How we met George Bowen

The annals of the Church are replete with the names of missionary saints: Francis of Assisi, David Brainerd, David Livingstone, Mary Slessor, Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor, Mother Teresa—the list is virtually unending. With Edwin and Lillian Harvey as my parents, it is not surprising that I grew up, as it were, on these saints. They were my heroes and heroines—my standards of devotion, my blueprints of sacrifice.
But it was not until I was in my early teens that I heard about George Bowen of Bombay.

While browsing in a secondhand bookstore in Belfast, Northern Ireland, my father struck up a conversation with the owner who mentioned the author, George Bowen. “If you ever come across one of his books,” he told my dad, “grab it. It’s a prize.” Some years later, my father remembered this advice when he visited a skid row mission in Chacago. After preaching to the men, he was browsing in their library and stumbled across Love Revealed by Bowen—devotional meditations on the upper room chapters of St. John’s Gospel. Borrowing it from the mission, he took his treasure back home to England, read it to his family and fellow mission workers, digested it from cover to cover, reprinted it, and mailed several copies to the mission in Chicago.
This, then, is how George Bowen entered my life and our publishing. But it was not until after my dad’s death that my mother obtained the unabridged biography of George Bowen. I remember my husband reading it to her day by day as she sat in her recliner, by then well into her nineties and diagnosed with dementia. It was probably the last book we read to her, bar the Bible, of course.
As the years have passed and an increasing number of our readers have been blessed by Love Revealed, it has been our intention to make Bowen’s remarkable life-story accessible to them. At first, we attempted to abridge it but that attempt never materialized. And yet although this biography is very lengthy and written in Victorian English, it is a gripping and inspiring portrayal of the “White Saint” as Bowen came to be called. His intellect was mind-boggling in its scope and depth as anyone reading his books soon discovers, and his sacrificial life-style was virtually unparalleled in the history of missions. Christ and Christ alone was his passion, his consuming love, and his inseparable Friend.
While proofing the manuscript several times during the past months, I have become increasingly aware that George Bowen was entering the inner sanctums of my heart. In fact, I found it almost impossible to describe my emotions as I closed the book for the fourth time several days ago. What was there about this man, I ask myself, that has moved me so deeply? His rare combination of genius and spirituality? His faithfulness to his missionary call whatever the cost? His humility and sacrifice? All this, admittedly, has greatly influenced me, but it is something more that makes me, even now, want to fall down and worship my Redeemer. It is, in fact, nothing more or less than George Bowen’s obsession, and I use that word deliberately, with Jesus Christ! This humble and eccentric missionary has made me fall in love afresh with my Lord and Savior. And that is recommendation enough, is it not?
Trudy Harvey Tait
trudytait@gmail.com
October, 2021

Writings of George Bowen available from Harvey Christian Publishers:
Love Revealed — https://harveycp.com/?product=love-revealed
Daily Meditations — email harveycpbooks@gmail.com for a digital file.
The Amens of Christ — email as above for a digital file.

George Bowen of Bombay by Robert E. Speer $24.95 — available by November 1st.

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol.6

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol.6

Continuing our study into the variety of characters cited in the series, They Knew Their God, here is Volume 6, noting, as with Volume One, the nationality, denomination, vocation, and the century in which they were born as relating to each character.

 

Volume 5: 14 characters described in 14 sketches.  

Nationality: 1 Syrian, 4 Scots, 5 English, 3 American, 1 German.

Century: 1 from 4th century, 7 from 18th century; 5 from 19th century, 1 20th century.

Denomination:  1 RC, 4 Anglican, 1 Lutheran, 1 CIM (China Inland Mission), 3 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Salvation Army.

Vocation—original and final.  

Church Father/bishop/author

Cowherd/teacher—minister, commentator

Anglican vicar/advisor/author

Missionary pioneer

Student/prayer-warrior

Academy Principal—minister

Cooper/itinerant preacher

Missionary

Dentist—missionary

Housewife—missionary

Politician/abolitionist/reformer

Preacher/temperance advocate/abolitionist

Pastor/exorcist

Lawyer—preacher/intercessor/author.

 

Sex: 2 women. 12 men

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 5

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 5

Continuing our study into the variety of characters cited in the series, They Knew Their God, here is Volume 5, noting, as with Volume One, the nationality, denomination, vocation, and the century in which they were born as relating to each character.

 

Volume 5:12 characters described in 12 sketches.  

Nationality: 1 Welsh, 1 Spanish,  6  English, 1 Scots, 1 Canadian,  1 Swiss, 1 French,

Century: 1 from 16th century; 2 from 17th, 3 from 18th century; 6 from 19th century.

Denomination:  1 RC, 4 Anglican, 1 Lutheran, 1 CIM (China Inland Mission), 3 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Salvation Army.

Vocation—original and final.  

