IN MEMO1RIAM
Henry Byron Phillips
Tranh Ji $toit..
TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF
MISSIONARY WORK
IN CHINA
BY
GRACE STOTT
OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION
WITH A PREFACE BY
THE REV. ]. HUDSON TAYLOR
WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS
SECOND EDITION
NEW YORK
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY
10 EAST 23RD STREET
1897
" For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ : for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." ROM. i. 16.
PREFACE
THE work of God recorded in these pages is no
longer an experiment, and it is well that Mrs.
Stott has been able, during her furlough, to put in
more permanent form some of the incidents which
many of us have heard with deepest interest from her
own lips in missionary meetings, or on more private
occasions.
It has been my privilege to be acquainted with this
work from its commencement. With earnest prayer
I commended Mr. Stott to God for his difficult
journey, for in those times Wunchau was not a free
port, and the eight days' overland travel through
unknown and mountainous country would have been
somewhat formidable for a good walker, while for
one on crutches it was much more so. He left Scot-
land, however, believing that " the lame should take
the prey," and he was spared to do so to no small
extent.
I had visited Mr. Stott during his early labours
there, and seen how much he needed domestic help,
and how handicapped he was in the charge of his
boys' boarding-school, before I had the pleasure of
iii
580:508
iv PREFACE
welcoming Miss Ciggie (whom I had known in Glas-
gow) on her arrival in China, twenty-six years ago, to
become his wife.
Having closely followed the progress of the work
through these twenty-five years, and having paid my
last visits to Wunchau since Mrs. Stott left, it was
with special interest and pleasure that I snatched
time to read most of her manuscript. It is empha-
tically a story of work earnest, persevering work
which God has blessed : an unvarnished account,
it brings out clearly the lights and shades of mis-
sionary service.
I did not find one dull paragraph. Those who
begin to read the book will want to finish it, and it
cannot fail to be a blessing to the reader.
It is an unfinished record, and, since Mrs. Stott
asked me to write a few lines of preface, a joyful
letter from Miss Christabel Williams tells of the
conversion of sixteen of the twenty-six girls in the
boarding-school : four of the children were previously
converted, and several of the remaining six the
little ones of the school were seeking the Lord.
May many readers be led to pray for the work and
workers in Wunchau !
J. HUDSON TAYLOR.
CHINA INLAND MISSION,
NEWINGTON GREEN, LONDON, N.
January, 1897.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." MATT. iv. 19 i
CHAPTER II.
" In due season we shall reap, if we faint not." GAL. vi. 9 . 10
CHAPTER III.
" They that make them are like unto them ; so is every one that
trusteth in them." PSA. cxv. 8. . . . .20
CHAPTER IV.
" They imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able
to perform." PSA. xxi. n . . . .35
CHAPTER V.
" Our Lord is above all gods." PSA. cxxxv. 5 . . .52
v
vi CONTENTS
CHAPTER VI.
PAGE
" And He said unto them, Lacked ye anything ? And they said,
Nothing." LUKE xxii. 35 . . . .68
CHAPTER VII.
" If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow Me." LUKE ix. 23 . 83
CHAPTER VIII.
" Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain
thing ? " PSA. ii. I . . . . .98
CHAPTER IX.
" And ye shall be witnesses unto Me." ACTS i. 8 , .114
CHAPTER X.
" How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things !" ROM. x. 15 129
CHAPTER XI.
" When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee ;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee."
ISA. xliii. 2 . . . . . . .145
CHAPTER XII.
" The memory of the just is blessed." PROV. x. 7 . .160
CONTENTS vii
CHAPTER XIII.
PAGE
" He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry ;
when He shall hear it, He will answer thee." ISA. xxx. 19 176
CHAPTER XIV.
" And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage."
JOHN ii. 2 . . . . . . .197
CHAPTER XV.
" And the common people heard Him gladly." MARK xii. 37 . 213
CHAPTER XVI.
'In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold
not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall
prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall
be alike good." ECCLES. xi. 6 . . . . 226
CHAPTER XVII.
" Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into
joy." JOHN xvi. 20 . .... 241
CHAPTER XVI II.
" All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord ; and Thy saints
shall bless Thee." PSA. cxlv. 10. . . . . 258
CHAPTER XIX
" The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." LUKE x. 9 . 266
CHAPTER XX.
" In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence." PROV. xiv. 26 . 288
viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXI.
PAGE
"Thy expectation shall not be cut off." PROV. xxiv. 14 . . 300
CHAPTER XXII.
" Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ." -2 TIM. ii. 3 . . . . .314
CHAPTER XXIII.
"Both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice
together." JOHN iv. 36 . . . . 330
CHAPTER XXIV.
" Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have
no more that they can do." LUKE xii. 4 . . 345
CHAPTER XXV.
'' I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it."
PSA. xxxix. 9. " As for God, His way is perfect." 2 SAM.
xxii. 31 355
CHAPTER I
" Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." MATT. iv. 19
MY first interest in China began in the spring
of 1865 when Mr. Hudson Taylor, accom-
panied by Mr. (now Dr.) Barchet and his companion,
visited Glasgow. The two latter were en route for
China, sailing in a few days, and Mr. Taylor had
come to wish them good-bye and God-speed. They
addressed a small meeting, and as I listened to Mr.
Taylor's tale of the darkness of China and the
terrible need of workers there, there came a question
that would be answered, " Why may not you go to
tell of a Saviour's love ? "
I had been converted four years, and had begun in
a feeble way to serve the Lord who had bought me
at first by tract distribution, then Sunday-school
teaching. The Lord had often also graciously used
me to lead many an anxious soul into the light, but
up to this time I had never thought of mission work,
never supposed I had any call beyond my native city
of Glasgow.
CHINA
For days this question kept ringing in my heart.
I had no home ties, it was true ; but was I fit ? Then,
too, at that time I had never heard of a young girl
going to a heathen land was it practicable ? This
latter question I decided to ask Mr. Taylor. He saw
no reason why I should not go, even though but
twenty years of age, if called of God, and if called,
surely the fitness would be given by Him.
After much prayer and consideration, Mr. Taylor
invited me to go to London, that by mutual prayer
and knowledge of one another, God's way might be
made clear. I arrived just the day before Mr. and
Mrs. Stevenson's marriage. They and Mr. Stott,
whom I then met for the first time, sailed three
weeks afterwards for China.
Mr. Stott had been brought up to farm work,
but when he was about nineteen years of age he
slipped on the road and knocked his knee against
a stone. This simple accident resulted in white
swelling, which, two years later, necessitated the am-
putation of the left leg. For nine months he lay a
helpless invalid, and it was during this time that the
Lord graciously saved his soul. So far he had been
careless and indifferent to the love of God in Christ
Jesus, but now, in his helpless condition, and what
seemed his ruined future, how precious that love
became ! After his recovery he began to teach in a
school, and had been thus employed several years
"FOLLOW ME" 3
when he first heard of China's needs through a friend,
who himself was going out.
In accepting Mr. Stott for mission work, Mr.
Taylor manifested that faith which has so eminently
characterised him, for surely no Society would have
sent a lame man to such a country to pioneer work,
and Mr. Stott often referred with gratitude to Mr.
Taylor's acceptance of him. When asked why he,
with only one leg, should think of going to China,
his remark was, " I do not see those with two legs
going, so I must." As I saw them slowly sail out
of the docks a great hope welled up in my heart
that I should soon follow, though at that time I
little thought that my life and work would be
blended with his.
I continued in London a few months, when it was
definitely settled that I should accompany Mr. and
Mrs. Taylor and party, who were to sail the following
May. Almost as soon as that decision was arrived
at my health began to give way, though up to that
time I scarce remember one day of sickness. After
trying several places, with the vain hope my illness
might prove a temporary weakness, and that I might
still be able to go forward, the doctors gave it as their
definite decision that I ought not to go to China at
present. Mr. Taylor reluctantly communicated this
decision to me, but added, " I hope you will be able to
follow us in a year." This news was a great blow to
4 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
me ; I had thought I was willing, for God's will only,
that I would be content to go or stay, just as He
called; but when the word came "stay" I was bitterly
disappointed. This led to much heart searching : for
the first time I saw how easy it was to deceive one-
self, and night after night I cried to God to save me
from self-deception.
One night, when on my knees, with tearful con-
fession of self-will, it seemed as if I heard a voice
saying, "If you still want to serve me go back to
Glasgow, and take my messages to the Salt Market
and the district round about." My heart almost stood
still : the Salt Market was one of the vilest and
most wicked places in Glasgow, inhabited almost
exclusively by thieves and women of ill-repute. It
was hardly fit for a man to go into such a place
could it be God was sending a young girl there,
uncalled by man, unprotected, and without means
of support could that be God's will for me? I
knelt in silence ; I dare not speak. I had had one
lesson in self-will, and dared not say " No," while I
feared to say " Yes." At last the answer came, " Yes
Lord ; if Thou wilt go with me every step of the
way." I then told the Lord that as I could not go
alone I should refuse to go any day I did not feel
His presence and power with me. From that hour
strength seemed slowly to return. Meantime arrange-
ments were being made for the sailing of the
"FOLLOW ME" 5
Lammermuir party. I offered to remain a few weeks
and help with the outfits.
About a fortnight before the ship sailed, one of
the party withdrew through the illness of her mother.
Passages had been paid, and unless another took
her place the money would be lost. Mr. Taylor
turned to me : I had been getting stronger was
it not possible that God, having made me willing
to stay, was now opening the way for me to go ?
To Mr. Taylor it almost appeared so. I prayed,
but could get no light ; it seemed as if the Lord,
having given me His orders, would hear nothing
more on the subject, so I had to say, " I can't go,"
even though it almost broke my heart to say the word.
The Lammermuir sailed on May 26, 1866, and
as I watched her towed slowly out from the docks
I felt China must be left behind for the present,
Mr. Taylor's home was broken up the day they left,
but friends had kindly invited me to spend a few
days with them previous to returning to Glasgow,
and it was here I had my first lesson in faith. The
friend who had been as a mother to me after my
grandmother's death had died during my stay in
London. I had, therefore, no home to return to. I
had paid all my incidental personal expenses, and
never having referred to money matters, friends must
have supposed I had plenty, but in fact I only had
just enough to take me by rail to Glasgow. Wishing
6 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
to have a few shillings in my pocket, by which to
obtain lodgings, I wanted to go by steamer, that being
the cheaper way. Friends tried to dissuade me, not
knowing my reason; the expenses were figured up
and after removal of luggage, &c., &c., I found I would
save but 45. 6d., and they urged it was not worth
taking so long a journey for that sum. I had been
asked to visit a young lady on that day, and was about
to write a note to say that, leaving by steamer, I
could not keep my engagement, when the thought
came to me, could I not give up that 43. 6d. for the
Lord's sake ? Perhaps He had some service for me
to do, or I might interest her in China, so I decided
to go by the night train and keep my engagement.
We had a time of sweet fellowship together, and,
when leaving, she pressed a small packet into my
hand, saying, "Take this as from Him." When I
opened it there was exactly 43. 6d. inside. Oh, how
strengthened and helped I was by that simple act
It seemed as if God had said, " Do not doubt ; I will
care for you."
I had never heard of living by faith, and if asked
could hardly have told the meaning of the words ;
but I did know if an earthly master sent his
servant to do some special work for him, he would
at least see that he had enough to eat, and I dared
not think my heavenly Father would treat His
child worse than that, so I was " without carefulness "
"FOLLOW ME" 7
in this matter. I had learned to use my needle well,
and thought I might help to support myself in that
way. Having some warm Christian friends, I had no
doubt that if I told them I wanted needlework they
would be sure to let me have some, and for the rest the
Lord would provide. My business was to do His will.
On my return to Glasgow I was still far from
strong, but gave from ten till two daily in visiting
the poor degraded outcasts of Salt Market district.
No needlework offered, my Father seeing I was too
weak to do anything more than the daily visiting.
I soon learned why God had sent me in this way,
for almost the first questions fiercely asked were :
"What Church has sent you here?" "No Church.
" Who has sent you ? " " No one." " Are you not
paid for coming?" "No." "Then why do you
come ? " " Because I love you ; I have been saved
myself, and I want you to be saved too." And when
they found that I was not only willing to read with
and pray for them, but to nurse poor sick ones, kindle
a fire, make beef tea, or sweep a hearth if need be,
beside nursing their babies, both hearts and homes
were opened to me at once. At first the elders of
the Church to which I belonged were uneasy at so
young a girl going into dens of such wretchedness,
and one elderly man warned me of the dangers to
which I was exposing myself, and feared that evil
might befall me ; but I felt that was God's business.
8 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
He had sent me, and He was responsible, and never
during the three and a half years I laboured amongst
them did I receive the least insult or hear unbecoming
language if they knew I was present.
After three months, during which time God had
provided for all my wants in a remarkable manner,
sending money from whence I did not know, so that I
had lacked nothing, I was one day asked to speak with
a few of the elders. They said they thought perhaps
God had called me, and they would like a share in the
work would I accept a small sum from them weekly ?
I told them I could not be put under any rule what-
ever ; I had to feel my way to depend on God for
wisdom by the hour, and must work just when and
how I could ; that if their money would mean being
under their control, I must decline ; but if they would
like to help, no matter in how small a sum, leaving
me quite free, I would rejoice in their fellowship.
From that hour, until I left for China, three and a
half years afterwards, they stood by me, helping me
on, but never interfering. In this way the Lord
supplied all my wants.
It was not long before I began to see that I
was the one God wanted to train through these
means. I had all my life had a hatred and dread
of sin and sinners. A bad person filled me with
disgust, and it was not till I was sent down there
among the utterly lost that I began to separate be-
" FOLLOW ME" 9
tween sin and the sinner, and while hating the one
to love the other. They had human hearts, and
readily responded to the touch of love, and I felt
circumstances and God's grace alone had made me
to differ. During that time, so far as I knew, only
two had been converted, but God had put His child
into His own school, and He was teaching her lessons
that would have to be lived out when He gave her
her life's work. Never, never shall I cease to give
God thanks for those years of contact with sin and
for the faith lessons learned there, yet during all the
time I never once lost the consciousness that my life's
work lay in China, and I had but to wait His time.
CHAPTER II
*' In due season we shall reap, if we faint not." GAL. vi. 9.
IN the meantime, Mr. Stott had, after eighteen
months spent in the neighbourhood of Ning-po,
acquiring that dialect, gone to Wenchow, arriving
there in November, 1867. He met with but scant
courtesy. For three months he and Mr. Jackson,
who had accompanied him from Tai-chow, lived in
an inn. All feared them, and no one would rent a
house to the hated foreigner. Again and again
negotiations were almost complete, when the money
would be returned and the weary search begin again.
At last a man of some influence, who had brought
himself to despair by opium-smoking and gambling,
offered a house, and was bold enough to brave all
the consequences. Mr. Stott moved there as quietly
as possible, but next day the news had spread, and
a large angry crowd assembled, determined to turn
him out They battered in the gate, bent on mischief.
Mr. Stott came out and stood before them, and said,
" You see I am a lame man ; if I wanted to run
"IN DUE SEASON" 11
away from you I could not ; if you kill me you will,
perhaps, get into trouble ; if you let me alone you
will find I shall do no harm ; anyhow, I have come
and mean to stay." They were taken aback by his
quiet, strong words, and contenting themselves by
throwing a few stones they dispersed and left him in
peace
As soon as possible he tried to begin a boys'
school, and thought to induce regular attendance by
providing them with a mid-day meal. A fair number
attended, and they seemed to have made a good start,
when one day, going into the schoolroom, he found
the teacher, but no boys. He asked the meaning of
it all, and was told that a report had spread abroad
that he was inveigling children in on purpose to take
out their hearts and liver to compound into medicine,
and their parents were afraid to expose their children
to such terrible dangers. No respectable person would
take the position of servant, and so weary months
had to be passed alone, in the midst of many
dangers and discomforts, before confidence was
fairly won.
Over two years he laboured alone, and for more
than a year of that time never saw an English
face, or ever heard a word of the English language,
for from the time he arrived in Wenchow, in
November, 1867, until he left, in February, 1870, to
meet me, he had never left the city for a single night.
12 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
By that time he had established his boys' boarding
school and had twelve boys entirely under his care ;
but only two men in the city had been baptized, and
they proved disappointments in after years.
How much of his time was spent during these
two years is given in a letter to a friend, written
in 1869. He says, "My household consists of twelve
boys, schoolmaster, my own teacher, two servant
men, and an old washerwoman : if I rule them as I
ought, it is well, but that is an open question. I
shall give you a short account of how I spend my
time. Getting up in the morning at six o'clock,
meditation, prayer, and breakfast over, I have a
short lecture or exposition in the school, and
prayers ; then the needs of the family have to be
examined and provided for, such as buying rice, vege-
tables, fish and firewood, needles, buttons, shoes, &c,
the size, number, quality of each having to be decided
upon. Marketing done, I go to my study, and prepare
discourses for Sundays and evenings, or attend to any
important visitor, ever seeking an opportunity of tell-
ing him of the true God, of sin, and salvation. After
dinner I resume study, receive visitors, or ride out in
the country, taking with me a few tracts, and find an
opportunity to speak a word for Christ Jesus, for I
dare not yet venture to preach in the streets. By the
time I get home the boys are out of school, and then
I have to keep them busy and out of mischief till
"IN DUE SEASON" 13
supper-time, which takes place after dark. This over
we have some recreation, recital of some tale from
memory, or exhibition of pictures, with some music
until ' prayer time/ when a few friends join us, when
all who can, read the Scriptures verse about, then a
short address, and close with prayer. After comes
the children's question time, then I try to stretch
their intellect as soon as it offers to peep out, and to
foster it where it does not exist. My health is perfect ;
the climate agrees with me very well ; sometimes I am
in good spirits, and sometimes I have the dumps, and
think hard things of everything and everybody, myself
included. You cannot understand my position till
you have been two years and more tied to your post,
eight days' journey from the nearest settlement ; yet,
if any one would give me my choice to-day of any
position, I could only say * Wenchow.' I would not
change it, if I could, to rule a nation."
After three and a half years' labour in the slums of
Glasgow, my health being restored, I felt the time had
come for me to go forth to China, and having in the
meantime become engaged to Mr. Stott, I was sent
out by the CI.M. to share his labours, to be as far
as possible a helpmeet to him.
I sailed alone from London in the sailing ship
Kai-sow, on December 4, 1869, and prepared for
the usual four months' journey. A few days after,
I laughingly said to the captain, " I want to get
I 4 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
into Shang-hai on the I2th of March." He thought
a moment and answered, " Not likely ; if we do, it
will be one of the fastest voyages on record. But,"
he asked, " why on the I2th of March ? " I answered,
" I had a fancy to get in on my birthday."
The captain was a kind and good man, and his
influence was so felt over the ship that during that
long voyage I never heard a word a lady might not
hear from those sailors. He also encouraged me
with meetings with the men, and as we had a pretty
fair voyage, I was able to have one twice a week with
them, nearly all the time. Two or three professed to
receive blessing, but I do not know if they stood the
test of after years. The captain and his dear wife
became life-long friends. In the Chinese seas we had
a terrific storm, and as I had often longed to witness
a real storm at sea, the captain jokingly said that he
was sure I had prayed for this ; the only consolation
he had was, that we could not now reach Shang-hai
on the 1 2th of March. Nevertheless we anchored at
Woo-sung on the eve of the I ith, and on the I2th, my
twenty-fifth birthday, we arrived in Shang-hai. Mr.
Stott met me there, and took me on to Ning-po, where
I was kindly welcomed by Dr. Lord. According to
Consular regulations then, I had to wait a month
before we could be married, and on the 26th of April,
1870, we were made one in life, as we already were in
heart. The day after our wedding, the cook Mr.
" IN DUE SEASON " 15
Stott had brought with him from Wenchow was
baptized on profession of his faith.
It was my husband's desire to return at once to
Wenchow to his work, but nearly three weeks passed
before he could find a junk to take us down. The
coast was infested at that time with pirates, and junks
were afraid to sail unless in fleets, under the protec-
tion of a war junk. At last we sailed, and as we had
a fair wind, expected to reach Wenchow in three or
four days ; but alas ! for our hopes, when we reached
Chu-san, only one tide from Ning-po river, the war
junk refused to proceed until other junks had joined
the fleet ; so there we had to stay for nine days, while
the fairest of winds was blowing.
I was anxious to see my new home, and being
fresh out from England, and unaccustomed to the
slow ways of the Chinese, my active temperament
was sorely tried, as day after day we were put off
with the promise we should leave by the next tide.
I bore the disappointment as well as I could, until
the eighth day, when, woman-like, I had a good
cry, which relieved my pent-up feelings. We
were fifteen days between Ning-po and Wenchow,
a distance of only 150 miles. Wenchow itself is
"beautiful for situation," having fertile mountains
all round, and as we sailed slowly for days in and
out amongst the islands, and then up the beau-
tiful river, with grand mountains on either side, I
16 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
almost fancied myself in dear old Scotland. Indeed
the similarity has been remarked by many, except
that instead of the clear blue lakes of the latter, we
had the thick muddy water of the river. At that time
Wenchow was not an open port, and indeed it was
not until seven years after this date that trading
steamers were permitted to sail up her waters.
On reaching there we got a very hearty welcome
from Mr. Jackson, who had come from Tai-chow to
take charge of Mr. Stott's work during his absence,
but left soon after for his own station. Never shall I
forget the amount of excitement my presence caused ;
daily crowds of women came to see the first foreign
lady who had been in their midst, and when I ven-
tured out, it seemed as if the whole city was gathered
to see me. At first I only went out in a sedan-chair,
but the bearers were compelled to stand still while
they looked at the strange object. Nor did they get
easily over their curiosity. For a long time I was a
strange thing to them, as if hardly human.
My first year in China was full of trial, being the
ever memorable year of the " Tien-tsin Massacre." It
was long after the event before we got details of
that horrible crime. The natives seemed to know
all about it before we did, and very soon the city
was placarded with the vilest reports about us.
They said that at Tien-tsin all the foreigners had
been killed or driven out of the place, because
"IN DUE SEASON'' 17
they kidnapped and murdered children, taking out
their eyes, heart, and liver to compound into medi-
cine. The same evil deeds were being done in this
city. "Was it not known that we pretended to
keep a school ? " " Was it not true that so many
children were missing ? " " Had not some seen barrels
in which were salted down babies ? " " What was
hard at Tien-tsin, was easy here, for there were but
two ; drive out the pests and let the city be at rest."
Such were some of the expressions of the placards.
For about three months I hardly dared venture out
of the house, and my husband was often met with
stones and vile curses. For a few days there was a
stream of people looking in every conceivable place
for the said barrels ; one of the school-boys was asked
where the missing children were, and when he said it
was all nonsense and lies, they said he had eaten the
foreign medicine and would not tell. For a time my
husband felt very anxious ; if he had been alone he
could have braved it, but the responsibility of another
life seemed to weigh upon him.
One day he asked what I thought of a plan to
leave for a few days in a junk, hoping when we
returned all would be quiet. I saw it was on my
account he made this suggestion, and when I
answered that I feared if we left we might never get
back again, and that I would rather stay and trust
the Lord, he felt quite relieved. Through the Lord's
3
i8 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
mercy we weathered that and many another storm ;
indeed, we got so used to threatening placards
and having the day of our death posted up, which
passed by as quietly as other days, that we began to
feel less anxious about their threats. But in the
midst of this time of suffering we were not without
encouragement. Mr. Stott wrote in September, 1870,
to a dear friend :
" Since I wrote you last, we have met with a few
cheering circumstances. One came at a time when I
was feeling cast down a little about the work. Owing
to the massacre at Tien-tsin, we were in trouble and
could not get out, and very few were coming in.
One day a man came from the neighbouring pre-
fecture, and said he wanted to see me. He told me
he had been in company with a man who was a
member here, and had heard him speak stones of
Jesus Christ and of the God who created the
heavens and the earth, and sent His Son to die for
sinners ; that they read the Bible every night to-
gether, and prayed to God to pardon and redeem
them, and that he believed the ' doctrine ' of Jesus
and trusted on His merits for salvation, and that three
or four others also believed. These I have never seen,
but the man, who was a pedlar, and was in the city
a few days refilling his pack, attended our evening
worship every night, but has now gone again to
pursue his business ; also two of the boys are taking
"IN DUE SEASON" 19
an interest in the truth ; their minds are expanding
and they most readily understand the Scriptures.
Thus often the Lord encourages us even in our
darkest moments, though not always does the fruit,
which seems so promising at the time, mature."
CHAPTER III
' They that make them are like unto them ; so is every one that
trusteth in them." PSA. cxv. 8.
ANOTHER letter, dated March, 1871, describing
idol worship and processions, gives some idea
how excited the people get at such a time :
" It is difficult to give information of idol worship,
although I witnessed it daily, and idol processions
are legion.
" Idols in Wenchow are usually made of a cross
piece of wood to represent the body and arms, other
pieces being fixed for legs ; then on the wood is
twisted straw ropes to bring it as much as possible to
the form required ; on the straw is added clay, laid
on in coats or layers, each having to dry before the
next coat is added, the whole process taking some
months if the idol is a large one ; the outer layer of
clay is put on with much skill and care, as this must
give expression to the countenance, &c. When dry,
the painter smooths the cracks with putty, and
paints in the orthodox fashion of its class. When all
is finished there is generally a dedication feast,
" THEY THAT MAKE THEM" 21
according to the rank of the idol ; then it is estab-
lished. The idol is first worshipped at the feast of
its dedication, and according to the merits it is said
to possess. The worshipper brings two small candles
and lights them on the altar with a few sticks of
incense. After placing them on the altar, he kneels
on the kneeboard (I have seen very many kneel, go
through a course of bowing, and then turn round for
their pipe, light it composedly at the burning candle,
sit, and enjoy asmoke on the kneeboard) ; a few more
prostrations, and the affair is over. Processions are
generally got up in honour of some festival. There
are shops where all the fixings are kept, and they
usually contract for so many articles, according to the
money they are able to raise, and only those streets
get the procession through which can afford to contri-
bute well. All the beauties in the neighbourhood wear
their gala dresses, and come and sit in their doors, or
at the street crossing, to see and be seen. The proces-
sion is usually preceded by a band of boys gaudily
dressed, bearing banners of gay and fantastic shapes,
then a band of musicians, making the most un-
musical, hideous sounds. A kind of pipe is con-
spicuous, but the universal gong is the most pro-
minent, and pours forth a torrent of sound almost
deafening. Then comes the idol seated in an
enormous sedan-chair carried by many bearers, the
people kneeling and worshipping as it passes. I
22 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
have seen the bearers streaming with perspiration
under a vertical sun, and when it was set down
wiping their tanned faces and falling on their knees
before the disgusting object that was wasting their
strength."
We lived at first in a small three-roomed Chinese
house, having only the three upper rooms for our-
selves a bedroom, my husband's study, and the
centre our living-room. The rooms below were the
bedrooms of the schoolboys. We had then a fairly
decent man for a cook, but utterly untaught ; my
husband had existed on any kind of food they could
provide, and suffered much from indigestion as the
result. An amusing incident could be related of his
experiences during this time ; once being tired of
rice three times a day, he asked his cook if he could
not make him some cakes for breakfast. He beamed
encouragingly, and next morning there were hot
cakes ; but, oh ! so solid and hard and with a lump
of fat pork in the centre. Not relishing this, and yet
not willing to discourage budding genius, he waited
till all had gone to bed that night, and abstracted
from the tiny larder all the pork that could be found.
Next morning the hot cakes came as before. What
could be in the centre this time ? There was no
pork in the house ; the very suspiciously white mass
was found to be nothing more hurtful than a piece of
turnip. After that cakes were given up.
"THEY THAT MAKE THEM" 23
Instead of sitting down quietly and learning the
language, as I would have liked, I had to put my
house in order, which was not to be done in a day ;
the cook had to be taught how to cook, and the
coolie had to be taught how to wash and iron clothes,
clean, scrub, &c. Thanks to the early training of a
careful grandmother, these things were not much of
a trouble to me, except in the matter of bread-
making ; time after time I tried to produce bread
without yeast, following the recipes of cookery books,
with the result that the bread might have done for
hearthstones, but not for food. My husband en-
couraged me by saying it had a good taste, though
it was a little hard ; but for his patience I would
probably have given up long before success crowned
my efforts.
Some of my experiences in those early days were
both trying and amusing. I remember one day,
after having spent the morning teaching the coolie
how to wash clothes, I had put a boilerful on to
boil, and telling him not to touch them till I came
back, I retired for an hour's rest. On returning I
lifted the lid of the boiler, when to my horror I saw
dark blue water and my clothes dyed dark ; the
coolie thought it a good opportunity of putting in
his blue calico shirt, which was more lively than com-
fortable Of course my work had to be done all over
again
24 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
I found not only the school-children's clothing but
my husband's claimed my attention. He had been
put to some queer straits in his efforts to keep his
stockings mended. Of course no native knew how
to mend such things, and he had nearly as little
idea himself. One day, while looking in his box for
something to fill up a large hole, he spied a dress-
coat which he had brought from England with him.
It was useless as it was, so he thought it would do for
mending ; cutting off one of the tails and spreading
it on the floor, he put his foot on the top, made a
chalk mark all round, leaving a good flap to turn
over. It was a good evening's work, and when I
ruthlessly cut off the feet of the said stockings he
boasted they had lasted two years. The coat after-
wards was given to his teacher, and, though minus
a tail, kept him warm for several years under his
Chinese garment. Flannels, too, were in a sad condi-
tion ; of course they did not know how to wash such
things. When I asked how they came to be this
peculiar colour (a greenish yellow), he explained
that the first time they were washed the coolie had
put them into a tub, and poured the thick muddy
water of the river over them, thus leaving them for
a day or two ; when washed and returned to Mr.
Stott the hardness suggested a shaking, when the
clouds of dust almost blinded him.
With so many other duties it was not to be ex-
"THEY THAT MAKE THEM" 25
pected that I could learn the language very fast. 1
was distressed after nearly two years to find, though
able to speak enough for household matters, I was
unable to teach the gospel to the women who almost
daily visited me. My husband had engaged a
Christian woman at Ning-po to help me in caring
for the schoolboys ; she loved to go with her hymn-
book and New Testament visiting among the women.
I was too ignorant at the time to know how little her
Ning-po dialect was understood by our Wenchow
women ; perhaps it was well I did not know, for it
comforted me greatly to do her work, while I sent
her out daily to teach the poorer women around of
the Saviour's love.
My health, too, suffered much from the climate ;
the second year I had a very severe illness, which
nearly cost me my life. One day, while in a very
low condition, my husband was called away to save
a man who had eaten opium ; he was loth to leave
me, too weak to make my wants known to others,
but I urged him to go, for I was sorely tried by
the thought that I was hindering instead of helping
him, as I so longed to do. He had been gone,
perhaps, about an hour. It was a hot day in July,
and I suppose partly from the heat and partly from
my weakness I fainted ; when I recovered conscious-
ness my bed was surrounded on all sides by school-
boys, teachers, and servants who had come to wail
26 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
thinking I was dead. One had run off for Mr. Stott,
and meeting him on the way back, cried : " Oh,
master, come back ; mistress is dead ! " Hoping it
might be only a faint, he hurried home and found
me restored to consciousness. I remember so well,
when able to sit up a little, how I longed for two
things, either of which I thought would make me
well the sight of one of my countrywomen, or a
little beef-tea, neither of which were within my reach.
In those days we were not well off in the matter of
food ; we had but little communication with the out-
side world except by letter. Once in two years we
took a holiday, when we brought in necessary stores
to last us the next two years, for in the city of
Wenchow we could neither get beef or mutton, milk,
potatoes, or butter.
But these were by no means our greatest hardships ;
the indifference of the people affected us more than
our surroundings. After the second year I had the
servants trained, so that I could give most of my
time to missionary work. I began first by visiting
in their homes, and everywhere I was well received,
being a curiosity to be looked and wondered at.
They thought it strange I should speak their
language, but they had little heart for my message.
Alas ! they did not know they needed a Saviour.
About this time my husband and Mr. Jackson, who
had joined us about the end of my first year, rented
"THEY THAT MAKE THEM" 27
a large shop in the busy part of the city for a chapel ;
they fitted up one part of it as a bookshop, and a
native preacher sat daily selling books and preaching
to all who might come in, and in the afternoon the
large chapel was thrown open, when either my
husband or Mr. Jackson preached. At first crowds
came to hear, but after a time they dropped off,
and the ones and the twos who really wanted to
be taught came to listen. An extract from Mr.
Stott's letter describes the kind of crowd he often
had to deal with :
" When the gates are opened, in rushes every one
near street strollers and loungers, rowdies, travelling
tradesmen of all kinds, hawkers crying out their
wares, conjurors, fortune-tellers, musicians, thieves
and beggars ; the shaven pate of a Bhuddist priest,
the cowl of the Touist priest may also be seen, and
the noise is almost beyond description. I assure you
it is no easy task to arrest or keep the attention of
such a crowd, and it is a great strain upon the lungs
and intellect, as I have proved yesterday by experi-
ence. In the forenoon I kept nearly every eye fixed,
every mouth open, and every tongue quiet for more
than three-quarters of an hour, while I told them of
the origin of sin, its effects, and salvation through
our Redeemer. Many listened attentively all the
time ; the greater portion flit about, go and come,
and never sit down. My daily prayer is that our
28 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
chapel may be the birthplace of many souls. Yester-
day far more than a thousand people heard ; it takes
long for them to understand, but by God's blessing
we are giving ' line upon line ' as they are able to
receive it."
About the same time he refers to the conversion
of the two eldest boys in the school ; they, with two
other boys, were baptized soon after. A letter written
by these boys to the same friend, who had shown
them much kindness, is here inserted, and may be
interesting as a specimen of Chinese composition :
"Honoured and respected Sir, We, the under-
mentioned boys, in the tenth moon and twenty-
seventh day received a letter from you, which our
teacher, Mr. Stott, translated for us. You have for
a long time shown us much kindness, and your kind
exhortations to us are very good.
"We Wenchow boys, although the road is very
long, seem so near as almost to eat with you at the
same table ; we cannot thank you enough for the
interest you take in us.
" In the first place, we want to thank you for the
beautiful pictures you sent us, although in themselves
not of infinite value, yet they manifest a loving heart.
Also you continually pray for us ignorant boys, that
in school we may increase knowledge and continue
in good bodily condition ; also that in reading the
*
H
rt -
ffl 'J3
il
^ (1)
ii c^
l-g
" c
OJ
II
"THEY THAT MAKE THEM" 29
Bible we may understand and know about God. We
also do a little at the books of the native sages, and
are able to understand somewhat, because you pray
for us, but your very humble servants know but
little of propriety ; we also forget your grace, and
have no grace to give you in return ; our faces are
like brass, and our necks stiff as iron forgive us.
" By the grace of God in the former part of this
year a chapel was opened in the Five Horse Street,
and very many have heard the gospel. At first they
were very noisy and understood but little, now there
is a great difference for the better ; they are willing
to sit quietly and listen. To preach is also far less
difficult. Also, before we removed, our sleeping
rooms were much hampered ; but we are better here
the rooms are large and can accommodate five or
six easily : no matter how many come, there is room.
" At worship we every morning and evening read
the Scriptures and pray to God. At present in the
mornings we are reading the Book of Jeremiah the
prophet of God, how the Lord sent him to the King
of Judah with a message ; but the king would not
listen to him, but hardened his heart, and disgraced
the prophet by putting him into a dungeon ; but the
Lord vindicated His servant, and manifested His
power by punishing that king and his people. At
evening worship we are reading the fifth book of
the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles ; we
30 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
are at the ninth chapter, where Saul persecuted the
disciples of Jesus. He was fierce as a lion, and
intended to eat up the disciples, by means of a
letter from the authorities at Jerusalem ; but on the
way to Damascus he met the Lord, who changed his
heart, and from that day till the day of his death he
served the Lord. The mystery of God we are unable
to understand, but we are sincere in our worship. We
pray that the grace of God may be abundantly to
you, and yours, to all generations.
" P.S. When you see errors in our writing or our
composition, pass lightly over, and don't laugh at us,
for we are already ashamed of ourselves.
" Written at the school-house of Wenchow, tenth
moon, twenty-seventh day.
"SENG Si NYU,
"TSIU DIE CHENG,
" For all the rest."
Mr. Stott writes : " There are many things to give
trouble and anxiety ; it is not all smooth sailing, nor
yet all success. If we were to sum up our defeats,
I am sure it would be easy for me to show ten failures
for one success." In writing of the difficulties of
sustained teaching, he adds : " When the novelty
of reading or speaking God's Word wears off*, it
needs a strong hold within the veil to sustain us ;
only close living and walking with God can do this,
" THEY THAT MAKE THEM " 31
and my experience leads me to the conclusion that
it can only be got or maintained by living, active
faith and prayer real prayer, the soul grappling
like Jacob, getting strength, not weakness, from the
struggle."
In November, 1871, we had an interesting case
of conversion that of a Bhuddist priest. After he
had believed the truth he left his monastery, returned
to his native village, and began farm work. He was
most earnest in telling all whom he met of the God
who had saved him, and we had hoped for fresh
openings through his efforts ; but only a few months
after his baptism, while on his way to join us in a
communion service, his boat was overturned in a
storm, and our brother, with twenty-eight others,
found a watery grave. It is to this man Mr. Stott
refers in the following :
" Last night three elderly men from the country
remained to inquire further about the ' doctrine/ and
seemed in earnest. Our friend, the Bhuddist priest,
has come, and begs not to be sent away again with-
out baptism. He says that in and round his village
twenty-eight people believe the gospel, and have
turned from idolatry. That statement must be modi-
fied, and perhaps really means that about that number
acquiesce in what he says about worshipping idols,
and of the only living and true God ; but allowing
it to be modified, there is still a good margin in his
32 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
favour. If he has faithfully told twenty-eight persons
all he knows, that is something. He says he is
known for ten miles round as the turncoat priest."
Two years later there was another interesting case
of a man who had been a priest all his life, and was
over seventy when he first heard the gospel ; he
attended more or less regularly for two or three
years, and then asked to be baptized ; but was told
he could not be a follower of Christ while wearing
the priestly garb, and living on the gains of idolatry.
This was a sore disappointment ; he was an old man,
unable to work, and had no other means of livelihood.
This was a case we longed to help, but feared the
result upon the young church. He continued in the
temple, but got others to perform his priestly duties ;
he was troubled at not being baptized, so one day,
putting on clean garments, he went to a mountain
stream near by, prayed on the bank, then plunged in
and baptized himself. A few days afterwards he met
with one of the Christians, and asked whether he
thought that baptism would do ; but the Christian
was unable to give him any information, never having
heard of such a case before.
It was not long ere we heard of the fruit of this
man's labour. Mr. Stott, writing to a friend a few
months afterwards, says :
" During the last ten days three new inquirers have
come ; one, an old man near seventy, has been a
"THEY THAT MAKE THEM" 33
vegetarian for nearly forty years, and has been to
all the temples in the district worshipping. Lately,
he went to a temple some distance from his home
to burn candles, &c. ; while worshipping, the priest
saw him, and after making sure there was no one to
hear, said, ' Elder brother, I have been a priest for
sixty years, and worshipped these things until two
years ago ; but they never did me any good, and
never will. You, like myself, are an old man, and
must soon die. Come inside and I will tell you
who, and how, to worship.' He then took him into
his room and preached Jesus to him. The question
naturally arose, ' Where did you hear such things ? '
' From the foreigners in the city.' ' From the
foreigners ! ' he exclaimed ; ' why, there is no crime
under heaven but the foreigners have committed,
and they are going to be beheaded one of these
days, if indeed it be not already done.' The priest
assured him that was untrue, and told him he
had been to Wenchow only three days before, and
had listened to the true words of God. The priest
informed him that some tens of good men had
entered the religion, and were going to eternal happi-
ness in heaven; he, too, would have joined them,
but he was too old to earn his rice, and had nothing
to depend on but the temple, and the missionary had
said he could not be a disciple of Jesus and eat the
rice of idols. All this and much more the poor old
4
34 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
priest told him ; also of pardon and peace through
Jesus, God's Son. He died in the temple, but, we
believe, a true disciple."
About this time a man from Dong-ling dropped
in to hear the foreigner. He was interested, and had
a long talk with the native preacher. He had a good
many questions to ask, and returned home to think.
He came again and again, and, after a while, truly
received the truth. He had been told that opium
growing was nearly as bad as opium smoking. He
had some growing in his fields, and his conscience
became troubled. One night he was trying to argue
with himself: he was poor ; it paid better than any-
thing else ; it was too late in the season to grow
wheat ; he would let it alone this year, but give it up
the following. He could not sleep, however ; the
question troubled him more than he liked. At last
he rose by dawn, took his scythe, and cut down
every root of opium. He was baptized soon after,
and, when we visited him two years later, we found
his wife and mother true Christians ; he also con-
ducted morning and evening prayers, when eleven
of his neighbours joined him.
Surely this was an instance of what a sincere heart
and simple eye to God can do. He had but little
ability, but what he had he used for God.
CHAPTER IV
"They imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able
to perform." PSA. xxi. n.
IN April, 1873, Mr. Stott paid his first visit into
the Dong-ling district, and thus writes :
" Last week I made a journey into the country, to
a place distant about twenty miles from here. Two
days before I went to a village about six miles off,
and when I returned I found my pony's back sadly
hurt by the saddle. There was nothing for it but to
rest him for two days and re-stuff my saddle, which
was a difficult job for me. At the time appointed,
accompanied by one of the members, and a man to
carry my bed, I got off pretty early. It was a lovely
spring morning, and the road we had to travel was
beautiful in the extreme. I heard the frogs croaking
for the first time this season ; the oil plant was in full
bloom, filling the air with fragrance ; farmers were
sowing the early rice, and the bamboo groves were
full of the melody of singing birds ; the snakes also
were out sunning themselves, and wriggling their
35
36 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
ugly forms on the sides of the path. After riding
about five miles or so, we struck the foot of the hills,
and after dinner we came to the district we had in
view, and I rode from hamlet to hamlet, preaching
and selling books. The whole district soon turned
out to see and hear, for there had never been a
foreigner in that place before. We could see men in
the fields a mile off throw down their hoes and run
as if for life, and all to see your humble servant. As
we advanced the crowds gathered more thick and
noisy. One cannot judge of the noise of a Chinese
crowd till they have heard one ; nobody listens, but
everybody shouts at the top of his voice, and such
shrill, piercing sounds, no Saxon throat could pro-
duce anything like them.
" I continued preaching until nearly sundown, then
went to the house where we were to pass the night ;
but the scene there would need a livelier pen than
mine to give even an outline of it. At last, almost in
despair, I took my crutch and gave a knock on the
wooden partition, and ordered every tongue to be still
and listen to me. To my surprise I succeeded in getting
them quieted pretty well, and then preached salvation
through Jesus Christ till my throat was sore. Then
the man who carried my bed took up the subject
and showed them that idols made of wood and clay
could not do any one good, and exhorted them all to
worship the only living and true God, who had sent
"A MISCHIEVOUS DEVICE" 37
Jesus Christ, His dear Son, to open the way of
heaven for them, and who is now there interceding
for those who trust Him. Most of the people leu to
get their evening rice, but soon returned in greater
force than ever ; and, though tired and weary, I had
to begin again and preach to a late hour. Then I
asked all to leave and return in the morning, but just
as I was going to bed a deputation from the elders of
the village came, saying that all the wisest of the old
men were in a house near by and wanted a quiet
interview, to hear and see for themselves, for the
youngsters had brought strange news. This was a
rare good chance of speaking for our blessed Saviour,
and lifting up my heart to Him for guidance, He
gave it, and enabled me to speak of His Holy Name.
" I continued for nearly an hour to address four-
teen men, who listened most attentively all the time.
One asked 'how to worship this true God.' I told
him, and knelt on the wet mud floor and prayed for
them all, thanked God for His goodness in giving
them life and food, and asked Him to send the Holy
Spirit to teach them and open their hearts. When I
got up they all were surprised ; some looking at me
with amazement, not knowing what to make of it.
One asked, ' But will God hear you ? ' I answered,
'Your own books tell you that heaven has eyes,
which is true ; would it not be strange if heaven had
eyes and no ears ? ' They all replied, ' True, true.'
38 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
"At a very late hour they left, and I could not
help thanking God for such a golden opportunity of
setting His Name before so many people."
These preaching tours were continued as often as
possible. Sometimes I would accompany him to the
nearer places, but more often I had to remain to look
after home affairs.
Referring to another of these tours, Mr. Stott
writes :
" Some three weeks ago I had an interesting
preaching tour. We visited a good many towns and
villages, and had often over a thousand listeners ;
sometimes we preached from the theatre stand, or in
the village temple, or again, when no good situation
was obtainable, from my horse's back. I had two
Christian natives with me, who also preached in turn.
One, however, lost his voice after the second day,
but the other continued to speak. He could be
heard a quarter of a mile off. I have seldom listened
to a voice equal to his ; perhaps the late lamented
Duncan Matheson's was as good, but Duncan's was a
deep bass, and the native I refer to was a shrill tenor,
and anything but pleasing. However, he preached
Jesus Christ plainly and fully. These stayed about
ten days after I left, and preached in a few other
places.
" I did not feel comfortable in staying away too
long, with Mrs. Stott all alone, and so many people
"A MISCHIEVOUS DEVICE" 39
to look after; but she can get along much better
now, can speak pretty well, and is making good
progress in the Chinese character. She goes out
to visit twice a week, and has a daily class of the
smaller boys, and an advanced Bible-class on Sunday
afternoons. Besides, she takes the entire charge of
the food and clothing of the school ; that, with the
addition of our own affairs and her Chinese studies,
keeps her busy, so that she seldom has an hour to
spare ; but I am thankful to say she is in good health.
" I wish I had time to refer in greater detail to the
many places visited at this time. One, in particular,
struck me as being the most lovely I have ever seen ;
but the people seemed sadly degraded. The village
was situated in a glen of almost horse-shoe shape ; at
the back and sides the hills rose high and abrupt,
assuming almost the aspect of mountains, while on
in front was a long plain, widening as it went. A
beautiful stream ran past the village, which we
crossed ; the gardens seemed full of fruit, oranges,
pomeloes, and pomegranates, all ripening on the
trees. The head family of the village took us in for
the night and treated us well. After supper the
people came crowding in, and I preached to them to
a late hour, while the natives who were with me had
a still larger audience in the reception hall. They
treated me thus kindly because 1 had formerly cured
one of the ladies when ill with fever.
4 o MISSION WORK IN CHINA
" Next morning I was up, had breakfast, and in the
saddle again at sunrise, and made our way to another
village, when the whole population turned out to the
temple yard. I climbed on to the theatre stand and
preached in turn with the native assistant. By and
by the head priest raised some objection to our
preaching in front of the gods. I said if the people
objected I would go somewhere else ; but most cried,
' No, no, stop where you are.' One of the crowd
called out, ' If the priest is not quiet, we will carry
him to the top of the hill and make him fast to a
tree.' That remark caused a good deal of merriment
at the expense of the poor priest, who remained quiet
for the rest of the time. As I wanted to push on
I did not accept the kind hospitality of the village
schoolmaster, who wished to detain me to dinner."
After this quite a number in Dong-ling became
interested, and my husband was invited to go and
preach to them. He did so, with the result that a
little church was formed in the house of one of the
members.
One day Mr. Stott had gone to Dong-ling in the
hope of finding a house he could rent as a chapel.
On the day I expected him home a man came from
there bringing me a large fish as a present, and
saying Mr. Stott had found a place for a chapel, and
had sent him for money to settle the matter. The
present of the fish was a little suspicious. I asked
"A MISCHIEVOUS DEVICE" 41
whether he had not a letter for me, and he said he
had, but on stepping out of the boat it had dropped
into the canal and was lost. A few more questions
revealed the rogue, and as I spoke of sending for
Yamen runners, he ran off, leaving the fish behind
him. A little later my husband returned, and as we
discussed the fish at tea we laughed over the clumsy
attempt at fraud.
I think it was in 1873 or 1874 we were surprised
one morning by a strange man coming in with a
small bundle of bedding on his back. Almost his
first words were, " I have come to stay and be taught
the doctrine." We did not receive people in that
easy fashion, but when my husband sat down to talk
with him he heard a strange story. The man had
been a soldier during the Taiping rebellion. He left
father, mother, and a young wife to serve his country,
and was absent two or three years. During his
absence his wife had died, though his father and
mother were still alive. He had become disgusted
with what he had seen of the world, and had deter-
mined to give himself up to a religious life. What
money he had he spent in purchasing coffins for his
father and mother, and making their graves. Having
fulfilled this filial duty he retired to the hills to lead a
holy life. He built himself a very small hut, with
bed and bedding too short to lie down in, compelling
himself to rest in a sitting posture. He soon got a
42 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
name for sanctity, and the people of the neighbouring
villages brought him presents of food in return for
his prayers. One day a man was passing the house
of a Christian, and on being asked by him where he
was going, replied, "To the hermit with a present."
" Oh," said the Christian ; " wait a moment, I, too,
have a present for him." He brought out a Gospel,
and asking the young man to give it to the holy man
on the hill, went on with his work, probably thinking
no more of the matter. Some days after this the
hermit saw the young man again, and asked where
that book came from. He answered, " I suppose
from the foreigner in Wenchow, but I know little
about it. My neighbour talks about a true God, and
one Jesus Christ ; but I don't understand." The
poor hermit became restless to know something more
about this strange doctrine, and for the first time in
three years he came down the hill and walked to
Wenchow to inquire after the true God. After hearing
his story, my husband invited him to stay with us
for a week, and seeing his diligent study of the Bible
and eagerness to learn, asked him to stay on a few
weeks longer.
One morning, while I was having a Bible-class
with the schoolboys and others who had joined, the
subject being John iii., I saw this man weeping.
My husband took him aside and asked him what was
the matter. He only answered, " My sins, my sins ! "
"A MISCHIEVOUS DEVICE" 43
It was the first time we had seen a Chinaman weep
because of sin, and it thrilled us through and through.
He never returned to the hill again, but in his home
he found too much opposition to contend with, and,
strange to say, though we sent time after time, and
prayed much for him, he never entered into the truth.
After a year or so he led us to understand he did not
care for us to send to him any more, as his parents
did not want him to become a Christian.
But the young man who had carried the book to
him, and of whom we had never thought, began to
wonder what was in that book, to cause the man to
come down from the hill and break his vow of
sanctity. He inquired further into the truth, and,
after a time, was converted, and through him his
father, mother, and aunt became Christians, and are
still in the church.
