ASIA 
 

 QtarttpU Httiuerfitta Eibrarg 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CHINA AND THE CHINESE 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 
 CLASS OF 1876 
 
 1918 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BV 3425.F68W67 
 
 The Mission cemetery and the fallen miss 
 
 3 1924 023 084 688 
 
The original of tliis bool< is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
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THE 
 
 MISSION CEMETERY 
 
 AND THE 
 
 WITH AN INTEODUOTOET NOTICE OF 
 
 FUH CHAU AND ITS MISSIONS. 
 
 EDITED BT 
 
 Rev. I. W. WILEY, M.D., 
 
 LATS UISBIOHABY PHYSICIAN AT FUH CHAIT. 
 
 And a book of remembrance was written before him And they BhaU be 
 
 mine, Baith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels. 
 
 Malachi iii, IT. 
 
 CARLTON & PORTER, 200 MULBERRY- STREET. 
 
 CHARLES SCEIBNEK, 124 GRAND-STREET. 
 
 BOSTON : PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, & CO. 
 

 •11^0' 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1858, by 
 I. W. WILEY, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of 
 New-York. 
 
PEE F A CE, 
 
 The following collection of missionary me- 
 morials, now presented to the Christian public, 
 has been prepared at the suggestion of many 
 friends, not only of those who personally knew 
 and loved the precious men and women whose 
 lives are here portrayed, but also of those who 
 love the cause in which they fell, and who be- 
 lieve that the interests of vital godliness and of 
 the cause of missions would be promoted by its 
 publication. 
 
 The lives of good men are the property of the 
 Church ; and the record of their virtues, their 
 graces, their toils, and their self-denials, with 
 the example of their triumph in the hour of 
 death, constitutes the richest legacy they can 
 leave to the Christian public. As Christianity, 
 by its saving and refining power, has developed 
 
6 PREFACE. 
 
 the noblest specimens of human character, and 
 haa given to the world its treasures of inspiring 
 biography, so the great modern missionary 
 movement, by its appeal to the pious heart and 
 its power of inspiration, has developed many of 
 the noblest examples of Christian devotion, and 
 offers to the world many beautiful examples of 
 the highest forms of Christian character and of 
 Christian heroism. The lives of these sons and 
 daughters of the missionary enterprise belong 
 of right to the work of missions ; and whatever 
 of instruction, inspiration, and encouragement 
 can be gathered from their example, may and 
 yught to be used to advance the interests of 
 this great work. 
 
 Here we have grouped together brief me- 
 morials of eight noble missionaries, "who 
 counted not their lives dear unto them," if they 
 might share a part in the great work of evan- 
 gelizing China. Providence guided them from 
 widely separated parts of our own country to 
 meet in one common field, the city of Fuh 
 Chau. They were all pioneers in this new 
 field. They aU knew and loved each other. 
 They were connected with different Christian 
 denominations, and under the direction of differ- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ent missionary boards; yet they all breathed 
 the same Christian spirit, and forgot in their 
 common work all differences, and harmonized 
 in the same devotion, the same entire self-re- 
 nunciation, the same confident hope and trust 
 in Christ. To them there was but one Oahary^ 
 one redemption^ one work. Their lives were 
 short, yet long enough to exhibit bright exam- 
 ples of the power of Divine grace, and to prove 
 to us the depth, and strength, and maturity of 
 their Christian character and experience. They 
 finished their course with joy, none regretting 
 their consecration to the work of missions, and 
 each leaving some inspiring sentiment to en- 
 courage the Church, and to urge others to enter 
 into their labors. 
 
 It was not their privilege to rest together in 
 the q;uiet sleep of death. Four of them lie in 
 the Mission Cemetery ; three sleep in their na- 
 tive land, whither they had returned in broken 
 health ; one is buried in the great ocean ceme- 
 tery, which keeps so many precious ones till the 
 sea shall be required "to give up the dead that 
 are in it." Doubtless they have all joined again 
 in a blessed company in the Father's house 
 above, and it has been to us a labor of love to 
 
Uustratiotis. 
 
 Pagk 
 
 THE MISSION CEMETERY OE EUH CHAU 2 
 
 VIEW OE EUH CHAU 34 
 
 MES. JANE ISABEL WHITE 54= 
 
 EEV. J. D. COLLINS 120 
 
 MES. FEANCES J. WILEY 166 
 
 MES. ANNAM. WENTWOETH 200 
 
 EEV. SENEGA CUMMINGS 294 
 
 MES. ELLEN C. COLDEE 338 
 
 FIRST CONVEET OF FUH CHAU 360 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE OF FUH CHAU. 
 
 By Rev. I. W. WILEY, M. D., 
 
 LATB MIBSIONABY PBYSICIAN AT FDH CHAU, 
 
THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 JHtrffkrtor^ llotta oi ^Vi\ €\m. 
 
 FuH Chau is one of the five cities of China opened 
 to foreign residence and commerce by the treaties of 
 1842. It is the capital of the province of Fukien, 
 lying in latitude twenty-six degrees seven minutes 
 north, and longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees 
 east, beautifully located near the banks of the river 
 Min, about thirty-five miles from the sea. Fukien is 
 one of the richest and most enterprising provinces of 
 Southern China, possessing a territory of 57,000 square 
 miles, and a population of 16,000,000 of the most 
 hardy and adventurous natives of the empire. The 
 scenery of the country is beautifully diversified 
 throughout the whole province, which is swept along 
 its eastern boundary by the waters of the Pacific, 
 presenting throughout its whole length a bold and 
 rocky coast, faced by numerous islands, and indented 
 by beautiful coves and bays, affording ample shelter 
 
16 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 to the native shipping. On the west it is to a consider- 
 able extent separated from the rest of the empire by 
 the towering chains of hills which skirt its western 
 border. The bay and harbor of Amoy furnish an 
 excellent outlet for its valuable productions at its 
 southern extremity; while the Bohea Hills, the great 
 tea district of China, enrich it in the north, and form 
 its northern boundary. 
 
 This isolated position has saved the province of 
 Fukien from many of the warlike and revolutionary 
 convulsions which have so frequently agitated the 
 rest of the empire. Even during the war with En- 
 gland it was but little disturbed, and the provincial 
 city was unvisited ; and the great revolution of Tae- 
 ping-wang only swept along the western borders, 
 leaving the province unmolested, except by awaking 
 uneasiness in the people, and brief local insurrections. 
 As a result, the natives of Fukien have been permitted 
 to pureue in quietness their peaceful avocations of 
 agriculture, manufactures, and trade, and in the latter 
 branch of industry have surpassed most other parts 
 of the empire, in the extent and the distance to which 
 they have carried their commerce. Their trading 
 crafts are found in nearly all the ports of China, and 
 their commerce extends to Japan, Loochoo, Cochin 
 China, and most of the islands of the Indian Archi- 
 pelago. 
 
 Fuh Chau, the provincial city, is situated about five 
 hundred miles up the coast from Canton, and until 
 
mTEODTJOTOEY NOTICE OF FUH CHATT. lY 
 
 recently was only accessible to the foreigner througli 
 the Portuguese lorchas, small schooner-like crafts, 
 owned and manned mostly by the Portuguese of 
 Macao, and by which is conducted a lucrative, but 
 dangerous and adventurous trade, in conveying or 
 guarding native junks along the Chinese coast, to 
 preserve them from the attacks of the native pirates, 
 with which all parts of the China Sea are infested. 
 For several years these little warlike crafts, them- 
 selves bearing no small resemblance to piratical brig- 
 antines, thoroughly armed from bow to stern, and 
 manned by mixed crews of daring Portuguese and 
 unscrupulous natives, constituted the only means 
 available to the missionary for reaching Fuh Chau, 
 and were the only vessels, other than native crafts, 
 which navigated the river Min. In the summer of 
 1851 we chartered one of these little vessels at Hong 
 Kong, and a voyage of eight days along the bold and 
 barren coast of China brought us to the outlet of the 
 river Min. About three o'clock in the afternoon, 
 while a clear sun poured its flood of golden light over 
 the beautiful scenery which skirts the emtouchure of 
 the river, we suddenly tacked about from our course 
 and bore into the Min, winding our way through a 
 picturesque group of islands, called the "White 
 Dogs " and " Five Tigers," which seem like savage 
 sentinels guarding the entrance of the river. 
 
 The scenery of the river Min inspires universal 
 admiration. Travelers have frequently compared it 
 
18 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 to the picturesque scenery of the Ehine ; but Ameri- 
 cans find a better comparison in the bold scenery of 
 the Hudson, which it equals in gi-andeur, and sur- 
 passes in the beautiful blending of rich lowlands, 
 cultivated fields, and tributary streams. The principal 
 entrance to the river is narrow, bounded on each side 
 by lofty and naked hills; both of which, however, 
 have been made to yield in many places to the inge- 
 nuity of Chinese cultivation, and exhibit, in numerous 
 spots along their steep sides, beautiful verdant terraces, 
 producing on their level surfaces a large variety of 
 articles of food. This beautiful and striking feature, 
 exhibiting the industry and ingenuity of the Chinese 
 husbandman, is constantly repeated along the steep 
 and naked sides of the high mountain range which 
 extends along the northern side of the river, as well 
 as on the more gentle slopes of the numerous hills 
 which range in varied scenery along the southern 
 bank of the stream, and the effect is too beautiful to 
 weary the observer by its frequent repetition. 
 
 After passing between the two hills, which almost 
 meet together at the mouth of the river, and between 
 which the stream pours the great body of its waters 
 by a rapid current into the ocean, the river widens 
 into what appears to be a beautiful hill-bound lake, 
 enlivened along its banks with numerous villages, 
 and dotted over its surface with a multitude of small 
 boats, constituting the homes of a large number of 
 natives, who make their living by fishing, and dis- 
 
INTEODUCTOEY NOTICE OF FUn CIIAU. 19 
 
 posing of their supply to tlie people of the villages 
 along the river. These river boatmen, from numerous 
 acts of piracy and plunder, to which they have prob- 
 ably been driven by actual want, have gained a 
 bad reputation, and have even been esteemed abroad 
 as constituting one of the difficulties to be encount- 
 ered in conducting a trade through the river. It was 
 by the hands of some of these desperadoes that the 
 lamented Fast, whose memoir finds a place here, 
 came to his death. 
 
 On the right bank of the river is a large village 
 named Kwantau, where there is a military establish- 
 ment, and a custom-house, which is the general clear- 
 ance office for the city of Fuh-Chau. Continuing to 
 ascend the stream, the traveler reaches another narrow 
 pass, called the Min-an, with columns of rocks on 
 either side, piled up to the height of a thousand feet, 
 between which the deep watera rush with great 
 velocity. Beyond this, the stream again widens into 
 a beautiful, broad, and deep river, skirted on the 
 north by a high and broken range of mountains, 
 glittering every here and there in the sun's rays with 
 the torrents and cascades which rush down its preci- 
 pices. On the south it is adorned by alternating 
 hills and large level rice, or paddy fields, through 
 which, in one place, is seen winding a large creek, 
 leading back into the fertile country; and in another, 
 opening out from the deep ravine through which it 
 flows, a large branch of the river, which here returns 
 
20 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 to meet again its parent stem. In the northwestern 
 extremity of this view of the river may be seen two 
 beautiful, and, in this warm climate, evergreen 
 islands, lifting theii- hemispherical forms from the 
 bosom of the river; and about three miles to the south 
 of these, at the other extremity of the scene, is dis- 
 covered a large triangular island, on the upper 
 extremity of which rises the seven-storied pagoda 
 which has given its name to this island. This part 
 of the river constitutes the proper anchorage for ves- 
 sels of large tonnage. 
 
 On the southern bank of the river, nearl}' opposite 
 the two small islands above referred to, is a small 
 fortified town, in which are garrisoned about a thou- 
 sand soldiers, whose duty is to guard the p-assage of 
 the river; and by several large sized cannon, which 
 are observed mounted on rude carriages on the river 
 banks, and a few othera which are placed on the hill 
 on the opposite side of the river, they would, perhaps, 
 be able to command this part of the stream, if their 
 guns were in good working order, and managed by a 
 few American or European artillerymen. But the 
 garrison, its soldiers and its fortifications, all in all, 
 present anything but a formidable appearance, and 
 in its buildings, temples, walls, guns, and munitions, 
 exhibits those striking evidences of decay everywhere 
 visible in China. 
 
 We visited this fortification, and after entering at 
 the south gate, traversed the principal street within 
 
nSTTKODUCTOKY NOTICE OF FUH CHAU. 21 
 
 the walls, which opens on a beautiful paved walk 
 extending along the riyer, and shaded by a large 
 number of luxuriant banyans. Within the walls we 
 were treated with great civility, two or three of 
 the principal officers good-humored ly attending us 
 throughout our entire walk; while our strange and 
 unexpected visit called into the streets perhaps the 
 entire population of men and children, who gratified 
 their curiosity by silently watching our slow march 
 through the place. The women, through modesty, 
 or rather, perhaps, through that subdued feeling of 
 subjection which has been forced on so large a part 
 of the female population of Asia, in but few instances 
 ventured into the street, while we could observe large 
 numbers of them anxiously watching us through the 
 half-open doors and the lattices and open carved 
 work of their houses, and could frequently hear their 
 exclamations of surprise and pleasure on witnessing 
 our children, objects which seemed to awaken the in- 
 terest of all classes in this country. The entire pop- 
 ulation consists only of soldiers and their families, 
 perhaps in all about two thousand, most of whom are 
 Manchus. The houses are arranged in parallel lines, 
 ruiming from east to west across the area enclosed by 
 the brick wall, and are of the small, one-storied form 
 which is universal throughout China. The mandarin 
 dialect is spoken within the walls ; and as no trade of 
 any kind is carried on, the houses and streets present 
 an air of cleanliness which we have seen nowhere else 
 
22 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 about Fuh Chau. Outside of the wall is a small 
 temple, containing several decaying idols, and exhib- 
 iting in every respect the unmistakable evidences of a 
 worn-out idolatry. 
 
 The tall pagoda of the village of Tong-ha, which 
 is visible from the river, invited us to an excursion 
 in the beautiful creek which leads to the village, 
 about four miles south-east of the river bank. The 
 creek winds its course through a small but well-culti- 
 vated valley, bounded on one side by a high and 
 broken range of mountains, terraced and cultivated 
 in many places to their very summits, and on the 
 other side by varying hills and lowlands, the first 
 bearing on their terraced sides a rich crop of vegeta- 
 bles, and the latter burdened with a large crop of 
 rice, then ready for the sickle. The hills are adorn- 
 ed with numerous small groves of pine trees, inter- 
 spersed with tombs and temples ; and every here and 
 there a noble banyan, of that peculiar species which 
 is found in China, spreads out its far-reaching boughs, 
 inviting the weary laborer in the paddy fields to 
 enjoy its cool and refreshing shade. 
 
 Our arrival at Tong-ha summoned its entire popula- 
 tion to the banks of the stream. The emperor and 
 his court could not have had the honor of a greater 
 turn-out in that village than we had, and it is doubt- 
 ful if even his majesty could awaken greater curiosity, 
 or produce more excitement in his reception, than did 
 we. The village is a small place, made up principally 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE OP FUII CIIAIT. 23 
 
 of the homes of farmers who cultivate the rich terri- 
 tory around them, and of fishermen, who pui-sue their 
 vocation on the river and coast. It lies imbedded in 
 clusters of banyans, pomegranates, lichi, and orange 
 trees, which are gifts and beauties which nature lias 
 bestowed on this country with a lavish hand, not- 
 withstanding the idolatry, degradation, and ingratitude 
 of its wretched people. On account of the dense and 
 moving mass of excited people who thronged the 
 banks of the creek, we were unable to eifect a land- 
 ing, and allowed our boat to drift with the tide along 
 the whole length of the village, each advance of our 
 boat bringing a fresh accession of anxious spectators, 
 who for the first time probably were permitted to look 
 on a company of western 'barbarians. "When our boat 
 turned to descend the stream and leave the village, 
 the whole crowd began to move with us, pushing and 
 crowding among themselves, hooting and hallooing 
 in great excitement; while not a few, determined to 
 have a sight of the foreigners, rushed into the water 
 and waded alongside until we reached the lower end 
 of the village, and thus finished our visit to Tong-ha. 
 After ascending above the Pagoda Island, the 
 river separates into two large branches, the principal 
 of which, taking a northwestern direction, leads to 
 Fuh Chau ; while the other, ascending more to the 
 south and west, again joins with the principal branch 
 about eight miles above the city, after encircling a 
 large and fertile island about twenty miles long, and 
 
24 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 which, opposite to Fuh Chan, is six or seven miles 
 in width. On the right bank of the principal stream 
 is seen the high and picturesque mountain range 
 called Ku-shan, one of whose lofty peaks lifts its 
 pointed summit about three thousand feet above the 
 level of the river, and overhangs, in solemn grandem*, 
 a large Budhistic monastery, the approach to which 
 is marked on the mountain side by a winding stone 
 stairway, three miles in length. To this monastery 
 the foreigners of Fuh Chan often resorf, to find in its 
 spacious apartments and its romantic grounds relief 
 from the oppressive heat of the summer. This range 
 of mountains recedes from the river, and in irregular 
 and broken masses sweeps along the northern bound- 
 ary of the large amphitheater in which lies the city 
 of Fuh Chau. On the southern bank of the other 
 branch of the river is another high range of exceed- 
 ingly irregular hills, whose dark outlines are visible 
 from Fuh Ohau, thus completing the beautiful basin 
 in which the city is situated. One of these hills, an 
 abrupt eminence, called "Tiger-hill," which towei-s 
 up in the distance just opposite the city, is supposed 
 to have a strange influence over the destiny of Fuh 
 Chau. It is said that an early prophet declared that 
 when this hill, which terminates in an abrupt preci- 
 pice on the river's edge, should fall, tlie city would 
 be destroyed. To prevent this great catastrophe, two 
 large granite lions are set up within the city walls, 
 immediately facing this threatening hill, which are 
 
lirTEODUCTOKY NOTICE OF FUH CHAU. 25 
 
 supposed to counteract all evil influence of this rugged 
 elevation. 
 
 As we approach Fuh Chan, the banks of the river 
 on both sides are lined with boats ; hundreds of small 
 saTTi-pans, or row-boats, and larger vessels more per- 
 manently located, which serve as residences for their 
 owners. These water residences are one of the strik- 
 ing features of Chinese life, and are found in all parts 
 of the empire. The river population of Fuh Chau 
 must amount to several thousand souls, born and 
 reared, and spending their lives on these boats. The 
 stream is occupied by hundreds of jnnks of all forms 
 and sizes, from the massive uncouth vessels of Shan- 
 tung to the neat little black painted crafts of IM'ingpo. 
 In the center of the river lies a large island called 
 Tong-chiu, or " middle island," connected with the 
 banks of the river on each side by stone bridges, and 
 densely covered with buildings, and occupied by a 
 busy, thriving multitude, numbering several thou- 
 sands. Several native official residences are found 
 on this island, and formerly it was occupied by three 
 mission families. The bridges which span the river 
 on each side of the island are interesting specimens 
 of Chinese ingenuity and patient labor; while the 
 multifarious traffic which is conducted under small 
 booths, lining one side of the whole extent of the 
 bridge, and the thronging, bustling, noisy crowd 
 which is perpetually pressing over it, give fine exhi- 
 bitions of Chinese life, The bridges are of solid 
 
26 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 stone, not ai'ched, as we sometimes read, but consist 
 of Imge blocks of granite, more than twenty feet in 
 length, and two and a half or three feet square, laid 
 side by side, from pier to pier, thus constituting a 
 solid stone flooring, which is covered by level flag- 
 stones, firmly cemented together. A stone balustrade 
 runs along each side, consisting of flat blocks of 
 granite about twelve feet long, two feet wide, and 
 four inches in thickness, having their extremities 
 deeply set in heavy granite columns, which are ter- 
 minated on their summit by rude figures of Chinese 
 sculpture, such as lions, tigers, dragons, etc. From 
 its solid structure, and consequent durability, it is 
 called the " bridge of ten thousand ages." As the 
 tide descends, the current of the river is very rapid 
 at Full Chan ; and as the water forces its way through 
 the narrow spaces of the bridge, it breaks into numer- 
 ous noisy cascades, from which circumstance it is 
 sometimes called " the bridge of a myriad sounds." 
 Of course, it is only a " foot-bridge," for the simple 
 reason that the Chinese do not make use of horses 
 and carriages, but accomplish all necessary trans- 
 portation of persons and goods by the shoulders of 
 men and women. • 
 
 On the south side of the river is a large suburb 
 called A-to, divided into several districts, and 
 stretching, for some two miles, along the river bank. 
 In the lower part it expands over the level plain, 
 presenting a niass of biiildings and a dense popula- 
 
INTEODUCTOEY NOTICE OP FUll CHAU. 27 
 
 tion, with some of its streets sti-etclnng far back to- 
 ward the rice fields of tlio country. Tlirougliout the 
 greater part of the length of this suburb the ground 
 rises from tlie bank of the river into broken liills, 
 the faces of which are occupied with buildings and 
 numerous temples, and the summits fringed with 
 pine and fir-trees. Stretching for miles among these 
 hills, in the rear of the population, is the city of tlie 
 dead, the principal burying-ground of Fuh Chan. 
 Here we may wander for hours among thousands of 
 tombs of every size, from the small conical mound, 
 covered with hard plaster, beneath which rest the 
 remains of the humble poor, to the spacious, well- 
 paved, and ornamented monument, covering an area 
 of several hundred square feet, which indicates the 
 resting-place of wealth and importance. Here, too, 
 in a little secluded vale, covered with grass, shaded 
 by clusters of olive and guava-trees, marked by its 
 simple granite tombs differing from the thousands 
 around them, and only separated from these curious 
 graves of the natives by some clusters of shrubbery, 
 is the "Mission Cemetery of Fuh Chau," where sleep 
 in the calm repose of death those precious ones whoso 
 memory we here preserve. 
 
 A population of perhaps fifty thousand is found iu 
 this great suburb, consisting chiefiy of moderate 
 artisans and traders, whose shops and stores are 
 arranged along the main street, and of boatmen, 
 sailors, and merchants, and traders of Ningpo and 
 
28 THE MISSION CEJIETEKT. 
 
 other places, who come to the city in trading junks. 
 An extensive market in fruit, iish, and vegetables is 
 carried on by the country -women throughout the 
 length of the principal street skirting along the river. 
 This suburb seems to abound in temples, some of 
 them constructed on a scale of great magnitude ; 
 and one, known as the ISTingpo Temple, dedicated to 
 the worship of Matsoo-po, " the goddess of the sea," 
 is one of the most massive and interesting in the 
 city. The gongs, and bells, and musical instruments 
 of these idolatrous temples kept up a perpetual din 
 throughout this suburb. 
 
 Circumstances have fixed this locality as the chief 
 residence of foreigners at Fuh Chau. It was at once 
 occupied at several points hj the missions : in the 
 district of Tuai-liang, by the American Board Mis- 
 sion ; and in the district of Chong-seng by the 
 Methodist Episcopal mission. The whole force of 
 the Methodist mission is now located on a healthy 
 elevated spot overlooking the whole vast suburb, and 
 commanding a magnificent view of the whole "happy 
 valley" of Fuh Chau. In addition to the ordinary 
 Chinese chapel and school-house located here, this 
 mission has recently completed, on the main street 
 of this district, a neat Anglo-Chinese chapel or 
 clmrch, designed for both English and Chinese 
 service. In Tuai-liang are the house and chapel 
 of the lamented Cummings, who has gone to his 
 reward. They are now occupied by Mr. ITartwell 
 
INTEODUCTOBY NOTICE OF FUH CHATJ. 29 
 
 and family. In tliis suburb, too, the merchants, who 
 have recently discovered the eligibility of Fuh Chau 
 as a place of extensive trade, have also located 
 themselves ; and on the hill float the flags of America 
 and England, from the residences of the consular 
 representatives of these governments. 
 
 On the north bank of the river lies another still 
 more extensive suburb, stretching along the stream 
 for a mile above and below the bridge, and reaching 
 back a distance of nearly three miles to the walls of 
 the city. In some places it spreads out to a con- 
 siderable distance over the plain, and in others is 
 contracted to the single winding street leading to 
 the city gate. A population of perhaps a hundred 
 thousand occupies this suburb, and it presents one of 
 the most busy and interesting scenes about Fuh 
 Chau. Stores, shops, factories, markets, banks, 
 temples, arches, and public buildings are found in 
 abundance; and the main thoroughfare, which con- 
 nects the whole suburb with the city, is thronged 
 from morning till night with a busy, noisy mul- 
 titude. 
 
 In a very fine, elevated locality in this suburb, 
 called Pona-sang, two missionary families of the 
 American Board have fixed their residences, and 
 near them, on the thronged thoroughfare, their 
 chapels and schools. Here, too, the Methodist 
 Episcopal mission has a center of operation in the 
 district of long-fau ; and in still another part of the 
 
30 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 vast suburb, this mission has completed, and recently 
 dedicated to the worship of the " true God," a very 
 neat and commodious church, the first erected in 
 Fuh Chau. 
 
 Leaving this great suburb, by passing through the 
 south gate, we enter the city proper, a vast and 
 densely crowded metropolis, spreading over an area 
 of many square miles, encircled by a massive stone 
 wall, nearly nine miles in extent, and flanked every 
 few rods with towers and bastions. The best bird's- 
 eye view of the city is to be had from the Wu-shih- 
 shang, or " Black-stone hill," a dark rocky eminence 
 in the northwestern part of the city, which rises first 
 by a gentle acclivity, and then by a steep and abrupt 
 ascent, until its dark summit, crowned with an altar, 
 and the implements of idolatrous worship, towers 
 above all the surrounding city. From this point 
 may be contemplated one of the finest views in 
 China, embracing the whole vast amphitlieater en- 
 circling Fuh Chau, bounded on all sides by the 
 broken, irregular mountains, intersected by the wind- 
 ing branches of the river, and numerous canals and 
 water-courses, dotted every here and there with little 
 hamlets and villages, animated by the wide-spread- 
 ing city and its suburbs, and relieved here and there 
 by large paddy fields and cultivated gardens, all 
 luxuriant in tropical vegetation. On the left, at the 
 foot of the hill, lie the romantic and picturesque 
 grounds formerly occupied by the British consulate; 
 
INTEODUCTOET NOTICE OF FUH CHAU. 31 
 
 and on the right, the bold eminence on which, after 
 many a struggle, the mission of the Church of 
 England succeeded in establishing itself, where its 
 buildings rise above all the plain, as a city set 
 upon a hill. At your feet lies the populous city of 
 Fuh Chau, with its teeming masses of living idolatry. 
 Only a few buildings rise above the general level, to 
 diversify the monotonous sea of tile and roofs. Two 
 pagodas lift themselves up within the city wall, and 
 towering high above all the surrounding buildings 
 are prominent objects to the eye. Every here and 
 there the eye is arrested by the joss-poles of honor, 
 indicating the residences of the great mandarins of 
 the city; or by the bright red color of the exterior of 
 some more massive buildings, which bespeak the 
 localities of the various temples scattered over the 
 whole city. 
 
 The fantastic form of the city watch-towers, and 
 the more regular square form of the public granaries, 
 impart some little relief to the fatiguing similarity of 
 objects. Tlie city is richly supplied with large wide- 
 spreading shade trees, which, rising above the build- 
 ings, and spreading their verdant branches over the 
 roofs, give to the city the appearance of being em- 
 bosomed in a vast grove. But the noise and din 
 perpetually ascending from below, the trade-cries 
 and bells from the crowded streets, the beating of 
 gongs, drums, and cymbals from the precincts of 
 the temples, the noise of fire- works and crackers from 
 
82 THE mSSIOW CEMETERY. 
 
 the offerings of the devout, soon conyince us that it 
 is not a grove of solitude, but is animated by a full 
 tide of population. 
 
 Such is the city of Fuh Chau, as its presents itself to 
 the eye when contemplating its vast outlines. When 
 we descend into the midst of this teeming mass of life, 
 we find still more to interest us by its novelty, and to 
 impress us with the idea of the importance of this 
 great heathen, city. The appearance of a Chinese 
 city is very different from that of the cities of 
 Christian and enlightened countries. One striking 
 feature is the narrowness, irregularity, and filthiness 
 of the streets. These, in the city of Fuh Ghau, are 
 but seldom more than ten feet wide; and as each 
 shopkeeper is allowed about two feet on which to 
 place his counter before his house, the actual width 
 of the street available for passing and repassing is 
 only six feet, and through this narrow space a dense 
 population, eagerly engaged in multifarious avoca- 
 tions, is thronging and crowding its way all the day 
 long. 
 
 No horses or beasts of burden, or carriages for 
 men or goods, are used in this city ; and as men, and 
 women, and children too, are the beasts of burden, 
 and all movable articles are borne to and fro upon 
 their shoulders, we may easily fancy the thronged and 
 noisy character of Chinese streets and by-ways. Se- 
 dan chairs jostling against each other, borne by rough 
 and boisterous coolies ; huge baskets of salt fish, boxes 
 
INTRODUCTOBY NOTICE OP FUH CHAU. 35 
 
 of tea, bags of rice, a countless variety of manufac- 
 tured articles, vegetables, poultiy, live and slaugh- 
 tered animals for the market, and other tilings too 
 numerous to mention, borne on the shoulders of men, 
 and women, and children, thronging and crowding 
 each other, each struggling for room and jostling his 
 neighbor out of the way, and each panting, sweating, 
 toiling bearer helping to keep up a continual noise 
 by crying to his neighbors to "look out," or "take 
 care," or " walk straight," or " keep to the right," and 
 the din of .beggars' gongs and tradesmen's bells inter- 
 mingling with angry and vulgar epithets from men, 
 women, and children, make up the every-day scenes 
 of a street in Fuh Chau. 
 
 Along these thronged and narrow streets are 
 arranged the homes, and stores, and shops of the 
 Chinese. These, in the vast majority of instances, are 
 nothing more than little one-storied bamboo or mud- 
 plastered hovels, without window or chimney, with- 
 out ceiling or plastered partition ; with a rough tile 
 roof, dark and dreary, hanging over head ; a ground 
 floor, and black and filthy walls with a store or work- 
 shop in front ; an open clay furnace, set in any part 
 of the house, the smoke being left to find its way out 
 through the cracks and crevices of the roof and walls ; 
 a few four-legged benches, a couple of odd-shaped 
 chairsj some narrow boards laid side by side on stools, 
 covered with a piece of matting, and provided with 
 a round piece of wood to rest the head upon, intended 
 
36 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 for a bed, or, in some instances, a huge and clumsy 
 bedstead, carved and gilded, but filthy and smoke- 
 stained, constituting the furniture. 
 
 This, to be sure, is not universally the case, but is 
 so much so as to constitute the general type of houses 
 and homes in Fuh Chau. Even the houses of those 
 whose circumstances appeared to be easy, the houses 
 of well-dressed merchants, who, on the streets and in 
 their stores, are richly dressed in silks, satins, crapes, 
 and broadcloth, still are but small one-storied estab- 
 lishments, destitute of cleanliness, neatness, and com- 
 fort. Here and there we find these one-storied domi- 
 cils spreading over a considerable area, and embrac- 
 ing a number of apartments, constituting the homes 
 of the proud and affluent mandarins. Here we may 
 find painted or carpeted fioors, ceilings stuccoed and 
 frescoed, and adorned with painted birds and flowers. 
 Some of these are inclosed with plastered walls, and 
 in some instances these inclosures present to us beau- 
 tiful gardens, filled with choice plants of every variety, 
 dwarf shrubs, trained in the forms of birds, animals, 
 trees, boats, etc., and decorated with artificial ponds, 
 rocks, caverns, winding passages, ornamental bridges, 
 •and summer houses. In these houses of the highest 
 classes may be seen rich divans, carved and inlaid 
 tables, gay and beautiful lanterns, embroidered tapes- 
 tiy, gilded vases, fishes and birds in vases and gaudy 
 cages, large mirrors, bureaus, bedsteads with mat- 
 tresses and rich coverings and hangings, all elegantly 
 
INTKODtTCTORY NOTICE OP FUH CHAU. 3*7 
 
 and tastefully arranged. But such scenes are few 
 and far between at Full Ohau. 
 
 A lively picture, indeed, is presented by the stores 
 and shops so profusely arranged along the narrow 
 streets, all presenting a full open front, and display- 
 ing the operations and the contents within. Here 
 are to be seen the artisans of the various branches of 
 native industry, plying their busy work, and, vending 
 the products of their labor in one and the same room, 
 serving the purpose of workshop, warehouse, and 
 salesroom. Here in one part are crowded together, 
 in their narrow dwellings, amid the din of forges and 
 hammers, little groups of wiredrawers, braziers, but- 
 ton-makers, and smiths, with four men alternating their 
 rapid blows on the sounding anvil. Here again are to 
 be seen image-makers, lamp-makers, cabinet-makers, 
 carpenters, trunk-makers, wood-turners, curriers, shoe- 
 makers, tailors, gold and silver leaf beaters, umbrella- 
 makers, cotton-beaters, grocers, druggists, stone-cut- 
 ters, engravers, and decorators, all working away in 
 the public gaze at the numerous arts which supply 
 the necessities or luxuries of Chinese life. Thickly 
 interspersed with these are the more gay and lively 
 porcelain-shops, rice and tea stores, curiosity-shops, 
 silk-dealers, trinket-makers, artificial flower shops, 
 lantern stores, and book-rooms. At every corner are 
 to be seen portable kitchens steaming away, and sup- 
 plying to sundry hungry expectants the savory ma- 
 terials of a hasty meal ; while, for the more aristo- 
 
38 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 cratic, a succession of cook-shops, wine-shops, tea- 
 rooms, pastry-cooks, and fruiterers, line the way. 
 
 Along these thoroughfares, one of the first things 
 to arrest the attention of the foreigner are the 
 numerous temples and buildings erected for relig- 
 ious purposes, their incredible number contrasting 
 strangely with the appearance of general neglect, 
 and the evidences which most of them present 
 of desertion and decay. Nearly every street, 
 and, indeed, sometimes every block or square, 
 contains one or more of these idolatrous temples, 
 their peculiar architecture and elevation above the 
 other buildings evei'ywhere arresting the eye. They 
 abound in the suburbs, are found in every village, 
 are scattered along the public highways, and are 
 often seen standing out alone in the solitary fields. 
 And, as if this were still not enough, we discover 
 almost every mile on the waysides, and every few 
 hundred yards on each street, small chapels or joss- 
 houses, in which are niches occupied by idols, and 
 vases perpetually containing burning incense. 
 
 Judging from such sights, the stranger would very 
 naturally conclude that the people of Fuh Chau are 
 devoted in their attachment to their national relig- 
 ions, and are wedded to their idols and supersti- 
 tions. A closer examination, however, will soon con- 
 vince him that such is not the case, and that the 
 condition of these masses is rather that of religious 
 indifference; that their idolatrous and unmeaning 
 
INTKODUCTOEY NOTICE OF FUH CHAU. 39 
 
 systems seem rather to be worn out and effete, and 
 are no longer capable of satisfying the wants and 
 commanding the interest of the people. ISTot the 
 least evidence of this is presented by these very tem- 
 ples and places of worship themselves. Nearly every 
 one of them exhibits evidences of desertion and 
 decay. Many of them seem never to be opened at 
 all, and are covered with dust and filth. Others, 
 entirely abandoned, are crumbling to ruins ; their 
 walls are fallen, and overgrown with weeds and moss ; 
 their spacious courts are empty and desolate ; and 
 their huge idols are broken and crumbling to dust on 
 their deserted shrines. But few temples are now 
 being built, and most of those now existing were 
 built many years ago. 
 
 Such is a rapid outline of the scenes presented by 
 the city of Fuh Chau, a pagan city of more than half 
 a million of souls, and surrounded by a suburban 
 population of more than half a million more, all now 
 open to the missionary enterprise of the Church, and 
 inviting the people of God to enter in and pos- 
 sess it. 
 
 But we must pass to a brief review of its mis- 
 sionary history. 
 
 Fuh Chau was scarcely known to foreigners before 
 the treaties of 1840-42. It was even but little dis- 
 turbed during the Anglo-Chinese war which preced- 
 ed those treaties. It had been, however, for several 
 years a profitable depot for the opium traffic, two 
 
40 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 extensive British houses having their receiving ships 
 stationed at the mouth of the river, and their agents 
 residing in the suburbs of the city. Through the 
 influence of these houses it was chosen as one of the 
 ports opened to foreign trade and residence by the 
 treaties, and was immediately occupied by a British 
 consular establishment. Some years, however, were 
 permitted to pass before this vast city attracted 
 attention as a place of trade or a desirable point for 
 missions. The magnitude and importance of the city 
 were first made publicly known by Captain Col- 
 linson, of the British Navy, who visited it oflBcially 
 in 1843. In the following year the Church Mis- 
 sionary Society of England sent out the Kev. George 
 Smith, now Bishop of Yictoria, for the express pur- 
 pose of visiting the open ports of China, and report- 
 ing on their comparative claims and feasibility as 
 mission stations. 
 
 In December, 1845, Mr. Smith reached Fuh Chau, 
 and spent nearly a month in exploring the city and 
 its suburbs, and in investigating the question of its 
 eligibility as a point for missionary action. Mr. S. 
 was at once convinced of the importance and promise 
 of this great city as a missionary field, and strongly 
 recommended it to the Church Missionary Society for 
 immediate occupancy. Its favorable situation, and 
 its vast resources as a place of foreign trade, were 
 only partially made known by this visitor, whose 
 great business was to discover fields for missionary 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE OF "FUH CHAU. 41 
 
 activity ; and consequently several years more 
 passed before the advantages of this city were dis- 
 covered and made available for foreign commerce. 
 
 On the second day of January, 1846, the first Prot- 
 estant missionary entered Fuh Chau. This honor 
 belongs to E.ev. Stephen Johnson, who already had 
 been laboring for several years among the Chinese at 
 Bangkok, in Siam, and who, as the Chinese at Bang- 
 kok were from the province of Fukien, and spoke 
 that dialect, was thought to be an available pioneer, 
 and was directed to enter this port by the American 
 Board of Commissioners, under whose auspices he 
 was acting. Mr. Johnson's knowledge of the Chinese 
 language, as used at Bangkok, was of little avail to 
 him here, as, although in the province of Fukien, 
 the dialect of Fuh Chau differs widely from that used 
 by the Chinese of Siam. Mr. Johnson gave nearly 
 six years of earnest pioneer missionary activity to 
 this infant field, and then, under prostrated health, 
 returned to his native land, where he still lives, 
 abundant in labors, and patiently awaiting the 
 coming of his Lord. 
 
 The practised eye of Mr. Johnson soon saw in 
 Fuh Chau a most desirable missionary station, and he 
 recommended its rapid occupancy by the American 
 Board. In a few months Eev. L. B. Peet and family, 
 who had been fellow-laborers with Mr. Johnson in 
 Siam, rejoined him again in Fuh Chau. For abqijt 
 ten years Mr. Peet and his estiinable lady labored 
 
42 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 efficiently in Fuh Chan, and then Mrs. Peet laid 
 down the armor, and slept with the precious ones 
 who had gone before. In 1856 Mr. Peet and his 
 motherless children returned to America, where he 
 still remains recruiting his health, and awaiting an 
 opportunity to return to Fuh Chau. 
 
 In 1846 the attention of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Missionary Society was directed toward China, and 
 after very considerable investigation of the claims of 
 the various ports, decided on Fuh Chau for the lo- 
 cation of their infant mission. Accordingly Eev. 
 M. C. White and wife, and Rev. J. D. Collins, 
 sailed for that port on the 16th of April, 1847, in 
 the ship Heber, from Boston, and arrived at Fqh 
 Chau early in September of the same year. Just 
 one month after the arrival of these pioneers at Fuh 
 Chau, on the 13th of October, 1847, two more mis- 
 sionaries, Rev. Henry Hickok and wife, and Rev. 
 R. S. Maclay, embarked on the Paul Jones at New- 
 York for the same destination, and reached Fuh 
 Chau early in 1848. About one month after the 
 sailing of these missionaries to reinforce the Method- 
 ist Episcopal mission, another company sailed from 
 Philadelphia, and arrived at Fuh Chau on the 7th 
 of May, 1848, to join the mission of the American 
 Board. This little band consisted of Rev. C. C. 
 Baldwin and wife, Rev. Seneca Cummings and wife, 
 and Rev. "William Richards. On the 31st of May, 
 1850, this mission was again strengthened by the 
 
INTRODTJCTOEY NOTICE OF FVS OHATJ. 43 
 
 arrival of Eev. J. Doolittle and wife, who were ac- 
 companied, on their voyage from Hong Kong, by the 
 Rev. Messrs. Welton and Jackson, who came nnder 
 tlie auspices of the Church of England Missionary 
 Society. Early in the same year the Eev. Messrs. 
 Fast and Elquist, the first missionaries sent out to a 
 foreign land from Sweden, by a recent society formed 
 through the agency of Eev. Mr. Fielsteatt, long a 
 missionary in Smyrna, arrived at Fuh Chau. 
 
 The history of these J'oung and promising mission- 
 aries is brief and melancholy. After much and 
 troublesome negotiation, they obtained the promise 
 of a permanent residence in the neighborhood of the 
 city walls ; and in October, 1850, only a few months 
 after their arrival, they visited an English vessel at 
 the mouth of the river to obtain the funds necessary 
 to complete the contract. As they returned in their 
 small boat, they were suddenly attacked by a Chinese 
 piratical craft, filled with armed men, which had put 
 off from one of the villages along the shore. During 
 the encounter Mr. Fast was mortally wounded, and 
 fell from the boat into the river, which was at once 
 his death-bed and his grave. His remains were 
 never recovered. Mr. Elquist, when his friend had 
 fallen, threw himself into the river, and by diving 
 under the water succeeded in reaching the shore, 
 having received several wounds. For two days, 
 smarting under his wounds, and enduring the in- 
 tensest mental agony, he wandered on the mountains 
 
44 THE MISSION OEMipTEET. 
 
 ■which skirt the shore of the river, when he finally 
 reached a point of land near to one of the receiving 
 ships, and was discovered and taken on board. One 
 of the pirates, reported to be the leader of the gang, 
 was fatally wounded by a pistol shot from Mr. Fast, 
 of which he shortly after died. The neighboring pirat- 
 ical haunt, from which these murderers had put off, 
 was subsequently destroyed by a military expedition 
 dispatched from Fuh Chau. Mr. Elquist sank under 
 the consequences of the frightful scenes through 
 which he had passed, and in declining health visited 
 Hong Kong early in 1851, in the hope that a change 
 of climate and association would restore him to 
 health. This result not having been realized, in 1852 
 he embarked for Sweden. Thus terminated this 
 first attempt of the Swedes to establish a mission in 
 China. 
 
 On the 9th of July, 1851, the Methodist Episcopal 
 Mission was reinforced by the arrival of Rev. I. W. 
 Wiley and wife, Eev. James Colder and wife, and 
 Miss M. Seely ; and on the 9th of June, 1853, the 
 mission of the American Board was strengthened by 
 the arrival of Rev. Charles Hartwell and wife, the 
 latter being a sister of Mrs. Cummings, already in 
 the field. 
 
 During this time Rev. Messrs. Hickok, Collins, 
 Richards, Fast, Elquist, Johnson, Jackson, "White, 
 and Colder, had been withdrawn from the missions 
 at Fuh Chau, some by death, others by sicknesg. 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE OF FUH CHAU. 45 
 
 The record of those who have finished their labor 
 and gone to their reward, will be found in this 
 work. 
 
 In 1855 the Methodist Episcopal Mission was 
 strengthened by Kev. Dr. Wentworth and wife, the 
 last of whom soon fell, and sleeps in the cemetery at 
 Fuh Chan. In the same year the mission was joined 
 by Eev. Otis Gibson and wife, both of whom are still 
 in the field. Dr. Wentworth was accompanied from 
 Hong Kong to Fuh Chau by Eev. Mr. Macaw and wife, 
 and Eev. Mr. Fernley, to strengthen the Church of 
 England Mission. This estimable lady also fell in a 
 few months, and rests in the cemetery attached to the 
 British consulate at Fuh Chau. 
 
 Such has been the force that has been sent into 
 this great heathen city since its first occupancy in 
 1846 ; in all, thirty-six male and female missionaries, 
 of whom ten have died, thirteen have been com- 
 pelled to retire by failing health and other causes, 
 and thirteen still remain connected with the various 
 missions. 
 
 "We present on the next page a tabular exhibit of 
 this missionary force. 
 
 The past ten years have been years of successful 
 preparation, breaking up the new soil, and scattering 
 on it the seeds of eternal truth. They are beginning 
 to germinate and grow, and now the first-fruits are 
 being gathered, and everything gives promise of a 
 rich harvest. 
 
46 
 
 THE MISSION CEMETEEr. 
 
 Nnmos. 
 
 "2 
 1 
 
 Society. 
 
 
 I'i 
 
 RcmarkK. 
 
 S. L. Johnson. 
 
 1846 
 
 A. B. C. F. M. 
 
 1851 
 
 5 
 
 Ill health of Mr. J. 
 
 Mrs. Johnson. 
 
 1830 
 
 A. B. C. F. M. 
 
 1861 
 
 1 
 
 Ill health of Mr. J. 
 
 L. B. Feet and wife. 
 
 1846 
 
 A. B. C. V. M. 
 
 1866 
 
 20 
 
 Mrs. P. died 1856. 
 Mr. P. retired. 
 
 M. 0. "White and wife. 
 
 1847 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soo. 
 
 1852 
 
 •5 
 
 Mrs. W. died May, 
 1848. 
 
 J. D. Collins. 
 
 1S4T 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soc. 
 
 1851 
 
 4 
 
 Eetnrned, and died in 
 America. 
 
 H. Hickolt and wife. 
 
 1848 
 
 Jt E. Miss. Soc 
 
 1849 
 
 2 
 
 Failure of health. 
 
 E. S. Maclay. 
 
 1848 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soc. 
 
 
 9 
 
 Still in the field. 
 
 Mrs. Maclay. 
 
 1860 
 
 M. B. Miss. Soc. 
 
 
 7 
 
 Still in the field. 
 
 C. C. Baldwin and wife. 
 
 1848 
 
 A. B. 0. F. M. 
 
 
 18 
 
 Still in the field. 
 
 S. Cummings and wife. 
 
 1848 
 
 A. B. C. F. M. 
 
 1855 
 
 14 
 
 Mr. C. died August, 
 1856, in America. 
 
 William Richards. 
 
 1848 
 
 A. B. 0. F. M. 
 
 1.861 
 
 8 
 
 Died at sea. 
 
 Messrs. Fast and Elquist. 
 
 1850 
 
 Swedish M. S. 
 
 1850 
 
 1 
 
 Mr. F. was killed on 
 the Min, and Mr. E. 
 retired. 
 
 J. Doolittle and wife. 
 
 1850 
 
 A. B. C. P. M. 
 
 
 13 
 
 Mrs. D. died in June, 
 1866. Mr. D. is still 
 in the field. 
 
 William Welton. 
 
 1850 
 
 Oh. of Eng. M. S. 
 
 1856 
 
 6 
 
 Retired in ill health. 
 
 Robert Jackson. 
 
 1S50 
 
 Ch. of Eng. M. 8. 
 
 1851 
 
 1 
 
 Removed to Ningpo. 
 
 I. W. Wiley and wife. 
 
 1S61 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soc. 
 
 1864 
 
 6 
 
 Mrs. W. died Nov., 
 185S. 
 
 James Colder and wife. 
 
 1851 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soc 
 
 1853 
 
 4 
 
 Retired. 
 
 Miss M. Seely. 
 
 1851 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soc 
 
 1862 
 
 1 
 
 Married M. C. White, 
 and returned in ill 
 health. 
 
 Charles Hartnell and wife. 
 
 1858 
 
 A. B. C. F. M. 
 
 
 8 
 
 Still in the field. 
 
 E. Wentworth and wife. 
 
 1855 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soc 
 
 
 8 
 
 Mrs. W. died 1855. 
 
 Otis Gibson and wife. 
 
 1855 
 
 M. E. Miss. Soc 
 
 
 4 
 
 Still in the field. 
 
 Eev. Mr. Macaw and wife. 
 
 1855 
 
 Ch. of Eng. M. S. 
 
 
 8 
 
 Mrs. M. died 1866. 
 
 Eov. Mr. Fernley. 
 
 1855 
 
 Ch. of Eng. M. 8. 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 Notwithstanding tlie variable history of these mis- 
 sions, the many that have fallen, the large propor- 
 tionate number that have had to retire, and the 
 numerous and grave obstacles which have presented 
 themselves, Fuh Chan must be looked upon as a 
 successful missionary station. These first ten years 
 have necessarily been years of arduous and difiicult 
 
INTRODtrCTORT ISTOTICE OF FTJH CHAXT. 4Y 
 
 pioneer work, in a city hitherto unknown ; among 
 a people bitterly prejudiced against the foreigner; 
 and through the medium of a language which 
 no foreigner had as yet ever attempted to learn ; 
 which is difficult of acquisition, and in which the 
 new and sublime facts and principles of the Gospel 
 had never yet been expressed. Of necessity, then, 
 the field was one of toil and difficulty, and we wonder 
 not, in view of the vast labors resting on these 
 pioneer men and women, so many fell. Yet a vast 
 work has been accomplished for Fuh Chau. The 
 Christian Church has been represented by thirty -six 
 of her sons and daughters in this pagan city. Ten 
 of them have laid down their lives in bearing testi- 
 mony to our great salvation ; six of them still sleep 
 in the suburbs of this city, their silent tombs yet wit- 
 nessing for Christ ; two of them rest beneath the soil 
 of their native land ; two of them await in the depths 
 of the great ocean the coming of the Lord. One 
 hundred and thirty-nine years of actual missionary 
 labor have been given as the sum of the toil of these 
 men and women. The language has been mastered 
 and reduced to a method of easy acquisition. Houses 
 have been erected for missionary residences ; schools 
 have been founded ; chapels have been opened ; 
 churches have been built ; the Gospel of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ has been preached ; the Bible has been 
 printed and circulated in the classic version; large 
 portions of it have been translated into the colloquial 
 
48 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 dialect, and scattered broadcast over the city ; books 
 have been published and circulated ; prejudices have 
 been overcome and removed ; the great plan of sal- 
 vation has been made known to perhaps a million of 
 souls, and a deep and wide-spread impression has 
 been made on this pagan city in favor of Christianity. 
 The history of the past ten years, though present- 
 ing, as in all pioneer missionary movements, its sad 
 and melancholy pages, has yet been such as to de- 
 monstrate the correctness of the action of the Ameri- 
 can and British missionary societies in selecting it as 
 a field for missionary activity. The fact that so many 
 have fallen, and others under broken health been 
 forced to retire, while it presents a mournful chapter in 
 the history of missions at Yvh Chan, is no real cause 
 for discouragement, nor does it evidence the ineligi- 
 bility of this city as a missionary station. Perhaps 
 the proportion of fallen missionaries here does not 
 surpass that of other new and untried mission fields ; 
 and we must remember, that although other parts of 
 China had been occupied several years by mission- 
 aries and foreign residents, yet Fuh Chan was en- 
 tirely unknown, and presented all the hazards and 
 difficulties of an entirely new field. The missionaries 
 entered it, ignorant of the language, the habits, the 
 modes of living, etc., of the inhabitants. They knew 
 not what articles of clothing, furniture, and even of 
 food, might be procured or could not be had, and for 
 the want of this information had, in many instances, 
 
INTKODUCTOKY NOTICE OF FUH CHAU. 49 
 
 to endure grave disappointments and serious priva- 
 tions. They had no homes ; rude, temporary shelter 
 had to be provided, wholly unadapted to the wants 
 of foreign residents in a new and untried climate. 
 Long months, and even years had to pass before the 
 prejudices of the people could be so far removed as 
 to allow them to build comfortable houses. They 
 met first of all the labor of acquiring a new language, 
 about which no foreigner knew anything, toward 
 which no books from other parts of China could be of 
 service, and for which onerous task no teacher could 
 be provided that could speak a word of English. 
 They were in the midst of anew climate, new scenes, 
 new modes of life, to all which they must learn to 
 accustom themselves, while at the same time they 
 were necessarily meeting grave obstacles and per- 
 forming gigantic labors. No wonder many of them 
 fell ; fell, however, bearing the banner of the Great 
 King in the forefront of the Lord's host. 
 
 These difficulties have been met and overcome. 
 The night of toil breaks into the day of promise. 
 Fuh Chau is now an inviting field of labor. Its cli- 
 mate is understood ; the wants of the missionary are 
 known and can be provided for ; houses have been 
 built, and comfortable residences can be rapidly pro- 
 cured; the language has been mastered, and made 
 comparatively easy of acquisition ; the prejudices of 
 the people have melted away ; a large foreign trade 
 has grown up ; a large foreign community is gather- 
 
50 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ing into the city. Fuh Chau is rapidly becoming an 
 important center of commerce, and the conveniences 
 and necessaries of missionary life can be provided 
 on tlie spot. The pioneer work is nearly done. 
 Henceforth there will be no such drain on missionary 
 life. The climate of Fuh Chau is delightful through 
 eight months of the year ; through the remaining four 
 months, the only difficulty is the great heat incident to 
 its tropical position, which can now be greatly provided 
 against by the better homes of the missionaries, and 
 by the numerous cool and refreshing resorts which 
 have been found about the city. Unfortunate, in- 
 deed, would be the mistake of the Church were she 
 now to forsake her missions at Fuh Chau, or permit 
 them to languish, just when her sons and daughters 
 have finished their vast preparatory work, when the 
 door is just widely opened, when the field is just 
 white for the harvest, and thus throw away, on the 
 eve of victory, these vast advantages for which she 
 has paid the price of many precious lives. No ! let 
 us cherish the memory of these fallen missionaries; 
 let them live in the heart of the Church ; let the cem- 
 etry at Fuh Chau, instead of startling us from the 
 field, be as a precious voice from those that have 
 borne the heat and burden of the day, calling us to 
 enter into their labors. 
 
MRS. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 
 
 MISSIOHAHY SOCIETY OF THE M. E. CHtlKOH. 
 
 By Rev. I. W. WILEY, M. D., 
 
 LATB MISSIONAflY PHYBICIAN AT FOH CHAU. 
 
MES JANE ISABEL WHIlJi 
 
o. lane fsakl ®|ite. 
 
 MISSIONAKT SOCIETT OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL UHURCU.' 
 
 Jane Isabel Atwaxee, the subject of this memoir, 
 was born near Homer, Cortland county, ITew-Tork, 
 on the 22d of August, 1822. Her parents, Ezra At- 
 water and Esther Learning, were natives of Connec- 
 ticut, and inherited the principles and spirit of their 
 Puritan ancestors. Isabel was deprived of her mother 
 when only four years of age; but she had, even in 
 that brief period, received impressions from her faith- 
 ful Christian nurture which were never entirely 
 effaced. She remembered distinctly standing by her 
 bedside, and receiving her dying charge. The scene 
 was never forgotten. Those parting counsels sank 
 into the mind of the child, and did much to mold it 
 to its peculiar pat'ern. 
 
 Miss Atwater's early education was strictly re- 
 
 * A large portion of tlie materials for this memoir lias been 
 di'awn from an excellent notice of Mrs. White, by Eev. M. J. 
 Hickok, of Eoohester, New- York, published in the American 
 Missionary Memorial, edited by H. "W. Pierson, A.M., and issued 
 in 18S3 by Harper & Brothers. 
 
 4 
 
56 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ligious. Though deprived of her mother, her father 
 still lived, a man of devoted piety, and who exhibited 
 his religion in a remarkable degree in the domestic 
 circle. Mr. Atwater was among the first who entered 
 into the formation of a Methodist society in the region 
 iu which he lived, and for many years his house was 
 the home of the earnest and warm-hearted itinerants 
 who were laying the foundations of Methodism in 
 Western ISTew-Tork. Under the influence of his pious 
 example and touching home lessons, his motherless 
 family grew up in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord. One of his sons is a prominent minister in one 
 of the conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 while nearly all the family have been zealous and de- 
 voted Christians. 
 
