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GONTENTS.
PAGE |
A Curious Chinese Legend. By J. W. Hey-
wood + 5 Su = “ ~ 183
Address. By F.. Bavin - - - Sg)
A Great Book on Missions - - - - 187
Call. to Prayer; A. By Dr. R. F..Horton ~- 39
Children’s Portion. By the Editor. 14, 30, 46,
62, 78; 94, 110, 126, 142, 158, 191
China as a Mission Field. . By Richards Wool-
fenden - = a - - 135, 107
Chinese Pirates. By Lucy Soothill - - 17
Christian Endeavour Page. By Edward Abbott.
16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160,
176, 192
Crisis in China. By W. E. Soothill - = 145
First Impressions of Africa. By B. J. Rat-
cliffe - = - - - - 132
Gallant Galla, The. By Charles Consterdine 169
General Missionary Secretary’s> Notes, 8 23,
38, 52,70, 131, 149, 163, 180
God’s Child. By William Yates - - - 119
His Second Probation. By W. A. Todd.
Chapter 1. Coals of Fire - - -> II
af 2. The Protection of Good-
ness. - - - Seva
35 3. Walls Have Ears . - =. 43
3 4. The Laugh of the Hyena 57
5 5. A Good Confession - STS
ss 6. The...”
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“...memory of this bright young Christian
martyr is perpetuated, entitled, ‘Bor. eEis
Sake.”
But there have been other noble-hearted
women labouring in China, who, though their
self-sacrifice has not been unto death, have,
nevertheless, done and suffered much on behalf
of its spiritual enlightenment and evangeliza-
tion. As representative of the many such may
be specified the names of Mrs. Bridgman—wife
of Dr. Bridgman—and Mrs. Griffith John, the
wife of the celebrated missionary, whose praise
is in all the Churches for the imtensity of his
missionary ardour, and the wonderful success
he has achieved in his propagandist efforts in
that once unyielding and unpromising province
of China—Hunan. The name of Mrs. Bridg-
jan is’ given preference here, inasmuch as she
was one of the pioneers, if not actually the
first, inthat work of female education in China,
which has> since been’ followed up with such...”
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Page 8
“...4 OUR
EDITORIAL NOTES.
CHINA—NINGPO.
=o¢5] HAVE received from Miss Ethel
7es| Abercrombie a letter, dated Ning-
po, October 21st, 1899, which I
am sure will interest my readers.
| Miss Abercrombie writes :—
“Tt is always a great pleasure to me to get
FOREIGN
FIELD.
City Church. Mrs. Ah Kying, whose husband
first heard the gospel through being nursed at
the hospital years ago, went with me.
# % * %
In China a lady is never supposed to go out
alone, especially if she is under fifty, and once
or twice I heard people along the r-ad asking
if I were sixteen or seventeen.
Apart from considering Chinese etiquette, I
was very glad of the company of. Mrs. Ah
Kying—she is a pretty, pleasant, little woman,
and is very anxious to serve God.
* * * *
After quite a long walk through the city, we
got to the house of a Mrs. Vaen, an enquirer.
When standing at the door, the passers-by
ANGOLA TOWN SUNDAY SCHOOL, FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE,
every month the “Echo,” and to read...”
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“...happy in-
of the “ Twentieth Century Fund,” the Presi-
dent does not, as we understand, intend to
suggest a week of self-denial.
CHINA.
In a letter recently to hand from Dr. Swal-
low, there is an item of special interest in
relation to Miss Abercrombie. He says:—
‘Miss Abercrombie has had her yearly exam-
ination. She has gone through the same course
of study as that prescribed for the Church.
Missionary Society. Candidate must read
Gospel of St. John in the Chinese characters ;
the first two chapters of the “Sacred Edict’ ;
and be able to translate both into English.
She passed a highly creditable examination.”
We do not wonder that the Doctor should
add:—‘ If strength and health be continued
to her, she will make a most efficient mis-
sionary.” Our own hope is that our dear
friend will render splendid service among the
women of China. Do not let us ever forget
Miss Abercrombie in our prayers.
As a Missionary Society, we are singularly
fortunate in our staff of missionaries...”
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Page 14
“...have broken limbs been
the outcome. But the conflict has been none
the less real for all that. The fight has been
a sharp moral battle; the belligerents, some
of the school pupils; the casus belli,’ ungentle-
manly language and conduct.
Now, our pupils are mostly young men, and
“jackets dusted”
in the orthodox way; hence, the masters are
shut up to one method of dealing with them—
that referred to by St. Paul, when he said:
“JT persuade men.”
Compared with English boys, the youths of
China labour under many disadvantages. One
STUDENTS
of these is, they are not taught to keep their
lips. clean. Brought up in an atmosphere
tainted with impurity, no wonder that, under
a polished exterior, often lurks an unclean
mind. Fear of becoming Christians in spite
of themselves, deters many from entering the
school: but while there is no religious com-
pulsion, yet good conduct is @ sine qua non of
remaining there.
The trouble began in this way. A young
fellow called ‘“‘ Abounding Fragrance...”
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Page 15
“...PT I
HIg SECOND PROBATION. 11
shown to be better than the ordinary schools,
well-to-do parents will jump at the privilege of -
sending their sons here; for, at present, the
opium-pipe, gambling, and vice, form the net
in which the gilded youth of China so easily
become enmeshed when away from parental
control.”
On being questioned, Abounding Fragrance
acknowledged that he had written the pro-
clamation, stated that it had been done in fun,
and that the aspersions on Aboundin
Ability’s character were absolutely unfounded.
He was seriously reasoned with, expressed his
contrition, and offered to make an apology in
the usual form of a feast. This it was felt
was not desirable. A demand was made of
him that he should, before the whole school,
acknowledge the untruthfulness of the state-
ments, and apologize to Abounding Ability.
This he did not consent to do, and on his being
called up at prayers next morning to apologize,
he declined ‘to do it in satisfactory terms. He
was given twenty-four...”
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Page 22
“...scarcely breathe, as I wended my way
through the dark, dirty, greasy, vile-smelling,
badly-lighted streets. It did not mend matters
that, stuck in the pavement all along were rows
of lighted incense, a very doubtful kind of
fumigation and illumination! From one door-
way was suspended a ball of lighted. incense,
a sphere of starry points, and the only pretty
thing to be seen.
Mrs. Stott, my kind hostess at the cottage,
also came up to the city about this time; thus
only two young ladies of the China Inland
Mission were left behind enjoying their holiday,
and in perfect safety; as we all thought.
It was during our absence that the “ sea-
robbers”? came. Hope Cottage is built on the
edge of a little, but steep and rocky promontory,
which juts out into the bay. Here, on a bright,
calm day, as many as 300 boats may be counted
dotting the surface of the water, their sails
resembling the wings of butterflies, black,
brown, or white.
The two young ladies went calmly to. bed as
usual, but in the...”
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Page 26
“...up in England
are being answered in East
Africa.” Doubtless, it would
be a great joy to Mr. Conster-
dine to learn of the sailing
of Messrs. Griffiths and
Ratcliffe, not only on account
of his sense of loneliness, but
because he felt that he must
shortly visit Golbanti, left
without European missionary
when the tragic events that
had taken place necessitated
his visiting our stations in the
Ribe districts. Ere this, we
hope he has been gratified by
their safe arrival on African
shores.
* * *
CHINA.
I.havn received from Miss
Emma Hornby a letter dated
November 30th, 1899. She
acknowledges receipt from
Manor Chapel, Bermondsey,
of a box with patchwork quilts, Christmas-
cards, etc. She asks me to convey to all friends
in the home-land many thanks and heartfelt
prayers for the kindness they have shown
during the year. Miss Hornby proceeds:
MR. JAMES MACKINDER.
with such a bitter case of persecution. A dear
man, one of our Christians, living in a place
where the villagers...”
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“...cheerful, and full of enthusiasm.
In concluding, he says: —‘‘I am still ‘thankful
to report myself very well in body, and, I
think, better in soul; let us not forget that it
is from the dark clouds that comes the fruitful
and refreshing rain.” For men of such faith
and hopefulness we may well give God thanks.
Before these “Notes” reach our readers our
friend will, if all goes well, have had his heart
gladdened and strengthened by the arrival of
Revs. J. B. Griffiths and B. J. Ratcliffe.
CHINA.
We have short letters from both Ningpo and
Wenchow. Both report the missionaries well in
health, and the werk vigorously progressing.
MR. HENRY BLYTH.
Some months ago, Mr. Blyth wrote asking
that he might be allowed to contribute the...”
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Page 29
“...meetings were of the most inspirational charac-
ter. At two of the sectional meetings China
was considered, and the methods ably and
eloquently advocated by both ministers and
doctors alike, working in that great Empire,
were those which our own Society and mission-
aries are pursuing. It did one good to hear
this undesigned witness to the wisdom and
success of our own work.
Splendid speeches and papers were contri-
buted by such men as the Archbishop of Can-
terbury, Dr. George Smith; Dr. Wardlaw
Thompson, Dr. Glover, Dr. Clifford, Professor
Moule (Cambridge), Revs. R. J. Campbell,
Alex. Connell, B.D., W. T. A. Barber, B.D.
(Leys School, Cambridge), Dr. Alex. McKennal,
and many others. Rev. W. T. A. Barber,
Master of the Leys School, Cambridge, was
exceedingly courteous and generous to our
missions and missionaries. Mr. Barber ren-
dered in past years splendid service to his own
Church (Wesleyan) in China.
