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The tragedy of Paotingfu
Isaac Conrad Ketler
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HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
FROM THE FUND BEQUEATHED BY ARCHIBALD CARY COOLIDGE A B 1887 PROFESSOR OF HISTORY 1908-1928 DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 1910-1928
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REV. HORACE TRACY PITKIN.
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THE TRAGEDY OF PAOTINGFU
AN AUTHENTIC STORT
OP THE
Lives, Services and Sacrifices of the Presbyterian, Congregational and China Inland Missionaries who Suffered Martyrdom at Paotingfu, China, June 30th and July 1, 1900
BY
ISAAC C. KETLER
SEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 190a
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(SECOND EDITION)
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY (June)
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DeMcofeb to OTorgaret Ketler <511* on attb to il*e mattg otljer friends of tijosc a>lp ptrislpb at paotiitgfn.
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MARTYRED AT PAOTINGFU
PRESBYTERIAN BOARD
Grates Yaedley Taylor, M. D.
Rev. Frank Edson Simoox Mrs. May Gilson Simoox CoRTLANDT VAN RENSSELAER Hodge, M. D.
Mrs. Elsie Sinclair Hodge
{Paul Gilson Simoox Francis Raymond Simoox Margaret Simoox Native Christians and Helpers
AMERICAN BOARD
Miss Mary S. Morrill Miss Annie Allen der Gould Rev. Horace Tracy Pitkin Rev. Meng Chano-chun
And Other Native Helpers at the American Board Compound
CHINA INLAND MISSION
Mr. Benjamin Bagnall Mrs. Emily Kingsbury Bagnall Gladys Bagnall (Child)
Rev. William Cooper
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book was written to put on record the services and sacrifices of the missionaries who perished at Paotingfu, China, June 30th and July 1st, 1900. The story as here told is a thoroughly authentic one. It is published in the confident belief that it will quicken the interest of Christian people in foreign missions and awaken lively sympathy with the work of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches at Paotingfu.
The author is under obligations to many mis- sionaries and others for very substantial help in the preparation of this memorial volume. It is pleasing to record the kindly interest many have shown in the progress of the undertaking, and their readiness to do all in their power to facili- tate it. Valuable help has been received from a score or more of missionaries, among whom are Mrs. Amelia P. Lowrie, the Rev. J. Walter Lowrie, the Rev. John Wherry, D.D., the Rev. and Mrs. A. M. Cunningham, Dr. Eliza E. Leonard, Mrs. Letitia Thomas Pitkin, Miss Janet McKillican, Dr. Maud Mackey, Dr. W. C. Noble, the Rev. G. Henry Ewing, the Rev. Isaac Pier- son, the Rev. and Mrs. J. Albert Miller, and the 9
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io Acknowledgements
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Whiting, all having per- sonal knowledge of the work at Paotingfu.
The author desires to make special mention of the assistance received from the relatives and friends of the martyred missionaries and of a sketch on the college life of Mr. Pitkin, furnished by the Rev. O. H. Bronson, of Simsbury, Con- necticut, as well as of very valuable help on the lives of Misses Morrill and Gould, rendered by Mrs. Mary E. Cole, of Portland, Maine.
The letters of Mr. and Mrs. Simcox furnish in general the thread of the story, and it is but just to say, that in no case were they written for pub- lication. Of the more than three hundred letters written by them from October, 1893, to June 3d, 1900, and accessible for this work, those only have been used which seemed clearly to aid in presenting a living picture of missionary service and sacrifice at Paotingfu.
I. C. K.
Grove City College, Pa.
June, 1902.
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CONTENTS
1
College Life, and Love.— The Simcox Home— A Moth- er’s Boy — Shadows and Shadows — The Week of Prayer — A Noble Confession — A Roommate’s Testi- mony— Free from Clique Entanglements — Comrade- ship— A Girl’s Leadership — Prophetic Lines — The Volunteer Movement — Commencement Day, 1890— The Love of Classmates 19
II
Breaking Home Ties.— The Wedding Trip— New Friendships — Clearfield’s Ideal — The Week’s Round of Social Pleasures — The Impressive Sermon — Mrs. Simcox’s Talk to the Children— The Reception at the Reed Home — “ Never Dreamed that Missionaries Looked Like These”— The “Name Book”— Clear- field’s Good-bye — The Ordination — The Last Sabbath at Home — Center’s Farewell 33
III
In Far Off China. — There Were no Tears or Sad Feel- ings— Empress of China — Center’s Largess — The Voy- age— The Reception at Tientsin — On to Peking— The American Gentleman at the Chinese Inn — Entertained at Dr. Wherry's — At Home with the Cunninghams — First Impressions — Paotingfu, the Strategic Point — A Family Bereavement — First Experiences in Country
Work — Feeding the Hungry 48
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IV
The Flight. — War with Japan — Mob Violence Threat- ened— Warned to Seek Safety — Preparations for the Flight — Houseboat to Tientsin — Cholera in the Com- pound— Sad Deaths — A New Testament for the Em- press Dowager — Exciting War News ... 71
V
The American Board Compound. — Isaac Pierson and a Noble Work — The Laying of the Foundation — Hum- ble Quarters — Providential Leadings — The Story of Meng and Chang — Miss Pierson’s Letter — 41 Men May Come and Men May Go’’ — The Growth of the Native Church — The Ordination of Meng Chang-chun — A Missionary's Joy — Dr. Ament's Story — The Prophe- cies That Went Before 88
VI
Life in the Compound and Some Letters. — The War Still On — A Winter of Anxiety — True Friendships Formed — A Picture of Life in the Compound — How the House Was Furnished — The Warnings — The Reply of the Japanese Officer — Christmas and Loving Remembrances — Lights and Shades — How Baby Paul Quiets the Mob — The Fears of Many . . . 106
VII
Misses Morrill and Gould. — Changes in the Personnel of the Station — Mary S. Morrill — The Old Home- stead— The Student of the Family — Her Early Read- ing— At the Normal School — A Change of Faith — A Candidate for Appointment to the Foreign Field — Miss Morrill's Diffidence and Triumph — First Year on the Field — Arrival of Miss Gould at Paotingfu — Changes at the Station — A Child of Gentle Breeding — Miss Gould’s Farewell at Portland — Her Birth at
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Bethel — Her Student Career at Mount Holyoke Col- lege— Yoke Fellows — A Wonderful Year’s Work — Miss Morrill's Vacation — New Responsibilities for Miss Gould — The Joyful Return — Arrival of the Sim- coxes 136
VIII
Dr. Taylor and the Presbyterian Compound.— Dr. Whiting's Story — Dr. Taylor Transferred to Pao- tingfu — A Memorial Service — A Tribute by Dr. Hodge — Desire to Become a Physician — Van Rensselaer Seminary — Admission to the Lord’s Table — At Prince- ton— A Student of the University of Pennsylvania — Appointment to the Foreign Field — The An Ting Hospital — Linguistic Accomplishments — Dr. Taylor's Medical Work at Paotingfu — His Associates in the Compound — The Precious Home — Domestic Trials.
Fruitful Labours. — Miss Morrill the Tireless Worker — Her Vacation of Value to Miss Gould — Paotingfu Officials Friendly — Itinerating — Missionaries Going Home — A Missionary Letter to the Clearfield Ladies — Hugs and Kisses to Aunt Beckie — The Precious Day at Man Ch’eng — Desire to do Something for the Women — A Cloud no Bigger than a Man’s Hand — The Railroad 1 77
X
Four Summers by the Sea.— Investing Money at Pei- tai-ho— Death of Dorothy Hayner — The Blue Ocean — The Growth of Pei-tai-ho— The Last Summer by the Sea — -The Celebration of the 4th of July — Inter- esting Letters — Attack on the Catholic Compound at Paotingfu — Missionary Conferences — A Letter to a Church 193
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Contents
XI
Little Men and Women. — Dr. Cokman’s Mimic Army — Hope Cunningham — Two Missing — Letter to Mrs, Whiting — Guests at the Simcox Cottage — Miss Mc- Killican’s Letter — Praying for a Baby Sister— Francis the Tease — A Mother’s Solicitude — A Letter to Mrs. Cunningham — Dr. Mackey’s Testimony — Thanksgiv- ing Dinner at the Ewings’ — Mrs. Lowrie’s Story of the Children — The Hymns They Sang — Sorrow Over Mrs. Lowrie’s Departure — Baby Margaret’s Letter.
Horace Tracy Pitkin. — The Pitkins at Pei-tai-ho — Their Long Wedding Journey — Mrs. Pitkin — Meet- ing at Northfield — Mr. Pitkin’s Early Life and Edu- cation— A Classmate’s Story — Yale University and Union Theological Seminary— A Travelling Secretary — Marriage at Troy, Ohio— Meeting the Council — Or- dination— Representative of the Pilgrim Church, Cleveland — Silent Years at Paotingfu — The Tribute of Dr. Goodrich — Mrs. Pitkin’s Departure for the Homeland 241
XIII
Dr. and Mrs. Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Hodge.— How the Appointment was Received at Paotingfu — Arrival, May 2nd — Reception — The Thoughtfulness of an American Lady — The Boyhood of Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Hodge — Graduate of Princeton and of the University of Pennsylvania — Finds a Congenial Com- panion at the University — A Caller at the Sinclair Home — The Story of Elsie Sinclair — A Church Wed- ding— A Graphic Sketch — Silent and Busy Months at Paotingfu — The Trip to the South — Christmas, 1899 —Social Life in the Compound — The Favourite Hymns — Mrs. Hodge and the Children .... 26J
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XIV
Deepening Shadows. — The Emperor Overthrown— Ex- citement in the North — Fears for Missions — Railway Disturbances — Mr. Simcox Threatened — Shadows — Depressing Effect on the Missionaries — A Busy Sum- mer for All — Statement of Conditions Seven Months Before the Tragedy — The Boxer Uprising — Foreign Ministers Lacking in Backbone — The Darkness Deep- ens— Mrs. Simcox's Letter 300
XV
Elect Ones and Precious. — Good Fellowship Among the Missionaries — The Story of Mr. and Mrs. Bag- nail — Their Hospitable Home at Paotingfu — Sweet Little Gladys — Rev. William Cooper — The First Martyr of Paotingfu — Dark Days at the American Board Compound — Praying for Grit — " If Not on Earth, Will Meet in Heaven” — Mr. Pitkin’s Last Letter— An Appeal for Help — " Immanuel ” . 326
XVI
Abiding His Time. — The Great Revival — Sublime Cour- age— Letter to the Gearfield Church — The Faithful Shepherd— Letters Which Tell of the Baptism — Dr. Hodge’s Appointment to Peking— Suffering of the Catholics — The Three Groups — She Will not Come Back — The Last Letter to Her Mother — The Message to the Millersr— The Letter of May 31st — Mr. Simcox at the Congregational Chapel — Dr. Taylor and His Student Friends — Closes the Dispensary — Preparing Paul and Francis for the Crowning Day . . 345
XVII
The Crowning Day.— Echoes of Voices— Well-Authen- ticated Reports — Waiting Upon God — The Native Christians — The Chivalry of the Martyr Spirit — The
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Attack — The Purpose of the Boxers — A Mother’s Fruitless Plea — The Story of the Closing Scenes — Captain Hutcheson’s Report — Heavy Care at the South Suburb — The Scene in the Chapel — “ Now We Can Only Wait” — Mr. Pitkin and Good Lao Man — Hiding the Letters — The Verbal Message — The At- tack Sunday Morning — The Death of Mr. Pitkin — The Arrest of the Bagnalls and Mr. Cooper — Mr. Lowrie’s Letter — The Official Report — Memorial Services — Mr. Miller’s Visit to Paotingfu Since the Tragedy — “ Silver is Nothing and Gold is Nothing ” — The Loyalty of the Native Christians * . 370
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
w Rev. Horace Tracy Pitkin Title
s The Simcox Homestead, Bullion, Venango Co., Pa. 22
4 Frank Edson Simcox 24
N May Gilson Simcox 30
4 Clearfield Presbyterian Church 38
4 The Gilson Homestead, London, Mercer Co., Pa . . . 46
* Center Church 48
\ Rev. J. L. Whiting, D.D 52
v Mission Compound, American Board, Paotingfu 90
'Mission Chapel, American Board, Paotingfu 104
, Interior Mission Chapel, American Board Mission,
Paotingfu 116
« Hospital, American Board Mission, Paotingfu 126
4 Pupils and Teachers of Girls’ Boarding School, American Board Mission, Miss Gould in the centre 132
'•Birthplace o£ Mary S. Morrill, Deering, Me 138
^Birthplace of Annie Allender Gould, Bethel, Me. .. . 146 vMiss Annie Allender Gould and Miss Mary S.
Morrill 150
George Yardley Taylor 156
'• West Gate of Presbyterian Compound, North Suburb 170
^Presbyterian Chapel 170
• Rev. and Mrs. J. Albert Miller and their children. .. 172
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List of Illustrations
FACING PAGE
J Hospital and Dispensary Patients and Assistants,
(Miss Morrill sitting in the doorway) 178
v South Suburb, Paotingfu 190
v Mrs. Simcox and her boys at Pei-tai-ho 200
i Dr. Taylor and some friends, Mr. Lowrie and his
mother in the foreground 212
^Everett Whiting, Hope Cunningham 218
* Zenos and Ralph Miller 222
Paul and Francis Simcox 222
^Mrs. Letitia Thomas Pitkin 242
1/ Horace Collins Pitkin 256
^ Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Hodge, M.D., Paotingfu. 266 v/ Mrs. Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Hodge (Elsie Camp- bell Sinclair), Paotingfu, China 272
>/Rev. J. Walter Lowrie and his mother, taken at
Paotingfu 308
v The Ladies of the Compound and their Chinese
Guests 310
v Mrs. Simcox and Baby Margaret 310
* Gladys Bagnall 326
- Mr. and Mrs. Bagnall and their daughter, Gladys.. 328
v Rev. William Cooper 330
1 Home of Misses Morrill and Gould, American Board
Mission, Paotingfu 336
^ The Simcox House in which the five Presbyterian Missionaries and the three children perished, June
30th, 1900 374
\ Southeast corner of City Wall, Paotingfu, where For- eign Missionaries of the South Suburb, excepting
Mr. Pitkin were executed 390
v Memorial Service, Paotingfu, March 23d, 1901 392
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List of Illustrations
PACING PAGS
Dr. Wherry reading the Memorial Service 392
- Chinese and Foreign Officials at the Service 394
. Missionaries and Friends at the Service 394
- Ruins of the Simcox House 396
■ Pavilion with Banner erected over the entrance.... 396
* Pavilion erected by the Chinese for the Service. ... 398
* Ruins of the Mission property, Native Christians
and Foreigners looking for mementoes 398
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The Tragedy of Paotingfu
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College Life, and Love
Colleges bring many young people seemingly destined by location to quite different paths into the closest bonds of sympathy and fellowship. These we may rightly call providences. Changes in plans occur contrary to all expectation, and many young people without plans form definite purposes. The truth is, no one can predict with any hope of success what college life will do for a boy or a girl. This thought is especially sug- gested by the career of Mrs. May Gilson Simcox. She was born near the village of London, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on the Jth of February, 1868. In her sixteenth year and in the fall of 1883 she entered the preparatory department of Grove City College. No one could have dreamed (and least of all Miss Gilson herself) that just twelve miles east from the college a young man watching at the couch of his saintly mother was to enter into her life as a permanent, vital factor, and that one day, and by no means remote, would
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20 The Tragedy of Paotingfu
with her lift up the Standard of the King in a far-off heathen land. The young man was Frank Edson Simcox. From infancy he had been of delicate constitution, and for that reason in part had been the especial care and solicitude of his mother. Bom on the 30th day of April, 1867, in the old homestead at Bullion, Venango County, Pennsylvania, he was all his early life a mother's boy, and inclined more to her companionship and that of his sisters than to the outdoor sports and employments of his hardy and more vigorous brothers.
All the long summer and late into the autumn of 1883, his young heart had been sorely bur- dened. Day by day he saw the lengthening shadows reach out their sombre arms to embrace his own precious home, and the sweet mother- life silently slipping away. It was a summer and autumn to add whole years to his already mature reflections on life, its purpose and aims. Day by day earthly foundations seemed to be slipping from beneath his feet. No boy ever loved his mother with a truer love, and no mother ever cherished a son with tenderer maternal affection. They understood each other. She was his all in all, and he was the dearest hope of her earthly life.
There is a sort of stillness, a strange quiet, like shadows that creep over sombre walls at even- tide, which comes into homes and hearts, when inevitable Death makes his presence felt. Re-
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College Life, and Love
flection at such times takes the place of fancy, and the very youngest becomes serious and thoughtful beyond his years. In those long autumn evenings of 1883, at the Simcox home, shadows seemed to be the prevailing tone. There were shadows and shadows. If October suns dappled the trees and forests with yellow and red, and as a result the days did seem less mournful, yet were the nights mantled with shadows mani- fold. You can't find words adapted to tell just how a boy of the mother-loving kind really does feel when he sees the shadow of death hovering over his mothers bed-chamber. Fancy cannot buoy him up, for all the materials of his day- dreams are dashed, now, that mother must be dropped from the pictures he would paint. So he just thinks and thinks, and an entire read- justment of himself to all things else becomes a prime necessity. Young Simcox had reached the reflective stage ; and when in the chamber where death was so soon to enter he gave his sacred pledge, angels and heavenly ministrants must have seen the beginning of the end.
When the world crowns a man or a woman, saying this one or that one is deserving of im- mortal fame, very few stop to consider how much of what “this one,” or “that one,” has accomplished in the world is due to a father, or a mother, who first gave direction and inspiration to the life which has triumphed. Back in the early fifties, Sarah Lowrie Anderson, a near rel-
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The Tragedy of Paotingfu
ative of the Honourable Walter Lowrie, a thor- oughly Christian girl, and of a missionary family, wedded Shedrach Simcox. Side by side they toiled up the steep, rugged path of life, laying aside a little yearly, until when the family were nearly all grown, they found themselves in com- parative affluence, and their name respected by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. Then came the discovery of oil at Bullion, and the mad rush for wealth. The husband was pre-eminently a man of affairs. With Scotch-Irish persistence he followed the ups and downs of the oil busi- ness. Sometimes by dint of bold, determined venture he wrested large returns from compara- tively small investments, and again like many others, lost large sums in deceptive and profitless fields. A busy, exciting life such as the forego- ing leaves little time for the personal care and instruction of the home. It was just this circum- stance that laid the moral and spiritual instruction of the children more particularly upon the mother. Well did she discharge her responsibilities. In her heart was the sincerest love for the Master, and in her life the exemplification of the purest and strongest faith. To the baptismal font she brought in turn each of her children, and took the solemn vows of a parent to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Her life was one of consecration to God, and the spiritual well-being of her household was her dearest de- sire.
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THE SIMCOX HOMESTEAD, BULLION, VENANGO CO., PA.
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College Life, and Love
There is little doubt, that during her last sick- ness her beloved son received a gleam of light. Many an hour of those last weeks he had spent in loving fellowship with her. She told him of her hope and prayer for him ; and in those long vigils which marked the ebbing tide of life, he resolved, no doubt, to be and do that for which she hoped and prayed. Often in after years in speaking of his decision to be by God’s grace a child of His and to consecrate his life to special service in His cause, with touching simplicity he would tell of his sainted mother, and of a " sa- cred pledge ” he made to her.
The 19th of December was a dark day at the Simcox home. The evening of a precious life had come. The lengthening shadows had crept stealthily and silently from West to East. The last streaks of departing day had softly vanished into what seemed impenetrable night. It was not night, however; for great rifts in the overhang- ing clouds had been made by the mother’s faith through which some in that household could see clearly the light beyond. From that day a new purpose dominated the life of the 44 mother's boy". He had resolved to do something for God, and to keep a sacred pledge. In the spring of 1884 he entered college as a preparatory stu- dent for one session ; then returned in the winter again, having for some cause omitted the fall term. Beginning with the Week of Prayer spe- cial services of an evangelistic character were
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24 The Tragedy of Paotingfu
held in the college. A very deep interest in spir- itual things pervaded the entire student body from almost the commencement of the Week of Prayer. It was indeed a pentecostal time. Fully seventy students and young people of the town professed faith in Christ. Young Simcox was among the number. There are those who yet remember the young lad with the pale, resolute face standing up in the presence of a large gathering of his fellow students and others, and saying, " I promised my mother on her death-bed that I would meet her in heaven, and by the grace of God I intend to do so”. He immediately united with the Presby- terian Church of Grove City, in which church he retained his membership until his ordination as a Missionary Evangelist in August, 1893. From the moment he professed his faith he gave evidence of the saving power of Gods grace in his heart. With unswerving loyalty to his mother’s God he identified himself with the Christian work of the college, and during his fu- ture college course exerted an influence on the college life which helped many another young man to a better and nobler career. As a student he was manly, energetic and thorough, and when on Commencement day with twenty-four others he gave his Commencement oration there was no young man more generally esteemed for thorough- ness of scholarship and manliness of character than he. Of that Class there were fifteen young
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College Life, and Love
men and ten young women. Ten of the young men chose the Gospel Ministry, two became law- yers, and two professors, or teachers, yet there is no one of that number living but would readily agree that young Simcox was the easy peer of the best in gentle breeding, in scholarship, in sterling moral fibre, and in those popular gifts which give men influence and power in the home field.
In his college life he was singularly free from clique entanglements and coteries. He was straightout in his life among his student com- panions. He spurned the suggestion of an honour he could not worthily win. Every student knew Frank Simcox. It is safe to say that every stu- dent honoured him for his fearless condemnation of any act done by even the most intimate friend, when he believed it to be unmanly and unfair. No cajolery, or promise of preferment, could in- fluence him to avail himself of any means which he did not know to be transparently pure. Free from all selfseeking or pretense, yet conspicuous wherever duty called or need required, he was just such a student as would be known by the entire student body, and remembered years after- wards by every one who had met or seen him in his college days. A college classmate, and for more than two years a roommate of Mr. Simcox, says : " I knew him to be one of the sincerest of men. He gave himself with all his strength to
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every task he undertook. He was indeed faithful. He never shirked the greatest or the smallest duty. He was loyal. He was loyal to the truth. He was loyal to his friends. I never knew him to turn his back upon a friend. I never knew him in the slightest particular to deceive or defraud a friend or a foe. And he was loyal to his God. Knowing him as I did, when I learned of his en- dangered situation at Paotingfu, I felt I could predict his conduct. To me it was the most nat- ural thing, that he should stand by his frightened flock. Indeed had the report been, that he had forsaken his post of duty, leaving others to their helplessness, I could have confidently denied it from what I knew of him. It is a great pleasure to bear testimony to the purity of his heart. In all our acquaintance I never heard from his lips an unclean word, an unclean story, an unclean suggestion.”
College days are much the same in the experi- ence of college-bred men and women generally. The college itself is a little world with its lights and shades, its successes and failures, its joys and sorrows, its loves and griefs ; so that when young men and women on Commencement day stand on the college platform to receive the plaudits of ad- miring friends, they have simply passed through one world to enter upon another. Mr. Simcox went through his first world without a spot to mar the white flower of a pure and blameless life ; and when he entered upon the second world it
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College Life, and Love
was with the confidence of all who had known him in his college days, that howsoever rough might be the storms and unusual the experiences of this untried new world, he would acquit him- self nobly and well.
Miss Gilson was in the first bloom of young womanhood. Beautiful and attractive beyond the common lot of women, she was perfectly free from affectation, or vanity. A sweet, loving, sprightly girl of gifted mind and gracious man- ners,— in her presence was a charm irresistible, and in her heart a well-spring of the purest loves and the noblest aspirations. From 1884 to 1890 she had been almost continuously in college. Every form of college and Christian work for which she had strength found in her an enthusi- astic and soulful helper.
It was near the beginning of her Junior year, that she first felt strongly drawn to the Foreign Mission field. It was indeed with her a cherished hope. Five years of waiting for the fulfilling of her prayer did not dishearten her. She believed God would use her in this work ; and with faith and patience she would abide His time and way. Referring to the days when Miss Gilson first felt the call to lift up the Standard of the King in a heathen land revives the image of the fresh, bright, active girl of tender grace and winning smile. Artless as a very child, and yet with the poise and self-control of a lady to the manner born, she was the unconscious leader and ideal of
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a large group of the fairest and best of college girls.
Recalling her college days brings back also the memory of an increasingly large student body of strong, stalwart young men, and of fair, bright, comely young women. They were indeed well- favoured, promising young people. If the young men sometimes laid claim to a sort of natural superiority in the profounder studies, they were soon made to understand, that the young women too would not hesitate to com- pete for college honours. And it was not always a young man who stood first in the Class. At least one-half of the young men chose the Gospel Ministry, and almost the other half entered upon the study of other learned pro- fessions. The young women were no less ambi- tious to find and fill useful places in life ; and at this hour many of them are in India, China, Siam, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, and other foreign fields telling the Old Story, and many are in the homeland in the practice of medicine, teaching and other useful work. In that large body of no- ble young women who came and went in those days Miss Gilson was a cherished form. That her heart was intent on some special service for God was no secret to her classmates. Not only was her soul full of a large desire to do some signal work for God, but she had already revealed by her intense interest in Foreign Missions the ruling passion of her life. If, as it more than
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College Life, and Love
once occurred, some one would urge, that it was a shame to hide away a life so gifted and of such fair promise in a heathen land, the compliment, if so intended, but pierced a heart already burdened with unutterable desire to do something to save a perishing world. A classmate writing of Miss Gilson refers to their first meeting in the fall of 1884. The sketch which she gives coming as it does so opportunely (this chapter being in preparation at the time), would seem if for no other reason to merit a place in these memoirs. The picture, however, is a faithful one :
“ She was a sweet, young girl, scarcely more than a child, with very winning ways, having those expressive brown eyes that seemed to mean so much, and a well-shaped head adorned with beautiful auburn curls. Even then that thought- fulness which caused her to break home ties so dear to her and give her life for others in that far distant land showed in her fine face, and charac- terised her attitude in all her work. It was dur- ing those early college days she wrote in my al- bum these words dated November the 3rd, 1884:
Life is a leaf of paper white On which each one of us may write His word or two, and then comes night.
" How prophetic of her own life ! How little she then dreamed of the dark, dark night that must come before the daylight of His eternal presence.
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“ It was in the Speedwell Society where I learned her strong devotion to duty and her quiet determination to succeed in spite of obstacles. At the first meeting held at the beginning of our Senior year but five members were present. She was one of them. Quick to see her way out of a difficulty and original to propose new plans of work, she soon had us all enlisted as recruiting officers; and in a fortnight we were a strong, healthy, growing body. She was a friend to every one. The humblest was not beneath her notice.”
She was indeed the ideal of more than one seri- ous, thoughtful girl who met her in college, and when she went out into the new world with its strange, unfolding destinies she had left her im- press on many who sought to imitate her pure and noble life. More than one bright woman has said, since the tragedy of Paotingfu, that in her college days she tried to be like Miss Gilson.
Early in the inception of the College Volunteer Movement Mr. Robert Wilder was a visitor at the college, and from that time to this day the So- ciety of Student Volunteers has been a conspicu- ous organisation in the college. It was largely through a common interest in the work of this society, that Miss Gilson and Mr. Simcox first formed the friendship which ultimately ripened into love. They had both been deeply concerned about their duty in the face of the perishing mil- lions in heathen lands, and both were embar- rassed in their final decisions by the manifest re-
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luctance of their friends to consent to the sacri- fices which such a step involves. It is a touching circumstance illustrating alike their appreciation of the sacredness of a pledge, and the opposition to overcome, that while they never failed to take the largest interest in the mission and work of this society, yet they did not sign the pledge until after they were under appointment of the Board of Foreign Missions to China.
Commencement Day, 1890, was an epoch- making day in at least two precious lives. With many, indeed with most, such an occasion means the severing of very tender ties of Class comrade- ship. Many who for four years believe them- selves to be the truest and closest friends separate on that day never to meet again in this life. It was not so with these. They were lovers. They had plighted troth to be through all the years which God might give them, more than friends. Friends they once were, but now they were lovers and had been every hour of their Junior and Senior years. Members of the same Class from its organisation their association as classmates had developed in turn the tenderest ties of com- radeship, friendship, and love. No one envied, and all loved Miss Gilson and Mr. Simcox. How could it be otherwise? They had disarmed all envy by generous and loving fellowship with every member of their Class. They loved all, and in turn were loved by all. Every act of theirs had been promotive of good comradeship in the Class ;
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and so the attachment which grew up between these two was known and approved by all. It was a simple love affair conducted in a simple way without special romantic or heroic accompani- ments. He did not seek his Madeline as a bold, adventurous Porphyro, yet he had reason to be- lieve that his image and her ideal had melted into one, while in his own heart he knew, that ever he would love, and she be fair.
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BREAKING HOME TIES
Early in May, 1893, after the Board of Foreign Missions had accepted these young people and had appointed them to a work in China, a representa- tive of the Clearfield Presbyterian Church, Penn- sylvania, called on Mr. Simcox at the Western Theological Seminary to ascertain if he and his affianced bride would be willing to become the missionary representatives of that Church in China. The gentleman explained how in the Clearfield Church there had been a growing desire to do some specific, tangible thing for foreign mis- sions, how the belief had grown that a personal and direct interest in workers on the field would arouse missionary enthusiasm among them greater than before and how in fact when they applied to the Board for this privilege, they had been re- ferred to Mr. Simcox. Finally after prayerful deliberation and wise counsel from the Board Mr. Simcox and Miss Gilson accepted the proposition of the Clearfield congregation. The Church cheerfully and gladly undertook to provide for the support of these missonaries in the foreign field, and they in turn were proud to be known hence- 33
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forth as the representatives of the Gearfield Pres- byterian congregation.
It was to make the acquaintance of these good people, that Mr. and Mrs. Simcox on the after- noon of their wedding day June 7th, ran the gauntlet of rice, old shoes and whatnot, and on the following evening arrived at the beautiful town of Clearfield, where they spent a week of joy as ten- der and unalloyed as ever wrote its history in the heart of mortal man. It was one unbroken round of kindness and social courtesy. Receptions, din- ners, social calls, kind words and kinder deeds, and everything a cultured, Christian people could do to add to the intense pleasure of the young missionaries and to promote the personal ac- quaintance of every member of the congregation with these who were going out as their missionary representatives made it a week unquestionably the dearest and brightest of seven eventful years of wedded life.
It was indeed a week of delightful experiences for the newly-wedded pair. They thoroughly en- joyed every moment of their visit. Here friend- ships were formed as true and tender as they had ever formed in their lives before. They were to be more than the missionary representatives of a Church. They were to be the much-loved friends of more than one family in that place. It was an inspiration to the Church. The week spent in making the acquaintance of the interesting buoy- ant missionaries was a red-letter week for mis-
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Breaking Home Ties 35
sions in that town. The undertaking so novel and fraught with doubts and misgivings to all but the few enthusiastic ones who had urged its adoption, in the unexpected pleasure of personal contact and acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Simcox became the one interesting, enjoyable, paramount enter- prise of all their congregational work. Every one was pleased, gratified indeed, that this special work had been undertaken ; and every one felt it a privilege and a joy to have a part in it. They were not now sending unknown Christian workers to China. They were sending personal friends; and all the more they felt the ties which bind God's dear children in one, — ties subtle and scarce tangible, yet real and strong, as of good comrade- ship, friendship, affinity, or better, community of social sentiment, culture and Christian ideals.
A Church representing much of the wealth and refinement of an old and prosperous community necessarily includes in its membership families of high social standing with the yearly increment of a growing appreciation of the humanities. Such people have also their own conception of what a missionary should be. They are not satisfied with mere piety and consecration however desir- able in the missionary. They are wont to demand more of those who would teach and exemplify the Christian faith in a heathen land. In a word, they feel that the men and women who are not in point of social culture and of education at least the equal of the best among whom they labour as
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36 The Tragedy of Paotingfu
propagandists of the Christian faith have no special call to missionary work. Whether or not this is an extreme view, it is certain that many hold it. In the Clearfield Church there were those who no doubt cherished such views. They found in these whom they were now to send out to China their own ideals. They were glad to give support to missionaries whom they found to be well-bred, refined, scholarly without affectation, and com- petent to illustrate in the face of the highest cul- ture of the Orient the pre-eminent graces of our American life and civilisation. In the work which their own Church had undertaken the way was opened to place their approval on an enterprise in full accord with their own conception of what for- eign mission work should be.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Simcox were interesting and faithful correspondents. They seemed to have been bom letter-writers. Having a wide circle of friends interested in their welfare and success they wrote many letters giving almost a daily history of their life and work from the be- ginning of their career in China until almost their crowning day. It is a remarkable circumstance that since the tragedy of Paotingfu fully three hundred letters written from the time of their landing in China until within a few days of their martyrdom have come into the possession of the writer. Many of these are long descriptions of the land and faithful accounts of missionary trials
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Breaking Home Ties 37
and triumphs. For the most part they deal with subjects of really great interest to the Church, and always charmingly written.
Frequent letters were received at Clearfield from both Mr. and Mrs. Simcox. Some of these letters were addressed to the pastor and congrega- tion, and many also to individual members of the church and to special friends. Mr. A. B. Weaver, who had done so much to promote this enterprise in the church, was an especially favoured corre- spondent ; and Mr. and Mrs. Reed, in whose an- cestral home they had been for the most part en- tertained during their stay at Clearfield, were the recipients of many tender and touching epistles. It was a case of real friendship pure and simple. When the boys, Paul and Francis, had come to brighten the home at Paotingfu, it was mutually agreed that henceforth Mrs. Reed should be known as “ Aunt Beckie,” and almost every letter thereafter from China came laden with hugs and kisses from Paul and Francis to “ Aunt Beckie/' always indicated by their own dimpled hands, — hugs thus : O O O O O O ; kisses thus : X X X X X X.
It was in the Reed home, with its large rambling rooms and broad halls of colonial design, the scene of many a social function of the generations gone, that a reception was held on Tuesday evening, June the thirteenth, 1893. It was in honour of the departing guests. A quotation from a recent let-
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38 The Tragedy of Paotingfu
ter by Mrs. Reed, and made with her permission, beautifully tells the story of Clearfield's farewell and Godspeed to Mr. and Mrs. Simcox :
44 It seems but yesterday since we welcomed to our homes and hearts the fair young bride and her brave, manly husband. Life seemed as bright to them as the June day on which they came ; and how quickly the time went receiving and making calls, driving, boating, etc. Old and young were anxious to meet 4 Our Missionaries,' until Sun- day came, and to a crowded church Mr. Simcox preached. His text I cannot recall, but his theme was 4 Consecration,' and * In the Cross of Christ I Glory ' was the leading thought. I well remem- ber the impression he made on all who heard him. He seemed as he stood before us the very embodi- ment of power in Christ’s service. More than one remark like this was made, 4 Why do such men bury themselves in heathen lands ? ' 4 That's too fine a man for China,' etc. In the afternoon Mrs. Simcox addressed the Junior C. E. Society in her own sweet way, telling the children how she hoped they would remember her when she was far away trying to tell the heathen children the 4 old, old story ' which would be so new to them. In the evening Mr. Simcox stood before the Chris- tion Endeavour Society and again pledged him- self to the Master's service saying, 4 We know the perils of the way before us, but we go in obe- dience to our Master's call, and we go gladly and fearlessly/
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“ On the following Tuesday evening it was ar- ranged to hold a public reception at our house, the ladies of the congregation preparing the re- freshments. Early in the day one of our young men sent his carriage to Mr. Simcox, saying he knew Mrs. Simcox would enjoy a drive. While they were gone the young people with ferns and greens from the woods, and flowers from the gar- dens dressed the house for the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Simcox were invited to dinner at the home of Mr. J. F. Weaver, one of our most honoured elders, while these preparations were being made. With the evening came our people, not only of our own church, but of our town, to be received by our minister, the Rev. Dr. McKinley, and his wife, and Mr. Reed and myself, and to meet our honoured guests. Old and young they came, and though the old home had known many happy throngs as well as sad within its walls, never had such scenes been enacted there.
