ckfic rk^rera ^n *^' /6 AN PRINCETON, N. J. ^^, Purchased by the Hamill Missionary Fund. Williams, F. M. A new thing ERRATUM. Pai^e 8. Lines ii, 12, With regard to the location of the C.M.S. stations in Ceylon, at the time of my visit to Colombo in 1887, I regret to say I was mfsinformed. Not only was work, in connection with that Society, being carried on in the north of the island, but also in the centre, in the south, and in Colo mho itself. The C.M.S. work in Ceylon dates from 1817. F. M. W, A NEW THING " T ET the Church come right up to this point, that without taking -L' counsel with men, of difficulties and obstacles and embarrassments, she just casts herself with Divine abandonment on her GoD and says, ' This is God's work, and God's power and grace are behind it, and God's com- mission and commands are in it , and therefore we will undertake this work to give the gospel to the human race, looking to GOD for men and for means,' and the Church will do the work ; and she will do it possibly before this century closes." — Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., in Le7igthened Cords and Strengthened Stakes. A New Thing INCIDENTS OF MISSIONARY LIFE IN CHINA. BY F. M. WILLIAMS. Mitb an 5ntroDuction b^ tbe REV. J. ELDER GUMMING, D.D. AND AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING A SHORT SKETCH OF THE INCEPTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND PRESENT POSITION OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION. FOR THE YOUNG. ' ' Behold, I ivill do a new thing ; now it shall spring fortli ; shall ye not know it ? I will even make a ivay in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." LONDON : S. W. PARTRIDGE & Go., 9, Paternoster Row, E.G.; AND J. G. WHEELER, 88, Mildmay Park, N. 1895. Bffcctionatcl^ DeMcateD TO MY GOD-CHILDREN WILLOUGHBY AND EDDIE, AND TO THE CHILDREN CONNECTED WITH THE " BATH RAILWAY MISSION," WHO HAVE BEEN SHARERS IN THE WORK THROUGH THEIR PRAYERS. INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY THE REV. J. ELDER GUMMING, D.D. THE following pages tell a Missionary story which is sufficiently individual and distinct from others to deserve a permanent Record. The first requirement of a Book about Missions is, that it shall be easy to read; neither obscure, heavy, nor confused. I think few will be disappointed, in this respect, with Miss Williams's six years of Mission life : very few who begin will leave it unfinished. A second requirement is rarely met with. There are not half a dozen books which enable the reader actually to see how a Missionary spends his, or her, life from day to day. There is such an impatience with the commonplace and simple details of the life, and such a wish to startle and strike the reader, that only a selection of the louder incidents are given ; and these being taken for all, a false conception takes hold of the mind, the truth of which comes to be doubted, as we reflect upon it. It is perhaps the supreme merit of the following Book, INTRODUCTORY NOTE. that the writer is content to be seen in the undress of home life ; and is both humble enough, and brave enough, to let the simple, unvarnished truth stand as its own witness. Then, a third requirement of a good Missionary book is, that it should come down to the level of the plain mind of *'the common people." The Authoress is not afraid to label her Book as intended for children. We hardly know whether to be sorry or glad, that she does so ; sorr}^, because many will be turned away from it in consequence, for whom it would have been specially well adapted ; glad, because there are not many good Missionary books for children, and hardly any which do not seem to be condescending in every page. But there is no condescension here, conscious or unconscious ; and both children, and unspoiled adults, may read with equal pleasure and profit. So much for the manner of the Book. For its matter, let me say, in a word or two, that it tells a very blessed story of how work may be begun in the far interior of China {luonths away from any sea-port used by Europeans) ; how difficulties may be met ; how Satan may be grappled with, day by day ; how the faithful- ness of God may be proved, and the Presence of God experienced ; and how the foundation of a great work may be visibly laid, by a small band of ladies and gentlemen, who live and work in faith. The names of Cassels, Beauchamp, Polhill-Turner, and Williams, with their wives, and with ladies whom we do not INTRODUCTORY NOTE. name, perpetually recur in these pages, to the encouragement of all who read. And, if I may say so, there is a simple, real piety, marking out the writer's record, which is unmistakable. So httle is said expressly of her own feelings and inward experience, that one has to read the more care- fully, to understand what is behind. It is especially to be noted that, without using the language which is now becoming frequent on that subject, the number and character of her references to the Holy Spirit would of themselves stamp the story as distinct from most books of the kind. I commend it all to the Power of His Grace ; and shall be much mistaken if this does not prove a Book fruitful for good. ''What seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen ; for I will hasten My word to perform it" (Jer. i. ii, 12). J. E. C. 2, Newton Terrace, Glasgow June 1895. PREFACE. \ V u H( made you first want to be a missionary ? " ^ow long ago is it since you first had a desire to go out to the heathen ? " '* How was the door to China opened for you ? " — these are questions which have been put to me by many fi^iends since my return to England in December 1893, after having spent six happy years of missionary work in China, in con- nection with the " China Inland Mission." Let me answer the questions one by one. What made me first want to be a missionary ? Picture the following scene in a Sunday-school in a town in the west of England : The opening hymn was being sung when the door was pushed slowly open, and a new scholar appeared — a little gipsy girl, who had been attracted by the singing, and now stood wonderingly in the doorway. She was such a little picture, with her dark, curly hair, no hat and no shoes. Being about seven years old, the age of my scholars, she was put into my class ; there she heard the gospel for the first time in her life^ and believed PREFACE. as she heard. '' Is it really true," she said, ** that Jesus died on the cross to save me and everybody from our sins ? Then I must go and tell my father and mother; they don't know." I never saw the child again ; she left before the class was over, to go and tell her parents. But that day a new aim came into my life. I told the Lord how glad I would be if He would let me spend my life in telling those who had never heard the gospel, of the love of Jesus. How long is it since the desire arose to go out to the heathen ? Sixteen years. Ten years I waited for my mother's consent, feeling sure no blessing could attend my going, if I went against her will, and also feeling sure that the Lord would cause her to give me up gladly when His time came. The time of waiting was one of training. Opportunities were given me to help on the missionary work of others, and God in His own way was fitting me for future service. How was the door to China opened for me ? God Himself opened the door. First, by causing my mother, in the summer of 1887, to yield me up unreservedly to Him for service abroad, should He require me; and then, by a chain of circumstances, showing it was His will for me to go to China^ in connection with the China Inland Mission. I started in the autumn of 1887. PREFACE. The following are extracts from letters and journals, giving an outline of God's work in North-east Si- ch'uan, China, during the past six years. The district of North-east Si-ch'uan comprises an area equal to that of England. Eight years ago no Protestant missionary had been there. In 1886 a house was rented in the city of Pao-ning, and early in 1887 the Rev. W. W. and Mrs. Cassels began work. Up to the present time four other stations have been opened — Pa-cheo, Wan-hsien, Kuang-tlen, and Sin- tien-tsi. Itinerating work is done in the villages and market-towns around these stations. There is now a band of about thirty workers. Pao-ning is the centre station, where Mr. Cassels, who is superintendent of the district, resides. From the commencement it has been the prayer of each worker that God would fulfil His promise in Isaiah xliii. 19, and do "a new thing" for North- east Si-ch'uan. This little book of journals has been prepared, to recount, to the glory of God, how the promise has begun to be fulfilled ; with the earnest prayer that many young hearts may be stirred up to pray for greater things, and many young lives conse- crated to God for service among the heathen, when and where He shall choose. ''Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth ; shall ye not know it ? I will even make a PREFACE. way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert" (Isa. xliii. 19). " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake" (Psalm cxv. i). F. M. W. 33, Green Park, Bath. May 1895. CONTENTS PART I. PLOUGHING AND SOWING: COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK. CHAP. I. LONDON TO MALTA . n. MALTA TO COLOMBO . in. ARRIVAL AT SHANGHAI AND lANG-CHEO IV. LIFE IN lANG-CHEO . V. ON THE YANG-TSi RIVER VI. THROUGH THE GORGES VII. " PERILS OF WATERS " VIII. OVERLAND TO PAO-NING IX. SETTING TO WORK X. HEATHEN CUSTOMS . XL IN THE VILLAGES XII. SICK VISITING . XIII. INTERESTING VISITORS XIV. THE WORK DEVELOPING XV. INCREASE OF WORKERS XVI. " OTHER CITIES ALSO " XVII. FALSE REPORTS XVIII. RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HUA XIX. " LET THERE BE LIGHT " , XX. COUNTRY people's GENEROSITY XXI. FIRST-FRUITS GATHERED HOME XXII. THE CHANGED VILLAGE XXIII. A MONTH AT KUANG-UEN XXIV. INNS AND INCENSE . XXV. OUR BOAT-HOME XXVI. AT THE MARKETS xii PAGE I 6 12 20 28 35 39 45 59 71 82 93 lOI III 119 128 138 149 162 168 178 185 195 204 213 227 CONTENTS. PART 11. SOWING AND REAPING: DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORK. CHAP. XXVII. SICKNESS AND CHANGE . XXVIII. LIFE AT CHEFOO . XXIX. RETURN TO SI-CH'uAN . XXX. DANGERS AND DELAYS . XXXI. CHRISTMAS AT PAO-NING XXXII. CHANGED LIVES . XXXIII. SEED-SOWING XXXIV. TOKENS OF BLESSING XXXV. A " RED-LETTER DAY " IN PAO-NING 243 250 266 287 294 316 PART III. NATIVE CONVERTS EVANGELISING EXTENSION OF THE WORK. XXXVI. A CALL TO SlN-TIEN-TS'l . . . , XXXVII. A HAPPY CHRISTMAS XXXVIII. DOERS AND HEARERS . XXXIX. PROGRESS AT SIN-TIEN-TSI XL. THE children's SAVIOUR XLI. taken captive by SATAN XLII. BAPTISMS AND BLESSING XLIII. A NEEDY DISTRICT XLIV. PARTINGS AND PRESENTS XLV. EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED MISS GARNETT, C.M.S. . XLVI. LATER NEWS .... FROM 325 333 341 347 354 366 371 377 ?>^ 392 402 TRANSLATION OF TWO CHINESE LETTERS RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM SIN-TIEN-TSI -413 CONCLUSION 416 APPENDIX, CONTAINING A SHORT SKETCH OF THE INCEPTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND PRESENT POSITION OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION . . . 419 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Map of China (Coloured) Eastern Si-ch'uan . The C.I.M. Compound, Shanghai Shanghai Sedan-chairs My Visiting Card .... Map of the Route, Shanghai to Pao-ning I-CH'ANG— River Steamer and Native Boat Han-kow Trackers dragging a Boat through the Rapids The "Cambridge Seven" Ancestral Worship A Chinese Family at Dinner A Bridge in Western China Li-ta-niang .... Group of Children Woman of an Aboriginal Tribe Women washing Clothes . Group of School-boys, Pao-ning A Water-carrier .... "The Women came in Groups". Blind Beggars .... A Chinese Village Scene . Corner of Fuh-ing-t'ang Courtyard, Pao-ning Shanghai Mission House (C.I.M.) The Courtyard of an Inn . Small River Boat .... Soldiers on Guard at Ia-men . The Chinese Pillory and Cangue . Mill worked by Donkey A North China Pastor (Hsi) Portraits of Fifty of "The Hundred Sanatorium, Chefoo .... " Shen-tsi," or Mule Litter The Bund, Han-kow .... Han-kow. Ta-ma-t'eo, or Large Harbour Ma-t'eo, or Harbour for Boats The Rest of "The Hundred" Chinese Barbers . Women seated on K'ang Mission House, Sin-tien-tsi Inner Courtyard, Sin-tien-tsi A Chinese Pagoda " Backing the Book" . Grinding and sifting Corn Sitting-room (East), Sin-tien-ts': (West), Musicians . . . . " Ruen-pien " . Pao-ning Chapel, Front View xiv Frontispiece Opposite page i lO 15 17 20 24, 25 30 31 40, 41 50 56 61 78 79 86 108 116 131 140 153 163 175 186 187 205 214 218 219 235 243 245 248 253 25s 260 269 281 299 302 309 327 344 351 357 362 363 390 395 412 PART I. PLOUGHING AND SOWING: COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK. 'Vicvi' o>i^lh« "^anO, t^i Kjaua MAP OF EASTERN SI-CHU AN, SHOWING PAO-NING, SIN-TIEN-TSI, AND OTHER PLACES REFERRED TO. As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you'' CHAPTER I. LONDON TO MALTA. On the Way to China. — Life on Board Ship. — Gibraltar. P. AND O. Steamship, Mediterranean Sea. November 1887. KNOW you will want to hear news of me, so I must write a little account of the voyage so far, and post my letter at Malta, where we hope to be on Friday. The roughest part of the voyage is over — the Bay of Biscay ; we spent Friday night, all Saturday, and until four o'clock on Sun- day, in passing through it. I remembered the Prayer-meet- ing you were having on Sun- day, and joined with you in spirit, rejoicing that God was answering your prayers so definitely ; for I was only ill on the Saturday, and ever since have been quite well. But, looking back on that day of sickness, I can thank God for it. He was very near, comforting I LONDON TO MALTA. me with such precious promises from His Word. While the ship was rolUng from side to side, seeming sometimes as if it would go over altogether, it was so good to remember, *' He holdeth the sea in the hollow of His hand." There are six other ladies besides myself who are going to China as missionaries — Misses M. Graham Brown, Kentfield, Eland, Barrett, Chilton, and Arthur. The Lord has been giving us such happy times of singing and Bible-reading since we have been on board. Most of the passengers"" gather round the piano, and join in the hymns with us. There have been about twelve children on board, and I have been able to have some singing and reading with them. They much like looking at the pictures in my Bible and having them explained. I think it is so good of God to give me some children to talk to ; for He knew how hard it was to part with you all at home. It is blessed to know that many of you are trusting the dear Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, and I do pray that those of you who have not yet taken Him to be your Saviour may do so now. You are missing the joy and happiness which He wants you to have, and you are grieving Him so much by keeping your hearts from Him Who died to make you His own. And now I must tell you a little about the life on board ship. We are very happy here. Our cabins are very tiny, and there are two berths in each. Breakfast is at 8.30, after which we go on deck for some fresh air, and then come down to the saloon for our Bible-reading and singing, which generally last an hour. The rest of the morning we spend in studying GARDENS AT GIBRALTAR. the Chinese language, and we are beginning to find it very interesting. (I hope you are remembering to pray for me specially about that, for Satan is so ready to make us trust to our intellect, instead of depending only on God's help.) The dinner hour is 1.30, after which I try to get hold of the children ; then more study and more fresh air on deck; tea at 6.30 ; Bible- reading, singing, and prayer from 9 till 10. The cabins and saloon are lighted with electric light. To-day we have reached Gibraltar, our first stopping- place. I cannot explain to you the grandeur of the scenery— such magnificent rocks, jutting far out into the sea ; on our left hand the hills of the south of Spain, and on our right hand the hills of North Africa. We landed at Gibraltar, and it was pleasant to be on land again. A little boat (or rather many little boats) came alongside our steamer to take any passengers on shore who might wish to go. We were amply repaid by going, and were delighted with some beautiful gardens where heliotrope and geraniums and many other green- house flowers were blooming out of doors ; there were also some magnificent palms. Every day we are getting into warmer regions. The people in Gibraltar are mostly Spanish and Moorish, and wear most pictur- esque costumes. There are many English soldiers and others there also, as it is a garrison town and belongs to England. We were much struck with the pretty little carriages, open at the sides, with a covering at the top trimmed round with fringe. They are drawn by mules, which are evidently the beasts of burden in Gibraltar. Mules seem very well cared for. We walked through the town with its very narrow streets, LONDON TO MALTA. hardly wide enough for two carriages to pass, and went into the market, which was a very pretty and interesting sight. There was a great deal of beautiful fruit for sale, also flowers, and other things. We spent about three hours on shore, and reached our ship again by one o'clock. Now we are going at full speed again along the coast of Spain. We have such beautiful moonlight nights, and the silvery path- way which the moon makes in the water is most lovely — the very same moon you have each evening ! How near that seems to bring us to each other ! How often my thoughts have been with you all ! — not with a longing to return, for God's word to me is "Go forward," but with an intense yearning that you may all belong to Jesus, Who loves each one of you so much. And now I must bring my letter to a close, for to-morrow we shall be at Malta, where this can be posted. May God bless each one of you, dear children, and be to 3^ou the same loving Father and Friend He is to me I " Sow in the morn thy seed, At eve hold not thine hand ; To doubt and fear give thou no heed, Broad-cast it o'er the land. "Thou canst not toil in vain; Cold, heat, and moist and dry, Shall foster and mature the grain For garners in the sky." James Montgomery. IVhe/i He puttcth forth His own sheep He goeth before the/n.'^ CHAPTER 11. MALTA TO COLOMBO. Work for Jesus on Board Ship. — Arrival at Colombo. — Visits TO Wesleyan and Baptist Mission Houses. — Children. — Lepers. Indian Ocean, December 1887. I AM now in another vessel, having reached Colombo on the 14th. I must tell you about one dear boy on the other ship, who gave his heart to Jesus —a lad of fourteen. The Lord gave me an opening to speak to him, and he told me that before he left his home he had been thinking of coming to Christ, but his mind was so full of preparing for his journey that he had put it off. Of course it was Satan tempting him to delay ; he did not want to lose him as his slave. I wonder how often some of you have heard God calling you to give your hearts to Him and you have not yet done it ; you have listened to Satan and put it off again and again. Oh, do not put it off any longer. He is calling to you once more, now, through this letter, and He may never call you again ; will you not just now yield yourself to Him, just as you are, with all your sin, and take Him to be your Saviour ? 6 SHINE FOR JESUS. 7 This boy told me why he wanted to be converted. It was through seeing his cousin, a boy his own age, following Jesus. And now a word for the dear Christian boys and girls. Shine for Jesus every da}^, let every one see that you belong to Him ; you will then make some of your companions long for salvation too. Well, this boy did not decide for Jesus on the night I talked to him ; he said he would think about it. But on going on deck the following morning I knew he had decided — he greeted me with such a bright, happy face. I had no opportunity of speaking to him then, but noticed all through the day how different he was. He did all he could to help everybody. In the evening he came up and told me, what I was very glad to hear, though not surprised, that he had given himself to Jesus the night before in his cabin. Before his con- version I had often noticed him smoking cigarettes ; but he told me afterwards he had given up his smoking, for he was sure it did not please Jesus. I have told you all this because I know it will encourage you to see how God has been answering your prayers for me. I must tell you what we saw at Colombo. You remember the verse in " From Greenland's icy mountains," where it says : "What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle ; Thoi-igh every prospect pleases, And only man is vile ! In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strewn;,. The heathen, in his blindness, BoVi^s down to wood and stone/' MALTA TO COLOMBO. It is so true. Colombo (a town in Ceylon) is so beautiful, lovely trees and flowers everywhere, such beautiful gardens and fine houses, and a delicious scent in the air from the cinnamon and other plants. And the people, too, are so good-looking. It made my heart ache to feel that they were living in the midst of such beauties, ignorant of the God Who gave them all. But our hearts were gladdened to see what is going on amongst these people. We paid visits to the Wesleyan and Baptist Mission Houses ; the Church Missionary Stations being in the north of the island, we could not get so far. It was a cheering sight to see the schools in both places. At the Wesleyans' there were about seventy-five children. The boys had a separate school-house from the girls. In the girls' school they sang '' Stand up, stand up for Jesus " in EngHsh, and a gentleman with us, who is going as a missionary to Japan, spoke for a few minutes to them in English. They understood him, as the lessons in that school are all taught in English. The missionary, Mr. Scott, was away for the day, but his wife told us that many of the children were true Christians, and of course they were able to tell of the love of Jesus in their own homes. We saw the boarders' bedrooms, nice whitewashed rooms with about twelve narrow bedsteads ; the bedding (con- sisting of a straw mat and a shawl) was wrapped up on each bedstead. We were taken into the chapel — a nice large place, with such comfortable-looking seats. There we saw a Christmas-tree dressed ready for the evening ; the Band of Hope were to have a treat. It seemed so strange to realise that it was Christmas- CINGALESE CHILDREN. time, for it was intensely hot that day, and some of our party are suffering still from the effects of the heat. Later in the afternoon we went to the Baptist Mission House. Mr. and Mrs. Pigott, the missionaries, were so very kind in giving us a welcome ; they look forward to seeing missionaries, and have entertained several who have passed through Colombo on their way to China or India. We saw the schools there too, and the girls sang in Singalese (their own language) " Nothing but the blood of Jesus " to the tune in Mr. Sankey's book. Of course "Jesus" was the'only word we could recognise, but it was very sweet to know they were singing that hymn which tells so plainly the only way of salvation. Their bedsteads were different from those of the Wesleyans. On raised brick platforms they spread their mats at night, very much after the same fashion as the Chinese. The children who ran after us in the street as we were driving would have amused you. They called us all " Mamma," and kept up a chorus of '* Give me a penny, mamma," '' Poor boy, mamma," *^ No father, no mother, mamma," " Hungr}^, mamma." They had evidently learnt these few sentences by heart, and said them, regardless of truth. Some of them must have run three or four miles behind the carriage. Did I tell you about the leper we saw at Port Said ? — such a loathsome-looking object ; he was clothed in sackcloth. It made me think what a true picture of sin leprosy is. And yet God loved us in all our vileness, and gave His own Son to take upon Hijuself omv sin, that we might be brought near to Him. We saw veiled 10 MALTA TO COLOMBO. women, too, and water-carriers filling their leathern bottles at the well. We expect to reach Penang this evening, and Singapore to-morrow. It has been such a comfort to me to remember you are daily praying for me, MHHJ^^HIHI IHHJ ■ .|^^K-^^BB^^^^^ 1 It^puliJrlTTI ITJJ THE C.I.M. COMPOUND, SHANGHAI. " l\/f ISSIONS represent, not a human device, but a Divine enterprise. -^» J- Its thought was a Divine idea, and its plan a Divine scheme ; the work is a co-labour with God ; the field is a Divine sphere ; the spirit of missions is a Divine inspiration, and the fruit of missions a Divine seal, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. There are some watchwords which, as with trumpet tongue, should peal out all along the lines of the Church ; our great motto should be, 'The world for Christ, and Christ for the world, in this our generation.' The Fulness of the Times has come. The cup of God's preparation overflows. The open door of the ages is before us. The whole world invites and challenges occupation. Facilities, a thousandfold multiplied, match the thousandfold opportunities. If it is the open door of the ages, it is also the crisis of the ages. Some one will enter these open doors ; if an inactive, indifferent Church delays, the arch-adversary is always on the alert. Satan never yet lost his opportunity."— Rev. A. T. Piekson, D.D., in The Divine Enterprise of Missions. II " His children shall have a place of refuge.'''' CHAPTER 111. ARRIVAL AT SHANGHAI AND lANG-CHEO. On Shore at Hong-kong. — Christmas Tea.—- Arrival at Shang- hai.— "England's New Year's Gift to China." — Up the Grand Canal. — Iang-cheo. — Sedan-chairs. — Ie-su-t'ang. — Opium Dens. — Temple with 10,000 Gods. — Opium Suicide Case. Iang-cheo, January \^th, 1888. I DO not know where to begin telling you of God's great goodness and loving-kindness to me ever since I last wrote. Every day brings fresh tokens of His love and nearness. I think my last letter was posted from Singapore. We had very rough weather between Singapore and Hong-kong — quite as rough as in the Bay of Biscay. On Christmas Day I had to keep very quiet, but it was a happy day notwithstanding. Our outward circumstances cannot do away with the happiness we have in Jesus. Every one on board ship did his best to make it seem like Christmas Day. We had a Christmas dinner, and sang carols and liymns. We went on shore at Hong-kong, and went to a Christmas tea for Chinamen at one of the C.M.S. Mission halls. There were about seventy men and boys present, all Christians. They sang a hymn before tea in Chinese— *' All people that on earth do dwell." CHINESE SERVICE AT HONG-KONG. 13 After tea there was a magic lantern. Some women and girls came to see it, as well as the men, and they seemed to enjoy it very much ; but the Chinese are undemonstrative — they do not laugh or call out if they are pleased, like our boys and girls at home. Some Scripture pictures were shown, and Mr. Ost, the missionary, questioned the girls, who answered Very well. They sang '' Oh come, all ye faithful " and *' Hark ! the herald angels sing," in Chinese, and I played the harmonium. I felt it a privilege to be taking part in a Chinese service. We reached Shanghai on New Year's Day, and are called by some Chinese " England's New Year's Gift to China " ! It was a very happy New Year's Day. Early in the morning, as I lay in my berth (it was too dark to see my Bible), I asked the Lord if He would give me a text to be my motto through the year, and this is the one He put into my mind: ''His children shall have a place of refuge " (Prov. xiv. 26). I cannot tell you with what power these words came home to me, and what peace they brought, assuring me that God was my Father, that I was one of His children, that He would take care of me all through the new, untried year, in the new land to which He had led me, and that I need fear no evil, for Jesus was a Refuge to me from sin, from Satan, from every- thing that could possibly harm. Was it not beautiful ? and so like the loving, tender Father Who delights to give good things to His own children ? We stayed at Shanghai three days, while' our Chinese clothes were being made, and then came on to lang-cheo. We travelled in a small steamer from 14 ARRIVAL AT SHANGHAI AND lANG-CHEO. Shanghai to Ch'in-kiang, and there we changed into a native boat to bring us up the canal to lang-cheo. We were a night and a day in the steamer and a night and a day in the boat. We took our food with us, and our bedding. In the boat we had to cross the Yang-tsi River to get into the canal. After we had been sailing about ten minutes, the wind became contrary ; we hardly made any progress, and the boat rolled so much that we had to lay hold of our cups, plates, boxes, etc., to prevent breakages. Miss Webb, the missionary who had come from lang-cheo to meet us, thought every minute that the boatmen would refuse to go on ; so we had definite prayer just then that it might get calm. In less than ten minutes after we rose from our knees the men turned and said, " We have an obedient wind now, and are getting on splendidly." Was not that a direct answer to prayer ? We reached lang-cheo at four o'clock in the after- noon, and were carried in sedan-chairs to the Mission House, where there are twenty-six ladies learning the Chinese language. The sedan-chair is like a little Punch- and-Judy show, swung on poles, and carried on the shoulders of two men, with a curtain drawn in front, and little holes to see through. Two of our number were in chairs in front of me, but when the men lifted me up and set off with me, I could not see them, nor any of our party. Satan made the best use of his opportunity then, suggesting all sorts of pos- sibilities — that the men might be carrying me to any place they liked, and I did not know a word of the language. But the Lord was near, and when I wondered what .-*^*s| i- I i6 ARRIVAL AT SHANGHAI AND lANG-CHEO. I should say, in case the men took me to the wrong place, He brought to my mind that I had heard the Mission House called '' Jesus Hall." I had only once heard it mentioned in Chinese — '' le-su-t'ang." I felt I need never be afraid of anything in the future, for He would supply every need. After carrying me for quite twenty minutes through very narrow streets, and down many turnings, the men set me down outside a house, motioning me into a courtyard where some women were standing. The women pointed to a staircase, up which I went, and was warmly welcomed by about ten of the missionaries. My chair-bearers had brought me a nearer way, and 1 was the first of our party to arrive ! This is such a happy Home ! Miss Murray is the lady in charge ; she is so kind and thoughtful, and I enjoy her Bible-readings so much. lang-cheo is a large city, with 135,000 inhabitants; the people are very wicked, and even worship the devil. There are four thousand opium dens in the city. Our sitting-room window looks out upon a Temple in which there are ten thousand gods. You will, I am sure, pray earnestly for lang-cheo, that God will very soon enable us to tell some of these poor heathen the way of salvation, and bless our testimony even before we can speak. In the native church in lang-cheo there are forty Christians, and only three foreign missionaries who can yet speak well enough to be understood. The people call us '* foreign devils," and think we have power to bewitch them. One night we were out in the street, and a man who met us seemed so terrified, OP I UM-POISONING. He put his hands together and began to pray. We think he was asking one of his gods not to let us hurt him. A few nights ago, a messenger came to call one of us to a poor woman who had taken opium and was dying. Miss F got up at once, and went with the messenger, taking with her one of our women- servants, a Christian. They found the poor woman very ill, and almost gave up hope of her recovery ; but God heard prayer, and saved her hfe. Miss F gave her mustard-and-water to drink, and hot coffee, tickled her throat with a feather, and shook her — any- thing to keep off drowsiness and make her vomit. Many people gathered in the room, curious to see ''the foreigner." So Miss F and the Christian woman had an opportunity of telling them of Jesus, and they ^-^^^: v_, . ^^mmSSuS SSmmm . prayed to- Froni a photo.'] Iby the Rtv. Gio. Ha\ SEDAN-CIIAIRS. i8 ARRIVAL AT SHANGHAI AND lANG-CHEO. The friends of the woman who had taken opium did not send to us because they cared for her, but because they thought that, unless they did something to save her, an evil spirit would trouble them after her death. Is it not sad ? And do not some of you long to bring the gospel of love to these poor people ? The streets in lang-cheo are so narrow, we could quite well shake hands out of the window with the people who live opposite. (Only the Chinese do no. shake hands !) I should like you to see the children ; they look like bundles of clothes. It is very cold here now ; snow is on the ground, and instead of having fires to keep themselves warm the Chinese put on all the clothes they have. It is so hard to distinguish between boys and girls ; they dress alike. The only difference I can see is that the boys have pigtails and the girls have not ! Miss Murray's sister has a boarding-school for girls about five minutes' walk from this house. There are twenty-one girls in the school ; ten of them are Christians. Will you pray for the others ? I want you also to pray for me about the language. We have been studying with Miss Murray, but next week I am to begin with a native teacher. Will you pray that he may soon become a Christian ? He will be teaching me the Chinese characters in St. John's Gospel, and will be repeating the words of life very often with his lips ; will you pray that they may go home to his heart ? 'Teach me, my God and King,, In all things Thee to see, And what I do in anything, To do it as for Thee ! All may of Thee partake — Nothing can be so mean, Which, with this tincture, 'for Thy sake,' Will not grow bright and clean. A servant with this clause Makes drudgery Divine ! Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws Makes that and th' action fine." George Hekber " His servants shall serve Hitn ; and . . . see His face.'' CHAPTER IV. LIFE IN lANG-CHEO. Visiting in Iang-cheo. — New Year Calls. — Chinese Feast. — Feast OF Lanterns. — Illness and Death of one of the Mis- sionaries. — Destined for Si-ch'uan. Iang-cheo, January 2%th. MV VISITING CARD. 0-DAY I went out visiting for the first time, with two other missionaries and a na- tive Christian woman. We spoke to a woman :ing shoes by the road- side, and soon a crowd gathered round and hst- ened most attentively to Miss T 's conversation with the woman. After a few minutes another woman in the crowd invited us into her house near by, to tell her the gospel. We went, the crowd VISITORS. 21 following ; some more women came into the house to listen, and the crowd, consisting chiefly of men and children, stood round the gate. Our Christian woman spoke to them while Miss T talked and sang to those in the house. They listened so earnestly for a while, and then the woman's husband came in, and stretching himself on the k'mig^^'' began to smoke opium. We were obliged to leave. It was so sad to see the miserable, hopeless expression of these women. I longed to be able to speak to them, but must have patience ! I am sure if the Christians at home could see the hundreds of poor, wretched women in this one city, with no brightness in their lives and no hopes for eternity, they would yearn to come out and tell them of Jesus ! I can never be thankful enough to God that He let me come ! It is the custom here for the women to pay New Year calls. Ten or twelve have been every afternoon. f They stay two or three hours, not in one room all the time, but wandering all over the house. Of course it gives a splendid opportunity for telling them the gospel. God helps me to say little sentences to them in Chinese, such as, '' Jesus loves you," '' Jesus died instead of us," '^ We all have sins," ''Only Jesus can make us happy," etc. The women are very inquisitive, and ask many questions, as, '' How old are you ? " '' Why are you not married ? " '' Why do you not wear rings ? " Poor women, their lives are so sad and empty ! I must describe a Chinese feast which we gave a day * A platform made of brick, a few inches above the floor. f Chinese New Year festivities last fourteen days. 22 LIFE IN lANG-CHEO. or two ago to the Christians and inquirers. About eighty came. Several small tables were placed in different parts of the, room ; eight people sat at each, the men on one side of the room and the women on the other. We sat amongst the women. There were several little bowls on the table, filled with various kinds of food — little pieces of chicken stewed in gravy, with roasted chestnuts and vegetables, fat pork and gravy, prunes, figs, and nuts. Each person had a bowl of rice, and chop-sticks, and could fish out bits of chicken, or pork, and pop them into her neighbour's bowl or her own mouth, as she liked. One woman put some chicken into my bowl, and I was enjoying it very much, and getting on nicely with my chop-sticks, when suddenly another woman put in a spoonful of fat pork and three spoonsful of pork gravy ! It is against the rules of etiquette to refuse anything ; so I was obliged to thank her. After a minute or two I put all my pork into my next-door neighbour's bowl, and so got rid of that. But the gravy I could not so easily dispose of ; it had got mixed up with the rice, and it is not correct to give away your rice. I was obliged to give up eating any more, and finished off my dinner with figs and nuts ! It is proper to throw all the bones, and anything you do not like, on the floor, so you can picture what the ground was like ! But as the Chinese indulge in mud floors, and not in elegant carpets, it is not as bad as it might be ! After the feast the floor was .sw^ept, and we amused our guests with pictures ; then the women wandered over the house, inspecting our bedrooms, etc., and we had some singing and prayer with them in the sitting- FEAST OF LANTERNS. 23 room. They retired to their homes at five o'clock, returning again later for magic-lantern views of Scripture subjects. They enjoyed it all so much. My Chinese name is Wei chi fang.* The Lord is helping me so much with the language. Last night, for the first time, I was able to pray a few words in Chinese at the women's class. Lately I have been learning by heart verses from the Bible, and repeating them to my teacher. This I do for his sake as well as for my own. In talking to the women I can repeat these texts. The Chinese Feast of Lanterns has been going on this week. They burn images and beat gongs and walk through the streets at night with lanterns of all sizes, in order to frighten away the evil spirits. We have been having special mission services in the chapel each night. A great many men have come, and we trust there will be blessing. Iang-cheo, March T^rd. Miss Dawson, one of our number only lately arrived from England, is very ill ; her temperature has been very high. Miss C , who has had hospital training, is nursing her. We trust she will soon be well again. She suffered a good deal on the voyage. March 17M. Our dear invalid, Miss Dawson, does not improve ; she is very, very weak. Last night we thought she was going home to heaven, and several of us sat up * Wei (surname) = Lofty, sublime ; chi (Christian name) = Earnest; y?z;/^ (distinguishing name to each of our party) = Fragrant. For the Chinese characters see " Visiting Card " on page 30. 