'The various statistics of the work at the present time may be stated as follows. 'Phere are 1,300 missionaries, male and re female, in different parts of the field, and several hundred native assistants are' connected with them as pastors of churches, preachers, teachers of schools, Bible women and otherwise. The latest reports speak of 40,000 converts in fellowship with the Church, making of course a much larger number in the families belonging to them. The matter of self-support is earnestly inculcated on these native Christians, and in many places it is most liberally responded. to. There are at least 12,000 scholars, boys and girls, boarding and day. The medical missionaries are active as evangelical Inbourers for the spiritual good of the many thousands of patients coming constantly under their hands. The literary work too is of great importance in such a field as this. The various book and tract associations in operation show a vast amount: of this kind of labour, as also private and individual effort in the same line of things, The circulation that takes place among all classes of the comnuunity is immense, and the whole is adapted to the varied wants of literary men and common people, alike religious, scientific, historical, medical, and of amore general kind, A.'large proportion of these works is highly appreciated, and is of the highest value in our Christian enterprise. In some of the provinces famine seems almost. a chronic calamity. It is constantly occurring and occasions dreadful suffering over large sections of the country. Many of the missionaries have devoted themselves most nobly to the work of relief provided for them, especially in Shanghai, and have thus accomplished a great amount of good.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.