The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22

The opening of the ecumenical conference
on foreign missions in New York will prob
ably revive in some quarters discussion as
TO the practical results of such missions.
AS those who criticise missionary work are
generally nonsympathizers and noncontrib-
utors. they could, perhaps, afford to leave
the matter in the hands of those who are
doing the work and footing the bills. If
the latter are satisfied with the results
others should not find fault. No doubt it
will take long time to Christianize the
heather world, just as 1t has to accomplish
what has already been done in that direc-
ton, but that does not seem to be a good
reason for suspending effort. Meanwhile,
those who deny that missionaries do any
good may get new. light on the subject
from Colonel Charles DENLY, many years
United States minister to China. In a
recent address before the Young Mems
Christian Association of Evansville he
stated of his own knowledge that the mis-
sionaries in China, including Catholics and
Protestants. doing great work, not
merely in religious way, but with schools,
hospitals and other civilizing influences.
He says they are blazing the way for COM
merce as well as for the spread of Chris
tianity, and opening markets as we'll as
schools. OF his opportunities for judging
he said:
1 made a study of missionary work in
China. l took man-of-war and visited
almost every open port in the empire. L
went first to Hong-Kong, then successfully
to Canton, Swallow, Annoy. Fou-Chow,
Ningpo. Shanghai and up the Yangtze to
Chin-Giang, Marking. Kiu-Kiang, Wuhu,
Wu-Chang and Hankow. Afterward 1 Wis
tied Cheefoo and the highest open port,
Neuchwang in Manchuria. Taku and ITEM
Tsin, and the island of Formosa. 1 lived
at Peking and knew that city. At each one
of these places 1 visited and inspected every
missionary station. AT the schools the
scholars were arrayed before me and exam
ined. ] went through the missionary hos
pitfalls, / attended synods and church serv-
ices. l saw the missionaries In their homes.
l saw them all. Catholic and Protestant,
and 1 have the same opinion of them all.
They are all doing good work; they merit
all the support that philanthropy can give
them. / do not stint my commentator
or halt or Stammer about work that ought
to be done at home instead of abroad. I
make no comparisons. / unqualifiedly. and
in the strongest language that tongue can
utter, give to these men and women who
are living and dying in China and in the
far East my full and unadulterated COM
mendation.
Speaking merely as a diplomatist and
man of the world. and without reference
to religious propagandism, though he said
the missionaries in China were making
many converts, Colonel DENLY declared
that, in his opinion, they are contributing
largely to the influences that make for the
future civilization of the country. He de-
precated the too common tendency to be-
little the results of their work, and de-
clared that if all could understand the
situation as he did the missionaries in
China would stand before the world as
they ought to stand, as benefactors of the
people among whom their lives are spent.
and forerunners of the commerce of the
world