LAST FURLOUGH
In the middle of September, 1906, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were busy at
Kibokolo making plans for future work, and entertaining no thought
of immediate return to England. Mr. Lewis had been ill, but was well
again, and was on the point of starting for a local journey. Mrs.
Lewis was expecting the arrival of Nlekai, to aid her in finishing and
correcting a translation of the second part of “The Pilgrim’s Progress.”
Yet, on November 9th, they were in the English Channel, aboard the ss.
_Bruxellesville_, and Mr. Lewis wrote as follows to Mr. Wilson:—
“You will be surprised to hear that Mrs. Lewis and I are nearing
England. When the last Antwerp mails left Congo we had no intention of
returning so soon. Our letters had scarcely been posted when I went
down with bilious fever, the second attack within a month; and as I
have been suffering from repeated attacks since January, we decided to
leave at once. We were able to take this step when Mr. Hooper returned
to Zombo from Mabaya, without seriously crippling the work at Kibokolo.
He arrived ten days before we left. At Matadi I saw Dr. Sims, who said
that I had been suffering from continued fever for some time, and, to my
astonishment, that I was in fever at the time of his examination. I think
I am getting rid of it. Indeed, after a week at sea I felt comparatively
well, and am now myself again. My wife is much run down and tired. We
hope to reach Southampton to-morrow (Saturday) morning, and to proceed at
once to London. We shall call to see you on Monday morning.”
This call was duly made, and later in the same week there ensued the
necessary interview with Dr. Habershon, the physician of the B.M.S.
Dr. Habershon reported that the illness which had sent Mr. Lewis home
was “subsiding,” but felt moved by his study of both their cases to
make representations to the Committee concerning the advisability of
shortening the term of residence on the Congo between furloughs.
Late in December Mrs. Lewis was called upon to endure a great sorrow.
Childless herself, her sister’s children had ever been dear to her, and
became dearer as the years passed, and intercourse and mutual kindness
strengthened the ties of nature and of spiritual affinity. Moreover, one
of them, Eva, was called to the discipline of pain, lingering, long drawn
out.
Not more than a year or two after that radiant holiday at Penmaenmawr,
referred to in a previous chapter, Eva Percival, a beautiful and winsome
girl, suffered from the first slight assaults of a mysterious nervous
malady which defied the treatment and even baffled the diagnosis of
the best physicians of the day. For ten years, with fluctuations and
intervals of hopeful improvement, her trouble grew upon her, until at
last, after much anguish, endured with the patience and the sweetness of
a saint, it quenched her life.
When Mr. and Mrs. Lewis arrived in this country Eva’s case was grave,
and her aunt was continually with her. Shortly before Christmas, Mr.
Lewis was sent to Edinburgh to make close personal inquiry concerning the
critical illness of the Rev. George Cameron, and to convey the sympathy
of the Committee. It was felt that his presence and the loving messages
which he bore might be elements of help to one who lay in extreme
weakness. But while Mr. Lewis was in Edinburgh there occurred a sudden
change for the worse in the case of his niece, Eva, scarcely less dear to
him than to his wife. He was called back to London by telegram, and she
died the next day.
In the presence of such facts the mystery of pain is so exigent that it
compels us to assume a simple solution. The spiritual force expended, and
the spiritual peace acquired, in the brave endurance of such affliction
_must_ have their mission and their future. God is not a prodigal Father
Who wastes His substance in random ordinances; and what is there, in all
the sum of His known belongings, more precious than such a soul as that
of Eva Percival?
Despite the consolations of the Evangel, the natural grief of her mother
and her sisters was very great, shared to the full by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis,
whose presence and sympathy yielded the best earthly comfort. And there
were those, themselves among the number, who felt that it was a kindly
dispensation of Providence which had brought them home for such a time as
this.
Shortly after the commencement of the new year, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
were able to undertake deputation work, and early in March, while away
from London on this business, Mr. Lewis received a momentous letter
from the Secretary of the B.M.S., the Rev. C. E. Wilson, conveying the
request of the Committee that he would accept the appointment of B.M.S.
tutor, at the projected United Training Institute, on the Lower Congo,
with the understanding that Mrs. Lewis would take the educational and
general oversight of the women, wives of the students, who would reside
with their husbands at the Institute during term time. Confessedly
reluctant to abandon pioneering and forward work, for which he had
striven specially to qualify himself, Mr. Lewis was so impressed by the
importance of the new scheme that he could not decline the invitation.
Meanwhile he asked for time, that he might consult his colleagues on the
Congo; for gratifying as was the confidence of the Committee, he could
not regard the proposed position as tenable, unless the brethren on the
field approved.
As the story of the remainder of Mrs. Lewis’s missionary life is so
largely the story of the Kimpese Institute, it is highly desirable that
the reader should have good understanding of its character and its
aims. I cannot better ensure this than by quoting at length from an
article subsequently written for the _Missionary Herald_ by Mr. Lewis.
At the time of writing he and Mrs. Lewis had accepted the proposals of
the Committee, which had received the most cordial endorsement of the
missionaries concerned. It may also be stated here that the Swedish
Missionary Society, which had been party to the original scheme, stood
aloof in the end, thus for the time being lessening the scope of the
Institution.
“The very gratifying result which has attended our work on the Congo,
and the rapid growth of the native Christian Church during the past few
years, have brought the various missionary societies face to face with
the problem of the better education of a native ministry. So urgent
has this question become that for several years past it has occupied a
prominent position in the joint Conferences of all the Protestant bodies
labouring in that country.
“Fifteen months ago representatives of the American and British Baptist
Missions met at Matadi to consider the possibility and advisability of
establishing a United College for the training of native preachers,
evangelists, and teachers, in connection with the Missions which work
within the Congo-speaking area. There were some difficulties arising
out of differences of dialects in use in the various Missions, but on
talking over these matters we found that most, if not all, of these could
be surmounted, and the feeling of the brethren was wholly and strongly
in favour of a _joint_ institution for the three principal societies
working on the Lower Congo and in Portuguese Congo. Negotiations were
entered into with the Swedish Missionary Society, who were also desirous
of joining. This Society, as well as the Americans, have training
schools already in connection with their own work; but all consider that
a well-equipped _United College_ would be an immense advantage to the
cause of Christ in Congoland. Not only can the training be better and
more economically done, but a combined effort of all the Missions will
have the supreme merit of uniting in Christian activity all the native
Churches in connection with the different societies. It is confidently
hoped that this bringing together of our future native teachers and
leaders will be a source of true strength to the Churches in the land,
and unite them all in aggressive evangelistic work.
“The negotiations are now sufficiently advanced to issue an appeal to the
readers of the _Missionary Herald_ for their help and sympathy in this
great undertaking. All the friends of our Congo Mission will join us in
thanking God that the time has now come for this advance, and already I
am glad to find great interest is being exhibited by friends all over the
country in this new college scheme.
“The location of the Institute will be at Kimpese, a point close to the
Congo Railway, at a distance of about eighty miles from Matadi. Our
American brethren in the early days secured a plot of ground of about
thirty acres, with the intention of establishing a Mission Station
at that place, but it was not occupied. This property is now to be
transferred to the United College authority.
“The Constitution provides that ‘in accord with the commonly understood
position of evangelical Churches, and also in accord with the ordinance
of immersion on a profession of faith, the instruction given in the
Institution shall be based upon the acceptance of the Old and New
Testament Scriptures as an authoritative standard of faith and practice.
The importance of strict regard for Scriptural teaching in the observance
of the ordinances of the Church shall be fully recognised.’
“The Institution is to be controlled by a Board of Trustees representing
the three Missions.
“Three tutors have been appointed, one from each Society, to form the
faculty of the College. This number is considered sufficient for the
present, but as the work develops we shall require more assistance.
“It is estimated that we shall have in residence about 150 students, who
will be brought in from various missions for a three years’ course of
training. Provision is also made for the training of young women who are,
or will become, the wives of teachers, it being of the utmost importance
to have trained women teachers for work among their Congo sisters.
“For the first few years the married teachers who are now in service at
sub-stations will come in for special training. Arrangements will be made
for them to live in native-built houses in the College grounds—husband
and wife together. Later on, when the married people have received their
course of training, we hope to open a special branch for young women who
will be likely to become wives of teachers and evangelists.
“In this educational work we attach great importance to the principle
of a native ministry, and we shall avoid anything in the shape of an
imitation ‘white man.’ Thus the life, housing, clothing, and feeding will
be in accord with native ideas, only insisting on cleanliness, decency,
and industry.
“The chief aim of the Institution will be to secure enlightened and
intelligent teachers and evangelists, and to train them for evangelical
work among their own people.
“The students will be required to do a certain amount of plantation and
garden work to secure a supply of food for themselves. There will also
be carpenters’ and blacksmiths’ shops, and a brick-making department, so
that they will be able, in their sphere of labour, to build their own
houses and schools and chapels without monetary help from the native
Churches which employ them, and be in a position to elevate the people by
teaching them these crafts.
“In addition to the cost of buildings, which it is hoped will be provided
for out of the Arthington Fund, we shall require furniture, fittings, and
accessories for the halls and classrooms, and also tools for our various
industrial workshops.
“The support of students must be provided for, and it is estimated that
£8 per year will keep a single student at the College, while £14 will
support a student and his wife for the same period. I feel sure that many
friends will count it a privilege to contribute such a sum yearly for
the training of these young men and women for the native ministry of the
gospel in Congoland.
“I may say that at the request of my brethren in the field I have
consented to become the B.M.S. tutor in this new college, and I have
also just been appointed Principal. And as first Principal of this
United Training Institute, I most earnestly and confidently appeal to
all friends of the Congo Mission for their kind co-operation and liberal
help.”
On March 20th Mrs. Lewis wrote to Mrs. Pinnock of Kibokolo: “Before now
you will have heard about the Training Institute and the probability that
we shall not return to Kibokolo. I know you will be sorry, and so shall
we; but the Committee are so anxious that we shall undertake this work,
as also are the San Salvador folk, that we do not see our way to decline.
In God’s work we must do what is best for the work itself and not
consider our own personal wishes, so if all goes well I suppose we shall
go to Kimpese. It is a big undertaking at our time of life, but I know
we shall have the prayers of you all for our guidance in all matters. I
am sorry not to have the joy of gathering in when the harvest begins at
Kibokolo, but none the less we shall take an interest in your work there
and rejoice with you when that time comes.... To-night we go to chapel to
attend our Sunday School Anniversary Tea Meeting. We had a lovely time on
Sunday. Several hundred young folk occupied the galleries, all wearing
daffodils and singing like larks. It was grand. I thought they would
never finish. Dr. Clifford preached in the evening, and it was a rare
treat to hear him.”
“March 20th. (To Mrs. Hooper, of Kibokolo.)—I have written all news to
Mrs. Pinnock and have asked her to let you read it, so please ask for
it. I am very anxious to have news of your husband’s health. No one
mentions him, so I presume he is much better. ‘It is not good for man to
be alone,’ you see, and I shouldn’t be surprised if your company and care
do wonders. I do trust you will both keep well, and have much blessing on
your work.
“Please pet Sandy for me. I have a dear puss here, but don’t forget old
Sandy. I am afraid it will be a long time before I shall be able to have
him again, if ever. I don’t know how we shall be situated in this new
station. I am sorry that we shall not work together again, and especially
that I shall not have the joy of seeing some of those Zombo women and
girls come to Christ. But I shall think of and pray for them, and I hope
you may have the great joy of reaping a rich harvest from the seed sown
through so many years of barrenness and discouragement.
“I hope you will write as often and as fully as you can, for I shall be
very anxious to know how things go on. This work to which we are going
is so important that we shall need all the help we can get, and trust we
may have the prayers of all our brethren and sisters on the field, so
that everything may be started on the right basis. I hear that Mr. Weeks
has arrived safely, for which we are thankful. The spring flowers are out
now: oh! they are so lovely. Though as yet there are not many English
ones to be had: plenty of snowdrops in the country and crocuses in the
gardens.”
“May 7th. (To Mrs. Kirkland, of Mabaya.)—That opposition of the old chief
is natural, but I should think, from what Mr. Graham writes me with
regard to the action of the San Salvador Resident, that it will turn out
rather for the furtherance of the gospel. Opposition is far better than
indifference. In the old days at San Salvador it was just at the time
when the King so fiercely opposed his people coming to our services that
the work began to develop and the nucleus of a Church was formed.”
“June 5th. (To Mrs. Hooper, of Kibokolo).—I am sorry I did not write last
mail, I was visiting friends and could not. This must be only a few lines
as we are very busy. We leave London on Monday, 10th, and give up these
lodgings until September or October. I have not seen your folks yet. I
wrote the other day to say that we shall be going to Wales in September
and hope to call on them if convenient.
