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Charles W. Wason Collection
on China and the Chinese

GRIFFITH JOHN
OF HANKOW

The original of tliis book is in
tine Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924010758252

Griffith John

OF HANKOW

WILLIAM ROBSON

AUTHOR OK "jAMi^i CHALMERS OF NEW GUINKA, " ETC,

BRIGHT BIOGJ?APHIES SERIES

PICKERING & INGLIS
14 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.C.4
229 BOTHWELL STREET, GLASGOW, C.2

BRIGHT BIOGRAPHIES

BTIRBING LIFB STORIBS OF
CHBISTIAH MBW AND WOMEN

1— ROBERT MORRISON OF CHINA

THB PIONBBR OP CHINESB MISSIONS

2— JAMES HANNINGTON OF UGANDA

THE NOBLE UARTYK OF CENTRAL AFRICA

3— WOMEN WHO HAVE WORKED AND WON

MRS. CHABLBS HADDON SPUUGEON
BMMA BOOTH-TUCEER
FRANCB8 BIDLBY HAVBRCAL
PANDITA RAMABAI AND HER WORK

4— JUDSON OF BURMA

THE HEROIC PIOHBEB MISSIONARY

5— GRIFFITH JOHN OF HANKOW

PIONEER MISSIONARY TO CENTRAL CHINA

«— CAPTAIN GARDINER OF PATAGONIA

THB DAUNTLESS SAILOR MISSIONARY

7— LADY MISSIONARIES IN MANY LAND >

BURMA : WEST INDIES ABYSSINIA

lULULAMD : FRIENDLY ISLANDS : FIJI

Had« Md Pr nted In Great DritalA

CONTENTS

OHAP.

I. Thb Boy Preacher of Wales
II. Buckling on his Armour

III. The Taiping Rebellion

IV. The Hankow Mission
V. The Work develops

VI. A 3000 Miles' Tour
VII. Literary Work
VIII. Continued Successes
IX. A Remarkable Proclamation
X. In Hupeh and Hunan
XI. The Closing Years .

9
17

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53
80

93
114

>30
152
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.83

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Griffith John .... pyontiapiece.

FACING PACE

A Chinisk Gentleman of the Old School . . 44

Chinese Men Eating with Chop-Sticks . 45

A Heathen Pagoda ... .6a

A Chinesb Pilgriu on a Journey . 61
A Street Scene when the Yang-Tsb Otertlows . 124

A Typical Chinese Crowd . . 124

A Typical Chinese Family .135

A Chinese Lady . . 149

Chinese Helpers of Griffith John 141

GRIFFITH JOHN

CHAPTER I

THE BOY PREACHER OF WALES

Far away, far away, in heathen darkness dwrfUng,
Millions of souls for ever may be lost.

Who, who wiU go, salvation's story teUing ;
Looking to Jesus — counting not the cost !

FOR many years the Church of Christ had prayed
that its missionaries might be admitted into
China. Ancient heathenism, in proud possession of a
literature the mastery of which demanded the effort
of the most talented intellects, was quite satisfied and
contented in the belief that it had little to learn from
foreigners. But the mighty empire which for ages
had imperiously forbidden the barbarian to tread upon
her shores suddenly found her gates of brass thrown
open by the hand of Omnipotence.

That same power had also urged the Church to
prepare men, and, when the golden opportunity
arrived, promptly sent forth these messengers of
salvation into China's crowded cities. Further events
pushed the door more widely open, and the vast in-
terior was made accessible to missionary operations.

This book purposes to give some accotmt of one of

9

10 GRIFFITH JOHN

these pioneer missionaries. A man able and bold, yet
full of tact withal. We prefer, however, to allow our
readers to form their own conclusions respecting his
character from the events here narrated, and would
only add in explanation that they must be taken as
illustrations, and not in any sense as a full and ade-
quate account of his active and successful career.

Grifl&th John was bom at Swansea, a Welsh seaport
town on the Bristol Channel, on the 14th of December
1831. His parents were religious, and comfortably
situated in life, rather above the class to which they
belonged. His father was much respected, and until
his death continued in the employ of Messrs. Vivian
& Sons.

His mother died of cholera in 1832, and his father's
sister, with loving solicitude, performed to Griffith a
mother's part.

He was from childhood under the influence of the
Holy Spirit, and loved to be with older Christians.
At eight years of age he was admitted a member of
the Church at Ebenezer, Swansea, and when between
nine and ten years old took part in religious services.
The first public prayer of this child, uttered with
quivering lips and falling tears, consisted of only one
petition : " O Lord, pardon my sins, through Jesus
Christ. Amen."

When twelve years of age he entered the employ of
John Williams of Onllwyn, who was a godly man, and
soon perceived the promising character of the lad.
He invited him to become an inmate of his house,
and treated him as one of his own family.

At fourteen he commenced to preach the Gospel,
and from the first gave evidence of possessing oratorical

THE BOY PREACHER OF WALES ii

gifts of the highest order. The people delighted to
hear him, and invitations reached him from various
places. Among the crowded audiences many were
heard to say, " What manner of child is this ? " and
the strongest hopes were entertained that a brilliant
future awaited him in the ministry of the Gospel.

Much surprise was therefore occasioned when he
suddenly withdrew from all public efforts, justifying
his conduct by modest references to his youth and
consequent inexperience. For a time he exercised his
gifts in more private forms of Christian work. At
length, yielding to the soUcitations of the more prudent
of his friends, he began in his sixteenth year to preach
in different parts of the Principality, with good result.
Everywhere he went it soon became manifest that in
Griffith John God was preparing a mighty witness
for Himself, and predictions were not wanting of a
fame and career of usefulness awaiting him, as great
as that of the venerated Christmas Evans, the Apostle
of Wales.

It was pointed out that a course of study would be
of great benefit, and his father asked Mr. Jacob, the
pastor of Ebenezer Chapel, Swansea, if "he would
teach Griffith a little." The kind-hearted pastor had
gratuitously rendered similar help to other young men
who were preparing for the ministry, and from the
13th of November 1848, imtU September 1850, Griffith
John resided with him, and received daily instruction
at his hands.

In 1849 his father was smitten by the disease to
which his mother had succumbed seventeen years
before, and died of cholera. The bitter grief which
the son manifested at the grave so kindled the com-

12 GRIFFITH JOHN

passion of Mr. Jacob, that he said Grifl&th should
nerer know the lack of an earthly father as long as he
lived. That vow he faithfully kept, and the relation-
ship thus created was maintained with touching
ardour on both sides.

Mr. Jacob was most assiduous in preparing his
young charge for the career of great usefulness which
he felt lay before him. In answer to the questions
of the College authorities at Brecon, when Griffith
John was seeking admission, Mr. Jacob penned a
series of replies beautiful aUke for their simphcity
£ind truthfulness. While the love and esteem which
he bore towards his yoimg friend might at that time
be regarded as Ukely to increase his estimate, the truth
of his statements, made in 1850, has been fully con-
firmed by the lofty and steadfast Christian character
maintained by Griffith John, as well as by the unani-
mous testimony of strange audiences during nearly
forty years of successful work.

All cannot be recorded here, but a few may be
noted. After claiming the right to speak emphatically,
by reason of the " long-continued and most advan-
tageous opportunities " for observing and judging of
his pupil, Mr. Jacob says :

" Considering his age, he is decidedly the nearest
to being a perfect or complete Christian of any I ever
knew. He is amiable. I have never seen the slightest
indication of bad temper. He is as humble as a babe
... at all times wiUing to do whatever he is asked
by those to whom he looks for direction.

" His preaching talents are, in my opinion, of an
extraordinary character. His voice is sweet, his
delivery easy and fluent. Judging from the present

THE BOY PREACHER OF WALES 13

he will in five or six years be the most popular
preacher in Wales. I have heard him talk hke an
orator for a whole hour, and then in a few moments
arouse the whole congregation to a state of astonish-
ing excitement ; not by unmeaning declamation, but
by sound sense and real eloquence.

" He does not apply to the College because he
cannot get a sphere of usefulness. Yoimg as he is,
several of the leading men in some of our churches,
where he occasionally preaches, have told me, ' We
do not care to hear any one else if we can have
Griffith John ' ; but he is far from being of the same
views, for he is aware that a minister should have his
mind well stored with useful information.

" I have watched him as carefully as I have been
able, and the fact is, I have not found a single draw-
back."

Griffith John entered college on September 1850,
and on the evening of the first Sunday Mr. Jacob
penned a characteristic letter fuU of loving counsel ;
particularly la5ring stress upon piety, adherence to his
pledge of total abstinence, " to avoid acquaintance
in the way of courtship," rigid adherence to promises,
forethought, courtesy towards those who showed him
hospitahty, punctuality upon all occasions ; conclud-
ing with the injunction, " Remember ! whatever you
are at college, so to a very great extent you will be
through life."

The last sentence is elucidated for us by Josiah
Jones, who occupied the same study, and Ea57s that
at the time of his entrance into coUege, Griffith John
" was a short and slender youth, with a frank face
and fuU, well-formed forehead, the hair curving out
2

14 GRIFFITH JOHN

as a canopy." Of his moral character while at Brecon,
which was most exemplary, Mr. Jones states, " I
don't remember any expression falling from him that
betokened a low taste, and much less an inward
moral impurity." Also : " Among his chief charac-
teristics as a student, showing that during all his life
there has been a uniform continuity in his character,
the following may be mentioned : diligence, per-
severance, and efficiency."

Grif&th John had the advantages of the stimulating
tuition of Professor Henry Grif&th, F.G.S., who was
at the time Principal of the college. Alike in mathe-
matics, philosophy, and theology. Professor Grif&th
showed himself an able and energetic leader in study,
never evading a difficulty, or contented until his
students had grappled with and mastered it.

He had entered college indulging in the hope of
becoming one day a successful and popular minister ;
but he was not allowed to entertain this long without
challenge, for God met him, and cast out the earthly
ambition, putting in its place an ardent longing for
missionary work among the heathen.

In March 1853 he offered his services to the London
Missionary Society, and when replying to the question,
" How long had he entertained the desire to be a
missionary ? " said that it had entered his heart
soon after the commencement of his college course ;
and that, though there had been fluctuations in its
strength, he could fairly say that it was a progressive
one. In confirmation of this it should be stated that
not long after he entered college, a fellow-student
and himself entered into a solemn covenant to become
missionaries. This meant a great deal to the popular

THE BOY PREACHER OF WALES 15

young preacher, who henceforth had to put away all
the seductive offers of eager churches. One from the
important Congregational Church of Aberaman
severely tested his resolution. But God puts one
thing against another for the proving of His children ;
and while this invitation was awaiting an answer,
the veteran missionary, David Griffiths, of Mada-
gascar, visited the college, and addressed the students
with great earnestness, concluding by an appeal for
labourers. Grifi&th John then openly declared his
wish and determination to be a missionary.

Having been accepted by the London Missionary
Society, he was removed to Bedford in January
1854, to give him better opportunities of preaching
in the Enghsh tongue. At the time of his going
there, one of the tutors said, " I find that Mr. John
is so well read up that I do not think I can do much
for him."

Hitherto the bent of his mind had been towards
Madagascar as a sphere of labour. He writes : " Oh,
how glad I would be if the doors were opened ! My
heart is there now ! " At that time Madagascar was
closed to European missionaries by the cruel Queen
Ranavalona. But he did not offer any objection when
asked to go to China, and soon was aglow with
enthusiasm for the dark-minded millions of the
Flowery Land.

Before leaving England, Griffith John married
Margaret Jane Griffiths, daughter of Rev. David
Griffiths, of Madagascar, who had so influenced him
in his determination to become a missionary, and
who was then settled at Hay, Breconshire. A more
happy selection could not have been made, and Mrs.

i6 GRIFFITH JOHN

John proved herself a devoted helpmeet and a noble
and successful worker among the women of China.

His ordination took place at Swansea on Good
Friday, the 6th of April 1855, when Ebenezer Chapel
was packed with an enthusiastic audience, which did
not conceal the strong emotion felt at parting with
their eloquent young preacher. Special services were
also held in the afternoon and evening of the same
day. On the following Thursday he preached a fare-
well sermon in the same place, after which a testi-
monial was presented to the young missionary as an
expression of the esteem and good wishes of his many
friends.

With Rev. A. Wilhamson and his wife, they sailed
for Shanghai on the 21st of May 1855 ; eager for
service in the " Land of Sinim," as they listened to
the distinct though distant cry, " Come over and
help us ! "

CHAPTER II

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR

Thy long night is ending of sorrow and wrong.
For shame there is glory, for weeping a song.
The new mom is dawning, bursts forth the new sun ;
The new verdure is smiling, the new age is begun.

H. BONAR

ON 24th September 1855, the good ship, Hamilla
Mitchell, bearing the missionaries, reached
Shanghai after a pleasant and uneventful, but lengthy
voyage of one hundred and twenty days. Griffith
John could not have arrived at a more opportune
time. For forty years missionaries had longed for
and prayed that an opportunity might be afforded
for the free proclamation of the Gospel to the country
people of China. Their prayers were about to be
answered. For five years the Taiping rebellion,
headed by Hung-sew-tsuen, had ravaged the fairest
part of the country ; while the growing influence of
the Western Powers of Europe claimed the attention
of the Imperial Government. For ages this Govern-
ment had exercised a strong conserving power, but
now its grasp had slackened, and the growing laxity
of its sway was utilised by the missionaries in the
seaports to make evangelistic tours inland. Under
the Treaty of Nanking, made between Great Britain

17

i8 GRIFFITH JOHN

and China in 1842, foreigners were only allowed to
go a day's journey from the Treaty ports. The door
had been gradually opening, and at the time of
Grif&th John's arrival the cotmtry was practically
free to travellers with peaceful objects in view.

He entered upon his work with characteristic
ardour. He had studied hard during the voyage, and
now applied himself to the acquisition of the language,
with the hope that in six months he would be able to
preach. He writes in his first letter home : " I am
anxious, I long to be able to speak of Christ to the
people. I can just ask them at present if they believe
in Jesus, and tell them that it is the best thing they
possibly can do. Pray for me that I may be made
eminently useful in China." This request was re-
sponded to by many hearts, and the facts recorded
in these pages amply prove that those prayers have
been answered.

While the house intended for them was being
repaired, Mr. and Mrs. John stayed with the veteran
missionary. Dr. Medhurst, whose forty years of
pioneering toil were fast drawing to a close. Like
Lrael of old, he had long sought to enter the goodly
land his heart was set upon, and during the previous
year he had been able to make a few preaching
journeys into the country about Shanghai. His
reward was at hand, and a part of it would be the
revelation that the man who stood by him in his
latter days was designed by God to carry the Gospel
to the central and western provinces of China.
Shanghai was at that time the residence of twenty-
five missionaries belonging to various British and
American societies. These all accorded a hearty

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 19

welcome to the new comers, who soon felt at home
with their fellow-labourers in the mission-field. In
January 1856, the heart of the young missionary was
gladdened by the birth of a son, whom he named
Griffith ; but the child was usually spoken of under
his Chinese name of Mei-foh. In June of the same
year he modestly says, respecting his first direct
efforts, " For some months I have been in the habit
of going into the temples, the tea gardens, and other
places to distribute tracts and preach in my humble
way. I am able now to speak for half an hour or
three quarters with considerable ease and fluency.
To my great satisfaction, I find that I am very well
imderstood. This is a great thing in speaking the
Chinese language, because so much depends on the
tones and mere rising or falling, shortening or lengthen-
ing of the sound makes all the difference imaginable
in a word which is in every other aspect the same,
that is, if written in the Roman character. This
makes the acquisition of the spoken language both
a tedious and difficult task. The written language
is a colossus of an affair. It is decidedly difficult of
acquisition, as will appear from the fact that no
European has hitherto mastered it. I like the study
of it very much. It is no tiresome work to me. Its
difficulty only intensifies my desire to grapple with it,
and finally to lay it prostrate at my feet. The con-
quering of this language is worth a long and manly
struggle. Who would feel it a burdensome task to
learn a language which is intended by the providence
of God to be a channel through which Divine truth,
like a life-giving stream, is to flow into four hundred
millions of thirsty but immortal souls ? Such a thought

20 GRIFFITH JOHN

is sufficient to call out all the energies of one's being.
Where is there a nobler object or a higher end for the
entire consecration of all the powers and faculties of
the soul ? The glory of God in the salvation of souls
is the noblest work \inder heaven." This may be
taken as the key-note of his life and work in China.

After a few months he accompanied Mr. Edkins
and other missionaries in various preaching journeys,
being absent two or three weeks, and penetrating 150
miles inland. He says, " We have access to millions
of the most callous, indifferent, worldly-minded, and
irreligious people."

For several months in the latter part of 1856 the
country surrounding Shanghai suffered much from
drought, and at first both mandarins and people were
most assiduous in praying to their idols to send
fertilising showers. As these did not come, the people
left off religious services, and said the idols were
useless. The priests went round the streets for
several days in solemn procession, but in vain. They
were then spoken of with contempt by all the people,
who seemed inclined to listen to the missionaries and
to appreciate their efforts. Alas ! when the rains did
fall they soon sank iato their former indifference.

Griffith John had hitherto accompanied older
missionaries on preaching journeys, but on 31st
October 1856, he started upon an expedition, taking
only Wong the colporteur as assistant.

The first place of importance which they visited
was the large city of Sung Kiang, 30 miles distant
from Shanghai. They anchored for the night four
miles below the city, and upon awaking the next
morning, found they were entering the west gate of

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 21

the city. It was the time for the Annual Examina-
tions, and candidates for literary honours crowded
the streets, affording intelligent audiences wherever
the missionary and his helper chose to preach. They
had a good supply of books, which were eagerly sought
after. No marks of displeasure or ill-will were mani-
fested by any of the people.

In the afternoon, as they were walking about dis-
tributing books, Wong offered one to a respectable-
looking man, who, after reading the title-page, tore
the book in pieces. Wong was much disconcerted,
and began to remonstrate with the man in a loud
tone for not returning the book if he did not like it.
Grifiith John stood astonished, as notwithstanding
the thousands of books and tracts he had distributed,
he had never seen this done before. When the
people around saw that the missionaries were annoyed
at the unprecedented insolence, they begged them not
to be angry, as the man was a Roman Catholic.

After a long day's toil, they returned to the boat,
and gathering the boatmen around him, Griffith John
read with them, and explained the New Testament
and prayed. He declares that this was the happiest
hour of the day. The morrow was the Lord's Day.
AlasJ there is no Sunday observance in China.
There is nothing but noise, bustle, tumult, confusion,
and impiety, as at any other time. The preachers,
however, had larger and more attentive congregations
of the graduates.

The following day they returned to Shanghai, Mr.
John having an attack of fever and ague ; but thanks
to the prompt and energetic treatment of Dr. Lock-
hart, he soon recovered.

22 GRIFFITH JOHN

Whilst thus energetic in the country, Grif&th John
and his helpful wife were not neglectful of those in and
around their own home. They had engaged a female
servant who knew nothing of God, of a Saviour, or
of the future. Mrs. John instructed her daily, and
Mr. John at family worship had opportunities of
speaking to her. She became very anxious to know
the truth and to feel its blessed influence. She soon
desired baptism, and was admitted into church
fellowship, of which she afterwards proved herself
to be a worthy member.

As early as September 1857, Griffith John had
projects for going far into the interior, beyond the
reach of foreign influence, and labouring for the
spiritual welfare of the people. But the time had
not come, and he remained at Shanghai, studying
and working so as to make himself " a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed." He informed his friendB
that his two years' residence had corrected his esti-
mate of the work, and the immense difficulties which
lay in the way of the Gospel in China. He says :
" The good work is moving but very slowly. The
people are as hard as steel. They are eaten up both
soul and body by the world, and do not seem to feel
that there can be reality in anything beyond sense.
To them our doctrine is foolishness, our talk jargon.
We discuss and beat them in argument. We reeison
them into silence and shame ; but the whole effort
falls upon them Uke showers upon a sandy desert.
Sometimes I am ready to think that China is doomed ;
but there is a promise which dissipates the gloom,
viz. that those ' from the land of Sinim ' are to come.
The teachers China has listened to for thousands of

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 23

years have taught only things respecting the present
life. Confucius, while speaking admirably on pro-
priety, justice, faithfulness, the proper governing of
the family, the ruling of the kingdom, and the pro-
motion of peace on earth, says, ' Respect the gods,
but keep them at a distance.' The Chinaman's way
of doing this is to think of them as little as possible."

In October 1857, Mr. John, with Mr. Edkins, visited
Soochow, which is regarded by the Chinese as one
of their richest and most beautiful cities. They say
that to be happy on earth one must be bom at Soo-
chow, live in Canton, and die in Tienchow, for in the
first are the handsomest people, in the second the
richest luxuries, and in the third the best cofiins. It
lies north-west of Shanghai ; and within the city
walls, which are twelve miles in circumference, there
axe about one million and a half of people.

No foreigner had previously visited this city un-
disguised. No sooner had the missionaries got
within the gates than they were very politely invited
by an official to walk into his house and be seated.
Very soon another ofl&cial of higher rank appeared
and cross-questioned the visitors, after which he said
that he could not permit them to proceed into the
city. They remonstrated with him, upon which he
said, " Well, you cannot go through this gate ; you
had better try another." Seeing it was useless to
press the matter, they returned to their boat, and
gave the boatmen orders to enter one of the water
gates. This was successfully done, and they visited
the chief places of attraction. Then, having preached
to a large number of people, they returned to the
boat, much pleased with their success. Their presence

24 GRIFFITH JOHN

excited much curiosity, but they were not molested ;
so on the following day they penetrated to the heart
of the city, and distributed several hundred copies of
the New Testament.

Grifiith John now devoted himself almost ex-
clusively to itinerating, and visited a large number of
towns and cities. Early in 1858, accompanied by a
brother missionary, he visited the two large cities of
Kia-hing and Kia-shan, about one hundred miles from
Shanghai. They resolved to alter the usual plan of
preaching two or three long sermons in the course of
the day, and adopted the method of making short and
simple statements of Gospel truth, and earnest zind
affectionate appeals to the hearers' consciences. These
occupied only a few minutes ; and by commencing
early in the morning, and preaching simultaneously
tin late in the evening for several days, there was
hardly a street or the comer of a street in these two
cities in which the glad tidings were not proclaimed to
thousands for the first time. The multitudes listened
attentively, no one interrupted or expressed any ill-
will. Many seemed touched, but the majority treated
the message with indifference or contempt. At this
time he expressed his conviction that the old idea that
China must be worked upon from above — first the
wise, rich, and noble, and then descending to the lower
classes — was utterly absurd. He stated that the
experience of both Roman Catholic and Protestant
missionaries proved that China was no exception to
the general rule, and said, " If we would convert
China, we must begin with the common people, and
devote our energies principally to their enlightenment."

In March 1858 Mr. John and his family left Shanghai

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 25

for Ping-hu (the peaceful lake), which is about 200
Chinese miles distant. Here they rented a house
outside the city, and during the summer he spent
much time there, preaching daily to excellent con-
gregations. A catechumen class was formed of six
inquirers, and afterwards a church was established.
His purpose was to establish similar stations in the
various cities near Shanghai, and itinerate among
them, superintending the native assistant missionaries
and the work.

Soon his eyes and heart moved in the direction of
Hang-chow, the Athens of China, and events allowed
him to carry out his purpose in the succeeding month.
Starting with his family on April 19, they arrived at
Sung Kiang the following evening, and the next
morning visited the residence of the native assistant
missionary, which was called " Zion House," where
the members of the church had assembled. Several
female inquirers, hearing that Mrs. John was accom-
panying her husband, had also come together. Social
affairs in China then caused it to be thought very
imprudent for females to meet a man who was a
stranger, and especially a foreigner. Mrs. John's
presence, however, dispelled all fear, and these good
women gladly came forward to make a public con-
fession of their faith in Jesus.

When Mrs. John entered the house, an immense
crowd followed, and as many as possibly could
crowded into the " ka-dong " (guest room) where she
sat. The host and hostess found it impossible to
restrain the curiosity of the people, and Mr. John had
to go out and exhort them to be quiet. Upon his
return, the visitors sat down to a repast of fruit, cakes,

a6 GRIFFITH JOHN

and tea. The food was placed upon the table in
plates, but there were none to eat from. The guests
were helped to food by the lady of the house, who,
taking a portion with her fingers, placed it upon the
table, which was not very clean. When all had
finished, the table was cleared, and wiped down with a
piece of paper.

Mr. John examined the female candidates, and
those who satisfied him were admitted to the church.
One was the widow of a mandarin who had been killed
by the Taiping rebels.

A service for the men was next conducted by Mr.
John in the adjoining room, and five were admitted
as members. Meanwhile the women were employed
in critically examining Mrs. John. Some remarked
that Yang-sian-sang's wife was much handsomer.
One thought Mrs. John must be clever ; while another
was struck with the smoothness of her hair, and
praised it volubly. They agreed that she spoke the
Shanghai dialect very well. This conversation was
sustained until the men's meeting ended, and the
missionaries left. They stayed over Sunday at
Ping-hu, and arrived at Hang-chow on Wednesday.
They visited the Si-hu (west lake) the following day,
which happened to be the birthday of the goddess
Quaning. On the way several boats and junks were
seen full of passengers returning from the worship of
this goddess. This is the most flourishing seat of the
Buddhist religion, and some of these pilgrims had
travelled more than 200 miles to attend these cere-
monies. The lake is nearly round, and the city of
Hang-chow skirts the eastern shore ; while opposite
are hills, with numbers of Buddhist monasteries placed

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 27

amidst what is said to be the most beautiful scenery
in China. There is a most picturesque island in the
lake, connected with the city by a bank, which is used
as a promenade. This bank was the work of the poet
Su-tung-p'o. When standing in the Tang-tsi (summer
house) on the island, a remarkable echo can be ob-
tained from the opposite hiU. After several words
have been uttered they are distinctly repeated.

Hiring one of the many pleasure-boats, they visited
the Tsing-tsel-zz'l temple, where there are 500 life-
sized gilded figures representing disciples of Buddha
(Sohangs), among them being several deceased Em-
perors of the present dynasty. The imperial disciples
are distinguished by umbrellas hanging over their
heads. Near the temple is the tomb of a famous
warrior, Yo-lan-ye, who defeated the Kiu Tartars and
drove them beyond the Yellow River. His enemies
procured his recall, and assassinated him in prison.
The leader of these conspirators was Tsing-keno,
whose descendants will on no account enter the city
of Hang-chow, where his remains are exhibited in a
humiUating position. The missionaries were interested
in the large monastery of Tian-tso, where 500 monks
live. The magnificent stone way leading up to it
between the hills was frequented by beggars of every
description, blind, dumb, lame, many with open sores
exposed to excite compassion, who cried to Buddha
to help them, while they made persistent efforts to
obtain alms from visitors.

In the Ling-zin monastery is a large temple, which
has a square hall with the light so arranged that it
falls with equal radiance upon each row of fifty life-
sized gilded Sohangs. The priests here were rather

28 GRIFFITH JOHN

proud of their cook-house, which contained three
immense copper boilers, one capable of cooking
sufficient rice for 1600 persons.

