11 "THE FIERY TRIAL"

Chapter 11 "THE FIERY TRIAL" The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. -- TERTULLIAN.

IT was the beginning of May 1900, and the time of our Presbytery meetings. Missionaries and native elders, to the number of about one hundred, had gathered themselves together at Moukden from all parts of the country, to confer with one another on the things concerning the Kingdom of our Lord. Never before in the history of the mission had we to record a year of such unparalleled success. The native Church had a membership of nearly twenty thousand, with, in addition, some eight thousand catechumens waiting for baptism. It had contributed no less a sum than two thousand pounds sterling towards its own support. A Theological College had just been established for the better training of the native ministry. The burden of the work was felt by all, and it was with a keen sense of personal responsibility that we faced the question how best we were to minister to this mass of confessing humanity. At that time there was not the slightest trace of the coming storm visible on the horizon. Our outlook for the future, while it brought with it a deep sense of responsibility, was fitted to call forth in the highest degree a spirit of devout thankfulness to the great Head of the Church. A tone of high seriousness pervaded all our gatherings. We held a series of meetings with the native Christians calculated to deepen their spiritual life, whilst amongst ourselves we reverently sought God s guidance as we considered the situation with which we found ourselves confronted. Mr. Webster read a timely and suggestive paper on " How best to stimulate Bible Study amongst our Members " ; while Mr. Macintyre, in a paper on " The Present Situation," summed up the problem in the following manner : (1) " We have converted people among us, but we have also a vast number who, in the words of James, are driven of the wind and tossed. (2) We have come, humanly speaking, to the usual period of reaction in such movements, and must be prepared for a considerable falling away. What is not of the Spirit will now manifest itself and return to the world, possibly more friendly to us because of the temporary contact, but possibly also as enemies who will know our weakness and be able to exercise a very chilling and deterrent influence on our converts. (3) We have ourselves as teachers been very earnestly at school amongst this mass of confessing Christians, and we have doubtless, most of us, formed new and perhaps pretty stiff conclusions as to certain pronounced measures which must be taken immediately if the Spirit of God is to continue His work and sift out a people for the Saviour." And he suggested the following queries for consideration : (a) " Whether we are doing sufficient in the way of pressing upon members the duty of educating their children ? (b) whether we are sufficiently pressing the duty of systematic giving ? (c) whether we have done justice to the Sabbath question ; (d) whether we have duly grappled with the moral defects in the character of our converts, so as to make them stand out in their old surroundings as new creations of God by the faith of His Son ? (e) whether we can make an advance in our present position as regards the treatment of Yamen cases ? (f) whether we may be said to have touched the home life of the people ? "

Such were some of the problems that occupied our attention in conference. Scarcely had we dispersed when signs of the coming storm appeared. God was about to test the faith of the Manchurian Church in a way that none of us had dreamed of. By the beginning of July there was not a single missionary left in the field. The Christians were driven from their homes and scattered to the four points of the compass. The property of the missions was completely wrecked, representing a loss of about one hundred thousand pounds.

How the native Church stood the test and came through the fire it will be my object to show. I rely almost entirely upon the reports of those missionaries who were the first to get into touch with the converts after the storm had subsided. But first let me narrate how it began.

