From the Wesleyan Mission, Wuchang District at Wushenmiao. He is still here together with the Rowleys '& I think even you would sympathise with my desire for a little privacy of mind where everything was not forever proclaimed upon the housetops...'.
He expects and hopes that the mission personnel from Suichow and Teian will reach Hankow by train sometime today. They will have had a cold and trying trip but once here they will be okay. The Anlu people will also start today if they have not already done so. [William Rowley] 'is a mixture of storm & sunshine. In the storms I learn the truth about myself but I keep plodding on, knowing that the burden is mine & not his & that the committee & God must be my judges'. H B R can see no wisdom in exposing the missionaries and their families to danger and feels sure that they are better off in places within comparative reach of the sea. The Chinese probably think that it is cowardice but as Emily knows, H B R is accustomed to thinking out things for himself and will go his own way despite criticism once he is sure that he is right.
He has attended four separate meetings this week, each lasting about three hours trying to reorganise affairs on the basis of Chinese autonomy. They are getting along pretty well - he feels that he is however taking great risks. 'Rowley remarked with much heat & some justice last night that I was benefitting from their Wesley College stuff of last year. I didn't give the obvious reply. [Herman Stanley] Dixon is enormously angry that his Wesley scheme was delayed. The blame of course is mine. He is the one [unreadable Chinese phrase] the Rowleys worship & is I think suffering from over-strain. Rowley is with him at Wesley today & I am chained here in consequence; for I will not leave Mrs [Rowley] & Dr [Sarah] Wolfe alone'.
'I am accused of shutting down all the work & driving folk along the paths of cowardice'. There is of course plenty of comfort too. [James John] Heady wrote a very kind letter and he believes that all the mothers of the evacuated personnel are grateful.
British business is to try to reopen tomorrow. It will be of great benefit if they can succeed. The situation is however very uncertain. The Kuomintang [Nationalists] is in control, setting loose or quelling agitations at will. The police and military function only at the will of the party. Ultimately Chiang Kai-Shek and his troops [a leader of the Nationalists and later the founder of Taiwan] will restore order if they can gain control of the country. Until then the situation is very unstable and changes from day to day.
They had a nice service this morning which was quite well attended. Chin An preached. He has grown in knowledge and character. Wesley College should be proud of such a product.