Prayer for Workers for Cheh-Kiang

We had not been long in England ere we met with some Christian brothers desirous of serving God in China. We had more or less intercourse, both personally and by correspondence, with five; and after much prayer were led to invite one of them, Mr. James Meadows, to London, to reside with us for a time; with a view to our making his acquaintance more perfectly, and to his commencing the study of the language. He made such progress as left no doubt of his ability to master the language; and the health of Mr. Jones at Ningpo failing rapidly, we were enabled, through the co-operation and aid of our kind friend, Mr. Berger, to take a passage for Mr. Meadows and his young wife in the Challenger In January, 1862. He arrived in Ningpo in the month of June, and was soon able to commence missionary work. In the temporary absence of Mr. Jones in the month of September, and before Mr. Meadows was able to speak and preach with fluency, he conducted the meetings by giving out hymns and reading portions of Scripture in the “colloquial; while the native helpers would give an address or exhortation, and engage in prayer. In two months from this time he opened a day-school for native boys, with the aid of a Chinese teacher; and when Mr. Jones left China, his presence there became invaluable.

Mr. Meadows found his work at first far from easy. Besides the difficulties arising from his, as yet, imperfect knowledge of the language, the state of society was only slowly recovering from the violent upheaving to which it had been subjected by the rebels, and the converts were still very much scattered. But by God’s grace, our good brother persevered, and success crowned his efforts. Some who had been under discipline were restored; others who had been cold and dead were quickened. The services of the native brother first given to us were blessed. A’ simple countryman, converted six or seven years before, so fully preached the gospel in his own neighbourhood, that in going through it for ten or twelve miles round, Mr. Meadows scarcely met with an individual who had not heard more or less of the Lord Jesus from his

Openings amongst the Women.

lips For in season and
out of season Christ
was and Christ still is
his theme. Another of
the members went into
a Buddhist nunnery, and
preached the gospel with
such power, that the
abbess, one of the nuns,
and a neophyte about to
take the veil, were converted, and added to the
church.

About this time Mrs.
Lord, who conducted an buddhist priests playing at chess.

orphan school in faith in the living God for supplies, had likewise been much blessed in labouring amongst the native women, to whom God gave her a wide door of access. She had on.e or two Chinese Christians with her, labouring as Bible-women.

Writing in 1864, she stated that if she had five Bible-women, she could give to each of them districts which would find them ample employment; and that she might herself be employed from morning to night, in teaching Chinese women to read the Scriptures in the Romanized colloquial. With the duties of the orphan school devolving upon her, this was, of course, impossible: and as opportunities for working among the women continually increased, she wrote most earnestly, begging for some one to be sent out to assist her in the orphan school.

It was distressing to hear of large districts where every house was open, whose female residents were eager to hear her instruction, — districts, in each of which she might have spent the whole of every day, but to which she could only devote a few hours weekly or fortnightly, on account of other claims, equally or still more imperative. As the orphan work was carried on in faith, it was necessary that any one assisting in it should be able to depend upon God for personal support. Much earnest prayer was offered that God would raise up a suitable helper. We knew of none; but at a meeting for prayer of the members of the committee of the Foreign

NiNGPO ira¥,.j.v.

“More Labourers.’’’’ 57

Evangelist Society, the writer was led to lay before them, as a subject for intercession, Mrs. Lord’s need of a female helper; and to read to them an extract from one of her letters.

A Second Worker. The secretary, Mr. George Pearce, immediately replied, that it was ver>- remarkable that he had just received a letter speaking of one who seemed in every way suited for the proposed work. We made her acquaintan; the Foreign Evangelist Society kindly provided the expense of her passage to China, and other friends contributed the requisite funds for her outfit. She arrived in Ningpo about the middle of February, 1865. Mrs. Lord wrote, on April 5th, that she was already able to help her a great deal in the school, in which she continued to work until her marriage.

