The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-21
Foreign Missions.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEws:

10 THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
SIR--Tho Providence Journal devotes nearly
a column Of its editorial space to depreca-
tory article on foreign missions. The editor
concludes that christisnizing the heathen Is
helpless task" that should be "given up, at
least for the present" The subtle insinua'
tions and half truths of this article are char
acteristic of The Journal editorial IL is diff
cult for The Journal TO see anything good
which savors of Protestanism. Even in this
little article on missions, favorable mention Is
made OF the Roman Catholic missionaries in
contrast with the unwise methods or Protes-
tant missionaries. This article, like most OF
The Journals editorials on religious subjects,
is sly hit at the Protestant Church. We have
nothing to say against the Roman Catholic
Church. The Catholic Church. like other
churches. is human, Notwithstanding the in
fallibility of the Pope. and as such is exposed
to error. She has had good men, and true IN
every age; saints and martyrs, who have
given their lives in the service OF humanity.
Her Sisters OF Charity and humane hospitals
are standing rebuke TO the Protestant
Church, and is one of the most influential fac
tors OF her strength in this country. But why
does the editor OF The Journal persist in his
merciless attack upon the Protestant Church
a chronic grumbler, or a pessimist as the
dissec.ing method Of The Journal seems 20 In
dicate? Perhaps this unrelenting antagonism
is the work of a religious partisan, narrow
minded, contemplate sectarian, who sees the
mote in his brothers. eye, and knows not that
beam is in his own eye. Whatever the cause
OF this journalistic phenomenon, IL is to be
deplored that one of the leading dailies Of
49, ,tt1af In nat nor
tion Of the community which represents at
least as much intelligence, enterprise aud
good citizenship as can be found in the Roman
Catholic communion. We can hardly refrain
from saying TO The Journal, as noted evan
gelist has remarked. "Quit your meanness. :"
The editorial in question, headed "The Mis-
sonary Failure" is an illustration Of the un-
fair method of The Journal in dealing with
religious questions In general. There is just
enough truth mixed with falsehood to make
the argument plausible to the unsophisticated
mind 1t is this skillful arrangement OF half
| truths so cleverly practiced by The Journal
! that does the mischief. The other half is the
| corrective. The lie is in withholding it, Gan
untruth, whether it be an ovorestimate Of the
| truth or a half truth, must sooner or later re-
coil upon ITSELF
tury is the greatest civilzing force known
| to history. The crusaders OF the 18th century
went out to rescue from the hands of the
Mohammedan conquerors the empty tomb OF
our Lord. The crusaders of the 10th century
are lifting mp in those heatben lands the Cross
of our Lord. which is the sign of victory,
'In hoe, signo vinces" The success OF this
| modern crusade Is unparalleled
| pft xpal1 IA arm and
dusky followers of Confucius and Mohammcd
turn their faces toward western civilization.
One missionary afirms. %; could walk
from Canton to Shanghai, over 1900 miles not
walking more than 20 miles day, and could
sleep every night in a village or town that
has a little Christian community"
In India, in Bulgaria, IN Africa, IN Corea. in
Mexico and in South Africa, the standard OF
the cross has been planted. Take India.
Here is country with a population of 253,.
O00,Oo0. A country of exhsustless resources
and unlimited possibilities, waiting for
Christianity to mike ii one of the greatest
civilizing powers on earth What has the mis-.
sionary movement done for India2 Let men
like Lord John Lawrence. who was viceroy OF
India, answer. He says, 81 believe. notwith'
standing all that the English people have
|
done more than all other agencies combined y
1t is testimony like this coming from such
authoritative sources. from men like Law
renee, Sir Richard Temple, Governor OF
Bombay, and Sir William Hunter, that has
changed public sentiment. and caused the in
teligent portion OF the community TO look upon
tho missionary movement with respect and
| admiration. The work OF Cary, Livingstone,
| Morrison, Ludson, Moffit Huntington, Stan
ley. Taylor and others like them, have given
dignity and respect TO the foreign missionary
! movement The church Is not satisfied with
what has already been accomplished. She il
crippled today in her plans because the
means 20 carry on her stupeDdous under
taking is not forthcoming. But in considera
tion OF the phenomenal success OF the past
and the ever deepening interest OF the church
ir foreign missions, is IL not possible that
our saviour had before Him the vision Of the
18th century of triumph when He said, BE
hold. / saw Satan fall like lightning from
Heaven" W. q ii.
October l6, 1895.