The Mission that Had to Be (1865-1866) (part 2 of 2)
Long after, impressions made were still fresh in the minds of many with whom Taylor came in contact at that time. A man deeply burdened, a man God-conscious had moved from place to place, everywhere awakening longing for the same God-consciousness. It made no difference whether meetings were large or small, influential or apparently otherwise; he gave the best he had to give and so earnestly that other hearts could not but come to share the burden. At Birmingham, for example, the night was so stormy that it seemed as if there could be no meeting at all. Taylor was tired, and the fireside looked specially attractive as the rain poured in torrents. No one could get to the Severn Street Schoolroom, his kind hostess assured him, and it would be taken for granted that the meeting would not be held.
‘But it was announced for tonight, was it not?’ asked Taylor quietly. ‘Then I must go, even if there is no one but the doorkeeper.’
And there, in that almost empty schoolroom, the presence of the Lord was so real that both speaker and hearers felt it to be one of the best meetings they ever attended. Half the little audience of eight or ten, as Taylor often mentioned, either became missionaries themselves or gave one or more of their children to the foreign field, while the remaining half were from that day earnest and prayerful supporters of the C.I.M.
On his return to London, Taylor took the opportunity of going over the Mission cash-book to see how far the daily prayer for funds had been answered. In the first five weeks of the year, up to the 6th February when the noon meeting was begun, £170 had been received. Another five weeks had now elapsed, and eagerly he made the reckoning necessary to compare the periods. What was the surprise and thankfulness with which he discovered that the contribution of that second period of five weeks amounted to almost £2,000! It was manifest also that all the praying band were to go forward without delay to China.
And so it came about that the first issue of the Occasional Paper which was to represent the Mission had to have an inset slipped into each number saying that the whole sum needed for passages and outfits was already in hand—‘the response of a prayer-hearing God through His believing people’.
One more series of meetings was fitted in after this, in response to urgent invitations from the western counties. Hudson Taylor was specially glad to be going in that direction, as it gave the opportunity of paying a farewell visit to Bristol. In spite of many responsible and pressing occupations in, caring for a family of over eleven hundred orphans, George Miiller followed with keen interest the development of the China Inland Mission. He gave time whenever Taylor visited him to careful consideration of matters connected with the work.
How much his prayers meant the missionary leader could not but realise when he went over the Orphan Houses and saw those hundreds of children, sheltered and provided for without a penny of endowment, without an appeal of any kind for help, or even making their wants known. From the very commencement of his Christian life Taylor had been profoundly influenced by this quiet consistent testimony to the faithfulness of God; and now that he was himself being led out along similar lines, he valued more than ever George Miller’s prayers and sympathy.
Back again in London Taylor found himself plunged in a very vortex of business and farewell meetings. It was the end of April, and in May the party was to sail for China. Apart from Maria, who was slowly convalescing from her recent illness, no one had any experience of the conditions to which they were going, and everything had to pass through his hands;
“Whatever needed doing, he seemed to know just how to do it,’ wrote John McCarthy. “Questions as to printing (lithographic or common), engraving, purchase of materials for outfits or supplies, and the thousand-and-one things that come up in connection with a large’party setting out for a foreign land, all were found to have light thrown upon them by a reference to the leader who was supposed to know everything and who really did seem to have learned something about any and every matter however remotely connected with the work.’
But all this time, they had no ship in view to take them to China. Avoiding the expensive ‘overland’ route, via Suez, Taylor wished to travel round the Cape, and was seeking a sailing vessel of which they might engage the entire accommodation. As the party was to consist of eighteen adults and four children, the cabin space of an ordinary three-master would be none too much, and there were decided advantages for so long a voyage in being the only passengers. But here was already the beginning of May and a suitable ship had not been found. Daily at the Coborn Street noon prayer meeting the matter was remembered, the outgoing missionaries not only asking for a Christian captain, but for a crew every one of whom might find blessing through the voyage. Taylor was not anxious; he was sure the Lord would meet the need in good time, though he would have been glad to have it settled.