A Third Worker. On the 25th of September, 1863, Mr. Barchet called on the writer and signified his desire to preach Christ to the poor Chinese. A native of Stuttgart in Germany, he came to England in 1861, desiring to escape the restraint of his father’s roof, and to enjoy the world. At the house of a friend, he met Mr. Hall, a deacon of the church of which he subsequently became a member, who lent him a copy of “The Lord’s Dealings with George Müller.” At this time, Mr. Giinzler, a German curate, and a very dear friend of Mr. Barchet, came to London to preach during the time of the Exhibition of 1862’^; and Mr. Barchet rejoiced to meet his friend once more. After being absent from home for a few days, on his return he hastened to visit Mr. Giinzler again; but found him lying dead, having been suddenly carried off by typhus fever. He went home, crushed with sorrow, and asking himself, “Where should I be if I died so?” He prayed, read the Scriptures, and also the account of the conversion of Mr. George Müller (of Bristol) in the book that had been lent him, and argued thus with himself: “Mr. Müller was a wicked young man — Jesus Christ pardoned him — He can pardon me — the blood that cleansed him can cleanse me.” He soon afterwards found assured rest in Christ.

Panting now to serve his loving Redeemer with all his powers, he offered himself, as has been stated above, for the Lord’s work in China. Shortly afterwards he commenced the study of Chinese, and made remarkable progress in it. After two lessons in the language, and private study in the meantime, he wrote a note to the Chinese brother (mentioned above as having come to England), which, though far from being perfect in idiom, was still intelligible, and very creditable to one who had commenced the study but a fortnight before,

58 Dr. Barchet.

He now commenced to study medicine at the London Hospital, and in this his progress was very encouraging. He was preparing for the matriculation examination of the London University, when, very unexpectedly, the Lord opened the way for his departure to China. A gentleman residing in Scotland, a perfect stranger, most kindly offered, through Dr. Nevius, now of Chefoo, a free passage for two missionaries, in a magnificent iron steamer of which he was the owner. When this intelligence was first’ communicated to Mr. Barchet, and he was asked whether he was prepared to leave on so short a notice as the early departure of the steamer allowed, he spent a few moments in silent prayer, and then replied, that it would be a disappointment to go before passing the examination, for which he had been preparing for some time, and that he had hoped for much happy intercourse with the writer and his family on the voyage out; but that he was quite prepared to give these up, and to leave that very night, if it were the Lord’s will.

Our brother went forth in faith in God, looking to Him for the supply of all his need; but the church of which he was a member determined that, as far as in them lay, it should be their privilege to supply that need, and they lovingly provided him with a suitable outfit.

His pastor wrote of him: —

“Though slightly built, he is yet capable of attracting the love of all who know him; and great exertion, very energetic, and industrious; yet he is resolute and firm. Though quite he has a most gentle and affectionate disposition, young he already writes five languages.”

After experiencing much Christian hospitality and kindness in the city of Glasgow, Mr. Barchet, and another brother who had been studying Chinese for some months, sailed from the Clyde on the ist of April. The expense of the outfit, &c., of Mr. Barchet’ s companion was met by unsolicited donations, sent in answer to prayer. After our friends had sailed, a Christian lady kindly sent us a donation of ^30. To us there seemed no immediate need for the whole of this sum; but our Father had foreseen, and was providing for, an emergency which soon arose. Part of it, with other funds remaining in hand, was sent to China; and the rest was soon wanted, as will be seen from the sequel.

A Fourth Worker.

We had at this time residing with us Mr. George Crombie, from Aberdeen. He and Miss Skinner, his intended wife, were pursuing the study of the language, preparatory to missionary labour in China. Devotedly attached to each other, they had been engaged for four years or more, and were to have been married in about five or six weeks; preparations for their union

The Fourth Worker, 59

being far advanced. But their departure for China was not immediately anticipated.

The steamer Corea, in which Mr. Barchet and his companion had sailed, proceeded as far as the south of the Bay of Biscay, when she fell in with a ship containing a valuable cargo, which had been abandoned by its crew in a severe storm. The captain took possession of this prize, worth some thousands of pounds, which thus became the property of the owner and crew of the Corea, and turning back, towed it into Plymouth harbour. The steamer was detamed there for a few days, when the Lord permitted our faith to be severely exercised by a heavy trial. Mr. Marshall and the writer, having proceeded to Plymouth, received the painful intelligence that Mr. Barchet’ s companion had determined not to go forward to China. He had caught a serious cold before leaving Glasgow, had suffered much from sea-sickness, and was very ill when they reached Plymouth. Unnerved in mind and body, he felt unprepared to set out again for China.

