The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-15
MAS iM|SS|ONARY MCH|NA,
MISS RICKETTS, TELLS ExPERI.
ESCEs OF TWENTY YEARS.
Chinese Authorities Placed Stumb.
lfng stones In Her Way ana Na-
tives Threatened Her Life-'rhey
Arc Fast Bec0ming Christfans.

Mi1 Catherine IL. Ricketts,, one OF the
most noted missionaries OF the present
century. Ii In Seattle. She has been at
work In China for the past twenty years.
ana, although often opposed. even by the
authorities, continued her work
Though b years Of age, her earnest face
looks almost youthful in It's setting OF
white hair. and her manner bespeaks the
energy and firmness which have filed her
twenty years Of labor In China with note
worthy result. With the exception Of two
burroughs OF eighteen months each she
has been constantly in her chosen field OF
service.
Last Wednesday Miss Ricketts, address
ed the Woman's Foreign missionary So
cisty OF this city al the Madison street
n. =. church. giving vivid and interest
ing description OF the religious and social
conditions Of the Chinese. dealing chiefly
with the women OF China and their mode
OF living. Sunday night she continued her
subject the women OF China, adding 10 4
the hospital work carried on among them.
Her station Is in the city Of Chao Chow
Flu, one OF the largest cities in the PROV
ince Of Canton. In describing the work
she said. Our efforts in China for years
have been directed towards remedyins the
miserable condition Of the Chinese women.
These poor creatures. from the cradle to
the grave. are treated without respect and
often In very inhuman manner. Their
relations seem TO have no use for them
and they are often killed at their birth.
II they escape this fate they are married
at the age Of Is or l6. Their husbands ara
their absolute owners and can sell or get
rid OF them whenever they please, on any
pretext whatever.
I'VE established hospital and chapel In
that city several years ago. We met with
opposition very often, and. what was the
worst OF all. the authorities actually sup
ported the mohs. Last June they made an
attack upon the hospital. and firmly be-
lieye that they woulc have burned the
building and murdered all Of US had II not
been for few friendly natives we had with
Us.
THE hospital work is being carried on by
DR.. and Mrs Cousland. Mrs. Cousland Is
daughter OF Rev. w. s. Harrington. of
this city. Both are doing noble mission
ties. Our little chapel near the hospital Is
getting too small for the crowds that come
10 the services. Five years ago there were
but fifteen members OF the church. just
before left there were ninety-five. which
Is good Increase. When | went there
I experienced great difficulty In walking
Now the natives are tolerahly friendly and
ask me to hold services In their homes
quite often"
Miss Ricketts, says the rumors OF the d.
Vihton 81 Gutsid aiftuHE tsf EUROPEAN
tiv~s have stirred the people up intensely
and they now regard al strange foreigners
with suspicion and hatred. This, she says.
arises from the teachings Of Their priests
and their naturally supers.tsous nature,
"If the country Is 10 be divided she
said, ~ hope that either the United States
or England will get possession Of the prov
ince Of Canton. Next 10 these / hope Ger
many gets II. because II any other nation
except these three mentioned has control
In this province IL VIII destroy all our mis-
eion work and the results Of our many
years Of toll will be lost. | am going back
In November may be going to my death.
because II seems 20 me thar the natives are
growing more and more hostile every day.
end n they become much worse even my
friends can no longer protect me"
Miss Ricketts, closed her address with an
earnss. appeal 90 her listeners to do all
they could TO help on the mission work.