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diff --git a/27243-h/27243-h.htm b/27243-h/27243-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ebf2ac --- /dev/null +++ b/27243-h/27243-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8690 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's, by A. Mildred Cable. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; + margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; + line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 20%; text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position: relative; + bottom: 0.33em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's, by +A. Mildred Cable + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's + The Story of the Work in Hwochow + +Author: A. Mildred Cable + +Release Date: November 12, 2008 [EBook #27243] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DREAM OF PASTOR HSI'S *** + + + + +Produced by Free Elf, University of Hong Kong Library, +audreyii, Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h1>THE FULFILMENT OF A DREAM</h1> +<h2>OF PASTOR HSI'S</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 373px;"> +<img src="images/illus01.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="MRS. HSI. Frontispiece." title="MRS. HSI. Frontispiece." /> +<span class="caption">MRS. HSI.<br /> <span style="margin-left: 6em;"><i>Frontispiece.</i></span></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>THE FULFILMENT<br /> +OF A DREAM</h1> +<h2>OF PASTOR HSI'S</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF THE WORK IN HWOCHOW</h3> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>A. MILDRED CABLE</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<i>Of the China Inland Mission</i><br /></div> +<div class='poem'><br /><br /><br /> +"Is it a dream?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Nay, but the lack of it, a dream.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And failing it, life's love and wealth a dream,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And all the world a dream."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Walt Whitman</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +<small>LONDON:</small><br /> +MORGAN & SCOTT L<sup>TD.</sup><br /> +<small>12, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C.</small><br /> +CHINA INLAND MISSION<br /> +<small>NEWINGTON GREEN, N. MCMXVII</small><br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<div class='center'> +<small>TO</small><br /> +<br /> +DR. G. CAMPBELL MORGAN<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE "APOLLOS" WHO</small><br /> +<br /> +<small>BY PRAYER AND SYMPATHY HAS "WATERED"</small><br /> +<br /> +<small>THIS WORK</small><br /> +<br /> +<small>THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED</small><br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<div class='cap'>TWENTY-ONE years ago, on 19th February +1896, Pastor Hsi, to quote the words of +his biographer, "was translated to higher service." +Those who read the fascinating and wonderful +story of his life by Mrs. Howard Taylor will at +once be interested in <i>The Fulfilment of a Dream</i>, +which is the story of the work in Hwochow, and +gives the account of the carrying on of the spiritual +labour of that remarkable man, and of the fulfilment +of his dream. I think it is equally true +that those who have not read Pastor Hsi's life +will desire to do so after reading this book.</div> + +<p>It is a commonplace observation, but none the +less true, that the story commenced in the Acts +of the Apostles could not be finished by Luke, +because the great activity, the commencement +of which he recorded, is still going forward. +Every tale of missionary endeavour moving forward +"toward the uttermost part of the earth" +is an added chapter. It has been given to Mildred +Cable and her fellow workers, to labour in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span> +apostolic succession; and then to Mildred Cable, +to write this wonderful chapter.</p> + +<p>From my own standpoint the book is full of +charm. While by no means its supreme value, +the first impression made upon the mind is that +of the naturalness of the story. The reader is +made the friend of the writer, and listens to an +artless and charming account of places and of +peoples. My first reading of the book at one sitting +(as all such books should be read), left me with +a sense of the atmosphere of the missionary's life +and surroundings. I was admitted into the +actuality of everyday things, and was made +familiar with the pathos and tragedy and humour +of life in a land and among a people largely unknown +to me.</p> + +<p>As I have said, this is by no means the supreme +value of the book. That rather consists in something +that grows upon you as you read. The +writer does not state it in so many words, or very +seldom, and certainly is not trying to persuade +you to believe it, but there it is. I refer to the +tender and yet strong revelation of the power of +the Divine Grace, both in its sustenance of those +who are called to missionary work, and its transforming +power in the case of those who, often at +cost, yield themselves to its call.</p> + +<p>In Chapters I., V., VI., VII., and VIII., the reader +will trace the story of the development of the +work, and a wonderful story it is. Chapters XI.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span> +and XII., containing first the story of Ai Do, and +then a record of demoniacal manifestations, show +the reader how these quiet and earnest workers +are brought up against the big, naked, awful +things of life; and also how being so confronted, +they are unafraid and unconquered in the name +of Jesus Christ the Lord. The fact that I draw +special attention to these chapters is not intended +to suggest for a moment that the others are either +uninteresting or unimportant. They are neither +the one nor the other. For all that it is intended +to be, the book is a whole, and is supremely +precious, because it is manifestly a part of the +larger whole of Christ's great emprise.</p> + +<p>With confidence and joy I commend the story +to all those in whose heart burns the passion for +the coming of the hour when our adorable Redeemer +shall "see of the travail of His soul, and shall be +satisfied."</p> + +<div class='sig'> +G. CAMPBELL MORGAN.<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></p> + +<h2>AUTHOR'S PREFACE</h2> + + +<div class='cap'>I WISH to acknowledge that apart from my co-workers, +Evangeline and Francesca French, +this book would have been impossible. To Mr. +Albert Lutley, Superintendent of the China Inland +Mission Work in the Province of Shansi, I am +indebted for help and kindnesses which I can +acknowledge, but never repay. I am also indebted +to my Chinese secretary, Miss Wang, for her able +reporting of the many interviews which the compiling +of this book has necessitated.</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The Chinese themselves say: "One mile alters +the speech, and ten miles change the customs."</p> + +<p>In view of the fact that the Province of Shansi +alone is larger than England and Wales, I wish +it to be clearly understood that the usages and +customs to which I refer throughout this book +are local.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span></p> +<h2>EDITOR'S NOTE</h2> + + +<div class='cap'>ALL personal names are spelt according to the +system employed by the authoress, except +where it has been necessary to modify this to +retain the identity of someone mentioned in Mrs. +Howard Taylor's <i>Pastor Hsi</i>. All place names +are spelt according to the orthography of the +Chinese Postal Guide, which system is now used +in the standard maps of China and has been +adopted by the larger missionary societies. Thus, +Hoh-chau of <i>Pastor Hsi</i> becomes Hwochow, +T'ai-yüan becomes Taiyüanfu, P'ing-yang becomes +Pingyangfu, etc.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[xiii]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PROLOGUE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_xix">xix</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER I</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mrs. Hsi's Gift, being an Account of the Opening of the Station of Hwochow</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Big Road, indicating the Situation of Hwochow in the Province of Shansi</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A New Venture, in which is recorded the Appointment of the First Missionaries to Hwochow</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Continuation of the Story, being a Record of some who were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's Sake, and of Mrs. Hsi's Experience in the Boxer Outbreak</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[xiv]</a></span><span class="smcap">Life in the Villages, an Introduction to Chinese Home Life</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Our Reception at Hwochow, showing Things as they sometimes are</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER VII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Portrait Gallery, wherein the Reader is introduced to some of our Fellow Workers</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER VIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Work Development, relating how we sought to encompass the Work, and the Work encompassed us</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER IX</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mrs. Hsi's Second Gift, being an account of her Life from Widowhood</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER X</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Story of an Opium Smoker</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XI</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Great Furnace for a Great Soul, being the Story of Ai Do</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Powers of Darkness, being a Record of some Observations in Demonology</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[xv]</a></span><span class="smcap">The Life Story of Pastor Wang</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XIV</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Visit to the Base, from whence we are again sent forth with Fresh Supplies</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XV</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Builders, relating how the Supplies were used</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XVI</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Women's Bible Training School, which tells how a Link was established between Westminster and Hwochow Bible Schools</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XVII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Draw Net let down into the Sea, an Account of Fresh Efforts to reach the Multitude, and bring them to Decision</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XVIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Life amongst the Upper Ten Thousand, recording Hospitality shown to us by the official Classes</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XIX</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Revolution of 1911, and how we were affected by it</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XX</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[xvi]</a></span><span class="smcap">Changed Conditions, wherein some, though following a Path of Action, failed to understand it</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XXI</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Another Portrait Gallery, wherein the Reader is introduced to some who have failed</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XXII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Preaching the Gospel, Healing the Sick, telling of the Daily Routine</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_223">223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XXIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Casket of Jewels, being an Account of the Girls' School</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XXIV</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Treasure House, where the Reader is shown the Lapidary at Work</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />CHAPTER XXV</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Conclusion, being a Review of the Present Situation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />APPENDIX</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii">[xvii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mrs. Hsi</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_ii"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><small>FACING<br />PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Woman Opium Smoker</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pastor Wang</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Women's Bible School</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Puppy" and her Mother</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Teaching Staff</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Some Kindergarten Scholars</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ling Ai, her Children, and her Mother, Mrs. Liang</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii">[xviii]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix">[xix]</a></span></p> + +<h2>PROLOGUE</h2> + + +<div class='cap'>THE spirit of the Confucian scholar Hsi met +with its Master Christ, and overwhelmed +by the vision yielded all to His control. Constrained +by His love the souls of men were sought +and won; led by His Spirit, churches were established +in the faith; sharing His sufferings, their +failures became his burden.</div> + +<p>In the darkest days the Hwochow Church has +known, when many forsook their faith, he was +strengthened by a dream, in which he saw a tree +cut down to the ground, only to sprout again, and +throw out branches stronger than before.</p> + +<p>In his dream, Pastor Hsi knew this tree to be +the Hwochow Church. He knew that though it +were brought low, it would revive, and by faith +obtained the promise, the fulfilment of which is +recorded in these pages.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx">[xx]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='poem'> +When Thou wouldst pour the Living Stream<br /> +Then I would be the earthen cup,<br /> +Filled to the brim and sparkling clear.<br /> +The Fountain Thou and Living Spring<br /> +Flow Thou through me, the vessel weak,<br /> +That thirsty souls may taste Thy grace.<br /> +<br /> +When Thou wouldst warn the people, Lord,<br /> +Then I would be the golden bell<br /> +Swung high athwart the lofty tower<br /> +Morning and evening sounding loud;<br /> +That young and old may wake from sleep,<br /> +Yea, e'en the deaf hear that strong sound.<br /> +<br /> +When Thou wouldst light the darkness, Lord,<br /> +Then I would be the silver lamp<br /> +Whose oil supply can never fail.<br /> +Placed high, to shed the beams afar,<br /> +That darkness may be turned to light,<br /> +And men and women see Thy face.<br /> +<br /> +When Thou wouldst slay the wolves, O Lord!<br /> +Then I would be the keen-edged sword;<br /> +Clean, free from rust, sharpened and sure,<br /> +The handle grasped, my God, by Thee.<br /> +To kill the cruel, ravening foe,<br /> +And save the sheep for whom Christ died.<br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +Translated from Pastor Hsi<br /> +<span style="margin-right: 5em;">by F. L. F.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> +<h2>MRS. HSI'S GIFT</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"First love is the abandonment of all for the love which +has abandoned all."—Dr. <span class="smcap">G. Campbell Morgan</span>.</p></div> + +<div class='poem'> +<span style="margin-left: 14em;">"... such men</span><br /> +Carry the fire, all things grow warm to them.<br /> +Their drugget's worth my purple, they beat me."<br /> +</div> +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">R. Browning.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>MRS. HSI'S GIFT</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Being an Account of the Opening of the +Station of Hwochow</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>MRS. HSI was in great mental distress. The +blow she feared had fallen, and her husband +was a prey to the bewitching power of the +"foreign devils." How cleverly the trap had been +laid. Firstly, the offer of a monetary prize for a +classical essay—which he had won; secondly, the +insistence of the foreigner on a personal interview +with the writer, on the occasion of which, certain +as her husband had been that he had tasted neither +food nor drink under his roof, some means had certainly +been found to introduce into his system +some of that subtle foreign drug which, as every +one knew, must eventually compel the victim to +embrace Christianity and follow the "foreign +devil" to the world's end. Thirdly, he had been +invited to become the teacher of this dreaded +man (Rev. David Hill), and she had foolishly yielded +her consent. She had taken every precaution +and had, on three occasions, sent for him on plea +of her own illness during the time he was an inmate +in the foreigner's household. His clothing +had been carefully searched for traces of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +magical compound, but in vain; nothing had +come to light, and now here was her husband, +one of the leading Confucianists of the district, +declaring that, of his own free will and action, he +had determined to follow—not the foreign +devils—but this Jesus, around Whom all their +preaching centred. He attributed this change +of mind, evidently quite irrationally, to the reading +of a book printed under the strange title of <i>Happy +Sound</i>,—but perhaps even the sacred Chinese +character might become a snare in their hands! +Nothing but the influence of some powerful magic +could have worked so complete a transformation. +Even his intense craving for opium was gone, the +Confucian writings which had been his constant +companion were now neglected, and in spite of +her entreaties and fears, the family gods were +destroyed.</div> + +<p>During his stay at home he spoke constantly, +both to her and in her hearing to many visitors, +of the teachings of this Jesus Who, he explained to +all comers, was the Son of the only True God.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Time passed, and gradually her fears were +somewhat allayed, so that she even consented +to repeat certain sentences which, he told her, +were to be used night and morning, kneeling, and +with closed eyes. Her inclination to favourably +regard what he told her grew, especially during +his absences from home; for, strange to relate, +she soon began to find herself under the influence +of an unaccountable external power, which compelled +her on each occasion of a visit from her +husband to fly into an uncontrollable rage at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +the sight of him, and this despite her most determined +resolution to the contrary. To her husband +it was most distressing to see so gentle a woman +thus transformed. As his own spiritual experience +increased, he recognised in this an onslaught +of the devil, and betook himself to prayer and +fasting in order to discover how they had laid themselves +open to the attack. It was then that there +was brought to his remembrance the fact that, +in a room at the top of the house, there stood a +small idol responsible for the health of the family, +whose existence Mrs. Hsi had been careful not +to bring to his remembrance, and which had been +overlooked in the general destruction. The shrine +was instantly destroyed, and Mrs. Hsi was free +of the tormenting spirit, and shortly afterwards +openly confessed Christ.</p> + +<p>From that time their home in the Western +Chang village was a centre of Christian activity. +Through intense suffering Mr. Hsi had freed +himself from the craving for opium, and he +felt that, for the evangelisation of his native +province, some means might be devised whereby +the treatment of opium patients might be +combined with widespread preaching of the +Gospel.</p> + +<p>The more he thought of this the stronger the conviction +grew that it was of God, and when, through +the agency of a dream, a system of treatment was +revealed to him, he accepted it as a revelation +and at once prepared the medicine which proved +successful beyond his highest expectations. After +a time, men who had been delivered from the +opium vice and led to Christ through the Refuges,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +were gathered into his home (which he called the +Middle Eden) and trained for the work.</p> + +<p>This community life for so large a number was +only made possible by Mrs. Hsi's enthusiastic +devotion. The extension of the opium refuge +work was rapid and widespread, and necessitated +frequent absences from home on the part of Mr. +Hsi, during which time a heavy burden fell upon +his wife.</p> + +<p>Houses were rented in many towns and villages, +and patients entering the "heavenly called refuges"<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +were numerous.</p> + +<p>The burden of one city, however, lay heavily +upon the heart of Mr. Hsi, and he and his household +constantly prayed together that Hwochow might +be opened to the sound of the Gospel; but funds +which seemed essential for the initial expenses of +the venture were not forthcoming. His itinerant +journeys frequently took him through this important +centre, which was situated sixty miles +north of his home.</p> + +<p>Day after day prayer was made, and Mrs. Hsi +often heard her husband in the night watches, +as he knelt alone in the court, plead with God +that nothing might hinder what he strongly believed +to be the Divine Purpose.</p> + +<p>One Sunday night she was wakened by the familiar +sound. She knew that her husband, like herself, +had gone to bed tired out by a long day of preaching, +during which large numbers had joined their +household from more or less distant villages. According +to their custom, they had spent the day +fasting; it was Pastor Hsi's habit to refer to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +Scriptures direct for guidance on matters of daily +conduct, and in the early days of his faith he +feared to sin against the law of God by allowing +fires to be lighted and meals to be prepared on +Sunday. In accordance with his habit, he had arisen +soon after midnight to give himself to prayer, +and her ear caught the murmured sentences, "I +beseech Thee, O Lord, open a way for Hwochow to +hear the Gospel." As she listened, the sound of +his voice brought conviction to her own mind +that she was to be the human agency by which +the Divine Will should now fulfil itself. In a flash, +the path of duty was clear.</p> + +<p>At the back of her cave were large painted cupboards +which contained the whole of her worldly +possessions: bundles of handsome silk, satin, and +embroidered garments, and a box holding the +heavy jade and silver ornaments, which had been +her husband's marriage gift. Leaving her +<i>kang</i><a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> Mrs. Hsi unlocked the cupboards and +spent the rest of that night in sorting their contents. +All except a few cotton gowns were put +to one side, and as the voice in the courtyard +still pleaded for Hwochow, even the earrings were +taken from her ears, the rings from her fingers, +and the ornaments from her hair.</p> + +<p>He Who is worthy to receive accepted the +offering, and her heart sang a song of thanksgiving +as she murmured to herself, "Hwochow shall have +the Gospel."</p> + +<p>Morning prayers at Middle Eden was an hour +of joyful worship, and on this day Mrs. Hsi's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +heart was so full of happiness that she could scarcely +wait until the full congregation had assembled +before she, laden with her bundles, entered the +room and placed them on the table, saying, "I +think God has answered our prayers; I can do +without these, let Hwochow have the Gospel."</p> + +<p>Every heart present must have been moved, +for all could judge accurately what the sacrifice +must be. She had offered her only worldly +treasures, articles which her husband could not +ask her to sacrifice, ready as he was to use in +God's service all that pertained to their home.</p> + +<p>Surely the angels joined their song to that of +the little Christian community that morning, as +the words of their own pastor's hymn ascended +with the sacrifice of praise:</p> + +<div class='poem2'> +"I hung for thee on Calvary, what dost thou still withhold from Me?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Thy strength, thy time, thy goods?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Oh say, what dost thou yet deny, My heart of love to satisfy?"</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE BIG ROAD</h2> + +<div class='poem2'> +"Allons! whoever you are, come travel with me!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Travelling with me you find what never tires.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Whoever you are, come forth! a man or a woman, come forth!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">You must not stay sleeping or dallying there in the house,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">though you built it, or though it has been built for you."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Walt Whitman.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Master said: With coarse rice to eat, with water +to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow;—I have still +joy in the midst of these things."—<i>Confucian Analects.</i></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE BIG ROAD</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Indicating the Situation of Hwochow in The +Province of Shansi</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE city of Hwochow is situated on the main +road which connects Taiyüanfu with Sianfu, +the direct route from Peking to the northwestern +provinces. Along this road pass strings +of camels, laden with the merchandise of Mongolia; +thousands of donkeys, carrying bags of flour from +the more luxuriant southern plains; cartloads of +tobacco and paper from the large cities in the +south of the province, and caravans of travellers; +whole families packed into large carts moving to +some new home; mat-covered litters swung +between two mules and heavily curtained, in +which the wives of an official are transported to +their new abode; pedestrians, clad in sky-blue +cotton, "yamen runners" yelling as they ride at +furious speed to clear the way before them, and +bearers of burdens combine to form a moving +picture of interest and beauty upon the <i>Big +Road</i>, as it is called.</div> + +<p>Not least interesting among the wayfarers +are the Lhamas from distant Thibet nearing the +end of their long pilgrimage to the famous holy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +mountain Wutai, where each one hopes to be +granted the vision of the famous opening lotus. +For many months, stretching into years, this hope +has sustained them through the weary pilgrimage. +From the threshold of their Lhama home they +have walked every step of the thousand and +more miles, some at every tenth, some at every +fifth step, touching the ground with their forehead, +and some measuring the whole length of the way +with their outstretched body on the road.</p> + +<p>As the traveller enters Hwochow from the +north, he crosses a bridge, passing on his right +a large metal cow. Beyond, flows the Fen River, +and before him is the city gate. To this brazen +image is committed the important function of +guarding Hwochow from flood, and so successfully +does it accomplish its task that dryness and +drought are the normal condition of the countryside!</p> + +<p>Turning to the east he faces the magnificent +range of the Ho Mountains, in winter covered +with snow, and in warmer seasons touched with +the beauty of ever-changing colour. These +mountains are part of the range which, farther +north, is traversed by the famous Lingshih Pass.</p> + +<p>Excepting in the early summer months when +patches of vivid green indicate the fields of growing +wheat, the landscape is of a uniform shade +which is best described as <i>khaki</i>. Owing to the +friable nature of the soil formation known as +<i>loess</i>, the traveller, whether journeying from +north or south, finds himself in a succession of +deep gullies.</p> + +<p>This wheat-growing land was formerly given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +over to the cultivation of the opium poppy, and +for miles over the plain the wonderful iridescent +bloom gave the appearance of a sea of changing +light and shade as the wind passed over it.</p> + +<p>In the year 1908 a proclamation was issued +forbidding the growth of opium under penalty +of death, and so vigorously has the law been +enforced that the poppy has completely disappeared +from view, and no man is bold enough +to openly grow that which has been forbidden by +the authorities.</p> + +<p>For ten months in the year brilliant sunshine +can be counted upon, and during that time, +except for dust combined with heat or cold, the +physical condition of a journey may be comparatively +easy. Ease of mind, however, can +only be attained by the philosopher who, putting +away all thought of unseemly haste, shares the +Easterner's pleasures of observation, contemplation, +and wayside intercourse.</p> + +<p>The journey from Taiyüanfu to Hwochow is +accomplished in five stages, and nothing will +induce the carter to shorten or change them, +though hours may have been wasted in some +narrow gully where, spite his warning yells, his +cart met another at a point where advance or +retreat on either side were alike impossible. +After fierce recriminations the two men each +produce a pipe, and it is good practice for the +impatient Westerner to see them sit on their +heels and talk the matter over. Time passes, +but the carter is untrammelled by any artificial +measure thereof, and after endless discussion, +amid comforting whiffs of tobacco, he proceeds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +to think of a plan whereby the deadlock may be +overcome. How they manage to extricate themselves, +one never knows! Some of the bank +comes down, yells and shouts do their part, and +at last the traffic, which may now amount to +fifty waiting carts, slowly passes by. It is an +everyday occurrence, and you ask, "Why do +they not widen the road?" "Nobody's business," +is the reply. "Who would spend the +money?"</p> + +<p>It is, however, the rainy season that reveals +to the full the horrors of Chinese travelling. +The <i>loess</i> is slippery beyond description, and +the litter or cart in which you travel may be +stuck for hours in a pit of greasy mud, black by +reason of the coal dust so plentiful throughout +the district, so deep that nothing but the mule's +head is visible, the plunging body being hidden +in the black mass. Your only hope at such a +moment is to throw yourself with the grace of +an expert gymnast on to the bank, thankful if +you escape unhurt and only bespattered by mud. +These pits are carefully kept in condition by a +small group of men who appear, as by magic, to +offer assistance at the suitable moment. No +plight, however, excites their pity sufficiently to +induce them to render help apart from a pecuniary +reward of an exorbitant nature. Once within +the city gates there is hope that you will soon +find a shelter. You will have accomplished +"the stage" which has been allotted from time +immemorial. Marco Polo himself followed these +stages in the year 1280 as we do to-day in the +twentieth century.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>The main road runs through the city of Hwochow +from north to south, and many inns invite the +traveller to rest, the red scrolls at the door assuring +him that "From the four seas men all gather to +this great hotel," and that the fame of its food +is far-reaching.</p> + +<p>Crossing this road from east to west is another +important street where the official residence is +situated. Here, most of the large shops are to +be found and in the centre of the city is a fine +tower, but all the smaller streets are alike, running +between blank walls, from which access to as +many as twelve courtyards may be through one +small door. Numerous pigs walk unhindered up +and down, acting as scavengers, and as such are +not unneeded, for every one throws the refuse of +the household out of the court door, caring nothing +for the convenience of the public.</p> + +<p>Parallel with the Yamen street is another +important thoroughfare known as Prospect Hill. +Here stands the largest and most important +temple in the city, and almost next door to +this, with the money given by his wife, Mr. Hsi +secured small premises and announced that he was +opening an opium refuge, and was willing to +receive patients. Particulars as to rules and +expenses were widely published, and in this place +the first results of the love and self-sacrifice of +Mrs. Hsi were seen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> +<h2>A NEW VENTURE</h2> + +<div class='poem'> +"Love has a hem to its garment<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">That touches the very dust:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It can reach the stains of the streets and the lanes,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And because it can it must.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It dares not rest on the mountain;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It is bound to come to the vale;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">For it cannot find its fulness of mind</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Till it kindles the lives that fail."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">George Matheson.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The world had begun to stare, she half apprehended +the fact, but she was in the presence of the irresistible. +In the presence of the irresistible the conventional is a +crazy structure, swept away with very little creaking of its +timbers on the flood."—<span class="smcap">George Meredith.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A NEW VENTURE</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">In which is recorded the Appointment of +the First Missionaries to Hwochow</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE first endeavour to bring the people of +Hwochow within sound of the Gospel +proved in every way encouraging. Numbers of +men entered the Opium Refuge, and before long a +nucleus of twenty were calling themselves Christians. +The effort was, however, sterile so far as women +were concerned, and Pastor Hsi knew the impossibility +of establishing upon a solid basis a +work which left untouched those who so largely +controlled the home.</div> + +<p>The power wielded by the woman in China is +immense, for while she may be despised and, in +her young days, even ill-treated, her day of power +surely dawns, and woe betide the man who has +to combat the determined will of mother or wife.</p> + +<p>The question of providing women workers for +Hwochow became a pressing one, and a visit from +the Rev. Hudson Taylor was the occasion chosen +by Pastor Hsi to bring before him the urgency +of this claim<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a>. His suggestion was that single<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +women missionaries should be appointed who +could give their time unreservedly to the teaching +of women, and preaching. Mr. Taylor pointed +out the difficulties and the misunderstanding +which would make their lot far from easy, but +these difficulties, Pastor and Mrs. Hsi felt, might +be overcome, and willingly promised to give all +the help which lay within their power. In any +case, the claim of the women constituted a call +to make a forward movement, and Mr. Taylor +promised to give the matter serious consideration. +By the end of that year, 1886, two Norwegian +ladies had offered for the post.</p> + +<p>Miss Jacobsen, an idealist, strong, capable, and +critical, gave herself whole-heartedly to the work +for which she had come. Enthusiastic and independent +in thought and action, she soon acquired +the spoken language to a remarkable degree, and +with a praiseworthy tenacity she studied the +classical works of the Chinese, and at the same +time could vie with most of the women in all +branches of their domestic activities. Her extraordinary +ability is a byword to this day amongst +the people who knew her.</p> + +<p>She was accompanied by Miss Reuter, a lady of +education and refinement, whose grace of manner +and goodness of heart speedily endeared her to all +with whom she came in contact. Varied as were +the gifts and circumstances of the friends, they +were one in desire and purpose. Their home was +one small room, and here they dwelt and received +all who came to them. They wore the Chinese +dress, ate the Chinese food, and whether in their +own home or in the villages where they preached,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +ever kept before them the one object of the +salvation of souls.</p> + +<p>As pioneer workers, enthusiasm sometimes +overstepped discretion, and the violation of +Chinese custom in such matters as the public +playing of stringed instruments and open-air +preaching to mixed congregations, led to misunderstanding, +and even to the gathering around +them of some whose presence was far from helpful.</p> + +<p>Desire on the part of Miss Jacobsen to encourage +in every way possible those who were already +faced with persecution as they left idolatry, led +to the preparation, each Sunday, of a simple +meal which might be shared with any who walked +long distances to attend services in the City +Church, and who arrived weary and tired. Others, +however, apart from the Christian family heard +of this, and if matters of business brought them +to the city, Sunday was considered an appropriate +day to transact them, as thereby dinner might +be obtained free. This naturally led to criticism +on the part of the heathen, and many of the +more independent and self-respecting people refrained +from intercourse with a community of +whom it could be said: "They believe for their +food's sake." Acting upon the advice of Pastor +Hsi, this practice was discontinued, the missionaries +themselves willingly taking no food from morning +until evening, that all might fare alike. It could +but be evident to all concerned that the mistakes +were those of love and enthusiasm, and such +qualities do much to counteract any harm that +might arise from unwise methods of expression. +In every land, the world might well see more of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +the love that defies criticism, and forgets its own +interests in whole-hearted devotion.</p> + +<p>Miss Reuter felt the importance of at once +reaching the children, and opened a small school +for the daughters of Christians. Three little +girls were committed to her care, and these she +faithfully taught, not despising the day of small +things.</p> + +<p>She, with Miss Jacobsen, travelled from village +to village with the evangelist Cheng Hsiu-chi, +and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Cheng +was a native of Hwochow, and had, at Pastor Hsi's +request, made ready the house for the missionaries +when they came. As a young man he had wandered +far in the paths of sin, and his mother, eager for +his reformation, had spent no mean sum of money +upon incense with which to seek the favour of +the gods on his behalf. Seeing her devotion, his +heart was touched, and he considered seeking +refuge in a Buddhist monastery from the "fire +of passion, hatred, and ignorance always burning +in his heart." With this in view, he took counsel +of a friend who had harboured similar ideals. +This man had lately been a patient in the Refuge, +where he had learnt of a stronger power to break +the bonds of sin than fasting, penance, and self-discipline. +With him Mr. Cheng attended a +meeting of Christians where, meeting with Christ, +he became a disciple. He returned home to face +bitter persecution for refusing to pay the temple +taxes; it was understood that no robbery of his +crops, or ill-treatment of his person, would be +punished by the village elders. He had finally +no option but to leave his home and seek refuge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +elsewhere, rejoicing that he was counted worthy +to suffer "for the Name's sake."</p> + +<p>He then helped Pastor Hsi in the Hwochow +Refuge, and later took charge of the same work +in new and hitherto untouched districts, returning +from time to time to his own city.</p> + +<p>A strong admiration for Miss Jacobsen and her +whole-hearted devotion awoke a consciousness that +this feeling was not entirely on his side, and +gradually, but surely, the difference of race and +outlook was obliterated in the love which revealed +to each the other's secret.</p> + +<p>Those to whom Miss Jacobsen in honour bound +confided her purpose, did all in their power to +prevent what it seemed might prove to be a +catastrophe to the work. She was asked to leave +Hwochow, and was sent to another province. Some +years passed, but nothing could change the determination +which saw in this union a possible +wider sphere of usefulness and understanding of +the people she had come to love; moreover, the +mysterious something which caused her to know +that "one man loved the pilgrim soul" in her, +could not be ignored. To her trusted friend +Pastor Hsi, however, she did turn for advice, and +while many fellow-workers found it hard to express +their indignation and regret, he, with a clearness +of outlook only possible where there is absence +of prejudice, told her that while he could not +regard it as a sin for a Christian man and woman +of different races to marry, he felt convinced that +the time had not come for such unions to be +desirable.</p> + +<p>As is usual in such cases where inclination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +runs contrary to the advice given, the latter was +ignored, and in the year 1898 Cheng Hsiu-chi and +Anna Jacobsen became man and wife. Painful +as must have been the attitude of Westerners to +Mrs. Cheng, a greater trial awaited her when she +came to realise that the Chinese, both Christian +and heathen, regarded her action with disapproval, +and adopted so unappreciative an attitude both +towards her husband and herself, that she found +only critical antagonism where she had looked +for sympathetic understanding. Mr. Cheng proved +himself worthy in all ways of the confidence she +had placed in him, and by self-sacrificing toil +he, both before and after his wife's death, faithfully +served the Lord to Whom he had yielded his +life. In the year 1915 he too passed to his reward.</p> + +<p>Miss Reuter had some time previously married +Mr. Stanley Smith; young workers who had +joined Miss Jacobsen for short periods had been +moved to other places, and when fresh appointments +were made it was a time of great difficulty. +It was not easy to replace those whose absolute +devotion had won the love of the people amongst +whom they lived; and while Miss Jacobsen's +action necessitated her withdrawal from the staff +of the China Inland Mission, and made further +residence in Hwochow impossible for her, they could +not forget that she was the first missionary who +had come to them, and that they were losing +with her the man who had been a help to so many +of them in their early Christian life.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CONTINUATION OF THE STORY</h2> + +<div class='poem'> +"Death is short, and life is long;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Satan is strong, and Christ more strong.