New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-26
READY FOR PERIL
TO MISSIONARIES
MethOdists to Order Theirs
from Mexico When DAN
ger Really Threatens.
NO ALARM FELT
SAYS HEAD OF BOARD
Mexicans Feel Intervention To Be
Inevitable, Asserts Bishop
F. J.. Mcconnell.

F. J. Mcconnell.
The board OF foreign missions OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church has made
preparations TO withdraw every one OF
its missionaries from Mexico at a mo-
ments notice whenever in the judgment
OF DR.. John ". Butler, superintendent Of
the Mexico district, such action is neces-
sary.
Or. Butler has not only been empowered
TO recall such workers as he deems 10 be
I'm peril, but is also authorized TO draw
without further notice upon the credit Of
the board for that purpose. Methodist
property in Mexico is valued at almost
81 coo, 00r.
There is no cause in this action said
DR.. George Heber Jones yesterday for
friends or relatives of any missionaries in
Mexico TO take alarm. Rather they
should be treasured. The action was not
taken upon any note of alarm sounded
by our workers. The step was taken SIM
TO look far ahead and provide for pos
sible contingencies. At the very best, the
outlook in Mexico is uncertain"
Previous experience in China and other
turbulent countries has convinced the
board that if il waits for the missionaries
themselves TO ask TO be recalled or to
point out the peril Of their situation the
crisis would be so grave that nothing
could be done. This view was taken by
I-rnfa Of - u hn a
turned from Mexico March and has re-
ported on conditions there.
Speaking particularly of the women
missionaries, who refused TO recognize
any element of danger in their situation,
Bishop Mcconnell said:
II feel that they should not under any
circumstances be allowed TO take jour
neys into the outer country away from
the large cities. This matter ought not
TO be left 10 the women themselves. be-
cause | could not find any workers of the
Women's Foreign Missionary Society in
Mexico who seemed TO think that there
was any danger anywhere. If the matter
is left to the women now in the held
they VIII never leave.
Mob Spared Church.
Bishop Mcconnell said he thought the
danger in the larger cities was slight.
The principal peril was in the outlying
districts, which had been left without
adequate protection by the withdrawal
of the rurales for military service. He
held in Pachuca last month the confer
ence that had been delayed year by the
unsettled conditions in Mexico.
than 5000 and is not in the district where
the regular rebel forces are operating.
there was a serious riot there a few
months ago. The Bishop pointed out that
although there was considerable destruc-
ton of property the mob spared the Meth
1dist church.
Il know that the President Of the
United States has practically ordered
Americans to withdraw from the coun-
try" said Bishop Mcconnell, but a mis-
sionary IS justified in taking risks that
ordinary citizens ought not to be expected
to rum and / do not think that the risks
for the missionary are great"
Name Caused Her Arrest.
Frederic Wolfe. who recently returned
to Mexico with his wife. TO take charge
Of the Orizaba district, frequently has 10
officiate at the burial of those killed in
raids by bandits. Eduardo Zapata. a ma
tive missionary worker. returned from
a long trip into the country TO find that
his wife had been arrested.
Because OF her name she was thought
to be the wife of the rebel leader. Shs
was released after an investigation. Two
months ago the Methodist church at Azat-
Ian was burned during a riot. though no
ing parsonage.
Petronillo Constantine. another mission
airy, was robbed of everything he owned
a few weeks ago by bandits. day school
for girls conducted by Methodist mission
aries was burned.
The Methodist missionaries do not oc-
cupy what is considered an exposed stu
alton under present conditions in Mex
leo. Their headquarters are in Mexico
City, where DR.. John w. Butler, who re-
Gently returned with his wife and sister,
Is In charge.
The most northerly outpost is in Guiana
iuato. where DR.. Levi b. Salmans has
been in charge for nineteen years.
The Methodists have thirty Americans
in Mexico as missionaries. Most OF them
have their families with them, and have
been in the country so long that they are
thoroughly familiar with its people and
their customs.