New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-24
MISSIONARY FAULTS.
Some Well Meant Criticism from
an Investigator IN China.
By william T. Ellis.

Copyright. 1907 By Joseph p Bovles)
Tisn-Tsin is the place 10 come TO learn the
other side" Of foreign missions in China. This
city and Shanghai are doubtless the two great
est centres Of anti-InissionaTy sentiment in the
world. TIE criticisms OF missions and mission
aries most commonly heard have to do with
China and with China's capital. Three out of
four stories rejecting upon missions are located
IN China. and two out Of three are likely to
concern Picking and its neighborhood.
Now. that means Tien-Tsin. The foreign pop
ulation Of Peking is very small including fey
persons besides Iegationers and missionaries
But Tien-Tsin the port Of Picking and Of North
China, has the second largest foreign popGla-
tion in the empire It is 2 city Of imposing
European buildings. of foreign stores, Of mod
ern streets and homes. Of clubs and churches
ln short. il is a bit Of the West which greets
a traveller like an oasis in the desert of the
East
on tho ship between Chee-Foo and Tfen-Tsin
Z was talking OYER variety OF Far Eastern
topics with a British merchant who had lived
for more than twenty years in Tien-Tsin. He
was plainly a gentleman. a man Of family, Of
breeding and social standing. and i'm all re-
specfs his views had been temperate Without
his knowing my interest in the subject. the con
yeTsatiOn drifteo 10 missionaries. Really. some
one should look into this missionary business,
ne said. 1T is not what people at home think
Il is You go I'D To Picking. and you viii find
2 the missionaries living in compounds as big as
( legaiions And during The Boxer trouble they
looted frightfully.
MISSIONARY CHARGED WITH GRAFT.
There was one missionary. a Mr.. Blank. who
was made interpreter TO a British punitive ex-
petition, with The honorary rank of second lieu
tenant. Al every village he would demand a
large sum Of money. in the name of the com
Inanding officer, which ne would quietly pocket
himself. At length word of this reached the
British authorities. and the missionary was
asked for. explanation He fatty denied
everything. Then he vas offered his choice Of
standing a fair uTt faar1al, with the assur-
2nce that lFf zF3a4e be shot il found guilty, or
Of being GspBGEd 81 mis- rank and of being dis
missed from The service in ign0minY He chose
she latter. thus practically confcssing his guilt.
Missionaa les an say Poor NJ. Blank" ana look
Cpon him rs a ilfssItr- although the board THAI
employed hiIsl sse6 "a different view Of the mat
ter and discllarGed him He lives in Tiea-Tsin
to-day, and is a rich man"
Now this sttitBde Of many English speaking
residents Of inc 3fSr East toward missions means
something. i IS not 4 sufficient answer TO
fling charges, missionary supporters com
monty do. al the moral character Of the white
: quoted is as has been said, an honorable man
Of position and his statements were specific.
In the particular case he cited an investiga-
ton showed that his statements wore warranted
] except % the attitude Of the missiona ries
. teward the alleged culprit in question. Whet
the merchant SaiG miidness as compared
Wlth What the missionaries said to me- They
seemed 10 have more intimate knowledge Of
the cro0kednes5 Of the cN-nissOnary than 9th
ers, and they have the additional grievance that
ne has brought disgrace upon their calling
Similarly the T1issiOna ries went further than
Others IN condemnation Of another notorious