Edwins, August W. (1871-1942)

August William Edwins was born August 12, 1871, to Andrew Bjesse Edwins and Lena Katarina Nilsson Edwins. At 22, he enrolled in the second class at Augustana Academy, Rock Island, Illinois. He continued his education at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, and graduated in 1899. He graduated from Augustana Seminary in 1902. In 1904 the China Mission Society (CMS), a group of Augustana members interested in establishing mission work in China, called him to serve as its first missionary to China. Pastor Edwins was commissioned as the CMS's first missionary to China on September 13-14, 1905, and shortly thereafter he and his new wife set sail for China on September 20, 1905, and arrived in Shanghai on October 21. In May 1910 the China mission baptized its first converts. Nine people received the sacrament of Holy Baptism administered by Pastor Edwins. Pastor Edwins' last twenty years in the mission field were spent teaching at the Union Theological Seminary at Hankow. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declaration of war on Japan by the United States, American citizens living in China were interned by the Japanese. Pastor Edwins became one of those interned. While in Shanghai awaiting passage home, Pastor Edwins suffered a stroke. On July 2 Pastor Edwins died on board the ship that was to take him to the United States. He was buried at sea on July 3. A memorial service was held August 30, 1942, at Augustana Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.