Carstairs Douglas' Letters (The Amoy Mission--1840-1951)

Click to Access
AMOY MAGIC SITE from
OUTSIDE China
Click to Access Amoy Magic Site from
INSIDE China
TRAVEL LINKS
Xiamen Gulangyu
Jimei Tong'an
Jinmen Z hangzhou
Quanzhou Wuyi
#1Fujian Sites!
Fujian Foto Album
Books on Fujian
Readers'Letters
Ningde Zhouning
Longyan Sanming
Putian Bridges
Travel Info,
Hakka Roundhouses
Travel Agents

MISC. LINKS
Amoy People!
Darwin Driving
Amoy Tigers
Chinese Inventions
Tibet in 80 Days
Amoy Vampires!
Dethroned!
Misc.Writings
Latest News
Lord of Opium
Back to Main Page

Chinese Kung Fu and Martial Arts Korean Tae Kwon Do Japanese Jujitsu Kung Fu

Memorials of Douglas Carstairs
Part 2 -- Extracts from his Letters

CONTENTS
Part 1. LIFE, EDUCATION,TRAINING, OBJECTS, HABITS,WORK
Part 2. Extracts from his LETTERS
Part 3. PREFACE to his AMOY DICTIONARY
Part 4 Extract from AMOY DICTIONARY
Part 5. His CLOSING DAYS, by REV. WM.McGREGOR, Amoy
Part 6. His MISSIONARY CAREER, by REV. W. S. SWANSON, Amoy
Part 7. Extract from LETTER of REV. DR.TALMAGE, Amoy
Part 8. Extracts from LETTERS of REV. H. L. MACKENZIE, Swatow
Part 9. Missions in China of PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ENGLAND;STAFF, STATIONS,and LONDON OFFICE-BEARERS
Part 10. Statistics of whole PROTESTANT MISSIONS IN CHINA, and of the SHANGHAI MISSIONARY CONFERENCE

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS of Dr. Douglas to his relatives, given as fair specimens of his occupations and modes of life—so different from those in Britain,-and of the spirit and ways in which he sought "to do good and to communicate."

"EDINBURGH, 7th April, 1854.
“MY DEAR MOTHER,
"I am sorry to learn that you are still feeble. You must not allow yourself to feel anxious about me.* I am delighted to sec thus the warmth of your affection, and of Campbell’s; but you must not allow it to injure your health; mere words or even willing acquiescence are of no avail: if such anxiety ruin your health my determination must be shaken. May the God of peace give you calmness and composure of mind!"
*He had a fortnight before, with her approval and that of his other relatives, resolved to go as a missionary to China.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

“14th April.
* * * * "Your phrase of 'lending me to the Lord,' reminds me of Mr. Laird's lecture on Sabbath which was on that passage. Such lending always receives an abundant reward in some form, often far better even here than heart can wish."

HIS LETTERS: SHIPBOARD LABOURS; FOREIGNERS.

                                                    “IN STRAITS OF SUNDA, 6th June, 1855.
"It is now near 11 P.M. and we are quite clear of the narrow part of the Strait. It was strange in passing it to hear again the sound of the sea breaking on the shore, mingled with the loud cries of land birds, while the air was loaded with a rich perfume from the trees on the shore, about a mile and a half off; it reminded me of the well-known lines on Ceylon. .... In the end of last week I finished my first reading of the New Testament in Chinese. I have also got through a good many other books.
"Norman Macleod was quite right that as the voyage drew near its close we would wish it longer.
Back to Top    Carstairs Douglas Main Page   Amoy Mission Main Page
"I find it is so; yet I am of course longing to set to work in China, and to hear from and about you all at Hong Kong.

"Our meetings have gradually increased; first came an evening sermon in the forecastle on the Sabbath evenings; then the same once a week; and then also a class four times a week for improving the reading of some who read very ill, our text book being the Bible; two Germans and a Dane attend it also. All the meetings are well attended, and we seem to find some acceptance among the men. God grant it may turn to their souls' good!
"Now, it would be quite vain in me to enumerate all my dear relations to whom my love is herewith sent. You know the names I would put down. See that ye all give thanks for God's goodness to me as yet, and seek still more blessings for the future; and that ye yourselves may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ, and may abound in His service. Rejoice in the Lord always—? again I say, rejoice.
Your loving son,
                                      C.D.
.                                                                                  "AMOY, 1st October, 1855.
* * * * "Since last writing I have seen sixteen persons baptised by the American and London Missionaries, one being a child, and of the rest more than the half females.
"I now have gone several times to hear public worship in Chinese and am able to understand a little; though still but little."

5th November, 1855.
“I have begun a phonetic class.”
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

TYPHOON: TERRIBLE ELECTRIC INJURY.
.                                                                                         "AMOY, 25th July, 1856.
"MY DEAR BROTHER,
"You remember how in my last letter I told about a very violent though brief typhoon, which blew before daylight on the morning of June 16th. During its time of fury I was lying very comfortably at anchor in a bend of the South River, just below Pechuia, comfortably, because the good vessel' Gospel Boat' kept a good hold with her anchor, though the violence of wind and rain sent abundance of water through the sides of my little cabin. As the stormy wind rushed madly by, and the rain fell in torrents, my heart was lifted up to Him who ruleth the raging of the sea, in supplication for those near to my heart, whether in my native or my adopted country, or on the mighty ocean which joins us; and among others, my thoughts were set especially on the poor crew of the 'Challenger,' among whom I had found so much pleasant labour a year previous, when the outward voyage was drawing towards its close, so that I wished the passage to be longer for their sakes.
Back to Top    Carstairs Douglas Main Page   Amoy Mission Main Page

"Just at the time that, kept awake by the storm, I was thus employed, a terrible scene was enacted at another part of the coast, for, as I afterwards learned from the men, it was in that same storm the Ben Avon was wrecked between Memoy and Chin-chew.

