of Correspciidence. 
 
 The following names were reported by 
 the Committee on Nominations, as the 
 Committee on Comity, etc. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, F.R.G.S., Rev. 
 A. G. Jones, Rev. R. M. Mateer, Rev. H. 
 Blodget, D.D. Rev. J. Lees, Rev. Wm. 
 Ashmore, D.D. Rev. .1. C. Gibson, Rev. 
 Will. Bridie, Rev. J. Goddard, Rev. E. P. 
 Wheatley, Rev. Dr. Kip, Rev. C. Hartwell. 
 
 On ni'ition these persons were made the 
 choice of the Conference. 
 
60 
 
 the following were nominated as the 
 Permanent Committee for explanatory 
 notes and comments ; — Methodist : Rev. 
 Wm. Bridie, Canton, and Rev. J. Jackson, 
 Kiukiang ; Presbyterian ; Rev. J. L. 
 Whiting, Peking, and Rev. Win. iMcGregor, 
 Amoy ; Baptist. : Dr. R. H. Graves, Can- 
 ton, and Rev. J. S. Wliiteriglit, Cliingdiow- 
 fu ; Congregationalist : Rev. D. Z. iSheflield, 
 T‘ungcho\v.and Rev. J W. Pearce, Canton; 
 Episcopalian; Archdeacon Moule, Shanghai, 
 and Rev. F. R. Graves, Wuchang: Lutheran: 
 Rev. A. Kellcher, TainSui ; German Re- 
 formed ; Rev. Mr. Sclianb, Tilong. 
 
 The Conference then adopted this Cuui- 
 Inittee as its choice. 
 
 Tlie following were nominated as a per- 
 manent Committee fur collecting facts as 
 to the use of alcoholic drinks by native 
 Christians: — Dr. J. ti Kerr, Canton; Rev. 
 J. Wherry, Peking ; Dr. Douthwaite, Che- 
 foo ; Dr. Gillison, Hankow ; Rev. D. S. 
 Murray, Slianghai ; Rev. G. H. Hubbard, 
 Foochow; Rev. J. Ross, IMoukden. 
 
 The Conference accepted this as tlieir 
 choice. 
 
 The following were then nmninated as a 
 Permanent Committee for the promotion 
 of anti-opium societies : — Dr. ,J. G. Kerr, 
 Canton ; Dr. B. C. Atterbury, Peking ; 
 Archdeacon Moule, Shanghai ; Dr. H. W. 
 Whitney, Foochow ; Rev. S. K. Clark, 
 Kweiyangfu ; Rev. A. G. Shorrock, Tai- 
 yuanfu ; Rev. Dr. Gritiith John, Hankow. 
 
 It was then moved that a committee of 
 hve be appointed, to combine the appeals 
 for lay and clerical workers into one pithy, 
 powerful appeal for a thousand men ; and 
 the motion was carried. 
 
 Mr. Fitch made a communication on the 
 subject of the publication of the reports of 
 the Conference. He said that tlie IMissioii 
 Press would assume the financial responsi- 
 bility of such publication. The main ques- 
 tion was whether the papers already printed 
 should be used in their [)iesent form. 
 Otherwise it would invoive the resetting of 
 JOO pages of ty]ie. The cost had been 
 about •■^200, but tliis had been covered by 
 the sale of the pajiers. 
 
 It was voted to ai>])oint an Editorial 
 Committee of three per.son.s, to report 
 to the Conference on tlie .-iubject of editing 
 and publishing its transactions. 'I’his com- 
 mittee, subseipiently appointed, was Rev. 
 X. J. Plumb, Mr. A. Kenmure, and Mr. 
 G. McIntosh. 
 
 The corresponding secretary was directed 
 to refer communications on the subject 
 of opium to the Permanent Committee *011 
 that subject, and to send a courteous let- 
 ter to Rev. S. L. Baldwin, D.D., explain- 
 ing that his letter, as coming from a single 
 individual, could not, in the press of busi- 
 ness, lead to any action on the part of the 
 Conference. 
 
 It was voted to take Up the repoH on 
 harmonious working of Christian literature. 
 This report was then presented by Dr. 
 Faber. The report was then discussed at 
 some length, and after several amendments 
 was adopted in the following form : — 
 
 “ Whereas it is generally acknowledged 
 that, owing to various causes, a great part 
 of the existing Protestant Christian litera- 
 ture in Chinese is unknown to many mis- 
 sionaries, and that consequently great 
 waste of time and labour has resulted ; and 
 whereas it is highly desirable that steps be 
 taken to make this literature more generally 
 accessible, — 
 
 Resolved; — 
 
 I — That a permanent Committee on Pro- 
 testant Christian literature, to consist of 
 seven members, be appointed, with the 
 following duties : — 
 
 (a.) To collect information from all parts 
 of the Empire on Protestant Christian books 
 and tracts already published. 
 
 (<;.) To endeavour to form a complete 
 ■ library of Protestant Christian Literature 
 in Chinese. 
 
 (c.) To prepare a classified catalogue, 
 discriminating between publications ‘out 
 of print’ and those still ‘in circulation’, 
 and giving as far as possible the following 
 details : — Name in Chinese and in English, 
 author’s name, style or dialect, size of page, 
 number of pages, how printed (type, 
 blocks, itc), where printed, when printed, 
 where obtainable, price, and short descrip- 
 tive note of contents. 
 
 ((/. ) To’ revise the above-mentioned 
 catalogue from time to time as may be 
 found desirable. 
 
 (e.) To gather information regarding 
 works in preparation, and, when thought 
 advisable, to publish such information in 
 the llecorder and in the JMessewjer. 
 
 (f.) To endeavour to find writers who 
 shall supply the more pressing wants in 
 any department of Christian literature. 
 
 (<l.) To secure adequate notices of new 
 boots and reprints in the llecorder and in 
 the MesseiKjer. 
 
 (/(.) To secure, if practicable, a general 
 depot at Snanghai for the store and sale 
 of all bf)oks on their classified catalogue ; 
 and also hook rooms at important centres, 
 where copies of such books may be seen. 
 
 II. That missionaries contemplating li- 
 terary work be strongly recommended to 
 communicate with this Committee before 
 beginning such work. 
 
 The ballot for the Union Ccmimittee was 
 announced, as follows : — Rev. G. F. Fitch ; 
 Rev. Wm. Muirhead ; Rev. A. Williamson, 
 LL.D.; Veil. Archdeacon Moule; Rev. 
 J. W. Stevenson ; Rev. D. W. Herring ; 
 Rev. Y. J. Allen, D.D. On motion, the 
 election ■ was made unanimous, and Rev. 
 G. F. Fitch was made Chairman. 
 
61 
 
 The tepoirt of the united Committee on 
 the memorial to the Emperor of China, 
 and the Committee on the relations of 
 Chinese missions to the Chinese Govern- 
 ment, was presented by Dr. Ashmore and 
 made the second order for Tuesday morn- 
 ing. 
 
 Rev. J. W. Davis, D.D., then presented 
 a brief abstract of liis paper on “ Direct 
 results of missionary work in China, and 
 statistics,” explaining that it was the merest 
 outline and summary, as follows ; — 
 
 Foreign Missionaries. — Men 589, wives 
 390, single women 316. Total 1,295. 
 
 Native Helpers. — - Ordained ministers 
 209, unordained 1,260, female helpers 
 180. 
 
 Medical Work. — Hospitals 61, dispen- 
 saries 43, patients (during 1889) 348,439. 
 
 Churches — Organised churches, 520; 
 wholly self-supporting, 94; j self-support- 
 ing, 22 ; j self-supporting, 27. 
 
 Bible distribution, 1889 — Bibles, 1,454 ; 
 New Testaments, 22,402 ; portions, 642,131 ; 
 total, 665,987. 
 
 Communicants, 37,287 ; Pupils in schools, 
 16,816 ;Contributions by native Christians, 
 §36,884.54. 
 
 Rev. J. Ross then presented an abstract 
 of his paper on “ Manchuria,” and was 
 followed by Rev. T. Barclay with a brief 
 account of “The aboriginal tribes of 
 Formosa.” After this Mr. Gibson read a 
 paper by Rev. J. B. A. Cook, on “The 
 Chinese in Singapore.” Rev. P\ A. Steven 
 presented a paper on “ jMissionary effort 
 among the Chinese in Burma,” after which 
 Rev. F. A. Steven presented a paper by 
 Rev. Geo. . Clark, on “ The Miao-tzu, 
 and other tribes of Western China.” 
 
 The Chairman announced that the Confer- 
 ence had now' reached the end of the formal 
 programme. 
 
 The Committee for a united appeal was 
 nominated as follows : Rev. .J. Hudson 
 Taylor ; Dr. Wm. Ashmore ; Dr. Hunter 
 Corbett ; Dr. C. W. Mateer ; Rev. C. F. 
 Reid. This was upon motion declared to 
 be the choice of the Conference. 
 
 It was voted that the resolution of thank- 
 fulness to God, for the deliverance from 
 danger, on Friday last, be printed as a 
 footnote in the records of the Conference. 
 
 The session closed with prayer by Dr. 
 Williamson. 
 
 Monday Eceniny. 
 
 The Conference met. Rev. D. Hill in 
 the chair. Rev. J. Hudson Taylor led in 
 prayer. 
 
 The following was announced as the 
 result of the ballot for the Executive Com- 
 mittee on the ic6n-li version ; — 
 
 Revs. E. Faber, D.D., R. Lechler, J. C. 
 Gibson, Arthur Ehvin, J. W. Stevenson, F. 
 W. Bailer, Thomas Bryson, C. Goodrich, 
 
 L. W, Pilcher, D.D., John Wherry, Young 
 
 John Allen, D.D., R. H, Graves, D,D. 
 
 On motion this choice was made unani- 
 mous, and Dr. Faber was appointed Chair- 
 man, it being understood that if Dr. Faber 
 should ffnd himself unable to preside over 
 several c<mimittees, the chairmanship which 
 he might resign should be decided by the 
 vote of the committee itself. 
 
 The Conference proceeded to discuss the 
 papers read on the subject of Ancestral 
 Worship. 
 
 Rev. Y. K. Yen explained the notions 
 underlying the Chinese use of ancestral 
 tablets. He said he would not have in his 
 house even a picture of his parents. No 
 Christian would countenance Chinese wor- 
 ship of ancestors, because it is mixed up i;i 
 idolatry. The Chinese say that Christians do 
 not reverence their ancestors; but they did 
 reverence them, as men — not as gods. Chris- 
 tians should be encouraged in innocent and 
 beneficial ways of reverencing ancestors. 
 The idea of worship in the Chinese ancestral 
 services was in the Chinese brain itself. Dr. 
 Martin said that ’t developed useful ideas. 
 True, but Christianity had something still 
 better. It was better to see the Chinese 
 heathens, than to see them nothing. An- 
 cestral worship should not be knocked 
 away, unless the Chinese were given 
 Christianity, through which they w’ould in 
 the end certainly get truer ideas. 
 
 Rev. J. Ross said there had been much 
 ni'suuders'andiiig on this question. He 
 wished to introduce two resolutions to clear 
 up matters, as follows: — 
 
 (1) “ That no idolatrous or superstitious 
 custom connected with ancesti-al worship 
 or ritual, can be tolerated in the Christian 
 church. (2) That this Conference nominate 
 a committee of five, of which Drs. Martin 
 and Blodget be members, to investigate the 
 subject of ancestral worship, and to ascertain 
 what, if any, practices connected with 
 it may be without inconsistency retained 
 by Christian converts, and to report the 
 results of their investigation in the Recorder, 
 and in the Messenger.” 
 
 Mr. Ross said there was no difi’erence of 
 opinion among them, as to the practice of 
 siqjerstition. The difficulty w,as about the 
 word “ worship”’ and what it covers. He 
 did not wish to commit himself to Dr. 
 Martin’s conclusion, if the words were 
 used in the ordinai-y sense. He thought 
 the proposed resolutions offered a practical 
 way out of the difficulty. 
 
