The sun., 1900-07-20
PRESBYTERIANS HOPEFUL.
but THEY CABLE THEIR MISSION.
ARIES FULL DISCRETION"
work Of Its Secretaries Approved ny the
Board Of Foreign Missions Disastrous Ef'
feet Of Abandoning Mission Property Dan
ger That the Work Of Years VIII Be Undone.

work Of Its Secretaries Approved ny the
Board Of Foreign Missions Disastrous Ef-
feet Of Abandoning Mission Property Dan
ger That the work Of Years VIII Bc Vndone.
A special meeting OF the Board OF Foreign
Missions of the Presbyterian Church was held
yesterday afternoon In the Presbyterian Build
Ing In Fifth avenue, when the interests OF the
Church in China. especially at Pekin and Pao-
ting-fu. were fully considered. The board de-
cided 10 leave the administration OF all Chinese
troubles in the hands of the council. Out OF the
twenty-five members on the board there were
present the Rev Drs. John ID. Wells. George Al
exander. j +. Patterson, W. X. Richards. John
Fox. Messrs Darwin X. James. ". 4. Stiger. ID.
". McWilams, Scott Foster: Secretaries A. W.
Halsey and Arthur Brown. and Treasurer
Charles W Hand
The Secretaries first made a full statement OF
the situation OF the Presbyterian missions in
China and what policy they had followed Ia the
recent troubles. The board unanimously ap-
proved of the measures that mad been taken by
the officers Of the board. and expressed the
opinion that everything practicable had been
done to give relief to the missionaries and to
obtain Information regarding them.
pr, Brown. Secretary or the board said that
while great anxiety was expressed for the safety
OF the thirteen missionaries In Pekin and the
five In Pao-ting-fu. the board stl cherished the
nope that they are living, and II was feIt mat
we ought not to assume ,hat they have been
massacred until more reliable information has
been received than IRON the conflicting
des spatches published from day To day
To the large number OF missionaries now as.
sembled in Chefoo and Tsin-tan the board
authorized a cablegram directing them to avoid
all unnecessary risks. giving them full dlscre-
ton as to precautions for their safety. and also
giving them permission to leave their stations
and seek safety in Shanghai or elsewhere. II
they deem such course pI udent
DIR. Brown said: The board does not deem II
wise 10 positively order he missionaries 10 leave
China. They are experienced men thoroughly
familiar with the Chinese people and country.
several OF them having spent twenty or thirty
years In China. The board has all onndence
In their Judgment, For the missionaries TO
leave their sta,iors Is to doom the Chinese
Christians to bitter persecution and leave them
without guidance or help. 1t Is to expose the
mission property to destruction by the rabble.
undong the work of weary years. In such cir
cun,stances the typical missionary has the
soldiers determination not 10 leave his post OF
duty unless II becomes absolutely necessary.
But the board wishes the missionaries to feel
that il gives them authority TO do that II neces-
sary.
The board voted that no new missionaries
under assignment 10 China, and no China mis-
sic naries now In this country on fiirlough. be
sent to the field until further action Is taken by
the board. IL was also vote 4 to make arrange
ments for a conference with the representa-
tives OF the foreign mission boards Of other
denominations, to be held In New York In
September, with the hope by that time the
situation may be clear enough to justify some
definite action for future policy.