August TRUDINGER

TRUDINGER, AUGUST (b. Bradford, England, 22 July 1871; d. Honan, China, 6 Jan 1943). Missionary.

August Trudinger was the eldest son of godly Moravian parents who had gone to England for the sake of spiritual freedom and later migrated to Australia. Their home in Adelaide was an open house for missionaries in transit. However it was not until he was twenty-one years of age and well established in a business venture that he came to know Christ personally. Shortly after, Dr Hudson Taylor visited Australia, and as August listened to the veteran missionary he knew God was calling him to the mission field. While living at Kapunda, SA, he applied to the CIM for missionary service. He was accepted by the mission in May 1894. After a period of mission training under the Rev Lockhart Morton (q.v.) he sailed for China in 1896. In his farewell address August Trudinger said: 'Since I offered myself for service I learnt that when I was born my mother ... prayed that He would make me a missionary ... Christ's command came as a personal command—"Go ye therefore"... I am going to China because I cannot say "No" to Christ ... I ... esteem it the highest honour and privilege to go for my Master to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ in China.' (China's Millions, Nov 1896)

After language study August was posted to the province of Shensi where he had experience in pioneering work. He proved an apt scholar in learning Chinese and fitting into the manners and customs of the people. In 1899, during the Boxer riots, he was busy in Shanghai doing evangelistic work among the Mandarin speaking Chinese and the British and German soldiers and sailors stationed there. Then he was posted to Shansi where he was later appointed CIM Superintendent of that province.

In 1902 August Trudinger married Eva Bell from Victoria and she then accompanied him for the rest of his work in China. A statement from one who worked with August Trudinger in his early days says: 'My wife and I can say that we personally have never known his equal as a missionary and friend ... He commended himself to the Chinese by his affable disposition and friendly contacts. At the Boxer rising he was one of the party when we were escorted to the capital of the province. What a comfort he was ... always ready to assist and so bright and cheerful amid all the circumstances of discomfort and danger.' (China's Millions, March 1943, 37)

In 1940, August Trudinger returned to China after his last furlough. During the Pacific War, missionaries were evacuated from Shensi and in 1941 August Trudinger was sent to Honan, where he was again appointed superintendent. He wrote: 'Most of the missionaries in occupied Honan have been interned and repatriated. We praise God that we are able to move about, but Honan is not like our former province of Shansi ... Praise God our Lord's word is still true. He still supplies our needs according to His riches in glory'. (China's Millions, Feb 1943, 20)

After his death, his wife, MB Eva Trudinger continued on the field working in Honan for another two years before retiring to Australia.

R Becker, Geschichte der Familie Schammer (Herrnhut, 1922); M Loane, The Story of the CIM in Australia and New Zealand 1890-1964 (Sydney, 1965); China's Millions, Australasian Editions (OMF Archives, Melbourne) Nov 1896, Feb 1943. March 1943

C D TRUDINGER