Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-18
QUESTIONS BENEFlcENcE OF
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY WORK

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16.-[Editor
Herald: There is an old story about
a man who consulted a doctor: "How's
your appetizer" Good, at least very
fair" DO you sleep well?" "Yes, moth
ing to complain of in that respect
Free from local pains? Breathing
quite regular and easy? yes" was the
reply. "Oh, very we'll" said the doc
tor after moments cogitation, "I
guess 1 can give you something tc
change all that"
mind when I read in this mornings
paper the interviews with Bishop Will
son S. Lewis, who is described as
Methodist bishop of China.
Discussing the Chinese, Bishop Will
son said: "They are a people who give
great attention to education. During
all their history, official preference has
always been based upon an educa-
tional test. To hold a decree is es-
teemed more honorable than to pos
sess great riches.'
He then goes on to state with APP
parent satisfaction that the Chinese
are changing their methods. "They are
now founding universities and schools
after western models; and Mr.. Rookie
feller has indicated his intention tc
found a Christian institution in some
of the cities of the Chinese Empire"
1.-THE Christian work is develop
ing very rapidly. While the official
classes have not accepted Christianity
many of the great middle class, mer-
chants, bankers and some scholars
have done so. Protestant churches are
planted in the strategic places, the
great cities and commercial centers."
When he says, further, "a citizen
of the United States has the advan-
tage over all the nations in his ap-
proach to the Chinese the bishops
note of patriotic self-complacence may
be well placed, but where docs the
Chinaman come in-in the face OF
Bishop Lewis own showing by his
opening words? I fear our celestial
brother is not to be congratulated.
Under the aegis of western influence
and methods, and especially of Rookie
fellerism, he will also soon lose the
habit of prizing knowledge and schol-
astic attainments above riches. He
will tumble" before long to the CO.
gent argument that he who would hold
Rockefeller" chairs or other seats OF
power must above all else voice Rookie
feller interests.
Minister WI once talked to an
American audience-in that smooth
but keen style of oratory of which
he is a past master-of the raw, ig-
norant, the often arrogant pretenders
who go to China to force their par
ticular brand of religion and ethics
IL on members of d race STEPPED
through the centuries in the practice
as well as precept of a moral philoso-
ply from which the western world
could learn much to it's profit.
Some fifteen years ago the London
newspapers reported the case of a sue
cessful green grocer who had achieved
official standing in his church OF
chapel He made the acquaintance OF
a young Japanese student, and tried
to convert him to Christianity. The
jap was courteous, but critical; he
listened patiently time after time, but
he was unconvinced. So our Christian
zealot turned up one day at the son
of Nippons lodgings, entered and
having locked the 7~or, offered him
Christianity at the point of pistol
in other words, threatened to shoot
him if he did not "accept Christ" The
case came into the police court, but
was hushed up through the influence
of church friends. But to me there
was and Is something in this case
typical of the whole machinery OF
Christian missionary work. The Bible
in one hand, a gun in the other, a
package of shoddy goods on the back
and a bottle of cheap rum in the coat
tail pocket. One Christian holds sun
day school while another batters in
Peking's gates and loots the mercan-
tile quarter and molests the women
FRANK f. STONE.