S i 
 
 r &* r A r A r *\**r**jr*r* r **rjrjrjErM , 4rjr&M'jrjrjrA'm’Ar^jrjr£rAf+jr£F*M'4r*r/y*'&*tja jtrArjcr/rAr* /vj* *rjvjrM'WM*wwMMr*'jrJir l & y 4r*rjrjrj 
 
 m-. 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 I 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SERIES No. 6. 
 
 August, 1851. 
 
 •/psi 
 
 September, 1887. 
 
 Mrs. I 
 
 Flora B. Lightfoot Lord 
 
 WOMAN S BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 
 OF THE WEST. 
 
 ‘They have but left our weary ways 
 To live in memory here, in heaven by love and praise.’ 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 .I AMES G U1 LBEItT, PHI NT KK, 
 
 1889. 
 
 1 1 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SERIES No. 6. 
 
 August, 1851. 
 
 September, 1887. 
 
 ✓Js. 
 
 Mrs. Flora 
 
 B. Lightfoot Lord- 
 
 woman’s BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 
 OF THE WEST. 
 
 “They have but left our weary ways 
 To live in memory here, in heaven by love and praise.” 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 JAMES GUILBERT, PRINTER, 
 
 1889. 
 
Digitized by the Internet,Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/mrsflorablightfoOOwoma 
 
MRS. FLORA B. LIGHTFOOT LORD, 
 
 “Sympathy must call her in Love’s name, and then, I know, 
 
 She rises up; and brightens as she should, 
 
 And lights her smile for comfort, and is slow 
 In nothing of high-hearted fortitude. 
 
 To smell this flower, come near it, such can grow 
 In that sole garden where Christ’s brow dropped blood.” 
 
 We recognize in these lines of Mrs. Browning, the picture 
 of those self-forgetful lives, that are prompted by the spirit 
 and example of Christ. The Woman’s Baptist Foreign Mis¬ 
 sionary Society of the West adds another name to the list of 
 honored women, who in work for the Master have been faith¬ 
 ful unto death, and whose fragrant memory it would per¬ 
 petuate. 
 
 Although those who have received the promised crown of 
 life, do not need our humble meed of praise, yet we who still 
 remain to bear the toils and joys of service, may find in these 
 records of consecrated lives, encouragements to greater fidelity 
 and earnestness. 
 
 Oui sister whose life history we here trace, was one whose 
 sympathy with the ignorant and sinful, led her to give her life 
 to brighten the dark places of the earth. 
 
 Flora B. Lightfoot was born Aug. 15, 1851, at Quincy, Ill., 
 the youngest of a family of eight children. While yet too 
 young to realize her loss, she was left without a mother’s love 
 and care. So earnest and consistent had been this mother’s 
 
4 
 
 Christian life, that its influence was ever felt and acknowl¬ 
 edged. In one of her letters Flora writes, “I cannot remem¬ 
 ber the time I did not love to pray. My mother must have 
 taught me as soon as I could lisp the name of Jesus.” When 
 twelve years of age, she was seriously impressed by the death 
 of a sister, who died in the triumph of Christian hope and 
 faith. Her last words were “Think of Heaven,” and with her 
 face radiant with joy she passed away. 
 
 Of these early spiritual impressions, Miss Lightfoot writes 
 again, “I could not tell the time that I was not conscious of 
 the desire to be a Christian, but now, it was stronger than ever 
 before.” 
 
 “My interest and sympathy for the heathen began early in 
 my childhood. Even then, I longed to go to the lands 
 beyond the sea, and tell of a Risen Savior.” Somewhat later, 
 but still before her conversion she went with a friend to hear 
 a sermon by a representative of the Missionary Union. She 
 surprised her friend by the exclamation, “Well, I am disap¬ 
 pointed. I thought I was going to hear a missionary. I 
 wanted so much to see a live missionary. I would love to be 
 a missionary myself, but then you know, one who is in the 
 darkness, cannot give light to others.” 
 
 Concerning these early impressions, Miss Lightfoot writes, 
 “I had no practical plan to carry out, or any definite object in 
 view, I only felt that teachers were needed there, to show the 
 heathen the way of life. And having been on my heart from 
 early childhood, it has become a part of my very life.” Thus 
 she recognized that these early convictions of duty toward the 
 heathen were as truly a part of her Heavenly Father’s leading, 
 as the later promptings of the Spirit. 
 
5 
 
 At the age of seventeen, another sister died, she also was a 
 sincere Christian, and died, with the words, U A 11 is well, Jesus 
 is mine,” upon her lips. Three months later a brother died, 
 and within a year her grandmother was called to join the 
 departed ones in their heavenly home. 
 
 Concerning the effect of these repeated bereavements upon 
 her own heart, Miss Lightfoot writes, “Such heavy strokes in 
 quick succession, and I, ?iot a Christian, and yet burdened 
 more than ever, that I am not. How often God in infinite 
 wisdom uses harsh measures! How true it is, that 
 
 ‘ Afflictions though they seem severe 
 In mei’cy oft are sent; 
 
 They checked the prodigal’s career, 
 
 And caused him to repent.’ ” 
 
 Upon the removal of the family to La Grange, Mo., in 
 1871, Miss Lightfoot entered the La Grange Baptist College. 
 She was an earnest and conscientious student, though pre¬ 
 vented from completing her course until 1876. Of this time, 
 she writes, “I did so enjoy my school life, and all that per¬ 
 tained to it. I tried to shake off the feeling that I must be a 
 Christian, that yearning to belong to my Heavenly Father, that 
 had followed me, like a persistent shadow from my cliilhood. 
 I tried hard to persuade myself that I was not responsible for 
 my sold, and that it was my duty to devote my care and atten¬ 
 tion to the cultivation of my mental powers. The tempter 
 even whispered that the Atonement was sufficient, without 
 need of any sacrifice on my part. What straws I did attempt 
 to catch at; how vain too, and I knew it all the time. I only 
 mention it to show how much I needed the redeeming power 
 of just such a Savior. But the Holy Spirit still tenderly in- 
 
6 
 
 terceded for me.” Her pastor Rev. Mr. Beasom was instru¬ 
 mental in leading her to see that she needed no longer to bear 
 the burden of sin. Her conversion took place in the winter 
 of 1874. When finally the assurance of peace through Jesus 
 Christ came to her, her whole soul went out in thanks¬ 
 giving to God, and plans to serve Him. She writes, “I felt 
 now, that I really must go and tell others of the Savior I had 
 found. My heart was irresistibly drawn to the heathen. I 
 earnestly inquired, what the Lord would have me do, and I 
 thank Him for having so plainly taught me that I must give 
 up home, country, kindred, and all that makes life dear to me, 
 to go forth and teach those who have never heard His blessed 
 name. Though I was overwhelmed with a sense of my own 
 weakness, yet I felt that God was my strength and a very 
 present help.” 
 
 Thus God prepared a chosen instrument for His own use, 
 one who could, through personal experience of redeeming 
 love, be a witness to others. 
 
 Her pastor’s helpful sympathy, and her father’s consent, 
 confirmed her belief, that this was the work, her Heavenlv 
 Father had given her to do. She was permitted to be with 
 her father in his last sickness, and his burial left her with one 
 tie less, to bind her heart to her home, though, as she said, 
 “La G range holds for me, many tender ties—brother, other 
 relatives, Christian friends, church, and last, yet not least—my 
 father’s grave.” July 15, 1S78, Miss Lightfoot was accepted 
 as a candidate for appointment to missionary service, but her 
 going was delayed for a year, owing to the condition of the 
 treasury of the Society of the West. 
 
 This interval was spent in Quincy, Ill., at Dr. Fairchild’s 
 
7 
 
 Hygeian Home—in the belief that the knowledge she could 
 gain there, would be an invaluable preparation for her work 
 abroad. A friend who formed her acquaintance at this time, 
 and in whose home several months were spent shortly before 
 leaving for China, writes, “She even went into the kitchen to 
 learn how to cook healthfully; and it was there, that I first 
 saw the gentle lovely face of Miss Lightfoot, and from that 
 moment I was drawn towards her. She was very modest 
 and unassuming, but always ready for the Lord’s work, what¬ 
 ever it might be. Her whole heart has been in her mission 
 work in Ningpo, neve;' for a moment regretting her choice of 
 the life of a missionary.” 
 
 In the Helping Hand of February, 1879, appeared a strong 
 appeal, for a teacher to take charge of the Girls’ school at 
 Ningpo. This school was established in 1S60, and its pupils 
 were orphans or destitute girls, who were given entirely to the 
 control of their teachers. Dr. Lord’s daughter had cared for 
 the school, till her return to the United States, when it was 
 left in charge of a native teacher, under the supervision of Dr. 
 Lord, an arrangement which had proved quite unsatisfactory. 
 In answer to this appeal Miss Flora B. Lightfoot and Miss 
 Emma Inveen were designated to Ningpo, April 9, 1879. 
 
 Farewell services were held in connection with the Semi- 
 
 *1 . * W' * 
 
 Annual Meeting of the Society at Alton, Ill., Oct. 22, 1879. 
 
 On the 15th of the following November, they sailed from 
 San Francisco beginning then that intimate Christian fellow¬ 
 ship, which will ever associate these two, as sisters indeed in 
 the minds of the friends in the home land. 
 
8 
 
 LIFE IN NINGPO. 
 
 On the 19th of December, Misses Lightfoot and Inveen, 
 arrived at Ningpo, which was henceforth to be their home, 
 and field of labor. For the history of the ensuing years we 
 are entirely dependent upon the letters and reports written by 
 M iss Lightfoot and her associates. 
 
 They Spent the first six weeks in the home of Dr. and Mrs. 
 Lord, and began the study of the language under Dr. Lord’s 
 supervision. They then removed to their own home in the 
 same compound, and very near to the school which was to be 
 their especial charge. Of this home, we find the following 
 sketch, “Our house is a nice little white cottage, very pleas¬ 
 antly situated near the river, outside the city wall. We have 
 a delightful view of river, plain and mountain. Just at our 
 back gate, is a canal with a waterfall, which we think is 4 per¬ 
 fectly splendid.’ Our ceilings are reasonably high, our rooms 
 pleasant, pure white walls, floors covered with straw matting, 
 and simple furniture. Our rooms are bright and cheerful, 
 and we are happy.” 
 
 Miss Inveen writes, “I know we shall be happy in our 
 home, and hope the Lord will give us many years to live in 
 it, and to be useful among this people of whom there is such 
 a vast multitude, in so great need of light. We have been 
 studying the language, with Dr. Lord, so far. This gives us 
 a few Words to start with, in housekeeping and also to aid us 
 in talking to our native teacher with whom we shall soon 
 begin studying. We go over to the school every morning to 
 attend prayers in Chinese.” 
 
 In a letter written by Mrs. E. C. Lord, dated June 26,1880, 
 
9 
 
 we find a bright little pen picture of the home life of our two 
 young friends. “When I went in I found them with writing 
 materials trying to reply to some of the numerous letters they 
 had received in the morning. I can assure you they were 
 happy for they had such a generous mail. Of course 1 had to 
 enjoy some of their letters with them, and when I heard the 
 words of love, sympathy, and sweet encouragement, they had 
 received from friends at home, I did not wonder that they 
 were so delighted. No two sisters could be more to each 
 other than they seem to be.” 
 
 The following- extracts from Miss Lightfoot’s letters during 
 this first year, necessarily given to the acquisition of the lan¬ 
 guage reveal her characteristic hopefulness: 
 
 “There are about 300,000 inhabitants in the city of Ningpo, 
 which is enclosed by a massive stone wall, overrun with moss 
 and ivy, and other clinging vines. But the misery and degrada¬ 
 tion of the thousands living within these walls, is beyond any 
 attempt at description. The seed of truth is being sown here, 
 however, and the harvest will he rich in gathered sheaves. 
 God’s promises are sure, and cannot fail. One needs to feel 
 this constantly, or faith and courage would falter.” 
 
 “To-morrow morning, Miss Inveen and I go with Mr. and 
 Mrs. Goddard to visit one of their stations. From there we 
 go to the country to spend some days, having arranged to go 
 on with our studies during our absence from home.” “Some¬ 
 time ago we went to the island of Chusan, and were away 
 from home a week. It was an instructive trip to 11s in many 
 ways, and we learned quite as much of the language, as we 
 would have done in the city. Our teacher is a veritable 
 heathen. God grant that he may be brought to know the 
 
10 
 
 truth. He seems greatly interested in the reading of the New 
 Testament. We are having quite warm weather. It is the 
 season of sunshine and flowers with us, and we enjoy the 
 latter exceedingly. I think I never saw a lovelier sight than 
 Dr. Lord’s grounds. The roses run over the broad verandas— • 
 pure white, delicate pink, and the richest crimson form perfect 
 bowers. Our own lawn is very lovely, and we are happy in 
 the prospect of working here, where so much is to be done. 
 My heart is full of hope that I may work for Jesus, here, for 
 many years.”—July 13, 18S0, seven months after her arrival, 
 Miss Lightfoot writes, “Though my heart yearns for home 
 and country I would not say good-bye to this held, and to my 
 hope of working for Jesus here, for thousands of worlds like 
 this. I thank God every day for placing me here. I enjoy 
 the study of the language, and the prospect of going to work 
 soon.” 
 
 We glean the following items, in regard to the school: “It 
 has been in operation about twenty years. During that time 
 about sixty girls have been connected with it. This seems 
 but a small number, but when we remember the conditions on 
 which pupils can enter—that there can be 710 foot-binding, and 
 the parents relinquish the right to betroth the girls—it 
 becomes a grand thing. We have about eighteen girls in 
 school at present, four of whom are Christians.” 
 
 “The building is brick and has two stories, the upper one of 
 which is used for sleeping rooms, below are the chapel, 
 school-room and the matron’s room. A short distance from 
 the main building are the kitchen, dining-room, wash house, 
 etc.” In the annual report for 1881, we find that the board¬ 
 ing school had been transferred to the charge of Misses 
 
11 
 
 Lightfoot and Inveen. By mutual consent Miss Inveen 
 became the head of the school; Miss Lightfoot though shar¬ 
 ing her duties took charge of outside work, and both were 
 most happy in their work. 
 
