1895 - The Gutian Massacre

August 1, 1895

Gutian, Fujian

The missionary retreat center at Huasang, site of the Gutian massacre. The CEZMS martyrs were staying in the house on the left, with the Stewart family and Nellie Saunders in the house on the right.

One of the more unique—in both name and vision—of the dozens of Protestant mission organizations working in China in the 19th century was the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society. This was a mission exclusively for women workers, with the aim being to reach women and children in the heathen nations of the world. In 1883 the C.E.Z.M.S. appointed their first missionary to China, Miss Gough, who travelled to Fujian Province and helped train women Bible teachers. More workers arrived in China in the following years.

During the heat of July and August 1895, the missionaries in Gutian (then called Kucheng) were in the habit of retreating to the nearby hill village of Huasang, which experienced a more pleasant climate due to its 2,000-feet (610-metre) elevation. The Stewart family and seven single women were staying the retreat centre on August 1st. They had been enjoying a conference in the last week of July, timed to coincide with the dates of the Keswick Convention in England. One source claimed,

“No place in China is more suggestive of calm, rest, and refreshment than this lonely spot, at an early hour of a midsummer morning. And true spiritual and mental rest the band of missionaries had found this year. Day after day they had gathered in close communion, refreshing one another’s souls in the study of God’s Word. Utterly wearied in body, they had been so uplifted in spirit, that those who were present say that they were like ‘days of heaven on earth’.”[1]

In the final communion service on July 31st the missionaries rededicated themselves to the Lord’s service with these words: “Here we offer and present unto Three, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto Thee.”[2]

A secret Chinese society called the Vegetarians had been stirring up trouble throughout the countryside. Little was known about this sect, apart from the obvious fact that they abstained from eating meat. They were not a religious sect as much as a motley collection of anti-government rebels. One source says the Vegetarians “were really the members of ‘The Eight Diagrams’ Guild,’ a secret rebellious organization.”[3] None of the Vegetarian sect’s prior behaviour had suggested they were interested in killing Christians, so nobody could have predicted what happened on August 1, 1895. Suddenly, without any warning at a quarter to seven in the morning, more than 100 men

“…of the sect descended upon them and in a few minutes nine missionaries were dead, two small children fatally wounded, a fifth lady left for dead, and both houses in flames. The children’s nurse, Helen Yallop, died covering the baby from brutal blows, but two older children, one also wounded, escaped with two little brothers and the year-old baby from the burning house and fled to a nearby dwelling.”[4]

Helen Yallop was a treasure to the Stewart family, helping the busy parents take care of their four children while carrying on a fulltime ministry.

Anna Gordon.

Anna Gordon was instantly hacked to pieces by the Vegetarians’ swords and other crude weapons. She had struggled with loneliness since arriving in China, yet was happy and fulfilled to be obeying the Master’s call. At the funeral service in Fuzhou her coffin was marked with the following touching text: “Miss Annie Gordon, whose faithfulness and fortitude in loneliness impressed all who knew her,—‘Where I am, there shall also My servant be.’”

The band of wicked men continued their killing spree by butchering Eleanor (Nellie) Saunders,

“…who with her sister had been sleeping in the house. She was knocked down at the nursery door, on her way to rescue some of the children. Miss Elizabeth (Topsy) Saunders, meanwhile, had joined the C.E.Z. sisters at the back of their house, and with them had laid down her life.”[5]

The two Saunders sisters came from a strong Christian family in Melbourne, Australia.[6] Their widowed mother took the news of her beloved daughters’ deaths “as an honour from God. She greeted two friends who called to comfort her with ‘You’ve come to congratulate me, haven’t you?’”[7] She determined to go to Gutian as a missionary in place of her two slain daughters, and did so. A. J. Broomhall notes, “No clearer demonstration of forgiveness, love and heroism could have been given. Within a few months of the massacre there were more Chinese inquiring about Christ in the province of Fujian—in the Gutian district itself—than ever before.”[8]

Lucy Stewart.

