With The Rev. William Bums
After the retaking of Shanghai by the foreign military forces in February 1855, 1 was able to rent a house within the walls of the city. I was very happy to have the chance to live among the crowded population left in the remains of the city that had been destroyed by the war. Here I made my headquarters, being often away on long preaching trips.
The Chinese had permitted a foreign company to build an asilk1 factory some distance inland.
They made the condition that the design of the building must be purely Chinese and that there should be nothing on the outside to show that it was foreign. Much good resulted from this change of clothing. I have continued to wear Chinese clothes as have others in the mission.
Starting in 1851, the Taiping rebellion had reached the limit of its short-lived victory. The great city of Nanking had fallen before the attacking army. There, within two hundred miles of Shanghai, the rebels had made their headquarters and begun to strengthen themselves for more victory.
During the summer of 1855, many attempts were made to visit the leaders of the rebellion and bring some clear Christian influence upon them. But so little result was seen, that these efforts were not continued.
A number of us had tried to reach Nanking. Finding it impossible to do so, I turned my efforts again to spreading the Gospel on the island of Tsungming. Slowly, I was able to overcome the strong feelings against me and the fears of the people.
This enabled me to rent a little house and live among them. It was a great joy and made my hope stronger. Sadly, objections were soon made by the local officials to the British Consul,2 who forced me to leave the area.
At the same time, the French Consul himself had found a property for the Roman Catholic missionaries just a short distance from the house I had to leave. Painfully disappointed by this unexpected problem, I returned to Shanghai, a little dreaming of the blessing that God had in store for me there.
The Rev. William Bums of the English Presbyterian Mission had arrived in that port on his return trip from home. Before going on to his former place of service in the southern province of Fukien, he had tried, like me to visit the Taiping rebels at Nanking.
Failing in the attempt, he made his temporary headquarters in Shanghai and worked to evangelize the nearby area that was heavily populated. In the autumn of that year, I was led by God’s providing hand to work with this beloved and honored laborer of God.
We traveled together, spreading the Good News to cities and towns in south Kiangsu and north Chekiang, living in our boats and following the canals and rivers that spread over the whole face of the rich, fertile country. Mr. Bums at that time was wearing English clothes.
He saw that while I was younger and had been in this work a shorter time, I had the quiet listeners while he was followed by the rough fellows. He also saw that I was invited to the homes of the people while he received the excuse that the following crowd was too large. After some weeks, he too began to wear the Chinese clothes and enjoyed the increased acceptance that it gave.
Those happy months were a great joy and almost like a gift to me. His love for the Word was wonderful. His holy, God-honoring life and continual visits with God made friendship with him satisfying the deep desire of my heart.
His stories of working to spread the Gospel and of mistreatment during his work in Canada, Dublin, and southern China were informative and interesting.
With true spiritual wisdom, he would often point out God’s purposes in a way that made the trials of life take on a new outlook and value. He had ideas about evangelism as the great work of the Church.
He saw the order of lay evangelists as a lost order that Scripture commands to be put back into use. These thoughts were seeds that were to prove fruitful in the design and planning of the China Inland Mission.
Still, our path was not always a smooth one. When permitted to stay in a city for any length of time, we used the chance completely. After prayer for blessing, we would leave our boats at about nine o’clock in the morning, carrying a light bamboo chair. Choosing a good place, one of us would stand on the chair and speak for twenty minutes while the other prayed for a blessing.
Then changing places, the first speaker had a rest. After an hour or two, we would move to a distant point and speak again. Usually about noon, we returned to our boats for dinner and prayer and then continued our outdoor work until sunset.
After supper and a little rest, we would go with our national helpers to some teashop, where several hours might be spent talking with the people. Many times before leaving a town, we had good reason to believe that much truth had been understood and we placed many Scriptures and books in the hands of those interested.
About this time, the following letter was written by Mr. Bums to his mother at home in Scotland:
Twenty-five Miles from Shanghai,
January 26, 1856
Making use of rainy days which keep me in my boat, I write a few lines, in addition to a letter to Dundee, containing details that I need not repeat. It is now forty-one days since I left Shanghai on this last trip.
