Letter from Henry to "Dear Ones at Home," May 31, 1904
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Henry to "Dear Ones at Home," May 31, 1904
Subject
Death; Theological seminaries; Chinese language--Written Chinese; Medical schools; Teaching; Bible--Publication and distribution--Societies, etc.; Missionaries; Women scholars; Plague; Epidemics; Faith; Malaria
Description
This letter is mainly about Richard who died recently. Henry gives a somewhat detailed description of Richard's accomplishments including his mastery of the Chinese language, his teaching career at medical school, and his translation work with the British Foreign Bible Society. He also mentions that before dying, Richard planned to join the Auburn Seminary in the fall. Although the doctors initially thought that Richard had malaria, they later diagnosed him with the plague. Henry describes the symptoms and progression of Richard's illness and includes a detailed account of Richard's last wishes.
Creator
Noyes, Henry Varnum
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #3
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1904-05-31
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_844
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China May 31st 1904
Dear Ones at Home
I know how sorry you will all feel that
our dear Richard, how very dear he seems to us here now,
is with us no longer. "He is not" (that is in this world) "for
the Lord has taken him." It all came very unexpectedly. It had
been [--all--] decided two or three weeks ago that he would go home
and Enter Auburn Seminary in the fall, and he seemed much
pleased with the Prospect. He had been workin here very faith-
fully and Efficiantly and I fear too intensely for this hot
climate. But it was not in him to do anything [??]
doing it earnestly and thoroughly. It was a marvel to
me how he picked up the Chinese Written language. He
had mastered the New Testament in Chinese colloquial in
a few weeks and only ^[?about?] while after his arrival in Canton
he commenced teaching Chemistry ^in the [?illegible?] medical College using Uen-li books. He
translated last fall quite a long paper giving a running
account of the history of the British Foreign Bible Society
from the beginning till now its hundredth anniversary.
He did this for the Agent of the Society in Canton. When sent
to Shanghai the Agent there was so well pleased with it
that he sent for 1200 copies to be circulated in North
China [--Dur--] He got together the Educational Collection of
our Mission for the St Louis Exposition. It involved
considerable work but like everything else he understood
was well done. During the present year he has been
teaching ^heads Chemistry in the Womens Med College in the School Natural Theology, Electricity, Sound
Light Heat + and taking Change of gymnastic Exercises.
He fully expected to go home for three years and then
come back and take charge of this department.
But when the lord saw fit to call him to another
spere of labor he turned without a murmur from
it all, to go [--to--] and be forever with the Lord.
The Plague had been Epidemic this year on Tate as
well as some places across the river. Our cook went to see
his friends on the other side of the river and we suppose
brought back the plague with him. At any rate about
a week after, [--service--] he came down with it. He was
by the doctor's advice [--he was--] sent away at once & his
brothers. Richard helped to look after a boat and get him
away comfortably but I do not think exposed himself rashly.
I do not think he was any more exposed that Dr. Selden
and myself, but his stomach had been somewhat out of
order and I suppose his system was in a condition
susceptible to the disease. A week later, he complained on
Sabbath afternoon of feeling very tired, in the night he had fever
which on Monday morning rose to a very high fever. Dr.
Selden examined his blood and said there was decisive
evidence that it was [u] malarial [/u] fever so that we did not
feel specially anxious. Tuesday [?forenoon?] however though the
fever was somewhat lower the symptoms of plague were
Evident. As most foreigners, who had been ill of plague,
had recovered we still hoped it would be the case with
him. Tuesday night he slept well his Temperature
was lower and he seemed to feel so much better
and stronger that we thought the worst was over and
I think he thought so too. He asked Dr. Selden whether
he thought he would be well Enough to go with
him on the "Mongolia" June 16th. His fever rose a little
in the afternoon but we thought it might be because
he was Tired, and fully Expected that he would feel
still better Thursday than Wednesday. He went to sleep
in the Evening, just as he had done the Evening before,
and slept quietly till about then-o-clock when he awoke
with a burning fever and mind wandering. We sent
at once for the Doctor but only to find out that our
fears were correct, and that the end was near. He
breathed very rapidly and much of the time his Talk
was incoherent. Once he suddenly spoke out strong + clear
"God is love." Again he broke out in a short Earnest prayer
perfectly rational and Ending then "keep us to serve[--these--] Jesus all the
rest of our lives." Again he prayed only two or three sentences.
