. . Jilin‘; . |.4\| r . . ‘~HnIaI4zi2i514lJ v ‘llwiivaiuhivdm , . . ‘.l I lvi ‘l Hfllh“ H H‘ V w ‘. ‘.v‘ . .w . I v“ ‘ ‘sun . V v ,_ . “ 1 . _ . . . m .. qt @ l ._ JEIGKHEub ‘1.7a , .wmua. ‘. ‘ N“: . .w. .R... , . . v mm; w ‘v Q.- m"- M ._ B .2 a v ‘im-flflusvvA ‘ .. ‘ am 2-.» ' ~ ,...3--r_z:~'-35mr~ , r‘ . ‘Fm-‘QM: 4-‘ .N’ ‘ .. . , .. .m..u.fi.....~ V ‘17..., . , ‘ ,HWLMJ M f v. . _ . .H ,, .wawmfiw , ,.. m.‘ mm ‘ ;. ‘ . _ . ‘ H . W .i ., MM mmw vlvwwd. . - ., , v I r. J 4.1m ,‘ . ..v . 0. 1M‘ f . v, _ . . .. “as. 3M". 4 , 4 k 1 l .1. . ‘. _ ‘, pg: . A.‘ m ‘ ., . ‘. . . ,. .. LQi y- .. n v v.- The Tragedy of Paotingfu REV. HORACE TRACY PITKIN. THE TRAGEDY OF PAOTINGFU AN flUTHENTIC STORY‘ OF THE Lives, Services and Sacrifices of the Presbyterian, Congregational and China Inland Missionaries who Sufl‘ered Martyrdom at Paotingfu, China, June 30th and July 1, 1900 BY ISAAC C. KETLER NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 1902 D5 ‘771 ‘K45 W021 (SECOND EDITION) COPYRIGHT 1902 BY FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY (June) Debicateb to margoret Ketler tfiilsou out to the mom; other fxienbs of those who perisheb at paotingiu. QZhtna June so out 3x111“, I990 MARTYRED AT PAOTIN GF U PRESBYTERIAN BOARD GEORGE YARnLEY TAYLOR, M. D. REV. FRANK EDSON SIMcox MRS. MAY GILsoN Smoox CoRTLANnT VAN RENSSELAER HODGE, M. D. MRs. ELsIE SINCLAIR Honor; PAUL GILsoN Smcox CHILDREN { FRANCIs RAYMoNn Smcox MARGARET SIMCox NATIVE CHRIsTIANs AND HELPERS AMERICAN BOARD MIss MARY S. MORRILL MIss ANNIE ALLENDER GoULn REV. HORACE TRACY PITKIN REV. MENc; CHANG~CHUN AND OTHER NATIVE HELPERS AT THE AMERICAN BoARn CourooNn CHINA INLAND MISSION MR. BENJAMIN BAGNALL MRs. EMILY KINGSBURY BACNALL GLADYS BAGNALL (Child) REV. WILLIAM CooPER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘THIS book was written to put on record the services and sacrifices of the missionaries who perished at Paotingfu, China, June 30th and July 1st, 1900. The story as here told is a thoroughly authentic one. It is published in the confident belief that it will quicken the interest of Christian people in foreign missions and awaken lively sympathy with the work of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches at Paotingfu. The author is under obligations to many mis- sionaries and others for very substantial help in the preparation of this memorial volume. It is pleasing to record the kindly interest many have shown in the progress of the undertaking, and their readiness to do all in their power to facili- tate it. Valuable help has been received from a score or more of missionaries, among whom are Mrs. Amelia P. Lowrie, the Rev. J. Walter Lowrie, the Rev. John Wherry, D.D., the Rev. and Mrs. A. M. Cunningham, Dr. Eliza E. Leonard, Mrs. Letitia Thomas Pitkin, Miss Janet McKillican, Dr. Maud Mackey, Dr. W. C. Noble, the Rev. G. Henry Ewing, the Rev. Isaac Pier- son, the Rev. and Mrs. J. Albert Miller, and the 9 10 Acknowledgements Rev. Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Whiting, all having per- sonal knowledge of the work at Paotingfu. The author desires to make special mention of the assistance received from the relatives and friends of the martyred missionaries and of a sketch on the college life of Mr. Pitkin, furnished by the Rev. O. H. Bronson, of Simsbury, Con- necticut, as well as of very valuable help on the lives of Misses Morrill and Gould, rendered by Mrs. Mary E. Cole, of Portland, Maine. The letters of Mr. and Mrs. Simcox furnish in general the thread of the story, and it is but just to say, that in no case were they written for pub- lication. Of the more than three hundred letters written by them from October, 1893, to June 3d, 1900, and accessible for this work, those only have been used which seemed clearly to aid in presenting a living picture of missionary service and sacrifice at Paotingfu. I. C. K. GRovE CITY COLLEGE, PA. June, 1902. CONTENTS I COLLEGE LIFE, AND LoVE.-T he Simcox Home—A Moth- er’s B-oy-—Shad0ws and Shadows—The Week of Prayer—A Noble Confession-A Roommate’s Testi- mony—Free from Clique Entanglements-Comrade- ship-A Girl’s Leadership-Prophetic Lines-‘The Volunteer Movement—Commencement Day, 1890- The Love of Classmates . . . . . . 19 II BREAKING HOME TIEs.—The Wedding Trip-New Friendships-Clearfield’s Ideal-The Week's Round of Social Pleasures—The Impressive Sermon——Mrs. Simcox’s Talk to the Children—The Reception at the Reed Home—“ Never ' Dreamed that Missionaries Looked Like These ”—-The “Name Book ”—Clear- field’s Good-bye-The Ordination-The Last Sabbath at Home—Center's Farewell . . . . . 33 III IN FAR OFF CHINA-There Were no Tears or Sad Feel- ings—Empress of China-Center's Largess-The Voy- age—The Reception at Tientsin—On to Peking—The American Gentleman at the Chinese Inn—Entertained at Dr. Wherry's—At Home with the Cunninghams- First Impressions—Paotingfu, the Strategic Point- A Family Bereavement—First Experiences in Country Work—Feeding the Hungry . . . . . 48 II l 2 Contents IV THE FLIGHT.-Warwith Japan—Mob Violence Threat- ened—Warned to Seek Safety—Preparations for the Flight—Houseboat to Tientsin—Cholera in the Com- pound-—Sad Deaths-A New Testament for the Em- press Dowager—Exciting War News ... 71 V TIIE AMERICAN BOARD CoMPoUNn.-—Isaac Pierson and a Noble Work—The Laying of the Foundation-Hum- ’ble Quarters—Providential Leadings—The Story of Meng and Chang-Miss Pierson’s Letter-—“ Men May Come and Men May Go "—The Growth of the Native Church—The Ordination of Meng Chang-chun-A Missionary’s Joy-Dr. Ament’s Story-The Prophe- cies That Went Before . . . . . .88 VI LIFE IN THE COMPOUND AND SOME Lemmas-The War Still On—A Winter of Anxiety—True Friendships Formed—A Picture of Life in the Compound—How the House Was Furnished—The Warnings—The Reply of the Japanese Officer—Christmas and Loving Remembrances—Lights and Shades—How Baby Paul Quiets the Mob—The Fears of Many . . . I06 VII MISSES MORRILL AND GoULD.—Changes in the Personnel of the Station—Mary S. Morrill—The Old Home- stead—The Student of ‘the Family—-Her Early Read- ing—At the Normal School—A Change of Faith-—A ' Candidate for Appointment to the Foreign Field— Miss Morrill’s Difl‘idence and Triumph—First Year on the Field—Arrival of Miss Gould at Paotingfu— Changes at the Station—A Child of Gentle Breeding- Miss Gould's Farewell at Portland—Her Birth at Contents 1 3 Bethel—Her Student Career at Mount Holyoke Col- lege—Yoke Fellows—A Wonderful Year’s Work- " Miss Morrill's Vacation—New Responsibilities for Miss Gould—The Joyful Return—Arrival of the Sim- ‘coxes . . - . . . . . . I36 VIII DR. TAYLOR AND THE PRESBYTERIAN CoMPoUNn.