The 1892 Memorial Hall and Hospital Archives – Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

The 1892 Memorial Hall and Hospital Archives
Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Honoring the Heritage 。。。Building for the Future
Universal Fraternity and Medical Excellence

Formal dedication ceremonies for the renovated 1892 mission hospital founded by Dr. William Edward Macklin, the first missionary to China sent by Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada in 1886, were held on Tuesday afternoon, January 23, 2007 in the Macklin Courtyard of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The historic building now serves as the hospital’s 1892 Memorial Hall and Hospital Archives, and includes a series of memorial galleries, a dedicated archives center and a spacious conference hall.

Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital’s 19th President, Prof. Ding Yitao, M.D., hosted the public ceremonies. Prof. Ding warmly welcomed the visiting dignitaries, which included representatives from the Nanjing Municipal Government, the Bureau of Public Health, Nanjing University, Nanjing College of Medicine, Nanjing TCM University, Nanjing Xianlin University City, and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group. International guests visiting from America and Canada included Dr. William Nottingham and Dr. Xiaoling Zhu, Area Executive for East Asia and the Pacific, representing the Christian Church (Disciples) USA and Canada, Ms. Marjorie Ruth Hancock, granddaughter of hospital founder Dr. William Macklin, Ms. Carolyn Johnson Sandison, great-granddaughter of Dr. William Macklin, Dr. Revs. William and Narka Ryan, nephew and niece of former hospital laboratory director Ms. Grace Bauer, and other friends of the hospital.

{mosimage}In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Ding Yitao, acknowledged the historical contributions of Dr. William Edward Macklin (1860 – 1947) hospital founder and first president, and the numerous doctors and medical professionals who have so faithfully served the people of China for more than 100 years. Other congratulatory speeches and personal reflections on the hospital heritage were provided by the Director of Public Health, former Hospital Vice President Dr. Han Zhubin, Dr. William Nottingham and Ms. Marjorie Hancock.

Prof. Ding Yitao warmly concluded the public ceremonies by reconfirming the hospital’s continuing respect for the historical heritage, and an eternal adherence to the fundamental principles of universal fraternity, fully subscribing to the highest ideals of medical ethics, with a diligent and innovated devotion to medical excellence.

The event was reported by four major newspapers of Nanjing, with 6 million people, the capital city of Jiangsu Province, China.