Abstract: This is a study of Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, and Methodist work among the Chinese in the San Francisco Bay Area from the beginnings in the 1850s up to 1920. One chapter outlines a narrative history of this work. Other chapters analyze American Protestant motivations for engaging in this work, the nature of missionary organization and activities, and Chinese Christian organizations and activities. The study shows that American Protestant mission work among the Chinese in America was motivated by a perception of America as the exemplar and agent of God’s coming Kingdom. American Protestants also thought that being Christian, American, and civilized were integrately related. Education, medical work, social services, rescue of Chinese prostitutes, and defending the Chinese against pervasive anti-Chinese agitation were characteristic evangelistic methods. The study concludes that American motivations and activities reflected a racist, nationalistic, and paternalistic worldview. Yet within this worldview, Protestant missionaries were staunch advocates for the Chinese and stood in contrast to anti-Chinese forces. The study also shows that the evangelization of China and the entire world served as the larger context for mission work with Chinese in America. This latter work was always viewed as foreign work and the workers were mostly former or future China missionaries. Even the defense of the Chinese against anti-Chinese agitation and legislation was seen largely in terms of potential impact on American missions in China. Chinese Christians themselves shared this concern for China’s salvation. They concentrated much of their energy, funds, and human resources toward the Christianization of their homeland. Given the primary concern for China, the question of the assimilation and acculturation of the Chinese was irrelevant. Americans were concerned that the Chinese in America absorb and take on American values–for China’s sake. They were not concerned about the incorporation of China into American society. Finally, the study shows that while missionary work was a failure in terms of the number of Chinese converts, it was successful with respect to Protestantism becoming a permanent, albeit statistically small, part of the life of Chinese in America. In addition, the few Chinese Christian converts, who were noted for their sincerity and depth of faith and commitment, formed their own para-church structure, the Youxue Zhengdaohui, within the larger American missionary structure. Besides functioning as a Chinese institution within the white church, this organization served as one of many social organizations within the overall Chinese social structure in America.
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