The San Francisco call., 1897-09-07
CHRISTIANS TO
BUY A SLAVE
A fearful Plea Made to the
Meeting Of Baptist
Ministers.
An Object Lesson on the Present
Condition Among the
Chinese.
A Committee Appointed to See About
Raising the Necessary
Funds.

A little Chinese slave child played abou
on the floor of the room where the Bap-
tist preachers meet in the Young Mems
Christian Association yesterday, while
the matron of the Fresno Baptist mission
made fearful plea for funds to rescue the
little one from future worse than death.
For while the ministers found it hard
to realize that actual slavery could exist
in free America, but the few ministers
present who were acquainted with the
true state of the Chinese slave question
added their voices to that OF Miss 5. T..
Stein, in affirming that the present law Is
powerless to prevent such scandals.
"Is there no statute which says, You
cannot sell your child? Can the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty do nothing?"
asked Rev. DR.. Morse, incredulously.
Look what has resulted at the other
missions from bringing such cases into
the courts" replied Rev. G. K. Cairns OF
the First Baptist Church. THE cases are
being lost right along, and if you go to
law your power with the Chinese Is lost.
The Baptists have retained the confidence
of the Chinese better than the PIesby-
terians and Methodists have because we
have entirely avoided litigation" And
the speaker intimated that, especially IN
the case before them, would it be neces-
sary to settle out of court.
But they will be selling all their chill
dren," expostuIated DR.. Morse.
mo, there are reasons why they will not
do that; but this child is already sold, -
replied DIR. Cairns.
The story told by Miss Stein was that
the child had been sold TO defray her
fathers debts. Her parents can keen
her till she Is of marriagea5le age, when
she will be sold as wife. The Christian
Cinnamon, however, tell US that no de-
cent man will give big round sum for a
wife, and the girl will really be sold where
she will have to be driven to a much
worse life.'
Miss Stein said that Lui Sing, the
father, Chinaman of Fresno. was $3.50
in debt and pledged his child, Wye Lun,
to his creditors for that amount. They
were willing to own the child in lieu OF
money, for to offset the risk of her dying
before reaching maturity. they on the
other hand could obtain big sum for her
If she did live.
Hearing of this state of things the mis-
sion had tried 10 raise funds 10 buy
the child. Her father had signed a
document, which was read a. yester-
days meeting, giving up all claim
TO her, but the mother refused tC
sign until the cash was forthcom
ing. Both parents were willing to resigr
her to the mission, but they feared tn'
creditors wrath. They had such aith IL
the Christian workers that they allowed
Wye Lun TO come to San Francisco III
order that a plea might be made for her.
While Miss Stein was tearfullv pleadins
the child's cause the little three year-old
played about in front of the pastors ut.
terly unconscious OF the interests nel
small lie had at stake. Indignation wa:
expressed that such state of things could
possibly exist, and a large part of the
meeting was consumed in hearing the tale
of woe and discussing il. Finally the iol
lowing gentlemen were appointed a com
mittee to see what could be done toward
helping the case-Rev. DIR. Keetch of Oak
land, Rev. DR.. Sunderland and DR.. Cairns
This matter" said Rev. DR.. Morse
ought 10 be brought before our people.