—Dr. Whiting’s Story-Dr. Taylor Transferred to Pao- tingfu—A Memorial Service—A Tribute by Dr. Hodge '_ -—-Desire to Become a Physician—Van Rensselaer Seminary—Admission to the Lord’s Table-At Prince- ton—A Student of the University of Pennsylvania— Appointment to the Foreign Field—The An Ting 'Hospital—Linguistic Accomplishments-Dr. Taylor’s Medical Work at Paotingfu—His Associates in the Compound—The Precious Home—Domestic Trials. 153 IX FRUITFUL LABoURs.—Miss Morrill the Tireless Worker , ——Her Vacation of Value to Miss Gould—.Paotingfu Qfficials Friendly—Itinerating—Missionaries Going Home—A Missionary Letter to the Clearfield Ladies —Hugs and Kisses to Aunt Beckie—The Precious Day at Man Ch'eng—Desire to do Something for the Women—A Cloud no Bigger than a Man's Hand— The Railroad . . . . . . . . 177 X FOUR SUMMERS BY THE SEA.--Investing Money at Pei- tai-ho-Death of Dorothy Hayner—The Blue Ocean —The Growth of Pei-tai-ho—The Last Summer by the Sea—The Celebration of the 4th of July—Inter- esting Letters—Attack on the Catholic Compound at Paotingfu—Missionary Conferences—A Letter to aChurch. . . . . . . . . 193 14 Contents XI LITTLE MEN AND Women-Dr. Coltman’s Mimic Army —Hope Cunningham-Two Missing-Letter to Mrs. Whiting—Guests at the Simcox Cottage-Miss Mc- Killican’s Letter-Praying for a Baby Sister—Francis the Tease-A Mother’s Solicitude-—A Letter to Mrs. Cunningham—Dr. Mackey’s Testimony-Thanksgiv- ing Dinner at the Ewings’—Mrs. Lowrie’s Story of the Children—The Hymns They Sang—Sorrow Over Mrs. Lowrie’s Departure-Baby Margaret's Letter. :16 XII Home»: TRACY P1TK1N.—The Pitkins at Pei-tai-ho- Their Long Wedding Journey-Mrs. Pitkin—-Meet- ing at Northfield-Mr. Pitkin’s Early Life and Edu- cation-A Classmate’s Story—Yale University and Union Theological Seminary—A Travelling Secretary —Marriage at Troy, Ohio—Meeting the Council-Or- dination-Representative of the Pilgrim Church, Cleveland—Silent Years at Paotingfu—The Tribute of Dr. Goodrich-Mrs. Pitkin’s Departure for the Homeland . . . . . . . .241 XIII DR. AND MRS. CORTLAND’! VAN RENSSELAER Hones. How the Appointment was Received at Paotingfu- Arrival, May 2nd—Reception—The Thoughtfulness of an American Lady—The Boyhood of Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Hodge—Graduate of Princeton and of the University of Pennsylvania—Finds a Congenial Com- panion at the University—A Caller at the Sinclair Home—The Story of Elsie Sinclair—A Church Wed- ding—A Graphic Sketch—Silent and Busy Months at Paotingfu—The Trip to the South-Christmas, 1899 —~Social Life in the Compound—The Favourite Hymns —Mrs. Hodge and the Children . . . . 263 Contents I 5 XIV DEEPENING SIIADows.—The Emperor Overthrown—Excitement in the North—Fears for Missions-Railway Disturbances-Mr. Simcox Threatened—Shadows— Depressing Effect on the Missionaries—A Busy Sum- mer for All—Statement of Conditions Seven Months Before the Tragedy—The Boxer Uprising—Foreign Ministers Lacking in Backbone—The Darkness Deep- ens—Mrs. Simcox's Letter . . . . . 30o XV ELECT ONEs AND PRECIoUs.—Good Fellowship Among the Missionaries—The Story of Mr. and Mrs. Bag- nall—Their Hospitable Home at Paotingfu—Sweet Little Gladys—Rev. William Cooper—The First Martyr of Paotingfu—Dark Days at the American Board Compound—Praying for Grit—" If Not on Earth, Will Meet in Heaven ”——Mr. Pitkin’s Last Letter—An Appeal for Help—“ Immanuel” . 326 XVI AEIDING HIs TIME-The Great Revival—Sublime Cour- age—Letter to the Clearfield Church—The Faithful Shepherd—Letters Which Tell of the Baptism-Dr. Hodge’s Appointment to Peking—Suffering of the Catholics—The Three Groups—She Will not Come Back—The Last Letter to Her Mother—The Message to the Millers—The Letter of May 31st—Mr. Simcox at the Congregational Chapel—Dr. Taylor and His Student Friends—Closes the Dispensary—Preparing Paul and Francis for the Crowning Day . . 345 XVII THE CRowNING DAY.—~Echoes of Voices-Well-Authen- tic'ated Reports—Waiting Upon God—The Native Christians—The Chivalry of the Martyr Spirit—-The 16 Contents Attack-The Purpose of the Boxers—A Mother's Fruitless Plea—The Story of the Closing Scenes— Captain Hutcheson’s Report-Heavy Care at: ‘the South Suburb—The Scene in the Chapel—" Now We Can Only Wait ”-—Mr. Pitkin and Good Lao Man- Hiding the Letters—The Verbal Message—The At- tack Sunday Morning—The Death of Mr. Pitkin— The Arrest of the Bagnalls and Mr. Cooper—Mr. Lowrie’s Letter-The ‘Ofiicial Report-Memorial Services-Mr. Miller’s Visit to Paotingfu Since the Tragedy—"Silver is Nothing and Gold is Nothing” --The Loyalty of the Native Christians . . 37o LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE Rev. Horace Tracy Pitkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Title The Simcox Homestead, Bullion, Venango Co., Pa. 22 Frank Edson Simcox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 May Gilson Simcox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30 Clearfield Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 The Gilson Homestead, London, Mercer Co., Pa... 46 Center Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Rev. J. L. Whiting, D.D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Mission Compound, American Board, Paotingfu.... 90 Mission Chapel, American Board, Paoting'fu . . . . . .. I04 Interior Mission Chapel, American Board Mission, Paotinlgfu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I16 Hospital, American Board Mission, Paotingfu . . . . . .126 Pupils and Teachers ‘of Girls’ Boarding School, American Board Mission, Miss Gould in the centre 132 Birthplace of Mary S. Morrill, Deering, Me . . . . . . . . I38 Birthplace of Annie Allendcr Gould, Bethe], Me. . . . I46 Miss Annie Allender Gould and Miss Mary S. Morrill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 George Yardley Taylor. . . .-.- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I56 West Gate of Presbyterian Compound, North Suburb 170 Presbyterian Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I70 Rev. and Mrs. J. Albert Miller and their children. . . I72 List of Illustrations FACING PAGE Hospital and Dispensary Patients and Assistants, (Miss Morrill sitting in the doorway) . . . . . . . . ..178 South Suburb, Paotingfu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..190 Mrs. Simcox and her boys at Pei-tai-ho. .. .. .. . 200 Dr. Taylor and some friends, Mr. Lowrie and his mother in the foreground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2I2 Everett Whiting, Hope Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Zenos and Ralph Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222 Paul and Francis Simcox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222 Mrs. Letitia Thomas Pitkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .242 Horace Collins Pitkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256 Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Hodge, M.D., Paotingfu. 266 Mrs. Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Hodge (Elsie Camp- bell Sinclair), Paotingfu, China. . . . . . . . . . 