CHRISTENDOM’S SHAME by A. J. B.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 28, 1901

CHRISTENDOM’S SHAME.

By A. J. B.

IT is a notorious fact that so-called “pagan” Japan has been reasonable and humane in her treatment of China. On the other hand, the great “Christian” or “civilized” Powers, so-called, have, in the words of the leading Episcopal weekly of the country, “given ample cause to Christendom to hide its face in shame—not for its religion, but for the barbarous inhumanity of professedly Christian nations.” Continuing, it says: “The wholesale robberies, murders, massacres—and worse—which these representatives of Christian civilization have perpetrated in China, will do more to discredit the religion of Christ among the four hundred millions of Chinese than an equal number of missionaries will be able to undo in fifty years; and what was thus begun in organized crime seems now to be ending in remorseless rapacity.”

A confirmation of these statements is found in the following incident, taken from a published letter of Dr. L. L. Seaman, surgeon-major of the United States Army. Dr. Seaman says:—

At the command of General Grodekow, now governor-general of Manchuria, between twelve and thirteen thousand men, women, and children, unarmed and defenseless, were driven into the Amoy River at Bladigovinski, because an attack had been made on the Manchurian Railway, further up the river. Homes were ferreted out, and the old and decrepit were driven with the women and children to their death—all to strike terror to the heart of the Chinese. One of the officers in command of the troops which executed that order is a friend of mine, and he told me that his heart grew sick as he assisted in carrying out this command.

The only Chinese to escape from that terrible massacre were sixteen employees of the firm of Kunst and Albers. This firm protested strongly against the murder of their shroffs, compradores, and clerks. “Well,” said Grodekow, “if you don’t like it, give me forty thousand rubles.” And this amount was paid, then and there, to save the lives of their men. It was the best investment that firm ever made, for the reputation it gave them has gone abroad, and their business has increased largely as a result.

As this is but a sample of what the allied troops have done in many parts of China, is it any wonder that the natives hate the very name of Christianity, and that the latest news received from a missionary there under the auspices of the London Mission, is that “reports from the provinces show that discontent and intense hatred of foreigners prevail”? This missionary predicts that “the withdrawal of the foreign troops will be signalized by a massacre of the native Christians.” Who can blame the natives of that country for wanting to get rid of such “Christianity”?

A. J. B.