THE FORMATION OF THE C. I. M.
IT was thus that in the year 1865 the CHINA INLAND MISSION was
organised; and the workers already in the field were incorporated into
it. W. T. Berger, Esq., then residing at Saint Hill, near East
Grinstead, without whose help and encouragement I could not have gone
forward, undertook the direction of the home department of the work
during my anticipated absence in China; and I proposed, as soon as
arrangements could be completed, to go out with the volunteers and take
the direction of the work in the field. For the support of the workers
already in China, our friends at home were sending in unsolicited
contributions from time to time, and every need was met.
We had now, however, to look forward to the outgoing of a party of
sixteen or seventeen, and estimated that from £1500 to £2000 might be
required to cover outfits, passage-money, and initial expenses. I wrote
a little pamphlet, calling it "Occasional Paper, No. I." (intending in
successive numbers to give to donors and friends accounts of the work
wrought through us in China), and in that paper stated the anticipated
needs for floating the enterprise. I expected that GOD would incline the
hearts of some of the readers to send contributions: I had determined
never to use personal solicitation, or to make collections, or to issue
collecting-books. Missionary-boxes were thought unobjectionable, and we
had a few prepared for those who might ask for them, and have continued
to use them ever since.
It was February 6th, 1866, when I sent my manuscript of "Occasional
Paper, No. I.," with a design for the cover, to the printer. From delays
in engraving and printing, it was March 12th when the bales of pamphlets
were delivered at my house. Now on February 6th a daily prayer-meeting,
from 12 to 1 o'clock, had been commenced, to ask for the needed funds.
And that we had not asked in vain, the following extract from
"Occasional Paper, No. II." will show:--
"The receipts for 1864 were £51:14s.; for 1865, from January to June,
£221:12:6, besides two free passages; from June to December, £923:12:8.
Hindrances having occurred, the MS. of the "Occasional Paper, No. I."
was not completed till February 6th, 1866. Up to this time we had
received (from December 30th) £170:8:3.
"We felt much encouraged by the receipt of so much money in little more
than a month, as it was entirely unsolicited by us--save from GOD. But
it was also evident that we must ask the LORD to do yet greater things
for us, or it would be impossible for a party of from ten to sixteen to
leave in the middle of May. _Daily united prayer was therefore offered
to_ GOD for the funds needful for the outfits and passages of as many as
He would have to go out in May.
"Owing to the delays mentioned above in the printing of the 'Occasional
Paper,' it was not ready for the publisher until March 12th. On this day
I again examined my mission cash-book, and the comparison of the result
of the two similar periods of one month and six days each, one before
and one after special prayer for £1500 to £2000, was very striking:--
"Receipts from December 30th to February 6th, £170 8 3
" Feb. 6th to Mar. 12th £1774 5 11
"Funds advised, since received 200 0 0
--------- £1974 5 11
"This, it will be noticed, was _previous_ to the circulation of the
'Occasional Paper,' and, consequently, was not the result of it. It was
the response of a faithful GOD to the united prayers of those whom He
had called to serve Him in the Gospel of His dear SON.
"We can now compare with these two periods a third of the same extent.
From March 12th to April 18th the receipts were £529, showing that when
GOD had supplied the special need, the special supply also ceased. Truly
there is a LIVING GOD, and HE is the hearer and answerer of prayer."
But this gracious answer to prayer made it a little difficult to
circulate "Occasional Paper, No. I.," for it stated as a need that which
was already supplied. The difficulty was obviated by the issue with each
copy of a coloured inset stating that the funds for outfit and passage
were already in hand in answer to prayer. We were reminded of the
difficulty of Moses--not a very common one in the present day--and of
the proclamation he had to send through the camp to the people to
prepare no more for the building of the Tabernacle, as the gifts in hand
were already too much. We are convinced that if there were _less_
solicitation for money and _more_ dependence upon the power of the HOLY
GHOST and upon the deepening of spiritual life, the experience of Moses
would be a common one in every branch of Christian work.
Preparations for sailing to China were at once proceeded with. About
this time I was asked to give a lecture on China in a village not very
far from London, and agreed to do so on condition that there should be
no collection, and that this should be announced on the bills. The
gentleman who invited me, and who kindly presided as chairman, said he
had never had that condition imposed before. He accepted it, however,
and the bills were issued accordingly for the 2nd or 3rd of May. With
the aid of a large map, something of the extent and population and deep
spiritual need of China was presented, and many were evidently
impressed.
At the close of the meeting the chairman said that by my request it had
been intimated on the bills that there would be no collection; but he
felt that many present would be distressed and burdened if they had not
the opportunity of contributing something towards the good work
proposed. He trusted that as the proposition emanated entirely from
himself, and expressed, he felt sure, the feelings of many in the
audience, I should not object to it. I begged, however, that the
condition agreed to might be carried out; pointing out among other
reasons for making no collection, that the very reason adduced by our
kind chairman was, to my mind, one of the strongest for not making it.
My wish was, not that those present should be relieved by making such
contribution as might there and then be convenient, under the influence
of a present emotion; but that each one should go home burdened with the
deep need of China, and ask of GOD what He would have them to do. If,
after thought and prayer, they were satisfied that a pecuniary
contribution was what He wanted of them, it could be given to any
Missionary Society having agents in China; or it might be posted to our
London office; but that perhaps in many cases what GOD wanted was _not_
a money contribution, but personal consecration to His service abroad;
or the giving up of son or daughter--more precious than silver or
gold--to His service. I added that I thought the tendency of a
collection was to leave the impression that the all-important thing was
_money_, whereas no amount of money could convert a single soul; that
what was needed was that men and women filled with the HOLY GHOST should
give _themselves_ to the work: for the support of such there would never
be a lack of funds. As my wish was evidently very strong, the chairman
kindly yielded to it, and closed the meeting. He told me, however, at
the supper-table, that he thought it was a mistake on my part, and that,
notwithstanding all I had said, a few persons had put some little
contributions into his hands.
Next morning at breakfast, my kind host came in a little late, and
acknowledged to not having had a very good night. After breakfast he
asked me to his study, and giving me the contributions handed to him the
night before, said, "I thought last night, Mr. Taylor, that you were in
the wrong about a collection; I am now convinced you were quite right.
As I thought in the night of that stream of souls in China ever passing
onward into the dark, I could only cry as you suggested, 'LORD, what
wilt Thou have _me_ to do?' I think I have obtained the guidance I
sought, and here it is." He handed me a cheque for £500, adding that if
there had been a collection he would have given a few pounds to it, but
now this cheque was the result of having spent no small part of the
night in prayer.
I need scarcely say how surprised and thankful I was for this gift. I
had received at the breakfast-table a letter from Messrs. Killick,
Martin and Co., shipping agents, in which they stated that they could
offer us the whole passenger accommodation of the ship _Lammermuir_. I
went direct to the ship, found it in every way suitable, and paid the
cheque on account. As above stated, the funds deemed needed had been
already in hand for some time; but the coincidence of the simultaneous
offer of the ship accommodation and this munificent gift--GOD'S
"exceeding abundantly"--greatly encouraged my heart.
On the 26th of May we sailed for China in the _Lammermuir_, a missionary
party of 16 (besides my four children and their nurse, and Miss Bausum
(afterwards Mrs. Barchet)); in all 22 passengers. Mr. Berger took charge
of the home department, and thus the C. I. M. was fully inaugurated.
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