Page 42 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 42
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
ESTHER ANDREW - 1884 - 1960
Esther Andrew, who became Esther Moore, was my much loved mother-in-law who taught me much
of what a missionary should be and what the wife of a Field Superintendent should be.
She was the eldest daughter, and the only daughter of George and Jessie Andrew, and though at the
time of her birth they were living and working in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, she was
born in Chongqing in Sichuan Province on 14 November 1884. I have been told that she was the first
baby to be registered with the British Consul in Chongqing.
Esther spent her early years in Guiyang where her brother George Findlay Andrew (GFA) was born
2½ years later on 14 July 1887. One of her earliest memories was of sitting on Hudson Taylor's knee,
eating an apple he had given her. She went home with her parents on their furlough in 1890 and, in
Manchester on 5 December of that year, a second brother, Arthur John, was added to the family.
On their return to China, Esther's father was appointed District Superintendent for the missionaries
working along the Grand Canal. The family went to live in the city of Yangzhou which is situated on
the Canal in Jiangsu Province.
According to the Chefoo School records, Esther commenced her school life in 1890, but this cannot be
correct as she was at home in England with her parents at that time. Probably 1890 was the date
when she was due to start after her 6th birthday, and her name would have been on the Chefoo lists
accordingly. It was probably the Spring of 1891 in September when the school year began that she
really did begin her school life. Ella Reid (later Ella Ritchie) was her school friend right through her
days at Chefoo, and remained one of her close friends to the end of her life. Ella married Will Ritchie,
who became the Postal Commissioner in China, and their lovely home in Chengdu, Nanjing or
Hongkong, no matter where, always had an open door and a warm welcome for Esther. Whenever
she was near enough to accept Ella's pressing invitations, Esther enjoyed the brief taste of luxury and
leisure that Ella's home could give her.
Another long life friend was Mrs. Clinton who was Esther's "school mother" from the time she
commenced life in the Girls' School in Chefoo. After they had both been widowed and were living in
the CIM Home in Toronto in Canada, this friendship became even more precious to them both and
they found comfort and strength in being able to share old memories and present problems, and to
pray over them together.
BOXER REBELLION
Esther was 15 when the Boxer Rebellion broke out in China. Many missionaries and their children,
and many Chinese Christians lost their lives at that time, but to Esther and her friends at school it was
more of an adventure than otherwise. Each night they went to bed with their bags packed ready to
leave, with rowlocks under their pillows so that if they had to leave in a hurry, they could go straight
down to the beach where the school rowing boats were kept in readiness. Out in the bay a big US
ship was ready to take them off to Japan for safety. It all sounded like fun and they were always a
little regretful that it never happened!
On one occasion when Mrs. McCarthy, the wife of the headmaster, was taken ill, Esther was asked to
look after their small daughter Eva. Eva McCarthy later became a missionary herself and taught
42
Amy Moore
ESTHER ANDREW - 1884 - 1960
Esther Andrew, who became Esther Moore, was my much loved mother-in-law who taught me much
of what a missionary should be and what the wife of a Field Superintendent should be.
She was the eldest daughter, and the only daughter of George and Jessie Andrew, and though at the
time of her birth they were living and working in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, she was
born in Chongqing in Sichuan Province on 14 November 1884. I have been told that she was the first
baby to be registered with the British Consul in Chongqing.
Esther spent her early years in Guiyang where her brother George Findlay Andrew (GFA) was born
2½ years later on 14 July 1887. One of her earliest memories was of sitting on Hudson Taylor's knee,
eating an apple he had given her. She went home with her parents on their furlough in 1890 and, in
Manchester on 5 December of that year, a second brother, Arthur John, was added to the family.
On their return to China, Esther's father was appointed District Superintendent for the missionaries
working along the Grand Canal. The family went to live in the city of Yangzhou which is situated on
the Canal in Jiangsu Province.
According to the Chefoo School records, Esther commenced her school life in 1890, but this cannot be
correct as she was at home in England with her parents at that time. Probably 1890 was the date
when she was due to start after her 6th birthday, and her name would have been on the Chefoo lists
accordingly. It was probably the Spring of 1891 in September when the school year began that she
really did begin her school life. Ella Reid (later Ella Ritchie) was her school friend right through her
days at Chefoo, and remained one of her close friends to the end of her life. Ella married Will Ritchie,
who became the Postal Commissioner in China, and their lovely home in Chengdu, Nanjing or
Hongkong, no matter where, always had an open door and a warm welcome for Esther. Whenever
she was near enough to accept Ella's pressing invitations, Esther enjoyed the brief taste of luxury and
leisure that Ella's home could give her.
Another long life friend was Mrs. Clinton who was Esther's "school mother" from the time she
commenced life in the Girls' School in Chefoo. After they had both been widowed and were living in
the CIM Home in Toronto in Canada, this friendship became even more precious to them both and
they found comfort and strength in being able to share old memories and present problems, and to
pray over them together.
BOXER REBELLION
Esther was 15 when the Boxer Rebellion broke out in China. Many missionaries and their children,
and many Chinese Christians lost their lives at that time, but to Esther and her friends at school it was
more of an adventure than otherwise. Each night they went to bed with their bags packed ready to
leave, with rowlocks under their pillows so that if they had to leave in a hurry, they could go straight
down to the beach where the school rowing boats were kept in readiness. Out in the bay a big US
ship was ready to take them off to Japan for safety. It all sounded like fun and they were always a
little regretful that it never happened!
On one occasion when Mrs. McCarthy, the wife of the headmaster, was taken ill, Esther was asked to
look after their small daughter Eva. Eva McCarthy later became a missionary herself and taught
42