We had often trials and disappointments through
the duplicity and love of gain, which is so common
in the Chinese character; a man would profess a
most earnest desire for the truth, and seem to hold
it very precious, while all the time his hope was that
he would get employment of some kind. A case in
point was a school teacher, who seemed to be con-
verted, and almost daily would, of his own accord,
stop the boys in their studies to read the Bible and
pray with them. He had been an opium smoker,
but professed to have given it up when he became a
44 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Christian ; but later on he went back to his opium
and gave up all profession of faith in Christ. He
had two boys in school, who, after the usual term of
education, were apprenticed to trades ; for a long
while we lost sight of them, but a few years ago the
eldest of them was truly converted, and is now one
of our volunteer unpaid preachers.
There was another who deceived us for years ; he
had been a fortune-teller, but when he professed to
receive the gospel he gave up everything of the kind,
and seemed to be very earnest in telling his friends
and neighbours the good news. This brought some
persecution upon him, which he bore bravely. At
last they trumped up a case against him ; he was
taken to the Yamen and accused of crimes he had
never committed. The mandarin told him plainly
that if he would renounce this foreign religion he
might be set free ; but he answered, " You may cut
my head off, but I will never renounce the Christian
religion." He was kept in prison for nearly three
months, and we were powerless to help him.
We were much touched by his steadfastness, and
began to think that after all we must be wrong in
our want of confidence in him, for somehow we never
could quite trust him. He farmed his own land, but
spent much of his time in volunteer preaching, so
that through his efforts the work began to grow
much in the Dong-ling district. The question of
" A MISCHIE VO US DE VICE " 45
employing him often came up in our minds, for we
were sorely in need of teachers in those early days,
but this feeling we had, of not being quite sure of our
man, kept my husband from doing so. He grew
tired of waiting, and, after a little agitation, boldly
went over to the Roman Catholics, saying that he
had waited for seven years in the hope of employ-
ment, and that if we would not pay him he would
have nothing to do with us. The Roman Catholics
employed him, and the true character came out in
his determined efforts to upset our work ; he had
brought many of these men into the church, and
meant to take them out if he could, but happily he
had been the means of bringing in better men than
himself, and only a very few halting ones followed
him ; but he was a thorn in our flesh for many years.
About the year 1874 we passed through a series
of difficulties through evil reports ; if there was evil
in the city the foreigner must be at the bottom of
it. A secret society, called the " ring " society, had
sprung up ; Mr. Stott was said to be the head and
moving spirit ; all who chose to join would receive a
gold ring and four dollars, but they would be pledged
to do all in their power to upset the present govern-
ment. Mr. Stott was pestered for gold rings and
dollars, and one day, making sure that an applicant
knew what he was doing, and was ready for any
villainy, he felt the time had come to put a stop to
46 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
it. Sending his card to the Yamen, he asked them
to take charge of the man and to inquire into the
case. Two Yamen runners were at once sent, and
before they had taken him outside the gate they had
possessed themselves of his best garments and hat.
After a few days my husband requested the man
might be set at liberty, and we were no more troubled
with the " ring " society.
An uneasy feeling was all over the city at this
time. A band had been organised amongst the hills
for a raid upon the city. They were known to be
strong, and of course the foreigner was said to be
at the head. It had been working for months. The
authorities took alarm, and sent to Tai-chow for
troops. Cannons were placed upon the city walls,
the gates closed each night at sunset, and a mandarin
placed upon guard until daybreak. We knew our
name was connected with this uprising, but we had
passed through so many storms of the kind that my
husband and Mr. Jackson left me, as usual, to visit
the out-stations, and expected to be away nearly a
fortnight. They had only been gone a few days,
when the school teacher came to me in great alarm,
and said the city was posted with violent placards.
Mr. Stott, they said, had gone to train and organise
the band, while I was taking in large quantities of
rice in order to feed them when they came. The
teacher said there was great danger of an attack upon
"A MISCHIEVOUS DEVICE" 47
us, and urged me to write to the mandarin and
request protection. I thought and prayed over the
matter, and finally decided to wait patiently the
return of my husband. In answer to prayer they
came home four or five days earlier than expected.
Mr. Stott at once wrote the authorities denying these
statements, stating we were quiet and peaceable
people, bent only on preaching peace to all men, and
that we had nothing to do with any kind of society,
and asking for a proclamation to this effect. This
the mandarin granted, but his proclamations were
no sooner up than they were torn down, or bespattered
with mud. The people seemed bent on mischief,
and we were warned by friendly neighbours we had
better leave. But how could we leave the few sheep
we had gathered in from the wilderness ? They did
not know the heart of the Shepherd.
At last things got so threatening that our servants
were warned to leave us ; an attack, they said, had
been decided upon for the following Tuesday, and if
they did not go they would probably share our fate.
So on the Saturday our two servants, and the woman
who looked after the boys, said they must leave us
that day. My husband called me downstairs to tell
me the sorrowful news. It was evident the servants
were frightened, and I thought we should be better
without timid people about us. Our coolie had
recently professed conversion, and it was a bitter
48 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
disappointment that he should leave us in our hour
of need. We had expected the hatred of the heathen,
but not the desertion of the Christian. Without
expressing any regret we offered him his wages
with the others, but he refused to take them, saying
he would be back in a week. "Yes, after we are
killed, or the danger over," were the words that arose
in my heart. But I was soon to be ashamed of such
unkind thoughts, for in about an hour he returned and
begged to be allowed to stay. The others returned
a week later, when they saw we were still alive.
This coolie had rather a hasty temper, which
sometimes brought him into trouble. One evening,
while we were at prayer, we could hardly hear our
own voices for the noise of quarrelling downstairs.
Mr. Stott went to see what was the matter, and
found the coolie and one of the elder boys had
quarrelled. He spoke seriously to them, remarking
that it was very sad, after all the teaching, that we
should be disturbed while in prayer by their ^quarrels.
The coolie hastily produced the horsewhip ; putting
it in front of Mr. Stott, and himself in position for
whipping, he remarked, " I am the one most to blame,
whip me." He was told he must go to God to seek
and find forgiveness ; and this, I have no doubt, he
did, but he seemed disappointed that he was not
whipped also.
Of course I had all the housework to do in the
"A MISCHIEVOUS DEVICE" 49
meantime. We were not, however, without real
anxiety, for there was no doubt that an attack upon
the city was intended, and we knew if the robbers
came we should suffer both at their hands and at
the hands of the enraged people, who looked upon
us as the cause of all their suffering. So we made
a few private plans. A long rope was secured and
kept in a convenient place ; this was to let us over
the city wall, where we could fly towards the sea.
But we hardly knew what to do with a few of our
school boys who had no homes. A friendly neighbour
promised that he would give us the first alarm, so
that we might have time to escape. One midnight
a terrific knocking at the gate aroused us from our
first sleep. In a moment we were on the verandah
listening breathlessly to know what it could be. The
man who had promised to tell us of the first danger
rushed in crying, " Mr. Stott, get away as soon as
you can ; the insurgents have broken in the west gate,
trampled upon the mandarin, and are now making
their way through the city." My husband went
down to gather our people together, to see who
would go with us to share our uncertain fate, but
first he despatched a messenger to find out if the
news were really true. Downstairs they were having
prayer, commending us all to God, while I was
upstairs preparing for flight. It was warm weather,
so I only had to roll a flannel coat for my husband
5
50 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
and a thin gown for myself, which made a very small
parcel, tying twenty dollars round my waist, and
putting the rest into a bag tied to the neck of a
bottle in which were secured the title-deeds of the
house, intending to sink them into the well. These
few preparations being completed I went downstairs,
rope in one hand and small bundle in the other.
Even to this sad picture there was a ludicrous side,
for we were gravely asked by one of the elder boys
" what were we going to do with the furniture ? "
The messenger returned saying the news was true,
and we had better get off as soon as possible ; but
I knew from the short time I had been upstairs it
was impossible for him to have been to the west gate
and back : I suggested to Mr. Stott to ask him, and
he acknowledged that he had not, but all the city
was talking about it. He was again despatched,
with orders to run all the way, and, if true, to run
back with all haste, and we might still have time to
escape. Oh, what a long, long time it seemed ; every
moment was precious, and might mean life to us.
At last he returned, only to say it was a false alarm ;
a band of thieves had spread the report, and when
the poor people, panic-stricken, ran from their houses,
they went in and helped themselves. We thanked
God, went to bed, and slept soundly till morning.
During those early years it seemed impossible to
live without offence before the people. For instance,
"A MISCHIEVOUS DEVICE" 51
my husband built a chimney, and though not very
high, immediately it was conjectured to be a signalling
apparatus to communicate with steamers ; a neigh-
bour's child took ill and died, and the unfortunate
chimney was found to be the cause. A deputation
waited upon us to request that the chimney should be
pulled down ; this was done, but soon afterwards
some one else in the neighbourhood took ill, and the
cause this time was found to be my husband's stable
that, too, must come down. My husband explained
that he could not afford the expense, but as it was
for their own benefit they were at liberty to pull down
the obnoxious thing and rebuild any shape they
approved at their own expense. This settled the
question, and the poor horse's stable was left un-
touched. Another time, while Mr. Stott was preach-
ing in the chapel to a large and seemingly attentive
audience, he happened to look at his watch, when a
man asked, "What is that he is looking at ? " The reply
was, " A kind of hocus-pocus instrument whereby he
can tell how many are to be hocussed by his preach-
ing, and when they are hocussed to the desired
number and extent he will stop." Mr. Stott knew
nothing of this till some time afterwards when, going
into the country, he found the whole place full of the
absurd story.
CHAPTER V
" Our Lord is above all gods." PSA. cxxxv. 5.
IT was about this time my husband sent a preacher
to open up work in the city of Bing-yie. As
usual, crowds came to listen at first, but soon dropped
off, and he, feeling rather lonely, asked that some one
might be sent to help him. We had no one to send,
so my husband sent a Christian schoolboy, named
Z-niie, thirteen years of age, for a few months to keep
him company. One day the lad entered into a
heathen temple ; he could not see worshippers,
but at every shrine there were lighted candles and
incense, showing some one had been there. Turning
round, he saw an old man just finishing his obeisance
to the last of the numerous gods, and as he sat down
to rest the lad addressed him. " Venerable grand-
father," said he, "why do you worship these idols?
They are made of clay, and can neither see, hear,
or help you. Indeed they cannot help themselves,
for see, some of their fingers are broken off, and
52
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 53
others have had the hair of their moustachios stolen
by rats. Rats do not steal the hair of your moustache :
why ? Because you are a living man. How foolish,
then, to worship these things which even the rats may
rob with impunity. Not only so ; do not the rats
make their nests inside these very idols ? " The old
man sighed, and said, " What am I to do ? " The
lad then told him of the God in heaven, and of Jesus
Christ His Son, and the way of salvation that had
been provided for " whosoever will."
The old man listened with great astonishment, he
had never heard such wisdom. As he was deeply
interested, he was invited to the chapel to hear more
from the preacher. He not only came himself, but
brought his old wife ; and after a time they both
became truly converted, and for years led godly,
consistent lives. The aged couple are now in
glory.
This young lad, who was converted when he was
about twelve, afterwards became an earnest and suc-
cessful preacher in this very city of Bing-yie. I
remember Mr. Stott, in speaking, before sending him
out on his first mission, told him he was to preach
Christ, and to leave idolatry and their idols and idol
customs alone ; for as soon as truth entered into their
heart the other would soon go out. After talking for
some time he asked the boy if he understood what he
meant. He said," Yes ; you mean like this : the people
54 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
are now living in an old tumbled-down hut, and you
don't want me to pull this down about their ears.
I am, as it were, to build a beautiful house, furnished
with all good things, and then invite them to leave
their old broken-down hut and enter into their new
possession." That young man laboured earnestly,
preaching often in the open air ; by and by consump-
tion manifested itself, and in spite of all our efforts,
so precious, and as it seemed to us so necessary, a
life in the early stage of our work, ended. He died,
twenty-five years of age. That was a great loss to
the young church, for he had been well taught and
trained by Mr. Stott.
In 1872, our cook, who was baptized the day after
our marriage, married a heathen girl. We were
grieved, yet what could we do ? To insist that the
Christians should marry " only in the Lord M was practi-
cally to forbid marriage, seeing there were no Christian
women within seven days' journey of them. The
influence of the heathen wife was soon apparent, first
in coldness of heart, then in utter indifference to
spiritual things, and before two years were over we
had to dismiss him from the church. This led us to
see something must be done to supply the great need
of Christian wives for our Christian young men, if we
would have a strong and healthy church. So after much
prayer and thought on the subject we decided to
commence a girls' boarding-school. There were many
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 55
difficulties in the way ; we had no suitable accommo-
dation for girls ; then we determined we would have
no bound feet, and that we knew would probably pre-
vent our getting the kind of girls we wanted. Some
other schools had felt it necessary to continue this
evil practice, because of this very difficulty ; and
one school that I knew oi had found it very hard to
contend against this almost universal - custom. But
we felt the importance of being pioneers, and were
anxious to begin on a solid basis, that others could
build upon. It was better we should fight these
questions at first, rather than start on easier lines and
have the battle to face later on. We therefore gave
out that we were prepared to take in a few girls under
ten years of age, that we should feed, clothe and
educate them free of expense to their parents, but
we should require that their feet be unbound, and
that we should have the right to betroth them to those
whom we thought fit persons, and that the parents
should have no power to betroth them without our
consent.
At this time we only had one old woman in the
church, and she was the first to bring me her grand-
daughter. I explained clearly that her feet would
be unbound. To this and the other rules she cheer-
fully consented. The child was a dear little thing,
nine years of age, and being the only one, I had her
with me a good deal and of course became very fond
56 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
of her. When the parents saw this, they thought the
time had come to make a fuss about her feet. They
seemed to think I should be sure to give way rather
than lose the pretty little thing that was so winning ;
so one day a message was brought to me that the
child's mother had been crying night and day, for
some time ; that she was then tearing her hair, be-
moaning the fate of her child who should grow up
with feet like a man ; she would never get a husband,
for who would care for a girl with large feet ? She
therefore requested me to send her home, as she
would rather beg from door to door than see her
daughter so disgraced. I told the messenger they had
brought her of their own free will ; they understood
our terms, and had agreed to them ; that if they
wanted her back they must come and fetch her : but
first they must pay me the expenses of food and
clothing, the amount which I had expended upon her.
Of course they were unable to do this, and as I was
firm they unwillingly gave in, and so our first battle
against foot-binding was fought and won.
Still there was a great difficulty in getting girls,
owing to this question, and for several years we had
to be content with four, two of whom we certainly
would not have received later on when our position
was established and the benefits of the school mani-
fested.
The girls' school has now been in existence twenty-
c/)
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 57
two years, and has proved a great blessing to the
church. The girls have had a thoroughly practical
training, and most of them become Christian workers
after they leave school. During the last ten years,
twenty-two girls have been married, three only of
whom have left school unconverted. There are seven
or eight of our married girls who take regular classes
among women and children. For nearly ten years
we saw but little spiritual fruit, two or three professed
to believe on Jesus, but there was no corresponding
power or change in their lives. Our Bible-readings
seemed the most wearisome part of the day to them,
and they appeared to have no spiritual perception.
For the first few years, while the children were young,
I did not feel the burden, perhaps, as heavily as I ought
to have done ; but as years passed on I became
almost desperate. Many a time I have gone from the
school to my room with literal tears, sobbing, " Will
these girls never be saved ? " But in 1 884 the Lord
was pleased to visit us with a very gracious revival.
There was no indication of the coming blessing,
save that the elder girls were more attentive than
usual with the Bible lessons. One morning in June
we were sitting as usual at our work, the elder girls
a little apart with their needlework, while I was sur-
rounded by a group of little ones whom I was teaching
to sew and knit. The quiet was suddenly disturbed
by the eldest girl saying : " Teacher, do you think if I
58 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
came to Christ now, He would save me?" I looked
at the girl, there was an expression of earnestness on
her face I never had seen before. She continued,
" You have often urged me to come to Christ, but I
have never been willing ; will He take me now ? " I
could hardly speak for the joy that welled up in my
heart. I answered, " Oh, yes," and began to tell her
of my own conversion when I was two years younger
than she. While I spoke, she burst into tears, and
with a cry and sob ran from the room. I could
contain myself no longer, but with tears of joy I ran
into my husband's study, and cried : " Blessing is
coming at last ; Ah-mai is seeking the Lord." We knelt
together to pour out our thanksgiving, after which I
returned to the girls. I found Ah-mai in her room.
We knelt together by her bed while I asked God to
have mercy upon her soul, to save her then and there ;
and thinking it best to leave her alone for a time, I
returned to the schoolroom. Two other girls were
sobbing, and when I asked what was the matter they
answered, " We are such sinners." I called them up-
stairs, that I might quietly point them to the Saviour,
but their distress was so great they could hardly
listen.
One sobbed, "You don't know how bad I have
been," and going to her cupboard she took out pieces
of calico and little odds and ends I had given them
to mend their clothes with, also one hundred cash
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 59
(about fourpence) ; she put these into my hand and
said : " Take them away ; they are not mine, I stole
them." She explained that she had purloined little
bits of material, &c., and with them had made little
stomachers, and the hundred cash was the money she
had received for them. The whole thing was of very
little value, yet I did not wish her to think lightly of
sin. I reminded her that Christ had saved a thief
once.
The other girl said : " I have been worse than
that. Do you remember, years ago, losing your silver
brooch ? Search was made, and it was found under
Ah-yung's pillow ; everybody thought she had taken
it, but I stole it, and fearing to be found out, I put it
there." I did feel indignant, and asked how she
could stand by and see me punish an innocent child.
I was so grieved I scarce knew what to say, but felt
the first thing was to put this right with the one who
had suffered. Assembling the whole school, and
calling the little one to me, I asked if she remembered
my having punished her a few years before for steal-
ing a brooch ? The child did not remember anything
about it. I tried to refresh her memory, but it was no
use, she had completely forgotten the circumstance.
I told her how grieved I was I had accused her, but
had done so ignorantly ; it was nevertheless a wrong,
and in presence of the school I asked her to forgive
me.
60 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Quite a number of little eyes twinkled that morn-
ing ; it was the first time their teacher had to confess
to them her wrong-doing, and they rather enjoyed
it. I then told the guilty girl that I had made all
the reparation I could, and it was for her to find
out in what way she could repair her fault. I was
pleased afterwards to hear that she had given the
little girl the whole of her month's money in compen-
sation, but that the child generously returned half.
In a few days those three were clearly and dis-
tinctly converted, and in three weeks afterwards
three more. One girl had already left the school to
be married, and was still unsaved. As soon as the
others were converted themselves they began in
earnest to pray for this one ; I was delighted when
they asked me to join them in prayer. The follow-
ing Sunday one of the newly converted girls took the
opportunity to speak to her, and told her how we
were praying she might be saved. She answered
carelessly, " It is no use, my heart is cold and hard ; I
do not seem even to care to be saved." The follow-
ing Saturday they asked if, in company with another
Christian, they might visit her ; and on their return
they almost rushed into my study, calling out breath-
lessly, " Sy-mo, our eldest sister is saved." My hus-
band just coming in, and hearing only the last word,
called, " Wait, I want to hear too." They then told us
that the Sunday before, after the services, she had
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 61
gone home in such heaviness of heart, and asked the
Lord why she, the eldest of the number, should be so
hard of heart? She said, while she prayed, light
broke upon her, and she believed her sins were
washed away. She was baptized some months after-
wards, but I am sorry to say she has not turned out
a satisfactory Christian. Her husband, though a
believer, is somewhat trying in temper, and want of
harmony at home has led to coldness on the part of
both.
Since then there have been periodical revivals, at
which time three, four, or five have been converted ;
and only three have left the school unsaved for these
we still pray.
During the second gracious revival amongst the
girls, which took place in about two or three years
after the first, when four more were converted, our
coolie's wife was also saved. He had come to us
almost destitute, but with diligent work and careful-
ness he saved enough to get a wife, and as he had no
home for her, he asked if she might live in his room
for a few months, to which I consented. She was a
young girl, only fifteen, quiet and diligent, and the
six months turned into many years, for they are still
here with their five children, the three eldest in our
schools. For about three years this young woman
seemed very indifferent to the gospel ; she attended
the services because she lived inside, and all vejre.
62 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
expected to do so ; but at this time she became
deeply concerned about sin, and one day, while in the
act of washing clothes, it seemed as though a horror
of darkness came over her. She left her work, went to
Mrs. Liii, and begged her to pray that God would
forgive her sins. For two or three days she con-
tinued in an anxious state of soul, and then, yielding
herself to Christ, she rejoiced in the knowledge of
salvation.
In 1873 Mr. Jackson was married in Ning-po, and
in due time brought his young wife to Wenchow.
We had by that time got possession of the three
lower rooms as well as the three upper, and for some
months they lived with us. Mrs. Jackson's ill-health,
however, called them away to Tai-chow, and later on
to Ning-po, and when they returned, nearly a year
after, they were able to rent a house in another part
of the city. It was a great comfort to have another
lady here, and we had no small fellowship one with
another. They had to leave again and again for ill-
health, but when it became necessary for us to take
a furlough they willingly took the responsibility of
the boys' and girls' school, and the little church
which had been formed. Mrs. Jackson died in Sep-
tember, 1878, leaving a little girl only nine days old.
The boys' school had given a good deal of en-
couragement, not so much in the numbers converted
,as the character of the converts ; and at this time
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 63
Die-chang and two others were preachers. Mr. Stott,
writing a little earlier, says, " Si-niie is now nineteen
years of age, and is at present acting teacher, as I
have lent the school-teacher to Mr. Jackson to assist
him in his difficulties in Chu-chow. Si-niie is a smart
lad, a good scholar, and understands the Scriptures
well, but I hardly expect him to equal Tsiu-die-chang
(who is now in charge of the station at Bing-yie
as a preacher) ; he speaks at times with almost burn-
ing earnestness, enough to persuade any one of the
truth. Si-niie is bashful and proud, and needs very
careful treatment, but there is a good deal of capital
material in him. I have heard him several times in
hot discussions with literary men ; he can patter off
the native classics glibly, and turn many passages
against their silly notions with biting power. A
younger boy, Z-nue, is nearly sixteen years of age,
has been a member of the church about three years,
and has all through behaved in a Christ-like manner.
He is highly esteemed by the members for his con-
sistent life ; he is very quiet, but ever ready, and
seldom fails to establish himself in the good graces
of the people he speaks to. I expect him to be a
successful evangelist ; often when school is over,
instead of going to amuse himself with the others, he
has gone out with a bundle of books and tracts to
the crowded thoroughfares to sell. Would that they
were more deeply taught by the Spirit of God, and
64 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
lived nearer to the fountain of all heat and light and
love."
A letter from Si-nlie written to a friend mentioned
before may prove interesting. Translated by Mr.
Stott.
" In the year of grace 1874, first moon : Because
I have formerly heard that for a long time you
have been writing letters to Wenchow to inquire
about the welfare of the boys ; but we have hardly
courage to receive your messages, for we are un-
worthy of them, but your kindness and love abound,
it is beyond our understanding. Not only this, but
many beautiful pictures you have sent for us. All
who have seen them admire them ; your kindness [lit.
grace] is deep as the sea and heavy as the hills. The
boys would like to go to your place and thank you
personally before your face, but the way is long, seas
and hills and impassable barriers intervene, therefore
we are unable to come. Also we are so unworthy,
that it would be presumption in us to appear before
you.
" To speak of the pictures, some of them are hung
in the schoolroom, some in the dining-hall, and some
new ones are in the hands of a paper-hanger being
done. Also there is hanging up a map of the world.
" At present there are in the school sixteen boys,
and we read various books, including the native
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 65
classics ; but the Scriptures are the text-book for
morning and evening worship. We are born with
stupid minds, and our bodies are very lazy, therefore
we do not know much ; in our daily habits we are
not diligent, we ought to hang down our heads and
feel ashamed.
" To speak of the church, there have not been many
added for a long time, but there are a few inquiring.
At present, although there is little fruit, if the Holy
Spirit were only in the heart of every one who believes,
the time might soon come when we should see a
great increase, thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.
"I have used this small piece of paper to thank you,
and pay our respects to yourself, your brothers, and
all your father's house. Many things I have not made
plain to you, for my composition is despicable ; I only
ask you not to despise it. At present let this suffice,
I will write you longer at another time. May the glory
of the Triune God be upon you, world without end.
" P.S. This is the new year, so I will add a word
more. We have heard that you have a Sunday
school ; how many scholars have you ? We know
that if you teach them anything it will be the Word
of God, which is incomparably the best. I ask if you
would, instead of me, salute all your scholars and
convey to them a message. ' You have been born in
a country where there are no idols ; you have not
been defiled by them like us, their defilement has
6
66 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
gone into us like dye into the fabric.' Although you
are free of that sin, do not forget that you are the
seed of Adam, in that you are the same as us ; if you
do not trust in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, our
middle man, all is vain and useless. The Holy Book
says, ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved/ but ' he that believeth not shall be
condemned.' Do lay these words to heart. Would
that all of you would earnestly pray God to interest
the minds of many of your countrymen to come to
China and point out the way to heaven. Revered
master, no more, but all the boys in the school join
in salutations to you.
" Written by
" Sl-NUE."
Lip to that time much seed had been sown, but
little fruit gathered in ; we had evangelised in nearly
all the villages around the city. Frequently we
would start in the morning, taking lunch with us,
preaching in various villages ; my husband gathering
the men, and I the women, under some spreading
tree. Many heard, but, alas, few believed that Jesus
was the only Saviour. But is it not always so ? We
need constantly to remember the promise that " He
that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his
sheaves with him." It is for us to observe the con-
"OUR LORD IS ABOVE ALL GODS" 67
ditions " precious seed," the Word of God ; " weep-
ing hearts " longing for souls, that will not be satisfied
without fruit. As the result of our first ten years'
labour a little church of only eighteen or twenty was
formed ; how meagre apparently the return for so
much labour : we had often in those days to assure
ourselves of His faithfulness, who has said, "In due
season ye shall reap if ye faint not." But besides
this mere handful of Christians there were many
hopeful inquirers, and during our absence of eighteen
months thirty-seven were baptized on profession of
their faith.
CHAPTER VI
"And He said unto them, Lacked ye anything? And they said,
Nothing." LUKE xxii. 35.
ON the ist of April, 1877, Wenchow became an
open port. It was a new thing for us to see a
steamer in the river, and we had a feeling almost of
intrusion when we went on the hill and met other
foreigners there. The state of my health in that year
rendered it necessary to take a furlough to England,
and we left by the first trading steamer that came to
Wenchow. Mr. Stott had been over eleven years in
China, and his health being good, he at first thought
of sending me home while he remained at his post.
Mr. Taylor, however, kindly suggested he should take
me, and that suggestion was carried out.
At that time the little girls were beginning to grow
up, and we felt keenly the need of a separate house
for them. The state of the mission funds did not
encourage us to look to them for the rather large sum
that would be needed to build a girls' school-house.
We took our need to the Lord, told Him if that work
63
"LACKED YE ANYTHING?" 69
had to be carried on a home must be provided for
them. We decided to make no appeal of any kind,
not even to mention our need publicly, but that we
should tell our private friends of our desire, and leave
the rest to God.
We told Mr. Taylor of our plan, and said we
thought 250 would be needed ; he said he thought
not less than ^300 would suffice. We had asked
the Lord for 250, but we told Him about the 300,
and if it was needed to send us that sum. When we
returned to China in the autumn of the following year
we had received unsolicited 304, besides having
spent 10 upon school materials ; it was another
of the " exceeding abundantly " which the Lord has
ever loved to give us. We had decided together
that we should limit our own expenses to the sums
received from the mission for our own support, and
whatever gifts were given to us should be put to the
school fund.
During this time we had some very singular expe-
riences. When in Ireland my husband was asked to
address a few Christians who lived in a quiet out-of-
the-way village ; the people were poor, they had
nothing to give but their prayers ; but Mr. Stott felt
prayer was a mightier power than money, so he went
seeking to interest these godly people. The meeting
was held in a farmhouse ; not more than twenty were
present, but they were deeply interested in all they
70 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
heard. When the meeting was over, one and another
pressed up to shake hands with the missionary, and one
woman, with tears in her eyes, pressed a coin in his
hand, he putting it into a pocket where there was no
other money. When he retired to his room he looked
to see what the coin might be, and was deeply touched
to find it one " halfpenny." He felt it was like the
" widow's mite," and at once knelt down to ask God
to bless her gift. He then entered in his book, " A
poor woman unknown, a halfpenny." Next day
when he returned to me he said, " I was deeply
humbled, and had to confess to God that if I had had
only a halfpenny to give I should have been too
much ashamed to have put it into the hand ; she had
much more faith and love than I." Then he added,
"Do you know God seems to have shown me that
He is going to send $o." I answered, " Oh, I have
not faith for that, but according to your faith be it
unto you." We then knelt down together and asked
God again to bless that woman who had so nobly
given all she could, and was not ashamed of the
smallness of the sum.
The next day we went to spend a few days with a
friend in another part of the country. The day after,
while the lady and I were out for a drive, our host
came to the room where my husband was writing,
and said, " God has told me to give you this money
for your work." He put down a bundle of notes
"LACKED E ANYTHING f" 71
and left the room. On counting them Mr. Stott
found there were just 50! It was entered as the
next donation to the halfpenny, and up to this time
we had never received more than 5 in a single
gift.
We then went on to Dublin, where we were hos-
pitably entertained by a dear Christian couple, and
while sitting by the fire recounting the Lord's
wonderful dealings with us, my husband mentioned
the incident of the halfpenny and 50. He then
added, much to my confusion, " And I have the same
strong conviction, that God is sending me $"
When we retired to rest I asked why he had said
such a thing. " It was as good as asking, and no
doubt next day when we are leaving $ will be
given." He answered, " Oh, I never thought of
that, but of course I can explain and refuse." Next
day, as I expected, a cheque for 5 was handed ; my
husband refused to touch it, expressed his regret for
having mentioned his conviction in the way he did :
it was all right to tell of what God had done, but
what He was going to do seemed too like a hint, and
if he wished to spare his feelings he must not ask
him to accept this. Our host replied, " That $ was
given to me two days ago by another ; it is not my
money at all. My wife and I laughed when we went
upstairs ; it is no use trying to cheat you, for God
evidently tells you beforehand."
72 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
These are a few of the remarkable ways in which
God supplied all our need very abundantly. Our
visit home was productive of much interest and
prayer ; I had specially asked that friends would
plead that some suitable woman might be converted
who would be a real help in work amongst others, for
up to that time we had only one Christian woman,
and she was over seventy. I felt the drawback of
being alone, and longed for such a helper. Little did
we think that, while they prayed, God was working
out His own plans in that direction.
We arrived back in Wenchow on the last day of
1878 ; two days afterwards I was asked to visit two
women who were interested in the truth and wanted
to see me. Oh ! what good news ! two women in-
terested in the grand story of the Cross. Of course I
went without delay, and was delighted to find them
not only interested, but truly converted. They told
me that one of our members, a firewood seller, had
every time he brought their wood, sat down to tell
them of God and His Christ. At first they were
indifferent, but by and by they began to long for his
coming, that they might hear more and more. After-
wards they were visited by schoolboys, and others
who could teach them. One of these women men-
tioned how in former years she had closed her door
when she saw me coming up the street, lest I should
try to get into her house as I did others ; but
Mrs. Liu, our former Bible-woman ; her son, now labouring in Tai-
chow ; his wife, a former school-girl ; and their three children,
the eldest of whom is converted.
"LACKED YE ANYTHING?" 73
added, " Now I am longing for you to teach me
the Bible."
This lady, Mrs. Liu, was of a refined literary family,
and when young was married to a man of wealth ;
but alas, he, his father, and two brothers were opium
smokers, and as they had no business of any kind,
the property grew less and less each year, until the
death of her husband. After paying his debts she
had but a remnant of property left, not enough to
keep herself and son at that time a lad of seven or
eight. After her husband's death she gave herself up
very largely to the worship of idols, but in that she
found no comfort for her weary spirit.
The other woman was a working man's wife, Mrs.
Oae, very bright and earnest. Her husband was
bitterly opposed to her being a Christian, and would
not allow her to attend any services, nor would he
consent to any Christian visiting her in her home ;
but as these two women lived in opposite sides of the
same house, he could not prevent our going to Mrs.
Liu's, nor his wife from listening.
I at once began a Bible-class each Wednesday
afternoon in Mrs. Liu's house. Neither had ever
attended a Christian service one prevented by her
husband, the other too much ashamed to be seen
outside. Now I look back with great joy to the
time spent teaching those women. Their hearts
were indeed opened, and eagerly they drank in the
74 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
precious words of life ; week by week they repeated
almost word by word the lesson of the week before, and
it was wonderful to see their rapid growth in grace.
One Wednesday I went as usual, but found Mrs.
Liu was not at home. Mrs. Oae told me that her
mother-in-law had died two days before, and that she
had been called to the funeral ceremonies : she left a
message that we were to pray for her, as she did not
know what to do under such circumstances. So that
afternoon, instead of our Bible lesson, we spent the
time in prayer, that God would keep His child in the
midst of difficulty and sore temptation.
The next two or three days I was very anxious
and much in prayer for her. I feared the effect of
all the deadening influences of idolatry ; wondered
if she would have courage to confess Christ before
her proud literary relations.
Three days afterwards she came to see me, and
the first glance of her told all was well, for her
face fairly beamed. Her first words were, " It is
wonderful, wonderful ! God stood by me all the
time." She then told me that when being carried
in her chair she was greatly perplexed what to do,
and could only cry, " God, help me to glorify Thee."
When she arrived and saw all her relatives going
through the idolatrous ceremonies, her heart smote
her, and she felt she must confess Christ. She
called them together and told them how that, since
"LACKED YE ANYTHING?" 75
they had last met, a wonderful change had come over
her : she had heard of a true and living God, who
could wash away her sins and make her more happy
than any earthly treasure could ; that the knowledge
of an everlasting home in heaven was more than
earthly gain, and that though she and her son were
the nearest relatives, and had a right to most of the
property of the deceased, yet she could not offend
God by performing the necessary ancestral rights.
Her son was young, but she hoped he, too, would
become a Christian by and by, and that he must not
undertake those rites either. She therefore gave up
all claim to the property, and would leave it with
themselves to give what they thought right, on the
understanding that she and her son would be for
ever free from ancestral worship. She also added
that they began to ask what kind of a religion it was
that could make her do such a thing, and so, she said,
" for three days I have been doing little else but
telling them of Jesus, and just before coming away
God let me know I had glorified Him, for I heard
one of my relatives say, ' That must be a good
religion, for if you searched the city through you
could not find another who would give up property
like that.' "
I am ashamed to say that they only gave her the
sixteenth part of what she ought to have had, but
with that she got a written statement that at her
;6 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
decease none of them were to interfere with her
funeral, or perform idolatrous rites. For many years
she has been a faithful and valuable helper in the
work here. Her son was trained for several years
under Dr. Douthwaite, and there converted. He is
now doing medical work in the city of Tai-chow.
Mrs. Oae, who had been prevented by her husband
from making any public confession of her faith, began
to feel an earnest desire to be baptized : I counselled
waiting upon the Lord in the matter, hoping that her
husband might give consent. One day on going to
the class she told me, with a beaming face, that her
husband was going away next day to do some work
in the country, and would be away till the following
Monday or Tuesday. She said, " For three days I
have been praying that God would open up my way
to be baptized, and this is His answer." I reminded
her that it was very cold weather (we baptized by
immersion, and the baptistry was an open one in our
courtyard), and asked if she was not afraid. She
answered, " Oh, no ; God has given me this oppor-
tunity, and if I do not take it He may never give me
another."
I was a little doubtful about her taking this step
without the knowledge and consent of her husband ;
but she seemed so certain that God had given her a
chance not to be thrown away, that I could but be
silent.
"LACKED YE ANYTHING?" 77
On Saturday evening she came out for the first
time in her life to a Christian service, and gave
such a testimony to the power and preciousness of
the blood of Jesus Christ as quite astonished the
little group of Christians. She was unanimously
accepted by them for baptism the following morning,
after which she joined in our communion service.
How strange it must all have seemed to her ; she had
never seen memorials of Christ's broken body before,
but her Spirit-taught soul greatly rejoiced at being
able to join with others in thus publicly remembering
her Lord.
After the afternoon service she returned home,
and had only just laid aside her outdoor garments,
when to her astonishment in walked her husband.
He saw from her appearance she had been out,
and questioned her, when she boldly acknowledged
she had been to the chapel. He grumbled some-
thing about being disgraced in the eyes of his fellow-
workmen by his wife going after a foreign religion, but
on the whole took it very quietly, much to her relief.
This dear woman led a bright, earnest, consistent
life for some years. She was one from whom I
had hoped much, but one Sunday morning in 1888,
while we were in England, she died quite suddenly
just as she was preparing to go out to the service.
About this time (1879) another bright woman was
converted. She impressed me so much by her intelli-
78 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
gence and ability to receive the truth, that for about
two years I went regularly to her house one afternoon
each week to teach her. Work in China in the earlier
years had to be done among the ones and twos. For
two years I carried on two classes a week, one com-
posed of two women, the other only of one, but it was
well-repaid labour, for the lives of these three were
bright and shining witnesses for Christ. This woman,
Ah-Chang-na, was very poor, yet had a joy in giving
to the Lord that surprised us all ; for when we began
our native women's missionary band, she was one of
the most regular contributors. Day by day, from her
housekeeping money, she would put aside one cash
for God, and often in the middle of the month she
would bring the money to me to keep for her, lest in
her extreme poverty she might be tempted to use it.
She had a young family, and could do little beyond
her household duties ; but if she earned a little money
with her own hands, she always gave one-half of it to
God as a thank-offering.
I remember, one New Year's time, at our native
missionary meeting, telling the women God would be
no man's debtor, and that whenever we from a true
heart desired to spread the knowledge of His name
and gave what we could ill afford, He would be sure
to reward. I looked to this woman for confirmation,
and said, " Ah-Chang-na, you are one of the poorest
of us, yet you have given to God this year more than
"LACKED YE ANYTHING?" 79
ever before, and more than any of the others ; will you
tell us how God has dealt with you has it been
harder for you to pass this year than formerly ? " I
asked this in faith, yet tremblingly, not knowing what
the answer would be. With a beaming face she
declared, before all, that at the end of the year, after
paying off her little debts, she had one dollar left
upon which to enter a new year, and, she said, " never
in my whole life have I had one dollar to begin the
New Year with before." We did praise God for that
blessed testimony, and often has it been quoted since.
This dear woman, too, passed away in 1888, while we
were at home in England.
It seemed to us so sad, that two out of our three
brightest and best Christians should be called away
so near each other, and at a time when they seemed
more than ever needed. Before they were called
home, however, they saw a goodly band of women
gathered out of darkness into God's wondrous light.
I must say, Ah-Chang-na was a Christian who never
gave me an hour's anxiety, so consistent and bright
was her life throughout. She had much power in
prayer, and literally prayed her husband and mother
into the kingdom. We had a meeting amongst the
women every Thursday afternoon, especially to pray
for unsaved relatives, and this dear woman often broke
down while pleading for others. It will be interesting
to note that during the first few years of its existence,
8o MISSION WORK IN CHINA
no fewer than four husbands, and seven children, of
our praying women were brought to the Lord.
It was outof this prayer-meeting grew our Missionary
Band. I was a little perplexed to know how to get
them out of the narrow groove of themselves and cir-
cumstances, into interest in and sympathy for others.
I knew it would be a benefit to their own souls to do
something for those around. We began in a very
simple way, contributing what we could once a month,
to enable one of their own number to go out as a
Bible-woman. Mrs. Liu was chosen, and, as long as
health permitted, faithfully represented them. This
Missionary Band was a great blessing to the women
themselves ; the missionary information I was able to
give them, month by month, stirred up their hearts
and interest and stimulated prayer, besides producing
a self-denying spirit in the matter of giving. This
Missionary Band has now (1895) been in existence for
ten years. Of course it has grown with our Christian
women, and for some years they have almost entirely
supported their own Bible-women. Our schoolgirls,
though having no money of their own, were most
desirous of helping in this effort ; a barber had to be
called twice a month to shave the heads of the little
girls according to the Chinese custom, and one day
the elder girls asked if I would allow them to do the
head shaving. I asked why ; they replied, " We do
want to help with the Bible-women, and we thought
"LACKED YE ANYTHING?" Si
if we could do the work instead of the barber, the
money might go to the missionary fund." I was only
too glad to accede to their wish, and the effort has
been continued ever since by those, who in turn, become
the elder girls of the school.
In the summer of 1879, we began building the girls
school for which God had so graciously supplied the
funds. At first we intended only to build a house
large enough for a school, but felt led to build instead
a double house, where the school could be at one end
and our rooms at the other, so that I might be in a
better position to superintend them ; and also that the
native house we had lived in for ten years might be
available for a married couple whom we hoped would
soon join us. With our enlarged plans we knew we
should need more money, but as this seemed the right
thing, and God had proved Himself so faithful in the
past, we felt sure He would supply unasked all that
was needed.
The house was to be built by piecework, and we
determined to go on only as far as we had money
in hand. We paid men and materials week by
week ; twice we thought we should have to tell the
head workmen to withdraw their men for a time, and
twice fresh supplies came before that was necessary.
The whole was finished without a single day's stoppage
for want of funds, and of course without one penny of
debt. We had to wait a little time before we could
7
82 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
put up the necessary outhouses ; but they, too, were
provided in answer to believing prayer.
These buildings, native houses, chapel, &c., were all
destroyed in the riot of 1884.
CHAPTER VII
" If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow Me." LUKE ix. 23.
AS soon as building operations were finished,
regular itinerations were again commenced,
mostly by Mr. Stott alone, as the girls' and women's
work occupied my time more and more. He had to
make occasional visits to Chii-chow, which was then
an out-station from Wenchow, as well as to Bing-yie
and Dong-ling, where the work was growing steadily.
Referring to a few of these journeys, Mr. Stott writes :
" Jan., 1 880. My dear Mr. A., When yours came
to hand I felt conscience-stricken ; there was no time
to reply, as I was just starting for Chii-chow. I had to
go up the river ninety miles in a small miserable boat ;
the weather was very cold, a bleak north wind, sleet
and hail driving in our teeth. The boat cover was in
such bad condition that I had to compel the boatman
to get a new one ; and by urging and coaxing I reached
my destination in a little less than three days.
"On both sides of the river there are many villages
83
84 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
and small towns which have not yet been visited by
any Christian. I trust I may be able to give them
the offer of salvation ere long. Every one travelling
in China and seeing the countless towns and villages,
with their thousands of inhabitants, could not remain
unmoved ; they are born, live, and die, generation after
generation, seeking nothing higher than to have enough
to eat and wear, and leave a small portion for their
children.
" On arriving there, it was no better than the boat
for comfort the hail came through the roof and left
no place dry ; the room where my bed was had only
two sides to it, and I can assure you the ventilation
was perfect ! However, the day following, I got some
boards and a carpenter and closed it in a bit, but then
all the light I had was through the tiles. The silver
lining in my cloud was a small stove, which I had
brought with me, and I assure you the warmth from
was grateful to a degree. I remained there four
days, and tried to strengthen the hearts of those who
are looking forward to the house of many mansions
in the skies.
rt More recently I have been to Bing-yie, south of
Wenchow, and spent a very happy time, having met
thirty persons all interested and more or less instructed
in the truth. There are ten or twelve more in the
same country, but as they live a long way off I did
not see them. Ten of the best out of the thirty were
"IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME" 85
invited to come to the city and spend a little time
with us in Bible study. There are a good many
inquirers in the district where I go to-morrow, and
perhaps three or four may be accepted. Last Lord's
day, a woman came about sixteen miles, and got one
of the Christians to introduce her to us. She wanted
to be ' baptized and made a disciple of Jesus.' After
talking to her some time, we found that she and her
husband had been taught by one of the native Chris-
tians, who sometimes visit their village on business.
Their idols were thrown away some months ago, and
the husband had been to the chapel a good many
times, but never made himself known.
" We expect Mr. and Mrs. Douthwaite, of our Mis-
sion, soon. They have been six or seven years in
China and he has practised medicine, I believe very
successfully. We hope that blessing may follow his
medical work here ; but he is far from strong, and it
is doubtful whether the damp climate of this district
will suit his health. Mrs. Stott and I do a little in
the practice of homeopathy. Mrs. Stott got a nice
chest from Mr. R., whom we met in your brother's
house at Pinner. Mr. R. also gave me a small bottle
of a special preparation called ' Neuraline; said to be
an instant cure for sciatica. I tried it once when an
attack was coming on, and in half an hour the pain
was gone. I left the bottle in the bedroom, and when
the old woman went to make the bed she was attracted
86 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
by its fragrant, pleasing smell; afterwards, on meet in.".
the old withered beauty, I could not make out what
she had been anointing herself with, as she really
distilled fragrance at every step, and, as the cook
remarked, 'You could hear the fragrance of her all
over tlu- yard.' Hut when I discovered my loss, I
felt as an Iri-.hman at I. mini. I. on. .- <; |>i <,,<<! him
self, ' An' shure it was a little riled that I was, iur. J
" I hope you are not thinking too highly of the
C.I.M. It is not perfect, nor ever will be as long as I
am connected with it ; hut it is as near perfection as
any mission I know of. I am glad you are no enemy
to system and order in connection with service for our
Master ; if there was no organisation or system I do
not think the C.I.M. could do as good or as much
work as it does, and instead of less, I think we need
more of it. Did it ever strike you that some of these
good men who are so afraid of system in the Lord' .
work are yet very systematic in their habits? Take,
for instance, their systematic reading and study of
(iod's Word, meeting \vith kindred spirits lor prayer,
&c,, at stated hours and places, which many of them
would not forego for any worldly gain. To give an
illustration of this kind of inconsistency, I met in -
a good man and pillar of the church of - , and we
talked about missions in general and the C.I.M. in
particular. He liked the mission very well, but was
afraid it was running too much into system ; he com-
"7F ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER Ml:" 87
plained that a council was now formed in London,
Hudson Taylor was Bishop in China, and every
member was under his thumb: that he used his
power rather unsparingly, and perhaps it was a mis-
taken that he should have so much power over the
brethren. My part, of course, was to defend as best
I could ; then the conversation turned upon our own
work in particular. I told him much of what had
IHVII done, and more that was still undone, and tin
conclusion he came to was, that one man could not
do well the work on hand. To ease his mind I informed
him that Hudson Taylor had promised me help as
soon as circumstances would allow ; a young man, or
perhaps two, would join me soon. So far, so good ;
did I know either of the young men ? I could not
say that I did. Then he said, ' It was most important
that a proper understanding should exist, to begin
with ; the work was already established, and if some
young man or men were to join who would not work
willingly on the lines already laid down, but upset
here and overturn there, they would do more harm
than good, and damage the work of the Lord by un-
skilled hands.' I told him it was understood by all
parties that the new-comers must work on the lines
already laid down, and were not at liberty to tear up
old or lay down new ones. He felt relieved and
happy then, and said, ' That was just as it should be/
but the dear man did not see that he had cut away
88 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
the foundation from his own remarks about Hudson
Taylor having control over the members. I think it
is a scriptural thing for the younger to be in submis-
sion to the elder. Yea, more than that, if it is not put
into practice, confusion will be the result, as is often
but too plainly seen.
" Two Sundays ago we had eight persons baptized
here, who gave us much comfort and hope, which I
pray may not be disappointed. Others, by God's
grace seem to be pressing forward. For some time
past, I think the Spirit of God has been helping me
in making the way of salvation through Christ clear;
for oh, it is hard for them to understand the precious
truths, their minds are so dark. Yesterday was the
Lord's day, and I think His Spirit was with us in
power. At evening prayer the word spoken seemed
to touch every heart, and at the close I asked two of
the brethren to lead us in prayer. One of the
Christians prayed first; then an inquirer began for the
first time. Inquirers are not expected to pray, but I
did not like to stop him ; he is an elderly, grey-haired
man, venerable in appearance and highly esteemed by
all who know him. At first I feared his attempt would
cause an explosion among the young folk, but to
their credit be it said they behaved better than your
scholars would have done. I think his simple earnest-
ness overawed every one, and at the end there was
such a hearty ' Amen ' from all present as if they
"IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME" 89
really meant to thank God for opening another mouth
to worship Him. This old gentleman and two of his
neighbours had been constant attendants for about a
year. There is no doubt that they like the gospel, but
whether they are all subjects of the saving grace of
God it would be hard to say; but I think the one who
prayed last night is.
" It is very good of the Lord to give us even a little
success. We are so unworthy of it, but He saves
in spite of our unworthiness. Thirty-four in all have
been gathered in since our return a year ago. It is
much to thank God for, but what are they among the
many thousands who hear as though they heard not ?
Many listen for a long time before they ever dream
that any object of worship can or ought to exist
besides what they already possess."
A little later he writes : " Since writing you last
we have accepted and baptized ten persons ; most have
been coming to the services one, two, or three years.
Last Lord's day the chapel was full, and in the after-
noon Mrs. Stott had thirty women in her class; she
calls this a class for teaching them the Scriptures, but
I fancy there is some preaching goes on as well. I
have not been there to see, but I think most of her
meetings contain more or less of the preaching
element ; but as long as souls are saved and God's
blessing rests on them, I think it would be a mistake
for her to stop, even if the Archbishop of Canterbury
90 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
were to condemn her. The Lord has given His seal,
and that is what we look, long, pray, and give thanks
for. This year, 1881, more have been gathered into
the church than any one year since the work began ;
but during this time a few have been put under
discipline: one man long in fellowship, and who had
a good deal of influence and had been the means
of bringing a goodly number under the sound of the
Word, has departed from the faith and godliness, and
since his suspension has been behaving in a very un-
becoming manner. These things are our trials, but
the work is the Lord's, not ours, and He will bring
into His kingdom all that are His. Satan seems to
have greater power than ever in hurting the saints of
God, by causing many to turn from the faith and
accept unsound doctrine. It all points to the fact
that the Lord is at hand. I sometimes so long for
His appearing, because our whole hope for the Church
and the world is centred in His coming to take the
government of the world into His own hands ; the
sadness and suffering all around is great indeed, the
misery day by day is appalling.
