The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-28
REV. GEORGE L. CANDLIN.
One OF the Prominent Figures In the
Recent Parliament OF Religions.

II was on the afternoon devoted to the
discussion OF foreign missionary methods
at the Parliament of Religions that the
Rev. George L. Candlin made his first
address. Mr.. Candlin is missionary
from the United States who for many
years has lived at Tientsin, West China,
where his work has been effective and
constant. He dresses in native Chinese
costume, believing that by so doing he can
get nearer the hearts OF the people with
whom he must come in contact, better
securing their confidence, and obtaining
greater success i'm his work. His opinion
on these matters must be conceded to have
great weight, for he has experience and
success for his proofs. The speaker who
preceded him had attacked missionary
ethods, and when DR.. Candlin rose to
speak there was a sparkle in his
eve that told OF a contradiction to
come to those charges OF in
tolerance and selhshness. He made no
denial that there are reforms needed in
Christian missions and in the charac-
ter OF work required. But he wished to
repudiate the personal remarks made in
regard to 1.-THE missionaries in Japan,
Ceylon, and India. He declared that he
was no advocate OF forcing Western
modes OF life and social customs on the
East. He did not wish 10 Americanize
or Anglicize the people of those countries,
but neither did he want to be turned
into a Hindu or a Chinaman. "And,"
he said, II say this in regard to the
countries OF India, OF Ceylon, and OF
Japan, that IL there are no true Chris
tians and no meek and lowly'followers OF
the meek and lowly Jesus amongst them,
then there Is not one in America, and
there is not one in England, and the
Christian world does not contain true
Christian" He then followed with an
emphatic declaration that the real need
OF the Christian religion today is unity
between the denominations. He declared
II impossible to produce universal haz-
mony from the united actions OF q
Christendom OF religious sccts wrangling
about minor points OF doctrine.
This IL the handicap against which
all missionary effort must be directed.
The effort TO proselyte from other faiths
into Christianity Is continually meeting
the struggles OF inquiring ones as to why
their are so many Christian churches and
In the maze OF doctrinal differences they
become bewildered, and remain in the
faith OF their fathers and their countries.
On another day the same speaker read
paper on the question OF "Religious Unity
and Missions" IL was in the same line
a. his brief address OF the first appear
snce, and awakened much interest and
wide approval. He is q strong advocate OF
the substitution of the spiritual test
for the intellectual one, OF conversion
for orthodoxy. And again, on the last
day OF the Parliament, he expressed his
confidence I'm the ultimate triumph OF
that spirit, and the belief that this great
Congress- at Chicago was an important
date In the movement. These addresses
are all included In full In "Neeley's His-
tory Of the Parliament of Religious"
The History OF the Parliament Of Re-
ligions II sold by THE NEWS for $3.50 (in
fell sheep binding 81 Discount 10 clGs-