41 To many present a ' missionary ’ had meant one who had outlived, or never enjoyed the kindly interest and tender love of admiring friends, or been the ideal of the young, and as for a lovely young girl’s going from home and friends to such a life, it had not been thought possible ; so all un- wittingly their missionary work had commenced. I well remember one young girl’s saying, as she stood looking at Mr. and Mrs. Simcox, 1 1 never dreamed that missionaries looked like these 1 ’
“ Among so many it was impossible to remem-
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40 The Tragedy of Paotingfu
ber all the names; so Mr. Reed had prepared a little book which, ere the evening passed, held many an autograph, from that of the little tot whose hand had to be guided from letter to letter to that of many a silvery head among us. Mrs. Simcox wrote me long afterwards how much pleasure they had gotten out of the little ‘ name book ; 9 and so we bade them Godspeed, and while they then passed from our sight forever, and we knew it not, their influence we will never lose.”
Some visiting among Mr. Simcox’s friends in Venango county, a few Sabbaths spent here and there preaching the Word, or speaking in behalf of Missions, then came the necessary packing and shipping of needful articles for use in China ; and before it was realised the last week of their stay at the Gilson homestead had come.
It was arranged that the Butler Presbytery should convene at Grove City on the 29th of Au- gust to ordain Mr. Simcox. The preliminary ex- aminations were held in the afternoon, but an adjournment was had until the evening that the congregation of which Mr. Simcox was a member and the people of the community might hear the Charge arid witness the solemn ordination by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. The following is taken from the minutes of the Pres- bytery:
“ Professors McClelland, Dodds and Courtney spoke in behalf of Grove City College, of which Mr. Simcox and wife are graduates. Licentiate
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Breaking Home Ties 41
Howard Campbell spoke for the students of the college. Licentiate W. L. McClure and Rev. James F. Ray spoke for their classmates and Mrs. Harriet Dickson in general. Mrs. Agnes McCul- lough presented Mr. and Mrs. Simcox with very fine Bibles, one for each, the gift of their friends in Grove City, and made an excellent and appro- priate address.”
Mrs. McCullough was a woman of rare gifts of public address. The daughter of the Rev. Dr. Robert B. Walker she had been trained from her childhood to a lively interest in all phases of Church and missionary work. Her English was as pure as her heart, and when appointed to any task such as the one imposed on her by this occa- sion, every one knew that she would acquit her- self in a manner and diction both charming and highly instructive. She was the last speaker of those chosen to take part in the exercises. Re- ferring to the holy calling of the Gospel Ministry and the great privilege of proclaiming the Word, she reminded Mr. and Mrs. Simcox of the very distinguished honour conferred upon them, that they should be chosen to the precious service of carrying the Message of Salvation to a heathen land. Then, as if impressed with the thought of possible exigencies which might preclude the reali- sation of their dearest hopes, she said : " My
prayer is that your lives may be spared and that you may live to learn the language and tell the precious 'Old Story' in the Chinese tongue.”
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42 The Tragedy of Paotingfu
Stepping to the edge of the platform she handed to each a Bible. It was the signal for Mr. Sim- cox’s response. Rising in the pew with a look of intense earnestness in his face, and raising the Bible above his head so that all in the house might see it, and holding it there, he said : “ God only knows whether we shall live to learn the Chinese language so as to be able to proclaim the Gospel in the Chinese tongue. If we shall not live long enough to learn the language and shall only live to place our feet on Chinese soil and hold up this dear old Book in the sight of a perishing race, I shall feel that our going to China has not been in vain.” Every one was thrilled by his noble words and every heart was strangely tender towards the consecrated young man and his dear young wife. The episode served to reveal once more the key- note of the high purpose of these young people who counted it a precious joy to bear His cross in China.
Friday, September the 1st, was set for a fare- well service at old Center Church. It was Mrs. Simcox’s home church and endeared to her by the sweetest associations. Here in her childhood she attended Sabbath school with her brothers and sisters, and here she made a public profession of her faith in Christ. This was the second farewell service in Center Church, 1863 — 1893 ! One serv- ice thirty years prior had been held when Calvin W. Mateer consecrated himself to foreign mission work. Now another service ; but this one was cer-
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Breaking Home Ties 43
tainly the one to touch the tender chords ! It was “ May Gilson’s ” farewell (they had scarcely learned to call her “ Mrs. Simcox ”), and every- body loved her. It had been agreed that unlike the service held at Grove City, where the prevail- ing tone of the addresses seemed to be in the minor key, this service should be of a light, airy, semi- jubilant kind. They would be joyous, not sad ; they would have all the parts of the service of such a bright, sprightly character, that no one even for a moment would think of being sad or sorrowful. How vain were all their well-made plans and purposes ! The very effort to seem un- moved only intensified the deep undercurrent of pain and tender grief which almost every person felt. All London, with the entire school district, was there; and from the farthest bounds of the Center parish they gathered at the time appointed with but one heart and one purpose, and that was to honour the dear young woman they so much loved and her manly husband. Was it a bright, cheery service without suggestion of the tender pain which was piercing loving hearts ? Well, no ! How impossible for reason to prescribe rules for the heart! There were addresses by the repre- sentatives of the different church organisations and a touching response by Mr. Simcox. It was not just the kind of service they had intended. In spite of all their intentions they had yielded to the ruling impulses of the hour and before they could realise it the minor chord had been struck.
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44 The Tragedy of Paotingfa
The pastor of the Church, the Rev. Mr. Kirkbride, speaking at a memorial service following the tragedy of Paotingfu, referred tenderly to the leading theme or motif of that quiet, delightful service of Friday, September the ist. It was not free from the suggestion of yearning hearts and tender tears :
“ Speaking for himself and his young bride at their farewell reception at Center Church, Brother Simcox cheered us who were left behind with the thought that distance only makes love-cords draw the stronger as rubber is tensioned by stretching. I tried to minimise the distance by showing how shorter than a straight line to China is the route by the throne of grace whither our prayers go up and from which our prayers by way of Heaven would be handed down to them across the Pacific in answering blessings. They are only half that distance now, and the heartstrings stretched al- most to breaking are pulling hard and helpfully where our treasure is.”
It was understood that Mrs. Simcox would de- fer her parting words until the following Sabbath evening. They were to spend yet one more Sab- bath with the loved ones at the Gilson homestead, and it was thought well to crown the farewell serv- ices with a final handclasp of all the dear friends among whom she had lived so long and to assure them that whatever might be her lot as a foreign missionary she would ever remember and cherish the dear friends of that community.
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45
Breaking Home Ties
The last Sabbath at home was a day of peculiar sacredness. It was the 3rd of September. The forests which embrace the farm on three sides were tinged just a little with red and gold; and the dry, hazy atmosphere which at this season of the year in Western Pennsylvania gives to distant fields and woods a dull, sky-blue cast was very much akin to the mental tone of the dear ones at home. This feeling was not confined to the home, however. It was shared by the good people of the neighbourhood. The congregation on Sabbath morning at Center Church was larger than usual. Every member seemed to be present, and many who were only casual attendants were out that day. Every one seemed just a little kindlier, if not also more quiet. The services, though not especially intended so, impressed eveiy person as being un- usually touching and tender.
It was arranged that they should all return in the evening to hear Mrs. Simcox’s parting words and to bid good-bye to the missionaries. They all felt an especial interest in Mrs. Simcox. She be- longed to them. She had always been their friend. No boy or girl in that community and no neighbour, or member of Center Church, ever doubted her love. No matter what changes might occur, or how long she might be absent from them, every one knew, or at least felt, that in her heart there would be a large place for Cen- ter Church and all who worshipped there. At six o’clock that evening the church was filled with
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young and old. It was a brief service. A song, the reading of the Scriptures, a prayer, the sweet, simple, tender words of Mrs. Simcox, assuring them of her love for dear old Center, and the dec- laration, that come what may she would ever cherish them in her tenderest affections, consti- tuted the substance of that evening’s programme. Then came the handclasp with each, old and young, and Center saw her face no more.
The last Sabbath evening had come ! No one had said, “ No ! You cannot go.” Even the dear- est of earthly friends had not said that; nor had she been able to say, “ Go. Your choice is mine.” She had prayed for such grace. If it would come it would be grace indeed, marvellous grace. That night two will remember through all coming ages, — the one wearing a martyr’s crown in the ineffa- ble light of the Throne and the other not yet crowned, so far as mortal eyes can see, still tread- ing the weary way, daily praying for strength to bear the heavy cross.
It was the last Sabbath night, and the mother found grace. That day the light broke in on a troubled heart. The prayer, “ not my will, but thine,” had brought its blessing, and in the sweet peace of a loving trust in God, it came to her that henceforth she could be glad, that God had chosen her daughter for service in China. It was joy such as she had not known for months, that now she could remove the heavy weight from her daughter’s heart, for when she said. “ By God’s
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grace I cheerfully give you to this work/' the loving daughter, in a very paroxysm of joy, fell on her mother's neck, sobbing, “ I thank you, I thank you, mother, I can now go and gladly."
That was a memorable night at the old 'home. The burden had passed away from the young mis- sionary's heart. By God’s grace her mother had been enabled to say, “ God's will, not mine be done." It is a cherished, hallowed memory of a bereaved family, that when all had been said and done, and the time came to leave the parental roof, and as it proved, forever, with the sweetest affec- tion she who should that day go forth, but come not back again, visited each room of the old home taking a last farewell of all things dear ; then went out strong “ to bear His cross in China."
The following Tuesday, at the Grove City rail- road station, waiting for the one o'clock train, was a group of the friends and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Simcox. They had come to see them off. It was not a wedding ; it was not a funeral. It was a parting. And so these two “ went forth to never more return."
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IN FAR OFF CHINA
44 There were no tears or sad feelings, I think, when we pulled out ; for you see, no one had any friends on shore. Three little cheers were heard from a group of sailors.” The foregoing is from a letter by Mrs. Simcox, dated R. M. S. “ Empress of China,” Vancouver, B. C., September 18th, 1893. They had reached Vancouver, Saturday, the 16th; and at seven o’clock Monday evening weighed anchor and “ pulled out.” They were not alone; for besides a large first-cabin list of Americans and Englishmen on their way to dif- ferent parts of the Orient bent on business or pleasure, there were fifteen missionaries bound for various mission stations in China and Japan.
It was a striking and happy coincidence that the Rev. Dr. Calvin W. Mateer, who thirty years prior had sailed by the way of Cape Horn for China, the herald of Glad Tidings to a former generation, should now, after a much needed rest in America, be returning to his work again. That was no holiday excursion which he took in a sail- ing vessel when he first went to China. It was a long voyage of hardship and privation. Leaving 48
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New York on the second of July, 1863, it was one hundred and sixty-seven days before his ship anchored at Shanghai. Now he was going once more to China, but this time on a magnificent steamship, a veritable ocean palace, with all the comforts and conveniences which modern science and invention could suggest.
On the “ Empress of China ” there were, there- fore, two missionaries whom Center Church es- pecially claimed. The one was this returning herald of the Gospel, the veteran, time-frosted, careworn and weighted with serious problems; the other, the bright, impressionable, vivacious young woman ready “ to bear His cross,” and both anxious to do and dare for God. “ Calvin Mateer,” as he is yet familiarly called by those who remember his farewell words in 1863, was re- turning to his post in China, and Mr. and Mrs. Simcox, who had so recently come from the Cen- ter parish and the scenes of his earlier years, were to be companions with him in travel. It was a com- forting thought (if it had occurred to any one then), that the precursor of Center’s largesses was now to be the missionary companion, the older brother, so to speak, of Center’s latest gift to China. He had said thirty years before, that his bones should be buried in a heathen land, but that they would not rise in one; and the influence of his words and life had been far-reaching. Now two others had joined him with the same sublime faith and courage. There were some also who like
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Mr. and Mrs. Simcox were going out to the for- eign field for the first time. Among these were the Rev. J. Albert Miller and the Rev. and Mrs. Cour- tenay H. Fenn. These five were under appoint- ment of the Foreign Mission Board for work in China, but just how closely they would be asso- ciated in that work no one really knew.
It was a delightful voyage. Barring some sea- sickness there was scarcely an incident to mar the pleasure of the nineteen days of congenial fellow- ship with those of kindred purposes. All were sorry to leave the ship which by reason of so many pleasant associations had become a very home to them. On Saturday, October the 7th, about three o'clock p. m., they landed at Shanghai, and were indeed pleased to find on their arrival letters of welcome awaiting them from Misses Newton and Sinclair, of Peking. Here also they found those who were ready to extend the hand of fellowship. Many courtesies from missionaries of various de- nominations made them feel from the very mo- ment of their landing, that Shanghai had many true and warm hearts beating in lively sympathy with the great work to which they had consecrated their lives. The Rev. and Mrs. Fitch and Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh were exceedingly kind; and when they left that city they felt they had left behind them those who would ever be interested in their work. Monday was spent in making many pur- chases of household goods and needful supplies, not the least important of which was the five dol-
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In Far Off China 51
lars' worth of insect powder which they had been warned to buy ; and the letter which records these things closes with the words, “ Do not worry about us, for as yet we have endured no particular hardships.”
Three days later, or on Friday the 13th, they arrived atTientsin. Here also they met with a cordial reception and those whole-hearted courte- sies which missionaries on the field know so well how to extend. An extract from a letter by Mrs. Simcox, under date of the 17th of October, gives a fair idea of a missionary’s first experiences in China:
“ Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick, of the Congrega- tional Mission, met us at the boat and brought us to their compound. We have no station here. Mr. and Mrs. Fenn are staying with the Bost- wicks, Mr. Miller with the Aikens and we are at Rev. Stanley’s. We are entertained very nicely and have a chance to do some buying and order- ing. Miss Newton, of our Mission in Peking, came down to meet us, and reached here the same evening that we came. It was a three days’ trip for her in a springless cart. She brought bed- ding along for us to use going back, also a cook ; and she is now laying in a supply of food to last us all the way back.
” Mrs. Fenn and I do not feel like riding in a cart ; so they have sent to Peking for a litter to come for us. It has not yet arrived. I think it is a sort of covered coop on two long poles carried
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by mules. I don't know how we shall like it, but I think we will get along all right. The worst will be the stopping at the Chinese inns over night. Of course we will have our own bedding, but it will not be very pleasant anyhow.
“ It is so nice to have Miss Newton go with us ; or it may be that she will wait for Miss Richie, who is coming later. If so, Dr. Whiting will go with us. He came down from Paotingfu also to meet us. We had a great time about that. They wanted to send some of us to Paotingfu, and it was left to Miss Newton and Dr. Whiting to de- cide. It took a long time, for any of us were will- ing to go. Then Mrs. Fenn, being quite delicate looking, they threw them out, and came near send- ing us. Finally they decided on Mr. Miller. We hate to part with him, for we think a great deal of him. We have not many workers there, and it will be lonely for him. Dr. Whiting is an old man and he is going to be there, also Dr. Atter- bury’s who are coming this week. They are old Peking Missionaries.
“ It is now four o’clock and the litter has come ; so we will start in the morning. It is quite a gor- geous affair of bright red colour and carried by mules. We are anxious to get started, for it will take about three days, and we are in a hurry to get there now. It is eighty miles, but we travel very slowly. I think it is too bad that they have no railroads. Of course everything is strange and new to us here; but we are getting accustomed to the Chinamen. I think some of them are very nice, that is among the Christian ones. The others
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all have such a sad and dogged look about them. Truly they seem a people 4 without hope in the world/ ”
It is well none of us know what the future has in store for us. The labour of love which brought Miss Newton on a three days' journey from Pe- king, and in a 44 springless cart," would have been performed with a heavy heart and a lagging foot- step had she but foreseen the culmination of the plans which were then being made for the new missionaries. Little did any one dream of the way in which some of these who were now setting out to Peking would be led. Far from Miss New- ton's thought, whose Girls' School at Peking was of so much interest and inspiration to Mrs. Simcox as well as the prompting suggestion of Mrs. Sim- cox's own work at Paotingfu, was the unspeakable grief which was to pierce her own heart. The future had its rose-tint of promise, and they both went forward.
The three days occupied in the overland jour- ney to Peking were trying, tiresome, interesting days. If it had been an ordinary journey devoid of striking coincidences, or better, providences, it would be well to pass over it in silence. It was not so. It was no chance or ordinary circum- stance, that six missionaries should meet at a little inn in the evening of the second day out, each of whom was to have a conspicuous part in the his- tory of events which have shocked the world and
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crimsoned the pages of missionary biography. It was no chance, that Dr. Taylor, the cultured phy- sician, travelling from Peking to Tientsin should meet Mr. and Mrs. Simcox travelling from Tien- tsin to Peking, and, in the dusk of fhe evening of October the 19th, at a little Chinese inn, should form an acquaintance which through the exigen- cies of missionary service and sacrifice finally ripened into mutual friendship and love so true and strong, that even death could not separate them.
It is in part for these reasons that Mrs. Sim- cox’s letter of October the 22nd is here given a place in this story:
“ Peking, China, Oct . the 22nd , 1893.
" To the Dear Folks at Home : We are here at last, and as you may imagine, glad to get here after so long and hard a journey. I will try to tell you something of our trip from Tientsin up, as my last letter was written there.
