I know of no better way to tell the story of Ezra’s life than to copy from the article written in Hong Kong “Who’s Who” dated 1970-1973.
Longway, Ezra Leon, Field Secretary of Seventh-day Adventists, Far Eastern Division, Hong Kong; born September 16, 1895, Theresa, New York, U.S.A.; American: Seventh-day Adventist; married; Education: Vienna Intermediate School, Vienna, 14 miles West of Utica, New York, 1911-1913, and Atlantic Union College… at Lancaster, Mass. From September 1913-May 1918.
Career: After graduation he married Inez Ruth Miles, May 22, 1918; left U.S. in late Sep. 1918 aboard S/S Luchow, a B and S cargo/passenger ship; arrived in Bangkok, Dec. 25, 1918, as Secretary-Treasurer of Siam Mission, remaining there until May 1922, during which time he and his wife were the first two people to open up the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Thailand; was transferred as Field Secretary for Honan Province, at Yenching, Cetral Honan, May 1922-January 1929 … sent as Field Secretary of Central China Union Mission with headquarters in Hankow, Jan. 1929-Dec. 1931. And from Aug.-Oct. 1931, he survived an 18-ft. rise of water within the walls of the compound during the Hankow flood; President of West China Mission covering Provinces of Szechuan, Yunnon and Kweichow, resided in Chungking, Jan. 1932-Dec. 1933 (established West China Training Institute at Sung Pao): Field Secretary for China Division, Seventh-day Adventists, Shanghai, Jan. 1934-Dec.1941 (Established Wu-ken Sanitarium in 1940; he safely evacuated patients from the hospital to French Town, International Settlement, when Japanese attacked Hong Kew area, Aug. 1937, and later evacuating his wife and two children to the Philippines in May, 1941 (but were placed in a Japanese concentration camp for three years with no word from Ezra during that entire time); sent to West China at Chungking as acting president of West China Union Mission, participating in its rebuilding program after having been bombed out twice by Japanese aircraft in 1942 and 1943, remaining there until Oct. 1945, when he returned to U.S. and was reunited with his family who had been liberated by the United States troops in Manila. He returned as Field Secretary for China Division, Seventh-day Adventists, Shanghai Aug. 1946-Oct.10, 1950 (400 civilians within the compound escaped injury during the two days fighting between Liberation and Nationalists armies in late May 1949); departed China from Tientsin to Hong Kong, aboard S/S “Hernrich Moller,” then took a plane for U.S.; returned to South Lancaster, Mass. Lecturing throughout New England area, Jan.-Nov. 1951; sent to Tokyo to raise funds, 1951-Nove.1953; President of South China, Nov. 1953-Sept. 1963. Projects established with Dr. Harry Miller were Sam Yuk Ventries Rd in 1953, and in Kowloon, at 59 Boundary St. in 1956; Taiwan Sanitarium, March 1955; also opened Taipo Sam Yuk School in Taipo; Field Secretary of Seventh-day Adventists, Far Eastern Division, Hong Kong, Sept. 1963 to date (1973).
Established with Dr. Harry Miller: Adventist Sanitarium Hospital of Hong Kong, Sept. 1963, Tsuen Wan Branch N.T., May 1964; Bacolod Sanitarium and Hospital, Bacolod, Los Negros Is., P.I., Dec. 25, 1966; Manila Sanitarium Extension (extra 50 beds), Manila, Nov. 1967. Ground-Breaking Ceremony of Hong Kong Sanitarium and Hospital, 40 Stubbs Rd., Jun 15, 1967.”
He returned to the United States on furlough and in Sept. 27 of 1966 was back in Hong Kong as Field Secretary of the Far Eastern Division of Seventh-day Adventists until July 1, 1972. Mrs. Inez Longway became very ill and was advised by physicians to go back to America, and passed away in March, 1973. It was during the illness that he authored the book Dangerous Opportunity. Ezra wrote the General Conference that he was ready to return to Hong Kong to raise funds for finishing the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital there.
It was at this time that Florence Nagel Winton came into the picture. She was born on the little island of Macao to Sherman and Mary Nagel, who had been sent to the great country of China as missionaries in 1909. This was to be her home for the next 20 years.
At the age of eight the Nagel family went to Canton to attend the meetings of the South China Mission biennial session. One day a new couple strolled by a group of missionary children who were playing with some of their Chinese friends. They later learned that the new recruits were going to Siam to open up the Adventists work in that country.