Many circumstances combined to make the drawing back of our brother peculiarly painful to us. After many months’ study, he had attained to considerable proficiency in the language. China’s need we felt to be very great — “the harvest was plenteous, but the labourers were few.” The free passage, so generously accorded, appeared lost; as did all immediate use of the articles procured at considerable cost for his outfit. And above all, we feared disgrace to the cause of our God, and discouragement to the friends of the mission work. At this critical juncture, our beloved brother, Mr. Crombie, nobly stepped forward to fill up the gap; and this, not only with the assent of his intended bride, but with her hearty concurrence. “Go!” she said, “and shew that you love the cause of God more than me.” After two hours of prayerful consideration, he calmly resolved to make the sacrifice; and proceeded to Plymouth by the first express train of the next morning. In sixteen hours after the receipt of the telegram announcing the drawing back of Mr. Barchet’ s companion, Mr. Crombie was on his way to take his place, provided the consent of the captain and the owner of the vessel could be obtained. He arrived in Plymouth about 4.45 p.m. The captain’s consent had in the meantime been conditionally given, and the owner’s kind permission reached us about an hour after Mr. Crombie’ s arrival. A few necessary articles were hastily purchased; we saw our dear brother on board, united in prayer with him and Mr. Barchet, and about half an hour after midnight left them already on their way to China.

They were favoured with a prosperous passage as far as the Cape of Good Hope. They put into Table Bay for the purpose of taking in coal; but not

6o

“/« Perils of Waters.”

risk. Directly afterwards, the Athens signalled
that her last anchor was gone; and on such a
scene the sun went down.

“After the sun had set, the fury of the gale
increased. The barometer continued to fall.
The City of Peterborough had been dragging
her anchors all day. Shortly after sunset she

upon a reef
The cries of

finding any there, the captain decided on Tuesday evening. May 16th, to take the steamer into Simon’s Bay. As they left Table Bay they had very rough weather, but through the goodness of God were preserved from every danger. The gale which was commencing in the evening as they left, increased in violence through the night, and raged the next day with terrific fury. At lo a.m. on Wednesday, there were twenty-eight sea-going vessels and about thirty smaller craft in Table Bay. By 8 p.m., eighteen of the sea-going vessels and all the smaller craft were stranded or destroyed. The following extracts from the ‘■’■Port Louis Commercial ‘Gazette’’’’ of June lOth, 1865, are given to shew how great was the danger, and how real and remarkable was the deliverance which our dear brothers experienced.

“Cape Town, Friday, May i<)th, 1865.

“One of the most destructive gales that have
ever visited Table Bay occurred on Wednesday,
the 17th inst., two days after the departure of
the mail steamer Roman for England.

“We are obliged to pass over the description
of the wrecks as they occurred [during the
day], and the efforts made to save lives and
property, and come to the more important part
of the narrative.

“At this time (sunset) the scene was terrible
in the extreme. Immediately before he finally
sank behind the Lion’s Hill, the sun broke
through the barrier of clouds that had intercepted his rays during the day, and shone
brightly upon the Bay, illuminating for the
moment every feature of the scene of havoc.
At this time there were lying upon the beach,
more or less dismantled, fifteen sea-going
vessels, besides smaller craft; a tremendous sea
was rolling in, threatening every moment to
carry away the few vessels remaining at their
anchors. The barque City of Peterborough, and
the steamer Dane were dragging their anchors,
and signalling in vain for more anchors and
warps. The steamer Athens also was shewing
signals of distress, and letting off large quantities of steam, shewing that she was prepared
at any moment to put forth her full power.
There was every prospect of the gale increasing,
with a probability that ere the morning should
break, there would not be a vessel remaining
at anchor. Mr. Anderson offered /500 for an
anchor to be run to the Dane, and Mr. Searle
/looo for one for the City of Peterborough;
but without effect; no boat would incur the

broke adrift, and finally struck
some distance from the shore,
her crew for assistance could be plainly heard
from the shore, but all attempts to communicate with them failed. The captain (Wright),
his wife and child, and a crew of fifteen, all
perished.

