The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1895-11-09
Scientists aud Missionaries.

While nd one denies that the rigt
OF residing in parts of China bF
been conceded by treaty to Chrlstitp
missionaries, or that all violations 4
that right ought to be punished, tn
belief is spreading among well-iii
formed men that the attempt Y
convert the civilized peoples o.
India, China, Japan, and Egypt =
of doubtful expediency. The signal
change which has come over intell-
gent opinion with regard to tbs
matter was brought out recently g.
the meeting OF the anthropologics
section OF the British Association
when almost all the scientists AMI
men of practical experience in til,
East, who took part in the debate
concurred with Prof. Flinders Petri,
in deprecating efforts to impose
ideals peculiar to our own race, age,
or civilization upon countries which
on different lines have already made
considerable progress in culture
Lord Stanmore, for instance, bet
ter known as Sir Arthur Gordon, a
colonial administrator OF vast ex-
perience, expressed conviction that \
AS much wrong has been inflicted by
a desire to carry out civilizing ideas
AS by violence. 1t was mistake, he
said, to regard the semi-civilized
races as immoral; their moral sense
is very unlike our own, but it is none
the less real AS to the attitude to
be assumed toward the social usages
and peculiar habits of the natives Of
a give country, Lord Stanmore, Of
course, conceded that certain GUS
toms, such as cannibalism, infan-
ticide, widow burning, and the
Wholesale plundering of interiors
by local chiefs, must be put an end
TO at once and firmly. But it would
be well, be thought, to permit the
continuance of many usages repug-
nant and even repulsive to European
ideas. In such matters he would
trust to the Transforming influence
of time. Herein he cordially agreed
with Prof. Petrie, who had reminded
his hearers that Paul OF Tarsus did
not deem it needful, any more than
did Epictetus, to prohibit slavery,
polygamy, or even gladiatorial shows.
The elimination OF such evils was
left to be brought about, as it was
brought about, by the growing en-
lightenment and energy of the pub
lie conscience.
To much the same purpose spoke
DIR. Gust, long connected with the
Indian civil service. He denounced
the continual attempts Of Euro
peans to uproot ancient civiliza-
tions not inferior in some ways to
their own, and to destroy customs
which are not contrary to moral
law. He implored missionaries to
be more tolerant toward native
ideas and usages, and to do Chris
tian things in Christian way. A
long experience in India had con-
vinced DR.. Gust that the wisest
plan is not to interfere in things
that are not unlawful, and not to try
to Anglicize the people of that coun-
try. He considered it absurd for
missionaries to want to alter the
marriage customs of people which
only tolerates divorce in the case Of
Europeans, and to dictate to natives
naturally sober, far more temperate,
indeed, than Englishmen, as to what
they should eat and drink. He
would even go so far as to protect
the people of India, China, and
Japan from preachers who intrude
where they are not wanted. He
mentioned the instance OF a mis-
sionary in China who erected a
building under circumstances which
made the act dissertation, and in
view of such performances he was
not surprised that from time to
time the Chinese rose against the
foreign devils" In closing, DIR.
Gust referred to sacreligious act
committed in India by Wesleyan,
by whom a chapel was built on the
edge of sacred tank, but who was
forced by Lord Canning to raze the
structure to the ground.
DR.. II. 0. Forbes and Prof. Had
don, both OF whom had lived in
New Guinea, went further, and OBJ
jected to the methods followed by
most missionaries in dealing even
with savage tribes. DR.. Forbes
thought the Papuam should be left
alone to adopt civilization in their
own time. He said that, so far as
his observation of missionary work
went, the actual religious change
that took place in converted ma
tive was extremely small, and some
times disadvantageous, as natives
who went to chapel thought them
selves better than others, and be-
came insnhnrdinata. Prof.. Haddon