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diff --git a/old/26744-8.txt b/old/26744-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..89df527 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/26744-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4703 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Retrospect, by James Hudson Taylor + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Retrospect + +Author: James Hudson Taylor + +Release Date: October 1, 2008 [EBook #26744] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RETROSPECT *** + + + + +Produced by Free Elf, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Music files created +by Linda Cantoni.(This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) Full-color map generously provided by The +Missionary E-texts Archive at +http://www.missionaryetexts.org + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Signature: J. Hudson Taylor.] + + + + +A RETROSPECT + +BY + +J. HUDSON TAYLOR, M.R.C.S., F.R.G.S. + +_Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee._ + +THIRD EDITION + + TORONTO + CHINA INLAND MISSION + 507 CHURCH STREET + +[Illustration: THE "LAMMERMUIR" PARTY. _See page 125._] + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAP. PAGE + I. THE POWER OF PRAYER 1 + II. THE CALL TO SERVICE 7 + III. PREPARATION FOR SERVICE 13 + IV. FURTHER ANSWERS TO PRAYER 19 + V. LIFE IN LONDON 24 + VI. STRENGTHENED BY FAITH 30 + VII. MIGHTY TO SAVE 35 + VIII. VOYAGE TO CHINA 39 + IX. EARLY MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES 45 + X. FIRST EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS 49 + XI. WITH THE REV. W. C. BURNS 57 + XII. THE CALL TO SWATOW 70 + "The Missionary Call": Words and Music 75 + XIII. MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES 77 + XIV. PROVIDENTIAL GUIDANCE 92 + XV. SETTLEMENT IN NINGPO 98 + XVI. TIMELY SUPPLIES 105 + XVII. GOD A REFUGE FOR US 110 + XVIII. A NEW AGENCY NEEDED 116 + XIX. FORMATION OF THE C. I. M. 121 + XX. THE MISSION IN 1894 126 + THE MISSION IN 1902 128 + STATIONS OF THE C. I. M. 131 + + * * * * * + + MAP OF CHINA + + SHOWING THE STATIONS OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION: + CORRECTED TO JUNE 1900 _To face page_ 131 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + 1. Portrait of J. Hudson Taylor _Frontispiece_ + 2. The "Lammermuir" party _Facing "Contents"_ + PAGE + 3. Honorary banner presented to a missionary 1 + 4. A heavy road in North China 7 + 5. Salt junk on the Yang-tsi 13 + 6. Travelling by mule cart on "the great plain" 19 + 7. Ch'ung-k'ing, the Yang-tsi, and mountains beyond 24 + 8. Water gate and Custom house, Soo-chow 29 + 9. View on the Kwang-sin River 30 + 10. Temple and memorial portal 34 + 11. "Compassionate heart, benevolent methods" 35 + 12. Outside the wall of Gan-k'ing 38 + 13. The new girls school at Chefoo 39 + 14. Entrance to the Po-yang lake 44 + 15. A fair wind, at sunset, on the lake 45 + 16. A view on the grand canal 49 + 17. Down the Yang-tsi on a cargo boat 57 + 18. East gate and sentry box, Bhamô, Burmah 69 + 19. Farmhouse, with buffalo shed attached 70 + 20. A fishing village on the lake near Yünnan Fu 77 + 21. Teng-yueh, the westernmost walled city in China 91 + 22. A small temple near Wun-chau 92 + 23. Group of Christians at Lan-k'i, Cheh-kiang 97 + 24. A boat on the Red River, Tonquin 98 + 25. Students' quarters, Gan-k'ing Training Home 104 + 26. A Mandarin's sedan chair 105 + 27. A presentation banner (a mark of high respect) 110 + 28. View on the Po-yang lake 116 + 29. A village on the grand canal 121 + 30. The battlements of Pekin 126 + 31. Native woodcut of a landscape 131 + 32. Elder Liu and wife, Kwei-k'i 136 + + The hearty thanks of the Mission for the use of + photographs and sketches are hereby tendered to + Rev. George Hayes for Nos. 4 and 6; Dr. G. + Whitfield Guinness for Nos. 8, 12, 16, 25, and 28; + Miss Davies for No. 23; Mr. Thomas Selkirk for + Nos. 18 and 21; Mr. J. T. Reid for Nos. 14, 15, + and 27; Mr. J. S. Rough for No. 30; Mr. Grainger + for No. 19; Mr. E. Murray for No. 13, and also to + other friends unknown by name. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE POWER OF PRAYER + + +THE following account of some of the experiences which eventually led to +the formation of the CHINA INLAND MISSION, and to its taking the form in +which it has been developed, first appeared in the pages of _China's +Millions_. Many of those who read it there asked that it might appear in +separate form. Miss Guinness incorporated it in the _Story of the China +Inland Mission_, a record which contained the account of GOD'S goodness +to the beginning of 1894. But friends still asking for it in pamphlet +form, for wider distribution, this edition is brought out. + +Much of the material was taken from notes of addresses given in China +during a conference of our missionaries; this will account for the +direct and narrative form of the papers, which it has not been thought +necessary to change. + +It is always helpful to us to fix our attention on the GOD-ward aspect +of Christian work; to realise that the work of GOD does not mean so much +man's work for GOD, as GOD'S own work through man. Furthermore, in our +privileged position of fellow-workers with Him, while fully recognising +all the benefits and blessings to be bestowed on a sin-stricken world +through the proclamation of the Gospel and spread of the Truth, we +should never lose sight of the higher aspect of our work--that of +obedience to GOD, of bringing glory to His Name, of gladdening the +heart of our GOD and FATHER by living and serving as His beloved +children. + +Many circumstances connected with my own early life and service +presented this aspect of work vividly to me; and as I think of some of +them, I am reminded of how much the cause of missions is indebted to +many who are never themselves permitted to see the mission field--many, +it may be, who are unable to give largely of their substance, and who +will be not a little surprised in the Great Day to see how much the work +has been advanced by their love, their sympathy, and their prayers. + +For myself, and for the work that I have been permitted to do for GOD, I +owe an unspeakable debt of gratitude to my beloved and honoured parents, +who have passed away and entered into rest, but the influence of whose +lives will never pass away. + +Many years ago, probably about 1830, the heart of my dear father, then +himself an earnest and successful evangelist at home, was deeply stirred +as to the spiritual state of China by reading several books, and +especially an account of the travels of Captain Basil Hall. His +circumstances were such as to preclude the hope of his ever going to +China for personal service, but he was led to pray that if GOD should +give him a son, he might be called and privileged to labour in the vast +needy empire which was then apparently so sealed against the truth. I +was not aware of this desire or prayer myself until my return to +England, more than seven years after I had sailed for China; but it was +very interesting then to know how prayer offered before my birth had +been answered in this matter. + +All thought of my becoming a missionary was abandoned for many years by +my dear parents on account of the feebleness of my health. When the +time came, however, GOD gave increased health, and my life has been +spared, and strength has been given for not a little toilsome service +both in the mission field and at home, while many stronger men and women +have succumbed. + +I had many opportunities in early years of learning the value of prayer +and of the Word of GOD; for it was the delight of my dear parents to +point out that if there were any such Being as GOD, to trust Him, to +obey Him, and to be fully given up to His service, must of necessity be +the best and wisest course both for myself and others. But in spite of +these helpful examples and precepts my heart was unchanged. Often I had +tried to make myself a Christian; and failing of course in such efforts, +I began at last to think that for some reason or other I could not be +saved, and that the best I could do was to take my fill of this world, +as there was no hope for me beyond the grave. + +While in this state of mind I came in contact with persons holding +sceptical and infidel views, and accepted their teaching, only too +thankful for some hope of escape from the doom which, if my parents were +right and the Bible true, awaited the impenitent. It may seem strange to +say it, but I have often felt thankful for the experience of this time +of scepticism. The inconsistencies of Christian people, who while +professing to believe their Bibles were yet content to live just as they +would if there were no such book, had been one of the strongest +arguments of my sceptical companions; and I frequently felt at that +time, and said, that if I pretended to believe the Bible I would at any +rate attempt to live by it, putting it fairly to the test, and if it +failed to prove true and reliable, would throw it overboard altogether. +These views I retained when the LORD was pleased to bring me to +Himself; and I think I may say that since then I _have_ put GOD'S Word +to the test. Certainly it has never failed me. I have never had reason +to regret the confidence I have placed in its promises, or to deplore +following the guidance I have found in its directions. + +Let me tell you how GOD answered the prayers of my dear mother and of my +beloved sister, now Mrs. Broomhall, for my conversion. On a day which I +shall never forget, when I was about fifteen years of age, my dear +mother being absent from home, I had a holiday, and in the afternoon +looked through my father's library to find some book with which to while +away the unoccupied hours. Nothing attracting me, I turned over a little +basket of pamphlets, and selected from amongst them a Gospel tract which +looked interesting, saying to myself, "There will be a story at the +commencement, and a sermon or moral at the close: I will take the former +and leave the latter for those who like it." + +I sat down to read the little book in an utterly unconcerned state of +mind, believing indeed at the time that if there were any salvation it +was not for me, and with a distinct intention to put away the tract as +soon as it should seem prosy. I may say that it was not uncommon in +those days to call conversion "becoming serious"; and judging by the +faces of some of its professors, it appeared to be a very serious matter +indeed. Would it not be well if the people of GOD had always tell-tale +faces, evincing the blessings and gladness of salvation so clearly that +unconverted people might have to call conversion "becoming joyful" +instead of "becoming serious"? + +Little did I know at the time what was going on in the heart of my dear +mother, seventy or eighty miles away. She rose from the dinner-table +that afternoon with an intense yearning for the conversion of her boy, +and feeling that--absent from home, and having more leisure than she +could otherwise secure--a special opportunity was afforded her of +pleading with GOD on my behalf. She went to her room and turned the key +in the door, resolved not to leave that spot until her prayers were +answered. Hour after hour did that dear mother plead for me, until at +length she could pray no longer, but was constrained to praise GOD for +that which His SPIRIT taught her had already been accomplished--the +conversion of her only son. + +I in the meantime had been led in the way I have mentioned to take up +this little tract, and while reading it was struck with the sentence, +"The finished work of CHRIST." The thought passed through my mind, "Why +does the author use this expression? why not say the atoning or +propitiatory work of CHRIST?" Immediately the words "It is finished" +suggested themselves to my mind. What was finished? And I at once +replied, "A full and perfect atonement and satisfaction for sin: the +debt was paid by the Substitute; CHRIST died for our sins, and not for +ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Then came the +thought, "If the whole work was finished and the whole debt paid, what +is there left for me to do?" And with this dawned the joyful conviction, +as light was flashed into my soul by the HOLY SPIRIT, that there was +nothing in the world to be done but to fall down on one's knees, and +accepting this SAVIOUR and His salvation, to praise Him for evermore. +Thus while my dear mother was praising GOD on her knees in her chamber, +I was praising Him in the old warehouse to which I had gone alone to +read at my leisure this little book. + +Several days elapsed ere I ventured to make my beloved sister the +confidante of my joy, and then only after she had promised not to tell +any one of my soul secret. When our dear mother came home a fortnight +later, I was the first to meet her at the door, and to tell her I had +such glad news to give. I can almost feel that dear mother's arms around +my neck, as she pressed me to her bosom and said, "I know, my boy; I +have been rejoicing for a fortnight in the glad tidings you have to tell +me." "Why," I asked in surprise, "has Amelia broken her promise? She +said she would tell no one." My dear mother assured me that it was not +from any human source that she had learned the tidings, and went on to +tell the little incident mentioned above. You will agree with me that it +would be strange indeed if I were not a believer in the power of prayer. + +Nor was this all. Some little time after, I picked up a pocket-book +exactly like one of my own, and thinking that it was mine, opened it. +The lines that caught my eye were an entry in the little diary, which +belonged to my sister, to the effect that she would give herself daily +to prayer until GOD should answer in the conversion of her brother. +Exactly one month later the LORD was pleased to turn me from darkness to +light. + +Brought up in such a circle and saved under such circumstances, it was +perhaps natural that from the commencement of my Christian life I was +led to feel that the promises were very real, and that prayer was in +sober matter of fact transacting business with GOD, whether on one's own +behalf or on behalf of those for whom one sought His blessing. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE CALL TO SERVICE + + +THE first joys of conversion passed away after a time, and were +succeeded by a period of painful deadness of soul, with much conflict. +But this also came to an end, leaving a deepened sense of personal +weakness and dependence on the LORD as the only KEEPER as well as +SAVIOUR of His people. How sweet to the soul, wearied and disappointed +in its struggles with sin, is the calm repose of trust in the SHEPHERD +of Israel. + +Not many months after my conversion, having a leisure afternoon, I +retired to my own chamber to spend it largely in communion with GOD. +Well do I remember that occasion. How in the gladness of my heart I +poured out my soul before GOD; and again and again confessing my +grateful love to Him who had done everything for me--who had saved me +when I had given up all hope and even desire for salvation--I besought +Him to give me some work to do for Him, as an outlet for love and +gratitude; some self-denying service, no matter what it might be, +however trying or however trivial; something with which He would be +pleased, and that I might do for Him who had done so much for me. Well +do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, my life, my +friends, my all, upon the altar, the deep solemnity that came over my +soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted. The presence of +GOD became unutterably real and blessed; and though but a child under +sixteen, I remember stretching myself on the ground, and lying there +silent before Him with unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy. + +For what service I was accepted I knew not; but a deep consciousness +that I was no longer my own took possession of me, which has never since +been effaced. It has been a very practical consciousness. Two or three +years later propositions of an unusually favourable nature were made to +me with regard to medical study, on the condition of my becoming +apprenticed to the medical man who was my friend and teacher. But I felt +I dared not accept any binding engagement such as was suggested. I was +not my own to give myself away; for I knew not when or how He whose +alone I was, and for whose disposal I felt I must ever keep myself free, +might call for service. + +Within a few months of this time of consecration the impression was +wrought into my soul that it was in China the LORD wanted me. It seemed +to me highly probable that the work to which I was thus called might +cost my life; for China was not then open as it is now. But few +missionary societies had at that time workers in China, and but few +books on the subject of China missions were accessible to me. I learned, +however, that the Congregational minister of my native town possessed a +copy of Medhurst's _China_, and I called upon him to ask a loan of the +book. This he kindly granted, asking me why I wished to read it. I told +him that GOD had called me to spend my life in missionary service in +that land. "And how do you propose to go there?" he inquired. I answered +that I did not at all know; that it seemed to me probable that I should +need to do as the Twelve and the Seventy had done in Judæa--go without +purse or scrip, relying on Him who had called me to supply all my need. +Kindly placing his hand upon my shoulder, the minister replied, "Ah, my +boy, as you grow older you will get wiser than that. Such an idea would +do very well in the days when CHRIST Himself was on earth, but not now." + +I have grown older since then, but not wiser. I am more than ever +convinced that if we were to take the directions of our MASTER and the +assurances He gave to His first disciples more fully as our guide, we +should find them to be just as suited to our times as to those in which +they were originally given. + +Medhurst's book on China emphasised the value of medical missions there, +and this directed my attention to medical studies as a valuable mode of +preparation. + +My beloved parents neither discouraged nor encouraged my desire to +engage in missionary work. They advised me, with such convictions, to +use all the means in my power to develop the resources of body, mind, +heart, and soul, and to wait prayerfully upon GOD, quite willing, should +He show me that I was mistaken, to follow His guidance, or to go forward +if in due time He should open the way to missionary service. The +importance of this advice I have often since had occasion to prove. I +began to take more exercise in the open air to strengthen my physique. +My feather bed I had taken away, and sought to dispense with as many +other home comforts as I could, in order to prepare myself for rougher +lines of life. I began also to do what Christian work was in my power, +in the way of tract distribution, Sunday-school teaching, and visiting +the poor and sick, as opportunity afforded. + +After a time of preparatory study at home, I went to Hull for medical +and surgical training. There I became assistant to a doctor who was +connected with the Hull school of medicine, and was surgeon also to a +number of factories, which brought many accident cases to our +dispensary, and gave me the opportunity of seeing and practising the +minor operations of surgery. + +And here an event took place that I must not omit to mention. Before +leaving home my attention was drawn to the subject of setting apart the +firstfruits of all one's increase and a proportionate part of one's +possessions to the LORD'S service. I thought it well to study the +question with my Bible in hand before I went away from home, and was +placed in circumstances which might bias my conclusions by the pressure +of surrounding wants and cares. I was thus led to the determination to +set apart not less than one-tenth of whatever moneys I might earn or +become possessed of for the LORD'S service. The salary I received as +medical assistant in Hull at the time now referred to would have allowed +me with ease to do this. But owing to changes in the family of my kind +friend and employer, it was necessary for me to reside out of doors. +Comfortable quarters were secured with a relative, and in addition to +the sum determined on as remuneration for my services I received the +exact amount I had to pay for board and lodging. + +Now arose in my mind the question, Ought not this sum also to be tithed? +It was surely a part of my income, and I felt that if it had been a +question of Government income tax it certainly would not have been +excluded. On the other hand, to take a tithe from the whole would not +leave me sufficient for other purposes; and for some little time I was +much embarrassed to know what to do. After much thought and prayer I was +led to leave the comfortable quarters and happy circle in which I was +now residing, and to engage a little lodging in the suburbs--a +sitting-room and bedroom in one--undertaking to board myself. In this +way I was able without difficulty to tithe the whole of my income; and +while I felt the change a good deal, it was attended with no small +blessing. + +More time was given in my solitude to the study of the Word of GOD, to +visiting the poor, and to evangelistic work on summer evenings than +would otherwise have been the case. Brought into contact in this way +with many who were in distress, I soon saw the privilege of still +further economising, and found it not difficult to give away much more +than the proportion of my income I had at first intended. + +About this time a friend drew my attention to the question of the +personal and pre-millennial coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and gave me +a list of passages bearing upon it, without note or comment, advising me +to ponder the subject. For a while I gave much time to studying the +Scriptures about it, with the result that I was led to see that this +same JESUS who left our earth in His resurrection body was so to come +again, that His feet were to stand on the Mount of Olives, and that He +was to take possession of the temporal throne of His father David which +was promised before His birth. I saw, further, that all through the New +Testament the coming of the LORD was the great hope of His people, and +was always appealed to as the strongest motive for consecration and +service, and as the greatest comfort in trial and affliction. I learned, +too, that the period of His return for His people was not revealed, and +that it was their privilege, from day to day and from hour to hour, to +live as men who wait for the LORD; that thus living it was immaterial, +so to speak, whether He should or should not come at any particular +hour, the important thing being to be so ready for Him as to be able, +whenever He might appear, to give an account of one's stewardship with +joy, and not with grief. + +The effect of this blessed hope was a thoroughly practical one. It led +me to look carefully through my little library to see if there were any +books there that were not needed or likely to be of further service, and +to examine my small wardrobe, to be quite sure that it contained nothing +that I should be sorry to give an account of should the MASTER come at +once. The result was that the library was considerably diminished, to +the benefit of some poor neighbours, and to the far greater benefit of +my own and that I found I had articles of clothing also which might be +put to better advantage in other directions. + +It has been very helpful to me from time to time through life, as +occasion has served, to act again in a similar way; and I have never +gone through my house, from basement to attic, with this object in view, +without receiving a great accession of spiritual joy and blessing. I +believe we are all in danger of accumulating--it may be from +thoughtlessness, or from pressure of occupation--things which would be +useful to others, while not needed by ourselves, and the retention of +which entails loss of blessing. If the whole resources of the Church of +GOD were well utilised, how much more might be accomplished! How many +poor might be fed and naked clothed, and to how many of those as yet +unreached the Gospel might be carried! Let me advise this line of things +as a constant habit of mind, and a profitable course to be practically +adopted whenever circumstances permit. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PREPARATION FOR SERVICE + + +HAVING now the twofold object in view of accustoming myself to endure +hardness, and of economising in order to be able more largely to assist +those amongst whom I spent a good deal of time labouring in the Gospel, +I soon found that I could live upon very much less than I had previously +thought possible. Butter, milk, and other such luxuries I soon ceased to +use; and I found that by living mainly on oatmeal and rice, with +occasional variations, a very small sum was sufficient for my needs. In +this way I had more than two-thirds of my income available for other +purposes; and my experience was that the less I spent on myself and the +more I gave away, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul +become. Unspeakable joy all the day long, and every day, was my happy +experience. GOD, even my GOD, was a living, bright Reality; and all I +had to do was joyful service. + +It was to me a very grave matter, however, to contemplate going out to +China, far away from all human aid, there to depend upon the living GOD +alone for protection, supplies, and help of every kind. I felt that +one's spiritual muscles required strengthening for such an undertaking. +There was no doubt that if faith did not fail, GOD would not fail; but, +then, what if one's faith should prove insufficient? I had not at that +time learned that even "if we believe not, He abideth faithful, He +cannot deny Himself"; and it was consequently a very serious question to +my mind, not whether _He_ was faithful, but whether I had strong enough +faith to warrant my embarking in the enterprise set before me. + +I thought to myself, "When I get out to China, I shall have no claim on +any one for anything; my only claim will be on GOD. How important, +therefore, to learn before leaving England to move man, through GOD, by +prayer alone." + +At Hull my kind employer, always busily occupied, wished me to remind +him whenever my salary became due. This I determined not to do directly, +but to ask that GOD would bring the fact to his recollection, and thus +encourage me by answering prayer. At one time, as the day drew near for +the payment of a quarter's salary, I was as usual much in prayer about +it. The time arrived, but my kind friend made no allusion to the matter. +I continued praying, and days passed on, but he did not remember, until +at length, on settling up my weekly accounts one Saturday night, I found +myself possessed of only a single coin--one half-crown piece. Still I +had hitherto had no lack, and I continued in prayer. + +That Sunday was a very happy one. As usual my heart was full and +brimming over with blessing. After attending Divine service in the +morning, my afternoons and evenings were filled with Gospel work, in the +various lodging-houses I was accustomed to visit in the lowest part of +the town. At such times it almost seemed to me as if heaven were begun +below, and that all that could be looked for was an enlargement of one's +capacity for joy, not a truer filling than I possessed. After concluding +my last service about ten o'clock that night, a poor man asked me to go +and pray with his wife, saying that she was dying. I readily agreed, and +on the way to his house asked him why he had not sent for the priest, as +his accent told me he was an Irishman. He had done so, he said, but the +priest refused to come without a payment of eighteenpence, which the man +did not possess, as the family was starving. Immediately it occurred to +my mind that all the money I had in the world was the solitary +half-crown, and that it was in one coin; moreover, that while the basin +of water gruel I usually took for supper was awaiting me, and there was +sufficient in the house for breakfast in the morning, I certainly had +nothing for dinner on the coming day. + +Somehow or other there was at once a stoppage in the flow of joy in my +heart; but instead of reproving myself I began to reprove the poor man, +telling him that it was very wrong to have allowed matters to get into +such a state as he described, and that he ought to have applied to the +relieving officer. His answer was that he had done so, and was told to +come at eleven o'clock the next morning, but that he feared that his +wife might not live through the night. "Ah," thought I, "if only I had +two shillings and a sixpence instead of this half-crown, how gladly +would I give these poor people one shilling of it!" But to part with the +half-crown was far from my thoughts. I little dreamed that the real +truth of the matter simply was that I could trust in GOD plus +one-and-sixpence, but was not yet prepared to trust Him only, without +any money at all in my pocket. + +My conductor led me into a court, down which I followed him with some +degree of nervousness. I had found myself there before, and at my last +visit had been very roughly handled, while my tracts were torn to +pieces, and I received such a warning not to come again that I felt +more than a little concerned. Still, it was the path of duty, and I +followed on. Up a miserable flight of stairs, into a wretched room, he +led me; and oh what a sight there presented itself to our eyes! Four or +five poor children stood about, their sunken cheeks and temples all +telling unmistakably the story of slow starvation; and lying on a +wretched pallet was a poor exhausted mother, with a tiny infant +thirty-six hours old, moaning rather than crying at her side, for it too +seemed spent and failing. "Ah!" thought I, "if I had two shillings and a +sixpence instead of half-a-crown, how gladly should they have +one-and-sixpence of it!" But still a wretched unbelief prevented me from +obeying the impulse to relieve their distress at the cost of all I +possessed. + +It will scarcely seem strange that I was unable to say much to comfort +these poor people. I needed comfort myself. I began to tell them, +however, that they must not be cast down, that though their +circumstances were very distressing, there was a kind and loving FATHER +in heaven; but something within me said, "You hypocrite! telling these +unconverted people about a kind and loving FATHER in heaven, and not +prepared yourself to trust Him without half-a-crown!" I was nearly +choked. How gladly would I have compromised with conscience if I had had +a florin and a sixpence! I would have given the florin thankfully and +kept the rest; but I was not yet prepared to trust in GOD alone, without +the sixpence. + +To talk was impossible under these circumstances; yet, strange to say, I +thought I should have no difficulty in praying. Prayer was a delightful +occupation to me in those days; time thus spent never seemed wearisome, +and I knew nothing of lack of words. I seemed to think that all I should +have to do would be to kneel down and engage in prayer, and that relief +would come to them and to myself together. "You asked me to come and +pray with your wife," I said to the man, "let us pray." And I knelt +down. But scarcely had I opened my lips with "Our FATHER who art in +heaven" than conscience said within, "Dare you mock GOD? Dare you kneel +down and call Him FATHER with that half-crown in your pocket?" Such a +time of conflict came upon me then as I have never experienced before or +since. How I got through that form of prayer I know not, and whether the +words uttered were connected or disconnected I cannot tell; but I arose +from my knees in great distress of mind. + +The poor father turned to me and said, "You see what a terrible state we +are in, sir; if you can help us, for GOD'S sake do!" Just then the word +flashed into my mind, "Give to him that asketh of thee," and in the word +of a KING there is power. I put my hand into my pocket, and slowly +drawing forth the half-crown, gave it to the man, telling him that it +might seem a small matter for me to relieve them, seeing that I was +comparatively well off, but that in parting with that coin I was giving +him my all; what I had been trying to tell him was indeed true--GOD +really was a FATHER, and might be trusted. The joy all came back in full +flood-tide to my heart; I could say anything and feel it then, and the +hindrance to blessing was gone--gone, I trust, for ever. + +Not only was the poor woman's life saved, but I realised that my life +was saved too! It might have been a wreck--would have been a wreck +probably, as a Christian life--had not grace at that time conquered, and +the striving of GOD'S SPIRIT been obeyed. I well remember how that +night, as I went home to my lodgings, my heart was as light as my +pocket. The lonely, deserted streets resounded with a hymn of praise +which I could not restrain. When I took my basin of gruel before +retiring, I would not have exchanged it for a prince's feast. I +reminded the LORD as I knelt at my bedside of His own Word, that he who +giveth to the poor lendeth to the LORD: I asked Him not to let my loan +be a long one, or I should have no dinner next day; and with peace +within and peace without, I spent a happy, restful night. + +Next morning for breakfast my plate of porridge remained, and before it +was consumed the postman's knock was heard at the door. I was not in the +habit of receiving letters on Monday, as my parents and most of my +friends refrained from posting on Saturday; so that I was somewhat +surprised when the landlady came in holding a letter or packet in her +wet hand covered by her apron. I looked at the letter, but could not +make out the handwriting. It was either a strange hand or a feigned one, +and the postmark was blurred. Where it came from I could not tell. On +opening the envelope I found nothing written within; but inside a sheet +of blank paper was folded a pair of kid gloves, from which, as I opened +them in astonishment, half-a-sovereign fell to the ground. "Praise the +LORD!" I exclaimed; "400 per cent for twelve hours investment; that is +good interest. How glad the merchants of Hull would be if they could +lend their money at such a rate!" I then and there determined that a +bank which could not break should have my savings or earnings as the +case might be--a determination I have not yet learned to regret. + +I cannot tell you how often my mind has recurred to this incident, or +all the help it has been to me in circumstances of difficulty in +after-life. If we are faithful to GOD in little things, we shall gain +experience and strength that will be helpful to us in the more serious +trials of life. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +FURTHER ANSWERS TO PRAYER + + +THE remarkable and gracious deliverance I have spoken of, was a great +joy to me, as well as a strong confirmation of faith; but of course ten +shillings, however economically used, will not go very far, and it was +none the less necessary to continue in prayer, asking that the larger +supply which was still due might be remembered and paid. All my +petitions, however, appeared to remain unanswered; and before a +fortnight had elapsed I found myself pretty much in the same position +that I had occupied on the Sunday night already made so memorable. +Meanwhile, I continued pleading with GOD, more and more earnestly, that +He would graciously remind my employer that my salary was overdue. Of +course it was not the want of the money that distressed me--that could +have been had at any time for the asking--but the question uppermost in +my mind was this: "Can I go to China? or will my want of faith and power +with GOD prove to be so serious an obstacle as to preclude my entering +upon this much-prized service?" + +As the week drew to a close I felt exceedingly embarrassed. There was +not only myself to consider; on Saturday night a payment would be due to +my Christian landlady which I knew she could not well dispense with. +Ought I not, for her sake, to speak about the matter of the salary? Yet +to do so would be, to myself at any rate, the admission that I was not +fitted to undertake a missionary enterprise. I gave nearly the whole of +Thursday and Friday--all the time not occupied in my necessary +employment--to earnest wrestling with GOD in prayer. But still on +Saturday morning I was in the same position as before. And now my +earnest cry was for guidance as to whether it was my duty to break +silence and speak to my employer, or whether I should still continue to +wait the FATHER's time. As far as I could judge, I received the +assurance that to wait His time was best; and that GOD in some way or +other would interpose on my behalf. So I waited, my heart being now at +rest and the burden gone. + +About five o'clock that Saturday afternoon, when the doctor had finished +writing his prescriptions, his last circuit for the day being taken, he +threw himself back in his arm-chair, as he was wont, and began to speak +of the things of GOD. He was a truly Christian man, and many seasons of +very happy spiritual fellowship we had together. I was busily watching, +at the time, a pan in which a decoction was boiling that required a good +deal of attention. It was indeed fortunate for me that it was so, for +without any obvious connection with what had been going on, all at once +he said, "By-the-bye, Taylor, is not your salary due again?" My emotion +may be imagined! I had to swallow two or three times before I could +answer. With my eye fixed on the pan and my back to the doctor, I told +him as quietly as I could that it was overdue some little time. How +thankful I felt at that moment! GOD surely had heard my prayer, and +caused him, in this time of my great need, to remember the salary +without any word or suggestion from me. He replied, "Oh, I am so sorry +you did not remind me! You know how busy I am; I wish I had thought of +it a little sooner, for only this afternoon I sent all the money I had +to the bank, otherwise I would pay you at once." It is impossible to +describe the revulsion of feeling caused by this unexpected statement. I +knew not what to do. Fortunately for me my pan boiled up, and I had a +good reason for rushing with it from the room. Glad indeed I was to get +away, and keep out of sight until after the doctor had returned to his +house, and most thankful that he had not perceived my emotion. + +As soon as he was gone I had to seek my little sanctum, and pour out my +heart before the LORD for some time, before calmness--and more than +calmness--thankfulness, and joy were restored to me. I felt that GOD had +His own way, and was not going to fail me. I had sought to know His will +early in the day, and as far as I could judge had received guidance to +wait patiently; and now GOD was going to work for me in some other way. + +That evening was spent, as my Saturday evenings usually were, in reading +the Word and preparing the subjects on which I expected to speak in the +various lodging-houses on the morrow. I waited, perhaps, a little longer +than usual. At last, about ten o'clock, there being no interruption of +any kind, I put on my overcoat, and was preparing to leave for home, +rather thankful to know that by that time I should have to let myself in +with the latch-key, as my landlady retired early to rest. There was +certainly no help for that night; but perhaps GOD would interpose for me +by Monday, and I might be able to pay my landlady early in the week the +money I would have given her before, had it been possible. + +Just as I was preparing to turn down the gas, I heard the doctor's step +in the garden which lay between the dwelling-house and surgery. He was +laughing to himself very heartily, as though greatly amused by +something. Entering the surgery, he asked for the ledger, and told me +that, strange to say, one of his richest patients had just come to pay +his doctor's bill--was it not an odd thing to do? It never struck me +that it might have any bearing on my own particular case, or I might +have felt embarrassed; but looking at it simply from the position of an +uninterested spectator, I also was highly amused that a man who was +rolling in wealth should come after ten o'clock at night to pay a +doctor's bill, which he could any day have met by a cheque with the +greatest ease. It appeared that somehow or other he could not rest with +this on his mind, and had been constrained to come at that unusual hour +to discharge his liability. + +The account was duly receipted in the ledger, and the doctor was about +to leave, when suddenly he turned, and handing me some of the bank notes +just received, said, to my surprise and thankfulness, "By the way, +Taylor, you might as well take these notes; I have not any change, but +can give you the balance next week." Again I was left--my feelings +undiscovered--to go back to my own little closet and praise the LORD +with a joyful heart that after all I might go to China. + +To me this incident was not a trivial one; and to recall it sometimes, +in circumstances of great difficulty, in China or elsewhere, has proved +no small comfort and strength. + +By-and-by the time drew near when it was thought desirable that I should +leave Hull to attend the medical course of the London Hospital. A little +while spent there, and then I had every reason to believe that my +life-work in China would commence. But much as I had rejoiced at the +willingness of GOD to hear and answer prayer and to help His +half-trusting, half-timid child, I felt that I could not go to China +without having still further developed and tested my power to rest upon +His faithfulness; and a marked opportunity for doing so was +providentially afforded me. + +My dear father had offered to bear all the expense of my stay in London. +I knew, however, that, owing to recent losses, it would mean a +considerable sacrifice for him to undertake this just when it seemed +necessary for me to go forward. I had recently become acquainted with +the Committee of the Chinese Evangelisation Society, in connection with +which I ultimately left for China, and especially with its secretary, my +esteemed and much-loved friend Mr. George Pearse, then of the Stock +Exchange, but now[1] and for many years himself a missionary. Not +knowing of my father's proposition, the Committee also kindly offered to +bear my expenses while in London. When these proposals were first made +to me, I was not quite clear as to what I ought to do, and in writing to +my father and the secretaries, told them that I would take a few days to +pray about the matter before deciding any course of action. I mentioned +to my father that I had had this offer from the Society, and told the +secretaries also of his proffered aid. + +Subsequently, while waiting upon GOD in prayer for guidance, it became +clear to my mind that I could without difficulty decline both offers. +The secretaries of the Society would not know that I had cast myself +wholly on GOD for supplies, and my father would conclude that I had +accepted the other offer. I therefore wrote declining both propositions, +and felt that without any one having either care or anxiety on my +account I was simply in the hands of GOD, and that He, who knew my +heart, if He wished to encourage me to go to China, would bless my +effort to depend upon Him alone at home. + +[Illustration] + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Since the above was written Mr. George Pearse has died. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +LIFE IN LONDON + + +I MUST not now attempt to detail the ways in which the LORD was +pleased--often to my surprise, as well as to my delight--to help me from +time to time. I soon found that it was not possible to live quite as +economically in London as in Hull. To lessen expenses I shared a room +with a cousin, four miles from the hospital, providing myself with +board; and after various experiments I found that the most economical +way was to live almost exclusively on brown bread and water. Thus I was +able to make the means that GOD gave me last as long as possible. Some +of my expenses I could not diminish, but my board was largely within my +own control. A large twopenny loaf of brown bread, purchased daily on my +long walk from the hospital, furnished me with supper and breakfast; and +on that diet, with a few apples for lunch, I managed to walk eight or +nine miles a day, besides being a good deal on foot while attending the +practice of the hospital and the medical school. + +One incident that occurred just about this time I must refer to. The +husband of my former landlady in Hull was chief officer of a ship that +sailed from London, and by receiving his half-pay monthly and remitting +it to her I was able to save her the cost of a commission. This I had +been doing for several months, when she wrote requesting that I would +obtain the next payment as early as possible, as her rent was almost +due, and she depended upon that sum to meet it. The request came at an +inconvenient time. I was working hard for an examination in the hope of +obtaining a scholarship which would be of service to me, and felt that I +could ill afford the time to go during the busiest part of the day to +the city and procure the money. I had, however, sufficient of my own in +hand to enable me to send the required sum. I made the remittance +therefore, purposing, as soon as the examination was over, to go and +draw the regular allowance with which to refund myself. + +Before the time of examination the medical school was closed for a day, +on account of the funeral of the Duke of Wellington, and I had an +opportunity of going at once to the office, which was situated in a +street on Cheapside, and applying for the due amount. To my surprise and +dismay the cleric told me that he could not pay it, as the officer in +question had run away from his ship and gone to the gold diggings. +"Well," I remarked, "that is very inconvenient for me, as I have already +advanced the money, and I know his wife will have no means of repaying +it." The clerk said he was sorry, but could of course only act according +to orders; so there was no help for me in that direction. A little more +time and thought, however, brought the comforting conclusion to my mind, +that as I was depending on the LORD for everything, and His means were +not limited, it was a small matter to be brought a little sooner or +later into the position of needing fresh supplies from Him; and so the +joy and the peace were not long interfered with. + +Very soon after this, possibly the same evening, while sewing together +some sheets of paper on which to take notes of the lectures, I +accidentally pricked the first finger of my right hand, and in a few +moments forgot all about it. The next day at the hospital I continued +dissecting as before. The body was that of a person who had died of +fever, and was more than usually disagreeable and dangerous. I need +scarcely say that those of us who were at work upon it dissected with +special care, knowing that the slightest scratch might cost us our +lives. Before the morning was far advanced I began to feel very weary, +and while going through the surgical wards at noon was obliged to run +out, being suddenly very sick--a most unusual circumstance with me, as I +took but little food and nothing that could disagree with me. After +feeling faint for some time, a draught of cold water revived me, and I +was able to rejoin the students. I became more and more unwell, however, +and ere the afternoon lecture on surgery was over found it impossible to +hold the pencil and continue taking notes. By the time the next lecture +was through, my whole arm and right side were full of severe pain, and I +was both looking and feeling very ill. + +Finding that I could not resume work, I went into the dissecting-room to +bind up the portion I was engaged upon and put away my apparatus, and +said to the demonstrator, who was a very skilful surgeon, "I cannot +think what has come over me," describing the symptoms. "Why," said he, +"what has happened is clear enough: you must have cut yourself in +dissecting, and you know that this is a case of malignant fever." I +assured him that I had been most careful, and was quite certain that I +had no cut or scratch. "Well," he replied, "you certainly must have had +one;" and he very closely scrutinised my hand to find it, but in vain. +All at once it occurred to me that I had pricked my finger the night +before, and I asked him if it were possible that a prick from a needle, +at that time, could have been still unclosed. His opinion was that this +was probably the cause of the trouble, and he advised me to get a +hansom, drive home as fast as I could, and arrange my affairs forthwith. +"For," he said, "you are a dead man." + +My first thought was one of sorrow that I could not go to China; but +very soon came the feeling, "Unless I am greatly mistaken, I have work +to do in China, and shall not die." I was glad, however, to take the +opportunity of speaking to my medical friend, who was a confirmed +sceptic as to things spiritual, of the joy that the prospect of perhaps +soon being with my MASTER gave me; telling him at the same time that I +did not think I should die, as, unless I were much mistaken, I had work +to do in China; and if so, however severe the struggle, I must be +brought through. "That is all very well," he answered, "but you get a +hansom and drive home as fast as you can. You have no time to lose, for +you will soon be incapable of winding up your affairs." + +I smiled a little at the idea of my driving home in a hansom, for by +this time my means were too exhausted to allow of such a proceeding, and +I set out to walk the distance if possible. Before long, however, my +strength gave way, and I felt it was no use to attempt to reach home by +walking. Availing myself of an omnibus from Whitechapel Church to +Farringdon Street, and another from Farringdon Street onwards, I +reached, in great suffering, the neighbourhood of Soho Square, behind +which I lived. On going into the house I got some hot water from the +servant, and charging her very earnestly--literally as a dying man--to +accept eternal life as the gift of GOD through JESUS CHRIST, I bathed my +head and lanced the finger, hoping to let out some of the poisoned +blood. The pain was very severe; I fainted away, and was for some time +unconscious, so long that when I came to myself I found that I had been +carried to bed. + +An uncle of mine who lived near at hand had come in, and sent for his +own medical man, an assistant surgeon at the Westminster Hospital. I +assured my uncle that medical help would be of no service to me, and +that I did not wish to go to the expense involved. He, however, quieted +me on this score, saying that he had sent for his own doctor, and that +the bill would be charged to himself. When the surgeon came and learned +all the particulars, he said, "Well, if you have been living moderately, +you may pull through; but if you have been going in for beer and that +sort of thing, there is no manner of chance for you." I thought that if +sober living was to do anything, few could have a better chance, as +little but bread and water had been my diet for a good while past. I +told him I had lived abstemiously, and found that it helped me in study. +"But now," he said, "you must keep up your strength, for it will be a +pretty hard struggle." And he ordered me a bottle of port wine every +day, and as many chops as I could consume. Again I smiled inwardly, +having no means for the purchase of such luxuries. This difficulty, +however, was also met by my kind uncle, who sent me at once all that was +needed. + +I was much concerned, notwithstanding the agony I suffered, that my dear +parents should not be made acquainted with my state. Thought and prayer +had satisfied me that I was not going to die, but that there was indeed +a work for me to do in China. If my dear parents should come up and find +me in that condition, I must lose the opportunity of seeing how GOD was +going to work for me, now that my money had almost come to an end. So, +after prayer for guidance, I obtained a promise from my uncle and cousin +not to write to my parents, but to leave me to communicate with them +myself. I felt it was a very distinct answer to prayer when they gave me +this promise, and I took care to defer all communication with them +myself until the crisis was past and the worst of the attack over. At +home they knew that I was working hard for an examination, and did not +wonder at my silence. + +Days and nights of suffering passed slowly by; but at length, after +several weeks, I was sufficiently restored to leave my room; and then I +learned that two men, though not from the London Hospital, who had had +dissection wounds at the same time as myself, had both succumbed, while +I was spared in answer to prayer to work for GOD in China. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +STRENGTHENED BY FAITH + + +ONE day the doctor coming in found me on the sofa, and was surprised to +learn that with assistance I had walked downstairs. "Now," he said, "the +best thing you can go is to get off to the country as soon as you feel +equal to the journey. You must rusticate until you have recovered a fair +amount of health and strength, for if you begin your work too soon the +consequences may still be serious." When he had left, as I lay very +exhausted on the sofa, I just told the LORD all about it, and that I was +refraining from making my circumstances known to those who would delight +to meet my need, in order that my faith might be strengthened by +receiving help from Himself in answer to prayer alone. What was I to do? +And I waited for His answer. + +It seemed to me as if He were directing my mind to the conclusion to go +again to the shipping office, and inquire about the wages I had been +unable to draw. I reminded the LORD that I could not afford to take a +conveyance, and that it did not seem at all likely that I should succeed +in getting the money, and asked whether this impulse was not a mere +clutching at a straw, some mental process of my own, rather than His +guidance and teaching. After prayer, however, and renewed waiting upon +GOD, I was confirmed in my belief that He Himself was teaching me to go +to the office. + +The next question was, "How am I to go?" I had had to seek help in +coming downstairs, and the place was at least two miles away. The +assurance was brought vividly home to me that whatever I asked of GOD in +the name of CHRIST would be done, that the FATHER might be glorified in +the SON; that what I had to do was to seek strength for the long walk, +to receive it by faith, and to set out upon it. Unhesitatingly I told +the LORD that I was quite willing to take the walk if He would give me +the strength. I asked in the name of CHRIST that the strength might be +immediately given; and sending the servant up to my room for my hat and +stick, I set out, not to _attempt_ to walk, but TO WALK to Cheapside. + +Although undoubtedly strengthened by faith, I never took so much +interest in shop windows as I did upon that journey. At every second or +third step I was glad to lean a little against the plate glass, and take +time to examine the contents of the windows before passing on. It needed +a special effort of faith when I got to the bottom of Farringdon Street +to attempt the toilsome ascent of Snow Hill: there was no Holborn +Viaduct in those days, and it had to be done. GOD did wonderfully help +me, and in due time I reached Cheapside, turned into the by-street in +which the office was found, and sat down much exhausted on the steps +leading to the first floor, which was my destination. I felt my position +to be a little peculiar--sitting there on the steps, so evidently +spent--and the gentlemen who rushed up and downstairs looked at me with +an inquiring gaze. After a little rest, however, and a further season of +prayer, I succeeded in climbing the staircase, and to my comfort found +in the office the clerk with whom I had hitherto dealt in the matter. +Seeing me looking pale and exhausted, he kindly inquired as to my +health, and I told him that I had had a serious illness, and was ordered +to the country, but thought it well to call first, and make further +inquiry, lest there should have been any mistake about the mate having +run off to the gold diggings. "Oh," he said, "I am so glad you have +come, for it turns out that it was an able seaman of the same name that +ran away. The mate is still on board; the ship has just reached +Gravesend, and will be up very soon. I shall be glad to give you the +half-pay up to date, for doubtless it will reach his wife more safely +through you. We all know what temptations beset the men when they arrive +at home after a voyage." + +Before, however, giving me the sum of money, he insisted upon my coming +inside and sharing his lunch. I felt it was the LORD indeed who was +providing for me, and accepted his offer with thankfulness. When I was +refreshed and rested, he gave me a sheet of paper to write a few lines +to the wife, telling her of the circumstances. On my way back I procured +in Cheapside a money order for the balance due to her, and posted it; +and returning home again, felt myself now quite justified in taking an +omnibus as far as it would serve me. + +Very much better the next morning, after seeing to some little matters +that I had to settle, I made my way to the surgery of the doctor who had +attended me, feeling that, although my uncle was prepared to pay the +bill, it was right for me, now that I had some money in hand, to ask for +the account myself. The kind surgeon refused to allow me, as a medical +student, to pay anything for his attendance: but he had supplied me with +quinine, which he allowed me to pay for to the extent of eight +shillings. When that was settled, I saw that the sum left was just +sufficient to take me home; and to my mind the whole thing seemed a +wonderful interposition of GOD on my behalf. + +I knew that the surgeon was sceptical, and told him that I should very +much like to speak to him freely, if I might do so without offence; that +I felt that under GOD I owed my life to his kind care, and wished very +earnestly that he himself might become a partaker of the same precious +faith that I possessed. So I told him my reason for being in London, and +about my circumstances, and why I had declined the help of both my +father and the officers of the Society in connection with which it was +probable that I should go to China. I told him of the recent +providential dealings of GOD with me, and how apparently hopeless my +position had been the day before, when he had ordered me to go to the +country, unless I would reveal my need, which I had determined not to +do. I described to him the mental exercises I had gone through; but when +I added that I had actually got up from the sofa and walked to +Cheapside, he looked at me incredulously, and "Impossible! Why, I left +you lying there more like a ghost than a man." And I had to assure him +again and again that, strengthened by faith, the walk had really been +taken. I told him also what money was left to me, and what payments +there had been to make, and showed him that just sufficient remained to +take me home to Yorkshire, providing for needful refreshment by the way +and the omnibus journey at the end. + +My kind friend was completely broken down, and said with tears in his +eyes, "I would give all the world for a faith like yours." I, on the +other hand, had the joy of telling him that it was to be obtained +without money and without price. We never met again. When I came back to +town, restored to health and strength, I found that he had had a +stroke, and left for the country; and I subsequently learned that he +never rallied. I was able to gain no information as to his state of mind +when taken away; but I have always felt very thankful that I had the +opportunity, and embraced it, of bearing that testimony for GOD. I +cannot but entertain the hope that the MASTER Himself was speaking to +him through His dealings with me, and that I shall meet him again in the +Better Land. It would be no small joy to be welcomed by him, when my own +service is over. + +The next day found me in my dear parents' home. My joy in the LORD's +help and deliverance was so great that I was unable to keep it to +myself, and before my return to London my dear mother knew the secret of +my life for some time past. I need scarcely say that when I went up +again to town I was not allowed to live--as, indeed, I was not fit to +live--on the same economical lines as before my illness. I needed more +now, and the LORD did provide. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +MIGHTY TO SAVE + + +RETURNING to London when sufficiently recovered to resume my studies, +the busy life of hospital and lecture-hall was resumed; often relieved +by happy Sundays of fellowship with Christian friends, especially in +London or Tottenham. Opportunities for service are to be found in every +sphere, and mine was no exception. I shall only mention one case now +that gave me great encouragement in seeking conversion even when it +seemed apparently hopeless. + +GOD had given me the joy of winning souls before, but not in +surroundings of such special difficulty. With GOD all things are +possible, and no conversion ever takes place save by the almighty power +of the HOLY GHOST. The great need, therefore, of every Christian worker +is to _know_ GOD. Indeed, this is the purpose for which He has given us +eternal life, as our SAVIOUR Himself says, in the oft misquoted verse, +John xvii. 3: "This is [the object of] life eternal, [not _to_ know but] +that they _might_ know Thee the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom +Thou hast sent." I was now to prove the willingness of GOD to answer +prayer for spiritual blessing under most unpromising circumstances, and +thus to gain an increased acquaintance with the prayer-answering GOD as +One "mighty to save." + +A short time before leaving for China, it became my duty daily to dress +the foot of a patient suffering from senile gangrene. The disease +commenced, as usual, insidiously, and the patient had little idea that +he was a doomed man, and probably had not long to live. I was not the +first to attend to him, but when the case was transferred to me, I +naturally became very anxious about his soul. The family with whom he +lived were Christians, and from them I learned that he was an avowed +atheist, and very antagonistic to anything religious. They had, without +asking his consent, invited a Scripture reader to visit him, but in +great passion he had ordered him from the room. The vicar of the +district had also called, hoping to help him; but he had spit in his +face, and refused to allow him to speak to him. His passionate temper +was described to me as very violent, and altogether the case seemed to +be as hopeless as could well be imagined. + +Upon first commencing to attend him I prayed much about it; but for two +or three days said nothing to him of a religious nature. By special care +in dressing his diseased limb I was able considerably to lessen his +sufferings, and he soon began to manifest grateful appreciation of my +services. One day, with a trembling heart, I took advantage of his warm +acknowledgments to tell him what was the spring of my action, and to +speak of his own solemn position and need of GOD's mercy through CHRIST. +It was evidently only by a powerful effort of self-restraint that he +kept his lips closed. He turned over in bed with his back to me, and +uttered no word. + +I could not get the poor man out of my mind, and very often through each +day I pleaded with GOD, by His SPIRIT, to save him ere He took him +hence. After dressing the wound and relieving his pain, I never failed +to say a few words to him, which I hoped the LORD would bless. He +always turned his back to me, looking annoyed, but never spoke a word in +reply. + +After continuing this for some time, my heart sank. It seemed to me that +I was not only doing no good, but perhaps really hardening him and +increasing his guilt. One day, after dressing his limb and washing my +hands, instead of returning to the bedside to speak to him, I went to +the door, and stood hesitating for a few moments with the thought in my +mind, "Ephraim is joined to his idols; let him alone." I looked at the +man and saw his surprise, as it was the first time since speaking to him +that I had attempted to leave without going up to his bedside to say a +few words for my MASTER. I could bear it no longer. Bursting into tears, +I crossed the room and said, "My friend, whether you will hear or +whether you will forbear, I _must_ deliver _my_ soul," and went on to +speak very earnestly to him, telling him with many tears how much I +wished that he would let me pray with him. To my unspeakable joy he did +not turn away, but replied, "If it will be a relief to you, do." I need +scarcely say that I fell on my knees and poured out my whole soul to GOD +on his behalf. I believe the LORD then and there wrought a change in his +soul. + +He was never afterwards unwilling to be spoken to and prayed with, and +within a few days he definitely accepted CHRIST as his SAVIOUR. Oh the +joy it was to me to see that dear man rejoicing in hope of the glory of +GOD! He told me that for forty years he had never darkened the door of +church or chapel, and that then--forty years ago--he had only entered a +place of worship to be married, and could not be persuaded to go inside +when his wife was buried. Now, thank GOD, his sin-stained soul, I had +every reason to believe, was washed, was sanctified, was justified, in +the Name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and in the SPIRIT of our GOD. +Oftentimes, when in my early work in China circumstances rendered me +almost hopeless of success, I have thought of this man's conversion, and +have been encouraged to persevere in speaking the Word, whether men +would hear or whether they would forbear. + +The now happy sufferer lived for some time after this change, and was +never tired of bearing testimony to the grace of GOD. Though his +condition was most distressing, the alteration in his character and +behaviour made the previously painful duty of attending him one of real +pleasure. I have often thought since, in connection with this case and +the work of GOD generally, of the words, "He that goeth forth _weeping_, +bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing +his sheaves with him." Perhaps if there were more of that intense +distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see +the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining +of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the +hardness of our own hearts, and our own feeble apprehension of the +solemn reality of eternal things, may be the true cause of our want of +success. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +VOYAGE TO CHINA + + +SOON after this the time so long looked forward to arrived--the time +that I was to leave England for China. After being set apart with many +prayers for the ministry of GOD's Word among the heathen Chinese I left +London for Liverpool; and on the 19th of September 1853 a little service +was held in the stern cabin of the _Dumfries_, which had been secured +for me by the Committee of the Chinese Evangelisation Society, under +whose auspices I was going to China. + +My beloved, now sainted, mother had come to see me off from Liverpool. +Never shall I forget that day, nor how she went with me into the little +cabin that was to be my home for nearly six long months. With a mother's +loving hand she smoothed the little bed. She sat by my side, and joined +me in the last hymn that we should sing together before the long +parting. We knelt down, and she prayed--the last mother's prayer I was +to hear before starting for China. Then notice was given that we must +separate, and we had to say good-bye, never expecting to meet on earth +again. + +For my sake she restrained her feelings as much as possible. We parted; +and she went on shore, giving me her blessing; I stood alone on deck, +and she followed the ship as we moved towards the dock gates. As we +passed through the gates, and the separation really commenced, I shall +never forget the cry of anguish wrung from that mother's heart. It went +through me like a knife. I never knew so fully, until then, what GOD +_so_ loved the world meant. And I am quite sure that my precious mother +learned more of the love of GOD to the perishing in that hour than in +all her life before. + +Oh, how it must grieve the heart of GOD when He sees His children +indifferent to the needs of that wide world for which His beloved, His +only begotten SON died! + + Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; + Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; + So shall the KING desire thy beauty: + For He is thy LORD; and worship thou Him. + +Praise GOD, the number is increasing who are finding out the exceeding +joys, the wondrous revelations of His mercies, vouchsafed to those who +follow Him, and emptying themselves, leave all in obedience to His great +commission. + +It was on 19th September 1853 that the _Dumfries_ sailed for China; and +not until 1st March, in the spring of the following year, did I arrive +in Shanghai. + +Our voyage had a rough beginning, but many had promised to remember us +in constant prayer. No small comfort was this; for we had scarcely left +the Mersey when a violent equinoctial gale caught us, and for twelve +days we were beating backwards and forwards in the Irish Channel, unable +to get out to sea. The gale steadily increased, and after almost a week +we lay to for a time; but drifting on a lee coast, we were compelled +again to make sail, and endeavoured to beat on to windward. The utmost +efforts of the captain and crew, however, were unavailing; and Sunday +night, 25th September, found us drifting into Carnarvon Bay, each tack +becoming shorter, until at last we were within a stone's-throw of the +rocks. About this time, as the ship, which had refused to stay, was put +round in the other direction, the Christian captain said to me, "We +cannot live half an hour now: what of your call to labour for the LORD +in China?" I had previously passed through a time of much conflict, but +that was over, and it was a great joy to feel and to tell him that I +would not for any consideration be in any other position; that I +strongly expected to reach China; but that, if otherwise, at any rate +the Master would say it was well that I was found seeking to obey His +command. + +Within a few minutes after wearing ship the captain walked, up to the +compass, and said to me, "The wind has freed two points; we shall be +able to beat out of the bay." And so we did. The bowsprit was sprung and +the vessel seriously strained; but in a few days we got out to sea, and +the necessary repairs were so thoroughly effected on board that our +journey to China was in due time satisfactorily accomplished. + +One thing was a great trouble to me that night. I was a very young +believer, and had not sufficient faith in GOD to see Him in and through +the use of means. I had felt it a duty to comply with the earnest wish +of my beloved and honoured mother, and for her sake to procure a +swimming-belt. But in my own soul I felt as if I could not simply trust +in GOD while I had this swimming-belt; and my heart had no rest until on +that night, after all hope of being saved was gone, I had given it away. +Then I had perfect peace; and, strange to say, put several light things +together, likely to float at the time we struck, without any thought of +inconsistency or scruple. Ever since, I have seen clearly the mistake I +made--a mistake that is very common in these days, when erroneous +teaching on faith-healing does much harm, misleading some as to the +purposes of GOD, shaking the faith of others, and distressing the minds +of many. The use of means ought not to lessen our faith in GOD; and our +faith in GOD ought not to hinder our using whatever means He has given +us for the accomplishment of His own purposes. + +For years after this I always took a swimming-belt with me, and never +had any trouble about it; for after the storm was over, the question was +settled for me, through the prayerful study of the Scriptures. GOD gave +me then to see my mistake, probably to deliver me from a great deal of +trouble on similar questions now so constantly raised. When in medical +or surgical charge of any case, I have never thought of neglecting to +ask GOD's guidance and blessing in the use of appropriate means, nor yet +of omitting to give Him thanks for answered prayer and restored health. +But to me it would appear as presumptuous and wrong to neglect the use +of those measures which He Himself has put within our reach, as to +neglect to take daily food, and suppose that life and health might be +maintained by prayer alone. + +The voyage was a very tedious one. We lost a good deal of time on the +equator from calms; and when we finally reached the Eastern Archipelago, +were again detained from the same cause. Usually a breeze would spring +up soon after sunset, and last until about dawn. The utmost use was made +of it, but during the day we lay still with flapping sails, often +drifting back and losing a good deal of the advantage we had gained +during the night. + +This happened notably on one occasion, when we were in dangerous +proximity to the north of New Guinea. Saturday night had brought us to a +point some thirty miles off the land; but during the Sunday morning +service, which was held on deck, I could not fail to notice that the +captain looked troubled, and frequently went over to the side of the +ship. When the service was ended, I learnt from him the cause--a +four-knot current was carrying us rapidly towards some sunken reefs, and +we were already so near that it seemed improbable that we should get +through the afternoon in safety. After dinner the long-boat was put out, +and all hands endeavoured, without success, to turn the ship's head from +the shore. As we drifted nearer we could plainly see the natives rushing +about the sands and lighting fires every here and there. The captain's +horn-book informed him that these people were cannibals, so that our +position was not a little alarming. + +After standing together on the deck for some time in silence, the +captain said to me, "Well, we have done everything that can be done; we +can only await the result." A thought occurred to me, and I replied, +"No, there is one thing we have not done yet." "What is it?" he queried. +"Four of us on board are Christians," I answered (the Swedish carpenter +and our coloured steward, with the captain and myself); "let us each +retire to his own cabin, and in agreed prayer ask the LORD to give us +immediately a breeze. He can as easily send it now as at sunset." + +The captain complied with this proposal. I went and spoke to the other +two men, and after prayer with the carpenter we all four retired to wait +upon GOD. I had a good but very brief season in prayer, and then felt so +satisfied that our request was granted that I could not continue asking, +and very soon went up again on deck. The first officer, a godless man, +was in charge. I went over and asked him to let down the clews or +corners of the mainsail, which had been drawn up in order to lessen the +useless flapping of the sail against the rigging. He answered, "What +would be the good of that?" I told him we had been asking a wind from +GOD, that it was coming immediately, and we were so near the reef by +this time that there was not a minute to lose. With a look of +incredulity and contempt, he said with an oath that he would rather see +a wind than hear of it! But while he was speaking I watched his eye, and +followed it up to the royal (the topmost sail), and there, sure enough, +the corner of the sail was beginning to tremble in the coming breeze. +"Don't you see the wind is coming? Look at the royal!" I exclaimed. "No, +it is only a cat's-paw," he rejoined (a mere puff of wind). "Cat's-paw +or not," I cried, "pray let down the mainsail, and let us have the +benefit!" + +This he was not slow to do. In another minute the heavy tread of the men +on the deck brought up the captain from his cabin to see what was the +matter; and he saw that the breeze had indeed come. In a few minutes we +were ploughing our way at six or seven knots an hour through the water, +and the multitude of naked savages whom we had seen on the beach had no +wreckage that night. We were soon out of danger; and though the wind was +sometimes unsteady, we did not altogether lose it until after passing +the Pelew Islands. + +Thus GOD encouraged me, ere landing on China's shores, to bring every +variety of need to Him in prayer, and _to expect that He would honour +the Name_ of the LORD JESUS, and give the help which each emergency +required. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +EARLY MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES + + +ON landing in Shanghai on 1st March 1854, I found myself surrounded with +difficulties that were wholly unexpected. A band of rebels, known as the +"Red Turbans," had taken possession of the native city, against which +was encamped an Imperial army of from forty to fifty thousand men, who +were a much greater source of discomfort and danger to the little +European community than were the rebels themselves. Upon landing, I was +told that to live outside the Settlement was impossible, while within +the foreign concession apartments were scarcely obtainable at any price. +The dollar, now worth about three shillings, had risen to a value of +eight-and-ninepence, and the prospect for one with only a small income +of English money was dark indeed. However, I had three letters of +introduction, and counted on counsel and help, especially from one of +those to whom I had been commended, whose friends I well knew and highly +valued. Of course I sought him out at once, but only to learn that he +had been buried a month or two before, having died from fever during the +time of my voyage. + +Saddened by these tidings, I inquired for a missionary to whom another +of my letters of introduction was addressed; but a further +disappointment awaited me--he had left for America. The third letter +remained; but as it had been given by a comparative stranger, I had +expected less from it than from the other two. It proved, however, to be +GOD's channel of help. The Rev. Dr. Medhurst, of the London Mission, to +whom it was addressed, introduced me to Dr. Lockhart, who kindly allowed +me to live with him for six months. Dr. Medhurst procured my first +Chinese teacher; and he, Dr. Edkins, and the late Mr. Alexander Wylie +gave me considerable help with the language. + +Those were indeed troublous times, and times of danger. Coming out of +the city one day with Mr. Wylie, he entered into conversation with two +coolies, while we waited a little while at the East Gate for a companion +who was behind us. Before our companion came up an attack upon the city +from the batteries on the opposite side of the river commenced, which +caused us to hurry away to a place of less danger, the whiz of the balls +being unpleasantly near. The coolies, unfortunately, stayed too long, +and were wounded. On reaching the Settlement we stopped a few minutes to +make a purchase, and then proceeded at once to the London Mission +compound, where, at the door of the hospital, we found the two poor +coolies with whom Mr. Wylie had conversed, their four ankles terribly +shattered by a cannon ball. The poor fellows declined amputation, and +both died. We felt how narrow had been our escape. + +At another time, early in the morning, I had joined one of the +missionaries on his verandah to watch the battle proceeding, at a +distance of perhaps three-quarters of a mile, when suddenly a spent ball +passed between us and buried itself in the verandah wall. Another day my +friend Mr. Wylie left a book on the table after luncheon, and returning +for it about five minutes later, found the arm of the chair on which he +had been sitting shot clean away. But in the midst of these and many +other dangers GOD protected us. + +After six months' stay with Dr. Lockhart, I rented a native house +outside the Settlement, and commenced a little missionary work amongst +my Chinese neighbours, which for a few months continued practicable. +When the French joined the Imperialists in attacking the city, the +position of my house became so dangerous that during the last few weeks, +in consequence of nightly recurring skirmishes, I gave up attempting to +sleep except in the daytime. One night a fire appeared very near, and I +climbed up to a little observatory I had arranged on the roof of the +house, to see whether it was necessary to attempt escape. While there a +ball struck the ridge of the roof on the opposite side of the +quadrangle, showering pieces of broken tile all around me, while the +ball itself rolled down into the court below. It weighed four or five +pounds; and had it come a few inches higher, would probably have spent +its force on me instead of on the building. My dear mother kept the ball +for many years. Shortly after this I had to abandon the house and return +to the Foreign Settlement--a step that was taken none too soon, for +before the last of my belongings were removed, the house was burnt to +the ground. + +Of the trials of this early period it is scarcely possible to convey any +adequate idea. To one of a sensitive nature, the horrors, atrocities, +and misery connected with war were a terrible ordeal. The embarrassment +also of the times was considerable. With an income of only eighty pounds +a year, I was compelled, upon moving into the Settlement, to give one +hundred and twenty for rent, and sublet half the house; and though the +Committee of the Chinese Evangelisation Society increased my income +when, after the arrival of Dr. Parker, they learned more of our +circumstances, many painful experiences had necessarily been passed +through. Few can realise how distressing to so young and untried a +worker these difficulties seemed, or the intense loneliness of the +position of a pioneer who could not even hint at many of his +circumstances, as to do so would have been a tacit appeal for help. + +The great enemy is always ready with his oft-repeated suggestion, "All +these things are against me." But oh, how false the word! The cold, and +even the hunger, the watchings and sleeplessness of nights of danger, +and the feeling at times of utter isolation and helplessness, were well +and wisely chosen, and tenderly and lovingly meted out. What +circumstances could have rendered the Word of GOD more sweet, the +presence of GOD more real, the help of GOD more precious? They were +times, indeed, of emptying and humbling, but were experiences that made +not ashamed, and that strengthened purpose to go forward as GOD might +direct, with His _proved_ promise, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake +thee." One can see, even now, that as for GOD, His way is perfect, and +yet can rejoice that the missionary path of to-day is comparatively a +smooth and an easy one. + +Journeying inland was contrary to treaty arrangements, and attended with +much difficulty, especially for some time after the battle of Muddy +Flat, in which an Anglo-American contingent of about three hundred +marines and seamen, with a volunteer corps of less than a hundred +residents, attacked the Imperial camp, and drove away from thirty to +fifty thousand Chinese soldiers, the range of our shot and shell making +the native artillery useless. Still, in the autumn of 1854 a journey of +perhaps a week's duration was safely accomplished with Dr. Edkins, who +of course did the speaking and preaching, while I was able to help in +the distribution of books. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X + +FIRST EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS + + +A JOURNEY taken in the spring of 1855 with the Rev. J. S. Burden of the +Church Missionary Society (now the Bishop of Victoria, Hong-kong) was +attended with some serious dangers. + +In the great mouth of the river Yang-tse, distant some thirty miles to +the north of Shanghai, lies the group of islands of which Ts'ung-ming +and Hai-men are the largest and most important; and farther up the +river, where the estuary narrows away from the sea, is situated the +influential city of T'ung-chau, close to Lang-shan, or the Wolf +Mountains, famous as a resort for pilgrim devotees. We spent some time +in evangelising on those islands, and then proceeded to Lang-shan, where +we preached and gave books to thousands of the devotees who were +attending an idolatrous festival. From thence we went on to T'ung-chau, +and of our painful experiences there the following journal will tell:-- + + + _Thursday, April 26th, 1855._ + +After breakfast we commended ourselves to the care of our Heavenly +FATHER, and sought His Blessing before proceeding to this great city. +The day was dull and wet. We felt persuaded that Satan would not allow +us to assail his kingdom, as we were attempting to do, without raising +serious opposition; but we were also fully assured that it was the will +of GOD that we should preach CHRIST in this city, and distribute the +Word of Truth among its people. We were sorry that we had but few books +left for such an important place: the result, however, proved that this +also was providential. + +Our native teachers did their best to persuade us not to go into the +city; but we determined that, by GOD'S help, nothing should hinder us. +We directed them, however, to remain in one of the boats; and if we did +not return, to learn whatever they could respecting our fate, and make +all possible haste to Shanghai with the information. We also arranged +that the other boat should wait for us, even if we could not get back +that night, so that we might not be detained for want of a boat in case +of returning later. We then put our books into two bags, and with a +servant who always accompanied us on these occasions, set off for the +city, distant about seven miles. Walking was out of the question, from +the state of the roads, so we availed ourselves of wheel-barrows, the +only conveyance to be had in these parts. A wheel-barrow is cheaper than +a sedan, only requiring one coolie; but is by no means an agreeable +conveyance on rough, dirty roads. + +We had not gone far before the servant requested permission to go back, +as he was thoroughly frightened by reports concerning the native +soldiery. Of course we at once consented, not wishing to involve another +in trouble, and determined to carry the books ourselves, and look for +physical as well as spiritual strength to Him who had promised to supply +all our need. + +At this point a respectable man came up, and earnestly warned us against +proceeding, saying that if we did we should find to our sorrow what the +T'ung-chau militia were like. We thanked him for his kindly counsel, but +could not act upon it, as our hearts were fixed, whether it were to +bonds, imprisonment, and death, or whether to distribute our Scriptures +and tracts in safety, and return unhurt, we knew not; but we were +determined, by the grace of GOD, not to leave T'ung-chau any longer +without the Gospel, nor its teeming thousands to die in uncared-for +ignorance of the Way of life. + +After this my wheel-barrow man would proceed no farther, and I had to +seek another, who was fortunately not difficult to find. As we went on, +the ride in the mud and rain was anything but agreeable, and we could +not help feeling the danger of our position, although wavering not for a +moment. At intervals we encouraged one another with promises from the +Scripture and verses of hymns. That verse-- + + "The perils of the sea, the perils of the land, + Should not dishearten thee: thy LORD is nigh at hand. + But should thy courage fail, when tried and sore oppressed, + His promise shall avail, and set thy soul at rest." + +seemed particularly appropriate to our circumstances, and was very +comforting to me. + +On our way we passed through one small town of about a thousand +inhabitants; and here, in the Mandarin dialect, I preached JESUS to a +good number of people. Never was I so happy in speaking of the love of +GOD and the atonement of JESUS CHRIST. My own soul was richly blessed, +and filled with joy and peace; and I was able to speak with unusual +freedom and ease. And how rejoiced I was when, afterwards, I heard one +of our hearers repeating to the newcomers, in his own local dialect, the +truths upon which I had been dwelling! Oh, how thankful I felt to hear a +Chinaman, of his own accord, telling his fellow-countrymen that GOD +loved them; that they were sinners, but that JESUS died instead of +them, and paid the penalty of their guilt. That one moment repaid me for +all the trials we had passed through; and I felt that if the LORD should +grant HIS HOLY SPIRIT to change the heart of that man, we had not come +in vain. + +We distributed a few Testaments and tracts, for the people were able to +read, and we could not leave them without the Gospel. It was well that +we did so, for when we reached T'ung-chau we found we had quite as many +left as we had strength to carry. + +Nearing the end of our journey, as we approached the western suburb of +the city, the prayer of the early Christians, when persecution was +commencing, came to my mind: "And now, LORD, behold their threatenings, +and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy +Word." In this petition we most heartily united. Before entering the +suburb we laid our plans, so as to act in concert, and told our +wheel-barrow men where to await us, that they might not be involved in +any trouble on our account. Then looking up to our Heavenly FATHER, we +committed ourselves to His keeping, took our books, and set on for the +city. + +For some distance we walked along the principal street of the suburb +leading to the West Gate unmolested, and were amused at the unusual +title of _Heh-kwei-tsi_ (black devils) which was applied to us. We +wondered about it at the time, but afterwards found that it was our +clothes, and not our skin, that gave rise to it. As we passed several of +the soldiers, I remarked to Mr. Burdon that these were the men we had +heard so much about, and that they seemed willing to receive us quietly +enough. Long before we reached the gate, however, a tall powerful man, +made tenfold fiercer by partial intoxication, let us know that all the +militia were not so peaceably inclined, by seizing Mr. Burdon by the +shoulders. My companion endeavoured to shake him off. I turned to see +what was the matter, and at once we were surrounded by a dozen or more +brutal men, who hurried us on to the city at a fearful pace. + +My bag now began to feel very heavy, and I could not change hands to +relieve myself. I was soon in a profuse perspiration, and was scarcely +able to keep pace with them. We demanded to be taken before the chief +magistrate, but were told that they knew where to take us, and what to +do with such persons as we were, with the most insulting epithets. The +man who first seized Mr. Burdon soon afterwards left him for me, and +became my principal tormentor; for I was neither so tall nor so strong +as my friend, and was therefore less able to resist him. He all but +knocked me down again and again, seized me by the hair, took hold of my +collar so as to almost choke me, and grasped my arms and shoulders, +making them black and blue. Had this treatment continued much longer, I +must have fainted. All but exhausted, how refreshing was the remembrance +of a verse quoted by my dear mother in one of my last home letters-- + + "We speak of the realms of the blest, + That country so bright and so fair, + And oft are its glories confessed; + But what must it be to be there!" + +To be absent from the body! to be present with the LORD! to be free from +sin! And this is the end of the worst that man's malice can ever bring +upon us. + +As we were walking along Mr. Burdon tried to give away a few books that +he was carrying, not knowing whether we might have another opportunity +of doing so; but the fearful rage of the soldier, and the way he +insisted on manacles being brought, which fortunately were not at hand, +convinced us that in our present position we could do no good in +attempting book-distribution. There was nothing to be done but quietly +to submit, and go along with our captors. + +Once or twice a quarrel arose as to how we should be dealt with; the +more mild of our conductors saying that we ought to be taken to the +magistrate's office, but others wishing to kill us at once without +appeal to any authority. Our minds were kept in perfect peace; and when +thrown together on one of these occasions, we reminded each other that +the Apostles rejoiced that they were counted _worthy_ to suffer in the +cause of CHRIST. Having succeeded in getting my hand into my pocket, I +produced a Chinese card (if the large red paper, bearing one's name, may +be so called), and after this was treated with more respect. I demanded +it should be given to the chief official of the place, and that we +should be led to his office. Before this we had been unable, say what we +would, to persuade them that we were foreigners, although we were both +in English attire. + +Oh the long weary streets that we were dragged through! I thought they +would never end; and seldom have I felt more thankful than when we +stopped at a place where we were told a mandarin resided. Quite +exhausted, bathed in perspiration, and with my tongue cleaving to the +roof of my mouth, I leaned against the wall, and saw that Mr. Burdon was +in much the same condition. I requested them to bring us chairs, but +they told us to wait; and when I begged them to give us some tea, +received only the same answer. Round the doorway a large crowd had +gathered; and Mr. Burdon, collecting his remaining strength, preached +CHRIST JESUS to them. Our cards and books had been taken in to the +mandarin, but he proved to be one of low rank, and after keeping us +waiting for some time he referred us to his superiors in office. + +Upon hearing this, and finding that it was their purpose to turn us out +again into the crowded streets, we positively refused to move a single +step, and insisted on chairs being brought. After some demur this was +done; we seated ourselves in them, and were carried on. On the road we +felt so glad of the rest which the chairs afforded us, and so thankful +at having been able to preach JESUS in spite of Satan's malice, that our +joy was depicted on our countenances; and as we passed along we heard +some say that we did not look like bad men, while others seemed to pity +us. When we arrived at the magistrate's office, I wondered where we were +being taken; for though we passed through some great gates that looked +like those of the city wall, we were still evidently within the city. A +second pair of gates suggested the idea that it was a prison into which +we were being carried; but when we came in sight of a large tablet, with +the inscription "_Ming chï fu mu_" (the father and mother of the +people), we felt that we had been conveyed to the right place; this +being the title assumed by the mandarins. + +Our cards were again sent in, and after a short delay we were taken into +the presence of Ch'en Ta Lao-ie (the Great Venerable Father Ch'en), who, +as it proved, had formerly been Tao-tai of Shanghai, and consequently +knew the importance of treating foreigners with courtesy. Coming before +him, some of the people fell on their knees and bowed down to the +ground, and my conductor motioned for me to do the same, but without +success. This mandarin, who seemed to be the highest authority of +T'ung-chau, and wore an opaque blue button on his cap, came out to meet +us, and treated us with every possible token of respect. He took us to +an inner apartment, a more private room, but was followed by a large +number of writers, runners, and other semi-officials. I related the +object of our visit, and begged permission to give him copies of our +books and tracts, for which he thanked me. As I handed him a copy of the +New Testament with part of the Old (from Genesis to Ruth) and some +tracts, I tried to explain a little about them, and also to give him a +brief summary of our teachings. . . . He listened very attentively, as of +course did all the others present. He then ordered some refreshments to +be brought in, which were very welcome, and himself partook of them with +us. + +After a long stay, we asked permission to see something of the city, and +to distribute the books we had brought, before our return. To this he +kindly consented. We then mentioned that we had been most +disrespectfully treated as we came in, but that we did not attach much +importance to the fact, being aware that the soldiers knew no better. +Not desiring, however, to have such an experience repeated, we requested +him to give orders that we were not to be further molested. This also he +promised to do, and with every possible token of respect accompanied us +to the door of his official residence, sending several runners to see +that we were respectfully treated. We distributed our books well and +quickly, and left the city quite in state. It was amusing to us to see +the way in which the runners made use of their tails. When the street +was blocked by the crowd, they turned them into whips, and laid them +about the people's shoulders to right and left! + +We had a little trouble in finding our wheel-barrows; but eventually +succeeding, we paid off the chair coolies, mounted our humble vehicles, +and returned to the river, accompanied for fully half the distance by an +attendant from the magistrate's office. Early in the evening we got back +to the boats in safety, sincerely thankful to our Heavenly FATHER for +His gracious protection and aid. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +WITH THE REV. WILLIAM BURNS + + +AFTER the retaking of Shanghai by the Imperialists, in February 1855, I +was enabled to rent a house within the walls of the native city, and +gladly availed myself of this opportunity to reside amidst the crowded +population left to inhabit the ruins that had survived the war. Here I +made my headquarters, though often absent on more or less prolonged +itinerations. + +At the suggestion of the Rev. Dr. Medhurst, the veteran leader of the +London Mission, I was led at about this period to adopt the native +costume in preference to foreign dress, to facilitate travel and +residence inland. The Chinese had permitted a foreign firm to build a +silk factory some distance inland, with the proviso that the style of +building must be purely Chinese, and that there should be nothing +external to suggest that it was foreign. Much benefit was found to +result from this change of costume; and I, and most of those associated +with me, have continued to use native dress. + +The T'ai-p'ing rebellion, commenced in 1851, had by this time reached +the height of its ephemeral success. The great city of Nan-king had +fallen before the invading host; and there, within two hundred miles of +Shanghai, the rebels had established their headquarters, and proceeded +to fortify themselves for further conquests. During the summer of 1855 +various attempts were made to visit the leaders of the movement, in +order to bring to bear some decidedly Christian influence upon them; but +so little success was met with, that these efforts were abandoned. + +I, amongst others, had sought to reach Nan-king; but finding it +impossible to do so, turned my attention again to evangelistic work on +the island of Ts'ung-ming. After some time I was enabled so far to +overcome the prejudice and fears of the people as to rent a little house +and settle down in their midst. This was a great joy and encouragement +to me; but before many weeks were over complaints were made by the local +authorities to the British Consul, who compelled me to retire; though +the French Consul had himself secured to the Romish missionaries a +property within three or four miles of the house I had to vacate. Sorely +tried and disappointed by this unexpected hindrance, I reluctantly +returned to Shanghai, little dreaming of the blessing that GOD had in +store for me there. + +A few months previously the Rev. William Burns, of the English +Presbyterian Mission, had arrived in that port on his return journey +from home; and before proceeding to his former sphere of service in the +southern province of FU-KIEN, he had endeavoured, like myself, without +success, to visit the T'ai-p'ing rebels at Nan-king. Failing in this +attempt, he made his headquarters in Shanghai for a season, devoting +himself to the evangelisation of the surrounding populous regions. Thus +in the autumn of the year I was providentially led into association with +this beloved and honoured servant of GOD. + +We journeyed together, evangelising cities and towns in southern +KIANG-SU and north CHEH-KIANG, living in our boats, and following the +course of the canals and rivers which here spread like a network over +the whole face of the rich and fertile country. Mr. Burns at that time +was wearing English dress; but saw that while I was the younger and in +every way less experienced, I had the quiet hearers, while he was +followed by the rude boys, and by the curious but careless; that I was +invited to the homes of the people, while he received an apology that +the crowd that would follow precluded his being invited. After some +weeks of observation he also adopted the native dress, and enjoyed the +increased facilities which it gave. + +Those happy months were an unspeakable joy and privilege to me. His love +for the Word was delightful, and his holy, reverential life and constant +communings with GOD made fellowship with him satisfying to the deep +cravings of my heart. His accounts of revival work and of persecutions +in Canada, and Dublin, and in Southern China were most instructive, as +well as interesting; for with true spiritual insight he often pointed +out GOD's purposes in trial in a way that made all life assume quite a +new aspect and value. His views especially about evangelism as the great +work of the Church, and the order of lay evangelists as a lost order +that Scripture required to be restored, were seed-thoughts which were to +prove fruitful in the subsequent organisation of the China Inland +Mission. + +Externally, however, our path was not always a smooth one; but when +permitted to stay for any length of time in town or city, the +opportunity was well utilised. We were in the habit of leaving our +boats, after prayer for blessing, at about nine o'clock in the morning, +with a light bamboo stool in hand. Selecting a suitable station, one +would mount the stool and speak for twenty minutes, while the other was +pleading for blessing; and then changing places, the voice of the first +speaker had a rest. After an hour or two thus occupied, we would move on +to another point at some distance from the first, and speak again. +Usually about midday we returned to our boats for dinner, fellowship, +and prayer, and then resumed our out-door work until dusk. After tea and +further rest, we would go with our native helpers to some tea-shop, +where several hours might be spent in free conversation with the people. +Not infrequently before leaving a town we had good reason to believe +that much truth had been grasped; and we placed many Scriptures and +books in the hands of those interested. The following letter was written +by Mr. Burns to his mother at home in Scotland about this time:-- + + + "TWENTY-FIVE MILES FROM SHANGHAI, + _January 26th, 1856_. + + "Taking advantage of a rainy day which confines me + to my boat, I pen a few lines, in addition to a + letter to Dundee, containing particulars which I + need not repeat. It is now forty-one days since I + left Shanghai on this last occasion. A young + English missionary, Mr. Taylor, of the Chinese + Evangelisation Society, has been my companion + during these weeks--he in his boat, and I in + mine--and we have experienced much mercy, and on + some occasions considerable assistance in our + work. + + "I must once more tell the story I have had to + tell already more than once--how four weeks ago, + on December 29th, I put on the Chinese dress, + which I am now wearing. Mr. Taylor had made this + change a few months before, and I found that he + was, in consequence, so much less incommoded in + preaching, etc., by the crowd, that I concluded it + was my duty to follow his example. We were at that + time more than double the distance from Shanghai + that we are now, and would still have been at as + great a distance had we not met at one place with + a band of lawless people, who demanded money and + threatened to break our boats if their demands + were refused. The boatmen were very much alarmed, + and insisted on returning to some place nearer + home. These people had previously broken in, + violently, a part of Mr. Taylor's boat, because + their unreasonable demand for books was not + complied with. + + "We have a large, very large, field of labour in + this region, though it might be difficult in the + meantime for one to establish himself in any + particular place; the people listen with + attention, but we need the Power from on High to + convince and convert. Is there any spirit of + prayer on our behalf among GOD's people in + Kilsyth? or is there any effort to seek this + spirit? How great the need is, and how great the + arguments and motives for prayer in this case. The + harvest here is indeed great, and the labourers + are few, and imperfectly fitted without much grace + for such a work. And yet grace can make the few + and feeble instruments the means of accomplishing + great things--things greater than we can even + conceive." + +The incident referred to in this letter, which led to our return to +Shanghai more speedily than we had at first intended, took place on the +northern border of CHEH-KIANG. We had reached a busy market town known +by the name of Wu-chen, or Black Town, the inhabitants of which, we had +been told, were the wildest and most lawless people in that part of the +country. Such indeed we found them to be: the town was a refuge for salt +smugglers and other bad characters. The following extracts are taken +from my journal, written at the time:-- + + + _January 8th, 1856._ + +Commenced our work in Wu-chen this morning by distributing a large +number of tracts and some Testaments. The people seemed much surprised, +and we could not learn that any foreigner had been here before. We +preached twice--once in the temple of the God of War, and afterwards in +an empty space left by a fire, which had completely destroyed many +houses. In the afternoon we preached again to a large and attentive +audience on the same site; and in the evening adjourned to a tea-shop, +where we had a good opportunity of speaking until it got noised abroad +that we were there, when, too many people coming in, we were obliged to +leave. Our native assistants, Tsien and Kuei-hua, were able, however, to +remain. Returning to our boats, we spoke to a number of people standing +on a bridge, and felt we had abundant reason to be thankful and +encouraged by the result of our first day's labour. + + + _January 10th._ + +First sent Tsien and Kuei-hua to distribute some sheet tracts. After +their return we went with them, and in a space cleared by fire we +separated, and addressed two audiences. On our return to the boats for +lunch, we found people waiting, as usual, and desiring books. Some were +distributed to those who were able to read them; and then asking them +kindly to excuse us while we took our midday meal, I went into my boat +and shut the door. + +Hardly was there time to pour out a cup of tea when a battering began, +and the roof was at once broken in. I went out at the back, and found +four or five men taking the large lumps of frozen earth turned up in a +field close by--weighing, I should suppose, from seven to fourteen +pounds each--and throwing them at the boat. Remonstrance was of no +avail, and it was not long ere a considerable part of the upper +structure of the boat was broken to pieces, and a quantity of earth +covered the things inside. Finally, Tsien got a boat that was passing to +land him at a short distance, and by a few tracts drew away the +attention of the men, thus ending the assault. + +We now learned that of those who had done the mischief only two were +natives of the place, the others being salt smugglers, and that the +cause was our not having satisfied their unreasonable demand for books. +Most providentially no one was injured; and as soon as quiet was +somewhat restored, we all met in Mr. Burns's boat and joined in +thanksgiving that we had been preserved from personal harm, praying also +for the perpetrators of the mischief, and that it might be over-ruled +for good to us and to those with us. We then took our lunch and went on +shore, and but a few steps from the boats addressed a large multitude +that soon assembled. We were specially assisted; never were we heard +with more attention, and not one voice was found to sympathise with the +men who had molested us. In the evening, at the tea-shops, the same +spirit was manifested, and some seemed to hear with joy the glad tidings +of salvation through a crucified and risen SAVIOUR. + +As we came home we passed a barber's shop still open, and I went in, and +while getting my head shaved had an opportunity of speaking to a few +people, and afterwards pasted a couple of sheet tracts on the wall for +the benefit of future customers. + + + _January 11th._ + +A respectable shop-keeper of the name of Yao, who on the first or second +day of our stay at Wu-chen had received portions of the New Testament +and a tract, came yesterday, when our boat was broken, to beg for some +more books. At that time we were all in confusion from the damage done, +and from the earth thrown into the boat, and so invited him to come +again in a day or two's time, when we would gladly supply him. This +morning he appeared and handed in the following note:-- + +"On a former day I begged Burns and Taylor, the two '_Rabbis_,' to give +me good books. It happened at that time those of our town whose hearts +were deceived by _Satan_, not knowing the _Son of David_, went so far as +to dare to '_raca_' and '_moreh_' and injure your respected boat. I +thank you for promising afterwards to give the books, and beg the +following: Complete New Testament, 'Discourse of a Good Man when near +his Death,' 'Important Christian Doctrines,' an Almanack, 'Principles of +Christianity,' 'Way to make the World happy,'--of each one copy. Sung +and Tsien, and all teachers I hope are well. Further compliments are +unwritten." + +This note is interesting, as showing that he had been reading the New +Testament attentively, as the italicised words were all taken from it. +His use of "raca" and "moreh" for reviling, shows their meaning was not +lost upon him. + +After supplying this man, we went out with Tsien and Kuei-hua to the +east of the town, and spoke in the street for a short time. Upon +returning to the boats, I was visited by two CHIH-LI men, who are in the +magistrate's office here. I was greatly helped in speaking to them of a +crucified SAVIOUR in the Mandarin dialect; and though one of them did +not pay much attention, the other did, and made inquiries that showed +the interest he was feeling. When they had left, I went on shore and +spoke to the people collected there, to whom Kuei-hua had been +preaching. The setting sun afforded a parable, and reminded one of the +words of JESUS, "The night cometh, when no man can work;" and as I spoke +of the uncertain duration of this life, and of our ignorance as to the +time of CHRIST'S return, a degree of deep seriousness prevailed that I +had never previously witnessed in China. I engaged in prayer, and the +greatest decorum was observed. I then returned to my boat with a +Buddhist priest who had been in the audience, and he admitted that +Buddhism was a system of deceit that could give no hope in death. + + + _January 12th._ + +In the afternoon we addressed the people on shore close to our boats, +also in one of the streets of the city, and in a tea-shop, books being +distributed on each occasion. In the evening we went as usual to speak +in the tea-shops, but determined to go to the opposite end of the town, +in order to afford those who lived there a better opportunity of meeting +with us. It was a long straggling place, nearly two English miles in +length. As Mr. Burns and I were accustomed to talk together in Chinese, +this conclusion was known to those in the boats. + +After we had proceeded a short distance we changed our minds, and went +instead to the usual tea-shop, thinking that persons might have gone +there expecting to meet us. But this was not the case; and we did not +find such serious hearers as we had done on previous occasions. On this +account Mr. Burns proposed leaving earlier than usual, and we did so, +telling Tsien and Kuei-hua that they might remain a little longer. +Returning to the boats, we gave away a few books; but, singularly +enough, were left to go alone, no one accompanying us, as is so +generally the case. Instead of being a clear night, as it was when we +started, we found that it had become intensely dark. On our way we met +the boatman, whose manner seemed very strange, and without giving us any +explanation he blew out the candle of our lantern; we relighted the +lantern, telling him not to put it out again, when to our surprise he +deliberately removed the candle and threw it into the canal. He then +walked down along a low wall jutting out to the river's edge, and gazed +into the water. + +Not knowing what was the matter with him, I ran forward to hold him, +fearful lest he were going to drown himself; but to my great relief he +came quietly back. In answer to our repeated questions he told us not to +speak, for some bad men were seeking to destroy the boats, and they had +moved away to avoid them. He then led us to the place where one of them +was lying. Before long Tsien and Kuei-hua came and got safely on board, +and soon after we were joined by the teacher Sung, and the boat moved +away. + +The cause of all this disturbance was then explained. A man professing +to be the constable had come to the boats in our absence, with a written +demand for ten dollars and a quantity of opium. He stated that there +were more than fifty country people (salt smugglers) awaiting our reply +in an adjoining tea-shop; and if we gave them what they wanted, and +three hundred cash to pay for their tea, we might remain in peace; but +that if not, they would come at once and destroy our boats. Sung told +them that we could not comply with their demand; for, not being engaged +in trade, but only in preaching and book-distribution, we had not an +atom of opium, and that our money was nearly all expended. The man, +however, told him plainly that he did not believe him, and Sung had no +alternative but to seek us out, desiring the man to await our reply. Not +knowing that we had changed our plans, he sought us in the wrong +direction, and of course in vain. + +In the meanwhile the boatmen had succeeded in moving off. They were very +much alarmed; and having so recently had proof of what these men would +do in open daylight, felt no desire to experience what they might +attempt by night. Moving away, therefore, they had separated, so that if +one boat should be injured the other might afford us a refuge. It was +after this that we had providentially met the boatman, and had been +safely led on board. As Sung repassed the place where we were previously +moored, he saw between the trees a dozen or more men, and heard them +inquiring where the boats had gone to; but no one could tell. +Fortunately they sought in vain. + +After a while the two boats joined, and rowed together for some time. It +was already late, and to travel by night in that part of the country was +not the way to avoid danger from evil men; so the question arose as to +what should be done. This we left for the boatmen to decide; they had +moved off of their own accord, and we felt that whatever we personally +might desire we could not constrain others to remain in a position of +danger on our account. We urged them, however, to do quickly whatever +they intended to do, as the morrow was the LORD'S DAY, when we should +not wish to travel. We also informed them that wherever we were we must +fulfil our mission, and preach the Gospel; it therefore made but little +difference where we might stay, for even if we passed the night +unperceived, we were sure to be found out on the following morning. The +men consequently concluded that we might as well return to the place +from which we had started; to this we fully agreed, and they turned back +accordingly. But--whether by accident or no we could not tell--they got +into another stream, and rowed for some time they knew not whither. At +last, as it was very dark, they moored for the night. + +We then called all the boatmen together, with our native assistants, and +read to them the ninety-first Psalm. It may be imagined how appropriate +to our position and need and how sweetly consoling was this portion of +GOD'S Word:-- + + "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the MOST HIGH + Shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY. + I will say of the LORD, _He_ is my refuge and my fortress: + My GOD; in Him will I trust. + + "Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, + And from the noisome pestilence. + + He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings + shalt thou trust: + His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. + Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; + Nor for the arrow that flieth by day. + + "Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him. + I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name. + He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; + I will be with him in trouble;--I will deliver him, and honour him. + With long life will I satisfy him,--and show him My salvation." + +Committing ourselves in prayer to His care and keeping Who had covered +us with thick darkness and permitted us to escape from the hand of the +violent, we retired for the night; which--thanks to the kind protection +of the WATCHMAN OF ISRAEL, who neither slumbers nor forgets His +people--we passed in peace and quietness, and were enabled, in some +measure, to realise the truth of that precious word, "_Thou_ art my +_Hiding-place_, and my _Shield_." + + + _Sunday, January 13th._ + +This morning I was awakened about 4 A.M. by violent pain in the +knee-joint. I had bruised it the day before, and severe inflammation was +the result. To my great surprise I heard the rain pouring down in +torrents, the weather having previously been particularly fine. On +looking out, we found ourselves so near our former stopping-place, that, +had nothing happened to prevent it, we should not have felt justified in +neglecting to go into the town to preach as usual; but the rain was so +heavy all day that no one could leave the boats. Thus we enjoyed a +delightful day of rest, such as we had not had for some time; and the +weather prevented much inquiry being made for us. Had the day been fine +we should most likely have been discovered, even if we had not left the +boats. As it was, we were allowed to think in peace, with wonder and +gratitude, of the gracious dealings of our GOD, who had thus led us +apart into "a desert place" to rest awhile. + + + _Monday, January 14th._ + +A cloudless morning. One of the native assistants went before daybreak +to get some clothes which had been given out for washing. He came back +with the tidings that, notwithstanding the drenching rain of yesterday, +men had been seeking us in all directions. We had been kept, however, in +peace and safety "under the shadow of the Almighty." + +The boatmen were now so thoroughly alarmed that they would stay no +longer, and moved off at dawn. I was confined to my quarters by +lameness, and had no alternative but to go with them. In the afternoon +we reached Ping-wang, on the way to Shanghai. + + "Ill that GOD blesses is our good, + And unblest good is ill; + And all is right that seems most wrong, + If it be His sweet will." + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CALLED TO SWATOW + + +HAVING to leave the neighbourhood of Black Town thus unexpectedly was a +real disappointment to us, as we had hoped to spend some time +evangelising in that district. We were to prove, however, that no +unforeseen mischance had happened, but that these circumstances which +seemed so trying were necessary links in the chain of a divinely ordered +providence, guiding to other and wider spheres. + +GOD does not permit persecution to arise without sufficient reason. . . . +He was leading us by a way that we knew not; but it was none the less +His way. + + "O LORD, how happy should we be + If we would cast our care on Thee, + If we from self would rest; + And feel at heart that One above, + In perfect wisdom, perfect love, + Is working for the best!" + +When we reached Shanghai, thinking to return inland in a few days with +fresh supplies of books and money, we met a Christian captain who had +been trading at Swatow, and he put very strongly before us the need of +that region, and the fact that there were British merchants living on +Double Island, selling opium and engaged in the coolie trade +(practically a slave traffic), while there was no British missionary to +preach the Gospel. The SPIRIT OF GOD impressed me with the feeling that +this was His call, but for days I felt that I could not obey it. I had +never had such a spiritual father as Mr. Burns; I had never known such +holy, happy fellowship; and I said to myself that it could not be GOD'S +will that we should separate. + +In great unrest of soul I went one evening, with Mr. Burns, to take tea +at the house of the Rev. R. Lowrie, of the American Presbyterian +Mission, at the South Gate of Shanghai. After tea Mrs. Lowrie played +over to us "The Missionary Call."