90 Kenneth S. Latourette, 



In the work thus begun by the American churches there were 

 two factors which determined the hne of approach and the 

 method of work. In the first place, the Chinese Empire was 

 practically closed to all but the most limited missionary work. 

 The Roman Catholics held their own, but with the greatest diffi- 

 culty, chiefly because they had gained a foothold in China in more 

 favorable days. The Protestants were confined to Macao and 

 to the little spot in Canton accessible to foreigners. Even here 

 imperial edicts threatened with strangulation any one who 

 should attempt to propagate Christianity, and the work had to be 

 carried on with more or less secrecy."" Work was largely con- 

 fined to language study and to translation. A few years later it 

 was found possible to distribute printed matter along the coast 

 to some extent, but even by this means no large numbers could 

 be efifectively reached until China should be opened. 



A second factor was the presence outside the Empire of large 

 numbers of Chinese colonists. In Siam, in the Malay Peninsula, 

 and in the Archipelago, large settlements of Chinese existed 

 which were easily accessible to missionary influence. Here was 

 an opportunity to learn the language, to print books, to found 

 schools, and to do preliminary work until the Empire might be 

 opened, and here also was the chance to do an extensive work 

 among a Chinese population both for their own sakes and in the 

 hope that some of them might be converted and return to China 

 to spread the faith. 



These two factors early divided American Protestant missions 

 to the Chinese into two branches, those in Canton and those to 

 colonists outside the empire. The first branch must again be 

 subdivided into missions inaugurated from America and those 

 started by foreign residents of Canton. We have already seen 

 the beginning of the missions inaugurated from America and 

 centering at Canton, and it. remains to trace them down to the 

 outbreak of the opium troubles. Bridgman and Abeel arrived 

 in China in February, 1830. They took up their residence, 

 according to Mr. Olyphant's agreement, with Talbot, his repre- 

 sentative.^" Morrison, who had done so much to bring about 



'"Chinese Repository, 6:53, gives the new edict of 1821 against 

 Christians. 

 '^ Talbot was also American Consul. David Abeel, Journal of a Resi- 



