Pam Biog George Leslie Mackay Pioneer Missionary in Northern Formosa SOURCE BOOK “The Black Bearded Barbarian" By Marian Keith Baptist Board of Education DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONARY EDUCATION 276 Fifth Avenue, New York City OUTLINE Page Introductory Statement. 2 Program for Meeting . 3 Life Sketch . 4 Life Incidents . 7 Program based upon The Black Bearded Barbarian by Marian Keith Missionary Education Movement, $1.00 FOREWORD T HE Missionary Heroes Course for Boys meets a real need. It is a series of missionary programs for boys based on great biographies which every boy should know. Courses Number One and Number Two are now available, each providing pro¬ grams for twelve months, which may be used in the monthly meetings of boys' groups. Other courses are in preparation and will be issued for subsequent years. It is suggested that the leader purchase two copies of each booklet; one to be kept for reference and the other to be cut up to provide each boy with his assigned part. Some may prefer to purchase one booklet and typewrite the parts for assignment. In order to tie together the life incidents as they are presented by the boys, the leader should master the facts outlined in the biographical sketch and read carefully the volume upon which the program is based. These volumes are missionary classics and may be made the basis of a worthwhile library of Christian adventure. Boys are keenly interested in stories of adventure and achieve¬ ment and it is hoped that participation in the programs will lead many of the lads to read these great missionary biographies. At¬ tention is called to the twenty-three other life-story programs now available for Courses Number One and Number Two, both of , which are listed on the last page. The books upon which these programs are based can be ordered from the nearest literature headquarters. Portraits of these missionary heroes are also avail¬ able for purchase at fifteen cents a copy. While these programs have been developed to meet the needs of boys' organizations of all types—i.e., Organized Classes, Boy Scouts, Knights of King Arthur, Kappa Sigma Pi, etc.,—they were especially prepared for the chapters of the Royal Ambas¬ sadors, a missionary organization for teen age boys originating in the Southland and recently adapted to the needs of the North¬ ern Baptist Convention by the Department of Missionary Edu¬ cation. We commend these materials to all lovers of boys. William A. Hill. PROGRAM FOR MEETING 1. Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:25-30, especially verse 28, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” which was the heart of the winsome message that Mackay presented through medical ministry and preaching in northern Formosa. (See pages 113-114 of “The Black Bearded Barbarian,” by Marian Keith.) 2. Prayer. 3. Hymn: “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains” with especial reference to the line: “Where every prospect pleases, and only man is vile.” Note the author’s description of lovely orchids, gorgeous butterflies, birds of brilliant plumage and wonderful flowers, found on page 182 of the above book. 4. Introduction to the Life Story* (based upon pages 1-24 of the above book and the brief sketch to be found in this booklet.) 5. Choosing His Field of Work (pages 24-27). 6. Winning His First Convert (pages 73, 76-80). 7. Witnessing for Jesus Christ (pages 94-98). 8. Baptism of His First Converts (pages 116-117). 9. Encounters with Snakes (pages 88, 127-128, 204-205). 10. Building the First Chapel (pages 149-151, 151-152). 11. Gaining a Foothold in Bang-kah (pages 169-171, 172-174). 12. Enduring Persecution (pages 233-235). 13. An Entire Village Accepts Christ (pages 268-272). 14. Called from His Labors (pages 293-296). 15. A Developing Work (pages 297-298, 299-300). * The leader should read both the brief sketch in this booklet and also “The Black Bearded Barbarian” by Marian Keith. A more complete biographical treatment will be found in “From Far Formosa,” by J. A. MacDonald. SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF GEORGE LESLIE MACKAY G EORGE LESLIE MACKAY was born at Zorra, Oxford County, Canada, on March 21, 1844. His parents had emigrated from Scotland to the wilds of Upper Canada and shared with their six children the rigors of pioneer life. His early schooling was interwoven with a vigorous outdoor life and produced the union of a keen mind and a strong body. After making a confession of faith in Jesus Christ, the pur¬ pose to become a missionary fully possessed his mind. He pre¬ pared for college at Toronto and entered Princeton in September, 1867, shortly after the close of the Civil War. Upon graduating from Princeton University in 1870, he went to Edinburgh to study under Alexander Duff, India’s great missionary educator. In June of the following year, Mackav returned to Canada to attend the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. His appointment to China as their first foreign missionary was then formally ratified. His ordination followed in October and on November 1, 1871, he sailed from San Francisco