SOA
2
Since this remarkable statement was penned, more than twenty-five years have passed. Has the Roman Catholic church in the meantime learned a lesson? No. Glorying in her immutability she remains semper eadem.
Some time ago the RECORDER depicted vividly the outrages at Kho-khoi, perpetrated by a certain Chau A-ming and his followers. The account given was from the able pen of Dr. Ashmore. Last year a paper dealing with a similar subject, and written from Swatow by Mr. McKibben, appeared in the same journal. If I am not mistaken Mr. Ross, of Moukden, has published elsewhere an account of startling facts regarding the wrong doings of the Catholics in Manchuria; and Bishop Moule, in reviewing a French book, has lately uttered in the North-China Herald bitter complaints of mischief done by the Catholics in his diocese. In all these cases, where the mischief wrought by the Catholics was so palpable, the priests made common cause with the Christians and supported them in their insubordination against the Chinese authorities. No wonder that the animosity of the people, already deep, grows into a hatred, which at length finds vent in a paroxysm of violence.
In the Shing-shai-ngai (words of warning to a prosperous people) a Mr. Cheng Knan-ying takes no pains to conceal his hatred of Christianity. He says: "Since Christianity has been established in China, the protection it has secured by treaty for its converts is used to screen wicked and infamous men from justice. Many enter the church for the express purpose of developing their nefarious schemes under her protecting banner, and the missionaries aid them in their evil designs." Mr. Cheng is, however, careful to discriminate between the Protestant and Catholic branches of the church. The former he absolves from the wholesale condemnation of his strictures, even citing as missionary authors worthy of commendation Dr. Allen, Dr. Fryer, Dr. Faber and the Rev. Timothy Richard.*
This policy of "screening wicked and infamous men under the protecting banner" of the church is much to be deplored by everyone who is really solicitous for the welfare of the church; and the fact itself cannot be gainsaid. The eighteen provinces of China echo with the complaints to which it gives rise. Protestant missionaries have learned to reckon with it; and the great conference at Shanghai in 1901 will have to define its position in regard to this policy. In the meantime missionaries ought to collect the facts which have come to their knowledge and have them published in the RECORDER. Public opinion must be aroused and a storm of indignation awakened against the dark deeds of men who endanger the cause of true Christianity, and on account of whom the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles.
3
Hitherto I have refrained from publishing anything on the subject because more pressing duties lay heavy upon me. At the same time I hoped that English and American brethren, whom I knew to be in possession of a great many facts throwing light on the question, would tell us something about their experiences with the disciples of Loyola. At length, however, the atrocities committed by so-called Catholics in this part of China have been of such a nature that it is quite impossible to keep silent.
If I were to publish the material gathered by me within the last three years, it would almost fill a volume; but it is not my intention to go back to certain things now past. I only want to call attention to a case which happened quite lately in our Mission.
The centre of the Rhenish Missionary Society in China is at Tung-kun, a yuen city of considerable size. In this city our Mission is represented by two ordained missionaries, two medical missionaries and one single lady missionary. More than ten years ago we opened medical work there, which has enlarged year by year, and is now doing a widespread good to the densely populated district.
The people of Tung-kun do not bear a good reputation. They are known to be very lawless and riotous, and caused considerable trouble to the authorities at Hongkong when the hinterland of that colony was ceded or leased to Great Britain.
The Catholic church has lately made great advances amongst certain classes of Tung-kun people. Veteran robbers, beyond the pale of law, and amateurs in intrigue, have sought a refuge in this church in order to create disorders. For years we have had much friction with them, which has been patiently borne by us and our people. The worst we ever encountered happened two months ago at Pak-kong, a large village up the east river, belonging to the Tsang-shing district, but bordering closely on the Tung-kun district, in which our main work lies.
It was on the 29th of July that some inquirers at Pak-kong very early called on the Rev. Franz Zahn, who is at present the missionary in charge of Tung-kun, to ask his help. They told him that a gang of robbers, several hundreds in number, had on the previous night quite suddenly surrounded their village and blocked up all the entrances. This done, the gang led by a French priest,
468
SOA
2
Since this remarkable statement was penned, more than twenty. five years have passed. Has the Roman Catholic church in the meantime learned a lesson? No. Glorying in her immutability she remains semper eadem.
