HUDSON TAYLOR The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall

72 THE MAN WHO BELIEVED GOD
At first he felt he could not yield without a protest,
and he courteously pointed out to the Consul that
French Roman Catholic priests, under the protection of
France, were actually living on the island. Why should
not he enjoy the privileges of "the most favoured
nation" clause? The Consul acknowledged the cogency
of this argument, but said that to discuss the point was
beyond his province. The only way was to appeal to
Sir John Bowring, the British minister.
This he was quite prepared to do, if opportunity
offered, not for his own sake only, but for the sake of
all Protestant missionary work in China. Meanwhile he
wrote to his Society at home to ask if they would be
willing to pay the fine of $500, should that penalty be
inflicted, for he was quite prepared to go inland again.
And more than that, he asked if they would approve of
his "giving up all claim to Consular protection", though
this might subject him to the cruelties of Chinese law.
He was by no means ignorant of the indignities, the
treacheries, and the sufferings that this might entail, but
he was burdened with the spiritual need of the people,
and counted not his life dear unto himself if he might but
minister to them.
I.t was at this juncture that he was brought into touch
with the apostolic missionary William Burns, whose
wide experience as an evangelist in the Home countries,
and in China, made him just the friend and counsellor
he so sorely needed. And William Bums found in
Hudson Taylor a man after his own heart, and for seven
months they clave together as kindred souls and fellowlabourers.
"Never had I had such a spiritual father as
Mr. Burns", he wrote years afterwards; "never had 1
known such holy, happy intercourse." The hungry heart
was satisfied.