CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY ARCHIVE

Section I: East Asia Missions

Part 10: China Mission, 1834-1914
Part 11: South China Mission, 1885-1934
Part 12: South China Mission, 1888-1934
Part 13: Chekiang Mission, 1885-1934
Part 14: Chekiang Mission, 1888-1934

Introduction to Part 11: South China Mission, 1885-1934

Part 11 continues coverage of the missions to China with the papers of the South China Mission, 1885-1934. It covers Letter Books for 1897-1934 and begins the Original Papers covering those for 1885-1905.

The Letter Books for 1897-1934 contain copies of outgoing correspondence from the Secretary in London to the missionaries. Please note that for Letter Books prior to 1897 researchers should consult the Letter Books for the China Mission in Part 10.

The material covered includes: committee resolutions; instructions to missionaries; memoranda re women’s work; mission estimates; circulars re the missionary response to internal troubles in China; re the University of Hong Kong; the Anglo-Chinese School at St Paul’s College; a circular about the outbreak of war in 1914; a memorandum re the support of the native agency in the mission field and re language schools.

The Original Papers for 1885-1905 covered in this part comprise all the incoming papers sent to the Headquarters from the missionaries and mission secretary. They mainly consist of letters, journals and reports, but also include items such as minutes and papers of local CMS committees. The topics covered include: missionary letters regarding furloughs, health, itinerations, language examinations; the revision of the translation of the mandarin scriptures; an attempt to establish new missions; the necessity for more medical students; reports on the work of the Biblewomen; minutes of the local church councils covering schools, Biblewomen, catechists etc; plans for a new hospital; journals of missionaries including that of Bishop Burdon of Victoria, Hong Kong, describing his tour among the CMS outstations in the Kwan-tang Province in 1886 and that of a doctor detailing his journeys to heal patients and visit converts with descriptions of people of all types met on the way; minutes of conferences; annual reports of the Hospitals; extracts of annual letters describing the year’s work of the missionary; newspaper cuttings; details re salaries and expenses; plans for new mission houses; dictionaries for Chinese tuition; maps and sketches of local places and scenes; vivid details of the Boxer Riots of 1900; regulations for the Native Church; the newsletter for Kwangsi-Hunan.

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