- V and Ruasell J/Iorse

ymoTAir - tiketau ciiristiah Mission

Yea <^itYiimianWeat Qhina*
Yea Ohi,^ 20X932
lir. and >r^3* Vernon M ITewlandf
University Station,
CQclahoisay U.S.A.
Dear Vernon and IS^Iona t-
About two weeks agOfln a letter to lay inotlieryl asked her to write you
at once with the news that you folk are very decidedly our choice to join
us in Chinese Tibet. I gave her a "brief outline of how and when we "believe
it can "be worked out,and fully intended to send a letter to YOU in the next
week's mail. But ri^ht after that a young Chinese T?orker in oizr I^isaion
decided to make trou"ble,the first and only disharmony In our group during
the two years we have "been here* lie raised a disgraceful racket,and went
off with dark threatenings of what he would do to the reputations of almost
everyone of us. Hardly anything hurts me so much as spiteful ingratitude
after treating a fellow according to the Golden Hule* '^^elljit's over now
and our ^Ussion not hurt much either,"but I was awfully downhearted for ahout
ten days and just didn't know how to write to you*
Perhaps it's better that you know the discouraging things right at the
start. We value your friendship too highly to lead you unprepared into un
expected hardships. Better "put on the whole armor of Grod",for you will
need it if you ever get out here. V/e recommend that you re-read all our
ITewsletters (5*our to date,and another due goon),which will save i&e the
work of reviewing such matters at this time*
Truly,we very much need your help out hereiHIGIIT HOW,and the need will
undoubtedly be greatly increased by the time you have reached the field and
then completed the two years of uninterrupte,d Language Study s^lch every
nev; missionary MUST have at the beginning of his first term ^e believe that
the best plan would be for you to take a Christian Service I^edical Course
beginning in the fall of 1932 at either Bible Institute of ^os -^ngeles or
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago,and then take ship from Los Angeles in
August of 1933. You would probably reach Yea Ohl on or before t^rlstmas of
that year,and we would try to have things In good enough shape so you could
start on your Two Year's I^anguage Course soon after ^ew Year* Tiaus you might
finish your uninterrupted language study (but you should continue systematic
study of the native languages for YEAHS after) just at the beginning of
1936,about the time when we shall be due to go home on furlough* I fear that
TliEJSf OH you would have very little time for language study,as you would
have to take mA over all our field work during our furlough- So you should
plan to take best advantage of that first two years,during which I should
try to carry all the work without calling on you to take any responsibility
except your language study. (Because of problems with the children's Odu-
cation and I.^s. 2.Iorse's health,It may be necessary for her to take them
back to America about the time of your arrival,but we are not settled on
that yet.)
Meanwhile,! must say that ALREADY the work has grown so that we cannot
do justice both to it and the connections with the home churches in the U.S.
Letters have to wait unanswered,reports be postponed,and "promotional work"
be practically undone,because of the needs of our present converts and
"enquirers'*. Even the best of our native workers should be supervised,and
only a firmly grounded "foreign" missionary can do that properly* I love
THOROUGH work,and it makes ray heart ache to see things done otherwise,but
we have already arrived at that place through lack of trained and highly
spiritual leaders. So we are finding ourselves temporarily forced to a
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policy of restriction of field of laTsor (leaving unheeded many new oppor
tunities of witness which develop from time to time),meanwhile placing a
strong emphasis upon preparation of native leaders. To this end#we are
preparing to launch a regular Bihle Institute course this next fall* Sub
jects will he taught "by three or four of us who have specialized on theiD
and we who teach will also study in the OTIIER courses along with the com
mon students# Well,now can you begin to imagine that we need yovir help ?
As for the field and its possibilities^-If you are looking for
"teeming millions" you will be greatly disappointed. 3!fone of us would be
equal to a ministry to "teeming millions" anyway,and also most of the G^ospel
seed and Christian Influence would likely be lost in the rush. I can only
say that a great land lies before us,most of which had never heard the
Grospel before we arrived here. There are no large towns,but you must be
a go-getter if in your ^ole lifetime you are to preach to all the small
villages where Christ has never been named. The darkness is THICK^and the
people are poor and blin4 and hungry. Despite all that the tribal kings
and wizard-priests can do to oppose us,there arc more opportunities for
the Gospel than we can take advantage of. If you have a creative mind,a
passion for souls,can see work,and are ready to "eat bitterness" for Christ 8
sake,you will not be disappointed here# Othea^wlse you would want to turn
back at first sight#
It is just a little over TWO YSAHS since we arrived in Yea Cjii# T ua
they have been both eventful and blest of God. Despite numerous diseases
of the region our lives have been sparedfand we have gathered together
some very good native helpers. Well over a thousand preaching services
have been held,and ITXHSTY-SEVSlf souls have been baptized into Christ,besides
those received into our group who were previously immersed elsewhere. In
Yea Chi and our outstations we now have well over a hundred ChrlstlaHs '
ore trying to build their lives and churches after the Hew Testament pat
tern# We have given about 5000 or more treatments to the sick,and I can
safely say that several score of lives have been saved and thus given
another chance to know and accept the only Savior.
