A Retrospect Part 10

[3] Isaiah lv. 8, 9.

CHAPTER XIX

THE FORMATION OF THE C. I. M.

IT was thus that in the year 1865 the CHINA INLAND MISSION was organised; and the workers already in the field were incorporated into it. W. T. Berger, Esq., then residing at Saint Hill, near East Grinstead, without whose help and encouragement I could not have gone forward, undertook the direction of the home department of the work during my antic.i.p.ated absence in China; and I proposed, as soon as arrangements could be completed, to go out with the volunteers and take the direction of the work in the field. For the support of the workers already in China, our friends at home were sending in unsolicited contributions from time to time, and every need was met.

We had now, however, to look forward to the outgoing of a party of sixteen or seventeen, and estimated that from 1500 to 2000 might be required to cover outfits, pa.s.sage-money, and initial expenses. I wrote a little pamphlet, calling it "Occasional Paper, No. I." (intending in successive numbers to give to donors and friends accounts of the work wrought through us in China), and in that paper stated the antic.i.p.ated needs for floating the enterprise. I expected that G.o.d would incline the hearts of some of the readers to send contributions: I had determined never to use personal solicitation, or to make collections, or to issue collecting-books. Missionary-boxes were thought un.o.bjectionable, and we had a few prepared for those who might ask for them, and have continued to use them ever since.

It was February 6th, 1866, when I sent my ma.n.u.script of "Occasional Paper, No. I.," with a design for the cover, to the printer. From delays in engraving and printing, it was March 12th when the bales of pamphlets were delivered at my house. Now on February 6th a daily prayer-meeting, from 12 to 1 o'clock, had been commenced, to ask for the needed funds.

And that we had not asked in vain, the following extract from "Occasional Paper, No. II." will show:--

"The receipts for 1864 were 51:14s.; for 1865, from January to June, 221:12:6, besides two free pa.s.sages; from June to December, 923:12:8.

Hindrances having occurred, the MS. of the "Occasional Paper, No. I."

was not completed till February 6th, 1866. Up to this time we had received (from December 30th) 170:8:3.

"We felt much encouraged by the receipt of so much money in little more than a month, as it was entirely unsolicited by us--save from G.o.d. But it was also evident that we must ask the LORD to do yet greater things for us, or it would be impossible for a party of from ten to sixteen to leave in the middle of May. _Daily united prayer was therefore offered to_ G.o.d for the funds needful for the outfits and pa.s.sages of as many as He would have to go out in May.

"Owing to the delays mentioned above in the printing of the 'Occasional Paper,' it was not ready for the publisher until March 12th. On this day I again examined my mission cash-book, and the comparison of the result of the two similar periods of one month and six days each, one before and one after special prayer for 1500 to 2000, was very striking:--

"Receipts from December 30th to February 6th, 170 8 3 " Feb. 6th to Mar. 12th 1774 5 11 "Funds advised, since received 200 0 0 --------- 1974 5 11

"This, it will be noticed, was _previous_ to the circulation of the 'Occasional Paper,' and, consequently, was not the result of it. It was the response of a faithful G.o.d to the united prayers of those whom He had called to serve Him in the Gospel of His dear SON.

"We can now compare with these two periods a third of the same extent.

From March 12th to April 18th the receipts were 529, showing that when G.o.d had supplied the special need, the special supply also ceased. Truly there is a LIVING G.o.d, and HE is the hearer and answerer of prayer."

But this gracious answer to prayer made it a little difficult to circulate "Occasional Paper, No. I.," for it stated as a need that which was already supplied. The difficulty was obviated by the issue with each copy of a coloured inset stating that the funds for outfit and pa.s.sage were already in hand in answer to prayer. We were reminded of the difficulty of Moses--not a very common one in the present day--and of the proclamation he had to send through the camp to the people to prepare no more for the building of the Tabernacle, as the gifts in hand were already too much. We are convinced that if there were _less_ solicitation for money and _more_ dependence upon the power of the HOLY GHOST and upon the deepening of spiritual life, the experience of Moses would be a common one in every branch of Christian work.

Preparations for sailing to China were at once proceeded with. About this time I was asked to give a lecture on China in a village not very far from London, and agreed to do so on condition that there should be no collection, and that this should be announced on the bills. The gentleman who invited me, and who kindly presided as chairman, said he had never had that condition imposed before. He accepted it, however, and the bills were issued accordingly for the 2nd or 3rd of May. With the aid of a large map, something of the extent and population and deep spiritual need of China was presented, and many were evidently impressed.

