This document provides an address given by Reverend Timothy Tingfang Lew at the dedication of the Charlie Jones Soong Memorial Building of the Fifth Avenue Methodist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1942. In his speech, Rev. Lew summarizes the remarkable contributions and achievements of the influential Soong family in China, including their roles in supporting Sun Yat-sen's revolution and later leadership of China. He praises the Soong family for advocating equality, social progress, and Christianity despite difficulties, and says they are rightly respected for their significant impacts on China's political and social development.

1. NORTH CAROLINA^
Christian SbtoateVolume 88 GREENSBORO, N. C, THURSDAY, M A Y 6, 1943 ^Jj /"'Of-Nunibei 18

2. NORTH CAROLINA
CHRISTIAN ADVOCATEM. T! PLYLBR Editon WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCES' PREACHERS, $1; COPY! SC
Volume 88 GREENSBORO, N. C, THURSDAY, M A Y 6, 1943 Ntuuber 18
The Soong Family Special Edition
A pastor (he does not live in Greensboro)
called up the city editor late Sunday night and
said: "I a m calling to ask a favor of you. In
the notes of m y sermon which I sent your of-
fice, will you kindly take Daniel out of the
fiery furnace and put him in the lion's den."
"Despondency and despair are not mine to-
day. I look to Him who is able to do all things,
even more than we ask or think. At this time
of writing, I a m with m y husband in the heart
of the bandit area. Constantly exposed to dan-
gers, I a m unafraid. I know that nothing can
happen to either to the General or to m e until
our work is done."—Madame Chiang.
The tragic deaths of Lieut-Gen. Frank M.
Andrews and Bishop Adna W . Leonard in an
airplane acicdent in Iceland M a y 4 are serious
casualties incident to this war. General An-
drews was the highest ranking United States
officer lost. Bishop Leonard was one of the
leading bishops of the Methodist Church. At
present he heads up the work of selecting the
chaplains for the Methodist Church. Particu-
lars are not available at this time.
When Madame Chiang Kai-shek spoke in
Madison Square Garden to 17,000 people, she
was introduced by Wendell Willkie as "the
most fascinating leader of the world" and as
"an avenging angel, a soldier unafraid in the
fight for justice." She said that "the Allied
Nations must move in swift and mighty
strength toward universal justice and freedom
and that all nations great and small must have •
equal opportunity of development. Those that
are strongest should help the weak. Exploita-
tion should be prevented and hate should not
exist toward anyone." She quoted a Chinese
proverb, "Watch the cart ahead," as a good
rule in avoiding the pitfalls into which nations
have fallen in the past.
Without the slightest reservation we insist
that the Soong issue of this Advocate is the
most notable missionary story that has ever
gone out of this office. Were a copy of this to
be placed in every Methodist home in the state
a new day would dawn in many of our Meth-
odist churches. It tells of the uplift of China
and world-wide Christian conquest to follow.
Mme. Chiang Kai-shek, called "the leading
lady of Asia," "the lady with the lamp," "the
most fascinating lady in the world," "the
world's first citizen," "spokesman for the
United Nations" and, other titles, is deserving
of first page recognition in the religious press
as well as the secular. Madame Chiang came
to America a few short weeks ago in weakness
but she will leave in strength, not the physical
strength she is slowly regaining following an
operation, but a mighty spiritual strength from
bearing a true testimony to her faith and from
the prayerful support of those who believe in
her God and the principles of righteousness
and justice she is reiterating.
The Wilmington Star, dated Sunday, No-
vember 7, 1880, under the caption "Fifth
Street M. E. Church," had this note: "This
morning the ordinance of Christian Baptism
will be administered at this church. A Chinese
convert will be one of the subjects of the sol-
emn rite, being probably the first 'Celestial'
that has ever submitted to ordinance of Chris-
tian Baptism in North Carolina. The pastor,
Rev. T. Page Ricaud, will officiate." The same
•paper on Tuesday, November 9, said,: "The ser-
vice at the Fifth Street M. E. Church on Sun-
day morning last, in connection with the Bap-
tism of the Chinese youth alluded to in our last,
is said to have been exceedingly impressive.
The young man, whose Chinese appellation was
Soong, assumed the Christian name of bap-
tism as Charlie Jones."

3. NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE May 6, 1943
Address Given at Dedication of the Charlie Jones
Soong Memorial Building of Fifth Avenue Meth-
odist Church, Wilmington, November I, 1942
By BEV. TIMOTHY TINGFANG LEW, PhD, D.D., S.T.D.
the Ambassador,
lister, Dr. Liu Chi)
ned"
re either His ]
areign Affairs,
E the Bank of
honor a political leader
under the Imperial regime, and w h o advocated repui
ideas to overthrow an empire O n e has to learn to ho
political leader w h o defies the all-powerful military
lords and insisted upon the carrying out of the doctrii
i for the people laid d o w n by a departed party
tant meeting
reat pleasure to be asked by
•eturned to China a fi
le State and Party in J
1 today in any part of China,
iimtlHvesl, has learned
ime Soong, which y
; the Soong family 1
not only t
luse it is a remarkable, i
ther who is the head of the family, and the r
in reality the one w h o rules the family—an
ter the husband's death—the sons and daught<
lolher.
nds the follow
an important r
lily
>roduces a foundi
the social and p
the respect of tl
deserves the respect of the citizens.
roduces not only one political leader
Dt only one founder of a significair
ily in the Republic of Chin;
law occupying such places (
and with daughters each pi:
t other family can i
= of
which spelled the d o o m i
. O n e has to learn to honor founders of movements
eh call for the change of national government, modifi-
on of the social order of far-reaching significance, and
idical substitution of n e w habits for the old in individual
s. O n e has to learn to honor the family which advocates
equality of w o m e n and men, not by m e r e speeches, but
i has learned 1Chinese citize
We have a proverb in China which
ting," which literally translated means
judgment." It means that no judgme
should be finally passed as to his m
one's coffin is closed and nailed. O r
:. The a
• the Soong family, and
isk.N i
rians have taught us, to form o
of a person by the dazzling eminence. It is also risky as all
political experience of a m o d e r n republic such as the United
States, has taught one, to form one's judgment upon the
worth of a person or a family in political circles, by read-
speeches of the m a n y different politi-
cities built i
cies, as well as virtues are magnified. It is not easy to live
such a life, and it is not easy for their contemporaries to
form always calm, unprejudiced, and scientifically accurate
judgments about them.
But I a m certain that I a m voicing the sentiment of mil-
lions of people w h e n I say that the average Chinese citizen
not only respects the Soong family for its brilliant emi-
nence, but also has learned to honor it, irrespective of the
different backgrounds which dillercnt persons m a y sever-
ally have. But more than that, they also appreciate and
hold in high esteem this family for specific contributions
which it has m a d e to China. There is no dissenting voice
today in China as to the unique position of everlasting sig-
nificance Dr. Sun Yat Sen has m a d e in the history of China,
as the '"father of the Republic," as a founder of the Nation-
alistic Party, as the rallying point and the ackimwledjied
leader of the leaders of different parties which launched one
of the greatest political revolutions of the modern age.
the depth of appreciation by the Chinese people as time
degree of intimacy can fail to appreciate the contribution
which M a d a m e S u n Soong Ching-ling m a d e to Dr. Sun,
particularly in his last years of devoted service to the great
mature wisdom, when his political insight and prophetic

4. NORTH CAKOI IN'A CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
finished task i
threatened wi
his wonderful
r V was facing
tie Westen:£)f hjs unworthy
th physical illiu
i. it was i
he called it. It
followers; whe
se c
ultimately
ays he foun
o. One of the outstanding t
s his capacity to rally arou
f ability and knowledge and
the Sian incidi
complete devo
leadership. Oi
;nt in 1936, she made .
the life of the Geners
ie of m y students in tl
[ the body politic • homage.
. devote

5. NORTH CROUA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
ry times, break down and e
y. It was the wonderful si
: M a d a m e Chiang Soong M
if great calamity, i
i unity which expl:
thousand miles of coast line have been taken E
inces along the coast have been occupied ar
ally looted, millions of people have lost their
vading army passed through, t
have grappled with the
were occupied alternately by t
nato^ltcaf
^y"natun
thropp^ssk.n1
'.^ tl'Tot
appreciate those measu
offinancialadministrati
was the Minister of Fi
are today his admirers.
The fact that China
against Japan, is due i
of Industries, began the
planning which has bee
and executed by his su
T. V. Soong's financial
M a d a m e Kung Soon;
ters, and also the eldesl
also being appreciated
since the war. She sp.
mother, and a devoted i
,•;-, le
™path
budglt
he scoi
heene
S/"
>n arn-
linane
plans
•ched earth pol
m y and the go
Jn^£ntec
Ho^taS
l«e"nS i^l
and by his brc
by in
>:e toe
• industrial rcfi
nd elaborated,
so served as V
eldest of the tl
: Soong family of chi
. Just
ig numbers of
;,firstas a w
as the other ti
As:
familj
partly
i Chinese Christian, I atn glad to say
fact that the Soong family is kno'
in China. There are
ans up to the time
families in
that w e
China
vhen they became ;
it, but ceased to be known as a CI
because of inconvenit
;over their own light
and other reasons. The Soon
;r;i
percen
:r their light of Chris
. To be a Christian ai
tion. To be Christian
unusually difficult, i
r ^ - there^e'Tnly J
population of four hundred
in political life, what
rtly bee;
are proud
Christian
' ••• -':•'
under a bushel for expediency
^ r t r c u ^ " '**si
i haTf "million" Protest
millions.
al personage cannot be twisted by
by a critic of the opr
; the last twenty yea:
particularly the anti-Christi
such a
l^nfiucnce^nlhe1
^
situation, when a pei
wsition, for ;
ade itself fel
^dyVolitic.^
f„al
wh°i
ante in°a
personal life of a
i special
eligious
which
I by Chi
t in Chi
iTr^uh
did not
tianity to stand against all the
son in a political po;
was needed mosi
influence had rea
; by 1
isitate to make it wid
:dgement and respect c
best express the attit
towards the Soong fan
by s
Chri
i of the party leaders
funeral service
ork. She has
I works of charity
thousands of refuj
orphaned by war.
has been unusually able to
lto the channels of social ser-
d mercy. Today throughout
I with appreciation by hun-
;s, of wounded soldiers and
o the post of State Councilor
I and subsequently as Minis-
i residence in Washington, is
lembers of the Soong family
ling. Mr. T. L. Soong has al-
undoubtedly important parts
miting Dr. Sun's per:
y a Christian. They claimed that
iole nation, to all sects and creeds.
i religious ceremony, they said, th
mmedans, the Taoists, and others
. Sun
j Chri
cide t
Dr. Sun
Chri
although publicly ]
Peking Union Medical ColU
would be known as a "priv;
people took in turn, and wh:
leral :
M y j
: chair
son of Dr Sur
• service by p
lly Wesley's "J
i. Dr. H. I
ig Ching-
rescribing
esus, Lov.

6. NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
history of C
be the officiating clergyman, Christian, di
vite a bishop to be present in takably Chri
Church of China. There
1 night e
; difficulty to ha
->e night before tr
in the Party heac
i hours
I asked m e whether I would be v
;d to religion, and particularly t
service. I told him that I would be willing to
ersonal risk, for it was a part of m y work. Bi
i to know the attitude of the Soong family, whet
the conviction that Dr. Sun must have a Chris
1 service, for it would mark him and make it kn(
-wide, a fact which was easily obscured under
relatives, the Sooni
I slowly marched aero;
i observing multitude
ome radicals actually I
decided
t like this remains an impor
hina, that the first Presider
ed a Christian, with a fune
stian, conducted in the name
and it was done because bo
than the quiet attitude tak
at time. Just for illustration,
someone showed an account
argument.
id incident which I wish to
:ant incident in the
it of China was a
: of the church, by
en by people con-
against the Chris-
. Sun's family and
mention concerned
represented
it was Chri
stand the di
The thiri
the Soong f
wedding by c
;t ridicule of
:ers. Some of them
•Christian elements
. commenting with
lal, chiefly because
;o mention to show how
d for Christianity, is in
t happened in the midst
pital, but others i
which i
Id be taker
s day had t
rort the simple facts of the
This suggestion of Dr.
roved to be both poltically
ffiously wise.

7. NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
cides life and deat
ve revealed that,
•, in the judgment of strict extern
u e unmislakably Christian, for tr
ian fellowship and have reached (
to meet their highest needs and s
ive Y u a n — a position which M a d a m e Chit
: once held, (as you all k n o w , the head of tr
an is none other than Dr. S u n Fo, the s
t Sen)—it gives m e peculiar pleasure the
tempts
cern'd
that i.*
nf the
tion to sa
"with". '
Christian
this CO
'L', •',',
the thi
untry. It
^McTySr'
•ee Soong
>• too a
(uesILl
Ihience
life of
i at St.
luch
i"wl
uneS
Joh
Lvasals
!m
!eTn Cr
sisters
una'
w e n
on this
myself
urally (
contributed to
family;
Lid, id f,
W e tw
fellow
>rtime t.
o Irny'
• contemporary
growth and development of these outstanding personalities
as fellow students often do. A n d I think I a m not far frorr
ure to the shaping and unfolding of their lives so far.
T h efirstof these is the influence which Mother Soonj
exerted upon her children—and that applies also to theii
father. Mother Soong, even after her children had reachec
the dizzy eminence in life, social and political, remained i
simple and devout Christian w o m a n . H e r uninterrupted con-
nection with the Methodist church, her regular observance
of Sunday services and other religious devotions, her active
participation in Christian charities, have been a part of the
treasured memories of Methodists of Shanghai. That sim-
ple faith, unadorned by intellectual sophistries, nor spoiled
by worldly successes, together with her continued fellow-
ship with m e m b e r s of a Christian church—wealthy or poor
intellectual or uneducated, those in prominent or obscure-
stations in life, m a d e her a loved personality in the Chris-
tian community of Shanghai. H e r influence upon her chil-
• Ihromdniiit '
Influences of Chri
crn atmosphere has contri
bers of the Soong family.
; and other factor
age that I believe
:on in the Southei
say that this building w
the m e m o r y of the Soon,
founder of this illustriou
secular, that has ever bee
people of C h i n a — a fricne
the inborn characteristics
hich you are dedicating today to
* family, and especially to the
s family of children, is regarded
an any other building, sacred or
n built in the South.
United States of America and the
of the two races- -thrift, industry.
; of the people
; why w e w e ha
s in your churches, who took an active pari
1 work, in medical work, and other social se
This friendship has also been strengthened
ien who decided in our national policy fo
= L-M<i : • best of youth f
mth,
the
•cprcsenled
>f life—all
This building shall forever stand as a s
> this frendship of the past half century.
Second, w e regard this building as th
sion of two cultures—the culture of a n
vigorous, youthful, courage and strengtl
•veries of human life, and at the same '
luing and conserving the best of the di
itions which have poured into the Amer
id the culture of China—a culture of ai
i ancient race which has also served, one
niellinii-pol of many nationalities of the
3f this la
; had opportunity t
} South,
r own Chi-
ineflacablo
ut a mighty f
The Soong
irough the m<
intellectual imagination or papet
ce working through dynamic in
mily, through their individual
dedicating today
ich brought
v Life move-
>ple-are the
nd has been

8. NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTIAN ADVOCA'IL
s possibili
ms who ex- In these three aspect)
nd worked heartily congratulate you
and meglo- dedication of this buildin,
irough hypocritical
teres t of political
valuable than as that
he political game to be Chri
and China have pledged Chriplayed by the demagogue. Ameri
themselves as allies in this great cause. The American peo-
ple and Chinese people have become comrades in arms,
waging a war to obliterate these political and international
monstrosities. It is a comradeship which the Chinese peo-
ple have been looking forward to ever since the founding
of the republic ,and has been eagerly yearned for through-
out thesefiveand a half long years of bloody struggle in a
th a postscrij
, through you
S Gospel according to St.
its significance, who i
world where Christiai
understanding the word of It
racial relationships. They
i shall reign supreme, not only
iove of God, but who also strive
in these aspects of the Gospel,

