Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 85 (Color Image)

0085	Among the Celestials : vol.1

CHAP. III.] A SCOTTISH MISSION. 59

disreputable condition was the hardest of them

all !

This Scottish mission is established with

a special object, and on lines different from

most other missions. The object is to try

and get at the Chinese officials and gentry ;

to preach to the lower class as well, but to

make an especial attempt to get in touch with

the gentry and upper classes of society. With

this object, highly trained men are sent out,

and the mission is established with some

" style," though I use this word not to imply

any particularly luxurious surroundings, but

rather to impress the difference from the

extremely simple and plain establishment of

other missions which I have seen. It is

recognised that Chinese officials are reluctant

to mix freely with men who live in very humble

houses and dress indifferently, and it is thought

that men who adopt a higher style of living

and dress will have more chance of meeting

with these sensitive Chinamen. It is, more-

over, considered by the heads of this mission

that men will work better in a distant land if

they are accompanied by their wives to cheer

and encourage them and help on the mission

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