The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-22

II never thought of that before" he an
awered as If to himself, but it may bs
true" Then in n quiet, serious way he
told me OF his many journeys around the
world, one Of which involved 10 years. alb
sence from his family here in Alameda,
CAL He came to us here in 1849, preach
ing from one end of the state to the other,
often in the streets, always among the poor
or depraved, always alone and on foot, al
ways poor and without pay, remaining only
long enough in one place to found mis-
sion or church and then passing on to q
place among strangers. He was always
known among us as Father Taylor" and
though he has long been Bishop Taylor,
still we old boys of the old days speak of
him reverently, and often with uncovered
heads, as Father Taylor.
Here is paragraph given me by one of
his sons which may throw some light Oh
the early life of this most beloved of all
living men:
William Taylor was born May Q, 1921,
In Rockbridge county, Va. He was first
junior preacher to Franklin circuit in the
Baltimore conference He was reported to
the preacher in charge as follows: He is
tall and slender, active and strong, wears n
blue coat, with brass buttons. His legs cx-
tend three or four inches lower than his
pants. and be wears the broadcast toed boots
that have ever been seen in these parts. He
has but little experience in preaching but
he is desperately in earnest and has the
stuff in him to make n preacher, and no
can sing just as loud as he likes. In Octo-
Der, 1649, he was sent with his family as n
missionary to California, arriving in San
Francisco, the city Of tents, in September,
l849. after five months voyage round the
Horn'@ | c1i ~ 81
g He has been 81 years in service Says he
was put up to keep In nil climates'-
counts on Is years longer to labor III Africa
He was IS years old last May l. In Africa
he walks everywhere, sleeping under the
stars."
This remarkable man has been called the
Napoleon of missions because of his great
good sense, his discipline and capacity to
bring order out of chaos ,lnd found mis-
sion churches. that pay their own way,
even where the most patient and sincere
Catholic priests have fuiled. For example
he has a self sustaining seminary in one of
the South American capitals-nearly 500
girls, all eager to learn, in his Methodist
seminary! And all around the globe he
has done and is still doing something of
this SORT He has lifted up the name and
vocation Of the missionary from out of the
rut and slough into which it was sinking
and made it respected even in the heart of
Africa Danger? There is no more dan
ger In even the heart of Africa than here in
Alameda. Inever was armed in my life,
nor had an escort of armed men. Stanley
was wrong in this Surely Stanley could
have gone in peace and unharmed where
Livingstone had gone before him"
And then the good bishop went on to tell
me about his recent visits to q remote
African city. He had two young men with
him. The last day it rained incessantly,
and they reached the city wet to the skin.
They were sent at once to the house for
strangers, an institution familiar to all
these remote heather centers. The queen,
head wife OF the king, received them at the
door. She did not know them or their
business; she only knew they were strang-
gers and homeless and hungry. She built
great wood fire with her own hands, and
while they dried their clothes and took
heart at such kindly welcome she cooked a
sumptuous dinner of chickens, cornbread.
baked yams and fried bananas This she
spread on mat before the fire and then
sat back in silence while they ate, and It
was only after they had eaten and rested
their fill that single question was asked
swell, well, bishop" said in surprise,
"what need can such people have for Chris
tianity?"
Very steadily the venerable evangelist
looked at me for a long time, and then he
said solemnly, "They need the salvation of
our Lord Jesus Christ" 1t is this earnest
ness Of Bishop Taylor that has made him
80 beloved and such q power over the wide
world. The portrait here shows his theory
and his proclivity. He begins with the
children-babes in arms. May he still have
many years. a JOAQUIN MILLER.