The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-26
R OF SUBSCRIPTION
WIlMI NGT0N, N. C..
REPORTS AS TO OUTRAGES FERPE-
TRATED BY MISSIONARIES

We have noticed for months that
there was a conflict Of opinion in relig-
ious and secular papers as to the
actual conduct in China of certain
Christian missionaries. The secular
newspapers had correspondents who
CAV distressing and disgraceful re-
port Of how certain missionaries from
the Western world bore themselves.
Other writer's of high Christian char
acter ave given reports that were very
different. We have never taken any
pleasure in the scandals published, but
they were not all wrong and false we
may believe. That some of the mis-
sionaries did not act wisely and Chris
tianly is too susceptible of proof to be
set aside as unworthy and slanderous.
We make an extract from a letter pub
lished and sent to us by a friend, dated
Tien Tsin, August 9th 1900:
The refugees from Pekin ave just
arrived; the bishop is at the gate en-
bracing them, Chinese and white alike.
They are very devoted to their native
Christians, as / should we'll imagine
they would be. They are the seal of
their work. And the native Christians
remind one of the fervor and unworld-
illness Of the Christian martyrs in early
times. Think of one, who, offered forty
dO.,srs a month by the Chinese govern
ms!.t for the work of interpreting-and
government positions are far more
coveted in China han in the United
States-refused, and is a preacher at
$3.50 a month, just enough to give him
the o of the peasant. Many, many
of them could have saved their lives
by denying that they were Christians,
but they preferred death"
That some good and true and conse-
created white missionaries have been
much wronged by the press we cannot
doubt for we a seen the evidence
to the contrary. But, as we have init
mated above, there is alas, much proof
to be gathered that shows a a defec-
ton from the ways of righteousness.
Lying by us is a most instructive and
Well written paper in the last British
SFornightly Review" entitled China
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1906"
It is from the pen of the best informed
EngIishman as to Chinese matters n
the Chinese people that lives-Sir Rob
ert Hart. He has lived in China for
quite twenty years, and holds an i'm
pOEIdII place DIS d bE1IlSn OlllCldl. ne
knows the Chinese kingdom better than
n outside man or the globe of any
nationality and he is a gentleman of
the highest character. His accoun of
what happened at Pekin ESQ he spells
=iD and if the barbarites of the foreign
powers is very shocking. Writing of
the pillaging and general destruction
Sir Robert says, and the last part is
why we copy it, 1.-The demoralizing ef-
feet always and everywhere produced
on all classes by wholesale footing and
its accompanying licence might have
seemed a sufficient eason in itself for
discountenancing and stopping it and
its attendant evils at the outset; such,
however. can hardly be said 20 have
been the case, and even some mission
:aries took such a leading part in spoil
ing the Egyptian for the greater glory
of God, that a b~ystander was heard to
say for a century to come Chinese con-
verts will consider looting and VEN
geance Christian virtues"