Fonds F3464 - Alfred Edward Johns fonds

Alfred (Fred) Edward Johns (1884-1959) was a Methodist and United Church minister, a missionary to China, and an academic. He was born at Exeter, Ontario to parents Isaac Whitlock Johns and Elizabeth Kate Elford. He attended the University of Toronto to study mathematics and graduated in 1907 as the gold medalist in mathematics. During his third year at the University of Toronto, he attended a conference on world mission which inspired him to pursue theology and work in the mission field. In 1908 he obtained his masters of mathematics and a bachelor of divinity in 1910. In 1910 he was ordained into the Methodist Church and also married Myrtle Madge. The Johns’ had five children: Martin Wesley, Harold Elford, Paul Isaac. Ruth Elizabeth, and Edward Earl. The Johns served in West China from 1910 to 1925, where Alfred Johns taught mathematics at the University of West China. He also served as treasurer of the mission. The family returned to Canada in 1925 on furlough and were instructed that the children could not go back to China because it was too dangerous. The family wanted to stay together and thus the Johns stayed in Canada. In Canada, Alfred Johns taught at Brandon College and McMaster University and earned his Ph.D. in mathematics. Upon retirement from McMaster, he served as an assistant United Church minister in Hamilton.