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THE
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FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL
Vol. XXIII— January, 1892— No. 6.
ABOUT CHINA.
“It is a common native belief,” says the Missionary Review, “that
the eyes and other organs of the dead are taken by Europeans for the
purpose of making certain medicines.” This belief is said to have led
to some of the recent riots in China, directed especially against Roman
Catholic institutions. It is proposed now by some missionary com¬
mittees, in order to remove all such false ideas, to have a Chinese offi¬
cial called in, at the death of any one in these hospitals, schools, &c.,
to see that no such thing is true, and, as well, to have all such institu¬
tions open at all times to the inspection of the Chinese authorities.
Doubtless the managers of all Protestant institutions will agree to
this, but the Catholic hardly will. That would involve the letting in of
too much light. But a refusal on their part would enable the Chinese
to distingush, as they are already learning to do, between Protest¬
antism and Catholicism.
Late reports are that the government is using stronger measures for
the suppression of rioting, and is punishing more severely the leaders in
the riots ; and that, in consequence, a better state of things is being
experienced. Intelligent observers in China, however, seem to feel that
such suppression of violence is only temporary', and that China is on
the eve of revolution. Any day may witness a renewal of the scenes
of the Taiping rebellion in 1858, and for some years later.
It is a time when our missionaries should be constantly remembered
in our prayers. And not only our missionaries, but China as well,
that God would have mercy upon her and, if possible, avert from her
the horrors of war. But if that be not best, that he may make all
these things work together for China’s redemption.
The missionaries believe that the final outcome of China’s present
troubles will be the more complete opening, not only of the country',
but of the hearts of the people, to the entrance of the life-giving gos¬
pel. And they think that the Christian world should send there now
many missionaries, who shall be ready to take advantage of the coming