272 Rev. J. Walter Lowrie and his mother, taken at Paotingfu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308 The Ladies of the Compound and their Chinese Guests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..310 Mrs. Simcox and Baby Margaret . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31o Gladys Bagnall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..326 Mr. and Mrs. Bagnall and their daughter, Gladys.. 328 Rev. William Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..330 Home of Misses Morrill and Gould, American Board Mission, Paotingfu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..336 The Simcox House in which the five Presbyterian Missionaries and the three children perished, June 30th, I900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 374 Southeast corner of City Wall, Paotingfu, where For- eign Missionaries of the South Suburb, excepting Mr. Pitkin were executed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .390 Memorial Service, Paotingfu, March 23d, 1901.. . .. 392 List of Illustrations FACING PAGE Dr. Wherry reading the Memorial Service. .. .. .. . 392 Chinese and Foreign Officials at the Service . . . . . ..394 Missionaries and Friends at the Service . . . . . . . . ..394 Ruins of the Simcox House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..396 Pavilion with Banner erected over the entrance.... 396 Pavilion erected by the Chinese for the Service. .. . 398 Ruins of the Mission property, Native Christians and Foreigners looking for mementoes . . . . . . . . . . .398 The Tragedy of Paotingfu I COLLEGE LIFE, AND LOVE COLLEGES bring many young people seemingly destined by location to quite different paths into the closest bonds of sympathy and fellowship. These we may rightly call providences. Changes in plans occur contrary to all expectation, and many young people without plans form definite purposes. The truth is, no one can predict with any hope of success what college life will do for a boy or a girl. This thought is especially sug- gested by the career of Mrs. May Gilson Simcox. She was born near the village of London, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of February, 1868. In her sixteenth year and in the fall of 1883 she entered the preparatory department of Grove City College. No one could have dreamed (and least of all Miss Gilson herself) that just twelve miles east from the college a young man watching at the couch of his saintly mother was to enter into her life as a permanent, vital factor, and that one day, and by no means remote, would 19 20 The Tragedy of Paotingfu with her lift up the Standard of the King in a far-off heathen land. The young man was Frank Edson Simcox. From infancy he had been of delicate constitution, and for that reason in part had been the especial care and solicitude of his mother. Born on the 30th day of April, 1867, in the old homestead at Bullion, Venango County, Pennsylvania, he was all his early life a mother's boy, and inclined more to her companionship and that of his sisters than to the outdoor sports and employments of his hardy and more vigorous brothers. All the long summer and late into the autumn of 1883, his young heart had been sorely bur- dened. Day by day he saw the lengthening shadows reach out their sombre arms to embrace his own precious home, and the sweet mother- life silently slipping away. It was a summer and autumn to add whole years to his already mature reflections on life, its purpose and aims. Day by day earthly foundations seemed to be slipping from beneath his feet. No boy ever loved his mother with a truer love, and no mother ever cherished a son with tenderer maternal affection. They understood each other. She was his all in all, and he was the dearest hope of her earthly life. There is a sort of stillness, a strange quiet, like shadows that creep over sombre walls at even- tide, which comes into homes and hearts, when inevitable Death makes his presence felt. Re- College Life, and Love 21 fiection at such times takes the place of fancy, and the very youngest becomes serious and thoughtful beyond his years. In those long autumn evenings of 1883, at the Simcox home, shadows seemed to be the prevailing tone. There were shadows and shadows. If October suns dappled the trees and forests with yellow and red, and as a result the days did seem less mournful, yet were the nights mantled with shadows mani- fold. You can’t find words adapted to tell just how a boy of the mother-loving kind really does feel when he sees the shadow of death hovering over his mother's bed-chamber. Fancy cannot buoy him up, for all the materials of his day- dreams are dashed, now, that mother must be dropped from the pictures he would paint. So he just thinks and thinks, and an entire read- justment of himself to all things else becomes a prime necessity. Young Simcox had reached the reflective stage; and when in the chamber where death was so soon to enter he gave his sacred pledge, angels and heavenly ministrants must have seen the beginning of the end. When the world crowns a man or a woman, saying this one or that one is deserving of im- mortal fame, very few stop to consider how much of what “this one,” or “that one,” has accomplished in the world is due to a father, or a mother, who first gave direction and inspiration to the life which has triumphed. Back in the early fifties, Sarah Lowrie Anderson, a near rel- 22 The Tragedy of Paotingfu ative of the Honourable Walter Lowrie, a thor- oughly Christian girl, and of a missionary family, wedded Shedrach Simcox. Side by side they toiled up the steep, rugged path of life, laying aside a little yearly, until when the family were nearly all grown, they found themselves in com- parative affluence, and their name respected by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. Then came the discovery of oil at Bullion, and the mad rush for wealth. The husband was pre-eminently a man of affairs. With Scotch-Irish persistence he followed the ups and downs of the oil busi- ness. Sometimes by dint of bold, determined venture he wrested large returns from compara- tively small investments, and again like many others, lost large sums in deceptive and profitless fields. A busy, exciting life such as the forego- ing leaves little time for the personal care and instruction of the home. It was just this circum- stance that laid the moral and spiritual instruction of the children more particularly upon the mother. Well did she discharge her responsibilities. In her heart was the sincerest love for the Master, and in her life the exemplification of the purest and strongest faith. To the baptismal font she brought in turn each of her children, and took the solemn vows of a parent to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Her life was one of consecration to God, and the spiritual well-being of her household was her dearest de- sire. A?