Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-03
PREACHER WAS IN
CONSTANT DANGER
REV. JOSEPH SMALE FEARED
DECAPITATI0N
Saw Twenty-three Executed in One
Day In China and Expected
Similar Fate at Any
Time

81 did not feel a sense of safety fol
one moment for the fear of being de-
capitated while in the interior OF
| China" said Rev. Joseph Smale, pas
tor of the First New Testament church,
late last night at his home, 1903 Win
field street.
Rev. Mr.. Smale returned Saturday
after an extended trip in China since
January q. He was met by S. 1. Mer-
rill elder of the church, at San Fran
CISCO who accompanied him to Los
Angeles. They were met at the station
by about fifty members of the church,
Rev. Mr.. Smale being overwhelmed
with greetings.
AT the First New Testament church
yesterday morning Rev. Mr.. Smale was
greeted with the Chautauqua salute
preceding his sermon on 1.-THE Encour-
aging outlook for Missionary Work -
Last evening his sermon was on the
Korean revival with the statement that
| it was far ahead of the great Welsh
revival
In speaking of his trip Rev. Mr..
! Smale said:
Opens New Church
"I started out January 21 to &C
around the world, but returned with
out completing the circle on account
of the favorable conditions prevailing
in southwest China for opening oul
New Testament church missionary
work.
1--WE are making Pakhai our base fol
operations in that part of the coun
try. While there 1 secured property
for a missionary compound and have
returned this early to push the building
of the same. We have already opened
a gospel hall and placed missionary
family O., Germans that has come un
der our work there. We have also ;
gospel hall at Lingshan, three days
journey north from Pakhai, and hav
placed in charge there native Chris
tian, Ming Cho Huen, our Los An
geles Chinese evangelist.
"I made an extensive interior trip t.
heather cities TO look into the religion
and political situation. L found yer,
pathetic state of affairs. Great discon
tent was shown with the Manchl
dynasty and my opinion is that Chini
is on the eve of a great political reVo
luton. There is a secret organization
called the Triad society, claiming Il
number 100000 of followers to over
throw the present government
"The Manchu dynasty is doing all Il
its mower to overthrow the secret so
cieties, but it is a failure and the SO
cieties exist.
Saw Twenty-three Executed
"The secret society is beheading all
can. One Sunday morning l say
twenty-three led out for execution, ant
later saw them lying beheaded
bleaching in the sun for three day
before burial The usual method is t
keep them for about six days, but tn
advent of foreigners seemed to hurr,
/ them in their burial
I'm one city last year 5000 were de
capitated. 1t is sad mixture of af
fairs that the innocent as well as tn
guilty are coming into the line OF de
capitation, and while there 1 did no
feel a sense of safety for one moment
Even with the guard of soldiers fur
lnished us we did not feel safe, for
any trouble had come up they woul
have discharged their guns in the all
They did not shoot to kill. This is
great contrast between my feeling
while in Japan, for felt as secure
in the United States.
an our church we shall push tn
missionary work as fast as possibl
and my visit in the orient has greatl
encouraged us in that line of work.