The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-16
or MISSIONS ATTACKED.
Literary Digest.

Literary Digest.
The cause of foreign missions is under
going q series of elaborate ATTACKS III
"Tom Watson's Jef%iersonian Magazine al
lsnla). Mr.. Watson is himself the author
Of the criticism, which he bases on both
scriptufal and economic reasons.
Paul and the disciples did not conduct
missions as men OF to-day are aoIhe, MI.
Watson asserts. They established churches
which became seli-supportinr; whereas the
missions now established In foreign lanus
require an immense expenditure Ior Sup.
port, most of which is drawn from tne
home church. Mr.. Watson lnslnuates tuat
by his means The heather is hired 10
call himself a Christians; thai DIS conveision
ia not sincere, but his netural Gup,u.ty 10
pIa we'd upon and encouraged. MI. watson
thus interIogales the present system:
.By what right do you exist? By what
r,phi do Won TAX ue? By what right are
Won DANGEROUSLY demanding so much more
Of our money 10 be drained OIL into foreign
countries? BY what right 40 you orlng SO
much unfair pressure to bear upon COM
paratively poor men In America TO iurnlsn
ELABORATE education to heather childrea In
such rich countries AZ China and INDIA
and japan?
for il. the system should be abandoned.
China is abundantly able 10 1eed, clothe,
and educate her children. Let CHINA 90
ii. The weather. classes ollnola can easiy
of Hindustau. 1t ia their moral duty 10 90
~. not ours. So with Japan. Until We
nave bauashed illiteracy from our own
' contend that 1t Is unnatural ana
unpatriatic and unwiSe TO be taking upon
our shoulders the illlieracy OF the nations
beyond seas
MIR, Watson proceeds 10 quote from q
variety OF sources, books aud pamphlet ana
papers, in favor OF foreign missions, iurnlsn-
ed by the preachers" hat the SCHOOLS es.ag-
Iished in foreign lands are not self-support
ing. Tho, he asserts, : those who nave Under
taken TO defend the secular eoacation
which Is a part Of the work OF foreign
schools are s. II supporting. Taking the
ALMANAC Tor 1908" published by The Amerl.
can Board OF Missions, a. q source Tor
general facts, Mr.. Watson says.
view Of Missions OF A. b Z. F. Nj, i9U1--o'
The countries embraced In the report are
Africa. Turkey, Ceylon. China. Japan,
Micronesia, the Philippines Mexico spain'
and Austria, or,
"These foreign missions maintained 6a
churches, 1898 schools, employed more than
4, 700 preachers. teachers, and other Worktrs.
Now how much DO You suppose vas ans INC DC
defray the coat OF that great work?
lit was s25I,OO9. To say nothing Of the
running expences Of the churches, mere
were e4,546 pupils In the schools: How
multitude OF children? You can figure that
out for yourself, II We apply TO the schools,
alone, the entire sum collected from me
heathern, we oS VIII see at 'n . cost lost of iour
dollars each, per year. One dollar per quarter
would be cheap education. wouldn't IL?
But, OF course, the heathen contributions
went only in part to the schools, some OF
Therefore, IL appears conclusiVely that the
.293' schools OF the Amerlcsn Board are
pot, by any peq e. se III Ipsse ab3rc Iss
s i9Isl . 9St1ay IS IS 'R si4 s9s. at ST SIS . .6sos Thereiofs
they fall short of being seli-supporting by
more than $500, 600. In other words, the
heathern contribute less shan ont-lhiId OF
the total expense"
Mr.. Watson quotes from a Southern
Metho dist paper, go rof%aan,' wnose
furnished 10 a college In Kwansei Gakuin,
Japan, saying: 1T Is a disgrace 10 The Church
attem pts, on such plttances, 10 main
tain a college supplying a Chalsi,sn o cay,
ties offered by the ] Japanese schools" Upon
which Mr.. Watson EXPLAINS:
"Here is Jarsn-prcgressive. victoriou g.
powerful, rich. She has offered her children
splendid facilities for education. Yet the
Methodist Church, South. is required 10
he Japanese Government in giving a
secular schooling to japanese children!
"CouId fanaticism be msddeI? Where Is
the Scripture for this upnniu1ai and I'M
DOS sibIe TASK? How ban the people OF this
be expected 10 educate their "
children and bear, at the same time. the
g expenses OF secular education to the hundreds
milliors of heatbern children whose "
are offering them 'splen did fac
IN their public schools?
when l reveal the facts to our people,
In order that they may give with their
eyes open, 1 an savagely denounced. Why
so? What wrong have l done? Is 1t q
sin to let in the light? ls 1t a crime TO
publish the truth! $780,.
II urge our people 10 stop where Christ
stopt, where the disciples stopt, where The
Paul and the early Fathsrs stop. urge
thar Paul and the disciples DID, until we
have tirst discharged our full duty to our
own flesh and blood, our own national
household. Is this treason TO Christ? l
can not ihlDk So"