Just then, on the 2nd May, he was due in Hertfordshire for an important meeting, Colonel Puget, brother of the Dowager Lady Radstock, being his host and chairman. To this new friend it seemed a peculiar arrangement to have a missionary meeting without a collection, but understanding it to be the speaker’s wish the announcement was made accordingly. When the time came, however, and the speaker proved unusually interesting, Colonel Puget realised that people would give generously if only they had the opportunity.
Rising therefore at the close of the address, he said that interpreting the feelings of the audience by his own he took it upon himself to alter the decision about the collection. Many present were moved by the condition of things Mr. Taylor had represented, and would go away burdened unless they could express practical sympathy. Contrary therefore to previous announcements an opportunity would now be given—but at that point Taylor interposed, asking to be allowed to add a few words.
It was his earnest desire, he said, that his hearers should go away burdened. Money was not the chief thing in the Lord’s work, especially money easily given, under the influence of emotion. Much as he appreciated their kind intention, he would far rather have each one go home to ask the Lord very definitely what He would have them do. If it were to give of their substance, they could send a contribution to some missionary society. But in view of the appalling facts of heathenism, it might be much more costly gifts the Lord was seeking; perhaps a son or daughter or one’s own life-service. No amount of money could save a single soul. What was wanted was that men and women filled with the Holy Spirit should give themselves to the work in China and to the work of prayer at home. For the support of God-sent missionaries funds would never be lacking.
“You made a great mistake, if I may say so,’ remarked his host at supper. ‘The people were really interested. We might have had a good collection.’
In vain Taylor explained the financial basis of the Mission and his desire to avoid even the appearance of conflicting with other societies. Colonel Puget was unconvinced.
Next-morning, howéver, he appeared somewhat late at breakfast, explaining that he had not had a good night. In the study, after handing his guest several contributions given for the Mission, he went on to say:
‘I felt last evening that you were wrong about the collection, but now I see things differently. Lying awake in the night, as I thought of that stream of souls in China, a thousand every hour going out into the dark, I could only cry, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” I think I have His answer.’
Then he handed Taylor a cheque for £500.
‘If there had been a collection I should have given a five pound note,’ he added. ‘This cheque is the result of ~ no small part of the night spent in prayer.’
It was Thursday morning the 3rd May, and at the breakfast table a letter had reached Taylor from his shipping agents offering the entire accommodation of the Lammermuir, about to sail for China. Bidding farewell to his now deeply interested host, he returned to London, went straight to the docks, and finding the ship in every way Suitable, paid over the cheque just received on account. This, done, with what joy he hastened to Coborn Street with the tidings!
So the time came at length for the quiet, unostentatious _ start. Among packing-cases and bundles the Saturday prayer meetings were held, friends from far and near crowding the room, sitting up the staircase and on anything that came to hand. Upon the wall still hung the great-map; on the table lay the open Bible; and all else was lost sight of.
‘Our great desire and aim,’ Hudson Taylor had written in his pamphlet, ‘are to plant the standard of the Cross in the eleven 294. BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES HUDSON TAYLOR
provinces of China hitherto unoccupied, and in Chinese Tartary.’
‘A foolhardy business!’ said those who saw only the difficulties.
‘A superhuman task!’ sighed others who wished them well. “You will be forgotten,’ was the chief concern of some. ‘With no committee to represent you at home you will be lost sight of in that distant land.’
‘I am taking my children with me,’ was Taylor’s reply, ‘and I notice that it is not difficult for me to remember that the little ones need breakfast in the morning, dinner at midday, and something before they go to bed at night. Indeed, I could not forget it. And I find it impossible to suppose that our Heavenly Father is less tender or mindful than I.’
Little wonder that the quietness and simplicity of it all, combined with such aims, such faith, drew out the sympathy of many hearts.
Sailing from London on the 26th May, it was the end of September before they reached Shanghai; and very determined were the onslaughts of the enemy, first to wreck the unity and spiritual power of the missionary party, and then to wreck the ship on which they travelled, sending them all to the bottom. But from the hour of parting, when they were commended to God in the stern-cabin of the Lammermuir, they were sustained by the prayers of Mr. and Mrs. Berger, who kept up the noon half-hour daily, no matter what guests or occupations they might have. The Saturday prayer meeting was continued by Mr. and Mrs. Gough (widow of Mr. J. Jones of Ningpo) and there were praying groups in Scotland, Ireland and the provinces in which the needs of the Mission were constantly remembered.
My Presence shall Go with Thee (1866)
The sailors on the Lammermuir had looked forward to the voyage with anything but satisfaction. One missionary would have been bad enough, but a whole ship’s load of them! “A pretty go,’ the first mate told his wife ‘I wish we were out of it!’ After a few days, however, the men’s attitude changed. The missionaries, after all, were not such a bad lot! When a difficult piece of forging had to be done, Nicol the- Scottish blacksmith was better at it than any of themselves. Jackson and Williamson, the carpenters, were always ready to lend a hand; and in the absence of a ship’s doctor Hudson Taylor’s surgical skill was invaluable. He gave excellent lectures, too, talks on the eye, the circulation of the blood, first aid to the injured, etc., which helped to pass the time.
There was more than that, however. Seen at close quarters, these people were downright happy. It was inexplicable. What could there be in the life they had chosen to make them want to sing? Yet morning, noon, and night, in the stern-cabin with their harmonium or out on deck, whether two or three alone or the whole company together, they never seemed to tire. True, it was only hymns they sang, but what could touch deeper chords? a
‘Jesu, Lover of my soul.’
To them it all seemed so real! Yes, it was plain enough. Religion meant something to these people. And little by little not a few on board, instead of wishing themselves out of it, began to wish they were in it in a real sense.
The conversion of the second officer, twenty-five days out from Plymouth was a most encouraging answer to prayer, and was quickly followed by that of two of the midshipmen. This was the beginning of an awakening among the crew which continued for some time. Concern about spiritual! things began to lay hold of them, and there was great joy among the missionaries as one after another came out into the light.
High-water mark was reached early in August, when the first mate, who had been a savage bully among the men, experienced a real change of heart. For a month or more his wretchedness had been pitiable; but though under deep conviction of sin, it was not without a desperate struggle he was able to break with the old life and enter into peace in believing.
‘Had a special prayer meeting for the conversion of Mr. Brunton,’ is the entry in Taylor’s journal for August 3rd. And the following morning:
Could not retire without seeing Mr. Brunton. Read to him at 12.30 when he came from his midnight watch, part of Mackintosh on Exodus 12 (the Passover). After much conversation and prayer, the Lord brought him into liberty. First, told Maria and Miss
MY PRESENCE SHALL GO WITH THEE ZL
Blatchley, then Mr. Williamson, who rose and joined me in praise and thanksgiving to God. Then I went to awake Mr. Bell, though it was 2.30 a.m. Oh, how glad our hearts were!
The news was quickly known all over the ship, and deep was the impression next day when this officer called out his watch and told them personally what God had done for his soul. One young midshipman to whom he spoke gave his heart to the Lord, and several of the crew who had been halting between two opinions were brought to decision.
Gladly would one leave the record at this point, telling only of the wonderful deliverance from shipwreck in the China Sea with which it ended. But to do so would be untrue to facts, and untrue moreover to universal experience. Where God is working the devil is sure to be busy; and the nearer one seeks to live to the Lord Himself, the more painful are the consequences of grieving Him. They were only little things that had come in between one and another of the party. Big temptations would have defeated their own end but little criticisms, little coldnesses, little jealousies had brought in disunion that led to serious results. Prayer was hindered; and to the grief of all concerned, the work of the Holy Spirit was so checked, that for one whole month no souls were saved, and some who had been anxious remained sin-burdened and undecided. It was a startling experience, and deeply searching: a whole month without conversions, at a time when already many of the men had come over the line and others seemed ready to do so! And in their. troubled hearts the missionaries themselves knew what was hindering.
