The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-19
THE FOREIGN MIS-
SIONARIES IN CHINA

the coast owe their escape In large meas
ure to the friendHness of officials and
people.
"a. To the charge that missionaries
have excited hostility by interfering in
native litigation in the interests of their
converts in courts of justice, we need
only say that even by the Chinese
officials themselves this charge is rarely
preferred against the Protestant section
Of the missionary body. In fragrant cases
OF persecution missionaries have felt it
their duty to support members of their
churches. and 1t cannot be denied that
occasionally natives have secured the in
fluence Of the foreigner in an unworthy
cause. But interference in native litiga-
ton as such receives no support from
the principles and practice of the generI
body.
III. With reference to the second
pcint-that we have manifested an un-
christian spirit in suggesting the punish
ment of those who were guilty of the
massacre Of foreigners and native Chris
tians-we understand that the criticism
applies chiefly to the messafe sent by the
public meeting held in Shanghai in Sep
TENDER last.
II. 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 evacuate Pekin
immediately after the relief of the lega-
tions. 1t was felt, not only by mission
aries. 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 satisfactory
settlement should include the adequate
punishment, Of all who were guilty Of
the recent murders Of foreigners and
native Christians 1t 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 indtscrhminate
slaughter of Chinese and destruction of
their property
SO. BY strange misunderstanding
We find that this suggestion has been
interpreted as though it were animated
by an unchristian spirit of revenge.
With the loss of scores of friends and
colleagues still fresh upon us. and with
stories Of cruel massacre reaching US
day by day. it would not have been
surprising had we been betrayed into in
temperate expressions, but we entire
ly 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
ton government not only to uphold the
right, but to down the wrong, and equal
ly the duty Of all Christian subjects to
support them in SO doing. For China
as for western nations, anarchy is the
only alternative to law. Both justice
and mercy require the judicial punish
ment Of the wrongdoers in the recent
outrages. For the good of the people
themselves, for the upholding of that
standard of Righteousness which they
acknowledge and respect, for the
strengthening and encouragement OF
those officials those sympathies have
been throughout on the side Of law and
order, and 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
of treaty obligations. and such heartless
and unprovoked massacres as have been
carried out by official authority or sane
ton. should not be allowed to pass un-
punished. 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 residing
in the interior of China, who. it must
be remembered. are not under the juris-
diction of Chinese law. but. according
to the treaties are Immediately respon-
sible to, and under the protection Of
their respective governments.
"It is unhappily the lot of missionaries
to be misunderstood and spoken against
Mt To-
ton we now offer we add the risk of fur
Their misunderstanding, but we cast our
selves on the forbearan/e of our friends
| and beg them to refrain from hasty and
| Informed judgments. If on our part
there have been extreme statements, II
| individual missionaries have used in
| temperate words. or have made demands
| out of harmony with the spirit of oul
| Divine Lord. is it too much to ask thai
| the anguish and the peril through which
so many Of our number have gone dur.
| ing the last six months should be re-
membered, and that the whole body shall
not be made responsible for the hasty
| utterances of the few?
| ION the eve of the new era which /!
about to dawn upon this ancient empire
-! we would appeal to all who own tn,
authority of Jesus Christ to aid us II
| bringing about a better understanding
of the true position Of affairs and ou
| relation to them. At the same time W,
would reafirm our entire faith in tn
Christian gospel as the one great agenc.
for the mental. moral and spiritual ele
walton of this people, and we woul'
place ourselves afresh on the altar o
service, praying that with greater hu
mility and with more complete conse
Grafton we may exercise the ministry t
which we are called"