It was in the beginning of June that we first heard that " Boxers " had come to Moukden. They began to drill nightly on the streets, and to enlist large numbers of the people to their ranks chiefly from the Tsai It sect, which has always been inimical to the " Jesus religion." Prior to this time we had only heard of the " Boxer " movement in the provinces of Shantung and Chihli. When they made their appearance in Moukden, the Governor-General at once issued two proclamations against them. In these they were denounced as " rebels," and the people were warned not to join them else they would be punished. But no sooner were the proclamations posted up on the Yamen gates than they were scribbled all over with insulting remarks. At any other time this affront to the Viceroy would have cost the writers their heads; but no action was taken. My Chinese writer, who went to take down a copy of these proclamations for me, overheard a " Boxer " remark after he had read them : " Oh! is the Viceroy not going to countenance us yet ? " The enrolling of recruits continued. Slips of paper began to be circulated in the streets with insulting remarks against the foreigners, while big posters were displayed on the walls and gates of the city, urging the people to kill and burn. These had the desired effect. They produced a panic amongst the people, and fanned the passions of the mob into a flame. We dared not show ourselves on the streets. When we went outside our compounds, people who used to be friendly fled from us with frightened looks, as from a plague. Rumor said that the date for burning the Moukden church was fixed. On Sunday, when we went down to church, we found some soldiers there in plain clothes. They had been sent by a friendly magistrate to prevent an attack being made upon us. We took this as a good omen. It seemed as though the officials wished to protect us. The same official arrested some " Boxers " and put them in prison. On the evening of the same day the military governor went himself to prison and liberated them. From this we concluded that the officials were not agreeing among themselves. Some wished to put down the " Boxers " and protect us, whilst others aided and abetted the " Boxers " to kill us. Up to this time (20th June) we had refrained from seeking protection. The strain was terrible especially at night. We were a mere handful of people, without arms, in the midst of a heathen city. Never did we put our trust in God as we did then ! The elders came to tell us that one of our Christians had been badly beaten by a notable " Boxer." They feared that if no notice were taken, it would be the signal for a general persecution. Dr. Christie wrote a letter to the Governor. He reminded him how many years we had lived peaceably amongst them. We had respected Chinese customs, we had kept the law, and we had ever urged our converts to do the same. Our sole object was to preach the gospel and heal the sick. Now that the whole city was in panic, and we might be attacked any day, what was he prepared to do to protect us and our property ? We waited two anxious days for his reply. When it came it was a bitter disappointment. " The whole situation was very difficult : he was unable to help us." It was evident he was obeying Imperial instructions. Then news reached us of the wrecking of the railway near Pekin, of the bombarding of the Taku Forts, the siege of Tientsin, and the perilous condition of the Legations, and we realized for the first time that what we were feeling up country was but the ripple of a great wave of rebellion that was passing all over the Empire. We waited much on God in prayer, and earnestly sought His guidance and protection. A neighbouring magistrate Mr. Hsien who had always been friendly, made frequent visits to the hospital. He told us what was taking place in the Yamen. The last time he called he said in effect, " The Governor-General has received secret instructions from Pekin to foster the Boxer movement in every way possible. I advise you to get the women and children away to a place of safety at once." We now know that this was the notorious edict of 1 7th June 1900, ordering the destruction of all foreign property by fire, and the extermination of all foreigners and their Christian adherents by torture. We also have good reason to believe that the Viceroy, solicitous for our safety, was cognisant of the advice given to us to withdraw. He refrained from publishing the deadly edict till the " Boxers " forced his hand and threatened his life if he resisted them longer. Our leading Christians unselfishly advised the same course. " You cannot protect us by remaining," said they, " they can only persecute us, but they will certainly kill you." Hurriedly we packed a few things together, and at dawn on the 23rd June all the remaining ladies and children, with Mr. Pullar and myself, made our way quietly out of the city, and reached the Russian railway, ten miles distant. After three days we reached New-chwang in safety. It was my purpose to have returned to Moukden, but when we reached Newchwang we had advice saying that, as the situation had rapidly grown worse, Dr. Christie, Dr. Young, and Mr. Fulton were compelled to leave. Immediately afterwards the " Boxers " began to burn the railway bridges. Had we been compelled to go by road, the journey would have been both difficult and dangerous, as the inns were now crowded with soldiers. On 30th June came the sad tidings of the destruction of all our property in Moukden, and the massacre of many of our Christians. One week later came the still sadder intelligence of the massacre of the Roman Catholic bishop, two priests, and two " sisters." They had armed their converts, fortified their compounds, and attempted to resist the " Boxer " onset but in vain. Had we remained a week longer in Moukden we should doubtless have shared a like fate. Every day thereafter brought tidings of the most wanton destruction of churches and chapels, houses and hospitals, all over Manchuria. Nearly every Christian merchant had his shop burned and looted. A blinding sense of horror comes over us as we think of the sufferings and peril through which our native brethren passed.

