AMERICA'S MISSION

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 17, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 42.

"AMERICA'S MISSION."

BISHOP CHARLES H. FOWLER, in an address sent out on the above subject, names as one of "the three greatest missionary events of the Christian era since the crucifixion of Jesus," "the blowing up of the Maine." He further says:—

"But one day the Spanish touched off a magazine under us. Then the jig was up. Come what might, we must fight to the finish. We went into the air, and came down everywhere—to stay. This sent us about our providential job; this made missionaries of us. We are in Manila."

And how this nation has been a missionary in Manila, let the following summary from an eyewitness of events in Manila, tell:—

"It is a year of crime, lust, drunkenness, rape, assaults, robberies, murder, desertions, suicides, seductions, adultery, scandal, licensed infamy, licensed opium joints, licensed houses of prostitution, gambling, court-martials, intrigue, embezzlement, street fighting, swindling, counterfeiting, smuggling, stealing, canteen outrages, debauchery, and every form of devilment known to American Government of, by, and for the gin mills."—Wm. E. Johnson, in New Voice.

This is not new. It is confirmed by many. Are those who do these things missionaries of God?

THE Great Northern Railway has completed its big tunnel under a portion of the Cascade Mountains. The tunnel is over two miles in length, and was dug through solid granite, at a cost of about $5,000,000. This tunnel takes the place of the noted "switch-back" over the Cascades.

SO FAR there seems to be no agreement between the powers in reference to the settlement of affairs in China. The forces of each nation are acting under orders from home, and various punitive expeditions are carried out by the commands of the different nations. The allied army which the German field marshal was to command seems likely never to exist. Russia and England are both seeking control of the railway from Tien-tsin to Peking, and the soldiers of both nations are guarding sections of the road. All the American troops, except a strong legation guard, have been ordered to withdraw, and are preparing to do so. The Russian general at Peking has announced his intention to withdraw all his troops except a small contingent from Peking at once. As if to placate the foreign powers, the emperor of China has ordered the degradation of Prince Tuan, the well-known leader of the Boxers. Other officials also are to suffer, and the emperor orders libations and religious exercises over the graves of the German minister and the Japanese attaché. Emperor William of Germany has replied to the emperor of China that these services will not be considered adequate reparation for the murder of his minister and subjects in China. He demands that the Chinese officials who were responsible for the outbreak pay the penalty with their lives.

THE Catholic Young Men's National Union, in convention at New York on September 28, decided to "form a federation for the purpose of influencing legislation and furthering the claims of people embracing the Catholic faith." Bishop McFaul's idea of a national federation of all Catholic clubs for the purpose just stated was unanimously adopted by the convention, and committees were appointed to carry the plan into effect. In declaring for the federation, and bemoaning the present position of the government on the Indian school question, the Catholic Mirror of September 22 says: "The facts of the Indian school question constitute an urgent plea for Catholic federation. Appeals to justice and to fair play have been without effect. . . . A strong Catholic federation could have availed much at one stage of the proceedings. A remonstrance against prejudiced action from delegations representative in every sense of the word of the ten or twelve millions of Catholics in the country, would not have failed of effect. No public official, no political power, can afford to scorn so many of his fellow-citizens when it is known that they are united and can, if necessity arise, stand together in defense of their rights." There is certainly no mistaking the import of the Catholic federation.

CHARGES have been filed with the Prison Commission of Georgia against the managers of the McRee convict camp, of Lowndes County, in the form of affidavits from prominent citizens, to the effect that the managers of this convict camp have kidnapped innocent men and women, and made them work under armed guards for indefinite periods. It is charged that one practise of the convict camp managers is to employ "trappers" to arrest innocent negroes passing through the country, and, without any form of trial, to imprison and put them to work. In these convict camps prisoners of the State are rented out to contractors, and whipped and driven at their work.

THE British Admiralty has ordered twenty-five sets of Marconi's wireless telegraph instruments for installation on its war vessels, from which Marconi receives a royalty of $500 a year for a term of fifteen years. The chief of the electrical service of the English post-office is experimenting successfully with a wireless system of telegraphy and telephony. The United States Weather Bureau is also experimenting with a wireless telegraph system of its own, and it is claimed that better results have been obtained from it already than from the Marconi system.

THE American Institute of Sacred Literature, headquarters of which are in Chicago, is urging ministers all over the country, of all denominations, to use one Sunday as a "Bible Study Sunday." Well, one day is better than nothing, but it is sad indeed that conditions are such that an earnest plea must be made for that. Every sermon, the needs of every day, the conditions of the home, the church, the world, ought to stimulate Bible study among believers in God's Word. If ever there was need of it, it is now.

WITH each week there come new stories of the slaughter of defenseless Chinese, men, women, and children, at the hands of the Russian troops. One correspondent declares that over 1,500 of such non-combatants have been killed by the Russians in and around Newchwang. The correspondent adds that from all sides come reports of violence to women, and that the Russians are carrying out a policy of the destruction of property and extermination of the people. He says that whole villages have been burned and their people put to death.

A REPORT from New York states that the police department is now face to face with the united churches of that city over the matter of police blackmail, "by which millions of dollars are annually exacted from lawbreakers" for the privilege of robbing, swindling, and conducting houses of ill repute. The charges which the united churches will bring against the police will be made direct to the mayor, and even the board of police commissioners will be required to make explanations.

A SECRET circular addressed to the Russian archbishops has come to light and been published in Switzerland, which virtually excommunicates Count Tolstoi, the Russian social reformer. It declares that Tolstoi is an avowed enemy of the church (Greek Catholic), and that, therefore, unless he recants, the holy synod will prohibit the celebration of all divine services and expiatory masses in the event of his death.

REPORTS from Galveston state that there is still much suffering in that city, notwithstanding the liberal contributions that have been sent in from all parts of the country. Thousands are still without adequate shelter. The city government is facing bankruptcy, and plans are on foot for an appeal to the State Legislature to help the city government tide over its financial embarrassment.

PORTO RICO has made a novel demand on Cuba. It is for the repayment of $2,300,000 which Porto Rico was compelled to advance to Spain to help carry on military operations against Cuba. The Cubans are asking why they should repay funds loaned to the enemy for the express purpose of subduing them.

THE last remnants of the force of the Arab chief Addah have been defeated by the French in the southern Sahara. This famous chief was slain in battle with the French some time ago, and his two sons continued hostilities. In the recent battle one of the chief's sons was killed, and the force dispersed.

THE American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions has received advices from its missionaries in China that sixteen of them will return to their fields of labor in that country. Quite a number will return to America before again taking up missionary work in China.

A WRITER in Ainslee's Magazine tells us that "it is the experience of those who have seen much of life that the occult world, like fallen Babylon, is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."

AT Ryan's Hill, Penn., recently, street-railway traffic was retarded for some time by millions of potato bugs. The bugs piled over the tracks, and their crushed bodies under the wheels made the rails so slippery that little progress could be made by the cars.

ACCORDING to consular invoices, the amount of gold sent out of the Klondike region this season is $12,500,000. It is considered that a quarter of a million more has gone out without any record.

AT Frankfort, Kentucky, on September 29, James Howard was sentenced to hang for the murder of William Goebel, Democratic governor of that State.

A REPORT from Colorado states that an automobile has ascended Pike's Peak and descended in safety, thus establishing its practicability as a hill climber.

EIGHTY thousand pilgrims from Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Poland, and Italy, are reported to have filed past the pope on September 28 and 29.

THE trustees of the University of Chicago have agreed to give free tuition to ten of the Porto Ricans who desire education in this country.

WITH 100 miles further construction, a telegraph line will soon be completed between Vancouver and Dawson City.

AN attempt to overthrow the Government of San Domingo is reported by cable from Monte Cristi.