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">At His Word, Who hath led us hither,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The Red Sea must part hither and thither.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">At His Word Who goes before us too,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Jordan must cleave to let us through."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">C. Rossetti.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"On the other side of the River was also a meadow, +curiously beautified with lilies, and it was green all the year +round."—<i>Pilgrim's Progress.</i></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE CONTINUATION OF THE STORY</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Being a Record of some who were counted +worthy to suffer for Christ's sake, and +of Mrs. Hsi's Experiences in the Boxer +Outbreak</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>CHANGES in the staff at Taiyüanfu +released for the oversight of mission +work in Hwochow, Jane Stevens and Mildred +Clarke.</div> + +<p>They might well shrink from the task facing +them. Work in the provincial capital had been +of so totally different an order, and life in a large +community of foreigners had limited their sphere +to the oversight of a small school for girls, and +the instruction of women inquirers.</p> + +<p>None had felt more strongly the seriousness of +the step taken by Miss Jacobsen, and they came +to Hwochow with the determination that all should +early understand the impossibility of intercourse +outside the most rigid observance of etiquette, +Chinese and Western. Feeling strongly that such +an attitude on their part would be the most +helpful factor in the gathering around them of +better-class women, they faithfully carried it into +practice. Men who were connected with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +Church were received by them only under the +most formal restrictions. Finding it impossible +to eat Chinese food, a simple, but foreign <i>ménage</i>, +took the place of the hitherto free-and-easy conditions.</p> + +<p>It was a severe test for Chinese and foreigners +alike; desire for renewal of the former conditions +of intimacy met with no encouragement from +those who could not but constantly bear the past +in mind, and who felt that, for the highest interests +of the work, a new relationship must be established. +This attitude was naturally regarded as aloofness, +and was galling to those whose love had +been set on the young missionaries fresh from +Norway, with all the enthusiasm of youth, to +whom they themselves had taught the language +and who belonged to them as others could not.</p> + +<p>Miss Clarke gave her time to the Girls' School, +the pupils of which now numbered nearly twenty, +and those who followed her have reaped where +she sowed. Often sad and weary she plodded +on, but God in His time gave the increase. Miss +Stevens, to the limit of her strength, and often +beyond it, faithfully worked in the city and +villages, suffering much which to her was intense +hardship, and feeling keenly the isolation and +lack of confidence amongst the people who misunderstood +the course of action deliberately +adopted. Thus, while bringing heartache to +themselves, these missionaries were enabled to +make easy the way to all who followed them.</p> + +<p>The year 1900 dawned. In the month of June +the ladies closed school and gladly accepted an +invitation from friends in their old station to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +visit them. To Taiyüanfu they went, and after +many anxious days spent with the missionaries +gathered there they, in obedience to the Governor's +command, helpless to disobey, even though they +suspected his treacherous promises of protection, +moved to a house near his <i>Yamen</i>.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>"Arrived at the house chosen for them, they +made themselves as comfortable as possible for +the night; and the next morning (Sunday, +July 8) were able to examine their surroundings. +They found that for their whole number (twenty-six, +including children) there were only two +comparatively small courts, the two inner courts +being already occupied by the Roman Catholics.... When +the fateful day (Monday, July 9) +dawned, the foreigners evidently had no inkling +as to what was to happen. Just before noon +the sub-prefect called and took a list of all who +were in the house, both foreigners and Chinese, +saying it was by order of the Governor.... +As was ascertained just a year later, when other +Protestant missionaries returned to the province, +the Governor had determined that on that day +he would kill all the foreigners in Taiyüanfu. +He evidently only took a few of the officials into +his confidence, and one at least—the <i>Tao Tai</i>—strenuously +opposed the course he was about +to pursue, but unfortunately without result.</p> + +<p>"It must have been about two o'clock in the +afternoon when he ordered a number of officers, +with their soldiers, to accompany him, and +mounting his own horse, led the way. He made +as though he would go out of the city by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +North Gate, but before reaching that point, he +suddenly wheeled round and went to the house +where the missionaries were confined. He there +ordered their immediate arrest, and they appear +to have made no resistance—as, indeed, it would +have been useless. All who were found within +the compound (Protestants and Roman Catholics) +were seized; and it so happened there were +several Chinese there on business.... No excuse +was listened to, and all were marched off to the +Governor's <i>Yamen</i> between files of soldiers, where +they were taken into the courtyard adjoining the +street and surrounded by soldiers—not Boxers.</p> + +<p>"As to what really occurred, the whole truth +will probably never be known, but from inquiries +made on the spot, it seems certain that the +Governor did not assault any with his own hand; +but, having asked the missionaries where they +came from, and being answered, 'From England,' +and 'From France,' just gave the order, 'Sha' +(kill) to the soldiers, who answered with a shout +and immediately fell upon their defenceless +victims, killing them indiscriminately."<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>The Church in Hwochow, Chaocheng, and Fensi +had a marvellous escape. The Boxers, practising +their mystic rites, overran the district. Whole +families fled to the mountains, and no one was +safe from robbery and violence. The mandarin +of Chaocheng, fearful lest massacres should take +place in the county under his jurisdiction and +desiring at any cost to keep the peace, called +together some of the leading gentry and asked +for advice as to the problem facing them. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +know," said he, "that calling upon the Christians +to recant will be useless, but can we not issue +tickets to them upon which are the very words +they use in entering the Church, 'I promise to +repent?' There should be no difficulty in getting +them to take these, for it will mean to them +what they themselves preach, while to the anti-Christian +fanatic it will be sufficiently satisfactory."</p> + +<p>Orders were accordingly issued that all Christians +were to receive this official paper whereby their +safety would be ensured. Large numbers in the +Church regarded the mandarin's action as the +overruling of Providence on their behalf, and +accepted tickets which involved no verbal recantation +of their faith. Others, amongst whom was +Mrs. Hsi (now a widow), with more sensitive +spiritual perceptions, refused to take advantage +of even the semblance of a subterfuge.</p> + +<p>The Chaocheng mandarin, surrounded by his +bodyguard, went outside the city gates to the +place where the Boxers were practising their +rites with the intention of burning incense in +their presence, by which act he would acknowledge +them as invulnerable and holy men. At the +critical moment, however, one of them was said +to have made a move as if to attack the official, +who instantly called upon his bodyguard to +seize the men, exclaiming: "These are insurgents, +and no holy men; bind them, they are prisoners." +As such they entered the city, and Boxerism never +spread in the district. Thus did the Hand of +God protect the hundreds of men and women +who in these three counties were called by His +Name, and while in many places few escaped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +the sword, the numerically largest Church in the +province of Shansi was spared.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hsi was in Chaocheng seeking to help the +women in their troubles, when news reached her +that her brother-in-law, Elder Sï, was stabbed by +one of the local Boxers. Rumours followed +rapidly, and she heard that her mother-in-law +was in serious danger. She hastened to her home, +and found matters worse than she had feared. +There was no place in which to live, the house +was destroyed, her clothes were stolen, and had +it not been for the thoughtfulness of one +missionary who, in the midst of personal danger, +found time to buy and send to her some garments +and bedcovering, she would have been in a sad +plight. Her old mother could not walk, so badly +had she been beaten by the robbers, and terrified, +the two women crept to the fields and hid themselves. +When night fell they returned to shelter +and to get a little food, crawling out to their hiding-place +before the cock crew each morning. Terror +was upon the whole populace. The official had +not been successful here, as in Chaocheng, in +dealing with the movement, and the party of missionaries +who had for some time been gathered +in Pingyangfu were openly attacked and robbed +by Boxer bands as they left the city under official +escort.</p> + +<p>In loneliness and peril Mrs. Hsi and her aged +mother cried to God, as the anxious, weary days +passed by. The missionaries were gone, very +many killed, others in hiding, and some, after perils +and sufferings unspeakable, had reached Hankow. +After some months came the additional sorrow of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +the death of her brother-in-law, Elder Sï, who had +managed for her all matters in which she required +help.</p> + +<p>Gradually the storm blew over, but those who +passed through that period can never forget it. +For Christ's sake they had suffered, and they +could not again be as before. The Church in +Shansi "had a new and powerful weapon" in +her hands, "the power of her sufferings."</p> + +<p>A few months later, as soon as passports were +available, the missionaries were back at their +posts. There was much to tell and to hear, as +old friends met and were able to recount all the +wonderful deliverances of the past year. But +how many vacant places there were! How could +they be filled? Ripe experience and Christlike +sympathy were needed to deal with the new +situation.</p> + +<p>Some had, under pressure, in a weak moment, +recanted; others had resisted this temptation, +but fallen over the more subtle question of indemnity +for property destroyed. The situation, +moreover, was changed; foreigner and Christian +alike were now in the ascendancy. Compensation +for life and property was granted, and though +the members of the China Inland Mission declined +to accept this, their action was made the occasion +of a laudatory proclamation which called upon +the people to note and imitate such an exemplification +of self-forgetting goodness.</p> + +<p>In the providence of God the lives of a few +missionaries had been spared to return, and with +the benefit of their experience, to help new +workers to an understanding of a situation which,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +mishandled, would inevitably lead to disastrous +consequences.</p> + +<p>Nothing could give Mrs. Hsi greater pleasure +than to hear from her friend, Miss French, that +Hwochow was to be her future centre. I, as a new +worker, was to accompany her, and together we +reached the city which was to be henceforth our +home.</p> + +<p>The reception given by the very few Christians +who gathered to meet us, was both cordial and +critical. Miss French was welcome as being one +whose reputation had long ago reached them, +who had already paid several visits to the station, +and whose Chinese, they soon remarked, was "as +good as Miss Jacobsen's!" Of me they knew +nothing, and I had to meet the gaze of many eyes +and listen to the remark, before I opened my +month to speak, that it was impossible to understand +my words. I had only one asset, and that +was the fact that this being my first station I +should belong to them, and when the day dawned +that would release my stammering tongue, the +honour of having taught and trained me would +be theirs!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIFE IN THE VILLAGES</h2> + +<div class='poem'> +"Great things are done when men and mountains meet;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">These are not done by jostling in the street."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">William Blake.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='poem'> +"Arrived there, the little house they fill,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">No look for entertainment where none was;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Rest is their feast, and all things at their will;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The noblest mind the best contentment has."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">William Spenser.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>LIFE IN THE VILLAGES</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">An Introduction to Chinese Home Life</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE house at Hwochow, which we were to +inhabit, was still in the hands of workmen. +We therefore decided to delay the unpacking +of our boxes, and to spend several months +in visiting the homes of the Christians throughout +the four counties for which we were then responsible. +Our travelling paraphernalia was simple, +luggage being limited to the amount that a small +donkey could carry in addition to a rider. Clothes +and books were tied up in large square handkerchiefs +and distributed as evenly as possible, along +with a folded, wadded quilt in a long bed-bag +which, thrown over the donkey's saddle, reached +nearly to the ground on either side. On the +early morning of the day decided on for our +departure, two donkeys thus laden stood at our +gate. On to one of them I was hoisted, and took +my first lesson in how to sit happily, perched +high on the voluminous luggage with neither +reins for my hands nor stirrups for my feet, for +sometimes as long as twelve hours' travelling +with but a short break for food and rest at midday. +From village to village we wandered, received<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +everywhere with cordial hospitality, pressed to +extend our visit, and followed on our departure +by the reiterated cry: "Come again, come again, +come again soon!"</div> + +<p>All was fresh and delightful to me and brimful +of interest, from the hour when I rode through +the city gate, passed the great tanks of lotus bloom +to the edge of the swift, shallow river, where my +servant stripped off his shoes and socks to lead +my donkey knee-deep over the ford.</p> + +<p>By narrow roads we travelled where the tall +grain stood like a wall on either side, ripening in +the fierce sunshine which bathed the landscape +in a dazzling glare. Through occasional villages +we rode, where the women called to each other +to hurry and see the strange sight, and groups +of naked and semi-naked children commented +freely on the appearance of the "foreign devils."</p> + +<p>A few miles farther and the first stage was +reached—a deep courtyard backing the hillside, +from which had been hollowed a row of caves +according to the economical method of the country. +Scarcely any bricks are required for such building, +and the deep, lofty, arched room affords the +warmest shelter in our bitter Shansi winter cold, +as it does the coolest refuge from the burning +summer heat.</p> + +<p>"Come again, come again soon," and we were +off again, refreshed by a delicious, beautifully +cooked meal, and our hearts warmed by the evident +pleasure which our visit had given and the cordial +hospitality which had sought to let us know how +welcome we were. And now we left the fertile +plain and well-watered land which lay all along<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +the river-bed to climb steep, stony roads, and +follow narrow footpaths, where the difficulty of +its broad load made my donkey step gingerly as +near to the chasm's edge as she could secure a +foothold, and I dug my knees into the soft bed-bag +and longed for something on which I could get +a grip. How pleasant and easy such journeying +became before the end of that autumn's wandering, +and how familiar the life of the village homes. +Almost day by day the confused sounds took +form to my unaccustomed ears, and I was soon +able to differentiate quite clearly between the +two inevitable questions, "How old are you?" +and "How many brothers and sisters have you?" +I ceased to cover myself with confusion, by answering +that my brothers and sisters numbered twenty-three, +and that my age was six—though now that +the days of helpless shame are passed, I would not +<i>not</i> have made these mistakes, so keen is the enjoyment +still felt when some one repeats the old joke, +and all laugh merrily at the recollection.</p> + +<p>Happy, irresponsible days, in which I learned to +know and love the Chinese. I saw them now to +best advantage, simple, patriarchal, industrious +and thrifty, extraordinarily resourceful, and independent +of all that their own fields and farm +do not supply. I saw the women's activities, +and how they picked the cotton in the fields, spun +and carded it, then wove it into strong cloth on +the loom made for them by their own husbands; +how they dyed the cloth with indigo of their own +growing, and finally converted it into the garments, +and even the shoes and socks, worn by the whole +family. I saw how those same garments were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +wadded with a layer of cotton-wool as the cold +season approached, and behold, the whole family +was made proof against the severe onslaughts of +the keenest frosts and bitterest winds. I saw +how a measure of wheaten or maize flour, a vessel +of water, and a few vegetables dug from the field +were daily converted into the three meals on which +young and old alike thrived, the men showing a +muscular development and endurance and an +agility unequalled by anything I had met in other +countries. I learned to recognise their simple, +unexpressed joys, and to realise the deep tragedies +which lay beneath the surface of their laborious +lives.</p> + +<p>I was in the midst of the province which—in +the very year when I was born—had been swept +by the horrors of a famine and pestilence which +left whole villages with no other survivor than +perhaps two or three wailing children, feeding on +garbage torn from the grasp of the dead hand.</p> + +<p>My servant remembered the time well. His +whole family had been wiped out, and he had +escaped as by a miracle. "In those days, dogs +ate dogs and men ate men," was the refrain of +his tale, only too literally and absolutely true, +for no man dared to venture on the lonely path +leading from one village to another, knowing that +the likelihood was that murderers lay in wait, +and that a few picked bones alone would tell the +tale even if, satiated with horrors to the point +of indifference, any one cared to inquire of it.</p> + +<p>When I expressed surprise at the many rows +of caves allowed to fall into utter ruin, and the +traces of whole villages now returned to waste<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +land: "Famine year," he would briefly answer, +"dogs ate dogs and men ate men."</p> + +<p>I learned, too, why it was that no merry groups +of children wandered away from the village, even +now when no evil-doers lay in wait, upon some +game or exploring adventure. I first discovered +the reason of this through meeting a woman +whose face was scarred and mutilated so as to bear +small likeness to the human, and on inquiry I was +informed that, as a little girl, she had strayed +away from home and been attacked by a wolf; +men had rushed to her rescue, but her face, which +is generally the part first attacked, was torn +beyond recognition. I then learned what a +common thing it is for wild beasts, wolves or +leopards, to come down from the hills, and steal +children even as they play around the courtyard +grinding-stone. I could not be surprised at the +intense anxiety of a woman whose son was half +an hour late returning from an errand, when I +heard that her eldest child had strayed off one +day, and never been seen again. I was told of yet +another woman who, nursing her baby in the +cave, saw a leopard spring on her eldest child +in the courtyard. Frantic, she left the baby to +raise the alarm, and when she returned bearing +the little mangled body in her arms, she found +that the wild beast's mate had noted her absence +and carried the baby off to its lair.</p> + +<p>I also heard, and found myself compelled to +believe, things which I should have dismissed with +an incredulous smile some few months earlier.</p> + +<p>It was now that I found myself brought face +to face with the strange phenomenon of demon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +possession. There is so much to be said on this +interesting topic, that it will require a chapter +under its own heading to note even a portion of +what has come under my personal notice. For +the first time I heard, often in the midnight stillness, +the high-pitched voice, intoning the magic +incantations whereby some young woman yielded +herself to be the medium of communication between +the spirit and the material, the wild chant +sometimes dying away in the distance, as she +led a group of inquirers over wild mountain paths +in obedience to the directions of her control.</p> + +<p>A few weeks were spent in the home of an elder +of the Church, Giang by name, as from this centre +it was easy to make daily itinerations in the +neighbourhood. What a welcome we received +there! The deep cave set apart for our use was +decorated with flowers, everything was clean and +comfortable, and we were made to feel "at home." +Being guests in the house, our meals were always +served separately, but we liked to take our bowls +into the courtyard and enjoy the family life. +We were able to consult with our host concerning +many whom we had visited during the day, and +discuss our plans for the morrow.</p> + +<p>As the daylight faded we joined in prayer and +praise, and listened to much that was of interest +to us as the Elder told of early years spent in +dissipation, opium smoking, and gambling; of +his conversion through Pastor Hsi, and of first +efforts to preach the Gospel. Meanwhile, the +shepherd folded his sheep, carefully counting them +lest one should be missing, and the women prepared +the millstones for grinding on the morrow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +I saw much illustrated that had been familiar +to me from childhood in the Gospel stories, even +to the midnight cry announcing the arrival of +the bridal party to a neighbour's house. A little +oil was added to our long-extinguished lamp, as, +being first to hear the clanging of the cymbals, +we hastened to the bridegroom's home to help +arouse the drowsy guests.</p> + +<p>We returned in due course to Hwochow, urged +by our kind hostess to come again at any time. +Such homes are resting-places to those who have +left home for the Kingdom of God's sake, and are +part of the literal fulfilment of the promise: "An +hundredfold now in this time."</p> + +<p>Nowhere are we more sure of a welcome than in +some of these Chinese courts, and for the Church +of Christ in the home of Elder Giang, I for one +shall ever be thankful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> +<h2>OUR RECEPTION AT HWOCHOW</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Master said: At first, my way with men was to +hear their words, and give them credit for their conduct. +Now, my way is to hear their words, and look at their +conduct."—<i>Confucian Analects.</i></p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Master said: A man should say, I am not concerned +that I have no place, I am concerned how I may +fit myself for one. I am not concerned that I am not known, +I seek to be worthy to be known."—<i>Confucian Analects.</i></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>OUR RECEPTION AT HWOCHOW</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Showing Things as they sometimes are</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IN spite of the valuable help given by study-circles, +training-colleges, and other means by +which the candidate for the mission field is equipped +for his work, I question if many are fully prepared, +when they arrive at the station to which they +have been appointed, to find themselves studied, +summed up, and criticised by the people to whom +they have come in the capacity of teachers, and +from whom they unconsciously expected some +measure of deference.</div> + +<p>The Westerner, as such, has no prestige in the +eyes of the Chinese, and though his wealth, education, +and business capacity may command more +or less respect, the deep-rooted feeling is a sense +of the intrinsic superiority of the Middle Kingdom +and its sons to the barbaric subjects of a vague +territory known as the "Kingdom without"—that +is, without the pale of the ancient civilisation. +By grace, the Christian will welcome you +as a fellow-subject of the Kingdom of God, but +on this ground only, and on no preconceived +assumption of your superiority, will you be +accepted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fact that you have come several thousands +of miles in order to preach the Gospel, is not sufficient +to place you unquestionably on a pedestal. +By temperament you are either impetuous or +slow, easy-going or exacting, courteous or brusque, +and you will prove to be by nature more or less +reasonable or unreasonable when the Chinaman +seeks to make you understand <i>li</i>, an untranslatable +word, which embodies the idea of the +complete range of all that it is suitable that you +should be and do, on every occasion.</p> + +<p>Failure to readjust your mind to such conditions +during the first years of your missionary life may +prove an eventual fatal barrier to mutual sympathetic +understanding, and the establishment of +that barrier has been one of the difficulties which +has not been much spoken of by those with whom +you have conversed, though they have doubtless +been keenly conscious of it themselves.</p> + +<p>We returned to Hwochow. The house was ready +for us, and so were the Church members. "New +people," said some, "we are unaccustomed to +each other; they do not understand our circumstances, +and we do not know them."</p> + +<p>"Why did they spend months in another district +instead of coming at once to make themselves +acquainted with us, our affairs, and our homes?"</p> + +<p>"It is a case of clear neglect," said another. +"I have been a Church member for fifteen years, +and all the notice they have taken of me is to spend +one paltry day in my home, whereas they were +three whole days in the village of Peace and Harmony, +where there are only heathen and not a +Christian to receive them." "I," complained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +another, "have been unable to attend Church +service for two weeks, and neither of them has +been near, as yet, to inquire the cause of my +absence."</p> + +<p>"Well," chimed in an old gentleman, who by +reason of his seniority in the Church carried a good +deal of weight, "had our beloved teacher of former +days been here, our homes would have been visited, +and I will take the first opportunity of telling +them my mind on the subject."</p> + +<p>The close of the following Sunday morning +service found us sad enough. The congregation +numbered thirty, and while some were loyally +ready to help, there was a section of malcontents +who since the early days had been a source of +difficulty to Pastor Hsi and his friends, and from +whom, in the light of past knowledge, Miss French +knew that trouble would come.</p> + +<p>The first indication of the brewing storm was +the entrance to our guest-room of an aged Church +member who, by reason of his rank as military +mandarin, was one of the glories of the Hwochow +Church. Vigorous and stalwart, his seventy years +sat lightly on him, his bearing and the play of +his facial muscles affording proof of the brilliancy +with which he had passed the necessary examinations +for the obtaining of his degree. Unlike the +civil mandarin, whose examinations require such +arduous study of classical writings, the military +honour was conferred as a reward for physical +prowess. The competitor was required to exhibit +great skill in archery, shooting at the target from +the back of a galloping horse, and to lift stones of +immense weight; meanwhile throwing the body<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +into such postures as, coupled with a terrifying +expression of the countenance and accompanied +by blood-curdling yells, would strike such terror +into the heart of the opponent that he would flee +without striking a blow.</p> + +<p>After such training he had little to fear, and +felt, no doubt, that a few moments' interview +would be sufficient to reduce two young women +to reason, and place matters on a more satisfactory +basis.</p> + +<p>When the old gentleman entered, we invited +him to the seat of honour, ourselves taking chairs +at the lower side of the table. He asked for an +explanation. Had he been informed correctly +that we had been appointed to carry on the work +in Hwochow? "Yes," we replied, "that is the +case, and also to help the women in the counties +of Chaocheng, Hungtung, and Fensi, until such +time as lady workers shall be in residence there; +moreover, our schools are to be for the women +and girls of these counties as well as Hwochow."</p> + +<p>This item of information fell as a severe blow. +Hwochow is a curious district, its natives physically +and mentally being of a totally different type to +all around, in all relationships with whom there +exists mutual distrust and suspicion. It was +odious to men and women of this exclusive type +to hear that the foreigner, in coming, viewed the +nurturing of a small band of discontents as of very +secondary importance to the opportunity of spreading +the news of the Gospel far and wide amongst +the heathen. It was at this point of the conversation +that the first traces of that terror-striking +expression began to flit across his features, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +his eyebrows gathered themselves into a most +terrifying bunch. "Are you aware that I have +been a Christian for twelve years, and that I am +known far and wide by Chinese and foreigners +alike?" "I am fully aware of it," said Miss +French, and might have added, "known and +dreaded of all men."</p> + +<p>"Should not the missionaries' conduct be regulated +in accordance with the command, 'Seek the +lost until it be found'?" "It should," acquiesced +Miss French. "Then are you aware that during +the past three months we have been as sheep without +a shepherd, left as prey to wolves, with no one +to care for us, our homes have been unvisited, and +members who have absented themselves from +Church service have had no inquiries made as to +the cause of their non-appearance?"</p> + +<p>"Did you say <i>twelve</i> years a Church member?" +inquired Miss French. "Nearly thirteen," he +replied. "Then no longer a babe in Christ, but +yourself able to seek the lost, and to come to our +assistance as we take up the responsibilities of +our new work. We have come here," she added, +"for the people who need us, whether Chaocheng +or Hwochow."</p> + +<p>"Then go to Chaocheng and leave us alone; +<i>our</i> missionaries must shepherd <i>our</i> Church." At +this point wrath overcame him, and throwing +himself into the classical position of the Chinese +brave, "A couple of youngsters," he yelled, "untaught +in the wisdom of Confucius." With +these words he flung himself out of the room. +His spirit was too much perturbed to call to mind +the wisdom of the sage, "In archery we have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +something like the way of the superior man. When +the archer misses the centre of the target, he turns +round and seeks for the cause of his failure in +himself."</p> + +<p>The loud clanging of a gong was shortly heard, +and the tones of a well-known voice alternately +carolling forth a familiar hymn with a recital of +the wrongs needing redress.</p> + +<div class='poem2'> +"The Gospel way is the best of all, hark! I loud proclaim the same."<br /> +</div> + +<p>(Loud beating of the gong.) "Call that love! +I vow to report them at headquarters!"</p> + +<div class='poem2'> +"Heaven's joy bestowed on earth, saves poor sinners and sets them free."<br /> +</div> + +<p>(Again the gong.) "Much they care for our +souls! Let them go to Chaocheng!"</p> + +<p>The sounds gradually ceased, as those who were +truly grieved that we should be thus insulted +pacified the old gentleman, begging him to have +a care for his aged body, and refresh it with food +and rest.</p> + +<p>Miss French's mind was made up. "We shall +soon make another tour of villages outside this +district," she said, "and it shall be a long one. +These old members have stood in the way long +enough. New converts will join themselves to the +Church; if they be welcomed, all the better, if +not, the old ones must go; we can allow them to +hinder no longer."</p> + +<p>Miss French's method was fully justified, for +when they saw new adherents keen with the flush +of first love and enthusiasm they, with very few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +exceptions, awakened more fully to their responsibilities.</p> + +<p>Time heals many wounds, and when we returned +from England our old friend, the military mandarin, +came in full official dress to welcome us.</p> + +<p>"Good to have you back," he said; "we are +accustomed to each other, and you know how to +manage this place!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<h2>A PORTRAIT GALLERY</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We must be as courteous to a man as we are to a +picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a +good light."—<span class="smcap">Emerson.</span></p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"He asked them to come with Him, and they came; +and Jesus did not begin by raising questions in their minds +as to whether they were worthy to come. It was the +purpose of Jesus to make them worthy to stay. Now +the Church of Christ ought to be as hospitable as Christ +was. I do not see for what other purpose she exists. +And the Church ought to be as confident and believing +as Christ was, that many a one whom it may be was +unworthy to enter has at length become worthy to remain."—Dr. +<span class="smcap">John Hutton.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>A PORTRAIT GALLERY</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Wherein the Reader is introduced to some +of our Fellow Workers</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IN meeting the members of an infant and +unsophisticated Church, it is delightful to +observe the directness of their spiritual characteristics, +unfettered by the artificiality which grows +up with theological phraseology and the adoption +of sectarian conventionalities.</div> + +<p>So strongly individualistic a band of men met us +at Hwochow, that Christian himself on his Heavenward +journey encountered, I think, no more varied +a company, nor more striking, in the various +ways in which <span class="smcap">Christ</span> had met them and called +them to discipleship, and turned their strongly-marked +characteristics into the way of His +service.</p> + +<p>Evangelist, Fu by name, keen and even fierce +in his determination to compel men to hear the +truth concerning the City of Destruction and the +burden of sin which rests upon them, would go +from place to place with a bundle of books, preaching +and warning sinners "to flee from the wrath +to come." He asked no remuneration from the +Church <i>or</i> foreigner for the time he gave, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +realising that necessity was laid upon him, he +pointed men to the Saviour. His best work was +done alone for he was easily offended, but, true +and straight, he ruled his house in the fear of the +Lord.</p> + +<p>His conversion was characteristic of the man. +Having business to transact in the small city of +Great Peace, he found that large crowds had +gathered to listen to a man proclaiming strange +doctrines. Every one knew why Pastor Hsi, for +it was he, had come that day to the city. A +family had professed their willingness to destroy +idols, and asked him to be present on the occasion. +When the Pastor arrived, however, the man had +changed his mind, and fear of consequences had +proved too much for him. Nothing could hinder +the Pastor from preaching the Good News, and +he made much of this opportunity. When he +had finished speaking, Mr. Fu went to him and +asked him what was this new doctrine, and Mr. +Hsi told him the story of the Garden of Eden, +and the Fall of man.</p> + +<p>"In Adam all have sinned, and in Christ all +can be forgiven." It was a strange story, and +yet as Fu listened he felt it was true, and as he +took the long, lonely walk over the mountains to +his home, he meditated much upon it. He had +not as yet seen the wicket-gate, but he had seen +the direction in which it lay, and a subconscious +desire was in his heart to know more.</p> + +<p>Home affairs claimed his attention, and he had +no time to give to the further investigation of +new religions; and yet the seed which had been +sown was gradually germinating, so that when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +after a few months he found himself again near +Great Peace, in a small place where was an opium +refuge, Mr. Fu went in to see the man who was +in charge. Although he had never smoked opium +himself, Mr. Fu was on this occasion in possession +of some of the crude drug, and was on his way +to the hills to sell it, and hoped by the transaction +to profit considerably. The Refuge-keeper, seeing +he was interested, asked him to share his evening +meal, and when he found out the errand on which +his guest was bent, he told him to sell the opium +he had and avoid any further dealings with so +deadly a poison. Mr. Fu was deeply touched by +the kindness of this man. "I have no claim +upon him, and yet he treated me as a brother," +was his reflection. From that day Mr. Fu never +sold opium again.</p> + +<p>He started on his homeward journey, and once +more as he walked the lonely roads he was conscious +of the constraining presence of One who +has so often met with men as they travel, +walking through the fields, and inviting them +to leave all and follow Him. Thus untrammelled +by the words and requirements of men, +Mr. Fu met with his God; but still questioning, +he reached home to find that his wife was +dangerously ill. He went at once to a neighbouring +village to fetch a doctor, and found him +unwilling to come until he had taken a dose of +opium which was then due. Finding that all persuasion +was useless, Mr. Fu suddenly decided to +go to Hwochow and see if the foreign missionaries, +or the Opium Refuge-keeper there, had any +medicine. He walked the twelve miles, and was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +directed to the missionaries' house. The decision +to go to Hwochow was made suddenly; not so the +resolution to enter the open door of the house. +Perhaps he had been wrong after all! It was +serious to so openly come in contact with foreigners! +It might be that the stories he had heard of their +magical powers were correct! And yet his heart +had borne him witness, in that lonely walk, that +what he heard in Great Peace was true.</p> + +<p>After walking up and down for some time, +unconscious that Goodwill was watching him +from within, he heard some one call and ask him +to come in. The call came at the right moment +and he entered, knowing as he did so that a definite +step was being taken and life would never be for +him the same again.</p> + +<p>"My wife is ill, and I have come to ask for +medicine," he said. After some talk he was +taken to see Miss Jacobsen, who told him that +God could, and would, heal sickness in answer +to prayer. She and the evangelist prayed with +him, gave him medicine, some books, and made +him promise to come again. He left them, saying +that he would do so. Again the long, lonely walk +had to be faced, and Beelzebub gave orders that +arrows should be shot at him, and all manner of +doubts took possession of his soul. "I must go +again, for I have given my word," he reflected. +"What folly!" and then again the words which +he could not doubt reasserted themselves, and he +considered, yielded, and believed.</p> + +<p>As he entered his courtyard, he saw his wife +grinding corn! "I am well," she said. "And +I," he said, "have believed in Jesus." To his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +surprise, not one word of anger escaped her lips. +"I am glad," was her only comment.</p> + +<p>There was no time to be lost; if he delayed, +others might hinder him, and before his evening +meal he tore down the idols, and together husband +and wife prayed to God.</p> + +<p>Fu was the youngest of four brothers, and the +three other families were not of the same mind; +he was unceasing in his efforts to bring them to +the Saviour, but at the Chinese New Year festival +they, as custom required, burnt incense to the +idols.</p> + +<p>Serious illness seized upon various members of +all three families, and their lives were in danger. +Fu, seeing his opportunity, offered to go to the +city and ask the evangelist to come and pray for +them, and to this they consented. When Mr. +Fu returned, he was accompanied by Mr. Cheng, +and in response to his exhortations their idols +were destroyed and the three brothers professed +their willingness to become disciples. That place +has been signally blessed of God. All have given +liberally of their substance to the work of the +Lord, and they have now their own church, a +cave cut from the <i>loess</i> cliffs by their own hands, +where Sunday by Sunday men and women gather +from the neighbouring villages to hear the word +of God, and many have been added to the Church +as a result.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Mr. Ging, little of stature, so short-sighted as +to be almost blind, had recently been a patient +in the Opium Refuge. A scholar of note, holding +a high degree, we first knew him when he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +about forty years of age, and the only Christian +in his village. He was more than any Chinaman +I have met impregnated with the teachings of +Confucius; and filial piety was for him no mere +doctrine of words, but a ruling factor in his life.</p> + +<p>Shortly before the time of which I write, he had, +one day, given some cause of offence to his aged +mother, in consequence of which she commanded +that, in recognition of his fault, he should kneel +on the ground before her until such time as she +should see fit to excuse him.</p> + +<p>For half a day she kept him in that position, +and he knelt quietly, giving to all an example and +illustration of the sacred duty of son to parent +as taught in the Chinese Classics, and as understood +by those who earnestly follow their teachings.