Introduction -- The Qing dynasty (1644-1911) -- History of Christianity in China prior to 1842 -- The opium wars and the treaties -- Christian missions and treaty rights -- Activities of missionaries after the treaties -- Management of missionary affairs -- The epilogue.

The relationship between the missionaries and the unequal treaties is an intriguing one. Christianity is a religion of love, which determines not only its spirit and purpose and also its method of gaining converts. Beginning with the opium wars in the 1840s and continued to 1860s, as a result of series of military defeats, humiliating treaties were imposed upon the Qing government, and in these treaties were incorporated the so-called religious toleration clauses, which made possible the establishment of Christian churches in all parts of China and also put missionaries and their converts under the protection of the invading Western powers. The early missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant, who acted as interpreters when these treaties were made, did have a definite hand in the insertion of such clauses into the treaties. How can a religion of love associate itself with the power of force to spread its message? This book tries to present a readable account of the activities of missionaries during these tumultuous years. -- Preface.

OCLC-LC Authority rec'd mistakenly has two entries for the same author Ho, Herbert H. & [Ho Hoi-lap ; He Kaili 何凯立] 1949-