There were 1,700 students. present, coming
from nearly every part of the world. Missions...”
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Page 40
“...out here, who are of the greatest
assistance to him in his: work.”
: CHINA.
A letter from Mrs. W. E. Soothill intimates
that they were eagerly looking for the arrival of
Mr. and Mrs. Sharman, and of the future Mrs.
Stobie.
As they had only learned recently that Mr.
Sharman was getting married, they would re-
ceive him and his wife as their guests, as no
house was ready for them. Mrs. Soothill pro-
ceeds :—
“T feel sorry for both those ladies beginning
married life. A new and heart-breaking lan-
guage, and a trying climate, all at one fell
swoop! We are sadly behind the times in
not insisting on the wives (before they become
such) getting a hold of the language. Many,
under such circumstances, soon give up attempt-
ing to learn it, and I could have done it too,
but either the grace of God, or my north-
country obstinacy (perhaps some of both) pre-
vented. I wish the Church at home would
pray for the ladies on our China field.”
% % %
In a later communication, Mrs. Soothill
says :—
“Mr...”
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Page 42
“...Rev. W. R. Stobie. May the rich blessing of
God rest on their union, and may long and
happy years of service be their’s in the Empire
of China. A finer field of missionary service
the world does not possess.
We have received just a note from our good
friend, Rev. C. H. Goodman, announcing his
safe’arrival at Sierra Leone. He reports him-
self fairly well in health. Mr. and Mrs. Proud-
foot are also, we are thankful to say, in
Esq., legacy of late
moderate health. The work in Freetown is pro-
gressing in a very satisfactory manner ;
in every direction to demand our profound
thankfulness. ‘
JAMAICA,
Our good friend, Rev. F. Bavin, has been
suffering from a somewhat serious. attack of
malarial fever. He reports himself better, but
not quite well. He says the work is hard, but
there are many signs of improvement.
CHINA.
The news from both of our China districts
continues to be most encouraging. Their ap-
peals for further agents are truly apostolic in
their fervour and force. Are we to...”
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Page 46
“...her to bear it.
All this she silently faced and braved for
many years; then a strange thing happened,
and it ceased once and for all.
One day, in the early spring, a missionary,
who had devoted many years to medical work
in China, came home on furlough, and, strange
to say, came right away to their town, and to
everybody’s profound astonishment, made his
home with Sarah Simpson! He had not been
there many days before he heard, to his deep
disgust, of what had been going on, and that
his presence as Sarah’s guest, was causing Mrs.
Grundy to say some very nasty things. This
made him exceedingly angry, and he deter-
mined to put these crooked things straight.
And so it was announced that he would give
a lantern lecture in the Town Hall, on “‘ Medical
Missions in China,” and as the curiosity of the
people was at fever-heat, and his worship the
Mayor was to take the chair, thus giving the
meeting the stamp of almost respectability, all
the world and his wife dwelling in that borough,
which...”
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“...have shown you our hospital, I have shown you
some of my patients and students; now, sir, I
will show you the portrait of one of the
grandest women whom God ever made—the
woman who has worked, and struggled, and
sacrificed to build this hospital, and to con-
tinue this work,’ and to the profound astonish-
ment of the whole audience, he threw onto the
screen the well-known features of Sarah Simp-
son! The people were dumbfounded ; and, pro-
fiting by the hush, he.went on:
“Sir, on my return to China, in ‘a few
- months, I propose, in spite of her objections, to
call our hospital after the name of its noble
foundress, and sole supporter, ‘ The Sarah Simp-
son Hospital,’ and I hope that others will see
their way to follow in her footsteps.”
Had a bombshell fallen into their midst it
could not have created a greater consternation,
and when the dear old soul rose from her quiet
corner, and with swimming eyes, sought’. to
escape, the whole meeting, moved by a common
impulse, sprang to its feet...”
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Page 51
“...come and see
me and the baby. No less than six came, ac-
companied by a young Arab gentleman, a regu-
lar swell, and Nellie was handed round to each
of them, and seemed to enjoy the fun.” Her
mother was amused to see how the young Arab
gentleman dealt with his chair. For a minute
or two he sat on it properly, then he drew his
feet on to the chair; and sat with his knees
touching his chin for the remainder of the
time. It is hard to adopt foreign customs. It
is said that when a certain Emperor of China
had a carriage sent him, he took the coach-
man’s seat, and put him inside to drive.
THE SLAVE MARKET.
When Mr. Wakefield and his wife were at
Zanzibar in 1870 they paid a visit to the slave
market. Mrs. Wakefield wrote: “It is held
every evening, from five to six o'clock. I could
scarcely believe my own eyes as we threaded
our way among the crowds of the buyers and
sellers of human flesh and blood. The poor
creatures offered for sale stood in rows here and
there; and were marked on the forehead...”