I have confined myself to the beginnings of the trouble in Moukden, but other stations have a similar and in some cases a sadder tale to tell. The brethren from Kaiyuan were attacked by robbers whilst making their escape by river. Mr. O Neill, of the Irish Mission, was the last to leave the field. He had a perilous journey from Fa-ku-men to Vladivostok, in company with the Russian engineers, who had to fight their way through a people now thoroughly roused and hostile. Our missionaries in the north all made their escape to Vladivostok, and were much indebted to the generous and timely assistance rendered them by the Russian authorities.

Some time elapsed before the Russians were able to put a sufficient army into the field to cope with the disorders. They were as ill-prepared for, and as much surprised at, the turn events had taken as anyone else in China. But they made a desperate effort to protect their railway, which was nearing completion. On 4th August they took possession of Newchwang, the treaty-port, and put it under military control. They then gradually pushed their way up country, and before many months recaptured what was left of the railway and reduced the main route to order. The first missionary to get into touch with the native Christians was Dr. A. Macdonald Westwater. Smarting under a keen personal bereavement, he yet bravely returned from Japan to Port Arthur, where he was invited by the Russian General to take charge of the Red - Cross hospital work. By his knowledge of the country and the language he was in a position to render valuable assistance, not only to the Russians, but also to the mission. When he reached Liaoyang, where he had conducted medical work for many years and was well known to the people, he succeeded in calming their fears, induced the merchants to open their shops, and in this way secured the safety of the inhabitants and the immunity of the city from plunder. The people of Liaoyang justly regard him as the " saviour of the city." They showed their gratitude for his services by placing premises at his disposal for the resumption of medical work, with the promise that when the trouble was over they would rebuild his old hospital, then lying in ruins.

Arriving at Moukden, Dr. Westwater got into touch with Pastor Liu and the Christians. He hired a temporary building an old theater and set up the organization of the Church once more, as far as circumstances would permit. The Christians had suffered terribly, most of them were in rags, but in their joy at seeing the missionary back in their midst, there was never heard so much as a murmur. The first Sunday they repaired to the old church to all of them its very dust was dear, for many could say : " I was born there ! " Over its ashes they held their first service. It was a pathetic, and yet a glad reunion a striking testimony to the fact that despite all vicissitudes the continuity of the Church of Christ was assured.

Dr. Christie and Mr. Webster were the next to arrive in Moukden. Their visit greatly cheered the Christians, and in some cases they were able to relieve pressing necessities. Shortly afterwards Mr. Fulton, of the Irish Mission, arrived. He thus graphically describes the condition of the country and the people :

" Every step of our way from Newchwang bore testimony to the fearful destruction of property within the past few months. Fields of the smaller grains here and there had been left unreaped, and the heads of the tall millet had been hurriedly snipped off the stalks left standing till a more convenient season for cutting them down should present itself. All along the line of march of the troops the majority of the houses were empty, the owners having fled to avoid extortion, or injury, or death; in most cases taking their windows and doors with them. Many houses were also burned down, apparently no distinction being made between Christians and non-Christians ; in fact, from inquiries made, I should say that nine-tenths of the houses burned down belonged to the latter, and probably the origin of the fire in most cases was due to a desire to loot. You will see then, that, whatever may have been the real cause of the recent upheaval in Manchuria, a very large number of non-Christians have suffered the loss of both life and property. At the beginning of the troubles the hostility of the " Boxers " was first directed against the Christians and foreigners ; but as soon as their ranks began to swell, and they had attracted Imperial favour, they let loose the reins of passion, and set no limits to their ambition. Wherever their demands were not complied with, neither life nor property was safe. Here, in Moukden, the non- Christian merchants have lost very heavily. The majority of the large shops were plundered ruthlessly, and many of them afterwards burnt down. The Governor- General and other officers fled from the city on the night of 29th September. On the following morning, the representatives of law and order having gone, the merchants, fearing that organized looting would take place, did not open their shops; but the soldiers who had been left behind, together with the evil men that are always waiting to enrich themselves at others expense, armed themselves with rifles, and scattered themselves throughout the business part of the city, fired into the air at random to create terror, and demanded that all shops should forthwith be opened. Fearing death on refusal, men opened their shops, and the whole rascality of the city, and even many so-called respectable people, fell upon them, and plundered without let or hindrance for a whole day and a night. Then on 1st October, when the advance guards of the Russian army arrived at the gate, the looters set fire to several parts of the city and fled. The Governor-General is roundly abused for fleeing, as his presence would have saved the city. However that may be, it is certainly true that the arrival of the Russian troops saved the remnant that the Chinese themselves failed to destroy.

