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“God is
unto us a God of deliverances” (Psa. 68:20, R. V.). |
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“Who
delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver; on whom we have set our
hope that he will also still deliver” (2 Cor. |
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Many times
we were asked in the homeland to tell the story of our escape during the
Boxer uprising, and often the question was put, ‘If it was really God’s power
that saved you and others on that journey, then why did he not save those of
his children who were so cruelly done to death?’ |
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For a time
this question troubled me. Why indeed? One day when seeking for light on the
matter I was directed to the twelfth chapter of Acts. There I found the only
answer that can be given. We are told in the second verse that James was put
to death by the sword; then the rest of the chapter is given to the detailed
record of Peter’s wonderful deliverance in answer to prayer (vs. 5, 12). In
that day when all things shall be revealed I am convinced we shall see that prayer had much to do in the working
out of our deliverance. When the first cable was received in Canada informing
the home church of our party starting on that perilous journey, we are told a
great wave of prayer went up for us from Christians of all denominations. The
Presbyterian Assembly of Canada was meeting at the time, and one session was
given up entirely to prayer on behalf of the missionaries in |
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Later when
giving the story of our escape in the homeland, repeatedly we have had people
come to us telling how, during the weeks which elapsed between the first cable
informing the home church of our danger, and the second cable, which told of
our safe arrival at the coast, they had never ceased to cry to God to save
us. Then, too, after all is said, we must believe God was glorified and God’s
purposes were fulfilled in the death of some as in the saved lives of others.
The blood of the martyrs is still the seed of the Church. |
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It was in
the month of June, 1895, than an incident occurred which has ever been linked
in my mind with the events of 1900. I was about to leave |
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Just as
the train was leaving a lady stepped forward quickly to the window and said:
‘You do not know me, but I have prayed the Lord to give me a promise for you;
it is this, take it as from Him’, and handed me a slip of paper. I opened the
paper and read, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper” (Isa.
54:17). Then and there I raised my heart to God in prayer that he would
fulfil this promise to me and those dear to me; and as I prayed there came
the clear assurance that the Lord heard. |
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Never can
we forget that winter of 1899-1900. The clouds had begun to gather, and the
mutterings of the coming storm were heard on all sides of us. Repeatedly we
were as a mission in gravest danger, and at such times were literally ‘shut
up to God’. The temper of the people was such that any little thing angering
them would have been as a spark to gunpowder. |
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From the
time of the government crisis of the autumn of 1899, we, in company with all
other foreigners in |
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The first
indication we had of coming danger was when our mail carriers running to and
from |
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The
question was, where could we flee? Our usual route was by river boat two
weeks to Tientsin, but this was blocked, the whole region being infested with
Boxers, and Tientsin even then in a state of siege. The only possible route
left open to us was southward by cart, - fourteen days to Fancheng, - then
ten or more days by houseboat to Hankow. We faced such a journey at that time
of the year with fear and trembling because of the children, the danger from
heat and sun being very great. Gladly would we have stayed, but the Chinese
Christians urged us to go, saying they could escape more easily were we not
there. |
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We had
with us our four remaining children: Paul, nine; Helen, six; Ruth, under
three; and baby Wallace, eight months. Their faithful Chinese nurse, though
weeping bitterly at parting from her old mother of almost eighty, decided to
come with us. There were altogether in the party five men, six women, and
five children, besides the servants and carters. |
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Many were
the difficulties in the way of getting carts and other necessary things for
the journey, but one by one all things needed were provided as we besought
the Lord to open the way. There were many indications on that journey that
God’s purpose was to save us; one of the most striking of these happened just
as we were about to leave. |
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The day previous
to our departure a message passed through the city of Chang Te Ho, the
messenger riding at breakneck speed. This messenger, we learned later, was
enroute for the Provincial Capital with the sealed message from the Empress
Dowager commanding the death of all foreigners. We had planned first to take
the direct route south, which would, as far as we can now see, have led us to
our death, for this route would have taken us through the capital. Almost at
the last moment, and quite unaware of the danger on the direct route, we were
led to change our plans and take a route farther west, though it made a
considerably longer journey. |
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We left
Chang Te, June 28, 1900, at daybreak. At Wei Hwei Fu, the first large city to
which we came, an attempt was made to break into our inn, but as we prayed
the mob dispersed and we were left in peace. On July first we reached the
north bank of the Yellow River, and there for a short time (it was Sunday
afternoon) we rested under the trees. Little did we dream that even then
many, very many, of our fellow-missionaries and personal friends were being
done to death by the merciless Boxers. At sunset the ferry which carried us
across the river reached the south bank, and here we found several
missionaries and a party of engineers waiting for us. These latter were fully
armed and had a fair escort. After some difficulty it was decided that we
should all keep together, but in reality this party kept by themselves,
except that we stayed in the same towns at night. Each day that passed seemed
harder than the last, the heat was intense, and the ten or twelve hours of
bumping over rough roads in springless carts made even a bed spread on the
ground a welcome resting-place. |
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Once, when
Mr. Goforth had jumped off our cart to get fresh water for our head cloths, a
crowd gathered round him and became very threatening, raising the cry, ‘Kill,
kill’. All the other carts were ahead, and the carter would not wait for Mr.
Goforth, as he was afraid. During the few moments that elapsed before my
husband was allowed to join us even the carter turned pale with suspense, -
and oh, how I prayed! |
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Except for
a few similar passing dangers, nothing special occurred until the evening of
July seventh, when we reached the small town of Hsintien. We had heard during
the day that the whole country ahead of us was in a state of ferment against
the Roman Catholics. Scarcely had we reached the inn when the engineers and
the missionaries with them who had become increasingly alarmed at the
condition of the country, informed us that they were going on to the large
city of Nan Yang Fu that night, but would leave us two soldiers and two of
their carts. Mr. Goforth did not wish them to go, for he felt it would
greatly increase our danger. |
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Shortly
after they left us the mob began to gather outside our inn. The gate was
barricaded with carts. For hours stones were thrown against the gate and
demand was made for our money. A messenger was at once sent after the
engineers’ party, asking them to return. All that night was spent in
sleepless suspense. |
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Early in
the morning the messenger returned with the reply that they had failed to get
help from the Nan Yang Fu official and were obliged to push on. As soon as the
carters heard we were thus left helpless a panic seized them, and it was with
great difficulty they could be persuaded to harness their animals. All this
time the crowd had been becoming more dense, as we could see through the
cracks of the gate, and were ominously quiet. Hints had been given us of
coming danger, but that was all; none spoke of what all felt, - that we were
probably going to our death. |
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Suddenly,
without the slightest warning, I was seized with an overwhelming fear of what
might be awaiting us. It was not the fear of after death, but of probable torture, that took such awful hold
of me. I thought, ‘Can this be the Christian courage I have looked for?’ I
went by myself and prayed for victory, but no help came. Just then some one
called us to a room for prayer before getting into our carts. Scarcely able
to walk for trembling, and utterly ashamed that others should see my state of
panic, - for such it undoubtedly was, - I managed to reach a bench beside
which my husband stood. He drew from his pocket a little book, ‘Clarkes’s
Scripture Promises’, and read the verses his eye first fell upon. They were
the following: |
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“The
eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he
shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them’. |
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“The God
of Jacob is our refuge”. |
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“Thou art
my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God”. |
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“I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness …. The Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying
unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee”. |
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“If God be
for us, who can be against us?” |
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“We may boldly
say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”. |
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The effect
of these words at such a time was remarkable. All realized that God was
speaking to us. Never was there a message more directly given to mortal man
from his God than that message to us. From almost the first verse my whole
soul seemed flooded with a great peace; all trace of panic vanished; and I
felt God’s presence was with us. Indeed, his presence was so real it could
scarcely have been more so had we seen a visible form. |
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After
prayer we all got on our carts, and one by one passed out into the densely
crowded street. As we approached the city gate we could see that the road was
black with crowds awaiting us. I had just remarked to my husband on how well we
were getting through the crowds, when our carts passed through the gates. My
husband turned pale as he pointed to a group of several hundred men, fully
armed, awaiting us. They waited till all the carts had passed through the
gate, then hurled down upon us a shower of stones, at the same time rushing
forward and maiming or killing some of the animals. Mr. Goforth jumped down
from our cart and cried to them, ‘Take everything, but don’t kill’. His only
answer was a blow. The confusion that followed was so great it would be
impossible to describe the escape of each one in detail. Each one later had
his or her own testimony of that mighty and merciful deliverance. But I must
give the details of Mr. Goforth’s experience. |
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One man
struck him a blow on the neck with a great sword wielded with two hands.