"On the day before (i.e. Sabbath) that noble vessel, a first-class Aberdeen clipper, was ploughing her way up the Formosa Channel, not far from the Chinese coast, when suddenly she entered an electric cloud, giving forth thunder and lightning so tremendous as none on board had ever witnessed before; the ship was struck by one of the terrible bolts, which blazed at the yardarms, and ran down the masts, flashed back and forwards through the ship, and stunned some of the men; but withal, to the wonder of everyone, no man was injured, nothing set on fire, no leak sprung, and to all appearance no injury done at all. But an injury strange and terrible, though all unseen, had been sustained; all the compasses without exception had been simultaneously deranged, the line of magnetisation having been changed to a new direction. Hearing this, it suggested to my mind a striking analogy with my text, ' Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.' Just as this derangement of the compass (in the absence of sun observations) in the cloudy weather, was the proximate cause of that good ship's sad end, so the faith is soon lost if the conscience becomes permanently deflected, though but a point or two from the celestial pole-star. And that fatal unseen derangement is often caused by the influence of some sudden temptation-shock, which leaves no apparent injury behind. Oh, how needful to correct the compass by good observation of the Sun of Righteousness! But to return to the Ben Avon; that strange lightning-shock seems to have thrown a remarkable feeling of gloom over the crew. Even during the whole of the voyage they had often had curious presentiments and forebodings; but now the feeling was general that something was near at hand; and near it was, for on that cloudy night as the vessel was tearing along about fourteen knots an hour, and as all thought in mid-channel, there was a feeling as if the keel had grazed the bottom. It was thought to be a mistake, just the stroke of some mighty wave, but there it is again more plainly than before; it cannot be mistaken, and now the dash of the breakers is heard in the distance, and the dim outline of the shore looms threateningly through the darkness. At once the command is given to put about ship, but it is now too late—that crash has come, and almost in a moment, such was the fury of the storm. Almost sooner than it can be described, the timbers part, the lofty masts fall, the whole wreck is already breaking up. While some are crying out in terror, and others making themselves fast to some part of the vessel, 'don't make a noise,' says the captain, whose wife had already perished, 'be quiet there, we shall all be STILL immediately.'
Back to Top    Carstairs Douglas Main Page   Amoy Mission Main Page

HIS LETTERS: LIGHTNING-SHOCK; WRECK.
"Indeed so it seemed to all, that there was no hope of safety from any source; the boats were swamped from the first and nothing but death apparent; but contrary to all expectation, part of the wreck having broken off, the remainder was lifted from the rocks by the same destroying waves that had broken it, and in only about half-an-hour from the time she struck, the fragment of the wreck with the survivors (five had perished) was resting safely on the strand. The Chinese treated them as ill as possible, short of personal violence. All the remains of the wreck, and all that had been washed ashore, were plundered, and they were stripped of almost all their clothes, even to the pieces of cloth wrapped round their wounds and bruises. Scarcely could they get the most miserable shelter or food, only they found the women and children more compassionate, for these brought them rice and sweet potatoes, and shewed sympathy in their misfortunes, and had pity upon them.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

SAILORS' SUFFERINGS: THE PRODIGAL SON.
At last, after about a week of sore hardship, they got a lorcha (boat), and arrived at Amoy. For some days I was not aware of the circumstances and learned it only on the last day of June, when I came back from another visit to Pechuia. By a curious coincidence, I had taken with me that Sabbath to Pechuia the number of Drummond's 'Messenger' which contained my article, and thus had just been earnestly lectured and exhorted by no less an individual than myself to ' pity the perishing sailors'—as usual, the reading of the article had warmed my heart towards the wanderers of the sea. That day I learned about the men by seeing a circular, asking subscriptions for them in money and clothes; in both which ways I was delighted to join in aiding them; but I wished to see whether anything could be done towards supplying more deeply seated wants. That evening and next morning, a variety of pressing Chinese work prevented me from calling on the seamen, but on the Tuesday afternoon I went to the shop of a comprador where most of them were staying: I was afraid they might not be willing to converse, but I was most agreeably disappointed. Some, alas! there were who would not listen, but they were few : most of them were rather eager to get tracts and Bibles, and were quite open to conversation, which began by my telling them that I was on the water in the same typhoon, and thus we got fairly on to spiritual concerns. There were several boys who were very attentive. One of them took the Testament, when I gave it to him, and turned over the leaves till he found the parable of the Prodigal Son—and there he read in silence, till the tears trickled down his checks—I could not think of disturbing him; so I turned to others. There were two young men sitting together, with -wounded feet, so that they had not been able to get out to worship on the Sabbath (for I should have said that while I was at Pechuia, some seven or eight of them had come to the Sabbath meeting)—the one from Aberdeen, the other from Macclesfield; their thoughtful serious look caught my eyes at once. To the latter I gave Ryle's Young Men Exhorted,’ and when, after talking to some others,' I turned to him again, he said with a significant movement of his head,' Oh, sir, what a fine sermon that is of Ryle's, and I like it all the more because it is by a namesake of my own!’ That afternoon and evening I spent as much time with them as I could spare ; for it was announced that they were to leave next day at noon, shortly before which I looked in as they were packing up, and took leave of them.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HIS LETTERS: VISITS THE SAILORS: OLD SWEDE.
"On the Wednesday evening I was dining at the Consulate, and was astonished to find at the gateway several of my Ben Avon people. Only the captain (whom I never saw) and the boys had been able to get away by that day's opportunity. Well, that evening I felt very uncomfortable at dinner; everything seemed to go on uncomfortably, for my mind was down at the gateway with the seamen, though my body was tied (by the rules of politeness) to the Vice-Consul and his guests. But next morning, as soon as Chinese worship with my school was over, I sallied forth with some more books and tracts, and spent two most pleasant hours conversing with them in the rooms that had been assigned to them, and also in walking about or sitting under the shade of the trees in the cool gardens of the Consulate. There was one old man, a Swede, who knew but little English; however he and I got on very well with German. I was, told that after I had brought the Bibles on a former day, the Swede was in tears because he could get none in his language; a German Testament which I took him filled the blank a little; but, oh! his delight when he got a Swedish translation of James' 'Anxious Enquirer,' which I discovered at Mr. Talmage's house. He was at it all the day, .till he finished it; but I suppose he was not done with it then.