“But the most shocking catastrophe was
the loss of the mail steamer Athens. About six
o’clock in the evening her last anchor parted,
and she attempted to steam out to sea. At
first she appeared to make considerable headway; but before seven o’clock she drifted
broadside on to the rocks near Green Point,
and very speedily broke up. The calls for help
of those on board of her could be distinctly
heard upon the shore amid the roar of the
breakers; but the crowd of persons whom
these cries attracted were powerless to aid. All
that those on shore could do was to light a fire,
and thereby indicate to those on board that
their peril was known. There was not a rope
or lantern at the lighthouse; no rockets nor
Man by apparatus within a mile or two of the
spot. And yet for two hours a continued wail
of anguish and appeals for help came from the
steamer, which occasionally could be seen
lying on the rocks; she was broken-backed,
but still above water, with masts standing, till
“/« Perils in the Sea 61

after nine o’clock. Fragments of wreck wash- left for Mauritius on the following day, but ing ashore then bore testimony that the ship fortunately none of her passengers had emwas rapidly breaking up. About ten o’clock barked.

the cries ceased, and thick darkness gathered “Of twenty-eight sea-going vessels in the

over the scene. Captain Smith, Dr. Curtis, Bay at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, at 8 p.m. on

and all hands perished. There were thirty the same day but ten remained. In Simon’s

persons on board of her. She was to have Bay also the gale was very severely felt.”

During this dreadful day eighty or ninety lives were lost in Table Bay; but our friends were preserved in Simon’s Bay from all harm. Not in vain had the prayers of many of God’s people been offered for their preservation; — they were not unneeded, — they were not unanswered.

On the following Lord’s-day our friends went ashore, and were most kindly received and entertained by one of the missionaries of Simon’s Town. They had an opportunity of preaching; and after the evening service, a lady asked their acceptance of a purse containing £. They were both refreshed and encouraged by this token of Christian love; but they did not know how seasonable the help would prove to be when they reached Hong-kong, at which port they safely arrived in due course. One of their first enquiries was for letters, but to their disappointment they found none. Letters (some of which contained remittances) had been sent to them by different individuals, and by two or three successive mails; but, strange to say, not one of them was then forthcoming, though all were ultimately received. All the money they had was consequently needed, and proved just sufficient to pay their passage by a Hamburg barque which was going direct to Ningpo. They arrived there on the 24th of July, and found other letters and remittances awaiting them. Thus ended a voyage remarkable from first to last for providential mercies.

The Fifth Worker.

We must now take our readers back to the day when our two brothers sailed from Plymouth. In his own cabin on board the Corea, on the 12th of April, Mr. Crombie requested the writer to hasten the departure of Miss Skinner as much as possible, that the painful separation might not be needlessly prolonged. He was assured that no effort on the writer’s part should be wanting; but was reminded that we had not £ in hand towards the ^75 or ^80* that would probably be needed for her outfit and passage. We knelt down in his cabin and asked Him who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens, to provide the needed means and suitable escort for her going forth. Mr. Crombie writing from Teneriffe sent no note for her, expectine

* The expense now is much less: now we expend /5s on outfit and passage to China.

62 Formation of the Mission.

and believing this prayer to be answered. And he was not mistaken; for on the 26th of April, just one fortnight after Mr. Crombie’s departure, Miss Skinner sailed for China in the Prince Alfred, Captain Ellison, her passage and outfit all provided by a prayer-answering God, through His believing people. She sailed, too, under the escort of a missionary and his wife, and in a vessel whose captain and chief officer were both Christian men. After a pleasant arid useful voyage she safely reached her destination, and was in due course united in marriage to Mr. Crombie.