February 23, 1900
James Ira Dickson is born in South Dakota
January 29, 1901
Lillian Ruth LeVesconte is born in Prior Lake, Minnesota
1924
Lillian completes her Bachelor of Arts at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
ca. 1925
Lillian completes her studies at the Biblical Seminary, New York City, New York
May 16, 1927
Lillian and James are married
1927 to 1940
The Dicksons serve as missionaries under the Board of Foreign Missions of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in Formosa (Taiwan) where Rev. Dickson served at the Taiwan Theological College
November 29, 1930
Lillian gives birth to their first child, Ronald James Dickson
July 13, 1932
Lillian gives birth to their second child, Marilyn Ruth Dickson
Fall 1937
Xinjang War begins as the Soviet Union invades the Republic of China; Japanese invade Shanghai
1938
Continued fighting in China with Japan, Japanese also attempt to fight the Soviet Union in China but are defeated
1939
United States withdraws from its commercial treaty with Japan
Late October 1940
The Dicksons leave Formosa for America
1941 to 1946
The Dicksons serve as missionaries in New Amsterdam,Guyana (now British Guiana), in South America
December 7, 1941
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day the U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan
1944
Marilyn Dickson is sent back to the United States to live with Amy due to tough living conditions in British Guiana; Ronald shortly after
May 8, 1945
Victory in Europe
August 6 and 9, 1945
First Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima, second Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki;
Japanese surrender on August 14
1946
The Dicksons return to Taiwan; Rev. Dickson serves as Principal of the Taiwan Theological College
1949
Hua-Lain Aboriginal medical team, assisting Lepers ministry begins
1948
Lillian begins her work that would become known as The Mustard Seed
1950s
Lillian and Jim adopt a girl,
Bi-lian “Mei-ling”, or Dolly, Dickson
1953
Children’s Home is set up
1954
“The Mustard Seed” name for Lillian’s work is official and registered in California
1958
Trade school set up, including auto repairing, driving class, and agricultural class
1960
Youth Home, Merciful Door for Black-Foot Disease Clinic, and National Mary Obstetrics Clinic are set up
1960s
Expansion of The Mustard Seed to other small countries and islands in the Pacific
1965
Rev. Dickson retires
June 15, 1967
Rev. Dickson passes away
January 1971
Lillian’s brother, Harold LeVesconte, lawyer for The Mustard Seed passes away
September 1978
Dr. Bob Piece of World Vision passes away
1982
Ronald passes away
January 14, 1983
Lillian Dickson passes away in Taiwan
This Project has been made possible [in part] by the Government of Canada through the Young Canada Works and Heritage Organizations Program. « Ce projet a été rendu possible [en partie] grâce au gouvernement du Canada par de Jeunesse Canada au travail et le Programme des organismes patrimoniaux». This exhibit was created by the Archives summer intern, Victoria Baranow.
*Copyright 2012 – The Presbyterian Church in Canada
If you wish to quote or use any part of this website exhibit, please give credit to The Presbyterian Church in Canada Archives.