"On the Thursday evenings, you know, we have always a prayer-meeting, i.e., literally a prayer-meeting; just scripture reading, praise, and prayer, three times repeated. It is held in Mr. Doty's house, which is next door to mine. One or two of the lads who seemed most interested I told about this meeting, and just when I was leaving, one of the other men came up to me, and said that they had all been talking about it, and that as there were many who would wish to come, they asked me to send some one to guide them. I sent Beng-hong at the proper time, and twelve of them came over; it was, to my feeling, the best prayer meeting we had held since my arrival in Amoy.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HIS LETTERS: SAILORS AT PRAYER MEETING.
"After it was over, while my servants were lighting their torches to guide them back to the Consulate, I saw two limping very much with their sore feet, and these were just the two who had so caught my attention at first. Glad was I of the opportunity of getting them with me a little, so I asked them to stay with me that evening; and at my desire the two continued with me the other five days that they were in Amoy.

"Two other evenings I talked some time with the men at the Consulate; on the latter evening the mate asked the solution of some scripture difficulties; he said he had been formerly a free-thinker, but for some time had begun again to feel the power of Christianity; and the way he asked his questions quite confirmed his account, for evidently his desire was not to perplex me, but really to obtain light on the points, and to have the difficulties cleared—I endeavoured to give what aid I could. By the way, one of the crew told me a little trait about him,—that on the terrible morning when they had been washed ashore, and were anxiously awaiting the dawn of day to find out where they were (the first impression being that it must be the coast of Formosa or one of the Pescadores), he encouraged them by saying that he was sure they would find either British or American Missionaries in the neighbourhood.

"Well, after our conversation was over, when I went out, he took up my lamp, motioning to the rest to stay where they were; and leading me alone outside the gate of the Consulate, he grasped my hand with a tight, tight hold, and burst into a flood of tears. I had not been saying anything specially addressed to the feelings, and did not then suppose that we should not meet again, having tried briefly to direct his soul towards the Saviour, whom he promised to seek and cleave to. I took from his hands my little lamp, and threaded my way homewards through the silent streets.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HIS LETTERS: THE SABBATH; NURSING SAILORS.
"That evening was the Sabbath. In the forenoon almost the whole of them had come to our usual meeting. I think we counted seventeen of the crew present. It was my turn to preach, and the text was, 'Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee life.'

Monday evening again was our usual evening for the Missionary Prayer Meeting, and about a dozen again came over, in addition to my two guests.
"The said two guests, during the time that they stayed with me, were a great source of pleasure to me. The Scotch lad I was glad to have an opportunity of serving, as his sore foot, wounded 'by one of the spars, needed almost hourly attention; he took pleasure in good books and behaved very well, and there was something in his countenance that did' me good; but I never could get much into his mind; a good deal of the northern dourness, I imagine.

But the other, Edward Ryle, quite took my heart; an English lad, from the manufacturing districts, he had some of the peculiarities of that district in grammar and pronunciation, but just enough to give an individuality to him, which fixes him the , deeper in my mind; with rather a vigorous mind he was trying hard to improve his education, all with a fine warm heart, and a beautiful transparency of character that you could quite see through and through; looking in at his bright eyes and out at the back of his head, the heart being taken in the way. (I know that line does 'not suit the laws of optics, but that's no matter.) He had been kept from the grosser sins common to seamen, as could be seen (in addition to his own saying) by the frank and open way (joined with an ardent self-condemnation), in which he incidentally mentioned other faults into which he had fallen. He and I got wonderfully intimate, and he gave me long yarns of his personal history. Just that last Monday evening after meeting he had given me a grand account of how, several years ago, he had run away from a coaster in which he was very ill treated; it was at Cork; how he felt as his money dwindled away on his homeward road, and how he got a lodging on promise of a remittance from home, on which occasion, said he, with a most significant lowering of his voice and movement of his head, 'I told a great thumper,' and then on his way, having reached Liverpool, he saw an old woman at the station sobbing, because she had not money to pay her fare, so he paid it for her, and then found that he had just exactly enough to carry him home. Well, we sat up that night till past one in the morning, I need not tell you how we talked of the good word and the Saviour, and the dangers of the world, and the blessed salvation. So next morning a letter came from the Consulate, that passages were taken in a lorcha for all except those who had got work in the vessels then in harbour; he was of course wearying to get to work again, but said to me, ' This is too soon!' I gave to both of them your address, and those of our mother, brothers, and sister.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HIS LETTERS: THE SAILORS STRONG DRINK.
"Alas, there are not many seamen in whom one's heart can thus rest with pleasure; several of the crew, saved from that terrible danger, continued quite hardened and unimpressed throughout; and some, of whom we hoped better things, succumbed to their dread enemy—strong drink. Oh, when shall it be that Christians awake to see (through the flimsy veil of 'innocent enjoyment,' 'Christian liberty,' 'moderate use,' &c.) the real grim terrible features of that destroyer. Some of the poor men called on me just before embarking, others I saw in the lorcha immediately before going off. I took my two lads into my bedroom and knelt down with them in prayer, and when we rose the drops were trickling down Ryle's eyes, who said,' I feel it more than leaving home.' Having seen them on board and come back to my house, it seemed to me quite lonely, and the unaccustomed tears came over my cheeks too; I watched the lorcha with my telescope as she tacked seawards through the outer harbour, and as long as the forms of the people could be distinguished, each time the side of the vessel came round, there was Ryle sitting in the same place where we had last shaken hands."