for Hong Kong. After inspecting the missionary work being done at Hong Kong, Canton and Swatow, he decided to visit Formosa, an island off the coast of China, with a view to settlement. He was cordially received by the English Presbyterians who were engaged in a successful work in southern Formosa. Lender their guidance he made a tour of the untouched northern end of the island. Its rugged mountains called to his Highland blood and is hostile, benighted people challenged his missionary purpose. He quietly remarked: “I have decided to settle in North Formosa. ’ ’ By April 10, 1872, he was fully established in His humble quarters in Tamsui. In his diary is the following entry: ‘ ‘ Here I am in this house, having been led all the way from the old homestead in Zorra by Jesus, as direct as though my boxes were labeled 1 Tamsui, Formosa, China.’ Oh, the glorious privilege of laying the foundation of Christ’s Church in unbroken heath¬ enism. ’ ’ His first task was that of mastering the language. He at¬ tempted to gain a command of the Chinese language with the help 4 of his servant but his helper proved unequal to this task and left him. He next enlisted the help of the boys herding* the water- buffaloes near his house. Finally he preached his first brief sermon in the native tongue on the text: “What must I do to be saved ? ’’ Shortly after this he won A Hoa, his first convert, to the Christian faith. A Hoa was an educated young man and from the very first proved invaluable in the work. A Hoa studied English and western knowledge under Mackay’s direction and in turn guided the missionary in his study of the Formosan dialect. Aided by his medical and dental skill, he gradually overcame the open hostility of those who at first called after him, “For¬ eign devil” or “Black Bearded Barbarian.” On the second Sunday in February, 1873, within a year of the beginning of his work in Tamsui, he baptized his first group of converts, A Hoa and four other men. A Hoa formed the nucleus of a group in training for the native ministry, the pivotal feature in his plan for evangelizing northern Formosa. As promising converts were won, they were enlisted in the group for special training. Whenever he would go on a preaching tour, they accompanied him, and after chapels were erected and the work established, they secured invaluable training in first-hand contact with the missionary work. One by one, as the chapels were erected, they were assigned to their posts. A Hoa was placed in charge at Go-ko-khi and others in turn, as new stations were opened. The training work eventually required a commodious building and in 1880, during his first furlough, his friends in his home county in Upper Canada, con¬ tributed the funds to build “Oxford College,” on the height overlooking Tamsui. A little later the women of the Canadian Presbyterian Church gave the funds for a Girls’ School to stand beside Oxford College. A Mrs. Mackay of Detroit, Michigan, erected “Mackay Hospital” in memory of her husband. The work speedily developed until, in 1884, there were forty chapels connected with the mission, when suddenly the bom¬ bardment of Formosan ports by France precipitated a cyclone of bitter persecution, attended with the widespread destruction of mission property. Many of the converts became martyrs to their faith rather than choosing to recant. Twenty-four of the chapels were destroyed by the hostile natives. Indemnity, how¬ ever, was secured from the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese forces and the work of rebuilding progressed so rapidly as to dumbfound the opposition. The growing work now reached forth to touch the islands skirting the shores of Formosa and beyond the mountains to the Kap-tsu-lau and Ki-lai plains, inhabited by both the Chinese and 5 the original settlers, the Pe-po-hoans. The people of these dis¬ tant plains of the east coast nobly responded to the Gospel mes¬ sage and twenty more chapels were erected. In August, 1893, Mackay sailed with his wife and his three children for a two years’ visit to Canada, leaving the work in charge of his assistant, Rev. John Jamieson. In addition to covering an extended speaking tour while on furlough, he col¬ laborated with Rev. J. A. MacDonald in preparing the book, “From Far Formosa.” Upon his return to Formosa in the fall of 1895, he again threw himself into his growing work with renewed ardor. Six years followed, packed to the full of teaching, preaching and touring. But he had drawn too heavily on his physical resources and on June 2, 1901, he was called from his labors. The Chris¬ tian Church of Northern Formosa is his enduring monument. 6 INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF GEORGE LESLIE MACKAY Reprinted from “The Black Bearded Barbarian” by Marian Keith by permission of the publishers “The Missionary Education Movement” Choosing His Field of Work. ( Pp . 