Nobleman/public orator—Anglican vicar/poet

Nobleman/R.C. priest

Tutor/chaplain/Anglican curate/author

Tutor—Anglican vicar/author

Philanthropist/deaconess

Scholar—missionary/minister/philanthropist

Bank clerk—missionary

Minister/poet

Missionary pioneer

Housewife/missionary/author

Salvation Army officer/soul-winner

Minister/author

 

Sex: 3 women, 9 men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 4

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 4

Continuing our study into the variety of characters cited in the series, They Knew Their God, here is Volume 4, noting, as with previous volumes, the nationality, denomination, vocation, and the century in which they were born as relating to each character.

 

Volume 4. 13 characters described in 12 sketches.  

Nationality: 3 American, 6 English, 1 Irish, 2 German, 1 Finish,

Century: 2 from 17th century; 3 from 18th century; 8 from 19th century.

Denomination: 2 Anglican, 3 Methodist, 1 RC/Lutheran, 1 Presbyterian, 5 inter-denominational, 1 Plymouth Brethren.

 Vocation—original and final.  

Anglican vicar.

Anglican vicar—Bible commentator

Methodist itinerant preacher

Hostess

Scholar—Christian theologian and pastor

Farmer—missionary

Homemaker/prayer warrior

Nobleman—missionary/philanthropist

Dr. of philosophy—evangelist/prison reformer

Businessman/manufacturer/philanthropist/home missionary

Homemaker/Sunday School teacher/home missionary

Noblewoman—prison reformer

Trainer of missionaries

 

Sex: 5 women; 8 men.

 

 

 

 

 

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 3

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 3

Continuing our study into the variety of characters cited in the series, They Knew Their God, here is Volume 3, noting, as with previous volumes, the nationality, denomination, vocation, and the century in which they were born as relating to each character.

 

Volume 2. 13 characters described in 13 sketches.  

Nationality: 2 French, 8 English, 2 Scots.

Century: 1 from 17th century; 5 from 18th century; 7from 19th century.

Denomination: 1 RC, 1 Quaker, 2 Baptist, 3 Methodist, 1 SA, 1 Faith Mission, 2 inter-denominational, 2 Anglican.

Vocation—original and final.  

Nobleman—philanthropist

Nobleman—itinerant evangelist

2 Ministers/prayer-warriors

Prayer-warrior

Brick-layer/colporteur

Salvation Army colonel

Founder of the Faith Mission/Bible School Director

Preacher/author/chaplain

Secretary—editor

Vicar/Bible expositor

Missionary/nurse

Minister—bishop

 

Sex: 3 women; 10 men.

 

 

 

 

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 2

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 2

Continuing our study into the variety of characters cited in the series, They Knew Their God, here is Volume 2, noting, as with Volume One, the nationality, denomination, vocation, and the century in which they were born as relating to each character.

 

Volume 2. 20 characters described in 17 sketches.  

Nationality: 1 Latvian, 1 German, 1 Chinese, 3 Irish, I Welsh, 3 Scots, 3 English, and 7 American.

Century: 1 from 17th century; 2 from 18th century; 15 from 19th century; 2 from 20th century.

Denomination:  1 Baptist, 1 Pietist, 3 CIM (China Inland Mission), 1 YWCA, 2 Quaker, 3 Methodist, 2 Anglican, 2 Presbyterian, 3 AEB (Africa Evangelistic Band), 1 JEB (Japan Evangelistic Band, 1 Christian Brethren.

Vocation—original and final.  

Anglican curate

Author and hymn-writer

Book-keeper—traveling Quaker evangelist and philanthropist

3 Deaconesses

Farmer—Methodist bishop

Homemaker—author, and preacher

6 Missionary pastors/evangelists

2 Pastors/authors

Philosophy professor—Quaker mystic.

Presbyterian minister

Ribbon weaver —Pietist recluse

Scholar— pastor

 

Sex: 7 women; 13 men.

 

 

 

As Different As Chalk is From Cheese: They Knew Their God Vol. 1

As Different As Chalk Is from Cheese

They Knew Their God Vol. 1

One thing that hits you as you begin to read any of the books in the They Knew Their God series is how varied the stories are. I thought it might be an interesting study to note the nationality, denomination, vocation, and the century in which they were born as relating to each character, using a different blog for each volume.

Volume 1. 18 characters described in 18 sketches. 

Nationality: 2 Swiss; 2 German; 1 Welsh; 6 English; 5 American; 1 Irish; 1 African.

Century of Birth: 1 13thcentury; 1 14th century; 4 18th century; 12 19th century.

Denomination: 2RC; 1 Baptist; 6 Methodist; 1 Reformed; 1 Christian Brethren; 1 Quaker;

1 A .M. B. (Algiers Mission Band); 1 S.A; 1 Presbyterian; 2 non-denominational; 1 S. I. M. (Sudan Interior Mission).

Vocation—original and final:

African prince—student preacher

Army sergeant—philanthropist/pastor/divine

Artist—missionary pioneer/author

Bible teacher

Home-maker/evangelist

Lawyer—preacher/counselor/Bible teacher

Merchant—lay preacher/mystic/martyr

Merchant—preacher

Minister

Missionary pioneer

Missionary/prayer-warrior

Noblewoman—deaconess

2 Preachers/evangelists

A. Colonel/preacher/writer

Scholar—mystic/preacher/author/divine

Servant-girl—prayer-warrior

Teacher—Christian educator

Sex: 7 women; 13 men.

