10
which I need not here particularize, most peculiar, altogether dissimilar from any other dialect, and doubly difficult to a Student of the Court dialect. Of the climate of Foochow little is known, except that one of two Europeans, resident there with Mr. Lay, has returned in ill-health. Amoy bears a rather unfavourable repute for insalubrity, though an open field exists for Missionaries among a willing and attentive population.
As to the MODE of Missionary operations, little need be said now beyond what has been the general tenor of my corres- pondence--the principle of giving a due prominence to the preached and written Word, as the grand ordinance of the Gospel for the conversion of sinners. We want a body of preaching Missionaries giving special attention to the colloquial medium, willing in persevering patience to acquire the written character more slowly, but not in the mean time to sink their distinctive character, as heralds of the Gospel, in the mere occupation of Students, or even Schoolmasters; men who will live much in the open air, employing and increasing their incipient vocabulary of Chinese words, in the effort to recommend a Tract, or incite attention to the Word of God. There is a fair number of good Tracts already in existence ; so that a Missionary need not be useless or inactive till he has mastered the written character, and has himself become an author. In due time he may hope also for this honour, in proportion to the capacity of his mind, and his natural powers of originality, method, and thought. But in the absence or defect of these, there remains the humbler post of translator of Christian books. Meanwhile an important work remains for him, and unless that work be sedulously undertaken and prosecuted, the fervency of Missionary zeal is in danger of being cooled by the long period of delay, and of a growing distaste for the society of Natives stealing imperceptibly on the mind. Schools, &c., would follow in due course, experience and expediency may dictate; and if our Mission cannot for the present be undertaken in China on that scale of grandeur which many might deem advisable and essential to the position of the Church of England, we must be content to submit to the temporary absence of this important branch of Missionary machinery, as a penalty for our being so late in
as
11
the field. What can be expected from six, eight, or even ten Missionaries, just commencing the Mission, but that they qualify and prepare themselves, with God's help, for more complex and diversified Missionary work hereafter?
Oh! that God, in answer to our prayers, would give us one sincere Christian Native, who, under the instruction and supervision of European Missionaries, might strengthen our hands in the work of instructing his fellow countrymen; accompanying us in Missionary excursions, explaining the disinterestedness of our object, and relieving our broken accents, by alternating with us the description of the goodness of God to sinners in Clarist Jesus!
To this sketch of my views, I beg leave to add that at least six ships are expected at Shanghai direct from England during the current year, and a larger number may reasonbly be expected in the next year. If Missionaries came viâ Hong Kong, they should not leave England later than the beginning of March, to have the fair monsoon, and a desirable ship for their remaining voyage to the northern free ports. If they proceed direct from England to Shanghai, they cannot be sure of not losing the monsoon up the China Sea, if they sail later than the beginning of April.
I would respectfully urge the Committee to send out a sufficient number to raise our establishment to five Missionaries at each port. One medical Missionary at each would be an advantage; but my views of medical Missionary efforts are reserved for a future Letter. I content myself for the present with saying, that if any doubt is suffered for a moment to linger in the native mind of the decided, unequivocal, primary, and essential Christian character of such medical efforts; if they bear not the undoubted impress of Missionary work; if medical attention is given for any other objects, than not only proving the disinterested benevolence of the foreigner, but also assembling the sick, blind, diseased and maimed within the sound of the Gospel, and forming a congregation for preaching Missionaries, I must confess I cherish a distrustful jealousy of any such operations, and invite not such doubtful aid. The Scriptural warrant, the relation, the order, and the objects of medical Missionary labours, appear to me to be very simple, as contained in Matthew iv. 23---25, and v. 1-2.
234
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.