p. 6 | The Massacre of French Missionaries

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 14, 1906

The Massacre of French Missionaries

RECENTLY the newspapers published a report of the massacre of six French missionaries in the Chinese province of Nan-tchang. It appears from an account written at the scene of the tragedy, by another Catholic missionary, that it was caused by a persistent demand of the Catholics for the punishment of Chinese who had persecuted them. “Bishop Ferrant, vicar apostolic of Kiang-Si,” it is stated, “has been endeavoring for some time to obtain from the Chinese authorities the punishment of the murderers of some of his Christians. The mandarin was willing to grant a pecuniary compensation, but nothing else. The vice-prefect of Nan-tchang was of the same mind, and refused to punish the guilty ones.

“On the twenty-second of February this mandarin called at the mission at meal-time. During the dinner the discussion was resumed, the official insisting that the difficulty could be settled for a cash consideration. Father Lacruche refused, declaring that the bishop as well as himself desired nothing but the punishment of the criminals. The meal over, the mandarin retired to another room and attempted to cut his throat. . . . The Chinese press was soon filled with the most odious calumnies against the fathers. Father Lacruche was denounced as the murderer of the mandarin, and the natives, who do not need such incentives, were exhorted to kill all those ‘savage missionaries.’”

Is it any wonder that a missionary spirit which seeks the blood of heathen persecutors rather than the salvation of their souls, does not make a favorable impression in heathen lands?