Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-17
AMEST SPEARS AGAIN.

Missionaries In China have no cause
Tor gratitude toward Rev. Ament for
taking up again the question Of the
part some OF them took in the looting
OF native villages. Ii Is subject that
the missionaries themselves should be
slow to rescue from oblivion. A few
days ago at the meeting OF the Ameri-
can board In Hartford, he alluded to
the matter In these words
Missionaries have had some lnnu-
ence In the punishment Of red handed
Boxers. Why not? Missionaries have
assisted In the collection Of lndemnltIes
TOR the people who look to them as
leaders and defenders Why not2
Christianity recognizes the payment of
honest debts. Christianity recognizes
the rights OF indiyiduals. Christianity
tpacnes the supremacy Of law and the
privileges OF treaties. While the Chris
,,an may take with Joy the spelling Of
ms goods. he Will not rail to rejoice
when those goods are restored to him
being missionary or a convert from
heathenism In North China by no
means makes an outlaw Of a person,
nor, indeed. should II be 20.
CHRIST would not Inman a person on
MS becoming a Christian nor deprive
MIN OF the exercise u his common
sense, nor take away the vlgor and en-
ergy OF his manhood. Why should not
those who unjustlfably deprive our
people of their homes and property re-
store that which they had stolen? This
Is the payment OF an honest debt, not
retaliation"
Strenuous efforts have already been
made TO prove that the missionaries
were very little to blame in the unfor-
tunate affairs In China. It has been
stated that they acted on the advice Of
high Chinese authorities and foreign
diplomats. and In accordance with Chi
nese laws and customs. But the fay-
orable Impression thus made Or. Ament
effaces with one stroke. The mission.
aries, he again asserts, have had some
influence In the punishment" They
have assisted In the collection Of in
IDENTITIES" and then he triumphantly
asks. why not?'
Why not, indeed? Because a mission
airy as such has no business to have
any Influence" In the punishment OF
thieves. If he feels called upon to act
In such q role, he should secure posi-
tion as judge or prosecuting attorney.
or policeman, or commissioned soldier
and act in accordance with law. When
as missionary, he ASSISTS" in collect
ing indemnitles, and that in a foreign
country where he has no rights except
those of hospitality, he assumes duties
and authority that do not belong to
him.
The fact OF the matter is that the
speaker furnished another proof Of the
very radical departure Of present.
day Christianity from the standards Of
the Nazarene The effects OF modern
thought and education are seen in the
lowering OF religious IDEALS as well as
In everything else. Science, so-called.
has long ago discarded the belief in A
Providence which uphOlds justice and
humanity. and substituted for Il the |
recognition of blind and ruthless force
as the ruling principle Of the universe.
College training has fallen into line |
and emphasized physical development |
at the expense Of moral and mental |
achievements. Popular taste Is cor
rupted as seen In the desire for prize
fighting, bull fighting, and sports decid-
eddy barbarous The pulpit has fol.
lowed the general trend and now even |
ministers fout the principles taught In
the sermon on the mount. They uphold
war as a normal source Of good, In.
stead Of regarding II as an evil, some.
times necessary. and sometimes not.
In this general tendency away from
true, Christian STANDARDS. the sophlsms
Of Rev. Ament regarding missionary
Influence" In robbing thieves and rob
bers. and the alleged manhood thus dis
played, find a rational explanation.
Christian manhood, however. makes
for peace. even II y is necessary to
suffer TO some extent for its malnten-
ance. But the spirit Of violence is
abroad in all the eafth, as before the
icluee. II is one Of The signs OF the APP
preaching end.