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Esther E. Baldwin

Esther E. Baldwin (née, Jerman; pen name, Mrs. S. L. Baldwin; November 8, 1840 – February 26, 1910) was an American missionary, teacher, translator, writer, and editor of the long nineteenth century. Known as "Chinese Champion", she understood the religious and political problems of China, and the Chinese people, as perhaps no other woman in this country did at that time. She labored constantly to bring about a better understanding between the two nations.[1] Baldwin served as president of the New York Woman's Missionary Society for two decades.

Esther E. Baldwin
BornEsther E. Jerman
(1840-11-08)November 8, 1840
Marlton, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 1910(1910-02-26) (aged 69)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Pen nameMrs. S. L. Baldwin
Occupationmissionary, teacher, translator, writer, editor
LanguageEnglish
Alma materPennington Seminary
Notable worksMust the Chinese Go?; The Chinese Question
Spouse
Stephen Livingstone Baldwin
(m. 1862; died 1902)

Early life and education edit

Esther E. Jerman was born in Marlton, New Jersey, November 8, 1840. Her father, the Rev. Mathias Jerman, was for many years a member of the New Jersey Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.[1] In her youth, Esther was frail, sensitive and studious. She became a Christian at the age of ten, and united with the church of her parents.[2]

Her first schooling was received at home. She also received instruction in public schools and at a private school in Salem, New Jersey, followed by a full course in Pennington Seminary, New Jersey. She was graduated from that institution in 1859,[2] or 1860,[1] taking the highest honors.[2]

Career edit

In 1860, she became a teacher of higher mathematics, Latin and French in a seminary in Virginia. At the beginning of the Civil War her sympathies were with the North, and she resigned her position and returned home.[2]

In the summer of 1861, she met the Rev. Stephen Livingstone Baldwin, of the Fuzhou Mission, then at home on furlough, and in April, 1862, they were married, and sailed for China the following June, arriving in November, after five months at sea.[1] Besides her domestic responsibilities, she was soon entrusted with the supervision of several day schools and of a class of Bible women who were sent out to read the Bible to their country-women. In her thoughtful survey of the condition of woman and childhood in China, quickened by her personal observation and experience, she became deeply impressed with the need of educated Christian woman physicians. She saw that through this means, access and confidence could be gained and the way opened for missionary work. She was the first to ask for a medical woman to be sent to China. When the hospital for women and children was opened in Fuzhou, the first for such a purpose founded in that empire, she gave it her attention. For several years, she translated the Berean Lessons into the Chinese language for the use of the Methodist Mission and of the American Board. For two years, she edited in the same language the Youth's Illustrated Paper. She saw the missions grow from small beginnings into strong churches.[2]

After eighteen years of this work, she became gravely ill, and her physician declared that a change of climate and entire rest were essential to recovery. The American pulpit was freely open to Dr. Baldwin, and his pastonal services were eagerly sought. For some years, he was the recording secretary of the Board of Missions of the M. E. Church. Mrs. Baldwin's health was largely restored since her return to the U.S. where she was extensively employed in the interests of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, being president for two decades of the New York branch of that society in the Methodist Episcopal Church;[3] of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union; in lectures on various subjects; and in many charities. She was an ardent advocate of the equality of women with men, both in the State and in the Church.[4]

The "Chinese question" in all its aspects had her sympathies. The misrepresentation and abuse of the Chinese kindled her indignation. She was called to speak before large audiences in many places on the "Chinese question" and contributed numerous articles on the subject to various city papers. She carefully collected and forcibly stated both the laws and the facts bearing on the subject, and published them in a volume entitled Must the Chinese Go? which had three editions. She won the distinction of being the "Chinese Champion."[4]

Baldwin was one of the ablest debaters of the Methodist Episcopal Church.[1] She spoke at Chautauqua in the early 1880s.[5]

Personal life edit

Baldwin was the mother of seven children, six of whom were born in Fuzhou, and two of whom died there.[4][1] She died suddenly at the family home in Brooklyn, New York, February 26, 1910.[1]

Selected works edit

  • The Chinese Question: By the One Who Has Found a Home in China for Nearly 20 Years, and Claims to Know the People, 1882
  • Must the Chinese Go?: An Examination of the Chinese Question, 1886

References edit

Attribution edit

  •   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Methodist Episcopal Church (1906). "Mrs. Esther E. Baldwin.By W. S. Robinson.". Minutes of the Newark Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church (Public domain ed.). The Conference.
  •   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life (Public domain ed.). Moulton. p. 48.

Bibliography edit

  • Preston, Andrew; Rossinow, Doug (15 November 2016). Outside In: The Transnational Circuitry of US History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-045987-1.
  • Spencer-Wood, Suzanne M. (9 December 2012). Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Gender Transformations: From Private to Public. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4614-4863-1.

External links edit

  •   Works related to Woman of the Century/Esther E. Baldwin at Wikisource
  • Works by or about Esther E. Baldwin at Internet Archive

esther, baldwin, née, jerman, name, baldwin, november, 1840, february, 1910, american, missionary, teacher, translator, writer, editor, long, nineteenth, century, known, chinese, champion, understood, religious, political, problems, china, chinese, people, per. Esther E Baldwin nee Jerman pen name Mrs S L Baldwin November 8 1840 February 26 1910 was an American missionary teacher translator writer and editor of the long nineteenth century Known as Chinese Champion she understood the religious and political problems of China and the Chinese people as perhaps no other woman in this country did at that time She labored constantly to bring about a better understanding between the two nations 1 Baldwin served as president of the New York Woman s Missionary Society for two decades Esther E Baldwin A Woman of the Century BornEsther E Jerman 1840 11 08 November 8 1840Marlton New Jersey U S DiedFebruary 26 1910 1910 02 26 aged 69 Brooklyn New York U S Pen nameMrs S L BaldwinOccupationmissionary teacher translator writer editorLanguageEnglishAlma materPennington SeminaryNotable worksMust the Chinese Go The Chinese QuestionSpouseStephen Livingstone Baldwin m 1862 died 1902 wbr Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Selected works 5 References 5 1 Attribution 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksEarly life and education editEsther E Jerman was born in Marlton New Jersey November 8 1840 Her father the Rev Mathias Jerman was for many years a member of the New Jersey Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church 1 In her youth Esther was frail sensitive and studious She became a Christian at the age of ten and united with the church of her parents 2 Her first schooling was received at home She also received instruction in public schools and at a private school in Salem New Jersey followed by a full course in Pennington Seminary New Jersey She was graduated from that institution in 1859 2 or 1860 1 taking the highest honors 2 Career editIn 1860 she became a teacher of higher mathematics Latin and French in a seminary in Virginia At the beginning of the Civil War her sympathies were with the North and she resigned her position and returned home 2 In the summer of 1861 she met the Rev Stephen Livingstone Baldwin of the Fuzhou Mission then at home on furlough and in April 1862 they were married and sailed for China the following June arriving in November after five months at sea 1 Besides her domestic responsibilities she was soon entrusted with the supervision of several day schools and of a class of Bible women who were sent out to read the Bible to their country women In her thoughtful survey of the condition of woman and childhood in China quickened by her personal observation and experience she became deeply impressed with the need of educated Christian woman physicians She saw that through this means access and confidence could be gained and the way opened for missionary work She was the first to ask for a medical woman to be sent to China When the hospital for women and children was opened in Fuzhou the first for such a purpose founded in that empire she gave it her attention For several years she translated the Berean Lessons into the Chinese language for the use of the Methodist Mission and of the American Board For two years she edited in the same language the Youth s Illustrated Paper She saw the missions grow from small beginnings into strong churches 2 After eighteen years of this work she became gravely ill and her physician declared that a change of climate and entire rest were essential to recovery The American pulpit was freely open to Dr Baldwin and his pastonal services were eagerly sought For some years he was the recording secretary of the Board of Missions of the M E Church Mrs Baldwin s health was largely restored since her return to the U S where she was extensively employed in the interests of the Woman s Foreign Missionary Society being president for two decades of the New York branch of that society in the Methodist Episcopal Church 3 of the Woman s Christian Temperance Union in lectures on various subjects and in many charities She was an ardent advocate of the equality of women with men both in the State and in the Church 4 The Chinese question in all its aspects had her sympathies The misrepresentation and abuse of the Chinese kindled her indignation She was called to speak before large audiences in many places on the Chinese question and contributed numerous articles on the subject to various city papers She carefully collected and forcibly stated both the laws and the facts bearing on the subject and published them in a volume entitled Must the Chinese Go which had three editions She won the distinction of being the Chinese Champion 4 Baldwin was one of the ablest debaters of the Methodist Episcopal Church 1 She spoke at Chautauqua in the early 1880s 5 Personal life editBaldwin was the mother of seven children six of whom were born in Fuzhou and two of whom died there 4 1 She died suddenly at the family home in Brooklyn New York February 26 1910 1 Selected works editThe Chinese Question By the One Who Has Found a Home in China for Nearly 20 Years and Claims to Know the People 1882 Must the Chinese Go An Examination of the Chinese Question 1886References edit a b c d e f g Methodist Episcopal Church 1906 p 91 a b c d e Willard amp Livermore 1893 p 48 Preston amp Rossinow 2016 p 103 a b c Willard amp Livermore 1893 p 49 Spencer Wood 2012 p 238 Attribution edit nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Methodist Episcopal Church 1906 Mrs Esther E Baldwin By W S Robinson Minutes of the Newark Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church Public domain ed The Conference nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Willard Frances Elizabeth Livermore Mary Ashton Rice 1893 A Woman of the Century Fourteen Hundred seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life Public domain ed Moulton p 48 Bibliography edit Preston Andrew Rossinow Doug 15 November 2016 Outside In The Transnational Circuitry of US History Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 045987 1 Spencer Wood Suzanne M 9 December 2012 Historical and Archaeological Perspectives on Gender Transformations From Private to Public Springer Science amp Business Media ISBN 978 1 4614 4863 1 External links edit nbsp Works related to Woman of the Century Esther E Baldwin at Wikisource Works by or about Esther E Baldwin at Internet Archive nbsp Biography portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Esther E Baldwin amp oldid 1221060434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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