“ We left Tientsin Wednesday morning about nine o’clock with four carts, each drawn by two mules hitched tandem, and a litter for Mrs. Fenn and myself, carried by two mules. I must say it was a novel way of travelling. We climbed into the litter at the little door at the side. You see it is a square box carried on two long poles. We had a seat constructed of baggage and bedding across the back; then had satchels for foot rests, and blankets and comforts for covers.
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“After we got in the driver lifted the back shafts up and fastened them on the mule, which had a great wooden saddle with hooks to hold up the shafts. Then the front shafts were lifted up and fastened on the foremost mule, and off we went with the driver on a little donkey beside us yelling, 1 Yi, yi/ which means 1 Go to the left/ and 4 Wo, ho, ho 9 which means 4 Go to the right/ and 4 Ptuh, ptuh/ which means 4 Get up/ So with this great procession we went through the rough and sometimes muddy streets of Tientsin feeling very glad when we got out to the pure country air.
44 Mr. Fenn tried to ride his bicycle, and there were always great crowds following, yelling and laughing at the 4 foreign devil 1 on a wheel. The litter was not a very comfortable mode of convey- ance, for it had, as has been said, about sixteen motions ; but it was better than the carts, for the roads were very rough ; in fact they were scarcely roads at all, and the carts are much worse than the great wagons at home. There was a strong, cold wind blowing in our faces all day, and it was extremely uncomfortable. The gentlemen of the party walked part of the time but the wind was so strong that it was very hard work. We did not stop until two o’clock, when we pulled into a barn- yard and climbed out and went into the inn which faced the yard. Here we found a bare and very dirty ground floor, a table and a bench or two, also a 4 kang/ or long bed, along one side covered with a matting. We brought in our box of pro- visions, wiped off the dirty table, set it, sent the cook to bring water to wash off some of the dust, then gave him some coffee and a can of prepared
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soup to make for us. He made these and brought them to us in very horrible-looking bowls, but we could ask no questions of course. So, with a can of cold meat, good bread and butter, coffee and condensed milk and crackers we ate a hearty meal. We then packed up, had our hot- water bags filled with hot water, and had the excitement of starting again. We travelled until after dark, when we stopped at another inn and got our sup- per similar to dinner. We had two rooms with their ‘ kangs/ where we spread our bedding, of which we had an extra good supply. Mrs. Fenn and I took one room and the men the other. We did not sleep very well, for the donkeys kept up a braying and the servants a yelling and talking all night; but we rested and got up at 4:30 in the morning, ate our breakfast, packed up and started. Thursday we had the same experience over again, except that the wind had fallen and it was not so cold and we found still poorer inns.
“ We saw many interesting and curious sights passing through the villages. Everybody came out to see us and would follow us for quite long dis- tances; but they all treated us very respectfully, and showed only curiosity. I do believe they are more respectful than the low classes in our cities are. We saw a mirage across the plains that day. It was very beautiful. The country is very flat and one can see for miles. We met and travelled with great camel trains. I am certain we saw at least a thousand camels that day. The country is rough and the paths that the camels go in are beaten hard, while there are great ruts on all sides. We would sometimes be in the midst of these
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trains and our little donkeys would hurry up and pass them when they could. There is one man to every six camels; these are all fastened together with long ropes, and one follows in the tracks of the one in front. They move very slowly and sedately. Our donkeys never went faster than a walk either, but could make better time than the camels.
“ We were carried over narrow paths at times just wide enough for the donkeys’ feet, but they never stumbled ; nevertheless I could not help hold- ing my breath at times. Of course it was not like it would be going over mountains ; but often there would be steep embankments with a bluff close on one side and a stream down beneath on the other. So we could imagine what it must be to cross the mountains on donkeys. It really seems that they enjoy the narrow and steep places.
“ I forgot to tell you that Dr. Whiting was with us and took care of us. He did the talking, but very much of the time the carts took a different road and we would not see them for hours ; how- ever we could trust the driver. Thursday night Mr. Fenn on his wheel and we in the litter reached the inn sometime before the carts, and we were in somewhat of a dilemma, because we could not talk, and the Chinese came crowding around, when to our surprise an American gen- tleman stepped out and introduced himself as Dr. Taylor, of our Mission in Peking. He was on his way to Tientsin to meet the Atterburys, and met us by chance.
41 We had the same experience that night, but slept a little better; then started the next day
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again. Oh, it was so tiresome sitting cramped up all day with scarcely room to move. Towards evening on Friday we came in sight of the Walls of Peking, and at five o’clock we entered the outer wall. There are really three cities inside this wall, and each has another wall around it. They are very high and massive and have huge iron gates which are closed at six p. m. We just got in in time. It is a city of distances, and we had at least five miles to go through those filthy, crowded streets, before we reached the Compound. You may believe we were glad to stop. I came near being homesick while going through those streets, hoping every moment we were there.
“ Dr. Wherry came first to meet us, then Miss Sinclair. Oh, it did seem good to get into an American house again ! Misses Newton and Sin- clair have a very pleasant home. We were all there for dinner, but Frank and I stayed all night with Dr. Wherry. He lives alone, his wife and children being in America.
“ At noon next day we went to a Chinese wed- ding to which we were all invited. They brought the bride to the chapel in a closed chair. She was assisted out with great ceremony, and was con- ducted up the aisle by two ladies, while a man laid pieces of carpet for her to walk on. She would step on the one ; then he would lift the other and place it in front of her. She was dressed in bright red trimmed in tinsel, and her face and head were concealed by a thick cover of red. She was not allowed to set foot on the ground until she had been in the mother-in-law’s house; so she was taken out of the church and to the groom’s home
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in the same manner. We went in carts to the home to attend the feast, but I stayed only a little while, for I did not feel well. 1 was certain the smell of the food would make me sick. Miss Sin- clair made excuse for me and took me home. She could not stay either; but the others stayed through it all.
“ In the afternoon we went in carts to the other Compound, which is about a mile from the one where we spent the night. Rev. Mr. Cunningham lives there, also Dr. Coltman’s and Dr. Taylor. We are to have two rooms in Mr. Cunningham's house and board with them ; but we are stopping with Dr. Coltman's for a few days. They are lovely people, have four children, two girls and two boys, and we do enjoy being with them so much. Mrs. Cunningham has been sick but is well now, and will be ready to take us soon. She has a little girl ten months old. I stayed with Mrs. Cunningham last evening while the others went to church, and I like her so much. I know we shall enjoy living with them.
“ I have not told you what the ‘ Compounds ' are like. A 1 Compound ' is a large plot of ground inclosed by high walls within which are the houses, or homes, of the missionaries. So you see we are shut off to a certain extent from all about us. Of course we feel ‘ shut in ' somewhat, but it is very nice to be away from the filth and the dirt.
“ The weather is perfectly delightful here now and they tell us the winters are very pleasant.
“ It is not considered proper for a lady to walk on the street here, and the most respectable way is to go in a mule-cart, which is simply horrid, for
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the streets are so rough and cut up, that one is obliged to be an expert in riding in them to keep from being bruised up. The cartmen will not allow any Jinrikishas or any new methods of con- veyance to come in for it would hurt their trade. One custom that I like here is that when you speak to a Chinese you shake your own hand in- stead of his. In many cases one feels glad it is so. I could tell you hundreds of things which are new and interesting to me.
“ We do wish we had brought some pictures from home for they cannot be gotten here. We need so many things of that kind, bric-a-brac and decorations, for the walls of a large room look so bare. The missionaries all try to have pretty homes; they could not stand it if they had not. When outside one sees nothing but filth, dirt and misery ; and it is a blessing to have a pretty place to come to.
“ Remember us in prayer at all times, for we do feel so weak. With much love to all at home and all the friends, Lovingly,
" May.”
Letters followed rapidly telling of new friend- ships formed and of the daily struggle to learn the language in which it was their earnest desire to proclaim the precious Gospel. In the home of the Rev. A. M. Cunningham they found congenial fellowship. Christmas came and with it many tokens of kind remembrance from old friends and new. Then followed the Week of Prayer in which both found renewing grace for the burdens which
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seemed a little heavier than they had before ex- perienced. There were deprivations and crosses incident to life under widely different conditions, and there were perplexities peculiar to the adjust- ing of all their thoughts and ways to a new and strange environment. The tardy post was a sore vexation. Even when letters did arrive at Shang- hai from America it was weeks before they reached Peking in the winter months, and then only by the Customs post. Faith always tri- umphed however, and with the buoyancy natural to young missionaries filled with an unconquer- able desire to do something for God, they went forward from day to day gaining knowledge and power for the years of exacting service in store for them.
Peking was to them an interesting city. The capital of a great empire almost wholly given to idolatry, with its large catalogue of unspeakable iniquities, it was to them a theatre in which to witness the death struggle between the Faith of Calvary and the powers of great darkness and superstition. The novelty to be seen on every hand and the striking contrasts between life in the Occident and life in the Orient did much to re- lieve hours which otherwise would have been very trying and sustained the naturally light-hearted and contented dispositions of both Mr. and Mrs. Simcox. Writing on the 7th of January, 1894, to a young cousin thirteen years of age, Mrs. Simcox displayed her lively interest in all that
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was taking place around her and her appreciation of the things in a missionary's experience which would be interesting to a boy. The letter runs as follows :
“ We are beginning to feel very much at home here now. We are boarding and expect to do so until next autumn. Our eating here thus far has been just about like it is in the U. S. Nearly every thing is brought here from the United States or England. We sent an order last week to San Francisco for supplies of all kinds to have them ready when we go to housekeeping. We will send one next week to London, England, for some other things, — butter, milk, table linen, and some kinds of fruits. Nearly every one here uses the condensed milk, but we use native milk, and I like it better than the condensed milk. We have such nice fruits here all winter. I doubt if you are eating apples, pears and grapes as we are. They keep here so well all winter. Then we have Irish and sweet potatoes, corn and wheat, and ex- cellent beef, mutton and fowls ; but we never eat the pork, which is very abundant. Chickens and turkeys are raised here just as they are at home. The water we use is carried to us from outside the city and we have it all boiled before we use it. It is splendid when brought to the table.
11 We are rather expecting now to go to Pao- tingfu next autumn. It is not settled yet who shall go; but I think it lies between Mr. Fenn's and us, and I think they do not want to go. There are many more advantages here in Peking,
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but the work is even more encouraging there, and we are willing to go if they wish us to go.
“ It is true the Chinese hate all foreigners, and were it not for fear of serious consequences they would soon murder us all. Last year there was a threat made to attack the city gates one night with the purpose of killing all foreigners. There are two Swedish gentlemen here now trying to have something done through our Minister, Col. Denby, towards redressing the terrible wrongs done to the Chinese Christians in the place where the two Swedish missionaries were murdered.
They tell the most horrible stories I ever heard f of the tortures these people are subjected to and of the conduct of the Chinese officials. I heard that Col. Denby said, that they were just waiting to get their hands on the Prince who rules that Province; but I don't know how true it is, nor what they could do with him anyhow. The Chi- nese down in that place need to be taught a lesson.
You know all the missionaries of that Province are shut up in one city, not daring to go out into the interior.
“ This is the Week of Prayer and the mission- aries meet every night at some different place for worship. The Chinese Christians also have meetings, and it will be a very busy week. It is hard work to attend all these meetings, for the Compounds are miles apart and they meet in a different place every night. The boys in the School in this Compound have their own meet- ings. These boys do with only half their usual noon lunch every Sabbath, and give that much to the Church. Don't you think they would shame
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many of us ? They made a feast for us on Christ- mas and they did without their noon lunch for three weeks in order to get money for it. I was sick with the cold at the time and could not go, but they brought me a large tray of good things. There were many things I could not eat, but I could eat the fruits, nuts and candy.
“ There is a great deal of shooting going on to-night. The Chinese are constantly having some sort of celebration. I think they waste a great deal of gunpowder.
“ I suppose you had a good time at Christmas. We enjoyed it here. I received several nice pres- ents and remembrances from the different ladies of our Mission; and Frank gave me a pretty sil- ver-mounted glass cracker jar and a beautiful jewel tray.
“ Frank joins in love to all. Good night.
“ Yours lovingly,
“ May.”
It had now become pretty well settled that Mr. and Mrs. Simcox would join the Station at Pao- tingfu. Dr. Whiting, a veteran missionary, had been sent there some months previously to begin the work contemplated by the Board. Dr. Tay- lor, " the American gentleman,” who met the Simcoxes at the little Chinese inn, as they were travelling to Peking, and the Rev. J. Albert Mil- ler had already joined him ; and while the enter- prise was yet in a formative state there was splendid promise of a work at Paotingfu which would make that station one of the most import-
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ant in the entire list of the mission stations under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church in China.
There were yet some months of hard study and earnest preparation before these young people could hope to be of any practical service to the Mission there; and it was therefore determined that they should remain at Peking, or near it, un- til the following autumn.
Paotingfu was then regarded as a quite strate- gic point for the great work of the Church in China. A city of about one hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants, one hundred miles South West from the Capital of the Empire, itself the Capital of the Chili Province, on the line of travel from Peking to the provinces lying to the South and South West, it seemed and doubtless is the key to the provinces of Shen Si, Shan Si, Shan Tung, and Ho Nan. It is not surprising that for young missionaries ambitious to do a great work in China, the Paotingfu field should possess rather unusual attractions, and that the letters of the Simcoxes should reveal considerable satisfaction at being chosen for this work. In a letter under date of January the 21st, Mrs. Sim- cox records the probability of their appointment to this field :
“ The latest news now in connection with us is that we are likely to go to our new station at Paotingfu next autumn. However it is not finally settled; but I think we will be the ones sent. Paotingfu is a three days’ journey from
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here. Dr. Whiting, one of the oldest members of the Peking Mission, Dr. Taylor, and Rev. Miller, who came out with us, are all there this winter. Three lone men! They live in Chinese quarters and dress in Chinese costume. The Mis- sion will build at least one new house this coming summer. I expect we will adopt Chinese costume if we go, for most of the work there will be in the country.”
In this same letter is related the simple story of a family bereavement. It was the second visi- tation of death among the Christian missionaries at Peking since the arrival of the young candi- dates for missionary service, and the incident seems to have made a very deep impression upon them:
" During the week Mrs. Dr. Curtis, of the Methodist Mission, died and was buried on Fri- day. She was a lovely woman and we all thought so much of her. She spent the day here with us only a few weeks ago. It was sad. Her husband and two little girls are going home in the spring. Death casts such a gloom over all the Missions here, for of course we are all very near to each other. Then it seems so hard for the friends at home; but they are such happy deaths, that we cannot grieve for the one that goes, only for the ones that are left.”
It is fitting to close this chapter with an account of the first practical experience Mr. Simcox had as a missionary :
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“ It has been my privilege to make my first trip into the country and learn a little concerning the work to which I hope soon to give all my efforts ; and I thought you would be as much interested in it as in anything I could write.
“ Our Church has been carrying on evangel- istic work for some years in a village called Ching Chia Chwang, north of Peking, about thirty-five miles; and as Mr. Cunningham was starting on one of his trips he kindly invited me to accompany him. Having the evening before provided our-' selves with a necessary travelling outfit consist- ing of a cart, which always includes mule and driver, bedding, and a few provisions which can- not be obtained while travelling, — and are neces- sary to the average American — I refer to milk, butter, bread, etc. We started early Wednesday, February the 14th, for what we call a good day’s travel. In one-half an hour we were out of the city with its crowd and dust into the pure air of the country. Our course was North East along the plains of the Paho river, which is scarcely broken by hills, trees, or villages. There being two of us, and having quite a load, Mr. Cunning- ham brought a donkey which we enjoyed riding in turn, for he was scarcely large enough for two. Pertiaps it would furnish a little amusement to picture in imagination your humble servant riding one of these creatures, with some difficulty keeping his feet off the ground. It soon lost its novelty and became a stern reality.
“A little before mid-day we began passing crowds of women and children, with now and then a man, plodding their way along the dusty
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roads all going in one direction. They were ap- parently very poor, for besides the meagreness of dress the women seemed hardly able to walk, some from age and some from small feet. Many of them were carrying children that seemed almost perishing because of the bitter North wind which they were facing. Presently we came in sight of a village from which in all directions we could see the roads lined with people, such as I have de- scribed, all approaching the one place. In the midst of the village we saw them in crowds of thousands where they had already gathered, and learned its meaning. There is situated here a Government relief station, where they give each day a bowl of porridge of an inferior kind. So great was the crowd and their desperation, that the soldiers beat them over the head with clubs to keep them in line. We were told that between fifteen and twenty thousand are fed here daily; and as they receive enough only for one day, they are compelled to walk there and back each day to keep them from starving, and some come many miles ; and for what ? Enough to keep them from starving I
“We saw one woman carrying a baby of two years which was crying ; and we stopped to give her a few cash. Upon inquiring we learned, that she had a baby at home only five days old, and she was compelled to walk five or six miles to keep it from starving. This is only one of many such places where the poor are helped in China. We thank God that He has stamped on the human heart the sense of pity and brotherly love which can never be effaced though His name is forgot-
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ten. We believe the Gospel has many higher and better blessings for this people, if it is only pre- sented to them.
“ At noon we stopped at an inn and ordered a few cakes and tea, and these with a lunch we had with us furnished us our dinner. We were cold and covered with dust, but found little in the inn to comfort us as they had no heating arrange- ments, only what are used in cooking ; and since they had no chimneys and used grass and corn- stocks for fuel, the room was full of smoke.
" At half past six o’clock we reached our sta- tion where we had comfortable Chinese rooms with a small stove, and soon we were quite com- fortable. We thought we had made good time. On Thursday we had the pleasure of visiting that wonder of antiquity, the Chinese Wall.
