The Press., 1895-09-05
IS TT WORTHsTHE AWFUL
 EXPENDITURE


 The Outrages on Christian missionaries committed by the Chinese have provoked discussion as to the wisdom of under taking to convert those stiff-necked peo- pie at the expense of so much danger to the devoted men and women sent to China by the missionary societies. It begins to be questioned, even among the stoutest advocates of Christian missions them selves, If the past and possible results of the attempts to evangelize China justify their enormous cost in life, in suffering, and in money.
 The most striking contribution to this discussion is furnished by the Rev. MT. Donehoo, Presbyterian pastor of Pitts burgh. In letter to the Tribune he sub- stantially answers that question in the negative, although, of course, he Is earn estly in favor of Christian missions gen. erally. Mr.. Donehoo explains that he has never, been in China, and therefore has had no opportunity for personal ob- servation of the fruits of missionary ef- forts there; but he has had long and large experience as a missionary among the Chinamen here, and as he has also dis tinguished himself in being their defender against unjust prejudice and, consequent i'll treatment, he is 8 witness whose testi- mony regarding them and their character istics has special value. As the result of this experience, says MT. Donehoo, "I have never yet found one who gave evil dence of thorough conversion to Christian ity, though have known a large number who have been in our Sabbath schools and a few who have professed conversion" The inference from this statement Is that, if the evangelization of the Chinamen is so hopeless here, where they are surrounded by the influences of Christian, civilization, it must be still more hopeless in China itself; bnt MT. Donehoo does not go so far as to draw it. He simply says he has sense enough to form his own conclusions "as the results of the missionary efforts put forth for their conversion" What l u6s
 Moreover, his observations among the Chinamen who have immigrated to this country coincide with the reports sent and brought by many of our navy officers and by American and European merchants and other representatives who have visit ed China and lived among the people. They all bear witness to the devotion of the Christian missionaries there, but they express the opinion that the self-sacrifce is almost wholly wasted, so far as the Chinamen are concerned. Like Mir. Don. ehoo, they question the genuineness ot the conversions of which the missionaries arc so hopeful, saying that they are al most invariably due to the interested mo tives which have gained for the supposit itlous converts the title of ''rioe converts in China, or people who have professeC Christianity for the sake of the loave and fishes distributed among them by thu missionaries. The only fruits of mission ary effort which seem to these observer genuine and valuable are the education provided for the young and the medioa attendance and instruction furnished, ye it Is these more especially which have been used by Chinese malignity agains foreigners to excite the fury of the native mObs, with the consequent destruction O the lives of missionaries and the property of the missions. Instead of being attract nd tO Ghrictionifu tho ThjDooa 1aonIa a, the late atrocities indicate, are now more than ever incensed against 1t. It is hate full to them, both in itself and because f is religion which they regard as foreign The efforts of the missionaries to educate children and to heal the sick are perverted by their imaginations into devices to cor rupt and even to torture and destroy then with savage fiendishness.
 The inference from Mir. Donehoo's re ) marks, and their confirmation by Ameri can and European visitors to China, Ii that the enormous self-sacfif1ce which tn, }, insignificant results of missionary effort cost can be expended elsewhere with ia greater practical returDs. It is that, il their humanity, zea9ous and devoted mel and women ought not to be stimulated t. risk their lives in vain attempts to con vert to Christianity people whose evan geliSatiOn has been proved in actual expe rience to beslmpossible.
 Even in religious enterprises, 1t is vel to ask if the game Is worth the eandle.- Neao York Sun.