Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen - The China Years - Part 3

When we last left the Carscallen family in part 2, they had just returned to China from their first furlough abroad. Arriving in Chengtu on 6 February 1914, they’d been on leave of absence since late 1911.

Photo of the Carscallen house in Chengtu circa 1919. It's said that their home was "the most beautiful and hospitable one in the whole city."[1]. Photo from Eula C. Lapp's book, China Was My University.

Hulda May immediately plunged back into her busy schedule of activities; contributing in many ways to the educational life of the community.

The Carscallens’ second term at Chengtu was during a period of great expansion for West China Union University. Another new building opened in 1914, the Joyce Memorial Theological Building. Within six years of opening in 1910, thirty-nine new buildings had opened or were under construction at the University. (By the time the Communists took over the University in 1949, there were about 70 buildings.) 

Hart Memorial College opened in 1920 and was used for chemistry, physics, and biology laboratories and classrooms, as well as classrooms for the Faculty of Religion. It also contained a chapel for Sunday evening services. Photo of college under construction from Eula C. Lapp's book, China Was My University.

The Clock Tower at W.C.U.U. was completed in 1926. Photo via the John William Foster Fonds at Carleton University.

Hulda May gave birth to her fourth child on 12 January 1916. Jane Helen Carscallen (named Helen) would grow up to be a woman of great achievement. I’ll have more to say about Helen in a future post.

The four children of Hulda May Culbert & Rev. Charles Rupert Carscallen in China circa 1916. Left to right: Alice, Charlie, Kay, and baby Helen. Photo courtesy of Wendy (Gowland) Boole from the collection of Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen.

The year Helen was born (1916), Hulda May was asked to become editor of the West China News magazine, a publication of the Mission Press. She respectfully declined saying:

I have given the matter serious consideration and have come to the conclusion that I should not undertake this work. My chief reason for this decision is that I cannot pronounce with sufficient authority on missionary problems. The Editor-in-chief of the News should be able to speak with assurance on all matters discussed in the magazine, and this it would ill become me to do.

I very much appreciate the honour that has been done me and I thank the Advisory Board most sincerely. I trust that the right person may be found to fill this post, and regret my own inability to rise to the occasion.

During the Carscallens' second term in China, the First World War was raging. Lasting from 1914 to 1917, its effects were felt by the missionary community despite their physical distance from the hostilities. Intercessory services were held weekly including one at the Carscallen's house. Hulda May was on a committee of The Patriotic League of Britons Overseas, putting on concerts to raise money for the war effort.

On 8 January 1918, Hulda May lost her close friend, Mary Jane Davidson, the wife of Quaker missionary, Robert John Davidson. Born Mary Jane Caitlin in London, England in 1847, Mary Jane was 34 years older than Hulda May. Mary Jane was a great influence on her. Hulda May described her as "one of our best-beloved missionaries in West China." Hulda May greatly admired Mary Jane. Inspired by Mary Jane's faith, Hulda May began reading books on Quakerism. Quaker practices appealed to her, such as their use of women as leaders in education and in the ministry. Hulda May wrote a tribute to her friend in the West China News. This tribute can be read in its entirety on pages 98-101 of Eula C. Lapp's book, China Was My University.

In 1918, Hulda May was asked to become Acting Librarian of West China Union University. In 1919, she was officially appointed University Librarian.

Although this photo isn't identified, it's probably the library at West China Union University at which Hulda May Carscallen was Librarian. Photo courtesy of Wendy (Gowland) Boole from the collection of Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen.

1919 found the Carscallen family in quarantine for a month, from November 6th to December 4th. Their son, Charlie got the measles and his three sisters soon caught the disease. This was long before a vaccine was available, and many people died each year or were hospitalized. Hulda May put the children on cots all together in one room, and looked after them from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. each day. She had someone relieve her at eight o'clock daily so she could attend to other matters. When the danger of infection was over, Hulda May spent three days fumigating the house. 

In addition to her daily Mandarin lessons, Hulda May was now learning to write Chinese characters.

