The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-17
Bishop Cranston Says They Are
Not at Fault in China.
WHERE BLAME REALLY LIES.
Greed of the Powers for Territory
and Interference OF French
Priests I'm Matters of Government
Responsible for Anti-Foreign
ARffation-The Innocent Now
suffer With the Guilty Ones.

Bishop Earl Cranston. OF the Methodist
Episcopal church. stationed at Portland,
arrived in this city yesterday morning 10
attend the Seattle district conference now
in progress at Kirkland. Immediately on
arriving here he took the car and boat
TO Kirkland, whore he participated In the
sessions during the day and evening and
also In the dedication Of the new church
In Western ecclesiastical circles few
men are better known than Bishop Grams
ton As n church worker, in his high
ONCE, he has done much to aid the pro-
gress Of the Methodist Episcopal church
on the Pacific coast As man he IL known
az big hearted, ready and willing at all
times 10 go far out OF his way to pro-
mote the welfare OF others.
Early in 1865 Bishop cranston received
an assignment from his church to pro-
coed to China. Japan and Korea and take
charge OF the Methodist Episcopal mis-
sion work IN these three countries. He
remained there until last April. when he
was called home by other urgent matters
For the first few months of his stay In
the Orient he devoted much of his time
to the administration OF mission AFFAIRS In
Japan and Korea. During his stay In
China he was as far inland as Kiukiang
and northeast as far as Tsunhua. in the
province OF shantung. Twice he spent
brief period In Picking and visited Foo
chow and Hinghua- He assisted In the
dedication OF n Methodist Episcopal
church. built by funds contributed by
Chinese Christians on the site OF the
kuchsng massacre, FIVE years ago.
During his stay In China Bishop Grams
ton had q splendid opportunity to OBJ
serve the conditions resulting from church
work and also the progress being made in
the various missions. Since the begin
ming OF the Chinese troubles there has
A a Ilsxk
causes leading up to the outbreak. II
has In some quarters been charged that
much OF the blame lies at the door OF the
missionaries. This idea Bishop Cranston
refutes In an array OF the facts As he
found them to exist while no was So
Journer in the Chinese empire.
Conduct Of Chinese Missions.
The bishop. when seen at the conciu-
sion Of the morning session OF the Kirk
land conference yesterday. gave an in
terview. during the course of which he
said.
II went 10 China on assignment In 1898,
and remained In charge of our mission
work there for two years First ! must
s yG We prar 10 e.
outbreak OF the present trouble. Ave an
Dua mission conferences In China and ono
In the central portion of the empire.
meeting every four years. making ak In
all Two OF these annual conferences
were organized and conducted Just the
same as the Puget sound conference. In
these we had special courses OF study
for Chinese preachers Our books OF in
struction are printed In Chinese and to
large degree are understood by the Chi
nssa preachers az well as by many OF the
members OF the various missions
we had. according 20 our last re-
port, 1900 members n China. We had
i2,eq Sunday school children. lso
about 900 workers or course am speak
Ing now only of our own church work.
AT the time the trouble began our
work WIS prosperous. our only difficuity
Ia fact was In keeping up with H. al
though we have been very careful as to
sionaries have been extraordinarily care
fui about taking law suits into our
church. The flrst question with US was
10 avoid litigation. This caution was In
ployed b. the French Catholic priests who
seemed 10 have az their chief OBJECT the
support ~ those Identified with church
litigation against all other Christian de-
nominations
Character of Converts.
1--WE put stop TO litigation by appoint
Ing q committee OF experienced miwsionar-
les aud ISSUING an order prohibiting any
preacher from taking up cause without
80 that tho OFT uttered sentiments against
missionaries citing the large amount OF
Chinese litigation In which they were In
volved does not apply 70 the Methodist
mission workers ia the empire, az least.
THE character OF cur converts was
rood, when one considers they are the
products Of long period Of heathenism
and inherited superstition. We cannot Cx-
pect such people To break away from
Their tendencies aud be entirely ahsoived
fIa..4x trr . len