American Missionary in China

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

Archive of 11 letters from Amelia P. Lowrie, 45 pages, octavo, 1852-1856, Canton and Shanghai, China to Anna Dickenson, New York City. Beginning in the 1840's members of the Lowrie Family undertook the ambitious task of bringing Presbyterianism to the Chinese masses. Various Lowrie's worked in China into the 20th century, with Anna P. Lowrie returning to the United States in 1900 on the eve of the Boxer Rebellion. Samplings from these, her early letters, read in very small part: "(Canton, 11/25/52) The nurse has been with me about three years & is a very valuable woman being very intelligent & quick & understanding Chinese customs...I have many Chinese female visitors from the rich down to the very poor & do try as I have the opportunities to tell them of the Savior...(Shanghai, 12/30/54)...two Chinese teachers began to call the names of those who were to receive the gifts- each child had a doll and some other toy...the large girls received Chinese umbrellas and various useful articles...(Shanghai, 5/2/55)...We are in the new house away from all foreigners, quite among the Chinese. I feel a re-doubled desire to get the language correctly and fluently. I hope to live for the people here, but it is easier to desire than to do...(Shanghai, 7/30/56)...In Shanghai there has been no rain for three months, the people are taking every means to induce the god of rain to send it - yesterday a procession of over 1600 men bearing 20 dragons marched through the streets - The dragon is said to inhabit the sky...giving rain...". These letters are penned on very thin light blue paper. Other than a having few small stains, they remain in VF condition.

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