Behind-The-Ranges Taylor.Pdf
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o1lJ 1> ···... :·.-:=···••' For Shaded Area In greater d!',tail see inside back cover. ALL RIGHTS lU!.SEltVED First published 1944 Second impresswn 1945 Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges. Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go I God took care to hide that country, Till he judged His people ready. Then He chose me for His whisper, And I've found it. And it's yours. KIPU.NG, • The Explorer.' J AMES OUTRAM F RASER, B.SC . LOND. BEHIND THE RANGES FRASER OF LISULAND S.W. CHINA By MRS. HOWARD T~YLOR \11!1, .. ~ . 1it I SS LU'ITERWORTH PRESS LONDON and REDHILL and the CHINA INLAND MISSION TO THE DEAR AND HONOURED MOTHER ANNIE ROSSELL FRASER LIGHT OF HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF HIS MANHOOD TRUE YOKEFELLOW IN . SPIRITUAL THINGS THIS RECORD OF THE LIFE OF HER. MISSIONARY SON IS DEDICATED FOREWORD As the story of the life ofJ. 0. Fraser is unfolded in these pages, the reader cannot fail to be impressed with certain outstanding qualities and characteristics which combined to make him a great missionary. The stern self-discipline they picture reminds one of a Henry Martyn. He accepted unreservedly the word of his Master, 'If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.' · His consuming passion for souls is comparable to that of David Brainerd. How Fraser longed and prayed for the conversion of his beloved Lisu ! And when there came the first signs of life, how earnestly he desired that they should go on to know the life more abundant. Then there was the sustained zeal of his prayer-life, recalling the fervour of' Praying Hyde'. Indeed, it would seem as though the outstanding feature of Fraser's spiritual life was that of the prayer-warrior. We would commend the chapter in the book entitled, ' The Prayer of Faith ' as one to be read and read again. It is almost a classic commentary on intercessory prayer; and yet it is more than that, for it was born out of the travail of a soul and is a priceless lesson learned in the school of prayer. But with it all, Fraser was a man of like passions with ourselves, and he did not attain to a mature Christian experience without sore and costly conflict. The chapter entitled, ' Blood of His Own ' draws aside the veil and gives us a glimpse of this man of God bracing himself for the fight against sloth and prayerlessness and against that ' weakness of spirit ' which he says was the cause of defeat. As a missionary, Fraser was a wise master builder, laying good foundations. The churches were to be self governing and self-supporting right from the outset, and he strenuously resisted the temptation to allow them to 5 FOREWORD .. become dependent on him or on funds from foreign sources. No large foreign style buildings were erected, ·and all the work was kept on the. simplest possible lines, iri harmony with the simple and primitive characteristics - of these lovable Lisu. Fraser and his, colleagues had· the joy of giving to the . people among whom .they worked the whole New Testa ment in their own language. ·.•.· Coµld there have· been a more precious legacy for that infant church? They might have sung the ' Nunc Di:tnittis ' in the day when the task of that translation was completed. · · This mission~ry biography is going to be an inspiration to those-setting out on a missionary career; it"will be a joy to older missionaries as they read the record of trial and triumph, and it Will bring its message .and call to prayer to all who desire the extension of our Lord's kingdbm. That its publication ' should coincide with Dr. and ·Mrs. Howard Taylor's golden wedding is surely matter for congratulation. Manifestly the long-practised pen has not lost its inspiration. It is indeed a privilege to commend this book as one demanding careful reading and prayerful meditation, and worthy of a:n honoured place on the shelves of all lovers of Missions. W. H. ALDIS. 6 CONTENTS THE PATHFINDER CHAP, PAG& I. BEGINNINGS . 9 2. YOUNG LIFE . 12 3· THE REAL ISSUE 19 4· MOUNTAIN MEN 26 5· MISSIONARY IN CHARGE 39 6. BANISHED TO BURMA 52 7. .LISULAND AGAIN . 59 8. A CHALLENGE . 67 9· A DECISION . 75 10. POWERS OF DARKNESS . 85 I I. A FRUITFUL INTERLUDE 98 12. THE PRAYER OF .FAITH 105 13. · THE SWORD-LADDER FESTIVAL. u8 14. ' WHO TEACHE TH LIKE HIM ? '· '. 