The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-24

| UNDERSTAND lndI the prevalent attitude
| toward the Christian workers IS one OF
dislike and suspicion which may easily
find vent in hostile demonstration.
There IS more than conjecture too, for
the belief that in some instances men
who have labored in the guise of mission
aries really have had political motives.
While this charge does not apply to the
great mass of earnest Christians who are
| laboring IN China, It has seemed TO be
! justified in a sufficient number OF cases
TO earn the dislike OF Chinese officials
| for the entire class. Mr.. Henry Norman
says that the Chinese bracket opium
and missionaries together as the twin
evils of their country" While this may
be an extreme view. there Is no doubt
that the missionaries are thoroughly I'M
popular with the majority of the Chinese
authorities.
It Is a fact, also. that the sincerity OF
many of the native converts is more or
less questionable. Most Of the missionary
reports show each year q large number
defections as we'll as Of additions 10
their ranks. The attitude Of the average
Cbinanan is one of contempt for for
eigners and for foreign institutions and
this idea IS not easily eradicated.
1t Is a fact noticed and depIored by
missionary workers that many Of the ma
tive pretend to adopt Christianity when
in reality they have in view some gainful
purpose. Some Of them wish to learn
English. and others attend the schools
and religious meetings because they are
paid to do So The Rev. DR.. Smith re-
l4tes the case OF Converted Chinaman
who demanded a loan of fifty taels imme-
dately upon his conversion. When this
vas refused him he repudiated his faith
and those connected with IL. This kind OF
Christianity is not likely to Withstand
any serious strain that may be put upon
il. On the other hand. it should be said
that there are thousands Of Chinese VINO
are perfectly sincere in adopting Chris
tianity, and who would give up their
lives sooner than recant
Perhaps the most successful missionary
church in China has been the Roman
Catholic, the native converts OF which
number more than all of other denomina-
tons combined. This success Is due prob
ably in great measure to the rights con-
ferred upon the representatives OF the
Catholic church BY the French treaty OF
1s4i- which provides that priests shall be
recognized as having the rank Of v!ceroys.
while less exalted representatives Of the
church hold other distinctions which set
them apart from the common class
This gives Catholic missionaries both
civil and social rights which enable them
20 protect the interests Of their people
from encroachment In a country where
rank ard ceremonial cunt for 50 much.
IS they DO Fl China, this Is a cousidef- |
alton Of no small importance. Moreover. |
the Roman Catholic missionaries do their |
work with great thoro1ghness. and follow
the plan Of making the evangelical con
quest OF one village complete before theY /
advance upon another. IN cazes whsrs /
Il IS necessary they also arm their tol-
lowers for defence from nnolestation. their I
treaty rights giving :hem this privilege /
Thus the representatives % Catholicism /
Tot only enjoy certain decided advantages /
brit they are 81 a better position than 1
any u the others 70 defend themselves /
from an attack
As the situation stands a. present. Z, Is /
3 threatening one to- the missionaries T. /
ths fnsu-reegicn of the Boxers getH word /
the coatrol q TIE central government X /
"a prooaoe there VII ~ NUMEROUS out
RACES ard rzasssc-es. FOR 4 e not hSsly
.hat The devoted band % missionaries wiH I
.ea~e thei- Posts. 10 matter what danger
threatens them Saosla these astaeks -
particularly Numerous or violent K Is =
tAat the powers XII take a
nora decided action THAI Trey have hs+s-
.ofsra u u cutie Et-htn the rzzge q
Therefore. that ;ha zslsssoa-
Arcs who p-eacn fhN EosSe5 q TIE peace Il
.os-izE Christ nay - tie IV15rec5 esz1ss
= he 6is7~Es@rnssnt % Chluz ard lis /
ssvcslIiag zz3o1g he Esropeaa po~s-E