New-York tribune., 1901-01-18
REPLIES TO THE BUDDHLSTS.
MISSION CONFERENCE DEFENDS THE
MISSIONARIES IN CHINA-UNION
BUREAU OF INFORMATION.

At yesterday mornings session of the eighth
conference of Foreign Mission Boards in the United
States and Canada, in the Fourth Avenue Presby-
terian Church, report was submitted from spe-
cial committee appointed to consider the state
made some time ago by number OF Buddh-
ist priests in Japan, in address to the clerlcais
of the world The report Of the committee was pre-
sented by the Rev. DR.. J. L. Barton of Boston.
The report was in the form of address TO the
Buddhists In taking exception to some Of the
statements made in the Buddhist address II de-
MED that there was any political complexion In the
work of the American missionaries in emma ana
said that they have not, as you aflrm' aFrosa'eu
TO themselves the power of protecting the lollo"-
ers their creed in utter disregard OF ther
naIty, nor have they, rule, taken advantage Oh
the cIauses in the treaties with China giving them
authority to interfere protect Christian converts
from persecution The address SAID thaI al Cl'iii
nal acts and practices had met only condemnation
from American missionaries, and tnat 'he! Hau
never attempted to shield the Offenders from lie
just consequences of their crimes 1t set loItn 'e
abilities of the missionaries and called attenuon 10
the hardships they undergo, and dehleu '"a' my
were seeking selfish advancement
The collection of indemnity for the des'l uO'io
of missionary property explained on the grounu
that the loss was TO the Chinese themselves. as lhe
institutions had been erected for their neheh' anu
thus it only right that restoration shouiu oe
made by those who had destroyed the property
Referring to the Buddhists statement that the
fundamental principles of the different rehslohs
ARE in all cases essentially if not entirely, anaa-
gous.'' the report continued:
II is true that all religions speak OF a Ilgherr
truth as YOU do Of THE great truth SHINING ABOVE
hut only one speaks of that truth as found III a
loving personal God, 'our Father II Is true tntt
ALI religions are expressions of mans feeling or
who offers to man forgiveness of sin and salvation
through his death. and who is now living person
working in and with all who believe in Him TO
make them holy and righteous and pure we
should rejoice have you meet American mis-
sionaries in Japan and learn from them more fully
it impossible for to admit that there are not
radical and essential differences between ii and all
other religions.
The report adopted expressing the sense
Of the meeting.
At the afternoon session the report of the com
mittee appointed consider a suggestion made by
the Executive Committee Of the Ecumenical Con
ference read. The report favOrs the establish
ment of interdenominatiOnal bureau of infor-
nation regarding foreign missions, and was for
mally approved by the conference
The members OF the bureau, appointed the
recommendation OF the committee. We're: The Rev.
Drs. Henry \. Cobb. f. F. Strong. H. {; Mabie.
Halsey George Scholl. r. F. Mackay, s. II. Ches-
ter, Walter +. Lambuth, Harlan F. Beach, Edwin
NJ. Bliss, James S Dennis and S NJ. Jackson. and
Mornay Williams, w. II. Grant, John w. Wood
and James Wood
An Executive Committee was appointed. as fol-
DR.. Carroll, of the Methodist Church; DIR. Dennis.
of the Presbyterian Church; Mr.. Williams. of the
Baptist Church. and Mr.. Grant, who was assistant
secretary of the Ecumenical Conference.