Objeto De Las Obligaciones

In this department you would judge from what I have already said thee ought to be considerable improvement, and I am glad to tell you there is, though with some of the boys there is still room for more. But some of them are my entire delight, in school, and out of school, in their hours of play and in the Church of God; and my trust is strong that I shall yet see some of them in the sacred desk, duly commissioned, and ministering to their own people “in holy things.”

In conclusion, I can only say, pray for us, dear Bishop, that the Holy Spirit may bless us, give us a “right judgment in all things,” and most of all grant that the souls of those whom we may teach may be truly converted to the truth as it is in Jesus.

I cannot tell you how much we miss you in each, in all, in every department of our school and social studies, and how earnestly we pray that God will restore you to health and enable you soon to return to your waiting children in the far off land of Sinim.

I am, Right Rev. and dear Bishop, Very respectfully and affectionately yours.

DATE/PLACE:

1859, June 15.

American Church Mission, Hongkou, Shanghai, China.

PROVENANCE: Spirit of Missions, Journal of the Board of Foreign and Domestic Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Vol 24 1859 pp 468-469. Hathi Trust Archive, University of Indiana.

AUTHOR: Lydia MARY FAY.

RECIPIENT: Rt. Rev. William Jones Boone.

SUBJECT: (i) Miss Fay’s Report. 15 June 1859.

(ii) Confirmation group.

(iii) Fay’s health and outlook improved. Dear Sir:

Last Sunday twelve of “my boys” between the ages of fifteen and nineteen, were baptized by Mr. Syle100 in our Chinese Chapel. Rev. Mr. Zong-he-Diong and myself stood sponsors for them at their own request. In all my nine years of labor in this school I have never known such a day of entire thanksgiving of buoyant hopes, and of gratitude to God, and that for several special reasons: first, out of the forty-seven boys, who compose the school, these twelve were the “brightest and best,” those for whom I have toiled the longest, and though sometimes almost hopelessly, yet earnestly and perseveringly. Just those whom I would have chosen to offer first to the service of God; and as I saw them, one after the other, with bowed heads and tearful eyes, reverently kneel to receive the baptismal water and that sacred sign that marks them Christ’s faithful soldiers unto their life’s end, I felt as if I could join the angels in their song of “Glory to God on high, and on earth, peace, good will toward men;” and that I would never again doubt the readiness of our

Heavenly Father to bless abundantly the work of our hands. My prayer for these converts is that they may be “faithful unto death,” and that I may hear some, if not all, of them preaching the Gospel to their own countrymen. Second, a native ministry is my strong hope for China, and when I see what God has already done, my hopes are strengthened and my zeal awakened. Only six years ago some of the boys who were baptized on Sunday, and are now grown men, came to this school ragged and dirty. Yet even in those dim days of doubt and discouragement, when my principal duties were to teach the A.B. C’s, keep the boys clean, and out of mischief when well, and nurse them when sick; I sometimes met with the most touching instances of gratitude on the part of the boys, which made me hope for “better days;” though “faint, yet still pursing” seemed to be the only text in the Bible that was entirely expressive of my every day feelings.

My days are happier now; my duties more agreeable to my tastes; my hopes are more definite; my health and spirits made better. But from my heart, I thank our Heavenly Father for all and every bitter trial He has given since I came to China. It has taught me a confidence in Him; a looking to Him for success in our work, which I feel I could never have learned truly except in the path of loneliness and lowliness in which He has led me. Now I know “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes,” or in any son of man.

I think I told you in a former letter that twenty-one of “my boys” were candidates for baptism, and they have been going to Mr. Syle once a week for instruction, but only the twelve, of whom I have spoken, gave him entire satisfaction. I am quite satisfied with his decision, as the others are younger, and it may be better for them to wait a while, though I trust the Holy Spirit has moved their hearts also to believe in Jesus as the only Saviour of sinners, and that I shall ere long see them “put on Christ” and “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called.” They spend an hour with me every day in reading the Bible in English, and I often feel my own faith strengthened by their earnest reading, and the implicit manner in which they receive the promises of God. They are all very fond of reading the Bible; even in play hours you may see a group of boys gathered here and there eagerly listening, while one, who reads English better than the others, reads the Bible aloud; and sometimes I see a solitary one sitting apart, his head bent over the sacred book until his eyes almost touch the pages.

In former days when I opened suddenly the doors of their rooms, my heart was often pained and my ears saddened by the sound of rattling dice, and their confused faces told, without asking, that they had been gambling. But now I find them reading their Bibles or Prayer Books; they meet me with a look of confidence when I come upon them suddenly, and then ask me to stop and explain some word or text of Scripture they are reading.

Formerly I used to feel that my dwelling was truly “where Satan’s seat is.” But now, though I dwell in the same place and teach the same boys, I feel that good angels are about us; that we can lie down and sleep in peace, because “the Lord maketh us to dwell in safety.” Will you not pray for us that these “good days” may continue, and that the ‘work of the Lord may prosper in our hands?”