 Never will the children of this pious father forget 
 the solemn warnings and earnest appeals addressed 
 to them individually every Saturday evening. In 
 Mr. Atwatei''s family that evening was sacred time, 
 and its hallowing influence did much to impress 
 iipon his children that rare stamp of Christian char- 
 acter for which they are remarkable. Yet Isabel ever 
 maintained that his prayers were more eff'ectual than 
 his counsels. " We knew," she wrote to a friend just 
 before she left America, "the stated times and places 
 of his intercession for us, and even then felt its 
 influence." 
 
 Isabel was favored with very early religious im- 
 pressions, and seems to have become a Christian 
 
MRS. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 57 
 
 when a child. At ten years of age she had read the 
 Bible through in course, for which she received from 
 her father the present of a Bible, which she preserved 
 to the day of her death ; and its well-worn leaves 
 attest how faithfully she studied the sacred treasure. 
 She never knew the date of her conversion to Christ. 
 Her early years were passed amid the sweet influ- 
 enceg^ of a Christian family, and she seemed to glide 
 imperceptibly into the experiences of a religious life. 
 Exceedingly amiable in her disposition, docile in 
 temper, and active in the acquisition of knowledge, 
 she discharged her Christian duties with a zeal and a 
 relish uncommon in children. She could not remem- 
 ber the time when she did not endeavor to perform 
 them. Many well-marked and recollected changes 
 occurred in her religious experience, but they 
 seemed to be successive developments of Christian 
 character. One of the most marked and decisive of 
 these changes occurred at the time of her public pro- 
 fession of religion. 
 
 In November, 1838, at the age of sixteen, she left 
 home for the purpose of pursuing her studies at the 
 Oneida Conference Seminary, in Cazenovia, Madison 
 County, N". T., where she remained till March 30, 
 1840. Here she entered upon a new theater of exist- 
 ence. Her grasping desire for knowledge could now 
 be gratified. Her religious character, also, was to be 
 subjected to new tests and more severe exposures 
 than she had ever known before. Soon after enter- 
 
58 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ing the seminary, the importance of personal faith in 
 Christ, and of making a public profession of Chris- 
 tianity, was deeply impressed upon her heart. Hith- 
 erto' she had tried to be a Christian without uniting 
 with the Church. Now, however, she says of her- 
 self:. "Thrown among perfect strangers, destitute of 
 pious influence and restraint in my new home, I felt 
 that the time had come for me to choose on whose 
 side I would rank myself; but I allowed nearly a year 
 to pass before I confessed Christ before the world. I 
 waited for some one to encourage me and invite me 
 to his fold, till I dared not wait any longer." Tliese 
 deeper workings of her heart seem to have been 
 awakened by reading the memoir of Miss Hobbie. 
 She says : " I believe this book was the means of 
 inducing me to come out decidedly for the Lord." 
 She united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 Cazenovia on the 21st of January, 1840, and was 
 received into full membership at Homer, December 
 6, 1840. From that time until the day of her death 
 she was emphatically a "burning and a shining 
 light." 
 
 During the summer of 1840 she taught a public 
 school near Homer, where she began to evince the 
 practical character of her religion by opening her 
 school every morning with prayer, an exercise which 
 had just begun to have a decided influence on her 
 pupils, when, greatly to her grief and the disappoint- 
 ment of the scholars, she was ordered to discontinue 
 
MES. J AWE ISABEL WHITE. 69 
 
 the practice by the trustees of the school. During 
 the winter of 1840-41 she attended the academy at 
 Homer, and again taught school during the following 
 summer. She loved teaching, and in this employment 
 was always cheerful and happy. At the close of her 
 summer school she wrote in her journal : " Truly this 
 summer has been to me one green spot on the desert 
 of life." During this time she steadily increased in 
 piety and active Christian virtue, taking her greatest 
 delight in doing good to others. 
 
 In September, 1841, she returned to Cazenovia, 
 and re-entered the seminary. Here she began to be 
 inspired by the spirit of missions, and soon was moved 
 with a burning desire to become a missionary to the 
 heathen. Two essays which she read publicly in the 
 seminary at this time, were stirring appeals for the 
 missionary cause, which were long remembered and 
 felt in their influence, and which at the time fell like 
 electric fire on one whose heart was already deeply 
 enlisted in the missionary cause, and who has since 
 gone forth as a herald of the cross to the realms of 
 heathen darkness. In July, 1842, she completed the 
 regular course of study, and received the diploma of 
 the seminary. 
 
 In the autumn of 1842 she went to reside at 
 Eoehester, and the next April connected herself with 
 the Washington-street Bethel Church in that city. 
 This was a sort of union Bethel or mission church, 
 located in the vicinity of the canal, and in a neigh- 
 
60 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 borhood which strongly invited such an aggressive 
 movement. Some earnest Christians, of several de- 
 nominations, had united in this enterprise, and were 
 accomplishing much good by their active personal 
 efforts among a class of people seldom found in 
 church, unless brought there by others. These zeal- 
 ous Christians would meet at the church on Sabbath 
 morning, some time previous to the hour of service, 
 and then dispersing in several directions, would liter- 
 ally go out into the highways and along the by- 
 places, urging all they found to come to the Gospel 
 feast. This movement at once commended itself to 
 the subject of our memoir, and her missionary spirit 
 and ardent desire to do good where it was most needed, 
 led her to connect herself with this Church; and 
 though it subsequently passed over into other hands, 
 and became the Washington-street Presbyterian 
 Church, yet her genial, catholic spirit found no diffi- 
 culty in continuing her membership and her labors 
 there. Her manner and spirit in the various walks 
 of Christian usefulness there, are yet held in grateful 
 remembrance. Modest, retiring, unobtrusive, she 
 literally " did good by stealth." Whatever sphere of 
 activity demanded most self-denial and humility, 
 there s/ie was found, struggling with difficulties, pa- 
 tiently i-emoving obstacles, cheering with her con- 
 stant ardor, and charming, by her lovely spirit, all 
 who came into contact with her. 
 The field of her chief labor and solicitude at 
 
MRS. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 61 
 
 E.ochester, was the infant department of the Sabbath 
 school in the Washington-street Church. This was 
 then a laborious and responsible post. From thirty to 
 sixty children were constantly under her care. The 
 most of them were gathered up by personal efforts, 
 and had no other religious training than that which 
 they received in that school. Over them all her large 
 heart yearned with Christian tenderness ; and her 
 hands and feet were swift to perform every kind 
 office for their temporal and eternal welfare. ISTo 
 one knew, not even her nearest relatives, how much 
 labor and solicitude she bestowed upon that neglect- 
 ed class of children. In the judgment of her friends 
 she often overtaxed her strength ; and to allay their 
 anxiety in her behalf, she performed an untold 
 amount of secret labor, in visiting from house to 
 house, and praying with the objects of her compas- 
 sion. In speaking of this school, after her connec- 
 tion with it had ceased, she said : " Though some- 
 times a sense of responsibility connected with it has 
 been so great as to aifect my health, I have ever felt 
 it to be a blessed work. My confidence in its 
 efficacy is constantly increasing. It has enlarged my 
 heart toward every little child I meet, with strong 
 desires that they may be included in the kingdom of 
 God, and become active laborers in his vineyard. 
 May he forgive me if I have loved the Sabbath- 
 school cause too well, or attached too much import- 
 ance to it." 
 
62 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 Her attention was turned to the subject of missions, 
 as we have seen, as early as 1841. In the autumn of 
 that year, while enjoying a peculiar manifestation of 
 the Saviour's love, her mind was directed to the 
 heathen by an incidental remark. The impression 
 that it was her duty^ together with the desire that it 
 might be her lot, to labor personally and directly in 
 their behalf, from that time began to take possession 
 of her soul. These feelings deepened and strength- 
 ened, till she was led to consecrate herself, body, 
 mind, and heart, to this great work. She solemnly 
 resolved, that while life and health were spared, she 
 would hold herself in readiness to engage in it, when- 
 ever and wherever the providence of God should 
 direct. 
 
 This deliberate purpose of her soul, however, was 
 subjected to a severe trial. For nearly four years she 
 could see no way of its realization. But she never 
 once faltered. In heart and life she was a missionary. 
 She conscientiously adopted those habits of self-denial 
 and endurance which she supposed would be neces- 
 sary upon the foreign field. In her dress, intercourse, 
 conversation, and whole style of living, she endeav- 
 ored to exemplify the true missionary spirit. This 
 became at length her master passion. The society of 
 friends, the ties of relationship, the dearest earthly 
 love, were all made to bend sternly to this one con- 
 trolling desire of her life. 
 
 Her acquaintance with Mr. White, the husband 
 
MRS. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 63 
 
 and companion of her missionary life, reached back 
 to the days when they were pursuing their studies 
 together at Cazenovia. Similar views and hopes in 
 regard to the missionary work served to ripen and 
 cherish this acquaintance ; but the consummation of 
 their mutual hope was for years in painful doubt. 
 The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church had not yet opened any missions in foreign hea- 
 then countries, except the colonial mission in Liberia, 
 in Africa, and the policy of sending white missionaries 
 into that field was of doubtful propriety. At length 
 the establishment of a new mission in the Chinese 
 empire was determined upon by the Missionary 
 Board, and Mr. "White was strongly recommended as 
 a suitable pioneer missionary in this new enterprise 
 and difficult field. Yet, after months of hesitation 
 and delay, during which these two hearts were kept 
 fliictuating between hope and fear, the decision 
 finally was made to send into this new and untried 
 field an older and more experienced man, and Mr. 
 "W". supposed that his labors must necessarily be 
 expended at home. 
 
 "When this intelligence reached Miss Atwater, it 
 fell upon her hke a thunderbolt ! The cherished 
 object of her life seemed to be dashed to the earth, her 
 only idolatry broken and rebuked ! It was a heavy 
 blow, and her sensitive soul struggled with it in 
 silence. An informal note to a confidential friend 
 reveals to us the working of her spirit under this sore 
 
64 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 disappointment : " I received a short letter yesterday, 
 but long enough to tell me that I am disa/ppointed ! 
 The question is decided, almost ; scarcely a vestige 
 of hope remains !....! did not look forward to 
 tlie appointment with certainty ; but my dearest 
 hopes and wishes were centered there, more firmly, 
 indeed, than I had supposed. I feel as if set adrift, 
 with regard to every plan or scheme for the future. 
 . . . This event will be the signal for the renewal 
 of a mental conflict which has raged for two yeai's, 
 and which only subsided while that question was still 
 uncertain. A favorable decision would have ended 
 that conflict forever. But if the recommendation of 
 the bishop is carried into eflfect, the pole-star of my 
 existence for the last few years will be blotted from 
 the sky ! It is indeed a dark cloud that now in- 
 tervenes." 
 
 These expressions indicate the deepest emotions. 
 By far the most painful struggle of her life occurred 
 at this time. Should she give up her cherished mis- 
 sionary longings, and settle down upon this decision 
 as the expressed will of Providence? Most individ- 
 uals would not have hesitated to do so. Many would 
 have been glad to avail themselves of such an inter- 
 pretation of the ways of Providence. But she could 
 not thus sever herself from the cherished purpose of 
 her soul. The missionary spirit in her was not only 
 the offspring of a sense of duty, but was pervaded 
 also by the earnest desire of her heart. Hence, 
 
MRS. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 65 
 
 while she bowed in silent submission to the dark dis- 
 pensation, she did not relinquish the hope of spend- 
 ing her life as a missionary. Her fear on that point 
 was her only bitterness. There were no groveling or 
 selfish feelings in her experience ; but the grand 
 difficulty which weighed upon her spirits and en- 
 feebled her health, was to give up the cherished 
 passion of her life, and leave the heathen world to 
 die without, any personal agency in giving it the 
 Gospel ! 
 
 But her pious desires and purposes were not to be 
 wholly disappointed. God first tried his servants, 
 and then opened the way for the fulfillment of their 
 cherished object. The singular train of providences 
 which resulted, in the course of a few months, in the 
 substitution of Mr. White for the man who had been 
 originally designated to that field, need not here be 
 explained. They were unanticipated, and, to human 
 view, mysterious. The final appointment was made 
 but a few weeks before the missionaries sailed. 
 They were weeks of high exultation to Mrs. White. 
 She had been brought to submit cheerfully to the 
 great Disposer of all events before she had any inti- 
 mation of his will in the ultimate disposition of this 
 matter. She herself recognized in her own unac- 
 countable calmness, even when all was dark, the as- 
 sv/romce that her chief desire should be gratified. " I 
 will bring the blind by a way that they know not," 
 was to her not only a sweet promise, but a prophetic 
 
66 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 announcement. She trusted it, and found that her 
 confidence was not misplaced. She entered upon the 
 missionary work at last under circumstances more 
 auspicious, perhaps, than she had ever pictured to 
 her glowing fancy. It is thus that many of the dark 
 dispensations in the life of God's 'children are but 
 disciplinary preparations for higher manifestations of 
 God's favor and love. 
 
 Time was short, and but a few weeks were before 
 our young missionaries to prepare for their long 
 voyage and arduous mission. On the 13th of March, 
 1847, they were married in the Washington-street 
 Church, Rochester, before a large concoui-se of sym- 
 pathyzing friends, by Rev. Samuel Luckey, D.D., 
 presiding elder of Rochester district. But a single 
 month passed, busily occupied in preparing their outfit, 
 and on the 15th of April they sailed from Boston in 
 the ship "Heber." Their colleague in this new en- 
 terprise was Rev. J. D. Collins, who accompanied 
 them in their voyage, and who, after a few years of 
 earnest and successful missionary toil, returned to 
 America broken in health, to find a grave in the 
 country of his fathers. His memoir occupies a place 
 in this record of the fallen missionaries of Fuh Chau. 
 They were also accompanied on their voyage by Rev. 
 Mr. Doty and wife, and Rev. S. Y. A. Talmage, mis- 
 sionaries of the American Board, who were destined 
 for Amo'y, where they still live, doing noble work for 
 the Master's cause. 
 
MRS. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 67 
 
 We need not follow them in their journeyings 
 across the great sea. A pleasant and prosperous 
 voyage of one hundred and ten days brought them 
 to the shores of China, and on the evening of August 
 4, 1847, they anchored off the city of Macao. They 
 remained several days in the vicinity of Macao, 
 Canton, and Hong Kong, making preparations for 
 their further voyage up the coast of China, for they 
 had yet a voyage of five hundred miles to make, at 
 that time the most dangerous and trying part of the 
 voyage to Fuh Chau. From Hong Kong she dropped 
 the following note to her brother, breathing the same 
 earnest and hopeful spirit, and evincing the same 
 courage and trust in God which characterized her 
 Christian life in America, and which accompanied 
 her down to the shades of death itself. 
 
 "Deae Beothee, — As I have given a minute ac- 
 count of our voyage, in letters that are now en route, 
 I will only say in this, that with God's blessing we 
 anchored safely at Macao, on the fourth of August, 
 after a voyage of one hundred and ten days from 
 Boston. The sum total of onr voyage is, that we had 
 a pleasant passage, little sickness, no ' ennui,' a kind 
 captain, agreeable passengers, and no accidents. We 
 stopped one day at Macao, and left the next for 
 Whampoa, the anchorage for shipping about twelve 
 miles from Canton. To accomplish this trip we all 
 got into a 'sam-pan,' a small Chinese boat worked 
 by rowers, and were soon landed at Dr. Parker's, 
 
68 THE JIIdSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 where we took dinner. Canton is tlie most indescri- 
 bable place I ever saw. I could scarcely obtain a, 
 correct or clear idea of it myself. It seemed to bo 
 just one mass of buildings, as the streets are mere 
 paved paths, not so wide as the side walks in Boston, 
 and covered most of the way by verandahs meeting 
 above. The foreign part is more open, and contains 
 some splendid buildings. Adjoining it is the Ameri- 
 can garden, a fine promenade, and the only one the 
 foreign residents have, as they do not venture into 
 the streets much. I walked a mile through the city 
 in company with Dr. Ball and daughter to his house, 
 where we had been invited to breakfast. It was 
 thought quite a feat, as females had scarcely begun 
 to venture into the streets since the troubles in April. 
 Our appearance created some sensation, though we 
 were not disturbed. 
 
 "We left Canton in a Chinese 'fast boat,' a crazy 
 looking but sufficiently comfortable craft, for Hong 
 Kong, distant seventy miles. We stopped at the 
 Ileber on the way, and took in our luggage, bidding 
 good-by to the captain and crew, and the noble ship 
 that had brought us so safely on our trackless jour- 
 ney. There was so much freight among us six pas- 
 sengers that we had to charter two boats, living in 
 one, and trusting most of our things to the honesty of 
 the Chinese in the other. We provided for ourselves, 
 the natives doing our cooking. Dr. Parker furnished 
 our ' chow chow,' which is the phrase here for sup- 
 
MES. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 69 
 
 plies of food; while kind Captain T., of the Heber, 
 contributed a boiled ham, bread, cheese, etc. We 
 reached Hong Kong in thirty-six hours, and were 
 warmly welcomed by the missionaries of the Ameri- 
 can Board. In heathen lands, blessed be God, we 
 are all one in Christ. liere we separated from our 
 dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Doty and Eev. Brother 
 Talmage, who had gone on their way to Amoy. 
 Being now all ready to start for Fuh Chau, where, 
 imless we arrive before the change of monsoon, 
 (which is near,) we cannot go till next spring, you 
 may judge of our joy at the arrival on Tuesday of 
 tlie 'T. "W". Sears,' with our truant chattels. As 
 there was no vessel going direct to Fuh Chau, we 
 have been obliged to charter a small lorcha, in which 
 we must make the remainder of our voyage. 
 
 "Through the kindness of my Boston friends, to 
 whom a lasting debt of gratitude is due, I was made 
 very comfortable on the voyage. May the Lord 
 reward them a hundred fold. We expect to leave 
 to-morrow. All well and happy. Do not be over 
 anxious for us. 
 
 "We have experienced abundant evidence of the 
 especial care and protection of our heavenly Father. 
 His guiding hand has, indeed, been over us. I have no 
 fears for the future, though I know that a difiBcult and 
 toilsome, if not dangerous path is before me." 
 
 On the morning of August 21 they embarked on the 
 lorcha, and sailed for Fuh Chau, where they arrived 
 
To THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 on the 7th of September, 1847. Of the five consular 
 cities or ports of China open to foreigners, this is the 
 middle one, and in point of population the second. In 
 all respects, perhaps, this is the most desirable place 
 of residence for missionaries in China. Situated 
 about thirty miles from the ocean, on the river Min, 
 which, for beauty, grandeur, and sublimity, surpasses 
 even the noble Hudson, but then considered danger- 
 ous for the navigation of foreign vessels, Fuh Chau 
 had as yet been unvisited by any of those influences 
 which too often spring from extensive foreign inter- 
 course in heathen countries, and which too often 
 operate as • obstacles to missionary work. Quietly 
 seated in its own vast amphitheater, made by the 
 towering mountains which surround it, the whole 
 great valley presenting a scene of beauty but seldom 
 witnessed, and covered by the great city and its wide- 
 spreading suburbs, with their population of a million 
 souls, it presented to our young missionaries a vast, 
 open, and promising field. They were the first to 
 enter it from the United States ; for though they were 
 warmly greeted by Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Peet, and 
 Eev. S. Johnson, of the American Board, who had 
 arrived a few months before, these last were already 
 tried and experienced missionaries, and had entered 
 China from Siam. 
 
 A small island in the river, densely populated, con- 
 stitutes a part of the suburbs of this great city. On 
 this island Mr. and Mrs. White, and Mr. Collins, took 
 
JIKo. JANE ISABEL WHITE. VI 
 
 up their residence. Here, amid the most charming 
 scenery in the world, surrounded by nearly a million 
 perishing heathen, whose earthly abodes could all be 
 seen at a single glance, the subject of our memoir 
 entered with a full heart upon her actual missionary 
 life. Here all her evangelical sympathies were 
 awakened, and she devoted herself to her preparatory 
 labors with a zeal too fervent for her dehcate consti- 
 tution. Sad mistake, too often made, but hard to 
 avoid by the young, enthusiastic missionary. A 
 heavy task, amid novel duties, strange scenes, and in 
 a new and untried field, pressed upon her^ Her 
 earnest spirit urged her too rapidly to attempt its 
 accomplishment. She managed the domestic con- 
 cerns of the missionary family, and spent several 
 hours of each day in intense study, endeavoring to 
 master the gigantic difficulties of the Chinese lan- 
 guage. Whenever she went about the streets she 
 was thronged with benighted women and children, to 
 whom she longed to communicate the knowledge of 
 a Saviour. But her tongue was tied! The gift of 
 speech in that most difficult of all languages was, 
 indeed, an acquisition highly to be prized. Mrs. 
 White desired it earnestly, and sought it with a vigor 
 and perseverance which broke her constitution, and 
 probably cut short her days. She had contracted a 
 slight cold in the autumn, soon after she arrived in 
 the country, and her extraordinary labors in the 
 exhausting atmosphere of a new climate, and through 
 
72 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 a damp, cliillj winter, brought on- a disease of the 
 hmgs, which carried her rapidly to the grave. We 
 must remember, too, the trials and exposures to which 
 our pioneer missionaries were subjected, in the im- 
 possibility of securing comfortable homes, and pro- 
 viding many of the necessaries of life in this heathen 
 city, where all was then new and unknown. 
 
 Mrs. White began soon to realize tliat her mis- 
 sionary life was to be a short one, and that her 
 mission to China was to be like that of those who 
 being dead still speak. She was to make the first 
 missionary grave in Fuh Chan, and her preaching 
 was to be the silent preaching of the fallen pioneer, 
 addressed to the missionaries and the heathen around 
 her, and to the Church that sent her forth. Yet this 
 conviction did not shake her faith, nor make her 
 spirits droop, nor subdue the ardor of her missionary 
 devotion. She worked while she lived, and trusted 
 in the God of missions when she died. That remark- 
 able exhilaration of spirits at the prospect of devoting 
 her life to the missionary woi'k, which to her friends 
 was so wonderful and so disti-essing, swallowing up 
 all the pain of parting M'ith them and with her dear 
 native land in one absorbing passion, never once left 
 her! All who knew her feared the reaction of a 
 toilsome missionary hfe upon such high excitement, 
 hiti it never came. 
 
 When leaving the harbor of Boston, and the blue 
 hills of her home and country were fast sinking be- 
 
MRS. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 73 
 
 hind her, she felt no misgivings, no gloom. " That 
 blue line of native land," she wrote to a friend, "is 
 engraven indelibly on my memory ; I would not have 
 it effaced ; but I saw the last dim outline without any 
 regret." The tedious and enervating monotony of 
 sea life never affected her spirits. For nearly four 
 months the dull routine of ship scenery and employ- 
 ments was entered upon with unimpaired relish. 
 This triumphant devotion to her chosen work never 
 abated, amid all the toils and trials of a new mission- 
 ary field in the heart of the Chinese empire. Even 
 withering consumption, as it advanced with remorse- 
 less steps, could not quench her enthusiasm. 
 
 At length her system, which had been gradually 
 sinting under the exhausting influences of a new cli- 
 mate and oppressive duties, was invaded by disease 
 of a formidable and threatening character. When it 
 became apparent that she must sink very quickly to 
 the grave, it was suggested to her, in accordance with 
 the advice of her physician, that she should retairn to 
 America as the only hope of saving her life. When 
 she heard this proposition she burst into tears, and 
 said: "She could not bear the idea of leaving the 
 field; she came to labor and to die there whenever 
 God saw fit to call her." About this time she wrote 
 also to her brother, in view of the dark prospect be- 
 fore her. She says in conclusion : " I have loved my 
 dear Saviour before,- and think I have loved him 
 and still love him with all my heart; but never did I 
 
74 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 know SO much of that exhaustless ocean of his love as 
 since this affliction has fallen upon me. lam not sorry 
 I left America. I am not imwilling to be afflicted to 
 any extent, if God will stand by me as he does in this 
 time of trial. I love the cause of my Master, and 
 earnestly desire the salvation of these perishing mill- 
 ions of Chinese. I regard still that day when I was 
 commissioned to come to this field of labor as the 
 happiest era in my life. Though cut off in a great 
 measure from communication with friends at home, 
 I know that many prayers ascend in my behalf and 
 for the prosperity of this mission, and it is in answer 
 to these fervent prayers that such great blessings and 
 comforts are conferred upon me." To another she 
 wrote : " I have no hope of recovery ; but what of 
 that? I know in whom I have believed, and there is 
 no reason why I should be cast down. I can see the 
 hand of God plainer now than ever in bringing me 
 here, though for so short a time. I had much rather 
 lay my body here in China than in America." This 
 spirit of cheerful and even joyous resignation to the 
 will of God continued till the close of hfe. 
 
 As the spring approached the symptoms of her 
 disease became alarmingly worse. Every effort in the 
 power of the mission was put forth to arrest it, but all 
 in vain. Advice was obtained from an English phy- 
 sician in Amoy, to whom an account of her case was 
 sent, and the surgeon of an English man-of-war which 
 visited the port called to see her. But her system 
 
MES. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 75 
 
 "was already too weak to respond to the power of 
 medicine. Being conscious in March that her re- 
 covery was hopeless, she commenced setting her 
 house in order. With a calmness that was even won- 
 derful, she gave her directions concerning such things 
 as she wished attended to after her death, and wrote 
 to her nearest friends in view of her approaching dis- 
 solution. Her last words to her brother were as 
 calm and peaceful as if they concerned the most 
 common matter. Her confidence in the Saviour of 
 sinners was firm and unshaken. For several weeks 
 before her death her mind was so weak that she found 
 it difficult to collect her thoughts to engage in prayer, 
 but frequently remarked that when she could do this 
 she had seasons of rich spiritual enjoyment. A few 
 days before she died she was asked if she found any 
 difficulty in her weak state to rely upon Christ as her 
 Saviour. ITo, was the reply. Do you feel a satisfac- 
 tory assurance that he accepts you ? Yes, for the last 
 week especially, was her reply. 
 
 On the night before her death, when it seemed 
 evident she had but a few hours to live, she was in- 
 formed that she was in a dying state ; and though for 
 weeks she had been able to converse but very little, 
 and had been so weak that it was difficult to collect 
 her thoughts, she now had a lucid interval in which 
 her mind was clear, and she was enabled to bear tes- 
 timony to the power of Divine grace in the most clear 
 and satisfactory manner. She had wished for a week 
 
76 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 or more, if it could be the will of God, to have a little 
 time for clear and collected thought before she was 
 called away. Her prayer now seemed to be fully 
 answered. The little missionary band to whom she 
 had strongly attached herself, and three of whom 
 have since gone to meet her, gathered around her 
 dying couch, and zealously ministered to every want. 
 Steadily the destroyer moved on, his very foot-prints 
 began to be visible, and Mrs. White was told she 
 could live but a few hours. She manifested no sur- 
 prise, no fear. She asked the privilege of being alone 
 with her husband for a little season, before they 
 parted to meet on earth no more. 
 
 The sacred privacies of that sweet and awful hour 
 we must not invade. A single passage only of that 
 high communion we are permitted to contemplate. 
 When assured that no one else could hear what she 
 said, the dying saint, drawing her earthly companion 
 close to her bosom, delivered her dying charge : " My 
 dear husband live for one thing, and one only ; only 
 one thing, just one thing. The glory of God ! The 
 glory of GodP^ When asked if she was afraid to die, 
 she replied, in a slow, clear, and collected manner : 
 "No! I am not afraid to die; I am not afraid to 
 stand before the judgment-seat. But it is because I 
 trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. I felt myself perfectly 
 helpless, and I renounced every other dependance, 
 and cast myself entirely on Christ, and now I am not 
 afraid to die," 
 
MES. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 77 
 
 It was late in the evening, and all the missionary 
 brethren stood once more around her bed. She 
 thanked them for their great kindness to her, espe- 
 cially during her last sickness. She gave each of 
 them some solemn parting message, and, in the pres- 
 ence of them all, and almost with the disinterested- 
 ness of an angel, said to her husband : " Mr. White, 
 I beg of you, not for ray sake, but for the sake of 
 these poor heathen, that you control your grief, and 
 avoid giving way to your feelings when I am gone, 
 for at least three months, and let them see how Jesus 
 can support his people in times of trial." And then 
 turning to the little missionary company, she request- 
 ed all, as they became able to speak the language, to 
 tell the people, as her dying testimony, that Jesus 
 can make his people happy when they die. Her 
 attachment to the cause of missions burned to the 
 last. It was obviously her "ruling passion strong 
 in death." It swallowed up the love of friends and 
 of life. Amid the absorbing interests and mysteries 
 of a dying moment, she would press even the anguish 
 of parting and the desolations of the mourner into 
 the means of its advancement. 
 
 She lingered through the night in a partially 
 unconscious state, and about eight o'clock in the 
 morning of May 25, in China, but about seven o'clock 
 in the evening of May 24, American time, she fell 
 asleep in Jesus, aged twenty-six years. As she 
 ceased to breathe a single tear dropped from each 
 
78 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 eye and rolled down her cheek ; but all was silent, and 
 the revelations of the blessed world must interpret 
 the significance of these silent tears. Perhaps they 
 only started from their fountains in response to the 
 following portion of one of Luther's hymns, the fail- 
 ing sounds of which fell on her dying ear as she 
 passed away, but to which she could make no reply 
 in words : 
 
 "Not in mine innocence I trust, 
 
 I bow before thee in the dust; 
 
 And through my Saviour's blood alone, 
 
 I look for mercy at Thy throne. 
 
 " I leave the world without a tear, 
 Save for the friends that linger here ; 
 To heal their sorrows, Lord, descend, 
 And to the friendless prove a friend." 
 
 The next day, in the afternoon, a sermon was 
 preached before the little missionary company that 
 assembled to attend the solemnities of the first Chris- 
 tian funeral in the city of Fuh Chau. Eev. J. D. 
 Collins, the colleague of Mr. White, and who was 
 himself the next to fall, improved the solemn occa- 
 sion. Toward evening her remains, in a plain coflSn, 
 suspended from bamboo poles, and borne on the 
 shoulders of four Chinamen, were conveyed to a 
 beautiful and sequestered spot on the south side of 
 the river, and deposited in what has since become 
 the "Mission Cemetery." There, under a wide- 
 
MES. JANE ISABEL WHITE. 79 
 
 spreading olive-tree, deep in the soil of that land she 
 loved so well, lie the mortal remains of our dear 
 departed sister, peacefully awaiting the "resurrection 
 of the just." The small and stricken procession was 
 followed by a curious crowd of noisy and stupid 
 heathen, who mourned not because they knew not 
 their loss. 
 
 Such zeal and devotion, brief as may be their 
 career, are the choicest legacies which can be left to 
 the cause of missions. These missionary graves are 
 sacred. In the language of Mr. Collins, in his touch- 
 ing address at the funeral of this fallen missionary, 
 "This missionary field cannot now be abandoned. 
 Her grave cannot be left as the only testimony to the 
 power of religion in this heathen city. God will yet 
 have these hills and these plains resounding with 
 praises to Immanuel. The olive branch that waves 
 over her grave shall extend its benign influence, 
 speaking of peace and good-will to men, till the 
 millions of China are converted to God!" Such 
 examples dignify our common humanity, and shed 
 new value and beauty upon our Christian hopes. 
 The reality and power of the grace of God are placed 
 before us in new vividness. To use the beautiful 
 language of Rev. Mr. Hickok, a former pastor of this 
 beloved sister, and from whose memorial of her we 
 have already largely drawn, " The worth of the soul 
 and the nearness of eternity impress us with extraor- 
 dinary solemnity in the light of such a life as that of 
 
80 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Mrs. White. She trampled upon difficulties ; she 
 courted self-sacrifice, and counted not her own life 
 dear. No pleasure could fill her soul like the angelic 
 luxury of doing good. No enjoyment could elevate 
 and thrill her very being like the privilege of devo- 
 ting herself to the welfare of the dying heathen. 
 This master-desire of her heart was gratified, and she 
 rejoices, we cannot doubt, with all an angel's emo- 
 tion, that she was permitted to die for the cause of 
 missions. 
 
 "AltboiTgh she did not survive her preparatory 
 work ; although she was not permitted to utter a sin- 
 gle saving truth, nor unfold one Gospel promise to 
 the perishing Chinese, over whom her heart yearned 
 so intensely, yet she lived not in vain. Her martyr 
 spirit shall be a perpetual source of missionary 
 power. She 'being dead, yet speaketh.' While her 
 memory lives in that crowded Valley of the Min, 
 evangelical labors there shall be quickened with a 
 holier devotion. Many a tired laborer may hereafter 
 stir up his flagging energies by a visit to her grave. 
 Many a chafed and weary brother, ready to sink 
 under the burden of missionary life in that dark em- 
 pire, perchance shall be thrilled with loftier heroism 
 as he recalls the modest activity, the quiet enthu- 
 siasm, the quenchless ardor, and triumphant end of 
 Jane Isabel White, of Fuh Chau." 
 
REV. WILLIAM L. RICHARDS. 
 
 AMEKICAN BOARD OF COSIlinSSIONEKS. 
 
 By Rev. C. C. BALDWIN, 
 
 aOSSIONABY OF THE A. u. V. If. M. AT FDH CHAU. 
 
f ^h. William f . llit|adi 
 
 AMEEIOAN BOAKD OF 00MMI8SI0NKES. 
 
 The Kev. "William L. Eichards was the son of a 
 missionary. His father, the Kev. William Eichards, 
 was one of the earliest members of the Sandwich 
 Island Mission, having arrived at Lahaina in May, 
 1823. The subject of this sketch was born at Lahaina, 
 Sandwich Islands, December 3, 1823, and was the 
 eldest of a family of eight children. He resided in 
 the islands with his parents until the fall of 1836, 
 when he embarked with his parents and five brothers 
 and sisters for the United States. During this period 
 of thirteen years he was most seduously guarded 
 against contact with idolatry. This was through the 
 wise management and complete domestic arrange- 
 ments of his parents. He often spoke of this fact 
 with interest, and accorded to these dear parents the 
 highest meed of praise for their persevering efforts, 
 which, through God's blessing, secured the almost 
 perfect isolation of their children from the debasing 
 influences of heathenism. "Without was thick dark- 
 ness, but they had " light in their dwelling." It was 
 under such blessed culture, stimulated and hallowed 
 
84 THE JIISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 by a father's and a mother's prayers, that the mind 
 and character of onr brother were molded in their 
 first unfoldings. 
 
 Up to this period, also, he received all his instruc- 
 tion, with but one slight exception, at home, there 
 being at that time no other mode of instruction for 
 missionary children. The Rev. Mr. Spaulding, a 
 near neighbor, for a few months previous to his 
 leaving for the United States heard his recitations in 
 Latin, while his father instructed him in Hebrew. 
 From a mere child his fondness for reading and 
 study was great, and having his father's large library 
 at command, he treasured up much useful and valu- 
 able knowledge, so that upon his arrival in the United 
 States he was considered well prepared to enter col- 
 lege, which nothing but his extreme youth prevented 
 him from doing immediately. While in his twelfth 
 year, during a revival among the mission children at 
 the islands, he indulged a hope that he had met with 
 a change of heart ; but after he entered college he 
 gave up his hope and confidence, though he con- 
 tinued extremely sensitive and thoughtful on the sub- 
 ject of religion. 
 
 His parents, after having provided for the comfort 
 and education of their children, soon bade them fare- 
 well, and with the true missionary spirit returned to 
 the Sandwich Islands, leaving their loved ones be- 
 hind. A severe trial was this to both parents and 
 children. William felt the separation keenly, and 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. KICHARDS. 85 
 
 often relieved his young heart of its burden of affec- 
 tion and its longings for communion with parents. 
 It will not be out of place in this " missionary me- 
 morial," to insert one of the letters of this lonely mis- 
 sionary boy to his parents far away in the islands of 
 the sea. Under date of August 24, 1839, he writes : 
 "Mt Deae Paeents, — I now take up my pen to 
 write you, dear father and mother, again. But when 
 I think of you I feel homesick to think that we are 
 separated fi'om each other by such a distance as 
 eighteen thousand miles ; to think I cannot visit home 
 in vacations, as other students do. Yet I feel glad 
 to think I may see you again in thi-ee or four years. 
 In two years more, if nothing happens, I shall finish 
 my collegiate education. I shall be at that time about 
 eighteen years old. But I will not look forward, for 
 all my hopes may be cut off as were my brother's. I 
 will look back to those pleasant days we had at La- 
 haina. How happy we were then ! We never 
 thought how hard it was to part with home. No one 
 scarcely imagined it. I could not then think what a 
 hard thing it would be to have no parents to watch 
 over me. Now I know, and feel it too. Every little 
 thing like home reminds me of it. I presume, yes I 
 know, that almost every thing you see reminds you 
 of us. You anxiously look for something from each 
 of us on the arrival of every vessel from the United 
 States. And when you receive the letter how joy- 
 ful you must feel, though at the same time you fear 
 
86 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 lest there should be some sad news in it. I am just 
 so. I have not received a letter from you for six 
 months; but I expect one every day. I received 
 mother's journal of your voyage out, which was much 
 worse than ours to America. I have not received 
 many letters from my brothers and sisters, and have 
 not seen them either since I left them." 
 
 Same letter, September 12tli : " Again my thoughts 
 revert to home, to its happy scenes. It seems to me 
 now as if I never could forget home. Everj' day that 
 passes by brings new recollections of home to my 
 mind, and only increases my desire to see you. I 
 can, by my memory, see home as plainly as if I had 
 seen it but an hour ago. I do not feel as happy as I 
 
 have been, though I am not unhappy On 
 
 the subject of religion I feel still as I have for a long 
 time. Once in a while I feel serious, and make good 
 resolutions, but I soon forget them all. "Whenever I 
 think of you I feel sad, because I know that you are 
 sad on my account, and now I shall feel still worse 
 whenever I think of the Sandwich Islands, and re- 
 member that even those whom I have looked upon 
 as heathen are praying for me. No one ever speaks 
 to me on religious subjects here. I have not heard 
 anything from my brothers and sisters." 
 
 It is a sad thought that this loving young mission- 
 ary orphan was never permitted to see that en- 
 deared mother again. We shall see in his further 
 history the rising of another love that triumphed over 
 
REV. WILLIAM L. KICHAEDS. 87 
 
 this, and led him far off in another direction from his 
 beloved island home. 
 
 Soon after his arrival in this country he was re- 
 ceived into the family of E.ev. Dr. Erown, president 
 of Jefferson College, at Cannonsburgh, in Pennsyl- 
 vania, who kindly offered to act as guardian, and de- 
 fray his expenses through college. Soon after this he 
 lost his best friend in the death of Mrs. Brown, who 
 had taken him under her special care and guidance. 
 He entered the college at Cannonsburgh in the fall 
 of 1838, and was received into the Sophomore class. 
 Here he remained for two years, during which he was 
 not only making rapid progress in his collegiate 
 studies, but was rapidly passing over into a clear 
 and deep religious experience. The deep religious 
 working of his mind, and the process through which 
 he entered into the Christian life, are well furnished 
 to us by his letters to his parents. 
 
 He wi'ites Dec. 3d, 1839 : " Dear father and moth- 
 er, I suppose you are now thinking of me on my birth- 
 day ; perhaps weeping to think that I cannot say, 
 ' My God, thou art the guide of my youth ;' to think 
 that sixteen years have passed away and I have not 
 given myself to Him to whom I was dedicated in my 
 infancy. Yet though I know all this, though I have 
 enjoyed privileges superior to those which many have, 
 still I have not sought Christ as my refuge. But 
 think not, dear father and mother, that I do not think 
 at all about religion. O no. Not till I forget my 
 
88 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 parents and my home, not till every trace of them is 
 swept from my mind, (and will that ever be?) can I 
 forget the religious instructions I have received. 
 Whenever I think of home, they rise into my mind, 
 and often when gayety is pictured on my countenance, 
 something else than gayety is in my heart. I feel 
 very unhappy generally, though I appear to others to 
 be verj"- cheerful and perhaps happ3^ But who can 
 be happy without religion ? No one. Tlien why does 
 not that consideration alone lead me to give up my 
 heart to God ? is the question which rises in my mind. 
 I cannot answer it." 
 
 In the autumn of 1840, under the advice of friends, 
 he entered the University of New- York, but only 
 remained in connection with this school during the 
 winter, and in the following April returned to Oan- 
 nonsburg, where he graduated at the commencement 
 of 1841, being eighteen yeara of age. While at the 
 university, and subsequently at the college, his mind 
 was still deeply exercised on the subject of personal 
 religion, and soon after his graduation we find him 
 entering into the Christian's hope. In February, 
 1841, he writes to his parents : " Often I think I 
 will give up my heart to God now, and sometimes I 
 think I have done it; but all my resolutions are vain. 
 Often I think of you and your instructions ; they will 
 never be forgotten." About this time occurred the 
 death of Lucy Thurston, a precious missionary child 
 who had been his companion and playmate in the 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. RICHARDS. 89 
 
 islands, and who had only returned to the States to 
 die. This affected him deeply. 
 
 In March, 1841, we find him rejoicing in the 
 Lord. He writes : " Dear father and mother, I 
 hope there has been a change in my feelings. I hope 
 that now I can look up to God as my Father^ to 
 Christ as my Saviour and Redeemer. How strange 
 that I should never have embraced him as my Sa- 
 viour ; that I should not instantly have embraced 
 Christ on such terms as he has offered in the Gospel. 
 
 how strange! and yet it is so. How true it is that 
 the carnal heart is enmity against God ! how strange 
 that I should have refused Christ when he had so 
 much love as to die for me ! I hope it will be my 
 employ forever to serve him and his cause ; that now 
 
 1 may be the humble instrument in God's hands of 
 turning many to God. I hope there is about to be a 
 revival in the university soon. Prayer meetings are 
 held every morning. that I may be able to do 
 something for Him who has done so much for me ! 
 Love, infinite love, shall be xaj theme. O may I ever 
 keep by Christ, humbly looking up to him, for if I 
 do not have his guidance I shall fall away. I hope 
 that Christ has plucked me as a brand from the burn- 
 ing. If I keep by Christ and trust in him, I know, I 
 am sure, yes I am sure, that I shall not fall away." 
 
 During the summer of this year, 1841, he united 
 with the Church at Cannonsburg. He writes again: 
 "Since I wrote last I have joined the Church; my 
 
90 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 life is devoted to the service of Christ. Doubts often 
 seize me, but still I hope in Christ. I trust that God 
 will lead me in the right way. He alone is able to 
 keep me. Often I reflect how I have sinned against 
 God in grieving his Holy Spirit, and the love of Him 
 who is greater than all others. May I find my 
 greatest delight in endeavoring to love and serve 
 him!" 
 
 After gi-aduating he became private tutor in the 
 family of Mr. William Buchanan, of Woodington, 
 near Wheeling, Virginia, where he remained a little 
 over a year. He then came to jSTew-York to meet 
 his father, who was again on a visit to the United 
 States. The greater part of the year following he 
 spent in traveling with his father, and entered the 
 Union Theological Seminary at JSTew York in October, 
 1843. It would have been his choice not to com- 
 mence his theological studies so soon, but the Provi- 
 dence of God seemed to order it otherwise. At this 
 time his health was excellent. He made his home 
 with his uncle, then living in Brooklyn, and was able 
 to walk daily to and from the seminary, making a 
 distance of about seven miles. In Brooklyn he be- 
 came an active and efficient member of the " South 
 Presbyterian Church," under the pastoral charge of 
 Kev. S. T. Spear. This Church took much interest 
 in him, and afforded him much pecuniary aid while 
 in the seminary, and furnished him many necessary 
 articles for his outfit when he sailed for China. The 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. EIOHABDS. 91 
 
 aifection and interest which existed between them 
 developed itself in a correspondence between himself 
 and the Church, carried on through their pastor. 
 
 Mr. Richards was a missionary from his youth up. 
 Born of missionary parents, on missionary ground, 
 and receiving his first lessons and experiences of life 
 in the midst of heathenism, the purpose of serving 
 God in the great missionary enterprise was among 
 the first purposes of his young heart. It pleased God 
 to lead him early to the experience of religion, and 
 his growth in grace was rapid. During a revival of 
 religion among the students at the seminary, he made 
 a new dedication of himself to God, and, in company 
 with five others, consecrated himself fully to the mis- 
 sionary work. Hitherto he had been looking toward 
 the Sandwich Islands as the field of his future labors ; 
 but at this time he gave himself up to go wherever 
 the great Head of missions might lead the way. The 
 process by which his heart was turned toward China, 
 instead of the islands of the Pacific, is interesting, 
 and is fully traced for us in his letters to his parents 
 on this important subject. 
 
 iu a letter of ISTovember 3, 1846, he writes : " I 
 drop now this subject, and turn to another of more 
 importance. I wish I had more time to write upon 
 it. In my last letter I spoke briefly on the subject 
 of my future field of labor. I feel that I ought to 
 speak more freely on this point. I doubt not that it 
 will be painful to you, a trial of jjrour feelings, a disap- 
 
92 THE MISSION CEMETEBY. 
 
 pointment of your cherished hopes, that I should 
 select, or rather that I should be directed to any 
 other field than my own home in the isles of the sea. 
 I dare not dwell long on this, for I think I can form 
 some conception of what your feehngs would be in 
 such a case ; nor can I trust the influence of my nat- 
 ural feelings on the calmer and more unbiased decis- 
 ions of my mind. But, my dear parents, I think I 
 know you well enough to believe that, however try- 
 ing it may be, you will ever rejoice in the will of 
 God. I have, my dear parents, committed my way 
 to the Lord, both in trust and in consecration of self 
 to his service, and in submission to his will. The 
 Lord will guide me. He will lead me for his own 
 name's sake. If I go to the islands of the sea, it will 
 be because it is his will. If to China, or to India, or 
 to Africa, his hand will have led me thither. The 
 consciousness of his guidance and presence shall 
 strengthen and encourage me, though I be called to 
 walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 
 
 " You will ask me how have my feelings become 
 changed? I answer briefly. The Lord, of his free 
 mercy, brought me to the knowledge of his J^ve, 
 through faith in him, as I had never known it before. 
 He led me to cast myself into his hands, to be fash- 
 ioned and guided by his will. He led me then to 
 consecrate myself to his service, with a consecration 
 unknown before. The world was the field of his 
 pervice before me | iio longer merely one spot in it. 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. EICHAEDS. 93 
 
 I had looked upon the Sandwich Islands as the field 
 of my future labors, as a matter of course, because 
 the son of missionaries there; because it was their 
 desire that I should go there ; because those that 
 educated me wished me to go there, and because I 
 could not excuse myself from going. Such a decision 
 must be reviewed. The question came up, 'Are 
 you willing to go anywhere the Lord may call?' This 
 is the question I am called to decide. "When I look 
 upon other parts of the world, whose necessities are 
 far greater, and whose call for laborers is louder than 
 from the Sandwich Islands, I feel there is a weighty 
 reason here why my life should be engaged in labor 
 elsewhere. I know that they still need more laborers 
 there; but where is the part of the world where there 
 is not some destitution? and it \s,fa7\far greater in 
 China, in India, in Africa." 
 
 After mentioning two or three minor reasons for 
 turning his thoughts to the more destitute portions 
 of the earth, he writes : " It is the desire of my heart 
 to serve my Saviour in the best way I can. The 
 Lord has put these desires in my breast. He has 
 awakened my mind to this subject, and directed my 
 attention specially to it. He has led me to count no 
 sacrifice, no trial, no labor too great. May not these 
 awakenings be the direction of the Lord, pointing me 
 to some place of more trial, and where more sacrifice 
 is demanded, and more labor requii-ed? In these 
 days, when so few are ready to devote themselves to 
 
94 THE MISSION OEMETERT. 
 
 the service of Christ in the more diflScult and trying 
 situations, may not that readiness which the Lord has 
 given me be the token of his will? My mind is now 
 inclined to China more than to any other field. It is 
 one wliere laborers are most needed ; the language I 
 think I could learn with less difficulty than many 
 experience ; the climate, I believe, would agree with 
 my health better than a warmer one ; the field for 
 doing good seems greater there than elsewhere, and 
 if more trials are to be endured there I rejoice in 
 them." 
 
 Such were the reasonings, and such the spirit 
 which determined the course to be pursued by this 
 young missionary. He oflPered himself to the Amer- 
 ican Board as a missionary, to be sent to whatever 
 field presented the most urgent claim for laborers. 
 In the spring of 184Y he received license to preach, 
 and during that summer visited his relatives and 
 friends in the United States. He soon received 
 notice from the Prudential Committee that he had 
 been selected for their new mission at Fuh Chau, 
 China. The appointment was accepted, and he again 
 wrote to his parents. As will be seen by his letter, 
 no answer to previous communications on this subject 
 had yet been received from his parents. In May, 
 ISlY, he writes : 
 
 "It has been a great trial to me to act on so 
 important a subject, and one so much afiecting you, 
 without any certain krio-vvledge as to what voi^r views 
 
BET. WILLIAM L. BICHAEDS. 95 
 
 and feelings are. Yet the more I reflect on the sub- 
 ject and the decision made, the more I feel con- 
 vinced you will approve the course I have taken, 
 and the decision the committee has made. I feel 
 that there is much of a trial involved in this change 
 of plans, even more than I at first conceived. Some- 
 times I am almost ready to shrink, so great do the 
 difficulties and trials appear. I have no hesitation 
 in my conviction of duty, nor do I feel any regret 
 that tliis is my appointed field of labor ; yet I trem- 
 ble in view of the difficulties, and feel that God alone 
 can sustain me. I believe that I can fully trust in 
 JiiTn. so long as I make his service the object of my 
 existence. You will be ready to ask, ' Shall we not 
 see you again ?' I cannot but hope that some way 
 will be provided by which I may see you once more. 
 Some of my friends have suggested stopping at the 
 islands on my way to China. I see no other way. I 
 trust this will be brought about. I give myself little 
 anxiety on the subject, but wait the openings of 
 Providence. It would be a great, a very great trial 
 to me, if I could not enjoy this hope. Much more 
 would it be for you, my dear parents. Perhaps this 
 change in my destination will be too much of a trial 
 for you ; but I trust you will be enabled to bear it, 
 and even to rejoice in it." 
 
 This last hope of the young /missionary, that he 
 might be permitted again to see his parents, and go 
 forth from their last embrace upon his life-work, was 
 
96 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 not to be realized. A previous voyage to the Sand- 
 vrich Islands was impossible ; and Mr. Richards, who 
 had not seen his beloved mother since he was thirteen 
 years old, must endure this severest trial of all. He 
 did endure it without a misgiving, and went forth 
 leaning, not on the arm of a father or mother, but 
 upon the strong arm of God. We cannot but pause 
 in admiration before this exhibition of moral hero- 
 ism. Tliere is something truly sublime in the devo- 
 tion of this young man ; something that speaks of the 
 Divine in this resistless purpose, this holy consecra- 
 tion, this love for Christ and his cause, transcending 
 every earthly love ! 
 
 His father did not live to read his numerous letters 
 on this subject. He saw the first only, and seemed 
 disappointed at this decision of his son ; but before 
 the others came, announcing that the step had actual- 
 ly been taken, he had finished his course and gone to 
 his reward. 
 
 The time of his embarkation was near at hand. A 
 few weeks were spent in visiting and parting with 
 his friends. In October he was ordered to be in 
 readiness to sail by the first opportunity. His ordi- 
 nation took place on the lith of that month, at Mr. 
 Spear's church, in Brooklyn, Eev. Dr. Cox preaching 
 the sermon. Two or three days previous to his de- 
 parture, his brothers and sisters, then in the United 
 States, met at Brooklyn to bid him farewell. His 
 last conversations with some of them will never be 
 
REV. WILLIAM L. EICHABDS. 97 
 
 forgotten. He seemed to be impressed with the 
 conviction that thej'' should never meet again. He 
 left Brooklyn on the 4th of November and pro- 
 ceeded to Philadelphia, where he received his in- 
 structions, and from whence he sailed on the 11th of 
 JSTovember, 1847, in the ship Valparaiso, in company 
 with Eev. S. Cummings and wife and the family of 
 the writer. 
 
 We have before us the breathings of his 
 last farewell, coming from on board the Yalpa- 
 raiso : 
 
 "I have prayed much for the guidance of God, 
 and trust that mj prayers will be answered, though 
 it is in free grace alone I trust. God is a righteous 
 God, and will take some way to reward those who 
 fear Iiim and who put their trust in him ; nor will 
 he suffer those who, with proper anxiety and care, 
 are exercising wisdom, to be no better off than those 
 who care little or nothing for themselves. The 
 longer I live I see the necessity of hohness and 
 wisdom ; and blessed be God for his discipline, which 
 elevates our character and conforms us to his own 
 glorious character. The longer I live the more I 
 see that trust in God and faith in Christ imply the 
 exercise of wisdom and a holy walk. Holy, holy, 
 holy is the Lord, and righteous are all his judgments. 
 But now farewell. God is my fortress and my 
 refuge, as I embark on the deep. He will be with 
 me and guide my steps. Farewell, my dear parents ; 
 
98 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 farewell, my dear sisters, in bonds which can never 
 be broken." 
 
 The voyage, though long, was very pleasant. 
 Captain Lockwood kindly furnished every facility 
 not only for our personal comfort, but for unre- 
 stricted religious intercourse with the seamen when 
 off duty, and for preaching on deck on the Sabbath. 
 Mr. Eichards engaged with much interest in frequent 
 consultations with others respecting the spiritual wel- 
 fare of the seamen, and plans for preaching, conversa- 
 tion, and tract distribution. One of his discourses 
 has left an indelible impression on my mind. It was 
 founded on the parable of the prodigal son; and 
 perhaps it is not too much to hope that he has 
 already met, or will yet meet, in the mansions of 
 glory, some poor souls saved through the instru- 
 mentality of his preaching and prayers. He began 
 his work as a missionary on board that vessel ; and 
 in view of the exceeding brevity of his career on 
 heathen ground, how sweet the thought that, through 
 God's grace, he may have received some of his own 
 countrymen as seals of his ministry. The good man's 
 tears, and prayers, and efforts for Christ are Tiever 
 lost. 
 
 Among the recollections of the voyage is one that 
 I cannot omit. We frequently met, three names 
 only, in this dear brother's state-room for reading, 
 conference, and prayer. They were, indeed, most 
 precious seasons, when heart answered heart, and 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. EICHAKDS. 99 
 
 our souls burned within its while Jesus revealed him- 
 self and conversed with us. And thus was cemented 
 between us a tender and sympathizing friendship, 
 which knew no diminution, and which death even 
 has failed to sever. Two have been "taken" to 
 glory, and one "left;" but the sacred bond remains, 
 and its attractive power will be felt till the blessed 
 reunion occurs. 
 
 Arriving at his field of labor May Y, 1848, Mr. 
 Richards commenced at once the study of the lan- 
 guage, and pursued it with untiring assiduity. One 
 has remarked : " His heart was in his work, and he 
 labored, perhaps, beyond his strength." Another 
 says : " He undoubtedly confined himself too assid- 
 uously to the study of the langaage." To this I may 
 add, that he was a person of remarkable prudence 
 and judgment; and had he been fully aware of the 
 fatal tendencies of his physical constitution, he would 
 doubtless have spared himself for the sake of the 
 cause he loved so dearly. Among his earliest efforts 
 was that of securing a place for the public proclama- 
 tion of the Gospel to the heathen. At that time the 
 suspicions and prejudices of the government and 
 people touching the movements of missionaries were 
 greater than they now are, so that the fears and 
 hopes of our brother were long in suspense. But at 
 length he succeeded in renting a deep, narrow room, 
 at an advanced post toward the city proper. In this 
 humble place, repaired at trifling expense to suit his 
 
100 THE MISSION CEMETEKY. 
 
 pui-pose, he continued to proclaim the precious Gos- 
 pel till his brief career was interrupted by alarming 
 illness. 
 
 In September, 1850, about three years after his 
 departure from the United States, he was attacked 
 with hemorrhage of the lungs. At first the symptoms 
 were so slight that he judged his ailment to be only 
 in the throat. His friends, while sympathizing with 
 him in his hopes, were much alarmed, and strove to 
 fortify their minds against the depressing efi'ects of a 
 loss which seemed at once so imminent and so great. 
 The real nature of his disease soon became apparent, 
 and his physician recommended a sea voyage as the 
 only probable means of prolonging his life. 
 
 He embarked for Canton ISTovember 12, 1850, 
 amid the tears and prayers of his afflicted brethren 
 and sisters in Fuh Chau. On his way he spent some 
 time at Amoy and Hong Kong, and reached Canton 
 January 3, 1851. He was strongly advised by phy- 
 sicians to take a long sea voyage. He embarked for 
 the United States on the ship " Sea," Captain Spring, 
 in company with the Rev. George Loomis, formerly 
 seamen's chaplain at Canton, and finally bade fare- 
 well to the shores of China March 5th. Just three 
 months from this date, far from his missionary friends 
 and his dear relatives, his spirit took its flight from 
 the bosom of the deep to the throne of God. 
 
 The last words of a friend are precious ; the views 
 of a Christian in prospect of death are deeply in- 
 
EEV. "WILLIAM L. EICHAEDS. 101 
 
 etrnctive ; but there is something pecuharly touch- 
 ing and soul-subduing in the language of a young 
 Christian, when his earthly hopes are suddenly ent 
 off and he girds himself for his last conflict. Let us 
 sit for a few moments at the feet of this young Chris- 
 tian missionary as he gradually approaches the verge 
 of life. Let us hear what he says of himself, of 
 others, of death, of God and Christ. 
 
 The following are brief extracts from his letters to 
 his missionary brethren and sisters at Fuh Chau : 
 
 " Amoy, Ncmemher 19, 1850.' — ^As to health during 
 my stay on the lorcha, my lungs seemed to be much 
 strengthened ; my cough was only in occasional 
 turns, as it was frequently at Fuh Chau. I think I 
 have coughed rather more since coming on shore. 
 I have been speaking of myself all this time ; but my 
 thoughts turn constantly to you. I feel anxious to 
 hear from or of you. You and yours have my con- 
 stant and most sincere prayers." 
 
 " Amoy, Wovemher 23, 1850. — I need not say I 
 have been waiting anxiously to hear from you. 
 Yesterday morning my anxiety was increased by 
 learning for the first time of the murder of our be- 
 loved Brother Fast. "We felt glad to hear that it 
 did not occur in his own house, or in his walks 
 among the people. Yet even as it did occur, it pre- 
 sents a dark, fearful view of the character of those 
 among whom you live, and shows the insecurity of 
 our lives, except when the passions of wicked men 
 
102 THE MISSION CEilETERY. 
 
 are restrained of God. That week of which you 
 speak was indeed a trying week to you, one whose 
 scenes must deeply aifect your feelings. For Brother 
 Fast we cannot mourn ; but for his fellow-laborers, 
 for the missionary cause among you, for those who 
 sent him forth with many hopes. These are afflicted, 
 but not by One who loves to afflict. The Author we 
 know, we trust in, and sorrow not as those who have 
 no hope. My sympathies are with you in all that 
 passes among you. I have rejoiced where you have 
 had occasion to rejoice, and am afflicted with you in 
 other events of God's providence." 
 
 " Hong Kong, December 16, 1850. — Mt Dear Sis- 
 tee , I trust that by the good providence of God 
 
 you are now restored to your usual health, so that 
 I may think of you not as on that long-to-be-re- 
 membered morning of parting, but as you once 
 moved around in the family circle. I need not say my 
 thoughts have often turned to yon, nor that you have 
 been constantly remembered at the throne of grace, 
 that 'mercy-seat' where 'friends, though sundered 
 far,' by ' faith may meet.' Since I have learned how 
 near God has come to you, how he has touched the 
 tender feelings of a parent's heart, I have felt more 
 than ever your need of heavenly sources of consola- 
 - tion. Shall I ask, ' Is it well with thee V O how 
 hard sometimes to answer ! But the darkest afflic- 
 tions are the best to work grace in us. Have you 
 not found such good from affliction as to be able 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. EICHAEDS. 103 
 
 from a warm heart to tliank God for it ? Who that 
 has experienced its benefits would be without it? 
 J5ut what force is yet in those words of the apostle : 
 'No chastening for the present seemeth joyous, but 
 grievous !' You will inquire after my health. I 
 think I am safe in saying that I have, since leaving 
 Fuh Chau, improved greatly in all respects, excepting 
 my cough. I cannot judge whether this is better or 
 worse ; it is not as troublesome as often at Fuh Chau, 
 but is more settled and uniform." 
 
 " Hong Kong, December 20, 1850. — How much you 
 need to have strong hold on heavenly sources of con- 
 solation; how much the meek submissive spirit that 
 will say ' Even so. Father, for so it seemed good in 
 thy sight.' I know something how dark and sudden 
 afflictions can overwhelm the soul ; I trust you know 
 far less and have had far more grace to meet them. 
 From having felt my own need, from ' having known 
 the darkness which the suggestions of Satan and a 
 sinful heart can bring into the soul, I judge of others. 
 Though I dare not impute to them the same weak- 
 ness with myself, I always feel that none but God 
 may know the afflictions of the afflicted, and I pray 
 for them as needing far moi'e than human eye can 
 see. Be assured always of my kindest remembrance 
 of you and yours." 
 
 " Canton, January 15, 1851. — I regret on yov/raa- 
 count to say [the underscoring is my own, to mark a 
 beautiful feature in his feelings toward us at Fuh 
 
104 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Chau. — 0. 0. B.] that my health has been much 
 poorer since I last wrote. On the 28th of last month 
 I had a return of the hemorrhage from the lungs. It 
 occurred during the night, and without any immedi- 
 ately exciting cause. Since then my lungs have 
 been more readily affected by change of air, by cold, 
 etc. ; my cough and expectoration increased, and mj-- 
 strength somewhat reduced. The trip up here (from 
 H. K.) was quite severe upon me, but since my 
 arrival I have improved considerably. I am not, 
 however, as well as before the relapse. I still 
 find pleasure in resting in the hands of a heavenly 
 Father myself and all these matters. My hopes 
 in Him have been the same through all the 
 changes which have passed upon me since I was 
 with you." 
 
 " Ship ' Sea^ near Hong Kong, March 5, 1851. — 
 The captain of the vessel having changed his plans 
 since I closed a letter to , I have a few mo- 
 ments more for writing. We left Whampoa (below 
 Canton) to go down to Hong Kong for a crew, be- 
 fore setting sail for the United States. Information 
 just comes that they are now on the way to the ves- 
 sel, so in an hour or two we shall probably be able 
 to say ' Bound for New-York.' You will hear from 
 
 my letter to of my favorable prospects. Truly 
 
 God has prospered me. You all have my constant 
 kind remembrance. I hope that' I may yet be per- 
 mitted to meet you. But now I enter upon my long 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. EICHAEDS. 105 
 
 departure from these shores, so farewell, dear brother 
 and sistei'. Affectionately yours. 
 
 "W. L. ElCHAEDS." 
 
 Tlie following unfinished letter I copy entire. It 
 was probably interrupted by extreme weakness, and 
 seems to contain the last words which he penned with 
 his own hand to one of his Fuh Chau friends. 
 
 '■'■Ship 'Sea,^ April 17, 1851. — My Deae Sister , 
 
 I am mindful of my promise to write you, though 
 I was not able to send letters ashore at Angier. 
 Neither did my health permit me to write, nor did 
 any suitable opportunity for sending ashore occur 
 when we passed the place. I bade adieu to Fuh 
 Chau brethren and sisters while near the harbor of 
 Hong Kong, on the moi'ning of March 5th. It was 
 not till evening that we had sufiicient wind to bear us 
 on our course. For a few days we had a fine strong 
 breeze, then ensued a long tedious spell of calms, 
 light winds, and hot weather. I lost strength under 
 this very rapidly, and became weaker than when I left 
 Fuh Chau. Then when we came into cooler latitudes, 
 with the south-east trades blowing fresh, my lungs 
 were not able to bear the change. I suffered then so 
 much from oppressionin breathing, diflciculty of raising 
 phlegm from the lungs, pains in the chest, and various 
 symptoms of extreme weakness, that it seemed as if 
 my course on earth might soon be closed. However, 
 by the mercy of God, I have had some improvement 
 
106 THE MISSION OEMETEEY. 
 
 of health, since for five or six days past I have im- 
 proved slightly each day. I am able to walk very 
 little, nor can I go out much on deck on account of 
 the vpind ; but I am able to sit up most of the day, 
 read considerably, and to day feel mental vigor 
 enough to attempt writing. Our progress has been 
 very slow. We have experienced so much of calms, 
 light winds, or variable or contrary winds, as much 
 to protract the length of the passage. From the 
 difficulty a sick man experiences in finding modes to 
 spend time, you may well judge that time passes 
 away somewhat heavily; but in all my pains and 
 trials I endeavor to remember the hand that inflicts, 
 and forbear murmuring thought." 
 
 On the same sheet Mr. Loomis wrote as follows : 
 "At sea, June 3d. East longitude 1", south latitude 
 18°. (I write at the dictation of Brother Richards. 
 George Loomis.") 
 
 " Our progress has been long and tedious since 1 
 took up my pen. My disease has increased with 
 considerable rapidity. I am now confined to my bed, 
 unable scarcely to eat anything. I have become so 
 weak that I am not able to write you now. I deem 
 myself near my fast-approaching end, and ere I de- 
 part I would send my kind remembrances to you all 
 at Fuh Chau. I feel that I can trust all to the will 
 of God, although it is a trial no more to see you with 
 whom I have labored so pleasantly ; and it is a very 
 great trial to give up the hope of seeing any more my 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. RICHARDS. lOY 
 
 dear, dear mother. Yet the approach of death is to 
 me a matter of rejoicing. I know that God has all 
 power to raise me up, and he may spare me a while 
 longer ; but under my present circumstances I must 
 bid you all a long kind farewell, wishing that you 
 may have the support of the Holy Spirit in your 
 labors of love. My last words to all the friends at 
 Fuh Chau." 
 
 Mr. Loomis then adds : " Before inclosing the ' last 
 words ' of our dear Brother Richards, I write a few 
 lines at his request. He has been constantly failing 
 since he left Hong Kong, and in all human probabil- 
 ity will not live to reach his native land. He is so 
 weak that he cannot raise himself up in his bed. His 
 appetite is gone. He has given up all hope of re- 
 covery. His trust is in God. He told me on Sun- 
 day (June 1st) that he would like to live to see his 
 mother once more, for her sake more than his own ; 
 that he should rejoice when the hour of his release 
 should come. "We had an unusually long and stormy 
 passage around the Cape. During this time he seemed 
 to fail very fast. The weather now is most delight- 
 ful and the sea very smooth. Still he fails. Tel it is 
 a matter of great joy that he seems so resigned to the 
 will of God, that he reposes with so much confidence 
 in the Saviour, and entertains so strong a hope of a 
 blissful immortality. Having been associated so long 
 and intimately with Brother Eichards, I can fully 
 sympathize with you in your loss, and can only com- 
 
108 THE IVOBSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 mend you to God and the grace of our Lord Jesua 
 
 Christ, praying that in God's good time we all may 
 
 meet our brother in our Father's house above. I am 
 
 your sympathizing brother, 
 
 "Geoege Loomis." 
 
 On the day subsequent to the date of the above, 
 June 4th, he dictated his last words to his mother and 
 other near relatives. I must not invade the sacred 
 sanctuary of home, the blessed retreat of domestic 
 love, by copying those words. Neither is this nec- 
 essary. It is easy to imagine what sentiments of 
 aifection would rise spontaneously from such a heart 
 as that of our sainted brother. As a son, as a brother, 
 he deeply loved the mother, brothers, and sisters who 
 were left to mourn his early death. His "last words " 
 breathe love and sympathy for them all, an irrepress- 
 ible anxiety for their spiritual welfare, and a hope 
 of meeting them above. " To all I must say farewell. 
 There is hope that we may meet in the morning of the 
 resurrection and enjoy together a blissful eternity." 
 
 In a letter written on the day following, Mr. Loo- 
 mis describes the closing scenes in the life of this dear 
 missionary : 
 
 "At Sea, south latitude 16° 22', west lougitude 4° 24') 
 Near St. Helena, June 5, 1851. ) 
 
 " To THE Bebtheen AT FuH Chau. — I feel it to be 
 
 my duty, though a painful one, to announce to you 
 
 that this afternoon we committed the remains of our 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. BIOHAEDS. 109 
 
 dear Brother Eicliards to the deep, there to rest till 
 the sea shall give up its dead. This morning about 
 ten o'clock he breathed his last. A solemn sadness 
 pervades our ship. I mourn a brother in Christ de- 
 parted. The tears will flow, yet I do not call in 
 question God's goodness even in this afflictive dispen- 
 sation. The 'Lord gave and the Lord hath taken 
 away ; blessed be the name of the Lord. The scenes 
 of the past few days, I trust, will make me wiser and 
 more holy. Brother Richards embarked with strong 
 hopes of reaching his mother's native land. For 
 several days he was quite strong, appetite good, and 
 he took his turn in conducting our evening worship. 
 " While in the China sea he asked to be excused 
 from conducting service. The evening air seemed to 
 affect his lungs. His weakness increased although 
 his appetite was good. "We made the coast of Africa 
 May 1st. For nearly four weeks we had alternate 
 gales and calms, and a most rough and uncomfort- 
 able sea. During this time he failed very fast. 
 Still he was able to dress himself and walk about the 
 cabin. May 26th he remarked to me that his body 
 could not hold out much longer. From this time it 
 was necessary to lift him from his berth to the sofa 
 in the cabin, as long as he had strength to endure 
 being moved. His appetite failed. He was exceed- 
 ingly emaciated. I felt that he had not many days to 
 live. Sunday morning, June 1st, I talked with him 
 about dying and preparation for the same. He 
 
110 THE MISSION OEMETEET. 
 
 talked about death as a subject that was familiar to 
 his own mind. He said if he had deferred prepara- 
 tion till that time, he should be in a poor condition to 
 prepare to die. His trust was in God. He said that he 
 had hoped to live to get home on his mother's account. 
 On Tuesday he gave me instructions in relation to 
 some books which he wished sent to Fuh Chau, and 
 also dictated his last message to his Fuh Chau friends. 
 They had a large place in his affections, and he used 
 to talk to me about them with apparent delight. He 
 gave directions about some of his personal effects. 
 He said that he had then done all, except writing to 
 his mother, brothers, and sisters. Wednesday he was 
 exceedingly weak. It was with some difficulty that 
 I could induce him to dictate his last words to his 
 mother. ' O ! I am so weak.' Yet he sent his dying 
 message to his mother, brothers, and sisters. To me 
 it was a most sad duty to pen those last words, so full 
 of affectionate regard. Eighteen hours afterward he 
 slept in death. This morning his weakness had so in- 
 creased that he could not throw the matter from his 
 lungs. For some time he was in great pain. I saw 
 his end was near. I asked him if amid his pains he 
 trusted in Christ, if his Saviour was precious to him. 
 ' Tes, precious,' said he. Shortly after he asked me 
 to turn him over on his back. He folded his hands 
 together on his breast, and about ten o'clock his spirit 
 took its flight to the spirit land. At five o'clock this 
 afternoon he was buried in the vast sea. 
 
EEV. WILLIAM L. KICHARDS. Ill 
 
 " We mourn, but not as those without hope. 
 
 " ' How pleasant to think of the absent we love, 
 If we miss them below we shall meet them above.' " 
 
 " God grant that this afflictive dispensation may be 
 sanctified to our spiritual and eternal good. 
 
 " Tours in Christ, George Loomis." 
 
 Thus died, in his twenty-eighth year, this devoted 
 servant of Christ. The mission, speaking in a public 
 letter of the cause of his death, very carefully and 
 anxiously guard against the supposition that it was at 
 all due to climatic influence. They say: "We all 
 fully agree with Dr. Welton (his physician at Fuh 
 Chau) in the opinion that Mr. Eichards's illness is not 
 attributable to the influence of this climate." The 
 high opinion of his worth entertained by this mission 
 is well expressed in a series of resolutions passed by 
 them on the receipt of the mournful tidings of his de- 
 cease. They were drafted by the lamented Cum- 
 mings, and are as follows : 
 
 " Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to remove 
 from time to eternity the Eev. William L. Eichards, 
 who died at sea of consumption June 5, 1851, while 
 on a passage to America, therefore, 
 
 ^^JResol/ved, That by this deeply afflictive event this 
 mission has been bereaved of an efficient member 
 and a highly esteemed Christian brother. 
 
112 THE MISSIOK CEMETERY. 
 
 '■'■Resolved, That while we mourn the loss which we 
 and the cause of Christ in this place have sustained 
 in the early removal of a devoted and promising mis- 
 sionary, it yet becomes us to bow submissively to 
 Him by whose righteous will all events are wisely 
 ordered, and to acknowledge with gratitude his great 
 goodness in the rich effusions of his Spirit vouchsafed 
 to the deceased, by which he was enabled to main- 
 tain a singularly mature and consistent piety during 
 his residence among this people, and to leave abundant 
 evidence that, though he now rests from his labors 
 his works do follow him. 
 
 " Resolved, That our warmest sympathies are hereby 
 tendered to the bereaved mother, the brothers, and 
 sisters, and other relatives of the deceased, in view of 
 the great affliction which God by a mysterious provi- 
 dence has brought upon them, and in our prayers we 
 earnestly commend them to Him who in the hour of 
 deepest sorrow can bestow beauty for ashes, the oil 
 of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the 
 spirit of heaviness. 
 
 It requires no affectation of humility to say that I 
 cannot do full justice to the mind and character of 
 this eminent servant of Christ. 
 
 He possessed mental powers of a high order, and 
 these powers had reached a point of singular maturity. 
 They were God's bequest, and their maturity, in great 
 measure, was the product of his providence. Mr, 
 Richards in his early youth was obliged to grapple 
 
REV. WILLIAM L. EICHAEDS. 113 
 
 ■with difficulties, and settle points of duty in the prose- 
 cution of his aims, so that at the age of twenty-four, 
 when he commenced his missionary career, he pos- 
 sessed the mental growth of many much more ad- 
 vanced in life. 
 
 His early discipline, too, had imparted to his mind 
 elements of vigor, strength, and manly independence, 
 which admirably fitted him for the work of an evan- 
 gelist in .a new field. His energy and perseverance 
 seemed adequate to the attainment of any object 
 within the scope of possibility. His whole bearing 
 seemed plainly to say, not " It cannot be done," but 
 " I will try to do it." 
 
 To choose suitable objects on which to exert his 
 energies he possessed discrimination. He thoroughly 
 examined and sifted his plan ; his mind penetrated to 
 the very bottom of his proposition, and then his j udg- 
 ment, trained in many a trial, decided the case. 
 
 He possessed prudence and circumspection far be- 
 yond his years. These seemed at times almost intui- 
 tive in their exercise, but were, in fact, the natural 
 products of unremitted self-discipline, and close ob- 
 servation of men and things. 
 
 An intellect thus furnished and trained for the con- 
 flict of life, gave promise of speedy success in the ac- 
 quisition of this difficult language. His " progress 
 was indeed flattering." He soon mastered first the 
 rudiments, then the construction of the spoken lan- 
 guage, and was rapidly acquiring familiarity in its 
 
114 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 use, when God saw fit to lay him aside from his 
 work. 
 
 The piety of our brother may be described by 
 many of the same terms which have been applied to 
 his mental powers. It was mature, strong, vigorous, 
 active, and determined. He threw his whole soul 
 into it. Still he never assumed its features as true, 
 nor placed a favorable construction on his experiences 
 without due evidence from God's word. He anx- 
 iously scanned his motives, and deeply pondered his 
 thoughts, feelings, and emotions. His standard of 
 piety was not reached nor maintained without many 
 a severe struggle. Sometimes his thoughts over- 
 whelmed him, and his feelings refused him utterance 
 in the very act of prayer. 
 
 At times he seemed to long with unutterable de- 
 sire for convincing manifestations of the love of God 
 to his soul. He " thirsted'''' for God. The third chap- 
 ter of Lamentations was with him a favorite portion 
 of the Scriptures. He used to speak particularly of 
 the twenty-seventh verse: "It is good for a man 
 that he bear the yoke in his youth ;" and this proba- 
 bly well expressed his sense of the importance of that 
 spiritual discipline which he had experienced. Still 
 his struggles were not of a nature to unfit him for a 
 cheerful prosecution of his work. They gave his 
 piety force rather than weakness, and liojpe rather 
 than despondency. He wished to possess a sense of 
 acceptance with God, the full pardon of sin, complete 
 
EEV. "WILLIAM L. EICHAEDS. 115 
 
 Balvation through Christ's righteousness alone, and 
 the submission of his whole nature to the will of his 
 heavenly Father. 
 
 He loved Christ and his cause, and the souls of the 
 heathen. His solemn purpose and aim were to devote 
 to these his whole being. He seemed to keep nothing 
 back, but to lay all on the Saviour's altar. 
 
 He loved his kindred and his brethren in Christ 
 with a deep and generous affection. It was for their 
 sakes that he wished to reach America and recover 
 from sickness. In this respect he appeared to think 
 more about others than himself. Some expressions in 
 the letters above quoted show this, and present his 
 character in a light most sweet and amiable. 
 
 He always loved to commune with Christian friends 
 on matters of religious experience, a trait of charac- 
 ter as rare as it is important and desirable. I well 
 remember such seasons as the sweetest feasts of soul 
 that can be enjoyed this side of heaven, except com- 
 munion with God himself. 
 
 In his closing hours two traits of his character 
 shone most conspicuously — resignation to God's will 
 and trust in the Saviour's love. These sweetly 
 blended, and rested in a crown of glory on the head 
 of the dying Christian. And as the life-tide ebbed 
 fast, the Saviour was near to sustain his soul. 
 
 " Is the Saviour still precious ?" 
 
 " Yes, precious." 
 
 With this dying testimony he calmly confronted 
 
116 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 the king of teiTors, and, in yielding to his stroke, van- 
 quished him. He folded his hands on his breast, and 
 without a struggle his spirit took its flight heavenward. 
 Dear reader, can you die as this Christian soldier ? 
 You certainly cannot Jinless you possess the like 
 precious humility, penitence, faith, and love. Are 
 you impenitent? I beseech you, delay no longer the 
 great work of salvation. Eefuse not to cast yourself 
 a helpless ' sinner at the feet of sovereign mercy. 
 Tread the world under your feet and struggle for an 
 immortal crown. Dear Chi-istian brother, sister, 
 whose eye has glanced over this little sketch, take 
 courage from the example set before you. You have 
 not to seek the Saviour for the first time, you have 
 already found him. He is your joy, your delight, 
 your song. Fear not. He will be your victory in 
 death. You may die in a wilderness, or in a strange 
 land, or in the midst of the broad ocean, when loved 
 friends are far away and cannot know your mor- 
 tal agony; but Jesus will be near to sustain you with 
 his everlasting arms, and you will die with " pre- 
 cious Saviour " as the last, the absorbing thought of 
 your soul. Perhaps the eye of a toil-worn missionary 
 will fall upon these pages, and it will brighten while 
 scanning the character depicted in them. After a 
 few more days, or at the most years, my fellow- 
 laborer, your work will be done, and then come rest 
 and glory. " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will 
 give thee a crown of life." 
 
REV. JUDSON DWIGHT COLLINS. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION, FUH CHAU. 
 
 By Rev. W. H. COLLINS, 
 
 OF THE MICHIGAN CONFKRENCB, 
 
KEV J D. COLLINS. 
 
Sl^ir, |. i. CcUius. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION", FUH OHATT. 
 
 JuDSON DwiGHT CoLLiNS, the STibject of this memoir, 
 was born in the town of Koss, Wayne County, New- 
 York, February 12, 1822. His ancestors, on the 
 side of both father and mother,' were among the 
 early emigrants to America : the former, English, 
 settling in Connecticut ; the latter, German, and set- 
 tling in New-Jersey. His parents, Alphens and 
 Betsey Collins, being members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and their house a home for the 
 itinerant ministers, he was favored with eai-ly re- 
 ligious instruction. It was probably impossible for 
 him at adult age to recollect his first' religious im- 
 pressions, or the time when his first prayer was 
 offered to God. Beared in the midst of an intelli- 
 gent and moral rural population, early disciplined to 
 habits of industry and economy, favored with the 
 advantages of family worship, faithful Sunday-school 
 instruction, and an evangelical ministry, his early 
 youth was passed free from those habits of irreligion 
 
 and vice which so often enervate the foundation of 
 
 8 
 
122 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 character and poison the very fountain of life, 
 dooming their victims to a life of outbreaking de- 
 pravity, or to perpetual instability and worthlessness 
 in religion. 
 
 At an early period he manifested a taste and apt- 
 ness for learning, which he commenced in the com- 
 mon school, under the tuition of Miss Abigail Buner, 
 a lady of rare merit, the influence of whose vigorous 
 intellect and positive piety, under God, contributed 
 in no small degree to give moral tone to his juvenile 
 years, and character and shape to his future life. 
 Of this early friend he retained a grateful remem- 
 brance as long as he lived. 
 
 In the spring of 1831 he emigrated with his 
 parents to Michigan, and settled in the town of 
 Pittsfield, Washtenaw County. The country was 
 new, and educational and religious privileges few, 
 but these were carefully improved. In summer he 
 labored with his father and brothers in improving a 
 new farm, and in winter attended the district school. 
 On the opening of an academy in Ann Arbor he 
 was permitted to attend it, though he was obliged to 
 walk the distance of three and a half miles morning 
 and evening. "When the first class was organized in 
 the Michigan University he was prepared for admis- 
 sion, and graduated in August, 1845. 
 
 Having made a profession of religion when about 
 fourteen years of age, and united himself with the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, his school boy and col- 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 123 
 
 lege life was characterized by a cheerful active 
 piety, equally removed from a cold barren asceti- 
 cism, on the one hand, and a parasitical sentimen- 
 tality obsequiously suiting itself to any society, and 
 to all occasions, on the other. His life was marked 
 by principle, his devotions by warmth, and his social 
 intercourse by courtesy. His young life having 
 commenced in a Christian atmosphere, it was de- 
 veloped ideally upon a Christian model ; all its 
 necessities, obligations, and purposes were seen in 
 its light. Not that his heart was exempt from the 
 moral obliquity common to our nature. Of this few 
 ever had clearer conceptions, and his private memo- 
 randa and journal attest that in respect to it he had 
 the most bitter experience ; but having taken in 
 with his first thoughts the idea of a Christian world 
 as the world he had to live in here, there was no 
 necessity for a great intellectual revolution to adapt 
 him to its responsibilities and labors, when, in con- 
 version, his heart was made right with God. 
 
 As he acquired ability, he was ready to employ it 
 in the service of his Master. The Sunday school 
 opened to him a field for which he was peculiarly 
 fitted, and in which his labors were varied, abundant, 
 and successful. The happiest hours of his life were 
 spent in this department of Christian enterprise. 
 He distributed Bibles to the destitute, administered 
 consolation to the unfortunate in the asylum for the 
 poor, visited the erring shut up in prison, and con- 
 
124 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 scientiously rebuked profane, and warned careless 
 sinners at large. 
 
 As a class-leader, steward, and local preacher, he 
 sought, in the spirit of his Master, to discharge the 
 varied duties imposed upon him by the Discipline of 
 the Church of his choice. He practically repudiated 
 the idea that responsibility to do all the good pos- 
 sible is assumed only at the termination of college 
 life and with the charge of a congregation ; that a 
 young man has a right to lead a heartless, rollicking 
 life, because he is at college. He was seeking 
 knowledge that he might do good, but seemed to feel 
 that a diligent use of what he already possessed was 
 the best pledge for the better use of more. He 
 therefore entered every open door of usefulness as 
 though determined, if his pilgrimage should close 
 while yet "under tutors and governors," he might 
 have some fruit of life's labor, however abruptly it 
 might terminate. In the Church and community 
 where he spent these years of study and performed 
 these labors of love, "his name is as ointment poured 
 forth." 
 
 It is proper to mention, also, that his circumstances 
 afforded him no special advantages for active Chris- 
 tian effort, as a considerable portion of his time was 
 taken from his studies in conducting a preparatory 
 school, and other efforts by which he, in part, sus- 
 tained himself pecuniarily at the university. Nor 
 can it be supposed, judging from his journal, that he 
 
REV. J. D. COLLINS, 125 
 
 possessed any unwonted natural proclivity to exer- 
 tion ; he wrote the most bitter things against himself 
 for indolence, which he struggled against with 
 solemn and oft-repeated vows, fastings, and prayer. 
 
 In September, 1846, he was employed as professor 
 of Natural and Moral Science in the "Wesleyan Serai- 
 nary at Albion, where he rendered the highest satis- 
 faction to patrons and pupils. 
 
 At an early period of his religious experience his 
 mind seems to have been directed to the missionary 
 work as his peculiar province ; and before any public 
 movement had been made in the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church in relation to a mission in China, he 
 had settled upon that as the field of his future toil. 
 By what instrumentality his mind was turned in this 
 direction, is not now definitely known ; but when it 
 settled there it never wandered till the day of his death. 
 He regarded himself as divinely called to that work, 
 and every enterprise in which he engaged was made 
 tributary thereto. "With avidity he seized upon 
 every means of information respecting that land. 
 "He searched through every library," said a class- 
 mate, "in the university and village to find ancient 
 and modern works on China." As lie gazed upon 
 the great map of this vast empire, threaded in every 
 direction by mighty rivers and endless canals, tlie 
 great highways of her immense inland commerce, 
 its thousands of cities and villages, thickly dotting 
 every part of its broad surface, an4 tecrning wit!]. 
 
126 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 hundreds of millions of civilized pagans, all possess- 
 ing one language, and united under one government, 
 wliose antiquity reached far into the myths beyond 
 the age of authentic history, and claiming to embody 
 the elements of an immortal future, his eye would 
 kindle v?ith religious enthusiasm, and his heart throb 
 with loyal ambition to share in its conquest to 
 Christ. 
 
 To enter this field, with him was only a question 
 of time. He proposed to ofi^er himself to the Church; 
 if the Church would send him he would gladly go 
 under her auspices, for every feeling of his heart 
 was loyal to her interest and honor; but if the 
 Church was pre-occupied with other fields, so as to 
 aiford him no protection or patronage, he proposed to 
 go alone. However chimerical this might appear to 
 others, it was the plain path of rational Christian 
 duty to him. It was not in the spirit of a wild adven- 
 turer he determined to go, but as a Christian. His 
 resolution was the legitimate offspring of an intelligent 
 and sublime faith in both the precept and promise of 
 the great commission, "Go ye into all the world," 
 and " Lo I am with you alway." He said he could 
 work his way to China before the mast, if no other 
 way should offer. And why not? he reasoned: men 
 woi'k before the mast for money and for fame, and 
 why not for the salvation of the world? He main- 
 tained he could support himself as a clerk or agent 
 while acquiring the language. He had observed that 
 
BEV. J. D. COLLESrS 127 
 
 foreigners in our country, mingling exclusively with 
 the people for the purpose of business or trade, 
 acquired ourlanguage in a comparatively short period. 
 Why might not the same thing be done in China ? 
 True, this might be a slow process, and be attended 
 with discouragements ; but it would be a beginning ; 
 it would attract attention ; it would invite others to 
 the same field. He had too much knowledge of 
 human nature to suppose China could be converted 
 in a day or a lifetime ; yet he hoped that his life, if 
 patiently and laboriously consecrated to the conver- 
 sion of China, would make a beginning, and he fondly 
 hoped tlie beginning of a glorious end. The following 
 letter from Bishop Janes shows the position of the M. 
 E. Chi;rcli in relation to a mission in China at this 
 time. 
 
 Eastost, Mabtland, Bee, 1845. 
 To Kev. W. H. Collins. 
 
 Eev. and Dear Brother, — -When at your conference 
 last fall, I received a letter from your brother, re- 
 questing me to make inquiries and give him informa- 
 tion respecting the establishment of a mission in 
 China by the M. E. Church. I could not satisfy my- 
 self earlier what would probably be done by the 
 Church in this matter, and I consequently have post- 
 poned writing to your brother. I have now no cer- 
 tain information on the subject, but feel I ought to 
 write to him. I am now from home, and have not 
 your brother's letter with me, and have forgotten his 
 
128 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 Christian name. I write to you, presuming you will 
 take pleasure in communicating it to him. I think 
 there is a strong prohahility that our Cl^urch will 
 establish a mission in China next year, i I would 
 advise your brother to hold himself in readiness in 
 case the Board should so determine and cal for him. 
 I did not think it best for him to work his passage 
 to China, as he proposed. The time may come when 
 I should advise this, but I think it is not yet. We 
 shall know pretty definitely what the Church will do 
 in May next. I hope he will lose none of his interest 
 in tlie mission by the delay to establish it. 
 Yours fraternally, 
 
 Edmund S. Janes. 
 
 In his journal, under date of June 22d, 1856, i,? the 
 following : " Read in the Missionary Advocate that 
 it had been determined to send two missionaries to 
 China. I have long desired and expected to go to 
 that field of labor. My name is before the mission 
 committee and the public, yet I do not know whether 
 I shall be sent. I feel to leave all in the hands of 
 God. If there are others who would better serve 
 the Church of Christ in that region I pray that they 
 may bo sent. Yet I long to be on that soil, learning 
 their language, and preaching to them the unsearcha- 
 ble riches of the Gospel of Christ. In the mean time 
 I pray for more grace rightly to discharge my duties 
 here," 
 
REV. J. D. COLLINS. 129 
 
 It had become so evident to lam that he would be 
 called to this work, that he resigned his place in the 
 seminary at the close of the year, and devoted him- 
 self to the work of the ministry. In September, 1846, 
 he was admitted on trial in the Michigan Annual 
 Conference, and appointed junior preacher on Tomp- 
 kins circuit, with the understanding that he might 
 be called to the mission work at any time during the 
 year. Tompkins was a large four weeks' circuit, 
 which he traveled on foot, filling all his appointments, 
 three on the Sabbath and others on week-days, and 
 visiting from house to house with great zeal and faith- 
 fulness. The reason he assigned for adopting this 
 primitive and apostolic mode of conveyance was that 
 he might test his powers of endurance, and inure 
 himself to the hardships to which he would be subject 
 in a missionary life. 
 
 " I well remember," says Dr. Hinman, in an ad- 
 dress on his life and character, " the peculiar emotions 
 I experienced, and the feelings of admiration I had for 
 the Ohrist-like devotion of our brother, when, soon 
 after my arrival in the state, I heard from his own 
 lips a modest narrative of his life. He was then on 
 liis circuit rejoicing in the midst of his labors, travel- 
 ing on foot, preaching on Sabbaths and week-days, 
 and visiting from house to house, to gather up the 
 scattered sheep in the wilderness. The college grad- 
 uate, the seminary professor, the minister of the 
 Gospel, without a permanent home, threading his way 
 
130 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 through uncultivated wilds on foot, solitary and alone, 
 with the love of souls burning in his heart, how I 
 admired him ! How I loved his devotion to the 
 cause of Chi-ist ! But there was another fire, lit with 
 a coal from the same altar, burning deeper in his 
 heart. It was the fire of missionary zeal. He was in 
 hourly expectation of a call from the Missionary 
 Board for China. I was with him when he heard of 
 the arrival of the letter in a distant village. It was 
 dark, and the village was distant. He could hardly 
 stay to take a piece of bread ere he was on his way 
 for his commission. Before the morning sunlight he 
 had it in his hand. He opened it, and sure enough 
 there was China ! The big tear stood in his eye. His 
 heart swelled with emotion, and on his knees he 
 thanked God he was a missionary to China. To the 
 antiquarian, the historian, the philosopher, or the 
 tradesman, there is something desirable and exciting 
 in this land ; but for him it was a vast continent of 
 souls of idolators perishing for lack of knowledge, an 
 inviting, yet a fearful field. 
 
 On the 3d day of March, 1847, he took leave of 
 his friends at home, made more solemn to him by 
 what was then supposed to be the mortal sickness of 
 his mother, and set out to find his new field of labor. 
 At Rochester, K Y., he met his colleague, Eev. M. 
 "White. In ISTew York he learned for the first time that 
 the mission was to be established at Fuh Chan. On 
 the 15th of April he sailed from Boston, reaching hia 
 
KEV. J. D. COLLINS. 131 
 
 destination on the 6th of September. He says: "We 
 reached the city of Fuh Chau about nine o'clock 
 P. M. in health and safety, having had a missionary 
 concert prayer-meeting on the way up the river, it 
 being the first Monday evening in the month." 
 
 A few days sufficed to secure a house, and make 
 the necessary arrangements for living, and he ad- 
 dressed himself to the Herculean task of learning the 
 language. He says, September 19 : " Made it my 
 principal business to-daj' to look for a teacher, but do 
 hot succeed in securing one before Friday, and so 
 conclude I will not commence regular study until 
 Monday. But I desire earnestly to become acquainted 
 with the language of this people, that I may tell them 
 of the Saviour. I have been permitted to feel deeply 
 their condition, and to cry out in spirit, " O Lord, 
 how long?" But his active mind could not be con- 
 fined to the study of the language exclusively within 
 doors. His habit from early life had been to use 
 knowledge as he acquired it, and to acquire more in 
 the use of what he possessed. He therefore at once 
 commenced an exploration of his parish, to make an 
 early acquaintance with the country, and the customs 
 and condition of the people. He was eager to have 
 some seeds of truth germinating in that soil, and so 
 commenced at once to scatter it in tracts and books. 
 His letter journal, exchanged monthly with his brother 
 at home during his stay in China, shows the cheerful 
 interest with which he prosecuted this work ; and as 
 
182 THE MISSION CEMETEKY. 
 
 it SO well illustrates missionary life in China, as well 
 as his tastes, habits, and labors, an occasional extract 
 will be instructive and interesting: 
 
 " S&ptemher 2Qth, Monday. — • To-day I commenced 
 the study of Chinese under a teacher. He is a young 
 looking man, and wears a cue. Around its base a 
 little circle of hair has been permitted to grow of late, 
 while the remaining portion of his head has been 
 shaved. This little frill is now about four inches long, 
 and makes a nice appearance, standing out around 
 like a little boy's ruffle. I think he lisps a little, a 
 great fault in my eyes, as the same thing has caused 
 me great trouble. The weather is warm, the thermom- 
 eter having stood at ninety degrees for several days ; 
 but I enjoy good health, for which I ought to be 
 grateful. We live on an island in the river Min, on 
 the bank of the river, so that I can run out before 
 any one is stirring in the morning and take a bath, 
 which I find very refreshing. I read the Bible in 
 the Greek and Hebrew before breakfast, and study 
 Chinese during the day. I write or do miscellaneous 
 work in the evening. I wish to improve all my time, 
 and I think a missionary above all men should be ac- 
 quainted with the Bible. At four o'clock this even- 
 ing I walked into the country. They have no I'oads 
 or farms as in our country. I traveled along a wind- 
 ing foot-path among tombs and trees perhaps two 
 miles, not having passed a single house, when I came 
 suddenly upon a small village of perhaps one hundred 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 133 
 
 houses. They were one story, high walls of plaster, 
 and tile roofs. I passed peach and olive orchards, 
 and orange and banian trees. Sugar-cane was grow- 
 ing in small patches more rank than is usual with 
 Indian corn, which it resembles. I passed through a 
 rice field on a path of large blocks of granite. The 
 rice-fields are much like our marshes, being covered 
 with water. The rice is sown, and when it springs 
 up it is all transplanted into drills, about eight inches 
 apart; it is now just beginning to head. I saw a few 
 cattle, which were finely formed and in good condi- 
 tion, though small ; they were all tied, as there are no 
 fences in this country. Large quantities of manure 
 are brought from the city for the land. It is borne on 
 the shoulders of men. Men were here and there at 
 work, or, having just completed their tasks, were 
 returning to their homes in the village. One boy had 
 been fishing in a kind of cistern for tadpoles, of which 
 he had a string about one foot in length. The hills 
 outside the city are reserved for burying places, with 
 here and there little incense houses among the tombs. 
 
 how dark are these minds in relation to eternity! 
 
 1 distributed a few tracts, which the people seemed 
 anxious to possess. 
 
 His teacher not giving satisfaction was dismissed, 
 and another employed, with whom his fii-st interview 
 is thus described : 
 
 " October !.■ — I have had a new teacher to-day, and 
 think I shall be pleased with him. You wonder how 
 
134 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 we manage with our teachers, as each is unacquainted 
 with the other's language, and really it is a predica- 
 ment to be in. The teacher comes in, clothed in a 
 long white gown, bare headed, his cue hanging down 
 his back, and his long white stockings tied over his 
 trowsers below the knee. He bows obsequiously, and 
 I motion him to a seat by the table. Thus far we 
 have progressed finely ; but now comes the tug of 
 war. For a few moments we sit minutely eyeing 
 each other. I make the first demonstration by writ- 
 ing some word in Chinese, which I have somewhere 
 picked up. He pronounces it, and I pronounce it 
 after him. This goes badly. I manipulate my head, 
 and flourish toward him. He stares at me, not know- 
 ing but I am mad, I suppose. At length the poor 
 man sees what I am at. I want the Chinese word for 
 head, and he enunciates it. I cheer him, and write it 
 down, and flourish for him to write it in Chinese; 
 he takes the little brush pencil and writes it, and I 
 imitate him. I next manipulate my nose, and the 
 same process is gone through with, and so on with 
 various things. Now and then I pick up a Chinese 
 word. I make what use I can of books, and so creep 
 along Orla-laby.'" 
 
 The residence first taken by the missionaries was 
 on the Islcmd, three miles from the walled city. 
 From the first he determined, if possible, to gain a 
 residence within the walls, but in this he met the 
 most inveterate opposition. Several contracts were 
 
F.EV. J. D. COLLINS. 135 
 
 made, but as often broken by the natives. At one 
 time he considered his purpose accomplished, and 
 thus relates the transaction : 
 
 " October 14. — I have hired a house, a part of a 
 heathen temple, being one of a collection of temples 
 inside the city. It is pleasantly situated on the brow 
 of a hill, in a large open space, where there are some 
 fine bold rocks, and with a venerable banian tree, 
 and beautiful flowers before it. The house is sixty- 
 five feet long and thirty-five wide. I gave ninety-six 
 dollars, with the stipulation that the idols, which are 
 large, and covered with gold, one of which has 
 eighteen hands, are not to be removed. This morn- 
 ing I called a carpenter and was directing him to 
 bring the wall around, so as to form a ceiling in front 
 of the idols, when the priest of the place objected. A 
 long controversy then ensued, in such manner as it 
 could by the aid of my smatter of Chinese, my teach- 
 er, and a vocabulary. The priest claimed to under- 
 stand that he was to have the privilege of coming 
 from time to time and performing his heathenish cer- 
 emonies before these idols. For five dollars he 
 agreed to turn the front ones around and permit me 
 to ceil up before them. The proposition did not 
 please me, as I did not wish so far to respect their 
 lumps of clay as to pay for the privilege of making 
 a wall even in their very teeth. I proposed that if I 
 could have a permannent lease af the premises I 
 would give thirty dollars to take the idols away. 
 
136 THE MISSION CEMETERT. 
 
 At length this was acceded to, and to-naorrow they 
 are to clear the premises. But I know not what a 
 day may bring forth." In the course of a few days 
 he learned that he could not retain his house, and 
 after many similar efforts the design was abandoned. 
 The cupidity of individuals would sometimes induce 
 them to offer their houses for rent, but the prejudice 
 of their neighbors against foreigners usually com- 
 pelled them to violate their contracts, and the author- 
 ities, who were equally averse to foreigners settling 
 within the walls, could not be induced to enforce 
 them. Yet no obstacle was presented to the distribu- 
 tion of books and tracts either in city or country. 
 
 October 9th he says : " I visited a mountain east of 
 the city, which is said to be three thousand feet high. 
 I had a grand prospect. I could see the ocean and 
 the whole valley of Fuh Chau. There were five hun- 
 dred villages in sight, all accessible to the Gospel. 
 The fields are white. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of 
 the vineyard that he send more laborers." 
 
 On the 28th of Febuary, 1848, a school was organ- 
 ized consisting of eight boys, and on Sunday, March 4, 
 a Sunday school was opened. He says : " To-day it 
 has been my privilege to attend a Sabbath school. 
 You may be sure the event has awakened a crowd of 
 interesting reminiscences of the past, and excited 
 bright hopes for the future. I had appointed half past 
 nine as the time for the children to come, but most 
 of them were present by eight o'clock. The observa- 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 137 
 
 tion of the day was to be a new era in their lives, and 
 •with no proper notions of its sanctity they were far 
 more boisterons and noisy than was proper. By gen- 
 tly rebuking them, and placing a trusty person over 
 them, they were in a good degree kept in order. At 
 the time appointed, I went in company with Brother 
 White to the school-room. All were quiet. We 
 sang in Chinese the L. M. Doxology to the tune of 
 Old Hundred. The Lord's Prayer was then read in 
 Chinese, and explained ; and all kneeling down, Broth- 
 er White led our devotions in the use of the Lord's 
 Prayer in English. The second chapter of St. Mat- 
 thew's gospel was then read and explained, the boys 
 being frequently questioned individually in regai'd 
 to their understanding of it. They seemed interested 
 through the entire exercises. We closed at eleven 
 o'clock with singing and the Lord's Prayer. At one 
 o'clock I again met the boys, and after the opening 
 service, much as in the morning, I spent the time up- 
 on the ten commandments. my brother, it was a 
 sight to gladden the angels ! These little Chinese 
 boys, hitherto nurtured in the darkness of heathenism, 
 and in the midst of idolatrous rites, assembled for the 
 purpose of learning the claims of the great Jehovah 
 to our worship, and his denunciation of all creature 
 worship. And when thus assembled to hear them 
 repeating these blessed principles of inspiration, to 
 see their sparkling eyes and expressions of delight, it 
 seemed as though they were casting their idolatry 
 
138 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 away and eagerly receiving into their minds the word 
 of God. I bless God for permitting me to witness 
 such a sight, and to participate in such an honor." 
 This school gave him great encouragement as it in- 
 creased in numbers, and its members improved in 
 knowledge of the Scriptures. As he progressed in 
 the language he extended his efforts for the salvation 
 of the people ; but as yet no regular appointments 
 were made for distributing tracts, and no effort to ad- 
 dress the people in their own language. On the 18th 
 of August he says he selected a place for this purpose. 
 An open building on the south side of the river seems 
 suitable. 
 
 "August 20. — I went with a trembling heart to my 
 meeting place, having a few tracts in my hand. On 
 reaching the place, the people came around me beg- 
 ging books. I asked them to listen, and they made 
 a great silence, hearing me speak in the Chinese 
 tongue. I spoke for some time to them of some of 
 the great principles of our religion earnestly, and I 
 think intelligibly. I left an appointment for this day 
 week. O that the Lord may bless this the beginning 
 of my evangelical labors in China !" 
 
 Regarding himself as settled for a life-long labor 
 in the missionary cause in and around Full Chan, 
 and feeling from the first the importance of a 
 thoi'ough acquaintance with his field, when he had 
 become familiar with the more prominent features 
 of interest in the city and immediate vicinity, he 
 
KEY. J. D. COLLINS. 139 
 
 made excursions into the surrounding countrj' in 
 every direction ; sometimes extending but a few- 
 miles, at others reaching distant villages, and occu- 
 pying several days in their accomplishment. These 
 afforded a healthy relaxation from study, and favor- 
 able opportunities for extending his knowledge of the 
 physical aspects of the country, and every depart- 
 ment of natural science, as_ well as the social and 
 moral condition of the people. The varied scenery 
 of the country filled him with the highest delight. 
 In communion with nature he never seemed weary. 
 His epistolary journal abounds with sketches, inci- 
 dents, and observations, taken in those rambles, from 
 which materials might be drawn for an interesting 
 and profitable volume. 
 
 In September, 1848, he made a journey to the 
 north of Fuh Chau. Passing over the tea hills, he 
 reached the banks of the river Ling Kong, and 
 taking passage upon a boat, descended to the city of 
 that name. 
 
 He says : " I embarked upon the river, the waters 
 of which were clear, and glided down its rapid cur- 
 rent fifteen or twenty miles to the city of Ling 
 Kong. It is a walled town, situated about twenty 
 miles from the ocean, contains one hundred thousand 
 inhabitants, and was said never to have been visited 
 before by a foreigner. The people thronged about 
 me with the most intense curiosity. I met them by 
 thousands in a temple, where I addressed them ; and, 
 
140 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 distributing a few hundred tracts, I left the city at 
 sunset, and went out to an inn by the wayside and 
 slept." 
 
 In another excursion, in company with one of his 
 colleagues, he thus describes the termination of his 
 Toyage up the river Min : 
 
 " Jarma/ry 4, 1849. — At two o'clock we are about 
 seventy miles from Fuh Chau, and within five miles 
 of Chui Kang, a mandarin station, where all boats 
 are expected to pay duty. "We conclude to return 
 homeward soon. Lofty peaks, rising almost from the 
 river bank, are towering above us. The clouds are 
 dispersing, and the atmosphere is beautifully trans- 
 parent. Our decision is taken to land, climb the 
 mountain, and look as far and as satisfactorily as we 
 can, and then face about for home. The path up the 
 mountain led along the edge of a deep ravine, afford- 
 ing us many grand and impressive views. As we 
 progressed upward the prospect widened ; but mid- 
 way in the ascent our path dwindled, and though 
 there were no trees of great size, yet the small trees 
 were tall and thickly covered the ground, which, to- 
 gether with the grass and fern, seemed to render our 
 further progress impossible. Fortunately we heard 
 the voice of a woodman, and soon called him to our 
 aid. At the first sight of us outsiders the old man 
 seemed scarcely to know whether he should faint, 
 fight, or fly. He soon, however, began to berate us 
 most furiously, and then to ply us with questions, 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 141 
 
 mingled with expressions of wonder, followed by in- 
 timations that we had better be elsewhere. But 
 hearing his language from our lips soon modified 
 him, and the promise of cash soon brought him quite 
 over, and he cheerfully undertook the task of leading 
 US to the top of the mountain by the right path. It 
 was hard tugging up the steep way, but after two 
 hours' toiling we stood upon the summit. The scene 
 was surpassingly grand. Partially toward Fuh Chau 
 a mountain more lofty than our own intercepted our 
 view ; but to the north and east sight had its widest 
 range. The river was at our feet, and along its 
 upward course hill arose beyond hill, and mountain 
 above and beyond mountain, till earth and sky were 
 blended in impenetrable distance. Chui Kang 
 seemed hardly a mile distant, though it was five 
 miles away ; but besides this scarcely another human 
 habitation was to be seen. There were no cultivated 
 fields or grazing flocks, no wide-spread plains nor 
 barren rocks ; but hills, hills, and mountains, rugged, 
 and often steep, but fertile, and covered with a dense 
 growth of underwood, grasses, and ferns, the habita- 
 tions of wild beasts and wild birds, freshening and 
 withering with the succession of seasons, as from age 
 to age they have been doing in this old land in all 
 the past. I find more and more ground for my 
 opinion, that the resources of China for the support 
 of human life are far from being fully developed ; 
 and that, out of its great cities and away from its rice 
 
142 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 plantations, it is a sparsely inhabited country. I be- 
 lieve there is no seventy miles on the Huron, or St. 
 Joseph, in your state, where a person in passing 
 would not see four times as many houses and men as 
 we have seen since leaving the vicinity of Fuh Chau. 
 We hastened down to the river, and about sunset 
 began our downward way. The current was strong, 
 and swept us rapidly on, till at fall of dark we ran 
 behind the bank, and took position for the night." 
 
 The government officers, if consulted, would proba- 
 bly have discouraged, perhaps prohibited, these ex- 
 plorations ; but the people, who have but little sym- 
 pathy with state officials in China, seldom interfere 
 with them. He conversed with the people in the 
 streets, in their houses and temples, around their al- 
 tars, and in presence of their idols ; exposed their 
 folly and wickedness, and pi'eached Jesus with as 
 complete immunity from personal indignity, though 
 often alone and unprotected, as he could have 
 preached and labored with the same faithfulness 
 among sinners at home. His intercourse with the 
 people was entirely unrestrained by any fear of per- 
 sonal injury. Indeed from childhood he seemed a 
 stranger to fear ; but his reliance was in moral rath- 
 er than physical strength. He disciplined himself to 
 feel that to he right was to he safe. He also held in- 
 violate the moral convictions of others ; even the con- 
 science of a heathen commanded his respect. He 
 addressed himself to the work of bringing them to 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 143 
 
 Christianity by enlightening their conscience, not by 
 violating or seducing it. He knew that the cause of 
 Christ would be hindered, rather than helped, by 
 other than true evangelical conversions, and hence 
 acted upon the policy that it would be better to la- 
 bor on for long years, if need be, in patient hope, 
 without visible fruit, than to dim the prestige of the 
 Church he represented for true spirituality by the 
 illusion of unconverted converts. Yet he did not en- 
 tirely escape opposition. 
 
 The labor of the missionary in China is, on many 
 accounts, difficult, tedious, and discouraging. The 
 thousands of different characters to be learned in ac- 
 quiring the written language; the many nice, but 
 important distinctions of sound in pronunciation ; the 
 diversity of dialects in different cities, and in differ- 
 ent classes in the same city ; the prejudice existing 
 between different classes socially, amounting practi- 
 cally to caste, are among the causes that render Chris- 
 tian access to the people more complicated than in 
 any other field occupied by the Christian Church. 
 The difficulties of the language are thus described : 
 
 August 27, 1849. — " I have told you, but I do not 
 know that yon remember it, so I tell you again, that 
 the Chinese language is manifold, yet but one, thus : 
 The character is common to the empire, and in all 
 parts of it ; those who know how to read look upon 
 the same book and understand it alike. Collect men 
 from different parts, however, and while they are thus 
 
144 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 silently looking at the characters of the same work, 
 and the same train of thought is passing through the 
 mind of each, just then tell them to read aloud, and 
 you would have a Babel let loose ; every man speak- 
 ing, but not hearing in his own tongue ; for the pro- 
 nunciation of the same character in the different dia- 
 lects, and they are almost as numerous as the cities 
 of China, differ very materially. 'Now, set a Fuh 
 Chau man to reading from a book to a Fuh Chau 
 man who does not know how to read, and the poor 
 illiterate is as ignorant as before, for he has not un- 
 derstood one word ; because ideas expressed by the 
 sounds of the written characters are not i-epresent- 
 ed by the same sounds as in the common conversa- 
 tion of the people. So, to make the man who cannot 
 read understand, the sounds used in ordinary conver- 
 sation must be used, and not those used to pronounce 
 the character. In a word, to make him understand, I 
 must give him the colloquial and not the reading 
 sound. There is a colloquial dictionary in the Fuh 
 Chau dialect, in which the colloquial sounds are rep- 
 resented, each by a couple of characters, which an- 
 swer the purpose of alphabetic letters. By the help 
 of these characters I have had the Gospel of Matthew 
 written out in the colloquial. My morning exercise 
 is to read a portion of the Gospel in this dialect re- 
 peatedly until it has become familiar, or until my 
 teacher comes. I then read with him the correspond- 
 ing portion printed in the regular character. Now 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 145 
 
 each word has a character of its own, and when I 
 learn a new word I have to learn a new character, the 
 sound of which I cannot judge of in the least from the 
 form. Then I converse with the teacher in regard to 
 the lesson, and when at length I feel prepared, I send 
 for the other members of the family, and we read a 
 verse each, giving the reading sound ; and having 
 gone over the lesson in this way, each gives in suc- 
 cession a verse in the colloquial, and when the occa- 
 sion calls for it I make some explanatory or hortatory 
 remarks. After this we all kneel down, I pray, and 
 the exercise is closed. In speaking of the language, 
 I have left out of the account the Mandarin or court 
 dialect, which is a still different pronunciation of the 
 character, but which is essentially the same all over 
 the empire." On another occasion he says : " One 
 difficulty, of no small magnitude, is the graduated na- 
 ture of the language. I mean by this the prevalence 
 of one style of expression in one grade of society, and 
 another in another grade or class. I noticed it par- 
 ticularly to-day. Teacher would first read the char- 
 acters from the books ; these of course he understood, 
 but it was so much English to the servants. Then it 
 was rendered into the spoken language, such as is 
 common, I suppose, in the better circles, but was too 
 high for the comprehension of the uneducated ; for 
 when I questioned them they looked blank, and said 
 they did not understand what had been said, and so 
 a still more diluted exposition had to be given. By 
 
146 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 this time the teacher had become full-blown with a 
 conceit of his far remove in superiority from the poor 
 illiterate. The precepts of the Gospel were delivered 
 as though he was the inspired oracle whence the wis- 
 dom originated; and though the exercise was intended 
 for him as much as them, he forgot to take the sense 
 to himself in his eagerness to impart it to others." 
 
 For the most part instruction was communicated 
 in conversation ; even the preaching, to a great ex- 
 tent, partook of this style. Their knowledge of the- 
 ology and religion, their tastes and capabilities, but 
 ill qualified them for listening to a set discourse. 
 To this kind of preaching he was well adapted by 
 nature and cultivation. Christianity in this field was 
 in its early seed-time ; no fruit, or blossom, or even a 
 blade, had yet appeai-ed, and it was necessary to broad- 
 cast the sacred seed over the land ; a work that re- 
 quired the wisdom of the serpent and the harmless- 
 ness of the dove. To this work he addressed himself, 
 seeking to be instant in season and out of season ; 
 entering the rude chapel, the heathen temple, or 
 standing by the wayside to dispense the precious 
 truth to all who would hear, sometimes to many, at 
 other times to few. January 19 he says: "After 
 breakfast, I put on my overcoat and walked away to 
 the city the first time for a long while, to fill my 
 appointment there. Near the center of the city is a 
 great building, spanning the main street, the upper 
 story of which is inclosed in one great room; the 
 
REV. J. D, COLLINS. 14Y 
 
 lower stoiy is left quite open in front and rear. There 
 I have several times gone before to declare my mes- 
 sage, as a company is readily assembled there to hear. 
 At one end of the building no one seems inclined to 
 carry on business, at the other are several tables 
 and a small furnace or two, and also seats, where tea 
 is made, and sold, and drank. To-day I walked up 
 to one of the tables, and took a seat opposite a re- 
 spectable looking person who was sipping his tea, 
 and asked for a cup for myself, and began conversa- 
 tion with my neighbor. With the inquisitiveness 
 common among Chinese, he asked me how long I 
 had been in the country, my age, where my house 
 was, and whether I was engaged in trade? all of 
 which I answered. He then asked me if I bought 
 and sold opium ; I answered No ; and added some 
 remarks upon the great wickedness and injury of 
 using that drug, which elicited applause from the 
 people who had gathered around. " How then do 
 you live ?" he wished to know ; and I told him my 
 friends supported me. And, " "Why do you stay ?" 
 "To declare the doctrines of Jesus!" "Are you ac- 
 quainted with them ?" I then went on to gratify the 
 interest which had become considerable to him, to hear 
 what those doctrines were, and I felt great liberty in 
 preaching Jesus and the resurrection to from fifty to 
 one hundred persons from my tea bench. I took a 
 swallow or two of tea, paid about half a cent, and 
 after distributing a few tracts left the place, receiving 
 
148 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 several invitations to come again, and sit, and drink 
 tea, and converse. I trust I am grateful to God for 
 so quiet and favorable an opportunity of declaring the 
 truths of his blessed word." 
 
 There is one trait -of character in the Chinese 
 -which, perhaps more than any other, discouraged 
 him in regard to immediate success. It is described 
 in Psalm Iviii, 3 : " They go astray as soon as they be 
 born, speaking lies." He regarded lying as the great 
 national sin, that rendered them helpless under the 
 ravages of their rank public vices. These views he 
 expressed, in connection with the evil of smoking 
 opium, October 15, 1849. 
 
 " To be an opium smoker, I judge, is about the 
 worst of all human misfortunes. It does not make a 
 man a fury, as alcohol does ; at least I have never 
 seen such a case. But it makes him a poor imbecile. 
 It blunts his perceptions, diminishes his strength, 
 hollows his cheeks, and dims his eyes. His appetite 
 is gone, his energy is gone, and his property is squan- 
 dered. From morning to night, and from night to 
 morning, he must be inhaling the fumes. His con- 
 stitution is shattered ; all moral sense is lost ; all nat- 
 ural affections gone ; he will even sell his wives to 
 get opium. Prematurely old, he drops into the 
 grave, and into perdition. Its hold upon its victims 
 is even stronger than that of strong drink. Certain 
 it is, we can not bring to bear upon its victims any 
 motives which will in any wise prevail upon them to 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 149 
 
 reform, as you do sometimes upon the inebriate. 
 Yoluntary temperance associations can do no good. 
 We know they have done a great work for America; 
 but they had a people m;rtured under the influence 
 of Christianity to work upon. You cannot realize 
 the vast difference here. They are false to each other 
 in all their transactions ; they would be so in prom- 
 ises of reformation from vice. There is no hope of 
 reforming this people from alcohol and opium drunk- 
 enness until there exists among them a public and 
 private morality, based upon the principles of the 
 Gospel." 
 
 Having a clear, strong faith in the evangelization 
 of China, and believing from the present state of the 
 Christian Church, and the condition of this vast em- 
 pire, that it would require long years, perhaps ages, 
 for its accomplishment, he desired to see everything 
 done in the present incipient state of things in a 
 manner to become the broad, enduring foundation 
 of so vast and glorious an enterprise. As an effort 
 was then being made in China by the different mis- 
 sionaries to secure a correct and uniform version of 
 the Scriptures, he gave it his hearty approval, and 
 80 far as he had opportunity he labored with an earn- 
 est catholic spirit for its accomplishment ; and though 
 he knew it might require several years to execute 
 the work, and that it would be attended witli a large 
 expense of men and means, yet its importance would 
 justify the outlay, and it was his earnest wish that 
 
150 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 liis own Churcli might be identified with the work. 
 He therefore sought to have it represented in the 
 committee of revision, and to have it assume its 
 proper share of the responsibility. Such were his 
 views at that time of the siibject, viewed from the 
 foreign mission side of the question. 
 
 In February, 1849, just as Brother Hickok and wife 
 were about to return to America, in consequence of 
 faiUire of health, he was attacked with typhus fever, 
 by which he was brought to the door of death. For 
 many days he lingered upon the very brink of the 
 grave. But, by the blessing of God upon the kind 
 attention of missionary friends, under the judicious 
 treatment of Brother White, who was his physician, 
 his strong constitution rallied, and in a few weeks 
 he was convalescent, though it is doubtful whether 
 he eA^er entirely recovered from the shock. He says, 
 with respect to his sickness : " I know that my case 
 was considered dangerous. At some moments I 
 seemed to myself, as to this life, as gliding away into 
 eternity, and felt peace in commending my soul to 
 my God. I had no fear, and I believe no dread 
 to die." 
 
 Finding the warm season approaching before he 
 had gained sufficient strength to labor, by the advice 
 of brethren he made a voyage at sea, which occupied 
 several weeks, of which he says : " I think I might 
 have continued to recover slowly had I remained at 
 Fuh Chau ; but in view of the warm season, which is 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 151 
 
 just at hand, and the severe trial it would likely be 
 to my enfeebled system, in consideration also of the 
 fact that if I were to remain at home, several weeks 
 yet must be passed in inability to enter upon my 
 regular labor, I have, witli the advice especially of 
 Brother "White, who has been my physician during 
 my sickness, concluded to spend some part of that 
 time in a sea voyage. In the prosecution of that 
 purpose I am now on board a lorcha, just at the 
 mouth of the river Min, bound up the coast for 
 Ningpo. She has under her protection a fleet of 
 about tliirty Chinese junks, from which she is to keep 
 off the pirates." 
 
 The fleet moved slowly, which was all the better 
 for him, enabling him frequently to go ashore, and 
 distribute tracts among the people of the villages, or 
 ramble amid the rural sceneiy of the coast country. 
 
 This voyage, extending to Ningpo and Shanghai, 
 occupied a little more than two months ; and he re- 
 turned to Fuh Chau, June 18th, greatly improved in 
 health and heart, and with his mind stored with a 
 variety of useful facts, gathered from his association 
 with men of larger experience in the missionary 
 field. He addressed himself to his work with re- 
 newed ardor. 
 
 Having become satisfied of the impracticability of 
 obtaining a residence within the walls of the city, he 
 selected a site for a residence on the south side of the 
 river, and commenced the erection of a dwelling. 
 
152 THE MISSION OEMETEEY. 
 
 He says: "It is on a hill, with olive-trees grow- 
 ing upon it. It is one hundred and seventy feet 
 long, and one hundred and twenty wide ; for which 
 I am to pay about forty-four dollars rent per annum, 
 without taxes. To all appearance it is as healthy a 
 location as I have seen in China. If the way had 
 been open, I should have been willing to sacrifice 
 some of the advantages which this place presents for 
 those of being in or near the city. As that could 
 not be done, I have been compelled to take a place 
 more beautiful of itself, and far more commanding 
 than any I have seen about Euh Chau, and my ob- 
 servation has not been limited. It will always be 
 within reach of the society of several mission fami- 
 lies. Tou wonder that there are not enough liouses 
 in so old and populous a country as China to rent 
 without the trouble and expense of building. The 
 Chinese houses are mostly shiftless affairs. This is 
 especially the case here, and south of us. Indeed I 
 have never seen one which it would be prudent for a 
 foreigner to live in continuously without repairs. 
 Toward the north, as the climate is more stern, the 
 houses are better. To repair a rented house suitably 
 costs nearly as much as to build, and when done it 
 is still old. The roof will be leaking, and the timbei- 
 will be nests for white ants and cockroaches. The 
 uniform sentiment here, at present, is in favor of 
 building anew." 
 November 21, he says : "The carpenter begins the 
 
REV. J. D. coiLEsrs. 153 
 
 building of my house in good earnest to-day." No- 
 vember 22 : " Go up to look at the workmen. 
 They have put up a shanty to sleep in, and made a 
 couple of mud arches in which to set their kettles for 
 cooking. They are a stout, laughing, noisy set of 
 fellows. All the timber for the house is brought into 
 the ground on men's shoulders. Some of the pieces 
 are a foot through, and sixty feet long. They are 
 brought full a quarter of a mile, over a miserably 
 rough, hilly way. Men teams have the entire mon- 
 opoly here. It is hard, tearing work. They receive 
 probably from ten to fifteen cents per day for their 
 services, and board themselves." 
 
 Ey the 1st of April his house was completed, and 
 he commenced house-keeping by himself He had 
 hoped to be more retired here, and to prosecute his 
 studies with new vigor. The pleasantness of the 
 situation, and the exercise of cultivating and adorn- 
 ing his grounds, for which he had a fine taste, he 
 hoped would be favorable to his health. These 
 hopes were for a time realized in part. But perfect 
 health it seems he was never destined to gain in this 
 world, though he uncomplainingly worked on, ar- 
 dently hoping for better days. 
 
 After the departure of Brother Hickok, the mission 
 was without an authorized superintendent until May 
 2, 1850, when he says, in his private journal : " Ee- 
 ceived a letter from Bishop Morris that much sur- 
 prises and embarasses me. The position in which it 
 
 10 
 
154 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 places me is one of peculiar difficulty and embarrass- 
 ment, both to enter upon and carry forward. I look 
 to the All-wise for that wisdom which he knows I do 
 not possess. Much in the past I have to forget, and 
 much to regret. I have much to conquer in the 
 future. O for grace from on high !" 
 
 Having taken time for consultation, reflection, and 
 prayer, he returned the following letter to Bishop 
 Morris : 
 
 "FuH Ohatj, May T, 1850. 
 " To Bishop Moeeis. 
 
 " Bev. ksx> Dear Sie, — Your letter, dated Decem- 
 ber 5, 1849, appointing me to the superintendency 
 of this mission, was received on the 2d instant. Did 
 I not believe that such is the interest of God's people 
 in the evangelization of China, that I should have 
 the benefit of their fervent prayers that his blessing 
 and guidance shall be granted me in the discharge 
 of the duties of this office, I could not go forward in 
 it. Assured of this, and looking to the Lord for 
 strength and grace as my day shall be, and trusting 
 in him to supply the abilities which by nature and 
 habit I do not have, I enter humbly upon the work. 
 " Affectionately, your brother in the Gospel. 
 
 "J. D. Collins." 
 
 " The work," he continues in his journal, " is full 
 of difficulties, and requiring at many points much 
 delicacy of dealing, and I am not delicate. But I 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 155 
 
 shall not prosper by management, worldly wisdom, 
 or tact. I must go to the Wise for wisdom. I must 
 plead my case earnestly and long before God. I 
 must lose self in him ; must regard his glory ; must 
 have my heart warmed with love to God, to my 
 brethren, and to precious, immortal souls, for whom 
 Christ died. I must have a child-like simplicity and 
 integrity of purpose, which, if in God, will win my 
 way for me." 
 
 It was in this spirit he entered upon the respon- 
 sible duties imposed upon him by the authority of the 
 Church. But it was not long that he was permit- 
 ted to go forward in the active execution of his 
 commission. The enervating influence of a cli- 
 mate not three degrees removed from the Tropic of 
 Cancer, was becoming more visibly marked upon his 
 now wasting constitution. From the beginning of his 
 residence in China there was an occasional tendency 
 to derangement of the bowels, as is common to foreign- 
 ers from a more northern latitude. His severe sick' 
 ness, in the spring of 1849, seems to have effectually 
 undermined his health. An immediate removal to 
 a temperate climate might have restored him in time, 
 but was impossible then. It is likely also that his 
 extreme delicacy in regard to the use of the modes of 
 conveyance common to the country, induced him to 
 take more exercise in the discharge of his duties dur- 
 ing the warm season, in the heat of the day, than 
 was compatible with safety. He greatly regretted 
 
156 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 this, but not until it was too late. The following, 
 from his epistolary journal to his brother, presents 
 a sad view of his health : 
 
 January 1, 1850. — " A new year, and a happy one 
 may it be to you, your family, and all my dear 
 friends on your side of the wide waters. It has not 
 been an imhappy one to me, though it has not been 
 one of great mirth or cheerfulness. I commence the 
 year with more misgivings in regard to whether I 
 shall see its conclusion, than I remember ever to have 
 commenced one before. It is well for us always to be 
 mindful that this is not our abiding place, and during 
 the past year I have been made to feel how frail I 
 am. I have been with but a step between me and the 
 grave. During the past three months I have been 
 the subject of growing indisposition. My system 
 seems fast sinking under a derangement of the bow- 
 els, a protracted diarrhoea, passing into a settled and 
 painful dysentery. I have hardly been able to bear 
 up under it to-day so as to be about. I succeeded in 
 walking up to my house, now being built, to see how 
 the workmen are getting along. The house will be 
 needed in the mission if I do not occupy it. Tou will 
 naturally desire to know my feelings under these cir- 
 cumstances. I trust that, without being guilty of a 
 stupid sentiment of fatality, I feel resigned to any 
 event which the providence of God in the future may 
 develop. I am willing, his grace supporting me, to 
 abide and labor here ; I am willing, if such be his 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 157 
 
 holy will, to go away. Heaven is a happier place 
 than earth, and so plainly is my faith permitted to ap- 
 prehend this, that it does not seem to me a grievous 
 thing to exchange earth for heaven. I feel grateful 
 for the opportunity which has been afforded me of 
 preaching the word. I have been allowed to speak, 
 to many hundreds of this dear people of the adorable 
 Redeemer. I believe some fruit will appear, though 
 perhaps not until after many days. I do not often 
 speak of my ailments here. I think I am usually 
 considered a cheerful person, and I hope I may con- 
 tinue so. I trust the Lord has done all things well, 
 and I gratefully receive what he metes out to me. 
 You will not suffer yourself to entertain any anxiety 
 on my account. I am well provided for. I have 
 spoken very plainly to you, and you must not think 
 there is anything hidden from you. I have made as 
 frank a statement of my case as possible. In any 
 event, the Lord has been good to me. How kindly 
 has he dealt with me ! How truly dark is that dis- 
 pensation which has been meted out to my play- 
 fellow in childhood, my companion in the halls of 
 learning, L. W., his reason dethroned on the very 
 threshold of active life, a hopeless maniac ! By let- 
 ter from a classmate I learn that another college class- 
 mate, R. of K., on his return from the Mexican war, 
 was attacked by disease which became chronic, and 
 probably before this time has proved fatal. I will not 
 institute comparisons ; but I prefer, if it comes tf) 
 
158 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 that, to have taken my fatal wound fighting under 
 the banner of the cross than any other, even that of 
 my beloved America." 
 
 He had now the advantage of good physicians, some 
 of whom had had long practice in China. Yarious 
 remedies were pi'escribed, sometimes with a tempo- 
 rary success, but with no permanent good. Excur- 
 sions were made into the country, and in September 
 a voyage to Hong Kong ; but he returned little bet- 
 ter. The question of his return to America was dis- 
 cussed. To this he was opposed, only as the last re- 
 sort. He says, December 16 : " Brother Peet called 
 this morning and urged me to go home for the bene- 
 fit of my health. I should not like to go home sick. 
 This mission has an unjust reputation for unhealthi- 
 ness now. I do not think it a dangerous climate, and 
 should not, therefore, like to encourage the belief that 
 is now too wide-spread, by going home under such 
 circumstances. I will try to hope and sufi'er on, 
 though I do not suffer much pain. Perhaps I will 
 get well by and by. People are sick at home as well 
 as here. How many who were well when I left home 
 have sickened and died since I came here !" But 
 these hopes were never realized. He continued still 
 to get worse. He had become feeble, and wasted to 
 a skeleton. He could scarcely walk longer. His 
 medical advisers, Dr. Welton and Brother White, as- 
 sured him there was no hope for him to recover but 
 jn a long sea voyage, an4 tji^t if he" returned home 
 
BEV. J. D. COLLINS. 159 
 
 immediately he might possibly recover. Tliis deter- 
 mined him. He would have toiled on and slept in 
 China ; but the chance of living longer to labor there 
 reconciled him to his return home. On the 23d of 
 April, 1851, he left Fuh Chau, and crossing the Pa- 
 cific, reached California July llth. Spending a few 
 days with his esteemed friend and former pastor, S. 
 D. Simonds, he made inquiry in regard to the en- 
 couragement for missionary labor among the Chinese 
 emigrants in California, as this probably was one mo- 
 tive that influenced his return by this route. He 
 says in his journal, July 29. " Advised Brother Sim- 
 onds not to be too free in proclaiming to the Church 
 the advantage of Missionary labor among the Chinese 
 in California. I think a school might be of advan- 
 tage." He reached home in September, so wasted 
 and wan that even his parents could scarcely recog- 
 nize him ; but his spirit was unbroken, his zeal una- 
 bated by disease. His heart beat as true and as strong 
 for his mission work as when, in the strength of 
 youthful health and vigor, he first entered the field. 
 He visited different places during autumn and early 
 winter, in compliance with numerous requests for ser- 
 vice in the cause of missions ; but these he was com- 
 pelled eventually to decline, in the hope that perfect 
 quiet might be secured. He remained mostly with- 
 in doors, but it was diflBcult to secure quiet in a mind 
 so thoroughly possessed with a great and stirring en- 
 terprise as was his; for though his body declined 
 
160 THE MISSION CEMETBKY. 
 
 every day, the intensity of his interest in no wise 
 abated in the great work that had been inwrought to 
 his soul by years of absorbing thought and care. 
 ISTor was it until the very last that he relinquished 
 the hope of returning to his work again. It was ex- 
 tinguished only with the last hope of life, and con- 
 stituted its severest pang. Yet when his physician 
 informed him there was no longer hope, he received 
 the intelligence with a calm submission that said, 
 " ISTevertheless, Thy will, not mine, be done." 
 
 For many months, as his private journal indicates, 
 he was a great sufferer, and all he said was corrobo- 
 rated by the terrible marks inflicted upon his wasted 
 frame ; but for a few days previous to his death his 
 sufferings became truly intense. Yet he bore them 
 all patiently, often expressing thankfulness that they 
 were no worse. The day before his death his suffer- 
 ings were so great that he swooned ; on recovering his 
 mother, who watched over him in his dying moments, 
 asked, " Is Jesus precious ?" He answered, " O yes, 
 mother." Many expressions of trust and confidence 
 in the Saviour, and of his hope of a glorious immor- 
 tality, fell from his lips during his last houi-s, giving 
 assurance that he was not forsaken in his sufferings. 
 On the thirteenth of May, 1852, he slept in Jesus, 
 and all suffering was forever past with him. 
 
 Thus died our dear brother, in the thirtieth year of 
 his age. In stature he was slightly above the medium 
 height, and of a spare rather than a, full habit. He 
 
EEV. J. D. COLLINS. 161 
 
 had light hair, blue eyes, and a ruddy, pleasant coun- 
 tenance. He was temperate in diet, industrious and 
 active. His mind was of a philosophical turn, clear, 
 and, considering his age, well cultivated by study, 
 and enlarged by an extensive and attentive observa- 
 tion of men and things. Socially he was free and 
 genial, retaining the simplicity of childhood in man- 
 ner, as he acquired the knowledge of a man. As a 
 Christian he was consistent and uniform, believing, 
 and striving to realize and exemplify daily in his life, 
 that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. 
 As a minister he possessed burning zeal for the salva- 
 tion of sinners, and was evangelical and loyal to the 
 Church of his choice. He made no pretension to 
 oratory, having never had a large practice in formal 
 public speaking, yet he was earnest and instructive ; 
 and in the colloquial style adapted to the inquisitive, 
 subtile heathen, he was fast becoming a workman that 
 needed not to be ashamed. His missionary zeal knew 
 no limit in degree but capacity, and no bound in 
 duration but death. He possessed a large amount of 
 that power of practical adaptation to the exigencies 
 of the occasion, usually denominated common sense, 
 which needs only to be enlarged by exercise and 
 matured by time to ripen into wisdom ; and such, 
 doubtless, would have been his reputation had Prov- 
 idence been pleased to spare his life to old age. He 
 fell soon ; yet, considering his age, he labored long, 
 because he commenced without wasting any part of 
 
162 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 his morning; and he fell a living missionary, under the 
 notice of the Lord of the vineyard, who can, and we 
 trust will, cause the early dead of the infant missions 
 at Fuh Chau to become a strong bond to the Church, 
 leading to the final conquest of China to Christ. His 
 remains sleep quietly in his family cemetery in the 
 town of Lyndon, "Washtenaw county, Michigan ; 
 marked by a neat marble slab, on which is inscribed 
 his name, age, office, and death, appropriately sub- 
 scribed by the loj^al exclamation of submission given 
 by the great apostle to the Gentiles : " Christ shall 
 be magnified in my body, whether by life or by 
 death." 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION, FUH CHAU. 
 
 By SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE, 
 
 UISSTONABY Off THK A. B. C. F. M, AT FUH CHAU. 
 
•nC^ 
 
 MRS. FKANCES J WILET. 
 
rs. gxum |. Wkg. 
 
 On tlie third of November, 1853, death removed 
 from our midst this excellent servant of God and 
 esteemed companion in the missionary work. We 
 cannot but think that one so useful in her life, and 
 so highly honored of the Lord in her death, deserves 
 more than a mere passing notice. 
 
 Feances J. Maetin was born in Northumberland 
 county, Pennsylvania, on the seventeenth of January, 
 1823, and was the youngest daughter of Joseph and 
 Sarah Martin. Her father was born in Londonderry, 
 Ireland, and was left a lonely orphan at the age of 
 seven years, when he was received into the family 
 of his grandfather, with whom he remained until he 
 was nineteen yea,rs of age. At this early age his 
 mind began to be filled with golden visions of the 
 prospects offered to the young and aspiring in the 
 new nation that was rising on the "Western continent. 
 Alone in the world, having but few ties to bind 
 him to the land of his nativity, he determined to seek 
 a home and fortune in the New "World. He came 
 to the United States, and settled for some years, as an 
 
168 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 industrious farmer, in Lancaster county, Pennsylva- 
 nia. Here he formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah 
 Hueston, with whom he was married in 1808. The 
 rich counties of northern Pennsylvania were just then 
 beginning to open the great mineral and agricultural 
 resources which they have subsequently spread be- 
 fore the country with so lavish a hand, and Mr. Mar- 
 tin determined to locate here. He secured a tract 
 of land in ISTorthnmberland County, on which he 
 located, with his young family, in 1812, and where he 
 remained, an honest, frugal, and prosperous farmer, 
 until 1823, when he was suddenly called away to try 
 the realities of another world. 
 
 His youngest daughter, Frances, was then but a 
 few months old, and was thus left with three sisters 
 and three brothers, all yet young, dependent upon 
 the care of her widowed mother. But that mother 
 was eminently endowed, both by nature and grace, 
 for the responsible and onerous charge which rested 
 upon her. Of strong, clear mind ; rich in faith and 
 in the experience of the things of God ; firm in her 
 convictions of duty and of right, yet remarkably 
 gentle and affectionate in her manners, she was just 
 the mother to take charge of seven orphaned lamb- 
 kins, and bring them up for usefulness and for God. 
 It was a pious household, and this lonely mother was 
 an inheritor of the precious promises of the book of 
 God, and these promises were faithfully fulfilled. 
 God was a husband to the widow, and a father to her 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY. 169 
 
 children. He blessed their home, sheltered them from 
 the rude blasts of the world, overshadowed their 
 lonely dwelling with his wing, preserved them by his 
 Spirit, and restrained them by his grace, and they 
 dwelt in peace and prosperity under the roof of the 
 old homestead. One by one they grew up to man- 
 hood and womanhood, and went forth individually to 
 engage in the battle of life, all imbued with virtuous 
 and religious principles received from this faithful 
 mother, who, as long as she lived, received in return 
 their grateful love and devotion. 
 
 Mrs. Martin was a devout Christian and an exem- 
 plary mother, and therefore, under circumstances in 
 which many widowed mothers fail, she succeeded in 
 rearing a family of rare excellence, and forming in 
 her seven children characters strong and valuable. 
 Each bore the impress of her own molding hand : 
 firm, yet gentle; inflexible in principle, but affec- 
 tionate, unselfish, and sympathizing, active, indus- 
 trious, and persevering ; formed for success and use- 
 fulness in the world, yet strongly imbued with the 
 tender and gentle sensibilities of our nature. Such, 
 in an eminent degree, was the character of her 
 youngest daughter Frances. It was a lovely and 
 loving family ; four sistei-s and three brothers, each 
 strong in individual character, and all united in the 
 tenderest affection. Seven marked days are pre- 
 served in the records of this family ; the days when, 
 one after another, these sons and daughters stepped 
 
170 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 out of the charmed circle, and went forth from be- 
 neath the parental roof to engage in the active duties 
 of life ; and one day more than all the others, when, 
 in 1848, that venerated mother left them all and went 
 to God. These brothers and sisters all still live, ex- 
 cept the precious one that sleeps beneath the olive 
 trees in the cemetery of Fuh Chau. 
 
 In 1832, at the age of nine years, Frances, with 
 her mother, entered into the family of her brother 
 Amos, who was then in prosperous business in 
 Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, with whom she 
 lived six years, receiving such an education as was 
 furnished by the " country school." At the age of 
 fifteen she was placed by her brother, contrary to the 
 wishes of her mother, in a Catholic institution, under 
 the direction of the " Sisters of Mercy," in Potts- 
 ville, Pennsylvania, where she remained several 
 years, and received an excellent education. Her 
 friends justly looked upon this as a dangerous exper- 
 iment, and remonstrated with her brother; but to all 
 these his reply was, that he had confidence in the 
 character of his sister. Such confidence, however 
 injudicious in itself, and dangerous in its exercise, 
 was a compliment to the early maturity and strength 
 of her character ; nor was it misplaced. So far from 
 imbibing any errors, or swerving from the faith of 
 her parents, she was, in this very institution, brought 
 under deep exercise of mind on the subject of exper- 
 imental religion, and was driven by the empty relig- 
 
MKo. FRANCES J. WILEY. 171 
 
 ious forms imposed on the pupils of the school, to 
 seek for a religion that possessed moi-e of life and 
 power, and that would satisfy the yearnings of the 
 soul. Such a religion she found, in the winter of 
 1841, at the altar of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 at Pottsville, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. 
 J. B. Hagany. She immediately became a member 
 of that Church, and continued a growing, active, 
 zealous, and devout Christian until she laid down her 
 martyr life in China. 
 
 In 1842 she entered into the family of her sister in 
 the beautiful valley of the Tuscarora, and engaged 
 in teaching. Here she was soon joined by her moth- 
 er and the family of her brother. Her beautiful 
 character, modest, affectionate, pious and firm, and 
 unbending in whatever was good and right as the 
 hills of Tuscarora, soon won the love and confidence 
 of a large circle of friends. The Methodist Church, of 
 which she was a member, was then just forming, and 
 spreading its borders through this beautiful valley. 
 On a part of the large farm owned by her brother 
 and brother-in-law was then being erected the first 
 modest frame church in that vicinity, and here, once 
 in a fortnight, the earnest preacher would break the 
 bread of life to the little flock, finding a home beneath 
 her sister's roof, leaving with them his blessing, and 
 then leaving them and the small company of the 
 Church to take care of themselves until he had again 
 
 swept round the large circuit. In this pioneer work, 
 11 
 
172 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 and in these forming movements of the infant Cliurch, 
 she took an active and valuable part. It was to her 
 a labor of love to contribute and to secure contribu- 
 tions to the erecting of the chapel, to gather in tlie 
 children of the neighborhood and organize the Sab- 
 bath school, to be always found in the class-meeting 
 and the prayer-meeting, to visit the sick, to give 
 comfort to the poor, to offer encouragement to the 
 weak and failing, and to attend to the wants of the 
 preacher. Said her brother, who has since found the 
 pearl of great price, and taken her place in active 
 labors in the Church, and who is foremost in every 
 good work throughout the whole circuit : " Through 
 the influence of her pious life, her active, constant 
 devotion to the Saviour and his cause, more than by 
 any other influence, was I led to believe in the 
 reality of the Gospel, and to seek and find an interest 
 in the blood of Jesus. 
 
 The leading preacher in charge of the circuit at 
 that time was the venerable and eccentric Jacob 
 Gruber, one of those early pioneers of Methodism, 
 mighty in faith, in labors, and in fruits, and who 
 seemed so intent upon the Master's work, and so 
 absorbed in the theme of the unsearchable riches of 
 Christ, and the salvation of perishing sinners, that it 
 seemed almost impossible to find an avenue to their 
 hearts or touch their sensibilities, except by the cry 
 of penitence, or the question, "What must I do to be 
 saved?" Such a preacher was Jacob Gruber. lie 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY. 173 
 
 lived within himself; was a man of one work and one 
 purpose. He had no time but to preach the Gospel 
 and save souls, and therefore disliked the annoyance of 
 forms and conventional customs, and seldom stooped 
 to form acquaintances and cultivate friendships. 
 
 It is a proof of the beautiful character of the subject 
 of this sketch, and an evidence of its jjower, that it 
 penetrated the hard outside of this eccentric preacher, 
 and even his heart, securing for her an intimacy and 
 friendsliip with this venerable man that was granted 
 to but few. Hers was just such a character as would 
 suit and please him. Her vigor of thought, her 
 strength of principle, her firm, unbending integrity, 
 pleased him ; while to find united with tliese a rare 
 gentleness and afifectionateness of heart and life, inte- 
 rested him, and made him her friend. He did for 
 her what he could be rarely pi'evailed upon to do for 
 any. He wrote her long letters of advice and instruc- 
 tion, he admitted her to his confidence and friendship, 
 he conversed freely with her, he wrote in her album, 
 he took her to his home and introduced her to his 
 family. In allusion to her connection with the Catholic 
 school, and as she thought in expression of his own 
 wishes, he called her his " little nun ;" and when she 
 afterward removed to Lewistown, the place of his 
 residence, he watched over her with almost a father's 
 tenderness and care, and at last, when he came to die, 
 gave her one of the only three daguerreotypes of 
 himself that he would permit to be taken. This 
 
174 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 memento of the esteem of this venerable and good 
 man she carried with her to China, and cherished it 
 and the memory of her eccentric friend until death. 
 
 Eut Miss Martin was not a "nnn" either in prin- 
 ciple or in purpose. In October, 1846, she was mar- 
 ried to Dr. Wiley, whose early desires and training 
 had been directed toward the Gospel ministry, but 
 who had been diverted from this work by a sudden 
 failure of the throat, and who was then engaged in 
 the practice of medicine in western Pennsylvania. 
 In the following spring Dr. W. and his young wife 
 removed to Pottsville, and soon after succeeded in 
 laying the foundations of a lucrative practice in Port 
 Carbon, one of the outlets of the great coal field of 
 Pennsylvania. But the practice of medicine was not 
 in itself the work God had in view for his servant ; 
 it was only one of the side issues which Providence 
 had entailed upon him, to fit him more fully for his 
 true work. He was therefore restless in his profes- 
 sion. His desires and sense of duty were constantly 
 pointing toward the ministry ; his mind found greater 
 delight in the study of theology than of medicine, and 
 in the cure of souls than of bodies. From early life he 
 had looked to the foreign missionary field as his call- 
 ing, and had even selected China as the one where he 
 would love to labor. Just at this time an urgent call 
 came from Fuh Chau for a reinforcement of the young 
 mission which the Missionary Society of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church had opened in that city. The Cor- 
 
MBS. FRANCIS J. WILEY. 1*75 
 
 responding Secretary addressed a letter to Dr. Wiley, 
 inquiring if he would be willing to entertain the 
 question of becoming missionary physician in China. 
 
 It came like the voice of Providence. He had told 
 no one of his restlesness and of his earnest desires. 
 He had not even whispered to his wife that his heart 
 was then yearning to enter the missionary field ; yet 
 some intelligence had detected the workings of his 
 heart, and an invisible hand was opening the door for 
 the accomplishment of his long-cherished purposes. 
 The letter was laid before his young wife. She was 
 then a mother, was in her own home, a home which 
 her genial spirit and frugal hands had made happy, 
 and in which she had begun to think of spending her 
 days in ease and happiness ; she was surrounded by a 
 large circle of endeared friends and acquaintances, 
 and the world was bright and promising ; yet she 
 calmly received from her husband's hands the letter 
 that pointed to a heathen land and a missionary life, 
 and acted with reference to it as she did with every 
 important thing in her life. She calmly read it, 
 thought over it, weighed the subject in all its rela- 
 tions, prayed over it, reached her conclusion concern- 
 ing it, and returned it with the answer, " Where thou 
 goest I will go, and thy God shall be my God." 
 
 This was missionary heroism ; an exemplification 
 of her noble spirit and of her Christian faith, which, 
 in the trying positions of her subsequent missionary 
 life, was followed by many similar instances. The 
 
176 
 
 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 secret of tliis calm and decisive action with reference 
 to a movement so important, was found in her strong 
 faith in the Gospel and her full consecration to the 
 Redeemer's service. Mrs. Wiley habitually realized 
 that she was not her own, but had been bought with 
 a price, and her Christian spirit was ever uttering, 
 " Thy will be done." In the present instance duty, 
 Christian principle, pious inclination, and present op- 
 portunity, pointed to China ; she heard the Master's 
 voice and she followed him. 
 
 They were appointed to China. Several months 
 were spent in necessary preparation, and on the 13th 
 of March, 1851, they embarked for this city, in com- 
 pany with Rev. James Colder and wife, and Miss 
 Seely. On the 9th of July, in the same year, we wel- 
 comed them to our number in Tub Chau. It was a 
 day not to be forgotten by us, who hail with such 
 keen relish any one from civilized Christendom, and 
 especially Christian co-laborers from our native land. 
 After a little consultation, it was thought best that 
 Dr. Wiley's family should immediately commence 
 housekeeping, occupying the dwelling recently va- 
 cated by Eev. J. D. Collins, who had then returned 
 to America, and who has since gone to his reward. 
 This decision brought with it many immediate cares, 
 and a demand for personal labor which a pastor's 
 wife in a Christian land, where kind friends are near 
 to give timely aid, and where civilization has heaped 
 up her arts for domestic need and comfort, cannot 
 
MRS. FEAWOES J. WILEY. lYY 
 
 fully understand. Ingenuity must invent, watchful 
 care oversee, and personal eifort perform, not only 
 physical labor, hut do this in connection with great 
 mental effort in acquiring this difficult language. All 
 this makes household duties a great and trying work; 
 and for her who frees her husband from domestic 
 cares, in order that his time and strength may be 
 spent in making known the word of God, this is a 
 good work, which will certainly have its reward. 
 This was Mrs. "Wiley's leading desire, and in this she 
 truly excelled. But not to domestic duties only was 
 her mind directed ; for daring her short missionary 
 life she did much for the spiritual good of the heathen 
 over whom she held an influence, and her faithfulness 
 in this part of her labor can only be fully known and 
 rewarded in that bright land to which she has gone. 
 
 On the 30th of ISTovember, a few months after her 
 arrival at Fuh Chau, she gave birth to a daughter. 
 During the first days of her illness the open and ex- 
 posed condition of the house caused her to take cold, 
 in consequence of which she was confined to bed 
 about eight weeks with acute rheumatism, which was 
 followed by a very painful and obstinate affection, 
 which did much to break up her constitution, and 
 tliere was even then much danger of a fatal termina- 
 tion. During this long-continued suffering great 
 meekness and patience, and much sweet communion 
 with God, were her characteristics and her strong 
 fortress. "When others feared, she manifested perfect 
 
178 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 resignation to the will of God, either to live or to die 
 as he might please. 
 
 In April, 1852, after all medical prescription had 
 been tried in vain, she was called upon to consider 
 the question of returning to America, or, at least, of 
 taking a sea voyage, as the only hope of recovery. 
 She freely conversed with her husband on the sub- 
 ject ; but, with striking devotion and resignation, 
 finally concluded that she preferred to remain at Fuh 
 Chau, and die when her heavenly Father should 
 please, than be the means of severing him from the 
 work in which she saw his heart so deeply interested, 
 and only for the uncertain relief which might be hoped 
 for from a sea voyage. This was a question which 
 involved large interests, over which much prayer had 
 been offered, and to which many serious hours of 
 consideration had been devoted ; and when she had 
 arrived at the conclusion to remain, both felt that it 
 was the work of the Lord, and praised God for the 
 grace he had given them in his providence. The re- 
 sult showed the decision to be a correct one ; and 
 soon after her health began to improve, and during 
 the following year (except occasional attacks of her 
 painful malady) she enjoyed comfortable health, and 
 rejoiced in the conclusion she had made, feeling that 
 God, being satisfied with the trial of her faith, had 
 arrested the progress of disease and prolonged her life. 
 
 Her heart and faith were destined, however, to ex- 
 perience another trial. Her watchful eye soon de- 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY. 1V9 
 
 tected the evidences of failing health in her husband. 
 At this time the character of one " who looketh well 
 to the ways of her household" naanifested itself in all 
 its loveliness and excellence in her. In every possi- 
 ble way she endeavored to lighten his duties and re- 
 lieve his sufferings. But notwithstanding all her at- 
 tentions, in September, 1852, he was confined to bed 
 with a severe attack of dysentery, threatening his life. 
 For six weeks her sympathizing heart was wrung with 
 anxiety, forgetting her own feebleness, and becoming 
 completely absorbed in her attentions to him. Dur- 
 ing the day she was constantly near him, anticipat- 
 ing his every wish, and lightening with her own gen- 
 tle hand the pains and anxieties incident to the se- 
 vere affection under which he labored. At night she 
 only yielded her place at his bedside at the earnest 
 solicitation of missionary friends, who stood ready to 
 relieve her, if possible, in some degree. During ten 
 days, while all hope of her husband's recovery was 
 despaired of, she exhibited that Christian courage, 
 fortitude, and meek resignation which shone as stars 
 in her chai-acter. She scarcely thought of herself, or 
 of the trying situation in which she would be placed 
 by her husband's death. Her widowhood, her lone- 
 liness and desolation in a heathen land, even the 
 wants and interests of her children, all seemed to be 
 forgotten in her devotedness to her husband, and in 
 her deep interest in his soul's welfare at that trying 
 hour. She talked with him freely of his prospects in 
 
180 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 death, prayed with him, read to him, wept and re- 
 joiced with him ; constantly calling away his thoughts 
 from dwelling upon the trying situation of her and 
 ]ier children, to fix them upon God, the Saviour, and 
 heaven. Her joy was inexpressible when he began 
 to recover. Day after day she poured forth her grat- 
 itude to God with tearful eyes and a swelling heart ; 
 and the many letters which she then wrote to her 
 friends were largely made up of thankfulness and 
 praise to God for sparing to her her loved companion. 
 The succeeding winter was one of great domestic 
 happiness and religious enjoyment, and she delighted 
 to spend its quiet hours in prayer and praise. This 
 winter was the last, and, as she said, the happiest of 
 her life. The severe illness and merciful recovery of 
 her husband had revealed to herself the depth of her 
 affection for her little family, and it became her de- 
 light to watch over their wants with the tenderness 
 of a devoted wife and the affection of a tender and 
 gentle mother. A cheerful and happy heart, the gen- 
 tleness of her disposition, and the activity of her sym- 
 pathies, had secured for herself a happy home, and 
 had won the esteem and love of all about her. She 
 was ever desirous to benefit the heathen around her, 
 and had already acquired considerable of the spoken 
 language, though, in her own estimation, not sufficient 
 to take the charge of a school; consequently they 
 formed the plan of taking native children into their 
 family to be trained under their immediate super- 
 
MES. FEANCES J. WILEY. 181 
 
 vision. This pleased Mrs. Wiley much. A plan by 
 which this might be eflfected was drawn up, and sanc- 
 tioned by the mission. In December they succeeded 
 in obtaining two promising boys, about iifteen years 
 of age. They soon became greatly attached to Mrs. 
 Wiley, who spent much time in teaching them to read 
 and speak the English language ; and they always 
 seemed to listen with affectionate attention when she 
 endeavored to convey to their minds the precious 
 truths of our religion in their own tongue. To her 
 Chinese woman she was devotedly attached and ever 
 faithful, teaching her many useful things, and often 
 and earnestly conversing with her about the great 
 interests of her immortal soul. In her private devo- 
 tions these members of her family were often a sub- 
 ject of special prayer, and in family worship, in 
 which she was often pleased to take the lead, she 
 manifested great earnestness in her petitions for them. 
 Her heart was deeply interested in the missionary 
 work; and when the state of her husband's health 
 caused them to fear they would be obliged to leave the 
 field, she prayed the more earnestly that they might 
 both be restored to health, and permitted to remain. 
 
 In the spring of 1853 the news of the rapid and 
 succes^ul progress of the rebellion in China began 
 to reach us at Fuh Chau, and another trial awaited 
 Mrs. Wiley. For awhile much excitement prevailed 
 among the people here, and some of the foreign resi- 
 dents began to fear it would soon become dangerous 
 
182 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 to remain at Fuh Chau. The ladies of the mission to 
 which Mrs. Wiley belonged participated much in 
 these fears ; and as the danger seemed to grow more 
 threatening, the two other families of the mission felt 
 it their duty to leave Fuh Chau, to seek safety and 
 quietness at some other port, and in May began to 
 make preparations for leaving. This was for a time 
 a sore trial to her. Her husband, in consequence of 
 delicate health, had already been urged to seek relief 
 by taking a voyage to some other port ; the progress 
 and result of the rebellion could not be foretold, and 
 no one could predict the circumstances in which 
 foreign residents might be placed in case of an insur- 
 rection at Fuh Chau. Mrs. Wiley, however, consid- 
 ered the case of her husband more embarrassing 
 than her own ; and seeing that he could not decide 
 to leave, and that the missionaries of the other Boards 
 had concluded to remain, and meet the unknown 
 events before them, she was anxious to remain till 
 dangers should at least assume a more threatening 
 chai-acter. The eighth of May, when the subject 
 came before her mind for a final decision, was a day 
 of much prayer, followed by a sleepless but prayerful 
 night. In the morning she felt that the path of duty 
 was plain, and her mind was clear upon this point. 
 She decided to remain. Her husband, knowing the 
 question to be an important one, and one which 
 involved the feelings and safety of his beloved com- 
 panion more than his own, left the decision almost 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY, 183 
 
 entirely to the workings of her own mind. On the 
 twelfth of May the other two families of the mission 
 left for Hong Kong. How could it be otherwise than 
 a severe stroke to the affectionate feelings of a heart 
 so capable of the highest degree of friendship and 
 love, thus hastily to be separated from her female 
 companions of her own mission, with one of whom 
 she had crossed the sea, and to whom she had become 
 warmly and intimately attached? The separation gave 
 her many sad hours, from which she only found relief 
 in frequent prayer, and in meek resignation to the 
 will of Him in whose hands she had placed her all. 
 
 The dwelUng which Dr. "Wiley and family had 
 hitherto occupied had been frequently visited, and 
 once or twice entered by night thieves, bold and 
 successful robbers, who much infest Fuh Chau in the 
 winter season. The removal of one of the mission 
 families from the same neighborhood left their dwell- 
 ing in quite an exposed and lonely situation ; and 
 they therefore concluded that their peace and safety 
 would be better secured by removing to one of the 
 vacant houses of the American Board Mission, located 
 in a more thickly inhabited district. This house 
 had been partially abandoned by our mission as a 
 residence, and was somewhat dilapidated ; and they 
 soon found that it was very warm and uncomfortable, 
 and when the melting heat of our summer had fully 
 set in, it was very evident that the health of both 
 Dr. and Mrs. Wiley was rapidly failing. Mrs. Wiley 
 
184 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 again became much troubled with her obstinate affec- 
 tion ; and with the hope of obtaining some temporary 
 relief from the scorching heat, they, with another mis- 
 sionary family, made an excursion in July on the river. 
 This proved a delightful recreation, and had a happy 
 influence on the mind and body of our dear friend ; so 
 much so, that later in the month they attempted to 
 avail themselves again of the invigorating sea air 
 blowing about the mouth of the river. 
 
 This proved an unfortunate movement; for soon 
 after reaching the anchorage a fearful typhoon, ac- 
 companied with drenching rain, came on, rendering 
 their situation, in their rude Chinese boat, not only 
 uncomfortable, but exposed and dangerous. For 
 nine days they were closely confined to their boat, 
 during which time the wind, with the strength of a 
 hurricane, blew over them. The rain poured down 
 in torrents, and the river, overflowing its banks, 
 spread over a large extent of low land around them, 
 placing them in the midst of a wide-spreading and 
 angry flood. There was uo possibility of escaping 
 from this perilous situation ; nor could any Chinaman 
 be persuaded to launch his boat upon the threatening 
 river, and go to their relief. " Here," says her hus- 
 band, " Mrs. Wiley exhibited prominently two strik- 
 ing traits of her character — patience and fortitude 
 in the midst of trials over which she could have uo 
 control." Though their situation was one of "reat 
 discomfort and peril, she exhibited the same cheerful 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY. 185 
 
 aud resigned spirit which so often appeared in her 
 character in trying circumstances. After the ninth 
 day the wind greatly abated, and the clouds began 
 to clear away somewhat, though heavy showers of 
 rain continued, and the river still was fearfnlly high. 
 They concluded, however, to make an effort to reach 
 Fuh Chau, and were able, after some searcli, to find 
 two Chinese, who, with their small row boat, were 
 willing to try to ascend the rapid stream. They had 
 scarcely embarked on the little boat, on which, with 
 Iheir cliildren, they were crowded into a very small 
 space, when it began to rain heavily. They had a 
 tedious passage to Fuh Chau, not reaching the suburbs 
 till ten at night ; and at that hour all the street gates 
 were closed, rendei-ing it impossible for them to leave 
 their little boat. The rain continued, and the night 
 was fearfully dark, while the current near the city be- 
 came so strong that they were obliged to make their 
 boat fast in a small eddy, and make the best they 
 could of their close quarters for the niglit. Fortu- 
 nately the boat had a close cover, which defended 
 them from the rain, but could not keep out the cold, 
 damp air, in which they passed a sleepless night. 
 
 Both the Dr. and Mrs. Wiley soon suffered seri- 
 ously from the effects of this exposure. Mrs. Wiley 
 was soon attacked by a recurrence of her disease, 
 from which she never again recovered. Her husband's 
 health failed rapidly, and they were both confined 
 much of the time during the months of August and 
 
186 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 September to their beds; and finally, after much 
 consultation, prayer, and reflection, they decided to 
 leave Fuh Chau, and seek restoration of health by 
 traveling to another port, or, if necessary, by return- 
 ing to their native land. All of us at that time, and 
 especially Mrs. Wiley, thought the change necessary 
 more on her husband's account than her own. "How 
 easy," says her husband, " was it for all of us to be 
 deceived! Free from all selfishness, and constantly 
 thinking and doing more for the wants and sufferings 
 of others than for herself, her mind could easily over- 
 look the symptoms of serious disease appearing in her 
 own person, and ever uncomplaining, others were 
 saved from those fears which otherwise would have 
 been excited." Still she suflfered much during the 
 summer, often requiring medical attention, and often 
 causing the heart of her husband to shudder at what 
 might be the result of her suffering. 
 
 In September the affection with which she had 
 been so much troubled in China assumed a more 
 threatening character, and medicine no longer seemed 
 to exert any control over it. Still, as she and her 
 family were all ready to leave Fuh Chau as soon a:-. 
 an opportunity presented, we all hoped that tlic 
 bracing sea air would arrest the disease, and her life 
 be prolonged. But God willed it otherwise ; no 
 opportunity for leaving occurred, and her disease 
 marched steadily on toward a fatal consummation. 
 On Friday, the 14th of October, she gave premature 
 
MES. FRANCES J. WILEY. 1B1 
 
 birth to a child. Her husband, as well as others, 
 began then to feel her case to be hopeless, and we 
 trembled for the result. Her anxious companion 
 watched her, if possible, with more intense anxiety 
 and care, and was somewhat encouraged to find that 
 she had for several days escaped those alarming 
 results which we feared would at once end her life. 
 Some slight hopes were now entertained of her recov- 
 ery ; but at the end of another week it became evi- 
 dent that she still was sinking. She was already much 
 wasted, and her debilitating disease — chronic diarrhoea 
 — continued the work of emaciation in despite of the 
 most diligent and careful application of food and medi- 
 cine. On Thursday, October 27, a sudden change in 
 her disease rendered it evident that she could not live ; 
 and from that time she sank gradually till, on Thurs- 
 day afternoon, November 3, she fell asleep in Jesus. 
 
 And now what shall I say of the last days of our 
 beloved sister ? To dwell upon all the pleasant and 
 hope-inspiring incidents of her triumphant death 
 would swell this article to too great a length ; to pass 
 them by with a very brief notice would be a wrong 
 to our holy Christianity, which is able to impart such 
 peace and joy in the dying hour. During her last 
 sickness her mind dwelt much on death. From the 
 first she frequently said she must soon have relief or 
 she must die. Still she had some hope of recovery 
 till the birth of her little one, after which she thought 
 
 she would not recover, and began to put her house 
 
 12 
 
188 THE MISSION CEJXETEKY. 
 
 in order. On the Thursday preceding her death she 
 became convinced she would die. Her husband 
 talked with her respecting the prospects of her case, 
 and communicated to her his fears tliat she could not 
 survive. She replied, with much calmness, that she 
 had been thinking so, and requested him to pray 
 with her and for her. He asked her if she had strong 
 desires to live. She said her desires for life were not 
 very strong ; that she was willing to die ; but, if it 
 were God's will, she would bo pleased to live for the 
 sake of her dear family. During the following Friday 
 and Saturday her mind was much engaged in praj'er. 
 When asked if she felt prepared to die, she replied, 
 "ISTot fully prepared." Her anxious husband then 
 asked if death had any terrors to her mind. " O no," 
 said she ; " I know God will give me the victory 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. I do not fear to die ; 
 but I would like more joy and bliss in dying." She 
 then asked him to read to her from the Bible, and 
 sought for passages speaking of the great work of the 
 Eedeemer, and calculated to lead the soul to Christ. 
 Her husband read to her some passages speaking of 
 the hopes of the dying Christian and of the glories of 
 heaven, when she said: "0 my dear, I know heaven is 
 all glorious. God has taken care of all that. Eead me 
 passages which speak about Christ, which will lead 
 right to Jesus. My soul can only find rest in Christ." 
 On Sabbath morning Mr. Welton, of the Church 
 of England Mission, and her husband visited her in 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY. 189 
 
 consultation. They felt there was no chance of 
 recovery, and it became the duty of the former to 
 communicate to her their opinion. After Mr. Wel- 
 ton told her there was no possibility of her getting 
 well she gave up all hope of life, and at once became 
 happy in the prospect of death. Her first exclama- 
 tion after receiving this information, which strikes 
 dismay into the hearts of so many, was : " O how 
 much better to die here than return to America ! I 
 shall soon be with God and my friends in heaven, 
 instead of being with my friends at home." Her 
 soul was exceeding joyful in the prospect of death. 
 She said she would love to send many messages to 
 her relatives and friends, but was too weak. " Tell 
 them," she said, " that I die in great peace ; that the 
 Saviour is very precious ; that though I have endured 
 many trials and af&ictions in China, I have never re- 
 gretted coming to this heathen land ; that if I pos- 
 sessed another life I would willingly devote it to the 
 same work." She then praised God, repeating fre- 
 quently, " Precious Saviour ! precious Saviour ! glory 
 to God in the highest !" She spoke very affection- 
 ately of her dear little ones ; praised God for giving 
 them to her, and said she felt they were precious 
 gifts from the hand of God, and that she would love 
 to live and train them for him ; and then with great 
 calmness gave some brief orders about herself and her 
 effects after death. In the afternoon she wished some 
 of the friends to meet for singing and prayer in the 
 
190 THE MISSION CEMETEKY. 
 
 adjoining room, requesting they would pray that 
 God would give her grace to die in peace and to 
 his glory. As they sang, 
 
 " On Jordan's stormy banks I stand," 
 
 she exclaimed, " Stand by me till I land !" A dear 
 friend who was much with her participating most 
 deeply in the happy prospects which seemed ever 
 before the mind of the dying saint, said : " I almost 
 feel as though I must go with you;" when she replied : 
 "Perhaps your time has not yet come. The Lord has 
 a work for you to do here ; but maybe he needs me 
 up there." Often during the singing and prayer she 
 exclaimed, " How precious ! O how precious !" and 
 praised the Saviour for drawing so very near to her. 
 
 In the evening her eldest daughter came to bid 
 her " good-night." The presence of her precious 
 child awakened all the tender feelings of the affec- 
 tionate mother. She addressed a few words of en- 
 couragement and exhortation to her, and said : " Now 
 kiss me good-night, for mamma is about to die. To- 
 night Adah will kiss me good-by;. then, after many 
 years, perhaps, when Adah has grown to be a 
 woman, and lias given her heart to God, and lived to 
 his glory, then some time Adah will fall asleep and 
 wake up in heaven, and find her long-lost mother : 
 with what joy will we meet to part no more ?" Dur- 
 ing Sabbath afternoon she frequently said that death 
 had no terrors, and she had no desire to live, and 
 
MRS. FRANCES J. WILEY. 191 
 
 spoke of her death and burial with much minuteness 
 and great composure, as though about entering upon 
 a brief but delightful voyage. How often she re- 
 peated the words ; " My only hope is in Christ ; O 
 how could I die without Christ ! he is a precious 
 Saviour !" She also said : " I look away from myself, 
 and look to Jesus, then I have great peace." But 
 we cannot repeat all the precious words which flowed 
 from her full and happy heart. It was truly a pre- 
 cious privilege to be with her. Her countenance con- 
 stantly wore a pleasant and lovely expression while 
 these words of peace and joy fell from her lips. One 
 could not be with her without feeling that she was 
 very near heaven. During Sabbath night her mind 
 wandered greatly ; but during her occasional periods 
 of reason she manifested great peace. 
 
