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“...- 58
In the Commercial Room. By Rev. Wm.
Yates _ _ - . _ _ 59
Jamaica. By Rev. R. E. Abercrombie - - 81
Jottings from a Missionary’s Journal - 57, 78
Letters from China.
No. 1. By Rev. Richards Woolfenden - 8
No. 2. „ Mrs. Lucy Soothill - - 41
No. 3. „ Rev. W. E. Soothill - - 55
Life Worth Knowing About, A (W. F. Steven-
son). By Rev. John Taylor (a) - 89
Literary Notices - - - 42, 110, 170
PAGE
On the King’s Business. By Rev. John Cuttell.
Chapter 1. The Call - - - - 13
„ 2. Response - - - - 27
„ 3. Burning Ghauts - - 44
„ 4. Wholly Given to Idolatry - 61
„ 5. A Terrible Spell - - 73
„ 6. Perils in the Wilderness - 91
„ 7. A Dire Disaster - - - 105
„ 8. Better and Better - - 124
„ 9. The Joy of Harvest - - 140
„ 10. An Ominous Silence - - 156
„ 11. Mixed Experiences - - 171
„ 12. Home Again _ _ _ [86
Our East African Mission. By Rev. W. G.
Howe
1. Ribe as it is - - - - 70
2. Ribe as it has to be - - - 88
3. The New Stations - - - - 135
4. Review of the Past Ten Years - 151
Our Foreign...”
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“...our house, which had
been dry during the fine season, now became a
swamp, and we could no longer walk over them.
But a greater trouble overtook the mission—the
hot and damp weather revived that dreadful
disease, the dysentery, which had attacked Mr.
Fuller in the previous year. He bad been able to
check it during the winter, but it had gained too
firm a grip to be entirely thrown off, and now
with the change of season it gained the mastery;
and, alas! very soon and too soon, deprived a
strong and a good man of his energy.
Mr. Fuller soon became too weak to walk, so he
had to be carried in a sedan chair when he left his
house to attend to his duties.
It may seem strange to many of my readers to
be carried on the shoulders of two Chinamen in a
chair. But this method of travelling seems more
strange to young Englishmen when they land in
China, and yet in many parts of the empire it is
the only means of travel. It took me a long time
to become reconciled to chair-riding, but when I
saw Chinese...”
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“...Chinese towns,
the scourge of cholera frequently troubles the new
missionary, who has not yet learnt how to adapt
himself to his new and strange environment.
Hence we hear reports of ill-health, and some-
times of shattered energies, break-downs, and
the like. But, thanks to Christian zeal and British
pluck, the majority in China are able to overcome
their difficulties and get to work.
I hope my readers will remember that my des-
cription of the hot season in Ningpo is equally true
of Wenchow, and that in Africa our devoted
workers have to contend against worse evils all
the year round.
REV. JAMES PROUDFOOT.
BY THE EDITOR.
HE new Superintendent of our West
African Mission is a Scotchman, having
been born at Kinross, the chief town of
the county of that name—which lies
between Perthshire and Fife. Though
his manhood has been spent far from his
native scenes, he yet loves the land of the mount-
ain and’the flood, and one delight in returning from
his distant sphere, was the hope of ranging once...”
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“...Chinese towns,
the scourge of cholera frequently troubles the new
missionary, who has not yet learnt how to adapt
himself to his new and strange environment.
Hence we hear reports of ill-health, and some-
times of shattered energies, break-downs, and
the like. But, thanks to Christian zeal and British
pluck, the majority in China are able to overcome
their difficulties and get to work.
I hope my readers will remember that my des-
cription of the hot season in Ningpo is equally true
of Wenchow, and that in Africa our devoted
workers have to contend against worse evils all
the year round.
REV. JAMES PROUDFOOT.
BY THE EDITOR.
HE new Superintendent of our West
African Mission is a Scotchman, having
been born at Kinross, the chief town of
the county of that name—which lies
between Perthshire and Fife. Though
his manhood has been spent far from his
native scenes, he yet loves the land of the mount-
ain and’the flood, and one delight in returning from
his distant sphere, was the hope of ranging once...”
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“...OUR FOREIGN FIELD
5
people amongst whom he has recently been labour-
ing. As they may know, our Missions scarcely
touch the Spanish element in Central America.
Save the Indians on the Warri Biarra river, our
congregations are composed of black and coloured
men.
“ The black race in our Columbian Mission is of
Jamaica descent mainly. Those who live in Old
Bank and Careening Cay, Mr. Proudfoot says,
are sturdy and industrious, and have a greater
independence of character than the West Indian.
