Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations China Missions: Secretaries' Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations China Missions: Secretaries' Records

Inclusive Dates

1893-1967

Bulk Dates

1956-1967

Call Number

RG 129

Creator(s)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations

Quantity

3.00 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

Presbyterian work in China commenced when the first missionaries arrived in Ningpo in 1844. Within a year a church had been established there. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, eight distinct missions were established throughout China. These included:

the Central China and the Kiangan Missions (1906)
the South China Mission (1845)
the Hainan Mission (1893)
the Shantung Mission (1862)
the North China Mission (1863)
the Hunan Mission (1899)
the Yunnan Mission (1923)

The stations of the Central China Mission predate the mission's formal establishment in 1906. Ningpo became the first permanent station to be occupied in 1844, followed by stations at Shanghai (1850), Soochow (1871), and Hangchow (1895). The stations of the Kiangan Mission also preceded the mission's formal organization and consisted of Nanking (1876), Hwaiyuan (1901), Nanhsuchow (1912) and Showchow (1919).

The station at Canton, opened in 1845, initially remained the only one in south China; because of its distance from the other stations, it was constituted as a separate mission. Stations were later opened at Yeungkon (1886), Linchow (1890), Kochow (1912) and Sheklung (1915). Hainan, originally an outgrowth of the Canton Mission, was formally recognized as a separate mission in 1893 and included the stations at Noda and Kuingchow (1884-1885) and Kachek (1902).

Missionary work in the north centered around Chefoo, which was opened in 1862. The Shantung Mission, destined to become the largest mission in China, later included the stations at Tsinan (1872), Weihsien (1882), Ichow (1891), Tsining (1892), Tsengtao (1898), Yihsien (1905) and Tenghsien (1913). Work in Peking commenced in 1863, with stations later opened at Paoting (1893) and Shunteh (1903). These three stations were later encorporated as the North China Mission in 1905.

The opening of Siangtan in 1899 signaled the beginning of missionary work in the interior province of Hunan. The advent of the Boxer Rebellion disrupted work until 1902, when the station at Hengchow was organized. Subsequent stations were opened at Chenchow (1904), Changteh (1906) and Changsha (1913). The Yunnan Mission, formerly part of the Siam Mission until 1923, consisted of the stations at Chiengrung and Yuankiang. In 1933, the former was returned to the Siam Mission and the remaining missionaries and churches were transferred to the German Vandsburger Mission.

The Church's ministry in China was primarily educational, medical and evangelical. Elementary, secondary, university and technical institutions presented western ideas that challenged the

traditional concept of a classic Chinese education. Medical facilities like the McCartee Hospital, the J.G. Kerr Hospital for the Insane and the Ming Sum School for the Blind exemplified the Church's concern for the physical well-being of the Chinese people. In toto, over 92 hospitals and dispensaries were established throughout China.

Evangelization, an integral part of the educational and medical work of the mission, was largely entrusted to the Church of Christ in China, established in 1927 and consisting of over 15 different European and American denominations plus several independent churches.

Collection Overview

Record Group 129 includes minutes, reports, correspondence and historical material on the various stations. The bulk of the material dates from 1956-1967, although there are some older records. The collection documents the Church's ministry to the Chinese people as well as the Chinese reaction to western influences. Also evidenced are the upheavals that engulfed China, including the effects of both revolution, civil and world war. Notable also are the effects of the 1949 takeover by the Communists and its impact upon the Church, the peasants and Chinese society generally.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is roughly in chronological order; the materials were left in their original filing order and no attempt was made to establish a series level arrangement.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Processing Information

The materials from the year 1957 were discovered after the rest of the collection was processed, hence their placement out of the chronological sequence.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1977
Jane Ramsay, Records Researcher

Notes to finding aid added: 1983
Frederick J. Heuser, Jr, Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Kiangan Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Yunnan Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. North China Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Shantung Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. South China Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions.

Zhonghua Jidu jiao hui.

Topical Subject

Presbyterian Church--Missions--China.

Missions--China.