‘Somehow’ the blunt edge of the sword struck his neck; the blow left a wide
mark almost around his neck, but did no further harm. Had the sharp edge
struck his neck he would certainly have been beheaded! |
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His thick
helmet was cut almost to pieces, one blow cutting through the leather lining just over the temple, but without even
scratching the skin! |
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Again he
was felled to the ground, with a fearful sword cut, which entered the bone of
the skull behind and almost cleft it in two. As he fell he seemed to hear
distinctly a voice saying, ‘Fear not, they are praying for you’. Rising from
this blow, he was again struck down by a club. As he was falling almost
unconscious to the ground he saw a horse coming at full speed toward him;
when he became conscious again he found the horse had tripped and fallen (on
level ground) so near that its tail almost touched him. The animal, kicking
furiously, had served as a barrier between him and his assailants. While
dazed and not knowing what to do a man came up as if to strike, but
whispered, ‘Leave the carts’. By that time the onlookers began to rush
forward to get the loot, but the attacking party felt the things were theirs,
so desisted in their attack upon us in order to secure their booty. |
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A word as
to myself and the children. Several fierce men with swords jumped on my cart.
One struck at the baby, but I parried the blow with a pillow, and the little fellow
only received a slight scratch on the forehead. Then they dropped their
swords and began tearing at our goods at the back of the cart. Heavy boxes
were dragged over us, and everything was taken. Just then a dreadful looking
man tried to reach us from the back of the cart with his sword, missing by an
inch. I thought he would come to the front and continue his attack, but he
did not. I had seen Mr. Goforth sink to the ground covered with blood twice,
and had given him up for dead. Just then Paul, who had been in the last cart,
jumped in, wild with delight at what he seemed to think was great fun, for he
had run through the thick of the fight, dodging sword thrusts from all sides,
and had succeeded in reaching me without a scratch. A moment later my husband
came to the edge of the cart scarcely able to stand, saying, ‘Get down
quickly; we must not delay in getting away’. As I was getting down one man
snatched away my hat, another my shoes; but we were allowed to go. |
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Ruth was
nowhere to be seen, and we hoped she was with the missionaries who had charge
of her at the time of attack. I saw that Mr. Goforth’s strength was failing
fast, for he could scarcely walk, and as men began to follow I urged him
forward with the baby and the other two children, and turning faced the men,
begging them to have mercy on my children, for they had begun to stone us.
Some of us were black for days from the blows received then. They stopped and
listened, then the leader said, ‘We’ve killed her husband, let her go’. With
this they ran back to the carts. |
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I knew Mr.
Goforth could not go far. We could see a small village not far distant, and
to this we hastened, praying as we went that the Lord would open the hearts
of the people to receive us. Here again Paul seemed to feel no fear, but
said, ‘Mother, what does this put you in mind of? It puts me in mind of the
Henty books!’ |
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As we
neared the village men came out to drive us away, but I begged them to help
us. |
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By this
time Mr. Goforth had sunk to the ground. Putting the baby in an old woman’s
arms, I knelt down beside my husband. The children were crying bitterly. Mr.
Goforth looked as if he were dying. The women standing round us were weeping
now. This was too much for the men, who came forward saying, ‘We will save
you’. One ran and got some stuff to put in the wounds, assuring us it would
stop the flow of blood, and it did. This man helped me to bandage up the
wounds with bandages made from garments taken from myself and the children.
