Within the same correspondence to Miss Barber in which she received her instructions from the Committee regarding the South China Mission, seven other missionaries also received related letters. Below are excerpts to the other women in which specific instructions are given (sometimes individually, sometimes to a pair.)

To F. Oatway

The Committee trust that you, Miss Barber and Miss Oatway, will, when the condition of the country permits, be associated together in work under the immediate superintendence of the Missionary in charge of Kengtau.

Note: a copy of the letter to specifically Miss Oatway was not obtained, thus her individual instructions are not included in the excerpt above, only the shared paragraph with M. E. Barber.

To K. Andrews

You, Miss Andrews and Miss Harrison, will, the Committee hope, be associated together with Miss Wolfe, under the immediate superintendence of Archdeacon Wolfe, and ultimately reside at Ke Sang Che. The Committee rely upon you both to do all that lies in your power to strengthen the hands of Miss Wolfe who has for so many years single-handed been carrying on earnest and successful work amongst the women of this district. Support her with loving sympathy and cordial co-operation. 

You, Miss Andrews, have enjoyed the opportunity of a somewhat varied training, and your knowledge of nursing will, the Committee fully believe, prove most helpful to you in your future sphere of labor. GOD has endowed you with special characteristics which, it may be, when brought into contact with other marked characteristics of the people of China will prove a real source of difficulty to you. But you know full well where sufficient grace is to be found. May GOD sanctify you wholly, and so shall you be used by Him to be by life and lip a bright and effectual witness for Jesus Christ. “Be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing them that oppose themselves” 2 Tim.ii. 24,25.

To E. J. Harrison

You, Miss Andrews and Miss Harrison, will, the Committee hope, be associated together with Miss Wolfe, under the immediate superintendence of Archdeacon Wolfe, and ultimately reside at Ke Sang Che. The Committee rely upon you both to do all that lies in your power to strengthen the hands of Miss Wolfe who has for so many years single-handed been carrying on earnest and successful work amongst the women of this district. Support her with loving sympathy and cordial co-operation. 

You, Miss Harrison, have learnt in God’s Providence something of the practical difficulties of a Christian life, but the Committee are well assured that that same blessed Spirit which has enabled you under difficult surroundings to walk humble and consistently with your Master, will not fail you in the altogether new surroundings of the Mission Field. You draw from a well which is absolutely inexhaustible, and ever fresh. In the midst of all vicissitudes may you never fail to realise that to you the assurance is given by the Master Himself “Lo, I am with you all the days”; and that of you He has declared, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love”. So by the Holy Spirit’s power may you ever “walk in love as Christ as love us”.

To A. L. Leybourn

You, Miss Leybourn and Miss Brooks, are appointed by the Committee to work under the guidance of Mrs. Banister, or Miss Goldie, as the local Sub-Conference may direct, when the state of the country permits, probably in one of the Hiens immediately contiguous to the great City of Foochow. You will have the  advantage of the co-operation of a sister if the Field who has had considerable experience in the Mission Field, and the Committee rely upon you both to exhibit towards her the utmost loyalty, and cheerfully to field yourselves to her guidance.

GOD has granted to you, Miss Leybourn, special qualifications for service. The Committee recognise in you one who desires to dedicate your knowledge as a fully qualified nurse to the service of your Master. They thank GOD that His grace has enabled you cheerfully to waive your preference for Africa, and respond to their invitation to consecrate your life to the women of China, a sphere of labour which has been chosen for you after much prayerful consideration. The Committee earnestly cherish the hope that at no distant date the way may open more adequately tha [sic] for some little time will be possible, to employ your nursing powers in connexion with a Hospital. They think it only right that they should warn you that the appliances in a Chinese Hospital fall far behind those of similar institutions in England. The Committee, however, rejoice to know that your place in the forefront of your work, the winning of souls to Christ. Your nursing gifts you regard as only a means to that one great end. Hence it may be when you feel confined and contracted with respect to utilsing your powers, taught by the Spirit of GOD, and influenced by the Love of Christ, you will be “content to fill a little space if He be glorified.” May the Lord keep you conscious of your dependence upon His Grace, alike for your own Spiritual life, and for effective service. With the great Apostle may you ever realise “When I am weak then I am strong.

