Besides the labourers thus represented, there are three or four agents of Bible Societies, who are carrying on their work in several provinces.
We turn now from the diagrams, which represent such inconceivable multitudes, to the map, which
represents the land where they dwell. The diagrams will not answer the purpose for which they have been
given if they do not add considerably to the interest with which the map will be regarded. What may we learn
from this map ? We may learn something as to the extensive area of China Proper. An examination will show that it is twenty-two times larger than England and Wales, which are shown on the same scale. To go through the
length and breadth of such a country, where facilities for travelling are so few, is no small undertaking, and yet
this has been done so often by the members of the China Inland Mission, that journeys which only a few years
ago would have been regarded as remarkable achievements, are now things of common occurrence. It is, well, however, in looking at the inland stations, to bear in mind that some of them are at a distance of 1,500 or 2,000 miles from the coast. With so much undone in the sea-board provinces, it may be asked. Why haste to press into the far inland provinces ? Of many reasons which might be given let one suffice. If China is ever
to be evangelized it must be done by the Chinese themselves ; no European or American missionary agency
will ever be equal to the mighty task, the work must be done by native agency ; if this be so, then it is of the
utmost importance that in provinces equal in extent and population to European kingdoms, and with varying
dialects, converts should be gathered as soon as possible, and trained for evangelistic work among the people of
their own province. As well defer missionary effort in Eastern Europe until France has been evangelized, as
leave Western China without missionaries until more has been done in the sea-board provinces. The great
Apostle of the Gentiles travelled far, and was able to say that " from Jerusalem and round about unto
lUyricum he had fully preached the Gospel of Christ."
We may next learn something as to ike population of China. Each province shows its own population.
If the Church of Christ looked upon these multitudes in the spirit of its Lord, it would be moved with
compassion, and do something more than it is now doing to tell them of Him " whom to know is life eternal." We may learn somethi?ig worth learning about the stations of the China Inla?id Aiissioti. This Mission
has seventy stations and out-stations (fifty-one of which are in the sea-board provinces and Hu-peh). The
principal stations only are marked on the map. It may be that some eyes that look upon these stations will see little red marks and nothing more. What it has cost to make it possible to put one of these red stars on
the map they will not see. Not, however, as work accomplished, but as vantage-ground for future labour
is it that these stars have their chief interest to those who know what they mean. The friends of the China Inland Mission may learn something more from this map. If to others it is merely an outline map, to those who, from the beginning, have followed the work of the Mission by their prayers,
and sustained it by their gifts, it will be a memorial of Divine faithfulness, an evidence of prayers answered,
and an encouragement to further effort. Not a few even of those best informed of the progress of the work will, as they look upon this map, be ready to exclaim with glad surprise, " What hath God wrought !
It may be observed that the names of three provinces on the map are in thinner type than the others. These
are the only provinces in which the China Inland Mission has not some of its members now at work, with the
exception of Kwang-si, and in that province our brethren have taken several missionary journeys. The
Mission has thus been permitted to show that it is possible to open stations, and carry on, in peace and comfort,
mission work in nearly every inland province. This, we venture to say, is no mean service to the cause of
missions ; and with this map before them, the friends of missions have proof that the China Inland Mission
has amply justified its existence, and has, by the help of God, done a work for China which the arithmetic of
earth cannot compute.
In conclusion, we ask our readers to look at the map, and compare province by province with the
diagrams, and estimate the spiritual condition of the people, so far as that can be judged by the missionary
agency,represented. If the missionaries in the sea-board provinces are now four times more than in 1865, and
if a number equal to the population of York be allotted to each, the proportion of the population represented
by the dark shading would be still beyond their reach.
The diagrams which represent the eleven inland provinces will enable our readers to see at a glance the full extent of Protestant missionary agency in them ; how many ladies there are in these provinces to work among
the women may also be seen. The inadequacy of the number of workers to the work to be done is apparent.
We have said little or nothing about the success of missionary effort in general. This has been great,
when all the circumstances and conditions of the work are taken into account, and calls for most grateful
acknowledgment ; but one fact will prevent an undue estimate of what has yet been accomplished—viz., that
the total number of converts and adherents connected with all the Protestant missions in China does not equal
a quarter of the population represented by a single square. This is in a country no longer inaccessible and
closed to Christian work, but open on every hand. The call is, therefore, loud and urgent to the whole
Christian Church to take advantage of the present openings. So far as our own work is concerned, we repeat
the statement made in our last number, that " Were the Lord to grant us double the number of workers, and
double the means, within twelve months we could have them all located and at work in needy districts among
perishing men and women." " Who will come to the help of the Lord ? "