15 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Chapter 15 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS IN estimating the character of any man, it needs to be remembered that the record of a life, with its varied ambitions and activities, is a far more eloquent tribute than any eulogy that might be pronounced upon him. The best testimony to the spirit which animated Dr. Phillips is the life he led and the work he accomplished. The preceding chapters will abundantly suffice to show the high aspirations and the lofty aims which possessed and absorbed his entire energies, and at the same time will indicate the mental qualities and habits of life which characterized this untiring worker.
Dr. Phillips was essentially a methodical man. His diaries were entered up with painstaking diligence day by day, even the smallest details being often noted and preserved; while the most elaborate records and summaries were kept of his journeyings and work, the precise number of miles traveled each day, the addresses and sermons delivered, with their texts or subjects, and his numerous articles contributed to various journals and magazines, - all these are to be found recorded in his diaries and notebooks. He preserved the notes of every speech he made, transcribing them from the backs of envelopes into small volumes of " briefs."
He was equally methodical in money matters, keeping a careful record week by week of his income and expenditure ; and a careful examination of these accounts shows with what economy and carefulness he used the funds which passed through his hands, reckoning himself as a steward who must some day give account. A world of self-denial, about which he said nothing, may be read between the lines of these accounts.
He attached especial importance to the keeping of diaries, urging his children to follow his example in this matter, and grieving bitterly when the white ants got at some of his old journals. He was accustomed to say, " True Christians must be business men."
Dr. Phillips was quite as careful in matters of correspondence. Business letters received his instant and conscientious attention, and his epistles to his family were written with equal regularity, however pressed and wearied he might be. Wherever he was he always wrote to his son Willie on Wednesday, to his elder daughter on Thursday, and to his younger daughter on Saturday.
Yet with all this he was one of the most unconventional of men. He utterly rejected clerical garb, holding that " religion was an everyday thing, and not to be dressed up for." It was partly because he was anxious to identify himself with his hearers, and to raise no barrier between himself and them, that he so scrupulously avoided anything which might suggest a spirit of professionalism. So successful was he in this, that a large proportion of those who heard him address public meetings, and met him in social life, never suspected that he was an ordained minister, still less did they suspect that the plain unassuming man who made himself so entirely one of the people had taken the degrees of M.A., LL.B., and M.D. during his university course, and had subsequently received the degree of D.D. as a recognition of his distinguished missionary career. His methodical character showed itself conspicuously in his remarkable punctuality. In the course of his Sunday School work he traveled over the country in every sort of conveyance that was in use, by train, coasting steamer, poling boat, bullock wagon, etc., yet during his 25,000 miles of such travel he was never once late for an appointment. Nothing but living under strict rule and self-discipline could have enabled him during those years of wandering throughout India, never to fail in an appointment, nor to miss train or steamer.
Self-discipline was indeed one of the keynotes of his entire career . He ruled not only his outer, but also his inner life. He never spoke evil of any man. He both lived at peace with everyone, and sought to bring others to peace as well. Many could tell, if they would, how to him might be applied the words of our Lord, " Blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be called the children of God." He was simply absorbed in his work, and used jokingly to call himself " I.O." (India’s own). " It seems always to be my lot," he once said, " to hurry through the world. I sometimes think that I shall die with a jerk some day unexpectedly."
Once between Lucknow and Allahabad he had four hours of fever in the train, but he persisted in his journey, and fulfilled his engagements at its close. He lived to see his plan of a complete Sunday School organization, covering all India, Burmah, Ceylon, and the Straits Settlements, completed ; and this organization was almost entirely carried out by himself. He once remarked to Dr. Scott, " My wrist is utterly worn out with writing "; and it will be remembered that during his earlier Indian career he suffered from partial paralysis of his hand.
He was a man of remarkable moral courage, and never hesitated to speak boldly for what he believed to be right, even though he might risk the loss of friends and supporters by doing so. Upon the question of the drink traffic he uttered no uncertain sound, both on the platform and in the press ; and he was equally ready to denounce smoking, to which he had an intense aversion. But with all his outspoken boldness he was one of the gentlest of men - in the best sense of the word, a gentleman.
