1900 - Charles Robinson

June 1, 1900

Yongqing, Hebei

Charles Robinson was trained for missionary service at St. Boniface College in Warminster, England. A native of Leeds, Robinson was a well-respected pastor of a parish in Wortley before he commenced his training. Robinson went to China in the autumn of 1897 while engaged to a Miss Rule. He immediately set about learning Chinese and preparing the way for married life. A friend wrote:

“The first impression he produced was that of an extraordinarily methodical worker. And he worked at his Chinese with a curious unselfishness. He was engaged to be married, and all through the dull grind of learning the language in its first stages, he thought and planned how he could make it easier and simpler for his intended wife.”[1]

Charles Robinson’s brief life in China was mostly spent with his close friend Harry Norman. Together they led the work at Yongqing in Hebei Province, about 50 miles (81 km) south of Beijing. In March of 1900 Robinson excitedly made his way to the coast in order to welcome his fiancé to China. Another missionary, who had accompanied her on the long journey from England, met Robinson with a grim countenance and a tear in his eye. Miss Rule had died at sea near Colombo (Sri Lanka). Although he was undoubtedly devastated by the news, the missionary who broke it to Robinson said:

“What impressed me was his perfect self-control, due, if one was to judge by little indications, to an absolute conviction that God’s ways are always best…. [Robinson said] ‘After all, it is best as it is. I shall be freer when the trouble comes at Yongqing; I could not face it with her.’”[2]

Just two months later the trouble did come to Yongqing. Before daybreak on June 1st, the Boxer attack commenced in two Christian villages outside the city. Norman and Robinson fled to the local magistrate, unaware that the Boxers had by now gained tacit approval from the government for their slaughter of Christians. The Boxers came to the magistrate’s office and demanded the missionaries be handed over. Charles Robinson was immediately hacked to pieces by the blood-thirsty men.