APPENDIX.
From the Appeal of the Shanghai Conference of 1877. "I. China is by far the largest heathen country in the
world. Including its dependencies, it embraces a terri- tory larger than the whole continent of Europe ; or, ex- cluding the Mahommedan kingdoms, it is about equal to
all the rest of the heathen nations combined.
"II. It is also beyond all question the most important. .. No heathen country in the world can for one moment be
compared to China. . . . China will be one of the great
nations of the future. "III. The Chinese, though the oldest nation in the
world, are as full of vigour and promise as ever. Intel- lectually they are fit for anything. . . . Their enterprise
and perseverance are proverbial. " IV. They are the great colonisers of the East. . . . will ultimately become the dominant race in ail these
vast countries. " Human nature is the same in all ages, and left to
itself more or less faithfully fulfils the appalling picture
drawn by the Apostle Faul. . . . There is no hope for
China in itself. " Under these circumstances millions pass into eternity
every year ! What an agonizing thought ! Souls of
men, endowed with the most glorious faculties, perishing
for lack of that knowledge which has been entrusted to us for diffusion ! —souls which might be emancipated from
sin, transferred into the kingdom of God, and thus
established in a career of ever-widening intelligence and
ever-deepening joy, to ' shine as the brightness of the fir- mament, and as the stars for ever and ever.' " How long shall this fearful ruin of souls continue?
Ought we not to make an effort to save China in this generation? Is God's power limited? Is the efficacy
of prayer limited? This grand achievement is in the
hands of the Church. If we faithfully bring our tithes into the storehouse, and preach the Gospel everywhere,
then the windows of heaven shall be opened, and blessings
showered down upon us, till there be not room enough to receive them.
" We earnestly appeal to the whole Christian world for help We w^nt China emancipated from the
thraldom of sin in this generation. It is possible. Our
Lord has said, ' According to your faith be it unto you.'
The Church of God can do it, if she be only faithful to her great commission. When will young men press into the mission-field as they struggle for positions of worldly
honour and affluence ? When will parents consecrate
their sons and daughters to missionary work as they
search for rare openings of worldly influence and honour ? When will Christians give for missions as they give for luxuries and amusements? When will they learn to deny themselves for the work of God as they deny themselves for such earthly objects as are dear to their hearts ? Or, rather, when will they count it no self-denial, but the
highest joy and privilege, to give with the utmost liberality
for the spread of the Gospel among the heathen ? " Standing on the borders of this vast empire, we,
therefore —one hundred and twenty missionaries, from
almost every evangelical religious denomination in Europe and America, assembled in General Conference
at Shanghai, and representing the whole body of Protestant missionaries in China, —feeling our utter insuffi- ciency for the great work so rapidly expanding, do most
earnestly plead, with one voice, calling upon the whole
Church of God for more labourers."