Two Early Baptist Women Missionaries to China and Hong Kong: Mrs. Henrietta Hall Shuck and Ms. Lottie Moon

　　Mrs. Shuck was born into a very pious Baptist family in 1817. At the age of 13 she was converted and baptized, results of a fervent Revival period. The year 1835 was a momentous year. She was 17 years of age and many important decisions were made during this time. She and her family moved to Richmond, Virginia and joined the First Baptist Church. She married Rev. J. Lewis Shuck. They felt a calling for missionary service and were set aside by the Richmond First Baptist Church in a special dedication service. Soon after this, they left for China. We have an interesting letter of admonition from her father who advised her to be an obedient dutiful wife.

　　In a letter from 1836, we are told of the long sea voyage and of much seasickness. She described a stop in Burma to visit the grave of Mrs. Judson and baby. The Judsons were the first American missionaries in Burma. It is interesting that Mrs. Shuck would have a life similar to Mrs. Judson. Both women became famous heroines for Christians back home determined to strengthen the missionary vision.

　　In her letter, she described stopping in Penang. It was a place of great delight, pleasant climate and surroundings. She then described stopping in Singapore. They planned to stay in this city until they would be able to go into China. During this time, a Chinese helper was employed. He was named Ah Loo. There was much hope that he would become Christian and help in the work. They began study of Malay and Chinese.

　　Mrs. Shuck described fellowship with five female missionaries. She was very uncomfortable with the worldly social life of many Westerners in that colonial society. The couple moved on to Macao. Rev. Shuck made frequent visits into Canton, always hopeful for opportunity to be a missionary in China. During this time, Mrs. Shuck adopted an orphaned Chinese boy.

Setting up a School: A Move in Mission Ministry

　　In a letter from 1837, Mrs. Shuck described her little school in Macao. She would begin her missionary work by teaching. She reported that their helper Ah Loo had been converted. The test of his being a sincere good Christian was that he refused to do shopping on Sundays, the Christian Sabbath Day. He also rejected worship of all idols.

　　She mentions receiving letters from her family and replied. She wrote intense letters to sisters that they should not postpone repentance and having assurance of eternal salvation. She belonged to an intense evangelical tradition in which everyone was warned that each needed a personal experience of grace; being part of a Christian family was no substitute for conversion and personal experience of grace.

　　She reported adopting a young Chinese girl that had been sold several times. She now had two adopted Chinese children. She also reported that she had given lodging to Brother Roberts, a fellow missionary in the city. The missionaries were studying the local language. All of her missionary colleagues were deeply evangelical, but not all were Baptists. It is interesting that she was upset that some of her fellow missionaries did not have a proper understanding of baptism. Being a strong Baptist, she believed baptism should be only for believers who made a personal decision of faith and it should be by immersion. She did not like the Chinese term, sai lai, which meant a washing but did not mean total immersion.

　　She reported that her husband had been sick with dysentery for 9 weeks. Her baby had the same problem and she was pregnant again. She felt it was miraculous that her family recovered from dysentery, since many died of the disease.

　　In a letter from 1838, when she was 20 years of age, she mentioned her family’s connection with the Rev. Deane family. They had come from Bangkok to visit Macao. They had come for reasons of health and stayed with the Shucks. In later years, the Northern Baptists of the US regarded the Deanes as their famous Baptist missionary pioneers. Southern Baptists regarded the Shucks as their famous Baptist missionary pioneers. Of course, in 1838, there was no division yet between the Northern and Southern Baptists. The Southern Baptist Convention was born in 1845. At that time Baptists had established themselves in Macao and Hong Kong and traced their beginnings back to the Shucks who came from the southern state of Virginia.

　　The Deanes and Shucks were close friends, fellow Baptists. But already there was a division of labor. Rev. Deane was studying Chiu Chau so he could minister to Chinese who spoke that dialect. Rev. Shuck was studying Cantonese so he could minister to Chinese who spoke that dialect. It is interesting that the Shucks lent the services of their servant Ah Loo to help the Deanes, for Ah Loo was from a Chiu Chau family. Rev. Deane and Ah Loo returned to Bangkok to minister to Chiu Chau speaking people.

　　The letter from that year had grave news. Mrs. Shuck spoke of the apostasy of Ah Loo. He had been expelled from church. There was great disappointment in his moral failure. Also her son infant Lucius had died. Indeed, Mrs. Shuck was at the point of death. Mrs. Shuck did recover and she adopted another orphaned Chinese youth. He was a bright youth and she hoped to send him to the US for training.

Demystifying the Glamour of Missions

　　In a letter from 1838, when she was 21 years of age, we find that the young Mrs. Shuck had acquired much wisdom in her short life. She described the missionary life for people back home who had romantic or exalted notions about being a missionary. She tried to demystify the glamour of missions. Missionary life was full of problems and anxiety, danger and uncertainty. Many missionary wives died early in childbirth.

　　We have an informative fascinating letter about the running of her school. She wanted to educate girls as well as boys, but Chinese give preference to boys. So, she states there must be one girl student for each boy student accepted. Chinese would only send their children if missionary teacher provided food and clothing. She needs US$1 per month for each student for food and US$2 per year for clothing. For 20 students, she needs at least US$280. She reports a rich Chinese merchant in Canton had sent some money to help. She reported that Rev. Shuck preaches every Sunday in Cantonese; usually to a group of 15 people or so.

　　She reported rumors of war that seemed imminent between China and England. While the situation was dangerous, they hoped that the strong presence of England might open a door to missionaries to go to China. They made a contingency plan to go to Manila in the Philippines, if necessary. They were having financial difficulties. Mrs. Shuck helped family finances by taking in a Presbyterian missionary as boarder.

Building a Chapel on Queen’s Road

　　In 1841, when she was 24 years of age, Mrs. Shuck and family moved to Hong Kong, just taken by the English. Rev. Shuck asked friends for money to buy a place for lodging and a chapel in Hong Kong. Sir Henry Pottinger, acting government head, arranged for him to have a free grant of land. A gentleman in Hong Kong offered Shucks travel expense to Hong Kong and a house plus US$50 monthly if he would be joint editor of a newspaper. This was seen as a God-sent gift. A chapel was built on Queen’s Road.

　　She reported that their old friend, Rev. Deane who had been in Bangkok in the Chiu Chau mission field, planned to come to Hong Kong. His wife would come later. Mrs. Shuck welcomed having a female colleague. She reported, “I was the first female who came to reside here. One other, Mrs. Ramsay, has come since.” She misses the company of other missionaries she knew in Macao.

　　She reported the hot steamy weather of Hong Kong is very hard to bear. She kept tubs of water in the house for her boys to “swim” about. She coped with a new baby who cried from teething. She had an earnest conversation with an atheistic Englishman. She feared for his soul’s damnation.

　　In a letter of 1843, she reported on the growth of the work. Their church began with 5 members and now has 20. Two chapels were completed. Rev. Shuck and Rev. Deane and other brothers helped in preaching at Queen’s Road Chapel three times a week. Chinese and English attended. Some English soldiers were being reached.

　　She reported working among soldiers’ wives and children. She visited them frequently, giving books to read, and praying with the sick. She shared what clothes she could and sewed, noting how many were so poor, quite destitute.

Rest in God in the Prime of Life

　　In a letter of 1844, she reported a typical day. She woke to manage her family until school began. She taught from 10:00 am to 12:00 am, having 10 Chinese boys, 2 of her own boys, 2 of her own girls, 3 European children, soldiers’ daughters. After lunch, she rocked her infant Netty to sleep. She read, wrote, sewed and mended clothes, teaching girls needlework. At 4:00 pm they dined. After dinner, she visited missionary friends usually taking children with her. Returning home, they had tea. At 8:00 pm she heard children read Bible and prayed with them. At the same time Rev. Shuck was praying with the Chinese servants.

　　In March 1844 letter, she said she had 20 boys in school who spoke no English, so she functioned in Chinese. In a letter written on March 31, 1844, she said her school had 32 children including 6 girls. A cultivated Chinese gentleman decided he wanted his girls to be educated by the missionary. In most cases, she had trouble keeping girl students for they were often taken out of school to be married or put to work. She spoke of her dream of having a female school. She had received money from a New York lady for such a project. She planned to invite a British Baptist lady to come and help her teach in a female school.

　　Her last letter written was on November 26, 1844. She was age 27. She wrote to her dear pastor supporter in the US, to Dear Brother Jeter, pastor of Richmond First Baptist Church. She recalled that he had baptized her as a young lady. She stated she cared for 30 children and had too little help.

　　She was buried in the Hong Kong Colonial Cemetery. On her tombstone—

　　Henrietta / First American Female Missionary to China / Daughter of The Rev. Addison Hall of Virginia, United States / Consort of The Rev. J. Lewis Shuck Missionary to China / From the American Baptist Board for Foreign Missions. / She was born October 28, 1817. / Married September 8, 1835. / Arrived in China September 1836. / In the prime of life, in the midst of her labors, and in / the meridian of her usefulness, suddenly, but / peacefully, / She died at Hong Kong, November 27, 1844 / aged 27 years./ Hallowed and blessed is the memory of the good.

II. Ms. Lottie Moon, 1840-1912

A Graduate from Prestigious Schools