CHINA INLAND MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23093, 20 January 1937, Page 5

CHINA INLAND MISSION

SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OF PROGRESS GREAT INTERDENOMINATIONAL ORGANISATION WORK TRAVERSED BY GENERAL DIRECTOR The work of the China Inland Mission, which from modest beginnings 72 years ago has now spread throughout the country and has become a great international and interdenominational organisation, was traversed in an interview last night by the Rev. G. W. Gifob, the general director of the mission, who has arrived in Dunedin during the course of a world tour. Mr Gifob, whose headquarters are in Shanghai, since leaving China has visited England, Scotland, the Continent of Europe, America, Canada and New Zealand, and early next month he will proceed to Australia. FORTY-TWO YEARS' SERVICE Mr Gibb, who has served with the mission for 42 years, travelled all over China in the course of his duties. Reviewing the work of the mission he stated that at present there were 1400 missionaries in the organisation scattered through the country, of whom 60 were Australians and* 40 New Zealanders. Among the latter were Mr H Funnell, Miss Hanna Reid, Miss Bessie Webster, Miss K. E. Cooke, Miss Dobson, Miss Grant, and Mr Glanville. One of the first missionaries to leave New Zealand for China was Miss Harrison, who came from the Christchurch district. ~ _.,. It was a remarkable thing, Mr Gibb declared, that since the foundation of the mission 72, years ago by a Yorkshireman, Dr Hudson Taylor, there had been only two general directors until his own appointment two years ago. Dr Taylor was the first director, and held the position for 35 years, and his successor, Mr D. E. Hoste, one of the Cambridge "Seven," held office for a similar period. \ The mission, Dr Gibb added, was both international and interdenominational, and it was also to be noted that it made no solicitation for funds and had not a penny of debt. Support given the mission was purely voluntary, and during the years of its existence it had received between £6,000,000 arid~£7,ooo,ooo from the various countries of the world. Of this the greater portion had come from the British Empire and America, but many other lands had assisted. MISSIONARIES FROM MANY : . LANDS Another aspect of the international outlook Of the mission was the fact that its missionaries were recruited from the British Empire, America, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, and other countries; and illustrative of its interdenominational membership was the fact that the workers included members of the Anglican. Presbyterian. Church of Christ, Baptist, and Methodist Churches. . . . Apart from the missionaries from outside countries, Mr Gibb continued, there were about 3000 Chinese workers in the organisation. The workers were scattered through the 15 provinces of China and the church that had been established through the efforts of. the missionaries was now almost indigenous, about 60 per cent, of the support coming from the Chinese people themselves. The church was now largely self-governing, and was taking a very large share in the propagation of the Gospel. A ~ .. . The mission was extending its influence all the time, as was shown by the progress in one province alone where 10 years ago the church took no share, in evangelistic work. Now, however, -ihere were"2o'evangelistic bands in that province all carrying on active propaganda to spread the Gosßel among the people of the land. MENACE OF COMMUNISM "During the past 10 years we have found considerable difficulty in the prosecution of our work simply because of the unrest and uncertainty caused by the menace of Communism," Mr Gibb said. • , . Referring to the unpleasant experiences missionaries were liable to undergo through the activities of Communists, Mr Gibb mentioned the cases of Mr Hayman, a New Zealander, and Mr Bosshardt, who were held in captivity for many months before they were released. Although for the most part there was no danger, the strain of facing possible trouble from Communists was sometimes considerable. Every now and then, of course, some missionaries lost their lives, and during the last decade there had been 10 martyrs, the latest being John and Betty Stam, husband* and wife, who were cruelly put to death by Communists. The story of their work and death was now to be read in a book called The Triumph of John and Betty Stam. Mr Gibb said that he had visited all the greater cities of.the land, but had never had any grave difficulties, although the strain was to be felt at times. The people of China had always received him with the 'greatest kindness during his journeys and he had grown to love them. Notwithstanding the difficulties and trials of the missionaries, Mr Gibb added, they had had the privilege in the period of 10 years of receiving 55,000 converts into the fellowship. During the same time the mission had opened 101 new centres, and now had in the fellowship a total of approximately 200,000 Chinese. The opportunities for service were now much greater than in the past for the opposition formerly experienced by missionaries had largely disappeared. In the field offered by officials, scholars, rich and poor, and young and old, the mission's opportunities were simply enormous, and the workers looked forward to the time in the near future when the task of spreading the Gospel would make even more rapid progress. VISITOR'S ENGAGEMENTS '

To-day Mr Gibb will be present at a luncheon tendered by business men and ministers in the Vedic Cafe, and in the evening will attend a lecture by Mr J. O. Sanders. He will deliver an address in the Hanover Street Baptist Church to-morrow evening, on Saturday evening he will take part in a prayer circle meeting in the York Place Hall, and on Sunday he will attend services at the North-East Valley Presbyterian Church in the morning and in the Methodist Central Mission in the evening. _^_____