A young English missionary, Mr. Taylor, of the Chinese Evangelisation Society,0 has been my co-worker during these weeks, he in his boat, and I in mine, and we have received much mercy, and at some times, great help in our work.
I must once more tell the story I have had to tell more than once—how four weeks ago, on December 29, 1 put on the Chinese clothes, that I am now wearing. Mr. Taylor had made this change a few months before, and I found that because of this he was so much better received by the crowd, that I decided it was my duty to follow his example.
We were at that time more than two times the distance from Shanghai that we are now, and would still have been at as great a distance had we not met at one place with a group of lawless people, who demanded money and threatened to break our boats if their demands were refused.
The boatmen were frightened and made it clear that they wanted to return to some place nearer home. Earlier, these people had violently broken into a part of Mr. Taylor’s boat, because their unreasonable demand for books was not obeyed.
We have a large, very large field of labor in this area, while it might be difficult at this time for one to live for very long in any one place; the people listen with thoughtfulness, but we need the power from on High to cause them to understand and be saved. Is there any spirit of prayer for us among God’s people in Kilsyth? or is there any effort to seek this spirit? How great the need is, and how great the arguments and reason for prayer in this case.
The fruit to be gathered here is very great, and the laborers are few, and imperfectly fitted without much grace for such a work. Yet grace can make the few and weak laborers the means of doing great things—things greater than we can even imagine.
The incident spoken of in this letter took place near the northern border of Chekiang. It led to our return to Shanghai sooner than we had at first planned. We had reached a busy market town known by the name ofWuchen, or Black Town.
We had been told the citizens were the wildest and most lawless people in that part of the country. That was just how we found them to be. The town was a refuge for salt smugglers and many other bad people.
The following is taken from my diary, written at the time:
January 8, 1856
Started our work in Wuchen this; morning by passing out a large number of tracts and some New Testaments. The people seemed very surprised, and we could not learn that any foreigner had been here before. We preached two times; once in the church house of the God of War, and after that in a space left by a fire, which had destroyed many houses.
In the afternoon we preached again to a large group that listened carefully at the same place, and in the evening moved to a teashop0 where we had a good chance of speaking until many people heard that we were there, and when too many people were coming in, we felt we should leave before our being there slowed the teashop business.
Our national helpers, Tsien and Kuei-hua, were able, however, to remain. Returning to our boats, we spoke to some people standing on a bridge and felt we had much reason to be thankful and our hearts were strengthened by the result of our first day’s labor.
January 10
First sent Tsien and Kuei-hua to pass out some tracts. After their return, we went with them, and in a space cleared by fire, we separated and spoke to two groups. On our return to the boats at noon, we found people waiting, as usual, and desiring books. Some were passed out to those who were able to read them.
Asking them kindly to excuse us while we ate, I went into my boat and shut the door. Before there was time to pour out a cup of tea a loud noise of something hitting the boat began and the roof was at once broken in. I went out at the back and found four or five men taking the large pieces of frozen dirt turned up in a field close by— weighing from seven to fourteen pounds (3 to 6 kg.) each— and throwing them at the boat.
Reasoning with them was of no use and it was not long before a considerable part of the top part of the boat was broken to pieces, and dirt covered the things inside. Finally, Tsien got a boat that was passing to take him a short distance away, and by passing out a few tracts drew away the thoughts of the men, ending the attack.
We now learned that of those who had harmed only two were from that place. The others were salt smugglers. The reason was that we had not satisfied their unreasonable demand for books.
Through God’s providing hand, no one was injured. As soon as it was quiet again, we all met in Mr. Burns’s boat and joined in thanksgiving that we had been saved from personal harm, praying also for those who caused the trouble. We prayed that this might be turned into good for us all.
We ate and left the boat, speaking to a large group that soon gathered not far away. We were especially helped by the Lord. Never were we heard with more care. Not one voice was found to side with the men who had troubled us.
