The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-21

| At a recent meeting in behalf of
| foreign missions held i'll Carnegie hall,
New York City over which ex-Presi-
dent Harrison presided, Gen. j. w.
Foster, ex-Secretary of State and late
Chinese peace commission made very
interesting address:
Mr.. Fosters opportunities for know
| ing all about China have been better,
perhaps, than those of any living
American, and therefore whatever he
says about the situation in the Chinese
empire will be regarded as valuable,
because he is the only man who speaks
as one having authority
Gen. Fosters address was a summa-
ry of his observations on the work of
the Protestant missions in Asia, first
in tour of the world made two years
ago, and in a second visit to Japan and
China in connection with the peace
negotiations of the present year.
After a brief reference TO Ceylon,
somewhat lengthy review was made
of the great work in India. That coun
try he styled the citadel of Brahmin-
ism, perfectly organized system sup
ported by caste, apparently lmpregna-
BILE to the attacks of Christianity. A
first glance created the impression
that the missions were making little
progress against it; but more care
full examination and comparison OF the
state of the country before the adj
vent of the missionaries brought about
a different conclusion. lie claimed
that all the great moral and social re-
forms were the direct result OF the IN
PRODUCTION of the gospel, among which
were the prohibition of human sacrI-
flee and torture III the religious rites,
the burning of widows, the killing OF
female children, reforms as to child
marriage, the establishment of schools
and colleges, the zeal created for edu-
cation, and the awakened interest of
the Brahmins for a publication and
reform in their religion.
After a passing alIusion to Burmah
Gen. Foster discussed the great Chi
nese empire and the work and pros
pets of missions there. Notwithstand-
ing the superstitious character and
low grade of mortality Of the mass Of
the people, it was claimed that the
gospel had developed some Of the most
striking examples of regeneration and
fruitful Christian life, and that the
Chinaman was by no means beyond the
spiritual influence of our religion.
The recent riots, he asserted, grew
out of general hatred to foreigners
and not from religious intolerance.
The American missionaries had not
been great sufferers, and the govern
ment had shown greater readiness to
punish the offenders and repair the
losses than was evinced by our author
tiles when riots against the Chinese
had occurred in the United States.
But the missionaries were in China in,
conformity with the treaty and local
law, and they should be maintained
and protected there. No backward
step in the mission work in that great
empire should be contemplated.
| Gen. Foster said that the work in
| Korea had been retarded by the late
war, but even this impeachment would
| doubtless result in enlarged opportu-
mites for the missions. He gave con-
| siderable attention to the mission field
being made by the missionaries, not
| withstanding the recently developed
| spirit of excessive patriotism which
| sought to revive the old religions, and
| among the converts to create an indie
pendent Japanese Christianity.