The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-11
CHINA SEEKING LIGHT.
RENARKABLE SUCCESS OF RECENT
ArISsIONARY WORk.

Ghanghni, China. and Just received In this coun-
try, contains an account Of the remarkable
progress made In mission work in China In tho
last few months. It deals almost entirely with
the iabors of DR.. Gilbert Reid OF Warsaw, N. Y,
aProsbytcrian missionary. DR.. Reid 10 now on
. visit to this country. having boon called homo
by the death Of his father. tho Rev. John Reid.
Soon after the return TO Pckin of Ii Hung
Chang from his tour around tho world, DR.. Roid
called upon him to discuss tho feasibility Of So
curing official approval of his project for an In
Sensational Institute, intended to roach espe-
cial1y the Mandarins and litorati OF the Flowory
Kingdom. Ii listened TO his caller. end then, In
Mr.. Roid's words: "Pooh.poohed my audacity
and kopefulness." Suddenly wheeling around.
he inquired:
"why don't you help me to establish in Po-
kin" d ~collegei Wouldn's that DO better than
your own schemef"
Iknew that tho Government seemed Inclined
to establish a college for Western education, and
thatb was talked of as the ono to manage 1t. /
replied:
such q matter
"Ho asked me at once to begin to draw up q
scheme, which 1 was willing to do. I stayed to
dinner with him and found him in his most
agreeable MOOD"
At other interviews, however. tho statesman
va NV bo ROhieA, ohu U oitoA o oSt
confcrences. DR.. Reid asked Ia:
"Please toll me tho actual truth. IL there any
likelihood that tho Government will sanction
this university r.
replied: There Is none; thore Is too much
opposition. am willing. but they won't listen
to mo- Nothing cnn be done"
Thencoforword DR.. Reid devoted himself to
the interests of tho institution he had in view In
the first place. In his own name he presented
IL a. a. L. ---l- Ar
Tho Teung-li-Yamen wrote to Minister DENLY
about IT, and that official Endorsed DR.. Reid and
his plan. Finally, on March IL last, he had a
personal interview with two OF tho Ministers
Ii Hung Chang and WI Ting-feu-and several
of the under secretaries. He set forth the pur-
poses Of the proposed institution, and was In
formed that the Foreign Office would make
an official reply sanctloning the project.
The reply came, according to promise,
in O few days, signed by the whole body OF Min
istersof the Board Of Foreign Affairs. conserve
tive as well as progressive, Manchu and Chinese.
It came directly in response to DR.. Reid's own
petition after the board had refused to accept
the suggestion OF one Of their own number. the
great and powerful LII. for the establishment of
o college. This act OF the central Government
formally sanctioning the scheme of n private
citizen Of another country was a great innovation
In China. Tho document reads as follows:
I'VE, the Princes and Ministers constituting
the Imperial Board Of Foreign Affairs. do Issue
The American missionary, Gilbert Reid. has
many times presented TO this board documents
setting forth hiR Views as TO tho requirements Of
the limos. He has also laid before us proposals
for The erection of an institute Of learning.
These papers we have looked over, and find
them marked by sagacious insight.
The said missionary, has lived in China many
state OF affairs. His learning penetrates to
fundamental principles; and his heart is ami
mated by benevolent motives. which arc worthy
Besiles keeping these documents on file for
that when his plan for the institute goes into
operation, II the actually answers. to tho pros
peetus producing good and not evil. this board
let the secretaries Of the board convey to Mr..
tion nl1ng with his original petition.
Given 4nt Peki1l under | q the seal Of The
asra year of I k%anE gu.
In addition, DR.. Reid received the following
Testimonial from Ii Hung Chang. which Is In
teresting as illustrating ono OF the phases OF the
character of mat sP rsRsEt Chiaa n Hpr.l Is. 1907.
'.To the Rec. Gaoerf Reid, founder II the Mission to
DEAR SIR: Having on various occasions
gladly shown my interest in the good work re;
ssn'i Sa, SFsr Classes By 81 y CHINA an sHrou ahs x sSSea tied
masses may be readily enlightened by means of
%ssS 1.a Eso OF seesis snd snfG SS61s vS SIsG Ss Of tho n,
voted TO the welfare Of the people in various
parts of China, it is with much pleasure that
parturo for the United States. ''o" your 10
II have admired the bold and tireless energy
your present task. 1t is unfortunately true that
SUSPICION. prejudice, and selt,suficiency are
noticeable in their estimation OF other countries
perhaps because of the isolation OF China
but whatever may be the cause, the lsmentabic
effect Is seen In tho present backward state Of
China him. em nooIsi the ssn nations Of tn, thS % ~tsdfa, .v.,om.
class control Of the destiniees Of the nation.
bad need not now be considored; It existss, and
the practical question is. how to turn it into
You have set about solving this problem in a
way that should commend itself to every friend
70 the biind! iieaderSs Of our people light int and ndh ie siYs
Ing ing e nanGIs dn In n ne West, they: in turn YIN lead
claim to have many friends in the United states.
where you now 20. The cordial reception met
your people TO me. II It Would 1nterest them to
hnE% that regard you highly and give you a
more light into the world and encourage higher
aims for human aspirations, you may use for
'I IsisRned and ' sesi 1siii0f if" "h y HUNG tGae CHANG,
"sePier Guardisn q the Heir Apparent, CLASH
S or @dt sscre &C as q ae ssats, NJ hi%Ro of tIh se For:
zig siSn n oflSs, and ,dl Earl Ct the First Rank"
1np.pEOpobeui institution. Is INTENDED Tor work
principally, among the literary and official
classes IN China, and Its establishment Is in the
hands Of DR.. Rod and the Rev. w. A.P Martin.
the latter for moro than forty.fve years a resi-.
dent OF China and moro than thirty years in the
employ Of the Goyernment as President OF the
Imperial Tung Wen College. There is an ad-
visory council. OF which F. M. Knobel. Minister
Of tho Netherlands at Pekin, is Chairman. The
Pekin missionary Association commends the
scheme 70 the support OF the churches;
.beforo leaving Pekin DE-. Reid had an inter.
view St the et Foreign otiee, in company with pr.
Tartar General. in which they assured him that
II the pissioparies would hnd tho money they
and Expressed a desire for the speedy SUCCESS OF
the andertaking. At q farewell talk by DIR. Reid
concerning, his experiences among tho Man
darins. which wac given in tho parlors OF Lady
McDopald. tho British. Russian, American.
Greek Church, the Roman Catholic Church and
the Church OF England were represented. Before
heiet for this country. DIR. Reid received a few
subscriptions q, the fund for the erection OF the
Prop9sed buildings, one OF which was 5000
Of the city OF Pekin. and head Of the railroad