“ :00 OUZQZMCw .ZO~AADm difimmtmfizom M0025 HEB College Life, and Love 23 There is little doubt, that during her last sick- ness her beloved son received a gleam of light. Many an hour of those last weeks he had spent in loving fellowship with her. She told him of her hope and prayer for him; and in those long vigils which marked the ebbing tide of life, he resolved, no doubt, to be and do that for which she hoped and prayed. Often in after years in speaking of his decision to be by God's grace a child of His and to consecrate his life to special service in His cause, with touching simplicity he would tell of his sainted mother, and of a "sa- Cred pledge ” he made to her. The 19th of December was a dark day at the Simcox home. The evening of a precious life had come. The lengthening shadows had crept stealthily and silently from West to East. The last streaks of departing day had softly vanished into what seemed impenetrable night. It was not night, however; for great rifts in the overhang- ing clouds had been made by the mother's faith through which some in that household could see clearly the light beyond. From that day a new purpose dominated the life of the “ mother’s boy”. He had resolved to do something for God, and to keep a sacred pledge. In the spring of 1884 he entered college as a preparatory stu- dent for one session; then returned in the winter again, having for some cause omitted the fall term. Beginning with the Week of Prayer spe- cial services of an evangelistic character were 24. The Tragedy of Paotingfu held in the college. A very deep interest in spir- itual things pervaded the entire student body from almost the commencement of the Week of Prayer. It was indeed a pentecostal time. Fully seventy students and young people of the town professed faith in Christ. Young Simcox was among the number. There are those who yet remember the young lad with the pale, resolute face standing up in the presence of a large gathering of his fellow students and others, and saying, " I promised my mother on her death-bed that I would meet her in heaven, and by the grace of God I intend to do so". He immediately united with the Presby- terian Church of Grove City, in which church he retained his membership until his ordination as a Missionary Evangelist in August, 1893. From the moment he professed his faith he gave evidence of the saving power of God's grace in his heart. With unswerving loyalty to his mother's God he identified himself with the Christian work of the college, and during his fu- ture college course exerted an influence on the college life which helped many another young man to a better and nobler career. As a student he was manly, energetic and thorough, and when on Commencement day with twenty-four others he gave his Commencement oration there was no young man more generally esteemed for thorough- ness of scholarship and manliness of character than he. Of that Class there were fifteen young FRANK EDSON SIMCOX. College Life, and Love 2 5 men and ten young women. Ten of the young men chose the Gospel Ministry, two became law- yers, and two professors, or teachers, yet there is no one of that number living but would readily agree that young Simcox was the easy peer of the best in gentle breeding, in scholarship, in sterling moral fibre, and in those popular gifts which give men influence and power in the home field. In his college life he was singularly free from clique entanglements and coteries. He was straightout in his life among his student com- panions. He spurned the suggestion of an honour he could not worthily win. Every student knew Frank Simcox. It is safe to say that every stu- dent honoured him for his fearless condemnation of any act done by even the most intimate friend, when he believed it to be unmanly and unfair. No cajolery, or promise of preferment, could in- fluence him to avail himself of any means which he did not know to be transparently pure. Free from all selfseeking or pretense, yet conspicuous wherever duty called or need required, he was just such a student as would be known by the entire student body, and remembered years after- wards by every one who had met or seen him in his college days. A college classmate, and for more than two years a roommate of Mr. Simcox, says: "I knew him to be one of the sincerest of men. He gave himself with all his strength to 26 The Tragedy of Paotingfu every task he undertook. He was indeed faithful. He never shirked the greatest or the smallest duty. He was loyal. He was loyal to the truth. He was loyal to his friends. I never knew him to turn his back upon a friend. I never knew him in the slightest particular to deceive or defraud a friend or a foe. And he was loyal to his God. Knowing him as I did, when I learned of his en- dangered situation at Paotingfu, I felt I could predict his conduct. To me it was the most nat- ural thing, that he should stand by his frightened flock. Indeed had the report been, that he had forsaken his post of duty, leaving others to their helplessness, I could have confidently denied it from what I knew of him. It is a great pleasure to bear testimony to the purity of his heart. In all our acquaintance I never heard from his lips an unclean word, an unclean story, an unclean suggestion." College days are much the same in the experi- ence of college-bred men and women generally. The college itself is a little world with its lights and shades, its successes and failures, its joys and sorrows, its loves and griefs; so that when young men and women on Commencement day stand on the college platform to receive the plaudits of ad- miring friends, they have simply passed through one world to enter upon another. Mr. Simcox went through his first world without a spot to mar the white flower of a pure and blameless life; and when he entered upon the second world it College Life, and Love 27 was with the confidence of all who had known him in his college days, that howsoever rough might be the storms and unusual the experiences of this untried new world, he would acquit him- self nobly and well. Miss Gilson was in the first bloom of young womanhood. Beautiful and attractive beyond the common lot of women, she was perfectly free from affectation, or vanity. A sweet, loving, sprightly girl of gifted mind and gracious man- ners,—in her presence was a charm irresistible, and in her heart a well-spring of the purest loves and the noblest aspirations. From 1884 to 1890 she had been almost continuously in college. Every form of college and Christian work for which she had strength found in her an enthusi- astic and soulful helper. It was near the beginning