The Fuh-Chau Cemetery (Ladies Repository, September, 1858 1 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm

THE LADIES REPOSITORY far-distant spot, around which, to every lover SEPTEMBER, 1858 of the Redeemer and of his cause, there gathers a melancholy interest. It is the “THE MISSION CEMETERY cemetery of Fuh-Chau, where quietly sloop OF FUH-CHAU.” five precious American female missionaries, By Rev. J.W. Wiley, M.D. who counted not their lives dear unto them, if they might win Christ and be found in him.  The contents of this article have been extracted Let us retire to this beautiful and silent vale of for the Repository, by Dr. Wiley, from a death, and read its touching and inspiring forthcoming volume by the same writer, on the history. Fukien Missionaries of Fuh-Chau.—Ed. VOL. Fuh-Chau is one of the five cities of XVIII—33 opened to foreign residence and commerce by DR. WENTWORTH, one of our missionaries the treaties of 1842. It is the capital of Fuh- at Fuh-Chau, has sketched, and the artist has Kieng, one of the richest and most enterprising finely engraved for us, a beautiful picture of a provinces of China, possessing a territory of 2 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm

67,000 square miles, and a population of approach the city, the banks of the river on 16,000,000, of the most hardy and both sides are lined with boats—hundreds of adventurous natives of the empire. Fuh-Chau, small tarn-pans, or row-boats, and large the provincial city, is situated about five vessels more permanently located, which serve hundred miles up the Chinese coast from as residences for their owners. These water Canton, and till recently was only accessible to residences are one of the striking features of the foreigner through the Portuguese lorchas— Chinese life, and are found in all parts of the small, schooner-like crafts, owned and empire. The river population of Fuh-Chau manned mostly by the Portuguese of Macao, must amount to several thousands, born, and and by which is conducted a lucrative, but reared, and spending their lives on these little dangerous and adventurous trade in conveying boats. The stream is also occupied by or guarding native junks along the Chinese hundreds of junks of all forms and sizes, from coast, to preserve them from the attacks of the massive, unwieldy vessels of Shantung to native pirates, with which all parts of the the neat, little, black-painted crafts of Ningpo. China sea are infested. In the summer of 1851 In the center of the river lies a large island we chartered one of these little vessels at called Tong--Chin, or "Middle lsland," Hong-Kong, and a voyage of eight days along connected with the banks of the river, on each the bold and barren coast of China, brought us side, by stone bridged, and densely covered to the outlet of the river Min. About three with buildings, and occupied by busy, thriving o'clock In the afternoon, while A clear sun multitudes, numbering several thousands. poured its flood of golden light over the Several native official residences are found on beautiful scenery which skirts the embouchure this island, and formerly it was occupied by of the river, we suddenly tacked about from three mission families. our course and bore into the river, winding our On the south side of the river is a large suburb way through a picturesque group of islands called A-to, divided into several districts, and called the "White Dogs" and "Five Tigers," stretching for some two miles along the river which seem like savage sentinels guarding the bank. In the lower part it expands over the entrance of the river. level plain, presenting a mass of buildings and The scenery of the Min inspires universal a dense population, with some of its streets admiration. Travelers have frequently stretching far back toward the rice-fields of the compared it to the picturesque scenery of the country. Throughout the greater part of the Rhine; but Americans find a better comparison length of this suburb the ground rises from the in the bold scenery of the Hudson, which it bank of the river into broken hills, the faces of equals in grandeur, and surpasses in the which are occupied with buildings and beautiful blending of rich lowlands, cultivated numerous temples, and the summits fringed fields, and tributary streams. Sweeping along with pine and fir-trees. Stretching for miles the winding river for about thirty miles among those hills, in the rear of the population, through this enchanting scenery of towering is the City of the Dead, the principal burying- mountains, terraced hills, cultivated fields, and ground of Fuh-Chau. Here we may wander for quiet villages, all glittering in the light of a hours among thousands of tombs of every size, southern sun, softened by the rich verdure