 Rev. D. N. Lyon said — I should be very 
 sorry to know that the conclusions reached 
 by Dr. Martin are accepted by any other 
 missionary in China, for I am sure that if 
 there is any idolatry in China, it is found 
 in ancestral worship. The objects wor- 
 shipped by the Chinese may be divided 
 
62 
 
 into three clasaes (1) nature, (2) imagi- 
 nary beinga, (3) dead men. Tliey are 
 all idolatroua in that they are the wor- 
 ship of the creature rather than the 
 Creator, who is ' blessed for evermore. 
 The essayist has used the beautiful figui-e 
 of the cloud tinged with the sunlight to 
 represent ancestral worship as pure in 
 itself, but only tinged witli idolatry. I 
 should reverse the figure, and say that 
 ancestral worshi]) i.s the dark cloud of 
 idolatry and superstition, sliglitly tinged 
 with the sunlight of filial piety. It is a 
 cloud beautiful in its exterior, but a cloud 
 nevertheless which shuts out God. I think 
 the filial piety of the Chinese has been the 
 subject of far too much laudation on the 
 part of foreigners. The quintessence of 
 the whole system of ancestral worship is a 
 slavish fear of ghosts, and of their supposed 
 jjower to injure tlie living, if not projritiated 
 by offerings. The call is for coinjn-oinise, 
 but where is the ground for compromise ? 
 Most of the gods worshipped in China 
 are somebody’s ancestors ; and I should 
 like, in tlie name of common sense, to ask 
 whether it is any less idolatrous to worship 
 one’s own pi-ogenittn-s, than to worship the 
 progenitors of somebody else. The ingenious 
 attempt made by Dr. Martin to explain 
 away the three essentials of wor.ship as 
 found in this system, namely, prostrations, 
 invocations, and offerings, could be applied 
 equally well to the worship of the true 
 God. True, the Scriptures make little of 
 posture, but they make a great deal 
 of invocations and offerings. It was for 
 transgressing in these three particulars that 
 the Israelites were visited with the judg- 
 ments of God, not once or twice, but 
 repeatedly, all through their history. 
 If prostrations, prayers, and offerings to the 
 spirits of the dead are not idolatry, then 
 there is no idolatry, and the first and second 
 commandments were a mistake, and God's 
 judgments upon idolatrj' from Babel down 
 to the present time have been outrageously 
 unjust. 
 
 Dr. Williamson said — In discussing an- 
 cestral worship we have to remember that 
 we are touching the foundation stones of 
 this great empire and all its institutions. It 
 therefore becomes us to proceed with the 
 greatest possible caution ; and 1 wish I had 
 more time to place this view of the question 
 fully before you. No doubt it had its 
 origin in filial piety, but it very early 
 assumed, the form of a defined cult, so much 
 so that at the opening of Chinese history 
 we find it already in a measure recognised. 
 There can be no question but that 
 these rites have had a beneficial effect 
 on China. They have tended largely to 
 consolidate and perpetuate the nation. 
 The dynasty comes and goes, but the 
 family remains from generation to ge- 
 
 ueralioii binding the people together. 
 Again, it has kept up, in a very marked 
 manner, the morality of the people ; and 
 keeps it up still, so that with all its draw- 
 backs, China presents socially and morally 
 a very different aspect from all other non- 
 Christian countries. At the same time 
 I fully believe that this system is nine- 
 tenths idolatry, and an error from 
 top to bottom. Hence arises the ques- 
 tion, how shall we best deal with it ? 
 Well, I believe this matter will settle 
 itself, and needs no formal attack. And 
 my reasons are threefold : — (1) Whenever 
 a man comes to understand the nature and 
 destiny of the human soul he must cease to 
 worship his ancestors ; (2) Whenever a man 
 realises his relationship to God and human 
 responsibility he cannot but give up this 
 custom ; and (3) I have found educated 
 Cuinese under the influence of these truths 
 and without any special encouragement 
 give it up (jf their own accord. My stand- 
 point therefore is that our best plan is 
 widely to diffuse the knowledge of the soul 
 and fatherhood of God, and thus ancestral 
 worship will gradually vanish like the 
 mists of the night before the rising sun. 
 Mr. Yen said we should not knock down 
 a prop until we have something to put in 
 its place. As a general principle this is 
 correct. And here our divine religion 
 comes in. We are here to fulfil. Our 
 religion strengthens filial piety by giving 
 Divine sanction to it. It also ennobles 
 every human relationship, and renders still 
 more sacred the ties of father and mother, 
 husband and wife, brother and sister, and 
 ruler and subject Moreover we implement 
 the vague surmises of the Chinese as to the 
 continued existence of the soul by the 
 explicit starenients of Revelation ; and we 
 add to the acceptance and grandeur of our 
 teaching by the assurance that parents, chil- 
 dren and friends .-hall meet again in Heaven. 
 We thus supplant the shadowj' by the real, 
 the human by the divine. We therefore 
 do ihe very best service to the nation. 
 The Chinese therefore need not fear us ; 
 for our teaching elevates and strengthens 
 every bond in the Empire — the family 
 bond, the social bond, and the national 
 bond. We are come to fulfil all that is good 
 in China, and impart an additional power 
 for good to everything' that tends to the 
 highest welfare of the people and the na- 
 tion as a whole. W'e seek no violent 
 changes — only to add new life to this 
 old Empire, and all the foundation stones 
 will receive additional support. (Jur policy 
 therefore should be the difl'usion of kmjw- 
 ledge on all these great topics — let the light 
 in and the darkness will of itself flee aw.-ty. 
 There is no need for any crusade against 
 this ancestral worship. In closing I 
 would deprecate any formal antagonistic 
 
63 
 
 resolution, still more because such action 
 would be sure to be misinterpreted by the 
 Chinese. It would rouse the opposition 
 of all classes of the people, needlessly 
 complicate our relations with every grade, 
 rich and poor alike, and place a powerful 
 weapon in the hands of the mandarins, 
 which they would most assuredly use 
 against us. Let us have faith in the truth, 
 and deal with individual cases as they come 
 up on their own merits, but abstain from 
 running tilt against tliis system which will 
 by-and-by rectify itself. 
 
 Mr. James said he could not tell how 
 much was right in ancestral worship, and 
 how much was wrong. Few foreigners 
 thoroughly understood this subject. What- 
 ever in it was non-classical could easily 
 be abolished. Dr. Martin, and those 
 who followed him, had been charged with 
 desiring a compromise w’ith idolatry. There 
 was no one who for a moment desired it, 
 and it was not fair to insinuate this. They 
 must be fair toward all things. What was 
 wrong, must be forbidden. Kon-importaiit 
 matters of form and ceremony might be 
 left to be expelled by the power of truth 
 in the hearts of the people. They must 
 not be too ready to denounce and attack. 
 They must first offer the Chinese a better 
 way — something to meet their needs 
 better. They ought to study this subject 
 more. In order to attack ancestral wor- 
 ship, they must understand it. The close 
 of Dr. Martin’s paper was inconsistent with 
 some other things in .it. 
 
 Mr. Gibson said there was evidently a 
 great deal of strong feeling on this subject, 
 and they ought to have strong opinions. 
 Therefore they should use measured lang- 
 uage, and should not say that any missionary 
 was in favour of idolatry. He thought 
 Dr. Martin’s conclusion was quite wrong. 
 He (the speaker) did not see how they 
 could let this matter alone, as Dr. Martin 
 advised. They dealt with applicants for 
 baptism, who were all mixed up with an- 
 cestral worship. These must be advised. 
 The native church would bear the mission- 
 aries out most thoroughly. None would 
 be more amazed than the native elders, if 
 missionaries were to say that ancestral 
 worship is right. The principal question 
 was not the attitude of the worshipper. A 
 more important question was, what is the 
 real essence of this worship ? In the south 
 of China, at least, it was not worship ; it 
 was a selfish fear of the dead. If these 
 people can be shown that there is a God, 
 and that His worshippers are set free, they 
 would regard freedom from a bondage to 
 demons as a great gift. The Chinese said 
 to us, ‘‘ You are not filial.” We said in 
 reply, “It is you who are not filial. You 
 .say that your own ancestors will come back 
 to plague you, and to prevent this you use 
 
 the offerings.” This was a sound answer. 
 Whatever the theory, the main part was 
 merely a ritual by which the evil influence 
 of the spirits of the dead was warded ofi’. 
 There was also a little remnant of kindly 
 feeling towards the dead. They should pay 
 more attention to the funeral rites of the 
 native church ; they should have a ritual 
 service ; they should all go to the grave, and 
 sing Christian hymns expressing the hope 
 of a resurrection. Then the heathen will 
 say, “ After all, Christians do not dis- 
 honour their dead.” Thus there would be 
 an opportunity of preaching the gospel. 
 
 Dr. Edkins said that four years ago Mr. 
 Pearce had sent him a book which treated 
 of ancestral worshijt, with attacks upori 
 Christianity. He took up the subject and 
 went througli these passages. The result 
 would be found in the Chinese Recorder. 
 The argunrents of the very able native Chris- 
 tians who replied, were that the preserrt sys- 
 tenr of ancestral worship belongs to the 
 Sung Dyrrasty. The names of those most 
 emirrent men Chu Hsi aird Ssu Ma Kwang 
 w'ere conrrected with the present aircestral 
 rites. These had iro great arrtiquity ; not 
 more tharr about a thousarrd years. The 
 Christiarr writers qrtoted to show that the 
 present practices differed from those of 
 classical times in several important parti- 
 culars. Tiiey were not the satrre as the 
 rites of the time of Corrfucius ; the “cold 
 collation,” and the elding mitig worship — 
 these are modern. The literati should be 
 met with quotations and asked to look into 
 the ancient books, where they would find 
 that they had themselves abandoned the 
 ancient rites. Still, there was something 
 beautiful and noble in ancestral worship. 
 The essence of it was filial piety, a part of 
 the Ten Commandments, let it not be called 
 idolatry. Let them throw that which is 
 modern aside. The Chinese would see, by 
 the light of the Scriptures, that ancestral 
 worship is inconsistent with the doctrine of 
 Christ. Ancestral worship would pass away, 
 like clouds before the sun. 
 
 Mr. Elwin called attention to the closing 
 sentence of Dr. Martin’s paper. The way 
 to heaven is a “ narrow way.” \Ve should 
 not try to make it broad ; we w’ere naturally 
 so inclined. The largest tenqde on the 
 hill in the city of Hangchow was devoted 
 to “ancestors” who had no “ descendants,” 
 where the hungry ghosts are fed and 
 clothed. A Chinese who was asked how 
 he knew, that, contrary to all experience, 
 paper clothes, Ac., become silk, Ac., in 
 another world, retorted “ And how do you 
 know that they do not ?” 
 
 Rev. W. T. A. Barber said : We want to 
 get behind the paper clothes, the fire- 
 crackers, and all the other accretions, to 
 the idea which is the root of all ; we want 
 to realise what is in the mind of the 
 
64 
 
 Confuciaii scholar apart from the influence 
 of his wife or of the priest. Our final battle 
 in China will not be- against idolatry, it 
 will be against the self-satisfied Confucian 
 philosophy whichis at the root of tlienation’s 
 mental life. I think we scarcely realise 
 sufficiently that when we tell a literary man 
 that ancestral worship is wrong, we seem to 
 him to sap the very basis of all morality. 
 He is shocked through and tbrough ; it is as 
 if a Chinese assured me with earnestness 
 that I am doing a guilty and stupid thing in 
 worshipping God. In this very comparison 
 we see the sin of ancestral worship. Yet it 
 appears to me that we often shut ourselves 
 out from all influence with such men, by our 
 absolute lack of sympathy in the statement 
 of our views. I know a literary man of good 
 degree who said in conversation, “Your 
 honourable religion is good, but there is 
 one thing j’ou will never get us Chinese to 
 do — and that is to give up the worship of 
 our ancestors.” I know another who 
 after seventeen years of hearing and 
 fighting the Gospel has accepted it, and 
 been baptised, and at great sacrifice is 
 remaining true. ' When New Y^ear was 
 drawing near, I warned him, and asked 
 him what his view was of ancestral wor- 
 ship. He thought awhile and then slowly 
 and sadly said, “I see that it is wrong, and 
 so I must not go home.” Why did he see 
 it to be wrong ? Because there had come 
 into his heart a newer and a nobler wor- 
 ship. He was learning something of that 
 perfect love which casteth out fear. That 
 is the secret of true teaching on this as 
 on other subjects. We must not enter 
 as an armed man to rouse all the an- 
 imosity of the scholar. We must so stand 
 by his side, as to show him the better 
 thing we have to teach him, and the ex- 
 pulsive power of a new affection will drive 
 out the old mistaken view. I have con- 
 ducted Christian funerals, where within tlie 
 sound of Buddhist bells the words of the 
 beautiful Church service have spoken of the 
 resurrection hope, and where the Christian 
 hymn of resignation has lent emphasis to 
 words addressed to the wondering heathen 
 gatliered round. And it is by such tokens 
 of a reverence and love which binds earth 
 and Heaven that we shall lead the thought- 
 ful scholar into that larger spliere of know- 
 ledge and of life where what is essentially 
 true in the worship of ancestors shall find 
 its consummation in the worship of the one 
 great source of all, the one great ancestor, 
 even our Fatlierwliich is in Heaven. 
 