In the evening the same spirit was shown at the teashops and some seemed to hear with joy the Good News of salvation through a crucified and risen Saviour. As we came home, we passed a hair-cutting shop still open. I went in and while getting my hair cut, spoke to a few people and put two tracts on the wall for others to read.
An honorable shopkeeper by the name of Yao had received parts of the New Testament and a tract, on the first or second day of our stay at Wuchen. He came yesterday when our boat was broken, to beg for some more books. At that time, we were all in disorder from the damage done and from the dirt thrown into the boat.
So we asked him to come again in a day or two when we would be happy to help him. This morning he appeared and handed in the following note:
On a former day, I begged Bums and Taylor, the two “Rabbis,” to give me good books. It happened at that time those of our town whose hearts were tricked by Satan, not knowing the Son of David, were so foolish as to “race” and “more” and injure your honored boat.
I thank you for promising after this to give the books, and beg the following: Complete New Testament, Discourse of a Good Man When Near His Death, Important Christian Doctrines, an Almanac, Principles of Christianity, Way to Make the World Happy—of each one copy. Sung and Tsien, and all teachers I hope are well. More praise is unwritten.
This note is interesting, as showing that he had been reading the New Testament thoughtfully, as the italicized words were all taken from it. His use of “race” and “moreh” for speaking roughly and unkindly, shows their meaning was not lost on him.
After bringing books to this man, we went out with Tsien and Kuei-hua to the east of the town and spoke on the road for a short time. On our return to the boats, I was visited by two Chihli6 men from the judge’s office. The Lord greatly helped me in speaking to them in the Mandarin language of a crucified Saviour.
While one of them did not show much concern, the other did and asked questions that showed the interest he was feeling. When they departed, I left the boat and spoke to the people gathered there, to whom Kuei-hua had been preaching.
The setting sun provided an example and reminded one of the words of Jesus, “Night is coming when no one can work.” I spoke of the uncertain length of this life and of the fact that we do not know the time of Christ’s return. A degree of deep seriousness settled on them that I had never before seen in China.
I began to pray and could see clearly that God was speaking to their hearts. I returned to my boat with a Buddhist priest who had been in the group. He admitted that Buddhism was a system of trickery that could give no hope in death.
January 12
In the afternoon we spoke to the people close to our boats, on one of the roads of the city, and in a teashop. Books were passed out each time we spoke. In the evening, we went as usual to speak in the teashops.
This time, we decided to go to the opposite end of the town to give the people there a better chance to meet with us. It was a long village, nearly three kilometers in length. As Mr. Bums and I usually talked together in Chinese, this plan was known to those in the boats.
After a short distance, we changed our minds. Instead, we went to the usual teashop, thinking that people might have gone there expecting to meet us. But this was not the case. We did not find such serious listeners as we had found before. Mr. Bums thought it would be good to leave earlier than usual.
We did so, telling Tsien and Kuei-hua that they might remain a little longer. Returning to the boats, we gave away a few books. It was unusual but we were left to go alone with no one going with us as they usually did.
It was no longer a clear night and we found that it had become very dark. On our way, we met the boatman who acted as if something were wrong. Without giving any reason, he blew out the light in our lamp.
We relighted it, telling him not to put it out again. To our surprise, he carefully put out the light so that it could not be relighted. Then, walking down along a low wall that went out to the river’s edge, he looked into the water.
Not knowing what the trouble was, I ran forward to hold him, afraid that he was going to drown himself. I was very thankful when he came quietly back. In answer to our repeated questions, he told us to be very quiet.
He said softly that some bad men were wanting to destroy the boats. He and his friends had moved the boats away to escape from them. He then led us to the place where one of the boats was hidden. Before long, Tsien and Kuei-hua came and got safely on the boat. Soon after, we were joined by the teacher Sung and the boat moved away.
The cause of all this trouble was then explained. A man had come to the boats while we were gone, claiming to be a policeman. He carried a written demand for ten dollars and an amount of opium.
