Page 37 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
P. 37
GFA – A Different Drumbeat 37
O.B.E.
The Great War ended on 11th November 1918, but GFA’s anticipated furlough did not
eventuate for another year. At the end of 1919, GFA, Fanny and his parents, George and
Jessie, left China for England. Their two older children Leslie and Aileen were at the CIM
boarding school in Chefoo, so they remained there and Mervyn went with his parents back
to England..11 years earlier GFA had sailed for China to follow his missionary calling. It had
been an eventful and memorable time for him.
The China Inland Mission had a policy, only loosely adhered to, that missionaries should
serve seven years in China, and then have a year’s furlough at ‘home’. ‘Home’ of course
meant their home country, and, although furlough meant rest and recuperation, it also
meant that they had to carry out deputation work. This usually involved invitations from
churches to be the guest speaker at a meeting or church service.
Normally the first month or two would be low key deputation, but this would increase as
time went on, especially if the missionary gained a reputation as an outstanding speaker.
The first recorded task for GFA was at the Annual Meetings of the China Inland Mission.
This would indicate that he was highly valued as a speaker by his own peers.
While they were in England for this furlough, the British Government were rewarding its
subjects for services rendered during the Great War which had only finished less than two
years previously.
Not long after their arrival at the end of 1919, GFA received the following offer:
O.B.E.
The Great War ended on 11th November 1918, but GFA’s anticipated furlough did not
eventuate for another year. At the end of 1919, GFA, Fanny and his parents, George and
Jessie, left China for England. Their two older children Leslie and Aileen were at the CIM
boarding school in Chefoo, so they remained there and Mervyn went with his parents back
to England..11 years earlier GFA had sailed for China to follow his missionary calling. It had
been an eventful and memorable time for him.
The China Inland Mission had a policy, only loosely adhered to, that missionaries should
serve seven years in China, and then have a year’s furlough at ‘home’. ‘Home’ of course
meant their home country, and, although furlough meant rest and recuperation, it also
meant that they had to carry out deputation work. This usually involved invitations from
churches to be the guest speaker at a meeting or church service.
Normally the first month or two would be low key deputation, but this would increase as
time went on, especially if the missionary gained a reputation as an outstanding speaker.
The first recorded task for GFA was at the Annual Meetings of the China Inland Mission.
This would indicate that he was highly valued as a speaker by his own peers.
While they were in England for this furlough, the British Government were rewarding its
subjects for services rendered during the Great War which had only finished less than two
years previously.
Not long after their arrival at the end of 1919, GFA received the following offer:
