The Indo-British Opium Trade and Its Effect, Tr. by D.B. Croom

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1879 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III. THE INFLUENCE OF OPIUM ON MISSION WORK IN CHINA. THERE are at the present time 238 Protestant European and American missionaries at work in China, exclusive of those who are laid aside through sickness, the female teachers, and the native catechists. These have been sent out by 29 different missionary and Bible societies, and are distributed among 91 principal stations, without counting 511 smaller ones. The stations are situated in nine of the eastern provinces of the empire, while the greater part of Western China has, as yet, hardly been touched by the Gospel, ! eight large provinces being still without a single missionary. If a line be drawn from north to south of China it will be found that, as yet, the field of missionary labour has been confined to those districts which, by their proximity to the sea, have chiefly come under the influence of the English opium trade. The number of heathen who, up to the present time, have been won over to Christianity in all mission stations amounts to 13,035 adults, members of the Church, and, along with children and persons who are under instructions about 50,000 souls, f scattered throughout 372 communities. Considering the recent origin of the mission and the enormous difficulties presented by the character and habits of the people, by the nature of the country, and by the religion and the government of China, this commencement is by no means to be despised. Thirty-seven years ago there were only three Christian natives in connection with the Protestant mission in China. Now progress is made more rapidly. Last year a larger number of natives than was ever before known submitted to Christian baptism, and whole villages are said to have gone over to Christianity. J To the friends of missions, however, thi.