of her Junior year, that she first felt strongly drawn to the Foreign Mission field. It was indeed with her a cherished hope. Five years of waiting for the fulfilling of her prayer did not dishearten her. She believed God would use her in this work; and with faith and patience she would abide His time and way. Referring to the days when Miss Gilson first felt the call to lift up the Standard of the King in a heathen land revives the image of the fresh, bright, active girl of tender grace and winning smile. Artless as a very child, and yet with the poise and self-control of a lady to the manner born, she was the unconscious leader and ideal of 28 The Tragedy of Paotingfu a large group of the fairest and best of college girls. Recalling her college days brings back also the memory of an increasingly large student body of strong, stalwart young men, and of fair, bright, comely young women. They were indeed well- favoured, promising young people. If the young men sometimes laid claim to a sort of natural superiority in the profounder studies, they were soon made to understand, that the young women too would not hesitate to com- pete for college honours. And it was not always a young man who stood first in the Class. At least one-half of the young men chose the Gospel Ministry, and almost the other half entered upon the study of other learned pro- fessions. The young women were no less ambi- tious to find and fill useful places in life; and at this hour many of them are in India, China, Siam, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, and other foreign fields telling the Old Story, and many are in the homeland in the practice of medicine, teaching and other useful work. In that large body of no- ble young women who came and went in those days Miss Gilson was a cherished form. That her heart was intent on some special service for God was no secret to her classmates. Not only was her soul full of a large desire to do some signal work for God, but she had already revealed by her intense interest in Foreign Missions the ruling passion of her life. If, as it more than College Life, and Love 29 once occurred, some one would urge, that it was a shame to hide away a life so gifted and of such fair promise in a heathen land, the compliment, if so intended, but pierced a heart already burdened with unutterable desire to do something to save a perishing world. A classmate writing of Miss Gilson refers to their first meeting in the fall of 1884. The sketch which she gives coming as it does so opportunely (this chapter being in preparation at the time), would seem if for no other reason to merit a place in these memoirs. The picture, however, is a faithful one: “She was a sweet, young girl, scarcely more than a child, with very winning ways, having those expressive brown eyes that seemed to mean so much, and a well-shaped head adorned with beautiful auburn curls. Even then that thought- fulness which caused her to break home ties so dear to her and give her life for others in that far distant land showed in her fine face, and charac- terised her attitude in all her work. It was dur- ing those early college days she wrote in my al- bum these words dated November the 3rd, 1884:Life is a leaf of paper white On which each one of us may write His word or two, and then comes night. “How prophetic of her own life! How little she then dreamed of the dark, dark night that must come before the daylight of His eternal presence. 30 The Tragedy of Paotingfu “It was in the Speedwell Society where I learned her strong devotion to duty and her quiet determination to succeed in spite of obstacles. At the first meeting held at the beginning of our Senior year but five members were present. She was one of them. Quick to see her way out of a difficulty and original to propose new plans of work, she soon had us all enlisted as recruiting officers; and in a fortnight we were a strong, healthy, growing body. She was a friend to every one. The humblest was not beneath her notice." She was indeed the ideal of more than one seri- ous, thoughtful girl who met her in college, and when she went out into the new world with its strange, unfolding destinies she had left her im- press on many who sought to imitate her pure and noble life. More than one bright woman has said, since the tragedy of Paotingfu, that in her college days she tried to be like Miss Gilson. Early in the inception of the College Volunteer Movement Mr. Robert Wilder was a visitor at the college, and from that time to this day the So- ciety of Student Volunteers has been a conspicu- ous organisation in the college. It was largely through a common interest in the work of this society, that Miss Gilson and Mr. Simcox first formed the friendship which ultimately ripened into love. They had both been deeply concerned about their duty in the face of the perishing mil- lions in heathen lands, and both were embar- rassed in their final decisions by the manifest re- MAY GILSON SIMCOX. College Life, and Love 31 luctance of their friends to consent to the sacri- fices which such a step involves. It is a touching circumstance illustrating alike their appreciation of the sacredness of a pledge, and the opposition to overcome, that while they never failed to take the largest interest in the mission and work of this society, yet they did not sign the pledge until after they were under appointment of the Board of Foreign Missions to China. Commencement Day, 1890, was an epoch- making day in at least two precious lives. With many, indeed with most, such an occasion means the severing of very tender ties of Class comrade- ship. Many who for four years believe them- selves to be the truest and closest friends separate on that day never to meet again in this life. It was not so with these. They were lovers. They had plighted troth to be through all the years which God might give them, more than friends. Friends they once were, but now they were lovers and had been every hour of their Junior and Senior years. Members of the same Class from its organisation their association as classmates had developed in turn the tenderest ties of com- radeship, friendship, and love. No one envied, and all loved Miss Gilson and Mr. Simcox. How could it be otherwise? They had disarmed all envy by generous and loving fellowship with every member of their Class. They loved all, and in turn were loved by all. Every act of theirs had been promotive of good comradeship in the Class; 32 The Tragedy of Paotingfu and so the attachment which grew up between these two was known and approved by all. It was a simple love affair conducted in a simple way without special romantic or heroic accompani- ments. He did not seek his Madeline as a bold, adventurous Porphyro, yet he had reason to be- lieve that his image and her