The age-herald., 1900-10-01
MISSIONARIES
 AND THE CHINESE
Rev. 0r. Curry Makes Plea For
 the Preachers.
THE GOOD THEY ARE DOING
'Is it Lawful to Scourge a Man That is an American and Uncondemned?" The Newspapers and the
 Eastern Situation

Rev. Dr. A. B. Curry delivered an elo- quent sermon yesterday at the First Pres byterian Church. His discourse was about the missionary in China, and his text was 'Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman and uncondemned?" Acts xxi: 25.
 Dr. Curry said that this question was asked by the first Christian foreign mis- sionary the world ever saw. He had been furiously attacked by mob of angry men, "Boxers" of the early day, and was then in the hands of officer of the govern ment, and was about to receive cruel scourgng. Stripped to the waist, tied to a post pillar the lash is brought, the hctor stands ready, when he quietly asks the question: ''Is it lawful for you to scourge man that is a Roman and un- eondemned?' Instantly the scourge drops in the hands of the lictor, and the mis- sionary apostle to the gentiles is given his liberty.
 His appeal was based on two grounds First, that he was Roman citizen, and such had certain rights one of which was that he should not be scourged as slave Second, that he was untrled and uncon- demned. He had broken no law, commit ted no crime, and would so prove If given chance. On the other hand, he was honorable man, and a benefactor of his race. This unanswerable plea secured his release.
 In China today there are scores of men in Paufs condition, said Dr. Curry. They, too, are missionaries to the gentes. They cd spt hy fin rio he stoned, beaten, cut and killed And, while they are not Roman citizens, they have a title equally as proud: they are Americans citizens. In moral character they are the peers of any of their countrymen. They have broken no law, committed no crime; but through chapel, school, hospital and the press have been benefactors of a poor and needy people, and the question: slight ly changed, is pertinent respecting each of them:
 Is 1t lawful to scourge a man that Is an American and uncondemned?'
 This question may be appropriately ad- dressed to two parties: First, to the Chin ese people and government, who are scourging them; second, to their fellow countrymen at home, who, through paper and periodical through public lecture and private converse ton, have been Justify lay Ing the lash, not on the body, but on the heart of the foreign missionary in China
 It is well known fact that the secular press is with few exceptions, opposed to foreign missions at all times and every where. few of the greater dailies, like the London Times, aware of the great achievements of the missionary-educa- tional, commercial and scientific as well as moral and religious-have long since dropped the cheap fling at foreign mission aries, and are generous in their praise. But others of narrower vision are almost bitter in their hostility, and the recent troubles in China have been the occasion of an out burst of criticism, amounting in some in- stances to vituperation, of foreign missions and missionaries. Some have placed on the missionaries the entire blame of the recent troubles in China, the inference being that missionaries should be withdrawn Some of these writers are the enemies of Christianity, and would be glad to see it stamped out. others are glad of an excuse to stop giving, and others are puzzled as to the real situation. For the sake of these last let us study the matter.
 First, the missionaries have only exer- cised the rights of American citizens. They have gone only where they had right to go. Second, they are not guilty of the charge for which they are scourged they are not the sole cause of the present up- rising in China, for in religion the Chinese are the most tolerant of men. This upris- ing is political. It is due to the jealousy of the present dynasty towards foreign ag- gression; 1t is not missionary, but anti-foreign.
 Dr. Curry spoke on these lines, and con- cluded by saying that the question for Christians was whether they should with draw their missionaries. If yes, then with draw your support, but if not then it was the duty of Christians to support them in the present crisis.