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Beyond the Stone Arches: An American Missionary Doctor in China, 1892-1932
"The words of David Livingstone express my feelings better than any words of my own. ‘God had an only son, and He was a missionary and a physician.’ A poor, poor imitation of Him I am, or hope to be. In this service I hope to live; in it I wish to die." —Edward Bliss, 1892
In 1892—during the latter days of the Qing Dynasty—a 26-year-old Massachusetts native embarked on a dramatic journey to an outpost in feudal China. The man’s name was Edward Bliss, and it was in the impoverished walled city of Shaowu that he fulfilled his dream of becoming a medical missionary and emerged as a true American hero.
In this inspired and riveting read, distinguished journalist Edward Bliss Jr.—the son of this original Peace Corpsman—tells the remarkable story of a courageous pioneer who selflessly risked his life to serve others. With the refreshing intimacy of a memoir and based in large part on letters Bliss wrote home, Beyond the Stone Arches takes us back to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which saw an outpouring of missionaries to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Filled with drama and exhilarating anecdotes, Beyond the Stone Arches imparts the complete story of an American missionary: from Bliss’s happy childhood in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to his rigorous days at Yale University, to the remote Chinese city where he battled malaria (which twice nearly killed him), plague, torrential floods, and, finally, the encroaching Communist armies to help make the world a better place in which to live. Bliss continued to heal the sick, toil as a farmer, deliver babies, and work to eradicate the rinderpest virus—all for the "glory of God and dignity of man"—until the early days of Mao Zedong when a Communist army descended on Shaowu.
This intimate glimpse into the life of Edward Bliss also provides a rare impression of the obstacles faced by missionaries in the feudal Chinese culture. A rare tribute, Beyond the Stone Arches is a luminous portrait of an exemplary figure, a man whose extraordinary life story offers us insight into how to face adversity in our own time.
In 1892—during the latter days of the Qing Dynasty—a 26-year-old Massachusetts native embarked on a dramatic journey to an outpost in feudal China. The man’s name was Edward Bliss, and it was in the impoverished walled city of Shaowu that he fulfilled his dream of becoming a medical missionary and emerged as a true American hero.
In this inspired and riveting read, distinguished journalist Edward Bliss Jr.—the son of this original Peace Corpsman—tells the remarkable story of a courageous pioneer who selflessly risked his life to serve others. With the refreshing intimacy of a memoir and based in large part on letters Bliss wrote home, Beyond the Stone Arches takes us back to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which saw an outpouring of missionaries to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Filled with drama and exhilarating anecdotes, Beyond the Stone Arches imparts the complete story of an American missionary: from Bliss’s happy childhood in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to his rigorous days at Yale University, to the remote Chinese city where he battled malaria (which twice nearly killed him), plague, torrential floods, and, finally, the encroaching Communist armies to help make the world a better place in which to live. Bliss continued to heal the sick, toil as a farmer, deliver babies, and work to eradicate the rinderpest virus—all for the "glory of God and dignity of man"—until the early days of Mao Zedong when a Communist army descended on Shaowu.
This intimate glimpse into the life of Edward Bliss also provides a rare impression of the obstacles faced by missionaries in the feudal Chinese culture. A rare tribute, Beyond the Stone Arches is a luminous portrait of an exemplary figure, a man whose extraordinary life story offers us insight into how to face adversity in our own time.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published December 8, 2000
About the author
Edward Bliss Jr.
8 booksEdward Lydston Bliss, Jr. (July 30, 1912 – November 25, 2002) was an American broadcast journalist, news editor and educator. After 25 years at CBS News (1943–1968) as editor, copywriter and producer for Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, he founded the broadcast journalism program at American University.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 5, 2021
I wish I could remember where I found out about this book. I have read a lot of books about missionaries who served in China. I am especially fascinated with the time-frame of 150-100 years ago. These people really struggled and suffered.
This book was a bit different in that Mr. Bliss was really into agriculture and helping Chinese on that level. He was not a teacher or evangelist.
It was worth my time and I ended up thinking each night about what his life must have been like. I also enjoyed the pictures. I think of that gate he went through, there is a picture of that gate. His life was never the same.
This book was a bit different in that Mr. Bliss was really into agriculture and helping Chinese on that level. He was not a teacher or evangelist.
It was worth my time and I ended up thinking each night about what his life must have been like. I also enjoyed the pictures. I think of that gate he went through, there is a picture of that gate. His life was never the same.
January 10, 2025
A fairly decent, if somewhat straightforward, account of a missionary doctor who travels to China and sets up a hospital, and is also instrumental in setting up a boarding school from the late 1800s until the early 1930s before the Communists took over. The setting is Shaowu, upriver from the port city of Fuzhou, in the Northern part of China.
The book is written by the son in a mostly earnest, laudatory voice; it's clear that Dr. Edward Bliss (same namesake as author, who takes the 'Jr.' moniker) worked really hard most of his life to make medicine better for population with limited access to facilities and expertise. The reader is transported to a separate place and time, when wires needed to be used to go up current, when malaria could strike and severely sicken someone or put someone to death, when bandits were omnipresent, when ship travel times were really long, and thus made it difficult for Edward to visit his family in Newburyport, MA.
A bit of the writing is a bit dated - we don't use the word "coolie" any more. And more of the "bigger picture" could have helped situate this book in a broader historical context (though the author does well to give you enough of Chinese history to help you understand).
Edward's efforts to eradicate rinderpest, a communicable disease that affects bovine, are also interesting to read about and demonstrates his ability to use his wits to solve problems that might be considered outside of his initial expertise of medicine.
The book is written by the son in a mostly earnest, laudatory voice; it's clear that Dr. Edward Bliss (same namesake as author, who takes the 'Jr.' moniker) worked really hard most of his life to make medicine better for population with limited access to facilities and expertise. The reader is transported to a separate place and time, when wires needed to be used to go up current, when malaria could strike and severely sicken someone or put someone to death, when bandits were omnipresent, when ship travel times were really long, and thus made it difficult for Edward to visit his family in Newburyport, MA.
A bit of the writing is a bit dated - we don't use the word "coolie" any more. And more of the "bigger picture" could have helped situate this book in a broader historical context (though the author does well to give you enough of Chinese history to help you understand).
Edward's efforts to eradicate rinderpest, a communicable disease that affects bovine, are also interesting to read about and demonstrates his ability to use his wits to solve problems that might be considered outside of his initial expertise of medicine.
February 20, 2022
First book to read on the development of Christian believes in China. Bliss wrote well.
One interesting point: A peer of Dr. Bliss was so susceptible to malaria, that he injected himself, for years, quinine intramuscularly everyday to prevent the serious malarial attacks...
One interesting point: A peer of Dr. Bliss was so susceptible to malaria, that he injected himself, for years, quinine intramuscularly everyday to prevent the serious malarial attacks...
February 12, 2013
The son describes his father life story in a vivid and concise way. It is a legend for the family .It is unbelievable for the family to live in the remote small town in China for 40 years helping local people with their health problem and education as missionary doctor and teacher and at the same time his parents tried every method to help improve local people's life quality, like raising cows, planting corps and so on. By helping people, they life is fulfilled and rewarding. I can imagine how the father felt when the first baby he delivered to the world stood in front of him in his twenties. The book is set in the most changeable and hardest time in China,which helps me understand the history events at that time.
August 24, 2012
Lovely little book! (If you can find it! Mine came through Amazon from a Michigan library sale for 1 cent! plus $4 to USPO...go figure!) Written lovingly by a son about his father. 1/3 through reveals topics taught at Yale in the late 1800's, interesting costs of everyday items a student needs, a tender young man from a godly family with the call of God on his life. Bravely sets out for China having earned his Yale MD in 2 years so he could serve sooner. Very nice read. What an independent, caring, busy, loving innovator! Enjoyed it more than I thought I would when it was chosen for our churchladies' book club. I'd recommend it!
January 31, 2015
Beyond the Stone Arches was written by a son about his father, who was a missionary doctor in China in the years before Gladys Aylward arrived. I thought the fact that the book was written by Bliss’s son really brought the man to life–you get so many glimpses of his humor and personality as well as insight from his letters and writings.
{Read my full review here}
{Read my full review here}
April 3, 2011
I wanted to read more about missionaries to China. This book was listed as a reference for
City of Tranquil LIght and was about the only one that the libraries had. It was interesting, but not
nearly as beautifully written as City of Tranquil LIght. I have a new appreciation for Bo Caldwell.
If I was going to write a book, I would want to do it like she does - whatever that is! :)
City of Tranquil LIght and was about the only one that the libraries had. It was interesting, but not
nearly as beautifully written as City of Tranquil LIght. I have a new appreciation for Bo Caldwell.
If I was going to write a book, I would want to do it like she does - whatever that is! :)
March 23, 2013
What a great story of a remarkable man. As I live in China today, with all my modern conveniences, I can't imagine what it would have been like just 100 years ago.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews