From the Chinese Recorder, 1911, page 529
In Memoriam. — Miss C. B. Downing
Miss C. B. Downing died at
the New Missionary Home at Chefoo, July 22nd, 1911, at the age of 82. Her early
home was at St. Johnsbury, Vermont. In 1857 she joined the mission to the
Choctaw Indians under the care of the Presbyterian Board, in what is now known
as Oklahoma. At that time it required six weeks of tiresome travel to make the
journey from Pittsburg, Pa., a journey which can now be made within two days.
Miss Downing taught in the school for Indian girls until the work was
stopped by the civil war in 1861. Miss Downing returned north and
became a teacher in what is now the Women's College at Blairsville, Pa.
In 1866 she came to China in a
sailing vessel around the Cape of Good Hope, and settled at Chefoo, where she
has spent forty-five years, with the exception of one year spent in America on
furlough. As soon as suitable buildings could be erected and arrangements made
a girls’ boarding school was opened under her special care. At that time there
were no Christian families from which to draw pupils.
When non-Christians were asked to
send their daughters to school, the questions often asked were: Can girls learn
to read and write? What good would their education accomplish? Gradually
prejudice gave way and many happy Christian homes and efficient teachers and
Bible women have been the fruit of this school.
After some years, in consequence of
failing health, she gave up the school and opened her home to missionaries and
all needing rest and change. In early years she excelled as a conversationalist.
Her humor, ready repartee and geniality helped to lift people out of
despondency and take more hopeful and cheerful views of life.
For several years Miss Downing,
as strength permitted, assisted in teaching in the Anglo-Chinese School. Not a
few of the young men who learned to speak English well owe much to the skill
and faithfulness of her teaching. She also did much to help this school
financially.
She helped many of her pupils and
Chinese friends to secure comfortable homes of their own rather than live in
rented houses.
The past few years of her life were
spent in the beautiful new missionary home overlooking the sea. She assisted
most liberally in getting this home established, believing that missionaries
living in less favored parts of the country needed when weary in body and mind
some health resort, in order to be always at their best and be able to do
successful work.
She was
always ready to help any in sorrow or in need.
A wave of
sorrow swept over many hearts when the news of her death was heard.
'Precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.'
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