Florence overheard Ezra Longway say to Unez, “I wonder if we will ever be able to speak the Chinese language as these children are doing.” Two daughters, Eva Ruth Currie and Myrtle Dellaphien Scharffenberg, were born during their stay in Thailand. In May, 1922 the Longways moved to China where two sons, Delbert and David were born. Ralph was born in America on their first furlough. Ten years later Elder Longway graduated from the five-year Chinese language course given to the missionaries. He became the best-learned worker in the Division, speaking fluently and also writing the Chinese characters. With this knowledge, he was able to translate 26 volumes of Mrs. E.G. White’s books and 200 hymns, and wrote many articles for the Chinese church paper, in his spare time over the next 58 years.
When Florence heard Ezra was returning to Hong Kong she jokingly wrote a letter to her friends, the Milnes, saying “I wish he would stick me in his pocket and take me along.” Bro. Milne, without her knowing it, sent the message on to Eld. Longway. Being a man of quick action, she received a letter from him asking her to meet him at Lodi, California where he would be conducting Dr. Floyd Johnson’s Memorial Service. On May 28, 1973, he said, “Florence, will you go back to Hong Kong with me?”
Eld. John Kozel got wind of this someway and wrote Florence a letter saying, “You are too young. You cannot go back to the mission field with an SOS worker. You will lose all your sustentation benefits.” Now what was she to do? Elder Longway got in touch with Eld. Paul Eldridge, the President of the Far Eastern Division, and presented his problem to him. The solution: Florence must be invited to go as a regular missionary and Ezra return with her. The call came during the Fall Council and soon the Longways were on their way to the land they loved so dearly. She was to be in charge of the Medical Laboratory at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital and Ezrea to take up his former duties.
For almost 14 years they had the privilege of working with the people there. Ezra was honored at the Vienna General Conference in 1975 as the longest worker in continuous service in the denomination at that time. Mrs. E.G. White had served for 70 years and Ezra 68. His eyes began to fail and it was suggested that they return to the United States where he could have surgery. The folk in Hong Kong hired her to be his private chauffeur, so he could continue this solicitation program over there. For 6 years they drove over 400,000 miles, saw every state in the union. God richly blessed his labor rewarding it with around $5,000,000.00 US dollars towards the building of the two hospitals in Hong Kong. Previously Dr. Harry Miller, Melvin Milne and Ezra had already received over $15,000,000.00. During this traveling time the Longways lived out of suitcases and stayed in different motels nearly every night. It was indeed a strenuous program. But the frosting on the cake came when Ezra was called to return in 1985 to Hong Kong. The China Airlines gave them free round-trip tickets. He was to officiate at the dedication of the Dr. Harry Miller Memorial Dormitory at the Tsuen Wan Hospital. But another surprise awaited him. He was asked to pull a cord and unveil the name of Longway Hall over the front entrance door of the nursing school.
The next day they went to Taiwan where they were given the VIP treatment. Eld. Longway was coming home. Twenty-nine reporters and 2 TV stations covered the program of the 30thanniversary of the founding of the Taiwan Adventist Hospital, also for the ground-breaking ceremony of the new institution which was to be built and would be completed in 1987. He again was invited to be at the opening. Florence told the administrator that he could not travel any more for the cancer was too advanced to make the trip. Ezra and Madam Chang Kei Sheck both gave their speeches in absentia. She had opened the first hospital 32 years before and was also failing with terminal cancer.
Ezra retired from the S.O.S. programs in June 30, 1986. But he was not idle. He finished translating Mrs. White’s last Morning Watch book. And in January of the next year he began translating “The Sanctified Life.” About the middle of July, he came out one morning to the kitchen where Florence was fixing their breakfast. He put his arms around her and said ”the last page has been completed, my work is finished.” He passed away on September 24, 1987 at the age of 92.
A TRIBUTE TO EZRA LONGWAY
To “finish” God’s work was his lifetime goal!
Whatever his task worked with all his soul!
“Single-minded” “Selfless”, Whatever his task –
Building new hospitals – not ashamed to ask!
****
Intense and untiring he worked with all his heart.
He did his life’s work with a beautiful art!
Persevering – untiring, “single-minded, too.
A remarkable mental attitude that always rang true
As we send our condolences –attribute we’d pay
To a great man, selfless, who learned how to pray!
“This one thing I do” – this was Ezra Longway!
We’re going down the valley one by one!
For most of us it’s the setting of the sun!
What a thrill ‘twill be when the work is done!
We’ll all be there when the vict’ry we’ve won!!!