The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1905-02-06 — Page 12

Hongkong Weekly Press AND China Overland Trade Report All

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HIS LORDSHIP: There might be a possibility if they are men of very diverse views, but the Chaplain will be in charge of the morning service, and the Naval Chaplain in charge of the evening service.

Mr. SLADS: I understand the Chaplain coming out would be in a similar position to the Kowloon Church as the Cathedral Chaplain is to the Cathedral Church.

HIS LORDSH P, in reply to Mr. Whittall, stated that the final appeal in any difference would have to be to the deed of gift,

Rev. Mr. JOHNSON said if it came to a point the Naval Chaplain had no right of entry. There was no question about this now, however, as the Naval Chaplain was only by his kindness assisting at Kowloon.

HIS LORDSHIP, in reply to a member, stated that in case of the Chaplain's wages not being forthcoming, there was no further responsibility on the Cathedral than the guarantee of 8,000.

The motion was carried. BE-ELECTION OF CHURCH BODY AND AUDITOR.

Hon. Capt. Barnes-Lawrence, Dr. Atkinson, Mesars. H. W. Slade, J. Whittall, J. Bryer and W. Armstrong were re-elected members of the Church Body. Mr. J. C. Peter was re elected auditor.

▲ VOTE Of thanks.

Rev. F. T. JOHNSON proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the following for services rendered In connection with Cathedral work during the past year:-The Church Body; the Hon Treasurer, Mr. Whittall, and the Secretary, Mr. Bryer; Mr. Peter, the clergy, especially the Revs. France, Bunbury and Jenkins, and

Messrs. Ward and Chapman.

LATE BISHOP PIAZZOLI.

Preaching from the text "Labour as a good soldier of Christ," Father Spada said, inter

alia :-

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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

[February 6, 1905.

The effect was murderous on the pirate boat, as several men were seen to fall, and the rest thinking that the junk was well armed put off at ones crying for mercy. But the steersman did not get off safe, as the cannon burst, blowing off his right arm and wounding him severely in the side. Though all the occupants of the junk except the priests were wounded, An idea of the none of them were killed. terrible fight may be formed from the fact that the next morning the sea around the junk was. red with blood.

It was in the midst of such dangers and difficulties that Father Luis perfomed for twenty-one years his apostolic ministry.

paring terrible vengeance to satisfy their hatred, | end baptised a catechumen, expecting that all

was over with them, as all the crew of the junk - deciding to kill the Father and Christians

were wounded and the ammunition exhausted. alike. Father Luiz having knowledge that the converts were in danger of their lives, as As a last resource, the steersman, who bad still a good shepherd he went at once to help them, some powder left, got all the old pieces of iron, ready to give his own life to save that of his broken pots, and everything else of the like on sheep. Having no residence, he took lodging which he could lay his hands, and loaded an old cannon which had not yet been used in the fight, in a small hut where a Chinese family was living. There he learned the intentions of the and fired it. parans, and discovered that they were blinded with hatred against the poor converts. He made efforts to appease the people, but in vain; the pagans were decided at any cost to destroy the Christians. He then went to his lodging, | recommending the converts to abstain from violence and to be prepared to give their lives for the most noble cause, viz. as martyrs of God. At his lodging he heard that he hims If was also to be executed. In the meantime night came, every measure was taken not to allow the

With a dinner they prepar victims to escape. ed themselves to execute these poor people who were guilty of no other crime than that of being