 Miss Lightfoot writes, “The days and weeks do go so 
 quickly, in busy crowded Ningpo, and we have to leave so 
 much undone that I am perplexed, though not in despair. 
 We study with increasing interest and feel that God has led 
 us all the way, and that He will be our strength in our weak¬ 
 ness.” 
 
 In the same tone Miss Inveen writes,* “We have been in 
 China more than twelve months, and housekeeping in our 
 dear little home one year. My heart is tilled with thankful¬ 
 ness to my Heavenly Father, for having cast my lot in this 
 far off eastern land, and in such close association with my true 
 and noble friend. I cannot tell in words, the help and 
 strength she has been to me. I thank God that it was His 
 will that I should come to Ningpo with Miss Lightfoot.” 
 
 M iss Lightfoot reported in the second year that the school 
 numbered twenty-two pupils, five of whom were Christians, 
 she writes, “The design of this school is to give a Christian 
 education, and a Christian home to poor children, and to 
 rescue them from heathenism in all its horrors, and take them 
 from a life the misery and hopelessness of which is indescrib¬ 
 able, to lead them to Jesus, to instill into them right princi¬ 
 ples, and to fit them for leading others into the light. We 
 are trying week by week as we gather a little more of the 
 language, to use it for the benefit of the school. For the last 
 six weeks Miss Inveen has conducted the review, and I have 
 taken that time to visit from house to house with my Bible 
 
12 
 
 women. I enjoy that work very much, though sometimes it 
 is trying, I never allow myself to he discouraged.” 
 
 This last sentence reveals one source of her strength, a 
 courageous spirit that always sought to look at the bright side 
 of life. Her responsibilities were greatly increased during 
 the year t8Si. Mrs. Goddard’s day school, a mile and a half 
 distant from her home, was given into her care during Mrs. 
 Goddard’s visit to America.—Miss Lightfoot had developed 
 such fondness for children, and such tact in managing them, 
 that it seemed best to make a change in the division of labor, 
 and she now assumed the charge of the boarding school, while 
 Miss Inveen took the entire direction of the Bible women. 
 
 In a letter dated February io, 1882, Miss Lightfoot speaks 
 of the passing months as being both happy and painful; 
 “Happy, because I cannot help being so, for God surely knows 
 just the way in which my life may best be made to serve 
 Him. Our dear Mrs. Lord’s death is a sad bereavement to 
 us. Her friendship was so genuine and precious, that you 
 will not wonder that I write of painful moments also, as 
 being mingled with the happy moments, hut God’s precious 
 promises and her last words, ‘Almost Home,’ drew our 
 thoughts to the bright home above. I now have charge of 
 Mrs. Goddard’s schools in the city, and also that of our board¬ 
 ing school. I visit the former once each week, and examine 
 the pupils in the lessons learned during the week. I also have 
 Mrs. Goddard’s class of women in the city, on Sunday after¬ 
 noon in Sunday-school. Thus my responsibilities increase as 
 the months go by—so also, does the love and presence of God 
 become dearer and closer to me. The yearning felt by our 
 missionaries for the Christian fellowship of their friends at 
 
13 
 
 home, is expressed in the closing words of this letter, “I love 
 to think that I am remembered and prayed for. I feel sure 
 that most of the blessing I receive is owing to the prayers of 
 Christians in my native -land. I trust these prayers will con¬ 
 tinue to ascend, until we meet in that dear home ‘over there.’ 
 I am well and always hopeful.” 
 
 In 1SS2, the joy of harvest was given this faithful teacher. 
 Seven of the boarding school girls were baptized and she 
 could sav of them after six months: I have no reason to doubt 
 their conversion, but they are babes in Christ and need to be 
 carefully guided. I trust they will live to glorify God.” 
 
 Miss Lightfoot heartily believed in school work as an 
 efficient evangelizing force in missions, as the following 
 earnest words from her testify, “ These schools are a 
 blessing to China. I heartily wish there were more of them, 
 for there are many boys and girls who are likely to grow to 
 manhood and womanhood without a knowledge of God, and 
 unable to read His word. If hundreds and thousands of such 
 children could be rescued and placed in school and taught 
 from childhood in the scriptures, how different their whole 
 future would become. Even the little girls in the day school, 
 go to their homes with their hearts full of song and gladness, 
 and they sing for Jesus. The one bright spot I find in those 
 dark homes, as I visit them is made by these dear girls who 
 sing and recite their scripture verses to the father and mother. 
 No longer do the disciples rebuke them who would bring the 
 little children to Jesus that He may bless them, and His words 
 ‘suffer them to come,’ have sounded down through the ages, 
 and to the missionary who sees the contrast between the foul 
 and degraded, and the clean sweet faces of the school chil- 
 dren, they come with wonderful distinctness.” 
 
14 
 
 With increasing command of the language new forms of 
 work were undertaken—among others, visiting from house to 
 house. Her sympathy with the wretched lives about her, 
 finds expression is such words as these, “Poor women, men 
 and children, they seem many of them to have no joy in this 
 life, and know of none beyond.” 
 
 As the entire responsibility of the school came upon Miss 
 Lightfoot, she developed more and more those qualifications 
 of a successful teacher—earnestness and enthusiastic love for 
 the work. We find her studying the characteristics of her 
 pupils that she might better know how to deal wisely and 
 helpfully with each. 
 
 The underlying motive expressed in the words, u My desire 
 is to train these girls for God’s service,” is evident in every 
 letter. In simple faith she looked to her Heavenly Father 
 for guidance. Under date of Jan. 9, 1884, she writes, “About 
 seven months ago, I began a prayer meeting with my Chris¬ 
 tian girls. One Thursday afternoon after lessons were done, 
 I told them that on the next Thursday we would read all the 
 passages in the New Testament relating to prayer. They 
 searched for these with lively interest. When the day came 
 I read the passages they gave me, and some others besides. 
 So thoughtful were the girls while I read, that I was encour¬ 
 aged to begin the prayer meeting at once. I called upon one 
 after another, until nearly all had taken part. They seemed 
 delighted when I told them we would have such a meeting 
 every Thursday after lessons were finished. I hope the 
 Christians at home will pray that all my girls may become 
 true witnesses for Christ.” Miss Lightfoot continued to care 
 for Mrs. Goddard’s school until her return. During 18S3, 
 
15 
 
 two new schools were opened through her efforts. One at 
 Liao so, beginning with three little girls, placed in charge of 
 the pastor’s wife, a former pupil of the boarding school. The 
 other was at the South Gate of the city a little day school for 
 girls, consisting of thirteen pupils, was also under the care of 
 a former pupil in the boarding school. Of the year’s work, 
 she writes, “I am happy, and love my work and my home 
 which God has so abundantly blessed.” 
 
 June 18, 1884, Miss Lightfoot.was married to Dr. Lord, 
 who had been a missionary at Ningpo in the service of the 
 Missionary Union, since 1847. Calm, clear-headed and conser¬ 
 vative, every one respected his judgment. At one time he 
 represented his country as United States Consul at this port. 
 As a missionary his later years were almost entirely devoted to 
 the departments of education and translation. Just before her 
 marriage Miss Lightfoot wrote, “Dr. Lord is so strong, so 
 helpful, I am sure I do not expect to do less work, because I 
 am to be his wife. His noble life causes me continually to 
 desire to be wiser and better. I feel that the gift of his pure, 
 true love is from heaven, and my heart responds with its 
 warmest love.” 
 
 This union proved peculiarly happy notwithstanding the 
 considerable disparity of years. She continued to watch over 
 and Dbor for her pupils after her marriage with unchanged 
 affection. 
 
 In 1884, Mrs. Lord reported that there were thirty-one 
 girls in the boarding school; the prayer meeting had been 
 continued, and although there were no new cases of conver¬ 
 sion, yet the marked growth in grace of her Christian pupils 
 gladdened her heart. 
 
16 
 
 The day school at the South Gate numbered seventeen 
 pupils in attendance, no one of whom has one Christian rela¬ 
 tive. Her report closes with this appeal, “Let us beseech the 
 Lord to save these girls and make them instrumental in sav¬ 
 ing others. I ask you again to pray for me that I may have 
 more of the Holy Spirit in my heart to guide in all my plans 
 and in all my work.” During the riot in 1884, Mrs. Stott’s 
 school house fell a prey to the rioters. Mr. and Mrs. Stott 
 of the China Island Mission, after considering many expe¬ 
 dients and asking direction from above, made an appeal to 
 Mrs. Lord to receive the fourteen homeless girls until a new 
 building could be erected. At great inconvenience she cheer¬ 
 fully made room for them, and for six months the added care 
 of these precious souls came upon her. The year 1885 was 
 very busy and eventful. In a letter dated April 28, 1SS5, she 
 mentions the death of one of the boarding girls who had been 
 with her only one year. Though she had not publicly con¬ 
 fessed faith in Christ yet there was evidence of a renewed 
 heart. She mentions also the departure for Wang Chow of 
 the fourteen girls who had been under her care. We cjuote 
 from a letter of June 25, “In looking after these little lambs, 
 and watching them day by day, I have been led into some 
 very sweet nooks of the green pasture. My heart has been 
 full to overflowing with enjoyment in my work. Two of 
 the girls have been married, and have been for two months in 
 their new homes.” Thus the circle of her influence widened, 
 as those who had been so carefully trained found homes in 
 new fields. Of one of these girls, she says, “She is sure to be 
 a blessing.” Later, she writes, “One of them is very earnest 
 in efforts to do good. She writes me, that she prays for cour- 
 
17 
 
 / 
 
 age, and every evening gathers the heathen together at her 
 house and teaches them the Bible.” The places made vacant 
 in the school by these changes were soon filled. Mrs. Lord 
 recounts her blessings in these cheery words, “I write to let 
 you know that my new relations do not in any degree hinder 
 my work. I have much to be thankful for. I keep so well 
 and have such joy in my work, and the happiest of happy, 
 sweet homes.” The testimony of a missionary of one of the 
 far inland stations gave her great encouragement. He says, 
 “We have one worker who was formerly in Mrs. Lord’s 
 boarding school. She is the best worker I ever saw, man or 
 woman. She is a Bible woman, Colporteur, Evangelist, all 
 in one.” 
 
