To the Editor of the Sin,—In one of the 3 "UG, Herald," the 2nd, I think (the paper has "passed out-of my hand in some was article from "A Catholic Missionary, in which the question was asked, why-Protestant missionaries so frequently preferred charges against Catholic missionaries? The question might be answered by a counter question: Why are the Catholic missionaries continually doing, and supporting their converts in doing, things which are plain violations of the commands of the Saviour? For I have" noticed that for a long time the copies of the "Herald" which contained references to the evil deeds of those of this communion were greater in number thin those which contained no such references. Your readers will recall the case in which the Moule brothers did some correspondence About three years ago, in which a notorious rascal was protected and encouraged by the Catholic priest. Also a, leste from a gentleman who visited Tientsin after the troubles of last year, a man connected with no Church and_baving no special interest in any, in which, having made careful enquiry concerning the various rumours of the doings of the missionaries and the Christians, he stated tha hie found no. confirmation as regarded Protestant missionaries. and their con-Yerts, but that armed bands of Roman Catholic Christians were _terrorising, and enforcing the collection of large sums from the villages in certain places. A recent letter from Tientsin, referring to the armed resistance and refusal to pay the indemnity by many of the villages in southern Chibli, has this sentence: "It is stirred up partly by the remorseless te-na city with which the Catholic Chris have been wreaking vengeance on other faiths without much Even Protestants have suffered."
Herein lies the answer to the question of "A Catholic Missionary.
In that same article, the com Bishop Anzer in the seizure of was denied, and it was said that the Herald" in its valuable columns bad admitted that the Bishop bad denied the charge. I do not recall seeing this denial but here are the Bishop's words: © The awful news of the murder of the missionaries (Nies and Heule) came to mo while at Stell, where the General Chapter was being held. My first step was to com-june with God. My next step was to hasten to the high Protector of the Cath-dic Church in China, His Majesty the Gorshan Emperor. I asked him for his efficient protection for my ce-labourers and my fold. The answer came—and you know what it was—namely, Kiaochou!" (See "N.Y. Independent." Dec. both 1900.) Chancellor von Biilow in the German Parliament, February 8th, 1898, said After the German Empire had assumed the protectorate over the Catholic missions in Shantung, it war not only its duty, but was an honour to it, to exercise this privilege; and the greatest influence on the actions of the Government was exercised by the head of these mis-
cally declared that the seizing of Kiaochou was a question of life and death for the continuation of the Chinese missionary work." The Cologne *Vollcszeitung" of March 10th, 1898, says: "In the whole Kiaochou matter. the Cathshe Bishop (Anzer) was in a condition to render the vice." This is specially sig of the opinion of ex-Minister Herr von Brandt and other German travellers to the effect (expressed in interviews and published articles) that Catholic missionaries do much more to help colony trade projects than do the Protestants, because the latter confine themselves to their religious work while the former are hand in hand with the political powers in furthering their ends. Wiseman declared that in Uganda the Catholics were far more efficient than the Protestants in forwarding Government schemes. Referring to' the seizure of Kiaochou, Li Hung-chang is reported as saying to Bishop Anzer: "This fact. has more than anything else embittered the people against the missions and the Christians. The riots that followed were only what could be expected."
About thirty years ago the writer visited regularly a section of country 70 or 80 miles south of Paotingfu, where were Christians scattered in several villages. On one of these visits, he learned that two well-known highwaymen who had long infested the roads of that part of tie country had just. recently joined the Catholic Church to avoid capture. Inquiry elicited the following facts: They nad for a long time carried on their nefarious business by means of bribes in the yamen; bit now their crimes had become so notorious that this could no longer be done. Hence this alternative. Th were received without question, so far a: could be learned it any rate they were shielded from justi id from official interference. Another case coming within my own knowledge is very significant in this connection. It had its origin about ten years ago. A man [i or 25 smiles south of Tientsin bees terested in reading the Christian books, and applied to one of the Protestant Churches of Tientsin for membership. On account of his having had rather a bad record. he was guided in i given such instruction as was possible for year or more before being received ud then he had the testimony of his village neighbours to a great change ji eventually he became some of his old habits got atin, and he threatened to join the "Roman Church" if in some things "he could not ich he finally did. ponding to efforts for stricken from the Church roll. time there was not a Catholic member in that section of country. It was not a great while before he became involved in a quarrel over a bundle of fuel, which, after an adjustment had been reached, he so managed as to involve a large part of the lagers, and a number of other villages in which they had relatives. The result of this was that over fifty villages banded together for mutual protection and as ance under a pledge that under no circumstances would they permit Catholic pro-paganism in any of the villages so united. His cause was espoused by the Catholic clergy, the Iccal Magistrate. was prevented by interference from dealing the case, and it was remanded to Tientsin. Finally the combined villages wore fined Tls. 500. of which Tls. 300 were given to him to build a chapel in his vil-Jage, and Tls. 200 to another man who had en induced to join the Catholics for a like purpose. Scareely a year elapsed before he managed to start another quarrel, and was seized and taken before the Mag" istrate—a quarrel more serious than the former one. In this ease, which occurred about two years and a half ago, the Magistrate immediately sent it to Tientsin, knowing. as he said that interference would prevent his dealing with it on its merits.
During a friendly call upon the off cial a couple of years ago, he voluntarily gave me a detailed history of both cases, which corresponded with what I had learn ed from independent sources on inquiry. The issue of the last case I did not learn before leaving the country, but a recent letter informs me that this man was about to be executed for murder—by the Provisional Government I infer, which will brook no interference as in the other cases.
When we remember the teaching of the Catholic Church, that anything is legitimate and right that advances tne interests of Mother Church, the letter of "A Catholic Missionary" in the "N.-C, Herald" for duly 3rd, 1901, loses its force; for facts ven from one's own knowledge and experience must be evidenced as untruthful; the burden of proof rests on those who make the charge against a class of men of known reliable. character, And as, to his other point, what is the Bishop about that he does not know what his dependents are doing? Instances could he given to show that he does know: and ho would not be long in that position if he did not know.
In conclusion, Mr. Editor, let me say that this is not written in a spirit of controversy or ill-feeling. I think I can say truly that nothing would rejoice the whole body of Protestant missionaries more than to see our Catholic brethren take heir stand on the plain, simple gospel of our Lord and Master, where with God's worn alone as our authority we could stand shoulder to shoulder and work hand in hand for the overthrow of "the works of the flesh" and the increase of "the fruit of the Spirit," secking in all things to "let this mind be in you, which wa also in Christ Jesus (see Gal. 5, and Phil. 2), He alone being our Master.
Tam, ete., Marietta, 0., U.S.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.