The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-25


man in stature. but with forehead Of
noble proportions, from which the hair
has partially /retreated. His hair and
mustache are almost white. and there
Is a kindly expression Of sympathy. and
yet Of fearlessness. in his English-blu
eyes. He spoke well and forcibly. using
only a simple gesture Of his left hand.
He spoke first of his pleasure in COM
ing 10 this country on his present err
rand, and Of his particular qualification
in visiting the city where the Laymen' s
Missionary Movement had its birth. He
paid tribute TO S. ". Woodward. presi-
dent OF the movement and to John B.
Sleman. r.. to whose initiative the move
ment might be said to owe its existence
I am glad TO acknowledge the great
debt, he said, which India owes to the
missionaries from this country. I do not
speak either as a missionary myself, or
as the son Of ore, but / think I am a
competent witness 10 tell Of the good
their offices have done to the people Of
that land.
In judging the value OF efforts in any
direction. the testimony that should be
given greatest credence must always be
that of the men who are interested in
dia has been a failure-a waste Of time
and money. Others, who have given up
their lives 10 it, are buoyed up with the
evidences Of the good results they cannot
help seeing about them.
4 Competent witness.
L think I am a competent witness in
this matter. ] have spent thirty-seven
years in India. as a servant of the
crown. While my work has laid espe-
cially in two provinces. two commissions
which I headed let me over every foot
OF Indian soil. and 7 have never been
anywhere IN the land without seeing mis-
siOnaries at work among the people. They
have been nv friends I have Joined
with them In their labors As a Pres
byterian elder I have sat under a native
Christian priest. I am now moderator IN
the general assembly of the Indian Pres
byterian Church. ! think I am qualified
10 say p few words about Christianity
in that country.
Speaking Of class distinction In India,
which fOstered mutual ignorance and
superstition, Sir Andrew launched into a
discussion of one of the most trouble
some questions confronting missionary
workers IN any fieid-the question OF the
relative merits of education" and evan
gelization."
AT one time" he said u had a great
deal Of sympathy with those who upheld
the evangelizatiOn method. But condi-
tons in India are peculiar. The Apostle
Paul went from place 70 place, making
a convert here, and a convert there. His
was the evangelization method. But II
must be remembered that he dealt with
Jews. who were already thoroughly famil-
far with the Bible. and whose conversion
20 Christianity meant only the adoption
Of Christ as the Great Messiah.
Influence of Ages.
In India the history and influence of
ages must be overcome. Superstition
must be broken down. Social affiliations
and family relations must be invaded
when Christ and the Gospel are intro
duced A convert there must turn away
from his idols, his gods. and his friends
and lake something wholly out Of sym
patty with everything he has learned to
love and honor
That is why the PROCESS must be edu-
cational The policy Of the government
is neutral in matters OF that kind It re-
mains for us of other countries to bring
about the change and Il must be achieved
through the local church. The children
Of to-day. who viii be the churchmen OF
tomorrow, must be taught the English
language, and with it the story of the
Saviour. They. by education primarily.
and spiritual teaching secondarily. must
be welded into a force that viii sweep
India OF its heathenism. And they will do
Il. / believe in the Holy Ghost, not as an
agent that has ceased to work. but as one
that is still as active as it was in the days
OF Bible history.
Now what ara the results Of mission
airy work in India? One of them is the