All who knew him tell how gentle and considerate he was in the home, and of the pleasant messages he invariably sent back after he had left, never forgetting the children. He was emphatically a lover of children. He was quick to notice them, always ready with pleasant words, and seemed never to forget their names. His private diaries let us into the secret of this recollection. It was his custom whenever visiting a new family to make a careful note of the names of the children, with particulars of their ages. The following entry, which occurred in his diary for October 7th, 1890, when he stayed for a day with a family at Halifax, will serve to illustrate this : - " The cherubs in the home - " Ethel Carter, 4 years old.
" Maude Carter, 2 years old.
" God bless them ! "
One who voyaged with him writes : " He loved children, and the children loved him. I used to send my two wee folk on deck to him in the early morning on the Victoria, and he used to chatter with them in Bengali about the big fish with mouths ’ so large,’ illustrating with his hands. Then one by one the twenty-two children on board would gather round him ; and though he never felt well when at sea, yet the doctor was the very life of all their games, their story-telling, and their services. . . . How glad we used to be to welcome him home again ! His cheery voice used to ring through the house. Notwithstanding the heavy work which his secretaryship entailed, he was always ready to play with our little ones, or to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it." A touching story is told of a little girl, who said on learning of Dr. Phillips’ death - " Oh, mother, won’t it be nice for Mrs. L ’s little baby to have uncle to play with in heaven ! " A fellow missionary states concerning Dr. Phillips , " I should say that the features which made him successful were, that - 1st. -- He was always cheerful, more especially when he had an audience of children.
2nd. -- He was never discouraged. Missionaries sometimes see dark hours, but I never knew Dr. Phillips not to be sufficient for the occasion. In times of difficulty he used to say, ’ There v/ill be success in the end. The work is God’s, and that means that it must succeed.’
3rd. -- He never despaired of anyone, but held on to a man as long as there was life,
4th, -- He had a wonderful power of finding work to do. While others were longing for work, and could see nothing that they could undertake, Dr. Phillips was always finding noble work to carry out for Christ.
5th. -- He had learned the great secret of success - he loved children. His face, his words, taught you that he loved you, and therefore you loved him.
6th. -- He believed in the durability of the work. He used to say that one soul brought to Christ would endure for ever, and work for men. ’ Let us be Christ’s ; and remember that being His, we shall abide forever to do His will and work.’ "
Perhaps it need hardly be added that Dr. Phillips was a man of prayer. Those who knew him best, and had opportunities of marking his private life, never failed to be impressed with the prayerful spirit which pervaded his daily life. In his house at Calcutta he was in the habit of going up to the fiat roof for what he called his " morning watch," and as he paced to and fro absorbed in prayer and meditation, he wore a path on the masonry which did not disappear for many months after his death. He never felt that he had done his duty by anybody until he had prayed with him. Almost every entry in his diary concludes with a brief prayer. His friends noted how he grew in grace. He was naturally imperious, irritable, and self-willed, but in his latter days nothing was more noticeable than the patient calmness with which he used to bear annoyances, and his gentle and unobtrusive bearing. Mrs. Phillips tells how, after her absence in America, she was impressed by the change that had come over him. The old, independent, " cocksure " air had entirely gone. It was not the teaching of Mrs. Uphani, as some have wrongly inferred, but the slow growth of long years, which developed the fine Christian character so admired in the great Sunday School missionary.
Dr. Phillips was ever mindful of the apostolic injunction, that a man should learn to rule his own household well before attempting to govern a Church. Thus we find that amid all the overwhelming cares of his public and ministerial work, he never forgot the claims of his family. His diaries are filled with expressions of solicitude for the welfare of those nearest to him. Scarcely a day passes without the record of some loving thought or wish for them. Especially was this the case in his later years. As his children grew into young manhood and womanhood, instead of considering his responsibility lessened, as too many parents do, he became increasingly anxious, both for their temporal and spiritual welfare. The ill-health of his eldest son, and the difficulty he found in gaining a permanent footing in the business world, specially called forth the affectionate solicitude of his father.
Dr. Phillips had five children. William Owen was born in 1868; Mary Ann Sophia followed a year later ; Nellie Upham, who was early called away, was born in 1871; John Otes, in 1874; and Julia Edith, in 1876.
