VII

THE VISIT TO ENGLAND IN 1882

From 1880 onwards Mrs. Gilmour suffered severely from illness, and
medical advisers recommended at length the rest and change of a visit to
England. Mr. Gilmour's furlough was also nearly due. Consequently, in
the spring of 1882, he and his family returned to England. This visit
was helpful and memorable in many ways. The rest so thoroughly well
earned was greatly enjoyed. The return to civilisation, the society of
loved relatives and friends, the comforts of ordinary English life, and
the change of thought and occupation which these involved--all reacted
happily and refreshingly upon both Mr. Gilmour and his wife.

But a sojourn at home is not by any means a season of entire rest for
the jaded worker. The Churches constantly need the stimulus and
awakening that are best supplied by the men who have been filling the
hard places in the field. Gilmour also was so full of enthusiasm for his
work, and so eager in his desire to benefit the Mongols, that he would
doubtless have found for himself many opportunities of pleading their
cause, had not the authorities of the London Missionary Society,
following their usual custom, furnished him with a long list of
deputation engagements, Into these he threw himself with an energy that
very greatly enlarged the circle of his friendship, secured very many
new supporters for the missionary cause, and obtained for himself, on
the part of many, a devout, prayerful sympathy for the remainder of his
earthly service.

He had brought with him a large quantity of manuscript material dealing
with his twelve years of Mongol life and experience. From this he
prepared the volume which was published by the Religious Tract Society
in April 1883, under the title of _Among the Mongols_.

The book was very cordially welcomed by the press, and we single out for
quotation a portion of one review which stands out pre-eminent not only
for its literary quality, but also as placing on record the impression
James Gilmour was able to make upon men entirely ignorant of him and his
work by the simple narrative of his experiences. It appeared in the
_Spectator_ for April 28, 1883.

'We have a difficulty in passing judgment on this book. It is
possible, even probable, that the impression it has made on us is
individual to this reviewer, and due to an accident which, with
other readers, will not repeat itself. Having time, and an interest
in nom