 Rev. C. F. Reid said we • preached 
 Christianity as a perfect religion. Any 
 concession was an admission that there is 
 an imperfection in our religion. The 
 Chinese would take hold of any such con- 
 cession. Slight concessions would be 
 followed by others, and we shall be com- 
 
 pelled to make concession after concession. 
 Therefore let Christians keep an unbroken 
 front, with no compromise or concession. 
 
 Rev. J. N. B. Smith called attention to 
 the fact that no officials join the Christian 
 Church, as analogous to the condition ef 
 things in the days of Christ, when it was 
 scornfully asked : “ Have any of the rulers 
 
 believed on Him ? But this people which 
 knoweth not the law, is accursed.” 
 
 Mr. Pigott said that Dr. Martin had used 
 three arguments as an apology for ancestral 
 oflerings of which one was the wreatli.s 
 which we take to God’s acre. We made 
 bows, and why should not Chinese niake 
 bows to their ancestors in their graves 'i 
 Did we believe in three souls ? What was 
 the use of words, if there was really no one 
 to hear them 1 This proposition was a real 
 compromise. 
 
 Mr. Bryant quoted various sections of 
 Dr. Martin’s paper which admitted that 
 aiicestral worship was full of idolatry. 
 How then did Dr. Martin arrive at his 
 conclusion ? Ancestral worship is a super- 
 stitious and idolatrous practice. He sug- 
 gested more care for the graves than the 
 northern Chinese generally take. Why 
 not “sweep the graves” in reality, but 
 without any further rites? In this waj’ 
 something could be done, without sanction- 
 ing ancestral worship. 
 
 Rev. Gilbert Reid, who had read Dr. 
 Martin’s paper, occupied the time allowed 
 for a replj’, in reading further extracts from 
 the paper, without comments. 
 
 It was moved by Rev. T. Bryson to lay 
 Mr. Ross’s resolutions on the table, which 
 was carried. 
 
 A motion was made to omit Dr. Martin’s 
 paper from tlie Conference records. The pre- 
 cedent was cited of the two papers presented 
 at the last Conference, and not printed in the 
 records on account of alleged trenching on 
 the “term question.” 
 
 Dr. Blodget explained the radical differ- 
 ence in the two cases, and hoped Dr. 
 Martin’s paper would not be omitted. 
 
 An inquiry being made as to whether 
 the Conference papers were to be tran- 
 slated into Chinese, Dr. Edkins, Chairman 
 of the Committee on the report in Chinese, 
 said that the Committee had no idea of 
 translating any of the papers. The motion 
 to omit the paper from the records was lost. 
 
 On motion the Conference adjourned, 
 and the session closed with a prayer by the 
 Chairman. 
 
 Twelfth Dcuj, Tuesday, 20th May. 
 
 The devotional meeting was led by Rev. 
 J. Lees. 
 
 The Conference was called to order. Dr. 
 Nevius in the chair. The minutes were 
 read, and after correction adopted. 
 
65 
 
 Dr. Mateer offered the following resolu- 
 tion : — 
 
 “ Wliereas Dr. Martin, in his i)ai>er 
 entitled ‘ Ancestral worsliip — a plea for 
 toleration,’ has reached the conclusion 
 ‘ that missionaries should refrain from any 
 interference with the native mode of honour- 
 ing .ancestors, and leave the reformation 
 of the system to the influence of divine 
 truth when it gets a firmer hold on the 
 national mind, ’ 
 
 “ Resolved that this Conference records 
 its dissent from this conclusion and affirms 
 belief that idolatry is an essential con- 
 stituent of ancestral worship.” 
 
 Dr. Mateer, in explaining this resolution, 
 said they could not afford to let tlte paper 
 go without something more than a few 
 speeches. The effect of it upon the general 
 Cliristian public was more important than 
 upon the Chinese. Protestant missiona- 
 ries would be held up as ready to tolerate 
 the worship of ancestors. They must put 
 themselves on record ; the majority of the 
 Conference owed it to themselves to dt.) so. 
 It would be well to have the ayes and noes 
 taken. 
 
 Rev. J. Ross said tliere was no <iuestion 
 about the feeling of the Conference as to 
 idolatrous practices. If this motion was 
 sent forth they were committed to tlie 
 statement that there is nothing in ances- 
 tral worshiji that they could tolerate. 
 
 Dr. Mateer replied that the resolution 
 did not say that there was nothing in an- 
 cestral worship which could be tolerated. 
 
 Mr. Ross .said that if it could be implied 
 that there was something not essentially 
 idolatrous, he should be willing to vote for it. 
 
 Dr. Mateer .said the paper of Dr. Martin 
 concluded bj- sa 3 ung that thej' should 
 “refrain from any interference,” i.e., let it 
 stand in its integrity. Upon these terms 
 when would Christianit}' get strong hold of 
 the national mind? The passage was given 
 entire in the resolution, and he dissented 
 from the logic of the quotation. 
 
 hir. Ross wanted to insert the words 
 “ at present.” 
 
 Dr. Mateer replied that they were dealing 
 with ancestral worship “at juesent” ; thej’ 
 did not know what it would tunr out in the 
 future. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor said ancestral 
 worship was the subject, not the funeral 
 rites of Chinese Christians. Ancestral 
 worship was idolatrj' from beginning to end, 
 and everything in it. The worship of any 
 being but Jehovah was immoral. Tliere 
 could be no toleration of anj’ other worship, 
 until they revised the Ten Commandments. 
 He was profoundly thankful that the Con- 
 ference had an opportunity to dissent from 
 the conclusion of their respected friend 
 (Dr. Martin). No word of disrespect to 
 •him was spoken, but his conclusion was 
 
 totally wrong. The speaker concluded by 
 supporting the resolution as it stood. 
 
 Dr. \^'illiam.son said the system of ances- 
 tral worship was nine-tenths idolatory, error 
 from beginning to end. The fpiestion was 
 how to deal with this subject. Thej’ had 
 the whole of China to look at, as well as the 
 ^churches at home. One-fourtli of the human 
 race was not able to understand the position. 
 Thej’ would raise opposition from one end 
 of China to the other. Let no re.solution 
 be come to. In course of time the matter 
 would settle it.self. Instances could be 
 given of these errors being dissipated — 
 silenth’, j’et powerfull}' undermined. Be- 
 , fore sitting down Dr. Williamson moved 
 the jirevious cjiiestion, the effect being, if 
 the vote was affirmative, to cut off’ debate, 
 and lead to the immediate putting of the 
 main question. 
 
 The previous question being ordered to 
 be put, the resolution was carried bj- a 
 large majorit}’. 
 
 At this jioint a di.scu.ssion ensued (l)as .to 
 the proprietj' of calling for the ayes shown 
 on the resolution just jiassed ; (2) as to the 
 propriety of cutting off the debate when 
 only a part of those who wished to speak 
 had spoken. One of those who had opjj(>sed 
 ■ the resolution protested, not against the 
 resolution but against the method of closing 
 the debate, and at the afternoon session 
 presented his prote.st in writing. While it 
 was under discussion in the afternoon session 
 the member who had presented the pro- 
 test withdrew it in the interest of harmonj-, 
 and the matter dropped. The discussion 
 referred to in the forenoon was .strictlj- 
 s])eaking out of order, as there was no 
 question before the meeting, and the aftei’- 
 noon discussion was of no consequence, as 
 no action was taken. 
 
 Rev. N. J. Plumb on behalf of the Com- 
 mittee on publication of the records, reported 
 as follows : — The Committee on the puhlica- 
 . tioii of the General Conference Records beg 
 leave to submit the following rei)ort : — 
 
 We recomme)id : 
 
 (1) . That an editorial committee he appoint- 
 ed, con-sisting of .Mes.srs. W. .T. Lewis, W. T. 
 A. Barber and .J. R. Hj’kes. 
 
 (2) . That the Pre.sbj’terian Mis.sion Pre.ss of 
 Shanghai be entru.sted with the publication of 
 the report. 
 
 i3) That the report be published in one 
 volum > if practicable, to conform in general 
 to the records of the tiis.sionary Conference 
 . of 1877 with the addition of inlet headings 
 and headlines. 
 
 (4) . That the volume contain proper indices, 
 statistics, and a good map of China. 
 
 (5) That the editorial committee be re- 
 queste 1 to prepare a brief abstract of the 
 
 , business of the Conference, including the 
 I Committees appointed, and the resolutions 
 I adopted, and also to prepare a short account 
 ! of the origin of the Conference and the steps 
 
66 
 
 taken to bring it about, to be printed as an 
 introduction to the book. 
 
 Mr. Plumb explained that this recom- 
 mendation contemplated the resetting of 
 type for the e.ssays already printed, which 
 would probably increase the expense by 
 forty or fifty cents per volume. The records 
 would present somewhat the appearance of. 
 the volume on the London Missionary 
 Conference of 1888. The editorial Com- 
 mittee must be accessible to one another, 
 and would have discretionary power. 
 
 After some discussion, the report was 
 adopted in the form given above. 
 
 The report of the Committee appointed 
 to draft an appeal for ordained missionaries 
 was then read by Rev. Robert Mateer. 
 
 Mr. Bryson objected to the statement 
 that “the whole of China is now open.” 
 Hunan was not open. Kuangsi had yet 
 to receive a single missionary within 
 its borders. It was not desirable to 
 overstate the facts. Some churches could 
 be pressed to send out their best men, but 
 he objected to the concentration of thought 
 upon educated men. They wanted the 
 best, most cultivated, and mo.st spiritual 
 men. They wanted men of learning ; not 
 men to make books, but men to preach. 
 
 Mr. Herring said that this was a good 
 suggestion. It was hard to get an educat(jr 
 down to preaching the Cospel. 
 
 Mr. Bonnell said there were various ways 
 of preaching the Co.spel, and teaching was 
 one of them. 
 
 . Dr. Wherry said that persons were 
 actually called for now to enter the province 
 of Kuangsi. • 
 
 Mr. Mateer explained that liy “open” it 
 was meant that the Government offered no 
 ojiposition to missionaries. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore said the appeal only claimed 
 that “ the whole of China is mjw open to 
 missionary effort.” Even Hunan was open 
 to that, though mi.s.sionaries may not get 
 in there. EvangelLsation was the supreme 
 need of the hour. 
 
 After some minor amendments, the re= 
 port was adopted in the following form : — 
 
 An appeal for ordained Missionaries, from 
 the Missionary Conference held in Shanghai 
 in May, 1890, to all our churches. 
 
 Greeting : — 
 
 Realising as never before the magnitude 
 of China and the utter inadequacy of our 
 present numbers for the speedy carrying into 
 execution of our Lord’s command, “Go ye 
 into all the world and preach the Gospel to 
 every creature”; therefore. 
 
 Resolved, that we, the four hundred and 
 thirty members of the Missionary Conference, 
 now in session in Shanghai, earnestly and 
 unanimously appeal to you to send out speedi- 
 ly as many hundreds as can possibly be secur- 
 ed of well qualified ordained men. 
 
 The whole of China is now open to mission- 
 ary effort and needs a large number of men of 
 
 prayer, of patient endurance and of common 
 sense, — men full of the Holy Ghost, and of 
 faith in the Gospel as “the power of God 
 unto salvation.” 
 
 The missionary here encounters hoary and 
 subtle superstitions, a most difficult language, 
 a people of vigorous intellect, with a vast 
 literature and an elaborate educational 
 system. There is need, therefore, of men of 
 commanding practical and intellectual as well 
 as spiritual endowments,— men who shall be 
 able to engage in and direct the work of evan- 
 gelisation, to educate, train and induct into 
 their work a native pastorate, to found and 
 conduct educational institutions and to pro- 
 vide a general theological, scientific and 
 periodical literature. 
 
 Seeing as we do the utter destitution and 
 helplessness of these millions still “ having 
 no hope and without God in tlie world,” we 
 appeal to young men to give themselves to 
 this work. We believe that the great ques- 
 tion with each of you should be, not, “ Why 
 should I go?” but, “Why should I not go?” 
 