“And now I want to tell you how greatly we rejoice with you in the
baptism of Mayungululu. I am sure it will be a very great joy and
encouragement to you both to feel that you have been the means of
bringing the first Zombo convert to the Saviour’s feet. May that joy be
greatly multiplied to you all! You may be sure that in all your successes
we shall rejoice with you, and shall ever pray that you may be guided and
helped in all difficulties.”
June brought holidays, and holiday spirits, and I would that space
permitted me to quote at length Mrs. Lewis’s letters and postcards.
She is over fifty years old; she has done more than thirty years of
strenuous work at home and abroad; yet she writes with the enthusiasm
and _abandon_ of a girl of eighteen, just loosed from a convent school.
The beauty of the Rhine scenery intoxicates her. With her husband’s
assistance she calculates how many Camden Road Chapels could be housed
comfortably in the nave of Cologne Cathedral. She boasts of sleeping in a
gorgeous chamber, one time occupied by the Queen of Holland, and chuckles
over the deprivations of a young Anglican priest, who was evidently
pining for splendid ritual, but having to officiate in a crude little
church, must needs be content with “plain morning prayers and a sermon,”
which none the less she enjoyed exceedingly. From Stockholm she sends a
message to “Prince,” Mrs. Percival’s dog, saying that she has seen some
distant relatives of his, lovely little Esquimaux, and is sorry that she
cannot send him photographs of them also.
This missive was dated June 25th. In July the postmarks are British
once more, and on the 3rd she is in Peebles, N.B., enjoying gracious
hospitality and the delights of long, luxurious drives among the hills.
Ten days later her address is Maelgwyn, Pwllheli, where, amid familiar
scenes, she is awaiting expectantly the mild discipline of an imminent
“Chatauqua,” meanwhile taking delight in many simple things, including
the happy freedom of her neighbours—“the dear donkeys who roam at will
across the common, and salute me from time to time with their melodious
voices.”
Late in August she is in Deal, staying with her friends the Parkinsons,
and is one of a merry party, mostly young folk. Among other diversions
they all get weighed and measured, and Mrs. Lewis pokes fun at her
husband’s proportions and makes boast of her own. She weighed 8 st. 9
lbs. 10 oz. and measured 5 ft. 2¼ in. She might well boast, for I recall
a Congo entry in her diary, in which her recorded weight is less by a
good 20 lbs.
Early in September she is staying with her cousin, Mrs. Welch, at the
Vicarage, Millington, in Yorkshire; casually mentions that she cannot
be impeded by more than the lightest baggage, and is on the point of
departure for Swansea.
In the autumn she and her husband are occupied again by the labours
and journeyings of deputation work. Yet all the while she maintains a
voluminous correspondence with her sister colleagues upon the Congo,
eagerly scanning their news and earnestly giving the counsel and
information and sympathy which are often solicited or required.
The following letter was written on November 26th to Mrs. Moon, wife of
the tutor appointed by the American Society to be the colleague of Mr.
Lewis at Kimpese.
“66, HILLDROP CRESCENT, HOLLOWAY, LONDON, N.
“_November 26, 1907._
“DEAR MRS. MOON,—I have not the pleasure of knowing you
personally, that is yet to come, but your husband writes that
you wish to hear from me with regard to the work that lies
before us, _i.e._, the training of the women students in the
new college. As I believe you already know, I have always
taken a great interest in the teaching and training of the
Congo women and girls. I believe there are great possibilities
in them, and that up till now they have hardly received the
attention they deserve. This being so I greatly rejoice in the
prospect of doing something more for them, and am very glad to
hear that you also are interested in this most important work.
“I suppose at first the women we have to train will be mostly
wives and mothers, and that fact must necessarily influence
the character and extent of their training. I do not see how
we can expect those for instance who have babies to spend more
than a small proportion of their time in the classroom. Then I
think we shall have to arrange somehow for their children to
be cared for while they are attending classes. Perhaps those
without children might have extra teaching. I see no reason if
it is thought desirable why the brighter ones should not attend
some of the men’s classes or vice versa. Then, too, there is
the question as to men with heathen wives, or wives who are not
professing Christians. What do you think about them? Are they
to be left in their towns, or to come in with their husbands?
Or is it to be optional? Of course they could not attend all
the classes; should they attend any?
