David Abeel's Memoirs

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DAVID ABEEL--Extract from Memoirs
Thanks to Richard Anderson, descendant of David Abeel, for photos of Abeel and the grave (some of which he has posted at www.findagrave.com)
Return to Abeel's Bio

Kolongsoo (Gulangyu), March 28, 1844

“I begin this letter to have it in readiness for the first opportunity. It must be sent to Macao, there to await the first ship, which ship mail sail on its arrival or several months after. In regard to communication, I feel that I had made another remove from you. In the favorable monsoon we are only about thirty-six of forty-eight hours from Macao; but this distance keep us in as much ignorance of the arrival and departure of ships there, as if we were so many days away. I wrote you soon after our arrival. Everything has gone on prosperously since. The repairs and necessary improvements of the house are finished. We have furnished it in missionary style, with the cheapest articles.

April 5.—For several evenings, I have either been exhausted or engaged at the usual time for writing. During this interval, we have made our first visit to the city of Amoy. We went in company with the chief man who comes to this place. He took us through a few streets to his own house, where he gave us a sumptuous Chinese dinner which made us both sick. There were about a dozen different courses, each dish consisting of a mixture of several kinds of meats, fish, and vegetables, in a variety of combinations. When we came away, he sent with us a present of tea and Windsor soap. He spent several years in visiting different settlements of the English and Dutch, which accounts for his having the soap. On our way through the streets we attracted great attention, and drew together a crowd of the idle and curious, but they did not attempt to molest us. Some boys attempted to frighten us by crying out, “Seize them, seize them.” We were struck with the number of vessels of all sizes; and with the compactness of the buildings, and the crowded population of the place. This is the great feature of China, and this renders it so important as a missionary field.

April 9.—My fellow missionary leaves me in the morning for Macao, hoping soon to return with Mrs. Boone and children. I shall be alone; but seasons of aloneness I find to be profitable. I say seasons, for no missionary ought to be alone in a station for a continuance. Lately we have had a spell of dull, damp weather, which has prevented our doing much direct missionary work, but we have no lack of visitors. To-day we hear there are seven Roman Catholic priests on their way to this place. God reigns, and this must be our confidence. We have come higher to do His work, and to carry out His plans.

July 24, 1842. Wrote in his diary after his mother’s death (his father having died not long before):
“Two days ago I received the afflictive news of my beloved mother’s demise. I feel that it has rendered desolate the brightest scenes of earth. ‘I shall never see you again in this life,’ was one of her last expressions.”

Kolongsoo, August 2, 1842
“Since I last wrote the sad news of our great bereavement has reached me. Though I never expected to see our dear departed mother again in the flesh, yet I feel that I have lost my best, my firmest earthly friend; and that the light which gave the greatest charm to my native place and earthly home, has gone out. How desolate it must appear where she always was, to give us such an affectionate welcome. Her’s was a mother’s deep, unvarying love, and we could always calculate upon it. How pure and free from selfishness it was. How the mind likes to dwell upon these qualities; some of which, I have long thought, rendered her superior to any other mother I eve rknew. I become overwhelmed with sorry when I think of our loss.

“We will occupy the rest of this chapter in quoting extracts from the journal of his labors at the new station at Amoy and Kolongsoo. One fact imparts even greater interest to the many pleasing incidents recorded. This is the closing journal of Mr. Abeel’s missionary labors. When it was finished his health entirely failed; and he came to the land of his fathers to lay his bones with his kindred. And from his own expressions and the statements of facts, it will be seen that this was the most successful part of his missionary life. His knowledge of the language was more enlarged, and his influence increased; so that he was able to preach the word, enjoying the confidence of those to whom he dispensed it. Dark and mysterious was that Providence which removed him from this field, when so well qualified for his work.

May 17.—Today we were reading about the poor widow, whose small offering was cast into the treasury. My teacher attempted to illustrate the text by an anecdote. He said there was an old woman, who lived in a portion of this province, and who requested the privilege of putting down her name to a subscription for a bell. It was an offering to Budh, and the rich were giving of their abundance. When the old woman made her request, they looked with astonishment, and asked what she had to give. She took a cash, less than the thousandth part of a dollar, and handed it to the collector. He threw it with disdain into a pond of water, adding that he supposed from her request that she had more than that to give. She replied, and her reply has been a proverb since—‘One cash, cheerfully bestowed (from penury,) is as meritorious as tens of thousands (from abundance.’) The bell was cast, but it stones were most defective. It was recast, but with no better effect. At last, after many unsuccessful efforts, Budh appeared to the collector in a dream, and informed him that the bell would never give forth a good sound until the identical cash of the old woman was added to the materials. The pond was drained, the rejected cash found, the bell once more cast, and the tones were rich and clear…”

June 1.—Yesterday, at the invitation of the senior naval officer, I embarked with him and other son board the iron steamer Medusa in the direction of Tang-Wa, the capital of the district in which Amoy is situated. Our course lay east of north. We had the island of Amoy on our right the greater part of the distance. For the first few miles, the hills wore the same rugged barren aspect which is characteristic of the coast of China. Fertility and cultivation grew upon us as we advanced. The mountains on the Amoy side gradually descended until the range was continued by arable hills, covered with green fields. In some places the villages were very numerous. The want of trees was the principal defect in the scenery, although there were some most luxuriant exceptions.

August 31.—This afternoon, we committed to the tomb the remains of our much-esteemed and deeply-regretted fellow-missionary, Mrs. Boone. She departed this life yesterday, about five, P.M. She had been delirious through the day, and partially so for two or three days previous. Before her illness became at all alarming, she expressed her apprehension that it would result in death, and ‘set her house in order.’ She said she had no fear of the king of terrors, but felt an unshaken confidence in God her Savior. She was deeply impressed with the honor which God had conferred upon her, in calling her to the missionary work. This she expressed in strong language; and this she acted out in all her duties. I have known no one more energetic, efficient, and uniformly cheerful, than this devoted and beloved sister.”

September 9.—To-day, a steamer brings us the unexpected news of peace between Great Britain and China. The treaty quite equals our expectations. The opening of so many large cities to commerce and foreign intercourse—the appointment of consuls to whom alone their countrymen are to be amenable—the regulation of trade by a fixed and published tariff—the liberty, so often and effectually resisted, of having ladies accompany their husbands, are points gained, which will promote the interests of the missionary quite as much as that of the merchant.”

November 17.—We are greatly encouraged. Our number on the Sabbath was about fifty. After service, Yew-Ako, with about twenty friends, came for the same purpose. Mr. Boone, who was the Chinese preacher for the day, had a second service for them. Yesterday morning, an old man, who mistook the day for the Sabbath, came to our usual morning worship. His manner and conversation had impressed me favorably before. He wanted a new supply of books. He said he read the books we gave him every night and morning, at which times he prayed to the true God….”

April 24, 1843.—“I can scarcely conceive how any place can furnish greater facilities for spreading, far and wide, the truths of Christianity, than this station. There is no necessity of leaving the house; indeed, it is scarcely possible to do so. They come in successive companies, keeping us busy for several hours of almost each day, until we are quite often exhausted. At this moment they are sitting on each side of me, and have been surrounding me so much since I began to transcribe this journal, that I have had difficulty to proceed. Not wishing to have any leave the house untaught, I am frequently obliged to lay down my pen, that I may converse with them and give them books. After living in China, fettered and tongue-tied, to enjoy such perfect liberty, and so many advantages as we now have, is most delightful. Had we but fellow-missionaries enough to help us in our work, to open schools, establish out-stations in the surrounding country, and carry on a vigorous system of operations, what happy results might we not effect.

“But, alas! How sad the recent news from our native land. Few young men coming forward to devote themselves to the ministry; scarcely any to offer themselves a living sacrifice on the altar of missions. Fields the most extensive ever opened to the Christian church, now inviting the messengers of Christ to enter; the prayers of many answered in the most striking manner; and yet, scarcely any giving heed to the clear indications of Providence; very few responding to the Heavenly Call, ‘Here am I, send me.’”

