"They're a multitoode" and other stories

In Short

This volume serves as a repository for the missionary spirit of its era, gathering tales, testimonials, and instructional verse intended for young readers. Its primary focus is the work of the Methodist Church in China, though it also touches upon broader efforts to inspire charitable giving and spiritual discipline. The book survives as a primary artifact of institutional mission movements, illustrating how these organizations sought to cultivate a global worldview among their followers by highlighting the stark contrast between traditional Chinese customs and the values of the Christian faith.

The Story

The narrative arc of the book is less a singular journey and more a composite tapestry of spiritual awakening. It opens with the perspective of Christopher Morton, Jr., a prosperous young businessman in Toronto. Initially concerned only with his own financial success, Morton is stirred by a visit from Jim Perry, a gaunt, fever-stricken missionary home from China. Perry’s presence and his insistence on a Christmas mission collection box prick Morton’s conscience, transforming his view of wealth from a private asset into a potential tool for global evangelism. This internal shift initiates a chain reaction of generosity that ripples through his office, affecting his stenographer and his acquaintances.

From this domestic starting point, the focus shifts to the mission field itself, specifically the lived reality of Chinese individuals. We meet a girl named Yin-dee, whose life begins in poverty and neglect. Her story acts as a poignant center for the book’s thematic progression: she suffers through the custom of foot-binding, experiences the harshness of a family life dominated by superstition and gambling, and eventually finds refuge in a mission school. Her transformation—from an unwanted child labeled for bad luck to an educated teacher—serves as the ideal model for what the missionaries hope to achieve.

The narrative then expands to cover the broader social and religious landscape of China. It recounts the experiences of local converts like Bo, who observes the fraudulent nature of temple miracles, and others who, disillusioned by local corruption and the political maneuvers of foreign powers, seek out Protestant organizations as a more ethical alternative. Interspersed with these accounts are vignettes of school life, such as the Christmas celebrations at Junghsien, where the missionaries strive to replace old traditions with new rituals of gratitude and prayer.

The book culminates in a series of moral exemplars and exhortations. The trajectory moves from the initial "awakening" of the Canadian businessman to the "regeneration" of the Chinese convert, eventually settling into a call for the reader to mirror these efforts. The closing sections focus on the legacy of dedicated men like David Hill and the importance of simple, hard-working faith. By the final page, the reader is presented with a scriptural mandate for living: a life defined by charitable "sweat of the soul," the rejection of material hoarding, and the active, sacrificial pursuit of the "Good News" as understood by the Methodist missions of the time.

How It Unfolds

The call to give Christopher Morton, a focused businessman, is challenged by a sickly missionary to look beyond his own ledger. He reluctantly hosts a collection box, inadvertently inspiring his staff and associates to contribute their own meager or abundant resources.

The transformation of the individual The perspective shifts to China through the memoir of Yin-dee, a girl born into a culture of neglect. Her physical suffering, particularly the binding of her feet, is contrasted with the eventual liberation she finds within the mission school system.

The exposure of superstition Local converts share their disillusionment with traditional practices, such as the staged "miracles" performed by temple priests. These accounts validate the missionary presence by presenting the new faith as a rational, liberating alternative to deception.

The mission as social anchor As political instability grows, the book shows the mission station becoming a sanctuary of stability. The stories emphasize how these schools and hospitals provided a structure of order and education for a population affected by famine and conflict.

The moral mandate The book concludes by framing all these individual stories within a wider context of spiritual obligation. It directs the reader toward a life of "Thanksgiving Street," encouraging them to shed worldly grumbling in favor of religious service.

The People

Christopher Morton, Jr. begins as a man defined by efficiency and the accumulation of wealth. Through the influence of his friend Jim Perry, he pivots from being a "cash register" to a facilitator of global mission work, marking his growth by his newfound willingness to prioritize spiritual investment over personal gain.

Yin-dee represents the primary beneficiary of the mission system. Once an unwanted child burdened by the "little golden lilies" of foot-binding and the abuse of a superstitious household, she finds agency through education. She ends her story not as a victim, but as a teacher, passing on the values that rescued her.

Jim Perry serves as the catalyst for the entire collection. Despite his failing health, his unwavering commitment to the mission field drives the initial plot. He represents the ideal missionary—self-sacrificing, persistent, and unbothered by his own physical discomfort.

Bo is an ordinary Chinese observer who represents the common person’s search for truth. By witnessing the trickery of local priests, he undergoes a shift in allegiance, turning away from local idols to a monotheistic faith, embodying the "rational" convert the missionaries hoped to foster.

In Its Own Voice

Regarding the financial success of the protagonist:

“I am getting on,” said Christy, modestly, “I have some turn, I think, for making money.”

The narrator reflects on the physical toll of traditional customs:

“For every pair of small feet there has been shed a bucket of tears.”

Yin-dee describes her internal state after finding a new life in the mission school:

“Truly my new name suited me—I had found rest and peace.”

What It's Really About

The book explores the interplay between material wealth and spiritual capital. It argues that hoarding money is a moral failure, while the act of giving—whether it is a stenographer's dollar or a businessman's windfall—is a transformative experience that aligns the individual with a divine purpose. Beneath the stories lies a deep-seated belief in the necessity of replacing traditional Chinese religious and social structures with Western Christian ideals. It raises the question of whether a society can truly progress without the "civilizing" influence of the gospel, framing every social ill—from famine and poverty to family conflict—as a problem that can only be solved through conversion and the adoption of a new, selfless lifestyle.

Why Read It Today

This collection is best approached as a historical document rather than a contemporary narrative. Readers interested in the history of religion or the complex, often fraught legacy of the missionary movement will find it illuminating. The writing is direct and earnest, reflecting the period’s sincere, if narrow, worldview. However, a modern reader must be prepared for the period-specific attitudes that permeate the text, particularly the patronizing descriptions of Chinese culture and the recurring depictions of non-Christian rituals as fraudulent or backward.

The book’s structure, which moves between the domestic comforts of Canada and the harsh realities of China, effectively captures the binary perspective of the missionary movement at the turn of the century. You will encounter frequent examples of the era’s "white savior" complex, which may be difficult for the modern reader to navigate. Yet, if you can look past these artifacts of Victorian-era prejudice, the book offers a rare, ground-level view of how these institutions viewed their global mission. It serves as a stark reminder of how the language of charity and "doing good" was used to justify cultural expansion. What stays with you is the intensity of the conviction held by those who believed that changing the world began with a collection box and a Bible.