Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1901-10-10
SAD RESULTS OF MISSION
AIRY EFFORTS.

The lesson of the abduction of
Miss Helen Stone by brigands n Bull
garia should be plain. Missionaries
should keep out of countries where
they are not secure in their personal
freedom, their lives or their property
This should be the rule, not only for
their own Sakes but even more for the
sake OF the peace and prosperity OF
the country in which they claim cit
zenship. In China the missionaries
involved the great Christian Nations
in horrible war, which is likely to be
renewed if these cmisaries OF saliva
ton persist in efforts to impose upon
the people a religion that is not want
ed there, by deriding forms OF worship
and ceremonies that TO the Chinese
have been sacred for many years.
But it is to be feared that the case OF
Miss Stone will not have the effect
that should be desired. There is a
strong disposition among missionary
Boards to send agents where they are
most unwclcome, and where they are
likely to most stir up mischief. In Ar
menia missionary labors led to the mas
sacre of thousands OF converts, just
as in China, where the Boxers Slaugh-
tered every native christian they could
get their hands on. From the miss
ionary point of view, it may be better
to be murdered as a Christian shan to
live as Il ''heathen." such as Socrates,
Confuci1s or Mahomet, but yet very
few OF the pious Americans who give
money to foreign missions would care
themselves to risk martyrdom on &C
count OF religious belief or profession.
1t is always some poor but Jealous per
son who is selected to spread the Cos
pei in foreign lands. And it requires
a streak Of Ianaticisrn to do Gospel
work in the face Of such hard condi
tons as prevail in most Asiatic coun-
tries, where the people think their own
religion a great deal better than any
which comes to them from without.
We doubt not that J. Piermont Nor
gan gives OF his great wealth freely
to the funds for the conversion OF the
heather. But if he would himself. as
a distinguished representative OF
church proud OF its missionary efforts
&C to Bulgaria to take the place oi
Miss Stone. what a noble example it
would be.
And what a glorious good thing for
the bandits!
1t is to be remarked, by the way,
that the American Board OF Foreign
Missions has taken very buslness-like
view OF the plight OF Miss Stone. 1t is
very, very sorry for her, indeed, but
feels piously compelled to refuse TO pay
ransom out of his own funds, on the
ground that it would establish dan
gerous precedent and be fatal to mis-
sionary enterprise elsewhere. There
is a good deal in that-somethlng like
100000 we beleve-and SO welghty &
consideration should give us pause ii
any reflections we might otherwise fee
inclined to make 1t reminds us OF the
objection once made by a benevol-
lent but prudent person. when asked tc
contribute something to the support o
a family left destitute by the death Of
the husband and father, mason who
had fallen from high wall and broker
his neck The objection was that the
contribution would serve to establish ;
bad precedent by encouraging all sort:
of persons to fall from all sorts o
walls and so increase the number o
destitute families Bee.