</p> + +<p>By virtue of his learning and position, no +matter of importance would be settled in the +village without him, and he enjoyed great respect +as a teacher of the young, notwithstanding the +fact that he was handicapped in his work as school-master +by reason of his defective eyesight, the +boys taking full advantage of his disability and +failing to appreciate as they should the virtue +of the "Princely Man" of whom they read so +much in their classical studies, and of whom they +daily witnessed so striking an example.</p> + +<p>For some of these pupils of his, examination-day +dawned, and the results were disastrous. +The consequences of much undetected mischief +were now made clear in the light of day, and the +indignant examining missionary called upon Mr. +Ging to aid in devising a punishment adequate to +the circumstances. "Is it by extra imposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +work, or by the public disgrace of the rod, that +their misdeeds will be made most heinous in their +own eyes?" he was asked, the remarks being +accompanied by a look which could not fail to +assure the trembling band of offenders that the +method of Solomon met with unqualified approval. +"I think," replied Mr. Ging, "that the +case does not call so much for punishment as for +exercise of greater patience on our side!!!" +This answer was to the unbounded delight of the +scholars, and discomfiture of the missionary.</p> + +<p>It was in his own village and home that he +shone. Before many years had passed, the people +who were formerly unwilling to receive us had +many of them become Christians. One of their +number had lent his room, rent free for ten years, +as a meeting-place for worship, and a good work +had begun. If you spoke to them of the cause of +this change, they would tell you of Mr. Ging and +the force of his example, and how even his old +mother had, before her death, renounced idolatry +and asked for a Christian funeral.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>What can I say of Mr. Lan? One is tempted +to question, "How shall the superficial enter into +the Kingdom of God?"</p> + +<p>One of the aristocratic families, no longer +enjoying the prosperity of former days, yet endeavouring +to impress upon all its grandeur whilst +inevitably sinking, gave us Mr. Lan.</p> + +<p>Contact with Pastor Hsi had been the turning-point +in his life, and from the early days he gave +himself assiduously to the study of the Bible. +Few have more accurate knowledge of the Scripture<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +than he, his addresses are well and carefully +prepared, and he has been the means under God +of leading many men to a knowledge of the +Saviour. His kind disposition and good-nature +have given him many friends, but love of money +and appearances have crippled his usefulness. +Any Christian work he now does is independent +of the missionaries, and he will sometimes be +invited to the official's residence to help some +one to leave the opium habit, he and his father +before him having been doctors of no small repute. +He is constantly in debt, and will often +remain away from his home during the Chinese +New Year when debts are settled, but when he +does return, he enters the house with such perfect +manners, and is attired in such gorgeous +silk, that few would venture to mention anything +so unpleasant as the settlement of a debt.</p> + +<p>Easily led, he loves the glories of this present +world and is fearful lest, by too great zeal, the +rulers of Vanity Fair may regard him as a stranger +and outcast. And yet, in his high moments, he +finds himself longing for the things that abide, +and his affections and desires are for the time +being upon these, but as a morning cloud they +pass. In other lands, where the line of demarcation +is less clear, he might be considered a good +Churchman, but neutral tints are rare here, and +a man must clearly show on which side he stands +or he will get the benefit of neither.</p> + +<p>He is ever faithfully served by his dependant +and sycophant, Mr. Diao, who is a weak, physically +decadent man who can neither offend by word +nor deed the man from whom he has had so much.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +His manner is too servile to allow one to place +much confidence in him, but he is a believer, and +proves by many actions that he is truly following +Christ. If only he could get free from the net of +the rich man, and yet—what Church has not +such members!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Mr. Tu, weak, good, always trusting the Heavenly +Father to supply his needs, temporal and spiritual, +and ever ready to bear witness that He has done +so, in spite of the fact that life's outlook is always +grey! Very poor, he was the leader in his village +by virtue of his sincerity. Is some aggressive +movement proposed? "The time has not yet +come," is his ever-ready answer. Do the crops +seem to fail for lack of rain, and the farmers, +anxious and worried, speak of the famine confronting +them, and him? "Fear not, the Lord +will provide," he will say, and though he may +have to eat the coarsest flour, and little of that +sometimes, he never doubts, and never rejoices!!</p> + +<p>On the occasion of the marriage of his son, even +a short time before the bride arrived, nothing was +ready—he had so little—and all he said was: +"We must wait and see how the Heavenly Father +will provide." When the moment came every +one was ready to help him, and he would be a +discontent indeed who was dissatisfied with the +result. Mr. Tu was full of praise to <span class="smcap">God</span> for His +goodness, and will quote the incident to those +who may have doubts.</p> + +<p>I have reflected much upon Mr. Tu and his +ways, and I am reminded of the ravens, "who +sow not nor gather into barns," and our Heavenly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +Father cares for them; and I come to the conclusion +that to us is granted on rare occasions +the privilege of being the medium by which our +Father will prove His care to the weak, yet trustful +souls. Good, faithful old Tu, he could teach many +of us of the active, energetic temperament a lesson; +for he will tell you, and truly, that he has no +strength, yet he has never asked from man, and +he has perfect confidence that the Good Shepherd +will lead him safe to the journey's end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> +<h2>WORK DEVELOPMENT</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"No Church is fulfilling its responsibilities to God, or +preparing itself for its best and most effective work, which +does not regard itself in some respects as a great Training +School for Christian workers."—Rev. <span class="smcap">A. Swift</span>.</p></div> + +<div class='poem'> +"And He gave—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Some indeed to be apostles,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And some prophets,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And some evangelists,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And some shepherds and teachers,—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">With a view to the fitting of the saints</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">For the work of ministering,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">For an upbuilding of the body of the Christ."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>WORK DEVELOPMENT</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Relating how we sought to encompass the +Work, and the Work encompassed us</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE events of 1900 resulted in an extraordinary +quickening of interest amongst +those who had a contact of some kind with +Christianity. We very soon found ourselves quite +overwhelmed by the many openings and opportunities +which presented themselves on all sides. +Hitherto untouched villages begged for a visit, +idols were destroyed by those into whose homes +we had never penetrated, leaders in the Church +were begging us to devise some means by which +the women might be taught, fathers were prepared +for any sacrifice so that their daughters might +be received as scholars.</div> + +<p>For some time, at vast expenditure of strength, +we attempted by travelling in different directions +to spend, at any rate, one or two days in the +various centres we were begged to visit. Each +month we became more strongly impressed with +the fact that the work of evangelisation was +being carried on with tremendous aggressive +force, not by us, but by the native Church, we +being unable to even follow up the openings made +by them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>Such a mass movement afforded an unparalleled +opportunity, provided sufficient teaching were +given to establish and build up in the faith those +who believed; but if left to itself, this large +numerical increase might prove a serious menace +to the spiritual life of the Church. We had to +seriously consider our ways. Should we contribute +our small part to the widespread preaching +of the Gospel and visiting of those who had +already heard through the Chinese evangelising +agencies, or should we leave to the Chinese +Church the responsibility of propagating itself, +reserving ourselves to "preparing saints for the +work of ministering"?</p> + +<p>Chinese Christians going from place to place +spread the Good Tidings more effectually than +we could hope to do, and where such conditions +exist, it is surely an indication that the people +of the land should hear the Gospel first from +the lips of their own countrymen. Moreover, the +Government was seriously considering the establishment +of girls' schools, and we had to decide as +to whether the work amongst the young should +be an unimportant branch of our scheme of +missionary activities, or whether our schools +should be established with the object of becoming +training-centres for Christian helpers.</p> + +<p>We were faced with this fact: unless we trained +some Christian teachers, the education of the +young would be in the hands of heathen; no +small matter when the exalted position of the +teacher in China is borne in mind; and the, if +possible, more urgent fact, that unless we seriously +prepared some Chinese missionaries we should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +go from year to year, decade to decade, with no +trained Chinese staff. The material was there, +and the Chinese Church was supplying young +men and women, earnest devoted servants of +Jesus Christ, who, given the training and granted +the blessing of God, could do a work which it +would be impossible for the most earnest Westerner +to accomplish. Chinese of the Chinese, with +neither linguistic nor climatic difficulties, understanding +the minds of the most subtle of people, +they enter their work with a flying leap which +we may envy, but cannot attain. The Holy +Spirit will deal with them as He does with us, +and recognising them as fellow-workers together +with God, we shall cease to hinder them by +perpetual criticism and doubt. Faults they will +have, as we, and while of a different order, who +shall say that these failings make them in God's +sight more unfit for the work of preaching the +Gospel than ours have made us?</p> + +<p>We therefore accepted the form of ministry +which pressed with strongest necessity on us, +and from the free and irresponsible life of the +itinerant missionary, accepted the calling of +teachers, and allowed ourselves to be tied to +the numberless claims and responsibilities of institutional +life. In addition to the girls' school, +a plan was formed whereby we agreed to accept +married women for terms of varying length—twenty +to thirty days—as far as possible classifying +them according to ability and previous knowledge. +The teaching was graded from the first +elements of Christian doctrine to fairly advanced +New Testament classes. From amongst the first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +groups of women who came to us, it was evident +that some were capable of receiving a far more +advanced training, and the zeal they exhibited +in teaching the little they knew on their return +home, promised future usefulness. Two +small rooms in our own living-court supplied the +only accommodation for these station classes, +and as each group scattered it was almost immediately +replaced by other eager inquirers.</p> + +<p>A small inner court containing two good rooms +was set apart for the use of the girls' school. +Every term brought an increase in the numbers, +and it was soon evident that more suitable +accommodation was essential if we were to meet +the growing need. Though we knew it not, the +necessary provision was already made. We sat +together one evening in a shady spot adjoining +our premises, sharing our home letters; we +opened one to find it contained a cheque from +a friend who could know nothing of our need, +marked: "For use in any necessary buildings." +The very spot on which we sat, later on proved +to be the site of the John Holt Skinner Memorial +Court in the new school buildings. By the next +term Chinese rooms, providing for the accommodation +of sixty, were erected; the old school-court +was given over to women's station classes, +and we saw scope for the realisation of our wildest +dreams. The work amongst the men was increasing +in a similar proportion. Mr. Wang, who +was in charge when we arrived at Hwochow, was +now appointed Deacon of the Church, and afterwards +Elder. We soon recognised in him a man +of no ordinary influence. Like Barnabas, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +was "a good man filled with the Holy Spirit," +and like him might well be called the "Son of +Consolation."</p> + +<p>The large numbers who were baptized upon +profession of faith each year entailed many +responsibilities—new families to be visited, more +visitors to be received, marriages and funerals +to be attended. Cases of persecution, real or +supposed, called for many hours of patient +listening, and, withal, the constant stream of city +women who desired to inspect all that was going +on, parents to see children in the school, friends +and relatives of opium patients, who lost no +chance of visiting the member of the family under +treatment, changed the once quiet house into a +beehive of activity.</p> + +<p>In many Shansi houses there is a large, well-built +room, open to north and south, which is +set apart for the observance of the prescribed +family rites connected with ancestral worship. +Here are the wooden ancestral tablets, image of +the soul and tangible symbol, erected to the +memory of the deceased, affording thereby a +fixed object for filial piety. This room on our +compound was dedicated as a church for public +worship; enlarged once, and again the second +time, it still proved too small for our growing +congregation.</p> + +<p>The strain attendant on such a rapid development +was severe, but each year found us supplied +with increasingly able help from our Chinese +co-workers. We found ourselves driven to the +practical testing of the principle: "When the +pressure of the work is too heavy, then extend the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +work," and we found it to be sound and workable. +Each term some extra responsibility was thrown +off on to the shoulders of willing helpers, that +we ourselves might be free to undertake fresh +enterprises.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> +<h2>MRS. HSI'S SECOND GIFT</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is Jesus who has introduced into virtue a passion +before which vice is not condemned but consumed as by fire."—Rev. +<span class="smcap">Carnegie Simpson</span>.</p></div> + +<div class='poem'> +"Round the cape of a sudden came the sea,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And the sun looked over the mountain's rim:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And straight was a path of gold for him,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And the need of a world of men for me."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Robert Browning</span>.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>MRS. HSI'S SECOND GIFT</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Being an Account of her Life from +Widowhood</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>ONE direct result of the lack of foreign +workers was the appointment of Mrs. +Hsi to the oversight of the women's work in +Chaocheng. During her husband's lifetime she +had been eager to learn all she could, and had +with difficulty mastered some of the Chinese +characters. She often expressed to him her desire +to learn more, but he told her to remember that +the need for her to attend to the domestic side +of the large establishment at the Middle Eden +was essential, and her life until his death was +largely a busy domestic one.</div> + +<p>Not entirely, however, was this the case. When +it became necessary to open a Refuge for Women +in the city of Hungtung, it was to his wife that +the Pastor looked for help, and she, there and in +other places, did a truly Christlike work. It was +in the city of Hsugo that she accomplished her +most difficult task. It seemed as if the devil +had a special power there, and Pastor Hsi was +almost in despair. Man after man, amongst +them some of his most trusted helpers, fell into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +sin, or were overcome by difficulties in that +place.</p> + +<p>How to hold it at all was a problem. He solved +it by sending his wife, and alone she went to live +six days' journey from the place where he was, +and for the first time the work in Hsugo was +successful.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately after her return home, +Pastor Hsi developed the illness from which he +never recovered. He was at work on some Refuge +accounts when he felt unwell, and his spirit became +conscious that the messenger had come with a +command "that he must prepare for a change +of life, for his Master was not willing that he +should be so far from Him any longer."</p> + +<p>For nearly six months he lingered still, making +preparations for the journey ahead; he gave +directions for the temporary closing of the Refuges, +recognising, doubtless, that the time while he was +still on earth, but unable to exercise control, might +be an even more perilous period than that which +would follow his death. Mrs. Hsi herself fell ill, and +so seriously that her life was at one time despaired +of. She was barely able to stand the fatigue of +the public funeral to which hundreds gathered, +yielding to their grief and sobbing as children who +had lost a parent. She herself was bowed with +sorrow, for they had been truly one in God's +service, but strength was sent to her through a +dream in which she saw her husband, in glory +beyond her imagining, and with him the boy who +had been their only son and had died in childhood. +When she desired to join them he rebuked her, +saying: "Nay, but you must return"; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +obedient, she turned her back on the heavenly +glory and faced "the need of a world" of sin.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hsi was now to realise to the full the unfortunate +position of a childless widow. According +to the custom of the country, the nearest male +relative on her husband's side should have been +her protector, but this duty devolved on a nephew +who was an opium smoker, gambler, and unregenerate +heathen, and what should have been +protection took the form of persecution.</p> + +<p>Elder Sï, her brother-in-law, took over the +control of the opium refuges and the preparation +of the medicine used. Days of prayer and fasting +always preceded the compounding of the drugs +which were prepared in Pastor Hsi's own home, +and sent out in the form of pills. It was in connection +with the medicine that Mrs. Hsi's first +difficulties occurred. Large quantities of the +various ingredients were stored at Middle Eden, +and the said nephew claimed possession of this +stock, declaring his intention of defending his +rights by stabbing any one who dared to touch it.</p> + +<p>The time came when the drugs were required, +and arrangements were quietly made for the +removal of the material to the home of Elder Sï. +Before touching the goods, Mrs. Hsi called the +young man to her, and addressing him by name +told him to fetch his knife, as she intended to +carry out her husband's wishes and supply the +Refuges with the necessary medicine without +delay. Abashed, and half-ashamed by her self-confidence +and dignity, he muttered excuses and +left her presence with an apology.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, it required all her wits and most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +of her time to prevent this ne'er-do-weel from +robbing her of all she possessed. Opium he would +eat, his gambling habits were strong, and how +could she prevent him from stealing that which, +as one of the family, he could partially claim as +his own? The problem weighed upon her mind +and she decided that division of the land, each +taking half the produce of the farm, was the only +solution. Even so she was not safe; there is a +Chinese proverb which says: "It is hard to deal +with a thief who is one of the family," and she +proved it to be true. If she left home for a few +days she would return to find her door broken +open, her clothes stolen, and her grain visibly +less. Although the Chinese law would offer her +redress, she, by reason of Christian principle and +the example of her husband, never appealed for +help to an earthly tribunal, but daily prayed: +"Lord, have mercy on him, and change his heart."</p> + +<p>In the early days of her faith, Mrs. Hsi had +earnestly desired to unbind her feet as witness +that she was a Christian, but her husband, fearful +lest any should be misled to regard Christianity +as conformity to foreign customs rather than to +a change of heart, was strongly opposed to her +doing so. He strictly forbade the binding of +children's feet, but saw no need for outward +change of shoe in the foot already disfigured. +During his lifetime she yielded to his wish, but +after his death refused to let her mature judgment +be held in abeyance by the dead hand of the +past, and did that which she felt was a testimony +to many of her weaker sisters. She unbound her +feet and adopted a normal shoe and sock, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +many who had made her supposed attitude on +the question an excuse, now followed her example.</p> + +<p>In order to give the Gospel to Hwochow Mrs. Hsi +had parted with the most valuable of her worldly +goods, and when the call came for the second +great renunciation in response to the need for +a woman worker in Chaocheng, she was ready +to move into that city, knowing as she did so, +that by leaving the family home she would finally +close the way of return. She well knew that no +seal on the door would prevent her nephew from +stealing her goods, and her worst fears were +realised when, a few years later, on the occasion +of the erection of a memorial stone to Pastor +Hsi, she revisited what had once been Middle +Eden. All was gone, and she was thankful to +hurry away and leave the scene that could only +cause her pain.</p> + +<p>On entering her new sphere of work, the missionaries +at Hwochow assured her that all the love +and sympathy which she had promised Mr. Taylor +years before should be given to the first ladies who +came to that city, was now to be bestowed on her. +The loyal affection of the Chinese Church was hers, +for she is regarded by them with an admiration +and reverence which they consider the right of so +worthy a woman. She knew that she could count +upon a welcome, but it was a costly step.</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 372px;"> +<img src="images/illus02.jpg" width="372" height="500" alt="A WOMAN OPIUM SMOKER. To face page 82." title="A WOMAN OPIUM SMOKER. To face page 82." /> +<span class="caption">A WOMAN OPIUM SMOKER.<br /><span style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>To face page 82.</i></span></span> +</div> +<p>City and village visiting, weekly classes for +inquirers, and a Women's Opium Refuge occupy +Mrs. Hsi's time in Chaocheng. A sentence easy +to write, but only He to Whom the offering is +made can know the cost at which ladies, with the +refinements of their class, give themselves to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +Christlike work of rescuing the opium sots who +find their way to the Refuge. Women of the +lowest moral type at times appear, dirty, coarse, +and repulsive, and yet gladly and graciously they +are received. The lady in charge will sleep with +them in order to comfort and pray with them +during the night watches, and no service is too +menial for these saintly women to render. The +impression made is never forgotten by those to +whom they minister; and even if they return again +to the ways of sin, the vision of that gentle lady +with her kind heart will remain, a reflection, faint +it may be, yet a reflection of the love of God, ever +ready to welcome the wanderer from the far +country.</p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE STORY OF AN OPIUM SMOKER</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I know that, because of this money-grasping, trade-compelling +feature of England's dealings with my country, +millions of wretched people of China have been made more +miserable; stalwart men and women have been made +paupers, vagrants, and the lowest of criminals; and +hundreds of thousands of the weaker ones of my race—mainly +among the women—have been sent to suicide +graves. All this because gold and territory are greater +in the eyes of the British Government, than the rights and +bodies of a weak people."—<span class="smcap">H. E. Li Hung-Chang.</span></p></div> + +<div class='poem'> +"O my brothers and all my friends,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">If you would hearken to good advice,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Avoid the poppy juice for ever and aye,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">As it is a plague most noxious and vile!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It will eat out your minds,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It will rot away your vitals,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It will shrivel up your bowels,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It will make you walk as a leper,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It will cast you into prison,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It will send you to your death!"</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">H. E. Li Hung-Chang.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF AN OPIUM SMOKER</h3> + + +<p>THE first man to enter the Opium Refuge +in Hwochow, as patient, was named Fan +of the village of Southern Springs. He came +from a once wealthy clan, now reduced through +opium smoking to comparative poverty. He +had not yet reached the stage of positive want, +but that condition is never far from the habitual +heavy smoker, and should he continue a few years +longer, beggary will be the ultimate fate of his +wife and family.</p> + +<p>The temptation was at his very door, for all the +best-watered land surrounding Southern Springs +was given up to poppy cultivation. During the +time when the plant was in flower, the village +nestled amidst some hundreds of acres of exquisite +iridescent bloom. The beauty was shortlived, +even as the seeming prosperity of the grower, +and but a few days later Southern Springs stood +amidst bare brown fields of dry poppy heads, +scarred by the cutter's knife, exuding in thick +drops the poisonous juices—a striking picture in +the eyes of all men of the fate awaiting the smoker, +who, lulled by the insidious charm of the fascinating +drug, would finally be the only one unable to see +himself a hopeless, helpless, degraded wreck.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the close of three weeks' treatment in the +Refuge, Fan returned home a new creature, restored +in body and mind, and with a heart renewed +in hope. In his own immediate family were +several members, victims as himself of the deadly +drug, and amongst these was his nephew, adopted +into the family on the footing of a son since death +had robbed him of the last boy who might pay +the filial sacrifice of tears and lamentations at his +tomb. Moreover, his wife's keen intelligence and +strong will were gradually being subjugated by +a growing apathy, result of her secret habit. On +these two Fan urged a plea to give the Refuge a +trial, and his nephew, impressed by the evident +good result in his uncle's case and the assurance +that the treatment had induced very slight suffering, +pronounced himself willing to try the experiment; +his wife, on the other hand, repudiated +with scorn any such suggestion. Another few +weeks saw the young man return to Southern +Springs loud in praise of all he had seen and heard +in Hwochow. He recounted all his experiences, +every detail of the treatment, the number of pills +swallowed, and the care with which the strength +of the pills was graded from the powerful "Pill of +life" to the lesser "Pill of strength" and the +final "Pill of restoration."</p> + +<p>He also knew by heart a number of verses +from the New Testament, and could sing hymns +written by Pastor Hsi on the subjects of salvation +and the sin of opium smoking, several of which +numbered twelve verses in length.</p> + +<p>All this caused much stir in the village, and +became the general subject of conversation when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +the men were home from the fields, during the +twilight hour devoted to social intercourse. He +was referred to as a competent authority on all +matters relating to the ways and habits of those +"foreign devils" who went to and fro between +the various stations which they had opened, and +even penetrated into the villages amongst the +homes of any who were rash enough to risk having +them under their roof.</p> + +<p>Both uncle and nephew had secretly entirely +changed their opinion concerning the foreigner +and the Christian doctrine which he inculcated. +Fear had given place to confidence, and one or +other would frequently walk the four miles to +Hwochow on a week day, or better still on Sunday, +to sit an hour with the Refuge-keeper, whom it +was hard indeed not to trust, and who always +had some good matter to unfold and kind, earnest +words with which to help a man in the hour when +his old vice threatened to ensnare his soul afresh. +Little sympathy was to be gained at home. Mrs. +Fan still took opium, endangering her husband's +and nephew's principles as they returned, weary +from work, to a room reeking with the odour so +attractive to them.</p> + +<p>She was a woman of no ordinary character, +exceptionally intelligent, strong-minded and +wilful, capable in every duty which falls to the +woman's share in the home; by nature hard +working and ambitious, in physique of a pronounced +Jewish type. Not easily led, and impossible +to drive, she flew into such a passion +when her husband ventured to tell her that two +lady missionaries had arrived, and were prepared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +to receive women as patients in the Hwochow +Refuge, and gave such rein to her tongue that +he, poor man, was thankful to escape beyond +earshot of her loud recriminations and curses.</p> + +<p>If his words were silenced we may believe that +his actions were speaking louder and more effectually, +for influences stronger than the woman +realised were even now at work, preparing to +overturn all her preconceived prejudices and +hatred of Christianity and its followers.</p> + +<p>The climax came more suddenly than could +have been anticipated, revealing to herself and +others the extraordinary change of viewpoint +which had been silently working during weeks +of apparently unchanged opposition.</p> + +<p>On returning from the fields one evening, Fan +found his wife in an unusual state of activity, +whilst the three little girls who constituted his +family formed a tearful group on the <i>kang</i>. +With characteristic abruptness Mrs. Fan delivered +the information: "I am preparing to go to the +city Opium Refuge." Scarcely able to credit her +statement the husband stood aghast, and she +explained: "It is no good, the children are taking +it too."</p> + +<p>A terrible statement, yet true, for whereas she +knew that she had often pacified the tiny baby's +fretfulness by puffing a few whiffs of the smoke +into its mouth, she had that day made the discovery +that, as soon as she herself lay down to +sleep off the effect of her dose, the two elder girls +would seize on the opium pipe and share all they +could get from it, so that already, unknown to +herself, the craving was well developed in them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>To the Refuge they must all go, and the next +evening saw a cart at the door into which were +being stowed various bundles of clothing wrapped +in blue-and-yellow cloths, each bundle having +attached to it a small piece of scarlet cotton to +ensure luck on the journey. Flour and millet +for food, and other necessaries were piled up +behind the cart, and the children were packed +inside and told to keep quiet, for they were leaving +at night to avoid the jeers of the villagers. +The father sat upon the shafts, the mother cross-legged +inside, and after an hour's drive the city +gates were sighted, and soon the party was welcomed +at the Mission House.</p> + +<p>A very few days in the Refuge served to largely +alter the tenor of Mrs. Fan's mind. The woman +who took charge of her was a kind, confidence-inspiring +body, with nothing of the "foreign +devil" about her. She would hear no harm of +the missionaries, and flatly denied that children +were enticed on to the premises to be done +to death by foul means, or that the foreigner's +blue eye could see corpses in their coffins, or +that magic incantations were used by means of +which all who drank their tea must become their +followers.</p> + +<p>All these questions and many others relating to +the personal character of the strange beings +were asked during the long night watches when +sleep evades the opium patient, and the nurse +helps to while away the dreary hours by satisfying +her curiosity. Then at dawn the longed-for dose +of medicine is administered, after a prayer that +the "medicine may heal her body, and the blood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +of Jesus cleanse her soul," and she may settle to +a doze which daily becomes more natural and +peaceful as the body returns to a normal condition +of being.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Fan saw that much was introduced by +the foreigner in the wake of Christianity which +her alert mind recognised as being all to the +advantage of women. Even the old Refuge-keeper +could read a little, but she was quite dull and +slow, whereas without much trouble Mrs. Fan +herself could master quite a number of new +characters every day, and a few hours had been +enough for the initial lesson of reading the large +print rhyme:</p> + +<div class='poem2'> +"There is but one true God, the Heavenly Father He,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Who feeds and clothes and pities me.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The only Saviour, too, who can my sins forgive,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">I trust and hearken to His word, Jesus my Lord and Saviour.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Jesus loves the sinner, Jesus pities me,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">He gave His life, He washed me clean, He verily hath loved me."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>It was quite evident that a certain amount of +education lay within her own grasp, and quite +unlimited possibilities were open to her three +daughters. The sinfulness of binding up the +feet of girls was touched upon, and a strong determination +took form in her mind that her girls +should be among the first who would have natural +feet in the neighbourhood, in spite of the lurking +fear that all three might be left as old maids upon +her hands if no man might be found bold enough +to risk the disgrace of a wife with normal feet. +A short length of white cotton material was procured,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +and the three little ones were soon free of +compressing bandages, each wearing a pair of +calico socks and little red-and-yellow shoes, ornamented +on the toe with a grinning, whiskered, +tiger's face.</p> + +<p>These girls were all destined to lives of signal +usefulness in the Church. Two of them labour +still as teachers and evangelists among their +own people; the third was early prepared by +intense suffering and deep wrongs to be removed +by death to the realm where the "wicked cease +from troubling and the weary are at rest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE GREAT FURNACE FOR A GREAT +SOUL</h2><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Happy the pure in heart, for they shall see God."</p> + +<p>"A white bird, she told him once, looking at him gravely. +A bird which he must carry in his bosom across a crowded +public place—his own soul was like that!</p> + +<p>"Would it reach the hands of his good genius on the +opposite side, unruffled and unsoiled?"—<span class="smcap">Walter Pater.</span></p> + +<p>"To radiate the heat of the affections into a clod, which +absorbs all that is poured into it, but never warms beneath +the sunshine of smiles or the pressure of hand or lip—this +is the great martyrdom of sensitive beings—most of all +in that perpetual <i>auto-da-fé</i> where young womanhood is +the sacrifice."—<span class="smcap">O. W. Holmes.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE GREAT FURNACE FOR A GREAT +SOUL</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Being the Story of Ai Do</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>MRS. FAN'S second daughter came into +the world under the shadow of sorrow, +for apart from the fact that she was a girl, whereas +a boy had been ardently desired, her first lusty +yells revealed the fact that she was born with a +tooth visible. This was well known by every +woman in the village to indicate antagonism to +her mother's life, and disaster would surely ensue +were she not promptly drowned or thrown out +to perish by the riverside.</div> + +<p>Her fate seemed sealed, but that a woman +seeing what a dear little baby she was, was moved +with pity, and declared herself willing to take +the responsibility of asserting that the child was +hers in order that the demons which were ordering +these events might be deceived, and thus +her real mother would escape the fate which +threatened her life, if the baby were not killed.</p> + +<p>An incredible amount of ingenuity is expended +in China on deceptions practised to mislead the +<i>gwei</i> or demon, whose influence you have +cause to fear. Being a malignant spirit, his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +object is to hurt that which you specially value, +therefore it is well to deceive him into thinking +that your precious son is only a useless girl, or +even a little animal. This is not difficult to +manage, for the <i>gwei</i>, though powerful to work +evil, is a simple creature, and it is sufficient for +him to see earrings dangling from your boy's +ears to make him think he sees a girl, or if you +call the child by some such name as "puppy," +"little pig," "kitten," or "goat," he will quite +fail to perceive that the object of your affection +is two legs short of what one might be led to +expect.</p> + +<p>When a <i>gwei</i> has really determined to +injure your child, it is sometimes necessary to +kill a dog and wrap your boy in its skin, that +it may be perfectly evident to the whole spirit +world that if you are bestowing any affection, +it is only on a valueless beast. In the case of +Mrs. Fan's little girl, no <i>gwei</i> could reasonably +be supposed to attach much value to her, and +it was therefore sufficient for this neighbour to +pronounce herself willing to stand in the place +of a mother. She was allowed to live, and with +painful frankness given the name of "One too +many."</p> + +<p>After the month spent in the Opium Refuge, +Mrs. Fan often saw the lady missionaries either +at Hwochow or in her own house, and when they +were joined by a lady who had no previous knowledge +of the Chinese language, Mrs. Fan was +asked if little "One too many" might come and +live with the missionary so that her childish +prattle should help the newcomer in recognising<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +the difficult sounds and tones. She was now +eight years old and permission was readily +granted, so to Hwochow she went and became an +inmate of the Christian household there, her +name being altered to the now appropriate one +of "greatly loved"—in Chinese, Ai Do.</p> + +<p>The years passed by, and little Ai Do won the +love and approval of all. She received her education +in the girls' school, and there grew up in her +the ambition to be a teacher, as her elder sister +was. At fourteen years of age she sat one Sunday +evening reading her Bible, and came to the words: +"The Lord seeth not as man seeth; man looketh +on the outward appearance, the Lord looketh on +the heart." She stopped and pondered, realising +with the force that can only come with conviction +of the Spirit of God, that while in "the outward" +no one had fault to find with her, yet the Lord +looking on the heart saw her full of sin and unreconciled +to Him. In that hour her peace was +made, and henceforth she served and trusted +God through all the vicissitudes of her short life. +She remained a pupil in the school until the year +1900, when Miss Stevens and Miss Clarke went +to Taiyüanfu, never to return. It was a reign +of terror during which rapine and murder stalked +unhindered through the land, and young women +fled to the remotest districts where they might +claim a shelter.</p> + +<p>The matter of Ai Do's marriage had been under +consideration for some time, she having now +reached the age when custom exacts that this +important matter should be settled. Various +suitors presented themselves, but in most cases<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +there was some hitch which prevented the engagement +from being finally settled. In one case +the man lived on the other side of the river, and +this would cause difficulty in the girl's frequent +journeys from one home to the other; in another, +the matter of the sum required as dowry could +not be finally fixed; in a third, she would have +been required to worship idols.</p> + +<p>Amongst the number was a young man, favoured +by Mrs. Fan but known as a wild and dissolute +youth, and the missionaries who had cared for +Ai Do so many years refused their consent to +the engagement. Now they were dead, and Mrs. +Fan had scope for the exercise of the domineering +will which made her ruler of the home, for while +she was an enthusiastic follower of the Church +she had never given evidence of personal conversion.</p> + +<p>It was certainly advisable that a young woman +of Ai Do's age should not be unmarried at that +difficult time. Christians went in daily peril of +their lives, and the soldier was scarcely less to +be dreaded than the Boxer.</p> + +<p>"No one uses good iron to make nails, and no +one will use a good man to make a soldier," says +a Chinese proverb, which has been proved to be +only too true in many cases.</p> + +<p>Hastily, and almost secretly, the formalities of +the engagement were performed, cards were +exchanged which fixed the contract, and the +earrings, rings, and silk and satin garments were +brought from the bridegroom's home. Ai Do +had heard much of this man, and his reputation +was such as to cause her the gravest misgivings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +The household which she was to enter as a bride +would not require her to join in the offering of +nuptial sacrifices to idols because her future +mother-in-law had come under the sound of the +Gospel, but more than this can scarcely be said. +The son to whom she was engaged had been +brought up on a régime of such extreme indulgence +as can only be met with amongst an Oriental +people. His mother had never once restrained +him in a childish selfishness nor a manly vice. +From a spoilt, inconsiderate, wilful childhood he +passed to a cruel, passionate, licentious manhood; +finally, he took to opium smoking and +ruin threatened the home. His mother reaped +a bitter harvest of sorrow from the planting of +those wasted years, and now her urgent plea +was: "My son is good at heart, and a virtuous +bride will soon work a reform in him."</p> + +<p>Every relation and friend and neighbour had +a say in the transaction, only Ai Do must not +be consulted, and though she weep and plead to +be left unmarried for a time yet, her tears and +supplications can cause no effect. In vain were +the silver ornaments and fine clothes displayed +before her; she refused to take food and wept +bitterly, not with the conventional tears of the +Chinese girl bewailing her virginity and begging +that she may not be torn from the shelter of +her maiden home, but with a real horror of the +fate which awaited her.</p> + +<p>The day dawned when she was dressed in the +scarlet bridal clothes, a voluminous embroidered +satin gown over all; this came with the sedan +chair which was to carry her to her future home,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +being hired for the occasion. Scarlet shoes were +on her feet, a high tinsel crown on her head, +and covering her tear-stained face was a scarlet +veil. In accordance with the custom which +demanded that the forehead of the bride must +be perfectly smooth, her front hair had been +dragged out by the roots and left her with an +aching head.</p> + +<p>At last all was ready, and she was in the +embroidered sedan chair and caught the last +glimpse of the familiar faces. They disappear, +and alone she meets a cruel, loveless, unknown +world.</p> + +<p>A Chinese village wedding is a terrible ordeal +for the bride. Her life until that day has been +guarded from every contact with the outer world, +and she has never spoken with a man outside +the family circle. Her arrival at her mother-in-law's +home is the signal for a wild rush of +rough men to surround her chair. The curtain +is lifted, insolent faces stare, her personal appearance +is commented upon in vile terms, her feet +being specially noticed because the artificial +compression of this member has resulted in giving +it sexual importance in a woman's appearance. +Ai Do had a normal, unbound foot, and had to +listen to lewd insinuations levelled at her on +this subject. All the while she must patiently +sit and wait until the appointed women of the +bridegroom's family are ready to conduct her +indoors. The waiting is often for a considerable +time, for these new relations are going to make +her feel that she is a most unimportant and undesirable +person, and her mother-in-law is not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +even going to see her until the next day; moreover, +the longer she waits, the greater her chances +of longevity.</p> + +<p>When at last she is told to leave her chair she is +followed by a crowd, and holding the end of a +scarlet sash which is thrust into her hand, she +finds herself in a courtyard where the ceremony +is to take place.</p> + +<p>In accordance with the contract made by the +middleman, she is not asked to worship heaven and +earth nor the tablets of her husband's ancestors, +but two cups of wine are placed on the table, and +she and her bridegroom must each take one and +sip the wine, the cups being joined together by a +scarlet thread. When this ceremony is over, she +follows her bridegroom to a room, still led by the +sash, and when he enters he stands upon the +<i>kang</i> and by walking around it demonstrates his +position as head of the new home.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the chair-bearers are clamouring +for her dress, as another young woman is waiting +for the same gown and chair, and delay may cause +trouble. The bride is assisted on to the <i>kang</i> +by the women, her husband having departed to +make merry with his friends, and the ragged +opium smokers who carried her there leave, one +wearing the crown of tinsel on his head, laughing +and joking at much which they have seen +and heard. From the moment that she is seated +upon the <i>kang</i>, the bride becomes the centre +of attraction to an insulting crowd. Her shoes +are stolen, but knowing that this is likely she +has provided herself with additional pairs. For +hours she sits there and hears the remarks made.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +One will whisper that she is married to an irresponsible +idiot, others will tell her that he is blind +or dumb, and knowing how often the middlemen +deceive, she waits with dread the moment when +she will see for herself more than she was able to +do on arrival. At last the room is cleared, and +she has to face the final ordeal when she is left +alone with a totally unknown man. Even the +hours of darkness are not respected, and every +youngster in the village has the right to enter the +courtyard at any hour of the night, tear down the +paper windows, and heap shame upon her head.</p> + +<p>Christianity and the influence of the foreigner +has done much to revolutionise the wedding +customs, but all this and more was endured by +Ai Do, and she found herself withal the wife of a +depraved and vicious man.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a deliverance when the Hwochow +girls' school reopened and Ai Do was invited to +teach in place of her elder sister, whose family +claims had increased so as to prevent her holding +the post as formerly. School was opened in a +small courtyard which adjoined our own, and +twenty girls entered as pupils. Ai Do had all the +characteristics of a natural leader, and she easily +controlled the girls and was much beloved by +them, for she had a kind disposition and the hidden +sorrows of her life had made her both strong and +tender.</p> + +<p>I think that her life in school was a time of unmixed +happiness to her, but the holidays had to +be faced and contact with the man whom she +could only strive not to hate. His opium smoking +habits increased, and the pinch of poverty was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +felt in the home from which he was able to steal +so cunningly every article of value which might +be exchanged for money and spent on the +drug.</p> + +<p>A great joy came into Ai Do's life with the birth +of a little son, and she realised for the first time +that matrimony was not solely a horror, since it +brought so much compensation in its train. The +child was publicly dedicated to God, and was its +mother's joy for six brief months.</p> + +<p>At the end of that time, in the hot weather, it +sickened with dysentery, and in spite of her +prayers and entreaties that she might be allowed +to deal with the disease as she had seen me deal +with similar ailments, she had to endure the torture +of seeing it operated upon by a heathen Chinese +doctor, whose method of treatment was to use long +needles which he ran into its tender flesh. The +needles were of course unclean, and the child's +death was doubtless hastened by the shock thus +sustained.</p> + +<p>She was spared the last sorrow of seeing its body +thrown out to be devoured by dogs and wolves +through the fortunate advent of her father, who +insisted at her request that decent burial be given. +This was a cause of thankfulness for her to her +life's end.</p> + +<p>A year later, when her second son was born, +the home was in a pitiful condition. All the land +which provided daily bread for the family was +gambled away, furniture and clothes had been +sold or pawned for opium, the wages she earned +were all turned to the same use, and the poorest, +coarsest food was all that was procurable at a time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +when her strength was quite insufficient to the +strain imposed upon it.</p> + +<p>As soon as the required month of purification +was over, she returned to us and then received +all the care that love could suggest, but we soon +saw that she was going to escape from our poor, +inadequate efforts to protect and comfort her, +into the care of the only One who could save her +from further sorrow. Phthisis took a rapid hold +of her constitution, and her strength daily declined. +During this time she for the first time opened +her heart, and spoke out her sorrows and sufferings +and those deepest wrongs she had suffered which +women have from time immemorial hidden as a +shameful secret. She spoke it all out now, and +left me with a determination that henceforth +any one placed as she was should find an advocate +and protector in me to the extent of my ability.</p> + +<p>Three months later she was carried back to her +home, a dying woman, to end her days. We were +able to ride out and see her almost daily, and once +we found her very happy because in a dream +she had seen a messenger who called to her to cross +the river, and when she shrank back I had been +there to assure her that angels would receive her +to her Heavenly Home.</p> + +<p>That day her husband came into the room, and +in my presence she for the last time pleaded with +him to leave the ways of sin and seek forgiveness +through repentance. To our care she committed +her child, asking that we would see that it was +brought up as a Christian, and she also begged us +to insist on a Christian burial for herself. To +the schoolgirls she sent the message that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +must meet her in her Master's presence, and a few +hours later "the bells of the city rang out for joy, +and it was said to her: 'Enter into the joy of thy +Lord.'" The wail that went up from the schoolgirls +when I told them, I shall not forget; she was +the first of our company to pass over. Two days +later the pupils of her class and ourselves gathered +with the family for a simple service in the courtyard +of her home. On the coffin the words were written +at her own request, "Until He come"—symbolic +of the hope which sustained her through those +years of suffering, and kept her eyes ever upward +turned to the promise of the great day of deliverance. +A congregation of some hundreds assembled +to see the unique sight of so many girls mourning +for a teacher and following the bier to the border +of the village. The girls and their parents showed +their appreciation of Ai Do and her work by presenting +a large banner to the school in her memory. +It was unveiled on their behalf by the elders of the +Church, and above the names of one hundred girls +who had been her pupils were inscribed the words: +"She rests from her labours, and her works do +follow her."</p> + +<p>We returned to take up the work which she had +left, but with heavy hearts, and the school and +my study seemed empty without her presence. +I missed her help in consultation over difficulties +and dealings with the raw material which came +into our hands at the beginning of each term.</p> + +<p>Who could replace her? Her friend and companion +who had helped her during the past months +was the only one to whom I could look, and she was +seemingly of too retiring a disposition to bear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +such responsibility; but the "trees of the Lord are +full of sap," and if a leaf has fallen there is always +a fresh one developing to replace it, and Ling Ai +was preparing for a development which was going +to make her that which she still is, my faithful +and beloved fellow-missionary in this place. With +her quiet, gentle spirit she has won the confidence +of her pupils, and made possible for me that which +apart from her comradeship would have been +impossible, the establishment of a large school and +training-college where in happy fellowship Chinese +young women are working together for the women +and girls of their country.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE POWERS OF DARKNESS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"What name hast thou? And he said, Legion!"</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Whensoever the impure spirit goeth out from the man +it passeth through waterless places seeking rest; and not +finding it there, it saith—</p> + +<p>"I will return unto my house whence I came out;</p> + +<p>"And coming, findeth it empty, swept and adorned. +Then goeth it and taketh along with itself other spirits +more wicked than itself—seven, and entering it, findeth its +dwelling there; and the last state of that man becometh +worse than the first."—The Gospel according to Luke.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE POWERS OF DARKNESS</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Being a Record of some Observations +in Demonology</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE Chinaman, though perhaps the most +materialistic of Easterners, is no exception +to his neighbours in the large place which the +occult takes in his outlook. For him, the physical +world is peopled with spirits good and evil, capable +of exercising the most far-reaching influences +on the fortunes of men. These spiritual beings +are bound up in the forces of nature, and combine +to constitute that geomantic system known by +the Chinese as <i>Feng-shui</i> (wind and water), +by reference to which, matters of human life, +inasmuch as they are designed to court the good +influences and avoid those which are inauspicious +to the man, the time, and the place, are decided.</div> + +<p>The Chinaman can never experience the feeling +of complete solitude which the Westerner knows +in wild and lonely places; for him the hillside, the +ravine, and the mountain gorge are peopled with +presences best described as fairies, though in +nothing resembling the light-hearted beings which +this description generally conveys to the Western +mind. To him they present the appearance of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +aged, venerable beings, short of stature, with +white beards. Country, town, and human habitations +are alike haunted by psychic beings whose +condition cannot be exactly expressed by the +word <i>spirit</i>, neither form of Chinese belief admitting +of the conception of a pure spirit without matter.</p> + +<p>These beings may be grouped into three classes. +<i>Gwei</i> is the term most constantly used by +the common people to indicate the being whose +influence is feared by all, and who receives from +every family some measure of propitiatory sacrifice. +We read in the <i>li chao chuan</i>,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> or <i>Divine Panorama</i>, +that "every living being, no matter whether it +be a man or an animal, a bird or a quadruped, +a gnat or a midge, a worm or an insect, having +legs or not, few or many, all are called <i>gwei</i> +after death."</p> + +<p>Apart from these are the <i>shen</i>, which have +been defined as <i>émanations de la nature personnifiées</i>, +not, as the <i>gwei</i>, spirits of the +dead, but an emanation of nature clothed with +a personality. They possess varying degrees of +intelligence and power. Their interest is not only +in the affairs of men, to the knowledge of which +they have access, but also in the secret springs +of human action. They reside in man as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +as amongst men, and witness to his good or evil +works before the tribunal of heaven. The classics +of Chinese literature, recognising this, urge upon +readers the duty of decorum, purity, and care +even when unseen by human eyes and according +to the teachings of Confucius; one of the characteristics +of the Princely Man is the discipline +he will exercise upon himself when alone.</p> + +<p>Other spiritual beings are those who, by their +ascetic practices, have attained to a life higher +than that of humanity; it will endure through +many centuries, and they are free to live in the +pleasant places of the earth with considerable +licence to enjoy good things, yet free from the +material claims which govern human life. These +are known by the term <i>hsien</i>, and are referred +to above as fairies. Each and all of these beings +touch the destinies of man at various points.</p> + +<p>It is, however, in the important events of life—birth, +marriage, and death—that the interference +of the spirits is strongest, and such occasions are +used by the sorcerer as a means of extorting +money from his unfortunate victim. In the +<i>Divine Panorama</i>, we read that: "It is not +uncommon at the time of reincarnation to see +women asking to be allowed to avenge themselves +in the form of <i>gwei</i> before being changed into +men. On their case being examined, it is found +as young women they have been seduced or +have been betrayed in other ways, such as the +husband refusing after marriage to fulfil his +promise to support the girl's parents, and in +consequence of her disgrace the woman has committed +suicide." From that moment terror has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +dogged the steps of her husband, and he has gone +in hourly fear of sickness, accident, or sudden +death. If he be a student, the day of examination +presents terrors calculated to ensure failure, +for he knows that the <i>gwei</i> has power to hold +his mind in subjection so that he cannot write +his competitive essay. The only hope he has of +release is the taking of a vow, whereby he undertakes +to study and make known <i>The Divine +Panorama</i> or <i>precious record</i> transmitted to +men to move them, being a record of examples +published by the mercy of Yu Di, that men and +women living in this world may repent them of +their faults, and make atonement for their sins. +The punishments described include all the most +painful tortures of which Chinese ingenuity can +conceive. Truly, idols are the work of man's +hands, and they that make them are like unto +them!</p> + +<p>Sculptural art also has left nothing undone to +represent the god as animated by the worst +passions of man, but skill and ingenuity must +inevitably stop short of the final act necessary +to convince man that communication is possible +between him and the spirit world. In order to +bridge this chasm a class of men and women +called sorcerers (<i>mo-han</i> and <i>sheng-po</i>) has come +into being, whose work it is to be the spokesmen +of the gods. With deliberate intent and elaborate +ritual they develop the mediumistic gift, and +learn how to attain conditions of frenzy and of +trance during which period the body is controlled +by a spiritualistic force. Not only as the medium +of the gods, but also as a resting-place for longer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +or shorter periods to the homeless, unclean spirit, +do these sorcerers serve. At tremendous physical +cost—for the medium is never long-lived—they +accumulate great wealth, exorbitant sums being +demanded in recognition of services rendered +when freeing a family or village from the visitations +of a tormenting <i>gwei</i>. When sickness +enters his home, the Chinaman's instinct is to +attribute it to any cause rather than a natural +one; his appeal on such occasions is to the sorcerer +whose time is largely occupied in giving what is +called medical advice, but is in reality the practising +of the rites of exorcism. Sometimes he will +declare that the spirit of a sick person has strayed +from the body, and means will be set on foot to +secure its return. A woman I know, whose boy +had apparently died from typhoid fever, was told +that his spirit had been enticed away by a god +whose shrine was built on the mountain side near +the city where she lived. She took the child's +coat and walked to the temple; here, standing +before the idol, she burned incense and begged +that the boy's spirit might be restored to her. +Holding the child's coat open to receive it, she +swayed to and fro, and with heart-rending cries +besought it to return. She waited until she felt +her request had been granted, and with a movement +as though to enfold the little wandering +ghost, she clasped the coat in her arms and swiftly +returning home, laid it upon the lifeless body. +The child revived, and is alive to this day.</p> + +<p>Frequently, after supplication to the gods, the +clothes of the patient are carefully weighed; a +procession is then formed in which one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +sorcerers holds a mirror directed backwards, +others, wearing scarlet aprons, carry brooms and +with slow and mystic movements sweep widely +on either side with the intent of gathering up the +wandering soul. Meanwhile crackers are fired +to the weird sound of a minor, falsetto lilting. +After a considerable journey over the countryside +they return to prove the success of their venture. +For this the clothes of the sick man must be reweighed +to see whether the weight of the spirit +has been added to that of the patient's garments. +Should the smallest discrepancy be detected all +is well, and after feasting and opium the <i>mo-han</i> +pockets his fee and departs, frequently leaving a +prescription behind him, the results of which may +be more or less harmful. Whatever the result, +nothing will shake the faith of the people in these +degraded villains, for they can, by threatening to +call in the intervention of the gods on their behalf +strike terror to the heart of any man, and once +having sought aid of the sorcerer, the family is +pitiable indeed.</p> + +<p>In a case which came under my personal observation, +the spirit of a young woman from a village +at some distance from the one in which I was +staying, who had recently died in childbirth, was +said to have returned, having found herself in +difficulties in the spirit world for lack of means +to defray the necessary expenses. Illness became +so prevalent that necromancers were called in +and agreed that a medium must be employed. +The spirit made its requirements known, and by +promising the sacrifices ordained, the family +passed under a bondage from which none dared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +to emancipate himself by omitting the prescribed +rites. Night after night, at the medium's command +a table was spread at the cross-roads, on +which were laid the fantastic foods suitable to the +requirements of the departed spirit. Gold and +silver paper money was plentifully burned, crackers +were fired, and following the medium, a party of +men left to place earthen bowls containing grains +at various corners of the roads.</p> + +<p>Nothing but the deliverance of Christianity, +or a daring known to few, can set free those who +have been entangled in such practices.</p> + +<p>I saw this medium whilst under spirit control. +Before a table elaborately decorated on which +incense burned, she threw herself into extraordinary +contortions, quivering and shaking, her finger and +thumb forming a circle, whilst the little finger +vibrated continuously. She sustained a perpetual +chant in the peculiar spirit voice, the minor strains +of which I find it impossible to describe. A +relative of the deceased acted as questioner, and +she dictated the terms by the fulfilment of which +the spirit consented to a reconciliation.</p> + +<p>Another manifestation of mediumship may be +found in the more or less conscious yielding of +the personality to a controlling spiritualistic influence, +known as <i>demon possession</i>. Remarkable +cases have come under my own personal +observation, and all incidents which I quote have +been witnessed by foreign missionaries who are +prepared to vouch for their accuracy. Those +brought to my notice by reliable Chinese are too +numerous to include in this book, but the fact +that men and women who lay themselves open to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +demoniacal influences become possessed, is beyond +dispute. In many cases the possession follows +upon a fit of uncontrolled temper, such as is not +uncommon amongst the Chinese; in others it is +connected with the taking of a vow on the occasion +of illness in the home, when service was promised +to some particular god; or again, it has been +undoubtedly connected with the neglect to completely +remove idols from the home of a Christian.</p> + +<p>In yet other cases, a spirit may take temporary +possession of a human body in order to find a +means of expression for some important communication, +and after delivering its message leave +the person unconscious of that which has taken +place. An instance of this occurred in a family +with which I am intimate. The eldest daughter +was married into a home where she received ill-treatment +from her mother-in-law. For several +years she was systematically underfed and overworked, +and when at last she gave birth to a son +we all expected she would receive more consideration. +The hatred of her mother-in-law was, +however, in no degree abated, and when the child +was a month old she brought her daughter a meal +of hot bread in which the girl detected an unusual +flavour which made her suspicious. She threw +the remainder to the dog, and before many hours +had passed both the unfortunate girl and the dog +were dead.</p> + +<p>Her father was away from home at the time, +the young men of the family meanwhile carrying +on the work of the farm. A few days later her +brothers and first cousins, strong, vigorous young +farmers, being together in the fields, her cousin,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +aged twenty-two, suddenly exhibited symptoms +of distress. He trembled and wept violently. +Those with him becoming alarmed at so unusual +a sight went to his assistance, intending to take him +home. He wept, however, the more violently, +saying: "I am Lotus-bud; I was cruelly done to +death. Why is there no redress?" Others of the +family were by this time at hand, and recognising +the effort made by the girl's spirit to communicate +with her own people whom she had had no opportunity +of seeing in the hour of her death, spoke +directly to her, as though present. Telling her the +facts of the case, they explained that all demands +must remain in abeyance until her father's return, +when the guilty party would be dealt with by her +family whose feeling was in no sense one of indifference. +In about an hour's time the attack +passed, leaving the young man exhausted and +unconscious of what had taken place.</p> + +<p>The criminal law of China can only be put in +action under such circumstances by the girl's own +family undertaking a long and expensive lawsuit, +the result of which may end in the punishment of +the criminal, or may terminate in quite a different +way. In this case the demands took the form of +a requirement, the granting of which constituted +a tacit acknowledgment of guilt. The demand +in fact was that a funereal monument should be +erected in memory of the dead girl. This constituted +so uncalled-for an honour paid to one in +her position, as to be a public recognition that +redress was due to her, and a law case was avoided.</p> + +<p>It may be remembered that in the first chapter +of this book an incident is recorded of Mrs. Hsi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +herself being tormented by a demon which had +gained its power over her, by reason of neglect +to completely destroy all idols at the time when +they were removed from the home. Such a case +is not singular.</p> + +<p>Our first woman patient in the Hwochow Opium +Refuge became interested in the Gospel, and on +her return home destroyed her idols, reserving +however the beautifully carved idol shrines which +she placed in her son's room. Her daughter-in-law +who occupied this room, a comely young +woman, desired to become a Christian and gave +us a warm welcome whenever we could go to the +house. About six months later we were fetched +by special messenger from a village where we were +staying, to see this girl who was said to be demon +possessed. We found crowds of men and women +gathered to see and to hear. The girl was chanting +the weird minor chant of the possessed, the voice, +as in every case I have seen, clearly distinguishing +it from madness. This can perhaps best be +described as a voice distinct from the personality +of the one under possession. It seems as though +the demon used the organs of speech of the victim +for the conveyance of its own voice. She refused +to wear clothes or to take food, and by her violence +terrorised the community. Immediately upon +our entering the room with the Chinese woman +evangelist she ceased her chanting, and slowly +pointed the finger at us, remaining in this posture +for some time. As we knelt upon the <i>kang</i> +to pray, she trembled and said: "The room is +full of <i>gwei</i>; as soon as one goes another comes." +We endeavoured to calm her, and to make her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +join us in repeating the sentence, "Lord Jesus, +save me."</p> + +<p>After considerable effort she succeeded in pronouncing +these words, and when she had done so +we commanded the demon to leave her, whereupon +her body trembled and she sneezed some +fifty or sixty times, then suddenly came to herself, +asked for her clothes and some food, and seemingly +perfectly well resumed her work. So persistently +did she reiterate the statement that the demons +were using the idol shrines for a refuge, that +during the proceedings just mentioned her parents +willingly handed over to the Christians present +these valuable carvings, and joined with them +in their destruction. From this time onwards +she was perfectly well, a normal, healthy young +woman.</p> + +<p>Upon recovery from illness a woman I knew +yielded herself to the lord of hell for a certain +period, during which time she was under a vow +to wear black garments, to perform certain rites +as required by the devil, and to chant instead +of speaking. She told me once that she knew +all I could tell her of the Lord of Heaven and of +the death upon the cross of His Son, but that +she served the lord of hell, and his servant she +remained, only giving up her peculiar dress and +manner when the time of her vow had expired.</p> + +<p>The yielding of personality to the possession +of a spirit no doubt seriously weakens the will +power. Many cases are on record of those who +once delivered, like the man in the Gospel from +whom the evil spirit had been cast out, unconsciously +again prepare the empty house to receive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +the evil guest, and whose latter state is worse +than the former.</p> + +<p>It was to a woman, terror of the district in +which she lived, that a Chinese evangelist was +called. After prayer in which he and some +inquirers took part, the evil spirit in obedience +to their command departed. A few weeks later +on yielding to violent temper, she fell into a +worse state than before. The missionary of the +district was this time begged to go himself. As +soon as he entered the room the woman threw +herself upon the <i>kang</i>, rolling about in seemingly +great agony. The Chinese helper, Mr. Li, +rebuked the spirit, saying: "We ordered you +to leave. Why have you returned?" "I could +find no dwelling-place," was the answer, +given with extraordinary rapidity, in the +curious spirit voice. "Find me a place to rest, +and I will leave at once." "We have come," +said Li, "to command you to leave, not to find +you a place." Upon this the woman laughed +and clapped her hands, and in the struggle it +seemed as if the powers of evil were in the +ascendancy. As she still chuckled with amusement, +Li said: "Let us sing a hymn," and +immediately the voice replied: "I too can sing," +and forthwith shouted some theatrical songs. +Mr. Li then prayed, but there was seemingly no +power and the voice also mockingly prayed. +The missionary then interposed, saying: "I have +not come here to hold intercourse with demons," +and forthwith authoritatively commanded the +demon to leave her. There was a struggle, and +she fell down unconscious on the <i>kang</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>She came to herself in a normal condition and +apologised to the missionary for her state of +deshabille. Faithfully and sternly he rebuked her +for sin and for giving place to the devil. She +recognised her fault, and was from that time a +changed woman.</p> + +<p>An evil spirit has been known to claim a young +girl as its possession, forbidding her marriage +under severe threats. It was in such a case +that a demon, driven from a man who had become +a Christian, went to a village eight miles distant +and possessed a young woman. Speaking through +her, it forbade her marriage and manifested itself +in the same manner as it had done in the man +from whom it came, compelling him to perpetually +rub one side of his face and head until there was +no hair left there. When questioned as to whence +it came the demon replied by giving the name +of this man, and to the question: "Why have +you left him?" replied: "I have been turned +out, for that man has become a Christian."</p> + +<p>Two methods of exorcism are used by the +sorcerers—defiance and bribery. The Christian +method is that of commanding the evil spirit +in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ to release +the victim.</p> + +<p>Some have been set free from the power of a +tormenting spirit who have not been subsequently +kept free, through refusing to yield to the control +of the great Spirit of Liberty. Pastor Hsi, than +whom none better understood the conflict in the +Heavenly Places, in earlier days would cast out +demons from all the possessed who were brought +to him, but in later years as experience grew, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +refused to do so unless idols were destroyed, and +he had reason to believe there was a sincere +desire to obey the commands of God. He doubtless +saw, as others have done, the futility of +temporary relief during which, in that mysterious +way so graphically described in the Scriptures, +the demon wanders in waterless places, joining +himself to others more evil than he.</p> + +<p>Pastor Hsi learned to distinguish between the +greater and the lesser demons. With the latter +he would deal summarily, but not so with the +former. "This kind," he would say, "goeth +not out but by prayer and fasting;" and thus +he would prepare himself for an encounter with +the powers of evil.</p> + +<p>Young believers, doubtless impressed by the +Pastor's command over unclean spirits and +perhaps sometimes eager for a similar power, +were, as in the instances recorded in the Acts +of the Apostles, in serious danger. Pastor Hsi +urged them not lightly to undertake the casting +out of demons. He had been faced by the awful +realities of the spirit world, and on one occasion +at least, by reason of a thoughtless word, had +been troubled by the very demon he had cast +out and which attached itself to his person.</p> + +<p>The experiences recorded here may be unfamiliar +to many readers, and some will doubtless +think that madness, hysteria, or epilepsy may +account for them. To such I would suggest +the following points for consideration: Firstly, +the striking, detailed resemblance between the +cases seen now in heathen lands and those +recorded in the Scriptures; secondly, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +complete and lasting restoration resulting from +prayer and from the command in the Name of +the Lord Jesus that the demon should depart; +thirdly, the appalling sense of the reality of the +conflict with the evil one at the moment of supreme +test, as the missionary is called upon to prove +his personal faith, and to give the command +which shall decide whether God or demon remains +conqueror on the field.</p> + +<p>When the promise was given by Christ that +His witnesses should cast out demons, it was +with the foreknowledge that such equipment was +essential to those who obeyed His command to +disciple the nations. Let the signs following be +a reminder to weary warriors that the Captain +of our salvation is actively leading His hosts; +and to the indifferent and half-hearted who +profess and call themselves Christians, let it be +a matter for serious reflection that there exist +churches in many heathen lands, the members +of which have not lost their first love and faith, +and against whom the enemy has come with his +whole strength.</p> + +<p>A feeble conflict may provoke a feeble resistance, +but it behoves the aggressive warrior to +prepare for the fight of his life when he invades +the enemy's territory, where the conflict is not +with "mere flesh and blood, but with the +despotisms, the empires, the forces, that control +and govern this dark world."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LIFE STORY OF PASTOR WANG</h2> + +<div class='poem'> +"Happy the meek;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">For they shall inherit the earth."</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='poem'> +"The labourer whom Christ in His own garden<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Chose to be His helpmate."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Dante.</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"He went out to seek wisdom, as many a one has done, +looking for the laws of God with clear eyes to see, with a +pure heart to understand, and after many troubles, after +many mistakes, after much suffering, he came at last +to the truth."—<span class="smcap">H. Fielding Hall.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE LIFE STORY OF PASTOR WANG</h3> + + +<div class='cap'>IF Pastor Hsi may be spoken of as the Paul +of the Shansi Church, Barnabas finds his +counterpart in Pastor Wang of Hwochow.</div> + +<p>Though possessing none of the peculiar gifts +which made Hsi a leader amongst foreigners +and Chinese, he has exercised a remarkable +personal influence upon hundreds of lives, winning +by consistency and sincerity those with whom +he has come in contact. On our first arrival we +found him already in charge, conducting the +Sunday services and generally caring for the +Church members.</p> + +<p>His unfailing courtesy, consideration, and tact +simplified many difficult situations, and the +exercise of his natural gift for gathering people +around him and drawing out the best in them +soon resulted in a rapidly growing work. He +was almost immediately chosen as Deacon, and +before long the office of Elder was given to him. +All turned to Mr. Wang in difficulty, sought his +advice in perplexity, and by the unanimous +desire of the Church he was in 1909 ordained +Pastor at Hwochow.</p> + +<p>He has developed his gifts in the school of +adversity, for trouble overtook him in his childhood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +when his father died only a few years +before the great famine which was to sweep over +the province of Shansi. Poor they always were, +and his love for his mother was intensified as he +saw the self-sacrificing devotion with which she +earned enough by her spinning to enable him to +continue his schooling. At the age of fifteen he +was married, and on the bride's arrival the +falsity of the middleman through whom the +engagement had been long ago contracted was +revealed, for the bride was a helpless cripple and +a serious burden on the already overpressed +household.</p> + +<p>Food soon began to be scarce, for the rains +failed and the prospect of the wheat harvest was +poor. They endured and hoped, being mercifully +saved from the knowledge that they must now +enter upon a period when the inhabitants of +Shansi should touch the depths of human suffering +and call on death to end their woes. No pen +can fully describe the horrors of that time. When +summer and autumn crops had failed the rains +were still withheld, and despair seized on all as +they saw the impossibility of sowing the wheat +for next year's harvest.</p> + +<p>The delicate bride, unable to withstand the +privations of that time, soon died, and Wang's +sister was married, so that he and his mother +remained alone to care for each other. The poor +young sister lived but a very short while in her +new home, and the circumstances of her death +were so tragic that Wang felt unable to forgive +the man who had been her husband. After +many years, when circumstances brought this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +man to his home, he realised that Christ's command +to forgive those who have offended against +you required of him a complete change of feeling +towards this once hated brother-in-law, and he +invited him to share his food as a sign of forgiveness +and reconciliation.</p> + +<p>Every month the distress became more acute; +weeds, leaves, bark of trees, and even some +softer kinds of wood were used as food, but +numbers were dying and of the one hundred +and twenty families which inhabited the village, +at last thirty only remained. The dead outnumbered +the living, and compelled by hunger +the latter were driven to sustain life by feeding +on the former.</p> + +<p>Wang saw his mother's vain endeavour to +supply some kind of food on which they might +subsist, and his heart was torn to see her deprive +herself even now that there might be more for +him.</p> + +<p>When the famine was at its worst, the most +tragic blow fell. His mother one day told him +it was her wish that he should accompany several +neighbours to a near village where lived a relation. +In those days none dared to travel alone, lest +in their weak, half-starved condition they should +fall a prey to man or beast. The pretext given +was the possibility of obtaining the loan of a +little grain from the aunt who lived there. Beggars +were many and givers few, and he wondered at +his mother entertaining any hope of such good +fortune.</p> + +<p>He went, however, only to return a few hours +later, empty-handed. As he entered the courtyard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +heart-sick with disappointment, he called +for his mother and received no answer. Doors +and windows were locked on the inside, and +sick with apprehension he called the neighbours +to his help. On bursting open the door, they +saw her body swinging from a beam in the dim +recesses of the cave. The errand had been an +excuse to get him out of the way, while she performed +this act which was the last expression +of her love to him. She had chosen this solution +of their impossible position, hoping that, relieved +of her presence, he might be able to endure till +coming harvest.</p> + +<p>The body, wrapped in matting, was laid in an +empty cave. There was no money for a coffin, +and many were waiting like hungry wolves to eat +the uncoffined dead; moreover, the boy and his +uncle were too weak to drag the body to the +burying-ground.</p> + +<p>The months passed, and still the arid, sun-baked +earth refused to bear any green thing, and +the despairing people longed for rain which never +came. The second year of drought had come +and gone, and there was now nothing sown in +the fields, but on the seventh day of the fourth +moon of the fourth year of the Emperor Kwang +Hsü, the longed-for rain fell and hope revived.</p> + +<p>At this time also a stranger came to the village +registering the names of survivors, and +announcing that foreigners had arrived and were +distributing grain that the fields might be sown +for an autumn crop.</p> + +<p>The worst of the famine was over, but the +terrors of famine fever had yet to be faced, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +when the longed-for grain had ripened there were +in many houses none left to eat it, for whole +families had been wiped out.</p> + +<p>Wang now naturally became an inmate of his +uncle's home, and gradually the conditions of +greatest horror were relieved. As soon as strength +had sufficiently returned, they made coffins and +prepared to bury their dead, that the required +rites should not be lacking which should bring +consolation to those who had entered the land of +shades without the necessary honours having +been paid to their memory. Not only for the +coffins was money required, but also to pay the +fees of the geomancers who must decide the site +of the graves and an auspicious day for the funeral. +In this one family, thirteen coffins were made +and graves dug in accordance with the following +plan: The four quarterings of the celestial sphere +were borne in mind, respectively governed by +the Azure Dragon, Red Bird, White Tiger, and +Black Tortoise, these being identified with East, +West, South, and North. The graves should face +the south, with White Tiger on the right and +Azure Dragon on the left, as these respectively +control wind and water.</p> + +<p>On the day of the funeral the son, dressed in +coarse white cloth, with unhemmed garments, +white twists plaited with the hair of his queue +which he wore over his chest, and his head unshaven, +walked as chief mourner, the wailing +relatives following the bier. In due course, +paper money and other articles were burned for +the use of the deceased, and fire crackers were +exploded to ensure the soul and the mortal remains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +against the attacks of demons. The next +year in early spring on the day known as <i>Pure +Brightness</i>, in accordance with national custom, +Wang, dressed in white, again visited and repaired +the grave. For three years he wore signs of +mourning in his dress, and abstained from all +festivities. Thus he strove to leave undone +nothing which filial piety could contrive, to make +easier to his mother her sojourn in those mysterious +realms whither she had passed.</p> + +<p>For the next few years he worked as a silversmith +in his uncle's shop, this latter being a +generous, kindly man, on whom the responsibilities +of business life sat only too lightly, for an illness +revealed the fact that the profits were not sufficient +to meet the interest due on the rapidly accumulating +debts.</p> + +<p>Moreover, the sick man, with failing health, +had gradually acquired the use of the fatal drug +known as "foreign smoke," which some years +previously had been first introduced from distant +lands, and was gaining ground every year as a +profitable crop in the best soil. One ounce a day +had become the necessary allowance for the sick +man, and to Hwochow the nephew constantly went +in order to buy the needful supply. He tells +how he walked between the poppy fields and +heard the chant which always accompanied the +sowing of the plant:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Of ten acres, fateful plant, thou claimest eight,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Thus only two are left for ripening grain;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">From distant lands thou wert brought here,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And hast devoured the best of China's sons."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Of famine, of typhus, and of the raids of wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +beasts, the inhabitants of Shansi had tasted the +full terrors, but now this more insidious foe was +working havoc in their midst. Amongst the +villagers it already counted its victims: one young +man had recently died as a direct result of its +use, for after taking his accustomed dose he had +so lain down that a portion of his wadded clothes +was touching the lighted stove. Shortly after, +his mother entered the cave to find this, her only +son, burned to death, the charred corpse being +all that remained to tell the tale. Another neighbour +had gradually parted with all his possessions, +and when nothing else remained on which to raise +money, he took his young wife and sold her to +an innkeeper in whose house she was not mistress +of her actions and had no choice but to obey her +purchaser. Nothing could save her, and the +tragedy of that broken heart still awaits His +judgment Who judgeth righteously.</p> + +<p>The duty of preparing the pipe for his uncle +devolved on the young man, and before long he +himself was a victim of opium.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the uncle was weaker than formerly, +and a neighbour strongly recommended Wang to +visit the China Inland Mission station at Hwochow +to ask for some medicine, and this was how he +first heard the Gospel story. He was cordially +received by the evangelist, and given a dose to +be administered according to regulation, and told +to pray earnestly for his uncle; this he conscientiously +did, kneeling in the courtyard, and +saying: "Heavenly Father, have mercy on my +uncle." The next day, the sick man was better, +and continued so for many months.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>Troubles soon thickened around Mr. Wang. +When his uncle died he found himself responsible +for business and home, and overwhelmed by +debts.</p> + +<p>The great spiritual crisis of his life was at hand. +He had from childhood pursued, by what broken +light he had, an ideal which was intensely real +to him. In the five relationships wherein his +teachers had instructed him as to conduct, he +had endeavoured to be blameless: as subject to +ruler, son to father, younger brother to elder, +husband to wife, and friend to friend. He had +worked beyond his strength to clear himself of +debt, and when his best endeavours proved futile +he had sold his goods and distributed their price +amongst the creditors. Having taken the vow of +an ascetic, for years he was a vegetarian. Nevertheless, +all had failed, and he bitterly reproached +himself with having fallen into the sin of opium +smoking.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that a certain man, jealous +of Pastor Hsi's success, opened a rival opium +refuge in which he treated patients according +to the Pastor's methods, but with medicine of his +own making. The scheme was a contentious one, +and the man a cause of friction and difficulty +to the Christian community. It was to +this Refuge that Mr. Wang, now thirty years +old, poor, sad, and dispirited, came as a patient. +He found here a man who, according to the established +tradition of the opium refuge, received +even a degraded class of men into his house in +order to care for them, and performed many +menial tasks in the discharge of his duty towards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +them. Also the good news of the Evangel was +proclaimed in the house. If the preaching were +not sincere but proclaimed a Christ of contention, +it behoves us to rejoice that even so Christ was +preached, for Mr. Wang heard something of the +life of Jesus, His love, and His humility, and +thought that he saw the very spirit of the doctrine +exemplified in the man who ministered to these +unfortunate patients. His heart was overwhelmed +by the love of God; and the beauty of Christ, after +which he for so many years had blindly felt, lest +haply he might find, was now revealed to him. +On the ninth day, for lack of money, he was +obliged to cut his treatment short and return +home; but henceforth nothing could separate +him from the love of God.</p> + +<p>The rumour of his conversion soon spread, and +many visited the workshop where the silversmith +sat at his daily occupation, questioning him, +hearing his story, and taking note of the great +change in him. From the first he exercised a +great influence on men, and soon a few were joining +with him morning and evening for prayer and +reading of the Bible.</p> + +<p>The last month of the year—a period dreaded +by the Chinaman whose liabilities exceed his +assets—found him in great straits. A fever had +laid him low, but as soon as strength returned +sufficiently to sit up in bed and work he was +plying his trade once more, and it was thus his +creditors found him when they came to press +their claims.</p> +<div class="figright" style="width: 383px;"> +<img src="images/illus03.jpg" width="383" height="500" alt="PASTOR WANG. To face page 136." title="PASTOR WANG. To face page 136." /> +<span class="caption">PASTOR WANG.<br /> <span style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>To face page 136.</i></span></span> +</div> + +<p>The Chinese universal system of debt does not +allow for the exercise of mercy, as each creditor is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +himself a debtor, and his object in securing payments +is to relieve the pressure brought to bear +on himself by his own creditors. Nevertheless, +the sight of the sick man forcing himself to work, +and the reputation he had for integrity so affected +them that they left the house again, begging him +to reserve his strength and free his mind from +immediate anxiety on their account. Health and +strength finally returned, and intercourse was +established with the Hwochow missionaries, which +resulted in his baptism. By the year 1900 a group +of Christian men and women formed the nucleus +of a church in the village. Mr. Wang this year +became a widower for the second time, the wife +he had taken some years previously dying in +childbirth, leaving him the care of two small +children. The newborn babe it was impossible +for him to rear, and he gave it away to a friend +whose wife had lost her own child and now took +this one to her breast.</p> + +<p>As the dangers of that fateful year thickened +and news came of persecutions and massacres, the +Church trembled and wondered how she would endure. +Finally it became known that Boxers were +marching on the village. Mr. Wang was recognised +as leader of the local Christians, and to him they +would certainly come. He called his little boy +and girl to kneel with him in the cave, and committed +the matter to God. At sunset, a sound of +rushing wind was heard and a violent thunderstorm +burst on the district. Hail, wind, and rain +were followed by a terrific cloud-burst which +swept man and beast away in its irresistible +violence. The narrow mountain roads were completely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +carried away by the course of the waters, +and the Boxers never came.</p> + + +<p>It was a great spiritual experience for Mr. Wang, +to whom God spake not in the thunder nor in the +storm, but in a still small voice which asserted +His boundless claim on the life preserved from +danger. From that time he was conscious of a +new strength and power, which resulted in his +shortly giving up his trade of metal-worker to take +charge of the Hwochow Men's Opium Refuge. +That position he still holds, and thanks to him +the good name and repute of this institution is +widespread. All his noblest gifts find their full +development in the work which makes hourly +claims on patience, forbearance, devotion, longsuffering, +meekness, and all those qualities which +are bound up in the one characteristic of love. +From amongst the men in his charge a steady +stream return home to destroy idols and subsequently +request baptism. When the question is +asked: "How came you to believe?" the answer +will be: "I owe it to Pastor Wang, who taught +me about Christ and taught me to pray." His +methods are not those of the evangelist who +gathers in the crowds, but one by one he wins +them to the Lord. In one particular only did I +hear him censured by a Christian, and that was +on the occasion of his ordination to the pastorate. +A Church member protested that a stronger man +than Wang Bing-guin was needed for the work. +"See my case," he said. "When, as you know, I +was recently the subject of persecution, I came +to Elder Wang for assistance. He listened to my +story and urged me to pray and have patience.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +This I did, but matters only got worse, and I returned +to insist on his taking action on my behalf. +Would you believe that he spoke of nothing more +practical than prayer and patience again? On +the third occasion, when I had very nearly made +up my mind to go straight to the Mandarin, he +only urged: 'I fear that prayer and patience are +your only lawful weapons, my brother.'"</p> + +<p>The opinion of the heathen regarding Mr. Wang +was forced upon my attention in a rather startling +way. We were preaching one day to a group of +village women, and as an old lady in the crowd +heard us explaining that "all have sinned and come +short of the glory of God," she said: "Those +words are untrue, for I knew a man who never +spoke a false word and never did an unkind +deed." Interested, we asked who he was, and +she replied: "Oh, he afterwards followed your +Church; his name is Wang Bing-guin."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> +<h2>A VISIT TO THE BASE</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye are needing +all these things."</p> + + +<p>"I would be undone if I had not access to the King's +chamber of Presence to show Him all the business."—<span class="smcap">Rutherford.</span></p></div> + + +<div class='poem'> +"Dear children!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Let us not be loving in word nor yet with the tongue,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">But in deed and truth."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +The First Epistle of John.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A VISIT TO THE BASE</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">From Whence we are again sent forth with +Fresh Supplies</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IT was with mixed feelings that we came to +realise that the days were few until that +experience known as "taking furlough" was +to be ours.</div> + +<p>It was indeed hard to leave our post. England +seemed so far away, and the thought of having +to readjust oneself to English ways and English +dress was not inviting. The desire to see relatives +and friends pulled toward the West, but I realised +that an even stronger magnet was drawing me +with tremendous force to remain in the land of +the Celestial.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that two experienced missionaries, +the Misses Higgs and Johnson, should join Miss +Mandeville who had been with us for nearly two +years, during our absence. A year of strenuous +effort on their part in a post requiring the exercise +of tact and forbearance, enabled us to see marked +progress in the work upon our return a year later.</p> + +<p>In order to carry out our plan of advance new +buildings were necessary, and a consultation was +held as to the sum required. On the most economical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +computation this would certainly be £500, +and we left for England with the hope and prayer +that if it were for the glory of God this sum might +be forthcoming.</p> + +<p>The months passed by, and sums various were +contributed. We were due to leave England in +March, and we were still far short of the required +amount, when in February, my friend and Pastor, +Dr. Campbell Morgan, arranged that I should +have an opportunity of telling the members of +Westminster Chapel of the work in Hwochow. It +was Sunday morning and the usual collection for +Church expenses had been taken, but at the close +of the service Dr. Morgan announced that those +who wished to do so might send contributions to him, +which would be forwarded to me. Thanks to the +generosity and kindness of those concerned, we left +for China with our £500 less £50. In March we +started on the interesting journey through Siberia, +bringing with us that which was of more value +than much gold, Miss French's younger sister, +Francesca, to join us in our missionary work.</p> + +<p>We reached Moscow, that fascinating city with +its churches, Kremlin, and numerous historic +interests. We seemed to be at the parting of the +way where East and West meet and merge. Partly +for the sake of economy and partly for the interest +of being more with the people of the land, we decided +to travel, not by the <i>train de luxe</i>, but by the +Russian daily post train. We were thus able with +comfort to do the journey from London to Peking +for £20 each, whereas by the International train +£35 is required for fare alone.</p> + +<p>How keenly we enjoyed it all! The wide, roomy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +railway compartments, the slow, steady movement +of the broad gauge train, enabling one to read and +write with comfort; the rush with a tin kettle +for hot water from the huge tanks with unlimited +supply, provided at each station; the buying of +the day's provision from the peasants who crowded +to the platforms with eggs, butter, and milk; +the reading aloud of some Russian book in the +Slavonic surroundings, which contributed so much +to make its disconcerting unexpectednesses seem +the natural expression of the Russian temperament.</p> + +<p>How delightful it all was; but when we reached +Manchuria Town and found ourselves in the midst +of Chinese, we felt the thrill which comes with +the first sight of home. A few more days, and we +were in Peking.</p> + +<p>We walked in the acres of parkland which surround +the Temple of Heaven, and saw its blue-and-yellow-tiled +roofs outlined on the azure of the +Eastern sky. We stood in the pavilion where +the "Son of Heaven," fasting, rested before he +proceeded to pray for his people in the double +office of priest and king.</p> + +<p>What gorgeous scenes the midnight skies have +witnessed where the altar raises its marble carvings +and mystic symbols to the open vault of +heaven. No sign of idolatry is visible; here he +worshipped Heaven and Earth, and bowed before +the Supreme Ruler, praying for the millions of +his people to whom he stood as father. A magnificent +conception! The mind of man could +scarcely rise higher in ethics of worship, as in +solemn splendour the beasts are slain, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +prostrate Emperor under the starlit sky calls +upon the unknown god. Confucius seemed to +realise the unbridgeable chasm between the offender +and his judge when he said: "If a man have offended +against heaven, there is none to whom he can +pray"; and here the ruler of this great people +prayed, but with a recognition of limitation +which brought him, later on, back to the familiar +idol shrines with an offering of incense and acceptable +gifts.</p> + +<p>From the quiet dreams of that place, we returned +to the hustle and bustle of native city life. Our +rickshaw men, with marvellous speed and agility, +were soon rushing us through the crowds of peddlers +shouting, yelling, and calling on every passer-by +to purchase their goods. Beggars, scarcely recognisable +as human beings, knocked their foreheads +on the ground, beseeching us to give them some +cash. The moral support of a policeman is inadequate +to the task of protecting the newcomer +who has yielded to an impulse of pity.</p> + +<p>On we rushed through massive gates, where we +ran serious risks of an overturn in meeting a string +of heavily laden camels, with sonorous bell hanging +to the neck; brightly and gaily dressed ladies +passed and repassed in rickshaws; men on horseback, +coalheavers, foreign women on bicycles, +shining motor-cars, and glass-panelled, silk-upholstered +carriages composed a moving picture, with +the gates and huge enclosure of the forbidden +city as background. From the pandemonium +of Chinatown we swung into Legation quarter, +where macadamised roads take the place of cobblestones, +and for this you call down blessings on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +civilisation, the rubber tyres of your rickshaw +running rapidly and smoothly over the way. +Without transition, you pass from East to West. +The Wagon-Lits Hotel's fine buildings face you, +large foreign shops abound, at night electric lights +will blaze over the streets still filled with pleasure-seekers, +thoughtless and forgetful, though the +words written in days of siege can be clearly +descried on the broken fragment of Legation wall: +"Lest We Forget."</p> + +<p>At the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank we +entered to transfer money which was to enable +us to erect those longed-for buildings in Hwochow. +Whilst I was transacting my business, a voice +behind me addressed Miss French by name, and +the cashier looked up quickly. Immediately +upon the conclusion of my business he asked: +"Is that Miss French of Taiyüanfu? Fifty +pounds have been lying to her account for three +years, and we have been unsuccessful in tracing +her whereabouts." Identity having been fully +established the money with interest was paid +to us, and with our £500 complete and some +extra, we journeyed homewards. A strange coincidence +you say! Yea, verily, unless "we take +our courage in both hands, and call it God."</p> + +<p>After a train journey for the next two days, +came slow travelling from Taiyüanfu to Hwochow. +Long and weary days, in which one takes many +hours to accomplish thirty miles, turning in at +night to a Shansi inn. A wonderful place it is, +carried on with the minimum of expense and +trouble to the owner, whose responsibility ends +when he has provided you with a kettle of boiling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +water in an absolutely empty room, the walls +and ceiling of which are dirty beyond description. +In the courtyard are a few sheds where your +mules are stalled for the night, while horses and +donkeys, kicking and braying, vie with <i>insecta</i> +in enlivening for you the hours of darkness. +Meanwhile your landlord has sent to ask whether +you are requiring food. The bill of fare offers +<i>mien</i>,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> with accompanying condiments of salt, +vinegar, and red pepper. Should you be a <i>bon +vivant</i> you will ask for onion and a few bean +sprouts, though this entail the reckless expenditure +of the further sum of one penny. You +lodge a protest at such extortionate charges, for, +as your servant remarks, "at such a price we +cannot afford to eat." Two sticks cut from a +tree serve for table cutlery. "I hate luxury," +said Goethe, "it kills the imagination." Here +imagination flourishes. Through the dirt and +grime of the wall I can decipher a poem which +tells me that when I come to reckon with my +landlord, my account will be as flowing river. +Other scrawls eulogise him, and assure me: +"Whoever sleeps upon this <i>kang</i>, sleeps in peace." +(I must have been an exception!) An idol, half-torn, +hangs in one corner of the room, and in +another I discover a Christian tract. Who has +passed this way before me? I am aroused from +my reverie by the sound of a voice, which utters, +without seeing the humour and pathos of the +remark: "The foreign devil is reading characters." +I turn to see an eye filling the space of a torn +piece of window paper, shamelessly scrutinising<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +me, and as I do so the intruder withdraws to +discuss with the muleteers my failings, virtues, +and intimate habits. Long before light the men +are calling us, and we arise, anxious to lose none +of the cool morning air. Delays occur, for last +night a portion of the harness was pawned to +pay for the men's supper. Either we supply the +necessary money to redeem the pledge, or wait +there indefinitely. We first declare that nothing +will make us produce that sum which they are +not entitled to receive until the journey's end, +but both they and we know that a compromise +must be effected. Alas, it is already light and +the sun rises glorious, but to-day we are to reach +home, and nothing seems hard. A short stay +for dinner, and at sunset the gates of Hwochow +are visible. I cannot describe these homecomings; +the welcomers and welcomed know, and that is +enough.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE BUILDERS</h2> + +<div class='poem'> +"The house is not for me, it is for Him.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">His Royal thoughts require many a stair,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Many a tower, many an outlook fair,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Of which I have no thought, and need no care.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Where I am most perplexed, it may be there</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Thou makest a secret chamber holy—dim,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Where Thou wilt come to help my deepest prayer."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">George Macdonald.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='poem'> +"Toil, workman, toil; thy gracious Lord<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Will give thee soon a full reward;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Then toil, obedient to His word,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Until He come.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Sing, pilgrim, sing; Christ's mighty Hand</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Will bring thee safe to that bright land;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Then sing—it is thy Lord's command—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Until He come."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Anon.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE BUILDERS</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Relating how the Supplies were used</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IN an incredibly short space of time our +compound was overrun by a gang of one +hundred men from the province of Honan. The +land in Southern Shansi has been too fertile and +yielded too rich a crop of opium to leave us good +workmen; when therefore we want work quickly +and well done, we inquire for a Honan or Shantung +man.</div> + +<p>Our helpers searched the countryside for likely +trees, which were felled and in a few days made +their reappearance as pillars and beams. Old +buildings were bought, demolished, and sorted +into usable and unusable material, so that as the +walls went up the empty spaces about the city +increased in number.</p> + +<p>Before dawn each morning we were aroused by +the beating of a loud gong which called the men +to work. This work they might not leave until +the last streak of daylight had faded, except for +the brief space allowed for breakfast and dinner, +when huge cauldrons of a sticky mass of boiled +millet was ladled out in generous portions. +Millet is the cheapest grain food procurable, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +the Shansi man cannot thrive upon it; to the +Honan man it is the staff of life, and in consequence +their rate of wage is lower.</p> + +<p>A race of giants they were, handsome, magnificently +built, and well skilled in the use of their +simple tools. In the use of the adze they were +particularly proficient, and able to plane a section +of wood to within a hairbreadth of thickness by +the use of this alone. They liked to use it for +the most delicate work, so certain are they of +their accurate manipulation, and on one occasion +when I supplied a bandage to bind a wound on +the finger of a workman who had met with a +slight accident, as I turned to take up my scissors, +the head carpenter, without a trace of humour on +his face, stepped forward with a four-foot long +adze, and offered to sever the calico.</p> + +<p>Heavy work requiring the combined strength +of several men, such as the beating in of foundations, +or the lifting of a great beam, was accompanied +by the sound of the weirdest rhythmic +chant, sustained for hours if needs be.</p> + +<p>A night watchman was employed, who in +accordance with the custom of the country constantly +beat a loud gong, by means of which any +intending thief is made aware that all are not +asleep. The English policeman's rubber sole, and +the Chinese watchman's noisy methods, strange +to relate, attain the same ends.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, hearing blood-curdling yells +at midday, we inquired and were told that a workman +had caught a tramp, red-handed, in the act +of stealing his tools. Our informant described +him as aged, starved, and infirm, "truly pitiable,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +and strung up by his thumbs to a beam. The +sound of those yells made us fear that something +akin to the famous death by slow degrees, so +constantly referred to in Chinese jurisprudence, +was being carried into effect at our very door. +Pastor Wang, the merciful, was already interceding +on the man's behalf, and we sent a peremptory +message that the thing must stop. Our desire +was acceded to, and the wretched victim made +his escape, more terrified than really hurt.</p> + +<p>The next reminder of the incident was the +following item in the builder's final account: +"To missing tools, unclaimed in accordance with +missionaries' loving heart, 2s."</p> + +<p>One of the minor expenses connected with our +building operations was the inviting of guests +to a succession of feasts. The occasion of the +stamping of the contract in the <i>Yamen</i>, which +marked the conclusion of the middlemen's responsibility +in the purchase of property, was +celebrated by a handsome meal, to which all in +any way connected with the transaction were +invited.</p> + +<p>The necessity of conciliating our neighbours to +the inevitable trouble which the dust and litter +of building would entail upon them, caused us +to spread another feast, to which all who could +shelter beneath the term "neighbour" were asked.</p> + +<p>By the building contract we found ourselves +obliged to conform to the customary requirement +made by workmen that every tenth day we should +provide a "reward for work," which, in fact, +amounted to supplying one pound of white flour +and a handful of vegetable to each workman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +This arrangement ensured pleasant relations +between the men and ourselves, for each time +they were our guests grievances were forgotten +and a fresh start made. The swinging of the huge +beams of the church roof was the occasion for +extra festivity.</p> + +<p>This custom of inviting guests does much to +smooth over difficulties, and is customary, not +only in matters of building, but also on numerous +other occasions. For instance, the autumn rains +swelling the river necessitate the use of a ferry +boat for about two months of the year. The expense +of this is met by public subscriptions from +the more important people of the city, and a +small fare for each passenger. Those whose +names appear on the subscription list are invited +to an annual banquet given by the ferrymen; +I have often wondered what would happen were +some simple soul to accept the invitation, which +in reality is only intended to serve as a reminder +that subscriptions are now due.</p> + +<p>It is part of the convenient social system of this +land that no woman would presume to put in an +appearance on such occasions. Throughout the +building operations the only part of the feast in +which we were privileged to share—which privilege +was unquestioningly granted—was the payment +of all expenses.</p> + +<p>How glad we should have been to find such an +easy solution to the problem of the importunate +widow. This aged lady entered a claim for two +stones occupying nine square feet of waste land, +to the sale of which she declared her consent had +never been given. The matter had been referred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +to middlemen who decided in our favour; nevertheless, +we learned to dread the daily tap, tap, of her +stick, and the shrill squawk of her strident voice +as she came with fresh deeds (some of them dating +back to former dynasties) of which she demanded +the examination. She was generally accompanied +by friends, all of whom were prepared to support +her claim.</p> + +<p>I have seen her stand by the workmen, and +with her nagging tongue drive them, and the +foreman, almost to despair. It was impossible +to recognise her rights even to the extent of +feasting her, so we endured until the walls were +built, and then to compensate her for her trouble +handed her the equivalent of 2s., which sum she +accepted, but every time we meet her she reminds +us that we are occupying land which belongs to +her.</p> + +<p>The first autumn frosts saw a large expanse of +waste land, which had formerly lain around our +compound, transformed into a neat series of +courtyards, and a spacious church occupied +seventy feet of the main street frontage, providing +sitting accommodation for a congregation of six +hundred. In all, we had erected fifty <i>gien</i><a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> of +room space, in addition to the church.</p> + +<p>Thanks to an unusually profitable rate of silver +exchange which held during these few months, +and owing to the faithful oversight and scrupulous +economy of Pastor Wang and his helpers, our +£500 proved sufficient to meet all necessary +requirements of Church, School, Bible School, +and Dispensary.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> +<h2>WOMEN'S BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL</h2> + +<div class='poem'> +"Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel."<br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +Motto of the Hwochow Bible School.<br /> +</div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Cornelius halted at a doorway in a long, low wall—the +outer wall of some villa courtyard, it might be supposed—as +if at liberty to enter, and rest there awhile. He held +the door open for his companion to enter also, if he would, +with an expression, as he lifted the latch, which seemed to +ask Marius, "Would you like to see it?" Was he willing +to look upon that, the seeing of which might define—yes! +define the critical turning-point in his days?"—<span class="smcap">Walter +Pater.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>WOMEN'S BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Which tells how a Link was established +between Westminster and Hwochow +Bible Schools</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>AMONGST the courtyards which constituted +our new premises was one into the walls +of which was inserted a stone, engraved with the +words in Chinese and English: "Women's Bible +School. Erected by the Congregation of Westminster +Chapel, London. Jesus said: 'I am the +Way, the Truth, and the Life.'"</div> + +<p>The women's rooms had never been large enough +to hold those who were anxious to come, and now +at last suitable premises were going to make +possible the fulfilment of a long-cherished plan—that +of giving adequate training to suitable women.</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus04.jpg" width="500" height="360" alt="WOMEN'S BIBLE SCHOOL. Mrs. Hsi on the left, sharing a book with Miss French. Mrs. Liang on the right, sitting at Miss Cable's left. To face page 160." title="WOMEN'S BIBLE SCHOOL. Mrs. Hsi on the left, sharing a book with Miss French. Mrs. Liang on the right, sitting at Miss Cable's left. To face page 160." /> +<span class="caption">WOMEN'S BIBLE SCHOOL.<br />Mrs. Hsi on the left, sharing a book with Miss French. Mrs. Liang on the right, sitting at Miss Cable's left.<br /> <span style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>To face page 160.</i></span></span> +</div> +<p>It seemed a long step from the days when, freely +roaming around the villages, we taught some of +these women the very first character they knew, +spelling out with them the text: "God so loved the +world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that +whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, +but have everlasting life." The next step had been +attendance at a station class for twenty days, +sometimes repeated yearly but never leading to +advanced work. In our new premises we divided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +the students into three groups: Firstly, those +attending a ten days' course, who served as training-ground +to a second group of more advanced +women who had passed the initial stage, and +who now entered for the two years' course of +Bible training and practical experience as evangelists. +Thirdly, a picked few who, having received +more regular teaching, were able to continue +their own studies and help to superintend the work +of the juniors, especially on the practical side, +meanwhile giving a considerable portion of their +time to aggressive evangelistic work.</p> + +<p>Foremost amongst these was Mrs. Liang, mother +of Ling Ai, the headmistress of the girls' school. +Strong, true, a woman of no ordinary ability, little +escaped her penetrating glance. It was in middle +age that she first heard the Gospel, an indirect +influence of the opium refuge work; for Mrs. +Liang had never smoked opium, nor had any +member of her family. A neighbour, however, +had, and on her return from the Refuge she produced +with pardonable pride the copy of St. +John's Gospel which she had bought, and better +still, could read. It was hard for Mrs. Liang to +see the former degraded opium smoker ahead of +her in learning, and she persuaded her husband +to give her the needed help. She borrowed the +book and started at the first chapter. She had +not been to the Mission House nor had she seen +the missionaries, but before she met them she +had met their Lord. It was but one more proof +that "the words I speak unto you they are +spirit, and they are life," and the Holy Spirit +illuminating the written pages brought home to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +her its meaning. "He came unto His own, and +His own received Him not," she read, and how +can I say what took place? She tells me that she +was convicted of sin, and that she found her +Saviour.</p> + + + +<p>Intercourse with Miss Jacobsen was soon established, +and under Mr. Cheng's influence her husband +also believed. Mrs. Liang was baptized, +her own feet and Ling Ai's were unbound, and the +latter became a pupil in the girls' school.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Liang herself lived quietly at home until +the year 1900. At that time the local Boxer +leader was a near neighbour of hers, and he was +prepared to kill these well-known adherents of +a foreign religion. On recovering consciousness, +however, from the trance which preceded the +issuing of inspired orders, he uttered the surprising +words: "Return each to your own place; let each +busy himself with his own affairs." Not daring +to disobey his followers scattered, and the small +group of Christians was safe. Ling Ai has described +the experiences of those days in the following +words: "For months we were as those whose +hair is bound around the neck, not knowing at +what moment we should be called upon to die, +but after our deliverance we united in saying: +'We have been under the shadow of the Almighty.'"</p> + +<p>When we came to Hwochow Mrs. Liang, realising +our difficulties, was one of the first to come to our +assistance, and quickly endeared herself to us by +her thoughtful, kind, practical ways.</p> + +<p>To the work of preaching she gave herself with +unusual energy and devotion, so that to-day there +are few women in Hwochow who do not know her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +and scarcely a courtyard that has not been visited +by her.</p> + +<p>Assisting Mrs. Liang is Mrs. Bah, who the first +time I saw her refused to have any intercourse +with us. She was the senior wife of a wealthy +man who had died early, leaving the two widows +to arrange matters as best they could. The +younger one smoked opium, but was the proud +possessor of a son who by law was the property +of the elder wife, but it was obvious that to the +younger was due the honour of introducing a son +and heir to the house.</p> + +<p>The fact that Mrs. Bah the younger at last +became a Christian and left her evil habits, did not +make the elder woman more friendly, though she +had in time to confess that life was easier for +both under the new conditions. After some time +the Christians of the village received her permission +to use a cave in her spacious court for +worship, in return for their offer to put it in repair. +"It can do no harm," she argued, "and repairs +are badly needed." Every evening they met to +read the Bible and pray, and Mrs. Bah, prompted +by curiosity, took her spinning to within earshot. +She understood little, but the reiteration of the +words "Heavenly Father" puzzled and interested +her. "If it really be the Heavenly Father whom +they worship," she reasoned, "they should be +in the best room." The thought grew upon her +until a change was effected, and to this day Mrs. +Bah's guest-room is the village church. She soon +left her spinning-wheel to join the worshippers +and gradually came to the triumphant belief, +weak at first, but taking slow shape, that "the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +attitude of the soul to its Maker can be something +more than a distant reverence and overpowering +awe, that we can indeed hold converse with God, +speak with Him, call upon Him, put—to use a +human phrase—our hand in His, desiring only to +be led according to His will." This was the +spiritual story of Mrs. Bah.</p> + +<p>I could tell of many others and the theme is +tempting, for by so many and such varied paths +have these comrades travelled. To mention only +our youngest student who at the age of sixteen, +member of a heathen family, heard the Gospel of +Jesus Christ from an elder sister, a patient of the +Women's Opium Refuge. She determined that +as far as in her lay she would be a Christian. +Yielding to her wishes, her parents engaged her to +the son of a believer. After her marriage, when +her entrance to the Bible School was suggested +we demurred, but agreed to her attending a station +class, only to discover that once more the Spirit +of God had accomplished that of which we knew +nothing. This young woman, who had only +heard the Gospel from a sister who herself did not +believe, had been truly converted. Reference to +the curriculum in Appendix A will make it clear +that the subject which has the pre-eminence is +Bible study. The students prepare the books there +mentioned, and during the years they are with us +cover also the course indicated by Dr. Campbell +Morgan's Graded Bible, which Miss French has +translated for their use.</p> + +<p>The instruction of inquirers in the village centres +is undertaken by those women evangelists who +have completed their course. In places to which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +they are invited by the local church they hold +classes of ten days' duration, following the course +of study as in the central station. By this means +a large number of women are under instruction, +and heathens are brought in contact with the +messengers of the Cross.</p> + +<p>City and village visiting forms an important +branch of the training, and last but not least, +classes taken under criticism, when it falls to the +lot of the missionary to ask the questions which +might occur to a heathen audience, and to impress +upon the students the necessity of clear presentation +of the Gospel. It is desirable that they +should express the things which have gripped +them in an individual way, not adopting a Western +colouring but using to the full their Eastern +knowledge: "Originality is like a fountain head; +orthodoxy is too often only the unimpeachable +fluid of the water company."</p> + +<p>The prodigal son, for example, naturally smoked +opium in the far country, and the Chinese pictures +so represent him. It was not, as we have supposed, +in her confidence that oil would be supplied +that the widow's faith was exemplified, but rather +in her willingness at Elisha's command to go forth +on a borrowing expedition when she was already +so deeply in debt.