Dr. J. R. Watson's Remarkable Work in Shantung:
Saved Entire Cit ity from Plague nother link with the pioneer days of missionary work in China has been broken by the death of Dr. James Russell Watson, ata. (Dumam), 7. (Catan), 308.5. (ENGLAND) of Tsinanfu, on March 16, Dr. Watson. was born in Aberdeen on July 28, 1855, As a young man he fentered a stockbroker's office, where he gained experience which stood him in good stead when conducting mission affairs during later years. But the challenge of missionary enterprise sounded loud in the ears of this young Scot, compelling him to relinquish the post in order to take medical training, for he felt that he could best serve the people of China [as a doctor.
'At the end of his medical course DF. Watson offered himself to the English Baptist, Mission. He was 1884, and appointed this Allssion's sole' medical representa tive in China. He began his work In the city of "Taingchow, Shantung, Under "circumstances almost too cimeult for the present-day doctor to visualize, Not only, was his work carried on In native buildings, totally unsuitable for the teaching and practice of hygiene, but, also, he had Aght against the appalling supersti-ton of the people and their fear of western medical methods.
Missions and Medical Work Gradually, as results proved the feMcacy of the doctor, his medicines fand his surgery, the need for better Dulldings became clamant, But the machinery for obtaining a new hospital was not yet functioning.
'To Dr. Watson' belongs avery large share of the credit of having roused the British churches to a sense of their responsibility towards medical work. During the furlough which he took after the Boxer rising Dr. Watson, with (we Baptist doctor from India, pleaded for the organization of a Medical Aflssion Auxiliary for extending work among the sick As a result of his farsighted effort the " hospital' in Tsingchow "was erected.
After 30 years ip that city, Dr, Watson was transferred to Choutsun, town of rising commercial importtance. "With characteristic foresight he set about obtaining plans and money for the building of another hospital. Times had changed, and it was now possible to put up ® hospital, planned fon modern Western lines," without offending Chinese susceptibilities. Each of these hospitals is- bringing health and comfort to hundreds patients every year, and their work is a living memorial to the life of Dr. Watson, First raining School a man of his mental calibre, it soon became obvious that the Chinese must be trained (o give medica! service to their own people. He, therefore, strongly advocated the opening of @ medical school in Tsinan, this schoo! to be part of the "Union Colleges Scheme" of which he was fat that time the secretary. These Union Colleges, then scattered in Tengchow!u, -Welhalwol, and Tsing-chow, were' the fore-runners of the present' Cheeloo University. The original medical school, where Dr. Watson assisted "asa peripatetic Jeeturer when he could be. spared from his hospital duties in Tsingchow, hag now grown into the finest Mandarin-teaching school in North China, a lasting tribute to the vision of this man and his colleagues of other Missions.
Not only within the limits of his Mission did Dr. Watson work. On tone occasion when the outbreak of bubonic plague in Manchuria was Griving thousands of infection-bearing Fefugees into Shantung, he under= took to preserve Tsingchow city from an epidemic. With the ce-operation of the local officials he Isolated the whole city, organized preventive measures, and cared for those already }stricken. " For this valuable piece of public health work he received the thanks of the Chinese Government, decorated by the Chinese Government with the Order of. the Excellent Crop.
On returning from France, the doctor again took up his work in Choutsun, He remained there until 1023 when he retired, after serving the English Baptist Mission for nearly 40 years. The last years of his life were spent in Tsinan. There he took fan active part in the life of the community as treasurer of the Union Church and in many other ways In the autumn of 1035 the members of the English Baptist Mission Shantung pald a fitting tribute their senior colleague by celebrating his eightieth birthday. "On this oe occasion a framed and illuminated address was presented to Dr. Watson in appreciation of more, than half, a century of work in Chin His genial humour him the beloved friend of very many, and his Christlike character will be sadly missed on the Cheeloo campus, ut of the experience of his Jong. and varied life he could produce treasures, Dr, Watson leaves a widow and two daughters to whom their many friend: would wish to extend a deep and affectionate sympathy.
'A memorial service will be held on Sunday next in the Kumler Chapel Cheetoo University, Tsinan—w.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.