24-27.) Away off the southeastern coast of China lies a large island called Formosa. It is separated from the mainland by a body of water called the Formosa Channel. This is in some places eighty miles wide, in others almost two hundred. Mackay had often heard of Formosa even before coming to China, and knew it was famed for its beauty. Even its name shows this. Long, long years before, some navigators from Portugal sailed to this beau¬ tiful island. They had stood on the deck of their ship as they approached it and were amazed at its loveliness, They saw lofty green mountains piercing the clouds. They saw silvery cascades tumbling down their sides, flashing in the sunlight, and, below, terraced plains sloping down to the sea, covered with waving bamboo or with little water-covered rice-fields. It was all so delightful that no wonder they cried: ‘ ‘ Illha Formosa ! Illha Formosa! 77 ‘ ‘ Beautiful Isle ! Beautiful Isle ! 77 Since that day the “Beautiful Isle, 77 perhaps the most charm¬ ing in all the world, has been called Formosa. And, somehow, Mackay longed to see this “Beautiful Isle 77 before he decided where he was going to preach the gospel. And so when the kind friends at Swatow said, ‘ ‘ Stay and work with us, 7 7 he always answered, 4 ‘ I must first see Formosa 7 7 So, one day, he sailed away from the mainland toward the Beautiful Isle. He landed at Takow in the south of the island, just about Christmas time. But Formosa was green, the weather was hot, and he could scarcely believe that, at home in Oxford County, Ontario, they were flying over the snow to the music of sleigh-bells. On New Year’s Day he met a missionary of this south Formosa field, named Dr. Ritchie. He belonged to the Pres¬ byterian Church of England, which had a fine mission there. For nearly a month Mackay visited with him and studied the language. 7 And while he visited and worked there, the missionaries told him of the northern part of the island. No person was there to tell all those crowded cities of Jesus Christ and His love. It would be lonely for him there, it would be terribly hard work, but it would be a grand thing to lay the foundations, to be the first to tell those people the 1 ‘ good news, 7 7 the young missionary thought. And, one day, he looked up from the Chinese book he was studying and said to Dr. Ritchie: 41 1 have decided to settle in north Formosa. 7 7 And Dr. Ritchie 7 s quick answer was: ‘ 1 Cfod bless you, Mackay. 7 7 Winning His First Convert. ( Pp. 73, 76-80.) And all this time, while he was studying and working and arguing with the heathen and preaching to them, the young missionary was working just as hard at something else; some¬ thing into which he was putting as much energy and force as he did into learning the Chinese language. With all his might and main, day and night, he was praying—praying for one special object. He had been praying for this long before he saw Formosa. He was pleading with God to give him, as his first convert, a young man of education. And so he was always on the lookout for such, as he preached and taught, and never once did he cease praying that he might find him. His first task was to gain a thorough knowledge of the Chinese religions. He had already learned much about them, both from books on shipboard and since he had come to the island. But now he spent long hours of the night, poring over the books of Con¬ fucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, by the light of his smoky little pewter lamp. And before the next visit of his enemies he knew almost more of their jumble of religions than they did themselves. Each day the group of visitors grew larger, and .at last one morning, as Mackay looked out of his door, he saw quite a crowd approaching. They were led, as usual, by the friendly young scholar. By his side walked, or rather, swaggered a man of whom the missionary had often heard. He was a scholar of high degree and was famed all over Formosa for his great learning. Behind him came about twenty men, and Mackay could see by their dress and appearance that they were all literary graduates. They were coming in great force this time, to crush the barbarian with their combined knowledge. He met them at the door with his usual politeness and hospitality. He was always courteous to 8 these proud literati, but he always treated them as equals, and showed none of the deference they felt he owed them. The crowd seated itself on improvised benches and the argument opened. This time Mackay led the attack. He carried the war right into the .enemy’s camp. Instead of letting them put questions to him, he asked them question after question concerning Con¬ fucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. They were questions that sometimes they could not answer, and to their chagrin they had to hear 44 the barbarian” answer for them. There were other ques¬ tions, still more humiliating, which, when they answered, only served to show their religion as false and degrading. Their spokesman, the great learned man, became at last so entangled that there was nothing for him but flight. He arose and stalked angrily away, and in a little while they all left. Mackay looked wistfully at young Giam as he went out, wondering what effect these words had upon him. He was not left long in doubt. Not half an hour after a shadow fell across the open Bible the