 In the annual report for this year Mrs. Lord says concern¬ 
 ing her day school at the South Gate, “It is full of interest to 
 me. It is a privilege to gather children from their wretched 
 heathen homes, and teach them to read the Bible, and tell 
 them of God’s love for them. I am sure they cannot return 
 home and be just what they were before, for now they have 
 something to think and talk and pray about. I do so enjoy 
 working for these people.” In October, 1885, another of her 
 pupils died, a girl of thirteen. She was a Christian and was 
 willing to go and dwell with her Savior forever. So in the 
 changes that came to her dear girls, she had hope, assured 
 that they in passing out from her care, either entered the 
 Heavenly home or went into spheres of usefulness in the new 
 earthly homes. 
 
 In one of her letters she refers to her methods of teaching 
 thus, “In school the pupils are hourly taught about Jesus. I 
 f,each only Bible and Scripture catechism in my day school, 
 
18 
 
 While I have these little immortal souls intrusted to me, I 
 must give them the real food. In the boarding school where 
 I have the advantage of having them so much longer, I feel 
 the importance of Geography, Arithmetic, Physiology, and 
 the classics, but here the Bible is the only text book.” 
 
 There are other advantages which belong to the girls 
 privileged to become pupils in the boarding school at 
 Ningpo. Christian influences are about them at all times, 
 and owing to the firmness of those having it in charge, 
 the rules of admission forbid the practice of footbinding. 
 Concerning this cruel native custom, in connection with her 
 work, Mrs. Lord writes, “One week from to-morrow, the 
 Chinese New Year begins, and preparations are now being 
 made for it. On the first day no one works, and the city 
 streets thronged at other times with coolies and peddlars—are 
 quiet, so that one can walk through the city with comfort. 
 Many of the wealthier Chinese keep their business houses 
 closed the first five days, but the poorer can take only one day 
 for rest or gambling, as the case may be. We are likely to 
 have a good many calls during the first five days, and will 
 have to give considerable time to them. Our teacher has 
 asked me to take for my theme of conversation those days, the 
 evils of footbinding. He says, “ Talk to the women about it, 
 read to them from God’s own word, and prove how wrong it 
 is.” He claims that there are many texts directly opposing 
 the practice. It is a little amusing to have him point them 
 out. One (James 2: 15.) For he shall have judgment with¬ 
 out mercy, that hath shown no mercy. He says there is no 
 mercy in footbinding. The Sixth Commandment too, he 
 says, is against it for in binding, the foot is killed. When 
 
19 
 
 God said, “Thou shalt not kill,” He did not mean that any 
 part of the body might be killed. Another passage Eph. 6:4, 
 “And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath,” he says 
 is positive proof that it is wrong, for every time a child’s foot 
 is bound it is provoked to wrath. This is true, and a very 
 painful sight it is to see a poor child struggling and pleading 
 for freedom which it can never have again. The mother does 
 not seem to hear the agonized cries of the little sufferer, and 
 the work goes on. It is a cruel, cruel custom, and is 
 practiced in Ningpo, among all classes. Our boarding school 
 girls only being exempt from it, of course we cannot control 
 that matter with the day scholars as they are not bound to us, 
 and they all have bound feet.” 
 
 In June, 1886, Miss Inveen was obliged to return to Amer¬ 
 ica on account of her health. These dear sisters, had been so 
 joined in the work that the separation was painful for both, 
 Mrs. Lord, writes, “I miss my dear friend, many miss her, the 
 natives as well as ourselves who have known and loved her 
 so long. It is needless to say how much I hope she will get 
 well and strong and return soon to her work. May God keep 
 her in perfect peace, and guide her in all her ways.” 
 
 Mrs. Lord’s annual report for 1S86—7, is of special interest 
 because it was her last completed year of service. “I com¬ 
 mence my annual report with the thought, ‘What shall 1 ren¬ 
 der unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?’ I recall 
 the many sick days when my work woiild drag. But it 
 pleased Him to restore my wasted strength, and the year has 
 been full of work. Eight girls are in my school who were 
 here when I came to China seven years ago. These have all 
 been converted since then, and all who were Christians before 
 I came have left. There are four others who are church 
 
20 
 
 members, making twelve in ail, besides several realfconverts 
 among the children. One little one of the South Gate scholars 
 died. During her illness she constantly repeated the Ten 
 Commandment Tract, which in addition to the command¬ 
 ments contains the plan of salvation clear and full, and some 
 prayers for the Holy Spirit. Her heathen mother says she 
 would say these over from morning till night, and from night 
 till morning.” 
 
 The few letters from which we glean the record of the 
 closing months of service are filled with expressions of un¬ 
 abated interest in the work. March 21, 1887, she writes, “My 
 school is well filled with young ladies, girls and children, to 
 whom I must be mother as well as teacher.” This maternal 
 solicitude and watch care over her pupils was perhaps the 
 secret of her great success. Her letters of July 5 and 14, are 
 filled with the glad record of fruitage. “My husband baptized 
 seven of my dear girls last Sunday. I wish you could have 
 seen their faces when they came from the water, and I wish 
 you could hear them pray. Dear girls, they asked me a few 
 days before they were baptized to have a prayer meeting with 
 them alone. This 1 did. Each one prayed and the presence 
 of the Spirit was felt so sensibly, that when I left them, I 
 could only go to my room and cry to God in praise and 
 thanksgiving. Pray for these dear girls.” 
 
 Again she writes, “My heart is full of hope for their Chris¬ 
 tian life. I do think the future will show that there are 
 workers among them.” 
 
 The 20th of June of this year was the fortieth anniversary 
 of Dr. Lord’s arrival at Ningpo. The event was celebrated 
 at the house of Dr. and Mrs. Goddard. Twenty-four mis- 
 
21 
 
 sionaries were present by invitation including 1 all the Episco¬ 
 palian, Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries located in 
 Ningpo. The dates ’47-’87, were in beautiful letters made of 
 evergreen on the wall. Many hearty wishes were expressed 
 that Dr. Lord might be spared for many years before laying 
 aside the armor, and receiving the crown. With wifely pride 
 Mrs. Lord reports some of the kindly words of appreciation 
 and love, which were spoken and written by his fellow 
 laborers. 
 
 Dr. Barchet said, “Dr. Lord needs no monument ever to be 
 erected for him. The churches he has established in this 
 heathen land, and the books he has translated are a fitting 
 monument.” 
 
 THE CLOSING SCENE. 
 
 The ensuing months were darkened by the' presence and 
 ravages of the dread pestilence. Cholera of a virulent type 
 broke out early in the summer and continued till the end of 
 September. A number of the native Christians died. The 
 violence of the epidemic will be understood by the statement 
 of Dr. Barchet, who says that out of a little company of fifty 
 native Christians eleven died, which was at the rate of 220 for 
 every 1,000 inhabitants. Dr. and Mrs. Lord were both attacked 
 by the dread disease, September 13, 1887. Mrs. Lord died on 
 the fifteenth, while her husband lingered until the seven¬ 
 teenth. Seeing death so near she was quite resigned to the 
 will of God. During the progress of the disease the physician 
 thought it best not to acquaint either of the critical state of the 
 other. Mrs. Lord did not know of her husband’s illness, nor 
 did he ever know of her death. “It is a comfort to surviving 
 
22 
 
 friends,” says Dr. Goddard, “that they were spared the pang 
 of an earthly parting, what a happy surprise to each it must 
 have been on entering the heavenly home to meet the other 
 there.” 
 
 “And I said in under breath 
 All our life is mixed with death, 
 
 And who knowetli which is best? 
 
 And I smiled to think God’s greatness 
 Flows around our incompleteness, 
 
 Round our restlessness His rest.” 
 
 Miss Inveen had reached Yokohama on her return to 
 Ningpo, before hearing the sad news of Mrs. Lord’s death. 
 In a letter to a friend, she writes, “To me whose life was so 
 closely bound and interwoven with hers, the blow of her 
 death has come with heaviest force. I feel all the time that 
 a part of myself has been taken from me. With this news 
 half the joy of returning home was extinguished, and I was 
 like one in a dream. Dr. and Mrs. Lord not there! Surely 
 there is some mistake, but alas! each day only verifies the sad 
 fact. Many times a day I think of something I must tell her 
 or consult her about, and it seems certain that she is at the 
 other house, that I need only run over knock at the gate and 
 go in, to meet her smiling and happy. Then I am suddenly 
 brought to myself and I know that she is indeed in her home, 
 but it is her eternal home. Upon those who remain must fall 
 the burden and care left by those who have gone up higher.” 
 
 We find the following in the In Memoriam, read at the 
 annual meeting in Omaha: 
 
 “In July, Ningpo was bright with joyful memories and all 
 were showing honor to Dr. Lord, who, for forty years had 
 lived there as an embassador of the King of kings. In Sep- 
 
23 
 
 tember there arose from every heart a cry of sorrow. Anni¬ 
 versary joyousness and the funeral procession walked almost 
 side by side'; and now we see 4 a green grave washed by a 
 foreign wave,’—an empty home—and lonely Chinese children 
 sitting in silent grief as they gaze up to the blue sky, longing 
 for the kind mother-teacher, who has left them. 4 God bless 
 the missionaries of cheerfulness 7 and enthusiasm. These im¬ 
 portant characteristics were possessed in marked degree by 
 Mrs. Lord, a sunny face, a cheery heart brought gladness 
 everywhere. 
 