" As an instance, only last month a poor man, in a
country village, whose daughter was ill and supposed
to be dying, had, according to custom, lighted two
candles, put them in paper lanterns and hung one at the
head and the other at the foot of the bed. He then
fastened both door and window and went on to the
"IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME' 91
top of the house to call back his daughter's spirit. He
stood and called long, and during the time one of the
candles fell down and set the bed on fire before the
people of the house knew it, and then they could not
get in ; by the time they reached the fire it had
taken such a hold that six houses were destroyed
before it could be conquered. The man's daughter
was burnt to death, as well as a woman in another
house ; and a young man was so severely injured in
trying to save his family and property that he died
the next day. More than half the fires that take
place in China result from idolatry or from opium
smoking.
" I have lately come in from the Dong-ling station.
I had a good time on the whole, but a shake of ague
prevented me from extending my journey. Concern-
ing four persons baptized, one or two things were a
little remarkable. One lad was about fourteen years
of age ; I have only once baptized one so young
(Z-ntie), and he is now twenty-two years of age, and
went into the water with them and performed the rite.
I only hope this lad may turn out as well. Two others
were husband and wife ; the fourth, a very nice young
woman, daughter of two of our Christians, is married
into a family who are opposed to the truth, and has a
great deal to bear for Christ's sake, and seems to bear it
cheerfully. She was engaged to be married into this
family before she or her parents heard the gospel."
92 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
(In after years this young woman led her husband
to the truth, and gained the goodwill of her other
relatives, so that her mother-in-law, though never a
Christian, was changed from a persecutor into a friend.
I remember when visiting there, the mother-in-law
spoke gratefully of her daughter's goodness.) " I
thank God and take courage, but must confess that
every time there is a baptism I am rilled almost as
much with fear as with joy fear lest I should have
committed any mistake, or that Satan may lead
them away into sin, thus causing shame and dis-
honour to God and His Word.
" Here in the city we baptized three persons last
week, and hope to receive more soon. Some of them
have been giving us much comfort ; they are mostly
from Mrs. Stott's Bible-class. The Lord has been and
still is blessing her efforts among the women, many
of whom seem to accept the truth more readily than
their husbands, and also walk more consistently than
the rougher sex. Indeed some of our best Christians
are women, and Mrs. Stott has often told me that at
their prayer-meetings they seem to unburden the very
secret of their souls to the Lord, and confess their
sins, temptations, and failures with an openness and
earnestness unknown at home ; they often pray for
twenty or twenty-five minutes at a time. They begin
with their hearts full almost to bursting, and are not
happy till they have told all their story (not the half) ;
"/F ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME" 93
and having told it, their faces beam with delight, and
they go on their way strengthened with faith, hope,
and love. Prayer is very real to them, and the
answers as real. At the same time there is a good
deal of persecution ; at one place some have been
badly beaten, and at another they are afraid almost
daily that their houses will be pulled down and them-
selves maltreated.
" I think I told you that one poor woman who was
ill-used last year never recovered from the effects of
the cruelty she was subjected to, and has lately died.
At another place an old man had his house set on
fire twice ; he was at last driven away, and is now ill,
not expected to live. Another is a very sad case ; a
brother's wife died, and the neighbours would not
allow him to bury her without going through all the
heathen rites for the dead, nor would they allow him
to bring the coffin into the village, nor carry the
corpse out. Several of the members went to visit
him, but they were beaten, one of them very badly.
At last our brother escaped, and ran here as if for his
life. We had a good deal of trouble in arranging the
matter, and ere then the corpse was much decayed.
Then the neighbours insisted upon the other Christians
performing the rites, and on their refusing they were
beaten, and their hands bound and tied to the bed
over the decaying corpse, while the heathen neigh-
bours went through the rites ; they then brought in
94 MISSION WORK /AT CHINA
the coffin, and tied two of the Christians to it by their
tails.
" I hope the trouble is over now, and that we
have strengthened our position. It seems impossible
to advance one step without stirring up the devil, and
having to maintain our ground inch by inch. I pray
this may be a real blow at the supremacy of his power
in that place. There are a few inquirers there, and
when Mr. Jackson went up to see about the burying
of the brother's wife, all the Christians and inquirers
came to see him, except one young man who was tied
up to a post by his father lest he should catch the
* Jesus disease.' He had been too late in tying him
up, for he caught the disease more than a year ago,
and now the father finds it difficult to cure him.
" There are others I could tell you of, suffering the
loss of their little all for Christ's sake. Since I wrote
you last the Lord has been blessing us ; one Lord's
day we had ten persons baptized and last Sunday
three. There is a spirit of inquiry abroad in many
places, but we are much hampered for want of native
assistants. The people are willing to hear, but we
have hardly any one to tell them the way of salvation.
We have been specially crying to God about this
matter. We have few in the church fitted for teach-
ing others, and it takes a long time to train so as to
fit them for this work. Our hope and confidence is
in God ; He has provided many things for us, He is
able to provide this also.
"IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME'' 95
" I came in from the country yesterday ; had a
rainy, disagreeable time, and some unpleasant things
to do. Satan seems to break loose every now and
again, and do all the mischief he can to the Christians.
One man who steadily refused to contribute to the
support of the heathen temple had half his standing
corn cut, and what was left was trampled, so that he
suffered a serious loss ; others have had their farming
implements broken to pieces, been denied the use of
the public road, and annoyed in many ways, for they
are adepts in the art of petty persecution. It is surely
a testing time for us all, and makes me long for the
time when our Lord Himself shall come and save His
own out of the hand of the wicked.
"July i, 1884. This is quarter-day, when accounts
have to be made up and despatched. A great deal of
pastoral work has claimed my attention of late. My
dear wife is feeling fagged out with extra work, and I
give her an hour's help daily. We are hard worked
certainly, but thanks be to God, His presence is with
us, sustaining and helping. Last Saturday evening I
was up until II p.m. examining sixteen candidates
for baptism ; eleven were accepted, and baptized on
Sunday morning, and afterwards sat down at the
Lord's table. Some of those deferred will soon be
received, I think, as they were put off only until some
family matters could be arranged. This year we have
already received thirty-two, and I hope God will give
96 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
us a great many more before the end. I long to get
into that state of soul-communion with God in which
the good man is supposed to be, when * all he doeth
shall prosper.'
" The rumours of war so near us have given me a
good deal of extra work. Many of the Christians in
distant places are having rough times ; the heathen
are persecuting them fiercely, but as yet no blows
have been struck. The Romanists are getting it
worse than we, and a rupture has taken place, but I
have not heard the details. The Chinese are not so
enlightened as to make much if any distinction be-
tween one foreigner and another ; here they distinguish
our nationalities by our religion : Protestants are
British and are very bad they produce the opium ;
Romanists are French, they are even more abomin-
able and ought to be exterminated. Such is the ex-
pressed feeling of many. Our most southern station
is near the border of Foh-kien, and with hostilities
going on so near there is much to try them. There
is also a great deal of excitement in the city, and
some days we can hardly walk out without being
reminded of the dislike with which many regard us ;
they will sometimes get behind us and make a harsh
whirring noise like sharpening a knife, and if they can
draw our attention will take their fan and make a
significant slash at their necks, and then disappear as
soon as they can. But if matters do not get worse
"IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME' 97
we will be thankful ; the Lord reigneth, and our con-
fidence is in Him. I do not go out more than I can
help, and so far have been treated with respect. The
mandarins seem in earnest in trying to keep the
peace, and have issued a good proclamation. I am
told they have soldiers parading the streets and secret
spies loitering about, and any detected stirring up the
people are taken to the Yamen and soundly thrashed.
What we all fear is bands of marauders, who are
always on the alert to embrace the first opportunity
of plunder that presents itself.
" But our souls are in God's mighty hand, and our
bodies too ; and He will take care of us till our work
is done. We are more anxious about our friends in
the far interior, and daily pray that they may be kept
in peace ; we trust their distance from the seat of
hostilities may be some protection to them.
" I propose to send Mrs. Stott to Shanghai for a
month, when the cool weather comes. She has had
heavy work during the summer, and is purposing
taking in a number of women during the winter for
Bible instruction that they may be the more intelligent
witnesses for our Lord and Saviour. There is a great
difference between a well-taught Christian and an ill-
taught one I mean in their being able to bear witness
for Jesus. If we can only give all the native converts
a good hold of the Scriptures, we might in a great
measure dispense with native preachers."
CHAPTER VIII
; Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing ?"
PSA. ii. i.
THERE was at this time a war between France
and China, and during the summer of that year
the French had bombarded Foo-chow, sunk several
gunboats, and destroyed the arsenal there. Foo-
chow was the next port south of us, and when the
news came of these disasters the people were greatly
alarmed. The excitement was increased by the
officials issuing orders that each household was to
provide a basket of stones, which were to be placed
in junks and sunk at the mouth of the river, to block
it in case the French should come here. All July
and August the excitement prevailed, and had a riot
happened then we should not have been so much
surprised ; but things quieted down and our fears
were allayed.
It was during this summer that the conversion of
the six girls of which I have spoken took place ; new
life had brought new desires for further teaching.
" WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE f" 99
At the end of September my husband insisted I
should go to Shanghai for a fortnight's rest, before
beginning some fresh work contemplated for the
autumn. My last words were, " I can go away con-
tented and happy, for the people are so quiet and
contented again " : little did I anticipate the blow that
was to fall so soon.
On Saturday evening, October the 4th, just one
week after I had left, while Mr. Soothill, of the
Methodist Free Church, was conducting their usual
prayer meeting, a few rowdies collected at his chapel
door and noisily demanded admittance ; when the
door was opened they ran away. This was repeated
two or three times, and on the door being again
opened several rushed in throwing stones, and evi-
dently bent on mischief. Some one raised the cry,
" Burn the foreigners out," and almost before the
words were uttered they lighted torches, and, with
paraffin oil, set the place in flames. The chapel was
close by the house, and Mr. Soothill, fearing a general
conflagration, went to the Yamen to beseech help.
The magistrate, thinking Mr. Soothill might meet
with bodily injury, refused to let him out again ; but
he, accompanied by some soldiers, went in the hope
of quelling what had now become a serious riot. He
was told, however, he had better go back ; the people
were bent upon mischief, and he might get injured in
the fray. His chair was, indeed, considerably bat-
ioo MISSION WORK IN CHINA
tered, and, mandarin like, he thought discretion the
better part of valour ; and the soldiers sent to intimi-
date the rioters joined with them in their evil work.
When Mr. Soothill's house, chapel, and all he pos-
sessed were in ruins, they made for the Roman
Catholic premises. The poor priest had a hard time
of it ; frightened almost out of his senses, he lay hid for
three days in the firewood house of a friendly neigh-
bour, and was at last disguised as a Chinese coolie
and taken to the Yamen. The destruction there was
thorough also ; the mob now seemed like tigers who
had tasted blood, and they determined to make a
clean sweep of everything belonging to the hated
foreigner. From the Roman Catholic place they
went to Mr. Jackson's, of our own mission, and when
they reached our chapel, only three minutes' walk
from our house, Mr. Stott felt it was time to seek a
place of safety.
Dr. McGowan, of the Chinese Customs, had, at
great personal risk, come to Mr. Stott's help. They
collected our sixteen school girls (the younger of
whom had to be taken from their beds), servants, and
all others within our gates, in order to seek shelter in
the magistrate's Yamen. As they went out at the
back gate the first contingent of the rioters burst in
at the front, and in a few moments were in possession
of the place. Happily the Yamen was near, or it
might have fared badly with them, for they were
"WHY DO THE HEATHEti fcAGfrf '' Vor
freely pelted with stones, one of which struck Mr.
Stott's pith helmet a heavy blow, which made his
hat roll on the ground, and caused him to run
the gauntlet bare-headed. A moment after Dr.
McGowan staggered under the blow of another,
and the frightened school children, who were cling-
ing to his coat-tails, were scattered here and there.
When they reached the Yamen several of the girls
were missing, and our cook, an active, earnest man,
went out in search of them, but it was the next day
before the family was complete ; two or three of them
spent the night in a temple courtyard, scarcely daring
to breathe, lest their hiding-place should be dis-
covered. I have said complete, but there was one
dear little thing three years of age, pet of the house-
hold, who was carried off, and we never saw her
again.
In a few hours the destruction was general, not
only the effects of the missionaries, but also of the
foreigners in the Chinese Customs employ ; every-
thing foreign was destroyed : they showed a nice
discrimination, for the latter, who lived in old temples,
had all their goods, furniture, &c., carried out, even
partition boards and flooring which they had put
down, burnt in the front yard, while the buildings
were left intact.
After completing their work of destruction in the
city they tried to reach the English Consulate, which
WOflAT /AT CHINA
is situated on a small island in the middle of the
river ; but the magistrate had anticipated their inten-
tion, and had ordered all boats to the other side.
They tried to make a raft, but failed, and the next
day the homeless refugees were escorted by a strong
band to the island.
On the Monday the rioters went to our country
chapel in Dong-ling, twenty English miles away, and
burnt it also to the ground. We all shared the same
fate, proving that the feeling was anti-foreign, not
anti-missionary. The officials acted with creditable
promptness in paying the indemnity demanded by
the consul, and in six weeks from the date of the riot
Mr. Stott was able to return and begin rebuilding,
leaving our school children in the kind care of Dr.
and Mrs. Lord, of Ning-po, who most unselfishly
received them into their school, although it was at
the time quite full, and kept them under the care of
their own matron, Mrs. Liu, for five months, during
which time we were rebuilding.
It was an anxious time ; the war had upset our
steamer communication, and Ning-po was blockaded.
For three months we were without letters, and heard
vague rumours of the bombardment of Ning-po and
flight of the foreigners there, which happily proved
untrue ; while they, poor things, suffered also through
false reports concerning us. But in all this the Lord
kept our hearts resting upon Himself. The news of
" WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE t" 103
Mr. Stott's arrival soon spread, and it was a great
joy for pastor and people to be united once
more.
In February, 1885, Mr. Stott writes: "My dear
Mr. A., I have just finished the duties of the day,
and will now indulge in the pleasure of a chat with
you ; you are one of my oldest friends, and that gives
me license. I am here alone as yet, for my dear
wife could not leave Shanghai owing to the death of
Miss Minchin and, indeed, I was not in a state to
receive her sooner. After getting official liberty to
return I came by first steamer, and at once began to
search for a temporary home. After many failures
the Lord gave me success. I have bought a small
house adjoining my former property, and I am now
living in it in tolerable comfort. I had to pull down
the ruined walls of our dear old home, and I must
confess it cost me many a pang to stand by and see
it done ; and our dear little garden, which was such a
pleasure to my wife, all disfigured, not a plant, shrub,
or even a weed left. We had a large number of
flowers in pots, which were mostly thrown down the
well. At every corner were signs of the most wanton
destruction. Surely their mischievous ingenuity came
from near the bottom of the bottomless pit. And
now quiet has been restored, the mandarins are doing
very little to bring the rioters to justice. Many of
the native Christians have been looted of their all,
104 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
and the mandarins will not even look at their peti-
tions for redress.
Very few out of China have any idea of the
weakness and corruption of the Mandarinate and
their hatred of all Europeans. Those brought to
justice are comforted and consoled by the mandarins
telling them that they must apprehend and punish
them through pressure, for the " foreign devils " are
very cruel, and destitute of any mercy.
I am now rebuilding, and the girls' school will be
finished next month, also the chapel at Dong-ling ;
our own house is some distance on, but the city chapel
still lies in abeyance. Hitherto the Lord has helped
me, and I do need His help, for I am poor and
needy.
The British Consul has entered into the case with
much spirit, and has done for every one as well as he
could. Two instalments of the indemnity have been
paid, and another is almost due.
I am glad to say I have found nearly all the
Christians have stood firm, only one having gone
back. He seems to have lacked stamina to endure
the long strain they were all exposed to after
I left for Ning-po ; and as I was over a month
absent, it was a testing time for them all, for the
worst was over before I could return. Others
have got a new start, and are bolder in the
faith than formerly, and some new converts have
" WHY DO. THE HEATHEN RAGE f" 105
been drawn out ; so on the whole I do not think we
have lost much, and may be all the better for this
searching. It has been a time to bring out all that
was in us, both natives and foreigners ; but those
who put their trust in God shall never be ashamed.
Ever since the night of the riot the Lord has been
showering blessings on us, and since the buildings
began we have not been stopped an hour by rain. It
has come now, but the roofs are on, and no harm or
hindrance will result, which is a boon."
We had, about that time, two hundred Christians
and inquirers, and out of that number only two
turned back through fear. The poor, scattered flock
had met in little groups in each other's houses, the
stronger visiting and cheering on the weaker and
more timid. Mr. Stott arrived on Friday and at once
set a few men to clear away the debris and erect a
few upright poles and cross-beams, over which were
thrown bamboo mats ; and by Saturday afternoon the
extempore chapel was ready to receive the flock who
came to welcome their pastor back. And what a day
of thanksgiving it was, both rejoicing together. God
was very gracious to us in this time of sore trial ; the
blow had been especially heavy, because unexpected.
We had gone through so much in the earlier years,
had lived down opposition and hatred, had gathered a
goodly number of warm-hearted Christians it seemed
as if our difficulties were over and we had reached the
106 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
reaping time; but with one stroke all our hopes ap-
peared laid in the grave yet, only appeared. When I
received the letter from my husband which told me
everything we possessed was destroyed, and that he
and the helpless band of eighteen natives were in
Ning-po and had taken possession of a large empty
house, homeless and almost clotheless, the blow seemed
cruel; yet, at the same time, God brought His own
Word to my comfort. It was as though the question
was asked afresh, " Why do the heathen rage and the
people imagine a vain thing?" that one word vain had
a power I never felt before. Thank God all should be
vain, we should yet go back, gather our scattered
people, build up our ruined home and chapels, and
win many more souls for our Lord and Master. The
vision rilled me with hope and comfort, and when,
three hours afterwards, I left to join my husband, it
was with a heart profoundly thankful, for had not the
precious lives been spared, and was there not good
hope for the future ? I thought God had comforted
me, so that I might be able to speak words of cheer
and comfort to the dear ones who had passed through
the storm ; but when we met next morning they had
no need of my comfort God had gone before and
cheered them with His own assurance that all would
yet be well: and wonderfully did God fulfil His pro-
mise, for on the first Sunday at the opening of our
new chapel, five persons were baptized and received
" WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGEf" 107
into the church ; and for years after, few months
passed without some being added to our number.
We had been told that no indemnity would be paid
until we had first sent in an inventory of all our losses.
Anxious to get back as soon as possible, we set our-
selves to prepare an inventory to forward to the Consul
by the first steamer which should return from Wen-
chow. In all former cases, months of negotiation had
preceded settlement, and though we feared delay, we
determined it should not be on our side. What was
our astonishment, when the Consul wrote by the first
steamer to say that the magistrates had accepted the
rough estimate of losses, which had been handed in a
few days after the riot, and that the first instalment of
money should be paid in a few days.
Thus, my husband was able to return as soon as he
could purchase clothes, &c., and was received by the
people as kindly as if a riot had never taken place.
For five months he personally superintended the
building operations. Many men were employed, so
that the school and chapel might be finished with as
little delay as possible.
Services were held each night for the workmen ; but,
with that exception and our Sunday services, our
missionary work was at a standstill. One day, upon
my remarking to Mr. Stott that he was building sub-
stantial walls, he replied, "I want to build this specially
strong, for I believe Christ is coming very soon and
io8 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
the Jews are to be the evangelisers of the world, and
when they come to Wenchow it is my desire they shall
find a place ready for them."
About a year after this, we had a letter from the
Rev. David Hill, of Hankow, saying that he had just
baptized a man who dated his first interest in the
Gospel to the time of the riot. He had come to Wen-
chow on business, and when he saw the missionary
robbed of all he possessed, pelted with stones, making
his way very quietly to the Yamen without one word
of cursing or bitterness, such as he expected; and
when, a few weeks later, that missionary returned
quietly to rebuild, with as much grace as if all the
city were his friends, he said to himself, the religion
which could bring forth fruit like that was worth
inquiring into. On returning to his home, he attended
Mr. Hill's chapel, and was in due time baptized by
him : thus the Lord gave us fruit in the very midst of
the fire.
But we were not allowed to go without personal
suffering. We were living in a low, damp Chinese
house, and the wet season coming on, we were
compelled to move into the new home before it was
dry. Miss Littlejohn, a young missionary, who had
joined us but a few months, was taken seriously ill and
died in the autumn of the same year at Che-foo. I
take an extract from a letter written to a friend at
this time:
"WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE?" 109
"September 14, 1885.
" DEAR B., Very many thanks for your cheering
letter received two weeks ago. Just when it came
we were getting weary and discouraged, and your
sympathy cheered us not a little. It is not often we
feel down-hearted, but I fear we are somewhat in that
condition at present. We are still left single-handed
(Miss Littlejohn being away invalided), and we begin
to feel the strain heavier than we can bear. We do not
mind hard work, but it is discouraging to feel that,
work as we will, one half is left undone. I have now
twenty-five girls entirely under my care, who need and
ought to have all my time. The dear ones who were
converted last year are growing in grace, and their
thirst for the Word of God must be satisfied. On the
other hand, the Christian women and inquirers need
much teaching, and in trying to do both, neither is done
thoroughly. The same is true of my husband. The
church in this city has grown to need all his time and
care, yet he is grieved that the out-stations are not
visited oftener. May our Father lead us in a right
way. I am sure you will pray for us. Miss Littlejohn,
who joined us last December, may be ill for a long
time ; she was very delicate and, indeed, seemed worn
out when she came. In the beginning of summer she
took ill. After a few weeks she went on to Shanghai,
and was there two months without getting any better;
she has now gone to Che-foo, where I trust she may
no MISSION WORK IN CHINA
gain strength. She is a dear, earnest Christian, and we
love her much, but we fear she is too delicate for this
trying climate.
"Let me now turn from the afocouraging to the
#couraging. I never like to look long at the dark
side, it does not pay ; we need all the hope and joy
we can bring into this work, especially in such a dry
and thirsty land. Praise the Lord, we find Him a
well-spring in the desert ; He gives strength according
to our day, filling our hands full of sheaves and
causing our hearts to rejoice, so that we should not, if
we could, change places with any one.
" Month by month, some are coming out on the
Lord's side. At Bing-yei, where Mrs. Liu has gone
for a month, quite a number have put away their idols
and are inquiring after the truth four young men at
one hamlet, three women at another, and so on. Mrs.
Liu has gone to teach them. At the same place, one
of our old Christians passed away lately; he was an
old man and failing for some time. One day he felt
unable to get up, and said to his wife that Jesus was
coming for him soon ; in the afternoon he asked for
some food, and when he had taken a little, he said,
' Jesus is coming for me now, I will just sleep a little
till He comes; don't wake me.' He fell asleep and
never opened his eyes on earth again. (This was the
old man found worshipping in the temple by the
schoolboy Z-niie.)
"WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE?" in
"At another station, Dong-ling, where there are
about forty Christians, eight families have put away
their idols and are asking after the truth ; no doubt
some of them are chosen of the Lord.
"As soon as the weather gets a little cooler, my
husband hopes to take on some young men students
again, and I a few women, for training during the
winter months. I can take in ten or twelve women to
teach, without adding very much to my labour. They
can share morning and evening Bible classes with the
girls, and a class every afternoon for them would be
all the extra work it would give me. We have also
begun a boys' day school ; this was much needed for
the sons of the Christians, and there are ten pupils.
" This has been a very sickly summer ; a kind of
cholera and dysentery has carried off many victims
two of our women died within a few days of each other,
and several others are still very ill ; all around us can be
heard the death-wail. We have given medicines and
saved a few lives. One of our girls is very ill with
dysentery. We trust it may please the Lord to restore
her. My husband began a boys' school seventeen
years ago, and though we have had schools ever since,
we have never had one death either among boys or
girls. This, for the first few years, was in answer to
prayer. We had to win our way amongst the people,
and we felt that a death in the school might, in those
early days, be the means of driving us from the city.
H2 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
But, in this, as in everything else, the Lord has given
us more than we asked.
" I will now close with the good news that four
more were baptized yesterday. Since May, twenty-
seven candidates have been examined, and out of that
number fourteen have been accepted and baptized.
They have all been inquirers one, two, or three years.
The mind works slowly in China, and it is often long
after they hear the truth that they lay hold of it.
We like rather to wait and be sure, as it is saved
souls we want, not numbers."
My husband and myself both suffered, and it was
then seeds of the disease in Mr. Stott, which two
years later compelled us to go to England, were
sown, and afterwards developed into the painful
complications which in the spring of 1889 ended in
his translation to glory. Thus we were called to be
sufferers together with Christ in no ordinary way,
yet no word of regret ever passed his lips. He was
full of praise that God had enabled him to serve
more than twenty years in China.
In the beginning of the year 1886, my husband
felt much led to ask God to give him at least one
soul each Sunday ; week by week he kept this
request before the Lord, pleading there might be no
barren week during the year ; and at its close we
were much interested to find that just fifty-two
persons had been added to our church. I remember
" WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE f" 113
my husband looking into my face with a sad expres-
sion as he said, " Why did I not ask more ? Oh, how
we limit God, when He might do great things for
us if only we would open our mouths wide unto
Him ! "
CHAPTER IX
" And ye shall be witnesses unto Me." ACTS i. 8.
IT will be interesting to give a few instances of the
kind of men and women whom God has chosen
as instruments for the furtherance of His own work.
In 1880 Mr., now Dr., Douthwaite had for a time
a hospital in this city for the cure of opium-smokers,
and amongst the degraded applicants was a silver-
smith named Li Ao-ming. This man was in the last
stage of degradation and poverty. He had to borrow
the dollars necessary to ensure his admittance into
the refuge, and the only shirt he possessed was
borrowed too. He had a bold, defiant, repulsive
look, had been an opium-smoker for many years, and
was such a desperately wicked character that his
own mother did not like to own him. After he had
been in the refuge a few days he began to take an
interest in the services held by the assistant, and
slowly his mind opened up to receive the truth ; few
knew what was going on in the man's mind until
"WITNESSES UNTO ME" 115
one day, when going upstairs to his room, another
opium patient deliberately spilt the dirty water he
was carrying down over Ao-ming's clothes ! Instead
of flying into a passion and cursing the man, as he
would have done a week or two before, he stepped
down until the man descended ; then looking him
steadily in the face, said, " If you had done this to
me a week ago, I would have cursed you, your
parents, and your ancestors for generations ; but I
have heard of the love of Jesus, dying for such guilty
men as we are, and I will not curse you again."
When the time came for him to leave, having got
rid of that terrible opium habit, which is as a chain
which closely binds its poor victims, he begged to be
allowed to remain a fortnight longer, so that he might
learn more of the precious truth. As soon as he left
the refuge, he went home to tell his mother and two
brothers of the wonderful gospel which he had heard
and believed, and which had changed his heart and
made him hate the things he loved before. His
mother and brothers were much interested and
began to attend the services. They lived in a part
of the city where no work had been begun, and at
my request the mother opened her house for a
meeting once a week. This was continued for over
a year, so that the neighbours had the opportunity of
hearing of a Saviour's love. The mother became a
true Christian, and more than a year afterwards fell
n6 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
asleep rejoicing in her Saviour. His two brothers
were baptized with him, but one of them has shown
by his life that he was never saved, and was expelled
from the church four years afterwards. The other
brother still remains with us, but has never been
much more than a dead-and-alive Christian.
Ao-ming very soon took up his trade again as a
silversmith. Sometimes he would be two days in a
village, sometimes a week, according to the amount
of work he had to do, but every night after the day's
work was over, and every Sunday wherever he
happened to be, he spent in telling the glad good
news. He was a wonder to himself, and as is often
the case with such people, he was mostly taken up
with telling what God had done for him. His
earnest, fearless manner arrested attention, and it
was not long before we had many inquirers asking
for more teaching, saying the silversmith had first
told them of a Saviour's love. His zeal sometimes
went beyond his knowledge, and we had often to
undo some of his work, but he was much used of
God nevertheless.
After some years my husband, being in need of an
evangelist, decided to try the silversmith. He worked
both hard and earnestly, but he had an overbearing
manner which spoilt much of his work, and after a
time he was allowed to go back to his trade as being
the best thing for a man of his disposition. It was
"WITNESSES UNTO ME" 117
all the same whether he was a paid evangelist or a
working silversmith, preach he would, and preach he
did, and he was the means of the salvation of many
souls. He has never been an easy man to guide ;
bold, hasty, and self-conceited, he has had to be kept
in with a firm hand, but when his faults are firmly
though kindly pointed out, he often confesses with
bitter tears. About five years ago he opened a shop
in the village of Bahzie, about thirteen miles from
here, and after settling his shop affairs, the next
thing he did was to look out for a room in which he
could preach on Sundays, the rent of which he paid
himself; and on the first Sunday morning he closed
his shop, hanging a board outside which announced
that no business could be transacted that day, and it
was well known that the time was spent in preaching.
After a time a number of inquirers gathered round
him, and it became necessary to have a chapel. This
matter he took up entirely himself, giving what he
could and seeking help from the city Christians until
he had received about seventy dollars. With this
money he tiened (mortgaged) a small house, which
he had repaired and put in order for a chapel, and
since he has become the pastor of this little self-
supporting church. But though doing a good work
the people sometimes get tired of him, for after all
there is a great mixture of Christ and Ao-ming in all
he says ; still God has blessed and is blessing his
n8 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
labours, and we rejoice, though, if we had our way, he
would be a different man. Once a month we send a
fresh preacher to help the few Christians. Ao-ming
is now a prosperous tradesman, liberal and open-
handed, very hospitable, and in spite of many faults
we praise God for him. On the anniversary of my
twenty-five years' work in Wenchow, he felt very
proud to present me with a silk banner entirely on
his own account, as a token of his love and esteem.
Boa-sang-tsang, former firewood seller : I cannot
recall anything about this man's conversion. He was
baptized in 1877, about the time we left for England
on our first furlough. By the time we returned at
the end of 1878 he had already won several persons
to Christ. He was very poor, carrying his firewood
from door to door, but in whichever house he entered
where he had opportunity he preached Christ to the
inmates. It was thus Mrs. Liu and others were won
to Christ. Fearless and utterly careless of rebuke, it
could be said literally that as he went he preached.
After a few years of such soul-winning, he was sent
out as an evangelist ; faithfully and earnestly he
worked, never weary, though often unwise. Later on
my husband had, for a time, to suspend him from
preaching, because he had taken needless offence at a
trifle, and seemed to be doing more harm than good
amongst the Christians. He was spoken to very
gently, but firmly, and helped back to his old trade
"WITNESSES UNTO ME" 119
again for a short time ; but his repentance was truly
beautiful, and when in 1887 we left on our second
furlough, it was very touching to see Mr. Boa, though
suspended as a preacher, following my husband's chair
weeping like a child, proving that " faithful are the
wounds of a friend." The year after he was made a
colporteur, and ever since has been doing noble work
in that line. He has been the means of opening up
many new districts, one of which, O-dzing, had very
soon afterwards to go through the baptism of fire.
O-dzing is a small village situated amongst the
hills, about fourteen miles from Wenchow. The first
believers were mother and two sons of a well-to-do
family. Mr. Boa remained two or three weeks in-
structing them in the truth, and quite a number in
the village began to show interest. The head-man
of the district, feeling annoyed at the desertion from
the ranks of those who supported the idols, deter-
mined, if possible, to intimidate the believers. After
Mr. Boa left, a younger and more inexperienced
preacher was sent, and while he was there persecution
began. The preacher was beaten, and the Christian
and her son tied up by the thumbs until she should
recant. An attack was then made upon their house,
the inmates had to escape out of doors or windows
any way they could, while everything within was
either smashed or stolen. The granaries were
opened and the grain carried away. The family fled
120 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
to Wenchow, and the matter had to be put into the
Consul's hands, and it was over a year before a settle-
ment could be arrived at. Both sides suffered heavily.
The Christians, who had lost over two hundred dollars,
were only compensated to the extent of fifty-two
dollars ; while it cost their enemies three hundred
dollars to get the case out of the Yamen. This has
left a bitter feeling which has never been entirely
uprooted, and the gospel has been much hindered in
that place through it.
It is remarkable that in every case where a lawsuit
has been necessary, hindrance to the gospel has been
the result. We have always found it better for both
Christians and heathen to settle disputes in a friendly
way out of court. This becomes increasingly easy as
the heathen gain confidence in the just judgment of
the missionary ; when they find that he does not take
the part of the Christian because he is a Christian,
they are willing to submit the case to him and abide
by his decision. This is the last case of persecution
which I have had to deal with through the Consul
and I trust it will long remain the last. We have
had many troubles since, but I have never failed in a
friendly settlement.
Another interesting case was that of a husband and
wife who had formerly been beggars. They had one
little girl, whom they betrothed to a little orphan
boy, who had a small house and an acre or two of
"WITNESSES UMTO ME" 111
ground. Yaih-zing-pah and his wife worked this
little bit of ground diligently, which, however, only
supported them part of the year ; for the rest they
had to beg. Wandering into the chapel one day, he
heard the gospel preached, believed the truth, and
was baptized in 1883. As soon as the little boy's
relations knew, they insisted he must either give up
this new doctrine or their relative. Everything was
done to induce them to change their decision, but in
vain. Yaih-zing-pah told them he could not give up
Christ, who had done so much for him, saving his
soul and giving heavenly riches which were beyond
all this world could bestow. There was nothing for
it but to turn out again into the cold world as home-
less beggars. Mr. Stott advised him to get work if
possible, and for this purpose gave him a little money
to erect a hut on an uncultivated hill, which he was
allowed to work for a merely nominal rent. Surely
never were twenty dollars more usefully invested.
Ten dollars were spent on building a house and ten
dollars upon farming implements ; the good couple
setting to work with a will. They asked if their
house might be used for services on Sunday, so that
those living near might hear the gospel. One day, a
young man came to their door begging. He was
the victim of the dreadful opium habit, of a respect-
able family, and could read well ; but cast out from
his home, he had no resource but begging from those
122 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
nearly as poor as himself. Our friends told this
young man of the God they worshipped, who was
able to help him to break off the opium. They
invited him to stay with them, promising to give him
his food if he would work. In the meantime they
taught, helped, and prayed with him until the desire
for opium was overcome, and he felt himself a free
man once more. This poor fellow, the fruit of their
labours, has been an earnest, consistent Christian for
the last ten years, and is now an unpaid local
preacher. He continued working with them as a
son, and three years ago was married to a deaf-and-
dumb girl (he was too poor to pay for any other),
and a year after she was received into the church.
She is in all things consistent, but we can never know
how she received the truths of the gospel.
Yaih-zing-pah and his wife were also the means
indirectly of opening up Tung-tso work ; a beggar
family called, who were friends in their old begging
days, and were as usual invited to stay a few days and
hear of Christ. After their begging tour of a few
months they returned to their home in Tung-tso, and
began to tell their neighbours of the new doctrine
they had heard, but did not believe. This created
interest, so that when Mr. Boa some time afterwards
on a book-selling tour visited the place, he found
quite a number of people desiring to be taught. Upon
his report we sent a preacher, and thus the work was
"WITNESSES UNTO ME" 123
begun in a district which heretofore the truth had
never entered, and we have now a little church with
out-stations. These beggars never believed the truth
for themselves, though they were the means of stirring
up interest in others. Amongst the believers in that
place were four young lads, very bright and earnest.
These we brought into Wenchow for two years' Bible
training ; two are now unpaid local preachers in their
own district, while earning their living as farmers, and
two are learning useful trades in the city, and teach
in Sunday school.
A few months ago Yaih-sing-pah's wife was
crossing the river in a boat with twenty others,
when on her way to the chapel ; a strong wind
capsized the boat, and our dear sister and sixteen
others were drowned. We mourn her untimely end ;
they had lost their daughter, who was a bright little
Christian, some years ago, and now the old man is
left alone in his sorrow.
Another worker is Mr. Dzing, who was brought to
us when quite a little lad ; his mother was dead, and
his father a wretched opium-smoker, who had sold his
younger brother for a few dollars to a man who took
him off in a Fuhkien junk, where he knew not. He
was about to sell this little fellow, when a relative
rescued and brought him to our school. He was a
nervous boy, and for months Mr. Stott was pained to
see him timidly shrink from him ; but love and kind-
124 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
ness won its way, and he became quite confiding. His
father left the district and troubled no more about
his child, who was thus left absolutely on our hands.
He was a quiet, studious lad, and it was seldom we
had to find fault with his conduct ; he was good and
obedient, and outwardly all we could desire, but
several years passed before the truth took possession
of his heart. When he was old enough he wanted to
learn foreign printing, and our mission press being
in Chin-kiang, we sent him there in the hope he
would learn that trade. The reports we had of his
conduct were satisfactory, but there was no one to
teach printing, and as far as learning the trade was
concerned it was a failure. He had the advantage,
however, of going to several places, visiting Japan
amongst the others, so that he returned to us quite a
travelled Chinaman. About 1878 he was converted
and began to take part in preaching, and after a while
he was employed as an evangelist and did good work,
until in an hour of temptation he fell into sin, and
had not only to be dismissed from preaching, but
suspended from the church. His repentance proving
sincere, he was restored ; and three years after again
became a preacher, and has ever since been a faithful,
earnest, and most helpful worker. He is now pastor
of the Bing-yie church ; it was formerly an out-station
from Wenchow, but is now itself a centre, having out-
stations of its own.
" WITNESSES UNTO ME " 125
One of our disappointments in connection with the
young man was his marrying a heathen girl in
preference to a Christian, because the latter have
large or natural feet ; the disgrace of a wife with
these seemed more than he could bear, when there
were but few such, and each one had to bear reproach.
Now it is different. Not only have our girls in-
creased in numbers, but many of our Christian women
have unbound their feet, and are no longer the laugh-
ing stock of their neighbours. Mr. Dzing did not
suffer from this false step so severely as some have
had to do ; his wife was a quiet, nice girl, and after
some years was converted, but she has never been
much help to him, either in the home or in spiritual
life, through the lack of early training.
Another of our old boys is Mr. Tsiu ; he was the
first lad brought to Mr. Stott when he began his
school in 1868. A more hopeless-looking, blank-
faced boy you could hardly meet, and had it not been
for the necessity of making a beginning with any kind
of material that was brought to one's hand, he might
never have been received. His father was dead ; his
mother a hard-hearted woman from the Fuhkien
border, who had drowned two of her girls kept a low-
class inn, and was utterly without principle ; his elder
brother was a wretched opium-smoker. This boy had
been born paralysed down one side, and it was be-
cause he could neither work nor walk properly, and
126 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
was therefore only a burden, that he was brought to
the foreigner.
Mr. Stott's faith in the power of God was great,
and he trusted that even this unpromising lad might
yet be a useful witness for Christ, and he was not
disappointed. He learned quickly and became a
good scholar ; he had been in the school about four
years, and understood well the plan of salvation,
though he had not accepted it. Our old Ning-po
woman induced him to read the Scriptures to her
every night, and on one occasion she said to him,
" How is it you can read so beautifully and yet don't
believe ? " He replied, " I am not good enough."
" Oh," she answered, " you are like the man who went
into the feast without the wedding garment ; you
don't want Christ's robe, but are trying to make your
own do." A few nights after he dreamed a strange
dream : he thought he heard the trumpet announce
the Lord's coming ; that in terror he got up, dressed,
and went out to meet Him. When he got into the
courtyard he thought he saw Mr. Stott going out of
the gate ; he called upon him to wait, but Mr. Stott
answered, " No, the Lord has come : I must go out to
meet Him ; you are not saved, you must be left
behind." In terror he awoke, and was glad to find it
only a dream ; but the next day, on telling his
strange story to one of the Christians, the question
was brought home, " What if it had been true ? " He
" WITNESSES UNTO ME " 127
saw his danger, and at once yielded his heart to the
Lord, and we have never had cause to doubt the
reality of his conversion, though some weak points
have often given us sorrow. He became an eloquent
effective preacher, and was for several years my hus-
band's right hand.
When he was about twenty-eight years of age, his
mother, without consulting him, engaged him to a girl
from a disreputable family. We feared that such a
union could only lead to trouble, and strongly urged
him to cancel the engagement. This he several
times tried to do, but his mother always went into
floods of tears, and the girl said the disgrace would
be more than she could bear, and that she would
certainly drown herself. The sight of his mother's
tears and the girl's distress would overcome him,
and they were not slow to see their advantage. We
tried every way to get him out of the difficulty, even
offered to refund the money that had been paid for
her, for we could foresee that a girl brought up as
she had been, and with the evil tendencies which she
undoubtedly had, could be nothing but a curse to
him. For a few years he waited in the hope that
some way would be found out of the difficulty, but at
last he married her, much to our distress. It turned
out as we feared : a blot and a curse seemed to follow
him ; his Christian life, bright and unsullied, began
to be heartless ; he hardly dared to lift his head
128 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
among other honourable men, for his wife, careless
and extravagant, brought him to endless difficulties.
Again and again he was helped, only to have the old
story repeated, his wife could not keep out of debt.
Several children were born, but were ill cared for.
He began to lose the respect and confidence of the
church members, and at last we had to remove him
from being pastor, through no actual sin of his own,
though certainly through his weakness, for a stronger
minded man would have managed better.
He is now a teacher of the language to two of the
young ladies. It is seldom one can set aside God's
revealed will without suffering, and he has suffered
sorely. Many a time he has said to me, "If her soul
were only saved, I could wish her dead." Still in
many ways he is useful, both in taking gospel meet-
ings and Bible classes.
CHAPTER X
" How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things !" ROM. x. 15.
Z-NUE was another of our schoolboys who was
much owned of God ; he was brought to us when
about eleven years of age. I well remember seeing a
little bright-faced lad led in, clad in a rather nice
though worn silk garment. I was surprised to see a
boy of such well-to-do appearance, for surely, thought
I, the father who could clothe his son in silk, could
afford to give him rice ; for up to this point no one
had come to the school for the sake of the education
and training, in every case they were too poor to give
them food. Now here is an exception, thought I, the
first of a superior set of boys. But alas ! the next
morning the father came with a profuse apology the
silk garment had been borrowed, and must be returned
to its owner ; and when it was taken off, oh ! what
rags, and dirty rags too. I had at once to have new
clothes made for the little fellow, and the old ones
burnt. From the first he took a liking for us ; there
10
130 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
was nothing of the shyness and fear that most ex-
hibited for a few days. Some of the other boys
would laugh at him when he came up with a bright
smile, perfectly fearless, to share with me some of the
beans and nuts, or anything else that had been given
to him, and when he could get a flower to present me
with he was highly delighted. Slowly the truth began
to take possession of his young mind ; with him there
was no sudden conversion, but rather a gradual taking
in and understanding of the truth ; but the change in
his life was no less decided, and when he was fourteen
years of age, there being no doubt in our minds as to
the reality of his conversion, he was baptized and
received into church fellowship. He continued his
studies for a few years longer, and it was in the mean-
time, while still considered a schoolboy, that he went
to Bing-yie, and was the means of the conversion of
the old man, worshipping in the temple, mentioned
before.
For fourteen years afterwards he was a consistent,
godly, and earnest Christian, and for nearly ten years
of that time a faithful preacher. He contracted
disease of the lungs, and in spite of every effort to
save so valuable a life, God took him when he was
about twenty-eight years of age. Eternity alone will
reveal how many he was the means of leading to
Christ, for winning souls was almost a passion with him.
When he was about twenty-five years of age, his
" THE GOSPEL OF PEACE " 131
parents, without his knowledge or consent, betrothed
him to a young girl of fourteen, and at this we were
greatly grieved, for we had hoped he would have married
a Christian from the school, and thus be helped in his
work. However, engagements entered into by parents
are not to be set aside, and there was nothing for it
but to try and get the girl into the school, and to
seek by God's blessing to win her to Christ. The
parents on both sides being willing she was brought,
under a written agreement, to remain with us for five
years ; when she arrived from the country she was
taken first of all to her future husband's home, and
introduced to the family as their daughter, and by
them brought to us. She was a very pretty girl,
bright and more obedient than most were when first
they came to us. We were therefore the more sur-
prised when three or four days afterwards she dis-
appeared ; we searched everywhere, sent to the young
man's home, but no trace of her could be found. A
messenger was sent to her own home, where she was
found quietly doing household work ; she had run off,
asked her way to the north gate, took her passage in
a boat without any money to pay it, and arrived at
her mother's house after six hours' journey. It was
the most plucky thing I had ever known a Chinese
girl to do, and when she returned with the messenger
I decided to take very little notice of the escapade,
thinking that fear of the foreigner was the cause ; but
132 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
when about a week after that she was caught in the
act of running away a second time, we decided to take
some action. I put her in a room and told her that,
not having time to speak to her now, I must lock the
door, as she was not to be trusted. It was more than
an hour afterwards before I could return ; I asked
her to tell me plainly what her difficulty was ; why did
she run away ? No answer. Was she afraid of me ?
She said " No." Were the other girls unkind to her ?
She answered " No." Why then had she run away,
for no one had ever done so before ? For a time she
was silent, but I encouraged her to speak, promising,
if it was anything I could remove, it should be done.
She then opened up her heart quite freely. She said
she had been engaged contrary to her own wish, and
when she was brought to the young man's home, and
saw how very poor they were, and that even their
language she did not understand (they were Tai-chow
people), she determined she would not marry him.
But, I said, you don't know the young man himself,
you have never seen him ; if you did, perhaps you
would change your mind. But she answered, " No ;
I would like to stay here, and if you will promise me
I need not marry into that family I shall stay and
do all you tell me." I pointed out how impossible
it was for me to give such a promise, that the engage-
ment contracted by parents on both sides was binding ;
"but," I said, "I can promise one thing, that if you will
"THE GOSPEL OF PEACE" 133
wait quietly for three years, during which time you
will have opportunities of seeing the young man ; if,
then, after knowing him better, you are still of the
same mind, still unwilling to marry him, I will use my
influence with him, and I have little doubt but that
he will release you." At that her face brightened ;
she said, " If you will promise me that, it will be all
right ; you need not lock the door, for I shall not try
to run away again." And from that time she scarcely
ever gave me an anxious thought, being both obedient
and affectionate, learned quickly, and became a true
Christian. Before the three years were over the young
man's mother died, and she of her own accord put on
mourning for her, thus showing that she had accepted
him.
When we left for England in 1887, Z-niie was
evidently dying of consumption, and we, fearing his
father might sell her to some other man, obtained,
with the girl's consent, a document from him handing
the girl over to us, we on our part promising to return
the betrothal money paid by his father ; so that after
his death she was perfectly free. She was later on
married to a Christian young man.
Another interesting case was that of Ling-ah-chang,
who lived outside the east gate ; he was an iron-
beater by trade. I cannot now recall the incidents
of his conversion, but he became a very earnest,
useful Christian. He started a meeting in his
134 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
mother's house, so that the neighbours around might
hear of Christ, and became quite eloquent in preach-
ing. His mother and brother were converted through
his instrumentality. After two or three years he
became a useful local preacher. In 1888, when we
were in England, Mr. G. engaged him first as an
evangelist and afterwards as pastor of a small church,
and from that time he has been doing good and
earnest work. His dear old mother died last year, a
most triumphant death, rejoicing in the prospect of
being with Christ, which she realised was " far better."
He married one of the girls from the school, and she
has been a great help in work amongst the women.
Mr. Tsie was a native of the Dong-ling district,
where he worked at his trade, that of a shoemaker.
About seventeen years ago, when twenty-two years
of age, he first heard of the " foreign doctrine "
through a Christian relative of his who lived near
by. This Christian at last persuaded him to attend
the Sunday services held at our chapel ten miles off.
Mr. Stott went there once a month to instruct the con-
verts, and, assisted by good native preachers, faithfully
told out the gospel story. The young man attended
pretty regularly for about two months, but under-
stood very little. Nothing of the precious truth
seemed to enter his heart or find any lodgment there.
He would sneer to himself as the believers sung the
hymns which sounded so outlandish to him, and
" THE GOSPEL OF PEACE " 135
would say to himself, " Well, those are barbarian
sounds ; those who believe this foreign gospel will
turn rebels soon, and we shall have a rebellion in
the country." After that he relapsed into his old
ways, and absolutely refused to accompany his
relative to the services. Some months passed,
when, without any apparent preparation or cause,
a great change came.
One day he was sitting outside his door mending
shoes. In front was a large tree ; and, as he looked
at it, he began to consider the trunk, branches, and
leaves. There they were, sure enough, but where
did they come from ; there must be a root, even
though unseen by him. Then it flashed across his
mind that that was just like the world. Here was
he ; here were his neighbours and friends, and before
them their fathers and grandfathers and more distant
ancestors ; but, surely, to all, there must be a root
some great ancestor above them all. There and
then he realised the truth that there is a God from
whom we every one have our being.
From that day forward all was changed. When
he wakened in the morning he felt like a new man,
and forthwith, ignorant as he was, he began preaching
the great truth that had taken possession of his heart.
It was some months after this change before he got
assurance that his sins were all forgiven ; but he dates
his conversion from that day, when, as it were, God
136 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
commanded the tree to preach a parable to him.
He understood little of the plan of salvation, and
could not read a character in the Bible, but he spoke
out what he knew. He told of the one true God
of how He has given us all good things we possess,
and yet we daily sin against Him ; and how we all
were deserving of hell fire, but that God would hear
us when we pray to Him, and if we trust Him fully
He would save. On and on he preached in this
strain as long as any would stop to listen, and after-
wards he said it was one of the strangest things to
him that, when able to read the Bible for himself, he
found it tallied exactly with many things he said in
those old days, thus showing that the Spirit in the
Word and the Spirit in the heart is one. His old
relative was delighted, and soon after the preachers
and other Christians, who heard of his changed life
and earnestness, sought to teach him more clearly
about the things of God. It was not long ere all the
Christians in his village suffered severe persecution,
but though he had never heard that the Scriptures
exhorted to endure persecution joyfully, still he and
all did indeed rejoice to suffer for Christ, and in the
midst of the fire sang hymns, prayed, and praised
that they were counted worthy to suffer for His dear
name's sake. In after days he often expressed the
wish that he had now the same deep earnestness and
longing to lead others to the light which he had in
" THE GOSPEL OF PEACE " 137
the beginning of his Christian life. Wherever he
went walking on the roads, in boats, inns, or in
houses he told the story. To him it was so
wonderful, he thought he had only to tell others
and they too would believe.
Later on, Mr. Stott, hearing what a promising
young preacher he seemed to be, invited him to
the Mission House in Wenchow, to study. He
made very rapid progress both in his Christian life
and studies. Since then he has been an earnest
and true Bible student. For a few years he con-
tinued at his trade, but at the same time doing all
in his power to help forward the work, and took
regular services in his native village.
In course of time he married one of our Christian
schoolgirls, who has been a true helpmeet to him,
helping in the work amongst women and children,
besides keeping her home in such cleanly comfort
as is seldom seen in China.
In 1887, when the out-stations of Bing-yie and
Dong-ling were given over to two young missionaries
to be henceforth worked as separate stations, Mr.
Stott handed over to them Mr. Dzang and Mr. Tsie
as two of our most efficient helpers. For years he did
valuable work there, until about four years ago, when
he came to help me at Wenchow. He has been my
right hand and greatest comfort since, for though
others have done good and valuable work, he, by
138 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
his deeply spiritual character and knowledge of the
Word of God, has been a most valued teacher, as
well as pastor of our large Wenchow church.
Sa-loe-sz-mo, our Bible-woman, has a bright round
face which beams upon you at all times. I have
often wondered, in looking into that face, whether
her sad life's history, which she had often told, could
indeed be true. Not only has the past been full of
sadness, but even now there is nothing in her home
surroundings which can account for her cheery, happy
smile. Truly God has given her His own peace and
joy, which the world can neither give nor take away.
She was only a little child when she was betrothed
to a man twenty years her senior, and taken to her
future husband's home to be henceforth completely
under the rule of her mother-in-law, who seems to
have been a hard, unkind woman. The child was
both hot-headed and warm-hearted. A little love
would have brought out her better qualities, but with
hard words and harder treatment she grew reckless
and disobedient, ever ready to answer back if found
fault with. Of course this only made her mother-in-
law more unkind and bitter. It was most pathetic
to hear our little woman tell of how desperate she
used to get, and how, after being scolded and beaten,
she longed to put an end to her miserable existence.
Sometimes she even went so far as to try to
"THE GOSPEL OF PEACE" 139'
strangle herself ; but, feeling the choking sensation,
would get frightened and let herself go in time.
How wonderful was God's goodness in restraining
her. She little knew then that she was His chosen
vessel to bring cheer, gladness, and life to many a
heart as sad as her own ; for, alas ! hers was no
uncommon case only a specimen of the many,
many little daughters-in-law living a life of slavery,
receiving as reward scoldings and blows.
About ten years ago, not very long after her mar-
riage, a young neighbour woman became interested
in the gospel. Soon this woman was converted
and became earnest in telling, others the good news.
After her conversion she was visited by Christians
and preachers, who were ever glad of an opening to
tell of Christ's love to those neighbours whom she
had gathered and whom she was anxious to interest
in her new-found treasure. After the first curiosity
was appeased very few cared to listen, and only into
one heart prepared by the Holy Spirit did the seed
seem to fall and take root, and that heart was
Sa-loe-sz-mo's. Impelled by some, as yet, unknown
power, she would go whenever possible, either to hear
her neighbour's visitors, or to talk over the strange
new things with her friend privately. As soon as
her husband and mother-in-law found she was truly
interested in what they called the " foreign doctrine "
they tried to prevent her going out, complained of
i 4 o MISSION WORK IN CHINA
her wasting time, and forbade her to listen any
more. Her only chance, then, was to steal out in
the evening, when her day's work was done, to her
friend's house, and there talk quietly, ask questions,
and learn to pray. For many months things went
on thus, but as she became more and more interested
she longed for more spiritual food and begged to be
allowed to go to the chapel on Sundays. The very
mention of this desire brought down upon her a
storm of petty persecution ; but by that time she
was slowly learning to restrain her tongue, and
instead of answering back, as formerly, would retire
to pray and to ask the Lord to open up a way for
her. She tried very hard every day to be specially
good towards her ill-tempered mother-in-law and
to do more than her usual amount of silk spinning.
By Saturday evening she had succeeded so well,
that when she asked, with fear and trembling, to be
allowed to go to chapel next day, she was surprised
by a favourable reply ; and thus, by dint of great
effort and industry, the little woman used to get
permission to accompany her friend to the Sunday
services, and it was not long before she was truly
converted. After that she had to endure bitter per-
secution. Her husband often beat and ill-used her
for believing " the doctrine," but her manifest change
of behaviour, her industry, patience, and brightness
at last conquered the prejudices of both mother and
"THE GOSPEL OF PEACE" 141
husband. Not long ago, when some of the neigh-
bours laughed at him for his weakness in allowing
his wife to leave the worship of their forefathers, he
answered, "A religion that is able to change and
make her a much better wife must be good, and I
shall not be the one to hinder." The mother-in-law
is now dead, and the husband, though unconverted,
allows her to do as she pleases. She has been an
earnest, active Bible-woman for four years, and has
been the means of leading many of her dark sisters
into the light of God's love. She has unbound her
feet which means a good deal to a Chinese woman
so that she may be better fitted for country work,
as she has often to walk ten or fifteen miles in the
day. Often when we have been out together I have
retired quite worn out with the day's labours, while
she, who had done so much or more than I, would
continue till midnight teaching the Christians and
inquirers.
During the two hottest months, when it is im-
possible to go out much, she refuses her salary,
preferring to support herself by tea-picking, silk-
weaving, or otherwise. She is only thirty years of
age, and thus rather young, according to Chinese
etiquette, to go about alone, and when not accom-
panied by myself or one of the young ladies, I
always send an elderly woman with her ; but her
conduct is so wise and discreet that no one has ever
142 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
hinted that her youth was any barrier to her useful-
ness. Her cheery helpfulness makes her a favourite
with the women, while her sturdy independence calls
forth the respect of all. Her words carry conviction,
so that even rough country men are compelled to
listen to her quietly and respectfully. Her loving
sympathy opens up the hearts of the people, and
prepares the way for any straightforward words she
may have to say about things which are not right
in the lives of any of the Christians. She is not
afraid to speak out, though doing it in such a manner
as rarely produces any bad feeling. We look upon
her as a God-sent gift to the Church.
One of our most devoted and intelligent women is
Ling-di-na, who had formerly been a great opium-
smoker ; she was now a widow, but she had begun
that pernicious habit while her husband was alive, he
too being a victim of the drug. She was a silk-
weaver, and the constant sitting over her work,
together with poor food, brought on a painful internal
trouble, for which she sought relief in opium, and
thus the habit was formed. Soon work, home duties,
and everything good and true was given up, and she
lived only to smoke and enjoy the soothing after-
effects ; as she herself said, " all pride and self-respect
were lost." The confirmed opium-smoker will not
work if he can get the drug without, and, when
reduced to poverty, will pawn or sell everything he
" THE GOSPEL OF PEACE " 143
possesses, even wife, child all must go to procure
that which has become to him more than life. By
and by her husband died, and some time later a
friend, by no means a bright Christian, persuaded her
to accompany her to hear the gospel. She attended
regularly, when one day her only son was taken ill
and died. In her grief she refused to be comforted,
and would not go near the chapel. The Christians,
however, did not forsake her ; they held a little
service over the child, and tried to persuade her
to stay in our compound and break off the opium.
She half promised, and that night knelt down to
pray for the first time. She told God what they
wanted her to do, but that now her baby was gone
she did not care what became of her ; if only she
could see her child again she would be comforted.
They had told her it was in heaven with Jesus, and
that, if she believed, she would go there and see it
by and by. If that were true, and the Lord would
give her some evidence that her child was indeed
living, she would go next day to get the opium
medicine and become a true "Jesus disciple." She
went to bed, and that night was granted to her a
wonderful vision : the room was flooded with light,
and scene after scene was presented to her. I cannot
recall all she said, but in one scene she saw our two
young ladies dressed in white. " Ah, they are in
heaven," she thought; "but my baby is not there."
144 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Again she saw a beautiful boy : " That must be the
Lord Jesus when at twelve years of age he was lost
in Jerusalem." Then she saw a beautiful golden city,
so bright and glorious that she knew at once it must
be heaven ; but still her child was nowhere to be
seen. At last she recognised him sitting on the
golden pavement, as he had often sat on her mud
floor, and her heart bounded with a great joy : " Yes,
he surely was there, and she would believe, so that
by and by she might meet him again."
The next morning saw her early at the C.I.M.
premises, asking medicine to break off the degrading
habit, though she knew it meant much suffering.
This was eight years ago, and her Christian life has
been without a shadow. When we were without a
doctor, and Miss Bardsley was doing what she could
to relieve some of the suffering around, this dear
woman voluntarily gave up two mornings a week to
preach to the women who came for treatment. In
this and other ways she has been ever willing to do
what she could for the spread of the gospel. She is
well fitted for the work of Bible-woman, but physical
weakness prevents her doing much country work,
though she is always willing to accompany one or
other of our young ladies when visiting nearer
places.
CHAPTER XI
" When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee ; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." ISA. xliii. 2.
IN 1886 we were joined by three new workers, Miss
Oliver, who arrived in May, Mr. Grierson in
June, and Mr. Sayers in July. My husband and I
had both felt that the work had grown too heavy for
our shoulders ; I wanted some one to relieve me of
the girls' school, and he wanted young men to do
more of the country work. In the autumn of that
year, Mr. Stott handed over the two churches of
Dong-ling and Bing-yie to the charge of the two
young brethren ; they were to live at Bing-yie and
work in the surrounding districts, so what was an
out-station before, became a new centre, from which
stations were opened, these ever since having been a
separate work. Mr. Sayers, after a few months, left
for Chii-chow, where he was privileged to labour only
a few months, for he was "called home" in the
autumn of 1888. Mr. G. still continues in the
n 145
146 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
charge of the Bing-yie work. In 1887 we felt it
necessary to take a change to England, Mr. Stott
being considerably run down in health ; Miss Oliver,
who had taken charge of the girls' school, was then
engaged to Mr. G., in whose care the Wenchow
church was left during our absence. They were
married in 1888, and on my return went back to
their own work at Bing-yie.
Mr. Stott's health began to fail almost as soon as
we left China, and by the time we reached England
he was very ill ; congestion of the lungs, combined
with weak action of the heart, caused such difficulty
of breathing that to lie down was impossible. Night
and day he sat in patient suffering for a year and
eight months, although for most of that time he was
able to go about and enjoy nature in all her lovely
forms. After three months spent with dear friends
in London we went to Dartmouth, and remained the
winter and spring of 1887 and 1888 with the Misses
Teage ; there he was surrounded with every comfort
that love and kindness could devise. He had a
donkey-carriage and drove himself for miles round
the lovely country, while I walked and talked by his
side. That winter was a memory he loved to dwell
upon, the dear friends making a deep impression
upon his heart.
Being in Scotland in the summer of 1888, we
were invited to join Drs. Gordon and Pierson in a
" WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WA TERS " 147
missionary tour, and as an eminent physician en-
couraged us with his opinion that frequent change
of scene would benefit the dear invalid, we accom-
panied them. We had most remarkable blessing
during the six weeks in which we visited all the
principal cities and towns in the north ; large
numbers, attracted by the eloquence of Drs. Gordon
and Pierson, left deeply impressed by the wonderful
story of what God had done among the heathen.
Mrs. Gordon and I conducted ladies' meetings in eack
place, I frequently speaking in the evening meetings
as well ; but while it was my privilege to engage in
this more public work in my husband's stead, helped
by his encouragement, sympathy, and prayers, he was
doing a no less blessed work, for, though unable to
attend any of the meetings, the holy, sweet influence
of his life was telling most powerfully on those
around him. Everywhere our kind entertainers were
deeply impressed with his not only patient but cheer-
ful suffering, and many were won by him then who
have been my warm friends ever since.
At the end of this tour the doctor said Mr. Stott
was decidedly better, and if he would spend the
winter in the south of France he might yet recover.
So in November we left for Cannes, where we spent
several months in a bright sunny home for invalids ;
but, in spite of care and doctors' skill, the disease
gained upon him until, on April 21, 1889, Easter
148 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Sunday, he most triumphantly entered into the
presence of his Lord.
As he was evidently, though slowly, growing
weaker, I asked the doctor if the place were suitable,
or if a change of climate would be of any use. He
answered he would like a consultation before giving
me an answer, for if it was as he feared no change
would be of any use. After the consultation, my
husband, looking the doctor full in the face, said,
" Do you think I shall be able to return to China ? "
The doctor, not wishing to tell the sad truth, turned
the question aside. Mr. Stott, seeing the evasion,
said, " Don't be afraid to tell me the worst, for there
is no worst for me, thank God. I have had twenty
years' service for Him in China ; I did wish to go
back, but if He says no, why should I desire it? I
am willing to stay and suffer if it is His will ;
willing to go to China if it be His will." And
then with a bright smile he added, " Why, I believe
I am willing to go half-way to China and then go to
heaven, if that were His will." The doctor looked
at him earnestly and said, " I envy you." He then
told him plainly there was no hope of recovery. Not
a shadow crossed the face ; he knew where his home
was and longed to go. I was not unprepared ; I saw
the daily weakening of the poor body and feared
there could be no return of strength ; but it was
more difficult for me to submit to God's will. To
" WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WA TERS " 149
him God's will had ever been first, and he had no
hard lesson to learn.
I remember a lady, who was strongly impressed
with faith-healing views, talking with him during his
first few months of illness. She said it was only a
matter of faith ; he might be better if he would ; it
was so easy just to have faith in God, and it would
be done. She asked, "Don't you think God could
heal you and send you back to your loved work ? "
He replied, " My difficulty does not lie there ; I know
Pie could ; but God once gave the desire of the heart
and sent leanness to the soul. I do not want that.
He knows if He gave me strength it will be used for
His service, and if weakness, it will be borne for Him.
I want Him to have His own way with me all through."
The lady had nothing to answer ; I think she must
have felt as I did, that it was better to lie passively
in God's hands than to refuse to suffer.
But I did not learn the lesson so quickly ; for a
long time I wrestled and struggled for his life. For
a while I hid from him my distress ; but one night,
unable to bear any longer, I sobbed out that I could
not let him go. Calmly and quietly he said, " Not
yet, dearie, not yet ; God will make you willing when
the time comes." Three days after, God caused me
to triumph in Christ, my will was swallowed up in
His will, and all was peace. That evening, kneeling
by his side, I was for the first time able to ask God
150 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
to take him home, gently, quietly, and painlessly, and
to take him soon. While I was praying he gave a
sigh of relief and said, " Thank God." When I had
finished praying he said, " You don't know how much
good these words have done me ; I knew God would
bring you to that point before He called me away.
I was only waiting to hear you say such words as
these ; I have nothing more to desire all is
well."
For six weeks after this we lived together on the
borderland ; not for one moment did I ever wish to keep
him back. We talked and prayed much, and almost
went into heaven together ; we made my plans for the
future, even to the month in which I should start for
China ; all had been talked over, and I was able to
carry out the arrangements made by him even to the
letter. It was a great joy to him to know that I was
going back to take up his work, and to be both father
and mother to the people he loved so dearly, for we
had been as one in the work. When I asked if he
had any instructions for me, he said, " No, you know
the people and work as well as I, and will do just as
I have done I have no care about that ; only give
the native Christians my love, and tell them I would
have returned to them if I could, but I shall wait for
them, and by and by we shall meet."
The very wonderful way in which he realised the
Lord's presence is related in a small pamphlet
" WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WATERS" 151
entitled, " In Memoriam : George Stott," published
by Morgan and Scott. From this I quote the fol-
lowing letters, written to our C.I.M. secretary :
" MAISON BLANCHE,
"ROUTE DE GRASSE, CANNES,
"April 23, 1889.
"DEAR MR. BROOMHALL, It was my privilege
to be with our dear departed brother, Mr. Stott,
during his last night on earth, and a few particulars
of the closing scene will, I know, be acceptable to
you. Slowly, during many weeks of pain, the earthly
house of this tabernacle was being dissolved, and on
Saturday evening, about 9.30, one of the sisters came
over to say that his sufferings had become more
intense, and the end seemed approaching. I was in
the act of reading in the Christian classics, 'De
Incarnation Verbi Dei/ the account by Athanasius
of the triumphs of the early Christians and martyrs
over death, due to their Lord and Master, who, by
His Cross and Resurrection had vanquished death, so
that they no longer feared but despised it. ( For,'
says he, * as when the sun rises after the night has
passed, and the whole globe is illuminated by it, it is
not at all doubtful that it is the sun which has shed
its light everywhere, and has driven away the dark-
ness and enlightened all things ; so death being
utterly despised and trampled down from the time
152 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
when the Saviour's saving appearance in the body,
and end upon the Cross took place, it is perfectly
clear that it is the Saviour Himself, who appeared in
the body, who brought death to naught, and daily
exhibits trophies against it in His own disciples.
For when one sees men, who are by nature weak,
leaping forth to death and not cowering before its
corruption, nor displaying fear at the descent into
Hades, but with zealous soul provoking it ; and not
shrinking from tortures, but for Christ's sake pre-
ferring rather than this present life to rush upon
death ; or, too, if one be a beholder of men and
women and young children rushing upon and leaping
forth to death for the religion of Christ ; who is so
simple, or who is so unbelieving, or is so incapaci-
tated in mind, as not to perceive and draw the con-
clusion that Christ, to whom the men bear witness,
Himself bestows and gives to each the victory over
death, rendering it utterly weak in each of those who
hold His faith and bear the sign of the Cross ? ' It
was thus, I thought, sixteen hundred years ago, but
how many times, in common with all Christian
workers in this land, I have heard the popular
dictum, Le Christianisme a fait son temps, * Chris-
tianity has had its day/ * It is used out ' ? And as I
went forth to witness for the first time a death-bed
scene, this thought was uppermost, * Will it ratify the
affirmation of Athanasius, and show that after six-
" WHEN THOUPASSEST THROUGH THE WATERS" 153
teen centuries the virtue of the Cross and Resurrec-
tion is in no degree diminished ?'
"Entering the chamber, I saw our dear brother
sitting up in the armchair, supported by his dear
wife and one of the nursing sisters. It was one of
the distressing features of his illness that he was
unable to lie down, and all these weary weeks of
pain had been passed sitting, with no possibility of
supporting the poor head or giving the body relief,
only by occasionally leaning forward. The strong
man was bowed, and poor nature was in a pitiable
plight. The props of the tent were being taken
away, and the suppressed groans of the sufferer told
of the silver cord being loosed, and the links being
broken which bound the spirit to the earthly tene-
ment.
"When he knew I was present he expressed a
decided wish that I should stay with him, which I
was only too glad to do ; and as I look back on that
night, I feel that not for any consideration would I
have missed that scene of suffering and holy triumph.
Never before did I know how truly death is a van-
quished enemy, its empire overthrown and its sceptre
destroyed. During eight hours we witnessed the
King of Terrors doing his worst. The combat was
a fierce one, blow after blow was dealt, strong pains
were tearing at the vitals ; the anguish of dissolution
was there, but not for one moment did the spirit
154 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
falter. With every moment's respite from pain he
collected his little strength to give forth some word
of testimony that the Lord was near, and doubt and
fear far away. ' It is only the poor body that is
suffering/ he said ; ' the soul is happy.' Early in
the evening he said, ' I bless God that thirty years
ago He washed me from my sins in His precious
blood, and now the sun is shining without a cloud ' ;
and thus with unfaltering faith, and with unwavering
hope, he went down into the valley of the shadow.
" Before leaving my house it came to my mind to
glance at the portion for the evening in ' Daily
Light,' and there indeed was a highway 'cast up.'
Beautiful and appropriate it was, beginning with
the words, * It is I ; be not afraid. When thou
passeth through the waters I will be with thee ; and
through the rivers they shall not overflow thee ; when
thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be
burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee :
for I am the Lord thy God, thy Saviour. Though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death I
will fear no evil : for Thou art with me ; Thy rod and
Thy staff they comfort me. Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword ? ' I took it with me, that dear Mr. Stott
might have a word like apples of gold in pictures of
silver. In this { royal road ' we saw him advance,
" WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WA TERS " 155
treading down with triumphant faith the powers of
sin, and death, and hell.
"The words he repeated the most were, 'Come
Lord Jesus, come now, come now/ often reaching
out his arms to welcome the Lord, whom he felt was
indeed drawing near. Once or twice, in moments of
extreme pain, his cry went up, 'O Lord, help me; Lord,
have mercy upon me.' The Lord heard him in the
day of his distress, and strengthened him in the dire
conflict. We sought to supply stones for his steps,
as he forded the dark stream ; words of life came
spontaneously to our lips, and it was grand to see
how his faith appropriated them. When his dear
wife reminded him that he would soon hear the
Master's ' Well done, good and faithful servant, enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord,' his soul seemed to
revel in the thought. ' Enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord, of thy Lord/ he repeated again and again ;
then turning it into a prayer, and stretching out his
hands, he said, ' Let me enter now, enter now, into
the joy of my Lord, the joy of my Lord.'
" He had feared lest in his weakness and suffering
some impatient word should escape him, and he
should thus dishonour his Lord : he had begged his
dear wife to put it down to nature's weakness ; but
her prediction was verified, the Lord's grace was all
sufficient ; no murmuring or impatient word passed
his lips ; while his deep gratitude and affection for
156 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
the smallest service rendered him were touching and
beautiful to see, and every one felt it a privilege to
wait upon him.
"And thus the hours passed, he fighting the last
battle ; his dear wife, worn with many watchings,
wearied out physically but wonderfully supported in
spirit, with words of faith and hope cheering him
as he breasted the billows, and watching for his
release.
"Prayers from many loving hearts in England,
China, and France, were being answered that night.
There could be no doubt about it. And the word
the memory of that scene calls up spontaneously to
my mind is * Mahanaim,' for that chamber of death
was then the rendezvous of the hosts of God.
"It was six in the morning ; nature outside was
awaking in the first fresh joy of morning light.
The sun had risen in a sky of cloudless blue. The
birds were singing their morning song just outside
the slightly opened window, while the carillon of the
Easter bells came sounding joyously through the air
Within we were standing on the borderland, close by
the gates which were opening to another who, having
fought the good fight through Christ, was more than
conqueror. The change had come, the contracted
features and glazing eye told that the last struggle
was entered on. A hurried ' He is going ' escaped
us. I did not expect to hear him speak again, and,
" WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WA TERS " 157
as consciousness seemed fading, I said, ' The Master
is come, and calleth for thee.' He took it in, and to
my surprise, with a last effort, said, * Then lift me
up, that I may give another note of praise/ Putting
my arms around him, I drew him gently forward.
Then as fast as his poor breath came he turned it
into praise. ' Praise the Lord, bless His holy name/
he repeated again and again.
" It was wonderful to listen to, and I could not help
saying to the dear companion of his life and labours,
who on her knees, with only half-suppressed cries
from the pangs which were rending her own heart,
was holding his hands and watching the shadows of
death as they passed over his face, ' This is a pre-
cious legacy he is leaving you.' They were like words
of triumph coming out of the very realms of death.
1 Do you know me, precious one ? ' she asked.
' Know you, Gracie ? it would be strange if I didn't
know you,' was the reply. Then with a strength
that surprised me, he added, 'We have rallied to-
gether around that dish of fruit' one of their last
conversations had been about the fruit of the Tree of
Life * many a time, and the King in His beauty was
there. Farewell, Gracie ; don't speak to me again, I
am going to see the King.'
" Those were hallowed moments. Sceur Achard, the
directress, and another of the sisters had joined us.
Most tenderly and faithfully had they done 'what
158 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
they could' for him. M. Louis, the manservant,
was helping me to support him; while before him,
kneeling, was she from whom the desire of her eyes
was being taken. Our tears were flowing fast, though
we hardly knew why. He was looking on things
which to us were invisible, and hearing sounds our
dull ears could not catch. We could hear him say in
a low whisper, 'Come, Lord Jesus Lord, take my
spirit;' then he said, 'Coming, coming come, come.'
With these last words our beloved brother, George
Stott, went in to see the King in His beauty, on
Easter morning, at half-past six.
"Nature's pent-up grief broke forth in brief cries and
sobs, but they were happy tears. ' I don't mourn for
him,' said his dear wife, ' I mourn for myself. He is
happy he is at rest now.'
"And so we knelt together to praise Him who had
given us that night to see that death has no sting, and
the grave no victory. 'As then,' says Athanasius, 'it
is possible to see with the eyes that these things are
true, so when death is mocked and despised by the
believers in Christ, let him no longer doubt, let no one
be wanting in faith that by Christ death was brought
to naught and its corruption destroyed and put an
end to.' Having seen with our eyes, we set the seal
of truth to this testimony.
" We buried him yesterday in the Cannes cemetery.
The Rev. P. W. Minto conducted the service. A
" WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WA TERS " 159
number of Christian friends were present. All who
knew him loved him as a true man of God, and a
faithful servant of Christ. Among those present was
Mr. W. T. Berger, his lifelong friend, from whose
house, twenty-four years ago, he had started for the
scene of his life's labour in distant China. In a few
brief but beautifully appropriate words, Mr. Berger
spoke of the zeal and love which had animated him in
his work for Christ. He addressed words of loving
sympathy and consolation to the widow, and reminded
us all, for each of us the day was hastening to its
close, and that we should work ere the night cometh.
Then we laid him to rest, singing over his grave the
Christian's 'Good Night':
* Sleep on, beloved, sleep and take thy rest ;
Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour's breast ;
We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best.
Good-night ! Good-night ! Good-night !
Until the Easter glory lights the skies,
Until the dead in Jesus Christ arise,
And He shall come, but not in lowly guise.
Good-night ! '
There we left the body, sleeping in joyful hope of the
resurrection, * till the day dawn and the shadows flee
away.'
" I remain, dear Mr. Broomhall, with Christian love,
"Yours sincerely,
" H. WEBBER."
CHAPTER XII
"The memory of the just is blessed." PROV. x. 7.
A NOTHER testimony must be given, for it comes
-*^ from one whose kindness ought to be mentioned
as an example for the imitation of others.
" DEAR MR. BROOMHALL My acquaintance with
our dear departed friend, Mr. Stott, began in, I think,
the year 1868. My brother-in-law had convened at
his house a meeting of friends who were interested
in foreign missionary work. There was a good
attendance, and it was agreed that each one present
should put themselves in communication with some
labourer in the foreign field, and that later on another
meeting should be held, when replies received should
be read. I cannot help thinking such a plan, if more
often adopted, would be the means not only of bring-
ing refreshment to our fellow-labourers in the regions
beyond, but would also enable those at home more
160
" THE MEMORY OF THE JUST 7S BLESSED" 161
definitely and intelligently to remember them at the
throne of grace.
" I was unable to attend the meeting to which I
refer, until just at the close, when I found that the
name of Mr. George Stott, of Wenchow, whom I had
never seen and whose name in connection with the
newly formed C.I.M. I barely knew, was allotted to me.
I at once wrote, and was very gratified in due course
to receive an appreciative reply. I regret a second
meeting was never held and, so far as I know, none
present at the first continued their correspondence.
But Mr. Stott and I regularly wrote to each other for
nine years, when it was my privilege personally to
become acquainted with him and Mrs. Stott on their
visit to England. The correspondence continued
without interruption ever after, and it was a great
pleasure to receive them into our home, although he
was in such a weak state when they arrived from
China, via U.S.A., eighteen months ago.
"I cannot tell you the blessing this long friendship has
been to me ; and the pleasure of the service, which many
might easily undertake and maintain, is one I would
willingly commend to others. The insight which dear
Mr. Stott's letters have given me into his patient self-
denying labours (which by God's blessing have been
attended with so much success) have taught me many
lessons which I trust never to forget, and my earnest
desire for myself and all who have known and loved
12
1 62 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
him, is that we may by grace be enabled to follow him
as he followed Christ (i Cor. xi. i). Our sorrow is not
without hope, and the thought of our own loss is out-
weighed by the contemplation of his great gain, who
has now been called to enter into the joy of his Lord.
" Believe me, my dear Mr. Broomhall,
"Yours faithfully,
"JOHN F. ALLEN."
Mr. Broomhall adds : " It is not a little remarkable
that one who had to do with Mr. Stott's going out to
China in 1865, who had been his faithful friend and
correspondent all through his missionary life, should
be residing at the place of his death and have the
opportunity at his graveside to bear testimony, such
as from fulness of knowledge but few others could
bear, to the faithful service of his life ; but this was
Mr. Berger's privilege, and that which was the peculiar
privilege of the living was the special and deserved
honour of our departed brother."
Mr. Berger wrote as follows :
" VILLA TALBOT, CANNES,
"April 23, 1889.
" DEAR MR, BROOMHALL, Who can estimate the
issue of a single grain of wheat falling into the ground
and dying? Many lives will surely spring up therefrom
and in consequence thereof. It has pleased God to
" THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED " 163
take to Himself His faithful servant, George Stott,
late of Wenchow, China, than whom it would be
difficult to find one more devoted and steadfast in
prosecuting the work he believed the Lord had given
him to do. We committed his remains to the tomb
yesterday afternoon, to await the voice of the Son of
God calling those who shall hear it (His sleeping
saints) to come forth from their graves, that they with
the changed living ones may together ascend to meet
and be with the Lord for ever.
" We have reason to believe that Mr. Stott's twenty-
three years' labour in China has been greatly owned
and blessed, he having left in existence in Wenchow
and its neighbourhood (where, if I mistake not, no
foreign missionary had previously laboured) three
native churches, numbering in all about three hundred
members besides as many attendants, to say nothing
of the schools he inaugurated. You will pardon my
entering thus into details, when I tell you that I made
Mr. Stott's acquaintance prior to his going to China
in the year 1865, he being one of the five who went out
when the China Inland Mission was but in its incipient
state. His works do follow him. In thus writing, we
do not glory in George Stott, but in the Lord, who
wrought the works by His servant,
" Of his devoted wife I must abstain from writing,
but ask that much prayer may ascend to God on her
behalf. Her heart seems set on returning to China to
164 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
carry on the work she left as far as it may be in her
power to do so. After twenty-three years' correspon-
dence with Mr. and Mrs. Stott, I look back with
the most pleasing remembrance of the same, and
rejoice if in any measure I can be considered as
having had partnership in their labours.
" I remain, dear Mr. Broomhall,
" Faithfully yours,
"W. T. BERGER."
A lady who had spent the winter at the Asile, and
had thus become acquainted with Mr. Stott, now
herself in the presence of the King, wrote :
"ASILE EVANGELIQUE,
" ROUTE DE GRASSE, CANNES,
u April 25, 1889.
"DEAR SIR, As one who had the privilege of
spending this winter with Mr. Stott at the Asile, I feel
I should like to send a few lines to tell you how bright
a memory he has left behind with us of faith and
patience and cheerful acquiescence in God's will ; in-
deed, that will was evidently his delight, whether it
meant doing or suffering. When speaking about
plans for the future soon after he came, he said ' if it
were the Lord's will he would like either China or
heaven/
We were struck with the way in which he entered
" THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED " 165
into and enjoyed everything, notwithstanding his
weary nights, always spent sitting up in his chair ;
and his graphic descriptions of his life and work in
China (work so dear to him) were an unfailing source
of interest. He was quite the life of our little party
here, until extreme weakness and suffering made
speaking too great a fatigue.
" I was prevented by illness from intercourse with
him for some little time, and when able to see him
again found a great change for the worse had taken
place. Dropsy had then set in, and, after a consulta-
tion, the doctors gave no prospect of recovery or of
his being able to return to China. He took this
decision calmly and cheerfully, comforting his dear
wife with ' Never mind, dear ; nothing can really hurt
us, you know.' One day, when I spoke of the dis-
comfort his swollen leg must cause him, he said, ' Oh,
it is all quite right, my mind is kept continually in
peace night and day, and as far as I know myself, I
can say I am ready at any moment the Lord shall
call me.'
" Several weeks of great suffering and weakness
followed, borne with such Christian courage and
patience as we can never forget. Sick people in the
house were enabled to bear their burdens more cheer-
fully on hearing of him and servants and all who had
to do with him, spoke of the wonderful way in which
he bore his illness. There was not an approach to a
166 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
murmur in his most painful moments, and always a
word of welcome to those who entered his room. His
gratitude for the least service or attention was very
touching. He was loved by all.
" The Friday before his death, I went in to see him
for a few minutes. He said, * I am getting very near
the kingdom now;' and then as I took leave of him,
'God bless you; perhaps the next time we meet will
be in glory.' The following evening we knew that
the last struggle had begun; but even during that
Saturday night he was full of praise to God, and was
able to rise in a remarkable way above the bodily
distress. * It is only the poor body that suffers/ he
said, to those who were watching, * my mind is full of
peace and joy.'
"Almost his last breath was spent in praising God.
He asked to be raised up a little in his chair, saying,
'I want to sound one more note of praise,' and then
began, ' Bless the Lord, O my soul,' and shortly after-
wards he said, ' Coming, coming, come,' and fell asleep
in Jesus.
"It seemed, that Sunday morning, as if the gates of
the heavenly city had been thrown open so wide to
receive him, that we, too, had a foretaste of its peace
and joy. We sorrow with dear Mrs. Stott in her great
loss, and pray that the Lord may be very near her in
her loneliness, and that He will strengthen her to
carry on the work for Him in China, which she loves
THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED " 167
so well, for the ' little while ' until they meet again in
His presence. For us, amongst whom they have been
this winter, their sojourn will be a precious remem-
brance of God's power to sustain, strengthen, and
cheer in the time of trial.
<: Believe me, dear sir,
"Yours sincerely,
" ELEANOR H. MOOR."
Miss E. R. Teage writes :
" It is so blessed to think of our dear friend at rest.
What a ' resurrection morning ' it must have been for
him ! but one feels a great blank left. He endeared
himself to all who knew him by his patient, bright
spirit. You will, I know, feel much the loss of dear
Mr. Stott from your Mission ; he was such a faithful
and earnest worker, and has been one with you from
the earliest days of the Mission. We feel so thankful
to the Lord for giving us the honour of having him
under our roof. He was such an example of real,
childlike faith, and so happy. . . . We desire to add
our testimony to that of many others in bearing
witness to the blessed influence he had over those
among whom he stayed during the past eighteen
months, since his return to England. Days and nights
of weariness and suffering were appointed to him, and
although for nearly two years he had been unable,
i68 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
owing to the difficulty of breathing, to lie down and
take a night's rest, yet his bright spirit and childlike
confidence in all the will of God concerning him
seemed never to have been clouded for a moment.
" His heart's desire was to return to the people
among whom he laboured for more than twenty
years, and greatly will he be missed by those dear
native Christians, to so many of whom he was made
the honoured instrument in leading them to the
Saviour. He has now been called to ' rest from his
labours,' but we may truly say, * his works do follow
him ' ; for the little church in the far-off heathen
land, which through God's blessing is the result of
years of patient toil and tested faith, stands as a
living witness to the grace and love of God in using
' a poor weak instrument ' (as he himself would often
say) to His glory.
" It was at about the age of eighteen that, owing to
an accident, he was obliged to undergo the amputa-
tion of one leg, and soon after this time of affliction
he was led to rejoice in Jesus as his Saviour. He
then gave himself to the Lord for service, and was
one of the first who went out with the China Inland
Mission, to live among the people for whom he has
since laboured so earnestly. His testimony to the
end has been very bright ; for, though suffering and
extreme weakness have increased day by day, his
spirit has been rejoicing in his Saviour, and his soul
" THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED " 169
full of trust. * Faint, yet pursuing ' was the message
he sent not many days since to some friends, and
again, only four days ago, he said : ' I cannot speak,
cannot sing, cannot pray, can hardly think, but Jesus
is my all in all.' And now the race is run, and he
has heard the welcome call, 'Enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord.' In closing, we would add a verse
of one of his favourite hymns as being so appropriate
to his last moments :
" For me be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live.
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death, as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
' It is well, it is well, with my soul.' "
I also append two letters written by his former
school-boys, which show more than any words of
mine how much he was loved and honoured.
Translation of a Letter written by Tsiu-die-ctiing
" Our pastor, Mr. Stott, came to Wenchow twenty-
four years ago to preach the gospel of Christ. At
that time the good news had not yet been heard in
Wenchow, the Light of God had not then shone upon
the people. No one knew where they came from,
nor where they would go to after death ; all men
were dark and without understanding. Buddhism
and Taoism had spread all over the place, and men
worshipped only the gods they could see.
170 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
" Seeing this, Mr. Stott's heart was pierced as with
a knife ; in private he laboured in prayer that the
good news of the gospel might spread far and near,
nor did he begrudge time or money. For this end he
opened schools, calling in the children of the poor to
learn to read about God. Morning and evening he
himself taught them from the Word of God, to know
that they had souls which would never die. He told
them also that they had sin, that sinners could not
enter the kingdom of heaven ; also that God loved
them and sent His Son into the world to save
sinners.
" Preaching the gospel then was not easy, for when
Mr. Stott first came to Wenchow he did not under-
stand the dialect, and had only a Ning-po man to
help him rent a house and chapel. In the morning
he taught the boys he had gathered into the school,
and in the afternoon he preached in the chapel ; this
he did every day.
" One morning early I remember a rowdy named
Ah-doa came to the gate, and, battering it with
stones, demanded entrance. Mr. Stott asking him
what he wanted, he answered : ' I want to sport
inside ' (aimlessly amuse). He was told to come in
the afternoon. He replied : ' I must get in now.' Mr.
Stott went out to exhort him, when Ah-doa threw a
stone, and had not Mr. Stott put his head a little
on one side, it must have felled him to the ground.
" THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED " 171
" Many were the dangers and trials he passed
through, willing to bear all if only souls were saved.
I was the first boy in school, and learned there for
five years, and afterwards, through the grace of God,
became a preacher.
" When I first entered the school Mrs. Stott had
not yet come to Wenchow, and Mr. Stott suffered
much during the winter from neuralgia in his leg,
but as soon as the pain was gone he was out preach-
ing again. Seventeen years ago he opened a chapel
at Bing-yie, but as soon as opened the people
gathered in crowds, and tried to get up a riot to
drive out the foreigner, forbidding him to preach.
They did not know that Jesus would get the victory;
for now there are over one hundred Christians in that
place, and altogether in and around Wenchow there
are now over three hundred converts. A little over
two years after Mr. Stott came to Wenchow, Mrs.
Stott arrived, and began work among the women and
girls ; as soon as there were converts she instructed
them in the Word of God, and taught them how to
help others, forming them into a missionary band.
" I remember six years ago that the Wenchow
chapel and house and school were burnt down by a
riotous mob. All the foreigners were driven from the
city, and the disciples scattered ; but only a few weeks
had gone by when Mr. Stott returned, and began to
re-build, and during the five months the buildings
172 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
were being erected our pastor had too much to do in
attending to all the work himself. Then they had to
live in the new house before it was quite dry, and
thus, alas ! he caught disease of the lungs.
"Three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Stott left for
England, hoping to return shortly, but the disease
which took our pastor to heaven only developed.
For two years he suffered without complaint, glorify-
ing God, then joyfully ascended to heaven. Mrs.
Stott has returned to Wenchow, remembering that
the sheep were without a shepherd. She would not
leave nor forsake the disciples, and seeing some of
them blind, poor, and old, she has opened homes to
receive such that they might not suffer cold and
hunger in their helpless state. Seeing that Mr. and
Mrs. Stott have so earnestly done the will of God and
kept all His commandments, their future reward must
be great indeed."
Translation of a Letter written by Lui-sie-kwai.
" I wish to write a few lines about our pastor,
named Mr. Stott. His native place was Scotland,
where he was educated. He was sent out to China
by the China Inland Mission to preach the gospel.
His disposition was straight, and righteous, and very
intelligent ; in that respect there are few men like
him. To look upon him was to feel awe, but to know
and come near him he was gentle and gracious. In
" THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED" 173
all matters he thought all round first, and then acted.
His words were few, but his wisdom was great.
Whatever he said he always did ; his power and
influence were felt by all. He might well be called
the pillar of the church at Wenchow; everyone aimed
and desired to be like him. Our pastor for many
years gave himself to teaching and instructing. He
loved much to go out and preach the gospel to others.
He came to Wenchow twenty-four years ago, and two
years later Mrs. Stott joined him. Together they
worked the will of God, happy that they were chosen
for such work, leaving friends and relations and native
country for distant Wenchow, learning our native
dialect so that they might understand our language.
They organised churches, opened and maintained
boarding-schools, not regarding time nor money,
receiving orphans and other poor children, teaching
them to read and understand the Bible. Not afraid
of toil and suffering, he went out to near and distant
places preaching, selling books, and helping the dis-
tressed. All this he did that the gospel might spread
abroad.
" Alas ! the district o.f Wenchow is given up to the
worship of idols more than many other places ;
learned and unlearned alike worship idols. Mr.
Stott seeing things in this condition, his heart was
stirred up like a fire. He prayed, with sorrow and
distress, that God would look down and pity the
174 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
people. Soon God gave the answer, and the gospel
spread to different places. Three churches were
formed at Wenchow, Bing-yang, and Dong-ling. At
each chapel there was a native preacher. Our pastor
was not afraid of toil ; every month he went himself
to those stations preaching, teaching, and examining
converts. In all this work Mrs. Stott was his helper,
she also teaching and instructing women and girls ;
and when souls were saved she taught them how to
help others, and formed a ' Native Women's Mis-
sionary Band/ caring for the helpless and sorrowful,
the cold and the hungry. All that was good con-
nected with the church they earnestly and devotedly
attended to, spending their whole strength in the
work. For many years they thus worked, and are
the foundation of the church. Now there are over
three hundred converts. Is not this good ?
"In 1887 Mr. and Mrs. Stott returned to their
native land to visit once more their relations and
friends. They had only gone a few months when
Mr. Stott developed disease of the lungs. The best
doctors in medicine were called in and used, but it
was God's will to call him home, and after nearly two
years of suffering he fell asleep, joyfully entering the
happy land. When the news reached Wenchow the
church members wept bitter tears, our hearts were
heavy and sad ; but, reflecting on our pastor's virtues,
old and young gave grateful thanks for his grace in
" THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED " 175
teaching them. All who knew and received this grace
feel deeply that they are separated from him, and are
very sad. Thinking of the words and actions of our
beloved pastor, I cannot tell nearly all his goodness,
but send these few lines. Let those who read not
despise my simple words."
The above was sent to the Chinese Christian paper
for publication.
CHAPTER XIII
" He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry ; when
He shall hear it, He will answer thee." ISA. xxx. 19.
DURING the last few weeks of Mr. Stott's life
he frequently prayed that God would raise up
one who might be as a daughter unto me. in whom
my lonely heart might find comfort, and one who at
the same time would be a real help in the work. So
sure did I feel God would answer his prayer that
I was not in the least anxious about the matter, know-
ing that at the right time God would manifest the one
He had in keeping for me. I was to sail in Novem-
ber, but up to October was without guidance in the
matter. When at Keswick Convention in July Miss
Bardsley was introduced to me as a young lady going
out to China in the autumn, how little I then
thought she was the one God had appointed. From
Scotland I wrote to Mr. Broomhall to have my
passage taken for November 28th. Friends thought
I was too rash in deciding the date of my sailing
while as yet no companion had been found ; but God
176
" H WILL ANSWER THEE '' I?;
says, " He that believeth shall not make haste," and
He kept me at rest.
Returning to London in October to spend the re-
maining six weeks with dear Mr. and Mrs. Broomhall,
who had ever been father and mother not only to the
young candidates, but also to the returned mission
aries, I found there was a party sailing the following
week of whom Miss Bardsley was one. The arrange-
ments had all been made, passage taken, " Good-
byes " said, and it seemed as though it were too late
to suggest a change ; yet I felt sure she was the one
whom God had chosen for me. On mentioning this
to Mr. Broomhall, and afterwards to Mr. Taylor, the
suitability was also apparent to them, and they
kindly suggested she should be kept back, while
her place was rilled by another ; and, what was more
remarkable still, upon my asking Miss Bardsley
"whether she would like to accompany me as a
friend and companion ?" she unhesitatingly replied
"Yes," and at the same time told me that it
was the expressed desire both of her father and
mother, who had met me months before. Thus on
all sides God's will was manifested. And now for
six years she has been all my husband prayed for a
loving, helpful daughter.
On November 28, 1889, 1 sailed on my third voyage
for China, accompanied by six young ladies going out
for the first time. We had both a pleasant and profit-
13
178 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
able voyage. We of course went second-class, and
had a full complement of passengers, and for that
reason we had first-class cabins apportioned near the
officers' quarters. The one Miss Bardsley and I had
was a three-berth cabin, large and airy, with two
windows, which kept it delightfully cool, and into
which we packed daily ten for reading and prayer
as soon as the first days of sea-sickness were over.
The captain was a nice, kind man, and the chief
officer a decided Christian. One day while the
former was on his usual tour of inspection, he seemed
amused at seeing so many of us. I laughingly said :
" We are not always so packed, captain ; we have
only gathered for a little prayer," and asked him to
see how beautifully we had managed. He turned to
the purser who accompanied him, and said : " You
are not taking in more passengers, are you?" He
replied : " Yes, sir, at Naples." He then said : " Not
here ; they are full." In this kindly way he gave the
hint to let us have the cabin to ourselves, though it
was fitted up for three.
Amongst our passengers there was a Christian
colonel of the Bengal Army who was a great help
to us, and he, with the captain's permission, began
Bible readings at 10.30 in the second saloon, which
were attended by a fair number of our fellow-pas-
sengers. One day he asked " if I had pluck enough
to give an address, and repeat some of the yarns I
*' HE WILL ANSWER ftiEE " i^
had told him ? " Of course I promised, and a
goodly number attended. The following Sunday
after prayers, read by the captain, a request came
from the passengers that I should give a little account
of the work in China. The captain had the decks
prettily arranged with awning, acted as chairman, and
kindly introduced me. There were about thirty pre-
sent, and before separating they asked for another
similar meeting. These little services, though un-
sought on our part, were gladly welcomed. One of
the passengers, in conversation, said I had just de-
scribed his case ; he had once come to the point of
almost deciding, "and went slowly back," and he
seemed much concerned. Our Christian colonel gave
two most interesting addresses on " The Tabernacle " ;
the captain, one or two officers, and a goodly number
of the first-class passengers attending. The young
ladies held meetings among the sailors, and two or
three professed conversion.
We were sorry to leave our good friends at Colombo,
for we could not help noting the change that had
come over many of our fellow-passengers; dancing and
noisy fun had been discarded, while a few sought
conversation on spiritual things, though at first we had
been avoided. The captain expressed his regret
that he could not take us on to Shang-hai, and in this
regret we all shared.
At Colombo on Christmas Day we transhipped to
i8o MISSION WORK IN CHINA
the S.S. Clyde, where we were delayed four hours
longer than we expected. We had said all our "good-
byes," but the chief officer returned, as he said the
temptation of another sight of us, and good-bye, was
too great to withstand ; he had been so much cheered
and helped by our intercourse. As we passed the
S.S. Rohilla and waived an adieu to our old friends,
the sailors gave us three ringing cheers, and we felt
rather like leaving home again.
We had a rough passage from Singapore, and
reached Shang-hai on January 13, 1890, where we
were lovingly welcomed by many old friends. Ten
letters from different parts of China awaited me, full
of tender sympathy ; but the sorrow and loss pressed
heavily on me, yet above all I could hear His
whisper, " Like as a mother comforteth ... so have
I comforted you " ; and it was blessed to feel able
to say "My will is the will of my God," without even
wishing that it should be otherwise. Miss Whitford,
one of our party, desired, if possible, to work with us
in Wenchow, and as Miss Judd, who had then charge
of the girls' school, was alone, the way seemed opened
for her, and Mr. Stevenson willingly consented, so
she accompanied us.
We reached Wenchow in the morning of February
4th. As soon as we had anchored, I saw Mrs. S.,
of the Methodist Free Church, coming (Mr. S. was in
the country); then Mr. and Mrs. G., and Miss J. of our
HE WILL ANSWER THEE" 181
own Mission ; but the first to meet me were my two
faithful servants. For many years they had served
me with a devotion rarely met with in this country,
and for a moment they seemed to forget their loss in
the joy of seeing me again. All along the road the
Christians were hurrying to bid me welcome, and by
the time I had reached the house many others had
gathered. The news seemed to fly, for by the next
day some had come twenty miles to show their love.
I know not how I got through the first two days ; the
sorrow of our dear people made my heart bleed
afresh, and often as they went into the study, to see
the large portrait of their beloved pastor, tears would
flow as they sobbed, " It is himself, but he cannot
speak to us." "If only he had come back to us for
a few years longer," came from many lips. Dearly
was he loved, and much missed by his people. " O
God, give me all the wisdom and strength needed,
to be a mother to this shepherdless flock," was my
daily prayer. An extract from a letter of Miss
Bardsley's will be interesting at this point:
" I shall never forget the scene on our arrival. The
native Christians had heard the whistle of our steamer,
and surrounded Mrs. Stott at once, and when we got
into the house a few minutes later we found the sitting-
room half filled with them, many crying bitterly, Mrs.
Stott sitting in the middle of them. It was most
touching to see them take her hands and weep over
182 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
them ; this continued all the week. It was a heart-
breaking week. The native Christians came in from all
the country round, many of them walking ten and
twenty miles ; they all went into the study to see the
life-size portrait of Mr. Stott, and at the sight burst
into tears. You have no idea how they love and
honour Mrs. Stott, and they are a nice lot of people
too ; you can see they are Christians by their faces."
Two days after our arrival, Mr. and Mrs. G. left for
their own station, Bing-yie, about thirty-three miles
south of us. Carpenters and bricklayers had soon to
be called in, to repair the damage done by white ants,
as part of the floors were quite eaten through, and the
house needed to be cleaned throughout ; but in three
weeks we were in order again. The Christians were
all eager for me to visit them, so beginning with the
nearest places first, I went to a village seven miles
distant from the city, to the house of a man who had
been for years the only Christian in that place. My
delight was great to find ten converts now, and nearly
as many inquirers. After supper, twenty persons
with Testaments and hymn-books gathered for
evening service. I spoke from John iii., "God's love,"
and was followed by two of the converts, who gave
such addresses as showed how they had grown in
grace. In that village there are now twenty disciples,
and a Bible reading has been conducted by one of
the young ladies every Thursday afternoon. It takes
HE WILL ANSWER THEE" 183
her two hours to go and the same time to return, but
it is labour well spent. This man who was at first
and for years the only Christian, and who endured no
small amount of persecution, has had the joy of seeing
his wife, and wife's mother, his four children, two
sisters-in-law, and a nephew all brought into the fold ;
indeed, one of the encouraging features of our work
now is, that so many families are one in Christ Jesus,
although years often elapse between the first and the
last convert. I had with me a dear woman who has
ever since been a very faithful and much-used Bible-
woman. She with many others had been brought to
the Lord during our absence.
