Page:China's spiritual need and claims.djvu/29

Rh was baptized. In 1818 the whole bible was published, the joint work of Morrison and Milne; and Dr. Marshman's version was published four years later. During the years 1817–23, Morrison's Dictionary was being compiled and carried through the press. When, in 1834, this devoted pioneer entered into his rest, the prospect of the evangelization of China was nearly as dark as when he landed twenty-seven years previously; and during that time only three additional workers had come to labour in China itself. Indeed, until the year 1842, the efforts of Protestant missionaries were for the most part of a preparatory nature. Stations had been formed in the adjacent islands, tracts and Scriptures had been translated; books had been printed and circulated, and a few converts had been made; but it was not till 1842 that China was really open to missionary effort. Canton was then worked with more efficiency, Hongkong" was in our possession, and Amoy and Shanghai were opened as missionary stations. In 1844 permanent missionary work was commenced in Ningpo, and in 1846 in Foo-chow. In 1844–5–6, edicts of toleration to Christianity were issued by the Chinese emperor; and since that time the work has continued steadily, if not always rapidly, to progress.

The Church Missionary Society's first agents reached China in 1844; the two agents of the General Baptist Missionary Society arrived in 1845; the Rev. W. C. Burns, of the English Presbyterian Mission, arrived in 1848; in 1851 the Rev. George Piercy, now of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, reached China; in 1854 the writer arrived at Shanghai; and more recently, agents of other British Missionary Societies have joined in the good work. A further number of labourers has been sent forth by various American Missionary Societies, while the Continental Societies have contributed not a few earnest workers. In 1860–1, the number of Protestant missionaries in China reached 115; but in March, 1865, when the was projected, it had fallen off to about 91. Since that time many have gone out and laboured in China, and in March, 1884, there were 428 missionaries in the field, and 52 absent on furlough, giving a total of 480.

The labours of these missionaries and of their predecessors have been fruitful—more so than under the circumstances could have been expected, or even hoped for, as the following retrospect will strikingly shew. In 1833, the year before Dr. Morrison died, Dr. Wells Williams—author of the well-known treatise, "The Middle Kingdom"—arrived in China; and in 1834, Dr. Peter Parker arrived. Both these servants of were spared to witness fifty years' progress, though not all the time in the mission field. When they arrived, Dr. Bridgman and Mr. Stevens were at Canton, where missionary operations