its disadvantages, as compared with instruction under the superintendence of a pastor and in connection with daily pastoral work, would naturally conclude that on mission ground these institutions would certainly be superfluous, if not injurious. There are, however, some circumstances peculiar to the mission fields in China which constitute special reasons for the establishment of theological schools, which reasons may be briefly referred to.

Ministers are able to attend to the instruction of candidates at home because in our language we are supplied with a great variety of text-books, in the study of which the student's time is mostly spent. In China we have hardly the one-hundredth part of the helps to study which may be had at home, and therefore must depend principally on oral instruction, which requires so much time that missionaries, in addition to their other duties, find it difficult, if not impossible, to give to this work that attention which its importance requires. It must be remembered further, that while all pastors at home are supposed to be competent to superintend the studies of candidates for the ministry, this is by no means the case with all missionaries, as this undertaking in China requires an additional preparation which must be made on the ground, including, at least, a thorough acquaintance with the spoken language, while a familiarity with the literature and religious systems of China is very desirable. Such qualifications are the result of years of hard study, and are not to be expected in one who has only been on the ground a few years. It sometimes happens, even in a large mission, that owing to an imperfect knowledge of the written or the vernacular language, or both, or from pressure of other duties, there are few if any who are able to attend to the studies of the candidates for the ministry, at least as they would wish to, and students are obliged to be without instruction the greater part of the time simply from necessity; and, after spending two or three times the number of years which are generally considered to be sufficient for a course of theological study, they are obliged to

HOW SHALL CANDIDATES BE INSTRUCTED?

355

give up in despair, or to enter the ministry imperfectly prepared.

Again, candidates at home are better able to forego the advantages of a course of instruction in a theological seminary, because they have usually spent years in a thorough course of intellectual and literary training in college and preparatory schools, while most of our theological students in China have been almost entirely without any corresponding advantages of this kind. To give them that attention which they require, some missionary or missionaries must devote themselves principally or exclusively to this department of labor. With our present small missionary force for each station, to attempt this work separately seems an unnecessary waste of time. Should it be assigned to a few persons specially qualified for it, and candidates from different quarters be gathered together in a general school, at least such as are in circumstances to leave home and to undertake a thorough course of study, other missionaries would be greatly relieved thereby, and would have more time to devote to other labors. The theological teachers would almost necessarily be obliged to prepare text-books which would be of use throughout the empire, and promising young men who should enjoy the advantages of a higher training-school would also become qualified to assist in teaching others.

It is impossible to treat this subject here in detail. It is my object simply to point out its great importance, and the practical difficulties which attend it.

The work of missionaries in China is fast becoming one of general superintendence of native laborers and churches; the preparation of a Christian and theological literature; and the training of a native ministry. As the work develops and assumes a different character, a great deal of practical wisdom is required in changing plans to suit changing circumstances.

CHAPTER XXIII.

RESULTS OF MISSIONARY WORK.

Unfavorable Reports respecting the Work of Missionaries, and their injurious Effects.--The Unreliableness of these Reports, and the Manner in which they originate.—The true Character of the Missionary Work, and the Difficulties attending it.-Detailed and Statistical Accounts of different Mission Stations not attempted.-Much has been accomplished in necessary Preparation for the direct Work of preaching the Gospel.—Effects produced by the general Diffusion of Christian Truth among the Masses.-Ripe Fruits.-The Classes from which the first Converts are usually drawn, and the Means by which they are brought into the Church.-Illustrative Experiences of Individuals and Families.—The Influence of Native Converts of both Sexes in building up Native Churches.-The Work of Native Preachers in the Out-stations.-General Statistics of the Results of Missions in China.-Special Reference to the Growth of Churches at Ningpo and in the Ports recently opened. -Remarkable Work in Lao-ling.

On the subject of this chapter very different opinions are entertained. It is often asserted by those who have spent years in China, and profess to speak intelligently and advisedly, that the missionary work there has been a failure. These reports have been so widely and persistently circulated, and have had such a decided and injurious influence upon many to whom we had naturally looked for confidence, sympathy, and co-operation, that it seems almost a necessity to give them a special consideration. It is but just to say that they are, in most instances, repeated frankly and openly, and that many honestly believe that they present the facts of the case. The derogatory testimony of others, however, is given with such an animus as ought to excite the suspicion of the most careless; presenting as it does the most conclusive evidence either of ignorance or malevolence.

CURRENT VIEWS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.

357

In the published views of a Dr. Marron, a person connected with a Prussian scientific expedition which visited China, Japan, and Siam a few years since, the following sentences. occur in connection with much else in the same strain: "There is-and when abroad I hear only one opinion-no institution more useless than these missionaries.”* * * "I deny that there is a single Christian among the Chinese, that is, one who has comprehended the Christian doctrine, and whose Christian social views have become the mainspring of all his actions,"

etc.

Before leaving China, I copied the following from the Hong-kong Daily Press, written by an "occasional correspondent:" "Ask any man of mind and of experience in China, and he will tell you that it is childish to expect to convert them (the Chinese) by any means yet attempted to what we call in England, Ireland, and Scotland, Christianity. And this brings me to another subject; the farther I travel, the more I am convinced that from Exeter Hall, by way of Shetland and Connaught, to Pekin, practical philanthropy must be the pioneer to bona fide Christianity. Teach the Arab to construct and inhabit some more civilized dwelling than the low mud hovel you see along the railroad side from Alexandria to Suez. Show the Chinamen by precept and example that honesty is the best policy, and that cleanliness is health. I say try, if it be possible, to send out good and sensible men of the civil-engineer class to educate the ignorant in these matters, and you will do more for Christianity in fifty years than the old lady's string of tenets uttered from the mouths of maudlin missionaries could effect in fifty centuries." It is not difficult to infer the religious tenets and character of the writer of this article, or to determine how much weight should be given to his estimate of the Christian character of Chinese converts. I have not heard whether, since his return to England, he has succeeded in finding and sending out persons answering to his ideas of the model modern missionary.

I would not quote these extracts at such length, did they

not, as I believe, afford a good index of the real feelings and opinions of many, if not most of the foreign residents in China. I was told by a very respectable and intelligent American connected with one of our prominent mercantile firms in Shanghai that the above extract from the Hong-kong paper presented his views and those of nearly all of his acquaintances.

Even some Christian travellers have helped to circulate these reports which they find current in the foreign communities; and by their character, and supposed sympathy with the cause of Christ, have given to them an authority and plausibility which they would not otherwise obtain. I met in China an English chaplain who was collecting information with which to enlighten the Christian public at home. He had just come from Amoy, where there were at that time at least two self-supporting native churches in connection with one mission (that of the Reformed Dutch Church of the United States), and where converts were multiplying rapidly, and the missionary work was full of interest and encouragement. He informed me that he had made particular inquiries about the missionaries, and had learned that they had accomplished hardly any thing; that their attempt to Christianize the Chinese was a failure. It is unnecessary to state where he obtained his information; he certainly did not obtain it from missionaries, or from any one who knew any thing about the subject.

It could not be expected that these views, which are entertained by so many foreign residents and travellers in China, would not have a decided influence at home. Returned missionaries meet with them everywhere.

A few months since, after addressing a church in Brooklyn on the subject of missions in China, a lady was introduced to me who said that she was very glad to have heard my statements; for she had been told repeatedly by an acquaintance of hers that the missionary work in China had accomplished nothing, and that missionaries generally led idle, useless, and,