Spirited Reply by Local Association to Resolution by Tangpu to Incorporate Under Ministry of Education Following the action of the head~ quarters of the Kuomintang in Shanghai regarding the Y.M.C.A., Mr. L. 'T. Chen, general secretary of the Shanghai YMCA. has submitted a memorandum to the party headquarters in his capacity a3 party member. A copy of this memorandum was also sent to the cen. tral headquarters of the Kuomin-in Nanking. All the Chinese papers have been supplied with copies of the memorandum, but its publication has been forbidden by the board of censors.
The memorandum follows:
Recently on the recommendation of the Propaganda Department, the headquarters of the Kuomintang in Shanghai passed a resolution to the effect that the Central Government, ked to close down the snd to. reorg ganize them under the Ministry of Education on the ground that, while the Y.M.C.A, claims to promote the development of complete manhood, actually it is propagating Christian ity to "lead astray" the youth of the country. Such being the case, it is obviously "an instrument of imperialists" and its work is one of the methods of "cultural exploitation." This question was first brought up at the National Educational Conference when it failed to secure a majority vote and is now taken up by the party officials; it is well for us to examine closely the grounds of this accusation.
The Y.M.C.A. has been in China for over thirty years. Both in point of organization and control, it has een an entirely Chinese institution. The controlling power in each city rests with the board of directors which is elected at the annual meet. Ing of active members. This board of directors controls the policy of the work and appoints—secretaries on the staff, which is almost entirely Chinese. "Occasionally bewwe of the lack of experienced lorship,.q foreign secretaries, largely American, have been invited to give help. position entirely honorary and advisory, under the direction of the Board Just Tike the other secretaries, The finances of the Y.M.C.A. in every city are raised locally, receiving no subsidy whatsoever from other countries, 'Thus, both in control and administration the Y.M.C.A. is entirely autonomous, having affiliation with imperialism of any' kind.
Since the initiation of this movement in China, its watchword has been "character-building" and its programme social service. It aims at exerting a corrective influence on the general conditions of society and at awakening among our country men a public spirit. In a nutshell, the activities of the Y.M.C.A. begin with self-culture, and end with service to others. By associating the one with the other it hopes to build up a movement that will go a long way towards lifting the country to a higher stage of development.
This programme was unreservedly endorsed by Dr. Sun who, by the way, is one of the charter members of the Nanking Y.M.C.A. founded shortly after the formation of the Provisional Government in 1011. Purthermore Dr. Sun has left with us in writing two statements regarding his views on the Y.M.CA. The first one was a message delivered-at the 25th anniversary of the Y.M.GA. in the Spring of 1920. It says "The object of the Y.M.C.A. assimilate earnest young men, to bring them up morally, physically and intellectually. 'This object, is in accordance with Christ's object of world salvation, and coincides} with Confucius' doctrine of helping oneself by helping others. Thus, the YMCA. is an. organization which aims at extending service to the individual. You, gentlemen of the Y.M.C.A., have all hed thi training for perfecting manhood according to the four-fold programme, When these thousands of men of sound character are united in a cooperative. enterprise, what great responsibility is on your shoulders! China has left Egypt, but needs a Joshua to lead her out of the wilderness. Looking round the whole country, one fails to find another organization whose solidarity and strength and purpose is comparable to that of the Y.M.C.A. When we ook for an organization to play the role of Joshua and lead the Chinese people to Canaan, the Iand of milk fand honey, what others do we have save the Y.M.CA.?"
Again in 1923 Dr. Sun addressed the delegates of the 9th National Convention of the YAM.C.A. a8 fol welcome you to-day in Canton, both in the capacity as Chief Executive of the South-Western Government and as the leader of Kuomintang. The Y.M.CA, deserves po-pule welcome for many reasons, particularly because of its emphasis: fon the fourfold programme as a way of saving China. For this! alone, it ought to be welcomed by everybody. Therefore, the ¥.M.C.A. should be welcome to all of us desirous of saving the country."
In the light of these statements, it should be clear that Dr. Sun's approval and endorsement of the Y.M.C.A. work does not proceed from a momentary sentiment: it comes from a deep-seated conviction. If Dr. Sun regards the Y.M.C.A. in this light, why should his followers think differently?
Again, let us judge the Y.M.C.A. by its own programme and activities, In brief, the Y.M.C.A. stands for the following things:—(1) cha educa (B) citizenship training; (4) industrial welfare; and (6) international understanding. These are all very urgent needs in our country to-day. Do we not agree that if all our leaders had the strength of: character, they would have been able to serve our cause much more feficientiy? Do we not agree that China's fundamental weakness lies} in the lack of education among the masses and civie responsibility Jamong all classes? Do we not agree that our industrial conditions need reform?—Atid lastly, do we not Jagree that we need understanding, and friendship on the part. of [countries having relations with These are the lines of work along] which the Y.M.C.A. has endeavoured during the last ten years, and in many respects there have been. noticeable results.
We would mention the programme lof popular education. The Y.M.C.A. was the first one to experiment this field, and now it is generally accepted by the country as a funda mental way of solving our national] problems. We would also mention the citizenship training programme, the feonception of political tutelage con-Jecived by the Kuomintang. For this purpose no less than seventy kinds of books and pamphlets have, been Jeompiled, which have gained a circulation of no less than 220,000) volumes. Furthermore, the Y.M.C.. 'A. has also conducted' experiments along the line of rural reforms and Jeheap housing. Both of these have Jattracted the attention of people far and wide.
Now, since the Y.LC.A. has the Japproval of Dr. Sun, and since its own activities meet some of our most urgent needs of the time, what fare the grounds for the Kuomintang oppose it and to wish to close it Jdown? Is it because of the religious j ground on which the Y.M.C.A. stands? If so, then we are violate jing not only a universal principle but also one of the fundamentals the Party. It is specifically stated in the Constitution of the Party that there should be religious] liberty. Looking round to-day, where do we find another government which suppresses religious freedom and persecutes religion except the Soviet Government under the Communist party? Is not the! Party against Commui If 86, why do we do the things which Com munists are doing and would have do? These are questions which jeall for the attention of our Party leaders.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.