China--Missions.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Minutes. aat

Reports. aat

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 129

1	2	Historical Material
1	3	Experience under Communists, 1948
1	4	"US Gunboats on the Yangtze: History and Political Aspects 1842-1922" (by E.M. Tate)
1	5	Central China--"Shanghai Station History, 1895-1936" (by G. Partch); Central China Mission Rules, 1934; Associated Mission Treasurers' Agreement, 1921
1	6	East China--Historical Material, Mission Rules
1	7	Hainan--Historical Material, Rules, First Annual Report, 1893
1	8	Kiangan Mission--Survey, General Rules
1	9	North China--Historical Material, Mission Rules
1	10	Shantung--Historical Material
1	11	Mission Rules
1	12	South China--Historical Material, Constitution, Manual of Rules
1	13	West China--Yunnan: Constitution, Terms of Service
1	14	China Committee--Informal Minutes 1959
1	15	China Council--Constitution, Handbook
1	16	China Situation--Reports and Statements 1925-52
1	17	Communism in China
1	18	Confidential Reports of Missionaries
1	19	Nanking Theological Seminary--Minutes, Correspondence and Reports, 1959-63
1	20	Property Matters--Shanghai Real Estate (Gift to BFM)
1	21	Restoration Fund, 1948
1	22	Report re Events in Linhsien, 1949-55 (by H. Bradshaw)
1	23	Notes on World War II Losses (Data Used in War Claims, 1960s)
1	24	Hong Kong--Reports, Background Information 1960-64
1	25	Taiwan--Bulletin re 1965 Centennial, 1962; Statistical Reports, 1964
1	26	List of Medical Schools in China, 1966
1	27	Language Study Regulations

		1956

1	28	Appropriations and Estimates
1	29	China Churches--Church of Christ in China, Reports and Correspondence
1	30	Executive Correspondence
1	31	General
1	32	Institutions
1	33	Chung Chi College and Nanking Theological Seminary
1	34	Minutes and Reports
1	35	Property Matters


		1957--see Box 3 Folders 29-38

		1958

1	36	Appropriations and Estimates
1	37	Church of Christ in China--Bulletins and Audit Report
1	38	Executive Correspondence
1	39	General
1	40	Institutions
1	41	Nanking Theological Seminary
1	42	Minutes and Reports
1	43	Treasurer's Correspondence

		1959

2	1	Appropriations and Estimates
2	2	Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa
2	3	Executive Correspondence
2	4	General
2	5	Chung Chi College, Nanking Seminary, Tainan Theological College, Tunghai University
2	6	Minutes
2	7	Property Matters
2	8	Reports
2	9	Treasurer

		1960

2	10	Appropriations and Estimates
2	11	Audiovisual
2	12	Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa
2	13	Executive Correspondence
2	14	General
2	15	Hong Kong Christian Council
2	16	Interboard Committee
2	17	Institutions--Pu Ying Middle School, others
2	18	Minutes
2	19	Treasurer

		1961

2	20	Appropriations and Estimates
2	21	Audiovisual
2	22	Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa
2	23	Executive Correspondence and Reports
2	24	General
2	25	Hong Kong Interboard Committee Minutes, Hong Kong Christian Council
2	26	Institutions--Nanking Seminary, Pu Ying School, others
2	27	Property Matters
2	28	Reports--general and personal
2	29	Treasurer's and Executive Correspondence

		1962

2	30	Appropriations and Estimates
2	31	Church of Christ in China, Presbyterian Church of Formosa
2	32	Executive Correspondence
2	35	Institutions
2	36	Minutes, Property Matters, Reports
2	37	Treasurer's and Executive Correspondence

		1963

3	1	Appropriations and Estimates, Budget
3	2	Churches: Correspondence, Bulletins, Reports, Financial Statements
3	3	Executive Correspondence
3	4	General
3	5	Hong Kong--Christian Council; Interboard Committee
3	6	Institutions
3	7	Property Reports
3	8	Treasurer's and Executive Correspondence

		1964

3	9	Appropriations and Estimates, Budget
3	10	Churches
3	11	Executive Correspondence
3	12	General
3	13	Hong Kong: Christian Council; Interboard Committee
3	14	Institutions
3	15	Proposed United Protestant Hospital
3	16	Property Matters and Reports
3	17	Treasurer and Executive

		1965

3	18	Appropriations and Estimates, Budget
3	19	Churches
3	20	East Asia Office
3	21	Executive Correspondence
3	22	Reports--General
3	23	Treasurer and Executive

		1966

3	24	East Asia Office
3	25	Minutes

		1967

3	26	General
3	27	Institutions
3	28	Reports--General

		1957

3	29	Minutes, North Formosa Presbyterian Mission Council
3	30	Board General Letter (#132), Appropriations/estimates
3	31	Nanking Seminary--Correspondence
3	32	Reports
3	33	Miscellaneous items re institutions
3	34	re churches in China
3	35	Miscellaneous items
3	36	Report, Hong Kong, Formosa, China
3	37-38	Executive correspondence

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Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations China Missions: Secretaries' Records

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