 We recommend that the men be sent under 
 the regularly constituted missionary societies 
 of the various denominations, and that these 
 societies search out suitable men before they 
 are committed to the home work. 
 
 .With the highest appreciation of the claims 
 of the home churches, we still urge young pas- 
 tors to consider whether the places of some of 
 them might not be filled by men who cannot 
 come to the mission field, while they might 
 bring their experience to spheres of work in 
 China which must otherwise be left wholly 
 unoccupied. 
 
 We call upon individual congregations to 
 greatly increase their contributions for the 
 support of one or more of these men. 
 
 We urge Christian men of wealth to prayer- 
 fully consider the duty and privilege of giving 
 themselves personally to this, or of supporting 
 their representatives. 
 
 Finally, we shall not cease to pray the Lord 
 of the harv'est to move you mightily by his 
 Holy Spirit in behalf of this vast and ripening 
 field. 
 
 Rev. J. Hiid.son Taylor then reported 
 on belialf of the Committee appointed to 
 make a combined appeal, which was read 
 and after minor amendments was adopted 
 unanimously in the following form : — 
 
 An appeal to all Protestant Churches of 
 Christian lands. 
 
 Dear Brethren in Christ, — We, the General 
 Conference of Protestant Missionaries in 
 China, having just made a special appeal to 
 you for a largely increased force of ordained 
 Missionaries to preach the Gospel throughout 
 the length and breadth of this great land, — 
 to plant Churches, to educate native ministers 
 and helpers, to create a Christian literature, 
 and in general to engage in and direct the 
 supreme work of Christian evangelisation, and ; 
 
 Having also just made a special appeal to 
 you for a largely increased force of unordained 
 men, evangelists, teachers and physicians,— 
 to travel far and wide distributing books, 
 and preaching to the masses, to lend a strong 
 
6 ? 
 
 helping hand in the great work of Christian 
 education, and to exhibit to China the bene- 
 volent side of Christianity in the work of 
 healing the sick : 
 
 Therefore, we do now appeal to you, tlie 
 Protestant Churches of Christian lands, to 
 send to China in response to these calls one 
 thousand men within five years from this 
 time. We make this appeal in behalf of three 
 hundred millions of unevangelised heathen ; 
 we make it with all the earnestness of 
 our whole hearts, as men overwhelmed 
 with the magnitude and responsibility of 
 the work before us ; we make it with 
 unwavering faith in the power of a risen 
 Saviour to call men into His vineyard, and to 
 open the hearts of those who are His stewards 
 to send out and support them, and we shall 
 not cease to cry mightily to Him that He will 
 do this thing, and that our eyes may see it. 
 
 On behalf of the Conference, 
 
 ( J. Hudson T.wlok. 
 Wm. Ashmoke. 
 
 H. Corbett. 
 
 C. W. Mateek. 
 
 C. F. Reid. 
 
 Shanghai, May 1890. 
 
 The se.s.sion closed with prayer, by Rev. 
 J. Williamson, of Fengliwa. 
 
 Tnesday Afternoon. 
 
 The Conference was ojjened with prayer 
 by Rev. S. A. Gould. 
 
 In the absence of Mr. Fryer, Dr. Mateer 
 presented the report of the Committee ap- 
 pointed to report to the Conference, in re- 
 gard to the work of the School and Text- 
 book Committee of the last Conference. 
 The report was read, and unanimously 
 adopted, as follows : — 
 
 We recommend to the Conference the fol- 
 lowing action ; — 
 
 1.— Resolved, that this Conference record 
 its high appreciation of the services of the 
 members of the School and Text Book Series 
 Committee, and that special mention be made 
 of the time and labour so freely given by Rev. 
 A. Williamson, LL.D., and of Mr. John 
 Fryer, and 
 
 2. — Whereas, an Educational Association 
 has now been organised with a view to the 
 promotion of educational interests in China, 
 including specially the matters of school and 
 textliooks, andscientitic terminology, therefore 
 Resolved, tliat the liooks, maps, l)locks, 
 and other assets and lialjilities of the .School 
 and 'I'ext-books Series Committee be trans- 
 ferred to the Educational Association of China, 
 with the proviso that any authors, who may 
 not w'ish their books so transferred, have the 
 privilege of w'ithdraAving them on ecpiitable 
 terms. 
 
 Dr. Ashmore, on behalf of the united 
 Committee on Memorial to the Throne, and 
 the Relation of Christian IMissions to the 
 Chinese Government, presented their final 
 report, which after some amendments was 
 adopted in the following form : — 
 
 Whereas the late republication and the 
 wide distribution of grave charges against 
 
 1 Christian Missions, tending to arousb dah- 
 gerous riots, have been brought to the notice 
 of the Conference, and 
 
 Whereas some of the chief authorities of 
 the Empire have expressed a desire to be more 
 fully informed of our aims and purposes, we 
 recommend with a view to a better under- 
 standing ; — 
 
 1. — That a Committee be appointed to pre- 
 pare an address for presentation to the 
 Chinese Government, to the following effect : 
 
 1. — To thank the Government for the pro- 
 tection it has given us in the past. 
 
 2. — To lay before the Government the false 
 charges made against us, pointing out the 
 danger of serious consequences unless their 
 circulation be prohibited. 
 
 3. — To pray the Goverument to take im- 
 mediate and effective measures to check their 
 circulation, and to make known throughout 
 the Empire the truth in the case. 
 
 4. — To state what we do believe and teach, 
 showing that everywhere we inculcate loyalty, 
 peace and charity, and that in all our work 
 we seek nothing but the best interests of 
 China and the Chinese. 
 
 II. — That the best way of presenting tlie 
 address be left to the discretion of this 
 Committee. 
 
 III. — That this Committee shall consist of 
 seven persons appointed by this Conference. 
 
 The following persons were chosen by the 
 Conference as a Committee in accordance 
 w'ith the foregoing report : — Rev. Y. J. 
 Allen, D.D. ; Rev. Griffith John, D.D. ; 
 Rt. Rev. Bishop Moule ; Rev. Wm. Ashmore, 
 D.D. ; Rev. .1. Wherry, D.D. ; Rev. H. 
 Blodget, D.D. ; Rev. T. Richard. 
 
 Ret'. J. Hud-son Taylor on behalf of the 
 Committee on Unity and division of the 
 field presented their report, which was 
 taken up section by section, amended, and 
 adopted in the following form ; — 
 
 I In view of the spirit of unity, and bro- 
 therly love prevailing among us, and of the 
 little time which remains before the Con- 
 ference closes, we do not feel it necessary 
 to do more than suggest the following reso- 
 lutions, which embody some of the ordin- 
 ary rules of procedure long in use in many 
 of our missions. 
 
 Resolved, that we advise ; — 
 
 1. — That as a general rule, the common 
 occupation of smaller cities and the dis- 
 tricts around them, is not the moat pro- 
 fitable way of utilising our forces, but 
 that larger cities and districts should 
 be considered open for common occupation 
 and especially so when they are needful 
 bases for the occupation of the regions. 
 
 2. — That we strongly recommend that 
 societies wishing to begin or to extend 
 work, be urged to take into consideration 
 unoccupied territory so as speedily to cover 
 the whole field. 
 
 I 3 — .'I'hat in case of disagreement as to 
 
 ! occupation of territory, on any other 
 I matters connected with their work, it is 
 
recommended that the aocieties concerned ' 
 seek the arbitration of disinterested par- 
 ties on the field. 
 
 4. — That where tw<i or more missions 
 are workii:g in one place, care .should be 
 ,exerci.sed not to receive aj)plicatioiis for 
 baptism from persons who are already 
 recognised candidates of aiiotlier church. 
 
 5. — That we mutually respect the acts of 
 discipline of the various churches. 
 
 6. — That we recognise the inherent right 
 of every church member to transfer his 
 ineniber.ship to another denomination, l)ut 
 i*ecommend to all concerned great caution in 
 dealing with such cases. 
 
 7. — That no overtfires for taking members 
 
 pf other churches into mission employment 
 be niade without consultation with the , 
 hiissioiiary iii charge. ; 
 
 On behalf of the Committee on Periodical i 
 Literature, Dr. Williamson presented their j 
 report, which was read, and after being | 
 amended by striking out Art. IV (which | 
 instructed the Committee of Correspon- 
 dence “ to take into consideration tlie ques- 
 tion of an undenominational church paper 
 for all China ”), was adopted in the follow- 
 ing form ; — 
 
 1. — We find that the following Christian 
 periodicals are at present in existence, and 
 recommend that efibrts be made to extend 
 the circulation and usefulness of all. (*) 
 
 2. — We recommend that the proprietors 
 and editors of the ditferent Christian pe- 
 riodicals above named co-operate with each 
 other by exchange of jaipers, wood-cuts, 
 stereos, etc., with the view of strengthening 
 each other’s hands and extending the im- 
 portant work in which they are engaged. 
 
 3. — In view of the j)owerful influence of 
 periodical literature, we earnestly recom- 
 mend that all missionaries in their respec- 
 tive stations make the extension of this 
 branch of literature an object of active 
 personal eflbrt and constant prayer. 
 
 It was moved that the Committee ap- 
 pointed to report the proceedings of the 
 Conference in Chinese be also authorised 
 to prepare a letter of greeting and exhorta- 
 tion, in the name of this Conference, to 
 the native pastors, evangelists and Chris- 
 tians generally ; and that the brief circular 
 letter from the General Missionary Con- 
 ference held in London in 1888, to pastors 
 and Christians of all nationalities, which as 
 yet is not circulated in Chinese, be also 
 translated and sent bound up with the 
 report to the native Christians. The motion 
 was carried. 
 
 It was moved that the Committee on the 
 appeal for one tliousand men be made 
 permanent ; that they periodically report 
 on the result of this appeal in bringing the 
 men required into the field ; that this 
 Conference urge missionaries returning 
 home, to press the subject on behalf of 
 this Conference. The motion was carried. 
 
 The following were nominated as the 
 permanent Committee on Protestant 
 Christian literature, as provided in the 
 report on harmonious working in Christian 
 literature : — Mr. A. Kenmure, Canton ; 
 
 I Rev. Dr. Farnham, Shanghai ; Rev. Dr. 
 
 I Wherry, Peking ; Rev. N. J. Plumb, 
 
 I Foochow ; Rev. C. S. Sparham, Hankow ; 
 [ Rev. A. G. Jones, Chouping ; Rev. C. A. 
 Stanley, Tientsin. The Conference accepted 
 this committee as their choice and Mr. 
 Kenmure was appointed Chairman. 
 
 Dr. Edkins brought forward a suggestion 
 for a recognition of the Chinese branches 
 of the Evangelical Alliance, and that the 
 Conference should continue and extend 
 their work. 
 
 Dr. Wherry proposed that the whole 
 matter be referred to the Committee of 
 Correspondence, and that the result of their 
 deliberations be publi.shed in the Recorder, 
 and in the Messenger. The motion was 
 carried. 
 
 (*) Name. 
 
 Begun. 
 
 Place of 
 Piil)licatioii. 
 
 Style. 
 
 Editor. 
 
 1. The Children's News ... 
 
 2. The Churoli Advocate .. 
 
 3. The Child's Paper 
 
 4. The Chin. Illu.st. News, 
 
 o. The Church News 
 
 6. The Little One's Own .. 
 
 7. The Chinese Evangelist 
 
 5. Church News 
 
 9. A Review of the Times. 
 
 10. The Gospel News 
 
 11. Chinese Hoy's Own ..'... 
 
 12. Church News 
 
 13. Church Advocate 
 
 1S74 
 
 Foochow. 
 
 Char. Colloij;., illus. 
 
 Mrs. Plumb and Mrs. 
 Hubbard. 
 
 1874 
 
 
 Wf-nli. 
 
 Rev. N. .1. Plumb. 
 
 187.-) 
 
 .Shanghai. 
 
 Wcn-li, illu.strated. 
 
 Rv. Alessrs. F.anihain 
 and Cardwell. 
 
 1,880 
 
 ,, 
 
 Roman 'i'ernacular. 
 
 >» >5 J» 
 
 Rev. ThomasBarclay. 
 
 188.') 
 
 Taiwanfu. 
 
 1 8S() 
 
 .Shanghai. 
 
 Alandarin. illustrated. 
 
 Mrs. Foster. 
 
