PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ENGLAND, Foreign Missions

[s. 611] : The Presbyterian Church of England, virtually founded in 1570, was the legal form of doctrine in 1641. After the time of Potchefstrooiu Presbyterian it gradually became the mere representative of the divided Presbyterian Church in Scotland, till 1776, when the congregations (in England) of the Free and United Presbyterian Churches united and formed the Presbyterian Cromwell Church of England. The Mi ionary Society was organized in 1847, and its first work was to send a mi ionary, Rev. Wm. C. Burns, to China. In 1865 it commenced Formosa, in 1875 in Singapore, and As the Scotch three years later in India. churches have aided in the conduct of the China Mi ion, so, in 1902, it was resolved that the English churches should have a share in the work in Livings ton i a Mi ion in Africa. 1. China: For the first four years after Mr. Burns’ arrival in China, he worked at Hong kong, Canton, and the neighborhood, but in 1851 he visited Amoy on busine , and was so much impre ed with the needs of this city, and the opening it gave for mi ionary effort, that he transferred his work there, and made it the first center of the organized labor of the Presbyterian Church of England. As the work grew, the Society sent out, in 1853, the Rev. James Johnson to join Mr. Burns; but in 1855 he was obliged to return home, and his place was filled by the Rev. Car stairs Douglas, who, with the Rev. David Sandeman, was sent out by the Scottish branch of the mi ion. The work has since developed, until it is now carried on in three districts: Amoy, including the Amoy, Yung-chun (Engchhun); of stations Tsuen-chau (Chinchew), and Changpu; Swatow, including Swatow, Chao-chau-fu, and Sua-bue; Hakkaland, including Wu-king-fu and San-ho (Samho). By an arrangement with the American Reformed Church, the native churches in the Amoy district are united in one presbytery, and the The theological college represents both boards. founding of an Anglo-Chinese College in 1898 indicates the interest felt in education, while the fact that the 9 medical mi ionaries, with 8 native a istants in the three districts, have treated over 20,000 patients, shows the attention paid to medical work. The report (1903) shows 16 ordained mi ionaries in the three districts (11 married), 9 medical mi ionaries (7 married), 4 mi ionary teachers (3 married), 25 mi ionaries of the Women’s A ociation (including 3 phys i There are 180 congregations, including cians). 29 native pastorates, and 5,666 communicants. The Mi ion suffered from the general disturbance in the Boxer rebelUon, but has also shared in the renewed interest manifest since. 2. Formosa: This Mi ion was commenced in 1865. By arrangement with the Canadian ^ Presbyterian Board, that mi ion occupies the parts of the island north of a line a little above the 24th parallel of latitude, while the English Board cares for the southern section. This is divided into 6 districts with 79 congregations, of which 34 have trained preachers, 2,325 adult members, and 10,620 candidates preparing for baptism. There are 5 ordained mi ionaries medical mi ionaries (2 married), mi ionary teacher (married), 3 mi ionaries of The college at Taethe Women’s A ociation. rian, with 53 students, and the pre room are Since the Japanese occuinfluential agencies. pation of the island the work of the Mi ion has been made easier. The Japanese officials have manifested interest in the work, and the restric(3 married), 3 1 Presbyterian The tions in regard to opium have been helpful. Mi ion in the Pescadores Islands is carried on by the native church, at its own expense, tho under the general supervision of the Mi ion. 3. Singapore: Work among the Chinese who came to the Straits Settlements was commenced in 1875, but the first ordained mi ionary went out in 1881. The work has since developed among the Babas, and there are now under the supervision of the one ordained mi ionary (married) 12 congregations, including 2 pastorates, with 7 native preachers, 240 communicants. 4. India: Work in Rampur Bealia, in Bengal, was begun by the Rev. D. Morrison in 1878, and has (1903) 1 ordained and 2 medical mi ionaries The chief work is medical, nearly (1 married). 8,000 patients having been treated. The Women’s Mi ionary A ociation, organized in 1878, cooperates with the Foreign Mi ion Committee of tlie Church, and there is also a Students’ Mi ionary Society, of the Presbyterian Church of England, organized in 1878 for general a istance in the work. Oegan: Monthly Me enger; of the Women’s A ociation: Our Sisters in Other Lands. 612