CHRISTIAN MISSION IN LEW CHEW. 225 



grossest tyranny on the part of the so-called paternal rulers. How far these poor and oppressed 

 beings are in a condition to be impressed by the truths of Christianity it would be difficult to 

 say ; but, from the early experience of Dr. Bettelheim, there is reason to think that the common 

 people, if left to themselves, would be willing listeners to the Christian teacher ; and the 

 benevolence of gospel principles would probably contrast so strongly and advantageously with 

 the cruelty and oppression under which they groan, that we cannot but believe tliere are few 

 spots of paganism where, under God's blessing, efforts to Christianize would probably be more 

 successful than in Lew Chew, were the people left to freedom of thought and action. 



As to the establishment of Dr. Bettelheim as a missionary in the island, its history, as we 

 gather from the Bishop of Victoria, is briefly this: Not many years ago, certain pious officers 

 of the British navy, (among whom was prominent Lieutenant Clifford, who, we believe, visited 

 the island with Captain Basil Hall,) formed an association among themselves, under the name 

 of the " Lew Chew Naval Mission," for the purpose of sending Christian missionaries to the 

 island. The missionary whom they first sent was Dr. Bettelheim, a converted Jew, and by 

 birth a Hungarian, not, however, in holy orders, but a christian layman. He had become a 

 British subject by naturalization, and the husband of an English woman. He possessed many 

 qualifications for his work. He was a physician, a good linguist, with great energy of mind and 

 activity of body, and most indefatigable perseverance. He possessed, also, a boldness of nature, 

 which caused him fearlessly to assert his rights as a British subject, and, perhaps, not always with 

 discretion. Two missionaries of the Koman church were, at first, in Lew Chew with him, one of 

 whom was made titular bishop of Samos and vicar general of Japan ; but these, in utter despair of 

 success, abandoned their mission, and left the island, while Dr. Bettelheim still abode at his post, 

 and never relaxed his labors. Commodore Perry found him at Napha, as we have already related, 

 and he had been there since May, 1846. The opposition to Dr. Bettelheim's labors did not 

 come from the common people. At first his communications with them were freely allowed, 

 and they seemed well disposed to be taught. But the authorities soon took the alarm, and, as 

 there is reason to think, on political grounds merely. They were afraid of their Japanese 

 masters, who, as they well knew, would tolerate no show of Christianity in the kingdom, and 

 would look upon its introduction into Lew Chew as the first step toward breaking down the 

 exclusive system of Japan. At first, therefore, the authorities at Napha used mild persuasion 

 with Dr. Bettelheim to prevail upon him to leave the island ; then followed less equivocal 

 marks of opposition — the people were forbidden to go near him or to remain with him if he 

 came among them ; and, finally, a system of insult, annoyance, ceaseless espionage, and 

 intimidation, was adopted, in the hope of driving him away. But all these means were in vain. 

 The missionary stayed in Lew Chew, and at the time of the Commodore's arrival, he and the 

 inhabitants were living in a condition of undisguised hostility toward each other. It was soon 

 but too apparent that the presence of the missionary, however meritorious he might be, seemed 

 to promise but little for the extension of Christianity in the island at that period. 



A renewed opportunity of observation on this second visit enabled the gentlemen of the 

 expedition to catch some additional features of social life, as well as to obtain further insight 

 into manners and customs. There is a gradation in the rank of officers analogous to that 

 existing in China, and here, as there, manifested by some peculiarity of dress. The great 

 distinctive mark, however, between the higher classes and the general population consists in 

 the hair-pin. The crown of the head, to the extent of two or three inches, is shaved, and into 

 the vacant space the residue of the hair is all drawn, and plaited somewhat into the form of a 

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