They helped my husband, and we followed them into a little hut, where they
laid him on a straw bed and locked us in. Hot water for bathing our bruises,
food and drink were handed us through a small window, and we could hear them
planning how they would save us. We told them how anxious we were to hear of
our friends and little Ruth, so they sent a man to inquire. |
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We found
that these people – the whole village – were Mohammedans, and had taken no
part in the attack. We felt that God had wonderfully directed our steps to
that village. |
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All that
day Mr. Goforth lay still, but looked at times so very white that I feared
the worst. Never for one moment, I believe, during that day did I cease to
pray for his life. And when Mr. -----, one of our party, arrived about four
o’clock looking for us, Mr. Goforth at once got up as if perfectly well,
insisting on walking to the cart. To me, knowing how he had looked that day,
it seemed only a miracle. His only answer to my protest was, ‘Only pray; the
Lord will give me strength, as long as he has work for me to do’. |
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As we were
leaving, the kind friends of the village gathered round insisting on my
taking some old clothes to put round the children, who were almost naked,
saying, ‘It will be chilly at night’. As we went forward to join the others,
Mr. ---- told us how one by one all had escaped. Dr. ---- was the only one
beside Mr. Goforth seriously injured, the poor fellow having had his kneecap
severed and the tendons of his right wrist badly cut, besides many other
wounds. |
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All that
day our friends had been waiting by the roadside, unable to proceed without
carts, owing to the doctor’s condition. They had joined in one petition, that
God would move the carters to come. Those who know China and heathen carters
will readily acknowledge that it was nothing short of a miracle – the miracle
of answered prayer – that made these heathen carters come, after all they had
already gone through. For come they did, five of them, all that were needed,
now that our luggage was gone. We learned too, that our faithful Chinese
nurse, who had charge of Ruth, had saved the child at the risk of her own
life, lying upon the child and taking many cruel blows, till greed for loot
drew the men off. |
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We soon joined
the rest of the party, and by six o’clock that evening we reached the large
city of Nang Yang Fu. The city wall was black with people, and as we entered
the gate the wild crowds crushed against our carts. Sometimes the animals
staggered, and it seemed as if nothing could save the carts from being
overturned. Every moment or two a brick or stone would be hurled against the
carts, and that cry, ‘Kill, kill’, which can never be forgotten when once
heard, was shouted by perhaps hundreds of voices. Yet the Lord brought us
through, and ‘no weapon prospered’. |
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When we
reached the inn a wild mob of over a thousand men filled the inn yard; and as
we alighted from the cart these men literally drove us before them into one
room, which in a few moments was packed to suffocation. For probably an hour
the crowd kept crushing us into one corner; then those outside became
impatient at not being able to get in, and demanded that we be brought out.
We managed to keep some of the ladies from going out; but the rest of us –
men, women, and children – stood facing that seething multitude until relief
came in the darkness. Why did they not kill us then? Why, indeed? None but an
Almighty God kept that crowd back. |
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As soon as
we had reached the city a servant was sent to the official demanding
protection. It was dark when this man returned, in a state of great
agitation; his story was that as he was waiting for an answer from the
official he overheard a conversation between two soldiers, and gathered from
what they said that the official had sent a party of fifty soldiers along the
road that we would have to take, with the order that every one of us must be
put to death. The official was afraid to have us killed in the city lest he
should afterward be blamed; but by this plan he could say brigands had done
the deed. So sure was this servant that we were all to be massacrated that he
would remain with us no longer, but returned that night to Honan with the
report that we were all killed. |
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A
consultation was held, and the question was, should we stay in the city and
again demand protection, or should we go on and trust God to open our way?
The latter course was decided upon. But for a long time the carters utterly
refused to go farther with us. Again prayer opened up our way, and by two
o’clock in the morning all were ready to start. |
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The
official had sent a few foot-soldiers to guide us to the right road! (to the waylaying party). The night was very
dark, and as we were passing through the gate of the city we noticed what seemed
to be signal lights put out and drawn in. We all felt these to be signals to
the waylaying party ahead. A short distance from the city, probably about one
hundred yards, our carts suddenly stopped. Some one ran up and whispered to
Mr. Goforth, ‘Paul and Mr. ---- are missing’. Search was made for them, but
without success. |
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A veil
must be drawn over those terrible hours of suspense; my faith seemed to fail
me, and I could only cry in my agony, ‘If Paul is gone, can I ever trust God again?’
Then I remembered how marvelously God had given me back my dear husband’s
life, and I just committed Paul into his hands and waited to see what he
would do. |
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When all
hope was given up of finding the missing ones, a cart was left behind with a
trusted servant, and we went on. Then we saw God’s wonderful plan for us.