 On Monday morning her mind was freed from the 
 wanderings of disease, and the day passed in a state 
 of heavenly calmness. She spoke of going where she 
 would be free from sin and sorrow, and said : " I 
 should like to go home soon, but God's will be done !" 
 Many precious passages of Scripture were strongly 
 impressed on her mind, giving her much consolation 
 and support. The declaration of our blessed Saviour 
 in Mark x, 29, 30, was applied to her case with pecu- 
 liar force and much comfort. The language of the 
 Psalmist : " Though I walk through the valley and 
 shadow of death," etc. ; the Saviour's words in John 
 xiv, 2, 3 : "In my Father's house are many mansions," 
 
192 THE MISSION CEMBTEEY. 
 
 etc., were rich in consolation; and the last clause of 
 the passage, " that where I am, ye may be also," she 
 frequently repeated. On the previous evening, feel- 
 ing that she would most probably die during the 
 night, she had bid farewell with a very dear female 
 friend. That friend returned again to see her in the 
 morning, when she said : "I am still here, but some 
 morning you will come and find that I have gone ; 
 but fear not, some morning you will find me again in 
 that better world." Her little ones being again 
 brought to her, she exhibited much affectionate feel- 
 ing, and spoke to the eldest one in encouraging lan- 
 guage, telling her not to weep, that her mother was 
 going to heaven to be with Jesus. Again she com- 
 mended them to God, and requested her husband to 
 present them to her friends as two precious treasures 
 which God had given her. This idea of her children 
 being peculiarly the gift of God, was a prominent one 
 in the mind of Mrs. Wiley, and exerted a strong in- 
 fluence over all her intercourse with them. She 
 viewed them not as hers, but as God's — as sacred 
 trusts which he had deposited in her care. When 
 asked at this time if she felt desirous to depart and 
 be with Christ, she replied : " yes ; but I am in no 
 hurry ; to-day or to-morrow, when God shall please, 
 will do for the welcome messenger to come." One 
 of the little native boys who had been living in their 
 family, and in whom Mrs. Wiley had taken a deep 
 interest, came to see h^r this morning. She spoke a 
 
MRS. FEANCES J. WILEY. 193 
 
 short time to him in Chinese in words of affectionate 
 exhortation and encouragement, bnt soon found that 
 the effort exhausted her strength. She then gave her 
 husband several kind messages to interpret to him. 
 The little fellov? was much affected, declared his con- 
 fidence in the power of Jesus to save, and promised 
 to believe on him, that he also might go to heaven. 
 
 During most of the day on Tuesday she was in 
 perfect possession of her mind. This was a happy 
 day. A heavenly sweetness seemed to prevail around 
 her. She felt that she was almost home. Thougb 
 tarrying with us, and blessing us by her peaceful and 
 happy presence, she appeared to live in heaven. 
 About noon she thought the hour of her deliverance 
 had come, and called us into the room to pray with 
 her. During the prayer she manifested much joyful 
 feeling and great confidence in God, praising him for 
 enabling her to die so sweetly. It was, indeed, a 
 blessed privilege to witness death so completely di- 
 vested of its sting, and the grave of its victory. 
 During the night and the following day her intellect 
 was much affected. On "Wednesday a calm expression 
 settled upon her countenance, and a peaceful smile 
 gathered around her lips; and thus was passed the 
 day, without scarcely speaking a word. In the even- 
 ing her mind became more actively delirious, and she 
 talked incessantly during the night, her wanderings 
 being of a happy and innocent character, indicative 
 of the deep peace which prevailed in her soul. On 
 
194 THE MISSIO:?^ OEMETERT. 
 
 Thursday her reason did not again return ; but lier 
 wanderings ceased, and her strength began to give 
 way, and we felt that our dear friend was dying. 
 She continued to sink away gradually and softly, free 
 from all pain, and about four and a half o'clock in the 
 afternoon she gently fell asleep in Jesus. Her sweet 
 spirit, gentle in life, gentle in death, had peacefully 
 gone to be forever with the Lord. Nearly all our 
 little missionary board, with several natives, includ- 
 ing her teacher and her woman, stood around her 
 bed in silence, with tearful eyes and sad hearts, yet 
 rejoicing in this perfect triumph of grace through 
 the redeeming love of Christ. It was a beautiful 
 day ; a soft and mellow atmosphere prevailed around; 
 an atmosphere of love and heaven filled the room ; 
 and thus, in the midst of befitting circumstances, her 
 spirit passed away ; and we saw by an eye of faith 
 the angel-messengers, and the company which no man 
 could number, and Jesus, the glory of the heavenly 
 city, ready to welcome her to a home in heaven. 
 
 There is another very interesting and encouraging 
 incident connected with the death of our dear friend 
 which we feel unwilling to pass by. This was the 
 presence and devotion of her faithful Chinese woman. 
 She is a young married woman, of excellent charac- 
 ter, and had lived with Mrs. Wiley a little more than 
 two years, and had been as faithful and devoted a 
 servant a^ she had found an aff'ectionate and gentle 
 mistress. They had frequently talked together of 
 
MES. FEANCES J. WILET. 195 
 
 death, of God, and of tlie Saviour, and a mutual 
 strong attachment had sprung up between them. 
 During the last days of Mrs. "Wiley's illness this faith- 
 ful woman was almost constantly at her side, eager to 
 know and gratify every wish. During the day of 
 her death she stood by her bedside all the time in 
 the deepest distress, holding the hand of her dying 
 friend, and, in a peculiarly affectionate Chinese 
 movement, gently rubbing her limbs, while she was 
 sobbing with grief, and the tears were flowing con- 
 stantly from her eyes. At length when death came, 
 and the spirit of our sister had gone, she wept as if 
 her heart would break ; and when we kneeled down 
 to pray, she fell upon her knees close by the side of 
 the bereaved husband, at the bedside of her loved 
 friend, and we could not but feel that she was really 
 his nearest companion in grief. May we not hope 
 that God will sanctify this dispensation of his provi- 
 dence to her, and make it one means of leading her 
 heart to that Saviour who gave so peaceful a death to 
 one she had so much loved ! 
 
 We need add but little in illustration of the char- 
 acter of our departed sister. We might easily swell 
 this article to a much greater length by dwelling 
 upon the excellent traits which were exhibited in her 
 life, and it would be a delightful office to recall many 
 precious reminiscences of our cherished intercourse 
 with her. Deep humility, gentleness and sweetness of 
 disposition, active and far-reaching sympathies, meek- 
 
196 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 ness, resignation, and fortitude, combined with the most 
 unwavering faith in our Redeemer, were the traits 
 which rendered her hfe so useful, which so greatly 
 endeared her to all who knew her, and which gave 
 such interest to the scenes connected with her last 
 hours. This character shone most beautifully on her 
 death-bed. During the whole of her sickness she 
 ■was in a cheerful and thankful frame of mind. Every 
 kind office performed for her was received with ex- 
 pressions of thankfulness, and almost invariably with 
 a cheerful smile. A warm flannel applied to her 
 body, a cup of fresh, warm tea, or an agreeable arti- 
 cle of food, always elicited her thanks to the giver, 
 and expressions of gratitude to God for the many 
 comforts afforded her in her afflictions. 
 
 I cannot refrain from noting the following little 
 incident, which illustrates so much of her character. 
 Bathing her feverish face and hands in cold water 
 was peculiarly refreshing to her, and often drew from 
 her earnest expressions of thanks. On one occasion, 
 while her husband was performing this grateful office, 
 she said to him : " O how sorry I am I did not know 
 that this was so refreshing to the sick : I might have 
 given you so much comfort when you were sick a 
 year ago. But I did not know ; and then you were 
 not 90 low as I am." " No," replied her Imsband, 
 " I was not so low as you are." " "Well," said she, 
 " God's will be done ; I only wish to do and suffer 
 his will." 
 
MRS. ANNA M. WENTWORTH. 
 
 methodist episcopal mission, ruh chau. 
 By Eev. D. D. lore, 
 
 OK THK NKWAEK CONFKHKNCiC. 
 
MRS. ANNA M. WENT'.VORTH. 
 
XB. %nm U. ^t^tttto0rt|. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION, PUH OHAIT. 
 
 The American Church has been greatly honored 
 by its female missionaries. The names of many 
 among them are imperishable, and their memories 
 are as ointment poured forth. Our Christian women 
 have gone everywhere ; have made every sacrifice 
 for Christ and humanity's sake, not counting their 
 lives dear unto them. In this volume only a few of 
 these spiritual gems are set, sparkling in all their 
 beauty and brilliancy ; adornments of the bride of 
 the Lamb, reflecting light upon the Church of God. 
 We come with our jewel for this casket, which is one 
 of rare excellence. 
 
 Anna M., the daughter of J. J. Lewis, Esq., and 
 wife of Eev. Dr. Wentworth, was the youngest of 
 this devoted band of Christian missionaries. Her 
 work was short. Her footsteps merely marked her 
 field of toil to show the way from thence to heaven. 
 She greeted the heathen land with a smile, bade it an 
 aflfectionate farewell, and passed on over Jordan, 
 leaving her co-laborers gazing after her as an angel 
 
202 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 visitant. The subject of this sketch was born in 
 West Chester, Pa., on the 11th of June, 1829. Nor 
 did that month of bloom, amid its numberless bursting 
 buds, produce one more bright and fragrant than 
 Anna M. Lewis. Her home was beautifully situated 
 in one of the richest farming districts of her native 
 state, only two miles distant from the Brandywine 
 River, the loveliest of streams to those who, in child- 
 hood, have plucked flowers from its banks, and heard 
 its stories of Revolutionary heroism, and its legends 
 of Indian life and war. 
 
 Here, amid the quiet spirit-talk of nature, Anna's 
 young life was passed, and, as is perfectly natural 
 amid such surroundings, her mind early became con- 
 templative and imbued with a love of nature. These 
 characteristics were ever after prominent: contem- 
 plative in habit, and loving and communing with 
 nature. 
 
 Anna was further blessed with the excellent influ- 
 ences of a pious home circle. Mother, the presiding 
 spirit in a group of little ones, molds in moral form 
 and beauty, and trains and strengthens in principle, 
 the characters developed around her. In this circle 
 piety and intelligence combined presided. The fam- 
 ily training was a practical one. Religion was 
 taught as a life of usefulness, the influence of which 
 was early manifested by Anna in an earnest desire 
 to do something ; and being the eldest of a large 
 family of children, she had the opportunity of prac- 
 
MKS. AKNA M. WENTWOETH. 203 
 
 ticing it. Activity was a marked characteristic 
 through life. 
 
 In this Christian home there was also the addition- 
 al advantage of witnessing the power of religion in 
 suffering ; and seen under no other aspect can re- 
 ligion make so deep an impression of its worth and 
 loveliness. And the example here was the most fa- 
 vorable one. The sufferer was the mother, alwaj's 
 in feeble health from the earliest recollection of her 
 first-born ; and the piety was of that patient, confiding, 
 cheerful type that sits and sings : 
 
 " With Thee conversing, we forget 
 
 AH time, and toil, and care; 
 Labor is rest, and pain is sweet, 
 
 If thou, my Lord, art near." 
 
 How much this suffering glorified Christ, and rec- 
 ommended religion, and influenced the heart and 
 mind of Anna to choose the good part, cannot be 
 known. But it must have done much. This state 
 of health also brought the daughter into early and 
 immediate importance to her mother. She was the 
 ministering angel at her bedside ; she shared her 
 counsels, and performed duties and bore responsibili- 
 ties from which; under other circumstances, she 
 would have been free. This called forth, and rapid- 
 ly developed, all the tender qualities of her heart, and 
 gave a maturity to thought and habit beyond her 
 years. These features were strikingly exhibited in 
 Anna's after life. 
 
204 THE MISSION OEMETEEY. 
 
 The circumstances here enumerated were all form- 
 ative influences, natural and powerful in their ef- 
 fects, producing those excellences of character pos- 
 sessed by the subject of this sketch. But in addition 
 to these, and above them all, was the early washing 
 of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. 
 The swelling bud of character was rounded into form, 
 and the opening flower developed, under the sancti- 
 fying influences of the grace of God. In the fourteenth 
 year of her age, while under the sheltering wing of 
 home, Anna sought and found the forgiveness of sin, 
 and the renewal of her moral nature. From that 
 hour she entered upon that higher life hid with 
 Christ in God. This blessed change was experienced 
 on the 12th of November, 1842, during a season of re- 
 vival, under the ministry of Eev. Mr. Nicholson, who 
 has also entered upon his heavenly reward. 
 
 One of Anna's earliest and most intimate friends 
 writes concerning this period and event : " We were 
 thrown very much together, and many a serious talk 
 we had about the impressions we received at Sabbath 
 school ; but it was not until the revival in the Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church during Mr. Nicholson's min- 
 istry that they became deep enough to induce us to 
 give our hearts to Him who said, ' They that seek me 
 early shall find me.' How indelibly all that trans- 
 pired then is stamped on my memory. It was at a 
 Saturday night prayer-meeting that Anna received the 
 small beginnings of grace which afterward shone so 
 
MRS. ANWA M. WENTWOETH. 205 
 
 beautifully in her life. Some one came to me saying 
 Anna wanted me. I found her whole countenance 
 lighted up with the blessed change, and while tears 
 of joy bedewed her face, she exclaimed : ' Annie ! 
 help me to praise the Lord ;' and then, in the beau- 
 tiful words of the Psalmist, her full heart found utter- 
 ance : ' Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is 
 within me bless his holy name !' " 
 
 Here we have a satisfactory and Scriptural conver- 
 sion. In view of her youth, and the solemnity and 
 responsibility of Church membership, it was thought 
 advisable by her parents that she should postpone her 
 Church connection for the present, and test her new- 
 born experience in daily life. Accordingly this step 
 was deferred until her ensuing birthday; yet in the 
 mean time she was dihgent in the use of all the means 
 of grace, and, the same friend writes, " always occu- 
 pying the seat in the corner, rendered so dear to her 
 as the place where God met her." Her fourteenth 
 birthday, the llth of June, 1843, was a memorable 
 day to Anna. On that day she gave herself to the 
 visible Church of Christ, was baptized in the name 
 of the Holy Trinity, approached the table of the Lord, 
 and received for the first time the tokens of his bro- 
 ken body and shed blood. It was a day of sealing 
 unto a life of Christian labor first, and then to eternal 
 redemption ; both of which results are already re- 
 alized. 
 
 She commenced her work at once. Her friend 
 
 13 
 
206 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 writes: "The missionary spirit showed itself very 
 early. I can remember many conversations about 
 the heathen, and her earnest desire, if she grew up, 
 to become a teacher among them. She carried a 
 missionary subscription for a long time. Many a 
 trudge through the snow and rain we have had 
 together, while she collected the monthly contribu- 
 tions for poor old Mr. B. I remember, too, her de- 
 voting her afternoons to the care of the sick children 
 of a poor woman, who was anxiously inquiring after 
 the way of life, thai; she might attend church. While 
 others of her own age were taking amusement in the 
 plays of girlhood, Anna sat in the room of squalid 
 poverty, soothing fretful children by her gentleness 
 and pleasant stories." 
 
 Early in the year 1845 she was sent to the Wil- 
 mington Female Collegiate Institute. This was her 
 first removal from the fostering influences of home. 
 It was the first severe test of character, of Christian 
 character especially. A boarding school is a fiery fur- 
 nace to the young student. How Anna's Christian 
 character bore this test, we have the best account 
 from a schoolmate. She writes : " The record of her 
 Christian life is spotless. Upon entering college, she 
 resolutely took a stand for God and kept it. Some- 
 times almost alone, and never more than feebly sup- 
 ported by Christian sympathy, she was unwearied in 
 well-doing. Her faith always soared heavenward. 
 Each succeeding Sabbath, in her seat at class-meet- 
 
MRS. ANNA M. WENTWOETH. 20*7 
 
 ing, her words were siicb as to lift up the hands that 
 hung down. At our social prayer-meetings her sim- 
 ple fervor, faithful, bold appeals to the throne of 
 grace, were answered to many a waiting soul by 
 mercy obtained and grace afforded to help in time 
 of need. When strengthened by times of refresh- 
 ing from the presence of the Lord, she was not 
 therefore the less vigilant, the less watchful unto 
 prayer. Hers was not a religion that 
 
 " Stood the storms when waves were rough, 
 
 But in a sunny hour fell off, 
 Like ships that have gone down at sea 
 When heaven was all tranquillity." 
 
 Her mind was stayed upon the Lord, and the conse- 
 quence was her peace flowed like a river. If dark- 
 ness began to gather on her spiritual sky, before the 
 cloud became larger than a man's hand she went to 
 Him before whose presence the darkness is dispersed 
 and the shadows flee away. If she lacked wisdom, 
 she asked of Him who "giveth liberally and upbraid- 
 eth not." Her doubts were all resolved by the 
 ""Wonderful, Counselor." Acknowledging God in 
 all her ways, she could claim to have her paths di- 
 rected by him. 
 
 The following extracts from her own pen show her 
 religious character, and her interest in the cause of 
 Christ at this time. Of a revival, in connection with 
 the school, she writes : " The second Sunday evening 
 of the meeting, the weather being too unpleasant for 
 
208 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 ns to attend Church, Mr. P. (the principal of the 
 school) allowed us to have a prayer-meeting among 
 ourselves at home. Two of the girls were converted 
 that night, and the work then and there begun has 
 been going on ever since, It has not been quite 
 three weeks since, and yet about twenty-five have 
 made a profession of religion. Don't you think 
 we must have joyous times ? "We have been greatly 
 blessed, and know not how to be thankful enough for 
 our blessings. But the revival has not been confined 
 to the school ; although the girls set the example, a 
 great many others have followed it, and the altar has 
 been crowded night after night ever since." 
 
 These extracts present us with a Christian charac- 
 ter of no ordinary type for a school-girl. We find 
 the same purity, fervor, and consistency here, sur- 
 rounded by all the excitements and enticements of a 
 large school, as when we traced the footsteps of the 
 youthful Christian through the quiet streets of the 
 country village on her errands of m-ercy for the poor 
 and the sick. Anna's religion bore the test. 
 
 With natural abilities far above mediocritjr, and 
 the regulating influence of religion, we are prepared 
 to expect more than ordinary success as a student. 
 Anna was naturally ambitious to excel, added to 
 which was indomitable perseverance, guch must 
 succeed. The schoolmate already quoted says : 
 
 " As a scholar she was without a peer in college. 
 In every department she excelled. When compo- 
 
MK8. AZSTKA M. WENTWORTH. 209 
 
 sitions were read, however listless and forced the 
 attention that had been given to previous readers, 
 Anna always commanded a universal attitude of in- 
 terest, a brightening, intelligent eye, and responsive 
 appreciating glances. In recitations she was rarely 
 at fault. In matters legitimately within the province 
 of reason, what shallower and less carefully trained 
 minds received with unquestioning faith she refused 
 credence to, unless sustained by a sufficiency, if not 
 an opulence of evidence. Authority made a thing 
 probable, but not certain to her. 
 
 "Loving music with all the earnestness of her nature, 
 it is not wonderful that she excelled as a performer. 
 Her musical abilities were the pride of the whole 
 school, and challenged the admiration of all who 
 heard her. She was indispensable on parlor even- 
 ings. Should indisposition, or the paralyzing timidity 
 of some tyro in the art divine, incapacitate one of the 
 performei's, there needed therefore be no failure in the 
 performance. Professor G. was willing to trust Anna 
 with an entirely new part. I well remember her 
 exclamation, after having played with inspiration 
 almost some beautiful variations of Herz : ' If such 
 a wish be not of the earth, earthy, I want to play 
 that upon my harp when I get to heaven .' 
 . " Plutarch says : ' Censure is a tax which all must 
 pay for being eminent ;' but the word of God de- 
 clares, ' When a man's ways please the Lord, he 
 maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.' 
 
210 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Anna was thus blessed. ISTotwithstanding her mental 
 and moral superiority, she was a favorite in the 
 school. One waited in vain for a word of detraction, 
 for a disparaging ' but.' No compensatory weakness 
 was placed in the other balance. Her jealousy-dis- 
 arming appearance, her unpretending yet dignified 
 manner, quietly dissipated every unworthy feeling, 
 and right willingly we all acquiesced in the gentle 
 rule which held all hearts in subjection." 
 
 Anna remained in school two years and a half, 
 graduating in 1847 with the highest honors of her 
 class, being the valedictorian of the day. 
 
 She returned to her home the same affectionate 
 daughter and devoted Christian that she was when 
 she left, it, prepared by her scholastic course for 
 greater usefulness. Home needed her presence at 
 this time, and the need was fully met. Her mother's 
 health was so feeble that almost the entire duties and 
 responsibilities of mistress of the household, as well 
 as nurse, devolved upon her. But the family cares 
 and duties, and the entertainment of company and 
 friends, which would have been quite sufficient to ab- 
 sorb all the time and thoughts of most young ladies, 
 did not prevent Anna from taking an active part in 
 all the duties of a Church member. She immediately 
 sought her place in the Sabbath school. She studied- 
 to be useful to the children placed under her care. 
 She prayed for and with them, for which purpose she 
 met them in the church aXfioe d'olock in the morning. 
 
MES. ANNA M. WENTWORTH. 211 
 
 If necessarily absent, one of her first cares was to 
 provide a suitable teacher for her class. The class 
 placed under her charge remained with her until 
 those who composed it were made teachers them- 
 selves. Her interest in this good work never fluctu- 
 ated. In referring to other engagements as a teacher, 
 she remarked that she liad her experience in Sabbath 
 school to encourage her. " I commenced," she says, 
 " with some doubt ; but instead of growing weary of 
 it, my interest increased every week, until it became 
 a real trial for me to be absent from the school a 
 single day. But then," she adds, " I was particularly 
 favored in my class." And just so every faithfid 
 Sabbath-school teacher thinks and feels. 
 
 Her judgment did not approve of Sabbath-school 
 exhibitions for the purpose of raising funds; yet when 
 they were decided upon she entered into them with 
 all the enthusiasm of her nature, sometimes writing 
 pieces to be spoken, at others writing both hymns 
 and music for the singing classes, and always devoting 
 her time cheerfully to the training of the children. 
 
 If money was to be collected in the Church, or for 
 objects of general benevolence, Anna was almost 
 invariably fixed upon as one of the collectors ; and 
 she seldom failed, with her pleasant manners, to obtain 
 something even from those unaccustomed to give. 
 Her special favorites were those who responded 
 cheerfully to the calls of benevolence. Of such she 
 was wont to say : "I love to ask them for money, for it 
 
212 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 seems to be so mncli pleasure for them to give." She 
 not only asked others to give, she gave herself. She 
 knew the blessedness of giving, and it was this that 
 first induced her to turn her accomplishments to the 
 purpose of making money. In several instances, when 
 money was much needed for church purposes, she, 
 with the assistance of some of her young friends, 
 gave concerts of music, by which she realized much 
 more than she could otherwise have contributed. 
 And for the same purpose she gave music lessons, 
 devoting to charity all she received in this way. At 
 one time, when there was an urgent call for funds in 
 the Church, she gave her name for quite a large sum, 
 and then took music scholars enough to meet the 
 amount from among her friends, who were at all 
 times glad to avail themselves of her musical skill 
 and her aptness to teach. In writing to her father, 
 while teaching school in Maryland, she gives as a 
 reason for continuing : " My wants are increasing. I 
 want money, not only to spend, but to give away. I 
 am interested in the Church, in the missionary cause, 
 the Sabbath school, etc., etc. ; and I know of no way 
 of really giving money but first to earn it." Her be- 
 nevolence not only prompted her to labor, but also 
 to sacrifice to meet its demands. Upon one occasion 
 an effort was being made to liquidate the debt on the 
 church of which she was a member, when, in order 
 to increase her contributions, she appropriated money 
 which had been given her by her parents for the pur- 
 
MES. A.NNA M. WENTWOETH. 213 
 
 chase of a new bonnet, and resolved that the old one 
 should be worn. This act will be the more appreci- 
 ated when we remember that her family relations 
 and personal superiority gave her a place in the first 
 circles of society. 
 
 She remained at home about three years, pursuing 
 a course of uninterrupted usefulness, except by a 
 severe attack of illness in the spring of 1851. In the 
 autumn of 1852 she engaged as an assistant teacher 
 in a school in East New Market, Md. As already 
 stated, the influencing motives that induced her to 
 enter upon teaching were, a desire to increase her 
 usefulness, to do something, and also furnish herself 
 with means for charitable objects. In accounting for 
 the choice to a friend, she said: "I am not satisfied 
 with this idle life. I am not needed at home, and 
 feel as if I ought to be making myself useful in the 
 world. Something almost compels me to go." She 
 continued in the school until the close of the tej'm in 
 July, 1853, when she returned home, worn down with 
 watching and labor. A sister had been with her at 
 school who had been seriously ill with typhoid fever, 
 watching whom, with school duties, had proved too 
 much for Anna's strength. She scarcely reached 
 home before she was prostrated by an attack of the 
 same disease. Her illness was severe : for five weeks 
 she was confined to her bed, and at times hopes of 
 her recovery were feeble indeed. The good provi- 
 dence of God, however, raised her up for his glory. 
 
214 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Her health being again re-established, she engaged in 
 her silent and unobtrusive Christian labors in her 
 native village. She spent much of her time visiting 
 the poor and the sick, and administering to their 
 wants during this winter. She was, as ever, prompt 
 and versatile in devising the means of relief, and 
 active and cheerful in procuring and applying them. 
 She treated the poor, not as objects of mere pity, 
 worthy of benevolent regard, but as members of a 
 common family with herself, entitled by ties of natural 
 affinity to her care ; and the charity which came from 
 her hand was dispensed with a delicacy which, while 
 it seemed to deny all obligation, made the receiver 
 doubly grateful. "When human aid failed to avail, 
 she would point the sufferer to a source of relief that 
 is unfailing, bowing in prayer at the bedside of the 
 sick and dying. "Whatever was done for others 
 in this way was done with so cheerful a spirit, and 
 with so little apparent effort, that those who knew 
 her best rarely suspected that she was thus employed. 
 Thus was the subject of our sketch actively and 
 constantly engaged in labors of love and Christian 
 duties ; taking an interest in all Church enterprises, 
 temporal and spiritual, and efficiently promoting 
 them. "We find her in the Sabbath school a most 
 successful teacher; and in the prayer-meeting, the 
 class-meeting, and love-feast, and in the sick chamber, 
 her voice is heard uttering prayers and counsels. A 
 friend writes : " She never shrunk from the cross. I 
 
MRS. ANNA M. WENTWOETH. 215 
 
 do not remember seeing her ever sit still in the love- 
 feast, and often she rose there as an example and 
 encouragement to her Sabbath-school class, or to 
 recommend religious saving power to the children." 
 In active duty her example is worthy of all imitation. 
 
 Undoubtedly, the hidden spring of such a life must 
 be deep personal piety. The flame that shines so 
 brightly must be constantly fed by the oil of divine 
 anointing. Some extracts from letters and conversa- 
 tions with friends will admit us more immediately 
 into the inner chambers of her heart. 
 
 On the 1st of Janviary, 1854, she wrote : " Another 
 and another year ! How swiftly they pass ! I look 
 back upon the one that has just been completed with 
 the mingled feelings which are inseparable from these 
 stopping-places in life. It has been, in comparison 
 with the other years of my life, fall of incident ; or 
 rather, the incidents have been different from those 
 that have filled former years. I remember the solemn 
 watch-night with which it was ushered in, more 
 solemn to me than any other I can recall. How 
 solemnly, how earnestly I then vowed to lead a new 
 life! How have I performed that vow? Not as I 
 should have done. God knows with what deep con- 
 trition of spirit I look back upon many of the words, 
 and thoughts, and deeds of the past year. But as its 
 record lies before me, I can still look back upon all 
 its hours of sinfulness and weariness, as well as many 
 of happiness and great peace, and thank God for that 
 
216 THE jnSSION CEMETERY. 
 
 first hour in which I felt my noble purposes and 
 heavenward aspirations so strengthened and purified. 
 The fii-st seven months I spent in New Market, in the 
 capacity of a teacher. I still feel, as I felt in going 
 there, that there was something providential in it— 
 that I was sent. Why, I do not yet clearly see; but 
 I think it did me good. Amid many privations and 
 trials I had many blessings, and as the greatest of 
 all, I record the peace and quiet happiness that are 
 always given to those who endeavor to walk steadily 
 in the pathway of duty. May God help me to spend 
 the coming year better than the past ! and may each 
 succeeding year, as it speeds into eternity, bear rec- 
 ord of better deeds and a purer life than the one that 
 preceded it!" These "stopping-places in life" must 
 have been peculiarly blest to Anna. Of the blessing 
 and power of another such she says, in referring 
 to it : "I enjoyed such uninterrupted peace and com- 
 fort for a long time, I felt like praying and praising 
 all the time. Such precious seasons I passed in my 
 room with my Bible, and engaged in prayer — no, it 
 was not prayer, it was commimion." In another of 
 her letters, under date of June 13, 1854, she writes 
 of the preceding Sabbath, and says: "I too enjoyed 
 the day very much. It was my birthday, and that 
 you know is a double anniversary with me. Eleven 
 years ago, on Sunday afternoon the 11th of June, Mr. 
 Nicholson baptized me and admitted me into the 
 Church, and of course the day has become to me a 
 
MES. ANNA M. WENTWOKTH. 217 
 
 consecrated one, set apart to solemn retrospection, 
 self-examination, and prayer. Last Sunday afternoon 
 I had the privilege of kneeling at the communion 
 board and solemnly renewing the vows I had made 
 on my fourteenth birthday at the same altar. "Will 
 they be fulfilled ? I can scarcely hope they will. If 
 any are, it will only be because God has ordained 
 praise from the weakest of his creatures. One thing 
 I can confidently say in there trospect of these eleven 
 years, that there has not been one hour in which I 
 have regretted the important step then taken, or when 
 I had any inclination to return to the world. Every 
 day I am more and more convinced that 'godliness is 
 profitable to all things.' " 
 
 The following is an extract from the letter of an 
 intimate friend : " One little incident often occurs to 
 my mind. We were standing at the third story win- 
 dow, watching the rising sun, the morning before S.'s 
 death. My heart was impressed with the solemnity, 
 the awfulness of death, and I whispered to Anna, as 
 the sun's rays burst from behind a cloud, 'Shall we 
 ever be able to behold the brightness of His glory and 
 live ?' ' I hope so, I believe so,' she replied ; ' I know 
 that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at 
 the latter day upon the earth. And though after my 
 skin worms destroy this body, yet in my fiesh shall I 
 see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes 
 shall behold and not another.' Eor a long time we 
 talked of the rest and the beauty of heaven." 
 
218 THE MISSION CEMETEET, 
 
 To the same friend slie said, speaking of her own 
 illness : " I don't know why the Lord spared my life. 
 I felt ready to die then, I had not a care or anxiety 
 about the future ; but it must have been that I might 
 glorify him by a more devoted life, or perhaps I am to 
 suffer for Christ. You know I have never had much 
 trouble. I feel under such obligations, and as if I were 
 living so much beneath what God requires of me." 
 
 The longing of her soul for entire conformity to the 
 will of God had greatly increased ; God, no doubt, 
 working in her to will and to do of his good pleasure 
 in preparing her for a most important crisis in her 
 history, now but a step before her. With this hun- 
 gering and thirsting spirit, to be " filled with all the 
 fullness of God," she went to the Ked Lion camp- 
 meeting in the summer of the year 1854. With 
 deep earnestness of soul she sought more of the life 
 of God, nor did she seek in vain. A friend writes : 
 " I was sitting beside her when she gained the victory 
 over her own heart, and felt that her will and all 
 care were given up for Christ. Bishop Scott was 
 preaching from the text : ' Mary hath chosen the 
 good part which shall not be taken away from her.' 
 She had always feared her ability to retain the 
 blessing of perfect peace, if once obtained. After the 
 excitement of camp-meeting, and her return to the 
 cares and perplexities of daily life, in reply to the 
 inquiry whether she felt the same peace and comfort, 
 she answered : 
 
MRS. ANNA M. WENTWOKTH. 219 
 
 ' I hold Tliee with a trembling hand, 
 
 And wOl not let thee go, 
 Till steadfastly by faith I stand, 
 
 And all thy goodness know.' 
 
 This is my language if I feel my faith faltering in 
 the least; but my mind is kept in undisturbed 
 peace.' " 
 
 Such was her inward life of union and communion 
 with God, and by this last great blessing of " perfect 
 peace," he had prepared her for that act of entire 
 consecration of her all to the missionary work. It 
 was not, we believe, until after this experience that 
 she consented to share with Dr. Wentworth the pri- 
 vations and perils of missionary life in China. 
 
 The views which she entertained of the great work, 
 and the feelings with which she entered upon it, may 
 be gathered from the following. On the 30th of 
 August she wrote : 
 
 " Yesterday morning Dr. "W. left us, and I have 
 had two days to review the strange events of the past 
 few weeks. Who could have believed that so short 
 a time could have so changed all my prospects and 
 plans ? Judging from the dictates of human wisdom, 
 it seems most rash to allow so short a time to decide 
 
 matters of so great moment But as I try 
 
 to bring a calm judgment to sit upon my decisions, 
 I cannot find anything to regret. And why should 
 I regret it ? Have I not many times asked the Lord 
 to direct all my paths ? And shall I not believe that 
 
220 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 he will do it? Have I not for years asked, ' Lord, 
 what wilt thou have me to do V And when by his 
 providence he seems to have laid a noble work be- 
 fore me, shall I refuse to enter upon it ? liather I will 
 thankfully acknowledge the goodness that has chosen 
 me for a post of such exalted honor ; and while I feel 
 in the depths of my nature my unfitness for the work, 
 I will implicitly confide in the wisdom and grace that 
 are able to ordain praise from the weakest of his 
 creatures. I know it is a great undertaking, and I 
 want to be able rationally to count the cost, and yet 
 not to harass myself with needless fears. There must 
 of course be privation and toil. I must leave friends, 
 who have seemed almost as necessary to my life as 
 the air I have breathed ; but my heart goes out in 
 thankfulness to God, that while he has called me to 
 leave much, he has given me a strqng arm and a no- 
 ble heart to lean upon. In this I recognize a pledge 
 of what he will do for me. Already he has given me 
 an earthly guide, and counselor, and teacher, and I 
 feel sure that all his influence will be to exalt and 
 ennoble me, and make me more worthy of him and 
 the cause to which we have consecrated our lives." 
 
 Such were her views of this great undertaking, and 
 they impress us as those of a mature Christian mind. 
 Such a mind does not require a long time to reach a 
 wise practical result. We think it likely that all 
 decisions for high enterprises are made promptly, but 
 they are not therefore rash decisions. 
 
MES. ANNA M. WENTWOKTH. 221 
 
 Tlie Eev. Dr. "Wentworth being already under 
 appointment for China, the marriage engagement 
 was necessarily hastened to its consummation. The 
 wedding day was fixed early in October, but in con- 
 sequence of the severe illness of a sister, was defeiTcd 
 until the 31st of that month, when it was celebrated 
 in her father's library, in the presence of a small 
 circle of relatives and friends. Bishop Scott perform- 
 ing the ceremony. 
 
 In a letter to a friend, written on the 5th of l^ovem- 
 ber, the first from Mrs. Wentworth, we detect the 
 cheerful Christian spirit of Anna M. Lewis. She says : 
 
 " I think yon will agree with me, that it is something 
 to have spent six such bright happy days as I have 
 spent since I left home on Tuesday morning. Every- 
 thing has seemed to add to their brightness : bright 
 sunshine, glorious moonlight, fine prospects, kind 
 friends — nothing has been wanting. Of course I do 
 not expect life to be made up of such. Longfellow 
 has told us, ' Life is earnest,' even if we had fiot 
 known it before, and I no doubt shall have my share 
 of its ills ; but it will be pleasant always to look back 
 upon these pleasant days, and we may perhaps gather 
 brightness from them to light some darker spot." 
 
 In reference to her departure, she says in the same 
 
 letter : " I am sorry to be obliged to go off in such a 
 
 hurry ; but perhaps it is the better way ; a longer 
 
 time would only lengthen the pang of parting. It 
 
 seems now almost impossible that we should be com- 
 14 
 
222 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 fortably prepared in so short a time ; bnt so far Prov- 
 idence has kindly smoothed our way and made every 
 thing come out right ; and I have confidence to be- 
 lieve that all will yet be right, and that we Avill not 
 be called upon to sail one day before it is best for us 
 to go." 
 
 During this bridal tour a visit was made to the 
 E.ev. Mr. Cookman, her former pastor, then stationed 
 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Of this visit he writes: 
 " A few weeks previous to their embarkation, it was 
 our happiness to welcome Dr. Wentworth and lady 
 to our home in Harrisburg. In conversation we 
 seemed to live over the past, and the hours sped en- 
 tirely too swiftly away. A little while before wo 
 bade these precious friends a final farewell, Mrs. C. 
 remarked to Anna that she hoped they might meet 
 again in the future, and renew their delightful inter- 
 course. To this Anna responded in a sweet and sub- 
 dued manner, 'No; I shall never return! I go expect- 
 ing to die in China.' 'Then' said Mrs. C. impulsively, 
 ' why do you go ?' Her beautiful answer was : ' It 
 is no further from China to heaven than from my own 
 pleasant home in West Chester.' " 
 
 It was expected that they would sail early in De- 
 cember ; but vai'ious delays occurring detained them 
 until the 8th of January, 1855. They left home, ac- 
 companied b}^ Anna's mother, and repaired to New 
 York, from which port they sailed. From thence, on 
 New- Year's day, Mrs. Wentworth wrote to her fa- 
 
MRS. AI^KA M. WENTWORTH. 223 
 
 ther : " My first thought on waking this beautiful 
 morning was to begin the new year by writing a let- 
 ter to you ; but finding we were to visit the vessel 
 in the course of the morning, I thought it better to 
 wait and give you, a little later, my impression of our 
 wmter-quarters. We took an omnibus at the corner 
 of Spring-street and Broadway, and rode to Pier No. 
 20, where the " Storm " lies. It is a little place 
 to be sure. The cabin is even smaller than I ex- 
 pected, but so much more cosy and comfortable 
 looking that I was agreeably disappointed. There 
 is room in it for a dining-table, a little stove, a few 
 chairs, and perhaps a melodeon. On each side of it 
 there is a long, narrow state-room, and two more 
 roomy ones back. The largest of them the captain 
 has fitted up in a way that shows he has a good ap- 
 preciation of the good things of life. The other 
 we will occupy. It is not very large, but the berths 
 look comfortable, and we are supplied with a wash- 
 stand and looking-glass. I think we will be as com- 
 fortable there as it is possible to be when sea-sick, 
 and at other times we will want to be in the cabin or 
 on deck. The decks are roomy and pleasant, and I 
 think, whenever the weather is pleasant, we shall 
 spend most of the time on them." 
 
 " The captain thinks he may sail on Thursday ; but 
 even that seems doubtful, for he told Mr. Gibson that 
 his cargo was still small, and intimated that he would 
 not be unwilling to wait if therie was a prospect of a 
 
224 THE JIISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 better. If we should be detained here, from day to 
 day, for a week longer, I hope you will be able to 
 come on and take a look at our quarters. I think you 
 would think more pleasantly of lis if you could do so. 
 There is none of the discomfort and dreariness about it 
 that I had imagined, and I have no doubt we shall be 
 able to make it feel quite homelike after we have been 
 there a little time. The uncertainty of the ship's sail- 
 ing makes it almost impossible to go home again, 
 and even if I could, I should dread so much the pain 
 of another parting that I should scarcely risk it. I 
 feel now that the great trial of leaving home has 
 been passed through. I have broken ties that were 
 dear as life itself, and I should not want to renew the 
 pain for all of us, imless I could spend some time with 
 you. Still I wish very, very much, dear father, that 
 you could come on here. I want so much to take your 
 hand again. Your pale face, and the look of suffer- 
 ing you wore the morning we left has haunted me 
 ever since, and I have sometimes felt that I must be 
 doing wrong, to give so much pain in return for so 
 much love and kindness. But I know you would be 
 the last one to hold me back from anything that 
 seemed a call of duty. You know that I do not go 
 with any romantic idea of doing a great work, or of 
 immolating myself upon the missionary altar ; but 
 with the desire to stand in the lot that Providence 
 seems now to be appointing me, and to do the work 
 I find there as well as I am able. Wherever I go I 
 
MES. AWNA M. WENTWORTH. 225 
 
 hope I shall be the better and more useful woman for 
 the tender care you have lavished upon me, and that 
 the knowledge that I am filling my place in a sphere 
 of usefulness may be a comfort to you when I cannot 
 afford you any other. I have left a very happy home, 
 but I hope I shall carry its influences with me, and 
 be able to reflect something of its brightness on my 
 new home across the waters. Indeed, I am sure, 
 wherever I go, the remembrance will always cast 
 light on dark places. Thank you for your very kind 
 letters. Ton may be sure I did not road them with- 
 out many tears, but they were pleasant ones. I have 
 a great deal to say; but it is growing late, and I shall 
 try to write every day while we stay. I need not tell 
 you we shall want to hear from you often, because 
 you know that, and I am sure you will write as often 
 as you can. 
 
 " Please give my love to Letty, Joe, and the dear 
 children, and a kiss to darling little Willie, whom I 
 left crying bitterly behind the stove. 
 
 " God bless you, my dearest father, for all your 
 kindness, and tenderness, and love. My heart will 
 bless you always." 
 
 On the Tth of January she wrote again to her fa- 
 ther a letter full of natural affection, and tenderness, 
 and true Christian devotion. It was her last letter 
 written on her native soil, and written on her last 
 Christian Sabbath in a Christian land. She append- 
 ed the next morning : " The day is clear and the 
 
226 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 wind seems fair, and as everything else is ready, it 
 seems probable that the time of our departure has 
 really come. I have only to add a last ' good-by,' 
 with the earnest prayer that God will keep and bless 
 my dear father, and, if it is his will, permit me to see 
 him, with all the dear ones at home, once more on 
 earth." 
 
 On the 8th of January, 1855, she left her father- 
 land to return no more. 
 
 The heart-heaving emotions and choking utterances 
 of such partings cannot be described ; they cannot be 
 imagined by those who have never been subjected to 
 them. It is a surrender of all things for Christ's sake. 
 It is a perfect practical triumph of grace over nature. 
 And our wives and daughters who thus consecrate 
 themselves, by surrendering every flattering and ten- 
 der tie of the past and present, and firmly facing dan- 
 ger and death, are the purest, noblest spirits of the 
 age. Mrs. Wentworth thus consecrated herself, and 
 is now reaping her reward. 
 
 After a voyage of one hundred and thirty-seven 
 days, stopping in the mean time at Singapore, they 
 reached Hong Kong. In her firet letter to her mother, 
 written dm-ing her voyage, she says : " The first few 
 weeks were very trying to me. I had no society and 
 no occupation for either mind or body, and I felt then 
 as I feel now, that it was no small cause for thankful- 
 ness that my spirits so seldom flagged. I prayed con- 
 stantly for courage and cheerfulness, and God gave 
 
MES. a:s^na jr. 'wentwokth. 227 
 
 them to me. Indeed, since the hour I bade you 
 ' good-by ' in JSTew York harbor, I have never for a 
 moment regretted the step I have taken, nor doubted 
 that I am just in the path where Providence has 
 placed me. "With such a conviction, it is not difficult 
 to be satisfied with the present and hopeful for the 
 future ; and I try, in the fullest and most literal sense, 
 to cast all my care on Him who cai-eth for me. 1 
 have felt many, many times that it was a great com- 
 fort to know that you were praying for me at home ; 
 and I have often realized the truth of one of the few 
 good things we heard Brother P. say at the camp- 
 meeting last summer, that the prayers of a good 
 mother were a great support in times of trial and diffi- 
 culty. ... I have not been on shore yet, and have 
 not seen a woman's face. Does it not seem strange, 
 mother, that I have been separated from you one 
 hundred and two days, and that you are the last 
 woman I have seen? I can hardly tell whether 
 I have missed female society or not. There have 
 been times when I have felt that I would almost give 
 all the world, China included, to see you or sisters, 
 but no stranger could have taken your place." 
 
 In another, to a sister, dated " China Sea, May 23, 
 1855," when nearing Hong Kong, she writes : " I 
 am not certain that I am quite in my sober senses 
 this morning, or that I shall be able to write anything 
 that a sensible woman will care to read ; but we are 
 nearing Hong Kong, and as we cannot tell how much 
 
228 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 or how little time we may have there for writing, I 
 want to make sure of the matter, and have a few 
 letters ready for the mail before we anchor. I have 
 in part explained to you the cause of my unusual ex- 
 citement, ' nearing Hong Kong.' After spending one 
 hundred and thirty-five days on the heaving ocean, 
 subjected to the dangers and discomforts of a sea-life, 
 the idea of being again on shore, surrounded by 
 something like home comforts, is itself exciting. But 
 when you remember that land is China, the land so 
 long looked to, so long hoped for, our future home, 
 and perhaps our grave, you will not wonder that the 
 thought of being within fifty miles of it makes the 
 pulse beat more quickly, and sends to the heart a 
 strange thrill." 
 
 On May 28th she dated from Hong Kong to her 
 mother ; China was reached. In her first letter writ- 
 ten on Chinese soil, after expressing her gratitude to 
 God for preserving her through the perils of a long 
 voyage, and thankfulness for the prospect of a quiet 
 home at last, she adds : " Yes, and thankful to be 
 here; for even while I feel most painfully the separa- 
 tion from home, I can appreciate the privilege of be- 
 ing here, and feel that I would not exchange my lot 
 for any other." From the tone of this letter it is 
 evident that her health had not improved during the 
 voyage, and the heat of the season at once produced 
 great lassitude. 
 
 While at Hong Kong they were hospitably enter- 
 
MRS. ANNA M. WENTWOKTH. 229 
 
 tained by Eev. Mr. Jolinson, an American mission- 
 ary in that city. They were detained about two 
 weeks, waiting for an opportunity to go up to Fuh 
 Chau. On the 7th of June they embarked on board 
 the " Spit-fire," an American cHpper, for the end of 
 their voyage, still six hundred miles distant. A de- 
 scription of this part of their voyage, and their recep- 
 tion at Fuh Chau, and first impressions of their new 
 home, are given in the following letter from Mrs. 
 Wentworth to her father. It bears date " Fuh Chau, 
 June 20th, 1855." 
 
 "Instead of the long letters I had expected to 
 write on my arrival at Fuh Chau, I am afraid I shall 
 have to make one short and hasty one answer. By 
 some strange arrangement, the mail we had expected 
 to send in July is advertised to close to-day at noon, 
 and I have only time for a few lines to assure you of 
 our safe arrival and kind reception, and must leave 
 the many little particulars I would like to write for 
 another opportunity. I wrote you from the vessel 
 Spitfire, dating my letter, I think, the day we went 
 on board. That was Thursday morning the seventh. 
 Mr. Johnston, who went on board with us, took leave 
 of us. directly after dinner; but in consequence of 
 heavy rains and light winds we did not get out of the 
 harbor till Saturday afternoon. All Saturday it rain- 
 ed, and all Sunday. Monday, which was my birth- 
 day, it seemed as if the flood-gates above us had given 
 way, and the water fell in sheets. In the afternoon 
 
230 THE MISSIOIT CElIETEEr. 
 
 it was necessary to fasten down the sky-liglits and 
 shut every shutter to keep out the driving rain. All 
 the week the rain continued almost without cessation, 
 and it was not till Thursday morning we saw the first 
 gleam of sunshine. The rolling of the vessel made 
 all sea-sick, and you may imagine it was an uncom- 
 fortable time. It was probably, too, a time of more 
 danger than any other we have passed through. For 
 an entire week we tossed among rocks and sand- 
 banks, without a single observation of the sun to tell 
 where we were. 
 
 " On Thursday morning the sun came out, and the 
 captain found that we were but forty miles from the 
 mouth of the Min. A few hours' sail brought us to 
 the first sand-bar, where we anchored to wait for a 
 pilot. The navigation of the river is very difficult, 
 especially to vessels as large as the Spit-fire, and our 
 captain, besides being naturally a very cautious man, 
 was part owner of the vessel, and not disposed to run 
 any risks ; so we came up slowly, just as wind and 
 tide favored, and did not come in sight of Kianpai 
 Pass, four or five miles from the mouth of the river, 
 till some time on Sabbath day. Word was immedi- 
 ately sent up to the city announcing our arrival, and 
 early the next morning, about three o'clock, we were 
 aroused by the arrival of Dr. Welton, the Church of 
 England physician and missionary, who brought a 
 boat large enough for Mr. and Mrs. Macaw, Mr. 
 Fernley, and ourselves ; and also letters to us from 
 
MRS. ANXA M. WENTWOETH. 231 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Maclay, giving us a welcome to China, 
 and an invitation to come immediately to their house. 
 The gentlemen got up to receive Dr. "Welton, and 
 consult about leaving the ship. The English party 
 decided to leave after an early breakfast. At eight 
 o'clock we bade our friends ' good-by,' and sat down 
 in our cabin to a quiet day alone. 
 
 " We lay at anchor all day without any wind ; but 
 about four o'clock were surprised to see a steamboat, 
 having a tea-laden vessel in tow, come puffing down 
 the river. Captain Aery went immediately on board, 
 to secure her services, and by five the next morning 
 she was churning and puffing at our side. 
 
 " One of the most pleasant and exciting things in 
 our whole voyage was the passage from Kianpai 
 Pass to Pagoda Island. The scenery on the Min is 
 exquisitely beautiful, and the enjoyment of that, 
 added to the home-like scream of the steam-pipe and 
 puff of the engine, made the trip, in spite of a driz- 
 zling rain, which, by the way, we did not condescend 
 to notice, extremely pleasant. Mr. Clark, one of the 
 house of Kussell & Co., to which the vessel was con- 
 signed, had a comfortable boat, well cushioned and 
 covered, waiting at the island, and was polite enough 
 to offer us a passage to the city. We came up very 
 comfortably in less than three hours, were met at the 
 landing by Mr. Maclay, who brought us immediately 
 to his house. Here we were surprised to find our 
 English friends, Mr. and Mrs. Macaw, and Mr. Fern- 
 
232 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ley, so worn out and exhausted by their trip of the 
 day before, that they liad not been able to go to their 
 own house at the Englisla consulate. They had been 
 nine hours getting up the river in a small, close boat, 
 without cushions, and but ill protected from sun and 
 rain, and with no food but a sandwich they had car- 
 ried with them. Mrs. Macaw was burned almost to 
 a blister, and was sick from fatigue ; and the whole 
 party were too weary to think of going three miles 
 into the city, and had come up to Mrs. Maclay's for 
 a night's lodging and a day of rest. . . . 
 
 " Mr. and Mrs. Maclay received us cordially, and I 
 believe were really glad to see us. . . . They have 
 had the house on the hill, the ' Olive Orchard House,' 
 as it is called, put in repair for us, a verandah thrown 
 across the front, and the house well cleaned. The 
 few articles of furniture Dr. Wentworth wrote from 
 home about are ready, and for two or three months 
 they have had a cook and table-boy in training for 
 us, that we might have as little trouble as possible 
 at first. There is some furniture too belonging to the 
 mission, which they have had in use, but which they 
 place for the present at our disposal. After Mr. 
 Gibson has come, and we are all settled, it will be 
 divided equally among the three families ; but it will 
 be a great convenience to have the use of it while 
 we are having others made, and will enable us to 
 get into our own house sooner than we would other- 
 wise do. . . . 
 
ME:?. ANNA M. WENTWORTH. 233 
 
 " On Monday it rained all the afternoon, so that it 
 was impossible to go over to the house. Of course I 
 was extremely anxious to see it, but for that day was 
 obliged to be satisfied with Dr. Weutworth's report. 
 He went over immediately after dinner, and came 
 back with a woful story. The garden was much 
 smaller than he expected, and overrun with weeds ; 
 the house was dark and gloomy, and the rooms small 
 and inconvenient. In every thing he was disappoint- 
 ed ; was sure I would not be satisfied with it, and 
 thought we could only live in it while another was 
 being built. I only laughed at his pitiful tale, and 
 told him I did not believe a word of it ; reminded him 
 that a man knew nothing of the difference furniture 
 made in the apparent size of a house ; and that a day 
 when the rain was pouring in torrents was rather a bad 
 time to judge of the cheerfulness of a strange place. 
 So I reserved my judgment for a sunnier day. The next 
 morning was bright and pleasant, and directly after 
 breakfast I put on my bonnet, took the doctor's arm, 
 and, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Maclay and Jim- 
 my, started to see the new home. We passed through 
 Mr. Maclay's back yard into what he called Avenue 
 B, a street eight or ten feet wide, running between 
 two high stone walls, and neither graded nor paved. 
 At the distance of about a square we turned into 
 Avenue 'A,' and after walking nearly the same dis- 
 tance, entered through a double gate the ' Olive 
 Orchard.' Perhaps the doctor's report was a good 
 
234 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 preparation for me, for everything certainly did look 
 smaller in reality than on Dr. Wiley's paper ; but 
 after examining everything, and taking into account 
 the difference care and furniture would make, I 
 was more than satisfied with the whole establish- 
 ment. 
 
 " The grounds I find are well laid out, and besides 
 the pretty olive grove at the lower end, has many 
 valuable and well-grown plants in it. I think a dozen 
 Chinamen, under my direction, will soon make a 
 different looking place of it. The greater part of the 
 yard is in front ; back there is only room, between 
 the verandah and the high stone wall, for a walk and 
 a wide flower-bed. A flight of stone steps leads to a 
 gate in this wall, which opens on the beautiful hill on 
 which are all the burial grounds. There is a fine 
 view from this hill, and it is the favorite morning and 
 evening walk of all foreigners. The situation is cer- 
 tainly a beautiful one, and seems to me the most 
 desirable I have seen. From the front of the house 
 we have a view of the river, with the island and 
 the massive bridge ; and of the city on the other side, 
 and the noble mountain range beyond. The river 
 itself is enough to reconcile one to any inconveni- 
 ences in the house ; but I do not believe we shall find 
 any." 
 
 In about a week after their arrival at Fuh Chau 
 they were established in their new home, and Mrs. 
 "Wentworth writes to her mother in a cheerful strain : 
 
MES. ANNA M. WENTWOKTH. 235 
 
 " My dearest Mother, — ^I write you at last in our 
 own home. My wi'iting-desk stands on a low center- 
 table in the middle of our parlor, and the light shin- 
 ing on my paper is thrown by the same bronze lamp, 
 round which our happy family circle has so often 
 gathered at home. It was unpacked and filled this 
 morning, and is now shedding its rays on heathen- 
 dom for the first time. . . . 
 
 " I am almost afraid to tell you how much I like 
 Full Chau, and its missionaries, and particularly 
 ' Olive Orchard,' our snug little home, because I may 
 meet with difiiculties and inconveniences after a 
 while, of which I shall be sure to write, and you will 
 think I am disposed to be fickle." 
 
 Yet in this letter, notwithstanding its cheerful 
 tone, there are references to debility and disease, for 
 which she had been under medical treatment. 
 
 On the fourth of Jiily we have a fragment of a 
 letter written to her father, which shows her already 
 engaged in the study of Chinese. She says : " I have 
 just been having a sitting with our long-tailed, long- 
 nailed gentlemanly Chinese teacher. First, I recited 
 a lesson of just a yard and a half of Chinese radicals ; 
 then got from him the proper pronunciation of some 
 household phrases I have been picking up, and after- 
 ward learned to count as far as one hundred. At the 
 end of the lesson, which was rather a lengthy one, he 
 rose from his chair, bowed very politely, put two 
 fingers in his mouth to represent chop-sticks, I sup- 
 
236 THE MISSIOW CEMETEEY. 
 
 pose, and gave me to understand that he wanted to' 
 go to his dinner^" 
 
 On the sixteenth of July, on this same sheet, Dr. 
 "Wentworth wrote that Mrs. "Wentworth had been in 
 the hands of the physician ever since the date of her 
 letter above, and was still unable to attempt further 
 correspondence. She had been quite reduced by 
 an attack of the disease so fatal to foreigners in China. 
 
