New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-22
A SUGGESTION TO MISSIONARIES

The various missionary societies OF the
churches are Just now deeply Interested in the
question OF extending their operations in the
new possessions Of the United States. This Is
we'll In doing so they will be not only follow
ing the commands OF the Master. but they will
also be promoting the highest interests Of civil
ization. While the Government OF the United
States must adopt neutral attitude toward
all religious bodies II Is Indirectly benefited by
the good work they do and II extends over
them all alike It's strong and protecting arm
But while II Is the duty as well the priv
ilege Of the missionary societies 10 send men
into the new possessions, they should take es-
pecal care to choose for the work only men of
broad and generous minds. able 10 take a COM
prehpnslve view OF religion and civilization II
has frequently been noted in regard to missions
in tropical countries that many sincere Chris
tians at home seem quite as much shocked ut
the scanty garb Of the natives as they at
the pauclty Of morals Against any such local
and parochia view Of their duty as that the
missionaries must be on their guard II would
be neither possible ror desirable TO make over
the FilipinOs. for instance, so that they would
be a social replica OF Western or AnglO-SaxOn
civilization In an address before a COngrega
tonal club In this city the other day the Rev
Douglas T. Brine missionary In the Ha
waiian Islands said: "The Hawaiians are ra-
"cally children gentle, kindly and easy going
IAN Hawaiian wants TO work Ave days and go
"hshing the other two. And why shouldn't he?
There is no winter there and he doesn't care
ito accumulate money"
What we should do with such peoples IL TO
let them retain their own norm Of civilization
and their own social usages. except only in such
particular points as they opposed to good
morals and the welfare Of the community. SO
long ms the demands OF common decency are
rpspectcd we have no right 10 tell the child
like peoples for whom we are 10 be responsible
what clothes they shall wear or how they shall
have them cut. We must be prepared to toll
crate many Ideals customs and practices with
which we rs a race can have no liking or
sympathy That has been the course Of Great
Britain I'm India, and It's success vndcates its
practical wisdom. The British Government in
that country strictly prohibits the suffice even,
though II was a most sacred rel gous rite, be-
cause IT initiated against morals; but in n
multitude of other matters il has allowed the
natives TO live their own life In their own way
and has even gone 10 the length OF throwing
the protection Of British law around customs
that must seem grotesquely absurd TO the aver
age Englishman.
The social atmosphere OF n race. its way OF
looking ont on the world its tradtlons-in
short. the complex web and wool OF its life
cannot safely be disturbed. And though the
teachings Of Christianity are In many respects
so revolutionary. IL has never tried 10 make
over a race In that way. On the contrary, il
has allowed Itself 10 be mnde over in all mat
ters outside OF fundamental doctrines. Begin
ming as purely Oriental religion, clothed In
Oriental forms and expressing itself according
TO the laws OF Oriental perspective. II first
Helenlzed Itself and then Romanized itself.
BY still later development II became Protes-
tant, in order the better 10 adapt Itself 10 the
thought Of the Northern races. 1t IL far cry
from the undoRInatic religion OF the first Apos-
ties 10 the doctrinal subtletles OF the West
minister Catechism But each type OF Chris
tlanity met n need Of the human mind. and II
II would continue 70 grow il must I'm the snme
way make itself AL things to all men" As IL
made itself an Occidental religion In order to
conquer the Western world so. when II goes
back TO the East. or 10 the childllke races Of
the South, II must divest itself Of all Its Occi-