While we were waiting the soldiers had fallen asleep in the carts, and were
not aware that the carters were taking a side road until we had gotten miles
from the city and beyond the reach of our would-be murderers! The soldiers
were infuriated at this discovery; but after some threatening they left us
and returned to the city. Thus again we saw that God was indeed unto us a
“God of deliverances’. |
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Again and
again that day we were surrounded by mobs. Many times I held up the poor,
dirty clothes which the Mohammedans had given us, and the story of how these
had been given quieted the people perhaps more than anything. Once the cry
was raised to drag our children’s nurse out of the cart; but as we cried to
God for her the people let us alone, and we passed on. At another time a man
snatched the remains of Mr. Goforth’s helmet away from us, and tore it to
pieces. I had hoped to keep it as a trophy should we ever get out safely. |
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We were at
this time in a pitiable condition. Most of the men had head or arms bandaged;
Dr. ---- was unable to raise his head. What we suffered in those carts with
nothing but the boards under us cannot be told. Nine persons were packed in
our cart, which under ordinary circumstances would have held four or five. At
noon we reached a large city, where the animals had to rest and feed. Then
again we saw an evidence of the Lord’s loving kindness over us. |
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Just as we
were getting down from our carts the crowd became very threatening, and it
looked now as if our hour had indeed come; but at this critical juncture two
well-dressed young men of official class came through the crowd, greeting Mr.
Goforth in great surprise. They had been received by him in our home at Chang
Te Ho. A few words of explanation were spoken, then they turned quickly to
the crowd and told them who we were and of the work at Chang Te Ho. The
attitude of the people changed instantly, and they made way for us, giving us
good rooms, and food was brought which was greatly needed. |
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That noon,
as one after another came up to express their sympathy at Paul’s loss, I
could say nothing - I was waiting to see what God would do. When Mr. Goforth
told the young officials about Paul and Mr. -----, they were greatly
concerned, and promised to send men at once to search for them. These friends
in need sent with us a man of the district to guide and help us, and also
wrote an urgent letter to the official of the city we were to stay in that
night, asking him to give us an escort and help us in every way he could. |
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About four
o’clock that afternoon a man came running after us with the joyful news that
Paul and Mr. ---- were safe, and would reach us that night. As I heard this
news my unbelief and faithlessness in the hour of testing came over me with
overwhelming force, and I could only bow my head and weep. Oh, the goodness
and mercy of God! Never had the love of God seemed so wonderful as in that
hour. |
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‘Could we
with ink the ocean fill, |
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Were the
whole sky of parchment made, |
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Were every
blade of grass a quill, |
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And every
man a scribe by trade; |
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To write
the love of God above |
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Would
drain that ocean dry, |
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Nor could
the scroll contain the whole |
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Though
stretched from sky to sky’. |
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That night
we reached our destination about nine o’clock, having traveled seventeen
hours over those roads, with but a short break at noon. It was marvelous how
Mr. Goforth was sustained, for he was obliged to start at once for the
official’s residence with the note I have already referred to. On the way
through the street the mob about succeeded, several times, in getting him
down under their feet; but God was with him, and he reached the Yamen in
safety, being courteously received by the official, who promised us
protection, and sent him back to the inn under escort. |
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When Paul
and Mr. ---- arrived that night, they tried in vain to wake me, but nature had
to have her way. I knew nothing till I wakened with a start at about two A.M.
Jumping up, I started to look for Paul, and never can I forget the scene! The
whole party was lying on the bare earthen floor, practically without bedding
or mattresses. |
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A word
concerning the experience of Mr. ---- and Paul. The two had got down from
their cart and were walking behind. In some way they missed the road in the
dark, and became separated from us. During that day they were repeatedly in
the gravest danger. |
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On one
occasion, when surrounded by a violent mob, and one man had raised a club
above Paul’s head to strike him down, Mr. felt impelled by some unseen power
to shout out, ‘We are not Roman Catholics, but Protestants’. At this the man
lowered his club, exclaiming, ‘Why, these are not the bad foreign devils, but
the good foreign devils, like those missionaries at Chow Chia K’eo’ (China
Inland Mission). At this same place the hearts of the people seemed turned
toward them in a wonderful way. One man gave Paul one hundred cash (five cents) to buy some food;
another man carried the lad on his back for miles to give his feet a rest,
they were so sore. This same man, when he could carry Paul no longer, ran
ahead to try and find us. When they reached the inn where we had been so
helped by the two Chinese gentlemen, they found that these friends had food
prepared and a barrow waiting, also a guide ready to lead them to us! |
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Less than
an hour from the time I awakened we were on the road again. The official was
true to his promise, and a large mounted escort accompanied us. That day we
were on the road twenty hours, reaching Fan Cheng at midnight. Here we found
the engineers’ party waiting for us with boats hired, but we were obliged to
remain twenty-four hours in the most loathsome inn we ever had the misfortune
to be in China. It was an unspeakable relief to get into the house-boats,
even though we only had bare boards to lie on, and the boat people’s food to
eat. |
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We were
ten days going down stream to Hankow. One after the other became ill. When
still a day from Hankow, a steam tug met us with provisions. Our children
cried at the sight of bread and milk! We were not allowed to stop long enough
at Hankow, as we had hoped, to get clothes and other necessaries, but were
obliged to hasten on by the first steamer, which left the following morning.