We have already noted how, thrice a week. Dr. Phillips regularly wrote to his children. Many hundreds of these family letters still exist, and have been carefully read for the purpose of the present biography ; but space only permits the inclusion of very few. These, however, will serve to show the merry, lighthearted spirit of the writer, his intense sympathy with children, and his affectionate solicitude for the highest welfare of those to whom he wrote. First we give some specimens of his letters to his younger children,
"Calcutta, " June 13th, 1881 -- My dear , I wish you could have been with me yesterday afternoon. We went to a Jewish synagogue, and saw a young couple married. All was done in Hebrew, and was so queer. The bride was so pretty, and there were several very handsome Jewish women in the gallery. The Rabbi was a noble looking man. The groom put three coins, gold, silver, and copper, into a little china cup of wine, both the groom and bride sipping the wine. Then he took back the three coins and put them into his pocket, after which he put the cup on the floor and crushed it with his boot. The Hebrew singing was so funny. All the gentlemen wore their hats in the synagogue ! Perhaps some day I will take you to this very synagogue. Are you feeling better? I must go now. God bless you ! - Your loving Papa."
"Midnapore, April 19th, 1884. -- My darling , - I am going to write you a Canine and Feline letter today. Ask mama what these two words mean.
" 1st. Canine -
" (1) Snow is all right and behaves well, like the good dog he is. He sits beside my chair at table, and when he thinks that I have forgotten him, he stands up and touches my arm with his paw. He likes brown bread and chicken bones, and does not like Tabby overmuch.
" (2) Don, the black dog at Dr. Bacheler’s house, was naughty and bit poor old Dharma. So Mr. Griffin tried his new gun on him, and he has not barked or bitten since.
"2ndly. Feline -
"(1) Tab has a pretty kitten in Aunt Julia’s bathroom. She had two, but one did not like this world, and the kites carried it up higher. Tab sits beside Snow on the other side of my chair, and begs for milk and meat. She thinks brown bread and potatoes good enough for Snow.
" (2) Tom (Miss Millar’s cat) was naughty over in the other house, so Mr. G used him for a rifle target. He has not been naughty any more. Ask your mama why. Now you will write me a nice little letter. Papa wants to see you very much."
"SS Dacca, August 2nd, 1884. -- My darling , - I am on a big ship bound for Madras. There are eighteen geese, twelve sheep, two kids, one hog, two pigs, and a nice baby elephant on board. The baby eats plantains and rice, and lots of sugar-cane. I am too sick to say more to-day. - Your loving Papa."
"Colombo, Ceylon, August 15th, 1884, -- My darling , - Papa has had fever today, and while I was on the couch, such a nice little doctor came to see me. Her name is Ethel Maud Scott, and she is five years old. She kissed my hot lips, and put her soft hands on my aching head, and said she was sorry I had fever. Then she looked up so pleasantly, and said, ’ Dr. Phillips, if you will take some of Mama’s nice sugar pills, and let me put some Eau de Cologne on a handkerchief and lay it on your forehead, you will get well.’ When I asked her who it was that made sick people well, she said very quickly, ’ God ’ ; and she promised to pray for me, and ask Jesus to make me well. She has learned crotchet (I am afraid I have spelt that word wrong, ask Mama), and when she saw the pen-wiper on my table so full of ink, she said, ’ I will just make you a nice new one, and then you may tell that Ethel Maud Scott made it.’ Ethel is a sweet child all day long; but when it comes time to go to bed, she sometimes howls and kicks, and then her papa has to take her off in his arms. This is not nice, is it? Now, my darling is a bigger soldier than Ethel, and must try to be a very nice lady all day long, and in the evening too. - Your loving " Papa." The following letters are to his older children : -
’ ’ Midnapore, April 19th, 1888. -- My dear - , - -We are feeling very anxious about dear Mama, and feel like flying to help her. Are you good to her ? Please answer this question, and remember these few little things - 1st. Don’t disobey Mama.
2nd Don’t tease her.
3rd Don’t make her sad.
4th Help her cheerfully.
5th Help her promptly.
6th Give up to her politely.
7th Make her glad every day.
- Your loving Papa."
"Kandy, Ceylon, September 17th. -- My Dear , - I am so sad to learn that dear Mama is not very well. It is such a comfort to me to think that you are doing your very best to help her every day. When you are tempted, my dear boy, as, of course, you will be, to be careless, and idle, and lazy, will you please stop and think that I am praying for you, and hoping that you are Mama’s right-hand man, always earnest and eager, prompt, polite, and patient in helping her, so making her burden lighter and her heart happier. Remember that I am trusting you, and expecting you to make home bright and beautiful by your loving obedience and hearty helpfulness. Please always tell me freely how you are getting on. Do you and ____ get on pleasantly ? Let people see how nobly two missionary boys can love and help each other."
" Midnapore, April 2’nd, 1885. -- " My darling , - Your pencil note of March 5th came in on the 17th instant. Please do not use pencil in writing letters, for it gets young ladies into hasty and slovenly habits in letter-writing. Once a week you can afford me a pen and ink chat of half an hour. Cannot you try and learn to write a neat little letter, my child, for this will be an introduction for you into good society many a time. Your spelling improves, and so does your way of putting things. . . . Please write neatly, correctly, and thoughtfully, and let me see improvement in each letter that comes. I find only one word spelt wrongly in this, and I send it back on a slip. I see you would like to come and help me, would you? Well, I would love to have you. My books need dusting, my papers and pamphlets (those beloved pamphlets Mama used to laugh about) need sorting and putting up. All these and more call for help."
" New Haven, Connecticut, April, 1888. -- My darling , - Just a few lines on your day before I sleep. How good God has been to you! It seems hardly possible that twenty years ago this day you came to our home. Such a lovely day it was! The dear old peepul tree in front of the house was in fresh new tender leaf, and the moonlight evening I well recollect, when I held my first baby in my arms and thanked God for him. And how wonderfully he has blessed you since then! My dear boy, you cannot repay all of God’s love, but you may prove your sincere gratitude by devoting yourself to earnest efforts for His glory in helping your fellow-men. . . . Let us pray that the Lord may open your way before you. I well recollect how He opened my way for me, when I went to Brunswick in 1857 an entire stranger. If you devote yourself to Him, He will never fail you. Read Matthew 6:33, and study its meaning, particularly that strange word ’ first ’ on which the whole verse turns. Your needs are all guaranteed to you provided you follow Christ fully and make His service your chief concern. Now, good-night, my dear boy, and may the Lord guide you through the new year you begin to-night."
"Brighton, September 25th, 1890. -- My darling , - God bless you, my dear child, for writing so faithfully during these weary weeks. While Mama’s letters for the very first time in our twenty-eight years of correspondence have been suspended for a season, I cannot tell you what a comfort your good chats have been to me. This evening I have spoken for our dear India again. The meeting was in the Countess of Huntingdon’s chapel - a very stiff place. Two or three officials belonging to it came to me expressing the earnest hope that I should say nothing that would provoke merriment. They also charged us about being facetious, and hoped there would be no expression of applause. Well, I never worked in such a strait jacket; but I survived, and hope some good was done. Several times, however, my very sedate audience smiled audibly, and a few once or twice began to cheer ! "
"Almora, June 7th, 1894. -- My darling -, - How very sad and cast down I feel for not getting a letter from you by last mail, and only a post-card from you the mail before! Should this thing go on, I shall have to buy a lot of this black-edged paper for constant use. A lady in Calcutta, whose monthly epistle I do not preserve, uses this sombre sheet, and I am able to clip just this wee bit of it for conveying to your worldly and eager mind some sense of the depth of grief your recent neglect has been causing your paternal relative. Please take warning in season."
" Camp, Badhisol, Midnapore, January 10th, 1895. -- My darling , - Don’t you wish you could come and share our quiet under these ten beautiful mangoes? I wish you could. Now the sun is setting, and I am looking into the glowing west and thinking of the precious babas who used to be with us in these delightful camps under the banyan and mango, bamboo and palm, and who are now so far away. In imagination I hear H.’s merry voice, as she swings and begs Will to do it, and John’s hearty shout as he gallops up the road and calls for the sice ; and I fancy you are all with us once more around the home altar of prayer, where I taught you to pray and look up for blessing. On the top bough of the mango tree sits a beautiful blue bird, and amidst the dense leaves a red-beaked woodpecker is repeating its lonely note, which is heard at noonday when all else is still, and tired nature is hushed into an Eastern nap. This little fellow is a beauty, and I have come to know him better this time than ever before. The pretty brown turtle doves are cooing in the trees, and all seems so beautiful, but ’ only man is vile.’ Thank God for the privilege of pointing sinners to our adorable Lord ! - Your loving Papa."