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William Borden grew up in a wealthy family but his mother became a rejoicing Christian when he was seven. As a child he learned to respect authority. He loved mischief but learned to restrain himself and loved to have fun. His pastor Dr.R.A.Torrey encouraged him to dedicate his whole life to God which he did at an early age.
William's reward for finishing high school was a trip around the world with an adult friend, Walter Erdman. William was a healthy energetic young fellow and wanted to be doing things. During this trip he also heard God's call to missions in China and wrote 'no reserves' in his Bible. He realized that he needed to prepare to become a missionary and hence went to Yale University for three years and to Princeton Seminary. Upon graduating from Yale he wrote 'no retreats' in his Bible.
At Yale and Seminary he influenced other students to meet for Bible studies and prayer at least once a week in addition to their regular studies. He also established Yale Hope Mission to reach the down and out people, many of whom had spent time in prison. He was loved by those who gave their life to Christ as a result of his prayers and his love for them while they were still struggling with booze or other sins.
He enjoyed football, baseball, sailing, rowing, roughhousing, wrestling and tennis. At Yale he was president of Phi Beta Kappa while still active in the above mentioned sports.
William had an urgent desire to reach the Mohammedans in China but the Mission he sought to go under thought he was too young so they encouraged him to attend Seminary which he had never wanted to do. He complied. At the age of 25 he was studying Arabic in Egypt when he contracted spinal meningitis and died in less than a month. He was buried in the American Cemetery in Cairo, Egypt.
Dick Bohrer has compiled a book of accolades written by his friends, family and teachers. It is copyrighted in 1984 by the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
-Anna Kroeker
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