New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-18
CURRENT RELIGIOUS OPINION.

There Is much in Joseph Cooks prelude last week
which those Interested IN foreign missions ought TO
consider lie urges the churches 10 much lqrgcr
outlay; and, if they would hasten tho conversion
of tho world II is evident that seven or eight mill
ions year is not half enough for the support Of
such efforts AS The various fields call for. We are
per.nadrd, however, that Mr. Cooks proposition To
put missionary into tho field FOR every 10000
population ~ not we'll cOnsdeIcd one. We do not
believe that missionary managers of experience
will approve the suggestion. \ little calculation
will show that the dream ut can hardly he regarded
n, n matter-Of-iaCt statement lsa Wild one. Take
China, Ior example. II would require about 1000
missionaries To euuip that field. India would re-
quifc 900 Africa >, 600 or more, and other coun-
tries IN proportion. Thus. Tor China alone We
should need say about four tine rs many mission
aries as VIC have in the world to-day. such a scale
of expenditure rs this would involve, such rob
blng of our theological seminaries ana Ministerial
ranks Protestant ChrstendOm could not well sub
nit to. Further. this notion does not make as much
of native ministry ~ il desirable II the native
ministry In Ms rapidly dcN elOpeu az II might be such
n multiplication Of foreign missionaries would be
unnecessary. We want Onr churches to be stirred
to Il more adequate and earnest cndcavor TO use MI
Cooks strong words; but we do not want them 20
be led astray by 80 impIacticube mutton. Inc
true plan IL that. vhilo we strengthen our mis-
sOnary force much beyond its present NUMBERS
we should prepare ilndus and Chinese Tor the con-
version of India and China. great increase OF
native agency is practicable, and moro lndlspen-
sable too than is one missionary for every oOOOo
popuatOn.DlThe independent.
If there is any reason for having achurch IN New
York Boston, there is equal reason for having
ono on the frontier. Wherever the wave OF
civilization moves the moral and rel gous idea
should be found it's crest. An ardent love of
humanity and sense of the great need OF moral
and igous force to lift it from its degradation
ought to he. and believe are, motives sufficiently
strong to inspire missionary undertakings.
If it be asked why Untarians nave not done more
TO illustrate this doctrine II must he confessed that
they have never realized tie full gladncss of
gospel that teaches that all men are the chi rem OF
God, as Orthodoxy has failed to realize the
full sadness of gospel which teaches that
the vast majority of the adult population OF the
globe Is doomed to endless woe. Unitarians have
wisely spent much of their force in going to the
very root of this matter and combating the view of
God and man on which the foreign mission theory
has been constructed They have also been moro
directly interested in tho application of spiritual,
benevolent, and educational principles to the life
Immediately around them, and to this work they
have not been wholly unfaithful. At Hamp-
ton Institute, Christians OF all denom.
nations are working together for the elevation of
the Indian, to lift him from present temporal mis-
cry instead of from that is prospective and eter
nal May not look for time when foreign mis-
sIons may be conducted In the same way Such
work cannot be conducted, however, on purely
theological basis; and Orthodoxy still holds so To-
naciousv to its old missionary motive that we lear
this ideal is a long way from realization.-ilne
Christian Register.