Letter from Henry to Father, March 5, 1881

Letter from Henry to Father, March 5, 1881

Smallpox; Disease; Translations

Henry writes to his father saying how thankful he is that no one in the family is sick yet. There have already been two deaths on Shameen. His sons are doing well. Apparently smallpox is among the Chinese this year but all the missionaries who've contracted it have got through it nicely. They have 19 native preachers at the moment who have just completed their studies. Henry talks about his bible class and his contribution to a colloquial translation of the New Testament.

Noyes, Henry Varnum

Loose, The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection

Unpublished

1881-03-05

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_623

Canton March 5th 1881
My dear Father
I have got out of bed rather
earlier than usual this morning to get my
home letter written before mail time. We are
all well, which is a cause for thankfulness as
there has been a more than usual amount
of sickness this year and two deaths on
Shameen. Willie has been somewhat troubled
with diarrhea but is better now. Little Richard
Varnum seems to keep very well all the
time and is a very happy little fellow. He
very seldom cries and has a smile for every-
body. He is not so heavy as Willie used to
be and I think will learn to walk much
earlier. He can stand on his feet quite well
now and has a little wicker work chair in
which he sits a good deal. There has been
a great deal of small pox among the Chinese
this year and three of the missionary com-
munity have had it. It was light however in
every case and all got through it nicely.
We have just finished our series of
Mission Meetings which we have at the be-

ginning of each year to make out reports
for the last year and send estimates for
next year and arrange mission matters
generally. Mr Henry wrote the report for last
year. I wish you could see it. Our work
is enlarging more and more. We have now
19 native [--as--] preachers, two very good men
have just completed their studies and were
taken on by the mission this week.
I presume the Board will think
we are making rather large applications
We have sent asking for two more clerical
missionaries & one medical missionary with
a view of pushing into the neighboring
province of Kwong-Si. We have also applied
for two more single ladies. Also made
several applications for funds for various
purposes. I shall be very glad if we get
all we have asked for but hardly ex-
pect [--we--] the Board will be able to grant all. I
do not remember the exact number of
members received during the year but
think it was not far from 60.
The mission also authorized me

to organize a church at the chapel in
the city at Sz-Pai-Lan. This is the place
purchased by the United Pres Mission when
Mr Nevin left. It is well situated and
is close to where one of the principal North
and South streets of the city crosses the
main East and West street. But the
building is very old and needs to be rebuilt.
I have had a Bible class there during the
past year and there are 15 or 20 members
in the vicinity who now belong to the 1st &
2d churches and who will get letters from
these churches and unite in forming
this 3d church.
I was glad to get Sarah's
letter which you sent me. I was sorry
she did not get permission to go home
at New Years. It seems a long time to
be away from when one is so near
and could reach it so easily. From Mother's
account I think Mr Elliott must have his
hands full
I [--have an--] am sending home

by this mail an application to the Con
tract society ot print my Concordance.
There is a revision committee at work
on the New Testament but it will probably
be several years before they get through on
this account it does not seem best to
publish the Concordance in full until the
revision is completed when the Concordance will
need revision also. But the proposition at present
is simply to put in the [u] number [/u] of [u] chapter [/u] [u] & [/u]
[u] verse [/u]. In this way the blocks [--con--] for
printing can be cut for $100. Dr Happer &
Mr Henry & I have also been at work during
the last year upon a colloquial translation of
the New Testament from the beginning of Romans to
the end. My part was from James 1st to
the end which I have finished. I have
now commenced preparing a colloquial translation
of the Pentateuch which I will work along
as I get time.
Willie wants me to get back
into bed with him a little while so as my
sheet is full I will say good bye for this time
With much love from us all to you all
Your aff Son
Henry.



广州 1881 年 3 月 5 日 我亲爱的父亲，
今天早上我比平时早起床，
以便在邮寄时间之前写好我的家信。
我们都很好，
这是值得庆幸的，
因为今年的疾病数量比平时多，
沙面岛上有两人死亡。
威利有点腹泻，
但现在好多了。
小理查德瓦纳姆似乎一直保持得很好，
是一个非常快乐的小家伙。
他很少哭，
对每个人都微笑。
他不像以前那样沉重，
我想他会更早地学会走路。
他现在可以很好地站起来了，
还有一把柳条小工作椅，
他坐得很舒服。
今年在中国人中出现了很多天花，
三个传教士社区都感染了。
然而，
在每种情况下它都很轻，
而且都很好地度过了它。
我们刚刚完成了每年年初的系列宣教会议，
以制作上一年的报告，
并发送明年的预算，
并总体安排宣教事宜。
亨利先生为去年撰写了这份报告。
我希望你能看到它。
我们的工作越来越大。
我们现在有 19 位本土传教士，
其中两位非常优秀的人刚刚完成学业，
并在本周接受了宣教。
我想董事会会认为我们正在提出相当大的申请我们已经派出要求再增加两名文职传教士和一名医疗传教士，
以推进邻近的广司省。
我们还申请了另外两名单身女士。
还为各种目的申请了几次资金。
如果我们得到了我们所要求的一切，
我将非常高兴，
但很难指望董事会能够满足所有要求。
我不记得这一年收到的确切成员人数，
但认为离 60 人不远。
传教团还授权我在 Sz-Pai-Lan 市的小教堂组织一座教堂。
这是内文先生离开时联合长老会买下的地方。
它位置优越，
靠近城市的主要南北街道之一与主要东西街道交叉的地方。
但是这栋楼很旧，
需要重建。
去年我在那里上过圣经课，
附近有 15 或 20 名成员现在属于第一和第二教会，
他们将收到这些教会的来信，
并团结起来组建这个第三教会。
我很高兴收到你寄给我的莎拉的信。
我很抱歉她没有得到允许在新年回家。
当一个人如此接近并且可以如此容易地到达它时，
似乎要远离它很长时间。
从母亲的帐户来看，
我想埃利奥特先生一定是忙得不可开交。
我通过这封邮件向合同协会寄送一份申请，
以打印我的协约书。
新约有一个修订委员会正在工作，
但他们可能需要几年时间才能通过这个帐户，
似乎最好在修订完成之前完整出版《协调》，
因为《协调》也需要修订。
但目前的命题只是简单地把章数和节数放进去。
通过这种方式，
打印块可以以 100 美元的价格切割。
去年，
我和哈珀医生、亨利先生和我一直在研究新约从罗马书开头到结尾的口语翻译。
我的部分是从詹姆斯一号到我完成的结束。
我现在已经开始准备五经的口语翻译，
我将在有时间的时候继续工作。
威利要我和他一起上床休息一会儿，
等我的床单满了，
我就和这次说再见了，
带着我们所有人对你们的爱，
你的儿子亨利。

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