</p> + +<p>We are sometimes treated to illustrations truly +Eastern in character, as the following example +will indicate. It was accepted by the audience +as a solemn exhortation, as was the preacher's +intention, the missionaries being the only ones +present to whom the humorous side was evident. +The subject was the importance of a whole-hearted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +acceptance of the Gospel, and the foolishness +and uselessness of a half-hearted belief. A +man, we were told, was begging by the roadside; +he was very ill, and a passing doctor had pity on +him, and gave him some medicine which the man +promised to take. Questionings, however, arose +in his mind as to the reliability of the said doctor, +and yet he could not but take the drug, as he felt +so ill. A compromise was decided upon, and he +took half the dose. For a few hours he felt wonderfully +well, and rejoiced in his restored condition; +towards night the pain was more acute than +before, and he was at his wits' end. How he +regretted his folly, for his illness was certainly more +serious. A few months later the same doctor, +travelling over the same road, met the same man +now reduced to a bag of bones.</p> + +<p>"What!" said he; "are you not the man to +whom I gave medicine last time I came this way?"</p> + +<p>"I am," he replied, "and I have been much worse +ever since."</p> + +<p>"Worse!" exclaimed the physician; "how is +that?"</p> + +<p>"I only took half the dose," said the man; "I +did not venture to take the whole."</p> + +<p>"Alas! alas!" he replied, "how terrible! +Your illness is the result of parasites attacking your +vitals. That medicine would have killed them all. +Had you taken the full dose you would have been +well; had you tasted none there would have been +hope for you. You took a small dose, and the +parasites were sent to sleep, and later, when the +effect of the drug had gone over, they awoke more +lively than ever. Having once tasted of the drug<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +and experienced its effect, nothing will induce +them to be trapped a second time. Return home, +and prepare for a lingering death."</p> + +<p>In the moral drawn, the folly of an endeavour to +serve two masters was made clear—a truth which +all present felt to have been powerfully interpreted.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE DRAW NET LET DOWN INTO THE SEA</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Take up God's inspired word anywhere you like, and +while we are called upon to adore the sovereign counsel +of God and to say constantly that it transcends and surpasses +all that we can do and all that we can expect, yet He +does not bring the season of refreshing without engaging +His children to help Him. The splendour of the grace +may sometimes conceal man's effort, but it never cancels +it."—Rev. <span class="smcap">Elvit Lewis</span>.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE DRAW NET LET DOWN INTO THE SEA</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">An Account of fresh Efforts to reach the +Multitude and bring them to Decision</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>METHODS in mission work are many, and +the diversities of gifts bestowed by the +one Spirit are manifest in the striking variety of +means put forth to bring to a knowledge of Christ +the people of the lands in which the members of +His Church are called to work.</div> + +<p>The teacher rejoices to see the change brought +about by discipline and regular life in those committed +to his care. The doctor, exercising his +gift, succeeds where others have failed in establishing +confidence and friendly relations which +prepare a road for those who follow. The itinerant +missionary sacrifices the comfort of a settled +dwelling to carry the Gospel to those who dwell +outside the radius touched by the central station.</p> + +<p>By the exercise of his peculiar gift, each expresses +the longing that in the hearts of the people he +sees around, without God and without hope, may +take place that greatest of miracles called conversion. +Nevertheless, every missionary has ever +to guard against a most subtle and deadening +influence which may be likened to poisonous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +gas in the enemy's country, lulling him to a +condition wherein the idolatrous practices of the +people around, instead of stirring him to greater +activity, come to be regarded as customs of the +nations amongst whom he lives, deplorable but +interesting practices.</p> + +<p>The horror experienced on first seeing men bow +down to wood and stone may give way to a complacency +which ceases to expect an immediate +response to the quickening and convicting power +of the Spirit of God, and philosophises on the +gradual emergence of light from the kingdom of +darkness. The deadening of that vitality which +drives a man to the seeking of the lost is one of +the master-strokes of the enemy of souls, and +one which no man doing spiritual work can afford +to ignore.</p> + +<p>The sense of this urgency, and a great desire +that our Chinese fellow-workers might realise +the fullness of their vocation as evangelists, emboldened +us to move in what was then a somewhat +new direction so far as North China was +concerned, by the holding of a six days' Mission +for women in our new church in the spring after +its dedication.</p> + +<p>Miss Gregg of Hwailu, in the Province of +Chihli, when travelling through Shansi some years +previously had conducted meetings for schoolgirls +in several stations, upon which the blessing +of God manifestly rested. From that time plans +were being matured in the minds of the missionaries +at Hwochow for a Mission to women +in that city at the earliest possible date. The +erection of a church building which could hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +the number expected made that dream a +possibility. The city and villages were visited +by the women evangelists, placards were posted +on the walls, and every effort was made to widely +advertise. Prayer was offered throughout the +Church that God would so prevent us in all our +doings that we might see His salvation.</p> + +<p>The men gladly undertook the arrangements +for catering, made necessary by the fact that +women cannot go to the shops to buy food for +themselves, and this department was splendidly +managed. We prepared to receive three hundred +guests, and about three hundred and fifty took +advantage of the invitation, who, with schoolgirls, +Bible School students and helpers, provided +a resident congregation of little short of five +hundred. They came long distances on donkey-back, +in carts, or even walking many miles.</p> + +<p>Large numbers of heathen, attracted by the +unique sight of so large a concourse of women, +swelled the numbers at the daily evangelistic +meetings, and it was an inspiration to see the +new church packed with women and girls quietly +and reverently listening to the Gospel message. +A room was set apart where silence was observed, +that those who wished to do so might pray +without fear of disturbance. A band of helpers +was appointed to teach the passage for the day, +and outside the church in an adjoining court +was a book-stall, and here a brisk trade was done +in hymn-sheets, gospels, and block-printed texts.</p> + +<p>The elder scholars, anxious to do their part, +acted as stewards; each one had charge of some +part of the building, so that should a baby cry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +and threaten to divert attention, she could carry +the small offender to an adjoining room and keep +it there until such time as it was prepared to +enjoy the larger gathering. One of the "old +girls" took charge of small children, and managed +her crêche so successfully that we were undisturbed +by the younger portion of the community.</p> + +<p>Each morning before seven a gong sounded +and all assembled for prayer. After breakfast +a short Bible-reading was given, the subject +chosen being the sevenfold "I Am" of St. John's +Gospel. These meetings were simple and evangelistic, +and many testified to blessing received as +they saw afresh all the wealth laid up in Him +who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.</p> + +<p>It was to the eleven and four o'clock meetings +that the crowds gathered. While the congregation +was assembling a choir of schoolgirls sang +hymns, and after reading of Scripture and prayer +by a Chinese lady, the address was given by +Miss Gregg. The women listened intently as she +talked, and illustrated her remarks by objects +so familiar. The fan used for winnowing the +grain is, I think, now never used by those who +attended without the thought asserting itself +afresh that thus He will separate the wheat +from the chaff.</p> + +<p>This Mission accomplished all that we had +hoped. Christ the Redeemer was revealed to +some who, in obedience to the wishes of the head +of their household, had passively substituted +Christianity for that system of idolatrous observances +which had constituted their religious +life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>Christ the Master laid His claim upon some +who had believed, but never served.</p> + +<p>Even heathen women, listening to the earnest, +convincing words, were startled to a realisation +that the offer of salvation with which they were +faced compelled a decision on one side or the +other, that the detached view with which they +had hitherto regarded Christianity could no +longer be maintained. Amongst the schoolgirls +were some, daughters of Christians, who were in +precisely the same position as girls in a homeland. +They neither doubted nor questioned, but +they now realised that the whole matter had +assumed a personal aspect, and the individual +spirit was summoned to an audience with its +Maker.</p> + +<p>The Evangelists, Bible women, and ripe +Christians amongst us suddenly saw the fields +white, and every dilatory thought which suggested +the perennial excuse: "There are yet four +months and then cometh the harvest," was +silenced in a sense of immediate urgency: "I +must be about my Master's business." This +gathering affected a wide area, for our visitors +came from the counties of Hungtung, Chaocheng, +and Fensi, now all gladly welcomed by +the Hwochow church, and missionaries from those +districts came to share with us in the campaign.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Six years have passed, and once more a Mission +for women is advertised to be held on the occasion +of an idol procession which brings thousands +into town from the neighbouring villages. This +time our own evangelistic band was sufficiently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +strong to undertake the speaking to an audience +almost entirely composed of heathen, who now +heard, not from a foreigner, but from their own +people, of the Truth as it is in Jesus. Once more +we saw decisions made and the evidence of the +working of God's Spirit.</p> + +<p>Thus was a further step taken in aggressive +work amongst the women, and a further impetus +given to the self-propagation of the Gospel, and +to the fulfilment of the prophecy of Pastor Hsi +that even Hwochow should see a Resurrection +morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIFE AMONGST THE UPPER TEN +THOUSAND</h2><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<div class='poem2'> +"Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters!"<br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Confucius.</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='poem'> +"All within the four seas are brethren."<br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Confucius.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Society and solitude are deceptive names. It is not +the circumstance of seeing more or fewer people, but the +readiness of sympathy, that imports."—<span class="smcap">Emerson.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>LIFE AMONGST THE UPPER TEN +THOUSAND</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Recording Hospitality shown to us by +the Official Classes</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IN the centre of every Chinese city stands the +<i>Yamen</i>, where resides the Mandarin, addressed +as "Father of the people," before whom +their wrongs must be laid, and who, as direct +representative of the central Government, exercises +autocratic power. His word is law, a man must +kneel in his presence when addressing him, and it +is a penal offence to enter his private dwelling-court +unsummoned. His term of office is limited +to a few years and a change of official entails the +removal of his whole suite. The new Mandarin +will bring with him his secretaries, underlings, +men and women servants, and the prosperity of +a city will largely depend upon the personal +attitude of the "Great Man" to matters of +reform.</div> + +<p>Our intercourse with the Hwochow <i>Yamen</i> has +been frequent, and owing to the strong attitude +taken by the leaders of the Church against interference +in law cases where Christians are concerned, +it has been of a purely social character.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>My first visit was in answer to a request from +the Mandarin that I would go to see his wife who +was suffering from acute toothache. I was requested +to make preparations for an extraction, +and was informed that if it suited my convenience +I should be fetched that same afternoon. Accordingly, +I made ready and in due course the +<i>Yamen</i> carriage arrived, a springless, but elegantly +upholstered cart, and accompanied by a woman +servant we started. Ahead of us an outrider, +dressed in a long gown, wore a hat of the inverted +bowl shape, decorated with a spreading scarlet +tassel. Behind followed other retainers, and thus +escorted we passed in triumphal procession through +the quiet Hwochow streets. After many bumps +and anxious moments as we splashed in and out +of mud-pits, we turned into the wide space which +surrounds the outermost entrance of the <i>Yamen.</i> +Here crowds of men were reading the latest proclamation +pasted to the walls, whilst others, +talking earnestly, discussed the case tried that +very day, of the poor man who in vain sought +redress from the rapacity of his wealthy neighbour. +He had knelt, and laying his forehead to the +ground at the feet of the Mandarin pleaded for +justice, but only to find that his condemnation +was a foregone conclusion. All these groups +were scattered by the yells of our outrider and +the cracks of our carter's whip, and the sellers +of cooked food gathered their piles of little bowls +and swiftly set them out of harm's way, for the +habits of <i>Yamen</i> retainers are well known to the +populace, and there is little satisfaction to be had +when complaints are presented and compensation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +for destroyed goods is claimed. With ever-increasing +speed and corresponding agony, we were +driven up the steep ascent which leads to the +outer courtyard, where after a preliminary bump +down two steps we found ourselves on comparatively +smooth ground, and rolled along a broad, +high, paved path leading to the second great +archway where our conveyance came to a standstill, +and we waited whilst our cards were taken +and presented to the ladies we had come to see. +Many soldiers were standing about, and various +instruments used in the punishment of prisoners +were fastened to the walls as warning to all who +passed that way. A very few minutes and we +were invited to leave our cart and follow the man +appointed to conduct us to the innermost court +where the <i>Tai-tais</i><a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> lived; slaves attended +us on either side, whilst the retainer went ahead +carrying our scarlet cards breast high before him.</p> + +<p>A vista of courtyards opened one from another, +and we saw a number of little ladies in charming, +brilliant, butterfly-like garments coming to meet +us with odd, graceful, stilted movements. Everything +must from this point be done according to +the strictest etiquette, so the <i>Tai-tai</i> of least rank +came first to meet us, and led us back to where +stood the head wife, in whose presence we respectfully +removed our eyeglasses and made a bow.</p> + +<p>There were a large number of women about, +for this Mandarin had two wives besides several +daughters-in-law. We were invited to a reception-room +where carpets, felts, tables, and chairs were +all scarlet in colour, and here were served with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +delicious fragrant tea and small cakes, in which +were mixed rose leaves, nuts, and sugar. All +the preliminary questions required by good +manners were first asked—our respective "venerable +ages" and details of our various near relatives—but +soon curiosity overflowed into many inquiries +concerning our "honourable country," and we +were helped to more tea and cakes, and begged +to make ourselves at home. We, on our part, +led the conversation back to matters concerned +with the object of our residence in this country, +and received from our hostess extravagant compliments +upon our extraordinary ability and learning, +the reputation of which, they said, was well known +to the Mandarin.</p> + +<p>The object of my visit was then mentioned, and +I was asked to see the tooth, of which, being +very loose, I recommended the extraction, and +was able to assure the patient that the pain would +not be very great. Many of the younger women +gathered around her, comforting her, and covered +her eyes that she might not see the forceps; they +begged her to remember that the pain would soon +be over, and as soon as I could induce her to open +her mouth, I removed the troublesome member. +"How wonderful!" they all exclaimed. "Why, +it did not hurt at all!"</p> + +<p>After such a surgical triumph, long-neglected +and half-forgotten pains were remembered by the +bystanders, and all the ladies on my next visit +came to me with some complaint. We sought to +awaken in them the sense of those far deeper ills +which they so little realised, finding once more +that in following the method of Christ a sense of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +need had been awakened: "Ye seek Me because +ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. I am +the bread of life."</p> + +<p>As soon as the operation was over, we suggested +that we must be returning home, but this could +not be allowed until we had partaken of further +refreshment, and servants appeared with delicacies—meat +balls in gravy, flavoured as only a Chinese +cook can flavour, lotus seeds in syrup, luscious +fruits, sweetmeats, and a drink of apricot kernels, +sweet to excess. The meat balls were daintily +wrapped in pastry, and as she helped me to some +of these, the <i>Tai-tai</i> said: "I think you do not +care for pork." I replied that we did not as a +rule eat much pork. "I am so glad," she said: +"these are fowl, and therefore you can eat them +without fear." A few days later we heard that +the head cook was under severe punishment and +incarcerated in a dungeon, because he had not +taken the trouble to find out what were our special +tastes in matters of the table, and had served +pork in place of fowl! Some years later he was +a patient in our Refuge, and told Mr. Wang +that he would like to make a feast for us. We +thought this extremely kind of him, considering +what he had suffered on our behalf, and he was +asked to our kitchen to prepare the food, while +we invited some friends to share it with us. I +think he was a man of preconceived ideas rather +than a genius at making inquiries, whatever his +talent in the culinary art, for he said he knew +foreigners liked sweet things, and he served us +twenty or more courses of the sweetest food it +has been my good fortune to eat!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>Our visit proved to be the commencement of +a most friendly intercourse. A few days later the +outrider, cart, and retainers were at our door +again, this time escorting the ladies who had come +to return the call. They enjoyed the outing +considerably, as is easy to see they would, when +one remembers that they had lived three years +in Hwochow and had now crossed the threshold of +their home for the first time during that period. +They could have no intercourse at all with the +bourgeoisie of the town, and apart from visitors +staying at the <i>Yamen</i>, enjoyed no social life.</p> + +<p>In due course we were invited to an "eight times +eight" feast, consisting of elaborate courses, in +which the sweet, the fishy, and the meaty alternated +in bewildering miscellany, whilst our vision +was delighted by the elegant dishes, the lovely +coral china, the pure form of the many-branched +candlesticks, and, above all, the graceful, gay little +ladies who manipulated the difficult, slippery food +with such a masterly command of their nimble +chop-sticks. Here for the first time I tasted the +delicious birds'-nest soup, gelatinous in consistency +and fishy in taste, being, in fact, a mass +compounded of seaweed and small fish into a +nest by a sea-bird.</p> + +<p>So far all was well, but we came home faced by +the difficulty that it was now our turn to offer a +return feast which must be equally elegant. There +was only one cook in the city who was capable of +the preparation of a suitable repast, and he was +in their employ, and though some surprising +things are possible in China, we did not see how +we could secure his services to cook a meal for his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +own mistress. We were, therefore, thrown back +upon our slender resources, and decided that an +English dinner-party was the only possible solution +of the problem. Here at least we were treading +upon familiar ground, and were free from the +snares of Chinese etiquette. We need have no +fear of giving offence to our guests by placing +the fish upon the table with its head toward that +quarter which would indicate their position to be +of military instead of civil rank, and many other +equally subtle and delicate questions would now +have no terrors for us. We felt it incumbent upon +us to do all in our power to please the eye as well +as the palate, and while we fully realised our +inability to delight our guests with such beauty +as that to which they were accustomed, we did +our best. Salmon is a great asset, being decorative +as well as tasty, and only the hard-pressed know +the many uses of a tin of sardines. Jelly is a +certain success, and the last plum-pudding from +home, cut into dice and blazing in a blue flame, +looks mysteriously clever. A bottle of cochineal +is worth its weight in gold on such occasions, and +the <i>pièce montée</i>, which none but an expert could +have recognised as spinach, beetroot, carrot, and +yam tinted pink, would have done no discredit +to Benoist. The novelty of handling spoon and +fork, and even so dangerous a weapon as a knife, +did much to enhance the pleasure of the meal.</p> + +<p>The conversation was now much more intimate +than on the earlier occasions, and both sides +felt free to ask questions on matters which had +excited curiosity. "Does the sun ever shine +in your country?" asked the <i>Tai-tai</i>. "I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +heard that England is a land of shades." "When +I left my home in Szechwan I was very homesick. +Are you?" inquired another lady, but before I +could reply, her companion answered for me: +"The ability of these ladies is so great that they +would be incapable of such feelings." A guest of +their own, who had spent much time in Shanghai, +was thoroughly conversant with foreign dress and +manners; she described the former with great +originality, but admitted that even she was baffled +by one thing: "The spotted webbing with which +foreign ladies cover their face, is it worn for purposes +of concealment or as an aid to the eyesight?" +My answer that it served to keep the +hair in place carried no conviction, for she had +already remarked that though combs are so much +in evidence in the foreign woman's coiffure, she +seemingly makes little use of them!</p> + +<p>The conversation turned to the subject of a proclamation +recently issued which forbade the binding +of children's feet: "Alas, the people of China +are not so easily governed as those of your honourable +country," lamented the chief <i>Tai-tai</i>. "The +Mandarin finds it impossible to enforce this one +order, whilst he read in last week's paper that in +England a man is imprisoned for refusing to send +his child to school, for omitting to vaccinate it, +and the article even stated that a parent is +punished for refusing to call a doctor to see a sick +child, even if it be a girl; but the newspapers +are full of fabulous tales!"</p> + +<p>The next few months saw a growing intimacy +and a constant exchange of presents. We were +often able to indulge in the famous delicacy of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +buried eggs, of which the not unpleasant, slightly +ammoniated flavour is so much appreciated by the +Chinese. Once we were faced by a real difficulty +on the occasion of receiving a present of meat, +when conscientious Mr. Fu, fearful lest we should +shelter under a liberty of conscience whereby we +would eat and ask no question, hastily came to +warn us that this had been offered to idols before +being presented to us. Under these circumstances +we had no option but to crave leave to +refuse a present whereby a brother might have +been caused to stumble.</p> + +<p>How little we dreamed of the trouble which +would so soon break over the official classes with +the overthrow of the Empire, and the establishment +of a Republic. I remember the last visit +we paid to those friends, and our departure from +the <i>Yamen</i> in the brilliant moonlight, whilst huge +lanterns lighted our path through the archways +and great gateways. As we left the huge enclosure +the guard fired the first night watch. +"Except the Lord keep the city the watchman +watcheth but in vain." That night the Revolution +broke out in Hankow, and the next time we +saw our hostesses they were in terrible distress, +imploring our permission to make our house their +shelter, should the hatred of the mob break forth +and their residence be rioted. They were in a most +defenceless position, for the Mandarin had taken a +journey to Taiyüanfu, and did not return. He +was one of the old school, and faithful to the traditions +of the Manchus whose court he had accompanied +to Sianfu in the flight of 1900. It was still +far from certain which party would gain the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +ascendancy, and he, as most of his class, wished +to refrain from an expression of opinion until the +situation was clearly defined. This, however, was +not allowed, and during the massacres of the +Manchus in Taiyüanfu he was arrested, and made +to declare himself.</p> + +<p>He held the Hanlin degree, the highest honour +to which the Chinese scholar is admitted, the +Emperor himself conducting the examinations. +Faced by his enemies and fearing summary +execution, he sheltered himself behind the age-long +reverence for scholarship which exists in China +as in no other country: "Death has no terrors for +me," he calmly said, "but, alas, that such a scholar +should be lost to China!" No armed bodyguard +could have afforded him such protection +as this transference of insult from his own person +to the learning he represented. No man present +was prepared to strike a blow at the embodiment +of the Divine Right of Scholarship.</p> + +<p>He lived to return to Hwochow, where he faced +death a second time and was dragged through +the streets by an angry populace, but finally +escaped and with his wives reached a place of +safety.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE REVOLUTION OF 1911</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For an event to be great, two things must be united—the +lofty sentiment of those who accomplish it, and the +lofty sentiment of those who witness it. No event is great +in itself, even though it be the disappearance of whole +constellations, the destruction of several nations, the +establishment of vast empires, or the prosecution of wars +at the cost of enormous forces: over things of this sort +the breath of history blows as if they were flocks of wool.... +Hence the anxiety which every one must feel who, +observing the approach of an event, wonders whether those +about to witness it will be worthy of it."—<span class="smcap">F. Nietzsche.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE REVOLUTION OF 1911</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">And how we were affected by it</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE revolution of 1911 burst on us like a bolt +from the blue. One day we were mildly +interested at the signs of trouble in far-removed +provinces, and the next, the thing was in our +very midst. The first intimation of local disturbance +met me in the shape of a contingent of +men, parents of some of my scholars, who were +introduced to my presence with the startling +information that they had come to fetch away +their daughters, not daring to leave them in a +marked place such as the girls' school would +inevitably be, and afraid to delay, lest roads should +become so dangerous that their removal would +be impossible. I had no option but to agree, and +at earliest dawn the next day a few carts and a +string of donkeys conveyed them from a side +door as quietly and unobtrusively as possible.</div> + +<p>Two days later the news of a massacre of the +Manchu population of Taiyüanfu reached us; +and in accordance with the request of the parents, +we hastily scattered all the remaining pupils +whose homes were nearer at hand, and the +whole city yielded itself to a condition of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +panic when every wild report was spread and +believed.</p> + +<p>The little group of foreigners in this town is +popularly supposed to have access to the most +far-reaching sources of information on matters +national and international; therefore when we +saw fit to scatter our resident pupils to their +homes, the city concluded that secret information +had been conveyed to us of trouble ahead. That +same night, whilst we slept peacefully in our +beds, terror so seized the populace that every +young woman who had a village home to which +she could withdraw, fled to it. Where horse or +donkey was not available they escaped on foot, +carrying the bundle which held their clothes, +and the gates being shut at dark, numbers climbed +down the steep incline of the city wall rather +than risk the dangers which they feared might +threaten them in the town.</p> + +<p>Certainly an anxious time was ahead for all +of us. Postal service was interrupted, and we +were completely cut off from intercourse by post +or telegraph with the outer world. It was uncertain +whether the movement would declare +itself anti-foreign or anti-Christian, anti-dynastic +or anti-Republican. Such uncertainty was felt +on this latter political point, that it was a difficult +time indeed for the large number whose plain +object was to be on the winning side, whichever +it might be. Even the commander of the military +forces, sent to restore peace in a neighbouring city, +provided himself with the badge of either party, +that he might, at the city gate, affix that which +was representative of the predominant feeling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +The Chinaman has for so long held the view that +politics are no individual concern of his, seeing +that statesmen are paid to give their time and +brains to the consideration of such questions, that +it would seem unnatural to be expected to have +an opinion on such a technical matter as to whether +the Government of the land should remain Imperial +or become Republican.</p> + +<p>On our compound were collected seven foreign +women and about a dozen Chinese girls whose +homes were in distant towns, varying from the +borders of Mongolia in the north to places twelve +days' journey by road in the south.</p> + +<p>Much anxious thought was devoted to the +question of how the various members of our community +could be placed in safe keeping, should it +become imperative for us to leave the place.</p> + +<p>Finally, Sir John Jordan's recall of all British +women and children reached us, and feeling +it our duty to obey orders, we hastily boarded a +few girls in suitable Christian homes, and left +with the others by the North road. A long line +of nine litters swung through the great archways +of the city gates, soon after dawn on 4th December +1911, to convey us to our nearest point on the +railway line, five days' journey away, passing +<i>en route</i> through a city where we knew that a +trustworthy Christian family would take charge, +<i>pro tem</i>, of some of our Chinese girls.</p> + +<p>It was with relief that we saw the distant +railway embankment, which indicated to us that +we had reached the end of our litter journey, and +might now expect to be shortly whirled back to +the midst of Western civilisation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>The time-table indicated 9 a.m. as the hour of +departure for the morning train, and long ere this +our shivering group assembled on the bleak platform. +We were evidently not to be kept waiting, +for the train stood ready on a siding, and our slight +baggage was soon placed in the racks of the only +third-class carriage attached to a goods train. +Those who have spent years away from the sight +of a train will understand the sense of luxury +with which we seated ourselves, and waited to hear +the whistle which would be the sign of our departure, +and feel the swift, easy movement which +would carry us over so many miles of road almost +without a trace of weariness. Our number had +increased to about twenty foreigners, assembled +in response to Sir John Jordan's command from +various stations, and pleasant conversation so +engaged the time that impatience was under +control, even though the sun was high in the +heavens and still the train was stationary. Our +servants, who had heard much of the marvels of +steam-engines, still sat on patient heels at the edge +of the platform; but doubt of the superiority of this +Western notion gained on their minds as the sun +passed the meridian and they, with twelve miles +to walk for their night's lodging, left us still +standing motionless. "A train is a handsome +thing to look at, and the amount of iron used in its +manufacture must be immense, but for practical +purposes give me a cart," was the report they +brought home to inquiring friends at Hwochow. +In the afternoon we steamed away, under escort +of a young man who had just been appointed +Secretary of the Foreign Office in the provincial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +capital by the new revolutionary party. His +qualifications for the post consisted chiefly in the +fact that, having been employed by a foreign +firm as piano-tuner, he could make himself understood +in the English tongue on simple subjects.</p> + +<p>As far as the station of Yangchuen all went +well, but here fresh delay and the unwelcome +announcement from our escort that a battle was +in progress farther down the line, the metals were +required for the conveyance of soldiers, and he +must beg of us to make ourselves as comfortable +as possible for the night in our compartment. +Protest was useless, and we had to submit to see +the engine detached and ourselves abandoned, +a useless derelict, on a rusty siding. The +Secretary of the Foreign Office supplied us with +hard-boiled eggs and biscuits, and made his exit, +leaving in charge of the gentlemen of the party a +packet of silver which he begged might be handed +to his mother. By morning stationmaster, +guards, porters, and clerks had all vanished from +the scene, for the news had come of a reverse to +the Revolutionary forces.</p> + +<p>Four days and nights we stuck to our third-class +carriage and our siding; for part of the +time, trains thundered past carrying men to the +front, and we were informed that the famous +regiment called "Dare-to-die" had gone to crush +the Imperial troops. With a thrill we saw these +brave warriors pass, but a brief period sufficed +to dispel "the great illusion," and twelve hours +later the same men were dashing back to Taiyüanfu, +carrying a terrible tale. "Had we stayed +longer we should have been dead men; the bullets<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +were falling in our midst." The officer, however, +gave a different explanation of their return. +"Poor chaps, they are worn out, and I must take +them back to get a night's rest," he said. No one +cared for our plight, as cold, hungry, and deserted +we watched the weary day pass to night, and the +yet more weary night give place to a dreary +dawn. Such experiences are not to be desired, +for they who know China best, and the anti-foreign +feeling which may at any time manifest +itself, are aware how quickly such a position may +become critical.</p> + +<p>One thing only besides our miserable carriage +had been left on the line, and that was three +trolleys. The hour dawned on the fourth day when +our exhausted patience refused further service, and +we determined those trolleys should be made to +carry us and our goods to some inhabited region, +be it friendly or inimical. That day and the next +we spent racing down and crawling up the gradients +of the line to Niangtzekwan. The "Dare-to-dies" +boasted of having mined the line, and this +did not conduce to ease of mind in being the first +to travel over it, especially when we rushed +through long tunnels. The line is one which +taxed the ingenuity of engineers to the utmost in +its construction, and is one succession of light +bridges spanning deep chasms, tunnels, and long +gradients. Luckily for us, we were travelling in +the downhill direction, else our journey had been +impossible. If the brave "Dare-to-dies" were +too hurried to leave the line mined, they had +taken time to destroy it in some places, and +once a broken-down engine blocked our path.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +The fleeing soldiers had found the engine-driver +preparing to take in water, but they would have +none of his lagging ways, and compelling him to +drive ahead, were soon forced to abandon the +useless locomotive. Each such obstacle was a +lengthy hindrance, and the kind gentlemen of +our party were obliged to organise a breakdown +gang to overcome the difficulty. Our trolleys, +with all the baggage, had to be transferred to +another line. Effort and energy were not spared, +and the following midday brought us face to face +with the first engine carrying Imperial soldiery +towards Taiyüanfu. At Niangtzekwan Pass +we were under the Dragon flag once more. The +houses of the foreigners there were completely +wrecked, and my recollection of that place is a +land of feathers, contents of the beds of the +Frenchmen who had left their homes, and would +return to find nothing but a heap of ruins and +a litter of broken glass, china, and furniture, +smothered in feathers and presenting a sad wreckage +of what had once been a home. That evening +we reached an inn where food—warm, satisfying +food—was to be had, and twenty-four hours later +we steamed into Tientsin station, greeted by a +hearty cheer from a friendly group, for we had +been missing and untraced since we left Yutze.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHANGED CONDITIONS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Master said: The people may be made to follow +a path of action, but they may not be made to understand +it."—<span class="smcap">Confucius.</span></p></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I have seen a Chinese graduate of a Western university, +dressed in proper Western clothes, in his dress-suit, with +an opera hat crushed under his arm, beseeching the goddess +of mercy in her temple, with many rich gifts, to give him +a male child."—Rev. <span class="smcap">C. Scott</span>.</p></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"From time to time Jesus was offered a place in the +Pantheon, but Christianity perceived that the Pantheon +was the place for dead gods."—Dr. <span class="smcap">John Hutton</span>.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>CHANGED CONDITIONS</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Wherein some, though following a Path of +Action, failed to understand it</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE very week that the British Minister issued +passports for women to re-enter Shansi +saw us in Tientsin on our way inland. Those +precious documents which enabled us to return +to our work were eagerly received, and we lost +no time travelling over the familiar ground. How +easily and smoothly we now sped over the iron +rails as compared with our former journey; we +need now take no interest in gradients, nor fear +that the train would not start at the appointed +hour, nor convey us to our destination.</div> + +<p>We found ourselves in a strange country. In +place of the dragon, the five-colour Republican +flag was everywhere in evidence, which by the +Chinese is thus explained: China's eighteen provinces +are represented by the red line, Manchuria +by the yellow, Mongolia by the blue, Ili, Chinghai, +and Sinkiang by the white, and Thibet by the +black; the ideal of the Chinese republic, a united +territory, being indicated.</p> + +<p>Soldiers in semi-foreign uniform lined up on each +station platform to salute the train, remaining at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +their posts until the puffing monster was out of +sight. At Taiyüanfu were further surprises. +No man wearing a queue could enter the city. +Should he make an effort to do so, the soldiers +guarding the gates speedily removed the appendage +with a pair of large scissors.</p> + +<p>The shops vied with one another in having +the very latest "Republican" goods; the buttons +one bought were "Republican"; all school-books +were changed to the latest "Republican" +editions; the cloth trade mark was "Patriotic." +Everything was Republican, and we began to +realise that China, far from being the conservative +country we had thought, was one of the most +progressive.</p> + +<p>As we came to districts where the regulations +had been less severely enforced, we found the +queue replaced by the most extraordinary head-dress; +the hair, varying in length, was sometimes +braided and sometimes held in place by a strip +cut from a petroleum tin, and bent to a semi-circle. +The more wealthy members of society +affected a style similar to that of an English schoolgirl, +the flowing locks reaching to the shoulders +and held from the face by a circular comb. Others +allowed the tresses to fall as nature dictated, +keeping them of such a length that with very little +trouble the plait might again appear, for as some +remarked: "Who knows, maybe we lose tails +to-day, and heads to-morrow!"</p> + +<p>The hats were even more wonderful. In place +of the neat, circular cap, every shape and size was +to be seen. Round hats like a pudding-bowl, +straw hats, hard oblong hats, soft hats, home-made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +hats, erections of cardboard, giving proof that +some devoted wife or mother had done her best +to copy with the means available, probably only +cardboard and paste, a tall hat, which her lord +described as having seen on some journey towards +Western communities. Women's dress was likewise +being revolutionised, and skirts were extraordinary. +One young lady whom I met, desiring +to be more up-to-date than the rest, wore the +so-called foreign dress back to front, and was far +more satisfied with her appearance than the +charming little lady who accompanied her, dressed +in the dignified, elegant attire of her own people.