The following Saturday, Miss Bardsley and I went
to Dong-ling. The members there were most urgent
for me to visit them, as many could not come to the
city. We arrived about 6 p.m., the journey taking
six hours, although only twenty miles distant ; Mr.
and Mrs. G., from Bing-yie, joined us. As the people
knew I was coming they turned out in force, the chapel
was crammed from end to end, many standing out-
side. This was the new chapel which had been re-
built in place of the one burned during the riot in
1884, and seated about one hundred ; but there were
quite one hundred and fifty present at both meetings.
I took the afternoon service, and with tears gave them
the last message of their beloved pastor ; they were
all deeply affected.
184 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
It was at this time I began the homes for the blind
men and old widows. We had in the church seven
or eight blind men unable to work for themselves, and
without sons to care for them : my heart was burdened
week by week as I saw them led into the chapel, and
I felt sure God would have me do something for their
relief. There was one dear old saint about eighty,
not blind, for whom I was especially anxious to pro-
vide, and when we got a little house for their accom-
modation this old man could hardly be persuaded to
take sufficient food ; when urged to take advantage
of what had been provided he replied, " I could not
get two meals a day before, why should I eat three
now ? " A few widows in similar circumstances were
also housed in our compound, and for the support
of this, as well as every other branch of the work,
the Lord gave abundantly. Money goes further in
China than in England ; 4. IDS. being ample to sup-
port a man or woman for a year.
From one cause or another, the few whom my
husband had formed into a Volunteer Preachers' Band
had been scattered ; one had died, two had been made
preachers, the others had lapsed ; this branch, there-
fore, had to be re-organised. Villages were crying out
for preachers ; we had none to send, and I was averse
to employing any but, as far as I could judge, " God-
given men." I therefore appealed for volunteers, im-
pressing upon the church members the responsibility
"HE WILL ANSWER THEE" 185
of souls, and urged that as God had sent the gospel
to them, " without money and without price," it was
their privilege as well as duty to give it to others. I
promised to defray travelling expenses of any who
would freely give up the half of Saturday and the
whole of Sunday to gospel work. Four responded
to the first appeal, they were formed into a class, and
districts given them. We had a meeting for prayer
once a month, when they gave me their reports, men-
tioning any cases of interest that had occurred. As
calls for teachers from other villages came, preachers
were forthcoming, until now we have fourteen who
freely give their time to the Lord on Sundays, while
working at their trades and farms during the week.
We felt something must be done for the teaching
of these men, as they were deprived of the Sunday
services, and a few could hardly read, and thus draw
the water of life for themselves to them the well
was deep. After much thought and prayer, we de-
cided to invite them for a month's Bible study, during
which time I offered them hospitality, but no re-
muneration. This invitation was gladly responded
to. I gave up myself entirely to them during that
month, and the advantage of two Bible classes daily
were keenly appreciated ; the intervening time they
spent in learning to read better.
After the first year or two, being anxious to know
how these men preached, I proposed that the after-
186 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
noons should be devoted to this, that they should
preach as though to a congregation, and allow the
native pastor and myself to criticise, we explaining
that our object was to help them to understand and
handle the Word of Life. At first they were a little
nervous, but before the classes closed they begged for
another week in the autumn of such helpful teaching,
so we have now five weeks in the year devoted en-
tirely to their instruction. It would be interesting to
add a few notes of some of their addresses.
Feb. 1 8. In morning, Tsie spoke on Matthew
iv. 18-22. These four fishers left all to follow Christ.
We teach new believers that they must leave all lusts
of flesh, &c. As to us older Christians : in fishing we
use our own nets, but in catching men must leave our
own nets, our own ways, wisdom, &c. Yet we must
have a net, z>., the gospel. Glory, eternal glory, to be
obtained by catching men. Fishermen sometimes
have no work, so go off and do something else.
Christ calls us to always be fishers of men (2 Tim.
iv. r, 2). We have proof that three of these dis-
ciples were truly faithful unto death. We must
pray for those who are not going out preaching this
year [two had just withdrawn]. Peter faltered and
went back, but only for a short half-hour or so. If
we are truly chosen of God, have received our office
from Him, we must be careful not to go back. To
catch men is harder than to catch fish. In fishing we
" HE WILL ANSWER THEE " 187
fear cold and exposure; in catching men must fear
coldness of heart. Even in fishing for men the disciple
may be called upon to suffer cold, hunger, persecu-
tion, &c. Peter, James, and John followed Christ most
closely, and were most dearly beloved, and yet they
suffered most. Their one desire was to " catch men" ;
snow, rain, cold, nothing prevented them. If father
or master tells son to go out and fish in the evening,
on return first question will be, " How many fish
have you caught?" Even though there is not a
word of fault-finding at the few caught, that son or
servant will be ashamed. To catch men is most
difficult, because we have to get to their inner heart.
Have to use different nets to catch different kinds of
fish.
O-dzing Ah-lie spoke on Matthew v. 1-7. He was
very nervous at first, but gained more confidence later
on : The " poor in spirit " in Chinese is Shu-sang
(" shu " means empty), so it is only when we come to
God as beggars, realising we have no goodness, no
merit of our own, that He will be willing to receive
and bless us. Example, the prayer of the Pharisee
and publican.
"They who mourn" mourn for their own sins,
the sins of their relations, friends, and others un-
converted. Example : Mary weeping at the Lord's
feet, mourning her sins, and how He comforted her.
' The meek," not only those who treat their friends
i88 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
well, but those who when ill-treated bear no grudge
and do not get angry ; they will be blessed. Example :
the contention between the herdsmen of Abraham
and Lot. Abraham willing to divide off and let Lot
have choice of land : that was true meekness.
Abraham's descendants received Canaan, but we
shall receive an incorruptible inheritance. After a
long journey over mountains, how good a drink of
water tastes, and how we enjoy our food. We should
have just such a hunger after hearing the word of
God, and after righteousness. God has promised to
fill.
Feb. 25. Chung-dzi spoke on that subject which
is unfortunately so fruitful to the Chinese mind in
similes and symbols, the Good Samaritan. . . .
Jerusalem heaven, Jericho earth. Our soul origi-
nally comes from heaven ; when we are born into this
earth we suffer from soul's enemy, sin, &c., robbers.
Clothes our good deeds. Priest Jewish priests, or
Confucianists, Taoists, vegetarians, &c., nowadays, or
Roman Catholics, who say they forgive sins, but
cannot heal our souls. Levite those who teach law ;
it cannot save our souls. Samaritan Christ, who
saw us injured and half-dead as result of sin, and
had pity. Oil Holy Spirit ; if we haven't Him to
open our hearts, we will not recognise God or Christ.
Wine Christ's blood. Beast Christ's grace ; if we
haven't this we will never be able to get along on the
"HE WILL ANSWER THEE" 189
heavenly road. Inn chapel ; there we get food and
help in various ways. Innkeeper pastor.
Pastor Tsie in commenting on the above, spoke
of how, in interpreting parables, we must keep to the
point of what Christ originally meant to teach by it.
For example, here Christ gave the parable because
of the scribe's question, " Who is my friend ? " Be-
sides this meaning we may afterwards get other
meanings, as Chung-dzi did. Jesus our conscience.
If we all acted according to our conscience we would
meet no trouble or danger. Leaving our conscience
we " go down." When the Samaritan came along
the man was unconscious ; so were we when Christ
came to save us.
Feb. 26. Tsing-kwai spoke on Matthew xv.
21-29, well and to the point: lessons of faith, un-
ceasing prayer, humility. In the afternoon, Koe-yi
[Nga-yue's husband] on Hebrews v. n, &c. : Mel-
chisedec a priest (Heb. vii. 3), God alone is without
father, &c. (v. 12). An apprentice learns three years
or so, afterwards becomes workman ; first is given
easy things to do. Though he spoke very shortly it
was to the point, and on the whole good. He is
evidently profiting by his wife's knowledge of the
Scriptures.
Another day the 5th, I think the pastor spoke
on the best ways of preaching the gospel, taking as
examples Christ and the apostles. Christ fitted His
190 MISSION WORK: IN
preaching to the kind of listeners He had. To
the Samaritan woman he spoke in one way, suit-
able to her occupation of drawing water. To the
country people who came to hear He spoke of the
sower, mustard-tree, &c. To the Pharisees, &c., He
used the Old Testament and Law (Luke iv. 16-22).
To His disciples He preached the mysteries of God's
Word and kingdom.
The pastor certainly has the gift of teaching, and
also is a thorough critic. These meetings were really
quite helpful to us foreigners as well as the natives,
and often created subjects for discussion and pretty
deep thought.
We had all this year (1890) in our compound the
poor persecuted people from O-dzing to feed and care
for, as the magistrates refused to allow them to
return until the case was finished. One family con-
sisted of father, mother, two sons, the wife, and only
child of the eldest (the betrothed wife of the younger
son had returned to her home, but her parents fearing
they might be implicated sent her back, so she, too,
made her way to the city, and they were married at
once). Three of this family, who were only en-
quirers before, came out decidedly on the Lord's side,
and after some months of testing were baptized.
The poor little baby sickened and died, but though
they all felt the Lord's hand was heavy upon them,
their faith failed not, giving glory to God. They
" HE WILL ANSWER THEE n 191
gained much Bible knowledge during the year, in-
deed it was wonderful the progress they made ; daily
at morning prayers their faces fairly beamed. The
Lord was preparing them, during this long waiting,
for service in their own village by and by, and they
were thus better fitted to be teachers of others. The
second son is now one of our most devoted unpaid
preachers. Every Sunday morning he starts about
4 a.m. for a village ten miles from his home, where
he conducts two services, returning in the evening.
During the time of weary waiting, many were
discouraged and disappointed that we had not more
power in compelling the magistrates to bring about a
settlement. Our hope and help were in God alone,
and we decided to spend three mornings in prayer.
One of the meetings has been described by Miss B.
in a letter to her friends, from which I give ex-
tracts :
"June 24, 1890. It was decided to meet
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday forenoon, June
2 ist, as on those dates we expected many of the
Christians from the country districts, who come
in once a month to remember the Lord's death.
We had had continuous rain for some days, and
by Saturday the roads were flooded, and it was
impossible for many to get in. The first meeting
was at 10 a.m. Saturday ; there were about thirty
present After the opening prayer the pastor read
192 MISSION WORK /AT CHINA
the parable of the unjust judge, and said that
God did not answer prayer simply to be rid of
people's prayers, for He has their good at heart, &c.
He afterwards said that there were many passages in
both Old and New Testaments proving that God
heard and answered prayer ; had they ever expe-
rienced any answers to their prayers ? At once one
of the blind men said : * Three or four years ago, when
I was a young Christian and knew little of God, I
was much tried about my son, who had become
careless and idle in his habits, had left his work, and
nothing I said seemed to influence him. I took the
matter to God, told Him I was helpless and ignorant,
not knowing how to pray aright. I told Him how
disobedient my son was, and asked Him to influence
his heart and make him go to work again. My son
had gone out in the morning and I did not know
where he had gone to ; but just after I had prayed, a
neighbour came in and told me my son had gone to
his work. Thus the Lord heard and answered while
I was praying.'
" The preacher then asked if any one had anything
else to say, and another of the blind men began:
'You all know I was an opium-smoker before I
trusted in Jesus. I knew I could not be a follower
of Christ and smoke opium. I prayed God to give
me strength to break it off. It was a hard struggle,
for I had smoked for twelve or fourteen years. The
"HE WILL ANSWER THEE" 193
first day in the morning, the desire for opium came
upon me. I had decided not to take any medicine,
but trust in the Lord, so I knelt down and prayed. I
told the Lord how bad I felt and how the desire for
the opium was tormenting me, and how helpless and
weak I was. While I prayed the desire left me, but
about mid-day it came back again, and again I
resorted to prayer, and was relieved. And so for
three days, three times a day, the desire returned,
and was each time relieved by prayer alone. Then
I got the final victory, and have never had any desire
for the drug since.'
" The pastor then gave his experience, and told a
truly remarkable story. He said, c Some years ago,
when I was at the station of Bing-yie preaching, the
little chapel was crowded. Amongst the audience
was a man making a great noise, talking incessantly,
so that I could not get the attention of the people.
I asked him to be quiet, but the people answered,
" It is no use talking to him, he has been out of his
mind for some years." The man continued noisy, so,
not knowing what to do, fearing to turn him out, I
lifted my heart to the Lord for strength. Pointing
with my finger at the man, I said with a loud voice,
" In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, come out
of him." The man sat down quietly, shut his eyes
as if asleep, and I continued preaching. By and by
I told the people I was going to pray to the God of
194 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
heaven, and asked them to kneel down with me.
The man who had been possessed knelt down with
them, and after prayer came up to me, and in a quiet
voice said, " Many thanks, many thanks. I have been
out of my mind for ten years ; now I feel quite well ;
I will go home to my friends and to my work." ' The
pastor added, ' I do not know where he is now ; he
did not attend the chapel nor become a Christian, but
some months afterwards I heard he was still in his
right mind and at his work.' He told this story to
show what power there still is in the very name of
Jesus. The meeting closed after six or seven had
prayed.
"The second meeting was held at three o'clock
in the afternoon. The passage read was Peter in
prison, and the church praying all night in the house
of John, and as they prayed Peter was released by a
miracle. After that the pastor asked if there were
any more testimonies to answered prayer. The elder
of the O-dzing women who was so cruelly beaten, ill-
used, and driven from her home, said, * I have got
something to tell.' She looked as though she had
too ; her face beamed with joy. She has a beautiful
expression ; I wish you could see it as, morning by
iiorning, she drinks in the words when Mrs. Stott is
explaining the Scriptures. I love to watch her, and
to think of the bright smile of welcome and the
'Well done' that is awaiting her from the Lord she
"HE WILL ANSWER THEE" 195
loves so well and has suffered so much for. She
said, ' It was only the beginning of last year that the
gospel reached our village, and after I had believed
I wanted to have preaching on Sundays, that the
neighbours, too, might know of the love of Christ.
My house is very small, and there is a family in the
village who had a nice large room that I thought just
the thing for preaching in. I began to pray that
God would save that household, and turn the guest
hall into a preaching hall. I continued praying two
months, and at the end of that time all were brought
to the Lord' she did not say how many persons
were in the family ' and the room was given up as a
preaching hall.' It was very touching to hear this
woman praying for the persecutors by name, and in
tears pleading that they might all become followers
of the Lord Jesus, for the women as well as the men
took part in prayer in these meetings. Time forbids
me to go into details of all these meetings they
were very blessed times, as one after another poured
out their hearts to God, several with tears. God
grant they may be the means of much blessing in
the future. The case of persecution is not yet
settled, though the magistrate has himself been in
the place, and we are hoping that something will be
done soon.
" The pastor is now preaching every evening in the
Street Chapel at the Blind Men's Home. He has had
196 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
large crowds ; as the novelty wears off the numbers
will decrease ; but those who are really interested in
the truth will continue going. Will you join us in
prayer that many may pass from ' death into life '
in that room, that God may thereby be glorified."
CHAPTER XIV
"And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. "-
JOHN ii. 2.
ABOUT this time one of our school-girls was
married ; they had waited my arrival, and as it
was the first Christian marriage Miss B. had ever wit-
nessed in China, she gives the following interesting
description :
" There was a wedding here yesterday of more than
usual interest, for it was a real love affair, which is not
often the case in China, where, as a rule, the young
people do not see one another until after marriage.
The engagement is contracted by the parents when
the children are both little, and the poor girl never has
any voice in the matter. On the wedding day she is
taken to her husband's home to live with his parents,
whom she has probably never seen before. The bride
was one of the school-girls, a fine girl and an earnest
Christian ; the bridegroom was brought up in Mr.
Stott's school with his elder brother, and when old
enough, Mr. Stott apprenticed them to a tailor to
197
198 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
learn that trade. They have both been diligent, and
have now a good business of their own and a nice
house too, so the bride will have every comfort, though
she does not go to a home of her own exactly, for his
mother, two brothers, and their wives live there ; but
as that is the custom in this land, I suppose they will
not mind it as much as we should.
" This young man came to Mrs. Stott five years ago
to ask her to give him a wife, and said he wanted
Vong-yang (the one he has married). Mrs. Stott told
him she was much too young, and she could not think
of it. He was not a Christian, and that was the
great barrier, for Vong-yang was ; but she did not
give that as her reason, or he would have soon become
one in name, and that was what she wished to avoid ;
there is far too much of a nominal Christianity in
England for her to wish to see it here. About two
years after he came again to Mrs. Stott, saying his
brother was very anxious for him to marry, and that if
she would only promise him Vong-yang he would
wait for her, and his brother would be satisfied. She
told him that though she would not promise him this
girl, if on her return to China (she was just about to
leave for England) she heard a good report of him, she
would give him a wife.
" I ought to have told you that before this he found
some means of communicating with the girl, and told
her he would wait for her, and never marry any one
"JESUS WAS CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE" 199
else, begging her to refuse to marry any one who
should ask for her. The school-girls have a great
advantage over all other Chinese girls ; when a young
man asks for one she is always told of it, and allowed
to decide for herself whether she would like to
marry him or not. During Mrs. Stott's absence the
young man came out boldly on the Lord's side, and
was baptized by Mr. G., and when he again asked for
a wife he was not refused, and we all rejoiced at the
prospect of their happiness. The preparations began
a few days since, and as the marriage took place here,
I have been able to watch the proceedings.
"The room where the ceremony was performed
was draped with scarlet, that being the bridal colour,
and the ceiling hung with all sorts and shapes of
lamps, and very pretty they looked when lighted.
Some of the chairs had scarlet covers, and cushions
beautifully embroidered with gold ; I have never seen
such lovely work. All these things were hired, with
the dresses of the bride and bridegroom ; this is the
custom here, as the clothes are never worn on any
other occasion. Our cook gave up his room, for after
the marriage they did not go away, but stayed here.
The ceremony took place at 7 p.m., and Mr. S. was
asked to conduct the service. When we went in, we
found the friends assembled ; the bridegroom standing
on a scarlet blanket, awaiting his bride. His dress was
not very nice to me it looked very like a dressing-
200 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
gown ; he looked much nicer the next morning in a
maroon silk top garment ; he wore a mandarin's hat,
that is round, with a red tassel on the top.
" In a few minutes there was a slight stir amongst
the people, and some one whispered, ' She is coming/
I looked in the direction of the movement, and saw
* something' being led in by two women, which turned
out to be the bride; it was certainly necessary to lead
her, for she could not see where she was going. I will
describe the dress, beginning at the feet: scarlet satin
shoes, beautifully embroidered entirely by herself; a
bright green satin skirt, embroidered with gold ; a
scarlet satin top garment, also embroidered with gold,
with nuts and fruit sewn on ; on the head a sort of
helmet, very large and heavy, set with green stones
and figures of men and women all over it ; at each
side a sort of wing projecting, set with stones ; and
all over this a scarlet silk veil, so that the face
was quite hidden. You would never have known
there was a human being inside. She was led on
to the scarlet blanket, and her attendant held her
while we sang the marriage hymn. I will give you a
literal translation of it ; it will show you the idiom as
well as give you an idea of the hymn : we sang it
to the tune ' Duke Street.'
" ' This day assembled, all, pleased,
According to God's holy command, righteous act of marriage,
Bridegroom, bride, two men made one,
One home, one body, one heart, one mind.
"JESUS WAS CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE" 201
Like this, during life, together walk one road,
Mutual honour, mutual faith, mutual love, mutual help,
Heavenly Father, constantly protect and give peace,
Not have calamity, weariness, suffering.
Beseech heavenly Father, give happiness in the home,
Give this couple happiness and joy,
Obtain influence of Holy Spirit, to love the Saviour,
During life, turn their heart to serve heavenly Father.
Beseech heavenly Father, grant our prayer,
Give this husband, wife, one pair till old age,
Happiness together receive, suffering together endure,
Death after, two men together in heaven.'
The hymn being sung, the preacher prayed, then
Mr. S. gave them a little exhortation, then another
hymn and prayer, and the ceremony was over. The
bride was taken to her room, which was close by, the
bridegroom followed, and no more was seen of them
that night. The bridegroom gave a feast to the men
that evening, and the next day at I p.m. was the
women's feast, to which we were all invited. When
the meal was quite ready we were called, and had
first to go and see the bride, who was sitting on her
handsome wooden bedstead with another dress on,
scarlet figured satin, trimmed with black satin. We
each took a cup of tea (without sugar and milk, in
real Chinese cups), after having drunk which, we
made for the well-spread tables. There were three,
but we foreigners had one to ourselves, and, during
the first part of the time, the bride sat with us but did
not eat anything ; it is the proper thing for her to
202 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
hang down her head and look miserable. The bride's
attendant sat with us and saw that we did justice to
all the good things. There were special dishes pre-
pared for us, and very good they were too. Let me
try and describe the table ours was set for seven
people. There was no cloth on ; each had red chop-
sticks and a pewter ladle, a wee pewter wine-cup and
plate, like dolls' things for size. There were twelve
dishes in pyramid form, fancy meats, &c. There were
four little bowls of vinegar and sauces, and by the
side of each person a plate of monkey-nuts, shelled
and roasted, and water-melon seeds also roasted.
After taking all this in, I turned my attention to the
other guests and found we were most improper, for
we had gone to the seats given to us quite willingly,
and at once; these other people had to be dragged to
their seats, and made quite a little fuss about it, and
that is the proper thing in China.
"At last we were settled, and Mrs. Stott was invited
to ask the Lord's blessing; after which the first dish
was brought in, placed in the centre of the table, and
the attendant asked us to eat. We all with our
chop-sticks made a dive into the dish and conveyed
the captured piece of fowl to our mouths. It was
great fun. We used our ladles for the gravy. There
were thirteen dishes brought in, one after the other,
and we were expected to eat of each kind, and in just
the same way. The last few were sweet dishes, and
" JESUS WAS CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE" 203
they gave us each a piece of folded paper to wipe the
table in front of us with, and one little bowl of water
to wash our spoons in. We had still those twelve
fruit dishes to eat from, but several remained un-
touched at the last. After all that, came bowls of rice
and five or six other little dishes ; it did seem too
much, but I ate a little and then we were at liberty to
go. We had been sitting there two hours and a
quarter. During the meal the bridegroom's brother
came several times and told us they had nothing for
us to eat that is their way of being polite, I suppose.
As we were leaving, we were each presented with a
box of cakes and two parcels containing the things
we had left at the feast.
" I ought to have told you that all that morning the
bride sat on her bed, with her attendant by her side ;
she was dressed in her wedding dress, with the heavy
ugly helmet on, and the red veil over it, and she has
to receive the visits of all who wished to see her, and
hear their remarks about herself, or anything else they
liked to say. To all who went were given nuts and
fruit. The bridegroom came to us, bowed low three
times, and so did we, saying, 'I congratulate you'; he
replying, 'I have troubled you.'
"In the evening about seven o'clock, after a short
service, the bride was taken to her husband's house,
where he had gone before to be in waiting. I expected
he would have taken her, but was told such a thing is
204 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
never done in China: the husband never goes out
with his wife ; he may sometimes with his mother, but
not his wife, and they do not eat together. Oh, how
different it is in our own dear England. A wife has
no name in China ; she loses it on her marriage and is
always called So-and-so's wife, or, if she has a son, the
mother of So-and-so.
"We went to call on the bride this afternoon, for,
poor thing, she has to be dressed up for some days
after her marriage and, sitting on the side of her bed,
receive visits from all who want to see her. She has
a very nice room we admired it all and took a cup
of tea and cake, then a bowl of rice-flour balls in
sweetened water. They tasted to me like flour and
water boiled. After that we had another cup of tea,
and rose to leave. I was sorry for the poor girl ; at
the sight of us she began to cry, and turned her face to
the wall ; her husband's relatives were much distressed
lest we should think they were unkind to her; but she
has been brought up in the school since she was a
little thing, and it has been a happier home than she
could ever have known elsewhere, and of course she
felt leaving it. Mrs. Stott, and lately Miss Judd, have
been like a. mother to her ; she is a very nice girl and
a fine Christian ; she is now in a home where she and
her husband are alone in serving the Lord, and I want
to ask your prayers for them. They will find many
difficulties, but if kept faithful and near to the Lord
"JESUS WAS CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE" 205
they may be the means of leading others to a know-
ledge of the truth.
" It is no easy thing to be a Christian in this dark
land where Satan has so much power ; Christians at
home know very little of what it is to really suffer for
Christ's sake, and they have so much to help them
onward, but these people have everything to drag
them back and hinder. God is for them, and His power
can keep them. Will you join us in prayer for all the
native Christians that they may live Christ, and show
by their lives that Christ does change them, and that
they may go about more amongst their own people
telling the good news of a Saviour's love?"
Six years have passed since then, and it is beautiful
to see the love between these two ; together they come
to the chapel with their little child, and both have
grown in "the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ," though as yet no other members of the
family have been converted.
How often we are called to "rejoice with those who
rejoice, and weep with those who weep" ! In May
Miss Judd and I went to Shang-hai to attend the
general Missionary Conference; there we met Miss
Boyd, who had just arrived from her station at Kiu-
chau. She had come with the hope of attending the
meetings and finding refreshment of spirit as well as
body ; but the very first day after her arrival she was
asked to go to Bing-yie to nurse Mrs. G. ; there was no
206 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
one else to send, and, with that noble unselfishness which
characterised her, she decided to go, and left at once.
The G.'s were then living in an unhealthy native house.
The weather became unbearably hot, and one day
in the beginning of July we had a letter to say that
Misses Boyd and Britton, with Mrs. G., had fever. Miss
Whitford kindly offered to go to their help, to send
Miss Britton and little Olive here while she remained
to look after the other invalids. This step was of
God, for the day after Miss W. arrived there, Miss
Boyd was so ill they feared she might not get through
the night. I had sent all the little delicacies I had,
which proved a boon, but Miss B. continued to grow
worse, and fearing if they remained there she and
perhaps Mrs. G. too might die, they decided to run
the risk of the journey (fourteen hours on the boat) as
the lesser of two evils.
On the morning of July the 8th they arrived. Mrs.
S. kindly received Mr. and Mrs. G., while Misses B.
and W. came here. Miss Boyd was very low indeed,
but we hoped that our cool, healthy house, with
careful nursing, and doctor's skill, might save her.
In spite of all efforts, however, the fever raged night
and day, until the I3th, when she seemed decidedly
better; the fever was gone, and she slept a little,
which she had not done for several days and nights.
In the morning I was able, for the first time, to send
a favourable report to the doctor, but alas ! it was
"JESUS WAS CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE" 207
only a flicker : at 10 a.m. the fever returned, and she
became unconscious and remained so until 5 p.m.,
when she quietly fell asleep in Jesus. The other in-
valids recovered, and were able to go by steamer to
Che-foo for the change they much needed.
During this summer and autumn we had much
sorrow and loss, four of our native Christians died in
one week, but we had comfort in them all. Miss J.,
who had charge of the girls' school, often ailing, now
became seriously ill, and had to leave for England.
Miss W. took charge of the girls' school, and although
she had made very good progress with the language
in the time, she was not able to talk much, so the
school was practically thrown on my hands again, she
doing the work, however, under my superintendence.
But during all this time of persecution, sickness, death,
and sorrow, wisdom and strength were given day by
day. God had put me in that place of responsibility :
' the work was His," " I was His " ; so " all was well,"
and it was sweet to feel His hand underneath, and
His strength made perfect in weakness ; without this
strength, heart and flesh would often fail.
In the very midst of our own sorrows the steamer
came in bringing heavy tidings four dear missionaries
(not of our Mission, but all known to me) died in one
week, and six of our own were dangerously ill ; these
are times when one proves the power of God, and
feels it all-sufficient. Joy blended with sorrow, as it
208 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
usually does, for it is seldom our Father asks us to
drink an unmingled cup five persons, decidedly con-
verted, were baptized and received into the church at
this time.
A few notes taken down at the examination of
these candidates will give an idea not only of the
people, but of the kind of questions and answers
asked, and given. They were all country people,
three women and two boys, and came in a few days
earlier to enable the pastor and myself to know them
better ; the youngest of the women was nineteen, and
had been a professed Christian about three years, her
father and brother also being Christians, and all who
knew her spoke well of her consistent life. The other
women were aged respectively sixty-eight and seventy,
the eldest was blind, and her remarks about the Lord
Jesus loving such helpless ones were most touching ;
she was a widow and childless, living with a nephew,
who was not at all kind to her. On Saturday after-
noon I sent for her to have a little talk, and on com-
ing into the room she knelt to pray, not knowing
any one was there. She thanked God that He loved
blind people, it made her very happy, &c., and thanked
Him for saving her through the blood of Jesus. I
asked her when she heard the gospel first ; she replied,
" Last year, in the eight month, I heard God would
receive the blind, and lame, and no one else wanted
them." Q. Are you a sinner ? A. I have committed
"JESUS WAS CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE" 209
many sins, but now all are gone. Q. How ? A. Jesus
washed them away in His own blood. Q. What in-
duced Him to shed His blood ? A. Because He loved
us, and wanted to take us to heaven. Q. Supposing
God were to call you away to-night, where would
your soul go to ? A. To heaven. Q. Why ? A.
Because Jesus saved me. Q. But you have not been
baptized, and the Scriptures say, "Whosoever believeth
and is baptized shall be saved." A. Baptism is by
water ; water can wash my body but not my soul.
Q. Then of what use is it ? A. It is a sign. Q. Of
what? Here she did not know what to say, and I
explained the true significance of the ordinance. She
was examined in the chapel in the evening, but I
need not give the answers here, though they were
equally clear, and quite different from the above.
The boys, fourteen and sixteen years of age, were ex-
amined by the native pastor : they were both bright
lads and their answers pleased us much. O. When
did you first believe ? A. Last year, the ninth month.
Q. What is the Lord Jesus to you? A. He is my
Saviour. Q. Where does God live ? A. In my heart.
Q. Where besides? A. In heaven. Q. By what
means did Christ save you ? A. He died on Calvary's
Cross for me. Q. And after that what did He do?
A. He rose again the third day. Q. What is it to
believe on the Lord Jesus? A. It is to be a new
creature. Q. Are you a new creature ? A. Yes. Q.
210 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
What evidence do you give of that? A. I used to
curse, and swear, and quarrel with the other boys ; I
don't do that now. Q. Suppose you were to die to-
night, before you were baptized, where would your
soul go to? A. To heaven. Q. Will baptism save
you ? A. No. Q. What is the use of it ? A. To
show that I have been saved. Q. Could you get to
heaven by your own merit ? A. I have no merit. Q.
You are young and may have to endure much perse-
cution for Christ's sake, what then ? A. I will endure
it. Q. But suppose the devil comes and tempts you
to say and do wrong things, and tells you it is no use
to depend on Christ for help, what then ? A. I would
pray and ask God to hold me up.
I thought such answers were grand from a boy of
fourteen, who had never, until last year, heard the
gospel message. We kept this lad a few weeks in
order to give him further instruction in the Scriptures,
and Miss B. taught him the Roman Colloquial along
with the others (Mr. Soothill, of the Methodist Free
Church, has translated the four Gospels and the Acts
into the local dialect, and our young ladies have
taught quite a number to use them).
Sunday morning the chapel was crowded, the
country Christians having come in, to remember the
Lord's death ; the five were baptized before the usual
service began, and it was a heart-stirring sight to see
these poor women, just on the brink of the grave,
"JESUS WAS CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE" 211
confessing the Lord Jesus, after spending so many
years in ignorance of Him, and the three young ones
just beginning to serve Him ; again we realised that
" the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to
every one who believeth." Nothing touches the heart
like the story of the Cross ; often have I noticed
when we have been speaking of such subjects as
"the blood," "the burnt-offering," &c., the tears of
the women have fallen as we dwelt on the sufferings
of Christ.
At this time we began the first of our united
quarterly meetings of preachers, which continued two
or three years. We met alternately at Mr. S.'s house
and our own, and at the first meeting no fewer than
twenty-six were present, though none of the Bing-
yie or Dong-ling preachers were there. Much of the
time was spent in prayer, and nearly all referred to
the time, over twenty years ago, when Mr. Stott, a
solitary worker, came among them, and none knew of
God's love ; and as we looked at those earnest faces
and thought of them as preachers, again and again
the tears would start, and the language of our hearts
was " What hath God wrought." Mr. S. opened with
an address, using as his text, "And without a parable
spoke He not unto them," urging them to be simple,
pointed, and short in their preaching; always to
prepare carefully with prayer, and never to allow the
thought that they had not time for that. He also
2 1 2 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
spoke on I Cor. xi. 23-33, after which we all had
dinner a la Chinois, the men in one room, the women
in another. In the afternoon I spoke on Rom. xii.
1-2, first, "Present your bodies," &c.; second, Sancti-
fied and sent (John xvii. 16-18); third, Communion
and Testimony (John xv. 27; Acts iv. 13); fourth,
Love to Christ before Service (John xxi. 15-17) ; fifth,
Enlightened, therefore giving Light (2 Cor. xiii. 14) ;
after more prayer, and further remarks by the
preachers, we separated, all feeling we had spent a
good day.
CHAPTER XV
' And the common people heard Him gladly." MARK xii. 37.
T ^ ARLY in October, I went to Tung-tso, when I
J > was accompanied by Miss Bardsley; I give you
her description of the ten days spent there :
"October 2nd. We left Wenchow on our first
country journey of the season. Our party consisted of
two Christian boatmen, a native constable, an earnest
inquirer, who will accompany us all the way, one of
the young preachers, and our Christian cook. The
first evening we went but a short distance, only cross-
ing the river, which is over two miles wide, to the
constable's village, where there are some inquirers
and Christians. After taking our evening meal on
the boat, we made our way to the constable's house,
escorted by most of the village, to hold a service. We
sat outside the house, and the people gathered round
at once, some standing on forms and stools to get a
better look at us. The young preacher, Chang-loa,
spoke first. We had some books and tracts to sell,
213
214 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
and he told a little about them, reading and explain-
ing part of one, and after that Mrs. Stott spoke ; the
attention of the people was very nice ; most of them
answered the questions put most intelligently, showing
they not only heard, but understood a good deal of
what was said ; then Chang-loa spoke again. The
Christians present very much wanted us to have a
service for them, but the crush of people made it
impossible ; when we went into the house they all
followed, and Chinese etiquette forbade their being
turned out ; however, when we returned to the boat
we were able to have a Bible reading with them and
the inquirers. We slept on the boat, or rather we had
intended to do so, but the rats kept us awake through
their midnight gambols ; fortunately we had our mos-
quito curtains with us, so they were unable to touch
us. A preacher goes to this village every other
Sunday.
"October $rd y Friday. We were unable to go ashore
again on account of the tide, but had another Bible-
reading on board. After that we set off, and the next
calling place was at the hut of some Christians, who
were once beggars. After their conversion, many
years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Stott helped them to get a
few tools, and they built a hut on a hill, and began to
till a little ground ; the original hut is now used as
a chapel, and they have built themselves another
house. After visiting them, we had a delightful four
"THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY" 215
miles' walk through the rice-fields ; it was a glorious
day, the sun not too hot and a nice breeze blowing
from the sea ; on the one side of us were mountains
as far as the eye could reach, and on the other the river
flowing, mountains rising straight out of it in some
parts. About two o'clock we reached a village where
there are three Christians, and went there, hoping
to hold services ; but the people are a very rough lot,
and though Mrs. S. and the preacher both tried to
gain their attention, no one listened, and after visit-
ing two houses, we left for the boat again. On account
of the tide we were obliged to remain where we were
till midnight, and had to be content with a short
service on the boat again.
"Saturday. On wakening, we found ourselves at
Soa-diu, the end of our boat journey; and after an early
breakfast and prayers, we set off at 7 a.m. for Tung-
t'so. I will try to describe our party : It was all so new
and strange to me, and I want to give you some little
idea of it now, as the novelty will have worn off
before the next time. We had half a day's journey
before us, across hills and rivers; we had one chair
between us, and Mrs. S. started in it, we deciding to
walk an hour and ride an hour alternately. Then there
was the man with our bedding ; we had a wadded
thing as a mattress, two rugs, pillows, &c., these were
fastened up in a Chinese mat, and put on one
end of the bamboo-pole, at the other the cook's and
216 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
the men's bedding were hung ; this the man carried
across his shoulders ; after him came another man
with a variety of packages, such as our rice-bag,
basket with the food, one containing three fowls, and
other parcels varying in size and shape ; our cook
came next, then the constable, preacher, and myself.
It was a funny sight, so different from our mode of
travelling at home. I hardly know how to describe
the scenery, it was so grand ; we both said we never
saw anything like it. A cloudless sky of the deepest
blue, mountains of all shapes surrounding us, some
were bold and bare, others covered with the lovely
dark green and light bamboo, some almost perpen-
dicular and went to a point, others again were rounded,
but all were grand. The river, too, was of the clearest
crystal ; once we stooped down to drink of its fresh
waters, flowing from the hills ; it winds in and out
between the hills for many miles, and as we took
shorter cuts we had to cross it four times. Being so
entirely surrounded by hills all the way, we wondered
how we could get out, and no sooner did we leave the
one valley than we were in another ; it was too grand
to describe; we so often wish our friends could share
it with us.
" We reached our journey's end, about 12 a.m., tired
and hungry. In a few minutes we were surrounded
by most of the village; being the first foreign ladies
they have ever seen, of course we were great wonders.
"THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY" 217
We were hot, and longing to wash our hands and
face, and on asking for water we had about a pint
of hot water at the bottom of a bowl handed us,
with a filthy face-cloth, which we politely declined,
having our own with us. The Chinese process is
to put your face-cloth, which by the way ought to
be dirty to be proper, into the hot water, squeeze it
out, and rub your face and hands that is all, no
need to dry it ; such a thing is unheard of in China.
We had to perform this in the presence of about
one hundred people, then took our seats to be again
inspected. Our dresses, boots, &c., were all touched
and discussed; our eyes and hair, &c. This we en-
dured until our dinner was ready, then went into
the bedroom to partake of it.
"While we are having dinner you shall have a
peep at the room. A mud floor with holes all over,
in one corner a heap of stones reaching one-third
of the distance to the roof ; the partition boards on
that side were supported by stones, between most
of which you can put your hand, not one board fits
its neighbour. The boards over our heads reach a
little more than half across the room where the hay
is kept, on the other side of the room is an open
straw shed, where we can see the sky quite plainly,
and as we eat our dinner boys and others have
climbed up on the straw, and from all parts of the
room are looking down on us. In one corner is an
2i8 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
old truck with planks laid across for a bed, having
a straw mat, the ends of which rolled up make
a pillow, and the broken chair is the only other
piece of furniture of which the room can boast. My
first thought was 'a grand place for rats/ which
experience has proved true; the boards are all thick
with dirt, and dust is everywhere. Fortunately we
are using basins and chopsticks, or the people would
be more curious. We wanted to rest after dinner,
but had to lie down with the gaze of many on us ;
they were even on the loft over our heads.
We had a service in the afternoon, Mrs. Stott, the
young preacher, and his father, who is the preacher
in this district, all speaking ; after that we escaped
to the hill for a little quiet, but were followed by
quite a crowd. There was another service in the
evening ; the room was crowded, and probably all
the village turned out. They listened very attentively
as again the gospel was preached in all its fulness.
" Sunday. Another glorious day ; the air here is
so pure and sweet. As we sat on the hill after break-
fast for a little quiet time, our hearts rose in praise
and thankfulness to God for being permitted to
enjoy His handiwork in this quiet spot. The scene
around us was one of unequalled beauty, and in the
valley at our feet lay the village, looking so peaceful
and picturesque ; but oh, how full of sin and misery !
and yet there are a few in it who know what it is to
"THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY" 219
be born of the Spirit, and have the Spirit of God
dwelling in them. On returning we had the service,
and Mrs. S. had an interesting talk with an old
woman of eighty-one years of age ; she said, ' Oh,
will you take me with you to heaven ? ' Mrs. S. re-
plied, 'The Lord Jesus only can do that.' She
answered, * Well, I ask Him every day to wash me in
His blood.' ' Has He done it ? ' * I don't know, but
it is the one thing I desire, and the one thing I pray
for, and if you will only ask Him, He will hear
you, for you are acquainted with Him.' The after-
noon service began about I p.m.; the same persons
spoke, one after the other, and when it was over, we
escaped to the hill, and had three hours together there.
It was a delightful rest after all the noise below. We
climbed to the top of one of the hills and feasted
our eyes on all the beauty around us ; there, alone,
we had a quiet time of prayer, and sang that hymn,
c How sweet the name of Jesus sounds.' May the
Lord hasten the day when every valley and hill
will resound with that precious name !
" In the evening the people would not go, begging
Mrs. S. to speak again, saying her words were good.
They understood every word, but she had used her
voice so much that it failed her, and the old preacher,
Mr. Poe, spoke a long time ; thus they heard the
gospel three times, from three different persons each
time. ' Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but
220 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
God alone can give the increase.' Please pray with
us that much fruit may be the result.
"Monday. Mrs. Stott has been seeing candidates
for baptism this morning while I write this. The
three women she saw are all trusting Jesus, they say,
but don't know whether they are saved. They will
have to wait some time yet, and receive more in-
struction ; these poor people are so very ignorant,
they have everything to learn we can have no idea
of their darkness.
" After writing the above we went to the hill for an
hour, coming back to dinner at n a.m. At 11.30 we
all went to a village an hour's walk from here ; it is
beautifully situated between the hills. The people
round the district followed us into the house of the
Christian, and there the gospel was preached by Mrs.
S. and the two preachers. The people took down
doors and windows, and stood in all corners of the
guest hall ; there would be over a hundred present.
Although I could not speak, I had to stand on a
chair to be looked at ; it was quite a new experience.
Five women standing near us listened most atten-
tively, as did others, but many in the crowd were too
much occupied with us to listen much. It is very
natural, for we are the strangest sights they have ever
seen. I don't know what they think of us, but one
person said to another that we were barbarians.
"One of the women who listened so attentively,
'"THE COMMON PEOPLE tiEAKD tttM GLADLY" ill
her face continually changing, led us to her house.
We were followed by the crowd, and again they heard
the gospel three times. The same woman then took
us to the large ancestral hall belonging to the whole
village, and from the theatre stage the gospel was
preached By this time there would be quite three
hundred people, and most of them listened very
attentively, and at the close bought all the books we
had with us. One little incident amused me rather.
A man handed a dirty pewter teapot full of hot tea
on to the stage, and we all took a drink from the
spout ; after we had drunk, it was handed to several
in the crowd. We had been five hours out in the hot
sun, noise, and excitement, and on our return we
again escaped to the hills, returning again at 6 p.m.
for supper, refreshed and ready for the evening service.
I gave the little boys another lesson on the Roman-
ised, which I had begun to teach them in Wenchow,
and then we had the service. The room was full, and
the people most attentive and very quiet. The
preachers were all hoarse by the close, and tired out.
We feel sure there will be blessing from these meet-
ings, and all who are interested will be able to receive
further instruction from Mr. Poe. After we had re-
tired to our room the Christians had a prayer-meet-
ing; we counted twelve different prayers, several of
which came from the lads, of whom there are said to
be nine in this district who believe.
222 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
" Tuesday. Soon after 1 1 a.m. we started for other
villages, and after walking one hour and three-quarters
arrived at the furthest, taking the nearer ones on our
return. Again the good news was proclaimed at five
different places, but the last was the most interesting
of all. When Mrs. S. rose to speak, she asked the
people to be as quiet as possible, as her voice was
weakened by so much out-door speaking. They
listened so quietly, and were so interested, that she
was encouraged to give them quite a long explanation
of the gospel. We were altogether six hours and a
half out, and had hardly time to take our supper
when the people arrived for the evening service, after
which there was another prayer-meeting by the native
Christians.
" Wednesday. We left Tung-t'so at 7.30 a.m., in-
tending to stop at two or three villages on our way to
Soa-diu, where our boat was waiting for us. The
return journey, though different, was through lovely
country. The first part of the way took us over a
very high mountain path, where we had an extensive
view ; on the way down we met the woman to whose
house we were going, and as she was the only Chris-
tian in the village and was unable to turn back with
us, we decided to leave that visit to another time and
push on to the house of an inquirer. There we had a
very quiet and attentive crowd ; Mrs. Stott spoke for a
long time, and the young preacher spoke twice; his
"THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY" 223
father, Mr. Poe, had decided to stay the night there
and give the people more instruction. The mother is
the only one who seems interested in the truth, and she
has not got very far, for the incense-pots were in their
place, and in the bedroom (where we had dinner) there
was a horrible-looking idol. About I p.m. we all set
off once more, and reached Soa-diu about 3 p.m. The
boatmen worked hard at the oars, hoping to reach a
village, where there are three Christians, in time for
evening service, but it was dark before we arrived and
we dare not go to the house, as the people, not being
able to see us in the darkness, would have got excited.
" Thursday. Immediately after breakfast we went
on shore and made our way to the house of the Chris-
tians. Very few people came to hear, and those who
did gather were not at all interested. This has always
been the case in that place; preachers have been sent
before and all say the same. The Christians begged
us to hold a service in the evening there, saying some
wanted to hear who were busy during the day in the
fields ; Mrs. S. promised to do so, and then went to
two more villages preaching ; in each the people were
very attentive, and some seemed interested. In the
evening we went to have prayer in the house of an
old man who was dying; he believes the gospel, has
heard the truth from the Christians. After that there
was another service ; many men were present who
were attentive and quiet ; we trust the interest aroused
524 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
will be the beginning of a work of grace in that village.
On gaining the boat at 9 p.m., Mrs. S. was so tired out
that she threw herself down, too tired to undress or to
sleep, and on Friday morning, instead of spending
the day at Koa-diu as she had planned, gave orders
to be rowed straight to Wenchow ; she had no strength
for any more.
"We reached home about 8 a.m.; the servants were
at prayers, and we let ourselves in at the back door. I
shall never forget the feelings of delight as I gazed
round the nice clean rooms, the natives looking in
often say to one another it is like heaven, and I felt I
could echo their words. Our letters were waiting for
us, but we did not even open them until we had had a
bath and changed all our garments. In looking back
on the journey, we have very much to thank God for;
in most of the places the people listened, and, con-
sidering we were the first foreigners they had seen,
behaved well. We visited fourteen villages in the
eight days, preaching twenty-three times, besides the
daily Bible-readings with the Christians. The weather
was delightful, and we were able to walk many miles
a day from place to place.
" In Tung-tso there are nine Christian boys, and we
would very much like to give them some training ; in
the meantime, we hope to bring them here for two or
three months during the winter, but should the Lord
provide us the means we will gladly give them two
"THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY" 225
years. We say two years, for in less time than that
they could hardly get instruction enough to make
them useful in after life in teaching others, while a
longer time would separate them too long from their
natural employments and more or less unfit them for
returning to them. Our desire is to help them that
they may help others, and not to make paid teachers
of them ; this is a matter that lies heavily on our
hearts, we do not yet see the way to carry it out.
Will you join us in prayer about this matter and also
that fruit may be found from this journey?"
CHAPTER XVI
" In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy
hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or
that, or whether they both shall be alike good." ECCLES. xi. 6.
ON October 2Oth we went to Dong-ling to visit
some of the older Christians, for although
Mr. G. had now charge of that branch, they would
not be satisfied until I had been to their homes, and
indeed I was glad to see many of the old faces once
more. Miss W. gives a description of our few days
there, and, as it was her first country trip, she notes
many details which will interest the reader which I
am too much accustomed to to notice ; indeed I am
much indebted to these younger workers for accounts
of journeys which otherwise would never have been
written.
" Tuesday, October 2ist. Mrs. S. and I started this
morning for Dong-ling about 9 a.m. We had about
three and a half hours' journey up the canal between
fields of rich grain just ready to be cut surrounded on
all sides by high hills, some green, others rough and
bare, but all equally beautiful. When we left the boat
226
"IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED" 227
we had a walk of some ten It over the hills to this
house, where we hope to stay to-night. I cannot at-
tempt to describe the beauties of the country around ;
from the hill we could see the fertile plain beneath,
and the hills terraced and cultivated, some with rice in
various stages of perfection, some almost ready to be
cut, and some still green ; in other places the sweet
potato plant with its pretty leaves was creeping
up the hillside, interspersed with tea and indigo
plantations. We saw them threshing some of the
corn, which they do in the fields as soon as it is cut,
using a very primitive machine ; also the vats which
they use for preparing the rich indigo blue dye for
their clothes ; they strip the leaves off the plant, put
them in one of these stone vats to soak for some
days, and drain off the clear water, leaving the thick
blue dye at the bottom. We also saw the holes in
the hillside where they put their potatoes for the
winter; they store them all there, cover them with
earth and put a stone at the mouth, and they keep
sweet until the next year. These people upon the
hills have very little except rice and these potatoes
to eat; occasionally, some little fish they find in the
mud, or some one comes their way with a little salt
fish to sell.
"The man at whose house we are staying is the
uncle of our milkman ; he and his wife are Christians,
and there is a numerous family of children. This
228 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
afternoon we went round the hill to a little village ; we
next went into a house, and when the people had
gathered round Mrs. S. spoke a few words, but they
were too much occupied with us to listen very atten-
tively, though one man seemed interested and bought
a little book, he thought the doctrine was ' good, but
difficult to observe.' Then we came back, and after
washing our faces I sat down in front of the little
house. (I am writing this with an old man deeply
interested in the performance sitting beside me and
occasionally puffing smoke into my face. I am
writing five copies at once, which astonishes him very
much). Close to me a woman has just been grinding
some rice into flour in a manner very similar to that
which our Saviour alludes to. She has the upper and
nether millstones, a large tub underneath to catch the
flour as it falls, and she turns it by means of a rope
tied to the top stone and attached to a sort of swing ;
the rice is on the top stone, which has a hole in it,
through which it falls as it is needed.
" Dong-ling^ Wednesday evening. By the time we
had finished supper a goodly number of neighbours
had gathered in for prayers. We sang, ' One there is
above all others,' then Mrs. S. spoke on the parable of
the lost sheep and prayed ; followed by the Christian
master of the house. Several were there who had not
heard the gospel before ; one man seemed interested
and asked questions, and they went on talking long
"IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED" 229
after we had gone to bed. I don't know if I can describe
our bedroom : it had a mud floor, the partitions were
partly boards and partly basketwork, the crevices all
round affording ample ventilation and also opportu-
nity for any one to inspect us who wished. We had
a red candle stuck on the most primitive of supports
to light us ; our bed was somewhat hard, but notwith-
standing that, and sundry mosquitoes and rats, I
managed to sleep fairly well, though babies were
crying and people talking until pretty late. I am
afraid Mrs. S. did not rest so well.
