Canadian Methodist Mission
 First Canadian Methodist missionaries to Szechwan, sailed in 1891. Standing: Rev. G. E. Hartwell, Mrs. Hartwell, Rev. O. L. Kilborn, Mrs. Kilborn. Seated: Rev. V. C. Hart, Mrs. Hart, Dr. D. W. Stevenson. | |
| Founder | Virgil C. Hart |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Toronto, Canada |
| Type | Methodist mission |
| Legal status | Mission society |
| Headquarters | Chengtu |
Region served | Szechwan |
Official language | English Szechwanese |
Key people | Virgil C. Hart Omar L. Kilborn |
Parent organization | Methodist Church of Canada United Church of Canada (since 1925) |
The Canadian Methodist Mission (CMM), also known as Missionary Society of the Methodist Church in Canada (MCC; Chinese: 美道會; pinyin: Měi Dào Huì; Wade–Giles: Mei3 Tao4 Hui4; lit. 'Beautiful Way Society'; former romanization: Mei Dao Hwei or Meh Dao Hwei; also known as Ying Mei Hui [Chinese: 英美會; pinyin: Yīng Měi Huì; Wade–Giles: Ying1 Mei3 Hui4; lit. 'Anglo-American Society']), was a Canadian Methodist Christian missionary society mostly working in the province of Szechwan, which was also referred to as "West China."
History
The Canadian Methodist Mission was founded by Virgil C. Hart. In February 1892, eight members of the mission society led by Hart reached Szechwan. Work began in Chengtu and, two years later, in Kiatingfu, with the establishment of mission stations in both cities. A church and a hospital were subsequently built in Chengtu, which was the result of a team effort by O. L. Kilborn, V. C. Hart, G. E. Hartwell, D. W. Stevenson and others.
After 1900, eight more mission stations were established in Jenshow (1905), Junghsien (1905), Penghsien (1907), Tzeliutsing (1907), Luchow (1908), Chungking (1910), Chungchow (1911) and Fowchow (1913).
The CMM established its own printing house, Canadian Methodist Mission Press, in Kiatingfu in 1897. In 1903, it was moved to the capital city of Chengtu. This press was responsible for the printing of The West China Missionary News, first in 1899. It was the first English newspaper and the longest running journal in the province of Szechwan.
The CMM was one of the four mission societies responsible for the creation of West China Union University in 1910. By 1922, the Methodists enrolled almost one half of the Protestant Christians in Szechwan.
Following the merger of the Methodist Church of Canada into the United Church of Canada in 1925, the latter assumed responsibility for the CMM. At that time, the CMM was the largest mission of the newly-founded Church.
By 1934, the CMM had joined the Church of Christ in China (CCC); an annual general meeting of the CCC's Szechwan Synod was held on 9 February 1939.
Gallery
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Canadian Methodist Mission in Central Szechwan -
Canadian Methodist missionaries stationed in Szechwan -
The West China Missionary News, printed by Canadian Methodist Mission Press -
The first Canadian Methodist Mission Press at Kiating, before 1903 -
Canadian Methodist Hospital at Chengtu, before 1917 -
The Canadian School of the West China Union University, Chengtu, c. 1918 -
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Forward Movement, Missionary Conference, Chengtu, 1908 -
CMM West China Mission Annual Conference, Chungking, 1914
