Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-28
'UPL|FT IN FAR EAST
Cu|tivating Friendship Be-
tween China and the West.
WORK is ALREADY BEGUN
Rev. DR.. Gilbert Reid Seeks Aid for
Shanghai Institute.
EDUCATION AND COMMERCE
Merchants and Missionaries Com
bine in Favor of the Introduce
ton of Foreign Idea.

Rev. DIR. Gilbert Reid, founder of the
Institute at Shanghai.
China, passed through Washington today
on his way to New York. where he is
to attempt to raise funds for the support
of the institute. which has for it's object
the fostering of better relations between
the Chinese and the western world Dr.
Reid worked for more than ten years as
a missionary in China under the Presby-
terrain board. He speaks Chinese and has
many influential friends In China The
Presbyterian board did not approve Of
his activity on behalf Of the Interna-
tfonal Institute, and DR.. Reid severed
his official connections with the board.
DR.. Reid founded the institute in 1897,
with the sanction of many prominent
Chinese officials
Explains Scheme Of Institute.
The scheme of the International In
stitute of China" said DIR. Reid to a
reporter for The Star, lis different from
taken in the orient. 1t is for the benefit
primarily of the Chinese people and
the Chinese government, but it was
residing in China with a view of
bringing in western ideas and infiu-
encing the leaders of China in favor of
foreign interests, enterprise and capital
in their effect on China itself. Having
these ideas in view. there has been
brought about a combination of leading
Chinese with leaders from other coun-
tries who reside in China. and are of
three classes-the merchant class. the
educationists and the missionaries.
rI,r1o Zone fr-
bers of this joint enterprise have been
formed, the one consisting of Chinese
and foreign merchants in Shanghai.
eleven of whom are Chinese and eleven
representatives of other countries-two
British. two Americans. two German,
two Japanese, one Frenchman, one
Russian. one Hollander.
The second committee is composed of
Chinese and foreigners interested in the
cause of education and in the advance
ment of knowledge. The third commit
tee consists of those interested in re-
ligious questions, men who are the repre-
sentatives of the different religious faiths,
among which are the different branches
of Professionalism, the Hebrew faith, Con-
fucianism. Mohammedansm, Buddhism
and Taoism. The latter is a miniature
parliament of religions
Chinese Are Interested.
1.-The support that has been given by
the Chinese themselves for this enter
prise, which is under foreign initiative.
has been greater than that given to any
other similar undertaking. The Chinese
board of foreign affairs has twice given
its approval and recognition. 1t has be-
slowed on the institute All honorif1c tab
let 1t has made a contribution of 81, 500
1t has also given especial decoration to
Mr. William G. Low of New York city
in recognition of his large gifts to the
institute. Four of the presidents and
four vice presidents of the imperial
las many as eight viceroys and eight
governors in the twenty-one provinces
have also made contributions. and some
of them have been made officers of the
institute Prominent officials and mer-
chants in Shanghai united in contributing
$25 coo for the purchase Of a suitable site
and another $1,000 for the erection OF one
building. Others have shown their In
terest by contributing annually to the
current expenses.
..Out of a sum of 100000 as much as
two-thrds was contributed by the Chi
nese, and yet the director in chief of
this institute is an American. 1t shows
that it is POSSIBLE for Chinese and those
of other countries living In China to
unite in enterprises that are recognized
as beneficial to the Chinese. The former
Chinese minister in Washington, DR.. WI
Ting-fang, and the present minister,
Chang Yin Tang, have both contributed
and shown their interest in various ways.
All Nationalities Represented.
"It should also be borne in mind that
this scheme is not only combination
of Chinese and American. with reference
to pushing forward enterprises in China,
but is q scheme in which all natonalities
are represented The scheme is thor
oughiy cosmopolitan. This is one effort
that has been brought forward BY an
American which has received the sup
port and countenance of nearly all the
great powers. Russia and Japan have
alike been friendly to the efforts put
forth, and have been represented on the
different committees. The cosmopolitan
character of the institute has been great
ly followed by the natural cosmopolitan
ism of the foreign community Of Shang-
hal. Even when the institute was To-
Gated in Picking, all the foreign ministers
served as honorary members Of the COM
mittee.
1.-The effort is now to be put forth
to bring the matter Of this institute
to the attention Of people of this coun-
try, not only that the institute itself
may secure financial resources to ex-
tend it's work, but also that the friendly
feeling which has been shown by the
Chinese government and the Chinese
people may be reciprocated by a SIM
liar spirit on the part or America. In
this way this joint enterprise may be
the means of exerting wide influence
on China and also on other countries in
favor Of Cancellation, good will and
peace in the far east and so the peace
Of the whole world. The attitude of
the better classes of the Chinese toward
this country at the present time is eX-
tremely friendly, far different from the
attitude of four or five years ago, when
American goods were being boycotted.
Main Purpose in View.
cit is only necessary that the better
classes in this country show a similan