Pfov • 
 
 q^JLaA. 
 
 THE . . 
 
 International 
 
 • Inst 
 
 OF CHINA. 
 
 T3‘'5T • 
 
 v/ 
 
 REV. GILBERT REID. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/internationalinsOOreid 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MISSION AMONG THE HIGHER CLASSES IN CHINA. 
 
 THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. GILBERT REID. 
 
 This report is a condensed report of six others previously issued. 
 
 The International Institute is the result of the Mission among the Higher 
 Classes. It is the Mission presented in institutional form. 
 
 A mission among the higher classes is not so much a mission to them, as 
 a mission for them, — and so through and with them for the masses. 
 
 This special line of work, directed to a special class, aims to reach the 
 greatest results by utilizing the greatest energies and the highest influence. 
 It has not been suddenly projected out of one's wild imagination or internal 
 conciousness; the plan is not primarily formed in accordance with con- 
 ditions in other lands, but it is the result of years of hard work and experi- 
 ence, and is adapted especially to the present conditions of China. It is 
 therefore directed to those on the ground, acquainted with the work, rather 
 than at a distance from those unfamiliar with the special requirements and 
 special methods. 
 
 To explain the evolution of the thought and the work, the statement 
 made must be a personal one. For ten years I was a missionary in the 
 Province of Shantung under the Presbyterian Board of New York City. 
 During seven years of this time, while engaged in the usual forms of mis- 
 sion work, my time and tastes were more and more directed to a new de- 
 partment of labor among the official classes. Owing to the opposition 
 which our missionaries experienced in the matter of purchasing property 
 
4 
 
 and securing protection, my intercourse with the officials was largely of a 
 business kind, and as an opponent. After years of persistant pressure and 
 frequent conferences, desirable sites for the missionary establishments were 
 at last secured in the two largest cities, and what is more, peaceably so, 
 and with the good will of the mandarins and local gentry. 
 
 At the end of ten years the Presbyterian mission in the Province of Shan- 
 tung recommended that on my return to the United States this special 
 work among the ruling classes be brought to the attention of the Churches, 
 and that on my return to China I should represent the whole mission in 
 cultivating more friendly intercourse with the officials of the Province, for 
 at least a period of two years. After a furlough in the United States of a 
 little over a year, the matter was carefully considered by the Presbyterian 
 Board of Foreign Missions. After receiving a written statement from my 
 self, expressing the intention to devote the rest of my life to the special work 
 among the higher classes, and requesting that the Board express its candid 
 opinion as to whether it would be more desirable that this work should be 
 done under the Board or as an independent mission, the reply in substance 
 was that the Board would prefer that I should devote most of my time to 
 the work of preaching among the common people, and that if I desired to 
 make the work among the higher classes a specialty it would be better to 
 do so independently of any denominational Board. I therefore resigned 
 from the Presbyterian Board with the greatest of respect for the efforts put 
 forth by its missionaries, and with friendliness towards them all. The will 
 of God seemed clear to me, and 1 decided to make the experiment in this 
 untried department of missionary enterprise. I was willing to make a few 
 explorations in the very large unknown territory of Chinese officialdom. 
 The best place it seemed to me, for concentrating these efforts was in the 
 political and literary centre of the whole Empire the City of Peking. 
 
 During the summer of 1894 the war arose between China and Japan. As 
 the months passed by, it became more and more clear to my mind that an 
 opportune time had come for putting forth efforts to reach the official 
 classes in Peking. And so in the autumn of that year I returned to China. 
 While my enthusiasm was commended by my friends, it was the prevailing 
 opinion that my efforts would prove a failure. On reaching Peking I had 
 to face the awful fact that of all the great number of officials I only had a 
 personal acquaintance with three. Furthermore, it was not the custom for 
 the officials to have intercourse with foreigners at their own homes. The 
 only officials to deal with foreigners were the members of the Board of 
 Foreign Affairs, and their intercourse was only with the foreign Ministers, 
 or persons whom they might introduce, or such others as might be in the 
 service of the Chinese Government These relations were carried on either 
 at the Foreign Office itself or at the Foreign Legations. The homes of the 
 better class were closed to foreigners, except when, from time to time, they 
 might call in the services of some foreign physician. This persistent 
 exclusiveness has made the central government far less inclined to a pro- 
 gressive policy than the outside provinces, and may be regarded as one of 
 the causes of China’s decline during the last few years. 
 