Yet it was so hard to get right, and to keep night with one another! It was painful light on the inspired words, ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity... for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.’ The fact that most of them were living in true fellowship with God made the grief of failure the more distressing. It made it also the more necessary for the Lord to let that grief be felt. Evidences of the self-life in those who had not come so near to Him might be less disastrous in their results; but ‘whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.’ It is the fruitful branch He purges, that it may bring forth more fruit.
To Hudson Taylor, needless to say, these developments caused great concern. Could he by more watchfulness have safeguarded his fellow-workers and prevented misunderstandings? Could he now, prevailing first with God, bring them to a better mind and restore ‘the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’?
‘This morning,’ runs a
little note in his journal early in July, ‘had some conversation with Nicol about the present state of matters. Sell joined us and afterwards Williamson, and we decided on holding a special meeting for confession and prayer for the increase of love and unity. Spoke to most of them privately, and affectionately urged the need of a better spirit. We met in the evening, and the Lord was with us indeed. I trust He gave to all present a real desire to be united in love.’
But the danger was a recurring one, and a couple of months later a spirit of discord again crept in. It was on different grounds this time and with other members of the party, but the outcome was the same—criticism, discontent, loss of power and blessing.
‘Almost all of the party deploring the want of more unity and love,’ is the record for September 8th. ‘The Lord make bare His arm on our behalf.’
MY PRESENCE SHALL GO WITH THEE 299
The notable thing is that they did deplore it; that they saw and felt the danger; could not go on in such a condition, even on board ship, and gave themselves to heart-searching before the Lord. Prayer and fasting again turned the tide: for to those who humble themselves before Him it is still true, ‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.’
Then the adversary changed his tactics. Unsuccessful in wrecking the spiritual usefulness of the party, it seemed as though ‘the prince of the power of the air’ let loose his fiercest legions, determined on the destruction in one way or other of the infant Mission. For fifteen days and nights the stress of storm and tempest lay upon them. Caught in one typhoon after another, they beat up the China Sea all but a wreck—-sails gone, masts gone, everything gone but their steadfast hope in God.
‘All through the storm,’ said Rudland, ‘Mr. Taylor was perfectly calm. When almost at its height the men refused to work any longer. The Captain had advised all to put on life-belts. “She can scarcely hold together two hours” was his verdict. At this juncture he was going to the forecastle, where the men were taking refuge, revolver in hand. Mr. Taylor went up to him. “Don’t use force,” he said, “till everything else has been tried.” He went in quickly and talked to the men, telling them - he believed God would bring us through, but that everything depended upon the greatest care—in navigating the ship, in other words upon the men themselves. “We will all help,” he added; “our lives are in jeopardy as much 4& yours.” The men were completely reassured by his quiet demeanour and friendly reasoning, and with officers, midshipmen, and the rest of us went to work in earnest at the wreckage, and before long got in the great iron spars that were ramming the side of the ship.’
It was a bright September Sunday, five days after the storm passed away, when the Lammermuir at length came to anchor off the foreign settlement of Shanghai. Her broken, dismantled condition made her an object of general curiosity among the gaily painted junks and foreign shipping; but when it became known that she carried only missionaries, albeit the largest party that had yet come to China, interest soon subsided, and beyond a few facetious remarks in the papers little notice was taken of the new arrivals.
As for themselves, their hearts were full of thankfulness for recent deliverances—more wonderful, even, than they realised at the time. A vessel coming in soon after their own proved to have lost sixteen out of a ship’s company of twenty-two, while on the Lammermuir none were missing or seriously injured; and no sooner had they reached a place of safety than terrific gales again swept the coast, which in their disabled condition they could not possibly have weathered.
