The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-22
MISSIONARY AS AN
AID IN BUSINESS
T. w. Ayers Writes on Situa-
ton in China
STUDY AT CLOSE RANGE
He Believes Chinese Have Less Hatred
for Missionaries Than for Any
other Class of For
eigners.
STUDY AT CLOSE RANGE

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
Since my return from China I have
had the opportunity of reading The Age
Herald and have read with interest the
news from the east in its news columns
and have also been interested in the all
fusion which have been made to mission
aries and their work in China in its pithy
editorial paragraphs, and realizing how
hard it is for one who looks from this
distance to understand fully the eondi-
tions which exist in China. I have de-
cided to offer to the readers of The Age
Herald my Views derived from five
years. residence IN China, during which
time I have been closely identified with
both missionaries and Chinese.
l realize that there are those in Amer
, lea who regard missionaries in China as
a disturbing factor, and that the propa-
cation of the Christian religion serves as
a constant irritant, and that Americas
commercial interests would profit by the
withdrawal of all missionaries from the
Flowery Kingdom. This feeling no doubt
has been created largely from travellers
who give mpressionslgained from hasty
observation or statements derived from
prejudleed foreign residents.
During my residence in China l have
endeavored to learn the truth as to how
the Chinese feel toward missionaries as
compared with other foreign residents
there and it is my honest opinion that
they feel much more kindly to mission
aries than do they to Others and for
the following reasons:
l. Because the missionary deals more
kindly with the Chinese than do most 9TH
er people
3 Because the missionary from more
thorough study of their characteristics,
language, history and customs, under
stands the Chinese better than those who
devote less time to such studies.
3 Because the missionary does not come
in competition with them in business
way
A. Because the more enlightened among
them know the missionary has no thought
of selling territory.
At present there is little hatred toward
the missionary on account of the doc
trine which he breaches. If hated at
all, he is hated because he is a for
eigner. All foreigners are hated largely
because the Chinese in large numbers are
led to believe that every foreigner who
goes to China, goes as a representative
of his government in an effort to, take
from them their lands. This they are cas-
lily made to believe from concessions
which have already been forced from
China and from the present receptive at
titude of several countries who desire
Chinese territory
In my Judgment no greater blow could
be made against the business interests
of America in China than the withdrawal
of American missionaries
Few representatives of America have
had the opportunity of studying the work
of the American missionary as did Mr..
Conger during his ministry at Peking.
He was the American minister to China
during the Boxer troubles of 1900, and
went through the fearful siege of Pc
king, when he had opportunity to see
the life and work of the missionary in
all it's bearings. His opinions should be
given no little weight In the discussion
of this question.
In an address delivered at a banquet
given In the City of Mexico last summer,
Mr.. Conger said:
For the last seven years l have ben
intimately associated with your colleagues
in the missionary work in China, a body
of men and women who measured by the
sacrifices they make. the trials they en-
dure and the risks they take, are veritable
heroes They are the pioneers in all that
country. They are invariably the forerun-
ners of western civilization. 1t is they
who armed with Bible and school books.
and sustained by faith which gives
them unfiinching courage, have pene-
trated the largest interior of that great
empire, hitherto unvisited by foreigners,
and blazed the way for the oncoming
commerce, which everywhere quickly fol-
lows them. 1t was they who first planted
the banner of the Prince of Peace in
every place where now floats the flag of
commerce and trade The dim pathways
which they traced. sometimes marking
them with their lifes blood. are rapidly
being transformed into great highways
of travel and trade. ana are fast becom-
ing lined with school houses and rail-
way stations, where heretofore were
found only idolatrous shrines and lodg
ing houses for wheelbarrow men and pack
mules. Hundreds of splendid schools have
ben founded, and are now being success