</p> + +<p>Not only had the style changed, but travelling +south we missed the bright-coloured clothes which +had always added a touch of beauty to the landscape. +We discovered that with the introduction +of the Republic, sumptuary laws were being enforced +which commanded the exclusive use of +earth-coloured garments for the men, and forbade +the wearing of silver ornaments to women. Proclamations +followed one another in rapid succession, +several of which were framed with a view +to altering the standing of the army. From +ancient days China has regarded the soldier as +belonging to the lowest grade of society; the +highest place is given to the scholar, and next to +him the farmer, who on account of his labour for +mankind ranks high. The artisan is placed third, +but the trader, seeing that he only distributes +and does not produce, comes just before the soldier, +who neither producing nor distributing, but only +destroying, ranks lowest in the social scale. One +proclamation stated that no one was to say that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +it was <i>infra dig.</i> to enter the military profession. +It certainly needed some such move on the part +of the authorities to add to the prestige of the +army. A few days before the recruiting agents +had been through the district. "Only those +wearing the queue will be enlisted" was the, to us, +amazing dictum. Upon inquiry we found that +former aspirants had given considerable trouble +by running home when the labour became too +arduous. As the donning of military uniform +necessitated the removal of long hair, it was +obvious that the new brigade would be freshers, +and, as our informant said: "Never having left +home before they will not know the way back!"</p> + +<p>The next order forbade us to speak of any day +as "unlucky." Now from time immemorial, some +days have been regarded as good and others as +bad for such important events as weddings and +funerals; in fact, almost every day of the year +is controlled by some fortunate or untoward +influence, governed by the conjunction of the +"Celestial Branches" and "Earthly Stems," complicated +with innumerable elemental antipathies +and affinities.</p> + +<p>As an example may be mentioned <i>wood</i>, which is +antagonistic to <i>metal</i>, but has an affinity for <i>fluid</i> +from which it draws its sustenance, whereas the +metal forged into an axe serves for its destruction.</p> + +<p>The "Earthly Stems" are represented by symbolic +animals, and have zodiacal signs and control +of certain hours. Of the twenty-eight zodiacal +constellations, seven are infelicitous and no one +will risk entering upon a new venture on these +days. To repair the kitchen stove on a day when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +fire was in the ascendancy might cause a conflagration, +and to go to law on the day when water +is the controlling element is equally foolish, for +the tendency of water is to fall, and this may be +the fate of the overdaring litigant. On a day +controlled by the snake it would obviously be +foolhardy to start on a journey, for with such a +slow traveller as your controlling genius the +journey might be impeded.</p> + +<p>The calculations necessary for the correct adjustment +of these various influences provide a +livelihood for astrologers and fortune-tellers, but +this proclamation, at one fell swoop, attempted to +abolish their profession. The order was issued, +and I suppose in time the yellow paper faded +in the sun; some read it, many talked of it, but +they still chose the day which according to their +calendar was the auspicious one, and no man +hindered them.</p> + +<p>Other proclamations followed in due order: +there was to be no music at weddings or funerals, +only good cash was to be used, women were to +unbind their feet, and brides were not to wear +embroidered gowns. We listened respectfully, as +in duty bound, and waited for the pendulum to +swing.</p> + +<p>Upon one point, however, the powers were insistent. +The Western calendar must take the +place of the lunar. The actual change of date +was a small matter, but this alteration upset the +whole organisation of Chinese life. The New +Year season is one which ensures to the Chinese +family its annual gathering, and all the subsequent +festivals date from that, the greatest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +The orders were too insistent to be trifled with, +and we, in common with all the government +schools, closed to enable our pupils to be at home +for the 1st of January. New Year scrolls were +exhibited outside every front door, but apart +from this, the day passed unnoticed. Instead of +paying and receiving calls, inviting guests and +enjoying the family gathering, business was +carried on as usual. The first day of the first +moon, however, found the populace given up to +revelry, shops were closed, it was impossible to +buy food, and the children in school rebelled at +the decree which separated them from their +parents at such a time, and longed for the golden +days of the past. Before another New Year it +was quite evident that proclamations were useless, +and we joyfully returned to the old order, and +now all keep the first day of the first moon as our +festival.</p> + +<p>Compulsory education was talked of, even +conscription was whispered, and yet we had no +criminal code, and no one could touch a neighbour +of ours who, angry that her daughter-in-law +presented her with a girl instead of the longed-for +boy, took the child and dashed out its brains. +The child is her property, and she has power of +life and death in her hand.</p> + +<p>The new Mandarin was a native of Shansi, the +old rule that a man might not act as magistrate +in his own province having been repealed. He +was not as his predecessor, carried in a sedan chair, +but walked, or rode in a cart as a commoner. He +wore cotton clothes in place of the gorgeous silk +and satin embroidered gowns, and when he sent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +to invite us to dine with his wives, his card was +foreign except for the characters written upon it.</p> + +<p>Our first visit to the <i>Yamen</i> under the new +régime revealed some of the many changes which +had taken place during the last year. No longer +were we escorted by outriders, but hired for ourselves +one of the few carts that Hwochow boasts. +The <i>Tai-tais</i> were dressed in black, relieved by +fancy crochet work shoulder capes, of varied hues. +The teacups were of white china, decorated with +a bunch of forget-me-nots, and the well-known +words: "A present for a good boy." The feast +menu was as before, but instead of the beautiful +china and Eastern decorations, we sat round a +glass petroleum lamp and ate delicacies worthy +of a better setting from plates of that familiar +pattern, white with a border of blue. The exquisitely +polished table was covered with a piece +of white calico, a knife and fork lay beside the +chop-sticks, and last but not least, the Mandarin, +to add to our pleasure, ordered his servants to +bring out the gramophone, which during dinner +poured forth a selection of London street songs +and Chinese theatrical music. Conversation was +drowned, and we were able the more to observe. +In place of scroll-decorated walls, brilliant paper +met our gaze at every turn, white enamel basins +and bowls replaced all the flowered china on which +we had lavished so much admiration. After +dinner we were not offered the water pipe, but +cigarettes, all expressing surprise that we could +refuse so foreign an indulgence. The Chinese +proverb to the effect that "A wayfarer does not +repair the inn nor the Mandarin his official residence,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +was for once in fault—the workmen had +been busy! We spent a very pleasant hour with +the family after dinner, receiving as on former +occasions the utmost kindness and courtesy.</p> + +<p>The classical writings of Mencius were for a time +excluded from the schools as teaching reverence +for kings and rulers, a doctrine not to be tolerated +in the most republican of republics.</p> + +<p>The friendly attitude of some of the leaders of +the revolutionary movement towards Christianity +lent colour to a widely spread impression that +republican government necessitated a change of +religion. Some favoured the Protestant, some +the Roman Catholic Church, others preferred the +"No-god society," which gained many adherents +as being more modern.</p> + +<p>Even the Church was affected by the prevailing +craze, and the wearing of the queue and non-observance +of innovations was regarded as sin +by the ignorant and superstitious. I heard a new +convert warned by a Church member that sickness +in his home might well be due to his rooted +objection to calendar changes.</p> + +<p>This attitude of mind, happily for us, lasted +only a few months, but it was followed by another +serious danger when the question of introducing +the Confucian Ethical Code as a state religion +was brought forward. This would have imposed +limitations on Christians, Mohammedans, and +others, the alternative suggestion being that +Christianity should be given this status, in which +some saw far greater perils. Meetings of the +Chinese Protestant Church forwarded petitions to +the Central Government, protesting against both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +proposals and craving only religious liberty, and +the danger was averted.</p> + +<p>The habit of revolution is a pernicious disease +of the human mind, and once acquired hard to +throw off. Our political horizon has been draped +in storm-clouds ever since 1911, and our local +social plans liable to disintegration on account +of rumours calculated to disturb the mind of +the people. White Wolf, Wolf King, and other +robber chiefs have announced their intention of +visiting us. Our walls have been inscribed with +the terrifying announcement that "White Wolf +is a devourer of sheep," which in Chinese, by a +play on the last word, can be understood to mean: +"White Wolf is a devourer of foreigners." A +bold sketch of a drawn sword was added that no +doubt might be in our minds as to the bloodthirsty +intention of the threat! Mohammedan rebellions +to the west, Mongolian raids to the north, have +alternated with the political difficulties brought +about by international negotiations, to add to +the sense of insecurity inevitably resulting from +the removal of the very central foundation of +governmental stability—the "Son of Heaven"—to +whom four hundred million subjects bowed in +reverential obedience.</p> + +<p>Transition periods are difficult, and China has +been troubled by those who in their enthusiasm +for change have lost the sense of proportion, and +sought to revolutionise much that is dearer than +life itself to many of their countrymen; nevertheless, +this great nation, permeated with ideals +so free from sordidity, will surely carve for herself +a future worthy of her past.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> +<h2>ANOTHER PORTRAIT GALLERY</h2> + +<div class='poem'> +"In tragic life, God wot,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">No villain need be! Passions spin the plot:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">We are betrayed by what is false within."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">George Meredith.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='poem2'> +"Oh Christians, at your Cross of Hope a hopeless hand was clinging."<br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">E. B. Browning.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"After all what would he have had to sacrifice had he +followed Jesus? He would have had to give up his house +in Jerusalem. He would have had to renounce society; +but society would soon have forgotten him, for society +has a short memory for people who for any reason have +fallen out of it. That is what he would have lost, and +what would he have gained? He would have had those +walks with Jesus across the fields, and he would have +heard Him say: 'Consider the lilies.'"—<span class="smcap">Mark Rutherford.</span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>ANOTHER PORTRAIT GALLERY</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Wherein the Reader is introduced to some +who have failed</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>TO the student of human nature the fact +that man so often fails to respond to +the highest ideals set before him comes with no +shock. In the early Church men who had run +well were easily hindered, and in the greatest +series of biographies we possess, we see portrayed +faithfully the faults and failings of those who +now form the great cloud of witnesses, and are +shown at the same time the possibilities of such +lives when brought into vital touch with the +Divine.</div> + +<p>The generous, impulsive David, the man +God's own heart, was capable of a tragic fall; +Peter and John, privileged to personal intercourse +with the Lord, in the hour of crisis were amongst +those who forsook Him and fled, and Demas, +"who loves this present world," is ever a disappointment +to Evangelist, who hoped that for +him such dangers were over.</p> + +<p>For the fact remains that the natural characteristics +of the man are strong forces, and that while +Grace can, and does, make possible the "new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +man in Christ Jesus," we remain each in our own +order, and perhaps no point is so vulnerable as +that wherein has taken place greatest change.</p> + +<p>The emergence from heathendom is a difficult +process, during which time habits, vices, and +superstitions cling to a man's soul with a tenacity +that would cause us to abandon all hope, were it +not that monuments of grace abound to prove +that the power and dominion of sin has been +shattered.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the enemy will entrap a young +Christian when there is illness in the home, and +under pressure he will fly to magic incantations +and heathen practices, in order to get deliverance +from the malignant spirit which he still believes +has power to torment him. Many a convert has +fallen on the occasion of a funeral. It takes +more faith than a Westerner can realise, to defy +the legions of <i>gwei</i> which at that time threaten +your home and its inhabitants with numberless +ills; and strength of mind is required to resist +heathen relatives who accuse you of slighting the +deceased.</p> + +<p>The test is a severe one and may well make a +strong spirit quail, especially when, as so often +happens, several members of one family will +die in rapid succession, quite evidently to us +by reason of the agency of natural laws which +govern physical life, but to the Chinaman, a +clear manifestation of the power enjoyed by +demons whose pleasure it is to torment men. +Even the very dead may rise from the grave to +confront you with horrid vengeance, should the +body not have been buried with full rites as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +required for the laying of the spirit. Most subtly +has the enemy caused many a man's downfall +when his unmarried daughter has died, and he +has found himself confronted with angry relatives +and irate villagers, when he proposed to bury +the body with the deceased of his own family. +By the rule of ancient custom a spirit bridegroom +should be found for this girl, or, as an unattached +spirit, she will inevitably return to her neglectful +relatives and trouble them in numberless ways +in order to bring her pitiful condition to their +remembrance. In one way, and one way only, +can the ghost be pacified. A bridegroom of +suitable age, likewise deceased, must be found, +and all marriage ceremonies be conducted with +due pomp, a memorial tablet being placed in the +scarlet chair in which the bride should have +sat. Clothes, furniture, and presents, all made +of paper, go with the chair to the home of the +deceased bridegroom, and are there received by +living bridal attendants. A feast is spread, and +all make merry until a few hours later when +mourning apparel is donned, and to the sound of +wailing two coffins are placed side by side in the +family tomb. The paper clothes, presents, and +marriage-contract are burned, and thus ascend +in smoke to the spirit world. The bodies may +have been kept for years before a suitable match +could be made, but from the day of the funereal +nuptials the two families regard themselves as, or +even more, intimately related than they would +have been had an actual marriage taken place.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> +<p>It is easy to say that nothing so frankly heathen +need ever raise a question in the mind of a convert, +but severe persecution and the responsibility of +every misfortune that may occur in his village +will be his, if he defy public opinion and introduce +an orphan spirit to the Valhalla where his +ancestors, for countless generations, have never +failed to receive the rites of filial service.</p> + +<p>The missionary knows the importance of +keeping ideals high by precept and practice, and +that his best way to help the young believer is +by emphasising the big claim that Christ makes +on a man. That claim once apprehended will +create in the man's heart an everlasting dissatisfaction +with anything lower.</p> + +<p>Sad as is the case of a young believer falling into +sin, how much more tragic that of a man who +abandons Christ after many years of service, +allowing sins, which he had overcome, once more +to have dominion over him. It is an awful +reality of life that the point on which a man +has most conspicuously conquered is likely to +be his weakest, for the enemy plays a waiting game,</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"And where we looked for palms to fall,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">We find the tug's to come,—that's all."</span><br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Mr. Nieh came early under the influence of +Pastor Hsi. He was a man of conspicuous ability, +business capacity, and influence. In early days +he, too, had smoked opium, but when he left +that habit, he became a Christian and an earnest +student of the Word of God. Few could speak +with such power as he, and at any conference<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +where he was present, eager, interested crowds +would gather to hear him. Many have been led +to Christ by his influence, and he seemed a man +raised up of God to carry on the work of the late +Pastor Hsi. He administered the opium refuges +with great ability, and the work of the Church +for many years prospered in his hands. Every one +turned to him for advice and help, and when +the Boxer troubles broke out, it was to Mr. Nieh +that both Christians and officials looked in their +hour of need. "He was marvellously helped until +he was strong," and then, as to Uzziah of old, +came the decline. Power he loved, and in the +position in which he found himself, holding office +in the Church, was able to exercise it in many +directions.</p> + +<p>Only God knows at which period the spiritual +decay set in, which silently, and at first quite +invisibly, began a work which has ended in the +complete downfall of this man on whom the +hopes of so many were set. A desire to increase +the prestige of his name, and love of popularity +led Mr. Nieh, as opportunity occurred, to lend his +influence in law-cases and village disputes on behalf +of unworthy men, with the motive of self-aggrandisement. +Slowly but surely the material overcame +the spiritual in his life.</p> + +<p>At this hour he is no longer even a member +of the Christian community, having publicly +repudiated his former profession of faith. He +even smokes opium again, and finds his power +and influence to be a thing wholly of the past. +Extraordinary trials have come to him in family +and personal life, but he remains hardened and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +untouched. The light has gone from his face, +for he has ceased to walk in the Light, but as we +look on his dissatisfied appearance, hope revives +that he, having tasted so deep of earthly bitterness, +may yet be found amongst the suppliants for +mercy at the throne of God. May it be in the +midst of life, and not only in the hour of death +that he will witness the great confession: "Thou +hast conquered, O Galilean."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>There is a failure which is partial success, and +under this, I think, may be placed Yen Keh-dao, +who, when once he was clear of opium himself, +bought up eagerly every opportunity that presented +itself for evangelistic work. He had fallen +so often, and been obliged to return to the Opium +Refuge time after time, until new birth had made +him a new creature. Now at last he seemed firm +where formerly he had been powerless to resist +temptation. When he at his own expense entered +his name for a two years' course of theological +training, we all hoped that a future of considerable +usefulness lay before him, but before that +period was over, the craving was on him again +and he had fallen into open sin. Another effort, +and he was free once more, and then again he +fell and soon was lying very ill with typhus fever. +Christian men visited him and prayed with him, +and he, for so long as consciousness lasted, prayed +earnestly; then delirium, and in a few hours +death released his spirit from the body of its +humiliation. According to man's statistics, he +is tabulated a failure—"one more devil's triumph +and sorrow for angels"—but there are many who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +loved him, and who look up in expectation to see +him "pardoned in heaven, the first by the throne."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Puppy's mother" has lived at the door of +our mission premises since they were first opened. +She, according to the custom of the country, is +only known as the mother of her child, so having +elected to call her daughter "Puppy," she must +needs be "Puppy's mother" throughout the +town. She has known the three generations of +missionaries who have lived here, and has been +dressmaker to them all. No one has been more +deliberate in her choice of heathendom over +Christianity than she, and no one has lent a more +willing ear to the scandalous lies circulated concerning +the foreign women, even although she +has seen enough of their intimate life to know +such stories to be fabrications.</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 385px;"> +<img src="images/illus05.jpg" width="385" height="500" alt=""PUPPY" AND HER MOTHER. To face page 218." title=""PUPPY" AND HER MOTHER. To face page 218." /> +<span class="caption">"PUPPY" AND HER MOTHER.<br /><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><i> To face page 218.</i></span></span> +</div> +<p>She nourishes a secret regard for Mrs. Liang, +in whom she recognises a woman as intelligent +as herself, and a match for her in every respect. +It was to Mrs. Liang she confided one day that +there seemed little inducement to repent and be +saved, if going to heaven would entail associating +with foreigners for all eternity. Until two years +ago she was a healthy, sturdy woman, scarcely +feeling the weight of her seventy years. A slight +dimness of eyesight caused her to raise her charges +for dressmaking on the plea, peculiar to Chinese +logic, that old age made her movements slower +and more uncertain, and whereas three days were +once sufficient to make a garment, and make it +well, now after six days' work it was still far less +well finished off than formerly. So we have submitted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +to extra charges for inferior work, for old +acquaintance' sake.</p> + + +<p>Then a long and painful illness laid "Puppy's +mother" low, and for months we did not think +that she could recover. Nevertheless, her excellent +constitution did finally assert itself, and now she +is walking about again, leaning on a stick and +on the shoulder of a small grandchild, one of +Puppy's offspring. She is curiously softened, +and told us once that she had endeavoured to +pray, but could not remember the sentences we +had taught her.</p> + +<p>Time, age, and weakness work many transformations, +and we feel as though the veil of flesh were +wearing thinner, and the spirit within feeling its +way out of gross darkness towards the light.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Mrs. Deh had fallen so low through opium, that +it was to save her from positive starvation that +we admitted her to our household once more. +She had been one of the failures of our Women's +Refuge, and had sunk deep into the degradation +which accompanies opium smoking in a woman's +life, pressed as she finds herself to raise the money +necessary for the price of her drug.</p> + + +<p>For three years she kept herself respectable +under our roof, living amongst Christian women +and joining in their prayers and hymn, night +and morning, but not a trace of the softened, +repentant spirit could one see, and finally a distinct +retrograde movement accompanied with physical +disability forced us to send her home. I despair +of Mrs. Deh except when I look into the face of +her daughter, the good, pure girl whose life's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +prayer it is that her mother should be saved. +She cannot admit that this one thing she hopes +for on earth should not be granted to her. Her +eyes are always full of tears when she speaks of +her mother, and when I see them I know they +must, with strong entreaty, be pleading the cause +of the poor sinful woman before the Presence of +the Divine Majesty at whose right Hand stands +the Friend of Sinners and the Man who was "acquainted +with grief."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Flower of Love" became one of my pupils +at the age of twelve, and attended school for six +years with unfailing regularity. Bright, happy, +and full of girlish enthusiasm she yielded her +heart to Christ, and with her girl companions +rejoiced in her new-found joy. A horror of great +darkness fell upon her soul when the news was +broken to her that her parents had contracted +for her a marriage with a heathen man, and +yielding to uncontrollable grief, she became seriously +ill. Remembrance of the promises of God, and +the resilience of youth, caused her to arouse +herself; she returned to school, and begged that +all would pray that the impossible might happen, +and this engagement be broken.</p> + +<p>Prayer was answered, and to me was granted the +joy of telling Flower of Love the good news. +"My life shall henceforth be wholly for God," was +her reply. Months passed, and when the Revolution +of 1911 broke out, her parents once more +sought for her a heathen husband, a man whose +wealth was accumulated by wrong-doing, and +before any step could be taken Flower of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +Love was his bride. For months she struggled +alone in the city to which she had been taken, +and then his orders were given that intercourse +with foreigners must cease. The fight was too +hard, and weary she yielded and allowed herself +to drift with the tide. To-day, in her husband's +house, where men are too frequent visitors, she +seeks to get from the life she has to lead what +pleasure she can. She is beyond my reach, but +her broken heart will yet, I believe, find a resting-place +upon her Saviour's breast.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREACHING THE GOSPEL, HEALING +THE SICK</h2><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"You make a very great mistake in thinking Christianity +is a religion. It is not a religion, it is a person."—Words +of a converted Mohammedan.</p></div> + +<div class='poem2'> +"Lord! how wouldest Thou deal with this sick man—in body, or spirit?"<br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">S. Vincent de Paul.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='poem'> +"A sick person does so enjoy hearing good news."<br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Florence Nightingale.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>PREACHING THE GOSPEL, HEALING +THE SICK</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Telling of the Daily Routine</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>LIKE the apostle of old, the missionary must +be ready, however heavy the claim upon +his time, to receive all who come.</div> + +<p>At any hour of the day, we may hear the clatter +of sticks upon the ground indicating that some of +our neighbours, whose minute feet prevent them +from walking unaided, have found their way +through the open front door and brought some +friends to see the house of the foreigner.</p> + +<p>The Chinese woman is an inveterate sightseer, +but unfortunately the attractions of Hwochow are +not many; there is no end, however, to the +marvels found within the walls of the Mission +compound.</p> + +<p>The leader of the party is frequently our old +friend, Goat's Mother, the members of her clan +being numerous and of an inquisitive nature.</p> + +<p>The well-favoured Goat, aged five years, wears +a brilliant yellow cotton jacket, on which are +sketched in bold brush work every species of +venomous insect. On his left shoulder is a +scorpion, while centipedes, beetles, and other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +forms of poisonous insect life cover his back and +chest. To his right shoulder is stitched a diminutive +pair of red-and-green trousers. The yellow +coat is his protection from stings and bites, the +tiny trousers from measles, and longevity is +secured by a heavy silver padlock, which hangs +from his neck by a silver chain.</p> + +<p>With much assistance from the Bible-women +the whole party climb the few steps leading to the +verandah, and exhausted by the effort, gratefully +accept our invitation to be seated in the guest-room.</p> + +<p>Tea is offered, but we know better than to press +them to partake of any refreshment, for these +women have been warned on no account to let +food or drink pass their lips while under our roof, +lest by a magic spell they find themselves compelled +to become Christians.</p> + +<p>The room is furnished in conventional Chinese +style—a square table with scarlet embroidered +table-skirt, and backed by an ornate arrangement +of banner, scrolls, vases, and teacups, with +stiff chairs on either side. Our guests' first +observation is to remark upon the surprising +cleanliness of the apartment, the next is to ask +where we sleep, and the third is to comment freely +upon our personal appearance.</p> + +<p>"Have you turned sixty yet?" I am asked, +and much surprise is expressed at the information +supplied by Goat's Mother that I have not yet +seen my fortieth birthday. "It is the white hair +that makes her look so old," is the comment +offered in explanation of my fair complexion.</p> + +<p>Goat's Mother has brought her relations on a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +promise that they shall see the foreigner's bedroom +and "little iron tailor,"<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> hear the musical +box, and be allowed to inspect the enormous +saucepan in which the school food is made, ending +up with a visit to the rooms where the women read +the Bible.</p> + +<p>Before, however, these favours can be granted, +as she well knows, the party must be prepared +to give its attention to the one topic upon which +the missionaries never fail to speak. This proves +to be more interesting than they had anticipated, +for one wall of our guest-room is decorated with +pictures which illustrate interesting stories, the +application of which throws light upon that +problem which confronts every human heart: +"How can the burden of sin be removed?"</p> + +<p>The time passes quickly and most of the +wonders have been seen, when a piercing yell +from the young Goat indicates that the limit of +his patience has been reached. The orders of this +small autocrat allow of no question, and further +intercourse is impossible, for his shrieks will not +cease until his wishes have been complied with. +The whole party rises, and we follow them, urging +them to "walk slowly" and to come again on +Sunday. "We will come, we will come," several +answer, but others are deep in a discussion as to +what provision is possible for our old age, seeing +that we have neither husband nor son.</p> + +<p>As they disappear through, the street door, they +meet a fresh group entering who are in turn received +by the Bible-women. Thus, from day to +day, the Word is preached and cast as bread upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +the waters. Sometimes a woman will return in a +few days to hear more, and sometimes, years later, +in a remote mountain hamlet a woman will greet +us with a smile, surprised that we do not remember +her visit to our house, when, as she reminds us, we +told her about Jesus, the Son of God.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>With those women who come as patients to the +dispensary, we enter upon a more intimate relationship. +The payment of their fee entitles them to +three visits, of which they take full advantage +and often come under our care for a much longer +course of treatment.</p> + +<p>They are an interesting crowd with their varied +complaints. A child whose arm has been badly +scalded months before, and who has received no +treatment during that period but an application +of rat oil and charred matting, is in a revolting +condition, a pitiful sight indeed. A young woman +who has lost her eyesight attributes her affliction +to a fit of violent temper, when for a whole day +she worked herself into a frenzy, and cried until +the power of sight was gone. The victims of +tubercular disease, the scourge of North China, +never fail to appear, some evidently having fallen +a prey to that form known as the "hundred days' +illness" which will carry off an apparently healthy +subject in three months.</p> + +<p>At stated periods, children may be brought for +vaccination. The method of inoculation for the +prevention of smallpox is said to have been introduced +into China by a philosopher of Szechwan, +and has been practised since the year 1014. +Vaccination is now freely practised by the Chinese<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +doctors whose fees are generally 50 per cent. +higher for boys than for girls, the lives of the +former being of so much greater value.</p> + +<p>The extraction of teeth is a popular diversion, +and the tooth is carefully preserved by the patient, +in order that with the other earthly remains it may +be laid in the coffin on the day of her death.</p> + +<p>Amongst the number are some whose diseases +are hard to find, as in the case of one family +whose several members persistently reappeared +with such infinitesimal ailments that we felt compelled +to tell them that no further treatment was +necessary. The answer we received was, that the +head of the house having become interested in +Christianity had signified to his wife his desire +that she should be under treatment for a whole +year, in order that she might receive continued +instruction in the Scriptures. They thought the +dispensary would serve as the best face-saving +subterfuge, therefore she said: "If there be +nothing more serious, will you wash my ears!"</p> + +<p>Broadly speaking, the patients only recognise +two categories of illness—one described as "fire," +and the other as "chill." Their chief desire is for +a diagnosis which shall clearly state under which +heading their particular ailment should be classified, +and we often receive a message to the effect +that "inward fire" is causing trouble, and the +sufferer would like medicine such as was given +to her on the tenth day of the third moon, three +years previously, which had wonderful fire-extinguishing +properties.</p> + +<p>Having been accustomed to the Chinese doctor +and his methods, our patients, begging that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +best may be done for them, assure the helpers that +merit will be accumulated by those who work +towards this end. All are surprised to find that +a uniform fee is charged and that there is +no opportunity for bargaining, as the regular +physician writes prescriptions for first, second, or +third-rate medicine, according to the purse.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 372px;"> +<img src="images/illus06.jpg" width="372" height="500" alt="THE TEACHING STAFF.(See page 233.) To face page 228." title="THE TEACHING STAFF.(See page 233.) To face page 228." /> +<span class="caption">THE TEACHING STAFF.<br />(<a href="#Page_233">See page 233.</a>)<br /> <span style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>To face page 228.</i></span></span> +</div> + +<p>The male and female principle in nature, by which +all things are produced and which has been called +the "warp and woof of Chinese thought," forms +the basis of Chinese medical science, and every line +of treatment must be in accordance with the laws +laid down by this dualistic principle.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, many of the more nutritive +articles of diet, such as the fowl and the egg, are +frequently denied to the sick woman as falling +under that principle which makes them unsuited +to many of her illnesses, and while it is admitted +that sleep is essential to a sick man, the female +patient must not be allowed to indulge in it except +at night. Milk is renowned for its heating properties, +and is most unwillingly consumed by the +tubercular patient, who believes her disease to fall +under the heading of "fire" and knows that anything +so heating will only feed the flame. Had +pears, cooked or uncooked, been ordered she would +fully have appreciated the wisdom which prescribed +them.</p> + +<p>All these startling innovations are carefully and +intelligently explained by the dispensary helpers +and normal students who take the practical side +of their course in First Aid, Home Nursing, and +Invalid Cookery, in the dispensary. Their labours +have not been in vain, and the presence of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +Great Physician has often been manifest in the +midst, as weary, heart-sick women whose ills +were beyond our help have found healing and, +touching the hem of His garment, been made +perfectly whole.</p> + +<p>As the patients scatter, the students impress +afresh upon their memory how, and in what +quantity, the medicine should be taken. Only too +often the printed directions are entirely disobeyed, +and the week's supply swallowed in one dose, on +the strength of that unanswerable argument with +which we wrestled in the days of childhood:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +If one dose = improvement,<br /> +Twenty doses = x, <i>i.e.</i> complete cure.<br /></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> +<h2>A CASKET OF JEWELS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Happy is she who hath believed that there shall be a +perfecting of the things which have been spoken to her from +the Lord!"—The Gospel according to Luke.</p></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"There is nothing more divine than the education of +children."—<span class="smcap">Plato.</span></p></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The fate of empires depends upon the education of +children."—<span class="smcap">Aristotle.</span></p></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Take heed that ye despise not—offend not—forbid +not—one of these little ones."—The Commandment of +Christ.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>A CASKET OF JEWELS</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Being an Account of the Girls' School</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>MRS. HSI has never replaced the ornaments +she sold thirty years ago. Had she +heard the story told of Cornelia, mother of the +Gracchi, I fancy her thoughts would have found +expression, when she lately visited us and saw +the many courtyards occupied by women and +girls, in the famous words of the Roman matron: +"These are my jewels." The interest on that first +small gift is incalculable, and can never be tabulated +in human statistics. An attempt to record +the many activities of the Hwochow Mission station +as it now stands, would be incomplete without +some detailed account of the Girls' School and +Normal Training College.</div> + +<p>The schools occupy four courts, and the ages +of the pupils assembled range from the smallest, +who is only five, to young women of over twenty. +The Teaching Staff consists entirely of women, +all of whom have been trained here, and we shall +perhaps get our best view of them at the Teachers' +Meeting held weekly in the Principal's room. A +glance will reveal the strong individualities here +represented, and these twelve young women cover<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +as many varieties of temperament. Here all +matters connected with the school are mentioned, +and it is striking to see the various view-points +taken. The loving nature which would lead, but +never drive, a rebellious child; the puritan, who +will smile at no infringement of the law, and whose +stern eye has been even known to call the Principal +to order; the quick glance of the woman whose +type reveals an inevitable leader, the stern disciplinarian, +and the easy-going, good-natured +woman—all are here, their diversity of gifts +revealing the unity of the One Spirit. Ling Ai +and I alone know how much we have to thank +God for the friendliness of their mutual relationships. +As to myself, the loyalty, love, and unity +of my band of fellow-workers is my joy and crown.</p> + +<p>Thrice already has the staff been increased by +graduates qualifying from the Normal Training +Class, and our students have included some from +the borders of Mongolia—a journey of twenty +days—from Shensi, Honan, and Chihli provinces, +in addition to those from all the China Inland +Mission schools in Central Shansi.</p> + +<p>The education given in the school is arranged +to cover the double course required by Chinese +and Western standards. The capacity for memorising +possessed by the Chinese is well known. A +Chinese classical scholar's memory is so trained +for retentiveness that one who became a Christian +was able, with ease, to commit to memory five +chapters of the New Testament each day. Were +it not for this capacity the mastery of Chinese +would be an impossibility, for a small child of ten +years old, in addition to ordinary general subjects<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +as taught in an English school, is required in a term +of three months to learn to write and recognise +five hundred new Chinese characters, and by the +time she has completed her course can repeat by +heart the greater part of the New Testament, +Psalms, and the classical works of Confucius +and Mencius.</p> + +<p>The Chinese are extraordinarily observant, and +it is difficult to mention anything which has +escaped their notice. Nevertheless, the classification +of their observations in a scientific form of +nature study is an entirely new method to them, +though this gift, once developed, should cause +China ultimately to rank high in the world of +science. The girls' restricted surroundings have +yielded new joys since they learned the delight of an +observation beehive, the ramifications of an anthill, +and the notes and habits of the birds which +visit us. A thorough knowledge of the Scriptures +is considered of primary importance, and only +girls who by Christian character give promise +when trained of being missionaries to their own +people, are accepted as Normal Students. During +the course outlines of Old and New Testament +are studied, with detailed work of selected books. +The students are required to prepare their own +analyses of various books, following the system of +Dr. Campbell Morgan's Analysed Bible.</p> + +<p>The many classes which constitute the +Elementary and Secondary schools form the +training-ground for the necessary practice in +teaching, which aims at being very thorough. +The first lesson, given in the presence of a critical +audience, is no small ordeal to the student who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +after elaborate preparation with diagram, blackboard, +plasticine, or sand-tray, will realise when +the moment of free criticism comes, that in her +nervousness she has omitted to make any use of +that on which she had bestowed so much labour. +Gradually, however, a new class emerges from utter +helplessness into an encouraging self-confidence and +resourcefulness.