Opposite to this temple was a cave in the rock
which had been made into a temple. The rocky
sides of the cave were sculptured with various figures
of Buddha. Here the priest pointed to a small round
hole in the wall, and said that the head of Buddha
was to be seen there. The missionaries, however,
looked in vain. They must have lacked the faith
needful for such a sight. Here, too, was a pond with
several snakes in it. Mr. John asked the priest why
they did not kiU them. He was quite shocked at the
idea, and said, " If I killed one of these I might in so
doing kiU perhaps my grandfather." Several nais-
sionaries had visited this Buddhist parade in the
previous year, and conversed with some of the most
learned priests upon the nature and claims of Christi-
anity. The head of one of the monasteries besought
them not to oppose the old religion, but to advocate
Christianity as parallel with and not antagonistic
to Buddhism. He invited them on these terms to
come and erect a church close by the magnificent
monastery.

This great city of Hang-chow then contained over
a million inhabitants, while the trade of several
provinces met here, and contributed much to its
prosperity.

They returned to Sung Kiang, passing through
many places on the way, where they preached and
gave away tracts and books. Three women awaited
baptism at this place, and the missionaries were much
encouraged at the condition of the little church. After

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 29

a most successful tour, the party reached Shanghai
again on 14th May 1858.

It must not be supposed that Mr. John's time was
devoted chiefly to seeing strange sights. He pursued
at Hang-chow, as elsewhere, that steady course of
preaching and the distribution of tracts and books,
which paved the way for further missionary effort
in this beautiful city.

While meditating further efforts in the neighbour-
hood of Ping-hu, Mr. John had a house offered him
to preach and Uve in by a native of the city of Sung-
Kiang-fu. As family circumstances made it advisable
to draw nearer to Shanghai, he accepted the kind
offer, and left Ping-hu towards the end of July.

Sung Kiang-fu is a departmental city in the pro-
vince of Kiang-Su, and about 40 miles from Shanghai.
The people pride themselves upon their superiority
in knowledge and polite manners. A missionary had
attempted to settle there several months previously,
but had to leave through the interference of the
Mandarin. About ten days after Griffith John had
begun his energetic efforts, the town constable tried
to frighten him away. Perceiving that unless bold
action were taken, the whole body of petty officials
would carry on a series of vexatious annoyances, he
resolved to address the Mandarin direct, informing
him of his presence in the city, the object of his visit,
and some of the provisions of the New Tientsin Treaty
between China and England. He got his pundit to
write a very pwlite letter, and sent it by his servant.
No ofiicial notice was taken of this, but peace reigned
for a time. Af^;er a while the petty officers recom-
menced their stealthy approaches, but the missionary
3

30 GRIFFITH JOHN

was equal to the occasion. He told them that he had
already written to the Mandarin, and that the affair
now stood between himself and that high officer.
This proved omnipotent, and scattered the selfish
herd. Splendid congregations daily listened to the
message of salvation, and in three weeks there were
five candidates for church membership.

The birth of another son, in September (whom he
named David), compelled him to return to Shanghai.
The church was, however, well cared for by the
evangehst in charge.

Early in October, Griffith John and three of his
brother missionaries resolved to make an extended
tour, preaching and distributing books in aU the
cities along the Grand Canal, as far as its entrance
into the Yellow River. They also were anxious to
ascertain what influence the capture of the Taku
Forts and the Treaty of Tientsin had had upon the
people, and how far mission work could be carried on.

The Grand Canal is 650 miles in length, and is
divided into three parts, which were made under three
different dynasties. By it and the rivers it connects,
there is an almost uninterrupted water-way made
from north to south of the Empire, i.e. from Peking
to Canton. Between the Yellow River and the river
Yang-tse, the Canal is carried along an artificial
mound of earth, and is flanked by walls of stone, upon
the stability of which many cities depend for safety.
Upon this Canal are dozens of custom-houses, and
the chief duty of the officials seems to be to apprehend
all suspicious characters. The most formidable of
these custom-houses was that at Hiitz-Kwan, ten
miles beyond Soochow, which was usuaDy avoided ;

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 31

the few travellers who had been so audacious as to
attempt to pass it having been summarily turned
back. On this occasion, however, the boat which lay
across the Canal swimg round to let them pass, as soon
as the presence of four Western barbarians was made
known. At the other end of the town, however,
they were vigorously challenged by an official crying
out :

" Stop, what boat is that ? Who have you in-
side ? " He was told that they were foreigners from
Shanghai. " Are they merchants ? Have they any
merchandise ? "

" No," said Mr. John, " we are preachers ; our
only object is to preach and distribute books." The
hearing his own language spoken seemed to con-
ciliate the official, and to excite confidence ; and
after writing down their names, and the giving of a
few books on their part, they were allowed to
proceed.

The party next came to Chang-chew-fu, a large
city mentioned by Marco Polo as " a great and noble
city," the residence of the Governor-General. Here
they found a strong chain across the Canal, and the
custom-house people were thrown into great con-
sternation by the sudden appearance of the Shanghai
boat. They were still more perplexed when in-
formed that the foreigners intended to cross the
Yang-tse. Evidently wishing to consult their superiors,
the party were detained for the night. The next
morning they were allowed to proceed to the next
city, Tan-yang, where two miUtary mandarins ap-
peared on their arrival, and inquired into their objects.
Upon examining the books minutely the mandarins

32 GRIFFITH JOHN

said, " We perceive your object is to exhort the people
to turn from the bad and follow the good." A long
conversation ensued, and all the force of Chinese logic
and eloquence was employed to induce them to
return. The country was said to be in commotion,
robbers were abroad, the rebels were active. But
the missionaries distinctly said they would not go
back. The following morning the literary Mandarin
came with a large retinue to pay his compliments.
He was very affable, and promised to send a boat to
guard them as far as the next station.

After he left large native congregations were
preached to. A present of cakes and dishes, pre-
pared in the highest Chinese style, was received from
the Mandarin, and the following morning a return
present of medical and other books was sent by the
missionaries. He then sent another present of tea,
cakes, and dates. The party now passed on, and
were treated with courtesy all the way.

The common people were at a loss how to address
the missionaries. Mr. John heard a woman say :

" Behold ! there is a little devil."

" Yes," said the woman addressed, "he is a real
devil," meaning d^ foreigner and not a rebel — the latter
allowing the hair to grow upon their heads like Euro-
peans, instead of shaving it off in Chinese fashion.

In returning they took another route, and visited
many cities not previously entered by missionaries.
They also spent four days at Hang-chow (the earthly
paradise). Here they preached freely, although but
a short time before a missionary venturing there had
been summoned before the Mandarin, and sent back
to Shanghai under an escort.

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 33

In June 1859, Griffith John andW. Muirhead travelled
to the Yellow River, purposing to go a few days' journey
beyond Hwai-ngan-fu if practicable. It may be well
to note a few exceptional incidents of this journey.

Upon arriving at the city of Kiang-yin, early in
the morning, they found the departmental examina-
tions in progress, and 3000 students assembled.
After Mr. John had spoken for some time to a number
of the literati, one of them coloured up and assumed
a threatening attitude. No notice was taken, and
when done speaking Mr. John walked quietly away.
Hearing a noise behind, he turned and found several
of the literati trying to excite the people. He tried
to pacify them, but they grew more furious, and the
ringleader, shutting his fist, threatened to strike the
missionary. Knowing from experience that it was
as dangerous to show fear as temerity, he walked
along leisurely. They then cried out that he was
not a foreigner, but a long-haired rebel in disguise.
He told them with emphasis that he was an EngUsh-
man, and observed with pardonable pride that this
made some of them turn pale. " Ergo Romanus
sum " never had greater moral force than " I am an
Englishman ! " did at that moment in China. He
prudently informed the Mandarin of the facts of the
case, who told him that strict orders had been given
to all the constables that foreigners were to be properly
treated. The missionaries preached in the afternoon
to large and attentive audiences.

The following day they crossed the river Yang-tse,
which was five miles wide. As soon as they reached
firm ground the missionaries landed, and walked to
the city of Tsing-kiang. They were now in new

34 GRIFFITH JOHN

fields of missionary effort, and Mr. John says : "I
know not whether anyone experiences emotion worthy
to be compared with the thrill of joy which the mis-
sionary feels when permitted for the first time to
point out to a sin-enslaved people the Lamb of God
which taketh away the sin of the world." At many
of the towns the whole population turned out to
gaze on the features and strange-looking clothes of
the visitors. They feared the excitement would pre-
vent the people from understanding the teaching,
but hoped the next preacher would find a way pre-
pared for him. At Kiang-yin the missionaries had
thousands of hearers, and observed among the crowd
many rich and apparently well-educated men.

Here they had a long conversation with a Chinese
colporteur, a native of Tan-tu. He was a quiet,
respectable layman, who, pit5dng the ignorance and
wickedness of men, devoted his time to distributing
Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian books. Many rich
and learned men supported him, and it appeared
that the advocates of the three religions had in this
way united to actively propagate their faiths in
opposition to Christicinity.

Upon arriving at Tsing-Kiang-fu thousands of the
most boisterous class of the people collected. The
missionaries sent their cards to the Mandarin, and
were soon visited by one of miUtary blue-button rank,
who was very talkative, and invited them to take tea
at his " vile cottage." They suggested that it would
not be safe to leave their boats, but he said, " Don't
mind that," and then ordered sedan chairs to be
brought for aU. When the Mandarin rose to go, he
said, " You better not come." They supposed that

BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR 35

he expected them to decluae his invitation, and was
disgusted that they had taken him at his word.

The visit of the Mandarin was followed by_ a host
of officials of white-button rank sent from the different
yamens — all asking the same questions, their object
being to compare notes. Several were ordered to
remain on board, as they said to protect the boat, but
really to watch the movements of the missionaries.
Two soldiers were also stationed ashore to keep the
crowd in order.

As the missionaries wished to visit the ancient bed
of the Yellow River, they apphed for chairs, which
one of their guardians promised to get them, but he
must first mention it to his superiors. Soon chairs
appeared, and when about to start one of the official
friends asked the missionaries to wait a httle until
another message was sent to the Ho-tai. All at once
the chairs disappeared, never to return. The mis-
sionaries' patience having been tried for six hours,
they determined to take a decisive step. Making a
final application, they were told that it was getting
late, and they had better wait until the morning.
Indignant at this duphcity, the missionaries said they
would not wait but walk, and springing ashore made
their way with ease through the crowd. This
manoeuvre, being altogether unexpected, took the
officials by surprise. They were followed by two
white-buttons and a couple of strong fellows, who
did good service in keeping back the crowd.

Mr. John writes, " We soon reached the deserted
bed of the Yellow River, and found it as the Chinese
say, ' as dry as dust ! ' We not only crossed it dry-
shod, but converted it into a temporary pulpit.

36 GRIFFITH JOHN

Where but a few years ago the Hwang rolled majestic-
ally, dreaded by the inhabitants of the plain, now
cottages are built, gardens planted, sheep are browsing,
and carriages are passing to and fro. Here and
there are pools of water, but no stream. At this place
the bed is nearly as high as the banks, and the surface
deposit is of the finest sand.

" It must be left to the geologist to account pre-
cisely for this mighty change. To an ordinary
observer it looks as if the old Hwang had choked up
its channel with the sand and mud it used to carry
down, and that though it now finds its way by Tsan-
chew into the Gulf of Pechele, it will ere long close
the new channel in a similar way, and be forced back
to the old one, or compelled to seek for a third."

This prediction has not yet been fulfilled ; but in
the autumn of 1887 old Hwang did break through his
banks much higher up, and gave an earnest of what
he may yet do in that way, by inundating a large tract
of country and destroying much fife and property.

When the missionaries returned to their boat they
learned from the teacher that the straightforwardness,
fearlessness, and original powers of the foreigners had
been the topics of conversation among the officials
during their absence. They were anxious to proceed
further, but had no passports, and the officials and
mandarins kept up a complete system of espionage,
and forbade anyone to speak or give information, so
they determined to return, which they did without
molestation. It was observed that here the means of
communication were horses, mules, asses, wheel-
barrows, and carriages drawn by mules. They saw
only one camel.

CHAPTER III

THE TAIPING REBELLION

The Free One makes you free ; He breaks the rod ;

He bids you lift your heads to sky and sun,
As freemen of the everlasting God,

Kneeling to Him alone.

H. BONAR

IT is an important fact and worth noting that in
the remarkable longevity of the Chinese State
its life has not only been broken but also preserved
by innumerable rebelhons and changes of dynasty.
Revolution is to the Chinaman something more than
it is even to the Parisian, being his only constitutional
means of getting rid of bad governments, and is
associated in his mind with patriotic deeds of heroism,
of noble self-sacrifices, and with some of the brightest
periods of the national history.

It has usually happened that the numerous dynasties
have been established by men of noble virtue and
great force of character. Succeeding generations
have deteriorated until some Emperor has been
reached who combined debauchery with cruelty, and
only worked for evil in his ruling of the State. Then
came ruin, and with it some patriot rose to say like
Tang, who destroyed the famous Hea dynasty, " I
dread the Supreme Ruler, so I dare not refuse to
destroy the wicked sovereign."

37

38 GRIFFITH JOHN

The Manchu dynasty of Ta-tsing, although labour-
ing under the disadvantage of being Tartars, had
reigned for 200 years with moderation, when between
the years 1830 and 1840 an unusual number of re-
bellions, inundations, and famines caused great dis-
content among the people. To this must be added
the growing power of foreigners, and troubles arising
therefrom.

Thus the country was very unsettled when Hung-
sew-tsuen, the Taiping chief, arose. He Wcis a poor
lad, of the despised Hakka race, who were always,
in feeling at least, in opposition to the Government.
He was possessed of an able mind, and essentially
Chinese in his ways of thinking. From some cause
unknown he failed in his several attempts to take his
degree at Canton. Being of a very ambitious turn
of mind, he had to resort to unofficial ways of obtain-
ing notoriety, so in 1837 he had trances, proclaimed
himself a heavenly prince, and fixed upon his door-
post a proclamation of " The noble principles of the
Heavenly King, the Sovereign King Tsuen." It
should be noted that this proclamation was made
before he became acquainted with Christianity, and
afterwards he never abated one jot of his claim to
supreme rule on earth. He began to study Christian
tracts, and put himself under the instruction of Mr.
Roberts, an American missionary in Canton. His
actions lead us to conclude that he was not really an
impartial searcher after truth, but rather a seeker of
newer and more potent principles than those taught
by the classic books of China, which should give
increased force and shape to his claim to a divine
mission. His writings do not show that he appreciated

THE TAIPING REBELLION 39

the real spirit of Christianity, but the skill with which
he turned some of its doctrines to his own use was
really wonderful. These results were beyond the
power of a merely cunning impostor, and go far to
prove that he was sincere, and that his great talent
was aided by a profound belief in himself.

This was the man who was to sweep over this great
land, causing devastation in sixteen provinces and
six hundred cities.

In 1851 Himg-sew-tsuen commenced his march
through China, establishing himself two years after in
Nanking, the ancient capital of the Empire, which city
he held until his suicide in June 1864. Here he
entirely secluded himself within the walls of a large
palace, allowing no male attendant to enter beyond
the outer court. Within, the Heavenly Prince was
waited upon by his numerous wives and concubines.
Sometimes he held levees, when his great men were
allowed to approach the throne, but only his brothers
and Hung- Jen — the Kan Wang (Shield King), his
cousin and prime minister — were freely admitted to
his presence.

This man was in some respects the most remark-
able among the Wangs. He had been trained by
Dr. Legge, and employed as an assistant in the work
of the London Missionary Society at Hong Kong.
This he afterwards stated was the happiest period
of his life. Having acquired much knowledge of the
EngMsh language and of European ways, he tried for
two years to reach Nanking. After many vicissitudes
and narrow escapes, he joined his cousin, the Heavenly
King, in 1859, and was soon afterwards appointed
" Kan Wang," the Shield King.

40 GRIFFITH JOHN

Hung-sew-tsuen believed, and his followers pro-
fessed the same, that he was distinguished from other
men by being a younger son of God and the brother
of Jesus Christ, with whom he was co-equal, and that
he was commissioned to give a new revelation to
mankind.

The missionaries resident in Shanghai were naturally
desirous of ascertaining by personal observation the
exact state of affairs among the Taipings, and also
their religious views and mode of hfe. A party of
five, including Griffith John, visited Soochow, not
however without passing through some novel experi-
ences, the events of twelve months seeming to be
condensed into a week. The second night they were
in danger of being set upon by enraged and suspicious
villagers. They learned the next day that at one
time the gongs were about to be beaten to summon
all the people to action. After the missionaries had
explained matters the crowd dispersed. The third
night, the boats were anchored between the fire of the
villagers and insurgents. The fourth night, the most
tr3dng of all, they spent among dead bodies that were
floating in the canal. Many of these people had been
killed by the insurgents, but the larger number were
cases of suicide.

Upon arriving at Soochow the missionaries were
received in a very friendly way by Li-sen-cheng, who
was entitled the Chung Wang (Faithful King). This
man joined the rebellion, under compulsion, as a
private soldier, and had risen to be a great fighting
chief. Upon the nomination of his cousin, Hung-
Jen-Kan, as the Kan Wang (Shield King), the Tien
Wang (Heavenly Monarch) found it necessary to

THE TAIPING REBELLION 41

make his two most able generals Wemgs also. So
Li-sen-cheng was called Chung Wang, and Chin-Y-
ching was made Ying Wang (Heroic King). The
latter was also called Sz'-yan Kow, the Four-eyed
Dog.

In addition to his remarkable military successes,
the Chung Wang had the character of a good _ man,
opposing the excesses of his troops and protecting
the suffering people.

The visitors had to wait for an hour and a half, as
the Ying Wang was pajdng a visit to his brother
chief. They were then conducted, amid music, the
firing of petards, and beating of gongs, to the entrance
hall, where a long train of 100 officers and servants,
clothed in robes and caps of red and yellow silk, stood
facing each other in two rows. Upon stating their
objection to kneeling before the great man, they were
allowed to bow, and stand for a minute in front of
him. They were then conducted to the right of the
Wang, and stood there during the audience.

The missionaries told the king the object of their
visit, and he mentioned several leading Christian
doctrines, and was satisfied to find that Western
nations believed in them. He asked if they had
other subjects to bring forward, and they said that
some of their countrymen were engaged in trade. It
would be satisfactory if the silk trade in the provinces
occupied by his troops was not obstructed. He
replied that the celestial king desired this, and would
levy customs accordingly. He willingly accepted a
present of Bibles and books, and invited the party
to remain for a few days. They then retired,
after the same salute as when entering, and were

42 GRIFFITH JOHN

conducted on horses to the house of Lien, a high
officer, who hospitably entertained them for the rest
of the evening, when upon their request they were
taken to the boats.

They observed that the Taipings had destroyed the
idols everjnvhere ; and on the walls of the temple at
Pa-ch-ih was a proclamation exhorting the people to
desert bad superstition and worship the Heavenly
Father ; also to bring tribute to the ruler of the new
dynasty. If they acted thus they would be well
treated, otherwise they must expect punishment.

The leaders of the rebels were acquainted with
many Christian truths, and always addressed the
missionaries as "our foreign brethren," sa37ing, " We
worship the same Heavenly Father, and beheve in the
same Elder Brother (Jesus Christ), why should we
be at variance ? " The soldiers, however, were not a
promising class of men.

The Taipings at this time were buoyant with hope,
and said that, judging from the aspect of affairs, two
years would be ample time for them to accomplish
their task of overthrowing the Imperial Government.

Soon after the return of the missionaries to Shang-
hai, two letters were received by Mr. Edkins and
Mr. John. One from the Chung Wang, and the other
from Hung Jen, the Kan Wang, inviting them to
Soochow to see the Kan Wang. They felt very
anxious about this man, and were constrained to go
to encourage him in his praiseworthy endeavours to
spread the truth among the rebels, and to suggest
plans for his consideration.

They were surprised to find that the farthest
Imperial military station was only ten miles from

THE TAIPING REBELLION 43

Shanghai, and that beyond that country they did not
meet another person all the way to Soochow. They
passed a floating bridge made by Imperialists and
left with the insurgents. A proclamation had been
put up exhorting the people to attend quietly to their
trades, and bring in presents as obedient subjects.

One of the coimtry people said, " It matters little
who is Emperor, whether Hien-fung (who then reigned)
or Himg-sew-tsuen, provided we are left in our usual
peace and quiet." This was the universal sentiment.

The country was devastated and deserted. Where
once flourishing cities had been, and business marts,
only ruins remained. The most of the places were
burnt by the ImperiaUsts. While the insurgents had
committed some excesses, the people declared that
they were done by the recruits, and that the old
rebels, who had been better taught, had been humane
in their treatment.

The missionaries reached Soochow in August i860,
and had an interview with the Kan Wang on the same
day. He made many inquiries about his old friends
in the Mission at Shanghai, and was pleased to hear
of the converts made in various places, as well as the
revival in the West. " The Kingdom of Christ," said
he, " must spread, and overcome every opposition ;
whatever may become of the celestial dynasty, there
can be no doubt concerning this matter." He then
dofied his state robes, dismissed his attendants, and
had a confidential conversation. The missionaries
accepted his invitation to dinner, and before partaking,
at the Kan Wang's proposal, they sang a hymn and
prayed. He selected one of Dr. Medhurst's hymns,
and started the tune himself with correctness and

44 GRIFFITH JOHN

wannth. The conversation was exclusively upon
religious topics, as he did not seem to wish to talk
about anything else.

He said his object in going to Nanking was to
preach the Gospel ; but upon asking permission of
his cousin the Taiping Wang, he would not hear of it,
and insisted upon promoting Hung Jen. Although
devoted to the rebel cause, he repeatedly said that
he was happier when an assistant missionary at
Hong Kong than as the Shield King of the
Taipings.

The following day the missionaries visited Hung
Jen, and found him much agitated. His letters to the
representatives of foreign powers had been returned,
and he was informed by a foreign merchant, the
bearer of the letters, that Shanghai was occupied by
British and French troops. The first act he regarded
as an insult, the second as a breach of neutrality.
The missionaries said they could not do more than feel
sympathy for him, and they had a long conversation
with him, after which they sung, and the Kan Wang
prayed fervently that pure Christianity might soon
become the religion of China. After this never-to-
be-forgotten spectacle, the missionaries received some
presents and returned home.

They were much gratified with their visit, and
pleased to find the Kan Wang a devout worshipper of
God, and a constant reader of the Scriptures and other
Christian books.

At this time the city of Sung Kiang was re-taken
by the rebels, and the flourishing church founded and
cared for by Grifiith John scattered again.

Even in Shanghai little direct mission work could

A CHINESE GENTLEMAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL

J*i l-^lM.>x^ -4

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A HEATHEN PAGODA— ONE OF CHINA'S LANDMARKS

THE HANKOW MISSION 6i

" Certainly not ; they have the name, but not the
reaUty."

" What of ' Yii-'hwang,' the god that is so univer-
sally and highly honoured by the nation ? "

" He also is a made god, and not a true God."

" Who is Jesus Christ ? "

" The Son of God."

" Is He God ? "

" Yes."

" Why did He come into the world ? "

" He came to save men."

" How does He save men ? "

" He died to redeem them."

" Where are you from ? "

" From Hwang-Chew " (a city near Hankow).

" Where did you hear these things ? "

" Here."

" How often have you heard the Gospel preached ? "

" I heard it two or three times last year, and took
some of your books with me home. I have come
here to-day to hear you again and to beg for more
books."

This is only a specimen of many of the hearers,
and exhibits the advantages of the Protestant method
of teaching over the Roman Catholic form, which
has been carried on in China for more than five
hundred years. The foreign priest does not preach
or come in contact with any save inquirers, brought
to him by his native agents. Even the native agents
do not preach pubhcly, but go about quietly among
their immediate acquaintances. Only occasionally
do they give books to their converts.

The Protestant method is that of publishing loudly
5

62 GRIFFITH JOHN

to all who wish to listen, and of scattering books and
tracts as widely as possible. Its advantage is palpable,
as the CathoUc priest may remain years in a place
without his presence being known to many beyond
his converts, whereas the Protestant missionary is
known to thousands on his arrival as the teacher of
a new doctrine. Hundreds hear daily, and soon know
the principal facts. These become topics of conversa-
tion and discussion in the family, the tea-shop, and
other pubhc places. To talk, to question, and to
doubt are all essential steps to a change of mind.
Another advantage of Protestant teaching is that
a missionary who is stationary in a city may even
influence distant cities and provinces, by means of the
traders and visitors whom he addresses. An old
man came to hear Mr. John, who asked whether he
had heard the Gospel before. He rephed that he had
heard it many years ago from Dr. Medhurst and Mr.
Muirhead at Shanghai. The old man seemed quite
convinced of the folly of idolatry.

At this time many who had heard about the Gospel
were wishful to enter the Church from worldly motives.
Among others a smart country boy came with a
letter. It stated that the boy wished to be instructed
in the Christian religion with the view of entering the
Church. He was advised to attend the daily preaching.
Several days after he presented another note, and the
native assistant learned from conversation that some
©f the coimtry people had got the impression that aU
who became Christians got a small quantity of rice
given to them daily, and this boy was sent to make the
experiment, others being ready to foUow should he
prove successful. No sooner was he undeceived than

THE HANKOW MISSION 63

he disappeared. They were often discouraged, after
an earnest exposition of the Gospel, by a Chinaman
stohdly asking : " What advantage is there con-
nected with believing in Jesus ? Will it bring us any
rice ? How many cash does a man receive on entering
the Church ? " Such is a Chinaman !

At this time Griffith John wrote : " Very few con-
versions, genuine turnings to God, do we witness in
China. It is a hard field. Notwithstanding the
labour bestowed, it has yielded but little fruit. Some-
times I feel very much discouraged, and am ready to
faint. Satan sometimes talks to me the most hellish
logic ; but thanks be to God, who giveth us the
victory, I have been able to persevere hitherto, and
shall by His help persevere unto the end. Pray for
me."

On Sunday, the i6th of March 1862, exactly one
month after the above was penned, the first convert
in connection with the Protestant Mission at Hankow
was baptized, and on the 8th of June six others — four
men and two women — followed. The greatest depth
of rehgious feeling shown was by one who had been a
devotee of the sect of Kwan-yin. This man seemed
as though he had felt a spiritual want ; but in spite of
the comparatively high aims of his sect its discipline
had failed in his moral renovation, and he had not
been able to meet with anjrthing to satisfy his craving
untU the light of the Gospel shone into his mind.

At the close of twelve months' labour the infant
Church at Hankow numbered twelve members. After
admission they were carefuUy disciplined and trained
to self-government. A small collection of hymns was
prepared by Mr. John, in such a style as to be

64 GRIFFITH JOHN

intelligent to all, without violently offending the taste
of those refined in letters. He also prepared a tract
with a view to answering the questions usually put
by his hearers.

In August 1863, Griffith John had to mourn the
death by dysentery of his colleague, Mr. Wilson, after
a few days' illness. He was a very persevering man,
humble-minded, and sure in judgment. Mr. John
felt the loss keenly, as, in addition to his high character,
Mr. Wilson would have been an able Chinese scholar
and a very efficient missionary. His four years'
missionary course was just long enough to allow his
fellow-workers to learn his value and anticipate a
successful career. They saw instead a bright and
happy close to his earthly life.

Mr. John asked his dying colleague for his parting
blessing.

He answered : " My blessing is of poor value ;
however, may God bless you — in your own soul, in
your health, and in your family — ^in each member of
it. And may He bless you in your work ; in the
Native Church ; and oh ! may you have many, many
souls, as the crown of your rejoicing in that day."

The recipient of that blessing has had its possession
confirmed to him by many signs from the Holy
Spirit.

