YOUNG LADY MISSIONARIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5458, 9 January 1896, Page 2

YOUNG LADY MISSIONARIES.

At the time of the missionary massacre in China we took occasion to denounce in vigorous terms the folly which permitted or encouraged young women to enter upon mission work in countries where they were exposed to such dangers. We notice, from recent English papers, that our opinion is shared by many who comment upon the massacres. At a mission meeting held at Darjeeling, in India, Sir Charles Elliott, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, referred to the Chinese massacres and added :— "ls it wise or right for young unmarried ladies to be allowed to go to such out of the way and unprotected places? With men the case is different— they go with their lives in their hands knowing' what is before them, and I am thankful to say that men have never been wanting who wera ready to lay them down for the Cross of Christ, and no one would check or discourage them in so doing. ' They look before and after '■ and are able to consider whether the end is worth the cost. Their wives, too, accompany them, and I am proud to think this is So. They, know something of the dangers before them, and are ready to, run the risks in order to help their husbands with love and sympathy. But what do the poor unmarried girls: know? I believe I shall have your concurrence, and that of all missionaries, who have knowledge of Eastern countries, in discouraging the sending pi girls to lands where they cannot >■ be safe from outrage and indignities and. murder. I regret to learn that this has not been the feeling at the missionary centres in England. Only the other day we heard that a fresh body of missionaries were starting for China, and among them were many unmarried girls. I regret that no constraint was put upon them, and hope my words tonight may reach the ears of those who are most concerned with the admiiustrative work of the Society at Home, and that I shall carry with me in the opinion I have expressed the influence and support of the experienced missionaries who are present. You all know that the Government of India would not hesitate to take the responsibility on itself of forbidding missionaries to enter countries where their lives might.be in danger; and it has taken this step more than once, for political complications cannot be wholly put aside. I sincerely wish thatthe English authorities would follow our example, and do the same in lands like China. lam confident that the re-, marks I have addressed to you will not be interpreted as meant to discourage missionary enterprise ; but I hold that young people should not be allowed to run risks which they do not really understand, or to expose their lives to savage and ferocious outbreaks against which they are unable to defend themselves." There is a wide, safe and congenial field for female missionary enterprise in India, and it is to be hoped that young women desirous of pursuing mission work will turn their attention to that country.

There Was once a prominent man in Chicago who, like all others but there, had a very exalted opinion of his town. He died, and when he reached his eternal home he looked about Mm with surprise, and said to the attendant who had opened the gate for him : " Eeally this does great credit to Chicago. I expected some change in heaven." The attendant eyed the Chicagoan a second, and then observed: " This isn't heaven."