DATE/PLACE:

1860, June 13.

American Church Mission, Hongkou, Shanghai, China.

PROVENANCE: Virginia Historical Association, Richmond, Va.MISSIN3386a14961516

AUTHOR: Lydia MARY FAY.

RECIPIENT: Rt. Rev. William Jones Boone. SUBJECT: Resignation

Episcopal Mission, Shanghai, June 13th 1860 Rt. Rev. Bishop Boone, D.D.,

My dear Bishop,

It is now ten years since I received the appointment of Missionary teacher to China in the Mission under your charge. I arrived here a few months afterwards and have been more than nine years in the Boys’ Boarding School, filling, as the absence of other teachers required, the position of teacher and matron, nurse and matron and for the last five years, matron and teacher while the school was under your special superintendence, therefore I need not say how I have discharged my duties, as my work has been daily before you and I have tried to do all with a hearty good will, an earnest desire to please our Heavenly Father, and the firm conviction that the work was a good and able work. I feel too that the Lord has blessed me in it, and in a great measure fulfilled His promise that: “They who wait upon Him shall walk and not fault.” I am stronger, in better health and spirits, and have a livelier hope of the final success of missions than in the first years of my missionary labors, but there seems no longer a “needs be” for my remaining in the Boys’ School, as the vaIcant positions of honor, trust and labor are now filled by those who are just from the bosom of the Church “at home” and might be full of the Holy Spirit and stronger to carry on the work of the Lord in the

school, than I have been. I have also some other reasons for wishing to resign all further connexion with the school and do therefore, beg you will kindly accept my resignation and appoint my duties in some other department of the great vineyard of our blessed Mission.

That you may be guided by heavenly wisdom in appointment, to each of our fields of duty, … a right judgement in all things and that the blessings of God may rest and inform you …

Yours truly and affectionately, Lydia MARY FAY.

DATE/PLACE:

1860, August 7.

American Church Mission, Hongkou, Shanghai, China.

PROVENANCE: Virginia Historical Association, Richmond, Va. MISSIN3386a1496-1516

AUTHOR: Rt. Rev. William Jones Boone.

RECIPIENT: Lydia MARY FAY..

SUBJECT: Re Resignation.

My Dear Miss Fay

I have allowed your letter of 13 June resigning your place in the Boys’ School, to remain unanswered until now. I wished to take time to see how matters would go on until the vacation. I regret very much your leaving the school. I can bear testimony that you have worked hard & efficiently; I am sure it is a very great trial to you to leave a school for which you have laboured so long.

You know that I have always thought you a good teacher but have also held the opinion that no lady can properly manage a school of forty boys. I have always thought the school needs the strong hand of a male superintendent. When I was recently in the U.S, the Presbyters of the mission wrote urgently on this subject.

The Committee, on my recommendation, and that of these letters, appointed a male superintendent, and sent his mother to assist as matron; supposing this would be a much pleasanter arrangement than to ask you to act in this capacity while Mr. Doyen101 was Superintendent.

They never designed for a moment to dispossess you of your place as a teacher in the school, nor had I any such wish.

You have told me you determined before Mr. and Mrs. Doyen arrived, that you would not teach in the school, if he were made superintendent.

You told me this, plainly upon our arrival, and left them in no doubt of your mind and that you regarded them as intruders.

You now inform me that you are still of the same determination and I know there is such a want of harmony in the personal relations between Mr. and Mrs. Doyen and yourself that there is no prospect of your being able to conduct the school together. Neither yourself or Mrs. Doyen will consent to make friends and live in peace.

These facts constrain me to accept your resignation. Under the circumstances, I cannot blame you for resigning, but I cannot but deplore the circumstances.

While saying this, I do not wish to pass any opinion on your difficulties with Mrs. Doyen, or to throw any undue share of the blame upon you.

I trust God may have much more work for your to do for Him and that He will grant you Grace to discharge the same with both fidelity and in peace.

I am, my Dear Miss Fay, Very sincerely Yours Wm J Boone

DATE/PLACE:

1862, January 7.

101 JAPAN, Conf Prot Miss Japan 1833, p 62. “In September of this year, Mr. James S. Doyen, who in 1859 had gone with Bishop Boone to assist in school work connected with the Episcopal Mission in China, (Resigned 1861) having adopted Baptist sentiments, united with the Baptist Church, and on the 7th day of the month was, by the missionaries, assisted by Rev. Mr. Ludlow, ordained in Yokohama to the ministry. On the 9th of December following he become a missionary of the A. B. M. U. Mr. Doyen, with the hope of more speedily acquiring the language and of doing better work for the Master, took up his residence with a native family at Noge, Yokohama. Am. Bapt. 1874. Mr. Doyen also removed to Tokiyo, and " at the suggestion of some Buddhist priests who expressed a desire to hear about Christianity, took up his abode in quarters offered him in one of their temples in Shiba. He was attended by a recent convert who acted also as interpreter. Towards the close of the year, however, Mr. Doyen was obliged by failing eyesight to seek a change, and accordingly returned to San Francisco. He there became interested in work among the Chinese, and in August, 1875, his resignation as a missionary of the Union was accepted by the Board."

