*£ REPORT &

— OF THE—

Presbyterian Committee on Union

THIRD M EETING

Shanghai, ©ctobcr 18*20, 1905

 OF TH E

Presbyterian Committee on Union

THIRD M EETING

October 18-20, 1905

.Shanghai
P R IN T E D A T T H E A M E R IC A N P R E S B Y T E R IA N M ISSIO N P R E S S
 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.

IN 1890, during the General Missionary Conference at

Shanghai, there was a meeting of Presbyterians, who
gathered to the number of 120 in the chapel of the
Mission Press. A t this meeting a desire on the part of many
for a closer union found expression, but the time had not come
for active effort in that direction.
A t a meeting held in Shanghai in 1899 the Southern
Presbyterian Mission (U . S. A .) overtured its sister Presby­
terian missions throughout China to assemble in convention at
Shanghai on the day previous to the General Missionary
Conference, which had been appointed for A p ril, 1901. It
was proposed at this meeting to discuss the subject of
Presbyterian unity and other related topics. A n encouraging
response was received, but on account of the Boxer outbreak
the General Conference was indefinitely postponed. A
committee met, however, representing five different branches
of the Presbyterian denomination and arranged for a Presby­
terian Convention, to be held at Shanghai in October, 1901.
T o this convention all Presbyterian missions laboring in China
were invited to send representatives and to suggest topics
for discussion. A large number of Presbyterian missionaries
being gathered in Shanghai during the Boxer troubles, a social
gathering was held in the Union Church H all on the 5th of
October, 1900, attended by sixty-five Presbyterians, representing
eight missions. Short addresses were made, and a resolution
was adopted approving the plans of the committee in arranging
for a Presbyterian convention.
A s the time proposed drew near, the holding of a General
Presbyterian Convention for all China so early as 1901
seemed to many a matter of doubtful expediency. It was
 therefore decided, after considerable correspondence and
consultation, to hold first a “ Conference of the Central China
missionaries, together with such representatives of other
missions as might be able to attend ; ” and this Conference met
on the 2nd of October, 1901. There were present fifty-four
representatives of ten different missions, including missionaries
from Manchuria, Peking, Shantung, Hupeh, Honan, Hunan,
Shantung and Kiangsu ; and several important resolutions
were adopted, among them a resolution requesting the
different mission bodies to appoint delegates to represent them
in organizing a national “ Committee on Presbyterian Union.”
T h e Conference placed itself on record as desiring “ the unity
of the Christian church in China,” cordially welcoming “ all
opportunities of co-operation with all sections of the church,”
and it resolved “ to take steps for uniting more closely the
Presbyterian churches, hoping thereby to facilitate the ultimate
attainment of a wider union.”
In the prosecution of this work the Committee on
Presbyterian Union has held three meetings.
T h e first was at Shanghai, October 22-29, 1902, and was
attended by delegates representing eleven missions connected
with seven different mission boards. It was found* that not
one mission had failed to respond to the request to appoint
members to represent them on the committee, although some
were not able to be present at the first meeting. T h e
committee prepared a Plan of Union, which was sent to the
various missions interested, recommending the complete
independence of the Chinese church, and requesting the
church courts and mission bodies to take the necessary steps
to unite in one organized church.
T h e second meeting of the committee was held November
11-17, 1903. H earty expressions of approval had been received
by the Supreme Courts of most of the home churches concerned,
as well as from mission bodies in China, Am erica and Great
Britain, and the committee were in a position to review the
 3
matter in a fuller light. T h e Plan of Union was modified in
some of the minor details and again sent to the various
missions and church courts for approval and appropriate
action.
T h e third meeting of the committee was held at Shanghai,
October 18-20, 1905, and the report of this meeting is
presented herewith.
T h e committee w ill probably not need to meet again until
about the time of the General Missionary Conference, when
it is hoped that its work may be handed over to a National
Council, for the election of which provision has been made.
In the meantime a sub-committee has been appointed for
the purpose of preparing appropriate literature, and the
secretary, Rev. D. M acG illivray, w ill continue the work of
correspondence and give information to those who desire his
assistance.
It may be well to note that although as yet no union of
Presbyterian missions or church courts has been accomplished
other than those w hich were effected prior to 1890, yet, as a
result of this movement a w eekly Presbyterian periodical
has been established, the Northern and Southern branches of
the American Presbyterian church missions in Central China
have united in a theological seminary at Nanking, and the
w ay seems clear for a general movement in the direction of
independence of the home churches and the union of all the
Presbyterian branches in the early organization of a Chinese
Presbyterian church.
 PRESBYTERIAN COMMITTEE ON UNION
( A s N o w C o n s t i t u t e d ).

i* /IIMssion o f tbc tflnitefc JFrcc C burcb o f S c o tla n d

M anchuria .................................Rev. G eo . D o u g la s , I,iao-yang.

ii. M issio n o f tbc ip rcsb ttcria n C burcb in Srclanfc.

M anchuria .................................Rev. VV. H. G i l l e s p i e , K uan-cheng-tzu.

h i. M issio n s o f tbc P resb yteria n Cburcb in tbc ‘Unitct* S ta te s o f B m c rica (Iftortb).

Canton (and Hainan) ............ Rev. II. V. N o y e s , D .D ., Canton.
Central China (and H unan) ... Rev. W. J. D r u m m o n d , N an kin g.
P ekin g .. ................................ Rev. J. I,. W h i t i n g , D .D ., Pek in g.
Shantung, /Cast ...................... Rev. L- J. D a v ie s , Cliefoo.
Shantung, I Vest .......................

IV . M issio n o f tbc P re sb yte ria n C burcb in Canai»a.

Honan ........................................... R ev. I). M a c G i l l i v r a y , Sh an gh ai.

v. M issio n s o f tbc P resb yteria n Cburcb in tbc Unite*» S ta te s (Soutb).

M id-China ...................... R ev. P. F . P r ic e , D on g-sh an g. viftH ashin g.
North Kiangsu ............ R ev. J. R. G r a h a m , T sin g -k ian g .

V I. M ission o f tbc C burcb o f S c o tla n d

Ichang ...........................................R ev. T h o s. R. K e a r n e y , Ich an g.

V II. M issio n s o f tbc P re sb y te ria n Cburcb o f JEtujlanfc.

Amoy ... ........... Rev W. M a c g r e o o r , D .D ., Am oy.
Swatow {and IVn-king-fu) Rev. J. C. G ib s o n , D .D ., Sw atow.

V III. M ission o f tbc IReformefc C burcb in B m c rica .

Am oy ........................................... Rev. A . I,. W a r n s h c is , A m oy.

4
Secretary.

R e v . D . M a c G it . i j v r a y , S h a n g h a i.

C o m m it t e e o n L it e r a t u r e .

k e v . J. C. G i b s o n , D .D ., Swatow.
R ev. P. F. P r i c e , Dong-shang, vi& K asliin g.
Rev. D. M a c G i i j . i v r a y , Shanghai.
R e v . J. A . S i l s b y , S h a n g h a i.
 THIRD REPORT
OF TH E

Committee on Presbyterian Union.

