The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-15

Editor Advertiser: usually read the
spicy articles of the Bystander with
interest and amusement. There have
been lately. however, some things from
| his pen which are unjust to the Chris
tian Chinese, and contrary to facts.
| willingly be unjust and that he will
take my correction of his statements in
good part. The assertions he makes
are calculated to do harm to a work in
| interested.
On March Is in the Advertiser the
Bystander writes: 81 heard the other
day that out of the multitude of Chi
| nese converted in Hawaii first and
last, only three We're willing to be bur-
led in Christian graveyards. When it
came to the end, Christianity was dis
carded and the rapt and parting soul
saw only the blue and crimson faces of
/ his idols and Ionged for the fellowship
| in the tomb of heather shades alone"
| What are the facts? 1 will gladly
| meet the Bystander any day which
suits his convenience and Will take him
| to Christian graveyard in Honolu-
lu where ninety-two 1929 Christian Chi
| nese have been buried. In 1887 a Chi
nese Christian corporation purchased
piece of land in the then new ceme-
terry" at Makiki for the purpose of pro-
! Christians. Since that time Christians
OF this race dying in Honolulu have
been buried there until there are today
ninety-two graves by actual count and
tan faith and hope. I find that only
two or three Chinese Christians who
have died in Honolulu are not buried
there. and these because of societies
to which the deceased belonged having
charge of affairs.
Inquiry elected the fact that it is
common thing when a Christian Chi
nese is about to die, for the sick one
to give positive directions to relatives
that no ceremonies which can be con-
strued as savoring of heathenism shall
be used and that only the Christian
service shall be held. I can bring
many reputable witnesses as to this
if the Bystander should desire to in
vestigate the truth.
AS to the other islands can testify
that I personally have seen many more
than three graves of Christian Chi
nese marked with crosses and Christian
words, and these are in cemeteries be-
longing to the church which is in my
charge.
Now as to Rice Christians" There
may be, and there no doubt are, Chi
nese who avow themselves Christians for
some imagined purpose of material gain
If there are, then they are not unlike
some white people who appear to others
to join lodges or churches from mixed
motives of social advantage or posi-
ton The Chinese do not differ essen
TALLY from other human beings.
There may be~and there no doubt are,
Rice Christians" in China, but during
the Boxer troubles there were hundreds
upon hundreds of Christians who were
chopped to pieces, or pulled to death by
wires rather than renounce this faith.
These are facts which the Bystander
can ascertain if he desires.
While en- route to the mainland last
year 1 had long conversations with a
man who was shut up in Peking at the
time of the Boxer outrages. He assur-
ed me. what I had heard before, that
the Chinese Christians asked to be shut
up with them and that these people
acted splendidly from first to last. In
his belief the legation buildings would
have been tal-en had it not been for