Ida Elizabeth Thompson was born May 12, 1870 at Mauston, Wisconsin. She had 3 sisters, Mrs. Emma Anderson, Mrs. Ethel Knutson, Miss Gertrude Thompson, and 2 brothers, J. Burton Thompson and Dr. Elmer H. Thompson.
The Thompson home must have been a very close knit family with strong church affiliations. Three of the girls went to the foreign mission field.
Ida’s early life was spent in Wisconsin and Illinois. And upon graduation, she worked in the Wisconsin Conference for a number of years. At the turn of the century there was much interest among members of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination to carry the glad news to all the world that Jesus would be coming very soon. Ida became much interested in responding to a call to Brazil, South America.
On April 21, 1901 the General Conference in session in Battle Creek called Ida’s sister, Emma and her husband Jacob N. Anderson to go as their first authorized missionaries to China. When Ida heard the news that they were leaving, she begged the Mission Board to let her go with them. There was no money to send her, so the Wisconsin Conference offered to finance the trip and care for her for several years. And thus we learn that this vivacious, talented young woman from Mid America became the first single SDA missionary to set feet on Chinese soil.
How very happy Abram La Rue, the sole self-supporting SDA worker in Hong Kong, to meet these newcomers on February 2, 1902. They all remained in Hong Kong to help Abram La Rue, and also to learn the language.
Her first work was to begin an English school where young men might learn to speak English. Through the kindness of a few Chinese businessmen, a place was found. One gave them a free flat in his house, another loaned them desks and Mok Man Cheung, La Rue, and Mr. Anderson furnished the remainder of the articles, and they also had the room cleaned and freshly painted. In November of the same year she had her first school. By August of the next year Ida had to discontinue her teaching because of malarial fever. From the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald of June 2, 1904, we quote from an article written by Ida. “We did not feel it profitable to start school again as I wanted to get into China to work among the women as soon as possible. I cannot regret what I did for the boys, as I believe they became members of our Sabbath School and continued as such till I left…
“The poor neglected women and girls enlist my sympathies and I feel that they especially need my efforts.” (Ida was already 34 years of age at this time). In June, 1904, she and the Andersons moved to Canton, and with Mr. Anderson and his Chinese teacher’s help found a good location for a girls’ school. They rented the building and March 17 opened the school with 17 girls. Before a week had passed they had twenty-four. We read on from Ida’s report:
“This is Wisconsin’s school. Last summer I asked our people there what they could do, and Bro. Covert read my letter at camp meeting. Within 5 minutes after the appeal was made, five hundred dollars was raised for this work. We feel very thankful to be engaged in it. We have no other motive than to teach the truth and train workers for this vast empire… We are glad our people in the homeland remember us in this part of the great harvest field. We are of good courage, knowing that a true harvest will soon be gathered and those who sow shall surely reap.”
After 2 years the mission purchased the Baptist Academy building. Bethel School moved out of the rented quarters into a home of its own. Ida opened a home for boarding students. “From this time”, she wrote, “Our work was much more effective, especially for the girls in the home, who were by this arrangement completely separated from idol worship as continually practiced in family life.” Before long they had an enrollment of 70 with 40 living in the dormitory. One student who came said she wanted to learn so she could read novels. Her teacher introduced her to the Gospel of Luke. This message touched her heart and she lost interest in novels. Later she became an active worker for the Lord.
The school enrollment grew so fast it was necessary to purchase property in Tungshan, s suburb of Canton and build our own school. Miss Thompson’s sister, Gertrude, came out to help her. But her life was cut short after two years and she awaits the call of the Life Giver in the Happy Valley Cemetery in Hong Kong. Miss Amanda Von Scoy also came to help in opening a second school just for girls. Also Mrs. Wilbur was connected with the school until she and her husband moved to Pak Hoi.
The day came on Tuesday afternoon January 10, 1911 that the first graduation at Bethel Girl’s School in Canton took place. We will go back and read as Ida tells the story.
“The boys and girls and friends of the school gathered in the chapel, and listened to the first baccalaureate sermon preached in connection with our school work in China. Dr. Law made a very happy combination of Scripture texts and spoke with freedom. The regular graduation exercises were held Wednesday afternoon. Our first class consisted of two young ladies, both of whom are to teach in our schools next year.
“Our educational secretary of China, Elder B.L. Anderson, was present and spoke to the class and audience, his remarks being interpreted. He said that when he first read the motto chosen by the class, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”, he thought it a bit strange, and unlike any he had ever heard; but after reflection, considering the name of the school, Bethel, and that it was here that these two graduates had found ‘the gate of heaven’, it seemed indeed most fitting. About 300 persons were present.
Ida Thompson continued as principal until 1922 when co-education became accepted in China. At that time the boys’ and girls’ schools merged to become Sam Yuk Middle School. Because of war difficulties, the school was moved to Clear Water Bay area of Hong Kong and eventually developed into the South China Adventist College, and is in full operation today.
Ida returned to the USA for furlough and rest. But you could not keep her there long. Her hear was still in China and soon she was on her way, this time to serve in Central and East China for the next ten years.
Her doctor brother was so impressed with the work of his sisters in China that he gave the mission enough money to build two American style homes for the missionaries. The first one was built on the compound in Tsengsan, right next to Ida’s Bethel Girls’ School which she loved so much.
In 1932 poor health forced Miss Thompson to leave the mission field and return to her homeland.She chose to be close to her doctor brother in Burbank, California.She passed away on January 20, 1939 having given over thirty years of her life for the girls of China.The funeral services were conducted by Elder Frederick Griggs and Elder Adlai Albert Esteb, coworkers with her in old China.