Minutes.
W ed n esd ay, O ctober 18th, 1905,
The Presbyterian Committee on Union met at the residence
of Mr. G . McIntosh, at the American Presbj'terian Mission
Press, Shanghai, W ednesday, October 18th, 1905, at 10:00
a.m., the meeting having been called by the secretary as
arranged at the previous meeting of the committee.
In the absence of the Rev. H. V . Noyes, D .D ., the Rev.
J. C. Gibson, D .D ., was elected chairman, and Rev. J. A .
Silsby was elected secretary, having been asked by Rev. J. C.
Garritt, D .D ., to act for him.
There were present, during the meeting, delegates from
the several missions, as follows :—
Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
M a n c h u r ia M is s io n , R e v . W . H u n t e r , a c t i n g a s p r o x y fo r R e v . W .
H . G il l e s p ie .
F ree Church 0/Scotland.
M a n c h u r ia M is s io n , R e v . W . H u n T e r , a c tin g a s p r o x y fo r R ev.
G e o . D o u g la s .
Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A . (N orth).
P e k in g M ission, Rev. J. A. S i i .S b y , actin g as p ro xy fo r Rev. J. L.
W h i t i n g , D .D .
C e n t r a l C h in a M is s io n , R e v . W . J . D r u m m o n d .
C a n t o n M is s io n , i n c l u d i n g H a in a n , R e v . C . E . P a T T O N , a c t i n g as
p r o x y f o r R e v . H . V . N o y e s , D .D .
Presbyterian Mission in the U. S. (South).
N o r t h K i a n g s u M is s io n , R e v . J . R . G r a h a m .
M id - C h in a M is s io n , R e v . P . F . P r i c e .
Canadian Presbyterian Church.
H o n a n M is s io n , R e v . D . M a c G i l i .i V r a y .

Presbyterian Church o f England.

S w a t o w M is s io n , in c l u d i n g W u - k in g - f u , R e v . J . C . G i b s o n , D .D .
 6

A fter a devotional service, led by the chairman, the

committee heard reports from various missions, and after
some discussion it was agreed that tl}e secretary be requested to
review the answers to the committee’s report of 1903, received
from mission and native church bodies and home courts, and
to prepare a digest of the same, which shall, after approval, be
made the basis of further discussion by the committee.
Th e committee adjourned with prayer, to meet at the
M issionary Home at 8.00 p.m.

W ed n esd ay E v e n in g , O c t o b e r 18 th .

T h e committee met at 8 p.m. at the Missionary Home.

A ll attending the morning session were present, with the
addition of Rev. J. R. Graham , of the North Kiangsu Mission
of the Presbyterian Church of the United States (South).
Dr. Gibson read a passage of Scripture and Rev. W .
H unter led in prayer.
T h e minutes of the morning session were read and
approved.
T h e secretary read a report of the action of various
mission and ecclesiastical bodies concerning the proposed Plan
of Union.
T h e report w as approved. (See E xh ib it A .)
T h e chairman and Rev. P. F . Price were appointed a
committee to prepare a series of resolutions as a basis for
discussion at the next session.
T h e committee adjourned to meet at the same place at
10 a.m., on Thursday.

T h u rsd ay M o r n in g , O c t o b e r 19 th .

T h e committee met at the Missionary Home at 10 a.m.

T h e chairman, Dr. Gibson, read a portion of Scripture
and Mr. Silsby led in prayer.
T h e minutes of the preceding session were read and
approved.
 7
Mr. M acG illivray was asked to preside, while Dr. Gibson
presented the report of the committee appointed at the pre­
vious session to prepare a series of resolutions as basis for
discussion, and later, Mr. M acG illivray being called out, Mr.
Drummond took the chair.
T h e committee’ s report was received and its recom­
mendations taken up seriatim, amended and adopted. [See
E xh ib it B, entitled, Plan of Union.]
Upon motion, Dr. Gibson, Mr. M acG illivray, Mr. Price
and Mr. Silsby were elected a committee to prepare the
literature specified in Part 6 of the above mentioned report,
and any supplementary papers that may be found necessary.
T h e same committee was asked to look over the Plan of
Union and inform this committee as to the paragraphs from
the report of 1903 which it proposed to include in the
literature to be prepared and circulated.
T h e committee adjourned w ith prayer, to meet on Friday
at 9 a.m.

F r id ay M o r n i n g , O c t o b e r 2 0 th .

T h e committee met at 9 a.m. in the Missionary Home.

Dr. Gibson read a passage of Scripture and Rev. P. F. Price
led in prayer.
T h e minutes of yesterday’s session were read and approved.
T h e Committee on Literature made a verbal report which,
after consideration, was approved.
Th e treasurer’ s report was read and approved. [See
E xh ib it C.]
Upon motion it was resolved, T h at each mission be
requested to contribute $20 for the use of the committee, and
that the secretary be authorized to collect additional contri­
butions, if required.
Resolved, That a copy of the committee’ s report, in both
Chinese and English, be sent to each Presbyterian missionary
in China, that the secretary be authorized to present copies to
 8

others who are interested, and that the reports be placed

on sale at a price to be fixed by the secretary.
Resolved, T h a t the secretary be instructed to send copies
of the reports, both English and Chinese, to all the church
courts, mission boards and committees concerned, both at
home and in China, with an official letter requesting them to
take such action as may be required.
Rev. J. A . Silsby offered his resignation as secretary, in
view of his coming furlough. T h e resignation was accepted
with thanks for his services, and Rev. D. M acG illivray was
elected in his stead.
T h e minutes of the meeting were read and approved, and
the committee adjourned to meet at the call of the Secretary.

J. C. G i b s o n , Chairman.
J. A . S i l s b y , Secretary.
 9

EXHIBIT A.

REPORTS FROM CHURCH COURTS AND MISSION BODIES.

U n it e d F ree C h urch of Sc o tla n d .

P r e s b y t e r ia n C h urch in Ir e la n d .

The Manchurian Presbytery, which includes the work of

the United Free Church of Scotland and of the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland, has had 110 meeting since the date of the
committee’ s last report, but at previous meetings all approved
of the union, without discussion o f’ details. It was intended
to take up this discussion at the next meeting of Presbytery,
but on account of the disorganized condition of the country
110 meeting has been held.
T h e convener of the Irish Church Mission Board has
expressed for himself and the Board cordial approval of the
Plan of Union.

P r e s b y t e r ia n C hurch U. S. A . ( N o r t h ) .
“ The policy of the Presbyterian General Assembly has
been for many years steadily favorable to the formation of
native Presbyterian churches on foreign field s” and of union
with other Presbyterian bodies.
In 1904 the General Assem bly adopted the follow ing:—
“ T h is A ssem bly h eartily approves o f the m ovem ent toward the
union o f Presbyterian bodies in China, provided o n ly it can be con­
sum m ated under conditions acceptable to our Board o f Foreign M issions
and to this A ssem bly w hen the tim e for the consum m ation o f such
union shall a rriv e .”

T h e Assem bly has the following section in its standing

ru le s :—
In a ll regions, w here through the organization o f Union P resby­
teries or the existen ce o f missions w ithout presbyterial organization,
there are 110 presbyteries in connection w ith this A ssem bly, each
mission organized as such under our Board o f F oreign Missions m ay
send to th e G eneral A ssem bly an ordained m issionary, o r ru lin g elder,
 10
a s a delegate ; and the stan din g rules o f the A ssem bly are h ereb y so
am ended that such delegate is en titled to sit as an advisory member
in the A ssem bly and to speak, under the rules, on all questions, and
th at his expenses from his do m icile in this coun try to and during the
A ssem bly, and return, shall be m et as those o f com m issioners, out o f
th e funds o f th e A ssem bly, [1887, p. 247.]

The Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions has repeatedly

taken favorable action with reference to China and other
mission fields.
Most of the missions of the Northern Presbyterian Church
in China have taken favorable action.
Th e Canton Mission and the Mission of Central China
have approved the committee’s Plan of Union without change,
and the committee’ s former report was also approved.
Th e missions of Peking, East Shantung and West Shan­
tung have not reported definite action ; but as the Synod of
North China, composed of all the ministers of these three
missions, with the Chinese ministers in addition, has taken
action favoring the union, the missions of Peking and
Shantung may be regarded as favorable to the Plan.
T h e smaller and more recently constituted missions of
Hunan and Hainan have not as yet reported a n y ' action
regarding the committee’s Plan, but w ill, no doubt, enter
cordially into the proposed union.
T h e Synod of Central China has approved both the former
and later plan, and in accordance with that plan advised
the organization of the Sy?iod o f IVest K w angtung. T h e
General Assem bly assigned a date for the organization of the
W est K w angtung Mission, consisting of the Presbyteries of
Canton, Hainan and Manila, but as there was not sufficient
time given to secure the attendance of representatives from
Hainan and Manila the date of organization has been changed
to the first Thursday in the Chinese N ew Y ear. In the event
of separation from the home church the Presbytery of Manila
will remain in connection with the General Assem bly of the
Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A .
 II

T h e Presbyteries of Ningpo, Shanghai and Canton have

approved the Plan of Union. Other Presbyteries have not y et
been heard from, but all w ill doubtless fall into line.

P r e s b y t e r ia n C hurch in Can ad a .

Rev. D. M acG illivray rep orts:— T h e Presbytery has

taken no action in reference to the last report of the Union
Committee, but is in hearty sym pathy w ith any feasible
scheme of union among the Presbyterians of China. A t its
meeting of 20th January, 1905, it passed a resolution endors­
ing the resolutions of the Pei-tai-ho conference of A ugust
24-26.
These are printed in the October Recorder of this year,
page 597.
The subject has not yet been presented to our home
courts, but their cordial approval of the A ll-India Presbyterian
Union, in which their mission in India is now merged, suffi­
ciently indicates how they would look upon a similar union
in China.

P r e s b y t e r ia n C h u r c h in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ( S o u t h ).

T h e North Kiangsu Mission of the Southern Presbyterian

Church asks for a change in the wording of one of the para­
graphs to make it clear that the union (until the adoption of a
Confession of Faith) is federal, not organic. T h is mission and
that of Mid-China are planning at an early date to organize
two Chinese Presbyteries in accordance with the Plan of
Union.
T h e Mid-China Mission of the Southern Presbyterian
Church has voted to approve the Plan of Union as it stands.
A t a meeting of Chinese pastors and elders the Plan was
presented and approved.
T h e General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian
Church has voted to approve of any basis on which its mission­
aries may agree.
 12

C hurch op Scotlan d .

Rev. Thos. R. Kearney reports that Mr. Deans was

authorized to lay the matter before their committee, but no
report on the matter has been received.

P r e s b y t e r ia n C h u r ch of E ngland .

The Synod of the Presbyterian Church o f England has

cordially approved of the committee’s Plan of Union.
T h e Amoy Mission has approved the action of the
American Reformed Church, asking the committee to prepare
a plan for federal •union.
T h e committee’ s report was laid before the Chinese Synod,
and the Synod took the following action :—
It was moved, Th at the time has not arrived for such
action, and that consideration of the subject be meantime
postponed.
It is understood that the Synod’s action had reference to
the immediate formation of a General Assembly, and that this
action should not be considered as unfavorable to the formation
of Union Synods looking toward a closer union when the time
seems ripe for such a consummation.

Swatow Mission Council.— (The Mission Council combines

Swatow, Chao-chow-foo and Sua-bue.) On the 28th of July
the council took the following action :—
1. The coun cil h eartily approves proposals for a general union of
the Presbyterian churches of China.
2. T h e coun cil approves th e proposed organization for th e present
o f the e x istin g Presbyterian churches under six native Syn od s, as set
forth in the report o f the Com m ittee o f D elegates w hich m et at
Shan gh ai in N ovem ber, 1903, v iz., T he Syn od s o f : 1, M anch uria;
2, N orth C h in a ; 3, C entral C h in a ; 4, Southern F u k ie n ; 5, E ast
K w an gtu n g ; 6, W est K w an gtu n g.
3. The council considers that in these Synods and th eir subordi­
nate courts the foreign m issionaries should have seats and votes w hile
still rem aining subject to the discipline of their hom e churches as in
some o f the n ative Synods already form ed.
 *3
4. T he council considers th at the tim e has not y et arrived for the
foundation o f a G eneral A ssem bly for all China, and recommends th at
in the m eantim e these six Synods should be associated by correspond­
ence and b y the regular interchange of printed copies o f records,
legislation and statistics, w ith th e occasional appointm ent of cor­
responding members w hen convenient.
5. The council recom m ends th at the adjustm ent or redistribution
of the existin g Synods m ay, after federation takes place, be arranged by
th e Synods concerned, w ith the consent o f th e other federated Synods ;
also th at by consent of the federated Synods new Synods m ay be
afterw ards associated on the same footin g as the others.

Corresponding action was taken by the Synod of Chao-

chow and Hwei-chow.
%
Formosa.— A Presbytery has been formed in North
Formosa, but no steps have been taken towards union. For
political reasons the church in Formosa w ill probably not join
the China church.

R e f o r m e d C h u r c h in A m e r ic a .

T h e Amoy Mission heartily agrees with the purpose of the

committee to unite all the Presbyterian churches in the
Chinese empire, but cannot approve that part of the Plan
which gives the General Assem bly the authority to review the
action of the Synods, believing that the General Assem bly,
meeting at long intervals and composed of a comparatively
small number from widely separated Synods, could not do this
w ork in a satisfactory manner. T h e Mission therefore unites
with the English Presbyterian Mission of Am oy in requesting
the committee to prepare a plan of federal union.

S u m m a r y .

It w ill be seen from the foregoing that there has been a

general approval of the union of the Presbyterian churches in
China, and in no case has there been any unfavorable action
reported either on the part of the church courts at home, the
mission boards and committees, the missions in China, or the
 14

native church courts. In some instances the opinion has been

expressed that the time for the organization of a General
Assembly has not yet arrived, and the general opinion seems
to favor the establishment at first of Union Synods, united in
the one purpose of building up the kingdom of God in China
and looking forward to a closer union when the time seems
ripe for its consummation.

9
 15

EXHIBIT B.

PLAN OF UNION.
I. T h e committee have carefully considered the returns
presented to us in resolutions of Chinese Church Courts, Home
Church Courts, and Mission bodies in China. W hile some of
the bodies concerned have not yet been heard from or have
not yet taken definite action, we rejoice to find that there is
substantial agreement in approval of the proposed union of the
Presbyterian churches of China on the lines suggested by this
committee in its report of 1903.
II. W e find the opinion expressed in some of the returns
that the time has not yet arrived for the constitution of one
General Assem bly for China; and this committee, while
considering that such an Assem bly will form the natural
consummation of this scheme of union, without which its
organization will be incomplete, and while adhering therefore
to the outline of the constitution of such a body set forth in
our report of 1903, w illingly accept the view that the
formation of a General Assem bly is not the first step to be
taken in order to carry out the Plan of Union.
III. The committee unanimously agree to prosecute the
immediate organization of the proposed united church, and
therefore urge upon the churches and missions concerned that
attention should, at this stage, be concentrated upon the
organization and union of the six proposed Synods, reserving'
the constitution of a General Assem bly to be considered by
these Synods at a later stage.
IV . W e find that of the six proposed Synods three
are already fully organised, are independent of the home
churches, and include all the Presbyterian churches within
their bounds ; while in the other three this organization is
still more or less incomplete.
 i6

(1). T he Syn od of M anchuria is 'f u lly organized, and includes the

M ission Churches o f th e U nited F ree C hurch of Scotland and o f the
Presbyterian Church in Ireland. (A t present described as a P resbytery,
but proposes to subdivide into three Presbyteries and constitute itself a
Syn od .)
(2). T he Synod o f N orth C hina is not y e t fu lly organized on the Union
Plan. T he e x istin g Syn od is a Court of the Presbyterian C hurch in the
U. S. A. (N orth). It includes the Presbyteries o f Chi-nan, P e k in g and
W eihsien, but does not include th e churches of the Canadian M ission.
T h is com m ittee recom m ends : (a) T he severance of the tie between this
Syn od and the hom e c h u r c h ; (b) T h e organisation o f the churches of
th e Canadian Mission in one P resbytery ; and (c) T he union o f this
latter w ith the Presbyteries of the A m erican Presbyterian Mission
churches in one Synod.
(3). T he Syn od o f Central C hina is not y e t fu lly organized on the
Union Plan. T he existin g Synod is a Court of the Presbyterian C hurch
in the U. S. A . (N orth ), and includes the Presbyteries o f H angchow ,
N an k in g , N ingpo and Shan ghai ; but it does not include the M ission
churches o f the Presbyterian C hurch in the U. S. (Sou th ), or those
o f the Church of Scotlan d, or the Presbyterian churches connected w ith
the C. I. M ., or those o f the Cum berland Presb. Church and th e
Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. (N.) in the province o f Hunan. This
com m ittee recom m ends : (a) The severance o f the tie betw een this Syn od
and the hom e church ; ( b) T h e organization of the M ission churches of
the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. (South) and those o f th e Church of
Scotland in P resb y teries; and (i) T h e union o f these latter w ith the
P resbyteries o f the A m erican Presbyterian M ission churches in one
Synod. T h e com m ittee hopes that the other Presbyterian churches in
Central China w ill organize them selves in Presbyteries as m ay be most
suitable and unite in the form ation o f this Syn od , and agrees to
com m unicate w ith them in this view .
(4). T he Syn od o f South F u h k ien is fu lly organised, and includes
the Mission churches of the R eform ed Church in A m erica and o f the
Presbyterian Church o f E n gla n d . It includes two Presbyteries— the
P resbytery o f Chang-chow and the Presbytery o f Chin-chow.
(5). T he Synod o f E ast K w an gtu n g is fu lly organized, and includes
th e M ission churches of both the H ak-ka and th e H ok-lo Missions of
the Presbyterian C h urch o f E n glan d . It includes tw o P resbyteries—
th e P resbytery of Sw atow and the Presbytery o f W u-king-fu.
(6.) T he Syn od o f W est K w an gtu n g is not yet fu lly organized on
the U nion P lan . T he organization o f a Syn od to in clude Presbyteries o f
C anton, Hainan and M anila, has been arranged for, and the Synod is to
m eet in the begin n in g of the year 1906. T h is Syn od is b ein g formed as
 i7

a Court of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A . (N orth), and does

not include the M ission of the R eform ed Church in A m erica or th a t of
the Presbyterian Church o f N ew Zealand, or of the Presbyterian Church
o f Canada in W est K w an gtu n g. T h is com m ittee recom m ends the
severance o f the tie between this Syn od and the hom e church : T he
com m ittee hopes that the other Presbyterian churches in W est K w a n g ­
tu n g w ill unite in the form ation o f this Syn od and agrees to com m unicate
w ith them in this view .
When the steps above indicated have been taken, all the
Presbyterian churches in China w ill be organized on a
homogeneous basis and ripe for union.
V . T h e committee desire to emphasize the fact that the
question of unionr is essentially one for the Chinese churches
concerned and must be decided by them. This committee has,
up to this point, collected information and compared the
view s of missionaries and your Chinese brethren so far as
accessible to us, but we consider that the time has now come
for laying the whole matter fu lly before the Chinese churches
and church courts and the body of our Christian people,
with a view to secure their intelligent sympathy and hearty
co-operation in carrying out the proposed union.
V I. In order to set more fu lly before the missions and
Chinese courts concerned the nature and present progress of
the proposed union we agree upon the preparation and dis­
tribution of the following literature '— :
( i) . (a) A n address to the n ative church courts em bodying a
statem ent as to the aims and advantages of the proposed union, em phasiz­
in g the fact that this union is a union of the native church and asking
th e ir co-operation in presenting the m atter fu lly before their several
courts.
(6) A n outline of the main points of the schem e o f union as presented
in our report of N ovem ber 11-17, 1903, and review in 1905.
(c) A request to the native pastors and leaders to present the plan to
the church m embers at large.
{d'\ A Chinese version of the co m m ittee’s report shall be printed,
aim bein g to place it in th e hand of every Chinese office-bearer and o f
all o th er Chinese Christians interested.
(2.) (a) A n address to th e several missions we represent n otin g the
step of progress at w h ich we have arrived, ca llin g attention to the
steps set forth above in resolution IV , as bein g those w hich are
 i8

im m ediately necessary to the gen eral organization o f the native church,

and u rgin g the h earty co-operation o f m issions and in dividuals in ca rry ­
in g them out as soon as possible.
T h is pam phlet shall contain th e essential paragraphs in the P lan of
U nion as heretofore presented, and a co p y of the sam e, togeth er w ith
a co p y o f the aforesaid pam phlet in Chinese, shall be sent to each
mem ber o f the missions represented.
(b) Letters to such Presbyterian bodies as are not y et represented on
th is com m ittee, in v itin g them to jo in in the proposed union.

(3 ). B i b l i o g r a p h y .

A ttention is called to the follow in g literature bearing upon the

doctrines o f th e P resb ytery C h u rch and th e question o f P resb ytery
U nion :—

W estm inster Confession of F aith ....................................... 8 cts.

L arger Catechism ................................................................ 10 ,,
Shorter Catechism . W en-li ................................................... 6 ,,
S horter Catechism . M andarin ....................................... 3 ,,
Presbyterian F orm of G o v e r n m e n t ....................................... 7 ,.
Presbyterian Book of D iscip lin e ............... ............... 5 ,,
Form of W o r s h ip ........................................................................... 2 ,,
Above f o r sale at Presbyterian Mission Press, Shanghai.
B ooks of Order of the S y n o d o f Chang-chow and Chin-chow ({$
iß i|& $ S.)- R ev. G eo. W ales, A m oy.
Book of O rder o f Syn od o f Chao-chow and H w ei-chow (¿ft jfj ^ ^
& c? £$)• R e v. John C. G ibson, D .D ., Sw atow .
Book o f O rder o f P resbytery of M anchuria (g§ ^ -g % ^ $8 i& ).
R ev. T . C . F u lto n , C le rk o f P resbytery, M anchuria. 3 cents per co p y.
P resbyterian U nion in C h ina (ß- ig ¡¡ft — |g). Prepared b y R ev.
D. M a cG illiv ra y on request o f th e P resb ytery Com m ittee on Union.
Presbyterian M ission Press. 4 cents per cop y.
Chinese Christian Intelligencer (jij ffi). P u b lish ed b y th e Pres­
byterian M issions in China and edited b y R e v. S. I. W oodbridge, 18
P e k in g R oad. Subscription price, 50 cents per year ; postage extra.
R eport o f Presbyterian Com m ittee on U nion, 1905, in E n g lish , 10
cents. D itto in Chinese, 5 cents. P resbyterian M ission Press.