ideal had melted into one, while in his own heart he knew, that ever he would love, and she be fair. I'I BREAKING HOME TIES Early in May, 1893,after the Board of Foreign Missions had accepted these young people and had appointed them to a work in China, a representa- tive of the Clearfield Presbyterian Church, Penn- sylvania, called on Mr. Simcox at the Western Theological Seminary to ascertain if he and his affianced bride would be willing to become the missionary representatives of that Church in China. The gentleman explained how in the Clearfield Church there had been a growing desire to do some specific, tangible thing for foreign mis- sions, how the belief had grown that a personal and direct interest in workers on the field would arouse missionary enthusiasm among them greater than before and how in fact when they applied to the Board for this privilege, they had been re- ferred to Mr. Simcox. Finally after prayerful deliberation and wise counsel from the Board Mr. Simcox and Miss Gilson accepted the proposition of the Clearfield congregation. The Church cheerfully and gladly undertook to provide for the support of these missonaries in the foreign field, and they in turn were proud to be known hence- 33 34 The Tragedy of Paotingfu forth as the representatives of the Clearfield Pres- byterian congregation. It was to make the acquaintance of these good people, that Mr. and Mrs. Simcox on the afternoon of their wedding day June 7th, ran the gauntlet of rice, old shoes and whatnot, and on the following evening arrived at the beautiful town of Clearfield, where they spent a week of joy as ten- der and unalloyed as ever wrote its history in the heart of mortal man. It was one unbroken round of kindness and social courtesy. Receptions, din- ners, social calls, kind words and kinder deeds, and everything a cultured, Christian people could do to add to the intense pleasure of the young missionaries and to promote the personal ac- quaintance of every member of the congregation with these who were going out as their missionary representatives made it a week unquestionably the dearest and brightest of seven eventful years of wedded life. It was indeed a week of delightful experiences for the newly-wedded pair. They thoroughly en- joyed every moment of their visit. Here friend- ships were formed as true and tender as they had ever formed in their lives before. They were to be more than the missionary representatives of a Church. They were to be the much-loved friends of more than one family in that place. It was an inspiration to the Church. The week spent in making the acquaintance of the interesting buoy- ant missionaries was a red-letter week for mis- Breaking Home Ties 35 sions in that town. The undertaking so novel and fraught with doubts and misgivings to all but the few enthusiastic ones who had urged its adoption, in the unexpected pleasure of personal contact and acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Simcox became the one interesting, enjoyable, paramount enter- prise of all their congregational work. Every one was pleased, gratified indeed, that this special work had been undertaken; and every one felt it a privilege and a joy to have a part in it. They were not now sending unknown Christian workers to China. They were sending personal friends; and all the more they felt the ties which bind God's dear children in one,—ties subtle and scarce tangible, yet real and strong, as of good comrade- ship, friendship, affinity, or better, community of social sentiment, culture and Christian ideals. A Church representing much of the wealth and refinement of an old and prosperous community necessarily includes in its membership families of high social standing with the yearly increment of a growing appreciation of the humanities. Such people have also their own conception of what a missionary should be. They are not satisfied with mere piety and consecration however desir- able in the missionary. They are wont to demand more of those who would teach and exemplify the Christian faith in a heathen land. In a word, they feel that the men and women who are not in point of social culture and of education at least the equal of the best among whom they labour as 36 The Tragedy of Paotingfu propagandists of the Christian faith have no special call to missionary work. Whether or not this is an extreme view, it is certain that many hold it. In the Clearfield Church there were those who no doubt cherished such views. They found in these whom they were now to send out to China their own ideals. They were glad to give support to missionaries whom they found to be well-bred, refined, scholarly without affectation, and com- petent to illustrate in the face of the highest cul- ture of the Orient the pre-eminent graces of our American life and civilisation. In the work which their own Church had undertaken the way was opened to place their approval on an enterprise in full accord with their own conception of what for- eign mission work should be. Both Mr. and Mrs. Simcox were interesting and faithful correspondents. They seemed to have been born letter-writers. Having a wide circle of friends interested in their welfare and success they wrote many letters giving almost a daily history of their life and work from the be- ginning of their career in China until almost their crowning day. It is a remarkable circumstance that since the tragedy of Paotingfu fully three hundred letters written from the time of their landing in China until within a few days of their martyrdom have come into the possession of the writer. Many of these are long descriptions of the land and faithful accounts of missionary trials Breaking Home Ties 3 7 and triumphs. For the most part they deal with subjects of really great interest to the Church, and always charmingly written. Frequent letters were received at Clearfield from both Mr. and Mrs. Simcox. Some of these letters were addressed to the pastor and congrega- tion, and many also to individual members of the church and to special friends. Mr. A. B. Weaver, who had done so much to promote this enterprise in the church, was an especially favoured corre- spondent; and Mr. and Mrs. Reed, in whose an- cestral home they had been for the most part en- tertained during their stay at Clearfield, were the recipients of many tender and touching epistles. It was a case of real friendship pure and simple. When the boys, Paul and Francis, had come to brighten the home at Paotingfu, it was mutually agreed that henceforth Mrs. Reed should be known as “ Aun-t Beckie,” and almost every letter thereafter from China came laden with hugs and kisses from Paul and Francis to "Aunt Beckie," always indicated by their own dimpled hands,- hugs thus: O O O O O O ; kisses thus: X X X X X X. It was in the Reed home, with