There is a body of lo foreign, and 12 Chinese clergy, who are assisted by a staff of catechists and school teachers. The
mission has always placed great reliance
upon its Chinese clergy, who are carefully
trained in a theological school before
ordination, and who have proved such
valuable workers.
Work for women is carried on by the ladies of the mission, aided by a body of earnest native Bible women, who have been educated for the work in the Training School at Jessfield.
The most striking feature of this diocese is the splendidly equipped and successful College of St. John, under the Rev. F. L. Hawks Pott, D.D. It was founded in 1879, by the Right Rev. S. I. T. Schesuchewsky, the third Bishop of Shanghai. It is situated at Jessfield, about five miles from Shanghai. The present large buildings were erected in 1892. The science hall was begun in 1898, and formally opened in 1899. In 1902 the pressure of an increasing demand for education on the part of Chinese led to steps being taken for the third enlargement of the institution. The corner stone of the new building was laid in 1903, and a year later it was formally opened, under the name of the "Yen Hall," in honour of a distinguished Chinese clergyman, the Rev. Y. K. Yen, M.A. In January, 1906, the college was incorporated, under the laws of the United States, as St. John's University. There are 263 students in all departments.
One of the greatest gifts of American Christianity to China is the well-equipped colleges for higher learning in different parts of the country. Amongst the best and most successful is St. John's College, Shanghai. Its influence is felt all along the Yangtsze Valley, and it will take a still more influential position in the future. There is a successful mission hospital, called St. Luke's Hospital, in Seward Road, Shanghai. The head physician is Dr. Boone, a son of the first Bishop Boone. The staff of this diocese have contributed very largely to the increasing Christian literature of China. They have assisted in the translations of the Bible, Prayer Book, and Hymn Books, and have produced many original works and translations of theological, historical, and expository books on the Chinese clergy and Christians.
Diocese of Hankow.
The diocese of Hankow, founded in 1901, embraces the four provinces of Hupeh, Hunan, Kiangsi, and Anhwei. The missionary district of Hankow was separated from that of Shanghai by the general convention of the American Church. in 1901. The first Bishop of Hankow, the Right Rev. J. A. Ingle, D.D., was consecrated at Hankow, on February 24, 1901. He died on December 7, 1903, and was succeeded by the Right Rev. L. H. Roots, D.D., in 1904. The foreign staff consists of 14 clergymen besides the bishop, 5 physicians, and 2 laymen. The Chinese staff consists of 13 laymen, 36 catechists, 59 school teachers, and 16 Bible women. The work is educational, medical, and evangelistic. The present bishop, is a broadminded and sympathetic churchman, who, while maintaining strenuously the Church's historical position, holds out the right hand of fellowship to all who really love the Divine Head of the Church. He is much beloved for his sympathetic attitude towards those who are not within the bounds of his own Church.
Diocese of North China.
The present diocese of North China was separated from the original diocese of North China in 1880. It has since lost the province of Shantung (which became a separate diocese in 1903), and now comprises the five provinces of Chihli, Shansi, Shensi, Honan and Kansu. The bishop is the Right Rev. Charles Perry Scott, D.D., consecrated in 1880. In 1862 the Rev. J. S. Burdon, afterwards third Bishop of Victoria, was sent by the Church Missionary Society to Peking. He translated there the Prayer Book, a Bible History, and put Dr. Martin's Evidences into Chinese. He was afterwards joined by the Rev. A. Atkinson and the Rev. T. McClatchie, but the latter soon returned to Shanghai. In 1865 the Rev. W. H. Collins joined the mission, and the work which he started in 1869, at a place called Yung Ching, has been carried on ever since. In 1873 Mr. Burdon became Bishop of Victoria. In 1875 the Rev. W. Brereton joined the mission. In 1879 the Rev. W. Banister, now the Archdeacon of Hongkong, was designated to Peking, but before he came out the Rev. W. H. Collins resigned, and the Church Missionary Society finally withdrew in 1880. In 1863 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sent Dr. J. A. Stewart to Peking, and he was joined in 1864 by the Rev. F. R. Mitchell. Soon afterwards, how- ever, they both withdrew, and the work of this Church Society was suspended for ten years.