There are few Bocas del Toro natives connected
with our Mission in that town, so he has not come
in contact to a sufficient degree with the native
clement there to warrant his opinion being given.
In his addresses at the various missionary meetings,
he speaks in the highest terms of the native church
at Old Bank, and its influence for good on the
population of the village, and does not hesitate to
compare the leaders and stewards with those of
any English society. And from the examples he
gives of individual...”
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“...8
LETTERS FROM CHINA
in the columns of that serial. The announcements
made may be thus summarized:—
“The Rev. J. D. Kilburn, who has for many
years devoted himself to Gospel work in St.
Petersburg, Hamburg, Finland, Italy, Austria, and
other places on the Continent, has prepared a new
memory system, especially for the benefit of those
contemplating foreign missionary service, and who,
therefore, have to cope with the acquisition of
languages. Mr. Kilburn’s lessons have been
attended with remarkable results, in the case of
both private individuals and classes of students.
This course of lessons on memory training will be
published in the columns of The Christian, the first
article appearing on the 7th January. It is
believed that many will thus be enabled to sur-
mount the tremendous difficulty of acquiring a
foreign language who would otherwise be debarred
from entering the foreign mission field; and that
other Christian workers will be afforded the oppor-
tunity of attaining a better memory...”
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“...in Mr. Carthew’s case.”
DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES,
CHINA.
Bev. W. E. Stobie sailed on November 20th.
WiU our friends remember him in their prayers.
He has gone to Wenchow, and will, ere these lines
are read, have, we hope, arrived in safety.
EAST AFRICA.
Eev. C. Consterdine left London on December
8th, was due to arrive at Zanzibar on the 28th.
In reply to the news of the sudden death of Mr.
Carthew, he subscribed himself, “ Your’s sincerely,
for service or sacrifice.” That is the spirit of
which both heroes and martyrs are made. We
believe our friend has a great future before him.
Let us pray for him I
WEST AFRICA.
On January 9th, our honoured friend, Eev. J.
Proudfoot, sailed from Liverpool for Sierra
Leone. Mr. Proudfoot is every inch a missionary
of the loftiest type. Though only returning home
in June aftei’ a ten years’ absence, he not only
nobly and cheerfully accepted an invitation to go
to take charge of our West African Mission, but
because of the urgency of the case, surrendered...”
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“...the truth of
our religion.
Besides, we had another difficulty to contend
with, which I think is only found in China.
Politeness in behaviour and refinement in speech,
occupy tire first place in the Chinese ideal of good-
ness, they take the same place that we give to right
actions and sincere words.
A Chinaman, therefore, would feel compelled to
say that he believed, even when he did not believe
a word we said. But although the Chinaman
replies with a verbal assent to our question, he no
more believes the missionary than does the un-
polished African who bluntly says to the mission-
ary, “ You are a great liar, sir ! ”
I was much encouraged by finding a few regular
attenders, and began to hope that we should soon
be rewarded for our efforts by some conversions.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
WEST AFRICA.
EV. G. II. GOODMAN has sent a diary
of his labours in connection with the
Tikonko Mission, from August 15th to
September 17th, 1896. From this
diary I construct the following ac-
count :—
Mr. Goodman...”
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“...his church, but they do not
accept the salvation which he offers.’ Some of the
congregation, I think, would feel the force of the
parallel.
CHINA.
Letters from J. W. Heywood shew that he
proposed leaving Wenchow for Ningpo on Decem-
ber 10th. This was in accordance with the
appointment of last Annual Assembly. It has
been a great trial to leave Wenchow, but Mrs.
Heywood and he felt it was a call they could not
ignore, “In many respects,” he writes, “it will
be a new beginning for us. A new dialect will
have to be mastered. The respect, confidence,
and affection of the native workers will have to be
gained. Many prejudices may have to be over-
come.” We must sympathise with our brother
and his excellent wife, but
“ Bettei’ than our boding fears,
To us he oft hath proved.”
* * *
There are now 58 preaching stations in con-
nection with our Wenchow Mission. “ We are
entering in to possess the land,” writes
Mr. Heywood, “ but we need the earnest support
of the Home Churches, if all the calls which...”
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“...have to be placed in the aisles
on Sunday evening ; enlargement is absolutely
necessary. The membership is increasing, both at
Bocas and Old Bank. Mr. Halliwell reports him-
self to be in “perfect health.”
CHINA.
We expect that before the March Echo is in the
hands of its readers, our honoured friend Rev. Dr.
