Persecutions

FAMILY OF HÜ YONG MI (許揚美)

From Ching Sing Tong, at Ta Ting, I was appointed to a new chapel on East Street, in the city. The missionary in charge was Rev. Mr. Martin, who lived on Black Rock Hill. He was very zealous and a faithful, loving pastor. A few months after my appointment the dedication of the chapel occurred. Members came from far and near. I had to provide for the hospitable entertainment of the guests. The chapel was close to the street; therefore great numbers of passers-by liked to approach and gaze within. Their voices were raised in such tumult that it was impossible to preach. Since the uproar could not be checked, it became necessary to close the chapel doors. The crowds were invited to withdraw; but they raised a louder clamor, using insulting language, and beating the doors. We therefore summoned the ward constable to restrain them.

When service was over, and the doors opened, the crowd rushed in, performing grotesquely in various ways, to insult me. I was very weary; for with all the work of the two days past, I had eaten nothing. The mob still filled the chapel till the middle of the afternoon, refusing to leave.

There was then no help for it, I thought, but to make appeal to the officers through Rev. Mr. Martin. This I did. The officers sent eight policemen who arrested ten or more, and took them to the yamum. They were judged as they deserved; but as it was their first offense they were merely condemned to bring to the chapel some firecrackers and large candles, and to make confession of their fault. The policeman brought the candles, the prisoners having escaped from them on the way. The candles were set up to illumine the chapel. Suddenly there was a pounding at the door, and several literati entered and destroyed the candles. It was already dark. Word came to me that a mob was destroying the chapel of the English Church Mission on South Street. It was told me that thence the mob was to separate in three companies, one to go to Black Rock Hill and destroy Mr. Martin’s house, one to go to the Hill of the Nim Genü and lay waste the premises of the American Board Mission, and another to come to the chapel at East Street. They did not carry out their intention at the American Board Mission, being resisted by the neighbors, who feared injury to their own property.

The house of Rev. Mr. Martin was tom down. Rev. S. L. Baldwin and wife, who had been at the church, and were stopping at Mr. Martin’s, having another meeting to attend, fortunately had left before the mob came. Mr. Martin and family escaped into the adjoining temple through a passage made for them in the wall by a Tauist priest. The mob at East Street began the attack by throwing broken tiles, crockery, and stones upon the roof. Then they struck the front door with a stone pillar, borne on men’s shoulders and broke the door. With an ax they split open the back door. There were in the house with me my wife, two of our children, my sister, and her three children, eight in all. The children were awakened from sleep and frightened by the noise. When the doors were broken open, the mob rushed in and began destroying furniture. They broke into our private rooms.

I then thought I must take away my family to a place of safety. I took my son John in my arms, my wife and sister each led one of the children, and I directed them all to follow me closely. In the dark court, where chairs and tables were upset and piled together in confusion, I stumbled and fell. Having the child in my arms I could not immediately recover myself. When I did, I called to the others, but no answer was returned. I alone was left, with John in my arms. I went on, and near South Street met my brother, Hieng Mi, just coming to tell me of the destruction of Rev. Mr. Martin’s house. He took the child from me, and then, for the first time, I noticed that he was unconscious, and had sustained an injury to his head. At once I went back to seek the rest of my family.

When about to enter the chapel I was rudely thrown back by the crowd, just making exit with great uproar. “My family are captive in their midst,” I thought. In my distress I cried with a loud voice, and insanely tried to force through the throng. I was carried on by it, and soon from one house on the street I heard weeping, and recognized the voices of my family. I made my way thither, and, entering, found my wife, sister, and the two children, whom they had led. The other two children were lost.

I had heard in the street voices crying, “Children trodden to death, children trodden to death!” and now feared they might be ours. Essaying to comfort the women, but very sorrowful myself, I hastened again into the street, and shouted the names of the children. One man told me that he had heard of two children being in a certain place, and indicated the way. I asked him to go with me, and we found the children. I rewarded the kind stranger with ten dollars.

My brother had carried little John to my sister’s house at the foot of Black Rock Hill, and I went there to see him at a little past midnight. I found him still unconscious, in delirium crying, “Break, break!”

Early the next morning I took a sedan to escort home my family. On East Street, near the chapel, my chair was surrounded by a riotous mob, who declared I should not escape them. I did, however, and got my family safe to Ching Sing Tong. Thanks be to God who enabled me to escape as from a pack of wolves!

At that time I heard that the mob planned to attack and destroy all the chapels, and commit other acts of violence. Thanks to Rev. Mr. Gibson, who, for the Lord’s sake, took much trouble in my behalf, fulfilling the words, “Mourn with those who mourn.” Energetically he prosecuted righteous measures with wisdom given of God.

The English and American consuls together presented to the governor accounts of the riot, and asked that the offenders might be dealt with according to law. The governor, whose surname was Sū, was an excellent man, possessing knowledge and virtue. He acknowledged that the people were very rebellious; and ordered the arrest of ten or more. Then the whole city was stirred. The people were in a panic. Shops were all closed. The streets were thronged with vagabonds. If a shop-door opened, stones were flung within. Great numbers, not of the rabble only, but respectable shopmen too, flocked to the prefect’s, and all day beat the drum at the gate, demanding the release of the prisoners. They were consequently all released. No punishment had been inflicted upon them; but their arrest had demonstrated to the people that the officers were just, and did not wish evil to foreigners, contrary to the ignorant supposition before entertained.

From this time the people were more civil and respectful to foreigners. No such general disturbance was ever again excited in the city of Foochow, hostile to the promulgation of the gospel. Through these troublous times my soul experienced comfort and strength from the Lord.

Through the conduct of a certain class of my associates, the devil devised more trouble for me, for which my wisdom was insufficient. Therefore, after the affair was past, its recollection often brought repentance, as billows will rise on a calm sea.

Subsequently, certain ones of the gentility came privately to comfort me, and offered to compensate me for losses sustained by the mob. I resolutely declined their offers of money. These people were already acquainted with my family and its history, and knew what kind of doctrine we taught. How had it come to pass that they were thus informed?

Strange! Supreme Omniscience had beforehand prepared for me many witnesses against this time, of which I then became aware. One of our former Church members, surnamed Chai, was a descendant of a Kwok sü. He had frequently brought his literary friends to the chapel to converse with me. They had thus clearly learned how correct our service in the worship of God. They, too, had often felt themselves strongly influenced to forsake their own gods and to become Christians.

The member Chai had been expelled from the Church for keeping more than one wife. Sorrowfully we exhorted him, but the matter involved too great difficulty for him, and he asked that his name be removed from the Church record. He had learned that the Church was pure, and such testimony he bore of it to his literary friends, who, during the time of uproar, went to him to make inquiries about the Christians. His testimony was firmly credited, which to themselves brought self-reproach.

Further, during the many years at Ching Sing Tong, I had known many people, and been known of more, who became witnesses for me. Months afterward, as I sat quiet at home, neighbors led men into my presence to confess their wrong. Wonderful, beyond man’s thought, the Lord’s wisdom and power! After the riot the officials appropriated twelve hundred dollars for remuneration. This money Rev. Mr. Martin gave into my charge to distribute according to each man’s report of his losses. By this means my knowledge of the affair increased very much. The silver was as a microscope upon the circumstances of the case, and the dispositions of men. Ah! I was sad. My heart earnestly wished to sink the money into deep waters or give it wings to flyaway.

My own share I requested the mission to retain, but Mr. Martin said: “This is your own; we will not take it.” I was willing to lose everything, glad to suffer ill for Jesus’ sake, let but the peace of Christ remain with me. I did not wish money to screen me from fellowship in Christ’s sufferings, to confuse my love for Christ. My experiences at this time led me to analyze character, and I found the principles of men to be as salt that had lost its savor.

I knew that wealth devoured peace of mind like a serpent. Therefore I besought the Lord: “What thou grantest let it not be wealth!” The mission planned to build a new chapel. The neighbors gave no trouble about the building, although the new structure was far better and higher than the old.

Mr. Martin, during the hot weather, came into the city to superintend the work. He took sick, and within twenty-four hours he and his son died. Although the Heavenly Father gave him everlasting rest, that could not prevent us from mourning unspeakably.

Suddenly I was taken ill, and was about to die. Thanks to Dr. Maclay for calling Dr. Stuart to see me. Rev. S. L. Baldwin and the Misses Woolston took much care of me. I was debtor for much love expended.

My health restored, I went to Ning Taik, Lo-ngwong, and Lieng Kong preaching. At Lo-ngwong, God gave me the respect of the villagers. One neighbor woman was said to be possessed of the fox demon for a long time. She wished to be free but dared not release herself. She came and invited my wife to go and pray for her, that she might cast away her idols. My wife went, and the woman experienced peace. The daughter of one of the neighbors was taken suddenly ill. She said: “The demon tells me, ‘I have been cast out by the Christians, and have no place to dwell. I happen to meet you; therefore I now come to you.’”