‘God grant that having been brought so near to eternity and then spared for a while,’ wrote one‘of the party, ‘our lives may be more entirely devoted to Him and to the work before us. Through all I never felt the least regret, or anything but joy in the thought that I had come.’
The voyage over, Taylor had to face new difficulties. Looking out on that familiar scene—the crowded river, the European houses along the Bund, and the wall of the Chinese city beyond—he realised in a very practical way the responsibilities that had come to him. Where was he to find accommodation for so large a party that would afford the facilities required? Foreign hotels were very few and very costly; Chinese inns were out of the question for such
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a party; and the Chinése boats to which they might have been transferred would not have met the case, with boxes, drugs, printing presses, etc., soaked in sea water needing to be dried and stored. The missionary community in Shanghai at the time consisted of only nine married and three single men; and who among them would be able, however willing, to receive so many visitors? However, both from the Lammermuir and from friends at home, prayer had been going up for months past that the Lord would Himself provide, and He did.
A friend of Ningpo days had moved up to Shanghai, bringing with him the printing press of the American Presbyterian Mission. In a semi-foreign house he was living near the Chinese city, and with a view to future needs had purchased a disused building intended for a theatre, which formed a convenient warehouse or ‘godown’ connected with his premises. Large and empty, this building immediately suggested itself when the Lammermuir appeared in the river and he learned that it carried Hudson Taylor’s party. How they must need the cheer of a friendly welcome, and some place in which to dispose their belongings! If nothing better offered, his home was open to them, such as it was, with the ‘go-down’ in addition. So, taking a sampan that very afternoon, William Gamble sought out his friends to put at their disposal a bachelor’s hospitality.
‘So He gently clears our way,’ wrote Maria the following Sunday. “All our goods, with the exception of a few boxes not yet brought out of the hold, are safe in Mr. Gamble’s “go-down’”, where Hudson and I and four of the young men sleep. The others are in Mr. Gamble’s house, where we all take our meals; and he has kindly promised, though somewhat reluctantly I believe, to allow us to remunerate him for our board.’
In the midst of many occupations Taylor had little thought to give to the criticisms that buzzed about the foreign community. That English women should be brought out to wear Chinese dress and live in the interior roused indignation in certain quarters. It was freely hinted that Hudson Taylor must be a madman or worse, and that Bedlam would have been a safer destination for himself and his companions than Shanghai. “But he went quietly on,’ as Rudland remembered, ‘saying little or nothing about it; always letting discourtesies drop out of sight so graciously, without affecting his own friendliness.’
One of the few letters Taylor did manage to write from Shanghai was to his mother.
The Lord is with us, and we are all, I trust, enjoying fellowship with Jesus. We have and may expect to have some trials:
But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,
This is happiness to me.
Our Father not only knows, but sends them all in love.
To take so large a party inland at all was a step of faith, especially as it included little children, besides seven unmarried women. In the whole of China, at that time, there was not one unmarried woman missionary to be found away from the treaty ports.
For their protection as well as to lessen difficulties he considered the wearing of native dress essential, with a large measure of conformity to Chinese manners and customs. In a
letter to help Mr. Berger in putting the matter before intending candidates, Taylor wrote:
In my judgment, the adoption of the Chinese costume would be desirable even were we residing in the treaty ports; but for work in the interior such as we contemplate I am satisfied that it is an absolute prerequisite.