 The last note we have seen from her own pen is 
 one to her little brother, under date of August 2, 1855. 
 l^ot only because it is the last, but for the sake of 
 some little readers, who may peruse this sketch, we 
 transcribe it : 
 
 "Mt dear little "Willie, — I wonder what you 
 and AUie are doing at home this pleasant morn- 
 ing. I wish you could be here to play in the 
 beautiful yard around sister Anna's house, and to 
 hear the birds sing in the trees. I don't think you 
 ever heard so many birds in your life. For an hour 
 or two, early in the morning, they sing so loud that 
 if you were in the yard you could hardly hear each 
 other talk. It is a very nice garden, and has some 
 beautiful flowers in it ; but I think you would like, 
 better than anything else, a fine large grass-plot at the 
 bottom, shaded by great large trees. I hardly ever go 
 out and look at it without thinking what a nice place 
 it would be for you to play, and how Mary Ellen 
 would enjoy setting out her table and getting supper 
 under those beautiful trees. O how I would like to 
 
MES. ANNA M. WENTWOETH. 23 Y 
 
 have you three children come to see me, and 
 hear your merry voices through the house and 
 garden. But I am afraid yoii never can, it is so 
 very, very far." 
 
 This, perhaps, was the last message written from 
 that far-off home to distant loved ones ; at least the 
 last that "dear little Willie" received from his sister 
 Anna. It is just what a last message should be, full 
 of a sister's love and tenderness. 
 
 Mrs. "Wentworth's health continued to decline. 
 The fatal disease of the climate (diarrhoea) had taken 
 fast hold upon her, which, in connection with the 
 birth of her first-born, reduced her to extreme feeble- 
 ness. Yet her friends, her physicians, and herself, 
 entertained hope that she might recover, until a short 
 time before her death. About the last of September, 
 1855, her physician announced her case hopeless. 
 For this trying moment she was not unprepared. A 
 friend writes : " As far as I could discover, she was 
 entirely unmoved and tranquil." 
 
 Upon such an announcement, to maintain such a 
 state of mind under such circumstances was no ordi- 
 nary triumph of grace. For her calmly and tran- 
 quilly to relinquish her hold on life, who had been so 
 long jpreparing to live, and was so well prepared ; 
 who had been so long thirsting to live, and had just 
 entered upon life ; whose spirit had struggled for 
 years for a sphere of enlarged activity and useful- 
 ness; now that it was just opening before her, hav- 
 
 15 
 
238 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ing just reached the missionary field, her heart's de- 
 light, which she had suffered so much and journeyed 
 so far to find ; then to be told she must die, and listen 
 to the death-knell with composure, was such a vic- 
 tory over self and nature as nothing save the omnip- 
 otent grace of God could achieve. 
 
 Such a victory must have been preceded by a sore 
 conflict. Her spirit must have passed through the 
 hot fire of temptation to attain such purity from 
 earthly dross. We catch a glimpse of the struggle 
 going on within from a single sentence of a letter 
 from her husband : " Once only, several weeks be- 
 fore her death, in view of her failing health, and the 
 ill success of all efforts for her recovery, she expressed 
 herself doubtful as to her mission, and said she did 
 not know but she had mistaken her vocation in coming 
 to China ; but added, ' twenty better missionaries will 
 he raised up to take my place if IfalV " No doubt 
 the adversary thrust sorely at her upon this point. 
 Her husband, however, adds : "This feeling was tran- 
 sient; her prevailing conviction was that she had 
 done right in coming to China." 
 
 In addition to these high and holy aspirations for a 
 life of religions usefulness, her domestic ties were 
 such as to render death especially unwelcome. Her 
 childhood's home still stood. Eather and mother, 
 sisters and brothers were still there, and she loved 
 them with an intensity indescribable. Those whom 
 she had loved earliest and longest were to be left. 
 
MES. ANNA M. WENTWOBTH. 239 
 
 "A short time before her death," says her bereaved 
 husband, "she folded her wasted arms passionately 
 about my neck, burst into tears, and said, ' I cannot 
 tell what makes me want to see my mother so much.' " 
 On the Sabbath before her death her mother's like- 
 ness was brought to her. She took it in her emaci- 
 ated hands, while her eyes hghted up with joy as she 
 passionately pressed it to her lips again and again, 
 and said, "It will not be long before I see my mother 
 again." how precious is the memory of a mother 
 under such circumstances ! Plow hard to have it ex- 
 tinguished upon earth ! 
 
 She had also just entered into the responsible rela- 
 tions of a wife and mother, had just been united to 
 the man of her choice, had just experienced the first 
 gushings of the fountain of a mother's love. To give 
 up the dear little "Anna," and consent to die, re- 
 quii'ed her to pass through such a conflict as is only 
 waged in a young mother's heart. 
 
 A correspondent writes : " She called to the nurse, 
 who was passing with the babe, , ' Bring her here. I 
 want to see her.' She extended her arm to receive 
 her, and gazing on the little one pressed close to her 
 bosom, so unconscious of passing scenes, said : ' I 
 don't know how it is ; I try to give her up, and not 
 love her ; and then I think I may possibly get well, 
 and my heart will cling to her. I know she will be 
 well taken care of, and better brought up than I can 
 bring her up as long as my mother lives. But I 
 
240 THE MISSION CEJIETEEY. 
 
 think after a few years my mother will be taken 
 away ; my brothers and sisters will settle in life, and 
 have families of their own ; and she is a little girl, 
 and as she grows up into womanhood she will need a 
 mother's sympathy and counsel ;' and bursting into 
 a fresh flood of tears, she exclaimed, ' O what will 
 you do without your mamma then !' Here are the 
 overflowings of a mother's heart." 
 
 These strong domestic aifections and ties increased 
 the bitterness of the struggle with death. But her 
 spirit rose above the wreck of all her earthly hopes, 
 and towering in the sunlight of God's countenance, 
 bade adieu to earth, and hastened to its heavenly 
 home ! She conquered all, she overcame through the 
 blood of the Lamb, she died in peace. " Not more 
 calmly and collectedly," writes her husband, " did 
 the dear girl prepare for her voyage to China than 
 she did for her transit to heaven." About eleven 
 o'clock at night, on the second of October. 1855, at 
 the house of Rev. Mr. Maclay, Fuh Chau, China, 
 Anna M. Wentworth ceased to suffer upon earth, and 
 ascended to her rest in heaven, in the twenty-seventh 
 year of her age. 
 
 A beautiful description of her sickness and death 
 is given by a lady friend who was with her, in a 
 letter to her mother. "We make the following ex- 
 tracts : 
 
 " We all were very glad to welcome her to our 
 missionary circle, not for a moment thinking that, 
 
MRS. ANNA M. WENTWOETH. 241 
 
 like a ray of sunlight, she would shine upon us and 
 then be gone forever. But so it was. Still we who 
 were with her, and witnessed the happy hours of her 
 departure, were constrained to say, even in this very 
 mysterious providence, ' Our heavenly Father doeth 
 all things well.' 
 
 " About ten days before her death I went to see her. 
 Afler speaking to me she said softly, 'I have been 
 waiting for you to come and bathe me.' I bathed 
 her with vinegar and water, and she expressed 
 herself very much refreshed. I that day thought, 
 for the first time, that she would not live, not so much 
 from her weakness, though she was very much ema- 
 ciated and very weak, but from the manner of her 
 conversation, which seemed to me to come from a 
 soul near the heavenly kingdom. Such a happy ex- 
 pression of countenance, and such peaceful sayings, 
 to me very plainly whispered, ' I am almost home ;' 
 and I often during the day turned away to weep that 
 one so lovely and so beloved must be taken away 
 so soon. 
 
 "She at this time enjoyed her full powers of 
 mind, though it was evident from her conversation 
 that she was fully convinced the time of her depart- 
 ure was very near. She conversed about you, her 
 dear mother, her husband, her motherless babe, and 
 about death, with great calmness, and unweakened 
 judgment, and the deepest love. Once she said, 'If 
 mother could only have been here to nurse me ;' an(| 
 
242 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 immediately added, ' Every one has done all she 
 could.' 
 
 " At one time her babe was brought to her ; before 
 looking at it she asked, ' Is this my babe ?' Being in- 
 formed it was, she kissed and gently pushed it away, 
 saying, ' Go away, dear baby ; go away, dear baby ; 
 I must not love you now f and when it was taken 
 away she said to me, ' O how hard it is to give up 
 my child !' 
 
 " The next day, when giving her some drink, she 
 said : ' This will not quench my thirst ; nothing can 
 iintil I drink from the river of life, that flows out 
 from the throne of God; then I shall never thirst 
 again.' 
 
 "When watching with her she asked, ' Cannot you 
 read to me some from the Bible ?' I then read her 
 one of the Psalms. After having finished, she said, 
 ' How excellent ! Will you read some from Kevela- 
 tion V' I then read part of the last chapter, and she 
 exclaimed, ' How I long to drink from that pure 
 river !' 
 
 " I said to her the day before her death, ' The phy- 
 sician speaks a little favorable of your recovery.' 
 She replied, 'I do not wish to stay; I am ready, I 
 am waiting to go.' At another time of the same 
 day she said : ' How long to wait ; but the Lord 
 knows best.' I cannot describe to you the sweet 
 peace she enjoyed ; it was indescribable ; it was 
 glorious. 
 
MES. ANNA M. WENTWOETH. 243 
 
 " The day before lier death, I think it was, she re- 
 quested to have the hymn sung, 
 
 ' Jesus, lover of my soul,' 
 
 and joined in the singing. I can assure you I shall 
 never forget that lovely scene. There she lay, her 
 head reclining near her husband, her hands clasped 
 together, her eyes raised to heaven, and her counte- 
 nance beaming with unearthly pleasure and peace. 
 Could you, her dear mother, have seen her then, even a 
 mother's bleeding heart would have been constrained 
 to say, ' Go, beloved child ; earth is no longer a fit 
 dwelling-place for thee !' After this her breathing 
 became obstructed and difficult, but this soon passed 
 away, and she left us as sweetly as a child going to 
 sleep. 
 
 " She was so lovely in her sickness that even 
 her body, after the spirit had departed, seemed ex- 
 ceedingly precious to me. I printed a farewell kiss 
 on her cold cheek, praying in my soul that all her 
 relatives, especially her dear mother, might have suf- 
 ficient grace given them to be perfectly resigned to 
 the early and unexpected bereavement of this lovely 
 daughter. 
 
 " Though buried in a heathen land, she is just as 
 near the ministering angels that watch over the dust 
 of the saints as though buried in her own native land. 
 And may we not hopefully rejoice, that at the last day 
 her glorified body will ascend to eternal bliss with a 
 
244 THE MISSION CEMETEBY. 
 
 host of ransomed spirits from among the poor be- 
 nighted Chinese, for whom, in the providence of God, 
 she so joyfully laid down her life." 
 
 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me. 
 Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord 
 from henceforth : Tea, saith the Spirit, that they 
 may rest from their labors, and their works do follow 
 them. Eev. xiv, 13. 
 
MRS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 
 
 AMERICAN EOARP OF COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 By Rev. I. W. WILEY, M. D., 
 
 LATB MIBSIONABY PHYSICIAN AT FUH CHAV. 
 
XH. So|r|ia %. f. Joolittk, 
 
 AMEEIOAN BOAED OF OOMMISBIONEES. 
 
 Sophia Aelaud Hamilton, the subject of this 
 sketch, was the eldest daughter of Luther Hamilton, 
 Esq., and was born in the town of Fleming, in the 
 county of Cayuga, New York, on the 20th day of 
 March, 1818. Her father was a gentleman of intel- 
 ligence and wealth, and a prominent and influential 
 member of the community in which he lived. He 
 was a father devotedly attached to his children, and 
 received from them in return the most ardent esteem 
 and affection. Especially was he the earthly idol of 
 his eldest daughter Sophia, whose heart received one 
 of its most severe strokes when the intelligence of 
 his death reached her in the first letter received from 
 home after her arrival in China. Both her parents 
 were prominent and active members of the Baptist 
 Church in her native town ; and she enjoyed in early 
 life that greatest of all blessings — a pious home, and 
 the gentle discipline of Christian parents. She had 
 three sisters and a brother, to whom she was de- 
 votedly attached, and for whom she cherished the 
 
248 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 tenderest affection until the links, one by one, were 
 broken by deatb, so that one alone remains to cherish 
 the memory of her sisterly devotion. There are but 
 few more loving sisters than was Miss H., and but 
 few, as we shall see in the course of this memoir, have 
 given more substantial evidence of the depth and 
 power of her affection. 
 
 When but a child she had serious and earnest 
 thoughts on the subject of religion, which were eaiiy 
 discovered and cherished by her parents. Perhaps, 
 more than anything else, the noble Christian example 
 and unimpeachable character of her father originated 
 these thoughts, and impressed on her young heart the 
 reality and power of religion. At the age of thirteen 
 she made profession of religion, was baptized in the 
 town in which she was born, and was received into 
 communion with the Baptist Church of that place. 
 
 Miss H. gave early indications of more than ordi- 
 nary talent, and became ambitious to secure for her- 
 self an education. The buddings of intellectual prom- 
 ise were hailed with delight in the affluent home of 
 her early childhood, which promised everything to 
 forward her plans and gratify her aspirations. ISTone 
 then foresaw the struggles which would have to be 
 met by that opening genius, or the toils and self- 
 denials which would have to be endured to secure 
 that education. 
 
 About the age of sixteen, at the very period when 
 she thought of entering more fully into the work of se- 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 249 
 
 curing a tliorough education, tlie circumstances of her 
 father began to change, and the means he had formerly- 
 possessed, from his generous indulgence of those in- 
 debted to him, and the failure of others, for whom 
 his kindly nature had led him to become security in 
 large amounts, passed into other hands, and the 
 home of wealth and promise became the home of 
 want and struggles. The career of education that 
 had thus far been passing so smoothly for Miss H. 
 became suddenly arrested, and a life of trial and diffi- 
 culty loomed up before her. For a while this change 
 of circumstances bore heavily on the young aspiring 
 mind, and many tears were shed over the blasting of 
 hopes and purposes that had seemed to fall upon her ; 
 but in a little while this stroke of adversity was met 
 with the reaction of a strong spirit, and developed 
 into activity traits of character and an energy of soul 
 that none dreamed lay covered up before under the 
 ease and luxury of wealth. The victory gained over 
 the first depressing influences of this sudden change, 
 Miss H. seemed to stand forth a new character, en- 
 dowed with new energies and animated by new pur- 
 poses. In the reaction of a young and enthusiastic 
 mind, her plans were formed and her resolution 
 taken. Large, indeed, were these plans for one so 
 young ; but large as they were, industry and genius 
 achieved what youth and filial affection resolved. 
 She determined to acquire such an education as 
 would enable her to teach advanced schools ; and in 
 
250 THE MISSION CEMETERT. 
 
 the ardor of youth, even resolved to secure the ad- 
 vantages of education to her younger sisters and 
 brother, and to aid the circumstances of her father. 
 It was then this young, practical, sacrificing spirit 
 entered on the active and trying scenes which, for 
 so many years after, she met with so much fortitude, 
 and over which she triumphed with so much success 
 as to win the love and esteem of all who knew her. 
 The object she had set before her was attained, 
 though not without many a struggle and temporary 
 discouragement. Did we dare to pursue here the full 
 history of her trials and reverses, we could exhibit 
 to the reader a rare example of perseverance and 
 ultimate success in the midst of the gravest dif- 
 ficulties. 
 
 Instead of entering the seminary, that purpose was 
 thrown off into the future, and she solicited and ob- 
 tained a select school in her native town. Though 
 but sixteen she was well qualified for this work, and 
 very soon gained the esteem and confidence of her 
 patrons, who soon became numerous. Nor was this 
 a small compliment to her years and ability, for her 
 patrons were all persons of prominence and liberal 
 education. The first public examination and exhibi- 
 tion of her pupils wore the character of a triumph, 
 and the "Committee of Examiners," composed of 
 gentlemen of education, among whom was the Hon. 
 William H. Seward, passed, by resolution, the very 
 highest encomiums on the young teacher and her 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 251 
 
 pupils, and furnished her, unsolicited, certificates of 
 qualification and letters of recommendation. 
 
 In 1835 her parents removed to Auburn, and Miss 
 H. accompanied them. Here she connected herself, 
 by letter, with the Baptist Church of that city, under 
 the pastoral care of the 'Rev. Mr. Backus, now of 
 New York. Coming with excellent endorsements 
 from her native town, she was soon able to secure a 
 flourishing school in Auburn. In this she continued 
 for about a year, and then, with her younger sister, 
 Dorliski, entered the Fulton Seminary, in Oswego 
 county, and completed her education, thus realizing 
 the first grand object of her life. We may be well 
 assured that one possessing such talents, and inspired 
 by such purposes, and who had already been so suc- 
 cessful in teaching others, would herself become a 
 devoted and successful pupil, and would leave the 
 seminary with honor. Her name and example are 
 still cherished in this institution. The talents of Miss 
 H. for the finer accomplishments of female education 
 were of a high order. In music, painting, needle- 
 work, etc., she excelled ; and in the sphere of poetry 
 she exhibited both genius and inspiration. For sev- 
 eral years she was a most acceptable contributor in 
 this department to the Auburn Advertiser and other 
 periodicals, under the signature of " Ellen," and was 
 already beginning to be looked upon as a writer of 
 much promise. Says a writer in the Advertiser : 
 " Those who have read her lines, addressed ' To my 
 
252 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Brother;' 'By the Hudson's Silver Stream;' 'The 
 Wealth of Tears ;' and those ' On the Presentation 
 of a Clasped Bible,' need no other evidence of her 
 originality of thought, the purity, simplicity, and 
 beauty of her sentiments, or of her literary attain- 
 ments." 
 
 Qualified now for what she had placed before her 
 as her life employment, she again actively engaged 
 in teaching, first in Auburn, then at Dansville, and 
 then as preceptress in the Ithaca Academy. In this 
 labor she continued about ten years, part of the time 
 assisted by her sister. During these ten years this 
 devoted daughter and sister achieved, through her 
 patient toils and self-denials, the remaining parts of 
 her resolution, formed in the ardor of youth. Her 
 brother was receiving, through her aid, a finished 
 education ; her sister, a few years younger than her- 
 self, and to whom her heart was knitted through life 
 in the closest intimacy and love, cherished and guided 
 by her noble spirit, dwelt within her encircling arm, 
 and co-operated with her in her generous purposes. 
 To the support of the family at home she contributed 
 liberally, and with true filial heroism aided largely 
 in liquidating the liabilities of her father, which his 
 rectitude and sense of justice would not permit him 
 to repudiate. 
 
 There is still another passage among the struggles 
 and self-denials of this noble daughter and sister, 
 which, though we may seem to intrude on the sacred 
 
MKS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 253 
 
 privacies of her life, we cannot withhold. She had 
 still another sister, whom her large heart had room 
 enough to embrace with equal ardor in her sisterly 
 devotion. This was, as she called her, her "baby 
 sister," Jennie Angusta, the youngest of the flock. 
 She was still young when the subject of our sketch 
 entered the missionary field, and received the most 
 of her education after Mrs. D. had arrived in China. 
 Toward the education of this younger loved one of 
 the household lambs Mrs. T>. was anxious to contri- 
 bute, as she had done with the rest. But she was 
 now far away, and laboring in a mission where the 
 small sum furnished for their support would not per- 
 mit her to make remittances to America. The 
 brother, who had grown up under her fostering care, 
 and who was already becoming successful in the 
 world, had presented Mrs. D. with a gold watch as a 
 grateful and affectionate acknowledgment of her 
 sisterly devotion. This she thought she could dispense 
 with, or, indeed, transform into thought, to shed a 
 luster over her sister's life, which would be better 
 than gold. The watch was exchanged for tea in 
 China, which was consigned to a friend in America, 
 and the proceeds of its sale were contributed to her 
 sister's wants. 
 
 Indeed, the records of even woman's sacrifices 
 present but few examples more lustrous than the 
 numerous instances of self-denial, patient toil, and 
 
 severe struggles found in the life of this noble woman. 
 16 
 
254 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 Her memory is a crown of gold to her whole sex, 
 throwing an additional luster over the name of 
 daughter, and giving a more tender significance to 
 the endearing relation of sister. The consecration of 
 the riper years of such a life, and the maturer energies 
 of such a spirit, to the cause of missions, is a trophy 
 of which even that sacred cause itself may boast. 
 
 But we must pass to review her life and character 
 in other scenes and relations. 
 
 Miss Hamilton was a Christian of exemplary char- 
 acter, and of great usefulness in the Church wherever 
 her lot was cast. As we might suppose, she was a 
 thinking Christian ; she loved the Bible, and diligently 
 studied it, drawing from it not only streams of conso- 
 lation and strength to sustain her in her many trials, 
 but finding in it a fountain of light and truth which 
 _ satisfied the cravings of her own heart, and the knowl- 
 edge of which she was ever anxious to impart to 
 others. Her affectionate nature, instinct with sympa- 
 thies which embraced her whole race, soon began to 
 find fault with the exclusive mode of baptism and 
 the close commimion found in the Church of her 
 parents. She was a lover of children, and was pro- 
 foundly impressed with the importance of their relation 
 to the Church of Christ. She remembered the early 
 strong religious impressions and desires which had 
 moved her own heart ; she had partaken of that 
 loving spirit which had said, " SuiFer the little children 
 to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is 
 
MES, SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 255 
 
 the kingdom of heaven." Hence she was fonnd an 
 active laborer in the Sabbath school, and in everj'- 
 thing that contemplated the religions welfare of the 
 lambs of the flock. But she felt that this was not 
 enough. She became convinced that these little ones 
 had the right of a more positive recognition as parta- 
 kers of the kingdom of Christ. In a word, from the 
 workings of her own heart, and the lessons of the 
 book of God, she became a convert to the doctrine 
 of infant baptism. From this beginning, her views 
 of baptism and close communion underwent a radical 
 change. She still, however, from respect to her 
 beloved father, continued her connection with the 
 Baptist Church in Auburn until the winter of 1847, 
 when she united with the Presbyterian Church in 
 Ithaca, where she was then engaged in teaching. 
 
 In 1846 her mind seems to have begun to turn 
 strongly toward the heathen world. She had often 
 thought of this noble enterprise. She had always 
 manifested a deep interest in the home movements 
 of that cause, and had frequently declared her will- 
 ingness and her desire to consecrate herself to the 
 work of missions ; but hitherto the circumstances 
 which surrounded her, the wants of her own home, the 
 strong claims of others on her efforts and her coun- 
 sels, seemed to preclude the idea of going forth to the 
 heathen. Now these circumstances began to wear a 
 brighter hue, an'd these claims to present a less 
 imperative demand. She had accomplished the 
 
256 " THE JIISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 greater part of her early-formed purpose. Her 
 father was again in easy circumstances, and enjoying 
 a quiet home ; her brother was grown up to manhood, 
 and ready to step forth into the world for himself; 
 her sister Dorliski, the idol of her affections and the 
 companion of her struggles, had found a congenial 
 spirit to whose keeping she was about to commit her- 
 self; and future prospects promised well for "the 
 baby sister." The way was now opened, and she felt 
 free to indulge the idea which for years before she 
 had felt it her duty to hold in restraint. 
 
 About this time, too, she made the acquaintance of 
 Mr. Doolittle, then a student in Hamilton College, 
 looking forward to the Gospel ministry. The 
 acquaintance of these genial spirits soon ripened into 
 intimacy and affection. It was soon discovered that 
 the current of their thoughts and wishes was tending 
 in the same direction. From early life the mission- 
 ary enterprise had been presenting itself in the most 
 inviting aspect to the mind of Mr. D. The thought 
 of a personal consecration to this work had often 
 pressed with weight upon his heart. Recently these 
 vague thoughts had expanded into desires, and these 
 desires were beginning to form themselves into pur- 
 poses. Under these circumstances these two hearts 
 met. The discovery of each other's views on the 
 subject of missions, produced in both hearts a pro- 
 found conviction of duty and a thrill of mutual 
 delight. They resolved to devote themselves together 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. 11. DOOLITTLE. 257 
 
 to Ihis holy work. Mr. Doolittle went on with his 
 education, and Miss tiamilton with the work, ever 
 delightful to her, of educating others. 
 
 Three years more passed away, during which these 
 mutual purposes were gaining strength, and both 
 were becoming more fully prepared for the work 
 they had chosen. In 1849 Mr. Doolittle finished his 
 preparatory education, and graduated in the Auburn 
 Theological Seminary. He had already offered him- 
 self as a missionary, and had been accepted by the 
 American Board, and designated for China. On the 
 evening of the 20th of June he was ordained to the 
 work of the ministry, and consecrated to the work of 
 missions, in the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, 
 by the Presbytery of Cayuga, and immediately after 
 these services was united in marriage with Miss 
 Hamilton. They were now ready to go forth in the 
 name and in the power of the heavenly Master, con- 
 secrated both in purpose and in form to a life-service 
 in the cause of missions. 
 
 A few months were spent in preparing their outfit 
 and in visiting their friends and relatives, taking a last 
 farewell of these earthly treasures. These are trying 
 scenes to be met at the very outset of a missionary 
 life ; they were such, indeed, to the loving heai't of 
 Mrs. Doolittle, especially to part from those sisters 
 and that brother who had grown up under her 
 own forming hand, and whose life and destiny seemed 
 to have become deeply interwoven with her own. 
 
358 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 But above all her heart quailed before the thought 
 of leaving forever that loving and almost idolized 
 father, whose every look had been tenderness, and 
 every word a blessing, and for whom she had 
 endured and done so much. Yet all these she 
 laid on the altar of a deeper love and holier con- 
 secration. In September they attended the annual 
 meeting of the American Board of Commissioners, at 
 Pittsfield, Mass., where their hearts were animated 
 with new zeal for their holy work, while the example 
 of their consecration, and their words of faith and 
 hope, gave interest and value to the meeting of this 
 great missionary charity. 
 
 On the 22d of N^ovember, 1849, they embarked on 
 board the ship Lantao, at Boston, and on the 26th 
 struck oat, with a fair wind, for China, having been 
 detained four days in the Eoads by unfavorable winds. 
 Most impressive religious services had been held on 
 the vessel at the time of their embarkation, conduct- 
 ed by Eev. Dr. Pomeroy, one of the secretaries of 
 the Board. The blessing of the great God of mis- 
 sions had been devoutly invoked on these missiona- 
 ries, and most graciously did he vouchsafe to them his 
 protecting and directing benediction, guiding them 
 peacefully and safely through all the perils and 
 dangers of the sea daring their long voyage of 
 seventeen thousand miles. Their fellow-passengers 
 were the Eev. Messrs. W. A, P. and S. IST, Martin, 
 two brothers and their wives, destined to reinforce 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. II. DOOLITTLE. 259 
 
 the mission at ISTingpo, under the direction of the Old 
 School Presbyterian Board of Missions. 
 
 Four months and a half were spent in measuring 
 off their slow voyage over the trackless ocean, and 
 then, in the twilight of the morning of April 10, 
 1850, they descried the dim outlines of the highlands 
 of Hong Kong, and in a few hours were brought to 
 anchor before the city of Victoria, a city more than 
 any other in China exhibiting that strange commix- 
 ture of light and shade, civilization and heathenism, 
 produced by the mingling of foreigners and natives 
 in the busy scenes of commerce. Here our mission- 
 aries had to await an opportunity to embark again 
 for Fuh Chan, and were kindly entertained in the 
 family of Eichard Cole, Esq., a native of Harris- 
 burgh, Pennsylvania, but then filling the capacity of 
 printer and publisher of the Loudon Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 The reader will grant us the privilege of a brief 
 digression to pay a well-merited tribute to the genius 
 of this American gentleman. A noble work has been 
 done by Mr. Cole for the cause of missions in China, 
 a work for which his name should be held in grateful 
 remembrance by all who love the missionary enter- 
 prise in this great heathen empire ; a work, indeed, 
 which reflects honor on his native country. Mr. 
 Cole was the first to succeed in what was long 
 thought to be an impossible achievement, that of 
 pi'oducing moveable metallic types, available for 
 
260 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 printing the Chinese language. Three fonts of beau- 
 tiful type, each embracing several thousand different 
 characters, were produced by the genius and inde- 
 fatigable labors of Mr. Cole. "When we remember the 
 complicated forms of Chinese characters, how many 
 points and strokes enter into their composition, how 
 perfectly accurate they must be in every part, so as 
 to distinguish them from others closely resembling 
 them in form, but widely differing in signification ; 
 and how many thousand different characters must be 
 produced before they could be available for book- 
 printing ; and then think of cutting steel dies for each 
 of these characters, forming copper molds from these 
 dies, and casting fonts of beautiful types from these 
 molds, we certainly may give the epithet of genius to 
 the man who did this work, and may form some idea 
 of the immense labor which he performed. Indeed 
 Mr. Cole almost fell a martyr, in both mind and 
 body, to this stupendous work. 
 
 On the 8th of May an opportunity presented for 
 our band of missionaries to embark for the remainder 
 of their voyage along the Chinese coast to the city of 
 Fuh Chau. A few days brought them to Amoy, a 
 city in the same province as Fuh Chau, and also 
 opened at the same time to foreign commerce and 
 missionary effort. It was earlier occupied, however, 
 as a missionary station, having been first entered in 
 1842 by the lamented Abeel and the now venerable 
 Bishop Boone. Although disappointing the hopes of 
 
MKS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 261 
 
 many as a place of trade, Amoy has met the sanguine 
 expectations of the friends of missions as a point for 
 the successful propagation of the Gospel. God has 
 smiled upon the labors of the earnest missionaries at 
 this port, and has given them many seals to their 
 ministry. Here our missionaries spent a few daj's, 
 cheering the hearts of the devoted men and women 
 engaged there in the Master's work with the sight of 
 new and friendly faces, and having their own hopes 
 and zeal inspired by witnessing their successful 
 labors. 
 
 On the 20th they struck out again into the open 
 sea for Fuh Chau, in the spirit of a fuller consecra- 
 tion to the glorious cause, and on the 31st of May, 
 1850, reached the city of their destination, after a 
 voyage of one hundred and eighty-six days from Bos- 
 ton. Here they entered first into the family of the 
 K.ev. L. B. Peet, to await an opportunity to secure a 
 location on which to erect a house for themselves. 
 
 Nearly the first, if not, indeed, the very first intelli- 
 gence received by Mrs. Doolittle, after her arrival at 
 Fuh Chau, was that of the death of her beloved father 
 on July 6, but little more than six months after she 
 had pressed her last kiss on his venerable brow, and 
 given him her last farewell. This was a great stroke 
 to Mrs. Doolittle, and rendered more severe by the 
 fact that her first letter from Hong Kong reached the 
 United States only a day or two too late to be read 
 by him. We have seen how tender was the attach- 
 
262 THE snssiow ceimetert. 
 
 inent of tliis loving daughter to her father, and under 
 what circnmstances this affection was developed to 
 an unusnal intensity ; we may conceive with what 
 power this sudden blow would fall upon her ; yet that 
 heart of large faith and strong purposes recovered 
 from the shock, and came forth only as gold tried by 
 the fire. She writes : " How little I thought that, so 
 soon after reaching my new home, I should receive 
 the sad news of our great bereavement. Father is 
 dead ! dear, dear father ! Though I never expected 
 to see him again in the flesh, yet I feel that I have 
 lost my best, my firmest earthly friend ; and that the 
 light which gave the greatest cliarm to my native 
 place and earthly home is gone out. How desolate 
 it must appear where he was always to give us such 
 an affectionate welcome. I am overwhelmed with sor- 
 row when I think of our loss. Yet surely it is an afflic- 
 tion sent in mercy, and perhaps more than anything 
 else will set my affections free from home, and pre- 
 pare me more fully for the work of a missionary. 
 While heaven has additional attractions for me I am 
 less tied to earth, and can more fully devote my mind 
 and heart to the work in which I am engaged." 
 
 Mr. Doolittle soon procured a spot of ground 
 on which to build a house. This was at a prominent 
 point in a district of the suburbs of the city, named, 
 from its elevation, "Ponasang," about a mile and a 
 half from the city walls, and about an equal distance 
 from the river, near which the other missionaries 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 263 
 
 had located their homes. On this spot were erected 
 two very neat and comfortable houses, presenting a 
 very pretty appearance in contrast with the rude 
 one-storied Chinese dwellings about them, and which, 
 though what would be called very humble dwellings 
 in America, yet from this contrast appeared like 
 lights " set upon a hill." And, indeed, such they 
 proved, for great have been the light and influence 
 that have gone out from this hill among the thou- 
 sands of Chinese. One of these houses was occupied 
 by Mr. Doolittle, the other by the family of Kev. 
 S. L. Johnson, the first missionary who entered Fuh 
 Chau, who had spent the prime of his life as a mis- 
 sionary in Siam, and who, after some years as an 
 earnest pioneer of missions in this great city, retired 
 under failing health, and now awaits, with faith and 
 hope, the call to his reward on high. His vacated 
 house was immediately occupied by Mr. Baldwin, the 
 friend and companion of the lamented Cummings and 
 Kichards, and who for ten years, in labors abundant, 
 has been preaching and teaching " the glorious Gos- 
 pel of the blessed God " in this heathen city. 
 
 Though not immediately hemmed in by the crowded 
 dwellings of the natives, the home of Mrs. Doolittle 
 was in close proximity with a dense population, and 
 but a little way from the great thoroughfare leading 
 from the river to the city. She thus speaks of her 
 new home in writing to a friend : " I cannot fully 
 realize that two years and more have passed away 
 
264 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 since I bid farewell to my beloved friends and 
 kindred, and looked that last fond look on my natwe 
 land ; but so it is, and during these years I have 
 dwelt among heathen who know not God, who hate 
 virtue and holiness, worship idols, live in the utmost 
 wretchedness, their practices the most revolting to a 
 Christian heart and their immortal spirits ! O what 
 tongue can tell of the darkness, wretchedness, and 
 stupidity into which Chinese millions have fallen ! 
 Sometimes the thought gleams on my heart like a ray 
 of sunlight, that I once breathed the sweet air of a 
 Christian land, that I walked its green fields untainted 
 by the filthy idolater, and listened to the song of 
 thanksgiving and praise to the true God, rather than 
 to the discordant, unmeaning sounds of idolatrous 
 worship. 
 
 " I wish, my dear friend, I could describe to you the 
 things I have witnessed since coming here, not for the 
 purpose of saddening your heart, as I am sure it would 
 do, but simply to enlist your sympathy and interest, 
 especially in this suffering, dying nation. Our time 
 thus far has been employed in becoming acquainted 
 with the language, ways, and customs of this peculiar 
 people. The language is extremely diflBcult; but I 
 find myself making encouraging progress in it, and 
 can already speak it with some ease, and read a little. 
 We have just built us a very comfortable house, and 
 have moved into it. Though vastly inferior to 
 dwellings in the United States, still we think it very 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 265 
 
 comfortable. "We have two little yards, one in front 
 and one in the rear of our house. They are planted 
 with trees and shrubs, many of which would be con- 
 sidered very rare at home, but very common here, 
 though they are new and beautiful to us, such as the 
 oleander, japonica, banana, orange, pomegranate, etc., 
 ets. These plants and shrubs add much to the 
 appearance of our home. As we are surrounded on 
 all sides by the low, dark, dismal-looking huts of 
 these miserable people, our home seems, when we 
 come in from among them, like a little Eden, though 
 you would think it very inferior. Do not think that 
 I am disappointed or discouraged with the Chinese 
 people. One who has read St. Paul's description of 
 heathenism ought to expect all we meet with in this 
 heathen land ; yet a kind heart, and especially a 
 Christian heart, loves to labor for them and die for 
 them, if such be the will of the Lord, and thus be the 
 means of leading some of them to the blessed Saviour. 
 Pray for us that our faith fail not, and that we may 
 joyfully sow beside all waters, trusting in God's 
 promises, that in due time we shall reap if we 
 faint not." 
 
 About this time the writer formed the acquaintance 
 of Mrs. Doolittle in Fuh Chau. Her genial spirit, her 
 sympathizing nature, her gifted conversational powers, 
 her originality of thought, her devotedness to the 
 cause to which she had consecrated her life, very 
 soon initiated an intimacy which will be cherished 
 
266 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 among his sweetest memories, and convinced him 
 that hers was a character of more than ordinary 
 excellence and promise. Three years of intercourse 
 witli her in all the interesting and trying relations 
 into which foreign missionaries are thrown, only deep- 
 ened that friendship, and increased the conviction of 
 her rare excellence. The brilliant qualities of her 
 mind and character at once arrested attention and 
 commanded admiration ; but it was not until she was 
 seen in the privacies of home, in the relations of wife, 
 and mother, and friend, in the character of an active, 
 zealous missionary, in the chamber of suffering and 
 of death, in circumstances of trial or danger, that her 
 true character was discovered, and the wealth of affec- 
 tion, and sympathy, and faith, and hope, that lay 
 treasured in her heart, was fully revealed. 
 
 Soon after our acquaintance, her affection and faith 
 were destined to endure another severe trial. Her 
 heart, which had not yet recovered from the wound 
 it had received by the sudden death of her father, 
 was made to bleed afresh by the loss of her sister 
 Dorliski, that sister who had been the companion and 
 partaker of all her early struggles. We remember 
 how her spirit sank under this bereavement, and for 
 how long a time we could detect in her outward 
 deportment the bitter sorrow that slie felt within. 
 Long afterward she thus wrote to a friend : — 
 
 " I need not tell you of my deep soitow ; I could 
 not if I would describe the keenness of that anguish, 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 26 Y 
 
 or the blighting of that breath that brought across 
 the deep the tidings — ' slie is no more, she is dead and 
 gone? Yes, she is gone, but only gone 'before. For 
 many months I have been bowed down with the 
 weight of my grief. I have felt sometimes as though 
 I stood now in the world alone, and that the warring 
 elements were lashing me with all their fury. But 
 ' suddenly a star arose; it was the star of Bethlehem.' 
 my dear friend, what should I have done in those 
 most trying circumstances had not the grace of God 
 sustained me, and his riglit hand upheld me, and his^ 
 good Spirit enabled me to say, 'It is the Lord, let 
 him do what seemeth him good.' " 
 
 In the autumn of 1852 a school for boys was opened 
 in the basement of their house. In this Mrs. Doolittle 
 took a great interest ; being now able to use the lan- 
 guage of Full Chau with considerable ease and fluency, 
 she gave much time and labor to these little ones. 
 Pier previous experience in teaching was of service 
 here, while she found in the school an employment 
 in which she delighted, and through it a friendly 
 access to the friends and parents of the children, 
 which she never failed to use to the best advantage. 
 We always liked the policy of JVErs. Doolittle with 
 reference to the females of China. The door of her- 
 yard and house always stood open to the natives, and 
 on their visits, which were numerous and often trouble- 
 some, on account of the curious prying, question- 
 asking nature of these strange people, they were 
 
268 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 always made welcome, tliongli it frequently cost much 
 time and patience. Many of these visits were returned 
 in person, and many have been the acts of kindness 
 and the lessons of truth and encouragement given by 
 this zealous woman in the dark, forbidding homes of 
 these " daughters of China." 
 
 Mrs. Doolittle took a special interest in Ting-sing- 
 sang, the teacher of the school on their premises, and 
 subsequently the first convert from heathenism bap- 
 tized and received into the Church in the city of Fuh 
 Chan. Ting cannot, however, be looked upon as the 
 first trophy of missionary labor in that city. A young 
 native, by the name of A-k6, employed firet in the 
 family of Mr. Baldwin, and subsequently in that of 
 Mr. Colder, and who accompanied Mr. C. to Amer- 
 ica, had long been under religious impressions at Fuh 
 Chau, and during the stay of Mr. Colder at Hong 
 kong, prior to sailing for America, in 1853, presented 
 himself as a convert to Christianity, and after exami- 
 nation was baptized and initiated into the Church at 
 Hong Kong. Ting, however, was the first to be bap- 
 tized and received into the Church at Fuh Chau. 
 How large a share Mrs. Doolittle had in leading to 
 this result eternity only will unfold. Her interest in 
 him was deep, and her efforts with him were earnest 
 and long continued. " Our teacher," she writes, " has 
 manifested much interest in the Christian religion. 
 He prays in his family, and did so in the school long 
 before we knew it. One year ago he ofi'ered himself 
 
MRS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 269 
 
 for baptism. Some of the brethren assisted Mr. D. 
 in examining him, but unfortunately during the ex- 
 amination he made a misrepresentation about the time 
 of his marriage, and consequently the matter was 
 dropped for a time. The time of his marriage was 
 of no importance whatever, Ijut the falsehood was 
 the evil thing. We did not dare to venture the ac- 
 knowledgment of his Christian character. We must 
 be extremely careful in receiving these poor heathen 
 into the Church. It is now more than a year since 
 then, and he seems to be sincerely penitent. He has 
 lived in one of the rooms of our house for more than 
 a year, and, as far as we can judge, he leads a Chris- 
 tian life. He preaches in Mr. Doolittle's chapel twice 
 a week, and preaches very plainly to his countrymen 
 the wickedness of idolatry and the duty of worshiping 
 the living God. His wife, mother, and son live with 
 him, and when we go in to see them it really seems 
 that they are better than others of these people ; I 
 mean more respectful, affectionate, clean, and Chris- 
 tianized. We have good hope that we will soon be 
 able to receive him to the fellowship of the Church." 
 Mrs. Doolittle lived to see this hope realized. 
 
 Her attention was early directed toward the enter- 
 prise of the education of Chinese girls. She was not 
 satisfied with the boys' school alone, but for a long 
 time nothing could induce the Chinese to send their 
 daughters to the schools of the missionaries. Some 
 of the natives looked upon it as an absurdity, others 
 
2 To THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 as useless, others as dangerous. At length these 
 prejudices gave way, and it was found possible to 
 secure the attendance of the girls. Schools were 
 successfully opened by Mrs. Maclay, Mrs. Cummings, 
 and Mrs. Doolittle. The school of Mrs. Doolittle was 
 opened in the spring of 1853, and though she was 
 obliged to begin with a small number, she was grati- 
 fied with the results of the experiment. She writes : 
 " We have at length succeeded in opening a girls' 
 school. During the last year we endeavored repeat- 
 edly to find a teacher to engage in this work, but in 
 vain. About two months since the teacher formerly 
 employed in the boys' school consented to undertake 
 it. We have it on our own premises. The number 
 of girls is yet quite small, but we have encouraging 
 prospects for the future. The fact that even a few 
 persons in this neighborhood are willing to let their 
 girls come to our house to receive instruction in 
 the Christian religion, betokens a change in the 
 state of feeling with reference to us which is very 
 encouraging, and which we mention with grati- 
 tude." 
 
 Events of an alarming character soon arrested this 
 young enterprise for some months. The news of the 
 wide-spread rebellion in China began to reach the 
 city of Full Chau early in the spring of 1853. The 
 reports of the frequent successes of the insurgents 
 were received gladly by the people, and' often with 
 public demonstrations of gratification. Symptoms of 
 
Mils. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 2*71 
 
 restlessness and insubordination soon began to mani- 
 fest themselves in the city, and threatened to break 
 out into open insurrection. In a little while a band 
 of insurrectionists descended on the city of Amoy, a 
 city in the same province with Fuh Chau, and under 
 its jurisdiction. The rebels were successful, and took 
 possession of the city. News reached Fuh Chau that 
 the insurgents were on their march to that city. An 
 insurrection had broken out also in the northwestern 
 part of the province, in the district of Saong-hu, under 
 the direction of a band of desperadoes who had asso- 
 ciated themselves together for purposes of murder 
 and pillage, and who were committing many atroci- 
 ties in their attacks on the towns and villages. These 
 too were reported to be marching toward the provin- 
 cial city. As the line of their march was along the 
 river Min, we had almost daily evidence of their 
 work of death and atrocious character in the numer- 
 ous decapitated and mangled bodies which were seen 
 floating down the river. The city was thrown into 
 the greatest consternation. 
 
 To add to the dismay, the wretched natives were 
 becoming short of food. A long-continued drought 
 had delayed, for many weeks beyond the usual time, 
 the first crop of rice, while the troubles in Formosa, 
 and in the northern parts of the province, had cut off 
 the outside supplies. The banks were beginning to fail 
 and close, and the people holding their paper had be- 
 come desperate. Several banks and exchange offices 
 
272 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 were torn down. The stores and dwellings where 
 provisions or money could be found were assailed 
 by lawless mobs. The city was put under martial 
 law, and placed in a state of defense for the coming 
 insurgents. In these circumstances no protection or 
 means of escape were given to the missionaries. ]^ot 
 a foreign vessel was anywhere near Fuh Chau, and 
 the governor of the city notified us that we must take 
 care of ourselves. Our little company gathered to- 
 gether on the island of Tong-chin to await the result. 
 Mr. Doolittle and family dwelt with us on the island for 
 several weeks, during which all missionary labor was 
 suspended, and the city was in the wildest state of 
 agitation. At length the imperial forces succeeded 
 in retaking Amoy; the rebels were scattered in 
 Saong-hu, and a plentiful harvest was ready for the 
 sickle. The people settled down into quietness, and 
 the missionaries were able to return to their homes 
 and engage -in their work. 
 
 Mrs. Doolittle again resumed her school under a 
 more favorable character and more promising cir- 
 cumstances. The boys' and girls' schools were 
 merged into one, and the number, of girls increased 
 to about thirty. Mrs. Doolittle was again in her 
 proper sphere. Much time and labor were given to 
 this school. This, however, was at the saci'ifice of 
 many personal and domestic comforts ; but, as she 
 frequently expressed herself in her letters to her 
 friends at home, she " had her rewwrd in the con- 
 
MRS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 273 
 
 sciousiiess of having performed her duty, and having 
 accomplished a good work." 
 
 In the winter of 1853 God cheered their dwelling 
 with a little son, their beloved Henry Hamilton. 
 The strong affections of her heart gathered intensely 
 around this little " olive plant," springing up in their 
 heathen home. In no relation was the character of 
 Mrs. Doolittle moi-e beautiful than in that of mother. 
 Here was seen the full depth of her loving heart. 
 "God," says she to a friend, "is very good to me, 
 and has made my China home a very happy one. 
 He has given ns many and great comforts, many 
 more than I deserve ; but the most precious of all is 
 our darling little Henry. I think God has given him 
 to replace my dear sister Dorliski ; he looks so much 
 like her, I often sit and gaze upon him and think 
 of her. O how different is a mother's love and a 
 mother's joy from every other! He is a precious, 
 precious treasure to me, most fully rewarding me for 
 all my sorrow on his account. May God spare his 
 life, and make him a Christian and a missionary to 
 the heathen !" 
 
 The summer of 1854 was spent by Mr. Doolittle 
 and his family in the southern ports, in hope of find- 
 ing some relief for a very troublesome affection of the 
 throat, which had been for many months interfering 
 with Mr. Doolittle's missionary labors. The time thus 
 spent was by no means wasted, nor was this a fruit- 
 less voyage. Besides the advantage which it prqve^ 
 
274 THE MISSIOJT CEMETERY. 
 
 to Mr. Doolittle, and also the beneficial effects on the 
 health of Mrs. Doolittle, it afforded a fine opportunity 
 for observing the operations of missionaries at other 
 ports, and of becoining conversant with their plans 
 and methods. Mrs. Doolittle spent much of her time 
 in visiting and observing the working of the schools 
 at Hong Kong and Canton, and became, if possible, 
 still more deeply interested in the education of Chi- 
 nese girls, and convinced that more than had yet 
 been done might be accomplished for the females 
 of China. 
 
 In November they returned to Fuh Chau, both 
 improved in health, and inspired with new zeal for 
 the work in which they were engaged. Mr. Doolittle 
 was still unable, on account of his throat, to preach 
 much, and it was resolved that they both should turn 
 their attention more fully to the department of edu- 
 cation. A boy and girls' school was again opened, 
 and a good number of both sexes were found in 
 attendance. Nine of these children became day- 
 boarders in the family of Mrs. Doolittle, though they 
 returned to their homes every evening. Three 
 Chinese girls were received into the family as per- 
 manent boarders, food and clothing being furnished 
 them by the mission. These girls were completely 
 under the influence and direction of Mrs. Doolittle, 
 their parents having resigned all authority over 
 them, and committed them wholly to the care of the 
 niissionaries for § term of six or seven years, accord- 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 275 
 
 ing to their ages, imless married in that time. In 
 these Chinese girls and her day-boarders Mrs. Doo- 
 little became deeply interested, and in a short time 
 thoy became greatly attached to her. She held with 
 them a daily religious service, and when death called 
 her away, was making arrangements to receive a 
 number of Chinese women to participate in these 
 services. Her little girls were delighted with their 
 new home. They, of their own accord, asked to be 
 instructed in the religion of Jesus, and to be taught 
 how to pray, and sometimes asked permission to retire 
 alone to pray. They remained with Mrs. Doolittle 
 till the time of her death, and were then transferred 
 to the care of Mrs. Hartwell, under whose culture, 
 we doubt not, the truths already instilled into their 
 young hearts, and the lessons which they shall yet 
 receive, will bear fruit in future years to the glory 
 of God. 
 
 But in the midst of these labors, and while full of 
 plans for the future, she was stricken down, and 
 the great Head of missions said to his servant, " It is 
 enough, come up higher." Our next intelligence 
 from Fuh Chau came by letter from Kev. Mr. Bald- 
 win, bearing date June 23d, 1856, and revealing the 
 sad story it had borne over the ocean in the following 
 words : 
 
 " Our mission is in deep affliction, and my sole ob- 
 ject in writing you this short letter, is to announce the 
 sftd intelligence, that we may have your sympathy 
 
276 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 and prayers, as well as those of all who love us 
 and onr cause. Our dear sister, Mrs. Doolittle, has 
 been removed from us by the hand of death. Her 
 ' presentiment,' as she expressed it, in conversation 
 with one of her missionary friends, has been sadly 
 realized in this trying dispensation of Providence, 
 and she has been cut down in the midst of her days 
 and usefulness. Mrs. Doolittle passed away from us 
 rapidly and suddenly. On Thursday, the 19th instant, 
 after having passed through a very severe confine- 
 ment, which terminated in the death of her little one, 
 she was seized with a violent inflammation of the 
 lungs, and the disease moved steadily on its fatal 
 track, notwithstanding the utmost efforts made to 
 arrest it. Indeed, so grave was the attack from the 
 very first, that but little could be done except to 
 alleviate her suffering and smooth our sister's, way to 
 her grave. Her disease speedily reached its crisis. 
 She breathed her last on Saturday morning, the 21st 
 of June, at half-past three o'clock, and went to her 
 Saviour in heaven, while our tearful eyes were gazing 
 on her poor remains. 
 
 " Outward circumstances, as well as those of 
 greater moment, made this stroke one of peculiar 
 solemnity and impressiveness. We live, you will 
 recollect, at Ponasang, our house adjoining Mr. Doo- 
 little's. The island of Tong Chin, where resides Mr. 
 Peet, our nearest missionary brother, is distant about 
 a mile ; but in consequence of the heavy storuis 
 
MRS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLia?TLE. 277 
 
 ■whicli had been raging nearly two weeks without 
 intermission, the plains and parts of the streets were 
 covered with an inundation of the river, which 
 effectually cut us off from the assistance of our friends. 
 It was under such circumstances, and while the fear- 
 ful storm was still raging, that Mrs. Baldwin and my- 
 self stood at midnight, with the afflicted husband, 
 around the bedside of his dying wife. Though 
 somewhat under the stupefying effects of opiates, 
 Mrs. Doolittle still recognized each of us, and often, 
 in her replies, showed that her reason was still active. 
 But when her husband looked intently into her face, 
 and kindly said, 'Do you know that you are sick? 
 that you are very sick ?' If you should not recover, 
 what then ?' And especially when Ms sobs fell on 
 her ear, and she said, ' The parting hour must come,' 
 she seemed fully roused to a sense of her actual situ- 
 ation. But it was on subjects strictly and purely 
 religious that she exhibited full intelligence in her 
 answers. Her voice was elevated, and every tone 
 remarkably full and distinct, while she uttered her 
 messages to her distant friends. For all these she 
 was intensely anxious that they should truly and 
 entirely cling to the Saviour. ' Tell him,' said she, 
 with reference to her brother-in-law, ' tell him it will 
 not do only to jprofess to love the Saviour, but he must 
 love him sincerely^ 'Tell her to love the Saviour, and 
 rely on him alone, which is the most precious thing 
 she can do,' was her message to her only surviving 
 
278 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 sister. To her mother : ' Tell her I would like very 
 much to have seen her again, but if the will of the 
 Lord is that ' — here she failed, and her voice was 
 lost for a season. When she recovered she did not 
 complete the message, but doubtless intended to 
 expi-ess her resignation to the will of the Lord, even 
 tliough never permitted on earth to see her mother's 
 face again. 
 
 "At length Mr. Doolittle requested me to bring 
 Henr3^ He was sleeping quietly, all unconscious 
 that his mother was so soon to be removed from him. 
 He is a small and delicate child, her only one, about 
 two and a half years old. I brought him over in my 
 arms and gave him to his father, who roused him 
 from his slumbers, and held him on the bed near his 
 mother. The scene which ensued I am sure my 
 feeble pen cannot adequately describe. ! it was a 
 precious scene, on which angels might look with 
 rapture. Her darling, only boy was before her, the 
 child of her most ardent attachment, as we had often 
 seen it so tenderly manifested in days gone by. The 
 whole mother was aroused in her soul. She stretched 
 forth her hand toward him, and cried out in tones of 
 most melting tenderness and love : ' Little Henry ! 
 little Henry ! little bird ! little Harry ! mother loves 
 little Harry, very much she loves him.' Those tones, 
 so rich, so full, so almost unearthly, seem to fall 
 again on my ear while writing. Perhaps I shall 
 never forget this sublime scene and these melting 
 
MRS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 279 
 
 words. I trust I never shall. They are to my mind a 
 proof of the strength of maternal love, which volumes 
 could scarcely deepen. But that heart had room for 
 others too. She stretched forth her hand and laid it 
 tremblingly on the head of her little boy, where it was 
 held steadily by her husband's hand ; and in those 
 same earnest, clear, rich tones, which I have never 
 heard in all my lifetime, she said : ' Thy will be 
 done. God bless us all, and take us all to heaven !' 
 She said no more. She committed all to Him who 
 is able to keep all, then sweetly fell asleep in Him. 
 
 " The flood having abated, her remains were car- 
 ried to-day (the 23d) to the Mortuary Chapel, on the 
 south bank of the river, and the impressive funeral 
 services were conducted by Eev. Mr. Hartwell and 
 Eev. Dr. Bridgman, who is on a short visit to this 
 port. Thence the little procession, mostly composed 
 of missionaries, followed the remains to the Mission 
 Cemetery, a few yards distant, and we committed the 
 precious dust to the grave in joyful hope of its future 
 resurrection and glory. Beside her sleep in this silent 
 spot those three noble women, Mrs. White, Mrs. 
 "Wiley, and Mrs. "Wentworth."* 
 
 "We have thus presented the outlines of the brief 
 but eminently useful life of this noble woman. "We 
 need not attempt to sketch her beautiful character 
 here ; we have endeavored to make this apparent in 
 the preceding pages. "We have already seen her as 
 
 * Since then Mrs. Peet has been added to the precious number. 
 
280 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 an affectionate daughter, a loving sister, a devoted 
 wife, a tender mother; as a ripe scholar, an early 
 and faithful Christian, and an earnest missionary. Ifor 
 would we offer any eulogy to the memory of the dear 
 departed. Her life is her praise, her consecration to 
 the work of missions the proof of her character, and 
 the rude stone which covers her resting-place in 
 the silent " Cemetery of Fuh Chan" is her noblest 
 monument. It is the one she would have chosen for 
 herself, and it utters its silent memorial and dispenses 
 its quiet influence, from the very spot where she 
 would have" placed it. Here the heathen, for whom 
 she lived and with whom she died, will gather around 
 it, perhaps sit down upon it, in the refreshing shade 
 of the beaiitiful olive-tree that waves above it, and 
 read in their own language the record of her life, the 
 inscription of her death, the assurance of her hope of 
 immortality, and ■the proof of the love and devoted- 
 ness of one who came far over the ocean to teach 
 them of Jesus and the resurrection. 
 
 Mrs. Doolittle, by her social virtues and many acts 
 of kindness, had secured to herself the warm esteem 
 and even the affection of many of these rude heathen, 
 and especially had she won the hearts of the na- 
 tives employed in the mission, of the children of her 
 school, and of her three little native girls. On the 
 day preceding the funeral a number of these natives, 
 with the children of her school, assembled in an upper 
 room adjoining that in which she lay silent in death. 
 