of from the small conical mound, covered with tropical vegetation, we enter the beautiful hard plaster, beneath which rest the remains of amphitheater, skirted on all sides by irregular, the humble poor, to the spacious, well-paved, broken mountains, under the shelter of which and ornamented monument, covering an area lies embosomed the city of Fuh-Chau. As we of several hundred square feet, which indicates The Fuh-Chau Cemetery (Ladies Repository, September, 1858 3 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm the resting-place of wealth and importance. found in abundance, and the main thorough' Here, too, in a little secluded vale, covered fare, which connects the whole suburb with with grass, shaded by clusters of olive and the city, is thronged from morning till night guava-trees, marked by its simple, granite with a busy, noisy multitude. tombs, differing from the thousands around In a very fine elevated locality in this suburb, them, and only separated from these curious called Pona-Sang, two missionary families of graves of the natives by some clusters of the American Board have fixed their shrubbery, is the "Mission Cemetery of Fuh- residences, and near them, on the thronged Chau," where sleep in the calm repose of death thoroughfare, their chapels and schools. Here, those precious ones whose memory we here too, the Methodist Episcopal mission has a preserve. center of operation in the district of long-tau; Circumstances have fixed this suburb as the and in still another part of the vast suburb, this chief residence of foreigners at Fuh-Chau. It mission has completed, and recently dedicated was at once occupied at several points by the to the worship of the "true God," a very neat missions—in the district of Tuai-Liang by the and commodious church, the first erected in American Board mission, and in the district of Fuh-Chau. Chong-Sang by the Methodist Episcopal Leaving this great suburb by passing through mission. The whole force of the Methodist the south gate, we enter the city proper—a mission is now located on a healthy, elevated vast and densely-crowded metropolis, spot, overlooking the whole vast suburb, and spreading over an area of many square miles, commanding a magnificent view of the whole encircled by a massive stone wall nearly nine "happy valley" of Fuh-Chau. In addition to the miles in circuit, flanked every few rods with ordinary Chinese chapel and school-house towers and bastions. The best bird’s-eye view located here, this mission has recently of the city is to be had from the Wee-Shik- completed on the main street of this district, a Shang, “Black Stone Hill,” a dark, rocky neat Anglo-Chinese chapel, designed for both eminence in the north-western part of the city, English and Chinese service. At Tuai-Liang which rises first by a gentle acclivity, and then are the house and chapel of the lamented by a sleep and abrupt ascent, till its dark Cummings, who has gone to his reward and summit, crowned with an altar and the sleeps beneath the soil of his fatherland. They implements of idolatrous worship, tower are now occupied by Mr. Hartwell and family. above all the surrounding city. From this point On the north bank of the river lies another still may be contemplated one of the finest views more extensive suburb, stretching along the in China, embracing the whole vast stream for a mile above and below the bridge, amphitheater encircling Fuh-Chau, bounded and reaching bark a distance of nearly throe on all sides by the broken, irregular mountains, miles to the walls of the city. In some places it intersected by the winding branches of the spreads out to a great distance over the plain, river and numerous canals and water-courses, and in others is contracted to the single dotted every here and there with little hamlets winding street leading to the city gate. A and villages, animated by the wide-spreading population of perhaps a hundred thousand city and its suburbs, and beautifully relieved, occupies this suburb, and it presents one of the in many places, by large paddy-fields and mo«t busy and interesting scenes about Fuh- cultivated gardens, all luxuriant in tropical Chau. Stores, shops, factories, markets, banks, vegetation. On the left, at the foot of the hill, temples, arches, and public buildings are lie the romantic and picturesque grounds 4 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm

formerly occupied by the British consulate, Some years, however, were permitted to pass and on the right the bold eminence on which, before this vast city attracted attention as a after many a struggle, the mission of the place of trade or a desirable point for missions. Church of England succeeded in establishing In 1844 the Church Missionary Society of itself, where its buildings rise above all the England sent the Rev. George Smith, now plain, as a city set upon a hill. Bishop of Victoria, for the express purpose At your feet lies the populous city of Fuh- visiting the open ports of China, and reporting Chau, with its seeming masses of living on their comparative claims and feasibility as idolatry. Only a few buildings rise above the mission stations. In December, 1845, Mr. general level of low, one-storied dwellings, Smith reached Fuh-Chau, and spent nearly a which spread over the plain like a sea of tile month in exploring the city and its suburbs, and and roofs. Two pagodas lift themselves up in investigating the question of its eligibility as a within the city wall, and, towering high above point for missionary action. Mr. Smith was at all surrounding buildings, are prominent once convinced of the importance and promise objects to the eye. Here and there the eye is of this great city as a missionary field, and arrested by the comical joss-poles, which strongly recommended it to the Church indicate the residence of the mandarins of the Missionary Society for immediate occupancy. city, and again by the bright-red color of some Its favorable situation, and its vast resources as more massive buildings, which bespeak the, a place of foreign trade, were only partially localities of the various temples scattered over made known by this visitor, whose great the whole city. The city is richly supplied with business WAS to discover fields for missionary large, wide-spreading shade-trees, which, activity; and, consequently, several years rising above the buildings, and spreading their more passed before the advantages of this city verdant branches over the roofs, gives the city were discovered and made available for the appearance of being embosomed in a vast foreign commerce. It now promises to grove. But, the noise and din perpetually become one of the most important centers of ascending from below, soon convince us that it foreign trade. On the second day of January, is not a grove of solitude, but is animated by a 1846, the first Protestant missionary entered full tide of population. Such is the city of Fuh-Chau. This honor belongs to Rev. Fuh-Chau as it presents itself to the eye when Stephen Johnson, who had already been contemplating its vast outlines. Let us pass to laboring for several years among the Chinese a brief review of its missionary history. at Bangkok, in Siam, and who, as the Chinese at Bangkok were from the province of Fuh- Fuh-Chau was scarcely known to foreigners Kien and spoke that dialect, was thought to be before the treaties of 1842-'44. It was even but an available pioneer, and was directed to enter little disturbed during Anglo-Chinese War, the port by the American Board, under whose which preceded those treaties. It had been, auspices he was acting. Mr. Johnson’s however, for several years a profitable depot knowledge of the Chinese language, as used at for the opium traffic—two extensive British Bang-kok, was of little avail to him here, as, houses having their receiving ships stations at although in the province of Fuh-Kien, the the mouth of the river, and their agents dialect of Fuh-Chau differs widely from that residing in the suburb of the city. Through used by the Chinese of Siam. Mr. Johnson the influence of these houses it was chosen as gave nearly six years of earnest pioneer one of the ports opened to foreign trade and missionary activity to this infant field, and residence by the treaties, and was immediately then, under prostrated health, returned to his occupied by a British consular establishment. The Fuh-Chau Cemetery (Ladies Repository, September, 1858 5 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm native land, where he still lives, abundant in her spirits droop, nor subdue the ardor of her labors and patiently awaiting the coming of missionary devotion. 8he worked while she his Lord. lived, and trusted in the God of missions when The practiced eye of Mr. Johnson soon saw in she died. On the 25th of May, 1848, she fell Fuh-Chau a most desirable missionary station asleep, and awaits, in the mission cemetery, and recommended its rapid occupancy by the the coming of the Lord. American Board. In a few months Rev. L.B. Just one month after the arrival of these Peet and family, who had been fellow-laborers pioneers at Fuh-Chau—on the 13th of October, with Mr. Johnson in Siam, joined him again in 1847—two more missionaries—Rev. Henry Fuh-Chau. For about ten years Mr. Peet and his Hickok and wife and Rev. R. 8, Maclay— most estimable lady labored efficiently in Fuh- embarked at for the same Chau, and then, in July, 1856, Mrs. Peet, after destination, and reached Fuh-Chau early in having given in all nearly twenty years of 1848. About one month after the sailing of labor to the Master's cause in Siam and China, those missionaries to reinforce the Methodist laid down the armor and slept with the precious Episcopal mission, another company sailed ones who had gone before. 8he rests in the from Philadelphia, on the ship Valparaiso, and "cemetery of Fuh-Chau;" her tomb, marked by arrived at Fuh-Chau on the 7th of May, 1848, its upright slab, stands first in the foreground to join the mission of the American Board. A of our engraving. In the autumn of the same precious company was borne on that vessel— year, Mr. Peet, with his motherless children, Rev. Dr. James and wife, under the auspices of returned to America, where he still remains, the Southern Baptist Board of Missions, recruiting his health and awaiting an destined to reinforce their mission at ; opportunity to return to Fuh-Chau. Miss Pohlman, the sister of Rev. Wm. In 1846 the attention of the Methodist Episco- Pohlman, who was then laboring at Amoy; pal Missionary Society was directed toward Rev. C. G Baldwin and wife, Rev.S. China, and soon decided on Fuh-Chau for the Cummings and wife, and Rev. W. L. Richards, locating of their infant mission. Accordingly constituting the reinforcement of the mission Rev. M.F. White and wife, and Rev. J. D. at Fuh-Chau. Collins, sailed for that port on the 15th of April, A touching history belongs to this little 1847, and arrived at Fuh-Chau early in company. Dr. James and wife were destined September of the same year. During the never to reach their field of labor. The little ensuing winter Mrs. White was attacked with a company of the Valparaiso had all safely severe cold, which no treatment would relieve, reached Hong-Kong, and there parted for their and which soon manifested all the symptoms different fields of labor. Dr. James and lady of consumption. She soon began to realize determined to visit Canton while awaiting an that her missionary life was to be a short one, opportunity to sail for Shanghai. This they did, and that her mission to China was to be like and spent a few days at the great city of that of those who being dead still speaks. She foreign trade; but as they were returning on was to make the first missionary grave in Fuh- board the schooner Paradox, just after they had Chau, and her preaching was to be the silent made sight of Hong-Kong, a sudden squall preaching of the fallen pioneer addressed to struck the vessel and threw it on its beam ends, the missionaries and the heathen around her, when she filled and immediately sank, bearing and to the Church that sent her forth. Yet this with her to a watery grave Dr. and Mrs. James conviction did not shake her faith, nor make and five others belonging to the crew. Miss 6 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm

Pohlman safely reached her destination at reward. Mrs. Doolittle was one of the most Amoy, and was welcomed to the warm heart precious jewels the American Church had of her brother. Not long after her arrival, given to the evangelization of China. Her however, that brother made a tour along the life was short; she died at thirty-five; yet it coast of China, for the benefit of his health, was long enough for her to give to the world and also for purposes of missionary a beautiful example of an affectionate exploration. On this tour the vessel was daughter, a loving sister, a devoted wife, a attacked by pirates, and Mr. Pohlman never tender mother, a ripe scholar, an early and returned. His fate is unknown. This blow fell faithful Christian, and an earnest missionary. heavily on his sister, and she never recovered Her life is her praise, her consecration to the from it. Her health failed, and reason itself work of missions the proof of her character, began to totter, when she was accompanied to and the rude stone which covers her resting- her native laud by Rev. Mr. Talmage. place in the silent "cemetery of Fuh-Chau" is Mr. .Richards reached : Fuh-Chau, entered her noblest monument. It is the one she would heartily into his missionary labor, but in a few have chosen for herself, and it utters its silent years sank under failing health, and started for memorial and dispenses its quiet influence America, but found a grave in the broad from the very spot where she would have Atlantic. Mr. Cummings returned with his placed it. Here the heathen, for whom she enfeebled wife in the winter of 1855, but in the lived and with whom she died, will gather following August, in the midst of busy around it—perhaps sit down upon it in the preparations to return to Fuh-Chau, the refreshing shade of the beautiful olive-tree that messenger of God suddenly came, saying, "It waves above it, and read in their own language is enough, come up higher." He sleeps in the the record of her life, the inscription of