1862 China Mission

This is an annual report of China Methodist Mission, originally published in the Missionary Society of the Mothodist Episcopal Church in 1863 by Robert S. Maclay. All footnotes were added by me.

BISHOP BAKER has Episcopal Supervision.

Missionaries

Rev. R. S. Maclay, Superintendent.
“Otis Gibson,
“S. L. Baldwin,
“C. R. Martin,
“Nathan Sites,
“S. L. Binkley.

Assistant missionaries

Mrs. Henrietta C. Maclay,
“Eliza C. Gibson,
“Esther J. Baldwin,
“Mary E. A. Martin,
“S. Moore Sites,
“Elizabeth R. Binkley,
Miss Beulah Woolston,
“Sallie H. Woolston.

Native helpers

Hu Iong Mi,
Hu Po Mi,
Wong Kiu Taih,
Ch’ai Sieu Ong,
Li Ching Mi,
Ling Sieu K’ieng,
Wong T’ai Hung,
Li Iu Mi,
Tang Ieu K’ong,
Li Seng Mi,
Yeh Ing Kuang.

Annual Report

To the corresponding secretary.

The city work

Fuhchau, with its population of six hundred thousand (600,000) souls, furnishes a vast field for missionary efforts. During the past year our labors in this city have been favorably affected by the friendly relations which, happily, have continued to exist between China and Western Nations. The prejudices of the Chinese are gradually passing away, and we are anxious to avail ourselves to the utmost of the new order of things here. The American Board Mission has just settled two families within the city wall, on a very eligible site which they purchased from the Chinese, and on which they have built two good dwelling-houses. The Church of England Mission, which from the first has been located within the city wall, has recently purchased two sites for chapels on the two most important streets of the city. Our mission has not yet obtained any place within the wall for residence or chapel, but we are now making efforts in this direction, and hope to succeed. In our mission estimates for 1863, which were forwarded from here last July, we introduced one item ($2,000) for a church within the city wall, and we hope you may be able to grant the appropriation. Hitherto we have been restricted to street-preaching within the city wall; but the time has now come when it is practicable for us to make a permanent basis for our labors there, and we very greatly desire the authority and means for doing so.

Ching Sing Tong, (True God’s Church.)^[1] – This is our most important appointment in Fuhchau. The church edifice stands on the great southern thoroughfare leading to the city, and within a short distance of the south gate. It is a substantial structure, and is in fine order. We keep it open every day throughout the year, and from it the Gospel has sounded out far and wide. There has been an interesting work of grace at this appointment during the past year, and ten candidates were baptized and received into the Church. A Sunday-school has recently been organized here, and placed under the care of one of the native brethren. The appointment bas been under my care, but all the brethren of the mission have labored in the Church. The class contains twenty-four members. The value of the church property is twenty-five hundred dollars, ($2,500.)

Tien Ang Tong, (Heavenly Rest Church.)^[2] – At this appointment, which immediately adjoins our mission compound, we have a good church property worth three thousand dollars, ($3,000,) and a class of twenty members. The charge has been under Brother Gibson’s care during the greater part of the past year, and has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. Six have been baptized and added to the Church since the date of our last Annual Report. A large and flourishing Sunday-school, under the care of Brother Sites, has exerted a fine influence at this appointment during the year.

Kuaninchang^[3] and Ato^[4]. – These are two small street chapels in the suburb on the south bank: of the river. All the brethren of the mission have labored at these chapels, and thus a large amount of Christian truth has been. sent forth among the people. A spirit of inquiry concerning the Gospel is springing up among the hearers at the Ato Chapel, and we are looking and praying for the speedy outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this portion of our work.

Provincial Treasury. – This is an open-air appointment within the city wall, which we have occupied during the past year. There is a spacious open court in front of the treasury building, and under the overarching boughs of immense banyans there, I have had the privilege of preaching the Gospel. In general, our hearers receive our message with apparent interest, and treat us with respect; occasionally, however, we have painful evidence that the offense of the cross has not ceased; and we are counted worthy to suffer reproach for Christ’s sake.

Boys’ Boarding-School. – This school continues under Brother Gibson’s care, but is now temporarily supervised by Brother Martin, who furnishes the following report:

“Since my connection with the school, the boys have demeaned themselves in a way highly commendatory to them. Their progress in study has been very satisfactory. During the year the two oldest boys, Ing Kuang and Ing Sieng, having completed their full term of study, were graduated. Ing Kuang is serving Brother Binkley as personal teacher, and Ing Sieng is serving an apprenticeship in the printing office. Both of these boys are members of the Church, and are capable of doing good service in the mission. Early in the year one boy was dismissed for bad conduct.