missionary was studying. He glanced up. There he stood! His bright face was very seri¬ ous. He looked gravely at the other young man, and his eyes shone as he spoke. “I brought all those graduates and teachers here,” he con¬ fessed, 4 4 to silence you or be silenced. And now I am convinced that the doctrines you teach are true. I am determined to become a Christian, even though I suffer death for it.” Mackay rose from his seat, his face alight with an over¬ whelming joy. The man he had prayed for! He took the young fellow’s hand—speechless. And together the only missionary of north Formosa and his first convert fell upon their knees before the true God and poured out their hearts in joy and thanksgiving. Witnessing for Jesus Christ , (Pp. 94-08.) But the next morning, young soldier A Hoa had a fiercer battle to fight than any with robbers or storms. As soon as the city was astir, Mackay and he went out to find a good place to preach. They passed down the main thoroughfare, and every¬ where they attracted attention. Cries of 4 4 Ugly barbarian! ’ ’ and oftenest “Black bearded barbarian” were heard on all sides. A Hoa was known in Kelung and contempt and ridicule were heaped upon him by his old college acquaintances. He was con¬ sorting with the barbarian! He was a friend of this foreigner! They poured more insults upon him than they did upon the bar¬ barian himself. Some took the stranger as a joke, and laughed and made funny remarks upon his appearance. Here and there 9 an old woman, peeping through the doorway, would utter a loud cackling laugh, and pointing a wizened finger at the missionary would cry: * ‘ Eh, eh, look at him! Tee hee ! He’s got a wash-basin on for a hat! ’ ’ A Hoa was distressed at these remarks, but Mackay was highly amused. “We’re drawing a crowd, anyway,” he remarked cheerfully, “and that’s what we want.” Soon they came to an open square in front of a heathen temple. The building had several large stone steps leading up to the door. Mackay mounted them and stood facing the buzzing crowd, with A Hoa at his side. They started a hymn: All people that on earth do dwell Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. The open square in front of them began to fill rapidly. The people jostled each other in their endeavors to get a view of the barbarian. Every one was curious, but every one was angry and indignant, so sometimes the sound of the singing was lost in the shouts of derision. When the hymn was finished, Mackay had a sudden inspira¬ tion. “They will surely listen to one of their own people,” he said to himself, and turned to A Hoa. ‘ ‘ Speak to them, ’ ’ he said. ‘ ‘ Tell them about the true God. ’ ’ That was a hard moment for the young convert. He had been a Christian only a few months and had never yet spoken in public for Christ. He looked desperately over the sea of mocking faces beneath him. He opened his mouth, as though to speak, and hesitated. Just then came a rough and bitter taunt from one of his old companions. It was too much. A Hoa turned away and hung his head. The young missionary said nothing. But he did the very wisest thing he could have done. He had some time before taught A Hoa a grand old Scottish paraphrase, and they had often sung it together: I’m not ashamed to own my Lord Or to defend his cause, Maintain the glory of his cross And honor all his laws. Mackay’s voice loud and clear, burst into this fine old hymn. A Hoa raised his head. He joined in the hymn and sang it to the end. It put mettle into him. It was the battle-song that brought back the young recruit’s courage. Almost before the last note sounded he began to speak. His voice rang out bold and un¬ afraid over the crowd of angry heathen. 10 "I am a Christian!” he said distinctly. ".I worship the true God. I cannot worship idols, 77 with a gesture toward the temple door, that rats can destroy. I am not afraid. I love Jesus. He is my Savior and Friend.” No, A Hoa was not “ashamed” any more. His testing time had come, and he had not failed after all. And his brave, true words sent a thrill of joy through the more seasoned soldier at his side. Baptism of His First Converts. ( Pp. 116-117.) And there were many reasons for being happy after all. On the second Sabbath of February, 1873, just one year after his arrival in Tamsui, the missionary announced, at the close of one of his Sabbath services, that he would receive a number into the Christian church. There was instantly a commotion among the heathen who were in the house, and yells and jeers from those crowding about the door outside. “ We ’ll stop him, 7 7 they shouted. ‘ ‘ Let us beat the converts, 7 7 was another cry. But Mackay went quietly on with the beautiful ceremony in spite of the disturbance. Five young men, with A Hoa at their head, came and were baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When the next Sabbath came these five with their missionary sat down for the first time to partake of the Lord’s Supper. It was a very impressive ceremony. One young fellow broke down, declaring he was not worthy. Mackay took him alone into his little room and they prayed together, and the