"AFTERNOON, July 29th.
"There has come upon me like a thunder-clap the intelligence that the lorcha has been wrecked near Swatow, and three of the men drowned. The survivors of this second catastrophe were plundered of all that they had received here—books, clothes, and all: we are trying to send them a few a second time.

HIS LETTERS: CHINESE WRECKERS.
"I hope the survivors may have met with Mr. Burns, and that the Supreme Ruler of Providence and Grace may bless to their souls this tremendous succession of calamities; yet not calamities if such be their issue. But that word 'survivors;' it involves as its correlate, 'the dead;' and what an awful significance is thus given to the brief sketch of my intercourse with them. Dear brothers, let us live ourselves, and hold converse with others, just as those who are about to die and to stand before the judgment-seat."
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

"AMOY, 22nd August, 1856.
"Information has come to me that Ryle had got safe ashore from the second wreck, but was murdered by Chinese wreckers.

"There are some singular memories come up about the poor fellow. Out of several books that we were giving to the sailors I asked him to choose one for me to put his name on. He chose Hewitson's 'Memoirs,' whose days were cut short so early. He was also greatly taken with the 'Way Home.' And one day we had read together the passage about the sudden end of the homeward journey. Of course I could not give him that book, but a number of the 'Christian Treasury.' had just come, containing a long extract from it, and that was one of the last things I gave him before taking our long farewell.

"I have been solacing myself with the trust that he also has gone 'home,’ the passage being indeed a little rougher than our's, but the way being much shorter, while we are still left among the waves of that stormy world of dead and dying men, strangely called the ' land of the living,' Now, while we arc here, ' now for a swifter race and a busier life.' I have myself been stirred up in soul not a little. I hope this will fit me for doing some good yet to seamen, though my Chinese duties are leaving each month a smaller and smaller corner for that work, but it has already had a good influence on me in the direction of my Chinese work. I feel that the dust of my dear lad is now no small tie to this poor heathen land, and I think I can hear in my ears the sound of his blood crying from the earth, not as of old for vengeance, but urging me, and you, and all the followers of Jesus, to make haste and send the light of the glorious Gospel to this great empire, assured that it is sufficient, and it alone, by the power of God, to change the bloody wreckers, and the degraded idolaters, into the true worshippers of the living God. And now I am able to look back on a few days we spent together with a singular pleasure, though mingled with the sorrow of separation.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HIS HOUSE AT AMOY.
I feel somewhat like those who entertained angels unawares, and I seem far too unworthy to have had any hand in preparing that young man for his sudden call; it seems to me that the Lord had been working on the poor stranger's heart long before he and I came into contact; at the first word I thought I recognised a brother, and though I can now see him no more till 'the sea shall give up the dead that are in it,' till the family shall meet around their Father's throne, he has left, I think, a sweet memory and a blessing behind him.

"I have let my heart flow out on these and the former pages. Care must be taken that it goes no further than the manuscript.*
*There is now no reason for obeying the above injunction to keep these letters private.

"Since all that I meet
Must work for my good,
The bitter is sweet,
The medicine is food.

“Though painful at present
Twill cease before long,
And then, oh how pleasant
The conqueror's song!
"C.D."

"AMOY, 8th April, 1857.
"The only thing you specially ask about is my house. Now first, I don't call it my house, but Mr. Johnstone's, for I always hope that he will yet come back to occupy it. It consists of three stories. The lowest has a large open space at the entrance where the sedan chairs lie, and in the corner is a place walled off for cooking. At the foot of the stair is a room partitioned off for the servants, and the remaining half, next the sea and looking out upon it, is the school-room, where the Chinese lads and young men study together.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HIS LETTERS: HIS HOUSE; CHINESE LIBERALITY.
The second story is divided in two by the staircase. On the one side, towards the street, is a large room where the students stay, and where also I keep our Chinese Bibles, tracts, &c., and hold my English class. On the side towards the sea are Sandeman's sitting-room and bedroom, with a great number of John-stone's books, &c. Just at the sea is a covered verandah, 8 or 10 feet wide, at the end of which we have lately cut off a bathroom for Sandeman.

"The upper story is my residence ; it is only on the side of the staircase towards the sea, there being only two stories at the other side; at the stair-head my bath-room is partitioned off, and the rest is one very large room, with three windows on each of two opposite sides, and two towards the sea, where there is a very narrow covered verandah, and a nice open one, which communicates with Mr. Lea's, and makes a delightfully cool walk when the sun is not shining. Inside, about a third part is partitioned off by wooden screens to form my bedroom. All the windows have Venetian blinds outside, like the French plan. My dear friend Van Soest has sailed for Singapore; one remark of his will give you a look into my appearance and manner.

"He said that while he was beginning to be under serious impressions, one thing that greatly encouraged him to go forward was my cheerful and un-morose manner, so you get a glimpse, through my dear Dutchman's eyes, at my daily look. We gave him letters to Mr. Fraser at Singapore, and also sent down to Mr. Fraser one of the Pechuia Christians, to endeavour to do something among his countrymen in that great port. The vessel carried a number of Chinese emigrants to Singapore; several of them seemed very much interested even before starting; among them the Chinese supercargo showed his interest by returning the passage money of the colporteur, saying, 'he is a preacher, I will take no money for his passage.'"
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

THE YOUNG GERMAN; Mr. SANDEMAN'S DEATH.

"AMOY,5th August, 1858.
* * * * " The sad cause of my want of leisure, namely, the departure of our beloved brother David Sandeman. It was just this day week that in the afternoon, in my room, an impression came on me that I ought to make preparations for our usual Thursday evening prayer-meeting, so I sat down, after seeking guidance from God, to choose chapters and hymns, when a note came from Sandeman, saying that it was his turn, but that he felt slightly unwell, and being uncertain whether he could come down, asked me to take the meeting for him. I wrote saying that his request was answered before it reached me. I was glad to have the choice of the chapters and hymns, for I expected that evening to tea and meeting a young German, the mate of the vessel in which I came down from Ningpo.