Soon after his arrival at Hankow, Griffith John's
attention was directed to the neighbouring city of
Wuchang, as a most desirable place for mission work.
It is the provincial capital of Hu-peh, and the seat of
the Viceroy of the two provinces of Hu-peh and
Hu-nan. Lying on the right bank of the Yang-tse,
opposite the departmental city of Han-yang and near

THE HANKOW MISSION 65

to Hankow, its walls are about ten miles in circum-
ference, and its population is about four hundred
thousand. In addition to occupying a beautiful
position, it is politically one of the most important
cities in the Empire.

He saw that here lay the key to the two provinces ;
and that if Wuchang could be opened to the Pro-
testant missionary, the provinces also would be
accessible.

Never did a strategist lay bolder plans or more
steadfastly pursue them ; never was human character
and institutions studied to better purpose, or words
and actions used by diplomatist with more subtle
intelligence. One of the native evangehsts at Hankow
was sent over to rent a house, but found that the
people, though willing to let their houses, were afraid
to do so without the permission of the mandarins.

As the authorities had to be consulted, Griffith John
resolved to save much time and labour by going at
once to the fountain-head, and pay a visit to the
Viceroy. He paved the way by a present of religious
and scientific books.

Kwan, the Viceroy, was acquainted with his position,
and also had the character of being generous in spirit
and friendly disposed towards foreigners. After
waiting two hours in the ante-room, he was admitted
to the Mandarin, who came to meet him, and insisted
upon his taking the seat of honour, whilst he himself
sat below.

In thanking him for the books, the Viceroy put
some questions in reference to the authorship and
meaning of the New Testament. He also asked the
missionary's opinion on the three religions of China,

66 GRIFFITH JOHN

and begged to be informed in what Christianity differs
from them.

Griffith John gladly availed himself of this oppor-
tunity. Of course the Mandarin was far too polite
to contradict or even to appear to dissent ; that would
have been a fearful breach of etiquette. Though
probably he did not believe a word of the missionary's
statement, he seemed to devour all greedily. To the
proposal that Mr. John should enter Wuchang, he
had one or two slight objections on the score of the
happiness and safety of the missionary. The people
were ignorant and stupid ; and while he would be
happy to have missionaries there, and be on friendly
terms with them, he could not bear the thought
of their exposing themselves to insults and
danger.

Griffith John replied that " the missionary was
prepared to endure much if necessary ; but that in a
city in which the Viceroy resided, and over which he
exercised supreme control, such a necessity ought
never to arise."

"Well," rejoined his Excellency, "if these ob-
jections are not important in your judgment, you
have my permission. Both nations are now one, and
there is nothing impracticable."

"Good, very good," replied Mr. John; "your
sentiments are true and noble ; and now that both
nations are one, and nothing impracticable, perhaps
you would have no objection to issue a proclamation
to tell the people that they may let their houses, or,
if you prefer it, to give me a private letter which I
might show those whom it might concern."

In the blandest manner the Viceroy said that it was

THE HANKOW MISSION 67

not necessary to do either the one or the other, as he
would inform the district magistrate of the fact, and
request him to do aU that might be necessary to
ensure success.

A quiet repast of soup and cakes followed the
conversation, and GrifSth John departed.

He knew the verbal promise would be of little
immediate use ; but he was glad to have it, as it would
make it difficult for the local authorities to expel him,
if he ever were able to get into the city.

Thinking it worth while to test his Excellency's
promise, a native evangehst was sent over the river
to make another trial. He soon found that the
mandarins had got the start of him. In every case
one of the first questions put to him was, " Yes, we
have a house to let ; but pray, for whom do you want
it ? Is it for a foreigner ? " It was of no use to tell
them that the foreign pastor had seen the Viceroy,
and obtained his permission. " They did not beheve
in mere ' mouth promise.' It might do for the
foreigner. Let the pastor get a proclamation posted
on the walls, and they would be satisfied."

Doubtless the first thing Kwan did, after the inter-
view, was to issue private instructions to the citizens
that land must neither be let nor sold to a foreigner in
the city of Wuchang.

Griffith John then called on the district magistrate,
who was engaged with the miUtary examination, s©
he addressed a letter to him, sa5dng that he had seen
the Viceroy, who had given him permission to reside
in the city, and had also promised to inform the
magistrate and ask for the necessary aid. Mr. John
would be greatly obliged by the magistrate inform-

68 GRIFFITH JOHN

ing the people, as they were afraid to let or sell land
without his permission.

A beautiful, pohte, yet absurd note, such as only a
Chinese official could write, came in reply, acknow-
ledging Mr. John's rights to reside in the city, and
anything within his power he would willingly do.
His Excellency having said " Yes," it was not for him
to say " No " ; but from time immemorial magis-
trates have never interfered with the private property
of the people, and therefore he could do nothing in
the matter. He would advise Mr. John to go among
the people and try to buy or rent, and, if successful,
his friendship and help might be calculated upon in
time of need.

This reply, although possessing a value for future
use, was worse than worthless at that time.

Griffith John allowed some weeks to pass by,
although fuUy determined to persevere. About
December 1863, he felt it was time to renew the
attempt. The effort to buy or rent in his own name
had failed. Moreover, it seemed doubtful whether a
foreigner could rightfully own property except at
the Treaty ports. It struck him that the best thing
was to instruct the principal evangelist to buy, in his
name, for the Native Church, feeling certain that if the
religious toleration clause meant anything he had a
right as a Christian to do so. The plan was laid before
the evangelist as soon as matured, and he took it up
immediately. One of the Church deacons, a natjve
of Wuchang, promised his help. They were charged
to adhere strictly to the truth, and by no means deny,
if asked, that it was intended to build a chapel upon
the land.

THE HANKOW MISSION 69

In a few days the land was bought. No time was
lost in getting the deeds registered at the Mandarin's
office, and in obtaining the official signature.

With these documents in his possession, Griffith
John could afford to smile at the storm which man-
darin rage might create, and he made the following
entry in his Journal on the day upon which the land
was bought :

" January 20, 1864. — A piece of ground has been
bought to-day in Wuchang for the Native Church.
The site is in one of the principal streets, and the
ground is about 60 feet wide by 160 long. On this
I hope to be able to put up suitable buildings after
the festivities of the Chinese New Year are over. I
anticipate difficulties yet ; but, with God's blessing,
the attempt will be successful."

The former owner promised to have the land cleared,
and to hand it over by the end of March. Before
that, however, the mandarins found out what was
going on. The landholder was summoned before the
departmental magistrate, and charged with the crime
of having sold his land to a foreigner. He denied
the charge, and said what was strictly true, that he
did not know that a foreigner had anything to do
with it.

" Well," said the Mandarin, " if you do not know
to whom you were selUng the groimd, I know for
what purpose it was bought. You go at once and
see Shen-tsi-sin — Griffith John's assistant — and tell
him that if he intends the ground for his own private
use he may keep it, but that if he intends it for religious
purposes he had better have nothing more to do
with it, as he values his life." This message was

70 GRIFFITH JOHN

delivered on the ist of April, and on the following
day Griffith John wrote a letter to the magistrate,
to the following effect :

" I am an Englishman, and a missionary of the
religion of Jesus. According to the treaty of Tient-
sin, all who preach and teach Christianity are entitled
to the protection and kind consideration of the magis-
trates. Natives also, who profess or teach Christi-
anity, are entitled to the same privileges. More-
over, a British subject is entitled to aU the rights,
privileges, and favours which may be conferred on the
subjects of any other government. Now, if the
natives of this place have a right to profess and propa-
gate the Christian religion, they have surely the right
to procure the necessary buildings for that purpose ;
and if British subjects have a right to all the privileges
enjoyed by the subjects of other governments, then
I, as a missionary of the religion of Jesus, have the
right to be in Wuchang, where priests of the Roman
Catholic rehgion are. Besides all this, on my arrival
here I called on the Viceroy to inform him of my
office and the nature of my work, and to ask his per-
mission to carry on my work in Wuchang.

" His Excellency received me very poUtely, and,
in the presence of several officials, he openly told me
that he gave me his permission, adding the remark
that, the two nations being one, there was nothing
impracticable. You cannot suppose that so great a
man as his Excellency would act without thought,
talk empty sounds, or was capable of eating his words.
Again, in reply to my letter, the district magistrate
acknowledges the fact that the Viceroy had given his
permission, and requests me to go among the people

THE HANKOW MISSION 71

myself to buy or rent ; and he assures me that I may
calculate on his willingness to render me every help
within the hmits of his power. This letter is now
in my possession, and may be produced whenever
needed.

" Thus having the right by treaty to carry on my
work in Wuchang, and having the permission of the
highest authority in these two provinces to do so,
and having been advised by the district magistrate
to try and rent or purchase without his aid, I re-
quested our principal native assistant to go and buy
a piece of land. The land was soon bought and paid
for, and the title-deeds were officially registered and
sealed. I enclose a copy of the old deed, so that you
may see that the transaction was in every respect
regular and vahd. Having thus done everything in
strict conformity with the great principles of justice
and mutual regard, I was surprised to learn yester-
day that the former owner of the ground would not
hand it over, because the magistrates declare that
the missionary has no right to reside and carry on
his work in the city of Wuchang. Can this be true ?
Has not the landlord mistaken his Excellency's
meaning ? Have the goodness to inquire into the
matter, and please command the parties concerned
to hand over the ground without delay."

To this letter was received a very polite note,
promising to comply with the request and inform him
of the result in a few days.

It, however, produced quite a sensation among the
mandarins, who were all summoned to the Viceroy's
residence. The great question under discussion was,
" What can be done to keep the barbarian out ? "

72 GRIFFITH JOHN

The reasoning ran along the following lines : "It
won't do to tell him he has no right to be here ; for,
as he says, the Roman Cathohc priests are here. It
is of no use objecting on the ground that he did not
speak to us first, because he did speak to his Ex-
cellency ; and though the promise meant nothing,
still it would never do for us to say so. And then
there is the letter of the district magistrate which is
now in his possession. Moreover, there are the deeds
duly and officially registered and sealed. What can
be done ? "

The acting Tau-tai of Hankow advised that they
should not interfere in the matter, but allow him
to take possession of the ground, as resistance would
avail them nought in a case Uke this. His counsel
was rejected. Another then suggested that he had
better be told that this piece of groimd was pubhc
property ; that it did not belong to the person who
had clandestinely sold it ; that the deeds, therefore,
must be returned to them and the money paid back
to Mr. John, who must look out for another piece.
They were all greatly charmed with this bright idea,
and doubtless thought that Wuchang might yet be
saved from what appeared to them to be a great
calan:iity. Little did they suspect that this apparently
happy thought would lead to their more complete
and pubhc defeat. Certainly in this case a lie wrought
against its framers. Better far would it have been
for them to take time and study the character of
the astute missionary with something Hke the close-
ness and intelligence which he had displayed in
interpreting theirs.

Within three days the letter promised by the

THE HANKOW MISSION 73

magistrate was received by Mr. John. It conveyed
in substance the statement just mentioned as agreed
upon by the mandarins.

Griffith John repUed that the land must have been
the private property of the man who sold it, the old
deeds proving this beyond the possibility of a doubt.
He assured them they would never get back the
deeds on such a plea, and therefore begged them to
get the land transferred without delay.

After this the matter became a subject of public
interest, and was taken up by the literati, gentry,
and people generally, who petitioned the magistrates
not to allow the missionary to build in their famous
city. Frequent deputations of two or three hundred
of them would go in a body, besiege the Mandarin's
office, and entreat his honour not to permit the
barbarian to enter the city with his pernicious doc-
trine, to poison the minds of the people and subvert
their customs. Placards were posted on the city
walls reprobating Griffith John's attempt to build
in the city of Wuchang, calling upon the people to
resist it with all their might, threatening any natives
who might assist with vengeance, and swearing that
they would puU the buildings down as soon as they
were up. These proceedings were probably instigated
by the mandarins.

During this wild ferment he paid the magistrate
two or three visits, and several letters passed between
them. Seeing it was hopeless to get the missionary
entirely to withdraw his claims, the magistrate
shifted his ground, and endeavoured to obtain a
compromise. In the one proposed it was thought
that Chinese cimning and finesse would reap the

74 GRIFFITH JOHN

larger advantage. The magistrate offered to get
another piece of land if he would only give up ;^this
one.

Seeing that the mandarins were wishful to come to
a speedy settlement, and were only anxious to do so
without appearing ridiculous by letting him have the
piece which they had declared to be public property,
and therefore unlawfully sold, Grifl&th John expressed
his willingness to exchange the original piece for
another equally convenient, good, and cheap.

Now the mandarins thought they really had the
missionary in their power, and tried to banish him
to the top of one of the hiUs, and, failing that, to
bury him in the depths of one of the back lanes.
After trying this on for a while they found it vain,
and then offered such a piece as Griffith John felt he
could accept. Here was a triumph for the mission-
ary, yet it was only the first instalment of his
success.

The magistrate had to show the ground and super-
intend the measuring thereof. To him it must
have been a humiliating task ; but having been
commanded to do so by his superiors, there was no
alternative.

When that was done he said, " Well, what do you
think of this piece of groimd ? " to which Griffith
John replied, " I can make it do for the time being,
though I don't like it so well as the other piece. If,
however, you will let me have it at my own price, I
wiU take it."

The magistrate rejoined . " We are tired of this
affair, and wish to have it settled without delay.
Money is not of much consideration. If you say that

THE HANKOW MISSION 75

you will take this piece and return the deeds of the
original one, we shall be quite satisfied, and eternal
peace will be established between us. What do you
offer ? " Grif&th John mentioned his price, but said
he would much prefer the other piece at the larger
sum which he had paid.

After two or three days' writing about the price,
the land was sold for very little more than he had
offered. This time the deeds were drawn out by
the departmental and district magistrates, and were
sent to Mr. John on the i6th of July 1864, who
immediately transferred them to the London Mission-
ary Society, and as such registered them at the British
Consulate, Hankow. The crowning triumph was the
issuing of a proclamation by the magistrates, as soon
as the matter was settled, to inform the people that
the land had been bought by Mr. John, and that he
had a right according to treaty to build and carry
on his mission work there.

Thus was the wrath and the cunning of man made
to praise and serve the purposes of God. The object
of His servant was to enter and work in Wuchang.
This was fully attained. That the main question was
one of right of entry, and not simply the possession
of land, is proved by the report of the mandarins'
discussion as supplied by one of them who was present.
The fierce and long contest gave the mission such
advertisement as nothing else could possibly have
done ; while the he manufactured to help their cause
only proved a source of weakness, and made it need-
ful for them to issue that most valuable proclama-
tion authorising the erection of a place of worship
" for the religion of Jesus." As Wuchang is the pro-

76 GRIFFITH JOHN

vincial seat of government, this virtually announced
to all the humihation of the mandarins, drew the atten-
tion of officials and people in all the neighbouring
cities to the missionary's success, and proclaimed the
opening of both provinces for systematic mission
work.

Such was the end of nearly four months' conflict
with mandarins — men almost incapable of speaking
the truth or acting honestly. The native deacon and
the evangehst had many an anxious hour, often seek-
ing Griffith John at midnight for consolation.

When frightened by adverse reports from Wuchang
it taxed him much to keep their spirits up. After-
wards the mandarins, literati, and gentry were as
quiet and urbane as possible. It ought also to be
mentioned that the British Consul helped Mr. John
to the utmost extent of his power, and also earned
his grateful acknowledgments for his sympathy at this
trying time.

The buildings which he erected consisted of a com-
modious chapel, two rooms for the foreign missionary,
a house for the native evangelist, and two large
schoolrooms ; while half of the ground was left for
a hospital or dispensary.

The land and buildings cost about £500, which
sum was almost entirely subscribed by the " Hankow
Community " of Europeans. Griffith John had only-
to mention his wish and the money was readily con-
tributed.

The native evangelist, Pau-seang-sang, was put in
charge. He was a highly respectable merchant, and
being in comfortable circumstances, had retired from
business and devoted his time and energy to the

THE HANKOW MISSION ']^

work of the mission, to which he rendered noble
service.

Dr. Mullens made a visit of inspection to the several
Chinese Missions before his departure from the East
to assume the position of joint secretary to the London
Missionary Society.

Ascending the Yang-tse in the steamer Po-yang, he
was painfully impressed by the state of things pro-
duced by the Taipings, and writes : " The country
on the south of the river for many miles inland was
fearfully desolated by the rebels, towns and cities
burned by the dozen, and the people killed by miUions
through slaughter, pestilence, and starvation. On the
morning after our arrival we went over to Wuchang,
and as I stood on the top of the hiU in the centre of
that city and beheld the three walled cities and the
river beneath me, I could not help feeling that neither
in India nor in China had I ever before looked on
such a noble sphere for missionary labour. Wuchang
is the governing city, and has a large population, in-
cluding many families of most respectable standing
and influence. Hankow is the great mart for trade,
the most busy, crowded, active, wealthy place I have
seen. Its chief streets and bazaars are full of hand-
some shops, with abundance of valuable goods, and
its smaller streets are close packed, and also full of
people.

" The mission is at the north end of the native
town, in an excellent and healthy position. The two
mission houses, consisting of one block, are well built.
They are upper-roomed, and have good verandaJis on
the south side, and the lower storey is raised three
feet from the ground in order to keep it dry. The
6

78 GRIFFITH JOHN

garden is not large, and a boys' school is just finished
along the south wall.

" The Mission Chapel is in the centre of the city,
just ofi one of the main streets ; it is an excellent
building, the very thing for a bazaar chapel, and has
a catechist's house and boys' schoolrooms behind it.
I had the pleasure of hearing both Mr. Muirhead and
Mr. John preach to a crowded congregation, which
gathered in five minutes when the former moimted
the desk and began to speak. In Wuchang again,
not far from the north gate, is another chapel, also
well built, with rooms for a missionary's visit, a
catechist's house, and schools. It was with great
pleasure that I examined all the work which Mr.
John has accomplished for the Society in Hankow ;
his buildings in their plan, style, and workmanship,
and the locaUties in which they are placed, are most
excellent.

" You must have formed, I doubt not, a high idea
of the value of such a position for missionary labour,
as I also had done ; but in all soberness I can assure
you that the reahty surpassed my expectations ;
while in our brother, Griffith John, I have been glad
to find a man in thorough accord with the highest
aims of the Society, caring for its interests in every
way, and executing the work entrusted to him, as
founder of the Hankow Mission, with singular judgment
and discretion."

Such was the verdict of this most competent critic
as to the material aspect of the mission, and also the
opportunities afforded for influencing the people.

At this time the Church in Hankow numbered
forty-two members, with several candidates ; forty-

THE HANKOW MISSION 79

six had been baptized, but two were excommuni-
cated, and two had died in faith ; there was also a
flourishing out-station estabUshed at Tsai-tien, and
cared for by Lo Hiang-Yung, where there were eight
members.

CHAPTER V

THE WORK DEVELOPS

What the leaves are to the forest.

With light and air for food,
Ere their sweet and tender juices

Have been hardened into wood,
That to the world are children ;

Through them it feels the glow
Of a brighter and sunnier climate

Than reaches the trunks below.

Longfellow

THE greatest trial in missionary life is the in-
evitable separation of parents and children.
The surroundings of heathen hfe are very pernicious
and unfavourable to their moral growth, in spite of
the utmost care that can be exercised by the parents.
It is also necessary that children should be sent
home to be educated. So in i860 Mr. and Mrs.
John sent their elder boy Griffith (Mei-foh) to Eng-
land in charge of some friends. Although very young
thus to be separated from his parents, the climate
had produced such bad effects upon him during each
summer that it was found necessary to do so. At
the same time, David, their younger son, was very
ill, and Mrs. John was ailing. After three months of
anxiety, however, the little one ralUed, and during
the winter regained much of his strength.

So

THE WORK DEVELOPS 8i

In 1861 a third son was bom, who was named
Arthur Gwilym. His Chinese name, however, was
Tien-fuh, i.e. " Celestial Happiness."

In 1863 David was seriously ill with dysentery,
and for days his parents expected to be called upon
to yield him to the Lord. It was, however, a trial
fraught with blessing, and his recovery, after medical
aid seemed useless, was especially helpful to Mr.
John, who, just bereaved of his colleague, had to
struggle on alone in "the centre of the Empire."
Both the work among the four Chinese stations and
the European community devolved upon him. It
now became evident that the furlough to England,
which would soon become due, could not be taken
at the proper time. Even if a young man was sent
at once, some five years at least would have to elapse
before Mr. John could leave Hankow.

Mrs. John, at this time, presented her husband with
a daughter, and he joyfully writes : " Of course I
longed for a daughter, and the gift has set all the
bells ringing in my heart. Now I am satisfied, my
family is complete. I don't think a father can be
happy daughterless."

In view of Mrs. John's continued weak health, and
the danger to httle David of remaining another hot
season in Hankow, he resolved to send them home
in the spring of 1864. During the winter, they had
the great benefit of living m their new mission house.
For two years and a half prior to this they had to
live in a native house, which was not only small and
vmcomfortable, but dangerous to health. As usual,
Griffith John had thought of his work first, and the
erection of the chapel was his chief concern. That

82 GRIFFITH JOHN

building had been opened for some time. Upon the
completion of the house, he writes respecting his
building operations : "I am heartily glad it is all
over, and that we are comfortably situated. The
chapel is rather small ; 200 might find room in it.
I get a congregation of about 150 every day, and the
service is carried on for about three hours. I do trust
that God will bless the few people who have been
gathered from among the heathen into His Church at
this place. All that I long for now is to see a large
outpouring of God's Spirit on the work here. Pray
that this may be the case."

In 1864 Mrs. John visited England with her family,
and was much strengthened by a year's sojourn in
her native land. Meanwhile, her devoted husband
was pushing forward the work outside Hankow.

It was necessary to have a reliable native Christian
as assistant in his aggressive rural work, but among
the " Elegant Talents " (B.A's) in the converts,
there was not one so well adapted as Lo Hiang-Yung.
He was about forty-two years old, and had few
educational advantages. However, he was very
persevering, could read well, and write a good letter.
For many years he had been an ascetic, and, imder a
deep sense of sin, and a fear of vengeance to come,
had renounced the world and forsaken his wife and
family. The opening of the Hankow Mission was good
news indeed to Lo. So eager was he to have all
possible spiritual advantages, that he became a coolie,
the lowest grade of servant, to Mr. John. He was
most diligent in reading the Bible and speaking to
the people, and often at midnight was heard plead-
ing with God. Having reconciled his family to him-

THE WORK DEVELOPS 83

self, Lo was taken in hand and trained as an evangelist
by Griffith John. After several attempts and many
failures, he succeeded in opening a station at Tsai-tien,
a small place about twenty miles from Hankow.
Many obstacles presented themselves, but Lo's zeal,
simplicity, and truthfulness, and the timely aid of
Griffith John, overcame them, and much fruit was
gathered.

Lo, however, was not satisfied with one place, and
he swept the country round, preaching everywhere.
One day he arrived at Hankow with half a dozen gods
under his arms, and presented them, with the state-
ment that some months before he had been told that
there were a few men who felt an interest in Christi-
anity at Kwan-yin Kian, a small place ten miles
beyond Tsai-tien. He visited the place at once, and
a woman came out to him with a child in her arms,
which seemed to be d5dng. The poor woman told Lo
that she had consulted doctors and priests in vain,
and she was feeUng very sad.

Lo said, " Your idols are false, the priests only
deceive you. I worship the Supreme Ruler. If you
wish it, I will pray to the true God for you and your
child. I don't know whether it is His wiU that the
child should recover ; but I do know that, if it please
Him, it can be done and will be done in answer
to prayer." Then Lo " prayed, beUeving that God
would answer."

The next time he visited the place, the woman ran
out to meet him, exclaiming that the child was quite
weU, and that the God of the Christians is the true
God. Frequent visits were then peiid ; and Lo re-
quested that those who did not beUeve in idols had

84 GRIFFITH JOHN

better hand them over to him, which two farmlies
did. These were the trophies he returned with ;
and since that time many Chinese have been con-
verted at Kwan-yin Kian under Lo's faithful ex-
hortations. Such is teacher Lo, a man of simple
faith, but mighty in prayer and in knowledge of
Scripture.

Griffith John has, by the wise providence of his
Heavenly Father, been aided by another stalwart
Christian of greater mental calibre than Lo, and also
possessed of considerable literary attainments. This
was Shen Tsi-Sing, his principal assistant and friend.
Bom at Nanking, at fifteen he was pronounced Master
of the Literary Essay, and at twenty-three he won
the much-coveted title of Sin-tsai (Elegant Talent).
He was compelled for a time to serve the Taipings,
but being unhappy, he determined to drown himself.
While standing on the brink of the river, the thought
of his aged and widowed mother caused him to
hesitate. He returned to his quarters, and after-
wards escaped ; but his wife and family, save one
daughter, soon perished in the wandering life thus
forced upon them. At Shanghai he heard the Gospel,
first with contempt, then with doubt ; and in that
state of mind he became a teacher of the Mandarin
dialect to some missionaries. In his spare time he
studied the Scriptures, and said of himself at that
time, " My sins appeared to me as a mighty sea,
and to endeavour to expiate them by means of any
talents, virtue, or learning I might have, with a view
of obtaining heaven, seemed as futile as to attempt
to cross the dangerous main on a small plank, hoping
that it would land me on a blissful shore beyond."

THE WORK DEVELOPS 85

Such were Shen's feelings when he became Griffith
John's teacher. He soon became a Christian, and
was baptized ; and seeing he was a steady, hard-
working man, Griffith John arranged for Shen to
accompany him wherever he went, as his native
friend and assistant.

Soon after Griffith John settled at Hankow, Shen
joined him to work, and right faithfully and sturdily
he laboured for twenty-five years as a Christian
evangehst to entire satisfaction. He led an exem-
plary Christian life, and had a strong and healthful
influence on the Church at Hankow imtil his death.

The work Shen accomplished was prodigious.
Daily he spent the morning writing books, tracts, or
letters, for which Griffith John furnished the matter,
and reading or expoimding important native or
foreign books. The afternoon he spent in the chapel,
preaching, talking, or debating as the need of the
moment required. He had notices posted on the
chapel door, and also in various parts of Hankow,
informing the people that from six to nine p.m. he
would be in his room to converse with any on Christian
subjects. He also took part in the Sunday services,
and visited the out-stations to instruct inquirers and
strengthen the hands of the evangelists. He was a
good preacher, powerful in refuting the arguments of
the learned heathen. Such were the two principal
men in that noble company of native missionaries
who so long and so ably helped Griffith John in the
Hankow Mission.

While active in superintending the affairs of the
mission, and in vigorous itineration around Hankow,
Griffith John felt much the absence of his family, and

86 GRIFFITH JOHN

the need of sympathy and help from a European
colleague. The oppressive heat of the summer in
1865 accentuated his feehng of isolation, and it is
not surprising that he did not approve of the sug-
gestion of friends in England, that Mrs. John should
prolong her visit another year.

It was indeed a jojrful duty to go down to Shanghai
in November to welcome his wife and youngest child.
The lengthy change had wrought wonders in both,
and with a thankful heart he returned to his work
at Hankow.

An additional source of pleasure was the arrival, in
February 1866, of Evan Bryant, who had been ap-
pointed to the mission, and who entered heartily
into the work necessary to prepare himself for efficient
service. With Griffith John, additional help always
means more work, not ease-seeking, but increased
opportunities to do good. He had from the com-
mencement of the station cherished the wish to make
it a model centre for missionary purposes. No
large mission station is now considered complete
without some provision being made for the medical
wants of the population in which it works. In many
places professional men render help gratuitously to
the poorer classes so far as their time permits, and
where this aid is lacking, the missionaries have usually
endeavoured to obtain some medical and surgical
knowledge. A mission hospital or dispensary is,
however, an expensive although a most valuable
adjunct to a station, as it involves the erection and
maintenance of suitable premises, a doctor and
staff of assistants, and the gratuitous distribution of
medicine.

