The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-10-10
T u.r MISSION SIP paw

,
The FrIenil publishes some valuable
statistics about the descendants of the
early missionaries which is reprinted
In another column. There arc now lIv-
ing 300 children and l2i grandchildren.
The statement that eight of the child
rem are now engaged in Foreign Mis-
sion service In not correct. They re-
side here. with one or two exceptions.
In the land Of their birth, and among
their relatives and friends. This as not
Foreign Mission service. That service
10 distinct and involves special self
sacrifice.
The Friend. In abiding to the third
generation Of the missionary stock,
says: But that generation Is not as
near to the old missionaries and hence
is, perhaps, less imbued with their
spirit"
This statement Is significant. II
compares the spirit of the third genera
ton with that of the first generation,
and intimates that the Christian blood
u. the third is rather thin. And why ?
his is the subject which the Adver-
tiser urges should be boldly and
thoroughly discussed. There should be
the strongest light east upon 1t. The
r'riend. and good people. following the
example OF the Friend, shrink from dis
cussing these questions as II they were
dangerous" But II is the sincere, the
earnest discussion Of the difference IN
spirit" between the first and third
generations Of missionaries, which will
bring out the truth and designate bet
ter methods of reforming the world.
The old New England farmer refused
to discuss agricultural science, and
stoutly claimed that he had nothing to
learn from the scientists. He lived and
died in ignorance of the rich vegetable
and floral kingdom that lay unseen at
his feet, and was gathered after
three score years of pork beans
diet.
There Is this same tendency man
ifested in the discussion of the mis-
sionary problem.
To admit that the third generation Of
the missionary stock may be less i'm
bued with the spirit than the first
generation, as the Friend intimates, Ia
to admit that the world, here at least,
is moving backwards. Now that Is a
proposition which involves practical a
! theism. Science points steadily in one
, direction. that is, to the evolution OF
, all things in which there cannot be
any backward step. The third gen.
Grafton Is better" than the first
, Goethe said that he was an infidel
; who said that the movements Of Chris.
! tianity were ever reversed. And every
school boy reads in Tennyson,-
And one far of divine event,
To which the whole creation moves.
II the third generation has not ;
, better spirit than the first, the affair!
. Of the world are in middle.
There is right and justice in tn,
charge that many Of those who SHOULD
be foremost in discovering and adjust
ing the best and brOadest methods o.
advancing the Kingdom, are, like thu
old New England farmers, unwilling tc
move, and are even unconsciously ap
proving Of the atheistical proposition
, that the Kingdom is hardly able t.
, hold its own, at least, in the thirC
, generation Of the old missionary stock
Even the scientists, rejecting creed
a and dogmas, know that the principles
p taught by Christ are prevailing more
and more every year, but they do no
manifest themselves in the forms. ant
creeds, and rituals which SO many o.
the "old timers" unfortunately, be
lieve to be vital. Mr.. Longstreth. tn,
venerable and philanthropic Quaker 0
Philadelphia, takes train load OF poo
mothers and children out OF the stiHin;
tenement houses Of the city. for an air
ing in the country on Sundays. HI
may not be imbued with the spirit" o
his good ancestors who kept the airinl
=. to themselves. But there Is a stroni
suspicion about that hin conduct help
the coming OF the Kingdom.
II there Is any measure OF truth II
the Friends suggestion, the fourtl
and fifth generations will be sad 10
and their loss OF spirit" can only b
y restored by some powerful patent med
u iclne.