[2] I had never heard it before, and it +greatly affected me. My heart was almost broken before it was finished, +and I said to the LORD, in the words that had been sung-- + + "And I will go! + I may no longer doubt to give up friends, and idol hopes, + And every tie that binds my heart. . . . + Henceforth, then, it matters not, if storm or sunshine + be my earthly lot, bitter or sweet my cup; + I only pray, GOD, make me holy, + And my spirit nerve for the stern hour of strife." + +Upon leaving I asked Mr. Burns to come home with me to the little house +that was still my headquarters in the native city, and there, with many +tears, told him how the LORD had been leading me, and how rebellious I +had been and unwilling to leave him for this new sphere of labour. He +listened with a strange look of surprise, and of pleasure rather than +pain; and answered that he had determined that very night to tell me +that he had heard the LORD'S call to Swatow, and that his one regret had +been the prospect of the severance of our happy fellowship. We went +together; and thus was recommenced missionary work in that part of +China, which in later years has been so abundantly blessed. + +Long before this time the Rev. R. Lechler, of the Basel Missionary +Society, had widely itinerated in the neighbourhood of Swatow and the +surrounding regions. Driven about from place to place, he had done work +that was not forgotten, although ultimately he was obliged to retire to +Hong-kong. For more than forty years this earnest-hearted servant of GOD +has continued in "labours more abundant"; and quite recently he has left +Hong-kong, with his devoted wife, to return again inland, and spend the +strength of his remaining years amongst the people he has so long and +truly loved. + +Captain Bowers, the Christian friend who had been used of GOD in +bringing the needs of Swatow before Mr. Burns and myself, was overjoyed +when he heard of our decision to devote ourselves to the evangelisation +of that busy, important, and populous mart. Being about to sail himself +on his return journey, he gladly offered us free passages on board the +_Geelong_, in which we left Shanghai early in the month of March 1856. + +A favourable journey of six days brought us to Double Island, where we +found ourselves landed in the midst of a small but very ungodly +community of foreigners, engaged in the opium trade and other commercial +enterprises. Unwilling to be in any way identified with these +fellow-countrymen, we were most desirous of obtaining quarters at once +within the native city, situated on a promontory of the mainland, five +miles farther up, at the mouth of the Han river. Great difficulty was +experienced in this attempt to obtain a footing amongst the people. +Indeed, it seemed as though we should fail altogether, and we were +helplessly cast upon the LORD in prayer. Our GOD soon undertook for us. +Meeting one day with a Cantonese merchant, a relative of the highest +official in the town, Mr. Burns addressed him in the Cantonese dialect; +this gentleman was so pleased at being spoken to by a foreigner in his +own tongue that he became our friend, and secured us a lodging. We had +only one little room, however, and not easily shall I forget the long +hot summer months in that oven-like place, where towards the eaves one +could touch the heated tiles with one's hand. More room or better +accommodation it was impossible to obtain. + +We varied our stay by visits to the surrounding country; but the +difficulties and dangers that encountered us here were so great and +constant, that our former work in the North began to appear safe and +easy in comparison. The hatred and contempt of the Cantonese was very +painful, "foreign devil," "foreign dog," or "foreign pig" being the +commonest appellations; but all this led us into deeper fellowship than +I had ever known before with Him who was "despised and rejected of men." + +In our visits to the country we were liable to be seized at any time and +held to ransom; and the people commonly declared that the whole district +was "without emperor, without ruler, and without law." Certainly, might +was right in those days. On one occasion we were visiting a small town, +and found that the inhabitants had captured a wealthy man of another +clan. A large ransom was demanded for his release, and on his refusing +to pay it they had smashed his ankle-bones, one by one, with a club, and +thus extorted the promise they desired. There was nothing but GOD'S +protection to prevent our being treated in the same way. The towns were +all walled, and one such place would contain ten or twenty thousand +people of the same clan and surname, who were frequently at war with the +people living in the next town. To be kindly received in one place was +not uncommonly a source of danger in the next. In circumstances such as +these the preserving care of our GOD was often manifested. + +After a time the local mandarin became ill, and the native doctors were +unable to relieve him. He had heard from some who had been under my +treatment of the benefit derived, and was led to seek our help. GOD +blessed the medicines given, and grateful for relief, he advised our +renting a house for a hospital and dispensary. Having his permission, we +were able to secure the entire premises, one room of which we had +previously occupied. I had left my stock of medicine and surgical +instruments under the care of my friend, the late Mr. Wylie, in +Shanghai, and went back at once to fetch them. + +Mr. Burns came down from a town called Am-po, that we had visited +together several times, to see me off, and returned again when I had +sailed, with two native evangelists sent up from Hong-kong by the Rev. +J. Johnson, of the American Baptist Missionary Union. The people were +willing to listen to their preaching, and to accept their books as a +gift, but they would not buy them. One night robbers broke in and +carried off everything they had, with the exception of their stock of +literature, which was supposed to be valueless. Next morning, very +early, they were knocked up by persons wishing to buy books, and the +sales continued; so that by breakfast time they had not only cash enough +to procure food, but to pay also for the passage of one of the men to +Double Island, below Swatow, with a letter to Mr. Burns's agent to +supply him with money. Purchasers continued coming during that day and +the next, and our friends lacked nothing; but on the third day they +could not sell a single book. Then, however, when the cash from their +sales was just exhausted, the messenger returned with supplies. + +It was early in July, after about four months' residence in Swatow, that +I left for Shanghai, intending to return in the course of a few weeks, +bringing with me my medical apparatus, for further work in association +with the Rev. William Burns. A new and promising field seemed to be +opening before us, and it was with much hopeful anticipation that we +looked forward to the future of the work. Marked blessing was indeed in +store for the city and neighbourhood of Swatow; but it was not the +purpose of GOD that either of us should remain to reap the harvest. Mr. +Burns while in the interior was taken up and imprisoned by the Chinese +authorities soon after I left, and was sent to Canton. And though he +returned to Swatow after the war had broken out, he was called away for +other service, which prevented his subsequent return; while my journey +to Shanghai proved to be the first step in a diverging pathway leading +to other spheres. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] For words and music see the end of this chapter. + + +[Illustration: Music: The Missionary Call] + +"THE MISSIONARY CALL" + + 1. My soul is not at rest. + There comes a strange + and secret whisper to + my. . . . + spirit, like a dream of night, + that tells me + I am on enchanted + ground. + + + CHORUS FOR FIRST FOUR VERSES. + + _Vivace._ The voice of my departed LORD, "Go, teach all nations," + + Comes on the night air and awakes mine ear. + + + CHORUS FOR LAST VERSE. + + Through ages of eternal years, + My spirit never shall repent, + that toil and suff'ring once were mine . . . below. + + + 2. Why live I here? the vows of GOD are | on me; | and I may not stop + to play with shadows or pluck earthly flowers, | till I my work + have done, and | rendered up ac | count. + + 3. And I will | go! | I may no longer doubt to give up friends, + and idol | hopes, | and every tie that binds my heart to | thee, my | + country. + + 4. Henceforth, then, it matters not, if storm or sunshine be my | + earthly lot, | bitter or sweet my | cup; | I only pray: "GOD make me + holy, and my spirit nerve for the stern | hour of strife!" + + 5. And when one for whom Satan hath struggled as he hath for | me, | + has gained at last that blessed | shore, | Oh! how this heart will + glow with | gratitude and | love. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES + + +IT is interesting to notice the various events which united, in the +providence of GOD, in preventing my return to Swatow, and ultimately led +to my settling in Ningpo, and making that the centre for the development +of future labours. + +Upon reaching Shanghai, great was my dismay to find that the premises in +which my medicines and instruments had been stored were burnt down, and +that all the medicines and many of the instruments were entirely +destroyed. To me this appeared a great calamity, and I fear I was more +disposed with faithless Jacob to say, "All these things are against me," +than to recognise that "All things work together for good." I had not +then learned to think of GOD as the One Great Circumstance "in Whom we +live, and move, and have our being"; and of _all_ lesser, external +circumstances, as necessarily the kindest, wisest, best, because either +ordered or permitted by Him. Hence my disappointment and trial were very +great. + +Medicines were expensive in Shanghai, and my means were limited. I +therefore set out on an inland journey to Ningpo, hoping to obtain a +supply from Dr. William Parker, a member of the same mission as myself. +I took with me my few remaining possessions, the principal being my +watch, a few surgical instruments, a concertina, books for the study of +Chinese, which in those days were very expensive; but left behind in +Shanghai a portion of my money. + +The country through which I had to pass was suffering much from drought; +it was the height of summer; and the water in the Grand Canal was very +low, having been largely drawn upon for the neighbouring rice fields, as +well as evaporated by the intense heat. I had determined to make the +journey as much of a mission tour as possible, and set out well supplied +with Christian tracts and books. After fourteen days spent in travelling +slowly through the populous country, preaching and distributing books, +etc., we reached a large town called Shih-mun-wan, and here, finding +that my supply of literature was exhausted, I determined not to linger +over the rest of the journey, but to reach Ningpo as speedily as +possible, _viâ_ the city of Hai-ning. + + + _August 4th, 1856._ + +There was no water beyond Shih-mun-wan, so I paid off my boat, hired +coolies to carry my things as far as to Chang-gan, and ere sunrise we +were on the way. I walked on alone, leaving my servant to follow with +the men, who made frequent stoppages to rest; and on reaching a city +through which we had to pass, I waited for them in a tea-shop just +outside the North Gate. The coolies came on very slowly, and seemed +tired when they arrived. I soon found that they were both opium-smokers, +so that, although they had only carried a load that one strong man would +think nothing of taking three times the distance, they really seemed +wearied. + +After some rice and tea and an hour's rest--including, I doubt not, a +smoke of the opium pipe--they were a little refreshed, and I proposed +moving on, that we might get to Chang-gan before the sun became too +powerful. My servant, however, had a friend in the city, and he desired +to spend the day there, and to go on next morning. But to this I +objected, wishing to reach Hai-ning that night if possible. . . . We +therefore set off, entered the North Gate, and had passed through about +a third of the city, when the coolies stopped to rest, and said they +should be unable to carry the burden on to Chang-gan. Finally, they +agreed to take it to the South Gate, where they were to be paid in +proportion to the distance they had carried it; and the servant +undertook to call other coolies and come along with them. + +I walked on before as in the first instance, and the distance being only +about four miles, soon reached Chang-gan, and waited their arrival, +meanwhile engaging coolies for the rest of the journey to Hai-ning. +Having waited a long time, I began to wonder at the delay; and at length +it became too late to finish the journey to Hai-ning that night. I felt +somewhat annoyed; and but that my feet were blistered, and the afternoon +very hot, I should have gone back to meet them and urge them on. At last +I concluded that my servant must have gone to his friend's, and would +not appear until evening. But evening came, and still there was no sign +of them. + +Feeling very uneasy, I began diligently to inquire whether they had been +seen. At last a man responded, "Are you a guest from Shih-mun-wan?" I +answered in the affirmative. "Are you going to Hai-ning?" "That is my +destination." "Then your things have gone on before you; for I was +sitting in a tea-shop when a coolie came in, took a cup of tea, and set +off for Hai-ning in a great hurry, saying that the bamboo box and bed he +carried, which were just such as you describe yours to have been, were +from Shih-mun-wan, and he had to take them to Hai-ning to-night, where +he was to be paid at the rate of ten cash a pound." From this I +concluded that my goods were on before me; but it was impossible to +follow them at once, for I was too tired to walk, and it was already +dark. + +Under these circumstances all I could do was to seek a lodging for the +night; and no easy task I found it. After raising my heart to GOD to ask +His aid, I walked through to the farther end of the town, where I +thought the tidings of a foreigner's being in the place might not have +spread, and looked out for an inn. I soon came to one, and went in, +hoping that I might pass unquestioned, as it was already dark. Asking +the bill of fare, I was told that cold rice--which proved to be more +than "rather burnt"--and snakes, fried in lamp-oil, were all that could +be had. Not wishing any question to be raised as to my nationality, I +was compelled to order some, and tried to make a meal, but with little +success. + +While thus engaged I said to the landlord, "I suppose I can arrange to +spend the night here?" + +To which he replied in the affirmative; but bringing out his book, he +added-- + +"In these unsettled times we are required by the authorities to keep a +record of our lodgers: may I ask your respected family name?" + +"My unworthy family name is Tai," I responded. + +"And your honourable second name?" + +"My humble name is Ia-koh" (James). + +"What an extraordinary name! I never heard it before. How do you write +it?" + +I told him, and added, "It is a common name in the district from which I +come." + +"And may I ask whence you come and whither you are going?" + +"I am journeying from Shanghai to Ningpo, by way of Hang-chau." + +"What may be your honourable profession?" + +"I heal the sick." + +"Oh! you are a physician," the landlord remarked; and to my intense +relief closed the book. His wife, however, took up the conversation. + +"You are a physician, are you?" said she; "I am glad of that, for I have +a daughter afflicted with leprosy. If you will cure her, you shall have +your supper and bed for nothing." + +I was curious enough to inquire what my supper and bed were to cost, if +paid for; and to my amusement found they were worth less than +three-halfpence of our money! + +Being unable to benefit the girl, I declined to prescribe for her, +saying that leprosy was a very intractable disease, and that I had no +medicines with me. + +The mother, however, brought pen and paper, urging, "You can at least +write a prescription, which will do no harm, if it does no good." + +But this also I declined to do, and requested to be shown my bed. I was +conducted to a very miserable room on the ground-floor, where, on some +boards raised upon two stools, I passed the night, without bed or +pillow, save my umbrella and shoe, and without any mosquito netting. Ten +or eleven other lodgers were sleeping in the same room, so I could not +take anything off, for fear of its being stolen; but I was, I found, by +no means too warm as midnight came on. + + + _August 5th._ + +As may be supposed, I arose but little rested or refreshed, and felt +very far from well. I had to wait a long time ere breakfast was +obtainable, and then there was another delay before I could get change +for the only dollar I had with me, in consequence of its being chipped +in one or two places. More than three hundred cash also were deducted +from its price on this account, which was a serious loss to me in my +trying position. + +I then sought throughout the town for tidings of my servant and coolies, +as I thought it possible that they might have arrived later, or have +come on in the morning. The town is large, long, and straggling, being +nearly two miles from one end to the other, so this occupied some time. +I gained no information, however; and, footsore and weary, set out for +Hai-ning in the full heat of the day. The journey--about eight +miles--took me a long time; but a halfway village afforded a +resting-place and a cup of tea, both of which I gladly availed myself +of. When about to leave again, a heavy shower of rain came on, and the +delay thus occasioned enabled me to speak a little to the people about +the truths of the Gospel. + +The afternoon was far spent before I approached the northern suburb of +Hai-ning, where I commenced inquiries, but could hear no tidings of my +servant or things. I was told that outside the East Gate I should be +more likely to hear of them, as it was there the sea-junks called. I +therefore proceeded thither, and sought for them outside the Little East +Gate, but in vain. Very weary, I sat down in a tea-shop to rest; and +while there a number of persons from one of the mandarin's offices came +in, and made inquiries as to who I was, where I had come from, etc. On +learning the object of my search, one of the men in the tea-shop said, +"A bamboo box and a bed, such as you describe, were carried past here +about half an hour ago. The bearer seemed to be going towards either the +Great East Gate or the South Gate; you had better go to the hongs there +and inquire." I asked him to accompany me in the search, and promised to +reward him for his trouble, but he would not. Another man offered to go +with me, so we set off together, and both inside and outside the two +gates made diligent inquiries, but all in vain. I then engaged a man to +make a thorough search, promising him a liberal reward if he should be +successful. In the meantime I had some dinner, and addressed a large +concourse of people who had gathered together. + +When he returned, having met with no success, I said to him, "I am now +quite exhausted: will you help me to find quarters for the night, and +then I will pay you for your trouble?" He was willing to befriend me, +and we set off in search of lodgings. At the first place or two the +people would not receive me; for though on our first going in they +seemed willing to do so, the presence of a man who followed us, and who, +I found, was engaged in one of the Government offices, seemed to alarm +them, and I was refused. We now went to a third place, and being no +longer followed by the mandarin's messenger, we were promised quarters; +some tea was brought, and I paid the man who had accompanied me for his +trouble. + +Soon after he was gone some official people came in; they soon went +away, but the result of their visit was that I was told I could not be +entertained there that night. A young man present blamed them for their +heartless behaviour, and said, "Never mind, come with me; and if we +cannot get better lodgings for you, you shall sleep at our house." I +went with him, but we found the people of his house unwilling to receive +me. Weary and footsore, so that I could scarcely stand, I had again to +seek quarters, and at length got promise of them; but a little crowd +collecting about the door, they desired me to go to a tea-shop and wait +there till the people had retired, or they would be unable to +accommodate me. There was no help for it, so I went, accompanied still +by the young man, and waited till past midnight. Then we left for the +promised resting-place; but my conductor would not find it, and he led +me about to another part of the city; and finally, between one and two +o'clock, he left me to pass the rest of the night as best I could. + +I was opposite a temple, but it was closed; so I lay down on the stone +steps in front of it, and putting my money under my head for a pillow, +should soon have been asleep in spite of the cold had I not perceived a +person coming stealthily towards me. As he approached I saw he was one +of the beggars so common in China, and had no doubt his intention was to +rob me of my money. I did not stir, but watched his movements, and +looked to my FATHER not to leave me in this hour of trial. The man came +up, looked at me for some time to assure himself that I was asleep (it +was so dark that he could not see my eyes fixed on him), and then began +to feel about me gently. I said to him in the quietest tone, but so as +to convince him that I was not, nor had been, sleeping, "What do you +want?" He made no answer, but went away. + +I was very thankful to see him go, and when he was out of sight put as +much of my cash as would not go into my pocket safely up my sleeve, and +made my pillow of a stone projection of the wall. It was not long ere I +began to doze, but I was aroused by the all but noiseless footsteps of +two persons approaching; for my nervous system was rendered so sensitive +by exhaustion that the slightest noise startled me. Again I sought +protection from Him who alone was my stay, and lay still as before, till +one of them came up and began to feel under my head for the cash. I +spoke again, and they sat down at my feet. I asked them what they were +doing; they replied that they, like me, were going to pass the night +there. I then requested them to take the opposite side, as there was +plenty of room, and leave this side to me; but they would not move from +my feet, so I raised myself up and set my back against the wall. + +They said, "You had better lie down and sleep; if you do not, you will +be unable to walk to-morrow. Do not be afraid; we shall not leave you, +and will see that no one hurts you." + +"Listen to me," I replied. "I do not want your protection; I need it +not; I am not a Chinese; I do not worship your senseless, helpless +idols. I worship GOD; He is my FATHER; I trust in Him. I know well what +you are, and what your intentions are, and shall keep my eye on you, and +shall not sleep." + +On this, one of them went away, but soon returned with a third +companion. I felt very uneasy, but looked to GOD for help. Once or twice +one of them got up to see if I was asleep. I only said, "Do not be +mistaken; I am not sleeping." Occasionally my head dropped, and this was +a signal for one of them to rise; but I at once roused myself and made +some remark. As the night slowly passed on, I felt very weary; and to +keep myself awake, as well as to cheer my mind, I sang several hymns, +repeated aloud some portions of Scripture, and engaged in prayer in +English, to the great annoyance of my companions, who seemed as if they +would have given anything to get me to desist. After that they troubled +me no more; and shortly before dawn of day they left me, and I got a +little sleep. + + + _August 6th._ + +I was awakened by the young man who had so misled me on the previous +evening. He was very rude, and insisted on my getting up and paying him +for his trouble, and even went so far as to try to accomplish by force +what he wanted. This roused me; and in an unguarded moment, with very +improper feeling, I seized his arm with such a grasp as he little +expected I was capable of, and dared him to lay a finger upon me again +or to annoy me further. This quite changed his manner; he let me quietly +remain till the guns announced the opening of the gates of the city, and +then he begged me to give him some money to buy opium with. It is +needless to say this was refused. I gave him the price of two candles, +that he said he had burnt while with me last night and no more. I +learned he was connected with one of the mandarin's offices. + +As soon as possible, I bought some rice gruel and tea for breakfast, and +then once more made a personal search after my things. Some hours thus +spent proving unavailing, I set out on the return journey, and after a +long, weary, and painful walk reached Chang-gan about noon. Here also my +inquiries failed to give me any trace of the missing goods; so I had a +meal cooked in a tea-shop, got a thorough wash and bathed my inflamed +feet, and after dinner rested and slept till four in the afternoon. + +Much refreshed, I then set on to return to the city, at the South Gate +of which I had parted with my servant and coolies two days before. On +the way I was led to reflect on the goodness of GOD, and recollected +that I had not made it a matter of prayer that I might be provided with +lodgings last night. I felt condemned, too, that I should have been so +anxious for my few things, while the many precious souls around me had +caused so little emotion. I came as a sinner and pleaded the blood of +JESUS, realising that I was accepted in Him--pardoned, cleansed, +sanctified--and oh the love of JESUS, how great I felt it to be! I knew +something more than I had ever previously known of what it was to be +despised and rejected, and to have nowhere to lay one's head; and I felt +more than ever I had done before the greatness of that love which +induced Him to leave His home in glory and suffer thus for me; nay, to +lay down His very life upon the Cross. I thought of Him as "despised and +rejected of men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief"; I thought +of Him at Jacob's well, weary, hungry, and thirsty, yet finding it His +meat and drink to do His Father's will; and contrasted this with my +littleness of love. I looked to Him for pardon for the past, and for +grace and strength to do His will in the future, to tread more closely +in His footsteps, and be more than ever wholly His. I prayed for myself, +for friends in England, and for my brethren in the work. Sweet tears of +mingled joy and sorrow flowed freely, the road was almost forgotten, and +before I was aware of it I had reached my destination. Outside the South +Gate I took a cup of tea, asked about my lost luggage, and spoke of the +love of JESUS. Then I entered the city, and after many vain inquiries +left it by the North Gate. + +I felt so much refreshed both in mind and body by the communion I had on +my walk to the city that I thought myself able to finish the remaining +six miles back to Shih-mun-wan that evening. First I went into another +tea-shop to buy some native cakes, and was making a meal of them when +who should come in but one of the identical coolies who had carried my +things the first stage. From him I learned that after I left them they +had taken my luggage to the South Gate; there my servant went away, +saying on his return that I had gone on, that he did not intend to start +at once, but would spend the day with his friend, and then rejoin me; +they carried the things to this friend's house, and left them there. I +got him to go with me to the house, and there learned that the man had +spent the day and night with them, and next morning had called other +coolies, and set off for Hang-chau. This was all I could gather; so, +unable to do anything but proceed on my return journey to Shanghai with +all expedition, I left the city again. It was now too late to go on to +Shih-mun-wan. I looked to my FATHER as able to supply all my need, and +received another token of His ceaseless love and care, being invited to +sleep on a hong-boat, now dry in the bed of the river. The night was +again very cold and the mosquitoes troublesome. Still, I got a little +rest, and at sunrise was up and continued my journey. + + + _August 7th._ + +I felt very ill at first, and had a sore throat, but reflected on the +wonderful goodness of GOD in enabling me to bear the heat by day and the +cold by night so long. I felt also that quite a load was now taken off +my mind. I had committed myself and my affairs to the LORD, and knew +that if it was for my good and for His glory my things would be +restored; if not, all would be for the best. I hoped that the most +trying part of my journey was now drawing to a close, and this helped +me, weary and footsore, on the way. When I got to Shih-mun-wan and had +breakfasted, I found I had still eight hundred and ten cash in hand; and +I knew that the hong-boat fare to Kia-hing Fu was one hundred and twenty +cash, and thence to Shanghai three hundred and sixty, leaving me just +three hundred and thirty cash--or twelve pence and a fraction--for three +or four days provisions. I went at once to the boat office, but to my +dismay found that from the dry state of the river goods had not come +down, so that no boat would leave to-day and perhaps none to-morrow. I +inquired if there were no letter-boats for Kia-hing Fu, and was told +that they had already left. The only remaining resource was to ascertain +if any private boats were going in which I could get a passage. My +search, however, was in vain; and I could get no boat to undertake to go +all the way to Shanghai, or my difficulty would have been at an end. + +Just at this juncture I saw before me, at a turn in the canal, a +letter-boat going in the direction of Kia-hing Fu This, I concluded, +must be one of the Kia-hing boats that had been unexpectedly detained, +and I set off after it as fast as hope and the necessities of the case +would carry me. For the time being weariness and sore feet were alike +forgotten. After a chase of about a mile I overtook it. + +"Are you going to Kia-hing Fu?" I called out. + +"No," was the only answer. + +"Are you going in that direction?" + +"No." + +"Will you give me a passage as far as you do go that way?" + +Still "No," and nothing more. + +Completely dispirited and exhausted, I sank down on the grass and +fainted away. + +As consciousness returned some voices reached my ear, and I found they +were talking about me. One said, "He speaks pure Shanghai dialect," and +from their own speech I knew them to be Shanghai people. Raising myself, +I saw that they were on a large hong-boat on the other side of the +canal, and after a few words they sent their small boat to fetch me, and +I went on board the junk. They were very kind, and gave me some tea; and +when I was refreshed and able to partake of it, some food also. I then +took my shoes and stockings off to ease my feet, and the boatman kindly +provided me with hot water to bathe them. When they heard my story, and +saw the blisters on my feet, they evidently pitied me, and hailed every +boat that passed to see if it was going my way. Not finding one, by and +by, after a few hours' sleep, I went ashore with the captain, intending +to preach in the temple of Kwan-ti. + +Before leaving the junk I told the captain and those on board that I was +now unable to help myself; that I had not strength to walk to Kia-hing +Fu, and having been disappointed in getting a passage to-day, I should +no longer have sufficient means to take me there by letter-boat, which +was an expensive mode of travelling; that I knew not how the GOD whom I +served would help me, but that I had no doubt He would do so; and that +my business now was to serve Him where I was. I also told them that the +help which I knew would come ought to be an evidence to them of the +truth of the religion which I and the other missionaries at Shanghai +preached. + +On our way to the town, while engaged in conversation with the captain, +we saw a letter-boat coming up. The captain drew my attention to it; but +I reminded him that I had no longer the means of paying my passage by +it. He hailed it, nevertheless, and found that it was going to a place +about nine English miles from Shanghai, whence one of the boatmen would +carry the mails overland to the city. He then said, "This gentleman is a +foreigner from Shanghai, who has been robbed, and has no longer the +means of returning. If you will take him with you as far as you go, and +then engage a sedan chair to carry him the rest of the way, he will pay +you in Shanghai. You see my boat is lying aground yonder for want of +water, and cannot get away. Now, I will stand surety; and if this +gentleman does not pay when you get to Shanghai, I will do so on your +return." This unsolicited kindness on the part of a Chinaman, a perfect +stranger, will appear the more remarkable to any one acquainted with the +character of the Chinese, who are generally most reluctant to risk their +money. Those on the letter-boat agreeing to the terms, I was taken on +board as a passenger. Oh, how thankful I felt for this providential +interposition, and to be once more on my way to Shanghai! + +Letter-boats such as the one on which I was now travelling are of a +long narrow build, and very limited as to their inside accommodation. +One has to lie down all the time they are in motion, as a slight +movement would easily upset them. This was no irksome condition to me, +however; on the contrary, I was only too glad to be quiet. They are the +quickest boats I have seen in China. Each one is worked by two men, who +relieve one another continuously night and day. They row with their +feet, and paddle with their hands; or if the wind is quite favourable, +row with their feet, and with one hand manage a small sail, while +steering with the other. + +After a pleasant and speedy journey, I reached Shanghai in safety on +August 9th, through the help of Him who has said, "I will never leave +thee, nor forsake thee;" "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of +the world." + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +PROVIDENTIAL GUIDANCE + + +IT now seemed very clear that the lost property--including everything I +possessed in China, with the exception of a small sum of money +providentially left in Shanghai--had been deliberately stolen by my +servant, who had gone off with it to Hang-chau. The first question, of +course, was how best to act for the good of the man who had been the +cause of so much trouble. It would not have been difficult to take steps +that would have led to his punishment; though the likelihood of any +reparation being made for the loss sustained was very small. But the +consideration which weighed most heavily was that the thief was a man +for whose salvation I had laboured and prayed; and I felt that to +prosecute him would not be to emphasise the teaching of the Sermon on +the Mount, in which we had read together, "Resist not evil," and other +similar precepts. Finally, concluding that his soul was of more value +than the £40 worth of things I had lost, I wrote and told him this, +urging upon him his need of repentance and faith in the LORD JESUS +CHRIST. The course I took commended itself to my Christian friends in +England, one of whom was afterwards led to send me a cheque for £40--the +first of many subsequently received from the same kind helper. + +Having obtained the little money left in Shanghai, I again set out for +Ningpo, to seek assistance from Dr. Parker in replacing the medicines I +had previously lost by fire. This being satisfactorily accomplished, I +returned once more to Shanghai, _en route_ for Swatow, hoping soon to +rejoin my much-loved friend, Mr. Burns, in the work in that important +centre. GOD had willed it otherwise, however; and the delay caused by +the robbery was just sufficient to prevent me from starting for the +South as I had intended. + +Over the political horizon storm-clouds had long been gathering, +precursors of coming war; and early in October of this year (1856) the +affair of the Lorcha _Arrow_ at Canton led to the definite commencement +of hostilities. Very soon China was deeply involved in a second +prolonged struggle with foreign powers; and missionary operations, in +the South at any rate, had to be largely suspended. Tidings of these +events, together with letters from Mr. Burns, arrived just in time to +meet me in Shanghai as I was leaving for Swatow; and thus hindered, I +could not but realise the hand of GOD in closing the door I had so much +desired to enter. + +While in Ningpo, I had made the acquaintance of Mr. John Jones, who, +with Dr. Parker, represented the Chinese Evangelisation Society in that +city. Hindered from returning to Swatow, I now decided to join these +brethren in the Ningpo work, and set out at once upon the journey. On +the afternoon of the second day, when already about thirty miles distant +from Shanghai, Mr. Jones and I drew near the large and important city of +Sung-kiang, and I spoke of going ashore to preach the Gospel to the +thronging multitudes that lined the banks and crowded the approaches to +the city gates. + +Among the passengers on board the boat was one intelligent man, who in +the course of his travels had been a good deal abroad, and had even +visited England, where he went by the name of Peter. As might be +expected, he had heard something of the Gospel, but had never +experienced its saving power. On the previous evening I had drawn him +into earnest converse about his soul's salvation. The man listened with +attention, and was even moved to tears, but still no definite result was +apparent. I was pleased, therefore, when he asked to be allowed to +accompany me, and to hear me preach. + +I went into the cabin of the boat to prepare tracts and books for +distribution on landing with my Chinese friend, when suddenly I was +startled by a splash and a cry from without. I sprang on deck, and took +in the situation at a glance. Peter was gone! The other men were all +there, on board, looking helplessly at the spot where he had +disappeared, but making no effort to save him. A strong wind was +carrying the junk rapidly forward in spite of a steady current in the +opposite direction, and the low-lying, shrubless shore afforded no +landmark to indicate how far we had left the drowning man behind. + +I instantly let down the sail and leapt overboard in the hope of finding +him. Unsuccessful, I looked around in agonising suspense, and saw close +to me a fishing-boat with a peculiar drag-net furnished with hooks, +which I knew would bring him up. + +"Come!" I cried, as hope revived in my heart. "Come and drag over this +spot directly; a man is drowning just here!" + +"Veh bin" (It is not convenient), was the unfeeling answer. + +"Don't talk of _convenience_!" cried I in an agony; "a man is drowning, +I tell you!" + +"We are busy fishing," they responded, "and cannot come." + +"Never mind your fishing," I said, "I will give you more money than many +a day's fishing will bring; only come--come at once!" + +"How much money will you give us?" + +"We cannot stay to discuss that now! Come, or it will be too late. I +will give you five dollars" (then worth about thirty shillings in English +money). + +"We won't do it for that," replied the men. "Give us twenty dollars, and +we will drag." + +"I do not possess so much: do come quickly, and I will give you all I +have!" + +"How much may that be?" + +“I don't know exactly, about fourteen dollars." + +At last, but even then slowly enough, the boat was paddled over, and the +net let down. Less than a minute sufficed to bring up the body of the +missing man. The fishermen were clamorous and indignant because their +exorbitant demand was delayed while efforts at resuscitation were being +made. But all was in vain--life was extinct. + +To myself this incident was profoundly sad and full of significance, +suggesting a far more mournful reality. Were not those fishermen +actually guilty of this poor Chinaman's death, in that they had the +means of saving him at hand, if they would but have used them? Assuredly +they were guilty. And yet, let us pause ere we pronounce judgment +against them, lest a greater than Nathan answer, "_Thou art the man_." +Is it so hard-hearted, so wicked a thing to neglect to save the body? Of +how much sorer punishment, then, is he worthy who leaves the soul to +perish, and Cain-like says, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD JESUS +commands, commands _me_, commands _you_, my brother, and _you_, my +sister. "Go," says He, "go ye into _all_ the world, and preach the +Gospel to _every_ creature." Shall we say to _Him_, "No, it is not +convenient"? shall we tell _Him_ that we are busy fishing and cannot +go? that we have bought a piece of ground and cannot go? that we have +purchased five yoke of oxen, or have married, or are engaged in other +and more interesting pursuits, and cannot go? Ere long "we must all +appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST; that every one may receive +the things done in his body." Let us remember, let us pray for, let us +labour for the unevangelised Chinese; _or we shall sin against our own +souls_. Let us consider _Who_ it is that has said, "If thou _forbear_ to +deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be +slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that +pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth _thy_ soul, doth +not he know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his +works?" + + Through midnight gloom from Macedon, + The cry of myriads as of one; + The voiceful silence of despair + Is eloquent in awful prayer: + The soul's exceeding bitter cry, + "Come o'er and help us, or we die." + + How mournfully it echoes on, + For half the earth is Macedon; + These brethren to their brethren call, + And by the Love which loves them all, + And by the whole world's Life they cry, + "O ye that live, behold we die!" + + By other sounds the world is won + Than that which wails from Macedon; + The roar of gain is round it rolled, + Or men unto themselves are sold, + And cannot list the alien cry, + "O hear and help us, lest we die!" + + Yet with that cry from Macedon + The very car of CHRIST rolls on: + "_I come; who would abide My day,_ + _In yonder wilds prepare My way;_ + _My voice is crying in their cry,_ + _Help ye the dying, lest ye die_." + + JESU, for men of Man the SON, + Yea, THINE the cry from Macedon; + Oh, by the kingdom and the power + And glory of Thine advent hour, + Wake heart and will to hear their cry: + Help us to help them, lest we die. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SETTLEMENT IN NINGPO + + +THE autumn of 1856 was well advanced before I reached Ningpo, one of the +most ancient and influential cities on the coast of China. Opened to the +residence of foreigners in 1842 by the treaty of Nan-king, it had long +been the scene of missionary labours. Within its thronging thoroughfares +the busy tide of life runs high. Four hundred thousand human beings +dwell within or around the five miles circuit of its ancient wall, every +one a soul that JESUS loves, for whom He died. + +As winter drew on I rented a native house in Wu-gyiao-deo, or Lake Head +Street. It was not then a very comfortable residence. I have a very +distinct remembrance of tracing my initials on the snow which during the +night had collected upon my coverlet in the large barn-like upper room, +now subdivided into four or five smaller ones, each of which is +comfortably ceiled. The tiling of an unceiled Chinese house may keep off +the rain--if it happens to be sound--but it does not afford so good a +protection against snow, which will beat up through crannies and +crevices, and find its way within. But however unfinished may have been +its fittings, the little house was well adapted for work amongst the +people; and there I thankfully settled down, finding ample scope for +service,--morning, noon, and night. + +During the latter part of this year my mind was greatly exercised about +continued connection with my Society, it being frequently in debt. +Personally I had always avoided debt, and kept within my salary, though +at times only by very careful economy. Now there was no difficulty in +doing this, for my income was larger, and the country being in a more +peaceful state, things were not so dear. But the Society itself was in +debt. The quarterly bills which I and others were instructed to draw +were often met by borrowed money, and a correspondence commenced which +terminated in the following year by my resigning from conscientious +motives. + +To me it seemed that the teaching of GOD'S Word was unmistakably clear: +"Owe no man any thing." To borrow money implied, to my mind, a +contradiction of Scripture--a confession that GOD had withheld some good +thing, and a determination to get for ourselves what He had not given. +Could that which was wrong for one Christian to do be right for an +association of Christians? Or could any amount of precedents make a +wrong course justifiable? If the Word taught me anything, it taught me +to have no connection with debt. I could not think that GOD was poor, +that He was short of resources, or unwilling to supply any want of +whatever work was really His. It seemed to me that if there were lack of +funds to carry on work, then to that degree, in that special +development, or at that time, it could not be the work of GOD. To +satisfy my conscience I was therefore compelled to resign connection +with the Society which had hitherto supplied my salary. + +It was a great satisfaction to me that my friend and colleague, Mr. +Jones, also of the Chinese Evangelisation Society, was led to take the +same step; and we were both profoundly thankful that the separation +took place without the least breach of friendly feeling on either side. +Indeed, we had the joy of knowing that the step we took commended itself +to several members of the Committee, although as a whole the Society +could not come to our position. Depending upon GOD alone for supplies, +we were enabled to continue a measure of connection with our former +supporters, sending home journals, etc., for publication as before, so +long as the Society continued to exist. + +The step we had taken was not a little trying to faith. I was not at all +sure what GOD would have me do, or whether He would so meet my need as +to enable me to continue working as before. I had no friends whatever +from whom I expected supplies. I did not know what means the LORD might +use; but I was willing to give up all my time to the service of +evangelisation among the heathen, if by any means He would supply the +smallest amount on which I could live; and if He were not pleased to do +this, I was prepared to undertake whatever work might be necessary to +supply myself, giving all the time that could be spared from such a +calling to more distinctly missionary efforts. But GOD blessed and +prospered me; and how glad and thankful I felt when the separation was +really effected! I could look right up into my FATHER'S face with a +satisfied heart, ready, by His grace, to do the next thing as He might +teach me, and feeling very sure of His loving care. + +And how blessedly He did lead me on and provide for me I can never, +never tell. It was like a continuation of some of my earlier home +experiences. My faith was not untried; it often, often failed, and I was +so sorry and ashamed of the failure to trust such a FATHER. But oh! I +was learning to know Him. I would not even then have missed the trial. +He became so near, so real, so intimate. The occasional difficulty about +funds never came from an insufficient supply for personal needs, but in +consequence of ministering to the wants of scores of the hungry and +dying ones around us. And trials far more searching in other ways quite +eclipsed these difficulties; and being deeper, brought forth in +consequence richer fruits. How glad one is now, not only to know, with +dear Miss Havergal, that---- + + "They who trust Him wholly + Find Him wholly true," + +but also that when we fail to trust fully He still remains unchangingly +faithful. He _is_ wholly true whether we trust or not. "If we believe +not, He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself." But oh, how we +dishonour our LORD whenever we fail to trust Him, and what peace, +blessing, and triumph we lose in thus sinning against the Faithful One! +May we never again presume in anything to doubt Him! + +The year 1857 was a troublous time, and closed with the notorious +bombardment of Canton by the British, and the commencement of our second +Chinese war. Rumours of trouble were everywhere rife, and in many places +the missionaries passed through not a little danger. In Ningpo this was +especially the case, and the preserving care of GOD in answer to prayer +was consequently most marked. When the awful news of the bombardment of +Canton reached the Cantonese in Ningpo their wrath and indignation knew +no bounds, and they immediately set to work to plot the destruction of +all the foreigners resident in the city and neighbourhood. It was well +known that many of the foreigners were in the habit of meeting for +worship every Sunday evening at one of the missionary houses, and the +plan was to surround the place on a given occasion and make short work +of all present, cutting off afterwards any who might not be present. + +The sanction of the Tao-t'ai, or chief civil magistrate of the city, was +easily obtained; and nothing remained to hinder the execution of the +plot, of which the foreigners were of course entirely in ignorance. (A +similar plot against the Portuguese a few months later was carried out, +and between fifty and sixty were massacred in open daylight.) It so +happened, however, that one of those acquainted with the conspiracy had +a friend engaged in the service of the missionaries; and anxious for his +safety, he was led to warn him of the coming danger, and urge his +leaving foreign employ. The servant made the matter known to his master, +and thus the little community became aware of their peril. Realising the +gravity of the situation, they determined to meet together at the house +of one of their number to seek the protection of the Most High, and to +hide under the shadow of His wings. Nor did they thus meet in vain. + +At the very time we were praying the LORD was working. He led an +inferior mandarin, the Superintendent of Customs, to call upon the +Tao-t'ai, and remonstrate with him upon the folly of permitting such an +attempt, which he assured him would rouse the foreigners in other places +to come with armed forces to avenge the death of their countrymen and +raze the city to the ground. The Tao-t'ai replied that, when the +foreigners came for that purpose, he should deny all knowledge of or +complicity in the plot, and so direct their vengeance against the +Cantonese, who would in their turn be destroyed; "and thus," said he, +"we shall get rid of both Cantonese and foreigners by one stroke of +policy." The Superintendent of Customs assured him that all such +attempts at evasion would be useless; and, finally, the Tao-t'ai sent to +the Cantonese, withdrawing his permission, and prohibiting the attack. +This took place at the very time when we were asking protection of the +LORD, though we did not become acquainted with the facts until some +weeks later. Thus again we were led to prove that-- + + "Sufficient is His arm alone, + And our defence is sure." + +I cannot attempt to give any historical record of the events of this +period, but ere 1857 terminated Mr. Jones and I were cheered by tokens +of blessing. It is interesting to recall the circumstances connected +with the first profession of faith in Christ, which encouraged us. + +On one occasion I was preaching the glad tidings of salvation through +the finished work of CHRIST, when a middle-aged man stood up, and +testified before his assembled countrymen to his faith in the power of +the Gospel. + +"I have long sought for the Truth," said he earnestly, "as my fathers +did before me; but I have never found it. I have travelled far and near, +but without obtaining it. I have found no rest in Confucianism, +Buddhism, or Taoism; but I do find rest in what I have heard here +to-night. Henceforth I am a believer in JESUS." + +This man was one of the leading officers of a sect of reformed Buddhists +in Ningpo. A short time after his confession of faith in the SAVIOUR +there was a meeting of the sect over which he had formerly presided. I +accompanied him to that meeting, and there, to his former +co-religionists, he testified of the peace he had obtained in believing. +Soon after, one of his former companions was converted and baptized. +Both now sleep in JESUS. The first of these two long continued to preach +to his countrymen the glad tidings of great joy. A few nights after his +conversion he asked how long this Gospel had been known in England. He +was told that we had known it for some hundreds of years. + +"What!" said he, amazed; "is it possible that for hundreds of years you +have had the knowledge of these glad tidings in your possession, and yet +have only now come to preach it to us? My father sought after the Truth +for more than twenty years, and died without finding it. Oh, why did you +not come sooner?" + +A whole generation has passed away since that mournful inquiry was made; +but how many, alas! might repeat the same question to-day? More than two +hundred millions in the meanwhile have been swept into eternity, without +an offer of salvation. How long shall this continue, and the MASTER'S +words, "To every creature," remain unheeded? + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TIMELY SUPPLIES + + +NOT infrequently our GOD brings His people into difficulties on purpose +that they may come to know Him as they could not otherwise do. Then He +reveals Himself as "a very present help in trouble," and makes the heart +glad indeed at each fresh revelation of a FATHER'S faithfulness. We who +only see so small a part of the sweet issues of trial often feel that we +would not for anything have missed them; how much more shall we bless +and magnify His Name when all the hidden things are brought to light! + +In the autumn of 1857, just one year after I came to settle in Ningpo, a +little incident occurred that did much to strengthen our faith in the +loving-kindness and ever-watchful care of GOD. + +A brother in the LORD, the Rev. John Quarterman, of the American +Presbyterian Mission North, was taken with virulent small-pox, and it +was my mournful privilege to nurse him through his suffering illness to +its fatal close. When all was over, it became necessary to lay aside the +garments worn while nursing, for fear of conveying the infection to +others. Not having sufficient money in hand to purchase what was needful +in order to make this change, prayer was the only resource. The LORD +answered it by the unexpected arrival of a long-lost box of clothing +from Swatow, that had remained in the care of the Rev. William Burns +when I left him for Shanghai, in the early summer of the previous year. +The arrival of the things just at this juncture was as appropriate as it +was remarkable, and brought a sweet sense of the FATHER'S own providing. + +About two months later the following was penned:---- + + + _November 18th, 1857._ + +Many seem to think that I am very poor. This certainly is true enough in +one sense, but I thank GOD it is "as poor, yet making many rich; as +having nothing, yet possessing all things." And my GOD shall supply +_all_ my need; to Him be all the glory. I would not, if I could, be +otherwise than I am--entirely dependent myself upon the LORD, and used +as a channel of help to others. + +On Saturday, the 4th inst., our regular home mail arrived. That morning +we supplied, as usual, a breakfast to the destitute poor, who came to +the number of seventy. Sometimes they do not reach forty, at others +again exceeding eighty. They come to us every day, LORD'S Day excepted, +for then we cannot manage to attend to them and get through all our +other duties too. Well, on that Saturday morning we paid all expenses, +and provided ourselves for the morrow, after which we had not a single +dollar left between us. How the LORD was going to provide for Monday we +knew not; but over our mantelpiece hung two scrolls in the Chinese +character--_Ebenezer_, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us"; and +_Jehovah-Jireh_, "The LORD will provide"--and He kept us from doubting +for a moment. That very day the mail came in, _a week sooner than was +expected_, and Mr. Jones received a bill for two hundred and fourteen +dollars. We thanked GOD and took courage. The bill was taken to a +merchant, and although there is usually a delay of several days in +getting the change, this time he said, "Send down on Monday." We sent, +and though he had not been able to buy all the dollars, he let us have +seventy on account; so all was well. Oh, it is sweet to live thus +directly dependent upon the LORD, who never fails us! + +On Monday the poor had their breakfast as usual, for we had not told +them not to come, being assured that it was the LORD'S work, and that +the LORD would provide. We could not help our eyes filling with tears of +gratitude when we saw not only our own needs supplied, but the widow and +the orphan, the blind and the lame, the friendless and the destitute, +together provided for by the bounty of Him who feeds the ravens. "O +magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His Name together. . . . Taste +and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. +O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear +Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the +LORD shall not want any good thing"--and if not good, why want it? + +But even two hundred dollars cannot last for ever, and by New Year's Day +supplies were again getting low. At last, on January 6th, 1858, only one +solitary cash remained--the twentieth part of a penny--in the joint +possession of Mr. Jones and myself; but though tried we looked to GOD +once again to manifest His gracious care. Enough provision was found in +the house to supply a meagre breakfast; after which, having neither food +for the rest of the day, nor money to buy any, we could only betake +ourselves to Him who was able to supply all our need with the petition, +"Give us this day our daily bread." + +After prayer and deliberation we thought that perhaps we ought to +dispose of something we possessed in order to meet our immediate +requirements. But on looking round we saw nothing that we could well +spare, and little that the Chinese would purchase for ready money. +Credit to any extent we might have had, could we conscientiously have +availed ourselves of it, but this we felt to be unscriptural in itself, +as well as inconsistent with the position we were in. We had, indeed, +one article--an iron stove--which we knew the Chinese would readily +purchase; but we much regretted the necessity of parting with it. At +length, however, we set out to the founder's, and after a walk of some +distance came to the river, which we had intended to cross by a floating +bridge of boats; but here the LORD shut up our path. The bridge had been +carried away during the preceding night, and the river was only passable +by means of a ferry, the fare for which was two cash each person. As we +only possessed one cash, our course clearly was to return and await +GOD'S own interposition on our behalf. + +Upon reaching home, we found that Mrs. Jones had gone with the children +to dine at a friend's house, in accordance with an invitation accepted +some days previously. Mr. Jones, though himself included in the +invitation, refused now to go and leave me to fast alone. So we set to +work and carefully searched the cupboards; and though there was nothing +to eat, we found a small packet of cocoa, which, with a little hot +water, somewhat revived us. After this we again cried to the LORD in our +trouble, and the LORD heard and saved us out of all our distresses. For +while we were still upon our knees a letter arrived from England +containing a remittance. + +This timely supply not only met the immediate and urgent need of the +day; for in the assured confidence that GOD, whose we were and whom we +served, would not put to shame those whose whole and only trust was in +Himself. My marriage had been previously arranged to take place just +fourteen days after this date. And this expectation was not +disappointed; for "the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, +but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant +of My peace be removed." And although during subsequent years our faith +was often exercised, and sometimes severely, He ever proved faithful to +His promise, and never suffered us to lack any good thing. + +Never, perhaps, was there a union that more fully realised the blessed +truth, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour +of the LORD." My dear wife was not only a precious gift to me; GOD +blessed her to many others during the twelve eventful years through +which she was spared to those that loved her and to China. + +Hers had been a life connection with missionary work in that great +empire; for her father, the loved and devoted Samuel Dyer, was amongst +the very earliest representatives of the London Mission in the East. He +reached the Straits as early as 1827, and for sixteen years laboured +assiduously amongst the Chinese in Penang and Singapore, completing at +the same time a valuable fount of Chinese metallic type, the first of +the kind that had then been attempted. Dying in 1843, it was never Mr. +Dyers privilege to realise his hopes of ultimately being able to settle +on Chinese soil; but his children lived to see the country opened to the +Gospel, and to take their share in the great work that had been so dear +to his heart. At the time of her marriage, my dear wife had been already +living for several years in Ningpo with her friend, Miss Aldersey, in +whose varied missionary operations she was well qualified to render +valuable assistance. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +GOD A REFUGE FOR US + + +A SOMEWHAT different though not less manifest answer to prayer was +vouchsafed early in the year 1859. My dear wife was brought very low by +illness, and at last all hope of recovery seemed gone. Every remedy +tried had proved unavailing; and Dr. Parker, who was in attendance, had +nothing more to suggest. Life was ebbing fast away. The only ground of +hope was that GOD might yet see fit to raise her up, in answer to +believing but submissive prayer. + +The afternoon for the usual prayer meeting among the missionaries had +arrived, and I sent in a request for prayer, which was most warmly +responded to. Just at this time a remedy that had not yet been tried was +suggested to my mind, and I felt that I must hasten to consult Dr. +Parker as to the propriety of using it. It was a moment of anguish. The +hollow temples, sunken eyes, and pinched features denoted the near +approach of death; and it seemed more than questionable as to whether +life would hold out until my return. It was nearly two miles to Dr. +Parker's house, and every moment appeared long. On my way thither, while +wrestling mightily with GOD in prayer, the precious words were brought +with power to my soul, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will +deliver thee, and thou shall glorify Me." I was at once enabled to plead +them in faith, and the result was deep, deep, unspeakable peace and +joy. All consciousness of distance was gone. Dr. Parker cordially +approved of the use of the means suggested, but upon arriving at home I +saw at a glance that the desired change had taken place in the absence +of this or any other remedy. The pinched aspect of the countenance had +given place to the calmness of tranquil slumber, and not one +unfavourable symptom remained to retard recovery to health and strength. + +Spared thus in answer to prayer the loss of my own loved one, it was +with added sympathy and sorrow that I felt for Dr. Parker, when, in the +autumn of the same year, his own wife was very suddenly removed. It +being necessary for the doctor to return at once with his motherless +children to Glasgow, temporary arrangements had to be made for the +conduct of the Mission Hospital in Ningpo, for which he alone had been +responsible. Under these circumstances he requested me to take up the +work, at least so far as the dispensary was concerned. After a few days' +waiting upon the LORD for guidance, I felt constrained to undertake not +only the dispensary work, but also that of the hospital; relying solely +upon the faithfulness of a prayer-hearing GOD to furnish the means +required for its support. + +The funds for the maintenance of the hospital had hitherto been supplied +by the proceeds of the doctor's foreign medical practice; and with his +departure these ceased. But had not GOD said that whatever we ask in the +Name of the LORD JESUS shall be done? And are we not told to seek first +the kingdom of GOD, not means to advance it, and that all these things +shall be added to us? Such promises were surely sufficient. Eight days +before entering upon this responsibility I had not the remotest idea of +ever doing so; still less could friends at home have anticipated it. +But the LORD had foreseen the need, and already funds were on the way to +supply it. + +At times there were not less than fifty in-patients in the hospital, +besides a large number who daily attended the out-patient department. +Thirty beds were ordinarily allotted to free patients and their +attendants; and about as many to opium-smokers, who paid for their board +while being cured of the habit. As all the wants of the sick in the +wards were supplied gratuitously, in addition to the remedial appliances +needed for the out-patient work, the daily expenses were considerable; +besides which, a number of native attendants were required, involving +their support. + +When Dr. Parker handed the hospital over to me he was able to leave +money that would meet the salaries and working expenses of the current +month, and little more. Being unable to guarantee their support, his +native staff retired; and then I mentioned the circumstances to the +members of our little church, some of whom volunteered to help me, +depending, like myself, upon the LORD; and they with me continued to +wait upon GOD that in some way or other He would provide for His own +work. Day by day the stores diminished, and they were all but exhausted +when one day a remarkable letter reached me from a friend in England +which contained a cheque for £50. The letter stated that the sender had +recently lost his father, and had inherited his property; that not +desiring to increase his personal expenditure, he wished to hold the +money which had now been left to him to further the LORD'S work. He +enclosed the £50, saying that I might know of some special need for it; +but leaving me free to use it for my own support, or in any way that the +LORD might lead me; only asking to know how it was applied, and whether +there was need for more. + +After a little season of thanksgiving with my dear wife, I called my +native helpers into our little chapel, and translated to them the +letter. I need not say how rejoiced they were, and that we together +praised GOD. They returned to their work in the hospital with +overflowing hearts, and told out to the patients what a GOD was ours; +appealing to them whether their idols had ever helped them so. Both +helpers and patients were blessed spiritually through this remarkable +provision, and from that time the LORD provided all that was necessary +for carrying on the institution, in addition to what was needed for the +maintenance of my own family, and for sustaining other branches of +missionary work under my care. When, nine months later, I was obliged +through failure of health to relinquish this charge, I was able to leave +more funds in hand for the support of the hospital than were forthcoming +at the time I undertook it. + +But not only were pecuniary supplies vouchsafed in answer to +prayer--many lives were spared; persons apparently in hopeless stages of +disease were restored, and success was given in cases of serious and +dangerous operations. In the case of one poor man, whose legs were +amputated under very unfavourable circumstances, healthy action took +place with such rapidity that both wounds were healed in less than two +weeks. And more permanent benefits than these were conferred. Many were +convinced of the truth of Christianity; not a few sought the LORD in +faith and prayer, and experienced the power of the Great Physician to +cure the sin-sick soul. During the nine months above alluded to sixteen +patients from the hospital were baptized, and more than thirty others +became candidates for admission into one or other of the Christian +churches in the city. + +Thus the year 1860 began with openings on all hands, but time and +strength were sadly too limited to admit of their being used to the +best advantage. For some time the help of additional workers had been a +much-felt need; and in January very definite prayer was made to the LORD +of the harvest that He would thrust forth more labourers into this +special portion of the great world-field. Writing to relatives at home +in England, under date of January 16th, 1860, I thus expressed the deep +longing of our hearts:-- + + Do you know any earnest, devoted young men + desirous of serving GOD in China, who--not wishing + for more than their actual support--would be + willing to come out and labour here? Oh, for four + or five such helpers! They would probably begin to + preach in Chinese in six months time; and in + answer to prayer the necessary means for their + support would be found. + +But no one came to help us then; and under the incessant physical and +mental strain involved, in the care of the hospital during Dr. Parker's +absence, as well as the continued discharge of my other missionary +duties, my own health began rapidly to fail, and it became a serious +question as to whether it would not be needful to return to England for +a time. + +It was hard to face this possibility. The growing church and work seemed +to need our presence, and it was no small trial to part from those whom +we had learned so truly to love in the LORD. Thirty or forty native +Christians had been gathered into the recently organised church; and the +well-filled meetings, and the warm-hearted earnestness of the converts, +all bespoke a future of much promise. At last, however, completely +prostrated by repeated attacks of illness, the only hope of restoration +seemed to lie in a voyage to England and a brief stay in its more +bracing climate; and this necessity, painful though it seemed at the +time, proved to be only another opportunity for the manifestation of the +faithfulness and loving care of Him "who worketh all things after the +counsel of His own will." + +As heretofore, the LORD was present with His aid. The means for our +journey were supplied, and that so liberally that we were able to bring +with us a native Christian to assist in translation or other literary +work, and to instruct in the language such helpers as the LORD might +raise up for the extension of the Mission. That He would give us +fellow-labourers we had no doubt; for we had been enabled to seek them +from Him in earnest and believing prayer for many months previously. + +The day before leaving China we wrote as follows to our friend W. T. +Berger, Esq., whom we had known in England, and who had ever +strengthened our hands in the LORD while in that distant land:-- + +"We are bringing with us a young Chinese brother to assist in literary +work, and I hope also in teaching the dialect to those whom the LORD may +induce to return with us." + +And throughout the voyage our earnest cry to GOD was that He would +overrule our stay at home for good to China, and make it instrumental in +raising up at least five helpers to labour in the province of +CHEH-KIANG. + +The way in which it pleased the LORD to answer these earnest and +believing prayers, and the "exceeding abundantly" with which He crowned +them, we shall now sketch in brief outline. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW AGENCY NEEDED + + +"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith +the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways +higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."[3] How true +are these words! When the LORD is bringing in great blessing in the best +possible way, how oftentimes our unbelieving hearts are feeling, if not +saying, like Jacob of old, "All these things are against me." Or we are +filled with fear, as were the disciples when the LORD, walking on the +waters, drew near to quiet the troubled sea, and to bring them quickly +to their desired haven. And yet mere common-sense ought to tell us that +He, whose way is perfect, _can_ make no mistakes; that He who has +promised to "perfect that which concerneth" us, and whose minute care +counts the very hairs of our heads, and forms for us our circumstances, +_must_ know better than we the way to forward our truest interests and +to glorify His own Name. + + "Blind unbelief is _sure_ to err + And scan His work in vain; + GOD is His own Interpreter, + And He will make it plain." + +To me it seemed a great calamity that failure of health compelled my +relinquishing work for GOD in China, just when it was more fruitful than +ever before; and to leave the little band of Christians in Ningpo, +needing much care and teaching, was a great sorrow. Nor was the sorrow +lessened when, on reaching England, medical testimony assured me that +return to China, at least for years to come, was impossible. Little did +I then realise that the long separation from China was a necessary step +towards the formation of a work which GOD would bless as He has blessed +the CHINA INLAND MISSION. While in the field, the pressure of claims +immediately around me was so great that I could not think much of the +still greater needs of the regions farther inland; and, if they were +thought of, could do nothing for them. But while detained for some years +in England, daily viewing the whole country on the large map on the wall +of my study, I was as near to the vast regions of Inland China as to the +smaller districts in which I had laboured personally for GOD; and prayer +was often the only resource by which the burdened heart could gain any +relief. + +As a long absence from China appeared inevitable, the next question was +how best to serve China while in England, and this led to my engaging +for several years, with the late Rev. F. F. Gough of the C. M. S., in +the revision of a version of the New Testament in the colloquial of +Ningpo for the British and Foreign Bible Society. In undertaking this +work, in my short-sightedness I saw nothing beyond the use that the +Book, and the marginal references, would be to the native Christians; +but I have often seen since that, without those months of feeding and +feasting on the Word of GOD, I should have been quite unprepared to +form, on its present basis, a mission like the CHINA INLAND MISSION. + +In the study of that Divine Word I learned that, to obtain successful +labourers, not elaborate appeals for help, but, _first_, earnest _prayer +to GOD to thrust forth labourers_, and, _second_, the deepening of the +spiritual life of the church, so that _men should be unable to stay at +home_, were what was needed. I saw that the Apostolic plan was not to +raise ways and means, but _to go and do the work_, trusting in His sure +Word who has said, "Seek ye _first_ the Kingdom of GOD and His +righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." + +In the meantime the prayer for workers for CHEH-KIANG was being +answered. The first, Mr. Meadows, sailed for China with his young wife +in January 1862, through the kind co-operation and aid of our friend Mr. +Berger. The second left England in 1864, having her passage provided by +the Foreign Evangelisation Society. The third and fourth reached Ningpo +on July 24th, 1865. A fifth soon followed them, reaching Ningpo in +September 1865. Thus the prayer for the five workers was fully answered; +and we were encouraged to look to GOD for still greater things. + +Months of earnest prayer and not a few abortive efforts had resulted in +a deep conviction that _a special agency was essential_ for the +evangelisation of Inland China. At this time I had not only the daily +help of prayer and conference with my beloved friend and fellow-worker +the late Rev. F. F. Gough, but also invaluable aid and counsel from Mr. +and Mrs. Berger, with whom I and my dear wife (whose judgment and piety +were of priceless value at this juncture) spent many days in prayerful +deliberation. The grave difficulty of possibly interfering with existing +missionary operations at home was foreseen; but it was concluded that, +by simple trust in GOD, suitable agency might be raised up and sustained +without interfering injuriously with any existing work. I had also a +growing conviction that GOD would have _me_ to seek from Him the needed +workers, and to go forth with them. But for a long time unbelief +hindered my taking the first step. + +How inconsistent unbelief always is! I had no doubt that, if I prayed +for workers, "_in_ the Name" of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, they would be +given me. I had no doubt that, in answer to such prayer, the means for +our going forth would be provided, and that doors would be opened before +us in unreached parts of the Empire. But I had not then learned to trust +GOD for _keeping_ power and grace for myself, so no wonder that I could +not trust Him to keep others who might be prepared to go with me. I +feared that in the midst of the dangers, difficulties, and trials which +would necessarily be connected with such a work, some who were +comparatively inexperienced Christians might break down, and bitterly +reproach me for having encouraged them to undertake an enterprise for +which they were unequal. + +Yet, what was I to do? The feeling of blood-guiltiness became more and +more intense. Simply because I refused to ask for them, the labourers +did not come forward--did not go out to China--and every day tens of +thousands were passing away to Christless graves! Perishing China so +filled my heart and mind that there was no rest by day, and little sleep +by night, till health broke down. At the invitation of my beloved and +honoured friend, Mr. George Pearse (then of the Stock Exchange), I went +to spend a few days with him in Brighton. + +On Sunday, June 25th, 1865, unable to bear the sight of a congregation +of a thousand or more Christian people rejoicing in their own security, +while millions were perishing for lack of knowledge, I wandered out on +the sands alone, in great spiritual agony; and there the LORD conquered +my unbelief, and I surrendered myself to GOD for this service. I told +Him that all the responsibility as to issues and consequences must rest +with Him; that as His servant, it was mine to obey and to follow +Him--His, to direct, to care for, and to guide me and those who might +labour with me. Need I say that peace at once flowed into my burdened +heart? There and then I asked Him for twenty-four fellow-workers, two +for each of eleven inland provinces which were without a missionary, and +two for Mongolia; and writing the petition on the margin of the Bible I +had with me, I returned home with a heart enjoying rest such as it had +been a stranger to for months, and with an assurance that the LORD would +bless His own work and that I should share in the blessing. I had +previously prayed, and asked prayer, that workers might be raised up for +the eleven then unoccupied provinces, and thrust forth and provided for, +but had not surrendered myself to be their leader. + +About this time, with the help of my dear wife, I wrote the little book, +_China's Spiritual Need and Claims_. Every paragraph was steeped in +prayer. With the help of Mr. Berger, who had given valued aid in the +revision of the manuscript, and who bore the expense of printing an +edition of 3000 copies, they were soon put in circulation. I spoke +publicly of the proposed work as opportunity permitted, specially at the +Perth and Mildmay Conferences of 1865, and continued in prayer for +fellow-workers, who were soon raised up, and after due correspondence +were invited to my home, then in the East of London. When one house +became insufficient, the occupant of the adjoining house removed, and I +was able to rent it; and when that in its turn became insufficient, +further accommodation was provided close by. Soon there were a number of +men and women under preparatory training, and engaging in evangelistic +work which tested in some measure their qualifications as soul-winners. + +[Illustration] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] Isaiah lv. 8, 9. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE FORMATION OF THE C. I. M. + + +IT was thus that in the year 1865 the CHINA INLAND MISSION was +organised; and the workers already in the field were incorporated into +it. W. T. Berger, Esq., then residing at Saint Hill, near East +Grinstead, without whose help and encouragement I could not have gone +forward, undertook the direction of the home department of the work +during my anticipated absence in China; and I proposed, as soon as +arrangements could be completed, to go out with the volunteers and take +the direction of the work in the field. For the support of the workers +already in China, our friends at home were sending in unsolicited +contributions from time to time, and every need was met. + +We had now, however, to look forward to the outgoing of a party of +sixteen or seventeen, and estimated that from £1500 to £2000 might be +required to cover outfits, passage-money, and initial expenses. I wrote +a little pamphlet, calling it "Occasional Paper, No. I." (intending in +successive numbers to give to donors and friends accounts of the work +wrought through us in China), and in that paper stated the anticipated +needs for floating the enterprise. I expected that GOD would incline the +hearts of some of the readers to send contributions: I had determined +never to use personal solicitation, or to make collections, or to issue +collecting-books. Missionary-boxes were thought unobjectionable, and we +had a few prepared for those who might ask for them, and have continued +to use them ever since. + +It was February 6th, 1866, when I sent my manuscript of "Occasional +Paper, No. I.," with a design for the cover, to the printer. From delays +in engraving and printing, it was March 12th when the bales of pamphlets +were delivered at my house. Now on February 6th a daily prayer-meeting, +from 12 to 1 o'clock, had been commenced, to ask for the needed funds. +And that we had not asked in vain, the following extract from +"Occasional Paper, No. II." will show:-- + +"The receipts for 1864 were £51:14s.; for 1865, from January to June, +£221:12:6, besides two free passages; from June to December, £923:12:8. +Hindrances having occurred, the MS. of the "Occasional Paper, No. I." +was not completed till February 6th, 1866. Up to this time we had +received (from December 30th) £170:8:3. + +"We felt much encouraged by the receipt of so much money in little more +than a month, as it was entirely unsolicited by us--save from GOD. But +it was also evident that we must ask the LORD to do yet greater things +for us, or it would be impossible for a party of from ten to sixteen to +leave in the middle of May. _Daily united prayer was therefore offered +to_ GOD for the funds needful for the outfits and passages of as many as +He would have to go out in May. + +"Owing to the delays mentioned above in the printing of the 'Occasional +Paper,' it was not ready for the publisher until March 12th. On this day +I again examined my mission cash-book, and the comparison of the result +of the two similar periods of one month and six days each, one before +and one after special prayer for £1500 to £2000, was very striking:-- + + "Receipts from December 30th to February 6th, £170 8 3 + " Feb. 6th to Mar. 12th £1774 5 11 + "Funds advised, since received 200 0 0 + --------- £1974 5 11 + +"This, it will be noticed, was _previous_ to the circulation of the +'Occasional Paper,' and, consequently, was not the result of it. It was +the response of a faithful GOD to the united prayers of those whom He +had called to serve Him in the Gospel of His dear SON. + +"We can now compare with these two periods a third of the same extent. +From March 12th to April 18th the receipts were £529, showing that when +GOD had supplied the special need, the special supply also ceased. Truly +there is a LIVING GOD, and HE is the hearer and answerer of prayer." + +But this gracious answer to prayer made it a little difficult to +circulate "Occasional Paper, No. I.," for it stated as a need that which +was already supplied. The difficulty was obviated by the issue with each +copy of a coloured inset stating that the funds for outfit and passage +were already in hand in answer to prayer. We were reminded of the +difficulty of Moses--not a very common one in the present day--and of +the proclamation he had to send through the camp to the people to +prepare no more for the building of the Tabernacle, as the gifts in hand +were already too much. We are convinced that if there were _less_ +solicitation for money and _more_ dependence upon the power of the HOLY +GHOST and upon the deepening of spiritual life, the experience of Moses +would be a common one in every branch of Christian work. + +Preparations for sailing to China were at once proceeded with. About +this time I was asked to give a lecture on China in a village not very +far from London, and agreed to do so on condition that there should be +no collection, and that this should be announced on the bills. The +gentleman who invited me, and who kindly presided as chairman, said he +had never had that condition imposed before. He accepted it, however, +and the bills were issued accordingly for the 2nd or 3rd of May. With +the aid of a large map, something of the extent and population and deep +spiritual need of China was presented, and many were evidently +impressed. + +At the close of the meeting the chairman said that by my request it had +been intimated on the bills that there would be no collection; but he +felt that many present would be distressed and burdened if they had not +the opportunity of contributing something towards the good work +proposed. He trusted that as the proposition emanated entirely from +himself, and expressed, he felt sure, the feelings of many in the +audience, I should not object to it. I begged, however, that the +condition agreed to might be carried out; pointing out among other +reasons for making no collection, that the very reason adduced by our +kind chairman was, to my mind, one of the strongest for not making it. +My wish was, not that those present should be relieved by making such +contribution as might there and then be convenient, under the influence +of a present emotion; but that each one should go home burdened with the +deep need of China, and ask of GOD what He would have them to do. If, +after thought and prayer, they were satisfied that a pecuniary +contribution was what He wanted of them, it could be given to any +Missionary Society having agents in China; or it might be posted to our +London office; but that perhaps in many cases what GOD wanted was _not_ +a money contribution, but personal consecration to His service abroad; +or the giving up of son or daughter--more precious than silver or +gold--to His service. I added that I thought the tendency of a +collection was to leave the impression that the all-important thing was +_money_, whereas no amount of money could convert a single soul; that +what was needed was that men and women filled with the HOLY GHOST should +give _themselves_ to the work: for the support of such there would never +be a lack of funds. As my wish was evidently very strong, the chairman +kindly yielded to it, and closed the meeting. He told me, however, at +the supper-table, that he thought it was a mistake on my part, and that, +notwithstanding all I had said, a few persons had put some little +contributions into his hands. + +Next morning at breakfast, my kind host came in a little late, and +acknowledged to not having had a very good night. After breakfast he +asked me to his study, and giving me the contributions handed to him the +night before, said, "I thought last night, Mr. Taylor, that you were in +the wrong about a collection; I am now convinced you were quite right. +As I thought in the night of that stream of souls in China ever passing +onward into the dark, I could only cry as you suggested, 'LORD, what +wilt Thou have _me_ to do?' I think I have obtained the guidance I +sought, and here it is." He handed me a cheque for £500, adding that if +there had been a collection he would have given a few pounds to it, but +now this cheque was the result of having spent no small part of the +night in prayer. + +I need scarcely say how surprised and thankful I was for this gift. I +had received at the breakfast-table a letter from Messrs. Killick, +Martin and Co., shipping agents, in which they stated that they could +offer us the whole passenger accommodation of the ship _Lammermuir_. I +went direct to the ship, found it in every way suitable, and paid the +cheque on account. As above stated, the funds deemed needed had been +already in hand for some time; but the coincidence of the simultaneous +offer of the ship accommodation and this munificent gift--GOD'S +"exceeding abundantly"--greatly encouraged my heart. + +On the 26th of May we sailed for China in the _Lammermuir_, a missionary +party of 16 (besides my four children and their nurse, and Miss Bausum +(afterwards Mrs. Barchet)); in all 22 passengers. Mr. Berger took charge +of the home department, and thus the C. I. M. was fully inaugurated. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE MISSION IN 1894 + + +THE events sketched in the last two chapters have been more fully +delineated by Miss Guinness in her interesting _Story of the China +Inland Mission_, which continues its history to the present date. It is +indeed a record of the goodness of GOD, every remembrance of which calls +for gratitude and praise. We can only here briefly mention a few facts, +referring our readers to Miss Guinness's work for all details. + +After a voyage of many mercies the _Lammermuir_ party safely reached +China, and during the first ten years stations and out-stations were +opened in many cities and towns in four provinces which hitherto had +been unreached by the Gospel. At home Mr. and Mrs. Berger continued +their devoted service until March 19th, 1872, I having returned to +England the year before. Shortly after this the London Council was +formed, which has now for several years been assisted by an auxiliary +Council of ladies. A Scotch Council was also formed in Glasgow a few +years ago. + +A visit to America in 1888 issued in the formation of the Council for +North America, and a similar Council for Australasia was commenced in +Melbourne two years later. In the field a China Council was organised in +1886, composed of senior missionaries who meet quarterly in Shanghai. + +Closely associated with the C. I. M. are seven Committees--in England, +Norway, Sweden (two), Finland, Germany, and the United States--which +send out and support their own missionaries, who in China have the +assistance of the educational and other advantages of the C. I. M., and +who work under its direction. + +The staff of the Mission, in May 1893, consisted of 552 missionaries +(including wives and associates). There were also 326 native helpers (95 +of whom were unpaid), working as pastors, evangelists, teachers, +colporteurs, Bible-women, etc., in 14 different provinces. + +Duly qualified candidates for missionary labour are accepted without +restriction as to denomination, provided they are sound in the faith in +all fundamental truths: these go out in dependence upon GOD for temporal +supplies, with the clear understanding that the officers of the Mission +do not guarantee any income whatever; and knowing that as they will not +go into debt, they can only minister to them as the funds sent in from +time to time will allow. But we praise GOD that during the past +twenty-eight years such ministry has always been possible; our GOD _has_ +supplied all our need, and has withheld no good thing. + +All the expenses of the Mission at home and abroad are met by voluntary +contributions, sent to the offices of the Mission without personal +solicitation, by those who wish to aid in this effort to spread the +knowledge of the Gospel throughout China. The income for the year 1892 +was about £34,000 from all sources--Great Britain, the Continent of +Europe, North America, Australasia, China, etc. + +Some of the missionaries having private property have gone out at their +own expense, and do not take anything from the Mission funds. + +Stations have been opened in ten of the eleven provinces which were +previously without Protestant missionaries; from one of these, however, +we have had to retire. The eleventh province has been visited several +times, and it is hoped that in it permanent work may soon be begun. + +More than 200 stations and out-stations have been opened in fourteen of +the eighteen provinces, in all of which stations either missionaries or +native labourers are resident. Over 6000 converts have been baptized +from the commencement, some 4000 of whom are now living and in +fellowship. + + +THE MISSION IN 1902 + +The year 1894, in which the first edition of _A Retrospect_ appeared, +was marked by the erection of large and commodious premises for the work +of the Mission, and early in the following year the houses in Pyrland +Road, which had so long formed the home of the Mission in England, were +vacated, and NEWINGTON GREEN, LONDON, N., became the address of the +Mission offices and home. + +From that date until the Boxer outbreak of 1900 the Mission made steady +progress, the development of the work in China being accompanied by +corresponding developments in the home departments of the Mission in +England, America, and Australasia. + +In January 1900, before the Boxer outbreak, there were in connection +with the Mission, 811 missionaries, including wives and associates; 171 +stations; 223 out-stations; 387 chapels; 581 paid native helpers; 193 +unpaid native helpers; 8557 communicants in fellowship, 12,964 having +been baptized from the commencement. There were 266 organised churches; +788 boarding scholars; 1382 day scholars; 6 hospitals; 18 dispensaries; +and 46 opium refuges. + +During the terrible year of 1900, when no fewer than 135 missionaries +and 53 missionaries' children and many thousands of Chinese Christians +were cruelly murdered, the China Inland Mission lost 58 missionaries and +21 children. The records of these unparalleled times of suffering have +been told in _Martyred Missionaries of the China Inland Mission_ and in +_Last Letters_, both of which books will be found advertised at the end +of this volume. Apart from loss of life, there was an immense amount of +Mission property destroyed, and the missionaries were compelled to +retire from their stations in most parts of China. + +The doors closed by this outbreak have all been reopened in the goodness +of GOD. In those districts which suffered most from the massacres the +work has largely been one of reorganisation; but throughout China +generally there has been a spirit of awakening and a time of enlarged +opportunity; which is a loud call for more men and women to volunteer to +step into the gaps and fill the places of those who have fallen. + +Among recent developments we would specially mention the opening of a +new home centre at Philadelphia, U.S.A. The total income of the Mission +for 1901 was £53,633 = $257,712, and the total received in England +alone, for 1902, was £51,446 = $246,912. The total membership of the +Mission in June 1902 was 761. + +Current information about the progress of the work in China may be +obtained from _China's Millions_, the organ of the Mission. It is +published monthly, and may be ordered through any bookseller from +Messrs. Morgan and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, E.C., for 1s. per +year, or direct by post from the offices of the Mission, Newington +Green, London, N., for 1s. 6d. per annum. + +The Australasian edition of _China's Millions_ may be ordered at the +same price from M. L. Hutchinson, Little Collins Street, or from the +Mission Offices, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. The North American +edition will be sent post free from the Mission Offices, 507 Church +Street, Toronto, for 50 cents per annum. + +Prayer meetings on behalf of the work in China are held at the principal +home centres of the Mission, as follows: Every Saturday afternoon from 4 +to 6 o'clock, at Newington Green, London. Every Friday evening at 8 +o'clock, at 507 Church Street, Toronto. Every Saturday afternoon at 4 +o'clock, in the Office, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. A hearty +invitation to attend any one of these meetings is given to any one +residing in or visiting any of these cities. + +Donations to the Mission, applications from candidates, orders for +literature, requests for deputation speakers, and other correspondence +should be forwarded to + + The Secretary, + China Inland Mission, + Newington Green, London, N. + + The Home Director, + China Inland Mission, + 507 Church Street, Toronto, Canada. + +or + + 702 Witherspoon Buildings, Philadelphia, U.S.A. + +or to + + The Secretary, + China Inland Mission, + 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia. + +[Illustration: MAP OF CHINA + + Shewing {1. All Protestant Mission Stations in China up to June 1866, + when the C.I.M. was founded (they numbered fifteen) These + are underlined in black. + {2. The Stations of the China Inland Mission which (with the + exception of Ning-Po & Fung-hwa) have been opened since + June 1866. These are printed in red.] + + +[Illustration] + + + + +STATIONS OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION + +1900 + +(BEFORE THE BOXER OUTBREAK) + + +The best guide to the stations of the Mission is the new _China Inland +Mission Map_ (size 44 × 38 in., mounted on linen, coloured, varnished, +and hung on rollers), price 8s. _net_, carriage and packing extra. +Mounted to fold, 8s. _net_, post free. + + Provinces.[4] Stations.[5] WORK BEGUN. + + =Kan-suh=, 1876 LIANG-CHAU 1888 + SI-NING 1885 + LAN-CHAU 1885 + TS'IN-CHAU 1878 + _Area,[6] 125,450 square miles._ FU K'IANG 1899 + _Population, 9,285,377._ P'ING-LIANG 1895 + KING-CHAU 1895 + TS'ING-NING 1897 + Chen-yuen 1897 + Tong-chi 1899 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Shen-si=, 1876. Lung-chau 1893 + FENG-TSIANG 1888 + Mei-hien 1893 + K'IEN-CHAU 1894 + _Area, 67,400 square miles._ Chau-chih 1893 + _Population, 8,432,193._ _Sang-kia-chuang_ 1894 + Hing-p'ing 1893 + SI-GAN 1893 + _Ying-kia-wei_ 1893 + Chen-kia-hu 1897 + Lan-t'ien 1895 + K'ien-yang 1897 + Ch'ang-wu 1897 + San-shui 1897 + T'UNG-CHAU 1891 + Han-ch'eng 1897 + HAN-CHUNG 1879 + Ch'eng-ku 1887 + Si-hsiang 1896 + Yang-hien 1896 + HING-AN 1898 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Shan-si=, 1876 TA-T'UNG 1886 + Hwen-yuen 1898 + SOH-P'ING 1895 + Tsö-yuin 1895 + YING-CHAU 1897 + Hiao-i 1887 + Kiai-hiu 1891 + SIH-CHAU 1885 + Ta-ning 1885 + KIH-CHAU 1891 + Ho-tsin 1893 + Ping-yao 1888 + _Area, 56,268 square miles._ HOH-CHAU 1886 + _Population, 12,211,453._ Hung-t'ung 1886 + Yoh-yang 1896 + P'ING-YANG 1879 + K'üh-wu 1885 + I-shï 1891 + Yüin-ch'eng 1888 + _Mei-ti-kiai_ 1895 + HIAI-CHAU 1895 + Lu-ch'eng 1889 + _Ü-wu_ 1896 + LU-GAN 1889 + Kiang-chau 1898 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Chih-li=, 1887 T'IEN-TSIN 1888 + _Area, 58,949 square miles._ PAO-T'ING 1891 + _Population, 17,937,000._ Hwuy-luh 1887 + SHUN-TEH 1888 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Shan-tung=, 1879 _Chefoo_ 1879 + " Sanatorium 1880 + " Boys' School 1880 + _Area, 53,762 square miles._ " Girls' " 1884 + _Population, 36,247,835._ " Preparatory School 1895 + _T'ung-shin_ 1889 + Ning-hai 1886 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Ho-nan=, 1875 Siang-ch'eng 1891 + _Chau-kia-k'eo_ 1884 + _Ho-nan_ ... + _Ho-peh_ ... + _Ho-si_ ... + _Area, 66,913 square miles._ CH'EN-CHAU 1895 + _Population, 22,115,827._ T'ai-k'ang 1895 + _She-k'i-tien_ 1886 + Kwang-chau 1899 + Hin-an 1899 + _King-tsï-kuan_ 1896 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =W. Si-ch'uan=, 1877 Kwan-hien 1889 + CH'EN-TU 1881 + KIA-TING 1888 + _Area of whole Province, SUI-FU 1888 + 166,800 square miles._ LU-CHAU 1890 + Hiao-shï 1899 + CH'UNG-K'ING 1877 + Ta-chien-lu 1897 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =E. Si-ch'uan=, 1886 Kwang-yuen 1889 + _Sin-tien-tsï_ 1892 + PAO-NING 1886 + Ying-shan 1898 + _Population of whole Province, Kü-hien 1898 + 67,712,897._ SHUN-K'ING 1896 + Pa-chau 1887 + SUI-TING 1899 + Wan-hien 1888 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Hu-peh=, 1874 _Lao-ho-k'eo_ 1887 + _Area, 70,450 square miles._ _Han-kow_ 1889 + _Population, 34,244,685._ I-CH'ANG 1895 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Gan-hwuy=, 1869 T'ai-ho 1892 + VING-CHAU 1897 + _Ch'eng-yang-kwan_ 1887 + _K'u-ch'eng_ 1887 + Fuh-hing-tsih (Lai-gan) 1898 + LUH-GAN 1890 + GAN-K'ING 1869 + _Area, 48,461 square miles._ Training Home ... + _Population, 20,596,288._ Wu-hu 1893 + Kien-p'ing 1894 + NING-KWOH 1874 + KWANG-TEH 1890 + CH'I-CHAU 1889 + Kien-teh 1892 + HWUY-CHAU 1884 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Kiang-su=, 1854 Gan-tung 1891 + Ts'ing-kiang-pu 1869 + Kao-yiu 1888 + YANG-CHAU 1868 + Training Home ... + CHIN-KIANG 1888 + _Area, 44,500 square miles._ Shanghai 1854 + _Population, 20,905,171._ Financial Department ... + Business Department ... + Home ... + Hospital ... + Evangelistic Work ... + Literary Work ... + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Yun-nan=, 1877 Bhâmo (Upper Burmah) 1875 + _Area, 107,969 square miles._ TA-LI 1881 + _Population, 11,721,576._ YUN-NAN 1882 + K'ÜH-TS'ING 1889 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Kwei-chau=, 1877 KWEI-YANG 1877 + GAN-SHUN 1888 + _Area, 64,554 square miles._ Tuh-shan 1893 + _Population, 7,669,181._ HING-I 1891 + (Work among Aborigines) ... + _P'ang-hai_ 1897 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Hu-nan=, 1875 CH'ANG-TEH 1898 + _Area, 74,320 square miles_. SHEN-CHAU 1898 + _Population, 21,002,604._ Ch'a-ling 1898 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Kiang-si=, 1869 KIU-KIANG 1889 + Ku-ling Sanatorium 1898 + _Ta-ku-t'ang_ 1873 + NAN-K'ANG 1887 + Gan-ren 1889 + RAO-CHAU 1898 + _Peh-kan_ 1893 + Kwei-k'i 1878 + _Shang-ts'ing_ 1893 + Hü-wan 1899 + Ih-yang 1890 + _Area, 72,176 square miles._ _Ho-k'eo_ 1878 + _Population, 24,534,118._ _Yang-k'eo_ 1890 + Kwang-feng 1889 + Yuh-shan 1877 + _Chang-shu_ 1895 + KUI-GAN 1891 + _Feng-kang_ 1891 + KAN-CHAU 1899 + Sin-feng 1899 + LIN-KIANG 1898 + NAN-CH'ANG 1898 + UEN-CHAU (_Itinerating_) ... + Yung-sin 1899 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Cheh-kiang=, 1857 HANG-CHAU 1866 + SHAO-HING 1866 + Sin-ch'ang 1870 + KIU-CHAU 1872 + Ch'ang-shan 1878 + Lan-k'i 1894 + _Area, 39,150 square miles_. KIN-HWA 1875 + _Population, 11,588,692._ Yung-k'ang 1882 + Tseh-k'i 1897 + CH'U-CHAU 1875 + Lung-ch'uen 1894 + Uin-ho 1895 + Song-yang 1896 + _Siao-mei_ 1896 + Tsin-yun 1898 + NING-P'O 1857 + Fung-hwa 1866 + Ning-hai 1868 + T'ien-t'ai 1898 + T'AI-CHAU 1867 + Ling-he District ... + Hwang-yen 1896 + T'ai-p'ing 1898 + WUN-CHAU 1867 + Bing-yae 1874 + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] Arranged in three lines from west to east, for easy reference to +Map. The dates in this column in many cases are of itinerations begun. + +[5] Capitals of Provinces in capital letters; of Prefectures in small +capitals; and of Counties in romans; Market Towns in italics. + +[6] Areas and populations are from _The Statesman's Year Book_. + + +[Illustration] + +_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh._ + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Page 109, "my" changed to "My" (My marriage had been) + +Page 125, ending ) added. (Miss Bausum (afterwards Mrs. Barchett)); in) + +Page 129, format of "God" was changed to "GOD" to match rest of usage. +(goodness of GOD) + +Possible nconsistencies in spelling of Chinese names were retained such +as Bhâmo and Bhamô. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Retrospect, by James Hudson Taylor + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RETROSPECT *** + +***** This file should be named 26744-8.txt or 26744-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/4/26744/ + +Produced by Free Elf, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Music files created +by Linda Cantoni.