At the close of the meeting the chairman said that by my request it had been intimated on the bills that there would be no collection; but he felt that many present would be distressed and burdened if they had not the opportunity of contributing something towards the good work proposed. He trusted that as the proposition emanated entirely from himself, and expressed, he felt sure, the feelings of many in the audience, I should not object to it. I begged, however, that the condition agreed to might be carried out; pointing out among other reasons for making no collection, that the very reason adduced by our kind chairman was, to my mind, one of the strongest for not making it.

My wish was, not that those present should be relieved by making such contribution as might there and then be convenient, under the influence of a present emotion; but that each one should go home burdened with the deep need of China, and ask of G.o.d what He would have them to do. If, after thought and prayer, they were satisfied that a pecuniary contribution was what He wanted of them, it could be given to any Missionary Society having agents in China; or it might be posted to our London office; but that perhaps in many cases what G.o.d wanted was _not_ a money contribution, but personal consecration to His service abroad; or the giving up of son or daughter--more precious than silver or gold--to His service. I added that I thought the tendency of a collection was to leave the impression that the all-important thing was _money_, whereas no amount of money could convert a single soul; that what was needed was that men and women filled with the HOLY GHOST should give _themselves_ to the work: for the support of such there would never be a lack of funds. As my wish was evidently very strong, the chairman kindly yielded to it, and closed the meeting. He told me, however, at the supper-table, that he thought it was a mistake on my part, and that, notwithstanding all I had said, a few persons had put some little contributions into his hands.

Next morning at breakfast, my kind host came in a little late, and acknowledged to not having had a very good night. After breakfast he asked me to his study, and giving me the contributions handed to him the night before, said, "I thought last night, Mr. Taylor, that you were in the wrong about a collection; I am now convinced you were quite right.

As I thought in the night of that stream of souls in China ever pa.s.sing onward into the dark, I could only cry as you suggested, 'LORD, what wilt Thou have _me_ to do?' I think I have obtained the guidance I sought, and here it is." He handed me a cheque for 500, adding that if there had been a collection he would have given a few pounds to it, but now this cheque was the result of having spent no small part of the night in prayer.

I need scarcely say how surprised and thankful I was for this gift. I had received at the breakfast-table a letter from Messrs. Killick, Martin and Co., shipping agents, in which they stated that they could offer us the whole pa.s.senger accommodation of the ship _Lammermuir_. I went direct to the ship, found it in every way suitable, and paid the cheque on account. As above stated, the funds deemed needed had been already in hand for some time; but the coincidence of the simultaneous offer of the ship accommodation and this munificent gift--G.o.d'S "exceeding abundantly"--greatly encouraged my heart.

On the 26th of May we sailed for China in the _Lammermuir_, a missionary party of 16 (besides my four children and their nurse, and Miss Bausum (afterwards Mrs. Barchet)); in all 22 pa.s.sengers. Mr. Berger took charge of the home department, and thus the C. I. M. was fully inaugurated.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER XX

THE MISSION IN 1894

THE events sketched in the last two chapters have been more fully delineated by Miss Guinness in her interesting _Story of the China Inland Mission_, which continues its history to the present date. It is indeed a record of the goodness of G.o.d, every remembrance of which calls for grat.i.tude and praise. We can only here briefly mention a few facts, referring our readers to Miss Guinness's work for all details.

After a voyage of many mercies the _Lammermuir_ party safely reached China, and during the first ten years stations and out-stations were opened in many cities and towns in four provinces which hitherto had been unreached by the Gospel. At home Mr. and Mrs. Berger continued their devoted service until March 19th, 1872, I having returned to England the year before. Shortly after this the London Council was formed, which has now for several years been a.s.sisted by an auxiliary Council of ladies. A Scotch Council was also formed in Glasgow a few years ago.

A visit to America in 1888 issued in the formation of the Council for North America, and a similar Council for Australasia was commenced in Melbourne two years later. In the field a China Council was organised in 1886, composed of senior missionaries who meet quarterly in Shanghai.

Closely a.s.sociated with the C. I. M. are seven Committees--in England, Norway, Sweden (two), Finland, Germany, and the United States--which send out and support their own missionaries, who in China have the a.s.sistance of the educational and other advantages of the C. I. M., and who work under its direction.

The staff of the Mission, in May 1893, consisted of 552 missionaries (including wives and a.s.sociates). There were also 326 native helpers (95 of whom were unpaid), working as pastors, evangelists, teachers, colporteurs, Bible-women, etc., in 14 different provinces.