I think it was [--only--] about one hour before he died that we thought
best to tell him plainly his condition but without much hope that
[--it would--] he would be rational. To our surprise however it seemed
to bring him to himself. I do not remember just what his first reply
was but directly he said "Father I am thinking now of that hymn you
like so well. My heavenly home is bright and fair". I said
"shall I sing it to you? he said "yes." I sang three versus.
I then asked him "Do you feel that Jesus loves you and
is precious He said "Oh yes he is precious, [u] very [/u] precious. He
named a little box that he brought from Honululu and said
he wished Mother to have some special ting from him and
to take this. He said Will will know what it is. Then he
turned towards his Mother while a sweet smile swept over his
countenance and then Earnestly and lovingly came the
parting message "Let not your heart be troubled." He looked
towards William and said "If I am going good-bye Will"
Then he sent his farewell to his friends mentioning specially
those in Seattle [?Jaeirma?] seville and Waterford." The he said
with great Earnestness "Tell the Tate scholars that I want them
to serve the Christ whose I have tried to serve. [?Tell?] them that
I have enjoyed very much the few months that I have
spent with them. Tell them that I joined the church in China
and that i had rather be buried in the Canton Cemetery than
in any other place in the world." Then he spoke in Chinese
"Jesus [u] loves [/u] China + he wants you to love him more than
you love yourselves, more than you love your families, more
than you love your friends." then he said "Call Will" and [--to--]
asked him to write to the two students who had been with him
in the office at Wooster. "Write" he said "to Schroeder + Porter
and tell them to keep "[u] Close to Christ [/u]"
Last of all his thoughts turned towards himself
and he said "Tp depart and be with Christ is for better"
[--and--] but added after a little hesitation "but I would have liked to do
more for the Lord in the world. Perhaps however where I have been
my death ay have a stronger influence than a longer life."
Then he turned to Dr. Swan who with Dr. Selden had attended him
and said "Doctor do you think there is any possible change that I can
pull through yet?" The reply was "I wish I could say that there is but
fear I cannot." "Well then" said Richard "it is [u] all right [/u]. [u] The Lord Knows best [/u]."
Little more he said until his spirit left the suffering body and passed upward
to be forever with the Lord. We are lonely of course but out hearts are comforted.