V II. W e recommend that each Presbytery, w ith the con­

sent of the Synod to which it belongs, appoint two delegates—
one foreign missionary and one Chinese office-bearer— who
shall form a standing council, acting by correspondence or by
meeting, and shall be continued as a bond of union until it
is found practicable to constitute the General Assem bly. W e
further recommend that in appointing delegates to their Federal
Council the church courts concerned shall instruct them to
hold a meeting at Shanghai shortly before or after the meeting
of the General Conference, which is called for A pril, 1907,
at which time it is hoped that the contemplated organization
of Synods will be complete.
Meanwhile we recommend that the present committee be
continued as a convenient medium of communication between
the missions and the church courts concerned.
 20

EXHIBIT C

TREASURER'S REPORT.

From November 6, 1903, to October 20, 1905.

Cash Received :
Balance on hand N ovem ber 6th, 1903 $ 80.67
S u b s c r ip tio n s ................................................... $10.00
4.00
2.19
16.19
Sale o f b o o k s ............... . ........................... 18.45
Less C o m m is s io n ....................................... 1.84
16.61

| H 3'47
Cash E xpended:
P rin tin g :
E n g lish R e p o r ts ........................... ... $64.36
Chinese Book, “ Presbyterian Union in
C h in a ” ....................................... 34-65
Chinese R e p o r t ....................................... 8.63
C i r c u l a r s ....................................... $°'75
1-25
----- 2.00
$109.64
A d vertisin g ................................................... 2-75
Station ery, etc. ....................................... 1.08

$ I I 3-47
 21

EXHIBIT D.

RESOLUTIONS OF 1903.
T h e following resolutions, adopted at the meeting of the
committee November 11-14, 1903, are reprinted with a few
slight changes where the wording required alteration for the
sake of clearness.
T h e committee find—
1. T h a t we and the several churches to w hich we belon g agree in
h o ld in g th e W ord o f God as contained in the Scriptures o f the O ld and
N ew Testam ents to be the supreme rule o f faith and life.
2. T h a t the aforesaid churches have, as circum stances required,
drawn up and adopted several subordinate standards o f doctrine as
Confessions of F aith , C atech ism s, and other docum ents, to e xh ib it the
sense in w h ich th e y understand the S crip tu re s; and that these docu­
m ents are the follow in g :—
Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A . — T he W estm inster Confession
o f F aith w ith sligh t revision, and the Shorter and L arger Catechism s.
Presbyterian Church in the U. S . — T he W estm inster Confession o f
F aith , and the Shorter and L arger Catechism s.
Reform ed Church in Am erica.— The B elgic Confession, th e H eid el­
berg Catechism and the Canons of the Synod of Dordrecht.
Presbyterian Church in Canada.— The W estm inster Confession o f
F aith and the Shorter and L arger Catechism s.
Presbyterian Church in Ireland.— The W estm inster Confession
o f F aith .
Church o f Scotland.— T he W estm inster Confession of Faith.
United Free Church o f Scotland.— T he W estm inster Confession of
F aith and the Shorter and L arger Catechism s, in the lig h t o f the
D eclaratory Acts.
Presbyterian Church o f E ngland. — T he W estm inster Confession o f
F a ith and the tw enty-four A rticles of F aith , w ith A ppendix.

W e also find that the independent Presbyterian churches

of Manchuria and of A m oy have adopted shorter creeds of their
own in harmony with the foregoing standards.
3. T hat in view o f the m anifest consensus o f these docum ents in
the great fundam ental m atters o f faith, obedience, w orship and p olity,
we rejoice to believe that we can h eartily and w ith great advantage
unite togeth er in seekin g to advance the g lo ry of G od in th e salvation
o f sinners and in the p lan tin g and up buildin g o f H is c h u r c h ; and we
 22

are further confirm ed in this assurance by our know ledge o f the history
o f the churches using these sym bols, o f the service they have done and
are doin g in the various countries in w hich th e y labor and of the
character and teach in g o f th eir representatives, both in th eir hom e
countries and in the mission field.

Inasmuch, then, as it is found possible and desirable to

unite on the ground of our ascertained harmony in faith and
practice we advise the Missions and Mission Councils which
we represent to make the following recommendations :—
A . To tlie Mission Boards, Com m ittees and Suprem e Courts of
those Presbyterian churches w hich have established mission w ork in
C h ina, that th ey recognize the com plete independence o f the Chinese
churches w hich have b y the blessing o f G od been planted under their
care ; and that th e y authorize th eir missionaries to tak e all such steps as
m ay be necessary to com plete the form ation and to secure the independ­
ence o f the proposed un ited Chinese church.

B. To all Chinese Presbyterian churches :

1. T h at th ey take the necessary steps in th eir respective ecclesias­
tica l courts to unite in one organized chu rch , w ith such arrangem ents
for governm ent and adm inistration under the Presbyterian order, w ith
needful adaptations to local conditions as m ay best subserve the
interests o f th e kin gdom o f G od am ong the Chinese.
2. T h at w h ile the docum ents enum erated under finding 2 are
bin d in g on th e churches w hich have adopted them , and w hile th e y are
here referred to for th e purpose o f show ing that in all essentials there is
a consensus of faith and practice am ong these several churches, in
entering upon the proposed union th e d istin ctive subordinate standards
o f an y one chu rch be not necessarily adopted by the others.
3. T h a t w hile the proposed Presbyterian church o f China must
necessarily be autonom ous, and w ill therefore have the prerogative of
form ulating its own standards, w hich w ill, we believe, in the providence
o f G od and under the teachin g o f H is Sp irit be in essential harm ony
w ith the creeds o f the parent churches, u n til such standards be adopted
the distinctive standards of each con tractin g party entering the union
shall be adhered to by th at p arty.
4. T h at u n til such tim e as the proposed united church shall
form ulate its own creed, possible cases o f appeal to, and deliverances by,
th e G eneral A ssem bly in m atters o f doctrine shall be decided by the
consensus o f the various sym bols of the churches entering the union ;
care being taken in a ll cases that such decision shall not do violence to
th e doctrinal standards h eld by an y of th e u n itin g churches.
5. T he W estm inster Shorter Catechism is com m ended to the con ­
sideration of the Chinese churches as b ein g a b rie f digest o f the leadin g
doctrines contained in the sym bols o f the present churches.
 23

T h e committee further unite in making the following

recommendations regarding union :—
Resolved, T h a t organic union be carried out in accordance w ith the
scheme herein set forth.
1. T h at a G eneral A ssem bly shall be constituted, to be composed o f
Commissioners from Presbyteries in the proportions agreed upon below.
T hat the G eneral A ssem bly shall hold stated m eetings at intervals
o f three, four or five years, as m ay be determ ined by the first G eneral
A ssem bly, after consideration in the various missions and subordinate
church courts ; and shall also be convened to deal w ith urgent m atters
of general concern w hen such m eetings are called for by not less than
three Synods.
T hat the G eneral A ssem bly shall review and further the w ork o f
the church byt such means as it shall see f i t ; and in particular shall deal
w ith questions of doctrine and legislation affecting the w hole church by
considering overtures and reports sent up from Presbyteries and Synods
and b y sending dow n proposed decisions of a leg islative character to
Presbyteries for consideration and r e p o rt; and shall fin ally dispose of
such m atters in accordance w ith the ascertained m ind of the church,
T h at cases of discipline beginn in g in Sessions shall, on appeal, be
subject to review by the Presbytery and Syn od and shall term inate in
th e Synod w ith ou t appeal to the G eneral A sse m b ly ; and that cases
b egin n in g in Presbyteries shall, on appeal, be subject to the review o f
th e Synod and G eneral Assem bly.
That all Presbyteries and Synods shall transm it to the G eneral
A ssem bly d u ly attested copies o f th eir m inutes ; and the A ssem bly shall
tak e steps to review these records and to secure that the w ork of the
subordinate courts is d u ly performed and that th eir records are accurately
kept. T h e y shall also transm it full statistical reports, financial and
personal, o f the w ork of the church w ithin their bounds, w hich the
G eneral A ssem bly shall co llate for the inform ation of the church.
T h at the G eneral A ssem bly shall constitute a “ bond o f union, peace,
correspondence and m utual confidence am ong all our chu rch es.”
2. T h at the Synods to be formed meet an n u ally, if convenient.
T he fo llo w in g are suggested :—
(a) T h e Synod of M anchuria. (T h e present approxim ate number
o f com m unicant m em bers in this Synod w ould be 12,000.)
(b) The Synod of N orth China ; to com prise the churches in C h ih li,
Shan tung and H onan. (Approxim ate num ber o f com m unicants, 8,452.)
(c) T he Syn od of Central C h in a ; to comprise the churches in
K iangsu, Ch6kiang, A nhui, H upeh and H unan. (A pproxim ate num ber
o f com m unicants, 5,092.)
(d) T he Synod o f Southern F ukien . (A pproxim ate num ber o f
com m unicants, 4,200.)
(e) The Syn od o f E ast Kvvangtung. (A pproxim ate num ber of
com m unicants, 4,200.)
 24

