Hudson Taylor and China by David Malcolm Bennet

Author:David Malcolm Bennet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian;missionary;Asia;biography
Publisher: Rhiza Press
Published: 2018-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Back to China

In China ‘a million a month are dying without God’ (Hudson Taylor).

On 26 May 1866, the Lammermuir set sail for China with 22 missionaries on board, including the Taylors’ four children. The other members of this pioneering party were the recently married Lewis and Eliza Nicol, George Duncan, Josiah Jackson, William Rudland, John Sell, James Williamson, Susan Barnes, Mary Bausum, Emily Blatchley (later governess to the Taylor children), Mary Bell, Mary Bowyer, Louise Desgraz, Jane (Jennie) Faulding, Jane McLean and Elizabeth Rose. That was seven men, ten women and five children. (Mary Bausum, a daughter of missionaries and a relative of the Taylors, was only 15 years of age, so still a child.) Most of the party were from the south of England and from Scotland. Louise Desgraz was Swiss. It was the largest group of missionaries sent to China at one time by any agency up until that time. Each of them knew that the life expectancy of a missionary in China was on average seven years.

A short while before they left England the CIM sent out a ‘Special Daily Prayer’ leaflet containing all their names to supporters, and urging them ‘Brethren pray for us.’ And, well before they arrived in China, they needed that prayer.

The Lammermuir was a square-rigged sailing vessel and had been built only two years previously. It was about 61 metres long and 11 across the beam. Its Master, Captain M. Bell, had been a Christian for two years. He proved to be most supportive of the party, but the brutal and bad-tempered First Mate, John Brunton, was not. The crew of over 30 men and boys came from Britain, Sweden, Germany, the South Sea Islands and the Caribbean, a mission field in itself.

As the Lammermuir pulled out from the dock the missionaries sang a hymn. Brunton was furious. ‘I want nowt of this religious nonsense’, he muttered aggressively. ‘Don’t tell me we’re gunna get this all the way to China.’

Throughout the early part of the voyage he continued to show a strong dislike of the missionaries and repeatedly made himself objectionable. He also often unleashed his fury with his fists on some of the younger members of the crew.

The trip was neither fast nor easy. The Suez Canal, which would give a much quicker journey to Asia, was well on its way to being completed but would not be open for another three years. It was still necessary to go around the southern-most tip of Africa to reach China.

The first part of the voyage was largely trouble free. Even the waters in the Bay of Biscay were reasonably calm. Meals were ample and were eaten leisurely. The missionary party held services regularly, and these were attended by some of the crew. They read Christian books and studied Chinese. But Hudson felt a little concerned that his companions might become too content with the easy life on board. He knew it would be much tougher in China and he wanted to prepare them for that.

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