International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol 39, No. 3

“Doubly a Foreigner in Strange Lands”: The Experiences of Eva Dykes Spicer, London Missionary Society, at Ginling College, China, from 1923 to 1951 Rosemary Seton he papers of Eva Dykes Spicer (1898–1974), who, under (Albert) Dykes, Marion, Bertha, Grace, Stewart, Janet, Lancelot, Tthe auspices of the London Missionary Society, taught at Gwendolen, Eva, Olga, and Ursula. The eight Spicer daughters Ginling College, a Christian women’s college in Nanking [Nan- received a good education; at least three went on to university, jing], China, from 1923 to 1951 and then went on to be principal of their father wishing them to be capable of earning their own liv- a women’s college in Nigeria with the Church Missionary Society, ing. He dissuaded them from taking up salaried posts, however, were donated to the Library of the School of Oriental and African preferring that they undertake work of a voluntary nature.5 This Studies (SOAS) in London in 2006. This rich collection of papers made for some difficulties for the older daughters; the younger comprising her extensive correspondence with family, friends, ones, like Eva, were more able to go their own way. and colleagues, as well as personal items, photographs, lecture In 1917 she went up to Oxford, where she studied history at notes, texts of talks and sermons, articles, committee papers, and Somerville College. At the university she was an active member other materials almost entirely relating to her time in China, has of the Student Christian Movement and, in her final year, was now been cataloged online and for the first time made available elected Senior Student of her college. Almost immediately after for research.1 In recent years attention has focused on the Amer- graduating in 1920, she wrote to the secretary of the LMS, inquiring ican context of China’s Christian Colleges, culminating in the about opportunities for missionary service. She said later that she publication, in 2009, of China’s Christian Colleges: Cross-Cultural had been attracted as a child “by the romance of the appeal” and Connections, edited by Daniel Bays and Ellen Widmer.2 Spicer was that all she had learned had, “on the whole, tended to strengthen one of the very few non-Americans on the foreign faculty at Gin- rather than weaken” that “early desire.”6 After teacher training ling, and her papers provide a unique perspective on college life at the London Day Training College, later the Institute of Edu- over nearly three decades.3 They complement documentation to cation, and a spell at Mansfield College, where she took courses be found in the archives of the United Board for Christian Higher in pastoral and teaching work, she left for China in August 1923. Education in Asia, at Yale Divinity Library; the Second Historical She had been appointed to teach religious studies and to assist Archives, in Nanjing; and the collections of the personal papers in directing religious activities at Ginling College in Nanking. of other faculty members such as Matilda Calder Thurston, in the Burke Library Archives in New York.4 A New Women’s College in Nanking On a personal level, letters in the collection cast light on Spicer’s relationships with her family at home and those formed Ginling College had been founded in 1913 by a number of Amer- with her colleagues, students, and Ginling College alumnae—her ican mission boards keen to provide tertiary education for female “family in China.” They reflect Spicer’s very English background students emerging from Christian schools in eastern and central and reveal her difficulties in adjusting not just to Chinese society China and was the first institution in China to award accredited but also to the strongly American character of campus life in university degrees to female students.7 The founders had very Nanking. They are also revealing of her distinctive attributes: much in mind the concept of a liberal arts college exemplified her strong Christian faith, her care and concern for others, her by select women’s colleges in the United States such as Mount need for affection, and her ability to attract affection in return. Holyoke College and Smith College. The founding president Spicer’s background was not that of a typical missionary. of Ginling, appointed in 1913, was Matilda Calder Thurston, a Daughter of a solidly middle-class, even wealthy, family, she graduate of Mount Holyoke. In 1921 Smith College recognized was educated at socially elite and expensive private schools. The Ginling as “its little sister in the Orient” and provided consider- family’s prosperity was derived from a leading paper manufac- able support over the years through funding and by temporary ture and stationery business. Her father, Albert Spicer, created a faculty placements. In 1923 the LMS agreed to support the college baronet in 1906, was a Liberal Member of Parliament for many by contributing the services “of a self-supporting lady mission- years and a driving force in promoting nonconformist, and ary.”8 That same year Spicer arrived at the college, very much particularly Congregationalist, causes. For twenty-five years he the product of an English educational system. was treasurer of the London Missionary Society (LMS), largely a Almost immediately she was immersed in intensive language Congregationalist body. The family lived in some style in London, study at the University of Nanking, it being a requirement for at Lancaster Gate near Kensington Gardens, where Eva was born foreign faculty at Ginling to be competent in Chinese, despite on May 29, 1898. She was one of eleven children, in birth order: English being the main language of instruction. She told her parents that she felt “doubly a foreigner in strange lands.” “Noth- ing but experience,” she wrote, “could tell you what a crowd of Rosemary Seton, formerly head of Archives and Special young and enthusiastic American missionaries are like.” Each Collections at SOAS, University of London, is the day began with prayer. “The Almighty,” she thought, “must get author of Western Daughters in Eastern Lands: rather tired of being asked to help us study this great language. British Missionary Women in Asia (ABC-CLIO, I half expect a voice to say . ‘Take it as said.’” Spicer also felt 2013). —[email protected] “doubly a foreigner” at Ginling, a college run very much on American lines and with a majority of the faculty American. She was relieved to find her colleagues a “more subdued type of 146 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 39, No. 3 American.” Most of them, she reported, were “delightful,” while government. By the spring of 1927 this diverse force, known as Matilda Thurston was “a dear.” She added, “I have a particularly the Northern Expedition Army, under the command of Gen. Chi- soft spot for her because she is so nice and British looking.”9 ang Kai-shek, was approaching Nanking. In early March Spicer But she felt cut off from her compatriots, especially from other reported a tense atmosphere in the city but did not think that either members of the British missionary community. The nearest was a she or Ginling was in danger. As the army entered Nanking on group at Shanghai, a six-hour journey away, and she could travel March 23, militant elements began seeking out foreign residents. there only very infrequently. Early in 1925 her parents, together A number were killed, including the dean of Nanking University, with their youngest daughter, Ursula, visited China and spent an American. There was also widespread looting and rioting. some time in Ginling, leaving Ursula behind for a few months American and British gunboats on the Yangtze River attempted as a companion cum assistant. In what seems a very deliberate to restore order by firing on the rioters. At Ginling, a group of display of English tradition, the two Chinese faculty, with support from sisters organized a May 1 festival at an army officer, a brother of one of the college “with Robin Hood and the students, took foreign members Maid Marian, who was also the May of staff to a safe hiding place. The queen, and Jack of the Lantern, and next day the Ginling party and other Morris dancers, milkmaids, village foreign residents, mainly from the children, flower girls, chimney university, were escorted to the river sweeps etc.” For good measure her and waiting gunboats, which took sister also put on some scenes from them to the safety of the Interna- Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s tional Settlement at Shanghai. From Dream.10 there Spicer wrote to her parents It took time for Spicer to get to on April 2 to say that she felt very know China or any Chinese. She dazed after such unexpected and told her sister Bertha that she knew dramatic events. She was trying to her “letters have terribly little about work out what to do next but was China in them, but it’s awfully dif- coming to the conclusion that she ficult to know what to write.”11 She would leave China to come home, had endeavored to mix informally even though that might look as if with Ginling students from the she were running away. She would outset, taking some of her meals plan to return in September 1928 if at their tables. This meant eating she were wanted.13 Chinese dishes, which she grew to Her decision was not as star- love. When she commenced teach- tling as it sounds. She was antici- ing in her second year, her courses pating her prearranged furlough by included Old Testament studies, only a few months. Nonetheless, the the expansion of Christianity, and break came at a convenient time.

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