(f) T he Syn od of W est K w an gtun g. (A pproxim ate num ber o f

com m unicants, 6,200.)
It is furth er recom m ended th at the Synods be the bodies charged
w ith th e ultim ate respon sibility for all adm inistrative w ork and the
ca rryin g out of discipline w ith in th eir bounds, excep t in cases of
discipline arising in Presbyteries, on w hich appeal to the G eneral
A ssem bly is allow ed.
The Syn od s sh a ll also have power to refer to the G en eral A ssem bly
for in struction and advice.

3. T hat the fo llo w in g plan of representation in Church Courts be

adopted :—
I. T h e S e s s io n .

F o r the present each P resbytery shall determ ine the composition of

Sessions w ith in its bounds.

II. The Pr esbytery.

F o r the present the basis of m em bership in each P resbytery m ay

rem ain as before.

III. T he Synod.

T he Syn od shall consist of all Chinese m inisters and all m ission­

aries, w hether ordained as teachin g or as ru lin g elders, h a vin g a seat in
a P resb ytery w ith in its bounds, togeth er w ith one Chinese elder from
each Session. But in the case o f con gregations h a vin g more than 500
m em bers, th e y shall be entitled to a furth er representation in the ratio
o f one ru lin g eld er for each addition al 500 or fraction thereof.

IV . Th e Ge n er al Assem bly.

[The m atter o f the proper ratio o f representation in the G eneral A ssem bly w as the
occasion o f lo n g and careful consideration, o w in g to the va ry in g conditions found to
exist in different parts o f the country.
In view of the m an y difficulties brought before us, and h av in g due regard to the
representation o f different portions o f the field in respect o f distance from the place of
m eetin g to the ecclesiastical relation betw een Chinese churches and foreign m ission­
aries to the va ry in g sizes o f con gregation s and stages o f organization arrived at,
and h av in g considered all available statistics bearing on these questions ; the plan
herein presented w as fin ally drafted.
T h e principle is clearly recognized th a t the relation o f the foreign m issionary to
th e Chinese church is in its nature tem porary, and m ust even tu ally cease].

( a) T he G eneral A ssem bly shall be com posed of representatives

appointed by Presbyteries in the ratio o f one Chinese m inister and one
Chinese ru lin g elder for every seven con gregations organ ized under
sessions w ith in the bounds o f the P resbytery. It shall be w ith in the
pow er o f Presbyteries, when necessary, to appoint a foreign m issionary
as substitute for a Chinese com m issioner.
(b) In con gregations o f o ver five hundred adult m em bers in good
stan d in g, every such five hundred m em bers, or fraction thereof, sh a ll be
reckon ed for purposes o f representation as one con gregation .

1
 25

(r) In addition to the above representation each P resbytery shall

com m ission one foreign m issionary for every seven or fraction o f that
num ber h avin g a seat in P resb ytery, w hether ordained as teach in g or
lu lin g elders.
(d) W here there is not y et an organized Chinese P resb ytery the
lo cal Presbyterian M issions, w ith the Chinese m inisters and elders
w ith in th eir bounds, m ay act in th e interim as Presbyteries in sending
com m issioners to the G eneral A ssem bly on the above basis.
(<?) A t the first m eeting o f the G en eral A ssem bly a ll Presbyterian
m inisters and elders in C hina producing certificates o f good standing
from any o f the u n itin g presbyterial bodies m ay attend, and shall have
advisory p o w e rs; but o n ly authorized com m issioners shall have the
pow er o f votin g.
4. T h at the name o f the proposed un ited church be “ T he P resby­
terian C h urch of C h in a ,” o r t{ i!p £ # lg fjc -g

5. T he fo llo w in g names o f Chinese church courts, etc., are

suggested :—
O ut-station,
O rganized Congregation, ft
Session,
P resb ytery,
Syn od ,
G eneral A ssem bly,
Deacon,
E ld er,
L icen tiate,
Ordained M inister,
Note.— W h ile these nam es are recom m ended as th e official designations of the
above bodies and offices, it is recognized th at various localities m ay use such abbrevia­
tions o f these term s as m ay seem proper. A s for exam ple, ^ or ‘ p ^ as a popular
n am e for P resb ytery, as m ay be preferred. R ega rd in g the nam e for deacon, w h ile
fo llow in g the current usage in Bible translation, tile com m ittee expresses its dissatis­
faction w ith the '(A 1^. It is desired th a t careful consideration be given to the fin din g
of a better term . T h e use o f or has been suggested ; and other su ggestions are
invited. T h e sam e rem ark applies to the term i'ff: A ll ch an ges w hich have been
m ade in ex istin g term s are w ith a view to u n ify in g the differences w hich e x ist in
various parts o f the fields.

6. F in a lly , that we desire to express to our brethren o f a ll other

m issions and churches in C h ina our sense o f the real u n ity th at under­
lies our differences and our earnest desire that a ll branches o f the
church o f Christ in C hina m ay u ltim a te ly com e to geth er in lo y a lty to
tru th and devotion to our com m on L ord, in the m anifested u n ity of the
body of Christ on earth. R eco gn izin g th a t e x istin g differences o f
ecclesiastical order and governm en t and other causes p reven t for the
present our expressing our u n ity in the v ita l doctrines o f the G ospel in
the form o f a com m on chu rch organization, w e who are o f the P resb y ­
terian order aim in the m eantim e at Presbyterian union in no exclu siv e
sense, but as th e first step w ith in our p o w er towards draw ing togeth er
 26

th e various branches of the ch u rch . W e shall continue to seek b y

b ro th e rly co-operation to unite in sym pathy all branches o f th e
Christian ch u rch in China, earnestly p ra y in g that a ll m ay be so led into
th e u n ity of the Sp irit that fu ller union in w ork and organization m ay
n atu rally follow .

T h e following further action was unanimously agreed

u p o n :—
W e find that it has been represented to us th at the loss o f repre­
sen tation in th e hom e courts is, in the m inds o f some brethren, and in
the v ie w o f the churches to w hich they belon g, a difficulty in the w ay o f
the proposed union. W e therefore respectfully represent to the supreme
courts o f the churches concerned th a t it w ill grea tly facilitate the
proposed plan o f union, if hom e churches, w hile g iv in g th eir mission­
aries fu ll lib erty to take th eir places ill th e courts of the Chinese
C h urch , w ill also tak e steps to secure at the same tim e th eir representa­
tion in the courts o f the churches at hom e. W e find that th is object has
been secured in some cases* by g iv in g to M ission Councils or other such
bodies on th e mission field power to act as Presbyteries under the hom e
churches, w ith rig h t to send com m issioners to th eir supreme courts and
to approach these courts b y w ay of overture, w h ile at the same tim e
m embers of such bodies are m em bers of, or assessors in, the independent
-courts of the Chinese church, but subject in respect o f discipline to the
courts o f the hom e church o n ly.
W e therefore respectfully subm it that the adoption of this or some
sim ilar course b y th e supreme courts concerned, is an act w ell w ithin
th e ir powers, and w ould be ve ry helpful to the best interests o f the
chu rch in China.

In answer to a question brought before the committee,

it was resolved,
T h at th e organization o f Presbyteries and Synods in the independ­
ent Chinese church can in no wise affect the execu tive control held by
the various missions over th eir m issionaries, as, for exam ples in th e
appointm ent o f m issionaries or th e opening o f new mission stations.

R eport of th e S u b -C o m m it t e e on T h e o l o g ic a l

C u r r ic u l u m .

T h e Sub-Committee on a common Theological Curriculum

for students and a joint Board of Exam ination have collected
some information as to the present practice in the colleges and
training classes of the different Missions. This information is
• F o r exam ple, in the United Free Church o f Scotland.
 27

far from complete, and your committee will welcome the

communication of further information.
W e have also received expressions of opinion and sugges­
tions bearing on the subjects remitted, but are not yet in a
position to present a complete report.
W e find, however, that the following suggestions should
guide any action to be taken in these m atters:—
1. T h a t a com m on schem e for a th eo lo g ical curriculum would be
of great advantage, esp ecially in order to raise and m aintain a w orthy
standard of theological education, and also as ten din g to encourage the
production of suitable tex t books.
2. T h at the curriculum should be planned w ith reference to the
subjects to be taught, rather than with reference to years or terms o f
study.
3. T h at the curriculum should be planned in tw o distinct sections :
one for men w ho have received a som ewhat com plete preparatory course
of elem entary and advanced academ ical instruction in Christian schools
before en terin g on a th eolo gical curriculum , and one for men w ho have
becom e Christians in more m ature 3-ears, or w ho for other reasons have
not received such early trainin g.
4. T h at a jo in t system o f exam in ation, w ith the gran tin g of
diplom as w ould, if practicable, grea tly assist in the furtherance of the
object in view ; but in order to leave a certain freedom to those con­
ductin g theological train in g, it m ay be better in the m eantim e to con ­
fine its action to the close o f the th eolo gical curriculum .
W ith these explanations of the view s so far arrived at,
we suggest that this interim report be accepted by the Union
Committee and circulated along with their report 011 proposed
Plan of Union ; and that the whole subject be re-committed to
the sub-committee for further consideration and report.

J. C. G ib s o n .

G eo . D o u glas.
P. F. P r ic e .
 ADDENDA.

A c tio n o f t h e S y n o d o f C e n t r a l C h in a , P r e s b y t e r ia n
C h u r c h , U. S . A.

Sin ce the m eeting o f the Com m ittee on Presbyterian Union im por­

tan t action has been taken b y the P resbytery of N ingpo, overtnring the
G eneral A ssem bly to be set aside in order that it m ay unite w ith other
Presbyterian bodies in form ing a Union Synod in Central China and
requesting th e m oderator o f the Synod of Central China to call a special
m eeting to take sim ilar action. A pro re tiota m eeting o f Synod was
a ccordin gly held at N ingpo, Decem ber 7th, 1905, and the follow ing
resolutions were unanim ously adopted :—
W h e r e a s , A U nion Com m ittee, composed o f representatives from various Presby­
terian M issions w o rk in g in China, has prepared a Plan o f U nion providing for the
organization o f a Chinese Presbyterian Church, and
W h e r e a s , T h e G en eral A ssem b ly o f the Presbyterian Church in the United
States o f Am erica has approved said plan (see M inutes o f 1904, page 220) and the Hoard
o f Foreign M issions of the Presbyterian Church, U . S. A., has also given its approval,
and
W h e r e a s , U nion organizations have been effected in other lands and found to be
o advantage to the church,
Therefore, Resolved, T h a t the Synod o f Central C hin a, in clu din g the Presbyteries
o f N in gpo, S h a n ch ai, H angchow and N a n k in g , believin g th at the time is ripe for the
consum m ation o f the plan proposed, respectfu lly petitions the G eneral Assem bly o f
th e Presbyterian Church in the United States o f Am erica to set aside our Synod, so
th a t with other Presbyterian bodies w e m ay unite in form ing a Union Synod in the
m anner proposed by the Com m ittee 011 Presbyterian U nion ; this action to tak e effect
w h en the said U nion Synod has been organized.
Resolved, T h a t we correspond w ith other Presbyterian bodies in the provinces o f
C h e h k iatig, K ian gsu , An h u i, Hunan and H upeh, a sk in g them to unite w ith us in
o rg a n izin g a Union Synod for Central C h in a at the tim e and place hereinafter
designated.
Resolved, T h a t the m eetin g for organization o f the United Synod be called to
convene in the F irst Presbyterian Church at N a n k in g 011 the fourth Thursday in M ay,
1906, at 2 p.m.
Resolved, T h a t a ll regu larly ordained Presbyterian m inisters in the bounds o f the
proposed Synod be invited to participate in the first m eetin g o f Synod, and th at each
organ ized session be invited to send an elder as its representative.
Resolved, T h a t Rev. J. A. Silsb y be appointed to act as Stated C lerk in the absence
o f Rev. G. F. F itch in Am erica and he is h ereby instructed to take such steps as m ay
be necessary to b rin g these actions to the attention of a ll parties concerned.

T he P r esbyter y of Sh antung

has appointed R ev. Geo. Connw ell to act as its representative, and the
M ission o f E ast S han tu ng has voted to report to th e Board o f F oreign
M issions that th e y approve the general plan recom m ended by the
Com m ittee on Presbyterian U nion. R ev. G eo. C on nw ell takes the place
o f R ev. L. J. Davies, resigned.
 29

A c tio n o f t h e B o a rd o f F o r e ig n M is s io n s ,
P r e s b y te r ia n C h u r c h , U. S. A .

The question o f the proposed Presbyterian Union in China, considered

at the last m eeting o f the Board, and laid over w ithout action, was taken
up, and it was voted by the Board to approve o f the m ovem ent toward
an organic union o f the various Presbyterian Churches in China and to
authorize its m issionaries, as the missionaries deem w ise, to take all such
steps as m ay be necessary to com plete the form ation and secure the
independence o f the proposed U nited Chinese Church. In ta k in g this
action th e Board feels that it is in full accord w ith the w ill o f the
General A ssem bly repeatedly expressed. T he Board understands also that
the various Presbyteries w ill present the m atter in regular form to the
G eneral A ssem bly for such action as m ay be necessary on the part o f
th e A ssem bly, that th ey m ay be included in the proposed Presbyterian
C hurch in C hina .— E x tr a ct fro m letter o f Secretary Speer .

S y n o d o f t h e P r e s b y t e r ia n C h u r c h o f E n g l a n d .

London, T hursday, 4th M ay, 1905, the Synod took the follow in g
action :—
“ T h e Synod hears w ith deep interest o f the auspicious g a th e rin g o f the first
A ssem bly o f the Presbyterian Church o f India, and gives a cordial sanction to the
entrance o f its m issionaries into the proposed Presbyterian Church o f China, whose
form ation m ay be finally resolved on d urin g the present ye ar.”

A m e r ic a n R e f o r m e d C h u r c h M is s io n in C h in a .

A t the semi-annual m eeting o f th is M ission held in N ovem ber, 1904,

the printed report o f the Com m ittee on Presbyterian Union was
presented, and after careful consideration the fo llo w in g resolutions were
a d o p te d :—
Resolved,, T h e A m o y M ission o f the Reform ed Church in Am erica has read w ith
great interest the report of the Second M eetin g o f the Com m ittee on Presbyterian Union,
and has carefully considered the plan presented as a result o f th at m eeting. T h e
Presbyterian Church in Southern Fuk ien has for m an y years been en tirely inde­
pendent o f all church courts in either Am erica or G reat Britain, and therefore we have
lo n g since passed the stage o f the recom m endations prelim inary to U nion as outlined
in the report. W e h eartity agree w ith the purpose o f this Com m ittee to unite all the
Presbyterian Churches in the Chinese E m pire, as expressed in the resolution adopted
b y this M ission when considering the form er report. Still w e cannot yet approve o f
th at detail o f the plan proposed w hich gives to the G en eral Assem bly the authority to
review action tak en by the Synods. We ju d g e th at a G eneral Assem bly m eeting at
lon g intervals, composed o f a com paratively sm all num ber of representatives from
w id e ly separated Synods, is not com petent to review the acts and proceedings o f our
Synod. T h e distance betw een the parts o f this proposed U nion Church are too great,
and the intercom m unication is too slig h t to m ake it possible for the com m issioners o f
the G eneral A ssem bly to secure such full and accurate inform ation o f the reasons
underneath the acts o f Synod as w ould q u alify them to pass ju dgm en t on these.
F urtherm ore, the delay in carryin g out the decisions o f the Synod, w hich a stay o f
proceedings caused by an appeal to G eneral A ssem by would necessitate, m igh t often
be so lo n g as to com pletely obstruct all effective w o rk in g o f the Synod. In close and
full view o f the results o f the union o f the w ork o f Am erican and British m issions, w e
ju d g e that the conditions still prevailin g in this Em pire do not y et w arran t the
consum m ation o f th at w ider organ ic union o f Presbyterian Churches w hich w e so
m uch desire. Therefore it is further
‘ Resolved, T h a t the M ission’s representative on the above-m entioned Com m ittee
be instructed to com m unicate w ith the E n glish Presbyterian M ission in Am oy,
inform ing them o f our position in regard to this question. Further, it is
 3°
5Resolved, Providin g th e E n g lish Presbyterian M ission should tak e sim ita r
positions, that it is unnecessary to b rin g the question at this tim e before the Synod o f
th e Chinese Church. F in a lly it is „
‘ Resolved, T h a t through our representative, we inform the Secretary o f the Joint
Com m ittee o f our notion, and also express a desire that the Com m ittee be continued
and instructed to prepare a plan o f F ederal U nion in the hope that such a course w ill
fin ally result in the consum m ation of the plan now proposed.”

T h e E n g l is h P r e s b y t e r ia n M is s io n C o u n c il a t A m o y

passed a resolution endorsing th e position of the Reform ed Church in

Am erica regard in g the Plan of Union, but after con sultin g w ith the
Reform ed Church Mission it was agreed to prepare a report to lay before
the native Synod o f Cliang-chow and Cliin-cliow . T he S y n o d ’s resolu­
tion is reported below : —
T r a n s l a t io n o f R e so l u t io n o f Syn od o f C h a n g -c h o w a n d

C h in c h o w , 23rd M arch, 1905.

R ev. Cam pbell Brown explain ed th e proposals for gen eral Presbyterian U nion in
C hin a. It w as moved, T h a t the tim e has not arrived for such action, and that
consideration o f the subject be m eantim e postponed. T h e Synod resolved accordingly.

T r a n s l a t io n of R e s o l u t i o n s o f S y n o d o f C h a o -c h o w and
H w e i - c h o w , 4 t h M a y , 1905.

(Th e Synod includes both the H ok-lo churches under the care o f the M ission at
Sw atow and the H a kk a churches under the care o f the M ission at W u-king-fu.)
R eport o f Com m ittee appointed 5th M ay, 1904. to consider proposals for gen eral
Presbyterian U n ion , w as presented b y Dr. J. C. G ibson. T h e S y n c d received the
Report, and resolved as follow s
1. T h a t the advantages o f U nion are very great, and the Synod approves gen era lly
o f the proposed Union.
2. T h e Synod approves the division into six Synods, and d elays adjustm ent o f the
d esignations of subordinate courts until the form ation o f a G en eral Assem bly.
3. A t present it is not y et possible to form a General Assem bly, and the Synod
recom m ends in the m eantim e Union and intercourse b y letter.
4 T h a t the federated Syn ods should appoin t representatives to carry out this
intercourse o f the churches.
5. T h a t every year each o f th e federated Synods should transm it copies o f its
records and legislation to these representatives for collection and circulation am ong
the Synods, w ith a view to the m utual adoption ct w h at is found suitable, and that
further consideration o f legislation be postponed till the form ation o f the G en eral
Assem bly.
 STATISTICS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CHINA.
The follow in g statistics are p artly from data received since th e m eeting
o f the Com m ittee on Presbyterian Union and p artly from
estim ates based on previous reports.
■
4—
Foreign. Chinese.
s

Churches.*
Ministers.

Ministers.
a

Elders.

Elders.
5
S
(3

* I. Synod o f Manchuria.
T w o Presbyteries ........................... 3° 2 27 80 12,000

II. Synod o f N orth China.

Presbytery o f Chinan ... 9 23 12 1 .3 7 4
„ P e k i n g ........................... 10 2 5 2 343
,, „ Shantung 6 4 35 21 2,629
,, ,, W eihsien ............... 5 5 56 21 3.756
Canadian Presbyterians 11 3 35°
T otal for S y n o d ............. 41 3 11 119 56 8 ,4 52

I I I . Synod o f Central China.

P resbytery o f H angchow 5 7 13 3 395
„ N a n k in g .............. 6 5 2 183
,. N in g p o ........................... 6 11 20 IO 1,218
„ Shan ghai .............. 4 4 10 4 479
Presbyterian Mission in Hunan 7 2 2 200
N orth K ian gsu Mission 10 240
M id-C hina ,, 14 i 9 800
Cum berland Presbyterian Mission ... 2
j- 200
G erm an R eform ed M ission ... 3
China Inland ,, ............... 10 15 18 400
C hurch o f S cotland „ ............... 2 1 5 14 918

T otal for S y n o d .............. 69 2 23 70 62 5.033

IV . Synod o f Fukien.
P resbytery of Ch an gch ow ... ) 4,200
17 3° 12 5 30
„ „ Chinchow j

V. Synod o f E ast Kwangtung.

P resbytery o f S w a to w ............... ) 4,200
„ W u-king-fu ... f 17 75 37
«

VI. Synod o f West Kwangtung.

Presbyter}- of C a n t o n ............... 8 3 45 21 5.800
,, ,, H ainan ... 6 4 2 200
P resby. C hurch of N ew Zealand 2 100
Canadian Presbyterian Church 3 50
Reform ed C hurch in Am erica 1 1 5°
T o tal for S y n o d ............... 20 3 49 24 6,200

T o tal for C h in a ... 194 8 82 465 289 40,085

♦Under the head o f “ C h u rc h e s” should be included o n ly con gregation s organized
Under sessions, but in these statistics a num ber o f churches are included w hich have
not yet been fu lly organized.
t ‘ C o m m u n ican ts” are those in full m em bership, and entitled to partake of the
com m union.