New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
THE MISSIONARIES HALO RTDTUUED

young and second rate who takes himself quite
as seriously as his friends at home take him.
and who. well aware that he is of the noble
army of martyr spirits. goes about wearing his
halo with all the sef-consciousness of a girl
with Easter hat -
Most missionaries, on the otffer hand. feel
foolish because OF the false attitude in which
they are thus placed by their idealizing adj
mirers at home. Some of them have used quite
unmssionary forcibleness of speech on this
point. They say that they neither extraor-
binary saints nor heroes. and that they are not
living lives OF physical hardship and sacrifice:
those who really have hardships say nothing
about them. That, in reality they do not cor
respond 10 the image of themselves ever being
held up IN sermons speeches and articles no
one knows quite so we'll as themselves. If per-
mitted TO speak frankly. they would say.
many have said TO me. that they have fewer
material discomforts than the average home
missionary country pastor that they
binary men and women, with all the limitations
of human nature. who are trying to do one sort
of Christian work. which. whatever it's glamour
when seen ten thousand miles away, is in actu-
atty beset by all the difficulties and discourage
nents Of religious endeavor at home. besides
certain other hindrances due to the non-Chris-
tian training and beliefs of the natives. They
would plead for a little less romance and little
sion propaganda, for neither they themselves
nor their work can measure up to the enthusi-
astic portraitures of uniformed supporters.
Missionaries are almost as various a company
editors or doctors lawyers. An honest critic
cannot unqualifedly approve or condemn 1.-The
missionary" Even at the risk of shocking many
readers let me say that have met missionaries
who are as incompetent the bitterest enemy
of missions represents all missionaries be. I
have met others who arc so small that they may
be classed negligible quantities. I have met
unmannered missionaries, lazy missionaries.
cowardly missionaries, gluttonous missionaries.
bad tempered missionaries, avaricious mission
aries bigoted missionaries eccentric mission
aries, selfish missionaries. and even. in two
cases, I know missionaries who have been cast
out for gross immortality There is scarcely q
charge that has been made CONCERNING inission-
aries as whole that have nor found true 81
individual missionaries Let those who know
little OF the facts the field rush into qualified
defence OF all missionaries as worthy OF halos:
cannot do so.
Yet. in perfect fairness and ffankness. can
say of the very large majority Of the hundreds
OF missionaries whom have watched at their
work that they are thoroughly honest, compe-
tent, sef-immolating and devoted servants OF a
great ideal. This applies to men and women of
all denominations and bodies Roman Catholic
and Protestant, churchman and independent
and TO all the mission fields which / have thus
far investigated In quiet modesty, and with
SELF denying service thcss men and women are
seeking, against great odds, the con-
version of the people among whom they dwell
Their lives are the best recommendation Of their
message.
On the whole, they are persons OF more than
ordinary ability and refinement: the charge may
be rejected practically in toto. that missionaries
are incompetents who have been driven into their
field by inability to secure livelihood else
where Y