Bella + William + I all send much love to the home circle in Seville Your loving Bro Henry
中国广州 1904 年 5 月 31 日
亲爱的在家
我知道你们会为此感到多么抱歉
我们亲爱的理查德，他现在在我们看来是多么的亲切，
不再与我们同在。 “他不是”（即在这个世界上）“因为
主已经带走了他。”这一切来得非常出乎意料。
两三个星期前就决定要回家了
秋天进入奥本神学院，他看起来很
对前景感到满意。他一直在这里工作，非常有信心——
充分而有效地，我对这种炎热的恐惧过于强烈
气候。但他无权做任何事
认真而彻底地做这件事。这是一个奇迹
我是怎么学会中文的。他
在汉语口语中掌握了新约
几个星期，也就是他抵达广州后不久
他开始使用 Uen-li 书籍在难以辨认的医学院教授化学。他
去年秋天翻译了一篇相当长的论文
记述英国外国圣经公会的历史
从开始到现在它的一百周年。
他是为广州的协会代理人做的。发送时
去上海代理很满意
他寄来1200份在北方发行
中国。他收集了教育收藏
我们的圣路易斯博览会使命。它涉及
大量的工作，但就像他理解的其他一切一样
做得很好。在这一年里，他一直
学校女子医学院化学系教学主任自然神学、电学、声学、
光，热和体操练习的变化。
他完全期望回家三年，然后
回来负责这个部门。
但是当主认为合适的时候把他叫到另一个
他毫无怨言地转向了劳动领域
这一切，去永远与主同在。
鼠疫今年在泰特美术馆流行
以及河对岸的一些地方。我们的厨师去看了
他的朋友在河的另一边，我们假设
把瘟疫带回来了。无论如何大约
一周后，他接受了。他是
根据医生的建议立即送走
兄弟。理查德帮忙照看一条船
舒舒服服地走了，但我不认为贸然暴露自己。
我认为他不再像塞尔登医生那样暴露了
和我自己，但他的胃已经有点不舒服了
命令，我想他的系统处于某种状态
易患此病。一周后，他抱怨
安息日下午感觉很累，晚上发烧了
星期一早上发高烧。医师
塞尔登检查了他的血液并说有决定性的
证明是疟疾热，所以我们没有
感到特别焦虑。周二下午虽然
发烧稍微低一点，鼠疫的症状是
明显。和大多数得过瘟疫的外国人一样，
已经康复了，我们仍然希望会是这样
他。周二晚上他睡得很好他的体温
低了，他似乎感觉好多了
更强大，我们认为最糟糕的已经过去了
我想他也是这么想的。他问医生塞尔登是否
他认为他会很好
他在6月16日的《蒙古》上。他的发烧有点高
下午，但我们认为这可能是因为
他累了，完全期待他会感到
周四还是比周三好。他去睡觉了
在晚上，就像他之前做的晚上一样，
安安静静地睡到他醒来的时候
伴随着灼热的发烧和走神。我们发送
立即为医生，但只是发现我们的
恐惧是正确的，而且末日即将来临。他
呼吸非常迅速，大部分时间他的谈话
语无伦次。有一次，他突然有力而清晰地说出
“上帝就是爱。”他再次爆发出简短而诚恳的祈祷
完全理性和结局然后“让我们一直侍奉耶稣
我们的余生。”他又只祈祷了两三句话。
我想我们认为是在他死前大约一小时
最好坦白地告诉他他的情况，但不要抱太大希望
他会是理性的。然而令我们惊讶的是，它似乎
把他带到自己身边。我不记得他的第一个回复是什么
但他直接说：“父亲，我现在正在想你的那首赞美诗
非常喜欢。我的天堂之家明亮而美丽”。我说
“要我唱给你听吗？他说“是的。”我唱了三对。
然后我问他：“你觉得耶稣爱你吗？
很珍贵 他说：“哦，是的，他很珍贵，非常珍贵。他
给他从火奴鲁鲁带来的一个小盒子命名，并说
他希望母亲能从他那里得到一些特别的东西，
拿这个。他说威尔会知道那是什么。随后他
转身看向母亲，甜甜的笑容掠过他的
面容，然后认真而充满爱意地来到
离别信息“不要让你的心烦恼。”他看了
对威廉说：“如果我要再见，威尔”
然后他向他的朋友们告别，提到特别
那些在西雅图 Jaeirma 塞维利亚和沃特福德的人。”他说
非常认真地“告诉泰特学者我想要他们
服侍我曾努力服侍的基督。告诉他们
我非常享受这几个月的时光
和他们一起度过。告诉他们我加入了中国的教会
我宁愿被埋在广州公墓而不是
在世界上任何其他地方。”然后他用中文说
“耶稣爱中国+他希望你爱他胜过
爱自己胜过爱家人
比你爱你的朋友。”然后他说“打电话给威尔”，然后
让他写信给和他在一起的两个学生
在伍斯特的办公室。 “写”他说“给施罗德和波特
并告诉他们保持“亲近基督”
最后他的思绪转向了自己
他说“离开并与基督同在会更好”
但犹豫了一下后补充说“但我本来想这样做
多为世上的主。也许我去过的地方
我的死比更长的生命更有影响力。”
然后他转向斯旺医生，他和塞尔登医生一起照顾过他
并说“医生你认为有什么可能的改变吗？
通过了吗？”回答是“我希望我能说有，但是
恐怕我做不到。” “那么，”理查德说，“没关系。主是最清楚的。”
他说的不多，直到他的灵魂离开受苦的身体，向上传递
永远与主同在。我们当然是孤独的，但内心却得到了安慰。
贝拉、威廉和我都对塞维利亚的家庭圈子寄予厚望 你亲爱的亨利兄弟
Dear Ones at Home
I know how sorry you will all feel that
our dear Richard, how very dear he seems to us here now,
is with us no longer. "He is not" (that is in this world) "for
the Lord has taken him." It all came very unexpectedly. It had
been [--all--] decided two or three weeks ago that he would go home
and Enter Auburn Seminary in the fall, and he seemed much
pleased with the Prospect. He had been workin here very faith-
fully and Efficiantly and I fear too intensely for this hot
climate. But it was not in him to do anything [??]
