Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-12-04
CHARITY AT HOME.

II is the custom-derived from long
precedent-in some of the Eastern cities
to offer up prayers in different churches
for the conversion" OF the Jews, and
to take up collections for the "convers-
ion" of the heather. Looked at in the
abstract the idea is a philanthropic aud
lsudable one. But yet there is degree
Of incongruity and inconsistency about
It that Is remarkable. 1t argues q de-
sire to have matters so disposed that all
the children OF Adam may one day be
assembled in better and brighter world.
and starts out on the assumed but I'M.
proven proposition that the Jews and the
heather are wrong and they alone are
right. Viewing the matter in an un.
biased light and accepting religion as a
higher form OF emotional mentality and |
simply as an attribute of human nature, |
the impossbility of imposing certain
modes or forms OF worship, however
congenial to some minds, on the uni
versal heart of mankind is obvious
Those that labor with voice and money ,,
for the conversion of the Jews and
the heather would in their self.imposed
earnestness be astonished did an Israelite
undertake to prove to them what he
deemed the error of their ways, or
Buddhist explain the assumed divinity
OF Brahms or Vishnu. Yet the Hebrew
and Buddhist have, as far as that goes,
as good human right to attempt to
proselytize by unfolding to other minds
the beauties Of their respective creeds. As
Hindostanee on visit to this country
few years ago said to some gentlemen
at private dinner party: my friends,
presume it is very difficult for you to
understand how it is possible for my
companion and myself. having received
our education in England as we'll as in
India, and travelled extensively in Flu.
rope and America, to still cling to the
religion OF our ancestors. Pardon me
for saying that it is equally difficulty
for us to understand how such
cultured gentlemen as we have
met in this and other cities can
accept the Christian religion. II
we are heather to you. you are no less
heather to us. Your religion satisfies
you; ours satisfies US; and you must per-
NIT me to declare that the sending of
missionaries to convert our people to
Christianity seemst to us just as ridiculous
as the sending OF Buddhist priests Ia
America for missionary operations wouli
seem to you. And the success of you
missionaries is not likely to be an,
greater than that Of ours would be-if W
were foolish enough to engage in such
useless business. India can no more b,
converted to Christianity than Europe O.
America can be converted TO Buddhism ;
In this the heather stated a self.evi
dent truth, viz: our religion satisfies us
their religion satisfies them and neithe
could satisfy the other. But the chic
point Of interest in this connection is th
enormous waste OF philanthropy
Good natural people find gen
erous impulses bubbling up to tn
surface so strongly that they ar
impelled to aid those thousands OF mile
away in manner they don't want Will
tens OF thousands at their doors are j
need OF that for temporal comfort whic
is destined for foreign spiritual succol
Men around the corner are deliberatn
sadly as to how the wants OF the morro'
are to be supplied while Mr.. Goodsoul i
putting down five hundred dollars to bu
flannel shirts with the Lords praye
printed on them and to be presented (
the juvenile population Of Caffrarit
The impulse is well meant and laudabl,
but the channel into which his generosit
flows Is far removed from the usefr
stream OF a we'll bestowed generosity.
is astonishing that men cannot realize q
they place their contribution on the plat
for foreign missions that passing til
church door are unfortunates whom wan
and deprivation are impelling to deeds
violence. "'Tis true, It's pity; pity ii
It's true" The theme is a trite one "
worthy Of note by all would.bs yet o.
mistaken benefactors.