The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-09-05 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SIR WALTER BESANT ON THE  MISSIONARY MASSACRES.  It is a risky thing, writes Sir Walter Resent in the Queen. to offer any opinion on the subject of missionaries and their perils, especially when the great horror of recent murder and outrage hangs over us, and the blood of these innocent women seems to call for vengeance. There are, however, many people who think that missionaries ought not to be supported by gunboats; that the work they undertake, in order to be efficacious, must be entirely unsupported by external force; if the people understand that these men come among them at their own risk, ready for martyrdom, actuated solely by their desire to proclaim a better faith, then that faith would certainly receive more respectful treatment. Then, again, it must be remembered that it is a very serious thing to go into a country and o ptreach to Its people that their religion Is a fable, and a mischievous fable; their religion—in which they and their ancestors have been brought up from time immemorial, which is bound up with their national traditions and customs; which is part of their daily life. In China they have to preach their new religion to a people who are educated in a way; who are not ignorant barbarians; who have no respect for European intelligence, but consider themselves to the forefront of science, literature, and philosophy,. Are we, therefore, to protect these missionaries by armed force P Take a parallel case. Suppose we were to send missionaries to Russia, preaching everywhere that the doctrines of the Greek Church are degrading, superstitious, and ridiculous; that the Primitive Methodist is the only true Church; should we go to war with Russia if there was a tumult and some peasants, jealous for the faith, knocked about these missionaries? Well; our missionaries are martyred. "Revenge!" cry the religious folk. Yes; but revenge is not a pretty word among Christian people. "Send tio troops; send blue Jackets; send gunboats." How many shall we send P China contains about 300,000,000 people; bow many bluejackets will it require to march inland in order to get these murderers hanged? I think we ought to do nothing. The Chinese will certainly not love the missionaries any better though we hang a hundred in punishment for this murder, whereas they cannot fail to understand the spirit which moves a man to say, "This must I preach to you, because I am constrained, even though you kili me for it." Let us say to our missionaries, "Go, in God's name, if you will. You will probably be martyred. The blood of many martyrs may be required before you make the least Impression upon the Chinese. Go, then, if you will. You take your life in your hand. And whether your murderers are punished or whether they escape will depend upon the law of the land. Farewell!"  Artiloial Teeth exquisitely fitted. Natural in appearance, almforteble in use, and warranted to last 6 life-time- Fitted complete at one visit without the extraction of loose teeth or stumps, or the least pain. riumess guaranteed sr no charge made. Teeth from 2s. fid ; sets from one guinea. Dental repairs completed while waiting.—Mr. W. J. W 66 son, 1 OorporMcn Street, Birmingham (first dose from New StreM on the left). Consultations free daily, 10 till 7; will & Gee for *aline extreotione, from 2s. id.