Foreign Mission Board Rooms
March 8, 1951
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:3D p.m.
on Thursday, March 5, 1951 with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, H.P. Thomas, '■'lyde V. Hickerson, iV. ush
Loving, Garis T. Long, 1C. P. Buxton, Mrs. rau.l LaRoque, (‘scar L. Hite,
Hundley Viley, R. G. McDanel, Emmett Y. Robertson, Elmer .Vest, Hill
Montague, R. L. Alley, T. Rupert Coleman, .... f. Rankin, George W. Sadler.
Frank 1.. ..leans, E. L. Deane, L. H. Maddox, .inn Frances Dawkins, lone
Gray, Louis P. Seay.
1. r. ••. Johnson led in prayer.
Mr. Jenkins recognized the '.‘/Oman's Missionary Union of .‘.race Baptist
Church who were visiting tne Board.
Dr. Rankin gave the following report:
Since the last meeting of tne Foreign Mission Board, we nave suffered
the tragic loss of a great missionary and the world, has been given an
immortal witness of the reality of Christian love. Members of the
Foreign Mission Board have already been acquainted with trie sad news
of the death of Dr. William L. 'Wallace in Wuchow, China on February 10.
On February 21 we received the following cablegram from l)r. Baker James
Cauthen which he sent from Hong Kong:
REPORTS FROM UJCHOW STATE 'WALLACE DIED FEBRUARY TENTH BURIED
CHRISTIAN CEMETERY ON TWELFTH- STOP DETAILS NOT YET AVAILABLE
STOP ADVISE CAUTION IN NEWSPAPER RELEASE BECAUSE EVERLEY HAYES
STILL IN IVUCHOW STOP SUGGEST TELEPHONE MRS- HAYES REPORT INDICATES
EVERLEY ALL RIGHT. CAUTHEN
We still do not, have authentic information concerning the immediate
cause of his death. Dr. Cauthen • s report for February will be read
to you in full. He gives a full summary of all the information that
is now available.
Without specific evidence that his death was caused by some other means,
it is natural to infer that during the period of imprisonment from
December 18 to February 10, Dr. Wallace contracted some form of illness.
We do know that he was confined iri a prison With inadequate nrotection
rora the weatner which reaches freezing points in January and February
in Wuchow. In such a arisen sanitary facilities are almost entirely
lackin'. Under these circumstances he could have contracted pneumonia
or dysentery or cholera, any one of which would have been fatal within
a few days without exnert medical attention and -Irugs. It is most
improbable that he would nave received either of tnese. therefore,
in the absence of other information, it is natural to infer that his
death was a result of illness contracted through his imprisonment.
Whatever the immediate cause of his death may have been, Dr* Wallace's
name must be added t-o the long list of those who through the centuries
have become martyrs fur their love to Jurist an i to men. His entire
ministry was a manifestation of nis love of people. He loved people
because he loved Christ. This love was tne 'uiding ant controlling
motive uf his life.
We are in receipt of a beautiful tribute to Dr. Wallace written by a
member of the Catholic Maiyknoll Mission which ] read to you.
Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, Inc.
MarvknoLl - Hew York
February 27, 1951
Reverend Director
Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board
Richmond, Virginia
Dear Sir:
We were shocked at the news of the death of Doctor Wallace.
Please accept the sympathy of the many members of our organization
who came to know Doctor Wallace so well and esteemed him so highly.
I came to know Doctor Wallace wnile assigned to the iVuchow
area and I had great admiration for the work he was doing. I am
