[1] The original group included Dr. William McClure, notable for research on visceral leishmaniasis disease, and Jonathan Goforth.
In 1888, Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, warned Jonathan Goforth of the anti-foreigner sentiments prevalent in the North Honan region.
The anti-foreign sentiments held by the people in the province of Honan China proved to be an obstacle to missionary work.
[3] In the north Honan province of China during the late 1800s and into the 20th century, due to cultural reasons, male medical missionaries were not allowed to treat female patients.
From 1888 to around 1950, the Woman's Missionary Society sent twenty-one unmarried nurses to the work in the North China Mission.