March 4, 1901 Peking and Tientsin Times Reference to Roland Allen
The year 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of Roland Allen’s classic book Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours?. In honor of this event, I am presently working on a biography on the legendary Anglican. At the time of this blog post, only one such biography has been published. Roland Allen: Pioneer, Priest, and Prophet (Eerdmans/Forward Movement) was published in 1995 by Roland Allen’s grandson, Hubert J. B. Allen. It is an outstanding work that you should add to your library.
While recently conducting some research for my book, I came across the newspaper article that I have posted here. To my knowledge, very few people in the world are aware of this minute piece of missions history. When I sent a copy of it to Hubert Allen, I soon learned this was the first time that he had seen this reference as well.
What you see here is a clipping from the Peking and Tientsin Times dated March 4, 1901. The reference was found in the “Local and General” interest section.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Allen was in China with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (referenced above as S. P. G.). He served as a missionary during the Boxer Rebellion, and lived through the siege of the Legations in the city of Peking. At a time when many westerners, including missionaries, were murdered, he lived to record the events in his diary, later published as The Siege of the Peking Legations.
The excerpt listed above deserves at least three comments related to Allen’s missiological thinking in 1901.
First, note that Allen’s name is incorrectly spelled as “Rowland.” Obviously, the Anglican missionary had not developed his famous (or some would say infamous) reputation at the time, leading the paper’s editor to overlook the misspelling.
Second, this excerpt is additional early evidence that Allen was beginning to question publicly the missionary methods of his day. His apparent discussion addressing the “commercial and political Christianity” that the Anglican Church had been bringing to China would have been enough to upset some people at the time, thus going against the status quo.
Third, this work provides additional evidence that Allen was not yet ready to make public his solution to the problem. Anyone familiar with Allen’s writings (after this date), as well as what commentators revealed after hearing him, knows that Allen was anything but reserved with his conclusions and suggestions.
I was very thankful to come across this gem, and wanted to share the wealth with you. I would love to know of any treasures you may find regarding Roland Allen as well.
For those of you interested in my present research on Roland Allen, check out the posts and links below:
I love little historical tidbits like this. Thanks for sharing
You are welcome.
This Thanks for the research and I look forward to the book. i am a long time Allen admirer, having been using his books in my seminary classes for over 25 years. You probably know about the Reader, THE COMPULSION OF THE CHURCH and THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT as well as the more well known SPONTANEOUS and MISSIONARY METHODS. Allen was a seminal thinker but even more, he was keenly aware of the need for a Spirit-trusting methodology.
May the King of Kings bless your work. You might want to take a look at Schnable’s (TRINITY SEMINARY, DeerField, IL) latest work, he has much to say about Allen. Also Dr. Roy Rosedale did a dissertation at Fuller on Allen’s influence on a church planting movement started by Campus Crusade for Christ staff in Thailand in the 1970’s. Absolutely fascinating work.
Thanks, Marty for your words of encouragement.
I was not aware of Rosedale’s work. Thank you!
I have just commenced PhD studies exploring the missiology of the early British Pentecostals and I am discovering evidence that Roland Allen influenced Cecil Polhill (one of the Cambridge Seven and president of the Pentecostal Missionary Union) and also Willie Burton the famous Pentecostal misisonary pioneer to the Belgian Congo. Similarly in N.America the US AOG sought to embrace the Indigenous Principle as a result of articles based on Allen’s writings by a misionary called Eveline Luce.
Leigh,
Thank you for the update. I was not aware of this information as related to Allen. If you have titles of such sources making reference to Allen, I would love to know them.
J. D.
Hi- Sorry for the delay in the response – these are the sources I have used.
Klaus, Byron D., ‘The Holy Spirit and Mission in Eschatological Perspective: A Pentecostal Viewpoint’ Pneuma Vol. 27 No. 2 (Fall 2005) pp. 336-337
Kӓrkkӓinen, Veli-Matti ,‘Truth on Fire: Pentecostal Theology of Mission and the Challenges of a New Millennium’ AJPS Vol. 3 No. 1 (2000) pp. 41 & 42
Polhill, Cecil (ed), ‘Mission Policy’ & ‘Missionary Strategy’ in ‘Flames of Fire’ No. 24 (February 1915) pp. 2-4
Womersley, Harold, Wm. F. P. Burton: Congo Pioneer (Eastbourne, Victory, 1973)pp.79-80
Fiedler,Klaus, The Story of Faith Missions (Oxford, Regnum, 1994)p. 394;
Hodges, Melvin L., The Indigenous Church: including The Indigenous Church and the Missionary (Springfield, Gospel Publishing House, 2009) pp.44-46
Luce, Alice Eveline, ‘Paul’s Missionary Methods’ Pentecostal Evangel (Jan 8, 22, Feb 2, 1921)
Kay, Peter, The Four-Fold Gospel in the Formation, Policy and Practice of the Pentecostal Missionary Union (PMU) 1909-1925 (MA dissertation, Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education, 1995)pp. 15 & 61
Thanks, Leigh, for the resources.
Fascinating to find that Granfer still arouses lively interest in so many circles! You will be interested in this month’s special Roland Allen issue (Vol.29/3) of ‘Transformation’, the house journal of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. Please keep in touch, though I’m afraid I shy off Facebook and Twitter and all those intrusive gizmos.
Thank you, Hubert, for your comment. I was not aware of the new contents in Transformation. I will definitely obtain a copy.
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