Evangelistically,I believe that we can truly say that we,by God's
trace,have accomplished more in tia years than was accompli^ed in B^ang
about 18 caravan stages north of usi during its more than
years under the U.C.M.S. program and methods and attitude of mind,and that
we have done it far more economically. V/e have set ourselves,as far as
possible,to use only spiritual means to accomplish spiritual ends,and we
still believe that the idea is fiindamontally sound,especially in such times
of financial depression. S"ow the ^^3 work at -^at^g
(we have been definitely approached^^DoutouirTf^^ taking it over),after
having expended somewhere around S750,000.oo,and testifies that work on
the Tibetan border is neither easy nor quickly fruitful. Take warning,if
you favor the type of work done by that organization I On the other hand,
consider that today we have more converts than the J^ataug ^'asslon has,and
leas backsliders. But they had many good buildings,while we had none;they
had a goodly number of American missionaries,while we are the only white
family within 4 days of hereI they had the backing of a great and experi
enced Mission Board with all its wide resources,whlle we have had only
scattered individual friends and local churches of Christ to support us#
To fully answer the question "Why the difference would take more
time than I can apftre,and would perhaps take more understanding of mlssi-
naxy procedure and history than you now possess. Briefly,we are convinced
that it was not merely that they chose a more stubborn field but also that
they used the "social service" methods In a way that crowded evangelism
into the background. Kany of the converts were spiritually nursed to death*
- 3 to Newlanda -
So far as I know, only one of the misaionaries sent to work there was an
out and out '*mederni3t","but most of the others were colored v/ith it* Perhaps
it would he pretty near the truth to say that few had much definite theology
at all,and in general seemed to be sent out "by the Board "because they had
College degrees and good intentions for the uplift of suffering humanity*
"Unspiritual conditions arose which caused violent internal di3sansion,and
coffiDined with the natural diffioulties of the field itself and the finan
cial depression in America led to the order from "headquarters" for the
abandonment of the station# SoVernon and I^onafiaake sure of your spiritual
foundations (a faithful prayer life is perhaps even more important than
doctrinal soimdness) before you take the leap oYcrseas*
ITowjyou mustn't think I hare made the mistake of going out of my way
just to say things against the U.C.K.S, The "general remarks" I have made
so fully are very fundamental to missionary vjork in general and ours in
particular. You should be familiar with suoh basic principlesfbefore cast
ing in your lot with such outcastes as we "independent" missionaries are*
Also we want you to understand that we revere the memory of A.L. %elton
and also have a very high personal regard for -Norton H. Bare and Harion
H, Duncan ^o have been working in Batons since Sholton*8 passing*
I also have a very warm personal regard for Alexander ^bxlI now of the
home staff# He is an unusually fine fellow#and I am sure that he is a godly
man,al80 of evangelistic mind and remarkably free from the organization
complex# But the sad thing is that people of such admirable and lovable
character should be bound up in an organization which olironically has ac
quired the wrong ESIPIIASI3. It has become the increasing conviction of an
increasing number of close observers that throu^ the U-C.lt.S. the mighty
movement for the restoration of ^^ew "Testament Christianity has been betrayed
to the denominations and to modern liberalism to such an extent that it ia
now almost unrecognizable as such* Birds of almost all feathers have been
flocked together into an extra-Scriptural organizationtcompromising apos
tolic convictions to acquire a wider unity. Bat en^h of giat* Wft wflnt
mia^iion^riea out here who are motivated hv their LOTS fnr Cbri Rt and 4ia
Churfth.not bv their ANIMOSITY toward a nrgnnlnation#. *6 are in
high hopes of your joining usnot because of any stand you have taken con
cerning the U.C.^.3,,but because we are assured that you are soundly estab
lished in the faith and practice of the JTew Testament^and because we believe
you will neither betray nor compromise the principles of the Restoration
Movement.
Quite a number of candidates have written us about joining this Hiss-
ion.but not all of them have shown the common sense you did by correspona-
ing simultaneously with members of our Advisory Council, w also commend
you for going to the doctor for examination as to physical qu^ifioations,
and for having Prof. C.C. Taylor pass upon your ioundness
As we had already conferred with you during our last ^rlou^.^d ^ you
know that we like you personally so that wa would moat likely get ^ong
well togetherthe moat important points as to your qualifications
settled. "He don't eare particularly ^ether le^TestLient
Ti r IT siiaf an VQU affTe with us about Jesus Christ and ^*ia -^ew J-es&aiaenw
^d'th^^ov'e^ert ?rrtf?ore1^d propagate churches after that pattern.
One is a matter of opinion,the other is fundamental.
JSy education and training you are both hi^ qualified for
and I have no doubt but that when the proper time comes you will be worthy
to relieve xoy weary shoulders of the burden of leadership. ?or some
I have been impressed that ny earthly years would not 1 many. Yo^ graduate
iid lostflraduate work in itoillips Universitytyour experience in both
^reaching and teaching^your long experience in ^risti^
?^mbe??l^a,whln I wks superintendent of the Intermeaiate C.S. whidh
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you were then a Life Work l^ecrult ?) and Bi"bie School workand the way you
have PERSISHSD In the heavenly calllng-all have commended you* It Isn't
"brilliant men we need out here^for they would most likely get discouraged
and give up. We just need faithful stev/ards* plodders like Ab Lincoln "w^io
have humbly and devoutly said "I shall prepare rnyselffand sometime my time
shall come". We need folk like Jacob of old will take hold of tlie 2?ivine
Being with a stubborn grip and not give up until the blessing is given-
We rather believe you are that kind of folk* Anywayfthe strong reconnnend-
ation from sudi a widely respected champion of the faith as Prof* C.C, Taylor
means a great deal to me and I believe will carry weight elsewhere too*
Concerning your farther educational preparatlonwe "believe you would
find a B.B. degree of very little use out here* You already have your
Ma3ter*s degree,while I still lack my thesisfand Eugene K* ^arn has only
an A.B. from West China Union University at Chengtu (which ia really a very
fine school of the interdenominational kind)* %s* ^ov3q has only an A.B#
from the University of Oklahoma (and was elected to ?hi ^eta ^appa honorary
scholarship fraternity),and some postgraduate work in ^ible at fillips U.
Most of our other workers are quite intelligent,"but far "below us in educ
ational ranking* As for the other missionaries in this great ^*rovince,I "be
lieve only about half have college degrees. And as for the common people,-
you will be astoimded that such l^orance could exist in this modern world.