" After an early breakfast, and prayers with the
people, when Mrs. S. spoke from the story of Nico-
demus, we started to walk here, a distance of about
twenty-five //, or nine miles, stopping at one village to
speak to a few people, and again at the house of one
of the members, where we dined and rested a short
time, then starting forward again we reached here
about 12.30. This is a truly Chinese building, nest-
ling in amongst the hills, apparently in a most out-of-
the-way spot, but really within convenient distance
for all the members. We received a hearty welcome
from the young preacher Ah-chang, his wife (a former
school-girl), and mother, and another preacher (who is
partially supported by the Church), and all of whom
live here ; and at once they began to trace the route
we should take, for the next three days, so as to reach
as many of the outlying stations as possible. After a
230 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
rest, we went out on to the hill for a little quiet read-
ing before our evening meal, and thoroughly enjoyed
the beautiful prospect spread out before us ; the river
on one side, and on the other the plains, filled with
the rich golden harvest, dotted over with the reapers ;
and the hills on all sides stretching as far as the eye
can reach.
"Saturday, Dong-ling Chapel. After three days'
travelling we are very glad to find ourselves back here
again in our own little room over the chapel, and while
Mrs. S. is resting I will try and tell you what we have
been doing. We started from here about 8.O a.m. to
walk to the house of one of the members where we
were to dine. Our road lay for some distance by the
river, past fields of sugar-cane and rice. We passed
several villages where there were Christians, stopping
now and then to exchange a few words with the
women ; the men were all busy in the fields cutting
the corn. Then we crossed the river (by this time
very low and very muddy) in a dirty ferry-boat, to go
to the place where we were to dine, in truly Chinese
style of course, basins of rice and chopsticks. We
had fried eggs and pork, done up with some kind of
vegetable. After you have finished a meal they always
give you some hot water to wash your face and hands,
and then a basin of tea.
" I should like to tell you about these people ; the
house belonged to two brothers, the younger of whom
"IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED" 231
was a gambler, and is now dead ; the elder brother's
wife came from a Christian home and was converted
before she was married, and when she went to her
new home none of the family were Christians, and
the mother-in-law was bitterly opposed to her, and
for several years would not allow her to attend the
services, nor the Christians to visit her. But she, by
her gentle submissive behaviour, and by speaking
when she had opportunity, so won them over that her
husband now regularly attends the services, though
he has not yet been baptized ; and the old mother has
ceased to oppose and persecute, though not yet con-
verted. She received us very graciously. After
giving the gospel to those who gathered round, we
started on our way again to the house of this young
woman's father and mother (where we were to pass
the night), which we reached about 4 p.m., having
walked in all, I suppose, about ten miles. After a
short rest we went up the hillside to visit a poor old
woman whom Mrs. S. had known some years ago.
We sat some time enjoying the quiet and the beauties
around us and stopped to take a drink of the pure
mountain stream, and to bathe our faces in its clear
water ; and finally reached the old woman's hut, a
tiny thatched place, with scarcely room to stand up-
right in, and light only admitted by the door. The
old woman (who is eighty years of age) looked doubt-
ful at sight of a stranger, and then exclaimed, " It is
232 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Sy-mo ! Ah, my ears are deaf, and my eyes dim, and
J couldn't see you, and it is so long since you were
here/ and then she took Mrs. S.'s hand and led her
in. Poor old thing! she is so deaf, she goes on talking,
whether others are talking or not ; she cannot hear
anything that is said, and can scarcely see either ; she
has heard the gospel many times, but I fear has not
received it ; if such is the case she is beyond reach of
it now, for she cannot take in anything. Her son was
a Christian ; he died quite peacefully last year, after
only eight days' illness, we were told by his widow,
who is also a Christian.
" We came down the hill again to our evening meal,
a truly Chinese one the usual dish of fat pork, fried
eggs, and the native potatoes fried in slices. It is
very nice just at first if one is hungry, but by the
time I have got through half my basin of rice I feel
as if I didn't want any more. The two preachers
who accompanied us made the most of their time
amongst those who crowded in to see, and by the
time all were ready for evening prayers a goodly
number had gathered, and the gospel was once more
preached, after which we retired to rest. The natives,
however, went on preaching till late, and began before
we got up in the morning. The old people are both
Christians, also their son, who, with his wife and two
children, live there ; the mother is a dear old woman,
with such a bright, happy face.
"IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED" 233
" The people are astir at sunrise, so it is impossible
to sleep much after 5 a.m., and about 8 o'clock we
were ready to start off again. The first place we
called at was the home of these people's second
daughter, whose husband is a Christian ; but she,
having three children, does not often come to service
now. The people did not gather there, so we walked
on, and soon after again crossed the river. On the
opposite bank was deposited quantities of sand, as far
as we could see on either side, and for about half a
mile inland. On inquiry we learned that last year
this was all cultivated, but the river overflowed and
left this deposit of sand, thus destroying hundreds of
Chinese acres, and leaving many people in want.
" We soon reached quite a large village, where the
gospel has not yet been preached, and spoke at some
length to a large concourse of people, who seemed
interested, and bought books and papers. We then
passed on to the house of an inquirer in the next
village, where we dined ; the people there were so
clamorous and noisy that we could scarcely get our
meal ; and they seemed almost ready to pull the doors
down because they could not all see at once. How-
ever, when they were a little quieted, Mrs. S. and the
preachers were able to again deliver the message of
salvation ; but not till at the people's request we had
adjourned to an idol temple, where, on a platform sur-
rounded by the most hideous images, the glad tidings
$34 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
were again proclaimed. We then started again, and
passing through several places, stopping wherever the
people seemed disposed to listen, reached the house
of another inquirer, situated in a lovely corner of the
valley surrounded by hills, and amidst the most beau-
tiful vegetation, where we were to pass the night.
Here the people were quite different, though they also
had not seen foreigners before; they did not press and
crowd like the others, and seemed anxious to hear the
gospel. As soon as we were a little rested we began,
and when the speakers were all tired out, told them
to go home and have their evening meal, and if they
returned they would speak again. They soon came
back in larger numbers, and sitting outside, for there
was no room large enough to hold them, Mrs. S. and
the preachers again gave them the words of Life.
The people of the house told me I need not come
out, but I found the people came inside to look at me
instead of listening ; so I joined the throng, as to sit
and be looked at was all I could do. Oh ! how I
longed to be able to speak too, and give them the
message of salvation !
" The preaching went on long after we had gone to
bed, and quite early in the morning we were asked to
go to another house for breakfast ; so about 6.30 we
turned out in the cool, clear morning air, and after a
short but lovely walk, mostly through bamboo groves,
we reached the house of another inquirer, where, after
"IN THE MORtilNG SOW TtiY SEED" 235
taking our morning meal, the gospel was again
preached. As we had walked about ten miles each
day, and they told us to-day's journey would be longer
than the preceding ones, we arranged to have chairs
for the first part of the way, and accordingly were
carried to the first stopping-place, the house of a
Christian, where we had dinner, though it was only
eleven o'clock, but we had breakfasted early, so were
ready for some refreshment ; there also we preached,
but the people were not very attentive ; and as we were
anxious to push on, we did not stay very long, but
started for this place about twelve o'clock, walking this
time. We stopped at various places on the way, preach-
ing wherever they were willing to listen, and now and
then resting in a quiet spot, and reached here about
3.30, having walked, I suppose, six or seven miles.
" To-morrow is Communion Sunday here, so several
of the Christians have already arrived, and others will
be coming in to-morrow morning. We have just had
the usual Saturday evening prayer-meeting, and the
native preacher, Mr. Tsie (whose wife was also a
school-girl), gave a very nice address on the parable of
the unmerciful servant. One of his thoughts especially
struck me ; he said that if the servant had remained
near his master, after his debt was forgiven, he would
not have treated his fellow-servant so unkindly ; so if
we are not continually in communion with Christ, we
are sure to fall into sin. We have an opportunity
236 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
to-night of putting in practice the lesson of forgiving
others ; for the man who was to carry our beds from
the place where we slept last night has not arrived
(10 p.m.) ; fortunately, there is a bed here Mrs. S.
can use, and I am going to console myself with two
shawls ; but we are minus towels, brush and comb,
and other necessary etceteras. We suppose he got to
the river too late to be ferried across ; we are hoping
he will arrive in time for us to make our toilet in the
morning.
" Sunday. This morning we were up pretty early,
our beds not being particularly inviting as you may
imagine, and on inquiry found our belongings had
arrived about dawn ; so were able to make our toilets
in comfort, very glad to be out of reach of the curious
eyes which have followed most of our movements for
the last three days.
" Very early the Christians began to arrive from all
directions for the service, and after breakfast it was
quite interesting to watch the different groups con-
verging from all sides to the one point ; one party of
twenty- two we saw just after they had crossed the
river, and quite a procession they looked as they filed
along, for the roads are so narrow it is impossible to
walk two abreast. And so by twos and threes they
kept on coming till about 10.0, when the service com
menced, 1 20 to 1 30 having then gathered. Mrs. Stott
gave them an address on the parable of the ten virgins,
"IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED" 237
and their ready and correct answers to her questions
showed the attention with which they listened. Some
earnest words from Mr. Tsie followed, and then the
communion service, after which their mid-day meal
was discussed ; each one brings his own rice, and five
cash to pay for the vegetables, &c., that they eat with
it ; it is cooked altogether, the Christian families
taking this duty by turns ; an early afternoon service
followed, and by four o'clock all had dispersed to
their homes.
" Tuesday -, Wenchow. After an early breakfast
yesterday morning we started about 7.30 to walk
from the chapel to the canal where we could get a
boat for Wenchow, a distance of about nine miles.
Most of the Christians had gone home the day before,
but there were one or two remaining with whom we
had prayers before leaving. Many whom we had not
visited were much disappointed the day before to
hear that we were leaving so soon, and should not
have time to get to their homes. But they are so
scattered it would have taken another week to reach
them all, and Mrs. S. was anxious to get back here,
because of the O-dzing affair being not yet settled.
Part of our way back lay through the same plains by
which we had come on the previous Wednesday ; but
about half-way we turned off into a fresh road, and
grand and beautiful as the former was I think this
surpassed it. The valleys were narrower and the
238 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
hills closer to us, and most majestic they looked, and
their sides were not cultivated, mostly covered with
young fir-trees.
" We ascended the Dong-ling hills by a gentle slope
by the side of which a clear mountain stream leapt
and sparkled over the stones, now and then falling in
tiny waterfalls into a deep pool, sometimes close by
our side, but generally far below in the gorge. We
rested at the top enjoying the view; the steep descent
on the other side was soon accomplished, and in a
very short time we were seated in the little boat en
route for home, and what a home it looked after the
dirty, comfortless places we had been in! We found
Miss B. looking very bright, and all seemed going on
well. It was nice to see the dear familiar faces again,
and not feel that every one was staring suspiciously
at you, and wondering whether you were a man or a
woman. I was so glad to get back to my girls and
my regular work again, though I thoroughly enjoyed
the journey and feel much better for the change.
Perhaps the next time I go I shall be able to take a
little share in the work ; the constant speaking must
be very tiring."
On our return from this journey we found quite a
string of events had happened during our absence.
One poor woman had died ; three preachers were too
ill to take the usual Sunday services, but unexpectedly
one of the Bing-yie men came in and filled the gap ;
"IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED" 239
how faithful our God is in every hour of need ! " Boast
not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what
a day may bring forth." I had hardly sent off a letter
to a friend, boasting that I was so strong, " fit for any
amount of work," &c., &c., when I was laid aside with
an attack of the famous influenza, which had at last
reached this out-of-the-way corner of the earth. I
was ill a week, and never remember being so weakened
in so short a time, and we heard it was much worse
in Shang-hai and Ning-po. So my next country trip
had to be curtailed to a short visit of three days, as it
was a new district, and the people were very rough
and the crowds so great, that several times we were
unable to speak on account of the noise. There are
"tens" of villages comparatively near where the
gospel had not been preached ; my heart is often
weary thinking of this, and yet we do all we
can. When will the day come when every town,
village, city, and hamlet, shall have its witness for
Christ?
The Lord never lets me want anything that is for
my good ; when I am in need He always supplies
that either, or something else which does as well. In
looking over my accounts at the end of this year 1890,
there was a small deficit in almost every branch of our
work. I took the matter to the Lord, and the very
last steamer of the year brought me gifts from two
friends not only enough, but a balance to begin the
2 4 o MISSION WORK IN CHINA
new year with, and open an account for the boys we
hope to train. " Bless the Lord, O my soul," I can
say. " Goodness and mercy have followed me all the
days of my life."
CHAPTER XVII
Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy."
JOHN xvi. 20.
year opened with dark clouds. Perhaps a
J- letter written at the time will give the best idea
of our position : "The last few months have been
filled up with joy and sorrow, loss and gain have held
an almost even hand. The year opened with the
death of one of our best and most efficient evangelists.
He was brought to the Lord ten years ago, and for
eight years has preached far and wide the gospel of
God's grace. Supported by the native church, he
laboured first in Dong-ling and latterly in Tung-t'so
district. In the former place he was much used of
the Lord, and often adopted a rather novel way of
gaining a hearing. He would choose his position,
and then with a voice enough to frighten any civilised
mortal would begin to sing a hymn. The tune
attempted was generally ' Old Hundred,' but it
ought to have been called * Martyrdom/ for no one
who ever knew that grand old tune would have recog-
17 241
S 4 2 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
nised it. The people would flock out to hear the
strange sound, and when the crowd was large enough
to suit his purpose he would begin to preach. Well
do I remember him telling us he had adopted this
plan, and with a beaming face, he added, * I caught
four that day ' ; he was a veritable fisher of men.
One thing was noticeable, those whom he instructed
were wonderfully clear in the plan of salvation, and
were able to answer any questions about the death
and resurrection of Christ. Quite a munber have been
brought to the Lord through his instrumentality,
especially in the district of Tung-t'so, where not only
a few men and women were converted, but five or six
bright young lads of ages varying from fourteen to
nineteen. Although they could not read a character,
they learned from him a wonderful number of texts
and hymns ; indeed, their ability to learn was so
marked that I have been induced to bring them into
the city for two years' education and Bible training
in the hope that by and by they will become useful
preachers.
"Two weeks before his death Mr. Poe came into the
city to spend communion Sunday with us ; and at the
end of the service, with much earnestness, he told the
church members they must come to his help. On every
hand were open doors, and as it was impossible for him
to enter them all, would not some one volunteer to
come ? On the 1 5th of January, 1 89 1 , he came from his
"SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY" 243
station suffering from bronchitis, but did not seem
dangerously ill. He called his son, and told him
he must go and take his place, as the work could not
be left. The son asked that he might wait a few
days, and nurse his father. He answered, ' No ; souls
are important ; I am all right, my younger sons are
here who will look after me ; you go at once and do
the Lord's work.' The next day the son started at
his bidding, and only a few hours afterwards the
younger son, seeing a change in his face, said,
1 Father, is the Lord calling you ? ' He answered,
'Yes, the Lord is calling me. I shall soon be at
home. You have not been earnest enough ; you
must cleave closer to the Lord/ Then, after a pause,
he said, ' Sing a hymn/ and at the close of the hymn
our brother entered into the presence of his Saviour.
" Two weeks later our only other paid evangelist
had to be put away for sin. These were heavy blows,
and at first we did not know how their places were to
be supplied. I had during the last year formed a
band of unpaid preachers. They were seven in
number, and went out every Saturday afternoon
and held services in as many districts, and 550
cash (about is. 3d.) per month was given them as
travelling expenses. To this band we naturally
looked to supply the two vacant places. The native
church had to select the one paid by them, and the
choice of another -fell upon me. Two of the most
244 MISSION WORK /AT CHINA
earnest were chosen, and on the same day two more
joined our unpaid band ; thus in the midst of trial
we were greatly cheered.
"The work amongst the women has been most
encouraging. During the year the numbers have
increased so much that we have had to enlarge the
meeting-room, and they have began a little evange-
listic work on their own account. A few of our
Christian women who live outside the South Gate
and are surrounded by quite a number of little ham-
lets, meet for prayer every Wednesday afternoon, and
the outcome of the prayer-meeting has been that they
have appointed one of their number, in turn, to go out
one day a week to preach the gospel to the women of
these hamlets, the others joining in paying her boat
expenses ; this is besides contributing to the support
of their Bible-woman, and was quite a little plan
of their own, which I did not even know of until aH
the arrangements were made. At the beginning of
the Chinese New Year I asked for a few who would
undertake to visit sick and absent members, and
the response was so cordial that I was able to appoint
two for each month of the year, whose duty it was to
visit all the sick and absentees. We have had quite
a remarkable case just lately, which I think worth
mentioning.
" During the autumn a good deal of my time was
spent in visiting the Christians in their village homes,
"SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY" 245
and on one of these visits I was much distressed by the
extent and spiritual destitution ofYung-ko-dgiae. We
have about ten members in that district. I was told
that of the 108 villages, perhaps not more than a dozen
had had an offer of salvation. On my return I asked
my native sisters to pray about this place, and after a
few weeks sent two evangelists to spend ten days
and preach in as many villages as they could in that
time. In one of those places they were told to go
to the house of a woman who seemed to know some-
thing about their gospel. They went, and on talking
with her found she answered like one who had known
the truth for years. The preacher asked her how she
knew these things, seeing she had never met with
Christians ? She told them that a Bu-sa (spirit) came
and told her many things during the night. This
Bu-sa, she said, was clad in white garments, and told
her she must give up worshipping the idols, break her
vegetarian vow (as there was no merit in that), cut off
her opium-smoking, and put on white garments ; and
that he would send her a teacher who would tell her
how she was to be saved.
" She told the preacher to come again, and if this
doctrine was indeed the true one, the Bu-sa would
tell her that night. He left a small book and a
Gospel of John. She had already given up vege-
tarianism, had put on white underclothing, and given
up opium for a fortnight ; but her son, fearing his
246 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
mother was going mad, had brought the pipe again,
and pleaded with her to resume the drug. The son,
who seems very fond of his mother, fearing the effect
of a foreign religion, took away her book, and, going
to the house of one of the Christians, gave it to him,
telling him not to let any one from Wenchow visit
his mother, as he did not wish her to have anything
to do with the religion of Jesus. On the preacher's
second visit she seemed much distressed; she said the
Bu-sa had again spoken to her, and said she had done
wrong in giving up the book (she could read fairly
well, and was in easy circumstances), and that she
must go to Wenchow and see the foreign lady teacher,
who would pray for her. When she announced her
determination to come and see me, her son was
greatly distressed, but feared to oppose her. She
arrived on a Saturday afternoon, and I had a long
talk with her, and was much struck with her intel-
ligent understanding of the Scriptures, which she had
been reading. She said God had given her a new
name.
"After Sunday, I told her that if she was willing to
cut off her opium, and stay with me for two weeks or
so, I would help her. She asked for time to think it
over, and after dinner, very tremblingly, brought me
her opium-tray. Poor thing, I knew she had entered
on a hard struggle, for she had been smoking for ten
years, but the native Christians, as well as ourselves,
"SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY" 247
were much in prayer for her, and we expected victory.
I had told her to come to our rooms whenever she
felt bad, and we would play and sing and pray with
her. She bore up until almost two in the morning,
when they called me : she was then so ill that I
allowed her to have a little of the drug. The next
day, about three in the afternoon, being again very ill,
I sat by her a long time, rubbing the twitching limbs,
soothing and helping her all I could. In the evening
I gave her a morphine powder, which quieted her for
the rest of the night. Thus she continued for three
more days, until the suffering had almost gone, and
we looked for a happy issue, when there came a letter
from her brother and son, urging her to come home,
and not to give up the opium. I tried to encourage
her to remain with us another week, but the next
morning she decided she must go home. She could
stand the terrible craving no longer, and she feared
the disease, for which she took the opium in the first
instance, was returning. With a heavy heart we had
to let her go : it seemed grievous that just as she was
escaping from the power of that terrible vice, she
should slip back again, for we knew going home
meant going back to it. She has been visited since,
but while professing to trust the Lord for salvation,
she keeps to her pipe. One could weep for the sorrow
of those who are held fast in this dreadful bondage.
Thank God, the prey is often snatched from the
248 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
mighty, and we have not a few saved and delivered
from the power of the devil.
"One dear woman, hearing of the gospel from her
neighbours, and knowing that salvation and her
opium-pipe could not go together, determined to give
up the latter. She bought some opium medicine, and
time after time as the craving came upon her, she
prayed and continued the struggle until she got the
victory. She has been a consistent Christian for
nearly two years. Both her daughter and son-in-law
were opium-smokers, and through her influence the
latter gave up the pipe, but took to drinking instead.
Do we not find in many cases, such as this woman's,
that the old gospel has not lost any of its power; but
oh ! shall we not pray and never rest until this demon
be swept from the land, as far as the traffic with
England is concerned ? Alas, for poor China ! One's
heart sinks when one thinks of her sorrow."
During this summer we had a rather amusing epi-
sode which frightened half the city, but, nevertheless,
was used of God to the conversion of several of the
school-girls. We were in our sitting-room, soon after
prayers one evening, one reading aloud, the rest work-
ing, when suddenly we heard a cry of terror, " Sz-mo !
Sz-mo ! " We rushed out, wondering what could have
happened, and running upstairs from whence the
sounds came, our cook gasped out, " Look, look at the
heavens ! " Looking in the direction indicated, I saw
"SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY" 249
a very bright reflection of an electric light, but where
it proceeded from we did not know. The school-girls
had fallen on their knees, and were praying in much
fear. I explained the phenomena, and heard one of
the servants say, with a sigh of relief, " I thought the
day of the Lord had come." The next morning we
heard that an English gunboat had come up the river,
and so the mystery was solved. Several of the girls
had become truly anxious, and the question was
pressed home, "What it the Lord had come? we
are not ready."
The Sunday following, just as we were retiring for
the night, we heard the girls talking rather excitedly.
Miss B. called to them to be quiet and go to bed, but
they answered, "We can't be quiet, our hearts are
so full, three souls have been saved to-night. Tell
Sz-mo to thank God with us." After hearing who
the three were, we knelt down and gave God thanks.
The next morning before six o'clock we heard them
all singing together, " Happy day when Jesus washed
my sins away." After morning prayers I took them,
one by one, into my study, and heard their simple
story. One child was seen weeping, and when asked
what was the matter she replied, " I am a great sinner."
Two others were anxious, and they were led by the
elder girls, who had been lately much revived in
soul, to the Saviour, in whom they found peace and
pardon. The following Thursday, at our usual meet-
250 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
ing, I told the good news to our dear praying women,
and asked them, while giving thanks for this, to re-
member the two elder girls, still unsaved. It was not
often I took evening prayers in the school then, but
on this occasion I did, and one of the two prayed for
that afternoon was saved ; and two days later another,
and as far as we could see they were real cases. Two
of the five were the most naughty-tempered girls we
had, so the change in them was most marked.
September $th. Saturday was a busy day. All
the afternoon and evening we were examining candi-
dates for baptism. I spoke with each one in my study
first, and in the evening they were again examined in
the presence of one hundred or more members. Ten
out of twelve were accepted and baptized next day.
That Sunday was such a happy one. The morning
service lasted three hours and twenty minutes, yet no
one seemed tired. After the usual service and break-
ing of bread, the silversmith told how the Lord
was blessing his work at Bah-zie (three of the new
converts were the fruit of his labours), and of their
need of a chapel. He told how much money he had
received, and how much he still needed. The mem-
bers responded nobly, and at once promised to
contribute twenty-seven dollars (about $), and this
just after they had given the usual sum for one of
their own evangelists. Later on other promises were
added, so that altogether, including his own donation,
< SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY" 251
he received fifty-five dollars from the native Christians
alone.
But it was not long before our joy was turned to
sorrow sickness and death were to be again our
portion. That very Sunday, Sept. 6th, I had a letter,
written by Mrs. G., saying she was ill, and, if no
better, would like to .come into Wenchow to see the
doctor. I wrote at once, telling her to come anyhow,
little thinking she was so seriously ill. They were to
arrive on Wednesday, early ; and on Tuesday after-
noon Miss W. with Miss T., who had only recently
joined us, went for their usual walk on the hill. Soon
after a man . came running in to tell us that one of
the young ladies had fallen from the city wall to the
street below, a distance of twenty feet. In a few
minutes she was carried in, and Dr. L. kindly came
at once to attend to her. The elbow of the right arm
was literally smashed, but the doctor dressed it as
well as he could ; and the next morning, at 6 a.m.,
the G.'s arrived. I now quote Miss B.'s letter, written
at the time :
"On Saturday, the 5th, the country Christians came
in to be ready for the services, and amongst them
were twelve candidates for baptism four women and
eight men. Mrs. Stott and the pastor saw them all
in the afternoon, and had a talk with each one. I
was present and much enjoyed the answers of some ;
they were so clear and bright. Two were asked to
252 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
wait a few months longer, as they do not yet under-
stand much ; and the other ten were examined after
the prayer-meeting in the evening, in the presence of
about one hundred of the members. One of the
unpaid preachers gave a nice testimony as to the
reality of one woman's faith, saying that before she
believed the doctrine she was in debt, but as soon as
she became a Christian she set herself to pay her
debts, and is now quite free. The next morning, at
nine o'clock, the baptisms took place. Three of the
people were from a new place, Bah'-zie, where a good
work is going on, entirely through the efforts of one
man, Ao-ming by name, a silversmith. About the
beginning of last year he, with his wife, removed
there from Wenchow, and at once opened a room for
preaching. He has had services regularly ever since,
paying all expenses connected with the work ; and
now there are quite a number of inquirers ; and these
three have been received into church fellowship.
After the baptisms the collection was taken (the
church supports the evangelist for the Tung-ts'6
district), then the service, at the end of which we
remembered the Lord's death for us.
" Then Ao-ming asked to say a few words. He re-
minded the people of the time when Mr. Stott had
come to their city, when the name of God had never
been heard, and of how he toiled and preached the
gospel all around, and of the result to-day. They
"SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY" 253
had received all freely, the chapel in which they were
sitting never costing them a dollar ; and compared
them to a vine which took root on Mr. Stott's arrival,
the branches having spread into the districts around,
the last branch being Bah-zie, where he is. He told
now the Lord had blessed him, how the room he had
rented could not hold the people who gathered, and
that the few who had believed could not mortgage
a larger one, so he looked to them as the parent to
provide for the baby just born. The response was a
noble one, twenty-seven dollars being given or pro-
mised on the spot. Altogether, from the Wenchow
church, including his own donation, he has received
fifty-four or fifty-five dollars. This from the native
Christians alone.
" On reaching the house we found we had had a
service of three hours and a quarter, not counting the
prayer-meeting the Christians always have before we
come in. There was only time to get dinner when
the preachers met for their monthly meeting. They
report any interesting cases, and sometimes their
districts are changed, then they have prayer, immedi-
ately after that all gathered into their respective classes
for the afternoon meetings, and those ended, many of
the Christians returned home ; thus ended a happy
and full day of service for the Lord.
"October i^th. I had written part of the above,
hoping to post it at once, when we were suddenly
254 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
plunged into sorrow by sickness and death, and I
have been too much engaged in the sick-room to
finish before this. On Tuesday, September 8th, Miss
Tanner fell from the city wall a distance of twenty
feet into the street below, breaking her elbow bone
into pieces and receiving very severe bruising all down
the right side. The next morning at six o'clock Mr.
and Mrs. G. with their little girl came in from Bing-yie,
Mrs. G. being very ill with dysentery. Dr. Lowry,
who was exceedingly kind, said at once hers was a
most serious case; he feared she would not pull
through. We did all we could for her, but she
gradually sank, and on Thursday at 5.5 p.m. she
entered into the presence of the Lord Jesus only
thirty-six hours after being carried in. She was so
sure she would recover, and several times thanked the
Lord for the life spared, praying so earnestly that she
might live more entirely to God's glory. Though un-
conscious on Thursday, she would always answer any
question ; she spent a good deal of the day in prayer.
She prayed very earnestly about workers in Bing-yie.
She thought she was in Shang-hai with Mr. Taylor,
and again and again asked that the matter might be
settled that afternoon. Once she said, 'Now, dear
Mr. Taylor, will you pray?' About noon I repeated
a text Miss Tanner sent her; she did not grasp the
meaning, and I said, ' That means Jesus.' ' Oh, does
it?' she replied; 'then that means everything, does it
"SORROW SHALL BE TtfRNED INTO JOK" 255
not?' She at once closed her eyes and prayed so
beautifully; I will give what I remember of the prayer
in her own words : ' O Lord, we come to Thee this
afternoon in that precious, precious name of Jesus;
we little know the meaning of that name, and of what
we could do with it if we only used it. ... Let us
begin from to-day and start afresh in the power of
that name . . . that we may live in it, act in it,
move in it, and work in the power of that precious,
precious name. . . .' Her one theme was Jesus,
' that precious, precious name/ as she said again and
again. Once she turned to Mrs. Stott, saying, * What
do you think the Lord Jesus wants me to do for Him
now?' and on Mrs. S. saying, C I think perhaps He
wants to call you home,' she said, ' Oh, do you think
so; that would be lovely, if only I could think that.'
" I don't think she realised she was going, she had
been so sure she would get better. Very soon after
that she became quite unconscious and unable to
speak. We buried her the next day in the little
cemetery outside the city walls, near the little
baby boy she lost last year, and near dear Miss
Boyd who was taken from us last year, in sure and
certain hope of a glorious resurrection. ' A little while
and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.'
A week later Mr. G. and his little three-year-old
motherless child went to Shang-hai, and last mail we
were terribly shocked and grieved to hear that little
256 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Olive had died, after three days' illness, from cholera
It does seem too terrible, and as yet we can hardly
realise it. Truly 'God's ways are not as our ways, nor
God's thoughts as our thoughts.' The 'love that
spared not His own son ' hath done this; we can only
bow the head and say, ' It is the Lord; let Him do as
seemeth Him good.' May the God of all comfort
comfort and sustain His tried and sorrowing servant,
for only He who has so bruised can heal.
" To return to Miss T., whom we left very much
shaken and bruised : she has had a trying time, the
arm could not have splints on as the wounds were
very bad, and the whole arm much swollen; for a
month she caused us anxiety, as we feared the spine
was also injured; the fever was very high, but she
has been getting up a little the last few days, and
we trust she will now go steadily forward. She
needed constant attention day and night for several
weeks. All who have seen the place where she fell
marvel she was not killed. We do sincerely praise
God that so little injury was done, and for all the
grace and patience He has given her.
"On October 4th we had eleven more baptisms;
five were school-girls, four of whom were converted
four months ago, and who have shown decidedly by
their changed lives that they are 'new creatures in
Christ Jesus.' One, an old man of seventy-seven years
from O-dzing, gave a very clear testimony I was
"SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOK" 257
much struck with the way in which he spoke of the
1 precious blood.' One of the questions was, * Have
you any part in hell?' He replied ' No; I once had,
but now I have part in heaven.' ' How has that come
about?' was the next question. His face lighted up,
and in his energy he threw out both hands and almost
shouted * By the precious blood !' There was another
man from Bah-zie, Ao-ming's place, making four now
in that village, not counting Ao-ming and his wife;
the rest were from Wenchow and its outskirts. Thus
twenty-one have been received during the last two
months.
"The following Tuesday the preachers' meeting
took place; we had a good day, and the Lord was
present in the power of the Holy Ghost. The pastor,
Mr. Tsiu, took the morning meeting, speaking with
power, and the prayers after were very earnest. For
six weeks we nursed Miss T. night and day, at the
end of which the doctor advised her to go to Shang-
hai for further medical advice, and after lingering
there for nearly two months, she fell asleep in Jesus."
18
CHAPTER XVIII
" All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord ; and Thy saints shall bless
Thee." PSA. cxlv. 10.
IN November of this year I paid my first visit to
O-dzing and give the following account written
at the time:
" Our visit to this place is never to be forgotten,
the journey being one of unsurpassed beauty. In vain
may I attempt to give you some idea of its grandeur.
You must imagine yourself in a district surrounded
by high mountains. The journey, occupying the
greater part of two days, lay entirely amongst the
mountains, the path winding along and often through
a stream of clear, limpid waters, rushing in ceaseless
music under and over great boulders which had fallen
from the cliffs above in years gone by. In passing
through these streams one has to hold one's breath ;
the chair-bearers are nearly knee deep, and a false
step would give one an unseasonable bath with, per-
haps, more serious results. The mountains are not
rugged and bare, like those you are accustomed to in
25*
"THY SAINTS SHALL BLESS THEE" 259
your more northern clime, but ridge after ridge high
up the sides is cultivated, and only a few weeks ago
the rich, ripe harvest was safely gathered in. On the
higher and more precipitous mountains there is a
perfect glory of dark fir, lighted up here and there by
clusters of the light-green graceful bamboo. Along
the foot of the hills and hedges the wild tea and bi-bo
trees are in full bloom, the latter scenting the air with
its delicious fragrance ; the bright yellow flowers, some
resembling the broom, others the daisy in form, give
quite a glory to the scene; while here and there a
scarlet azalea seems to have forgotten we are in the
middle of November. Ferns of great variety are in
abundance, while every now and again we come upon
a splendid waterfall, whose white, foaming waters rush
headlong down, regardless of all below.
"Altogether, it was a scene to inspire the com-
monest mind and send the poet and the painter into
raptures. Yet in the midst of all this beauty, poverty
and filth, sin and misery abound. Our hearts were
drawn out in deep gratitude to God that in this
remote mountainous region with its widely scattered
villages the gospel of His grace was known and loved
by not a few.
" The little church here has been baptized by fire ;
some of the members have suffered much for Christ's
sake, yet they have come out of the fire stronger and
better for the testing. God grant that the little seed
2<5o MISSION WORK IN CHINA
may grow into a strong tree, with branches spreading
to all around.
" Tuesday t \*jth. We t.e. Miss Bardsley, the evan-
gelist, our cook and myself left Wenchow about ten
o'clock on Wednesday evening (nth), and ought to
have reached the end of our water journey by dawn
next morning, but strong head-winds and opium-
smoking boatmen defeated our purpose, so at dawn
we were only seven miles from the city. We managed
to get chair-bearers, however, and started at 9 a.m.,
intending to make one-half of the journey that day.
At two o'clock we reached the house of an inquirer,
who gave us a hearty invitation to spend the night
there and to preach to the villagers. This we con-
sented to do, though we were more than an hour's ride
from the place we had intended to stay at. We were
hardly seated before a curious crowd gathered around
us, for foreign women had never been in that district
before. I tried once or twice to speak to them, but
their excitement was too great, they would not hear;
so I told them to go home, get their suppers, put
their babies to bed, and return later. We gave the
invitation, but were hardly prepared for the response;
for scarcely had we finished our tea, when a large
crowd assembled of men, women, and children. The
room was dangerously full, the people standing so
closely that they swayed to and fro in the most
alarming manner; the lights were dim and those on
"THY SAINTS SHALL BLESS THEE" 261
the outer rim were struggling to get a sight of us; the
noise was deafening; three times I essayed to get a
hearing, but at last determined to retire, hoping that
the preacher would get a quiet opportunity of telling
them of a Saviour's love. On reaching our room we
found it necessary to put out the light at once, as the
women were following; we listened with beating hearts
to the noise below, as the preacher in vain tried to get
a hearing. In an hour or two all was quiet, but not
before they had brought lighted torches and, inserting
them through the partition, at last persuaded them-
selves we were really in bed and asleep. The next
morning before starting we had a very quiet and
orderly service.
" Six and a half hours' further riding brought us to
our journey's end, and then what a welcome awaited
us ! The Christians had somehow heard of our
coming, and came out part of the way to meet us,
their faces beaming with delight. We were at once
taken upstairs to the room they had set apart as a
chapel, and indeed we were delighted with what we
saw: a table at one end, three rows of stools to accom-
modate forty-five persons, while on the walls hung
scrolls of scripture, the whole of the first chapter of
John, the Sermon on the Mount, and other scriptures.
It was indeed a refreshing sight, in the place where
last year the devil seemed to have it all his own way.
"We have had quite a splendid time here; quiet
262 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Bible readings, morning and evening, attended by
thirty or more people. The three services on Sunday
were as quiet and orderly as any I have seen in
China. One blind man was proposed for fellowship ;
the Christians all gave testimony as to his changed
life, and as his faith in Christ seemed clear and bright,
he was unanimously received, and to-day he has been
baptized in the clear mountain stream near by.
" Yesterday we went to visit a place seven miles off,
where an interest in the gospel has lately sprung up.
The youngest son of the family we are living with
and an earnest Christian woman go there every
Sunday to preach to them. We were rejoiced to find
seven or eight persons interested in the truth. On
arriving there, however, a bitter disappointment
awaited these Christian workers. One old woman,
eighty-one years of age, in whose house the services
were held, had suddenly gone back to her idols, and
refused to let them have her house for services any
longer. The reason was that her eldest son, who had
been away from her for two years, had just returned
home, and being angry with his mother for receiving
what he called a foreign religion, she gave all up to
please him. Poor old thing ! it seemed so sad to see
her bordering on the grave, yet careless of her soul's
salvation. Another family, almost next door, offered
their house, so the meetings were not to be given up.
I have no doubt but that the gospel will spread in
"THY SAINTS SHALL BLESS THEE" 263
the district, and many shall yet bow down to own our
Lord and Saviour.
"This afternoon we have had rather a novel experi-
ence. We were invited to visit the wife of the chief
persecutor of last year, the man who seemed possessed
by the evil one, and who determined to keep Christi-
anity out of the place. Of course we were delighted
to have the opportunity, and were received most
graciously, old grievances were spoken of but without
bitterness. The old lady seemed so pleased to see
us ; she stroked our hands, and gave us tea and nuts,
and led us to the hills to see the beauties of the place.
We have no doubt that our visit will result in good,
in bringing about a kindlier feeling towards the poor
and despised Christians. We have been freely wel-
comed in every home.
" Wenchow, Nov. 2ist. The evening before we left
we had the first Christian wedding that has ever been
in that place, and a very rough, noisy time we had ;
all the village turned out, and there must have been
one hundred persons to see us eat the wedding
feast.
"Next day, 1 8th, we started for home about i p.m.,
halting for the night at a village half-way. In the
evening we had a large audience of folk anxious to
see and hear the foreigner. We managed to get
quiet enough to deliver our message. Next morning
before seven o'clock we were on the road again,
264 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
reaching home about 5 p.m. Oh, it was good to get
into our comfortable home and to find that all had
gone on well during our absence. Will you pray
that the work at O-dzing may prosper more and
more ?
" Next month we expect all our preachers (two paid
and eleven unpaid) in for a month's Bible study. I
have promised to give them a daily Bible lesson in
Old Testament history. We feel the great need of
having all our Christians, especially the preachers,
well taught in the Word that is able to make them
wise teachers of others."
Through the kindness of friends in Malvern and
Dartmouth, we were able to give a Christmas-tree
not only to the boys and girls, but also extended our
invitation to a number of our men and women. This
was not the first time we had dressed a tree, but it
had been rather sorry work before, spending what
little money we could spare on useful and pretty
gifts, there was no little ingenuity required to make
the thing a success. This year all was changed, and
never had we seen such lovely dolls or pretty toys,
all fitted to instruct as well as amuse our young folk,
and the opening of the box was nearly as great an
excitement to us as to the natives. The kind friends
had put in personal gifts for each of us ; these we kept
until Christmas morning, which added greatly to the
interchange of presents which we have always kept
"THY SAINTS SHALL BLESS THEE" 265
up on that day. Our riches made us bold, and we
invited all the foreign community (which has never
numbered more than twenty, including missionaries)
to join in our fun. Some willingly responded, and
much enjoyed witnessing the happy scene. After
the children were supplied we had gifts enough to
put into a good-sized bag, into which the women
were allowed to dip and become the happy possessor
of whatever they drew out.
The last day of the year was spent partly in prayer,
ending in a watch-night service, a delighful home
custom which we have always kept up.
CHAPTER XIX
1892.
" The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." LUKE x. 9.
IN February I was much impressed with the
favourable opportunity which the first month of
the Chinese year (February) presented for gospel
work, and when our preachers assembled for their
month's study I communicated my thought to them.
They all gladly responded to the suggestion, that
they should go two and two into as many towns and
villages as possible in the time, and preach. Plans
were made, districts divided up, and twelve men
started on their mission. I gave each man three
dollars (above seven shillings and sixpence) for this
month's expenses, and they all had without exception
interested audiences in the different districts they
visited, and in one place permanent work has been
maintained since. One of the preachers felt unable
to give up his work for that month, explaining that,
though his food was provided, there was nothing to
leave for his wife, so our men contributed amongst
266
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 267
themselves enough rice to send to his family rather
than that he should be deprived of this opportunity.
Of course, they all returned to their employments at
the end of the month.
At the same time, we held evangelistic services in
the city chapel, using the little organ as a special
attraction, and we had large numbers at all the
meetings. A few of the Christian women also went
out evangelising. Some months afterwards Mrs. Liu
visited one place where they had been, and found four
families deeply interested. She returned with a
splendid report, and brought with her a young wife,
nineteen years of age, whose husband wished her to
learn the truths he had himself accepted. She spent
a fortnight with us, made good progress, and seemed
really in earnest. I quote from a letter written in
June regarding this young woman :
" Two weeks ago we had the joy of receiving her
husband, twenty-five years of age, and his brother, a
young man of twenty-two. They were both baptized
together, the firstfruits of these women's efforts. Now
they ask that a preacher be sent to them every
Sunday, and just as the request came to me, another
of our men offered himself as an unpaid preacher ; so
the open door was entered. Do praise God with me
for all this mercy."
We had also encouragement in the more distant
places. In one village the preacher was detained
268 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
three weeks, six families wishing to be taught, and
one of the inquirers came to the city to purchase
Bibles and hymn-books. The young wife was
baptized a few months later. Thus the seed then
sown brought forth lasting fruit.
In the spring we had the pleasure of welcoming
Miss Chalmers. She was engaged to Mr. Menzies,
who the month previously had reinforced Mr. G. at
Bing-yie. She remained with us for two years,
learning the language, at the end of which time she
was married, and joined her husband in his work
there. We much missed her loving sympathy and
hearty interest, though unable to take part in the
work.
In the summer Miss Bardsley and I took a much-
needed change to Japan, leaving the work in the
hands of the native pastor, and the schools under the
care of Misses Whitford and Chalmers. I append
Miss B.'s letter, giving an account of our doings and
places visited, also one of my own, written on our
return to Wenchow :
" ARIMA, near KOBE.
"We left Wenchow on Aug. 2ist, reached Ning-po
on Monday, spent there some hours visiting friends.
In the afternoon sailed for Shang-hai, arriving there
the following morning. Found all our friends at the
mission-house well. Only the residents were there.
" THE KINGDOM OF GOD " 269
Spent a very busy three days shopping and visiting.
It is a real treat being able to shop once more, for
in Wenchow all is done by the servants. On Friday
went on board the s.s. Yokohama Maru for Japan, a fine
big steamer, beautifully fitted up. We had a delight-
ful passage the sea as calm as a mill-pond all the
way, and the weather so warm that we wore muslin
dresses even in the open sea. Our fellow-passengers
were nice, pleasant people, several being missionaries.
Dr. S., of Shang-hai, has been our companion all the
way. She is an American, and we are greatly en-
joying her society. We have been in the midst of
Americans since we left China.
" We reached Nagasaki Sunday morning. The
entrance to the bay is charming, and the bay itself
is one of the six finest in the world. Surrounded
by hills, you wonder how or where you came in
there seems no entrance. The English houses
nestling among the trees on the sides of the hills,
make it very pretty and gay with the various flags
of the Consulates. There were numbers of steamers,
men-of-war belonging to England, Germany,
America, and Japan. We were very pleased to see
our old friend, H.M.S. Redpole come in soon after
us and anchor close by. The following morning two
of the men came to see us. They told us six of
them had been converted in Chin-Kiang through one
of our missionaries soon after they left Wenchow
270 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
(you may remember we had the men to tea twice
and at that time there were no Christians on board).
They were so bright and full of praise ; it was sweet
to hear them speak of the keeping power of Christ,
and its reality. They have much to endure on
board. In the afternoon the captain, doctor, and
second lieutenant came to see us. They were going
to England in a few months, so we may not meet
again.
" We had intended calling on some of the mission-
aries in Nagasaki ; but the weather was so hot we
contented ourselves with going to church in the
morning and a visit to the bazaars on Monday
morning to get some tortoise-shell hairpins, for which
Nagasaki is famed. On our return we hope to see a
little of the work, &c.
"We left Nagasaki on Monday, and again went
into the open sea for some hours, but the next day
the scenery was lovely. We passed between islands
all the way. Sometimes we seemed completely land-
locked.
" Wednesday morning early we reached Kobe, and
at once proceeded to Mrs. Ballard's, whose house is
in a lovely situation on the hill overlooking the town
and bay. She had kindly reserved her best room for
us, and we were quite sorry to leave again, so soon,
but the weather was so hot we thought it best to
come on here. We started for this place at 5.30 next
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 271
morning, and had the pleasure of travelling a few
miles by train ; then we got kangos for the rest of
the way. A kango is a short chair, with a cover of
bamboo ; the proper way is to sit with your legs
under you, but if you cannot manage that, you must
manage to stow them away somewhere, for the chair
is so short. We were four hours and a half on the
way. The country was very pretty, and we ascended
the mountains for three hours and a half, then
descended for one hour. Arima lies in a very narrow
valley and is completely surrounded by hills ; it is a
lovely place, and abounds in flowers and ferns of
every description.
" We are staying in a Japanese hotel, which is so
quaint and clean, so different from a Chinese inn.
Dr. S. is with us. We have two good large rooms,
for which with baths (real mountain water), good
food, and attendance, we pay one dollar a day, or two
shillings and eightpence in English money. The food
is very good, and they give us more courses than we
care for. One girl speaks a few words of English,
and we have great fun making ourselves understood.
She is very anxious to tell us the Japanese of all we
say, and we cause great delight when we remember
to ask for what we want in Japanese. The people
are so very clean and polite ; they are lively, and
laugh heartily with us over things. There have been
and are still a good many missionaries here.
272 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
" Monday. We had such a happy and refreshing
day yesterday. Mr. P., from China, took morning
service and gave a beautiful address on Psa. li. 10-13.
I. The necessity of regeneration. 2. Upholding of
the Spirit. 3. Maintaining the joy of salvation for
purposes of service, not for selfish enjoyment. At
4.30 we all met together to remember the Lord's
death, and had a very precious season, the Lord's
presence being very manifest. At 7.30 there was an
open meeting and much prayer. There has been a
good deal of blessing this year at Arima.
" We enjoyed our visit to Arima ; the longer we
stayed the more sorry we were to leave. The
mineral baths were most enjoyable. We came to
Kobe on the I5th, and on the ipth went to Kioto,
the ancient capital. It was a great treat to travel by
rail again. The carriages are very like our English
ones, and the train goes as slowly as the Manx
trains.
" We had a letter of introduction to Dr. and Mrs.
Barry, of Kioto. They very kindly took us over the
Doshishi, the largest and first college in Japan. It
was opened by a Mr. Nissima, a Japanese. There
are four or five buildings, one alone being as large as
Manchester High School, and there are now over six
hundred pupils. All the sciences are taught in fact,
as good an education given as in the colleges in
America. There is also a large girls' school, and
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 273
hospital and dispensary in connection with it. We
spent all Monday afternoon in going over the build-
ings, and the evening with Dr. and Mrs. Barry. The
next morning they kindly arranged with Jinriksha
men, to take us to all that could be seen in a day.
They took us to five beautiful temples. In one was
a Buddha quite sixty feet high ; in another were
33,000 idols, all so beautifully clean, and the bronze
and lovely embroidering made them so much more
beautiful than the ordinary Chinese temples. In
one there were many hundred worshippers, sitting as
quietly as a European audience, listening to a Bud-
dhistic sermon. ... It is so sad to see Japan, with
all her civilisation, still so closely bound to her idols.
Next we went to a porcelain warehouse, and saw
the most exquisite ware being made, all hand-painted.
Next to a silk warehouse ; but the silk is neither so
good nor so cheap as in China, though it looks very
pretty. Kioto is a very fine city, the streets very
wide and level, and surrounded by high hills. The
hotel we stayed in was as large and as well fitted
as the large town hotels and lighted with electric
light.
" We next visited Osaka, the commercial capital of
Japan ; there is not much natural beauty there, a
great deal of business going on, some fine large
bridges, the city also lighted with electric light near
the station and in the Concession. We stayed with
274 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
Dr. and Mrs. D., American missionaries whom we met
in Arima, but as we had so short a time in Osaka we
could not see much of their work. All the mission-
aries in Japan are engaged more or less on educa-
tional lines ; they are not free to work where and as
they like. The Japanese are most anxious to do
without the foreigners, and even the Christians say,
' Give us the money and you can go home, we can
manage our own affairs.' There is not a foreigner in
any Government position now ; they despise them
more than the Chinese do I think. They don't like
a Japanese to marry a foreign lady. They say ' Our
men are too good for your women, but our women
will do for your men.'
"We are very thankful that our work lies in China,
for though we have trials and difficulties they have
not, they have difficulties we know nothing of. The
Japanese are lively, polite, clever people, beautifully
clean, and in many respects lovable, but they have
no depth. Quickly converted to Christianity, many
as quickly go back ; they often take offence and
leave one church and join another. The Chinese, on
the other hand, are quiet, sober people, filthy in all
their habits, slow to take in an idea, and as slow to
adopt it, but when once they do, nothing will move
them If a Chinaman is truly converted to God he
remains firm, in spite of persecutions."
On our return home I wrote the following :
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 275
" WENCHOW, Oct. 28, 1892.
"We returned home last Thursday, and were so
delighted to get back again ; one would have thought
we had been away a year to see the excitement.
All our dear natives were crowded round the door to
bid us welcome ; all, including the babies, had to be
spoken to, so that it was quite a few minutes before
we could notice Miss Whitford and Miss Chalmers
The latter has been very ill ; for two or three days the
doctor feared she might not live. We were so thankful
to see her almost strong again, only looking thinner.
" The day after our return, the country Christians
and candidates arrived ; five were examined, but
only two men were baptized. On Sunday we had a
splendid day ; the pastor spoke with much power
on Christ cleansing the Temple. He also turned to
Corinthians : * Ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost.'
