China Continuation Committee records, circa 1912 -- 1922

Creator:

Abstract:

Extent:

9 linear feet 9 linear feet; 2 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 1 oversize tube

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

This collection contains the records of local and national committees and conferences established in China in 1913 to continue the ecumenical work started by the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910. Materials include conference records, minutes, papers, pamphlets, maps, and publications. Two sub-committees are represented: the Social and Moral Welfare Committee, and the Phonetic Promotion Committee.

Biographical / historical:

The World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1910 established a plan for greater cooperation among Protestant mission groups, and soon regional committees were established in mission fields to continue its work. Its chairman, John R. Mott, visited China in 1913 to initiate a series of local meetings discussing the aims of the conference. These culminated in a national conference held in Shanghai in March, where delegates from the local conferences met to discuss the past, present and future of Protestant mission work in China. The China Continuation Committee was formed as a result of the national conference in Shanghai. The committee was headed by Edwin Carlyle Lobenstine, of the American Presbyterian Mission, and Ch'eng Ching-yi [Cheng Jingyi 誠靜怡] of Beijing. In 1914 Abbe Livingston Warnshuis was appointed as National Evangelistic Secretary. The committee differed from past efforts at cooperation between Protestant mission groups in that it emphasized Chinese participation and leadership, and sought to play an advisory rather than a legislative role. In 1922 it fulfilled its aim by establishing the National Christian Council of China, and the committee was dissolved.

Continuation Committee Conferences held in China in 1913 included the Canton Conference from Jan. 30 - Feb. 4 in Guangzhou 廣州 representing Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian; the Shanghai Conference from Feb. 11 - 15 in Shanghai 上海 representing Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui; the Tsinanfu Conference from Feb. 19 - 21 in Jinan 濟南 representing Shandong; the Peiking Conference from Feb. 25 - 28 in Beijing 北京 representing Zhili, Henan, Shansi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Manchuria, Mongolia, and Chinese Turkestan; the Hankow Conference from March 5 - 8 in Hankou 漢口 representing Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Sichuan; the China National Conference from March 11 - 14 in Shanghai 上海 representing the Republic of China; and the Moukden Conference from March 22 - 24 in Shenyang 瀋陽 representing Manchuria.

Acquisition information:

Formerly part of the independent Missionary Research Library (MRL), these records were accessioned by the Burke Library at the time of the MRL's closure in 1976.

Processing information:

This collection was reconstructed in late 2009 from previously unprocessed records. Metal clips and staples were removed from materials and folded items were flattened. Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. Acidic items were separated from one another by interleaving with acid-free paper as needed. Any items in an advanced state of deterioration were placed in Mylar envelopes. The finding aid was created by Gregory Adam Scott in 2010, reviewed and updated by Sarah Davis in 2014 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation (at which time the folders were organized alphabetically and condensed, and additional materials were added from an unprocessed collection), and edited by Leah Edelman in 2020.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in one series by format; folders are arranged alphabetically.

Related material:

MRL6: Edwin Carlyle Lobenstine Album, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

MRL6: Abbe Livingston Warnshuis Papers, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

MRL6: National Phonetic Promotion Committee Records, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

MRL6: Charles Luther Boynton Papers, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

MRL6: National Christian Council of China Records, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

MRL12: John Raleigh Mott Papers, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

MRL12: World Missionary Conference Records, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Other information:

Missionary Research Library Archives: MRL6, China

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Onsite storage.

Terms of access:

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred citation:: Item description, MRL 6: China Continuation Committee Records, 1912 - 1922, box #, and folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:: Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

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Collection