I am not alone in the opinion that the foreign dress and carriage of missionaries (to a certain extent affected by some of their pupils and converts), the foreign appearance of chapels, and indeed the foreign air imparted to everything connected with their work has seriously hindered the rapid dissemination of the Truth among the Chinese. And why should such a foreign aspect be given to Christianity? The Word of God does not require it; nor, I conceive, could sound reason justify it. It is not the denationalisation but the Christianisation of this people that we seek. We wish to see Chinese Christians raised up—men and women truly Christian, but withal truly Chinese in every sense of the word. We wish to see churches of such believers presided over by pastors and officers of their own countrymen, worshipping God in the land of their fathers, in their own tongue, and in edifices of a thoroughly native style of architecture. ‘It is enough that the disciple be as his master.’ If we really wish to see the Chinese such as we have described, let us as far as possible set before them a true example. Let us in everything not sinful become Chinese, that we may by all means ‘save some’.
This cannot but involve, of course, a certain measure of inconvenience, such as the sacrifice of some accustomed articles of diet, etc...
But we give you credit, dear friends, for being prepared to give up not these little things only, but a thousand times more for Christ’s sake. Let there be no reservation. Give yourself up wholly and fully to Him whose you are and whom you wish to serve in this work, and there can be no disappointment. But once let the question arise, ‘Are we called’to give up this or that?’; once admit the thought, ‘I did not expect such and such inconvenience or privation,’ and your service will cease to be that free and happy one which is most conducive to efficiency and success. ‘God loveth a cheerful giver.’
The Lammermuir party’s change into Chinese dress was effected as soon as: possible. The men submitted to the somewhat trying process of shaving the front part of the head and donning the queue and loose-fitting garb of the country, and Maria appeared in Chinese costume at Mr. Gamble’s table. To her it meant no little sacrifice. She had not worn it during her previous residence in China, and experience enabled her to realise something of the restrictions it must involve.
‘Things which are tolerated in us as foreigners, wearing foreign dress,’ she wrote to Mrs. Berger, ‘could not be allowed for a moment in Chinese ladies. The nearer we come to the Chinese in outward appearance, the more severely will any breach of propriety according to their standards be criticised. Henceforth I must never be guilty, for example, of taking my husband’s arm out of doors! And in fifty or a hundred other ways we may, without great watchfulness, shock the Chinese by what would seem to them grossly immodest and unfeminine conduct. Pray much for us in respect to this matter.’
By this time William Gamble’s interest had deepened into the warmest friendship, and he was reluctant to part from his adopted family, many though their claims had been upon his time and resources. Accompanying them to the river on Saturday evening, October 20th, he quietly laid a package on the seat of the sampan, stepped ashore, and was gone amid the shadows. It was the roll of dollars he had reluctantly accepted in payment for their board, and on a slip of paper he had written, ‘For the good of the Mission’.
Dropping down-stream in the moonlight the travellers were soon alongside the dear old Lammermuir. The sailors saw them coming and. were all on deck to meet them. In the forecastle a last, brief service was held. ‘Yes, we part, but not for ever’ was sung on the well-remembered deck. Then with a last look at their cabins, hallowed by sacred memories, and with many a farewell, the missionaries left for their boats. ‘Whither, pilgrims, are you going?’ was struck up by the ship’s company.
“As we pushed off,’ Emily Blatchley wrote, ‘they stood along the bulwarks and, raising their caps, gave us three hearty English cheers. In the moonlight and stillness we glided round the stern—sailors and midshipmen following on to the poop, where they repeated the cheers and stood looking after us till we, passed out of sight.’
Four weeks later it was a company thoroughly Chinese as to outward appearances that drew near the famous city of Hangchow. They did not know where they could stay, but here, too, the Lord had gone before. Just as in Shanghai, a home was ready, waiting!
Knowing that a friend of Ningpo days, belonging to the same Mission as William Gamble, had recently moved to Hangchow, Taylor called on him first of all to tell him of their arrival.
“We have been expecting you,’ was the kindly welcome he received, ‘and I have a message for you.’
A young American missionary, it appeared, had just left the city to bring his wife and child from Ningpo to the home he had prepared for them. His house, furnished and ready, would be empty for a week at least, and he had bethought him of Hudson Taylor’s party.
“Tell them,’ he said, ‘to go straight to my place when they come. It is at their disposal for the time being.’