HE following appeal was sent to The Christian by Mr. George King, who
also desires that we should promote its circulation. This we gladly
do, and trust that his earnest words may have the prayerful consideration
they so well deserve.
Writing from a province in the North-west of China, where he and
Mr. Easton are the only male missionaries among millions of people, he
may well feel the urgency of the need, not only for more missionary
labourers, but for any supplementary agencies by which the number of
Christian workers might be further increased. Whether all the plans
suggested by Mr. King will prove equally practicable, experience alone can decide ; much will depend on the extent to which the help and co-operation of missionaries
already in the field can be secured. Unquestionably it would be better, where there is the needful zeal and fitness, for the whole time of a worker to be devoted to the work;
and besides those whose own incomes would suffice for their support, thousands of
Christian men without much self-denial could have the joy of sustaining a labourer as
their own representative in China.
It will be seen that the necessary initial expenses (for outfit, passage, and for mainNO. 103.—JANUARY, 1 8 84.
CHINAS MILLIONS.
tenance while acquiring the language) do not come within the scope of Mr. King's letter,
which suggests plans of labour, without entering into questions of detail. The sum named as
sufficient with careful management for the support of a single man or woman in some parts of
China, is not intended to indicate that a larger sum is not desirable. Many things beyond purely
personal expense are helpful in the work of God. The thought is rather that as small an income
can be lived on in China as in England.
It may be interesting to those who read Mr. King's letter to know that the city from which
he writes is the capital of the province of SllEN-Sl, and was formerly the capital of China. This
city has a special interest attached to it, as it was the scene of the early triumph and subsequent
reverses of the Nestorian missionaries. The well-known Nestorian Tablet, erected A.D. 781, may
still be seen outside the west gate of the city.
Mr. King first entered Si-gan Fu in 1867, two years after his arrival in China, and for the next
two years was engaged in itinerant work in the province. In 1879, after a brief absence, he
returned accompanied by his brave young wife, with whom he settled at Han-chung, where he
opened the first Mission station in SHEN-SI. A happy time of busy service was soon crowned by
success, souls being added to the Lord. In about eighteen months, over fifty had professed faith
in Christ by baptism.
In the midst of his encouragement he was called to pass through deep sorrow ; his beloved
wife after a brief illness was taken from him, leaving him with an infant of a few months, and ere the year closed he had to mourn the death of his little son. Almost overwhelmed with grief, he
faithfully continued his work, for a time at Han-chung and afterwards at Si-gan Fu. As we read
his earnest appeal, let us try to realize his solitary position there, with a native Christian as his only
companion, and fourteen days' journey from Han-chung, the only other station in the province.
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