1900 - George Williams

July 31, 1900

Taigu, Shanxi

George Williams.

George Louis Williams and his wife Alice were two of the most beloved missionaries in Shanxi Province in the late 19th century. Alice was born in Ohio, and had studied at the Oberlin College where she met her future husband.

George Williams was a kind gentleman who was taught to honour and respect others. He was born at Southington, Connecticut, on October 4th, 1858. His graduation from Oberlin College was held on May 21, 1891, and just five days later George and Alice were married. After a honeymoon they said goodbye to family and friends and sailed for China.

After a year studying Chinese at Tongzhou near Beijing, the Williams’ moved inland to Shanxi Province. George Williams was conservative when it came to handling God’s Word and in his interaction with others. He refused to attend any prayer meetings until he felt he could speak Chinese fluently, fearing that he might mistakenly say something foolish or disparaging to God. Finally, after six months, he was persuaded to write down a prayer in Chinese and read it out at a prayer meeting. One of the local women who had never heard him say a word, exclaimed, “Thank God! [The pastor] has his mouth opened!”[1]

In 1893 Alice became pregnant. She suffered greatly from the heat during the summer and her health deteriorated. In August she gave birth to their first child—a baby girl whom they named Gladys. Two more daughters were born in 1895 and 1896. By the fall of 1899, Alice’s health was again strained, and she returned to America with their three daughters for a time of refreshing. While there she was diagnosed with a blood disorder. George Williams was all alone on the other side of the world, but wrote frequently.

During this time he fell into conflict with other missionaries, particularly Francis Davis and Howard Clapp. He seemed to disagree with them on almost every point, and the stress levels rose among the Taigu mission community because of it. Williams wrote to his wife, “I will get sour and cynical and sickly and lonesome and quit the whole business. But we need strong, hopeful, hearty, men in the Mission to hold on and push out or we shall be swamped.”[2]

As the Boxer madness unfolded, news reached Taigu of the deaths of missionaries in other parts of the province. Williams hid the address ledger containing the names and addresses of all church members so it wouldn’t fall into the hands of the Boxers. He knew that death was likely, and was glad his wife and three daughters in America would be spared. He told a Chinese co-worker, “I must die in China, but if I die in China my wife will not grieve to distraction. She…will know that I have not died eternally but that in the hereafter we shall meet again in heaven.”[3]

On July 31, 1900, the Boxers barbarously decapitated George Williams and the other missionaries. The heads of Williams, Rowena Bird, Louise Partridge, Deacon Liu and a Chinese student were sent as gifts to the wicked Governor Yu Xian.