The Carscallen Family in China. Rev. Charles Rupert Carscallen (seated at left). Back row, left to right: Kay and Charlie. Front row, left to right: Helen, Alice and Hulda May. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.

The Carscallens left on their second furlough (leave of absence) on 10 May 1920. On their first furlough, they’d taken time to see the world. This time, they wanted to reach Canada as soon as possible. They landed in Victoria, British Columbia on July 14^th. From there, they took a boat to Vancouver where they stayed with Hulda May’s uncle, Wesley Fairhall and his wife, Maggie.

From Vancouver, they boarded a train heading east and were awed by the scenery of the Rocky Mountains.

A train going through the Rocky Mountains in Canada, c1923.

They visited Charles’ brother, Stanley Carscallen in Calgary, Alberta and then on to Boissevain, Manitoba to visit Hulda May’s brother, Arthur Culbert and his family.

They made a detour by train to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Hulda May’s sister, Ethel (Culbert) Gras lived with her husband, Norman and their two young sons. Here, they spent five days and Hulda May found it difficult to leave her sister, with whom she’d always been close.

Then on to Chicago where Charles’ brother, Andrew Carscallen and his son, Roland boarded the train. They arrived at the Carscallen home in Dresden, Ontario where the family eagerly awaited them. Hulda May visited friends from her teaching days there and Charles gave a sermon in his home church.

The Carscallen Brothers in 1929. Seated in front: Horatio Morley Carscallen. Back row, left to right: Andrew Bethel Carscallen, Stanley Newton Carscallen, and Rev. Dr. Charles Newton Carscallen.

Next, it was on to Lucan to spend five happy days with the Culbert family at Hulda May's childhood home, Poplar Farm on the Coursey Line. They were welcomed by Hulda May’s parents, Richard and Jane; her sisters, Mary and Lela; and her brother, Myron Culbert and their families. During this time, Charles baptized Myron’s son, Milward Taylor “Mel” Culbert who had been born that spring on 29 May 1920.

Poplar Farm near Lucan, Ontario. 1920s. Photo courtesy of Marilyn (Culbert) Harrison.

The Carscallens travelled to Toronto on August 21^st and stayed temporarily with Charles’ brother, Morley Carscallen and his family, while they looked for a house to rent. 

On 10 September 1920, Hulda May and Charles moved into a furnished house at 204 Crawford Street, situated on the edge of Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto.

204 Crawford Street, Toronto in 2017, almost a century after the Carscallen family lived here.

Hulda May used her time in Toronto to take a library course to further her skills as the Librarian at West China Union University.

Hulda May was a skilled public speaker and was in demand to speak to various groups. She gave 48 speeches in 1921 and 1922, all over Ontario. One such talk, given at the Seaforth Methodist Church was mentioned in the Huron Expositor newspaper…

Source: Huron Expositor, 2 December 1921, Page 8.

According to Hulda May's biographer, Eula C. Lapp, her talk in Seaforth was accompanied by slides.[2] One of the themes of her speeches was “The New Status of Women in China.”

By September 1921, it was time to bid farewell to her two oldest children. Charlie and Kay would not return with the family to China but would attend schools in Canada. It was decided that Kay should live in Lucan with her Culbert grandparents (Richard & Jane) and attend Lucan High School, and the next year enter Alma College in St. Thomas. Charlie enrolled at Albert College in Belleville.

The Carscallens' furlough was extended either because of the children’s schooling or because Charles had a stomach ulcer. Hulda May used this time to attend lectures and participate in more speaking engagements.

In March 1922, they started packing their bags to make a trip west across the country. Along the way, they visited relatives in Manitoba and Alberta.

On 22 April 1922, the Carscallens sailed from Victoria, British Columbia on a long journey back to China. That night, Hulda May wrote in her diary, “O Canada, my Canada!”[3]

The Carscallen Family in 1920. Back row: Charles Rupert and son, Charles Newton. Front row, left to right: Kay (standing), Alice, Helen, and Hulda May.

To be continued, here...

Footnotes:  
[1] Eula C. Lapp, China Was My University. Agincourt, Ont.: Generation Press, 1980, 96.
[2] Ibid., 85.
[3] Ibid., 87.