He asked some searching questions, such as, * What
has our heart been during the last month, the temple
of God, or a den of thieves ? ' I am sure all felt the
power of his words, and we thank God for his faithful
testimony."
As soon as possible we recommenced our autumn
country work, our first journey being to O-dzing.
Miss Whitford has written a journal giving details of
our experiences during that and the Tong-t'so visit,
which will be more interesting than any words of
mine. She writes :
276 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
" November loth, Thursday. On the second of this
month Mrs. Stott and Miss Bardsley left us for a trip
to O-dzing, one of the out-stations. They left in the
afternoon, and came to the end of their boat journey
up the river too late to proceed any further that night,
so composed themselves to rest where they were.
Early in the morning they were ready to start, but
owing to the difficulty of arranging with chairbearers,
&c., it was quite eight o'clock before they could get
off. The men were not well up to their work, and
before long they began to grumble and say they could
not carry them, and as it was a twelve hours' journey
that was rather a bad look-out ; it ended in their
walking altogether about half the way, until they
could do no more ; and even then Miss B.'s men
set her down within a short distance of her destina-
tion, declaring they could take her no further ; but
Mrs. S. pushed forward, and sent men back to fetch
her. They went out with torches and brought her in
in true festive style, and the hearty welcome they
here received made up tor all the hardships of the
way. The journey is a very pretty and picturesque
one ; but the beauties were not so well appreciated
this time, owing to the discomfort ; one cannot enjoy
beautiful scenery when too weary to put one foot
before the other.
After supper, they left the preacher to conduct
evening prayers, and retired at once, hoping to get a
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 277
good night's sleep after the fatigues of the day. But
alas for their hopes ! They had just got to sleep when
they were aroused by a regiment of rats, scrambling
and squeaking in very close proximity. They got up
and arranged the mosquito curtains so as to keep
them at least off the bed, and once more composed
themselves ; but not for long. Again they were
aroused by the same noises, and this time they lit the
candle and left it burning all night, which seemed to
scare away the intruders. Meantime the rats had
visited the next room, where the wearied chairbearers
and the preacher had forgotten their trials in rather
noisy slumber, and in the morning the preacher was
minus a stocking, which they had carried away bodily
to their nest.
" Miss B. had taken with her a small medicine-
chest, and the morning of the next day (Friday)
was employed in seeing patients, doctoring bad eyes,
bandaging sore legs, &c. ; the rest of the day being
spent in visiting the Christians and inquirers near at
hand, and a visit was also paid to the wife of the arch-
persecutor of two years ago, and she seemed pleased
to renew the acquaintance made last year.
" On Saturday a visit was paid to two villages about
seven or eight miles distant, where the gospel was
preached and some inquirers visited. In one of these
villages there were seven, four of whom seemed very
earnest, and gave evidence of true conversion ; in the
other village there were only two,
278 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
" Sunday was wet, but notwithstanding the ele-
ments about thirty-four, mostly Christians and in-
quirers, turned out, and three hearty services were
held, all of which Mrs. Stott took herself, as well as
morning and evening prayers every day. She feels
the importance of giving the Christians as much Bible-
reading as possible during these visits, as it is almost
the only opportunity they have. She was especially
pleased with their interest during this visit, and the
evident pleasure and intelligence with which they
listened at all the services.
" Monday was wet, so the morning was spent in
seeing patients, and the afternoon in letter-writing.
In the evening there was a very good audience, and
quite a number of strangers sat still and listened
attentively all through, part of the address being for
them and part for the Christians.
" On Tuesday morning Miss B. was to start about
four o'clock for Wenchow. The cook, who is ever on
the alert when there is anything extra to be done,
first roused the people at one o'clock ; on being told
the time, he subsided again for a little while, but at
2.30 insisted on all getting up ; before that the hostess
had been preparing breakfast, which was ready. Soon
after a start was effected, Miss B. and the cook leav-
ing for Wenchow, the two sons of the house accom-
panying them with torches as far as necessary. After
they were gone, Mrs. Stott finished the packing, &c.,
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 279
and after assembling the family for prayers, she also
left just as dawn broke (about 6 a.m.) for a long
journey across country to Tung-t'so, another out-
station. A halt was made at mid-day at a hall which
is rented as a chapel by Mr. S. of the Methodist Free
Church, and the night was spent at the house of some
inquirers of his. It was dark when Mrs. S. reached
their house, and they had shut up for the night ; but
they gave the travellers a kind and hospitable wel-
come, and soon hands were preparing the food which
they had brought with them for supper.
" The next day they again set off, and Tung-t'so
(where I had already arrived) was reached about
3 p.m., after a wet and trying journey.
" But I must go back a little. The Monday after
Mrs. S. left Wenchow an old woman, one of the
members who had been ill some time, passed peace-
fully away. A few days before the Bible-woman had
visited her and asked her if the Lord was going to
call her. ' In a few days/ she said. ' Are you ready
to go ? ' * Quite ready ; I see a crown and a white
robe prepared for me.' ' Is Jesus with you ? ' * Yes,
He is with me.' ' Does anything trouble you ? ' ' No,
I am quite happy.' This woman's daughter was one
of Mrs. Stott's first and most earnest Christian women ;
she died about four years ago ; but before that she
literally prayed her husband and her mother saved,
never resting until they were both within the fold.
280 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
" On the Tuesday I left Wenchow about 5.30 p.m.
for Tung-t'so. The first part of the journey was per-
formed in a boat, my companions being one of the
Bible-women and my servant. When I wanted to
retire for the night I put up a shawl for a curtain to
screen me from the boatmen, but they had to pass
through, to take turns in rowing, during the night.
Of course I did not undress, but I washed my hands
and face in the morning, which was more than any of
my companions did.
" We breakfasted in the boat, and soon after nine
o'clock started to walk to our destination about seven
miles distant, half of which was over a high and steep
hill. As the day was very wet we had some difficulty
in getting a man to carry our bedding, &c., and you
may imagine in such weather our progress was not
very rapid, the stone path over the hill being exceed-
ingly slippery with the rain, so that we did not reach
Tung-t'so till about I p.m., just about two hours
before Mrs. Stott arrived from the other direction.
We both needed a rest that afternoon, and in the
evening there were quite a number of strangers who
listened to the preaching of the gospel.
" The next morning was wet, so we could not go
out, but in the afternoon we went to a village a short
distance off, where a service is held on alternate Sun-
days, and where there are several Christians and
inquirers. It is a very poor place, and the people are
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 281
very dirty ; we spoke a little, but they did not seem
to care much to listen, except those who were already
interested. One old man whom we visited had been
ill for two months with a trying disease : his wife is
very much against his being a Christian, and does not
treat him well ; she needs our prayers that her heart
may be changed and softened by God's Spirit.
"Friday (nth) was fair, so we started soon after
breakfast to visit two or three places where there are
Christians and inquirers ; we took our dinner with
us as the people around this district are so poor
they have scarcely enough for themselves. After
greeting our friends and doing some preaching, we
were shown to a room to eat our dinner. I wish I
could describe that room the poorest barn would be
a palace to it. We sat on the side of a bed, which
was simply boards covered with a straw mat ; the
floor was stone, and all around was dirt and lumber
of every description. One side was simply open
basket-work, through which numerous pairs of prying
eyes watched us eating our sandwiches ; opposite was
a large hole in the partition, also used as a peephole,
and through which two basins of tea were presently
handed to us to save opening the door, and while we
were drinking our tea an arm and shoulder was again
thrust in, to search for a key on the top of an old
cupboard which stood conveniently near.
" After dinner we again spoke a little, and then
282 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
went on to the next place, to reach which it was
necessary to cross a ferry. The boat was found to be
two or three inches deep in water, and there was no
one in charge, so after baling some of the water out,
we disposed ourselves round the edges as best we
could, Mrs. Stott's chair being set in the middle, the
chairbearers pulled us to the other side, where we
visited two villages, and met with a rather noisy
reception. Some, however, listened to our message,
though many were more intent on looking at us.
" On Saturday we only went a short distance, as we
wanted to be back early in the afternoon, there being
several candidates to be examined for baptism ; so we
went to a village just the other side of the hill I had
crossed coming here, where there were three inquirers.
We had dinner at the house of one of them, an old
man and his wife, who were anxious to have some
one come every Sunday to hold a service, or to stay
there, because they say there are several people who
would be willing to listen if there were some one to
teach them. This can easily be arranged next year,
when our boys, who are in for training, come home to
live here, as they will go out on Sundays. When we
returned in the afternoon there were candidates to be
examined, seven in all, but one did not arrive till
Sunday morning, so will have to wait. There were
one man and four women from the place we visited
on Thursday, and the old woman at whose house we
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 283
dined that day ; the latter was advised to wait, as she
did not seem quite clear. All the others answered
well, and seemed quite decided about conversion, and
that they had experienced it. Two women were the
wives of men who were baptized in the early part of
the year ; the husbands of the other two are not yet
believers, and one of these especially needs our prayers.
She was up for examination a few months ago, but
was put off because she had not quite broken off the
habit of coarse language ; her husband is quarrelsome
and scolds her, and is altogether very difficult to get
on with, and she seems still afraid lest she should give
way and answer him back in a wrong way ; but we
told her to go on praying for him, and the Lord would
hear and help her.
" The baptismal service was held at daybreak at a
stream just below the chapel ; we had it thus early
because the people seemed very much excited on the
Saturday night, and we feared they might make a
disturbance, so about a dozen of us went down
quietly, and it was just over when the villagers began
to stir ; in another few minutes they would all have
been round us. We had two good services morning
and afternoon, about forty Christians and inquirers
being present ; in the morning we had communion,
of which about twenty partook. We have had morn-
ing and evening prayers with the Christians each day,
and every evening except one which was wet. We
284 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
have had large audiences who, although rather rowdy
at first, have listened attentively and quietly to the
preaching of the gospel ; and we cannot but believe
that God will bless the seed thus sown to the saving
of many more souls in this district.
" On Monday the I4th we started directly after
breakfast for Si-kae, a .place about twenty miles
north-west of Tung-t'so, where the gospel was first
taken by the old firewood-seller, now a colporteur,
who has been the means of opening up several places.
He went there selling books, and, finding the people
willing to listen, spent a few weeks with them, and
one of the men came into Wenchow with him to buy
a Testament and hymn-book. Now there are about
ten inquirers, and the Tung-t'so preacher goes there
once a month to hold service and teach them. It was
a day's journey through most lovely country hills and
mountains ; the river, now reduced to a mere mountain
stream, rippling over the stones and winding in and
out amongst the hills, requiring to be crossed and
recrossed again and again as we proceeded. As it
was entirely new ground we were not at all sure what
sort of a reception we should meet with, and were
agreeably surprised to find the people much quieter
and better behaved than those of the Tung-t'so
district. The men were not in when we arrived, and
the women did not seem particularly glad to see us,
as none of them were Christians ; but they soon sent
"THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 285
for the others, and prepared to sweep out the best
room for our accommodation.
"In the evening we had a good audience, who
listened quietly and attentively to the gospel
message, the inquirers who were present drinking in
every word. Mrs. Stott asked one of them if he
believed in Jesus the Saviour. He said, ' I can't
find Him.' She said, ' Are you willing to worship
Him ? ' 'I am willing.' * Are you willing to trust
Him?' 'Yes.' 'Then He will teach you what you
don't understand.'
" When the people dispersed we retired, as we
hoped, to rest, for we were very tired ; but there was
not much sleep to be got that night. We had been
previously cheered by the information that there were
a good many rats ; but we were not prepared for the
attacks of the fleas with which the bed evidently
swarmed, and which proceeded to business with
vigour as soon as we lay down ; between them and
the noise of rats gamboling about the room, together
with the yelping of a dog just outside during the
greater part of the night, we did not get much sleep
during the two nights we spent there ; indeed Mrs.
Stott got none at all, and was consequently pretty
well worn-out by the time she left.
" On Tuesday morning we went out to the house of
one of the inquirers and spoke to some of his neigh-
bours ; then, being tired, I returned to the house,
286 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
and Mrs. S. went on to another place, where she met
with some Hunan braves, who are stationed there for
the protection of the hills, and who listened very
attentively, asking questions and buying books and
tracts. One of them asked Mrs. S. how long she had
been in Wenchow. She said, 'Twenty years.' He
said, c You have been there so long, and why have
you never come here before to tell us the gospel
message ? ' She told him she never heard of Si-kae
till this year.
" In the evening we again had a good audience, who
listened attentively to an explanation of the prodigal
son. It is becoming more and more difficult to pro-
vide for these places, as they open up at greater and
greater distances from Wenchow. We were told of
another place, yet six miles further on, where one
woman believed. Roughly speaking, between fifty
and sixty miles from W T enchow as a centre, how are
these places to get regular teaching and superintend-
ence ? The only way seems to be to take one or two
into the city for teaching, then send them back to
impart what they know to their brethren ; but few
have time for this, as they all live from hand to
mouth, so to speak. However, three of the inquirers
from Si-kae are hoping to come into the city in the
nth Chinese month, when the preachers come for a
month's reading, and if these are satisfactory, and can
spare time, two of them may stay for a year or two's
" THE KINGDOM OF GOD" 287
training, as our other boys will be going home in the
1 2th month.
" Thursday, ijth. After an early breakfast and
prayers with the Christians we left Si-kae yesterday
morning on our homeward journey. The first part
of the road was got over very quickly, but shortly
before twelve o'clock it came on to rain heavily, and
continued the rest of the afternoon. About two o'clock
we reached the riverside wet and tired, and found a
boat just waiting to be hired ; so, after a little bar-
gaining as to price, we got in and established ourselves,
heartily glad to be on our way home. We went to
bed directly after supper, and before daybreak were
anchored outside the east gate of Wenchow. We
walked up in the morning twilight, and on reaching
home the first step was to get a good bath and clean
clothes, after which we felt respectable once more."
CHAPTER XX
1893
" In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence." PROV. xiv. 26.
shall see greater things than these." Such
was the message I received from a dear friend
in December, 1892. It came to my heart as a pro-
mise from my Father for the new year we were soon
to enter ; and, just as I determined to take it as my
New Year's motto, another friend's message, " Greater
things than these shall ye do," confirmed my faith,
and I was enabled to claim them as promises. Mrs.
Liu, our faithful and spiritual helper for years, was
very ill, and twice we gave up all hope of her recovery.
Her son was at Tai-chow helping in the medical work
there, so I wrote asking Mr. Rudland to let him return
at once, as I feared his mother might soon pass away.
He came, and was thankful to find her out of danger.
All through her illness her testimony to the Lord's
nearness was very precious. One morning when I
went to see her she smiled, and said, " The Lord has
been with me all night ; He showed me His face so
"IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD" 289
lovely I wanted to see more of Him, and was sorry
when morning came. I want to go to heaven to see
Mr. Stott and Mrs. Oae, but best of all to see Jesus."
She had been helping Miss Whitford in the school for
three years and could ill be spared. Through the
Lord's mercy she was restored.
There had been quite a revival in several of the
T'ai-chow out-stations. We had heard of 170 persons
baptized in a few months, and longed that we should
see like blessing. I asked Mr. Liu if he would give
us on Sunday afternoon a little account of the work
there; so, instead of separating into our several classes,
we all came together to hear what God had been
doing in other places. Our hearts warmed as we
heard of 147 baptisms in 1892. In the course of his
remarks Mr. Liu said that Wenchow was considered
the first station, both in numbers and spiritual power,
while T'ai-chow was second. When he had finished
I felt constrained to add a few words. I remarked
that Wenchow had stood first, but could do so no
longer. I contrasted our poor thirty with their 147,
and asked who would join me in a week's daily
prayer for deeper spiritual power in our own souls,
and new life for others. Up went many hands. I
asked what we should pray for, and one brother
called out, "Seven hundred souls!" I was taken
aback ; my poor faith had not risen above one
hundred. I said, " Let us think well before we speak,
20
290 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
God is able to give us all we have faith for." Then
one dear man called out, " Up with your hands for
three hundred next year." I pointed out that if each
member would win one soul to Christ our numbers
would just be doubled, and that seemed very little.
So it was settled that as many as possible should
meet for prayer every day during the first week of
the Chinese year 1893 > tnat a f ter prayer we should
make up several bands, and go in different directions,
preaching the glorious gospel, and we expected much
blessing.
We had a watch-night's service, and the next
morning met at 10 a.m. for prayer. The room was
quite full. I spoke from Titus ii., showing what sort
of Christians we must be if we would receive the
blessings we ask for. It was a heart-searching time.
Our prayers were first for ourselves, that we might
have more spiritual power, and be made more fit for
our Master's use, and second for a large ingathering
of souls. I cannot doubt but that these prayers were
heard and answered, though not in the way we
expected ; for at first the answers seemed to come in
disappointments loss, not gain, was our experience
during that week.
Mrs. Liu's serious illness was succeeded by the death
of five of our members. One family was plunged
into sore and continuous persecution. Worst of all,
one man fell into open sin, while the pastor forgot
"/AT THE FEAR OF THE LORD" 291
his holy calling and gave way to wrath. We felt, like
Jacob, "all these things are against us"; but, like Job,
we could also say, " Though He slay me yet will I trust
in Him." The pastor's case was particularly sad.
On the Sunday afternoon following our week of
prayer, during our women's missionary meeting, our
coolie's wife had laid down the money she was about
to give on the seat beside her. Next to her sat the
pastor's wife, who, though unconverted, had been for
some time attending our meetings. While I was
speaking the coolie's wife was called away for a
moment, and on her return the money was gone. No
one had risen from their seat, and suspicion naturally
fell upon the pastor's wife ; all the more so because she
had done a similar thing before. After the service the
coolie went to ask her if she had seen the money, when
she flew into a rage and stormed ; he then returned, and
told me what had happened. The next morning the
pastor came, in almost as great a rage as his wife,
said the coolie had accused her of stealing, and unless
I made him apologise he would give up his position.
He was too angry to reason with, so I told him to go
away, and return when he could talk calmly. In the
meantime I made inquiries, found that the coolie had
neither said or done wrong, but that the woman had
told a string of lies to her husband, who was not
there when the thing happened. When Mr. T'siu
came back he could speak more calmly, but was still
292 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
angry. I pointed out that he, not the coolie, had
done wrong, and that there were three Christian
witnesses against the word of his wife ; and as he had
done the brother a wrong he was the one who ought
to apologise. This he refused to do, and gave up his
position as a preacher. Poor man, my heart ached
for him. His worthless wife wasted his money so
that even when receiving a good salary he was always
in the depths of poverty. What he could do now I
knew not.
A few weeks later the coolie came and asked that
Mr. T'siu might be restored to employment again.
He said, " I don't want him to confess to me that he
has done wrong. I fully and freely forgive him, and
have asked God to forgive him too. He is very poor
and I am sorry for him." I was so glad to see such
a Christlike spirit, and thought it might be God's way
of breaking Mr. T'siu's proud heart. I sent for him
and offered him employment as teacher to Miss B.
and myself, telling him it was at Yung-ts'iah's request,
mentioning what he had said, and that he owed his
position to the man he had wronged. He was very
glad to get back, and thanked me ; but not one word
of thanks to the coolie. How true it is that the one
who does the wrong is the hardest to win !
This loss, which seemed so irreparable at the time,
has only made room for one of the most able as well
as Spirit-taught men I have ever known in China
"IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD" 293
Mr. T'sie was school teacher at the time, having come
from Bing-yie, where he had for some years been
helping Mr. G., and naturally stepped into the position
of pastor in the stead of Mr. T'siu. He has been my
greatest comfort, and the seconder of every active and
good work ever since,
That was a sad, sad week. We had asked for more
of the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts, and we got
sorrow, and for increase there was scattering ; yet we
knew the Lord was answering our prayers, and could
only ask Him to cleanse still further, until all that
hindered His blessing should be taken out of the
way. Over-strain of work, sorrow, and sleeplessness
undermined my health, and while taking Chinese
prayers one morning in April I grew faint, and had
to be carried oilt of the room. The doctor was sent
for, and ordered perfect quiet and rest for some days.
After lying on the couch for a whole week doing
nothing, he ordered me away for a change. I was
unwilling to go far, or for long at such a time, so
Miss B. and I went up the river by boat to a pretty
waterfall for a week. I returned better, but still
weak, and as I made very slow progress towards
recovery the doctor advised me to take a sea voyage,
and in June we went to Che-foo, where we had to
remain four months under doctor's orders, Dr. D.
refusing to allow me to return sooner. While I was
ill we had the joy of baptizing five out of nine candi-
294 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
dates ; they came to my room one by one, as I
wanted to hear their testimony, but of course I did
not see them baptized.
In the month of April we were reinforced by Miss
Stayner, from Canada ; she at once set herself to
acquiring the language, which she did both quickly
and well, and has been a most efficient helper.
An extract from a letter written in that month
states : " By God's grace the clouds have cleared ;
we have since had cause to praise Him for much
blessing ; many of the Christians have been stirred
up to more earnest effort after the unsaved. Our
large chapel, which seats 350, has several times been
crowded with Christians and inquirers to its utmost
capacity, and we are brought face to face with the
question of enlarging our borders ; either the chapel
must be made bigger, or a new one opened outside
the South Gate. Last month five were received by
baptism, and yesterday we had the joy of adding ten
more, while seven others who were not so clear in
their testimonies were kept back. Some of the cases
were particularly interesting ; two were mother and
son. The old woman told me when her son was very
ill, and she feared he might die, she remembered
some of the words told her that the living God could
heal and help. In the darkness of the night she
prayed to the unknown God. She saw no one, but
heard a voice saying, * If you will trust Me I will not
"IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD" 295
only heal your son, but save your soul.' This was
nearly two years ago, when her son also became a
believer, and now they have been baptized together.
Other two were uncle and nephew. We are be-
ginning now to see families brought to the Lord more
frequently than formerly, and it is a great joy
specially to see the young men brought out on the
Lord's side."
While I was in Che-foo I received a letter from
Miss Chalmers, which proved that the prayers and
promises of the early part of the year had not been
forgotten. She spoke of one Sunday when Mr. T'sie
preached from Rev. iii. 15-21. All seemed to realise
that one-half of the year had gone and not as many
souls been gathered as they had hoped, for the
prayers were for more earnestness in that direction,
and after the sermon Mr. T'sie asked one or two to
pray, when Aoming prayed, and completely broke
down. He stopped, went on again two or three
times, and confessed he had been cold-hearted of late,
and in the afternoon meeting the same spirit of con-
fession prevailed.
I now insert a letter written after my return :
"Sept., 1893. With very grateful thanks to our
Heavenly Father I write again from Wenchow, the
home of tender memories, of joy and sorrow, sowing
and reaping ; oh, it is good to be back amongst my
dear people again ; you would have supposed we had
296 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
been away four years instead of four months. Misses
W., C, and S. went down to the lower anchorage to
meet us ; we saw them on the shore, but the captain,
who is a stranger, would not wait for them, and so
they arrived home an hour after us. As soon as the
anchor was down our two servants, with beaming
faces, appeared ; as we stepped on the jetty we were
greeted by three of our women, who had taken a long
walk to meet us, and when we entered our gates we
were surrounded by men, women, and children, all
eager for a word ; they were delighted to see me
looking so well, and said it was in answer to their
prayers, for they had prayed every day that I might
come back well and strong. Everything was in per-
fect order, even to flowers nicely arranged in all the
rooms ; my servants never spare themselves if thereby
they can spare me.
" We arrived on our women's prayer-meeting day,
and of course more than usual were present ; all the
prayers were full of thankfulness for our return. On
Sunday we had a splendid day. I only took one
service myself, for I mean to do less than formerly ;
indeed I have already arranged the work so that I
shall only have three classes a week besides morning
prayers, and I intend to confine myself to five hours'
brain-work per day, except when the preachers are in.
In another week or so we expect a number of candi-
dates for baptism ; I do not yet know how many.
" IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD" 297
We are still praying for greater things, but we want
each member to be truly converted. Somehow I
have a fear of large numbers. Perhaps it is want of
faith, but in China it usually leads to trouble, and yet
He is able to convert many as well as few. Do pray
that no unsaved one may be received into the
Church.
" I hope, if the Lord will, to start for O-dzing on
the first journey of the season on the i8th of next
month. Miss Stayner will accompany me ; this will
be her first visit to the country, and she is looking
forward to it with much pleasure. Did I tell you
that I had a very comfortable sedan-chair presented
to me by a former captain of the s.s. Haichang. It
will be a real comfort on our country trips, for the
hill chairs take more out of me than the talking does,
yet I did not like to buy one lest the natives might
think I spent too much upon myself. The captain
had left the Wenchow route more than two years ago,
and we had neither seen or heard of him for a long
while ; surely the Lord put the thought of the chair
into his mind. The other day in our women's meet-
ing my subject was Phil. iv. 19, ' My God shall supply
all your needs.' After I had finished one of the
members prayed. She told the Lord one of their
needs was a new chapel outside the South Gate, that
they had been praying all the year about it, and now
she asked for the fulfilment. When she finished I
298 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
told them they must work as well as pray, and asked
how many dollars they had contributed towards it ;
they replied not any yet, but they intended calling a
meeting and ask what each one was able to give. I
mean to leave them to carry out this project them-
selves, helping them a little when the time comes. I
love to see them take more and more responsibility
in church work, and shall be delighted when I can
leave the acceptance of candidates entirely in their
hands. Candidates are accepted by the church, but
I see them all privately first, and while they some-
times keep back one whom I have passed, they would
often pass one I would keep back.
" A little later I was all Saturday afternoon
examining candidates ; eight (four men and four
women) were baptized yesterday morning. The
prayer-meeting on Saturday night lasted from 7.15
till 10 o'clock ; all gave bright testimonies, and some
are very interesting cases. Yesterday was a grand
day, the chapel packed in every corner ; some of us
had to sit on the platform. We began the baptismal
service at 9 a.m. ; there was no break, and the com-
munion service closed at 12.10. We snatched a
hurried meal, and at one o'clock I had the preachers'
meeting for an hour ; at 2 p.m. we had the afternoon
service, which lasted until 3.30. Quite a number
stayed all night, and at eight o'clock next morning I
had a service with them ; 75 were present. The
"LV THE FEAR OF THE LORD" 297
We are still praying for greater things, but we want
each member to be truly converted. Somehow I
have a fear of large numbers. Perhaps it is want of
faith, but in China it usually leads to trouble, and yet
He is able to convert many as well as few. Do pray
that no unsaved one may be received into the
Church.
" I hope, if the Lord will, to start for O-dzing on
the first journey of the season on the i8th of next
month. Miss Stayner will accompany me ; this will
be her first visit to the country, and she is looking
forward to it with much pleasure. Did I tell you
that I had a very comfortable sedan-chair presented
to me by a former captain of the s.s. Haichang. It
will be a real comfort on our country trips, for the
hill chairs take more out of me than the talking does,
yet I did not like to buy one lest the natives might
think I spent too much upon myself The captain
had left the Wenchow route more than two years ago,
and we had neither seen or heard of him for a long
while ; surely the Lord put the thought of the chair
into his mind. The other day in our women's meet-
ing my subject was Phil. iv. 19, ' My God shall supply
all your needs.' After I had finished one of the
members prayed. She told the Lord one of their
needs was a new chapel outside the South Gate, that
they had been praying all the year about it, and now
she asked for the fulfilment. When she finished I
CHAPTER XXI
" Thy expectation shall not be cut off." PROV. xxiv. 14.
EARLY in October Miss Stayner and I started
for O-dzing, but I must leave Miss S. to give
the account of that journey, for it takes all my time
and strength to do the work at such times, so that
writing about it has to be left to another pen, if not,
the journey remains unwritten, as an accumulation of
work forbids my giving details after my return home.
If these journeys should prove interesting to the
reader they are wholly indebted to the kindness of
my young helpers, who often recount our experiences
while I am resting. Miss Stayner writes :
" The O-dzing pastor waited over in Wenchow for a
few days so as to come on with us. We left the city
on Thursday evening ; at least, we got into our boat
and settled down for the night, though the tide did
not permit our leaving till about I a.m. This river-
boat is covered by a thick mat called a ' bong,' arch-
fashion, an uncovered place only being left at bow and
300
"THY EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF" 301
stern for the boatmen. One end of our primitive
cabin was boarded up, and a number of boards at a
little height from the floor at that end formed a good
bedstead. Our mat, and thin mattress, were laid on
top of that, and, shutting ourselves off from our
Chinese co-travellers by tying up a little curtain, we
made ourselves quite cosy for the night. By daylight
we were up so as to be dressed and have our break-
fast before arriving at the place from which we were
to take chairs. The boats only go about three miles
an hour, so we had come up the river about twelve
miles during the night. We then had to go nearly
thirty miles across the country to O-dzing. How
different travelling is in China from at home ! Here
we take a day and night to do what would take about
an hour for our own slow trains to do. Our chair-
bearers and those carrying our luggage were all
Christians, or inquirers who had come down for us
from this village.
" Mrs. Stott had brought her own sedan-chair, a
light, open basket one, but I must really try to
describe mine to you. It was a mountain-chair, and
as such was of the simplest and lightest construction,
as you may well imagine when I say that when one
of the men brought it down to the jetty over one
shoulder it seemed to consist of little else than the
two long bamboo poles, with the shorter pieces at
each end joining these together for the men to rest
302 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
on their shoulders. But in a minute, with two short
boards, he arranged a back and a seat, which swung
from the side poles by ropes, and longer pieces of
rope supported a stick upon which the feet were to
rest. You will be saying that must be most uncom-
fortable to sit in for nearly a whole day ; but wait,
Mrs. Stott has not been over twenty years in China
without knowing how to make the best of things.
Our wadded bed coverlet was fastened round the
back and seat, thus making a broad, comfortable seat,
and softer back. Wrapping rugs round our knees,
having warm jackets on, the morning air being
delightfully cool, our caravan started in ' Chinese
file.' It consisted of us, our two chairs, our cook,
who trudged behind, a man with our bedding, and
our servants, another with our big provision basket,
&c., the preacher, and two other men who had come
with us from Wenchow. We made quite a respect-
able and picturesque little procession as we wound
along the path, through the plain, or up and down
the mountain roads. Each man had his own loads
over his shoulder, yet they walked that twenty-eight
or thirty miles without faltering, only stopping two or
three times for rest, and in the evening they were all
at prayers, and the pastor gave quite a long, animated
address. They are splendid walkers, these country
fellows who live amongst the mountains, and their
well-built, muscular frames are a pleasant contrast to
"THY EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF" 303
the thin, skinny specimens which are so common in
and around the city.
" The scenery is just lovely, and one can take it all
in so nicely sitting quietly back in one's chair, no one
to distract, and plenty of time to notice in detail,
instead of dashing through in an express train. The
plain through which we went for the first three hours
or so is not very broad, high hills, and even moun-
tains, I imagine, rising on every side. We followed
the course of a picturesque little river for some way,
now on this side of it, now on that, crossing it either
by stepping-stones or else the men wading through
where it was shallow. Often we felt inclined to take
a good long walk, but we had to save up for a very
high ' ling ' (mountain pass) where the chairs could
not carry us. This was near the end of our journey,
so the bearers were pretty well tired out when we
started to descend into the valley where O-dzing is
situated, about two hundred chimneys (they thus
reckon the size of their villages) nestling in the midst
of the mountains, and with a clear mountain stream
flowing by. We crossed the stream by stepping-
stones, and went through the straggling lanes, some
so closely built up our chairs could hardly turn the
corners, and turned into this house, where we met
with a very warm reception.
As soon as we got into our room they brought us
delicious hot tea, made out of pressed and dried
304 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
oranges, sweetened, and ever since they have been
heaping us with all their best eatables. We brought
enough provisions with us to serve for a few meals,
but Mrs. Stott knew there was no need to bring
much, as they always insisted on giving us Chinese
food. Fortunately they know our tastes somewhat,
so we manage to get on very well, though they are
greatly distresed at the small quantity we eat, they
thinking nothing of a couple of basins of rice. Their
food is so much less nourishing than ours, they are
obliged to eat a greater quantity to support them.
One boy brought us a quantity of fruit which he had
been out on the hills gathering, a woman brought us
cake, while a man who invited us to his house to-day,
because Mrs. S. felt too tired to go, brought our
dinner over to us instead. Our host, who is well off,
allows an old blind man to live in one corner of his
house, and half supports him ; the other day our
hostess came up with quite a fine fowl, which she said
this old man had been feeding up for the last few
weeks for Mrs. Stott.
"On Saturday three men came in from some villages
to be examined for baptism, and two were accepted,
the other being told he had better wait a little, as on
some points he was not very clear yet, though all
think he is a Christian. The baptisms took place
down at the river, about six o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing, before many people were about, as these country
THY EXPECTATION SPIALL NOT BE CUT OFF" 305
people of course would not understand baptism, and
we might gather quite a noisy crowd. As we stood
there on the rocks beside the sparkling, running
water, on that bright, clear morning, how our prayers
did rise for these two thus definitely professing to
follow Christ in the sacred ordinance so significant
and so new to them ; and how they needed our
prayers ! one just a boy of twenty-two, and both
simple and ignorant, and so few opportunities in
their distant mountain home of learning more about
spiritual things.
" After breakfast Mrs. Stott and I went to sit for a
while on the side of the hill, and had a little quiet
reading, prayer, and singing, no one coming near to
disturb us. At about nine we had service, Mrs. S.
speaking from Ephesians ii., our position before we
were converted, ending with a few earnest words to
some strangers who were there, and then about
twenty or so natives, with ourselves, partook of the
Lord's Supper. We were greatly struck with the
earnestness and reverence of all through the whole
service. Early in the afternoon, for the convenience
of those who lived at a distance, we had a second
service, at which Mrs. S. spoke on the same chapter
in Ephesians what we are now in Christ.
" We were taken by our hostess to see several people
living on the other side of the river, and, as Mrs. S.
was too tired out to take part in the evening service,
21
306 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
it was conducted by the preacher, Tsie-ming. Though
he is the pastor of O-dzing, and his headquarters are
here still, he is only regularly here once a month on
Sunday, when they have communion ; the other
three Sundays he holds services in other villages,
and the rest of the time goes round evangelising.
" The people of this house keep a spare room for his
use, and ours when we are here, and they also give
up the good-sized room next door for a chapel. It
is fitted up with a table and benches, and Scripture
scrolls are hung round the wall, making it quite a
neat little room. Besides regular Sunday services,
they have morning and evening prayers, and Thurs-
day afternoon the women have a prayer-meeting, as
in Wenchow. In the morning the people of the
house meet at about six, the men having their rice
immediately afterwards, just before going to the
fields, but in the evening most of the Christians come
to prayers.
" On Monday we went to Za-bie, where one of the
inquirers live, a small village about twenty miles
away. We left about nine in the morning, a bright
beautiful day, cloudy in the afternoon, so that we did
not suffer from the heat altogether I can say I think
I had one of the most enjoyable trips in my life.
We went right through the very heart of the moun-
tains, wandering up and down, in and out on the
narrow paths, sometimes in really dangerous places,
" THY EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF" 307
where a slip of one of the bearers would have dashed
us down the steep mountain sides ; but, strange to say,
even in the worst places I did not really feel afraid,
though naturally I have a strong aversion to preci-
pices and high places in general. One seemed to
realise that the Lord was keeping the feet of those
who carried us. Two or three times one of
Mrs. S.'s men stumbled and fell, but never in a
bad place.
" I was greatly tickled once. In a very narrow, pre-
cipitous place her man slipped, and she said, ' Do be
very careful ' ; for if he fell down here we would all be
killed. In a most reassuring voice he replied, ' Oh,
if we are all killed we shall go to heaven ' ; at which
Mrs. S. said, ' No doubt, but she didn't particularly
care to go in that way ' ; at which there was a great
laugh.
"Za-bie is quite a small village, and must be
situated several thousand feet above the sea, for
coming home we noticed it took two hours and
a quarter from there to the foot of the high ' ling,'
during which time we were nearly constantly on the
descent. We had a great affair of it going up the
1 ling/ for before we had got to the steepest part Mrs.
S.'s strength gave out, and though it was almost
impossible to take her up in the chair, the men
determined they would do it. So two got in front
and two behind, and with the preacher and her
308 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
devoted servant occasionally lending a hand at the
difficult sharp comers, they did manage it. But
I thought she was really brave to let them, for some-
times the path was almost straight up. For a time,
after reaching the top of the * ling/ our path led right
along a narrow ridge of the mountain, so on either
side we looked down into the deep valleys, and far
away to height above height. It was a scene that
would have rejoiced the heart of a painter, as we saw
the sun set behind those mountains, and the next
morning it was even more beautiful on our return
trip. There was a heavy mist, and for fear of rain
we started early. The mountains were invisible, but
as we proceeded the sun began to struggle down and
the mists to rise. It was just grand. I only wish I
could picture it to you. Suffice to say Mrs. S., a
true Scotchwoman, said she thought the scenery
quite equalled if it did not excel the Highlands,
and I agreed with her.
" We had a funny experience at Za-bie. When we
arrived our host came out and welcomed us, and then
retired to prepare our bedstead (two boards on two
benches) while the wife was busy lighting the fire
to get us something to eat, Mike Martha/ as the
preacher remarked, so we were left sitting in the
courtyard to admire a pig, some cocks having a
regular fight, a cow, and various other domestic
animals, while some of the village people came in to
" THY EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF" 309
admire (?) us, being the first foreigners most of them
had ever seen probably. While waiting we drank
some tea, I being so thirsty as to indulge in two
basins ; something for a person who never drinks
ordinary tea at home. However, please do not let
any one mistake the word basin ; it is only the size
of an ordinary large breakfast-cup. After great
preparations, and when we were nearly famished, the
good wife brought us up our tea to our room, and
really at first sight it appeared as though there was
nothing we could eat but rice. Our servant was
greatly distressed, so privately told our hostess, we
liked eggs and potatoes, the latter sweet are con-
sidered so common they often don't like to offer
us them, so at breakfast our inner man felt more
satisfied.
" That evening sixty or more men and women
gathered in the courtyard, so we went down, had a
hymn and a gospel address from Mrs. Stott, after
which the preacher spoke to them. Even after we
had retired to rest we heard him preaching to those
who remained, while a couple of others, our chair-
bearers I suppose, were speaking to others in the
kitchen and back premises this after a hard day's
tramp over the mountains at least twenty miles.
Does not the earnestness of these young men put
many of us to shame ? we who have known the
gospel from the time we knew anything, who have
3io MISSION WORK IN CHINA
many of us, been Christians for years, while those
from O-dzing first heard the way of salvation but
little over four years ago.
" It was very amusing ; at night we had quite a
reception, many of the women came up to our room
to examine us and our possessions. Finding our
native light insufficient, they lit long pieces of wood,
with which they went poking round so close to us
and to our bedclothes that it made one quite nervous.
It is a source of astonishment to me that they aren't
constantly burning down their houses, for this is the
way they always light themselves round. Much to
their disgust, Mrs. S. said we were now going to
retire, and walking calmly to the door, as it were,
took it for granted they were going out, so for
shame's sake they felt obliged to, though one
woman insinuatingly asked Mrs. S. just to lay her
head down and let them see her rest before they left ;
however, she said she wasn't ready. The next day,
when half-way home, I got hungry, an unusual thing;
so as we had nothing with us, we stopped at a village
in hopes we could get a ' basin ' of sweet potatoes ;
however, they had none cooked, and all we could get
were two heaping basins of ' mie-n,' that is ver-
micelli. You would have laughed if you had seen
us sitting in the road, Mrs. S. in her chair, I on a
small stool beside her, the centre of an admiring
crowd, digging diligently with our chopsticks into
" THY EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF" 311
this most inconvenient long stringy stuff, which, how-
ever, we pretty nearly managed to finish.
" We had intended going another trip the next day
to the village where the two newly baptized men
lived, but at the end of our six hours in chairs from
Za-bie Mrs. S. was so exhausted she felt it wiser not
to attempt anything further, but just rest another
day, quietly visiting and teaching the Christians and
inquirers, and then return home.
" We called at the house of the old persecutor, and
were quite kindly received by his witchlike old wife,
who gave us some ' z s ' (fresh persimmmon) to take
away with us. We had such a weird sort of visit, and
all the time I could think of nothing else but the tale
of the Witch of Endor. The men had some visitors
to dinner, so we waited a few minutes for her in the
usual dark, dirty Chinese kitchen and living-room,
while she served them. In a small room just off
we got a glimpse of the big old man and his four
fine-looking stalwart sons and their guests, while the
skinny old wife was leaning over the big round rice-
pot and ladling out steaming bowls of rice and
vegetables, &c. Some one else was feeding the big
Chinese stove with brushwood, so that the whole
scene was lit up by its blaze. Every now and then
one of the young men would come out with a couple
of bowls to be heaped up again with rice.
"One thing, that strikes one most forcibly is the
312 MISSION WORK' IN CHINA
utter lack of home comfort amongst even the well-
off Chinese ; they seem to have no idea of it ; every-
thing so bare and dark, the living-room as a rule
with earthen floor, a good portion taken up with the
stationary brick stove, and just furnished with the
bare necessities of table and stools ; perhaps a couple
of uncomfortable little bamboo chairs, a few farming
implements it may be, and a pile of brushwood
thrown down complete the picture. Oh, I forgot
a pig and a few little ones snorting around, and
a lot of fowls should be added.
" On the Thursday morning, after final prayers with
our kind O-dzing friends, we once more mounted our
chairs and started for home. About a dozen followed
us right out of the village to the stepping-stones
across the river, and remained waving their hands
till we disappeared round the hills, We took a
different and, I think, a prettier road down to the
river, where we get the boat, reaching there as it was
getting dark, though it was not much after six. As
soon as we had our supper in the house of one of
Mr. H.'s church members in the village, we got
Nga-Koe to arrange our bedding in the boat, and
retired. My principal reason for going thus early
was so as to go to sleep before I had time to get
hungry again, as I didn't want the bother of
reopening up our provision basket. This time our
mattress was just laid on the bottom of the boat
" THY EXPECTATION SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF" 313
crossways, but with curtains fastened up at either
side, and nice warm rugs. We were quite comfort-
able, and slept the sleep of the fatigued pilgrim,
though, in true Chinese style, our boatman made the
most dreadful noise in starting about midnight, and
putting up the sail (apparently just over our heads),
and generally managing the boat. If we had been
nervous people, sleep would have been utterly out of
the question. It was a lovely bright moonlight
night, and when we reached the city about 5.30,
and walked home, the moon and stars were shining
brightly at one side, while just over the eastern wall
the rising sun was beginning to tint the sky, so that
we thoroughly enjoyed our walk through the quiet
city streets.
" And so my first real experience of Chinese
travelling, of living in Chinese homes, and eating
Chinese food has come to an end, and, looking back,
I may say I have enjoyed my week most thoroughly,
and it makes me long for the time when I shall be
able to go out and teach these dear native Christians,
and tell the gospel to those who as yet do not know
it or its wonderful transforming power in their dark-
lives."
CHAPTER XXII
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ." 2 TIM. ii. 3.
ABOUT this time Miss Bardsley began an Anti-
foot-binding Society. She had been encour-
aged to this by Mr. M'Gowan, of Amoy, of whose
work we heard a delightful account when in Che-foo,
and the success of his Anti-foot-binding Society was
so remarkable, that we felt quite ashamed that we
had done so little in that direction. Mr. M'G. kindly
sent us one of his pledge-books, which contained a
threefold pledge. First, the woman was to unbind
her own feet ; secondly, not to bind her daughter's ;
thirdly, to unbind her daughter-in-law's ; this last I
thought too hard upon the daughter-in-law, so ours
took the form of a twofold pledge only. Miss B.
has been greatly encouraged in her efforts, and, I
think, has something like seventy members ; it has
created a truly wholesome sentiment in the church
on this question.
The year closed more happily than it began, for,
although we had not seen the large numbers we had
314
"ENDURE HARDNESS" 315
hoped and prayed for, and sorrow had marked a
large portion of the year, yet many of the Christians
had been truly revived in soul, and two new stations
had been opened. We had a sweet and blessed
watch-night service, the closing words being Psa.
xviii. 2. My motto for the coming year was, " My
soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is
from Him " ; the words " Wait upon the Lord " I felt
was to be the lesson for the opening year.
Our usual preachers' meetings this year were opened
by a three days' conference upon methods of work,
when Pastor T'sie gave three most searching, helpful,
and spiritual addresses ; indeed, I have seldom heard
more so even from a foreigner. The first day his subject
was, " How to explain the Scriptures." We give the
merest skeleton of these addresses, (i) Knowledge
of the Chinese character essential. (2) In speaking
on the parables, first explain the story before giving
figurative meaning. (3) Show clearly the plan of
salvation, repentance, and faith Mark i. 15. (4)
Give first principles of the doctrine ; then its use and
application. (5) It is important not only to under-
stand the Scriptures, but to have experienced oneself
the truth one is seeking to impart. (6) Be careful
to give the doctrines of Scripture, not one's own
ideas. (7) Christ's words and His works and ex-
ample the foundations of all your teaching. (8) Not
only enunciate the truth, but seek to send home and
3i6 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
apply them to the heart of both preacher and hearers.
See Romans iv. 23, 24.
Second day : " How to preach so as to lead men to
Christ." (i) United prayer necessary Acts i. 14,15.
For the answer, see Acts ii. 41. (2) Not only prayer
but preaching necessary John i. 35-40. (3) Preach
trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to convict,
following Christ's method in John iv. 16-19. (4)
Have patience to teach and explain, as Christ in
John iii. 3-21. (5) Sacrifice one's own time, comfort,
&c., in order to lead others to the Lord Luke v.
27-29. (6) Seek to be at peace with all, even out-
siders Rom. xii. 18. (7) Examine oneself as to
reality of faith, and with what object one is preaching,
whether for money, for glory, &c., or for the salvation
of precious souls Acts xix. 13-16. Third day:
Acts xix. 23-41. Two lessons are here learned from
Paul when in difficulties and persecutions. While
contending for the truth, and never yielding there,
yet he so conducted himself that the chief of Asia
were his friends. We should show due respect to
those in authority, and be considerate and yielding
in all matters not affecting our religion verses 35-37.
(2) We must be careful not to revile the idols or
idol-worship, but to preach the truth ; when truth
and light enter the soul, falsehood and darkness must
fly. We should have fewer cases of persecution if we
followed Paul's example in these things.
"ENDURE HARDNESS" 317
The subjects dealt with by the preachers were
mostly parables, miracles, the life of Christ, &c., and
we were greatly cheered by the able way many of
these subjects were handled. A good portion of each
day was spent in prayer, and the future seemed hope-
ful, earnestness and humble confession characterising
most of the prayers. It was a month of deep
soul-searching and blessing, and was doubtless an
inspiration throughout the year.
During the Christmas week, when our missionary
brethren from Bing-yie and Chu-chow were with us,
the idea was started of building a cottage by the sea,
or rather bay, within easy reach of Wenchow, as a
sanatorium for the C.I.M. stations of Wenchow, Bing-
yie, and Chu-chow. We began as early in the year as
possible, hoping it might be ready by the summer ;
but, alas ! for our hopes, it was not finished till
September, owing to the difficulty and the expenses
of transport. Much of my time, too, was spent in
superintending details. The pastor was the only
man able to help me, and he could not often be
spared ; but I had a double object in spending a week
or ten days at a time among men, bricks, and mortar.
There were seven Christians among them, and, though
they rested on Lord's days, they were too far off to
attend any services, so I once or twice included
Sunday. We had a short service every evening and
three on Lord's day, a few of the village people
318 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
attending, and I doubt if the same number of Testa-
ments and hymn-books could be found among
workmen in England as were piled in a convenient
corner ready for use when the day's work was over.
Our cottage will be a great boon as a quiet, cool
place of rest for weary workers who cannot afford the
time and expense of going to Che-foo ; indeed, it has
already proved a great comfort, and I believe its use
will be more and more apparent as the years roll by.
It is built Chinese fashion, three rooms long and two
deep, two bedrooms on either side, while in the
centre is a good-sized sitting-room, behind it being
a large pantry which could easily be converted into
another room if needed ; there is a good verandah
round three sides of the house, and a bath-room at
either end ; at the rear is kitchen and servants' room ;
in front there is a small garden, and a wall enclosing
the whole ; behind are the everlasting hills, where we
can walk for miles without meeting a soul, while
stretching before us is the large expanse of waters,
with large and small islands dotted about, and is about
four hours' journey from Wenchow by native boat.
It is furnished in simple cottage fashion, bamboo
chairs and sofa, while packing-cases do duty for
dressing-tables in each bedroom, covered by pretty
art-muslin sent by kind friends from England ; short
curtains on the windows to protect us from prying
eyes, for during the first months we had many visi-
" ENDURE HARDNESS " 3 J 9
tors. The sitting-room is covered with Canton
matting. When we go we take with us our photo-
graphs and other knick-knacks to make it home-like,
while the hills provide us with wild flowers and grasses.
In the meantime Miss Whitford had become
engaged to be married, and with the prospect of her
going to another station came the necessity of some
one to take her place. The request for one was
responded to by sending two, and in the spring Miss
Spink and Miss Williams arrived, the latter to take
up the school, and the former more especially for
country work ; but of course both had to commence
studying the language, and Miss W. kindly decided
to defer her marriage a few months until her successor
should be more able to fill her place.
1894. In the early months of the year Ba-zie and
other stations were visited. In the former, six full
and very encouraging days were spent. We visited
fourteen villages (five of those were newly opened up
to the gospel), in all of which there were Christians
or inquirers. They told me of over ten persons who
had themselves sought out the Christians and asked
that a preacher might be sent to teach them. The
silversmith accompanied me to all those places, but
it grieved me to see that, although full of zeal, his
addresses had too much of self to please God ; this
characteristic clung to him to the end, and I have
lately heard that he was called home suddenly, in the
320 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
very midst of his rejoicing over a degree he had just
bought. There was no doubt of his salvation, but the
suddenness of his death and the circumstances made
a profound impression on the church. He was seek-
ing the honour that cometh from man rather than
that which cometh from God. " Hold fast, that no
man take thy crown."
At the end of May I was called to O-dzing. One
of the Christians was and had been suffering persecu-
tion, another had sinned and was now ill and penitent,
and it seemed as if my going would be a help all
round. It was late in the season for such a long
journey, but I trusted the Lord to give cloudy weather,
and He gave it. Through the Lord's grace I was able
to do what we hoped, except that the penitence of
the poor woman was short-lived ; she had got under
the power of the Roman Catholics, and soon after
went over entirely to them, and has not yet been
restored ; thus the promise of a most useful worker
has been blighted.
