Original

EVANGELISM IN THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 197population, one hundred and fifty-nine market centres, eachof which has from five hundred to fifteen thousand people,and about each of which cluster, 011 an average, twentyvillages, a total population of at least a million and a half;given such a field six days journey by four days journeyin extent, were you the missionary, how would youproceed to develop it ? Tbe problem before us, is an actualproblem, one which confronted two missionaries five yearsago when permitted by the mission board to take upresidence in the centre of a comparatively new and un workedfield to become the nucleus of a new mission station.Naturally the first move was to make aThreefoldthorough and more or less comprehensivestudy of the field itself, which resulted in theformation of a threefold programme. Of this programmethe first feature was the establishment at the station centreof a model church, a model in the sense that it was to be apattern for the entire field. Into it likewise were centeredall the interests of the field as a whole, and from it went outto all parts of the field ideas, suggestions and all thehelpfulness possible. The second feature was the openingup of preaching places at strategic centres throughout thefield. These in the very nature of the case, there being fewifany Christians, are opened at the expense of the Mission.The third feature, was the following up of the natural driftof the Chinese Church, grouping and organizing itsmembership, letting it lead up whither i+ might. In all ofthis programme our aim was the establishment of a selfsupporting,self-governing and self-propagating ChineseChurch.It should be noted that this paperis limited to theevangelistic work. The educational and medical workfurnish another story. We have outlined a programme ofthree features. Upon the first feature, we cannot dwell.In order to bring more quickly before you, the second feature,namely the opening up of chapels at strategic centres, let metake a concrete case.Starting from Canton, two days journeyLocating a ^ water , brings you to within thirty-sixmiles of Kochow. This thirty-six miles is a