The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-07
THE MISSIONARIES HOPEFUL.
One Says the Cinnamon Are Discour
aged and Vast Peace.

aged and waEt Peace.
NEW YORK, Sept. e.-The Rev. DR..
Brown. OF the Presbyterian Board Of For
eign Missions, has just received several
letters from China and Japan. showing
what the missionaries think of the situa-
ton both from political and a mission
airy standpoint. The following was writ
ten by DR.. Charles Lewis. NJ. d.:
"U. s. S. Yorktown.
"Chefoo. Chira, July a.
You may think 1t queer to see that
am on gunboat. an odd place for a mis-
sionary. but strange and odd things are
Transporting in China nowadays. As soon
as | saw It was impossible for me to keep
on in my work at Gilman, with the cen
sent of my colleagues I offered my SER
vices to Governor Yuan to care for his
troops $1,000 foreign traGned) while he was
lighting the Boxers. His ample protec-
ton and painstaking for the safety OF all
foreigners in Shantung / felt should be
rewarded in some way, I made Gov
ernor Yuan the above offer, which he ap-
preciated very much, but he said he could
not accept me. For should he take his
| army north and have with him .oreign
doctor, his enemies would rage the MORE
He had been very good to us all Only
about month ago he subscribed $50 In
gold to the hospital. Many think him
traitor. and say he is on both sides.
think he is very shrewd and tn occupy the
position he does he must be very careful
not to antagonize the Empress and her
party. Among the superstitious and ig-
norant people when: he governs, he could
not declare himself out and out for re-
form. Had he done this he knew nat HIS
official head must fall at once. And then
what chance had he to do anything for
reform? Better DO something for reform,
even with the censure of the radical re-
formers, than to be put in a position
where you can do nothing. 1t may he mis-
placed confidence, but | am a believer in
Yuan Shi Kai. Not being accepted tn be
of service to the Chinese, / then tele-
graphed to our Consul to secure me
place in the army or navy and soon after
reached Chefoo / was called to this ship
to fill vacancy made by the sickness OF
one of the naval surgeons
A letter written by Wallace st. Faus.
dated Arima, japan, August 10. describes
how the houses of the missionaries were
looted and burned and in conclusion says:
81 am inclined to think that by January
We can start back unless there are COM
plications in the situation in China that
do not now appear. But the board AUST
face the possibility of being unable to
reopen the stations in the interior of
Shantung for year.
The Rev. DIR. Paul S. Bergen writes from
Tsingtau under the date OF August 6. He
seems to think that matters are inproy-
ing. All anti-foreign and Christian proc-
lamations have been withdrawn from the
province and no more arrests of Chris
tians have been made. Those who have been
arrested have been released. Only c very
few have been killed or have died from
their injuries. 81 have positive informal
ffr,, rsf rrstr- trx-nf ba tTr-z
pastor who was so badly beaten is low
at home and is rapidly recovering. There
may certainly be complications later but
we hope not. The Chinese in the north
seem discouraged, and are seeking peace.
We trust, therefore. that there will be
no further serious trouble in Shantung.
J. Walter Lowrie writes from TfeRtsin.
under date of August l, and says that an
other letter has been discovered in the
vice royal house, which contained a re-
ceipt given by the Viceroy for the head
of a foreigner, in return for which he rave
the Boxers so taeIs
The Rev W L. Beard. of the American
Board of Foreign Missions, writes: AS
the rumors OF Boxer massacres were get
ting somewhat alarming God opened the
heavens and poured down water till the
houses by the hundreds were taken on
their foundations and hundreds of high
mud walls were laid fiat. The falling
walls crushed thousands of poor human
beings to death, while as many more were
washed down the river. Other thousands
were rescued from the roofs of their
houses by boats only to sec their houses
fall or float away. On June % the water
at Foo-chow was two feet higher than
the oldest inhabitants had ever seen 1t.
There were so many deaths and so much
loss that the people in a great many cases
made no attempt to procure collins in
which to bury the dead