124 15. THE LETTER NEVER WRITTEN . 138 16. ' I SENT YOU TO REAP ' ' 146 17. LOVE AND PATIENCE 157 18. · BLOOD OF HIS OWN 167 19. A NEW CALL, 171 20. ' GOOD GROUND ' . 181 21. ' A HUNDREDFOLD ' 193 22. THE END IN VIEW 199 23. LOVE'.s ENDURANCE 214 24~ LOVE'S, REWARD 224 THE PRAYER-WARRIOR 25, MARRIAGE AND ,WIDER MINISTRY .• 26. FULFILMENT AND TRANSLATION .FAREWELL 7 ILLUSTRATIONS JAMES OUTRAM FRASER, B.SC. LOND. Frontispiec, Facing page ANNIE ROSSELL FRASER 16 J• O. FRASER ON HOLIDAY IN NORTH WALES 17 THE BORDERLAND BETWEEN YUNNAN AND BURMA • 68 A LISU SHANTY , 69 TWO LISU CHRISTIANS 69 A LISU VOLUNTARY EVANGELIST 106 A BIBLE LESSON ON A LISU VERANDAH 107 THE LAKE AT TALi, WESTERN YUNNAN 156 ' NO USE FOR A HORSE IN THIS KIND OF COUNTRY ' I 5 7 JOHN III. 16, IN FRASER'S LISU SCRIPT 178 PASTOR TING Ll•MEI AND HIS ESCORT, J. O. FRASER 178 CHRISTIAN GIRLS AT TURTLE VILLAGE 179 THE FIRST GROUP OF ATSI KACHIN INQ.UIRERS • I 79 FLAGG AND FRASER IN LISU DRESS 2 I 2 CHRISTIAN LISU ON THE SALWEEN RIVER 2 I 3 ROXIE MAUD DYMOND 236 C.I.M. HEADQ.UARTERS IN SHANGHAI • 2 37 8 THE PATHFINDER CHAPTER I BEGINNINGS A YOUNG girl was walking down a quiet street in East London toward the great thoroughfare that runs from east to west through the heart of the city. On her way she looked with interest at one little house which seemed to stand out from the rest. For behind the curtains of that window by the door and those above, she knew that something unusual was going on. History was there being made in a realm· that was very real to her, little more than child though she was. ' Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven '-how the people in that house not only prayed but lived for this ! Her father and friends in the chapel to which she was going knew about it all, and she shared their interest. It was a young missionary from China who had come to the little house with his wife and children, to prepare for returning to the work they loved-but not alone. Strange to say, they were taking with them a number of other people, all young as they were and of a kindred spirit, to do the impossible as it seemed ; for was not that great land closed and barred against both themselves and the message they had to bring ? Yet their object was to reach all its inland provinces with the message of God's redeeming love in Christ, the message we are charged to give to all men everywhere. And the strangeness of it all was that they had none of the usual means of support. No missionary society stood behind them, for none was prepared at that time to undertake so hopeless a task. No one was promising them any salary. They were just going out in obedience to the plain command of Christ, trusting Him to be with 9 BEHIND THE RANGES them and to meet all their need, as He had promised. For to them that word was sufficient, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' Thoughts such as these stirred the heart of the girl who passed the house Sunday by Sunday. There, in the sitting-room beside the door, Hudson Taylor and his young wife were often busy writing, writing and praying. For their moments of leisure on Sunday were given to the book that was to accomplish so great a work-the little book that came from burning hearts, about 'China's Spiritual Need and Claims.' As she sat at the table, pen in hand, and he walked up and down the room in prayerful consideration, thoughts were given which were to move hearts the wide world over and through long years to come, laying abiding foundations for the work to which they had given, in faith, the name of the ' China Inland Mission.' But all that was still in the future, and almost as hidden from them as from the schoolgirl who glanced at their windows in passing. Little did she think that, in coming years, a son of hers was to be one of the bravest pioneers of that same Mission, or that his Home-call in the prime of life would occasion the heart-cry, 'a prince and a great man is fallen among us!' There was much coming and going in the little house, for the first party of the Mission was soon to sail on the good ship Lammermuir. 1 Among the most helpful of the young men in preparation was John McCarthy from Dublin, who a few years later was to make his remarkable journey on foot right across China, by the dangerous regions of western Yurman, into Burma.