 ‘ She had marvellous gift to cull 
 From common life and dull, 
 
 Whate’er is beautiful.’ 
 
 “To the children in her school, Mrs. Lord showed almost a 
 mother’s love, nursing them in sickness, watching over their 
 daily life, correcting their faults and leading them to a per¬ 
 sonal communion with the Master she served.” 
 
 We close our sketch with the loving tribute of Miss Inveen, 
 who from her intimate acquaintance with our beloved sister is 
 peculiarly fitted to testify to her worth. 
 
 Ningpo, China, July 26, 1888. 
 
 “You ask me to write an estimate of Mrs. Lord’s mission 
 work. I wonder if I can give anything like a just account of 
 it. It seems so fraught with blessing that I hesitate to lay my 
 pen to the task. The most telling witnesses to her labors of 
 love are in the lives of the Chinese girls she so truly loved, 
 and for whom she prayed and labored with her whole heart. 
 
 “A copy of some resolutions she wrote a few months after 
 her arrival in Ningpo will give an insight into the motives of 
 her life, the hidden springs of her actions. 
 
24 
 
 March 30, 1880. 
 
 ‘O, Father in Heaven help me to do Thy will, help me to 
 live near Thee, and oh! make each moment of my life 
 redound to Thy glory. For Jesus’ sake teach me to love 
 Thee more and more , and help me, I pray Thee to live a purer 
 life, a life more like Christ’s. Help me in all things to desire 
 far above all else, the glory of God. Help me in the rules I 
 write here, help me that I fail not. 
 
 1. To act from principle and not from emotion, God help 
 me for Jesus’sake. 
 
 2. To use to the best of my knowledge and ability every 
 moment of my time. 
 
 3. To trust in the Lord at all times. Help me Father, keep 
 me near Thee, and use me as Thou seest best. 
 
 4. To undertake nothing without first asking divine aid, to 
 
 begin on no day without prayer for God’s blessing on my 
 efforts and prayers for. 
 
 5. To pray daily for the advancement of Christ’s cause, at 
 home, and for the advancement here of his wondrous mighty 
 power to save. I pray for the missionaries and the work, and 
 for the school and the poor heathen. God help me to spend 
 my life for Thee. Help me for Jesus’ sake.’ 
 
 “In addition to the deep seated desire to work and live for 
 the glory of God she was very jealous for the Lord of Hosts, 
 and quick to ascribe to Him all the glory of the work. She 
 was conscientious to the utmost and always reliable. She was 
 exceedingly careful in quoting other people’s words; and her 
 love for her friends knew no bounds even though that love 
 was sometimes severely tried. Her nature was deep and 
 strong, and whatever she undertook she threw into it her 
 
25 
 
 whole soul, and yet with all her caution acted as a balance 
 wheel. From her first acquaintance with the work, her heart 
 went out in pity for and desire to help the children. The 
 desire coupled with the ability to successfully work for the 
 children was deep rooted in her nature. She believed the 
 souls of the little ones to be very precious in God’s sight. 
 The “every creature” in our Savior’s last command to her in¬ 
 cluded children as well as adults, and she believed the Lord 
 was as willing to convert the little ones, as grown up men and 
 women. Her chief work in Ningpo was the ‘Girls’ boarding 
 school.’ She had also a day school and in the absence of 
 other missionaries from the field, cared for other work than 
 her own, and always with a whole heartedness and conscien¬ 
 tious faithfulness which assured those for whom she was sub¬ 
 stituting that the work was well done, and the helpers were 
 not being drawn away from their old employers. She was 
 careful whatever she did to so work as to make it easy for her 
 successors. In this matter her forsight stood her in good 
 stead. Having entered into some of her labors I can testify 
 to her success in this respect. Under her firm, wise, and 
 loving management the boarding school was always pros¬ 
 perous, the number of girls doubling during the time she had 
 charge. 
 
 “In answer to her fervent prayers and earnest efforts twenty- 
 two girls became disciples of Jesus, two of whom preceded 
 her to the home above, before they put on Christ by baptism. 
 The others are all living earnest Christians, some are married 
 and are set as lights among their people; others are still in 
 school where they are becoming rooted and grounded in the 
 faith. Her interest in the poor neglected children of the day 
 
26 
 
 n 
 
 schools was very deep, and while a great many more obstacles 
 stood in the way of these little ones becoming the followers of 
 Christ, yet her faith was able to surmount them all. Her 
 convictions and consequent practice led to a revolution in the 
 opinions of some of the workers in regard to work among the 
 children. And I think it will be many a day ere we shall see 
 the end of her good influence in this direction. The worth 
 of such a life who can estimate.”