" The tales of suffering on the part of the Christians we continually have to listen to are simply indescribable ; and if half of them were told in the ear of the Church, there would be let loose such a flood of sympathy as should make the salvation of China the daily thought and prayer of every Christian throughout the world. Our brothers and sisters in Manchuria have been filling up the sufferings of Christ in a measure we never should have dreamt of. Had their flight taken place in winter, most of the women and children must have perished of cold. They lay hidden in the tall grain and in the long grass, and amongst the gullies and holes in the mountain sides, often for weeks, picking up food as best they could. Hundreds of them have had most miraculous escapes from horrible torture and certain death, even in places where exemption from death by purchase was disallowed them. Families got separated in the general flight, and the slow-footed were overtaken and either butchered or held for ransom. And some of those who escaped have found, or are now finding, an early grave through fright and exposure. Women and girls sometimes became the private property of their captors. . . . What happened here, in Moukden, is true of many places throughout the province. An order was issued, and carried from house to house, strictly forbidding anyone to give the least asylum to Christians or their families, and should anyone be found disobeying this law their houses would be burnt down and themselves treated as Christians. Consequently no one dare harbor even a near relative: in many places non-Christian strangers traveling on the roads were suspected of being Christians, and refused even a drink from the village well; and Christians, who had wandered many miles from their homes to places where they were quite unknown, were sometimes apprehended by the villagers and robbed, and perhaps handed over to the local Boxers. Moreover, in the case of those who did not leave their homes, but made terms with the Boxers, and purchased their lives and freedom by a handsome sum, this did not always guarantee them against further molestation at the hands of others who were not Boxers. Consequently Christians became the prey of everyone who for the time had taken power to do as he pleased. After consenting to the exactions of the Boxers, the Chinese officials, from the county magistrate down to the lowest scoundrel who lives by evil ways, pressed their claims, even to confiscating their property ; and in the city of Moukden the beggars made the occasion their harvest day, and went in bands from door to door demanding from the Christians generous gifts, otherwise they would burn their houses over their heads.

" From the beginning of the troubles it would seem that the Governor-General tried to do his best to keep order, but the General of the forces was the bitter enemy of the foreigners and Christians, and demanded their extermination, and threatened death to all who dared to oppose him. It was under his orders that his troops attacked and destroyed with field-guns the Roman Catholic cathedral here, and killed the foreigners and natives who had taken refuge therein. The Boxers flourished under his patronage as long as he remained in the city, and they were emboldened thereby to defy the civil officials: it was only when he had gone south to oppose the advance of the Russian troops that the civil officials were able to assert themselves. One day a leader of the Boxers was being carried in triumphal procession through the city, with fifty of his subordinates marching on either side with drawn swords, when the Governor of the city in his chair met them full in the face in one of the main streets, but he was obliged to move aside and let them pass. On 11th August, when the Boxers had attained the supreme height of their power, and things had reached a crisis, the city officials suddenly awoke to a sense of the serious dangers that threatened them, and fearing for their own lives, they gave the order to exterminate the Boxers. The order was carried out immediately, and many of them were slain, and the rest fled. Had the General of the forces been in the city at the time, instead of being with his troops on the field, this order could not have been executed, and nothing could then have saved the city from being sacked, and the Christians from utter extermination. Eventually, when the General of the forces returned from an utter defeat and rout by the Russians, he threatened the lives of the Governor-General and others who refused to carry out his behests, and it was largely owing to this threat that these officials fled from the city." From the roll of martyrs the following, who sealed their confession with their life’s blood, are surely worthy of a high place in the annals of the Christian Church. Those who have hitherto sneered at the work of missions in China, or have spoken of the converts as " rice Christians," must feel rebuked at the spectacle here presented of so much suffering heroism, for a parallel to which we must travel back to the first persecutions in the early days of the Church’s history. It is impossible, of course, to do more than select a few names.

