HTSS: Chapter 6b
November 17, 2008 – 5:21 pm
Chapter 6b: Friendship and Something More
Summary
Our last post (HTSS: Chapter 6a) ended by introducing the friendship between Hudson and William Burns, a man who was quite a few years older than Hudson, but of similar passion. They developed a close bond and “not one boat but two now traveled in company over the network of waterways leading inland from Shanghai.” The method of evangelism that Burns had developed over the years was implemented by the pair. They would choose a strategic location in which to minister for two or three weeks. They would start ministering to people on the outskirts of a town and gradually work their way into the hub of activity as the people grew used to seeing them. Once the people in the town became accustomed to their presence, they would “visit temples, schools and tea shops, returning regularly to the best places for preaching.” Their plan was to make initial connections and return to those areas for follow up. “Announcing at each meeting when they would be there again, they had the satisfaction of seeing the same faces frequently, and interested hearers could be invited to the boats for further conversations.”
And young Hudson was able to teach Burns a thing or two about ministry as well. He noticed “that Hudson Taylor, though so much younger and less experienced, had the more attentive hearers and was even asked into private houses while he himself was requested to wait outside.” The reason: his appearance. Hudson’s common, Chinese dress fit in with the dress of the common Chinese villager, in stark contrast to Burns’ European attire. Burns tells of the result of his adoption of Chinese dress in a letter:
I must once more tell the story I have had to tell more than once already, how four weeks ago, on the 29th of December, I put on Chinese dress which I am now wearing. Mr. Taylor had made this change a few months before, and I found that he was in consequence so much less incommoded in preaching, etc., by the crow that I concluded that it was my duty to follow his example. . . .
We have a large, very large field of labour in this region, though it might be difficult in the meantime for one to establish himself in any particular place. The people listen with attention, but we need the power from on high to convince and convert. . . .
Burns was a godly man, given much to prayer and meditation on the Word. “His whole life was literally a life of prayer, and his whole ministry a series of battles fought at the mercy-seat” says Burns’ biographer [quoted, but not cited by Dr. Howard Taylor in HTSS]. He was also a good natured man, making travel and ministry a time of rich blessing for Hudson. Dr. Taylor states that “this man [Burns], the friendship of this man, with all he was and had been, was the gift and blessing of God at this particular juncture to Hudson Taylor.” Hudson matured and blossomed under the tutelage of William Burns, being “better to him than a college course with all its advantages, because he lived out before him, right there in China, the reality of all he most needed to be and know.”
For seven months Hudson and William enjoyed this fruitful, mutually edifying teamwork. Then, though initially reluctant to depart, Hudson made his way back to Shanghai for his medical supplies, as Burns desired to be involved in hospital work. Upon reaching the city, Hudson learned that the medical supplies had been destroyed in a fire. “Before he could replace them, the distressing news reached him that his beloved and honored friend [Burns] had been arrested by the Chinese authorities and sent, under escort, a journey of thirty-one days to Canton.” The double blow of his friends arrest and the denial of admittance to their place of ministry were devastating to Hudson.
Yet in this tragic circumstance God was at work, behind the scenes orchestrating things perfectly. “Yet but for this great and unexpected trial Hudson Taylor might never have been led into the lifework that was awaiting him; might never have known the love beyond all other human love which was to be his crowning joy and blessing.”
In chapter seven we will observe the lesson that Hudson Taylor learned: “God’s Way - ‘Perfect.’”
106 years ago this November, J. Hudson Taylor resigned as Director of the China Inland Mission. He left behind a legacy to all believers, particularly those involved in missions works in mainland China. Missions Mandate will highlight Taylor’s life and ministry during the month of November.
Each work day of the month of November I will post a summary of one chapter of Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor’s classic book Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. Dr. Howard Taylor was the second son of J. Hudson Taylor, and followed in his father’s footsteps as a pioneer missionary, speaker and author.
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