History of the Free Methodist Church of North America, Volume II

HISTORY OF THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH should return home. The furlough resulted in the decided improvement of his health, and on September 2G, 1911, they again set sail from Seattle for China. They returned to Kai Feng Fu, province of Honan, and he was again elected Superintendent of the work in China.

After arriving in China with Misses Leffingwell and Myers, Edith Grayes passed through experiences of severe trial. Miss Leffingwell's death was, of course, a great shock to her, as to the other missionaries. Then while helping to establish the mission her health became impaired so that for some time she was unable to pursue her studies successfully. Finally, because of broken health it became necessary for her to leave the field, which she did, returning to America near the end of 1907 or the beginning of 1908. It seemed improbable that she would again be able to take her place on the field, and so in 1910 her relation to the Board was discontinued.

Miss Lily M. Peterson, of Seattle, was appointed to go to China with Miss Leffingwell, in 1905, but her actual going was delayed for a year. Then she went in company with Miss Laura Millican and Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Cooper, the latter two of whom were bound for Japan. She was just the kind of young woman to make a splendid missionary, had her physical constitution been equal to the demands. She labored willingly and joyfully, and was always full of courage. She acquired the native language with ease, and soon became a favorite with the Chinese, who called her "Pehi-ueh-tean" (White precious lily). Her period of missionary service was brief, however, for in about two years signs of tuberculosis developed, and it became necessary for her to return home. She failed rapidly, and at length peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, June 4, 1908.

On October 26, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Frank R. Millican, of Seattle, 'Yashington, accompanied by Miss Lucy A. Tittemore, of St. Armand Center, Quebec, and Miss Edith F. Jones, of Jamestown, New York, set sail for China [294]