Swallow, will have arrived in England on fur-
lough. I need not ask that a hearty welcome be
given to the doctor: that is certain to be accorded
him. He will have a glorious story to tell of the
success of our work in Ningpo. The seed sown
in the long past by Rev. F. Galpin and the doctor
himself, is now ripening into harvest. His
medical equipment is opening doors into the homes
of the upper and ruling classes, who have been, and
still are, the powerful enemies of mission work in
China. God’s providence is once more proving
itself to be more powerful than circumstances.
* * *
Rev. J. W. Heywood has removed from Wen-
chow to Ningpo, to be in charge during Dr.
Swallow’s absence in the home...”
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“...we ever so rightly
understand God’s majesty as when we are not able
to stand under our own misery.
LETTERS FROM CHINA
No. If.
BY LUCV SOOTH ILL.
HEN you build the new hospital,
can you find employment for
Sitien, of Fung-ling ? ”
Such was the request our
Mission.
This involves a week-end walk (going and coming)
of anything from five to twenty-five miles.
A few months ago Sitien...”
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“...500
more, making in all £5,000, the estimated expense
of the immense gathering. Verily, they are big.
Christian Endeavour, if it has done nothing
else, has largely contributed to Christian
Missions. Besides the thousands of pounds, it has
sent quite a little army of young men and women
to different Mission fields. In many cases the
Young Peoples’ Society of Christian Endeavour
sends them and supports them. Miss Bovey,
Secretary of Newton Abbot Christian Endeavour
Union, Board School-mistress, and an ardent
Endeavour worker, has just set out for China, there
to work for Christ and the Church. We have
many Missionaries in that great land, but there will
be room for Miss Bovey, seeing that China has 913
cities without one Christian Missionary.
Our Christian Endeavour Society at West Vale
has been celebrating its first anniversary.
Stimulating addresses were given by Revs. D. R.
Lewis, C. Hunt, and Mr. J. Fielden. Rev. J. F.
Hughes presided....”
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“...Bible class,
and five candidates waiting for baptism. Praise
God for his goodness to us.”
CHINA.
In a letter from Rev. W. E. Soothill to the
Missionary Secretary, dated November 28th, 1896,
he says: “ I am glad Mr. Stobie is coming soon.
My heart sickens at the prospect of the next two
years. What am I to do ? There is no such
work in China so undermanned, and unless Free
Methodists stir up and send me more men at once,
they are going to lose.the grandest opportunity of
their missionary existence. The fields opening
out are immense and white to harvest.”
* * *
In a letter to the General Missionary Secretary,
dated Ningpo, November 5th, Rev. Dr. Swallow
reports that he had reached home after six weeks’
sojourn in Wenchow, during the absence of Dr.
Alfred Hogg. His host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs.
Heywood, had made his visit very agreeable. At
Ningpo he was going to work for a chapel, a
school, and two mission houses. He had an invita-
tion to visit New Zealand on his way home to
England. The steamer...”
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“...spring session of the committee
as held in Exeter, March 2nd and
rd. On the previous Sunday, Rev.
. J. Walkden and General Mission-
ry Secretary preached missionary
sermons at Queen Street and St.
Thomas’, and addressed juvenile missionary meet-
ings. These were followed by a missionary meet-
ing at St. Thomas’ on the Monday, and Queen
Street on the Tuesday. Mr. A. J. Loram took the
chair at the Monday meeting, and Mr. R. G. Rows
at the Tuesday meeting. The President, Con-
nexional Secretary, Corresponding Secretary,
Treasurer, General Missionary Secretary, Revs. T.
Wakefield, J. Kirsop, and J. T. Oliver, were the
speakers at the missionary meetings. The spirit
of missionary enthusiasm at all the services was
great. Dr. Swallow was the chief speaker at the
Tuesday evening meeting, and a noble speech he
gave.
* * *
The business of the committee was grave;
East Africa and China were both considered at
great length, urgent appeals having come from
these stations for additional agents. The death...”
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“...There is little to fear from impulsiveness in this
direction.
“SISTER GERTRUDE MEMORIAL.”
Some time ago two friends in Sheffield lost their
only daughter. For some time she had been in
training at “ Bowron House.” But our Father in
heaven had elected her to service in the heavenly
sphere. Soon after her twenty-first year God
called her, and she passed over to the light and jo'r
of heaven. Her mother especiallv wished to keep
her daughter m memory by associating her name
with tne medical mission work in China. She
conceived the happy idea of having an annual sale
of work for this object. The first has just been
held, and the noble sum of £36 10s. been raised.
