The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-03

Word has just been received at the
Franciscan Monastery at Brookland OF the
smurder of four missionaries of the Fran
ciscan order in China The news comes
direct from Rome, and there is no doubt
of its authenticity. The missionaries Killed
were Mgr. Antony Fantosati, Titular
Bishop of Antren, ands Vicar Apostolic of
Southern Hu-An, and MS three assistants.
all of them Francisoans. One of these
assistants went to China as late as last
November.
The massacre took place on July 4, at
Hens -Sien-Fu, where Bishop Fantosati re-
sided. The Bishop had been fearful Of
trouble for some time, and had arranged
for measure of protection against an
anti Christian uprising. He had placed
two hundred of the native converts under
arms. and instructed them to guard the
cathedral at Hen-Sien-Fu. A body of
Chinese troops had been provided by the
Viceroy Of the province, and were in
structed to aid the Christians in case of
an attack. As usual, however, the. native
troops were in league with the Boxers.
On July 4, while the missionaries and
their converts were holding services in
the cathedral, a signal was given and
mob of Boxers, re-enforced by the Chinese
troops, surrounded the building. The
Christians, who believed themselves safe
from harm for the time being were taken
unawares After cutting off all escape for
those in the cathedral, the Boxers and
their allies set fire to the edifice, and the
Christians were slaughtered as Il y came
out.
The native converts were massacred
-s.,l,A raFA liza. .rxWfTr
to escape. A worse fate was reserved for
Mgr. Fantosati. The brave Bishop was
captured and led to the Vicero.'s yamen.
He was then subjected to the most dia-
bolical tortures, after which he was de-
capitated ana his head suspended before
the yamen.
The three other priests were then put
to death after suffering the most bar
barrie cruelties. Six hundred Of the native
converts were put to the sword on that
day, and the women were treated with
the most revolving brutality.
Hu-An, in which this massacre took
place. is one of nine vicariates which as-e
in charge of the Franciscan friars, the
Bishop of each being member OF that
order. There are in all 124 friars laboring
as missionaries in these vicariates, which
include total OF 109.3S0 Catholics out Of
a population of 50. .0Go, Geo. The Franciscan
chapels, and churches scattered through
these vicariates. besides nine seminaries
with 145 seminarians. 312 schools. and
twenty-seven orphan asylums.
During the year 1893 the franciscan
missionaries baptized 1929 pagan chill
dren, received 9.0S1 converts, and had
1892 catechumens: 1915 children were
also placed in orphanages. schools, or with
Christian families.
1t was through the Franciscan friars
that Christianity was first introduced into
China in the latter half Of the thirteenth
century. One of the most famous of their
early missionaries was John of Monte
Corvino who became Archbishop of Pekin,
then called Kambalek in 1888. Since that
time an immense number of Franciscan
friars have been killed in China. In
the beginning of the present century. in
1915, the heroic John Of Triora (who was
beatifed in Rome last month with so much
solemnity), crowned his apostolate in
China by martyrs death. AS late as De-
cember, 1898, another Franciscan, Father
Victorin Delbrock. laid down his life for
the faith after prolonged torture.
The FranciscaRs at Brookland are in
daily expectation OF receiving further
news of the massacre of more Of their
fellow religionists who are stationed in the
most disturbed districts of China.