The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-10-19
The Christian Standard and
Foreign Missions.

which had undertaken in courteous way to
deny statement which Mr.. w. R. Nicholson,
Of Maxeys, Ga, had reported to that paper.
Mr.. Nicholson, who had heard my speech at
Watson's Springs, understood me to say that
the average missionary's salary was $3.50.
In this he was mistaken. My statement was,
that the average missionary family drew $3.50
per year. / explained this by referring to
statement which DR.. r. j. Willingham, of
our Richmond, Virginia, Board, published in
The Christian Indeu. Dr. Willingham stated
that male missionary laboring in the foreign
fields was paid $3.50 per year by this Board.
That woman missionary was paid $3.50
year. That when the two intermarried the
salary was $500 per year with an extra al
1owance of 500 per year for each child born
to them, which allowance was increased to
$3.50 per year when the child became fifteen
years old.
The editor of the Christian Standard after
having very properly denied the alleged state
ment that the Average salary paid to single
missionary was $780, went on to say that
certain other Missionary Board which he
named, paid $500 salary to the male mission
airy; 5000 to the female missionary and $1,000
to the man and wife, both doing missionary
work, with an allowance of $500 per year for
each child.
So instead Of disproving what I had really
asserted In the speech above mentioned, the
Christian Standard virtually corroborated me
in every essential detail
The tone of the editor was so different from
that of the other denominatonal papers that
have belabored me upon this subject, that [
felt encouraged to write personal letter to
him and to forward with my compliments
copy of my book in which the methods of do
ing foreign missionary work are exposed and
condemned. The result is that the Christian
STANDARD published leading editorial under
the title, "MR. WATSON ON FOREIGN
MISSIONS" The gist Of the editorial can
be put into two questions. First, are the SAL
aries paid to foreign missionaries too large?
Second, what reform should be brought about
in the system of attempting to convert the
heather? In other words, ec1sat IS Mr. Watson
d11ciqag at?
First, we find the salary so high that it al
lures many worker into the foreign field who
is sadly needed here at home. In China, ia
pan and India one can live cheaper than any
where else on earth. For less than 800 per
year whole family can be supplied with a
sufficiency of food. Labor can be employed
for &c or 7c per day Therefore, it seems to
me manifestly unjust to allot $3.50 to the
average missionary family in those Eastern
countries, leaving the American preacher Tin
a land Of the highest prices) to support his
family on average salary of 1866 per year.
It was ascertained at the recent General AS
ISOLATION of the Northwestern Baptists, which
met at Duluth, Mich, that the average pay of
Baptist preacher in that section of our great
country is 1921 per day, much less than IS
paid to q common 6rich-zayer. Of course an
average of 1921 per day means that, while
some preachers receive more than that, others
receive Iess When we remember what are the
prices of all the necessaries of life under the