Among the first to win the martyr’s crown was Blind Chang of the " Valley of Peace " (Tai-Ping-Kow). His life-story is one of the gems of missionary romance! One day in the year 1886 a blind man, in middle life, found his way to the Mission Hospital at Moukden. He had traveled over a hundred miles on foot from his village home, full of hope that the skill of the foreign doctor would be able to give him back his sight. He remained in the hospital for some months under treatment, during which time he heard much of the " Jesus religion." Chang was a deeply religious man a member of the Hun yuen, one of the straightest sects of Buddhism. It was soon apparent that there was small hope of a restoration of his sight. He was too late in coming and yet not too late, for the light of Heaven broke on his soul, and he saw by faith visions of a new life opening up before him. He earnestly besought baptism, but the missionaries refused his request, deeming it wise that he should first return to his home and tell his friends and neighbors of the great change that had passed over his life. He did so, but only after he had received the promise of an early visit from the foreign pastor. In obedience to this pledge Mr. Webster, some months later, sought him out in his own village. To his joy he found the whole country-side engrossed in the study of the Gospels, as the result of Blind Chang s witness. From place to place he had moved, telling his story with the native eloquence with which he was so richly gifted, and the simple village folk everywhere opened their hearts to the message, and their homes to the blind evangelist. He heard of the work of Mr. W. H. Murray among the blind at Pekin. Ever of a roving, restless disposition he set out with no guide but his staff across the hills to the Imperial city. And when he returned, bearing the Holy Scriptures in the Braille type under his arm, oh, miracle of miracles! to hear the blind man read from the tips of his fingers! He never sought to hide his light under a bushel, but set it where it could shed its luster all around. So when trouble came, and the dark days of persecution and death, Blind Chang was a marked man. He could not flee like others to the hills or hide among the tall millet stalks of the field. He could only await his appointed end. He was dragged before the " Boxer " tribunal and asked to worship the idols. He replied, " I can only worship the one living and true God." " You must repent," they cried. " I have repented already," was his answer. " Then will you believe in Buddha ? " " No ; I believe in Jesus Christ." " Then you must die." And whilst he chanted his last earthly hymn, the sword fell, and the spirit of the martyr passed to the unseen world.

Dr. Ross writes :

" A young man, Li Ru Tang, a painter by profession, has been a diligent and an eager student for some years. He was preacher at Huai-ren city, but being in Hsing-ping-pu, to which place he belonged, when the storm burst, he was apprehended. The Boxers were eager for his recantation, perhaps unwilling to take his life. On the execution ground he was bound as men are bound who are to be beheaded. He was then asked, Will you preach the Jesus religion? As long as I live, was the reply. Then an eyebrow was cut off with the sword, and the same question was repeated ; and so was his answer. Then another eyebrow, an ear, then the other ear. Then his lips were cut off, and still after each cut he was asked and still answered that while he lived he could not but preach the way of salvation to sinners. When he felt he was getting weak, he said, I may be unable to speak, but I shall never cease to believe. Then, with a terrific cross cut his heart was cut out and taken away. His heart was exhibited at a theatrical performance for several days. The Boxers themselves are now loud in praise of the man who was so unnaturally brave and true to his belief. His death, and the manner of it, produced a greater impression on the public of Hsing-ping-pu than any other.

" After her father’s death Li Ru Tang’s only child, a bright girl of fourteen years of age, fled, taking with her a New Testament. Some relatives wished to save her, but she must burn her book. She refused. She ran with the book under her arm into the millet. She was not known by any of the Boxers. She was discovered, however, among the millet. Her book was testimony, and the only testimony against her. She was brought to the place of execution, and asked if she were a believer. She replied that she was. The child fearlessly stood before her tormentors, who asked if she were not afraid. Afraid or not afraid, it is all one, she replied. But with a smile she met the sword that cut her down." In December 1898 I first met Li Ru Tang in Hsing-ping-pu, where he was a student preacher. While on the same journey, I had the joy of baptizing the first convert of the Huai-ren-hsien church the son of an inn keeper. Li Ru Tang was the first preacher of the young church, and promised well. Though not a great scholar he was a man of strong individuality. The last time I saw him was in Moukden. The work in Huai-ren had grown, and he came thither to solicit aid for the purchase of suitable premises for a church. " Faithful unto death, he now wears the crown of Life."

