FOREIGN MISSION BOARD MINUTES
March 13, 1973
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting at 3:00 p.m., March 13,
1973, in the Foreign Mission Board Chapel, Richmond, Virginia, with the President,
W. Douglas ' Hudgins , presiding.
PRESENT: State Members: Alabama: J. R. White; California : Loyed R. Simmons;
D ■ C • : Kenneth E. Thornton; Florida: Don Mott, T. Rupert Coleman; Georgia: Mrs.
John I. Alford; Kansas : J. W. Pace; Michigan: Hubert G. Keefer; Mississippi :
W. Douglas Hudgins, John Lee Taylor; North Carolina: Grady B. Wilson; Tennessee :
Joe L. Orr, B. Greer Garrott; Texas : Clyde J. Childers, James Flamming.
Local Members: Robert B. Bass, J. Roy Clifford, Paul E. Crandall, Austin W. Farley,
Joseph B. Flowers, V. Allen Gaines, David S. Hammock, Scott C. Humphrey, John W.
Kincheloe, Jr., J. Leonard Moore, John W. Patterson, Meredith K. Roberson, Mrs. Ross
S. Shearer, Mrs. Thomas Whalen.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs, Winston Crawley, William
K. Dawson, Everett L. Deane, Samuel A. DeBord, James G. Edwards, Jesse C. Fletcher,
Franklin T. Fowler, Cornell Goerner, lone Gray, Eugene Grubbs, Ward Hildreth, Eugene
L. Hill, Dwight Honeycutt, W. David Lockard, Ralph Magee, Frank K. Means, Floyd H.
North, R. Keith Parks, Sam Pittman, Norman Price, Sidney C. Reber, Fon H. Scofield,
Rogers M. Smith, W. L. Smith, Richard M. Styles, Wilbur Todd, Melvin Torstrick. E. L.
Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
The President called the meeting to order.
Dr. Jack Patterson, local Board member, read a passage of Scripture and led in the
opening prayer.
Minutes of the Board for February 13, 1973 were approved, as distributed.
The President recognized the Executive Secretary, Dr. Baker J. Cauthen.
Dr. Cauthen filed the following report:
REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
We have been profoundly shocked by the death of Miss Gladys Hopewell, missionary to
Taiwan. She had served as a missionary of this Board since 1946 in China, Thailand, and
Taiwan. For 19 years she lived in the City of Tainan where her ministry among college
students and the churches was of great significance.
On Sunday afternoon, March 11, she left the Student Center about 5 o'clock to return to
her apartment. About 9 o'clock that night her body was found in her bathroom with her
hands tied behind her and her mouth gagged, so that it was apparent that she died from
suffocation.
Police have been investigating the situation and until now no definite solution has been
found. A cook who worked for her has been missing since the tragedy occurred, but it is
not known whether there is any connection between his absence and what has taken place.
Her brother and his wife live in Talladega, Alabama, as does her mother who is in her
middle 80 ' s and is incapacitated. Our hearts join with them in deepest sympathy in
this time of great sorrow.
We have been in constant touch with the family since the news came of this great sorrow.
The family has requested that her body be returned to Talladega for burial. Steps are
being taken in Taiwan toward this end, and we are most grateful for the recent insur¬
ance program begun by the Foreign Mission Board whereby $10,000.00 benefit will be avail¬
able to the family which will enable them to bring the body back as they desire.
Gladys Hopewell was a missionary of outstanding dedication and effectiveness. She demon¬
strated through the years of her service high qualities of devotion to Christ and con¬
cern for people with whom she was related. Her fidelity to her purpose characterized
her service throughout the years she spent in the Orient, even amid times of turbulence
and uncertainty.
We cannot understand the mysteries of God's wisdom, but we can know that not a sparrow
falls without his notice. Our Lord said, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered."
He promised, "Lo, I am with you all the way, even to the end of the age."
His promises stand true; his love is beyond measure and wisdom is more than ever we can
understand .
