New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-21
PROF. SEELYE ON MISSIONS.


METHODS OF MISSIONARY woRK-RoMAN CATHOLIC
AND PROTESTANT MISSIONS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TO 4 HIGHER CONSIDERATION TO MISSIONS.
(FRoM 4 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBrNEI
New HAVEN, Dec. 1S-Prof. j. III. Seelyes
fifth lecture EMISSIONS" before Yale Divinity
School. delivered at Marquand Chapel, at Al p
yesterday the top'c being, :" Methods Of Missionary
Operations" question had been handed the speaker
as to how. aside from personal and climatic
reasons it would appear TO be mans duty to work in
one missionary field rather than iu another. He
answered that fields having special needs any given
time would have special claims. and OF these the Mis-
sonary Boards were trustworthy judges There might
be such thing, also, personal call, manifested in
one form or another. to special fields.
Az to missionary methods there genercaly two,
that OF the ROmsh Church and that OF Protestant bod
les. Tie former placed chief reliance on forms-on
baptism penauce and nominal acceptance. 81. Francis
Xavier for example regarded all infants eligible to
baptism, and all under IL infants. and felt hest
using brides force to the baptism OF
such, regarded clear converts. Not higher
principle characterized efforts toward adults people
being sometimes driven like sheep down to the rivers
PROFESSIONS pageantres, and elaborate ccremOnials
also held in high efficacy. SO, while the number
of nominal converts often immense in Roman Cath
Ole missions, there was little practical turning OF men
to God and little infusion of life. the usages OF
the countries nominaly Chrsanized ST. Francis Xavier
In effect admitted this in saying that IN India few would
found to be saved those who died under IA with
bapismal innocence yet upon them. And indeed,
il through hopeessness OF better fruit that he left
India In Congo for an illustration, where R0mish
missions had the protection Of Portugal for two
turtles the withdrawal of that protection left the mis-
sion to fail and to leave practically fruit Dr. Wells
Williams IN his Middle Kingdoms" showed similar
ineAlciency N such missions In China That Romish
missions did not seek for a deeper hold on men was
greatly be regretted, they had had the grandest
oppOrtunitles-meD, money and zeal and self sacrifice
which simply heroic, worthy earnest emulation.
The Protestant method diff red from the Romish in its
exaltatiOn OF the individual the mass and o,er
forms ami ceremOnias. Tie one aim was the CONVEX
sion and life OF individual souls While united on
this there WERE however, different theories In detail
OF which the most vital involved in the question
whether the gospel should be preached to men as
means OF their salvation and elevation or whether
education ana other agencies should b. made
prominent at first by way OF preparing them for the
gospel The latter plan was to he distinguished from
the plan considered In an earlier lecture-tbat OF de-
pending entirely on education for the elevation OF the
heathen Its held mat the prior preaching of
their theory, because the apostles held especial and
euglncries which those DAYS unknown But the
bold outlines OF Pants method sin their
sound basis III the facts Of human nature, and their
magnificent fruit. He came mot with excellency OF
speech Or OF wisdom TIL the heart won specula-
ton and generaliz alton might later" wisdom
among them that are perec' The fact also remained
and that the most vital force from intel.
lect but from tue w-thc Will either new sha ned or
made subject completely other Will The first
thing Was 10 win the heart To Christ add educa
ton aud culture upon such SOIL The result OF schools
had been to make Iuda v0racous OF reading but the
literature which fed the people was cOrrupt aud
obscene In the extreme. IL dangerous in such n
war TO Use first Weapon but the ora OF the shirt
other weapons used first might DO turned for or
the truth 10y The recipients.
THIS position tne speaker would take with dnidence
KNOWING that many or experience held different view
IL was true as urged, tnat made Christians
fro missionary schools but was largely the frit M
the Christian side OF The teaching Ii should be re-
membered too, that Christianity was not SO nuel, n
doctrine IA history aud lite. When The lie had be-
gun, then speculation would probably follow. This
should pe 10 new view The greatest preachers had
been those who had preached not about Curist but
Christ And II there not this example there WAS rho
great psychological ,art that 10 personal aone
which was real In smaller and argrr things So f
would seem that missions should use education but
should use rather III the way OF than of
Foundation stone.
Prof. Scclye delivered his aud las TO-DAY
II was entitled " Motives to "a Higher Conservation or
MISSIONS Having seen In the previous lecture the
speaker sara, now hopeless the world was without Chris
!hhS anu now eneacious Tor ITS help Christianity was
Ino question o now u was most powerfully be spread
aoio"u Wouiu DO inc next question: Now. man differ,
li"h orute IN the Instinct the knowledge OF God
tt could DO given the animal by no process or eyol
tOn hhu the christian differed other men ia Tint
,hiist was verify 10 hm the bread Of hts lie. Now IL
was III thc fuilness or THIS truth alone that
we're 10 10 most successful IL index Of
,e' Power mere sympathy for man would b. flicker
ins ,hPcr Even the work for bringing Christ to
would nag unless 10 was done-not Tor man. love IN
christ but Tor Christs love man Aud In detail there
was need nrst Of deeper anu deeper OF tbe
universal eicacy OF Chrsts sacrifice Chrsts reiipon
wac sAvAon, aud tle full comuresnsiau VI that wss