The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-06
STATEMENT OF ACCUSED
MISSIONARIES IN CHINA

nese officials themselves this charge is
rarely preferred against the Protestant
section of the missionary body. In
fragrant cases of persecution, mission
aries have felt it their duty to support
members of their churches, and it can
not be denied that occasionally natives
have secured the influence of the for
eigner in an unworthy cause. But in
reference in native litigation as such
receives no support from the principles
and practice of the general body.
II. With reference to the second
point-that we have manifested an I'M
Christian spirit in suggesting the pun
ishment of those who were guilty of
massacre of foreigners and native
Christians-we understand that criti-
cism applies chiefly to the message
sent by the public meeting held in
Shanghai in September last.
l. 1t should in the first place, be
borne in mind that the resolutions
passed at that meeting were called for
by the proposal of the allies to evacu-
ate Picking Immediately after the relief
of the legations. 1t was felt, not only
by missionaries but by the whole of the
foreign residents in China, that such
course would be fraught with the
greatest disaster, inasmuch as it would
give sanction to further lawlessness.
2. Further, it must be remembered
that while suggesting that a satisfac-
tory settlement should include the
adequate punishment of all who We're
guilty of the recent murder of foreign
ers and native Christians" it was left
to the powers to decide what that
adequate punishment" should be.
Moreover when taking such measures
as were necessary they were urged to
make every effort to avoid all needless
and indiscriminate slaughter of Chi
nese and destruction of their property"
3. BY strange misunderstanding we
find that this suggestion has been in
terpreted as though it We're animated
by an un-Christian spirit of revenge.
With the loss of scores of friends and
colleagues still fresh upon us, and with
stories of cruel massacres reaching day
by day it would not have been sur
prising had we been betrayed into in
temperate expressions, but we entirely
repudiate the idea<Which has been read
into our words. If governments are the
ministers of Gods righteousness, then
surely it is the duty of every Chris
tan government not only TO uphold the
right but to put down the wrong, and
equally the duty of all Christian sub
Jects to support them in so doing. For
..
is the only alternative to law. Both
justice and mercy require the judicial
punishment of wrong-doers in the re-
cent outrages. For the good people
themselves, for the unfolding or that
standard of righteousness which they
acknowledge and respect, for the
Strengthening and encouragement OF
been throughout on the side of law
and order, for the protection OF
our own helpless women and children
and the equally helpless sons and
daughters of the church, we think that |
such violations, and such heartless and |
unprovoked maSSacreS as have been |
carried out by official authority or
sanction, should not be allowed to pass |
UNPUBLISHED. 1t is not of our personal |
wrongs that we think. but of the main
tenance of law and order, and OF the |
future safety of all foreigners resid- |
ing in the interior of China, who it |
must be remembered, are not under the |
jurisdiction Of Chinese law, but, ac-
cording to the treaties, are immediate
Iy responsible to, and under the pro-
lection of, their respective govern
mentS.
1t is unhappily the lot of missionaries
to be misunderstood and spoken
against, and we are aware that in any
explanation we now offer We add to the
risk of further misunderstanding. but
we cast ourselves upon the forbearance
of our friends, and beg them to refrain
from hasty and Uniformed judgments.
If on our part there have been extreme
statements, if individual missionaries
have used Incorporate words, or have
made demands out of harmony with
the spirit of our Divine Lord. is it too
much to ask that the anguish and per-
il through which so many of our num-
berl have gone during the last six
months should be remembered, and
that the whole body should not be
made responsible for the hasty utter
ances of the few?
On the eve of this new era which is
about to dawn upon this ancient en-
pire we would appeal to all who own
the authority of Jesus Christ to aid us
in bringing about better understand
ing of the true position of affairs, and
our relation to them. At the same time
we would reaffirm our entire faith in
the Christian Gospel as the one great
agency for the mental, moral and
spiritual elevation Of this people, and
we would place ourselves fresh on the
altar OF service, praying that with
greater humility and with more com
plete conservation we may exercise the
ministry to which we are called
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The Yn1np