young man came out to the Lord’s Supper comforted, knowing that all might be worthy in Jesus Christ. Spring came at last, bright and clear, and Mackay announced to A Hoa that they must go up the river and visit their friends at Go-ko-khi. The two did not go alone this time. Three other young men who wanted to be missionaries were now spending their days with their teacher, learning with A Hoa how to preach the gospel. So it was quite a little band of disciples that walked along the river bank up to Go-koddii. Mackay preached at all the villages along the route, and visited the homes of Christians. Encounters with Snakes. ( Pp. 88, 127-128, 204-205.) One oppressive day he and A Hoa returned from a preaching tour in the country to find their home in a state of siege. Right 11 across the threshold lay a monster serpent, eight feet in length. A Hoa shouted a warning, and seized a long pole, and the two managed to kill it. But their troubles were not yet over. The next morning, Mackay stepped outside the door and sprang back just in time to escape another, the mate of the one killed. This was even larger than the first, and was very fierce. But they finished it with sticks and stones. . . . The natives had warned the two strangers to be on the look¬ out for poisonous snakes, and Mackay’s year in Formosa had taught him to be wary. But he had forgotten all danger in the toilsome climb. He was soon reminded of it. They were passing up a slope covered with long dense grass when a rustling at his side made the young missionary pause. The next moment a huge cobra sprang out from a clump of grass and struck at him. Mac¬ kay sprang aside just in time to escape its deadly fangs. The guides rushed up with their spears only to see its horribly scaly length disappear in the long grass. That was not the only escape of the young adventurer, for there were wild animals as well as poisonous snakes along the line of march, and the man in the front was always in danger. But at the front Mackay must be in spite of all warning. Nobody moved fast enough for him. There was a little kitchen separate from the house on the bluff, and over this Mackay with his students built a second story. And here they would often slip away for a little quiet time together. One night, about 11 o’clock, Mackay was here alone poring over his books. The young men had gone home to bed except two or three who were in the kitchen below. Some papers had been dropped over a pipe-hole in the floor of the room where Mackay was studying, and for some time he had been disturbed by a rustling among them. At last without look¬ ing up, he called to his boys below: “I think there are rats up here among my papers! ’ ’ Koa Kau, one of the younger of the students, ran lightly up the stairs to give battle to the intruders. What was his horror when he saw fully three feet of a monster serpent sticking up through the pipe-hole and waving its horrible head in the air just a little distance from Kai Bok-su’s (G. E. Mackay) chair. The boy gave a shout, darted down the stair, and with a sharp stick, pinned the body of the snake to the wall below. The creature became terribly violent, but Koa Kau held on valiantly and Mackay seized an old Chinese spear that happened to be in the room above and pierced the serpent through the head. They pulled its dead body down into the kitchen below and spread it out. It measured nine feet. The students would not rest until 12 it was buried, and the remembrance of the horrible creature’s visit for some time spoiled the charm of the little upper room. Building the First Chapel. (Pp. 149-151, 151-152.) One-day, after they had preached in the empty granary and the rain had come in, Mr. Tan, the headman, walked up the village street with them, and he made them an offer. They might have the plot of ground opposite his house for a chapel-site. This was grand news A chapel in north Formosa! Mackay could hardly believe it, but it seemed that there really was to be one. There were many Christians in Go-ko-khi now, and each one was ready for work. Some collected stones, others prepared sun-dried bricks, others dug the foundation, and the first church in north Formosa was commenced. Now Go-ko-khi was, unfortunately, near the great city of Bang-kah. This was the most hostile and wicked place in all that country, and A Hoa and Mackay had been stoned out of it on their visit there. The people in Bang-kah learned of the new church building, and one day, when the brick walls were about three feet high, there arose a tramp of feet, beating of drums, and loud shouts, and up marched a detachment of sol¬ diers sent with orders from the prefect of Bang-kah to stop the building of the chapel. Their officers went straight to the house of the headman with his commands. Mr. Tan was six feet two and he rose to his full height and towered above his visitor majes¬ tically. The “mayor” of Go-ko-khi was a Christian now, and on the wall of his house was pasted a large sheet of paper with the ten commandments printed on it. He pointed to this and said: “I am determined to abide by these.’’ The officer was taken aback. He was scarcely prepared to defy the headman, and he went away to stir up the villagers. But everywhere the soldiers met with opposition. There seemed no one who would take their part. The officer knew he and his men were scarcely within their rights in what they were doing; so, fearing trouble, he marched back to the city, reporting there that the black- bearded barbarian had bewitched the villagers with some magic art. . . . So, in spite of all opposition, the little church rose steadily up and up until it was crowned with a tiled roof and was ready for the worshipers. That was a great day for north Formosa and its young mis¬ sionary, the day the first church was opened The place was packed to the doors, and many stood outside listening at the windows. And of that crowd one hundred and fifty arose and 13 declared that from henceforth they would cast away their idols and worship only the one and true God. Standing up there in his first pulpit and looking down upon the crowd of upturned faces, and seeing the new light in them which the blessed good news of Jesus and his love had brought, Kai Bok-su’s heart swelled with joy. Gaining a Foothold in Bang-Kah. (Pp. 169-171, 172- 174.) As soon as morning came, the little army in the midst of the hostile camp hoisted its banner. When the citizens of Bang-kah awoke, they found on the door of the hut the hated sign, in large Chinese characters, “ Jesus’ Temple.” In less than an hour, the street in front of it was thronged with a shouting crowd. Before the day was past, the news spread and the whole city was in an uproar. By the next afternoon the excitement had reached white heat, and a wild crowd of men came roaring down the street. They hurled themselves at the little house where the missionaries were waiting and literally tore it to splinters. The screams of rage and triumph were so hor¬ rible that they reminded Mackay of the savage yells of the head¬ hunters. When the mob leaped upon the roof and tore it oft, the two hunted men slipped out through a side door, and across the street into an inn. The crowd instantly attacked it, smashing doors, ripping the tiles off the roof, and uttering such bloodthirsty howls that they resembled wild beasts far more than human beings. The landlord ordered the missionaries out to where the mob was waiting to tear them limb from limb. It was an awful moment. To go out was instant death, to remain merely put off the end a few moments. Mackay, knowing his source of help, sent up a desperate prayer to his Father in heaven. Suddenly there was a strange lull in the street outside. The yells ceased, the crashing of tiles stopped. The door opened, and there in his sedan-chair of state surrounded by his body¬ guard, appeared the Chinese mandarin. And just behind him— blessed sight to the eyes of Kai Bok-su (Mackay)—Mr. Scott, the British consul of Tamsui! . . . The mandarin went away enraged and baffled. He could not persuade the man to go; he dared not drive him out. He left a squad of soldiers to guard the place, however, remembering the British consul’s warning. 14 In a few days the excitement subsided. People became accus¬ tomed to seeing the barbarian teacher and his companion go about the streets. Many were relieved of much pain by him, too, and a. large number listened with some interest to the new doctrine he taught concerning one God. He had been there a week when some prominent citizens came to him with a polite offer. They would give him free a piece of ground outside the city on which to build a church. Kai Bok-su’s flashing black eyes at once saw the bribe. They wanted to coax him out when they could not drive him. He refused politely but firmly. “I own that propertj r ,” he declared, pointing to the heap of ruins into which his house had been turned, “and there I will build a church.” They did everything in their power to prevent him, but one day, many months after, right on the site where they had literally torn the roof from above him, arose a pretty little stone church, and that was the beginning of great things in Bang-kah. And so Gibraltar was taken—taken by an army of two—a Canadian missionary and a Chinese soldier of the King, for behind them stood all the army of the Lord of hosts, and He led them to victory! En du rin g Per seen tion . ( p p- 233-235.) At Sin-tiam the crowd of ruffians smashed the door and win¬ dows of the church. Then they took the communion roll and read aloud the names of the Christians who had been baptized. As each name was announced, some of the murderers would rush off toward the home of the one mentioned. Here they would tor¬ ture and often kill the members of the family. The native preacher and his family barely escaped with their lives. One good old Christian man with his wife, both over sixty, were dragged out into the deep water of the Sin-tiam river. Here they were given a choice. If they gave up Jesus Christ, their lives would be saved. If they still remained Christians, they would be drowned right there and then. The brave old couple refused to accept life at such a cost. “I’m not' ashamed to own my Lord,” was a hymn Kai Bok-su had taught