(This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) Full-color map generously provided by The +Missionary E-texts Archive at +http://www.missionaryetexts.org + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Retrospect + +Author: James Hudson Taylor + +Release Date: October 1, 2008 [EBook #26744] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RETROSPECT *** + + + + +Produced by Free Elf, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Music files created +by Linda Cantoni.(This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) Full-color map generously provided by The +Missionary E-texts Archive at +http://www.missionaryetexts.org + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Signature: J. Hudson Taylor.] + + + + +A RETROSPECT + +BY + +J. HUDSON TAYLOR, M.R.C.S., F.R.G.S. + +_Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee._ + +THIRD EDITION + + TORONTO + CHINA INLAND MISSION + 507 CHURCH STREET + +[Illustration: THE "LAMMERMUIR" PARTY. _See page 125._] + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAP. PAGE + I. THE POWER OF PRAYER 1 + II. THE CALL TO SERVICE 7 + III. PREPARATION FOR SERVICE 13 + IV. FURTHER ANSWERS TO PRAYER 19 + V. LIFE IN LONDON 24 + VI. STRENGTHENED BY FAITH 30 + VII. MIGHTY TO SAVE 35 + VIII. VOYAGE TO CHINA 39 + IX. EARLY MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES 45 + X. FIRST EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS 49 + XI. WITH THE REV. W. C. BURNS 57 + XII. THE CALL TO SWATOW 70 + "The Missionary Call": Words and Music 75 + XIII. MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES 77 + XIV. PROVIDENTIAL GUIDANCE 92 + XV. SETTLEMENT IN NINGPO 98 + XVI. TIMELY SUPPLIES 105 + XVII. GOD A REFUGE FOR US 110 + XVIII. A NEW AGENCY NEEDED 116 + XIX. FORMATION OF THE C. I. M. 121 + XX. THE MISSION IN 1894 126 + THE MISSION IN 1902 128 + STATIONS OF THE C. I. M. 131 + + * * * * * + + MAP OF CHINA + + SHOWING THE STATIONS OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION: + CORRECTED TO JUNE 1900 _To face page_ 131 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + 1. Portrait of J. Hudson Taylor _Frontispiece_ + 2. The "Lammermuir" party _Facing "Contents"_ + PAGE + 3. Honorary banner presented to a missionary 1 + 4. A heavy road in North China 7 + 5. Salt junk on the Yang-tsi 13 + 6. Travelling by mule cart on "the great plain" 19 + 7. Ch'ung-k'ing, the Yang-tsi, and mountains beyond 24 + 8. Water gate and Custom house, Soo-chow 29 + 9. View on the Kwang-sin River 30 + 10. Temple and memorial portal 34 + 11. "Compassionate heart, benevolent methods" 35 + 12. Outside the wall of Gan-k'ing 38 + 13. The new girls school at Chefoo 39 + 14. Entrance to the Po-yang lake 44 + 15. A fair wind, at sunset, on the lake 45 + 16. A view on the grand canal 49 + 17. Down the Yang-tsi on a cargo boat 57 + 18. East gate and sentry box, Bhamo, Burmah 69 + 19. Farmhouse, with buffalo shed attached 70 + 20. A fishing village on the lake near Yuennan Fu 77 + 21. Teng-yueh, the westernmost walled city in China 91 + 22. A small temple near Wun-chau 92 + 23. Group of Christians at Lan-k'i, Cheh-kiang 97 + 24. A boat on the Red River, Tonquin 98 + 25. Students' quarters, Gan-k'ing Training Home 104 + 26. A Mandarin's sedan chair 105 + 27. A presentation banner (a mark of high respect) 110 + 28. View on the Po-yang lake 116 + 29. A village on the grand canal 121 + 30. The battlements of Pekin 126 + 31. Native woodcut of a landscape 131 + 32. Elder Liu and wife, Kwei-k'i 136 + + The hearty thanks of the Mission for the use of + photographs and sketches are hereby tendered to + Rev. George Hayes for Nos. 4 and 6; Dr. G. + Whitfield Guinness for Nos. 8, 12, 16, 25, and 28; + Miss Davies for No. 23; Mr. Thomas Selkirk for + Nos. 18 and 21; Mr. J. T. Reid for Nos. 14, 15, + and 27; Mr. J. S. Rough for No. 30; Mr. Grainger + for No. 19; Mr. E. Murray for No. 13, and also to + other friends unknown by name. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE POWER OF PRAYER + + +THE following account of some of the experiences which eventually led to +the formation of the CHINA INLAND MISSION, and to its taking the form in +which it has been developed, first appeared in the pages of _China's +Millions_. Many of those who read it there asked that it might appear in +separate form. Miss Guinness incorporated it in the _Story of the China +Inland Mission_, a record which contained the account of GOD'S goodness +to the beginning of 1894. But friends still asking for it in pamphlet +form, for wider distribution, this edition is brought out. + +Much of the material was taken from notes of addresses given in China +during a conference of our missionaries; this will account for the +direct and narrative form of the papers, which it has not been thought +necessary to change. + +It is always helpful to us to fix our attention on the GOD-ward aspect +of Christian work; to realise that the work of GOD does not mean so much +man's work for GOD, as GOD'S own work through man. Furthermore, in our +privileged position of fellow-workers with Him, while fully recognising +all the benefits and blessings to be bestowed on a sin-stricken world +through the proclamation of the Gospel and spread of the Truth, we +should never lose sight of the higher aspect of our work--that of +obedience to GOD, of bringing glory to His Name, of gladdening the +heart of our GOD and FATHER by living and serving as His beloved +children. + +Many circumstances connected with my own early life and service +presented this aspect of work vividly to me; and as I think of some of +them, I am reminded of how much the cause of missions is indebted to +many who are never themselves permitted to see the mission field--many, +it may be, who are unable to give largely of their substance, and who +will be not a little surprised in the Great Day to see how much the work +has been advanced by their love, their sympathy, and their prayers. + +For myself, and for the work that I have been permitted to do for GOD, I +owe an unspeakable debt of gratitude to my beloved and honoured parents, +who have passed away and entered into rest, but the influence of whose +lives will never pass away. + +Many years ago, probably about 1830, the heart of my dear father, then +himself an earnest and successful evangelist at home, was deeply stirred +as to the spiritual state of China by reading several books, and +especially an account of the travels of Captain Basil Hall. His +circumstances were such as to preclude the hope of his ever going to +China for personal service, but he was led to pray that if GOD should +give him a son, he might be called and privileged to labour in the vast +needy empire which was then apparently so sealed against the truth. I +was not aware of this desire or prayer myself until my return to +England, more than seven years after I had sailed for China; but it was +very interesting then to know how prayer offered before my birth had +been answered in this matter. + +All thought of my becoming a missionary was abandoned for many years by +my dear parents on account of the feebleness of my health. When the +time came, however, GOD gave increased health, and my life has been +spared, and strength has been given for not a little toilsome service +both in the mission field and at home, while many stronger men and women +have succumbed. + +I had many opportunities in early years of learning the value of prayer +and of the Word of GOD; for it was the delight of my dear parents to +point out that if there were any such Being as GOD, to trust Him, to +obey Him, and to be fully given up to His service, must of necessity be +the best and wisest course both for myself and others. But in spite of +these helpful examples and precepts my heart was unchanged. Often I had +tried to make myself a Christian; and failing of course in such efforts, +I began at last to think that for some reason or other I could not be +saved, and that the best I could do was to take my fill of this world, +as there was no hope for me beyond the grave. + +While in this state of mind I came in contact with persons holding +sceptical and infidel views, and accepted their teaching, only too +thankful for some hope of escape from the doom which, if my parents were +right and the Bible true, awaited the impenitent. It may seem strange to +say it, but I have often felt thankful for the experience of this time +of scepticism. The inconsistencies of Christian people, who while +professing to believe their Bibles were yet content to live just as they +would if there were no such book, had been one of the strongest +arguments of my sceptical companions; and I frequently felt at that +time, and said, that if I pretended to believe the Bible I would at any +rate attempt to live by it, putting it fairly to the test, and if it +failed to prove true and reliable, would throw it overboard altogether. +These views I retained when the LORD was pleased to bring me to +Himself; and I think I may say that since then I _have_ put GOD'S Word +to the test. Certainly it has never failed me. I have never had reason +to regret the confidence I have placed in its promises, or to deplore +following the guidance I have found in its directions. + +Let me tell you how GOD answered the prayers of my dear mother and of my +beloved sister, now Mrs. Broomhall, for my conversion. On a day which I +shall never forget, when I was about fifteen years of age, my dear +mother being absent from home, I had a holiday, and in the afternoon +looked through my father's library to find some book with which to while +away the unoccupied hours. Nothing attracting me, I turned over a little +basket of pamphlets, and selected from amongst them a Gospel tract which +looked interesting, saying to myself, "There will be a story at the +commencement, and a sermon or moral at the close: I will take the former +and leave the latter for those who like it." + +I sat down to read the little book in an utterly unconcerned state of +mind, believing indeed at the time that if there were any salvation it +was not for me, and with a distinct intention to put away the tract as +soon as it should seem prosy. I may say that it was not uncommon in +those days to call conversion "becoming serious"; and judging by the +faces of some of its professors, it appeared to be a very serious matter +indeed. Would it not be well if the people of GOD had always tell-tale +faces, evincing the blessings and gladness of salvation so clearly that +unconverted people might have to call conversion "becoming joyful" +instead of "becoming serious"? + +Little did I know at the time what was going on in the heart of my dear +mother, seventy or eighty miles away. She rose from the dinner-table +that afternoon with an intense yearning for the conversion of her boy, +and feeling that--absent from home, and having more leisure than she +could otherwise secure--a special opportunity was afforded her of +pleading with GOD on my behalf. She went to her room and turned the key +in the door, resolved not to leave that spot until her prayers were +answered. Hour after hour did that dear mother plead for me, until at +length she could pray no longer, but was constrained to praise GOD for +that which His SPIRIT taught her had already been accomplished--the +conversion of her only son. + +I in the meantime had been led in the way I have mentioned to take up +this little tract, and while reading it was struck with the sentence, +"The finished work of CHRIST." The thought passed through my mind, "Why +does the author use this expression? why not say the atoning or +propitiatory work of CHRIST?" Immediately the words "It is finished" +suggested themselves to my mind. What was finished? And I at once +replied, "A full and perfect atonement and satisfaction for sin: the +debt was paid by the Substitute; CHRIST died for our sins, and not for +ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Then came the +thought, "If the whole work was finished and the whole debt paid, what +is there left for me to do?" And with this dawned the joyful conviction, +as light was flashed into my soul by the HOLY SPIRIT, that there was +nothing in the world to be done but to fall down on one's knees, and +accepting this SAVIOUR and His salvation, to praise Him for evermore. +Thus while my dear mother was praising GOD on her knees in her chamber, +I was praising Him in the old warehouse to which I had gone alone to +read at my leisure this little book. + +Several days elapsed ere I ventured to make my beloved sister the +confidante of my joy, and then only after she had promised not to tell +any one of my soul secret. When our dear mother came home a fortnight +later, I was the first to meet her at the door, and to tell her I had +such glad news to give. I can almost feel that dear mother's arms around +my neck, as she pressed me to her bosom and said, "I know, my boy; I +have been rejoicing for a fortnight in the glad tidings you have to tell +me." "Why," I asked in surprise, "has Amelia broken her promise? She +said she would tell no one." My dear mother assured me that it was not +from any human source that she had learned the tidings, and went on to +tell the little incident mentioned above. You will agree with me that it +would be strange indeed if I were not a believer in the power of prayer. + +Nor was this all. Some little time after, I picked up a pocket-book +exactly like one of my own, and thinking that it was mine, opened it. +The lines that caught my eye were an entry in the little diary, which +belonged to my sister, to the effect that she would give herself daily +to prayer until GOD should answer in the conversion of her brother. +Exactly one month later the LORD was pleased to turn me from darkness to +light. + +Brought up in such a circle and saved under such circumstances, it was +perhaps natural that from the commencement of my Christian life I was +led to feel that the promises were very real, and that prayer was in +sober matter of fact transacting business with GOD, whether on one's own +behalf or on behalf of those for whom one sought His blessing. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE CALL TO SERVICE + + +THE first joys of conversion passed away after a time, and were +succeeded by a period of painful deadness of soul, with much conflict. +But this also came to an end, leaving a deepened sense of personal +weakness and dependence on the LORD as the only KEEPER as well as +SAVIOUR of His people. How sweet to the soul, wearied and disappointed +in its struggles with sin, is the calm repose of trust in the SHEPHERD +of Israel. + +Not many months after my conversion, having a leisure afternoon, I +retired to my own chamber to spend it largely in communion with GOD. +Well do I remember that occasion. How in the gladness of my heart I +poured out my soul before GOD; and again and again confessing my +grateful love to Him who had done everything for me--who had saved me +when I had given up all hope and even desire for salvation--I besought +Him to give me some work to do for Him, as an outlet for love and +gratitude; some self-denying service, no matter what it might be, +however trying or however trivial; something with which He would be +pleased, and that I might do for Him who had done so much for me. Well +do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, my life, my +friends, my all, upon the altar, the deep solemnity that came over my +soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted. The presence of +GOD became unutterably real and blessed; and though but a child under +sixteen, I remember stretching myself on the ground, and lying there +silent before Him with unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy. + +For what service I was accepted I knew not; but a deep consciousness +that I was no longer my own took possession of me, which has never since +been effaced. It has been a very practical consciousness. Two or three +years later propositions of an unusually favourable nature were made to +me with regard to medical study, on the condition of my becoming +apprenticed to the medical man who was my friend and teacher. But I felt +I dared not accept any binding engagement such as was suggested. I was +not my own to give myself away; for I knew not when or how He whose +alone I was, and for whose disposal I felt I must ever keep myself free, +might call for service. + +Within a few months of this time of consecration the impression was +wrought into my soul that it was in China the LORD wanted me. It seemed +to me highly probable that the work to which I was thus called might +cost my life; for China was not then open as it is now. But few +missionary societies had at that time workers in China, and but few +books on the subject of China missions were accessible to me. I learned, +however, that the Congregational minister of my native town possessed a +copy of Medhurst's _China_, and I called upon him to ask a loan of the +book. This he kindly granted, asking me why I wished to read it. I told +him that GOD had called me to spend my life in missionary service in +that land. "And how do you propose to go there?" he inquired. I answered +that I did not at all know; that it seemed to me probable that I should +need to do as the Twelve and the Seventy had done in Judaea--go without +purse or scrip, relying on Him who had called me to supply all my need. +Kindly placing his hand upon my shoulder, the minister replied, "Ah, my +boy, as you grow older you will get wiser than that. Such an idea would +do very well in the days when CHRIST Himself was on earth, but not now." + +I have grown older since then, but not wiser. I am more than ever +convinced that if we were to take the directions of our MASTER and the +assurances He gave to His first disciples more fully as our guide, we +should find them to be just as suited to our times as to those in which +they were originally given. + +Medhurst's book on China emphasised the value of medical missions there, +and this directed my attention to medical studies as a valuable mode of +preparation. + +My beloved parents neither discouraged nor encouraged my desire to +engage in missionary work. They advised me, with such convictions, to +use all the means in my power to develop the resources of body, mind, +heart, and soul, and to wait prayerfully upon GOD, quite willing, should +He show me that I was mistaken, to follow His guidance, or to go forward +if in due time He should open the way to missionary service. The +importance of this advice I have often since had occasion to prove. I +began to take more exercise in the open air to strengthen my physique. +My feather bed I had taken away, and sought to dispense with as many +other home comforts as I could, in order to prepare myself for rougher +lines of life. I began also to do what Christian work was in my power, +in the way of tract distribution, Sunday-school teaching, and visiting +the poor and sick, as opportunity afforded. + +After a time of preparatory study at home, I went to Hull for medical +and surgical training. There I became assistant to a doctor who was +connected with the Hull school of medicine, and was surgeon also to a +number of factories, which brought many accident cases to our +dispensary, and gave me the opportunity of seeing and practising the +minor operations of surgery. + +And here an event took place that I must not omit to mention. Before +leaving home my attention was drawn to the subject of setting apart the +firstfruits of all one's increase and a proportionate part of one's +possessions to the LORD'S service. I thought it well to study the +question with my Bible in hand before I went away from home, and was +placed in circumstances which might bias my conclusions by the pressure +of surrounding wants and cares. I was thus led to the determination to +set apart not less than one-tenth of whatever moneys I might earn or +become possessed of for the LORD'S service. The salary I received as +medical assistant in Hull at the time now referred to would have allowed +me with ease to do this. But owing to changes in the family of my kind +friend and employer, it was necessary for me to reside out of doors. +Comfortable quarters were secured with a relative, and in addition to +the sum determined on as remuneration for my services I received the +exact amount I had to pay for board and lodging. + +Now arose in my mind the question, Ought not this sum also to be tithed? +It was surely a part of my income, and I felt that if it had been a +question of Government income tax it certainly would not have been +excluded. On the other hand, to take a tithe from the whole would not +leave me sufficient for other purposes; and for some little time I was +much embarrassed to know what to do. After much thought and prayer I was +led to leave the comfortable quarters and happy circle in which I was +now residing, and to engage a little lodging in the suburbs--a +sitting-room and bedroom in one--undertaking to board myself. In this +way I was able without difficulty to tithe the whole of my income; and +while I felt the change a good deal, it was attended with no small +blessing. + +More time was given in my solitude to the study of the Word of GOD, to +visiting the poor, and to evangelistic work on summer evenings than +would otherwise have been the case. Brought into contact in this way +with many who were in distress, I soon saw the privilege of still +further economising, and found it not difficult to give away much more +than the proportion of my income I had at first intended. + +About this time a friend drew my attention to the question of the +personal and pre-millennial coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and gave me +a list of passages bearing upon it, without note or comment, advising me +to ponder the subject. For a while I gave much time to studying the +Scriptures about it, with the result that I was led to see that this +same JESUS who left our earth in His resurrection body was so to come +again, that His feet were to stand on the Mount of Olives, and that He +was to take possession of the temporal throne of His father David which +was promised before His birth. I saw, further, that all through the New +Testament the coming of the LORD was the great hope of His people, and +was always appealed to as the strongest motive for consecration and +service, and as the greatest comfort in trial and affliction. I learned, +too, that the period of His return for His people was not revealed, and +that it was their privilege, from day to day and from hour to hour, to +live as men who wait for the LORD; that thus living it was immaterial, +so to speak, whether He should or should not come at any particular +hour, the important thing being to be so ready for Him as to be able, +whenever He might appear, to give an account of one's stewardship with +joy, and not with grief. + +The effect of this blessed hope was a thoroughly practical one. It led +me to look carefully through my little library to see if there were any +books there that were not needed or likely to be of further service, and +to examine my small wardrobe, to be quite sure that it contained nothing +that I should be sorry to give an account of should the MASTER come at +once. The result was that the library was considerably diminished, to +the benefit of some poor neighbours, and to the far greater benefit of +my own and that I found I had articles of clothing also which might be +put to better advantage in other directions. + +It has been very helpful to me from time to time through life, as +occasion has served, to act again in a similar way; and I have never +gone through my house, from basement to attic, with this object in view, +without receiving a great accession of spiritual joy and blessing. I +believe we are all in danger of accumulating--it may be from +thoughtlessness, or from pressure of occupation--things which would be +useful to others, while not needed by ourselves, and the retention of +which entails loss of blessing. If the whole resources of the Church of +GOD were well utilised, how much more might be accomplished! How many +poor might be fed and naked clothed, and to how many of those as yet +unreached the Gospel might be carried! Let me advise this line of things +as a constant habit of mind, and a profitable course to be practically +adopted whenever circumstances permit. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PREPARATION FOR SERVICE + + +HAVING now the twofold object in view of accustoming myself to endure +hardness, and of economising in order to be able more largely to assist +those amongst whom I spent a good deal of time labouring in the Gospel, +I soon found that I could live upon very much less than I had previously +thought possible. Butter, milk, and other such luxuries I soon ceased to +use; and I found that by living mainly on oatmeal and rice, with +occasional variations, a very small sum was sufficient for my needs. In +this way I had more than two-thirds of my income available for other +purposes; and my experience was that the less I spent on myself and the +more I gave away, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul +become. Unspeakable joy all the day long, and every day, was my happy +experience. GOD, even my GOD, was a living, bright Reality; and all I +had to do was joyful service. + +It was to me a very grave matter, however, to contemplate going out to +China, far away from all human aid, there to depend upon the living GOD +alone for protection, supplies, and help of every kind. I felt that +one's spiritual muscles required strengthening for such an undertaking. +There was no doubt that if faith did not fail, GOD would not fail; but, +then, what if one's faith should prove insufficient? I had not at that +time learned that even "if we believe not, He abideth faithful, He +cannot deny Himself"; and it was consequently a very serious question to +my mind, not whether _He_ was faithful, but whether I had strong enough +faith to warrant my embarking in the enterprise set before me. + +I thought to myself, "When I get out to China, I shall have no claim on +any one for anything; my only claim will be on GOD. How important, +therefore, to learn before leaving England to move man, through GOD, by +prayer alone." + +At Hull my kind employer, always busily occupied, wished me to remind +him whenever my salary became due. This I determined not to do directly, +but to ask that GOD would bring the fact to his recollection, and thus +encourage me by answering prayer. At one time, as the day drew near for +the payment of a quarter's salary, I was as usual much in prayer about +it. The time arrived, but my kind friend made no allusion to the matter. +I continued praying, and days passed on, but he did not remember, until +at length, on settling up my weekly accounts one Saturday night, I found +myself possessed of only a single coin--one half-crown piece. Still I +had hitherto had no lack, and I continued in prayer. + +That Sunday was a very happy one. As usual my heart was full and +brimming over with blessing. After attending Divine service in the +morning, my afternoons and evenings were filled with Gospel work, in the +various lodging-houses I was accustomed to visit in the lowest part of +the town. At such times it almost seemed to me as if heaven were begun +below, and that all that could be looked for was an enlargement of one's +capacity for joy, not a truer filling than I possessed. After concluding +my last service about ten o'clock that night, a poor man asked me to go +and pray with his wife, saying that she was dying. I readily agreed, and +on the way to his house asked him why he had not sent for the priest, as +his accent told me he was an Irishman. He had done so, he said, but the +priest refused to come without a payment of eighteenpence, which the man +did not possess, as the family was starving. Immediately it occurred to +my mind that all the money I had in the world was the solitary +half-crown, and that it was in one coin; moreover, that while the basin +of water gruel I usually took for supper was awaiting me, and there was +sufficient in the house for breakfast in the morning, I certainly had +nothing for dinner on the coming day. + +Somehow or other there was at once a stoppage in the flow of joy in my +heart; but instead of reproving myself I began to reprove the poor man, +telling him that it was very wrong to have allowed matters to get into +such a state as he described, and that he ought to have applied to the +relieving officer. His answer was that he had done so, and was told to +come at eleven o'clock the next morning, but that he feared that his +wife might not live through the night. "Ah," thought I, "if only I had +two shillings and a sixpence instead of this half-crown, how gladly +would I give these poor people one shilling of it!" But to part with the +half-crown was far from my thoughts. I little dreamed that the real +truth of the matter simply was that I could trust in GOD plus +one-and-sixpence, but was not yet prepared to trust Him only, without +any money at all in my pocket. + +My conductor led me into a court, down which I followed him with some +degree of nervousness. I had found myself there before, and at my last +visit had been very roughly handled, while my tracts were torn to +pieces, and I received such a warning not to come again that I felt +more than a little concerned. Still, it was the path of duty, and I +followed on. Up a miserable flight of stairs, into a wretched room, he +led me; and oh what a sight there presented itself to our eyes! Four or +five poor children stood about, their sunken cheeks and temples all +telling unmistakably the story of slow starvation; and lying on a +wretched pallet was a poor exhausted mother, with a tiny infant +thirty-six hours old, moaning rather than crying at her side, for it too +seemed spent and failing. "Ah!" thought I, "if I had two shillings and a +sixpence instead of half-a-crown, how gladly should they have +one-and-sixpence of it!" But still a wretched unbelief prevented me from +obeying the impulse to relieve their distress at the cost of all I +possessed. + +It will scarcely seem strange that I was unable to say much to comfort +these poor people. I needed comfort myself. I began to tell them, +however, that they must not be cast down, that though their +circumstances were very distressing, there was a kind and loving FATHER +in heaven; but something within me said, "You hypocrite! telling these +unconverted people about a kind and loving FATHER in heaven, and not +prepared yourself to trust Him without half-a-crown!" I was nearly +choked. How gladly would I have compromised with conscience if I had had +a florin and a sixpence! I would have given the florin thankfully and +kept the rest; but I was not yet prepared to trust in GOD alone, without +the sixpence. + +To talk was impossible under these circumstances; yet, strange to say, I +thought I should have no difficulty in praying. Prayer was a delightful +occupation to me in those days; time thus spent never seemed wearisome, +and I knew nothing of lack of words. I seemed to think that all I should +have to do would be to kneel down and engage in prayer, and that relief +would come to them and to myself together. "You asked me to come and +pray with your wife," I said to the man, "let us pray." And I knelt +down. But scarcely had I opened my lips with "Our FATHER who art in +heaven" than conscience said within, "Dare you mock GOD? Dare you kneel +down and call Him FATHER with that half-crown in your pocket?" Such a +time of conflict came upon me then as I have never experienced before or +since. How I got through that form of prayer I know not, and whether the +words uttered were connected or disconnected I cannot tell; but I arose +from my knees in great distress of mind. + +The poor father turned to me and said, "You see what a terrible state we +are in, sir; if you can help us, for GOD'S sake do!" Just then the word +flashed into my mind, "Give to him that asketh of thee," and in the word +of a KING there is power. I put my hand into my pocket, and slowly +drawing forth the half-crown, gave it to the man, telling him that it +might seem a small matter for me to relieve them, seeing that I was +comparatively well off, but that in parting with that coin I was giving +him my all; what I had been trying to tell him was indeed true--GOD +really was a FATHER, and might be trusted. The joy all came back in full +flood-tide to my heart; I could say anything and feel it then, and the +hindrance to blessing was gone--gone, I trust, for ever. + +Not only was the poor woman's life saved, but I realised that my life +was saved too! It might have been a wreck--would have been a wreck +probably, as a Christian life--had not grace at that time conquered, and +the striving of GOD'S SPIRIT been obeyed. I well remember how that +night, as I went home to my lodgings, my heart was as light as my +pocket. The lonely, deserted streets resounded with a hymn of praise +which I could not restrain. When I took my basin of gruel before +retiring, I would not have exchanged it for a prince's feast. I +reminded the LORD as I knelt at my bedside of His own Word, that he who +giveth to the poor lendeth to the LORD: I asked Him not to let my loan +be a long one, or I should have no dinner next day; and with peace +within and peace without, I spent a happy, restful night. + +Next morning for breakfast my plate of porridge remained, and before it +was consumed the postman's knock was heard at the door. I was not in the +habit of receiving letters on Monday, as my parents and most of my +friends refrained from posting on Saturday; so that I was somewhat +surprised when the landlady came in holding a letter or packet in her +wet hand covered by her apron. I looked at the letter, but could not +make out the handwriting. It was either a strange hand or a feigned one, +and the postmark was blurred. Where it came from I could not tell. On +opening the envelope I found nothing written within; but inside a sheet +of blank paper was folded a pair of kid gloves, from which, as I opened +them in astonishment, half-a-sovereign fell to the ground. "Praise the +LORD!" I exclaimed; "400 per cent for twelve hours investment; that is +good interest. How glad the merchants of Hull would be if they could +lend their money at such a rate!" I then and there determined that a +bank which could not break should have my savings or earnings as the +case might be--a determination I have not yet learned to regret. + +I cannot tell you how often my mind has recurred to this incident, or +all the help it has been to me in circumstances of difficulty in +after-life. If we are faithful to GOD in little things, we shall gain +experience and strength that will be helpful to us in the more serious +trials of life. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +FURTHER ANSWERS TO PRAYER + + +THE remarkable and gracious deliverance I have spoken of, was a great +joy to me, as well as a strong confirmation of faith; but of course ten +shillings, however economically used, will not go very far, and it was +none the less necessary to continue in prayer, asking that the larger +supply which was still due might be remembered and paid. All my +petitions, however, appeared to remain unanswered; and before a +fortnight had elapsed I found myself pretty much in the same position +that I had occupied on the Sunday night already made so memorable. +Meanwhile, I continued pleading with GOD, more and more earnestly, that +He would graciously remind my employer that my salary was overdue. Of +course it was not the want of the money that distressed me--that could +have been had at any time for the asking--but the question uppermost in +my mind was this: "Can I go to China? or will my want of faith and power +with GOD prove to be so serious an obstacle as to preclude my entering +upon this much-prized service?" + +As the week drew to a close I felt exceedingly embarrassed. There was +not only myself to consider; on Saturday night a payment would be due to +my Christian landlady which I knew she could not well dispense with. +Ought I not, for her sake, to speak about the matter of the salary? Yet +to do so would be, to myself at any rate, the admission that I was not +fitted to undertake a missionary enterprise. I gave nearly the whole of +Thursday and Friday--all the time not occupied in my necessary +employment--to earnest wrestling with GOD in prayer. But still on +Saturday morning I was in the same position as before. And now my +earnest cry was for guidance as to whether it was my duty to break +silence and speak to my employer, or whether I should still continue to +wait the FATHER's time. As far as I could judge, I received the +assurance that to wait His time was best; and that GOD in some way or +other would interpose on my behalf. So I waited, my heart being now at +rest and the burden gone. + +About five o'clock that Saturday afternoon, when the doctor had finished +writing his prescriptions, his last circuit for the day being taken, he +threw himself back in his arm-chair, as he was wont, and began to speak +of the things of GOD. He was a truly Christian man, and many seasons of +very happy spiritual fellowship we had together. I was busily watching, +at the time, a pan in which a decoction was boiling that required a good +deal of attention. It was indeed fortunate for me that it was so, for +without any obvious connection with what had been going on, all at once +he said, "By-the-bye, Taylor, is not your salary due again?" My emotion +may be imagined! I had to swallow two or three times before I could +answer. With my eye fixed on the pan and my back to the doctor, I told +him as quietly as I could that it was overdue some little time. How +thankful I felt at that moment! GOD surely had heard my prayer, and +caused him, in this time of my great need, to remember the salary +without any word or suggestion from me. He replied, "Oh, I am so sorry +you did not remind me! You know how busy I am; I wish I had thought of +it a little sooner, for only this afternoon I sent all the money I had +to the bank, otherwise I would pay you at once." It is impossible to +describe the revulsion of feeling caused by this unexpected statement. I +knew not what to do. Fortunately for me my pan boiled up, and I had a +good reason for rushing with it from the room. Glad indeed I was to get +away, and keep out of sight until after the doctor had returned to his +house, and most thankful that he had not perceived my emotion. + +As soon as he was gone I had to seek my little sanctum, and pour out my +heart before the LORD for some time, before calmness--and more than +calmness--thankfulness, and joy were restored to me. I felt that GOD had +His own way, and was not going to fail me. I had sought to know His will +early in the day, and as far as I could judge had received guidance to +wait patiently; and now GOD was going to work for me in some other way. + +That evening was spent, as my Saturday evenings usually were, in reading +the Word and preparing the subjects on which I expected to speak in the +various lodging-houses on the morrow. I waited, perhaps, a little longer +than usual. At last, about ten o'clock, there being no interruption of +any kind, I put on my overcoat, and was preparing to leave for home, +rather thankful to know that by that time I should have to let myself in +with the latch-key, as my landlady retired early to rest. There was +certainly no help for that night; but perhaps GOD would interpose for me +by Monday, and I might be able to pay my landlady early in the week the +money I would have given her before, had it been possible. + +Just as I was preparing to turn down the gas, I heard the doctor's step +in the garden which lay between the dwelling-house and surgery. He was +laughing to himself very heartily, as though greatly amused by +something. Entering the surgery, he asked for the ledger, and told me +that, strange to say, one of his richest patients had just come to pay +his doctor's bill--was it not an odd thing to do? It never struck me +that it might have any bearing on my own particular case, or I might +have felt embarrassed; but looking at it simply from the position of an +uninterested spectator, I also was highly amused that a man who was +rolling in wealth should come after ten o'clock at night to pay a +doctor's bill, which he could any day have met by a cheque with the +greatest ease. It appeared that somehow or other he could not rest with +this on his mind, and had been constrained to come at that unusual hour +to discharge his liability. + +The account was duly receipted in the ledger, and the doctor was about +to leave, when suddenly he turned, and handing me some of the bank notes +just received, said, to my surprise and thankfulness, "By the way, +Taylor, you might as well take these notes; I have not any change, but +can give you the balance next week." Again I was left--my feelings +undiscovered--to go back to my own little closet and praise the LORD +with a joyful heart that after all I might go to China. + +To me this incident was not a trivial one; and to recall it sometimes, +in circumstances of great difficulty, in China or elsewhere, has proved +no small comfort and strength. + +By-and-by the time drew near when it was thought desirable that I should +leave Hull to attend the medical course of the London Hospital. A little +while spent there, and then I had every reason to believe that my +life-work in China would commence. But much as I had rejoiced at the +willingness of GOD to hear and answer prayer and to help His +half-trusting, half-timid child, I felt that I could not go to China +without having still further developed and tested my power to rest upon +His faithfulness; and a marked opportunity for doing so was +providentially afforded me. + +My dear father had offered to bear all the expense of my stay in London. +I knew, however, that, owing to recent losses, it would mean a +considerable sacrifice for him to undertake this just when it seemed +necessary for me to go forward. I had recently become acquainted with +the Committee of the Chinese Evangelisation Society, in connection with +which I ultimately left for China, and especially with its secretary, my +esteemed and much-loved friend Mr. George Pearse, then of the Stock +Exchange, but now[1] and for many years himself a missionary. Not +knowing of my father's proposition, the Committee also kindly offered to +bear my expenses while in London. When these proposals were first made +to me, I was not quite clear as to what I ought to do, and in writing to +my father and the secretaries, told them that I would take a few days to +pray about the matter before deciding any course of action. I mentioned +to my father that I had had this offer from the Society, and told the +secretaries also of his proffered aid. + +Subsequently, while waiting upon GOD in prayer for guidance, it became +clear to my mind that I could without difficulty decline both offers. +The secretaries of the Society would not know that I had cast myself +wholly on GOD for supplies, and my father would conclude that I had +accepted the other offer. I therefore wrote declining both propositions, +and felt that without any one having either care or anxiety on my +account I was simply in the hands of GOD, and that He, who knew my +heart, if He wished to encourage me to go to China, would bless my +effort to depend upon Him alone at home. + +[Illustration] + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Since the above was written Mr. George Pearse has died. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +LIFE IN LONDON + + +I MUST not now attempt to detail the ways in which the LORD was +pleased--often to my surprise, as well as to my delight--to help me from +time to time. I soon found that it was not possible to live quite as +economically in London as in Hull. To lessen expenses I shared a room +with a cousin, four miles from the hospital, providing myself with +board; and after various experiments I found that the most economical +way was to live almost exclusively on brown bread and water. Thus I was +able to make the means that GOD gave me last as long as possible. Some +of my expenses I could not diminish, but my board was largely within my +own control. A large twopenny loaf of brown bread, purchased daily on my +long walk from the hospital, furnished me with supper and breakfast; and +on that diet, with a few apples for lunch, I managed to walk eight or +nine miles a day, besides being a good deal on foot while attending the +practice of the hospital and the medical school. + +One incident that occurred just about this time I must refer to. The +husband of my former landlady in Hull was chief officer of a ship that +sailed from London, and by receiving his half-pay monthly and remitting +it to her I was able to save her the cost of a commission. This I had +been doing for several months, when she wrote requesting that I would +obtain the next payment as early as possible, as her rent was almost +due, and she depended upon that sum to meet it. The request came at an +inconvenient time. I was working hard for an examination in the hope of +obtaining a scholarship which would be of service to me, and felt that I +could ill afford the time to go during the busiest part of the day to +the city and procure the money. I had, however, sufficient of my own in +hand to enable me to send the required sum. I made the remittance +therefore, purposing, as soon as the examination was over, to go and +draw the regular allowance with which to refund myself. + +Before the time of examination the medical school was closed for a day, +on account of the funeral of the Duke of Wellington, and I had an +opportunity of going at once to the office, which was situated in a +street on Cheapside, and applying for the due amount. To my surprise and +dismay the cleric told me that he could not pay it, as the officer in +question had run away from his ship and gone to the gold diggings. +"Well," I remarked, "that is very inconvenient for me, as I have already +advanced the money, and I know his wife will have no means of repaying +it." The clerk said he was sorry, but could of course only act according +to orders; so there was no help for me in that direction. A little more +time and thought, however, brought the comforting conclusion to my mind, +that as I was depending on the LORD for everything, and His means were +not limited, it was a small matter to be brought a little sooner or +later into the position of needing fresh supplies from Him; and so the +joy and the peace were not long interfered with. + +Very soon after this, possibly the same evening, while sewing together +some sheets of paper on which to take notes of the lectures, I +accidentally pricked the first finger of my right hand, and in a few +moments forgot all about it. The next day at the hospital I continued +dissecting as before. The body was that of a person who had died of +fever, and was more than usually disagreeable and dangerous. I need +scarcely say that those of us who were at work upon it dissected with +special care, knowing that the slightest scratch might cost us our +lives. Before the morning was far advanced I began to feel very weary, +and while going through the surgical wards at noon was obliged to run +out, being suddenly very sick--a most unusual circumstance with me, as I +took but little food and nothing that could disagree with me. After +feeling faint for some time, a draught of cold water revived me, and I +was able to rejoin the students. I became more and more unwell, however, +and ere the afternoon lecture on surgery was over found it impossible to +hold the pencil and continue taking notes. By the time the next lecture +was through, my whole arm and right side were full of severe pain, and I +was both looking and feeling very ill. + +Finding that I could not resume work, I went into the dissecting-room to +bind up the portion I was engaged upon and put away my apparatus, and +said to the demonstrator, who was a very skilful surgeon, "I cannot +think what has come over me," describing the symptoms. "Why," said he, +"what has happened is clear enough: you must have cut yourself in +dissecting, and you know that this is a case of malignant fever." I +assured him that I had been most careful, and was quite certain that I +had no cut or scratch. "Well," he replied, "you certainly must have had +one;" and he very closely scrutinised my hand to find it, but in vain. +All at once it occurred to me that I had pricked my finger the night +before, and I asked him if it were possible that a prick from a needle, +at that time, could have been still unclosed. His opinion was that this +was probably the cause of the trouble, and he advised me to get a +hansom, drive home as fast as I could, and arrange my affairs forthwith. +"For," he said, "you are a dead man." + +My first thought was one of sorrow that I could not go to China; but +very soon came the feeling, "Unless I am greatly mistaken, I have work +to do in China, and shall not die." I was glad, however, to take the +opportunity of speaking to my medical friend, who was a confirmed +sceptic as to things spiritual, of the joy that the prospect of perhaps +soon being with my MASTER gave me; telling him at the same time that I +did not think I should die, as, unless I were much mistaken, I had work +to do in China; and if so, however severe the struggle, I must be +brought through. "That is all very well," he answered, "but you get a +hansom and drive home as fast as you can. You have no time to lose, for +you will soon be incapable of winding up your affairs." + +I smiled a little at the idea of my driving home in a hansom, for by +this time my means were too exhausted to allow of such a proceeding, and +I set out to walk the distance if possible. Before long, however, my +strength gave way, and I felt it was no use to attempt to reach home by +walking. Availing myself of an omnibus from Whitechapel Church to +Farringdon Street, and another from Farringdon Street onwards, I +reached, in great suffering, the neighbourhood of Soho Square, behind +which I lived. On going into the house I got some hot water from the +servant, and charging her very earnestly--literally as a dying man--to +accept eternal life as the gift of GOD through JESUS CHRIST, I bathed my +head and lanced the finger, hoping to let out some of the poisoned +blood. The pain was very severe; I fainted away, and was for some time +unconscious, so long that when I came to myself I found that I had been +carried to bed. + +An uncle of mine who lived near at hand had come in, and sent for his +own medical man, an assistant surgeon at the Westminster Hospital. I +assured my uncle that medical help would be of no service to me, and +that I did not wish to go to the expense involved. He, however, quieted +me on this score, saying that he had sent for his own doctor, and that +the bill would be charged to himself. When the surgeon came and learned +all the particulars, he said, "Well, if you have been living moderately, +you may pull through; but if you have been going in for beer and that +sort of thing, there is no manner of chance for you." I thought that if +sober living was to do anything, few could have a better chance, as +little but bread and water had been my diet for a good while past. I +told him I had lived abstemiously, and found that it helped me in study. +"But now," he said, "you must keep up your strength, for it will be a +pretty hard struggle." And he ordered me a bottle of port wine every +day, and as many chops as I could consume. Again I smiled inwardly, +having no means for the purchase of such luxuries. This difficulty, +however, was also met by my kind uncle, who sent me at once all that was +needed. + +I was much concerned, notwithstanding the agony I suffered, that my dear +parents should not be made acquainted with my state. Thought and prayer +had satisfied me that I was not going to die, but that there was indeed +a work for me to do in China. If my dear parents should come up and find +me in that condition, I must lose the opportunity of seeing how GOD was +going to work for me, now that my money had almost come to an end. So, +after prayer for guidance, I obtained a promise from my uncle and cousin +not to write to my parents, but to leave me to communicate with them +myself. I felt it was a very distinct answer to prayer when they gave me +this promise, and I took care to defer all communication with them +myself until the crisis was past and the worst of the attack over. At +home they knew that I was working hard for an examination, and did not +wonder at my silence. + +Days and nights of suffering passed slowly by; but at length, after +several weeks, I was sufficiently restored to leave my room; and then I +learned that two men, though not from the London Hospital, who had had +dissection wounds at the same time as myself, had both succumbed, while +I was spared in answer to prayer to work for GOD in China. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +STRENGTHENED BY FAITH + + +ONE day the doctor coming in found me on the sofa, and was surprised to +learn that with assistance I had walked downstairs. "Now," he said, "the +best thing you can go is to get off to the country as soon as you feel +equal to the journey. You must rusticate until you have recovered a fair +amount of health and strength, for if you begin your work too soon the +consequences may still be serious." When he had left, as I lay very +exhausted on the sofa, I just told the LORD all about it, and that I was +refraining from making my circumstances known to those who would delight +to meet my need, in order that my faith might be strengthened by +receiving help from Himself in answer to prayer alone. What was I to do? +And I waited for His answer. + +It seemed to me as if He were directing my mind to the conclusion to go +again to the shipping office, and inquire about the wages I had been +unable to draw. I reminded the LORD that I could not afford to take a +conveyance, and that it did not seem at all likely that I should succeed +in getting the money, and asked whether this impulse was not a mere +clutching at a straw, some mental process of my own, rather than His +guidance and teaching. After prayer, however, and renewed waiting upon +GOD, I was confirmed in my belief that He Himself was teaching me to go +to the office. + +The next question was, "How am I to go?" I had had to seek help in +coming downstairs, and the place was at least two miles away. The +assurance was brought vividly home to me that whatever I asked of GOD in +the name of CHRIST would be done, that the FATHER might be glorified in +the SON; that what I had to do was to seek strength for the long walk, +to receive it by faith, and to set out upon it. Unhesitatingly I told +the LORD that I was quite willing to take the walk if He would give me +the strength. I asked in the name of CHRIST that the strength might be +immediately given; and sending the servant up to my room for my hat and +stick, I set out, not to _attempt_ to walk, but TO WALK to Cheapside. + +Although undoubtedly strengthened by faith, I never took so much +interest in shop windows as I did upon that journey. At every second or +third step I was glad to lean a little against the plate glass, and take +time to examine the contents of the windows before passing on. It needed +a special effort of faith when I got to the bottom of Farringdon Street +to attempt the toilsome ascent of Snow Hill: there was no Holborn +Viaduct in those days, and it had to be done. GOD did wonderfully help +me, and in due time I reached Cheapside, turned into the by-street in +which the office was found, and sat down much exhausted on the steps +leading to the first floor, which was my destination. I felt my position +to be a little peculiar--sitting there on the steps, so evidently +spent--and the gentlemen who rushed up and downstairs looked at me with +an inquiring gaze. After a little rest, however, and a further season of +prayer, I succeeded in climbing the staircase, and to my comfort found +in the office the clerk with whom I had hitherto dealt in the matter. +Seeing me looking pale and exhausted, he kindly inquired as to my +health, and I told him that I had had a serious illness, and was ordered +to the country, but thought it well to call first, and make further +inquiry, lest there should have been any mistake about the mate having +run off to the gold diggings. "Oh," he said, "I am so glad you have +come, for it turns out that it was an able seaman of the same name that +ran away. The mate is still on board; the ship has just reached +Gravesend, and will be up very soon. I shall be glad to give you the +half-pay up to date, for doubtless it will reach his wife more safely +through you. We all know what temptations beset the men when they arrive +at home after a voyage." + +Before, however, giving me the sum of money, he insisted upon my coming +inside and sharing his lunch. I felt it was the LORD indeed who was +providing for me, and accepted his offer with thankfulness. When I was +refreshed and rested, he gave me a sheet of paper to write a few lines +to the wife, telling her of the circumstances. On my way back I procured +in Cheapside a money order for the balance due to her, and posted it; +and returning home again, felt myself now quite justified in taking an +omnibus as far as it would serve me. + +Very much better the next morning, after seeing to some little matters +that I had to settle, I made my way to the surgery of the doctor who had +attended me, feeling that, although my uncle was prepared to pay the +bill, it was right for me, now that I had some money in hand, to ask for +the account myself. The kind surgeon refused to allow me, as a medical +student, to pay anything for his attendance: but he had supplied me with +quinine, which he allowed me to pay for to the extent of eight +shillings. When that was settled, I saw that the sum left was just +sufficient to take me home; and to my mind the whole thing seemed a +wonderful interposition of GOD on my behalf. + +I knew that the surgeon was sceptical, and told him that I should very +much like to speak to him freely, if I might do so without offence; that +I felt that under GOD I owed my life to his kind care, and wished very +earnestly that he himself might become a partaker of the same precious +faith that I possessed. So I told him my reason for being in London, and +about my circumstances, and why I had declined the help of both my +father and the officers of the Society in connection with which it was +probable that I should go to China. I told him of the recent +providential dealings of GOD with me, and how apparently hopeless my +position had been the day before, when he had ordered me to go to the +country, unless I would reveal my need, which I had determined not to +do. I described to him the mental exercises I had gone through; but when +I added that I had actually got up from the sofa and walked to +Cheapside, he looked at me incredulously, and "Impossible! Why, I left +you lying there more like a ghost than a man." And I had to assure him +again and again that, strengthened by faith, the walk had really been +taken. I told him also what money was left to me, and what payments +there had been to make, and showed him that just sufficient remained to +take me home to Yorkshire, providing for needful refreshment by the way +and the omnibus journey at the end. + +My kind friend was completely broken down, and said with tears in his +eyes, "I would give all the world for a faith like yours." I, on the +other hand, had the joy of telling him that it was to be obtained +without money and without price. We never met again. When I came back to +town, restored to health and strength, I found that he had had a +stroke, and left for the country; and I subsequently learned that he +never rallied. I was able to gain no information as to his state of mind +when taken away; but I have always felt very thankful that I had the +opportunity, and embraced it, of bearing that testimony for GOD. I +cannot but entertain the hope that the MASTER Himself was speaking to +him through His dealings with me, and that I shall meet him again in the +Better Land. It would be no small joy to be welcomed by him, when my own +service is over. + +The next day found me in my dear parents' home. My joy in the LORD's +help and deliverance was so great that I was unable to keep it to +myself, and before my return to London my dear mother knew the secret of +my life for some time past. I need scarcely say that when I went up +again to town I was not allowed to live--as, indeed, I was not fit to +live--on the same economical lines as before my illness. I needed more +now, and the LORD did provide. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +MIGHTY TO SAVE + + +RETURNING to London when sufficiently recovered to resume my studies, +the busy life of hospital and lecture-hall was resumed; often relieved +by happy Sundays of fellowship with Christian friends, especially in +London or Tottenham. Opportunities for service are to be found in every +sphere, and mine was no exception. I shall only mention one case now +that gave me great encouragement in seeking conversion even when it +seemed apparently hopeless. + +GOD had given me the joy of winning souls before, but not in +surroundings of such special difficulty. With GOD all things are +possible, and no conversion ever takes place save by the almighty power +of the HOLY GHOST. The great need, therefore, of every Christian worker +is to _know_ GOD. Indeed, this is the purpose for which He has given us +eternal life, as our SAVIOUR Himself says, in the oft misquoted verse, +John xvii. 3: "This is [the object of] life eternal, [not _to_ know but] +that they _might_ know Thee the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom +Thou hast sent." I was now to prove the willingness of GOD to answer +prayer for spiritual blessing under most unpromising circumstances, and +thus to gain an increased acquaintance with the prayer-answering GOD as +One "mighty to save." + +A short time before leaving for China, it became my duty daily to dress +the foot of a patient suffering from senile gangrene. The disease +commenced, as usual, insidiously, and the patient had little idea that +he was a doomed man, and probably had not long to live. I was not the +first to attend to him, but when the case was transferred to me, I +naturally became very anxious about his soul. The family with whom he +lived were Christians, and from them I learned that he was an avowed +atheist, and very antagonistic to anything religious. They had, without +asking his consent, invited a Scripture reader to visit him, but in +great passion he had ordered him from the room. The vicar of the +district had also called, hoping to help him; but he had spit in his +face, and refused to allow him to speak to him. His passionate temper +was described to me as very violent, and altogether the case seemed to +be as hopeless as could well be imagined. + +Upon first commencing to attend him I prayed much about it; but for two +or three days said nothing to him of a religious nature. By special care +in dressing his diseased limb I was able considerably to lessen his +sufferings, and he soon began to manifest grateful appreciation of my +services. One day, with a trembling heart, I took advantage of his warm +acknowledgments to tell him what was the spring of my action, and to +speak of his own solemn position and need of GOD's mercy through CHRIST. +It was evidently only by a powerful effort of self-restraint that he +kept his lips closed. He turned over in bed with his back to me, and +uttered no word. + +I could not get the poor man out of my mind, and very often through each +day I pleaded with GOD, by His SPIRIT, to save him ere He took him +hence. After dressing the wound and relieving his pain, I never failed +to say a few words to him, which I hoped the LORD would bless. He +always turned his back to me, looking annoyed, but never spoke a word in +reply. + +After continuing this for some time, my heart sank. It seemed to me that +I was not only doing no good, but perhaps really hardening him and +increasing his guilt. One day, after dressing his limb and washing my +hands, instead of returning to the bedside to speak to him, I went to +the door, and stood hesitating for a few moments with the thought in my +mind, "Ephraim is joined to his idols; let him alone." I looked at the +man and saw his surprise, as it was the first time since speaking to him +that I had attempted to leave without going up to his bedside to say a +few words for my MASTER. I could bear it no longer. Bursting into tears, +I crossed the room and said, "My friend, whether you will hear or +whether you will forbear, I _must_ deliver _my_ soul," and went on to +speak very earnestly to him, telling him with many tears how much I +wished that he would let me pray with him. To my unspeakable joy he did +not turn away, but replied, "If it will be a relief to you, do." I need +scarcely say that I fell on my knees and poured out my whole soul to GOD +on his behalf. I believe the LORD then and there wrought a change in his +soul. + +He was never afterwards unwilling to be spoken to and prayed with, and +within a few days he definitely accepted CHRIST as his SAVIOUR. Oh the +joy it was to me to see that dear man rejoicing in hope of the glory of +GOD! He told me that for forty years he had never darkened the door of +church or chapel, and that then--forty years ago--he had only entered a +place of worship to be married, and could not be persuaded to go inside +when his wife was buried. Now, thank GOD, his sin-stained soul, I had +every reason to believe, was washed, was sanctified, was justified, in +the Name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and in the SPIRIT of our GOD. +Oftentimes, when in my early work in China circumstances rendered me +almost hopeless of success, I have thought of this man's conversion, and +have been encouraged to persevere in speaking the Word, whether men +would hear or whether they would forbear. + +The now happy sufferer lived for some time after this change, and was +never tired of bearing testimony to the grace of GOD. Though his +condition was most distressing, the alteration in his character and +behaviour made the previously painful duty of attending him one of real +pleasure. I have often thought since, in connection with this case and +the work of GOD generally, of the words, "He that goeth forth _weeping_, +bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing +his sheaves with him." Perhaps if there were more of that intense +distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see +the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining +of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the +hardness of our own hearts, and our own feeble apprehension of the +solemn reality of eternal things, may be the true cause of our want of +success. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +VOYAGE TO CHINA + + +SOON after this the time so long looked forward to arrived--the time +that I was to leave England for China. After being set apart with many +prayers for the ministry of GOD's Word among the heathen Chinese I left +London for Liverpool; and on the 19th of September 1853 a little service +was held in the stern cabin of the _Dumfries_, which had been secured +for me by the Committee of the Chinese Evangelisation Society, under +whose auspices I was going to China. + +My beloved, now sainted, mother had come to see me off from Liverpool. +Never shall I forget that day, nor how she went with me into the little +cabin that was to be my home for nearly six long months. With a mother's +loving hand she smoothed the little bed. She sat by my side, and joined +me in the last hymn that we should sing together before the long +parting. We knelt down, and she prayed--the last mother's prayer I was +to hear before starting for China. Then notice was given that we must +separate, and we had to say good-bye, never expecting to meet on earth +again. + +For my sake she restrained her feelings as much as possible. We parted; +and she went on shore, giving me her blessing; I stood alone on deck, +and she followed the ship as we moved towards the dock gates. As we +passed through the gates, and the separation really commenced, I shall +never forget the cry of anguish wrung from that mother's heart. It went +through me like a knife. I never knew so fully, until then, what GOD +_so_ loved the world meant. And I am quite sure that my precious mother +learned more of the love of GOD to the perishing in that hour than in +all her life before. + +Oh, how it must grieve the heart of GOD when He sees His children +indifferent to the needs of that wide world for which His beloved, His +only begotten SON died! + + Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; + Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; + So shall the KING desire thy beauty: + For He is thy LORD; and worship thou Him. + +Praise GOD, the number is increasing who are finding out the exceeding +joys, the wondrous revelations of His mercies, vouchsafed to those who +follow Him, and emptying themselves, leave all in obedience to His great +commission. + +It was on 19th September 1853 that the _Dumfries_ sailed for China; and +not until 1st March, in the spring of the following year, did I arrive +in Shanghai. + +Our voyage had a rough beginning, but many had promised to remember us +in constant prayer. No small comfort was this; for we had scarcely left +the Mersey when a violent equinoctial gale caught us, and for twelve +days we were beating backwards and forwards in the Irish Channel, unable +to get out to sea. The gale steadily increased, and after almost a week +we lay to for a time; but drifting on a lee coast, we were compelled +again to make sail, and endeavoured to beat on to windward. The utmost +efforts of the captain and crew, however, were unavailing; and Sunday +night, 25th September, found us drifting into Carnarvon Bay, each tack +becoming shorter, until at last we were within a stone's-throw of the +rocks. About this time, as the ship, which had refused to stay, was put +round in the other direction, the Christian captain said to me, "We +cannot live half an hour now: what of your call to labour for the LORD +in China?" I had previously passed through a time of much conflict, but +that was over, and it was a great joy to feel and to tell him that I +would not for any consideration be in any other position; that I +strongly expected to reach China; but that, if otherwise, at any rate +the Master would say it was well that I was found seeking to obey His +command. + +Within a few minutes after wearing ship the captain walked, up to the +compass, and said to me, "The wind has freed two points; we shall be +able to beat out of the bay." And so we did. The bowsprit was sprung and +the vessel seriously strained; but in a few days we got out to sea, and +the necessary repairs were so thoroughly effected on board that our +journey to China was in due time satisfactorily accomplished. + +One thing was a great trouble to me that night. I was a very young +believer, and had not sufficient faith in GOD to see Him in and through +the use of means. I had felt it a duty to comply with the earnest wish +of my beloved and honoured mother, and for her sake to procure a +swimming-belt. But in my own soul I felt as if I could not simply trust +in GOD while I had this swimming-belt; and my heart had no rest until on +that night, after all hope of being saved was gone, I had given it away. +Then I had perfect peace; and, strange to say, put several light things +together, likely to float at the time we struck, without any thought of +inconsistency or scruple. Ever since, I have seen clearly the mistake I +made--a mistake that is very common in these days, when erroneous +teaching on faith-healing does much harm, misleading some as to the +purposes of GOD, shaking the faith of others, and distressing the minds +of many. The use of means ought not to lessen our faith in GOD; and our +faith in GOD ought not to hinder our using whatever means He has given +us for the accomplishment of His own purposes. + +For years after this I always took a swimming-belt with me, and never +had any trouble about it; for after the storm was over, the question was +settled for me, through the prayerful study of the Scriptures. GOD gave +me then to see my mistake, probably to deliver me from a great deal of +trouble on similar questions now so constantly raised. When in medical +or surgical charge of any case, I have never thought of neglecting to +ask GOD's guidance and blessing in the use of appropriate means, nor yet +of omitting to give Him thanks for answered prayer and restored health. +But to me it would appear as presumptuous and wrong to neglect the use +of those measures which He Himself has put within our reach, as to +neglect to take daily food, and suppose that life and health might be +maintained by prayer alone. + +The voyage was a very tedious one. We lost a good deal of time on the +equator from calms; and when we finally reached the Eastern Archipelago, +were again detained from the same cause. Usually a breeze would spring +up soon after sunset, and last until about dawn. The utmost use was made +of it, but during the day we lay still with flapping sails, often +drifting back and losing a good deal of the advantage we had gained +during the night. + +This happened notably on one occasion, when we were in dangerous +proximity to the north of New Guinea. Saturday night had brought us to a +point some thirty miles off the land; but during the Sunday morning +service, which was held on deck, I could not fail to notice that the +captain looked troubled, and frequently went over to the side of the +ship. When the service was ended, I learnt from him the cause--a +four-knot current was carrying us rapidly towards some sunken reefs, and +we were already so near that it seemed improbable that we should get +through the afternoon in safety. After dinner the long-boat was put out, +and all hands endeavoured, without success, to turn the ship's head from +the shore. As we drifted nearer we could plainly see the natives rushing +about the sands and lighting fires every here and there. The captain's +horn-book informed him that these people were cannibals, so that our +position was not a little alarming. + +After standing together on the deck for some time in silence, the +captain said to me, "Well, we have done everything that can be done; we +can only await the result." A thought occurred to me, and I replied, +"No, there is one thing we have not done yet." "What is it?" he queried. +"Four of us on board are Christians," I answered (the Swedish carpenter +and our coloured steward, with the captain and myself); "let us each +retire to his own cabin, and in agreed prayer ask the LORD to give us +immediately a breeze. He can as easily send it now as at sunset." + +The captain complied with this proposal. I went and spoke to the other +two men, and after prayer with the carpenter we all four retired to wait +upon GOD. I had a good but very brief season in prayer, and then felt so +satisfied that our request was granted that I could not continue asking, +and very soon went up again on deck. The first officer, a godless man, +was in charge. I went over and asked him to let down the clews or +corners of the mainsail, which had been drawn up in order to lessen the +useless flapping of the sail against the rigging. He answered, "What +would be the good of that?" I told him we had been asking a wind from +GOD, that it was coming immediately, and we were so near the reef by +this time that there was not a minute to lose. With a look of +incredulity and contempt, he said with an oath that he would rather see +a wind than hear of it! But while he was speaking I watched his eye, and +followed it up to the royal (the topmost sail), and there, sure enough, +the corner of the sail was beginning to tremble in the coming breeze. +"Don't you see the wind is coming? Look at the royal!" I exclaimed. "No, +it is only a cat's-paw," he rejoined (a mere puff of wind). "Cat's-paw +or not," I cried, "pray let down the mainsail, and let us have the +benefit!" + +This he was not slow to do. In another minute the heavy tread of the men +on the deck brought up the captain from his cabin to see what was the +matter; and he saw that the breeze had indeed come. In a few minutes we +were ploughing our way at six or seven knots an hour through the water, +and the multitude of naked savages whom we had seen on the beach had no +wreckage that night. We were soon out of danger; and though the wind was +sometimes unsteady, we did not altogether lose it until after passing +the Pelew Islands. + +Thus GOD encouraged me, ere landing on China's shores, to bring every +variety of need to Him in prayer, and _to expect that He would honour +the Name_ of the LORD JESUS, and give the help which each emergency +required. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +EARLY MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES + + +ON landing in Shanghai on 1st March 1854, I found myself surrounded with +difficulties that were wholly unexpected. A band of rebels, known as the +"Red Turbans," had taken possession of the native city, against which +was encamped an Imperial army of from forty to fifty thousand men, who +were a much greater source of discomfort and danger to the little +European community than were the rebels themselves. Upon landing, I was +told that to live outside the Settlement was impossible, while within +the foreign concession apartments were scarcely obtainable at any price. +The dollar, now worth about three shillings, had risen to a value of +eight-and-ninepence, and the prospect for one with only a small income +of English money was dark indeed. However, I had three letters of +introduction, and counted on counsel and help, especially from one of +those to whom I had been commended, whose friends I well knew and highly +valued. Of course I sought him out at once, but only to learn that he +had been buried a month or two before, having died from fever during the +time of my voyage. + +Saddened by these tidings, I inquired for a missionary to whom another +of my letters of introduction was addressed; but a further +disappointment awaited me--he had left for America. The third letter +remained; but as it had been given by a comparative stranger, I had +expected less from it than from the other two. It proved, however, to be +GOD's channel of help. The Rev. Dr. Medhurst, of the London Mission, to +whom it was addressed, introduced me to Dr. Lockhart, who kindly allowed +me to live with him for six months. Dr. Medhurst procured my first +Chinese teacher; and he, Dr. Edkins, and the late Mr. Alexander Wylie +gave me considerable help with the language. + +Those were indeed troublous times, and times of danger. Coming out of +the city one day with Mr. Wylie, he entered into conversation with two +coolies, while we waited a little while at the East Gate for a companion +who was behind us. Before our companion came up an attack upon the city +from the batteries on the opposite side of the river commenced, which +caused us to hurry away to a place of less danger, the whiz of the balls +being unpleasantly near. The coolies, unfortunately, stayed too long, +and were wounded. On reaching the Settlement we stopped a few minutes to +make a purchase, and then proceeded at once to the London Mission +compound, where, at the door of the hospital, we found the two poor +coolies with whom Mr. Wylie had conversed, their four ankles terribly +shattered by a cannon ball. The poor fellows declined amputation, and +both died. We felt how narrow had been our escape. + +At another time, early in the morning, I had joined one of the +missionaries on his verandah to watch the battle proceeding, at a +distance of perhaps three-quarters of a mile, when suddenly a spent ball +passed between us and buried itself in the verandah wall. Another day my +friend Mr. Wylie left a book on the table after luncheon, and returning +for it about five minutes later, found the arm of the chair on which he +had been sitting shot clean away. But in the midst of these and many +other dangers GOD protected us. + +After six months' stay with Dr. Lockhart, I rented a native house +outside the Settlement, and commenced a little missionary work amongst +my Chinese neighbours, which for a few months continued practicable. +When the French joined the Imperialists in attacking the city, the +position of my house became so dangerous that during the last few weeks, +in consequence of nightly recurring skirmishes, I gave up attempting to +sleep except in the daytime. One night a fire appeared very near, and I +climbed up to a little observatory I had arranged on the roof of the +house, to see whether it was necessary to attempt escape. While there a +ball struck the ridge of the roof on the opposite side of the +quadrangle, showering pieces of broken tile all around me, while the +ball itself rolled down into the court below. It weighed four or five +pounds; and had it come a few inches higher, would probably have spent +its force on me instead of on the building. My dear mother kept the ball +for many years. Shortly after this I had to abandon the house and return +to the Foreign Settlement--a step that was taken none too soon, for +before the last of my belongings were removed, the house was burnt to +the ground. + +Of the trials of this early period it is scarcely possible to convey any +adequate idea. To one of a sensitive nature, the horrors, atrocities, +and misery connected with war were a terrible ordeal. The embarrassment +also of the times was considerable. With an income of only eighty pounds +a year, I was compelled, upon moving into the Settlement, to give one +hundred and twenty for rent, and sublet half the house; and though the +Committee of the Chinese Evangelisation Society increased my income +when, after the arrival of Dr. Parker, they learned more of our +circumstances, many painful experiences had necessarily been passed +through. Few can realise how distressing to so young and untried a +worker these difficulties seemed, or the intense loneliness of the +position of a pioneer who could not even hint at many of his +circumstances, as to do so would have been a tacit appeal for help. + +The great enemy is always ready with his oft-repeated suggestion, "All +these things are against me." But oh, how false the word! The cold, and +even the hunger, the watchings and sleeplessness of nights of danger, +and the feeling at times of utter isolation and helplessness, were well +and wisely chosen, and tenderly and lovingly meted out. What +circumstances could have rendered the Word of GOD more sweet, the +presence of GOD more real, the help of GOD more precious? They were +times, indeed, of emptying and humbling, but were experiences that made +not ashamed, and that strengthened purpose to go forward as GOD might +direct, with His _proved_ promise, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake +thee." One can see, even now, that as for GOD, His way is perfect, and +yet can rejoice that the missionary path of to-day is comparatively a +smooth and an easy one. + +Journeying inland was contrary to treaty arrangements, and attended with +much difficulty, especially for some time after the battle of Muddy +Flat, in which an Anglo-American contingent of about three hundred +marines and seamen, with a volunteer corps of less than a hundred +residents, attacked the Imperial camp, and drove away from thirty to +fifty thousand Chinese soldiers, the range of our shot and shell making +the native artillery useless. Still, in the autumn of 1854 a journey of +perhaps a week's duration was safely accomplished with Dr. Edkins, who +of course did the speaking and preaching, while I was able to help in +the distribution of books. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X + +FIRST EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS + + +A JOURNEY taken in the spring of 1855 with the Rev. J. S. Burden of the +Church Missionary Society (now the Bishop of Victoria, Hong-kong) was +attended with some serious dangers. + +In the great mouth of the river Yang-tse, distant some thirty miles to +the north of Shanghai, lies the group of islands of which Ts'ung-ming +and Hai-men are the largest and most important; and farther up the +river, where the estuary narrows away from the sea, is situated the +influential city of T'ung-chau, close to Lang-shan, or the Wolf +Mountains, famous as a resort for pilgrim devotees. We spent some time +in evangelising on those islands, and then proceeded to Lang-shan, where +we preached and gave books to thousands of the devotees who were +attending an idolatrous festival. From thence we went on to T'ung-chau, +and of our painful experiences there the following journal will tell:-- + + + _Thursday, April 26th, 1855._ + +After breakfast we commended ourselves to the care of our Heavenly +FATHER, and sought His Blessing before proceeding to this great city. +The day was dull and wet. We felt persuaded that Satan would not allow +us to assail his kingdom, as we were attempting to do, without raising +serious opposition; but we were also fully assured that it was the will +of GOD that we should preach CHRIST in this city, and distribute the +Word of Truth among its people. We were sorry that we had but few books +left for such an important place: the result, however, proved that this +also was providential. + +Our native teachers did their best to persuade us not to go into the +city; but we determined that, by GOD'S help, nothing should hinder us. +We directed them, however, to remain in one of the boats; and if we did +not return, to learn whatever they could respecting our fate, and make +all possible haste to Shanghai with the information. We also arranged +that the other boat should wait for us, even if we could not get back +that night, so that we might not be detained for want of a boat in case +of returning later. We then put our books into two bags, and with a +servant who always accompanied us on these occasions, set off for the +city, distant about seven miles. Walking was out of the question, from +the state of the roads, so we availed ourselves of wheel-barrows, the +only conveyance to be had in these parts. A wheel-barrow is cheaper than +a sedan, only requiring one coolie; but is by no means an agreeable +conveyance on rough, dirty roads. + +We had not gone far before the servant requested permission to go back, +as he was thoroughly frightened by reports concerning the native +soldiery. Of course we at once consented, not wishing to involve another +in trouble, and determined to carry the books ourselves, and look for +physical as well as spiritual strength to Him who had promised to supply +all our need. + +At this point a respectable man came up, and earnestly warned us against +proceeding, saying that if we did we should find to our sorrow what the +T'ung-chau militia were like. We thanked him for his kindly counsel, but +could not act upon it, as our hearts were fixed, whether it were to +bonds, imprisonment, and death, or whether to distribute our Scriptures +and tracts in safety, and return unhurt, we knew not; but we were +determined, by the grace of GOD, not to leave T'ung-chau any longer +without the Gospel, nor its teeming thousands to die in uncared-for +ignorance of the Way of life. + +After this my wheel-barrow man would proceed no farther, and I had to +seek another, who was fortunately not difficult to find. As we went on, +the ride in the mud and rain was anything but agreeable, and we could +not help feeling the danger of our position, although wavering not for a +moment. At intervals we encouraged one another with promises from the +Scripture and verses of hymns. That verse-- + + "The perils of the sea, the perils of the land, + Should not dishearten thee: thy LORD is nigh at hand. + But should thy courage fail, when tried and sore oppressed, + His promise shall avail, and set thy soul at rest." + +seemed particularly appropriate to our circumstances, and was very +comforting to me. + +On our way we passed through one small town of about a thousand +inhabitants; and here, in the Mandarin dialect, I preached JESUS to a +good number of people. Never was I so happy in speaking of the love of +GOD and the atonement of JESUS CHRIST. My own soul was richly blessed, +and filled with joy and peace; and I was able to speak with unusual +freedom and ease. And how rejoiced I was when, afterwards, I heard one +of our hearers repeating to the newcomers, in his own local dialect, the +truths upon which I had been dwelling! Oh, how thankful I felt to hear a +Chinaman, of his own accord, telling his fellow-countrymen that GOD +loved them; that they were sinners, but that JESUS died instead of +them, and paid the penalty of their guilt. That one moment repaid me for +all the trials we had passed through; and I felt that if the LORD should +grant HIS HOLY SPIRIT to change the heart of that man, we had not come +in vain. + +We distributed a few Testaments and tracts, for the people were able to +read, and we could not leave them without the Gospel. It was well that +we did so, for when we reached T'ung-chau we found we had quite as many +left as we had strength to carry. + +Nearing the end of our journey, as we approached the western suburb of +the city, the prayer of the early Christians, when persecution was +commencing, came to my mind: "And now, LORD, behold their threatenings, +and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy +Word." In this petition we most heartily united. Before entering the +suburb we laid our plans, so as to act in concert, and told our +wheel-barrow men where to await us, that they might not be involved in +any trouble on our account. Then looking up to our Heavenly FATHER, we +committed ourselves to His keeping, took our books, and set on for the +city. + +For some distance we walked along the principal street of the suburb +leading to the West Gate unmolested, and were amused at the unusual +title of _Heh-kwei-tsi_ (black devils) which was applied to us. We +wondered about it at the time, but afterwards found that it was our +clothes, and not our skin, that gave rise to it. As we passed several of +the soldiers, I remarked to Mr. Burdon that these were the men we had +heard so much about, and that they seemed willing to receive us quietly +enough. Long before we reached the gate, however, a tall powerful man, +made tenfold fiercer by partial intoxication, let us know that all the +militia were not so peaceably inclined, by seizing Mr. Burdon by the +shoulders. My companion endeavoured to shake him off. I turned to see +what was the matter, and at once we were surrounded by a dozen or more +brutal men, who hurried us on to the city at a fearful pace. + +My bag now began to feel very heavy, and I could not change hands to +relieve myself. I was soon in a profuse perspiration, and was scarcely +able to keep pace with them. We demanded to be taken before the chief +magistrate, but were told that they knew where to take us, and what to +do with such persons as we were, with the most insulting epithets. The +man who first seized Mr. Burdon soon afterwards left him for me, and +became my principal tormentor; for I was neither so tall nor so strong +as my friend, and was therefore less able to resist him. He all but +knocked me down again and again, seized me by the hair, took hold of my +collar so as to almost choke me, and grasped my arms and shoulders, +making them black and blue. Had this treatment continued much longer, I +must have fainted. All but exhausted, how refreshing was the remembrance +of a verse quoted by my dear mother in one of my last home letters-- + + "We speak of the realms of the blest, + That country so bright and so fair, + And oft are its glories confessed; + But what must it be to be there!" + +To be absent from the body! to be present with the LORD! to be free from +sin! And this is the end of the worst that man's malice can ever bring +upon us. + +As we were walking along Mr. Burdon tried to give away a few books that +he was carrying, not knowing whether we might have another opportunity +of doing so; but the fearful rage of the soldier, and the way he +insisted on manacles being brought, which fortunately were not at hand, +convinced us that in our present position we could do no good in +attempting book-distribution. There was nothing to be done but quietly +to submit, and go along with our captors. + +Once or twice a quarrel arose as to how we should be dealt with; the +more mild of our conductors saying that we ought to be taken to the +magistrate's office, but others wishing to kill us at once without +appeal to any authority. Our minds were kept in perfect peace; and when +thrown together on one of these occasions, we reminded each other that +the Apostles rejoiced that they were counted _worthy_ to suffer in the +cause of CHRIST. Having succeeded in getting my hand into my pocket, I +produced a Chinese card (if the large red paper, bearing one's name, may +be so called), and after this was treated with more respect. I demanded +it should be given to the chief official of the place, and that we +should be led to his office. Before this we had been unable, say what we +would, to persuade them that we were foreigners, although we were both +in English attire. + +Oh the long weary streets that we were dragged through! I thought they +would never end; and seldom have I felt more thankful than when we +stopped at a place where we were told a mandarin resided. Quite +exhausted, bathed in perspiration, and with my tongue cleaving to the +roof of my mouth, I leaned against the wall, and saw that Mr. Burdon was +in much the same condition. I requested them to bring us chairs, but +they told us to wait; and when I begged them to give us some tea, +received only the same answer. Round the doorway a large crowd had +gathered; and Mr. Burdon, collecting his remaining strength, preached +CHRIST JESUS to them. Our cards and books had been taken in to the +mandarin, but he proved to be one of low rank, and after keeping us +waiting for some time he referred us to his superiors in office. + +Upon hearing this, and finding that it was their purpose to turn us out +again into the crowded streets, we positively refused to move a single +step, and insisted on chairs being brought. After some demur this was +done; we seated ourselves in them, and were carried on. On the road we +felt so glad of the rest which the chairs afforded us, and so thankful +at having been able to preach JESUS in spite of Satan's malice, that our +joy was depicted on our countenances; and as we passed along we heard +some say that we did not look like bad men, while others seemed to pity +us. When we arrived at the magistrate's office, I wondered where we were +being taken; for though we passed through some great gates that looked +like those of the city wall, we were still evidently within the city. A +second pair of gates suggested the idea that it was a prison into which +we were being carried; but when we came in sight of a large tablet, with +the inscription "_Ming chi fu mu_" (the father and mother of the +people), we felt that we had been conveyed to the right place; this +being the title assumed by the mandarins. + +Our cards were again sent in, and after a short delay we were taken into +the presence of Ch'en Ta Lao-ie (the Great Venerable Father Ch'en), who, +as it proved, had formerly been Tao-tai of Shanghai, and consequently +knew the importance of treating foreigners with courtesy. Coming before +him, some of the people fell on their knees and bowed down to the +ground, and my conductor motioned for me to do the same, but without +success. This mandarin, who seemed to be the highest authority of +T'ung-chau, and wore an opaque blue button on his cap, came out to meet +us, and treated us with every possible token of respect. He took us to +an inner apartment, a more private room, but was followed by a large +number of writers, runners, and other semi-officials. I related the +object of our visit, and begged permission to give him copies of our +books and tracts, for which he thanked me. As I handed him a copy of the +New Testament with part of the Old (from Genesis to Ruth) and some +tracts, I tried to explain a little about them, and also to give him a +brief summary of our teachings. . . . He listened very attentively, as of +course did all the others present. He then ordered some refreshments to +be brought in, which were very welcome, and himself partook of them with +us. + +After a long stay, we asked permission to see something of the city, and +to distribute the books we had brought, before our return. To this he +kindly consented. We then mentioned that we had been most +disrespectfully treated as we came in, but that we did not attach much +importance to the fact, being aware that the soldiers knew no better. +Not desiring, however, to have such an experience repeated, we requested +him to give orders that we were not to be further molested. This also he +promised to do, and with every possible token of respect accompanied us +to the door of his official residence, sending several runners to see +that we were respectfully treated. We distributed our books well and +quickly, and left the city quite in state. It was amusing to us to see +the way in which the runners made use of their tails. When the street +was blocked by the crowd, they turned them into whips, and laid them +about the people's shoulders to right and left! + +We had a little trouble in finding our wheel-barrows; but eventually +succeeding, we paid off the chair coolies, mounted our humble vehicles, +and returned to the river, accompanied for fully half the distance by an +attendant from the magistrate's office. Early in the evening we got back +to the boats in safety, sincerely thankful to our Heavenly FATHER for +His gracious protection and aid. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +WITH THE REV. WILLIAM BURNS + + +AFTER the retaking of Shanghai by the Imperialists, in February 1855, I +was enabled to rent a house within the walls of the native city, and +gladly availed myself of this opportunity to reside amidst the crowded +population left to inhabit the ruins that had survived the war. Here I +made my headquarters, though often absent on more or less prolonged +itinerations. + +At the suggestion of the Rev. Dr. Medhurst, the veteran leader of the +London Mission, I was led at about this period to adopt the native +costume in preference to foreign dress, to facilitate travel and +residence inland. The Chinese had permitted a foreign firm to build a +silk factory some distance inland, with the proviso that the style of +building must be purely Chinese, and that there should be nothing +external to suggest that it was foreign. Much benefit was found to +result from this change of costume; and I, and most of those associated +with me, have continued to use native dress. + +The T'ai-p'ing rebellion, commenced in 1851, had by this time reached +the height of its ephemeral success. The great city of Nan-king had +fallen before the invading host; and there, within two hundred miles of +Shanghai, the rebels had established their headquarters, and proceeded +to fortify themselves for further conquests. During the summer of 1855 +various attempts were made to visit the leaders of the movement, in +order to bring to bear some decidedly Christian influence upon them; but +so little success was met with, that these efforts were abandoned. + +I, amongst others, had sought to reach Nan-king; but finding it +impossible to do so, turned my attention again to evangelistic work on +the island of Ts'ung-ming. After some time I was enabled so far to +overcome the prejudice and fears of the people as to rent a little house +and settle down in their midst. This was a great joy and encouragement +to me; but before many weeks were over complaints were made by the local +authorities to the British Consul, who compelled me to retire; though +the French Consul had himself secured to the Romish missionaries a +property within three or four miles of the house I had to vacate. Sorely +tried and disappointed by this unexpected hindrance, I reluctantly +returned to Shanghai, little dreaming of the blessing that GOD had in +store for me there. + +A few months previously the Rev. William Burns, of the English +Presbyterian Mission, had arrived in that port on his return journey +from home; and before proceeding to his former sphere of service in the +southern province of FU-KIEN, he had endeavoured, like myself, without +success, to visit the T'ai-p'ing rebels at Nan-king. Failing in this +attempt, he made his headquarters in Shanghai for a season, devoting +himself to the evangelisation of the surrounding populous regions. Thus +in the autumn of the year I was providentially led into association with +this beloved and honoured servant of GOD. + +We journeyed together, evangelising cities and towns in southern +KIANG-SU and north CHEH-KIANG, living in our boats, and following the +course of the canals and rivers which here spread like a network over +the whole face of the rich and fertile country. Mr. Burns at that time +was wearing English dress; but saw that while I was the younger and in +every way less experienced, I had the quiet hearers, while he was +followed by the rude boys, and by the curious but careless; that I was +invited to the homes of the people, while he received an apology that +the crowd that would follow precluded his being invited. After some +weeks of observation he also adopted the native dress, and enjoyed the +increased facilities which it gave. + +Those happy months were an unspeakable joy and privilege to me. His love +for the Word was delightful, and his holy, reverential life and constant +communings with GOD made fellowship with him satisfying to the deep +cravings of my heart. His accounts of revival work and of persecutions +in Canada, and Dublin, and in Southern China were most instructive, as +well as interesting; for with true spiritual insight he often pointed +out GOD's purposes in trial in a way that made all life assume quite a +new aspect and value. His views especially about evangelism as the great +work of the Church, and the order of lay evangelists as a lost order +that Scripture required to be restored, were seed-thoughts which were to +prove fruitful in the subsequent organisation of the China Inland +Mission. + +Externally, however, our path was not always a smooth one; but when +permitted to stay for any length of time in town or city, the +opportunity was well utilised. We were in the habit of leaving our +boats, after prayer for blessing, at about nine o'clock in the morning, +with a light bamboo stool in hand. Selecting a suitable station, one +would mount the stool and speak for twenty minutes, while the other was +pleading for blessing; and then changing places, the voice of the first +speaker had a rest. After an hour or two thus occupied, we would move on +to another point at some distance from the first, and speak again. +Usually about midday we returned to our boats for dinner, fellowship, +and prayer, and then resumed our out-door work until dusk. After tea and +further rest, we would go with our native helpers to some tea-shop, +where several hours might be spent in free conversation with the people. +Not infrequently before leaving a town we had good reason to believe +that much truth had been grasped; and we placed many Scriptures and +books in the hands of those interested. The following letter was written +by Mr. Burns to his mother at home in Scotland about this time:-- + + + "TWENTY-FIVE MILES FROM SHANGHAI, + _January 26th, 1856_. + + "Taking advantage of a rainy day which confines me + to my boat, I pen a few lines, in addition to a + letter to Dundee, containing particulars which I + need not repeat. It is now forty-one days since I + left Shanghai on this last occasion. A young + English missionary, Mr. Taylor, of the Chinese + Evangelisation Society, has been my companion + during these weeks--he in his boat, and I in + mine--and we have experienced much mercy, and on + some occasions considerable assistance in our + work. + + "I must once more tell the story I have had to + tell already more than once--how four weeks ago, + on December 29th, I put on the Chinese dress, + which I am now wearing. Mr. Taylor had made this + change a few months before, and I found that he + was, in consequence, so much less incommoded in + preaching, etc., by the crowd, that I concluded it + was my duty to follow his example. We were at that + time more than double the distance from Shanghai + that we are now, and would still have been at as + great a distance had we not met at one place with + a band of lawless people, who demanded money and + threatened to break our boats if their demands + were refused. The boatmen were very much alarmed, + and insisted on returning to some place nearer + home. These people had previously broken in, + violently, a part of Mr. Taylor's boat, because + their unreasonable demand for books was not + complied with. + + "We have a large, very large, field of labour in + this region, though it might be difficult in the + meantime for one to establish himself in any + particular place; the people listen with + attention, but we need the Power from on High to + convince and convert. Is there any spirit of + prayer on our behalf among GOD's people in + Kilsyth? or is there any effort to seek this + spirit? How great the need is, and how great the + arguments and motives for prayer in this case. The + harvest here is indeed great, and the labourers + are few, and imperfectly fitted without much grace + for such a work. And yet grace can make the few + and feeble instruments the means of accomplishing + great things--things greater than we can even + conceive." + +The incident referred to in this letter, which led to our return to +Shanghai more speedily than we had at first intended, took place on the +northern border of CHEH-KIANG. We had reached a busy market town known +by the name of Wu-chen, or Black Town, the inhabitants of which, we had +been told, were the wildest and most lawless people in that part of the +country. Such indeed we found them to be: the town was a refuge for salt +smugglers and other bad characters. The following extracts are taken +from my journal, written at the time:-- + + + _January 8th, 1856._ + +Commenced our work in Wu-chen this morning by distributing a large +number of tracts and some Testaments. The people seemed much surprised, +and we could not learn that any foreigner had been here before. We +preached twice--once in the temple of the God of War, and afterwards in +an empty space left by a fire, which had completely destroyed many +houses. In the afternoon we preached again to a large and attentive +audience on the same site; and in the evening adjourned to a tea-shop, +where we had a good opportunity of speaking until it got noised abroad +that we were there, when, too many people coming in, we were obliged to +leave. Our native assistants, Tsien and Kuei-hua, were able, however, to +remain. Returning to our boats, we spoke to a number of people standing +on a bridge, and felt we had abundant reason to be thankful and +encouraged by the result of our first day's labour. + + + _January 10th._ + +First sent Tsien and Kuei-hua to distribute some sheet tracts. After +their return we went with them, and in a space cleared by fire we +separated, and addressed two audiences. On our return to the boats for +lunch, we found people waiting, as usual, and desiring books. Some were +distributed to those who were able to read them; and then asking them +kindly to excuse us while we took our midday meal, I went into my boat +and shut the door. + +Hardly was there time to pour out a cup of tea when a battering began, +and the roof was at once broken in. I went out at the back, and found +four or five men taking the large lumps of frozen earth turned up in a +field close by--weighing, I should suppose, from seven to fourteen +pounds each--and throwing them at the boat. Remonstrance was of no +avail, and it was not long ere a considerable part of the upper +structure of the boat was broken to pieces, and a quantity of earth +covered the things inside. Finally, Tsien got a boat that was passing to +land him at a short distance, and by a few tracts drew away the +attention of the men, thus ending the assault. + +We now learned that of those who had done the mischief only two were +natives of the place, the others being salt smugglers, and that the +cause was our not having satisfied their unreasonable demand for books. +Most providentially no one was injured; and as soon as quiet was +somewhat restored, we all met in Mr. Burns's boat and joined in +thanksgiving that we had been preserved from personal harm, praying also +for the perpetrators of the mischief, and that it might be over-ruled +for good to us and to those with us. We then took our lunch and went on +shore, and but a few steps from the boats addressed a large multitude +that soon assembled. We were specially assisted; never were we heard +with more attention, and not one voice was found to sympathise with the +men who had molested us. In the evening, at the tea-shops, the same +spirit was manifested, and some seemed to hear with joy the glad tidings +of salvation through a crucified and risen SAVIOUR. + +As we came home we passed a barber's shop still open, and I went in, and +while getting my head shaved had an opportunity of speaking to a few +people, and afterwards pasted a couple of sheet tracts on the wall for +the benefit of future customers. + + + _January 11th._ + +A respectable shop-keeper of the name of Yao, who on the first or second +day of our stay at Wu-chen had received portions of the New Testament +and a tract, came yesterday, when our boat was broken, to beg for some +more books. At that time we were all in confusion from the damage done, +and from the earth thrown into the boat, and so invited him to come +again in a day or two's time, when we would gladly supply him. This +morning he appeared and handed in the following note:-- + +"On a former day I begged Burns and Taylor, the two '_Rabbis_,' to give +me good books. It happened at that time those of our town whose hearts +were deceived by _Satan_, not knowing the _Son of David_, went so far as +to dare to '_raca_' and '_moreh_' and injure your respected boat. I +thank you for promising afterwards to give the books, and beg the +following: Complete New Testament, 'Discourse of a Good Man when near +his Death,' 'Important Christian Doctrines,' an Almanack, 'Principles of +Christianity,' 'Way to make the World happy,'--of each one copy. Sung +and Tsien, and all teachers I hope are well. Further compliments are +unwritten." + +This note is interesting, as showing that he had been reading the New +Testament attentively, as the italicised words were all taken from it. +His use of "raca" and "moreh" for reviling, shows their meaning was not +lost upon him. + +After supplying this man, we went out with Tsien and Kuei-hua to the +east of the town, and spoke in the street for a short time. Upon +returning to the boats, I was visited by two CHIH-LI men, who are in the +magistrate's office here. I was greatly helped in speaking to them of a +crucified SAVIOUR in the Mandarin dialect; and though one of them did +not pay much attention, the other did, and made inquiries that showed +the interest he was feeling. When they had left, I went on shore and +spoke to the people collected there, to whom Kuei-hua had been +preaching. The setting sun afforded a parable, and reminded one of the +words of JESUS, "The night cometh, when no man can work;" and as I spoke +of the uncertain duration of this life, and of our ignorance as to the +time of CHRIST'S return, a degree of deep seriousness prevailed that I +had never previously witnessed in China. I engaged in prayer, and the +greatest decorum was observed. I then returned to my boat with a +Buddhist priest who had been in the audience, and he admitted that +Buddhism was a system of deceit that could give no hope in death. + + + _January 12th._ + +In the afternoon we addressed the people on shore close to our boats, +also in one of the streets of the city, and in a tea-shop, books being +distributed on each occasion. In the evening we went as usual to speak +in the tea-shops, but determined to go to the opposite end of the town, +in order to afford those who lived there a better opportunity of meeting +with us. It was a long straggling place, nearly two English miles in +length. As Mr. Burns and I were accustomed to talk together in Chinese, +this conclusion was known to those in the boats. + +After we had proceeded a short distance we changed our minds, and went +instead to the usual tea-shop, thinking that persons might have gone +there expecting to meet us. But this was not the case; and we did not +find such serious hearers as we had done on previous occasions. On this +account Mr. Burns proposed leaving earlier than usual, and we did so, +telling Tsien and Kuei-hua that they might remain a little longer. +Returning to the boats, we gave away a few books; but, singularly +enough, were left to go alone, no one accompanying us, as is so +generally the case. Instead of being a clear night, as it was when we +started, we found that it had become intensely dark. On our way we met +the boatman, whose manner seemed very strange, and without giving us any +explanation he blew out the candle of our lantern; we relighted the +lantern, telling him not to put it out again, when to our surprise he +deliberately removed the candle and threw it into the canal. He then +walked down along a low wall jutting out to the river's edge, and gazed +into the water. + +Not knowing what was the matter with him, I ran forward to hold him, +fearful lest he were going to drown himself; but to my great relief he +came quietly back. In answer to our repeated questions he told us not to +speak, for some bad men were seeking to destroy the boats, and they had +moved away to avoid them. He then led us to the place where one of them +was lying. Before long Tsien and Kuei-hua came and got safely on board, +and soon after we were joined by the teacher Sung, and the boat moved +away. + +The cause of all this disturbance was then explained. A man professing +to be the constable had come to the boats in our absence, with a written +demand for ten dollars and a quantity of opium. He stated that there +were more than fifty country people (salt smugglers) awaiting our reply +in an adjoining tea-shop; and if we gave them what they wanted, and +three hundred cash to pay for their tea, we might remain in peace; but +that if not, they would come at once and destroy our boats. Sung told +them that we could not comply with their demand; for, not being engaged +in trade, but only in preaching and book-distribution, we had not an +atom of opium, and that our money was nearly all expended. The man, +however, told him plainly that he did not believe him, and Sung had no +alternative but to seek us out, desiring the man to await our reply. Not +knowing that we had changed our plans, he sought us in the wrong +direction, and of course in vain. + +In the meanwhile the boatmen had succeeded in moving off. They were very +much alarmed; and having so recently had proof of what these men would +do in open daylight, felt no desire to experience what they might +attempt by night. Moving away, therefore, they had separated, so that if +one boat should be injured the other might afford us a refuge. It was +after this that we had providentially met the boatman, and had been +safely led on board. As Sung repassed the place where we were previously +moored, he saw between the trees a dozen or more men, and heard them +inquiring where the boats had gone to; but no one could tell. +Fortunately they sought in vain. + +After a while the two boats joined, and rowed together for some time. It +was already late, and to travel by night in that part of the country was +not the way to avoid danger from evil men; so the question arose as to +what should be done. This we left for the boatmen to decide; they had +moved off of their own accord, and we felt that whatever we personally +might desire we could not constrain others to remain in a position of +danger on our account. We urged them, however, to do quickly whatever +they intended to do, as the morrow was the LORD'S DAY, when we should +not wish to travel. We also informed them that wherever we were we must +fulfil our mission, and preach the Gospel; it therefore made but little +difference where we might stay, for even if we passed the night +unperceived, we were sure to be found out on the following morning. The +men consequently concluded that we might as well return to the place +from which we had started; to this we fully agreed, and they turned back +accordingly. But--whether by accident or no we could not tell--they got +into another stream, and rowed for some time they knew not whither. At +last, as it was very dark, they moored for the night. + +We then called all the boatmen together, with our native assistants, and +read to them the ninety-first Psalm. It may be imagined how appropriate +to our position and need and how sweetly consoling was this portion of +GOD'S Word:-- + + "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the MOST HIGH + Shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY. + I will say of the LORD, _He_ is my refuge and my fortress: + My GOD; in Him will I trust. + + "Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, + And from the noisome pestilence. + + He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings + shalt thou trust: + His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. + Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; + Nor for the arrow that flieth by day. + + "Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him. + I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name. + He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; + I will be with him in trouble;--I will deliver him, and honour him. + With long life will I satisfy him,--and show him My salvation." + +Committing ourselves in prayer to His care and keeping Who had covered +us with thick darkness and permitted us to escape from the hand of the +violent, we retired for the night; which--thanks to the kind protection +of the WATCHMAN OF ISRAEL, who neither slumbers nor forgets His +people--we passed in peace and quietness, and were enabled, in some +measure, to realise the truth of that precious word, "_Thou_ art my +_Hiding-place_, and my _Shield_." + + + _Sunday, January 13th._ + +This morning I was awakened about 4 A.M. by violent pain in the +knee-joint. I had bruised it the day before, and severe inflammation was +the result. To my great surprise I heard the rain pouring down in +torrents, the weather having previously been particularly fine. On +looking out, we found ourselves so near our former stopping-place, that, +had nothing happened to prevent it, we should not have felt justified in +neglecting to go into the town to preach as usual; but the rain was so +heavy all day that no one could leave the boats. Thus we enjoyed a +delightful day of rest, such as we had not had for some time; and the +weather prevented much inquiry being made for us. Had the day been fine +we should most likely have been discovered, even if we had not left the +boats. As it was, we were allowed to think in peace, with wonder and +gratitude, of the gracious dealings of our GOD, who had thus led us +apart into "a desert place" to rest awhile. + + + _Monday, January 14th._ + +A cloudless morning. One of the native assistants went before daybreak +to get some clothes which had been given out for washing. He came back +with the tidings that, notwithstanding the drenching rain of yesterday, +men had been seeking us in all directions. We had been kept, however, in +peace and safety "under the shadow of the Almighty." + +The boatmen were now so thoroughly alarmed that they would stay no +longer, and moved off at dawn. I was confined to my quarters by +lameness, and had no alternative but to go with them. In the afternoon +we reached Ping-wang, on the way to Shanghai. + + "Ill that GOD blesses is our good, + And unblest good is ill; + And all is right that seems most wrong, + If it be His sweet will." + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CALLED TO SWATOW + + +HAVING to leave the neighbourhood of Black Town thus unexpectedly was a +real disappointment to us, as we had hoped to spend some time +evangelising in that district. We were to prove, however, that no +unforeseen mischance had happened, but that these circumstances which +seemed so trying were necessary links in the chain of a divinely ordered +providence, guiding to other and wider spheres. + +GOD does not permit persecution to arise without sufficient reason. . . . +He was leading us by a way that we knew not; but it was none the less +His way. + + "O LORD, how happy should we be + If we would cast our care on Thee, + If we from self would rest; + And feel at heart that One above, + In perfect wisdom, perfect love, + Is working for the best!" + +When we reached Shanghai, thinking to return inland in a few days with +fresh supplies of books and money, we met a Christian captain who had +been trading at Swatow, and he put very strongly before us the need of +that region, and the fact that there were British merchants living on +Double Island, selling opium and engaged in the coolie trade +(practically a slave traffic), while there was no British missionary to +preach the Gospel. The SPIRIT OF GOD impressed me with the feeling that +this was His call, but for days I felt that I could not obey it. I had +never had such a spiritual father as Mr. Burns; I had never known such +holy, happy fellowship; and I said to myself that it could not be GOD'S +will that we should separate. + +In great unrest of soul I went one evening, with Mr. Burns, to take tea +at the house of the Rev. R. Lowrie, of the American Presbyterian +Mission, at the South Gate of Shanghai. After tea Mrs. Lowrie played +over to us "The Missionary Call."