Two days before returning to the city I took a
bad cold, which, with the extra fatigue, knocked me
up altogether, and for more than a week I was unfit
for any kind of work. I was conscious that steadily,
though slowly, my health was giving way ; I was no
longer able for the same amount of work as formerly,
and I felt that, unless a more vigorous hand took up
the reins, loss to the church must be the result, for,
"ENDURE HARDNESS 341
unless the leader is able to keep well in the front of
every good work, the natives soon relax their ener-
gies. I therefore asked the Director to send a suitable
married man who would in time relieve me of the
greater part of the responsibility. Such a request
was not so easy to grant as might appear at first
sight ; married men who have been a few years in
China had their own stations and work which could
not be left, while a new and inexperienced man was
hardly suitable for the post, and so we had to wait.
Again, in the beginning of August, while at the
cottage, I was suddenly taken ill with an attack of
cholera (not Asiatic), which led me aside for a few
weeks ; and, just as I was getting convalescent, Miss
B. and Miss S. took ill, also several of our natives, so
we had almost a hospital. Cholera was raging in the
city, and hundreds died daily in deep darkness. " Oh!
God, when will light arise in their midst?" In all
our sickness we were most kindly attended without
charge by Dr. L. of I.M. Customs, who never spared
himself while others needed his care.
Hostilities between Japan and China had broken
out, and the people were more or less excited, but, as
the seat of war lay in the north, there seemed no
cause for apprehension in our neighbourhood. In
November Miss Stayner and Miss Spink had gone
to the Tong-t'so district, where they expected to be
three weeks visiting the different villages ; they
22
322 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
returned, however, in less than one week in a sad
plight, dressed in borrowed native clothes, partly
men's, and partly women's ; they looked such guys
in their curious rig-out that we were forced to laugh
in spite of our surprise and alarm. All had gone well
with them until the Thursday before, when they
reached a hamlet where there were a few Christians ;
they were well received, and after evening prayers
retired to rest. But I will leave Miss Stayner to tell
her own story :
" We started on Monday morning, the 3rd inst, for
a journey across the river, and on Tuesday and
Wednesday visited several villages, where we were
received very well by the people, and nothing but
quiet was experienced till Thursday night. On that
evening, about six o'clock, we reached Du-Kang, a
small lonely village right away on the hills, inhabited
by only seven or eight families, all of the name of
Chi. We were to stop that night at the house of a
Christian family living about five minutes distant.
We were accompanied from the previous village by
our private servant, a Bible-woman, preacher, and
two Christian men, who were all to stay in the same
house. We were received well, and quite a number
gathered for the service which was held about eight
o'clock ; and soon after we retired to rest in a room in
a loft, our Bible-woman and the woman of the house
sleeping in an adjoining room, an open doorway leading
" END URE tiA RDNESS " $1$
from one to the other, the men of the party sleeping
downstairs.
" About midnight we were aroused by great shout-
ing and lights in the next room. A moment later
our room was filled with a crowd of men (perhaps
about a dozen) carrying flaming torches, who at once
started pulling our clothes off the bed and emptying
our provision basket. I attempted to speak to them,
asking what they meant by this, but could not make
myself heard ; and when I tried to hold on to our
bed quilt, one man struck me on the hand with his
bamboo stick, and held on a minute or so, but at last
I got free.
" The Bible-woman, who had been the first with the
woman of the house to be attacked, had had some
bracelets torn off her arms, and was also beaten with
bamboo poles ; but somehow she managed to get
through them to us, and while the robbers were busy
going off with our things (for by this time we saw
that resistance was useless) she led us by a door into
another loft, and we escaped down the ladder and
out by the next house on to the hill behind the
village. We were barefooted, and with only our
night-dresses on, the robbers having stolen all our
other clothing, bedding, books, &c. We climbed up
through the wet grass and brambles, over rocks and
stones, and at last, when we thought ourselves on a
tolerably safe place, sat down in the bushes to see
34 'MISSION WORK IN CHINA
how things would shape themselves. We must have
remained there over an hour listening to the shouting
and yelling, and watching the flaring lights as the
men went from house to house beating down doors
and walls, and expecting each moment they might
come out to search for us. Some of the villagers had
escaped to the opposite side of the ravine where we
were sitting, and soon we heard them say the robbers
had left. In a few minutes more they let off several
volleys from their guns, signs of triumph, or perhaps
to intimidate any from following them. A little later
two of the Christian men came out with lanterns to
search for us, and were rejoiced to find we had not
been carried off by the banditti. Fortunately they
were able to find shoes for us to put on, as our feet
were so hurt we could not have got down barefooted.
"We went back into the house, and remained up in
the loft the rest of the night. The alarm had been
given at the nearest village, Lao-o (about ten li dis-
tant), and a number of men started after the robbers,
but of course were unable to overtake them. The
poor villagers had also suffered much. The robbers,
they say, were armed with spears as well as guns,
and the old man of the house where we were staying
had his arms and side badly cut. The people's
clothing, grain, some of the cows, and other animals
were taken off, the women's ornaments being torn
out of their ears, hair, and hands.
" ENDURE HARDNESS " 325
"But what was most serious of all, our servant
named Ui-yi-foh, the son of the house, and another
neighbour were nowhere to be found ; they were
doubtless taken off by the banditti for the purpose
of being held to ransom. Before dawn, the woman
of the house and the Bible-woman having divested
themselves of some of their clothing to give us, we
started for the next village, Lao-o, one of the Chris-
tians having gone some time before to try to get
chairs for us. We had only got a little distance when
we met eight of the Christian women ; from these we
got a bundle of clothing they had brought ' for us.
They had started off bravely with a lantern in the
dark to walk all that distance, though their husbands
had opposed their doing such a dangerous thing.
We then took chairs down to the creek, which we
reached about noon yesterday ; here we took a
boat to the city, and arrived before daylight this
morning.
" To show that in this instance we have not done
anything that might be considered dangerous or
foolhardy, I may say that, though foreigners had not
been in that particular hamlet before, the district
round and just such lonely places have frequently
been visited by Mrs. Stott and others, and no danger
was apprehended by ourselves or any of the natives ;
the people of the place have suffered most, having
had nearly everything they possessed carried away.
326 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
What the fate of our servant and the other two men
may be we dare not think."
A few days later some of our people came in with
the further information that the robbers, being unable
to carry off all their booty, left some of it on the
hillside, and two of their number, returning to take
possession, were captured by the people of another
village seven miles off, and were bound by them.
Soon after another messenger arrived from Si-k'ai,
saying that the chief of the robbers, with some of
the booty, had been caught there and bound. But
the officials delayed so long that the villagers were
compelled to set the captives free. We were very
anxious as to the safety of our Christian servant ; we
had received a message that he would be released
upon our paying one hundred dollars ; later on the
demands became less and less, until it was believed
that he would be released on the payment of ten
dollars, and I was urged to settle the matter thus by
the native Christians. I pointed out, however, to
them that even the smallest sum must not be given
for such a purpose ; if we ransomed him we would
never be safe, and not only our servants, but we
ourselves liable to capture at any time ; we must
therefore wait and pray. It seemed hard to keep
our brother in bondage when a few dollars might
set him free, but the principle involved was too
great, and I was firm, although gladly would J
"ENDURE HARDNESS" 327
have given much more to see him once more
amongst us.
We frequently met together to pray that our
brother might soon be released, that he should not
suffer hunger or ill treatment while in bonds, and
that he might have good opportunities of preaching to
the robbers. All these requests were granted by our
loving Father : one day, just as we had risen from
prayer, and I had asked that while we were praying
the answer might come, the captive walked in. A
stranger to us in the city, with whom our servant had
business dealings, heard of his capture, and having a
brother living in the village where he was bound,
interceded with his brother, and without our know-
ledge they redeemed him for two dollars, he having
been nearly three weeks in captivity. Oh, how our
hearts did rejoice when we heard how they had
listened to the gospel and treated him kindly, pro-
viding sufficient straw to keep him warm ; the loss of
the goods seemed as nothing. A little later the two
other men were also released, but I do not know
upon what terms.
At the end of this year we had ten candidates for
baptism ; a number were from a village across the
river. They had been led and in some measure taught
by a man who had been an inquirer for nearly six
years ; he never seemed to make much progress, and
was, I feared, more bent on proving his fitness for
328 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
employment as a preacher, than soul winning. He
was a man of some character, and it looked as if the
candidates of the district would stand or fall by his
decision ; some, therefore, were anxious for him to be
baptized. There was no doubt that several of the
others were truly converted, and it seemed hard to
hinder them by not accepting him, and they were not
prepared to stand independently ; when, therefore, he
appeared with six others, including his own son, it
was with the confident hope he would be received.
But as I had reason to believe he expected to be
employed as a preacher, I put him through a rather
stiff examination, and pointed out that there was no
hope of employment. He said he did not want that ;
all he asked was to be sent out as a preacher, and get
a dollar a month for expenses. I replied such a thing
was impossible for two reasons. First, we never sent
out newly baptized members as preachers. Second,
our old and tried men only got fifty cents per month
for their journeys ; and indeed I made it plain that
though I should be glad for him to tell the gospel to
as many as he could, I had no intention of sending
him out as a preacher. At this he said, " In that case
I would rather wait." His son, about twelve years of
age, was very clear in his testimony, and so were the
others, but they also withdrew, as they considered it
not good form to be baptized before the one who had
taught them.
"ENDURE HARDNESS" 329
It was soon apparent that the Lord had delivered
us out of a snare, for there is now no doubt that had
we received this man he would have caused much
trouble ; and indeed he has tried in several ways to
injure the work. Since then, several of those who
withdrew have been baptized, though at that time
only four out of the ten were received.
CHAPTER XXII
1895
" Both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."
JOHN iv. 36.
IN February, Mr. and Mrs. Woodman arrived in
Shang-hai, from England. Mr. Taylor, who was
on the look-out for a suitable couple to send to Wen-
chow, recognised in them the ones most likely to
fill the position, and without delay designated them
for our city. They were most gladly welcomed, and
ere long were fully installed not only in our home, but
in our hearts also. They differed as to gifts, but both
had that warm loving sympathy which won all hearts.
They came at a busy time, for on the I2th of March
I was to celebrate my jubilee, and at the same time
complete my twenty-five years in China for it will be
remembered I arrived on my twenty-fifth birthday.
What a change had taken place in that time, the little
one had literally become a thousand, and it seemed a
most fitting opportunity for a day of thanksgiving.
It was my intention that invitations should be
33
"HE THAT SOWETH AND HE THAT REAPETH" 331
issued to all the church members, including those also
in Dong-ling and Bing-yie, who had been received
into church fellowship by my husband ; but our
accommodation proving insufficient we were obliged to
restrict ourselves to two in each family, where more
than that number were in fellowship ; even then the
invitations extended to over three hundred, sixty or
seventy of whom would have to remain our guests for
three days, because of the distance they must travel.
Part of the programme was a Chinese feast, which is
a necessary adjunct to all celebrations. Preparations
on such a gigantic scale had to be begun betimes, so
that the event was known and talked about months
before. For some days every one wore an air of
delighted mystery, which I attributed to the anticipa-
tion of the coming event; on the nth the chapel
was in the hands of many willing workers, who had
taken upon themselves to decorate the building in
true festive style. In the afternoon I went to see how
they were progressing, when I was turned back and
told I must not try to look in until I was invited to
do so. I knew then some surprise must be in store
for me, but never could have dreamed of anything so
costly and beautiful as what they had devised. I
had invited all the missionaries to supper on the
Monday evening, knowing that Tuesday would be
given up to the natives. About nine o'clock we were
all invited into the chapel, to see, as I thought, how
332 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
nicely the natives had decorated it : the sight nearly
took away my breath ; there hung behind the platform
a large satin banner, and scrolls to match, besides
thirteen others, two in satin and silk, but all inscribed
in gold letters. Many pairs of large red candles, and
some other things, including a handsome pair of
candlesticks of stags, the horns and hoofs gold plated.
As soon as the pastor had hinted that it would be
nice to present me with a banner, the Christians took
it in such a hearty way, that he saw they meant to
have it done in the best possible style ; hence such a
costly present. A few days after, when asking him
why he had allowed them to spend so much money
upon me, he remarked, "If you had only seen the joy
with which they brought their presents you would not
be grieved ; " he had not intended anything so grand,
but after everything was paid for, and even boxes
added in which by and by to convey them to
England, there were still ten dollars over. It was just
wonderful the amounts those poor people gave, many
of them hardly able to buy rice. That same even-
ing I had another surprise, quite as great ; my dear
fellow missionaries in Wenchow and Bing-yie, includ-
ing those of the Methodist Free Church, united in
presenting me with a lovely gold watch. It was just
overwhelming that day, and even now I can hardly
write about it without emotion. During the meetings
every speaker referred to my beloved husband in the
"HE THAT SOWETH AND HE TtiAT REAPEfti" 333
most tender and loving way, showing how blessed his
memory was.
In the midst of the festivities one of the mandarin
ladies, dressed in her official robes, with a four-
bearers chair, came to offer her congratulations as
a representative of the Yamen ladies, few of whom
had ever seen me. The devotion of my cook, who
had served me for fifteen years, touched me much ;
he took all the work of providing for my numerous
guests upon himself, at far less cost than I could
have done, and worked almost night and day that
the burden might not fall upon me. After all was
over, and the guests gone, I called him into my study
and told him that while I knew that money could
not pay for the services he had rendered, yet, being
pleased, I wished him to accept a little present to
express my appreciation. He only answered, " If
you are pleased, that is all I want." He took the
money, but a little while after his wife, who was
our first school-girl, came with a message that as
he could not express what he wanted, he had sent
her back to say that "they did not look upon
themselves as servants ; I was both father and mother,
and parents did not pay their children for doing their
duty." Tears ran down her cheeks when she added,
" When you are pleased we are pleased ; when you
are troubled we are troubled ; when you are well we
are well ; and when you are ill we are ill too." She
334 MISSION WORK /Af CtfltfA
then asked me to take back the money ; but I replied,
" Mothers will sometimes give a gift to a child, and
would feel hurt if it were returned." She then took
it with a smile ; such devotion is humbling. I have
done what I could, but others have done far more,
and have received less, " to Him alone be the glory ! "
Mr. Woodman, giving a touching and graphic de-
scription of that wonderful day, writes as follows :
" Just now, when so many eyes are turned towards
this far-off land in the East, you will be glad to hear
a little of the Lord's doings among His own people,
I should like to describe, if possible, to you the events
of one day, March I2th, in this city of Wenchow,
with its eighty thousand or more population ; it is
what we call in our own country a ' red-letter day,'
the event being the fiftieth anniversary of Mrs. Grace
Stott's birthday, and the completion of her twenty-
fifth year of work here. Invitations had been issued
to the Christians to gather for a day of thanksgiving
and praise to God, and as many of them lived thirty
and forty miles away, they arrived two days and
even three days before, so as to be in time ; the large
church and native quarters were taxed to their utmost
powers of accommodation. It was most touching, as
you walked about the compound, to see the Christians
gathered about in little groups, studying the Word,
or praying for a mighty outpouring of the Holy
Spirit upon them and all who should be gathered
"HE THAT SOWETH AND HE THAT REAPETH" 335
together. All through the previous day the church,
with its bare white-washed walls, had been in the
hands of the native Christians, and at night, when all
was finished, Mrs. Stott was sent for, to find waiting
her surprises of their love, for on entering the place
there hung a most beautiful and costly scarlet satin
banner, with ornaments of silk tassels and fine polished
jade stones, the gift of the church, speaking by its
very beauty the depth of their gratitude and love to
her who had led them to Christ, out of darkness into
His marvellous light. In the finest gold characters
there was inscribed upon it a very suitable inscription
referring to Mr. and Mrs. Stott having been the first
to bring them the good news of the gospel, with the
quotation from Dan. xii. 3 linked to their names.
Besides this, on all sides other scrolls and banners to
the number of fifteen, tokens of individual love, chief
among them being one from her girls' school on
which was written I Kings iii. 9-13, in Chinese
characters. One of the most touching gifts received
were some very large Chinese red candles from her
old blind men's home, which to them meant much
from their poverty ; and last, but not least, there were
four pairs of scrolls from the heathen tradesmen of
the city, which perhaps spoke louder than any other
thing of the value and result of a Christ-like life
lived in the midst of heathen darkness and idolatry,
especially when one remembers the terrible persecu-
336 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
tion and narrow escapes of life which Mr. and Mrs.
Stott passed through in previous years.
"The morning of the I2th commenced with a service
in the church at 10 a.m., and the sight that met one
on entering was one that never could be forgotten by
those who were privileged to see it ; the place was
crowded to its very utmost extent by nearly four
hundred Chinese Christians, whose bright and happy
faces shone with the love of God in their hearts.
* This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our
eyes ' were the words that rose to our lips, and one's
thoughts went back to the time, a little more than
twenty-five years ago, when, among all the teeming
thousands of Wenchow, there was not a single soul
who knew of the true God, until one solitary man,
Mr. Stott, filled with love for souls, came and settled
in their midst and was joined two years later by his
wife. One thought of those terrible first years, when
the very people they came to befriend sought their
lives, and in every way tried to drive them out by
bitter persecution and opposition ; especially did one
long that he who had spent and been spent for the
salvation of these people might have been there to
join in the thanksgiving. Truly heart and voice of
all present united in the singing of the opening hymn,
1 bless the Lord, my soul.'
" The first word came from Mr. S., of the Methodist
Free Church, who spoke all our thoughts by first re-
"HE THAT SOWETH AND HE THAT REAPETH" 337
ferring to Mr. Stott ; he said he wished he were present
to share in the joy of that meeting, but it had seemed
best to the all-wise God and Father to take him to
Himself. ' But/ continued he, c perhaps God may
tell him ; perhaps he knows all about us to-day. I
would like to compare to-day with twenty-five years
ago ; think of the difficulties then, the people sus-
picious of the hated foreigners, and their opposition.
Mr. Stott was the only foreigner here until Mrs. Stott
joined him. Then they lived in a little three-roomed
Chinese house.' He remembered hearing how ill Mrs.
Stott was during one of those early years. ' Just think
of her, the only foreign lady in the place ; what would
some of you native women have done in such a case ?
Would you not have grumbled to your husband, " Oh,
why did you ever bring me to such a place as this,
over twelve thousand miles, to dwell alone in a
strange land ?" But Mrs. Stott stood bravely at her
post encouraging her husband. Think of those early
days, and the two first converts, now there are in the
whole Wenchow prefecture (including Methodist Free
Connexion) 1,050 persons in church fellowship. In
addition there are two thousand men who meet regu-
larly every Sabbath to worship say, in all, three
thousand souls. I would ask you, first of all, to pray
that Mr. and Mrs. Stott's example may be followed,
and I am sure in twenty-five years more the three
thousand will be thirty thousand. Just twenty-five
23
338 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
years ago worship was held in the centre room of Mr.
Stott's little three-roomed house ; now there are sixty
districts where regular Sunday services are conducted.
I would ask you all to use your life, your possessions,
your abilities in spreading the gospel ; let every act of
your life be a service to God for the spread of the
gospel.'
" Then followed a deeply touching address from Mr.
Tsie, the native pastor, one whom Mr. Stott had
taught and trained, of which we can only give brief
notes, but as we listened to words which spoke of a
man filled with the Holy Ghost, taught by God, again
we felt, ' What hath God wrought ' ! He said, ' What
is the meaning of all this ? It is not Sunday, as some
outsiders might think ; no, to-day Mrs. Stott is cele-
brating her fiftieth birthday, and we have come here
to rejoice with her, and give her our presents and
congratulations. But what is our great object in thus
assembling to-day ? When we look back over the last
twenty-five years and think of all God has done for
Wenchow, we are led to meet together to give glory
to God. Look at i Thess. i. 2-3 and I Thess. ii. 1-4,
9 ; this, too, might be written of them, for at that
time we, in our ignorance thinking ourselves superior
to any country, persecuted and shamefully ill-treated
them ; but such things did not dishearten them, they
were bold to speak unto us the words of life. To-
day we see the results, but I know I shall only echo
"HE THAT SOWETH AND HE THAT REAPETH " 339
Mrs. Stott's sentiments when I say ' Let all the glory
be to God.'
" It was now the writer's privilege, as one who had
so recently come to live and work among them, to
say a few words. * First a word as to the past ; let it
be Psa. cxxvi. 3, " The Lord hath done great things
for us whereof we are glad " ; then a word as to the
future, Joel ii. 21, "Fear not, O land; be glad and
rejoice : for the Lord will do great things " ; which-
ever way we look, past or future, we have cause for
great rejoicing.'
" Mr. G., from the Bing-yie Church, an outcome of
the Wenchow work, then spoke. He referred to the
past twenty-five years as a picture from Rom. xiii. 12.
First the dark night of Mr. and Mrs. Stott's coming ;
then the bright starlight night, the stars coming out
gradually one by one. ' Therefore sprang there even
of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the
stars of the sky in multitude' (Heb. xi. 12); and
lastly there has come the clear full moonlight, the
church now lighting up the darkness of the night
around, waiting until the day dawns and the Sun of
Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.' One
thing only is to be dreaded, the clouds of sin hinder-
ing the light of the moon.
" The meeting was closed by a few remarks from
Mrs. Stott herself, the rapt attention of the whole
church proving how deep a hold she had on their
340 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
hearts' affections. Mrs. Stott commenced by saying,
* Never had I a harder thing to do than to speak to
you to-day. I am in a strait ; my heart longs to speak,
but my tongue almost refuses to utter the words.
Last night when I saw your beautiful present, Mr. S.
well expressed my sentiment when he said, " When I
looked at your precious gift I saw not it, but your
hearts." I knew before that you loved and honoured
me, but did not know how deeply that love went,
until I saw the expression of it in that gift. You
have been as children with a mother, listening to my
counsel and following my advice, and I thank you for
all your loyal devotion, but when I hear all that has
been said about my twenty-five years' labour among
you, I feel unworthy, and others ought to be here to
share the honour. My one thought is let us give all
the glory to God, the work has been His and the
power of service too ; comparisons have been made
between the past and the present, and we rejoice
together over the hundreds that have been saved ;
but who have been the means of their salvation?
You, my brethren, and my sisters you have carried
the message of salvation to your friends and neigh-
bours, into towns and villages, and souls have been
won. If only those whom I have personally led to
Christ were here, how few there would be ; it is true
I have been your teacher instructing you in the Word
of God. In thanking you all for the rich gifts you
"HE THAT SOWETH AND HE THAT REAPETH" 341
have presented to me last night, and in which you all
have had a share, I must refer to two others that have
especially touched my heart. Look at that scroll, the
gift of the school girls ; they have little money of their
own, it must have taken months of saving ; and these
large candles the gifts of the blind men, out of their
deep poverty they have offered them. May I say in
closing, that the one desire of our hearts is that God
may be glorified in our midst, and that souls may be
saved, may we live and work together for this object
alone ! '
" We knelt in heartfelt praise and prayer, and then
there burst out the grand praise note of the doxology
with an earnestness and fervour that even in our own
dear homeland is seldom heard. We broke up, to
gather again in happy fellowship over a real Chinese
feast, and the much to be remembered day was
brought to a close by an evening meeting, when,
among others, two of Mr. Stott's old schoolboys,
both of them preachers of the gospel, spoke of the
days gone by, lovingly referring to that life which, in
its beauty and patience, and its intense love, had done
so much for so many of them gathered there one
reference to I Cor. iv. 15 being especially touching,
showing how dear he was to them still : indeed, the
thought of him was as a gold thread running through
every memory of the past, 'who being dead yet
speaketh.' The whole was brought to a conclusion
342 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
by Mr. Menzies (of Bing-yie) urging that as the day
had been a feast of fat things, not to forget to send
portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared.
May we ask the prayers of all who read this simple
testimony of the Lord's goodness, that in the days to
come our God may do still more wonderful things for
us."
" Along with the photograph of the banner I ap-
pend the translation :
(Inscription on Banner.)
"'ON MRS. STOTT'S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.'
" Dan. xii. 3. We hear of light as of the gracious
stars, but God's own light has shone into many of
these far-distant lands. Those who have received
this light are joyful, and sing everlasting songs of
praise. Our Zoa Sz-mo (Mrs. Stott), with her
husband, Pastor Ngo-dji-Zoa (Mr. Stott), were the
first to come to Wenchow to preach the holy
doctrine of Jesus. When they had newly come,
and the gospel had not yet been preached abroad,
they were very badly treated by some, who, without
any reason whatever, maligned them in every way
possible all which they bore most patiently. After-
wards, trusting in God's help, they were at last able
to reach the country districts with the gospel. Later
on Mr. and Mrs. Stott together returned to England.
"HE THAT SOWETH AND HE THAT REAPETH" 343
From there Mr. Stott was called home to heaven ;
but Mrs. Stott, understanding what the mind of the
Lord was, and in accordance with her husband's
desire, again returned, remembering all the Wenchow
Christians, and not hesitating at the thought of the
long sea-voyage, and perils, and discomforts she
would have to endure if she came back to Wenchow,
in accordance with the promise which had formerly
been made to the Church. While in Wenchow she
set herself to teach the Church members, and to
feed them with spiritual food. It is now well nigh
ten years since she began this work. And now in
Wenchow-fu, 10 hsiens, and all the districts round
about, there are many white-haired old men, besides
young men and numbers of women, who have all
heard the gospel and received her instruction. I,
Tsang Ts'e (the Pastor), with many others, have
for years been taught by her, and we have learned
to love and respect her much. To-day we are cele-
brating her birthday, and have prepared a banner
to present to her, which may be compared to that
jewel in the old story which the grateful bird sought
and picked up to present to the master who had
found the poor little fledgling and had fed and
nourished it ever since. All those who met together
to consider the idea of presenting the banner were
only too delighted to put it into execution. On the
eventful day the chapel and compound were opened
344 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
wide and beautifully decorated ; the Christians all
met from the city and different districts round about,
and spent the time in singing joyful hymns, and
praying God to bless Mrs. Stott and spare her to
us till her hundredth year.
(Right-hand Scroll.)
"In her twenty-fifth year [Mrs. Stott] sailed to
China : in, as it seems, a moment's time she has
reached her fiftieth birthday.
(Left-hand Scroll.)
" During these couple of decades great grace has
come to us from God. The gospel has spread. We
congratulate her on her birthday, and pray that from
to-day she may have long life."
Banner presented to Mrs. Stott by the Native Church of Wenchow on
March i2th, 1895, the completion of her twenty-five years' work
in their midst.
CHAPTER XXIV
" Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no
more that they can do." LUKE xii. 4.
FOLLOWING this happy day came sorrows
thick and fast ; indeed, in looking back upon
the year (1895), it was the one bright gleam in the
midst of a cloudy sky. Seldom has so much sorrow
been crowded into one year as we experienced in
this, and one can but adore the wonderful grace and
sustaining power of our God, who doeth all things
well. He is good and doeth good, is the language
of our hearts.
During the summer a very serious persecution
broke out in the district of Shiae-koa-diu, an out-
station from Bing-yie, where there were a goodly
number of inquirers. A man still heathen was ill,
and as his family feared he might die, they called
upon the preacher and a few of the inquirers to pray
for his recovery. On entering the house the preacher
saw an idol there, and remarked that he could not
pray to the living God while it occupied the place
345
346 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
of honour. The family were afraid themselves to
take it away, bMt asked the evangelist to do so,
which he did. Whether this incident gave rise to
false reports we do not know, but on the i8th of
June a band of men went to the house of an in-
quirer, an old man, and accused him of taking out
the eyes of an idol near by, threatening to bind
him hand and foot and carry him to the temple ;
instead, however, they went to the house of a scholar,
who is the head of the clan, and obtained from him
a flag as an insignia of authority. They then, with
the accompaniment of gongs and drums, again pro-
ceeded to the old man's house ; he, however, escaped
and made his way to the chapel. The third son was
ill, and so unable to escape, and him they kicked and
ill-treated.
On the matter being reported to Mr. M., who was
in charge, he sent the pastor to inquire into the
matter, but, on nearing the place, found he darecl
not proceed further, owing to the serious turn affairs
had taken ; he learned that the people were banding
themselves by hundreds, and were inciting to riot,
determining to turn out all who professed Chris-
tianity, and burn down their houses. Mr. M. then
communicated with the magistrate, who at once
sent out runners, who, however, never reached the
place of trouble, having, no doubt, been bribed by
the rioters to say there was no disturbance of any
"BE NOT AFRAID" 347
importance. On the 2Oth, at N-so district, the local
constable informed the preacher that some men were
accusing him of taking out the eyes of the idols, and
meant to lay hands on him ; he therefore advised the
preacher to leave the place at once ; but he decided to
remain, as to fly would seem to confess himself guilty
of the charge brought against him. An hour or two
later he was seized by a band of men, bound hand
and foot, and carried to the seaside, with the view of
throwing him into the water ; the constable, however,
appeared on the scene just in time to save him from
the hands of the mob, but an inquirer who stood by
was badly beaten.
On the 24th, at another village named Dzing-ko-to,
the constable of the place, instead of exhorting the
people to keep the peace, and using his authority to
this end, led on and incited a band of men with the
same cry of " idols defaced," and the mob were not
appeased until they had entirely demolished two of
the young Christians' houses. By this time the whole
neighbourhood was in an uproar. The 2/th was the
annual dragon festival of the village O-chie, which
included a boat race. The crew who were beaten
in the contest charged the only Christian in the place
with defacing the idols, hence their defeat. They
beat him and partly destroyed his house. These
cases were duly reported to the magistrate, who sent
out his runners, but with no good result.
348 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
On Saturday the 29th, matters came to a crisis,
when the rioters commenced a wholesale work of
destruction. In the early morning a large band of
men proceeded to the village of Shiae-Koa-du, and
levelled our new chapel to the ground, also the house
and property of the pastor, who had just time to
entrust his wife and family to a kind neighbour, and
fly to Bing-yie with the news. Immediately on hear-
ing of this fresh outbreak, Mr. M. duly communicated
with the local officials and asked for an interview,
which was granted. The mandarin promised to do
his best to put down the rioting, and an official, with
a body of soldiers and runners, at once left for the
scene of the outbreak. Meanwhile, the rioters busied
themselves by pulling down and burning the houses
of the Christians, so that by the same evening five
houses had been destroyed, and by the following
morning (Sunday) the number had increased to
eleven, and by Wednesday twenty houses had been
partly or utterly destroyed. The inmates made their
way to Bing-yie, where no fewer than fifty-nine men,
women, and children were thrown upon Mr. M.'s re-
sources, the majority of them having nothing more
than the clothes they were wearing. The officials
and soldiers, who had gone to quell the disturbance,
returned the following evening without doing any-
thing to restore order, and on the 3Oth Mr. M. again
visited the magistrate, when he dolefully confessed
"BE NOT AFRAID" 349
that he was powerless ; the outbreak was too large
for him to cope with, but he offered to issue official
notices to the scholars of the district, and lay upon
them the responsibility of putting a stop to the riot.
He also promised to restore to the Christians all that
had been destroyed by the rioters.
On Thursday, July 4th, another large and newly
built house, in which a family of sixteen had only lived
two months, was destroyed, and without a moment's
warning the inmates were cast adrift, without a roof
over their heads. Another Christian in the same
place saved his house and goods through the efforts
of a literary man ; twice the mob assembled for the
purpose of destruction, and twice were restrained by
the scholar, who called upon them to go with him to
the temple, and he would show them that the face of
the idol was eaten by rats, and the defacement was
not the work of man ; but though the house was left,
the occupant, with his wife and aged mother, had to
make their escape at midnight and join the outcasts
at Bing-yie.
A fresh outcry was then raised of more idols being
deprived of their eyes. A crowd gathered to discuss
the question, but as no one had been seen committing
this outrage, it was determined to ask the idol himself.
A man in the crowd was chosen to represent him ;
the priest wrote certain characters, or incantations,
burned the paper over the man's head, thus trans-
350 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
forming him into the idol, which was minus its eyes.
He was asked who had stolen his eyes, and the man
immediately replied, "Those who have believed the
foreign doctrine." Of course this was to them con-
clusive, no other evidence being required.
The damage done during that terrible fortnight
amounted to nearly five thousand dollars. This was
a great trouble and anxiety to Mr. M., who had had
but little experience of such ways. We shared the
burden and helped him as best we could, and the
English Consul took up the matter, and eventually
brought about a settlement, and indemnity for their
losses was given ; but months elapsed before their
houses could be rebuilt and the people return to their
work.
Following these came troubles nearer home. One
of the stations of the Methodist Free Church was the
scene of a most determined attack against Christianity.
One Sunday morning, while the people were assembled
for worship, a band of rowdies made an attack, scattered
the assembled people, broke lamps, seats, etc., and
threatened to expel from the village any who should
join this religion. It was long before any steps were
taken to redress this wrong, and as the Bing-yie
troubles were not at that time settled, a spirit of bold
defiance was manifested in other places. In one
village, just across the river, where we had conducted
services for years, a most determined opposition was
"BE NOT AFRAID" 351
set up ; the villagers refused to allow the Christians
to have meetings even in their own houses, and each
attempt was met with personal threats and stone
throwing. They plainly intimated that any house
thus used should be pulled down, and the occupant
expelled, though no charge whatever was made against
the Christians. It seemed monstrous that the laws
which gave perfect freedom and toleration to all
religions, should be thus defied under the very eyes
of the officials. Their attention was called to the
matter, when they politely asked me to defer our
sending preachers for a few weeks, until the excite-
ment of the Bing-yie troubles was over. I complied
with this request, but at the same time pointed out
that the settlement of the case would be more difficult
later on, as the seeming victory of the opponents
would embolden them and others, and I put the
responsibility of future disturbances upon them.
A few weeks after we made another attempt with
a like result, stones and mud were freely thrown, and
the meeting broke up in noise and confusion. The
mandarins either would not or could not maintain
order, and the villagers, feeling their power, waxed
bolder. So far as I know, services have not yet been
resumed in that place.
Mrs. Menzies and baby, with Miss B., were in the
meantime at the cottage for the summer months, and
so she mercifully was spared much of the trouble and
352 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
anxiety her husband was in, and part of the time she
was so ill that it was not deemed advisable to tell her
how serious matters were. At the end of September,
I joined them, hoping to rest a fortnight, but had only
been there one week when the terrible news of the
massacre at Ku-chang reached us. That tragic story
filled us with horror, and as Fu-chow is the next
province, south of us, the Consul felt somewhat
alarmed, and ordered us to return at once to the
city, which order we reluctantly obeyed, as we felt
really safer where we were. I had only returned
about a week when my health thoroughly broke
down. For months I had been steadily failing, and
the hope of staying a few years longer in Wenchow
vanished, but I expected that with cooler weather a
measure of health would return, so that I might be
enabled to visit the country stations, introducing Mr.
and Mrs. W. to what we hoped would be their future
work. Then I thought, if the Lord should will it so,
I might leave in the spring. " My ways are not as
your ways," saith the Lord.
The preachers had come in to their autumn week
of study. Feeling unequal to the task, I had asked
the pastor to conduct the first day's meetings, promis-
ing that I should be there. At the close of the after-
noon meeting, although taking no part, I became so
prostrate, that my fellow-workers became uneasy, and
called in the doctor. Work was at once prohibited,
"BE NOT AFRAID" 353
and in less than a week after, I was ordered to Eng-
land without delay, and was told that I must not
attempt many good-byes. The news of my coming
departure filled the dear natives with concern, as Mr.
and Mrs. W. were not yet able to speak the language,
and there was no one of experience to fill my place ;
but when they were told that it meant either going
now or the probability of not being able to return,
they said, like the sorrowing disciples of old, " The
will of the Lord be done." When I heard the people
were disappointed at the thought of not seeing me
again, I sent a message that, if they could restrain
their feelings, I would try and come to the chapel on
Sunday morning and see them all once more. As
might be expected, the place was full, and as I was
carried on to the platform the sight of the red eyes
of my dear women nearly took from me the little
courage I had left ; many prayers were going up that
I might have power given to speak to them once
more, and for nearly ten minutes I was strengthened
to give the message which the Lord had given me
the day before, after which I was again carried down,
when the whole congregation stood and, without a
sign of emotion, watched me out of sight.
The following day I received a message from them
that they would do as I desired ; they would not
come to the steamer, or make any attempt to see me
again, but would pray every day for my return, and
24
354 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
then come en masse and carry me home in triumph.
A few days before, the preachers came to my room,
when I was able to speak a few farewell words and
present each of them with a complete copy of the
Bible in Chinese, which was received with many tears.
Mr. and Mrs. Menzies, who could not bear the thought
of Miss B., who accompanied me, and I leaving with-
out their seeing us once more, were told they had
better not come in, as I was too weak to bear the
excitement, so instead of seeing us off, as they had
hoped, they had to send their adieus by letter.
CHAPTER XXV
" I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it."~
PSA. xxxix. 9.
"As for God, His way is perfect." 2 SAM. xxii. 31.
ON the evening of September i8th we went on
board our Wenchow steamer, where most of
our foreign friends assembled to say good-bye, and
the following morning at daybreak we started for
Shang-hai. Little did we then think of the cloud
that was about to burst over our loved friends left
behind. I was able to send a tiny farewell note to
each, and Mrs. Woodman's reply, received before
starting for Japan, and probably the last she ever
penned, was so touching in its loving devotion to and
trust in the Lord that I offer no apology for inserting
it here :
"WENCHOW, September 28, 1895.
" MY DEAREST MRS. STOTT, Thank you very
much for our bit of yourself ; it told the story that
you were a little better, and indeed you ought to be,
and you would think so could you have heard the
volume of prayer that went up for you both, as a
355
356 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
sweet smelling savour unto God, on Saturday evening
and Sunday morning. But I will try and do my chat
decently and in order, though C. will bring all news ;
still, I want you to hear it from my lips as well, and
in my way.
" We came back from the ship feeling we had
taken a large slice of our life out and put it outside
the city gates on board that vessel, and my husband
has, among other fresh complaints against me, the
one of starting up in bed with some tale of a man
opening the shutters ; he got out and went to the
window, and succeeded in overturning the large lamp,
waking up servants and household by the crash ; we
felt after that we had really done something to herald
in our taking charge.
"The next day we became too busy to think,
especially as the work-people arrived to commence
proceedings. C. and K. helped splendidly, and by
night we had put away even the odds and ends that
reminded us of you; for another purpose we will have
another such day when we make ready to receive you
back again. Since that one day of clearing up we
have steadily gone in an opposite direction, and to-
night ' confusion worse confounded ' reigns ; the
stairs, destroyed by white ants, are strewed in pieces
about the passage ; the sitting-room is not at home ;
instead, a carpenter's shop seems to have taken its
place ; and the study is a bare, blank place, having
"HIS WAY IS PERFECT" 357
its walls done ; still, as we understand the joy of
meeting far better after parting, the love of home
after the far country, so we shall revel in the comfort
of our house after its discomfort and mess, and I
want, if possible, to be able to welcome K. and C.
back with us and our surroundings in our right mind.
Am I writing trifles ? Well, I want to write to you
as I write to mother, who says, * Tell me down to the
smallest detail.'
" Now for the other side. The prayer-meeting had
you all in spirit with us, I am sure. May God use
that meeting time, week by week, to be the hand that
shall open windows of blessing here; and wherever
you are, somehow I felt that last Friday evening you
were among us in the quiet communion service, that
the Lord just took the links of love that united us
and riveted them afresh, placing upon each one
the seal of His love again. Then, and now, I thank
Him for doing this ; I thank Him with all my heart
that He has let my husband's life and my own cross
yours and A.'s, and that He has made them richer by
your love.
"Saturday was another full, busy day. For one thing
I was rather alarmed by having great requests for
medicine. They evidently thought A.'s mantle must
have fallen on some one, and my reputation went
abroad as the one, when I gave a simple dose to a
woman who pleaded for it for her daughter, and who
358 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
arrived back full of glee at the cure. Many came in
from the country, and it was what well-nigh every day
is, a fresh rinding out of weakness and helplessness.
Seven applied for baptism, with a probable three
more ; later on in the afternoon, three from Koa-diu,
among whom was the policeman's son, and the others
from Yung-ko-djiae. My husband decided it was far
better to wait for the pastor's return, and just had
them in, and asked them if they would come next
month, telling them it was your wish this should be
done. They were quite willing, and we heard them
say, as they left, 'Yes, that is right: God first, then
Zoe-Sz-mo.'
"The prayer-meeting at night was an earnest,
powerful time. The new shepherd summoned up
courage for a couple of Chinese sentences ; Zing-Lie
prayed, that as freely as he drank Wenchow water,
might he drink in the Wenchow words. Then, as we
had no baptisms, my husband thought it would be
very nice to start Sunday with a prayer-meeting, and
asked them to gather together at nine, especially
remembering you and A. The chapel was full, and
eight or nine prayed quite rapidly, with very full
hearts I am sure, for the absent ones. We had a
crowded communion, but all passed off quietly and
well. I fear the strange faces must keenly have
reminded them of their loss : love begets love, though,
so I pray steadily on for a great love towards each
"HIS WAY IS PERFECT" 359
one, and then I know they will by and by learn to love
us back.
"Monday brought us an unexpected bit in the arrival
of Mr. and Mrs. M. and baby. The little fellow is
very poorly, such a little white-faced boy, and they
were anxious to put him under the doctor's care.
He is evidently upset by his food, and thoroughly out
of order. You know how easily Mrs. M. makes her-
self at home, so I have scarcely felt having them at
all ; only the house is in such a mess for them. Mr.
M. left last night, leaving his wife and child behind
until the latter is well. Things are not very peaceful
in Bing-yie yet ; they beat and ill-used twenty going
to the Mo-z-ka.
" I went down to the South Gate, on Wednesday,
with Liu-sy-mo, a nice meeting place, but I missed A
very much ; somehow it was not the same to me : I
don't know how the natives felt. Everything in the
church is quite quiet. We have had a request from
the Yung-ko-djiae people, to allow them to have a
house or place taken for meetings. They will give
four dollars a year towards expenses : there are four
wishing to join them, interested through Dr. Hogg
and his ministrations. We told them the matter
should be seen into when T'sie came back. Now I
have, I think, told you all. * Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem.' * God will do the best for those who leave
the choice to Him.' He knows the under-currents of
360 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
life, and this work is dearer to Him than it is to us.
Don't you think He watches over Wenchow with a
jealous love, and says, ' Here have I commanded my
blessing.' We shall be able to plead with Him that
strong prayer, ' For Thy name's sake. 1 And now, 'God
be with you till we meet again.' I have such a nice
word which I have been connecting with your name,
1 Thou shalt have joy and gladness,' * For ye shall go
out with joy, and be led forth with peace.' May the
dear home country mean to you rest, strength, and
gladness. Thank you, again and again, for your
lovingkindness to us. Our first months in China have
been happy ones indeed, by your goodness and love.
The old place in the hearts of these people, 'the
Mother's corner ' here is being ' kept for thee.' Our
prayers will follow you step by step, wherever you go
they shall form a three fold cord, with * goodness and
mercy.' Take this letter as from both of us : we are
one in Christ. Our fond love. Oh the blessing of the
Lord that maketh rich be yours richly.
" Ever yours lovingly,
"FANNY WOODMAN."
Eleven days later, she, with her husband and the
others, entered into the full atmosphere of love, where
she ever seemed, while here, to dwell. Before going
to China, Mr. and Mrs. W. had been for some years
engaged in Christian service in connection with a
"HIS WAY IS PERFECT" 361
soldiers' home at Lichfield. Their work had been
wonderfully owned of God ; many souls were saved,
and Christians helped and encouraged to more earnest
devotion. Sincere were the heart regrets of the men
at their leaving, as letters written by them afterwards
proved. To some it seemed a mistake to leave a
work they were so well fitted for, and in which God
was blessing them ; but they heard the call, " Go ye,"
and that to them meant going. Nor do I believe
they ever regretted, for one moment, the step ; and
had they known the issues, they would still have gone
in simple obedience. But the few months were not
lived in vain, for our lives have been made the richer
for knowing them, and our love, hope, and sympathy
increased by their example. The friendship and
intercourse, though so short, will ever be a sweet and
hallowed memory. " They were lovely and beautiful
in their lives, and in their death they were not
divided."
At the time we left Wenchow, cholera was raging
in many parts of the city, especially outside the East
Gate, where several hundreds had died ; but, as this
was an almost yearly occurrence, no special uneasi-
ness was felt, while medicines were freely given by
our people to the sufferers. As mentioned in Mrs.
W.'s letter, Mrs. M. had come in to Wenchow, on
Monday, Sept. 23rd, with her baby boy poorly ; but
as it was thought to be nothing more than indigestion
362 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
caused by change of food, there was no alarm felt,
even by the parents ; and on Friday Mr. M. returned
to his station, although much weakened by the
anxious strain of the past few months, leaving Mrs.
M. and her baby to complete the convalescence.
However, on the evening of Sunday, 29th, the dear
little fellow was taken ill with undoubted symptoms
of cholera, and after a night of extreme suffering, his
little spirit was welcomed by the Saviour who said,
" Suffer the little ones to come unto Me." Mr. M.
was recalled, but only returned in time to commit the
precious dust to the earth.
On Tuesday, symptoms of the dread disease de-
veloped in the girls' school, and on Oct. 2nd (next
day) two died within two hours of each other. On
the 3rd, one of our old women on the premises was
attacked, and died soon after, leaving a bright testi-
mony of her clear confidence and faith in Christ her
Saviour.
The following day, 4th, another school-girl died,
also an old man. These cases were lovingly nursed
by Mrs. W. and Miss S. who did all in their power
for the relief of the poor sufferers. By this time there
was a panic in the school, all wanted to fly from the
presence of death and danger ; and by the evening of
that day the last of the girls had been taken to their
homes by their friends.
On Sunday, 6th, Mr. M. showed symptoms of the
"HIS WAY IS PERFECT" 363
disease, and after twenty- four hours' suffering, he too
passed into the presence of the King.
And so our dear sister was doubly bereaved, and
left alone after less than two years of a singularly
happy married life. Bravely, and with most remark-
able trust in the perfect will of God, she drank the
bitter cup, never so much as questioning the love that
had dealt such a heavy blow.
Mr. W., who had been suffering for a few days pre-
viously, now manifested the disease, though still
hopes were entertained of his recovery, as he rallied
two or three times and lingered longer than either of
the others : but, by Tuesday, 8th, all hope was gone.
The same day, fully realising her husband's danger,
Mrs. W. met the doctor with a peculiar smile, saying,
" I too have taken it." She was advised to lie down
at once, but, with characteristic unselfishness, she
waited to put things in order, as she did not expect
to recover. Early on the morning of the Qth, she too
passed away, and her husband a few hours later ; so
death and desolation reigned. Before she was taken
ill she devoted herself with untiring energy to the
care of others, and when Mr. M. was attacked, she put
her arms round Mrs. M., and said, " Gladly would I
give up my laddie to save yours, because you have
lost your baby."
Mrs. M. and Miss S., together with Drs. Hogg and
Lowry, nursed the dear invalids night and day, and
364 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
all that skill and love could devise was done. Our
Father had need of them, and we are silent. They
rest in His glory, and wait until that day when Christ
shall bring them with Him, for they without us shall
not be made perfect. We, too, rest and wait ; rest in
the perfect will of God, and wait until we shall be
caught up to meet them in the air, so shall we ever be
with the Lord : " Even so, come Lord Jesus."
While all this scene of sorrow and death was being
enacted at Wenchow, Pastor T'sie and the cook, when
returning from Shang-hai, suffered shipwreck, the
steamer they were in, from some cause or other,
having gone on the rocks, and for a time they were
in imminent danger, but ultimately a Chinese gun-
boat, seeing their distress, rendered what help they
could, and brought the passengers to Wenchow.
Thus they were mercifully preserved.
After a fortnight spent in Shang-hai, during which
time sleep and strength were slowly returning, we
sailed for England, via C.P.R., which route the doctor
had advised for me. Misses S. and W., seeing us off,
all in utter ignorance of what was going on then at
the dear home we had left behind.
We had not been many days at sea when I was
able to walk the length of the deck, and ere we
reached Vancouver there had been more progress
made than even the most sanguine had expected.
After a few happy days spent at Toronto and
"HIS WAY IS PERFECT" 365
Montreal, we went to New York, and there suddenly
and without any warning were told that a telegram
had reached London that Mr. M. and the W.'s had
been called home through cholera.
The news was astounding, and yet even then we
did not know the full extent of the blow. That was
a dreary week across the Atlantic. We clung to the
hope that a mistake had been made in the reading
of the telegram and that at least only one of the W.'s
had been taken. But on arrival we found that not
the half had been told, for instead of three, which we
thought the extent of our loss, we found that nine
foreigners and natives had in ten days been carried
off by the hand of death from our compound ; and
yet how much of mercy and of lovingkindness has
been revealed to us in this. My illness, which seemed
so inopportune, occurring when I could least be spared,
was the very cause of myself, Misses B., S., and W.
being absent, beside the pastor, who is a delicate
man, and might readily have fallen a victim, thus
fewer lives were sacrificed than might otherwise have
been the case. It has been said, " God buries His
workers, but carries on His work." God can do
without us, but He does not, and it is still true that
" through the foolishness of preaching " He saves
men. Who will be His ambassadors, and carry His
message even to the uttermost parts of the earth?
The dark places of the earth are still full of the
366 MISSION WORK IN CHINA
habitations of cruelty ; and yet the missionary's life
is one of surpassing joy, for who has ever tasted a
delight more intense than that of seeing souls born
into the kingdom, and perhaps no country has given
larger results for the amount of labour bestowed than
China. It is true that as a nation the people are
dirty, treacherous, and in many instances cruel ; but
while they have these and other unlovely national
characteristics, I can bear testimony to a warmth of
devotion, fidelity, and patient endurance, not ex-
ceeded by any country, not even by our own beloved
England; and I still hope to spend my remaining
years in their midst, though much of the burden and
responsibility must henceforth rest upon younger
shoulders.
And now my story is ended, many incidents have
been forgotten, others too sacred for the public eye
necessarily omitted ; but if what has been written of
the joys and sorrows, encouragements and disappoint-
ments, of a missionary's life, will serve to cheer some
lonely heart and strengthen some feeble knees that
are apt to be weary through the difficulties of the
way, by reminding them afresh of the Lord's own
promise, " In due season ye shall reap if ye faint not,"
my effort will not have been in vain.
"Cbe Oresbam pre0a,
UNWIN BBOTHEBS,
WOKING AND LONDON.
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