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(1950) Hellen Leaves China

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Oscar Encouraged to Leave

Oscar was receiving letters encouraging him to leave China. His reply was "the captain is the last person to leave a sinking ship." Eventually though he will wish he would have left earlier because when he wanted to leave he couldn't.

Missionary work continued without too much restriction in 1950. It all changed, however, the following year.

In March Oscar received a letter from Bud Holmquist, the marine who had married his daughter. He too was interested in missions and asked Oscar for suggestions on what mission to join.

"Well, I wish I could heartily recommend our own Mission," Oscar writes. "Dad and Mom have put in about 100 years of work together. Egron and Gerda have been here as missionaries about 50 years and Hellen and I about 55. It would be wonderful to see the third generation of Rinells continuing this great work."

It was not to be and Oscar sensed it.

"I wish I only had enough faith to see it that way. Somehow I can at present not see any great future for our Mission [in China]."1 "I think the Church in China will experience a time of difficulty."

And that it did.

With every missionary who left China reduced the staff by that number. There were no replacements. As time went on the communist government confiscated all chapels in the countryside, and mission work on whole had discontinued except for that carried on in Christian homes.

All the mission's property in head stations with the exception of Oscar and Hellen's two story home, the church and the Chinese co-workers homes had been "borrowed" by the government, which meant that they had been confiscated. Hellen and Oscar were constantly bothered by steady stream of communist 'visitors' to their home. The Mission's Chinese co-workers were carrying on without salary since June of the previous year, and most had remained very faithful despite the hardships. Oscar and Hellen themselves had been with little money, until some money arrived from Sweden, the first infusion of funds for many months.

The growth of Christianity in China was not halted in this hostile environment though. At the time of Oscar's writing in March 1950, a revival was going on in southern Shantung provine. Hope in political movements had been dashed and many people were looking for hope in religion. Chinese Christian leaders were persecuted, but would simply move on to another church or town to preach.

Delegation to Premier Chou Enlai

In July Oscar wrote a letter to Eric Strutz 2 regarding a recent conference in Peking between some Christian leaders and Chou Enlai. Most of Oscar's letter to Eric was in Swedish. This section was in English. Possibly Oscar wanted the local authorities, who may open his mail, to read about this fairly favorable meeting with Chou.

About twenty representatives from various Christian groups in China spent thirteen hours with Chou Enlai and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Interior, the United Front, the youth group and one or two government newspapers. Oscar writes, again possibly for Communist censors, that the Christian delegation was well impressed by Chou's "attitude and understanding of the Christian Church and its problems."

Chou said that the government was not opposed to religion, but also said that religion had been used by imperialism. Christianity had made a contribution in China in the past and will in the future. Among the one million Christians in China, progressives are few but reactionaries were also few, but he hoped that all Christians would cooperate with the government. Some missionaries, he said were good and some were bad, but it was difficult to differentiate between the two. They were all naturally sympathetic toward their own governments and their policies.

The missionaries he said should leave China, but they need not leave at once. If they decided to leave soon the government would not urge them to stay. Of those who decided to remain for a while, they should all leave when their passports expire.

Once the Church in China had been cleansed of its imperialistic connections and had become truly independent, some missionaries, such as teachers may come back, but evangelists were not needed. Only those missionaries who were true friends of China could return. In each case, however, specific approval by the government for the individual must be secured.

Foreign subsidies of the church in China should eventually stop. Chou realized though that this could not be done immediately or much good work in the hospitals and universities would stop. Yenching University was cited as an example. Rather subsidies should gradually diminish until the church in China was fully self-supporting. The sources of any continued subsidies and their use should be reported to the government.

If several churches existed in one city, it was suggested that they should combine into one church building, renting or loaning the other churches to the government who was in need of buildings at that time.

The contribution and services of Christian universities and hospitals in the past was acknowledged. If funds from abroad ceased the government was prepared to take these institutions over.

The difficulties the churches were presently facing was due largely to their involvement in western imperialism. The church in China must make a clear renunciation of this.

All who reported on the meeting, Oscar wrote, were impressed by Chou's reasonableness, especially in contrast to the intentions of other government representatives who called for more drastic action against the church.

That these Christians were impressed by Chou and his reasonableness shows how serious they thought the situation against the church in China could get. Chou was clear. He wanted all missionaries out of China. If any were allowed to return in the future, none would be allowed to spread the Christian religion. By implication it seemed that no missionaries would be allowed to return for a long time. Missionary activity was about to cease in China. Though Chou spoke about 'renting' or 'loaning' buidings to his government the reality [in most, all cases?] was really confiscation without reimbursement. The communists spoke of wrongs done to the Chinese by foreign powers, which was true, but then in turn did wrong to the Christian organizations and missionaries who had done so much to better China in thier local areas. When all was said and done, this was the end of many good institutions and philanthropic activities providing education, support for orphans and the poor, medical services [list more] for inumerable Chinese people. And this was the end of an era for the Christian church in China.

