Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 532

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Memoir of the Rev. Walter M. Lowrie.

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open boat to drenching rain and a scorching sun, they supposed them- selves to be approaching the islands. On Thursday the wind rose and the sea ran high, so that they were in imminent danger of being swamped. "Death," says Mr. L., “never seemed so near before, but my mind was kept in peace. I knew in whom I had believed, and felt that he was able to save; and though solemn in the near prospect of eterni- ty, I felt no fear, and had no regret that I had periled my life in such a cause." As night closed in, the danger increased, and was the more appalling to the little company in the long boat from their proximity to the land, toward which the gale was rapidly driving them. It was indeed a fearful night but Mr. L. was kept in peace, trusting in Him who holdeth the waters in the hollow of his hand. I know not," he says, "that my mind was ever in a calmer state, and though I could not feel those clear convictions of my safety I have sometimes felt, yet my faith was fixed on the Rock of Ages, and death seemed to have but few terrors for me." Next morning the land was in sight, and in a few hours they had escaped from their perilous position, and were safely landed on the island of Luban. Thus they were marvelously preserved in their little boat through a storm in which, as they after- wards learned, several vessels had been lost and several dismasted.

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Returning to Manila he abandoned his purpose of visiting Singa- pore and embarked on board the Diana to return to Macao. Misfor- tune seemed still to follow him, for this vessel was found to be in a leaky state, and it was not without some difficulty that she was brought into port. He reached Hongkong on the 17th of October.

From this period until the beginning of 1844, Mr Lowrie resided chiefly at Macao, prosecuting his study of the Chinese language. He also during this period preached for the European and American resi- dents. In the discharge of this duty he gave great satisfaction to his hearers, and in consequence it was once proposed to him by a num- ber of the foreign residents to become their pastor, and give up his connection with the Board of Foreign Missions. He was however an- xious to engage in direct efforts for the good of the Chinese in some place where he could have more free access to them than at Macao, and at once declined accepting the offer made to him. He was here made the instrument it is believed of leading some souls to the Savior, and of strengthening and confirming the faith of some of the disciples of Christ. He himself here still further experienced the "discipline of the covenant," and was ever afterwards deeply grateful for his trials and afflictions. "I tremble," he was once heard to say, "when I think of what I was, and what I would still have been, without them.”

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