The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-04
TESTIMONY 70 MISSIONS.

1t is quite too la.e in the day to
apologize for missionS. One might as
well think Of apologising for the steam
engine or the magnetic telegraph. But
the attacks which jaunty travellers ard
magazine writer's have lately made
upon missions have given point to many
noble testimonials to their usefulness
by civilians. military officers, and
others who have had most ample OPP
portuntes Of acquaintance with the
practical working of missions, and
who are not likely to be BIASED
in their favor. The narrow and i'll
natured criticisms OF Canon Taylor.
Mr.. Game aud others have been album
dainty answered by the cheerful wit
ness borne To the value Of missionary
effort by Sir Bartle Frere and Sir
Richard Temple. Lords Lawrence and
Lotus. Darwin aud Alfred Russell
Wallace. and Miss Gordon Cumming.
The results Of foreign missionary en-
terprise in many countries, os among
the Greenlanders, in the Sandwich
ISLANDS, in Terra del Fuego and
FIJI, among the Telugus aud kl-
rens. may well be called IN the Ian
guage of the great geographer, Carl
Ritter. in speaking o. the conversion Of
the Maories. the standing miracle Of
the ago The opponents Of missions
have done great service in calling
forth such an array of testimony from
men in the highest positions, and Of I'M
doubted yeracity, as is embodied in the
little work lately published under the
title. value and Success Of Foreign
Missions, - by Rev. John Higgins. The
book is a Hesdurus Of information on
this important subject, and is specially
timely.
And now comes another thoroughly
competent md unexceptional witness
10 the high character and sincere deyo.
ton IF the missionaries of different
denominations in India, the wife Of
General Colin Mackenzie. In a letter
recently written she says: During
more than thirty years my husband
and were intimately acquainted with
missionaries in Bengal the PuDJab. the
Dekkan, Bombay and Madras Presi-
denotes. Ne have stayed in their houses,
lived close TO them for many months,
have known the details Of their sx-
penditure, and can bear unqualified
testimony to their self-denying
economy and simplicity Of living, and
70 the riches Of their lberality to the
poor in times of famine. Nothing can
be more unjust than to charge them
with self-indulgence, luxury, OF
worldliness Of any kind. Mission
aries are not in society. They have
neither time nor inclination to be so.
At the same time their own house,
are always open TO any who seek their
society. They were universally re-
spected by the natives who knew them,
and by all but those Europeans who
kept aloof from them"
Such testimony, and much more tC
the same effect, should pat to silence
the ignorance Of foolish men, in carp
ing at foreign missions aud imputinl
selfish and worldly motives to foreign
missionaries. Meanwhile, what The
friends Of Christ have to do 10 not t
concern themselves oyermuch will
what men of the world have to say IL
criticism or derogation Of missionary
work. but to press on the work on al
available lines with fresh zeal anC
conservation. The best defence Of thu
gospel Is the gospel itself. The best de
fence of missions is missionary worl
faithfully and vigorously prosecuted
Let the Church Of Christ stop playing
at missions, and in its God-giveI
power and resources go forth to tn
work of evangelizing the world, AM
the sneers Of infIelity will be hushed
as when Of old the fanes Of heathenisu
crumbled and the oracles were dunn
bafora tho ourar,l march of Tho Qos
pel.-D +. l.. Religious Herald.