The staff of the Mission, in May 1893, consisted of 552 missionaries
(including wives and associates). There were also 326 native helpers (95
of whom were unpaid), working as pastors, evangelists, teachers,
colporteurs, Bible-women, etc., in 14 different provinces.

Duly qualified candidates for missionary labour are accepted without
restriction as to denomination, provided they are sound in the faith in
all fundamental truths: these go out in dependence upon GOD for temporal
supplies, with the clear understanding that the officers of the Mission
do not guarantee any income whatever; and knowing that as they will not
go into debt, they can only minister to them as the funds sent in from
time to time will allow. But we praise GOD that during the past
twenty-eight years such ministry has always been possible; our GOD _has_
supplied all our need, and has withheld no good thing.

All the expenses of the Mission at home and abroad are met by voluntary
contributions, sent to the offices of the Mission without personal
solicitation, by those who wish to aid in this effort to spread the
knowledge of the Gospel throughout China. The income for the year 1892
was about L34,000 from all sources--Great Britain, the Continent of
Europe, North America, Australasia, China, etc.

Some of the missionaries having private property have gone out at their
own expense, and do not take anything from the Mission funds.

Stations have been opened in ten of the eleven provinces which were
previously without Protestant missionaries; from one of these, however,
we have had to retire. The eleventh province has been visited several
times, and it is hoped that in it permanent work may soon be begun.

More than 200 stations and out-stations have been opened in fourteen of
the eighteen provinces, in all of which stations either missionaries or
native labourers are resident. Over 6000 converts have been baptized
from the commencement, some 4000 of whom are now living and in
fellowship.

THE MISSION IN 1902

The year 1894, in which the first edition of _A Retrospect_ appeared,
was marked by the erection of large and commodious premises for the work
of the Mission, and early in the following year the houses in Pyrland
Road, which had so long formed the home of the Mission in England, were
vacated, and NEWINGTON GREEN, LONDON, N., became the address of the
Mission offices and home.

From that date until the Boxer outbreak of 1900 the Mission mad