Page:China's spiritual need and claims.djvu/38

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Cheh-kiang and Kiang-su.
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CHEH-KIANG; area 35,654 square miles, population 12 millions.

To the north of Fuh-kien lies the province of Cheh-kiang; in area the smallest in China. It is about twice the size of Greece, and contains say 12 millions of inhabitants. It has eight mission stations, in four of which the missionaries of the C.I.M. only reside. The number of missionaries labouring in the province in March, 1884, was 31, exclusive of 13 unmarried ladies, or 44 in all; of whom 34 live in three cities; and while they work around them, and sometimes take long missionary journeys, there are scores of cities and large towns without the gospel.


DIAGRAM OF RELATIVE AREAS. Cheh-kiang has 31 Missionaries. Great Britain, 35,000 Ministers. Scotland alone, 3845 Ministers. CHEH-KIANG. ENGLAND. SCOTLAND.

Here again, as will be seen from the above diagram, a considerable number may hear it if they will; but the mass still remain unsought, untaught, unsaved,—without the truth, without Christ, without hope, without heaven.


KIANG-SU; area 40,140 square miles, population 20 millions.

Still proceeding up the China Sea, the next province northward is Kiang-su. Larger than the preceding province, it is three times the area of Switzerland. It is of amazing fertility, and carries on an extensive commerce. That magnificent river the Yang-tse-kiang (the great artery of the empire), and the Grand Canal, run through its midst. It is, therefore, well able to sustain its vast population of 20 millions; more than double the population of Scotland and Ireland together. Shanghai and five other stations had in 1884, besides 15 single ladies, 53 labourers for Christ, making a total of 68; and they are publishing to some extent the glad tidings of peace in the cities and towns around them, as well as in their own stations. But 40 of the 68 are located in Shanghai; some of whom are printers, some wholly occupied with English work; and many are almost wholly engaged in teaching schools. Of the remaining 28 missionaries, 14 are located in two cities, of the estimated population of 500,000 inhabitants each. Can these 14 workers—one of them