THE MISSIONARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144199, 16 September 1913, Page 4

THE MISSIONARY.

A PROFESSOR’S OPINION The missionary question is always a delicate ono to dwellers in tho outposts of the Empire, and as Professor Macmi'lan Brown has had unique opportunities to see them and -their work, ho was asked by a Christchurch Press interviewer to give his opinions on this rather burning question. “All tnrdugh my travels.” he said, “I have noticed that missionaries are very much objeuted 'to by traders everywhere—not only in tho Islands, but in China, Corea, Alalay, and all tho primitive parts. 1 have heard tho strongest objections mado to their presence, and in fact no ono seems to nave a good .word to say tor them. I have probed for tho reasons for this dislike, and have found that tho loudest grum-blers-have not very good sound reasons to give, for the attitude they take up. I claim that I view tho matter in an absolutely impartial light, and camo to tho conclusion that tho reasons of tho antagonism of tbo trading and merchant classes aro (1) that tho missionaries are. to a certain extent, traders in opposition themselves, and (2) that they teach tho natives the true value of tho' goods- they buy and sell. The cnormos of tho missionaries also assert that the native Christians are always tho biggest scoundrels, but the two first reasons are obviously tho ones that carry most weight. “Aly opinion after eliminating all side issues is that the only true disseminators of, modern ideas and ways aro the missionaries. Tho traders do not do this, and tho officials only do it to a limited extent. Certainly the Germans aro very good to tho natives, and do tho best they can for them, but tho missionaries must be credited with being tho class thatj is introducing ethical ideas and education to tho natives. Of course, it may bb argued with some force that this is unwise, for wo aro expecting the natives to bridge a gap of a thousand years or more-of culture, and it is problematical whether it can bo done without rapid deterioration. Tho missionaries have done a great deal to stop, cannibalism, war, raids, and atrocities of all kinds, but tho blessings of peace, security, and plenty nse very doubtful ones indceed to the natives of these islands. They are apt to bocomo loafers, and I hold that a nation of loafers is a nation foredoomed to extinction.”.