Ahoy from Amoy (historic Xiamen). I received an interesting letter today from an Arizona couple seeking information about their "Tan" family ancestor (great grandfather, 1852-1899) from Quanzhou who became a Christian in Amoy after hearing a Presbyterian minister. As my reply might help others with the same query, I post my reply below (and their letter with their names removed for privacy's sake). If you have relevant information, please share it!
Dr. Bill
Bill Brown Xiamen University www.amoymagic.com
Dear P. and J.,
Greetings from Amoy and thank you for your email. I'm
sorry but I've no idea what "first mission bible" was. Do you mean the
first Protestant Mission? If so, the Amoy Mission was the first, and was
composed of three denominations, including the English Presbyterian Mission, the London Missionary Society and the Reformed
Church [Dutch] of America [RCA] mission.
The best resource, by far, is "The Reformed Church in America" by De Jong. Even though it is mainly about the RCA, it is the best history of the entire Amoy Mission and there is nothing else like it.
The
Amoy Mission was not only the first (and Xiamen's Xinjie Church was the
first Protestant Church) but also the strongest because of its 3-self
principles, which the Amoy Mission originated in the 1850s
(self propagating, self-directing, self financing), which the Chinese
Communists themselves adopted after 1949 and which continue to guide
registered churches.
I have quite a few pages on my www.amoymagic.com website about the Amoy Mission, which you can reference here: http://www.amoymagic.com/Amoymission.htm
To research specifics about someone named Tan, lacking specific records, I can only suggest that you visit Xiamen churches (Xinjie,
the oldest, as well as the Bamboo Church, Trinity Church on Gulangyu,
etc)., and inquire if they have any records, though, sadly, most records
were destroyed either by the Japanese invaders (1938-1945) or during
the unCultural Revolution, during
which they also destroyed the centuries-old foreign cemetery on Gulangyu
Islet.
There are many online sources (though none as thorough as De Jong's book), including
City of Springs, a 1902 mission book about Quanzhou (60 km. North of Amoy), which was part of the Amoy Mission, is on my website at: http://www.amoymagic.com/Quanzhou_CityofSprings.htm
50 Years in Amoy, or, A History of the Amoy Mission,
written in 1893 by Rev. Philip Wilson Pitcher. You can also download the above book as a Mobil for Kindle or PDF from archives.org
For the best insight on old Amoy, Pitcher also wrote, in 1907, "In and About Amoy,' which is available as a reprint on Amazon for only $16.57).
For the best insight on old Amoy, Pitcher also wrote, in 1907, "In and About Amoy,' which is available as a reprint on Amazon for only $16.57).
A
Google search of "Amoy Mission" returns over 5,000 results, many of
which should be interesting.
You can also visit mission archives (particularly those of the Presbyterian Church in China).
You can also visit mission archives (particularly those of the Presbyterian Church in China).
My Amazon eBook "Discover Xiamen" also has over 600 pages on Xiamen and South Fujian (which was the Amoy Mission).
Dr. Bill
Academic Director, SMXMU OneMBA
Enjoy Amoy!
School of Management, Xiamen University
Amazon eBook "Discover Xiamen"
www.amoymagic.comAmazon eBook "Discover Xiamen"
On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 6:30 AM, J.L. wrote:
Dr. Bill,
I am researching my Christian heritage, and came across your website.We are in Phoenix, AZ
.According to my aunt who wrote her biography, my great grandfather, last name TAN (1852 - 1899) got his training from the first Mission Bible in South China, with only 8 men students. He was saved after hearing a Presbyterian missionary.Can you shed some light for us?My husband and I are about 60 years old. J. is a Baptist pastor.Thank you,J and P L.
Dr. Bill
School of Management, Xiamen University
Amazon eBook "Discover Xiamen"
www.amoymagic.comAmazon eBook "Discover Xiamen"
Bill Brown Xiamen University www.amoymagic.com
