The Virginia enterprise., 1907-09-13


sul-General Rodgers. representing the
American Red Cross, are unyielding,
relief funds may be distributed only
by missionaries, and by Chinese who
work under their oversight and direc-
t1on. Moreover, they are frankly
placing the responsibility ON "the man
higher up" thus involving Chinese
"face," and if the officials do not soon
cooperate In saving the lives Of their
own countrymen, they will at least
give clear track to the foreigners.
Young Americans to the Fore.
BY a general system of comfy
among the missions, the territory
which Is now suffering from famine
Is allotted to the Southern Presby-
terians. Thus it comes about that the
only American missionaries actually
at work within this 10000 square
miles belong to single denomination.
This fact illustrates the immensity of
China as mission field. There are
other denominations working on the
edges of the famine, Northern Presby-
terians in Shantung, Northern Meth
odlsts, Southern Baptists, Quakers,
Disciples and Presbyterians at Nan
king, Yangchow and Chinkiang.
Within the affected zone there are
three Roman Catholic missions, but
these are manned by French priests.
There are also a few China inland
missions, but the authorities of this
organization have taken the position
that their missionaries shall not en-
gage in relief work, except to care for
their own members and adherents.
Doughty Miss Read, at Antung, has
apparently cut communications be-
tween herself and headquarters, for
she, declining to be bound by any such
narrow regulations, is working as
manfully for all the needy as the best
male missionary concerned. The
Roman Catholics at first declined to
cooperate in general relief work, in
Which no sectarian distinctions or
proselyting are permitted, but later.
they accepted the Shanghai commit
tees terms.
The situation is at present that the
missionaries have to great extent
surrendered their regular religious
work and have become organizers of
relief and distributors of foodstuffs.
No attempt is being made to turn this
work to the advantage of the mis-
sions. Indeed, most of the mission.
aries are standing up so straight that
they are bending over backwards. for
they refuse to let Christians and in
quirers share in the relief funds that
come from Shanghai. heard a. VIII
lager offer to join my companions
church If he would only give her some
thing to eat; he told her that such a
step would simply remove her present
chances of securing food.
At this writing the only form of re,
lief work for the benefit of the famine
victims that has been started-such
is the doddering incompetence and
blithering foolishness of the Chinese
officials-is a road building operation
at Suchien inaugurated and managed
by clustering, big-hearted DR.. J. w.
Bradley Not single Christian has
been employed, and when large
number OF the men presented them
selves at church on Sunday, they were
plainly told that they were under no
obligation to come, and that their Jobs
would not be affected by their pres
ence or their absence. Three hundred
of the neediest men are engaged upon
this work, and will be kept busy un.
til the famine breaks, the Shanghai
committee having g provided the funds.
DIR. Bradley could put thousand men
to work any day that the funds are
forthcoming. He narrowly escaped
with his life from the perfectly friend.
ly mob which gathered at daybreak
one morning in the hope of securing
work tickets. AS there were ten men
to every ticket, the crush to secure
that which literally meant life to
many overwhelmed the stalwart doc.
tor and he wss crowded into uncon.
sciousness.
The needy Christians, are being
helped by the missionaries out of their
own funds; the number of converts is
so small in this field that this is prac.
ticable. Every precaution is taken to
prevent persons from joining the
church from unworthy motives. What.
ever may have been true in the past,
find that to-day "rice Christians"
are more odious in the eyes of the