New Forces in Old China: An Inevitable AwakeningBrown, Arthur Judson
History
New Forces in Old China: An Inevitable Awakening
Brown, Arthur Judson
China -- Commerce; China -- Foreign relations; China -- Politics and government; Missions -- China
``I went to sleep last night with the impression that after such a reply
from the Minister it would be vain to urge a new draft, but after a restless
sleep I awoke to the idea of trying once more, this time saying nothing
about foreign missionaries. The article was sketched as soon as I could
write it and sent off by a messenger before breakfast; it was a last
chance, and every hope went with it for success. At half-past nine an
answer came. Permission for Christians meeting for worship and the distribution
of books was erased, while the words open ports were inserted
in such a connection that it was rendered illegal for any one, native or
otherwise, to profess Christianity anywhere else. The design was merely
to restrict missionaries to the ports, but the effect would be detrimental in
the highest degree to natives. I decided at once to go to see the Viscount
and try to settle the question with him personally. Chairs were
called, whose bearers seemed to Martin and me an eternity in coming, but
at last we reached the house where Captain Du Pont and his marines so
unexpectedly turned up last Saturday. Our amendment was handed to
Chang, who began to cavil at it, but he was promptly told that he must
take it to the Commissioners for approval as it stood, since this was the
form we were decided on. Our labour and anxiety were all repaid, and
ended by his return in a few minutes announcing Kweilang's assent to
the article as it now stands in the treaty.''
In order to settle this point beyond all possible doubt, I recently
wrote to the Rev. Dr. W. A. P. Martin, now in China,
asking him to give me his recollection of the incident. He replied
as follows:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account