Page:China's spiritual need and claims.djvu/71

Rh Evangelist Society, the writer was led to lay before them, as a subject for intercession, Mrs. Lord's need of a female helper; and to read to them an extract from one of her letters.

The secretary, Mr. George Pearce, immediately replied, that it was very remarkable that he had just received a letter speaking of one who seemed in every way suited for the proposed work. We made her acquaintance; the Foreign Evangelist Society kindly provided the expense of her passage to China, and other friends contributed the requisite funds for her outfit. She arrived in Ningpo about the middle of February, 1865. Mrs. Lord wrote, on April 5th, that she was already able to help her a great deal in the school, in which she continued to work until her marriage.

On the 25th of September, 1863, Mr. Barchet called on the writer and signified his desire to preach to the poor Chinese. A native of Stuttgart in Germany, he came to England in 1861, desiring to escape the restraint of his father's roof, and to enjoy the world. At the house of a friend, he met Mr. Hall, a deacon of the church of which he subsequently became a member, who lent him a copy of "The 's Dealings with George Müller." At this time, Mr. Günzler, a German curate, and a very dear friend of Mr. Barchet, came to London to preach during the time of the Exhibition of 1862; and Mr. Barchet rejoiced to meet his friend once more. After being absent from home for a few days, on his return he hastened to visit Mr. Günzler again; but found him lying dead, having been suddenly carried off by typhus fever. He went home, crushed with sorrow, and asking himself, "Where should I be if I died so?" He prayed, read the Scriptures, and also the account of the conversion of Mr. George Müller (of Bristol) in the book that had been lent him, and argued thus with himself: "Mr. Müller was a wicked young man— pardoned him—He can pardon me—the blood that cleansed him can cleanse me." He soon afterwards found assured rest in.

Panting now to serve his loving with all his powers, he offered himself, as has been stated above, for the 's work in China. Shortly afterwards he commenced the study of Chinese, and made remarkable progress in it. After two lessons in the language, and private study in the meantime, he wrote a note to the Chinese brother (mentioned above as having come to England), which, though far from being perfect in idiom, was still intelligible, and very creditable to one who had commenced the study but a fortnight before.