CHINESE PERSECUTION

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 34.

CHINESE PERSECUTION.

Mr. GODDARD reports to the Missionary Herald a recent tour through the Ing-Hok District of Foochow Mission. He speaks as follows concerning the persecution of Christians at Gak-liang:—

“The beginning was back in May, and at one time we thought peace was secured, but later influential men took up the matter against the Christians and formed a compact with all the villages about by distributing cakes; two are given to each family, and over 9,000 were distributed. Whoever accepts them binds himself to the compact. In this case it was an agreement to have no fellowship with the Christians. This meant that the Christian storekeepers could do but little business, scholars would not come to Christian schools, and thieves and vagabonds would be free to molest Christians with impunity, and Christians from the outlying villages coming to sell produce would not be able to do so. The enemies, seizing one pretext or another, have led things from bad to worse. The village elders and constables are all against the Christians, and when appeal is made to the magistrate, he sends out runners who take the word of the elders and constables and they report: ‘There is no trouble down there,’ or, ‘The distribution of cakes is a village custom, and has no connection with the Christians,’ or, ‘The pastor is a busybody with a hasty tongue who stirs up strife,’ or, ‘The Christians refuse to pay taxes,’ etc.

“Now if the Christians were always faultless, and would only ‘tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,’ we could get to the bottom of the business; but, alas! they are first of all Chinese, and only recently converted from heathenism. They are sorely tempted, like all Chinese, to make out their side as all right, and I am afraid they have presumed on their growing numbers and connection with the ‘foreigners,’ who are supposed to have unlimited wealth and power, to boast and threaten. The Chinese idea is to look out for number one. All altruistic ideas of self-denial for others, or Christian ideas of humility and loving service, are unknown by inheritance. It is news to them that a loving, holy life conquers all things, that there is power in enduring patiently the devices of evil men. So they feel a little aggrieved because the wealth and power of foreign missionaries are not at once put at their disposal when persecution comes. But we are here to teach them that their only help is in Jesus and his teachings, and that with him to help they will conquer all things.

“They do not realize also that it is part of the Lord’s dealings with his children to test them and discipline them for better things. This is a spiritual teaching, and the Chinese are very materialistic. Is it strange that they should be staggered, at first, by actual persecution? If they give way a little, it is not because they are weak or unconverted, but because spiritual things are new to them. When we explain it to them, they use a very expressive word, ‘mó-huák,’ which means, ‘inevitable, we must endure it,’ and forthwith they patiently wait and suffer long. As they are slow to accept Christianity, they are slow to give it up. Of the 143 church-members at Gak-liang, half of whom joined this year, four months of persecution have only turned back six or seven. Praise the Lord!”

“Let me relate two of many instances of their steadfastness. A church-member from a little isolated village way up in the beautiful mountains came down with a back-load of wood to sell and to buy food. No one would buy of or sell to him because he was a Christian, and they took him by the queue and jostled him about. They so threatened and persecuted three Christian storekeepers that they fled the village and hid, but came back when I came to tell their story. That night a constable with twelve men visited the store of one of them, who a few years ago had came from Diong-loh, where he had learned to be a Christian, and asked to see goods and crowded into his store, and then into his loft, stole his money, and warned him to leave the village. He left that night, not knowing whither to go, and without money, but still a faithful Christian. God bless such and care for them!”