I believe that only about 4% or 5% of the people in our region can even
READ,and there ia very little reading matter available* Our little school
of about sixty pupils is a very simple affair poorly equipped In miserably
inadequate rented quarters,but the iVovlncial Inspector of J3<jucation "who
recently visited us stated that there is no other school nearer thsn Likiang
(ten days to the southeast) that will compare with it* The few and scattered
30 called "teachers" use the old Confucian classics aa textbooks,and **teach"
by the ancient nethods of hundreds of years ago* This is the rirst time an
Inspector has visited these regions,and he BDRHSD many armloads of long
obsolete textbooks in about a dozen schools. Our school was almost the only
one that escaped drastic treatment. The Inspector yias so angry with the
tribal king at Kang Pu that he lashed him sepaatedly with his riding-whip*
Both he and the Yea Chi king were publicly reprimanded for owresj^ing the
common people ajid conspiring to keep them in Ignorance and iupjrstition*
These two have done all they oould to prevent their subjects listening to
the Gospel or sending their children to our school,and have persecuted our
Christians at almost every opportunity. The Inspector's visit has greatly
atrengthenc:" our position here Well,enough about education,which is
a sideline with us although the children of all our native workers and
Christians need to be educated somewhere,if possible \inder Christian super
vision. Any farther educational preparation you make had best be in the
way of technical training such as the Christian Service Ifedlcal Co^se,
with special emphasis on pharmacy and therapeutics. Also r^eraber that after
you reach the field you will acquire yiii^aww practical ability in contact
with actual situations many T?hlch will require more or less rese^ch
and study. First-hand acquaintance with the field will prepare you to ^oose
suitable courseo of additional study during your furlough in teerica* xt
is inadvisable for you to overprepare yourself In a theoretical way
having that practical experience on the field.
We are rell pleased to learn of some of your '*ineldeHtal abilities",
8u^ as being able to play mslcal instruments,do electrical work,having
stenographic experience,tip. Altogether,WE shall quite be put i^to
shade II But I feel M sure that we shall be able to wpplement each other
quite well. Perhaps I shall te the COMIC SXTPPIEMEHT !% the way, if you
have a sense of humor,by all means don't let It desert j'ou east of the
Pacific. Bring it along to nixrse you through some of the situations that
would otherwise be too mch of a Out hsre^^ oi
grief and premature baldhoadctoess by taking EvEKXTHiiiu too aeriou8J.y
5 - "feo' Newlanda
Prepare to bring along all the B:8ical Ingtnaments you can play
(except a piano which would hare to he left at Yunnanfu T^ere the railway
ends) or think you can learn to play* V/e do not afiree with the '^non-progresaire
"bretheren in eliminating isuslcal instruments from Christian worshipOTen if
we have partly come to their position concerning missionary sooletlea.
Tibetans and Lisu of our region are specially fond of music,and some of them
are apt in learning to play.on various instruments. A3 for your electrical
ability,we have long wished that we might at least have "radio receiving"
facilities out here,v?hlch would cut in half our time of eommunications with
the outside world, ^it the only electrical outfit we have is one ^dison
Alkaline All-Steel Battery and a small generator which could be operated
band or water-power,and some accesaories such as wiring and small
bulbs, 5po. arumme and other friends In the "Cottaffe Missionary Society**
of Chicago presented these to us,but to date both my time end training have
been insmfficient to use them. We have often wished we had a MEDICAL ELECTRIC
BATTSRY outfit. More about suoh matters later. I suggest that you write to
AMBRIWA$r COlffSULATE, yinjnTAS7U| CIIIITA. - - concerning Qhlnese regulations
on foreigners operating wireless radio outfits In this Province
The fact that you are both well under 50 years of age, and have no child
ren yet,Is in your favor. It is not easy for those having small children
to adapt themselves pjid learn the native languages under these primitive
and often trying conditions. The problem of our children's education per
plexes us continually,and takes most of Mps. J^rse's time awfty from direct
missionary work. Yet our three boys are a distinct blessing to us,and they
may be far better'missionaries in future than v/e have been- %en you get
here,they may even servo as interpreters for you#as all three of them speak
both Chinese and Tibetan fluently,and the two older ones are picking up the
Lieu language also
Your youth also favors your being able to learn foreign languages more
readily,but we would like to know in detail what study of foreign languages
you have already had,and whether you found them very difficult. However,one
cannot necessarily judge by that,as I took only a small amount of language
study in America and did poorly at that,yet I have done quite creditably
on these lEinguages# If you are attracted to PEOPLE,and like to make friends,
the chances are In your favor.
As for your dentistry,have everything done up shipshape to last a long
time,for even the Japanese dentist at Yunnanfu (over a month's oarava?i trip
away) left the country in haste because of the Chinese indignation over
Japan's seizure of Manchuria. A trip to ^rench Indo-Chlna or ^bngkong would
be expensive* But I could PULL your teeth^and save the expense
Hotwithstandlng the rather heated opposition which some of our rope-
holders make againsi vaccination,we ourselves must advise you to be vacoin-
ated against smallpox,at least,before you leave the States* Inoculation
against typhoid and paratyphoid,perhaps dlptheria also,is advisable if done
by a competent physician. Qmc.llpox is specially prevalent in China, and our
region has cases of It every year. Often it strikes in the most virulent
and horrible fo3?m,-Black Smallpox,-which took Miss Irma *arnick last year
in Yunnanfu. The natives have a crude form of vaccination with locally-
produced serum,which seems effective,but I don't think you would care for
It. The dried vaccine Is blown Into the nostrils of the candidate
How we oome to the setter of HELATIOITSITIPS IN TITS HOMBLAKD# The
"Christian Standard" has for many years done much to disseminate Information
and secure support for "independent" missions,without organic connection
with any of them. They believe in the autonomy of the local churches,and
in 8U8h local churches doing their own missionary work directly as far as
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possible. Wq ourselves "believe that this ia the ITevr Tastaraont wayaBd that
the voluntary moral support which the "STATOAHO" has given us from the very
beginning has been one of the ciain factors In enlisting and holding enough
"ropeholdera" for our work. In giving auoh puhlioity support to our work
they have never suggestedfsiuch Xes3 requestedf that we oaiapaign against the
U.cai.S. Both they and we have been busy on a OOITSTRUgTIlfe proaram. ^''e are
Bure that they will be glad to help you. ?he Christian Hestoration
Asaociation (James Deforest Jtech.Pres.) has also done much for independent
missions^along dieent lines. During our first year on furlough we wore
under contract with them,but became convinced that the siWpie ^ew Testament
way of direct connection between the Hiagion on the foreign field and the
fa better. So we terminated the contractwlth best wishes
not even one of the Associated ?ree .Vgencies so
as eOHTIUCT is oonoerne(i,but nevertheless ^ve are happy to be in the
s^e with the other "independent" missions. V/g are sure that the C.R.A.
Will be i^erested in your coming to Tihet,and will give you commendation
to those who support such work.
n T. Mission ."Board back of us#such as the U.C.M.S. y the
C.R.A. Do you think this is a vital we^lcness ? Yet neither Christ nor the
apostles made any provisions for sucli organiatlons#except inasmuch as the
local congregations were to be missionary societies and the apostles and
evangelists wero to be missionaries and all Christians were to be soul-winners^
In this way rre are surprisingly unorganized and individualistlciyet never
theless we find ourselves a vital spiritual organism which is able to func-
^on co-ordinately. Our 2 living-link churchec and-one living-link ^i^le
p.ass,and other churches and Individual with whom we have main
tained an informal and Informational fellowship,have stood with us
^th in prayer and financial support through all these Boat troublous timea*
Tliis coiriradeahip has been all the more precious because it has been purely
voluntary and prayer has been given e leading place# There are no written
contracts with our living-link ohurche5,and v-e do not conalder our ropeholders
as strict financial pledgee* We have sent out* only 5*0UR general ^^ewsletters
alnce leaving the TJ.3.A, in August of 1929 Yet we h&Te acconpllshed all our
work without going into dcbt^and even have a small I^taergency ^ederve on hand*
Does it not seem to you that tJod has placed Rls stamp of approval upon the
apostolic way of doing missiionary work in modern times ? Dear friendsmake n
aure you are In the Ijord*s will#then trust in Kim and go forwardieven though
you may not be able to see more than one step at a time*
Our Advisory Coimcil has given moat decided help,but they are only an
ADVISORY Council,the members of which have no financial obligations to our
Mission except n4iat they voluntarily and individually undert^e. The Western
Section centers around my living-link church in Los Angeles Ulollenbeck
Heights); the JIastern Section centers around C^ertrude's living-link church
in Sprlngfield,HI (Vestside)! and the Central Section centers around Mother
Korse who has become aome^"hat of a missionary veteran- *e cannot say that
any sfectlon has the pre-eminence (altho In the "Western Section Is also Eugea
K. Tarn's living-link 5!lzpah Bi'ble Class represented by %s* Lulu Scott Its
teacher),and there ian^t even a regular chairman for any of the sections
unless it Is Kother ITorse. Tibw sad It Is that we should be so slipshod in
general organization,constltution,and by-laws 12 This will present some
problems as the Sfflsslon continues to grow,but we believe that prayerful atudy
of the Kew Testament will solve them. Perhaps you will be able to show ua
a more excellent way than the present one*
Well,where on earth will YOUR J'llIAHGIAL SUPPORT come from V ^o will
guarantee that you will not be left stranded in the Orient ? Strange that
such capable men as Paitl did not think of such tilings and give us all the
details Perhaps he was so sure that God wanted him to get to l^cedonia
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It to Home) with the Ooapelf&nd was so eager to "be al>out itthat he let
oae other consideratione slip into the background* ^e hlinduess resultant
from "beholding the risen and ascended Christ on the road to Bamaaous lasted
more than three daya- he was thereafter effeotiyely hlind to stafiy things
that had loomed large "before. The fact that Qhrist was truly risen from the
deadfa liring and reigning oaTiortWas to him the key of hope in every im-
possihle situation* Do I seem fanatical ahout this ? Ygt we apeak with the
aaaurance of experienoetand it is difficult to argue against experience*
If you can think of anything that is more worth proving experimentally than
that Christ lives and reigns and is afcle to save unto the uttermostfthen
you have a different scale of values than we have* ^t here's your chance
to PHOVS it. If you "believe it is Ood's will for you to join us in this
Mission,trust in Him and go resolutely forward#commending yourself to the
"bretheren "by the earnestness of your manner and the effective way in idiioh
you carry out each step. Pray God that He will "block the way to all that is
contrary to His will and open the way in all that is His will for you*
^t do not "believe that HE has "blocked the way until YOU have tried YOUR
urMOST. If God "be tot youfWho can Toe against you ? If these things "be true#
they are worth living and dying for in our heartiest way? if they are false#
the sooner w find it out and give them up the better-
As for salaryffit will he well if you can have the same amount as the
U.CM,S. pays its missionaries#which will "be considerably less thaji you
might receive in America. (Bit I dou"bt whether the Lord wants us to &SQUIHE
the U.C.M.S. stajidard.) Aa living conditions and standard are quite primi
tive out here#you can cut doum on personal expenses and atill find the
amoiint to "be quite sufficient for your reasonable needs. Costa of living
in all foreign lands have "been steadily rising for some years* According to
the latest information we havc#the U.C.M.S. has "been paytn tfl500oo p3P
year to each missionary couple in Tibet (in Japan it is i?2600*oo} #and extra
allowance for ohildrenjbesides fArnishing a resideaoe#and some minor con
siderations such as annual vacation allowancetextra allowance for freight
beyond the seaport so that inland missionaries will not suffer in comparison
with those on the coast,etc. During your first two years out here,when you
wiUhave no duties or responsibilities except language stud3t#you will find
the above items quite sufficient for you.
Every Missionary Society also gives an "Outfit Allowance" to all new
missionaries,as nearly all of them axe just graduating from achool and have
little if any money with which to outfit themselves* ^or its Tihetan misa-
ionaries#the U.C.Xl.S. custom has been to give i-SOO.oo outright,as they have
to go so much farther and stay longer aad there are no places in Chinese
Tibet where outfit items oan be purchased as one feels the need and has the
money to spare* Upon leaving AmeriCB#you should have enough of all Itass
for at least two years afeead and in some cases for the entire first term*
We should prepare a list of suggested items ishich our experience
most U3ef\a#and send it to you for purchasing. Our experience is that it is
better to have everything forwarded by the ^Sxport Division of i^ontgomery
Ward Sc C6. Chicago.as they are specialists in oaoking and shipping export
orders for mi8sionariea#and will also give 10^discount on things p^chased
from them. They will also forward with your order things which you have
purchased elsewhere and committed to them for shipment* A3 transportation
from the States to the Tibetan border is very expensive#it is
experienced advice be given about things to bring,to avoid unnecessary expense
Then it is customary for every Mission Board to pay the Travel Expense,
within certain reasonable limits concerning which I shall write you later,
of its missionaries to and from the field. This will "be much the largest
sirigle item connected with your coming,not even excepting your smiuai
living-link allowances# Yovv IJrje of travel will be as follows? Vnext page;
- 8 - to ^evlands -
fx^oia your "home town" to ths -^aoific Coast; from port of embarkation to Hong
kong on one ship via Japan and Shanghai; from Hon^ong to Haiphong on a
second ship) from Haiphong to Ytumanfu three days hy railroads from ""/unnanfu
to Yea Chi T?y oararan* You will need certain definite information for each
of the ahove stages of the tripand certain definite preparations must "be n
made for you at eaoh point of ti'ansit* '%en the proper time cornea# I ahall
furnish you with such information and maike such preparations# Please don't
let me forget ahout italso the suggeated list of outfit*
Another important matter waiting to be definitely worked out is that
of YOUR nJXATIOlr TO US AJTD THIS MISGIOS"# "^ia^and the problem of your sup
portyare the two phases of the situation v^ch hare been giving us most
thought* It aeeaa t}:uit they are inter*related*too*
Although this letter is already long*X feel that ve might better atta^
the tvo above problems at onoethus uniting all basic considerations into
this one letter* ^t I confess to hardly knowing ^ere to take ahold*
We believe in a rssptoaibls Miaaion organization on the field#to pre
sent ,a united cause to the supporting churches in the homeland#and to also
istpresa upon the native peoples that the missionaries love one another and
can co-operate# (But there is such a thing as "independent co-operation")*
Out hero the native churches are young and weak,so there is temporary need
of an extra-congregational Uisaion organisation* ^e do not want to make
ourselves the '^big boss" over other individuals or groups#but necessity seems
to call for a "big brother**. It is the verdict of all experienced mission
aries that a FI<31I0D 035' TuTELAGS is necessary,both forrthe aew oh^arches and
for the new missionaries. In nor observation#that period is the most difficult
and important of all times in missionary development#muoh as "child training
is of central importance to church and state. But the trouble most new miss
ionaries have is in realizing that#although having graduated froai University
and probably having had ministerial experience too#AFTERj^y arrive in tMs
new world ftf the foreign mission field they naist BEG015E CJIiAhe& AND GO TO
SCHOOL AGAlH,-that they must again become DISCIPLES before they can be
ified as apostles* The very decision of character#power of will#and individ
uality of action which contributed so very much to their coming to the
foreign field is likely to hinder them from submitting to that period or
tutelare" and becoming CO-.OPSHATIVS miasionaries* ^t here we are so iso
lated that all if us are in danger of becoming too individualistic
eccentric,which frequently leads to such frictions as 'tep)cramental differ
ences",etc. So you should be patient with the old mossback mi3sioncrie3,who
really have good intentions and kind hearts even if they are a bit cranky*
It is quite likely that##after your "period of tutelage tyou
te in charge of a atatlon.or even teoome Blreotor of the "isslon*
mi^t come sooner than any of us expect,and you should take fullest advan
tage of every opportunity to prepare yourselves for it.
The advisability of recognizing your responsibility to the
Director of this Mission.at least until you have completed your
years of uninterrupted language 3tudy#may be seen in two other phases oi
the problem of sending out new missionaries*
(I). The supporting public will have more confidence both in you and
in us.and toward the project aa a whole. Wg were not well known when we
resigned from the U.C.M.S. at Batang in l926 and laxmched out into this
nev/ field* The U*C*M.5. atta(^ed our project as unreasonable,and^sa^ we
were just young and nervous up3tarts#with We z^al
propaganda prevented our getting any support from the Church at -^nld#
of which we had both been living-links,and we got o?^y
from my home church, First Christian of TuiaaiClaude S* Hiii#minister* But
- 9 - to Hevlands -
we knew God had called ua outand we followeci ^the still#small Toice" With
the moral support of those previously mentionediwe plodded riaht ahead with
our preparationsfgathering frienda month hy month,proving ourselves to the
hretheren* lToW judging from the nuzneroua letters we receive from widely
scattered sources, the "bretheren seeia to feel that "both our otto faith and th
faith of our living-link churches has "been vindicated* Confidence and good
will toward us and our Kiaaion is widespread#so that i^ere it not for thia
terrihle^ySHjA^IAL HEPHSSSIOJr there would he no douht ahout funds to hring
you outrv/ir ilSVS COUyiJJEHOS IIJ Tim mSTHSRM HAVB SHOW OOHPIIEHCE
IH mj HAVE OO^im^OE IK YOU* Uow.while you are hoth unproved and
unknown as foreign missionarios^it is better that you associate yourselves
in a definitely reaponai"ble way under the direction of those t^o' through
years of testing irave earned the confidence of the churchea^even though we
i^ay not "be ahle to GUAEAHTE13 you ASYTHIUG financiallytlargely due to the
financial depression. We are satisfle-'' thatfhowever little support you
fflight get to start with,it would he more than you could do indepesdently
of U8
(2). Partly "because of your "being untried as foreign missionaries, and
partly due to the finanoiea deprea3ion,it is pro"bahle that ^e shall have to
rc-dlrect at least a pQr,tion of our eurrent ropeholder's contributions your
way,and maybe evenffut ao-vvn on field expenses for a year or so,in order to
meet the heavy initial expense of launching your miasionary career* An that
we may be able to help financially may not "be enough,and you will probably
have to raise a considerable proportion of yojitr support yourself* ^e feel
sure that you will gladly do your beat in that regardtbut we hope it will
not interfere too much with your Christian Service ^-e^ical Course* However
that may "bei you can realize that in Justice to those who have contributed
to this Mission we must insist upon your responsibility to its director in
rctuBfl for sponsoring you and for actual funds advanced.
