s impressing the mind and
heart of the Chinese, he believed that his was the more excellent way.

Most of his co-workers at Peking and Tientsin did not agree with him. As
agreement would have involved, perhaps, following his example, under
conditions that differed widely from those of Ta Cheng Tz[)u] and Ch'ao
Yang, this difference of opinion was only what was to be expected. It is
referred to here only as a well-known fact, and no story of Mr.
Gilmour's life could be trustworthy which did not represent the decided
way in which, when he felt that loyalty to his work and loyalty to his
Master constrained him, he could and did act in direct opposition to the
wishes and views of brethren whom he fervently loved.

It became needful from time to time for him to justify his actions to
the home authorities. Not that this was in any way needful from any
doubt or lack of support on their part. But with regard to methods upon
which there was marked divergence of view in the missionary committees
abroad it was needful that a man like Gilmour should put his motives and
reasons clearly before the governing powers. It is doing him bare
justice to say that from this task he never shrank. The following
extracts are from letters to the home officials of the London Missionary
Society and they enable us to appreciate accurately the standpoint of
the man whose thought they express. Writing in the light of the
suggestion that perhaps he was putting a more severe strain upon his
health than the efficient discharge of his difficult duty demanded, he
says:--

'I feel called to go through all this sort of thing, and feel
perfectly secure in God's hands. It is no choosing of mine, but
His; and, following His lead, I have as much right to expect
special provision to be made for me as the Israelites of old had in
the matters of the Red Sea, the manna and water in the desert, the
crossing Jordan, and the fall of Jericho.

'One thing I am sure of. The thousands here need salvation; God is
most anxious to give it to them: where, then, is the hindrance? In
them? I hardly think so. In God? No. In me, then! The thing I am
praying away at now is that He would remove that hindrance by
whatever process necessary. I shall not be astonished if He puts me
through some fires or severe operations, nor shall I be sorry if
they only end by leaving me a channel through which His saving
grace