Page 37 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 37
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
daily, briefly, but relevantly on the Book of Proverbs, taking just one verse at a time and bringing out
its meaning. One was on "A soft answer turneth away wrath" and he commented that often we are
like a dog; "he barks at you and you bark at him",
Grace Harris and her husband were on the Chefoo staff when George was living there. Grace's
sister Isobel Taylor writes, "I was not there myself but I have heard some choice stories about him
from those who were. One was that at the weekly CIM prayer meeting he (saint as he was!) got up
and prayed , "Oh Lord, save me from becoming a wicked old man". It was Isobel who when teaching
a class in Kuling in 1948 with our son Frank Moore as one of her pupils told them a story about "St.
Andrew". I didn't hear the story but Frank came to me in great excitement afterwards and said,
"Mum, was my great-grandfather a saint or something? Miss Taylor told us a story about St. Andrew
and then she said "and that was Frank Moore's great-grandfather."
After Jessie died, George moved in with his son GFA and Fanny. GFA was on the Boys' School staff
by this time and his children, as well as Esther and Arthur's children, came to know their grandad well.
In the summer when the sea at Chefoo was as calm as a lake, he would float off shore for long
periods, praying as he did so, rejoicing in the quietness and the beauty where he could be alone with
his Lord. Onlookers could only see his beard, his tummy and his toes, and fears were sometimes
expressed that he might drift out to sea. He always ate an apple a day taken in thin slices.
Percy's sister Jessie Moore was still at school and often took long walks with him and found his
conversation fascinating. When he met children on the compound he not only gave them sweets, but
was likely to ask them what thought God had given them from the Bible that day, and then share with
them something he had received from the Scriptures. The second coming of the Lord was never far
from his thoughts, and he anticipated He might come during his lifetime.
Jessie and her cousin Leslie Andrew were baptised in the sea at Chefoo, and it was George Andrew
who was asked to prepare the young people for their baptism in classes some weeks beforehand.
Jess was baptised by her uncle GFA, but it was her grandfather George Andrew who stood on the
beach and gave a short message from the Word of God before those to be baptised entered the
water. It was a time which was very special and one which Jess never forgot. She left Chefoo with
her mother Esther on 15 September 1929 and as the ship sailed across the bay opposite the school,
they distinctly saw him on the coastal road watching them and pointing upwards. It was Jess's last
glimpse of her grandfather.
Esther and Arthur Moore with Jess joined Percy in Canada in late 1929 leaving Marj and Doug at
school until they returned. George wrote faithfully to his daughter and gave her news of the two
children at Chefoo, knowing that that would be what her heart longed for.
Marj had had a health problem and he assured Esther he had seen her many times. "She seems
improved in health" he wrote, "I see more of her than of Duggie, though I light on him now and again
too. He was here last Sunday week for dinner, tea and supper and enjoyed himself. He appears to
be in good health."
George remembered Percy's birthday on 15 October, his mind going back to the day twenty years
before when he had helped to bring him into the world. He was concerned for the group of Chefoo
boys who were sharing a flat together in Toronto, perhaps specially for his own two grandsons, Percy
and Leslie Andrew, GFA's eldest son. "Are the ladies in charge of the house Christians?" he wanted
to know. "Are the boys studying anything to fit them to make the best of the opportunities in their
lives? Do they attend any business or other classes, or do they study at home in the evenings? I
want to see them excel."
37
Amy Moore
daily, briefly, but relevantly on the Book of Proverbs, taking just one verse at a time and bringing out
its meaning. One was on "A soft answer turneth away wrath" and he commented that often we are
like a dog; "he barks at you and you bark at him",
Grace Harris and her husband were on the Chefoo staff when George was living there. Grace's
sister Isobel Taylor writes, "I was not there myself but I have heard some choice stories about him
from those who were. One was that at the weekly CIM prayer meeting he (saint as he was!) got up
and prayed , "Oh Lord, save me from becoming a wicked old man". It was Isobel who when teaching
a class in Kuling in 1948 with our son Frank Moore as one of her pupils told them a story about "St.
Andrew". I didn't hear the story but Frank came to me in great excitement afterwards and said,
"Mum, was my great-grandfather a saint or something? Miss Taylor told us a story about St. Andrew
and then she said "and that was Frank Moore's great-grandfather."
After Jessie died, George moved in with his son GFA and Fanny. GFA was on the Boys' School staff
by this time and his children, as well as Esther and Arthur's children, came to know their grandad well.
In the summer when the sea at Chefoo was as calm as a lake, he would float off shore for long
periods, praying as he did so, rejoicing in the quietness and the beauty where he could be alone with
his Lord. Onlookers could only see his beard, his tummy and his toes, and fears were sometimes
expressed that he might drift out to sea. He always ate an apple a day taken in thin slices.
Percy's sister Jessie Moore was still at school and often took long walks with him and found his
conversation fascinating. When he met children on the compound he not only gave them sweets, but
was likely to ask them what thought God had given them from the Bible that day, and then share with
them something he had received from the Scriptures. The second coming of the Lord was never far
from his thoughts, and he anticipated He might come during his lifetime.
Jessie and her cousin Leslie Andrew were baptised in the sea at Chefoo, and it was George Andrew
who was asked to prepare the young people for their baptism in classes some weeks beforehand.
Jess was baptised by her uncle GFA, but it was her grandfather George Andrew who stood on the
beach and gave a short message from the Word of God before those to be baptised entered the
water. It was a time which was very special and one which Jess never forgot. She left Chefoo with
her mother Esther on 15 September 1929 and as the ship sailed across the bay opposite the school,
they distinctly saw him on the coastal road watching them and pointing upwards. It was Jess's last
glimpse of her grandfather.
Esther and Arthur Moore with Jess joined Percy in Canada in late 1929 leaving Marj and Doug at
school until they returned. George wrote faithfully to his daughter and gave her news of the two
children at Chefoo, knowing that that would be what her heart longed for.
Marj had had a health problem and he assured Esther he had seen her many times. "She seems
improved in health" he wrote, "I see more of her than of Duggie, though I light on him now and again
too. He was here last Sunday week for dinner, tea and supper and enjoyed himself. He appears to
be in good health."
George remembered Percy's birthday on 15 October, his mind going back to the day twenty years
before when he had helped to bring him into the world. He was concerned for the group of Chefoo
boys who were sharing a flat together in Toronto, perhaps specially for his own two grandsons, Percy
and Leslie Andrew, GFA's eldest son. "Are the ladies in charge of the house Christians?" he wanted
to know. "Are the boys studying anything to fit them to make the best of the opportunities in their
lives? Do they attend any business or other classes, or do they study at home in the evenings? I
want to see them excel."
37
