“Know all men,” says the Governor of Che-Kiang, “that the sole object of establishing chapels is to exhort men to do right; those who embrace Christianity do not cease to be Chinese, and both sides should therefore continue to live in peace, and not let mutual jealousies be the cause of strife between them.”
Likewise Kung, the Governor of the province in which Shanghai is situated, after explaining that, under the treaties, missionaries have the right to hold land and houses, on lease, and to travel about and preach, “their sole aim being the inculcation of the practice of virtue, and having no design of interfering with the business of the people,” goes on to say: “Such of the subjects of China as wish to become converts may lawfully do so, and as long as they abstain from evil doings there is no law prescribing inquisition into, or prohibition of, their actions.” For the destruction of chapels and houses, in disturbances increased “by local vagabonds and bad characters,” summary vengeance will be taken. “Bear in mind,” adds the Governor, “that when missionaries live in the midst of your villages you and they are mutually in the relationship of host and guest. Under ordinary circumstances it is your foremost duty to act toward them with courtesy and forbearance. Should any misunderstanding arise, let each submit his side to the local authorities, and on no account give rein to ill-considered resentment, and fall, owing to the impulse of a moment, in the net of the law.”
When we think of the sentiments that even some Christians in this country hold regarding the Chinese, and when we think of the treatment the Chinese have received at the hands of our nation, the reading of the above is enough to make our faces crimson with shame not unmingled with indignation.
SELECTED.
BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.
MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
Our work is to preach the gospel and all that this implies. The gospel of Jesus Christ reaches head, heart and hand. Anything that is injurious to a human being, in any part of life, the gospel condemns. Temperance is a gospel doctrine. It is one of the great multitude of truths our missionaries proclaim. When in this magazine we report progress in our work, we are reporting progress in temperance, for that is a part of our work. If the word “temperance” doesn’t always appear, it is simply for the same reason that the words honesty, chastity and truth, are not always appearing as words. They are always there in significance. It is the work of the gospel to advance these virtues. We make a few extracts showing the temperance interest as represented at some of our mission stations: