The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
American Missionaries in China Have Nothing to
Fear from Plague Now Raging Woman
Physician Prominent in Work of
Combating Its Ravages.

the two provinces in China, Chefoo and
ShantUng, where the bubonic plague is
raging and about 80 more in the dis
tricts affected by the famine. Secre-
tarieS of American missionary societies
having work in these provinces, and
which sent out these workers., have
notified the relatives in this country, in
so far as they are known, that in the
judgment of the societies missionaries
and their families have little to fear.
Many anxious inquiries concerning mis-
sionaries had reached the societies from
American relatives.
In their notification to American friends
the secretaries point out the fact that
plaques OF various kinds rage in China
nearly all The time. and that to recall
workers when a plague breaks out would
be to diSarrange the work continuously.
Besides, says the secretaries mission
aries would not come home at this time
were they ordered to do so. They are
not made Of that stuff. The societies
say they do not send out people who
quit in time of danger and need. They
urge prayers for their safety, not alone
by relatives but by the entire Christian
public of America, and ask that at the
same time prayers he made for the
Chinese people. and especially their gov
ernmcnt and the medical missionaries,
who are now called upon by the Chinese
government and their friends at home TO
exercise their greatest skill
An American physician trusted by the
Chinese officials, and prominent in Peking
since the plague. is a woman. She is
H. 10. -,,
ConEregationaIists. but now working
under direction of Methodist women of
America Reports of her usefulness
at this time throw honor upon those who
are supporting her. She is a native of
Pennington, y. J.. and a graduate OF
Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts,.
class of % She took her medical course
at the Womais College in Philadelphia
and went TO china under the. American
board in 1901 Three years ago she trans
ferred TO tn" Methodist board. and was
located at TiCntsin. Last year she was
advanced to the difficult work at Pekin.
where she * 4 foremost physician in
the welI-known SieeReT Davis Memorial
Hospital. Wealthy officials and even
viCerOyS have visited the hospital. and
been patients Of this New Jersey woman.
The American missionary societies hav-
ing the largest number of workers in
the plague provinces. are the Presby-
terian. the Methodist, the congregational
iSt and the Baptist. the last the Southern |
Baptist. English societies are also at /
work there with medical men and women !
and so are Continental European Roman |
Catholics TrhhabIv the foremost Ameri- |
can in Chinese .s4ffajEs. an authority of |
the first rank. IS tho Rev. Or. Arthur |
!. Brown. Of tha Presbyterian board. He !
said To-day:
so many are the friends in America of !
missionaries in the plague provinces of |
China, 50 scattered are they in all parts |
Of his country. and so many are the in !
guIrleS reaching Us. that our society is |
glad to use the newspapers to say to I
these friends that n its judgment there |
is not much to fear There will be
anxiety. Of course, but Americans now
in China are able to minister to the
spiritual and PHYSICAL ills of the poor
there, have peculiar opportunities for the
very usefulness for which they offered
their lives. Thr hest OF sanitary measures
obtain in til" compounds occupied by the
and often all c0nVenienCeS
are found there that are found at home.
Mrs. Brown md ! were once in India
nj tho very height Of Il plague when
thousands We're dying. but We really in
CURED very little risk. Americans at |
pray to God for the Chinese. and thank
Him that their relatives and friends are
It hand trained to render service to peo-
pie who are in sadr need Of il"
Asked If ne had confidence that China
VIII b" able To hatrle with the plague
successfully. I~. Browns answer was:
II am glad the missionaries are there
tn help. ! have more confidence if they
are there
i Is admitted 10y the missionary soCie-
ties. accustomed to deal with Chinese
affairs, that there is grave danger that
the plague will extend to most parts of
'hIna. and especially that it will get into
The famine district. 1t is possible they
say. that appeal may be made to vOlun-
Ger American physicians and that If the !
need arises the societies will not only
'Sk for volunteers but also for money
With which TO pay their EXPENSES. The
secretaries say that American medical
kill may well offer itself if the need
continue. and they have no doubt either
nat !; viii do 50. or that funds will he
orthcomInC- The number bf physicians !
n the plague provinces is about one TO I
'ach one million people f
saving the Country Church. ID
There are lCO Ooo churches chiefly Prot t
stanL in rural America. Saving them I
or Christianity. and for service TO the
american people. is the grave prob 5
EN- now uppermOst Led by Presbyte- Is
ians there is to be held at Decatur on q
March 20 and p. an inter-church con- 4,
crTatiOn conference to consider the y
'rohlems Of the country churches of ILL
oiS. Joining in it are Methodists Bap- '
lists, Christians. United Brethren. aud lii
theirs. The conference is one of a series
N the Same subject. Later il is hoped | {
o consider in similar conferences the. p
ountry churches and their usefulness in v
indiana. Minnesota, Iowa, ana the entire e
fiddle West. " \
Many of the country churches, losing y
heir young people to the cities. and see q
1g tenant farming supplant farming by II
arm owners. are going to the wall Be a
ind the Decatur and similar conferences 2
re efforts to consolidate and, unify,-Ir
'here such course is wise, and then TO V
make the church that remains social .
nd community center, such as 1t has
ever yet been. l.
Better support for ministers will he =
rged, and especially will the church y =
ct about the task of improving the pub I, p
e schools, not directly invading the :
ublic control of them but Indirectly in ~
uencing and helping in their instruction q
he Decatur conference WILL il is ex. u
ected, recommend that country churches n
nter upon problems of health, of better
Hrming, OF recreation of young people
nd English for forelgn-speaking settlers a
lille not at ali sacrificing the essentially :,
piritual character Of its work
Five Great Questions and Needs.
Home mission societies of all great re- :. :
gious bodies in America are taking up
uestions OF race and condition as dis :,