Ahoy from Amoy! (modern Xiamen, China)
I received an email today from Emily Cheng, 5th generation descendant of Xiamen Bamboo Church's first pastor, Iap Han Chiong (葉漢章牧師). Click Here to read her letter; if you have more information about Pastor Iap, please share it. Many of my old books have photos or text about pastor Iap, the first Chinese pastor to the Chinese church in Amoy (which was China's first Protestant church, so we can pretty much say Pastor Iap was the first Chinese pastor!).
I will post more about Pastor Iap, but for now, but this Tribute by Iap to John Van Next Talmage (Amoy's pioneering preacher, teacher and educator) tells you much about the qualities that Iap saw as important in life. Click Here for a short biography of Talmage on the Amoy Mission section of our Amoy Magic website.
VENERABLE TEACHER TALMAGE: TRIBUTE By PASTOR IAP HAN CHIONG.
[Pastor Iap was the first pastor of the Chinese Church]Teacher Talmage was very gentle. He wished ever to be at peace with men. If he saw a man in error he used words of meekness in convincing and converting the man from his error. Whether he exhorted, encouraged or instructed, his words were words of prudence, seasoned with salt, so that men were glad to receive and obey.
Teacher Talmage was a lover of men. When he saw a man in distress and it was right for him to help, he helped. In peril, he exerted himself to deliver the man; in weakness, in danger of falling, he tried to uphold; suffering oppression, he arose to the defense, fearing no power, but contending earnestly
for the right.
Teacher Talmage was very gracious in receiving men, whether men of position or the common people. He treated all alike. If they wished to discuss any matter with him and get his advice, he would patiently listen to their tale. If he had any counsel to give, he gave it. If he felt he could not conscicntiously have anything to do with the affair, he told the men forthwith.
He could pierce through words, and see through men's countenances and judge what the man was, who was addressing him.
Teacher Talmage had great eloquence and possessed great intelligence. His utterance was clear, his voice powerful, his exposition of doctrine very thorough. Men listened and the truth entered their ears and their hearts understood.
Teacher Talmage was grave in manner. He commanded the respect and praise of men. His was a truly ministerial bearing. Men within and without the Church venerated him.
Sometimes differences between brethren arose. Teacher Talmage earnestly exhorted to harmony. Even serious differences, which looked beyond healing, were removed, because men felt constrained to listen to his counsel.
Teacher Talmage was exceedingly diligent. When not otherwise engaged, morning and afternoon found him in his study reading, writing, preparing sermons, translating books.
He preached every Sabbath. He conducted classes of catechumens. He founded the Girls' School at the Church "Under the Bamboos." He founded the Theological Seminary. Others taught with him, but he was the master spirit. He was ten points careful that everything relating to the organization and administration of the Church should be in accordance with the Holy Book.
Only at the urgent request of two physicians did he finally leave China. He was prepared to die and to be buried at Amoy. And this was not because he was not honored in his ancestral country, or could find no home. No, he had sons, he had a brother, he had nephews and nieces, he had many relatives and friends who greatly reverenced and loved him.
But Teacher Talmage could not bear to be separated from the Church in China. Surely this was imitating the heart of Christ. Surely this was loving the people of China to the utmost.
Pastor Iap Han Chiong, Bamboo Church, Amoy (Xiamen
Enjoy Amoy!
Dr. Bill
Bill Brown Xiamen University www.amoymagic.com
I received an email today from Emily Cheng, 5th generation descendant of Xiamen Bamboo Church's first pastor, Iap Han Chiong (葉漢章牧師). Click Here to read her letter; if you have more information about Pastor Iap, please share it. Many of my old books have photos or text about pastor Iap, the first Chinese pastor to the Chinese church in Amoy (which was China's first Protestant church, so we can pretty much say Pastor Iap was the first Chinese pastor!).
I will post more about Pastor Iap, but for now, but this Tribute by Iap to John Van Next Talmage (Amoy's pioneering preacher, teacher and educator) tells you much about the qualities that Iap saw as important in life. Click Here for a short biography of Talmage on the Amoy Mission section of our Amoy Magic website.
VENERABLE TEACHER TALMAGE: TRIBUTE By PASTOR IAP HAN CHIONG.
[Pastor Iap was the first pastor of the Chinese Church]Teacher Talmage was very gentle. He wished ever to be at peace with men. If he saw a man in error he used words of meekness in convincing and converting the man from his error. Whether he exhorted, encouraged or instructed, his words were words of prudence, seasoned with salt, so that men were glad to receive and obey.
Teacher Talmage was a lover of men. When he saw a man in distress and it was right for him to help, he helped. In peril, he exerted himself to deliver the man; in weakness, in danger of falling, he tried to uphold; suffering oppression, he arose to the defense, fearing no power, but contending earnestly
for the right.
Teacher Talmage was very gracious in receiving men, whether men of position or the common people. He treated all alike. If they wished to discuss any matter with him and get his advice, he would patiently listen to their tale. If he had any counsel to give, he gave it. If he felt he could not conscicntiously have anything to do with the affair, he told the men forthwith.
He could pierce through words, and see through men's countenances and judge what the man was, who was addressing him.
Teacher Talmage had great eloquence and possessed great intelligence. His utterance was clear, his voice powerful, his exposition of doctrine very thorough. Men listened and the truth entered their ears and their hearts understood.
Teacher Talmage was grave in manner. He commanded the respect and praise of men. His was a truly ministerial bearing. Men within and without the Church venerated him.
Sometimes differences between brethren arose. Teacher Talmage earnestly exhorted to harmony. Even serious differences, which looked beyond healing, were removed, because men felt constrained to listen to his counsel.
Teacher Talmage was exceedingly diligent. When not otherwise engaged, morning and afternoon found him in his study reading, writing, preparing sermons, translating books.
He preached every Sabbath. He conducted classes of catechumens. He founded the Girls' School at the Church "Under the Bamboos." He founded the Theological Seminary. Others taught with him, but he was the master spirit. He was ten points careful that everything relating to the organization and administration of the Church should be in accordance with the Holy Book.
Only at the urgent request of two physicians did he finally leave China. He was prepared to die and to be buried at Amoy. And this was not because he was not honored in his ancestral country, or could find no home. No, he had sons, he had a brother, he had nephews and nieces, he had many relatives and friends who greatly reverenced and loved him.
But Teacher Talmage could not bear to be separated from the Church in China. Surely this was imitating the heart of Christ. Surely this was loving the people of China to the utmost.
Pastor Iap Han Chiong, Bamboo Church, Amoy (Xiamen
Enjoy Amoy!
Dr. Bill
School of Management, Xiamen University
Amazon eBook "Discover Xiamen"
www.amoymagic.comAmazon eBook "Discover Xiamen"
Bill Brown Xiamen University www.amoymagic.com
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