(Contributed)
On January 1, 1895, Dr. James) to China and finally overcoming a Richard Wilkinson, with is faintly his wife and three small children Slanded in Shanghai for mission medical work. On January 21, 1985. he was called to higher service afte: rounding out a term of a full forty years in China. He came unknown. unheralded, a stranger In a strange land: he goes, loved end mourned by the people of his adopted country, as well' as his own compatriots, and as one devoted Chinese friend expressed "China loses 2 great medical mission. opposition, he decided definitely to answer it, Tt seems a very fitting and beautiful thing that he came as the medical missionary of the chil-Gren of the South, for he always Joved "children and children loved 'When he came to Soochow, Dr. Wilkinson "frst lived at Dela' Nea Zien, now the Southern Baptist Compound. For two years he had Targe clinics there, then with Dr. Davis and Mr, Paxton he bought land 'A tireless worker. he never spared! himself in his ministry to others. He war unique in his absolute simplicity and truthfulness, the simplicity and truthfulness of sturdy strength. Tu hhis nature, tenderness and. justice were the predominating traits and the secret of his influence may br dest explained by the word "sympathy."
He vealed tu faith and not by sight, Rv love and not by law.
The nreannee of the crane oF right, Wee rather felt than saw."
For two days the ensket lay state, viewed by those who came from. near and far to do honour t9 the friend, the teacher, the beloves physician, the Christian gentleman, Families he had befriended. students he had trained, who are now carrying on when his work is finished. men and) women whom. he had healed. in body and in saint, paid a Vast tribute. The floral _offerines wore Tavish in number and. beauty. but his dead heart, like his living tone, was great enough to hold them am Dr. Wilkinson was born on 2, 1882, at Clausson, South Carolina, and though so many years away. he always kept in manner and speech charm of the old South, a courteous, thoughtful gentleman to the very last After graduating from Adwer Coleae, "Walhalla, "South Carolina, he took his medical course in Charleston Medical College, and graduated in 1865. He boran his "practice in Greenville, South Carolina, n 1886, being very successful. Tis skill, his sympathy. his kindly understanding. made him pecullerly. fitted for doctor's life and his practice grew upon his hands. On May 2, 1889, he! was married to Annie Narcissa Barr, a women of unusual strength and beauty of character, who has proved! hherselt a worthy hulpmate in every! sense of the wor:
But this life, though full of promise, did "not satisfy Dr. Wilkinson. He had felt for a Jong time the call standing in his locality, fearless in speech and chafing under tyranny of these oppressors of the people. He drew up an indictment against, the coal gang but speedily found him-selt in prison for his temerity. When the case came on in the hsien Yamen, people flocked in to hear the eross-examination of the prisoner, expecting some lively exchanges. They were not disappointed, With withering scorn this champion of the oppressed told the Magistratn exactly what he thought of _his methods of administering justice and the crowd gaped with astonishment as they heard' the unvarnished truth, After serving a sentence in jail, he came out to renew his efforts in th higher court and appears to have enjoyed himself thoroughly in export ing the iniquities of minor official dom. Things seemed to be going very well when suddenly the ease was quashed for the "same old reason, the eternal lubricant, palm-all. The appeal was dismissed, costs ye snared between the litigants Our intrepid fighter against privilege and the sovereign right of oMcials to plunder the people was unwilling to take this decision lying down. required the earnest persuasion of prominent member of the Provincial judicature to induce him to go home ud give up the unequal - contest, "Why don't' you" settle down to peaceful life in the country?" said the cynical judge, "instead of stirring mud and making a host. of enemies"? "He retired from the struggle, having wasted ten. months and expended $700 all to no avail.
one admires more than." the writer the splendid qualities of this virile race, but what is to be gained by shutting one's eyes to the canker of "official greed and corruption, whose ravages extend into every corer of the country, threatening the security of the social fabric. To every serious-minded observer it is obvious that the times are very critical in spite of apparent peace fulness, bul, unless a determined effort is made to deal with one of the root causes of China's pitiful weakness, a sweeping retribution inevitable, which, in its magnitude, will appel both people and rulers alike. at the Dzi Men and built the Ellzabeth Blake Hosoital. "Dr. Davis w avstudent of Mr. Blake and the money for the hospital was" sivan through him as a memorial te Elizabeth Blake. his wite, The hospital grew and prospered, Dr, Wilkinson gave himself tirelessly to the work. He never knew a rest day, rarely took a vacation. Early and tate, day and night he minister~ to the poor. the sick, the aMicted <odtes and souls allie were heated. Thoee closest to him often marveled at his powers of endurance. of his Ability to work with so little seen, As he became better known and confidence grew, calls came from Gistant places. "A motorboat was Durchased and there was the added strain of long trips to the country The furlough of 1917 was extended for two years but no rest came with The World War was on, many doctors were overseas and he mediately volunteered for service. We later found a great colt for all his abilities In the struggle with the terrible influenza enidemie, <]had unusual success with some of his methods nnd his own medicine But Ris heart was in Chinn and Eeninat the. withes of many of Hie fives and friends he returned in Tole For three. ente he carried on Aline atthe Fourth Perey una then felt the, ald of infentie chinese Felends he bull the Wilkinson Howotan "olena "wrote "Wim men have duit one hart tu China Ben Wilkineon. fr the™ only one Xenow ho: us ult wor" te, niterly deasive Ian "De. and' Mrs, Wilkinaom Seve: toned the "beastie grounds" which now mae un ins inporing: oint.
1804 ho suffered parti notice patton Hwan "undoubtedly rout on by his overwork us chez the Rea Gross organization dunne Mhevwar between the warlords Of Chetlang "and Kisnesu. Day. and hehehe. Inboured for. the wounder fotchers and. at lst the overwrouent body" reboiled anti he. was. analy Siickens His recovery was ulcer fn"more complete than many reed forthe wilt fo continue hie fe" work contributing but ever oenined his full trench 1028 i son. Dr, Lalo reinnan. having finkenedhis_medtent ove, came fo ait and infer tke fait change of "the. host. ota Taint were Toth to part with the SSelowed whosilan" snd een heceea for jun hit terence even though he ens not able to care for them.
the ently dave at the Blanbets Birk Hosolal meleat schoo! was xtatshed anda school of nursing Sow many of his former students ats equine the torch. where Teht Is not singsished with hie passing, Om Renting the ted" tidings a former Sident, now 'a soreestut'phytilan remarked:. "Dr, Wilkinson, wae more Tham a teacher, it isto such pioneers sane" thatthe thanks of the. whole Chinese nation are due for the Intro: flection of foremen "medical practice De. Wilkinson ts survived. by his
Sone and: daughter. Dr Gedrse Re. widow. Ania ate Wdnon, three Wifikineon" practising "piystelan: Greenville, South Caroling, Semmes Wilkinson" American Convid a Lee horn, Holy, Dr. Lous L. 'Wilkinson, now taking' graduate course in sure ery tu Philadelphia, and B.C. Suteife of Shana,
service In the chapel of the Elza:
'Ate wary simple be, beni beth "Btake Hospital, the. interment war made'betige his daughter Avie, Teva tte' buriat ground eer hospital The flowers, "fresh and Beautiful, made a great square stove around the grave and seemed 10 epitomize the beauty of the ite 0 those memory they were dedicate the perfect tribute: 9A food a well ended."
perfect. tribute: an
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.