Jubilee Letter from C. C. Baldwin

Dr. & Mrs. Baldwin, Missionaries in Foochow, 1847—1895

Dear Brother Hartwell:

… Among my first, and perhaps best thoughts, comes that of God’s most wonderful providence over our Mission. It would be easy to write a chapter showing their number and directness, though in early years the work seemed so slow, still there were never wanting abundant proofs of the Divine oversight and guidance. We were never at a standstill and never once beat a retreat. It was soon apparent, however, that we must encounter a legion of difficulties in order to secure a minimum of advance or even to hold our own. Of course, you now know all about it. To mention one of such obstacles, take the amazing duplicity of the people, their tergiversations, in which, like to fox they doubled again and again on their track, to throw off the scent of too keen pursuit. The other day I was looking over an old journal, dating from November 3rd, 1847, when we first left our home for the East. We arrived May 7th, 1848, and were soon at work on the language. The journal says about two weeks after that date that I wished to get a Chinese inkstand, and my teacher brought one, for which he asked four dollars. He finally accepted two, when I told him that he might take it back. He probably got a bargain at that. I have reason to think that this old journal could tell worse tales than this, if called upon to yield up its secrets. This single one may suffice as an index to a host of others which would show how the very life has been worried out of us by such woeful experiences.

…

Another thought is about our getting the language. A hard job as you all very well know. We had with us at the head of Dong-ciu our good friends of the Methodist Episcopal Mission, Dr. and Mrs. White, Messrs. Collins and Maclay and Mr. and Mrs. Hickok, and there was soon an effort to settle on an English orthography. This, as finally agreed upon, has continued essentially the same to the present time, the principal changes being in the initials and simpler forms of the diacritical points. The subject is alluded to here simply to introduce the thought, the inestimable value of these systems in learning a hard language. These helps to the mastery of such an uncouth tongue (delightful though when you once get hold of it) deserve at least a half hour’s notice and thought during the Jubilee meeting. It is also a matter of devout gratitude to God that during this half century our own and the other missions have carried on the work so persistently. So far as I recollect there was never a hint of giving up in any department. There have been delays and changes, but always with a view of renewed efforts and better hopes under better methods. I think that no figures can do justice to the amount of actual work done with its far-reaching influence in city, town and village throughout the Fookien Province. God has led us on to victory, and we feel sure that the truth of Christ is fixed in its seat of power never to be overthrown…

The increasing wisdom and skill in dealing with questions about churches, chapels, schools; about pastors, evangelists, teachers, colporteurs; about inquirers, backsliders, wine drinkers and opium smokers, and in a word, all those experiences relating to a growing and multiform work, - all these give abundant reasons to thank God for the gracious help which has brought our Mission thus far in safety. If I were only with you on this joyous occasion, and called on to make an address, I would perhaps refer to Zech. iv. 10 and xiv. 6, 7. I would say that the prophetic sentences refer to the advance of the Christian church and its grand millennial triumphs. Then I would read the verses as they stand, “For who has despised the day of small things? And it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall not be clear nor dark; but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day nor night, but it shall come to pass that at even time it shall be light.” And then I should venture to apply this to our own Foochow work, merely borrowing the sentences for accommodation sake, using preterite and present tenses in place of future, and read thus: Who now despises the day of small things? It came to pass in that earlier day that the light was neither clear nor dark, but there is one day to the Lord, not day nor night, and now it comes to pass that at even time it is light. Does this seem fanciful? By no means. All prophecy, sooner or later, is to become actual history in the little spot called Foochow, as well as throughout the whole world. We believe that the Spirit of God is working mightily to this end, changing the future to preterite and present. Prophecy is being now fulfilled, and poor heathen Foochow is becoming a part of our Lord’s glorious inheritance…

How gladly would I be with you. If you could only find enough to pay my steamer fare one way, and telegraph one word, “come”!!

Yours sincerely,
C. C. Baldwin

(Jubilee letter from Caleb Cook Baldwin to Charles Hartwell and was read in the ABCFM Jubilee Meeting in Foochow, January 2nd, 1897.)