The Pioneer of American Missions in China : the Life and Labors of Elijah
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3 3433 08233997 '^.'wi^'BMfrTi^fvnraii i !^l^^^^^' ,;r)h^^;.f*;l>^>;..-i:,,'^.^ ' ' i- ' ' ' ' < ' A V*v.' f r > > v > .> . >~ *)^^| > > Bf'.'i >''i >'T I ! ! ^ ''.'xjrai ' '' i . i 1 ! 1 ; ', i ; i :; , ~n Wf , 'f> f}fi 5/C \ ~Sraved V T CButb^^^ .^^^-^-^-^ TEE PIONEER OF AMERICAN MISSIONS IN CHINA. THE LIFE AND LABORS OF ELIJAH COLEMAN BRIDGMAN, EDITED ( ELIZA J. GILLETT BRIDGMAN. WITH AX LN'TRODrCTORY iVOTE, BY ASA D. SMITH, D. D. NEW YORK : AXSON D. F. RANDOLPH, No. 683 BROADWAY. 1864.. Entered according to Act of Congress, 5n the year 1S64, by Anson D. F. Randolph, In the Clerk*s Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern Disti'ict of New York. EDWAED 0. JEXKIXS, printer anU ^Stereotsper, No. 20 NoETH William St. TO CHRISTIAN MOTHERS, AS AN ENCOUEAGEMENT TO MATEPwNAL FIDELITY; TO CKILDREN AND YOUTH, AS AN EXAMPLE OF EARLY PIETY; AND TO STUDENTS IN THEOLOGICAL SEMINAEIES, AS A VOICE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM. THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED BY THE EDITOR. PKEFACE. TF the difficulties of the general biographer are not a few, how much more is it a delicate task for one who has been connected by the dearest of all earthly ties to a departed believer, to attempt a delineation of his Christian character. On one side, an undue partiality may be apparent, and on tlie other, an unnecessary timid- In the ity may deter from a true and faithful record. present instance, however, the line of duty has only been " to the he has left his on follow missionary ; footprints" the sands of time. The preparation of the following pages is the result of a conviction that an example so pure, and purposes formed and carried out with so much singleness of aim, may influence others to tread the same path. It will be seen that little else has been necessary than to arrange the materials already furnished from different sources. The aim has been to make the subject of this memorial his own biographer, and to exhibit the work- of the as well as the exterior life also to ings interior, ; and present something of a history of the China Mission, the results of the missionary's observation and reading (v) vi PREFJlCE. among a people so diverse from any otlier nation, and so strikingly peculiar in their habits and customs as the Chinese. Family and other correspondence, while it affords Tariety, shows the estimate of Mr. Bridgman's character among his kindred, and the interest his friends and rela- tions felt in his life-work. It has been impossible, in every instance, to consult the individuals from whose let- ters extracts have been published, but the compiler trusts there will be nothing found offensive to the taste or judgment of the various correspondents, as liberty has only been taken with those parts which has a bearing on the character of Mr. Bridgman. Interspersed through the narrative are allusions to domestic life to some of his most intimate con- ; friends, nected with these letters his etc. and ; excursions, ; plates are introduced illustrating foreign settlements in China, which it is hoped will not be out of place, associated as they are with his missionary career, and long residence of thirty-two years in that far-off land. It is the business of the pioneer to explore to give information of his researches to prepare the way for others to enter into his labors, rather than to look for immediate results and this was Mr. ; Bridgman's ap- pointed sphere in the great and extensive field allotted to him the church. But results were not denied he by ; lived to form a native church, to become its pastor, and PREFACE. vii from time to time to receive tlie Cliinese of botli sexes, some in youth, others in middle life, and some even in old age, to the ordinances of a Christian communion. What he considered, however, tlie icorJc of his life, was the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Chinese language. This was nearly completed at the time of his death, and was finished a few months after by his beloved colleague, the dear and lamented Culbertson, who in less than one year responded to a like sudden summons. The book has a mission which may be understood from its dedication. We believe there is many a pious student in our theological seminaries who is waiting, nay in- " " quiring, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? In contemplating a foreign mission the perusal of this vol- ume, it is hoped, will tend to dissipate discouragement which may arise either from the difficulties of a strange or isolation a most and language, among singular people ; guided by the Word of God, listening also to a voice from the grave of the toil-worn missionary, may some one who is looking to