A full report of the meeting was being prepared, which upon approval of Premier Chou, would be made public.3

Stranded in Tsingtao

Years of warfare, the stress of uncertainty and now the Communist takeover was too much for Hellen. She had a neverous breakdown, and was seent to Faber Krankenhaus (Faber Hospital) in Tsingtao where she could get the rest she needed after so many tension-filled months and years.3.1 A doctor at the hospital [don't know if it was specially Hellen's doctor or not] asked Oscar to come to Tsingtao because Hellen was seriously sick.

To travel from Kiaohsien to Tsingtao Oscar needed a special pass from the authorities, which were difficult to get. A minor official in Kiaohsien did give Oscar a pass for which he got in trouble from the police authorities. The government later asked why he had given this foreigner the pass. He responded, "Well you said it was OK if good people got these [passes] to go to other cities and the Rinells have been good people and neighbors for so long that I thought it was all right to give him the permission to go."

Carrying the same brown leather satchel he had brought with him on the trans-Siberin railroad Oscar walked part of the distance to Tsingtao because a section of the railroad track had been destroyed. He caught the train after walking past the destroyed section of track and rode the rest of the way into Tsingtao. Oscar didn't know it at the time, but this trip to Tsingtao meant that he had left Kiaohsien for good. He would never return to his home to live. He had left his childhood home, its memories and all his, Hellen's and the children's possessions.

After visiting Hellen Oscar was ready to return to Kiaohsien but was denied permission.4 The pass he was issued to go to Tsingtao was not issued by the right people according to the officials in Tsingtao, so Oscar went to their summer house on the coast in Iltis Huk not far Tsingtao. He had spent about 1 1/2 years in Kiaohsien since his visit to the United States.

He was to return to Kiaohsien only once and that was to sign an agreement allowing the communists to use the mission property, something they would have done, agreement or no agreement. The communist government were thieves one might say, but carried out their thefts through thinly veiled 'legal' means that mocked law, moral rectitude and basic human rights. They furthered their own interests and power through the plunder of foreigners' land and possessions, and that of segments of their own people. At the same time their propaganda to their citizens and the world communicated just the opposite. Their guilt therefore was compounded by theft, untruth, and abuse.

In Tsingtao Oscar continued to preach in various churches. He also was asked by the American Southern Baptists to teach in their theological seminary. Many of the Swedish Baptist mission had received training in the American Southern Baptist seminary. He accepted the position and taught 'Comparative Religion' and the 'Philosophy and History of Missions,' and he had responsibility for chapel once a week. This was five hours of teaching a week which demanded much preparation, but was a labor of love for Oscar.

Permission was finally granted for Hellen to leave China and the Swedish Baptist Mission bought her an early ticket aboard steamer going to Japan. She would need to travel to the British consulate in Tientsin for official papers. Oscar was not allowed to accompany her to Tientsin, but had to report to the police on occasion.

In Tientsin she had a little trouble at the British consulate, but this was straightened out.5 Hellen's landing permit for Japan was obtained from the American Consulate through the Swedish Diplomatic Mission.6

A few weeks before Oscar had sold some things for the mission, and some personal things too. (Dollan does not know what). Oscar and Hellen wanted to give something back to the SBM after all those years of their support of them in China. The mission's money in the form of gold had to be taken out of China somehow and give back to the mission. They ask for "cash in gold." Upon returning home Oscar asked, "Now what do I do Hellen?

"Let me think," she said. She came up with an idea.

She took the gold and a wine colored dress with her to Tsingtao. The dress she had made a long time ago. It had had square brass buttons running down the front. Hellen showed the dress to the jeweler and showed him the gold.

"Can you make me square gold buttons to fit this dress?

He looked a while and said :" Kea ee " of course.

She had one very small peace of gold left over.

"What can you do with this piece?" She said, " I'd like a Lilly of the Valley. Can you make two long leaves and a curved stem, and put small pearls on the stem, and make it into a broach about three inches long with a curved stem?

"Kea -ee " he said, and she went back to Kiaohsien.

She left him the gold and took the dress back home to Kiaohsien.

On her way out of China she of course went through Tsingtao, where she picked up the

When Hellen was ready to depart, she returned to the jeweler to get the buttons and the broach. She cut off all the brass buttons and sewed on the gold, hand-made buttons and wore the broach. Oscar was speechless.

The gold buttons and the broach were in plain view. At Chinese customs she showed her passport and was asked, "Are you carrying any valuables with you?" She didn't want to lie about the gold she was carrying. Afterall she was a missionary. "Only what I am wearing," was her response. 6.1 She reportedly wore the dress every day to Sweden.

Hellen boarded the steamer, bound for Japan, in Tsingtao. Oscar could not get permission to see her. Hellen by this time was under a lot of stress, which would take her some time to get over.

