The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-03
THE CHINESE REBELLION
DISCUSSED BY THE PASTOR OF
ROBERTS PARK CHURCH.
He Sees Three Good Results in the
Great Uprising and Announces
What They Are.

Rev. c. +. Bacon delivered very inter-
esting sermon yesterday morning at Rob
erts Park Church on the Relation of Mis-
sionaries to the Chinese Rebellion" The
text was Psalm H. first and eighth verses.
Mr. Bacon said in part: THE causes that
produced the rebellion in the Chinese en-
pire have been political, commercial and
religious. The first is a long series of po-
itical movements whereby the Empress
dowager has shown herself mistress of the
Chinese empire. The japanese war was
revolutionizer in Chinese history. 1t has
caused the allies 10 meet an entirely differ
ent army than that which the Japanese
met. Secondly, it has introduced western
ideas and series of semitic and political
pamphlets throughout the Celestial empire
The leavening of western civilization has
produced a condition of discomfort which
has revealed itself in adherence to the en-
pire on one side and the conservative En-
press dowager on the other.
But why this intense hatred to foreign
ers? First, because they disturbed condi-
tions after centuries of stagnation and in
ertia. Second this disturbance has touched
the people at place where feeling grows
most intense against their superstitions.
We cannot realize the intense devotion of
the inhabitants TO the graves of their an
cestors. These are their affairs and most
cherished temples. and the railroads of for
eigners have ruthlessly run through the
cemeteries. destroying. according to their
ideas, the rest of their dead relatives; and
a more substantial ground for their resent
ment has been the throwing out of en-
ployment of thousands of coolies. Third,
we must always remember that there are
classes benefited by revolutions whose
prejudices are gratified or revenge satisfied.
These promoters have added fuel to the
fire by circulating foolish stories OF afro
cities committed by western people.
But the great irritating cause has been
the cupidity and landgrabbing of European
powers. Although there have been forms of
negotiations, yet there has been little re-
gard for Chinas rights to own land or
property. When we remember that her
finest harbors are taken by foreigners, so
that her own fleet cannot gather without
permission of these same foreigners we
realize they have strong cause for resent
ment
what has been the missionaries rela-
lions to these troubles? First, we must dis
tinguish between missionaries. What can
be said of the Jesuitical method of propa-
ganda cannot be charged TO Protestant mis-
sionaries. The first Is to gain power for
the church through political influence AS
for instance, when France demonstrated
and obtained official rank for certain bsh-
ops equal to Chinese viceroys or governors,
and Christians thought in these provinces
that they had no chance in lawsuits with
Christian converts. There are incidents in
which missionaries have and ALWAYS will
be legitimate disturbers. No heather nation
will ever remain the same after the gospel
has been faithfully preached. These mis-
sionaries carry a substitute for heathenism
and Christianity never admits an amalga-
necessary Witldra 0f
tive Christians from paying the taxes for
the support of idol temples make the taxes
heavier on the heather. There is also a
necessary opposition to ancestral worship
wherever 1t partakes of idolatry. A high
moral force, when 1T confrontS a lower
moral force, inevitably produces conflict
But in the selfish, greedy sense the mis-
sionary is far from the worlds disturber-
he awakens only to bless.
THE HERALD OF PEACE.
christianity has something which heath
enism longs to possess, and we must not
forget that thousands of native Christians
love the missionaries and have learned to
know Christ and have Loyalty died for Him.
And more than one diplomat has conceded
that the missionary is the herald of peace
between the Chinese and foreigners, and
the now criticised missionary may even
tually prove a more valuable man than
"In conclusion i wish to summarize the
situation. First, this great rebellion has
caused missionary activity to pause for
moment 1t has destroyed property and
facilities for effort to preach and teach
see three good results: First, we under
stand China better and China will under
stand the Christian world better All
mythical notions will give way TO plain
fact and will appreciate the Chinese
good qualities as we'll as see their bad ones
second. we have had an uncovering of
heathenism. China, with all her culture of
Confucian civilization, has revealed herself
most foolishly superstitious, basely false
and cruelty inhuman. There has been a
great disparity between her ideals and her
reals Third, 1t will show China the folly
OF her own superstitions- The iron horse in
China will operate the same way that the
Irrigation from the holy river Ganges in
India has done II has been rude shock
but a nation that has spent in the embrace
of superstition thousands of years cannot
be awakened gently. The Chinese will be
prepared TO receive and will be prepared to
see the need OF giving the gospel and our
western civilization. and out of the terrible
experiences will be made manifest the holy