The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-11
THE FREE PARLIAMENT.
The American Board.
To the Editors Of the Nc,rs;


In your article on "The American Board" in
last Saturdays NEWS you declare that "the
whole question of foreign missions is one of
vexations, disappointments and failures"
submit that this declaration is creditable
neither TO your intelligence nor 10 your general
good judgment and fairness. Nexations there
are IL Is true. not the least of which are those
caused by the cupidity and wickedness of
men from christian countries who introduce
evils among those peoples for whom the mis-
sionary laDors, as for example, the trade in
intoxicating liquors and opium and other sell
fish pursuits. SO there are some disappoint-
ments In this great work, as in all other large
enterprises.
But when this "whole question of foreign
missions" is written down by a single stroke
of the editorial quill as failure" you state
what Is not true. An assertion like this does
not take into account the fact that the work
of modern christian missions is but in its in
fancy. So far, the work has been preparatory
and the grand results which have already
attended IL are but promise of what Is to be.
Our missionaries do not expect to change
the religions and customs of the heather world
In day. They labor for ceaturies:
Such an assertion ignores, also, the work of
such institutions as Roberts College in Turkey
the offspring of an American missionary
and the Doshisha in Japan--the creation of a
converted NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with that in
hundreds of schools of different grades for
men and women. 1t does not look much like
failure " when Protestant Foreign Missions
report nearly ll,4O stations as centres of
Christian work and influence. 5000 laborers,
membership In churches of three-quarters
of "a million of converts, and expends in work
annually Sill 100000. Space would not allow
the recital OF what Is being done all over the
world To win men TO Christ All tn is may be
"too thin veneer upon the savage To quite
satisfy the most exacting," but who are these
exacting onesl III anyone Is desirous of facts
they are easily attainabe. Many a careless
tourist he's returned from a hurried trip from
a few seaport towns OF heathen countries and
Immediately set up for an authori ~ on mis-
sions, and some will believe what they say,
while the observations OF such mel as DIR.
Ward of the Independent and Drs. March and
Porter and Prime, who have recently visited
our miSfOn fields are unheeded. Your edito-
rial Hlll be read 10y scores where only one,
pe>>iaps, will see the American Boards
Hlmanac." "a perusal of which would lead one
TO declare, with Canon Farrar: lie who talks
OF missions IA failure uses the language of
ignorants ever an an excuse of unchristian
sloth,"
Courtesy forbids that should attribute your
editorial To such n cause. | regard IL rather
as due tn what you modestly assert for your
selt-"the Judgment of lay inexperence.
COUNTRY PARsoN.
f"Country Parson" is too severe. lie
should not read into plea for Christian
unity in mission work the assertion that
il is a failure, foe that assertion was not
made. We spoke Of the "vpxations, dis
appointments and failures" of mission
work precisely as we might of the vexa-
tions. .disappointments aud failures OF
"Country Parson" will probably agree
with us that greater unity Of purpose
among Christians would be rewarded bv
greater results--not denying or belittling
what has already been donel.