its large rambling rooms and broad halls of colonial design, the scene of many a social function of the generations gone, that a reception was held on Tuesday evening, June the thirteenth, 1893. It was in honour of the departing guests. A quotation from a recent let- 38 The Tragedy of Paotingfu ter by Mrs. Reed, and made with her permission, beautifully tells the story of Clearfield's farewell and Godspeed to Mr. and Mrs. Simcox: “It seems but yesterday since we welcomed to our homes and hearts the fair young bride and her brave, manly husband. Life seemed as bright to them as the June day on which they came; and how quickly the time went receiving and making calls, driving, boating, etc. Old and young were anxious to meet ‘Our Missionaries,’ until Sun- day came, and to a crowded church Mr. Simcox preached. His text I cannot recall, but his theme was ‘Consecration,’ and ‘In the Cross of Christ I Glory ' was the leading thought. I well remem- ber the impression he made on all who heard him. He seemed as he stood before us the very embodi- ment of power in Christ's service. More than one remark like this was made, 'Why do such men bury themselves in heathen lands?’ ‘That’s too fine a man for China,' etc. In the afternoon Mrs. Simcox addressed the Junior C. E. Society in her own sweet way, telling the children how she hoped they would remember her when she was far away trying to tell the heathen children the ' old, old story ’ which would be so new to them. In the evening Mr. Simcox stood before the Chris- tion Endeavour Society and again pledged him- self to the Master's service saying, 'We know the perils of the way before us, but we go in obe- dience to our Master's call, and we go gladly and fearlessly.’ CLEARFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Breaking Home Ties 3 9 “ On the following Tuesday evening it was ar- ranged to hold a public reception at our house, the ladies of the congregation preparing the re- freshments. Early in the day one of our young men sent his carriage to Mr. Simcox, saying he knew Mrs. Simcox would enjoy a drive. While they were gone the young people with ferns and greens from the woods, and flowers from the gar- dens dressed the house for the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Simcox were invited to dinner at the home of Mr. J. F. Weaver, one of our most honoured elders, while these preparations were being made. With the evening came our people, not only of our own church, but of our town, to be received by our minister, the Rev. Dr. McKinley, and his wife, and Mr. Reed and myself, and to meet our honoured guests. Old and young they came, and though the old home had known many happy throngs as well as sad within its walls, never had such scenes been enacted there. “To many present a ‘missionary ’ had meant one who had outlived, or never enjoyed the kindly interest and tender love of admiring friends, or been the ideal of the young, and as for a lovely young girl's going from home and friends to such a life, it had not been thought possible; so all un- wittingly their missionary work had commenced. I well remember one young girl's saying, as she stood looking at Mr. and Mrs. Sirncox, ‘I never dreamed that missionaries looked like these! ’ “Among so many it was impossible to remem- 40 The Tragedy of Paotingfu ber all the names; so Mr. Reed had prepared a little book which, ere the evening passed, held many an autograph, from that of the little tot whose hand had to be guided from letter to letter to that of many a silvery head among us. Mrs. Simcox wrote me long afterwards how much pleasure they had gotten out of the little ‘name boo-k ; ’ and so we bade them Godspeed, and while they then passed from our sight forever, and we knew it not, their influence we will never lose." Some visiting among Mr. Simcox's friends in Venango county, a few Sabbaths spent here and there preaching the Word, or speaking in behalf of Missions, then came the necessary packing and shipping of needful articles for use in China; and before it was realised the last week of their stay at the Gilson homestead had come. It was arranged that the Butler Presbytery should convene at Grove City on the 29th of August to ordain Mr. Simcox. The preliminary ex- aminations were held in the afternoon, but an adjournment was had until the evening that the congregation of which Mr. Simcox was a member and the people of the community might hear the Charge and witness the solemn ordination by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. The following is taken from the minutes of the Pres- bytery: “Professors McClelland, Dodds and Courtney spoke in behalf of Grove City College, of which Mr. Simcox and wife are graduates. Licentiate Breaking Home Ties 41 Howard Campbell spoke for the students of the college. Licentiate W. L. McClure and Rev. James F. Ray spoke for their classmates and Mrs. Harriet Dickson in general. Mrs. Agnes McCul- lough presented Mr. and Mrs. Simcox with very fine Bibles, one for each, the gift of their friends in Grove City, and made an excellent and appro- priate address." Mrs. McCullough was a woman of rare gifts of public address. The daughter of the Rev. Dr. Robert B. Walker she had been trained from her childhood to a lively interest in all phases of Church and missionary work. Her English was as pure as her heart, and when appointed to any task such as the one imposed on her by this occa- sion, every one knew that she would acquit her- self in a manner and diction both charming and highly instructive. She was the last speaker of those chosen to take part in the exercises. Re- ferring to the holy calling of the Gospel Ministry and the great privilege of proclaiming the Word, she reminded Mr. and Mrs. Simcox of the very distinguished honour conferred upon them, that they should be chosen to the precious service of carrying the Message of Salvation to a heathen land. Then, as if impressed with the thought of possible exigencies which might preclude the reali- sation of their dearest hopes, she said: "My prayer is that your lives may be spared and that you may live to learn the language and tell the precious ‘Old Story’ in the Chinese tongue.” 