ABSTRACT
As Giitzlaff envisioned it, the four missionaries were to aid him in his plan to bring Christianity to all of China via a Chinese Union which employed Chinese
evangelists under the supervision of Western missionaries. Guided by missionaries stationed in the interior despite imperial prohibition, Chinese Union members would preach the Gospel of salvation and distribute religious tracts and Bibles in every province of China. Converts, after resolving to lead a new life and receiving baptism, would receive further instruction and form congregations. Giitzlaff insisted that each of his European assistants adopt Chinese dress and cuisine, live among the Chinese and learn a specific Chinese dialect to enable him to communicate directly with the various language groups of China.5 Geniihr and Koster were assigned to learn Cantonese for work among the bendi; Lechler to learn Hoklo, and Hamberg to learn Hakka.6