American Church Mission, Hongkou, Shanghai, China.

PROVENANCE: Spirit of Missions, Journal of the Board of Foreign and Domestic Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Vol 27 1862 pp 149-151. Yale University Divinity School Library. Hathi Trust Archive, University of Indiana.

AUTHOR: Lydia MARY FAY.

RECIPIENT: Private Letter republished with permission. SUBJECT: (i) Letter from Mary Fay 7 January 1862.

(ii) Fay working with Church Missionary Society. (iii) Second Taiping Rebel attack on Shanghai. (iv) Boys’ Boarding School.

(v) Girls’ Day School in Shanghai (Chinese city). (vi) Letter in English from Kie Who.

(vii) (SoM Includes letter from Boone (23/1/62) and Rev. C Keith (22/1/08) re Taiping advance on Shanghai)

We are permitted to publish the following extracts from a private letter, dated Shanghai, January 7, 1862, and written to a lady in Pennsylvania, a Sunday-school teacher. After speaking of the contribution of the school to Foreign Missions, Miss Fay says:

May the sum never be less—may it go on increasing as you grow in grace and abound in every good work. There never was a time when missionaries required as much from friends “at home” as now, on account of there being such constant demands upon their liberality from the starving, suffering Chinese. We have just heard of the sufferings of those (150) at Ningpoo, on the taking of that city by the rebels, who have also proved very unfriendly to foreigners, driving them from their houses, plundering and spoiling their goods—to hundred Chinese converts at once driven off, scattered or killed. The missionaries have exerted themselves to the utmost to provide for as many as possible. Rev. Mr. Russell kept one hundred in his own house, almost robbing himself to provide for their wants—Mrs. Russell and himself staying many days in the city after the rebels entered, amidst scenes of blood, burning and carnage too shocking to relate. At last the rebels threatened violence upon the, and they were obliged to leave, as have all the missionaries, the city; some are still remaining in the suburbs, trying to comfort and sustain the poor, persecuted converts. We hear that Hanchow [Hankow], one of the largest and richest cities of China, has just fallen into the hands of the rebels, after and long and obstinate resistance of several months; that millions of people have been killed, and long streets rendered impassable by heaps of dead bodies, upon which dogs and birds of prey are continually feeding. But I spare you the horrid details. For the present, we are in comparative quiet and safety. But the rebels have repeatedly sent official letters to Chinese and foreign officials of this place, saying: ‘We want Shanghai.’ ‘We must have it.’ ‘We will have it.’ Success in other places has emboldened them so much, and they are showing less and less fear of foreigners. The French and English are making active preparations to defend Shanghai in case of an attack; and I trust we may be spared the horrors and carnage of other cities. For the last few years it has been a great city of refuge for the distressed and persecuted Chinese from all parts of the Empire, and a great deal of the wealth of the conquered cities has been deposited here for safe keeping. It is supposed this is known to the rebels, and is one reason why they are so anxious to get this city; another is, the enormous revenue received at the Imperial Custom-House, which is in part supervised by the English.

In the midst of all these stirring and exciting scenes, it requires strong faith in God, long suffering, patience and perseverance to go quietly on with schools and other missionary work. Servants seem almost distracted, and it seems almost impossible to get them to do any thing properly; and I am often obliged to take the time I used to give to Chinese studies or writing, for household duties; even when I have paid servants in the house. Still, I manage to teach several hours a day, and visit my day-school in the city. I have seventy children under my charge, namely, fifty-five boys in the boarding-school where I live, and fifteen little girls in the city. The girls I do not teach English, hence do not spend so much time with them as the boys. They are taught by a Chinese lady, who has been reduced to the most abject poverty, and her husband killed by the rebels at the taking of the city of ‘Soong-Kong.’ She made her escape to Shanghai, was befriended by some of the London missionaries; taught the first principles of the Christian religion; believed its great truths, and was admitted to the communion of our Church a few weeks since. She shows great interest in the study of the Bible and in teaching it to her little pupils. She has two sons of her own, both of whom are in my boarding-school and are studying English, with about forty other promising boys, among whom is ‘Kie Who,’ the lad to whom you have sent the illustrated Pilgrim’s Progress. It has not yet been received, but I hope may yet come, as ‘Kie Who’ is quite delighted with the idea of a new book. I have told him he may write to you for himself, thinking it might interest your school. When he went to Mr. Syle’s

school he only studied Chinese, and was a very good reader. Is reading tolerably well now in English, and is very anxious to improve. Mr. Syle’s day-school was given up some time before he left, and I have the house now for my day-school, which is a small church belonging to the English Church Mission Society, with which I am now connected.

I am going to have another day-school after the Chinese New Year, which will be in about twenty days. One of our Chinese teachers was married a few weeks since to a nice Christian girl, educated in Mrs. Bridgman’s mission-school. They live here, and I shall get her a class of little girls to teach, which will keep