HUDSON TAYLOR The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall

PIONEER AND BUILDER 217
Without entering into any detailed exposition of
these more or less original features of his work, which
might interest the administrator but not the general
reader, it will be sufficiently evident that in Hudson
Taylor there were fused bold initiative and daring originality
with equally striking constructive ability. He was
a pioneer who knew how to build. Ideals were realized,
visions materialized, promises were obtained, prayers
were answered, and confidences were justified.
Looking back over his long life, Hudson Taylor could
say, at the close of his ministry:
"I have sometimes met people who have said: 'Trusting
God is a beautiful theory, but it won't work'. But praise God,
it has worked, and it does work. I remember a dear friend, an
aged minister in London, who said to me in the year 1866
[when the Lammermuir party sailed]: 'Well, you are making
a great mistake in going to China with no organization behind
you. We live in a busy world, and you will be all forgotten,
and the Mission won't live seven years.' That was the
prophecy of this good man-a wise man too. But he was
mistaken; and I could only say to him in a very simple way:
'I have got four children. I have never yet needed a committee
to remind me of their needs or of my duty to them;
and I do not think I have more care for my children than
my Heavenly Father has for His children, whom He is
thrusting out into China.'
"Well He has cared for them through all these years, and
He has graciously helped us; and, as the work grew, He has
given the organization which we had no need for, and no
place for, at the commencement. But the organization has
grown up with the work."
Here we see the simple-hearted, trustful pioneer not
despising organization, nor impatien,t with method, but
ready for both, as time and circumstances demanded.
In him the heroic element was well balanced with