The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-05

where he would go, he says, "Send me
where you please; laid down my au-
thority as Bishop when laid it down."
He is pleasant man OF gentle and child
like character, with whom it is profitable
to converse. He conducted the regular
ships service Sunday (the established
Church of England) in manner impress
sive and helpful. Then there is Rev. DR..
Worden and wife and four children who
have been in japan eight years. They
were at Ngagoya(as pronounced, not Ma
goya) when Dr.Perin was hustled by the
Buddhist mob. Things continued un-
pleasant for the Christians for some
months afterwards. DIR. Worden seems
very catholic in his Christian faith and
spirit and we enjoy the acquaintance.
Then there is Dr. Wilkinson and wife
and two children, Presbyterian physi-
clan from South Carolina, going out as
medical missionary to establish hospi-
tai at Hanchow, China, and Rev. Mr..
Franklin, young man of twenty six, al
SO Presbyterian going to China for the
first time. Two lady missionaries repre-
sent the Christian denomination. They
have been in North Japan several years.
One Of them etops for few months at
Honolulu to labor among the Japanese
there, while the other waits till the next
steamer. We shall have DIR. Worden
and family for neighbors eighteen miles
away at Yokohama and the ladies for
near neighbors at Tsukiii, Tokyo. We
have found the acquaintance of all these
missionaries very pleasant. They seem
to be good. healthy minded, sensible peo-
pie, and have not shown any disposition
to "give us the cold shoulder on discov-
ering that we are Universalists. On the
contrary they seem disposed to seek for
information concerning our views and in
some cases manifest appreciation and
even hearty assent. Sunday afternoon |
placed myself at the disposal of our
Presbyterian brethren, and remarked to
Mrs. Leavitt at night that | had begun
my work as Missionary of the Universal
ist General Convention. We went over
in a friendly manner a good deal of the
ground usually traversed in such cases
not in controversial spirit, but ask
ing for information on one hand and try.
ing to carefully explain without, so far
as possible, provoking antagonism, on
the other, the principles of our faith up
on both rational and Scriptural grounds.
Prejudice Against Missionaries.
Some good friends of ours who had
been in Japan told US of the great pre-
judice said to exist against missionaries
and advised us not to even let it be
known ON the passage what was our
purpose in going to Japan and even
after we had got there not to let our
disarmed possible prejudice by acquaint-
ance. In conversing with DR.. Worden
he secuted the idea of any concealment
of our mission. Prejudice? Yes. there
was prejudice, and in many cases it was
a deserved prejudice, as some missiona-
ries had so little tact and good sense
that they almost did more harm than
good. The Christian cause would be
benefited if they stayed at home. Hon.
est, pious, well-meaning people who had
plenty of zeal but not zeal according to
knowledge" Some of them will go
aboard ships and at once begin opera
tions on the ships officers and crew by
asking them if they know they are sin
ners and are going straight to hell;
thrusting their business in at most in
opportune times when the attention is
needed for something else at the mo-
ment. People do not want to be bored
even on the subject of religion and no
good comes of it. Such unwise pro.
cedure on the part of some creates
prejudice against missionaries in general
which can only be overcome by time and
acquaintance, and makes their work
harder than it otherwise need be.
But we have known others who were
not foreign missionaries who seemed to
be no wiser in their operations. o, how
much we all need to remember the ex-
hortation of our Saviour to "be wise as
serpents," as we'll as harmless as doves"
Consecrated good sense is what we all
need
Theological Conversation.
Our Presbyterian friends were anxious
to know why we should be going to the
heather "if every body is going to be