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EVANGELISM IN THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 225attract a class of men who will ultimately take over all thecost of the work, and boards and missions will be relievedlargely of financial burdens.w, The chief lesson of the year for us as amission, perhaps, has been the old lesson ofthe absolute necessity of getting our Chinese churches tounderstand the fundamental importance of self-support.It willTaHfuinterest you to know that onlyyesterday, I received an official letter fromthe hereditary chief of the tribes in the Yungning districtwho informs me that having heard of the work among thetribes in other parts of the province, he and his people tothe number of over one hundred thousand families are willingand anxious to become Christians. His son is now on his wayhere to learn our customs and teachings and hopes to returnhome and erect chapels and schools among his people.What an open door? May God forgive the Church for itshikewarmness in evangelizing this corner of His vineyard!A 28