Heritage column for Dec. 2, 2004
In 1900 William E. Hatcher, the noted minister and founder of Fork Union Military Academy, enrolled in his school a 15-year-old Chinese boy named Ah Fong Yeung. Robert E. Chambers, a Virginian who headed Baptist publishing work in China, had brought the “sprightly boy” to America to be educated at Richmond College (now the University of Richmond). Upon arriving, it became apparent that the teenager was not ready for college.
Chambers took his young charge over to Grace Street Baptist Church, where Hatcher was in the closing years of his long pastorate, and Hatcher offered to take him to his new academy in Fluvanna. The Religious Herald pleaded: “[Dr. Hatcher] says he will have to look to the Lord and the Baptists for the money. Who will help him? One brother gives five dollars to start with. Let us help train this boy for Christian service in his native land.”
Ah Fong became a member of the Hatcher family. He lived at Careby Hall, Hatcher's Fork Union home. Soon after the boy arrived at Careby, Hatcher asked him to make a speech about himself. The boy must have fretted over the assignment but he followed through and Hatcher himself typed the boy's speech.
“My oratorical training began right here,” Ah Fong later wrote. “When [Dr. Hatcher] polished me up a bit he tried me out at his Sunday afternoon Boys Meetings [at Grace Street Church in Richmond].”
One of Ah Fong's speeches to the boys was contrasting boyhood life in China with such in America. He urged: “When you grow up, be useful men in this world.” His statement of long ago sounds close to the motto of present-day Fork Union Military Academy!
Hatcher kept giving the young man opportunities to try his new skills. The boy would receive compliments on his speaking abilities, but Hatcher would caution the audiences not to swell the boy's head with too much praise.
Once Ah Fong even shared the platform with the noted missionary to China, Lottie Moon. She and Virginia Snead Hatcher had been classmates in school and, home on furlough, Miss Moon was a houseguest at Careby Hall. Another time, Ah Fong spoke at commencement along with William Heth Whitsitt, the former president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a close friend of Hatcher. Ah Fong even spoke at the large First Baptist Church of Richmond.
After graduating from Fork Union, Ah Fong completed studies at Richmond College and went to Columbia University in New York. He returned to China and served as an educator and editor of a religious publication.
This fall-a century after Ah Fong's days at Fork Union, Daniel Wu, age 17, enrolled in the academy. He is the great-grandson of Ah Fong. Born in Richmond, he has a heritage that is American and Chinese.
His parents, Ling and John Wu, came to the United States in the early 1980s when John-then living in Shanghai-was awarded a full scholarship to Ah Fong's alma mater, now known as the University of Richmond. Like his grandfather, John completed graduate studies in New York City and in time a business opportunity opened in China. Along the way the couple became U.S. citizens and now divide their time between a home in Maryland, work in Beijing and family in Shanghai. They wanted a good school for Daniel-a place that stressed academics and offered structure-and Daniel himself was interested in Fork Union.
On an introductory tour of the academy, Daniel and his parents and little brother Patrick were invited into Careby Hall. Today the old home where Ah Fong once lived with the Hatchers is the home of the academy's president, Lt. Gen. John E. Jackson Jr. and his wife, Barbara. They warmly welcomed the visitors.
Daniel Wu wears the FUMA uniform, studies with some of the best teachers in the country and learns more about the Jesus in whom his great-grandfather trusted. And, just as in Ah Fong's speech of long ago, Daniel has the potential to grow up to be a “useful” man in this world.
Within weeks of entering the academy, he was promoted to sergeant. And just like his great-grandfather, he recently was asked by the academy's president to make a speech. The audience was the board of trustees-a group that could be intimidating to the most seasoned public speaker-yet Daniel displayed the same confidence and abilities of his great-grandfather. He truly is living the legacy.
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies.