The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-25
SOCIETY OF THE BOXERS
ORGANIZED THUGS WHO HARASS
MISSIONARIES IN CHINA.

= ORGANIZED THUGS WHO HARAss
ne MISSIONARIES IN CHINA
ie The Fraternity Was Organized to Eztlr
rs pate the Native Robbers. UnscrupIou.
S. Mandarins Have Captured the organi
lg cation and Turned It Against Foreigner.
Repeated and apparently irrepressible
), atrocities perpetrated upon Christian
:, missionaries in China by the Society OF
!, Boxers have at last taken on politi-
cal aspect and will probably lead up to
- precipitate settlement of the open
, door question, although in an indirect
!, manner. Unless the authorities at Pc
+ king display D,ore willingness or ability
to protect foreigners than they have
shown thus far the governments of civ
llized nations will be compelled to take
affairs into their own hands. Once
that This step is made there will prob
ably be an end of both boxers and of
|, the Chinese question:
The thug society, whose unspeakable
deeds have Mortified the Christian peo-
pie of two continents, is said to have a
membership running up into millions
The scene of its present outrages is
the maritime province of Shan Tung,
which lies south of the Chinese capt.
tai city. Shan Tung has an area of
06,OOO square miles, almost the exact
size Of the state of Illinois. Packed
within this space is population of not
less than 100000 subjects of the en-
peror. These figures indicate against
what odds our Christian missionaries
have to contend.
When and where the Society of Box
ers was organized is not known. But
we are certain that it was not origin
ated for the purpose of slaughtering
foreign devils" the name bestowed on
Europeans by the Chinese. The society
was first called the Brotherhood of the
Strong Sword" and its object was the
| eXtirpation of native robbers. But this
admirable motive was corrupted by
wicked men within the organization,
and of recent years it's machinery has
been turned against all Europeans, and
especially against missionaries. This
fact is due to certain unalterable pre1u-
dices, beliefs and customs of the Chi
pese on the one hand, and to the DELHI
crate lies and ISLANDERS of the educated
natives on the other.
Take him all around, the Chinese is |
quiet, peace loving fellow who abb
hors fight He is not warmly welded
TO his religion as IS the Hindu. He
would as soon profess Christianity as
Buddhism or COnfncianism. He has
no quarrel with the Christian mission
airy because of that functionary's doc
trines or because of his desire to let the
light of the gospel shine in China. The
enmity Of the yellow man for the mis-
lies in the almost insane re-
gard in which the Chinese hold their
dead ancestors. The Chinese will lis
ten unmoved to any denunciation of
his religion. But word in derogation
Of his beloved dead rOuses within him {
fiend that stops at nothing
For ages the Chinese have followed
Itinerary practice which has been
leld in more reverent esteem than the
,igtail. When man dies his son dedi.
'ates to his memory a tablet of wood .
lpon which are inscribed the words
Spirit Lord" and spirit Throne" At
er burial this tablet is taken home, !.
ct up in a specially prepared place, :
nd the eldest son, morning and even !.
1g, for the mourning period of three =
ears, sets before it offerings to the
oul OF the dead man. This custom is :,
OF religious any more than is the
custom of strewing flowers
n the graves of the departed. 1t is l.
My the peculiar fashion in which the
nlnese honor the memory Of their an
estors. And, strange as it may seem,
lis practice has stood between Chris
anity and the millions of China, for
70 centuries. IL
When the early Catholic mission az
les went to the celestial kingdom they II
'und its people apparently worship n
ng a slab of wood. Ready to- listen OF
all suggestions from the mission tn
les in other matters, the Chinese drew W
e line at giving up this particular r
t OF homage to their dead. The sol tn
ers OF the cross were puzzled. I'm tn
rtain as to whether or not the tablet TO
orshlp was idolatry, they appealed on
Rome and the judgment of the pope pc
rs adverse. To be Christian the an
llnese must give up the memorial tab
:. When, later, the other churches or
Mt out their missionaries the Roman pc
ecedent was followed by them, and fe'
S been followed until today. That an
one reason why China has been back fif
lrd in changing the josshouse for the on
urch. sh,
. 24t
All this, however, would not account mir
the murderous attacks on the mis- tur
naries which have made the very
me of China an abomination. The sol
sses of the people in that country nee
} stepped in ignorance They are ten
lily influenced by their intelligent sus
l educated countrymen. The latter fiv,
Te been at very great pains to instill nul
the MINDS OF the vulgar an intense old