His soul seemed to have been somewhat touched during the voyage, and I was in great hope that God was leading/ him towards Himself, a sweet hope which subsequent conversations with him seemed to support. For what I have had time to tell you about him, give thanks to God, and make supplications that his soul may be able steadfastly to lean on Jesus.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

"Well, with the case of the young German on my mind, I chose to read Psalm cvii., Luke xv. and Psalm ciii., and we sang the hymns, 'Awake, my soul, to joyful lays;' 'From every stormy wind that blows,' and ' There is a fountain filled with blood.' How singularly suitable now seem the last lines of that one—and also these:—

"Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale,
Soon all my mortal powers must fail;
Oh, may my last expiring breath
His lovingkindness sing in death.

Then let me mount and soar away,
To the bright world of endless day,
And sing with rapture and surprise
His lovingkindness in the skies!

HIS LETTERS: BAY-PAY; SANDEMAN'S DEATH.
“On Friday morning I heard it said that he was better, indeed well again. He was at the time staying at the other end of the town; thus I did not see him, for I had to start early that morning for Pechuia.

"On Saturday I went up by train to Bay-pay, and in the evening took a little walk on the swelling hills of that sweet valley. I was meditating on the vast fields opening around us, and thinking how Sandeman, Smith, and Grant, and others expected to follow, should divide the land to occupy Chang-chau and Chin-chau, and Formosa. But when darkness, closing over the mountains, called me back to the chapel, I found a letter from Amoy calling me back as soon as possible, as Sandeman's life was despaired of. That evening it was too late to move. Next morning no chair could be found, and I have learned not to risk myself under the blaze of a midsummer sun. We held the Communion in the forenoon, with very solemn feelings, my text being, ' With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer,' &c.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

"It was impossible for me to get down to Pechuia till after dark, and when I reached Amoy on Monday morning, the dust had been returned to the dust by the side of Mrs. Doty's remains.

"I had felt from the -first glance at the letter on Saturday night that all hope for this world was over; but my feelings did not find full vent till I landed at the familiar jetty, and running upstairs clasped in my arms dear brother Smith, all the dearer now, when one of our number has taken his journey 'over the river.' Indeed it seems strangely like a journey. Only three days away in the hills of the mainland, and coming back, no weakness, or illness, or sick-bed seen by me; no death, not even the burial witnessed by me; but only another mound of fresh earth shown to me by the side of the stone that covers the remains of Mrs. Doty, and her last little babe.

"In his rooms, his books and papers are just lying about as they used to be; but he comes not back to us. We shall make ready to go to be with him, or meet him coming with the Lord himself, when all tears shall be wiped off for ever. Let us all, all of us make sure of that meeting."

CHANGCHAU: CHINESE HOSPITALITY; CROPS.
AMOY, 17th December, 1858.
"DEAREST MOTHER,
"Again one more greeting in this eventful year. My next birthday, ten days hence, I hope to hold, God willing, in the city of Changchau, for which I start to-morrow, taking the stations on my way. A shopkeeper in the eastern suburb of that great city has asked me to stay at his house as long as we please; it is not suitable for a chapel, but for thus making a commencement it is a matter of great thankfulness that God has thus opened our way. Last week I spent five days there with Mr. Burns, and he still is there. I cannot tell you how grieved I am that no one else is coming out to help us."
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

“CHIOHBEY, 17th February, 1859.
"Mr. Lea and I have just been spending a whole week at Changchau, and having excellent opportunities^ I hope soon to visit our other Foo city, Chin-chew, as Lea and Burns seem to turn specially to Changchau; but perhaps I may not be able to reach it."

"PECHUIA, 10th February, 1859.
"I was walking this afternoon through fields of peas in full blossom, with ripe pods hanging on the stalks; though these look curious, supported mainly on tall reeds, because of the scarcity of fuel making sticks too dear. Fields of wheat and barley also in full ear, almost ripe, contrast strangely with the recollections of February weather at home. You know that on most of the level land here is raised the wonderful quantity of three grain crops each year, two being rice, and one wheat or barley."

HIS LETTERS: SAILOR BOYS HELPING EACH OTHER.

“AMOY, 3rd August, 1859.
"Now for myself; that is, about God's work. I have got a new Ayrshire friend here in a sailor boy, son of the letter-carrier at ?————. I became acquainted with him in a curious way. You remember the poor Renfrew sailor, Tom ————, whom we shipped to the Cape of Good Hope; well, this Ardrossan youth, by name Sandy----, had been a school companion of poor Tom, and he, coming out in a vessel from Sunderland to Amoy, was driven in to Cape Town by a terrific storm. The "Stormy Spirit of the Cape" had been sent forth (among many other purposes to us unknown), that these schoolfellows should meet in Table Bay, and by Sandy, Tom sent me a letter; he must have had it written and lying by for an opportunity, for it was written in Dutch; when he got it written he could get no English writer as amanuensis, and not himself being good at the pen, he got a Dutchman to write. I made out the most of it, and dear brother De Grijs helped me through the rest. It expressed his thankfulness for receiving at the Cape (in consequence of my writing) a letter from his father; in it, however, he had learned of his mother's death, and of some other relatives. No more did he tell me, except that he desired to be remembered in prayer. This is supplemented by Sandy's account; he tells me that the poor lad was in deepest grief, feeling that his ungratefulness may have broken his mother's heart, and hastened her death, and he seemed determined to get home by the earliest possible opportunity. Also he took no grog or anything of the sort. Then he had given glowing accounts of your little brother* to Sandy. Sandy gave him all the tracts and books he had, as also did a nice little, lad from Exeter, by name Benjamin. So when Sandy came to Amoy, we made up a friendship at once. Perhaps some Christian friend at ———— may cheer the heart of the worthy letter-carrier by these good news of his son, who is more like Ryle than Tom. He has brought a following of half a dozen or more of his shipmates regularly to every meeting, twice each Sabbath, and all the week-day evening meetings with perfect regularity; and I got him liberty to spend two evenings with me, the latter time bringing Ben also."
*Chinese phrase for one's self.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HOSPITALITY FROM HEATHENS; VISITS BRITAIN.

