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CHAPTER IV - ERNEST AND FAITH

A MODERN AQUILA AND PRISCHILLA

The Yins are a well connected and distinguished family, with their origins in the
Province of Hunan. Into this family, a little less than a half-century ago, was born a

son who later received the school name, Ren-Sien, which might be freely rendered,
“Duty First.”

Young Ren-Sien was educated in his early years, and as befitted his position in the
old style classical manner, drilled in the writings of the sages. Later he was sent down
the river to the great educational center of Nanking, where he was initiated into some
of the mysteries of Western learning and made contacts with organized Christianity.
Here he assumed the Christian name of Ernest. Later he made profession of faith, and

was received into the Presbyterian Church in Nanking. He is always at pains now
though, to make clear that that was only a profession, and was not real heart faith, and
was unaccompanied by the experience of regeneration.

Returning to his home he was married at an early age and soon embarked upon a
commercial career. Of this first union there were four children born—two girls and
two boys. After becoming the mother of these four, Earnest‟s young wife died.

Deeply grieved, Ernest sought a change of scene. He determined to pursue his
education further, so committing his four young children to the care of his near
relatives, he left the shores of China, sailed for the United States, and matriculated in

Harvard University at Cambridge.

He graduated in four years, receiving his Bachelor‟s degree, and returned to China
for a time, but a little later took another trip to the United States. The second time he
remained for two years. On his second return to China he met and married the

charming Miss Sü-Yuin Ding, who had also been educated in the United States,
having come to this country on a scholarship from Tsing Hua University, the Boxer
indemnity institution in Peking. She completed her under-graduate work in Mount

Holyoke and then took graduate work in Columbia, majoring in zöology.

On her return to China, Miss Ding became connected with the work of the
Y.W.C.A. and was located in Shanghai. Here she was a colleague with Miss May-Ling
Soong, better known in later years as Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
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