The times., 1897-08-20
Plan to Establish a Y. NJ. C. A.
for Washington CeIestials.
EASY WAY TO MAKE CONVERTS
Lee Steck wuD, who for Many
Years Has Labored as Missions
ary Among His Countrymen, Is
the Father of the Project-What
He Says About 1t.


man, who has served in this country and
| in China for over twenty years as mis-
| sionary, is now in Washington, and is
| looking over the field preparatory To es-
| tablsiiing In Washington a distinct in
noyation in the shape OF Chinese Young
Mems Christian Association building.
III arrived in Washington last Saturday.
and has since then been stopping with
his kinsman, Tuck cheong. the weli-known
mercnart Oh the south side of Pennsyl.
rania avenue, recognized al the dean OF
the Chinese quarter. To reporter for
The Times, Mr.. Wun yesterday ;nfolded
his scheme for instituting a Y. NJ. c. a.
for resident Chinese, which he believes
is the most effective possible way to
convert Chinese from their heather woT-
ship to that Of Christ.
Il have been iInpelled to investigate the
condition of affairs in Chinatown in this
city, he said, .'for the purpose OF seeing
IL something cannot be done TO bring them
TO the service of the Master."'
Thus ne started Off, in almost perfect
English, in voice utterly unlike the hop
soy" voices muttering and babbling in the
storeroom While he was talking. For, be
il understood at the outset, Mr.. Lee Sheck
Wun is an American Chinese Of the most
advanced type He wears our conventional
clothing, and there is nothing except the
color and the cut OF his countenance 10 in
dlcate his nationality
Il have been in Philadelphia, working
among our people, lie went on, ''for
many years past. About three years ago
i concluded that l had been absent from
my native land too long, and so / went
nalf way round the globe to see my aged
father once more before he d.ed. wor ked
among our reople there for the glory OF
Christ and then came back here. When
! arrived at Philadelphia / found that
had been absent 50 long that another
worker was effectuaIly filling the field
ia Which | worked. aud so / have come on
10 Baltimore and Washington TO found
homes for the Y NJ. c. A. like we have in
Philadelphia. / made partial arrange
ments in Baltimore last week for this so.
ciety ard expect to have ii started among
tie Christianized Chinese in Il very short
time. / have been here since Saturday,
and have looked over the field very care
fully.
1T was the first time had been here
acquainted everywhere over again. But,
while l find number of very ardent
Christians among our Chinese, the fruit
of the Chinese Sunday school which the
Metropolitan Church has been conducting
for some time, 1 do not think VIII
be able TO organize our local Y NJ CA
until after the one In Baltimore is in
operation.
fO fh. f.s.,se~
WI Ting Fang, in regard to the matter
some time tomorrow, when lle returns 10
the city He has been away for a week,
and / have had to await his return be
fore making up my mind as to the local
association. That one can be founded
here and main tained l ain sure, and /
predict that we will have most flourish
ing one within very short time But as
there are twice as many Chinese in BaIti-
nlore than there are in Washington, 1
shall first establish an association there.
Then l shall come over to Washington
and build up the local association and
get it in a home of its own at some
place convenient for the resident Chinese.
I'VE need Just such d thing as the Young
Mems Christian Association TO Christian.
lie the Chinese. Al present the Chinese
Sunday-school does good work, but it is
hampered. II can get hold of children
easier than 1T can get hold of men. II We
fit up some comfortable rooms and make t
pleasant for them In the evenings, they
Will wantto flock TO the 7. NJ. c. 4 rooms.
Then, by making them heartily welcome
TIE Chinese will soon get into the habit
of coming and Will pick up the principles
nf Christianity sooner than you can teach
them schools and missions. Ihave worked
among the Chinese Y. NJ. c. a Is in different
cities for nearly twenty years, and / am
convinced that Washington ought to have
one. And If ii is possible propose to see
that it does have one.
Il hope TO receive the cooperation of the |
Christian people of Washington in the |
work of Outstanding and ciyilizing the |
Chinese here"
Lee Sheck Wun says he sees no reason |
why the society should not flourish amonn, |
the Cinnamon of Washington. He is a |
bright man, still under forty years of age. |
with an intelligent face. He would b.. |
picked out among thousand Chinamen as |
the most Prominent and best educated of |
them all. He came to Anla rica in 1875 |
and Immediately commenced the studv az |
the English language He was converted |
TO the Christian belief, and at once de- |
termined to spend his life for the spiritual |
welfare o4 his countrymen He went TO |
School In Virginia, near Hamilton, and |
then attended oberlin College, at Oberlin. |
Ohio For some time he was an assist |
ant teacher in one of the Chine mission
schools of San Francisco. After spend. |
ing some time In the West, he came to
New York again, where he worked among
the Cinnamon for several years. For the
last five years he has been working In
the Chinese quarter of Philadelphia, ex-
cept while he was at his home in China
visiting his family.