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138 MISSIONS AND CHURCHESnumber of missionaries connected with the Mission wasreached in 1912 when they numbered thirty-two. By deathsand break-downs it was reduced greatly, so that in 1915when our oldest ordained missionary, Rev. P. W, Pitcher,passed away we were brought down to twenty-two. Thereinforcements of 1915 have brought us back to thirty-one,with one short term medical man in addition. Of coursesome of this number are on furlough, and through the callof the China Continuation Committee to Rev. A. L. Warnshuis,two are resident in Shanghai, although still connected withthe Mission.The Chinese staff has not grown during 1915. Severalof the older pastors have died, and to the younger preacherscome strong temptations to go to Java or the Straits Settlements where larger salaries are paid. While it is a pleasureto be supplying such distant regions with workers it is acause of worry when it hinders expansion in one s own fieldthrough lack of workers.^ ur ^ e^ covers about six thousand squareField andForcemiles and embraces a population estimated atthree millions. We have fifteen ordainedChinese pastors and thirty-eight other evangelistic workers,besides seventeen women who are seeking to win and teachtheir Chinese sisters. These figures are exclusive of thoseof the English Presbyterian Mission, who have from the firstlaboured with us in the same Chinese church. Four yearsago we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the organizationof a Chinese presbytery.Self-government has been encouraged andSelf-supportself-support always aimed at. The last yearsaw an advance in this direction in the launching of ascheme whereby the Chinese synod and the Mission share inthe appointment and the payment of the evangelistic workers.The Bible women are not included in this, but all preachersand evangelistic workers are now appointed by a committeeon which the Mission has representatives but of which theChinese form the chief part. A budget is made for theexpenses of the ensuing year, the amount the Chinese churchcan raise is estimated, and then appeal is made to the Mission