THE WORK DEVELOPS 87

Remembering that the Master had often utilised
the curing of the body as an opportunity to effect the
enlightenment of the soul, Griffith John had purposed
the erection, at some distant time,, of a place from
which medical and surgical aid might be rendered to
both converts and heathen. In this matter, however,
God's providence outstripped His servant's most
sanguiae expectations, and unexpectedly led to their
accompHshment in the following way. He had long
desired to see a chapel in the garden attached to the
missionaries' houses, in which the Gospel might be
preached daily to the natives who resided at that end
of the town, and to which the servants employed by
foreigners in the European settlement might be invited
to attend on Sundays.

About April 1866, he mentioned this to Mr. Robert
Maxwell and several other mercantile friends, with the
view of obtaining some pecxmiary help from the
community. They encouraged him in the project,
and promised to help. But when the matter was
brought before the Europeans, it was found that a
much larger sum might be obtained if a Hospital or
even a Dispensary could be added to the Preaching
Hall. This fact was communicated to Griffith John,
and he replied that the idea was in perfect harmony
with one of his most cherished projects. The accom-
plishment of both plans would indeed be a matter for
rejoicing ; but it could not be carried out just then,
as there was no doctor on the spot in connection with
the London Missionary Society. He was then told
that Dr. Reid would gladly undertake the duties in
the medical department. The next day he had an
interview with Dr. Reid, and found that he also had

88 GRIFFITH JOHN

wished for something of the kind, and had been
studying the Chinese language for several months,
partly with the intention of making himself useful
to the people in this way. A plan for working the
Hospital was subsequently arranged, and the Directors
of the London Missionary Society gladly approved and
contributed towards the scheme.

When it became known that a Hospital would also
be added, the matter was warmly taken up, and
within three days the small European community
subscribed £300 towards the buildings. Other
amounts followed. The building was erected, furni-
ture and medicines procured, and the balance of £85
in the treasurer's hands was sufficient to meet the
expenses for the first six months. The results of
this three months' additional work were highly en-
couraging, especially as the Europeans took such an
interest in the Institution as to lead him to expect
a continuance of their liberal support. He wrote
home, " I greatly rejoice that the Hankow Mis-
sion is now complete in every branch. We have
our Chapels, Schoolrooms, and Hospital, and all
situated in excellent positions. With the blessing
of God in connection with these means we may
expect a greater spiritual change in this part of
China."

Scarce was the Hospital completed when from the
Yang-tse branch of the river a flood poured forth,
which gave both the town and surrounding country
the appearance of a lake. Great destruction of goods
and property ensued. Thousands of Chinese houses
were deserted by their occupants, after they had
clung to them as long as possible. The Chinaman,

THE WORK DEVELOPS 89

however, is patient and good-humoured. His house
may be ready to tumble down, while he and his family,
and perhaps a friend or two, are sitting upon the
piled-up furniture or upon the roof, in a state of half-
nudity, laughing, punning, gambling, smoking, sipping
tea, and merry-making as if nothing strange had
happened. In Europe such a calamity would ehcit
a wail of distress, newspaper appeals, and a general
outburst of kindly sympathy and help. In Hankow
it created but a slight sensation. The population
seemed to think that it would do its work and go,
leaving them much in the condition they were before.
In two years all trace of it would be gone. Mean-
while the Chinaman has his bowl of rice and pipe of
tobacco, and with these and a tolerable appetite he
cares not for hfe or death. As to his mud and straw
huts, he will run them up faster than the flood pulled
them down. He will soon again earn one or two
hundred cash a day, and gradually pay back the small
debt which he will incur by the flood. Why should he
be disheartened or feel crushed under Heaven's
decree ? Fate is sure ; floods must come ; and with
his practical logic, unerring so far as earthly things
are concerned, he calmly and without a murmur
submits to the inevitable.

The attention of Griffith John and his wife were
diverted from the flood to their Httle daughter Mary,
who lay in a very critical state, and Mr. John gave up
hope of her recovery. However, after three months
of very gradual improvement, she was able to go
about, and then gained strength rapidly. Anxiety
and joy are seldom far apart, and on the ist of
November the capacious heart of Griffith John was

go GRIFFITH JOHN

gladdened by the arrival of another son, who gave
promise of becoming healthy and strong.

In January 1867, another colleague, Rev. Thomas
Bryson, arrived. While he was for the convenience
of the mission stationed at Wuchang, he assisted at
all the other places according to the requirements of
the work. The European community at this time
made a very useful present to Griffith John in the
shape of a convenient and comfortable mission boat.
Hitherto he had visited the other stations in hired
native boats, which were seldom waterproof.

A Dispensary was next opened at Wuchang, which
Mr. John and Dr. Reid visited every Wednesday. It
proved very successful, and often more cases required
aid than could be attended to.

The indefatigable Lo established a station at Han-
Yang, the expenses of which the native Christians at
Hankow resolved to defray. One day a mandarin
insulted him whilst preaching, and tried hard to
entrap him into a quarrel, but failed. Then he told
Lo that he was a rebel, and that he must accompany
him to the superior mandarin. Lo consented, and
went ; but soon the mandarin let him go, with the
advice not to preach again, to which he replied, " No,
I must preach," and returned to the station and
preached several days in succession, in order to show
the people that the mandarin's statement that he
was a rebel was false. Upon the third day the man-
darin returned and apologised to Lo for his rudeness.
The courage and success of the evangelist greatly
pleased both the missionaries and the native Church,
the members of which worked with great diligence.

Griffith John reported an increase of fifty-one

THE WORK DEVELOPS 91

members to the Church, and many more in prepara-
tion. In 1862 ten were baptized ; in 1863, twelve ;
in 1864, thirteen ; in 1865, eleven ; and in 1866,
twenty-two. It is interesting to note that among
the fifty-one members, thirteen of them were women,
and that eleven of that number were wives of con-
verts. The missionaries were unable to reach the
women in a direct way, and for six years Mr. John
had striven to impress on the converts the duty of
bringing their wives under the direct influence of the
Gospel. For a long time it seemed hopeless to induce
them to feel and act as Christians, and he was tempted
to despair. They would maintain that the custom
of the country was contrary to it, and that the feehngs
of their wives, which they themselves could not but
respect, were against it. To attend chapel, and join
with men in public worship, would bring not only
the wife but the whole family into contempt. They
would for the present teach their wives at home.
By and by the national sentiment would change, and
then it would be easy and safe for them to make an
open profession and attend pubHc worship.

In 1866 a movement in this direction was discerned
by Mr. John, and here in these eleven wives of con-
verts were the firstfruits of his five years of effort.
He indulged in the hope that within a year or two
the wives, and perhaps other female relatives, of all
the converts in and near Hankow would be brought
into the Church. Not a few of these new converts
were the result of the influence of private members.
Jeu-ki-pu, a carpenter, had brought in seven. He had
been an active member for five years, and, although
a poor man, he often suppUed his workmen with rice

92 GRIFFITH JOHN

to keep them from working on Sunday. Until this
success followed his efforts, his relations and friends
fancied that a species of madness had taken possession
of him. They said he would do nothing but read his
New Testament, and pray and talk to people about
their souls and Jesus the Saviour.

An interesting case of conversion was that of a
young lower-grade mandarin, who entered the chapel
with his secretary and some friends. Griffith John,
seeing they were learned men, directed his remarks
towards them, and was pleased with their rapt
attention. On the following Monday he was surprised
by the mandarin entering his study as a candidate
for baptism. He was a native of Si-chuen, and had
seen much of the Roman Catholics there. Upon a
friend inviting him to hear Mr. John, he rephed that
it would be useless to go, as the CathoUcs did not
allow outsiders to enter. Upon being assured that it
was different with the " foreign teaching " at Hankow,
and reading one of the tracts which was given to him,
he went with his friend. He was well supplied with
books, and soon mastered their contents, evincing
the deepest interest in Christianity. He soon returned
to his official duties in Si-chuen, with the earnest
prayers of the Church for his success in disseminating
his newly adopted faith.

At the same time there was admitted as a member
a doctor from the Si-chuen province. He, like most
native practitioners, kept roving over the country,
carrying with him his family recipes and specifics.
When in Si-chuen a copy of the New Testament came
into his possession. He was told by the Roman
Catholics that it was a dangerous book, and that he

THE WORK DEVELOPS 93

ought not to read it. He doubted this advice, how-
ever, and could not see why they pronounced a book
dangerous which contained the fundamental doctrines
of their own creed. Upon his arrival at Hankow he
thought he would attend the services to see whether
his difficulties could be solved and his doubts re-
moved. On entering the chapel Griffith John found
him and Yu-ki-fang in a hot discussion, the doctor
propounding his doubts, and old Yu wondering how
any sensible man could have any doubts on truths
so evident. Seeing that they were not likely to come
to an understanding, he stood up and asked him
what he came to chapel for — ^ whether to cavil or to
seek the truth. He assured them that his sole object
was to have his doubts removed and his convictions
settled. "Then," said Griffith John, "you may
put any questions you please, feeling assured that
anything you may say wiU give no offence."

He showed at once that he had thought a great deal
on the subject. " You say that Christ's birth was
miraculous, but is a miracle possible ? Was it
necessary ? If there was a necessity, why should it
be necessary solely in His case ? Granting the possi-
bility and the necessity of it, what evidence have you
that Christ's birth was really miraculous, and that
the story is not a legend deserving no more credence
than many similar ones ? " These are specimens of
his questions, from which it might be supposed that
he had consulted some deistical books. Though he
seemed satisfied with the replies, nothing further was
expected. But on the following Sunday he re-
appeared ; and shortly afterwards came forward as a
candidate for baptism, stating that it was the
7

94 GRIFFITH JOHN

discussion in the chapel that removed his doubts, and
convinced him of the truth of the Christian religion.

These are specimens of the fifty-one converts
added to the mission that year, and it may be readily
surmised that sucli men as Christians would become
earnest evangeUsts wherever their business led them.

CHAPTER VI

A 3000-MILES' TOUR

O desert rocks, if one small leaf

Can make these wastes look fair,
What will ye be when these scorched plains

Earth's richest buds shall bear ?
When Eastern suns shall cease to scorch.

And storms no more destroy.
And these lone valleys shall give forth

Their streams and flowers and joy.

H. BONAR

THE great event of the year 1868 was the
missionary journey of Griffith John and Mr.
Wylie, of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to
Chung-tu, the capital of Si-chuen, and their return
through the province of Shen-si, a distance of about
3000 miles. This journey will ever be memorable
in the history of Protestant Missions in China, as the
pioneer journey throughout that vast region in which
the Han and Yang-tse take their rise. Never before
in the East had the Gospel been so widely published
by the voice of a missionary.

It is much to be regretted that no account has yet
been furnished of this tour by either of the travellers,
as, upon his return, Mr. John found such important
and absorbing work awaiting him, that he could not
find the needful time to transcribe from his journal

95

96 GRIFFITH JOHN

the mass of interesting details to which the proclama-
tion of the Gospel for the first time in hundreds of
cities and towns had given rise. These provinces had
been hitherto declared to be impassable to Europeans,
and Mr. T. T. Cooper, who, as a merchant, attempted
to pass through on his way to India, had been obliged
to return to Shanghai. But the missionaries were not
suspected of any political purpose, and were allowed
to proceed.

From the first the native church at Hankow evinced
the keenest interest in the proposed undertaking, and
in its avowed object of proclaiming the Gospel to the
millions of benighted ones in " the regions beyond."
The night before Griffith John and his friend Mr.
Wylie left for the West, they were entertained at a
feast given in their honour by the Chinese Christians
of the local church.

Let us imagine the scene ! The guests are in the
place of honour surrounded by their loving native
friends. On the tables are a number of basins piled
up with fish, pork, beef, mutton, vermicelli, and stews
of different lands ; and for the after-courses there
are ground-nuts, water-melons, seeds, cheese-cakes,
biscuits, etc. Then every one is supplied with a pair
of chop-sticks and a tiny saucer of soy — which is a
sauce for fish made from the seeds of a plant, the
Soja hispida — and in the saucer a large China spoon
is placed. A very little cup, not much larger than
the bowl of a tobacco-pipe, is placed beside each
person. At the commencement of dinner all of these
cups are filled with red wine poured out of a teapot,
as the Chinese always drink their wine warm. Then
they are supplied with bowls of rice, and go to work

A 3000-MILES' TOUR 97

with the chop-sticks, picking up the meat which is
mixed with it as well as they are able. Towards the
close of the feast, tea is served round. Then, after
thanks have been given to God, mutual expressions
of regard and salutations are exchanged, and the
guests and their friends separate.

On 1st April, the day of departure, many of the
native Christians met at their pastor's house, and
accompanied him to the vessel. Never from that day
imtil his return, five months after, did they forget to
make prayer and supphcation on his behalf and that
of the people to whom he was ministering. The spirit
of missionary zeal spread from heart to heart, and a
more sustained and fervent interest was felt by many
in the welfare of the church. Twenty-two persons
were added thereto during those five months.

The progress of the missionaries up the great river
Yang-tse was very slow, owing to the rapid current.
The half-naked boatmen, from early morning till late
at night, toiled at the bamboo cord by which the
vessel was towed. In some parts of the river the
water was dangerous, and often would overcome the
efforts of the men, and spin the vessel round as in a
whirlpool. Occasionally additional men had to be
hired, and as many as fifty or sixty were required to
pull the boat through a rapid. Sometimes the rope
broke in the middle of a rapid, and the boat would go
down stream at a tremendous pace, in a few minutes
losing as much ground as it had taken hours to ascend.
A kind Hand, however, was controlling all things,
and the missionaries were saved from the rocks and
other obstructions.

It is worthy of note that the boatmen would not

98 GRIFFITH JOHN

attempt the ascent of a dangerous rapid without pay-
ing their devotions to Wang-yay, the guardian deity
of the river, and making offerings. This Wang-yay is
said to have been a child at a remote period. His
grandmother being iU, the mother killed her boy to
make soup for his ailing relative, and after partaking
of this extraordinary dish, the old lady recovered.

The province of Si-chuen is justly celebrated in
the other parts of the Empire for the many wonder-
ful things it contains. Not only does it possess fine
rivers, fertile valleys and plains, and magnificent
mountain scenery, but its products are noteworthy.
Thus, in the eastern parts of China, when one observes
and inquires about anything excellent or curious,
the reply to his inquiry usually is, " Oh, it comes
from Si-chuen."

In various parts of the Yang-tse there are numerous
sand-banks in which gold is found ; and in the winter
months thousands of poor people make their living by
washing the gold out of the sand. The land which
the river waters is more valuable than the gold. The
travellers passed fields with a great variety of vege-
tables, and rice in abundance. The latter is the
staple article of diet among the poor of China. At the
time of the missionaries' journey, the cotton plants
were just appearing above the ground. Cotton is the
substance from which all garments are made for those
who cannot afford to wear silk clothing.

Another extensive crop was that of tobacco ; and
as there is hardly a Chinaman to be found who does
not smoke, the quantity raised to meet the demand is
enormous. Alas, that the smoking is not confined to
tobacco ! Large fields of poppies were passed — ^the

A 3000-MILES' TOUR 99

flowers being very pretty to the eye, and the feeUngs
which arise from smoking the opium are doubtless
most fascinating ; but hke other temptations of this
world, while remarkably pleasant, they bring certain
ruin and death to all who persistently indulge in
them.

Among the trees of this region, the most remarkable
are the tallow trees, and others which are coated
entirely with wax, and just look as if they were
covered with snow in mid-winter. All the candles in
China are made from these trees ; for as Buddhism
forbids the destruction of animals, the people cannot
conscientiously use the fat of dead ones to make
candles with.

The hills of this region are full of coal, and number-
less pits are to be seen in the face of the cliff along
the river banks. In one place they found several
thousands of wells, varying from 200 to 3000 feet in
depth, from which brine is drawn and boiled down
into cakes of salt. They were informed that a short
distance from the river there were oil and fire wells.
The mineral gas issues from the mouth of the pit, and
is conveyed in pipes to any distance. Many other
things might be mentioned, but enough has been said
to prove that these provinces of Si-chuen and Shen-si
comprise a region remarkable for its beauty and
wealth.

It requires a residence of many years in that antique
country, and among that slow and easy-going people,
to be able to bear the irritation of such a journey with
something like patience and resignation. The fact
that the numerous delays and stoppages gave the
ever-ready missionary opportunities of delivering his

100 GRIFFITH JOHN

Gospel message was a comfort, while the country
through which they passed, being all new to them,
excited their curiosity. The various interesting scenes
and events that passed under their notice in the
721 miles from Hankow to Chung-Kiang-fu made
endurable the two months taken to accomplish that
distance. Griffith John found many converts to
Roman Catholicism in this province of Si-chuen. At
Chung-Kiang, the commercial capital of the pro-
vince, they numbered between 3000 and 4000
persons.

From Chung-Kiang they proceeded up the river,
and on the 20th June arrived at Loo-Chow, a large
city, where they remained three days selling Bibles.
They found, however, that the boatmen would not
proceed, as the 24th was the Dragon-boat Festival
and a general holiday throughout Si-chuen. This
fete is in memory of Keu-Yuen, who was prime
minister in the kingdom of Tzoo 2000 years ago, when
China consisted of several small kingdoms. This man
was a relative of the King, and the object of jealousy
to the court on account of his upright conduct. The
other ministers laid plots, and by false representations
procured his banishment from court. Being disgusted
with this treatment in return for his fidehty, Keu-
Yuen poured out his sorrows in a poem, which literary
men still delight to study. He then threw himself
into the river, but was observed by a fisherman, who
reported it, and everywhere the inhabitants dredged
for his body, which was never foimd. The search
was continued for two centuries in honour of his
character, until one of the emperors decreed that a
festival should take place on one day, and all over

A 3000-MILES' TOUR loi

the empire. So that, although Keu-Yuen has not
been deified, or had anjrthing beyond his ancestral
chapel, this memorial of the Dragon Festival remains
to his memory.

The morning was very quiet and hot as the mis-
sionaries strolled through the town. Few people were
to be seen, and they were dressed in anticipation of
the fete. About three o'clock the river banks were
lined with thousands of people, and hundreds of boats
plied with passengers to see the race ; while the
grandees of the town in their barges proceeded up
and down, making a terrible din with their gongs and
drums to preserve order. One of these barges was
sent to preserve the foreigners from annoyance.

At the appointed time the umpires took their seats
at the riverside, and some half-dozen boats started.
They were shaped like dragons, in honour of the
dragon which controls the river, and were propelled
by paddles Uke those which tradition says were used
in the search for Keu-Yuen 's body. There was the
blue dragon, yeUow dragon, white dragon, black
dragon, golden dragon, and silver dragon, each
manned by about thirty men. Two men stood in the
middle of the boat beating a gong, to which the
paddlers kept excellent time. One dragon had a fire
in its mouth, emitting much smoke. The race was
across the river, from the left bank to the right, when
a man landed from each boat and gathered a handful
of herbage, which was carried back to the umpires at
the starting-point. There was a very close contest ;
and, after this trial of skill, the boats paddled about
for the amusement of the people.

From Loo-chow they proceeded up the Yang-tse

102 GRIFFITH JOHN

and the river Min to Cheng-tu, a city with a million
of inhabitants, and the political capital of Si-chuen ;
then crossed a mountainous country in sedan chairs,
to Han Chung-fu, a large city 1200 miles up the Han
River, and proceeded by water down to Hankow. In
this cross-country journey their lodgings were of the
rudest description, and the strangest food was often
served up. In thus accomplishing a long-cherished
project, Griffith John more than realised his most
sanguine expectations. He hardly expected to return
alive, and wrote the day after his return : " My
brightest hope was that God would permit me to see
Cheng-tu, where I thought I could die in peace, knowing
that my grave at that great and distant city would
stimulate others to come and occupy it in the name of
the Lord. While preaching the Gospel there I felt a
thriU of the true missionary spirit, which I value more
than many years of ordinary life. Oh, that it were
with me an abiding sentiment, a ceaseless inspiration !
There are two ways of looking at the work ; the one is
the prudential one, and the other is the enterprising,
doing-something one, of which the Great Apostle of
the Gentiles is our greatest type and representative.
Most modem missionaries are satisfied with the
former ; I long for the latter. The Directors want me
to return home ; but I shall certainly not leave the
mission so long as it indispensably needs my presence,
whatever sacrifice the delay may entail. My heart is
too full of the Hankow Mission and God's work in this
region to admit of my doing that. I feel, in a way I
have never felt before, that the valleys of the Yang-tse
and the Han have been taken possession of in the
name of Christ, and that it is for me to live and die

A 3000-MILES' TOUR 103

for the millions of precious souls that line these two
magnificent streams."

Soon after Grif&th John's return, Dr. Shearer
arrived from England, to act as medical missionary
to the mission. Besides carrying on the Hospital, he
established Dispensaries at Wuchang and Han Yang,
giving a day every week to each of these places. This
arrival also led to another change, which had im-
portant bearings on the general working of the mission.
Mr. John, in vacating his house for the accommodation
of Dr. Shearer, found himself in the position that
either he must go to considerable expense in renting
and refitting a native house in Hankow, which, besides
being unhealthy, would have to be vacated at the
end of a year, or he must remove to Wuchang, and by
making a few alterations and additions to the mission
premises there, at one-third of the yearly rent of a
house in Hankow, render them capable of accom-
modating both a married and an unmarried missionary.
There were many reasons beside health and expense
to suggest the latter course.

For a long time Griffith John had been desirous of
rendering his colleague, Mr. Bryson, the assistance he
really needed, and to see a flourishing Church grow
up in Wuchang. That fine city, though a large and
important sphere of labour, was stiU a virgin field,
where hardly a furrow had been turned. The only
labourers were one inexperienced missionary and the
native pastor. It was desirable that before Griffith
John left for England he should lend the weight of his
experience to the thorough estabHshment and work-
ing of the mission there. All this had been con-
sidered and the necessary repairs and alterations made,

104 GRIFFITH JOHN

when another invitation from the Directors to visit
England reached Mr. John. To have complied with
that request would have been to sacrifice all the
prospective advantage to the work in Wuchang just
indicated, and for which the preparations had been
made. The visit was deferred, and Griffith John took
up his residence in Wuchang. He, however, preached
every Sunday morning at Hankow, and paid visits
twice or thrice in the week to that place and Han
Yang.

In extending operations at Wuchang, it was found
desirable to have a Preaching Hall in one of the
main business thoroughfares. The missionaries'
efforts were thwarted by the undisguised opposition
of the educated class of the inhabitants, who threatened
any person who dared to render the foreigners the
slightest assistance. Again the officials showed their
ignorance of the man they had to deal with, and of
the fact that " the word of the Lord cannot be bound."
Once more the " silvern voice " was lifted in the open
streets, and in every lane and thoroughfare the Gospel
was proclaimed in the hearing of those who had neither
time nor inclination to attend the chapel services.

In the midst of this arduous and successful enter-
prise, a letter from the Directors of the Society,
intimating that it was desirable to relinquish the
work at Wuchang, fell Uke a bombshell in the midst
of the little band of devoted workers. Whilst doubt-
ful as to the full meaning of this strange intimation,
Griffith John wrote a letter in which the successes,
advantages, and prospects of Wuchang were forcibly
stated. A week later, however, came a more decided
letter, with the resolution passed, ordering the retreat

A 3000-MILES' TOUR 105

in a very definite manner, and directing that the
mission premises should be sold.

Griffith John would not retreat ; but wrote with
unanswerable force that the land and buildings had
been almost exclusively purchased with money that
the European community at Hankow had intended as
a present to himself ; but feeling that he could not
take it, he had begged that it be applied to Wuchang,
in which he had then just succeeded in obtaining
a footing. While apologising for touching on this
personal ground, he intimated that Wuchang was very
dear to him, and that to relinquish it would cost him
a bitter pang. He therefore refused to have anything
to do with the carrying out of this resolution, not
from a spirit of disobedience, but owing to a deep
conviction that after having toiled between five and
six years in this difficult place, he felt that to undo
what had been accomplished, so far as outward appear-
ances were concerned, could only be regarded by him
as sinful.

These representations had the desired effect. Before
the year closed, he received the sanction of the
Directors for the continuance of the mission in
Wuchang ; also their approval of the remodelling of
the premises as a place of residence, and a grant of
£90 towards the erection of a Preaching Hall. These
marks of approval were accompanied by an intima-
tion that the Directors hoped to increase the number
of European missionaries at Hankow within two or
three years.

These cities were in the year 1869 visited by a flood
which rose two feet above that of 1866. Griffith John
and his family stayed in their house at Wuchang

io6 GRIFFITH JOHN

until the water was within three inches of the floor.
As there was no upper storey, they accepted the kind
invitation of an old friend at Hankow, and took up
their abode in his house until the waters abated. One
of the phenomena of this flood was the immense
quantity of sprats found in the waters. The servants
at the mission premises often fished aU night with
nets in the compound with great success.

As one result of the flood, over a hundred thousand
distressed and homeless people dwelt on the hills near
Hankow, and were fed by the wealthier natives. One
mandarin, a devout man, set a good example to his
rapacious compeers, and behaved most humanely to
his poor countrymen. This man, like many other
good heathen, was a puzzle to Griffith John. Although
virtuous, they did not seem to be the nearest to the
kingdom of heaven. He could only account for it
by supposing that their piety was grounded in self-
righteousness, and says they were offended by being
told to seek justification through faith in Jesus
Christ.

While thus hindered in mission work, Grifiith John
had cause for rejoicing in the birth of a daughter, on
the 20th of September, and a month later he moved
back with his family to their little cottage at Wuchang.
This was not only incommodious, but built so that
they suffered much from the cold during the winter
of 1869-70 ; while their discomfort was increased by
the children suffering from small-pox. In spite of his
distressing surroundings, however, he worked on
vigorously, often preaching four times a day, and
walking long distances.

He had now been hoping for several years to re-

A 3000-MILES' TOUR 107

visit England, but adverse circumstances prevented
his doing so. This winter he was again disappointed,
but with characteristic wisdom he sought to make the
delay conducive to the interest of the work. An
opportunity occurred to put into operation a long-
cherished plan. He had for years desired to see the
converts coming forward and offering their services
as evangelists gratuitously, and now five did so in a
very pleasing way. After the morning service, each
of these men would go out to a village chosen by
himself, and conduct a service. After a week or two
Griffith John accompanied them in turn. He writes
of one : " He is the son of Christian parents, and it
did my heart good to hear him preach to-day. His
views are perfectly clear, his earnestness very marked,
and his manner exceedingly agreeable and winning."
At this service Mr. John met a half-enlightened
heathen, and conversed with him on Jesus and His
salvation. Soon afterwards he had the pleasure of
hearing this man preaching to his heathen fellow-
countrymen with remarkable clearness and power.

While at this village he had interesting conversa-
tions with others. He bemoaned the darkness of
their minds, and said they only sought for things
on this side of the grave ; their hopes of the life
beyond being to appear again on this earth in better
circumstances than they were then placed in, while
they dreaded reappearing as beasts or reptiles. The
door of each house was covered with two large figures,
called door-spirits, and charms ; and a looking-glass
was hung above, in order to frighten the devil by a
sight of himself.