To E. Brooks

You, Miss Leybourn and Miss Brooks, are appointed by the Committee to work under the guidance of Mrs. Banister, or Miss Goldie, as the local Sub-Conference may direct, when the state of the country permits, probably in one of the Hiens immediately contiguous to the great City of Foochow. You will have the  advantage of the co-operation of a sister if [sic] the Field who has had considerable experience in the Mission Field, and the Committee rely upon you both to exhibit towards her the utmost loyalty, and cheerfully to field yourselves to her guidance.

You, Miss Brooks, the Committee are thankful to realise that in the Mission Field you, together with all your colleagues are exposed to special attacks of the great enemy upon your own spiritual life. Hence they would emphasise how essential is a humble, prayerful walk with GOD. They trust that you and your sisters now going forth recognise that even while your lips are sealed, and you are unable actively to engage in Missionary work, your life may be a silent though eloquent witness for Christ. They have indeed one anxiety for with regard to you - - viz., that in your zeal to be engaged in active service, and especially while endeavoring to master the vernacular, you may sometimes be inclined to overtax your bodily strength, or neglect necessary precautions with regard to your health. They would have you remember that health is a precious gift of GOD, and that it must be carefully guarded, and that for the sake of Christ and His service you must seek to “glorify GOD in your body”. May GOD enable you by His Holy Spirit for many years to prove by your life among your fellow-workers, the Native Christians, and even the heathen “a sweet savour of Christ.”

To R. Clemson

You, Miss Clemson, the Committee propose, with the concurrence of the local Sub-Conference, ultimately to work under the superintendence of Mr. Eyton-Jones at Fuh-Ning. On arrival at Foochow you will be met by Archdeacon Wolfe, who will make arrangements for your residence in that city until such time as it may be considered by the P.C. expedient for you to proceed to your allotted destination. At Fuh-Ning you will be associated with one or more of the Lady Missionaries, who have had some experience in  the Field, and the Committee rely upon your loyally co-operating with these Ladies in their work. 

The Committee thank GOD that His spirit has enabled you to waive your preference for Africa and gladly to respond to their invitation to labour for Christ amongst the women of China. May He Who has deigned to use you in the past, increasingly use you in your new sphere of labour. Your surroundings indeed will be changed, but remember that in China as in England, the need, the message, and the Divine power which carries home the message to the heart and conscience, are the same, as also is the reward for faithful service. Best of all, for your own comfort, spiritual life, and service, let this be as the sheet-anchor to your soul, that of your Master and Savior you can declare, “Thou Remainest”, and that to you does He utter the words of assurance, “My spirit remaineth among you, fear ye not”.

To E. L. Little

You, Miss Little, under the advice of our medical authorities, the Committee designate ultimately to work at Ning Taik, where you will be associated with the Lady Missionaries of tried experience, and  the Committee are glad to know that you will recognise in them those who though possible your juniors in age will of necessary be your seniors in Missionary experience. As you are aware, the Committee have had some anxiety on medical grounds in selecting a sphere of work for you. It is therefore specially incumbent upon you to take all due care of your health, and cheerfully to carry out any recommendations which are given you by those on the spot. 

On arrival at Foochow Archdeacon Wolfe will arrange for your accommodation until such an time as the local authorities, after communication with the P. C., deem it expedient for you to proceed to Ning Taik.

It is possible that you may find yourself placed in a station without a resident European Clerical Missionary, in which case you will occupy a position which will call forth much tact and gentleness in your attitude towards the Native workers. The Committee recognise that the somewhat wide experience of your life on the continent of Europe which has fallen to your lot may be exceedingly helpful, if, as they pray, it furnishes you with special readiness to sympathise as occasion offers with those who are exposed to the temptations incident to such surroundings, and at the same time has a hallowing influence upon your own spiritual life.

The Committee trust that by GOD’s grace you may be enabled to walk very humbly, watchfully, and consistently, that not only may His spirit fill your heart, but permeate your whole nature so that you may increasingly reflect in your daily life the character of Christ. In the truest sense be a woman of one idea. You have deliberately consecrated yourself to work for Christ. Be this then your motto: “This one thing I do”, “to live is Christ.”

Main Instructions of the Committee letter

Related Letters - 1896.01.16 Instructions of the Committee

Next Letters

Letters - 1896.02.26 1 Mr. Baring-Gould Letters - 1896.11.21 Extract from her Annual Letter