Ifother liorse has suggested the idea of enlisting four churches to give
$600.oo each for the first year,and $400*oo each annually thereafter as
long as you remain in missionary service. I incline to favor the idea for
several reasons. 5*iret,most of the churches which have been supporting
"independent" missions are smaller than the churches which support the
U.C,M.S.,and so a leas proportion are able to support living-link mission
aries. Secondly,the financial depression has still farther effected
missionary giving,so it is likely that the burden (or PRlVIi^GE) should be
divided between more than the customary two churches- % the way,the U.C.M.S#
did not grant any church a living-link misai^les3 it gave $1000.00
for that purpose. The extra $500*oo per yearT^^^cy^said was for expenses
ICItENTAL to the maintenance of the missionai^ytSUeh es sending them to the
field and returning them on furlough,rent and repair of residcnccv^cation
allowance,children*6 allowances,etc. But the C.K.A. r9queate(^ only ^750*oo
per year from the Springfi elf. Ill .Church for %3. Hopge a living-Hnk^^p-
port,irtille the Hollenbeck Los Angeles Church pays ^lOOO.oo for ming* lae
extra $250*00 per year pays the customary children's allowance of 'dSO-oo
for Kobert and lldo.oo for LaVerneiwhile Eugene's has m to come out 0^^"
miscellaneous receipts. But it is well for you and Hona to each have
living-link church if possible,- ijflg. church responsible for iinfi missionary*
We say this in the light of what fellowship with our own living-link churches
has meant to Undoubtedly it could be done for you except for the financ
ial depression. But with God all good things are possible,-pray about it*
Juore about the money LA. (Matthew 6;33). Perhaps you have already
enlisted some definite support,and we are hoping you will soo^ write us
definitely about it,so we ourselves can take further steps* ^atever you
dOfWe suggest that you co-operate with the members of our ^dviao:^ Co^oi:U
and especially with Kother Morse* I shall send a carbon copy of this letter
^eaot Section of the Council and also to Ur. Edwin Errett of the "Staadaid'
- 10 - to l^ewlanda -
and shall folloiv it next week with a letter to thsm outlin^g a definite
campaign for your support. You will do well to keep our friend Edwin Srrett
informed about developments# j'rienda of our work will be interested in oh-
serving idiether you are co-operatively minded*
About sending urgent messages "by cable# ^^e believe that it is seldom
practical and worth the coat,considering the primitive development of the
Chinese Qervice>and our distance from it. Butfin case you should feel the
need of sendin^^ us a message somotlmetwe can be reached by the following
address,- MOHSS,YSACHI,CAHE ALLEir,YTJinUHKJ,CHINA. The -^anghai receiving
station would radio the cabled message to Rev. H.A.C. Alien of the ^ina
Inland >-li53ion,who would then forward it to mo by the telegraph line to its
end at Li^iang (ten days southeast of hereitfrom whence it ^ould be re-forwar#-
.ed by postal runner. Postal service is once each week between X^iklang and^
here. So,if your message made good connections all along the line,it HICrHT
reach ua about ten days after sending, ^t it would be much more difficult
for me to send a telegraph-radio-cable message to you from ]afira,for a com
bination of reasons not easy to explain. It would be easier for me to send
the message and accompanying instructions by post to Anen at Yunnanfu,
with whom we have funds,and he could have it sent from there with auite
reasonable safety of its reaching some easily addressed and readily loeatable
group such as "STAITDARD PUBLISHI^TG^CIHCIimTI".
HoW|in connection with that year of medical training,there is another
iiiiportant consideration#- that of making friends for the Miggion ftnd for
yourselves in the region of the school where you take the course. Present
and prospective supporters of the Hlsalon must be given as widf> as possible
an opportunity to meet you and get acquainted and to acquire confidence In
you. Our first recommendation was that you take the Christian Service Medi
cal Course in Los Angeles,but lately we have about decided that you had
better take it at the Koody Bible Institute of Chicago,which I believe is
just as good. As for meeting the California friends of our ^/ork,you might
do that in the summer of 1933 before you take ship for the Orient* % that
time our Advisory Council there could have made plans to receive you and
for you to speak in as many churches as possible. We already- have a large
niamber of friends in the Central States I Illinois, Indiana Ohio,Kentucky, etc*;
but during this last furlough we didn't get around to many of the individual
churches, i^rs. I'lorse's living-link churoh in Illinois would surely be glad
to meet you and perhaps could give some additional assistance^as the congre
gation is several times the size of own living-link church. Ait they *aK3^
carry a heUvy home-missionary work too,and there are so m^y other churches
now that vfill v/elcome independent missionaries that you will be su^rised.
For inatance,right there in Chicago is the iletropolitan Church of '-Tirlstt
asd Ashland Church which Is not quite so strong.
As for material to use in speaking in the churchesjfIrst master the
material in the newsletters v;hich I have written. Then Anna iic^alla
has a set of my own original lantern slides,and could let you use them.
