Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-04
No INDEMNITY IS ASKED
Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
Not After Monetary ReOompenSe
MASSACRE At uENcHOw MAY Be IGNORED
Church Authorities VIII he Careful
Not to Give Chinese Wrong view
of the work of Amer
lean Missionaries.

When the shocking news came from
Lienchow. China, Of the recent massacre
there OF five Presbyterian missionaries. in
Omaha as well as elsewhere a persistent
feeling arose that the Board of Foreign
Missions, which has charge OF the mis-
sionary work and workers abroad would
demand of the United States government
that 1t make a demand for some sort OF
action looking toward an indemnity or re-
dress. But 1t transpires that instead OF
making such a demand the board and
eminent authorities of the church incline
toward the position that the best interests
OF all will be subserved by taking no
action of this kind
The board has sent out a printed state
ment on the subject, copy OF which has
been received by a member of The Bee
stan from friend who is high In the
councils OF tho Presbyterian church While
this statement does not commit the board
to final determination in the matter
of demanding action. it's tenor shows the
sentiment against that course and this is
backed up by the urgent advice of out
side authorities of the church that resort
he had to no action such as that referred
to.
Not GrasplnE or MerceRary.
One prominent divine and missionary
worker says in a private letter on the
subject:
IT do not gather from what the board
says that its intention-not to claim dam
ages is final. 1 think it's intention is to
avoid giving the natives the impression
that the missionary forces are grasping
and mercenary. and it will perhaps feel
that It can afford to lean far in the other
direction so as to Impress the people with
the spirit Christianity means TO inculcate
In the treatment of such a people It Is
certainly undesirable to give the impress
sion that they may play fast and loose
with the rights Of people and with life
but I quite svmpathize with the spirit
of the board not to antagonize the natives
by what might appear a vindictive course
The board is still not ready to admit, as
shown by its circular statement. that the
alleged official report filed with the gov
eminent at Washington saying the mis-
sionaries precipitated the riot by remov-
ing sacred objects from the Chinese temple
is true It insists there must be another
theory. saying:
1T seems highly improbable that mis-
sionaries who had lived so long at Lien
chow and who were so thoroughly re-
spected by the people whom they were
benefiting. could have committed an overt
act that could have been an adequate
cause for such an appalling massacre"
Commission il Investigating.
AS to the case of DR.. Machle, one of
the missionaries who escaped the death
blows of the heathens, the board intimates
an investigation may be made and for
that matter will include the whole affair
indeed. 1t has a commission, composed of
missionaries from other parts of China,
now at work on this task.
The board is going ahead with plans for
the rebuilding of Its property which was
destroyed and will send other missionaries
to take the places of those killed.
). s. Kunke, now taking post graduate
work in oxford university, England. who
was to have gone a year ago when Rev.
Peale, one who was killed, went has urged
the board TO let him go now and take the
place OF his dead friend and associate.
A. Lee Wilson, a senior in the Princeton
seminary, likewise insists on being sent.
Consul Completes investigation.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA cablegram re-
ceived at the State department from Minis
ter Rockhill at Picking, says Consul ]. A.
Lay at Canton, China, has completed his
investigation into the recent murder of
five Presbyterian missionaries at Lien
chow in the province of Canton No de-
IA NJ tina "a tfOn arr givpn