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PREFACE
The difficulty I anticipated in writing
the Biography of one so nearly related to me was very soon forgotten
as I proceeded with my task, and felt more and more deeply how
utterly insignificant are all such earthly ties, in presence of the
higher relations of that eternal kingdom in which my lamented
Brother so entirely lived. If, while he was still with us, it was
possible for those most closely connected with him in some measure
to know him “ after the flesh,” one instantly felt so soon as he had
passed within the veil that henceforth we could know him so no more.
The materials from which the narrative has been drawn are—1st, My
own personal recollections and those of other intimate friends; 2d,
Private letters addressed chiefly to members of his own family; and
3d, Copious journals, extending over the whole period of his home
ministry, and continued, though in a briefer and more fragmentary
manner, during the early years of his residence in China. From these
last I have quoted very largely, but not more so I believe than
those who are really interested in his work would wish me to have
done. Indeed, the difficulty often was merely to extract from a
document, which many readers doubtless would have wished to possess
entire.
To the many friends to whom I have been indebted for valuable
materials, I have made acknowledgment in the course of the work at
the places where their communications have been used; but I would
here specially mention the names of the late Rev. Dr. Burns, of
Toronto, who contributed the tenth chapter; the Rev. Duncan M‘Gregor,
M.A., of Dundee, and the Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick, of Dublin, who
furnished the graphic sketches of my Brother’s labours in Edinburgh
and Dublin; and the Rev. Carstairs Douglas, M.A., of Amoy, to whose
loving and painstaking endeavours I am indebted for almost all the
precious memorials from China which enrich the closing chapters.
My single aim has been to present a true and life-like picture of
him whose footsteps I had undertaken to trace; and that thus being
dead he may yet speak, just as he spoke while he was with us, to the
praise of that divine grace which he so greatly magnified, and by
which alone, as he so profoundly felt, he was what he was.
Free Church College, Glasgow, December 6th, 1869.
CONTENTS
Chapter I. Early Years
Chapter II. Preparation for the Ministry
Chapter III. Opening Ministry
Chapter IV. Revival Scenes
Chapter V. St. Peter’s, Dundee
Chapter VI. St. Andrews, Perth, &c.
Chapter VII. Labours at Aberdeen
Chapter VIII. Work among the Mountains
Chapter IX. Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dublin
Chapter X. Canada
Chapter XI. Call to the Chinese Field
Chapter XII. Departure for China
Chapter XIII. The Field and its Pioneers
Chapter XIV. Breaking Ground
Chapter XV. Canton
Chapter XVI. Amoy
Chapter XVII. First-fruits
Chapter XVIII. Silanghae, Swatow, &c.
Chapter XIX. Old Scenes and New
Chapter XX. Peking and Nieu-chwang
Chapter XXI. Conclusion
Appendix
Memoir of the Rev. Wm. C. Burns,
M. A.,
Missionary to China from the English Presbyterian Church by the Late
Rev. Islay Burns, D.D., Professor of Theology, Free Church College,
Glasgow (New Edition) (1873) (pdf) |