the ministry be induced to obey the " exhortation, nay command, Go up and possess the land, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." The palm of being the first Protestant inissioiiary to the Chinese is awarded to the sainted Morrison. It is only claimed for the subject of this Memoir that he was the Pioneer of Ainerican Missions to China. Grateful acknowledgments are tendered to Dr. A. D. viii PREFACE. Smith, one of the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, for his valuable in to the many suggestions regard manuscript ; to Mr. A. Merwin of the same Board for access to the Ilissionary Herald ; to R. M. Olyphant, Esq., merchant of this city, and David Leavitt, Esq., of Great Barring- ton, Mass., for their interest and assistance in various ways in its publication. New York, Decemler 1, 1863. CONTENTS. Page Preface v viil CHAPTER I. Birlh Childhood His Mother Academical Course 1 6 CHAPTER H. Sabbath- school Labors A Letter to his Sister Consults his Parents and Friends on the Subject of Missions Anniversary Theological Seminary Leaves Andover T 16 CHAPTER m. Ordination Letter of Instructions 17 28 CHAPTER ly. Yoyage Employments Anxiety Observation Scenes at Sea Thunder-Storm The Steward Method of Reading Mr. Abecl Coun- seled The New Year Dedicatory Prayer What led him to be a Mis- sionary Arrives at Macao At Canton 29 36 CHAPTER V. Mr. D. "W. C. Olyphant Letter An Interview with Dr. Morrison Yisit to the Temple of Honan Leang-afah 3T 46 CHAPTER YI. Public "Worship Birthday Eeflections Yisit to Mowqua Beheading List of Missionaries in the East Mr. B. begins to read in Chinese Visit to Macao More Laborers Letters 47 56 (vii) viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER YII. Eeview of the Tear Labors Principles of Action Eeasons for Taking Boys Government Circulars Christianity : when Introduced The First Protestant Missionary The Art of Printing in the Tenth Century Parents Drowning a Son Visit to Macao A Missionary's Position not Understood Pirates Intelligence from Home Eeturn to Canton Typhoon 57 67 CHAPTER Vin. The Flight of Time Political Difficulties between England and China Letter to the Secretary of the Board, in which the Claims of the Heathen World, especially China, are set forth A Chinese Bride Conversation " " with a Pupil Canton Climate Healthy Chinese Repository Con- versation with Leang-atoh Afah's Labors Eev. Mr. Stevens 6S 76 ^ CHAPTER IX. Diary of a Chinese Christian Arrival of Missionaries Letters Qual- ifications of a Missionary Examples 77 82 CHAPTER X. Deaths of Eminent Men Dr. Morrison's Letter Obituary Lord Napier Funeral Sermon Lady Napier The Chinese Treatment of Lord Napier 83 S8 CHAPTER XI. Circular Letter Letter from Leang-afah to Pastors Persecution Chi- nese Edict Foreign'o Missionaries in the East Death of a Chinese Merchant 8999 CHAPTER Xn. Arrival of Dr. Parker Perplexities Light in Darkness Letters The Chinese Government 100110 CHAPTER Xm. Rumors of War Ill IIT CHAPTER XIV. Hong-Kong Ceded to the English Eemoval of the Mission Condition of China Mrs. Dean's Death The Hon. J. E. Morrison's Letter His Death Funeral Sermon Drs. Bridgman and Parker Act as Sec- retaries of Legation Deaths of Mrs. Ball and Mrs. Shuck Peace llS 12T CONTENTS. ix CHAPTER XV. Page The True Missionary Arriyal of More Laborers ToiliBg in Hope Testimony in Favor of Missions Prospects in China Visit to Can- ton Eeturn to Hong-Kong Marriage Eemoval to Canton to Reside 12S 136 CHAPTER XYI. Life .1 Pilgrimage A ^ew Home Heathen no Sympathy with the Foreign Teacher Tah-soos Chinese Dwellings Heat Mission- ary's Occupations Sabbath Labors Letters Rev. J. G. Bridgman Walks About Canton Itinerant Labors 13T 149 CHAPTER XA^H. Mission Letter Eevision Ordination Eiot The Excursion, July 27th, 1846 Distributing Books Talking Chinese Curiosity Bad Feeling Shower of Stones Escape Preservation Bible-Class Sickness 150159 CHAPTER XVm. New Year Greetings in China A Dinner Idolatrous Eites Chinese New Tear Cases of Oppression Eemoval to Shanghai Eevision of the Scriptures Dwellings of Shanghai Death of Eev. Mr. Lowrie 160167 CHAPTER XIX. Revising Committee's Discussion Chinese Idol Worshippers: Their Language Peculiar Russians and Eomanists A Trip to the Country Preaching Attack on Missionaries Burial-Places Writing on Door-Posts Letters Sickness 168 178 CHAPTER XX. Travelling Eegulations An Excursion to "The Hills" Famine and f Sickness Accident, Eesulting in Death to an American Merchant Letter to the Secretary Eevision Manner of Translation Sick- ness Death of J. G. Bridgman His Character 179 188 CHAPTER XXI. Death of D. W. C. Olyphant Death of Eev. Charles Gutzlaff Failure of Dr. B's Health Visits his Native Land Four Months in America Ee-embarks for China Visits San Francisco, Sacramento Arrives in Canton, Shanghai Eesumes his Work ,-.