Evening star., 1952-05-08
Church Report Cites
Record Persecution
Of China Missionarie,
By the Assocjoted Press

nt me Assoeiofed PreSS
NEW YORK, May 8.-The worst
mass persecution of American mis-
sionaries in our history now is
going on in Communist China,
church leaders said today.
They gave this statistical pic
ture:
Thirty-two American mission
aries in prison.
Twenty-Five under house arrest.
One hundred and thirty-six
others restricted in their move
ments. prevented from leaving the
country. and subjected to GRIM
inal accusations and attacks.
Their situation has become ex-
tremely grave" said DR.. Wallace
C. Merwin, head of the China
Committee Of the Foreign Mis-
sions Divisions of the National
Council of Churches of Christ in
the United States of America.
Both Catholic and Protestant
leaders said that meyer in any land
has there been such widespread,
official persecution of American
missionaries since the first ones
went out nearly $50 years ago.
1t has smashed one of the most
extensively supported mission
fields of American churches,
which five years ago had 1886
missionaries in China - 2,536
Protestants and $50 American
Catholics.
Only 1913 are left.
All Of them-153 Catholics and
40 Protestants-are reported un-
der various kinds of restrictions,
charges and punishment.
U. S. Seeks Aid for Missions.
Church spokesmen said the
State Department, presumably
through nations that have rela-
|tions with Red China. is seeking
to intervene in behalf of the mis-
sionaries. No details Of the ef-
forts were given.
Until this month the churches
have been guardedly untalkative
about the overall status of the
China missionaries, for fear of
causing added reprisals against
them.
Hate is being whipped up
against them by mob psychology
in a way that is extremely dan
gerous and uncomfortable" DR..
Merwin said.
The Rev. Fred Mcguire of the
Catholic Mission Secretariate in
Washington. D. c.. said There
never was time when American
missionaries in such great num-
bers have faced such circum-
stances"
A China missionary for 18 years
himself. Father Mcguire said the
"elimination of all Americans and
all foreign missions" from China
is likely in "a very short time" !"
No names were given. but the
councils statement detailed cases
of cruelty and malnutrition in
hicted on missionaries.
At least one died in prison un-
der uncertain circumstances. One
has disappeared, his house left
locked and empty. One repeatedly
has been sentenced to IL years at
hard labor. =
Victims Of Mobs.
Public trials, at which crowds
were stirred to a high emotional
pitch and accusations shouted at
missionaries from coached ac-
cusers. were described from re-
ports brought out of China.
1T would seem," DR.. Merwin
said, that in practically every
instance, the missionaries are
being held for propaganda pur-
poses, since many have been used
as the central characters in these
public trials"
He said they were accused of
SUCH crimes as espionage, embeZ-
element and murder Of hospital
patients.
Prior to the Communist re-
gime. American Protestants poured
some So million annually into the
Chinese missions.
Protestant missionaries held
properties valued at $27 million,
which was in the process of being
turned over to national Chinese
Christian groups. There were 13
Christian colleges, 220 hospitals.
Catholics also maintained ex-
tensive institutions.
Besides the $50 American Cath
olics and 1856 Protestant mis-
sionaries. before the Red regime
there were $3.50 Catholics and
1.465 Protestants from othN
countries.
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