The sale of work was opened by our honoured
friend, Mr. C. Wardlow.
* * *
We have called this a “ happy idea,” and so it
is ! If some four or five others would join, and
pledge themselves to raise annually, quite outside
the ordinary missionary income, which must be
heightened, not lowered, a fixed sum, then the
additional medical missionary...”
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“...blanche.
They may fear Christianity too much to fall in
with this offer.
5 (a). We have a splendid staff of fifty (last
year thirty) local preachers, a staff I am proud of.
But it saddens me to see how very raw they are,
6. Let me call your special and (I reverently
ask it) your prayerful attention to the accompany-
ing map*. It gives with fair correctness an outline
of the Wenchow field, but it does not show half
the villages which exist. The blue spots indicate
the outstations of the China Inland Mission, the
only other Protestant society here, and which has
been here thirty years, has had in all over thirty
English workers, has now ten with more coming,
and has a membership of less than 500. The places
# When reduced in scale this map will appear in the Echo. Ed....”
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“...JOTTINGS PROM A MISSIONARY’S JOURNAL.
57
marked red are our own. The black spots are
some of the larger villages into which the light of
the Gospel has not yet pierced. This map repre-
sents a population of two million souls. Please dili-
gently note that statement, at least two million
souls.
While rendering all honour to our good friends
of the China Inland Mission here, I venture to say
that Free Methodism has a claim to at least one
million of this population. I do not think you w:ll
blame me if I say that I considei” the greater part
of this field is pre-eminently ours. For I am con-
vinced that at this juncture we have—you have—
the future of this great district practically at our
disposal. How long this will remain so I cannot
foresee. The C. I. M. are about to increase their
staff, and rumours are abroad that another power-
ful society is casting longing eyes on this neigh-
bourhood. I can, however, foresee that if Free
Methodists will at this our opportunity send more
helpers,...”
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“...GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES.
69
fail to go forward just when that is possible for
which our heroes died and our martyred ones
were speared, is within otir grasp, “ would be dis-
loyalty.”
* * *
Never in the^history of oui’ missions were the
polity, than a noble and 'heroic move^forward in
our mission enterprise ?
TO OUR Y.P.C.E. SOCIETIES...
We were gladdened a few days ago to 'receive
a beautiful letter from the secretary of the^Herne
For description see Our Foreiyn Field, page 67.
calls more clear and urgent, the duty more impera-
tive, the privilege more august. As churches we
are well able to occupy the land and possess the
great Borana Country, and to plant new stations in
China, both at Ningpo and Wenchow. What can
better give honour to our democratic church
Hill Young People’s Christian Endeavour Society.
I speak of it as beautiful because of the gentle and
generous spirit it breathed. The writer said their
society had been reading up on the question of
women’s work among...”
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“...70
OUR EAST AFRICAN MISSION.
on our China station. Last quarter they raised £7
for this object. I feel sure this society will, in
addition to this, help in raising funds for sending
the additional medical missionary promised to
Ningpo. What object could better contribute to
the broadening of the mind, refining and enlarg-
ing the sympathies of these young people than the
object they have fixed on as an aim of their
efforts? All honour to these young friends; to
them the spiritual results will be very great. Can
not more of our societies follow in the line of our
Herne Hill friends ? Could not several combine
and pledge to keep one of the new missionaries
needed, either for China or East Africa.
A GREAT NEED.
It will be a fatal mistake to hand over the rais-
ing of our missionary income either to our Young
People’s Christian Endeavour Society or juvenile
collectors, either exclusively or mainly. ’There
is a danger in this direction. Our.young people
must be encouraged as never before, but...”
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“...Like an American
scoundrel of whom I have read, they might have
said their wages were so much besides stealings.
But they over-reached themselves, for “ honesty is
ever the best policy.”
SIZE OF CHINA.
The central province of China is about half as
large again as England and Wales, and contains
thirty millions of inhabitants, which is more than
the entire population of England and Wales.
China is as large as Europe with Turkey left out.
Mr. Cornaby says when we read of the success of
missions in China, we must not forget that one-
fifth of the world’s population is there, and we
should cry daily to God* on its behalf. The
largest province has only two Protestant mission-
aries, and some provinces have no missionary at
all. Send men to China.
SHOUTING FOR SPEAKING.
When Mr. Galpin went to China he was struck
by the fact that the natives shouted when speaking
to each other. Perhaps they learned it at school.
Talking of a day school, Mr. Cornaby says: “ A
native teacher is employed who, with...”
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