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“...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 Field : Editorial Notes
5, 21, 36, 50, 66, 83, 99, 115, 130, 147, 163, 178
Our Forward Movement, By the Editor - 129
Our Missions in Ningpo. By the Rev.
Frederick Galpin
Chapter 1. Climate and Health 1
„ 2. Actual Work Commenced - 33
,, 3. My First Baptisms - - 102
„ 4. Forward - - - - 136
„ 5. Christian Sympathy and
Heathen Antipathy...”
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“...OUR MISSIONS IN NINGPO.
BY FREDERICK GALPIN.
CHAPTER I.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH.
FTER my first New Year at Ningpo, the
cold weather passed away before the
end of March, and April came in with
a temperature equal in heat to an
English summer.
We now had warm rain instead of
cold showers, and a greater quantity
fell. The rice fields near 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...”
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“...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
more on the Ochill hills.
When 18 years of age he entered Edinburgh
University as an undergraduate, but circumstances
did not permit him to finish his curriculum there.
For...”
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“...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
more on the Ochill hills.
When 18 years of age he entered Edinburgh
University as an undergraduate, but circumstances
did not permit him to finish his curriculum there.
For...”
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“...last it became
necessary that
Mr. Proudfoot
should return
t o England.
Exposure t o
wet weather,
and having to
cross rivers in
the Clarendon
Circuit li a d
made hi m
liable to
rheu m a t ism.
His wife and
children had
left Bocas
for England
on health
grounds, and
Mr. Proudfoot
had never
visited the
homeland
since he sailed
f o Jamaica
in 1885. On
every ground
change a n d
rest were
necessary.
Mr. Proudfoot
came li o m e
o n furlough,
intending t o
return. But
the fact that
our West Afri-
can Mission is
without a
superintendent made the Committee think that in
Mr. Proudfoot’s return to England, they had a provi-
dential opportunity of making a most eligible ap-
pointment, and in a few weeks our esteemed brother
will sail for Sierra Leone. May God gowith him !.
In closing this brief sketch it may interest my
readers to have Mr. Proudfoot’s opinion of the-...”
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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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“...Robertson’s
twenty-fifth annual summary, was £1,387,665.
The amount is made up as follows :—
Church of England societies ........ £544,232
Joint societies of Churchmen and
Nonconformists................... 184,219
Nonconformist societies in England
and Wales ........................... 445,847
Scotch and Irish Presbyterian societies 200,455
Roman Catholic societies.............. 12,912
* * *
“ Wings,” the organ of the Women’s Total
Abstinence Union, has given a very appreciative
Street in Jomvu Mission Village. ['S'ee Editorial Notes.
Catholic Churches, and the probability of another
Education Bill being introduced by the Government
in the next Session, it strongly urges everyone of
our circuits to vindicate the principles of Noncon-
formity, and has appointed a sub-committee to
watch the course of controversy, and take what
steps may seem to be desirable. The vigilance
of the Connexional Committee must commend
itself to the readers of the Missionary Echo.
♦ * *
The amount contributed for foreign...”
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“...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, and to apply
that improved memory to the furtherance of
Christ’s Kingdom.”
LETTERS FROM CHINA.
No. I.
BY RICHARDS WOOLFENDEN.
OU will be glad to hear that I am keep-
ing in excellent health. I have got
back to my studies in full swing, and
am making rapid inroads with the
language, both in its written and spoken
forms. On every side my native
friends begin to congratulate me on
the progress...”
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“...was not my own, and honestly
earned. The memory of my sainted mother
always kept me from sinking down into the
filthy gutters, where most of these poor fellows
root and grovel. I lost faith in God, but I never
lost faith in the saintly goodness of my mother.
I had a good education, a happy home, and a
fairly good prospect before me, and for these I
disobeyed God, quenched the Spirit, stifled the
voice of conscience, missed my chance, and the
result is, that instead of being somewhere on the
mission field helping God to save the world, I’m
here a dying man, an utter wreck, a piece of
mere lumber, which the world has kicked to one
no future for me in this life, but only the wretched,
miserable past, oh, sir ” he cried, raising himself on
to his elbow, “Tell your young men to give heed
to the voice of God, to follow His lead, to obey
His call, wherever it may lead, and whatever it
may cost, for no man can afford to fight his Maker,
and no man can offend Him with impunity. I
have thought it...”
