Yo the Editor of the "Norm-Cuixa Dany News."
Sin,—The papers have been filled with terrible stories of the massacre of missionaries and native Christians and of the aw: ful sufferings of many who escaped. The papers have also shown that the surviving Christians in Chihli; Shantung, Honan, and especially in Shansi and Shensi, are suffering not only from famine but also from the loss of all things—houses burnt, cattle stolen—and they dare not appear to receive the ordinary dole given to the famine poor in the districts where they are known to be Christians.
The poor Christians in Peking city were aided when the siege was raised and, thanks to the efforts of some foreign officers, some compensation was given by local magistrates to some outside the city.
But the greatest concern is felt for the Christians in Shansi and Shensi. Tt is not safe for missionaries or native Christians to carry relief there. Efforts are therefore being made either to get the Chinese authorities through Chung Chih-tumg to send escort for foreigners of the China Inland Mission who have volunteered to g0, or through the plenipotentiaries to get the Chinese authorities to sce to it that none of the native Christians should suffer any more in any way, but that protection and prompt relief be given them at once.
Some friends in Shanghai have felt very keenly that something should be done to help the Christians, consequently we wire to Chefoo, Tientsin, and Peking for in-)2 formation upon the subject. Tu the meantime Dr. Edwards sent us from Peking that long and interesting letter about the condition of Shansi which appeared last week in an evening paper.
T enclose the following letters from Chefoo and Tientsin as they may be of into est to the public. The native Christi in the London Mission. Shanghai, have already contributed about $200.00 this week for this purpose.
Thanking you in advance for the space. ote.
20th December.
The Tientsin Relief Committee consistsentatives of various Missions il ble to yet at the exact amount of destitution among the Christians owing to the difficulty in communication, there is no doubt' that the the season advances. need is great and will become greater as Ju Tientsin and the region just adjacent there are probably 910 cases in the various Missions needing relief.
In the stations of the London Mission at Yinshan, Chichou, and Ts'angehou, there is a membership of 2,000, two-thirds of whom will need relief.
In the English Methodist Mission of Lading there are 3,103 members, of whom 2,010 are destitute cases. The remaining 1,093 are also needy, as persecution was especially severe in that region. The American Board report about 800 members in their work connected with P'ang-chuang and Linchiag who will need help.
In the regions to the east of Tientsin the Methodist New Connection have 1,089 members, most of whom will need help. Three hundred of them are especially destitute. The Methodist Episcopal Mission have about 4,000 members left. This makes a total of nearly 1,200 members in the regions to the south and east, most of whom will need relief later on.
The local officials are doing something in some places for them but there is certain to be much need among them. Some funds have been received by the Methodist Episcopal. the American Board and the London Missions.
The American Board think the funds in hand will be sufficient for their own needs.
The English Methodist brethren are hopeful that on their visit to K'aip'ing next week the sums already promised by the Yungp'ing official may be forthcoming for use in that region.
We do not include the region around Peing as we understand you are communi-eating with the missionaries there. Of Shansi and Shensi we cannot speak definitely. A few refugees from the former province have come here and are now receiving relief. The distress is certain to be very great. but at present we have no way to reach the people or to relieve their destitution.
T. Hopant, Secretary, Tientsin Relief Committee.
Tientsin, 17th December.
Nir. Forsyth, for the Chefoo Relief Committee, consisting of representatives of the American Presbyterian Mission, the China Inland Mission, and English Baptist Mission writes Chefoo, 17th December.
#As regards your wire we decided that as far as the American Presbyterian and the English Baptist Mission in Shantung were concerned there seemed no special need at present for a public appeal for funds, but we felt most strongly that something should be done for the Shansi Christians.
We had considerable difficulty in devising a plan for supplying prompt and effective To send any foreigner with or with-Jout troops seemed unpracticable at the present time. To send natives with funds meant more than probable loss of money and possibly further loss of life, and in any {case an uncertainty as to the effectiveness of the plan and the certainty of waste in large measure. No other course presented itself to our mind than an endeavour to bring pressure to bear on the Chinese aurities to render the needed aid. As this whole trouble and awful calamity has {heen caused by the direct instigation and connivance of those in power, it seems only just that they should now be required to take such steps for immediate relief as is ie under the circumstances. Accord-jingly we have sent to Dr. Edwards in Peking by the hand of Mr. Robert Stephen of the Pakou Mission, Mongolia, copies of the letters received from Mr. McKee from Pingyangfu, Shansi, and all the information we can give regarding the condition of the native Christians in Shansi. We have also asked Dr. Edwards to lay the matter before the Plenipotentiaries now assembled in Peking, especially Count von Waldersee.
"If any general scheme is on foot to help needy Christians throughout the Empire swe hold ourselves in readiness to assist in the collection of funds. The Christians in Shensi are doubtless now in sore straits through famine and we think this might be enquired into."
Yours faithfully, R, Forsrm.
Rer. T. Ricuanp, Shanghai,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.