Soochow, Nov. 17, 1874.
To the Editor of the Sm,—On the afternoon of last Sabbath (the 15th inst.,) there was a disturbance in the chapel of the Southern Presbyterian Mission at Soochow. The chapel is situated upon the Yany-Nyoh-Hang, one of the leading thoroughfares of the city the Missionaries living above and in the rear of the chapel. Bexide the street-chapel for daily preriching, there is a mall chapel, more retired, for Sabbath services.
In this, on Sabbath afternoon, Nov. 15, untiye minister from Hangchow was ranching to members of the church.
nite a number of women and children came in at the time, as they are accustomed to do, to visit the Indies of the ho Most of them were strangers, but. they were brought in by some who had been regular visitors for a long time.
The men on the street, seeing such a number, for there were thirty or forty women and children together, bevan to spread the common rumors that the foreigners were collecting children's eyex for medicine, &c., and began to knock on the door. Idlers were in abundance, for this day was a half-holiday, as the wife of the highest literary graduate in the kingdom was to be paraded through the streets. The people had waited hour after hour for the Indy to appear, and were restive under the disappointment.
The ienocking on the door increased, though the peuple were several times s;-aken toaboutit. Some of the women went out. As the crowd seemed determined to brea in, the door of the large outer chapel was opened, and an attempt was made to preach, but without avail. They were afterwards requested to go out, that the door might be shut, and half did so. After a long attempt to close the door, it was plain that they must be allowed go back and see. A number were permitted, and many of them returned and suid there was nothing to be seen. One rushed in and asked, ' Where is that child you are killing Tt was too gond an opportunity to see all the wonderful things about a foreigner's house, and numbers poured in from the street. Rev.. Helm, from Hangchow, who had some years' acquaintance with the language, was present, and all he and myself could cly was to go about and with pleasant faces urge the people to be quiet and leave. We were pushed about a good deal, and many insults offered, but mort of the people were well disposed. Probsbly not more than 20 or 30 out of the 400 or 500 were intent upon evil. Several times the rooms upstairs were cleared, but a whole stream would come up by nother stairway.
Seeing that they would not leave, I walked out to the yamen of the Distr Magistrate, about a quarter of a mile di tant, At the door they told me the official was out, but pressing lo, 1 saw the Secretary, wh ely sent five men, Tu the e had called the Di pao first pressed is uy wife went to the upper floor and locked the doors. Some of the crowd broke one door down and entered the room. They were about to force their way into the room where my wife was, when he opened and went out. She kept them at bay some time, when they were about to push by. Their attention was then turned to a book, which a well-dressed man had stolen. He replied that "she was trying to steal his book," when he was pointed to the Roman characters.
'At this juncture the Di-pao came, and quickly cleared "the passage. He acted very manfully, and deserves to be comed. He stood at the back door of rout chapel, and kept the crowd' from rushing in until the yamen runners cane, when their ery soon cleared the chapel. The crowd had been in the house an hour. A few things belonging to us were stolen principal y Bibles and hymn books, but the Chinese lost articles of clothing, At times the noise and shouts were loud, but the most of the crowd were in a good humor, The ease was fully reported to the District Magistrate yesterday, and three names given hrm of parties known. He promises prompt attention, One of the men in a lamp store opposite was arrested this morning, amid wailings, and the case is now being heard. It will be insisted upon that these men be cangued, for an example. Up to this tu officials have acted promptly an spirit. is very quiet now. This affair was evidently unpreifeditated, but whether the late occurrences at Luchow have had any effect, it is hard to tell. Haxevex ©. Clu Boss.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.