Previous to this time, when I was at Kang Chiá with Cheng Mi, I met a woman upwards of ten years possessed of a demon, also said to be the fox demon. Her husband told me that she was commonly very well; but when the demon came, she was seized with great fear and became insensible. Sometimes she would lie ten days or more without eating. She seemed to have no intelligence concerning what was spoken to her. When words were uttered by her, they were words of the demon’s, not her own; they were of secret, abstruse meaning, or prophetic. When she ate, she ate voraciously. Occasionally she committed self-injuries and mutilations. One day her husband invited a few of us to go to his house to pray. We first talked to him of the doctrine of faith, and told him that if he had faith, it would be enough for us to pray where we were. The demon would at once flee from his house. He replied, “I believe.” We prayed for him. When he returned home he found his wife already risen from her
bed, well.

At Tiong Loh I heard that Dr. Gibson and family were about to return to the United States. Our whole household returned to Foochow to bid him farewell. How could I know that from that time to the present I should not again see his face? Truly this caused our hearts perpetually to mourn.

On the same Sabbath there was quarterly-meeting at the A-to chapel. My heart was sorrowful. The love and glory of Christ did not spontaneously shine therein. I felt covered with uncleanness. I was glad to listen to the sermon; but when the communion service began, I felt that I ought to run away, that I dared not partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Yet if I went away I knew not what men would conjecture, and if I might not dishonor Christ. I was greatly troubled. It seemed equally difficult to go forward or to retire. What should I do?

Then Dr. Maclay began reading the service. My heart palpitated, and only by holding myself by force I sat still. Suddenly I heard read the words, “If any man sin, he has an advocate with the Father” – words most exceeding sweet. In my soul the language was as if addressed to me, a sinner, alone: “See the print of the nails; see the pierced side, the flowing blood. This for thee. Go forward! Why are you sad? Go forward! Come to the Father! I will be your Mediator.”

The name Jesus was melody. My soul leaped to enter his precious side and be cleansed. “There is a fountain filled with blood.” Within the precious side I experienced peace and joy. This joy and peace seemed all to belong to myself alone. I felt the print of the nails, the fountain in the side; and how inestimably precious it was I could perceive. I also knew that nothing under heaven could remedy my heart’s illness and sorrow, only Jesus, from whose precious side flowed water and blood. He had healed me perfectly, and comforted me.

That day my soul first perceived the deep meaning in the sacrament. Naturally in my heart arose deeper friendship with the Lord Jesus. Blessedness! Where was its fountainhead? I had found it. It was in my Lord’s precious side. Great efficacy there! My one Savior! Through hearing of the ears my soul had seen, had come close to Jesus, was conscious of being washed clean, and had received great peace. True is this word: “All sinners under heaven; you need have no sorrow. Only come and trust Jesus, you all will be perfectly well.”

When I went again to Tiong Loh, I learned that the three missions had distributed among them the mission stations. The English Church Mission had taken Lieng Kong aud Lo-ngwong; the Methodist Episcopal Mission had Ming Chiang and Hok Chiang; the American Board Mission had Tiong Loh and Ing Hok. In Foochow, Ku-cheng, and Ping Nang, the work was to be general.

Up to this time the Methodist Episcopal Mission had been first in every district that the missionaries visited.

I returned home, and located again at Ching Sing Tong. There the opportunity to preach was good, but results were small. The converts were mainly the very poor or the solitary. For the Lord’s sake we cared for these. In the sixth month (July, 1864) my eldest daughter Hiong Kwang – about three years old – took suddenly ill, and died within twenty-four hours. This was a great sorrow. I could not understand why it should be. On the eighth day of the twelfth month, in the fourth year of Tung Te (January, 1865), another daughter, King Eng, was born. We received comfort. People said, “This one will stay with you long.” The sound of the name is the same as that of words meaning long-continuing. The signification of the name is Precious Peace.

When King Eng was about two years old she was very ill a long time. One day I asked Rev. S. L. Baldwin to invite Dr. Stewart to call and see her. Dr. Stewart promised on the next day, at twelve noon, to be at his hospital to see patients. Therefore my wife and I, with our two children, went in chairs to see him. Arrived at the hospital, we were told that Dr. Stewart had gone to Pagoda Anchorage, twelve miles distant. We waited until nearly dark, but he did not return. I perceived that the child was unconscious, not recognizing anybody all day. All said that she was dying. My whole heart was very sorrowful. No help!

