New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-06
II UTNG CHANG on MISSIONS.

Not the least interesting incident in the visit
of ii Hung Chang to this city was the presen'a-
ton 10 him OF an address OF welcome by the
American missionary societies, and his reply
thereto Both the address and the reply were
couchcd in the happicst terms. and were per
vaded by genuine spirit Of liberation and good
will. If the missionaries in the foreign field
and the representatives Of the religions they
seek to overthrow could always meet on this
high level of mutual respect il would mark
new and happier era in the history Of Christian
missions Unfortunately. rot all the officials OF
non Christian lands are as wise and far seeing
rs IL Hung Chang; and there i room for sis-
plclon that some foreign missionaries occasion
ally exhibit more zeal than discretion in their
attitude toward mont hrslan peoples. There Is
"A disposition in some quarters TO bclitle the
work of foreign Christian missionaries In real
ity their work Is Of incalcuablc value in pro
noting civilization and progress, and it is as fool
lsh rs il Is unjust 10 snccr at il. Ii Hung Chang
l. great enough to acknowledge the services Of
missionaries 10 humanity. in spite Of the fact
that they are seeking 10 convert his people from
the religion which he and they believe To be
dlvincly true And in this some Christians might
learn n lesson from the Chinese statesman.
The delegation that called on the Nccroy repre-
scnlcd the various missionary societies now
working in China. Al present they maintain in
that country -; missionaries. male and female
Of whom - are medical missionaries. They sus
tain about 400 schools Of various grades. in
which there were. in 1885. about 1000 pupils
They also maintain about sixty hospitals ana
dispcnsarics IN which were treated. IN ls95
II,OS9 patients Relatively. this may not he
u large showing: but we believe the time is not
far distant when intelligent Cinnamon generally
will recognize lis great value To their country.
They may not admit the claim OF christianity
to be the only true religion. Perhaps II would
be- too much 10 expect that I,ui when the mistS
of prejudice and misunderstanding have passed
AWAY they Will not fail To admit. as Ii Hung
Chang did SO explicitly in his reply. that Chris
tianity is AT one with ConfucianisIn in the rccog
milton of the Golden Rule. except that Chris
tlanltv holds il more positively. That would be
= great poinl gained not only for China. but also
for Christianity
II is however, of less immediate importance
Than the recognition by Chinese statesmen Of
the fact that christianity has a message for the
intellect and the body rs well as for the soul.
In his reply l.. Hung Chang laid the greatest
stress on that feature Of Christian missions. He
comDmented the missionary boards on having
established schools. hospitals and dspensarles
in China and his words were evidently no mere
empty compliment II is IA wellknown fact that
for many years the Nccroy has been anxious
To introduce many features Of Western rivilza-
ton into China. and his present trip Is generally
understood to have been undertaken with that
object in view. He is n good Chinaman. too
patriotic not to he loyal to his own country. hut
nj the same time also too patriotic not 10 see
and appreciate what is good in other countries.
He wants to uplift his own people to higher
plane Of life, and therefore he could not do other