24 LIFE IN lANG-CHEO. in her room until early morning, singing to her and listening to her messages. To-day she has rallied a little, but we do not think she will get better. If she should not recover I am sure she will have made no mistake in coming to China. She has no regret herself, and her testimony will never be forgotten by all of us in this Home, nor by the Native Christians who came into her room to-day. She has only been in China five weeks. The Lord is teaching those of us who are shortly to go far away to Inland China, how He can sustain and strengthen His children in the very greatest hour of need. It is simply glorious, dear Miss Dawson's triumphant entering into everlasting rest. March 20fh. Dear Miss Dawson went '* home " on Saturday, the 1 8th, at about 12.30 p.m. It was such a victorious "going home." Up to the last she was conscious, and talked so much, all about the Lord. I believe her dying testimony will do more for China than ever her life could have done. Those of us in the house will never forget the ^ ,.. ^ lessons we learnt, as we watched her Chao-hua Sin-tien-tsi Ts'a Ijn-hu PaO-TlinP* H tanyju during the last two days ; it was wonderful ! I only wish her friends at home could have Shuea-liiiigj Choiig-l^'i^^ MAP OF THK ROUTE. SPHERE FOR WORK. 25 seen the loving care taken of their dear one all through her illness. Nothing has been omitted that her own mother would have done. The funeral is to take place on Thursday at Ch'in-kiang, where others belonging to the China Inland Mission are buried. Iang-cheo, March lOth. Mr. Stevenson, after much waiting on God for guid- ance, has arranged spheres of work for twenty of us, now in the Home. I am so full of thankfulness to God that He is so soon letting me go to the front, and it is such a real rest to know that when He called me from home He knew exactly where He wanted me to work, and was preparing the way for me. I am to be with Miss Hanbury and Miss Bastone at Pao-ning, in the Province of Si-ch'uan, a new station which the Rev. W. W. Cassels (one of the Cambridge seven who left England in 1885) has recently opened. As far as it is practicable, there are different districts for different deno- minations in the C.I.M., and East- ern Si-ch'uan is ^^ the Church of England district SHANGHAI TO PAO-NING, 26 LIFE IN lANG.CHEO. The journey to Pao-ning will take about three months ; so at the end of June you may think of us being settled, God willing, in our new home. It will be close quarters in the boat for nearly three months, but we expect to be very happy. We hope to go on studying the lan- guage. The boats anchor during the night, and when there is a head wind we can get out and walk along the shore, and so get exercise. I have proved by experience that our Heavenly Father is as near on the water as on the land ; we are sure to be happy and well cared for. Miss Murray is so sweet in help- ing us all (twenty are leaving her for various provinces), and though she feels our departure intensely, yet she is so bright and loving and sympathising with each one of us, and keeps reminding us of the joy set before us of winning souls in these far-away provinces. WHAT do boys learn in the school' of home, in China? Too miich of pride and self-importance. For them there is little of parental discipline. The father is rarely at home, the mother idolises and spoils them, especially her eldest. For them are the best places, the best clothes, the best food ; while the girls have to wait upon them, obey their orders, eat what they leave, wear old clothes, that their brothers may strut about in grandeur. No wonder they grow up selfish, conceited, opinionated, supercilious in their dealings with mere women ! ' ' And the girls ? Little enough for them of free child-life. If above the very poor, their physical powers are early depressed by the continuous pain of the inevitable foot-binding. If they miss that, they have the early fate of hard work. P'or them also is the discipline their brothers lack. The one religion of the Chinese girl and woman is obedience — as a child, to her parents, brothers, elder sisters ; as a woman, to her mother-in-law, husband, and his superior wife. Her one duty is industry— in the cooking of the family food, in the making of the family clothes, or in the earning of the family income. Little for her of the light of love. If it be there in the family, its manifestation is not consistent with the rules of propriety. The natural growth of character is repressed, like that of the foot. But for all that, su.ch as circumstances allow her to be, the daughter in the school of home is trained to the Chinese ideal of Womanhood — obedience and propriety." — M. A. OxLATi, in llu: Child al School in China. 27 •' For His Names sake they ivent forth . CHAPTER V. ON THE YANG-TSI RIVER. Funeral at Ch'in-kiang. — En Route for Si-ch"uan.— Han-kow. — Life on a Native Boat. — Opportunities for Work. — Foot binding. — Sha-si. — Selling Gospels. — Water-buffaloes. Between Ch'in-kiang and Han-kow. March 24th, 1888. ON Thursday fifteen of us left lang-cheo for Ch'in-kiang. At five o'clock in the evening dear Miss Dawson's funeral took place. She was buried in such a lovely spot, a part of the Chinese Cemetery walled in for Europeans. The Consul was present and some other Europeans, some American mission- aries, and a great many Chinese. Mr. McCarthy read part of the Burial Service and gave a short address, and we sang three hymns. Some of the strangers had brought lovely white flowers and a wreath. The cemetery is in such a beautiful position — great hills on three sides, and water on the other. At 1 1.30 that night our steamer for Han-kow arrived. On the steamer we met Dr. and Mrs. Cameron, with whom we were to travel to Si-ch'uan. Mr. McCarthy also travelled to Han-kow with us. We had comfortable cabins, and in two days and a half reached Han-kow, where we were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Broumton, 38 NATIVE BOATS. 29 We hope to start by native boat in a day or two for Sha-si, the next stage of our journey. Han-kow is a free port, and here we must get stores of condensed milk, soap, oil, etc., which we cannot get farther north. We require also to exchange our dollars for lumps of silver, as dollars are not used in Si-ch'uan. April 2nd. On the 29th we left Han-kow. Two boats had been engaged for our party of thirteen. Dr. and Mrs. Cameron and their children occupy one, and we have the other. I will try and describe it. There are three small compartments In the centre, the boat-captain's room at the back, and a bare space in front where the men work the boat. In the first of the centre com- partments we keep our provision baskets, cans, and basins. There is also a bed, on which two of us sleep. The bedstead is composed of an organ case, lengthened by a box. This with the pu-kai (bedding) spread upon it makes a first-rate bed. The middle compartment is our dining- and sitting-room by day, and sleeping-room for four by night. In the third tiny compartment there is a board fixed for a bedstead, on which two sleep. A boy about nineteen years of age, from Han-kow, is with us as servant. He cooks very well, and sweeps and washes our floors two or three times a day. When we come to stopping-places he buys our provisions, and does everything so cheer- fully ; it seems a real pleasure to him to serve us. Although we came on board on Thursday, we did not start until Saturday. The Chinese are slow, and always very particular about the start when they go .^o ON THE YANG-TSI RIVER, on a long journey. Friday was a rainy day, with an unfavourable wind. On Saturday we travelled ten miles. On Sunday Dr. Cameron thought it best for us not to travel, so we remained where we were, near a little fishing village. On Monday, as the wind was not favourable, we did not make much progress. We were able to get out of the boat, and have a good walk along the bank for about two miles. To-day it has been raining. It is amusing to see the men who are towing the boat, walking along the bank in very ragged clothes, and holding grand red Chinese umbrellas ; the two things do not seem to agree ! The boat-women came in to-day. We were able to tell them a little about God, and they seemed to take it in. So far we have lived chiefly on fowls and eggs. Eggs are about five for a penny, and large fowls eightpence each. I-CH ANG-RIVER STEAMER AND NATIVE BOAT. TELLING THE GOSPEL. Yesterday we stopped for the night at a Httle village, and a crowd of women gathered on the bank close to our boat. We told them the gospel ; they had never heard before, and listened so attentively, A boy, about twelve years old, seemed to drink in all that L. B was telling him, and bought a Gospel of St. Luke (we sell the Gospels for eight cash each, less than one half-penny). He learnt a short prayer, and kept repeating it over, in fear lest he should forget it. L. marked several passages in the Gospel for him to read. The women listened well, but their minds are naturally small. They think of little except dress. Often while we are speaking very solemnly they will ask how much our clothes cost, why we have such big feet, etc. There is a little girl about eight years of age in this boat ; yesterday we heard her crying most piteousl}', and found that her mother had been unbinding her feet and was binding them tighter. There was a regular arch where the sole of her foot should have been, and because the child cried, the mother beat her with a stick and spoke so crossly. The poor child 32 ON THE YANG-TSi RIVER. kept on moaning for a long while. There is also a little boy about five years old ; he is thought a great deal of, and comes into our rooms now and then. April 13///, Arrived at Sha-si. Mr. and Mrs. G , C.I.M. missionaries, received our party (thirteen in all, in- cluding Dr. and Mrs. Cameron) into their house. They gave us a warm welcome, and the rest by the way is dehghtful. Here we remain until new boats are hired to take us to Ch'ong-k'ing. Mr. James and Mr. Dorward are also stationed here. They itinerate in the Province of Hu-nan, where the people refuse to have a settled missionary. Sha-si is a very diffi- cult place to work in. The people are not friendly, and though missionaries have been here for three years, there are only two or three baptized converts. These are very bright. Mrs. G 's woman is one of them, April 2^th. We have not made much progress since leaving Sha-s'i. We stopped all day yesterday at a little village waiting for a cargo of cotton. We feel sure our delay was ordered of God. The people crowded on the shore, close to the boat, and we sold more than a hundred Gospels. All day long the people wanted to buy, and then they would sit in groups on the bank, reading. We went for a walk through lovely corn- fields, into a wood, so pretty witli spring flowers, and through a charming little villagCc We could not help feeling that if only the inhabitants were Christians it would be perfect. Some of us felt very much inclined WAITING FOR CARGO. 33 to Stop and work there ! Dr. Cameron preached several times during the day to groups of men. The people seemed friendly and invited us into their houses to drink tea. The water-buffaloes were the only un- friendly creatures ; they always hiss at us ; they seem to smell that we are foreigners! "Tell it out among the heathen that the Saviour reigns! Tell it out ! Tell it out ! Tell it out among the heathen, bid them burst their chains ! Tell it out ! Tell it out ! Tell it out among the weeping ones that Jesus lives, Tell it out among the weary ones what rest He gives ; Tell it out among the sinners that He came to save ; Tell it out among the dying that He triumphed o'er the grave." F. R. Havergal. ' ' T T THAT hinders the immediate effort to plant the gospel in every nation » V and island and home in all the earth within the next decade? Nothing but the faltering zeal and purpose of the mass of Christian believers now on the earth. That precisely is the critical question. Are we, the Christians of to-day, awake to these facts, and responsive to the claims of this glorious work? Do we understand that this vast responsibility rests upon us ; that it is possible now, as never before in the world's history, to preach the gospel to all the millions? And do we mean, God helping, that this work shall be done ere we die ? This is the deep significance of the hour to this generation," — Rev. Judson Smith. 31 The Lord will go before you and . . . be your rearward' CHAPTER VI. THROUGH THE GORGES. Up the Yang-tsi. — Boatmen Crying to their Gods. — Liu-s'i-fu. On the Yang-tsi River, Near I-ch'ang. April 2^th, 1888. MANY things have happened since my last letter to you. I am now on my journey towards Pao-ning, a town in Si-ch'uan, where it has been arranged for me to work with two other ladies, under the direction of Mr. Cassels, a clergyman of the Church of England. It is so good of our Heavenly Father to be sending me to the interior of China so quickly. He is answering your prayers for me, and is helping me with the language. I am able to tell the way of salvation in a few words even now ; but do continue to pray, for I am sure that what I know already has been taught me by God in answer to your prayers. I wish I could tell you just a little of what the dear Lord has been to me since I came to China — such a loving Friend, and Guide, and Comforter, and Counsellor. He seems to be revealing Himself in a different way, as the One so very close always. Perhaps it is because out here, away from all home friends and outward helps — I mean, churches and chapels, and Bible- classes — we learn to go straight to God for all we 35 36 THROUGH THE GORGES. want, and trust Him more implicitly, and so find how faithful He is — how He delights to keep His promises, and to bless His children. Now, I do not want you to think He will not be the same close Friend and Guide to you, in England ; He willy if you trust Him fully, and follow Him faith- fully. I feel sure that if I had known my own help- lessness and weakness, while I was at home, in the same way as He has taught me to know now. He would also have taught me then to know Him in this closer way in which I know Him now. We are so slow to learn of Him, and He has so much to teach us about Himself ! And what a loving, patient Teacher we find Him to be when we give ourselves up to Him to be His pupils ! We have already been five weeks on our journey since we left lang-cheo, and we shall probably be travelling two months longer before we reach Pao-ning. God has been so good to us every step of the way, guiding distinctly as to the choosing of the boats, and the times of reaching the different villages and towns. ''When He putteth forth His own sheep," He does truly *' go before them." We are in a splendid boat now, but have not had very good winds these last few days. The boat has accordingly been towed by fourteen men. This will give you an idea of what a large and heavy one it is. Sometimes, early in the morning, before we start, we hear the boatmen calling to their gods, to give them a favourable wind. They do not say any words, but give a strange sort of cry, and then let off crackers to appease the god of the wind ; it is so sad to hear them. CHINESE CHILDREN. 37 We have Chinese prayers morning and evening. Our two men-servants attend, and some of the boat- people. One of the servants seems anxious to become a disciple of Jesus. He says he wants to know and to understand more about the gospel. He is nineteen years of age, and his name is Liu-s'i-fu. We are passing through such beautiful scenery. The Yang-tsi is a wonderful river, three miles wide in some places, and more than three thousand miles long. We have passed several ranges of mountains covered with grass and flowers. The weather is getting warm, and the sun very powerful. We never think of going out without our white umbrellas. I have already learnt to love Chinese children ; they are so quick to understand what we say, quicker than the grown-up people, and many of them are very affec- tionate. Some of the little children are afraid of us, but this is only because they have been told that foreigners are evil spirits, and will hurt them. I am sure that not only the children, but the parents too, will love and trust us when they see that we love them and only want to do them good. I find that love towards these poor people does come into our hearts when we begin to tell them of Jesus. How nice it would be if there was a telescope power- ful enough to reach from China to England, that I might have a peep at you all now and then ! May God bless and keep each one of you, and make each one. His own faithful disciple ! ' Oh ! Church of the Living God, Awake from thy sinful sleep ! Dost thou not hear yon awful cry Still sounding o'er the deep? Is it nought that one out of every three Of all the human race Should in China die, having never heard The Gospel of God's grace? Canst thou shut thine ear to the awful sound, The voice of thy brother's blood? A miUion a month in China Are dying without God ! " Dr. H. Grattan Guinness> (From "The Voice of thy Brother's Blood"). 38 My peace I give unto you. CHAPTER VII. '' PERILS OF waters:' Arrival at I-ch'ang. — Scenery. — Rapids. — Shipwrecks. — Ch'ong- k'ing. — Chinese Services. Wan-hsien, May 2gth, 1888. WE are getting on slowly. We are now about a fortnight's journey from Ch'ong-k'ing, where Dr. and Mrs. Cameron and two of our party are to be stationed. It is exceedingly hot, often 90" in the shade, and we have not much space in the boat. Now we find the benefit of Chinese clothes ; the looseness and lightness are delightful. We get up now at 5 a.m. Breakfast at 7. Chinese prayers follow. Then our own Bible-reading at 9.30. Chinese lesson with Dr. Cameron, 10.30 to 11. 30. Dinner at 12. Prayer- meeting for the different Provinces after dinner. Then we write or study or read aloud and work (we are reading Bishop Hannington's Hfe). Tea at 5 ; Bible- reading at 7 ; and bed at 8. There are plenty of mosquitoes now ; some of our party suffer from them. We spent a week at I-ch'ang, while our boat-captain was hiring more men for the upper river. Some missionaries of the Scotch Estab- lished Church kindly showed us hospitality. There are mountains all round I-ch'ang. 39 40 PERILS OF WATERS. scenery since leaving I-ch'ang has been grand, gorges were splendid — rocks, hundreds of feet high, on both sides of us, rising straight out of the water, covered with maiden-hair fern, and lovely cascades and waterfalls running down. Passing through the gorges we observed many ranges of mountains — some- times seven, one beyond the other. One night we anchored near a village where there were orange-trees ; the scent of blossom- was delicious. Every- thing seems more advanced here than in England ; we have had peas, beans, cherries, cucumber, apricots : the latter are ten for twenty-four cash (i solution chiefly upon prayer. The assertion has been frequently made in past years, that with 20,000 men, properly qualified and distributed, the world could be evangelised in thirty years. And actually there is need of an immediate, undaunted effort to secure 20,000 men. Neither, perhaps, can the world be evangelised without them, nor can they be secured without effort. But it is hopeless to endeavour to obtain them, and they will be worthless if obtained, unless the whole effort be inspired and permeated with prayer. ' Thrust Thou forth Thy labourers into the harvest.' . . . The evangelisation of the world in this generation depends, first of all, upon a revival of prayer. Deeper than the need for men, aye, deep down at the bottom of our spiritless life is the need for the forgotten secret of prevailing, world-wide prayer." — Robert E. Speer. lUy word . . . shall not return unto Ale void.''' CHAPTER XIV. THE WORK DEVELOPING. In the Villages. — Foreign Medicine. — Kuang-uen.— Encourage- ment IN the School Work. — Chinese Ploughs. — A New Carpet. Pao-ning, May 2,0th, 1889. HOW quickly the days go by ! I will try and give an outline of what has happened during the last two months. At the beginning of April, B. and E. went to Tu-kia-tsing, a village a hundred // from Pao-ning, to stay with Uang-ta-sao, one of the women who came here to break off opium-smoking last Novem- ber. They were away ten days, and were encouraged by their visit. All the people in Uang-ta-sao' s uen-ts'i, where they stayed, welcomed them warmly, and many others from neighbouring villages came to see them. They had good times at morning and evening li-paif when many outsiders were present ; and constantly through the day visitors came to '' hear the Book." Uang-ta-sao was very bright, and anxious to learn more. She gave her testimony fearlessly before others, telling them what Jesus had done for her. Her husband was also interested in the gospel, and spent his spare time reading his Bible, which he had bought some time before from Mr. Beauchamp. He is an opium-smoker, which of course hinders him. Since his wife has been THE WORK DEVELOPING. cured of smoking, he has had a desire to leave it off too, and says he intends coming to the Fuk-ing-t ^ang as soon as there is an opportunity. We trust he will keep his word, and that his coming will be for blessing to his soul. Uang-ta-sao hopes to pay us another visit next month. While B. and E. were away, we had a very busy time here. Several guests came daily, and also sick people desiring attention. Our Father did not fail to give us strength according to our day. One of our patients was a lady from the city, named Li. She was in a terrible condition, with eight large ulcers on her neck and chest, and in great weakness, the Chinese doctors having put her to much extra pain by stabbing and plastering the wounds. Her home is at Ts'ang-k'i (one of the places where we are hoping soon to begin work). She was on a visit to her mother, who had heard that we had some foreign medicine, so Mrs. Li came to us. I saw at once that she was not fit to come out, so proposed going to see her at her mother's house ; and each day she sent a chair for me. 1 did thank God for making an entrance for His Word in that house. There were several ladies who always listened gladly to the gospel. When E. came back from the country she took on this ''case," and, until within the last week, has been going daily. The lady was much better, two of the worst sores were almost healed, and a month more of the treatment would probably have completed the cure; but she fretted at the slowness, and longed to get back to Ts'ang-k'i ; so a few days ago she ceased sending for E. The probability is that she has called AN ANCESTRAL HALL. 113 in a Chinese doctor, who will most likely make matters worse. Poor lady, I do feel sorry for her, and trust that what she knows of God's truth may be for her salvation. Another little patient — a dear little baby, eighteen months old— was brought here with half a needle buried in its thigh. It had been in for a long time, for the place where it entered had quite healed up. I had to make an opening, a very deep one ; was I very cruel ? The dear child did not cry much, and the grandmother was delighted as she went off in triumph with her bit of needle. We do not seek these sick cases, but the Lord brings them to us, and they have generally been those who have listened readily to His Word. Mr. Cassels was away for some days last month, at Kuang-uen, a town on the Han-chong road, four days' journey from Pao-ning. He went to see about getting a house, as it seemed a favourable place in which to commence work. We prayed much for guidance be- fore he started, so were not surprised to hear that he soon met with a house which seems suitable in every respect. The landlord, who is an influential man, was quite friendly, and anxious to let his house to the ''foreigner," although it is an ancestral hall, having in one room ancestral tablets, where, once a year, all the male members of the family meet to worship. Mr. Cassels was anxious to have these tablets removed, but to this the landlord would not agree ; so the arrange- ment is that that room is to be partitioned off from the rest of the house, and a boy is to represent all the rest of the family, when the time of worship comes round. 8 114 THE WORK DEVELOPING. May we not hope and pray that before that time comes the landlord will have ceased to believe in that vain worship ? Mr. Gill and Chen-Sien-Seng, one of the inquirers, are now at Kuang-iien, superintending the necessary repairs, and cleaning, etc., of the house. We have heard a rumour that the landlord was exercised in mind as to whether it was safe to let the house to us or not, as a wall, which he had just repaired, has fallen down, and he takes it as a bad omen. We have had much heavy rain and wind lately, so it is easily accounted for. How ready Satan is to take hold of anything like this, to try and hinder God's work ! Our cook, Ch'en-ta-ko, went with Mr. Cassels to Kuang-tien, and in the meanwhile, Shu-ua-tsi, one of the Fuh-ing-Vang servants, came to help in the work here. He is one of the Christians ; such a bright lad. He has been converted about eighteen months, and has grown in grace. One evening, after prayers, the Holy Spirit seemed to come upon him, and he turned to our two old women, and the widow's two boys, and just pleaded with them to give themselves definitely to the Lord. He told them what Jesus had been to him since he had trusted Him, and how He helped him to witness for Him, and not fear man. God owned his testimony, for constantly afterwards, Li-ta-niang, one of the women, and the widow's eldest boy, spoke of it, and prayed that they might have strength fearlessly to confess Jesus. When Mr. Cassels returned, it was decided that, as soon as the house is made ready, E. and L. are to commence work at Kuang-iien. Is it not good that soon in eight cities in Si-ch'uan definite work will be THE WIDOW'S BOY. 1,5 going on ? How can we praise our God enough, that He has given us this great privilege of proclaiming His salvation ! And can we not look forward believingly to the time when the whole of this Province will have heard '* the joyful sound " ? Mrs. Polhill-Turner wrote just about that time, saying how greatly she needed a helper in the women's work at Pa-cheo ; so B. H has gone for a month. The Lord has been blessing her much. She writes saying she has been able to visit in the houses round, and has daily classes for women and girls. Li-ta-niang has gone with B. to Pa-cheo, and I miss my dear daily pupil very much. The widow's eldest boy, who has been coming to me every day to read the Bible, is now apprenticed at a shop in the city. Do pray for him, that he may confess Jesus there, and be His faithful follower. My class on Sundays, at the Fiih-ing-t^ang, is en- couraging. Some of the boys seem really in earnest ; the most serious among them have been coming to me on separate evenings in the week, in order that I may have personal talk and prayer with them. I do thank God for giving me this work to do for Him. May each dear boy soon be His ! Ch'en-ta-sao, the Bible-woman, left us a few days ago for Han-chong, her native place. She has been very weak and poorly, and unable to work for some time, so Mrs. Cassels thought this change for a few weeks might do her good ; she will also have the benefit of Dr. Wilson's advice. Ho-ta-sao, the other Bible-woman, is very bright and earnest ; she loves to preach the gospel. I spent an afternoon with her a ii6 THE WORK DEVELOPING. day or two ago, visiting, and praised God for one year''s work of grace in her. Tlie people seem very fond of her, and ready to listen to her words. Several women from the city still continue to come regularly to the classes at the Fuh-ing-fang. Just now the women are busy everywhere helping to From a photo.'\ [by the Rev.. Geo. Hayes. WOMEN WASHING CLOTHES. gather in the wheat and thresh it, which they do by beating it with sticks. The women work very hard here, and do work that only men would do at home. The Chinese are very provident ; they make the most of every inch of ground, and waste no time. As soon as one crop is gathered in, they plough the ground and plant something else. Their ploughs are very rough — NEW CARPETS. 117 just a piece of board with some spikes underneath, drawn along by a bullock. Sometimes a m.an stands on the board. I think I must tell you how they lay down new carpets in Si-ch'uan. We have a mud floor in our sitting-room, and as there were some holes in it our tables could not stand steady. We called the ni-shui- tsiang (mud-and-water man), who dug up the earth and sifted it ; then he poured buckets of w^ater on it, leaving it an hour to soak well in ; then he raked it, to make it even, and finally pounded it a long time to render it firm and hard. Don't you think that is less trouble than having a new carpet at home ? It is infinitely cheaper, for it only costs sixty-six cash (about threepence), and the man's food. Ours is an unusually large room, so we had two men, and our carpet cost sixpence ! It is really very clean and tidy, and comfortable too, though it is a mud floor ; it is much warmer and drier than the stones (flags) which are used in some houses. Our bedrooms are boarded. We are daily expecting more missionaries — the Rev. E. O. and Mrs. Williams and their children, and Miss Jones. They should have arrived before this, but the heavy rain of the last few days must have delayed them. As the Lord is sending more workers, we know it means more blessing for Si-ch'uan. Pray that we may not hinder by our unbelief " T7^ IGHT thousand (three thousand of these being women) is the present -L-/ estimated number of all the Missionaries in heathen lands. The Moravians have one Missionary out of every sixty of their members. We have but one out of every five thousand of our members." " Three times in a century, the population ot our globe gives place to a new generation ; so that if to-day the whole world were evangelised, within thirty years a new generation would present a new need of the gospel message. And hence the greater demand for constant, persistent, and world-wide Missions : the more this work is neglected, and the longer, the more it gets beyond us ; the thicker and ranker the vile growths become which must be uprooted to make room for the gospel. Whereas, if the Church of Christ should once overtake the wants ot one generation, it would be comparatively easy to keej> the ground clear and occupy the entire field in the generations to come. We thus owe a double debt, first to a world lying in sin, to sow it in every part with the seed of the Kingdom ; and secondly, to the Church of the generations to come, to prepare the way for the successful work of those who are to follow after us.'' — Rev. A. T. PlERSON, D.D. , in T/ie Divine Enterprise of Missions. 118 The Lord . . . sent them . . . before His face into every city and place whither He Himself would come.^^ CHAPTER XV. INCREASE OF WORKERS. Dragon Feast. — Arrival of More Missionaries. — A Missionary Wedding. — A Huei. — Li-kia-tsui. — Ten Days at a Country Inn. — An Opium-smoking Landlord. Pao-ning, July i^th, 1889. ON June 1st, the Chinese began to keep their Dragon Feast, which lasts three or four days. On the third day the shops are closed, and every one goes down to the river, where there are a great number of boats, some in the shape of a dragon, others with figures of dragons in them. Gongs are sounded, and crackers let off from the boats. This festival was instituted, I believe, in memory of some Chinese states- man who lived some years before Christ, and who drowned himself in a river of one of the central provinces. Part of the proceedings consists of racing backwards and forwards on the water, as if searching for the spirit of this dead man. At this feast it is the correct thing to make and receive presents, one of them being a certain sort of rice-cake. Just about that time we were feeling we had not had opportunities of seeing our neighbours, the langs, for some time; so one morning we specially prayed that God would bring us together, and use us in blesshig to them as well as to others in our street. 119 INCREASE OF WORKERS. How our God loves to answer His children's prayers ! That very afternoon all the ladies from the langs' two houses, also women from three other houses in our street, came in, and were with us a long time. Old Mrs. lang was not very well, and we were glad to hear our old woman (who had once served in the langs' family) telling her that God could heal her, and asking her to stay for evening prayers. When all the other guests went away, the dear old lady stayed on, and seemed much interested. The lesson we sought to teach that night was of the soul's importance compared with that of the body, and of God's willingness to cleanse and save us from all sin. The old lady seemed to take it in, and made very earnest expressions of assent when our cook prayed that God would save her soul and heal her body. I think her friends were rather anxious about her remaining to prayers, as, first the servant, and then one of the grandsons, were sent to fetch her back ; but she only told them to sit down and listen too — she was in no hurry to go away. I think she was impressed by the simplicity of our worship — no lighting of candles, nor burning incense, nor sounding gongs, but just talking naturally to One Whom we loved, and asking for what we wanted. I hope it will not be the only time she comes in to prayers. Our nice widow, Liu-ta-sao, comes regularly, and seems really to be growing in the knowledge of God. She sometimes brings in some of her neighbours, and explains to them so nicely what she knows herself. At the beginning of June our long-expected friends, the Rev. E. O. and Mrs. WilHams, their three little boys, and Miss Jones, arrived. We were so glad to welcome GUIDANCE IN LITTLE THINGS. them to Pao-ning, and to praise God with them for all His love and goodness to them on the long journey. They were all looking well, and the children are so happy in having a nice large courtyard in which to run about. We know that our Master means to bless many poor souls here through the coming of these His servants, and already they have attracted many fresh visitors to the Ftih-ing-t^ mig. The little boys are so pleased to go in and see the guests, and have learnt to sing the first verse of ''Jesus loves me" in Chinese. They are very quick in picking up Chinese words. We have had some guests from Ts'in-cheo, in the Kan-suh Province. Miss E. Barclay came here to be married to Mr. Botham,* and Miss Kinahan accom- panied her. The ladies were our guests ; we so enjoyed having them, and were encouraged by all they told us of the work in Ts'in-cheo. The wedding was on the 14th of June — such a nice, quiet little service, with the Communion Service following. Mr. Williams spoke some helpful words from Song of Solomon ii., iii., and iv. — Rest, Refreshment, Rejoicing. After dinner we had a prayer-meeting, and Mr. Williams told us how he had been led to give up his living in Leeds, and come to China. We were much helped by seeing how God had guided in the little things connected with his coming out, making every- thing fit in so beautifully to fulfil His purpose. Mr. and Mrs. Botham started off the same evening by boat for Kuang-iien. The day before the wedding we had such a large * Mr. Cassels is the only one in this part of China empowered tc marry Europeans; hence the number of weddings at Pao-ning. INCREASE OF WORKERS. number of guests at the Fuh-ing-f ang. There happened to be a large Jmei (a gathering, partly religious and partly social) held in a temple near, to which numbers of country people flocked in. The Fuh-ing-fang being in the road leading to this huei^ the people naturally turned in. Mr. Cassels thinks that at one time there must have been from eight hundred to a thousand men and women in the courtyard. Miss Kinahan and I had gone over to the early seven o'clock prayer-meeting (it being the 15th of the Chinese month, the day on which we specially pray for the idol-worshippers). At the close some guests began to arrive, and Mr. Cassels asked us to stay and entertain them. With just a short interval for breakfast — when Miss Jones took our place — we were, until twelve o'clock, telling the gospel to hun- dreds of women, most of whom had never heard it before. It was a delightful and yet a most solemn time, as one realised that perhaps some amongst those large numbers might never have another opportunity of hearing the message of salvation. We think visitors would have continued coming all day, had there not been a disturbance in the iien-tst (courtyard). One man tried to incite others to fight ; so it was thought best to invite every one to go, and keep the doors closed for the rest of the day. That afternoon the Mandarin called on Mr. Cassels, and remained listen- ing to the gospel for a long time. A few days after- wards some of us were invited to dinner at his house, and the ladies were very friendly. I paid a happy visit to a village about ten // from here, called Li-kia-tsui, where the daughter of the widow, Liu-ta-sao, lives. At the New Year time, she GOnS APPOINTMENTS. came to stay with her mother, and we saw a good deal of her ; she took back to her village some of our little books, explaining the way of salvation. Her friends were so interested in them that they asked her, when next she went into Pao-ning, to invite one of us to go and tell them more of '' the doctrine." So I returned with her. The village is prettily situated among the hills, and is composed of about ten or twelve farm- houses, not clustered together, but dotted about, each being surrounded with its own grove of bamboos. All the people in the village are related to one another, and are called Li. A good number of women assembled in one of the houses, and from mid-day until 3.30 p.m. they listened untiringly while I talked, read, or sang to them. They invited me to spend the night with them, so that their husbands (who were then at work) might hear ; but this I did not see my way clear to do, as I had said nothing about it at home. I promised, if they liked, to come the following week and spend two or three days with them. They seemed pleased with this arrangement, and on the day fixed I packed my pu-kai (bedding), and was just calling a chair, when a mes- senger came to say some one had been taken ill in the house where I was to stay, and they would like me to postpone my visit. I had to remind myself that there are no such things as disappointments to God's chil- dren, that all things are His appointments, and that therefore it must be all right. We are looking to Him to keep that door open, and in His own time to send His messenger. The widow's daughter has a considerable knowledge of theTruth, and on that day was not afraid to tell her 124 INCREASE OF WORKERS. friends that idols were untrustworthy, and Heaven's God was the only true God. Perhaps it is His will that she should be His light in that village. Pray that it may be so. On June 2ist, Mr. and Mrs. Cassels went away to a place called Sin-tien-ts'i, a hundred and thirty //' from here, on the Kuang-uen road, for a little rest and change, the heat being very great in Pao-ning. Miss Kinahan left with them for Kuang-iien. A few days afterwards Mrs. Cassels invited me to go to Sin-tien-tsi. I had such a good time on the journey, which took a day and a half. The Lord helped me very much, at the different stopping-places, in speaking to the women ; many were so glad to hear the good news. The house where we stayed is an inn, and stands by itself, the nearest village being fifteen // (five miles) distant. It is on very high ground, and is much cooler than Pao-ning. We spent ten happy days there. Mr. Williams has brought a magic-lantern to China ; on several evenings Mr. Cassels used it. The people were delighted with the pictures, and a number gathered to li-pai. The landlord of the inn is an opium-smoker. His family are well-to-do people, and he possessed a good deal of land, which, little by little, has been sold to get money for opium. He smoked as much as two hundred cash worth a day — seventy-five thousand cash worth in a year — quite a fortune to a Chinaman, and now he goes about, poor fellow ! looking little better than a beggar. He took an interest in reading the books Mr. Cassels lent him. Mr. Cassels spent much of his time with this man, and seemed just to lay himself out to win him for Christ. He told him, from REST, AND GET COOL. 125 the first, that opium-smoking was a sin against God, and that God could not save his soul until he was will- ing to give up the opium. At last, one morning, he brought his pipe and apparatus to Mr. Cassels to be burnt, and himself knelt down and asked God to help him break off smoking. The Spirit of God was evidently working in his heart. Oh that he may soon be saved out and out ! We spent one day with an aunt of this landlord, who lives in a nice house a little distance from here. She, too, is an opium-smoker. We hope she will soon come to stay with us, and break off the habit. She also was much interested in the gospel, and is able to read ; so we left some books and Gospels with her. When we returned to Pao-ning, Mr. and Mrs. WilHams, the children, and Miss Culverwell, went to this nice country inn to sie-liang (rest, and get cool). They are still there, and Miss C will (D.V.) remain until Miss Bastone joins her, when they will together go on to begin their new work in Kuang-uen. On July 5th Miss Hanbury returned from Pa-cheo, where she had been for two months, helping Mrs. Folhill-Turner in the women's work. We were so glad to welcome her back. The Master has been using her much in Pa-cheo, and now He has brought her back to bless many precious souls through her in Pao-ning. We are waiting on God much about the work, now that E. C- • and L. B are leaving us for Kuang- iien. B. and I want to make a fresh start in the work here, and get more amongst the people. The Lord has helped us both very much with the language 126 JNCREASE OF WORKERS. during the past year, and now we feel we may devote less time to study, and more to visiting and going after the women. I know God will guide and teach us. On the 3rd of this month (July) I completed my first year in Pao-ning ; a year of proving the faithful- ness and loving-kindness of our God — '^ not one thing hath failed of all His good promise." But during this New Year I long to know Him more intimately, and serve Him more faithfully and zealously, remembering that '' my sufficiency is of Him. " Please still continue your prayers for Pao-ning and all Si-ch'uan. POPULATION of China: 300,000.000. between 40,000 and 50,000. Native Christians of China " If all the people of China could walk past a given point, in single file, at the rate of thirty every minute, day and night, iiineteen years must elapse before all had passed by ; the native Christians, at the same rate, could pass in ihirty-foiir hoiirsP "You may go through China, and you will find thousands— I can safely say, tens of thousands — of towns and villages in which there are but small traces of the Bible or of Christian influence."' — Rev. J. Hudson Taylor. BSBnasisans: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■a ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ The population of China, taking the low estimate of three hundred millions, is represented by the above diagram, each square representing one million souls. One twenty-fifth of one square would more than cover all the Church Members of all the Protestant Missions in ("hina. [27 '•' I must pr-each . . . to other cities also.' CHAPTER XVI. ''OTHER CITIES ALSOr Beginning of Mission Work in Kuang-uen. — Silent Testimony. — "Only a Girl." — Week-day Class for School-boys. — Death of Ch'en-ta-sao. — " Foreign Babies." — Treacle for Gravy. —A Happy Sunday, Pao-ning, Septembet 20th, 1889. JUST two months since I wrote last ; and they have been eventful months. On July 2 1 St, a little daughter was given to Mrs. Cassels. The natives are disappointed that it is not a son, and cannot understand why we all love a little girl so much. She is such a dear little child, and she and her mother are both well and strong ; pray that she may be a great blessing to China. A day or two after the baby was born, L. B left Pao-ning for Kuang-tien, the new station. E. Culver- well had been staying at a country place, half-way between this and Kuang-uen, with Mr. and Mrs. Williams, and she went on with L. to begin the new work. They reached Kuang-tien on July 28th. From time to time we get very bright letters from them. From the first the people have been friendly, and they have had numbers of visitors. As a rule one stays at home each afternoon to receive and tell the gospel to any guests who may come, and the other goes out 128 A ''HANDFUL OF PURPOSE." 