CHINESE MISSIONARIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 118, 21 September 1907, Page 4

CHINESE MISSIONARIES.

A meeting was recently held m Melbourne to o&lebrate the centenary of missions to China. For a hundred', years Britain and America have poured out men and money m the endeavor to convert the Chows to Christianity, and still the game goes on. Of course, all sensible people are aware that the missionary enterprise is nothing more nor less than a trade. Britain Coraes her preaoliers upon the defenceless Celestials, and at the same time forces opium, grown m India, down their throats or into their broad noses.. The reason for the non-success of British missions m China is not far to seek. It is succinctly and clearly given, by an Anglican parson, the Rev. E. J. Hardy, former chaplain to the British troops at Hong Kong, m his recently published book entitled -'IJohn Chinaman at Home . Sketches of Men, Manners, and Things hi China." Mr Hardy has a very po* opinion, indeed, of most missionaries. ' He remarks '—••'Those who select missionaries cannot be too careful as to the specimens they allow the heathen to see. We should wash our soiled linen at home. I do not Wish to defend certain untrained Americans who, coming out as colporteurs, blossom into Reverend Doctors, and then trade m houses and land for the .societies they represent, if not for themselves. Before leaving Hong Kong I saw an annual consignment of female missionaries land m order to be distributed throughout China. Their physical appearance did not impress one. What waste of money to send out people whom a fever or two may depress and sour, and necessitate their becomino: returned empties. True, those who select female missionaries are on the horns of a

dilemma.- Well-favored girls marry and leave the business. Anemic,, unladylike, partially deformed ones, who have no charm either at home or kbroad m the matrimonial line, do not physically adorn the Gospel or make its message attractive to the heathen. If the • beauty of holiness .were always underneath an ugly exterior, I would not have made the above remark. And how much more attractive it is when it co-exists with physical good looks, ana tbe ways of one who could not be mistaken for anything but a gentlewoman !" As a matter of fact, the majority of the missionaries, both male ancl female, are such physical frights that a mere glance at them i.s sufficient to scare even the 'lowest; scum of China. They possess m an eminent degree what "Bleeds" Fitchett calls "the Methodist face," and that is enough to frighten away the heathen. Actually, missions m China,' as are missions m other places, are, of course, merely a mone*_ -making business, and the old women m England and Australia wbo contribute their copper and silver for missionary purposes m the hope thereby to secure their personal salvation throughout eternity, imagine that, the'" are giving their money to spread the Gospel, whereas the "splosh" really goes to feed and clothe the sleek and shiny gospelers. As for those who contribute to these missions, one can only say m Puck's word. : "What fools these mortals be !"