Chinese Official Compensates Bible Society for Losses
The following incident shows the nobleness and dignity of some of the Chinese officials: The British and Foreign Bible Society had decided to make no claim on the Chinese authorities for the damage which they sustained during the recent outbreak in China. The British consul at Kiu-kiang had some correspondence with Ming Taoti, the ruling Chinese official of that city, concerning the matter. The latter wrote: “Wherever through last year’s disturbances any missionary society has lost any documents and books, such loss, if really incurred through the destruction of the mission premises, ought naturally to be fairly estimated and paid for. In your letter you mention a Shanghai society which is unwilling to press for an indemnity, but is prepared to accept compensation if voluntarily offered. This attitude, which fully proves the good intentions of the society, and its desire to deal in a spirit of fairness and equity, commands my profound respect. . . . I propose myself to offer the whole amount of their loss in this city as a subscription to the society, in evidence of my respect for them and my sincere regret for their losses.” With the letter went a draft for four hundred dollars, the value of the books, etc., destroyed in that city.