Ify mother could probably give you the Information about e^ch picture. Ag
for books and magazine orticles about our regionyou would find
material, as no missionaries have ev^er v^orked here before and
plorers and scientists have visited the region. I have about everything worth
while right here (up to 1929),but took a lot of hunting to collect it.^
Several of Joseph F. Rock^s articles in "National Geographic i-^.f-azine
touch on our region,but are more about the environs of
the pictures I have sent Mother Morse since I9S9 might be made into IrJitern
slides,and I have a lot more here that should be sent. Jooks nd
Batanp work by Dr. Shelton and others Y/ould be helpful^but our field ^4
f8 still different, fine thing the churches everywhere should be maae
sufe of ia tLt yorire not coalnl out here to "aee the -orld'.or to
" - II - to I^^ewlania -
do reaeaxch work for a Ph,I). thesis#or just to do "social service" work
as auchtbui; to extend the Kingdom of Christ "by preaching the Gospel of
the ITe^ 'Gstament where tt has never been known "before and by saving individ
ual souls out of aln*s darkness tlirough repentance toward God and faith
in Jeaus Christ. Anyway,^ conceive that as yotnr calling*
asked is^ether lona should take either one or hoth of the medical
^ answer is that she ahould take all she can,for
so-eare3 you will -bo out on itinerating work and she may T>e left alone in
^ take one course,
V Tv. supplement each other or perhaps even teach
each other the courses not already taken. To date we have used practically
all our reme-ies already compounded,as v/e have had neither the facilities
nor extra time nor training here. Dut there are several very srood reasons
whj our i.i.33ion ahould have a licensed pharmacist if oossi'ble* Also we
would like one of you to maJce a survey and get materials for further study
on the ayatema of druglesa healing,auoh aa Oateopathy.ChlroBraetlc.Hatur-
opatny^eto. However,we want you to come out in the fall of l933
As to recominendationsj-you ahould have as many of these as you can get
To date you have Prof. C.C. Taylor's,also our own,and the certificate from
the medical examination* It would "be well to have letters from churches
where you have minlateredfchurches where you have been memhera,teachers
under whom you have trogtefc studied,schools where you have taught,and persona
who iiave known you well over a fairly long period of years* So far as poss-
i'ble,recora3iiendation8 should ma||^ definite statements as to your personal
character,training,reputation as to co-operative aMlity,soundness in faith
and practise. These recoramendations should be passed around cur A^jvigory
Council,to the eijitor of the "Christian Standard",and then to those others
"vvho are interested in our lliasion.
May 25.1952. - Dr. and Mr^f* Norton H, Bare and children (three,and
another expected) passed through here over a month ago en route from Sattog
to America. 'D-iey stayed with us two days and saw a little of our work* They
are the only white family we (excepting n^rself) have seen in two years*
Tliey seemed very favorably impressed with our field,workers,and methods,
and said they would "speak a good word for us"* wherever they go In the U.S.A.
'i*lielr permanent address will be Clearwater,Nebraska,and I suggest that you
get in touch with them for some first-hand information about us* They are
both good workers and true Christians,and we believe it will do you good
to know them. V/e only regret that the problem of their children makes it
unlikely that they will be pliable to return to West China*
IJow I must close this letter,w1iich,llke Noah's Ak,haa everything in
it. Probably it will be some time before I Will write you such a letter
again,for aany important things are waiting to be done. Believe me,we have
confidence in you,and high hopws of your joining us,else we would not have
taken our precioua time to go into these matters so fully* If the reading
has been tiresome to |t0U,plea8e remember that I have spent many hours before
this typewriter,thinking and witingrsearching ray heart and racking my
l.rain and reviewingexperiences, Just so the way fflight be made both
solid and easier for your launching out into foreign mission service* we
shall remember you very often in our prayers,and we request that you write
to us often even tho our ov/n letters to you may not be frequent.
Cordially and faithfully,your brother in Christ,
i ^.nPUAAAJLLiTTttmiL'
^ -'orse?
' Yea Chi, Yt^nnnnf w'eat China*
l^unnansHibetan Cbristian /llbission
M ^ a * m #
f ipeacbl aii& atuntse, lOunnan, Cbtnese ^ibet
ADVISORY COUNCIL
(WBSTBKK)
Mrs. W. B. Scott, Long Beach, Calif,
L. F. Stephkns, Loz Angeles, Calif.
W. K. CHAAfBBRLAiK, Los Angelts, Calif.
E. G. Mdrhay, Los Angeles, Calif.
Dr. A.D. McCalla, Los Angeles, Calif,
(central)
Mrs. Roth Morse, Talsa, Okla,
R. W. BorkRart, Tulsa, Okla.
Mrs. Charles Barry, Guthrie, Okla.
W. PAULjofES, Tonkaiva, Okla,
E. R. Amrs, Eldorado, Kan.
Gi50. B. DalSymple, Brenham, Tex.
(bastbrk)
Mrs. B. L- Renfrow, Springfield, III.
C. E- Gard, Springfield, III.
Mrs. Lorbn E. Grobb. Springfield III.
F. J, BRCMME, Chicago, III.
Rov Gateu, Council Bluffs. Iowa.
TIBET
LHASA
INDIA
*
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Vdatano
mandal'Iv'?
SI.^M VV
,J3URMA /'i
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MANKfNC
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CHUNCKtHC
CHINA
CANtON k
&HO.MCKONC
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POSTAL ADDRESS:
YEA-CHI, YONNAN, CHINESE TIBET
(VIA YUNNAN-FU AND WEI HSi)
FORWARDING SECRETARIES
Mrs. I.orbn E. Grdbb, Miss. Treas.
WEST side church OF CHRIST
808South English Ave., Springfield, HL
Mrs. W. K. CHAMBERLAIN, Afiss. Treus,
HOLLBKBECK HEIOHTS CHOnCH OP.CHRIST
251 North Herbert St., Lo.s Atigeles, Calif.
Mrs. Rdth Morsb
114South Denver Ave., Tulsa, Okla.
Standard Publishing Co.
Station N., Box 5. Cincinnati, Ohio
THE MISSION STAFF
J. Russell Morsb, Director
Gertrude H. Morse
Eugenic K. Tarn
Shd-chbnq Tarn
CtirFORD R. Fo
Della M. Fc
Sdwin 3rrett,Iilditor>
"Cliristian Standard
Cinoinnati, S.A.