In September 1870, Griffith John and his family

io8 GRIFFITH JOHN

arrived safely in London, having come by a French
steamer to Marseilles. Although they were in poor
health when leaving Shanghai, all were much im-
proved by the voyage, and Mr. John felt still vigorous
after his fifteen years of energetic missionary labour.
His arrival in England was a source of pleasure not
only to his relatives and friends, but to the Directors
and supporters of the London Missionary Society.
His eloquent appeals on behalf of China were most
stimulating. Few who listened to those full sentences
and his weU-modulated delivery suspected that the
English language was not his mother tongue. But
chiefest among the enthusiastic audiences which hung
upon his lips were his old friends and admirers in
Wales. As a boy he had won their affections and
chained their hearts ; now his manly strength
carried all with it, and Wales felt that a voice of
her own was drawing forth her best and noblest
feelings.

At first he resided at Machynlleth. Here dwelt
his wife's parents, the venerable David Griffith and
his wife, who had sailed for Madagascar just fifty
years before, and had been expelled from that island
in 1835 t)y the cruel Queen Ranavalona. Here also
his most intimate fellow-student, Josiah Jones,
ministered to an important church. Thus the early
months of his well-earned rest were congenially
spent, with frequent excursions into England upon
Deputation service. That year the Annual Associa-
tion or Cymanfa of Wales was held at Mach5mlleth,
and Mr. John preached an able missionary sermon
in Welsh to an outdoor audience of about 5000 people.
But he found it necessary during 1871 to remove to

A 3000-MILES' TOUR 109

Swansea, to obtain educational advantages for his
children.

In 1872, at the Directors' invitation, Mr. John
preached the annual sermon at the Anniversary of
the London Missionary Society.

After rendering much service to the Society in
England, Griffith John prepared to depart. He had
been detained a year beyond the usual time allowed
for furlough, through Mrs. John's precarious state of
heedth. Both were now anxious to return, Mrs. John
feeling that though she might have but a short time
to live, it had better be spent in trjring to teach the
Chinese women, whom she loved so much, something
of the love of Jesus.

At their meeting in January 1873, the Directors
took an affectionate farewell of their esteemed friend.
Mr. John, in addressing the Board, exonerated them
from any blame that might be imputed to them by
his leaving for China, stating that " they had Sciid
to him, ' Mr. John, we could not think of asking
you to go ; but if you feel that duty prompts you,
then all that we can do is to wish you God-speed.*
He was doing aU in harmony with Mrs. John's feel-
ings, and had consulted the doctors as to her health.
Mrs. John had more of the missionary zeal than he
had."

In February they embarked at Liverpool. It was
a cold day, and Mrs. John never ralMed from the
efEects of her exposure to the weather. Gradually
her throat, mouth, and tongue bHstered and swelled,
so that even drinking became a painful tjisk. The
heat in the Red Sea was most tr3dng ; and when
that ordeal was passed, her sufferings continued very
8

no GRIFFITH JOHN

severe. She bore all with wonderful patience.
While prepared to depart, she hoped and believed to
the last that she should see China and labour there
a httle longer.

The day before her death she told Mr. John that
she would get better, but added, " I am in my Saviour's
hands. I have placed myself there that He may do
with me as He thinks best. Do you think He will
accept me ? I am very unworthy."

" Yes, my dear," her husband replied ; "He has
done that long since."

" Yes, He has," was her reply ; and she talked
about devoting herself to the mission work more
heartily than ever.

Mr. John was with her most of the night. Soon
after he retired he was called to her ; but the gentle
spirit had fled just as the early rise of the glorious
Eastern sun Ughted the vessel's way into the harbour
of Singapore.

Up and away, like the dew of the morning,
Soaring from earth to its home in the sun ;

So let me steal away, gently and lovingly.
Only remembered by what I have done.

Not myself, but the truth that in Ufe I have spoken.
Not myself, but the seed that in life I have sown.

Shall pass on to ages, all about m.e forgotten,

Save the truth I have spoken, the things I have done.

She was buried in the European Cemetery at
Singapore, and it was a comfort to her sorrowing
husband to be able to lay her precious remains in
that beautiful resting-place.

Griffith John arrived at Hankow in a very dis-

A 3000-MILES' TOUR III

tressed condition. The converts there were kind and
sympathetic. English people cannot conceive of the
intense love and reverence which these poor people
entertained for him. Now their hearts ran over. At
the Sunday communion service, before partaking of
the elements, several spoke, but all broke down when
mentioning the name of their " Teacher-mother," and
the whole congregation was bathed in tears.

He plunged into his work again, although at times
his feeUngs of loneliness and sorrow were intense.
The progress made in all parts of the mission was
most pleasing to him. Some to whom he had ad-
dressed parting exhortations on leaving had decided
for Christ, and passed triumphant to the great re-
ward. Good old Yu-ki-fang had been carried to his
rest by loving hearts, who would not allow a heathen
coolie to touch his revered remains. Others held on
their way steadfastly.

While thus engaged in reviewing and making
further advances, his heart was cheered by a beautiful
letter from his daughter Mary — " all my own," the
little matron said. It ran : "I am very sorry for
you, dear papa ; I wish I was near you that I might
comfort you. I must make haste and learn, and
come out to you, and keep your house. Dear mamma
is quite happy, she has no pain. Jesus is comforting
you, and grandma and brothers and myself. He
is giving us work to do. He won't let us stop still
and feel sad, but he stirs us up like He did Abraham."

The native Christians of Hankow had for years
carried on by themselves open-air preaching at night.
Griffith John attended one of these services in July,
and while standing there, in the midst of a large

112 GRIFFITH JOHN

crowd of listeners, the duty of opening the chapels
for night services forced itself upon his conscience.
At the church-meeting he spoke to the converts on
the subject, and asked for volunteers. The appeal
met with a prompt and hearty response ; and night
after night, seven or eight of their best men were
to be seen proclaiming the Gospel. Though feeble
at first, they rapidly developed into admirable
preachers. They had begun in the hospital chapel ;
but feeling the scope for usefulness there to be limited,
they wished to have the large city chapel which is in
the centre of the town.

The converts of the other Missionary Societies,
hearing of these proceedings, appealed to their mission-
aries for encouragement to carry on a similar work.
The congregations were often very large, and consisted
mostly of men who could not or would not attend
in the daytime. The whole of the churches were
stimulated by this effort, and a very favourable im-
pression was produced upon the heathen. The
preachers were able to tell those who called the
Christian religion the " rice-eating religion," that the
charge was a libel ; and that so far from depending
on the church for their sustenance, they were giving
their services gratuitously, and that the very oil and
candles which lighted the chapels were paid for by
themselves. The heathen soon began to see this,
and acquired a more exalted view of the Christian
Church.

The Church now numbered over 200 members,
and monthly additions were made ; but this is by no
means a statement of the results of the work done.
As Hankow is purely a business mart, very many of

A 3000-MILES' TOUR 113

those who were conveiled and baptized returned
home, often to distant provinces, and the numbers
of the parent Church were no index of the actual
work successfully accomplished. Some of the mis-
sionaries deplored this feature ; and doubtless it
would have been more pleasant, and to some perhaps
safer, to have been kept under the guidance of the
missionaries. But Griffith John persisted in regarding
it as an advantage, and these distant brethren as fore-
runners of the evangelists who would soon follow
them up. Thus from the " centre of the Empire "
ran light and life to every province.

During the winter of 1873-4 a new and commodious
hospital was erected at Hankow, principally by sub-
scriptions from foreigners and natives, at a cost of
£1350. Dr. Reid, who had taken up the work again
on Dr. Shearer's retirement, carried it on vigorously
until the arrival of Dr. Mackenzie in 1875. Much
spiritual good was also effected, as all the mission-
aries devoted part of the day to labour among the
patients.

CHAPTER VII

LITERARY WORK

No age
Can outgrow truth, or can afford to part
With the tried wisdom of the past, with words
That centuries have sifted, and on which
Ages have set their seal, and handed down
From venerable lips of solemn men.
Who learned their wisdom in a graver school.

H. BONAR

AS a writer in the English language Griffith John
has a style in which terseness and lucidity
are aptly combined. His productions have shown
him to be one who does not write for personal dis-
tinction. Mission work, and the ways and means
of its development, have been his themes. While
bearing directly on these points, and treated with great
frankness and insight, these productions give readers
the impression that they are side efforts, used as
auxiliaries to his great life work.

He wrote a valuable paper on " The Ethics of the
Chinese, with special reference to the Doctrines of
Human Nature and Sin." This brochure shows con-
siderable acquaintance with the writings of the
Chinese moralists, and defines their position in the
development of their philosophy.

His sermon, preached at the Anniversary of the

114

LITERARY WORK 115

London Missionary Society, is a masterly plea, the
aim of which is to inspire " Hope for China," re-
specting her attitude towards the kingdom of Christ
upon earth. It was afterwards extensively circu-
lated as a pamphlet under that title. Seeing that
the zeal of many for missions was flagging, he wrote,
before leaving England in 1882, A Plea for China ;
also, China, her Claims and Call. At the same time
appeared a most valuable booklet, entitled Spiritual
Power for Missionary Work. This is a powerful and
effective statement respecting the work and power
of the Holy Spirit, and is, doubtless, one result of
Mr. John's experience of the inutility of mission
work without Divine aid, as well as the fact that the
results of spiritual efforts are abiding only so far as
they are originated and sustained by the power of the
Holy Ghost.

It is chiefly through his literary efforts that Griffith
John's name has become so well known in the Celestial
Empire. In no country in the world are there so
great inducements to the missionary to use the press
as a means of making known the truth as in China.
The written language is the same for the whole of
the Empire ; and the same book is intelligible, not
only to all Chinese readers, no matter what dialect
they speak, but also to the educated amongst the
surrounding nations. The number of readers amongst
the people is very large. Every hamlet and village
has its school ; the towns have many ; and the cities
have colleges in addition. Everywhere education is
held in the highest estimation. What the propor-
tion of readers actually is wiU probably remain an
unsettled question, as it varies widely in different

Ii6 GRIFFITH JOHN

districts ; but when the immense population of 400
milUons is borne in mind, it is not too much to claim
that a Chinese book can be understood by more
millions of mankind than a book in any other language.
The people have a great reverence for literature ;
they carefully examine all the works that come into
their hands ; and, although they may not agree with
them, they seldom destroy or abuse them. The
books in general use were written a long time ago ;
new works are almost unknown amongst the people
at large, and consequently such are eagerly welcomed
by them. Another important matter is that paper
and printing are both so cheap that the press may
be extensively used without involving an extravagant
expenditure.

While there are these encouragements, there is also
a serious drawback in the difficulty of the Chinese
language. In this respect it is unique ; there is no
other language or literature which can be compared
to it, and the labours of a hfetime are required for its
mastery. Chinese is written with curious-looking
characters, familiar to most people, if only from
seeing them on tea boxes. They are not the symbols
of sounds, Uke ours, but of ideas ; the sounds, or
names of them, change with every variation of
dialect ; but the ideas they represent never alter.
They correspond to our figures i, 2, 3, etc., which
mean the same thing to any European who sees
them, although in each language they are known by
different names. As the Chinese have a different
character for every idea they possess, it is as if the
whole language was written with figures ; and thus
it becomes possible for people who speak different

LITERARY WORK 117

dialects to readily understand the same book, though
they cannot exchange a single idea by speech ; just
as an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German, and
a Russian would immediately understand what was
meant by 250 if they saw the figures, but neither
could comprehend what the other called them. It
would be quite possible to read Chinese books in
English without knowing a word of any Chinese
tongue, by simply learning the meanings of the
characters and the method of their arrangement.
It would, however, be no light task, as the dic-
tionaries contain about 40,000 different characters,
although only about 6000 of these are in constant
use.

The Chinese call their written language Wen-li,
or " hterary style," while foreigners often call it
" classical style." This form does not correspond
with any spoken dialect. In other countries the
language as written is the same as the spoken, and
any one hearing a book read out aloud would under-
stand it quite as well as if he had the book in his
hand and saw the page for himself. Wen-li, however,
is addressed to the eye entirely, and not to the ear,
so the Chinese reader must see the book, or he will
fail to follow what is being read, unless previously
familiar with it. This is due to the fact that although
they have a most liberal supply of characters, the
allowance of names for them, to correspond, is exceed-
ingly limited. In Mandarin, the most prevalent
dialect, there are only 411 soxinds, from which it
follows that each sound must stand for a great variety
of characters — some of them hundreds — cdl with
different meanings. It is difficult for us to imagine

ii8 GRIFFITH JOHN

how a language can be spoken which has only 411
sounds, or words, in it ; and curiously enough the
Chinese have a similar difficulty with EngUsh : they
cannot understand how a language can be written
which has only 26 characters. They suppose it must
be a poverty-stricken tongue indeed, and often ask
the missionary to teach them EngHsh, because they
could learn it at a sitting—" only 26 characters ! "

The difficulty is surmounted in either case by the
same means ; we put several letters, or characters,
together to form words ; while they, in speaking,
combine their sound, by using two or more characters
in speech where only one is required in writing. For
example, fu is a father, but it is also a wife, an axe,
happiness, a labourer, a charm, and a great many
other things besides. As written, one character con-
tains the whole meaning for each, as they are all
distinct ; but in speaking, another must be added to
prevent confusion. Hence father becomes fu-tsin
(father, relation) ; wife, fu-jin (wife, person) ; axe,
fu-tan (axe-head) ; happiness, fu-chi (happy atmo-
sphere) ; and so on through a great many fus. By
keeping in mind this distinction between written
(Wen-li) and spoken Chinese, it is easy to see that
what is quite plain to a reader may be perfectly un-
intelUgible to a hearer.

Spoken Chinese can be written or printed just as
readily as Wen-li, as there are characters for all the
sounds used in most dialects ; but the Chinese them-
selves are not in the habit of writing it, except on the
rare occasions when they designedly intend to repro-
duce speech, as in novels or plays. The bulk of their
literature, their correspondence, and newspapers are

LITERARY WORK 119

all in Wen-li. The redundant characters add nothing
to the sense as addressed to the eye, so they carefully
exclude them under the impression that the chief
beauty of a " Hterary style " consists in being as
concise as possible. Missionaries, however, find that
books in the various spoken dialects are of the greatest
value ; people who can read a little understand them
better, and they may be read out aloud for the benefit
of those who cannot read at all ; hence they have
provided an extensive Hterature in this which is
called the " colloquial style." Such books, unhke
those in Wen-U, are available for use only in the
districts where the colloquial is used in which they
are written. The most of them are in Mandarin, a
dialect understood by three-fourths of the Chinese
people.

In his Hterary work Griffith John very strictly con-
fined himself to the preparation of such books and
tracts as had a direct bearing on the evangeUsation
of China ; although, to sinologues (those versed in
Chinese hterature), the temptation to stray into other
branches is exceptionally strong. There is stiU in
the native hterature, in its historical and philosophical
works, a great deal which, if translated and put within
the reach of foreign scholars, would be gladly wel-
comed ; and, as a result, bring much credit to him
who makes it accessible. On the other hand, amongst
the native literati, there is a rapidly increasing number
of those who are exceedingly anxious to acquaint
themselves with the sciences and arts of the West,
and who would be loud in the praises of anyone who
would provide them with works on these subjects in
their own language. Although to labour for the

120 GRIFFITH JOHN

spread of knowledge in East or West is a high calling,
and those who devote their energies to either of these
important objects are worthy of all honour ; yet
Mr. John consecrated his talents to something higher
still, by keeping to the single purpose of making
the Gospel known to the Chinese. It may not be so
much appreciated by the world ; but just as eternity
is greater than time, and the wisdom of God higher
than the learning of men, so far does the one purpose
surpass the other.

His first tracts were issued in i860, after he had
been five years in the mission field ; and after that
he constantly added to their number. The catalogue
of the Central China Tract Society contained
upwards of thirty books and tracts from his pen.
Many of them have been adopted by other Tract
Societies, and every year over half a million of his
publications are circulated throughout China. Their
titles show their character. Amongst them there is.
The Gate of Virtue and Wisdom, Teaching the Family
in the Right Way, The Guide to Heaven, The Great
Themes of the Gospel, The True Saviour of the World,
The True Way of Seeking Happiness, The Truth
concerning God, On Regeneration, On the Resurrection,
On the Atonement, On Repentance, etc. ; these require
no further explanation. He has carefully considered
the needs of all classes ; some are specially adapted
for the literati, and have been extensively distributed
amongst them at the public triennial examinations in
the capitals of many provinces ; others are suitable
for wide circulation amongst the people at large ;
while for the instruction of converts, and for use in
public worship, he has provided popular catechisms

LITERARY WORK 121

and 11501111 books. They are all in the Wen-li style,
and have been found of great value, not only through-
out the empire, but also in Korea and Japan. The
following extracts from one of the Central China
Tract Society's Reports illustrate their usefulness :

" Most of the good effected by such a Society as this
will never be known by us in this present Ufe, and yet
there is abundant reason to thank God and take
courage. We are told, by one who has been very
actively engaged in helping on the Society's work,
that he has received many interesting letters from
persons in distant provinces, seeking more light
respecting the doctrines promulgated in our pubhca-
tions. Moreover, he states that while on a country
trip in Hupeh, in the course of preaching to a large
crowd of heathen, he found that one of his hearers
was tolerably conversant with many points of
Christian doctrine, and this man, after having cor-
rectly answered a series of questions put to him by
the preacher, volunteered the statement that his
information had been gained by reading a three-cash
tract which he had purchased in Hankow. At length,
however, a question was asked which fairly baffled
the student of the small tract ; but this was replied
to by another man in the crowd, a scholar, who
subsequently proved by his answers that he had
gained a much larger acquaintance with the truths
we teach than the former. On being asked whence
he had gathered his information, he said that it was
from reading a tract, a large one, mentioning the
name of another of the Society's pubhcations, and
further stated that the same tract had been read by
all the scholars of his district. ' But do you believe

122 GRIFFITH JOHN

what the book teaches ? ' asked the missionary.
' With a few exceptions, Yes ; and on the whole we
think it exceedingly good,' was the reply.

" Facts such as these, of themselves, bear ample
testimony to the value of the work done, and they
bring to us an iacentive to press on, even more
earnestly, along the same Unes. But there are two
cases of interest which have come to our knowledge,
and these, if taken together with the facts already
mentioned, should lead to a fuller recognition of the
claims of this most important branch of Christian
effort.

" On the banks of the Fu Ho, a tributary of the
Han River, there is a little market-town named
Liang Ho K'eu, at which missionaries, journeying to
and from the Prefectural city of Teh Ngan, thirty
miles distant, have often called for the purpose of
preaching the Gospel and distributing reMgious books
and tracts. One of these, a tract, found its way into
the basket of a wastepaper collector, and was being
carried away to be consigned to the fire, when a
shop-keeper belonging to the place caught sight of
it, rescued it from destruction, took it home, and
read it. This man already possessed a Testament,
which he had purchased some time before, but, finding
that he could make nothing of it, had laid it aside.
The reading of the tract, however, which happened
to be the Gate of Wisdom, threw an entirely new
light on the Word of God, until then a sealed volume
to Mm, and by the blessing of God, the man was
aroused to religious concern and inquiry. On visit-
ing Hankow, he made his way to the Mission Chapel,
became more and more deeply interested in the

LITERARY WORK 123

way of salvation, and, at length, after receiving
instruction both in Hankow and Teh Ngan, was
received into the Christian Church in the latter
city.

" A native colporteur in Hankow was, owing to
some building operations, compelled to move his
stall to another locaUty, and finally took up his
position outside the house of a merchant. At first
he was treated by the proprietor of the house with
considerable rudeness and contempt ; but the ' soft
answer,' at length, " turned away wrath,' and the
merchant became so far pacified as not only to cease
his persecution of the old man, but even to purchase
some of his books. After a few weeks, the colporteur
was surprised to receive an invitation from the
merchant to enter his house, and drink tea. The
conversation turned upon the subjects of the books,
which it seems the merchant had been carefully
studying, and before long the old man was engaged
in earnestly pressing home the Gospel upon his former
persecutor. This first conversation led to others of a
similar nature, and an invitation to attend the Sunday
services at the Mission Chapel was accepted. The
newly-awakened inquirer had not been in attendance
at the chapel for many weeks, before he, one day, to
the amazement of his neighbours, brought out aU his
family idols into the street, and there subjected them
to the test of fire, a test which, needless to say,
speedily resulted in their destruction. At the end of
two months, the merchant, learning that it was usual
for members of the Church to subscribe regularly
towards the expenses of worship, etc., signified his
intention of becoming a subscriber to the extent

124 GRIFFITH JOHN

of half a dollar a month, and added, ' As I have been
attendmg services for two months I already owe a
dollar, which I shall be glad to pay.' Soon after
this he was received into the Church, where his bright
face and earnest demeanour are a constant source of
inspiration to his missionary brethren."

Griffith John's mastery of Chinese was so conspicu-
ously exhibited in his tracts, that he was encouraged to
attempt a fresh translation of the Scriptures in a
similar style. Upwards of thirty years — a very long
period in the history of Chinese missions — had passed
away since the Wen-li version then in use had been
issued. Its translators were men of great ability ;
but in the early days it was not possible for them to
have the same exact acquaintance with the capa-
bilities of the language as their successors, who had
the full benefit of their labours, better opportunities
for study, and all that a longer experience could attain
to. When the difficulties under which they laboured
are considered, the wonder is, not that their trans-
lation should be found faulty, but that its excellence
was so high as to serve for so long a time. The chief
objection to it was that they had aimed at the highest
possible classical style, and by the use of appropriate,
but unusual characters, and a remarkably terse
construction which this necessitated, they had made
the Bible unintelligible save to the best scholars.
So deeply was this felt to be the case, that missionaries
had almost entirely given up using it in favour of
local colloquial versions, notwithstanding that the
natives object to them, and cannot be persuaded to
regard them as " literature." Hence the demand
arose for a Wen-li version in a simpler style, one

A CHINESE STREET SCENE WHEN THE YANG-TSI OVERFLOWS
A TYPICAL CHINESE CROWD LISTENING TO THE MISSIONARY

LITERARY WORK 125

which, while satisfying the native Hterary taste — and
in a conservative country Hke China it is needless
foUy to run in the teeth of this — ^would also be easily
intelligible, and perfectly accurate.

At the request of the National Bible Society of
Scotland, Grif&th John undertook the task of meeting
this demand in 1883. The amount of work it in-
volved was stupendous ; but through unremitting
labour, he completed the whole of the New Testa-
ment and part of the Old ; besides ha-ving the former
carefuUy revised, in which work he was heartUy aided
by some of the ablest and oldest missionaries. It
was issued portion by portion, the New Testament
being finished in 1886, which won for itself unanimous
approval. It circulates everywhere ; from the great
waU down to Annam, from the borders of Burmah out
to the Yellow Sea. The scholar admires it, while the
farmer and the artisan find no difficulty in under-
standing it. There are more copies of it demanded
than of all other Chinese versions put together ;
in the first few years a million of portions and
Testaments were in the hands of the people, the
annual issue being about 230,000. The estimation
in which it is held in China may be judged by
the following extract from a review of it whick
appeared in the North China Daily News :

" We are led to believe that the permanent Standard
Chinese Version must steer a middle course between
the extremes of the high classical and low coUoquial
styles. It must carry with it an air of authority and
intelligibility ; and must caU forth the respect, and
be suited to the capacity, of the average scholar. It
must neither involve too much labour on the part of

126 GRIFFITH JOHN

the foreign missionary nor the Chinese convert to
master the exact idiom or meaning. It must not
contain the colloquial of any district, but must be
in the easy classical, or current style, known all over
the Empire ; and which native newspapers have of
late years done much to cultivate and improve. It
must not contain note or comment, which might
thus prove vantage-ground for the introduction of pet
theories or favourite dogmas. It must be an original
translation made direct from the originals, and not
the translation of a translation. But time will not
permit us to say all that we think the standard trans-
lation ought to be ; suf&ce it to say that we consider
Mr. John's translation of the New Testament, in
its amended form, to be a most praiseworthy effort
in the right direction, and coming very near to the mark
in all its necessary or essential particulars. Although
still capable, perhaps, of further improvement, it is
yet evidently quite equal to the present needs of
evangelistic work in all parts of China. There can be
little doubt but that this version will prove accept-
able to the great body of missionaries ; although, of
course, we may be very sure there will be many of the
more fastidious who will stick to their crotchets and
refuse to use it, preferring their own translation
however inferior, or that of their co-religionists. It
is to be hoped that Mr. Griffith John will have health
and strength to complete the whole Bible in the same
way as he has done the New Testament, and live to
see it make the impression on the religion and literature
of the nation which he so fervently desires, and
which is all the reward he seeks for his herculean
labours."

LITERARY WORK 127

It would be easy to multiply such extracts ; but,
as they are all of the same tenor, one more, a more
recent one, from the New York Missionary Review of the
World, will perhaps be sufficient :

" The New Version of the New Testament prepared
by Mr. Griffith John, of Hankow, is said to be superior
to any other ; and it is confidently expected that
it will be adopted as a basis of a union version for
all China. Such a book will be in a language under-
stood by three hundred millions of the people. Un-
like India, China has really but one language ; and
if once the Bible were satisfactorily translated into
that language, the result may be something such as
the world has never before witnessed. The book has
worked wonders before ; it will doubtless work wonders
again."

The above is no vain expectation. Already through
the wide circulation of the Word of God and other
Christian books, the millions of China are being
leavened. Far and near the people are becoming
familiar with Christian truth, while the name of Jesus
is as widely known as that of Fu (Buddha). There
can be no question which will prevail ; sooner or
later, the latter will pass away, and Jesus alone reign
in China. How much even one man may be enabled
to do towards bringing about this happy result, is seen
in the case of Griffith John ; the number of Scriptures
or tracts which bear his name as translator or
author issued every year is close on a million,
and may soon exceed it. WTio can estimate their
influence ?

The change will come, and those who know the
people best are most hopeful of its speedy advent. In

128 GRIFFITH JOHN

that day he, and all others who have toiled to
hasten it, will have their reward ; a reward com-
pared with which the praise of men, or the ap-
probation of learned Societies, will sink into utter
insignificance.

Although in his hterary work Grifhth John has
mostly used the Wen-li style — generally called easy
Wen-li, in contradistinction to the high classical,
which is anything but easy — ^he is equally a master of
the Mandarin colloquial, or court dialect ; and so
satisfied were the British Bible Societies of his un-
equalled abiUties as translator that they unitedly
requested him to prepare a version of the Scriptures
in that style. Constantly too he was urged by nais-
sionaries in all parts of China to furnish commentaries,
handbooks, and works of every description for which
they felt the pressing need. There is no mission field
in the world so vast as that of China, and this depart-
ment of effort is one of the most important in it.
In Griffith John it has been favoured with a highly
efficient and indefatigable worker, and the earnest
prayer of all who are acquainted with what he has
accompUshed is, that those mighty efforts of his pen
may long be used to further advance the cause of
Christ amongst the black-haired race. Although
there are few who are privileged to do so much in a
brief lifetime as he has overtaken, and although
aU he has done has been done well, it is but little
compared with what in China awaits the doing ; so
we earnestly hope and pray that through his example
and the knowledge of China's great need, many may
be influenced to follow in his footsteps, and devote
their Jives to this most noble enterprise.

LITERARY WORK 129

It may even be that this unworthy account of
one so mighty in the faith may be used, through
God's marvellous grace, in stirring up someone to
hear the Master's call, and, in answering it, become
the worthy successor of Griffith John.

Stronger than steel

Is the sword of the Spirit,

Swifter than arrows

The Ught of the truth is,

Greater than anger

Is love, and subdueth.

CHAPTER VIII

CONTINUED SUCCESSES

For souls, that carry on a blessed exchange
Of joys that meet within their heavenly range,
And with a fearless confidence make known
The sorrows sjrmpathy esteems its own,
Daily derive increasing light and force
From such communion in the present course.

THE value of the services and help which a
missionary's wife can render to her husband,
as well as by direct effort upon the people, is nowhere
greater than in China. After being blessed for eighteen
years with such support, Griffith John severely felt its
withdrawal. The work which he loved better than
life greatly needed it, and he weU knew that onerous
duties awaited the lady whom he might again ask
to be his wife. When, therefore, in October 1874, he
married the widow of Dr. Jenkins, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of America, he brought an addition
to the mission at Hankow which cannot be adequately
estimated. A few words, however, will suffice to
show that this lady was exceptionally suitable for the
position.

Mrs. John was endowed with a combination of
gifts and graces quite exceptional. TaU and graceful

in figure, her finely-cut features were expressive of a

130

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 131

rare blending of intelligence, finnness, and sweetness.
She was strong, and capable of accomplishing much
work without fatigue. She seemed to possess the
practical nature of Martha with the contemplative-
ness and spiritual insight of Mary. Her frank and
affectionate disposition was an attraction to all with
whom she came in contact ; while her faithful per-
formance of all promises, and other duties of friend-
ship, boimd all hearts to her. She had also a power
of calling out the best qualities of those she knew,
and could bear with people's peculiarities to any
extent as long as she was sure that they were true
in their love and friendship, and would stick to them
tenaciously though they might have unpleasant traits
in their character. This social feature was of great
advantage to her in dealing both with sailors and
Chinese women.

Mrs. Jenkins had been amongst the earliest to
welcome Grif3fith John in 1855 ; and in 1873, when
bereaved and sorrow-stricken he called upon her and
other friends at Shanghai, it was her spiritual con-
versation which cheered him, and sent him on to
work vigorously at Hankow. After Dr. Jenkins'
death she visited America, and was greatly blessed
by intercourse with the Christian friends of her earlier
days. She experienced deep searching of heart ;
and old longings for the perfect life in Christ were
revived with such force that the Heavenly Dove
descended upon her as a spirit of sanctity and power.
She returned to China, asking God to provide a
suitable place for her to work in. One day, as she
was going to Union Chapel, Shanghai, she met about
half a dozen sailors, each carrying a bottle of whisky

132 GRIFFITH JOHN

under his arm. A special interest in sailors sprang
up in her heart at that moment, and she asked herself,
" Is not this the work that God has given me to do ? "
She spoke to them, and passers-by were surprised to
see those sturdy sons of the ocean fling their bottles
into the ditch at their side, and accompany the lady
to chapel. After service they went to tea at her
house ; and upon that evening was commenced those
Sunday Evening services for sailors, which earned
for her world-wide love and respect as " the sailor's
friend."

From forty to eighty sailors and others would
assemble in her drawing-room, and for several years
these services were the most fruitful and interesting
held in Shanghai. They were admirably conducted.
Short fervent prayers, earnest addresses, and bright
singing, made them attractive ; while her faith for
conversions led her to be most direct in her teaching
and appeals. The change produced in the general
conduct of the men-of-war's men and other sailors
was astonishing. At the other Chinese ports, and in
Japan, a similar interest sprang up in the sailor, and
lier prayer for a work to do was fuUy answered.

It is not surprising that the sailor felt both love
and respect in return for the ardent interest taken in
his welfare by this attractive lady, and appreciated
her efforts to keep him from temptation. Neither is
it a matter for wonder that when he was brought
from darkness into light and life, he should continue
to look to her for guidance and help.

" Dearest mother," writes one of these dear fellows
to her, " is there anything wrong in smoking ? There
is a young chap on board the Frolic who told me last

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 133

night, when he saw me smoking, that I had not given
up all for Jesus, so I thought I would ask you if you
think it is wrong, and I will give it up. I will do noth-
ing that my Saviour does not love ; and anything
you do not hke, I wiU not do. I would not displease
you if I knew it ; you who have promised to be my
mother. You do not know how I love you as a
mother, more now than when I was with you. You
were kinder to me than anyone else has ever been.
If I had not known you, I should not have known
Jesus."

This is the way in which the sailors used to write
to their spiritual teacher, and it proves that she had
completely won the hearts of these honest, blunt, and
simple-minded men.

It wiU readily be admitted that such a worker was
an acceptable comrade to the missionaries stationed
at Hankow. There her efforts were directed more
to the Chinese women and girls, although her love
to the sailor remained the same to the end of life.
Whenever a gunboat or tea-ship visited the port she
was indefatigable in ministering to the spiritual needs
of the men.

Her spiritual aid and sympathy were most re-
freshing to her husband, and he worked more vigor-
ously than ever in each branch of the mission. When
Mrs. John arrived at Hankow there had been no
Enghsh lady at the station for nearly two years,
and the consequence was that the number of female
converts had not increased in anything hke the same
proportion as the converts from among the Chinese
men. Mrs. John's advent was the beginning of
better things. She set to work to learn the Hankow

134 GRIFFITH JOHN

dialect, which is different from that of Shanghai, and
soon was engaged in house-to-house visitation, with
a Biblewoman, in superintending a girls' school, and
especially in devoting herself to the instruction of
the female patients in the Hospital. Day by day,
through rain and sunshine," she was to be seen on her
way to that institution. Once, as she was passing
the doctor's house in a broiling sun, he remarked to
a colleague, " Well, that is something I have never
seen in India. Mrs. John's devotion to these poor
women is something wonderful." She knew how
dark and sad their souls were, and felt she must go
and give them light and comfort. Her labours in
that direction were not in vain. Some of the most
satisfactory female converts were brought to Christ
through her efforts in the Hospital.

Mrs. John often accompanied her husband to the
villages around Hankow. She had a particular
liking for old women ; and it was delightful to see
how she would take a wrinkled, withered old hag by
the hand, tell her how much she loved her, and then
try and convey to her dark mind the fact that there
was One in heaven who loved her still more. " Come,
Griffith," she would often say, " and tell this poor
woman something about Jesus and His love."

During the cold season of 1875-6 Dr. Mackenzie
accompanied Mr. John upon seven journeys into
the adjacent country. They sought to combine the
preaching of the Gospel with the healing of the sick ;
and in these journeys nearly all the neighbouring
villages were visited, many for the first time.

In the new year, when the Hospital was necessarily
closed, these two brethren took longer journeys into

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 135

the Pottery district of Hiau-kan, about forty miles
from Hankow. Here they had a rougher experience
than any they had before experienced. God merci-
fully draws a veil over many of the perils to which
His servants are daily exposed in speaking to the
people. At Hiau-kan, however, they were furiously
assailed by a heathen mob, and missiles of all sorts
were hurled at them. The missionaries were struck
repeatedly with heavy clods and stones, and it ap-
peared as if they were about to die. The Christian
converts, who accompanied them from Hankow,
bravely stood in front of their pastor and doctor,
however, and as far as possible shielded them from
the blows. Some of these poor fellows were terribly
beaten. If any further proof were required as to the
sincerity of their Christian conduct, it was now con-
clusively rendered. In their blood they witnessed
for Christ.

Griffith John says, " I never felt more calm in my
life than I did in that storm, the prospect of death
did not disturb my peace in the least. I felt thank-
ful that I had been permitted to shed my blood in
the cause of Christ. I had laboured many years in
China, but never before had I been called to lose
a drop of blood for Him. The thought brought real
sweetness to my soul."

Thus, amid the pain and conflict, God gave His
people peace ; and what would, under circumstances
other than the preaching of the Gospel, have been a
disaster, was by His power turned into a season of
consolation and grace.

Griffith John visited the district soon after, and
found all quiet. He preached freely everywhere, and

136 GRIFFITH JOHN

was cordially received. In some of the villages plat-
forms were erected by the people for him to preach
on, and hundreds came from far and near to hear
what he had to say about those things for which the
Christians were ready to endure such suffering. The
brutal assault and the forbearance shown, not only
gave advertisement to the " religion of Jesus," but
caused a reaction of human S3i'mpathy to be created
in the otherwise indifferent heathen heart. A good
work was begun there, and bright prospects gave Mr.
John much hope and gladness. Not the least among
his triumphs has been the opening of a chapel among
these very people who sought to take his life.

During the tea season, Mr. and Mrs. John opened
their house nightly to the sailors from the ships, and
many interesting meetings were held. Mrs. John
had charge of the musical part of the service, and
also spoke very effectually. Ten cases of decided
conversion occurred, and both were much cheered at
the other good resulting from their efforts.

Mr. John writes : " It is a sad thing to go from ship
to ship, and from sailor to sailor, and to have no
other reply than ' No,' to the questions — ' Are there
any Christians on board ? Are you a Christian ? '
Such is the state of things on board these ships,
although they come from Christian England."

Many of the sailors were doubtless glad to have a
Christian home to visit during their evenings in port,
where good singing, lively music, and attractive
conversation were to be found. Here also was a
flower-garden which was the pride of Hankow. On
her arrival Mrs. John had found a wilderness in front
of the Mission House, and being fond of flowers she

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 137

spent an hour or two each day, upon her return from
the city, working in this ground. A great change
soon took place. Beautiful plants, flowering shrubs,
and flowers of all procurable kinds were planted.
Writing at this time her husband says, "It is the
prettiest garden in Hankow. The sight of it these
mornings, bathed in dew, whose every drop outvies
Golconda's gems, is most lovely. There is a dahlia
in front of our door with seventy large red flowers
on it."

IncrccLsing success attended the work in the chapels.
Over 120 were baptized in 1876, more than double
the increase of any previous year ; and in 1877 many
sought admittance. During the first two months 26
were baptized.

For a long time previously Griffith John had been
profoundly dissatisfied with himself, and felt also that
the Mission ought to advance with greater strides.
He writes : " My own soul is going out in strong de-
sires towards God. Read Ephesians iii. 16-20, and
you wiU see what I am prajdng for — ' filled with
all the fulness of (k)d.' I long to be fiUed with divine
knowledge, divine wisdom, divine love, divine hoHness,
to the utmost extent of my capacity. I want to feel
that ' aU the currents of my soul are interfused in
one channel deep and wide, and all flowing towards
the heart of Christ.' I hardly begin to know what
treasures there are for us in Christ. It seems to me
that every one of us might be more spiritual, and ought
to be unspeakably mightier than we are. It is the
Holy Ghost in us that is everything ; and the Father
is willing to bestow Him upon the weakest, if he wiU
but ask in the spirit of implicit faith and entire self-

138 GRIFFITH JOHN

surrender. My cry these days is for a Pentecost,
first on myself and my missionary brethren, then on
the native Church, and then on the heathen at large.
Without this we can do nothing. How I long for it
as I am now writing ! Your God has been revccding
Himself to me of late ia a way for which I praise His
name. Large drops of blessing have descended into
my soul. But I am waiting the melting of the great
clouds into rich summer showers."

The long-looked-for blessing came, and in such
abundance and power as to leave no doubt as to its
Divine origin. Griffith John lay all day on his face
before God, wrestling in prayer and waiting to be
endued with power. The next day he went forth to
preach, but without a text. God opened his Ups ; and
while speaking, a veritable baptism of the Holy
Ghost fell on him and the converts. They were filled
with joy, and on all sides those who beUeved rose up
to bear testimony to the love of God ; whilst many
who had been babes in Christ Jesus became men,
and spoke with boldness of Christ to the uncon-
verted Chinese. Some of the vilest characters were
changed, and went throughout the country ; and
soon strangers from afar flocked in, as they said, to
hear the Gospel, for they had already seen it in the
hves of the converts.

Thus the good work spread amazingly, and Griffith
John's own testimony is that it is since the time he
received " power from on liigh," as a special gift from
God, that real and large success has come to him as
a missionary. It cannot be doubted that the good
wrought in former years was divinely effected. It
stands the test, and some of its subjects are now

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 139

glorified saints ; but his statement must be received
as that of one who feels that he is taught by the
Spirit of Christ.

Early in May 1878, he executed a commission for
a kindred Society which was peculiarly pleasant to
his pioneering tendencies. The Church of Scotland
sent out a mission to be located at I-Chang, a city
nearly 400 miles up the river. The Directors of his
Society requested him to render every assistance in
his power. He accompanied the young brethren to
their station, and remained there until they were
comfortably settled down. Everything went on satis-
factorily, and he returned to Hankow feeUng thus his
most sanguine expectations had been realized.

Rumours of war were rife in China during the
year 1880 ; and although Russia was the immediate
object of attention, there was a widespread opinion
among the natives that victory over that country
would mean persecution to the Christians. This feel-
ing interfered with the progress of the work in the
Hankow mission, inquirers were intimidated, and
accessions to the Church were fewer. Still fifty-eight
were baptized, and there were unmistakable signs of
development.

In the district of Hiau-kan the converts wished to
build a chapel, but were told that the Society could
not provide one for them. Griffith John, however,
promised that if they would furnish ground, and con-
tribute to the building according to their means, he
would try and get help at Hankow.

Two pieces of land were provided at once, and the
native Church at Hankow was charmed with the
idea. Some gave well, the poorest gave something,

140 GRIFFITH JOHN

and the missionaries subscribed. The consequence
was that two little sanctuaries, with a prophet's room
attached to each, were built, much of the labour also
being given gratuitously by the converts.

This matter of building entirely by the converts
was a unique thing at that time, as the Chinese are
essentially a money-loving people, and their hearts
must indeed have been touched to do this. Griffith
John could hardly beheve his eyes when he saw them
bringing their strings of cash, so great did the trans-
formation which they had undergone appear to him.
The missionaries of other Societies doubted the reality
of the matter, and one brother very naturally remarked
that it was one thing for a Chinaman to promise
and another thing to give. The promises indeed were
made in good faith, and nearly the whole sum was
paid in. Here, then, the power of the Gospel is
shown, in that the same people, who four years ago
stoned the missionaries, were now esteeming it a
privilege to build a chapel for the religion of Jesus.

Griffith John was greatly cheered by the opening
of a purely Chinese hospital in Hankow by one of the
converts named Wang Kien-tang, who had been
trained by Drs. Reid, Shearer, and Mackenzie. Both
the ground and building were subscribed for by native
officials, merchants, and converts. This hospital was
made self-supporting by the fees paid by the patients ;
and Dr. Wang gave his services gratuitously, de-
pending upon his practice outside the hospital for his
income. The best thing about the institution was
that Dr. Wang told the subscribers that he was a
Christian, and that he could only undertake the
medical duties on condition of being allowed to carry

A CHINiiSE LAUY

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 141

on his work as a Christian. This was acceded to ;
and in 1879 the hospital was opened with a Christian
service, and preaching has since then been carried
on there daily.

This year Griffith John and Mr. Archibald, of the
National Bible Society of Scotland, made an extensive
tour of over twelve hundred miles in the provinces of
Hu-nan and Kiang-si. The capitals of these provinces
had been persistently closed against all attempts of
foreign missionaries to enter. They were turned
back from the gates of the latter capital, but had a
long interview with two of the magistrates, who did
not seem at aU inclined to admit them. They managed
to persuade them, however, and obtained permission
to enter the next day. They did so, and walked
about in every direction, saw aU the sights, preached
in the temple and streets, and sold as many books
as they could spare. That the famous Nan-chang,
the capital of Kiang-si, was really opened on the
occasion of their visit, was abundantly proved during
the same year, when many missionaries, hearing of
their success, visited it, and much evangehstic work
was done within its walls.

Returning by way of Hu-nan, they attempted to
enter Siang-tau, the largest mart in the province, but
were driven away. They knocked at the gates of
Chang-sha, the capital of Hu-nan, but found them
closed. They had a most cordial interview with the
magistrates at Chang-sha, and beUeved that if they
could have admitted them they would have done so.
They said plainly that they feared the people, and
dared not admit missionaries. In other cities the
missionaries found a great and effectual door opened,
10

142 GRIFFITH JOHN

and returned to Hankow in the hope that ere long
the people of Chang-sha will give up their pride and
hostility, and that soon the last of the provincial
capitals of China will open her gates to the Gospel.

It must be mentioned that in this journey they
visited the city of King-teh, a place of wider fame
than Nan-chang or Chang-sha. This immense mart,
one of the largest in the Empire, is famous over the
world for its porcelain manufactories. Here no
missionary work had ever been attempted, and Griffith
John had grave doubts whether any foreigner would
be admitted within the precincts of a place so jealously
guarded. Their success, however, was complete.
They landed without opposition, penetrated its narrow
streets, visited its furnaces, and inspected every de-
partment of its porcelain manufacture. They also
preached to immense crowds, and sold thousands of
books and tracts. Griffith John will never forget his
congregation in the centre of the town, the largest he
has addressed in China. The missionaries had found
their way to an immense square in front of the Im-
perial Pottery. For a while the whole town seemed
to be pouring its thousands into the square. Here
they stood for hours, preaching with all their might,
and both selling books as fast as they could hand
them to the eager purchasers. A foreign face had
never before been seen there ; the curiosity was
intense, and the excitement considerable. Having
finished their work, they departed, feeling more than
satisfied with the conduct of the magistrates, and
deeply grateful to God for aU He had enabled them
to accomplish. They looked upon their success in these
cities as God's doing, and gave Him all the praise.

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 143

In 1880 Mrs. John, accompanied by her sister, left
Hankow for England. The reasons for her coming
are succinctly set forth by Mr. John to his dear friend
Mr. Jacob : " Mrs. John has been out in China twenty-
six years, and the only change she has had for sixteen
years has been one short six months some nine years
since. The consequence is that her health has been
running down for two or three years ; and about four
months since she had a severe sprain of the ankle,
which has kept her in the house ever since, and given
a decided impetus to the downward course of her
health. It is a great trial to her ; being so active,
her daily life is generally crowded with work. There
are few missionaries in China who work harder than
she does, or who have as much to encourage them in
their work.

" I don't feel that I should be justified in con-
sulting my own happiness, and keep her over another
summer. It will be a great trial to us both, but life
is made up of trials. If you say, ' Why not come
home with her ? ' my reply is simple, ' My colleague's
departure leaves the Mission entirely resting on me
for the present. I cannot come.' "

While his friends pleaded in vain, an unanswerable
demand for his return was made. Mrs. John, who
had at first improved in health, went over to America.
Here it was found that other symptoms were develop-
ing, and Mr. John was summoned by cablegram to
New York. On arriving there, in March 1881, he
was much struck with her altered appearance, and
distressed at the intense pain she had to endure.
Early in April a successful operation was performed,
which gave much relief to Mrs. John, and eventually

144 GRIFFITH JOHN

she recovered sufficient strength to return to
England.

Mr. John was very kindly received at New York
by Dr. Bevan, who with other friends vied in render-
ing all the Christian help and sympathy possible
during the great anxiety which he had to bear ;
while many Christian ladies gave similar aid to his
suffering wife.

Mr. and Mrs. John returned to England in July
1881, and spent the winter among their friends. He
was again invited to advocate the claims of China ;
and on many occasions he spoke with soul-stirring
eloquence.

Both longed, however, to return to their loved toil,
and left England in February 1882. Mrs. John's
stay in China, however, was of very short duration,
and a relapse compelled her to return to New York
in July, for further surgical aid. This was success-
fully rendered ; and again she essayed to take up
her much-beloved work, arriving in Hankow in
October 1883.

When in England, Mrs. John had received various
sums of money from friends to be devoted to a project
long contemplated by her, namely, the building of
a Sailors' Rest. This was erected in the south-east
corner of their garden, and here the good work was
energetically pursued, and also meetings of the Euro-
peans from the community were held. Many sailors
were converted during the tea seasons, and the crews
of several British gun-boats were greatly blessed by
the services in this charming retreat.

Griffith John has always endeavoured to adapt his
work to the peculiar ways of the people. One of the

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 145

things a Chinaman looks forward to with the greatest
joy is the prospect of passing from the old into the
new year in the bosom of his family. For many
days, towards the close of the year, thousands are seen
leaving the cities in order to reach their native villages,
and for fifteen days at least it is not orthodox to do
any work. The time is spent in visiting friends,
feasting, and amusements. In consequence of this
Griffith John has chosen the New Year for visiting
the country stations, as the men are at home, and
can give their whole time to his preaching. His plan
is to spend the day in preaching and talking to the
heathen ; and in the evening in praying with and
expounding the Scriptures to the converts.

He left Hankow on the third day of the Chinese
New Year, the 17th of February 1885, accompanied
by Dr. GiUison, C. G. Sparham, a native assistant,
and a deacon. About ten miles from Hankow they
arrived at the river which runs up to Hiau-kan. The
boats there were all gaily decked with flags, and the
boatmen loimged about with no thoughts of work.
But cash is an irresistible power in China, and some
men were found who would move their boat, pro-
vided the contract price was worthy of the season.
By traveUing all night they landed for the Wei village
early in the morning, and enjoyed the twelve miles'
walk across the country. The httle chapel at Wei
was visible long before they reached the place. A
good congregation was assembled ; and day after
day they preached to an audience which was continu-
ally coming and going, while Dr. GUhson attended to
scores of sick people in the vestry.

Sunday was a great day : several were baptized.

146 GRIFFITH JOHN

and about one hundred sat down to the Lord's Table.
Mr. John could not but think of his first attempt to
enter this village with Dr. Mackenzie, and how they
were ruthlessly assailed by the mob and driven back
to Hankow. He also remembered his second visit,
when, standing on the ground where the chapel is
now built, he told the few converts then there that
he felt sure the spot on which they stood was to be
the site of their first sanctuaiy in that region.

At the other villages, and at the city of Hiau-kan,
the work was not progressing so favourably. At the
Lin village the heathen people maintained an in-
different attitude, and stood aloof. Two of the
Christians were iU : these they called upon and
prayed with ; then they separated. That night a
messenger followed them to the city of Hiau-kan, and
entreated them to return, as one of the Christians
was dead, and the heathen party were up in arms as
to the manner, time, and place of his burial.

In the morning Mr. John and Mr. Sparham re-
turned, and endeavoured to show the heathen how
unreasonable it was on their part to interfere with the
Christians in these matters, and asked what they
would think if the Christians took it upon them to
dictate to the heathen party as to how they should
bury their dead. They proposed that the body should
be kept for 100 days, which was refused as unreason-
able. They then proposed that the coflSn should be
placed on the ground, but not buried for 180 days.
They then proposed to allow the old man to be buried
if Mr. John would guarantee that no one should die
at that village for 100 days. They were told that he
was a man, and not God, and also that if they did not

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 147

allow the burial the matter would be brought before
the magistrate.

Then an old man came forward and asked that
another spot be chosen, as the ground fixed upon
would interfere geomantically with a neighbour's
grave. Griffith John said they did not believe in
geomancy, and one spot was as good as another, and
that personally he would meet their wishes if the
relatives did not object. The widow's permission
being obtained, a place near at hand was chosen, and
the old Christian buried decently, in the presence of
a large heathen crowd. Griffith John hoped that his
conciHatory manner would draw the heathen towards
the missionaries, and was glad to show that, while
holding firmly to his convictions, he had no desire to
treat their fears with contempt, however foohsh they
appeared to him. He was, therefore, specially glad to
hear one say as he departed, " That foreign teacher is
a good man."

On their way back to Hankow they called at Tsai-
tien, and found one of the Christians had been beaten
by a mob, led by a Buddhist priest, because he would
not contribute to a heathen festival. For years the
Christians had been troubled in this district on the
same score by the heathen, who now had taken
courage by the Chinese successes in the French war,
and were convinced that the day had arrived when
the foreigner should be cast out, and the religion of
Jesus banished from the land. The matter was
brought before the magistrate, who issued a very
satisfactory proclamation, reminding the people of
the Treaty rights of Christian converts, and ending
with a solemn warning that if such deeds of violence

148 GRIFFITH JOHN

were repeated the full penalty would be meted out to
the offenders.

The phlegmatic nature of the Chinaman is such that
he seldom manifests excited feeUngs over any topic.
But in the beginning of October a pleasing event
occurred which broke in upon the habitual calm, and
called forth an exhibition of enthusiasm on the part
of the Hankow converts such as is rarely witnessed in
China. The event referred to was the celebration
of the thirtieth anniversary of the arrival in China of
Griffith John, and the feelings it called forth on the
part of the native brethren were somewhat surprising
to all the missionaries.

On that day some three hundred persons assembled
in the Hospital Chapel — ^which the converts had
arranged and decorated very tastefully in Chinese
style in keeping with the importance of the occasion
■ — to present to Griffith John a set of three handsome
tablets, on which were recorded the esteem and
affection in which he was held by his Chinese brethren.
The central and important tablet contained four large
gilt characters on a green silk ground, which mean
to the initiated that Mr. John was regarded as " the
benefactor of the Eastern regions."

Although the handsome tablets hung on the wall,
and which are visible to all, and the fine decorations
of many-coloured hangings, which were beautiful both
for correctness of taste and for richness of effect,
spoke of many loving hearts and hands, the best
part of the proceedings commenced when the converts
rose one after another, in quick succession, to testify
to God's goodness in bringing their beloved pastor
into their midst, and in preseirving him for so many

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 149

years in health and strength to labour at Hankow.
A graceful tribute was also paid by Mr. Archibald,
of the National Bible Society of Scotland, to the
good old man, Mr. Shen, who for twenty-eight years
had faithfully assisted Griffith John.

After Mr. John had made a reply, in which he
mentioned how his early love for Madagascar had
been overruled by God, who also opened a way for
him to come out to China, several adults were
baptized, and some two hundred and fifty Christians
joined in a communion service. How different from
this scene was that of the two or three newly awakened
Christians, timidly joining with Mr. John in his native
house, twenty-four years before, to perform the same
act of love and service ! Then having lovingly remem-
bered those friends who had long joined the Church
triumphant, the first Thanksgiving Service held in
Central China ended.

At this time their principal place of worship in
Hankow, called the Kia Kiai Chapel, was rebuilt.
It was the old chapel which had been the first built in
Central China. For more than twenty years the
Gospel was preached in it for hours every day, and
there are men in every province of the vast Empire
who learned something of the truth there. In it
were sown seeds which have resulted in many other
chapels being built in Hankow and the surrounding
country. Mr. John prayed, " May the glory of this
second temple be greater than that of the first." We
believe it wiU be so.

Thus ever-widening success attended the Hankow
Mission, and gladdened the heart of Griffith John.
In the midst of it, however, and before the year 1885

150 GRIFFITH JOHN

closed, he experienced a heavy loss in the departure
of his beloved wife to her eternal reward.

Mrs. John's death was a harmonious supplement to
her life. For about three months she had felt poorly ;
but neither her husband nor herself had any appre-
hensions of danger until Christmas Day in 1885,
when she had several severe chills, and in the after-
noon intense pain, followed by what Dr. Gillison
pronounced to be peritonitic symptoms. AU the help
which love and medical skill could render was afforded
to the patient, but she gradually grew worse. Her
husband and friends hoped to the last ; but two hours
before the time of her departure a great change came
over her, and their hearts began to sink. During
those two hours she gave expression to her faith and
hope in the clearest manner. She seemed to recognise
the presence of the King in His beauty, and the veil
was removed from heaven as that redeemed one waded
the river. It was a triumphant passage. Through
weakness her words could not be uttered distinctly,
but they were wonderful words — constantly repeated
— such as " Jesus ! Precious ! Jesus, Saviour !
Come, Lord Jesus ! Bliss ! Griffith ! Don't fret,
Griffith ! "

Her husband asked if she was happy. In an in-
stant a strange light shone upon or from her face ;
she opened her eyes, and fixing them on heaven, said,
" Jesus the Lord ! Beautiful ! " During the last
half-hour this was frequently repeated, and she heaved
her last sigh with the words upon her lips.

Those present can never forget what they saw and
heard during that half-hour. They felt heaven was
in their midst, and that they were near the King.

CONTINUED SUCCESSES 151

What was that light ? Was it not the reflection of
another Face which was just then smiling upon her ?
The spirit fled ; but a responsive smile remained,
so beautiful that those who gazed upon it found it
diificult to believe that the soul — stimulated by that
vision — was not still behind, lighting it up.

A soul still upward bent

On higher flight,

With wing of light ;

That shall be thine !

All well ^vith thee ;
Oh, would that it were mine !

The devoted husband, faithful to what he conceived
would have been her expressed wishes, carried her
remains down the Yang-tse, and laid them in the
beautiful cemetery at Shanghai. His daughter, who
has ever been a comfort and help, accompanied him
on this sorrowful journey. Never were the views of
the " Celestial Kingdom " more impressive to these
mourning ones as they floated through the beautiful
gorges, past the Silver and Golden Islands, to the spot
she loved most in the East.

CHAPTER IX

A REMARKABLE PROCLAMATION

So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still

Will lead me on.
O'er dale and hUl, through stream and torrent, till

The night is gone ;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

WEAKNESS and sorrow were the chief features
of Griffith John's experience of hfe in 1886.
One source of satisfaction and joy was afforded him in
the completion and opening of a beautiful new chapel,
with a large vestry or guest hall, native pastor's
house, girls' school, and teachers' rooms. All these,
together with a book-shop, were erected in several
buildings upon one large piece of ground. Like
the Sailors' Rest, they were the outcome of that
pilgrimage of pain made by Mrs. John to New York
and England in 1881, when Mr. John was so hurriedly
summoned to her. Although their hearts begrudged
the valuable time apparently taken from the Mission
in Hankow, that season of anxiety is now proved to
have been fraught with blessings to that work. While
Griffith John, accompanied by his wife, undertook
many fatiguing journeys as a deputation from the
Society when in England, the necessity for building

15s

A REMARKABLE PROCLAMATION 153

a new chapel in the principal native street of
Hankow was not forgotten. The few subscriptions
gathered fell far short of the sum needed. At the
very last moment, and when the enterprise seemed
doomed to failure, a few friends in a farewell meeting
quietly raised enough to complete the sum that had
been mentioned. On account of the great rise in the
price of land this sum proved insufficient ; but other
friends came forward, and the money required, about
;^iooo, was obtained.

On a Sunday morning in June about 300 Christians
assembled in the new chapel for the first time. It had
never been their lot to worship God in such a place
as that ; and the arched and ornamental roof, the
graceful pointed windows with their diamond-coloured
panes, the prettily carved platform, and the general
appearance, which had been specially designed to
please Chinese taste, produced a very gratif5dng effect
on the converts. Some of them have since said that
during those opening services God became to them
higher, grander, and worthier of praise. In the after-
noon 450 Christians attended the service.

Other services followed, and the happiness of the
people seemed to grow day by day as they became
more familiar with their beautiful spiritual home.
It will be well to give some details of this large and
beautiful Protestant church in Central China.

The passage to the mission ground from the street
is through a high and imposing Chinese entrance, on
the left side of which is a book-shop, where the chapel-
keeper sells Bibles and tracts. Inside this entrance
is a square paved courtyard, and right across is the
chapel. The double central window over the door-

154 GRIFFITH JOHN

way has been dedicated to the memory of the friends
at Westminster Chapel, who supplied such a large
portion of the contributions. A similar coloured
window at the back reminds the converts of the late
Mrs. John, whose lot it was, like that of David, not
to be permitted to see the completion of the house
of God, for which she had so long prayed and worked.
Another window is in memory of the late John Kemp
Welch, while the platform, which is quite a work
of art, was the kind contribution of Dr. Thomas of
Liverpool and his congregation. At the back of the
chapel is another courtyard filled with stands of
flowers and plants, and you then enter a large vestry
or guest hall furnished in good Chinese style. At
the back of this building is a substantial six-roomed
house for good old deacon Tseng and his wife, who
are remarkable among the Chinese for their cleanli-
ness and good taste. Behind Tseng's house is a
small square garden, on the other side of which is
Mrs Arnold Foster's Girls' School and teachers'
rooms. This splendid property has been built in
native style, as it is cheaper and better suited for
the purpose. All must feel that out of that dark
and sorrowful furlough of 1881 there now shines
a great light, which adds many long-needed facili-
ties for usefulness to the workers in the Hankow
Mission.

This year will be ever memorable for the remark-
able proclamation issued from the Tsung-li Yamen
Government Of&ce) at Peking. It will be seen that
he tone which pervades this proclamation is totally
different from that of the edict of 1844, which at the
time called forth such a feeling of thankfulness from

A REMARKABLE PROCLAMATION 155

all who were interested in the evangelisation of China.
It not only states that a profession of Christianity is
not in itself a crime, it bids the people in general
to live on terms of friendship and goodwill with
their Christian neighbours, and exhorts all local
magistrates to treat Christian applicants for justice
with perfect impartiality. The proclamation here
given was issued by the Governor of the Chekiang
province :

" In the 3rd moon of the present year (April 1886),
instructions to the following effect were received from
the Tsung-li Yamen :

" ' The protection of Christian converts being pro-
vided for in the Treaties, and friendly relations having
now been re-established between China and France,
it becomes our duty to draw attention to the Imperial
Decree, issued in the 7th moon of the loth year of
Kuang Hsii (August 1884), which laid down that,
wherever there was a church or chapel, proclamations
should be issued with a view to securing harmony
between the people and the converts.' At the time
of the receipt of this dispatch, I gave the necessary
directions ; but passing, as they would, through many
hands, there has, of course, been danger of delay or
error in their execution, and a possibility of the pro-
clamation not having been uniformly promulgated.
In respectful furtherance, therefore, of the benevolent
intentions of the State, I feel it incumbent on me to
put the matter in plain terms. Know, therefore, all
men, of whatsoever sort or condition, that the sole
object of establishing chapels is to exhort men to do
right : those who embrace Christianity do not cease
to be Chinese, and both sides should therefore con-

156 GRIFFITH JOHN

tinue to live in peace, and not let mutual jealousies
be the cause of strife between thena. If cases come
before the courts, the local authority should investi-
gate them impartially, having regard only to the
merits of the case, and not to the rehgion of the
litigants, and should give his decision quickly : thus
neither party shall infhct injury on the other, each
shall pursue in peace and quietude its various callings,
and the desire of the State to include in its kindly
benevolence the men from afar equally with its own
people shall not, I trust, be frustrated. From the
date of this proclamation, any lawless vagabonds who
make trouble or stir up strife without a cause shall
be punished with the utmost rigour of the law : no
mercy wiU be shown, so beware ! "

In one other respect, not alluded to in the above
proclamation, a great difference is noticeable between
the present manifesto of the Government and that
of 1844. The proclamation posted up at Shanghai
contains the following sentences : " Bear in mind
that when missionaries hve ia the midst of your
villages, you and they are mutually in the relation-
ship of host and guest. ... It is your foremost duty
to act towards them with courtesy and forbear-
ance." How different the state of things here pre-
supposed from that which existed when the former
edict was pubhshed ! Then, the missionary was re-
stricted to the five open ports ; now, even the country
districts and villages of the empire are open to him.
Eighty years are a long time in the history of an
individual. They are a very short time in the history
of a nation. Who can say, after comparing the
proclamations of 1886 with the edict of 1805, that

A REMARKABLE PROCLAMATION 157

Christianity is making no way in China ? The pro-
gress made is enormous. God has overruled all the
political events of the past eighty years, to effect
an almost complete change in the rehgious policy
of the Emperor of China, which is visible to the
whole world. An even greater change is silently
taking place in the thoughts and feelings of the people
of China in reference to religion, by means of spiritual
forces, of which the world takes httle cognizance.

One of the most interesting events of the year
1887 was the opening of the new chapel at Han Yang.
Some of the converts there were among the brightest
and best Grif&th John had seen, and had been in-
defatigable in their attendance and help at the Han-
kow chapel. Although residing six or seven miles
distant, neither wind, rain, nor snow could keep them
away from the Sunday services. These poor people
bought the land, and their fellow-Christians at Han-
kow and Wuchang raised a goodly sum towards the
building. The opening day was one long to be
remembered for the joy and pleasure experienced.
All hearts were full, eloquent speeches were made,
several converts were baptized, and a great impetus
was given to the Churches in the three cities.

A noteworthy conversion was that of a Hu-nan
man who came to the chapel one day. Griffith John,
after preaching, catechised his audience. As this
man answered every question correctly, he was asked
where he obtained his knowledge of the doctrine.
He replied that he had been reading several books.
Then he was earnestly exhorted to give his heart to
God. He said he would, and became an earnest
Christian. The fires of persecution, however, awaited
II

158 GRIFFITH JOHN

him, and the members of his class wanted to cut him
off on account of his religion, but his aged mother's
intercessions prevailed. " Why," said she, " do you
want to deprive me of my only son, and, as you
know, he is one of the best of sons ? The only fault
you can find with him is that he is a Christian. Spare
him for my sake."

Among several aged members who died in 1887
was the venerable Shen-tsi-sing, Mr. John's faithful
friend, assistant, and preacher for thirty years. He
acted as Mr. John's pundit in the composition or
translation of aU his books and tracts save one, and
was with him at the founding of the Hankow Mission.
As an account of this remarkable man has already
been given, it is only needful to add that some years
ago he had a stroke of paralysis, and had latterly
become verj^ feeble. At the beginning of 1887 he
returned to Nanking, his native city. Mr. John sent
a man with him to attend to all his wants. This man
returned, and reported that Mr. Shen had passed away
on the 7th of November.

Griffith John wrote of Mr. Shen : "I loved, re-
spected, and trusted him as I have never done any
other Chinaman. He was universally respected for
his learning, ability, and character. He beheved in
Jesus with all his intellect and heart ; and it was
his dehght for years to stand up in the chapels, streets,
and temples, and preach Christ and Him crucified.
I never saw him show the least fear or shame when
preaching or speaking of Christ. May God raise up
many more like Mr. Shen in connection ■with all the
Churches in this land ! "

Another dear brother was Mr. Fung, who at one

A REMARKABLE PROCLAMATION 159

time was an opium smoker. He was led to give up
the habit by a sermon preached by Grif&th John on
James iv. 8. Mr. John described the opium smoker
lifting up his stained hands in prayer, and God bidding
him go and cleanse them. Mr. Fung, narrating this
to his fellow-Christians, said, " When the pastor,
representing the opium smoker, lifted up his hands
and told us how God was looking at the opium stains
on the fingers, I felt he was describing me, and when
the pastor cried out, ' Cleanse your hands, ye sinners,'
I felt God was speaking to me. I resolved to give
up the habit ; and I want to tell you aU that I would
rather die than touch that accursed thing again."
Mr. Fung died in Christ, and was often heard during
his last days repeating the words, " Leaving the
world ; going to the Father. Beautiful ! "

CHAPTER X

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN

Like the star

That shines afar.

Without haste

And without rest.
Let each man wheel, with steady sway.
Round the task that rules the day.

And do his best.

AT the Spring Session of the Congregational
Union of England and Wales, held in London
in May 1888, Griffith John's ministerial and lay
brethren in the home Churches elected him to occupy
the Chair of the Union during the following year, as
an expression of their appreciation of the noble work
he had accomplished in the foreign mission field.
This was an honour not only for Mr. John, but for
the London Missionary Society, and, had he seen his
way to accept the position and come to England, he
would without doubt have rendered signal service
for his Society, and have deepened the interest of the
Churches in mission work, especially in the Central
China Mission. His intense devotion to his work,
however, and the desire to use to the full the oppor-
tunities which he saw around him for extending it,

led him to respectfully decUne the honour, much to

160

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN i6i

the disappointment of his friends at home who, at
the same time, could not but acknowledge the wisdom
of the course he thought it right to pursue in the
interests of his work. The Directors had before this
urged him to come home as a delegate to the great
Missionary Conference fixed for 1888, but the chief
consideration which induced him to stay at Hankow
was that he was engaged in revising the Wen-li
version of the New Testament, and in preparing a
Mandarin version. A few years later, also, he was
pressed by the Directors to come home and take part
in the Centenary celebrations of the Society. This,
indeed, he had himself proposed to do ; but when the
time drew near, the unsettled condition of affairs in
China constrained him to stay on at his post. And so
it came to pass that for close upon twenty years he
had not visited England, and his face was not known,
except by pictorial presentment, to a host of admirers
and helpers who would joyfully have welcomed an
opportunity of seeing the venerated missionary.

In the attempt in this chapter to compress a record
of his labours during fourteen years, from 1888
to 1901, it may be found more convenient first to
clear the ground of some of the facts in chronological
order, and then to give a bird's-eye view of Griffith
John's travels in the country districts of the Mission
in Hupeh and in the Hunan Province.

To go back then to 1888 On the ist of November
in that year he had the great joy of seeing the Rev.
J. W. and Mrs. Wilson, and Mr. Wang, leave for work
at Chung-Kiang (the commercial capital of Si-chuen,
the largest province of the Empire), 721 miles from
Hankow. Twenty years before, as described in

i62 GRIFFITH JOHN

Chapter VI., Messrs. John and Wylie had accom-
plished a missionary tour of 3000 miles in that pro-
vince, being the first Protestant missionaries to preach
the Gospel in Si-chuen. When at Chung- Kiang Griffith
John had vowed that he would do all in his power
to move the Directors to establish a mission there.
" In some respects," he wrote in 1888, " I look upon
the Si-chuen Mission as a child of the Hankow Mission,
and as my own child in a special sense. My own
heart is full of thankfulness and joy as I think of
the way in which God has been pleased to give me
to see the fulfilment of my longings in regard to the
establishment of a mission there."

In January 1889, Griffith John and Arnold Foster
(an honorary self-supporting missionary of the Society)
drew up an appeal for self-supporting missionaries,
which, with the approval of the Directors, was printed
in religious papers in England. " We cannot help
thinking," they wrote, " that the work of our own
Society and of other Societies might be very largely
developed by the addition of a band of entirely un-
remunerated labourers to the ranks of missionaries
who are supported by the Churches. We ourselves
are prepared, if others will join us, to forgo salary and
various money allowances for personal needs granted by
the Society to its missionaries, and we appeal to young
men possessed of private means to come out and unite
themselves with us as honorary workers in the Hankow
Mission of the London Society." This was a brave
challenge, and although, apparently, it did not meet
with a response at the time, it is to be hoped that
many may yet be induced to consider the appeal
made in it.

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 163

In the course of the year the University of Edin-
burgh conferred the degree of D.D. upon Grif&th
John. Early in the year he had completed his re-
\ision of the Wen-U Testament and his Mandarin
version. In 1890 he was invited by representatives
of the Shanghai Missionary Conference to act as
one of the translators of the Bible, but he felt
compelled to decline the invitation, partly because
he thought it would interfere with his ordinary
mission work.

The marriage, in 1891, of Miss Mary John to the
Rev. C. G. Sparham was a source of great satis-
faction to Dr. John, and to aU acquainted with the
principals in this interesting contract. Mr. Sparham,
who had joined the Mission in January 1885, had
shown exceptional abihty as a linguist, as well as a
missionary, and if this were a record of his work we
could say much more to his credit.

PoUtical excitement and rebellion have reached
acute stages more than once dvning the period under
review. During these seasons of anxiety Dr. John
has been a tower of strength to the Mission, and the
Directors and other friends at home have naturally
attached great weight to his judgment and advice.
His courage and optimism have inspired not only
his colleagues, but the native Christians as well.
Especially was this the case during the troubles of
1891, 1894 (dming the war between China and Japan),
and 1900. At each of these crises Dr. John was able
to bear emphatic testimony to the courage and stead-
fastness of the native Christians in circumstances
which tended greatly to try their faith and courage.
One outcome of the political troubles of 1891 was the

i64 GRIFFITH JOHN

issue of an Imperial Edict, and also a proclamation
by the Viceroy and Governor of Hupeh, in which the
widest and fullest toleration of Christian teaching
and profession was allowed. Another result was
the suppression of the vile Hunan literature. Chou
Han, the chief culprit, was deprived of his hterary
degree and official rank. The troubles were largely
attributable to the bitter anti-foreign influence of the
Hunan gentry and oii&cials, and to the foul publica-
tions and pictures issued from the Chang Sha Press
by Chou Han, encouraged by Chinese officials, in
order to fan the anti-foreign sentiment. When the
crisis had passed, Dr. John boldly wrote to Chou Han
and sent him some Christian books. " I hardly
expect an answer," he said to his friends, " and yet
nothing is impossible. Very many prayers are going
up on his behalf from Hankow and other places. We
look upon him as a sort of Chinese Saul, and are
earnestly pra3dng that he may, by the grace of God,
become a Paul in truth and verity."

Through the gloom of the month of September 1891
there came to Dr. John in one week some most remark-
able testimonies to the value of the work of the
Mission, and especially of his own preaching, which
greatly cheered him. For example, a letter came from
a Hunan man named Tan-kwang-tah (whom he had
baptized at Hankow in 1876, but from whom he had
not heard for more than twelve years), asking for a
New Testament and Hymn-book, etc., as he had lost
his own copies through the upsetting of his boat.
" Think," was Dr. John's comment, " of a native
Christian, all alone in that hostile province, feeding on
the Word of God, and thus maintaining his Christian

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 165

life for fifteen years witliout any liuman help, never
writing to me till his New Testament was lost, and
then from sheer hmiger writing for a new supply."
From two other sources tidings came of converts
helping on the work far from Hankow. Mr. Wang-
King-foo returned from helping Mr. Wilson at Chung-
KiEing. Of him Dr. John wrote : " When he was
received into our communion in 1876 he appeared to
me one of the most unpromising men ever admitted
by me into the Church, but he has developed into one
of the strongest and most saintly men I have ever
seen in China. He knows his Bible as few mis-
sionaries know it, and quotes it with wonderful point
and accuracy. Mr. Wilson speaks of him as a very
saint of God, and adds that if the Hankow Church
had done nothing but produce this one man it would
have been worth all the money and labour expended."
What a week of uplifting for Dr. John, who about
three years before had himself penned the following
striking sentences : "I never take a journey in any
direction without being deeply impressed with the
importance of Hankow as a great missionary centre.
Everywhere do I come across people who have heard
the Gospel at Hankow. The longer I live and work
in China, the more I marvel at God's saving ways.
Men and women are brought to God by methods which
often astonish me and inspire me with bright hopes.
Words spoken years ago, and forgotten by the speaker
himself, are now bringing forth a rich harvest. Books
given away by preachers who are to-day in heaven
are being read and blessed to many."

The " Margaret Memorial Hospital " (exclusively
for the use of women), the bulk of the funds for the

i66 GRIFFITH JOHN

»

erection of which were generously provided by Dr. John

in memory of his first wife, Mrs. Margaret John, was
opened in March 1891. In this and in many other
ways Dr. John devoted his private resources to the
furtherance of the work of the Mission.

The year 1892 was memorable on many accounts.
One of the most interesting features of the year's work
was the access gained to men from Hunan, and the
reception into the Church of several of these sturdy
opponents of all that is foreign.

The testimony of an independent witness to the
success of mission work is always well pleasing to
friends of the cause, and is more likely to be accepted
by outsiders than if they suspect that it comes from
" interested " persons. Before leaving Hankow in
1892, Commander L. Barnes Lawrence (of H.M.S.
Swift), an earnest Christian man, wrote to Dr. John :
"Of all the different points of interest that I was
shown, a Sunday afternoon service held in the Chapel
adjoining your hospital will remain most engraven on
my memory. I confess that I was unprepared to see
such real evidence of the spread of Christianity among
these people. The congregation, which I calculated
at some three hundred, was a pleasure to contemplate.
The earnest attention paid to the preacher, and the
hearty way in which the responses and singing were
carried out was most impressive."

In 1893 Dr. John was brought so low by sudden
illness that the gravest fears were entertained lest he
should be called away. Happily his life was spared.
But in July Mr. Wei, who had so long been an
evangelist in Hankow, was suddenly removed by
cholera, leaving a great gap in the circle of workers.

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 167

A heart-broken throng of converts gathered at his
funeral, but no heart was sadder than Dr. John's, for
they had worked together as brothers. The loss was
felt to be irreparable. One native brother volunteered
the following remarkable testimony concerning Mr.
Wei : " There was no difference between Wei's in-
ward and outward life." Mr. Peng, of Himan, said,
" When I saw him lying dead I could not bear it. He
led me to Christ ; by his instrumentality I was changed
from a bad man into a good man. There are many
hundreds who are not in the Church who have lamented
his death, for they all say that he set forth the true
way with great clearness."

The way in which Dr. John was led to found work
for lepers at Hiau Kan is an interesting episode. The
first time he came into close contact with a leper was
in the year 1878, at the Liu village in Hiau Kan
district. Among his hearers was Liu-Ting-tsung,
who though a leper was a scholar and a man of con-
siderable influence. When Dr. John visited the place
again in 1879, he was deUghted to see this man come
forward as a candidate for baptism. Whereas, before,
he had been haughty, now he conducted himself as
humbly as a child. After his baptism he offered up
one of the most remarkable prayers Dr. John had
ever heard from Chinese lips. In February 1892,
Dr. John felt that God was calUng him and his col'
leagues to work for the lepers. Upon Liu and two
other lepers coming to see him, he was moved to
exclaim, " Poor fellows ! May God help me to help
them ! " The condition of the lepers pressed on his
heart, but he could not see his way to move in the
matter till Dr. Walton arrived in 1893. To his great

i68 GRIFFITH JOHN

joy he foxmd that Dr. Walton was quite prepared to
go in heart and soul for the work. The Mission to
Lepers generously voted £200 for building purposes,
and also another £50 per annum towards current
expenses. The Home was opened on the 7th of April
1895, and has proved not only a place of physical
blessing to poor sufferers, but also a spiritual rest to
many a sin-burdened soul.

The year 1896 was a most trying year to the Hankow
Mission, and yet one of exceptional progress. Dr.
John was again seriously ill, and was further tried by
the sickness and death of colleagues. The progress
of the work, however, in the matter of numerical
increase, excelled all the previous years of his con-
nection with the Mission, 434 persons being baptized,
while hundreds more applied, but in their case it was
not deemed prudent to baptize them.

The following year also was an exceptionally fruitful
one in the Central China Mission. According to a
comparison drawn up by Dr. John, the year gave the
Mission more than twice as many baptisms as the first
nine years in the history of the Mission, and the two
years, 1896-97, gave nearly as many as the first
nineteen years. To all the Missions in Hupeh the year
1897 was a good one, the accessions being considerably
over 1000, probably nearer 1500.

When it was ended. Dr. John spoke of 1898 as the
busiest of his busy years in China. The following
may be taken as a very brief summary of what he
did : " In the beginning of the year, he and Mr.
Bonsey spent a whole month in successfully fighting
an important battle with the Roman Catholics on
behalf of the converts in King-shan. He devoted

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 169

much time to the visitation of the out-lying districts ;
took his full share in the preaching work carried on in
Hankow ; completed a translation of Genesis in Wen-li
and Mandarin, and prepared annotations of the
Gosepls and Acts ; and saw many visitors in private,
thousands of natives calling on him during the year,
so that at times his study was simply crammed with
them."

Having devoted much time to the preparation of
an important and extensive educational scheme,
Dr. John and his colleagues submitted their proposals
to the judgment of the Directors, who, in 1898, gave
their consent to the commencement of the new under-
taking, which embraced primary schools for boys
and girls, high schools for both sexes, and a college
for the training of ministers and evangelists, with a
department for medical students. Land and premises
were secured, and a high school was opened in April
1899. After it had been formally launched. Dr. John
was able to write of it as being a genuine Christian
school, likely to exert a strong Christian influence.
" I cannot think of it," he said, " without blessing God
from the bottom of my heart. Praise the Lord !
That's a bit of Methodism, but I cannot help it."

Dr. John and some of his male colleagues remained
at their posts throughout the terrible political up-
heaval of 1900, and their presence, as at other crises,
inspired the native Christians with confidence. The
members of the European staff who considered it
prudent to go to Shanghai or Japan returned as soon
as the way was made clear, and Dr. John said that
their return was known far and wide to the credit of
the Society. Reference has already been made to

170 GRIFFITH JOHN

the faith and courage of the native Christians at this
time. Once during the summer Hankow was in
great peril through the plottings of the Reformers.
Dr. John's faith — ^looked upon with much misgiving
by some — that the two great Viceroys responsible for
the Yang-tse Valley would maintain order, was
realised. Had the strong arm of these Viceroys been
withdrawn in June, July, or August, even for a week,
the probability is that the Central Provinces would
have presented a scene of persecution, murder, and
destruction as terrible as that which had been wit-
nessed in Chihli and other provinces in the north.
The attack on the Mission at Tsao-Shih was the only
painful incident upon which Dr. John had not cal-
culated, and which took him greatly by surprise.
But the authorities very soon showed anxiety to make
ample reparation, and did so, and there is every
prospect of that trouble working for the strengthen-
ing of the Mission. Dr. John has since said that, in
the years to come, 1900 would be looked back upon
as the most terrible in the annals of the Christian
Church in China, but also as the one most pregnant
with blessings. In the darkest hours his views of
the situation have been the reverse of despondent.
" There are," he wrote, " glorious days for missions
in China yet before us. Our prospects to-day " (this
was written at the end of 1900) " are vastly brighter
than they were six months ago. My heart is full of
hope, full of great expectation. The only question
that troubles me, when I think of China, and specially
Hunan, is this : Will the Churches of God be pre-
pared for the magnificent opportimities which the
new order of things in this land is about to present ? "

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 171

During the years since its foundation in 1876, Dr.
John has maintained an intimate connection with
the Central China Religious Tract Society, of which
he is President ; the headquarters of the Society
being at Hankow and Wuchang. In twenty-five
years the total circulation of books, tracts, etc.,
through its agency exceeded 16,000,000.

Dr. John's Missionary Tours in Hupeh Pro-
vince. — These journeys in country districts have
been almost too numerous to specify ; but the letters
from the pen of Dr. John, to which they have given
rise, are deeply interesting, and are brilUant examples
of descriptive writing and character sketching, weU
worthy of collection and reproduction in book form.
It is a pity that the limited space afforded by a
single chapter will not admit of copious extracts.
The districts most frequently visited have been Hiau
Kan, Yun Mung, Ying Shan, Tien Men, Tsao-Shih,
and King Shan. The beautiful scenery in the last-
mentioned district has often reminded Dr. John of
his beloved Wales. On two different occasions he
wrote : " My thoughts were often there (in Wales)
as one view after another opened up before my eyes " ;
and, " In King Shan I always feel as if the land of
my childhood was not far off."

Work was commenced in Hiau Kan by Dr. John in
1877, and there has been a steady progress ever since.
Of late the advance has been more rapid, as the result
of the labours of the late Mr. Terrell, Dr, Walton, and
their successors. Dr. John began work in the district
of Yun Mung in 1878, though not in the city of the
same name until 1890.

