BAPTIST MISSIONS IN CHINA.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10704, 10 July 1900, Page 6

BAPTIST MISSIONS IN CHINA.

The English Baptist missionaries have 347 stations in the provinces of Shantung, Shen-si and Shan-si. These are worked by 29 Europeans with their wives, and lt>4 native preachers, the native membership amounting to 3,086. The medical work carried on in these districts during the past year was very extensive, Dr. Russell Watson reporting that some 12,152 cases had received treatment in the different institutions. He also reported in March that "the outlook to us missionaries in Shantung is not at present -very bright. A strong antiforeign outbreak to the west of us around Chi-nan-fu led to much trouble and suffering, where, in. addition to the murder of Mr Brooke, of the S.P.G. Mission, over 3000 converts, chiefly Catholic, have been rendered homeless. To the east of us the railway is being constructed which is to lead from Tsing-too to Chi-nan-fu. This is also causing turmoil and bloodshed, for the people are resenting what they regard >is the forcible methods of the Germans." Rev. C. Spurgeon, Medhurst, tdso writew: — "It is a matter for devout gratitude that while the American Presbyterian mission in I-Chau-Fu, South Shantung, and the church in Western Shantung connected with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, have been devastated and terrorised by robbers and rioters —violence, murder, and arson being the order of the day—we have pursued our ordinary work In undisturbed peace." The past year was attended with success, 398 believers having been baptised.