Report of Good Work of the Past Year: Practically all Receipts Spent in Relief Coming very appropriately at this time of the year, when. most people are awakened to even greater sympathy than usual with this charitable work, is the report for the past year by Mr. George Matheson, founder and honorary direc-for of the Shanghai Mission to Ricsha Men. The Mission was founded in 1913, by Mr. Matheson, as the outcome of profound sympathy evoked by years of close observation of the hardships of the rieshaman's lot. The work has been organized on the lines of providing relief, combined with evangelistic and elementary education. All the departments are under the direct supervision of the honorary director and the mission relies entirely for support upon voluntary contributions, Some extracts from the ninth annual report state that it is issued with a deep sense of gratitude for the many tokens of encouragement and success which have attended the work during the year.
Development in scope and interest has almost surpassed the most sanguine expectations of those in charge. Among the more prominent features of encouragement may be noted the solid basis of understanding and confidence existing between the mission and very large numbers of those it aims at helping. Nine years ago offered kindness was often regarded with some degree of suspicion, and injunction with more or less callousness, where now the same efforts meet with appreciation and respect. Awakening of mentality and intelligent interest, followed by great improvement in. character and conduct, have been noted in many of the men frequenting the Mission. Comnlying with a request from the police authorities, instructions in police and traffic regulations have, since Tanunary last, been given at all the men's meetings in the halls and outside in shelters, etc. Great interest has been aroused and good results. Attendances during the year have been exceptionally large and representative. Men come long distances to attend the meetings, the outlying districts, in addition to the Settlements, being always well represented. 7 Azitators have been at work among the coolies, instigating to strikes, ete, and every endeavour has been made to counteract those pernicious efforts, and to teach the men that their best interests lie in the avoidance of trouble, and that. their only hope of recognition and help must arise from good conduct and industry. At the Mission premises, street shelters and homes, all _sick men and those in need are attended to and helped with food, clothing and \hospital aid. No ricsha man need suffer in Shanghai from lack of these wh'le the Mis-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.