“There are now twelve regular scholars in the school, two others are on trial, making in an fourteen, one more than last year. Of the present number four have been baptized and received into the Church, and give good evidence of having passed from death unto life. One of the boys, probably the best scholar in the school, the son of a man connected with a mandarin’s office, is hopeful -candidate for baptism. He is a great favorite in the school, and with all who know him.

“The entire expenses of the school from September 30, 1861, to September 30, 1862, including salary of native teacher, stationery, and books, as well as food and clothing, have been five hundred and two dollars, ($502.) In closing, I would say that I think the school well worthy of the sympathy, the prayers, and the means of the Church. It has already shown itself a power for good. The want of a larger appropriation is a source of regret. The school-building can well accommodate a much larger number of boys. During the past year there have been many applications from parents to put their boys in the school, but for want of funds they could not be received.”

Girls’ Boarding-School. – This growing school has been named the “Baltimore Female Seminary,” and the Ladies’ China Missionary Society of Baltimore oonttribute largely to its support. The following report of its operations is from Miss B. Woolston, who, in connection with her sister, Miss S. H. Woolston, has charge of the school:

“The number of pupils in the girls’ boarding-school is fifteen, and the amount of money expended is four hundred dollars for the year about to close. The girls are uniformly diligent, obedient, and truthful. Most of the larger ones understand that the object for which they are admitted into the school is to become acquainted with the Christian doctrines, and on their return to their homes they will be expected to teach the same, so far as practicable, to their people. They already seem to realize that there is great power in prayer, and some of them have the habit of frequently retiring for private devotions. As yet but one of them has made a public profession of religion. On March 9 Hü Sung Eng was baptized and received into the Church, since which time she has maintained an exemplary Christian deportment, and her influence over the other girls is most salutary. She has received the name “May Marlatt Irving,” from the young ladies of the Irving Institute, Mechanicsburg, Pa., by whom she is supported. The school seems to be slowly gaining the confidence of the Chinese, and we hope to obtain in a few years as many pupils as we can take charge Of.”

Printing Office. – This important branch of our mission is now in successful operation. The office is supplied with one of Hoe’s Washington Presses, which works admirably; also with a small font of three-line diamond type, in Chinese; a small font of English type for Anglo-Chinese text-books, and the usual appliances of a printing establishment. We employ a Canton foreman, and three Fuhchau assistants. A convenient office building has been put up, and is now in use. There have been printed in the office one thousand copies of a duodecimo tract of twenty-two pages, entitled “Doctrines and Miracles;” five thousand copies of St. Matthew’s Gospel, five hundred copies of St. John’s Gospel, and five thousand copies of St. Mark’s Gospel. We hope during the coming year to add to our font of Chinese type, so as to work the press with increased efficiency.

Translation of the Scriptures. – The importance of translating the Bible into the spoken language of this people, and the large amount of critical labor we have given to this work, entitle the subject to a prominent notice in our Annual Report. Our experience has entirely satisfied us that a well-executed colloquial translation of the sacred Scriptures is essential to the success of our efforts to evangelize this people. By this remark we do not wish to disparage translations in the general language of China. Both styles of translation are needed, and we freely use them; still we have found that in Fuhchau and its surroundings the Word of God, in the colloquial style, is emphatically the people’s Bible. About thirteen years since the Rev. M. C. White, of this mission, issued an experimental translation of St. Matthew's Gospel, and the experiment was so satisfactory to us that we at once prepared a revised edition of the work, and have continued to translate in this style as opportunity offered. During the past year a committee, comprising the older members of the mission, has devoted a large portion of time to this work. The entire Gospel of St. Matthew has been very carefully revised, and we have advanced with the work to the thirteenth chapter of St. Mark's Gospel. We hope to continue this work till we complete the translation of the New Testament, and then we shall proceed to translate at least portions of the Old Testament in the same style. We beg an interest in the prayers of the Church while we go forward with this great work.

