Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-10
AROUND The GLOBE
Great work Accomplished in All Nations
So 3 Robert WsidenIall
COMPLETES TOUR or THE WORLD
Founder of Local Association Returns
90 Omaha After visiting Chris
tians in Nonchristian
Lands. ....

kbuoAs
Senior Secretary Of the international
Committee Of the North America Young
Mems Christian Association Robert Weld
ensall. formerly a resident OF Omaha, who
In 1861 helped to form the Omaha Young
Mems Christian association, together with
William Fleming and J. d. Detweiler is In
Omaha and will speak this afternoon at the
new Young Mems Christian Association
building. Mr. Weidensall has just returned
from his trip around the world, visiting
japan, Manchuria, China, Manila, Ceylon,
Egypt, Palestine, where he met w. J.
Bryan; Syria, Turkey Greece and all the
nations Of Europe, beginning at Italy. Dur
ing his tour Mr.. weidensal was a regular
correspondent for The Bee.
MY object in going around the world was
to carry the greetings of the Young Mems
Christian associations OF the world" said
Mr.. Weidensall. II carried with me greet
ings from Sir George williams, founder Of
the association, and from the International
committee Of North America and the
worlds committee of Geneva, Switzerland,
from Hon. Cephas Brainerd. under whom
worked for twenty-eight years, and from
John wanamaker OF Philadelphia and Lord
Kennard Of London. These letters l pre-
scented to associations in all the countries
of the earth. received counter greetings
upon leaving from associations in most all
languages, which 1 read / went around,
and which 1 brought back. 1 also received
a strong letter from a colonel of the
Japanese army emphasizing the work of the
Young Mems Christian association in the
armies of Japan.
Method of Procedure.
THE method of procedure was to visit
the national secretaries and boards of d.
rectors in small groups, rather than in
speaking to large audiences. With these
I emphasized the great Importance of the
Young Mems Christian association work.
it's splendid adaptability to the work It was
performing and its unparalleled success"
Because OF Mr.. weidensall's long service
in the field, he being with the Young |
Mems Christian association for over thirty |
years, his opinion was listened to atten- |
lively by association men IN all parts of
the world.
Mr.. Miller, of the American legation |
in Toxic said 1 came with the best let |
ters of any man who had ever come TO |
Japan and the committee wanted me 10 60 |
to the Lao Tung peninsula and visit the |
armies of Japan. 1 went with papers |
from the war department anu Win iSb-
ters of introduction from generals on the |
field and visited the work in various |
places chiefly at Dahlney, Port Arthur |
and New Chwang and while there was |
the guest of the Japanese government |
and my expenses were taken care of by |
that government.
I'm the eastern nations. such as Japan,
China, India, 1 put myself under the Of
rection of the different national commit
tees, who made appointment for me in
different parts of the several empires.
Sultan at First Suspicious.
"1n Turkey was followed by detec-
tives. as the sultan was fearful of any
parties coming into his dominion, out W.
w. Peet, formerly OF Nebraska, of The
western Turkish mission of the Ameri-
can Board of Foreign Missions, who is
the most influential man with the sultan
in Turkey, told who 1 was and said he
had known me for thirty-five years and
that no harm would come from my visit
Had a pleasant visit in Jerusalem and
spoke to the association there, then in
Europe also visited the worlds committee
at Geneva and under that committee Wis
tied all the nations of Europe and made a
systematic visitation. including even Fin
land and Russia. I closed my visit in Lon
don. where the home of Sir George Will
liams was turned over to the national
council of the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION OF the British isles Thence to
America.
I'm regard to the foreign mission work
in the far eastern country, of all denomi-
nations as far as have seen as we'll as
of the Young Mems Christian association, I
must say that have been most favorably
impressed, while many things look discour-
aging and while there were obstacles too
great for human judgment to understand
how they might be removed, yet taking 1t
all in all. It was far in advance of what I
had expected to see 1t.
Some False Criticism.
"All along the way as 1 was going to
and through these nations particularly on
the steamers, there was much criticism OF
the missionaries by merchants and poll
ticians. but on close examination l found
the missionary work was of such a charac-
ter as to show clearly to me the fslsity
of these statements. The best endeavors
found in all these nations toward the up
lifting OF these people and the most un-
selfish efforts that we're put forth for their
betterment were undoubtedly the efforts of
the missionaries and those associated with
them, both the foreign and native workers.
In some countries the work was farther
advanced than in Others as, for instance,
In Japan and India II was much farther
advanced than in China, but all the mis-
sionary work was we'll rooted and will
continue to grow in the face OF all OBJ
stacles. 1 believe also that down deep in
the hearts OF the best thinking of the nom
Christian natives OF those countries the
missionary work and workers are heartily
appreciated When / was in Shanghai
was told by the secretary of the Young
Mems Christian association that large sums
OF money were contributed by the nom
Christian or heather Chinese to the Young
Mems Christian association building and
believed It a good investment In Canton,
where there was a Christian hospital under
Christian influences which was almost self
sustaining from the contributions from the
heather Chinese business men. The en-
peror OF Japan himself gave 5000 TO the !
work of the Young Mems Christian asso- 4
citation In the, armies while contending |
against the Russians in Manchuria. These
instances could be reduplicated many times |
OF the attitude OF the best men of all these |
nations toward the Christian work. heard |
II and I believe II that Christianity has
more influence in Japan than would be