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“...living at this hour.
But ah! those might-have-beens. The letter which
shows his indomitable self-reliance, shews his
noble generosity. In answer to a question of Dr.
Brook he says, “ I cannot save a penny, and could
not even if my salary were doubled. My sole in-
vestments have been made in the homes of the poor
and needy.”
The name of Mr. Carthew first appears on our
Assembly minutes in 1884, where it stands with
that of Thomas Truscott for Freetown, Sierra
Leone. He had been appointed to that Mission
the preceding year, and his Connexional ministry
dates from 1883. Mr. Truscott had been invalided
home, and arrived a short time before Mr. Carthew
sailed in the autumn of that year. The two
devoted men had a pleasant interview ere the em-
barkation ; they laboured afterwards as colleagues
in Sierra Leone, and now they are united in service
in the upper Sanctuary.
Mr. Carthew laboured for four years in the
country which is called expressively “ the white
man’s grave.” There his characteristic...”
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“...since he shook my hands at
Mombasa for the last time, that friendship is an
inspiration.
“Though his work in East Africa was not marked
by any great progressive scheme (the fault was
not his; the cause being lack of funds and men)
yet it was the work of consolidation. I know, if
it had not been for the efforts of Mr. Carthew, that
in all human probability we should not have had)
any mission station at Jomvu to- day. It was dur-
ing the famine of 1889-90 that he actually fed the-
whole of the people on that station at his own cost,,
when the relief fund was exhausted. This pre-
vented a stampede to the Church Mission stations,
and earned for him this testimony from the heathen
around : ‘ Bwana Carthew is a lion, but he is a lion
who takes care of his whelps.’ I have seen the-
tears fill his eyes many a time, as he has seen the-
wretched misery of the natives and realised his-
inability to give them adequate relief.
“ As would be expected, he was a terror to the-
slaver (hence, one reason why...”
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“...OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
21
in outward form. To the very core of him he was
generous. Many a time I warned him to take
■some care of his money against the needs of sick-
ness and age. But how could he with the mission
always wanting, with run-away slaves seeking
■shelter, with poor fellows starving all round him.
And he has not suffered for his large-heartedness.
He has been well provided for by Him who takes
•care of the lilies and the sparrows.”
EDITORIAL NOTES.
EAST AFRICA.
OME extracts from a letter to the Sec-
retary from Rev. R. M. Ormerod, dated
Golbanti, November 2nd, 1896, will
much interest readers of the Echo.
* * *
“ My brother’s death has been a great
grief to me. It was he who led me to
the penitent form thirteen years ago, and who
first turned my thoughts • towards the heathen.
He took a curacy at home, merely to gain exper-
ience preliminary to work in the foreign field, and
the postscript, in his last letter to me, expressed
the hope that we would meet towards the end of
the...”
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“...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
several months of his furlough. All honour to such
men.
* * *
New Year’s week was a busy one for the
President, General Missionary, Secretary, and Eev.
J. Proudfoot. Three valedictory missionary meet-
ings were held, one at Loughborough, one at
Mount Sorrell, and one at Liverpool. The attend-
ance at each was large, and the collections were
very good. They were intensely serious meetings,
but not one wailing note was struck. The closing
words...”
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“...24
THE GENERAL OUTLOOK.
Will all our missionary friends take a deeper
interest in the circulation of our Echo ? Were
this done its circulation would be doubled, which
in turn would not only lighten the burden on our
mission funds, but by extending the knowledge of
our missions quicken interest in them, and greatly
increase the contributions.
AN INCIDENT BY THE WAY.
Recently, in paying a deputation visit to a Mid-
land town, we noticed that while the school did
fairly well for our mission fund, there were no
lady collectors. We drew attention to the fact. A
lady at once accepted the office, and secured names
of contributors before she left the chapel. The
Rev. J. T. Cope is right when he says, “ If only
the ladies will take up the missionary question,
funds will never fail.”
