William Chalmers Burns
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- This article was originally a direct translation from de:William Chalmers Burns and partly from zh:賓惠廉
William Chalmers Burns (1815 - 1868) was a Scottish Evangelist and Missionary who originated from Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire. He was the coordinator of the Overseas missions for the English Presbyterian church. He became a well known evangelist through his participation in two periodic Anglo-American religious revivals.
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[edit] Life
Burns was brought up from a rich and well-to-do household. The third son of a local church minister. At the age of seventeen, Burns' faith was strengthened and subsequently, Burns commenced theological training. During a Revival meeting, he encountered an experience in which it became apparent that God had particularly appointed him into His service.
By 1839, at the age of 24, Burns had obtained the license to preach.
While still in his homeland of Scotland, he experienced, together with the preacher Robert Murray M'Cheyne, genuine Revival meetings. It was one of the tools from which the great spiritual revivals in Kilsyth resulted. Burns preached at St. Peter's in Dundee while Robert Murray M'Cheyne was away on a mission to the Jews in Palestine.
In 1843, Burns sided with Thomas Chalmers in the disruption within the Church of Scotland. He visited Canada and preached for the Free Church cause in many communities.
In 1847, Burns went to the Chinese empire via Hong Kong. During this long ship journey, he spent a lot of time studying the Chinese language. He began his missionary service in Hong Kong and went on to preach in such locations as Shantou, Xiamen and Beijing.
In 1855 Burns met Hudson Taylor and the two worked together for quite some time. Both had the courage to advance into the Chinese interior. Willam Burns regarded Hudson Taylor as one of his religious mentors, who had molded/shaped him for the missionary work and had broken with missionary tradition by wearing Chinese clothing while evangelizing in the region. During his twenty years of preaching the gospel in China, Burns also spent a short period in prison.
In 1868, Burns died after a short illness in Niú Zhuāng (牛莊), near Beijing.
One of William Burns' well known quotes was: "Always be ready" (1 Peter 3:15).
[edit] References
- McMullen, Michael D., God's Polished Arrow: W. C. Burns, Revival Preacher, Christian Focus Publications, 2000, ISBN 1-85792-395-2
- Burns, William C., Revival Sermons, Banner of Truth Trust, 1980, ISBN 0-85151-316-6
- Stewart James Alexander, Biographical Sketches: William Chalmers Burns / Robert Murray McCheyne, Asheville, NC: Revival Literature, 1963
- Tow, Timothy, William C Burns: Grandfather of Bible-Presbyterians, Singapore: Christian Life Publishers, 1994. ISBN 9971-991-34-9
- Burns, Islay, Memoir of the Rev. Wm. C. Burns, M.A : missionary to China from the English Presbyterian Church, 1870. (Reprint: San Francisco : Chinese Materials Center, 1975)
- Clarke, Agnes H. L., China's man of the Book. The story of William Chalmers Burns, 1815-1868, London : Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1968
- Houghton, S. M., Five pioneer missionaries: D. Brainerd, W. C. Burns, J. Eliot, H. Martyn, J. G. Paton, London : Banner of Truth Trust, 1965
[edit] Dutch
- Valen, L. J. van, Die aan alle wateren zaait : uit het leven van William Chalmers Burns ; zendeling en evangelist, Ede : Hardeman, 1988, ISBN 9071272222
