Meaningless Mummery

China Inland Mission Headquarters in Shanghai. Herbert and Ann Fanny
Wombwell were members of this Mission when they got married in 1881.

The Southern Churchman editors were none too sympathetic to Herbert’s doubtlessly well-meaning contribution. In a commentary dripping with sarcasm of a distinctly less than ecclesiastical nature, they opined that:  

To begin with, a contributor who signed himself "A Member of the Mission" wrote in, detailing the various accomplishments and supposed qualifications for the post of the new Bishop, the chief among which seems to be that, in accordance with the American humourist's recommendation, he was very careful in the choice of his parents, being himself the son of a Bishop. If grace were hereditary this might count for something, but we believe the most advanced ritualists only contend that apostolic grace comes down to us through episcopal fingertips, and not by natural succession. 

This ingenious writer goes on to say: "Whereas certain absurd reports are believed to be current as to ritualism at St. John's College, it may be well to add that Mr. Boone's election is not only satisfactory to the members, but is also thus spoken of in the leading Church paper," &c. To this another correspondent of the morning journal, signing himself "Justice," rejoined the following day: "It would have been very much more satisfactory to the friends of missions, particularly those connected with the P. E. Church, had the writer of the letter in your to-day's issue made a positive denial of the existence of ritualism at St. John's College. 

Even worse for Herbert Sowerby, and indeed for Ann Fanny Wombwell, the editors concluded, in a rather menacing tone that:

Taking the correspondence all round it shows up the local members of the P. E. Mission in a very unenviable light and we cannot refrain from expressing a desire that they would all look out for some honest secular employment and cease to hinder the progress of Christ's gospel by mystifying the poor heathen Chinese with their meaningless mummery.

For Herbert Sowerby and Ann Fanny Wombwell, such performance appraisals can hardly have improved their sense of self-worth or feeling of appreciation for their sacrifices and for the services they had rendered. And it was not to get any better.