Yea Chi,August I2)l952'
Tlie
n.
ear Prother Srrett i-
We have "been much ehcouraged to hear from my mother ani from various
friends that you are still interested in our Mission to Aihet^and have of
fered to help "by Viay of publicity. 7/e have gotten ourselves so involved in
the DOIEfG of the work that v/e have let nearly ten mnnths slip "by without
TELLIHG ahout it. You must not* think that vie undervalue your friendshin^
or^thpt ve feel "but little need of it-
Mother i^Iorse "VTrote us of her attending the recent Missionary Conven
tion together v/ith !;&:. and Fd?s. Vernon H. Kewlandjwhom we hope will "be ahle
to join our v/ork out here next year. I hope you met those two eminently
qualified young folk and v.dll give them the' support -vrhich you know so v;ell
hov/ to give. Both-^^irs. Korse and I wish to add our hearty approval of the
Ilev/lands to that of my mother,our Advisory Counciland Prof* C.O. Taylor-
ITor your information I enclose a copy of our Hay 20th letter (our latest)
to the I'Teivlands. It is long,hut I trust that your experienced eye will
require too Eiuch time to master its contents. Should'certain parts,or a con
densation Ox the whole,seem likely to interest "Standard^" ^readers,please
use them as you judge "best. Certainly the sending of the l^lewlands cannot he
accomplished unless widespread interest is aroused. Tou can help greatly*
In connection wi^th the financing of the JTewlanda^we have fciven much_
prayerful consideration to the extremely serious financial depression which
.no doubt has cut dov/n the support of other Free Agencies as well as ours*
'^e conclude that only unusual PHAYIIR and SACP.Ij'IGS on Oin part can accomplish
it. To call for much ADDED support,perhaps at the expense of other ^ree
Agencies-^t)^ld hardly "be fair to those eaually-deservine missionaries-
So vfe-^Sire developed a general plan calling for only a minimum of
ADDITIOITAL Support. Pae bulk of the ITewlands supT)ort will be met by cutting
our -Dresentl field T/ork to the bone,temt)ora,rily diverting oiir ro-nenoiaer.
current Qonitributions to the "inc\7 IIISSltOIiAHIES ,and for field expenses
even dra^irfg upon our modest Emergency 5*und if necessary.
'-2 - -to Sdwin ^rrett*
The details of this tentative "budget and plan are set forth in a letter to
our Advisory Council,a copy of which has been sent to Mother Horse.
The heart of the prohlem seems to he to find two living-link churches,
between rfhioh to divide the salary for Vernon and Mona I-Je?rland. The ^plSoo.oo.
might "be divided equally,or perhaps 5800*oo per year might he asked for Km
Vernon Fevdand's support and :!?7no,oo for the support of Mona S'ev/land. If
these living-link_churches could he enlisted from outside the present sun-
^--ission,! helieve that the amounts needed for outfit and travel
0 the field could almost entirely he made up from reflp^lar current contrib
utions,v/hich should be sent to any of the JTorwarding Secretaries listed.
% virtue of combined economy and loyal support we now have a modest
Emergency J'und in the bank. Tiie financing of the K^ewlands will probably
necessitate our drav^ing on those emergency funds for field expense,which
IS a dangerous undertaking. For instance,Sugene K. Tarn and family are sup
ported by the Mizpah Glass of J'irst Christian Church in Long Seach^i-^rs Lulu
Scott teacher. If Mother Scott's health should fail and the Mizpah Class
disband,we would either have to draw on those reserve funds for their sup
port or pay their travel expense back to Chenp:tu,Szechwaawell over two
months caravan journeyv/hich would mean the loss of one of t>ie finest miss
ionary families (Cliinese) in all West China* Or Hussia and Japan might go
to war involving China,and cut off our trans-Pacific line of communication
(in ohat case our mail should be re-directed vie, Hang0 0n,Sham0fand Tengyueh.)
But we are used to living dangerously in our King's service,and PKSi'EH it
because it gives proof of the Living Cod. In this particular instance we
shall feel amply repaid if the ITowlands are sent to work with us.
The work on the field has come to require so much of our time and m.
strength that we need more constant help from our Advisory Council,in order
that spiritual help and sSeBMgiSK general sup-oort in the homeland may be
maintained. Hence we are Eeorganizing our Advisory Council along more active
lines. This almost unprecedented financial depression has hit us TilRY HARD,
but it's STjiritual depression we f^ar,for spiritual results cannot be had
without spiritual support. Brother Sawin,T)lease include us in your prayers-
V/e re,ioioe to tell Jou of EIGHTEEN MOHE baptized Intn sir"'-
writing the enclosed letter to I^ewla,nds,making a total of 41 (]?ORTY-OKE)
already in 1932. All have shoivn satisfactory "fruits of repentsjice" and
have passed thorough examination as to their faith. An Is live in our
Tobalo district,4 being of the V/u-ba-lo village and l4 of Dra-tsi- village.
We are convinced that present worldwide developments-whi^H inspire
dread in so many people are fulfillments of God's prophetic Word concerning
the end of the Gospel age and ushering in the return of^our Savior, ^e are^
convinced that the evangelization of Cliinese Tibet and Inner Tihet,the last
great unevangelized region on earth,has a concluding part^in the Divine
Dlan. Truly missionaries to Tibet are forerunners to the Second Coming of
CIirist,a3 John the Daptist was to Kis gefflisag. So^in obedience to the
Great Comr,iission,Tilease send us these new missionaries,and so hasten the
day of our Lord's Return.
Your brother in "The Blessed Hotdr".
J# Russell Morse,
Yea ChT Yunnan,West Chi'^-.
P.S.- 'ffe haven't received the "CI-EI3TIAJI STAIIDAllD" for a year, tferough some
oversight or other. Recently we got to missing it so.much that i wrote.mother
to investlfl'ftte and make sure that it set^ started being sent to us again.
To us it's the one indispensable periodical of llew Testament Christianity.