tice decided to break through national customs and leave her home
and family, rather than allow Miss Bradshaw to undertake the
journey alone; hereby records its unbounded admiration of such
Christian sympathy, and brave and generous conduct; and they trust
that her own and her husband's desire that her visit may excite
fresh Christian workers to go to China, may be abundantly
fulfilled."
The report of the meeting goes on to say:
"This resolution being carried, Miss Bradshaw intimated to Lady
Ahok the purport of what had taken place, and asked her to say a
few words of acknowledgment. Accordingly, with the greatest
simplicity and self-possession she said (each word of her sentences
being translated by Miss Bradshaw) that she was very glad to meet
them all, and was very thankful to have been brought to England;
that her faith in God had enabled her to come."
The Tenth Annual meeting of the Church of England Zenana Society was held
in Princes Hall, London, during Mrs. Ahok's visit to England, and she was
one of the principal speakers. In spite of heavy and incessant rain the
audience began to assemble before the doors were open. Numbers stood
throughout, and many more failed to gain admission. Standing quietly before
the large audience, Mrs. Ahok gave her message so effectively that when
she sat down, the chairman, Sir Charles N. Aitchison, exclaimed: "Did you
ever hear a more simple, more touching appeal under such circumstances? I
never did."
Stating the purpose of her visit to England Mrs. Ahok said:
"I have come from China--from Foochow--and come to England for what
business and what purpose? The road here was _very_ difficult,
sitting in a boat for so long! Very tiresome it was, to be on the
rough sea, with wind and waves for the first time! My servant Diong
Chio and I have come here. We are strangers! We raise our eyes and
look on people's faces, but we can see no one we know--no relative,
no one like ourselves--all truly strange! I left my little boy, my
husband, my mother--all this: for what purpose, do you think? It is
only entirely for the sake of Christ's Gospel that I have come."
"It is not for the sake of seeing a new place and new people, or
any beautiful thing; we have in China quite close to us new
places--beautiful places. I have never seen _them_ yet; so why
should I come so far to see other
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