Foundling Asylum. – Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Maclay have had charge of this institution during the past year, and its beneficent operations have been attended by very satisfactory results. Ten foundlings have been received during the year, and the entire number of foundlings nowin the asylum is eighteen. The asylum receives a generous support from the resident foreign community, and from the Chinese. The resident foreign community contributed last year three hundred and twenty dollars, ($320,) and the Chinese contributed four hundred and fifty-three dollars, ($453.) In addition to these sums, we received from a resident member of the foreign community a “Christmas box,” containing one thousand dollars, ($1,000,) in aid of the asylum. This munificent donation we have placed on interest as a sinking fund for the institution. Two of the older foundlings have been adopted by Christian Chinese parents, who are members of our Church; and we anticipate no difficulty in finding Christian homes for all the little innocents the asylum may rescue from the rate of infanticide.

The country work

Westward from Fuhchau the surface of the country is mountainous, and dotted with innumerable villages and cities, containing populations varying from a few hundreds to some tens of thousands. Through this territory flows the Min river, from the north-west to the south-east, furnishing us a convenient means of transit in our itineraries. We have sought to enter this portion of China just as fast and as far as former treaty stipulations would permit, and now that the country is in a manner thrown open to us, we are anxious to occupy it efficiently. What we have now to report is only the initiation of this grand westward movement of Protestant Christianity right through the heart of China. May God speed the cause!

Ngu Kang^[5] and Köi Hung^[6]. – These two appointments, some two miles apart, are situated about thirteen miles westward from Fuhchau. Brother Gibson has had charge of the work at these places, assisted by Brother Sites. The native members have made encouraging progress in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Three adults have been baptized and added to the Church since our last annual report. The parsonage at Ngu Kang has been improved during the year, and the lot has been inclosed by a wall. We are now making arrangements for placing a mission family at this point for the coming year, and it is probable Brother Sites will take the appointment. We regard this as a most important movement, opening up, as it does, a new era in the history of our million. God bless the pioneers in this glorious work!

Kanchia^[7]. – This appointment is some twenty miles westward from Fuhchau, and is situated in the suburbs of a large town called Kanchia, (sweet sugar cane,) which contains perhaps twenty thousand inhabitants. We have a small class here, numbering eleven members. From the first we have had to struggle against bitter opposition, and our church members have passed through some severe trials. One adult baptism and two deaths have occurred in connection with this class during the year. We greatly need a small chapel at Kanchia, and we are making earnest efforts to obtain one. The appointment has been under my care during the year.

Sieu Meh K’a^[8], (Little Eye Creek.) – This is a new appointment we have opened up during the year. It is about thirty miles west of Fuhchau, and lies in a pretty valley running southward from the Min river. There are six inquirers here, under the care of one of our native helpers. The people have manifested great hostility to the Gospel, and one of our helpers was most cruelly beaten by them. The case was at once taken up by W. H. Carpenter, Esq., United States Consul for Fuhchau, whose vigorous efforts induced the Chinese authorities to give their attention to the subject, so that we hope there will be no repetition of the outrage.

Personal movements of missionaries

Early in the past year the Rev. Dr. Wentworth was compelled by the protracted illness of Mrs. Wentworth to accompany her to the United States, and our latest advices from him indicate that, in all probability, he will never be able to resume his labors in this mission-field. We feel assured, however, that he will always cherish a lively interest in our mission, and we look with confidence for highly important results to this mission from the efforts which both his talents and knowledge of the work will enable him to make moor behalf throughout our Church in the United States.

Mrs. Gibson having become extremely feeble, so that a change was absolutely essential in her case, and as Brother Gibson also was much exhausted by his incessant labors, the mission deemed it advisable to adopt some measure for their relief. Accordingly, in June, 1862, Brother Gibson was authorized to take his family on a pioneer trip to Japan. They arrived safely at Kanagawa or Yokohama about the 21st of July, and having spent nearly three months in that delightful climate, are now probably on their return voyage to Fuhchau. Our latest intelligence from them is contained in a letter from Brother Gibson, dated Yokohama, September 13, 1862. He says: “We are thankful that up to this time the Lord has preserved us all. Willie and Mrs. Gibson are both much stronger than when we left you in June, Eddie is improving, Myra about as usual. My health is good.”

March 21, 1862, the mission was cheered and reinforced by the safe arrival at Fuhchau of the Rev. S. L. Binkley and Mrs. Binkley, from the United States.

Training of native helpers

We continue our efforts to give a systematic and thorough training to our native helpers. Our plan of quarterly examinations succeeds admirably. These examinations are held in connection with the quarterly meetings at the Tieng Ang appointment. A course of study is issued at the beginning of each quarter, and every helper is expected to prepare himself for a close examination upon it at the next quarterly meeting. During the quarter each missionary assists the native helpers under his care in preparing for the examination, and these studies are not suffered to interfere with the regular pastoral duties of the helpers. We trust them to preach while they study and to study while they preach.