Some time ago the RECORDER depicted vividly the outrages at Kho-khoi, perpetrated by a certain Chau A-ming and his followers. The account given was from the able pen of Dr. Ashmore. Last year a paper dealing with a similar subject, and written from Swatow by Mr. McKibben, appeared in the same journal. If I am not mistaken Mr. Ross, of Moukden, has published elsewhere an account of startling facts regarding the wrong doings of the Catholics in Manchuria; and Bishop Moule, in reviewing a French book, has lately uttered in the North-China Herald bitter complaints of mischief done by the Catholics in his diocese. In all these cases, where the mischief wrought by the Catholics was so palpable, the priests made common cause with the Christians and supported them in their insubordination against the Chinese authorities. No wonder that the animosity of the people, already deep, grows into a hatred, which at length finds vent in a paroxysm of violence.
In the Shing-shai-ngai (words of warning to a prosperous people) a Mr. Cheng Knan-ying takes no pains to conceal bis hatred of Christianity. He says: "Since Christianity has been established in China, the protection it has secured by treaty for its converts is used to screen wicked and infamous men from justice. Many enter the church for the express purpose of developing their nefarious schemes under her protecting banner, and the mission- aries aid them in their evil designs." Mr. Cheng is, however, careful to discriminate between the Protestant and Catholic branches of the church. The former he absolves from the wholesale condem- nation of his strictures, even citing as missionary authors worthy of commendation Dr. Allen, Dr. Fryer, Dr. Faber and the Rev. Timothy Richard.*
This policy of "screening wicked and infamous men under the protecting banner" of the church is much to be deplored by everyone who is really solicitous for the welfare of the church; and the fact itself cannot be gainsaid. The eighteen provinces of China echo with the complaints to which it gives rise. Protestant missionaries have learned to reckon with it; and the great conference
*Comp. CHINESE RECORDER, April, 1899, page 197.
3
at Shanghai in 1901 will have to define its position in regard to this policy. In the meantime missionaries ought to collect the facts which have come to their knowledge and have them published in the RECORDER. Public opinion must be aroused and a storm of indignation awakened against the dark deeds of men who endanger the cause of true Christianity, and on account of whom the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles.
At the
Hitherto I have refrained from publishing anything on the subject because more pressing duties lay heavy upon me. same time I hoped that English and American brethren, whom I knew to be in possession of a great many facts throwing light ou the question, would tell us something about their experiences with the disciples of Loyola. At length, however, the atrocities com- mitted by so-called Catholies in this part of China have been of such a nature that it is quite impossible to keep silent.
If I were to publish the material gathered by me within the last three years, it would almost fill a volume; but it is not my intention to go back to certain things now past. I only want to call attention to a case which happened quite lately iu onr Mission.
The centre of the Rhenish Missionary Society in China is at Tang-kup, a yuen city of considerable size. In this city our Mission is represented by two ordained missionaries, two medical mission- aries and one single lady missionary. More than ten years ago we opened medical work there, which has enlarged year by year, and is now doing a widespread good to the densely populated district,
The people of Tung-kun do not bear a good reputation. They are known to be very lawless and riotous, and cansed considerable trouble to the anthorities at Hongkong when the hinterland of that colony was ceded or leased to Great Britain.
The Catholic church has lately made great advances amongst certain classes of Tang-kun people. Veteran robbers, beyond the pale of law, and amateurs in intrigue, have sought a refuge in this church in order to create disorders. For years we have had mach friction with them, which has been patiently borne by us and our people. The worst we ever encountered happened two months ago at Pak-kong, a large village up the east river, belonging to the Tsang-shing district, but bordering closely on the Tung-kun district, in which our main work lies.
It was on the 29th of July that some inquirers at Pak-kong very early called on the Rev. Franz Zahu, who is at present the missionary in charge of Tung-kun, to ask his help. They told him that a gang of robbers, several bundreds in number, had on the pre- vious night quite suddenly surrounded their village and blocked up all the entrances. This done, the gang led by a French priest,
468
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