129 visiting. We have already heard of some men there receiving blessing through hearing Mr. Cassels and Mr. Gill preach, and through reading the tracts which they gave them. Chen-Sien-Seng is still there, and is witnessing for Jesus. His son, too (who is cook), seems much interested in the gospel, and gives cause for encouragement. On the day that L. B • left Pao- ning, I accompanied her (according to Chinese custom) about ten // on the road. It was not easy to part, for we had been together ever since I have been in China — a year and a half; but I have realised more than once since I left home that '' for Jesus' sake " makes difficult things easy— and He, in His love, had prepared such a happy little bit of service for Him on my way home that day. Some ladies came out of a good-sized inn on the wayside, and invited me to get out of my chair and talk to them. They gave me a seat outside the house, and very soon a good number of people, men as well as women, gathered round, while I told them of our Saviour and theirs. Not one of those forty people had ever heard the gospel before. Some of them asked very intelligent questions. Whether the message was received or not I cannot tell — ''the day shall declare it " ; but oh ! it was such a joy to fei/ it, especially just at that time, when I was feeling sad at parting. Don't you think that was a '' handful of purpose," which the Master let fall for me that day ? I do. B. H and I have been visiting more regularly lately. As a rule, we both study every day with the teacher in the morning, and go out after dinner. We can go freely all over the city. The people ask us into their homes, and are most friendly. We find that 9 30 *' OTHER CITIES ALSO. through going out in this way, many Pao-ning people have a knowledge of the gospel. There are generally one or more women at every house to which we go, who know something J and can explain to others who Jesus is. For this we have indeed cause to thank God, and take courage. His word cannot return to Him void. In one house, a few days ago, an old woman came up to me and said, " I am a vegetarian, in order that I may go to heaven by-and-bye. But you speak of only one way to heaven. Tell me again." She seemed so much in earnest. We have been three times lately to Chen-kia-pa, a village fifteen // from here, where Mrs. Cassels has stayed once or twice. Chen-Sien-Seng is one of the inquirers, and his whole family seem interested in the Truth. The villagers gather in the Chens' house, and listen so attentively, it reminds me of what we read in Acts X. 33. We have had a woman from that village staying with us for a week. She came chiefly to learn more about God, and also to see if we could do any- thing for her leg, which is much diseased. She is such a nice woman, with a very tender, loving heart. Often, when speaking to her of the love of God and of the sufferings of Jesus, I have seen tears in her eyes. She hopes to come and pay us a longer visit next month, when the grain will be dried, and the country people less busy. Pray much for her. The day she went home I went with her to spend the day at Chen-kia-pa. I was helped as well as amused by hearing the account of her visit to us, which she just poured out to her friends. She seemed impressed by our love for one another. She had never seen us quarrel, SILENT TESTIMONY. 13 and we were just the same to her, and to the servants, as we were to each other I We even took their hands in ours, and-'put"our hands on theirjshoulders when we talked to them ! And it was all because we loved God that we lived in peace like that 1 It showed me how our lives are watched by the GROUP OF SCHOOL-BOVS, PAO-NING Chinese, and how we can bear this silent testimony for Jesus all day long. But oh ! how rebuked I felt that I so little truly reflect my blessed Master. May He help me to win souls for Him by my life, or rather, by His life in me ! We have also had a niece of our woman, Li-ta-niang, staying with us. She brought such a dear little baby OTHER CITIES ALSO. with her, a girl, eight months old, whom she wished very much to sell or give to us. She said the child hindered her from doing work, and she had often thought of drowning her because she was only a girl ! She begged us so hard to take the child, saying we need not bind her feet, or make her wear ear-rings ! She would be our servant in after-years. My heart went out in longing yearning to take the child, and love it, but we thought it best to refuse. You must not think all Chinese mothers are like this one ; some love their little girls very much, even though they are only girls. Since last sending my journal, I have started a week-day class for the boys in the school, on Thurs- day afternoons. I am teaching them the Old Testament History. We read '^ Line upon Line," and they enjoy it. They have good memories, and always seem to look forward to Thursdays. Oh that their hearts may be touched by the Holy Spirit, that they may be truly converted ! They remind me so often of the boys and girls I left in England. They often come to meet me, and like carrying my books ; they dust my chair and the table so carefully, and like to get the nearest places. I have begun to give them marks for attendance and good behaviour, and the plan answers well ; they are distressed if they lose a mark. You will remember my having mentioned Gh'en-ta- sao, Mrs. Cassels' Bible-woman, in previous letters. She had been very poorly for a long time, and it was thought that a change to her native town, Han-chong, would perhaps do her good. She went there at the end of May. Last month we heard she was very much WITH JESUS." 133 worse ; so her husband, Ch'en-ta-ko (who is our cook), started off at once for Han-chong Fu. It is a journey of twelve days, and before he could arrive Ch'en-ta-sao was '' with Jesus." We hear it was such a peaceful, happy ^' going home." For some little time her weakness of body, had made her depressed, but two or three days before her death all the old brightness and joy in the Lord returned, and her testimony was faithful. On her last day on earth, she begged some of the Christians, who had been with her, to go out of the room. The Saviour, she said, had come to tsieh (receive or welcome) her, and she wanted to be alone with Him. Dear Ch'en-ta-sao, she has only gone before; and how she will welcome us when we, too, reach that happy land ! Ch'en-ta-ko, who has re- turned, tells us of blessing already having resulted through her death. A young brother-in-law of his was much impressed at the funeral, and gave in his name to Mr. Easton, one of the C.I.M. missionaries in Han-chong, as wishing to be an inquirer. Praise God for this ! We have been a large party of foreigners in Pao- ning lately. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson, of the Friends' Mission, arrived here from Han-chong, en route for T'ong-ch'uan, a city four days' journey from here, where they hoped to commence work ; but as the authorities are not kindly disposed at present, they will have to wait. Mr. and Mrs. A. Polhill-Turner, C.I.M., and their little son, also came from Pa-cheo to spend a little while here, but their visit was shortened by hearing that guests had arrived at Pa-cheo, to whom they must hurry back. [34 ''OTHER CITIES ALSO." Many of our neighbours came in to see '' the foreign babies." I am sure the Httle ones help to break down any prejudices which the people may have against us, and create a feeling of friendliness among them. God can use even the very little ones, can He not ? Last week Mr. and Mrs. Cassels gave a feast in honour of their little daughter. More than forty people were present. In the evening Mr. Williams showed his magic-lantern, and Mr. Davidson explained the pictures. It was the first time Pao-ning people had seen the lantern, and it was a great success ; they were delighted, and listened so attentively. Since then it has been shown sometimes at evening prayers, and has been the means of bringing many outsiders under the sound of the gospel. While Ch'en-ta-ko, our cook, was at Han-chong, we engaged a young man to take his place. He knew nothing about cooking for foreigners, so we had to teach him. I must tell you of an amusing mistake we made. One evening we had some beef rissoles for tea, and the man was told to add some gravy and warm up the remainder for breakfast. When they appeared on the breakfast-table, they looked brown and appetising, and we commended our cook. But the first taste made us exclaim, '' What has he done ? " Then we dis- covered that, instead of using gravy, he had stewed the rissoles in treacle ! This is how the mistake had come about : fang is gravy, and fang is also treacle ; but instead of saying fang in a high tone of voice, which means '* gravy," we had used a low tone, which means '^ treacle." It was a useful mistake, for we shall remember, in future, which is which ! You will see WITNESSING FOR JESUS. 135 how easy it is to make mistakes in the Chinese language. There is one word, li-ts'i, for plums and pears. If you mean *' plums " you must use a high tone, if ^' pears," a low tone. The widow, Liu-ta-sao, still comes regularly to evening prayers. She certainly seems to be trusting the Lord, though, as yet, she has expressed no wish to be baptized. Her married daughter is staying with her just now. B. and I were invited to dinner with them last Monday. Sie-ta-sao, the Christian woman who came with Mrs. Davidson from Han-chong, went with us, and witnessed splendidly for Jesus. After dinner, the neighbours came in, and for about two hours listened to the gospel. The widow's daughter is a dear girl, and 1 trust will soon be on the Lord's side. She has invited me to spend a few days at her village when the grain is all stored away, and the people less busy. I hope, too, to spend some days at Hsu-kia-uan, the village five // away, while B. hopes to go to Tu-kia-tsing, where the woman lives who broke off opium-smoking. We are only waiting until the people have more leisure. We long to be able to form a regular class for women here. We have tried two or three times, but have failed. I trust this autumn the women will be wilUng to come. We are waiting on the Lord about this. Mr. Cassels hopes to open another new station. Four more lady missionaries are expected to arrive shortly. We do not know yet whom the Lord has chosen for the new work. It is a great joy that another city is soon to hear of Jesus. A fortnight ago we had a happy Sunday. At the 136 ''OTHER CITIES ALSO:' Chinese service the Holy Spirit was present in power. Three of the native Christians who had backsUdden were led to confess their sins, and seek forgiveness and restoration. Oh that they may learn to know Jesus as Keeper and King, as well as Saviour ! We may expect the unsaved to be blessed, now that the Christians are right with God. Pray for these dear native Christians. How often we fell, when we first trusted Jesus for salvation, and we were surrounded by so many helps and privileges which the Chinese have not. Pray that God will keep them, and lead them to a deeper knowledge of Himself. And pray too that we may have much love, and tender sympathy, and patience in teaching them. "'Tis His great delight to bless us; Oh, how He loves ! " "'VXTEha.ve no fires of martyrdom now to test our fidelity to Jesus V V Christ ; but we are not left without a test. God is testing us all continually as to the measure of our Faith, Love, and Devotedness to His Son, by the presence of a thousand millions of heathen in the world. It is a tremendous test ; so real, so practical ! Gifts that cost us no personal self-denial are no proof of devotedness."— Mrs. Grattan Guinness. " The seal of Calvin, one of the great apostles of the Reformation, repre- sents a hand holding a burning heart, illustrative of his life-principle : ' I give Thee all ; I keep back nothing for myself.'" 137 " They have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image and pray unto a god that cannot save''' CHAPTER XVII. FALSE REPORTS. Week-day Class for Women. — Magic-lantern Services. — Pray- ing TO Buddha. — Difficulties in Opening New Mission Stations. — Chao-hua. — False Reports. — The Widow Liu- ta-sao. HsiJ-KiA-uAN, Pao-ning, December 26th, 1889. HOW quickly the time passes ! Our days are more filled up now with service for the blessed Master. He has graciously been opening up work to us. How good He is to let us serve Him ! In my last journal I think I mentioned that we had it in our hearts to begin a week-day class for the women in our immediate neighbourhood. At the beginning of October we started a class with eleven women and twelve children ; they come every Tuesday afternoon. From the commencement I have definitely asked the Lord for the soul of each woman who shall attend, and I believe He will save them. Five or six come regularly, and in each of these I believe the Holy Spirit is working. They love to come to the class, and remember so well from week to week. Some of them have to undergo being laughed at and taunted by their neighbours, but still they are constant in coming, and really desire to know more of Jesus. The Spirit, too, is teaching them to pray in their own homes. 138 THE LOVE AND POWER OF JESUS. 139 Twice lately Mr. Williams has brought over his magic- lantern to show to the women ; we have had large numbers, and I trust real blessing will result from it. The day after the last exhibition, Mrs. Williams and I were out visiting, and happened to call on a woman who had seen the lantern the previous night. She was full of what she had seen, and heard, and said that on her return home she had told all the women in her uen-ts'i what she remembered. She said to us : '' People in our land are sometimes crucified, but onl}^ because they deserve it ; they have broken the laws. Jesus had no sin. We deserve to die because we have broken God's laws, but He died instead of us." She was struck by the story of Jesus raising the widow's son to life, and said, '' There is no one in all the world who has such power as Jesus." Then she told us she meant to pray to Him every day. This woman has only twice or three times heard the gospel, but it seems to have taken hold of her ; her faith in idols is gone. To-day she sent for me to tell the gospel to her married daughter, who had come to pay her a visit. We had an earnest talk. Our guests have been few during the last two or three months. The weather has been cold, and the women do not go out more than they are obliged to do. Some come now and then for medicine. B. and I had a nice time of visiting last Monda}/. We went to a poor part of the city, and first had a talk outside a house, in the street. Very soon a large crowd gathered round us and listened well. Then a little girl took hold of my sleeve and begged us to go to her house. She led us into what we supposed was 140 FALSE REPORTS. a house, but it proved to be an alley with about ten houses, in which a little colony of weavers lived. We had a good time there. Four old women seemed to take in the gospel story, and some men came round us, and asked really sensible questions, as if they wanted to understand the Truth. We paid an interesting visit to Mrs. lang, our neigh- A WATER-CARRIER. hour, a few days ago. She was not well, and sent for us. I think the dear old lady fears death. We have noticed that she frequently sends for us, to tell her the gospel, when she is not feeling well. We had an earnest conversation with her for nearly an hour, just telling her about the forgiveness of sins. She told us that every evening when she heard our bell ring for prayers, she began to pray to Buddha, but that he never gave her any peace. We told her true peace could only BIRTHDAY PRESENTS. 141 be enjoyed through knowing that our sins were for- given, and only Jesus could forgive sins. She said, so sadly, '' I do not think I have any sins. My heart is good ; I have not broken the laws, nor treated any one badly." We tried to tell her that in God's sight all were sinners. Pray that the Holy Spirit may teach her this — the first step towards salvation. I feel sure she is seeking salvation, and the Good Shepherd, Who is seeking her, will find her. She begged us, when we had prayers that night, to pray for her. Her sons are all opposed to the gospel, and I fancy they hinder their mother from meeting with us as much as she would like. They say, if they could see Jesus, or knew any- one who had seen Him, they would believe. *' Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have. believed." We heard the other day, through a visitor, that old Mrs. lang loved us, that she knew our words must be true and good, for she had lived next door to us for more than a year, and had never heard us quarrel I Yesterday was the old lady's birthday. She invited us to dinner. We made her a birthday present of fat pork, inien (a food like macaroni), a chicken, and sweetbread. Our servants gave her bread, mien, and pork. Is it not strange that the custom is only to give presents of food ? When my last journal was written, we had Mr. and Mrs. Davidson, and their little son, staying with us. Mr. Davidson had rented a house at T'ong-ch'uan, a city between Pao-ning and Ch'en-tu, the capital of Si-ch'uan, and hoped to settle there, and begin work for the Master ; but, as already mentioned, the authorities were not willing to have him live there, and began to 142 FALSE REPORTS. persecute the man, who had rented him the house. Mr. Davidson thought it wise to give it up and retire. They left us in October for Ch'ong-k'ing, where they are now waiting until they are able to go to T'ong-ch'uan, or some other city. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson belong to the ** Friends' Mission." We missed them very much, also Sie-ta-sao, a young Christian woman, who had come with them from Han-chong. She was a great help to me in getting on with the language, and was always so bright and ready to witness for Jesus ; she used to be one of the scholars in our lang-cheo school. She has now returned to Han-chong. It is not always an easy matter to open new stations in China. Mr. Cassels lately rented a house in Chao- hua, a small city near Kuang-iien, where he thought two ladies might live and work among the women. The landlord was very willing to let his house, and the people were glad to hear foreigners were coming to teach them. After signing the agreement for the house, Mr. Cassels returned to Pao-ning, and soon we heard that the Chao-hua Mandarin had put the landlord into prison for having let his house to the foreigner. Mr. Cassels thought this might have happened because there was no one in possession of the house, so, as the four ladies whom we are expecting from lang-cheo have not yet arrived. Miss Jones (who came to Pao- ning with Mr. and Mrs. Williams in the summer) offered to go and take possession. On November 13th she set off for Chao-hua with Ho-ta-niang, the Bible- woman, but on their arrival they were not permitted to go into the house ; they took up their abode at an inn, where they stayed for three weeks, every day telling DEVICES OF THE ENEMY. 143 the gospel to a large number of women who came to see them, or else visiting women in their own homes. At the end of that time, a letter came from Mr. Steven- son, recaUing Miss Jones to Shanghai, so she was obliged to leave Chao-hua, and L. Bastone took her place there. The Mandarin has kept the landlord in prison all this time, and now he tells Mr. Cassels he must give up that house, but may try and get another. It is doubt- ful whether any one else in that city will be willing to let to us, but the Lord will lead His children ; if it is His will that we should begin work in that place, no man nor devil can prevent it. I have told you this, that you may be better able to pray about the opening of new stations, and also that you may see how Satan seeks to hinder the spread of Christ's gospel. It is blessed to know that — "Jesus is stronger than Satan and sin; Satan to Jesus must bow." Just now it seems as if Satan were doing his utmost to prevent people believing the Truth. He has been leading some of the Christians astray, and has been stirring up some to raise false reports concerning the missionaries. It is astonishing that so many of the people believe reports such as — that we can see three feet into the ground ; that we go out at night to take away their precious things, golden cocks, hens, etc., which are supposed to be buried under the earth ; that we look at our watches to find out the exact spots where their treasures are ; that we have come to fight, that our boxes are full of gunpowder, and by-and-bye 144 FALSE REPORTS. an army will come and take their country. They also say that we take out children's eyes to make medicine with them, and that when any one dies who has had anything to do with " the doctrine," we wrench off their hands, and take out their eyes. Another report is, that if any one drinks tea, or eats anything in the foreigners' house, he will go mad. You will see how these are devices of the Evil One to hinder' the Chinese from hearing the blessed gospel which brings salvation. I mentioned in a former journal that I had gone to spend a day at a village called Li-kia-tsui, and that the people had invited me to go again the following week and spend a few da3's. I was ready to go when a messenger came, asking me to postpone my visit, as the person in whose house I was to stay had been taken ill. Now I find that the real reason was that they were afraid to have me, as I was supposed to have taken away some sacred earth from their tombs. But though some doors are closed to us in this way, thank God others are wide open. B. was told yesterday, when out visiting, that since we came to tell the gospel, many are secretly praying to Jesus. We have had some very happy visits to Chen-kia-pa, another village where Mrs. Cassels has started a weekly class. She gets a fair number of women each Monday, and they seem really anxious to learn more about Jesus. They meet in Mrs. Chen's house. At Hsu-kia-uan, too, we have an open door. Every Wednesday we have a class with the women of one uen-tsi\ and just now I am spending a week (Christmas week) with them. My woman, who is also very " THOSE GOOD WORDS: 145 anxious to learn, is with me. We have nice gatherings of women at morning and evening prayers. It is very encouraging to see how much they remember of what we have taught them during the year. I fancy some of them have really been taught by the Holy Spirit. They have all given up idol-worship ; but one longs to see them right out on the Lord's side. Yesterday (Christmas Day) I went to see some people in a cottage near, and had a long talk about the Saviour — theirs as well as mine. An old blind man who was present seemed to drink in what I was saying, and kept repeating my words. To-day his wife has come to say that her husband wants to hear "those good words" again; so I hope to go. Oh that the eyes of his soul may be opened to see Jesus as his Saviour ! We have also many open doors in and around Pao-ning. The poor people gladly listen to the gospel. There is now a new teacher for the boys' school. The former teacher, Li-Sien-Seng, was one of the Christians who had backslidden. His besetting sin was wine- drinking. Mr. Cassels again and again dealt leniently with him when he gave way to this sin ; but at last we felt that he was doing harm to the boys, and neglecting his duty towards them ; so he was dismissed. The present teacher is not a Christian. He is a good disciplinarian, and the school is kept in much better order, and consequently the boys are more tractable w^hen I teach them on Thursdays and Sundays. Since the new teacher arrived the number of scholars has increased. There are now fifteen, and they are all interesting boys. As yet the greater lO 146 FALSE REPORTS. number of them give no signs of a change of heart, but the Lord will bless them, I know, and will give me all the wisdom and love I need to win them for Him. The new teacher is called Chen ; will you pray for his salvation? Our widow, Liu-ta-sao, still comes regularly to evening prayers ; I quite think she is a believer in Jesus. She has given up all her idolatrous customs, and in consequence has to put up with a great deal of jeering from her neighbours. I think -the time is near when she will be a bright witness for Jesus. She helps me very much at the women's class, and when she learns anything fresh delights to tell others. Her little boy, five years old, will never get up in the morning until he has asked God to take care of him. If they are in any difficulty he prays about it. He sings so sweetly, and has a capital memory. I am especially interested in one member of my women's class, Chao-ta-sao, our waterman's wife, who delights in coming, and remembers well. She tells me she prays every day, and asks God ''to forgive her sins, and keep her from saying bad words to her neigh- bours." This is, I am sure, the work of the Holy Spirit. A few months ago she could not take in anything ; talking to her seemed like talking to a block of wood. Our teacher, lang-Sien-Seng, is still in the same sad condition, knowing all about the doctrine, but not trusting Jesus. At one time he would not allow his boys to come to us, but now his youngest son goes to the Mission School, so this is cause for praise. We have indeed abundant cause to praise God for all HAPPY YEARS OF SERVICE. 147 the encouragement He gives us in the work. The difficulties are many, but the encouragements are more, and by God's grace our eyes shall be up unto the Lord, and not down at the circumstances. Lately we have had another wedding in Pao-ning. Mr. Smith, from Ta-li Fu, Uin-nan, was married to Miss Cutt. They paid us a very short visit, arriving one day, and being married and going away the next. This month dear little Jessie Cassels was baptized. It was such a happy, earnest service. Some of the natives were present. And now we are nearly at the close of our year, and I have just completed my second year in China — two such happy years of service with and for my Master. Oh, may He use me much, much more in the future 1 His grace is sufficient. His strength is made perfect in weakness ! *' Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Now we are looking forward to a busy time of '* seed-sowing " at the Chinese New Year time, which will be at the close of our January. May the Lord abundantly ''give the increase"! " 1\ yTISSIONARY history abounds in marvels of preservation. GOD -^VJL does not promise, even to the most faithful of His servants, abso- lute immunity from disease and death. It may be best that witness should be sealed in blood as well as seasoned with suffering. The servant is not above his Master, and the first martyr may have done more to save souls by his death than Paul did by his life ; but God has often stayed the hand of man, and many an imperilled witness to Christ has heard the same voice that Paul heard at Corinth : ' Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace ; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee.' "—Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., in The Neiu Acts of the Apostles. ' ' What is a yielded life ? 'Tis one at God's command, For Him to mould, to form, to use, Or do with it as He may choose — Resistless in His hand. "What is a yielded life? A life which Love has won, Which, in surrender, full, complete, Lays a// with gladness at the feet Of God's most Holy Son." F. R. Havergal 148 " A7id notv, Lord, behold their threatentngs, and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy word:' CHAPTER XVIII.* RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HU.- Letters from [iss Jones telling of Difficulties in attempting TO Rent a House at Chao-hua. To Mr. Cassels. Sttnday, November I'jth, 1889. E arrived safely after dark on Saturday evening. A crowd followed us from the ''Tong-men" (East Gate), of which we thought nothing. Soon after our arrival at the house, the people began to gather. The old mother (of the landlord) came out of her room, shouting at the top of her voice, asking Heaven to help her in her great distress. She told me that her dear son had been beaten nearly to * Miss Jones left Pao-ning on Wednesday, November 13th, accom- panied by Ho-ta-niang, the Bible-woman, and two men, Chao-n and Lao-san, to occupy for a time a house in Chao-hua (a cit}^ about thirty miles from Kuang-iien) which Mr. Cassels had rented. 149 I50 RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HUA. death * I told her all that you said, but it had no effect. The room was crowded with men, as well as the court, having as their leader a Mr. Wang. They told us to go out. I said we certainly would not do so — that Kai- Sien-Seng (Mr. Cassels) had rented the house, and had sent me to live in it. At this they became furious, and took poor Lao-san by the "queue " and pulled him out, put him on the ground and kicked him. I followed, and got him out of their hands ; but they all kept shout- ing, '' Go out I " " Go away ! " At last we set out for the ia-men (magistrate's offices). The Mandarin himself came to see me and was very gracious ; some one else listened to poor Lao-san. The Mandarin advised us to go to the same inn at which you stopped, and said our escort (a man from the Pao-ning ia-men) should take care of us. The city is full of untrue reports. The people are nice enough, were it not for these few wicked ones, who teach them to hate us. I really don't know the truth as to the landlord. Some say that he is in prison, others say that he is at home ; some say that he has been beaten, others say that he has certainly not. Chao-ri and Lao-san are very faithful ; the latter said this morning that he did not mind their beating if it was for God. Well, I must say that it has paid me well to go through this ; He has been so real, so near, so precious, — my God, my Father. It was peace, perfect peace, every step of the way, and this little upset from Satan and his devoted ones has only increased the peace and * Before Miss Jones' arrival at Chao-hua, we heard the Mandarin had ordered the landlord to be put into chains, for letting his house to the foreigners. A DAY OF SOWING SEED. rest. These things do bring us into more sympathy with our Master. If ever I prayed those loving, dying v^ords it was last night : '' Father, forgive them, for they k/iow not^^^ etc. I do not know how much I can do in the way of working till I hear from you, but it will be a time of waiting on Him and seeking to know His will in the matter, i Chron. v. 20, 21, 22 (v. 21 margin, " souls of men " ; v. 22, '' The war was of God "). To Mrs. Cassels. Sunday evenings November \*jth. This has been a strange Sunday with us as regards our outward circumstances ; but to our loving Father be all the praise and glory ! It has been a busy day in His sweet service, and I trust a day of sowing seed that shall bring forth abundant fruit for the honour of my King. You will, I know, be pleased to hear that dear old Ho-ta-niang is a r(?a/ comfort and help to me — yes, a blessing. Blessed be God for her ; it was worth your coming to Si-ch'uan to win her to Christ. I like her much, and love her dearly. All along the road she was so bright ; tired as she felt, she was always ready to '' lift up the Son of Man." We slept the first night (on the journey to Chao-hua) at the same inn as you did on your way to Kuang-iien. After supper some women came, one of whom said that she had heard about God and heaven from you. Soon after she became ill, and prayed to the " true God," and was healed. It was refreshing to hear her words. I was greatly cheered, also, by seeing so many people reading the tracts by the roadside. We were 152 RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HUA. told that some of the tracts had been posted up for more than a year, and still not torn. God bless the seed-sowers, and give them to see much fruit I Ho-ta-niang came to me this evening and asked me if my heart was sad. I answered, '' No." Afterwards I wondered if it was true ; but I don't think I was sad in the sense she intended. She added, '' Don't be afraid ; God will give us a house ; He wants His Church to prosper." We are going out to-morrow to let the people see us, and to let some of them hear what we have to say. Chao-ri came in a short time ago, saying that he went to the house and found they had nailed up the door of our room. I feared that they must have heard we were on the way last night, to be so ready for us. We did our best to get in early, but failed ; the road was rather difficult the last fifty //. I walked into the city, and Ho-ta-niang did not come till very early this morning. I am so glad that we came as we did. I prayed about it, and felt very strongly led to walk in, rather than stay over Sunday, when so near. Ho-ta-niang heard of the trouble on the way, and some people said to her, ^' If you go into the city you will be beaten to death." She told them she was not afraid, and they answered, " Your courage is great " (i Chron. ix. 27). To Mrs. E. O. Williams. Sunday, November iTth, 1889. This morning the women came in groups. Some stayed a long time and said they would like me to live here ; they were sorry to see the crowds of men 154 RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HUA. following me last night. Some invited me out to their houses. We have an invitation to go and dine with a friend of Ho-ta-niang to-morrow. The women speak very plainly, and they understand me very well. They listened for a long time to us both, and repeated all that we said. This is something to praise God for, and worth coming to Chao-hua for. My chapter this morning (Heb. x.) was so full of meaning to me. I also read the 91st Psalm; every verse had some message for me. Some of the women, when going away, said that they would come again and take me to their homes, and that the people would soon get accustomed to me if I went out. This cheered me much, and I take it from Him Who worketh all things after the glorious purpose of His will. This experience will make me pray for Chao-hua in a way that I could never otherwise have done, and thank Him for every open door given. This morning some of the women gave me some money to buy tea, because they were so sorry for me. I told them I had come to seek their good, but not to take their money. To Mr. Cassels. November 2$th, 1889. Many thanks for your letter, which was so full 01 sympathy and helpful thoughts. You will rejoice to know that the Lord has kept us in perfect peace since I last wrote. Many women come to see us, and they listen well to the gospel. We have been to a few houses, but most are afraid to invite us, as they are told the Lao-ie (Mandarin) is sure to punish them. It is spread abroad to-day that a proclamation is to ''HE RULETHr 155 be put up to-morrow forbidding the women to have anything to do with me. I don't believe it, and even if it were true, it is only one of Satan's plans to stop the work God means to do in Chao-hua. '• All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth," Chao-hua included. Every time we went out, all the people seemed very friendly. Some are anxious for us to have a house, that we may be able to live here. I am sure it is a good thing to live just as we are living now ; the people learn so much more about us, and what we do, than if we were shut up by ourselves. We are daily praying that the city may be opened by the hand of God to His own message and mes- sengers ; then neither man nor devil can turn us out. May you have heavenly light on every step you take, and feel the pressure of His hand leading you. "' He ruleth in the kingdom of men." We feel sure that His will shall be done. He will take care of His great Name. He will not ''give His glory to another, nor His praise to graven images." I cannot say that I am disappointed, although things are different from what I once expected. I had given myself to Him for whatever purpose He wanted me to come here for; so this must be His will— how can I but rest ? As I entered the city that evening a very strong sense came over me of giving up my body, soul, and spirit to Him, to do with me as He would. I said, ''Yes, Lord, but let Thy Holy Name be glorified." " On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand." Well, about the house. The old mother asked 156 RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HUA. Chao-ri twice if you would like to buy it. I don't know if she meant it. The landlord is still in prison^ and has been beaten. I sent five hundred cash to his friends this morning ; they were very grateful. I am really sorry for them. I do trust they may soon have the peace of God to reign in their hearts and rule in their homes. It is hard for a heathen to suffer thus. I wondered if it would have been to the glory of God for me to go to prison in his stead. If I thought the Lord would accept it, or rather, if I thought He meant me to do so, I would offer at once ; everything is joyful service when we are sure that it is of Him. I am sure that I reaped the rich fruit of your prayers on Sunday morning. The Lord made Himself so real that I wondered if I were on earth at all. It was a wonderful time. I do not think that I am wrong in saying that it was the happiest Sunday morning I ever spent. The people in this house are very kind ; they often ask if I would not like to live here until we can get a house. Many thanks for your prayers. " When in the pathway of God's will Thou seemest at a stand, Fretting for wings to scale the hill, And tired of foot and hand ; At blessed Bethlehem leave thy gloom, And learn Divine content ; — By manger, workshop, Cross, and tomb, Thy Lord to triumph went." To Mrs. W . November 25//?, 1889. I should love a long talk with you about the things HO-TA-NIANGS PRAYER. 157 that are not seen ; they certainly are more to me these days (oh that they always were so !) than the passing things of time. I think I must really live all the rest of my life like this — alone for Him. He makes Him- self so present-; following Him I cannot make mistakes. '* Teach me Thy way, O Lord ; I will walk in Thy truth : unite my heart to fear Thy Name." Many, many thanks for your loving and helpful letter. The promises made by Him Who changeth not are so comforting. May the Spirit enable us to feed on them daily and hourly, so that we may be growing children, growing more like Him. Please thank your husband for his kind, sympathetic letter ; most of all thank him for the beautiful thoughts on 2 Chron. xiv. 15. The last thought struck me much. It is true ; but how solemn, Danger after Victory, pride, etc. May the Lord teach us to humble ourselves in His sight, and walk before Him all the days of our lives, in humility ! I feel more and more sure that the Lord led me to Chao-hua — for what purpose He knows ; and I feel sure that it was of Him to come alone. Ho-ta-niang came in to-day and told me a string of different things the people say ; but she showed a beautiful spirit, saying, '* I am not angry, but I pity them," and then she fell on her knees and prayed for them. When she got up, she said, " Ch'en-ta-sao taught me, whenever I heard anything evil said of God's people, not to get angry, but to pray for those who were so ignorant as to say such things." Ch'en- ta-sao is the Christian who died lately at Han-chong. 158 RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HUA. To Mrs. C- November 2^th, 1889. I must tell you about Ho-ta-niang. I am so pleased with her; she is a real help in the work, and is so very anxious to learn. She is learning some passages in John xiv. She knows the first four verses. She has also learnt a new hymn. She is a help to get near the people. However bad they think I am, they all say, ^' That old woman is a native of Pao-ning ; she would not go about with the foreigner, if she w^as very bad." We have visited several houses. Once we dined out. The people were threatened by their neighbours that, as soon as we were gone, the Mandarin would put them in prison. Another day we had our dinner sent in. Several times we have had presents of fruit — eggs once. Some of the respectable ku-niang (young ladies) come to see me in the evening, as they cannot go out in the day-time. It is the only way just now to get at them. Some told us they were afraid to ask us in to see them, because of the Mandarin. This man seems to be the terror of the people's lives. The last news is that the Mandarin is going to issue a pro- clamation warning all against allowing their wives and daughters to have anything to do with the foreigner. Those may be his thoughts, but this is what the Lord gave me : '' But He, passing through the midst of them, went His wayP ''The Lord knoweth the way that I take." What is it? Seeking to make known to His enemies some of His great love. My Lord — my God — my All. HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL. 159 One old woman, who has been to Ch'en-tu, has done much good here, by telhng the people of the good the foreigners have done there. Another woman, who has been to Han-kow, is very nice to us, and understands the Truth. *' Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in His sight." Don't think I feel lonely; I don't. To Miss Hanbury. November 2^th, 1889. You have heard something of the warm welcome the Chao-hua people gave us ; but we were not so cruelly treated as He Who had nowhere to lay His head. He went before and prepared all we needed, especially Rest, Peace, and Joy in Himself His Name is wonderful, and so are all His ways. I am thankful to God for this experience which He has allowed me to have. He has taught me much that I needed to learn — such lessons as I could not have learnt under other circumstances ; He knows how to lead and train even my stubborn heart. You are right, this work cannot be done in an easy- going fashion ; the devils to-day, as in the time of our Lord and Saviour upon earth, will not go out but by prayer and fasting. I have been thinking that I never have prayed as I ought for these precious but dark souls. We have had a great many to visit us, not- withstanding all the wicked and evil reports. The Lord has sent His gospel to them ; He has thoughts of peace and love towards them : so in His great Name i6o RESISTANCE AT CHAO-HUA. I mean to make it known. Many country women come in early in the morning, stay a long time, and come again. Dear old Ho-ta-niang is my good friend and helper ; she is 50 good, and so faithful, ever ready to preach Christ, and always so delighted when she hears anything in favour of the gospel. I am astonished at the quietness of the people ; once only have I heard our old, familiar name, *' foreign devil." We are daily praying that Chao-hua may be given to our Lord and Saviour. We feel it good to be here to pray for the place. If the house is lost, we may have a better one. May we ever have grace given to do the will of Him that sent us ! *^ He suffered no man to do them wrong, yea. He reproved kings for their sakes." ''Jesus Christ, the Same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." " Look not around thee," '' Looking unto Jesus." Yours in safety under His wing. To F. M. W . November i^th, 1889. How sweet are His promises ! You could not have pleaded a better one for me than the one you were led of Him to do. '' A wall of fire round about." He has been such to me. Could I but tell one half of what He has been since I came here, or rather, since leaving Pao-ning, you would praise the Lord with me. '' Praise the Lord, O my soul ! " " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His Hol}^ Name ! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgiveth . . . healeth . . . redeemeth . . . NOT DISAPPOINTED. i6i crowneth. . . , Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." I have been wondering if you thought I made a mistake by coming alone. I am sure it was not a mistake. I did not take my own way in this case. I have not had a shadow of doubt that I went with my Leader ; He prepared my heart for every step. Though I would have liked to be able to live in the house, I cannot say that I was disappointed, for I had given myself entirely to God, to do with me as He would, to work out the plan and purpose which He had when He called me to come. " Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." ''To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to death." M " The Lord opcjied the eyes of the blind .'^ CHAPTER XIX. ''LET THERE BE LIGHTS Visit to a Blind Man. — The Wordless Book. Pao-ning, Jamtary 6th, 1 890. MY last journal was written from the village Hsii- kia-uan, where I spent a happy Christmas week. Did I tell you of a very interesting visit paid to a blind man ? The people in the uen-ts'i (courtyard), where I was staying, did not like my going out to other houses ; they said they wanted to keep me with them during the little while I was there. But I knew there were many cottages scattered around, in which there were precious souls perishing because they did not know of Jesus ; and I longed to tell them, too, of the Saviour's love. I prayed earnestly that God Himself would lead me about going out, and also keep me from offending the people in whose house I was staying. I tell you all these little details, because I want you to see how definitely the Lord did lead me. On Christmas Day I went out with Ts'ai-ta-sao, one of our women-servants, who had gone with me to the country, and the Lord led me to a house where a woman lived who not long before had paid us a visit in Pao-ning. She gave me a very warm welcome, and almost imme- diately asked me to talk to her about Jesus. There 162 ^^.v^^^^.^J'S. BLIND BEGGARS. i64 "LET THERE BE LIGHT." were six or seven grown-up people in that iien-tsl ; they all listened well, especially a blind man, the husband of our friend. That day I talked a good deal about heaven, and the way to get there, and the blind man seemed to drink in my w^ords. The next morning his wnfe came up to morning prayers, and told me her husband had been thinking much of the good words he had heard, and would I go again and tell him more ? I did thank God for that message, and promised to go the next morning; there did not seem to be an opportunity of going that same day. I proposed going as soon as we had had prayers on the Friday morning ; but the people in the house began to make all sorts of excuses to keep me in, first telling me I must wait until they came to tsieh (invite) me ; then sa3nng they had business that morn- ing, and would not have time to listen to me ; and again, that they had gone into the city. I felt that these words were untrue, but just left the matter wnth the Lord, knowing He would lead me again to the blind man if He had a message for him through me. After I had had my mid-day meal, I was feeling poorly with a bad cold, and hardly knew whether to lie down or go out in the sunshine for a little while. In the meantime the old lady, my hostess, had been to the blind man's house. She came back saying the women had all gone into the city, and no one was at home. Then I felt my visit to the blind man was not to be, for the next day (Saturday) I was to return to Pao-ning. However, the Lord had His own plans for me. When I proposed going out for a walk, the old lady immedi- atelv said she w^ould go too, and wiien 1 left it w^'th her THE BLIND MAN. 165 to decide which wa}^ we should go, she led me straight to the blind mati's house, I think her conscience must have smitten her for telling me they were not at home. I could only thank the Lord for Himself leading me again to that dear inquirer after the truth. All the family were at home, and welcomed me gladly, saying they had been expecting me all the morning, and had begun to fear I was not coming. The blind man was all eagerness to hear more about the Lord Jesus, and told me he had been thinking much about heaven, where no one was blind — how was he to get there ? That afternoon I told him about sin, how it had come into the world, and what were its consequences. He listened so intently, and said re- peatedly that he knew that he was a sinner. It was such a joy then to be able to point him to the sinner's Saviour. I had a ^* wordless book " with me, and though he could not sec the colours, he grasped the meaning. He said, '' I know I am a sinner ; my heart is black ; I do not deserve to go to heaven : but you say that if we trust Jesus, He will cleanse us from our sins. How can I trust Him ? What does trusting Him mean ? " Then I talked to him about Jesus being our Substitute, and told him that because Jesus died for him, God was able and willing to forgive all his sins, and give him a new, clean heart ; and that he must pray to God, and ask Him to do this for him. ''How can I pray?" he said. ''Tell me how to pray to God." I told him prayer was just speaking to God, asking Him for what he wanted ; and then, just as we were. 1 66 I "Z.£r THERE BE LIGHT r sitting in the garden, I prayed aloud. As soon as I had finished, the bhnd man, in his own words, began to pray. The Holy Spirit was indeed teaching him. I think his words were these : '* O God, for Jesus' sake, forgive my sins ; change my heart, and take me to heaven when I die, where I shall be no longer blind." Oh, how I thanked God for letting me be His messenger to that man ! He did not tire of listening to the gospel message, and for nearly two hours I was talking or singing to him. The next day his wife walked home to Pao-ning with me. She said she had waked three or four times during the night, and each time had heard her husband praying. We go (D.V.) each Wednesday to that village to have a class with the women, and so hope to see the blind man frequently, and teach him more. Please join in pleading with God for this man, that his soul- sight may be increased. He has been blind for ten years. How lovely if the first person he sees is Jesus ! " T NEVER made a sacrifice. Can that be called a sacrifice which is -*■ simply paid back as a part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought ! It is emphatically no sacrifice ; say rather, it is a privilege."— T>A\iD Livingstone. " The Master is coming ; the day for giving, for going, for toiling and suffering and witnessing, will soon be over ; what account shall we have to render?"— Rev. J, Hudson Taylor. 167 He . . . shall supply and nniltiply your seed for sowingy CHAPTER XX. COUNTRY PEOPLE'S GENEROSITY. Country Visitors. — A Week's Work. — Visit to Li-ta-niang's Home. — Our Servants. Pao-ning, February 6f/i, 1890. 7^ HE Chinese New Year holiday is just over. This is the sixteenth day of their first month, and the fifth of our second month. We have had a great number of visitors, both here and at the Fuh-ing-t'ang. I trust seed has been sown which will bring forth an abundant harvest. It has been a great joy to have been able to tell many women, for the first time, of a Saviour's love- a joy to be the privileged messenger ; but oh ! how sad that it should all be a strange story to them ! To-day all our visitors have been country women. This is the day when the city people go into the country, and the country people come into the city, to worship at certain temples, in the hope of warding off sickness during the year. On the whole, our guests have listened well to the gospel message ; but many came just out of curiosity, to .see what the *' foreigners " were like. This New Year time, God has been opening out country work for us. I will tell 3'ou how we spent 16S THOUSANDS OF GRAVES. 169 our days last week, just copying from my private diary. ****** Thursday, January 2yd. In the morning twenty guests came. While I enter- tained them, B. went to see a sick child. After dinner we were invited to call and see an old lady who had fallen down, and then we went for a walk far into the country, along the road which leads to Kuang-uen. We were so saddened as we went along ; on all sides, as far as the eye could reach, only graves were to be seen. Thousands of graves, representing thousands of people who had died without knowing the way of salvation ! In one place we saw three deep pits, from which coffins had been dug, and at a little distance were three fresh mounds, where they had evidentl}' been re-buried. We were told that the friends of the dead often pay large sums of money to the priests for permission to re-bury in a so-called '^ lucky spot." We noticed a little path, winding through amongst the graves, and followed it. Presently we saw a house, almost hidden awa}' among trees. The women who were sitting outside spied us, and ran to invite us to sit down. We found that one of them had been to our house, and knew a little about the Lord. There were some men there, who also knew the simple facts of the gospel. It was such a pleasant surprise to find, in that little out-of-the-way spot, some who had a knowledge of the Truth. And so God's Truth makes a way for itself, often in places where we Httle think. What need there is to go on sowing by many waters — God will give the increase. COUNTRY PEOPLE'S GENEROSITY. Coming home, we were invited into a house where the people formerly were not friendly. One of the women had been doing needlework at the langs' house, and Mrs. lang had told her something about the true God, which made her want to hear more. She listened eagerly, and we were so thankful to God for the open- ing to that house. After tea, read aloud '' Brealey's Life," and taught our two women. Sunday, January 26th. Notwithstanding its being a wet day, eight of the women from Hsii-kia-uan, the country village, came in to the service, and to dinner with us afterwards. After the united Chinese service, we separate into classes — Mr. Cassels and Mr. Beauchamp taking the men, Christians and inquirers ; Mrs. Cassels and B. H the women ; while I have the school-boys. After dinner, Mrs. Cassels again has the women ; Mr. Cassels the men ; B. goes in to the landlady's family, who are Mohammedans ; and I have the boys again. The classes over, we all meet in the li-pai-fang (Service Hall) for a short service, before the people are dis- missed. B. and I remain at the Fuh-ing-fang^ and after tea we have an Evening Service (English), which Mr. Williams conducts. Monday, January 2'^th. In the morning went over to the Fuh-ing-t'ang, to teach my little pupil, B. Williams, for an hour and a half; came back to study with the teacher until dinner- time. In the afternoon, B, and I went to a little village across the river. I had long had it on my heart to visit that village. We came through it, on THE VILLAGE ACROSS THE RIVER. 171 our way from Ch'ong-k'ing, eighteen months ago. Some time ago, the Bible-woman went over there to tell the people the gospel, but they were not pleased with her, and she advised our not going. However, the Lord laid it on our hearts to go ; so we set forth with books and tracts, looking to Him for blessing. When we reached the village, the people were all indoors, at their respective dinners, so we walked through that and another hamlet farther on ; and on our return the dinners were over, and the people free. In both villages we were invited to sit down in the street, and read our books. Soon a good number of men, women, and children gathered round us, and we told the gospel to very quiet and attentive listeners. The people could not have been more friendly. We had invitations to go again. May the time soon come when we have a regular class over there ! I think the Lord will open the way for one. On our return home, some guests came. Tuesday, January 2%th. Went to see a girl with a bad ulcer. We were invited by our waterman to dinner, but as it was the day for my women's class, B. went alone. I was able to go for a while before dinner, and talk to the guests. Had a nice class, the women seeming so interested and anxious to learn. Directly the class was over, a number of guests arrived — thirty in the room at one time. After tea, taught our two women. Wednesday, January 29///. We were invited to dinner at Hsii-kia-uan. I first went to see the blind man. He was suflfering a good 172 COUNTRY PEOPLE'S GENEROSITY. deal from cold and cough, but seemed bright, and was pleased to hear I had come to teach him again. He greeted me with the words, '' I have not forgotten the grace of the Lord Jesus." Before dinner we had our usual Wednesday class, and were taken to another ftcu-ts'i (courtyard) to talk to some people. These countr}^ people had indeed taken trouble to prepare a dinner for us. The table was crowded with bowls of pork, bacon, and vegetables. There are six families in the uen-ts'i\ and each family had contributed two or three bowls. There was such an abundant supply that we induced them (contrary to Chinese custom) to sit down and have dinner with us. Generally, the people of the house do not have dinner with their guests, but sit or stand by and constantly invite them to eat a little more ! After dinner we were taken to see a sick woman, living a little distance away. On our return home to Pao-ning we found some visitors waiting for us ; and then some neighbours came in to evening prayers. Thursday, January ^olh. Had my boy's Old Testament class. B. went into the city to see some Mohammedans. Fi id ay ', January T^isl. Directly after breakfast we started in chairs for our woman Li-ta-niang's village, about ten miles away. The people did not know we were coming, but they greeted us so warml}^, and busied themselves in getting food ready for us. Country people are the same all over the world — so large-hearted, generous, LI~ T. \~N LING'S HOME. 173 and hospitable. They gave us first cakes and tea, then eggs poached in gravy, and then bacon, rice, and vegetables. The country was very beautiful — such a lovely valley, with very high hills on either side. The house we visited was on the hill. After dinner the women assembled, and we read and sang to them. Our woman, Li-ta-niang, spoke too, explaining the way of salvation. It was the first time many of them had heard the gospel. I trust we shall have opportunities of going often to that place. Along the road, the people were very friendly, and willing to listen ; and some of those to whom we spoke in the morning were waiting for us on our return in the afternoon, in order that we might tell them more. We were able to distribute tracts and books by the way. We have had a woman from Tu-kia-tsing, a village a hundred // away, sta3nng with us to break off opium- smoking. She has now gone home, I trust cured. We are soon expecting four fresh workers from lang-cheo. Two will (D.V.) remain here — the Misses Barclay ; and two — Miss F. Culverwell and Miss Martin — will go to Kuang-iien. Will you very earnestly pray about the opening of new stations ? Mr. Cassels has felt it right to withdraw from Chao-hua, the small town where he had rented a house, as the Mandarin was much opposed to our going there. When Miss Jones left Chao-hua, Miss Bastone took her place in the inn, with Ho-ta- niang, the Bible-v/oman. They were there a month, and had many opportunities of telling women about Jesus, both indoors and out. 174 COUNTRY PEOPLE'S GENEROSITY. Ho-ta-niaiig came back just before the Chinese New- Year, so bright in soul. It is this woman's dehght to tell others the gospel story. During these last few days, when we have had so many guests, she has been very helpful, and although she has only just recovered from a severe attack of illness, and is still weak, she loves to make known ''the old, old story." Oh that the Lord may soon raise up many such witnesses, not only in Pao-ning, but in every Mission station in China ! Our sisters in Kuang-iien are longing and praying for a native helper. The boys' school re-opens to-morrow. The boys have had a month's holiday. One of the lads, who I believe is a Christian, has left his situation at the Fuh-ing-f ang, and has gone back to his home in the country, twenty li away. He walked in to the class on Sunday, and says he hopes to do so every week. This means a walk of thirteen English miles every Sunday. Our cook, Ch'en-ta-ko, has gone into the country, seventy // away, to visit some of his relations. He expressed a wish to go, in order that he might preach the gospel there. He is a very earnest Christian, and faithfully witnesses for Christ whenever he has the opportunity. We have to thank God for the good, faithful servants He has given us ; they serve us well, and I believe they all desire to serve the Lord too. Li-ta-niang, who has been with us eighteen months, is growing in the knowledge of God. She is naturally quiet and shy, but lately, of her own accord, she has talked to our visitors, and explained the Truth to them. Ts'ai-ta-sao, who has been with us only two months, A TENDER HEART. 175 is a very dear woman— the Holy Spirit is teaching her. We beheve she is truly trusting the Saviour. It is one of my greatest joys to give her the evening lesson. She drinks in all she hears about Jksus, and when learning any new text or hymn she will say, '* Tell me the meaning, and then I will think about it in my heart, as I do my work." She has a tender A CHINESE VILLAGE SCENE. tears often come into her eyes as we talk about our Lord's suffering. She, too, tells all she knows to others. Our widow, Liu-ta-sao, has not worshipped her idols at this New Year time, and consequently has had to undergo a good deal of petty persecution from her neighbours. She fearlessly tells them that she is a believer in the true God, and in Jesus His Son, and will have nothing more to do with false gods. She 176 COUNTRY PEOPLE'S GENEROSITY. constantly invites her neighbours to go with her to the Sunday services. We are often being sent for to go and see sick people, and in this way get entrance into many homes which might otherwise be closed to us. I have found the medicines, which the Bath railway men sent out to me, very useful. It is good to remember that so man}^ in the home-land are praying for God's work out here. God will bless Si-ch'uan, in answer to your prayers. Please still pray definitely for the conversion of our old teacher, lang-Sien-Seng ; for the teacher of our boys' school ; for each of the boys ; and for the women who attend the Tuesday class. Pray, too, that 1 may still be helped with the language, and faithfully use what the Lord has already given me ; and, above all, that I may be baptized with the Holy Spirit, so that there may be power in my life and service. Pray, also, for each of the dear native Christians, and praise God for all the benefits with which He daily loads us, and for all the encouragement He gives us in His service. Our Pao-ning motto for 1890 is, *' I have set the Lord always before me." '^ Remember the Lord." " /'^^^ ^^ ^'^^ foremost incentives to Missions is found in the blessedness ^^ of giving. Christ spake a new beatitude, recorded and preserved by Paul, who said to the Ephesian elders : ' Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive!' The full meaning and truth of that last beatitude is yet to be known, and can be known only as this work of Missions is done as He meant it should be done. . . . This beatitude represents the crown of all beatitudes. There are three stages of experience : first, where joy is found only in getting ; second, where joy is found in both getting and giving ; third, where giving is the only real joy, and getting is valued only in order to giving."— Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., in T/ie Nezj Acts of the Apostles. 177 12 " It is soivn in iveakness ; it is raised in poiver-y CHAPTER XXI. FIRST-FRUITS GATHERED HOME. The Blind Man at Hsu-kia-uan. — Death and Burial. — Thirty New Inquirers. Pao-xing, March igf/i, 1890. A SHORT time ago I wrote to you about a blind man in whom I was much interested.* He Hved in the country, and I met him for the first time on Christmas Day. From that time, when he first heard the gospel, he seemed to receive the Holy Spirit, and was convinced of his sin before God, and his need of salvation. Since then, either B. or I have seen him every week, when we went into the country to take the class at Hsu-kia-uan. One day he greeted me with the words, "I have not forgotten the grace of the Lord Jesus." He was always so bright, and so eager to learn more of Jesus. He told me that he prayed to God every day, and in the night, when he could not sleep, he ''incessantly thought of God's love." Eight or ten, and sometimes more, of the women from Hsu- kia-uan have been coming to the Sunday services for the last three months, and have returned with us to dinner. A fortnight ago one of them told me that the blind man was an opium-smoker ; so on the follow- * See page 162. 178 AN OPIUM-EATER. 179 ing Wednesday I spoke to him about it, telling him it was a sin in God's sight, and if he really wanted to serve God he must be willing to give up his opium- smoking. He was far from well that day — indeed, for some weeks previously we feared he had dropsy ; but directly he heard it was a sin before God to smoke opium, he seemed much grieved. '* I did not know it was a sin," he said. "God cannot look at me, God cannot look at me : I cannot go to heaven." Then I told him if he was willing to give up the sin, God would certainly forgive him, and help him. Immediately he answered, " I am willing — I want to break it off; I really want to serve God, and be a follower of Jesus." His wife, too, seemed so anxious that he should break it off. Mr. Cassels thought there might be some difficulty about his coming to the Fiih-ing-f ang, and so proposed our taking medicine to him, and letting him break it off in his own home. On the Saturday, Miss Barclay and I went to take him the medicine, and found him in bed, very weak and ill. He told us that his friends had been advising him to wait until he was better before beginning to break off the opium ; the disease would get much worse, they said, if he did not continue its use. We found out that day that he was an o'^xwm-eater, not smoker. He had been taking it for ten years, ever since he became bUnd. Again we told him that opium- eating was a sin in God's sight, and was it not better to give it up, even although he might suffer, than to do what was displeasing to God ? God gave him the victory, and he answered at once, i8o FIRST-FRUITS GATHERED HOME. ''I will break it off — I will give it up." Then we had prayer with him. He himself prayed, asking God to save his soul, forgive his sins, and enable him to break off the opium. As he was praying, he turned to us and said, " Must I tell God my name ? My name is Hsii." His faith has been so beautiful all along, just like that of a little child. We left medicine with him, telling the wife she would be able to fetch more the next day, Sunday, when she came in to the Service. She came, and spoke so brightly of her husband. When we asked if he had taken any opium since we were there, she was quite distressed, and answered, *'Of course not — I would not give it to him." She said the ing (craving for opium) came on badly in the night, but she told him that we had said he was not to have any, and he was quite satisfied. She also remarked that she had constantly heard him praying to God. The next morning, Monday, the wife came in to tell us that this dear blind man had passed away in the night. When she returned on Sunday afternoon he seemed as usual. He spoke to her twice, and then gradually sank. The poor woman had such a dis- tressed, anxious face. I believe she really loved her husband. But it was not his death that was distressing her then ; it was this — when she found how very ill her husband was, she had spent half the night, she said, in beseeching God to make him better, and why had not God answered her prayer? It was so good to be able to tell her that God had answered her in a manner far better than she had any idea of, namely, by taking her husband home to heaven. We read THE BLIND MAN'S FUNERAL. i8i some passages in Revelation about heaven, and told her that because the blind man had repented of his sins, and trusted Jesus, Who had died for him, God had taken him to heaven, where he would never have any sorrow or sickness. It was lovely to see the change in her countenance as she said, ''While he was lying ill at home, my heart was sad, for I could do nothing to help him ; but now that you tell me he is in heaven my heart shall be glad, and I shall come often to hear more about God — with my whole heart I want to serve Him." When we told her that God's people did not burn paper nor incense, nor hire priests to chant prayers at the death of their friends, she said she would not do any of these things ; she knew they were false. Mr. Cassels, when he heard of the faith of this blind man and his wife, decided, if the family were willing, to bury him according to Christian custom. So our cook, Ch'en-ta-ko, went over to the village to talk to the wife about it. He was delighted to find that they had not observed any of the idolatrous customs usual at a death. The wife and son were quite willing that Mr. Cassels should conduct the burial service, and fixed the following Saturday for the funeral. On that day, ten missionaries, and three of the native Christ- ians, went over to the funeral. A number of the relatives and friends of the family were assembled. The service was very impressive ; the Lord was with us. First, we gathered in the centre room, where the coffin had been placed, and had the first part of the service kneeling. We sang the hymn, " I think upon my sins " ; Mr. Cassels prayed ; and Chen-Sien-Seng 1 82 FIRST-FRUITS GATHERED HOME. (a Christian, though not yet baptized) read verses from I Cor. XV. This was followed by another hymn, " There is a happy land," and prayer, after which the coffin was carried to the grave, a very short distance from the house. There the service was continued. These hymns were sung : " Heaven knows no weari- ness," '* I want to follow Jesus," and *' Come to Jesus." Mr. Beauchamp gave the first address ; then Ch'en-ta-ko spoke a few words, telling about his wife, who last year had such a triumphant entrance into heaven. Afterwards Chen-Sien-Seng spoke, contrasting the death and burial of a Christian with that of a heathen ; and Mr. Cassels closed the service with a short address, urging the need of repentance and trust in the Lord Jesus. It was a solemn time, and we realised the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst. We were full of thank- fulness to God that He permitted us thus to testify for Him ; and oh ! how can we praise Him enough for this first-fruit ! — as far as we know the first precious soul gathered Home from Pao-ning. It makes heaven seem more real, and nearer, and this one is just the earnest of many more who shall yet be called. We feel, too, that our Master means us to be much encouraged, through His deahngs with this blind man, to go on sowing beside all waters ; not knowing who may be just ready, as he was, for the message. Will you pray that God will lead us definitely to such cases ? Then, again, God can use such a very little knowledge, as in this case, to the salvation of a soul. The day after the funeral, Sunday, was a day of very special blessing. Fifteen or sixteen of the women from THE HSU-KIA-UAN WOMEN. 183 HsU'kia-uan were present at the services. Mr. Cassels asked those who were willing to give up all idolatry, and at all costs to obtain salvation, and serve God, to give in their names as inquirers. At the afternoon service over thirty names were given in, including six or seven of the Hsu-kia-uan women, one of these being the blind man's widow. Will you pray for her ? She has done away with her idols, but the ancestral tablets are still hanging in the principal room. She says she wishes to take them down, but has no power to do so, as they belong partly to other members of the family. We tell her that if she is really desirous of putting them away because they are grieving to God, she must pray to Him, and He will certainly find a way for her. You will praise God with us, will you not ? and pray earnestly for the Hsii-kia-uan people, for all the new inquirers, and for us His messengers. Satan will be busy just now, but ''Jesus is stronger than he." c "COMING." OMINO, coming, yes, they come ! Coming, coming from afnr, From the wild and scorching desert, Afric's sons of colour deep ; Jesus' love has drawn and won them, At His Cross they bow and weep. Coming, coming, yes, they come ! Coming, coming from afar, From the fields and crowded cities China gathers to His feet, In His love Shem's gentle children Now have found a safe retreat. Coming, coming, yes, they come ! Coming, coming, from afar, From the lovely land of sunrise. Come an ever-gathering throng — Women, men, and little children ; JESUS' love is now their song. ' Coming, coming, yes, they come ! Coming, coming from afar, From the Indus and the Ganges, Steady flows the Hving stream. To Love's ocean, to His bosom. Calvary their wond'ring theme. ' Coming, coming, yes, they come ! Coming, coming, from afar, I'Yom the frozen realms of midnight, Over many a weary mile, To exchange their souls' long winter, P'or the summer of His smile. ' Coming, coming, yes, they come ! Coming, coming, from afar. All to meet in plains of glory. All to sing His praises sweet. What a chorus, what a meeting, With the family complete ! ' [84 " Their land is full of idols :' — Isa. ii. 8. " The idols He shall utterly abolish:'— l?>k. ii. i CHAPTER XXII. THE CHANGED VILLAGE. Arrival of Missionaries.— On the Road to Kuang-uen. — Chao Lao-IE. — At the EtiJi-iiig-faiig—AN Opium Case.— School Treat. — Colporteur Work. Pao-ning, May I2t/i, 1890. SINCE last writing, we have had changes at this station. On February 2ist, four more lady- workers from lang-cheo arrived— the Misses P. and F. Barclay, Miss F. Culverwell, and Miss Martin. The two former are stationed here for the present; Miss Culverwell and Miss Martin have gone to Kuang-uen. A few days after their arrival, Mr. Huntley, one of the C.I.M. missionaries from Han-chong, and Miss Rogers, who has been working in the Kiang-si Province, were married here. It was a day full of the Lord's presence and blessing. In the evening they left by boat for their new station, Ch'eng-k'u, near Han-chong. Miss F. Culverwell set out next day for Kuang-lien, and I went with her half of the way — two days' journey — partly because the experience of travelling overland was new to her, and partly that I might evangelise on the way. We had particularly nice times with the women at every stopping-place. Prayer was abundantly answered for us, that we might come into contact with those who seemed seeking something. I feel sure 185 i86 THE CHANGED VILLAGE. there are many all over China who are groping after something that will satisfy, and God is thus preparing them for the news of salvation through Jesus. Pray earnestly that we may be led to such. On my return journey, many were looking out for me at the different resting-places, wanting to hear more of the gospel. I think we may look to God to do great things for the people on that road, for there has been a good deal of coming and going between Pao-ning and Kuang-iien lately, and much seed has been sown. I shall not soon forget the welcome received from the natives, and every one, when I got back. I might have been away four months instead of only four days— their love is so precious ! Soon after my return, the illness and death of the CORNER OF "fUH-ING-T ANG COURTYARD PAO-NING. DESTRUCTION OF IDOLS. 187 SHAXGHAI MISSION HOUSE (C.I.M.). blind man at Hsu-kia-uan took place,— an account of which I sent you, — and then followed that Sunday when over thirty people gave in their names as inquirers. Six were women from Hsu-kia-uan ; three were school-boys ; there were also our own two women-servants, and some women from the city, who attended Mrs. Cassels' class. Do pray for these inquirers, that they may be truly converted to God. At the end of March, Mr. and Mrs. Cassels, and Mr. Beauchamp, left Pao-ning for Shanghai, to attend the Missionary Conference. Before starting, Mr. Beauchamp went, by invitation, into the country to help a gentleman, named Chao, to destroy his idols and tablets. Chao Lao-ie had been at the Fuh-ing-fang some time previously, to break off opium-smoking, and had been impressed with the truth of the gospel. The THE CHANGED VILLAGE. subject, on his return home, was seldom out of his thoughts, and he dreamt of it at night. He named a httle son, who was born at that time, Fuh-ing (happy sound, or gospel). On returning, after a later visit to the Fuh-ing-faiig, he expressed his desire to open a house in his village like the Fith-ing-fang, where he would preach and teach the people. He felt sure, he said, that people only required to hear to believe. Since then he has learnt that a man must be born again '*of the Spirit," and has grown in humility and trust. Mr. Hughesdon visited him at the beginning of the year, but at that time his old mother was opposed to his destroying the idols. Later, however, he invited Mr. Beauchamp to witness the total destruction of tablets, images, etc. He was determined, at all costs, to serve the Lord, and he has had to suffer persecution for Christ's sake. Just now Pao-ning is full of students awaiting examination, and Chao Lao-ie is staying at the Fuh- ing-fang. Every day large numbers of these scholars come to the guest-hall, and he witnesses faithfully for Christ before them. Some laugh at him, and urge him to give up his new-found faith. Some have threatened to take away his '' button." * Others, again, say they will have his name struck off the list of candidates for examination. But through it all God keeps him faithful. He tells them that, even if his head were to be cut off, he would not renounce Christ. I know you will pray for this man ; he may yet have * Worn by scholars who have taken their respective degrees. OUR FAMILIAR NAMES. 189 to go through bitter persecution for Christ's sake and the gospel's. When Mr. and Mrs. Cassels left here for Shanghai, I came over to live at the Fith-ing-t'ang, to carry on the women's work. Last month I had a great number of visitors. It was the time for the annual visits to the graves. The people take food, wine, etc., to offer to their dead relatives, and burn paper money over the graves. Numbers at that time heard the gospel for the first time. I enjoy the weekly class at Chen-kia-pa — the people are so attentive and eager to hear, and God has given openings at a village called Hsia-ko-tsi, on the way, where the people a short time ago were anything but friendly. As we passed through we were continually called by our familiar names, '' foreign devil " or " foreign dog," and one day an old man seemed very angry as he shouted after us, "Since you came to this place and toolv away our precious things,* my eyes have become blind." Nozv, thank God, it is very different. During the last two or three weeks I have been able to tell the gospel to a good many women in one iien-ts'i. I was called in one day to see a woman who had an ulcer, and this gave the opening for deliver- ing the message. Last Monday I had a particularly good time there, and was in three large houses. The time passed all too quickly. It was 10 o'clock when I left home, and 4.30 when I got back. Oh that many in that place may soon learn to love Jesus ! Pray for them. * Golden cocks, etc., which are supposed to be hidden away in the hills. I90 THE CHANGED VILLAGE. I told you in my last journal about a little village across the river, on the Ch'ong-k'ing road, which the Lord had laid on my heart to visit. B. and I spent an afternoon there, and found the people so friendly and ready to listen. Since Miss F. Barclay has been here she has been over once a week, and sometimes oftener, to this village, Ma-niao-k'i, and to two others farther on. I have sometimes been with her. We have had many invitations into houses, and many listeners. I feel sure God will open the hearts of some of these villagers to receive Jesus. Some appear to be really interested, and the men as well as the women listen quietly. A few days ago I went with Miss Barclay to an opium case — my first. The poor woman who had taken opium was in good circumstances, and had experienced no trouble of any kind ; she was simply tired of living, she said. We had great difficulty in persuading her to take the emetics, but at last she did, and God graciously saved her life. I was grieved that at the time there seemed no opportunity of witnessing for Christ. The room was full of people, talking loudly, or crying, and there was much excitement and bustle all round. We hope to go and see her ; but the days are so full, and the time so short. The boys' school has increased this year. Chen- Sien-Seng is a good teacher. There are now^ twenty- seven scholars — such dear boys, all of them. They have listened more attentively on Sundays lately, and I think some of them are being taught by the Holy Spirit. Three openly say that they are trusting Jesus. Mrc Williams is teaching them singing, once a week ; THE BRAN-PIE. 191 and Mr. Phelps (who has come from Wan-hsien to help in the work here for a while) has a geography class for them. The Bath railway children will be glad to hear that on April 14th I used the money they so kindly sent me, in giving my boys a treat. I only wish you could have seen how thoroughly the boys enjoyed them- selves. They came at one o'clock to dinner. After dinner they had a bran-pie, or rather a sawdust- pie, filled with pens, paper, ink, little mirrors, red cord to tie on to their pigtails, and other things which boys delight in. I think each boy had eight dips into the pie. When that was over, they played games in the iien-tsi — three-legged races, etc., and at 5.30 we had a meeting, with plenty of hymn-singing. Mr. Phelps gave the address from the large picture of ** The Brazen Serpent " sent to me from home. It would have made you glad to see how quietly and interestedly the boys listened; there were several outsiders present, too, both men and women. At the beginning of the year, it was laid on my heart to pray definitely for the conversion of these dear lads this year ; and I believe God, Who prompted the prayer, will give an abundant answer. It is His delight to satisfy the desire of every living thing. Already I can sec how He is answering — the boys listen much more quietly, and seem to look forward to the classes. The story of Christ's love seems to impress them more than it did. I feel sure that the Holy Spirit is at work. Will you join in praying for the salvation of each one? You will remember the widow, Liu-ta-sao, of whom 192 THE CHANGED VHLAGE. I often write. Thank God, she is growing in grace. We have no doubt of her being truly converted. She faithfully witnesses for Jesus whenever she has the opportunity. I must tell you something she said a few days ago, which made me so glad. Miss Barclay was unwell with a cold, and Liu-ta-sao had been sitting by her. When she rose to leave she said, " I am going straight home to ask God to make Pa Siao-tsie (Miss Barclay) well. I know He will do it, for yesterday I washed a garment which I wanted to use, and asked God that the sun might shine to-day to dry it" (we had been having a great deal of heavy rain); ''and when I woke up, there was the sun. He had heard my prayer." Miss Barclay was better the next day, and the day after quite herself again. On Good Friday we had a Chinese service, and the evening before, at our Communion Service, we had special prayer that on the morrow, as Jesus was lifted up, souls might be drawn to Him. And our prayer was answered. Liu-ta-sao told me that as Mr. Phelps spoke about the suftering of our Saviour, her heart was nan-ko (troubled) ; she could hardly keep from crying, to think that it was all for ]ier\ News came from Pa-cheo a few weeks ago, telling us that Mr. A. Polhill-Turner was very ill, and that his little boy had small-pox ; so B. H went to Pa-cheo to help Mrs. Turner In the nursing. We hear God has graciously restored them, and we expect B. home again in a week or two. We have had a few days' visit from Mr. Murray, of the Scottish Bible Society, who has been evangelising BEARING PRECIOUS SEED. 193 in the district between Ch'ong-k'ing and Pao-ning. He brought with him four Christian men from Ch'ong- k'ing, as colporteurs, and two other Christians from that place were already here ; so on the Sunday even- ing we had a native praise-and-testimony meeting. The Ch'ong-k'ing men spoke very brightly ; our cook, Ch'en-ta-ko, told of his conversion, and Mrs. Cassels' cook also testified. Chen-Sitn-Seng, an inquirer, spoke nicely, and humbly too, asking us to pray that God would increase his faith. I t^ink it must have been a great help to our Christians and inquirers to meet with these bright Ch'ong-k'ing Christians. Will you remember Mr. Murray's work in prayer? He has travelled a great deal in this Province, selling Bibles and tracts. In a letter to Mr. Cassels he men- tioned a recent tour in South-east Si-ch'uan, when he had sold 19 New Testaments, 48 quarter-portions, 3,581 gospels, and a large number of tracts. Is it not good to remember this promise : " He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him " ? During that journey Mr. Murray was told of eighty men who wanted to join the religion of Jesus. They asked as to the nearest Mission station, and had to be told Ch'ong-k'ing, distant five hundred //' (a hundred and sixty-six miles) by w^ater. Who can tell how powerfully God's own Word is working in China, with- out any human agent ? " The day shall declare it." WHEN, on the site of Byzantium, Constantine, in the year 328 A.D., was himself in person marking out the boundary-Une for the proposed city of Constantinople ; and when his attention was called to the vast extent of the area he was enclosing, and the improbability that the City of the Caesars would ever occupy it, he calmly answered : ' / am follouing Him Who is leading me.'' " The Church has attempted a gigantic task, in extending and enlarging the place of her tent and stretching her canopy over a world-wide area. The work is so stupendous that it has inclined some to remonstrate, and even to ridicule. But, be it ever remembered that in so doing we are ' following Him Who is leading ' us. It is He Who has bidden us ' lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes.' No task can be too colossal in magnitude, if He plans it and entrusts to us the execution of what is really His plan. And here is the threefold dependence of His servants : thep/an, the promise, and \he providence of Got)."— Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D,, in The Divine Enterprise of Missions. "We need the power of the Holy Spirit to make us realise the value of one immortal soul. . . . We need His help to realise our relation to the world's redemption ; to the fact that, while the Church has been gaining some 3,000,000 converts from heathendom, the natural increase of heathen has been 200,000,000 ! "—Miss Grace E. Wilder, in the Missionary Review of the World. 194 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world . . . that fiesh should glory in His presence.'' CHAPTER XXIII. A MONTH AT KUANG-UEN. Visit to Kuang-uen. — Hu-Sien-Seng. — Village Classes. — A Native Wedding. — Superstition. KuANG-iJEN, S'i-ch'uan, July ;^ofh, 1890. MY journal this month is being written at Kuang- tien, where I am staying for a month's rest and change. A short but sharp attack of fever had left me very weak, and Dr. Parry, who was then at Pao-ning, advised this course. During the last three months some of our number have been away, so the work has been greater, and the days busier for those of us who remained in Pao-ning — such happy work with and for our blessed Master ! One does not tire of the work, but, alas ! these bodies of ours do get tired, and so the Master has been calling me aside to rest awhile, that I may be better able to serve Him by-and- bye. And I have indeed found it very precious during the last few weeks, to be '' alone with Jesus." By taking me away from jriany duties. He has taught me more of the true nature of service, just doiiig His will from day to day. He has been showing me, too, that time spent with Him is more needful to Him than all our service. For some time past my prayer has been that He would make me more restful in the 195 196 A MONTH AT KUANG-UEN. work — rest in the midst of work was what I felt I needed ; and the Lord has chosen this way of teaching me. And now, if the Lord will, I hope shortly to return to Pao-ning, to work in the midst of rest. Miss Culverwell (who had been on a visit to Pao- ning) and I travelled to Kuang-tien together. During the four days' journey, we had several good oppor- tunities of telling people of the Saviour. We met several old friends whom we had seen on former occa- sions, when travelling to or from Pao-ning; they seemed pleased to see us, and hear more of the gospel. At two villages in particular, some women gathered round our chairs, while the chair-bearers were resting, and just drank in the gospel ; their hearts, I am sure, had been prepared by the Holy Spirit. I left books with them, in the hope that their husbands or sons would be able to read them. I am looking forward to seeing them again on my return journey. They promised to look out for me. To very many whom we met, the gospel was no strange story ; they could tell us quite clearly the plan of salvation, having heard it from one and another passing to and fro. This is my first visit to Kuang-uen, though I have been two days' journey on the same road — to Uin-lin- p'u. The scenery on this side of Uin-lin-p'u is beauti- ful. Often I could count five, and sometimes six, ranges of mountains in the distance. 1 was reminded of Braithwaite and Thornthwaite by a great mountain covered with trees. At the foot a lovely brook sped onwards, fed by water which rushed over great boulders and fell in cascades down the steep sides of the mountain. THE CITY WALL. 197 I have seen little of Kuang-uen as yet, having only once been out visiting. On that occasion we were invited into five different houses, and found the people very friendly. Miss Culverwell's Sunday class of women is well attended. She has an average of fifteen. Some of them come very regularly, and seem really interested. I do not think I have told you of an old man living here, named Hu, who is now teacher to Miss F. Culver- well and Miss Martin. Just a year ago he heard the gospel for the first time, and saw a copy of the Bible. As he read the Bible he became convinced of its truth, and accepted it as God's message to him. He loved to read both the Scriptures and other books explaining salvation, and was interested about baptism. One day, while out walking, he came to a pool of water near the city wall, and, remembering what he had read in John xiii. 10, he dehberately and solemnly washed his feet, or, as he thought, baptized himself. As he finished, he saw part of the city wall in front of him fall down, just where he would probably have been walking had he not stopped to do this. He was much impressed with God's thus guiding him, and preserving his life. Since that time, Hu-Sien-Seng has been growing in the knowledge of God. Chen-Sien-Seng was a help to him when he was here, and the cook also used to go and read and explain the Bible to him. His wife bitterly opposed and reviled him for believing this strange doctrine. She also did what she could to prevent other women coming to this house, and this even after her husband was employed here as teacher. The old man never com- A MONTH AT KUANG-UEN. plained of his wife treating him in this way, but prayed for her, as we heard through the cook. God answered his prayer ; for, five or six Sundays ago, his wife came to Miss C 's class, to see what it was that had taken such hold upon her husband. Since then she has come every Sunday, being generally one of the first to arrive. The Holy Spirit is at work in her heart. A week or two ago, three of Mrs. Hu's neighbours died of malaria, and the following Sunday she said to Miss Bastone, '^ I felt I must come to hear more about Jesus, in case God should call me to die." Will you pray for these two old people ? They are both between sixty and seventy years of age. How lovely if now together they begin to '' bring forth fruit unto God " ! And now I must go back, and tell you a little about the condition of the work in Pao-ning. There are now seven villages which are visited weekly : three across the river — Ma-niao-k'i, Kin-ki2.o-uan, and Huang-niao- uan, to which Miss Y. Barclay goes ; a fourth, in another direction across the river, called K'ong-t'ong- hsii, visited by Miss Barclay ; Hsii-kia-uan, where B. goes on Wednesdays ; and Chen-kia-pa and Hsia- ko-tsi, to which I have been going on Mondays. I know these villages will not be merely unpronounce- able names to you, but that you will take each one and present it at the Throne of Grace, pleading that God will send forth His light and truth, and reach many precious souls who are meanwhile living in dark- ness and the shadow of death. How infinitely more He cares for them than we do ! During June, and part of July, Dr. and Mrs. Parry, THE ''FOREIGN DOCTORS 199 from Ch'en-tu, the capital of this Province, were staying at Pao-ning. The presence of a '* foreign doctor " in the place attracted a great number of sick people, both men and women. Nearly every day some came to be attended to. Many in this way were brought under the sound of the gospel. On July 7th, Mrs. Williams' fourth little son was born. The Chinese are delighted, and think Mrs. Williams very lucky to be the mother of four boys ! My boys' class gets more and more interesting. I find myself looking forward to the class days, just as I did at home. It is very rarely now that I have to reprove any of the twenty-eight for not attending ; and, best of all, I know that the Holy Spmrr is working in the hearts of several of them. Since staying at the Fnh-ing-f mig I have been teaching Kuei-hsi, Mrs. Cassels' little servant-boy, to read. He is a very quick little scholar, and knows a good many characters. He is very anxious to get on, and hastens to get his work finished every evening that he may not miss his lesson. Since last writing to you, we have had two weddings, one foreign and one native ! Mr. Curnow and Miss Eland came from Uin-nan Fu, a journey of between forty and fifty days, to be married at Pao-ning. I think I have mentioned before that Mr. Cassels is the only one, in this part of China, empowered to marry Euro- peans ; hence the number of weddings at this station. The second wedding was that of our cook, Ch'en-ta-ko. For some months he had been contemplating a second marriage (his first wife was dear Ch'en-ta-sao, the Bible- woman, who died a year ago). He made the matter a 2CO A MONTH AT KUANG-UEN. subject of earnest prayer. There is no unmarried Christ- ian woman in the place, so that the woman he thought about was a heathen. We know what the Scriptures say about a behever not being unequally yoked, but under the present state of things in China there seems no help for it. If a Christian woman were to marry a heathen man, the case would be different, for in China the husband is emphatically the leader and ruler of his wife and house. Ch'en-ta-ko felt that he would be able to rule his house as a Christian, and would not sanction idolatry, and the woman was willing that it should be so. Her maiden name was Fong ; and we all like her much. She has a gentle, humble spirit, and seems very anxious to be taught the Truth. You will, I know, join with us in praying that this woman may receive the Holy Spirit, and be truly " born again." She was a widow, and has one grown- up son, who does not live at home, and a little girl, five years of age. The mother w^ished to give this little girl away before she was married to Ch'en-ta-ko, fearing he would not like to be burdened with her, but he said, *' No, do not let her live with heathen ; we will teach her to love the true God. And when she grows up, God grant that she may be used in His Service." The wedding took place in our women's guest-hall. Mr. Phelps married them. The service was unpre- tentious. Ch'en-ta-ko had invited the servants from the Fiih-ing-fang, the Christians, and the two women who attend prayers regularly at our house. Instead of having a wedding-ring, as we do, the Chinese have a curious custom. Before they are pronounced AN ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. 201 man and wife, the minister hands a cup, with a little tea in it, to the bridegroom, who sips it ; then another to the bride, and she does the same. After that the bride's tea is poured into the bridegroom's cup, and they both drink again. After the wedding service there was a simple feast, to which we were all invited. Ch'en-ta-ko has taken a room in a house just opposite to ours, so that his wife will be able to come in every day to morning and evening prayers. How sunk in superstition and under the power of Satan these people are, the two following incidents will show : — About the middle of June there was an eclipse of the sun. On all sides we heard the people beating gongs and letting off crackers. A little dog had attacked the sun, they said, which was suffering pain in consequence and could not give out its light; and the crackers and gongs were resorted to in the hope of delivering the sun from its trouble. Such is a Chinaman's idea of an eclipse ! The second is a sad story. I was called one day to see a little baby, seven days old, who was suffering from fits. The mother, a sweet-looking young water- woman, I knew well. The poor little child seemed dying when I saw him, so I told them 1 could not do anything and that medicine would be no use. This was the fifth child of these parents who had not lived more than a few days. The next day I heard that the little one had died a few hours after I had seen it. And what do you think the parents had done ? They had cut up the poor little body into small pieces, and A MONTH AT KUANG-UEN. burned them in the mother's room, because the child had deceived them by dying ! They say that the next child they have will live, because they have done this. It seems to be a common practice either to act thus or to take the child's body and bury it beneath the pave- ment, where the stones are placed crosswise ! Are these people not fast tied and bound by Satan ? Oh ! let us continue earnestly to pray that the " pitifulness of God's great mercy may loose them." " n^HE ancient religion of China is Confucianism. It can, however, -*- scarcely be called a religion at all, because there is almost nothing about God in it. Confucius was a very learned man who lived about two thousand years ago. He wrote many books and taught a great many true and right things, and sought to make people good ; but there was no power in his teaching to make them good, for there never is without God. Confucius knew nothing about an Eternal Life, and when his own disciples asked him about life beyond the grave, ail he could say in his hopeless creed was, ' I know little enough about this life ; how can I tell you what comes after death ? ' Take this hopeless saying and compare it with I Cor. XV., and you will see the gulf between Confucius and the inspired words of St. Paul ! "The chief form of worship connected with Confucianism is the worship of departed relations ; this practice is, however, older than Confucius him- self. In all cities there is a Confucian temple, and round the walls are hung tablets bearing the names of departed relatives, to whom prayers are said and offerings of food, etc., brought. In a dim way the Chinese believe in some sort of future life ; at any rate, they believe that their dead ancestors know all that is going on on earth, and this knowledge produces in the worshipper considerable fear, as he believes that the spirit will work venge- ance on him if he is not sul^ciently dutiful in bringing food to the temple ! The other two important religions in China are Taoism and Buddhism ; but in reality all the religions are somewhat mixed, and in them all ancestral worship is prominent." 203 " My name shall be great among the heathen."" CHAPTER XXIV. INNS AND INCENSE. Return to Pao-ning. — Kuang-in Pu-sa. — Hsu-ta-ko. — Adopting A Son. — The Opium Curse. Pao-ning, October \2,th, 1890. MY last journal was written from Kuang-iien, where I spent a very happy month, for rest and change. I learnt to love many of the dear Kuang- iien women, and found it quite hard to come away. The air at Kuang-uen is delicious — so cool and fresh ; and though there was a thunder-storm every day of the month I was there, it was still cooler than Pao-ning. I started on m}^ return journey on August I2th, feeling so well and strong, thank God ! Ho-ta-niang, the Bible-woman, came with me, and we had some good talks with the women by the way. To one place in particular the Lord very distinctly led us. On the second night, when the men put up, they brought me to a new inn — not the same at which we generally rested, where the people are very friendly. This new inn was very small and noisy, and the room into which I was taken was filled with the smell of incense, from several sticks, which were burning in front of a tablet to Heaven and Earth. 204 A MESSAGE FOR SOME ONE. 205 I was a little disappointed at not seeing my old friends at the other inn, and told my chair-bearers so ; they said they had brought me to the smaller inn because they would not have to pay so much money for their beds, but if I wished it they would take me THE COURTYARD OF AN INN, to the other inn. Then the thought struck me that perhaps God had a message to give to some one through me, in that new place. I decided to stay. The landlord was quite willing to remove his incense-sticks, and soon brought us in a nice, hot supper. When we had finished, a young girl belonging to the inn came in to see us, leading an old, white- 2o6 INNS AND INCENSE. haired lady. After the usual preliminary questions and answers on both sides, our visitors settled them- selves to listen to the ''good news" which we had come so many miles to deliver. The old lady listened eagerly to the story of redemption. She had been trying for many years, she said, to get rid of her sins. She was a vegetarian, but did not find peace in that. She was now worshipping earnestly the Kuang-in Pu-sa (Goddess of Mercy), as people told her she was kind and compassionate, and would surely help her to get rid of sin. ''And now," she said, "I am getting old, and must soon die ; you tell me Kuang-in Pu-sa cannot help me ; all my prayers have been in vain. If 3^ou are sure God's Son, Jesus, will forgive my sins, teach me how to pray to Him, and I will never again worship Kuang-in Pu-sa ^ For two hours that old lady was in our room, in- quiring about the Truth, learning to pray, and kneeling down while Ho-ta-niang and I prayed for her. I do not know whether we shall see her again ; her home is at Ts'ang-k'i ; but I think the Saviour will find that seeking soul. As I lay down to sleep that night, I had no doubt that God had led us to that inn. It was nice being at Kuang-iien, but it was very nice being at home in Pao-ning again. After all, " there is no place like home." The natives gave me such a welcome. I found changes here. Mr. and Mrs. A. Polhill- Turner and their little boy had arrived from Pa-cheo, Mr. Phelps, in the meantime, carrying on the work at Pa-cheo. It had been arranged that Mr. Phelps and Mr. Turner should start shortly for Shanghai, for CHANG-TA-SAO, 207 ordination, and that Miss Fryer (who had been at Han-chong), L. B , and Miss Martin should reside at Pa-cheo during their absence. There were letters, too, from Mr. and Mrs. Cassels, saying that they would be prevented from coming back to Pao-ning (from Shanghai, where they had been attending the Con- ference) until the autumn, owing to the swollen state of the river Yang-tsi. For another woman I would ask your prayers. Her name is Chang. The friends at Kuang-iien had her as their servant, but the air up there was too strong for her and she had several attacks of bronchitis. Much to their regret, they had to send her back to Pao-ning, to .avoid the cold of another winter. They regretted her leaving, chiefly because she was beginning to show an interest in the gospel ; so 1 have engaged her as my woman while I am living at the Fuh-ing-fang. Do pray that she may learn to know Jesus as her Saviour. You will like to hear about a man named Hsu, who is staying here just now. He was servant to Miss Kinahan, one of our missionaries, who has been travel- ling lately in the north of Kan-suh, between Ts'in-cheo and Si-ning. He came down to Pao-ning to bury his grandfather, who had been dead and lying in his coffin for the last three years.* We all think Hsu-ta-ko a very bright, earnest Christian ; he is not yet baptized. Most of his near relations are dead, and the house in * Chinese coffins are very much larger and more heavily made than our own, and air-tight. The universal practice of waiting for a lucky day before burial does not thus prove so inconvenient as it otherwise might, 2o8 INNS AND INCENSE. which the grandfather Hved, and a httle land, belong to him. As it fell to him to make arrangements about the burial, he refused to have any idolatrous practices. The other relatives were very displeased, and threatened all sorts of things if Hsti-ta-ko would not conform to the customs. He said they might take his house and land if they liked, but that he was a servant of God, and would not do what he knew was grieving to Him. For a whole week they held out, and each day he explained God's Word to them and remained firm in his resolve. At last they gave in, and said he might conduct the service as he liked. Three of the native Christians went to the funeral, and each one preached to the numbers assembled at the grave. They came back so bright, saying they had realised the Lord's Presence with them. We do not know if Hsii-ta-ko will remain in Pao- ning or return to Ts'in-cheo. We should like him to find work in the city and there bear testimony for Christ. His whole soul seems bent on working for the Lord. The village work still increases. We have lately been to the village of my woman, Chang-ta-sao, about seven miles away. The people were very friendly, and we had many invitations to go again soon. Mrs. WiUiams' little baby-boy, four months old, has been the means of opening many new houses. We take him out with us, and the people invite us to come in and let them see him. A few days ago we were asked into a large Mohammedan house ; I found out that one of the ladies was the mother of one of our school-boys. ADOPTING A SON. 209 and that she had a very fair knowledge of the Truth, from what her httle son had told her. We had an interesting talk. God is answering prayer for the school-boys ; they are decidedly more earnest, and some I believe are really seeking the Saviour. The letter written to them by one of my old scholars in the home-land, has, I am sure, been blessed to them, and will yet be blessed. On the Sunday on which 1 read the letter they were much impressed, and the suggestion of five of them to write letters in return was quite spontaneous. I be- lieve the words they wrote were quite sincere. Please go on praying for them, and for me that God will teach me to teach thtm. The wife of Mrs. Williams' cook has adopted a son, a little boy, three years old. The ceremony consisted of a feast; and then a present of two pieces of pu (calico), three pounds of pork, and two hundred cash (= 10^.) was given to the mother of the child. This completed the bargain. The natives say they never give money alone for a child, as that would be selling him, and they would be ashamed to do that ! B. H has just returned from a ten days' visit to Ta-ch'eo, a small country place about thirty miles from here. She was encouraged on the whole. Many seemed glad and interested to hear the gospel. Some had a fair knowledge of the Truth, through having read books which Mr. Beaucham.p had sold or dis- tributed on former evangelising tours. B. spent a few days at Tu-kia-tsing, the home of the woman named Uang, who has twice stayed with us, in order to break off opium-smoking. I grieve to say she has not 14 INNS AND INCENSE. given up the habit. Both she and her husband are still smoking, and have almost reduced themselves and their children to beggary. Others in the district, who had been here to break off, were going on well. This month's story has a sad side to it. Our hearts have been made very sore by discovering sin in one of the Church members, Ho-ta-niang, the Bible-woman. She seemed the one of all our httle band of Christians who really loved the Lord and delighted most to testify for Him. She was with Miss Jones at Chao-hua, and afterwards at Kuang-uen, engaged in preaching the gospel in the cities and districts round. We have just lately found out that for two years she has been secretly eating and smoking opium, and consequently telling and acting many lies, in order to keep it from our knowledge. Oh, it is so sad ! I know you will join with us in pleading for this poor woman. '' God is able to grafF in again." For some time previous to this discovery we had been earnestly asking God to show us if there was anything in us, His children, which was preventing the salvation of the heathen, and as an answer He brought this to light. The saddest part of all is that Ho-ta- niang will not confess her sin to God. Of course we had to tell her she must cease to be Bible-woman ; for how could she teach others to repent of sin, while she herself was living in sin ? You will pray for her, will you not ? There is so much that is so nice in her. I have tried several times to get a talk with her ; but her door has generally been locked. We hear that she has joined the Roman Catholics, and that she is suffer- ing much, through attempting to break herself of opium- THE CHINESE IN BONDAGE. smoking by gradually lessening the quantity she takes daily. What a terrible curse the opium is 1 It seems to be a greater hindrance to the gospel than idolatry ! During the last month I have been to several opium suicide cases, some of them being very sad ones. I shall not easily forget one to which I was called when too late — a young mother, who for some slight quarrel had taken the poison. Her pulse had almost ceased when I went in, and when I told her friends that I feared it was too late, their frantic grief was terrible to see — the husband waihng, the mother-in-law begging her to live for her children's sakes, and others asking me why I could not prevent her dying. Sometimes the women are exceedingly violent, and only with great difficulty can we get them to take the emetics. It often seems like a hand-to-hand fight with Satan. A day or two ago, in a house where the woman was very violent, the friends continually scattered rice about the room, in order, as I afterwards learnt, '' to frighten away the evil spirit." I think my Master has been teaching me something more of the awful bondage of these poor Chinese people, fast bound by Satan, and also letting me know in a very little measure what fellowship with Him in His sufferings over a lost world means. How could we go on fighting against these powers of darkness if we did not know that Christ's Kingdom was indeed coming ? The Lord is with us, and we arc more than conquerors in Him. " 'T^HE consecration of the man who makes no effort for the salvation of J- the lost is spurious, and his joy and peace, if he have any at all, cannot be other than ephemeral. Within the heart of the truly consecrated believer there springs up a strong passion for the salvation of souls. It cannot be otherwise. Jesus Christ has become so dear to him, and has so filled his life with blessedness, that he is seized with a yearning, amount- ing to pain, that others should share in the blessings he enjoys. The love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself. He feels himself called to be a witness ; commissioned as an ambassador for Christ, he longs with growing desire to be a successful soul-winner. How CHRIST-Iike a desire this is ! It is the result of sympathy with the Lord Jesus in His work, an effect of fellowship with Him Who came to seek and to save the lost. " But CHRiST-like, noble, holy though the desire is, it is not one which fulfils itself. The wish to win souls will not make us soul-winners. No amount of earnestness, no amount of experience, no amount of perseverance is a guarantee of success in this work. For the work of soul- winning we need the gift of the Holy Ghost."— Rev. G. H. C. Macgregor, M.A., in A Holy L ife. 212 If thou forbear to deliver . . . dot/i not He that ponder eth the heart consider it ? " CHAPTER XXV. OUR BOAT-HOME. Itinerating by Boat. — The Ts'ang-k'i Mandarin. — Prisoners. — Visit to a Buddhist Nunnery. — " Floating Away a Dead Man's Spirit." November iit/i, 1 890. I WANT to write a detailed account of our doings day by day during a journey B. and I are taking to Ts'ang-k'i, a small town a day's journey from Pao-ning. We started yesterday, Monday. Mr. Williams kindly went down early to the boat, to hang up curtains and make things comfortable for us, and soon after 9 a.m. we were settled in and ready to start. P. and F. Barclay came with us as far as Chen- kia-pa, as F. was going to take the class there. We thought we should reach Chen-kia-pa by eleven o'clock, but Chinamen are slow, and it was 3.30 by the time we arrived. It was a bitterly cold da}^, with a very strong wind, which hindered the boatmen. We were glad of our wadded garments. We had a Bible-reading together before the Barclays left us, and, when the boat reached the nearest point to Chen-kia-pa, the men stopped for 213 214 OUR BO AT -HOME. their dinner. We all went on shore, the Barclays to cross the ferry, and B. and I to sit on the rocks and wait for the boat to go on. A group of people gathered round us, and we had a nice long talk with SMALL RIVER BOAT. them. Two women were specially friendly, and invited us to go and see them on our return from Ts'ang-k'i. At about 4.30 the boatmen's dinner was finished, and we went on ; but not far, as darkness soon came on. I must tell you a little about our boat. It is divided 4 WIRY LITTLE MAN: 215 into four partitions ; in front the men row, at the back the captain steers, and in the two middle compartments we hve. These two compartments are really one, about seven feet wide and twelve feet long, but we have divided it into two with curtains. The front part is our sitting-room by day, and bedroom by night ; the other part contains our baskets of stores, crockery, etc., and our bedding, rolled up in a bundle ; Ts'ai-ta-sao, our woman, sleeps there at night. In our sitting-room are two little bamboo chairs and a bamboo table ; a stool for Ts'ai-ta-sao completes the furniture. Hanging to the side of the boat are two pockets, in which are our books, shoes, work, etc. ; and so we keep things in order. A lamp hangs from the bamboo ceiling. We put our bedding — two pu-kai (wadded quilts), one to he on and one to cover us — on the floor at night, hang up mosquito curtains, and are most comfortable. The curtains are not for mosquitoes, which I am glad to say have left us, but to keep out rats, cockroaches, etc., which may come. Besides our woman, Ts'ai-ta-sao, we have her brother- in-law Ts'ai-lao-san with us ; he cooks our food, and also helps to pole the boat. The boat's crew consists of three — the captain, and two men to tow and row ; they are all over sixty years of age. The captain is a regular character — a wiry little man, like a monkey, and full of fun ; he works capitally. To-day we have had to cross some difficult rapids, and he managed splendidly. Last night at prayers the men listened well ; we are praying that they may all be blessed while we are on the boat. This morning we were wakened by hearing the 2i6 OUR BOAT-HOME. captain making preparations for an early start. The cold wind has all gone, and it has been a glorious, sunshiny day. The rest and change on this boat are very acceptable. We have just passed a very difficult rapid. While in the middle of it another boat passed and caught our rope. The consequence was that our men had to let go the rope or it would have been broken, and back our boat went at a spinning rate. The captain did not get angry, although it meant an hour's work lost. One of our men went to help the men of the other boat, as they were in difficulties, and could not get over the rapid, we remaining stationary meanwhile. When they were over, our men asked them to return the comphment and help us ; but they refused. On arriving later at a worse rapid, we saw this boat in the same plight as we had been, spinning back at a great rate. 5 p.m. — We are now nearing Ts'ang-k'i ; the pagoda is in sight. We hope to anchor in a quiet spot, so as not to attract too much attention, and to-morrow we look forward to a good day's visiting in the city. W^e intend visiting by day, and living on the boat. I do not know how long we shall stay ; it will depend on how the work opens up. If the people are willing to hear, we shall probably remain more than a week. We are paying for our boat by the day — five hundred cash a day (=15. 