Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-02-07

fingers, toes, nose and ears we're cut
off as a mark of disgrace. These de-
:rees, however, did not affect the resi-
lent foreign Christians, whose individ
1al worship, so long as teachings were
aot attempted, was tolerated.
The emperor, seeing that some pre-
terred to undergo these tOrtures rather
than renounce their new faith, in Sep
TENDER, 1922, as retaliatory measure,
had large number Of Spanish mis-
sionaries from Manila, together with
their Japanese converts, publicly exc
cuted at Nagasaki. twenty-five were
burned over a slow fire and the re-
mainder were beheaded, their remains
being thrown into the sea to prevent
the foreign Christians following a
practice then in vogue of preserving
the corpses as relics.
Some days after this wholesale exc
cution, two Franciscan and two
Dominican friars were also burned
at Omura. Then followed an i'm
perial edict stating the pains and
penalties. such as death and civil
deprivations etc., against all those who
refused to abandon their new religion.
Another edict was subsequently is
sued imposing the penalty of death
upon anyone who should bring priests
to Japan, together with forfeiture Of
the ship and of the merchandise i.
carried, and to all denouncers of Japa-
nese subjects processing Christianity
the culprit's property and goods wei =
transferred to the informant as a re-
ward.
Notwithstanding all this, there were
friars in the Philippines who were
eager to seek martyrdom, but the Phil
ippine traders, fearing the confiscation
of their ships and cargo, if they car
ried the missionaries into Nippon, alb
solutely refused to transport the claa-
oring ecclesiasts, no matter the pr.ce
offered. The Spanish government also
supported the mariners by strictly pro-
hibiting the transportation of monks
to Japan. The archbishop of Manila,
contrary to custom and to the rules Of
the church, joined in the crusade by
imposing church penalties on the
priests or friars who persisted in Sc
cretly violating the governments pro-
hibitions, SO that the missionaries
were hampered at home as well as
abroad. This attitude of the authori-
ties, both civil and religious, caused
the chiefs of the various monastic or
ders to hold a consultation. AS re-
| suit they some time later bought a
ship to carry four Domi2ican, fosr
Franciscan and two Recoleto frlars tt
the home Of the heather Japanese.
When the governor general, Alonzo
| de Fajardo, heard of the intended OK
petition, he Immediately prohibited
| it. saying that he would not consent ia
| the sending of any more victims to
Japan, whereupon the heads of the diff
ferent religious organizations called
upon him to state that if he persisted
! in his prohibitions upon his conscience
alone would fall the enormous respon-
sibility of having lost souls which
they intended to save at the risk OF
their lives. The superstitious COVER
nor, after some deliberation, therefore
withdrew his objections, referring the
matter to the archbishop Of Manila,
who at once permitted the ship to
leave. but with the ten friars dis
guised as merchants.
! Several times the vessel was nearly
wrecked in storms but it finally ar
rived safely in a japanese port, and
the friars effected; a landing. Blu,
shortly afterward they were detected