Page 35 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 35
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
were still much in demand for speaking at meetings. At the CIM Swanwick Winter School in January
1921, the report stated that "the first of a series of talks on the life of a missionary was given by Mr.
George Andrew who spoke from personal experience on what is involved in the pioneer's task of
`blazing the trail'".
GFA and Fanny returned to China that same month and he very soon became involved in the
earthquake relief work in Gansu. Fanny and the children were all at Chefoo. Arthur and Esther were
also back in Gansu at Liangzhou where their little daughter Dorothy was born in May 1922. Doug had
been with them on furlough and returned to Gansu with them, but Percy, Jessie and Marjorie were all
at Chefoo Schools.
George and Jessie reached Shanghai in February 1922, but their age and long years of service made
the Mission hesitate to send them back to the rigours of Gansu again. In May they were sent to
Shunde in the province of Chili, but by September 1923 a notice in the Shanghai letter announced that
Arthur and Esther Moore had been transferred to Shunde from Liangzhou as the Andrews were
needing help in the work. George was 66 and Jessie 65 and not very strong. A year after the
Moores joined them they were retired to live in the more bracing and healthy climate of Chefoo.
GEORGE AND JESSIE RETIRE
So George Andrew's long and fruitful ministry as a Field Superintendent in three different provinces of
China came to an end. He had held the position for 32 years. Mr. Arthur Lutley who knew him well,
said, "perhaps his most fruitful ministry was as a friend and guide to his younger fellow missionaries
and to Chinese Christian leaders. It was on account of his unique gifts in this respect that he was
chosen to act as Superintendent in three different provinces. He was however so humble and
unassuming that he was quite willing to remain in the background, and because of this many did not
realise his gifts and practical wisdom until they needed to seek his wisdom and advice."
Certainly in all the provinces in which they worked, George's visits to other stations were greatly
appreciated by his fellow missionaries. As one of them said, "We looked forward to his visits. His
own transparent honesty of purpose, singleness of aim and absolute freedom from self seeking, often
enabled us younger workers to rise above difficulties which previously seemed insurmountable."
The homes in which they lived in Chinjiang and Lanzhou in particular were always happy places with a
warm, loving welcome for travellers from far and near, as George and Jessie did everything they could
to make them comfortable. Percy Mather said it was just "like a bit of heaven" to receive such a
welcome after his long journey from the coast to Lanzhou.
George Andrew's last service in Shunde was to conduct the funeral service of his little granddaughter,
Dorothy Moore. Jessie had gone ahead to Chefoo, but George was to come later with the luggage,
and it was during that time that little Dorothy, only two and a half years old, contracted a disease which
took her off after only a day and a half's illness. What a shock it was to the whole family, and what a
hard thing for her grandad to have to do as he prepared to leave his home and his work in Shunde. It
was here, with all their other grandchildren already at school in Chefoo, that little Dorothy's presence
had brought them so much joy. The service in front of Arthur and Esther's home was in Chinese led
by George, and then two of the Chinese servants who had loved the little girl, and two other
missionaries, carried the casket to the grave in the garden of the home she had played in so happily.
George only stayed with them long enough to comfort and help his daughter in her sorrow and then
moved on to Chefoo. Jessie was staying with GFA and Fanny and they had broken the news to
35
Amy Moore
were still much in demand for speaking at meetings. At the CIM Swanwick Winter School in January
1921, the report stated that "the first of a series of talks on the life of a missionary was given by Mr.
George Andrew who spoke from personal experience on what is involved in the pioneer's task of
`blazing the trail'".
GFA and Fanny returned to China that same month and he very soon became involved in the
earthquake relief work in Gansu. Fanny and the children were all at Chefoo. Arthur and Esther were
also back in Gansu at Liangzhou where their little daughter Dorothy was born in May 1922. Doug had
been with them on furlough and returned to Gansu with them, but Percy, Jessie and Marjorie were all
at Chefoo Schools.
George and Jessie reached Shanghai in February 1922, but their age and long years of service made
the Mission hesitate to send them back to the rigours of Gansu again. In May they were sent to
Shunde in the province of Chili, but by September 1923 a notice in the Shanghai letter announced that
Arthur and Esther Moore had been transferred to Shunde from Liangzhou as the Andrews were
needing help in the work. George was 66 and Jessie 65 and not very strong. A year after the
Moores joined them they were retired to live in the more bracing and healthy climate of Chefoo.
GEORGE AND JESSIE RETIRE
So George Andrew's long and fruitful ministry as a Field Superintendent in three different provinces of
China came to an end. He had held the position for 32 years. Mr. Arthur Lutley who knew him well,
said, "perhaps his most fruitful ministry was as a friend and guide to his younger fellow missionaries
and to Chinese Christian leaders. It was on account of his unique gifts in this respect that he was
chosen to act as Superintendent in three different provinces. He was however so humble and
unassuming that he was quite willing to remain in the background, and because of this many did not
realise his gifts and practical wisdom until they needed to seek his wisdom and advice."
Certainly in all the provinces in which they worked, George's visits to other stations were greatly
appreciated by his fellow missionaries. As one of them said, "We looked forward to his visits. His
own transparent honesty of purpose, singleness of aim and absolute freedom from self seeking, often
enabled us younger workers to rise above difficulties which previously seemed insurmountable."
The homes in which they lived in Chinjiang and Lanzhou in particular were always happy places with a
warm, loving welcome for travellers from far and near, as George and Jessie did everything they could
to make them comfortable. Percy Mather said it was just "like a bit of heaven" to receive such a
welcome after his long journey from the coast to Lanzhou.
George Andrew's last service in Shunde was to conduct the funeral service of his little granddaughter,
Dorothy Moore. Jessie had gone ahead to Chefoo, but George was to come later with the luggage,
and it was during that time that little Dorothy, only two and a half years old, contracted a disease which
took her off after only a day and a half's illness. What a shock it was to the whole family, and what a
hard thing for her grandad to have to do as he prepared to leave his home and his work in Shunde. It
was here, with all their other grandchildren already at school in Chefoo, that little Dorothy's presence
had brought them so much joy. The service in front of Arthur and Esther's home was in Chinese led
by George, and then two of the Chinese servants who had loved the little girl, and two other
missionaries, carried the casket to the grave in the garden of the home she had played in so happily.
George only stayed with them long enough to comfort and help his daughter in her sorrow and then
moved on to Chefoo. Jessie was staying with GFA and Fanny and they had broken the news to
35
