Harriet Eleanor & Elizabeth Maud SAUNDERS

SAUNDERS, HARRIET ELEANOR ('NELLIE') and ELIZABETH MAUD ('TOPSY') (b Melbourne, Vic, 1871 and 1873; murdered at Hwa Sang, China, 1 Aug 1895). First Victorian CMA missionaries.

Nellie and Topsy were the daughters of John Alexander and Eliza Saunders by his second marriage. Their father died when the girls were young, and the mother was left to bring up the family of three stepsons and two stepdaughters as well as her own two little girls. When Topsy was 15 she committed her life to Christ during confirmation preparation given by the Rev H A Mercer of the newly-formed parish of St Hilary's, East Kew. Through her ministry and that of the vicar, Nellie, after a spiritual conflict lasting 9 months, also gave herself fully to the Lord. Their mother as well came into a deeper understanding of her faith about this time.

Several years later the trio moved to Caulfield where they joined in the activities of St Mary's church, whose rector at the time was the missionary-minded Rev H B Macartney (q.v.). Through his ministry the two sisters offered themselves to the newly-formed Victorian CMA for missionary service in China and were located to the Fukien Mission. They were the first two Victorian missionaries to be sent out by the CMA. Their mother planned to join them in China at her own expense after about a year, but financial problems prevented her from doing so.

Nellie and Topsy arrived at Ku Cheng in the Fukien Province on 16 Dec 1893. After intensive language study and general orientation by the other missionaries and Chinese Christians, they began their work of teaching and itinerating in the nearby countryside. Their activities and that of the other missionaries were interrupted in March 1895 by the threat of attack on Ku Cheng by the Vegetarians, a group of fanatical Chinese rebels, and all missionaries had to flee the town. They were able to return after a short time when the government and rebels agreed on a truce.

In July 1895 the two sisters, together with a number of other missionaries, journeyed to the mission resort of Hwa Sang in the hill country to escape the sweltering heat of the plains. While they were there the Vegetarians attacked the mission compound and massacred Nellie and Topsy, together with nine other missionaries. Among those killed were the Rev R W and Mrs Stewart, who had been as foster parents to the two young women. The four Stewart children managed to survive the ordeal. Those killed were buried at Foochow on 6 Aug 1895. Thus the first two missionaries of the new CMA were martyred for the sake of Christ.

As a result of the martyrdoms a greatly increased volume of prayer was offered for the work in China, resulting in an 'outpouring and downpouring of God's Holy Spirit'. Mrs Saunders visited the Mission shortly afterwards and served as an honorary missionary there for several years.

Keith Cole (ed), Letters from China, 1893-1895: the story of the Sister Martyrs of Ku Cheng(Melbourne, 1988)

KEITH COLE