The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-06
MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES
GEORGE GORDON

OiS VI ouS lllOSG GemdrhdDle men Oh
our time is the British officer whose
name is at the head of this article
late Lieutenant-Colonel, now General
Gordon-sometimes called Gordon
Pasha-but most familiarity known as
Chinese Gordon. He is about fifty-
three years of age, and entered the
Royal Engineers as second lieutenant
in 1852. In 1854 he gained great dis
tinction in the Crimea. In 1860, when
little over thirty years of age, he went
to China, where, placed in command
by General Staveley, he broke the neck
of the great Tapping rebellion, and
achieved position of almost unrivalled
influence. On the 18th of May, 1864,
he had completely suppressed that
formidable movement, and in Deem
Der of the same year he was gazetted
a g. b. Commander of the Bath), hav-
ing been previously made captain in
1859, major in 1862, and lieutenant
colonel in February, 1864 Speaking
of his career in China, Never" said
the Times, did soldier of fortune de-
port himself with nicer sense of mil
itary honor; with more gallantry
against the resisting, and with more
mercy towards the vanquished with
more disinterested neglect of oppor-
tunitles OF personal advantage, or with
more entire devotion to the objects and
desires of his own Government" In
1874 he was appointed by Nubar Pasha
(now prime minister of Egypt Gov
ernorGeneral of the Soudan- pro
vince equal in size to one-third of Eu-
rope-with the object of suppressing
the slave trade, and establishing com
munications throughout that vast re-
gion. His management of the affairs
of the Soudan was marvel of admin
istrative ability, and his name became
ut once terror to evil-doers and an OBJ
ject of reverence among the wild tribes
Of the country In 1879 he resigned
this position, and returned to England.
An article in the Edtnbmgh ReUie,o OF
1880, entitled "Col. Gordon in Central
Africa" based on a book which had
been published about him, said " He
ICol. Gordon1 is a man in short of a
rare nature: he believes both in God
and in himself, and in that belief this
book shows that he has been able tc
accomplish deeds which few other men
would even have thought of attempt
ing"
At the close of his Chinese campaign
the Emperor Of China made him man
DARN of a very high order, decorated
him with yellow jacket and pea
cocks feather-of all which he made
fun-and he became entitled to a re-
ward of 100000, which he positively
refused to accept
When the cotton famine prevailed in
Lancashire, in order to contribute some
thing to the relieffund, he took large
gold medal which he had received in
China, scratched out the inscription.
and sent it anonymously to Canon
Miller.
The conspicuous trait in General
Gordon's character is his implicit be-
lief in God to which the Edtnburgh Re
aieV refers. 1t is faith reminding us
of that of George Muller. His reliance
under all circumstances in the Soudan
was apparently not on his troops, or
any human assistance, but he went for
ward into the most formidable dangers,
with the idea that God would see him
through Death he seemed to court.
Personal ambition or objects he seemed
to have none. The story is told of him,
when he was taken prisoner in Abys-
mia, and brought before King John.
that that monarch received his captive
sitting on his throne, or whatever piece
of furniture did duty for that exalted
seat, chair being placed for the pris-
oner considerably lower than the seat
on which the king sat. The first thing
Gordon did was to seize this chair
place it alongside that of his Majesty,
and SIT down on it; the next to inform
him that he met him as an equal and
would only treat with him as such.
This somewhat Disconnected his sable
Majesty, but on recovering himself he
n