When living in an area where, and at a time when, kidnapping for ransom was not uncommon, what did one do? wealth is comparative, but to the Chinese bandit of that day, the average foreigner appeared wealthy.

Our Mission Board made it a policy never to pay ransom. That policy spread rapidly by word of mouth. As a result, none of our missionaries were never held for ransom.

Uncle Jack Vinson*however, was captur ed and killed by bandits in cold blood.

Uncle Jack was recovering from an appendectomy when t he village of Yangchiagih (a village in which a number of Christians lived) was pillaged by bandits. Uncle Jack insisted on going to check on the Christians. While he was there, t he bandits returned. Uncle Jack was captured, and after being roped together with a lng line of prisoners, was ordered to start walking. Because of his recent surgery, he was unable t o keep up. A bandit threatened to shoot him if he did not hurry.

A young Chinese girl heard the t hrea ts and Uncle Jack’s reply: “If you shoot me, I shall go straight to heaven.” The soldier shot him.

When Uncle Ham (t he Rev. E. H. Hamilton) heard the account of the shooting, he wrote the following poem which reflects, I think, the feelings of all those missionaries under whose influence we grew up.

*To the children of missionaries, most fellow missionaries were “aunt,” “uncle,” or “cousin.”

Afraid? Of What?

Afraid? Of What?
To feel the spirit’s glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid-of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Savior’s face
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid?-of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash, a crash, a pierced heart;
Darkness, light, O Heaven’s art!
A wound of His counterpart!
Afraid ?-of that?

Afraid? Of What?
To enter into Heaven’s rest.
And yet to serve the Master blest,
From service good to service best?
Afraid ?- of that?

Afraid? of what?
To do by death what life could not do-
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid?of that?

E. H. Hamilton