James G. Endicott 文幼章

Born in Jiading (now Leshan), a town of 50,000 inhabitants on the Min River, James Gareth Endicott 文幼章’s life intersected with pivotal moments in China’s tumultuous 20th century. After serving in the Canadian Army during World War I, Jim pursued a triple honours program in 1919 at Victoria College, University of Toronto (U of T), where he became deeply involved in the Student Volunteer and Student Christian Movements. It was at U of T that he met Mary Austin (1897-1967), a fellow graduate who shared his commitment to faith and service. The couple married in 1925 and soon embarked on a steamship journey to China to join the West China mission. 

Arriving as an evangelical preacher, Jim quickly gained recognition as an educator at West China Union University. Fluent in Mandarin and well-versed in Chinese history, Jim worked alongside colleagues and friends who envisioned a more democratic future for China, to the realization of which they committed themselves. Although his belief in education as a force for humanity’s advancement evolved amidst the realities of war-torn China, Jim’s devotion to serving China and its people, such as he understood it, never wavered. His commitment came at a profound personal cost to himself and his family. 

This exhibition features objects, photographs, and ephemera from the Endicott family’s collection. We invite you to revisit and reencounter this period of tremendous conflict and change from a personal perspective, told through treasured mementos that document the family’s own history. 

文幼章出生于嘉定（今四川乐山），这座位于岷江边的小城当时约有五万人口。他的一生与20世纪的中国历史紧密相连。第一次世界大战期间，文幼章曾在加拿大军队服役。1919年，他进入多伦多大学维多利亚学院，修读三项荣誉课程，并积极参与学生志愿服务和基督教学生团体的活动。在多大期间，他结识了志同道合的文月华（1897-1967），一位同校的毕业生。两人于1925年结婚，随后乘船返回中国，加入华西教会，投身传教事业。 

作为福音传教士抵达中国后，文幼章很快获得了华西协合大学教员的职位。他精通普通话，熟悉中国历史，并与同事和朋友们一道努力，致力于实现他们对中国更加民主未来的愿景。尽管在战乱不断的中国，他对教育作为推动人类进步力量的信念经历了动摇，但他服务中国及其人民的承诺始终坚定不移。这份承诺也使他和他的家人付出了沉重的代价。 

这次展览呈现了文幼章家族收藏的物品、照片和纪念品。透过这些珍贵的回忆，我们邀请您从个人视角重新回顾那个充满冲突与变革的时代，感受家族历史中珍藏的故事。