Lucy Stewart, who was also known as Flora, does not appear to be related to the Stewarts who led the mission. She was one of the single lady missionaries who had laboured so faithfully in the heart of Fujian Province. At the time of the attack Lucy was still in bed and had yet to dress for the day. The mob entered her room, and after stealing everything of value they dragged her outside and slashed her to death. On her coffin were placed the words: “Miss Flora Stewart, whose unselfishness and sympathy made her memory most fragrant,—‘Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’”

Flora Codrington was the only one of the adult missionaries to survive the massacre. She was terribly disfigured and mutilated in the attack but heroically refused to give up her call to China. After a brief time recovering in England she returned to Gutian. She spent many more years serving Christ in China, becoming a senior member of the mission. Her deep commitment “created a deep impression, and thousands of converts have come from this blood of the martyrs.”[9]

One journalist reported the Gutian massacre in this way:

“The doing to death of that band of devoted missionaries at their summer retreat in the hills was such a ruthless and dastardly act that it aroused the indignation of the whole civilized world. No fewer than nine faithful servants of Christ [plus two children] passed through fire and sword into His presence that bright summer morning in 1895, slain by the people whom they had come to help and save. No indiscreet action on their part had aroused the animosity of the people; all was peace in that secluded spot until the murderous band stealthily surrounded the simple cottages, and without question or comment put their occupants to death.”[10]

Although there had been numerous slaughters of Catholics over the centuries in China, the killing of eleven foreign missionaries (including children) at Gutian was the first massacre of multiple missionaries in the 88 years since Protestants had arrived in China. The 22 existing missionaries with the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society wrote a combined letter to their home country on August 28, 1895. They said, “Just before this dreadful thing happened, it seemed as though doors were being opened wide everywhere…. We are asking the Master for ten new workers to take the place of each one of our dear C.E.Z.M.S. sisters; this is for forty altogether.”[11] The response was immediate. In January 1896 three new ladies arrived in Fujian. More volunteers followed later. The work in Gutian, where the martyrdoms had taken place, was said to be “spoiling for want of reaping,”[12] such was the large number of souls eager to experience Christ’s salvation.

Later information came to light that the Vegetarians had carried out the attack in an attempt to annoy and provoke the government in Beijing. Their leader had devised three potential plans, one of which was to attack the missionaries at Gutian. The men decided to cast lots, asking the spirits to show them which of the three plans they should launch. One report noted, “For three successive nights the lot fell on Huasang, and a band of 120 men were told to carry out the evil plan. After it was over, the murderers threw off all disguise, and their pretended Vegetarian vows, had a feast of pork and chickens, and took a new name for their society.”[13] Another source claimed the Vegetarians who had attacked the missionaries “believed, or pretended to believe, that Mr. Stewart had helped the magistrates to find money to pay for soldiers to suppress their sect.”[14]

Both the Christian and secular worlds were outraged at the Gutian massacre, and cries for vengeance were heard. The Church Missionary Society and the C.E.Z.M.S., however, would not entertain any such thoughts. They refused to receive any government compensation for the loss of lives. At a special memorial service held in London on August 13th, “not one bitter word was uttered; nothing but sympathy with the bereaved, pity for the misguided murderers and thanksgiving for the holy lives of the martyrs, fervent desires for the evangelisation of China.”[15]

More details of the individual martyrs can be found in other 1895 profiles in this section of those who died at Gutian….

1. Barnes, Behind the Great Wall, 138.
2. A. J. Broomhall, Hudson Taylor & China’s Open Century: Book Seven – It is not Death to Die! (London: Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1989), 230.
3. Barnes, Behind the Great Wall, 150.
4. Broomhall, Hudson Taylor & China’s Open Century, Book Seven, 230.
5. Barnes, Behind the Great Wall, 139-140.
6. A biography of the Saunders sisters was written by D. M. Berry, The Sister Martyrs of Ku Cheng: Memoir and Letters of Eleanor and Elizabeth Saunders (‘Nellie’ and ‘Topsy’) of Melbourne (Melbourne: Melville, Mullen & Slade, 1895). Also see H. F. Turner, His Witnesses: Ku-cheng, Aug. 1, 1895 (London, no date).
7. Broomhall, Hudson Taylor & China’s Open Century, Book Seven, 230.
8. Broomhall, Hudson Taylor & China’s Open Century, Book Seven, 230-231.
9. MacGillivray, A Century of Protestant Missions in China, 54.
10. Marshall Broomhall (ed.), The Chinese Empire: A General and Missionary Survey (London: Morgan & Scott, 1907), 58.
11. Citied in MacGillivray, A Century of Protestant Missions in China, 54.
12. MacGillivray, A Century of Protestant Missions in China, 54.
13. Barnes, Behind the Great Wall, 150-151.
14. The Religious Tract Society, For His Sake, A Record of a Life Consecrated to God and Devoted to China: Extracts from the Letters of Elsie Marshall, Martyred at Hwa-Sang, August 1, 1895 (London: The Religious Tract Society, 1896), 9.
15. Broomhall, Hudson Taylor & China’s Open Century, Book Seven, 230.