[2] I had never heard it before, and it +greatly affected me. My heart was almost broken before it was finished, +and I said to the LORD, in the words that had been sung-- + + "And I will go! + I may no longer doubt to give up friends, and idol hopes, + And every tie that binds my heart. . . . + Henceforth, then, it matters not, if storm or sunshine + be my earthly lot, bitter or sweet my cup; + I only pray, GOD, make me holy, + And my spirit nerve for the stern hour of strife." + +Upon leaving I asked Mr. Burns to come home with me to the little house +that was still my headquarters in the native city, and there, with many +tears, told him how the LORD had been leading me, and how rebellious I +had been and unwilling to leave him for this new sphere of labour. He +listened with a strange look of surprise, and of pleasure rather than +pain; and answered that he had determined that very night to tell me +that he had heard the LORD'S call to Swatow, and that his one regret had +been the prospect of the severance of our happy fellowship. We went +together; and thus was recommenced missionary work in that part of +China, which in later years has been so abundantly blessed. + +Long before this time the Rev. R. Lechler, of the Basel Missionary +Society, had widely itinerated in the neighbourhood of Swatow and the +surrounding regions. Driven about from place to place, he had done work +that was not forgotten, although ultimately he was obliged to retire to +Hong-kong. For more than forty years this earnest-hearted servant of GOD +has continued in "labours more abundant"; and quite recently he has left +Hong-kong, with his devoted wife, to return again inland, and spend the +strength of his remaining years amongst the people he has so long and +truly loved. + +Captain Bowers, the Christian friend who had been used of GOD in +bringing the needs of Swatow before Mr. Burns and myself, was overjoyed +when he heard of our decision to devote ourselves to the evangelisation +of that busy, important, and populous mart. Being about to sail himself +on his return journey, he gladly offered us free passages on board the +_Geelong_, in which we left Shanghai early in the month of March 1856. + +A favourable journey of six days brought us to Double Island, where we +found ourselves landed in the midst of a small but very ungodly +community of foreigners, engaged in the opium trade and other commercial +enterprises. Unwilling to be in any way identified with these +fellow-countrymen, we were most desirous of obtaining quarters at once +within the native city, situated on a promontory of the mainland, five +miles farther up, at the mouth of the Han river. Great difficulty was +experienced in this attempt to obtain a footing amongst the people. +Indeed, it seemed as though we should fail altogether, and we were +helplessly cast upon the LORD in prayer. Our GOD soon undertook for us. +Meeting one day with a Cantonese merchant, a relative of the highest +official in the town, Mr. Burns addressed him in the Cantonese dialect; +this gentleman was so pleased at being spoken to by a foreigner in his +own tongue that he became our friend, and secured us a lodging. We had +only one little room, however, and not easily shall I forget the long +hot summer months in that oven-like place, where towards the eaves one +could touch the heated tiles with one's hand. More room or better +accommodation it was impossible to obtain. + +We varied our stay by visits to the surrounding country; but the +difficulties and dangers that encountered us here were so great and +constant, that our former work in the North began to appear safe and +easy in comparison. The hatred and contempt of the Cantonese was very +painful, "foreign devil," "foreign dog," or "foreign pig" being the +commonest appellations; but all this led us into deeper fellowship than +I had ever known before with Him who was "despised and rejected of men." + +In our visits to the country we were liable to be seized at any time and +held to ransom; and the people commonly declared that the whole district +was "without emperor, without ruler, and without law." Certainly, might +was right in those days. On one occasion we were visiting a small town, +and found that the inhabitants had captured a wealthy man of another +clan. A large ransom was demanded for his release, and on his refusing +to pay it they had smashed his ankle-bones, one by one, with a club, and +thus extorted the promise they desired. There was nothing but GOD'S +protection to prevent our being treated in the same way. The towns were +all walled, and one such place would contain ten or twenty thousand +people of the same clan and surname, who were frequently at war with the +people living in the next town. To be kindly received in one place was +not uncommonly a source of danger in the next. In circumstances such as +these the preserving care of our GOD was often manifested. + +After a time the local mandarin became ill, and the native doctors were +unable to relieve him. He had heard from some who had been under my +treatment of the benefit derived, and was led to seek our help. GOD +blessed the medicines given, and grateful for relief, he advised our +renting a house for a hospital and dispensary. Having his permission, we +were able to secure the entire premises, one room of which we had +previously occupied. I had left my stock of medicine and surgical +instruments under the care of my friend, the late Mr. Wylie, in +Shanghai, and went back at once to fetch them. + +Mr. Burns came down from a town called Am-po, that we had visited +together several times, to see me off, and returned again when I had +sailed, with two native evangelists sent up from Hong-kong by the Rev. +J. Johnson, of the American Baptist Missionary Union. The people were +willing to listen to their preaching, and to accept their books as a +gift, but they would not buy them. One night robbers broke in and +carried off everything they had, with the exception of their stock of +literature, which was supposed to be valueless. Next morning, very +early, they were knocked up by persons wishing to buy books, and the +sales continued; so that by breakfast time they had not only cash enough +to procure food, but to pay also for the passage of one of the men to +Double Island, below Swatow, with a letter to Mr. Burns's agent to +supply him with money. Purchasers continued coming during that day and +the next, and our friends lacked nothing; but on the third day they +could not sell a single book. Then, however, when the cash from their +sales was just exhausted, the messenger returned with supplies. + +It was early in July, after about four months' residence in Swatow, that +I left for Shanghai, intending to return in the course of a few weeks, +bringing with me my medical apparatus, for further work in association +with the Rev. William Burns. A new and promising field seemed to be +opening before us, and it was with much hopeful anticipation that we +looked forward to the future of the work. Marked blessing was indeed in +store for the city and neighbourhood of Swatow; but it was not the +purpose of GOD that either of us should remain to reap the harvest. Mr. +Burns while in the interior was taken up and imprisoned by the Chinese +authorities soon after I left, and was sent to Canton. And though he +returned to Swatow after the war had broken out, he was called away for +other service, which prevented his subsequent return; while my journey +to Shanghai proved to be the first step in a diverging pathway leading +to other spheres. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] For words and music see the end of this chapter. + + +[Illustration: Music: The Missionary Call] + +"THE MISSIONARY CALL" + + 1. My soul is not at rest. + There comes a strange + and secret whisper to + my. . . . + spirit, like a dream of night, + that tells me + I am on enchanted + ground. + + + CHORUS FOR FIRST FOUR VERSES. + + _Vivace._ The voice of my departed LORD, "Go, teach all nations," + + Comes on the night air and awakes mine ear. + + + CHORUS FOR LAST VERSE. + + Through ages of eternal years, + My spirit never shall repent, + that toil and suff'ring once were mine . . . below. + + + 2. Why live I here? the vows of GOD are | on me; | and I may not stop + to play with shadows or pluck earthly flowers, | till I my work + have done, and | rendered up ac | count. + + 3. And I will | go! | I may no longer doubt to give up friends, + and idol | hopes, | and every tie that binds my heart to | thee, my | + country. + + 4. Henceforth, then, it matters not, if storm or sunshine be my | + earthly lot, | bitter or sweet my | cup; | I only pray: "GOD make me + holy, and my spirit nerve for the stern | hour of strife!" + + 5. And when one for whom Satan hath struggled as he hath for | me, | + has gained at last that blessed | shore, | Oh! how this heart will + glow with | gratitude and | love. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES + + +IT is interesting to notice the various events which united, in the +providence of GOD, in preventing my return to Swatow, and ultimately led +to my settling in Ningpo, and making that the centre for the development +of future labours. + +Upon reaching Shanghai, great was my dismay to find that the premises in +which my medicines and instruments had been stored were burnt down, and +that all the medicines and many of the instruments were entirely +destroyed. To me this appeared a great calamity, and I fear I was more +disposed with faithless Jacob to say, "All these things are against me," +than to recognise that "All things work together for good." I had not +then learned to think of GOD as the One Great Circumstance "in Whom we +live, and move, and have our being"; and of _all_ lesser, external +circumstances, as necessarily the kindest, wisest, best, because either +ordered or permitted by Him. Hence my disappointment and trial were very +great. + +Medicines were expensive in Shanghai, and my means were limited. I +therefore set out on an inland journey to Ningpo, hoping to obtain a +supply from Dr. William Parker, a member of the same mission as myself. +I took with me my few remaining possessions, the principal being my +watch, a few surgical instruments, a concertina, books for the study of +Chinese, which in those days were very expensive; but left behind in +Shanghai a portion of my money. + +The country through which I had to pass was suffering much from drought; +it was the height of summer; and the water in the Grand Canal was very +low, having been largely drawn upon for the neighbouring rice fields, as +well as evaporated by the intense heat. I had determined to make the +journey as much of a mission tour as possible, and set out well supplied +with Christian tracts and books. After fourteen days spent in travelling +slowly through the populous country, preaching and distributing books, +etc., we reached a large town called Shih-mun-wan, and here, finding +that my supply of literature was exhausted, I determined not to linger +over the rest of the journey, but to reach Ningpo as speedily as +possible, _via_ the city of Hai-ning. + + + _August 4th, 1856._ + +There was no water beyond Shih-mun-wan, so I paid off my boat, hired +coolies to carry my things as far as to Chang-gan, and ere sunrise we +were on the way. I walked on alone, leaving my servant to follow with +the men, who made frequent stoppages to rest; and on reaching a city +through which we had to pass, I waited for them in a tea-shop just +outside the North Gate. The coolies came on very slowly, and seemed +tired when they arrived. I soon found that they were both opium-smokers, +so that, although they had only carried a load that one strong man would +think nothing of taking three times the distance, they really seemed +wearied. + +After some rice and tea and an hour's rest--including, I doubt not, a +smoke of the opium pipe--they were a little refreshed, and I proposed +moving on, that we might get to Chang-gan before the sun became too +powerful. My servant, however, had a friend in the city, and he desired +to spend the day there, and to go on next morning. But to this I +objected, wishing to reach Hai-ning that night if possible. . . . We +therefore set off, entered the North Gate, and had passed through about +a third of the city, when the coolies stopped to rest, and said they +should be unable to carry the burden on to Chang-gan. Finally, they +agreed to take it to the South Gate, where they were to be paid in +proportion to the distance they had carried it; and the servant +undertook to call other coolies and come along with them. + +I walked on before as in the first instance, and the distance being only +about four miles, soon reached Chang-gan, and waited their arrival, +meanwhile engaging coolies for the rest of the journey to Hai-ning. +Having waited a long time, I began to wonder at the delay; and at length +it became too late to finish the journey to Hai-ning that night. I felt +somewhat annoyed; and but that my feet were blistered, and the afternoon +very hot, I should have gone back to meet them and urge them on. At last +I concluded that my servant must have gone to his friend's, and would +not appear until evening. But evening came, and still there was no sign +of them. + +Feeling very uneasy, I began diligently to inquire whether they had been +seen. At last a man responded, "Are you a guest from Shih-mun-wan?" I +answered in the affirmative. "Are you going to Hai-ning?" "That is my +destination." "Then your things have gone on before you; for I was +sitting in a tea-shop when a coolie came in, took a cup of tea, and set +off for Hai-ning in a great hurry, saying that the bamboo box and bed he +carried, which were just such as you describe yours to have been, were +from Shih-mun-wan, and he had to take them to Hai-ning to-night, where +he was to be paid at the rate of ten cash a pound." From this I +concluded that my goods were on before me; but it was impossible to +follow them at once, for I was too tired to walk, and it was already +dark. + +Under these circumstances all I could do was to seek a lodging for the +night; and no easy task I found it. After raising my heart to GOD to ask +His aid, I walked through to the farther end of the town, where I +thought the tidings of a foreigner's being in the place might not have +spread, and looked out for an inn. I soon came to one, and went in, +hoping that I might pass unquestioned, as it was already dark. Asking +the bill of fare, I was told that cold rice--which proved to be more +than "rather burnt"--and snakes, fried in lamp-oil, were all that could +be had. Not wishing any question to be raised as to my nationality, I +was compelled to order some, and tried to make a meal, but with little +success. + +While thus engaged I said to the landlord, "I suppose I can arrange to +spend the night here?" + +To which he replied in the affirmative; but bringing out his book, he +added-- + +"In these unsettled times we are required by the authorities to keep a +record of our lodgers: may I ask your respected family name?" + +"My unworthy family name is Tai," I responded. + +"And your honourable second name?" + +"My humble name is Ia-koh" (James). + +"What an extraordinary name! I never heard it before. How do you write +it?" + +I told him, and added, "It is a common name in the district from which I +come." + +"And may I ask whence you come and whither you are going?" + +"I am journeying from Shanghai to Ningpo, by way of Hang-chau." + +"What may be your honourable profession?" + +"I heal the sick." + +"Oh! you are a physician," the landlord remarked; and to my intense +relief closed the book. His wife, however, took up the conversation. + +"You are a physician, are you?" said she; "I am glad of that, for I have +a daughter afflicted with leprosy. If you will cure her, you shall have +your supper and bed for nothing." + +I was curious enough to inquire what my supper and bed were to cost, if +paid for; and to my amusement found they were worth less than +three-halfpence of our money! + +Being unable to benefit the girl, I declined to prescribe for her, +saying that leprosy was a very intractable disease, and that I had no +medicines with me. + +The mother, however, brought pen and paper, urging, "You can at least +write a prescription, which will do no harm, if it does no good." + +But this also I declined to do, and requested to be shown my bed. I was +conducted to a very miserable room on the ground-floor, where, on some +boards raised upon two stools, I passed the night, without bed or +pillow, save my umbrella and shoe, and without any mosquito netting. Ten +or eleven other lodgers were sleeping in the same room, so I could not +take anything off, for fear of its being stolen; but I was, I found, by +no means too warm as midnight came on. + + + _August 5th._ + +As may be supposed, I arose but little rested or refreshed, and felt +very far from well. I had to wait a long time ere breakfast was +obtainable, and then there was another delay before I could get change +for the only dollar I had with me, in consequence of its being chipped +in one or two places. More than three hundred cash also were deducted +from its price on this account, which was a serious loss to me in my +trying position. + +I then sought throughout the town for tidings of my servant and coolies, +as I thought it possible that they might have arrived later, or have +come on in the morning. The town is large, long, and straggling, being +nearly two miles from one end to the other, so this occupied some time. +I gained no information, however; and, footsore and weary, set out for +Hai-ning in the full heat of the day. The journey--about eight +miles--took me a long time; but a halfway village afforded a +resting-place and a cup of tea, both of which I gladly availed myself +of. When about to leave again, a heavy shower of rain came on, and the +delay thus occasioned enabled me to speak a little to the people about +the truths of the Gospel. + +The afternoon was far spent before I approached the northern suburb of +Hai-ning, where I commenced inquiries, but could hear no tidings of my +servant or things. I was told that outside the East Gate I should be +more likely to hear of them, as it was there the sea-junks called. I +therefore proceeded thither, and sought for them outside the Little East +Gate, but in vain. Very weary, I sat down in a tea-shop to rest; and +while there a number of persons from one of the mandarin's offices came +in, and made inquiries as to who I was, where I had come from, etc. On +learning the object of my search, one of the men in the tea-shop said, +"A bamboo box and a bed, such as you describe, were carried past here +about half an hour ago. The bearer seemed to be going towards either the +Great East Gate or the South Gate; you had better go to the hongs there +and inquire." I asked him to accompany me in the search, and promised to +reward him for his trouble, but he would not. Another man offered to go +with me, so we set off together, and both inside and outside the two +gates made diligent inquiries, but all in vain. I then engaged a man to +make a thorough search, promising him a liberal reward if he should be +successful. In the meantime I had some dinner, and addressed a large +concourse of people who had gathered together. + +When he returned, having met with no success, I said to him, "I am now +quite exhausted: will you help me to find quarters for the night, and +then I will pay you for your trouble?" He was willing to befriend me, +and we set off in search of lodgings. At the first place or two the +people would not receive me; for though on our first going in they +seemed willing to do so, the presence of a man who followed us, and who, +I found, was engaged in one of the Government offices, seemed to alarm +them, and I was refused. We now went to a third place, and being no +longer followed by the mandarin's messenger, we were promised quarters; +some tea was brought, and I paid the man who had accompanied me for his +trouble. + +Soon after he was gone some official people came in; they soon went +away, but the result of their visit was that I was told I could not be +entertained there that night. A young man present blamed them for their +heartless behaviour, and said, "Never mind, come with me; and if we +cannot get better lodgings for you, you shall sleep at our house." I +went with him, but we found the people of his house unwilling to receive +me. Weary and footsore, so that I could scarcely stand, I had again to +seek quarters, and at length got promise of them; but a little crowd +collecting about the door, they desired me to go to a tea-shop and wait +there till the people had retired, or they would be unable to +accommodate me. There was no help for it, so I went, accompanied still +by the young man, and waited till past midnight. Then we left for the +promised resting-place; but my conductor would not find it, and he led +me about to another part of the city; and finally, between one and two +o'clock, he left me to pass the rest of the night as best I could. + +I was opposite a temple, but it was closed; so I lay down on the stone +steps in front of it, and putting my money under my head for a pillow, +should soon have been asleep in spite of the cold had I not perceived a +person coming stealthily towards me. As he approached I saw he was one +of the beggars so common in China, and had no doubt his intention was to +rob me of my money. I did not stir, but watched his movements, and +looked to my FATHER not to leave me in this hour of trial. The man came +up, looked at me for some time to assure himself that I was asleep (it +was so dark that he could not see my eyes fixed on him), and then began +to feel about me gently. I said to him in the quietest tone, but so as +to convince him that I was not, nor had been, sleeping, "What do you +want?" He made no answer, but went away. + +I was very thankful to see him go, and when he was out of sight put as +much of my cash as would not go into my pocket safely up my sleeve, and +made my pillow of a stone projection of the wall. It was not long ere I +began to doze, but I was aroused by the all but noiseless footsteps of +two persons approaching; for my nervous system was rendered so sensitive +by exhaustion that the slightest noise startled me. Again I sought +protection from Him who alone was my stay, and lay still as before, till +one of them came up and began to feel under my head for the cash. I +spoke again, and they sat down at my feet. I asked them what they were +doing; they replied that they, like me, were going to pass the night +there. I then requested them to take the opposite side, as there was +plenty of room, and leave this side to me; but they would not move from +my feet, so I raised myself up and set my back against the wall. + +They said, "You had better lie down and sleep; if you do not, you will +be unable to walk to-morrow. Do not be afraid; we shall not leave you, +and will see that no one hurts you." + +"Listen to me," I replied. "I do not want your protection; I need it +not; I am not a Chinese; I do not worship your senseless, helpless +idols. I worship GOD; He is my FATHER; I trust in Him. I know well what +you are, and what your intentions are, and shall keep my eye on you, and +shall not sleep." + +On this, one of them went away, but soon returned with a third +companion. I felt very uneasy, but looked to GOD for help. Once or twice +one of them got up to see if I was asleep. I only said, "Do not be +mistaken; I am not sleeping." Occasionally my head dropped, and this was +a signal for one of them to rise; but I at once roused myself and made +some remark. As the night slowly passed on, I felt very weary; and to +keep myself awake, as well as to cheer my mind, I sang several hymns, +repeated aloud some portions of Scripture, and engaged in prayer in +English, to the great annoyance of my companions, who seemed as if they +would have given anything to get me to desist. After that they troubled +me no more; and shortly before dawn of day they left me, and I got a +little sleep. + + + _August 6th._ + +I was awakened by the young man who had so misled me on the previous +evening. He was very rude, and insisted on my getting up and paying him +for his trouble, and even went so far as to try to accomplish by force +what he wanted. This roused me; and in an unguarded moment, with very +improper feeling, I seized his arm with such a grasp as he little +expected I was capable of, and dared him to lay a finger upon me again +or to annoy me further. This quite changed his manner; he let me quietly +remain till the guns announced the opening of the gates of the city, and +then he begged me to give him some money to buy opium with. It is +needless to say this was refused. I gave him the price of two candles, +that he said he had burnt while with me last night and no more. I +learned he was connected with one of the mandarin's offices. + +As soon as possible, I bought some rice gruel and tea for breakfast, and +then once more made a personal search after my things. Some hours thus +spent proving unavailing, I set out on the return journey, and after a +long, weary, and painful walk reached Chang-gan about noon. Here also my +inquiries failed to give me any trace of the missing goods; so I had a +meal cooked in a tea-shop, got a thorough wash and bathed my inflamed +feet, and after dinner rested and slept till four in the afternoon. + +Much refreshed, I then set on to return to the city, at the South Gate +of which I had parted with my servant and coolies two days before. On +the way I was led to reflect on the goodness of GOD, and recollected +that I had not made it a matter of prayer that I might be provided with +lodgings last night. I felt condemned, too, that I should have been so +anxious for my few things, while the many precious souls around me had +caused so little emotion. I came as a sinner and pleaded the blood of +JESUS, realising that I was accepted in Him--pardoned, cleansed, +sanctified--and oh the love of JESUS, how great I felt it to be! I knew +something more than I had ever previously known of what it was to be +despised and rejected, and to have nowhere to lay one's head; and I felt +more than ever I had done before the greatness of that love which +induced Him to leave His home in glory and suffer thus for me; nay, to +lay down His very life upon the Cross. I thought of Him as "despised and +rejected of men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief"; I thought +of Him at Jacob's well, weary, hungry, and thirsty, yet finding it His +meat and drink to do His Father's will; and contrasted this with my +littleness of love. I looked to Him for pardon for the past, and for +grace and strength to do His will in the future, to tread more closely +in His footsteps, and be more than ever wholly His. I prayed for myself, +for friends in England, and for my brethren in the work. Sweet tears of +mingled joy and sorrow flowed freely, the road was almost forgotten, and +before I was aware of it I had reached my destination. Outside the South +Gate I took a cup of tea, asked about my lost luggage, and spoke of the +love of JESUS. Then I entered the city, and after many vain inquiries +left it by the North Gate. + +I felt so much refreshed both in mind and body by the communion I had on +my walk to the city that I thought myself able to finish the remaining +six miles back to Shih-mun-wan that evening. First I went into another +tea-shop to buy some native cakes, and was making a meal of them when +who should come in but one of the identical coolies who had carried my +things the first stage. From him I learned that after I left them they +had taken my luggage to the South Gate; there my servant went away, +saying on his return that I had gone on, that he did not intend to start +at once, but would spend the day with his friend, and then rejoin me; +they carried the things to this friend's house, and left them there. I +got him to go with me to the house, and there learned that the man had +spent the day and night with them, and next morning had called other +coolies, and set off for Hang-chau. This was all I could gather; so, +unable to do anything but proceed on my return journey to Shanghai with +all expedition, I left the city again. It was now too late to go on to +Shih-mun-wan. I looked to my FATHER as able to supply all my need, and +received another token of His ceaseless love and care, being invited to +sleep on a hong-boat, now dry in the bed of the river. The night was +again very cold and the mosquitoes troublesome. Still, I got a little +rest, and at sunrise was up and continued my journey. + + + _August 7th._ + +I felt very ill at first, and had a sore throat, but reflected on the +wonderful goodness of GOD in enabling me to bear the heat by day and the +cold by night so long. I felt also that quite a load was now taken off +my mind. I had committed myself and my affairs to the LORD, and knew +that if it was for my good and for His glory my things would be +restored; if not, all would be for the best. I hoped that the most +trying part of my journey was now drawing to a close, and this helped +me, weary and footsore, on the way. When I got to Shih-mun-wan and had +breakfasted, I found I had still eight hundred and ten cash in hand; and +I knew that the hong-boat fare to Kia-hing Fu was one hundred and twenty +cash, and thence to Shanghai three hundred and sixty, leaving me just +three hundred and thirty cash--or twelve pence and a fraction--for three +or four days provisions. I went at once to the boat office, but to my +dismay found that from the dry state of the river goods had not come +down, so that no boat would leave to-day and perhaps none to-morrow. I +inquired if there were no letter-boats for Kia-hing Fu, and was told +that they had already left. The only remaining resource was to ascertain +if any private boats were going in which I could get a passage. My +search, however, was in vain; and I could get no boat to undertake to go +all the way to Shanghai, or my difficulty would have been at an end. + +Just at this juncture I saw before me, at a turn in the canal, a +letter-boat going in the direction of Kia-hing Fu This, I concluded, +must be one of the Kia-hing boats that had been unexpectedly detained, +and I set off after it as fast as hope and the necessities of the case +would carry me. For the time being weariness and sore feet were alike +forgotten. After a chase of about a mile I overtook it. + +"Are you going to Kia-hing Fu?" I called out. + +"No," was the only answer. + +"Are you going in that direction?" + +"No." + +"Will you give me a passage as far as you do go that way?" + +Still "No," and nothing more. + +Completely dispirited and exhausted, I sank down on the grass and +fainted away. + +As consciousness returned some voices reached my ear, and I found they +were talking about me. One said, "He speaks pure Shanghai dialect," and +from their own speech I knew them to be Shanghai people. Raising myself, +I saw that they were on a large hong-boat on the other side of the +canal, and after a few words they sent their small boat to fetch me, and +I went on board the junk. They were very kind, and gave me some tea; and +when I was refreshed and able to partake of it, some food also. I then +took my shoes and stockings off to ease my feet, and the boatman kindly +provided me with hot water to bathe them. When they heard my story, and +saw the blisters on my feet, they evidently pitied me, and hailed every +boat that passed to see if it was going my way. Not finding one, by and +by, after a few hours' sleep, I went ashore with the captain, intending +to preach in the temple of Kwan-ti. + +Before leaving the junk I told the captain and those on board that I was +now unable to help myself; that I had not strength to walk to Kia-hing +Fu, and having been disappointed in getting a passage to-day, I should +no longer have sufficient means to take me there by letter-boat, which +was an expensive mode of travelling; that I knew not how the GOD whom I +served would help me, but that I had no doubt He would do so; and that +my business now was to serve Him where I was. I also told them that the +help which I knew would come ought to be an evidence to them of the +truth of the religion which I and the other missionaries at Shanghai +preached. + +On our way to the town, while engaged in conversation with the captain, +we saw a letter-boat coming up. The captain drew my attention to it; but +I reminded him that I had no longer the means of paying my passage by +it. He hailed it, nevertheless, and found that it was going to a place +about nine English miles from Shanghai, whence one of the boatmen would +carry the mails overland to the city. He then said, "This gentleman is a +foreigner from Shanghai, who has been robbed, and has no longer the +means of returning. If you will take him with you as far as you go, and +then engage a sedan chair to carry him the rest of the way, he will pay +you in Shanghai. You see my boat is lying aground yonder for want of +water, and cannot get away. Now, I will stand surety; and if this +gentleman does not pay when you get to Shanghai, I will do so on your +return." This unsolicited kindness on the part of a Chinaman, a perfect +stranger, will appear the more remarkable to any one acquainted with the +character of the Chinese, who are generally most reluctant to risk their +money. Those on the letter-boat agreeing to the terms, I was taken on +board as a passenger. Oh, how thankful I felt for this providential +interposition, and to be once more on my way to Shanghai! + +Letter-boats such as the one on which I was now travelling are of a +long narrow build, and very limited as to their inside accommodation. +One has to lie down all the time they are in motion, as a slight +movement would easily upset them. This was no irksome condition to me, +however; on the contrary, I was only too glad to be quiet. They are the +quickest boats I have seen in China. Each one is worked by two men, who +relieve one another continuously night and day. They row with their +feet, and paddle with their hands; or if the wind is quite favourable, +row with their feet, and with one hand manage a small sail, while +steering with the other. + +After a pleasant and speedy journey, I reached Shanghai in safety on +August 9th, through the help of Him who has said, "I will never leave +thee, nor forsake thee;" "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of +the world." + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +PROVIDENTIAL GUIDANCE + + +IT now seemed very clear that the lost property--including everything I +possessed in China, with the exception of a small sum of money +providentially left in Shanghai--had been deliberately stolen by my +servant, who had gone off with it to Hang-chau. The first question, of +course, was how best to act for the good of the man who had been the +cause of so much trouble. It would not have been difficult to take steps +that would have led to his punishment; though the likelihood of any +reparation being made for the loss sustained was very small. But the +consideration which weighed most heavily was that the thief was a man +for whose salvation I had laboured and prayed; and I felt that to +prosecute him would not be to emphasise the teaching of the Sermon on +the Mount, in which we had read together, "Resist not evil," and other +similar precepts. Finally, concluding that his soul was of more value +than the L40 worth of things I had lost, I wrote and told him this, +urging upon him his need of repentance and faith in the LORD JESUS +CHRIST. The course I took commended itself to my Christian friends in +England, one of whom was afterwards led to send me a cheque for L40--the +first of many subsequently received from the same kind helper. + +Having obtained the little money left in Shanghai, I again set out for +Ningpo, to seek assistance from Dr. Parker in replacing the medicines I +had previously lost by fire. This being satisfactorily accomplished, I +returned once more to Shanghai, _en route_ for Swatow, hoping soon to +rejoin my much-loved friend, Mr. Burns, in the work in that important +centre. GOD had willed it otherwise, however; and the delay caused by +the robbery was just sufficient to prevent me from starting for the +South as I had intended. + +Over the political horizon storm-clouds had long been gathering, +precursors of coming war; and early in October of this year (1856) the +affair of the Lorcha _Arrow_ at Canton led to the definite commencement +of hostilities. Very soon China was deeply involved in a second +prolonged struggle with foreign powers; and missionary operations, in +the South at any rate, had to be largely suspended. Tidings of these +events, together with letters from Mr. Burns, arrived just in time to +meet me in Shanghai as I was leaving for Swatow; and thus hindered, I +could not but realise the hand of GOD in closing the door I had so much +desired to enter. + +While in Ningpo, I had made the acquaintance of Mr. John Jones, who, +with Dr. Parker, represented the Chinese Evangelisation Society in that +city. Hindered from returning to Swatow, I now decided to join these +brethren in the Ningpo work, and set out at once upon the journey. On +the afternoon of the second day, when already about thirty miles distant +from Shanghai, Mr. Jones and I drew near the large and important city of +Sung-kiang, and I spoke of going ashore to preach the Gospel to the +thronging multitudes that lined the banks and crowded the approaches to +the city gates. + +Among the passengers on board the boat was one intelligent man, who in +the course of his travels had been a good deal abroad, and had even +visited England, where he went by the name of Peter. As might be +expected, he had heard something of the Gospel, but had never +experienced its saving power. On the previous evening I had drawn him +into earnest converse about his soul's salvation. The man listened with +attention, and was even moved to tears, but still no definite result was +apparent. I was pleased, therefore, when he asked to be allowed to +accompany me, and to hear me preach. + +I went into the cabin of the boat to prepare tracts and books for +distribution on landing with my Chinese friend, when suddenly I was +startled by a splash and a cry from without. I sprang on deck, and took +in the situation at a glance. Peter was gone! The other men were all +there, on board, looking helplessly at the spot where he had +disappeared, but making no effort to save him. A strong wind was +carrying the junk rapidly forward in spite of a steady current in the +opposite direction, and the low-lying, shrubless shore afforded no +landmark to indicate how far we had left the drowning man behind. + +I instantly let down the sail and leapt overboard in the hope of finding +him. Unsuccessful, I looked around in agonising suspense, and saw close +to me a fishing-boat with a peculiar drag-net furnished with hooks, +which I knew would bring him up. + +"Come!" I cried, as hope revived in my heart. "Come and drag over this +spot directly; a man is drowning just here!" + +"Veh bin" (It is not convenient), was the unfeeling answer. + +"Don't talk of _convenience_!" cried I in an agony; "a man is drowning, +I tell you!" + +"We are busy fishing," they responded, "and cannot come." + +"Never mind your fishing," I said, "I will give you more money than many +a day's fishing will bring; only come--come at once!" + +"How much money will you give us?" + +"We cannot stay to discuss that now! Come, or it will be too late. I +will give you five dollars" (then worth about thirty shillings in English +money). + +"We won't do it for that," replied the men. "Give us twenty dollars, and +we will drag." + +"I do not possess so much: do come quickly, and I will give you all I +have!" + +"How much may that be?" + +“I don't know exactly, about fourteen dollars." + +At last, but even then slowly enough, the boat was paddled over, and the +net let down. Less than a minute sufficed to bring up the body of the +missing man. The fishermen were clamorous and indignant because their +exorbitant demand was delayed while efforts at resuscitation were being +made. But all was in vain--life was extinct. + +To myself this incident was profoundly sad and full of significance, +suggesting a far more mournful reality. Were not those fishermen +actually guilty of this poor Chinaman's death, in that they had the +means of saving him at hand, if they would but have used them? Assuredly +they were guilty. And yet, let us pause ere we pronounce judgment +against them, lest a greater than Nathan answer, "_Thou art the man_." +Is it so hard-hearted, so wicked a thing to neglect to save the body? Of +how much sorer punishment, then, is he worthy who leaves the soul to +perish, and Cain-like says, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD JESUS +commands, commands _me_, commands _you_, my brother, and _you_, my +sister. "Go," says He, "go ye into _all_ the world, and preach the +Gospel to _every_ creature." Shall we say to _Him_, "No, it is not +convenient"? shall we tell _Him_ that we are busy fishing and cannot +go? that we have bought a piece of ground and cannot go? that we have +purchased five yoke of oxen, or have married, or are engaged in other +and more interesting pursuits, and cannot go? Ere long "we must all +appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST; that every one may receive +the things done in his body." Let us remember, let us pray for, let us +labour for the unevangelised Chinese; _or we shall sin against our own +souls_. Let us consider _Who_ it is that has said, "If thou _forbear_ to +deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be +slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that +pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth _thy_ soul, doth +not he know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his +works?" + + Through midnight gloom from Macedon, + The cry of myriads as of one; + The voiceful silence of despair + Is eloquent in awful prayer: + The soul's exceeding bitter cry, + "Come o'er and help us, or we die." + + How mournfully it echoes on, + For half the earth is Macedon; + These brethren to their brethren call, + And by the Love which loves them all, + And by the whole world's Life they cry, + "O ye that live, behold we die!" + + By other sounds the world is won + Than that which wails from Macedon; + The roar of gain is round it rolled, + Or men unto themselves are sold, + And cannot list the alien cry, + "O hear and help us, lest we die!" + + Yet with that cry from Macedon + The very car of CHRIST rolls on: + "_I come; who would abide My day,_ + _In yonder wilds prepare My way;_ + _My voice is crying in their cry,_ + _Help ye the dying, lest ye die_." + + JESU, for men of Man the SON, + Yea, THINE the cry from Macedon; + Oh, by the kingdom and the power + And glory of Thine advent hour, + Wake heart and will to hear their cry: + Help us to help them, lest we die. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SETTLEMENT IN NINGPO + + +THE autumn of 1856 was well advanced before I reached Ningpo, one of the +most ancient and influential cities on the coast of China. Opened to the +residence of foreigners in 1842 by the treaty of Nan-king, it had long +been the scene of missionary labours. Within its thronging thoroughfares +the busy tide of life runs high. Four hundred thousand human beings +dwell within or around the five miles circuit of its ancient wall, every +one a soul that JESUS loves, for whom He died. + +As winter drew on I rented a native house in Wu-gyiao-deo, or Lake Head +Street. It was not then a very comfortable residence. I have a very +distinct remembrance of tracing my initials on the snow which during the +night had collected upon my coverlet in the large barn-like upper room, +now subdivided into four or five smaller ones, each of which is +comfortably ceiled. The tiling of an unceiled Chinese house may keep off +the rain--if it happens to be sound--but it does not afford so good a +protection against snow, which will beat up through crannies and +crevices, and find its way within. But however unfinished may have been +its fittings, the little house was well adapted for work amongst the +people; and there I thankfully settled down, finding ample scope for +service,--morning, noon, and night. + +During the latter part of this year my mind was greatly exercised about +continued connection with my Society, it being frequently in debt. +Personally I had always avoided debt, and kept within my salary, though +at times only by very careful economy. Now there was no difficulty in +doing this, for my income was larger, and the country being in a more +peaceful state, things were not so dear. But the Society itself was in +debt. The quarterly bills which I and others were instructed to draw +were often met by borrowed money, and a correspondence commenced which +terminated in the following year by my resigning from conscientious +motives. + +To me it seemed that the teaching of GOD'S Word was unmistakably clear: +"Owe no man any thing." To borrow money implied, to my mind, a +contradiction of Scripture--a confession that GOD had withheld some good +thing, and a determination to get for ourselves what He had not given. +Could that which was wrong for one Christian to do be right for an +association of Christians? Or could any amount of precedents make a +wrong course justifiable? If the Word taught me anything, it taught me +to have no connection with debt. I could not think that GOD was poor, +that He was short of resources, or unwilling to supply any want of +whatever work was really His. It seemed to me that if there were lack of +funds to carry on work, then to that degree, in that special +development, or at that time, it could not be the work of GOD. To +satisfy my conscience I was therefore compelled to resign connection +with the Society which had hitherto supplied my salary. + +It was a great satisfaction to me that my friend and colleague, Mr. +Jones, also of the Chinese Evangelisation Society, was led to take the +same step; and we were both profoundly thankful that the separation +took place without the least breach of friendly feeling on either side. +Indeed, we had the joy of knowing that the step we took commended itself +to several members of the Committee, although as a whole the Society +could not come to our position. Depending upon GOD alone for supplies, +we were enabled to continue a measure of connection with our former +supporters, sending home journals, etc., for publication as before, so +long as the Society continued to exist. + +The step we had taken was not a little trying to faith. I was not at all +sure what GOD would have me do, or whether He would so meet my need as +to enable me to continue working as before. I had no friends whatever +from whom I expected supplies. I did not know what means the LORD might +use; but I was willing to give up all my time to the service of +evangelisation among the heathen, if by any means He would supply the +smallest amount on which I could live; and if He were not pleased to do +this, I was prepared to undertake whatever work might be necessary to +supply myself, giving all the time that could be spared from such a +calling to more distinctly missionary efforts. But GOD blessed and +prospered me; and how glad and thankful I felt when the separation was +really effected! I could look right up into my FATHER'S face with a +satisfied heart, ready, by His grace, to do the next thing as He might +teach me, and feeling very sure of His loving care. + +And how blessedly He did lead me on and provide for me I can never, +never tell. It was like a continuation of some of my earlier home +experiences. My faith was not untried; it often, often failed, and I was +so sorry and ashamed of the failure to trust such a FATHER. But oh! I +was learning to know Him. I would not even then have missed the trial. +He became so near, so real, so intimate. The occasional difficulty about +funds never came from an insufficient supply for personal needs, but in +consequence of ministering to the wants of scores of the hungry and +dying ones around us. And trials far more searching in other ways quite +eclipsed these difficulties; and being deeper, brought forth in +consequence richer fruits. How glad one is now, not only to know, with +dear Miss Havergal, that---- + + "They who trust Him wholly + Find Him wholly true," + +but also that when we fail to trust fully He still remains unchangingly +faithful. He _is_ wholly true whether we trust or not. "If we believe +not, He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself." But oh, how we +dishonour our LORD whenever we fail to trust Him, and what peace, +blessing, and triumph we lose in thus sinning against the Faithful One! +May we never again presume in anything to doubt Him! + +The year 1857 was a troublous time, and closed with the notorious +bombardment of Canton by the British, and the commencement of our second +Chinese war. Rumours of trouble were everywhere rife, and in many places +the missionaries passed through not a little danger. In Ningpo this was +especially the case, and the preserving care of GOD in answer to prayer +was consequently most marked. When the awful news of the bombardment of +Canton reached the Cantonese in Ningpo their wrath and indignation knew +no bounds, and they immediately set to work to plot the destruction of +all the foreigners resident in the city and neighbourhood. It was well +known that many of the foreigners were in the habit of meeting for +worship every Sunday evening at one of the missionary houses, and the +plan was to surround the place on a given occasion and make short work +of all present, cutting off afterwards any who might not be present. + +The sanction of the Tao-t'ai, or chief civil magistrate of the city, was +easily obtained; and nothing remained to hinder the execution of the +plot, of which the foreigners were of course entirely in ignorance. (A +similar plot against the Portuguese a few months later was carried out, +and between fifty and sixty were massacred in open daylight.) It so +happened, however, that one of those acquainted with the conspiracy had +a friend engaged in the service of the missionaries; and anxious for his +safety, he was led to warn him of the coming danger, and urge his +leaving foreign employ. The servant made the matter known to his master, +and thus the little community became aware of their peril. Realising the +gravity of the situation, they determined to meet together at the house +of one of their number to seek the protection of the Most High, and to +hide under the shadow of His wings. Nor did they thus meet in vain. + +At the very time we were praying the LORD was working. He led an +inferior mandarin, the Superintendent of Customs, to call upon the +Tao-t'ai, and remonstrate with him upon the folly of permitting such an +attempt, which he assured him would rouse the foreigners in other places +to come with armed forces to avenge the death of their countrymen and +raze the city to the ground. The Tao-t'ai replied that, when the +foreigners came for that purpose, he should deny all knowledge of or +complicity in the plot, and so direct their vengeance against the +Cantonese, who would in their turn be destroyed; "and thus," said he, +"we shall get rid of both Cantonese and foreigners by one stroke of +policy." The Superintendent of Customs assured him that all such +attempts at evasion would be useless; and, finally, the Tao-t'ai sent to +the Cantonese, withdrawing his permission, and prohibiting the attack. +This took place at the very time when we were asking protection of the +LORD, though we did not become acquainted with the facts until some +weeks later. Thus again we were led to prove that-- + + "Sufficient is His arm alone, + And our defence is sure." + +I cannot attempt to give any historical record of the events of this +period, but ere 1857 terminated Mr. Jones and I were cheered by tokens +of blessing. It is interesting to recall the circumstances connected +with the first profession of faith in Christ, which encouraged us. + +On one occasion I was preaching the glad tidings of salvation through +the finished work of CHRIST, when a middle-aged man stood up, and +testified before his assembled countrymen to his faith in the power of +the Gospel. + +"I have long sought for the Truth," said he earnestly, "as my fathers +did before me; but I have never found it. I have travelled far and near, +but without obtaining it. I have found no rest in Confucianism, +Buddhism, or Taoism; but I do find rest in what I have heard here +to-night. Henceforth I am a believer in JESUS." + +This man was one of the leading officers of a sect of reformed Buddhists +in Ningpo. A short time after his confession of faith in the SAVIOUR +there was a meeting of the sect over which he had formerly presided. I +accompanied him to that meeting, and there, to his former +co-religionists, he testified of the peace he had obtained in believing. +Soon after, one of his former companions was converted and baptized. +Both now sleep in JESUS. The first of these two long continued to preach +to his countrymen the glad tidings of great joy. A few nights after his +conversion he asked how long this Gospel had been known in England. He +was told that we had known it for some hundreds of years. + +"What!" said he, amazed; "is it possible that for hundreds of years you +have had the knowledge of these glad tidings in your possession, and yet +have only now come to preach it to us? My father sought after the Truth +for more than twenty years, and died without finding it. Oh, why did you +not come sooner?" + +A whole generation has passed away since that mournful inquiry was made; +but how many, alas! might repeat the same question to-day? More than two +hundred millions in the meanwhile have been swept into eternity, without +an offer of salvation. How long shall this continue, and the MASTER'S +words, "To every creature," remain unheeded? + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TIMELY SUPPLIES + + +NOT infrequently our GOD brings His people into difficulties on purpose +that they may come to know Him as they could not otherwise do. Then He +reveals Himself as "a very present help in trouble," and makes the heart +glad indeed at each fresh revelation of a FATHER'S faithfulness. We who +only see so small a part of the sweet issues of trial often feel that we +would not for anything have missed them; how much more shall we bless +and magnify His Name when all the hidden things are brought to light! + +In the autumn of 1857, just one year after I came to settle in Ningpo, a +little incident occurred that did much to strengthen our faith in the +loving-kindness and ever-watchful care of GOD. + +A brother in the LORD, the Rev. John Quarterman, of the American +Presbyterian Mission North, was taken with virulent small-pox, and it +was my mournful privilege to nurse him through his suffering illness to +its fatal close. When all was over, it became necessary to lay aside the +garments worn while nursing, for fear of conveying the infection to +others. Not having sufficient money in hand to purchase what was needful +in order to make this change, prayer was the only resource. The LORD +answered it by the unexpected arrival of a long-lost box of clothing +from Swatow, that had remained in the care of the Rev. William Burns +when I left him for Shanghai, in the early summer of the previous year. +The arrival of the things just at this juncture was as appropriate as it +was remarkable, and brought a sweet sense of the FATHER'S own providing. + +About two months later the following was penned:---- + + + _November 18th, 1857._ + +Many seem to think that I am very poor. This certainly is true enough in +one sense, but I thank GOD it is "as poor, yet making many rich; as +having nothing, yet possessing all things." And my GOD shall supply +_all_ my need; to Him be all the glory. I would not, if I could, be +otherwise than I am--entirely dependent myself upon the LORD, and used +as a channel of help to others. + +On Saturday, the 4th inst., our regular home mail arrived. That morning +we supplied, as usual, a breakfast to the destitute poor, who came to +the number of seventy. Sometimes they do not reach forty, at others +again exceeding eighty. They come to us every day, LORD'S Day excepted, +for then we cannot manage to attend to them and get through all our +other duties too. Well, on that Saturday morning we paid all expenses, +and provided ourselves for the morrow, after which we had not a single +dollar left between us. How the LORD was going to provide for Monday we +knew not; but over our mantelpiece hung two scrolls in the Chinese +character--_Ebenezer_, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us"; and +_Jehovah-Jireh_, "The LORD will provide"--and He kept us from doubting +for a moment. That very day the mail came in, _a week sooner than was +expected_, and Mr. Jones received a bill for two hundred and fourteen +dollars. We thanked GOD and took courage. The bill was taken to a +merchant, and although there is usually a delay of several days in +getting the change, this time he said, "Send down on Monday." We sent, +and though he had not been able to buy all the dollars, he let us have +seventy on account; so all was well. Oh, it is sweet to live thus +directly dependent upon the LORD, who never fails us! + +On Monday the poor had their breakfast as usual, for we had not told +them not to come, being assured that it was the LORD'S work, and that +the LORD would provide. We could not help our eyes filling with tears of +gratitude when we saw not only our own needs supplied, but the widow and +the orphan, the blind and the lame, the friendless and the destitute, +together provided for by the bounty of Him who feeds the ravens. "O +magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His Name together. . . . Taste +and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. +O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear +Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the +LORD shall not want any good thing"--and if not good, why want it? + +But even two hundred dollars cannot last for ever, and by New Year's Day +supplies were again getting low. At last, on January 6th, 1858, only one +solitary cash remained--the twentieth part of a penny--in the joint +possession of Mr. Jones and myself; but though tried we looked to GOD +once again to manifest His gracious care. Enough provision was found in +the house to supply a meagre breakfast; after which, having neither food +for the rest of the day, nor money to buy any, we could only betake +ourselves to Him who was able to supply all our need with the petition, +"Give us this day our daily bread." + +After prayer and deliberation we thought that perhaps we ought to +dispose of something we possessed in order to meet our immediate +requirements. But on looking round we saw nothing that we could well +spare, and little that the Chinese would purchase for ready money. +Credit to any extent we might have had, could we conscientiously have +availed ourselves of it, but this we felt to be unscriptural in itself, +as well as inconsistent with the position we were in. We had, indeed, +one article--an iron stove--which we knew the Chinese would readily +purchase; but we much regretted the necessity of parting with it. At +length, however, we set out to the founder's, and after a walk of some +distance came to the river, which we had intended to cross by a floating +bridge of boats; but here the LORD shut up our path. The bridge had been +carried away during the preceding night, and the river was only passable +by means of a ferry, the fare for which was two cash each person. As we +only possessed one cash, our course clearly was to return and await +GOD'S own interposition on our behalf. + +Upon reaching home, we found that Mrs. Jones had gone with the children +to dine at a friend's house, in accordance with an invitation accepted +some days previously. Mr. Jones, though himself included in the +invitation, refused now to go and leave me to fast alone. So we set to +work and carefully searched the cupboards; and though there was nothing +to eat, we found a small packet of cocoa, which, with a little hot +water, somewhat revived us. After this we again cried to the LORD in our +trouble, and the LORD heard and saved us out of all our distresses. For +while we were still upon our knees a letter arrived from England +containing a remittance. + +This timely supply not only met the immediate and urgent need of the +day; for in the assured confidence that GOD, whose we were and whom we +served, would not put to shame those whose whole and only trust was in +Himself. My marriage had been previously arranged to take place just +fourteen days after this date. And this expectation was not +disappointed; for "the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, +but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant +of My peace be removed." And although during subsequent years our faith +was often exercised, and sometimes severely, He ever proved faithful to +His promise, and never suffered us to lack any good thing. + +Never, perhaps, was there a union that more fully realised the blessed +truth, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour +of the LORD." My dear wife was not only a precious gift to me; GOD +blessed her to many others during the twelve eventful years through +which she was spared to those that loved her and to China. + +Hers had been a life connection with missionary work in that great +empire; for her father, the loved and devoted Samuel Dyer, was amongst +the very earliest representatives of the London Mission in the East. He +reached the Straits as early as 1827, and for sixteen years laboured +assiduously amongst the Chinese in Penang and Singapore, completing at +the same time a valuable fount of Chinese metallic type, the first of +the kind that had then been attempted. Dying in 1843, it was never Mr. +Dyers privilege to realise his hopes of ultimately being able to settle +on Chinese soil; but his children lived to see the country opened to the +Gospel, and to take their share in the great work that had been so dear +to his heart. At the time of her marriage, my dear wife had been already +living for several years in Ningpo with her friend, Miss Aldersey, in +whose varied missionary operations she was well qualified to render +valuable assistance. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +GOD A REFUGE FOR US + + +A SOMEWHAT different though not less manifest answer to prayer was +vouchsafed early in the year 1859. My dear wife was brought very low by +illness, and at last all hope of recovery seemed gone. Every remedy +tried had proved unavailing; and Dr. Parker, who was in attendance, had +nothing more to suggest. Life was ebbing fast away. The only ground of +hope was that GOD might yet see fit to raise her up, in answer to +believing but submissive prayer. + +The afternoon for the usual prayer meeting among the missionaries had +arrived, and I sent in a request for prayer, which was most warmly +responded to. Just at this time a remedy that had not yet been tried was +suggested to my mind, and I felt that I must hasten to consult Dr. +Parker as to the propriety of using it. It was a moment of anguish. The +hollow temples, sunken eyes, and pinched features denoted the near +approach of death; and it seemed more than questionable as to whether +life would hold out until my return. It was nearly two miles to Dr. +Parker's house, and every moment appeared long. On my way thither, while +wrestling mightily with GOD in prayer, the precious words were brought +with power to my soul, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will +deliver thee, and thou shall glorify Me." I was at once enabled to plead +them in faith, and the result was deep, deep, unspeakable peace and +joy. All consciousness of distance was gone. Dr. Parker cordially +approved of the use of the means suggested, but upon arriving at home I +saw at a glance that the desired change had taken place in the absence +of this or any other remedy. The pinched aspect of the countenance had +given place to the calmness of tranquil slumber, and not one +unfavourable symptom remained to retard recovery to health and strength. + +Spared thus in answer to prayer the loss of my own loved one, it was +with added sympathy and sorrow that I felt for Dr. Parker, when, in the +autumn of the same year, his own wife was very suddenly removed. It +being necessary for the doctor to return at once with his motherless +children to Glasgow, temporary arrangements had to be made for the +conduct of the Mission Hospital in Ningpo, for which he alone had been +responsible. Under these circumstances he requested me to take up the +work, at least so far as the dispensary was concerned. After a few days' +waiting upon the LORD for guidance, I felt constrained to undertake not +only the dispensary work, but also that of the hospital; relying solely +upon the faithfulness of a prayer-hearing GOD to furnish the means +required for its support. + +The funds for the maintenance of the hospital had hitherto been supplied +by the proceeds of the doctor's foreign medical practice; and with his +departure these ceased. But had not GOD said that whatever we ask in the +Name of the LORD JESUS shall be done? And are we not told to seek first +the kingdom of GOD, not means to advance it, and that all these things +shall be added to us? Such promises were surely sufficient. Eight days +before entering upon this responsibility I had not the remotest idea of +ever doing so; still less could friends at home have anticipated it. +But the LORD had foreseen the need, and already funds were on the way to +supply it. + +At times there were not less than fifty in-patients in the hospital, +besides a large number who daily attended the out-patient department. +Thirty beds were ordinarily allotted to free patients and their +attendants; and about as many to opium-smokers, who paid for their board +while being cured of the habit. As all the wants of the sick in the +wards were supplied gratuitously, in addition to the remedial appliances +needed for the out-patient work, the daily expenses were considerable; +besides which, a number of native attendants were required, involving +their support. + +When Dr. Parker handed the hospital over to me he was able to leave +money that would meet the salaries and working expenses of the current +month, and little more. Being unable to guarantee their support, his +native staff retired; and then I mentioned the circumstances to the +members of our little church, some of whom volunteered to help me, +depending, like myself, upon the LORD; and they with me continued to +wait upon GOD that in some way or other He would provide for His own +work. Day by day the stores diminished, and they were all but exhausted +when one day a remarkable letter reached me from a friend in England +which contained a cheque for L50. The letter stated that the sender had +recently lost his father, and had inherited his property; that not +desiring to increase his personal expenditure, he wished to hold the +money which had now been left to him to further the LORD'S work. He +enclosed the L50, saying that I might know of some special need for it; +but leaving me free to use it for my own support, or in any way that the +LORD might lead me; only asking to know how it was applied, and whether +there was need for more. + +After a little season of thanksgiving with my dear wife, I called my +native helpers into our little chapel, and translated to them the +letter. I need not say how rejoiced they were, and that we together +praised GOD. They returned to their work in the hospital with +overflowing hearts, and told out to the patients what a GOD was ours; +appealing to them whether their idols had ever helped them so. Both +helpers and patients were blessed spiritually through this remarkable +provision, and from that time the LORD provided all that was necessary +for carrying on the institution, in addition to what was needed for the +maintenance of my own family, and for sustaining other branches of +missionary work under my care. When, nine months later, I was obliged +through failure of health to relinquish this charge, I was able to leave +more funds in hand for the support of the hospital than were forthcoming +at the time I undertook it. + +But not only were pecuniary supplies vouchsafed in answer to +prayer--many lives were spared; persons apparently in hopeless stages of +disease were restored, and success was given in cases of serious and +dangerous operations. In the case of one poor man, whose legs were +amputated under very unfavourable circumstances, healthy action took +place with such rapidity that both wounds were healed in less than two +weeks. And more permanent benefits than these were conferred. Many were +convinced of the truth of Christianity; not a few sought the LORD in +faith and prayer, and experienced the power of the Great Physician to +cure the sin-sick soul. During the nine months above alluded to sixteen +patients from the hospital were baptized, and more than thirty others +became candidates for admission into one or other of the Christian +churches in the city. + +Thus the year 1860 began with openings on all hands, but time and +strength were sadly too limited to admit of their being used to the +best advantage. For some time the help of additional workers had been a +much-felt need; and in January very definite prayer was made to the LORD +of the harvest that He would thrust forth more labourers into this +special portion of the great world-field. Writing to relatives at home +in England, under date of January 16th, 1860, I thus expressed the deep +longing of our hearts:-- + + Do you know any earnest, devoted young men + desirous of serving GOD in China, who--not wishing + for more than their actual support--would be + willing to come out and labour here? Oh, for four + or five such helpers! They would probably begin to + preach in Chinese in six months time; and in + answer to prayer the necessary means for their + support would be found. + +But no one came to help us then; and under the incessant physical and +mental strain involved, in the care of the hospital during Dr. Parker's +absence, as well as the continued discharge of my other missionary +duties, my own health began rapidly to fail, and it became a serious +question as to whether it would not be needful to return to England for +a time. + +It was hard to face this possibility. The growing church and work seemed +to need our presence, and it was no small trial to part from those whom +we had learned so truly to love in the LORD. Thirty or forty native +Christians had been gathered into the recently organised church; and the +well-filled meetings, and the warm-hearted earnestness of the converts, +all bespoke a future of much promise. At last, however, completely +prostrated by repeated attacks of illness, the only hope of restoration +seemed to lie in a voyage to England and a brief stay in its more +bracing climate; and this necessity, painful though it seemed at the +time, proved to be only another opportunity for the manifestation of the +faithfulness and loving care of Him "who worketh all things after the +counsel of His own will." + +As heretofore, the LORD was present with His aid. The means for our +journey were supplied, and that so liberally that we were able to bring +with us a native Christian to assist in translation or other literary +work, and to instruct in the language such helpers as the LORD might +raise up for the extension of the Mission. That He would give us +fellow-labourers we had no doubt; for we had been enabled to seek them +from Him in earnest and believing prayer for many months previously. + +The day before leaving China we wrote as follows to our friend W. T. +Berger, Esq., whom we had known in England, and who had ever +strengthened our hands in the LORD while in that distant land:-- + +"We are bringing with us a young Chinese brother to assist in literary +work, and I hope also in teaching the dialect to those whom the LORD may +induce to return with us." + +And throughout the voyage our earnest cry to GOD was that He would +overrule our stay at home for good to China, and make it instrumental in +raising up at least five helpers to labour in the province of +CHEH-KIANG. + +The way in which it pleased the LORD to answer these earnest and +believing prayers, and the "exceeding abundantly" with which He crowned +them, we shall now sketch in brief outline. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NEW AGENCY NEEDED + + +"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith +the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways +higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."[3] How true +are these words! When the LORD is bringing in great blessing in the best +possible way, how oftentimes our unbelieving hearts are feeling, if not +saying, like Jacob of old, "All these things are against me." Or we are +filled with fear, as were the disciples when the LORD, walking on the +waters, drew near to quiet the troubled sea, and to bring them quickly +to their desired haven. And yet mere common-sense ought to tell us that +He, whose way is perfect, _can_ make no mistakes; that He who has +promised to "perfect that which concerneth" us, and whose minute care +counts the very hairs of our heads, and forms for us our circumstances, +_must_ know better than we the way to forward our truest interests and +to glorify His own Name. + + "Blind unbelief is _sure_ to err + And scan His work in vain; + GOD is His own Interpreter, + And He will make it plain." + +To me it seemed a great calamity that failure of health compelled my +relinquishing work for GOD in China, just when it was more fruitful than +ever before; and to leave the little band of Christians in Ningpo, +needing much care and teaching, was a great sorrow. Nor was the sorrow +lessened when, on reaching England, medical testimony assured me that +return to China, at least for years to come, was impossible. Little did +I then realise that the long separation from China was a necessary step +towards the formation of a work which GOD would bless as He has blessed +the CHINA INLAND MISSION. While in the field, the pressure of claims +immediately around me was so great that I could not think much of the +still greater needs of the regions farther inland; and, if they were +thought of, could do nothing for them. But while detained for some years +in England, daily viewing the whole country on the large map on the wall +of my study, I was as near to the vast regions of Inland China as to the +smaller districts in which I had laboured personally for GOD; and prayer +was often the only resource by which the burdened heart could gain any +relief. + +As a long absence from China appeared inevitable, the next question was +how best to serve China while in England, and this led to my engaging +for several years, with the late Rev. F. F. Gough of the C. M. S., in +the revision of a version of the New Testament in the colloquial of +Ningpo for the British and Foreign Bible Society. In undertaking this +work, in my short-sightedness I saw nothing beyond the use that the +Book, and the marginal references, would be to the native Christians; +but I have often seen since that, without those months of feeding and +feasting on the Word of GOD, I should have been quite unprepared to +form, on its present basis, a mission like the CHINA INLAND MISSION. + +In the study of that Divine Word I learned that, to obtain successful +labourers, not elaborate appeals for help, but, _first_, earnest _prayer +to GOD to thrust forth labourers_, and, _second_, the deepening of the +spiritual life of the church, so that _men should be unable to stay at +home_, were what was needed. I saw that the Apostolic plan was not to +raise ways and means, but _to go and do the work_, trusting in His sure +Word who has said, "Seek ye _first_ the Kingdom of GOD and His +righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." + +In the meantime the prayer for workers for CHEH-KIANG was being +answered. The first, Mr. Meadows, sailed for China with his young wife +in January 1862, through the kind co-operation and aid of our friend Mr. +Berger. The second left England in 1864, having her passage provided by +the Foreign Evangelisation Society. The third and fourth reached Ningpo +on July 24th, 1865. A fifth soon followed them, reaching Ningpo in +September 1865. Thus the prayer for the five workers was fully answered; +and we were encouraged to look to GOD for still greater things. + +Months of earnest prayer and not a few abortive efforts had resulted in +a deep conviction that _a special agency was essential_ for the +evangelisation of Inland China. At this time I had not only the daily +help of prayer and conference with my beloved friend and fellow-worker +the late Rev. F. F. Gough, but also invaluable aid and counsel from Mr. +and Mrs. Berger, with whom I and my dear wife (whose judgment and piety +were of priceless value at this juncture) spent many days in prayerful +deliberation. The grave difficulty of possibly interfering with existing +missionary operations at home was foreseen; but it was concluded that, +by simple trust in GOD, suitable agency might be raised up and sustained +without interfering injuriously with any existing work. I had also a +growing conviction that GOD would have _me_ to seek from Him the needed +workers, and to go forth with them. But for a long time unbelief +hindered my taking the first step. + +How inconsistent unbelief always is! I had no doubt that, if I prayed +for workers, "_in_ the Name" of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, they would be +given me. I had no doubt that, in answer to such prayer, the means for +our going forth would be provided, and that doors would be opened before +us in unreached parts of the Empire. But I had not then learned to trust +GOD for _keeping_ power and grace for myself, so no wonder that I could +not trust Him to keep others who might be prepared to go with me. I +feared that in the midst of the dangers, difficulties, and trials which +would necessarily be connected with such a work, some who were +comparatively inexperienced Christians might break down, and bitterly +reproach me for having encouraged them to undertake an enterprise for +which they were unequal. + +Yet, what was I to do? The feeling of blood-guiltiness became more and +more intense. Simply because I refused to ask for them, the labourers +did not come forward--did not go out to China--and every day tens of +thousands were passing away to Christless graves! Perishing China so +filled my heart and mind that there was no rest by day, and little sleep +by night, till health broke down. At the invitation of my beloved and +honoured friend, Mr. George Pearse (then of the Stock Exchange), I went +to spend a few days with him in Brighton. + +On Sunday, June 25th, 1865, unable to bear the sight of a congregation +of a thousand or more Christian people rejoicing in their own security, +while millions were perishing for lack of knowledge, I wandered out on +the sands alone, in great spiritual agony; and there the LORD conquered +my unbelief, and I surrendered myself to GOD for this service. I told +Him that all the responsibility as to issues and consequences must rest +with Him; that as His servant, it was mine to obey and to follow +Him--His, to direct, to care for, and to guide me and those who might +labour with me. Need I say that peace at once flowed into my burdened +heart? There and then I asked Him for twenty-four fellow-workers, two +for each of eleven inland provinces which were without a missionary, and +two for Mongolia; and writing the petition on the margin of the Bible I +had with me, I returned home with a heart enjoying rest such as it had +been a stranger to for months, and with an assurance that the LORD would +bless His own work and that I should share in the blessing. I had +previously prayed, and asked prayer, that workers might be raised up for +the eleven then unoccupied provinces, and thrust forth and provided for, +but had not surrendered myself to be their leader. + +About this time, with the help of my dear wife, I wrote the little book, +_China's Spiritual Need and Claims_. Every paragraph was steeped in +prayer. With the help of Mr. Berger, who had given valued aid in the +revision of the manuscript, and who bore the expense of printing an +edition of 3000 copies, they were soon put in circulation. I spoke +publicly of the proposed work as opportunity permitted, specially at the +Perth and Mildmay Conferences of 1865, and continued in prayer for +fellow-workers, who were soon raised up, and after due correspondence +were invited to my home, then in the East of London. When one house +became insufficient, the occupant of the adjoining house removed, and I +was able to rent it; and when that in its turn became insufficient, +further accommodation was provided close by. Soon there were a number of +men and women under preparatory training, and engaging in evangelistic +work which tested in some measure their qualifications as soul-winners. + +[Illustration] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] Isaiah lv. 8, 9. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE FORMATION OF THE C. I. M. + + +IT was thus that in the year 1865 the CHINA INLAND MISSION was +organised; and the workers already in the field were incorporated into +it. W. T. Berger, Esq., then residing at Saint Hill, near East +Grinstead, without whose help and encouragement I could not have gone +forward, undertook the direction of the home department of the work +during my anticipated absence in China; and I proposed, as soon as +arrangements could be completed, to go out with the volunteers and take +the direction of the work in the field. For the support of the workers +already in China, our friends at home were sending in unsolicited +contributions from time to time, and every need was met. + +We had now, however, to look forward to the outgoing of a party of +sixteen or seventeen, and estimated that from L1500 to L2000 might be +required to cover outfits, passage-money, and initial expenses. I wrote +a little pamphlet, calling it "Occasional Paper, No. I." (intending in +successive numbers to give to donors and friends accounts of the work +wrought through us in China), and in that paper stated the anticipated +needs for floating the enterprise. I expected that GOD would incline the +hearts of some of the readers to send contributions: I had determined +never to use personal solicitation, or to make collections, or to issue +collecting-books. Missionary-boxes were thought unobjectionable, and we +had a few prepared for those who might ask for them, and have continued +to use them ever since. + +It was February 6th, 1866, when I sent my manuscript of "Occasional +Paper, No. I.," with a design for the cover, to the printer. From delays +in engraving and printing, it was March 12th when the bales of pamphlets +were delivered at my house. Now on February 6th a daily prayer-meeting, +from 12 to 1 o'clock, had been commenced, to ask for the needed funds. +And that we had not asked in vain, the following extract from +"Occasional Paper, No. II." will show:-- + +"The receipts for 1864 were L51:14s.; for 1865, from January to June, +L221:12:6, besides two free passages; from June to December, L923:12:8. +Hindrances having occurred, the MS. of the "Occasional Paper, No. I." +was not completed till February 6th, 1866. Up to this time we had +received (from December 30th) L170:8:3. + +"We felt much encouraged by the receipt of so much money in little more +than a month, as it was entirely unsolicited by us--save from GOD. But +it was also evident that we must ask the LORD to do yet greater things +for us, or it would be impossible for a party of from ten to sixteen to +leave in the middle of May. _Daily united prayer was therefore offered +to_ GOD for the funds needful for the outfits and passages of as many as +He would have to go out in May. + +"Owing to the delays mentioned above in the printing of the 'Occasional +Paper,' it was not ready for the publisher until March 12th. On this day +I again examined my mission cash-book, and the comparison of the result +of the two similar periods of one month and six days each, one before +and one after special prayer for L1500 to L2000, was very striking:-- + + "Receipts from December 30th to February 6th, L170 8 3 + " Feb. 6th to Mar. 12th L1774 5 11 + "Funds advised, since received 200 0 0 + --------- L1974 5 11 + +"This, it will be noticed, was _previous_ to the circulation of the +'Occasional Paper,' and, consequently, was not the result of it. It was +the response of a faithful GOD to the united prayers of those whom He +had called to serve Him in the Gospel of His dear SON. + +"We can now compare with these two periods a third of the same extent. +From March 12th to April 18th the receipts were L529, showing that when +GOD had supplied the special need, the special supply also ceased. Truly +there is a LIVING GOD, and HE is the hearer and answerer of prayer." + +But this gracious answer to prayer made it a little difficult to +circulate "Occasional Paper, No. I.," for it stated as a need that which +was already supplied. The difficulty was obviated by the issue with each +copy of a coloured inset stating that the funds for outfit and passage +were already in hand in answer to prayer. We were reminded of the +difficulty of Moses--not a very common one in the present day--and of +the proclamation he had to send through the camp to the people to +prepare no more for the building of the Tabernacle, as the gifts in hand +were already too much. We are convinced that if there were _less_ +solicitation for money and _more_ dependence upon the power of the HOLY +GHOST and upon the deepening of spiritual life, the experience of Moses +would be a common one in every branch of Christian work. + +Preparations for sailing to China were at once proceeded with. About +this time I was asked to give a lecture on China in a village not very +far from London, and agreed to do so on condition that there should be +no collection, and that this should be announced on the bills. The +gentleman who invited me, and who kindly presided as chairman, said he +had never had that condition imposed before. He accepted it, however, +and the bills were issued accordingly for the 2nd or 3rd of May. With +the aid of a large map, something of the extent and population and deep +spiritual need of China was presented, and many were evidently +impressed. + +At the close of the meeting the chairman said that by my request it had +been intimated on the bills that there would be no collection; but he +felt that many present would be distressed and burdened if they had not +the opportunity of contributing something towards the good work +proposed. He trusted that as the proposition emanated entirely from +himself, and expressed, he felt sure, the feelings of many in the +audience, I should not object to it. I begged, however, that the +condition agreed to might be carried out; pointing out among other +reasons for making no collection, that the very reason adduced by our +kind chairman was, to my mind, one of the strongest for not making it. +My wish was, not that those present should be relieved by making such +contribution as might there and then be convenient, under the influence +of a present emotion; but that each one should go home burdened with the +deep need of China, and ask of GOD what He would have them to do. If, +after thought and prayer, they were satisfied that a pecuniary +contribution was what He wanted of them, it could be given to any +Missionary Society having agents in China; or it might be posted to our +London office; but that perhaps in many cases what GOD wanted was _not_ +a money contribution, but personal consecration to His service abroad; +or the giving up of son or daughter--more precious than silver or +gold--to His service. I added that I thought the tendency of a +collection was to leave the impression that the all-important thing was +_money_, whereas no amount of money could convert a single soul; that +what was needed was that men and women filled with the HOLY GHOST should +give _themselves_ to the work: for the support of such there would never +be a lack of funds. As my wish was evidently very strong, the chairman +kindly yielded to it, and closed the meeting. He told me, however, at +the supper-table, that he thought it was a mistake on my part, and that, +notwithstanding all I had said, a few persons had put some little +contributions into his hands. + +Next morning at breakfast, my kind host came in a little late, and +acknowledged to not having had a very good night. After breakfast he +asked me to his study, and giving me the contributions handed to him the +night before, said, "I thought last night, Mr. Taylor, that you were in +the wrong about a collection; I am now convinced you were quite right. +As I thought in the night of that stream of souls in China ever passing +onward into the dark, I could only cry as you suggested, 'LORD, what +wilt Thou have _me_ to do?' I think I have obtained the guidance I +sought, and here it is." He handed me a cheque for L500, adding that if +there had been a collection he would have given a few pounds to it, but +now this cheque was the result of having spent no small part of the +night in prayer. + +I need scarcely say how surprised and thankful I was for this gift. I +had received at the breakfast-table a letter from Messrs. Killick, +Martin and Co., shipping agents, in which they stated that they could +offer us the whole passenger accommodation of the ship _Lammermuir_. I +went direct to the ship, found it in every way suitable, and paid the +cheque on account. As above stated, the funds deemed needed had been +already in hand for some time; but the coincidence of the simultaneous +offer of the ship accommodation and this munificent gift--GOD'S +"exceeding abundantly"--greatly encouraged my heart. + +On the 26th of May we sailed for China in the _Lammermuir_, a missionary +party of 16 (besides my four children and their nurse, and Miss Bausum +(afterwards Mrs. Barchet)); in all 22 passengers. Mr. Berger took charge +of the home department, and thus the C. I. M. was fully inaugurated. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE MISSION IN 1894 + + +THE events sketched in the last two chapters have been more fully +delineated by Miss Guinness in her interesting _Story of the China +Inland Mission_, which continues its history to the present date. It is +indeed a record of the goodness of GOD, every remembrance of which calls +for gratitude and praise. We can only here briefly mention a few facts, +referring our readers to Miss Guinness's work for all details. + +After a voyage of many mercies the _Lammermuir_ party safely reached +China, and during the first ten years stations and out-stations were +opened in many cities and towns in four provinces which hitherto had +been unreached by the Gospel. At home Mr. and Mrs. Berger continued +their devoted service until March 19th, 1872, I having returned to +England the year before. Shortly after this the London Council was +formed, which has now for several years been assisted by an auxiliary +Council of ladies. A Scotch Council was also formed in Glasgow a few +years ago. + +A visit to America in 1888 issued in the formation of the Council for +North America, and a similar Council for Australasia was commenced in +Melbourne two years later. In the field a China Council was organised in +1886, composed of senior missionaries who meet quarterly in Shanghai. + +Closely associated with the C. I. M. are seven Committees--in England, +Norway, Sweden (two), Finland, Germany, and the United States--which +send out and support their own missionaries, who in China have the +assistance of the educational and other advantages of the C. I. M., and +who work under its direction. + +The staff of the Mission, in May 1893, consisted of 552 missionaries +(including wives and associates). There were also 326 native helpers (95 +of whom were unpaid), working as pastors, evangelists, teachers, +colporteurs, Bible-women, etc., in 14 different provinces. + +Duly qualified candidates for missionary labour are accepted without +restriction as to denomination, provided they are sound in the faith in +all fundamental truths: these go out in dependence upon GOD for temporal +supplies, with the clear understanding that the officers of the Mission +do not guarantee any income whatever; and knowing that as they will not +go into debt, they can only minister to them as the funds sent in from +time to time will allow. But we praise GOD that during the past +twenty-eight years such ministry has always been possible; our GOD _has_ +supplied all our need, and has withheld no good thing. + +All the expenses of the Mission at home and abroad are met by voluntary +contributions, sent to the offices of the Mission without personal +solicitation, by those who wish to aid in this effort to spread the +knowledge of the Gospel throughout China. The income for the year 1892 +was about L34,000 from all sources--Great Britain, the Continent of +Europe, North America, Australasia, China, etc. + +Some of the missionaries having private property have gone out at their +own expense, and do not take anything from the Mission funds. + +Stations have been opened in ten of the eleven provinces which were +previously without Protestant missionaries; from one of these, however, +we have had to retire. The eleventh province has been visited several +times, and it is hoped that in it permanent work may soon be begun. + +More than 200 stations and out-stations have been opened in fourteen of +the eighteen provinces, in all of which stations either missionaries or +native labourers are resident. Over 6000 converts have been baptized +from the commencement, some 4000 of whom are now living and in +fellowship. + + +THE MISSION IN 1902 + +The year 1894, in which the first edition of _A Retrospect_ appeared, +was marked by the erection of large and commodious premises for the work +of the Mission, and early in the following year the houses in Pyrland +Road, which had so long formed the home of the Mission in England, were +vacated, and NEWINGTON GREEN, LONDON, N., became the address of the +Mission offices and home. + +From that date until the Boxer outbreak of 1900 the Mission made steady +progress, the development of the work in China being accompanied by +corresponding developments in the home departments of the Mission in +England, America, and Australasia. + +In January 1900, before the Boxer outbreak, there were in connection +with the Mission, 811 missionaries, including wives and associates; 171 +stations; 223 out-stations; 387 chapels; 581 paid native helpers; 193 +unpaid native helpers; 8557 communicants in fellowship, 12,964 having +been baptized from the commencement. There were 266 organised churches; +788 boarding scholars; 1382 day scholars; 6 hospitals; 18 dispensaries; +and 46 opium refuges. + +During the terrible year of 1900, when no fewer than 135 missionaries +and 53 missionaries' children and many thousands of Chinese Christians +were cruelly murdered, the China Inland Mission lost 58 missionaries and +21 children. The records of these unparalleled times of suffering have +been told in _Martyred Missionaries of the China Inland Mission_ and in +_Last Letters_, both of which books will be found advertised at the end +of this volume. Apart from loss of life, there was an immense amount of +Mission property destroyed, and the missionaries were compelled to +retire from their stations in most parts of China. + +The doors closed by this outbreak have all been reopened in the goodness +of GOD. In those districts which suffered most from the massacres the +work has largely been one of reorganisation; but throughout China +generally there has been a spirit of awakening and a time of enlarged +opportunity; which is a loud call for more men and women to volunteer to +step into the gaps and fill the places of those who have fallen. + +Among recent developments we would specially mention the opening of a +new home centre at Philadelphia, U.S.A. The total income of the Mission +for 1901 was L53,633 = $257,712, and the total received in England +alone, for 1902, was L51,446 = $246,912. The total membership of the +Mission in June 1902 was 761. + +Current information about the progress of the work in China may be +obtained from _China's Millions_, the organ of the Mission. It is +published monthly, and may be ordered through any bookseller from +Messrs. Morgan and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, E.C., for 1s. per +year, or direct by post from the offices of the Mission, Newington +Green, London, N., for 1s. 6d. per annum. + +The Australasian edition of _China's Millions_ may be ordered at the +same price from M. L. Hutchinson, Little Collins Street, or from the +Mission Offices, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. The North American +edition will be sent post free from the Mission Offices, 507 Church +Street, Toronto, for 50 cents per annum. + +Prayer meetings on behalf of the work in China are held at the principal +home centres of the Mission, as follows: Every Saturday afternoon from 4 +to 6 o'clock, at Newington Green, London. Every Friday evening at 8 +o'clock, at 507 Church Street, Toronto. Every Saturday afternoon at 4 +o'clock, in the Office, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. A hearty +invitation to attend any one of these meetings is given to any one +residing in or visiting any of these cities. + +Donations to the Mission, applications from candidates, orders for +literature, requests for deputation speakers, and other correspondence +should be forwarded to + + The Secretary, + China Inland Mission, + Newington Green, London, N. + + The Home Director, + China Inland Mission, + 507 Church Street, Toronto, Canada. + +or + + 702 Witherspoon Buildings, Philadelphia, U.S.A. + +or to + + The Secretary, + China Inland Mission, + 267 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia. + +[Illustration: MAP OF CHINA + + Shewing {1. All Protestant Mission Stations in China up to June 1866, + when the C.I.M. was founded (they numbered fifteen) These + are underlined in black. + {2. The Stations of the China Inland Mission which (with the + exception of Ning-Po & Fung-hwa) have been opened since + June 1866. These are printed in red.] + + +[Illustration] + + + + +STATIONS OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION + +1900 + +(BEFORE THE BOXER OUTBREAK) + + +The best guide to the stations of the Mission is the new _China Inland +Mission Map_ (size 44 x 38 in., mounted on linen, coloured, varnished, +and hung on rollers), price 8s. _net_, carriage and packing extra. +Mounted to fold, 8s. _net_, post free. + + Provinces.[4] Stations.[5] WORK BEGUN. + + =Kan-suh=, 1876 LIANG-CHAU 1888 + SI-NING 1885 + LAN-CHAU 1885 + TS'IN-CHAU 1878 + _Area,[6] 125,450 square miles._ FU K'IANG 1899 + _Population, 9,285,377._ P'ING-LIANG 1895 + KING-CHAU 1895 + TS'ING-NING 1897 + Chen-yuen 1897 + Tong-chi 1899 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Shen-si=, 1876. Lung-chau 1893 + FENG-TSIANG 1888 + Mei-hien 1893 + K'IEN-CHAU 1894 + _Area, 67,400 square miles._ Chau-chih 1893 + _Population, 8,432,193._ _Sang-kia-chuang_ 1894 + Hing-p'ing 1893 + SI-GAN 1893 + _Ying-kia-wei_ 1893 + Chen-kia-hu 1897 + Lan-t'ien 1895 + K'ien-yang 1897 + Ch'ang-wu 1897 + San-shui 1897 + T'UNG-CHAU 1891 + Han-ch'eng 1897 + HAN-CHUNG 1879 + Ch'eng-ku 1887 + Si-hsiang 1896 + Yang-hien 1896 + HING-AN 1898 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Shan-si=, 1876 TA-T'UNG 1886 + Hwen-yuen 1898 + SOH-P'ING 1895 + Tsoe-yuin 1895 + YING-CHAU 1897 + Hiao-i 1887 + Kiai-hiu 1891 + SIH-CHAU 1885 + Ta-ning 1885 + KIH-CHAU 1891 + Ho-tsin 1893 + Ping-yao 1888 + _Area, 56,268 square miles._ HOH-CHAU 1886 + _Population, 12,211,453._ Hung-t'ung 1886 + Yoh-yang 1896 + P'ING-YANG 1879 + K'ueh-wu 1885 + I-shi 1891 + Yuein-ch'eng 1888 + _Mei-ti-kiai_ 1895 + HIAI-CHAU 1895 + Lu-ch'eng 1889 + _Ue-wu_ 1896 + LU-GAN 1889 + Kiang-chau 1898 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Chih-li=, 1887 T'IEN-TSIN 1888 + _Area, 58,949 square miles._ PAO-T'ING 1891 + _Population, 17,937,000._ Hwuy-luh 1887 + SHUN-TEH 1888 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Shan-tung=, 1879 _Chefoo_ 1879 + " Sanatorium 1880 + " Boys' School 1880 + _Area, 53,762 square miles._ " Girls' " 1884 + _Population, 36,247,835._ " Preparatory School 1895 + _T'ung-shin_ 1889 + Ning-hai 1886 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Ho-nan=, 1875 Siang-ch'eng 1891 + _Chau-kia-k'eo_ 1884 + _Ho-nan_ ... + _Ho-peh_ ... + _Ho-si_ ... + _Area, 66,913 square miles._ CH'EN-CHAU 1895 + _Population, 22,115,827._ T'ai-k'ang 1895 + _She-k'i-tien_ 1886 + Kwang-chau 1899 + Hin-an 1899 + _King-tsi-kuan_ 1896 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =W. Si-ch'uan=, 1877 Kwan-hien 1889 + CH'EN-TU 1881 + KIA-TING 1888 + _Area of whole Province, SUI-FU 1888 + 166,800 square miles._ LU-CHAU 1890 + Hiao-shi 1899 + CH'UNG-K'ING 1877 + Ta-chien-lu 1897 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =E. Si-ch'uan=, 1886 Kwang-yuen 1889 + _Sin-tien-tsi_ 1892 + PAO-NING 1886 + Ying-shan 1898 + _Population of whole Province, Kue-hien 1898 + 67,712,897._ SHUN-K'ING 1896 + Pa-chau 1887 + SUI-TING 1899 + Wan-hien 1888 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Hu-peh=, 1874 _Lao-ho-k'eo_ 1887 + _Area, 70,450 square miles._ _Han-kow_ 1889 + _Population, 34,244,685._ I-CH'ANG 1895 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Gan-hwuy=, 1869 T'ai-ho 1892 + VING-CHAU 1897 + _Ch'eng-yang-kwan_ 1887 + _K'u-ch'eng_ 1887 + Fuh-hing-tsih (Lai-gan) 1898 + LUH-GAN 1890 + GAN-K'ING 1869 + _Area, 48,461 square miles._ Training Home ... + _Population, 20,596,288._ Wu-hu 1893 + Kien-p'ing 1894 + NING-KWOH 1874 + KWANG-TEH 1890 + CH'I-CHAU 1889 + Kien-teh 1892 + HWUY-CHAU 1884 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Kiang-su=, 1854 Gan-tung 1891 + Ts'ing-kiang-pu 1869 + Kao-yiu 1888 + YANG-CHAU 1868 + Training Home ... + CHIN-KIANG 1888 + _Area, 44,500 square miles._ Shanghai 1854 + _Population, 20,905,171._ Financial Department ... + Business Department ... + Home ... + Hospital ... + Evangelistic Work ... + Literary Work ... + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Yun-nan=, 1877 Bhamo (Upper Burmah) 1875 + _Area, 107,969 square miles._ TA-LI 1881 + _Population, 11,721,576._ YUN-NAN 1882 + K'UeH-TS'ING 1889 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Kwei-chau=, 1877 KWEI-YANG 1877 + GAN-SHUN 1888 + _Area, 64,554 square miles._ Tuh-shan 1893 + _Population, 7,669,181._ HING-I 1891 + (Work among Aborigines) ... + _P'ang-hai_ 1897 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Hu-nan=, 1875 CH'ANG-TEH 1898 + _Area, 74,320 square miles_. SHEN-CHAU 1898 + _Population, 21,002,604._ Ch'a-ling 1898 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Kiang-si=, 1869 KIU-KIANG 1889 + Ku-ling Sanatorium 1898 + _Ta-ku-t'ang_ 1873 + NAN-K'ANG 1887 + Gan-ren 1889 + RAO-CHAU 1898 + _Peh-kan_ 1893 + Kwei-k'i 1878 + _Shang-ts'ing_ 1893 + Hue-wan 1899 + Ih-yang 1890 + _Area, 72,176 square miles._ _Ho-k'eo_ 1878 + _Population, 24,534,118._ _Yang-k'eo_ 1890 + Kwang-feng 1889 + Yuh-shan 1877 + _Chang-shu_ 1895 + KUI-GAN 1891 + _Feng-kang_ 1891 + KAN-CHAU 1899 + Sin-feng 1899 + LIN-KIANG 1898 + NAN-CH'ANG 1898 + UEN-CHAU (_Itinerating_) ... + Yung-sin 1899 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Cheh-kiang=, 1857 HANG-CHAU 1866 + SHAO-HING 1866 + Sin-ch'ang 1870 + KIU-CHAU 1872 + Ch'ang-shan 1878 + Lan-k'i 1894 + _Area, 39,150 square miles_. KIN-HWA 1875 + _Population, 11,588,692._ Yung-k'ang 1882 + Tseh-k'i 1897 + CH'U-CHAU 1875 + Lung-ch'uen 1894 + Uin-ho 1895 + Song-yang 1896 + _Siao-mei_ 1896 + Tsin-yun 1898 + NING-P'O 1857 + Fung-hwa 1866 + Ning-hai 1868 + T'ien-t'ai 1898 + T'AI-CHAU 1867 + Ling-he District ... + Hwang-yen 1896 + T'ai-p'ing 1898 + WUN-CHAU 1867 + Bing-yae 1874 + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] Arranged in three lines from west to east, for easy reference to +Map. The dates in this column in many cases are of itinerations begun. + +[5] Capitals of Provinces in capital letters; of Prefectures in small +capitals; and of Counties in romans; Market Towns in italics. + +[6] Areas and populations are from _The Statesman's Year Book_. + + +[Illustration] + +_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh._ + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Page 109, "my" changed to "My" (My marriage had been) + +Page 125, ending ) added. (Miss Bausum (afterwards Mrs. Barchett)); in) + +Page 129, format of "God" was changed to "GOD" to match rest of usage. +(goodness of GOD) + +Possible nconsistencies in spelling of Chinese names were retained such +as Bhamo and Bhamo. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Retrospect, by James Hudson Taylor + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RETROSPECT *** + +***** This file should be named 26744.txt or 26744.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/4/26744/ + +Produced by Free Elf, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Music files created +by Linda Cantoni.(This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) Full-color map generously provided by The +Missionary E-texts Archive at +http://www.missionaryetexts.org + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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