《万国公报》的前身是《中国教会新报》,1868年9月5日,由美国监理会传教士林乐知在上海八仙桥地区创刊,以“传播福音”“联络教徒”为宗旨,主要面向教会人士,因而起初属于宗教性质的中文刊物,由上海美华书馆负责印刷,每周发行1期,1年发行50期,在炎夏和隆冬时分别休刊1周。1872年8月第201期时,改名为《教会新报》,每期最高发行量曾达到3500份。1874年第301期改名 The predecessor of the “Universal Declaration” was the “China Church Newspaper,” which was started on September 5, 1868 by the American Commission of Education Missionary Lin Lezhi in Shanghai’s Puxianqiao area to “spread the gospel” and “liaison” As the main purpose for the church, and therefore initially a religious Chinese-language publications printed by the Shanghai Meihua Library, one issue a week, 50 issues a year, one week off in the summer and winter. In August 1872 201, it was renamed “Church News”, the maximum circulation of each issue has reached 3500 copies. The first 301 was renamed in 1874