Duly qualified candidates for missionary labour are accepted without restriction as to denomination, provided they are sound in the faith in all fundamental truths: these go out in dependence upon G.o.d for temporal supplies, with the clear understanding that the officers of the Mission do not guarantee any income whatever; and knowing that as they will not go into debt, they can only minister to them as the funds sent in from time to time will allow. But we praise G.o.d that during the past twenty-eight years such ministry has always been possible; our G.o.d _has_ supplied all our need, and has withheld no good thing.

All the expenses of the Mission at home and abroad are met by voluntary contributions, sent to the offices of the Mission without personal solicitation, by those who wish to aid in this effort to spread the knowledge of the Gospel throughout China. The income for the year 1892 was about 34,000 from all sources--Great Britain, the Continent of Europe, North America, Australasia, China, etc.

Some of the missionaries having private property have gone out at their own expense, and do not take anything from the Mission funds.

Stations have been opened in ten of the eleven provinces which were previously without Protestant missionaries; from one of these, however, we have had to retire. The eleventh province has been visited several times, and it is hoped that in it permanent work may soon be begun.

More than 200 stations and out-stations have been opened in fourteen of the eighteen provinces, in all of which stations either missionaries or native labourers are resident. Over 6000 converts have been baptized from the commencement, some 4000 of whom are now living and in fellowship.

THE MISSION IN 1902

The year 1894, in which the first edition of _A Retrospect_ appeared, was marked by the erection of large and commodious premises for the work of the Mission, and early in the following year the houses in Pyrland Road, which had so long formed the home of the Mission in England, were vacated, and NEWINGTON GREEN, LONDON, N., became the address of the Mission offices and home.

From that date until the Boxer outbreak of 1900 the Mission made steady progress, the development of the work in China being accompanied by corresponding developments in the home departments of the Mission in England, America, and Australasia.

In January 1900, before the Boxer outbreak, there were in connection with the Mission, 811 missionaries, including wives and a.s.sociates; 171 stations; 223 out-stations; 387 chapels; 581 paid native helpers; 193 unpaid native helpers; 8557 communicants in fellowship, 12,964 having been baptized from the commencement. There were 266 organised churches; 788 boarding scholars; 1382 day scholars; 6 hospitals; 18 dispensaries; and 46 opium refuges.

During the terrible year of 1900, when no fewer than 135 missionaries and 53 missionaries' children and many thousands of Chinese Christians were cruelly murdered, the China Inland Mission lost 58 missionaries and 21 children. The records of these unparalleled times of suffering have been told in _Martyred Missionaries of the China Inland Mission_ and in _Last Letters_, both of which books will be found advertised at the end of this volume. Apart from loss of life, there was an immense amount of Mission property destroyed, and the missionaries were compelled to retire from their stations in most parts of China.

The doors closed by this outbreak have all been reopened in the goodness of G.o.d. In those districts which suffered most from the ma.s.sacres the work has largely been one of reorganisation; but throughout China generally there has been a spirit of awakening and a time of enlarged opportunity; which is a loud call for more men and women to volunteer to step into the gaps and fill the places of those who have fallen.

Among recent developments we would specially mention the opening of a new home centre at Philadelphia, U.S.A. The total income of the Mission for 1901 was 53,633 = $257,712, and the total received in England alone, for 1902, was 51,446 = $246,912. The total membership of the Mission in June 1902 was 761.

Current information about the progress of the work in China may be obtained from _China's Millions_, the organ of the Mission. It is published monthly, and may be ordered through any bookseller from Messrs. Morgan and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, E.C., for 1s. per year, or direct by post from the offices of the Mission, Newington Green, London, N., for 1s. 6d. per annum.

The Australasian edition of _China's Millions_ may be ordered at the same price from M. L. Hutchinson, Little Collins Street, or from the Mission Offices, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. The North American edition will be sent post free from the Mission Offices, 507 Church Street, Toronto, for 50 cents per annum.

Prayer meetings on behalf of the work in China are held at the princ.i.p.al home centres of the Mission, as follows: Every Sat.u.r.day afternoon from 4 to 6 o'clock, at Newington Green, London. Every Friday evening at 8 o'clock, at 507 Church Street, Toronto. Every Sat.u.r.day afternoon at 4 o'clock, in the Office, 267 Collins Street, Melbourne. A hearty invitation to attend any one of these meetings is given to any one residing in or visiting any of these cities.

Donations to the Mission, applications from candidates, orders for literature, requests for deputation speakers, and other correspondence should be forwarded to