9. NORTH CAROLINA CHRISTIAN DVOCATE
hardship. Finally came Methodist unification, when ii
1939 these groups became one. Rev. D. R. Williams wai
the last pastor of the Methodisl Protestant Church, aiu
Rev. W . L. Loy was the last pastor of the M . E. Church
In the fall of I
Enfield as the first
Critcher should go
(his His
. B. D. Crticher was sent to
f the united church. To Mr.
the credit for the success of
ion for all concerned and his
In Fifth Str-vt Methodist church (now Fifth Ave
nuc i he was baptized by Key. T. Page Ricard. the pastor
taking as his Christian name Charles -Jones in honor o)
his friend and benefactor. Thus lie became Charles Jones
Soon, though generally known as Charlie Soon ir.
property and arm
Church holdings :
built, and which 1
the fall of 1942 a
in full; coramitte.
ver all church
former M . P.
iebt on Trinity
er'sa-.-- , nd
"'"FOIIO^IUZ'VV
Vanderbilt, leavin
Trinity and Vande
spent some time i
Street church. In
g there in 1885
rbilt must of tlit
i" Wlminglon a
the fall of tl
Keener ordained him at the meetin
ence in Charlotte.
by Bishop Eener 1
five of the North
return he taught t
Devoted to his i
M . C. A. in Shangl
The young ma]
i in Ins studies in the
spent three years at
. S„ he had been at
and. H>ilt in June, he
ml preached at Fifth
iat year Bishop J. C.
g of the N. C. confer-
i was then appointed
;o the work in China as a representa-
Carolina confer
nd preached nei
jhurch and a loj
mi all his days. 1
1'iiee. So Charlie was
Thefirstyear on his
ir Shanghai.
al supporter of the Y.
•harles -I. Soong prov-
ary, 1943, the mortgage was burned at a jubilee celebra-
tion, and plans were made for the dedication of the
Trinity church 1ms a comfortable parsonage, a beau-
tiful church building which will be adequate for many
years to come, and a membership of about 300, charac-
terized by a fine spirit, of fellowship and co-operation.
The dedication of this church will be a realization of a
dream and an inspiration for a period of greater growth
and usefulness. B. D. Critcher.
ROUND OF DISTRICT CONFERENCES BEGINS
Last week the round of seventeen district conferences
in the state began with the Durham at Yaneeyville and
the Rocky Mount at Littleton. The two district superin-
tendents, Rev. P. S. Love and Rev. T. M c M . Grant, met
every demand upon them. All went merry as a marriage
bell. Programs were so arranged as to avoid loss of time
or to crowd out important matters. The present methods
of considering ihemes .such as education and missions,
laymen's work and our institutions, add much to the
pire. Dr. Fletcher S, Brockman. who spent
years in China, spoke in highest terms
Sootig with whom he was most intimately
the day of his death.
1926, during the pastorate of Rev.
!
the '
TO D E D I C A T E TRINITY C H U R C H , ENFIELD
On Sunday, May 16, Bishop Clare Purcell, assisted
by Rev. T. M. Grant, district superintendent, Rev. R. C.
Stubbing, Rev. C. P. Womacfe and Rev. B. D. Critcher,
pastor, will dedicate Trinity Methodist church in Enfield,
bringing realization to the hopes and dreams which have
inspired this congre
building was laid in
C. T. Rogers.
For many years in Enfield two Methodist churches.
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Meth-
odist Protestant Church, had carried on, each congrega-
tion having its periods of success and of struggle and
The beautiful new church at: Yanceyville brought to
finish by Rev. J. V. Early contributed much to the
ccasion. Of course the big Durham conference crowds
ny ordinary church, hut the compensation on this oeea-
ion was to furnish an excuse for those who would gossip
utside not to leave the impression on anyone that they
t-ere not interested in the speeches and business of the
lay. Of special interest at Littleton was the considera-
: the : He.
• Madai
od and the points