“ The next day we visited the city, Mi Yun Hsien, of ten thousand inhabitants and the capi- tal of that district. There had been some evan- gelistic work done in that place a few years ago, and our hearts were rejoiced at finding a few Christians who entertained us while there. Be- fore we were there very long, a young man by the name of Chao called to see us and made known that he was a follower of Jesus Christ. The story of his sufferings for Christ was very pitiful. He was working in the Yamen on the police force of the city and was receiving bitter persecution on account of his faith. ‘ Oh/ he said, ‘ is there no way to get out of this ? I feel I must give up ! I can’t stand it ! ’ But he walked the streets with us showing his persecutors he was not ashamed of the followers of Christ. We
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also met Mr. Tim, a man of fifty years, who had learned the doctrine several years ago, and was much interested in it. Before hearing it he said he had come to the conclusion that idolatry was vain, and afterwards desired to join the Church, but when he made known his intentions to his family his two sons disowned him and his wife threatened to commit suicide; and he was com- pelled to give it up for the time. Shall we not pray for these and many others who are suffering many things because they believe in Christ ?
“ The following day Mr. Cunningham and our elder visited a city of some thousands of inhabit- ants, but without finding one who believed in the true God. Our elder has friends here, and through him we hope to reach many others. Ser- vices were held in both of these places. On Sabbath we held services both morning and even- ing at Cheng Chia Chwang and quite a number were present, but many who were always in our room when we were eating and seemed much in- terested in us would not attend service. On Mon- day we returned home to find every one we had left behind prospered of God. I had a greater de- sire in my heart to be able to preach the Gospel to those who need it so much. Pray for them and us that His Kingdom may be prospered.”
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THE FLIGHT
The Japanese-Corean-Chinese war was a con- flict which at the time was very hard to under- stand. It was scarcely to be supposed that Japan's motives were entirely disinterested in aiding the little “ Hermit Nation " to shake off her strong Chinese neighbour who had always regarded Corea as a dependency. It was then felt by many that her own internal dissensions were largely the cause of her interest in the affairs of Corea, in the hope that a foreign war would consolidate warring factions at home, and if successful prove her right to enter the great family of nations on terms of equality. There was also no doubt the hope of gaining such prestige with the Western Nations as would strengthen her demands for new treaties with the Powers and at the same time secure them without making concessions to China. When, however, Japan on the pretext of protecting Japanese interests landed a military force in Corea, and that too in violation of an ex- plicit agreement with China, that neither Power should land forces there without first conferring with the other, the act was a distinct challenge 7i
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which China felt bound to accept. It was no sur- prise, therefore, to those acquainted with the drift of affairs, when all North China became deeply perturbed and the officials at Peking began to manifest a decidedly war-like spirit. It was to those who understood the Chinese character and their bitter hatred of all things foreign a very dark outlook for Christian missions. The na- tional jealousies which had so long interfered with the comity of these two oriental nations, as by the flash of powder, developed in the Chinese heart the bitterest animosity and hatred Nor was this feeling confined to their relations with the Japanese. In their fanatical zeal to resist and punish the Japanese invaders they became in- sanely anxious to drive from the land, or destroy everybody and everything to which the term " foreign ” might attach. It was in view of this state of affairs, that the problem of missions, in the brief space of a few weeks, assumed a very serious aspect. When, therefore, on August the first, 1894, a declaration of war was made simul- taneously by the Emperors of China and Japan respectively, each against the other, there were very few students of current events who did not view the outcome as fraught with exceedingly grave consequences to the Christian Church and the missionaries in China. There is little doubt that the hostile spirit daily growing in force, and especially in North China, had something to do with the early return to Peking of the mission-
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The Flight
aries and others who had been summering at the Western Hills. A full sense of the gravity of the situation evidently possessed all those who had been long enough in China to understand the Chi- nese character and their attitude towards foreign- ers. Peking was rife with rumours. Already the rabble was manifesting a spirit of decided enmity and insolence towards the foreigners, no doubt holding them, whatever might be their race or nationality, responsible for Japan’s conduct. It was the opinion of many, that Japan would eventually march upon Peking. Indeed that seemed to be the only way in which China could be made to realise the necessity of coming to terms of peace. There was little or nothing to fear from the Japanese directly ; yet the fact was fully realised that their near approach to the city would fill the inhabitants with consternation and alarm, paralyse the officials at Peking, and be the signal for the unbridled license of the mob. It was in anticipation of some such state of anarchy, that Mr. Charles Denby, Charge d’Affaires, advised the removal of all women and children of the mis- sionaries, and of the other foreigners to the coast. He was unwilling to take the responsibility of in- viting them to the Legation for protection, at least while the way was yet open for them to seek asylum at Tientsin or Shanghai. It was because of these new complications that Mr. Simcox, on the 23rd of September, ’94. wrote to his friend, the Rev. S. Arthur Stewart, his feelings of un-
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certainty regarding their proposed trip to Pao- tingfu :
“ We are now in the city and in a very unset- tled state because we do not know just when we shall go to our new field, Paotingfu. The reason is that some of our missionaries are returning this fall and are now in Shanghai waiting until things become a little more settled as concern war. It is not safe to travel now when such bit- ter hatred is felt towards foreigners.
“ The latest war news we have is that Japan has won another victory both on land and on sea. It is reported that the Chinese fleet was almost entirely destroyed and her army routed with heavy loss. If that is true, the foreigners think that the Japanese will march to Peking, which will make things exciting here. In that case we will go to Legation quarters and there make a stand for self-protection. We do not fear the Japanese so much as the Chinese mobs, which, we fear, will take the occasion of great commotion for an attack on the much-hated foreigners. Sev- eral men and women have been insulted and stoned on the streets in the last few weeks, which in times of quiet would not happen here. The Chinese class us with the Japanese as foreigners, and think we are as much their enemies as the Japanese. We hope nothing serious will occur.”
In less than a week from the date of the pre- ceding letter matters had come to a really great crisis. The Legation officials almost without ex- ception became gravely apprehensive of serious
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trouble such as had not been known in Peking for many years. Just what course the mission- aries should take in the premises was a really dif- ficult question. Those who were highest in au- thority among the foreign officials seemed to feel that every precaution should be taken to avoid the unnecessary risk of life, and were therefore dis- posed to insist, that the women and children of the foreigners should be removed to the coast. At last it was decided to ask, that those who could go to the coast cities, should immediately do so. Mrs. Simcox, in her letter of October the first, gives a very fair idea of the disturbed condition of Foreign Missions in North China :
“ My Dear Mamma: It is a tired girl who sits down to write you a line to-night. What do you suppose we have been doing? Why, packing a few of our goods to leave the city. Well, I wish I had kept a Journal of all the proceedings of the last few days here. To tell the truth, some of us are a little bit alarmed about coming events. The Japanese are coming. Of course we do not fear them ; neither do we fear being here as long as the government can control the people ; but we do fear the time when the Japanese come near the city, for the Chinese are very badly frightened now and when they hear that they are near they will just go wild. They do not regard us as any- thing but foreigners, hence the same as Japanese, and they will put an end to us if the least thing happens to attract them to us. Many who have been in China for years and know what a mob is
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like say that we are in great danger. Sir Robert Hart, the great Englishman, who is at the head of the Customs and who runs that part of the gov- ernment for China and knows just what is going on, yesterday morning ordered all the women and children belonging to the Customs familiesoto leave the city, for the Japanese are approaching. Then Charles Denby, who is now taking his father’s place, called a meeting of all the gentlemen of the different Missions and advised all the women and children to leave, saying the men might stay and try to protect the property if they wanted to do so.
“ Well, we had a great time. To-day we have made up our minds to do many different things. We decided to go to Tientsin ; then we decided to remain here, but the women and children to go to the Methodist Mission, which is large and near the Legations, so that in case of an attack we could perhaps escape to some of the Legations. The Russian and English Legations are suitable for defense. Ours doesn’t amount to much in that way. We again changed our minds and are now mostly packed up and two trunks and a box have been sent down to the gate to leave early in the morning. We will not start, however, until the next morning. Many think it unsafe to travel, but I guess it is not more so than staying here. We will go to Tungcho in carts and chairs ; and then take a boat, if it is possible to get one, down the river to Tientsin. We are obliged to take our own bedding, food, and cooking utensils. I could take only two trunks and a small box, and it has been so hard to decide what things I must
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leave, for we all fear that if it comes to the worst all our goods here will be taken or destroyed, and it is so hard to leave all one's nice things and feel that you can never again have them. We have a good deal of quite nice furniture which must all be left behind. Oh, it is hard ; but if our lives are protected we should not care for the goods. We tried to take as much clothing as possible, but that is about all we can take. It is very difficult to get carts or mules or camels or anything now for they are afraid to go out for fear of being taken by the soldiers for service in the army. It may be possi- ble that we can't get away, but 1 hope we can, for the strain on one's nerves here is something terri- ble. We may not be molested if the affair could be decided outside the city, but it is not likely.
“ Japan has been so completely victorious thus far that China does not stand much chance. The Chinese are so proud of their nation. Heretofore they would all say when questioned, 4 Oh, the Japs can't come here ! Our army is too great I ' Now they see that their old-fashioned way of do- ing doesn't conquer the Japanese's modern way. We expect to start to-morrow for Tientsin. We do not fear any trouble there and it is safe to go now, whereas it may not be safe in a few days. I have no time to write more now, but will write again soon. All are well. With much love to all, “ Lovingly and prayerfully,
“ May Simcox.”
“ Tuesday night, Oct. 2, 1894.
" Dear Mamma : This is to be a continuation of the letter I wrote last night and then added a few
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words to-day. I have been so busy that I had not finished it and then only added that we were to start in the morning. To-night we have our packing nearly all done and baby Paul is asleep as usual at this time; so I will try to write a few more words. I must say things are in confusion in this Compound. The Coltmans left this a. m. for the Legation, where Mrs. C. and the children will re- main indefinitely I suppose, — that is until the Japanese are either stopped or have taken the city. Mrs Atterbury and her child go to-mor- row with us and the Cunninghams are packing expecting to go to the Methodist Compound soon. It is a large Compound and is near the Legations, so that it might be defended or they could escape to some Legation ; but this place is so far away, an hour’s ride at least, that in case of a riot it would be impossible to get to a place of safety. The three gentlemen, Mr. Cunningham and the two physicians, Drs. Coltman and Atterbury, will remain here and try to carry on their work and at the same time protect the property and will not leave unless compelled to fly for life. Dr. Colt- man is well armed and I think they would make a desperate effort to save the property if a mob should come. Now all this looks as if we were in great danger, but you see it is all supposition, for no one is certain that the Japanese will ever get here; but from present indications they will make a terrible effort, and if they are nearing the city it will certainly be in great confusion ; and from what we know of the way the Chinese have acted under similar circumstances it would be miraculous if they did not try to kill all foreign-
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ers. They are likely to enter our houses and carry off all they want and then chop up the things they don't want. There are some foreign gunboats at Tientsin with lots of soldiers and Mr. Denby has sent them word to be ready to come if he should send for some of them.
" We are going to try to get to Tientsin. We ate not certain that we have a boat engaged when we get to Tungcho, but have sent men to order one. Our steamer trunk and three boxes we sent to-day with our cook to oversee them. We could not take our large trunk, although we had it packed and had to repack in boxes because we had to hire wheelbarrows and they will take small boxes only. Carts cannot be hired to go to Tung- cho because they are afraid of being impressed into the service. The wheelbarrows are pushed and pulled by men, — have no mules. I am going in a covered chair, Frank on a donkey. We ex- pect to go to a hotel when we get to Tientsin until we see what we will do. If war matters come to a crisis and peace is declared Frank will come back here for our goods and we will go on to Pao- tingfu ; if not we will have to make some arrange- ments to stay in Tientsin all winter. We may try to get a couple of rooms and keep house, as we are taking our cook with us ; but nothing is set- tled. As we said to-day we are pilgrims and wanderers on the face of the earth ; and indeed I can tell you we feel so. Just think, we have been in Peking only a year, and it seems we have lived in trunks all the time, for we were crowded at the Hills and since we came back to Peking we have lived in uncertainty and now we are moving
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again, and don’t know what a day will bring forth. We have to trust to God to guide us and really we have no fear for in everything yet we have been protected so often when it really ap- peared to us miraculous. We are truly in the midst of famine, pestilence and war. Dangers are on every side. If we women were to walk on the streets I suppose to say the least we would be in- sulted and perhaps worse. We meet with all kinds of disease, small-pox and cholera especially now. Hundreds die every day here of cholera. In two days there were three hundred funerals passed out from the city gate which is nearest to us. All died from cholera. When the gentle- men go out on the street they see people in the agonies of cholera and dying. They come to the hospital in this Compound for medicine. You know when the Chinese find that anyone is dying they cruelly take him out and lay him on the ground. They won’t let him die in the house. In Mr. Cunningham’s School right here where the boys come into his study to recite we had three cases, and one poor boy died. Dr. Coltman and Mr. Cunningham worked night and day to save them. We have practically no fear. We drink a little sulphuric acid in our water at meals, for the Doctor recommended it, but we hardly ever thought of it ourselves. Now, of course, if there were two or three cases of cholera in America you would all be greatly frightened, but here we live with it all about us and never fear. I am thankful to say it is some better now. We don’t hear of so many cases and there are none in the School. Now, although things are in a pretty bad
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shape here in China, yet I suppose you get exag- gerated accounts in the papers, so don’t believe all you read. We see some very funny things some- times in the home papers, especially the New York papers. Well, I will add some more to this before I send it if I can. I cannot answer every- body's letters so you will all have to read this one. We are very tired to-night and must retire and get some rest, for we must get up very early. Good night. Remember us in prayer at all times. I know you do. Lovingly,
“ May."
“ Tientsin, Oct . 7, 1894.
“ My Dear Mamma: Well, we are here. We reached Tungcho on Wednesday evening and stopped for a few moments at Mr. Tewksbury's ; then went down the river a few li and found our cook and woman waiting for us in a house- boat. We entered and Mrs. Atterbury and her little boy with us. These boats have two rooms, where we have to eat, sleep and live, — very small. We four slept in one on a sort of ‘ kang ' on which we spread our mattress and bedding. That occupied the whole room. We had to hang our clothing around on the little rafters, or put up nails. This room was a little larger than a berth in a sleeper but not much. Then, Frank had to sleep on the floor of the outer room, which was scarcely long enough for him. The woman slept in a little room just back of ours, merely large enough to lie down in. Well, beneath our bed we had our boxes mostly all stored ; butoutintheother room had our provision boxes and baskets; and
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we ate on a small table in this room. Our cook had a little charcoal stove or rather pot out on the deck, where he made us tea and coffee and warmed up cold chicken, cooked us rice, etc. ; and also washed all the dishes we had. We had a very small oil stove where we heated water to make baby's food. We had to use river water which was simply horrid, but, of course, had it all boiled as we do all water in China. I was afraid it would make baby sick, but he was just as good and happy all the way as he always is. It came near making me sick, but I am all right now. Well, we were out only two nights, got here Fri- day morning. Doctor Taft and his family, of the Methodist Mission, were in another boat just with us. We were so glad of their company.
44 When we reached the wharf here we took Jinrikishas, which seemed like getting into civili- sation again, and came to the foreign part of the city. Mrs. Atterbury stopped at the American Board Mission to look for her mother and brother, Mrs. and Mr. Lowrie, who have just come from home ; and the people all came out to the gate to speak to us, and Mrs. Bostwick invited us to stop with them, as they would have a room vacated by evening. You may imagine we were delighted. You know we stopped here a year ago. Rev. Taft's are going on to Cheefu. Mr. Lowrie, his mother and Mrs. Atterbury have rented a little house in the Russian Legation vicinity, where they will stay for a month or so. There is a very large foreign settlement here, and they are nearly all in this part of the city, so that they do not fear the Chinese very much. There are five large gun-
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boats lying here at the wharf. They are the Rus- sian, the English, the German, the French and the American. They are beautiful large boats and they are well armed. They have those portable, small cannon that can fire five hundred or a thousand shots per minute. The Chinese, of course, are afraid of them. In case of real dan- ger we are all to flee to these boats, but I don’t believe there will ever be necessity, for when the soldiers come on shore with those guns I don’t believe the Chinese would dare to face them, but would run. They come ashore and drill and it awes the Chinese to see such skill and manoeuver- ing. The men of the city are all invited to go and drill with them and in case of emergency will be called to swell their ranks. Mr. Bostwick has been drilling. If we conclude to stay awhile Frank will join them. You see there are all pro- visions for defense here, while in Peking there are none.
“ Well, I must close. Don’t worry about us, for although we are tossed about we are safe.
“ With very much love,
“ May.”
“ Tientsin, China, Oct. 19, 1894.
“ Well, I have been here at Mr. Bostwick’s for two weeks, and Frank left on Monday to pack up the rest of our goods and bring them down ; and then 1 think we will risk going to Paotingfu with- out waiting for further developments of the war.
“ Dr. Noble and his wife and boy are here now, but are going back to-morrow. It will soon be too
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cold to go up the river and we would like to get settled before winter. Dr. Noble has given us a house in the American Compound. We will be on the opposite side of the city from our prop- erty, and it will make it inconvenient for Frank next summer when building, but it is better than going into Chinese quarters for the winter.
“ There seems to be no war news just now. We don’t know why the Japs don’t come and take Peking before cold weather and bad roads. There are some rumours of peace, but one cannot put any confidence in what he hears. We all feel perfectly safe here, for there are five large gun- boats lying along the Bund and the Chinese are very much afraid of them. I think in case of riot the whole foreign settlement could easily be pro- tected for one foreign soldier is worth twenty Chinese. It is different in Peking, for our Com- pounds are in different parts of the city, not all in one place as they are here. However, the Chi- nese have placed soldiers to guard the Compounds in Peking; but if the Government should be over- thrown, the soldiers would be the first ones to at- tack the foreigners. All foreigners fear the soldiers more than the common people. We think we have not much to fear in Paotingfu, so we have decided to go on.”
“ Nov. 3, 1894.