What is most marvellous is that all this was Christians. The dinner being over, the terrible sounds of the "tom-tom" or gong was heard done while his health was far from being good, as with cries of death and imprecations against the he suffered frequently from fever broughton most poor victims. Terror invaded the whole village, probably by the climate. In the beginning of without a voice of mercy or pity for the poor 1892 the Very Rev. Father Burghinoli, whose innocents who had barricaded themselves in holy memory is still fresh in your minds, died, their houses. The pagan gang, armed with and Father Luiz was appointed Pro-Vicar rifles and other weapons, and also provided with | Apostolic by Mon. Raimondi. During the thiree crow-bars to break in the doors, entered the vil-years that he was Pro-Vicar Apostolio he lage, and breaking in the houses, hacked and continued the same active life in Hongkong wounded all that came in their way. They then which was his characteristic while he was in the took with them as prisoners five men who were interior of China. He gave special proof of fathers of families. The women and children his zeal in the year 1894, when the plague first then succeeded in escaping in the darkness, appeared in this Colony. You all know that that leaving all they poss-ssed in the hands of their year was the worst with regard to the plague. persecutors. With the light of torches and the Every day he was visiting the plague patients sound of the "tom-tom" the five men were either in their houses or at the plague hospital, tied to a tree, beaten and maltreated in every giving them religious consolation and ad- way. The cries of the poor victims failed to ministering the sacrament. In the same year excite compassion in the hearts of these tigers Mon. Raimondi, of holy memory, expired, and in human form, and the poor creatures were cut a few months after this Father Luiz was elected to pieces. Imagine the pain and distress felt by Bishop and Vicar Apostolio of Hongkong. In good Father Luiz when he heard their cries his humility he refused, but the orders of his and witnessed the cruel treatment to which they superiors were irrevocable, so he had to give in. were subjected without being able to give them On May 19th, 1895, he was consecrated Bishop any assistance! Next day his own terrible hour in the Cathedral, as you may remember. arrived. He was still hiding in the same hut, the cries of his persecutors, threatening him with death, ringing in his ears. He prepared to die, TURBULENT CHINESE AT SHANG. glad of having the occasion of giving his blood for the faith for which so many disciples of the Cross have given their own in former The "Native Notes" writer of our northern the following on. Jan. times. The good father as a mild lamb pre-contemporary had sented himself to his persecutors at the 16th :— distance of a few paces. At once a murderous Although there has been a strong under. hand presented a rifle at him and pulled the current of bitter hostility against the Russians trigger, but fortunately the rifle missed amongst all classes of Chinese, let alone those fire; he tried a-cond and a third time, of Ningpo descent, ever since the Bund tragedy but with the same result. At this moment of the 15th of December last, which has been an old man who was standing by lowered the prevented with grest difficulty from breaking rifle, suggesting that the execution of the father out by laotais Shen Tun-ho, Yu Ya-ohing be deferred to the night, as it would be then and other prominent resident Ningpo gentle easier to conceal the affair in case the foreigners men, who appealed to the good sense and came to inquire about it. As the day passed general love of peace amongst the more quiet the poor father was counting with anxiety the and law-abiding portion of their numerous hours, waiting for his end. At nightfall a fellow-townsmen, the gentlemen named above pigan who some time previously had received had their hands full indeed when the sentence some favour from the missionary, taking pity of the Russian Court-martial upon the sailor Areef became known on Saturday to the on him, came to his rescue, eluding the vigi- lance of the persecutors. The hut in which Chinese community here. The Ningpo men of the priest was hiding was only of dried earth the lower classes who are specially numerous bricks. The good Chinese, making an opening at in the Chinese suburbs, beyond the French the back of the house which was facing the settlement, led by men who ought to have fields, put in some torn clothes, telling the father known to change at once and escape with him. Father The necessary preparations having been made, Luiz at once perceiving in this a help from the young priest was sent to Hongkong, where Heaven immediately changed his clothes, passed at that time the mission was at its beginning. through the opening, and took flight through Many inhabitants of a village having com- the fields, in search of a secure hiding place, munication with the father, and being pleased After this persecution the sufferings through with the religion he taught, spontaneously re- which the father passed were almost incredible. solved to embrace the faith; but their resolution On another occasion it was entirely due to was not pleasing to their nei hbours, who inter-providence that he es aped with his life. He was fered and put every obstacle in the way, even threatening them with death; but God, who wanted these chosen souls, gave them such strength that notwithstanding these threats, though they were entirely free, they wished to be baptised. Being sufficiently instructed, and after many proofs of constancy and good will, Father Luix decided to baptise them, and did so. After baptism the new converts were very pleased and satisfied and thought they would have no more trouble from their neighbours. But they were deceived. Secretly their neighbours were pre-

The sad news of the death of Right Rer. Bishop Piazzoli, conveyed to us from Italy by telegram on the 27th of December last, has been as painful as it was unexpected. The health of his Lordship, which last summer was causing anxiety, had so much improved lately in Milan as to give us firm hopes of soon seeing him back in Hongkong but it was otherwise decreed by Divine Providence. His Lordship succumbed under the weight of his ministry at the age of The news was spread at once in only 59 y. ars. the Colony as well as in the neighb uring colonies of Macao, Canton, Manila, etc., and from all have been received unanimous feelings of sorrow and condolence. Likewise H.E. the Governor, the Admirals, the Chief Justice, and all the leading officials of the Colony, have deigned to honour us with the expressions of their sympathy on the sad occasion. beg to tender our most heartfelt thank-

Mon. Piazzoli, the youngest son of a large family, was born at Alzano, near Milan, of very virtuous parents He received from them his first education, which gave to young Piazzoli a good and intrepid character, pr paring him unconsciously for the most noble of ministries. He continued his education in Bergam College, going through a classical course, as is generally done by those young men who are intended for the ecclesiastical profession. He then studied philos phy, theology, and the sciences, pas- sing successfully his examination in the Semi- nary at Milan, and in the year 1863 he was ordained priest.

To all we

HAI.

better, were clamorous in their demands to hold a mass meeting at their Guild, or what is usually known amongst us as the Ningpo Josshouse," in order to settle.about the calling of a general strike, the closing of all shops kept by Ningpo men in the three settle ments etc., in order to show their wrath against the Russians. Fortunately this was reported in time to the Ningpo gentlemen referred to above, who knew that such a gathering of accompanying a new missionary to his destina-infuriated and irresponsible men would sur.ly tion, travelling in a Chinese junk. At night | result in a riot from which only those who were the junk stopped as there was no wind. and it innocent would suffer, and so, hurrying to the was also very dark. Suddenly a boat full Chinese suburbs these gentlemen and their of pirates appeared. The pirates, who were supporters with extreme difficulty succeeded in fully armed, tried to board the junk. The preventing the proposed mass meeting by danger was very great for the occupants, letting it be known that they, sod the principal who had to fight hard for their lives. A representatives of various other provinces re- terrible fight ensued. in which firearms siding in Shanghai, were about to convene were freely used; many fell dead into the at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to sea and others were severely wounded. The arrange about the best method of showing missionaries gave each other the last Absolution the general dissatisfaction over

the

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