 1.888 
 
 New York. 
 
 Englisli and tVen li. 
 
 Alessrs. J. 8. Happer 
 & P. ,Sun Yow. 
 
 1888 
 
 Amoy. 
 
 Roman Vernacular. 
 
 Rev. H. Thompson. 
 
 1889 
 
 Shanghai. 
 
 W en li, illustrated. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Y. .J. Allen. 
 
 1888 
 
 , , 
 
 Char. Colloq., illus.' 
 
 Rev. J. N B. Smith. 
 
 1889 
 
 J 
 
 Wen-li, illustrated, 
 
 Mr. U. S. Murray. 
 
 1889 
 
 Swatow. 
 
 Roman Vern. , illus. 
 
 Rev. J. C. Gibson. 
 
 1890 
 
 Kiukiang. 
 
 Char. Maud, and tVeu-li. 
 
 Rev. E. S. Little. 
 
 1 
 
69 
 
 jRev. J. Wherry moved a very cordial 
 and hearty vote of thanks to the pastor and 
 trustees of the Union Church, for their 
 great kindness in placing the building at 
 the disposal of the Conference. This was 
 unanimously carried. Rev. T. R. Stevenson 
 made an aj)propriate response. 
 
 Rev. A. H. Smitli moved a very hearty 
 vote of thanks to the liosts and. hostesses 
 of the members of the Conference, and to 
 those gentlemen wlio had placed empty 
 houses at their disposal. The motion was 
 unanimously carried. 
 
 Dr. Mateer moved a very hearty vote of 
 thanks to the President and Secretaries of 
 the Conference. The motion was carried, 
 and Dr. Nevius and I\Ir. Hill responded, j 
 Mr. W. J. Lewis replied for the Secre- 
 taries. 
 
 Rev. C. F. Reid proposed a very hearty 
 vote of thanks to Mr. Whitehouse, the 
 Conference Organist, which was carried 
 unanimously. A vote of thanks was also 
 unanimously passed to the editors of the 
 Shanghai papers, for tlie large amount of 
 space devoted to recording the proceed- 
 ings of the Conference. A vote of thanks 
 was also unanimously passed to the steam- 
 ship companies, for the reduction in fares 
 to members attending tlie Conference. A 
 vote of thanks was also passed to the Com- 
 mittee which made all the arrangements for 
 the Conference, and also to the Business 
 Committee of the Conference, which had 
 done so much to make the Conference a 
 success. 
 
 The session was closed with jirayer by 
 Rev. J. C. Garritt. . 
 
 Tuesday Eveniiuj. 
 
 The closing meeting of the Conference 
 was devoted chiefly to prayer and praise. 
 Dr. Blodget conducting the services. The 
 minutes for the day were read Mr. 
 Barber, and after correction adoi)tett. 
 
 At the close of the devotional exercises, 
 the records of the Conference were signed 
 in the presence of the Conference by the 
 two Chairmen, and by tlie six Secretaries. 
 
 The service closed at a late hour with, 
 the Doxology and a pra 3 ’er. 
 
 METHODS OF EVANGELISATION, . 
 
 BY THE REV J. HUBSOX TAYLOR, OF THE 
 CHIXA IXLAXD WISSIOX. 
 
 A discv^irse delivered, at the.openiny of the 
 General Conference of Pi otestant Mis- 
 sionaries of China, Shanyhai, 7th May,. 
 1890. 
 
 “I have compassion on the multitude, etc.”' 
 Matt. XV. ; 32-38. 
 
 When, on leaving London, I received air 
 invitation to preach at the opening of the 
 Conference, I felt that I must refuse, hluch 
 
 prayer was given to the matter. I con- 
 cluded that it Vi-as God who WAS to be tlie 
 8[)eaker and IE 1 could be little enough t-o 
 let God speak through me, I might veiitufo 
 ^ to speak, 
 
 ' In reading this account it touches all 
 j our hearts to remember — 
 
 ; 1. — That the presence of our blessed Lord 
 
 I is kept before us. We read that Jesus 
 j called his di.sciples, Jesus a.sked and Jesus 
 said thus and so. He opened to them his 
 ' own loving heart of sympathy for the 
 j multitude. This is what we, gathered here 
 j to-day, need to feel, the Master’s own 
 heart. If He wishes the multitude to be 
 fed, they must be fed. There is no ques- 
 tion about it. Our duty is plain. The 
 only possible question is How. Before 
 this Christ had fed 5,000. The disciples 
 had witnessed at once the needs of the 
 people and the power of their Lord. Yet 
 now they seem to be all unconscious of these 
 things and raise the query “ Hoiv can we ? 
 How can we fill so great a multitude ?” 
 These doubts ancl questionings are just 
 like those in which we ourselves indulge. 
 We have been helped by Christ. Difficulties 
 have been removed and yet the next time 
 we cOuie into similar straits our faith 
 wa\-ers and our hope grows dim. Yet 
 Jesus does not upbraid them. His grace 
 and gentleness are great. Nor does He 
 upbraid us, though our faith is so feeble. 
 He waits to bless. He, who is no longer in 
 the feebleness of earthlj’ flesh but reascehd- 
 ed into heavenlj' gloiy at God’s right hand, 
 2. — Notice that the disciples are used by 
 Christ as instruments. He works through 
 them and not indejjendentof them. Should 
 we not therefore co-operate with one an- 
 other and not separate ourselves ? Christ is 
 the Vine and we are the branches. The 
 unity- of God’s people should ever be kept 
 in thought. We are one. God works 
 through us, we are in Him and united to 
 each other. At this period the disciples 
 had not received the Holy Ghost, but 
 Christ was with them to teach and guide. 
 Notice, too, we have the multitude, in 
 I this account of the Evangelist. It ninn- 
 j bered 4,000 besides women and children, 
 j It seemed to appal the disciples ; “ Whence 
 I should we have so much bread in the wilder- 
 I ness as to fill so great a multitude?’’ So 
 ' we exclaim “There is so mucli for us to do.” 
 j We are too arithmetical in our thoughts as 
 to how much or how little we have to do, 
 
 ; and to do with. The widow of Sarejjta had 
 only a little meal and oil. Much money or 
 , food in her hands would have been a peril. 
 
 ' for in the famine the hungry people w-ould 
 ; have very likely robbed her. A little with 
 ; God’s blessing is enough. God makes use 
 of just what we have, to show- his pow-er and 
 ; grace. He asked Moses what he had in his 
 i hand, then bade him cast it on the earth. 
 
70 
 
 Lo, it became a serjDent. He bade him 
 thruat his hand into his bosom. It became 
 leprous ; again he jdaced it there and it Avas 
 restored. The Master requires nothing out- 
 side and beyond ourselves, but only asks 
 that Ave heartily put at His disposal just 
 Avhat Ave ha\'e. 
 
 Christ asks “Hoav many loaves have you ?” 
 Fancy one of the disciples of a calculating 
 turn of mind figuring up the needs of 4,000 
 Avith the seven loaA^es, on the basis of 5,000 
 fed Avith five loaves. That is the A\’ay Ave 
 sometimes meanly reckon. But Christ 
 Avants all. We are to keep back nothing. An 
 entire consecration is the test. As a con- 
 ference AA'e need to get near to Cod. It is 
 not large numbers, experience and ability, 
 so much as it is a thorough surrender of all 
 Ave liaA'e to Him. Then our needs and 
 China’s needs Avill be fully met. If “All 
 for Christ ” be our motto then Ave shall be 
 consecrated to the Avelfare of others. Our 
 time, our treasure, our infiuence, our child- 
 ren Avill be lovingly and loyally given to 
 Him. When the eye is single and the 
 heart is true to Jesus, the Avhole body 
 Avill be full of light. All questions brought 
 befoi’e us in debate Avill be illuminated 
 and all our surroundings Avill be full of light. 
 We shall then knoAv Avhat to do. 
 
 Do you ask hoAv this is to be had ? J ust 
 put yourselves in the attitude of tru.st and 
 of docilit)’. With this complete self-sur- 
 render, all personal ends and selfish motiA'es 
 are abandoned. We shall not alloAv prh’ate 
 feelings and ambitions to infiuence us, or 
 ask AA'hicli .shall be greatest. Our only Avi.sji 
 Avill be to know what is Christ’s way, Avhat 
 is his thought and choice. 
 
 I expect a great and precious outcome 
 from this gathering. He Avho fed the mul- 
 titudes Avill feed us and care for us Avho 
 have left home, kindred and country for his 
 sake, and haA'e come to labour in China. 
 But the thought uppermo.st in my mind yet 
 remains to be considered. 
 
 3. — The methods of feeding the multitude. 
 Christ's methods Avere perfect, for He 
 folloAved the father in all things. He acted 
 not in a desultory Avay but <jrderly. He 
 commanded them all the sit doAvn on the 
 ground. They .sat doubtless as did the 
 5,000, in roAvs, to be moi'e easily reached 
 to avoid confusion. He gave thanks. He 
 broke the seven loaves, then he gave to his 
 di.sciples and they to the multitude. Each 
 disciple took a portion of the company to 
 serve. He left to their judgment and com- 
 mon sense the division of the Avork and the 
 details. It is not likely that he told them 
 just how much each Avas to receiA'e, indeed 
 it is natural to suppose that the first re- 
 ceivers became dividers. A man may have 
 given a portion of what he received to' his 
 wife or child. So they Avho receive the 
 
 bread of life, the gospel of Christ, arc to 
 give the same to others. 
 
 I am glad that the subject of the division 
 of the field is to come up. It is an im- 
 portant one and a difficult one. It is hoAV- 
 eA^er, an easy problem for Christ. Let Him 
 direct. Do just Avhat He indicates to be 
 our duty. We should not say “ I’ll try to.” 
 He does not ask us to try. I have looked 
 through the Bible to see Avhat it says about 
 “trying ’’and I everywhere find the im- 
 perative command DO ! The Holy Spirit 
 is given to them Avho obey Him. Let our 
 response be immediate and complete. Then 
 may Ave look for Pentecostal blessings. Our 
 feAv loaves and fishes will be surely multi- 
 plied. 
 
 This is an age of opportunity. Material 
 forces are develoj)cd. Steam and electricity 
 Avait upon us. W e have Avealth abounding 
 on every hand. But wealth is poverty if 
 without God’s blessing. Even meal in His 
 hand is abundance. So Ave may be enrich- 
 ed by giving, as Ave are surely impoverished 
 by withholding. Let us Avork, not fanatic- 
 ally, but Avith full trust in the Lord who has 
 promised to bless us beyond our highest 
 thought. 
 
 Without abandoning present organi.sed 
 methods of efi'ort, may Ave not add auxili- 
 aries, looking toAvards a rapid evangelisation 
 of China '! Can nothing be done to present 
 the gospel of Christ speedily to the Avhole 
 of this emj)ire ? To begin Avith, I think 
 that there are not .so many people here as 
 has been represented. Correspondence 
 and in(|uiry convince me that the state- 
 ments of population have been greatly ex- 
 aggerated. However,' putting the number 
 at250,000,000 — none Avould be likely to sug- 
 gest a loAver estimate — there are 50,000,000 
 families. Could Ave put inb) the field 500 
 qualified CA'angelists, each of them visiting 
 50 families a daj\ Ave should reach the entire 
 population Avith the gosj)el in three years. 
 Shall Ave not unite in an appeal to the 
 church of Christ to send forth men and 
 Avomen in som'e such rapid Avork of evange- 
 lisation '( Three or four days in a place 
 cannot, indeed, accomplish all the Avork 
 needed, yet much may be accomplished 
 Avith God’s ble.ssing on the seed thus soAvn, 
 .'ifterAA'ards to ripen and bring forth fruit. 
 Christ drove aAA’ay the apo.stles from some 
 centres, lest they should stay too long in a 
 place But the Avork Avent on Avhen the 
 Avorkers had left. Thirteen years ago at 
 the last meeting of this conference, our 
 appeal for labourers Avas not fruitless. Noav 
 there are in American schools of learning 
 alone, 4,000 Avho have indicated a pur- 
 pose to give themselves to foreign mis- 
 sionary service, if G<jd shall open the AA-ay. 
 At the first meeting here, thirteen years 
 ago, but 19 bodies Avere represented ; Ave 
 noAV have 40 societies at Avork, under whose 
 
71 
 
 wise supervision these evangelists might ] 
 carry the truth by voice and printed page ; 
 all over this empire. 
 
