Vic in China

Reverend Edward Wilson Wallace had a long association with Victoria University. He was born in Metuchen, N.J. in 1880 but came to Toronto as a school child when his father Rev. Professor Francis Huston Wallace was appointed Professor of New Testament literature and exegisis at Victoria College. In 1900 Francis Huston was appointed dean of the Faculty of Theology, a position he held until his retirement in 1920.

In 1904 Edward Wallace graduated from Victoria College with the gold medal in classics studies, two years later he graduated from Victoria as the gold medalist in the B.D. course. In the course of his undergraduate studies, Wallace committed himself to becoming a missionary in the Canadian Methodist church. He was also greatly interested in China, in 1903 he wrote "The Heart of Sz-chuan," a text-book that was published by the newly formed Young People's Forward Movement. He contributed poems and articles to Acta Victoriana, He was a member of the "Victoria Eight" who set out for West China in the fall of 1906 as and educational missionary. 

Wallace spent a year and a half in language study in Chengdu, and was assigned Principal of a Boy's school; first in Junghsien (1908 - 1910), and then in Chungking (1910 - 1912). In 1912 he returned to Toronto on furlough and married Rose Cullen, a 1903 graduate of Victoria College who had been working with the Y.W.C.A. in Paris, France.  Wallace was simultaneously appointed Professor of Educational Administration at West China Union University and General Secretary of the West China Christian Educational Union. He held these positions for ten years, 1912 - 1922. During this time he earned a M.A. from Columbia University, and in 1921 was awarded D.D. by his alma mater.

In 1915 a son was born in Chengtu, and named for his father - Edward Wilson Wallace. He in turn attended Victoria College, a third generation alumnus of the University.

In 1923 Edward and Rose Wallace moved to Shanghai where Rev. Wallace became General Secretary of the China Christian Educational Association.  Rose died a year later of typhoid fever and pneumonia. In 1930 Edward Wallace was invited to become Chancellor and President of Victoria University. He served as Chancellor of Victoria University from 1930 until 1941.

Works by E.W. Wallace

Wallace, E. W. A Faith for Today : Sermons in the College Chapel, Victoria University, Toronto. Ed. Ont ). Victoria College (Toronto. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1932.

---. The Heart of Sz-Chuan. Ed. Young Peoples Forward Movement. Rev. ed. -- ed. Toronto: Methodist Young People's Forward Movement for Missions, 1903.

---. The New Life in China. Ed. United Council for Missionary Education. London: United Council for Missionary Education, 1914.