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Show FOREWORD Those «vho have been accustomed to read the reports of the North China and the Shansi Missions may find this issue of the report of the united missions somewhat confusing. Instead of the more or less detached and separable reports of the several stations, there is presented what i» intended to lie a unified picture of the work of (he Mission as a whole. A. composite picture it is, laying emphasis upon the two extremes, the very common and the very unusual, so that an individual portrait of any branch of the work in any particular station is not supplied. Regrettable as-this may be, it seemed essential to the carrying out of the main object- Friends particularly interested in the work of any station, however, will find it possible, by following the names of the stations, emphasized by special type, to search out the references to that particular station, though we hope they will occasionally stop to read the material that lies between. The editors have not found it practicable to acknowledge quotations from the several reports. In most cases, the station from which the material comes, is clear from the context, but even in the general sections, the-reports are drawn on wilh great freedom both as to subject mailer am1, as to phraseology. The editors are indebted to Mr. Frame of the Timgehow Station for his careful statement in regard to the reorganization of the Mission, especially prepared for this report, and constituting the greater part of Chapter Two. If because of this effort to select the best and the most realistic portions of all the reports, and interweave them into it unified pattern, you find the work of the missionaries in North China more vivid, and more easily to be sympathized with, this new venture will have fulfilled its purpose. |