Mission Work in Pekin.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 10, 12 January 1895, Page 3

Mission Work in Pekin.

Return of Two Adelaide Ladies.

Two young ladie?, whose inbrepidifcy and self-sacrifice in leaving a comfortable home to carry the Gospel to the heathen of China has formed the theme of much admiration, returned to South Australia by the steamer Ormuz lasb month (says the South Australian 'Advertiser'}. The ladies in question are Mrs Allardyce, wife of the Rev. J. W. Allardyce, and Miss Clara Goode, daughters of Mr MatthewGoode, of Adelaide. M rs Allardyce went to China for the London Missionary Society four years ago, and a year later she was joined by her sister. Miss Clara Goode. Some time back, owing to the outbreak of war between China and Japan, grave fears for the safety nob only of Mr Goode's daughters, bub also Of the many other young ladiea whose self-denial had led them bo seek labour in the Flowery Land, were felb. This was somewhab added to by an Englishman who travelled some little time back to China, and on his return to the old country expressed grave fears for the safety of the young ladies engaged in mission work in the Celestial Empire. Thinking, therefore, that some information might be gained as to the state of the country, a representative of this journal waited upon Mrs Allardyce and Miss Goode ab the residence of bheir father in Wakefield - street shortly after their arrival from the steamer.

Mrs Allardyce stated bhab they resided in Pekin, in the Wesb City, where most of bhe officials lived, and where bhere is a strong anti-foreign feeling. Few foreigners live in bhe Wesb City, the legation being situated in bhe Easb Ciby. ' I know,' she added, *a man who lived in the Wesb Ciby who said ha would be one of the firsb bo pull down oar buildings and engage in killing. As a mabber of facb, we were ab one time somewhab besieged by fears, bub, as things have burned oub, bhere was really no danger. The foreign office issued two proclamations, one stating that whilst] China was ab war wibh Japan she was at peace wibh all ofaher nabions, and the second bo protect all missionaries. Of course the danger was in case of a riot. Directly word came thab bhe Japanese were marching on Pekin bhere would be a general de« parbure of bhe officials, and the Emperor would also go, bub so long as the Government remained we would nob have much to fear. There were four missionaries in our compound, my sister and I, Mr Allardvce, and Mr Bryant, all connected with the London Missionary Society. All foreign ladies have now, left Pekin. The English Minister ordered us to leave, bub both my sister and I are in hopes of being able bo return in a few monbhs. We left Pekin on the 7bh of October, and travelled by way of Shanghai bo Colombo, where we caught bhe mail! steamer. We have found thab all the lower claßßee of the Chinese are denßely ignorant, and they do nob seem bo trouble much about things, bub firmly believe that China is the kingdom of the world.' Questioned as to bhe work of the society in Pekin Mrs Allardyce said :—" Ib is Very difficult bo give you an idea of bhe results obtained. Our work has been very hopeful up to this time, bub with no great results thab we can show you. Mr Allardyce, however, preaches'in bwo chapels to the heathen and always has good attendances ab the services, which, I think, shows bhab we are making some headway. When we lefb, however, bhe churches were empby, and this is only another sign of bhe anbi-foreign feelingthatexiatsabbhißJuncbure. Wenever converse in English to the Chinese, bub always balk in their own tongue; and, of course, before we could commence our work we had to learn the Chinese language. Some of the boys of the American mission schools, however, are taught the' English language, and we have grown so accustomed to conversing in bhe Chinese bongue thab ib seems quite strange when they converse with us in English.' Both Mrs Allardyce and Miss Goode recounted many incidents of the war, and detailed the extraordinary difficulties encountered by the war correspondents wibh bhe Japanese forces owing bo bhe censorship observed. Ib is owing bo bhis thab bhe accounts of the engagements from both sides are so partial. Questioned as to whether they were nob bired of bhe work in which they were engaged and would nob gkdly leave ib and reburn bo the peace and quiet of Adelaide—a question that required temerity bo pub bo such zealous and self-sacrificing workers—Mrs Allardyce grew enthusiastic, and replied— •No we cannot tire of it. We love the work we are engaged in, and will gladly return to Pekin.' "Miss Goode confirmed her sister's words, and the reporter lefb bhe ladies wibh the reflection that humanity ie nob quite so sordid as ib is sometimes painted. -