8 We reached our boat again by three o'clock, and had arranged to have a vegetable dinner, of rice, carrots, and celery. Our man was just preparing this, when a sumptuous dinner, all ready cooked, and steaming hot, was brought to us from the ia-men. The Mandarin's wife had intended asking us to dinner, but hearing that we had srone across the river, she sent it to us 224 OUR BOAT-HOME. instead. A servant carried the tray of dishes, and two gentlemen came with it to present it to us. The dinner consisted of a duck and a fowl boiled, a piece of pork, cabbage, carrots, and greens, and two plates of small loaves of steamed bread. While we were at dinner, a servant came from a family called '' Mang," to invite us to go and see them. We had met Mrs. Mang at a house in Pao-ning, and, hearing we were here, she sent for us. A number of people, chiefly children, followed us right up to the house. They were orderly, though excited. There was no calling after us " Foreign devil ! " as in Pao-ning. The house proved to be a big one, with a nice garden of flowers. There were several ladies ; but soon the people outside who had followed us kept knocking at the door, clamouring to get in, which made the people inside anxious and troubled, and unable to listen to our words. We were able to tell them very little. The people outside were quite quiet as soon as we appeared. When writing about the temple we visited to-day, I forgot to mention that it is called the Lin Kuan Temple. Lin Kuan is the name of the principal idol there, and he is supposed to be the creator of the sun ! One of the nuns was quite a young woman of twenty- five or twenty-six ; she went to live at this temple when she was sixteen, because she had been betrothed at different times to four men, all of whom had died before the marriage day. Then she told her parents not to try to get her another husband, and went into the temple for life, so that she should not be the means of killing any one else. She hopes to stii-sin (repair or amend her heart). THE IDOLS' CLOTHES. 225 While we were there, a nice-looking boy, about fifteen years of age, came into the room, and all the nuns began to scold him soundly. We thought he must have committed some great offence, but it turned out to be no more than this — that, being sent by the Mandarin to cut down a bamboo, he had taken one from a group growing in front of a niche where there were idols. This was a great slight to the idols. '* It was as bad," they said, '' as taking away some of the idols' clothes ! " This evening we heard a sound of the beating of gongs by the river-side, and went to the front of our boat to find out the reason. We heard that a great man in the city had died some time ago. For three years his spirit had been worshipped, and now his sons wanted to help to *' float his spirit away," so that it should never return. A boat accordingly went out into the middle of the river, while a lantern in the shape of a boat, on a little raft, was lighted, lowered into the water, and floated down the stream. Then seventy-two lighted candles on little rafts, one after the other in procession, were floated in the same way, about two feet apart. You can imagine what a long line it made, and how pretty it looked in the darkness. How it made our hearts ache to think of Satan's power to deceive the people ! When all the candles were set afloat, a few crackers were let off from the boat and all was over. Incense-sticks were also burning at intervals along the shore. "SEND THE LIGHT." "npHERES a call comes ringing o'er the restless wave, J- 'Send the light, send the light!' There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save, ' Send the light, send the light ! ' Chorus. Send the light, the blessed gospel light Let it shine from shore to shore ! Send the light, the blessed gospel light ! Let it shine for evermore ! We have heard the Macedonian call to-day, ' Send the hght, send the light ! ' And our grateful off' rings at the Cross we lay, ' Send the light, send the light ! ' May the grace of J Esus unto all abound, ' Send the light, send the light ! ' And a CHRIST-Iike spirit everywhere be found, ' Send the light, send the light ! ' ' Let us not grow weary in the work of love, ' Send the light, send the light ! ' While we gather jewels for our crown above, ' Send the hght, send the light ! ' " Charles H. Gabriel 226 " Other sheep I have . . . them also I must bring. ^ CHAPTER XXVI. AT THE MARKETS. A Vegetarian Dinner. — A Wreck. — Arrival at Huai-shu-pa.— Open-air Services.^Return to Ts'ang-k'i and Pao-ning. Ts'ang-k'i, Friday. THIS morning, just as we were going to breakfast, there came a plate of meat dumplings, a present from our friend Nien-ta-sao. After breakfast we had our time of prayer for the work in Si-ch'uan, and at eleven o'clock we set out to visit in one of the poorer streets. We had only gone a few steps from our boat when we met a bright little woman who said she was on her way to see us ; but as we had left the boat she asked us if we would go to her house instead. Of course we were delighted to do so. She had been to see us in Pao-ning, was a relative of one of the inquirers, and was named Ho. Her house was in the main street, with a shop front. When we went into the room, a crowd of people immediately gathered, filling up all the vacant space. Only women came into the room. They began asking us at once to read our books. It is lovely how every one knows that this is our only reason for coming to Ts'ang-k'i. B. was busy talking to women on one side of the 227 228 AT THE MARKETS. room, and I on the other ; but the excitement and hubbub on the street increased, making it difficult for the women to hear. Our httle hostess was much distressed, and, dashing in among the men (some of whom were then standing in the room), she scattered them, hke chickens, right and left. Then she got the big folding-doors shut, but that was not much use, for there was a window to which the people crowded. We did not mind at all. The crowd was perfectly friendly, and we did not hear one bad word ; the people were only curious. Some of the women, in spite of the noise, were exceedingly interested. One woman told B. to go on telling her the gospel. She " had a great deal of trouble in her life," she said, *' and needed some one to save her." Another woman to whom I was talking listened eagerly, and wanted to know how she was to trust Jesus. Where was He ? had I ever seen Him? and would He take us to heaven immediately after we trusted Him ? She seemed a thirsty soul. Our hostess at last could not stand the noise outside her house any longer, so she took us up into the loft which formed her bedroom. Six or seven women followed, to listen quietly to our books. Mrs. Ho insisted on our staying to dinner. I fear she heard very little, for she was a real Martha, all the time occupied with getting the dinner ready. She is a vegetarian, and prides herself in it. In the bed- room there was a piece partitioned off, in which were idols — the goddess of Mercy among others ; and incense- sticks were burning before them. The people told us that Mrs. Ho was a very good woman, and really did A VEGETARIAN DINNER. 229 these things to prepare for the next world. We had a splendid time, talking to the women in that upper room. By degrees several others came up, and almost all the time B. and I were explaining Bible truths to them. We were there five hours ! Of course the dinner was composed entirely of vegetables — no meat, nor gravy, nor fat. It was very nice. We got home soon after four o'clock, and had a good many guests on the boat — some nice, friendly women. The people certainly have ears to hear the gospel, and are exceedingly friendly. We do thank God for this. A few // farther up the river there is a market-place called Huai-shu-pa. We think, God willing, of going there to-morrow afternoon and spending Sunday, return- ing here again for two or three days, and getting back to Pao-ning at the end of next week. To-day some women said, '* Do not go away from Ts'ang-k'i ; stay and tell us more about God." It will be lovely if the Lord gives us a house here by-and-bye. Saturday. This morning we made preparations for going up to Huai-shu-pa. Before starting we sent our cards to the ia-iueHy with a present for the Mandarin's wife of a leg of mutton and two fowls ; also a message to say that we were going away for three or four days, but hoped to return to Ts'ang-k'i before going back to Pao-ning. Then we waited for Sie-Sien-Seng to come and have the carbuncle dressed. It was very nearly well, and to show his gratitude he made us a present of eight meat dumplings ! We find it difficult to empty our larder on this boat journey ! 230 AT THE MARKETS, Just before we started a gentleman came from a large house to invite us to go there and read our books, but we had to postpone the visit until our return. As the boat was being towed, we were able to get some walks on the bank. About 3.30, as we were anchored and having dinner, we heard a great commotion and crying out from some boats in the distance, and discovered that in a rapid a little above us one boat had been sunk in a collision with another. We saw the mats, etc., of the boat floating about, and the men were being pulled out of the river into another boat. Everything in the boat was lost. It was laden with coal, and there were several strings of cash on board. It was a mercy that no lives were lost ; but it was sad to see these people's all going down before our eyes. Three or four boats were trying to save something from the wreck, but this seemed impossible, as the water was swift, and it was mid-stream. Just before reaching Huai-shu-pa, while walking on the bank, we met a Ts'ang-k'i woman, who had paid us a visit on our boat the previous evening, when she had told us that if ever she met us again we should be reckoned as her friends. True to her word, she greeted us most warmly, and walked with us to a house which was near, and calling out to the owner said, '^ Bring out your wine, and give it to these guests ; they are the guests whom I love." The good lady of the house did not, however, feel disposed to do this. We assured her we did not drink wine, but our Ts'ang-k'i friend still persisted, and took her long pipe to beat the old lady for not treating her guests well ! A LONG STRETCH OF SAND. 231 We reached Huai-shu-pa at 4.30. The boat had to be anchored one and a half miles from the village, as there was no secure place nearer. We set off to have a look at the village, and let the people know why we had come. We had an escort of five or six men all the way — over a long stretch of sand. It was difficult walking, and, as one of our party remarked, ''though it did not waste shoes, it wasted meny We told these men why we had come, and spoke a little about God and heaven ; one man evidently had heard before. " We do not beUeve in all that," he said ; " we know you are deceiving us." And another younger man said, " We shall never go to heaven ; for we do not listen to, or believe in, any doctrine." They were quite friendly, and in a way introduced us to the village, which consisted of one street. It was market-day, but the market was over and most of the people had dispersed. We walked on through the street. A nice-looking girl at a tailor's shop asked us to sit down. We could only just explain why we had come, and get a little friendly with the people, as it was getting dusk and we had a long walk back to our boat. We left some books and tracts there, and promised to go to-morrow and tell them about God and a Saviour. HuAi-SHU-PA, Sunday. Just three years since I left England ! After break- fast we had a service with the boatmen. The Lord was very present. We spoke about Jesus, the sinner's Substitute, and read the story of His sufferings and death. The men looked impressed. I do trust the truth of His love reached their hearts. We then AT THE MARKETS. walked to the village, and sat down near an eating- shop. Several people gathered round, but they seemed utterly indifferent and not inclined to listen. We both felt it very difficult to speak. Satan's power to hinder was manifest. One woman, however, took in and kept repeating the one sentence : '' Jesus, God's Son, died instead of all the world." After we had given the message there, we walked on into the country and soon came to a house. The woman brought out forms for us to sit on, and a nice number of people came round, and listened well. Returning to our boat by a different path, we met two young men from a large house, who asked to see our books, and walked along with us. When we came near their house they invited us in ; but as it seemed only a compliment, we went on. We had not gone far, however, before we heard voices calling us back. Several of the women from the large house had come to ask us to tell them what was in the books. We sat down on stones by the brook-side, and had an open-air meeting. For quite a long time the people, about thirty, were listening with great attention. When we got back to our boat, B. had a talk with some people on the bank. To-morrow we hope to go on to another small village, forty // farther up the river. To-day has been a very happy Sunday ; we have been anchored in such a pretty spot. The hills all round us remind me of Keswick. HuAi-SHU-PA, Monday. This morning, before seven o'clock, we started for the next market-village higher up the river, a place A WEDDING PARTY. 233 called Siao-chan-ho. We passed more rapids. The village was reached at 2.30 — such a lovely spot ; there are a good many trees on the sides of the hills, and the leaves are turning yellow and red. A pebbly brook runs through the village. As soon as we arrived, B. and I and Ts'ai-ta-sao, armed with books and tracts, went on shore. The village people were nice, and not at all afraid of us, though none of them had ever seen a foreign lady before. One man told us he had seen Mr. Cassels, when he came here a year ago. He remembered that he spoke to him of the true God. This man was very civil to us, and invited us to sit down outside a house, and read our books. We did so, but the people thought it would be more comfortable farther on in an eating- house. We were settled there and had begun talking, when some one near began to grind corn with a mill- stone, which of course made a noise, and the people were afraid they would not hear, so proposed our moving to the next street. This was the final move. All the folks followed us, and a table was placed in the middle of the street, at which we were asked to sit and tell them the gospel. They listened exceedingly well, and so quietly. We were there about an hour. While we were talking a wedding party passed up the street, with the usual accompaniments of drums, trumpets, etc., but no one took the slightest notice of them — all were intent on listening to us ; indeed, one man called out and told the trumpeters not to play until they had passed us. To-morrow is market-day in this little village, and 234 ^T THE MARKETS. many country people will be here ; so we have arranged to stay and tell them the gospel. We went to another house this afternoon, but the old lady did not seem to take in much. Afterwards we walked up a very steep hill, thinking we should find scattered houses at the top ; however, there were none, so we sat down and had talks with some passers-by. Our old captain seems to be taking in the Truth ; he and his men are always ready to come in to prayers each evening. SiAO-CHAN-HO, Tuesday. This morning we saw the people, men, women and children, streaming in to the market from all directions, rnost of them with baskets on their backs, in which was their stock-in-trade — rice, vegetables, calico, basins, wood, bread, fruit, hardware, etc. We knew it would not be wise to go until a little of the buying and selling was over, so waited until mid-day, and then went into the village. Soon a woman, who kept an eating-stall, invited us to sit down, and in a very short time sixty or seventy people had gathered round. They were quiet and well-behaved, considering that only a certain number could possibly hear. B. talked to part of the crowd ; and I, with my back to her, to the remainder. After a while we moved farther down into the centre of the village, and took our stand in an open space by a stone mill. A form was soon brought to us and a crowd collected ; again we had both to speak to them. The market was very well attended, and it seemed impossible to let all hear who wished ; so we went back to our boat to dinner, intending to return to the A WILLINGNESS TO HEAR. 235 village later, when the market would probably be over and the people at leisure to listen. While Ts'ai-lao-san was preparing our rice, several women assembled on the bank, and B. went out to talk to them. Dinner over, we returned to the village, and had MILL WORKED BY DONKEY. two groups of listeners. Most of the people had not had their dinner, but they pressed us to stay, saying, '* We can have dinner every day ; but we cannot every day listen to these good words." We have very much to thank God for in this place. There is such a wiUingness to hear. I trust the way AT THE MARKETS. may be opened to come again soon. To-morrow, if all is well, we hope to return to Ts'ang-k'i, spending Thursday and Friday there, and returning to Pao-ning on Saturday, in time for our Sunday classes. ; JVednesciay. Early this morning we left our little village, Siao- chan-ho, and came down the river to Ts'ang-k'i, arriving at mid-day. We soon had visitors on our boat ; then Sie-Sien-Seng came for medicine ; and just as we were going to dinner there came a present of meat dumplings from our old friend, Nien-ta-sao. In the afternoon we went into the city, and had long talks about the Saviour in two houses. The people seemed pleased to see us again, and told us that three different families sent down to invite us to their houses, on the day we left. At dusk, when we returned to our boat, Nien-ta-sao came to see us, and really seemed seeking the Light ; she wanted to know how she could get a good heart, and how we prayed to God — must she say certain words each day ? We kept her to prayers, that she might see how we prayed to God, and we spoke that night about the Holy Spirit's work. I trust she took in that He, and He alone, could give her a good heart. She learned a little prayer : '* O God, send down the Holy Spirit and influence my heart," and promised to pray thus morning and evening. She also said that she would like to come to-morrow to have another talk. Oh that she may be saved ! Ts'ang-k'i, TJiursday. A servant came this morning to invite us to the house THE MILITARY lA-MEN. 237 of her mistress, named lang. Some of the ladies in that house had been to see us lately in Pao-ning. While still there, a boy came to escort us to the military ia-men, as the Mandarin's wife wished to hear our books. She had heard of our visit, a few days ago, to the wife of the civil Mandarin. Mrs. lang did not like our going away, so made us promise to return to her house to dinner. The Mandarin's wife and daughter were very friendly, and listened so intel- ligently to the gospel. After this visit we returned to Mrs. lang's; her dinner was ready, and other guests had been invited to meet us. This evening B. and I went for a walk all round the city ; it is a very little one. How nice if we are soon able to come and live here Friday. Mrs. Nien paid us an early visit, and told us that a family named lao were coming to invite us to dinner. We waited on our boat a long time for them, but they did not come ; so, after a call from Sie-Sien-Seng, we set off to find a family named Li, relatives of two of our Pao-ning school-boys. A little boy led us to the house. It was a pawn-shop, and sitting outside were two gentlemen ; they seemed afraid of us, and said no one named Li lived there. They evidently did not want us to go in. On the way back, a woman called us into her shop, and we had a little talk. Before going out, we had sent our man with our cards to the house of some people named Tu. Last year the lady was at Pao-ning, and we dressed her ulcers. We sent to ask if she would like to see us. 238 AT THE MARKETS. On our return to the boat we found her eldest boy waiting to take us to. his house. Our friend seemed pleased to see us, and we had a long talk. She wanted to ask us to dinner, but told our woman that she was afraid her father-in-law would scold her. She looked very unhappy and careworn, and her ulcers are not yet cured. We returned to the boat to dinner. Again asking the Lord to guide our steps, we set off for some scattered cottages along the river-side. We had not gone far before some people gathered round us ; some one brought a form from a cottage near, and there, on the sands, we had an open-air meeting, with about sixty people. Then we walked on farther into the country, and had another attentive group of listeners. To-night we have seen again the ceremony of '' floating a dead man's spirit away." A regular bon- fire of paper money was lighted on the river bank, as well as a long row of incense-sticks. About seventy lights were floated down the river, and a lamp. To-morrow we return (D.V.) to Pao-ning. I feel sad at leaving this poor, dark little city, but am full of thankfulness to God for letting us have the oppor- tunity and great privilege of telling hundreds of people here His gospel message. His Word cannot return to Him void. Saturday, November 22nd. Quite late last evening Nien-ta-sao and a friend came on to our boat to wish us good-bye, and sit awhile. We had some more talk with her about the Lord ; she looks as if she wanted something to satisfy her. RUSHING DOWN THE RAPIDS. 239 This morning, after an early breakfast, we started on our return journey. Rushing down with the rapids proved a very different thing to toihng up against them. We reached home at 3 p.m. May I ask your prayers for a blessing on those who heard the gospel during this journey, and that the books given away may reap an abundant harvest, to the glory of God? ' ' Thou must be true thyself, If thou the truth wouldst teach ; Thy soul must overflow, if thou Another soul wouldst reach ; Its needs the overflow of hearts To give the hps full speech." THERE was a year in the little church in Blantyre, Scotland, when but one convert was welcomed to the Lord's Table ; but that lad was David Livingstone. Converts are to be zveighed, not counted. One Cilician Saul is worth ten thousand like the Samaritan Simon, Not how many, but how much, is the question. When he who seeks souls is content with one at a time, and content even then only as that one is completely transformed by the power of the new life into a new man, we shall have a new era of Church history and a new epoch of Missions. In this age, at least, God's Kingdom is to come in the individual soul, by the slow annexation of the httle territory won by grace within that little world, a human heart : the Kingdom of God comes not with observation. There are some who seem more concerned about getting everybody into heaven than about making anybody fit for heaven. In God's eyes it is of far more consequence that the Heavenly City should be clean than that it should be crowded. And we must learn, in our work for souls, that salvation is measured more by the depth to which it penetrates than by the surface over which it spreads ; and that it is for duty, not for results, that we are to be held accountable." — Rev, a. T. Pierson, D.D,, in The Divine Enterprise of Missioiis. 240 PART II. SOWING AND REAPING: DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORK. 241 16 " TN regard to the world's evangelisation, enough cannot be said of the -L importance oi prayer. The greatest, the most responsible, the busiest and most successful servants that Christ ever had, divide their functions into two departments. ' We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.' What would be thought of dividing the twelve hours of our day by giving six hours to prayer for the gospel, and six to the ministry of the Word? Had all Christ's servants acted thus, could any one estimate how mighty the results on the world would be to-day?"— The late Rev. A. N. Somerville, D.D. " A working woman in Reading sent to one of our great Missionary societies for some pictures to show to the women who worked under her, so as to interest them in Foreign Missions. She was directed to send them on, after she had done with them, to a certain parish in West Hartlepool. The following night she could not sleep, and it was impressed upon her to pray that a blessing might rest upon that parish, and that one, at least, might go out from it to the Foreign Mission field. She then looked eagerly for an answer. Nineteen months passed away, and at last she saw in the magazine of the Society that the Vicar of that parish and his curate were going out together to Africa." — Selected. " All things work together for good to them that love God^ CHAPTER XXVII. SICKNESS AND CHANGE. I LLisfEss.— Journey to Chefoo.— Medical and School Work.— More Workers for Pao-ning. — The Sin-tien-tsi Landlord. Chefoo, Shan-tong, /m/v 26M, 1891. AM sorry not to have been able to write a journal for nearly eight months. The Master has been lead- ing me into a differ- ent kind of service. In February I was taken ill, and several weeks of suffering en- sued, during which time the Lord's pre- sence and love were very precious. Hope of my recovery was A north china pastor (hsi). given up by friends around me, but the Lord proved His power by raising me up again, in answer to prayer. The kindness shown me by dear B. Hanbury, and all the friends 243 244 SICKNESS AND CHANGE. in Pao-ning, also by Dr. Parry (who, unasked, came a journey of eight days from Ch'en-tu on hearing of my illness), and afterwards by Dr. Wilson, of Han- chong, was more than I can express, or repay : may God Himself richly reward them ! Dr. Wilson thought it best for me to have an entire change and cessation from Chinese work for a time ; so at the end of April I left Pao-ning for Chefoo, B. H very kindly accompanying me. We reached Chefoo on June loth, after a very quick and pleasant journey. The life, to a large extent in the open air, did me much good, and 1 reached Shanghai considerably stronger than when I left Pao-ning. After spending a few days in Shanghai we then came on to Chefoo, a lovely seaside spot, where there is a sanatorium in connection with the C.I.M. B. is making use of the summer months at Chefoo in gaining some medical knowledge from Dr. Douthwaite, and hopes to take up this part of the work among the women, on her return to Pao-ning. There is quite an extensive medical work going on here ; the number of out-patients daily, during the past month, has varied between thirty and seventy. Adjoining the doctor's house there is a small hospital, where in-patients are received. A great deal of work is being done amongst these sick ones, but the popu- lation is so shifting that it is difficult to follow up cases. Mrs. Schofield works in the native city. She has classes for women, and also two schools for boys and girls, which are in charge of native Christian teachers. Within easy distance of the sanatorium are four 246 SICKNESS AND CHANGE. villages, two of which are of considerable size. I hope soon to begin a little visiting in them, all the more as I hear that the people do not come in to the Mission houses here. Though so far away from Si-ch'uan, the dialect is somewhat similar, and it is possible to understand, and be understood. It seems strange to be in China, and yet cut off to a great extent from the Chinese ; but I know God has His own wise purpose in it, and His will is best. Oh that in this resting-time I may be moulded and made fit for the Master's use among these millions of dark, hopeless souls ! We are expecting, if the Lord will, to return to our loved work in Pao-ning towards the end of the year. Since my last journal was written, and prior to my illness, we had the joy of welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Cassels back to Pao-ning (they had been at Shanghai during the time of the Conference). They brought reinforcements with them — Miss Kolkenbeck for Pao- ning ; and Mr. Parsons and Mr. Evans. The former had been at Wan-hsien, and the latter at Shuen-k'ing. Mr. Beauchamp also returned from Australia, at the beginning of the year. Mr. Cassels has taken a house, called Sin-tien-ts'i (the New Inn), beautifully situated on the hills between Pao-ning and Kuang-uen, one and a half day's journey from Pao-ning; in former journals I have mentioned this place. Several of us have been there for rest at different times. The »feouse was kept by an opium- smoker, who is of good family, but reduced almost to beggary by opium-smoking. Two years ago, while staying at Sin-tien-ts'i, Mr. Cassels had hopes of the THE NEW INN. 247 man ; he took considerable interest in the gospel, and made an effort to break off his opium. But, alas ! the habit had such hold of him that he went from bad to worse, and early in the year Mr. Cassels found him even removing the tiles from the house to sell for opium. Since taking the house, Mr. and Mrs. Cassels and Miss Kolkenbeck have been staying there. They say the poor landlord seems again to like reading the New Testament, and declares he longs to give up the opium ; but he really appears to have neither will nor self- control left. Do pray for this man; for "nothing is too hard" for the Lord. And pray, too, that the people round about the neighbourhood of that house may be blessed. Many have a good amount of head knowledge of the Truth, picked up from one and another who have been journeying between Kuang-iien and Pao-ning. Miss Kolkenbeck was able to make some short itinerations to the villages and market-towns near, and met wuth a friendly reception. During this year P. and F. Barclay have been itinerating both by land and water. We get encouraging news from Pao-ning ; the back- sliders are coming back to the services, and the Christians seem to be making progress. Miss Barclay is taking my class of elder boys, and the school has increased in numbers, there being now over thirty scholars. They are divided into three classes, Mr. Williams and Miss F. Barclay teaching the second and third. Before my illness I began a Wednesday evening class for any of the boys who were really desirous of following Jesus; seven or eight used to attend, and 248 SICKNESS AND CHANGE. were, I believe, in earnest. This class has been dis- continued during my absence, but I hope to begin it again on my return, and trust, through God's blessing, that it may be a means of *' drawing in the net." The women's work progresses very satisfactorily. May I ask you to pray especially for the itinerant work ? It needs much physical power as well as spiritual, also guidance, that we may come in contact with seekers after Truth. You will not forget to pray for the school-boys, that each- one may find Jesus as his own Saviour ; also for Chefoo. , In addition to the sanatorium and medical work, there are two schools here for the children of foreigners, chiefly those of our own missionaries. In these a good work is going on ; the changed lives of many of the pupils give clear evidence of conversion of heart. } "MY REFUGE." ^ IN the secret of His Presence how my soul dehghts to hide ! Oh, how precious are the lessons which i learn at Jesu's side ! Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low ; For, when Satan comes to tempt me, to the Secret Place I go. When my soul is faint and thirsty, 'neath the shadow of His wing There is cool and pleasant shelter, and a fresh and crystal spring ; And my Saviour rests beside me, as we hold communion sweet : If I tried I could not utter what He says when thus we meet. ' Only this I know ; I tell him all my doubts, and griefs, and fears ; Oh, how patiently He listens, and my drooping soul He cheers ! Do you think He ne'er reproves me ? What a false friend He would be If He never, never told me of the sins which He must see. •Would you hke to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord? Go and hide beneath His shadow ; this shall then be your reward. And, whene'er you leave the silence of that happy meeting-place. You must mind and bear the image of your Master in your face." Ellen Lakshmi Goreh (a Brahmin lady). 249 A man shall be . . . as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a iveary la^id'^ CHAPTER XXVIII. LIFE AT CHEFOO. The Chefoo Schools, — Cause of Riots. — A Korean Officer. — Baptisms at Pao-ning. I-ch'ang, on the Yang-tsi, October 22nd, 1 891. UR long rest and change at Chefoo is over, and now, through God's mercy, with re- newed health and strength, B. and I are on our way back to Si-ch'uan. Not only do I feel strengthened in body,, but God has graciously been blessing spiritu- ally too, and leading me on to greaterdesires after Himself, which He Himself will fulfil. At Chefoo we were able to have a day of ladies' meet- ings, when we definitely waited on God for an emptying 250 ON THE GUN-BOATS. 251 of all contrary to Himself, and for a fresh filling of the Spirit, in order that our lives might bring more glory to Him, and that He might use us mightily in this needy land. Ladies connected with other missionary societies met with us, and God gave very real blessing, many testifying to a deepening of spiritual life. The way opened up, too, for a little direct service for Him amongst the scholars in the English schools ; several of them being members of the '* Children's Scripture Union." We were able to have Scripture Union meetings with both boys and girls, each week for two and a half months. The Lord gave evidence of His working in our midst. We were present at the Summer Exhibition and distribution of prizes at the schools. In every branch of study the scholars seem to be well taught. It is a great boon to the members of our own and other missions to be able to send their children to such schools, where the education is equal to that given in schools in the home-lands. Several gun-boats were anchored at different times, in the harbour at Chefoo. On two of them, American and English, we were able to have meetings, and it was a true refreshment to tell the "old, old story " to one's own countrymen again. Our God was so good in preserving the lives of some of our number who met with accident and sick- ness. Miss Williamson, who has charge of the mis- sionary home in Shanghai, had a bad fall down a flight of stairs ; her ankle was sprained, but mercifully no bones were broken. Miss Turner was so seriously ill with an attack of cholera, that her life was despaired of, but God graciously answered prayer and raised her up 252 LIFE AT CHEFOO. from the very gates of the grave. She is now perfectly recovered, and on her wa}^ to Chao-kia-k'eo, in Ho- NAN. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson Taylor spent a few days in Chefoo ; their visit afforded help and encouragement to us all, and during that time we had a day of special waiting on God for blessing and power in the C.I.M. It has been a season of considerable trial in the Mission — much sickness, and some deaths. On the other hand, God has been faithful, supplying every need — spiritual and temporal — and daily loading us with benefits. You may have seen in the papers accounts of rioting at the stations along the Yang-tsi. So far as we know, the rioters have not yet touched any C.I.M. house, but the Roman Catholic buildings have been looted in several places ; and, at one place, the American Metho- dists' house. There are many suppositions as to the cause of the riots ; the most likely one being that they are instigated by a secret society of Chinamen, who rebel against having a Manchu dynasty, and think that if they can injure foreigners and bring about war with China, it may give them an opportunity for chang- ing the dynasty. It seems that their motive is rather to injure property, than to take life. During my stay in Chefoo I was helped to pass two examinations, in our course of Chinese study — the third and fourth sections. This will enable me, I trust, to give less time to study than hitherto, and more to direct work among the people ; although there yet remain two sections to be passed. The mode of travelling is different in Shan-tong MEDICAL WORK AT CHEFOO. 