He said that there were more than fifty country people (salt smugglers) waiting for our answer in a nearby teashop. If we gave them what they wanted and three hundred dollars to pay for their tea, we might remain in peace. But if not, they would come at once and destroy our boats.
Sung told them that we could not obey their demand because our only business was in preaching and passing out books. We had no opium and little money. The man told Sung that he did not believe him. There was nothing for him to do but to ask the man to wait for our return. Not knowing that we had changed our plans, he looked for us in the wrong direction.
While Sung was looking for us, the boatmen had been able to move off. They were very much afraid. Having so recently seen what these men would do openly in the day, they felt no desire to see what they might try by night. When they moved away, they had gone to different places, so that if one boat should be damaged the other might give us an escape.
It was after this we had, by God’s providing hand, met the boatman and been led onto the boat. As Sung passed the place where the boats had been tied up, he saw twelve or more men between the trees. He heard them asking where the boats had gone but no one could tell. Thankfully, they did not find us.
After some time, the boats joined and moved along together. It was already late. Traveling by night in that part of the country was not the way to escape from evil men. So the question came as to what should be done.
This we left for the boatmen to decide. They had moved off of their own decision. We felt that we could not ask others to remain in a position of danger because of us. We strongly asked them to do quickly whatever they planned to do.
Tomorrow was the Lord’s Day when we did not wish to travel. We told them that no matter what, we must preach the Gospel. It made little difference where we might stay. Even if we passed the night and were not seen, we were sure to be found out on the following morning.
The men decided that we might as well return to the place from which we had started. This was agreeable to all and so the boatmen turned back. But, they got into another river and pushed along for some time but seemed to have become lost. At last, it became very dark, so they tied up the boat for the night.
Calling the boatmen and our national helpers, we read Psalm 91 to them. The words expressed our needs at that time. How sweetly cheering was this part of God’s Word: “1 He who stays under the protection of the Most High will rest in the security of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my strong house, my God, in whom I trust. ” 3 Surely he will save you from the one who wants to catch you in his trap and from deadly sickness.
He will cover you with his protection, and under his care, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your defense and safe place. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day. . . 14 “Because he loves me, ” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he knows my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. ” (Psalms 91).
With our prayer, we placed ourselves in His care and keeping. He had covered us with thick darkness and permitted us to escape from the hands of vicious men. We retired for the night, thanks to the kind protection of the Watchman of Israel who neither sleeps nor forgets His people.
We slept in quiet, and peace and were able to see more clearly, the truth of that Word which I love, “You are my hiding place and my shield.” Sunday, January 13
This morning I was awakened at about 4 a.m. by a very sharp pain in the knee joint. I had hit it so hard the day before that it turned black and blue and now was enlarged and hot. To my great surprise, I heard rain pouring down. The weather had been very nice. On looking out, we found ourselves near the place where we had tied up the boats before. If nothing had happened to stop us, we would have felt it necessary to go into the town to preach as usual.
But the rain was so great all day that no one could leave the boats. And so, we enjoyed a very wonderful day of rest, such as we had not had for some time. The weather did not allow much chance for questions to be asked about us.
Had the day been fine we would most likely have been discovered, even if we had not left the boats. As it was, we were allowed to think in peace, and with wonder and thankfulness, of the kind dealings of our God, who had in this way led us apart into “a desert place” for a little rest.
Monday, January 14
A cloudless morning. One of the national helpers went before daylight to get some clothes that had been given out for washing. He came back with the news that, even with the pouring rain of yesterday, men had been looking for us in all directions.
We had been kept, however, in peace and safety under “the shadow of the Almighty.” The boatmen were now so completely afraid that they would stay no longer and moved off at daylight. I was forced to stay in the boat with my injured knee and had no other choice but to go with them. In the afternoon we reached Pingwang, on the way to Shanghai.
The harm that God blesses is our good,
And unblessed good is harm;
And all is right that seems most wrong,
If it be His sweet will.