New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-30
MISSIONARIES IN THE EAST.
THE SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL VALUE
OF THEIR WORK IN CHINA.
ENMITY OF THE PEOPLE TO CHRISTIANITY
GREATLY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
t-IIr-pCJJ MEMBERSHIP


GREATLY ExAGGERATED-INcREAsE OF
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Your editorial on Missionaries in the East
in your Issue OF September q presents your read
ers some strange statements Of well-known writers
with reference to the influence and progress Of
Christian missions in China The statement by Mr..
Henry Norman. taken from his recent volume, THE
Peoples and Politics OF the Far East" declaring
that he believed It to be strictly within the limits OF
truth TO say that foreign missionary effort In China
had been productive OF far more harm than good.
is phenomenal one. and may take rank a classi-
cal example in the literature OF misrepresentation.
He says also upon another page of his volume that
in considering the future OF China the missionary
influence cannot lie counted upon for any good
or. 3Os). 1t is simply incxpcabe that such judy
men can be deliberately passed upon the undertake
ing to give to the Chinese people the blessings Of
Christianity What better or more benign service
can Chrstendom render to a nation like China than
to Impart 10 It the secret OF its greatness and
progress?
1t may be true that the great majority OF tho
Chinese do wish Christianity, but does this
Justify us ignoring the express command TO teach
IT to all men. and does It release us from the obli-
cation to make the effort in proper and kindly
way to give them tho light and hope which the re-
ligon OF Christ has brought to the world? Il seems
to be ranked by objectionable offence TO
seek TO persuade and guide into the light OF
truth unless they are themselves seeking and ask
Ing for H. The same line OF argument would make
Christianity Itself an npertinence 10 tho world. and
its introduction into the Roman Empire in the carly
days OF it's dissemination one OF the most rcprchcns
bic blunders of history. The Roman Empire dId not
want Christianity any more than the Chinese do
nor is It to he expected that people who know
nothing OF Christianity should crave 1t. Their
ignorance OF IT is their misfortune, and should make
us all the more DESTROYS Of saving them from the
blighting effects of their blindness.
IS THE ARGUMENT WELL FOUNDED?
The argument against the Introduction OF Chris
tianity into China to proceed upon the tacit
supposltion that II is worth having II this is
So then certainly It Is foolish try give It to
China to any other nation. IT. however it Is, as
believe and have found Ii TO be, priceless bene-
fit which hold In trust ana are required by its
Author to disseminate throughout the world then
the obligation TO give IT is of extraordinary
weight and seriousness. II has In II also an element
of chvalrous compulsion to which the Christian
conscience in loyalty to Christ IL bound TO respond
We are expressly forbidden 1t is true. to force.
Our methods should be persuasive and symps thetic
The truth should be made known in love. The
ministry of Christianity a missionary religion is
marked by a spirit OF service. II makes a kindly
appea to the higher nature In strict recognition OF
liberty OF conscience and the supremacy OF the In
divdual will No Chinese Is forced to accept 1t.
II he does It he acts free man, and he Is en-
titled to this freedom. IL IL question or highest
moment the world whether there is any authority
upon earth which can legitimatey forbid Christi
anity to the humblest We know the right
has been claimed and Is even now asserted. In the
name either OF religious civil authority over
millions OF our fellow-nen. Is II no.. however.
sheer usurpation. and should II not be deprecated
and resisted by every proper influence on the part
Of an enlightened ard pulssant Chrlstendom?
1t is the policy of civilized nations 10 secure some
guarantee OF religious liberty in their treaties with
less civilized governments. The right the part
OF the Chinese themselves to embrace the Christian
religion as well the right OF American citizens 10
teach and practise 1t in China, IS expressly ac-
knowleiged and granted in Article % OF treaty o,
Tien-Tsn. Wherein. then. consists the srievous
offence OF teaching Christianity In China? The
charge that missionaries forcing IT upon China
cannot be sustained. They arc rather giving up
their lives for the privilege Of offering ard COM
mending IL to them, but with no more compulsion
than Is exercised here in free land They
would do this. firmly believe. were no treaty pro-
lection American citizens extended to them. Lib
erty has been won in any land without
struggle and some heroic souls have baptized with
their blood every great historic movement toward
light and freedom.
IL IS by no means true that the Chinese do not
want Christianity There are multitudes who rejoice
in 1t, and long for It's extension among their own
people. There to-day. not including Roman
Catholic converts, 5000 Christian Church members
Griffith john OF the London Missionary Society
This IL increase OF about 1900 I'm five years. II
a proportionate rate OF increase is maintained dur
ing the next five years the close OF the century VIII
find a Protestant Church membership In the Empire
OF about 5000. This inner circle OF church member
ship represents far larger outer circle Of students
and adherents who favorably inclined to It's full
and open profession. and will doubt in time COM
nit themselves unreservedly to its acceptance Did
your space permit could quote most striking state
ments from able Chinese officials who not them
selves Christians, commencing I'D exating Chris
tanity.
WEIGHTY TESTIMONY GIVEN.
A recent dispatch Of Charles DENLY. United States
Minister 70 China. addressed to Secretary OF
State gives length his deliberate judgment as to
benencent results which follow them. IL H. dated
March o. 1895, and gives weighty testimony OF pre-
csey opposite tenor 10 that quoted in your columns.
few sentences will correctly represent the trend
OF the dispatch He says Il think that no one can
controvert the patent fact that the Chinese are
enormously benefited by the labors of the mission
aries In their midst" He then takes up in detail
the benefits OF mission work Chinese society re-
ferring especially to educational institutions. hos
pitfalls, dispensares. orphan asylums and the liter
airy work OF missionaries He refers to the Catholic
and Protestant Christian fol- wing in the Empire,
and speaks as follows of ttc missionaries them
/ selves:
and do