" The most uncompromising and deadly form of persecution," says Dr. Ross, " was in the flourishing town of Hsing-ping-pu in the east. Here we had a congregation of three hundred members, a large proportion being merchants and comfortable farmers. The value of the loss of goods and property there was fully $100,000 (Mexican) = 10,000 sterling. Every man, woman, and child belonging to the Christian religion who was seized was mercilessly and often barbarously put to death. Those who had not saved themselves by flight were all put to death. I have since seen the mandarin, and I can understand his attitude. He is a devoted Buddhist and ignorant man. By his action he had hoped to accumulate a stock of merit."

" The ablest and most intelligent member in the neighborhood of Mardun was a doctor in Shangjiaho-Shih. He was apprehended, for he was well known and highly respected over a wide region. His ears were cut off, and as he would not renounce his faith, the Boxers made a crown of flour over his head, saturated it with kerosene oil, and set it on fire. This they called the lamp of heaven ; and under its torture the poor man died. A few others were more mercifully dealt with, as their heads were cut off at a stroke. A man from Hsia- fangshen is in, and tells that every house in that village which was all Christian was burned down. Two people were beheaded. A man named Wang, who introduced the gospel to that place, was cut so deeply on the neck with a sword that friend and foe believed him dead. Another was so cruelly cut with a sword that he was thrown out to die. But like Paul in similar circumstances, they both recovered. All these people are farmers, and I am glad to learn they have been allowed to cultivate their ground this year. In other places it has not been so.

" The Boxers went to Deacon Yieh s shop in Yungling, and demanded whether he was not Yieh the deacon of Yungling church. Yes, he replied, I am. Then, they said; your doom is come. I have long been a Christian, replied Yieh. What have I done recently to deserve death? The fact that you are a Christian is your crime, and it is the will of the Buddha that you die. He was a very athletic man, and a trained gymnast. It would be difficult, therefore, for the Boxers to behead him. The soldiers levelled their pieces at his head, and thus compelled him to stand still, and the deed of blood was done.

" On the twenty-sixth of sixth moon (July) the Boxers of Hsing-ping-pu went to Wang- ching-men. The headmen of the village hunted the members, seized them, and handed them over to the Boxers. The Boxers went thrice to Wang-ching-men. In all, members and applicants for baptism, fourteen were put to death. All these met their death with great courage. There was no weak one among them. They bore witness to the truth. One, Wang, was singing and praying up to the moment when he was beheaded.

" An old man, Swun, formerly of considerable influence in the village, but one whom we all considered a weak member, was apprehended and bound. The crowd of beholders appealed to him to save his life. Why should he continue in the Jesus religion? Let him bend the knee and crave their forgiveness! No, he replied, I cannot. The Jesus religion is true. What of my life ? The religion I possess is an everlasting inheritance. He continued preaching the truth in which he believed till he was beheaded.

"At Hsing-ping-pu Deacon Chang was seized, and asked to recant or die. He refused in any way to deny the faith, and was beheaded.

" Swun Halting was brought before the Boxers, and asked whether he was a Roman Catholic or a Jesus religion man. He there upon began to preach to them the religion in which he believed, and for his impertinence was beheaded. Twelve other members of his family died with him for their faith, which they would not renounce.

" Chang Paichwan was asked to forsake the faith, or die. He replied that when he became a believer he counted on having to die for his faith. He was executed.

" Kuo Mingching, a member of Yungling, was hiding for a time, but was apprehended and brought before the Boxers of Hsing-ping- pu. He was presented with the alternative, recantation or death. To all the revilings and threats he answered only one word, which he continued to speak as long as he could It is well. It is well. It is well and he was beheaded.

" Deacon Miao from Yungling, had escaped and was taken, like Kuo. He too made a bold confession, as I would expect, for he was a bold, brave man. He exhorted the persecutors, who ended his exhortation by beheading him.