I was obliged to borrow garments for myself and the children from our
fellow-passengers. |
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At
Shanghai the streets were being paraded, and every preparation was being made
for an attack. We learned with deep sorrow of the death of many dear friends
at the hands of the Boxers. Ordered home by the first steamer, without
anything left to us but the old clothes we had on at the time of the attack,
how could we get ready in such a short time for the long home voyage? There
was no lack of money, for our Board had cabled all we needed. The question
that faced us was how could I get clothes made for six of us in such a short
time, with Chinese tailors too busy to help, no machine to be had, and no
ready-made clothes to be bought except for Mr. Goforth and Paul. |
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Again I
found that man’s extremity was but God’s opportunity. He was true to his
promise, “God shall supply all your need”. Even as I knelt in an agony of
prayer, beseeching God’s help, and asking definitely that some one should be
sent to me to help with the sewing, two ladies were at the door asking for
me! These were perfect strangers, but had seen our names among the recent
refugees, and God had moved them to come and offer their assistance! They
worked for me night and day until we had to get on board the steamer. Never
shall I forget their Christian fellowship and practical help at that time. |
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But in the
rush to get the older children ready, baby Wallace’s clothes were neglected.
There was nothing for it but to take materials and make things for him on the
voyage. In this connection came a most wonderful and precious evidence of
God’s power to answer prayer. For the first few days of the journey I worked
early and late trying to make something for the little one, who had scarcely
anything to wear; but as we were nearing Yokohama I realized I had almost
reached the end of my strength. My needle refused to work; try as I would I
could not even see where to put the needle. |
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Folding up
my work I went down to the stateroom, and kneeling down I spread the work
before the Lord. Too far gone to agonize in prayer, I could only quietly,
almost mutely, just tell him how the poor child had no clothes. Rising with a
great sense of the burden having been lifted, I put the work away, locking it
in a trunk, then went up on deck and lay down almost insensible from
exhaustion. How long a time passed I do not know, but it could not have been
more than half an hour when some one came and touched me, saying, ‘We have
dropped anchor in Yokohama Bay, and a large bundle has been thrown up on deck
from the lighter for you’. |
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‘For me!’
I cried. ‘Surely not; I know no one in Japan’. Then I thought, ‘It is the
answer come!’ |
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Going down
I found a letter from Mrs. O. E., of the China Inland Mission. She said that
her little son, the same age as baby Wallace, had died four months before,
and the Lord had pressed her to send his complete outfit to me for my child!
Opening the parcel, I found not only everything the child could possibly need
for a year or more, but much else. Had some one stood beside that dear sister
and told her what I most needed, she could not have done differently. Yes,
surely Some One did direct her loving hands, and Some One just used her as
one of his channels; for she lived near to him, and was an open channel. |
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Three days
later my own collapse came; but praise his great name, he was with me in the
darkness and brought me through. |
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Rosalind
Goforth (Mrs Jonathan Goforth) |
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Missionary
in China |
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From
Rosalind Goforth, How I know God
answers prayer, Philadelphia, The Sunday School Times Company, 1921,
pages 43-68 |
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Rosalind Goforth (1864-1942): |
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Rosalind Bell-Smith Goforth was born near London, England, and moved
with her parents to Montreal, Canada, three years later. Her Dad was an
artist, and Rosalind graduated from the Toronto School of Art in 1885. In 1887
she married Jonathan Goforth. They served together as missionaries in China
and Manchuria. They were married for forty-nine years and had eleven children
(Gertrude, Donald, Paul, Florence, Helen, Grace, Ruth, William, [Amelia]
Constance, Mary, and [John] Frederick), five of whom died as babies or very
young children. She was the author of How I Know God Answers Prayer (1921),
her husband's biography, Goforth of China (1937), and Climbing: Memoirs of a
Missionary's Wife (1940). |