New-York tribune., 1895-08-13
GOOD RESULTS FROM MISSION WORK.

DIR. LEONARD SAYS THE NATIVE CHRISTIANS OF
CHINA ARE HEROIC AND sTEADFAsT-HIs
ADVICE TO DR. DoNEHoo.
Inquiries among the officers Of the different mis-
sionary societies yesterday ellced the gratifying
Information that news OF further outrages upon
their representatives In China had been received.
In missionary circles considerable surprise has
been expressed over the attitude Of certain min
listers who crtcise the efforts made to Christianize
| the Chinese
| forcibe rebuke to this class Of critics is ad-
ministered by the Rev. DR.. A. B. Leonard. corre-
spending secretary Of the Missionary Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church To Tribune re-
porter yesterday he said:
Il notice that a Pttsburg clergyman. the Rev. E.
| r. Donehoo. has been expressing himself very
| freely concerning the impossibilities OF making
| genuine Christians Of the Chinese. 1t Is declared
that he has studied this Of people for years.
| and has made several attempts to convert them.
| but has signaly failed. He is reported
having said. never saw Christian Chinaman
| and not very hopeful OF ever seeing one. He
| talks about the Chinese attending Sunday school
! for the sake OF getting close 10 some pretty
| teacher. but declares that you have but scratch
| them and you will ind the smon-pure heathen
| Dr. Donehoo says the instruction they receive here
| in Sunday-schools is really harmful. and adds:
| They retain their pagan instincts. and at the
same time absorb what Is bad in our civilization.
| "As TO the work In China he Is reported as say
Ing that tncr TASK Is a most disc0uragng one, and
| IL churches here. with all their civllizlng
| Influence cannot make one Christian out Of scores
of Sundayschool goers. he asks how Christians in
that heather country can hope for any marked
success
| Now evidently this gentleman is not acquainted
| with much successful work that has been done for
| the Chinese in the United States II he would
| make a trip to San Francisco he would And that
| hundreds Of these Chinese. Notwithstanding the
cruel trca ment they have received at the hands OF
Americans, are now living devoted Christian lives.
exempfying the religion of Christ in a way that
J would put 10 shame few who were born Of
| Christian parents.
AS 10 the success OF missionary work In foreign
fields. he seems to be utterly ignorant There Is 10
heather country 10 which missionaries have gone
where the converts have been more steadfast than
In China. Converts not made rapidly in
that country as in some others. but when con-
version Is made II is genuine one. When in
/ China two years ago | heard n stated repeatedly
! by missionaries. who had been there more than
score Of years. that Chnaman very rarely proved
unaithful. Less than two per cent OF all that have
embraced Christianity have gone back TO their
! idols
1T was my privilege at several places 10 be
{ present at their services and have Interpreted to
me their testimonies. and have never heard more
/ clear simple Christian utterances any
where in the world than have heard from con-
vers In China. They have proved the genuIneness
OF their conversion by the suffering they have en-
dured 1t is fact that IN times OF persecution 10
our missionaries the Christians are always faith
ful and viii imperI their own lives to save the
lives OF the missionaries. We have an Instance OF
this IN the of Miss Hartford. whose lie was
saved by her Ho spranF upon the China
man who was about 10 thrust her through with a
spear and saved her life. They have In nu-
rerous Instances suffered the severesi persecu-
/ tions, anG death iiscll No more heroic
steadfas, chrr,lans be found in the world than
among the native Christians OF China.
This persecution that has recently broken out
can be accounted for and s not at all discouraging
TO missionary work In the Celestial Empire IL
VIII. In the place OF cooling the zeal OF the Church