New-York tribune., 1909-01-09
DIR. W. S. AMENT DEAD
Weu KnosOn Missionary Was Prom
inent During Borer Uprising.

H.
cisco OF the Rev. Dr. William 8. Ament. promi-
missionary Of the American Board OF Com
n1ssioners for Foreign Missions, stationed at
Pekng, China received here to-day. Dr.
Ament died Wednesday from tumor OF the
brain At the time he was on his way TO the East
for treatment
DR.. Ament had been q missionary OF the Amer
lean Board since 1871 having served in Peking for
the last ten years His name and work were
brought into especial prominence by the Boxer
uprising in the summer OF 1900.
He was the last 70 leave the mission compound
when the Boxer attack came. and among
those shut up in the British Legation. where he
rendered important service in the defence plans
After Picking was occupied by the allied troops
DR.. Arnent devoted all his energies to the reOr-
sanization Of the scattered Christians
1t was DR.. Ament who. Just before the siege of
Peking began, went home to Tingcho fifteen miles
from the capital city, and brought back with him
the community Of eighteen missionaries. who
would doubtless have perished but for his brave
:ntercesson. While the siege Dr. Ament
distinguished himself for pluck and self-forgetful-
ness. he turned out with the rest. rife in hand.
VIXEN the little force called on 10 muster for
the expected last stand for the women and chill
dren.
AS a tribute his ability and honesty he
chosen By the legation authorities TO take charge
OF looted property brought in for the Of the
legations. Later he ventured outside of Peking
again TO inquire into the condition OF the converts
and arrange for compensation for injuries and
losses. For the integrity and ability with which he
discharged these delicate duties he highly
praised by Minister Conger. Sir Robert Hart and
others Yet the very delicacy OF the task laid him
and his associates open to attack. DR. Ament bore
the brunt Of the famous looting charges with which
the missionaries had to contend He was even
placed under arrest, but soon released at the
order Of Count Waldersee- The American
Board Of Foreign Missions Etood by him and he
was eventually vindicated.
Tr
whose sarcastic reflections the missionary were
the cause OF spirited controversy between the
humorist and the Rev, DIR. Judson Smith, secretary
Of the board Of missions
In an article printed in The North American
Review Mr. Clemens quoted from an article in
The Chinese News regarding Dr. Anent which
said:
In the dpurse of conversation Mr. Ament re-
the Chinese. He said:
~ deny emphaaeally that the missionaries are
they have done anything since the siege that the
The so no' hahd of the sTEs G5se ts
not as good as the mailed fist Of the Germans. If
VIII take advantage of II.
Using this his text Mr. Clemens added:
Our Reverend Ament is JustfhabIy jealous Of
nose nose enterprtstng Catholics who not only get big
head" head besides But he should soothe himself with
are for their own pockets whereas he less seishIy
devotes only 800 taels per head that service and
PTopsriy indemnity 10 the service OF eating
Now We know that even before the siege. the
biss'onsEles Ib were not generally out looting, and
! them.
| DR.. Smith replied TO Mr.. Clemens through The
Tribune Protesting against criticism without ade-
| Quate proof. the secretary said:
19p are too experienced an author TO rest 50
| terrible an Impeachment against whose
! reputation is dear him as yours is TO you.
| and who is engaged in missionary work on the
| dispatch I wonder what other information YOU
| possessed, what inquiries you made concerning DIT
| Ament's record and Of whom these inquiries were
| made.
! I have known DR.. Ament thirty years. first as q
pupil in Oberlin College. then divinity student
] at Andover Seminary, after this pastor in
China. 7 have entire confidence IN his character
and good sense. 7 should as soon think Of any
| pastor here in Boston becoming an eXtOTt1oner and
robber Of Or. Ament
| Mr. Clemens alIo replying through The Tribune
/ said that Or. Ament arraiEned himself and again
! quoted the missionary's alleged statements.
| Dr. Ament later. in reply to a cable message
| asking explanation. showed that the story that
| Re had boasted IF collecting thirteen times the
! amount Of losses. due cable error. He
| had reported one-third G-S) collected and the
| cable message had read '13" Dr. Amant was
| horn in Owcsso. Mich. IN ISL H. WAS graduated
| from, Oherlin College in 1873; studied 81 Union
| Son,iuarv and Aniover. Mass. and VAS graduated
from the latter in 1877. Or. Ament vas pastor OF
| Nh. Congregational Church in Calumet. Mich. for
r,ore than three years. and pastor of the tonEre-
! rational Church al Hancock Mich. for eight
| months He sailed as missionary 10 China from
! San Francisco IN October 1871. Mrs. Ament was
| Miss Mary A Penfeld-