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 381px;"> +<img src="images/illus07.jpg" width="381" height="500" alt="SOME KINDERGARTEN SCHOLARS. To face page 236." title="SOME KINDERGARTEN SCHOLARS. To face page 236." /> +<span class="caption">SOME KINDERGARTEN SCHOLARS.<br /><span style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>To face page 236.</i></span></span> +</div> + +<p>A visitor to the school could see ten or twelve +classes at various stages on the high road of learning, +each under the control of a capable young +Chinese woman, before the Kindergarten room is +reached.</p> + +<p>Here, with merry shouts, the sixteen babies +are all keen to display the glories of the dolls' +house, and all anxious to sing their action songs, +show their plasticine modelling, paper-plaiting, +and fancy drill; still possessing the child's heart, +and therefore fearless of criticism. Each one +covets the rôle of spokesman to relate the travelling +adventures of the doll, which spends but little +time in the house and is constantly undertaking +long and difficult journeys. From this intrepid +traveller they have obtained most of their geographical +information.</p> + +<p>Long hours of work are the order of the day in +a Chinese school, the terms being short owing to +the exigencies of the extreme climate. The wheat +harvest falls in June, and it is necessary that wives +and daughters should fulfil their obligations to the +home during this busy season.</p> + +<p>The month of September brings the eagerly +looked-for day when by cart, donkey, litter, or +even on foot, from north, south, east, and west,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +the small travellers wend their way to Hwochow. +The babies of the Kindergarten not infrequently +sit in the panniers, slung across a donkey's back, +or in baskets which a man will carry balanced +on his shoulder. Each party on arrival passes +through the room where Mr. Gwo, a capable +deacon, sits at the receipt of custom, and thence +to the guest-room where a respectful bow is made +to the missionaries and head teacher.</p> + +<p>The next visit is to the dispensary where +Fragrant Incense, my head assistant in this department, +conducts a strict inquiry into personal, +family, and village health, and where newcomers +are being vaccinated.</p> + +<p>"I hear that your uncle has smallpox," may be +the alarming accusation.</p> + +<p>"It is not worth speaking of," answers Snowflake.</p> + +<p>"Have you been to the house?"</p> + +<p>"A few times," says the puzzled scholar, quite +unable to trace the connection between her uncle's +attack of "heavenly blossoms" and our unwillingness +to admit her to the school court.</p> + +<p>Once a girl has entered the school premises it +is not to leave them again for the period of the +term, and all that is necessary to fulfil the conditions +of her life is supplied in this little world.</p> + +<p>One of her first visits will be to the bank where +an account is opened in her name, it being one of +the school rules, in order to avoid loss, that no girl +may keep her own money; any found on her +person or in her box being forfeited. Every +Saturday afternoon eager young depositors can +be seen drawing sums varying from one to fifty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +cash for shopping purposes, or with a view to the +Sunday service collection. At the same hour the +school shop is open, under the care of a teacher +with a senior pupil as assistant.</p> + +<p>"What do you stock?" a newcomer will ask +the young saleswoman. "Everything," is the +bold answer, and indeed the few necessities of a +Chinese schoolgirl may all be supplied. Materials +needed for shoemaking, hemp for making string +which is required in attaching soles to uppers, +pretty silks for embroidery, thimbles, needles, +hair ornaments, safety-pins, bright-coloured cord +with which the Chinese girl holds every hair +in place at the top of a long thick plait, which +is her mode of head-dress; chalk, with which to +whiten her calico socks, and the acacia pod, the +bean of which serves as soap. All the requisites +in stationery can be purchased, and it is amusing +to see the Chinese brush-pen being carefully +tested by minute prospective buyers. A newcomer +will try in vain to get goods on credit, +relying upon her father's generosity at an early +date. "No," is the answer; "come again when +you have the cash."</p> + +<p>In another room the lending library is attracting +large numbers. Here again a teacher, helped +by a pupil, is changing or renewing books. With +surprising skill any blot, stain, or torn page is +discovered, and for years the books will pass from +hand to hand with but little damage done.</p> + +<p>The range of literature is fairly comprehensive, +extending from world-wide favourites such as +<i>Little Lord Fauntleroy</i>, <i>Christie's Old Organ</i>, <i>Just +So Stories</i>, and the <i>Wide Wide World</i>, which are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +eagerly passed from hand to hand—for every one +reads them several times—to such works as <i>The +History of the Dutch Republic</i>, <i>Biographies of Great +Men</i>, Works on Social Economy, and many books +of reference. For the translation of these, and +many other works into the Chinese language, we +are indebted to the Christian Literature Society. +At the sound of the head teacher's gong, all business +ceases, and the girls proceed to the playground, +where all enjoy swings, seesaw, and games.</p> + +<p>Sunday opens with the delight of an extra hour +in bed, and the wearing of best clothes. Sunday +school and Public Service are enjoyed even by the +smallest, and precede the happy hour when +parents and near relatives may see the scholars. +At its conclusion all are hungry for the dinner, +which, though later than usual, proves well worth +waiting for, consisting as it does of the popular +white bread and vegetables. The afternoon closes +with a service of praise.</p> + +<p>Three times a day the children assemble in the +large dining-hall for meals. Over one thousand +pounds of flour are used each week, and about +one hundred pounds of vegetables, in the preparation +of the food. The bread is steamed and eaten +hot, and the midday meal generally consists of +flour and water, made into a paste, rolled out +very thin, and cut into long strips which are boiled +for a few minutes, and when cooked resemble +macaroni. If a man's greatness consists in the +small number of his needs, the Chinaman must +rank high. A bowl and pair of chop-sticks is the +sum total of the table requirements of each girl; +a cotton wadded quilt and a small, bran-stuffed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +pillow comprise her bedding, and a cotton handkerchief +will hold her neatly folded wardrobe. +A child usually owns no toy, and many have never +thought of an organised youthful festivity until +they spend their first Christmas Day in school. +With bated breath they hear from their elders +of the joys in store, and watch secret preparations +for presents to class teachers and missionaries. +Excitement reaches its highest point when, with +silent footstep, they creep into our courtyard in +the winter dawn to sing Christmas carols, and in +place of the temple gongs and weird music of +heathen rites, the air rings with joyful strains as +class after class takes up the refrain: "Oh come, +let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!" The reputation +of the evening illumination and Christmas-tree +is so widespread, that two small newcomers +were heard encouraging each other, eight months +before this event, to endure with patience in hopes +of seeing the glorious sight, and becoming the +possessors of a threepenny doll.</p> + +<p>Nearly five hundred girls have already passed +through the school, and every few years we have +made an attempt to gather them together for an +informal conference; unfortunately, the distances +are so great, and family claims so many, that only +a very small proportion have been able to attend, +and we have supplemented these by instituting +an Old Girls' Guild which includes a prayer union +whose members receive a quarterly circular letter.</p> + +<p>The postal system does not reach most of the +villages, so the letters must be entrusted to reliable +messengers who may be going that way, and who +are requested by words on the envelope: "Be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +so kind as to trouble yourself with this letter +and deliver it into the hand of the Mother of +Heavenly Bundle." The young woman whose +identity is thus hinted at is but one of perhaps +twenty, whose offspring bear this name in the +one village. Below are the mystic words: "The +name is presented inside." On the left side of +the envelope is the urgent command: "Quick +as fire! Quick as fire!" Thus nothing is omitted +but the name of the addressee.</p> + +<p>From early days an effort has been made to +impress upon the students that a Christian community +is only justified in so far as it partakes +of the nature of a centrifugal force, extending its +influence in every direction. The interests of +students have been much enlarged by the residence +in their midst of girls from other provinces, who +are followed with prayerful interest when they +leave us to enter their varied spheres of work. +Beyond this, the scholar's widened sympathies +find their expression in the zeal with which they +follow missionary activity in other lands. Most +earnest thought is given to the choice of destination +of the sums reported in hand by the missionary +treasurer. The Evangelical Union of +South America, British and Foreign Bible Society, +Pandita Ramabai, and Dr. Zwemer in Cairo +have all received contributions, and latterly +money has been sent to supply Testaments for +the soldiers on active service. Nevertheless, the +consensus of general opinion is, that the Moslem +situation is at present so critical that all available +funds must go to meet that need. Small indeed +the sums may appear on a subscription list, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +few gifts are, I think, more thoughtfully given +and more prayerfully followed.</p> + +<p>The money is contributed in various ways, the +two most important being the school working +party and the takings of the Debating Society, +where debates and lectures are always sure of a +full house.</p> + +<p>The instinct for personal aggressive Christian +work finds an outlet in the following ways: The +annual fairs and idol processions held in the town +bring large crowds of women visitors, and afford +a great opportunity for the senior scholars to +take their part in preaching, as also the evangelistic +service held each week for Dispensary patients. +The Sunday School classes of small children are +taught by elder girls, and the annual Summer +Campaign has provided scope for all those who +have a will to work. At the close of the spring +term, every girl who so desires is entrusted with +a printed Course of Study, suitable for the elementary +instruction of village women. At Sunday +and weekday classes these are taught by the elder +scholars of the village, even the younger children +being able to take their part in helping the women +to memorise a verse.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>In order to secure the highest spiritual and +mental efficiency amongst those who, by the +nature of their calling, are constantly responding +to the claims made upon them, we have instituted +a Teachers' Summer School, to which are invited +all former students now holding posts as teachers +in Mission Schools. The month of August is +devoted to this delightful gathering when, on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +footing of fellow-workers, free from the restrictions +attendant on school discipline, we meet for +Bible and secular study. The curriculum of the +coming term is discussed, difficulties considered, +some new educational subject is studied, and an +invaluable atmosphere is created.</p> + +<p>In the silence of the moments of spiritual communion, +lives are dedicated afresh to the service +of God; by contemplation of the Word, fresh +ideals are apprehended and more of the wisdom +that winneth souls is learned, by which a band +of workers is equipped anew for any manner of +service, wholly at His command. The various +activities recorded above each contribute a part +to the upbuilding of character and the training +of those who will be the future missionaries, +mothers, and teachers of their people.</p> + +<p>We desire that, rejoicing in the abundance of +life which Christ came to bestow, they may by +sacrificial service gather around them many who +will say: "Happy the people whose God is the +Lord!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE TREASURE HOUSE</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Who ranks higher than others in the Kingdom of the +Heavens?"</p> + +<p>"In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and +become like little children you will in no case be admitted +into the Kingdom of the Heavens."</p> + +<p>"Whoever shall occasion the fall of one of these little +ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have +a millstone hung round his neck and be drowned in the +depths of the sea."</p> + +<p>"Their angels in heaven have continual access to my +Father in heaven."</p></div> + +<div class='sig'> +The words of the Lord Jesus Christ.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The hope of the glory of God includes the responsibility +of rejoicing. If we really have the anointed vision +which sees through the travail to the triumph, and is +perfectly assured of the ultimate triumph of God, it is our +duty in the midst of the travail to rejoice evermore, to +cheer the battle by song, and shorten the marches by +music."—Dr. <span class="smcap">G. Campbell Morgan</span>.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>THE TREASURE HOUSE</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Where the Reader is shown the Lapidary +at work</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>MY study is perhaps to me the most sacred +spot of the entire compound. Situated +in the midst of the school court, it is accessible +to teachers and scholars alike. For more than +a decade this room has been sanctified by numberless +confidences, many too sacred to record.</div> + +<p>At any hour of the day, or after dark when it +is easier for the girl to knock unseen at my door, +I may hear the words, sometimes timidly whispered: +"Has the Teacher time to let me speak to her?" +A welcome being extended my young guest will +usually begin to talk upon general topics, and +after a considerable time will gently hint that +there is also one small matter in particular of +which she wishes to speak. On receiving encouragement +she proceeds to unfold the matter, +which may vary in gravity from a message conveying +a request that employment should be +found for a neighbour of hers, to a tearful pleading +that I will use all my influence to prevent her +parents from engaging her to a heathen bridegroom; +it has even been to tell me of a brother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +who, having entered a College in the provincial +capital, is now in jail and likely to lose his life +for revolutionary tendencies.</p> + +<p>It is during the hour when the schoolgirls are +at play, or in the evening when they are in bed, +that the teacher will come to me who desires to +be certain of no interruption. One whose father +was formerly a deacon, but having relapsed into +opium smoking has lost his office and Church +membership, comes with her sad story. "How +can I hope to influence my scholars when this +sin is in my own home?" she asks me; and goes +on to tell of the downward steps taken, and of +the good mother who, with herself, has done all +that love could suggest to save the father from +public disgrace. A letter from her distant home +will sometimes bring her when the work of the +day is done, that together we may share its contents. +How plain it is to me, that this scorching +furnace of shame which seals her lips and makes +her blush before her own pupils, is the very test +she requires for her perfecting. I know that this +is a spiritual crisis when in the thick darkness +she will either meet with God, or losing the +hope whereby we are saved will grow cold and +indifferent.</p> + +<p>It is always a personal refreshment when +Fragrant Clouds or Pearl Drops comes to see me. +A warm friendship exists between these two senior +Normal Students, strong, robust young women, +prospering in body as in soul. Pearl Drops, +keenly humorous, is a famous mimic and I once +had the delight of, unnoticed, joining an audience +which she was fascinating by her mimicry of an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +old man well known to us all. Fragrant Clouds +is a more serious type, and entered the High School +here in answer to her prayers to God for many +months, at a time when innumerable obstacles +barred her way. She has proved "barriers" to be +"for those who cannot fly," and possesses that +quiet dignity and confidence which tells of character +formed by difficulties overcome. She knows the "All +great" to be the "All loving too," and is strong.</p> + +<p>Little Goodness is the boldest girl in the school. +She is only five years old, but will any moment +that she can run away from the Kindergarten +Court unseen push open my door, and show me +with great delight and most disconcerting self-assurance +some treasure she has found—a grub, +or maybe some one else's new handkerchief. The +frown I summon to my aid when the offence is +repeated more than once a day, is rather a failure, +but poor Goodness has had to learn by sterner +methods that the teacher's word is law. It is not +easy to be stern with her for she is a most fascinating +little creature, and yet her parents wanted +her so little that she was found, as a wee babe, +buried alive. With difficulty her life was saved +by the missionary to whom she was taken, who +has cared for her ever since. Her most serious +offence in this school, and a cause of scandal to +the whole Kindergarten, was the helping of herself +to five cash from the collection plate when it was +handed to her in the Sunday service.</p> + +<p>When a new graduate who has been faced for +the first time by her class appears at my door, I +know before she begins to speak that her errand +is to inform me she has found herself to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +accepted a burden and responsibility which she +is utterly incapable of bearing. I make no great +effort to hide my amusement, and call to her remembrance +the complete assurance with which +she was prepared to enter upon her career during +her last term as a Normal Student. I also tell her +I have been expecting this interview and, needless +to say, from the humorous side we naturally turn +to the serious.</p> + +<p>Teachers are constantly coming to me for +advice as to the best method of dealing with those +symptoms of original sin which cause small children +to bewilder their elders by the utter depravity +of their moral nature. What, for example, could +I say to Kingfisher who was heard, when praying +audibly, to petition heaven that Rosebud with +whom she had quarrelled might lose all her good +marks?</p> + +<p>The weeping Butterfly was peremptorily ushered +into my presence, accused of using bad language. +I could see by the expression on the teacher's +face that it was no trifling matter. She had said: +"Chrysanthemum, when you walk it is like the +hopping of a frog." She had thus compared a +fellow-scholar to an animal, a form of speech which +in Chinese, as I well knew, amounts to a curse.</p> + +<p>Peach Blossom, ever since the first day she +came to me has been a care and responsibility. +Conscious of her good looks and of her capacity +to secure a following of devotees, she has conducted +her small court with increasing joy to herself, +and annoyance to me and my Staff. It was +impossible to ignore her presence, and while she +was scrupulously within the rules and regulations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +of school discipline she somehow managed to sail +so near, and yet avoid, the point of defiance +that we were baffled.</p> + +<p>I am sometimes called upon to fulfil the vocation +of motherhood in a very real sense, as when I have +to announce to some child who has no mother +that the arrangements for her engagement are +about to be completed, but that her father, who +feels he could not expect her to speak of such a +matter, has asked me to find out her desires regarding +the proposed bridegroom. After an inevitable +tear, shed at the suggestion that she must +some day leave her father's home, she asks me if I +am satisfied with the plan; on my answering in +the affirmative her face brightens, though she +conventionally begs me to use my influence to +dissuade her father from any such intention. I, +seeing that no difficulty presents itself, change the +subject and bring her a few days later the gifts +and silver ornaments which indicate that all is +settled. She, having no mother to do the necessary +grumbling at the inferior quality of the bridegroom's +presents, comes to my room later on, and +says: "I have been examining these, and perceive +that the silver used is not pure in quality." Having +shown that she, though motherless, is not easily +taken in, she accepts my exhortation to be a good +child and to be thankful for what she has, and +without further ado begins her preparations for the +day when she will "change her home."</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 384px;"> +<img src="images/illus08.jpg" width="384" height="500" alt="LING AI, HER CHILDREN, AND HER MOTHER, MRS. LIANG. To face page 252." title="LING AI, HER CHILDREN, AND HER MOTHER, MRS. LIANG. To face page 252." /> +<span class="caption">LING AI, HER CHILDREN, AND HER MOTHER, MRS. LIANG.<br /><span style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>To face page 252.</i></span></span> +</div> + +<p>The more modern parent is sometimes desirous +that his daughter, who has reached years of +discretion, should from time to time correspond +with her fiancé. The letters all being sent to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +girl's father, he forwards them to me, and the +fear lest any fellow-student should know of so +immodest a proceeding always leads the girl to +read them in my room, and place them in my hand +for safe keeping. It was enlightening to receive +a request on one occasion that I would, at the +close of term, return "those letters which are of +no possible use." I knew to what she referred, +and mentally noted that the "useless" paper found +a very safe place in the recesses of her luggage!</p> + + +<p>Tragedy is interwoven with the life of almost +every woman in this land. Disappointment at +her birth finds its only consolation in the recognition +of her value in the home as family drudge. +Only as mother of her son does she enter on an +inheritance of sufficient consideration to make her +well worth the clothes she wears and the food she +consumes.</p> + +<p>How pathetic it is to see the efforts put forth +by a child whose school life has been interrupted +to endeavour to find some means of paying the +necessary fees! One girl of thirteen, by making +hair-sieves during the summer months renders it +possible for her father to send her to school; and +many weave during the holidays all the cloth +necessary for their own clothes. One little girl +who had no other means of helping herself, gleaned +so industriously that she gathered sufficient for +her first month's expenses, only to find one day +that her little hoard had been used by her opium-smoking +father for his own indulgence.</p> + +<p>Even the high ethics of Confucianism can +recognise no higher position for woman than one +of obedient dependence throughout life. In youth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +she must be subject to her father, in middle age +to her husband, and in old age to her son. The +revolutionary power of Christianity has established +a new order, and in the Christian community we +see her welcomed in babyhood, cared for in childhood, +and receiving the honour due to her womanhood +when she becomes a bride. I have been +amazed at the sacrifices I have seen made by parents +for their daughters. I have known a father, too poor +to afford the hire of a donkey, carry his little girl +nearly thirty miles to school. I have known the +only bedcovering in the home to be spared for the +use of the little daughter during term, and a man +to endure the winter cold with the scantiest clothing +that his child might be warmly clad.</p> + +<p>One class, a small one, has outstripped me in the +race, and graduated to a higher school to render +service more needed there than here. I can think +of each one with joy as in the Great Teacher's +Hand, learning lessons which as yet are beyond me.</p> + +<p>The one it seemed I could least spare was needed +by Him, and since most of this book was written +my beloved Ling Ai went to serve, face to face, the +Lord she loves.</p> + +<p>The intimate sympathy required to enter into +the joys and sorrows of so many lives is perhaps +the heaviest strain laid upon the missionary, and +the mental discipline necessary to hold all in right +proportion can only be exercised where there is +true adjustment of spiritual vision, whereby we +see "through the travail to the triumph, perfectly +assured of the ultimate victory of God," and rejoice, +"cheering the battle by song and shortening the +marches by music."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONCLUSION</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That Church controls the future which can demand of +her members the greatest sacrifices."—Dr. <span class="smcap">John Hutton</span>.</p></div> + +<div class='poem2'> +"When earth's last picture is painted, and the tubes are twisted and dried,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it—lie down for an æon or two,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Till the Master of all good workmen shall put us to work anew.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And only the Master shall praise us, and only the Master shall blame;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They are."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Rudyard Kipling.</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Being a Review of the Present Situation</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IT is now thirty years since foreigners came to +reside in Hwochow, during which time three +generations of women missionaries have succeeded +each other. The period has been divided accurately +at the fifteenth year by the Boxer riots +and massacres. The many who have helped in +varied ways to make this work possible may +rightly ask; "Is not this period sufficient to +establish a self-propagating Church independent +of foreigners?"</div> + +<p>It would be hard to over-emphasise the need of +the wisdom required at the stage immediately +preceding the final lapse of total responsibility +upon the shoulders of the native Church, that +the move should not be made too hastily or at +an inopportune moment; even more emphatically, +that the Church should not be driven to establish +on a factional basis a so-called independent sect +in opposition to the foreigner, in order to secure +the freedom and control for which it was ripe. +Faith, hope, and courage, without which the +pioneer missionary's work must inevitably fail, +find their counterpart in the spirit of wisdom and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +understanding required for the proper adjustment +of the new relationship, whereby the Chinese +Christian, not in word, but in deed and in truth, +may take precedence. It is easy to gain ready +acquiescence to this theory of equality, but as +was immediately evidenced when the strong and +independent Pastor Hsi arose, the situation in its +practical bearing is not easily handled.</p> + +<p>A word to the intending missionary: Be ready +to lay aside your preconceived ideas as to how +the Gospel should be preached, how Church +matters should be handled, discipline enforced, +and your own position in the Church.</p> + +<p>Come as a learner, and men who were Christians +before you emerged from childhood will give +you the benefit of a ripe experience, and if you +prove worthy of it, admit you to fellowship in +service.</p> + +<p>In view of the preceding chapters, few words +will serve to review on general lines the situation +as it has developed during these thirty years in +Hwochow.</p> + +<p>The first fifteen called for unremitting effort in +breaking up new ground, broadcast sowing of +the seed, and establishing between Chinese and +foreigner some measure of confidence. The second +period has been one of reaping from the very +commencement. Extraordinarily rapid development +on every hand brought about new conditions +which in turn necessitated new methods, so that +the missionary is no longer the main instigator of +Church activities, but takes his place in a large and +far-reaching organisation.</p> + +<p>The work of evangelisation and all elementary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +teaching require no foreign help, but we still +seem to be necessary for the organisation which +is giving training and advanced teaching to the +men and women whom we hope to see equipped +in every respect as well, and better, than we +ourselves have been.</p> + +<p>All non-institutional work amongst men is +already in Chinese hands. Pastor Wang and +eight deacons take entire oversight of the Church of +nearly four hundred members, the examining and +accepting of candidates for baptism, as well as +arrangements for Sunday services in each of the +eight out-stations, where the local Christians have, +at their own expense, supplied a building for +public worship where daily service is held. In +addition to this, the entire evangelistic organisation, +Elementary Boys' School and Opium Refuge, +form part of their responsibility.</p> + +<p>The more aggressive work includes a Chinese +Evangelistic Society entirely free from foreign +money and control, the object of which is to open +up new districts, preach at fairs, and widely +distribute Gospels and tracts.</p> + +<p>In the busiest thoroughfare of the city, a preaching +hall is daily opened which is freely frequented +by merchants and travellers.</p> + +<p>The systematic instruction of men, both Church +members and inquirers, is supplied by means of +short station classes held at convenient times by +the Pastor, or by some foreign missionary whom +he may invite.</p> + +<p>With the exception of the Elementary Boys' +School just mentioned, the men's institutional +work is carried on in the neighbouring city of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +Hungtung, where, under the presidency of the +Rev. F. Dreyer, a Bible Training Institute for +men has been established. The students are drawn +not only from our own, but other provinces, and +during the two years' course a careful and thorough +training is given in theoretical and practical work. +A long preaching list is served by these men +in conjunction with a large band of local preachers. +To Mr. Dreyer's influence amongst these men we, +as many other stations, owe some of our best +helpers. The Hungtung institutional work is +supplemented by a Higher Grade School for boys, +the pupils of which are largely drawn from the +fourteen Elementary Schools scattered throughout +the district. Mr. E. J. Cooper, assisted by Chinese +graduates of Weihsien University, is responsible +for this department. Many former pupils are in +charge of village schools, the examining and +superintendence of which is conducted from the +centre. It is thus possible for the sons of Church +members to obtain a thorough and Christian +education in their immediate neighbourhood. +The necessary demands for institutional work +for the several counties mentioned throughout +this book, are thus met by the two stations of Hungtung +and Hwochow. United with these to form a +General Allied Council to secure unity of action +in all far-reaching enterprises, and to avoid multiplication +of work (though each local church remains +independent and self-governing), are the stations +situated in the cities of Chaocheng, and Yoyang, +now severally in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest +Taylor and Mr. and Mrs. F. Briscoe, whose time is +occupied with pastoral and evangelistic work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Hsi still remains in Chaocheng, and carries +on her work amongst the women of that city. She, +in company with Mrs. Liang and three others, +has been chosen by the Church to be set apart to +the office of deaconess. She is now sixty-four +years of age, and her physical strength is visibly +failing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hsi's life and example is one of the treasures +of the Shansi Church. She has served faithfully +and long in active Christian work, and she recently +told me that she is now giving herself to prayer +and fasting more than was possible during the most +active period of her life.</p> + +<p>For this effectual share in the present conflict, +for her love and friendship, and for her continued +presence amongst us, we give thanks unto God.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Thus we believe the Church has been rooted +and established, no longer propagated by any +external energy, but whose seed is in itself.</p> + +<p>The dream is so far fulfilled. More than thirty +years ago Mr. and Mrs. Hsi, in faith, brought +their small offering as a child once offered his +barley loaves and laid them in the Master's Hand, +Who gave thanks and blessed.</p> + +<p>In these pages the story is recorded of the sower, +the waterer, and the reaper, who laboured in +tears and in joy.</p> + +<p>Of the increase which God alone can give, no +human record can tell, but told it shall be in the +day when those from every nation, kindred, and +tribe shall unite to ascribe honour and glory unto +Him who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='poem'> +"So have I dreamed! Oh may the dream be true!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">That praying souls are purged from mortal hue ...</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And grow as pure as He to Whom they pray."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='sig'> +HARTLEY COLERIDGE.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> +<h2>APPENDIX</h2> + +<div class='center'><b>CONTAINING</b></div> + +<h3>BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL COURSE OF +STUDY</h3> + +<div class='center'><b>AND</b></div> + +<h3>SPECIMEN QUESTIONS OF THE NORMAL<br /> +TRAINING COLLEGE<br /> +FINAL EXAMINATION PAPERS<br /> +<br /> +(<i>INSERTED BY REQUEST</i>)</h3> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span></p> +<h2>HWOCHOW WOMEN'S BIBLE TRAINING +SCHOOL</h2> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<h3><i>COURSE OF STUDY</i></h3> + + +<h3>FIRST TERM</h3> + +<div class='hang1'>Book of Genesis.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Gospel according to St. Luke or St. Mark.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Acts of the Apostles, chapters i. to ix.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>"A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible."</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Reading Lessons, with necessary Explanation and Writing +of Chinese Character.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Arithmetic.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Singing and Memorisation of Hymns.</div> + + +<h3>SECOND TERM</h3> + +<div class='hang1'>Book of Exodus, Numbers, and 1 Samuel i. to xvi.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>The Gospel according to St. John.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>The Epistle of St James.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>"A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible"—(<i>continued</i>).</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Reading Lessons, with necessary Explanation and Writing +of Chinese Character.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Arithmetic.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Singing and Memorisation of Hymns.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">Practical Work.</span>—Assist in conducting Elementary Classes +for Women.</div> + + +<h3>THIRD TERM</h3> + +<div class='hang1'>Book of Leviticus, Joshua, and 1 Samuel xvii. to xxxi.; +Ezra and Nehemiah.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>The Gospel according to St. Matthew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></div> + +<div class='hang1'>The Epistle to the Hebrews.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>"A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible"—(<i>conclusion</i>).</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Studies in Christian Doctrine.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Reading Lessons, with necessary Explanation and Writing of Chinese Character.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Arithmetic.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Singing and Memorisation of Hymns.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Memorisation of Psalms.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><i>Pilgrim's Progress.</i></div> + +<div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">Practical Work.</span>—Conduct Elementary Classes for +Women, Teach under Criticism, City and Village +Visiting.</div> + + +<h3>FOURTH TERM</h3> + +<div class='hang1'>Book of Judges, Ruth, Esther, and 2 Samuel.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Life of Elijah and Elisha.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Acts of the Apostles, chapters x. to xxviii.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Studies in Christian Doctrine.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Arithmetic.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Singing and Memorisation of Hymns.</div> + +<div class='hang1'>Memorisation of Psalms.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><i>Pilgrim's Progress</i>, Part II.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">Practical Work.</span>.—As Term III.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHINA INLAND MISSION NORMAL +TRAINING COLLEGE, HWOCHOW, SHANSI</h2> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<h3><i>SPECIMEN QUESTIONS</i></h3> + +<div class='center'>(Drawn from Final Examination Papers, 1915)</div> + +<h3>SCRIPTURE</h3> + +<p>What answer did Christ give to the following questions?—"What +must we do that we may work the works +of God?" "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" +"Hast thou seen Abraham?" "How can a man be born +when he is old?"</p> + +<p>Name five incidents in the Gospel according to St. John<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +which illustrate the statement: "He knew what was in +man."</p> + +<p>Name some of the abuses in the Corinthian Church, and +briefly state how Paul dealt with each.</p> + +<p>What period of human history is covered by the Book +of Genesis?</p> + +<p>Briefly trace the degeneration of the Individual, the +Home, and the Nation, as recorded in the Book of +Genesis.</p> + +<p>Give an outline of the Book of Ezra.</p> + +<p>State briefly the teaching of Christ on the following +subjects:—Fasting, Riches, Rewards, and the Forgiveness +of Sin.</p> + +<p>The establishment of the Church by Constantine proved +to be its spiritual loss. Quote five verses from Scripture +to show this might have been anticipated.</p> + +<p>Mention four reasons which conduced to the spread of +the Gospel in the days of the Early Church.</p> + + +<h3>HISTORY</h3> + +<p>State clearly the advantages and disadvantages of +Feudalism.</p> + +<p>What do you know of the Spartan methods of treating +children?</p> + +<p>What do you know of the following:—Chaucer, Rienzi, +Savonarola, Simon de Montfort, Gladstone, Li Hung-chang, +Bruce?</p> + +<p>What do you understand by the term "Ostracism"?</p> + +<p>Who were the combatants in the following battles:—Crecy, +Hastings, Marathon, Bannockburn, Waterloo?</p> + +<p>Give an account of the causes which resulted in the +Crusades, or in the French Revolution.</p> + + +<h3>PHYSIOLOGY</h3> + +<p>What are the various uses of the Cerebrum, Cerebellum, +and Medulla Oblongata?</p> + +<p>Explain the process of "Hearing." Illustrate with +diagrams.</p> + +<p>What do you know of the Crystalline Lens of the Eye?</p> + +<p>What is meant by "Long Sight" and "Short Sight"?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + +<p>What is the cause of each, and how may each be +remedied?</p> + +<p>Give a list of the Cranial Nerves.</p> + + +<h3>ZOOLOGY</h3> + +<p>Draw a diagram of the Blood Vessels of a Fish.</p> + +<p>State clearly the main divisions of Zoology, and in detail +those of the Bird Family.</p> + +<p>Give a detailed account of the Ant and its habits; +illustrate with diagrams.</p> + +<p>Describe the Fauna of the Arctic Regions.</p> + + +<h3>CHEMISTRY</h3> + +<p>What weight of each of the following compounds is +necessary to prepare 50 litres of Oxygen?—Water, +Mercuric Oxide, Potassium Chlorate.</p> + +<p>Explain the principle of the Dewar bulb.</p> + +<p>Define the term "Acid." Enumerate the characteristics +of a "Base."</p> + +<p>Two compounds were found to have the following +compositions: = 43.64 per cent. phosphorus = 56.36 per +cent. oxygen = 56.35 per cent. phosphorus = 43.65 per +cent. Show that the Law of Multiple proportion holds +in this case.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Classical Essay Subjects.</span>—"The Path may not be +left for an instant; if it could be left it would not be +the Path. On this account the superior man does not +wait until he see things to be cautious, nor see things to +be apprehensive."—<span class="smcap">Confucius.</span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br /> +MORGAN AND SCOTT LTD., 12 PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, LONDON, E. C.<br /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Heavenly Invitation Office ("Pastor Hsi's" translation).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The raised brick or mud platform, heated by a fire, used as +a bed in North China.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> It was on the occasion of this visit that Mr. Hsi was ordained +pastor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> <i>Yamen</i>=law courts or Mansion House.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> From <i>Fire and Sword in Shansi</i>, by Dr. E. H. Edwards.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> <i>The Precious Regulations</i>, a book written under the Sung +Dynasty. Its main tenets are derived from Buddhism, though +some writers inscribe the book among the Taoist documents. +Its sub-title explains its contents: "A precious record of +examples published by the mercy of Yu Di (the Jade Emperor +to whom is entrusted the superintendence of the world, the +Jupiter of the Taoists), that men and women may repent them +of their faults and make atonement for their sins." It includes +a description of the Ten Courts of Hell and the judgments pronounced +therein.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Vermicelli—cut with a knife.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> The space between two beams in a Chinese building.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The polite term for the wife of an official.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> This remarkable custom is declared by Marco Polo to be +peculiar to North China.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Sewing-machine.</p></div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor +Hsi's, by A. 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