her cemetery at New Ipswich, N. H. Mr. Baldwin death, the assurance of her hope of and wife still live, efficiently laboring in the immortality, and the proof of the love and Master's cause in Fuh-Chau. Such has been the devotedncss if one who came far over the fate of this little band of missionaries, who, in ocean to teach them of Jesus and the 1847, embarked with warm hearts and high resurrection. hopes on board the Valparaiso. Early in the year 1850 the Rev. Messrs. Fast On the 31st of May, 1850, the American mid Elquist, the first missionaries sent out to a Board mission was again strengthened by the foreign land from Sweden, by a recent society arrival of Rev. J. Doolittle and wife, who were formed through the agency of Rev. Mr. accompanied on their voyage from Hong Fielsteatt, long a missionary in Smyrna, Kong by Rev. Messrs. Welton and Jackson, arrived at Fuh-Chau. We have not space here who came to lay the foundations of the Church for their brief and melancholy history. On the of England mission. In 1852 Mr. Jackson 9th of July, 1851, the Methodist Episcopal retired to Ningbo, and in 1856 Mr. Welton Mission was reinforced by the arrival of the returned in prostrated health to England, and a writer of this sketch, accompanied by his wife, few months ago died suddenly in London. Mr. Rev. James Colder and wife, and Miss M. Doolittle still occupies the field, one of the Seely; and on the 9th of June, 1851, the most zealous and efficient missionaries, that American Board mission was strengthened by has been sent to Fuh-Chau. Mrs. Doolittle the arrival of Rev. and wife, continued the efficient helpmeet of her the latter being a sister of Mrs. Cummings, husband for six years, and then, on the 23d of already in the field. On the 3d of November, June, 1856, finished her labor and went to her 1853, Mrs. Wiley passed away, and we say by The Fuh-Chau Cemetery (Ladies Repository, September, 1858 7 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm an eye of faith the angel-messengers, and the accompanied from Hong-Kong to Fuh-Chau company which no man could number, and by Rev. Messrs. Macaw and Fernley, and Mrs. Jesus, the glory of the heavenly city, ready to Macaw, to strengthen the Church of England welcome her to a home in heaven. Of this mission. This estimable lady also fell in a few precious one we can say nothing; her modest months, and rests in the cemetery attached to tomb stands the last in the background of our the British consulate at Fuh-Chau. Let the engraving, and a memorial of her life and reader now cast an eye over the row of little death will be found in the Repository for graves along the right of our picture, where August, 1854. rest the precious little ones that have gone to In June, 1855, the Methodist Episcopal the Father's bosom from the missions at Fuh- mission was again strengthened by the arrival Chau, and we will have finished our of Rev. Dr. Wentworth and wife. The description of the "Mission Cemetery at Fuh- missionary life of Mrs. Wentworth was short Chau." indeed. On the 2d of October, 1855, only And now, while we cast our eyes over this about four months after reaching her field of beautiful picture, and shed our tears over these labor, the Master dismissed her from the toil fallen missionaries, let not these precious and called her to the reward. We confess our tombs startle us, or discourage us from the faith shook and our heart sank within us when work of evangelizing this great heathen city. we read of the early death of Anna Wentworth. No; they are the tombs of Christians, of the We almost exclaimed—the sacrifice is too daughters of America, of the children of the great—it demands too much—for one so American Church, not one of whom regretted young, so beautiful, so lovely in character, so this consecration, or counted her life dear to promising, and so good, to be laid so soon on her, if she might share a part in this glorious the altar. But we soon hushed these work. This cemetery consecrates Fuh-Chau. murmurings, when we went back to review The voice from each sleeper there is a voice with what willingness, with what peace, with calling to the Church to go forward in this what triumph, yea, with what hastening to the work. coming of the Lord, she passed to the world of The history of the past ten years, though glory from the world of toil. "It is the Lord, let presenting, as in all pioneer missionary him do what seemeth him good." We want movements, its sad and melancholy pages, has missionary graves as well as missionary lives. yet been such as to demonstrate the She has made one. "Her footsteps merely correctness of the action of the American and marked her field of toil, to show the way from British missionary societies in selecting Fuh- thence to heaven. She greeted