“We had two such sad deaths here in the Compound. Two Canadian Presbyterian ladies died, one of the dreadful cholera, and they think now that the other one had a lighter attack of cholera at first and then other things set in, and
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after a lingering and most agonising illness she died also. Now her husband and the other lady's dearest friend have started home without these two lovely friends. I tell you it will be hard on the friends at home, as it was on those here. The letters are yet coming from their friends ad- dressed to the dear ones of whose death they had not heard when they wrote. They were lovely people. Their station was in the interior, but they like ourselves were staying here for safety. You may imagine we felt our danger, but the Chinese were dying by the hundreds, and why should all the foreigners escape? One of the ladies was sick only sixteen hours and a Chinaman who helped to carry her from the house next the one in which she lived when she took it, died in six hours from the dread disease. Oh. it was dread- ful! All we could do was to be careful of our diet and trust to the Higher Power. Their coffins were made in our Compound, the gentlemen all helping, while we ladies made the lining. It was all done at night that no delay might be had in the burial. Don’t you think we are in the midst of war and pestilence ?
“ We are planning to go to Paotingfu on Mon- day. We have our boat hired. It will be a four days' journey at the least. We do not want to wait any longer for it is growing colder all the time. We will have a small stove on the boat ; so we hope to keep warm and keep Paul from taking more cold. We will go into a house belonging to the American Board for the winter, and summer also I suppose, since our house cannot be read) before autumn.
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“ Mr. and Mrs. Lowrie are also going up soon. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are already there, and their two families together with Dr. Taylor will occupy the new house of our Mission.
“ I saw this p. m. a New Testament which the foreign and many of the native Christian women have had made to present to the Empress Dowa- ger. It is a lovely thing printed in beautiful large type on excellent paper with the backs of solid silver, and with a beautiful design and gold plates on it. It is encased in a silver box, also very handsome, lined with old gold plush. It cost one thousand taels, more than that number of dollars. They are going to place it in the hands of Col. Denby, and see if he can by any means get it to the Empress, which is a very difficult thing to do since everything has to pass through so many hands before reaching those in the “ Forbidden City." I sincerely hope the Empress Dowager will have curiosity enough to read it. You know there is always a big celebration for her birthday, and they have made especially big preparations and plans for it this year, it being her 6oth birthday, but it has all been given up on account of the war. However, I guess she will accept a few presents. She is getting old now, but is the power behind the throne. You know the Em- peror is quite young. It is terrible that they have to live in such seclusion. 1 wish this war would make a renovation here in the Government as well as in the ancient customs of the people.
“ Well, there is still exciting war news at times, and we have been waiting so long for the Japs to come that I believe people are getting impa-
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tient. Telegrams from London and from home give us very startling news sometimes. We get the news from home quicker than from Japan or China. I guess the Japs are really landing forces on Chinese soil near Port Arthur, and I think they intend to take Peking, unless the Chinese ‘ shell out ’ pretty well. The rumours in the home papers about Tientsin's having a panic are all false. Things were never quieter ; still things may be in that state soon ; no one knows. The foreigners have no fear here where there are so many foreign gunboats. The Chinese think the American gunboat is a big Jinrikisha, for it has side wheels; and they think it can come up on land and go about the streets and destroy every- thing before it.
" May G. Simcox.”
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THE AMERICAN BOARD COMPOUND
The work of the Congregational Church at Paotingfu was inaugurated by the Rev. Isaac Pierson. With the assistance of A. O. Treat, M. D., the son of a former Home Secretary of the American Board, Mr. Pierson, in 1873, began to lay the foundations of a work at Paotingfu which in the light of recent events must be regarded as one of the most important of the seven stations composing the American Board’s Mission in North China. It was a labour of love and self- sacrificing devotion on the part of Mr. Pierson such as has rarely been equalled in the annals of missionary service. For much of the time Mr. Pierson was practically single-handed, as within a very few months of their first efforts to estab- lish the station Dr. Treat oh account of impaired health was obliged to retire from the field.
During the first three years of his work Mr. Pierson lived in Chinese quarters with various American companions and often with none. In 1877 returning from America, after an absence of a year and a half, with his wife and sister, he was joined by the Rev. William S. Ament and wife. After two years the Aments became identified 88
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with the Peking station, and in 1880 A. P. Peck, M. D., and family took part in the work, but in 1885 they also left to find a more healthful field at Pang Chwang. The Pierson family were again left in sole charge of the station. So frequent were the changes in the personnel of the workers and so constant and tireless the labours of the Pierson family, that it became a saying among those conversant with their devotion to this field, that “ men may come and men may go, but the Piersons go on forever.”
The station at the first had very humble quar- ters; but in 1876 larger and somewhat better premises were hired, and board floors and glass windows were adopted, though the former had been used to some extent in the old quarters. It was in the faith of Mr. Pierson and others that this was a field chosen of God to become at no distant day a conspicuous part of His heritage. Therefore the selection of a suitable location for their buildings and other equipments for mission work was a matter for prayerful consideration. Even then their prayer was that God might thwart all their plans until His own will was clearly manifest. And indeed more than one carefully wrought-out plan was thwarted, yet still they looked to God for guidance, and daily prayed for patience and perseverance, and faith to abide His time and way. Their prayers were answered. Scores of offers of lands and houses desirable in themselves they were obliged to de-
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cline through the opposition of Chinese officials, until finally after twelve years of patient waiting they were enabled to purchase a small plot of ground in the south suburb of the city and that too without opposition. It was the place of all others they would have chosen during those twelve years had it been in their power to choose.
This long delay in securing a permanent loca- tion for the American Board Compound was not without its compensations. A faithful, united Church of about one hundred and twenty mem- bers had been built up, the work had commended itself to many among the influential classes and all outward enmity and hurtful and embarrassing suspicions had been disarmed. The way was now open for the securing of houses and lands, and those in charge of the work were established in the hearts and confidence of a large body of resi- dent Chinese.
The first convert baptised at this station was Meng Hsiao Chih. This baptism was to the faithful servant of God a joy unspeakable ; and it was the first fruits of a coming harvest, for from it came forth a body of consecrated Chinese men and women who were to prove to all Christendom that the martyr spirit is not dead, and that among the converted Chinese there are those who count it a precious privilege to die, if need be, for the defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. That baptism was in a sense the first link in a chain of events which finally led down to a time
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of testing such as the Church had not known in China and to an exhibition of Christian devotion and heroism on the part of Chinese Christians un- excelled in the long roster of the Christian mar- tyrs. In the light of all that has since transpired at Paotingfu the account of this baptism and of the circumstances relating to it written by Miss Lizzie B. Pierson in 1878 is of really great interest :
“ Paotingfu, China, Feb . 13, 1878.
“ My Dear Friends at Home: Remembering my own oft repeated desires to know more of the particular incidents connected with the spread of the Gospel among the peoples of heathen lands it has seemed to me that the narration of a few such would be of interest and profit to you ; so I have taken pleasure in preparing the following account to send you. It is quite impossible to know all the * results of missionary labour; for one may plant and another may water, still the time may De long delayed ere the seed begins to bear fruit ; and the seed sown may bear only such fruit as shall be known to the redeemed soul and to its Redeemer.
41 It is now nearly five years since missionary labours were commenced in this Chinese city. Now there are fiye of us living in the heart of the city whose object it is to teach the people of the Saviour and His love. We have with us in the Mission Compound a good man named Meng who acts as native helper. His wife and little boy also live here. The manner in which they have come to the knowledge of the Truth will interest you I know.
“ In the month of July, 1873, while summer rains were falling and the country for miles about
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Paotingfu was so badly flooded as seriously to impede travelling and the atmosphere was oppres- sively hot whenever the sun broke through the clouds, my brother and his companion, Dr. Treat, were quartered in a Chinese inn in the heart of this city close by our present abode. For three months or more they had been here struggling for a foothold, the subjects of many a scoff and jeer, no one willing to rent them a house and but few who would even listen to their words, and since missionaries are much like people at home the two were beginning to feel somewhat de- pressed under these circumstances. The severe heat and the rains kept them often confined to the dirty and uninviting inn and prevented any Chi- nese from coming in who might otherwise have come from curiosity if nothing more to see the strange foreigners. But great joy was in store for them, for as they sat at their evening meal that July day, strangers in a strange land, there came to their door a man, — this very man Meng, — just in the prime of his life, whose bear- ing indicated a determined purpose. Being ad- mitted he at once made known his errand. He said that he lived in the village of Tangfeng, some sixty miles distant, and that he had come to Pao- tingfu on business, and was about to return home when he chanced to hear that there were two foreigners in the city preaching about the religion of one Jesus Christ. These tidings made his heart leap for joy and he immediately sought them at the inn. Then with much earnestness he said: * You love Jesus and worship Him, and 1 love Him, and I want you to teach me more about Him and the great truths/ The faces of the two mis- sionaries brightened with joy as they turned from their supper to hear the story of this seeker after
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the Truth. Then followed an account of his fam- ily and his first knowledge of Jesus Christ He had a wife and five children. He could read and write and divided his time between these and farming. Some seven years previous the good man William C. Burns, from Scotland, and whose life I remember to have read with interest some years since in Andover, had travelled through his village and had distributed Testaments and tracts among the people; and had told them the New Testament was the Word of God, that it told of the true God whom every one ought to worship ; also that he had prayed and sung with them, and remained there a month visiting other villages by day and returning by night. Somehow he (Meng) had felt impressed that there was truth in what the foreigner had said and he wished that he could know more about it. In the same village one other man named Chang had had a similar conviction and they two had often talked over what William Burns had told them and read much in the Testament. The Book was full of mystery to them. Still they had continued to read it and the precious words gave them some unaccountable comfort.
“ In 1868, when the country all about was full of insurgents, and their villagers were in constant dread of being overpowered and perhaps brutally slaughtered, these two men, Meng and Chang, would go by themselves and read over page after page of this wonderful Book, which seemed to bring them comfort and courage in those fearful days. Thus the Holy Spirit was their only teacher and was leading them into the Truth. In this manner these two men had spent five years, and all the time longing to know more and for some one to come and explain the Book to them
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more fully. Some two months previous to the day on which he (Meng) had found the mission- aries in Paotingfu his wife had said to him : 4 You say you believe that those books tell the truth, and that men ought to worship Jesus Christ and not these idols, — then why don't you do it ? 9 He answered: 4 1 do believe it, and I will worship Him if you will/ On receiving her assent he added: 4 When shall we begin?* 4 Right off/
she said, ‘to-morrow morning/ And true to their convictions they at once destroyed their idols and began the next a. m. to read the Testament together and to utter broken petitions to God for more light and His help. The wife, like most of the women of China, did not know how to read ; but with the desire to read the good Word for herself, she commenced at once to learn. With the assistance of her husband, and after much labour she at length had the happiness of being able to read it for herself. This was the sub- stance of Meng's story. Then he begged the mis- sionaries to explain to him more fully the way of salvation through Jesus Christ.
44 For two days he remained at the inn asking many questions and drinking in the knowledge of the way of life. Then he started for his own home, taking the promise that one or both of the missionaries would ere long visit his village. The next day, however, the man returned to the inn ac- companied by another man (the above mentioned Chang), saying that just after he had left the city the dav before and when he was only three or four miles away he had encountered his friend, Chang, who was on his way to Peking for the express purpose of finding the foreigners who lived there and learning from them more about this wonderful book called the Bible. Of course,
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Meng told him of the two foreigners who were right here in Paotingfu and of what he had learned from them, and at once turned back and brought him to them. 4 Truly/ he said, 4 this was of the Lord, else why was it I should have hap- pened to meet Chang, when he might have gone by another route to Peking, or he might have gone on some other day ? ’ And he dwelt much on the fact that they were both led by the Holy Spirit to just that time and place of meeting. To this newcomer also were the precious truths again explained, after which they both returned to their homes, thankful indeed for the good news they had heard.
44 In the following December my brother made a trip on horseback to Tangfeng, where he was most heartily welcomed by Meng and Chang, they coming to the village inn to see him. For two days he taught and prayed with them and on the Sabbath baptised and received them into the Church of Christ, feeling that they had truly been taught of the Lord. From that time to this they have led Christian lives and have been grow- ing in the knowledge and love of Jesus, and have been labouring for their Master. Now Chang’s parents, his brother and his wife and daughter, a cousin and his wife, and his own wife, — thus in- cluding all the members of his family, also Meng’s entire family have been impressed1 with the truth and been one by one brought into the fold of Christ. Besides these there are many others in Tangfeng who have become Christians, over twenty in all. My brother has several times vis- ited them and preached the Word among them; but as there is no missionary stationed there and no native pastor yet ready to be placed over them, this little band of Christians meet together in
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their various homes and read the Bible, and pray and sing on the Sabbath day and on a week-day evening. 1 don’t doubt that the Holy Spirit meets with them.
" Soon after Chang received Christ his mother and his wife put away their idols and began to worship Him too, and then his brother, older than himself, with his wife and daughter, took the same step, but his father opposed the Truth for a long time. At length the two sons came to Pao- tingfu, the elder to engage in business, and Chang to be with my brother as his helper. The old man came to the city to visit his son who was in business ; and when my brother heard of it he sent word inviting him to the mission compound also. Pleased with the invitation he came and was made welcome in my brother’s study. He had but little to say, but accepted a seat in the warm corner close to the stove, — for it was cold, wintry weather; and there he sat all day. Next day he came in again and manifested much pleas- ure in this new experience close to a good, warm stove. After a while he began to talk a little and then my brother took the opportunity of saying something to him about the Bible and the Saviour. Thus for several days the old man was a regular occupant of the seat by the stove, till at length it seemed as if he were actually thawed out, and he returned to his home warmed and cheered.
“ The next time that my brother visited Tang- feng he had the privilege of baptising him and re- ceiving him into the Church of Christ, and now he is a genial, happy old man; and the parents, children and grand-children daily worsnip the living God.
“ For the past three years Meng and Chang have been more or less with the missionaries in
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Paotingfu acting as native helpers. When we arnveu here last November they were both here, having been in the Mission Compound most of the time during my brother’s absence in America; and Meng had brought his wife and children to live near us for the winter. It was by this little group that we were welcomed to this inland, heathen city.
“ The family now live within our Compound. The daughter was married last December and went to her husband’s home in Tangfeng. She was married into a family who are favourably in- clined to Christianity, and we have much hope that they will embrace it soon. Indeed the young husband told Meng that he likes to read and that he reads the Bible, also that he gets tired of other books, but that there is something about the Bible that he never gets tired of.
“ The little boy, Meng Chang-so, of eleven years, frolics about our court, breaks up our coal and keeps the hods supplied, — has a bright, intel- ligent face and sings many of the hymns as cor- rectly as our little boys in America do. Besides these two, another married daughter has recently died. She was a candidate for membership in the Church, and we have reason to think she had really given herself to the Lord. A young child of five years also died not long since, and during his sickness he would often ask his mother about Jesus and want to hear her pray to Him. Their eldest son, Meng Chang-chun, some eighteen years old, is now studying in the boarding school for boys in Tungcho under the care of mission- aries Chapin and Sheffield, where he is storing up much useful information. He is an unusually promising boy. We are told by his teachers that his name usually stands at the head of the weekly
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roll of honour for perfect lessons and deportment. This in a school of twenty-one boys. It seems to be his highest desire for this life to become a preacher of the Gospel to his own people, and if his life is spared that he may study some four years longer as a necessary preparation, it is ex- pected that he will be an earnest advocate of the Truth and will be the means of bringing many to the Saviour. Meng receives letters from this son sometimes and is sure to come in and show them to us, with his face all aglow with joy, for he loves the boy, and so much the more because he is pre- paring to preach the Gospel.
“ Meng is himself not yet fifty years old, but he seems much older. He has a most kindly benig- nant countenance and fatherly bearing, and stands ready, nay eager, to take the lead in executing any suggestions that are made for the benefit of his countrymen. He is truly a helper to the mis- sionary, and one highly prized by him. He acts as chapel-keeper, — that is he has charge of the room which opens on the street in which the mis- sionary usually spends two or three hours of each afternoon talking to such persons as are inclined to come in and listen to the truths of our religion. He is usually by his side at such times and often follows up the words spoken in a personal conver- sation with one or more. He has the care too of all the copies of the Bible and tracts which are for sale and distribution among the people. Some- times these helpers go on tours visiting the neigh- bouring villages, either together or accompany- ing my brother, distributing these books and tell- ing their contents to the people.
“ We are hoping there may ere long be six such stationed here who can be sent out two by two to
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take the good Word to all the surrounding villages.
“ The wife of Meng, whom I have mentioned as living on the place with us, we employ to do some household services. She is very willing and kind, and is pleased to serve us, though not very pro- ficient in that capacity ; and her style of dress with feet compressed in small Chinese shoes, prevents her moving about with the freedom to which we are accustomed. But she too is one of Christ's little ones and is trying to follow Him and His commands. Sometimes her simple faith comes out in bits of conversation and we have glimpses of how she is being led. A few days ago she said that while she was feeling her way along into the light and was trying to learn to read she came upon the promise, 4 Whatsoever ye shall ask be- lieving, ye shall receive ; ’ and after that when it troubled her to make out the words and their meaning, she would just kneel down and ask God to help her to understand them, — and somehow there was sure to come along some one who could read it to her, or could tell its meaning.
“ One day, when questioned about belief as a Buddhist, she said that her very highest desire and object in worship had been that after death she might be born again into a higher position than her present one, — in which she should have less trouble, and that by no means she should be born as a degraded animal. Then she spoke of the Buddhist priests and said that they opened their services beating on a wooden drum and singing:
“True gold fears not to melt. Nor silver pure the smelt,”
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“ When cock-crow wakes the day to busy round.
Let each in Buddha’s temple first be found
“ May the time soon come when the Buddhist priests and the myriads of people who follow their meaningless ceremonies shall rather lift their voices and sing with the Christian world :
“ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ;
Praise Him all creatures here below”.