* * *
On our own behalf we say that Christian
Missions are supremely a woman’s question. The
position which woman holds to-day in the home,
in society, in literature, she owes directly to the
gospel of Jesus Christ....”
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“...end. At the afternoon
service we had 151 present, when again we had a
most helpful time. At early morning prayer on the
Monday there were 105 present. Now, sir, when
you remember that twelve mouths ago there were
not twenty people in residence on the station, I
think, you will join with me in thanking God for
what he hath wrought at Ganjoni.
You will be pleased to hear that the township
itself is becoming a credit to the Mission. A
number of houses are complete, and all in building
are in line, and forming streets leading to and
from the station; the Church and the Mission
House being about in the centre. Mr. Griffiths
has worked hard, in fact, has done his level best,
and done it well. He has a good day school, and
takes great interest in it, and is quite a favourite
with the children. I persuaded him to return with
me to Ribe, and to go with me on a visit to
Jibana.
Mr. Griffiths suggested that his school-children
should follow him and enjoy a treat at Ribe. I
told him I did not object...”
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“...doors into the house. On Sunday, the 25th
ult., was New Year’s Day at Jibana, and I was
afraid this might interfere with our service. I
asked the native teacher to tell the people that I
expected them at Church, notwithstanding their
festivities, and to my great surprise the whole
compound was simply crowded, so much so that I
forgot altogether to make a count. I remained
over Monday, returning to Ribe on Tuesday, early
in the afternoon. Since my return I have been
busy repairing Mission Houses, and cleaning
Mission premises. It is really wonderful the
amount of overgrowth which covers the place in
the course of a month or six weeks of occasional
showers, when no special attention is given to the
compound in keeping it clean.
November 6th. While writing the foregoing on
Tuesday I was completely knocked over with fever
and was obliged to put away my pen. On Sunday
we had a thorough downpour of rain which con-
tinued over night/ and with but a few hours’ cessa-
tion, has continued to the present...”
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“...deserves
to succeed—and we trust it will. It is gratifying
to know that our own churches will be conspicu-
ously represented on the executive, Mr. Vivian
being Vice-president, and Miss Evelyn Vivian.
Corresponding Secretary.
The Matlock circuit is doing well in the matter
of Endeavour. Matlock Bridge, Cromford, Bon-
sall, Wirksworth, and Holloway, have good and
useful societies, and it is contemplated to start
another at Crich early in the New Year. The one
at Bonsall is the outcome of a successful mission
conducted by Sister Frances, of Bowron House. An
excellent beginning has been made, about forty
young persons meeting weekly for prayer and
Christian usefulness.
Haslingden Society is working earnestly and
well. The Y.P.S.C.E. has made such satisfactory
progress that it has been determined to commence
a junior society as early as possible. An item not
to be overlooked is, that nearly all the Endeavour
members are taking the Missionary Echo, for the
New Year, making an increase of 16 new sub-...”
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“...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 left Tikonko on Saturday, Aug-
ust 15th, and preached twice at Boho the fol-
lowing day to attentive congregations, and on
Monday evening he preached at Juralioo to 96
persons. Being unwell, he rested here several
days, but on Friday he...”
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“...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 come
to us to preach the gospel are to be responded to.”
# #
At the date of his last communication, November
25th, all the Mission Staff at Wenchow were well.
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S
NOTES.
EAST AFRICA.
POST-CARD is to hand announcing the
safe arrival at Mombasa, on January
2nd, of Rev. C. II. Consterdine. This
is good news ; Mr. Consterdine’s timely
arrival will greatly strengthen the
hands of our mission staff in East Africa,
and by his zeal and missionary en-
thusiasm renew the hope of his fellow workers.
* * *
On the Sth inst., Miss M. E. Edwards and Miss
Annie Brown left London en route for our East
African Mission Station, Miss Edwards to be
married to Rev. J. B. Griffiths and Miss Brown to
Rev. R. M. Ormerod. Both these...”
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“...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 country. His
leaving Wenchow was the occasion of great excite-
ment ; blessings and presents were literally
showered on him and his dear wife.
* * *
The mail just to hand has brought from our
honoured missionary, Rev. W. E. Sootliill, a most
impassioned appeal for three more ...”
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