5 
 
 A short time after my return to Peking, one of the three official friends 
 whom I had, a member of the Board of Foreign Affairs and a Minister in 
 the Cabinet, came in person to call upon me to express his thanks for the 
 efforts which I had put forth in the United States in behalf of better legis- 
 lation for the Chinese laborers. He informed me that the various printed 
 documents which I had been sending to him had for the most part, through 
 his orders, been translated into Chinese, and were placed on file in the 
 Foreign Office. 
 
 In a month or so I again adopted the Chinese costume, and made my 
 first real attempt to gain an entrance to the exclusive official circle of 
 Peking. I began, moreover, at the very top. I secured a list of the mem- 
 bers of the Cabinet, and also of the Ministry of War, which at that time 
 was the important body in the Empire. I prepared a letter which would 
 be suitable for each one of these men. I also prepared a short statement 
 referring to the needs of China at that time, I then went in person to call 
 upon them. This, I maj' say, was in accordance with Chinese ettiquette, 
 for the rules of propriety in China require that the stranger should first 
 call upon the resident. Within the next few weeks I made the acquaint- 
 ance of five of these prominent officials, one of whom was the most powerful 
 man m the Government at the time, and the great rival of Li Hung Chang, 
 the tutor of the Emperor, and also the President of the Board of Revenue. 
 He had never before met a foreigner. Another had been tutor of a previous 
 Emperor, and had held high offices m Peking for over thirty years. A third 
 had been a Governor in the provinces, and stood in great favor with the 
 Emperor. A fourth was one of the princes, who for ten years had presided 
 at the Board of Foreign Affairs. A fifth was a great favorite both with the 
 Emperor and the Empress Dowager, arid was the Military Governor of the 
 city. All these received me at their own homes. Their friendship has 
 remained unto the present time. 
 
 Among the highest officials there remained the most prominent of all still 
 to be reached. Prince Rung. When I made the request to see him at his 
 own palace, I was informed that this was contrary to usage, and that if I 
 desired to present any document or letter, to him, I must do it at the 
 Foreign Office. But here was a difficulty. Thus far no foreigner who had 
 no official position in his own government, or in the Chinese Government, 
 had been admitted to that body without an introduction from his own Min- 
 ister. Having, however, already made the acquaintance of all but two of 
 the members of the Foreign Office, I called upon the Under Secretaries 
 and asked them if it would be proper for them to present for me a letter 
 addressed to Prince Rung. They replied that, under the circumstances, 
 and in accordance with the consent of the Prince, there would be no objec- 
 tion. I therefore presented a letter at the Foreign Office which the Under 
 Secretaries handed to the Prince within the palace. This was the first 
 opening to that important body. The communication then and there begun 
 in a formal way has improved rather than diminished during the three 
 years which have passed. 
 
 In a few months Prince Rung sent word to me that he would be glad to 
 
6 
 
 see me at a certain hour at the Board of Foreign Affairs. He received me 
 most cordially, and with the greatest of courtesy. He desired to know the 
 object of my visit to Peking. I told him in brief that it was to do anything 
 to help on China, and he replied. “ Yes, we know that you are a friend of 
 China, and any time you desire to present any document to us you can 
 feel free to do so at this place. I am willing to see you here, even though 
 you may have no official rank.” From that time on I continued to present 
 documents, both to the Prince and to the Foreign Office as a body, dis- 
 cussing various questions pertaining to the welfare of the country and in 
 the interests of progress and peaceableness. 
 
 Having made the acquaintance of these men, high in authority, some of 
 whom had a world- wide reputation, I next made an inroad into the ranks 
 of the men who formed the Censorate, or the Hanlin College, which is the 
 highest literary body in the Empire. It is well known that, as a rule, the 
 Chinese literati have been the strongest foes to the missionaries, and that 
 whenever riots have arisen they have either been instigated or counte- 
 nanced by these men. By a cautious and friendly spirit, I managed to 
 make the acquaintance of a large number of these men, many of whom had 
 never before had any intercourse with foreigners. Some of them had been 
 even intensely prejudiced against foreigners, and especially missionaries. 
 The friendship of these men I have greatly enjoyed. I have invited them 
 to dine at my own honse, and many of them have reciprocated. Several of 
 them have always been ready to assist me in the preparation of pamphlets 
 and books, prepared in the best classical style possible, and in many cases 
 they have refused any compensation. Time and time again they have said 
 to me, “If you, a foreigner, can work for the good of our country, we 
 should be willing to help.” 
 
 One of the first Censors to call upon me was an old man of national repu- 
 tation, noted for his purity of life and strict honesty, daring and high- 
 mmded. In the course of the conversation, I showed to him something 
 which I had just written with reference to the corruption of the Chinese 
 Government. He said to me, “ Yes. this is all true ; you have told us of the 
 disease, can you tell us the cure? ” I replied that I would prepare in a few 
 days a prescription which I would send to him, and if he found it all right, 
 I would be glad if he would make it known to the Emperor. I at once went 
 to work, and, with the aid of two writers of fair literary ability, prepared a 
 document dealing first with the cause and the occasion of the disease of this 
 sick man of the far East ; and next, prescribing the remedy for the cause 
 and for the occasion of the disease. A copy I sent to this Censor, and his 
 reply was, “ I will cherish the ideas which you have unfolded, and will 
 place your paper high up in my archives.” I preferred that he should have 
 placed it before the Emperor rather than in his archives, but he hardly had 
 the courage to do this, for I had made a clear and unflinching statement 
 concerning the awful corruption of the present Chinese system of govern- 
 ment. After a few months this document was brought to the attention of 
 a high official, who was also a tutor of the Emperor, a man of pure motives 
 and upright life. He made a few corrections and recommended that I get 
 
7 
 
 it printed for circulation, I then sent copies to every important official in 
 Peking and to a large number of others having less authority, but being 
 more progressive. I had the hope that something might be done to bring 
 about the reform of China. Nothing definite, however, was accomplished. 
 
 About this time a spirit of reform had arisen among the younger men. 
 From their high literary rank they possessed great influence. An English 
 missionary, the Rev. Timothy Richard, was visiting Peking, whom I intro- 
 duced to several of the more active leaders in the new movement. We had 
 several conferences together, until what was known as a “ Reform Club” 
 was actually started by these young men in this conservative centre of the 
 Empire. Their spirit of reform was, however, more literary and educational 
 than moral. They lacked the strong underlying principles of an active 
 morality, made living by religious convictions. Nevertheless the move- 
 ment was encouraging. A beginning was made. But hardly had they 
 begun, when, through suspicions from those of the Imperial family, and on 
 the basis of a memorial condemning the movement by a Censor who was 
 hostile to the leaders of this movement, an edict was suddenly issued by the 
 Emperor commanding that the Reform Club be at once closed up. This 
 frightened or disheartened several of these young men. Another Censor, 
 however, presented a memorial in favor of this movement, and requested 
 that the matter be referred to the Board of Foreign Affairs for consideration. 
 As a result, Imperial sanction was secured for the establishment of what 
 was called “The Official Book Depot, ” under the charge of one of the tutors 
 of the Emperor, this friend of mine mentioned above, who had reviewed 
 the document which I had prepared relating to the reform of the govern- 
 ment. Being under official auspices, this organization has lacked spon. 
 tanity and independence, and has accomplished but little good. The 
 spirit of progress has continued to grow, but is not strong enough as yet to 
 secure a thorough reform in the Chinese Government. 
 
 I continued to devote a great deal of my time to the cultivation of friendly 
 and social relations with the Chinese officials. During my first ten years 
 in China I had made the acquaintance of at least one hundred mandarins, 
 while during the two years and more of my residence in Peking I have 
 added on three hundred more. Thus I have actually reached the polite 
 number of the “Four Hundred” of China. Such a work, friendly and 
 unofficial, a mere private individual making a private call at the private 
 residence of the officials of the Capital, was undertaken without any pre- 
 cedent. Among a class of people where precedent has for centuries 
 reigned supreme, a mere effort was a breaking down of Chinese exclusive- 
 ness. At the same time I tried to avoid giving any offence. Seeking first 
 of all the interests of China, the effort, though without precedent, could 
 only be regarded as friendly. It has always been my conviction that if a 
 Chinese mandarin cannot be made a Christian we should seek to make him 
 a friend rather than a foe. 
 
 Of these officials, whose acquaintance I have made, nearly eighty now 
 hold office in the different provinces. In this way it has been possible to 
 extend the influence from Peking to all the provinces, and to make the 
 
8 
 
 Chinese officials more friendly towards the missionaries and their work. 
 There is no limit to the possibilities or the benefits of this part of the gen- 
 eral work of reaching the upper classes. Under the conditions of the 
 Chinese political system it is possible to exert an influence all over the 
 Empire by exerting an influence at the political centre of the Empire, or 
 through the political leaders of the Empire. 
 
 In addition to all this friendly intercourse of a social character, and the 
 preparation of documents discussing questions which pertain to the welfare 
 and development of China, it became more and more clear to me that some- 
 thing more definite, practical, tangible and real was necessary. I therefore 
 drew up the plan which for a long time I had had in my mind for the estab- 
 lishment in Peking of an institute of learning, to be known as the Inter- 
 national Institute. This differed from a college or university in that its aim 
 would be the more general enlightenment of grown-up men who would be 
 unable to go through a technical course of training. The great object of 
 such an institution would be the promotion of greater friendliness between 
 the Chinese and foreigners, and especially between the officials and mis- 
 sionaries ; the adoption of measures of enlightenment and progress, the 
 extension of the cause of truth and righteousness, the opening up of the 
 country to Western education, commercial development and missionary 
 enterprises, and the hastening on of the prosperity of China and the eleva- 
 tion of her people, so as to insure the independence of her government with- 
 out fear of foreign powers, and the peace, happiness and redemption of the 
 Chinese race. 
 
 Such an object could not but commend itself to the Chinese authorities if 
 they were actuated at all by any patriotic feelings. The work to be done in 
 such an institute would be in harmony with the present condition of China, 
 and suited to her needs in the present crisis. I therefore proposed the erec- 
 tion of buildings which would consist of a public library, a museum or 
 exhibit hall, offices and reception rooms, class rooms and a large auditorium. 
 I asked that the regulations, as drawn up, be submitted to the Emperor for 
 Imperial sanction. I was informed that this was contrary to every pre- 
 cedent of the past, and that while my purpose and plan were good, it was 
 impossible at the present time to grant my request. A promise, however, 
 was made to confer on the matter some time m the future. 
 
 About this time the famous statesman, Li Hung Chang, returned fr< m 
 his tour around the world. I resumed my acquaintance with him. and in 
 the very first interview he suggested that instead of pushing the scheme 
 for an international institute I should assist him in forming the plan for a 
 university, to be under government control. I promised to assist him, and 
 had several conferences on the matter. We reached agreement on the 
 main points, but by that time it became evident that the government was 
 not ready and had no money to establish in Peking such an university, 
 Both of these plans, the one for an international institute under foreign 
 auspices, and the other for a university under Chinese auspices, were alike 
 favored by Li Hung Chang, but his statement made again and again co me 
 
9 
 
 was, “ Nothing can be done. Our men are too conservative. It is impos- 
 sible to secure their sanction.” 
 
 In the midst of all this discouragement, at the beginning of the present 
 year, 1897, there came another blow to my hopes, a trial to my faith, and 
 the deepest sorrow to my heart. A message flashed across the wire from 
 my home in the distant land that my father had passed away. Knowing 
 that my aged mother needed my presence, I telegraphed back the message 
 that I would probably come home in the spring. For a month, in gloom 
 and despondency, the sun, though shining, was hid behind the clouds. 
 Nothing that I had proposed to the Chinese authorities seemed possible of 
 execution. The work that I had begun must now end, and end in failure. 
 There was no one to carry on the work in my absence The fact that I 
 must return home a failure was by no means a pleasant one. 
 
 In spite of all this discouragement, I decided to make one more attempt- 
 I also desired that my father, though dead, should yet speak. I conformed 
 to the Chinese usage, and informed my official friends of the sorrow which 
 had come, and prepared in Chinese a short “ In Memoriam ” of my father. 
 I also sent a letter to the Board of Foreign Affairs and one to Prince Kung, 
 in which, in substance. I said : “ For over iwo years I have presented many 
 documents discussing various important questions, but they have all been 
 in vain. I have now received word of my father's death, and in conse- 
 quence I must leave for my home in the month of April At the last he 
 still exhorted me to continue in my purpose to help China, and this counsel 
 I will heed. Some months ago I presented the regulations of an institute 
 to be established in Peking, and the promise was made to see and consult 
 with me. I would be much pleased if an appointment should be made, 
 etc., etc.” 
 
 In a few days a reply came with the cards of Li Hung Chang and another 
 Minister of the Foreign Office appointing the time for a conference, and 
 requesting my presence. At that conference I was informed that it would 
 be impossible to memorialize the throne at that time, but that a formal 
 sanction of my plan for an international institute would be given me, and 
 that if I should succeed in raising money and erecting buildings, a memorial 
 could then be presented to the Emperor, praying his Imperial sanction. 
 
 Not long after, this formal sanction was sent to me. It was under the 
 seal of the Board of Foreign Affairs. It had been granted by all the 
 princes and ministers, nine in all, who formed that body. The document, 
 moreover, was sent to me direct All this was a decided innovation. It 
 indicated progress, for though many of the officials did not themselves care 
 to initiate measures of progress, they were willing that a scheme of progress 
 should be carried out by a foreigner. It was the first time that a foreign 
 scheme, under foreign auspices had been sanctioned by the Chinese Gov- 
 ernment. This was, to use a commercial term, the first concession granted 
 to a foreigner. 
 
 Just at this favorable juncture of affairs, the Rev. W. A. P. Martin, 
 D.D., LL.D., returned to Peking. It was forty-seven years since he first 
 
10 
 
 came to China, and for over thirty years of this period he had been in the 
 Chinese service, the President of the Imperial College. After consultation, 
 he decided to join in with me in the work of the proposed institute. No 
 better man could I have found anywhere in China. His coming made my 
 going possible. The way was now open for me to put forth the efforts to 
 secure the funds needed for the erection of the buildings connected with 
 this institute. The aid rendered to the undertaking by Dr. Martin, through 
 his large experienee, his great learning, his hearty enthusiasm, his varied 
 gifts and his world-wide reputation, is incalculable. Well may I recognize 
 the hand of Providence in the critical time, not only of China, but of my 
 own life work. 
 
 It should also be stated that a wonderful impression had been made on 
 the Chinese officials by the respect which I had shown to the memory of my 
 father, in harmony with Chinese ideas. At once letters of condolence 
 began to come to me. Many of my Chinese friends called in person to 
 express their sympathy. Others wrote scrolls, or presented banners 
 inscribed to the memory of my father, and containing choice expressions 
 suited to the sad event, many of which were filled with the spirit and had 
 the hope of our Christian religion. One of the first banners received was 
 from the princes and ministers of the Board of Foreign Affairs. It was, 
 indeed, a most remarkable fact, unprecedented in all the history of China, 
 that noted princes and high ministers of state should do honor to the memory 
 of one who lived in another land, whom the}’ had never seen, and who was 
 an humble preacher of the Gospel. Over two hundred officials of all ranks 
 joined in to do honor to the one who had gone. Several of the highest 
 officials in the government took the time to write out scrolls, either to the 
 honor of my father or myself. Here was a testimony of friendliness more 
 potent than that even of the formal sanction which had come from the 
 Chinese Foreign Office. 
 
 Before I left Peking I was also presented with a testimonial from Li Hung 
 Chang, which I could use in the United States and Europe. It commended 
 the efforts which I had put forth, and also the plan which had been drawn 
 up for the international institute, and promised his own aid in the future. 
 
 An Advisory Council was formed in Peking to guarantee a safe direction 
 of the affairs of the institute, and the proper use of all funds. On reaching 
 Shanghai a public meeting was called by the British and American Consul- 
 Generals, which was largely attended by the business men of that com- 
 munity. A committee of ten men was appointed to render any assistance 
 that might be necessary. 
 
 Learning from my mother that it would be unnecessary for me to hasten 
 home, I spent a few months in raising money among foreigners and Chinese 
 in Shanghai and elsewhere. Altogether, $15,000, or one-fifth of the build- 
 ing fund, were subscribed. Here was an endorsement superior to that of 
 mere Resolutions. Most of this money, which had been subscribed, came 
 from the Chinese themselves. There were nine who subscribed $750 each 
 six Chinese and three Americans. 
 
11 
 
 The estimated amount for erecting the buildings is $75,000. Three 
 English architects in Shanghai have stipulated to erect the buildings within 
 that amount. Their drawings have been carefully prepared. Similar 
 buildings, with a proper site, in any large city in the United States, would 
 mean an expenditure of three times that amount. 
 
 The task now remains to raise the $60,000 still remaining, and also to 
 secure a nucleus for equipping the museum and library and for meeting the 
 working expenses. The interest already shown makes me confident that 
 this money will be secured. I am still more confident because I have faith 
 in Providence. God, who has opened the doors in China, will open the 
 doors in our Christian lands. What no one individual might be able to 
 accomplish co-operation will succeed in doing. There is a chance, through 
 agencies and forces already existing, to exert an influence for good, not 
 only all over China, but through many of the cities of Europe and America. 
 The institute is international, aiming to benefit the millions of Chinese 
 through their own leaders, and to reach these leaders through those who 
 are highly favored in our Christian lands. 
 
 In the Good Book it is written, “ In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and 
 He will direct thy paths.” I desire, in this brief resume of three years’ 
 work, to acknowledge the guidance and rich blessing of our Heavenly 
 Father, and to give to Him the glory for every success which has come. 
 He has a more tender heart towards the needy ones of China than any of 
 us, but it we listen to His commands and receive into our lives the spirit of 
 the Divine Redeemer we may do much at this important time in the history 
 of China, and through the agencies which God has placed there not only to 
 help on the advancement and prosperity of China as a whole, but to bring 
 light and happiness to many a home that is now beset by gloom, poverty, 
 ignorance and hopelessness. 
 
 “ There is a tide in the affairs of men 
 
 Which, taken at their flood, lead on to fortune.’’ 
 
 A grand opportunity awaits the earnest soul ready to help its fellow men. 
 October ij, iSqj. 
 
 Warsaw, N. Y. 
 
Hi 
 
 ^ Vr '; :v •- ■* ' r l ' 
 
 r : : ■ ■ 
 
 x ^ 
 
 «• i«a£l‘ £*ira y3kiS ♦Kajfcn 
 
 ppS L 
 
 ffy ; ■ *»u* ^ tv .-fr ^ jy . >i 
 
 F»-vsI_V; VI'-fli ': ''X/P t : ,.--• *-l