the heathen land Chau as a field for missionary activity. The with a smile, bade it an affectionate farewell, fact that so many have fallen, and others, and passed on over Jordan, leaving her co- under broken health, have been forced to retire, laborers gazing after her as an angel-visitant." while it presents a mournful chapter in the Her beautiful monument, rising from the midst history of missions, is no real cause for of the Cemetery, still points heavenward, discouragement, nor does it evidence the teaching the heathen and inspiring the ineligibility of this city as a missionary station. missionary. Perhaps the proportion of fallen missionaries In the same year the mission was joined by here does not surpass that of other new and Rev. Otis Gibson and wife, both of whom are untried fields; and we must remember that, still in the field. Dr. Wentworth was although other parts of China had been 8 http://www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm

occupied several years by missionaries and life. A largo foreign trade has grown up; a foreign residents, yet Fuh-Chau was entirely large foreign community is gathering into the unknown, and presented all the hazards and city, and the conveniences and necessaries of difficulties of an entirely new field. The missionary life can be provided on the spot. missionaries entered it ignorant of the The pioneer work is nearly done. Henceforth language, the habits, the mode of living, etc., there will be no such drain on missionary life. of the inhabitants. They knew not what articles The climate of Fuh-Chau is delightful through of clothing, furniture, and even of food, might eight months of the year; through the be procured or could not be had; and for the remaining four months, the only difficulty is want of this information had, in many the great heat incident to its tropical position, instances, to endure grave disappointments which can be greatly provided against by the and serious privations. They had no homes. bettor homes of the missionaries, and by the Rude, temporary shelters had to be provided, numerous cool and refreshing resorts which wholly unadapted to the wants of foreign have been found about the city. Unfortunate, residents in a new and untried climate. Long indeed, would be the mistake of the Church months, and even years, had to pass before the were she now to forsake her minions at Fuh- prejudices of the people could be so far Chau, or permit them to languish, just when removed as to allow them to build comfortable her sons and daughters have finished their vast houses. They met, first of all, the labor of preparatory work—when the door is just acquiring a new language, about which no widely opened—when the field is just white foreigner knew any thing, toward which no for the harvest, and thus throw away, on the books from other parts of China could be of eve of victory, these vast advantages for which service, and for which task no teacher could be she has paid the price of so many precious provided that could speak a word of English. lives. No; let us cherish the memory of these They were in the midst of a new climate, new fallen missionaries—let the name of those scenes, new modes of life, to all which they martyr-pioneers live in the heart of the must learn to accustom themselves, while, at Church—let us shed our tears over their the same time, they were necessarily meeting precious graves; but let not the cemetery at grave obstacles and performing gigantic labors. Fuh-Chau startle us from the field; but let it be No wonder many of them fell—fell soon—but as a familiar voice from our beloved ones, fell, however, bearing the banner of the great who have borne the heat and burden of the day, King in the fore-front of the Lord's host. calling us to enter into their labors. These difficulties have been met and Note: This document was scanned from an overcome. The night of toil now breaks into original in Bill Brown’s China library. If you the day of promise. The time of "going forth have Rev. Wiley’s complete 374-page book, weeping, bearing precious seed," is now being please share it with us! (I’d be happy to pay followed by the joyful harvest. Fuh-Chau is for scanning it). And visit Amoy Magic’s now an inviting field of labor, Its climate is “Amoy Mission—1841-1951” pages: understood. The wants of the missionary are www.amoymagic.com/htm known, and can be provided for. Houses have www.amoymagic.com/amoymission1.htm been built, and comfortable residences can be rapidly procured. The language has been E-mail: [email protected] mastered and made comparatively easy of Also visit BDDC (Biographical Dictionary of acquisition. The prejudices of the people have Chinese Christianity) at: http://bdcconline.net/ melted away; they hear gladly the words of