. "CHIOHBEY, 25th December, 1860.
"I am here waiting for the tide on my way down from Chang-chau city. I have been there eleven days, staying on shore, outside the walls, at the house of the old gentleman about whom I have written so often. It is a singular thing how well we are received at that house; you must not suppose that it is visiting, like at home; they give us one room for worship in the day, and my assistant's use at night, and another room for myself; but we prepare our own meals and supply our own light; still it is a singular providence that we have such an opportunity, for the good man of the house does not seem to have received the word into his heart, though he receives the preachers into his house! He and one of his sons smoke opium, and that son and two nephews practice gambling by quail fighting in another part of the premises; while only one nephew (who, however, seems to be like an adopted son), seems to have some decided impression on his heart. The walks about the city are very beautiful; you have often read of the Changchau plain, but it is beyond description. You know the delight I take in fine scenery, but we still miss the spires of village churches, and see instead the temples of delusion."

                                                               "RED SEA, NEAR MOUNT SINAI,
.                                                                                    "5th August, 1862.
"DEAR C.,
"Here I am in the steamer 'Nubia,' we expect to be at Suez to-morrow evening, and to arrive at Southampton about 2oth current.
"I am visiting Britain because Burns and Swanson agree with the Committee in the opinion that I can do more good by visiting the churches at home for a few months, and endeavouring to get some more missionaries, than by what I could do in the same time in China. Burns takes my place at Amoy in my absence."
Back to Top    Carstairs Douglas Main Page   Amoy Mission Main Page

CHINESE VOLUNTEER EVANGELIZING; DRINK; OPIUM.

GOSPEL BOAT, FROM PECHUIA TO AMOY,
. "2nd May, 1864.
"DEAREST MOTHER,
"By last mail I had letters, in which you acknowledged my first note from Amoy: so now the echo is complete. What a strange thought it now seems to me that I have been 'home,' as we call it, and now out again among the heathens as before. Sometimes I can hardly realise that I have ever been away at all. But it was sweet to see you all once more in the lands of the gospel light, and if in anything I was the means of refreshing your spirits, to God be all the praise.

"And now let us be hard at work for our Master, for we know not how soon He may end our toils; that end of toils seems often to me to be sweeter and nearer than it used to look, and I almost envy those who (like John Mackay,* of whom you wrote, and Mrs. Thomas, about whom I told you) have finished this course with joy."

*A very able and accomplished temperance friend of ours from Inverness, cut off in early manhood.

                                                                             AMOY, 22nd Sept., 1864.
"Just to-day we have had a visit of two men from a group of villages in the hill country between Liong-bun-si and Khi-boey; from that group, about twenty persons go regularly to worship at Liong-bun-si, though-the distance is about ten miles; they earnestly ask us to let them have regular supply: we know not what this may lead to.

"Last Sabbath I preached on board one of the ships in harbour, an attendance of about thirty. There has been no sermon in harbour for about a year.

"A few days ago, a captain of a German vessel died of delirium tremens; another has the same disease; and a third also, who has had the command of his ship taken from him for the cause of the drink."
Back to Top    Carstairs Douglas Main Page   Amoy Mission Main Page

.                                                                                   "AMOY, 26th January, 1865.
* * * * "One fact about opium is enough, viz.:— the Emigration Agents who hire Chinese coolies for Demarara and the British West Indies, absolutely refuse to take any man who smokes opium; and they cannot be supposed to be too much under Missionary influence."

FORMOSA; LUTHERANS; Mr. BURNS' DEATH.

"TAKAO (Formosa),15th July, 1865.
"DEAREST MOTHER,
"Again we have to date from Takao; the opposition to us and our work became so strong at Tai-wan-foo, that we had no resource but to come back here. The future is very uncertain. If nothing better can be done, Dr. Maxwell would work here in the hope of having the way opened to Tai-wan-foo at a future time; but it is quite possible that he may get to the city soon again. It is very singular that in this case, the chief objections made were to the medical part of the work; all sorts of inconceivable stories being circulated as to what the doctor was doing.
"P.S. 21st.—I preached yesterday, both in English and Chinese. The English was on board a German vessel: the captain (having been brought up a high Lutheran), apologised that he could not get a crucifix and two large candles."
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

"NEWCHWANG, 26th May, 1868.
"DEAR MOTHER,
"You will have heard long before this letter arrives that our dear friend Mr. Burns was taken away early in April. It is well, however, that I have made this visit, for several reasons. I feel it a comfort to think that we made the attempt to see him again, though fruitlessly. I hope also, that I may be of some use in the way of trying to make arrangements for carrying on the work which he has begun. Of course our mission cannot attempt it.
* * * * "There are some half-dozen candidates for baptism, and it seems sad that such a commencement should not be followed up. The climate here is delightful. For at this date, while our friends at Amoy are all in white clothes, and broiling in the sun, we are wearing tweed suits, just as we would at home. They use blankets at night, even in the middle of summer; ague is unknown, and the residents have a good healthy colour—with such exceptions as you would have in the same number of people at home."

HIS LETTERS: DICTIONARY; OPIUM; SCENERY.
. "AMOY,29th June, 1870.
"I am still keeping in wonderful health for having been out six and a half years of my second week of years, and about to leave (D.V.) in little more than half a year.

"Meantime you must excuse me writing more than the briefest lines, as I am literally straining every nerve to get my colloquial dictionary in proper shape to be copied out and printed while at home. I hope to be with you at Ayr for whole months at a time, busily copying out the book for the press; but I must have the scroll finished before I leave Amoy, as every phrase must be checked by at least two teachers.