253 from that in Si-ch'uan. In Shan-tong they use a shen^ ts'i — that is, a sort of little straw hut, swung on poles, carried by mules, one in front and one at the back. It is said that the motion makes one feel seasick. The front mule is very liable to stumble, in which case one is bound to fall out. I have not tried a shen-ts'i^ but I think our Si-ch'uan sedan-chairs are preferable ! "SHEN-TSI, OR MULE LITTER. The medical work at Chefoo seems vigorous. A large number of out-patients come daily to the dispensary. Shortly 3 before leaving we became interested in the curious case of a Korean gentleman, a military officer. He had a defect in one of his eyelids ; the lower lid had sloughed away, showing more of his white eyeball than the officer thought elegant. He was afraid of losing his post through this defect, since, according to him, '' Koreans look on the outward appearance, not on 254 LIFE AT CHEFOO. the heart " ; so he begged Dr. Douthwaite to operate on him. At first he wished a piece of a shccp^s eyeHd to be sewn on to his own ; but on hearing that that would not do, he set about finding some man who would be willing to sacrifice his own appearance for that of the Korean officer. He negotiated with a Chinese beggar, who consented to part with his eyelid for the sum of forty taels (about ;^8 of our money). But at the last moment the beggar ran away ; so a substitute had to be found. This time it was a Korean, a nephew of one of the servants of the officer. The doctor assured him that he could not promise that the operation would be successful, but as he was so urgent in his requests he would try it. **' Oh," said the Korean, " that will depend on my luck." At first it seemed as if the graft would take, but in two or three days it withered up. The officer was not to be daunted, and asked for a second operation, having a piece taken from the other eyelid of the Korean servant. This time also it was unsuccessful, although his appearance was certainly improved rather than otherwise by what had been done. It is a comfort to know that the Korean servant is hardly disfigured, although he will have no lower eyelashes. I do not know what remuneration the officer will give him — or whether any at all, since the operation has not succeeded. I wonder if this is a typical case of Korean vanity ! We left Chefoo for Shanghai on October 7th. Arriving there, we found Mr. Cassels (who had come down from Pao-ning to attend the Council Meetings) quite ready to return ; and were glad at the prospect of having his escort back. BLESSING AT PAO-NING. 255 Mr. Cassels told us that just before leaving Pao-ning in September, he had had the joy of baptizing two men, the uncle and brother of a man named Shao, who was baptized at Han-chong, fif- teen years ago, and whose home is about a day's journey from Pao- ning. For the last two years he hgs been attend- THE BUND, HAN-KOW, ing the Fuh-ifig-t ang, evangelising in the district, and out of a full heart making known the gospel. His testimony in his own home and neighbourhood has 256 LIFE AT CHEFOO. been blessed. Last winter his uncle was willing to let him burn and take away his idols, and now his heart must be full of joy to see this very uncle, and his own brother, open followers of Christ. There seems to be distinct blessing among the women in Pao-ning, giving us great encouragement, and cause for thanksgiving to God. Miss F. Barclay writes to me of one woman in the Tuesday class, for whom you have prayed — Chao-ta-sao, our waterman's wife ; she has no doubt of her conversion. Many nice, hopeful letters have been received from the boys ; two of them, our teacher's son, and a Moham- medan, named Ma, tell me they have yielded them- selves to Jesus. Mr. Horobin, one of our missionaries, who was on a visit to Pao-ning for a few days, seems to have been greatly blessed to the boys. We have very much to thank our God for, have we not ? On Wednesday, the 14th, we left Shanghai on our westward journey. We hope (D.V.) to reach Pao-ning by the end of November. And in this comparatively restful time, during the journey, we want to hear the Master's voice saying, ''Go in thisth}^ might. . . . Have not / sent th^e ? . . . Surely / will be with thee " ; and may our true attitude of soul always be this : ^' We have no might, . . . neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon Theey " "DEFORE a Church that enthrones Christ in the heart and follows -»— ' Him everywhere, before a Church baptized with the fire of the Holy Ghost, nothing can stand. Francis Xavier stood before China and saw its vastness loom up like a mountain that shut out the very sky, and he cried, 'Oh Rock, Rock, when wilt thou open to my Master?' And that rock still stands, the Gibraltar of heathenism. God waits to be asked, and wills to give us all this power simply for the asking. A dying world is about us — nay, a dead world — but the Word of Life is in our hands. Oh for the Spirit of Life ! Let Him endue us, and our speech is no more with enticing words of man's wisdom, but with demonstration of the Holy Ghost."— Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., in The Divine Enterprise of Missions. 257 17 Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathe7i for thine inheritaftce.'' CHAPTER XXIX. RETURN TO SI-CH'UAN. On the River Steamers. — Rapids and Wrecks. October 28M, 1 89 1. YOU ask for an account of my journey back to Pao-ning, so I shall try to write each day any- thing of interest. B. and I left Chefoo, with Mr. and Mrs. Rough and Miss Turner, on October 7th. The sea was very rough, and in lifting the luggage from the boat to the steamer, one of my boxes fell into the water. The men managed to catch hold of it before it sank, but all the contents were soaked — amongst other things, some pieces of Chefoo silk, which I had been commissioned by friends to buy. The captain very kindly had some rope strung up on deck, and my first business was to empty the box and hang up the things to dry. As we were the only passengers on that part of the vessel, it did not much signify. After a few hours our object was accompHshed ; and we had only just finished putting them away when we all had to succumb to the rolling of the ship. We reached Shanghai on the third day, and found the Mission House very full, a party having lately arrived from Australia. 258 AN INDUCEMENT TO THIEVES. 259 We required a day or two to make preparations for the long journey westward, and on the 14th started by steamer for Han-kow. We formed a party of nine ; three left us at Ch'in-kiang, and three at Gan-k'ing, Mr. Cassels, B., and I, alone going on to Han-kow. Our rule is to travel in native style on these steamers ; so the five ladies of our party had a cabin together. We were fortunate in getting one with twelve berths. . Of course there was absolutely nothing in the cabin except the wooden shelves for berths ; but we had our own bedding and crockery and food, and so were very comfortable. Native food was brought to us twice a day; but some of us preferred to sup- plement it with foreign food. Rice is very satisfying, but does not seem to sustain one in the same way as bread. On the nice upper deck of the steamer we were able to spend most of the day. Two panes of glass were gone from our cabin door — certainly an improvement as far as air was concerned— but, alas! as certainly, an inducement to thieves. My berth faced the door' and two or three times during the night I saw a man's hand inserted through the opening, trying to seize anything within reach. It is well known that on these river steamers men make a practice of stealing, to pay their fare. On Sunday the i8th, we reached Kiu-kiang, and spent half an hour with our friends Mr. and Mrs. Rough, and Mr. Eyres, who are stationed there, the next day reaching Han-kow. We found a steamer for I-ch'ang in port, intending to start in the evening of the next day ; so, after securing cabins and leaving our 26o RETURN TO SI-CH'UAN. servant in charge, we went on shore and spent two very happy days with Mr. and Mrs. G . On returning to the steamer, we found that our servant had lost his Httle all, which consisted of his own clothes, and some things he had bought in Shanghai as presents for his parents. The things were all tied up in his bedding, and laid on his berth in the HAN-KOW. TA-MA-TE O, OR LARGE HARBOUR. general cabin, a large place containing fifty-two berths. One man engaged him in conversation, while another, in the meantime, must have been making off with his bundle. There were a number of scholars on that I-ch'ang steamer. I noticed the hands of one of them. The finger-nails were as long as the fingers. Between the nails (not the fingers) he held a cigar. I suppose such THE NATIVE BOATS. 261 very long nails showed that he was very far from doing any work with his hands. We reached I-ch'ang on the 23rd. Next day Mr. Cassels hired a native boat to take us as far as Wan- hsien, and by the evening we were comfortably settled in it. I will try and give you an idea of the boat. In the front the men row, and there the cooking is done. This part is open by day. At night, bamboo mats are drawn over, for there also the men sleep. Then come our three little rooms ; the first and largest is our sitting-room and pantry, and at night Mr. Cassels spreads his bedding and turns it into his bedroom. The next division, where B. and I sleep, is smaller ; and the third, where we have stowed our boxes, smaller still. Beyond that is the spot where the steersman stands ; and farther aft the captain's little room. The sides and top of the boat are of wood, and plenty of light and fresh air come in at the many windows. There are eight trackers,* besides the captain, steersman, and cook ; the captain's wife also is on board, and his httle baby-boy, two months old. Though we engaged the boat on Saturday, the captain was not ready to start until Tuesday ; time was needed to hire trackers, buy ropes and provision for the journey, etc. A Chinese gun-boat now lies in the harbour at I-ch'ang, for the protection of the custom-house ; and also the small steamer, Ella^ which for the present is being used as a gun-boat, having on board a contingent of soldiers from the Archer. The captain of the Ella very kindly allowed us to have a service with the men on Sunday evening. Nearly all were present, and * The trackers are men who drag the boat along from the bank. 262 RETURN TO SI-CH'UAN. seemed interested. On Monday we were shown over the Chinese gun-boat. At present we have no missionaries in I-ch'ang, and those belonging to other societies, who were obHged to leave during the recent riots, have not yet returned. The people seem quite peaceable and friendly now ; in fact, they have always been so. The recent trouble was caused by a number of soldiers, who felt more opposed to their own magistrates than to foreigners, though the foreigners' houses and property were destroyed. Yesterday, the 27th, we left I-ch'ang in our native boat. The current was strong, but the men pulled well. In the afternoon we came to some awkward corners in the gorges, and the trackers' rope broke three times. This of course delayed us, the boat being carried back each time some little distance. Although naturally this sort of thing would make us anxious and nervous, yet the Lord keeps our hearts in perfect peace ; we feel so safe in His hands. The ropes with which they tow the boat are made of bamboo, and seem all too frail to bear the immense strain sometimes put upon them ; the poles with which they keep the boat off the rocks are also of bamboo. To-day it has rained heavily, making the paths diffi- cult and slippery for the trackers. We have not gone far, but the rope remained unbroken to-day. The scenery in the gorges is grand ; in many parts the rocks are covered with vegetation, and we see lovely maiden-hair fern peeping out of crevices. Thursday, October 2gth. A lovely day. After breakfast we went on to the ANOTHER DAY OF RAPIDS. 263 bank, and had a nice long walk and scramble over the rocks for two and a half hours. The part of the river traversed to-day has been one long succession of rapids. Three times our rope has slipped ; and al- though this has caused us to lose a good deal of ground, we have mercifully been preserved from acci- dent. While on shore we watched other boats meeting with the same fate as ours, and passed the contents of a boat, chiefly cotton-wool, spread out on a bank to dry, the boat evidently having been wrecked. What with Bible-readings, Chinese study, writing, reading, and work, and walking when we have the opportunity, and sometimes doing a little bread-making and wash- ing, we find that our time goes all too quickly. Saturday, October 31s/. Yesterday was another day of rapids. We had a good walk on shore, and some talk with three women who invited us into their little hut. We saw some men making ropes, by twisting together narrow strips of bamboo. For two hours before breakfast this morning we went well, but a head-wind springing up just as we reached the entrance to a gorge, we had to wait for five hours, with our boat made fast to the rocks. Then the wind dropped, and we were able to proceed. Several wrecks were passed to-day ; one, a boat split in two against the rocks. While in the gorge, our own rope sHpped, and the boat whirled round twice and rushed down stream ; but the water was quiet just there, and the men were soon able to row to shore. Our hearts are full of praise to God for preservation. 264 RETURN TO Sl-CH'UAN. Mr. Cassels preached, and sold books on shore to- day, and found a few who possessed some knowledge of the gospel. To-night we are anchored, or rather *' tied up," at the lower end of a large rapid. We expect to remain here to-morrow, Sunday, and are hoping for oppor- tunities of making the gospel known in the little village near. Sunday, November ist. Woke up at 2 a.m., on hearing the door of one of our partitions slam to. The noise woke the boatmen also, and it was discovered that the boat had sprung a leak. A considerable amount of water had to be baled out. We have spent a very happy and restful Sunday in such a lovely spot. During the morning B. and I went on shore, and scrambled over the rocks towards some cottages in the distance. Some women brought out a form, and under a group of shady trees we sat for a long time, telling the gospel to a very quiet and attentive company, chiefly women. Later on, Mr. Cassels went out, and preached to the men. The Hu-PEH dialect is very similar to that of Si-ch'uan, so that we had no difficulty in understanding and being understood. " A MONG all the millions God sees you and distinguishes you, and ■^J^ observes and knows you as well as if you were the only one He saw. If God thus looks at you, singling you out from all others, do you look to Him, and think of Him ? You are not meant to think chiefly of your fellow-creatures, those few whom you can know among the thousand millions ; you are to \\i\a^first of Him Who has made you and them, your Creator, your Lord and God. Yet you are to think of your fellow- creatures. Whomsoever of those millions you can reach in any way, you are to try to do them good. You are not to live for yourself only ; you are to live to God, and to live to do good. For God has not put you alone on the earth ; He has made you one among millions, and He has made all of one blood , and all are fellow-men. " God, Who made all the millions of mankind, did not forget or forsake them in their need. When they were fallen and ruined by sin. He gave His Son to redeem them ; and now He calls each person to believe and be saved. T>o you believe? Is the Lord Jesus your Saviour? Have you sought and received the Holy Spirit? Are you at peace with God? And are you doing anything to bring to God the millions who do not know Him?" — Rev. F. Bourdillon, in The Church Monthly. 265 When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee.''^ CHAPTER XXX. DANGERS AND DELAYS. Continuation of River Journey. — " In Perils by Water." — Arrival at Wan-hsien. Moiiday, November 2nd. THIS has been an eventful day, and we are very thankful for the quiet which reigns now, the boatmen all being asleep, and the boat anchored in a gorge. At 5.30 this morning we prepared to pass through another rapid — one of the two chief rapids on the Yang-tsi — the water being still rather high ; it was not, however, so formidable as when the water is low. It was a lovely morning, and we preferred to walk along the shore. It was beautiful to see the sun rising over the high rocks. We walked a long way, and then, as our boat had not appeared, we accepted the invitation of a friendly woman to sit down in her tea-shop. The wind had risen, and we were glad of a shelter, though pigs and fowls were running about ad lib. After some time, our boy came to seek us, calling us back to the boat for breakfast. Fastened to the rock amongst others, the boat waited its turn to go over a stiff little piece of the rapid, and waited for the strong head-wind to lessen. 266 IN IMMINENT DANGER, 267 After breakfast Mr. Cassels went on shore. Our boy also went to buy eggs, etc., and some of the trackers had wandered from the boat, not thinking that the captain would attempt to go on in the face of the wind. He did, however, with only two or three trackers. The rope became entangled in some small rocks, and, before one of the trackers could release it, the boat had turned, and we were being carried down the stream. The men on shore were forced to let go the rope. In a few minutes, we were taken by the current to the place where -^we had started at 5.30 (it was then 9.30), and all that labour and time were lost. It was wonderful that the three or four men on board were able to stop the boat so soon ; it was a most marked preservation of our God ; for we were in imminent danger. I think I never felt Him so near, nor such a sense of His peace in my heart as then, when we expected any moment to be wrecked. - Mr. Cassels had finished preaching to a crowd on shore, when he heard some one say that the '' foreigners' " boat had gone down stream. He came back quickly, just in time to prevent what might have been^a fatal quarrel, between the captain and one of the delinquent trackers, whom the captain charged with the slipping of the boat, threatening to dismiss him then and there. They were standing on the bank. Their words became very high, and then they came to blows. In struggling they fell into the soft mud, and even there* would not unloose their hold of one another. Of course they only sank deeper, and unless Mr. Cassels and the boy had dragged them out, they certainly would have been stifled. It was fearful to see how utterly they were in the devil's 268 DANGERS AND DELAYS. power. It was long before they were at peace, and able to go on. In the afternoon the wind changed, and we made a Httle progress ; but it has been very little to-day. Wednesday, November ^th. Yesterday a strong head-wind in the gorge prevented our going on until the afternoon, and then a succession of small rapids hindered our making much progress. In the morning we went for a walk up the side of the hill, and were invited into a house. Twelve or fourteen women soon assembled, and were so friendly and nice. They listened well to the gospel story, and, on our leaving, insisted on filling our pockets with baked Indian corn. To-day our boatmen have worked well, and we have made the best day's progress since starting. At mid-day we reached the le-faii (wild rapid), quite the largest on the Yang-tsi. Fortunately there were not many boats going up ; so we had not to wait long for our turn. We walked, and from the shore watched our boat being pulled through the rapid. Besides our own seven trackers, about fifty more had been hired. The boat was almost through, when the rope broke, and back it went, at a tremendous rate ; God mercifully kept it from accident, and the men on board were able to prevent it from going very far down the river. This made the men careful to strengthen the rope, and with comparatively little delay we got through all right the second time, and went on well till dusk. Mr. Cassels rewarded the men to-night for working so well, by giving them each thirty cash (a little more ENTERING OUR OWN PROVINCE. 269 than a penny in our money), delighted. They were highly Monday, November <)th. On Friday we came into the Wu-san gorge, the finest of those we pass through, and anchored that night just on the boundary between Hu-peh and MA-TE O, OR HARBOUR FOR BOATS. Si-ch'uan. We felt so glad to be entering our own dear Province again. On Saturday we made very little headway, as it was a wet day, and the men did not attempt to proceed in the afternoon. It is our custom not to travel on Sundays, but, owing to the rain, the river rose consider- ably, making our anchorage (certain boulders on the bank, to which our ropes were fastened) insecure ; so the men asked leave to go on a little distance, to a better 270 DANGERS AND DELAYS. place. The river continued to rise, and in the night we were wakened many times by the noise of the men altering the ropes. At dawn this morning we made a start, and managed to get out of the gorge. We had to pass several corners, where the water rushed swiftly by, and at one of these our rope slipped and the boat whirled down the stream. Our God again preserved us from harm, taking us safely round the second time, though it looked just as if the current would once more prove too strong. Just before, we had passed a boat which had been literally smashed to pieces against the rocks ; the fragments were still floating about. It only happened yesterday morning. Some of the cargo had been saved, and this they stacked on the bank. As we were poling along beneath the walls of rock, a large stone came down almost on to our boat ; it had been thrown from a considerable height by a monkey ! In going round a difficult corner, before coming to a rapid, a boat, whose rope had broken in the rapid, came rushing back and grazed the side of our boat, carrying off three of our oars. Our men called out to her captain, asking him to pick them up and bring them on to the city, Wu-san, at which we were just arriving. We reached the city before twelve o'clock, and were waiting for our oars until five, when the boat arrived with them. It was then too late for us to go on, so we have done but little to-day. The captain of the boat which ran into us denied having picked up the oars, but on our captain insisting that he must have done so, he produced one of the three, and after some time a second ; but the third he positively refused to hand over. LEAVING THE GORGES BEHIND. 271 Our captain intends to let it be, and buy another oar, lest in revenge they should try to hinder his boat on the way up to Wan-hsien. It is sad to see how they distrust one another. Thursday, November \ith. To-day we have reached Ku'ei-fu, a city four stages from Wan-hsien. I am not sorry that we have left the gorges behind, grand as the scenery is. Coming up in high water involves constant struggling against currents, whirlpools, rapids, rocks, etc. It is very different going down with the stream. On Tuesday our boat struck on a rock, and later struck again, causing a leak. The luggage had to be taken out of the holds, while stopping it up with cotton- wool ; this delayed us two and a half hours. In the after- noon we came to more rapids, the boat being carried back a long way in one of them, through the rope slipping. It would have amused you to see the set of people who helped to pull us through one rapid It was just as if a workhouse community had been turned out — toothless old women, and little children, and one old man who could not walk without a stick. I suppose " union is strength," and that is why they managed to pull us through. These people live in little huts on the bank, and earn their living by pulling boats over the rapid. They get eight cash each (one-third of a penny) for each boat. Yesterday morning we entered the Si-ch'uan gorge. The boat banged a good deal against the rocks, owing to the whirlpools. This gorge is called the " wind-box gorge," and steering is very difficult. Our steersman fell down from the top of the boat into the water twice ; 272 DANGERS AND DELAYS. he was not hurt, but once he smashed one of the poles. We started from I-ch'ang with a good many poles and hooks, but have gradually been losing them. Sometimes they break, and sometimes fall into the water and are carried away. We are now reduced to one pole and one hook. In parts of the gorges where it is impossible to tow or row, they pole and hook the boat along against the rocks. In the rocks on one side of this gorge, a good road has been lately built, which must have taken a huge amount of labour, parts of it being chiselled out of the sheer rock. We had two good walks along it. We shall probably be at Ku'ei-fu all to-day, as the customs officers have to inspect the boat, and our captain has to get some repairs done. Friday, November lyh. We left Ku'ei-fu soon after 5 a.m., and with a good wind, and two extra trackers, made capital progress. I had just finished making some bread, and was settling down to letter-writing about two o'clock, when suddenly there came a tremendous crash. A large salt junk had slipped its rope in a rapid, and was carried back against our boat. The weakest part of the junk came in contact with the strongest part of our boat, and the stern of the junk was accordingly smashed in, while we escaped without serious damage. The crash threw down most of the things in our rooms, and caused a few extra leakages. The men were able to tie our boat to the rocks very quickly, and stopped up the leaks, while we had a walk and a talk with some women in a tea-shop. FULL OF PRAISE TO GOD. 273 Wan-hsien, Tuesday, November I'jth. To-day, the anniversary of my leaving home four years ago, we arrived at Wan-hsien. The last three stages of our river journey were certainly the best ; the water was calmer, and we had, most of the time, a good wind. And now we are waiting until the necessary preparations for the overland journey can be made. Our hearts are full of praise to God for His love and protecting care up till now. We want to be ready for any service He may have for us on the road to Pao-ning. So often women crowd round our chairs at the different stopping-places, and these are our opportunities for giving the message of salvation. 18 A POOR woman who lived in an attic and worked with her needle saved as much as ^^lo, and sent it to educate a native teacher in a far-away country. And she did this on six different occasions, so that, at the time she died, six men whom she had helped into the ministry were preaching the gospel in foreign lands. Shall we not imitate the example of this poor woman ? If we would help this glorious work, we too must learn the blessedness of self-denial. " Nine thousand out of the eleven thousand converts in the Fuh-kien Province of China are so poor that rice is an unattainable luxury for them. They live on sweet potatoes, at the incredibly small cost of about eighteen- pence a month. Yet these poor people raise ;i^3,ooo a year for the support of their clergy and teachers." 274 Under His shadow in the midst of the heathen!' CHAPTER XXXI. CHRISTMAS AT PAO-NING. Overland from Wan-hsien to Pao-ning. — Paper-making. — Pro- gress IN THE Work at Pao-ning. — A Christmas-tree. — Christmas-day Services. — Visiting in Hsia-ko-tsi. — "No Bridge." MY last journal was written from Wan-hsien, giving an account of our boat journey from Shanghai. After spending one day with our friends, Mr. and Mrs. Phelps, at Wan-hsien, we started, on November 19th, on our overland journey to Pao-ning. It was the first time I had travelled that route, and the scenery far surpassed all my expectation. The moun- tain gorges were magnificent, and most luxuriantly wooded. Coal abounds in the gorges, but the Chinese have not yet discovered how to obtain it. They merely bore a hole on the surface and burrow as far as they can reach, constantly making fresh burrowings. The bamboo grows thickly along the road, in many varieties, and is largely used in making a rough sort of brown paper. The young shoots are placed in tanks and covered with lime for a year, then taken out and pounded to a pulp, and turned into paper. We passed 275 276 CHRISTMAS AT PAO-NING. several paper-making houses, and the process appeared most interesting. Fewer opportunites of telHng the gospel were met with on this journey than we expected. The women were accustomed to the sight of foreigners, and did not crowd round us at the halting-places, as is often the case. Sometimes in the inns at night we had visitors, and on Sundays, when resting, the women came in and out of our room freely. We reached Pao-ning on December ist, thirteen days after leaving Wan-hsien, and received such a loving welcome from every one, foreigners and natives. Several of the school-boys had gone some distance on the road to meet us, but missed us. However, they came over to our house later in the evening and welcomed us back. We returned to find that God is indeed blessing His work here. There is considerable advance in many directions, and a deepening of the Holy Spirit's work in many hearts. Some of the school-boys have taken a more definite stand on the Lord's side, and are not ashamed to let others know that they mean to follow Jesus. They need much prayer, that the Holy Spirit may further enlighten and teach them, but I feel that up to their light they are sincere. It gave us great joy going to see the people again in the village Hsia-ko-tsi, where I visited so much last year; they had such a warm welcome ready, and settled themselves willingly to Usten to the ''old, old story." I trust our absence during these seven months will bear fruit to God's glory. The people all recognise His power and love in restoring me ; and that we LITTLE DESIRE TO HEAR. 277 should have taken such a long journey, and yet return to them again, touches them, and I trust also shows them the importance of our message. Pao-ning, December loth. Went to dinner with some people called Tuh. Last year we gave medicine to one of the women, and this dinner was given in token of her gratitude. December nth. Began a Friday evening class for singing, with the elder school-boys. December i6th. Went to a birthday-feast at the house of one of the Christians, Chang-ta-sao. After dinner had a long talk with some of the guests, who had not before heard of Jesus. December iSth. Went with B. to Hsu-kia-uan, the village across the river, where at one time we had a weekly class. The people now seem to have little desire to hear about Jesus, and all this year have left off coming in on Sundays to the services. At one time they seemed to be in earnest, and they know the Way of Life, but are now deliberately turning from it. We feel that God is dealing with them ; all through the year they have had much sorrow, sickness, and death. Oh that they may see that God is thus calling them to turn to Him 1 They need much earnest, believing prayer. December iind. To-day Miss Barclay and I went to the home of 278 CHRISTMAS AT PAO-NING. our woman, Li-ta-niang, about five miles from here. Most of the women were working in the fields, but, seeing our arrival, left their work to come and welcome us. One or two of them had a fair knowledge of the Truth, and were glad to hear more. December 2^th. Mr. and Mrs. Williams, who are expecting (D.V.) to leave Pao-ning in a week or two, for work at Pa- cheo, invited the Christians, the servants at both houses, the school-boys and teachers, to a Christmas- tree. It was the first time any of the natives had seen such a sigh , and their pleasure was very genuine. Each guest had three presents from the tree ; and I wish some of the dear children from Bath and Darling- ton could have had a peep at the group of happy faces, for some of their gifts helped to load the tree. I think they would have heard the Lord Jesus say, '' Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these ... ye did it unto Me^ Oh, how glad it makes us to do anything unto Him Who did so much for us ! Before coming into the room for the Christmas-tree, the guests were entertained with tea, and cakes, and nuts, and after the tree it was intended to show the magic- lantern ; but the distribution of presents to eighty-four people took so long, that there was no time left for the lantern. After singing *' Hark ! the herald angels sing," the guests went home. The two Christian men named Shao, who were baptized last September, and whose home is in the country, some // distant, came in to the Fuh-ing-t' ang to-day to spend Christmas, also Mrs. Chen from Chen- UANG-TS'ONG-rS STORY. 279 kia-pa, the village fifteen // away, and an inquirer named Uang, from a village in another direction, about a hundred // from here. The story of this man Uang is very interesting. In the summer of last year he came to the Fuh-ing-f ang, was interested in the gospel, and bought a Bible and other books, which he carried back to his home ; and since then he has been a few times to the Fuh-ing-f ang. Mr. Beauchamp, while itinerating lately in the neigh- bourhood of Uang's home, called at his house. He found the wife and child, but Uang himself was not at home. He noticed that in the part of the room where the idols were previously placed, there was now a shelf containing his Bible and other books. At the sides were scrolls, on which he had written, '' Got> the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost are the One True God," and, '' Jesus died on the Cross to save sinners." At the top of this little recess were three large red characters — Ftih-ing-f ang (Gospel Hall). His little girl knew the name of Jesus, and was accus- tomed to pray ; and in the neighbourhood Uang was known as one belonging to the " jESUS-religion." Mr. Evans has also lately returned from an itinera- tion. He stayed for a few days in the homes of some relatives of his Christian teacher, and had the joy of seeing two families destroy their idols. Christmas Day. To-day has been a happy day ; the Holy Spirit has been working, and our Lord was glorified in our midst. We had a Chinese Service at 11.30. Afterwards all 2So CHRISTMAS AT PAO-NING. who had been at the service (over ninety) remained to dinner and to the afternoon service. In the evening the teacher and school-boys had a supper, to v^hich they invited all the gentlemen. At the morning service Mr. Cassels preached, re- minding us of God's unspeakable gift to us, and asking what gifts we would give to Jesus that day. The Holy Spirit was manifestly working. One woman, two of the backsliders, and one of the lads in my class, stood up and said they would give up wine- drinking ; one of the Christians, Shao, said he would give up tobacco-smoking, and brought his long pipe and laid it on the table. Several rose, saying they would give their time on Sunday to Jesus, and come, morning and afternoon, to the services and classes. One woman felt exercised about having idols in her house. They belonged to a nephew to whom she had let the room — and some time ago when she wished to remove them, the nephew had become very angry ; what was she to do? After the service the women were talking in little groups, about what they could give to Jesus. One of them (the daughter of the landlady, a Mohammedan, whose house adjoins the room where the services are held) said to me, '* I and my daughter have generally listened to the service from the other side of the wall, but now we will come right in." December 26th. To-day some of the Christians have given up their time, and have gone with the gentlemen, two-and-two, preaching in the city, and outside. This afternoon I m , ^m IP, -m mm ^m I "r% m^< * ^ni* i 1 282 CHRISTMAS AT PAO-NING. went to see the Tubs, the people who invited us to dinner not long ago. Almost their first words were, '* Read to us out of your books ; tell us about God." Chao-ta-sao, one of the inquirers, who went with me, testified to God's goodness to' her, and I think her bright, happy face spoke louder than her words. Sunday, December 2']th, To-day our faithful God has again been in our midst, answering prayer, and working in the hearts of the people. The services, morning and afternoon, were well attended, and the four who on Christmas Day said they wished to give up wine-drinking, publicly signed their names to a pledge-form. Mr. Cecil Polhill-Turner (who is here for a few days) took the afternoon service, and told us of his desire to carry the gospel to the Thibetans. He is going to Song-p'an, a city to the north-west of this Province, with the view of taking a house and working among the Thibetans who five there. He has been looking to the Lord to provide him with a native to accompany him on this journey. When Mr. Turner had finished speaking on Sunday, Mr. Evans told the people that he needed a man to help him at Song-p'an, and asked if any one in the congregation would volunteer to go for Jesus' sake ? The inquirer Uang volunteered ;* and when Mr. Cassels told him he might have to suffer, it would not be an easy journey, he still said he would gladly bear suffering for Jesus' sake. It seems so clearly the Lord's doing ; for this man has been to Song-p'an before. "* See page 279. WHO IS JESUS? 283 December 2Sth. After breakfast, Chao-ta-sao and I set off for a day's visiting in Hsia-ko-tsi, the village ten It from here. On entering the village we were invited to sit down in a small house, by a woman who was making straw- shoes. I had not entered that house before, so welcomed the opportunity. Two more women, neighbours, came in, and a group of children and lads stood round the door. The women had heard of our Christmas-day services, and wanted to know why we were so happy that day. ''Who is Jesus?" '' Did He really die for us ? " "Then of course we must worship Him." " Don't let us forget that Jesus and the Heavenly Father love us and can take care of us ; Jesus and the Heavenly Father are the true God." '' How must we worship Him ? " " How can you be sure that He answers prayer ? " It was suck a joy to answer question after question of this sort, and to hear the women repeatedly saying, — " Listen, listen ; don't let us forget." In answer to their question about prayer, we were able to tell them that, before coming out, Chao-ta-sao and I had knelt dov/n and asked God to lead us to people who would be glad to hear the gospel ; fhey themselves were the proof that God answers prayer. I was taken later into a hut where a poor woman was dying. Quite alone, and eighty-seven years old, she lay on straw on the mud floor, covered over with rags and straw. She had no one to care for her, her nearest relation being a niece, living some // away, who came once a day with a bowl of rice. 284 CHRISTMAS AT PAO-NING. When the poor old woman saw me, she said, — *' My sins are great, and so I have this trouble. I am crossing a river, but not on a bridge ; I am falling in." It seems that the Chinese have the idea that at death a river has to be crossed. If during life they have done good they will go over by a bridge, if evil they will fall into the river. Thank God, I could tell her that there was one called Jesus, Who loved her and bore her sins ; He could take her safely across the river. The people said, '' She can't understand " ; but my hope and trust were in the Almighty Spirit, Who, even then, could lighten her darkness. December 29/A. Spent the morning in study, and in the afternoon took the women's class. One of them, Chang-ta-sao, an inquirer, stayed behind to tell me that she prayed to God night and morning. She told me the words she used — such a comical, yet touching string of little sentences, parts of prayers which she had heard others use, several lines of various hymns, parts of texts, and little petitions of her own, yet all coming from a heart beating with true love to Jesus. Her daughter, a girl of sixteen, kneels down with the mother, and often, if the mother is late morning or evening, the girl will call to her, *' Mother, we have some business to attend to," meaning, *' It is time for prayer." December Tpth. Visited the parents of some of the school-boys. December 2)^st. As usual in our Mission, we spent to-day in fasting A MARKED YEAR. 285 and prayer. We had two united meetings at 1 1 and 2.30, and later in the evening, the Communion Service. It has been a day spent with Him ; He has been speaking to us. Looking back over the past year, one is grieved at the many, many failures and shortcomings, and just overwhelmed with the sense of the Lord's great, great long-suffering and love. This has been a marked year in my experience; pray that all the teaching my Master has been giving me may indeed be lived out, through the Holy Spirit, during the New Year, that I may be an instrument ever clean and fit for His use. And do pray that 1892 may see an ingathering of many precious souls into the fold of Jesus. O SPIRIT of the living Gou, In all Thy plenitude of grace, Where'er the foot of man hath trod Descend on our apostate race. Give tongues of fire, and hearts of love, To preach the reconciling Word ; Give power and unction from above Whene'er the joyful sound is heard. Be darkness, at Thy coming, light ; Confusion, order in Thy path ; Souls without strength inspire with might ; Bid mercy triumph over wrath. O Spirit of the Lord, prepare All the round earth her God to meet ; Breathe Thou abroad like morning air, Till hearts of stone begin to beat. Baptize the nations far and nigh, The triumphs of the Cross record ; The name of Jesus glorify, Till every kindred call Him Lord." J. Montgomery. 