Three Letters From American Missionaries In Nanking One Year After The Japanese Rape Of Nanking

(THE RAPE OF NANKING). The Rape of Nanking, also known as the Nanking Massacre, was a period of mass murder, wartime rape, arson, and looting. It was conducted by the Imperial Japanese Army during their occupation of Nanking, the capital of the Republic of China. The Rape of Nanking began with the fall of Nanking on December 13th, 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War and lasted for a few months afterwards until the Germany-established Nanking Safety Zone succeeded in preventing further war crimes by demilitarizing the city. Death toll estimates vary from 40,000 to over 300,000, with rape cases ranging from 20,000 to over 80,000 cases. However, most credible scholars in Japan support the validity of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and its findings, which estimate at least 200,000 murders and at least 20,000 cases of rape. The Nanking Safety Zone is credited with saving 250,000 lives and its leader, John Robe, who personally shielded 600 individuals in his home, had his tombstone moved to Nanking in 1997 in honor of his heroism. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East sentenced seven men to death for their roles during the Massacre and eighteen others received lesser sentences; a lack of direct evidence and a blanket Western pardon meant no Japanese royal officials were charged for the Massacre. Each of the following letters provides insight into daily life in Nanking after the Massacre and the toll of suffering under Japanese occupation, though from outsiders’ perspectives. An archive of three letters, two typed and one handwritten, crafted by American missionaries in Nanking, China thanking their Hughesville, PA donors for financial gifts that will be shared with other missionaries in China. The letters are from December 1938 to January 1939, one year after the Rape of Nanking. a) ALS. 2 pg. 8.5” x 11”. December 29, 1938. Nanking, China. A hand-written letter from “Charles and Elsie Matti” to their friends at the Hughesville Sunday School: “This morning quite a bit of American mail came and as usual it gave us much pleasure to be hearing directly from home friends. It is so very kind of you to remember us each year with a gift in money, and we appreciate your kindness and love which come along with it. Since the colder weather has come on we are finding the suffering among the poorer people ever greater than ever. Jesus said ‘the poor ye with have ye always’ and how true we have found that to be these years in China, but now the number seems to have been multiplied…God’s word has quite a little to say about one’s attitude towards the poor, and we are foraging for wisdom in dealing with the many cases near us…Some who have become Christians during these past few months were taken into the church. Only two were taken in to full membership, the rest were inquirers and probationers. There were thirty-six in all and we are glad to have them…” After more time describing the flock, the Mattis move onto the Japanese occupation on the second page: “Nanking is a changed city. The streets are not lighted at night and at dark very few people can be seen on the streets. Shops are mostly closed around five in the evening. Prices are high and a shortage is found along the like of dry goods and also some food stuffs. The streets are for the most part very dirty and one dreads to think what this can mean, when warmer weather comes. There are no police at night and petty thievery goes on most all the time. Many people now living in Nanking are not former residents of this city, and we find a very low morale among a good many now living here. Opium, heroin, and morphine are sold openly on the streets to all who have money to try such drugs. But in spite of all this, there are those reaching out after God and His Son, and they are finding peace and salvation through Him…” Other than a few minor folds, the letter is in excellent condition. b) TLS. 1 pg. 8.5” x 11”. N.d. Nanking, China. A typed letter signed “Charles and Elsie Matti” to “Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mosher and family”. After some brief pleasantries, the letter highlights the state of Japan’s fight for control over China and the state of life there: “…Ethel and Freda are still with us here in Namking [sic] but hope that they will be able to return to Luho sometime in the near future. Luho was again taken over by the Japanese on December 6th but with very little bloodshed and everything has been very orderly this time. The Post Office in Luho has not opened yet but we are able to get letters back and forth by messengers. Everything is quite peaceful in Luho at present…It is fine to be back here in Nanking with our Christians. Of course many of our Christians are scattered all over China. Especially those of the better class…Many of our Christians have suffered much but they have come through with real testimonies of how God has cared for and protected them through it all. There is much poverty here in the city…There are many such as these...”. Robert Mosher is their Reverend. Other than a few minor folds, the letter is in excellent condition. c) TLS. 3 pg. 8.5” x 11”. January 10, 1939. Nanking, China. A typed letter signed by “Freda Ginsburger” to her dear friends in the Hughesville Meeting: “One year ago, we wrote you about the refugee camps in Shanghai and the work we were doing there but thank God, we can now write you from Nanking and we hope before long to be able to write from Luho…On the fifteenth of November, having secured our Japanese permits, we returned to Nanking. It is necessary to have such permits in order to enter any territory occupied by the Japanese. At present we are living in our Mission Compound at Nanking and we always find plenty to do”. The letter later describes two women who have to walk 2.5 miles every time for Bible Study and that while things seem calm in Luho, the Japanese continue to refuse to grant them passes to return.