 Letters from all parts of the world assure 
 me that prayer is ofiered, men and money 
 ready. In Scandinavia 100 are to be had. 
 
 It was said to me in Gla.sgow, “We can 
 send 100 from this city alone.” From the 
 lay workers of England cannot 300 come ? 
 As for the United States, 500 is a number 
 ridiculously small when 4,000, in various i 
 stages of prejwration, are looking forward 
 to the foreign field. For sixty generations 
 Christ has been looking do«m upon us, and 
 
 upon the work with unspeakable interest. 
 To His immediate followers He gave com- 
 mand to disciple all nations. He has com- 
 manded each generation to evangelise its 
 own generation. Have we been heedful of 
 our Lord’s parting injunction ? Shall we 
 wait and let the people perish while we 
 wait ? Xu ! In this sixtieth generation 
 since our Lord wept in Gethsemane and 
 did one Calvary, see to it, my brethren, 
 that this blessed gospel of gi’ace is carried 
 to every hamlet in China and the offer of 
 salvatioir is made to all whether they receive 
 it or not. 
 
 S U :\I M A R Y. 
 
 “ What be it all about .said a Cornish 
 luiiier to a comrade, in a town where 
 an ecclesiastical gathering was assem- 
 bled. “ I dunno, Jem,” was the reply, 
 “ unless it be as the parsons have come 
 for to swop sermons.” 
 
 The miner’s question was a perfectly 
 legitimate one. It must in some form 
 have presented itself, within the past 
 month, to the minds of many individuals 
 in Shanghai. About 430 persons, mainly 
 mi.ssionaries, or those connected with some 
 branch of missionary work, coming from 
 every part of China proper, from Man- 
 churia, from . Japan, from the East 
 Indies and India, at great expense of 
 time and money, and to the interruption 
 of their ordinary work, have spent toge- 
 ther a fortnight. 
 
 What was it all about ? • What good 
 has come of it ? Let us endeavour from 
 the standpoint of the members of the 
 Conference themselves — for such a pur- 
 pose the only satisfactory standpoint — 
 to ascertain what the results of the 
 Conference really are. 
 
 I. — First in the order of time, though 
 not first in importance, may be specified 
 the essays, more than fifty in number, 
 which w'ere presented to the Conference. 
 Many of these essays are discussions by 
 experts of topics which to the mission- 
 ary are interesting and important. Some 
 of these papers are brief synopses 
 of general principles, while others are 
 
 exhaustive treatises. It is important 
 also to observe, that no relevant .subject 
 and no class of subjects was omitted, 
 or kept in the back-ground. It is indeed 
 true that these essays might have been 
 written without any Conference to hear 
 abstracts of them, and to discuss the 
 topics treated ; but it is equally true that, 
 without the stimulus of the Conference, 
 most of the essays never would have been 
 written, and thus a distinct and impor- 
 tant addition to the missionary litera- 
 ture of China would have been missed. 
 The reports of the discussion held upon 
 the topics of the papers will be of 
 interest to a wide circle of readers. 
 No meetings during the whole session 
 of the Conference were of more value 
 than those devoted to C|uestions on 
 miscellaneous topics, with answers from 
 men and women of special experience. 
 Nothing but such a Conference could 
 have struck out so many .sparks of 
 wisdom. 
 
 II. — For the space of forty years, there 
 hfts been a serious and an hitherto insur- 
 mountable difference of opinion among 
 the missionaries in China, in regard to 
 the proper method of translating the 
 Bible into the Chinese language. These 
 differences were based partly upon the 
 question as to the most suitable Chinese 
 characters to be used in rendering the 
 words, “ God,” “ spirit” and “ baptise,” 
 and partly upon the question as to the 
 
72 
 
 Ueueral principles wliich should govern 
 Bible translation. In proportion as mis- 
 sionaries occupied a wider area in 
 China, and the numerous dialects 
 were more perfectly understood, difficul- 
 ties of Bible translation, already great, 
 were much increased. Missionaries 
 living in the vast reffions throuohout 
 which mandarin is the spoken language, 
 have been, for the most part, content to 
 employ the translations made in that 
 dialect ; while those working in the 
 central and southern coast provinces 
 found it necessary to commit to writing 
 the local dialects of these provinces. 
 Within recent years, several scholars, in 
 parts of China widely separated, have 
 made two additional translations of the 
 New Testament, neither in the literary 
 style nor in that of the mandarin dialect, 
 but in a compromise between the two, 
 with a view to reach a class of readers 
 for whom the former is too hieh, and 
 the latter too low. The result of this 
 perpetuatioli of all the old translations, 
 with the addition of so many new ones, 
 has been a bewildering multiplication 
 of “versions,” the evil of which has 
 been universally felt and vainly la- 
 mented. Perhaps the most intractable 
 element in the problem has been >ui- 
 avoidable, namely, personal feeling. 
 The fires of the fierce controversy waged 
 early in the fifties, which covered China 
 with tracts and replies on each side of 
 disputed (questions, have, indeed, died 
 away ; but the conviction that this 
 translation is better and more faithful 
 than that, and therefore to be exclusive- 
 ly recommended, has on all hands sur- 
 vived in undimini.shed strength. The 
 feeling that a revision, and perhaps 
 even a wholly new translation ought to 
 be made, and that when made it ought 
 to be a “ union version,” has been 
 widely prevalent. But the practical 
 basis of such a version was no sooner 
 di.scussed than it was at once per- 
 ceived that the personal elements 
 were extremely delicate; and the ad- 
 justment of the relation between the 
 proposed new version, and those 
 already existing, was a matter upon 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 which there was but a remote and 
 tenuous prospect of agreement. At the 
 very opening of the Conference, it be- 
 came evident that whatever else might 
 be accomplished, a “ union version” of 
 the Scriptures was beyond the pale of 
 rational expectation. Such, generally 
 speaking, being the conditions of the 
 question, what did the Conference do 
 about it ? It may be replied in brief, 
 that it appointed committees of able 
 men to consider and report upon each 
 branch of the subject. The trans- 
 lators, as well those who were absent 
 as those who were present, exhibited 
 upon all sides a most gratifying spirit 
 of concession in the interests of har- 
 mony. The result was a series of 
 reports from these committees, which 
 showed that, after full consultation, 
 absolute unanimity had been reached. 
 'J'he terms of adjustment have already 
 been published, in the reports of 
 these committees. The reports them- 
 selves define clearly mid with precision 
 the conditions under which the new 
 versions are to be made. The method 
 by which was settled the crucial ques- 
 tion who the translators should, be was 
 siin’|dicity itself, yet so obviously rea- 
 sonable that no exception to if could 
 well be taken. From an extended list 
 of nominees, the Conference itself chose 
 by printed ballots three “ executive 
 committees'’, one for a revised version in 
 the high classical style, another for a re- 
 vised version in the easy classical style, 
 and a third for a revised version in 
 mandarin. It is the duty of these 
 committees to choose the translators, 
 and when the versions shall have been 
 completed, to superintend their public- 
 ation. Two of these committees were 
 to be composed of twelve persons, five 
 English, five American, and two German. 
 The committee for the mandarin ver- 
 sion, however, was to be made up often 
 persons chosen without reference to 
 nationality. When the ballots for the 
 last named committee were counted, it 
 was found that, as the Chinese proverb 
 nins, “The voice of the multitude is 
 the voice of the sage”; for the wholly 
 
I 
 
 73 
 
 Unanticipated result was the selection of 
 live Englishmen, four Americans, and one 
 German, and these ten persons repre- 
 sented ten different societies. The vote 
 by which these executive committees 
 were made the unanimous choice of the 
 Conference, was more than a mere 
 formality. It represented a hearty ac- 
 quiescence in a reasonable plan by which 
 Bible translation in China may be 
 simplified, unified and perfected. 
 
 In addition to the versions already 
 named, a committee was cho.sen with 
 reference to the rendering of the Scrip- 
 tures into the various vernacular dialects 
 of the empire, and other committees 
 reported upon the best plans of repro- 
 ducing the Bible and other books in 
 styles adapted to the blind and to the 
 deaf and dumb. The action thus taken 
 in regard to a version of the Scrip- 
 tures uniform for all China, was hap- 
 pily characterised by its senior member 
 as “the crowning work of the Conference,” 
 and in the view of those qualified to 
 express a sober opinion it is easily 
 worth all that the Conference has cost. 
 
 III. — It has long been felt that there 
 is a pressing need of a Bible in Chinese, 
 with summaries, chapter headings, and 
 brief explanations. Practical steps have 
 been taken by the Conference toward 
 securing this important result ; and it 
 is hoped that the fruits of tliis labour 
 will be accepted and published by the 
 Bible Societies. 
 
 IV. — It has likewise long been the 
 conviction of a large majority of the 
 missionaries in China, that in addition 
 to the Bible just described, there is an 
 urgent necessity for an edition of the 
 Bible with annotations. The nature of 
 this need was made clear in the forcible 
 paper on this subject presented by Dr. 
 Williamson, as well as in numerous 
 cogent speeches from missionaries re- 
 presenting every part of the empire. 
 The Conference elected by ballot an 
 executive committee, similar to those 
 chosen for the new versions, and 
 it is the duty of this committee to 
 choose suitable persons to prepare 
 the needful annotations. Prudent pro- 
 
 visions requiring unanimity on the part 
 of the annotators, who represent all the 
 denominatiojis, guard against the in- 
 troduction of unsuitable notes. A 
 union annotated Bible ranks next in 
 importance to a union version, as an 
 item of capital importance. 
 
 V. — After mature deliberation in 
 committee, . and full discussion in the 
 general meeting, the Conference, in 
 studiously temperate language, adopted 
 a resolution protesting against the 
 growth and sale of opium (as well as of 
 anti-opium pills containing morphia) 
 and calling upon the Christian Church 
 to make more earnest efforts against 
 this great evil. 
 
 VI. — A committee was appointed to 
 inquire into the use of alcoholic liquors 
 by the Chinese native Christians, and to 
 report upon the subject to the next 
 Conference. 
 
 VII. — The work and the material 
 assets — books, maps, blocks, etc. — of the 
 school and text-book committee ap- 
 pointed by the last Conference, have 
 been turned over to an Educational 
 Association of practical teachers, which 
 has been organised with a view to the 
 promotion of educational interests in 
 China, especially including the matters 
 of school and text books, and scienti- 
 fic terminology. 
 
 VIII. — With a view to secure har- 
 monious working in literary effort, a 
 permanent committee has been elected 
 with a great variety of important duties, 
 looking toward the unification, the 
 classification, the storage and sale of 
 standard books at important centres. 
 Although not occupying a prominent 
 place in the proceedings of the Confer- 
 ence, this action, if followed by the results 
 contemplated, must prove of the utmost 
 value to all missionaries. 
 
 IX. — x\ committee has been elected 
 to present a statement to the Chinese 
 Government, making it clear to the 
 minds of those in authority in China 
 what Christianity is, and what it aims at ; 
 and while thaidiing the Government for 
 protection in the past, asking for the 
 
74 
 
 immediate and etfectnal suppression of 
 libellous charges against Christian mis- 
 sions. It is not unlike!}' that a repre- 
 sentation emanating from all the mis- 
 sionaries in China, may receive from 
 the Chinese (Tovernment ' considerate 
 attention. 
 
 X. — An appeal has been framed on 
 behalf of more than two hundred ladies, 
 members of the Conference, and adopted 
 as its own by the Conference itself, 
 asking the women of Christendom to 
 send more lady missionaries to China. 
 An appeal has been made in the name of 
 the Conference for a lar!>e reinforcement 
 
 O 
 
 of lay workers. An appeal has also been 
 made in the name of the Conference for 
 a. large reinforcement of ordained mis- 
 sionaries. These two last appeals, drafted 
 by different committees, having been 
 adopted by the Conference, were referred 
 to a special committee which combined 
 them into one grand appeal for 1,000 
 men within the next five years. This 
 .appeal w,as voted, not under the pre.ssure 
 of a transient enthusiasm, but as a 
 sober business measure, in view of what 
 h.as been actually accomplished in 
 the past, and what is already in 
 hand at present, as well as in view 
 of the remoter needs of the future. ' 
 
 XI. — St.atistics of. mission work in 
 China have been collected, more ex- 
 tended, more thorough ajid more careful 
 than were ever before t.aken. Of these 
 statistics only the briefest .abstract h.as 
 yet been given to the public. They 
 show that there are forty-two different 
 missionary organisations at present 
 working in China (several missionaries 
 being independent of any Society). 
 