 

More Memories

More Memories:

It was in the early to mid-seventies. My parents, Edwin and Lillian Harvey had already written and published a few books. Their extensive files provided ample material for further compilations. In what direction to branch out next must have been in their minds and in their prayers.

We were living in England in those days and, being interdenominational, my parents’ ministry brought them in contact with Christians from various backgrounds and denominations. One day, Tim, a young squadron leader in the RAF handed my father an autobiography, then popular on the Christian market, and asked him to read it. When my Father handed it back, Tim asked: “What do you think of it?”

“It’s well written, but does not stand up to the test of the cross,” my dad replied. “Miracles, spiritual wonders, amazing power—all these are emphasized, but not once is there a mention of the cross.”

I cannot remember the details of the ensuing conversation. I do know, however, that Tim challenged my dad to point him to biographies which did indeed pass the test of the cross!  He was eager to read of men and women from various denominations and cultures who knew God intimately. My father recommended Men and Women of Deep Piety, but concluded that many of the current Christian biographies concentrated on what a man or woman had accomplished for God rather than on their spiritual journey. Not long afterwards, the They Knew Their God series began to materialize.

The characters they would choose to include in this series, my parents decided, would be varied. They would come from all over the world–England, Africa, Europe, America! They would not be confined to one denomination. It would not matter if they were Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, or Roman Catholic. If they had striven to know God with all their being—that was the main criterion. And lay people would be included, both men and women. They would represent differing points of view, vocations, and cultures. Their journeys would take them on widely varying paths, but their destination would be the same! And, hopefully, the effect upon the readers of this series would be this: “I want to know God!”

It is no longer in the seventies. We entered the twenty-first century eighteen years ago. The world is changing fast. Some of the stories in these books may be considered out-dated. The language might be classed as somewhat “antiquated.” The standards presented might seem unreasonably high, but the goal in reprinting these books is, hopefully, the same goal as that which motivated my parents in the first place—to fuel the desire which lurks in the heart of every true follower of Jesus and to echo Paul’s words: “That I might know Him!”

Small Beginnings

I thought that perhaps some of you who have read Edwin and Lillian Harvey’s books might like to know how it all began, or, to be more accurate, how “they” all began. Well, three hundred pounds, a sympathetic printing establishment called “Nelson and Knox” in Northern Ireland, and a few grains of mustard seed faith which, our Lord said, could remove mountains, and you pretty much have the origin of what we now know as “Harvey Christian Publishers.” Well, this is not quite accurate. Without a profusion of material from the extensive files that Lillian had slowly accumulated over the years, Harvey Publishers might never have come into being. The material in these files had already provided inspiration for the periodical The Message of Victory which Edwin and Lillian jointly edited. But although this little magazine had a circulation of thousands within the British Isles, they felt the time had come to produce inspired reading in a more permanent form—a daily reading book with quotations from godly men and women from various denominations and cultures. They would call it The Christian’s Daily Challenge. True, there were other daily devotionals on the market, but this book would be unique. It would unite the voices of saints of all ages and denominations in one grand challenge to godly living!

So, the material was there and the vision, but what about the finance? It was post war Britain. Life was not easy. Rationing was at its height and money was scarce. Edwin and Lillian were leaders of the Metropolitan Mission with British headquarters in Glasgow. They had enough money to live on, but that was all. Well, not quite. They had saved up over the years by going to auctions, buying up canned goods, and reselling them for a small profit to the kitchen staff at the mission’s Bible School.A few pennies here, a few shillings there, and three hundred pounds had been accumulated!

With many of the readers of their periodical in Northern Ireland, Edwin and Lillian had contacted a Christian printer there who was shocked when these novice authors announced they wished to print ten thousand copies of their first book! The printer informed them that they were either utterly crazy or people of tremendous faith! He must have decided on the latter and informed these naïve adventurers that he would allow them to print in installments. So they placed their hard-earned three hundred pounds in the printer’s hands, sold their first batch of books, and then paid for the next batch with money from these sales. A traveling salesman saw the book and decided he wanted to distribute it. And he did. The books spread over the British Isles. Thousands were eventually sold and blessed many readers all over the world. The name of this first book? The Christian’s Daily Challenge!

They Knew Their God Volume 3: The Prophet of the Long Road

“Someone has said that Methodism really had its birth in Susannah Wesley, the mother of John and Charles. And it might also be said that Elizabeth Asbury, in giving her only son to the ministry, was the mother of American Methodism.” So wrote Edwin and Lillian Harvey in their sketch of Francis Asbury in Volume Three of the series They Knew Their God.
“I well remember my mother strongly urged my father to family reading,” Asbury tells us, “and prayer; the singing of Psalms was much practiced by them both. . . . As a mother above all the women in the world would I claim her for my own, ardently affectionate; as a “mother in Israel” few of her sex have done more by a holy walk to live and by personal labor to support the Gospel, and to wash the saints’ feet. As a friend, she was generous, true, and constant.”

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