The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-20
A Retorf ~ ~ ~
~ - from Anent.

The Rev. w. s. Ament, the American
missionary In China who was attacked hy
Mark Twain In the well known controversy
Of last sprlng has read Henry savage Ian.
doris "Chlna and the Allies" from cover
TO cover aud takes vigorous issue with that
famous traveller on his utterauces about the
missionaries In letter OF which the fol,
lowing is an extract:
II have read the volumes with great
pleasure, ever wondering how one 50 new
90 the situation in North China could have
written SO ably and. on the whole. so, &C.
curately concerning the recent outbreak.
know OF no publication TO which one
could turn Tor Information ON matters In
China with such certainty Of satisfaction.
LAS usual with all Interpreters Of the
Boxer movement, he falls to see that super.
stition was the primal element and even
the ntl.foreign feeling was subsequent
thought l have met and talked with the
buddhist priest who organized the nrst
Boxer band and he did not hesitate to say
that the original idea with them was re.
ligicus and every other element was sec.
ondary. TIN they began to receive oncour.
agement from Fekln, the Boxers did not
think Of exterminating foreigners.
~
I'm writing OF missionaries. think the
time has come for all well informed men
TO say distinctly whether they mean Catho.
lie or Protestant, ms our policy aud plans
Of operation are essentially different With
respect to wearing Chinese dress Mr.. Ian.
dor writes as though all missionaries wore
the native dress. whereas only catholic
priests and small fraction Of Protestant
missionaries approve Of the native dress
for foreigners,
III Mr. Lander has met missionaries who
declare that Christianity should be spread
through China al the point OF the sword
he has seen men whom | have never seen
after twenty years residence. 1t would
have been well II the author had mentioned
who the distinguished missionary page
24i, volume u was who would have all
Chinese seized and given the choice OF nav
ing his head cut on or becoming Chris
tian II will not do to set up men Of straw
In order to make point nor twist au OK
preston from its intended meaning
~
81 imagine the author has reference TO
Or Martin who has not been In the mis-
slonary ranks for thirty years. hut he Is
not vet dcmentod Mr. LAndors utter
ignorance Of missionary work is most APP
parent when ne assumes the office Of In.
structor aud toll MS his opinion Of prac-
deal missionaries, Did 1t never occur TO Mr..
Lander that oh his suggestions that have
point have hecn the aim Of most mission
aries for the last score OF years. All mis-
sionaries teach civilization, science, art
industries medicine and agriculture Inc
last named science may be something OF
nm exception owing to lack OF opportun'
| n.y. Every mission station Is university
on small scale They teach more ele-
mcntsry science Ia the same length OF time
man any other mcu in the world.
Mr. Landor is not unlike other writer's
! " equal or superior abilities. aus Norman,
| Cnrzon. Aruot Reid et al, who write with
! great folrc aud vide reach ot information
| rn they touch the 'veScd missionary ques-
ton when they lose their Intellectual grasp.
II Ms not uncommon then FOR these writer's
10 make up in dcnunciation and unfounded
statements what tbcy lack in sympathy
| and knowledge"