The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-24
FOREIGN MISSIONARIES.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES.
> The last number of the Southern Presby-
terian Review contains an article on the "Ec-
clesiastical Status of Foreign Missionaries "
, by the Rev. j. Leighton Wilson, D. D., the
Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions
: of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States. The authors long experience and
high reputation as a missionary, and as
Secretary of Missions, give great weight to
any discussion he may put forth on mission
ary topics. The question is not new, nor is
it by any means yet settled, while it's impor-
tance increases with the extension of mis-.
sions in all unevangelized countries. DR..
Wilson views it from the Presbyterian point
Of view, and he takes ground which is un-
doubtedly gaining force among missionaries
themselves, and which as we think, must ul-
timately be the only permanent basis of ac-
ton by churches of Presbyterial faith and
order.
Four methods Of determining this ecclesi-
astical relationship are now practiced among
these churches l. The organization and
government of local churches gathered out of
heather communities, by missionaries, or
"the mission" which acts under the control
of the Board or Committee of Missions at
home. This is essentially the Congregational
plan.
9. A kind Of double bodied Pfesbytery is
formed; one of which is made up of foreign
missionaries alone; and the other of native
pastors and elders who have charge of the
local churches. But this anomalous arrange
ment has no constitutional sanction and can
only be temporary expedient.
g. The foreign missionaries are formed
into mission; and also with the native pas
tors, and elders and churches into Presby.
terry. This is the plan upon which our Ar.
cot Mission and Chassis of Arcot are severally
organized. Under this arrangement also,
our missionary brethren may become pas
tors of churches, and are on Presbyterial
equality with the native pastors and elders
in the common oversight of the churches un.
der their care. The Presbytery or Chassis
thus formed constitute an integral part of
the churches at home to which they belong;
and are under the supreme authority of the
General Assembly or General Synod of
their Irrespective denominations. DR.. Wilson
notes the constitutional difficulties of this ar
rangement by which Presbyteries in Asis
must depend upon ecclesiastical bodies in this
country for complete organization, perma-
nent jurisdiction and judicial decisions, and
especially for the settlement of vexed ques- :
tions which belong exclusively to missionary
churches and missionary lands. How, for
instance can the General Synod of our own
Church determine the old differences be-
tween the Chinese missionaries as to the pro-
per word to be used in that language for the
name of God? Or how can the General As.
sembly decide whether the practice of bind
ing the feet of female. Chinese infants shall
be permitted or forbidden to the members of
the local churches? On this subject too
missionaries widely differ.
These "mixed Presbyteries' also are OBJ
scted to by the writer on the very serious
ground that they tend to promote and per-
petuate the existing divisions among the va
rious Presbyterian bodies which are opera
ting side by side in foreign lands. To our
view this is the strongest objection. The
plan which has hitherto been pursued will
make as many parts and splits in missionary
countries as we have at home. It would be
great calamity to the kingdom of God, and
positive wrong to those inexperienced
Christians and churches to teach them to
differ and disunite, instead of uniting all
those of kindred faith and worship and gov
ernment in common bonds. Far better will
it be that native pastors, elders, members
and churches shall be organized into great
national ecclesiastical bodies, having COM
mon faith, worship and polity for India, for
China, for Japan, than to perpetuate the di.
visions there, which we cannot heal at home.
For this reason We have earnestly advocated
our &C cooperative union in missions with the
Southern Presbyterian Church, and would
gladly see similar arrangement with other
affiliated evangelical bodies wherever Provi-
dence shall open the way for such consum-
nation. It i, surely far more accordant
with the spirit of the great commission, with
the precedents of the New Testament, and
with the historical consensus of faith and or
der in our great sisterhood Of churches.
4. The conclusion at which DR.. Wilson ar
rives is that every ordained foreign mission
ary is New Testament " evangelist" in the
full meaning of that term, as its Offices were
confded to and discharged by Timothy and
Titus. lie gets his authority as an evangel-
st ffcm the Pfesbytery which ordains him
to that work, and he is to continue member
of that body in this country. But as for
eign missionary he should belong supremely
to the General Assembly, which represents
not a sec ion, but the whole Church. His
ofice should not be that of pastor of native
church, unless temporarily and for special
reasons, but by virtue Of it he is to organize
} churches, ordain elders and deacons, super
wise the spiritual interests of all the mission