Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30

10 teach this people the way Of life the
King died. The new king chosen was a
prince who had been taught English and
science by one of our American mission
aries, and his friendliness made great
changes. He permitted them to teach. and
TO go where they would, not restricting
them about speaking the name of Jesus
The following is taken from a statement
MADE by the authorities, with his sanction
1t Is We'll to remember this when We read
or hear of some who say that the mission
airy has done harm between nations: Many
years ago the American missionaries came
mere They came before any other Euro
peans, and they taught the Siamese to
speak and read the English language The
American missionaries have always been
just and upright men. They have never
meddled in the affairs of government nor
created any difficulty with the Siamese
They have lived with the Siamese just as
II they belonged to the nation. The gov
eminent of Siam has great love and re-
Spect for them, and has no fear whatever
concerning them. When there has been
difficulty of any kind the missionaries have
many times rendered valuable assistance.
For this reason the SiameSe have loved
and respected them for a long time. The
Americans have also taught the Siamese
many things"
Robert E. Speer, in his book, "Presby-
terrain Foreign Missions says: Influenced
at the beginning by the missionaries, and
approaching them ever since, the govern
ment of Siam has ever been one of the
of Asia, though none Of it's kings has ever
embraced Christianity. The king who came
to the throne in 1873 died with Buddha's
last words on his lips, All that exists is
unreliable, and he said to the mission
aries: The sciences 1 receive-astrononny
geology, chemistry-these I receive. The
Christian religion I do not receive; many
of your countrymen do not receive it.
It was twelve years after the missionaries
began work before they were able to bap-
tie their first convert. He was young
Hainan Chinese named MAI Chune. This
faithful convert, though frequently offered
positions with good salaries, refused every
thing and practiced medicine, that he might
better preach the gospel.
AT one time the king sent for the mis-
sionaries to teach some of his wives to
read and write English, but after a while
he perhaps became afraid lest they were
becoming impregnated with the Christian
religion and indicated that the teaching
should cease. The kings however, have
been friendly to the missionaries In every
way, even giving money in large sums to
the work, and giving ground for schools
and hospitals. Hundreds of the boys, who
afterward occupy high positions of influence
and usefulness IN Siam, trained in the
mission schools.
A number of years ago a sick man, with
his wife as nurse, started in a boat in
search of a famous physician In Bangkok
Some one told him that the missionary in
Petchaburee was just as good doctor and
would care for him. He went there and
both he and his wife We're not only cared
for and healed. but taught of Christ. They
became Christians and went back home to
devote their lives to telling others the glad
news. This is only one of many such Incl
dents
Buddhism gives the people nothing better
to hope for. 1t tears down all beliefs rath-
than to build up any. Its priesthood is
lazy and idle.
The wild tribes on the borders Of Burmah
all believe in spirits called Mats. There
are good and bad ones. The bad ones get
the most worship because they need 1t the
most One missionary tells that a Nat is
supposed to take possession of man and
deprive him of his reason produce some
physical defect Sickness is supposed to be
the work Of evil spirits in punishment of
sin. When any one Is sick a chicken or
dog or pig is sacrificed to propitiate the
Mats.
It is told how, long ago, very holy man
once came to Burmah with the sacred scrip
lures of the Buddhists. The king of Bur-
NAH became a convert and built a gilded
pagoda. commanding all his subjects wor-
ship that pagoda or be instantly beheaded.
But the people would not obey. Then he
had built pagoda sacred to the Mats close