New-York tribune., 1907-09-04
WARY OF MISSIONARIES
BRITAIN DOUBTS LOYALTY
American Congregationalists Also
Haze Trouble an Germany.

Friction between American Congregational mis-
sionaries and the British government In NataI
and the German government In the Caroline Isl
ands has sprung up in the last few years. accord
ing TO the Rev. DR.. Charles c. Creegan, one OF
+te district secretaries of the American Board OF
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. DIR. Creesan
has lust returned from tour around the world
and said yesterday that only in these two places
was there any trouble between the Congregational
missionaries and European governments
sir Henry Edward McCailum. until recently
Governor of Natal, got the impression that our
American missionaries were disloyh 70 the Eng
lsh rule said DR.. Creega1. and he demanded
that a white person should be placed over every
Zulu church and school Our work in NataI mas
been in a fourishng condition ever since II started
seventy years ago. There has never before been
charge of this kind brought against our mission
aries 1t has always been their policy, whenever
they had any objection to make regarding the gov
ernn1ent of the colony TO make IT in a proper ana
dignifed manner before the authorities In the
present case I know that our workers as BODY
are loyal to the British rule and try TO aid IL IN
every way II is my opinion though. that one,
and possibly two. little uuwse shall say
in speaking in public Of the government
The policy Of work In Natal has been 10
Christianize and educate the Zuus up to point
where they carry on their own religious "ork-
There now in the province twenty-fonr large
supporting Congrega tonal churches, with more
than four thousand members. all in charge or
native pastors II the demand Of the Governor
that a white person be placed over each Of these
churches were carried out It would mean twenty
four new missionaries from America, many OF
them with wives and children. which would put
us to an enormous expense. And 1t would be an
entirely unnecessary expense. too. because it is
the object of our work to train native pastors TO
do their work
The American board has carried work IN
various parts OF the British Empire since 1Si2
can't recall single case Of conflict like this one
- ,1I43 yyva har-a on mission
aries working under the English rule in India.
and on my visit there recently every one or them
spoke in the highest terms of the British govern
ment in india So we regard this trouble In Natal
as due TO the British government so much as
to the Governor
DR.. Creegan said that the Rev. Dr.. James T.
Barton one OF the corresponding secretaries or
the American board IS in London on MS way 10
this country from an inspection Of the missionary
stations in China and Japan and is attempting TO
bring about more pleasant relations in the South
African colony
In regard 70 the trouble IN the Caroline ISLANDS
which were purchased from Spain by Germany az
the same time that the United States acquired the
Philippines. Dr. Creegan said that the American
hoard had decided 10 agree without protest 10 the
demand Of the government that German instead OF
English be taught in the mission schools. IheSe
islands are in what IS known the Micronesian
mission The board has fourteen missionaries on
the islands. and through them conducts htty
churches and mission schools containing five thou
sand pupils Only two Of the American mission
aries speak German.
After the Germans obtained possession OF the
islands" said DR.. Creegan. they seemed 70 grow
susplcious OF the American missionaries and about
n wear ago demanded that only German be taught
in the mission schools. We are accepting the
situation and gradually substituting Germans for
our Americans. The National Society OF Christian
Fndeavor Of Germany and the LiebenZeller Mission
have agreed TO supply US men. They are not Con-
crerationalists but they Christians. II will
take from three to five years to accomplish this
change"