286 " Turtied to God from idols, to serve . . . and to wait for His Son from heaven!' CHAPTER XXXII. CHANGED LIVES. Baptisms and Testimonies. Pao-ning, February lyd, 1892. SINCE the Chinese New Year began (January 30th), we have been busy, at both houses. We had several guests for the first three or four days ; then the rain came, which prevented visitors caUing. We had many women from the country places around — some coming a distance of twenty or thirty li — the greater number of whom had not heard the gospel before. Mr. Redfern and the Misses Ellis arrived at the New Year, bringing with them some bright Christian servants from Han-chong and Ch'en-ku. It was such a joy to meet with them and our own Pao-ning Christians round the Lord's Table on the first Sunday evening. On the 1 6th of the first month, Mr. Cassels baptized fifteen— nine women, four men, and two boys ; two men were also received back into fellowship. All those baptized had been inquirers for several months, and gave manifest proof of having received the Holy Spirit. Much prayer had been made for them and 287 288 CHANGED LIVES. with them previously ; and on the day of baptism, God was with us in power. Many testified to having received very real blessing. You will be glad to know that some for whom you have been praying so long and faithfully were among the number baptized. They will need your prayers none the less now. Liu-ta-sao (the widow), and our two women-servants, Li-ta-niang and Ts'ai-ta-sao, were baptized, also our cook's wife, and Chao-ta-sao, the water-woman, of whom 1 have often written. This dear woman is just a miracle of grace. When first we came, nearly four years ago, she seemed like a stone ; nothing touched her or made any impression ; and twice, since we have known her, she has attempted to commit suicide by taking opium, owing to some trifling quarrels with other water-carriers at the well. I think that the last time she took opium (about a year ago), the sense of God's great love in having spared her life, that her soul might be saved, was the means of her conversion. For some time she has been rejoicing in knowing her sins are pardoned, and she tells people, '^ I had many sins, but Jesus has borne them away ; He is my Saviour." She delights to tell of Jesus. One day I took her out visiting with me, and when we came out of the house, . she said, — . "My heart is so happy ; telling others of Jesus always adds to my own joy." She bears a bright witness wherever she goes. Sometimes, instead of carrying water to ten or more houses in a morning, she can only go to two or three, for the people keep her to tell them the gospel. 1 ^■BELIEVERS IN THE LOROr 289 asked her if her husband got vexed at her being de- layed, and her answer was, "Oh, no; how could he be vexed ? God's things are most important, and we both run faster with the water in the afternoon, to make up." Hitherto the husband of this woman has not been coming to the services, though he does all he can to let his wife come, and up to his light he believes in the Lord, having family prayers every evening ; but he has not yet seen his way to give up work on Sundays. We are glad that he is beginning to attend the weekly evening class for inquirers. I would like to tell you about two other women who were baptized. They are the wives of two men named Shao who were baptized last September. Their home is about a hundred // distant, and they have been brought to the Lord entirely through the influence and testimony of their husbands. For about a year they have been trusting Him, and this was their first visit to Pao-ning. One of them has been taught by her husband to read since she became a Christian, and now does so fairly well. They have been staying with us for ten days, and to-day returned to their home. It was good to have them here ; they are brimming over with love to the Lord, and He is their one theme. The Holy Spirit has taught and led them on most wonderfully. I am sure their testimony in this place will not be without fruit. We rejoiced to take them out visiting with us, and when asked, who they were, their answer invariably was, *' We are believers in the Lord; do you believe, 19 290 CHANGED LIVES. or not ? " To rich and poor alike, their words were so pointedly, and at the same time so lovingly, spoken. ** You ought to believe in the Lord, and have nothing to do with idols." " Why don't you believe in the Lord ? " In the house of some well-to-do people, one of these women noticed some ancestral and other tablets. I saw her looking at them with a very troubled face, and presently came the question in a whisper to me, ** Do these people believe in the Lord or not ? " I told her I thought they believed that the doctrine was true, but that I feared they did not believe in Jesus as theh' Saviour. Then she went over to where the lady of the house was sitting, and taking hold of her hand, said, " God cannot give you His Holy Sph^it to change your heart, while you have those tablets and that incense there ; He hates those things." And a long, earnest conversation followed. These women love to pray about every little thing. One of them remarked that she often said aloud, '' Satan, I have nothing to do with you now ; I belong to Jesus." Our hearts are full of praise to God, and I know yours will be also, for what He has done for these women. If they are so overflowing with the abundance of His life, what ought we to be, with our greater privileges and longer knowledge of Himself? The two boys baptized were Kuei-hsi (Mr. Cassels' table-boy), and Ku-ho-lin, the grandson of the Fuh- ing-fang landlady, a Mohammedan. These boys you have prayed for ; both are in my class. We praise God for His workings in this Mohamme- dan family. Ever since Mr. Cassels has been here, the " IT IS- FOR JESUSr 291 boy has been interested in the Truth, and has been gradually growing in the knowledge of Jesus, while until within the last year his grandmother seemed untouched by the gospel, and inclined to oppose her grandson being baptized. But now, thank God, she is entirely changed ; the Holy Spirit is working in her heart ; she comes regularly to the Sunday services and the inquirers' classes ; and it was with her full consent that the boy was baptized into the Christian Church. Of course it means opposition, and perhaps persecution, from other Mohammedans, and members of the family ; but, praise God, He has made them willing to endure that. The boy is so bright, and has now taken up the work of starting a branch of the '* Young People's Scripture Union," as '^ something to do for Jesus." I told him it would be no easy matter to copy out the portions month by month for each member, and he answered so brightly, '' Oh, that does not matter ; it is for Jesus." God is blessing His work in Pao-ning ; the time of reaping is coming. There are still a good many inquirers, men, women, and school-boys, who need your prayers. We are continually getting new openings for visiting, and B.'s hands are becoming full with attending to the sick. She hopes soon to hire a couple of rooms in the city as a dispensary, and have certain hours in the day for seeing sick people. We are trusting, too, that this dispensary may be a new centre for gospel work among women. Mrs. Cassels hopes shortly to begin a day-school for girls ; already she has the promise of several pupils. 292 CHANGED LIVES. Mr. and Mrs. Cassels expect to start in a day or two for Kuang-iien, where there are two or three ready for baptism. Last week we had a prize-giving for the school-boys, and showed them the magic-lantern which lately arrived from England. They were delighted with the pictures on the life of Joseph. We have lately been taking that subject at the Sunday classes. Since I last wrote Mr. and Mrs. WiUiams have gone to take up the work at Pa-cheo ; and Mr. and Mrs. Hay ward have come to help in Pao-ning. Last Sunday we had such a full congregation ; there was hardly room to seat all who came, two or three, who had previously tried to hinder others from attending, being present for the first time. The Service Hall has lately been enlarged, but it is still all too small. We are looking to the Lord for guidance about building another. " n^HOUGH our task is not to bring all the world to Christ, our task -L is unquestionably to bring Christ to all the world."— Rev. A. T- Gordon, D.D. "The work of wittiess is the duty of the whole Church. The Jleld of witness is the territory of the whole world. The force of witness is the baptism of the Holy Spirit."— Dr. Pierson, in The New Acts of the Apostles. I would not work my soul to save. For that my Lord has done ; But I would work like any slave For love of God's dear Son." 293 '^ Cast thy bread upon the ivaters ; for thou shalt find it after many days.'' CHAPTER XXXIll. SEED-SOWING. Encouragement among the School-boys. — A Day-school for Girls. — Itinerating from Sin-tien-tsi. — Back to Pao-ning. — A Wedding Service. — Turned out of Shuen-k'ing. THERE have been four baptisms at Kuang-lien since last writing : the teacher Hu, the cook at the Fuh-ing-f ang and his wife and h'ttle child. Mr. Cassels was much encouraged in seeing progress in the work there ; several gave in their names as inquirers. The village work is increasing, and some men are interested in the Truth. One of the women named Shao, lately baptized in Pao-ning, is now on a visit to our friends in Kuang-iien ; we are looking to the Lord to bless her testimony to many souls. God is continuing to bless His work in Pao-ning. We have been getting several new openings to houses in the villages and city ; B. gives up her mornings to receiving and attending to sick folk. Quite a number come daily, and for the last month or so we have had many exhibitions of the magic-lantern. This draws in many fresh women, and the pictures do impress on their memories the story of our Lord's life and sufferings. On one occasion P. B and I took the lantern to the house of some ladies in the city who could not go out. 294 THE RAMADAN FAST. 295 I know this lantern was sent out to China by many who are still praying that it may be used by God to the salvation of souls ; and 1 know your prayers will not be in vain. We have had staying with us for the last fortnight a lady who desires to break off opium-smoking ; her husband broke off a month or two ago. The wife is a good deal more intelligent than most women, for she can read, and it has been a very great pleasure teaching her Bible truths ; she takes them in so readily. One longs that the Holy Spirit may give her a saving knowledge of Jesus. This year several new scholars have come to the boys' school, and three of the elder lads have left and gone into situations. I hear that they have taken their Bibles with them, and read and pray daily, but they are not able to come to the Sunday services. I long for the time when there will be Christian masters for these boys to serve. I was encouraged a day or two ago by hearing of the following incident : — Two of the boys — one lately bap- tized, and the other an inquirer — were told by their parents (Mohammedans) to go to the graves and wor- ship at the beginning of the Ramadan fast. They refused, saying that they could not serve two masters. They were still urged to go, and still refused to disobey God. At last they were told just to go to the graves and come back again, without worshipping, but they said, *' No ; by becoming Christians they had broken away from Mohammedan practices, and could not go." Then, to satisfy his parents, a younger brother (also an inquirer) said that he would go and come back without 296 SEED-SOWING. worshipping. But he only got half-way when rain came on, and the roads were so muddy that he had to turn back. The grandmother of one of the boys told us this story, and said that when she saw that the younger boy was not able to get to the graves, she felt she had done wrong in urging them to go. And she added that she could not forget the words of the other boys, *' No man can serve two masters." Mrs. Cassels has lately begun a day-school for girls ; there are over twenty scholars, and the number is likely to increase. On April 4th, I left Pao-ning for Sin-tien-tsi, chiefly with a view to itinerating in the market-villages around, of which there are sixteen or eighteen. On the way up it was a great pleasure to meet again several old friends, whom I had not seen for over two years. At one of the places I passed through, a market was going on. Crowds gathered round my chair to listen to the gospel, and I was able to give away a good many tracts. At another place I had an interesting talk with a woman who is an opium-smoker. She wants to go back to Pao-ning with me when I return, to break it off. In the course of conversation she said, " We are afraid of devils and of death. You are not afraid ; how is that ? " Another, standing by, answered, '* They have Jesus ! " Oh, how much those three words meant to me just then ! how they opened my eyes to see what these poor people lack in not having Jesus ! and how they opened my lips to tell them that they might have Jesus then and there ! for He was their Saviour as well as ours. A FIELD OF THE DEADLY POPPY. 297 SiN-TiEN-TSi, April ith. In the morning a guest came from U-li-tsi, a village four miles away, who had never heard the gospel. She listened well, and remarked that since we had taken this house, the agriculture in the neighbourhood had prospered. My woman, who was sitting near by, answered, '' Of course. They pray to God three times a day to bless Sin-tien-tsi and you people ! " Went to the home of the landlord of this house. Found that he is still smoking opium. He has no money of his own, but borrows from others, in order to smoke. He has literally reduced himself to beggary, and is living in a dilapidated thatched cottage. His children look half-starved, and are very poorly clad. His wife seems to have eaten no opium since December. Went on to see some relations of the landlord. Such a contrast ! A beautiful house, well-stocked gardens, children plump and well dressed, a general feeling of comfort and wealth about the place; but, alas ! the old lady of the house, and four of her sons, are opium-smokers, and may come to the same condi- tion of poverty as our landlord. Just outside the house was a field of the deadly poppy, in full bloom. All the women were exceedingly kind, pressing me to stay the night, and loading me with vegetables from the garden, to carry away. April ^th. Went out on the main road, and had talks with several people returning from market. April nth. Had a most interesting talk with an old man named 298 SEED-SOWING. HsUeh, in his own house. For some months he has been interested in the gospel, and coming to services here. He had several questions ready to ask — among others, some relating to the Crucifixion ; and as I told him the story of our blessed Lord's suffering and death, tears filled his eyes, and he seemed much moved. I am sure that the Holy Spirit is working in his heart. April \2tl1. Went to U-li-ts'i, a market four miles away, to visit a woman who was here a few days ago, and heard the gospel for the first time. Her house is one of a cluster of eight or nine, in a most beautiful valley. The in- mates of these houses are all relatives, and bear the same name. I had a very warm welcome ; my friend insisted on keeping me to dinner, and afterwards the women from the other houses assembled to *' listen to the Book." '' We know we have sinned " ; '' We have forgotten God " ; " We want to be saved " ; '* How can we be saved ? "; " Tell us how to pray " ; — such sentences as these kept coming from one and another. Oh ! it is a privilege to be allowed to teach such a blessedly full and free salvation ! On the way back I met a wom.an to whom F. B had told the gospel during an itineration in quite another direction last November ; she remembered a great deal. April l-^th. Set out for San-ch'uan-si, a market ten miles from Sin-tien-tsi. It was market-day, and crowds of people were buying and selling. I found an inn, and sat in an inner courtyard, where I had a continuous stream of guests until late in the afternoon, when the market INTEREST IN THE TRUTH. 299 people had to return to their homes. Then, having dined, I went out on the street, and was invited into two houses, where I had attentive Hsteners. On going back to the inn, I found a servant waiting to take me to the house of- some wealthy people named Meng. ^ I had met some of CHINESE BARBERS. the family, in the house of relatives, in Pao-ning. The gentleman knew Mr. Beauchamp, and had a good deal of interest in the Truth. They received me most kindly, and pressed me to stay to their evening meal, which 1 did ; the meal was not served until nine o'clock, so I was with them some four hours. Alas ! both 300 SEED-SOWING. husband and wife are opium-smokers. They acknow- ledge it is wrong, but seem enslaved to the habit. Returning to my inn about ten o'clock I found that the inn people (who had been very busy all day) now desired to come into my room for a chat. We got so interested over the ** ever-fresh story," that it was eleven o'clock before I began to think of bed. April 14th. Went on to the next market-place, seven miles distant, and found that the market was going on. Shih-men-ch'ang is smaller than the place I was at yesterday, but there were crowds of people. My chair- bearers had difficulty in getting through them ; at last they gave up trying, and set me down in the middle of the street while they went to look for an inn. They found a house in course of building, with a big, empty room, which they thought might do for me to speak in. A form was procured, and I sat down for a few minutes ; but I saw it would not do. The people, never having seen a foreign lady, were full of excitement, and just /locked in. A crush, and a disturbance on the part of those who could not get in, was impending ; so I said I would go outside. A form was placed against the wall, and then it was all right ; every one could see, and the crowd became perfectly orderly. I was able, after the first few minutes, to get into conversation with the women nearest me, and to sell a good many tracts and books. My chair-bearers in the meantime were doing their best to find me an inn, and finally succeeded in finding a tiny room about six feet square and seven high ; this I had filled with women EASTER SUNDAY. until seven in the evening. Some seemed really interested, especially one old woman — a vegetarian — and some Roman Catholics. I asked them about keeping the Lord's Day, and they said, "The holy father says we are to stop our work for half the day, but may do it the other half, because we are poor ! " April \$th. Back at Sin-tien-tsi. Had a good time at a small market village, Liu-k'i-pa, on the way. Met some old friends who had seen me at San-ch'uan-si, and wanted to hear more about Jesus. April \']th. Easter Sunday. A very happy day. Realised much of the Lord's own deep peace and joy in my soul, and His presence with us at our little services. There were sixteen present at the morning service, and eight in the afternoon. The opium-smoking landlord and his wife were here. Poor man, he looked so wretched and miserable ! He is completely under the power of the devil, bound down by this sin. At the close of the afternoon service, the old man, Hsiieh, and a friend of his, stayed behind for an hour or so talking about the Lord. April iSth. Guests all day going to and returning from the market at U-li-tsi. April igfh. Left Sin-tien-ts'i at 7.30 a.m. for Ts'ang-k'i. Old Mr. Hsueh came up to morning prayers before I started. 302 SEED-SOlVINn. Reached Ts'ang-k'i about 3 p.m. Soon got settled in a little room in an inn, and received a number of guests until evening. It was a pleasure to meet again some old friends who had heard the gospel eighteen months ago when B. and I visited Ts'ang-k'i. My intention was to spend four days at Ts'ang-k'i, returning again to Sin-tien-tsi|; but the Master had other plans for me. That night a letter arrived from Pao-ning, telling me it had been arranged that Mr. Beauchamp and Miss F. Barclay should be married the next day. By starting the first thing in the morning it was possible to be in time for the wedding. PRAY FOR SHUEN-K'ING. 303 Api't'l 20th. Reached Pao-ning at twelve o'clock, just in time for the wedding service. The guest-hall, used on Sundays for the services, was made to look very pretty with red cloth, scrolls, and flowers. A good number of the natives assembled to witness the ceremony, though there would probably have been many more, had there been more time to make it known. The bride and bridegroom left in the afternoon to spend a few da3^s at Sin-tien-ts'i. I was grieved, on returning to Pao-ning, to hear that for the present the door seems shut against us at Shuen-k'ing. At the beginning of the year we were able to rent a house ; but afterwards, owing to the opposition of the magistrate and some of the students, were forced to give it up, though not without doing all in our power to keep our position. Mr. Beauchamp and Mr. Parsons were last week literally turned out of the city. The people of .Shuen-k'ing seem quite friendly to us, and receive our message gladly, and numbers have heard the gospel since Mr. Gill and others have been there. Pray for Shuen-k'ing, that the Lord will open a door, which no man can shut. To the uninitiated a Chinese school-room is a chaos of confusion, a babel of noise. Each scholar is repeating his own lesson, without any regard to the one his neighbour is shouting in his ear. A stranger wonders how it is the lessons do not get mixed up ! But no ; over and over again, each one reads his own in heedless independence. When tired of to-day's new lesson he turns back to the beginning, and reiterates the previous tasks ; for every book must be repeated without a mistake from beginning to end ere he proceeds to another. When the lesson is known he goes up to the teacher's table to repeat it, always standing with his back to his instructor, lest he should look over the book. A teacher will sometimes have four or five different books placed before him at once, the same number of children repeating as many different sentences, while he perhaps is correcting a copy with his red-ink marks. But he detects mechanically a mistake on either hand, much as when, the noise around slackening, he looks to see who is idling." — M. J. OxLAi:), from The Child at School in Chi?ia. 304 We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us^ CHAPTER XXXIV. TOKENS OF BLESSING. The Girls' School. — A Boat Wrecked. — Arrival of C.M.S. Mis- sionaries. — Evangelistic Services for Men. — At Sin-tien-tsi. — ChAO-TA-NIANG. — HsiJEH-TA-IE. BuRNING OF IdoLS. Sin-tien-tsi, August \<)th, 1892. THREE months have gone by since I last sent you a journal ; they have been busy months, with just the regular round of work. Mrs. Cassels was away for some weeks, and left her women's and girls' classes to me. It was such a pleasure, teaching the children. There are now over twenty in the school, but the average attendance is from fourteen to seventeen, while the ages vary from seven to sixteen. They are most affectionate, and have such pretty little ways of showing their love. Their memories are capital, quite equal to the boys' ; and I so enjoyed seeing them drinking in the stories from the Bible. In visiting the homes of the children I found, in some cases, that the little girls had taught their mothers the hymns and texts learnt at school. Pray that the day may soon come when these little ones shall know Jesus as their Saviour. They read a few Chinese books with the teacher, and a woman is engaged in the afternoons, teaching 305 20 3o6 TOKENS OF BLESSING. them sewing and embroidery. A week or two ago Mrs. Cassels gave some prizes to those who had be- haved and worked well. They were charmed with their little needle-books, thimbles, pictures, etc. I have been continuing my weekly visits to the village Hsia-ko-tsi. Now and then I am invited into fresh houses, and often get interested listeners. At one house, where I visit regularly, I noticed that the bowl of incense-sticks had been removed from its usual place, and in answer to my inquiry, the wife said, " Since my husband has been attending the services at the Fuh-ing-fangy he has done away with the incense and idols, and now he reads the Bible to us every evening." In that same house, on another occasion, a stranger came in who told me that her husband possessed some of our Christian books ; that he lived too far away to come in to the services ; but that he had an almanac, by which he knew when Sunday came round, and then he read the books. She wanted to know if doing right, from to-day, would cancel the sins of former years, and whether it was true that God could heal us when we were ill. She also said, '* If this doctrine is so good, why didnH you come before to tell us? " In June we had a large number of guests. There was a hnei^ or gathering together of people, at a certain temple, to fulfil their vows to an idol, for recovery from sickness, and to pray for exemption from sickness during the year. It afforded an opportunity to tell them of the One True Healer for soul and body. We have had two native feasts during the last two months. Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp gave one in honour A WRECK. 307 of their marriage, and Mr. and Mrs. Hayward in honour of the birth of their httle son. There has been a good deal of coming and going of " foreigners " lately. Dr. and Mrs. Wilson, from Han- chong, paid us a visit, and took back with them L. B , who was run down in health, and needing bracing moun- tain air, as well as a doctor's care. Mr., Mrs., and Miss Graham Brown also spent a few days with us, en route for Shanghai, from Kan-suh. They had intended stay- ing only a few hours in Pao-ning, but owing to a shipwreck experienced just above Kuang-uen, they were obliged to stay longer, in order to dry their things. Theirs had been a most merciful preservation. The boatmen were just finishing a feast of pork, when the boat came to a rapid. The captain called for more men to come to the oars. They came too late, and the force of the water dashed the boat against the rocks, and immediately it filled. They tried putting out ropes, some of the men swimming with a rope to the shore, but that failed, and the boat drifted out into the middle of the stream with the current, and onwards for more than a mile, gradually nearing the other bank, which was a perpendicular wall of rock, without foot- hold anywhere. They all stood on deck on their boxes, which were under water ^ thinking it must prove instant death ; but a boat sighted them, the captain of which noticed foreigners, and thought he recognised Mr. Phelps, who had been kind to him some years ago. This boat's crew began to row vigorously to their rescue, and succeeded in catching them up. The crew of the wrecked boat had meanwhile been 3o8 TOKENS OF BLESSING. packing up tfheir bedding and belongings, and made a dash to get on to the boat as it got near. A number of them did so, and Mr. Graham Brown was able to get his wife, sister, and youngest child on board. He had great difficulty in keeping back six more boatmen. Had they, too, crowded on to the boat, it must have been swamped. Exerting all his strength, he pushed the boat off, remaining himself on the wrecked boat with his eldest little boy. The rescuing boat landed its occupants, and then returned for Mr. Brown and all the rest, and afterwards recovered all the baggage and cargo. And now they found out wh}^ the boat had not sunk. The cargo consisted of tobacco, sealed up in large wooden cases. It had been packed tightly, and acted as a float. It was indeed a merciful deliverance. They made a small tent of mats on the shore, and began drying their things in the sun. Nothing was lost, and nothing that they really needed spoilt. The other boat brought them on to Pao-ning. Mr. and Mrs. Horsburgh (C.M.S.), their two little girls, and two ladies of their party, reached us in June, and are at present occupying our house in the country, Sin-tien-ts'i, and getting a quiet time of study before attempting to open new stations. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Taylor also arrived in June. They have come to work in this district, in place of Mr. and Mrs. Hayward, who are appointed to Shanghai. Mr. Marshall Broomhall escorted Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and has now gone on to visit other C.I.M. stations in Si-ch'uan. Lately we have been unitedly praying for a revival in the men's work in Pao-ning, as few have been coming GOOD CONGREGATIONS. 30.9 to the services. God is answering our cry. He brought two men, one educated, and the other not, to inquire about the Truth. They are much interested, and are, we hope, sincere inquirers. For the last three or four Sundays there have been good congregations, sometimes as many as one hundred, and a fair proportion of men. MISSION HOUSE SIX-TIFX-TSI Two weeks ago, two men came in from the country, about ninety li from here, who had been influenced by a Christian man named Shao, hving in their neighbour- hood. They had put away their idols, professed faith in the Lord, and had been meeting with the Shao family on Sundays to worship God. These two men TOKENS OF BLESSING. were uncle and nephew. They gave their testimony so simply and brightly. We hear there are two other men in the same district who have followed their example. About a fortnight ago, Mr. Cassels began a series of evangelistic meetings for men, which are held every evening at dusk, and have been well attended. The interest keeps up. Some of the native Christians take part in the meetings by speaking and bringing in their friends. A few days ago I came up to Sin-tien-tsi for a few weeks' rest and change. The lovely cool, country air, after the heat of the city, is delightful. We take our nice, comfortable country-house as a good gift from the Lord. The house stands alone on the hills, although some farm-houses are scattered about in the neighbour- hood. The people come freely about us, and are very friendly. More than that, some are being influenced by the Holy Spirit to give up their idols. The first was an old woman named Chao, living about ten //' (three and a half miles) from us. She came in a few weeks ago, and had a talk with Mrs. Horsburgh and others. The native teacher, Ho-Sien-Seng, told her that burning incense was useless — God wanted men to worship Him with their hearts. That day at market she had bought a bundle of incense-sticks, which she handed over to the teacher, saying she wished to worship God. This occurred at the begin- ning of the week. She continued coming every day to receive teaching, and on Saturday brought her paper household gods, which she had torn down from her walls. FAITH IN IDOLS SHAKEN. 311 There is no doubt that the old woman is now trusting Jesus, and intends to serve Him. Her testimony is very clear, and she is witnessing among her relations and neighbours, and exhorting them to turn to the Lord. She speaks of having heard the gospel first two years ago. Certain words spoken to her then never faded from her memory. Some of us have been to her little home ; she had gathered her neighbours together to listen to our message. It was nice to see the walls stripped of all signs of idolatry. It is not likely that Satan will leave her without any opposition, but the old woman seems trusting the Lord to keep her firm. She comes to us every day to be taught further. The second family to give up their idols was that of the old man Hsiieh, of whom I wrote in my last journal. For two years he has been coming to the services, whenever there has been any one at Sin-tien-tsi to conduct them. From the beginning he showed interest, but his unwillingness to part with his idols has been his stumbling-block. Two days ago, however, to our great joy, the whole family willingly took down all the idols in their possession. The same teacher, Ho, who spoke to old Mrs. Chao, was used by God to lead the Hsiieh family to take this step. F. C and I went yesterday to the house, and were much encouraged by our visit. The dear old man told us how for the last two years his faith in idols had been shaken, but that his wife and sons were all against his doing away with '' the gods of many generations." He said that every evening, when the sons went through the little ceremonies of worshipping idols, burning 312 TOKENS OF BLESSING. incense, etc., he went out for a walk round the house. Lately he has been talked to plainly by one and another about the necessity of giving up his idols if he wanted to be saved, and in conversation with the teacher, two days ago, the Lord seemed to bring home to him what an awful thing it was to be serving the devil ; and then and there he assembled his family, and together they agreed to serve the Lord. The sons tore down the family and kitchen gods, and gave them to Ho-Sien- Seng. The third son is particularly bright and rejoicing in the Lord, and longs to be used in His service. I know you will praise God for this good news, and that you will hold up these young believers by your prayers. SiN-TIEN-TSY, August 2()th, 1 892, I must add a little about the Hslieh family. The devil has been busy stirring up opposition, the pao- chang (elder, or superintendent of the district) having threatened to report them to the Mandarin because they have given up their idols, and the neighbours also threaten to turn them out of their home. The old man and his sons are not disturbed by these threats ; they mean, by God's grace, to go forward ; but old Mrs. Hsueh is very frightened. She is afraid, too, of losing such benefits as she supposes the idols can give her — for example, having many grandsons, etc. The old man is distressed that his wife should be so terrified. Yesterday I said to him, " I think it may be because she does not understand what a good thing it is to be a Christian. Tell her what God's Word says, and comfort her heart." He answered, **I do read to BURNING THE GOD OF FIRE. 313 her, seven or eight pages out of the Bible every day!" Pray that the Holy Spirit may Hghten her darkness. The Hsuehs' idols (they were of paper) were taken to Pao-ning, and on Sunday at the service were burnt, as being hateful to God. Those of the old woman, Chao-ta-niang, were still in our possession. They were of the same description as those of the Hsuehs — the household gods, and one large scroll, with representations of every sort of god upon it— the god of riches, the god of thunder, fire, etc. Yesterday, at our Sunday service here, these were brought out, and Chao-ta-niang was asked whether she was willing to burn them. Without any hesitation she answered, *' I am willing. I hate them they belong to the devil." Then she struck a match to set fire to them. They were very old and musty, and it seemed at first as if they would not ignite ; but she persevered, at ,last bringing straw in which she enclosed the idols. The straw was easily fired, and the idols smouldered away on the floor, and were soon burnt to ashes. While they were burning we sang, '' Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus," and then we asked, ^' Who will follow Jesus ? " and old Hsiieh directly answered, '' I and my family will follow Jesus " ; and Chao-ta-niang said the same. One of the women said to Chao-ta-niang, after the idols were burnt, ^' See ! you have burnt the god of fire, and he could not defend himself" We do praise God for what He is doing in this district, and pray that these two families may so let 314 TOKENS OF BLESSING. their light shine, that all in the neighbourhood may glorif}^ God. We spent a happy and, I think, a profitable time yesterday afternoon with these dear people, looking out passages in the Bible about the sinfulness and folly of idol-worship. BEFORE the clouds received the Lord Jesus out of sight of His disciples, His last words were ' uttermost part of the earth. ' What greater legacy could He have left ? Such a trust shows His confidence in our love and faithfulness. ... As these first Missionaries walked back to Jerusalem, did they discuss what constitutes a call ? — Is each one of us included ? or, Where is the money to come from ? Ah ! no ; their hearts were intent on their Master's orders. Obedience was simply a question of supreme love to Jesus."— Miss Grace Wilder, in The Missionary Review of the World. " What is the worth of one soul? Have you been born again? Have you heard the Saviour's voice calling, 'My son, give Me thy heart'? Have you opened your heart to Jesus? Has He come and filled you with His sweet peace? Then, oh remember that Jesus loves the perishing millions ; He died for them — He gave the commandment which the Christian Church is forgetting: 'Go — into all the world.' Have you forgotten it? Will you not from this time pray and work for the perishing millions ? " ' Go ' does not mean ' Send.' " 'Go' does not mean ' Pray.' "'Go' means 'Go,' simply and literally." F. R. Havergal. 315 " As ye were a curse a7no?ig the heathen, . ... so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing.^' CHAPTER XXXV. A ''RED-LETTER DAY'' IN PAO-NING. More Baptisms at Pao-ning. — Uang-ts'ong-i's Testimony. Pao-ning, September 26th, 1 892. YESTERDAY was a red-letter day in Pao-ning. We met at 9.45 a.m. for a native Communion Service. A little company of twenty-eight — twenty- one natives (eleven men and ten women) and seven foreigners. Fifteen of the natives were receiving the Holy Communion for the first time, having been baptized last February. The Lord was very present with us, and it seemed to me a little foretaste of that day when we shall sit down, one large family, out of every nation, and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, in the visible presence of our blessed Lord. At eleven o'clock the public service began, and there must have been a hundred and twenty present — the greater proportion men. Mr. Cassels preached from Rom. vi. 3, 4, " Christ died, was buried, and rose again for its : we with Christ are dead, buried, and risen again." At this service six were baptized — three men, one lad, and two women. 1. Chen-Sien-Seng, teacher of the girls' school. 2. Uang-ts'ong-i, the man who was at Song-p'an with Mr. C. Polhill-Turner. 316 A FORMER NECROMANCER. 317 3. Lao-U, a farm-labourer, from the Shaos' village. 4. Ku-uen-kin, one of the school-boys. 5. Chen-Si-niang, wife of the teacher. 6. Uang-ta-sao. After the baptisms there were a few testimonies. Chen-Sien-Seng spoke first. He was formerly a necromancer, and burnt all his books when he first heard the true doctrine, between four and five years ago. He has grown steadily in the knowledge of the Truth, but his having taken opium now and again, when unwell, has hindered his being earlier received for baptism. He has now had a long testing-time, and there is every reason to believe that he has laid aside this sin. It was a great joy to see him baptized yesterday, with his wife, who is also trusting Jesus and seeking to live for Him. In his testimony, Chen-Sien- Seng expressed his desire to be free from any habit or practice displeasing to God, and begged his fellow- Christians to be faithful in rebuking him, should they see inconsistency in his life. He is fifty-six or fifty- seven years of age. Uang-ts'ong-i testified next, and told us what a wicked man he had been in his younger days (he is now over fifty). There could hardly be any sin of which he had not been guilty. He seldom spent a night at home, stole people's pu-kai (bedding), gambled away his money, smoked opium, was a sorcerer, and had even been a soldier \\ (Thank God, soldiers can be Christians, as we so well know !) Twenty years ago he came to Pao-ning (his home is about thirty-five miles from here) and heard of the Roman Catholics; but before then he had become RED-LETTER DAY" IN PAO-NING. tired of his wild, sinful life, and for three years had gone about reading and explaining the Sheng U (Sacred Edict), and became a vegetarian, in order to atone for his sins. The Roman Catholics made him buy a candle for forty cash (2j Date Due J £ 'yf BW8220 .W72 A new thing : incidents of missionary Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 1 1012 00045 3854