Quickly we hastened to Ching Sing Tong, lest she should die on the street. I first ran up-stairs and agonized in prayer. I received answer from the Heavenly Father. “Go down and see, the child lives!” I hastily lighted a candle, and ran down stairs. The mother was holding the child close in her arms and weeping. She said to me, “She is dead.”

I looked at the child’s face and called “King Eng.” She opened her eyes and said, “E-wá” (mamma). We quickly gave her drink and observed a little perspiration.

From that moment she seemed well. She smiled, and spoke, and was well. This manifested the hand of God alone. Not by medicine was she cured. Praise to the Heavenly Father without end!

My younger brother, Hieng Mi, having attended examination on Sunday, his license to preach was withdrawn from him by the Quarterly Conference. He had formerly been very happy. Seeing him daily spending his time vainly, I feared that he would fall into temptation. I assisted him, and advised him to open a rice-shop, and commissioned him to have care of our mother, younger brother, and sister.

My brother Sing Mi was then in the United States. I was liable to be removed to a distant station, when it would be a comfort to know that those at home were provided for. I could not know that my brother would cultivate a taste for gambling. One day his gun exploded and destroyed two fingers. He was dangerously ill, near to death. Many thanks were due to Dr. S. L. Baldwin, who took great care of him, and invited Dr. Stewart to attend him. This accident cost me considerable money. The rice-shop failed to repay the capital expended. My brother asked me again to aid him. He wished to join a circle of twenty, each of whom was to contribute a sum for the use of one temporarily – all to have the benefit of it, each in turn. We formed the circle of twenty, several preachers joining it.

After about a year I was appointed to Ming Chiang. With the money that had been given me after the riot, I had bought a house, and this I had long desired to sell that I might bestow the proceeds in charity. The Church was not willing to receive the property. No opportunity had offered for sale.

As I was leaving for Ming Chiang I placed the matter in the hands of my brother. But the Lord was unwilling to receive the money. After a few years I understood why the Lord’s treasury could not receive it, nor the treasury of his Church. Therefore the money went to my relatives. They understood it was for the poor. They reckoned themselves poor, and appropriated it. They afterward were very poor for many years, and had great deprivations. Many demands were laid upon me – more, sometimes, than I felt I could endure. Even dear friends became enemies. I felt that it was better to die than to live. But Jehovah remained, my Heavenly Father, God, and Savior; him alone had I to love, to trust. I took the parables to heart. They comforted me as a sympathetic friend.

Although all my goods had been dispersed afterward, in an unexpected moment, from God’s hand, I received a gift of money. Great peace; unceasing thanks! All things in turn come, and all are naturally profitable to me.

One year, Bishop Thomson, at Ching Sing Tong, at the end of a discourse said: “Use that which will help you to walk heaven’s way the fastest; that is, tears and kneelings.” These words affected me greatly, and remained a constant reminder.

When the Conference appointed me to Ming Chiang and Lik Tu, my heart had additional grief. I feared that the missionaries had rejected me. I had learned that on this district were many literary men, hard-hearted, who constantly insulted the preachers and annoyed the Churches, stealing books and burning them. Therefore no preacher wished to go there. Now, I thought, I am sent here because the missionaries feel it inconvenient to expel me and wish me to resign. These doubts arose on account of my sorrowful frame of mind, fighting with sin. However, I thought, all things are in God’s hand to rule and determine. Dare to doubt? No. I must put away every imagination of my own. Preachers, whether in sorrow or joy, must finish their course. Therefore I, in depressing circumstances, must trust the Lord the more, and hope for the manifestation of his power.

I went to Lik Tu and rented a house. Having arranged to have it immediately repaired, I returned to Foochow. It was about the beginning of the eleventh month. My wife’s state of health compelled me to delay moving. Another preacher was appointed to Ching Sing Tong, which would compel us to move at once. It was impossible, so I remained. On the twenty-second day of the eleventh month, in the sixth year of Tung Te (December, 1866), a daughter was born to us – Ngük Eng.

(Tenth chapter of Hü Yong Mi’s biography The Way of Faith, published in 1896. Hü Yong Mi was one of the seven native Methodist ministers in Fuzhou.)