 The late Conference was attended by 
 more missionaries than, at the date of 
 the Conference of 1877, were to be 
 found in all China. At the close of 
 1889 the number of mission.aries in 
 China w.as 1,295, and the number is 
 now much larger. The increase in 
 1889 over 1888, w.as 172. 
 
 The number of native communic.ants j 
 reported in 1877, w.as 13,035 ; at the 
 end of 1889, the number was 37,287, 
 an increase of more than 28G per cent. 
 
 The contributions of the native Chris- 
 ti.ans (only) for the year 1889 were 
 $30,884.54, which lacks a little less 
 th.au $403 of being an average of one 
 dollar a member for all the native com- 
 municants in the empire. 
 
 There are 520 organised churches, of 
 which 94 are wholly self-supporting, and 
 49 others partly so. In the 01 hospitals, 
 and the numerous dispens.aries without 
 hospit.als, were treated in 1889 a total 
 of 348,439 patients. A Conference 
 with a record of this sort behind it, 
 might well feel itself authorised to .ask 
 for ‘more workers. 
 
 XII. — A committee was appointed to 
 report upon the difficult subject of a di- 
 vision of the field, .and upon comity be- 
 tween missions. The judicious recommen- 
 dations in the report of this committee 
 were unanimously adopted, and the com- 
 mittee itself was made permanent. 
 Its labours can scarcely fail to promote 
 practical harmony among individual 
 missionaries, as well as between different 
 ■societies. 
 
 XIII. — A perm.anent committee of 
 correspondence was elected to serve as 
 a medium of communication on subjects 
 of common interest between missiona- 
 ries in China, and to m.ake provision 
 for the next Conference. This com- 
 mittee will supply a link, the w.ant of 
 which has been much felt and the 
 value of which will become increasingly 
 apparent. 
 
 XIV. — The results of a Conference 
 like this are not to be found merely in 
 its formulated decisions. A knowledge 
 is g.ained by isolated and perhaps dis- 
 couraged workers, of other workers and 
 other methods of work. Beyond the 
 horizon there are seen to be “ other 
 heavens,” and beyond men that .are in 
 sight there are perceived to be other 
 men equally zealous, able and successful. 
 Personal contact with such ought to be, 
 and actually is, an educating force of 
 supreme v.alue. 
 
 No one could look in for a single 
 day upon the Conference with its 
 hoary he.ads of wisdom scattered 
 among the r.anks of younger recruits. 
 
75 
 
 and not receive an impression of the 
 wide range of experience represented 
 by the seniors among this body of mis- 
 sionaries. Fourteen male members of 
 the Conference have been in China 
 tliirty years or more, and since the 
 senior missionary arrived, forty six 
 years have elapsed.* 
 
 * SEXIORS AMONG THE MISSIONARIES. 
 
 The f' llowiiig is a list of fourteen male 
 members of the Missionary Conference, 
 who have been in China thirty years, or 
 longer, with the year of their arrival : — 
 
 Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., Am. Pres., 
 Canton, 1844. 
 
 Rev. Will. Muirheacl, London IMission, 
 Shanghai, 1847. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Ashmore, D.D., Am. Bap. 
 Miss. Union, Swatow, 1851. 
 
 ReV. Charles Hartwell, Am. Board, Foo- 
 chow, 1853. 
 
 Rt. Rev. Bishop Burdon, Church Mission, 
 Hongkong, 1853. • 
 
 Rev. John L. Kevins, D.D., Am. Pres., 
 Chefoo, 1854. 
 
 Rev. J. Hudson Taylot, Director, China 
 Inland Mission, 1854. 
 
 J. G. Kerr, M. D., Am. Pres., Canton, 
 1854. 
 
 Rev. Henry Blodget, D.D., Am. Board, 
 Peking, 1854. 
 
 Rev. Alex. Williamson, LL.D., Union 
 Pres. Ch. of Scotland, Shanghai. 1855. 
 
 Rev. R. H. Graves, M D., D.D., Am. 
 So. Bap., Canton, 1856. 
 
 Rt. Rev. Bishop Moule, Church Mission, 
 Hangchow, 1858. 
 
 Rev. Yi.ung J. Allen, D.D , Am. So. 
 Meth., Shanghai, 1860. 
 
 Rev. ,J. M. W. Farnham, D.D,, Am. 
 Pres., Shanghai, 1860. 
 
 These fourteen men represent more 
 than five hundred years of missionary 
 service, most of which have been spent 
 in China. AVhat a vast and varied 
 knowledge of China and the Chinese is 
 represented by that little group ! 
 
 AA'^e have spoken of the wide diversity 
 of organisation to be found in mission 
 work in China, but that diver.sity gained 
 very little prominence in the sessions of 
 the Conference. The predominant and 
 overwhelming impression was that of 
 unity in variety. Ten companies do 
 not more naturally make a regiment, 
 and several regiments constitute a 
 brigade, than do the forty societies of 
 Protestant missionaries in China form 
 against heathenism one united army. 
 
 AVhatever it may have done or have 
 left undone, the Slianghai Conference 
 of 1890 is both a prophecy and a pro- 
 t inise of the day hinted at in the Latin 
 verse found in some editions of Bagster’s 
 Testaments : “ Multie terricolis liugme, 
 coelestibus uua.” “ To the dwellers upon 
 earth there are many tongues ; to those 
 in heaven, but one.” 
 
 REPORT OF THE LADIES’ MEETINGS. 
 
 The ladies of the Shanghai Conference 
 had a session by themselves on the evening 
 of Wednesday, the 14th May, at eight 
 o’clock, Mrs. C. W. Mateer, of Tung- 
 chow Fu, and Miss C. M. Ricketts, of 
 Swatow, jointly presiding. Questions had 
 been dropped into a box through the 
 day and the object of this meeting was to 
 hear the answers. Some speakers were 
 limited to five minutes, some to two. The 
 first questions were : Which is preferable for 
 girls’ schools, male or female teacher ? 
 Should boarding schools be in the city or in 
 the country ? Miss Frances Wheeler, of 
 Kiukiang, said she should be guided by 
 circumstances. She thought the girls should 
 not, in their schools, be very far removed 
 
 from their homes. She thought women 
 teachers, as a rule, could be employed in 
 elementary schools only, as it is nearly im- 
 possible to find a woman thoroughly enough 
 educated to teach the classics. 
 
 Q. — What books should be taught in 
 girls schools 1 Does arithmetic brighten a 
 girl’s mind ? 
 
 Miss- Jennie G. Evans, of Tungchow, said 
 she felt more at home in boys’ that in girls’ 
 schools. She said little girls who came to 
 school in China were generally very dirty, 
 frightened little creatures. The first thing 
 that would occur with one was to scrub 
 them. They needed it physically and men- 
 tally. Their minds were as dull as their 
 bodies were dirty. She thought the books 
 
76 
 
 used should be the three-character classic, 
 catechism, arithmetic, geography and the 
 Bible. 
 
 Q. — What are the comparative advan'- 
 tages of a single lady having a home during 
 her first year in China with a family, as 
 compared with making a home for herself '! 
 
 Mrs. C. W. Mateer said she thought such 
 a lady would probably feel less home sick- 
 ness in a family, but might, perhaps, ac- 
 complish more in her work if she made a 
 home for her.self. She thought the married 
 ladies owed it to the single ladies who 
 began their missionary life under circum- 
 stances of greater trial, to give them a 
 hearty welcome into their families. She 
 believed ladies, so received, had invariably 
 jjroved a blessing to the family I’eceiving 
 them. Single ladies should always have 
 houses furnished them if they prefer. 
 
 Q. — How much time should a .single lady 
 devote daily to .study during the first 
 months of her life in China ? 
 
 iMrs. Jlateer answered — Every available 
 hour of her day, consistently with the pre- 
 .servation of her health. Every month of 
 the first year is worth any two months in 
 later years. 
 
 Q. — Is it feasible for unmarried ladies to 
 engage in evangelistic work in new fields ’? 
 
 Mrs. Arnold Foster, of Hankow, said she 
 must dissent most emphatically from the 
 affirmative ground taken in the paper on 
 this subject read before the Conference. 
 With all deference to faithful and comscien- 
 tious workers holding such view she must 
 think them mistaken. She did not think 
 that women should do a general evange- 
 listic work which implied work for men. 
 It seemed to her such work was oj)po.sed to 
 Bible teaching. Paul’s views on this subject 
 were well-known. She had called the at- 
 tention of one individual to tliis subject. 
 The lady had replied that Paul was out of 
 date. She thought that people who came 
 to make the Bible the rule of life for the Chi- 
 nese should not speak of the sacred book in 
 a slighting way, and seem to detract from 
 its binding force. She knew that some 
 foreign pastors and some native heljicrs 
 whollj’ disapjiroved of such work by ladies. 
 .She would like to know the sentiment of 
 the ladies of the Conference. She begged 
 to move that those who di.sapproved of sucli 
 work bj" ladies, sliould be asked to indicate 
 if by a rising vote. 
 
 Mi.ss Haygood, of Shanghai, moved “that 
 we first take the sense of this meeting 
 whether we wisli Mrs. Foster’s motion jmt.” 
 
 Upon the Chairman’s putting Miss Hay- 
 good’s motion, it was decided that the 
 meeting did not wish to consider the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 Next, Mr.s. J. M. Foster, of Swatow, was 
 asked to give some particulars about Jliss 
 Fielde’s work. A vei-y cheering account of 
 
 the results reached was listened to with 
 deep interest by the ladies. 
 
 Q. — How’ may relief be given in such a 
 way as not to hinder the spread of the 
 gosjiel I 
 
 Mrs. T. W. Pigott, of Shunte Fu, replied. 
 In starting a new work in the interior, they 
 had felt the extreme importance of setting 
 wise precedents. She tliought constant 
 liel|) or injudicious wholesale charity cer- 
 tainly does arouse a spirit of covetousness 
 in the Chinese and as one of the gentlemen 
 in the Conference had said, the heathen 
 Chinese come to us at fir.st from interested 
 motives. At the same time we cannot for- 
 j get that it has been said “ Blessed is he 
 that considereth the poor,” and in cases of 
 J deep poverty and suffering, Christian love 
 and pity find their wise and judicious 
 exercise. 
 
 Q. — What have been found the best 
 method of teaching Christian women to 
 read, without taking them from their homes 
 or bribing them in any way ? 
 
 I Mrs. Arthur Smith, of Pangchuang, Shan- 
 I tung, said she understood this question to 
 [ mean not taking women from their homes 
 for long periods of time or to great distan- 
 ces. Her own centre of work was in a small 
 village of a hundred families. Their 
 I church inember.s were scattered about in 
 I over sixty villages. They had only small 
 \ footed women who could not walk far. 
 Meetings, monthly or semi-monthly, held 
 in about a dozen of the villages, though 
 helpful to the growth of Christian life, were 
 found ([uite inadequate to the mental train- 
 ing of the women. They were poor and busy, 
 
 ! many of them mothers of families, finding it 
 hard to leave home, but the solution of this 
 ((uestion had been found in a winter board- 
 ' ing school or series of station classes. All 
 ’ women, wdietber Chri.stian or heathen, who 
 attended faithfully the village meeting 
 ^ nearest them, were invited each winter to 
 I come to this school for a month. They 
 could not be spared longer even if invited 
 to stay. They learned more in such a 
 j month of steady interrupted work than 
 i in a year of distracted work at home. 
 Contact with others stirred up ambition. 
 Their prayer horizon widened. They were 
 set to pray for other Christians, for other 
 villages, for other {)rovinces, for Honan, for 
 the Hawaiian Islands. It made their hearts 
 larger, and other faith stronger. They are 
 f strenuously exhorted to work for some one 
 else on going home and they do so. Mem- 
 bers of last year’s class, though themselves 
 : poor and busy, are teaching fifty women and 
 children to read. None of them are paid a 
 cash. They do it for love. Ample food 
 and the fuel to cook it cost two and a half 
 cents (gold) a day per individual. It 
 brightens them mentally and quickens them 
 I spiritually to come together and feel how 
 
n 
 
 large and strong the church is. The fel- 
 lowship of the saints has a new meaning for 
 them afterward. 
 
 Q.--What becomes of the children when 
 the mothers go to school ! 
 