doing it earnestly and thoroughly. It was a marvel to
me how he picked up the Chinese Written language. He
had mastered the New Testament in Chinese colloquial in
a few weeks and only ^[?about?] while after his arrival in Canton
he commenced teaching Chemistry ^in the [?illegible?] medical College using Uen-li books. He
translated last fall quite a long paper giving a running
account of the history of the British Foreign Bible Society
from the beginning till now its hundredth anniversary.
He did this for the Agent of the Society in Canton. When sent
to Shanghai the Agent there was so well pleased with it
that he sent for 1200 copies to be circulated in North
China [--Dur--] He got together the Educational Collection of
our Mission for the St Louis Exposition. It involved
considerable work but like everything else he understood
was well done. During the present year he has been
teaching ^heads Chemistry in the Womens Med College in the School Natural Theology, Electricity, Sound
Light Heat + and taking Change of gymnastic Exercises.
He fully expected to go home for three years and then
come back and take charge of this department.
But when the lord saw fit to call him to another
spere of labor he turned without a murmur from
it all, to go [--to--] and be forever with the Lord.
The Plague had been Epidemic this year on Tate as
well as some places across the river. Our cook went to see
his friends on the other side of the river and we suppose
brought back the plague with him. At any rate about
a week after, [--service--] he came down with it. He was
by the doctor's advice [--he was--] sent away at once & his
brothers. Richard helped to look after a boat and get him
away comfortably but I do not think exposed himself rashly.
I do not think he was any more exposed that Dr. Selden
and myself, but his stomach had been somewhat out of
order and I suppose his system was in a condition
susceptible to the disease. A week later, he complained on
Sabbath afternoon of feeling very tired, in the night he had fever
which on Monday morning rose to a very high fever. Dr.
Selden examined his blood and said there was decisive
evidence that it was [u] malarial [/u] fever so that we did not
feel specially anxious. Tuesday [?forenoon?] however though the
fever was somewhat lower the symptoms of plague were
Evident. As most foreigners, who had been ill of plague,
had recovered we still hoped it would be the case with
him. Tuesday night he slept well his Temperature
was lower and he seemed to feel so much better
and stronger that we thought the worst was over and
I think he thought so too. He asked Dr. Selden whether
he thought he would be well Enough to go with
him on the "Mongolia" June 16th. His fever rose a little
in the afternoon but we thought it might be because
he was Tired, and fully Expected that he would feel
still better Thursday than Wednesday. He went to sleep
in the Evening, just as he had done the Evening before,
and slept quietly till about then-o-clock when he awoke
with a burning fever and mind wandering. We sent
at once for the Doctor but only to find out that our
fears were correct, and that the end was near. He
breathed very rapidly and much of the time his Talk
was incoherent. Once he suddenly spoke out strong + clear
"God is love." Again he broke out in a short Earnest prayer
perfectly rational and Ending then "keep us to serve[--these--] Jesus all the
rest of our lives." Again he prayed only two or three sentences.
I think it was [--only--] about one hour before he died that we thought
best to tell him plainly his condition but without much hope that
[--it would--] he would be rational. To our surprise however it seemed
to bring him to himself. I do not remember just what his first reply
was but directly he said "Father I am thinking now of that hymn you
like so well. My heavenly home is bright and fair". I said
"shall I sing it to you? he said "yes." I sang three versus.
I then asked him "Do you feel that Jesus loves you and
is precious He said "Oh yes he is precious, [u] very [/u] precious. He
named a little box that he brought from Honululu and said
he wished Mother to have some special ting from him and
to take this. He said Will will know what it is. Then he
turned towards his Mother while a sweet smile swept over his
countenance and then Earnestly and lovingly came the
parting message "Let not your heart be troubled." He looked
towards William and said "If I am going good-bye Will"
Then he sent his farewell to his friends mentioning specially
those in Seattle [?Jaeirma?] seville and Waterford." The he said
with great Earnestness "Tell the Tate scholars that I want them
to serve the Christ whose I have tried to serve. [?Tell?] them that
I have enjoyed very much the few months that I have
spent with them. Tell them that I joined the church in China
and that i had rather be buried in the Canton Cemetery than
in any other place in the world." Then he spoke in Chinese
"Jesus [u] loves [/u] China + he wants you to love him more than
you love yourselves, more than you love your families, more
than you love your friends." then he said "Call Will" and [--to--]
asked him to write to the two students who had been with him
in the office at Wooster. "Write" he said "to Schroeder + Porter
and tell them to keep "[u] Close to Christ [/u]"
Last of all his thoughts turned towards himself
and he said "Tp depart and be with Christ is for better"
[--and--] but added after a little hesitation "but I would have liked to do
more for the Lord in the world. Perhaps however where I have been
my death ay have a stronger influence than a longer life."
Then he turned to Dr. Swan who with Dr. Selden had attended him
and said "Doctor do you think there is any possible change that I can
pull through yet?" The reply was "I wish I could say that there is but
fear I cannot." "Well then" said Richard "it is [u] all right [/u]. [u] The Lord Knows best [/u]."
