Preface

These missionaries in the foreign field, of whom sketches and memories are here given, are not selected from God’s great army-roll as those pre-eminently worthy of note. Perhaps it is all the better that this is so. They are in this record simply as those among the earlier missionaries whom the writer was privileged to meet and to know. They are from various missionary fields, and were sent out from different missionary societies, at different times. Therefore they may be considered as more fairly representative of foreign missionaries as a class, and as a whole.

In order to limit the scope and field of his recorded memories, as distinguished from those with whom young “student volunteers” and other friends of missions to-day are personally acquainted, the writer has thought best to give no sketch of any missionary who was not in the mission field at least as early as fifty years ago. In this way his personal memories in the eventide of life may prove of interest and service to those whose recollections do not run back of these better, brighter days in God’s providence.

Yet the writer regrets that the limitations which he has deemed best to apply to this record forbid his telling particularly of grand and efficient missionaries whom he has known and honored in these later days. He would be glad to bear his witness to the noble and S

6 Preface

inspiring presence and words of such men of Gk)d, whose power he has felt, as the veteran John G. Paton of the New Hebrides; John L. Nevius and Erastus Wentworth of China; Bishop William Taylor of Africa; J. Hudson Taylor of the China Inland Mission; Bishop J. P. Thoburn, W. B. Capron, and Edward Chester, of India; President George Washburn of Constantinople; and that noble missionary maiden, Miss Mary L.’ Whateley of Cairo and “among the huts” of Egypt. But time would fail him to tell of these good missionaries and many like them, and of their self-denying and devoted doings for Christ and for souls.

That these records may incite some to examine further, and thus come to learn and realize what a work is going on in this line for the welfare of those in Christian lands, and of those in lands less privileged, by those who serve and honor Christ at His command, and at the call of those in need, is the sincere hope of

The Author.

Philadelphia, June 8, igoz.