"I am glad to see that the Opium question has been again ventilated in Parliament: in due time good men will see their duty and be enabled to do it. It is a pity that some too extreme men hurt the cause, just as in the Temperance cause. It is hard to say what is best to be done, but it seems clear that the Government should have no official connection with the trade, except perhaps by levying a very heavy duty, which would tend to limit the amount produced."
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page]

JOURNEYS: HEAT; RAIN; WADING RIVERS.
. "AMOY, 24th September, 1873.
* * * * "I have just returned from a visit to Liong-khey, one of the most southerly of our stations. It is also the most beautiful of all the places we visit. I do not mean that there is any special beauty in the chapel or the village where it stands; but the situation is most lovely, on a long, gently swelling ridge, not high enough to be called a hill, which runs along about the middle of a rich plain or broad valley. The beauty of this valley has evidently struck the Chinese themselves, for they call it Kim-tien, that is, 'The Fields of Flowered Silk.'

"The mountains which enclose the valley have a wonderful variety of outline, and are green to their summits, covered with rank grass and shrubs.

* * " The great drawback is the very poor accommodation we have, which in summer is very hot; but, happily, I carried a tremendous north wind with me, and it kindly cooled down the Liong-khey chapel and its prophet's chamber to a comfortable temperature. We had the Communion there for the first time. * * My friend the north wind had brought a companion, in the shape of heavy rain. The congregation arrived dry, but got well drenched on the way home; and all Sabbath night it poured. On my way out on Monday I had to wade many streams; indeed, much of the road was under water, and one of the rivers which I waded was up to my breast. But I enjoyed it greatly, for the coolness of the rain and the wading just brought it to a delightful temperature; and being in constant motion I could not get any harm. When I reached the boat at Kwan-jim I was still quite fresh, after 6 1/2 hours' continuous walking, with very brief occasional halts. It was, however, pleasant to get thoroughly dry clothing."
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

"TIN-HAI CHAPEL, 18th April, 1874.
* * * * " The successive days of this month have touchingly recalled to my mind the ever-memorable days of the same month last year, the few final parting days at Ayr, the Monday morning, the hurried days in London, the voyage from Southampton, the letters with notes of what was passing at the Terrace.*

"And now has come round again the day when our dear mother was taken from among us. Of course all day this has guided my thoughts, especially as 1 had the quiet time of the sail from Amoy to Tan-bi, and the walk from that little harbour to this strange, old ruined city, along the wild sea-shore, with plenty of big waves dashing on the bold headlands and rugged rocks.
"And now we have had our evening worship with the converts, and it is half-past ten, just about the hour corresponding to 2.30, when her spirit was set free to be present with the Lord. 1 have just been reading over your successive letters, which readied me at Hampstead, Suez, and Singapore; and those of same dates from ——, a blessed mingling of sorrow and comfort."
*Barns' Terrace, Ayr, where his mother lived, and where she died a few days after he sailed.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

CHIN-CHEW CHAPEL OPPRESSION; BAPTISMS.
“6th March, 1875
* * * * "We have a painful affair at Chin-chew. A house had been bought for a n?w chapel; but the literati got the Mandarins to arrest the seller and two middlemen, and they have now been ten days in prison, harshly treated. They are all heathens; but all the more we are grieved that they should thus suffer. I have been labouring hard to relieve them, but as yet unsuccessfully."

NOTE.—This Chin-chew affair has ever since been a source of great disquietude, and he was occupied about it on the last evening of his life. Mandarins temporize upon system, most perseveringly.
[Note from Bill: read "City of Springs," by Anne N. Duncan, a Chin-chew [Quanzhou] missionary in 1920; lots of photos!)

FEVER; CHIN-CHEW MANDARINS; COMMUNIOM.
.                                                                                        "AMOY, 2nd August, 1876.
* * * * " Since last writing, I have made a visit of eleven days to An-hai and Chin-chew. It was about the , usual time to visit these stations, in our regular circuit of over twenty stations; and the Consul considered that some good might be done in our long outstanding Chin-chew case, if I should spend some days there, and have some consultation with the Mandarins.

"It was on the Wednesday that I wrote you. Early on Thursday I set sail in the Gospel boat for An-hai, and having a good wind, we reached the mouth of the An-hai inlet early in the afternoon. The boat had to go back to Amoy to take Gordon to one of our Southern Stations before Sabbath. So at Tang-chioh, five miles below An-hai, I took a small boat, and let the Gospel boat return. That night I spent at An-hai chapel, and on Friday I went on by chair to Chin-chew.

"We have a good attendance every day at evening worship, as a good many members and inquirers live in the city: evening worship is made like a short Bible-class or prayer-meeting. On Saturday forenoon I preached a good while in the street, under the shade of wide eaves, along with one of the preachers. Saturday afternoon the Mandarin invited me to his office, and we had a long talk over the chapel question; but he had to consult a colleague, and said he would let me know in a few days.
Back to Top    Carstairs Douglas Main Page   Amoy Mission Main Page

"On Sabbath I baptised twelve children; so you see we have a good many Christian families in and around the city.

"Monday was a day of heavy rain; but in the afternoon there was some fair weather, when we again got some good street preaching.

"Tuesday morning I awoke with a troublesome diarrhoea. I can't tell how I got it; and about midday I had a slight aguish chill, followed by a sharp attack of fever. My pulse ran up to 140. But, by God's blessing, on the usual remedies, I got a good perspiration in the afternoon, and my pulse began to abate, though I had a terrible headache and much fever till near midnight. In the latter part of the night I got some sleep.

"Wednesday the fever was almost gone, as also the other complaint; but they left me very weak.

"On Thursday I had an invitation from the two Mandarins to take dinner and talk over our business; but I had to decline, as I could not venture out.
"On Friday I sent word that I was so much better that I could come, if they had anything to say. So I had again an invitation to dine with the two Mandarins. When I went to the office, I told them that I was not yet strong enough to take a ceremonious dinner; but I had a long conversation with them, and they promised fair. But it remains to be seen what they will really do.

