8
been completely sacked, even partly burnt down. The damage caused by this outrageous attack and robbery amounts to thousands of dollars.
Before I proceed to say something about the settlement of the imbroglio, of which I have now given a particular and true account, I take occasion to inquire briefly into the possible reasons which have led Père Julien to conduct himself more like a captain of robbers than a priest.
I must, however, premise that owing to the never-ending troubles with the Catholics, Mr. Ricke, another missionary of our Mission, and I had a conference at Canton last year with three Catholic priests in the presence of the French and German Consuls, in order to find some modus vivendi. We attained to something like an agreement. Stipulations had been drawn up by us, which met the approbation of both Consuls, and partly also of the priests.
One of these stipulations runs thus: "Whenever Catholics get at variance with heathen, Protestants shall abstain from interference, and vice versa."
Now it must be conceded that Mr. Zahn, in his dealings with the people of Pak-kong, had little regard to this clause. He knew them to be wronged by the Catholics in a most cruel way, and thought himself entitled at least to espouse their cause to the extent of allowing them to enroll their names in his books, and he even baptized a few of them. In this he was no doubt wrong, and I do not defend him, though I think it pardonable in the case of a young and ardent missionary, whose heart cannot but burn with anger when he sees what takes place daily under the cloak of religion. Mr. Zahn has suffered for his precipitation, for he knows by sad experience what view a French priest takes of his calling and how he practises it.*
It remains for me to give an account of the settlement of this case. It goes without saying that the German Consul, as soon as he got a full report of the affair, did his utmost to get justice done to Mr. Zahn. He arranged a meeting at the German consulate between Père Julien and Mr. Zahn, in which he himself with the French Consul took part. It must also be said that the French Consul, after getting full proof of the guilt of his client, showed as much consideration.
In his memorial presented to the governor, the magistrate of Tsang-shing relates an interview he had with Mr. Julien at Pak-kong. To his face he blamed him for his behaviour, asking him why he allowed his people to rob and to remove property belonging to other people, rendering thereby men and women of several families homeless and destitute; surely, he said, this is not admonishing people to practise good. On which the teacher had only evasive and empty words, B1 以縦合教民任意搬搶以致各家男婦流離失所珠不做勸人爲著所為 該教士一支吾掩飾、
9
It was not to be expected that Mr. Julien would at once plead guilty. Though he played his role as Pak-kong so unblushingly, he was not quite himself when confronted with Mr. Zahn in the presence of his Consul and the representative of Germany. His attempts to hush up and to deny the facts were disproved step by step. When he at last saw himself driven into a corner, he had recourse to an expedient so absurd and at the same time so significant, as showing the means to which the Catholics resort against us, that I cannot refrain from communicating it for the amusement of the readers of the RECORDER. Mr. Julien produced a flag with the German colours, bearing the inscription: Tai Tak-kwok Lai Yin-ni Fuk Yam-tong-chapel of the Rhenish Missionary Society of Germany! This flag had been, so Mr. Julien said, in the possession of Mr. Zahn when he was seen by the Chinese marching with flying colours. Alas, this barefaced lie at the head of the gang of robbers! which out-Heroded Herod, proved a forlorn hope. The flag produced was spick and span new, bought and manufactured. There was not even method in this bit of madness, for the manufacturers of this unfortunate flag had not even been at the pains to show by the seams that their handiwork had not been in use at all! Mr. Julien had nothing left to him except to confess that the flag had been procured and manufactured at Canton!
To be brief, after a consultation between the two Consuls, it was agreed upon:
1. That Mr. Julien should apologize in the presence of the Consuls and Mr. Zahn for his misconduct, which he did, after having also confessed that he himself was the person who led his party to attack and ransack Pak-kong by night.
2. That the French mission should pay $50 to Mr. Zahn as an indemnity and further return the stolen watch and other property belonging to him.
3. That Mr. Julien should be transferred to another sphere of labour.
4. That the robbers should be dealt with according to Chinese law; both Consuls jointly placing the whole affair in the hands of the Chinese authorities with a written undertaking not to influence them in any way.
Has
Since these terms were agreed upon six weeks have elapsed. We are entitled to ask, what has been done in the meantime? Has the agreement been carried into effect? Has punishment been meted out to the transgressors of the law?
Except the humiliating apology of Mr. Julien and the payment of fifty Mexican dollars, not much has been accomplished. According to a communication received by the German Consul from the French bishop at Canton, Mr. Julien has been transferred to another place far from Pak-kong, and has been replaced there by a prudent and circumspect priest. But what about the punishment of the robbers? The governor of Canton has asked the magistrate of Tsang-shing to investigate the case and to deal with the robbers accordingly.
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been completely sacked, even partly burnt down. The damage cansed by this outrageous attack and robbery amounts to thonsauds of dollars.
Before I proceed to say something about the settlement of the imbroglio, of which I have now given a particular and true account, I take occasion to inquire briefly into the possible reasons which have led Père Julien to conduct himself more like a captain of robbers than a priest.
I must, however, premise that owing to the never ending troubles with the Catholics, Mr. Ricke, another missionary of our Mission, and I had a conference at Canton last year with three Catholic priests in the presence of the French and German Consuls, in order to find some modus vivendi. We attained to something like an agreement. Stipulations had been drawn up by as, which met the approbation of both Cousuis, and partly also of the priests.
One of these stipulations runs thus: "Whenever Catholics get at variance with heathen, Protestants shall abstain from inter- ference, and vice versa."
Now it must be conceded that Mr. Zahn, in his dealings with the people of Pak-kong, had little regard to this clause. He knew thema to be wronged by the Catholics in a most cruel way, and thought himself entitled at least to esponse their canse to the exteut of allowing them to enroll their names in his books, and he even baptized a few of them. In this he was no doubt wrong, and I do not defend him, though I think it pardonable in the case of a young and ardent missionary, whose heart cannot but burn with auger, Then he secs what takes place daily under the cloak of religion. Mr. Zahn has suffered for his precipitation, for he knows by sad experience what view a French priest takes of bis calling and how he practises it.*
It
It remains for me to give an account of the settlement of this case. goes without saying that the German Consul as soon as he got a full report of the affair, did his atmost to get justice dons to Mr. Zahin. He arranged a meeting at the German consulate between Père Julien and Mr. Zahn, in which he himself with the French Consul took part. It must also be said that the French Consul, after getting full proof of the guilt of his client, showed as much consideration.
In his memorial presented to the governor, the magistrate of Tsang-shing relates an interview he had with Mr. Julien at Pak-kong. To his face he blamed him for his behaviour, asking him why he allowed his people to rob and to remove property belonging to other people, rendering therely men and women of several families homeless and destitute; surely, he said, this is not admonishing people to practise good. On which the teacher bad only evasive and empty words, B1 以縦合数民任意搬搶以致各家男婦流離失所珠不做勸人爲著所為 該教士一支吾掩飾、
9
It was not to be expected that Mr. Julien would at ones plead guilty. Though he played his role as Pak-kong so unblushingly, he was not quite himself when confronted with Mr. Zaho in the presence of his Consul and the representative of Germany, His attempts to hush up and to deny the facts were disproved step by step. When be at last saw himself driven into a corner, he had recourse to an expedient so absurd and at the same time so siguifi- cant, as showing the means to which the Catholics resort against us, that I cannot refrain from communicating it for the amusement of the readers of the RECORDER Mr. Jalien produced a flag with the German colours, bearing the inscription : Tai Tak-kwok Lai Yin-ni Fuk Yam-toug-chapel of the Rhenish Missionary Society of Germany! This flag had been, so Mr. Julien said, in the possession of Mr. Zalin when he was seen by the Chinese marching with flying colours Alas this barefaced lie at the head of the gaug of robbers! which out-beroded Herod, proved a forlorn hope. The flag produced was spick and span new, bought and manufactured There was not even method at the City of Rams (Canton).
in this bit of madness, for the manufacturers of this unfortunate flag had not even been at the pains to show by the seams that their handiwork had not been in use at all! Mr. Julien had nothing left to him except to confess that the flag had been procured and manufactured at Canton!
To be brief, after a consultation between the two Consuls, it was agreed upon :-
1. That Mr. Julien should apologize in the presence of the Cousuis and Mr. Zahn for his misconduct, which he did, after having also confessed that he himself was the person who led his party to attack and ransack Pak-kong by night.
2. That the French mission should pay $50 to Mr. Zahn as an indemnity and further return the stolen watch and other property belonging to him.
3. That Mr. Julien should be transferred to another sphere of
labour.
4. That the robbers should he dealt with according to Chinese law; both Consuls jointly placing the whole affair in the hands of the Chinese authorities with a written undertaking not to influence them in any way.
Has
Since these terms were agreed upon six weeks have elapsed. We are entitled to ask, what has been done in the meantime ? the agreement been carried into effect? Has punishment been met- ed out to the transgressors of the law?
Except the humiliating apology of Mr. Julien and the payment of fifty Mexican dollars, not much has been accomplished. Accord - ing to a communication received by the German Consul from the French bishop at Canton, Mr. Julien has been transferred to another place far from Pak-kong, and has been replaced there by a pradent and circumspect priest. But what about the punishment of the rubbers? The governor of Canton has asked the magistrate of Tsang-shing to investigate the case and to deal with the robbers ac-
471
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