Evening star., 1950-12-24
The Week in Religion
The Week in Religion
Red Fight Against Missionaries
In Asia Worries Churches Here
BY the Religious News Service

BY the Religious News Service
Christmas, 1850, finds religious
leaders as deeply concerned over
the future of Christian mission
work in the Far East as they
have been for several years past
over the fate of the churches in
Europe's iron curtain counties.
China was in the religious head
lines this week as many mission
aries were reported preparing to
leave the country because of the
Communist governments anti
American policies.
1t has been made abundantly
clear by no less spokesman than
Russia's Foreign Minister Jacob
A. Malik, that Communist leaders
are anxious to see American mis-
sionaries evacuate the country.
I'VE all know" Mr.. Malik told
a United Nations Security Coun-
Gil session at Lake Success. N. Y.
recently, that missionaries have
always been a weapon of aggres-
sion and that they have served
to promote the conquests of the
ruling circles and to enslave peo-
Piles who were a source of income. D
Mr.. Malik spoke during a de-
bate over aggression in Formosa
and Korea in which Warren r
Austin, American delegate to the
United Nations, pointed to Ameri-
cas- medical and educational mis-
sions in China as evidences of "the
friendship of the American people
for the Chinese people
Part Of Reformation.
Withdrawal of American mis-
sionarieS is an implicit part OF
the reformation" of Christianity
in China demanded by the Com
munist government to unity the
various sects and purge the
church of "imperialistic inf1u-
ence." The terms for this reform
were outlined after conferences
between Christian leaders and
officials of the government last
year.
According to DR.. Lloyd S. Ru-
land, secretary for China of the
Presbyterian CU. S. A. Board OF
Foreign Missions. increasingly
difficult conditions for large num-
bers of American missionaries
have convinced them that the
Chinese Christians can fare bet
ter without them.
He said that in the Communist
propaganda campaigns against the
United States there appears to
be deliberate attempt to in
volve Americans in China in stu
ations Of public humiliation, the
general purpose being to destroy
American influence in that
country.
However, DR.. Rutland declared
mission boards generally will leave
lit up to the missionaries them
selves to decide whether to with
draw or not. He said it had been
suggested that the missionaries
consult their Chinese colleagues
in the matter and be guided by
their advice.
Outlook Not Dark.
The missionary leader also made
public message from the general
assembly of the Church of Christ
in China which declared that
while Chinese Professionalism is
entering upon new phase in
its internal affairs and foreign re-
lations, its outlook is not dark.
Directed to "the missionary So
cieties associated with" the united
Chinese Protestant body, the mes
sage informed them that "the
church which you helped to estab-
lish is coming into a new position,
being recognized by the new
Peoples Government as a Chinese
organization serving the Chinese
people"
The message said the church
had endorsed the Common Pro-
gram" drafted under government
auspices in Peiping last year,
which called for opposition to
imperialism. feudalism and
bureaucratic capitalism" and "the
realization of self-government,
self-support and self-propaga-
ton"
Reaff1rming the long expressed
desire of the Chinese church to
become truly Chinese in admin
stration and support. the message
added:
"We believe that you share our
desire to see the church in China
free from all suspicion of domi-
nation by foreign imperialistic or
capitalistic interests, and become
in reality an autonomous church,
growing in Chinese soil, develop
ing strong Chinese leadership and
meeting the moral and spiritual
needs of Chinese society"
Vow to Stand Firm.
The concluding section of the
Chinese church's message ex-
pressed the hope, however, that
''the time will come when the
Church of Christ in China can
invite a limited number of mis-
sionaries to return to China, with
the approval of the government,
to serve us in various types of
special work"
Meanwhile. the Chinese group
voiced its determination ito stand
firm in our Christian faith, to
make no compromise in the basic
beliefs and ethical standards of
Christianity, and to maintain the
spiritual liberty of the church"
Another missionary crisis has
developed in Korea as a result
of the Chinese intervention.
It was reported late last week
that so Methodist pastors had
been evacuated from Seoul to
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