Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-13
MAKING CHINESE FRIENDLY


There is a gentleman in this country
who has lived for twenty-eight years
in China and has an interesting story
to tell of experiences with high class
Chinese. He is DR.. Gilbert Reid, a
graduate of Hamilton college in 1879
and of Union Theological seminary in
1882.
For sixteen years he has been the
head of what is now known as the In
ternational Institute of China. His
work at the outset was individual and
experimental. 1t has since become a
legally incorporated organization with
d staff of associates, and with a repre-
sentative committee of management
consisting equally of Chinese and per-
sons of other nationalities.
At present the institute is located in
the city of Shanghai, which DR.. Reid
calls the most cosmopolitan city in the
world. Formerly it was located in
Peking until the Boxer uprising and
the siege of the legation necessitated a
removal to another place. 1t is now
the intention of the friends of the in
stitute to resume the work in Peking
and also to extend it by local branches
to all the leading cities of the empire.
Being asked in what way the Chi
nese had shown their good will and
support, DR.. Reid said:.
"In the first place, when I lived in
Peking at time of conservatism and
suspicion, I secured the acquaintance
and friendship of some 300 of the Off
cials and nobility in Peking. Preju-
dices were removed. The barriers
were broken down.
I'm less than three years time of
cultivating friendly relations with
these mandarins of Peking I secured
the privilege of admission to the impe-
rial board of foreign affairs, and, what
is more, secured the formal sanction
of that board for the institute which
was then seeking to establish. 1t
was the first time that this board or
any other department of the Chinese
government had given such recogni-
tion to an enterprise under foreign in
itiative and, for the time being, con-
troll.
Last year this board of foreign af-
fairs bestowed a second recognition of
an unusual character. In a reply under
the seal of that board there was ex-
pressed appreciation of what had been
done. The board contributed, as a
mark of its approval, the sum of $500.
"It likewise bestowed on the institute
a tablet which now hangs in our halls.
1t presented a memorial to the throne.
AT the same time IL presenter 10 tHe
prince regent copies of my different
in Chinese. An imperial
rescript was issued ordering that the
Imperial Order of the Yellow Dragon
be presented to William G. Low of this
city. He has been our largest con-
tributor, the amount altogether being
$40, 900.
'T would like to state an incident
which occurred when I first moved to
Shanghai which will show the readi-
ness of the Chinese to cooperate with
any foreigner who is a real friend. I
five of my Chinese friends to
issue an invitation TO the most prom
inent Chinese in Shanghai. both of
fcials and merchants, to attend a meet
ing where I would explain the objects
of the institute and the scope of our
work. 1t was known that it was my
intention to ask for money.
"Over forty of the Chinese were pres
ent on the day appointed. After par
taking of refreshments we all gathered
in one of the rooms to hear my story.
[ had not spoken more than ten min
utes when one of the leading bankers
arose and interrupted me by saying;