MISSIONARIES IN CHINA

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3076, 2 April 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

MISSIONARIES IN CHINA

With respect to missionaries' work in China during later years, I admit that I have no data to po by, and it may be that the missionaries in that vast field have reaped a harvest commensurate with their self-devoted labour. But facts

like those recently reported, showing tho antipathy of tho Natives towards foreigners, are worth pages of argument in support of the general principle that to interfere in the religion of a people a religion that promulgates morals and maxims of goodwill to men, and the recognition of an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent spiritual head of the universe—is best left alone by foreigners, especially if they have nothiog better than these principles to inculcate. I do not believe it to be wholesome to the community at large, and know it to be, in numerous cases, :noro than mischievous. What work is needed in China should be open as the day, and political and social advancement is best taught by the example of the more civilisad nations in all that pertains to high statesmanship and public morality. Let the missionary aid in this work, and he will bo recognised as a public benafactor.

I have seen, on the occasion of an eclipse, crowds of enthasiastic Chinese rush from their houses into the darkness armed with gongs, trumpets, and firearms, until the clash and roar of these ioiplemeuts succeeded in drivinsr away " the dragon of the sky," who was intent upon swallowing the sun, or the moon, as the case might be, Then the victorious crowd returned joyously to their habitation". It might wound their selfconceit, but they would not be offended, were the foreigner to enlightem them upon the order of the planetary system, and such instruction would bo beneficial to them ; but if the teaoher went beyond this, and, in the hope ot' "saving souls." ventured to instil into the nativo mind the doo-

trinal point of theology—each containing his own peculiar tenets—ho should not bo surprised if the Chinaman retorted '• Too much ee chow chow (divergence of views) in your religion ; more better you come joKS-liouHe side." Still leas should the missionary bo surprised if, when the patience of the native is exhausted by the dogmatic and persistent attaoks upon his religious faith, indifference is replaced by anger and acts of violence. An excited people do not draw very nico distinctions between individuals and the masses; hence the fanhwae, be he a peaceful and inoffensive merchant or an intrusive missionary, is liable to meet the same fate at the hands of an infuriated mob. Isit nottimethon, in viewof the national susceptibilities of so large a portion of the human race, that the missionary societies of Europe and the United States should take these lessons to heart and confine the labours of their agents to secular instruction.

*' What," onca asked a London journal, "would ba done with a priest'ot Buddha •who should dare, in Charing; Cross, to harangue a street crowd on behalf of Buddha ? Doubtless they would throw him in the Thames ? Can we blame, then, the loss cultivated Chinese, whose religion, if anything, is more of reality to them than is the Christian religion to the majority of those who profess it, if, acting under an impulse of revenge for what they regard as an outrage to their common faith, they shed the blood and destroy the property of the invader of their most sacred rights ? Diplomacy may succeed in obtaining papers guarantees from the Chinese authorities for the protection of thj lives and property of foreign residents, aud the naval vessels of the Great Powers may batter down the fortresses at the ports in case of a violation of the guarantees, but these preventive measures would prove but temporary, and would most likely increase the animosity of the people towards the foreigner, if indeed they did not lead to anarchy and revolution. Ihe cause of this animosity must be removed if any permanent change is to bo eirected in the sentiments of the Chinese, ana one of the chief causes as I have attempted to show, is the suspected, aud in many cases, the actual, attempts of the foreigners to proselytise the natives. The missionaries—mostly poor men—overlook or shut their eyes to this fact, being intent upon gaining converts, increasing their schools, and making up a harvest of good works, that the record in their annual report may be acceptable to their societies at Home.—By C. It. Tuckerraan.