them, and they had meant every word as they had sung it many times in the pretty chapel by the river. And so they were “not ashamed” now. They were led deeper and deeper into the water, and at every few feet the way of escape was offered, but they steadily refused, and were at last flung into the river—faithful martyrs who certainly won a crown of life. 15 These were only two among many brave Christians who died for their Master’s sake. Some were put to tortures too horrible to tell to make them give up their faith. Some were hung by their hair to trees, some were kicked or beaten to death, many were slashed with knives until death relieved their pain. And on every side the most noble Christian heroism was shown. In all ages there have been those who died for their faith in Jesus Christ; and these Formosan followers of their Master proved themselves no less faithful than the martyrs of old. An Entire Village Accepts Christ. (Pp. 268-272.) Darkness had almost descended when he rode into the village (in the Ki-Lai Plain) and stopped before a small grass-covered bamboo dwelling where the cook-preacher lived. For years the people here had looked for Kai Bok-su’s coming, for years they had talked of this great event, and for years their preacher had been writing and saying as he received his reply from the eager missionary in Tamsui, “He may come soon.” And now he was really here! The sound of his horse’s bells had scarcely stopped before the preacher’s house, when the news began to spread like fire through the village. The preacher, who had worked so hard and waited so long, wept for joy, and before he could make Dr. Mackay welcome in a proper manner the room was filled with men, all wildly eager for a sight of the great Kai Bok-su, while outside a crowd gathered about the door striving to get even a glimpse of him. The ex-cook of Oxford College had preached so faithfully that many were already con¬ verted to Christianity, many more knew a good deal of the gospel, and crowds were ready to throw away their idols. They were weary of their heathen rites and superstitions. They were longing for something better, they scarcely knew what. “But the mandarin will not let them become Christians,” said the preacher anxiously. “It is he who is keeping them from decision. He has said that they must continue in idolatry, as a token of loyalty to China. ’ ’ “Are you sure that is true?” cried Dr. Mackay. The converts nodded. They had “heard” it was said at least. But Kai Bok-su was not the man to accept mere hearsay. He was always wisely careful to avoid any collision with the authori¬ ties. But remembering the kindness shown him back in Iloe-lien- kang, he could not quite believe that the mandarin who had been so kind to him could be hostile to the religion of Jesus Christ. 16 To think was to act, and early the next morning, he was riding back to the seacoast, to inquire how much of this rumor was true. His reception was very warm. It was all right, the officers declared. Whatever had been said or done in the past must be forgotten. Kai-Bok-su might go where he pleased and preach his Jehovah-religion to whomsoever he would. It was a very light-hearted rider the pony carried as he gal¬ loped back along the narrow paths, with the good news for the villagers. The word went round as soon as he arrived. Kai Bok-su wanted to know how many were for the true God. All who would worship Him were at once to clear their houses of idols and declare that they would serve Jehovah and Him only. At dark a great crowd gathered in an open space in the village. Representatives from five villages were there, chiefs were shout¬ ing to their people, and when Dr. Mackay and his students arrived, the place was all noise and confusion. He was puzzled. It almost looked as if there was to be a riot, though the voices did not sound angry. He climbed up on a pile of rubbish and his face shone clear in the light of the flaring torches. His voice rang out loud and commanding above the tumult. “What is this noise about? 77 he cried. “Is there a difference of opinion among you as to whether you shall worship these poor toys of wood and stone, or the true God who is your Father? 77 He paused and as if from one man came back the answer in a mighty shout: “No, we will worship the true God! 77 The tumult had been one of enthusiasm and not of dispute! Called from His Labors. (Pp. 293-206.) A few happy years sped round. The time for him to go back home again was drawing near, when there came the first hint that he might soon be called on a longer furlough than he would have in Canada. At first, when the dread suspicion began to be whispered in the halls of Oxford College and in the chapel gatherings through¬ out the country, people refused to believe it. Kai Bok-su ill ? No, no, it was only the malaria, and he always arose from that and went about again. It could not be serious. But in spite of the fact that loving hearts refused to accept it, there was no use denying the sad fact. There was something wrong with Kai Bok-su. For months his voice had been growing 17 weaker, the doctors had examined his throat, and attended him, but it was all of no use. At last he could not speak at all, but wrote his words on a slate. And everywhere in north Formosa, converts and students and preachers watched and waited and prayed most fervently that he might soon recover. Those who lived in Tamsui whispered to each other in tones of dread, as they watched him come and go with slower steps than they had been accustomed to see. “He will be well next month,’’ they would say hopefully, or, “He will look like himself when the rains dry.” But little by little the conviction grew that the beloved missionary was seri¬ ously ill, and a great gloom settled all over north Formosa. There was a little gleam of joy when the doctor in Tamsui ad¬ vised him finally to go to Hongkong and see a specialist. He went, leaving many loving hearts waiting anxiously between hope and fear to hear what the doctors would say. And prayers went up night and day from those who loved him. From the heart¬ broken wife in the lonely house on the bluff to the farthest-off convert on the Ki-lai Plain, every Christian on the island, even those in the south Formosa mission, prayed that the useful life might be spared. But God had other and greater plans for Kai Bok-su. He came back from Hongkong, and the first look at his pale face told the dreaded truth. The shadow of death lay on it. Those were heart-breaking days in north Formosa. From all sides came such messages of devotion that it seemed as if the passionate love of his followers must hold him back. But a stronger love was calling him on. And one bright June day, in 1901, when the green mountainsides, the blue rivers, and the waving rice-fields of Formosa lay smiling in the sun, Kai Bok-su heard once more that call that had brought him so far from home. Once more he obeyed, and he opened his eyes on a new glory greater than any of which he had ever dreamed. The task had been a hard one. The “big stone” had been stubborn, but it had been broken, and not long after the noontide of his life the tired worker was called home. A Developing Work. ( Pp. 297-298, 299-300.) But is it well with the work? What of his Beautiful Island, now that Kai Bok-su -has left for a greater work in a more beautiful land? Yes, it is well also with Formosa. The work goes on. There are two thousand, one hundred members now in the four organized congregations, and over fifty mission stations 18 and ontstations. But better still there are in addition twenty-two hundred who have forsaken their idols and are being trained to become church-members. The Formosa Church out of its poverty gives liberally, too. In 1911 they contributed more than thirty-five hundred dollars to Christian work. ‘‘Every year,” writes Mr. Jack, “a special collection is taken by the Church for the work among the Ami—the aborigines of the Ki-lai Plain. ’ 7 This is the foreign mission of the north Formosa Church .... Mrs. Mackay and her two daughters, Helen and Mary, the latter having married native preachers, Koa Kau and Tan He, are keeping up the work that, husband and father left. A new hospital is being built under Dr. Ferguson, and plans are on foot for new school and college buildings. And the latest arrived missionary? What of him? Why his name is George Mackay, and he has just sailed from Canada as the first Mackay sailed forty-one years earlier. He has been nine years in Canada and the United States, at school and college, and now with his Canadian wife, has gone back to his native land. Yes, Ivai Bok-su’s son has gone out to carry on his father’s work, and Formosa has welcomed him as no other missionary has been welcomed since Kai Bok-su’s day. But these are not all. From far across the sea, in the land where Kai Bok-su lived his boyhood days, comes a voice. It is the echo from the hearts of other boys, who have read his noble life. And their answer is, "We too will go out, as he went, and fight and win! ” 19 SERIES OF PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE Course Number One JAMES CHALMERS, Martyr of New Guinea JAMES GILMOUR, Pioneer in Mongolia WILFRED T. GRENFELL, Knight-Errant of the North ADONIRAM JUDSON, Herald of the Cross in Burma ION KEITH-FALCONER, Defender of the Faith in Arabia DAVID LIVINGSTONE, Africa’s Pathfinder and Emancipator ALEXANDER M. MACKAY, Uganda’s White Man of Work HENRY MARTYN, Persia’s Man of God ROBERT MORRISON, Protestant Pioneer in China JOHN G. PATON, King of the Cannibals MARY SLESSOR, The White Queen of Calabar MARCUS WHITMAN, Hero of the Oregon Country Course Number Two CAPTAIN LUKE BICKEL, Master Mariner of the Inland Sea WILLIAM CAREY, Founder of Modern Missions ALEXANDER DUFF, India’s Educational Pioneer MARY PORTER GAMEWELL, Heroine of the Boxer Rebellion FRANK HIGGINS, Sky Pilot of the Lumbermen RAYMOND LULL, First Missionary to the Moslems GEORGE L. MACKAY, Pioneer Missionary in Formosa JOHN K. MACKENZIE, The Beloved Physician of Tientsin ROBERT MOFFAT, Friend of the African JOHN COLERIDGE PATTESON, Martyr Bishop of the South Seas J. HUDSON TAYLOR, Founder of the China Inland Mission JOHN WILLIAMS, Shipbuilder in the South Seas. No. 313—M.E.I.—1M—May, 1926 20