Annual meeting of the mission

The annual meeting of the mission for this year was held in the Tieng Ang Church, commencing Monday, Sept. 29, and closing Wednesday, October 1, 1862. The sessions were held from nine and a half to twelve and a half each forenoon. On Monday forenoon the session consisted of a kind of conference love-feast. The missionaries and native helpers met together.for recital of experience and thanksgiving with reference to the closing year. It was a blessed season. Tuesday’s session was occupied by the mission in settling financial matters, and arranging the plan of the work for next year. Wednesday forenoon both missionaries and helpers met in the Tien Ang Church, and the session was occupied with·announcing the appointments and devotional exercises conducted with reference to the labors of the coming year. Printed copies of the plan of appointments, in Chinese, were distributed; and one copy, suitably mounted, was posted in a conspicuous part of the church for general examination.

Plan of the work

Appointments made October 1, 1862.

I. FUHCHAU.
1. Ching Sing Tong.
R. S. Maclay, Hü Iong Mi.
2. Tien Ang Tong.
O. Gibson, Wong T’ai Hung.
3. Kuaninchang.
S. L. Baldwin, to be supplied.
4. Ato.
S. L. Binkley, Tang Ieu K’ong.
5. City within the wall.
C. R. Martin, Ch’ai Sieu Ong.
6. Boys’ Boarding School.
O. Gibson, Wong T’ai Hung.
7. Girls’ Boarding School.
Miss B. Woolston,
Miss S. II. Woolston, Ho Sieu Kieng.
8. Printing Office.
S. L. Baldwin,
Chinese Foreman and three Assistants.
9. Foundling Asylum.
Mrs. Maclay,
Mrs. Martin, Chinese Matron.
II. COUNTRY.
1. Ngu Kang.
N. Sites; Li Seng Mi.
2. Köi Hung.
N. Sites, Li Seng Mi.
3. Kanchia.
S. L. Baldwin, Li Seng Mi.
4. Sieu Meh K’a.
R. S. Maclay, Ling Sieu Kieng.
5. Ming Ang Cily^[9].
O. Gibson, Yeh Ing Kuang
6. Tiong Loh^[10].
O. Gibson, Hü Po Mi.
7. Lieng Kong^[11].
S. L. Baldwin, Tang Ieu K’ong.
8. Lo Nguong^[12].
C. R. Martin, Ch’ai Sieu Ong.
9. Hoh Ch’ang^[13].
S. L. Binkley, Tang Ieu K’ong.
10. Ing Hoh^[14].
R. S. Maclay, Li Ching Mi.
11. Yenping.
O. Gibson, Hü Po Mi.

The above plan of appointments embraces eight new fields of labor. To nearly all these places we have already made occasional visits, and now, under the passport system, introduced by the recent treaties, we hope to occupy them with some good degree of efficiency.

I cannot close this report without bearing testimony to the zeal and efficiency of all the members of this mission, and to the spirit of love and harmony which prevails in our midst as a mission. Our native members also give us much satisfaction, notwithstanding the inevitable trials to which their occasional missteps subject us. We are endeavoring, from the first, to train our converts to self-reliance and enterprise, and we think it highly creditable to them that during the year they have, by their own contributions, supported a native helper, paying him $350 per month.

The country is opening before us, and God is evidently preparing the way for the triumph of the Gospel in this great empire. Commending ourselves and our work to the prayers and contributions of the Church, I am, dear brother,

Yours very truly,

R. S. Maclay.

Fuhchau, China, September 30, 1862

Footnotes

[1]: 真神堂 (Cĭng-sìng-dòng)
[2]: 天安堂 (Tiĕng-ăng-dòng)
[3]: 观音井 (Guăng-ĭng-cāng)
[4]: 下渡 (Â-dô)
[5]: 牛坑 (Ngù-kăng)
[6]: 贵锋 (Gói-hŭng)
[7]: 甘蔗 (Găng-ciá)
[8]: 小目溪 (Siēu-mĕk-kă̤)
[9]: 闽安 (Mìng-ăng)
[10]: 长乐 (Diòng-lŏ̤h or Duòng-lŏ̤h)
[11]: 连江 (Lièng-gŏng)
[12]: 罗源 (Lò̤-nguòng)
[13]: 福清 (Hók-chiăng)
[14]: 永福 (Īng-hók), modern-day 永泰 (Īng-tái)

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Last updated: 2009/08/18