Page 83 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
P. 83
GFA – A Different Drumbeat 83
wire letting me know your mind as, if I have to go, there will be various things to
arrange, and it will give Mr. McCarthy notice in preparing next term’s timetable.
PS Mr. McCarthy is willing for me to go if you feel I shall thereby be serving the
larger interest.
After a final six months back on the Chefoo staff, he planned to leave for the north-west on
February 6th, 1930. But his father was taken ill on February 3rd, and GFA reports that as
he was supporting him on his last walk up to the house . . . "Father was very anxious that I
should not delay my departure and even asked those around him to use their influence to
get me to go and leave him." Of course GFA refused to do that. George Andrew died on
February 10th, the funeral was on the 12th and "in deference to his wishes" GFA left by the
next boat to Tientsin on the 14th. Fearing that Fanny would break down, he took her with
him as far as Peking.
This was the start of one of the most difficult tasks he had ever been asked to carry out. His
own account of this time could not be told any better than by himself. What follows is a talk
he gave in late 1930, which was printed as a newsletter for his prayer partners. It is a
graphic picture of an unforgettable few months for GFA, and shows his skill as a narrator of
historical events.
November 10th, 1930.
Dear Friends
After a good deal of thought we have decided to send out this letter in the form
produced herewith. This practically amounts to a verbatim report of the public lecture
I delivered at the Navy Y.M.C.A., Shanghai, but I think it contains most of the
information which may prove of interest to our friends. The account is of course very
abbreviated but it is difficult to relate the story of half a year’s work in an hour of time,
especially when that half year seemed like ten years.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me a profound pleasure,
speaking tonight in this city, in this building, and on this day on the subject of the
Kansuh 1930 Famine Relief Operations. I am glad that I speak in Shanghai for this is
the home constituency of that body, already referred to by our Chairman, the
American Advisory Committee, which allocated and released the half million dollars
which made possible our work in Kansuh this year, and each member of which has
given ungrudging service and loyal support to the cause of suffering humanity. I take
this opportunity of paying my tribute to them, especially as I understand their
modesty (which exceeds even mine!) has hitherto prevented even their names being
made known to the public.
wire letting me know your mind as, if I have to go, there will be various things to
arrange, and it will give Mr. McCarthy notice in preparing next term’s timetable.
PS Mr. McCarthy is willing for me to go if you feel I shall thereby be serving the
larger interest.
After a final six months back on the Chefoo staff, he planned to leave for the north-west on
February 6th, 1930. But his father was taken ill on February 3rd, and GFA reports that as
he was supporting him on his last walk up to the house . . . "Father was very anxious that I
should not delay my departure and even asked those around him to use their influence to
get me to go and leave him." Of course GFA refused to do that. George Andrew died on
February 10th, the funeral was on the 12th and "in deference to his wishes" GFA left by the
next boat to Tientsin on the 14th. Fearing that Fanny would break down, he took her with
him as far as Peking.
This was the start of one of the most difficult tasks he had ever been asked to carry out. His
own account of this time could not be told any better than by himself. What follows is a talk
he gave in late 1930, which was printed as a newsletter for his prayer partners. It is a
graphic picture of an unforgettable few months for GFA, and shows his skill as a narrator of
historical events.
November 10th, 1930.
Dear Friends
After a good deal of thought we have decided to send out this letter in the form
produced herewith. This practically amounts to a verbatim report of the public lecture
I delivered at the Navy Y.M.C.A., Shanghai, but I think it contains most of the
information which may prove of interest to our friends. The account is of course very
abbreviated but it is difficult to relate the story of half a year’s work in an hour of time,
especially when that half year seemed like ten years.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me a profound pleasure,
speaking tonight in this city, in this building, and on this day on the subject of the
Kansuh 1930 Famine Relief Operations. I am glad that I speak in Shanghai for this is
the home constituency of that body, already referred to by our Chairman, the
American Advisory Committee, which allocated and released the half million dollars
which made possible our work in Kansuh this year, and each member of which has
given ungrudging service and loyal support to the cause of suffering humanity. I take
this opportunity of paying my tribute to them, especially as I understand their
modesty (which exceeds even mine!) has hitherto prevented even their names being
made known to the public.
