Beyond the Cambridge Seven: the Rev
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Beyond the Cambridge Seven: The Rev. Arthur Twistleton Polhill and the Dazhou Fú Yīn Táng he church is on an interesting a more thorough analysis of his life and John M. Usher journey in Mainland China. work at some future date. On the one hand, it is on T track to be the most Christian Early life and call to the 1 country in the world by 2025. On the mission field other hand, many Chinese Christians do not fit into the neatly defined Arthur was born on 7 February 1862, denominational categories recognised in Bedfordshire, to Captain Frederick elsewhere (sometimes referred to as Polhill-Turner MP and Emily Frances “postdenominational”), and there is a Polhill-Turner.6 Emily’s family, the great deal of theological and practical Page-Turner Barrons, were a wealthy idiosyncrasy that would make many aristocratic family, so according to 2 “orthodox Christians” uncomfortable. custom the Polhills adopted Turner as It must be remembered that this is a a suffix to their own surname. In 1902, product of China’s peculiar history Arthur and his missionary brother, Cecil, and geopolitical circumstances, and the removed the “Turner” part by deed church outside of Mainland China is 7 John is a Research Fellow poll, “to suit the times.” Arthur was not without its own peculiarities. It is at the University of the youngest of a total of three Polhill pleasing to note, however, that in spite of Roehampton. He teaches brothers, but he was, by about the age of China’s political vicissitudes over the last church history and is editor of ten, the same height as his older brother century, the landscape is still peppered the Polhill Collection Online Cecil (1860–1938) and outgrew him as with visible reminders of the labours 8 www.pconline.org.uk. an adult. The two younger brothers of the China Inland Mission, other seemed to share a close bond with one mission agencies, and indeed the Chinese another: they became missionaries themselves. To illustrate, I present a together, as did their sister Alice, and they case study of one of the lesser-known co-wrote their (unpublished) memoirs, members of the Cambridge Seven: Two Etonians in China.9 The eldest brother, Rev. Arthur Twistleton Polhill (formerly Frederick Edward Fiennes (1858–99), 3 Polhill-Turner), MA (1862–1935). inherited responsibility for the family estate in England but died when he Arthur Polhill was the youngest member was just forty-three.10 The two younger of the Cambridge Seven, and he is Polhill brothers are, therefore, seen as reckoned to be the first of the seven a kind of “double act,” but they were to seriously consider mission to China really very different and were rarely in (initially signing up with the Church the same place for very long after their 4 Missionary Society). This article probationary period came to an end in examines his life and legacy of faithful, China in 1888.11 This article will say very persistent labour in China, particularly little of his older brother (of whom I have the completion of a large Fú Yīn Táng written at length elsewhere) and instead (福音堂)—Gospel Hall—in Dazhou, focus on Arthur’s independent work.12 Sichuan (达州,四川) and what remains of this today. The Cambridge Seven still Arthur enjoyed sporting distinction at stir the imagination, and this is thanks in Eton and the University of Cambridge. no small part to John Pollock’s popular At the latter he played football with 5 book on the group. He describes the the Old Etonians F.C., one of the best call of the seven men to join the China clubs in the country in those days. The Inland Mission, but apart from a brief Old Etonians won the All England epilogue little information is given about Association Cup (later known as the their subsequent careers. This article Football Association or FA Cup) in 1879 will cover some of the major landmarks and 1882.13 Arthur was not in the squad of Arthur’s missionary career in China, on those occasions, but he writes in his though there will be many omissions. It memoirs, “I had the pleasure of touring is hoped, however, that this summary with them round the North of England will serve as a helpful reference point for and Scotland. Anderson, Kinnaird 16 Mission Round Table 14:1 (January–April 2019): 16–23 Arthur—who became an ordained Anglican—retained a strong connection to the CMS even though he was technically a missionary of the CIM. Arthur may have been the first of the Cambridge Seven to seriously consider mission to China, probably as early as the winter of 1882–3, but he was not the first to sign up with the CIM. Dixon E. Hoste—the only member of the seven not to have actually studied at the University of Cambridge—holds that honour, having written to Hudson Taylor on the subject in July 1883. Stanley P. Smith, the son of a London surgeon, followed in March 1884. Smith then influenced the young Anglican curate, William W. Cassels, to join in October 1884. Smith also influenced The Cambridge Seven in a photograph taken in Shanghai. Back row (from the left): C. T. the outstanding cricketer, C. T. Studd, Studd, M. Beauchamp, S. P. Smith. Front row: A. T. Polhill, D. E. Hoste, C. H. Polhill, W. W. named on “the Ashes” trophy, to join Cassels. China’s Millions (1885): 162. in November 1884 and this in turn influenced Montague Beauchamp, son of and Rawlinson, the Goalkeeper, were but after Arthur’s conversion he Sir Thomas William Brograve Proctor- amongst the team. We beat Sheffield and transferred from law student to theology Beauchamp, to join soon afterwards.21 It Edinburgh University, but succumbed student, i.e. from “Law” to “Grace”. is likely, then, that Arthur switched from to the Glasgow Queen’s Park and “The tone of the College was indeed the CMS to the CIM after he observed 14 Dumbarton.” Professional football was greatly changed. The great Law College, his esteemed fellow students joining the evidently in its infancy: “I was amazed now might be said to be ‘under grace’. CIM. (All six men were present at a joint at the way the Scotch Backs used their The tide of revival continued to rise CIM-CMS meeting in Cambridge in heads to strike the ball in mid air. It was for the two following years, to the great November 1884).22 He had probably, 15 rather new to us Southerners.” delight of the principal of Ridley Hall, I suspect, received assurances that he Rev. H. C. G. Moule, afterwards Bishop could retain a connection to the CMS, Arthur’s life changed in 1882 when an of Durham. I had transferred from as an ordained Anglican, while being a 17 unrefined North American evangelist, Trinity Hall to Ridley Hall.” member of the CIM at the same time. Dwight L. Moody, had the temerity to address the nation’s polished elite at Exactly how and when Arthur decided to As for his brother, Cecil, Arthur had Cambridge. Arthur writes of the time: become an overseas missionary in China, been encouraging him to become an rather than a parish vicar in England, evangelical Christian since his own Mr D. L. Moody was a short thick-set is not absolutely clear. Broomhall and conversion at the Moody campaign man, with a broad American accent, Pollock suggest the decision came after of 1882.23 By January 1885, Cecil too and rather a dramatic manner, as he being given a copy of Hudson Taylor’s had decided to join the China Inland preached on Daniel, representing China’s Spiritual Need and Claims by fellow Mission. The decision of seven fit, young, him as a man dressed in a frock coat, student Montague Beauchamp, probably well-connected men, giving up almost 18 and carrying in his tail coat pocket a sometime in 1882. Hudson Taylor guaranteed lives of privilege and comfort scroll and drawing it out with gusto, (1832–1905) had founded the China in England for a hard life of itinerant to the amusement of the Students, Inland Mission (CIM) in 1865, and by mission work in unindustrialised, amounting to merriment…The last 1883 he had returned to the UK for a rural China caused something of a night…saw a wonderful change from recruitment drive. It is not unlikely that stir. (Imagine the effect of the current the previous Sunday night; a crowded Arthur read Hudson Taylor’s work, captain of the England football squad gathering, but so still you might but the principal of Ridley Hall, the announcing his early retirement to hear a pin drop: a sense of awe and evangelical Anglican Handley Moule, become an overseas missionary). They realization of the presence of God, probably influenced Arthur too. Moule’s toured the nation’s universities and no laughing or joking…the writer was two brothers, Bishop George Evans held rallies in large halls, entreating drawn by the simple text Isaiah 12.2 Moule (1828–1912) and Archdeacon other young, intelligent men to become 16 and decided for Christ that night. Arthur Evans Moule (1836–1918), missionaries. The last of these on the had by 1884 already been serving in eve of their departure, in the now- The tradition in many wealthy families China for many years with the Anglican demolished Exeter Hall on the Strand, in 19 in Victorian times was that the eldest Church Missionary Society (CMS). London, had more than three thousand son would inherit the family estate, the This probably explains why Arthur in attendance and was covered in The second son would join the military, and had initially signed up to go to China Times.24 Arthur was just twenty-two when the third son would become a lawyer.