Glimpses of old Glasgow

Foreign Missionaries

Rev. Alexander Williamson, LL.D.

EARLY in the fifth decade of this century to the surprise of many and the joy of the merchant, five ports in China were declared open to foreigners. Little at that time was known of the "Flowery Land," and our knowledge of it is even yet but limited. The jealousy and hatred of the Chinese for "foreign devils," as the natives of Europe and America are called by them, are something extraordinary. We may be angry with or pity them for these irrational feelings, but at the same time intercourse with them shows that they are neither ignorant nor stupid in what may be called £ s. d. life.

China some years ago being almost a sealed quarter of the globe it was not easy to get within it. Still one adventurous being here and another there were successful in penetrating into that jealously watched land. Among them was a missionary born in the north of England, of Scottish parentage. This pioneer ambassador of the cross was Robert Morrison, who was sent out by the London missionary society in the year 1807. A man of strong mental ability, with a firm trust that God had sent him into the world to perform a certain work, he impressed himself so much upon the foreigners in Canton that they became deeply interested in him and his missionary and literary work. By their encouragement and help, in 1819 he translated the whole word of God into Chinese. A few years afterwards he completed his Anglo-Chinese Dictionary, consisting of six quarto volumes - a work of sixteen years, and issued by the East India Company at a cost of £12,000. The literary men of that day praised such a marvellous achievement.

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The subject of this sketch was a native of Falkirk. After he came to Glasgow he was for several years engaged in a large mercantile establishment. Finding this occupation uncongenial he abandoned it and studied for the foreign missionary field. Enrolling himself as a student of Glasgow College he completed his arts and theological studies, and offered himself to, and was accepted by, the London missionary society for the mission field in China. For seven years he laboured so devotedly in direct missionary work, literary labour, and travelling, that his health and strength gave way, and he came home to Scotland on furlough. His health gradually improving, in 1863 he entered the service of the National Bible society of Scotland as its first agent in China. In 1874 he joined the United Presbyterian Church as one of its missionary staff at Chefoo; but he retained office in the Bible society till 1887.

When Dr. Williamson was home six or seven years ago, I delighted in the opportunity of personal intercourse. I confess I was greatly impressed with his powerful advocacy of providing Christian literature as a special means for the evangelisation of China's millions. For this end, by enlisting the sympathies and liberality of Christian ladies and gentlemen, he succeeded in establishing an association entitled "The Christian literature society for China." That this enterprise might be both economically and efficiently carried on in China he took out the necessary plant for printing, bookbinding, and publishing. As his assistant in this work he was accompanied by Mr. Gilbert M'Intosh, who proved himself equal to all the exigencies of the scheme, showing artistic talent in the printing office and doing Christian work, specially among young men.

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While Dr. Williamson does not stand forth pre-eminently as an aggressive missionary, yet he will long be remembered for his literary labours, scholastic attainments, and scientific explorations and travels. These phases of his life entitle him to rank among the pioneers of Christianity in heathen lands. What he did is preserved in his "Journeys in North China," the publication of which in 1876 led to the University of Glasgow honouring him with the degree of LL.D. Dr. Williamson died early in September, 1890, in the sixty-first year of his age.

In the development of his onerous missionary labours Dr. Williamson's hands were greatly strengthened and his heart cheered by his beloved wife. Richly endowed by nature and grace she was enabled to accomplish much spiritual and temporal good among the members of her own sex. Her book, entitled "Highways and Byways in China," met with great success in this and other countries.