Conversion

Using this letter, which we have already seen on the "Schedules" page, we can get a better understanding of the responsibilities of a missionary. In this letter focusing on the work of Harriet Noyes, we see that getting the Chinese involved in Christianity took many forms, even just in Harriet's missionary practice. Harriet is in charge of: various activities for pupils at the boarding school, a Sabbath School, a Chinese church service, and a prayer meeting with local women.

Along with Harriet's work, which mostly involves Chinese students who have already been exposed to Christianity, we have an account of Henry's outreach mission. In this letter to a "brother" back home, Henry writes that he preaches in Chinese in Dr. Happer's hospital every Sabbath. In this way, Dr. Happer has created a stage on which his medical background can also be an evangelical activity for the native Chinese. Henry would also preach in English, as evidenced by the collection of sermons. He worked on converting more isolated populations in villages and in the countryside, performing baptisms for people to join with the church. 

Of course, all of these evangelical activities were regulated by the Board of Foreign Missionaries. In this letter, we see the birth of Hattie's idea for a Sabbath School. She then goes on to say that, of course, this will have to be approved by the Board.