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Page 52
“...missions. Very
properly, the mission night is becoming increas-
ingly popular in our programme. A lady
friend told Miss Street that necessity arose
one week to change “the night out” of one of
her maids. When told of the change the girl
was visibly disappointed, and said: ‘‘ Of course,
Tll stay home, if you wish it, but IT would
rather give up two or three nights than this
one.” “Why?” said the lady. “ Because
“this is the night of the Missionary Parliament
at the Christian Endeavour, and I’m China.”
The Twentieth Century Fund.—l trust every
Christian Endeavourer who can possibly do so,
will have a definite interest in this very great
“ Qhristian Endeavour.’ We must not lose
sight of the fact that the raising of this sum
of money is only a means to an end—the
extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Loyalty to our
Church, and love of the Saviour, are sufficient
motives to call out our energies and generous
sacrifices.
In some cases it may be found expedient for
the Christan Endeavour Society—as...”
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Page 55
“...of Africa, clearly show, that
among the noble band of women who, renounc-
ing cheerfully all the charms and attractions
of Christidn homes and fatherland, have gone
forth to endure the nameless privations of a
missionary life, and to pour out the wealth of
their gentleness and persuasive power in the
cause of African evangelization, the Methodist
Free Church has. supplied a contingent second
to none in earnest devotedness and conse-
crated self-sacrifice.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
HOME MISSIONS.
CHINA.
Missionary Secretary we meet
with the following remarks :—
“J was sorry to see there is
as yet no word of any medical
colleague having been found. But
we must just wait on patiently, and trust that
the Lord will supply the need in His own
time.”
* * * s
After referring to apparatus useful for medi-
cal purposes, Dr. Hogg asks Mr. Chapman to
thank ladies in Heywood for kind services.
He would have done so himself but he had
not a list of their names. Then, he says: “I
will try to meet your...”
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Page 56
“...and they
will have more room next spring if I can
manage to get away, to see my wife safely
home.”
.
Rev. Davin Brook, D.C.L.
‘* Mr. Sharman has commenced work already,
and Mrs. Sharman with him. He seems to have
a pretty good ear, and that is a hopeful sign,
though one can’t say very much after two days
of it.”
* * *
Mr. Soothill believes that missionaries should
follow a prescribed course of study, and has
sent proposals which he asks the Committee to
sanction. Every other mission in China has
its course of study and examinations for newly-
arrived. missionaries.
* * *%
He further says: “Seventeen baptisms last
‘Sunday, five the week before, eight a fortnight
before that, making thirty this month. Please
thank the Committee for the very kind resolu-
tion passed concerning my book work, etc. I
‘am very much obliged to them, and will bring
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY'S NOTES.
samples for them to criticize and improve when
I come. It may interest you to know that the
publishers...”
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Page 57
“...GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES. 53
health, as he was certainly in a cheerful frame of
mind.
We hope ere this he will have had the joy of
welcoming Mr. Ratcliffe.
CHINA.
The news from China, both from Ningpo and
Wenchoy, is full of deepest interest.
Mr. Soothill has forwarded to the Editor a most
interesting account of the holding of the first
District meeting in Wenchow. It came too late
for the April number of THE EcHo, but whenever
published it ‘will be read with profound interest.
The romance of adventure in missionary enter-
prise may in some degree lie in the past, but the
days of romance in the changes wrought by the
power of the Gospel lie in the future. We will
not anticipate the story of Wenchow’s first District
meeting. '. +
position of Mr, Alderman) Mordey, the President
took the chair at the missionary meeting in Silver
Street Chapel; Mr. Robert Turner, Rochdale,
took the chair at Saxilby ; and Mr. H. J. Hart at
Bracebridge. The members of the deputation
were Revs...”
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Page 65
“...principle
would justify the Empress of China in forbid-
ding the preaching of the Gospel. It would
condemn Clarkson in our own country, and
William Lloyd Garrison in the United. States,
from holding anti-slavery meetings. It would
nip all reformations in their initial stage, and
obstruct the path of progress in every direction.
In the name of humanity and of Christ I
protest against it. Andrew Fuller was told by
a politician of his day that they gave him
liberty to think, but the great Baptist divine
spurned the professed gift. We have that
power without you granting it, he exclaimed.
“What we want is liberty to disseminate our
thoughts.”
LANTERN LECTURES.
Mr. Charles Eastwood, treasurer of the Mis-
sionaries’ Literature Association, is anxious to
raise £15 per annum by Lantern Lectures, on
behalf of our missions. He has, had a fairly
successful winter, and is now able to lecture on
all our missions. He can don the Chinese
dress when he lectures on China. He is con-
stantly adding to his list...”
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