“Then as to the subjects to be taught, I am writing somewhat in
the dark, as I only know the teachers’ wives who belong to the
San Salvador Church. But if I were arranging for them alone I
should suggest the following:—
1. Old Testament.
2. New Testament.
3. The Christian Life.
4. Training of children.
5. The art of teaching.
6. Nursing of the sick.
“That course, with their farm work as exercise, is I fancy
as much as we could attempt. Later on when we have a proper
women’s department with unmarried students, other subjects
might be added. What do you think of this? I hope you will
write and let me have your views freely, so that we may be able
to arrange plans which shall commend themselves to us all.
The wives of the San Salvador teachers are all Christians,
able to read, write, and sew, and most, if not all, engaged in
teaching. How far that is the case with others I do not know;
perhaps you can tell me. Details as to our various duties must
of course wait until we can meet and talk over matters. It
seems to me that there will have to be a school conducted by
one of us for the children of teachers, and for any boys and
girls employed by us in our houses. This will provide a good
opportunity for teaching how to teach.
“These are merely suggestions (which my husband agrees with),
and I shall look forward to hearing from you with regard to
them, or any others you can make.
“With kindest regards to you and Mr. Moon,
“Yours very sincerely,
“GWEN E. LEWIS.”
The co-operation of Mrs. Moon in the work at Kimpese, to which Mrs.
Lewis was looking forward, was not vouchsafed to her. In the order of
Providence Mrs. Moon’s arrival was delayed until Mrs. Lewis’s work was
almost done, and the shadow of death fast approaching.
In December Mrs. Lewis suffered from a serious attack of influenza, and
during the spring of 1908 deputation work was sometimes interrupted, and
fears of delayed return to the Congo occasioned, by the illness of Mr.
Lewis. Happily these fears were dispelled, and in May Mrs. Lewis writes
of packing, and the hope of starting from Antwerp on June 11th, with Miss
Spencer, who is going out to marry Dr. Gamble.
So the last, and in some respects the happiest, of her furloughs came
to its end. It began with deep sorrow, but it yielded many joys. She
was happy in her deputation work, happy in her holidays, happy in her
intermittent life at home, and supremely happy in her relations with
the Church. During these months I saw more of her than ever before,
and was privileged to hold much converse with her and her husband, of
that trustful order which yields true spiritual refreshment. I may be
permitted to relate a single incident of our intercourse. During one of
my visits to their home in Hilldrop Crescent Mr. and Mrs. Lewis spoke
of Grenfell, and of the Committee’s purpose to issue a biography. Drawn
out by them, I freely expressed extemporaneous judgments as to the
possibilities of the work and the manner in which it should be done.
They listened with quiet interest, and in due course I went away, to
return a few days later bringing with me, for their perusal, a letter
from Mr. Wilson containing the Committee’s request that I would write
Grenfell’s Life. Instead of sharing my amazement they broke into hearty
laughter, confessed that they knew all about it, and that in our previous
conversation they had been quizzing me. Their knowledge had come to them
through attendance at Committee, and they felt in honour bound not
to anticipate the official communication. Needless to say, after that
Grenfell’s Life became a bread-and-butter topic between us, and I had the
privilege of submitting certain early chapters for their criticism before
they went away.
They had many missionary visitors, and among the most welcome and
most frequently entertained were Mr. and Mrs. Lawson Forfeitt, whose
disappointment at being forbidden to return to Congo, on the ground of
Mr. Forfeitt’s broken health, elicited their warmest sympathy. They
attended as many as possible of the services at Camden Road Church,
and often took part in its meetings; made many new friends among those
who had joined the congregation in their absence; and were delightedly
received in many homes. As ever, Mrs. Lewis won her way to the children’s
hearts. Two little girls of one family were specially drawn to her, and
she asked them, when they said their prayers, to seek God’s blessing upon
her husband, herself, and their work. The little ones gave their promise,
and kept it. When they were informed of her death, they were much grieved
and perplexed, and at night the younger of them prayed on this wise:
“Dear God, we are very sorry that you have taken Mrs. Lewis to heaven,
for we wanted her here. And please do not let Mr. Lewis be too sad.”
Her last farewell meeting at Camden Road will long be remembered by
those who were present. A few friends in the company had loved her from
girlhood, and many had loved her and her husband for long years. But
during her last furlough the heart of the whole Church had gone out to
them in notable degree. I mentioned this in the meeting, and in so doing
expressed the common consciousness of the audience. It is a tranquil joy
to those of us who are left, to realise that in all her long association
with it, the Church was never dearer to Mrs. Lewis, and that she was
never dearer to the Church, than when it said its last “goodbye.”