Page 19 - Three Score Years & Ten
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“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
THE DIRECTOR'S BLESSING
Mr. and Mrs.Baller were the host and hostess as they were in charge of the home there, but to the
young men setting out into the unknown, it was the message and the blessing of Mr. Hudson Taylor
that night as they shared in the Lord's Supper, that was the highlight of it all. "We were always sure"
said George Andrew, "that Mr. Taylor would never ask us to do what he would be unwilling to do
himself."
That night he turned their attention to Psalms 123 to 125, emphasising to them the main thought in
each Psalm. On Psalm 123 he said that though they were going out relying only on God and waiting
upon Him for direction, yet they must not be surprised if their message was met with scorn and
contempt by the Chinese. Psalm 124 could also fit the circumstances. They would be travelling
through Hunan, a province noted for its hostility to foreigners, and it was quite possible "men would
rise up against them". They would have to pass through many dangerous rapids and see many
shipwrecks. They might literally have "the waters overwhelming them" and "the stream going over
their soul". Then they would need to remember that "their help was in the Name of the Lord Who
made heaven and earth" and also the triumphant beginning of Psalm 125 that "they that trust the Lord
shall be as Mt. Zion" for "even as the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about
His people".
Mr. Taylor went on to emphasise that God requires obedience and entire consecration, and as he read
the first chapter of Joshua, he suggested that the word given to Joshua was equally relevant for those
who were standing at the long closed doors of western China, desiring to enter in and possess the
land for the Captain of their salvation. To be strong and courageous, not turning to the right or left,
reading and meditating on the Word, were the conditions which could claim God's promises. "As I was
with Moses, so I will be with you." He went on to urge that "by loving teaching and Christ-like living"
they were to win this people for God.
His special word to George Andrew was: "Bidding you Godspeed on your journey, my thoughts go
back to the time when I first set foot in China in 1854, some 27 years ago. I remember the earnest
longing I had to speak to this people in their (as yet) unknown language, and how I yearned over them
and longed for the words in which to tell my Master's message. May God be with you and bless you,
helping you in the study of this difficult language, and enabling you when far away from all Christian
fellowship to lean entirely on Him. Your faith will doubtless be tried sometimes, it may be your
supplies will fail altogether, and you may not know where to turn for help. Then in your extremity you
need fear nothing for the Lord will be with you whithersoever you go, and He will be your Helper."
A HAZARDOUS JOURNEY
George Andrew and Arthur Eason were appointed for a time to Guiyangfu the capital of Guizhou
Province. Here they were to work and study the language under the guidance of Mr. and
Mrs.Broumpton who were in charge of the work there, and also of the recently open province of
Yunnan in the far south-west, their ultimate destination.
They met up with Mr. and Mrs.Broumpton in Wuzhang and also with Miss Kent who would be
travelling with them the further 900 or so miles to Guiyang. Miss Kerr was a trained nurse. This was
significant in the light of what happened on the journey.
It was to be a very eventful journey when George Andrew could have lost his life on several
occasions. They were to travel by river boat from Hankou passing though the province of Hunan and
then through Guizhou until they reached the capital.
19
Amy Moore
THE DIRECTOR'S BLESSING
Mr. and Mrs.Baller were the host and hostess as they were in charge of the home there, but to the
young men setting out into the unknown, it was the message and the blessing of Mr. Hudson Taylor
that night as they shared in the Lord's Supper, that was the highlight of it all. "We were always sure"
said George Andrew, "that Mr. Taylor would never ask us to do what he would be unwilling to do
himself."
That night he turned their attention to Psalms 123 to 125, emphasising to them the main thought in
each Psalm. On Psalm 123 he said that though they were going out relying only on God and waiting
upon Him for direction, yet they must not be surprised if their message was met with scorn and
contempt by the Chinese. Psalm 124 could also fit the circumstances. They would be travelling
through Hunan, a province noted for its hostility to foreigners, and it was quite possible "men would
rise up against them". They would have to pass through many dangerous rapids and see many
shipwrecks. They might literally have "the waters overwhelming them" and "the stream going over
their soul". Then they would need to remember that "their help was in the Name of the Lord Who
made heaven and earth" and also the triumphant beginning of Psalm 125 that "they that trust the Lord
shall be as Mt. Zion" for "even as the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about
His people".
Mr. Taylor went on to emphasise that God requires obedience and entire consecration, and as he read
the first chapter of Joshua, he suggested that the word given to Joshua was equally relevant for those
who were standing at the long closed doors of western China, desiring to enter in and possess the
land for the Captain of their salvation. To be strong and courageous, not turning to the right or left,
reading and meditating on the Word, were the conditions which could claim God's promises. "As I was
with Moses, so I will be with you." He went on to urge that "by loving teaching and Christ-like living"
they were to win this people for God.
His special word to George Andrew was: "Bidding you Godspeed on your journey, my thoughts go
back to the time when I first set foot in China in 1854, some 27 years ago. I remember the earnest
longing I had to speak to this people in their (as yet) unknown language, and how I yearned over them
and longed for the words in which to tell my Master's message. May God be with you and bless you,
helping you in the study of this difficult language, and enabling you when far away from all Christian
fellowship to lean entirely on Him. Your faith will doubtless be tried sometimes, it may be your
supplies will fail altogether, and you may not know where to turn for help. Then in your extremity you
need fear nothing for the Lord will be with you whithersoever you go, and He will be your Helper."
A HAZARDOUS JOURNEY
George Andrew and Arthur Eason were appointed for a time to Guiyangfu the capital of Guizhou
Province. Here they were to work and study the language under the guidance of Mr. and
Mrs.Broumpton who were in charge of the work there, and also of the recently open province of
Yunnan in the far south-west, their ultimate destination.
They met up with Mr. and Mrs.Broumpton in Wuzhang and also with Miss Kent who would be
travelling with them the further 900 or so miles to Guiyang. Miss Kerr was a trained nurse. This was
significant in the light of what happened on the journey.
It was to be a very eventful journey when George Andrew could have lost his life on several
occasions. They were to travel by river boat from Hankou passing though the province of Hunan and
then through Guizhou until they reached the capital.
19
