Chinese Diamonds for the King of Kings

In Short

This collection of biographical sketches serves as an earnest defense of missionary work in turn-of-the-century China. By detailing the conversion stories of various men and women—ranging from opium addicts and outcasts to local village leaders—the author aims to provide empirical evidence for the efficacy and moral depth of her mission. The book has endured as a primary source for understanding the cultural intersection of Western evangelical zeal and traditional Chinese social structures, capturing a specific, historically charged moment in the history of international religious outreach.

The Story

The narrative arc of the book is defined by the encounter between the "foreign" message of Christianity and the rigid, often harsh realities of Chinese village life. It begins by establishing the author’s primary motivation: to answer skeptics who doubt the sincerity of Chinese converts. Through a series of vignettes, the reader is introduced to figures like Dr. Dwan, whose initial curiosity about the missionary’s home life leads to a total conversion of faith, only for him to suffer immediate, severe social alienation from his family.

The book progresses through various portraits of redemption, such as the "Wolf Boy," a youth disfigured by an animal attack who discovers a sense of purpose and joy in the hospital that outweighs his physical suffering. Another central narrative thread follows "Slave," a young girl sold into a cruel, loveless marriage to an older, debauched man. Her story is one of profound tragedy and eventual spiritual solace, as her sister eventually brings her the same Gospel message that offered their mother a peaceful death.

The trajectory of these stories is consistent: a character living in despair—whether due to addiction, physical deformity, poverty, or systemic social oppression—is touched by the missionary’s presence. This contact acts as a catalyst. The characters, once "saved," become active agents in their own communities, often serving as preachers or laborers for the mission. The arc concludes not with a perfect world, but with the persistence of faith amidst continuing hardship. The author does not shy away from the darker elements of the culture she describes—such as the abandonment of children, the exploitation of wives, and the violence of anti-foreign sentiment—but presents these as the very darkness that the "light" of the Gospel is meant to pierce. The final accounts emphasize that for these converts, death is no longer a source of terror but an entrance into a promised glory.

How It Unfolds

The encounter with the skeptic The book opens with the story of Dr. Dwan, who approaches a missionary to investigate the strange, orderly atmosphere of a Christian home. This meeting triggers his conversion and his subsequent difficult path of standing against his own community’s expectations.

The village microcosm The author shifts focus to specific villages, highlighting the stark contrast between "best" and "worst" characters. She profiles individuals like the unbeautiful Mrs. Sung, who finds her purpose as a worker in a mission hospital, and the opium addict Wang Fu Lin, who rises from a beggar to a potent, Spirit-filled preacher.

The challenge of the environment The narrative moves into the difficulties of the mission station itself, detailing the physical and emotional toll of the anti-foreign climate. The author recounts the precariousness of raising a child in an environment where they were treated as curiosities and how their faith sustained them during moments of extreme illness and danger.

The triumph of the individual The final sections focus on the personal liberation of the marginalized. Through the stories of the "Wolf Boy" and the sisters, the book illustrates that the Gospel message serves as a tool for personal agency, allowing individuals to reframe their traumatic experiences—such as physical violence or abusive marriages—into narratives of hope and divine favor.

The People

The characters are drawn from the margins of their society. Dr. Dwan represents the intellectual and social seeker who must forfeit his status to follow his conscience. Wang Fu Lin is the archetype of the "redeemed wreck," an opium addict whose natural oratorical gifts—once used for street stories—are repurposed for the pulpit. Mrs. Sung, described with self-effacing honesty as "unbeautiful," serves as a testament to the author’s belief that spiritual utility transcends physical appearance.

The most haunting figure is "Slave," a young woman whose life is treated as a commodity within a cruel patriarchal system. Her tragedy—the forced marriage to an older, abusive man—serves as a foil to the grace she eventually finds through her sister. Finally, the author herself appears as the "Shepherd Mother," an observer who is both a participant in the mission and a reporter of its effects. Her voice is one of unwavering conviction; she views these people not as charity cases, but as "Chinese diamonds" being polished for a greater, spiritual purpose.

In Its Own Voice

"Whatever intellectual difficulties may occur, a countenance illumined with a light that is not of this world is irresistible."

The author argues here that the visible transformation of a person’s character is a more potent proof of faith than any philosophical debate.

"I thank Thee for letting the wolf eat my face, for if he had not I might never have heard of this wonderful Saviour."

This jarring, poignant prayer from the disfigured "Wolf Boy" illustrates how the converts in this book often reinterpreted their greatest traumas through the lens of their newfound religious hope.

What It's Really About

The central argument is that Christianity provides a "miracle of grace" capable of transcending cultural and social barriers. The book posits that the Christian Gospel is the only force powerful enough to reform a society the author perceives as shackled by cruel traditions, such as child marriage and the mistreatment of women. It is a work concerned with theodicy—the problem of evil—constantly asking why such suffering exists and answering that it serves as the necessary background against which the "Light" of redemption can shine. Ultimately, it is a meditation on the value of the individual soul in a vast, indifferent, and often hostile world.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of global Christianity or the colonial-era encounter between East and West will find this an essential, if challenging, primary document. The author writes with a clear, warm, and precise prose style that makes her observations feel immediate. However, a modern reader must be prepared for the period-typical attitudes that permeate the text; the author’s categorization of Chinese culture as "heathen" and her occasional descriptions of people based on their physical appearance or social status reflect the mindset of an early 20th-century missionary.

The book is rewarding because it is not merely a dry report of missionary numbers; it is a series of deeply personal, often harrowing stories of survival. The emotional intensity of the accounts—such as the quiet dignity of a dying woman or the resilience of a victim of abuse—creates a genuine connection across the century that separates the author from the reader. While the religious agenda is front and center, the strength of the book lies in the author’s ability to capture the specific, small, and often desperate human details of the lives she encountered. It is a haunting, evocative look at how belief systems provide a framework for navigating life’s most profound cruelties.