Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 372

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What I have Seen in Shanghải

June,

Mr. Spalding arrived in Shánghái, August 24th, 1847, and embark- ed for Hongkong, on board the Coquette, August 30th, 1849. His missionary course, therefore, was short. It was only during this and while sojourning in Shanghái, that I had the pleasure of knowing him; and having been my nearest neighbor, I saw him almost every day, and may perhaps be allowed to speak confidently respecting his nissionary character and labors. A large share of common sense, sterling piety, and apparently a firm constitution, marked him out as one well fitted for missionary service. Though of humble pretensions, he knew how to choose and act for himself, and how to gain influence with and over others. Before coming to China, he had learned to per- form the duties of the Christian pastor, and had, as he believed, been instrumental in leading some of those who attended on his ininistry, to a faith in Christ. On arriving here, he at once marked out his course. One thousand characters of the language, and those in most common use among the people, he selected and committed to memory, having had them arranged into such sentences as were most needed in conversation. In a few weeks he began to go among the people and to converse with those he met. Steadily persevering in this course he daily increased the number of his familiar phrases, and extended the circle of his acquaintances, who soon looked upon him as their friend. In about a year, he commenced preaching. He had also a Bible class, composed principally of the poor of different ages, to whom were distributed the alms collected at the sacramental services in the mission to which he belonged. His audiences were respecta- ble, both for numbers and character; and a few persons were regular in their attendance, and he constant in visiting them at their homes ; he called them "his parishioners."

In this delightful course, his zeal and love for the people led him to presume too much on his robust constitution. In study and in preaching, he labored too hard, too many hours were daily occupied in poring over the written characters of the language. His public dis- courses, at this stage of his missionary labors, were too frequent and protracted. The tax on his strength, physical and mental, was too heavy. Though warned of his danger, he still labored on, till he was forbidden by his physician. A slight cold and cough had increased to what, even then, it was feared might be the incipient stages of con- sumption; medical treatment had little effect, and a voyage was deter- mined on as the only course likely to afford relief. He embarked ac- cordingly, as already stated, expecting, on reaching Hongkong, to proceed immediately to the United States.