Page 26 - Three Score Years & Ten
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“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
Abraham Andrew, George's father died on 17 January of that same year (1889), so that they were too
late to see him again. His mother and his two brothers were still there to welcome them when the
arrived with the two children on 10 June 1889. Esther was four and a half years old and George
Junior nearly two.
Mr.Windsor, who had worked with them in Guiyang for four years said, "I am very sorry we are parting,
for we have worked very happily together for four years, and have proved that `it is a very good and
pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity.' After they leave I will be alone at the Mission
home and I feel scarcely competent to take charge of such important and aggressive work."
FIRST FURLOUGH
George Andrew was much in demand to speak at meetings during their furlough, which was probably
spent mainly in and around Manchester, though possibly some time may have been spent with his
brother John in Yorkshire at Bridlington. At the end of 1890 on 5 December, another son whom they
named Arthur John was born to them in Manchester.
BACK TO CHINA
They sailed for China again on the P & O steamer `Arcadia' on 8 January 1891, arriving in Shanghai
on 21 February. They expected to return to Guizhou or possibly Yunnan, but when they reached
Shanghai, the Mission had other ideas for them. Mr.Stevenson, at that time Secretary of the CIM,
was needed in America, and in his absence George was asked to help out in Shanghai.
Esther, who would be seven at the end of the year, was due to go to school at Chefoo at the beginning
of the school year in September. When George contracted dysentery half way through the year, it
was decided the whole family should go up to Chefoo for part of the summer to help George's
recovery and to see Esther settled in at school. George's recovery was long and tedious, and when
he returned to Shanghai he was not completely well.
He travelled by sea with Mr. and Mrs.Hudson Taylor, and in the Yellow Sea they ran into a typhoon.
The ship was violently tossed about, the kitchen fire had to be put out and no meals could be served.
The vessel was jarred from stem to stern as the screw rose high out of the water, whirling around at
great speed. George describes the scene as Mr.Taylor had wedged himself between two berths,
and was trying on the one hand to keep himself from being thrown over, and on the other trying to
make some cornflour for the patient with the help of a small spirit lamp. "At last I said, `Oh Mr.Taylor,
I can't stand this!' He looked up and said, `If I were your father, I wouldn't like to put you in such a
position, but seeing that it is your Heavenly Father Who has done it, it is alright'".
After they reached Shanghai, George was still very unwell. I think Jessie must have been in Chefoo
with the children, for George wrote, "My bedroom was next to Mr.Taylor's, and every night, some time
after midnight, I used to see this door quietly open and Mr.Taylor, dressed in his Chinese gown, come
in to see how I was and if I needed anything."
THE GRAND CANAL
When Mr.Stevenson returned to Shanghai, George was once again asked to fill in for another
missionary. This time it was for Mr.McCarthy who was in charge of the work and the missionaries
along the Grand Canal in Jiangsu Province.
26
Amy Moore
Abraham Andrew, George's father died on 17 January of that same year (1889), so that they were too
late to see him again. His mother and his two brothers were still there to welcome them when the
arrived with the two children on 10 June 1889. Esther was four and a half years old and George
Junior nearly two.
Mr.Windsor, who had worked with them in Guiyang for four years said, "I am very sorry we are parting,
for we have worked very happily together for four years, and have proved that `it is a very good and
pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity.' After they leave I will be alone at the Mission
home and I feel scarcely competent to take charge of such important and aggressive work."
FIRST FURLOUGH
George Andrew was much in demand to speak at meetings during their furlough, which was probably
spent mainly in and around Manchester, though possibly some time may have been spent with his
brother John in Yorkshire at Bridlington. At the end of 1890 on 5 December, another son whom they
named Arthur John was born to them in Manchester.
BACK TO CHINA
They sailed for China again on the P & O steamer `Arcadia' on 8 January 1891, arriving in Shanghai
on 21 February. They expected to return to Guizhou or possibly Yunnan, but when they reached
Shanghai, the Mission had other ideas for them. Mr.Stevenson, at that time Secretary of the CIM,
was needed in America, and in his absence George was asked to help out in Shanghai.
Esther, who would be seven at the end of the year, was due to go to school at Chefoo at the beginning
of the school year in September. When George contracted dysentery half way through the year, it
was decided the whole family should go up to Chefoo for part of the summer to help George's
recovery and to see Esther settled in at school. George's recovery was long and tedious, and when
he returned to Shanghai he was not completely well.
He travelled by sea with Mr. and Mrs.Hudson Taylor, and in the Yellow Sea they ran into a typhoon.
The ship was violently tossed about, the kitchen fire had to be put out and no meals could be served.
The vessel was jarred from stem to stern as the screw rose high out of the water, whirling around at
great speed. George describes the scene as Mr.Taylor had wedged himself between two berths,
and was trying on the one hand to keep himself from being thrown over, and on the other trying to
make some cornflour for the patient with the help of a small spirit lamp. "At last I said, `Oh Mr.Taylor,
I can't stand this!' He looked up and said, `If I were your father, I wouldn't like to put you in such a
position, but seeing that it is your Heavenly Father Who has done it, it is alright'".
After they reached Shanghai, George was still very unwell. I think Jessie must have been in Chefoo
with the children, for George wrote, "My bedroom was next to Mr.Taylor's, and every night, some time
after midnight, I used to see this door quietly open and Mr.Taylor, dressed in his Chinese gown, come
in to see how I was and if I needed anything."
THE GRAND CANAL
When Mr.Stevenson returned to Shanghai, George was once again asked to fill in for another
missionary. This time it was for Mr.McCarthy who was in charge of the work and the missionaries
along the Grand Canal in Jiangsu Province.
26