Last missionary excursion
JINMEN
November 23, 1844
“We have just returned from a visit to Quemoy. It is the largest and most projecting island which is passed in the approach to Amoy. Our kind friend, the chief magistrate, assisted us in procuring a suitable boat; and this to go to a place interdicted by treaties!

“We started a nine in the morning, and arrived at three in the afternoon. Our vessel could not approach within half a mile or more of the dry shore. When we arrived, a cloud of human beings were gradually moving out with the receding tide. They were picking up shell-fish and sea-weed, and whatever else they could turn to the least profit. A large proportion were women and girls. We were carried on men’s backs to the shore, and on their shoulders, (sedans,) when we returned. We were obliged to walk over a barren trace before we reached the chief town, Aou Poi. It proved to be by far the largest and most business-like place we have visited in the vicinity of Amoy. It has diverted the trade from the walled city, which lies some three or four miles in the interior, and was once the emporium of the island. Though rather late, we started for the city; but after traveling about half the distance, (myself being the only one in a sedan,) the pedestrian powers of some of our party began to fail, and it was concluded to defer the visit until we had more time for the examination of the island.

We were pleased with the gently undulating surface of the country. We saw no abrupt black hills, no immense granite rocks. The soil is very light, and the chief production is the sweet potato; an article far inferior, as cultivated in China, to that which is obtained in either of the southern or middle states of America. As usual, the eye caught a village almost wherever it turned.

…One object which we had in view in going to Quemoy was to obtain a correct idea of the salubrity of the island. I had often inquired about it, and had been led to believe that it was remarkably free from the fevers and other epidemics which are common in the neighboring places. The dryness of the soil, the absence of extensive paddy grounds, and the appearance of the entire face of the country, strengthened the impression which I had derived from others. There are many excellent situations for dwellings, and no doubt many dwellings in such situations might be obtained….

“When God’s Spirit shall be poured out, and native converts and evangelists shall have been raised up to our assistance, what ample scope there will be for the employment of all their time and energies.

“Never before has the missionary work appeared so inviting—never have I been placed in such agreeable circumstances—never has labor been so easy, so animating—never have the prospects been so encouraging. I have lived through a part of China’s long night of exclusiveness, and have seen the morning spread itself upon her eastern mountains. … Great as it the trial of leaving the place and the beloved companions in it, yet I have been spared to see so many hopes realized, and the dispensation which calls me away has been so mercifully delayed, that I have cause only for gratitude. Oh, that many young men may be constrained to go forth to this field, and assist in giving the Word free course, that it may be glorified among the people!”

He tried one more sermon to the Chinese, on the topic of “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” But was too weak, and returned to America to die.

“My increasing feeble health has brought death and heaven near. I trust I have nothing to fear. Simply to the cross I cling. Animating prospects of my Home. Am still afflicted by trying pains, but am praying and striving for patience with cheerfulness.”

Left Amoy December 19, 1844

By the advice of his friends, he embarked on the 14th of January, 1845, in the Natchez, Capt. Waterman, for the port of New York. So enfeebled was he at this time, that the night before his embarkation he feared to give way to the influence of sleep, lest his respiratory organs should cease to act.

On the 3rd of April he arrived at New York, after an absence of six years. He was then so exhausted and worn out by disease, that it hardly appeared as though he could survive from day to day; and it was with great difficulty that he could converse… He was unwilling to use any anodynes, fearing that they might have the effect of benumbing his mental faculties, and thus of destroying his ability to perform and enjoy the great duties of religion; consequently he did not find that relief which is often obtained from the use of such expedients, by those who are in the last stages of pulmonary disease.

He died September 4, 1846, aged 42. Final diary, “Death has no sting. Oh, may the Conqueror continue with me till the close, and then !!!”-----
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