THE MISSIONARIES NOT TO BLAME.
MRS. J. W. RAGSDALE, wife of the United States Consul at Tien Tsin, a few days ago said:— “It is not so much religion as land-grabbing on the part of the powers that has aroused the ire of the Chinese. The missionaries have been unjustly blamed for the cause of the recent troubles in the great far Eastern empire. They have been used as an entering wedge for commercial development and aggression.” Mrs. Ragsdale has resided in China for some time, and was one of the foreign colony that was besieged in Tien Tsin. Her statement of the case is based upon personal observations, and her opinions, therefore, should have weight. A person may claim to be a missionary, and may pass as such, without being one indeed. The true missionary will not try to represent any earthly kingdom, nor present himself as belonging to any earthly government. He will recognize the value of the governments of earth, and seek to uphold them in their rightful sphere. “The powers that be are ordained of God;” then why should he not seek to sustain and uphold law, order, and government? But while he will do all this, he is wholly engaged in doing the business of his Father in heaven. He will be so intent on that work that he passes by the broils that get men into trouble politically. He recognizes the fact that he is an ambassador from Christ, and to the work of representing His kingdom he gives himself devotedly. The fact that some who claim to be missionaries pay more attention to politics than they do to their appointed work should not obscure the real worker for Christ. And missionaries should not be blamed for what is done by politicians that have the name of being missionaries. It has been the good fortune of nearly every one at some time in his life to meet a missionary that had spent some of his best years in a foreign land, working to advance the knowledge of salvation. Any one who has met one of these true missionaries, regardless of the particular church that he may have belonged to, has found that creeds did not count for much with him, and that politics13did not enter his mind. He was all absorbed in working for Christ. Truly these real missionaries have not made any trouble in China, and the Lord will need them to work there till the end of time. They must not be discouraged or faint-hearted. And, what is better than all, every one of us must hold himself or herself ready to respond to a call to labor there if the Master should indicate it as our privilege and duty.