With Eternity in Mind

Republished with permission from the Spring 2009 issue of The Reformation Translation Fellowship Newsletter, to whom the Christian Observer expresses its appreciation .

By Art Thompson

Robert Morrison Memorial in Macau, China

This past January I had my second visit to China, this time stopping at Hong Kong and Macau. I did the normal preparation – I read the history of the area as well as de­veloping a list of points of interest. But I missed one item, the item that would become one of a select set of high­points of my visit.

I had heard from a Christian brother in Hong Kong that Robert Morrison’s grave is in Macau, an hour’s ride by hydrofoil ferry from Hong Kong. I determined to stop at Macau on my way to Mainland China. The Chinese New Year celebration was ending, and the ferry was full to ca­pacity with travelers returning home after a week in Hong Kong.

On Macau I walked a distance and then took a taxi to the area where the Old Protestant Cemetery was located. I arrived at a serene park with many examples of local vegetation. Older men and women were relaxing on the park benches while others were exercising, as is often seen in China. A musical group was playing traditional Chinese instruments. I stopped and listened for a while, enjoying the uniqueness of their talent.

Walking some distance through the park I expected to come to the cemetery entrance. Finally I asked a passer­by (in English) about the location of the “Old Protestant Cemetery.” As was sometimes the case during my stay in China, the response was a shaking of the head to indicate that they did not understand my request. That did not deter me.

Continuing on I asked a mother and daughter who were also strolling through the park about the “Old Protestant Cemetery.” Again, there was no recognition. This time I added the name, “Robert Morrison.” Their eyes lit up. They pointed me back down the path I had taken from the entrance and with hand gestures made sure I understood where the cemetery was located. A few minutes later I arrived at the entrance, only to find the mother and daughter standing there with gleeful smiles that I had found my way. Were these ladies believers? I do not know, but I do know that they had heard of Robert Morri­son. Have you?

Robert Morrison was the first Protestant Missionary to China. He was born in England on January 5, 1782. In 1807 he was sent to China by the London Missionary So­ciety. For twenty-five years Morrison was in the employ of The East India Company. He died at Canton August 1, 1834. As a missionary he labored and toiled for twenty­-five years. He had but ten converts to Christianity.

Some well-meaning and highly motivated missionaries spend years, even decades, learning a language. Some may even report that they have had “only” ten converts after laboring in the vineyard for more than two decades. Had Robert Morrison become faint hearted, had he given up after one, five, ten, even twenty years he would not have accomplished, through the working of the Holy Spirit, what he is long remembered for. Robert Morrison translated the Bible into Chinese.

What does this say to us today?

Standing beside Robert Morrison’s grave I got a sense of what missionaries of old sacrificed. It has been said that an early missionary packed his few belongings in crates, knowing that one of the crates would be his coffin. Bur­ied immediately next to Robert is the body of his wife, Mary. Between them is a gravestone marking a son who apparently died in infancy. Off to the side is the grave­stone of another son, John Robert, who died at a more mature age. They gave up much, but Robert Morrison also gave future generations in China the ability, the privilege, to read Holy Scripture in their own language. This was no small accomplishment for a man who lived just fifty-two years.

I have the privilege of serving on the Board of Reforma­tion Translation Fellowship. I am learning about the challenges, as well as the opportunities to work with tal­ented and capable men and women who can translate, edit, publish and distribute Christian literature in the Chi­nese language using the simplified script of the mainland.

One Christian book is read by multiple people. It becomes the source of Biblical information and spiritual guidance. It helps leaders teach and disciple so that His Word does not return void. Multiply that book by five thousand, ten thousand, even twenty thousand copies and you see the potential effect that Reformation Trans­lation Fellowship has in the Chinese speaking world.

As I look at what will last, what will count for eternity, I see the work of Robert Morrison and others of like moti­vation, who put the written word in the hands of the peo­ple, in the homes of Christian families and in the studies of Chinese pastors. Such work survives beyond its own time extending the effort, the investment and the interest to future generations, being multiplied five, ten or hun­dred fold.

So who was Robert Morrison? He was a man who sacri­ficed much to give the Chinese what they needed – the Holy Scripture in their own language. His legacy contin­ues to this day. What will God have us do? To God be the Glory.

The End

Robert Morrison Memorial Text

“Sacred to the memory of Robert Morrison DD., the first Protestant Missionary to China where he toiled, a service of twenty-seven years cheerfully spent extending the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer, during which period he compiled and published a dictionary of the Chinese language, founded the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, and for several years laboured alone on a Chinese version of the Holy Scriptures, which was completed and widely circulated among those for whom it was destined. He sweetly slept in Jesus.  He was born at Morpeth in Northumberland January 5^th 1782, was sent to China by the London Missionary Society in 1807, was for twenty-five years Chinese translator in the employ of the East India Company, and died at Canton August 1^st 1834.

Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them.“

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Art Thompson serves as a Director for the Reformation Translation Fellowship, a 501(c)3 charitable organization in the USA, 302 East First Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, 812-339-1922, Bill4rtf@gmail.com.

“The doctrinal basis of the [Reformation Translation Fellowship] shall be the Reformed or Calvinistic interpretation of Christianity as set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith.”

The purpose of the Reformation Translation Fellowship includes:

(1) Translation of Christian theological literature into Chinese;

(2) Stimulation of original Chinese Christian theological writing;

(3) Publication of valuable theological literature in Chinese;

(4) Free distribution and sale of Reformed literature in Chinese;

(5) Publication of English information which will promote, directly or indirectly, the above goals.