42 The Tragedy of Paotingfu Stepping to the edge of the platform she handed to each a Bible. It was the signal for Mr. Sim— cox’s response. Rising in the pew with a look of intense earnestness in his face, and raising the Bible above his head so that all in the house might see it, and holding it there, he said: "God only knows whether we shall live to learn the Chinese language so as to be able to proclaim the Gospel in the Chinese tongue. If we shall not live long enough to learn the language and shall only live to place our feet on Chinese soil and hold up this dear old Book in the sight of a perishing race, I shall feel that our going to China has not been in vain." Every one was thrilled by his noble words and every heart was strangely tender towards the consecrated young man and his dear young wife. The episode served to reveal once more the key- note of the high purpose of these young people who counted it a precious joy to bear His cross in China. Friday, September the ist, was set for a fare- well service at old Center Church. It was Mrs. Simcox's home church and endeared to her by the sweetest associations. Here in her childhood she attended Sabbath school with her brothers and sisters, and here she made a public profession of her faith in Christ. This was the second farewell service in Center Church, 1863—1893! One serv- ice thirty years prior had been held when Calvin W. Mateer consecrated himself to foreign mission work. Now another service; but this one was cer- Breaking Home Ties 43 tainly the one to touch the tender chords! It was "May Gilson’s ” farewell (they had scarcely learned to call her " Mrs. Sirncox ”), and every- body loved her. It had been agreed that unlike the service held at Grove City, where the prevail- ing tone of the addresses seemed to be in the minor key, this service should be of a light, airy, semi-jubilant kind. They would be joyous, not sad; they would have all the parts of the service of such a bright, sprightly character, that no one even for a moment would think of being sad or sorrowful. How vain were all their well-made plans and purposes! The very effort to seem un- moved only intensified the deep undercurrent of pain and tender grief which almost every person felt. All London, with the entire school district, was there; and from the farthest bounds of the Center parish they gathered at the time appointed with but one heart and one purpose, and that was to honour the dear young woman they so much loved and her manly husband. Was it a bright, cheery service without suggestion of the tender pain which was piercing loving hearts? Well, no! How impossible for reason to prescribe rules for the heart! There were addresses by the repre- sentatives of the different church organisations and a touching response by Mr. Simcox. It was not just the kind of service they had intended. In spite of all their intentions they had yielded to the ruling impulses of the hour and before they could realise it the minor chord had been struck. 44 The Tragedy of Paotingfil The pastor of the Church, the Rev. Mr. Kirkbride, speaking at a memorial service following the tragedy of Paotingfu, referred tenderly to the leading theme or motif of that quiet, delightful service of Friday, September the ist. It was not free from the suggestion of yearning hearts and tender tears: “Speaking for himself and his young bride at their farewell reception at Center Church, Brother Simcox cheered us who were left behind with the thought that distance only makes love-cords draw the stronger as rubber is tensioned by stretching. I tried to minimise the distance by showing how shorter than a straight line to China is the route by the throne of grace whither our prayers go up and from which our prayers by way of Heaven would be handed down to them across the Pacific in answering blessings. They are only half that distance now, and the heartstrings stretched al- most to breaking are Pulling "hard and helpfully where our treasure is." It was understood that Mrs. Simcox would de- fer her parting words until the following Sabbath evening. They were to spend yet one more Sab- bath with the loved ones at the Gilson homestead, and it was thought well to crown the farewell serv- ices with a final handclasp of all the dear friends among whom she had lived so long and to assure them that whatever might be her lot as a foreign missionary she would ever remember and cherish the dear friends of that community. Breaking Home Ties 4 5 The last Sabbath at home was a day of peculiar sacredness. It was the 3rd of September. The forests which embrace the farm on three sides were tinged just a little with red and gold; and the dry, hazy atmosphere which at this season of the year in Western Pennsylvania gives to distant fields and woods a dull, sky-blue cast was very much akin to the mental tone of the dear ones at home. This feeling was not confined to the home, however. It was shared by the good people of the neighbourhood. The congregation on Sabbath morning at-Center Church was larger than usual. Every member see-med to be present, and many who were only casual attendants were out that day. Every one seemed just a little kindlier, if not also more quiet. The services, though not especially intended so, impressed every person as being un- usually touching and tender. It was arranged that they should all return in the evening to hear Mrs. Simcox's parting words and to bid good-bye to the missionaries. They all felt an especial interest in Mrs. Simcox. She be- longed to them. She had always been their friend. No boy or girl in that community and no neighbour, or member of Center Church, ever doubted her love. No matter what changes might occur, or how long she might be absent from them, every one knew, or at least felt, that in her heart there would be a large place for Cen- ter Church and all who worshipped there. At six o'clock that evening the church was filled with 46 The Tragedy of Paotingfu young and old. It was a brief service. A song, the reading of the Scriptures, a prayer, the sweet, simple, tender words of Mrs. Simcox, assuring them of her love for dear old Center, and the dec- laration, that come what may she would ever cherish them in her tenderest affections, consti- tuted the substance of that evening's programme. Then came the handclasp with each, old and young, and Center saw her face no more. The last Sabbath evening had come! No one had said, “ No! You cannot go." Even the dear- est of earthly friends had not said that; nor had she been able to say, " Go. Your choice is mine." She had prayed for such grace. If it would come it would be grace indeed, marvellous grace. That night two will remember through all coming ages, —the one wearing a martyr's crown in the ineffa- ble light of the Throne and the other not yet crowned, so far as mortal eyes can see, still tread- ing the weary way, daily praying for strength to bear the heavy cross. It was the last Sabbath night, and the mother found grace. That day the light broke in on a troubled heart. The prayer, "not my will, but thine," had brought its blessing, and in the sweet peace of a loving trust in God, it came to her that henceforth she could be glad, that God had chosen her daughter for service in China. It was joy such as she had not known for months, that now she could remove the heavy weight from ‘her daughter’s heart, for when she said. “By God’s :3 :00 56mm: .zoozoq d