Little more he said until his spirit left the suffering body and passed upward
to be forever with the Lord. We are lonely of course but out hearts are comforted.
Bella + William + I all send much love to the home circle in Seville Your loving Bro Henry
中国广州 1904 年 5 月 31 日
亲爱的在家
我知道你们会为此感到多么抱歉
我们亲爱的理查德，他现在在我们看来是多么的亲切，
不再与我们同在。 “他不是”（即在这个世界上）“因为
主已经带走了他。”这一切来得非常出乎意料。
两三个星期前就决定要回家了
秋天进入奥本神学院，他看起来很
对前景感到满意。他一直在这里工作，非常有信心——
充分而有效地，我对这种炎热的恐惧过于强烈
气候。但他无权做任何事
认真而彻底地做这件事。这是一个奇迹
我是怎么学会中文的。他
在汉语口语中掌握了新约
几个星期，也就是他抵达广州后不久
他开始使用 Uen-li 书籍在难以辨认的医学院教授化学。他
去年秋天翻译了一篇相当长的论文
记述英国外国圣经公会的历史
从开始到现在它的一百周年。
他是为广州的协会代理人做的。发送时
去上海代理很满意
他寄来1200份在北方发行
中国。他收集了教育收藏
我们的圣路易斯博览会使命。它涉及
大量的工作，但就像他理解的其他一切一样
做得很好。在这一年里，他一直
学校女子医学院化学系教学主任自然神学、电学、声学、
光，热和体操练习的变化。
他完全期望回家三年，然后
回来负责这个部门。
但是当主认为合适的时候把他叫到另一个
他毫无怨言地转向了劳动领域
这一切，去永远与主同在。
鼠疫今年在泰特美术馆流行
以及河对岸的一些地方。我们的厨师去看了
他的朋友在河的另一边，我们假设
把瘟疫带回来了。无论如何大约
一周后，他接受了。他是
根据医生的建议立即送走
兄弟。理查德帮忙照看一条船
舒舒服服地走了，但我不认为贸然暴露自己。
我认为他不再像塞尔登医生那样暴露了
和我自己，但他的胃已经有点不舒服了
命令，我想他的系统处于某种状态
易患此病。一周后，他抱怨
安息日下午感觉很累，晚上发烧了
星期一早上发高烧。医师
塞尔登检查了他的血液并说有决定性的
证明是疟疾热，所以我们没有
感到特别焦虑。周二下午虽然
发烧稍微低一点，鼠疫的症状是
明显。和大多数得过瘟疫的外国人一样，
已经康复了，我们仍然希望会是这样
他。周二晚上他睡得很好他的体温
低了，他似乎感觉好多了
更强大，我们认为最糟糕的已经过去了
我想他也是这么想的。他问医生塞尔登是否
他认为他会很好
他在6月16日的《蒙古》上。他的发烧有点高
下午，但我们认为这可能是因为
他累了，完全期待他会感到
周四还是比周三好。他去睡觉了
在晚上，就像他之前做的晚上一样，
安安静静地睡到他醒来的时候
伴随着灼热的发烧和走神。我们发送
立即为医生，但只是发现我们的
恐惧是正确的，而且末日即将来临。他
呼吸非常迅速，大部分时间他的谈话
语无伦次。有一次，他突然有力而清晰地说出
“上帝就是爱。”他再次爆发出简短而诚恳的祈祷
完全理性和结局然后“让我们一直侍奉耶稣
我们的余生。”他又只祈祷了两三句话。
我想我们认为是在他死前大约一小时
最好坦白地告诉他他的情况，但不要抱太大希望
他会是理性的。然而令我们惊讶的是，它似乎
把他带到自己身边。我不记得他的第一个回复是什么
但他直接说：“父亲，我现在正在想你的那首赞美诗
非常喜欢。我的天堂之家明亮而美丽”。我说
“要我唱给你听吗？他说“是的。”我唱了三对。
然后我问他：“你觉得耶稣爱你吗？
很珍贵 他说：“哦，是的，他很珍贵，非常珍贵。他
给他从火奴鲁鲁带来的一个小盒子命名，并说
他希望母亲能从他那里得到一些特别的东西，
拿这个。他说威尔会知道那是什么。随后他
转身看向母亲，甜甜的笑容掠过他的
面容，然后认真而充满爱意地来到
离别信息“不要让你的心烦恼。”他看了
对威廉说：“如果我要再见，威尔”
然后他向他的朋友们告别，提到特别
那些在西雅图 Jaeirma 塞维利亚和沃特福德的人。”他说
非常认真地“告诉泰特学者我想要他们
服侍我曾努力服侍的基督。告诉他们
我非常享受这几个月的时光
和他们一起度过。告诉他们我加入了中国的教会
我宁愿被埋在广州公墓而不是
在世界上任何其他地方。”然后他用中文说
“耶稣爱中国+他希望你爱他胜过
爱自己胜过爱家人
比你爱你的朋友。”然后他说“打电话给威尔”，然后
让他写信给和他在一起的两个学生
在伍斯特的办公室。 “写”他说“给施罗德和波特
并告诉他们保持“亲近基督”
最后他的思绪转向了自己
他说“离开并与基督同在会更好”
但犹豫了一下后补充说“但我本来想这样做
多为世上的主。也许我去过的地方
我的死比更长的生命更有影响力。”
然后他转向斯旺医生，他和塞尔登医生一起照顾过他
并说“医生你认为有什么可能的改变吗？
通过了吗？”回答是“我希望我能说有，但是
恐怕我做不到。” “那么，”理查德说，“没关系。主是最清楚的。”
他说的不多，直到他的灵魂离开受苦的身体，向上传递
永远与主同在。我们当然是孤独的，但内心却得到了安慰。
贝拉、威廉和我都对塞维利亚的家庭圈子寄予厚望 你亲爱的亨利兄弟
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Henry Varnum, “Letter from Henry to "Dear Ones at Home," May 31, 1904,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed November 21, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/919.