172 GRIFFITH JOHN

Some of the most inspiring passages in his letters
consist of fragments of biography of native helpers,
which draw out the heart of the reader in affectionate
admiration for the noble men whom the religion of
Christ has so fashioned. The remarkable develop-
ment which had taken place in Yun Mmig, Dr. John,
in a letter written by him in 1897, ascribed to Mr.
Wang, the native evangelist, a scholarly man and
earnest Christian. To the question, " Where and from
whom did you first hear the Gospel ? " the answer
given was, almost without exception, " At this chapel,
and from Mr. Wang." Of Mr. Wei-teh-yung, senior
evangelist in the district of Hiau Kan, who was
baptized in 1874 and died in 1897, Dr. John wrote :
" During those twenty -three years Mr. Wei has proved
himself to be, beyond dispute, a God's man to the
people of his district. A more earnest Christian, a
more faithful preacher, or a more indefatigable worker
I have seldom known. With him, preaching was a
passion." Others whose Ufe story and devotion make
most fascinating reading are Mr. Ch'en, Mr. Hiung,
Mr. T'ang, and many more.

Dr. John first visited Pah-tsze-Nau (a small market-
town in the district of Tien Men) with Mr. Terrell in
1892. An old enemy invited Dr. John to preach in
his house (a druggist's shop), and so, taking his stand
on a chair behind a counter, he preached to the crowd
which fiJled the shop and the street in front. During
his thirty-seven years' experience he had never before
been asked to turn a shop into a chapel, and a counter
into a pulpit ; but on this journey he was invited
to do so twice. The second occasion was at Tsao-
Shih, one of the rowdiest places in Hupeh. On

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 173

former visits his experience had been something Hke
this : he would land, rush into the first street, sell a
few books, try to preach, and then retreat, in the
midst of a shower of stones and hard clods. On
the present occasion neither a stone nor an oppro-
brious epithet was hurled at his head, and he left
the place thanking God most devoutly for the great
change that had taken place, and resolved to do his
best to estabhsh a mission station there as soon as
possible. After his third visit to Pah-tsze-Nau in 1894
(the second was in 1893), Dr. John wrote : " Our
strides are neither long nor rapid. It is simply
inching along. Nevertheless, there is no backward
look. The day wiU come when the Gospel shall
have free course in this land." During the three
visits, within two years, he had baptized twenty-
two native converts — the firstfruits of the Tien Men
district unto Christ in connection with the Protestant
Church.

In an account of a trip in the Hiau Kan and Ying
Shan districts in February and March 1893, we are
introduced to Lo-Chan-lung. " What a loving, lovable
man Chan-lung is ! He is full of kindness and good-
ness, and ever on the alert for opportunities to make
himself useful to everyone with whom he may come
in contact. He is also a man of strong faith. His
faith in God is as simple as that of a child in its
parent. Not long after he had become a Christian
there was a great drought in all that northern region.
Prayers were offered up to the gods by the Mandarins
and people, but all in vain. Chan-lung came to the
conclusion that the time had arrived for him to offer
up special supplications to the God of heaven ; so
12

174 GRIFFITH JOHN

he and the late Liu-tsai (another Ying-Shan convert
of great worth) went to the top of Tsi-kien-fung, a
celebrated mountain, about seventy-five miles from
Ying-Shan, to pray for rain. They continued in
earnest prayer till their petition was granted. On
their return to Ta-tien, all the inhabitants, both
people and gentry, turned out to receive and thank
them. It was a grand triumph, but Chan-lung
speaks of the event as if it were nothing extraordinary
— nothing more than what might have been naturally
expected by a believer in God the Father. He told
us that Liu-tsai had great power in prayer. On
one occasion he ascended a hill in the vicinity of his
own house to pray for rain, firmly resolved not to
descend till his petition was granted. There he re-
mained for four days and four nights on his knees,
his neighbours sending him up food from time to
time. His supphcations reached the hstening ear of
God, and the Hfe-giving element weis sent down in
rich abimdance. Liu-tsai and Chan-limg were our
first two converts in Ying-shan, and I doubt if the
Christian Church in China can boast of two men
more worthy of a place in the Kingdom of God.
Liu-tsai died in 1891." On this journey Dr. John
and Dr. GiUison were violently attacked by a mob
at Hwa-yuen (as Dr. John and Dr. Mackenzie had
been seventeen years before) and for a time their
lives were in real danger.

A specially interesting feature of a trip in Hiau
Kan in February 1899, was the holding of a Cymanfa,
or open-air preaching meeting, after the Welsh
pattern, believed to be the first of its kind held in
China. It took place at Hokia-Miao, where the

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 175

converts had the previous year given to the Mission
a large piece of land for Church purposes. At each
service, morning and afternoon, there were con-
gregations of 600 or 700 people, of whom about 300
were Christians. It was a day never to be forgotten.
The Christians felt that they had had a splendid
time, and the heathen also seemed pleased.

Towards the end of 1899, during another visit.
Dr. John was able to write of the work in Hiau Kan
district, that " Christianity has found its way into
every part of it. Nearly all the inquirers are men
who have been influenced and taught by native con-
verts in their own villages. I saw some beautiful
examples of feuds healed and reconciUations effected
by Christianity between members of the same class
and family. The praise of the Christian Church is
on many lips."

On visiting the Hiau Kan, Yun Mung, and Yin
Cheng districts in March 1901, Dr. John found that,
notwithstanding the storm of the previous year, the
people were pressing into the church, and that it had
become a real difficulty to keep out the unconverted.

Dr. John's earnest pleadings for European colleagues
to take the oversight of these large and fruitful country
districts have been responded to by the Directors as
they were able, and at the present time (1901) Hiau
Kan is under the care of Mr. Geller, Rev. E. Bumip,
and Dr. Fowler ; and Tsao Shih is superintended by
Rev. H. Robertson and Dr. Wills. Two of these are
supported specially by friends in England.

Planting the Gospel Standard in Hunan. —
By the testimony of so great an authority as Mr.
12*

176 GRIFFITH JOHN

Consul Pelham Warren, it has been chiefly through
Dr. John's " obstinate perseverance " that a much
better state of feeUng towards foreigners has been
brought about in Hunan. Dr. John has for years
cast wistful glances in the direction of this noble
province. The people are brave, manly, and straight-
forward, but have been intensely anti-foreign, proud,
and exclusive. " Hupeh men," say the Hunanese,
" are made of bean curd, but Hunan men are made
of iron." In 1899 it was estimated that the area of
Hunan was 84,000 square miles, and the population
20,000,000. The Mission obtained a foothold in the
province in 1896, when a house and land were given
to the Society by Lieu-King, who was baptized by
Dr. John at Hankow about 1889, but did not again
visit that city for seven years. " All these years,"
wrote Dr. John in 1896, " he has been busily engaged
in Christian work among his own people in the county
of Heng-Shan." In 1896 also, Mr. Peng-Lao-Seng
succeeded in securing a house in Heng-Chow, one of
the principal cities, as a place of worship.

Mr. Peng is a most remarkable man, and the
successes attained in Hunan are very largely due to
his untiring zeal and sterling quahties. A native of
Chang-sha, the capital of Himan, he was, before his
conversion, one of the worst men in all the region
round about ; but God had msrcy upon him, and so
changed his heart that he has become a very Paul
to the people of the province. He has succeeded
beyond Dr. John's most sanguine expectations, and
that is sa5nng a great deal. In telling the story of
his conversion on one occasion, Mr. Peng said, " I
tell you what it is, if a man wants to be a Christian

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 177

he must pray, and he must pray till the tears flow
from his eyes, and the perspiration runs down his
back. That has been my experience." Within two
years of commencing work, Mr. Peng, with the help
of a few fellow-workers, succeeded in establishing
from ten to fifteen mission stations in the Siang
Valley, five of which were within walled cities.

In March 1897, Dr. John and Mr. Sparham left
Hankow on a visit to Heng-Chow, about 460 miles
from their starting-point. At Chang-sha they learned
that the notorious blasphemer and persecutor, Chou
Han, had given up his connection with the anti-
foreign faction, had renounced spirituahsm, and had
been reading the Christian books sent to him, though
he had not expressed any opinion as to whether he
thought them good or bad. Dr. John sent another
friendly message to him.

As the missionaries drew near Heng-Chow their
hearts throbbed with high hopes. " Imagine, then,
our disappointment," says Dr. John, " when on our
arrival we found a large crowd of rufi&ans standing
on the left bank of the river, all armed with stones
and mud, and awaiting our approach. No sooner
did we come within reach of their missiles than the
cursing and pelting began." The visit of Dr. Wolfe,
an eminent German traveller, a short time before,
was given as an explanation of the hostility of the
people. The real cause of the trouble was, Dr. John
beheved, to be found in the anti-foreign spirit and
policy of the officials and gentry. Next day the
missionaries had to retire under the protection of
two gunboats. When their boat had drifted down
the stream for about two miles it was stopped, and

178 GRIFFITH JOHN

some eager candidates for baptism, without 'fear of
the consequences, came on board. Thirteen men
were baptized, and they were, so far as the missionaries
knew, the first baptisms ever witnessed in Hunan
itself in connection with the Protestant Church. " It
was a glorious ending to a very stormy day," wrote
Dr. John. " That day I shall never forget, and that
evening I can never forget. If there ever has been a
Bethel in this world, surely our boat was a Bethel
that evening." Dr. John testified to the earnestness
and lovableness of Mr. Wang-Lieu-King, the founder
of the Church at Heng-Chow.

Though the missionaries were thus driven away
from Heng-Chow, the native agents were allowed to
remain and carry on their work without molestation.

A special fund of about £3000 having been raised
at home in 1898 to provide for the support of two
missionaries in Hunan for five years, Mr. A. L. Greig
and Dr. E. C. Peake were appointed for the work.
In the early part of 1899 Dr. John, Mr. Sparham, and
Mr. Greig visited the province. The position of the
work, as witnessed by them, exceeded their most
sanguine expectations. They were treated with great
courtesy and consideration by the local officials, thanks
to the action of Viceroy Chang-Chih-tung and Mr.
Consul Warren. This was Dr. John's fourth visit
to Hunan, " but the first on which I was not made
to feel that my Ufe was in danger." The fearless-
ness, warmth, and generosity of the converts, and the
multitude of them, struck the missionaries as remark-
able. There were 173 baptized, and hundreds more
might have been baptized, but it was thought better
that they should be further tried. Houses were pur-

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN 179

chased in Chang-sha, the capital, and at Siang-tan,
the largest and most important commercial centre
in the province. By this time (the first half of 1899)
the work of the Mission in the province had extended
into nine counties, had seven central and fifteen
branch mission stations ; holding property in six
walled cities. Before the end of the year Yo-Chow
was added to the number. There were in all twenty-
two places of worship, of which five had been pro-
vided by the Society, and seventeen by the converts
themselves (thirteen of the latter being houses actually
made over to the Society). Over all this work there
were seven evangeHsts, including Mr. Peng, all of
whom seemed to be men raised up by God for the
work in Hunan.

In October 1899, Dr. John and Mr. Greig went to
Yo-Chow to purchase property with the view to
estabhshing a mission in that city. A port six miles
from the city was opened shortly afterwards. So
great was the changed attitude towards the mis-
sionaries, as foreigners and Christians, that they were
able to walk about in every direction both inside and
outside the city, and found the people perfectly quiet
and friendly. Yo-Chow is an important place in
itself, but is also the key to the whole of Hunan, and
especially to the cities on the great Siang River. Mr.
Greig and Dr. Peake settled at Yo-Chow in November
1899, and the first public reUgious service was held
there on the loth of December of that year.

In May 1900, Dr. John paid a visit to Yo-Chow,
Siang-tan, and Chang-sha, which afforded him very
great gratification and encouragement.

The converts in the Heng-Chow prefecture suffered

i8o GRIFFITH JOHN

terribly during the uprising in 1900, and about thirty
places of worship were destroyed ; but subsequently
the authorities paid compensation for the damage
done, and agreed to stamp the deed for the property
purchased at Chang-sha, besides issuing a proclamation
in the interests of the future security of the Mission.

" A Notable Victory." " The Capital of Hunan
opened." These word-flourishes are not lines on a
newspaper contents biU, but are to be seen in the
sober columns of the Chronicle of the London Missionary
Society, over a letter from Dr. John, dated February
1901, in which he announced that the deed of property
bought by the Mission in Chang-sha had at last been
sealed by the authorities. The Heng-Chow Riot in
1900, he said, supphed the Mission with the very
leverage needed to get the deed signed. For nearly
two years the missionaries had been trying to get
this precious bit of paper out of the Chang-sha Yamen,
but all to no purpose till February 1901. The officials
had made up their minds to keep the missionaries out
of the city. They fought hard, and, but for the troubles
referred to, they would have succeeded in carrying
on the fight for some time longer. " It has been a
long fight and a hard one, but it has ended in a signal
and most important triumph. No foreigner has
ever held property in Chang-sha till now. Even the
Roman Catholics have not succeeded in gaining a
footing there. We, however, have succeeded, and
we have done so openly, and with the full permission
of the Chang-sha authorities, both higher and lower."

But Dr. John's appeal for large reinforcements for
this province still remained ungratified.

Towards the end of April 1901, Dr. John and Messrs.

IN HUPEH AND HUNAN i8i

Sparham and Greig commenced a round trip of about
920 miles in Hunan. The kindness of the Governor
of Hunan, who lent them his private steam launch,
enabled them to accompUsh in a httle over two weeks
what might otherwise have taken them six or seven
weeks. This action on the part of the Governor shows
what a tremendous change has come over the official
mind in these parts. At every place they were
received most cordially by all the officials, both higher
and lower. The work of the London Missionary
Society in the prefecture is even now a truly great
work. Among those baptized during the visit was
one very remarkable woman, Mrs. Wu, to hear whose
story of trial and Christian heroism Dr. John declared
it would alone have been worth while going to Heng-
Chow. Dr. John was actually invited by the students
to visit the famous Shihku-shu-yii College at Heng-
Chow, in attempting to gain access to which some
years ago Dr. Wolfe was attacked. The students said
they would be glad if the missionaries would establish
a college in the city for the teaching of Western
languages and science.

The officials spoke to Dr. John in the highest terms
of praise of the able and conscientious work of Mr.
Peng. He has, they say, accomplished wonders, and
his praise is in aU the Yamens. He was offered a blue
button some time ago, in recognition of the valuable
services rendered by him, but he wisely declined the
gift, sa3dng that he was a servant of Jesus Christ, and
did not seek worldly honours.

The one fact that stands out prominently in Dr.
John's narrative, which he says he could extend to a
bulky volume, is this : " Hunan is open."

i82 GRIFFITH JOHN

On the 24tli of September 1900 Dr. John com-
pleted forty-five years of missionary service in and for
China. At a meeting of the Committee of nais-
sionaries at Hankow in the following month he said
that the recent death of Dr. Muirhead, which had
come as a great sorrow to himself, had brought back
remembrances of the band of giants who were in
Shanghai when he reached there in 1855. There
was Dr. Medhurst, the ideal missionary, and one who
commanded the profoundest veneration ; Dr. Lock-
hart, the soul of kindness, a tremendous worker, and
one of the chief social piUars of the Shanghai com-
munity ; Dr. Wyhe, the famous schola,r, yet so modest,
that, while others were sounding his praises, he alone
seemed to be unconscious of his fame ; Dr. Edkins,
who even at that time gave promise of becoming the
great sinologue which in later years he had more than
fulfilled ; and last, but not least, there was Muirhead,
one of the finest evangehsts China had ever had, a
typical China missionary, and a typical missionary of
the London Missionary Society. From first to last
Dr. Muirhead's one aim had been to bring men to
Christ.

CHAPTER XI

THE CLOSING YEARS

WHEN the new theological college was opened
in 1904 Dr. John expressed his views on
mission work very clearly. He said, as reported in
the North China Daily News :

" He was afraid his attitude with respect to educa-
tion had sometimes been misunderstood. People
spoke to him as if he had been an enemy who had
somehow got converted, and wanted to know how it
was done. The simple truth was that ia his methods
of mission work he believed he had always been
divinely led. At the beginning he saw that the great
need was for evangelistic effort. He wanted to see
strong churches and many of them, so it became his
whole ambition, whether by tongue or pen, to make
the hiUs and valleys of Central China resound with
the music of the Cross. He worked for this, and tried
to get all others to work for it. He gloried in the fact,
and were he beginning afresh he would do the same
again. He was no enemy of education, but thought
it should be left to the few. He sympathized with
schools and hospitals and every department of Christian
effort, but for the great mass of missionaries he would
say, ' Let them evangelize.' There was no better

work. Ten years ago the increasing number of

183

i84 GRIFFITH JOHN

converts, and the changing eispect of the times, led him
to think the education question must now be faced.
A scheme was formulated, and in 1899 the high school
was opened, ajid the divinity school in the same year.
Then followed the normal school and the medical
school. With regard to all of them he was enthusiastic,
and yet bated not a jot of his evangelistic fervour. It
was because he was an evangehst first that he had now
become an educationist."

Dr. John completed his jubilee of missionary service
on Sunday, 24th September 1905. " His eye was not
dim, neither was his natural force abated." Endowed
with a fine constitution, a physical frame capable of
enduring an exceptional amount of fatigue and strain,
an active and tireless brain of no common order, and
a heart aflame with love to his Divine Mtister and to
the Chinese, he might well be described as the " Apostle
of Central China."

The occasion of his jubilee was made the oppor-
tunity of a great demonstration of affection and honour,
in which missionary friends of other Missions and
Chinese Christians from far and near took part. In
addition to the large number of letters expressing the
congratulations of absent friends, and the speeches and
addresses of those who were present, expression was
given in permanent form of the love and trust of his
colleagues past and present, and also of the strong
feeling of gratitude for aU his services cherished by
the Chinese Christians. One who was present at the
meeting said :

Two key-words constantly recurred as each paid
the tribute of respect — friendship and persistence.

THE CLOSING YEARS 185

These two characteristics came out again in Dr. John's
reply to the address presented by his colleagues,
as seen in the following extracts :

" I love my work, I love my colleagues ; and as I
have begun so I follow on as long as Ufe shall last."

" A missionary Ufe is the greatest of aU possible
lives." " If a messenger from God should come and
tell me my life was to be spared for another fifty years,
China should have them all." " That Inner Voice — I
have always obeyed it, and it has never failed me.
Even when, in earher days, going into Hunan with my
life in my hands, I knew no fear— return alive or not,
I knew this was the will of God for me."

" My colleagues — I love them. Never man had
such colleagues as I have. This great work in Central
China is not the work of one man ; all my colleagues
have had a share in it. The work is theirs as much
as mine, and all the glory is God's."

" I learned a great secret many years ago : — Never
judge a man by what he says, or even by what he may
do. Judge a man by what he is, what I know him
to be."

" Love — love — ^love — this is the secret of a happy
co-operation."

" Some seem to imagine I am an optimist because
life has been easy and I have never known trial or
sorrow. But I tell you I am an optimist because
of what I see — the changes that have taken place these
fifty years. Sorrow ! loss ! I have known the bitterest
— ^wife, children — I have gone through it aU. Dis-
appointments, dangers — many ! But I am an optimist
in spite of it all."

The Chinese Christians decided that they would

i86 GRIFFITH JOHN

have a special demonstration a few weeks later in
addition to that held at the actual date of the jubilee.
An enormous paviUon was erected, in which about two
thousand people assembled and held a meeting of
thanksgiving to God and congratulations to Dr. John.

Just over Dr. John's head was suspended the
Chinese ideograph for " love," made of white chrys-
anthemums ; and indeed the key-note of the after-
noon was " love."

After the service came the reception of delegates —
a long, long string of them — filing past the Doctor.
From thirty-one counties in Hupeh and Hunan came a
delegate or a congratulatory letter. Such is the vast
extent of the field of the Central China Mission !

Soon after this happy meeting the great missionary
had a very serious break-down, which alarmed all who
had to do with him. His brain was altogether over-
worked, and it seemed doubtful if he would ever be
able to do anything again. As soon as he was fit to
move, the doctors insisted on his leaving China and
finding prolonged and complete rest in another climate.
In April 1906 he left for America, accompanied by his
daughter and her husband, Mr. Sparham, who had
also had a serious break-down as the result of overwork.

Dr. John found the desired resting-place in the home
of one of his sons at Yonkers, a charming spot on the
banks of the Hudson River. He remained here until
the beginning of November 1907, resisting all the
importunities of his friends in England and Wales,
and the longing of his own heart, to visit his native
land once more, and declining all the pressing invita-
tions which came to him to speak or preach on Missions

THE CLOSING YEARS 187

in the United States. How urgently necessary this
care was may be gathered from an admission in one of
his letters nine months later : " Every piece of hard
writmg means a collapse, more or less serious. Any-
thing in the way of strenuous thinking generally ends
in a set-back of a more or less serious nature."

Notwithstanding such recurring indications that the
labours of half a century of exceptionally strenuous
work had told upon him, and that he would be justified
in retiring from his work, the heroic passion of his
life knew no abatement. His heart was in China.
His first brief note after his arrival in America ex-
pressed the feeling which dominated him : " I have
every hope now that with the needful rest I shall be
good for five or ten years' more work in China."

The period of his absence from China was a time
of great progressive activity among the Chinese.
Referring to the changes which were taking place, he
wrote : " I am receiving good news from China. The
friendly attitude of the native Press is very significant.
The Decree with respect to the worship of Confucius
is a remarkable development. The great religious
movement among the Miau of Yunan and Kwei
Chow is wonderful. There was no sign of these
momentous events when I left China. China is awake,
and no mistake. Who can say what developments are
right before us in that land ? "

Mr. and Mrs. Sparham having rejoined him at the
beginning of November 1907, they all set out at once
on their return journey, and reached Shanghai on
13th December. A week later they were back in
Hankow. The warmth and enthusiasm of the welcome
accorded to him by his colleagues and by the Chinese

i88 GRIFFITH JOHN

Christians touched Dr. John very deeply. " I feel
now that I am at home once more, and the language of
my heart is, ' Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is
within me bless His holy name.' "

The evidences of progress in provision for the new
intellectual needs of China, which were apparent in
Hankow, greatly cheered Dr. John on his return to
the scene of his life-work. He wrote home expressing
his satisfaction with the buildings of the new High
School which were being erected outside the city in
connection with his own Society as a memorial of his
jubilee of service. He was equally gratified and
encouraged by the substantial provision made for the
accommodation of the greatly increased work of the
Central China Tract Society. These buildings were
also erected as a memorial of his labours in that
growingly important branch of service, and of the
fact that he had been President of the Society from
its foundation.

He celebrated his seventy-sixth birthday on the day
after he landed in Shanghai. A month later he wrote
in reply to a letter urging him to spare himself : "It
is my intention to act on your advice, and not over-
work mjrself. Indeed I am very conscious of my
limitations. I cannot drive as I used to do, if I am to
work at all. I have been back nearly a month, and I
now find myself in the midst of the stream. I shall
work at my translation in the mornings. I do not
intend to do anything more in that particular line of
things. I will give three lectures a week in the Theo-
logical College, all in the afternoon. I hope to be
able to do a good deal of general work beside, in co-
operation with my colleagues. I intend to visit the

THE CLOSING YEARS 189

out-stations now and again, and help in the general
work of the Mission everywhere in Hupeh and
Hunan."

He could not be restrained from again visiting the
country, and in 1908, at the period of the Chinese New
Year, accompanied by his daughter and Mr. Nelson
Bitton, he set out on what was to prove the last
missionary journey of his travel-filled hfe. The trip
was to Hsiao-kan, the scene of many an early dis-
appointment and triumph. Now the line of railway
from Hankow to Peking passes within a few miles of
Hsiao-kan City, and the trip was a very different one
from the old, uncomfortable journeys. Arrived at
Hsiao-kan the veteran worker could scarcely rest
rmtil he had seen the lepers, and admired the chapel
which had just been erected for their Christian worship.
In the afternoon a visit was paid to the house which
had first sheltered the missionary in Hsiao-kan, and
where he had met with the few believers who had been
gathered into the Church by the earnest efforts of
Mr. Wei.

The contrast was striking and complete, and it
was crowned on the day following, Sunday, when
the honoured pastor arose to address a crowded con-
gregation of Christian Chinese, his own people, the
children whom God had given him !

But, alas ! he had over-estimated his strength ; the
service had not long proceeded ere the tongue failed,
and the worn body sank back into the seat. The
end of active service had come and found him in his
throne of service, the Chinese pulpit. He was magni-
ficently faithful to the end.

The great brain and the determined will of the

igo GRIFFITH JOHN

Christian apostle made more than one effort to recover
and to lay hold of work again, but in vain. Cared for
with unceasing and deep tenderness by those who loved
him dearly, he spent more than two years quietly
at the house of his son-in-law and daughter, and left
Hankow as the victorious revolutionists of China were
waging their successful campaign around Han-yang.

The triumph of militant reform in China was first
accomplished by the revolutionaries in Central China,
whilst Griffith John, the first Protestant missionary
to that region, and the man whose influence and
teaching had done more than any other to sow the
seeds of real progress there, was still in Hankow.

The triumph of reform was an accomplished thing
as the princely man, who had preached the message of
truth over the whole of that region, went down the
great river to Shanghai, on his way to the land of his
birth. He left Hankow on the fiftieth anniversary
of his arrival at that port.

And had he not high honour ? The guns that
reverberated across the Yang-tse as his vessel
steamed away, might well have been according a
salvo of recognition to the Christian hero for the
sacrifice and service of a Mfetime.

The call to eternal rest came to Griffith John on
the 25th of July 1912, and he was buried a few days
later in the cemetery at his old home at Swansea.
Not China, after all, but Wales, the land of his fathers,
which saw his fife nurtured in faith and consecrated
to missionary service, claimed the keeping of his
mortal remains in death.

Of that innumerable company who shine as stars
in the kingdom of heaven, having turned many into

THE CLOSING YEARS 191

the way of righteousness, not the least worthy is
Griffith John, the apostle of Central China, who
baptized the first Protestant convert in that vast
region ; who founded its first Protestant Christian
Church ; and who hved to know that sounds of
Christian praise were arising week by week from
Chinese voices worshipping God, in every city and
almost every township of the two great provinces of
Hupeh and Htman.

He was not weary in well-doing, and in due season he
reaped, for he fainted not.

ADVENTURES

WITH THE

BIBLE IN BRAZIL

BY

FREDERICK C. GLASS

A FINE NEW MISSIONARY VOLUME

graphically describing the pioneering journeys taken to
carry the Bible into the unreached and unknown parts
of the interior of Brazil. While in perils oft and trials
many, courageous faith in God overcomes all, and the
"old, old story" that ever charms the heart
conquers again to the salvation of not a few

Chapter 3.
Chapter 5.
Chapter 13.
Chapter 14.
Chapter 19.
Chapter 20.
Chapter 22.
Chapter 26,
Chapter 27.
Chapter 29.
Chapter 30.
Chapter 31.
Chapter 33.

On the Upper Amazon
The Doutorsinho
Off the Beaten Track
A Bible Village
In the most Central City
A Greasy Transaction
The Land of the Carajas
The Converted Usurer
The Leper
Stirring Times
The Sexton Smiled
The Power of the Book
The Selling of a Bible

Illustrations an^ Maps
Crown Octavo -wfi Net

^KXER/NG

CjkGl/S

-.:;.. . Cornell University Library

BV3427.J65R66 1929

Griffith John of Hankow /

3 1924 010 758 252