In 1872 the S.P.G. sent out the Rev. C. P. Scott and the Rev. M. Greenwood to Chefoo. In 1878-79 there was a terrible famine in North China, and Mr. Scott and Mr. Capel were permitted to distribute ;f4,ooo in relief. The lavourable impression made by such generosity led the churches to take advantage of the feeling ; and Dean Butcher, of Shanghai, and Admiral Ryder, urged the S.P.G. to establish a strong mission in Shantung, under a resident bishop. An offer of ;^io,ooo led to the ultimate foundation of the Bishopric, and accordingly the Rev. C. P. Scott was consecrated Bishop of North China.
Since 1891 the Rev. F. L. Norris has been trying to form the nucleus of a Training College at Peking. Tai An Fu was opened in 1878, and Ping Yin in 1893. This diocese suffered in the early days of the Boxers' movement. On December 20, 1899, the Rev. Sydney Malcolm Wellbye Brooks was murdered by Boxers while on his way to support the Rev. H. Matthews, who was alone at Ping Yin. On June i, 1900, the Rev. H. V. Norman and the Rev. C. Robinson suffered death by Boxers at Yung Chin. Several of the Chinese Christians were put to death, and the new church at Tai Hang Chuang was burnt down. The mission ministers to Anglican Christians at Chefoo (1874), Peking (1880), Tientsin (1890), Shan Hai Kway, Pei Tai Ho, Newchwang, and Weihaiwei.
Diocese of Shantung.
The diocese of Shantung extends over the province of Shantung, except such portion as is now German territory. The work of this diocese is carried on in Chefoo, Weihaiwei, Tai An Fu, and Ping Yin. There is a staff of 8 clergy, and 25 native helpers. Progress is being made under the direction of the present bishop, the Right Rev. Geoffrey D. Iliff, D.D. (1903). A Conference has been established as an advisory council to the bishop, at which both the foreign and native workers are repre- sented. A theological college has been also founded, where the native clergy and catechists are to be trained. Diocese of Western China. The diocese of Western China extends throughout the province of Szechwan and comprises the field occupied by the Church Missionary Society, and the China Inland Mission. The China Inland Mission has work in different parts of this province of Szechwan, but in 1895, the eastern portion, i.e., east and north of the Kialing River, was assigned to the Church of England members of the China Inland Mission, and the superintendent, the Rev. W. W. Cassels, was consecrated first bishop of this diocese. The China Inland Mission began work in 1877, when Messrs. Judd and McCarthy, occupied Chungking. The Church Missionary Society began work in 1888, when the Rev. J. H. Horsburgh made extensive itinerations with the object of founding a mission. A party of 15 missionaries was sent out with Mr. Horsburgh in i8gi, and, after many difficulties, the work was established in various centres. There are now 10 stations with resident European missionaries, the most distant station being on the borders of Thibet. There are now on the staff of the diocese, 18 foreign clergy, and one native, 17 lay workers, and 63 women workers. The bishop— the Right Rev. W. W. Cassels, D.D. (1895) — lives in the city of Pao Ning. A training institution has been established, where native clergy and workers will be prepared for their work. Little has been done in the way of educational or medical work. The statistics of the Anglican Church in China, for the year ended December 31, 1906, were as follows : — Dioceses
Staff : Clergy, Foreign ...
„ Native ...
Lay, Foreign
„ Native
Doctors
Women : Foreign ... 256 Native
Converts : Catechumens - 5,103 Baptized 23,396 Communicants ... 10,756 Baptisms (1906) 1,952 ,, Children 904 Native contributions ... $42,000 = ^'4,200
HONGKONG CATHEDRAL.
The members of the Church of England among the early settlers in Hongkong lost no time in providing themselves with a place of worship. Through the efforts of the Rev. W. Phelps, R.N., and Mr. A. J. Johnson, subscrip- tions were raised, and in the year following the British occupation of the Colony a " matshed " structure was erected upon what is now the military parade-ground. In 1843 the first colonial chaplain arrived in the island, and on Christmas Eve held his first service in the church. The unpretentious little building was not long to continue, however, for on March n, 1845, the foundation stone of the cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, designed by Mr. St. J. Cleverly, Surveyor-General, and estimated to cost ^^6,960, was laid by Sir John Francis Davis, then Governor of the Colony. On March II, 1849, the new building was opened, and in the following May it was created a cathedral by letters patent.