" Mrs. Hsia, of Yungling, one of the ablest women I have seen in Manchuria, was taken. She would not renounce the faith. She asked time to pray according to the custom of her religion. She had a napkin on her head, on account of some sickness. This she took off, and knelt, praying for some time. She then stood up and sang a hymn, At the gate of heaven, and, while singing with all her heart, she was beheaded.

" Hsu was a member of Changtan congregation. Pie was deacon of a station ten miles from that town. He was seized by the head man of this village, and threatened with death if he would not recant. He refused. His feet were put into the stocks, a heavy chain from his neck was tied to the kang, and his hands were manacled. He had been the first man baptized there, and the other members, who were not yet persecuted, with tears besought him to come to terms with his foe. He refused. He was asked to partake of some food, the meat having been offered in the temple. To that he made no objection. He was again pleaded with to open his mouth; that is, profess non-belief in the Christian doctrine. He replied that he had only one life to live, and he would remain true to his Saviour. He would not in any degree seem to acquiesce in denial of Him. The headman sent him to Moukden to the Boxers, whose headquarters were next door to our present church. The headman went in and accused him of being a Christian. The Boxers came out with their swords, and hacked him to pieces on the cart ; even his boots were cut to pieces."

"Gladly Lord with Thee they suffered;

Gladly Lord with Thee they died ;

And, by death to life immortal They were born and glorified." From an article by the Rev. James Webster, entitled " The Sifting Time in Manchuria," we quote the following. The whole article is well worth careful study. It embodies reports of all the districts by the various missionaries, and gives the most complete account of the persecution we have yet seen.

" The sufferings of the Christians in the districts of Hsin-min-tun and Kuang-ning (Irish Mission) were in some respects the hardest of any we have yet heard of. The persecution started in Hsin-min-tun in a carpenter s shop. The shop was burned, and in a few days twenty-five members were killed. Among them were men of great influence in the Church. One such man was taken early and beheaded, his head being placed in front of the chapel. Shortly after his wife followed him. Throughout the district no houses were left ; all were burned. All the people who could do so fled. Some couldn’t. Two brothers and a nephew were all killed together. The elder brother offered to give his life for the others, but he too was killed. He was a man who had great zeal for the Church. The old mother and the wives of three men four widows in all are left desolate. The daughter of one of the men was kidnapped. It is a sad case ; one of many. A man was brutally murdered after seven days torture, during which he witnessed for Christ. He never made any secret that to preach Christ was the main business of his life. It may be truly said that this man suffered because he was always letting his light shine. Altogether in Hsin- min-tun there have been forty-five deaths ; thirty-eight were massacred and seven died, either through fright or by suicide. Five girls were abducted and carried away to heathen homes. Sixty per cent, of the houses have been burned.

" In Kuang-ning the case was even sadder. In the city there were eighteen killed, and twenty-eight in the surrounding districts. There were three or four cases of real martyrdom, a faithfulness, even to death, that would add a luster to any church of whatever age or country. Two Bible-women met their death in this way. One was killed directly by the Boxers, one was hunted from pillar to post, and after a friendly family was murdered because they had given them shelter, she and her husband, unable longer to bear the strain, committed suicide. Another, an unpaid Bible- woman, a warm friend of Mrs, Hunter, died a most heroic death. She has left two little children, who are almost penniless. The deaths were sometimes by slow torture. Some men suffered because of their ardent propagation of the truth, others for no particular reason, except that they were connected with the Church. Even of the latter class some died nobly. One man who had not, as we thought, lived up to his light, yet when the trial came and he was asked to disown Christ, declared that he could not deny the truth, and he preached up to the very last, exhorting people to inquire for themselves, and see if the doctrine of Jesus was not true."

" At Tien-tzu-tsai (Haicheng) the Pan family were brutally attacked and eleven members were killed."

It has not been possible, of course, to do justice to the persecution as a whole. It is questionable, indeed, if we shall ever know the extent of the suffering through which the native Church passed. But these facts are sufficient to show the ruthless cruelty of the onslaught, and the equal fortitude and heroism with which it was met. It must surely be apparent to the most bigoted enemy of the Christians in Manchuria that Christianity has come to stay, and all the powers of hell cannot crush it.

" Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

" Therefore are they before His throne, and serve Him day and night in His Temple."