Forty Years in South China: The Life of Rev. John Van Nest Talmage, D.D.

had a great many discussions, but we know that you have always endeavored to do justice, and i

turn the points of the compass. He sees the great North-land in the hands of Russia. He sees the Spaniard tyrannizing over the Philippine Islanders. He sees Holland dominating the East Indies. He sees India's millions at the feet of the British lion. "What are these benevolent-looking barbarians tramping up and down the country for? Why are they establishing churches and schools and ho

t. "Agitation is our profession." We are among tho

he stone, and we see men alive unto God; "old things are passed away, behol

ore every yamen and temple. Basest stories are retailed. "The barbarians dig out men's eyes and cut out men's hearts to make medicine of them." The thirst for revenge is engendered, until, like an unleashed tiger, the

the foreign missionary martyr

the loss of well nigh all things, there have been not a few. Though the fires of persecution have burned with fi

issionary uprising in China occurr

of 1870 that Dr. Talmag

na, for much-need

he wrote to Dr

lion.) Nine Sisters of Charity, one foreign priest, the French consul and other French officials and subjects, and three Russians-in all, twenty-one Europeans-were massacred. Many of them w

ican Presbyterian Missio

was broken up, for fear

lped to Chefoo by two ve

Sir Hen

flee for their lives, one having his mission premises utterly destroyed. A people whose credulity is most amazingly developed by feeding on fairy tales and demon adv

ead along the coast. The people of

e state of affairs in and about Amoy. The missionary knowing the language and having constant dealings with the people would

money or to such persons as embraced the foreigner's religion. In the latter part of July some of these placards and letters accompanying them were received by Chinese at Amoy from their Canton friends. They were copied, with changes to suit this region, and extensively circulated. The man who seems to have been most active in their circulati

proclamation informing the people of the danger of poison, especially against poison in their wells. Two days later he issued another proclamation, reiterating his warnings, and i

oison all the wells. This so-call

tioned criminal with great particularity. The criminal is made to say that a few months ago he had been decoyed and sold to foreigners. In company with more than

e to refer all those on whom the poison took effect to a certain individual at Amoy, who would heal them gratuitously, only requiring of them their names. This, doubtless,

gion except by those in the mandarin offices. Besides the absurdity of charging foreigners with distributing poison, the whole confession bears the evidence not only of falsehood, but, if ever

g of gongs to draw water. The buckets were covered in carrying water to guard against the throwing in of poison along the streets. At the entrances of some villages notices were posted warning strangers not to enter lest they be arrested as poisoners. In various places men w

ence nearly thirty years, the number of patients gr

numbers. They averred that black and red pills were being sold by the ag

get cured, one must join the foreign religion or else give great sums. It was asserted that all this poison emana

f Amoy, barely escaped with his life. He was pounded with stones while th

foreigners, especially missionaries, and to make foreign powers believe that the people are so a

new better, and it was often said, "It cannot be the missionaries and native Christians, for

ical State of the Coun

though many seem still to be under the grievous error that these a

o justice. The Government has readily given life for life-a very easy matter in China-but it has so highly rewarded the families of the victims thus sacrificed to placate the barbarians, and put so much honor on the corpses of these martyrs to foreign demands, that it has encouraged similar atrocities whenever a suitable time shall arrive for their perpetratio

e been circulated secretly, but widely throughout the land. Throughout the coast provinces of this southern half of the e

is assuredly preparing with all its might, we are charged as being desirous of bringing on war. We know that the Church will not impute such motives to her missionaries. But the testimony of missionaries agrees in th

learn it from rumors which are circulated from time to time among the people; we s

en the Imperial Government and the higher local authorities, and we fear that we have another proof in the

ered in force and attacked the vessel. The people on board attempted to escape in their b

y overland to Amoy. The other three boats, after the crew and passengers had been stripped and robbed, were let go t

r policy, can be secured without war. We wish most heartily to avoid war. Besides all its other evils it would be a sad thing for our work and our churches. We still

raint, at least temporary, was laid upon the offici