Eleven years now passed. The story of the Meng family, written by Miss Pierson in 1878, had been read by the Church in America, but per- haps few who read it then gave it more than a passing thought. No one had stopped to think of the probable outcome of one family’s turning to God. Perhaps no one dreamed that from this once obscure heathen home in the interior of China there would come forth heralds of the Cross whose power in proclaiming the Truth and fidelity in the face of persecution and death would be matters of record in the annals of the most consecrated and notable defenders of the faith from the days of Nero to the present hour. The eleven years had been years of growth in grace and in the knowledge of Christ in the Meng home. The parents had sought for their children the best Christian education attainable in the schools at Tungcho and elsewhere, and when in 1889, Miss Pierson again wrote of this family it was to tell of
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the ordination of the elder son, Meng Chang- chun, to the Gospel ministry :
“ The day of the ordination, August the 17th, 1889, marked an important era at Paotingfu. The chapel, formerly three rooms of an old inn with its brick floor, paper and lattice windows, and its grey walls hung with scrolls inscribed with the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments was packed to its utmost and the audience overflowed into the yard. Nineteen missionaries and native Christians from other stations assembled with the native church and its own missionaries, while God’s blessing was invoked and the solemn charges given to pastor and people, hands laid on, and for the first time one of their own number became their acknowledged shepherd. In the words of the missionary who had been Mr. Meng’s pastor, ‘ The Lord was with us and all felt that the service was prompted from and re- corded on high.’
“ The young pastor is unusually well fitted for the high office. A hopeful, courageous, strong nature deeply permeated by a thorough consecra- tion of all that he has and is, a good education and much practice in the duties of the pastor, and withal a peculiar level-headedness and breadth of grasp, — all fit him for the post. But may the dear friends in America be mindful to speak to the Holy Spirit in his behalf. They may thus bring upon him a blessing of increased strength which shall perhaps equal the sending of another man into the field.
“ Last year Meng was twenty-six years old, having graduated from the excellent mission school at Tungcho two years before. He com- menced the course of studies at Tungcho at the
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age of fifteen, where he invariably acquitted him- self handsomely in scholarship and deportment His summer vacations were spent in teaching and singing 4 the old, old story' in Paotingfu and among the villages. Though born into a heathen home the sunlight of God's truth opened the hearts of his parents while he was still a lad. The Gospel they received dissipated the darkness, re- modelled the family and controlled the thought and purpose of the household. The parents have both died in the faith, after valued service for the Master. My pen utterly fails to describe the father, good brother Meng! in his beautiful, pure, unselfish life, as it was known among the increas- ing band of Christians, to the few missionaries, and to those, old and young, whom he constantly sought to win to the Saviour. His mantle rests on the son, Meng Chang-chun, and on the younger son who expects to take his place among the workers at Paotingfu this year."
The letters above quoted might be deemed suffi- cient to give the historical setting and record the story of the Meng family were this story not re- lated vitally to subsequent matters which in the light now streaming on Paotingfu reveal deeds of Christian fortitude and heroism among our Mongolian kith which when fully told will arouse in the Christian world admiration and amazement. For these reasons it seems proper to give a still larger place to the account of the meeting held at Paotingfu on August the 17th, 1889. It was the first ordination service held by the Congregational Church in North China, and when it was decided
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that the Council should meet at Paotingfu for this purpose, it was regarded an occasion of exceed- ingly great interest and importance to the whole Mission under the care of the American Board. Dr. Ament, who went from Peking as a delegate to the Council, among other things said :
" At our last meeting it was decided to proceed as early as convenient to the ordination of six young men, three of whom were connected with Tungcho, two with Peking, and one with Pao- tingfu. Early in the summer letters missive from the church in Paotingfu were sent to the various churches of our order desiring their presence by pastor and delegate. Tientsin, Peking, Tungcho, Kalgan, and Pang-chwang were represented in the Council which met on Saturday, August the 17th. Brother Meng, the candidate, could not pass the ordeal of a public examination on account of sickness, but the native brethren gladly testi- fied to his qualifications for the office of a pastor. His theological instructor, Mr. Sheffield, could speak as to his doctrinal soundness. Perhaps no young man ever had fewer enemies, or more generally commended himself to all by his self- control both in speech and action. His father was the first convert in Paotingfu and a pillar in the church for years. Young Meng is thoroughly Christian in all his ideas and sympathises with all that is good and helpful in church life. His mar- riage was an affair of genuine affection. He is a young man of moral courage and open and frank in manner. It is an auspicious day in North China when such a man is set aside for the gospel ministry.
14 On Sabbath morning the little chapel was
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beautifully decorated with flowers and was filled to overflowing, many country members coming in to witness the first ordination. A very interesting incident was the singing of a hymn composed by a young theological student from Tungcho. It was beautiful in thought and in expression, and well adapted to the occasion. A hymn, sung by four young students from Tungcho, greatly helped to make the exercises varied and interesting.
“ We trust this is only the beginning of good things for our work in North China. The native brethren are waking up, and begin to feel some sense of responsibility for the salvation of their countrymen. The work is opening on all sides in a marvellous way. The feeling in the city seems most friendly. It was in marked contrast to the condition of things twelve years ago, when no foreign ladies dared venture on the streets. To-day they pass and repass from city to suburb and no one molests. Praise God for His wonder- ful work in Paotingfu! Pray that this glorious work may go on beyond our highest expec- tations."
Mr. Pierson had now seen some very precious fruits of more than sixteen years of patient seed- sowing ; and it is not strange that he also should have something to say of the marvellous things which God had wrought through his ministry and of this signal evidence of the divine favour and blessing:
“ I presume others have notified you of the fact that two weeks ago to-day we had the privilege of ordaining our first pastor. Brother Meng
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Chang-chun is now 4 pastor Meng/ and there is every reason to believe, that he is called of God to do a great work in planting the young church. Strong of body and strong of mind and strong of heart he has by common consent been accorded the first place among the candidates for this high office and will ever stand as the first native pastor in our Mission.
44 To-day has been a Sabbath to be remembered at Paotingfu. Communion services were held this morning in the city and this afternoon in the suburb. Combining the results, we may re- port ten adults received by profession into the Church, and eleven adults and one school boy to the Christian congregation.”
If it could have been known on that great day, when Meng Chang-chun was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry, how fruitful his life would be of helpful and consecrated service, in teaching and preaching the Word, and how loy- ally he would stand for God when the clouds low- ered dark over China; if his faithfulness, even unto death, could have been foreseen by those who gathered on the interesting occasion to which reference has been made, how doubly dear would the privilege have been of hearing his ordination vows I
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LIFE IN THE COMPOUND AND SOME LETTERS
The winter of 1894-95 was a trying one for the missionaries at Paotingfu. It was with many misgivings that those who in the early fall took refuge at Tientsin and Shanghai again returned to their various stations in the interior. Mission- aries and others resident in the coast cities coun- selled caution and delay, and with many fears saw their friends depart for Paotingfu, Tungcho and other distant and inland places. The war was still on, and the success which seemed to be and really was attending the aggressive movements of the Imperial Army of Japan only intensified their fears, that the missionaries would be exposed to dangers and hardships such as perhaps had never been known before in China. All recognised the serious consequences of an attack on Tientsin or Peking; and the fear of a general uprising of Chinese mobs haunted alike the sleeping and the waking hours of those who had any knowl- edge of the Chinese character and their foolish hatred of all things foreign.
It was this feeling, then so rife at Tientsin, which for a time delayed the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Simcox for the field of labour which for 106
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months they had been longing to enter, and which in after years became the theatre of an intense life and service and of triumphs and sacrifices which will evermore deepen the world’s admira- tion and appreciation of missionary heroism. They were not sure that it was wise, in the dis- turbed condition of the country, to leave Tientsin, and they were not willing to remain longer, unless it could be clearly shown that they would be going directly into the midst of dangers; and so on Monday, November the 5th, they started in a houseboat up the Paotingfu river, and after four days and nights, reached the American Board Compound, where they were to make their home until their own house at the Presbyterian Station should be completed.
It was a winter of almost uninterrupted anxiety, and yet one of most fragrant memory. The war cloud only seemed to deepen and darken with the change of environment, and until almost the beginning of April it was by no means a set- tled question as to what they should do, whether to go or stay. It was a winter of most delightful fellowships ; and in those long months of practical isolation from the outside world, in the daily ap- prehension of untoward trials, distraught at times by ominous rumours, friendships were formed which lasted as long as life.
Mrs. Simcox of all at the station was likely to give a living picture of life in the Compound, and it is from her letters we largely draw. In the first
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of these we are afforded a peep into the domestic life of a newly-established home, where, notwith- standing the lowering cloud of war, peace and love dwelt as the perennial source of pure and loving deeds :
“ Paotingfu, China,
“November 1 7th, 1894.
“My Dear Sister: I have finished bathing Paul, and now as he sits in his high chair and plays I am going to begin a letter to you. I re- ceived your last very interesting letter while we were in Tientsin, and I did enjoy it very much indeed. We do not hear very often from home now. I have not had any letters excepting yours for a long time, and it is pretty hard to have the mails come in and bring us no letters from the places we so much want to hear from. The mails are so very far apart, and when they do come we do so much want to receive some word.
“ Paul is quite himself again. He is just as sweet and lovely as he can be. We have a chair which was formerly Dr. Merritt’s which is a com- bination high-chair, low-chair and rocker. It has wheels and runs very easily and also a nice shelf in front for baby’s playthings, and he sits and plays and talks by the hour. Oh, he is so cun- ning ! How I wish you all could see him ! He likes to play hide and seek so much, and laughs so heartily. He has one little tooth through and another almost. He still enjoys his bath so much, — just thinks it is a picnic from beginning to end. He is now enjoying tearing up some little pink paper. I suppose he is spoiled somew'hat, but still he is such a happy little fellow that it does not show much if he is. I still feed him on Mel-
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lin's Food and condensed milk. We did not get his picture taken while in Tientsin and I was so sorry for I don't know when we will have another chance; but he was so sick all the time we were there, excepting the first week, and we neglected it then.
“ We have been here a little over a week and are fairly well settled. Yesterday we got our new carpet (or part of it, for you know we have eighty yards) down in the sitting-room, have our organ and large lounge, my small writing desk, sewing machine, centre table, four rocking chairs and two small ones, book-case, two pairs of red woollen curtains on the two front windows and a pair of lace ones on the back window, also small table with my pretty silver card stand stands in the back window. In this room, — bedroom, — we have our bed and Paul's, which is a borrowed one, a bureau, washstand, screen, small table for mak- ing Paul's food on, two trunks, a box, sewing table, four chairs (two rockers), floor covered with matting, towel-rack, blinds on windows, of which there are three, stove, etc., etc. In the dining room we have on the floor a large rug in centre, — are going to have floor painted next week. We have also dining table, seven or eight chairs, — besides Frank’s study chair, writ- ing desk, sideboard and stove. The two windows are covered with blinds. You see our rooms are pretty good size. There are large closets in both bedroom and sitting room. In our store room we have cans of pine-apple, gooseberry jam, apricot jam, pears, peaches, cherries, salmon, cold tongue, coffee, condensed milk, butter (120 pounds), be- sides bottles of Mellin's Food, medicine, flavour- ing, pickles, etc., etc., papers of stove polish, com starch, soda, tins of baking powder, cocoanut,
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etc., bags of meals of different kinds for porridge, sugar, crackers, popcorn and popper, etc., etc., etc. Now this is all to give you an idea of how we live. Of course we do not open canned goods so very often, for there are many fruits here which we enjoy, and I really think Chinese cooks can get up good meals on less than American ones can. We are now having delicious tomatoes which Mrs. Noble sent us. Don't believe you are having them now in America. Wouldn't it be a pity if we had to leave and let the Chinese come in and take away and destroy all of our goods, for that is just what will happen if we should leave? Oh, I must tell you that we have three turkeys, for- eign ones, out in the yard, which we bought in Tientsin, so we can have some roasts. We eat a great deal of chicken here. I don't believe I ever told you what delicious meats we get in China. We can get splendid mutton, — it tastes just like good beef at home. I would not know it was mutton at all ; also we get good beef and some fish, etc. We have, I think, as good or better meats than you have at home; but we never eat Chinese pork. We have a fruit, the pomelo, which can be had at this time of year which I think is excellent. It is something like grape- fruit but better. We have persimmons, pears, apples, and grapes all winter long. Now don't you want to come to China?
“ We do not get very much news just now about war, but the Japs are surely on Chinese soil. They say that they are going to march soon on Tientsin and Peking. A telegraph operator here (Chinese) told Dr. Noble the other day that it would not be safe for us here if Peking were taken. Of course you know that the common people here would drive us out at any time if it
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were not for the officers; and if Peking were taken the Government would be overthrown and the officers would in all probability lose their heads, so we would not have any protection. However it might be that the people of this place would let us alone. We will not leave unless they give clear evidence of wanting to get rid of us. You mav believe it for it is too much trouble to move. We have been moving ever since we were married and are tired of it. We want to settle down now.
“ 1 went in Dr. Noble's cart (which is a very comfortable one with spring-seat and back and well for the feet) over to the other side of the city to see the Millers and Dr. Taylor, of our own Mission. Our Compound is in a lovely place out there in the country with no little huts near. This place is also outside the city as you know and we are obliged to have watchmen all night. I thought the Chinese reviled me a good deal as I passed through the city, more so than they did in Peking ; still I did not fear them. The beggars are terrible in one part of the city. There is a bridge on which they congregate and there are scores of them. They all have just a thin little bit of cloth about their loins, and scarcely any have their waists covered. So many of them are great, able-bodied looking men. I saw one group of wretched-looking ones warming their hands over a little fire they had built. They are the dirtiest, vilest, wickedest-looking wretches I ever saw. You can't imagine any worse. I should not enjoy walking through them.
“ Mrs. and Mr. Lowrie’s goods arrived on Thursday ; and when the Chinese saw them they would not let them be taken from the boat. They thought the stoves were foreign cannon and that
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the boxes contained ammunition. So some of die head officers of the city went down to the river and were going to open the boxes, but Dr. Noble persuaded them that they were mistaken. They had it reported sometime ago in the city that the foreigners had brought four loads of ammunition from Tientsin. That was when the Nobles, Mr. Roberts, the Ewings and the Millers came. I think there were six boats. Then a young lady had one who was going up the river. Oh, they are funny ! But if the Japs do take Peking, and if we have to leave I wish they would hurry up, for pretty soon the river will be closed and then we would have to go overland, which would be so much harder than going in a houseboat where we can be comparatively comfortable and warm as compared with a cart. But I don’t believe we will ever have to leave. However, it is a great nervous strain, for we are always hearing some- thing just a little bit alarming.”
On December the fourth Mrs. Simcox tells of their observance of Thanksgiving Day :
“ We ate Thanksgiving dinner at the Ewings’ in this same Compound, and I tell you we had a fine dinner, — turkey, potatoes, squash, onion sauce, salad, pudding, squash pie, mince pie, fruit, nuts, raisins, coffee, etc. Mrs. Ewing sets a lovely table and has beautiful dishes and so much silverware. You know they came out last au- tumn after we did. I am almost afraid to invite them here, for I think we can’t come up to them in style ; but then we are not proud and I guess my cook can get up a pretty good meal.”
In the same letter reference is made to their progress in the mastering of the language :
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“ Frank took his first examination (first year's) the other day. Mr. Lowrie gave it to him. He did splendidly and had almost twice the amount required for the first year. Mr. Lowrie compli- mented him. I am going to begin studying in earnest some of these days and see when I can take my examination. They require forty lessons in Mateer's book and the Gospel of John. I have studied about twenty-five of the lessons, so I think it won't take me very long to review these and get the rest. Frank had one hundred lessons and lots of the Bible. So you see he has done some hard work in spite of all the interruptions of sickness, moving, etc. There was a good while he was not able to study in the summer when he was sick, and when I was sick he couldn't study, so I think he has done wonders."
In a letter, under date of December the tenth, Mr. Simcox related an incident of the war be- tween China and Japan of considerable interest, as showing Japan's purpose to array herself in the class of the most favoured and civilised nations :
" Mr. Bostwick, of Tientsin, wrote us of his trip with several others to Port Arthur. They organised a company to go up and offer to take care of soldiers who had been wounded. When they reached Port Arthur they found it in the hands of the Japanese, and were refused admit- tance. After waiting several days trying to gain entrance they received the following reply : ‘ Gen- tlemen, I appreciate the humane object of your vovage to carry wounded soldiers to Tientsin in order to be taken care of by your Society. At the
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same time I have to call your attention to the plain fact that the wounded soldiers, however hu- manely treated by the army in whose hands they are, are after all prisoners of war; so that the carrying of them from a land occupied by one of the belligerent armies to the country of the other belligerent cannot be called a neutral act. For this reason I am sorry to have to reject your offer. Let this denial be joined, however, with the assur- ance that it is the rule of our Army to take care of wounded soldiers without distinction of enemy or not enemy, so that the wounded Chinese soldiers are actually being taken care of in our field hos- pitals, and I ask you to have no anxiety about the matter. Please understand that communication has been made to the Commander of our fleet that the ship on which you now are shall be made to leave the waters about the peninsula before six p. m. to-day/ The above was signed by the Com- mander of the Imperial Japanese Army.
“ They permitted the Chinese to land pro- visions and supplies at Port Arthur all fall and then captured it all, for when the Chinese evacu- ated the city they destroyed nothing. This was the Chinese stronghold and they put everything they could there. The Japanese can have their own way now. Port Arthur was taken Novem- ber 22nd. If peace is not declared they will take Peking. Please assure all friends that we are being protected and are in quiet/'
Christmas follows with kind remembrances; and from a letter under date of December the 24th we are justified in believing that it was an occasion of really great enjoyment and hap- piness :
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“ This is the night before Christinas, and as the mail courier goes out in the morning I will write you a little note now.
“ We are invited to dinner to-morrow to Mrs. Lowrie’s and Paul and I are going in a chair car- ried by men, while Frank will walk. I would rather walk, for the roads are so bad, and I shall be afraid all the time that they will let us fall ; but there is no other way to take Paul and as there are so many soldiers here now and passing through here by the thousand, it is not altogether safe for me to walk.
“ There have been so many soldiers here that everything is very dear. They cleaned the place out of second hand shoes. A lot came from the South and had theirs mostly worn out. They have made no disturbance so far regarding for- eigners, and we hope they will not. A lot of them came from Honan, a province where for- eigners are not allowed, and I think I would not care to meet many of them alone.
“ Dr. Taylor sent Paul a lovely large top to-day for a Christmas present. He was delighted with it, for it has such pretty colours but it will be some time before he can spin it himself. It sings when spinning and at first it frightened him. His nurse and the cook both gave him Chinese toys. We have a few little things too for him to help him celebrate his first Christmas on earth. I have a few small things for Frank, — a microscope, paper knife, inkstand and lovely penknife. I got these while in Tientsin; but have no elegant ones, — all useful you see. I bought some pale blue silk and made a pretty little comfort for Mrs. Ewing here in the Compound. One side is covered with fine white flannel or cashmere, and the other with silk, and it is tied with blue silk made into tassels.
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I sent Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Coltman pretty fine linen tray cloths which I bought in Tientsin, and Mrs. Fenn a fine linen tea cloth all very pretty. I wish I had more things to send to friends, for so many were so kind to us. Mrs. Atterbury has given Paul a pretty blue hood which he wears all the time, also a lovely rattle and a white ivory ring with solid silver bells with a whistle on it, but I have nothing whatever to send her.,,
Life in the Compound was indeed a succession of lights and shades. One day it was peace and quiet, and the next anxiety and fear. One day was filled with plans for the extension of mission- ary work and preparations for the permanent oc- cupation of their field and perhaps the next day their thoughts were concerned with plans for leav- ing the field and finding safety in flight. In a letter dated January the 14th, ’95, Mrs. Simcox reveals something of the nervous strain which at times they experienced :
“ To tell the truth I am a little nervous and un- strung part of the time. We don't live in a very cheering place, as far as the surroundings are concerned, — I mean the Chinese, not the foreign- ers. I wrote to Uncle Doctor about the fright we had over a week ago. I don’t know whether they would write it to you or not. It is all over now and we hope that all will be peaceful from this on; nevertheless it made an impression on me that I don’t seem to get rid of. You perhaps know that this is on the route from the South to Peking. Thousands of soldiers pass through
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here, and of course soldiers are to be feared in almost any country and doubly so in a heathen land.
“ Well, a week ago a great crowd came to the other Compound about fifteen rods from here (you know we have two Compounds in the South Suburb). As I said they came to Dr. Nobles Compound and broke open the great gates while some climbed over the wall. They caused a great disturbance among the Chinese servants and others. The racket about the place was some- thing terrible; and Mrs. Noble said, she really feared there would be bloodshed. Mr. Roberts was the only foreign gentleman there. He did what he could to keep them quiet and sent for Dr. Noble who was in the city at his dispensary. He soon came and they two worked all the after- noon, trying to entertain these men by answering their questions and showing them around. They went into the kitchen belonging to the young ladies and took some cash, cups and a lot of towels, and beat the servant who tried to resist them. They broke into the cellars, but did not break into the houses, although they pushed on the doors and wanted to get in badly; but the gentlemen told them, there was only a woman inside, and it was not proper for them to go in. To this they finally agreed, for you know the Chinese are very particular about such things. They were pretty rough and said we should all be killed, etc. They were from Honan where no foreigners are allowed.
“ I knew nothing of this until four o'clock when Paul's nurse came in. She had been to prayer- meeting in that Compound, and she tried to tell me about it I saw she was frightened; so I went to tell Frank. I didn't understand all she
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said, but I did understand that they had beaten a servant and some more, but did not know just what they were doing nor what to expect. Frank went out to our gate. He was the only foreign man here, and soon came in to tell me they were coming, and not to be afraid, etc. Soon I heard a great hooting and yelling at the gate, and pretty soon I heard them inside. I was badly frightened, for I knew that the least provocation would lead them to do anything. I just walked the floor with Paul. Dr. Roberts came over when he saw them coming. He and Frank decided to let them in, for they saw that if they refused we would soon have a mob on us. So they came in, but they would not let the other people in who came to see the fuss and to encourage and help against the ‘ foreign devils/
“ Well, I soon saw them coming toward the house like a lot of hounds on the track of some prey. They came to the windows and began looking in but did not try the doors. Dr. Roberts had told them they could look around but must not go into the houses. I saw some faces at one window which did not look so very bad, so I sat down at the window with Paul. He immediately reached out his little arms to them and laughed, delighted to see so many faces. They began to smile and ask questions. A great crowd of course gathered around. I asked them where they were from and they answered me. I was surprised that they could understand me, . being from another province. They thought Paul would be cold dressed in white. So I showed them that he had flannel on under, etc., and they seemed satis- fied. They finally left as it was growing late. You may imagine my relief ; but we learned later that at our Mission they had a big time.
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“ An immense crowd gathered, and as there were five gentlemen there,— our own Dr. Taylor, Mr. Lowrie, and Mr. Miller besides Mr. Ewing from this Compound and Mr. Hoddle of the China In- land Mission (who were there on a short visit), they decided to try to keep them out. So they stood in front of the gate for over an hour sway- ing backwards and forwards and expostulating with them. The crowd would become angry at times and would yell and do all the horrible things a mob can think of. Then they would make a rush and try to force their way through the men. Then they would push with all their strength to keep them out. Finally a lot climbed over the wall, but Dr. Taylor went to them and persuaded them to look around a while and then got them out without their getting into the house although they wanted to enter.
“ It is a wonder to me that when they had all so completely in their power they did not just raid and loot everything, but you see they had never seen any foreigners, and they were filled with curiosity and did not know what to make of us.
“ Mr. and Mrs. Ewing and Mr. Hoddle started to come home later, and soon after starting the soldiers discovered them, and ran to them. Soon an immense crowd followed them which rapidly increased as they came through the city. All the way they were surrounded by a howling mob. They took hold of Mr. Ewing and pulled him away from Mrs. Ewing's chair, but he jerked loose from them. It was very exciting and try- ing, but they finally reached home in safety.
“ The chair-bearers did their duty. When they reached here there was a crowd to receive them, but they parted and let Mrs. Ewing pass through
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very nicely. That night the 1 King of the Thieves ' was notified to protect us, and all night long there were great guns fired at our gates and all around which was a great annoyance to me. I learned afterwards it was to warn people to keep away from us. I thought seriouslv of try- ing to get away from this place for a few days. But after the officials heard of it they promised us protection hereafter. ■
" Several of the big ‘ kwans * have been to visit us since. You may imagine we treated them as best we could, — served tea, cake, etc., on our best silver. It is really wonderful for them to take an interest in us. They asked all about our work and seemed very friendly indeed. One engaged Mr. Hoddle to teach his boys English. It is a great fad among the higher classes to learn Eng- lish here, for they may get good positions as in- terpreters or telegraph operators, or something of that kind. Of course their interest in us is going to have a great influence on the people about us. They will think we are somebody now since the officials have come to see us and really drank our tea. It is a great event when an official comes out of the city and it is known everywhere. I hope the affair is going to result in great good. There are a lot of soldiers here now, and a few came to the other Compound to-day, but Dr. Noble and Dr. Roberts sent their cards to the city and the officials sent out some guards, other- wise we might have a mob to-morrow.
“ Some of the ladies are still quite nervous and are having Chinese garments made, so that they will not excite much curiosity. Some think the Lord is holding the Japanese back until spring and the river opens, so that we can get away. Of
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course we don't know what to look for. I do have some fear of consequences here if the sol- diers are beaten at Peking and then would go home through here. I am afraid we would not have much left, if there was no government to protect us. We hope that things will be fixed up in some way so that we won't have to leave."
" Tuesday, Jan . 15 th, 1895.
" I have just invited four guests for dinner on Thursday evening, — Misses Morrill and Gould, and Revs. Roberts and Hoddle.
“ For New Year's dinner we had Mr. and Mrs. Ewing, Dr. Taylor and Mr. Miller, and had a very nice time.
“ We took Christmas dinner with Mrs. Lowrie in our Presbyterian Compound. Paul and I went in a chair and he enjoyed the outing very much indeed. Poor little fellow ! he scarcely ever gets out now, and sees nothing but the old ugly mud walls when he is out in his cart for his daily air- ing. However he is as happy as he can be. He goes into ecstasies when he sees a dog or a cow. I often lament this and think what a great deal he could be learning now if he could only see more.
“ I know you would have a ‘ conniption fit ' if you could see him in his bath. The nurse always hurts herself laughing at him. We have to hold his hands or he would splash all over the room ; so he just devotes himself to kicking the water, and he has learned to splash almost as much as with his hands. It is really a very funny sight. He sticks out his mouth and breathes hard and just goes for it.
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" January the 27th , '95.
“ Yesterday was the Chinese New Year, that is the first day of their New Year, for their celebra- tions last for twenty days, and we had callers without number. We served tea and cakes to all. I tell you it kept me busy, when they came in crowds of twelve or fifteen ; but I enjoyed having them, also giving to the poorer ones, for they took what I gave them so gratefully.
“ There were some quite stylish gentlemen came out from the city. One of these was at one time an official in the Yamen and was converted and now is helping to proclaim the Gospel to his heathen people. He is just lovely, — so jolly and nice.
“ Oh, the reports are awful sometimes, but we pay little attention to them now, for the officials in the city are on our side and will do all they can to protect us. They put up a notice in the city that we are all right, etc., etc., etc., and that we are doing good for them and must be protected ; but every little while some one pastes another on top of it denouncing us and all that have anything to do with us.
“ May G. Simcox.”
“ Paotingfu, China,
“ February the 14 th, 1895.
" My Dear Mamma : As you see we are still at Paotingfu, and are living in quietness, though I must confess, not altogether peacefully. News reached us on last Sabbath, that Wei-hai-wei had been taken by the Japs and that they had de- stroyed all the Chinese fleet except one little tor- pedo boat. Well, some of us were a little alarmed
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for the future, especially since the letter from Mr. Bostwick, of Tientsin, advised the ladies at least to go soon to Tientsin, as he feared that later on the Japs would be at Tientsin, and then we could not get in perhaps. Dr. Roberts here was fright- ened and had his things all packed and was going to leave on Wednesday morning early, but as none of the rest of us were alarmed he decided to remain until more word comes. We do not fear any immediate danger here.
“ To-day another courier arrived from Tientsin and the letters nearly all advised our going, and have stirred us up a little. Some of the gentle- men, Frank among the rest, want to send the ladies and children away, and they will stay here to protect the property and goods; and Frank wants to go on with our building. I am somewhat opposed to this as you might imagine, yet I know that if trouble should come, we ladies would be incumbrances.
“ Of course the authorities of the city do not wish us to leave, for that will excite the Chinese about us. They will think the Japs are coming right here. I think they will do all in their power now to protect us, but when Peking is taken (and there seems no chance for peace now until Peking is taken), then there are almost sure, I think, to be fleeing soldiers passing through here, and it is my opinion, since they will likely not be paid and be frightened, and knowing the government is overthrown, they will loot houses and steal whatever they wisfh, and of course the foreign property will attract their attention. I believe if we were all to go now that the authorities would protect our property from the people about, even if the gentlemen were not here ; and in case of riot when the government is overthrown, I don’t be-
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lieve three or four men would be of any use, but would only incense the mob to greater violence. So I think, if there is danger, the men should go too. The river will be thawed in a couple of weeks, and we all want to hold on until that time, as a journey overland would be terrible. We don’t know what to do about our goods. I very much fear that if we leave they will all be de- stroyed. And oh, how I dread to lose them all! Still we have not so much to lose, as lots of them, and Frank says if we have to go, there is no use worrying about them. We cannot take more than our actual necessities in clothing. I don’t believe we should feel the need of going, if the people of Tientsin did not urge the matter so, and the U. S. Consul ordered all American missionaries of the interior to come to the coast as soon as possible, as the Japanese would be at Tientsin in four or five weeks at least. However we don’t think 'he knows much about it. It is dreadful to live in this state of uncertainty.
“ The Chinese, of course, do not know as much yet as we do here about the news, and I should hate to have them see us packing up, for they would ask so many questions and would be so frightened themselves. I hate to think of leaving all the native Christians here, for fear the people about will persecute them ; and it does not seem right to leave them, and if we could protect them, I should not think of going, but the question is, could we be of any use ? and if it would come to mob violence would our presence not make it worse since we are too few to do any protecting ourselves? If we leave now the servants and gate-keepers, and everybody will leave the place, but I hope the authorities will protect the prop- erty as long as they can.
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“ The authorities, of course, don't want us to leave, and I know they will protect us now, but if the government is overthrown, I don't think they would do one thing towards protecting us. They would be frightened themselves, and think they might lose their own 'heads. Then they are heathen and have no principles or hearts. It would be verv different if they were civilised men. Soldiers would not obey them even if they did command them.
44 1 hope before I send this letter, that I can say, our scare is over, etc, but no one can tell how it will come out. That is the great trouble. If we only knew what is best to do; but I suppose it will come out right by and by. I don't know where we could get in at Tientsin if we were to go; but the folks here say, not to worry about that. You know we have no station there and have always stopped with the Congregationalists.
44 Dear little Paul is as lovely and sweet as ever, and grows more interesting every day. He is eleven months old and weighs twenty-five pounds, and has three teeth and another almost through.
44 We are all real well. I am having a Chinese garment made. If we are obliged to leave they are nice to have, for our clothes excite so much curiosity. I may not need it, but everybody thinks it best to have them.
44 You will perhaps notice that I am pretty nerv- ous, and I have been so for some little time. I just can't help it for we live in so great uncer- tainty. However I hope it will be all right soon. I must close for to-night. If the others leave here, I think of course we will too. I think Frank will go along. We trust we may be guided aright in this matter.
44 With love to all, yours, May G. S.”
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“ Paotingfu, China,
" March the 2yd, 1895.
“ We have been in a state of uncertainty a great deal of the time this winter, and especially so since Wei-hai-wei was taken, and the Chinese fleet destroyed. At that time every one in Tien- tsin thought we should go down at once, and even the U. S. Consul urged us very strongly to do so, for the feeling against all foreigners is very strong. It seemed impossible to go overland. It would be terrible in cold weather, for the inns are dreadful places, and it would have meant so much exposure to us all, — exposure not only to wind and weather, but also to disease, as well as th? likelihood of meeting soldiers which is greatly to be dreaded.
“ The river is almost open now I believe, but we haw not packed yet, for the last two couriers from Tientsin have brought no news regarding war. No one knows what the Japs are doing just now, but we suppose they are getting a good ready before their next attack. Li Hung Chang, Viceroy, is now empowered with affairs and we all hope he wi\ try to make peace. But if he does, you know the Japs will demand so much, that I fear if he meets their demands, the Chinese (ig- norant wretches that they are) will blame him for giving so much, and will say that he is in league with the foreigners, etc. Poor man ! He has a hard time of it anyhow trying to keep his head.
“ Well, people in Tientsin and some here still think the ladies at least should go down the river soon. I don't know what we will do. I am afraid if we should start, we might find Tientsin in an uproar when we reached there ; but I think
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it is settled for us for a time now at least. My friend, Mrs. Ewing, who lives just beside us, had a little daughter born last Thursday night, so you see it will be impossible for her to go for a time yet ; and I think if she can stay here we can too. I have been there a good deal of my time since. I was up all one night and feel somewhat worn out. She and the baby, little Helen, are both do- ing nicely so far. May G. Simcox.”
“April the fth, 1895.
“ We are living on here peacefully most of the time. Sometimes we hear alarming news and fear that we ought to leave this place. As yet it has not been plain to us that it was duty to leave. Li Hung Chang has been shot in Japan, but the last authentic news we had said it seemed more likely peace would come now than ever. Still reports are in the city here that Li Hung Chang is dead, and that the Russians are making trouble in the North now. A great many of these reports heard in the city are afterwards authenticated and a great many are proven false. No one knows. If the Viceroy could not make peace, I feel cer- tain it is better for him that he should die now at the hand of an assassin than to come back to his countrymen to be tortured and be beheaded. We hear that Japan has granted three weeks' ar- mistice. We all hope for peace, yet there is the probability that if they go no further China will not heed the warning, but will relapse into her former apathy. We don’t know what is best for her. We would like to see grants for railroads, etc., sold.
“ Frank has decided to go on with the building now just as though there were no war. He ex- pects to have the ground broken this week and
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has given the mason and carpentering contracts to the best Chinamen he could find, which is not saying much. He will be obliged to spend his summer overseeing the work. Every little thing has to be watched, or they will cheat and squeeze the life out of us. We think we will like it in our new Compound. It is out in a great open field away from filth and the Chinese. It does lack trees, but we are having some set out now. We do hope nothing will interfere with the building, and that we may occupy our new home in the autumn.
14 Dr. Taylor leaves here to-morrow. He will leave Tientsin for America some time this month, I believe. If things quiet down Paul and I may spend the summer at the Hills. But no one can make any plans here.
44 Remember us always at a throne of grace.
44 With very much love to all,
44 May G. Simcox.”
" April the 22nd, 1895.
44 One week ago to-day we heard the report that the peace treaty had been signed by the Viceroy, Li Hung Chang, but were a little slow to believe it, but yesterday’s mail brought word from Tien- tsin that it is likely true. We are very glad on our own account that it is so, yet can’t help think- ing that China has not received the humiliation which she so much needs. Wc have thought that nothing short of the capture of Peking would have the desired effect. The Lord knows what is best. No question she has received a great lesson, but will she profit by it ? No doubt ‘lost face ’ with foreign nations (a familiar phrase in Chinese), but we fear as before it will soon be forgotten;
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and they will soon be back where they were. The common people know nothing about the war,