The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-10
GRAND FORKS WILL
SUBSCRIBE FOR
MEMORIAL
Erection of Y. M. G. A. in Can
ton Interests Many Local
People.

Grand Forks will contribute liber-
ally toward the erection of 100000
memorial to Robert Morrison, the first
Protestant missionary to enter China.
AS has been stated in the Evening
Times previously at the Sunday meet
ing in the Y. NJ. C. A. the memorial was
presented by R. B. Griffith. The Y.
NJ. G. A. is in charge of the matter of
securing subscriptions, and they hope
to hear from a number of local peo-
pie before sending the money in.
The never was a time when the
great empire of China was more in the
worlds eye than at present, and there
is every promise that this will con-
tinue to be the case for an indefi-
mite time to come. The reason is not
far to seek China is one of the most
ancient of empires. The Chinese are
the oldest, the most numerous, the
most homogeneous, and the most
self-contained people in history. The
present condition of China affects di-
rectly or indirectly the civilized
world and the future welfare of so
vast a portion of the worlds inhabi-
tants, is a concern of international and
of universal importance
Many suggestions have been made
for improving China. Two genera
tons ago it was supposed that diplo-
macy would prove an important fac
tor. China was urged to join the isis
terhood of Nations. with more or less
misgivings she did so, and the out
come of this step was the seige of
the legations at Pekin during the sum-
mer of 1900, and an indemnity of $50
million taels to be paid by China to the
rest of the "sisterhood."
Many of China's modern works are
directly connected with foreign trade,
yet there are not wanting those who
suppose themselves to believe that IL
commerce were sufficiently developed,
China would be reformed"
The pioneer among protestants in
very different enterprise, was the first
agent sent to China by the London
missionary society-Robert Morrison.
At this day it is impossible to COM
prehend the discouragements under
which he began, and prosecuted his
indefatigable labors. He was thor
Ough scholar and tireless worker.
His great Chinese-English dictionary
is monument of learning and pa
tience. In the translation of the
bible, in the preparation of christian
literature he laid broad foundations,
and although at his death, after twen-
ty-seven years of extraordinary exer-
ton, the outlook was almost as wark
as when he came; within the decade
more 1t was stotally altered.
1t is easy to repeat the names of
the early heroes. 1t is more difficult
to enter into and expand their work.
This latter it is now proposed to do
in Canton by raising sum from Diff
ferent parts Of the world, amounting
to 100000 (silver) for memorial
building in Canton, to be put in charge
of and operated by the Y. NJ. G. A.,
an organization which has in a few
brief years demonstrated it's special
fitness for aggressive work in Chinese
ports along lines hitherto untried. The
thought is worthy of the man, and of
the time, for next May there will be
held in Shanghai the centenary of the
Protestant missions In China, when
attention will be attracted to the en-
pire as never before, and when the
pressing exigency will be widely APP
preciated. The gospel can and will
save China when nothing else can. .