"On Saturday I got back by chair to An-hai, without being over-tired. There Mr. Macgregor met me with the Gospel boat.

"On Sabbath we baptised three men and had the Communion. Got back here comfortably on Monday, and I am rapidly getting up my strength."
NOTE.—His strength never came fully back.
Back to Top    Carstairs Douglas Main Page   Amoy Mission Main Page

"GOSPEL BOAT, AT THE CONFLUENCE" OF SOUTH AND WEST RIVERS,
“29th November, 1876.
"I have just had your letter, and at once answer it,—an unusual course with me, as letters generally reach me at Amoy amid a crowd of varied business, and have to be laid aside for some spare hour or half hour. But this letter reached me, or rather I reached it, at Pechuia, and here we lie idle at the confluence, waiting for the tide.

VOLUNTEER PREACHERS; GARRET; NIGHT JOURNEY.
"Last Friday, I set off to spend two Sabbaths and the intervening week at some of our more distant southern stations; a plan I much like when I can get away long enough from Amoy. So I had spent Sabbath at Long-bridge (Tung-kio). On Monday, as no preacher was at hand, two of the members volunteered to spend the day with me, preaching among the villages.

"On Tuesday, I went from Long-bridge to Dragon River (Liong-khey), .by a romantic pass, and on the way did a good deal of preaching, with the help of my servant and the baggage-bearer (one of Monday's volunteers). At Dragon River, in the afternoon, one of our colporteurs and one of our students met me by appointment; we did some preaching in a village that afternoon, and had laid our plans for a thorough week of evangelisation in the surrounding country up to Sabbath first. When at tea-time (last night), as I was at my little table, in a very queer little garret (called euphemistically our room), in came a letter from Amoy, saying that some matters about that interminable Chin-chew case needed immediate attention. So all my plans were scattered to the winds.
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

"Up at 2.30 this morning; dressed, breakfasted, had worship with the brethren, and set off at 4.15, with a great pair of burning pine-roots, hung from a pole, as a light for the road and a scare for tigers. The moon had just set, and the dew was very heavy. Day broke about six, and the beacon-bearers returned. On we walked by the side of the Dragon River, along a lovely glen, till it spread out near Kwan-jim into a plain. Got an early dinner, and hired a small boat to Pechuia ; there found the mission boat waiting with your letter; set off at once ; but here we wait for the tide."

"P.S. Amoy, 30/7* November.—Sailed down in a fine full-moon morning, and was in my room (which my servant had all ready for me), soon after dawn; long before any of my neighbours were stirring."

"P.S. Pechuia, \st December.—Here I am back again on my way to the Khi-boey communion, after a busy day yesterday at Amoy on our Chin-chew business, which makes little or no progress."

"P.P.S. Amoy, 5th December.—Got back here last night, all well, though having had rainy weather all the time. The Sabbath was spent at Khi-boey, which is now shewing some slight signs of improvement. I baptised three new members belonging to the Khi-boey congregation, and four from the Tung-kio congregation, which meets along with the other on communion Sabbaths. We also re-admitted to communion two members who had been long under suspension."
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page

HEALTH; ORDINATION OF NATIVE PASTOR.
. "Amoy, Friday, 2nd February, 1877.
"Tuesday evening I returned from a visit of sixteen days to Chin-chew, all except two days being spent in the city.

"Mr. Phillips (now interpreter, formerly Acting-Consul), was there part of the time; and a compromise was made in our chapel case which we hope may be adhered to.

"Though a heavy loss, it would give peace and quiet. The chief item is a perpetual lease of the present premises, with some addition. I am all the better of the time so spent." ...

NOTE. — The next letter, 19th March, for the first time alludes to failing strength. He says he has not been altogether well since end of last summer; held on expecting the cold weather to set him up; but "was startled to find that the cold, instead of bracing me as usual, made me still weaker," so that he had put himself in the doctor's hands, and was improving; looked forward to the Conference at Shanghai as likely quite to restore him. "I have not been actually disabled from work, even for a day."

HIS LETTERS: CHINESE PRESBYTERY MEETING.
. "Amoy, 25th April, 1877.
I have now my portmanteaus packed, ready to start to-morrow for Shanghai. Being on the Committee of Arrangements, I have to be in Shanghai a week before the actual meeting of the Conference. So it may be two or three weeks before I write again. "Last week we had a peculiarly interesting meeting of the Amoy Presbytery. The great event was the decision of the Presbytery to ordain a pastor at Pechuia.

"The pastor-elect is a well-tried man, who has been for many years at the head of our Training Institution. The great difficulty was to get him to accept the call, as he is really very humble minded, and felt deeply the importance of the work.

"We had three days long meetings, as we are both Presbytery and Supreme Court; and half the time was very bad weather. But I stood it quite well. So I think my health may be said to be now fully re-established, after such a trial.

"There was a fine spirit in all the meetings. Barclay, who is here on his way to the Conference, made a good speech (of course in Chinese), on the state of the work in Formosa."
Back to Top Carstairs Douglas Main Page Amoy Mission Main Page
Click for Part 3 Carstairs Douglas Dictionary of the Amoy Vernacular

Note: This photo of the May, 2007 RCA China Missionary Reunion (courtesy of Wendell and Renske Karsen) show that some RCA folk are still around--and we need their help!
   The John Otte Memorial on Gulangyu Islet finishes with, "This stone may crumble, his bones may become dust, but his character and deeds are imperishable.” But too many characters and deeds will be forgotten if we don't record them while those who remember are still with us. Please E-mail to me stories and photos for the Amoy Mission site (and planned book) so present and future generations can appreciate the character and deeds of those who served in the Amoy Mission.
          Thanks!
Dr. Bill   Xiamen University MBA Center
E-mail: amoybill@gmail.com
Snail Mail: Dr. William Brown
Box 1288 Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian PRC   361005