The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-10-22
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS
AND CIVILIZATION
Address Delivered at Carnegie Hall,
New York City, April, 1908, by
the Hon. William III. Taft.

nave known a good many people
tnat were opposed to foreign mis-
slons. have known a good many
regular attendants at church, con-
slstent members, perhaps, that relig-
iously, II you choose to use that term,
refused to contribute to foreign mis-
stons. Now, / confess that there
was time when was enjoying a
SNUG provincialism that hope has
LETT me now, when rather sympa-
thfzed with that view. Until went
to the Orient, until there were thrown
on me the responsibilities with ref
erence to the extension OF civilization
In those far distant lands, did not
realize the immense Importance of
foreign missions. The truth is we
nave got to wake up in this coun-
try. We are not all there is in the
world. There are lots besides us, and
there are lots of people besides us
That are entitled to our effort and our
money and our sacrifice to help them
on In the world. No man can study
the movement of modern civilization
from an utterly impartial standpoint
and not realize that Christianity and
the spirit Of Christianity Is the only
basis for the hope of modern civiiiza-
ton and the growth of popular self
government. The spirit of Christian
lty Is pure democracy. It Is the
equality of man before God, the
equality of man before the law, which
Is. as l understand 1t, the most Cod
like manifestation that man has been
able to make. Now, am not here to
speak of foreign missions from
purely religious standpoint. am
here to speak of 1t from the stand
point of political. governmental ad-
vancement, the advancement of mod
erni civilization. And I,think / have
had some opportunity to know how
dependent we are on the spread of
Christianity in any hope that we may
have of uplifting the peoples whom
Providence has thrust upon us for
our guidance.
Religion and Political Government.
am talking practical facts about
tho effect of religion on the political
government, and l know what am
talking about. did not realize until
l went into the Orient the variety OF
things that foreign missions accom-
plish. The missionaries have reached
the conclusion that In order to make
man good Christian, you have
got to make him useful in q commun-
ity and teach him something to do
and give him some sense and intelli-
gence.
So. connected with every successful
foreign mission is a school. Ordi-
narily an Industrial school. Also
they teach the native that cleanliness
Is next to Goodness and that one
business of his is to keep himself
healthy, and SO in connection with
every good foreign mission they have
hospitals and doctors. And, there
fore, the mission makes nucleus of
modern civilization, with schools,
teachers and physicians and the
church. In that way. having edu-
Gated the native, having taught him
how to live, then they are able to be
sure that they have made him con-
sistent Christian.
China Headed Right.
Every foreign mission in China is
nucleus of modern civilization.
Now China is in great state of tran
sition. China Is looking forward to
progress. China Is to be guided by
whom? 1t Is to be guided by the
SouMS SnI isIAan StuuentS anu ScDOl-
ars that either learn English or some
foreign language at home or are sent
abroad to be instructed, and who
come back and whose words are lis
tened to by those who exercise infiu-
ence ut the head of the Government
Therefore 1t is that these frontier
posts of civilization are SO much more
important than the mere numerical
count OF converts seems to MAKE
them.
] speak from the standpoint OF po-
litical civilization in such n country
Ms CHM. They have. 1 think 2fnf.