MRS. SOPHIA A. H. DOOUTTLE. 281 
 
 Mr. Baldwin addressed them on the blessedness of 
 those who die in Christ. Many breasts that had been 
 seldom moved by emotion, heaved, and many eyes 
 nnused to weep were suffused with tears that morning. 
 After these services all who wished took a last view 
 of one whose face was so familiar to them. Long and 
 silently they gazed on their departed friend. Her 
 three little native girls wept bitterly as they looked 
 upon her, and remembered and spoke of her affection 
 for them and her labors with them. how eloquent 
 is death ! Perhaps the most powerful of all her lessons 
 was the lesson of that hour, when her lips uttered not 
 a word, when her eye returned no gaze, and when 
 she lay motionless, clad in the habiliments of the 
 grave, while heathen hearts around her were melting 
 and tears flowed freely. Thus the fallen missionaries 
 are not lost. Though dead they still speak, and for 
 many years their silent graves will send forth lessons 
 and influences eloquent and powerful in their ap- 
 peals to the heathen around them, and to the Church 
 at home. There let us leave them under the guardian 
 care of Him who said, ' He that believeth on me hath 
 everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last 
 day.' " 
 
282 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 TRIBUTE TO MRS. DOOLITTLE. 
 By Mes. Olaba P. Yaugbe. 
 
 Feom distant China's darksome strand 
 
 A melancholy dirge, 
 And dying sigh " for native land " 
 
 Float o'er the moaning sm-ge, 
 
 From lips that in departed days, 
 Along " sweet Auburn's " plains. 
 
 Warbled the muse's magic lays. 
 In gently flowing strains. 
 
 Fondly her fading eyes were turn'd 
 
 Toward the far-oflf shore, 
 "Whose hiUs her heart, in dying, yearn'd 
 
 To look upon once more. 
 
 To native scenes, loved passing well. 
 
 Kindred and sacred home. 
 Early she bade a last farewell. 
 
 To cross the ocean's foam. 
 
 Why left she this fair land of ours? 
 
 The land of peaceful dells, 
 Of unmolested hearths, and bowers, 
 
 And holy Sabbath bells? 
 
 She loved it, and to leave it wept ; 
 
 Fain 'neath its flowery sod 
 Death's long, lone sleep would she have slept; 
 
 But more she loved her God. 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. II. DOOLITTLE. 283 
 
 And for his cause she dared to brave 
 
 The perils of the sea, 
 A hostile home beyond the wave, 
 
 A martyr's destiny. 
 
 For Him whom God hath glorified 
 
 She laid life's treasures down ; 
 Bearing his message, meekly died, 
 
 And won a starry crown. 
 
 And now amid the immortal choir 
 
 Around the throne that throng, 
 Sweetly she tunes a golden lyre, 
 
 To heaven's unending song. 
 
 We have already alluded to the poetic gifts of Mrs. 
 Doolittle, and to her early coutributions to the press, 
 through which she had already gained many ad- 
 mirers. A few specimens of her composition will 
 exhibit her talents in this respect, and may not prove 
 an unacceptable offering to the reader. 
 
 HAST THOU E'ER LOVED? 
 
 Hast thou e'er loved the laughing girl. 
 With waxen neck and silken curl, 
 Sweet ruby lips and dimpled face, 
 Borne gayly on with sylvan grace, 
 But her light footsteps, bounding nigh. 
 Spake to thy heart. The loved must die ? 
 
 Hast thou e'er wound, in friendship's hour, 
 The golden cord round spirits pure, 
 
284 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Until its bright and silver dart 
 Pass'd gently down into thy heart, 
 But whisp'ring angels seem'd to say, 
 Love not what death can take away ? 
 
 Hast thou e'er watched thine aged friend, 
 And proffer'd aid, her steps to tend 
 Most kindly down life's dark descent. 
 To which her tott'ring steps were bent. 
 But thou didst turn, with silent breath, 
 To brush the tear that told of death? 
 
 Hast thou e'er burn'd the midnight oil 
 To win the love of learning's toil. 
 And twine bright garlands for thy name, 
 Of honors, stars, and gems of fame. 
 But morning's light on thy dim eye 
 Told to thy heart. Thou too must die ? 
 
 Haat thou made wealth thine only trust, 
 And heap'd in heaps its shining dust. 
 Drawing its sUken curtain round 
 The shining, treasured luxuries found. 
 But its thin wings did softly say, 
 Think not with us to soar away? 
 
 Hast thou e'er mark'd with youthful zeal 
 The path of life through thornless field, 
 "Where flowers of pleasure fearless bloom. 
 And shed around their rich perfume. 
 But as thy steps were hast'ning on 
 The hidden thorns were trod upon? 
 
 Then if we build beneath the sky. 
 We build where joys forever fly; 
 
MKS. SOPHIA A. H, DOOLTTTLE. 285 
 
 May wisdom tlirow its halo round 
 Our dwelling on terrestrial ground, 
 TiU we may reach, a heavenly height, 
 "Whose Architect will guide us right. 
 
 COIE TO THE WILD WOODS. 
 
 Come to the wild-woods, come, sister, away, 
 "Where each hlooming flow'ret keeps smUiog all day ; 
 "Where shrubs, riclily loaded with garlands of green. 
 Encircling the mossy-clad hillocks between, 
 In gentle grace bowing to zephyrs that pass 
 Away to the meadows' soft-waving grass. 
 
 The chanting of choirs in melody calls. 
 
 Each note breaking out through the thick leafy walls. 
 
 Inviting our footsteps, inviting our ear, 
 
 "Where freshens the leaf, where streams ripple near; 
 
 "Where music flows out like the river of love, 
 
 Erom the clear crystal fount in regions above. 
 
 "We'll circle our path, and blithely walk over 
 The fields neatly strewn with nectary clover ; 
 Thy hand clasped in mine, together we'll share 
 Each treasure we gather, each pleasure that's there; 
 And lightly trip on with soft gentle tread, 
 "Where the daisy is seeking to hide its gay head ; 
 
 And gather boquets where our fair florist, June, 
 
 "With roseate fingers has lavishly strown 
 
 Herfavorite flower, with diamond eye. 
 
 That gazed aU night at the star-spangled sky ; 
 
 Buried in fragrance, each bud and leaf dripping 
 
 With sparkling dew-drops, its sweetness befitting. 
 18 
 
286 THE MISSIOK CEMETEET. 
 
 Thy cheek shall be kiss'd by the spray of the fountain, 
 That comes leaping down from the brow of the mountain, 
 Winding its pathway o'er sea-weed and brake, 
 TiU it baries its waters in the smooth silver lake. 
 Where yet rides at anchor, on its pebbly shore, 
 A white tiny boat, with light dripping oar. 
 
 Oome to the wild woods, come sister with me, 
 And sit 'neath the shade of our old fav'rite tree ; 
 Where times viewless hand will weave golden hours, 
 As our spirits commune in these wild-wood bowers ; 
 Whose richness and splendor forever will tell 
 The glory of Him " who does all things well." 
 
 THE SERENADE. 
 
 Night slept on the valley, night, lovely night, 
 With its soft airy pinions enfolding the light, 
 Save bright, starry gems peeping out from the sky, 
 And the young silver moon that sat smiling by, 
 'Neath a light fleecy cloud, whQe on through the trees 
 Its rays glided down and cleft the sweet breeze. 
 Painting each leaflet on hiU side and stream, 
 For the skill of an artist had its light pencil beam. 
 
 A sweet "April shower" had spread its wet wing. 
 And scatter'd bright drops on each smiling string, 
 Each bower and garden, and gi-ass-cover'd hill, 
 And dimpled anew the pure rippling rill. 
 Breathing its fragi-ance o'er meadow and lea. 
 And sighing on spirits happy and free 
 Its soft sigh of love, till they wish'd to unchain 
 Themselves, and away o'er the mountain and plain. 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 287 
 
 Blent with its softness, sweet music I heard 
 Steal through, the lattice, like notes of a bird, 
 And lit on the soul, 'till I thought in my heart, 
 A seraph was sweeping the strings of his harp, 
 It flow'd on so sweetly, so lovely, and clear, 
 Each joy unfetter'd gush'd out in a tear. 
 Though soon woo'd away by a zephyr kiss, 
 That keeps in attendance such evenings as this. 
 
 I look'd from the casement, and who might there be. 
 But bright real creatures that chimed witchingly 
 The harp, voice, and lute, till rich silver showers 
 Of music flow'd over the still drooping bowers ; 
 Like the wand of a fairy, both skUlful and light, 
 Engraving the mem'ry with that beautiful night ; 
 And long in my heart will its best wish be laid, 
 Eor each one that join'd in that night's serenade. 
 
 TO MY BROTHER. 
 
 Alone this evening, brother, 
 
 I sit and think of thee ; 
 The stillness of the moonlight hour, 
 New beauty adds to fancy's power. 
 As round thy name it wreathes a flower 
 
 To memory. 
 
 I see thee now enraptured 
 
 By learning's guiding light ; 
 As step by step its meteor spark. 
 Through doubt, and gloom, and shadow dark, 
 Still woos thee to a higher mark — 
 
 Fame's giddy height. 
 
288 THE MISSION CEMETERY 
 
 O ! banish every gloomy care, 
 To life's great ends aspire ; 
 The good, the beautiful, and true. 
 Do thou through all thy life pursue. 
 Then God will weave a wreath for you ; 
 This I desire. 
 
 THE RETURN OF BIRDS. 
 
 Sweet singing warblers, I hail your return 
 To my own lovely home, to the wild wood and fern ; 
 To the clear dimpled waters whose gushing is bound 
 By the cold band of winter that circles us round ; 
 To the low bending willow that kisses the stream, 
 When thy shrill morning solo goes up with its gleam ; 
 To nests, where the young in the summer that's gone, 
 Took the first wing in iiying, the first note in song. 
 
 I hail your return ! in my dreams do I hear 
 
 Sweet warbling music awake on my ear. 
 
 Like silver-toned echoes in soft southern air, 
 
 When thy carol rings out from the orange groves there ; 
 
 And I'll steal me away to a fav'rite domain. 
 
 Lest I lose the first sound of thy coming again ; 
 
 Tor naught to my soul gives such thrilling delight, 
 
 As the first song of birds at morn's early light. 
 
 I hail your return ! your coming will mind 
 
 My heart of the lovely, the pure, and the kind ; 
 
 Of hopes that allure us, of pleasures most dear 
 
 To the bright eye of beauty, undimm'd by a tear ; 
 
 And the fond, loving mother, with care-weary eye. 
 
 Will her child kiss more sweetly when you sing in the sky, 
 
 And the lattice kind hands put back, that disease 
 
 May be soften'd away by a song-freighted breeze. 
 
MES. SOPHIA A. H. DOOLITTLE. 289 
 
 I hail your return ! ever kindly you tell 
 
 Of a sister companion I loved, how well ! 
 
 In days when we rambled around our loved home 
 
 To gather the butter-cups, full in their bloom ; 
 
 And sat on the banks of a pure rippling rill, 
 
 To gaze on its waters as you sang on the hiU, 
 
 While hours of childhood pass'd gently by 
 
 As the stream, tiU its windings were lost to the eye. 
 
 Then haste your return ; bleak foes are aU flown, 
 The remnants of weapons around me are strown. 
 The north wind — Boreas — has put off his frown, 
 And like a soft zephyr has set himself down ; 
 And the shroud of the snow-king, drifting the way, 
 In the sun is laid out and fast weeping away. 
 Then fearless return, with shining plumed wing, 
 And ring from the mountains the sweet echo — Spring. 
 
 THE WEALTH OF TEAES. 
 
 Bright crystal tears, I love to see 
 Them gushing out all light and free 
 From their retiring quiet home, 
 As one by one they glittering come, 
 Trickling down a roseate face. 
 With all their native flowing grace. 
 Like rain-drops in the ambient air, 
 Painting a beauteous rainbow there. 
 
 I ever love, and love them weU, 
 When gladness of the soul they tell, 
 Of tender thoughts and truthful ties 
 That gently in the bosom rise. 
 
290 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Till they may touch the magic spring, 
 And bid those jewels take their wing, 
 And ghstening tell, with round of years, 
 Upon the heart, the " wealth of tears." 
 
 Still let them flow ; the heaviest sigh 
 Will light its wing when they are nigh ; 
 And sorrowing care, and bitter grief, 
 "Will in their wealth seek out relief. 
 As sweetly as the stars wade through 
 The sea of the cerulean blue. 
 And swimming eyes look up to tell 
 The heart that weeps may yet be well. 
 
 But when I see those large drops flow 
 From the deep fount of manhood^s brow, 
 They herald of a mighty storm, 
 Struggling within that noble form. 
 With golden links that gently keep 
 Deep passions in their quiet sleep. 
 Deal gently with that heart of care. 
 The wealth of tears is treasured there. 
 
REV. SENECA GUMMING S. 
 
 AMERICAN BOARD OF COMinsSIONERS. 
 
 By Rev. I. W. WILEY, M. D., 
 
 LATE UIBSIONARY PHYSICIAN AT FUH CHAU. 
 
REV. SENECA CUMMINGS 
 
^ir, S^tt^ca Cummittp* 
 
 AMEEIOAN BOAED OF OOMMISSIONBES. 
 
 On Tuesday the 12th of August, 1856, after an 
 illness of only five days, this beloved missionary 
 ended his life and his labor at New Ipswich, New 
 Hampshire. This was a most unexpected event. 
 Less than a week before his death he had visited the 
 Mission House at Boston, his heart full of desires and 
 hopes of an early return to his field of labor at Fuh 
 Chan. Even then the disease that was to terminate 
 his life might have been detected in the form of a 
 small pimple on the side of his nose, the first mani- 
 festations of a malignant erysipelas. But his mind 
 was intent alone on the great question of a speedy 
 resumption of his missionary labors, and he returned 
 from Boston animated with the prospect of an early 
 embarkation for China. But such was not the will 
 of the Head of the Church. He only returned 
 home to die ! 
 
 Seneca Cummings was born on the 16th of May, 
 1817, at Antrim, in the State of New Hampshire. 
 The names of his parents were Samuel and Joanna 
 
296 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 Cummings. He was the youngest son in a family 
 of six children, and grew up under the fostering care 
 of a pious and affectionate household. His father 
 still lives, now venerable in years and full of Chris- 
 tian hope. His mother died in the faith and hope 
 of the Gospel in 1845. Two brothers and three 
 sisters are still living. In the bosom of this Chris- 
 tian family he spent the first twenty years of his 
 life. ITothing peculiar or striking appeared in his 
 early history. He was mild, thoughtful, affectionate, 
 and obedient, and was tenderly beloved as a dutiful 
 son and an affectionate brother. At home and at 
 school he was silent and thoughtful, and but little 
 troublesome, and very early in life exhibited a char- 
 acter of marked conscientiousness. His mind seemed 
 naturally to turn to the subject of religion, and his 
 conversation, his conscientious and serious deport- 
 ment, led his pious mother to believe that he was 
 converted very early in life. He himself dated his 
 conversion in later years. 
 
 His fondness for books and study was early appar- 
 ent, and he received such education as the common 
 schools of his native village afforded. Such was his 
 rapid progress in the acquisition of knowledge, and 
 such the early maturity of his character, that he 
 commenced the business of teaching at the early 
 age of seventeen, and at that time seems to have 
 thought of nothing more as his life occupation than 
 instructing a district school in the winter, and labor- 
 
EEV. SENECA CUMMING-S. 297 
 
 ing on the farm of his parents in summer. An un- 
 accountable weakness suddenly appearing in one of 
 his arms, from which he never wholly recovered, 
 rendered him incapable of heavy manual labor, and 
 led to an entire change of pursuits. He now turned 
 his thoughts to the avocation of teaching as his busi- 
 ness for life. With this view he determined to per- 
 fect his education, and at the age of twenty entered 
 the academy at Meriden, and pursued the usual 
 studies preparatory for college. Here the Divine 
 Spirit began to prepare him for his future work. 
 During the first term his mind was powerfully exer- 
 cised on the subject of experimental religion, and he 
 gave his heart to God, and with it a consecration of 
 himself to whatever work the Lord might assign him. 
 Here he dates his -conversion, and in the same year 
 his name was entered on the records of the Presby- 
 terian Church of his native village. 
 
 In 1840, at the age of twenty-three, he entered 
 Dartmouth College. Here he very early secured, 
 and maintained throughout his collegiate course, a 
 high standing both as a student and as a Christian, 
 endearing himself especially to the pious inmates of 
 the college, while his quiet, kindly deportment saved 
 him all enemies. One who is himself now doing 
 valiant service in the cause of religion, thus speaks 
 of him at this period : " He was my most intimate 
 and valued college friend, whose fellowship consti- 
 tutes the most precious chapter in the history of that 
 
298 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 period of my life. His deep sincerity, his sterling 
 honesty of character, his modesty, which concealed 
 his real worth from all but intimate friends, his sym^ 
 pathy with all goodness, his energy and practical 
 wisdom, all tended to inscribe his name first in the 
 list of my cherished associates." In 1844 he grad- 
 uated with honor, being "one of the first three" in 
 his class. 
 
 At this time the trustees of Keene Academy ap- 
 plied to the faculty of Dartmouth College for a suit- 
 able man to act as principal of their institution. 
 Mr. Cummings, having yet no other object in view 
 than the life of a teacher, was recommended to the 
 trustees, and he went immediately from college to 
 Keene, and entered, as he thought, on his life-work 
 as a teacher. His " life-work," however, lasted only 
 a year, during which God taught him that he had 
 chosen him for a different work. He became con- 
 vinced that it was his duty to preach the Gospel, 
 and along with this conviction he found his mind 
 also drawn toward the missionary field. His im- 
 pressions of duty with reference to a missionary 
 career were at this time vague, but his convictions 
 of duty to enter the Gospel ministry were so clear, 
 that he at once tendered his resignation as principal 
 of the academy, and turned his attention to a theo- 
 logical education. Though at Keene but a single 
 year, Mr. Cummings left the impression of his re- 
 ligious character, and the memory of his worth in 
 
EEV. SENECA CUMMINGS. 299 
 
 that community. The trustees of the academy parted 
 with him with regret, but could offer no objections, 
 as they, like himself, were convinced of his heavenly 
 calling; and the religious community, to which he 
 had already endeared himself, felt they were sus- 
 taining a great loss. His memory was cherished 
 with respect and affection by those who had been 
 his pupils, who, after his determination to become 
 a missionary, organized the " Boys' Missionary Soci- 
 ety of Keene," and sent to him their contributions, 
 to be employed for the children of China. 
 
 While at Keene Mr. Cummings lost his mother, 
 and, judging from the tone of his letters at this time, 
 we think it is clear that the Divine Spirit used this 
 afflictive event to lead him to a deeper religious ex- 
 perience, and to awaken him to a consciousness of 
 his higher duty. He ardently loved his mother, and 
 cherished for her the tenderest memory, until his 
 own death brought him, we doubt not, to a blissful 
 reunion with her in the spirit-world. Ever ardently 
 desirous that all the members of his family should 
 be brought to an experimental knowledge of the 
 Redeemer, we find him using the melancholy event, 
 in letters to his brothers and sisters, as a touching 
 occasion to urge them to give themselves to the 
 Lord. "I have been thinking," he writes to the 
 bereaved household, "that her death has not come 
 on her own account and eternal interests alone, but 
 that it was designed for some good to us all. And 
 
300 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 it seems to me that we shall do ourselves, our souls, 
 and our Maker and gracious Redeemer, great wrong, 
 if we do not study to find out what is intended to be 
 taught by this afHiction, and lay it to heart. What ! 
 shall the Lord in infinite compassion lay his staff 
 upon one member of the family, and the rest of us not 
 consider that he is doing thus that those of us who 
 are not prepared for such a visitation may, while the 
 day of grace continues, make our peace with him ? 
 Without doubt he is by his providence in this in- 
 stance reminding us of our mortality ; that we have 
 not here our final home. How desirable, then, that 
 we should, while the Saviour is now warning and 
 inviting us to flee to him, enter the ark of safety and 
 live in constant preparation for eternity." Such af- 
 fectionate appeals and faithful admonitions, coming 
 from a loving brother, and supported by his earnest 
 prayers, have resulted in leading nearly all of these 
 loved ones into that " ark of safety." 
 
 From Keene Mr. Cummings went to Lane Semi- 
 nary in the autumn of 1845, having fully made up 
 his mind to devote himself to the work of the min- 
 istry. In a letter to his father he thus speaks of this 
 determination, and reveals to us the spirit in which 
 he entered upon this work: "When I began this 
 letter I was on board the steamboat. ISTow I am 
 safely arrived at the seminary, the place of my des- 
 tination for two years, probably, and years of solemn 
 responsibility they will be no doubt. Only think ; I 
 
EEV. SEITECA CtrMMnSTGS. 301 
 
 am here to prepare for the ministry, to become a 
 soldier of Jesus Christ, to go forth in his name, and 
 to preach his Gospel. When I think how unquali- 
 iied I now am, and how much must be accomplished 
 in the cultivation of my mind and heart before I 
 shall be fitted for the work of the ministry, my spirit 
 almost faints within me. Yet my trust is not in an 
 arm of flesh. The Saviour of lost men is able to 
 qualify me for the work he has for me to do, and in 
 him is my only hope of success." 
 
 At the seminary his piety still deepens and ex- 
 pands, and manifests its increasing power in his let- 
 ters to his friends and in his intercourse with those 
 about him. As we read over these earnest letters of 
 Mr. Oummings, and trace the evidences of his grow- 
 ing and strengthening piety, we certainly are con- 
 vinced that there is no necessity that the busy round 
 of studies, and the careful mental cultivation of sem- 
 inary life, should chill the ardent piety, or arrest the 
 deepening spiritual experience, of a soul preparing 
 for the sacred ministry. 
 
 In 184:6 he was licensed at the seminary as a min- 
 ister of the Gospel, and then gave himself wholly to 
 the Lord, to labor where he should appoint. His 
 mind now begins to turn strongly toward the mis- 
 sionary field. Again he writes, and submits this 
 great subject to his father : "In deciding to become 
 a minister of the Gospel, I of course expected to 
 labor in the vineyard of the Saviour wherever he 
 
302 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 should appoint. I am his servant, nay, Ms instru- 
 ment, and have no right to dictate to him about the 
 plcbce where he shall make use of me as such. But 
 wherever he shall make the path of duty plain before 
 me, there it is my duty to walk, rejoicing that I am 
 counted worthy to enter his service at all. From the 
 impressions which have borne heavily on my mind 
 with reference to the foreign missionary field, I feel 
 the time has come when I should decide this ques- 
 tion. And do you ask, What is my present position 
 in relation to becoming a foreign missionary ? My 
 answer is decidedly in favor of entering that field of 
 labor. I have examined the subject carefully and 
 prayerfully, and am fully persuaded in my own mind 
 that it is my duty, when my studies shall be com- 
 pleted, to go and preach the Gospel to the heathen. 
 Of coui*se if you should convince me that it is not my 
 duty to go, I should readily retreat from the position 
 in which I now stand ; and above all, if Christ by his 
 Spirit, or by the events of providence, should show 
 me that it is my duty to remain in my native land, I 
 shall most cheerfully do so. But as I now look at 
 the subject, it seems to be my duty to go on a mis- 
 sion. But before fully deciding the question, I wish 
 to know the feelings and opinions of the various 
 membei-s of the family respecting it. Do not let 
 this subject cause you undue anxiety, neither regard 
 me as destitute of 'natural affection' for the family, 
 nor as insensible to the endearments of home and my 
 
REV. SENECA CUMMNGS. 303 
 
 native land. In all these respects strong cords must 
 be sundered, should 1 go as a herald of the cross to 
 the benighted heathen. I know, too, that it will 
 also cost you a struggle to give me up, and my 
 own heart will have to struggle to bid you and 
 mj friends adieu. I know, too, what intense feel' 
 ing would swell a mother's bosom if she were liere 
 to be among the group at the parting scene. But 
 I think that mother, as she looks down from the 
 mansions of bliss, where she resides, as we trust, 
 after having experienced the fullness of joy there is 
 to be found in the immediate presence of Christ, will 
 rejoice with joy unspeakable, and if her voice could 
 be made audible to human ear, and her testimony 
 would add at all to the authority of Christ's last com- 
 mand, she would say, in topes not to be mistaken, 
 ' Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to 
 every creature.' " 
 
 While the heart of Mr. Cummings was thus exer- 
 cised on this great subject, and soon after he had 
 thus written to his father. Dr. Scudder, the eminent 
 missionary from India, visited the seminary, and 
 with liis " trumpet-toned" appeals urged the stu- 
 dents to consider the claims of the foreign missionary 
 enterprise. The conscientious mind of Mr. Cum- 
 mings could not let an appeal like this pass without 
 honestly and carefully examining it in its relations to 
 his future duty. Some of the students, of more enthu- 
 siastic temperament, seemed to resolve on the spot to 
 
 19 
 
304 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 devote themselves to the missionary work ; but when 
 the stirring appeals of the great missionary died 
 awaj^, their missionary spirit expired with it. Not so 
 in the case of Mr. Cumraings. He was not of that 
 cast of character which wonld lead him to rush im- 
 petuously into any important undertaking, although, 
 after he had determined his course, his energy and 
 moral courage would cause him to persevere to the 
 end. He said but little, and those about him scarcely 
 suspected that he had been moved at all ; but the 
 arguments and appeals of Dr. Scudder had sunk 
 deeply into his heart, and laid hold on his sense of 
 duty, and awakened a deep, earnest, and permanent 
 inquiry. He carried this inquiry to the throne of 
 grace. Said one, who was then his intimate friend : 
 " Never shall I forget the impression my mind re- 
 ceived when, on one occasion, having a pressing mo- 
 tive to speak with him, I entered his room unnoticed, 
 aud found him too much absorbed in communion 
 with God to admit of any interruption from man." 
 Mr. Cummings settled this question on his knees, in 
 the light of the cross and the judgment-seat, and un- 
 der a deep sense of his responsibility to God. The 
 decisimi reached in his own mind, he again addressed 
 his father: "I must become a missionary. I have 
 considered all. I know that it will be to bid adieu 
 to" you, my father, in the decline of life, and to my, 
 brothers and sisters, to my native country and all its 
 attractions. I know, too, that trials, and conflicts, 
 
EEV. SENECA CUJOIIXGS. 305 
 
 and deprivations lie before me. All these things I 
 have considered and prayed over, and after all the 
 deliberations I have given to the subject, it is still 
 strongly impressed on my mind that it is my duty 
 to go." 
 
 At this seminary he remained but one year, and 
 then, apparently on the solicitation or advice of his 
 friends, who were still loth to part with him, he 
 went to the West, with the view of first trying the 
 home field. But the spirit of missions went with 
 him, and he could no longer resist the voice of duty, 
 or turn the tide of his earnest desires from the mis- 
 sionary field. He returned from the West in a short 
 time, and wrote to his father: "I have no desire to 
 go to a foreign country to labor in preference to la- 
 boring at home, if such were the will of Christ. I 
 have been in the West this summer, and enjoyed 
 laboring there very much. I think I should enjoy 
 living there during my whole life. But this I am 
 convinced is not the way of duty, and I feel every- 
 thing must give place to this." 
 
 In the autumn of 1846 he made an off"er of himself 
 to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
 Missions, to enter the foreign missionary service. 
 " His preferences, as he stated them," says Dr. Ander- 
 son, " were for China ; first, because he thought he 
 could do more good there than elsewhere ; secondly, 
 because the call from China had not been as readily 
 and fully responded to as from other places ; and 
 
306 THE MISSION CEJIETERT. 
 
 thirdly, because he believed the climate of that coun- 
 try to be adapted to his constitution. His consecra- 
 tion to the work he declared to be for life ; and I 
 am happy to bear witness that to the last — and I saw 
 and consulted with him but a week before his death — 
 I never doubted the reality and sincerity of that con- 
 secration." 
 
 His offer was accepted by the Board, and soon 
 after he was designated, by the Prudential Commit- 
 tee, for the mission at Fuh Chau, at which point the 
 Reverends S. L. Johnson and L. B. Peet, who had 
 already been laboring for some years among the 
 Chinese at Bankok, in Siam, had been directed by 
 the Board to open a mission but a few months before. 
 Mr. Cummings immediately entered Union Theologi- 
 cal Seminary as a missionary candidate, and re- 
 mained in the institution one year, completing his 
 preparation for the great enterprise before him. His 
 mind and heart were now full of the great work to 
 which he had given himself. His consecration was 
 complete, and he was happy. His life-purpose am- 
 plified and filled his soul. His peace became like a 
 river. Yet he was fully conscious of the vast respon- 
 sibility he had assumed, and was deeply humbled 
 under a sense of his unworthiness. " It does seem to 
 me," he writes to his father, "as if no one over entered 
 on the missionaiy work so poorly qualified for it as I 
 am. In looking into my own heart I can see nothing 
 that can entitle me to the claims of a missionary 
 
KEV. SENECA CUMMINGS. 30Y 
 
 character. Do you ask, 'Are you not then going to 
 turn back ?' Why should I ? In turning from this I 
 should turn from a good work, from the path of duty, 
 from Christ, perhaps, and that, you know, would be 
 worse than death. No, notwithstanding my un- 
 worthiness, I cannot turn back. The course of duty, 
 safety, and happiness for me is onward ; and thanks 
 be to the great Head of the Church, that it is not my 
 grace, but his, that is to qualify me to pursue it ?" 
 
 The extent to which the constraining love of Christ 
 influenced this beloved brother to a full missionary 
 consecration, is most beautifully and delicately indi- 
 cated by a letter addressed from the seminary to his 
 sister, who, with the rest of the household, was then 
 engaged in preparing his outfit. We cannot withhold 
 it. "I rejoice, my dear sister, that you have an op- 
 portunity for doing something now, not merely for a 
 brother, but for the dying heathen. You will not 
 expect any reward from me for what you do, therefore 
 I hope you will do nothing for me simply, but do all 
 for Christ, and then you will have a rich reward. O 
 that you knew how to do everything you do for the 
 Saviour, so that you could feel that when you are 
 laboring about the house you are laboring for Christ, 
 and when you are making an outfit for a missionary, 
 you might know that you are doing it not for him, or 
 for a brother, but for the Lord Jesus. And to have 
 this knowledge is a very easy thing. Christ can give 
 it to us. If we only ask him to do it, he will ; there 
 
308 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 is nothing that he desires so much as to give us 
 that knowledge of himself which is life eternal. Do 
 then let us go to him, and make him our teacher, our 
 friend, our reward for all we do, and our eternal 
 portion." 
 
 During his stay at Union Theological Seminary he 
 formed the acquaintance of Miss A. M. Stearns, 
 daughter of Jesse and Lucinda Stearns, of New Ips- 
 wich, IST. H., a name well known and honorable in 
 the Puritan history of New England. These pious 
 parents have been honored of God in being permitted 
 to send two children to China as wives of missiona- 
 ries, one of whom, Mrs. L. S. Hartwell, is still living 
 in Fuh Chau. "We say, " permitted to send," for these 
 estimable parents have learned that it is not only a 
 duty, but a gracious privilege to consecrate their off- 
 spring to this sacred enterprise. "Would to God the 
 Christian parents of our land were more fully con- 
 vinced of this fact, and more thoroughly imbued with 
 this spirit ! The acquaintance between Mr. C. and 
 Miss Stearns was made on a missionary basis, and 
 contemplated from its commencement a life and heart 
 union for this great enterprise. Both hearts had been 
 separately prepared for this work; providence clearly 
 directed the way for their union, and never were two 
 more congenial spirits blended in life, and harmon- 
 ized in a noble enterprise. 
 
 After leaving the seminary Mr. C. spent a few 
 weeks at home, with the father and sisters to whom 
 
EEV. SENECA CTIMMINGS. 309 
 
 he was affectionately attached, and from whom he 
 expected soon to be separated for life. At length, on 
 the 26tli of October, 1847, he bade adieu to the home 
 of his youth, and started for l^Tew Ipswich, the resi- 
 dence of his intended bride. He keenly felt the 
 anguish of this parting scene. His aged father, un- 
 willing to take the last farewell of his son in the 
 presence of his other children, accompanied him a 
 few miles on the way. It was an hour of deep emo- 
 tion to this father ; his heart was still bleeding from 
 the wound it had received in the loss of his wife but 
 a few months before, the mother of this his youngest 
 son, who was now to depart to climes so distant that 
 he might not hope again to meet him in this world. 
 At length they stopped on the road, by the woodsido 
 alone ; their hands were clasped together, their eyes 
 met and filled with tears, but the deep feelings of their 
 hearts forbade the utterance of words. They parted, 
 the father turning his face toward his desolate home, 
 resigning the son of his love into the hands of God, 
 the son bowing to the will of the Lord, and subordi- 
 nating all earthly love to the love of Christ. This is 
 Chrsitian heroism, the true heroism of missions. 
 
 On the 28th he was mai-ried in New Ipswich, and 
 on the 1st of November he and his young bride bade 
 adieu to their friends, and started for Philadelphia, 
 the place of their embarkation. Here they arrived 
 on the 4th of November, and met for the lirst time 
 the fellow-missionaries who were to accompany them 
 
310 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 on their voyage. On the evening of the 5th a most 
 impressive farewell meeting was held in behalf of 
 these missionaries in the church of the venerable 
 Albert Barnes, which was filled with a large sympa- 
 thizing aiidience, whose tears and words avowed their 
 interest in this noble enterprise. On the 11th they 
 embarked on the ship Valparaiso. A precious com- 
 pany was borne on that vessel. Eev. Dr. James and 
 wife, under the auspices of the Southern Baptist Board 
 of Missions, destined to reinforce their mission at 
 Shanghai ; Miss Pohlman, the sister of Kev. "William 
 Pohlman, who was then laboring at Amoy ; Rev. C. 
 C. Baldwin and wife, Rev. S. Cummings and wife, 
 and Rev. W. L. Richards, constituting the reinforce- 
 ment of the infant mission at Full Chau, under the 
 care of the American Board. 
 
 A touching history belongs to this little company. 
 Dr. James and wife were destined never to reach 
 their field of labor. The little company of the Val- 
 paraiso had all safely reached Hong Kong, and there 
 parted for their different fields of labor. Dr. James 
 and lady determined to visit Canton while awaiting 
 an opportunity to sail for Shanghai. This they did, 
 and spent a few days at the great city of foreign trade ; 
 but as they were returning on board the schooner 
 Paradox, just after they had made sight of Hong 
 Kong, a sudden sc[uall struck the vessel and threw it 
 on its beam ends, when she filled and immediately 
 sank, bearing with her to a watery grave Dr. and 
 
EEV. SENECA CtJMMINGS. 311 
 
 Mrs. James, and five others belonging to the crew. 
 Miss Pohlman safely reached her destination at Amoy, 
 and was welcomed to the warm heart of her brother. 
 Not long after her arrival, however, that brother 
 made a tour along the coast of China for the benefit 
 of his enfeebled health, and also for purposes of mis- 
 sionary exploration. On this tour the vessel was 
 attacked by pirates, and Mr. Pohlman never returned, 
 being probably murdered or drowned. This blow fell 
 heavily on his sister, and she never recovered from it. 
 Her health failed, and reason itself began to totter, 
 when she was accompanied to her native land by Eev. 
 Mr. Talmage. Mr. Hichards reached Fuh Chau, 
 entered heartily into his missionary labor, but in a 
 few years sank under failing health and started for 
 America, but found a grave in the broad Atlantic. 
 His memoir occupies a place in this work. Mr. 
 Baldwin and wife still live, efficiently laboring in the 
 Master's cause in Fuh Chau. Of Mr. Cummings the 
 story is now being written. Such has been the fate 
 of this little band of missionaries, who, in 1847, 
 embarked with warm hearts and high hopes on board 
 the Valparaiso. 
 
 It is necessary to say but little of the voyage of 
 these missionaries to China. The passage was a long 
 one, presenting but few incidents of a novel or strik- 
 ing character. Our missionary company was most 
 pleasantly situated, and formed among themselves a 
 band of congenial spirits, whose social intercourse. 
 
312 THE MISSION CEMETEKY. 
 
 frequent seasons of devotional exercises, and arrange- 
 ments for intellectual and religious improvement, 
 happily and profitably filled up the slowly moving 
 weeks of their voyage. These months, spent on the 
 ocean, proved of great spiritual advantage to the sub- 
 ject of this sketch. Here he had ample opportuni- 
 ties for those self-examinations, private meditations, 
 and deep communings with God, in which he so 
 much delighted; and as we trace up his journal we 
 discover an evident growing in grace and in the 
 knowledge and love of God. 
 
 On the 9th of March they reached Angier, a small 
 settlement of Malays on the west coast of Java, look- 
 ing out on the Straits of Sunda, which here separate 
 for a distance of only a few miles the islands of Su- 
 matra and Java. These native Malays supply the 
 foreign ships as they pass through these narrow 
 waters with fresh provisions, oranges, plantains, 
 yams, cocoa-nuts, fowls, etc., and are often met in 
 their little rowboats many miles out to sea, looking 
 after approaching vessels, thus carrying on an enter- 
 prising rivalry in trade. Here for the first time Mr. 
 Cummings was brought in contact with heathens and 
 heathenism, and judging from the records made in 
 liis journal, anust have been deeply affected by the 
 sight of these poor, half-naked, ignorant, and degraded 
 Javanese. More than ever was he convinced of the 
 magnitude and importance of the missionary enter- 
 prise ; more fully was he satisfied that he had made 
 
REV. sp:xeca cumjiings. 313 
 
 no mistake in resolving to' devote his life to this 
 work ; and more fully than ever did he then conse- 
 crate himself to the work of preaching the unsearch- 
 able riches of Christ to the heathen. 
 
 In a few days more they reached Ilong Kong. An 
 opportunity soon presented to embark again for Fuh 
 Chau, and after another voyage of five hundred 
 miles along the coast of China in a small Portuguese 
 lorcha named the Eainha Dos Argos, they at length 
 entered the mouth of the river Min, thirty miles from 
 the city of their destination, at day-break on the 
 morning of Sunday, the 7th of May, 1848. That 
 was a Sabbath morning of thrilling emotions ! Their 
 long voyage was about done. The God of missions 
 had safely guided them through all their wanderings, 
 and in a few hours the heathen city, as morally bar- 
 ren and desolate as the bleak rock-hills of the coast 
 they had passed, would open up before them. The 
 wind and the tide still favored, and the lorcha glided 
 up the river, conveying them through one of the most 
 romantic and picturesque valleys their eyes had ever 
 rested upon. At nine o'clock, with hearts full of 
 thrilling emotion and overflowing with gratitude, 
 they assembled in the cabin and engaged in a meeting 
 of praise and prayer to express their thanksgivings 
 to God for his constant and mericful protection, and 
 to implore a baptism of the Divine Spirit to prepare 
 them for their work. In a few hours the lorcha was 
 anchored off the suburbs of the great city, and in a 
 
314 THE JIISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 little time they were cordially welcomed by Eev. 
 Messrs. Johnson and Peet, who but a few months be- 
 fore had arrived at Fuh Chau under the auspices of 
 the American Board, Eevs. M. C. "White and J. D. 
 Collins, who but a short time before had commenced 
 laying the foundations of a mission under the direc- 
 tion of the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Board, 
 and Mrs. Peet and Mrs. White, the first two pioneer 
 female missionaries in this new field. 
 
 Nine years have passed away since the morning of 
 that greeting, when these eleven missionaries met for 
 the first time, and in the name of the Great Head of 
 missions began to besiege the kingdom of darkness in 
 this great heathen city. How many of them have 
 already finished their course, fought their last battle, 
 and gone to their reward ! Mrs. White and Mrs. Peet 
 sleep in the cemetery of Fuh Chau, their silent tombs 
 witnessing to the heathen multitude their love of 
 Christ. Mr. Collins and Mr. Cummings have found 
 graves in their native land, and Mr. Richards awaits 
 in the ocean the resurrection of the just. 
 
 Mr. Cummings's first impressions of Fuh Chau were 
 very favorable. " To-day," he writes, after a visit to 
 the British Consulate within the city walls, "I had 
 for the first time a full view of the city in whose sub- 
 urbs is now my home. And such a dense mass of 
 buildings and tenements I never before witnessed. In 
 the valley which they occupy, nothing else appears 
 for two or three miles in every direction. So closely 
 
KEY. SENECA CUMMINGS. 315 
 
 are tlie buildings compacted, and so nearly of the 
 same form and height, that all seem as unbroken and 
 monotonous as the sea. And to us foreigners, who 
 have seen the endless bustle, and heard the low rolling 
 thunder of cities in our far distant native land, while 
 viewing this sea of roofs from the heights we occu- 
 pied, the whole appeared as lifeless as a desert. Not 
 an animal doing service to man was seen, not a sound 
 of a carriage was heard. Yet, beneath the surface of 
 this scene which our eyes rested upon, there live hun- 
 dreds of thousands of immortal souls, without God 
 and without hope in the world. If an ancient chief- 
 tain, as he looked down from a lofty eminence npon 
 the surrounding population, could weep over their 
 destiny, is there not cause for deep emotion in the 
 Christian's breast when beholding such a scene." 
 
 In July he visited the Buddhist monastery on Ku- 
 sang, a lofty eminence which lifts itself toward the 
 clouds about six miles south-east of Fuh Chau, and 
 from which may be had an extended view of the vast 
 amphitheater in which lies the city. Here again he 
 is led to give utterance to his convictions of the mag- 
 nitude and importance of the work presented in this 
 field. " After breakfast," he writes, " Brothers John- 
 son and Baldwin and myself set off from the monas- 
 tery for the summit of Kusang. Its isolated, tower- 
 ing peak presented rather a forbidding appearance, as 
 we began to wind our way in circuitous paths up its 
 steep sides. "We frequenf^ly stopped to take rest, and 
 
316 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 reached the top onlj at eleven o'clock. Here at first 
 we sat down, throwing our shawls over our shoulders 
 to recover from our fatigue. The breeze and pure 
 air of this lofty height were most refreshing and in- 
 vigorating. We soon rose and began to survey the 
 enchanting scene which lay ctretched out before us. 
 Toward the north scarce anything could be seen but 
 mountain peaks, in almost endless numbers and vari- 
 ety of forms, and presenting the most rugged appear- 
 ance to the face of the country of anything I had 
 ever seen. On the east a small portion of the ocean 
 could be seen in the blue horizon, with islands inter- 
 spersed here and there ; while on the south and west 
 our position commanded a full view of the valley or 
 vast basin in which the city of Fuh Chau and its 
 suburbs are situated. This valley is formed by the 
 river Min, which at the northwestern extremity 
 divides into two branches. These sweep through the 
 valley at a considerable distance from each other, 
 from both of which a great number of creeks and 
 small streams run out into the neighboring paddy 
 fields, cutting them into geometrical figures of almost 
 every form, presenting to the eye a delightfully pic- 
 turesque prospect. On this valley stands the vast 
 and densely populated city of Fuh Chau, with its 
 dusky roofs so closely united as to present the ap- 
 pearance of the shadow of a summer cJ8ud resting on 
 a vast field of grain. From the city in every direc- 
 tion are villages to the number of a hundred, at 
 
EEV. SENECA CUMMINGS. 31 Y 
 
 least, containing their hundreds and thousands of 
 
 B0U]S. 
 
 " What a field for work lies before ns ! How 
 such a scene enlarges our views of the magnitude of 
 the work to be accomplished in this part of the 
 Lord's vineyard, and humbles our views of the 
 ability of man to accomplish it. None but God can 
 perform it; none but he will receive the glory of 
 executing it, however much man may aspire after it. 
 O that we may descend from this mountain filled 
 with the might of his Spirit, and carry on this work, 
 for whicli his power alone is adequate !" 
 
 Mr. Cummings was soon able to negotiate for a 
 spot of ground on which to erect a house. He chose 
 an elevated spot in the district of Tuai-liang, in the 
 midst of a dense suburban population. At that 
 time, and indeed until the present, the missionaries 
 were unable to secure locations within the city walls, 
 nor in their first movements was this very desirable. 
 Tlie vast suburbs, with their population of four or 
 five hundred thousand souls, with the numerous 
 suburban villages on which the eye could rest from 
 every hill-top, presented a sufficiently ample field, 
 and one more readily and promisingly accessible to 
 the missionary. 
 
 His house completed, he entered with character- 
 istic energy into the work which was before him. 
 The first great labor was to acquire the language 
 which would admit him into intercourse with the 
 
318 THE inSSlON CEMETERY. 
 
 thousands around him. And what a laboi' ! Though 
 some few of the dialects of China had been studied 
 by previous missionaries, who had been able to fur- 
 nish some useful books on the general features of the 
 Chinese language, nothing had yet been done toward 
 opening up the principles of the dialect of Fnh Chau. 
 No teacher who understood anything of the English 
 language, or who could utter an intelligible word to 
 his pupil, could then be secured, and, indeed, none 
 that had had any experience in imparting a knowl- 
 edge of his own language to a foreigner. Yet this 
 task was to be achieved, and Mr. Cummings entered 
 upon it with patience and determined energy. A 
 teacher that knew no English, and a pupil that could 
 not utter a word of Chinese, were the only terms 
 given in this problem ; the result to be reached was 
 such a knowledge of the language of China as would 
 enable him to preach the unsearchable riches of 
 Christ in a vast heathen city. And yet the progress 
 of the young missionary, whose heart was longing to 
 reveal these words of life, was rapid and accurate, 
 and in a few months he was able to pass among the 
 people, dropping here and there a word of truth, and 
 soothing the prejudices of the masses by a few words 
 of kindness uttered in their own tongue. 
 
 In the autumn of 1849 he secured a small chapel 
 on the main street leading through the district in 
 which he lived, and here began to talk of Jesus and 
 the great salvation in the broken accents of his new 
 
REV. SENECA CUMMINGS. 319 
 
 dialect ; and from this point began to distribute, in 
 the printed language of China, portions of Scripture 
 and valuable tracts which had been prepared in the 
 older fields. These productions were available in 
 Fuh Chan; for though the spoken dialect differs 
 widely from that of the other open ports of China, 
 the written language is the same. 
 
 For five years, with increasing fluency and grow- 
 ing power, Mr. Cummings continued to preach in 
 this little chapel on almost every day of the week. 
 There was no difficulty in securing at any time an 
 audience sufficiently large to fill, and even crowd 
 the room. As soon as the street doors were thrown 
 open a motley group of men and children would turn 
 into the chapel " to hear the foreigner talking books." 
 Some with their burdens on their shoulders, some 
 with their merchandise, and sometimes even the 
 priest, and the idol-maker and vendei*, carrying his 
 load of idols, would help to make up the strange 
 congregations that filled the chapel. None but He 
 whose sleepless eye watches over the interests of his 
 cause, and who has said, " My word shall not return 
 unto me void," can know the impressions made upon 
 the thousands that visited this Kttle chapel, or calcu- 
 late the results which shall yet follow from the 
 thousands of pages that went forth from that center, 
 accompanied by the prayers, and watered with the 
 tears of this man of God. 
 
 But preaching constitutes only one part of a mis- 
 20 
 
320 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 sionary's labor. The true missionary has to be at 
 once pupil and teacher, preacher, translator, author, 
 publisher, and colporteur; and in all these depart- 
 ments Mr. Cummings was a faithful and devoted 
 missionary, and always found at his post. His visits 
 through the suburbs and into the surrounding vil- 
 lages were frequent, and during these visits he was 
 often invited into the houses of the natives, when 
 the Chinese sense of politeness always secured to 
 him an opportunity of conversing and distributing 
 tracts. 
 
 Several houi's were spent every day by the side of 
 his native teacher, increasing his knowledge and 
 perfecting his use of the language. A portion of 
 every week was given to the reviewing of the new 
 translation of the Scriptures, which was then going 
 forward in Shanghai. A part of each day was occu- 
 pied in rendering a portion of the Bible into the 
 spoken dialect of Fuh Chau, a work of importance 
 which had been entered upon by the several mis- 
 sions at that city. A large portion of time was also 
 given to superintending the printing of the books 
 and tracts needed for the mission. Thus in labors 
 abundant, in quiet, unostentatious toil, this devoted 
 missionary and his fellows persevered in this pre- 
 paratory work, successfully laying the foundations of 
 the Redeemer's kingdom in this heathen city. 
 
 How it would have rejoiced his heart could he 
 have been permitted to see immediate fruits follow- 
 
EEV. SENECA CUMMINGS. 321 
 
 ing his ardent labors. But for this both he and the 
 Church had to wait. His only hope was in God ; 
 his faith, in the power of the Gospel; his consola- 
 tion, in the consciousness of a faithful discharge of 
 duty ; and his encouragement, the approbation of 
 the Master. He heard of the first convert, the first 
 admission to the Church, the first-fruits of the harvest 
 which is yet to be, only a few days before his death, 
 and almost the last iitterances from his lips were ex- 
 pressions of his joy over this intelligence. Like 
 Simeon, he only saw the beginning of the salvation 
 of God, and then died. 
 
 One of the great trials of the Chinese missionary 
 is that of wasting strength and failing health, under 
 the exhausting influences of a foreign tropical cli- 
 mate. Mr. Cummings and his family were not ex- 
 empt from this. His own vigorous constitution began 
 to sink under it, and during the last years of his mis- 
 sionary life much of his labors were performed un- 
 der the depressing influences of enfeebled health. 
 His beloved companion especially sufi'ered from these 
 influences, and spent most of her life in China as a 
 patient sufi^erer for Christ's sake, illustrating, as a 
 light in a dark place, the power and beauty of our 
 holy religion, as it sanctifies aflliction and supports 
 the soul under the trials of life. 
 
 In October, 1850, God cheered their dwelling for 
 a few weeks with a little bud from the "garden of the 
 Lord ;" but soon recalled it to himself again, leaving 
 
322 THE MISSION CEMETEKY. 
 
 their honse desolate. Mr. Cummings, in speaking of 
 these events, displays so much of those elements of 
 his own character which endeared him so greatly to 
 those who knew him, that we introduce the following 
 from his journal : " I have just been called to pass, 
 through a season of severe trial and affliction. My 
 dear partner has been brought to the border of the 
 grave, but God in his infinite love and compassion 
 has raised her up, that she may be spared to his serv- 
 ant for a little season longer. O that we might both 
 be deeply impressed with the importance of devoting 
 the span of life that remains to us to Christ, in a 
 fuller sense than we have ever done ! But we are 
 both mourners. A few days ago the gracious Lord 
 recalled to himself a precious little daughter, which 
 he had given us only a few weeks previously. On 
 the morning of her death we had determined to dedi- 
 cate her to God in baptism ; but the Lord, to whom 
 outward rites are less acceptable than the offerings 
 of the heart, waited not for our consecrating act. He 
 took the little one to himself, and released us from 
 the obligation of the vows we were about to make to 
 him. At the time she died I was alone in prayer 
 with reference to her baptism. I was pleading with 
 a covenant-keeping God to bring us, the parents, into 
 the bond of his covenant, and was pouring out my 
 soul before him in behalf of the immortal spirit of 
 the little one, who was apparently near her end. For 
 this I have occasion to thank the Lord. He could 
 
RET. SENECA CUJIMINGS. 323 
 
 not have conferred a greater privilege on me than 
 thus to permit me to accompany the depairted spirit 
 to the 'dark valley' with prayer. 
 
 " In this event we feel deeply afflicted. Om- hearts 
 were already ardently attached to the little one, and 
 our souls were deeply pierced by the arrows that 
 removed her from us. Yet in respect to the dear im- 
 mortal one, we are permitted to have many very 
 comforting thoughts. We knew that it was the Lord 
 that gave, and that it was the Lord that has taken 
 away. How consoling the thought that it was He 
 that took her away. Yes, he left it not to angels or 
 men, principalities or powers, devils or an evil world, 
 but he did it himself, and blessed be his name, for 
 he doeth all things well. Our little one, too, is in 
 heaven. She enjoys the everlasting embrace of Him 
 who said : ' Suffer the little children to come unto 
 me.' Yes, blessed Jesus, she has gone to thee, and we 
 would not by our complaints bring her back from 
 thine arms, where she is to receive thy blessing for- 
 evermore. But grant that the treasure we have 
 now laid up with thee in heaven may often draw 
 our hearts thither while we remain in this vale of 
 tears !" 
 
 His own health and that of his wife continuing to 
 fail, in the spring of 1855 they were induced to make 
 a voyage to Shanghai ; but finding no benefit from 
 this they soon returned to Fuh Chau, and there em- 
 barked in May for the United States, where thejy ar- 
 
324 THE MISSION CEMBTEET. 
 
 rived on the tenth of October, 1855. They immedi- 
 ately found a welcome home at New Ipswich, in the 
 bosom of that family from which Mrs. Cummings, a 
 young and hopeful bride, had gone forth seven years 
 before, consecrated to the work of missions. Nor had 
 that consecration been revoked. It was still the 
 earnest desire and prayer of both that they might 
 speedily be restored to health, and be permitted to 
 return again to the missionary work. 
 
 During the winter of 1855 Mr. Cummings filled 
 with great acceptance the pulpit of the Second 
 Congregational Church at ISTew Ipswich; but in the 
 spring relinquished his charge, in hope of improving 
 more rapidly if free from these cares. Still he con- 
 tinued to preach in various places on almost every 
 Sabbath, awakening wherever he went a deeper in- 
 terest in the cause of missions. His last sermon, 
 preached about two weeks before his death, was 
 upon the combined texts Psalm xvii, 15, and Isaiah 
 Ixiii, 11 : "I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy 
 likeness;" "He shall see of the travail of his soul, 
 and be satisfied." 
 
 Early in August he visited Andover, with the view 
 of attending the anniversaries of the Seminary. He 
 appeared to be in his usual health, but spoke of a 
 small pimple on the side of his nose which troubled 
 him slightly. From Andover he went, on the seventh 
 of August, to Boston, to confer with the missionary 
 secretaries with reference to his return to Fuh Chan. 
 
EEV. SENECA CTJMMIN6S. 325 
 
 " How little did any of us then think," says Dr. An- 
 derson, in his funeral sermon, " that his lease of life 
 was so short, and that we should so soon and so sud- 
 denly be summoned to his funeral solemnities. Just 
 one week ago this day he was with us in Boston, full 
 of hope and promise, looking forward to a speedy re- 
 turn to China ; to-day he sleeps in death before us, 
 his work all done, and his spirit gone to its reward. 
 Surely God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. 
 There is deep mystery in such events. Our unbeliev- 
 ing hearts are ready to say. Why this waste ? But 
 the all-wise Disposer of events has made no mistake. 
 There is no waste. Though the mountain streams 
 soon dry up and disappear from view, their waters, 
 mingled with a thousand other streams, flow on in 
 the mighty river, through valleys and fields, watering 
 and fertilizing whole countries. Never did the pi- 
 oneers of American foreign missions live more effect- 
 ively than they do at this moment, though most of 
 them left the world long since and early. Our de- 
 parted brother performed the part of the great work 
 assigned to him. He was among the pioneers in the 
 vast Christian effort which, with God's blessing, is 
 to evangelize the myriads of China, and his memory 
 and his influence will never die. He did not regret 
 his going thither, neither do we ; nor does he, we 
 may be assiu-ed, now, while burning in raptures be- 
 fore his divine Lord. 
 
 "When Mr. Cummings called at the Mission 
 
326 THE MISSION CEMETEET. 
 
 House on Thursday last, there were some who 
 noticed what proved to be the commencement of 
 his fatal disease. But> he made no allusion to his 
 own illness, and was as sweet-tempered, as cheerful, 
 as hopeful as ever. The opening prospects of the 
 Gospel in China, and his own return thither, were 
 the topics of our conversation. Though I have 
 loved and confided in him, in an unusual degree, 
 from our first acquaintance, he never left so de- 
 lightful an impression of his character as he did 
 that day. His disease was alarming on Monday, 
 and began visibly to affect the vital organs. His 
 mind became confused and disordered. In the 
 evening there was an affecting exhibition of the 
 ruling passion strong in death. He fancied the Chi- 
 nese once more before him, and in their native 
 tongue renewed his proclamation of the Gospel, and 
 his entreaties to them to lay hold on eternal life 
 through the Lord Jesus. This done, he yielded to 
 the overpowering disease, and spoke no more on 
 earth. Next morning, at half-past seven, he gently 
 went to his everlasting rest, at the age of thirty-nine. 
 O brethren! let us rejoice that he lived, that he 
 went on this mission, and that he has been faithful 
 unto death; and let us pray that otliers may be 
 raised up to take his place in this good work."* 
 
 Thus, on the 12th of August, 1856, he slept 
 in Jesus. His disease was malignant and rapid, 
 * Funeral Sermon. 
 