Yokohama, Japan

Hellen arrived in Yokohama on, Monday, October 23 a little past noon a little thinner than she was since Egron last saw her, but otherwise she was her old self.7 Egron had read in the newspaper that the United States was canceling visas, so the first thing that Egron and Hellen did was to visit the American Consulate to straighten out her visa. The Consulate granted Hellen a visa for a six month stay in the States without any problem. After these formalities were taken care of they met Mr. Hawthorne, the old consul of Tsingtao, now working in Yokohama. Of course, he was very interested in Tsingtao and China and Hellen gave him all the latest news she knew.

From Yokohama they went to the YMCA in Tokyo where Hellen got a room and spent the night. The next day, October 24 she left by ship at 4:30 in the afternoon on the President Pierce, a ship of the American President Line 8 scheduled to arrive in San Francisco on Sunday, November 5.9 Egron wrote a letter to his brother's son-in-law, Bud, asking him to ask his father to write a letter to the American President Lines in San Francisco stating that he guarantees that Hellen "will not be any burden to the State while in America, [that he] will be responsible for her upkeep, etc."10 This letter would help her get through customs with the least trouble. Egron then sent a telegram off to Oscar in China "Hellen departed today well[.] arrangements OK[.] Greetings Egron".11

We don't know yet who met Hellen in San Francisco. Oscar's sister Edith was working on the east coast of the U.S. Perhaps Oscar's other sister Margaret and Margaret's husband Roy Jewett met her, and perhaps she stayed with them a while. Hellen then may have taken the train to Chicago. She then would have traveled up Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her daughter Dollan and her husband, Bud Holmquist and children, Lennie and Meilynn who were about two years old and nine months old respectively lived in Minneapolis. Hellen stayed with the Holmquist family long enough to 'potty train' little Meilynn. 11.1 [See photo album of Hellen's visit].[Hellen may have taken some time to get to Minnesota, perhaps staying with family members because the photos of Hellen in Minnesota show Lennie and Meilynn as being a bit older].

One of those Hellen visited in the US was Ida and George Hein in Falls Church, Virginia who apparently were former missionaries in China. [This may have been in 1951 by the time Hellen made her way to the east coast. Forsythe out of China may have been 1951 also.]. "Your visit blessed our home and I still remember with pleasure your sweet and good prayers you prayed for us at the table many times."12 The Heins too experienced 'trials' in China. Now to make ends meet financially they were running the Shadow Lawn Guest House where they would have guests 'not every night - a few people each week', but it was enough to pay the bills. They had heard from Mr. Halling in Manila that Oscar had made it out of Tsingtao. [Oscar made it out of China in 1951]. But they worry about others, "Poor Clara and Paul! Any news about them? Do they have a lot of trouble? Do they have enough food?" To thank the Heins for their hospitality Hellen sent them three copper dishes which they were apparently very grateful for.

Back in China

On Christmas, Brother Matthews was arrested [don't know if this was Christmas day - may have been the Christmas season].13

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Footnotes

  1. Letter Oscar Rinell to Dollan and Bernie Holmquist. From Tsingtao, March 19, 1950.

  2. Letter from Oscar Rinell to Eric Strutz, July 2nd 1950 from Tsingtao to Stockholm, Sweden.

  3. Len, check to see if this was ever made public and how it contrasted to what was said in this meeting reported by Oscar.

3.1 Dollan Brown does not know how long Hellen was in the hospital, perhaps weeks, and what her condition was while there. Letter Dollan Brown to Lennart Holmquist, September, 8, 2007.

  1. In the document Svar på Lally's frågor Oscar states that he must stay in Tsingtao on account of Hellen's health. Perhaps he was attempting to make a short visit to Kiaohsien when he found that they would not allow him to return (except for one exception).

  2. Letter from Egron Rinell [YMCA, Tokyo] to Dollan and Bernard Holmquist. 10/25/1950. We don't know what the trouble was that Hellen was encountering, possibly regarding her visa to Japan.

  3. Not sure if this was in Tientsin or elsewhere.

6.1 Dollan is not sure what happened to the coat when Hellen arrived to Sweden. She thinks that Hellen simply handed over the coat to her mission. For the gold button story see the email from Dollan Brown to Lennart Holmquist, September 8, 2007.

  1. Gerda was probably with Egron at this time, but don't know for sure yet from the documents on hand.

  2. American Presidents Line with and "s"?

  3. Mom, who picked Hellen up in San Francisco? Did she take a train to Chicago. Write me about tearful meeting. Thanks.

  4. Letter from Egron Rinell [YMCA, Tokyo] to Dollan and Bernard Holmquist. 10/25/50, page2.

  5. Egron also mentions in the letter that he was going to write Margaret Jewett informing her of the date of Hellen's arrival in SF. Perhaps she and Roy picked her upage

11.1 Email from Dollan Rinell to Lennart Holmquist, September 5, 2007.

  1. Letter from Ida and George Hein to Hellen Rinell, November 15, 1951.

  2. Letter from Oscar to friends, November 10, 1951 page3.

CHAPTER

Foreign Devils: A Swedish Family in China 1894 to 1951
© 2012-14 Lennart Holmquist
Lorum • Ipsum• Dolor • Sic Amet • Consectetur

Updated: 10-Oct-2020

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