Roberts - The Life and Times of Charles A. Roberts

what would Charles do? Mrs. Mary Stewart (the widow of Milton Stewart who helped to give the million dollar gift for H.B.I.) greatly admired Charles and his report of the work there and insisted she would continue to support the Roberts family personally until Biola could get on its feet in a few years. She was disappointed with Biola's management and gave 3 million dollars to Occidental College instead. Earlier she had donated large sums to build the magnificent Presbyterian Church on Lake Avenue in Pasadena. A new crisis developed at the Hunan Bible Institute in the absence of Charles. Nationalistic feelings in China grew stronger and affected Professor Marcus Cheng on the faculty. He raised serious questions about the ownership and management of H.B.I. to the point of questioning Charles' leadership and his financial integrity and wrote to the Biola Board of Trustees. It was a major crisis for Charles as how to deal with this personally ambitious Chinese nationalist who demanded to get contr~l of H.B.I. because he declared it had been given to the Chinese, and they really owned the Institute. Thus in the spring of 1937 Charles flew back quickly on one of the first Pan American flights across the Pacific. At first , most of the faculty supported the professor because of his propaganda. After others rescinded their support and apologized to Charles for their part in the 11 coup 11 , Marcus Cheng resigned. Later under Communist control this ambitious man managed to become one of the leaders of the communist organized church system, but after 5 years he was deposed, held in prison, and suffered much. His two sons who had supported the system years before the Communist takeover were later thrown into prison, suffered torture and ultimately faced a firing squad. July of 1937 found Miriam joining sister Faith in returning to Wheaton College and Grandmother Louisa returning to Vancouver. Grace then sold the home and furniture and car and packed 14 trunks for return to Shanghai with the four younger children now 8, I0 and 12, on the President Cleveland. Intentions were to remain in China for another 7-year term!) Upon settling matters at H.B.I.. Charles pulled the faculty together to continue the courses of studies to finish the year and to get the l 0 evangelistic bands ready for their summer itinerary. He took moving pictures of this graduating class which he felt was one of the largest and best classes ever. He enjoyed taking these l 6mm Kodak films and seemed to have an artistic flair. Meanwhile the Japanese were threatening China in the north until war was declared mid-July 1937.

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