EEV. SENECA CTJMMINGS. 32 Y 
 
 early inducing a delirium which deprived his friends 
 of that luxury of sorrow, the precious words which 
 drop from the lips of dying loved ones. But he has 
 left to them and to the Church what is far better, a 
 character pure and unspotted, an example of deep 
 and earnest piety, and a life of devotion to the cause 
 of the Redeemer. From such we do not need, how- 
 ever beautiful and precious, the mere testimony of 
 a dying hour; their life testifies to their Christian 
 character, and points unerringly to the Christian's 
 home. 
 
 The character of Mr. Cummings was one of great 
 beauty and worth. The writer knew and loved him 
 well. We met first on missionary ground in the 
 City of Fuh Chau, in 1851, and immediately began 
 a friendship the memory of which will continue 
 precious through life. He was a man to love, not 
 simply a character to admire. His talents and schol- 
 arly attainments very soon won the respect of all 
 about him, but his genial and sympathizing Chris- 
 tian and social qualities equally soon won the heart. 
 It was my privilege to know him under circumstances 
 calculated above all others fully to develop to his 
 associates his character in all its aspects. But few 
 have stood the severe tests to which he was subjected 
 better than he, and shone more brightly as a Chris- 
 tian missionary. His piety, the broad foundation on 
 which was developed his missionary character, was 
 deep, warm, uniform, and consistent. Its chief ele- 
 
328 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ment was ardent love to Christ and his cause; a love 
 which not only constrained him to labors abundant, 
 but which also sustained him joyfully through years 
 of self-denial. He possessed an unusual measure of 
 that meekness and quietness of spirit which in the 
 sight of God, and of good men too, is of great price. 
 His deportment everywhere and always was charac- 
 terized by a gentleness and humility which endeared 
 him to all. A happy balancing of the intellectual 
 and emotional, of the Christian and social elements 
 of his nature, gave great symmetry to his whole char- 
 acter, constituting him an efficient missionary, a val- 
 uable friend, an excellent co-laborer, and a genial 
 companion. The news of his sudden death fell as a 
 heavy stroke on the little circle of associates he had 
 left behind in China. " O what a stroke has fallen 
 on us !" exclaims Mr. Baldwin, " and how heavy to 
 this mission the loss of that strong heart of faith 
 which resolved to live and die for Fuh Chau. And 
 yet his love for the work, his faith, his patience, his 
 prayers, and his deep sympathy for us, lead us to 
 take courage and go forward." 
 
 Mr. Cummings was a singularly quiet and thought- 
 ful man, not given to melancholy, but prone to look 
 at the reality and foundation of things. He spoke 
 only when he had something to say, even in the most 
 unrestrained intercourse. The streams that filled the 
 channels of his purposes seemed to come from far, 
 as though they issued from distant sources, or came 
 
KEV. SENECA CXTMMIKGS. 329 
 
 slowly, welling up from the depths of his soul ; but 
 when they poured their successive tributes into the 
 main current, it rose and he was borne along with a 
 resistless force. There was thoroughness in all he 
 did. "Whatever subject was in hand, he was dis- 
 posed to search its depths and 'to run out all its 
 ramifications. He was a man of sound learning, 
 and had added to this the habit of incessant, patient, 
 deep reflection. These traits of character were pe- 
 culiarly calculated to make him a man of profound 
 religious experience. And such he was. But few 
 reach the extent of personal consecration and de- 
 votedness attained by this earnest missionary. "When 
 he took Christ for his Saviour he took him also for 
 his Lord and king, and was ready to count all things 
 loss if he might but win Christ and be found in him. 
 He knew in whom he believed. There was nothing 
 fickle, nothing uncertain about his religion, nor, in- 
 deed, about any other element of his character. He 
 read the Bible as the book of God, and received it as 
 the rule of his faith and his practice. He thought 
 for himself, but submitted himself to God and prayed 
 like a little cliild. Well educated, deeply pious, fully 
 consecrated to God, patient, judicious, full of faith in 
 Christ and in the power of the Gospel, he possessed 
 all the elements of an efficient missionary. 
 
 "When Mr. Cummings entered the missionai-y work 
 at Full Chau, it was only the time of preparation, 
 and his labor was destined to be that of a pioneer, to 
 
330 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 meet, and overcome, and prepare for future victories 
 a new field. The first Gospel sounds that ever broke 
 on the ears of that people had been uttered in this 
 city but a little while before his arrival. Of course 
 the forest had to be cleared, the ground broken, and 
 the seed sown before there could be a harvest. But 
 few are able to appreciate the numerous and grave 
 difiiculties that meet the pioneer missionary in a 
 heathen land. Vast multitudes are before him, b^^t 
 they are miiltitudes in total ignorance of the Gospel, 
 submerged in idolatry, full of superstition, moved by 
 prejudice, suspicion, and ^even hatred toward the 
 intruding foreigner who has come among them, and 
 wholly shut out from intercourse with him by the 
 barrier of an unknown language. The missionary 
 enters among them ; he is speechless, through igno- 
 rance of their language ; he is homeless and house- 
 less, until, after many weeks of delay, he is able to 
 secure some rude building as a temporary shelter, 
 until he can soften the prejudices and remove the 
 fears of the people so far as to be permitted to build 
 a home among them ; he meets a new climate, new 
 scenes, new modes of life, new articles of food. The 
 acquisition of a new language wholly difi"ering from 
 his own, and from every other about which he knows 
 anything, is the first task that lies before him ; yet 
 for this great work he has no books, no helps, no one 
 to tell him where to begin or how to proceed, no 
 teacher speaking his language, or from whom he can 
 
EEV. SENECA OUMMINGS. 331 
 
 receive instruction excep.t through signs and motions. 
 Still the friends of missions at home often impatiently 
 ask, " Why are not the fruits of missions more imme- 
 diate and rapid ?" and too often think the missionary 
 is doing but little and accomplishing but little, be- 
 cause the visible harvest is not immediate. Could 
 these friends look down for a while upon the pioneer 
 missionary, see his toils, contemplate the obstacles 
 that everywhere meet him, and survey the ground 
 on which he has to labor, they would be able to ap- 
 preciate the toils of these men and women; they 
 would no longer misunderstand the long years of 
 preparatory work required, nor wonder that so many 
 noble spirits are blighted, so many hearts withered, 
 and so many precious lives exhausted, in preparing 
 these fields for the harvests of the future. 
 
 Upon such a field Mr. Cummings entered, and for 
 such a work he was eminently qualified. "With a 
 strong and well-disciplined mind, devoutly pious, pa- 
 tient and persevering, he was just the man to meet, 
 contend with, and overcome these obstacles. From 
 the very nature of the missionary field, and the sea- 
 son at which he entered it, the missionary career of 
 Ml". Cummings was destined not to be one of brilliant 
 success, but of patient toil ; not a glorious ingathering 
 of a golden harvest, which would command the ad- 
 miration of the Church, but a life of quiet, unseen, 
 but deep and permanent, preparation for future suc- 
 cess. Into this work he entered with all his heart. 
 
332 TUB MISSION OEMETEEY. 
 
 He knew that he was not to have the eclat of success. 
 To resign all hope of that, was only another of the 
 self-denials of his pioneer work. He understood well 
 that his life was to be one of silent labor, of unwit- 
 nessed and unheralded self-denials, breaking up the 
 fallow ground, sowing the seed of Gospel truth, soft- 
 ening the prejudices of a superstitious people, laying 
 deep and broad the foundations of a great work into 
 which others were to enter in the future, faciUta- 
 ting the means of intercourse with the people, aiding 
 to unlock and open up the sealed language for the 
 easier and more rapid acquisition of others. For 
 seven years he labored in this work, patiently meet- 
 ing its difficulties and perseveringly prosecuting its 
 toils ; and though we can throw around his name the 
 interest of no thrilling incidents and startling adven- 
 ture, nor gather for him the glory of brilliant achieve- 
 ments, his life was one of eminent usefulness in the 
 missionary field, a service for which the Church will 
 hold his name in precious remembrance, a labor for 
 which we believe he has already received the crown 
 that fadeth not away, and the glory which comes 
 from God. 
 
MRS. ELLEN C. COLDER 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION, FUH CHAU. 
 
 By Rev. I. W. WILEY, M. D., 
 
 tATE MISSIONARY PHYSICIAN AT FUH CHAU. 
 
MBS. ELLEN C. COLDER. 
 
XB, C'lUn C. Col^^. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION, FUH OHAU. 
 
 Aftee we had thought our task of gathering up the 
 memoirs of the precious dead of Fuh Chau was 
 finished, and were about committing our materials to 
 the press, we were again called to take up our pen 
 and record the death of this most estimable woman, 
 who had been connected for more than three years 
 with the Methodist Episcopal Mission at Fuh Chau. 
 Mrs. Colder died suddenly at Shippensburg, Penn- 
 sylvania, on March 24, 1858. Not in the sunset of 
 life, when lengthened shadows lie along the earth, 
 but in the full glory of the toeridian, the deceased 
 passed from among us. Noiselessly and stealth- 
 ily the spoiler intruded himself into the hallowed 
 retreat of the family circle, casting there the shadow 
 of gloom and sorrow, where a few days before a new 
 life, added to the household, had made all sunshine 
 and gladness. In an hour of comparative confidence, 
 at least on the part of surrounding friends, death 
 claimed her as his victim. All around had cherished 
 
 cheering hopes of a speedy recovery, and yet, in a 
 
 21 
 
338 THE MISSION CEMETEUT. 
 
 very few hours, while resting upon an easy chair, she 
 calmly passed from their midst, as we have the full- 
 est assurance, to that " land that has no need of the 
 sun, for the Lord God is the light thereof" 
 
 Ellen Cordelia Winebrenner was the eldest daugh- 
 ter of Rev. John and Charlotte Winebrenner, and 
 was born in Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania, on the 16tli 
 of July, 1824. Her father, a man of much intellect, 
 of strong character, and of deep and earnest piety, 
 was the originator of a branch of the Church known 
 among its adherents by the title of " The Church of 
 God," but more familiarly spoken of under the name 
 of its foundei", as "The "Winebrennerian Church." 
 The Church organization originated by Mr. Wine- 
 brenner is characterized by great simplicity in all its 
 arrangements; by the absence of any formal creed, 
 the Bible alone being their text-book and rule of faith ; 
 and by a supposed near approximation to the customs 
 and usages of pi-imitive Christianity. The principles 
 on which its pious and learned author proceeded in 
 organizing the Church seem to have been : 1st. To use 
 the word of God in its most obvious, and, wherever pos- 
 sible, its most literal construction, as the rule of faith 
 and practice ; 2d. To adopt, as nearly as possible, tlie 
 exact forms and usages of primitive Christianity; 3d. 
 In church government to combine as far as possible, 
 the advantages of Methodistic itinerancy with presby- 
 terial administration. It is still a flourishing and val- 
 uable branch of the Redeemer's Church, having a 
 
MRS. ELLEN C. COLDER. 339 
 
 numerous membership throughout Pennsylvania, 
 Ohio, and many of the western and southwestern 
 states, its itinerants and missionaries perseveringly 
 following up the tide of emigration to our vast wes- 
 tern territories. 
 
 Mr. Winebrenner still lives, now much advanced 
 in age, and honored and venerated throughout the 
 Church. At an early age, however, the subject of 
 our sketch lost her mother, a M'oman of most exem- 
 plary piety, and a mother whose tenderness and faith- 
 fulness inspired a deep and permanent love in the 
 breasts of her children. Ellen was old enough to 
 have received the deep impress of this noble mother's 
 character, and one of the sweetest memories cherished 
 by her through life was the image of this estimable 
 mother. Her diary and letters abound in touching 
 references to her ; she speaks of her as her guiding 
 star, her guardian angel, her example and her moni- 
 tor, pointing her to the way of life. 
 
 Who can estimate the influence of the constant 
 presence of this loving image, borne about with her 
 in the memory of a deceased mother, sometimes look- 
 ing upon her with the eye of love, chiding when 
 wrong, seeming to approve when right, and always 
 beckoning to a home in the skies, in forming and sus- 
 taining the excellent and valuable character of this 
 daughter? It is said of an English nobleman that he 
 always kept the portrait of his deceased mother hang- 
 ing vailed in his study, declaring that he could do 
 
340 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 nothing low, or mean, or wicked in the presence of 
 that sainted memorial. How soon, how deep, and 
 how enduring are these parental impressions daguer- 
 reotyped on the soul of childhood ! How powerful are 
 their influence for good through all subsequent life ! 
 Who that has lost a parent has not read and felt the 
 tenderness and power of the lines addressed by Cow- 
 per, in his full manhood, to the portrait of his mother, 
 who had died in his early childhood. There is a living 
 chord set among the tenderest fibers of the human 
 heart, and attuned of God to more responsively to a 
 parent's love ; and after all, the best earthly gift from 
 God to man, though it may last but for a short time, 
 is the gift of a parent whose precious memory may 
 shine as a lamp upon our path through life. 
 
 Under the discipline of this pious household, dark- 
 ened thus for a while by the removal of its sunshine 
 to heaven, but afterward relighted by the presence of 
 a second mother, whose excellence soon endeared her 
 to the little circle, Ellen grew up in love with relig- 
 ion. In early life she was the subject of Divine 
 grace. Fully conscious of her estrangement from 
 God, she betook herself to the fountain that cleanses 
 from all sin, and there found peace and fellowship 
 with God through a humble confidence of her gra- 
 cious acceptance in Christ Jesus. 
 
 About the commencement of the year 1843, when 
 nineteen years of age, she fully consecrated herself 
 to the service of her Divine Redeemer, and con- 
 
JrRS. ELLEN 0. COLDER. 341 
 
 nected herself with her father's Church. The rite 
 of baptism being administered in this branch of the 
 Church by immersion, she, with many other happy 
 converts, was buried in the beautiful waters of the 
 Susquehanna in holy baptism. From that time for- 
 ward she felt that she was not her own, but the 
 Lord's ; not only purchased by his precious blood, 
 but given to him by her own act in a holy covenant 
 for life. Her life was not only that of a firm and 
 consistent Christian, but also of a useful laborer in 
 the vineyard of the Lord. As far as opportunity 
 offered, she was always found actively engaged in 
 doing good. Her piety, however, though always 
 active and most decided, was always unobtrusive. 
 It shone brightly by way of example in her daily 
 walk. She was conscientious to a fault. So much 
 so was this the case that on all subjects of doubtful 
 propriety, or so regarded among Christians, she uni- 
 formly arrayed herself on the side of safety, and ad- 
 hered to the plain teachings of God's word, lest haply 
 she might be found fighting against God. At a very 
 early age her mother solemnly dedicated her to the 
 cause of missions, and from subsequent events it 
 would appear the Lord mercifully accepted the 
 offering. 
 
 Soon after her conversion and connection with the 
 Church, in May, 1843, she left home for Cedar Hill 
 Female Seminary, near Mount Joy, under the prin- 
 cipalship of Eev. N. Dodge. There she spent two 
 
342 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 years as a pupil, at the close of which she graduated 
 with honor to herself and credit to the institution. 
 As a teacher in the seminary she remained for three 
 years more, exerting a healthful Christian influence 
 on all that were brought within the circle of her 
 influence, and leaving behind her a name which, 
 though ten years have passed away, is yet cherished 
 in grateful remembrance in the seminary, and by 
 many of its daughters, who have gone forth to 
 mingle with the duties and responsibilities of the 
 world. 
 
 The following estimate of her character and labors 
 while at Cedar Hill, we take from the pen of Mr. 
 Dodge, the principal of the seminary : 
 
 " So favorably were her attainments regarded, and 
 so general the esteem iu which she was held both by 
 pupils and instructors, that she received immediately 
 after her graduation an invitation to fill a vacancy 
 in the teaching department in the seminary. She 
 entered on the duties of a teacher May 5, 1845, and 
 continued in discharge of them to especial satisfac- 
 tion till October, 1848. She then resigned a charge 
 which for more than three years she had most 
 worthily sustained. 
 
 " The subject of this memoir, while at Cedar Hill, 
 was not so much marked for strong and prominent 
 features of character as for a striking completeness, in 
 which the most acceptable outlines of female char- 
 acter were definitely presented and carefully filled 
 
MKS. ELLEN C. COLDEE. 343 
 
 up, furnishing a picture fitter for study than exhi- 
 bition. Faithful in the discharge of class duties, 
 engaging a deep interest in the minds of her pupils, 
 and exercising a constant and salutary influence over 
 them, she never found the result of her labors to fall 
 below expectation ; while her personal example in 
 everything commendable was eminently conducive 
 to their improvement — an improvement not measured 
 more by progression in class studies than advance- 
 ment in social and moral excellence. 
 
 " Cheerful in temper, and gifted in conversational 
 power, yet chastened to its most unobtrusive foi-m, 
 she was the especial charm of the domestic and 
 social circle in which she moved. Unafiected 
 candor and unwearied kindness, a tender interest 
 in those around her, and a hand ever ready to render 
 prompt assistance, may afford some idea of what 
 Miss Winebrenner was while at Cedar Hill. Earnest 
 in heart and manner, she made friends everywhere, 
 and best friends where most intimately known. The 
 mention of her name in the Cedar Hill family calls 
 up tokens of her goodness of heart and hand in ever- 
 freshening forms, though ten years have passed away 
 since her sojourn with us. And amid these endeared 
 reminiscences we can recall no instance of unkind 
 temper, word, or action to alloy the satisfaction we 
 feel, or mar the picture memory loves to trace of one 
 who ' though dead, yet speaketh.' " 
 
 Conscientiousness was a prominent trait in the 
 
344 TirE iiissioN cemeteet. 
 
 character of Miss Winebrenner, whicli manifested 
 itself in the faithful discharge of all her duties, and 
 in a rigid observance of all the requirements of the 
 word of God. During her residence at the seminary 
 she kept a Sabbath diary, in which she recorded, 
 with interesting minuteness and faithfulness, the man- 
 ner of her observance of each returning Sabbath and 
 a review of the preceding week, through which we 
 can easily trace the growing and strengthening of her 
 Christian character and experience. 
 
 A few extracts from this diary will enrich our 
 pages, and open to us the heart of this young Chris- 
 tian : 
 
 " Sablath, January 23, 1848. — This morning it was 
 late when I awoke, and I had but time to get ready 
 for morning worship. [I do not feel that it is right 
 to indulge in sleep on the Sabbath, therefore my 
 conscience troubled me.] After breakfast I retired 
 to private prayer, when I implored Divine assistance 
 for the duties of the day. I had not time to read 
 any in my Bible before it was time to prepare for 
 church. The sun shone in his brilliancy, and shed 
 such a warm and inspiring influence around us that 
 I could almost fancy it was a Sabbath in April. I 
 asked Miss H. to accompany me, and we went to the 
 Bethel, where we found Mr. M. occupying the pul- 
 pit. I was much pleased, as he was so nearly con- 
 nected with my dear native place. His text was 
 Psalm cxix, 97 : ' O how I love thy law ! it is my 
 
MRS. ELLEN C. COLDEE. 345 
 
 meditation all the day.' He had commenced his 
 agency to distribute the Bible^ the blessed book of 
 God, in every family in our county. May the Lord 
 prosper this noble work ! He took the above pas- 
 sage in order to open his way in our village. I 
 think I never heard Brother M. preach a more (shall 
 I say) beautiful sermon. He truly presented the 
 blessed law of our heavenly Father in a very attract- 
 ive and lovely light; compared it with other laws, 
 and referred to the experience of all good men, 
 lovers of this law. How much better it is than all 
 worldly rule or government, and wliat happiness and 
 enjoyment here and hereafter is the result of cherish- 
 ing and obeying this perfect law. I breathed a 
 prayer that I might love it more and more ; that 
 the gracious Lawgiver would enlighten my imder- 
 standing, that I might read to edification; that it 
 might be a light to my path, my heart's treas- 
 ure, my guide, my counselor by day and by 
 night." 
 
 "Before supper I retired for prayer, asking my 
 dear Eedeemer not to leave me to myself, but still 
 to lead, direct, and comfort me. After tea, the 
 sun was fast departing behind the hills, and I 
 could not spend my time better than to be alone 
 in my own room, and think over my past and 
 present life. I allowed my thoughts to wander 
 back to my early childhood, when I was a happy 
 child, 
 
346 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ' Free from all cares ; 
 
 Led by a mother's kind counsels, 
 
 A mother's fond prayers ;' 
 
 and as the loveliness and beauty of the sun's last 
 rays were fading out of sight, I compared it with my 
 onward march with time, when I was left in gloom, 
 when the guiding sun of my infancy had set at noon- 
 day, and I was left to wander in forbidden patlis. 
 But I looked from nature up to nature's God, and 
 from the gloomy earth to the brighter heaven, whith- 
 er my heart's dear treasure had gone to rest from my 
 earthly gaze, and light broke upon my mind, and I 
 was led to exclaim, ' Have I indeed been left alone 
 in darkness and night?' I wept tears of joy, for I 
 remembered that the Sun of Righteousness had been 
 my deliverer, and had led me in paths I had not 
 seen, and in the way I knew not. I prayed again 
 for pardon for the many unworthy returns I had 
 given him for his cai'e and watchfulness over a poor 
 erring lamb of his fold, and as I had come to feed 
 under his tender care, I craved his blessing. I felt 
 assured that He who had been so good and merciful 
 in the past would care for my future — make me use- 
 ful while on earth, and happy with the loved ones 
 around his throne." 
 
 " When I arose this morning I raised my heart in 
 prayer; but O how hard my heart appeared, and 
 every word how cold. I thought over the past week, 
 and I found I had lived at too great a distance from 
 
MRS. ELLEN C. COLDER. 347 
 
 my dear Eedoemer. "When I thought over the many 
 instances of his goodness and mercy to me, shame and 
 confusion of face overwhelmed me when I remem- 
 bered my forgetfulness of him. How truly has the 
 loving Apostle John described this phase of our ex- 
 perience : ' Brethren, if our hearts condemn us not, 
 then have we confidence toward God. But if our 
 hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, 
 and knoweth all things.' I besought his pardoning 
 mercy, resting alone on his gracious promise : ' I will 
 never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' I especially be- 
 sought him to show me the path of truthfulness, vir- 
 tue, peace, and love, and to incline my heart to walk 
 steadfastly therein. The sky now wore a brighter 
 face, the clouds of the morning were fast flitting be- 
 hind the eastern hills, and so passed the clouds from 
 my sky." 
 
 " This Lord's day morning I hailed with thank- 
 fulness of heart, having the assurance that the Lord 
 has indeed been good to me, bestowing upon me 
 every spiritual and temporal blessing, leading me 
 above all things to love him, for which glory be 
 unto his name ! O how much I want to love him 
 with my whole heart ! and with his assistance I will 
 not get weary in well-doing. This again recalls to 
 my mind the sweet dream I had during the past week. 
 After I had been thinking how much concerned my 
 dear mother was for the future welfare of her chil- 
 dren, and how often she had prayed for its accom- 
 
348 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 plishment, I fancied in my dream she came to me 
 with her angel babe on her arm, and looked on me 
 with so much pleasure and love, and said : ' Ellen, I 
 hear that you are a good girl,' and kissed me, and 
 passed away. O how this seemed to renew my 
 efforts to become more approved in the sight of my 
 dear Eedeemer! Ah! how bitterly does the truth 
 come to my heart that I am not what I might be. 
 How much of my precious time has gone to waste, 
 how much of it is still given to folly ! But I remem- 
 ber the pardoning blood of Jesus of Nazareth. I 
 ti-ust old things are being done away, and all things 
 are becoming new. 
 
 ' Hail ! Sabbath morn, 
 The best of all the seven ; 
 Which claims my better thoughts, 
 And bears them up to heaven.' " 
 
 " The year is ending, and with it I must finish my 
 record of its Sabbaths. How imperfect when com- 
 pared with the record that has been kept on high ! 
 Lord, help me on this last Sabbath of the year to re- 
 new my broken promises to thee ; to live more 
 watchfully and prayerfully, and to take heed to my 
 ways that I sin not before thee. O assist me by thy 
 grace to advance in holiness during the coming year 
 more than I have yet done ! May I grow more into 
 the likeness of thine image during the year 1850 
 than I have in any year of my pilgrimage to my 
 
MBS. ELLEN C. COLDER. 349 
 
 heavenly home ! O may I during this year lay up 
 more treasures in heaven than I have ever done be- 
 fore ! Be thou my strength in weakness and I will 
 serve thee." 
 
 But we may not trespass further on these sacred 
 privacies. These brief extracts are enough to enable 
 us to catch a glance at the interior life of this young 
 Christian, and to form an estimate of the material 
 which God designed so soon to call into the mission- 
 ary work. 
 
 In the year 1850 her attention was directed to the 
 cause of missions. This sacred cause had always 
 been dear to her heart ; it had pi-esented itself promi- 
 nently among those strange experiences and apparent 
 side issues which often gather round the conversion 
 of the individual; but up to this time the subject of 
 personal consecration to this work had not been tirged 
 upon her, nor had she as yet seen any indications of 
 an opportunity actually to enter the work. At the 
 time of her conversion, and when she gave herself to 
 Christ and the Church, she was moved greatly by the 
 spirit of entire consecration to the love and service of 
 the Redeemer, and ever after lived in a state of readi- 
 ness to obey the inward motions of his Spirit, or the 
 outward leadings of his providence. Thus when the 
 call to this work actually came she was found standing 
 in readiness, prepared for this service in the depth and 
 mellowness of her Christian experience, and emi- 
 nently qualified by her attainments. 
 
350 THE MISSION CEMETERY, 
 
 The call to this work came through the Rev. James 
 Colder, a graduate of the Wesleyan University at 
 Middletown, Connecticut, whose name had been pre- 
 sented to the Missionary Board of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church by the great and good Olin, who was 
 then president of the University. Mr. Colder was 
 chosen as a missionary for China, and was called from 
 the itinerant work into which he had entered to pre- 
 pare for this new field of labor. Mr. Colder was also 
 a native of Harrisburg, the birthplace of Miss Wine- 
 brenner. They had knoM'n each other through child- 
 hood and youth, and now that he had entered into 
 manhood, and was about stepping forth to take his 
 place in the active duties of the world, with this new 
 and trying vocation indicating to him what those 
 duties were to be, his choice of a companion and as- 
 sociate in these labors fell upon Miss Winebrenner, 
 with whose maturity of character and available 
 qualifications he was well acquainted. They were 
 separated by Church relations, but were one in the 
 spirit and experience of religion. 
 
 How this new and sudden call to leave friends, 
 home, and country for the trials and hardships of a 
 missionary life among the heathen was received by 
 her, may be gathered from the following extract from 
 her letter, written in reply on this subject: "Let 
 me say I have loved, and do now love the missionary 
 cause ; but the idea that I should be called upon to 
 join in its labors was most foreign to my mind. I 
 
MES. ELLEN C. COLDEE. 351 
 
 have often prayed to become useful in the world, and 
 have envied those who are a blessing to others ; but 
 my heart sinks within me in view of this responsible 
 calling; I feel my incapability. I fear I have not 
 sufficiently cultivated that devotion of life, that dedi- 
 cation of myself to holier purposes, which would lit 
 me to act my part well as a missionary helper, accept- 
 able in the sight of God. 
 
 "When I was seeking religion this question pre- 
 sented itself to my mind : Whether I was willing to 
 forsake evei'ything, even to teaome a missionary for 
 Christ s sake f It caused me a great struggle to feel 
 willing. I admired the noble purpose that actuated 
 others in their labors for the heathen ; yet I con- 
 sidered them living martyrs, and thought I could not 
 leave as they had done all the comforts and endear- 
 ments of home to endure such trials and privations. 
 But then I could not realize that it was the love of 
 Christ that led them to make such sacrifices, and that 
 the promised Comforter was with them, calling to 
 their remembrance continually the precious promises 
 in the word of God to those who are serving him 
 through tribulation, even leading them to say, ' These 
 are but light afflictions.' But now I have experi- 
 enced this constraining love of Christ, and his grace, 
 through which he can enable me to do all things. I 
 desire only to do his will, and if this be the will of 
 God, I am prepared to say, ' Here am I, Lord, send 
 
352 THE MISSION OEMETEKY. 
 
 The more carefully and prayerfully she viewed this 
 subject, the more powerfully she felt her heart drawn 
 toward it, and the more clearly she saw in it the path 
 of duty. Her decision was not a hasty one, nor made 
 without much opposition. Her wide circle of friends 
 were nearly all opposed to her going, many having 
 but little confidence in foreign missions among the 
 heathen, and feeling themselves called upon to use 
 many arguments and influences to dissuade her 
 from going. All these and kindred obstacles her 
 faith and piety surmounted, and when she had once 
 reached the conclusion to consecrate herself to this 
 work, there was no looking back to reconsider, no 
 misgivings, no shrinkings from duty. She entered 
 upon the work with all its trials and hardships, its 
 privations and disappointments, not only with the 
 spirit of meek submission, but even with cheerful 
 happiness, under the pleasing assurance she was fol- 
 lowing the leadings of the Divine Spirit, and the plain 
 indications of God's providence. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1850 they were mar- 
 ried, and immediately began the work of preparation 
 for their voyage. On the 13th of March, 1851, they 
 sailed in company with the writer and his family for 
 Fuh Chau, where they arrived in good health and 
 spirits on the 9th of July, after a voyage of nearly 
 four months. It was at this time we first became in- 
 timately acquainted with Mrs. Colder. "We had met 
 her before in Harrisburg, and at once found in her a 
 
MES. ELLEN C. COLDER. 353 
 
 genial spirit and a noble character. There was much 
 in Mrs. Colder to excite interest and admiration at 
 once : a iine personal appearance, great self-possession 
 and ease of manners, an address polite and kindly, 
 and a voice of softness and gentleness that bespoke a 
 heart full of kindness and sympathy. We loved her 
 from the very beginning of our acquaintance. But 
 the true worth of her character lay hidden in the 
 depths of a tender and sympathizing nature, that 
 needed time and opportunity for its manifestation. 
 An ocean voyage of more than three months from 
 New York to Hong Kong, a dangerous and most un- 
 comfortable passage of five hundred miles along the 
 Chinese coast in a Portuguese lorcha, and association 
 of nearly three years in missionary life, gave us 
 ample opportunity to discover the true excellence of 
 this noble woman. In all these relations, as a fellow 
 voyager on the ocean, as a missionary companion in 
 a new and trying foreign field, as a wife and a 
 mother, we found her the same quiet, patient, self- 
 sacrificing, and loving woman ; always a Christian in 
 spirit and in life, always a lady in deportment. The 
 more we knew her the more we saw her worth, and 
 admired and loved her. 
 
 In the missionary field among those who had pre- 
 ceded us in this heathen city, and were longing for 
 new- faces and new friends, Mrs. Colder, as might be 
 expected, soon became a universal favorite. Into her 
 
 duties as a missionary wife and mother she entered 
 22 
 
354 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 with a cheerful and earnest spirit, evidencing in all 
 her movements her adaptation to the great work in 
 which she so willingly engaged. She made com- 
 mendable progress in the language, and soon made 
 for herself many friends among the natives of Fuh 
 Chau. None entered with a deeper sympathy into 
 the unhappy condition and numerous wants of the 
 perishing millions around her, and none ministered to 
 those wants with a more bountiful hand. The na- 
 tives employed about her household saw and appre- 
 ciated this, and were drawn toward her in a deep and 
 lasting interest and love. As a result of this we 
 must perhaps attribute to her gentle Christian influ- 
 ence, as we shall see hereafter, a large share of instru- 
 mentality in the conversion of the first native of Fuh 
 Chau, and in sending back from America to this 
 heathen city the first converted native female. 
 
 Her missionary career, however, was short and 
 troubled. The mission was yet new. No home was 
 in readiness for their reception, and the deep preju- 
 dices of the people against the residence of foreign- 
 ers and the building of foreign houses among them 
 was not yet overcome ; and this opposition, seeming 
 just then to reach its culmination, eii'cctually pre- 
 vented the building of a house for the new mission- 
 aries. Mr. Colder during all his stay in China found 
 no home. For several months the}- occupied rooms 
 in the house of Eev. Mr. Maclay and family. Dur- 
 ing this time perplexing and fruitless negotiations 
 
MKS. ELLEN C. COLDEE. 355 
 
 were being carried on with the people and native 
 officers for the privilege of erecting a house on a spot 
 ^i ground in the vicinity of the other mission resi- 
 dences. The ground was rented and a considerable 
 advance paid on it, but the people refused its occu- 
 pancy. Unfortunately the ruins of a small joss-house 
 or temple stood on the premises, and this gave new 
 strength to the opposition of the people, who looked 
 upon it as an act of desecration to allow the shadow 
 of a foreign house to fall upon the remnants of this 
 abandoned place of worship. For more than a year 
 these difficulties continued. The interposition of the 
 native authorities was sought in vain. The acci- 
 dental visitation of an American man-ofwar suc- 
 ceeded in so far arousing the Chinese officials to a 
 sense of the obligations of the treaty, as to secure 
 from them an order to go on and build the house. 
 This was attempted. A few laborers were put to 
 work digging out the foundation, but in a little while 
 an excited mob came rushing up from the suburbs 
 and drove off the workmen. It was found to be in 
 vain to make further attempts to occupy the ground. 
 The Chinese officials ordered the original landlord to 
 refund the money to the mission, and demand a re- 
 turn of his lease. Thus ended the first year's efforts 
 to secure a home for Mr. Colder. 
 
 Under the pressure of an opposition equally violent, 
 but prevented from direct interference by the sup- 
 posed inviolability of the walls inclosing our premi- 
 
356 THE MISSION CBMETEET. 
 
 ses, the house occupied by the writer was refitted and 
 enlarged, and for some months Mr. Colder and his 
 family shared a home with us. At length an oppor- 
 tunity seemed to offer for building a house on the 
 island of Tong Chin, and when all necessary arrange- 
 ments were thought to have been made, Mr. Colder 
 moved again into a part of the house occupied by 
 Mr. Baldwin, of the American Board Mission, with 
 the view of being nearer, and better able to superin- 
 tend the biiilding of his house. This was again de- 
 feated after months of perplexing annoyance and de- 
 lay. At length, after nearly two years of these dis- 
 couraging struggles to find a home, Mr. White was 
 called to leave the mission on account of the failing 
 health of his wife, and Mr. Colder moved into his va- 
 cated and half-finished house, in a remote position on 
 the thoroughfare leading to the city. 
 
 The spring of 1853 brought the excitements and 
 dangers of the revolution. The various disappoint- 
 ments and trials, the frequent removals and discom- 
 forts arising from the want of a settled home, with 
 the exhausting influences of the climate, had by this 
 time begun to tell on the health of both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Colder, especially on the latter. The first intel- 
 ligence of the successful progress of the rebellion 
 that reached Fuh Chau created great excitement 
 among the natives. The disaffected grew bold in 
 -announcing their sympathy with the movement, and 
 for many months an insurrection seemed to be immi- 
 
MES. ELLEN C. COLDEK. 357 
 
 nent. The home of Mrs. Colder, widely separated 
 from the other missionary families, and in the midst 
 of a dense and excited population, was thought to be 
 insecure, and this constant sense of danger, preying 
 upon a system already unstrung, began to operate 
 seriously on her health. It was determined that the 
 families of Mr. Maclay and Mr. Colder should remove 
 to Hong Kong, until the excitements and hazards of 
 the revolution should pass over. Accordingly, in 
 May, 1853, they embarked for Hong Kong. This 
 was a trial for both Mr. and Mrs. Colder. She es- 
 pecially felt that it was a final adieu to Fuh Chau, 
 and it was a severe struggle between what seemed to 
 be duty and necessity, and her love for the mission- 
 ary work and the little band of missionary friends. 
 
 She left us in a flood of tears. To most of the little 
 missionary company it was an adieu for all time. In 
 a little while one and then another passed away. 
 She returned no more to Fuh Chau, In America 
 she met again some two or three of her missionary 
 companions, and now has gone to that land unseen, 
 the home of the blessed, to meet a still larger num- 
 ber. How much she felt this parting, and how ar- 
 dently her heart clung to the missionary work, is evi- 
 denced by the following letter, written immediately 
 after reaching Hong Kong : 
 
 " Deae Mes. W., — We have had a short and sad 
 passage from Fuh Chau to Hong Kong. I have felt 
 
358 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 all the time as if I had been carrying Fuh Chaa with 
 me. Wo one knows how many tears, how many 
 struggles it has cost me to leave our missionary work 
 behind us. How strangely Providence has been 
 working with us since we arrived at Fuh Chau ! 
 How many difficulties, how many obstacles, how 
 much opposition. It has seemed as if the poor de- 
 luded natives were determined not to have us among 
 them, and as if China had refused us a home. Is it 
 not strange that we seem compelled to leave Fuh 
 Chau at a time when our hearts are yearning to be 
 there, and to do something for the perishing thou- 
 sands of that great city ? But the ways of God are 
 not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts. ... I have 
 not ceased to think of you all since I bade you fare- 
 well on the lorcha. The image of every precious one 
 was that moment daguerrreotyped on my heart to 
 last forever. O ! when will we meet again ? Will it 
 be in Fuh Chau ? Will all these troubles pass away, 
 and will we all reunite again in the work of our be- 
 loved mission at Fuh Chau ? I fear not. I have 
 strange misgivings that we will not all meet again, 
 until we meet in the dear home above. . . . 
 
 "We are making our home with Mr. Johnson. 
 You knew him and his precious family. They are 
 very kind to us. The Lord reward them for all their 
 goodness!" 
 
 We have spoken of the power of Mrs. Colder to 
 gain the love and gratitude of the natives employed 
 
fl- ,% h 
 
 FIP-aT CONVERT OF FUlI OHATJ 
 
MES. ELLEN C. COLDER. 361 
 
 about her house. One of these, a bright, prom- 
 ising yonng man named Ting-ing-kaw, vohmteered 
 to accompany them to Hong Kong. They were in 
 doubt as to the propriety of this ; but he urged his 
 desires so strongly that they at hast consented that he 
 should go with them. He had already been deeply 
 impressed with the religion of Jesus, first in the 
 family of Mr. Baldwin, and afterward still more 
 deeply in that of Mr. Colder. He had for months 
 been a careful reader of all our Christian books, a 
 constant attendant on the public worship, had aban- 
 doned idolatry and begun a life of prayer. Soon 
 after reaching Hong Kong, A-kou, as he is more fa- 
 miliarly called, desired to be baptized and received 
 into the Church. After this request Mr. Colder 
 and Mr. Johnson, an excellent Baptist missionary 
 at Hong Kong, with whom Mr. Colder was stay- 
 ing while in Hong Kong, gave more particular 
 attention and instruction to this young Chinese, and 
 in the autumn of 1853, at his own urgent request, and 
 with the approbation of the missionaries, Ting-ing- 
 kaw was baptized and received into Christian fellow- 
 ship — the first native of Fuh Chau converted to 
 Christianity. 
 
 And now we have to record one of those strange 
 providences which have not unfrequently .occurred 
 in the history of missions, and one of those strange 
 workings of the pious mind which are hard to ac- 
 count for. Mr. Colder had been gradually changing 
 
362 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 liis views of Christian baptism and Church govern- 
 ment, and during his stay in Hong Kong adopted the 
 conclusion that the only proper mode of baptism is 
 that of immersion, and rejected the episcopal form 
 of Church government. Perhaps it would be possi- 
 ble to trace the history of these changes, and to dis- 
 cover the various influences which brought them 
 about ; be this as it may, we cannot doubt the real- 
 ity and the sincerity of this change of views, as these 
 are fully evinced in his subsequent conduct. He felt 
 that these conclusions made it necessary for him to 
 change his Church relations. He withdrew from the 
 mission with which he had been connected. He ig- 
 nored his own baptism, which had been administered 
 in infancy, and was again baptized by immersion in 
 Hong Kong. Ting-ing-kaw, the son of his missionary 
 labor, was also immersed, as this rite of the Church 
 was not given him till after the change in Mr. Cold- 
 er's views. ITow, thinking he had no longer any 
 claim on the Missionary Society that had sent him 
 out, and finding it necessary to return to America, 
 he paid his own passage home, and that of his family, 
 at a cost of nearly fifteen hundred dollars. 
 
 In December, 1853, they sailed from Hong Kong 
 for America. Again A-kou presented his claims to 
 accompany them home. They hesitated about this 
 hazardous and costly experiment. A-kou was the 
 eldest son of his parents ; their claims upon him, by 
 Chinese law and custom, were absolute, and there 
 
MRS. ELLEN C. COLDER. 368 
 
 was no time to communicate with them at Fuh 
 Chau. Still the young Christian pressed his desire 
 to visit America, and to receive an education in this 
 country. An arrangement was finally made by 
 which Mr. Colder should pay the amoxint of his 
 ordinary Chinese wages to his parents in Fuh Chau, 
 and A-kou accompanied them to America. He re- 
 mained in Mr. Colder's family for about two years, 
 giving every evidence of the genuineness of his 
 Christian character, and making rapid progress in 
 the studies of an English education. He read well, 
 could write a beautiful hand, could converse fluently 
 in English, but was always puzzled with the subtle- 
 ties of English grammar. During his sojourn in 
 America the calls of his parents for his return were 
 frequent and urgent, and it was thought best not to 
 trespass too long on this Chinese law and custom. 
 In April, 1856, A-kou embarked for home. He has 
 maintained in Fuh Chau his Christian character, and is 
 now connected with the Methodist Episcopal Mission. 
 A few days after the death- of Mrs. Colder the fol- 
 lowing letter was received from A-kou : 
 
 "Fuh Ohatt, Ohika, Beeember 2, 1857. 
 " Mt deae Me. Colbee : I think you will think me 
 very unkind for a long time, because I did not write 
 any letters to you. I hope you will not mind it. I 
 am very thankful to you for your great kindness in 
 sending me a draft for twenty dollars. This money 
 
364 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 still remains with Mr. H. I thought it not right for 
 me to take it. 
 
 " To-morrow I will send you two boxes. ■ Please to 
 receive them. These boxes contain a few little things, 
 some for you, some for Mrs. Colder, and some for 
 your boys also. 
 
 " I am very anxious to write letters to you as often 
 as I can, but I cannot do it, for I do not understand 
 the English language very well, as you do, and it 
 takes me a long time to write a letter. 
 
 " I will marry a wife within two months. I will 
 try to be married in the Christian's way. I did not 
 see Cheung Chip's husband and children lately. I 
 live with an Englishman who is a tea-taster in Fuh 
 Chau. My wages are only eight dollars per month. 
 I have lived with him about eight months. My work 
 is to take care of his house. Every Sunday I go to 
 Mr. Maclay's church, for it is very near the house 
 where I live. 
 
 "I cannot write any more. Sir, please give my 
 love to all my friends in Hong Kong. On this letter 
 1 write very badly, but I hope you will not mind it. 
 Please write to me soon. Truly yours, 
 
 TiNG-ING-KAU. 
 
 This letter speaks well for the Christian integrity 
 of A-kou. The draft for twenty dollai-s which he 
 refers to was forwarded to him by a Sabbath school 
 in Harrisburg, and as he thought it was sent under 
 
MES. ELLEN C. COLDER. 365 
 
 the impression that he was engaged in missionary 
 work, while at the time of writing he was in other 
 business, he felt that he had no right to use the 
 money of the school. Since writing the above letter 
 he has been married to a companion long since se- 
 lected for him by his parents, according to Chinese 
 usage, whom he felt it his duty to marry in obedience 
 to the desires of his parents. As we have said, he 
 has since connected himself with the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Mission, and is doing well in his course as a 
 Christian. 
 
 Cheung Chio, referred to in the above letter, is a 
 Chinese female who occupied the place of nurse in 
 Mr. Colder's family during their residence in Fuh 
 Chau. In the latter part of 1865 she accompanied 
 the family of Mr. Cummings to this country, and im- 
 mediately sought and found a home in the family of 
 Mr. Colder. She became deeply attached to Mrs. 
 Colder, and desired to find even a permanent home 
 in America. She refused to heed the frequent calls 
 of her husband, living in Fuh Chau, to return home, 
 and spent more than two years in the family of Mrs. 
 Colder, among those from whom she had first heard 
 words of kindness and lessons of religion. Great, 
 indeed, is the power of kindness over these poor, 
 neglected, imloved Chinese women, and welcome to 
 them are the truths of that religion which speaks to 
 them of their worth and immortality. Cheung Chio 
 yielded her heart to the influence of these gracious 
 
366 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 truths, and turned to the blessed Saviour, the friend 
 of humanity wherever it is found. During the two 
 years of her sojourn in America she gave evidence 
 of having found the Saviour, and of having entered 
 into a Christian experience. At length she felt it 
 her duty to return to her family in Fuh Chau, but 
 her heart clung to her new friends in America. 
 Early in February, 1858, she left them with a sor- 
 rowful heart ; a few days after we saw her safely on 
 a vessel floating down the bay of New York, des- 
 tined for Fuh Chau, where she has probably arrived 
 in safety. But little more than a month later, her 
 beloved mistress and teacher, who had been instru- 
 mental in leading her to the Eedeemer, and pointing 
 her to things above, slept in death. 
 
 It was not without a struggle that Mrs. Colder 
 abandoned her labors in China, to accompany her 
 husband in his return to America. She acquiesced 
 in what clearly seemed to be duty. She had loved 
 all that pertained to the missionary work ; and after 
 her return she loved to commend it to all blessed 
 with the light of truth, and labored to awaken a 
 deeper interest for the perishing heathen among her 
 friends and the churches at home. She continued to 
 her latest hour a missionary at heart, and even will- 
 ing to return to her former field of labor. Her chil- 
 dren also, four lovely boys, were successively conse- 
 crated to the missionary work ; and she loved often 
 to speak to these little ones concerning missions, and 
 
MES. ELLEN C. COLDER. 367 
 
 strove to prepare them in mind and heart for the 
 glorious cause to which she had set them apart. 
 
 After the return of Mr. Colder from China, he con- 
 nected himself with that branch of the Church which 
 originated with Mr. Winebrenner, his wife's father. 
 Perhaps we may see something of the designs of 
 Providence in this movement. This flourishing, and 
 in many places wealthy, branch of the Church, num- 
 bering several thousands in the Central and Western 
 States, had as yet taken no part in the great mission- 
 ary work. Through the labors of Mr. Colder, and no 
 less, perhaps, through those of his active, laborious 
 wife, a missionary spirit was aroused throughout the 
 Church ; a missionary society was organized, and it 
 is intended soon to send laborers into the foreign 
 field. 
 
 Mr. Colder was settled as pastor of the Bethel at 
 Harrisburg, his native place, and that also of Mrs. 
 Colder. Here they remained three years, during 
 which time Mrs. Colder, by her uniform attention to 
 the duties of her position, by her kind, affable man- 
 ner to all, by her benevolent and Christian spirit, and 
 by her indomitable perseverance in the advancement 
 of the cause and kingdom of Christ, not only en- 
 deared herself more firmly to many old friends, but 
 made many new ones, in all of wliose hearts her 
 memory lies embalmed, never to be obliterated. 
 
 In October, 1857, Mr. Colder was called from the 
 pastoral charge at Harrisburg to take the principal- 
 
368 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ship of the Shippensburg Collegiate Institute. Here 
 Mrs. Colder was called to new duties and responsibil- 
 ities ; but her active nature found happiness in abun- 
 dant labors. With singular energy' of character she 
 met every duty of wife, mother, and superintendent 
 of the school, prosecuting every interest to its proper 
 completion. Here she spent the last few months of 
 her active and useful life, laboring to promote the 
 best interests of the school, the Church, and her 
 family. Yet, in the midst of all these labors and 
 interests, death came, casting the shadow of disap- 
 pointment and mourning over the institute, the 
 Church, and the family. 
 
 In her last illness her friends and physician saw no 
 occasion for alarm until within an hour of her death. 
 It would seem, however, that she herself had some 
 premonitions of her early departure, stating to her hus- 
 band that she had been trying to rally, but found it all 
 in vain, and felt assured she must die. She spoke of 
 it, when those around would not tolerate the thought, 
 with all the calmness of assured confidence. Yet lier 
 expressions failed to excite the fears of her attend- 
 ants, in the absence of all symptoms of approaching 
 death, and therefore, while she remained confident 
 that she was about to die, not one of those who were 
 around her anticipated a fatal termination of her 
 sickness. 
 
 In these her last hours her faith was exceedingly 
 clear and steady, her prospects bright and glorious, 
 
MRS. ELLEN C. COLDER. 369 
 
 and she expressed herself in the following triumphant 
 language: "I have made my peace with God, and 
 my assurance is bright, O so bright !" And why so 
 contident ? That Saviour she confessed, that Saviour 
 she commended to others, was now with her to calm 
 all fears, and smooth her passage to the grave. His 
 precious promises, so rich and free, she now realized 
 in all their fullness, and in raptures could exclaim, 
 " For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." That 
 grace that had hitherto sustained her in the arduous 
 conflicts of life, in perils by land and by sea, at home 
 and abroad, was about to triumph in her last conflict 
 with her great enemy. And grace did triumph. In 
 speaking of her departure she remarked, •' that angels 
 Avere attending upon her." 
 
 " Bright angels are from glory come, 
 They're round my bed, they're in my room ; 
 They wait to waft my spirit home, 
 AH is well, all is well." 
 
 And is there anything unreasonable in this ? " Are 
 they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister 
 to them who are the heirs of salvation V And has 
 not He promised to give his angels charge over them 
 that know and love him? Comforting thought! 
 Truly 
 
 " The chamber where the good man meets his fate 
 
 Is privileged beyond the common walks 
 
 Of virtuous life, quite on the verge of heaven." 
 
370 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 On the 24:th of March, 1858, about two o'clock, 
 while seated on an easy chair, she sweetly breathed 
 her last on earth, and yielded her spirit into the hands 
 of the blessed Redeemer. Thus in the midst of a life 
 of usefulness died one of the most lovely of the daugh- 
 ters of Israel. But our loss is her gain. " Many 
 fall as sudden, few as safe." Kest thee, thou dear 
 departed, in the bosom of thy Redeemer, until the 
 the morning of the resurrection, when 
 
 " In heaven we hope to meet thee, 
 Where no farewell tears are shed." 
 
 We need add but little in delineation of the charac- 
 ter of our dear friend ; we have endeavored to present 
 this in the body of the memoir. In her sphere of 
 life, which was one of great activity and usefulness, 
 Mrs. Colder singularly imbodied those rare qualities 
 of mind and heart that fitted her so eminently for the 
 various stations she was called upon to fill. To a 
 mind well disciplined by study, she added the graces 
 and charms which so much adorn the domestic circle. 
 Possessing in a large degree a benevolent disposition, 
 she was ever ready to meet the objects of affliction 
 and charity, and to bestow upon them words of c6n- 
 solation ; and as God had secured to her the means, 
 it was her delight to administer the more material 
 relief desired. Surely she was one who delighted in 
 doing good. To the poor, the sick, and afflicted 
 in her more immediate circle, she gave substantial 
 
MES. ELLEN C. COLDER. 371 
 
 evidence of her love, and " wept with those who 
 weep." She was meek and gentle in her spirit and 
 temper ; and these characteristics shone in all their 
 loveliness as the companion of a minister of Christ, 
 and made her an object of admiration and love. 
 
 As a Christian she was meek, humble, devoted, 
 living constantly in a spirit of consecration to Christ, 
 and conscientious in the discharge of every duty. In 
 her journal she remarks : " I have found by past 
 experience, that when I place my own concerns 
 secondary to higher duties, God prospers them ; 
 but as sure as I give them the first place they perplex 
 me." As a teacher she always gained the love and 
 obedience of her pupils, impressed upon them the 
 best traits of her own character, and bound them to 
 her in a lasting affection. Her sudden death drew 
 the shadow of mourning and disappointment over the 
 institute at Shippensburg. From a letter written by 
 the pupils of this institution we extract the following : 
 " In the death of Mrs. Colder God has taken to him- 
 self one who was endeared to us by the tenderest 
 ties, around whom clustered our fondest affections, to 
 whom we looked with an eye of filial love, in whom 
 we always found an earnest friend and a cordial and 
 generous sympathy. We have sustained an irrepa- 
 rable loss, and the institute has been deprived of 
 the sunshine and briglitness of that face whose 
 encouraging smile always gave animation and im- 
 pulse to our efforts, and the guidance of that ex- 
 
 23 
 
372 THE MISSION CEMETERY. 
 
 ample whicli always directed us in the path of duty 
 and right." 
 
 As a wife she was loving, sympathizing, and always 
 and in all positions a helpmeet for her husband, ever 
 ready to acquiesce in his plans and movements, and 
 by her own activity always contributing to his use- 
 fulness and success. Again from her journal we 
 extract the following sentiment : " It is not degrading 
 for a wife to submit to her husband. On the contrary, 
 she never appears more lovely than when cheerfully 
 and gracefully yielding up her own wishes that she 
 may comply with his. Woman was not made to 
 rule; and in my judgment the wife who attempts 
 it, and the husband who submits to it, are equally 
 contemptible." 
 
 As a missionary she was consecrated and devotedly 
 attached to her work. She left it with tears, longed 
 for the opportunity to return to it, and earnestly 
 commended the glorious cause to all about her. In 
 her journal, written at Fuh Ohau, we find the follow- 
 ing : " Hitherto the Lord has led me. His ways have 
 not been my ways, or I would this day be far from 
 him. His Holy Spirit has kept me from falling from 
 my first love; and this day, far from the loved ones in 
 my native land, I rejoice I am among the heathen. 
 With all its trials, with all disappointments and dis- 
 couragements, I love the missionary work, nor for 
 a moment have I regretted my consecration to it. O 
 Lord, may our lives be spared for coming usefulness 
 
MES. ELLEN 0. COLDEE. 373 
 
 among the Chinese, and may my influence for good 
 be felt by the dark minds around me." 
 
 As a mother she was devotedly attached to her 
 children, loving and faithful, self-sacrificing and con- 
 stant in her attentions to them ; realizing all the re- 
 sponsibilities of this sacred relation. Her children 
 were consecrated to God, and set apart for the mis- 
 sionary work. Even her babe, but ten days old, had 
 been given to the Saviour for this holy work by his 
 dying mother. We close our memoir of this excel- 
 lent and exemplary woman with the following extract 
 from an " Address to Mothers," read by Mrs. Colder 
 at a meeting of the " Maternal Association " at Fuh 
 Chau: 
 
 " Let us look upon our children as the gift of God, 
 committed to our care by him to whom they belong, 
 and from whom we are to receive our ' wages.' The 
 care of children is indeed a labor, a labor attended 
 with great responsibility, and giving us many anxious 
 moments. But it is a work which has at every stage 
 its full reward. He who has called us to so great a 
 task has not failed to send us therewith great and 
 varied blessings. In infancy, youth, and manhood's 
 riper years, the Lord pays back into our bosoms with 
 the increasing tide of love, wages which more than 
 compensate for all our toil. 
 
 "And there hastens on an hour in which these 
 jewels committed to our care will be called that 
 they may adorn the diadem of Christ. To secure 
 
374 THE MISSION CEMETEEY. 
 
 their fitness for the duties of this life demands un- 
 ceasing effort upon our part ; but O ! to make them 
 worthy to shine upon the brow of Christ, ' Who is 
 sufficient for these things?' Our calling as mothers 
 is a high one; but He who has honored us in its be- 
 stowment will not fail with every duty to grant 
 sufficient grace. "Will we not try so to nurse and 
 train these ' olive branches ' springing up about our 
 tables, that both they and we may bloom in the 
 paradise of God ?" 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 It is, in fact, a digest of Methodism. The arrangement and execution of the 
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 and in fioint of condensation, the volume is literally crowded with important^ 
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 and all, to procure it immediately. No Methodist can study it without profit, 
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 are conducted. — Editor of the Christian Guardian, Toronto, 
 
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 A. Stevens, LL.D.