New-York tribune., 1903-03-21
SURPRISED 4T CHAFFEE.
The General iStGrtLes Metbodists i15
Speech on Missionaries.
DOUBTS FILIPINO FRIENDSHIP.

Major General Adna r. Chaffee told the mem
bers of the Methodist Social Union, at their
monthly meeting last night in the ballroom of
the Hotel Savoy, that he had never met in
telligent Chinaman VINO expressed any desire to
embrace the Christian religion. This fell like
a clap OF thunder on the two hundred men and
women present, and there was restless move
nent and exchange OF looks among them.
General Chafree and the Rev. DR.. F. E. Game
well one Of the field missionaries In China at
the time of the Boxer uprising, and who was
of much assistance at the defence OF the United
States Legation in Feking, had been announced
as the speakers, and one Of the largest gather
ings In the history OF the organization assem-
bled to hear them. General Chaffee's subject was
'~The Philippines and China while Dr.. Game
wells subject was the Far East"
In introducing General chafee. ]. Edgar
Leaycraft, the president OF tine Union. referred
TO him the hero OF Pektng.
al must plead not guilty to the Indictment OF
being hero" said General Chaffee, in opening
his remarks. "I am not a hero. It was my good
fortune to be ordered to China to relieve the
situation there some time ago, but when
started I believed. as did others, that would
not have to go further than Nagasak'
He told of the various conferences between
the commanding generals of the allied forces
garding the taking OF the Imperial City and the
Forbidden City.
He declared that nothing of value had been
disturbed save a few trinkets that were found
lying around.
'If any Of you people have articles at home
which are said to have been loot by soldiers
from the city of Peking, don't believe 1t. 1t is
not SO. have houseful st my house, and
tell you I bought every piece l have"
He praised the work Of the missionaries in the
Orient. They are all in earnest and hopeful"
he said. but the results Of their work are not
proportionate the great labor of love. They
Have done all that is possible, but the burden is
too great for them.
II took occasion to meet many OF the most
prominent Cinnamon while in Peking and
talked to many of the better class. These in
cIuded officials. 1 must say that did not meet
a single intelligent Chnaman who expressed
q desire to embrace the Christian religion. The
masses are against Christianity, but the mis-
sionaries are hopeful and no doubt courageous.
Forty or fifty missionaries in that great coun-
try cannot do much"
He declared that missionary work could not
be perfectly effective unless the missionaries
spoke the language of the people they sought
to enlighten. He believed there was a better
field for missionaries in the Philippines. but
said that as few missionaries spoke Spanish, to
say nothing of the jargon Of the provinces. the
task would be g. hard one.
After describing the natural beauties Of the
islands, General Chaffee said:
am not prepared to say here whether we
have the enrnity Of the Filipinos or not. will
say that when I was there I did not much
of 1t. I am an exploiter, and believe that II
we ever get any good out OF these islands, we
must explore and exploit them
AS though to refute General Chanee's asser-
ton that missionaries did not speak the ian
guage of the people they sought to teach, Dr.
CameweIl in opening his address, ratified off a
lot of Chinese and then translated 1t. He de-
clared that most of the missionaries In China
could speak the language He admitted that the
situation was as General Chaffee had said 1t
from the increased missionary work in China