 Mi'fi. Smith answered Children, old 
 enough to study, are allowed to come with 
 their mothers. The last class held is a 
 mother’s class, to which come the mothers 
 of infants, bringing the babies. A woman, 
 or, if necessary, two women, are engaged to 
 take care of the infants so that the mothers 
 can study. 
 
 Q. — Are schools in connection with 
 hospitals a possibility ? 
 
 Mrs. J. G. Kerr, of Canton, replied “ We 
 think they are.” She then described the 
 one under her o^m care in connection with 
 her husband’s hospital. It began at first in 
 a small way. In going about the wards of 
 a large hospital and- teaching the sick, it 
 was difficult to remember how much in- 
 dividuals had already learned. There was 
 much reiteration. The wise economy of 
 classification was soon felt. She gathered 
 a few together and began. They had no 
 school-room. They moved about from day 
 to day into whatever ward happened to be 
 vacant at the time. When the u.sefulness 
 of the school was an established fact they 
 built a school-room, with living rooms for 
 the Christian teacher above. Boys, girls, 
 and women have there been taught to the 
 number of 350. They become so attached 
 to the school that they are glad to recover 
 gradually that they may attend it longer and 
 some times quite welcome the relapse which 
 may bring them once more under its 
 fostering care. Five boy pupils and four 
 girls proved so promising they were taken 
 into the mission boarding-schools, while 
 fourteen of the number enrolled as pupils 
 had entered the church. 
 
 The next subject taken up was that of 
 native agency, which was considered by 
 Mrs. G. Stott, of Wenchow. She paid a 
 glowing tribute to the value and import- 
 ance of work done by our native brethren and 
 sisters. She was surprised that this work 
 had not been more emphasised in the Con- 
 ference. She wished most emphatically to 
 dissent from the views of the gentleman 
 who had said that we should first give the 
 Chinese an idea of the unity of God, before 
 we approach the subject of the atonement. 
 She thought it mo.st unwise to wait for a 
 second opportunity lest such a time never 
 came, and we leave our hearers with no 
 knowledge of Christ and Cross. She re- 
 called a tim^ when, waiting at the gate of a 
 large city, a group of women gathered round ! 
 her. She began with this little heathen 
 audience by telling them about God’s ‘ ‘ mid- I 
 dle-man.” One woman, who was especially ' 
 interested afterwards, sought Sirs. Stott to j 
 learn more, and eventually brought in ten of I 
 
 I her friends who became Chriatiahs. A poor 
 . wood-seller went from house to house, and 
 ' carried to all his customers wherever he went, 
 
 ! the story of Christ's love. He brought in 
 [ two noble men, who have ever since been 
 I invaluable to the church. By all means 
 let us impart a knowledge of Christ as soon 
 as we can. 
 
 Miss E. Inveen, of Ningpo, was next 
 asked to speak on the subject of Bible 
 I schools. She said that her subject had 
 been largely covered by Mrs. Smith. Their 
 school at Ningpo was started with the 
 e.special end in view of helping all the 
 women in their church to read the Bible. 
 The romonised colloquial was taught, and 
 this is so much easier than the character 
 that it enabled a woman to accomplish 
 much in a short time. In the last school 
 they had had eighteen country women, of 
 whom nine could not read at all when they 
 came to school. At the end of ten Aveeks, 
 four of these could read a hymn or two, and 
 some passages of Scripture. 
 
 Mi.ssTalmage, of Amoy, at a later meeting, 
 spoke of the inestimable value to the women 
 of tlieir church of the romanised books. 
 She said that a large proportion of 
 their church members . could now read 
 the Bible for themselves. She was asked 
 if the educated Chinese men, teachers and 
 preachers, did not look down upon such 
 books with scorn, as suitable only for 
 women and children. She said that at first 
 [ there was a little of that sentiment, but 
 having now seen its usefulness, they cordi- 
 ally approved of it. 
 
 The next topic was the sphere of work 
 open to married women. 
 
 Mrs. J. L. Stuart, of Hangchow, discussed 
 it. She spoke of the freshness, earnestness 
 and enthusiasm of the young missionary, 
 of how her household cares gradually throng 
 upon lier, until it seems as if time for 
 possible service ^ is quite swallowed up. 
 Slarried ladies alwaj's had, however, one 
 field at hand, in their own servants. 
 Patience with them is something to strive 
 after. Our daily example must be a strong 
 inrtuence in the lives of those .so closely 
 associated with us. How they watch us, 
 in our dealings with them, and with our 
 own children ! She spoke of a missionary 
 lady who had been sorry to know that 
 her amah had said of her mistre.ss: “She 
 is a very nice sort of woman, but she 
 /ifl'- got a temper !” Even in the busiest 
 life, she thought an half-hour might be daily 
 ■saved for some missionary .service, for in- 
 stance, a call on some poor Chinese neigh- 
 bour. 
 
 Suggestions as to the country work by 
 Miss M. Black, of Laohok‘eo, one of five 
 sisters, all missionaries to China, were next 
 listened to. She began by saying that if she 
 could shut her eyes and fancy that we were 
 
78 
 
 bhinesc ladies, or even Chinese beggars, i 
 she should feel more at home in speaking, j 
 She described her woi-k in the city of Fau- 
 ch'eng, in the prevince of Hupeh, three 
 hundred milesabove Hankow, where shehad 
 spent about a year. As soon as she showed 
 herself, the women gathered about lier 
 'eurious as to her “ honourable country ” and 
 its customs. She said that she sometimes 
 began her talk by saying ; “ I am one of six 
 sisters.” This at once ri vetted attention and 
 called forth sjunpathy for the unfortunate 
 mother who had borne so many girls. Tlien, 
 as she went on with the story of God’s 
 love and his provision for our redeiuj)tion, 
 the dense crowd of women listened eagerly 
 and silently. “ Yes, and the fringe of men 
 around the edges, too, Mrs. Fo.ster 1 A few 
 men are sure to skirt any crowd of women 
 whom 3'ou try to teach in tlie ojien air. 
 What are j’ou to do witli these men Miss 
 Black was invited from court-j-ard to court- 
 j’ard, and day after day had new fields of 
 virgin soil in which to sow gospel seed. 
 The women sometimes said heartily, 
 
 “ We love J’OU,” and she felt sure that they 
 meant it, as certain as she was of her own 
 deej) love for them. She was glad to think 
 of the thousands in Fanch‘eng, who had 
 heard the gospel. 
 
 Mrs. Mateer said that there are many 
 mothers among the missionaij’ workers, 
 and she believed that a careful in ve.stigation 
 would show that their children are (juite as 
 well cared for and taught as the children of 
 those who never do a stroke of missionarj’ 
 work. 
 
 Mrs. Sheffield was then asked to tell 
 how she came to practice medicine. She 
 referred to the (jue.stion meeting of the 
 general Conference, where Dr. Boone was 
 asked whether he thought a slight medical 
 knowledge of any value in lui.ssicmaiy work. 
 He replied “ I regard it as worthless.” She 
 thought the answer to such a (]uestion 
 might better come froiiTa familj’ who were 
 obliged to live in the interior awaj’ from a 
 doctor. At her own station. b>r more than 
 ten j’ears, the nearest physician lived four- 
 teen miles awaj’ in Peking, thegates of which 
 the j’ear round are closed from dark till 
 daylight. The doctors there were too busj’ ; 
 to be called awaj’ for anj’thing but grave 
 crises. Under such circumstances she and 
 Mrs. Chapin learned to pre.scribe from 
 their own private medicine-chests for all 
 the lesser ills of their own families, and the : 
 Chinese about them. Although no diplo- 
 mas graced the names of these ladies, thej’ 
 knew that quinine w.as superior to powdered 
 scorpion, and they found their own simple 
 remedies most useful and necesary. When 
 a lady physician afterwards came to tliem, 
 Mrs. Sheffield studied with and assisted 
 her. A neat and commodious liospital and 
 dispensary were built. The health of the i 
 
 doctor failing, she left, and Mrs. Sheffield 
 took up the work untilamedical gentleman 
 came. Even after his arrival she retained 
 for a time the care of the clinics, leaving 
 him free to study the language. After he 
 was fully equipped, she still held a daily 
 clinic for women. Although she did not 
 mention it, we iiiaj’ add that as a medical 
 lady she found access to homes of high 
 officials, such as that of the Chou Magis- 
 trate, and that of the Taotai. 
 
 Miss Hattie Noj’es, of Canton, was asked 
 as to the wisdom' of giving prizes c>r other 
 inducements to women and girls to .study. 
 She said that they sometimes gave to their 
 .school-girls testaments as prizes and little 
 gifts, not exceeding twenty or twenty-live 
 cents in value. She wished to speak a word 
 to the manj’ new missionaries just arrived. 
 We look into their faces with most loving 
 .'.j' 111 path j’ and heartilj' welcome them to a 
 share in the woik. Seed time may be long, 
 and the reajjing perliajjs done by other 
 hands than ours, but the harvest is sure if 
 we faint not, but patiently sow by all 
 waters. 
 
 Q . — How can boarding-school pupils 
 sjrcnd Sunday profitably 
 
 Mrs. Mateer said that they had found it 
 a very good plan to divide a school into 
 groups, to studj’ the Bible informallj’ bj' 
 themselves, or under the leadership of an 
 older pupil. The scholais were encouraged 
 to remember and report as well as they could 
 the ‘morning sermon. This insured atten- 
 tion at the morning service. Their pupils 
 gradually fell to taking notes and writing 
 them in full, almost rejiroducing the sermon 
 entire. This funished a Sundaj’ occupation 
 at once helpful and stimulating. 
 
 A subsequent gathering of the ladies took 
 place at the hospital parlours of Mrs. Fitch. 
 As this was an informal meeting \\;here tea 
 and talk flowed together, it is not easy to 
 give more than a brief resvme of its plea- 
 .sant things. (_)ne topic discussed was in- 
 du.strial work for girls and women’s schools. 
 Upon comparison of the wide field, it was 
 found that the indu.stries alreadj' known in 
 such scliools were the weaving of cotton 
 tape, of silk-braid, of cotton cloth, of .sti’aw- 
 braid, the sewing of straw-hats, jilain sew- 
 ing, cutting, embroiderj’, knitting of wool- 
 len stockings, cooking and wa.shing. 
 
 The second question was how manj’ ladies 
 in this Conference have BiVde women in their 
 emjfioj', either not paid at all, or not paid 
 with foreign money. Shall we make the 
 work narrower, reacliing fewer women, and 
 trusting to the higher chanicter of unpaid 
 work, or shall we employ moi'e women and 
 pay them ? This drew forth a variety of 
 testimony. Mrs. Stott had one Bible 
 woman, the daughter of a mandarin, who 
 knew how to read before she became a 
 Christian. This woman was for a time 
 
79 
 
 sent out and supported by a handful of 
 native Christians. 
 
 Mrs. Mateer said that they liad no 
 Bible woman in regular pay, but one well 
 educated woman, who was tied by the cares 
 of a large family, helped as she could, and 
 they paid for the labour which was neces- 
 sary in her absence 
 
 Miss Ashbimier, of Amoy, had sixteen 
 Bible women under her care, all paid women, 
 and was sure that tliey were doing much 
 good. 
 
 Ladies from other stations spoke of 
 helpers’ wives and others, some of whom 
 gladly gave their time to work in dispen- 
 saries, and among village women. In 
 some of these cases, the husbands were 
 receiving wages so that the family were 
 not dependent for support upon the wife. 
 Some of the ladies thought that beginning 
 with ])aid Bible women, made it very 
 difficult at a later day to introduce unpaid 
 
 workers. Others thought tlie two compati- 
 ble side by side. One lady spoke of a 
 Chinese Christian woman, who was asked 
 by a Chinaman how much she was paid 
 for her work. Drawing herself up, the 
 woman replied, “I have been in the church 
 twelve years. 1 have never once failed to 
 keep Sunday. I have taught several groups 
 of woman and children to read, and I 
 never received a cash.” 
 
 Mrs. Arnold Foster thought that such a 
 woman would do twelve times as much good, 
 as one who w;ts known to be in the receipt 
 of foreign money. 
 
 Mrs. Farnham did not see why their 
 native sisters have not as good a right to a 
 comfortable support as they have. 
 
 Mrs. Mateer then spoke of the plan to 
 revive the magazine called TT'ornan’s Work. 
 She read a tentative prospectus which at a 
 later date will be presented to the mis- 
 sionary ladies not present at theConfei’ence. 
 
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