p. 6 | Missionary Operations in China

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 26, 1908

Missionary Operations in China

WITH its eighteen large provinces, each one of which contains on an average a population equal to fully one fourth the population of the United States, China, one of whose names is the Middle Kingdom, presents an almost unlimited field for missionary effort. Missionaries of the various denominations are stationed in every province, Hunan being the last one to be entered; and the total number of native Christians now reaches many thousands, scattered in a large number of cities and villages throughout the whole empire.

PAGODA
THRESHING FLOOR — PAGODA THRESHING FLOOR

It is only about five years since missionaries under the direction of the Mission Board of the Seventh-day Adventists began to proclaim in China the distinctive gospel message which includes the Sabbath reform, and announces the second advent as near. During this time the number of stations has been steadily increasing until they are found in the following provinces:—

1. Kwang-tung: three stations, Canton, Fat-shan, Kongmoon.

2. Fukien, one principal station at Amoy, with several out-stations covering quite an extent of territory.

3. Kiang-si: one station at Shanghai, where a printing-office is located for supplying literature in the native tongue.

4. Honan: three principal stations, Shang-tsai, Siang-cheng, Cheo-Chia-K’Ou. There are three others where work has been done, but at which foreign workers are not at present located.

5. Hunan: one station, Chang-sha.

Definite plans have already been adopted for opening one or more stations in the province of Chihli, with headquarters either at Peking or Tientsin.

Systematic efforts are being put forth at the different stations for the training of native workers, and a good number of these helpers are now regularly employed as colporteurs and preachers. Schools for children are also being successfully conducted at some of the stations.

While this may seem quite a small beginning for such an immense field,—and so it is,—yet in view of the large number of fields in which this denomination is already supporting missionaries, the progress in China has been most encouraging, and the near future will doubtless see large additions made to the present supply of workers, and other provinces entered with this proclamation of a soon-coming Saviour.

NATIVE CHRISTIAN MEN AT THE SIANG-CHENG CONFERENCE