YALE
DIVINITY SCHOOL
LIBRARY

Gift of
Library of Prof. Archer

ERRATA.
Page 98. — "Labors" in title should read
"Laborers."
Page 99.— 4th line line from bottom, "Mal
aria" should read "Cholera."
Page 105. — 19th line, "laziness" should
read "business."
Page 108. — 8th line from bottom, omit the
word "to" and insert a comma ( , ) after
word "self."

COUNSEL TO
NEW MISSIONARIES
From Older Missionaries of the
Presbyterian Church

Published by the
Board of Foreign Missions of the
Presbyterian Church in the U. 8. A.
156 Fifth ATenue, New York City
1905

PREFACE
This is a book not of missionary policy but of
personal counsel. All of its chapters were written
by experienced missionaries. There is some inevi
table duplication, but very little. The various
chapters deal in the main with distinct questions
and represent such a wide range of experience that
even where the same questions are considered, it
is with fresh suggestiveness. Each chapter is
shaped, of course, by the conditions of the field
in which its writer has worked, but this enriches
the value of the whole.
No attempt has been made to present an exhaust
ive book of counsel, but the Board has desired to
place at the disposal of new missionaries some of
the invaluable experience of men and women who
know thoroughly whereof they speak, with the
hope and prayer that the young men and women
now going out to the field may be helped in this
way to be better, happier and more fruitful serv
ants of Jesus Christ our Lord.

CONTENTS
I. The Consciousness of Divine Vocation,
by the Rev. Daniel McGilvary, D. D.,
of Laos  7
k II. The Relation of the Missionary to his
Fellow-workers, by the Rev. J. J. Lucas,
D. D., of India  17
III. Missionaries and the Language, by the
Rev. Calvin W. Mateer, D. D., of China.
 27
IV. The Spirit and Methods of Evangeliza
tion, by the Rev. Hunter Corbett, D. D.,
of China  37
V. Pre-requisites and Principles of Evan
gelization, by the Rev. S. A. Moffett,
D. D., of Korea  60
VI. The Home Life of Missionaries, by Mrs.
Helen S. C. Nevius, of China  76
VII. Some Counsel to Women Teachers, by
Miss Hattie V. Noyes, of China. . . 89
^111. Observations upon Influences affecting
the Health and Efficiency of Mis
sionary Laborers, by George W. Holmes,
M. D., formerly of Persia  98
IX. Medical Advice to New Missionaries, by
W. J. Wanless, M. D., of India. . . . 110
X. Special Medical Counsel to Women Mis
sionaries, by Bertha Caldwell, M. D.,
formerly of India  118
XI. Sundry Practical Suggestions, by the Rev.
H. H. Jessup, D. D„ LL.D., of Syria.
 124

THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF DIVINE
VOCATION
By the' Rev. Daniel McGilvary, D. D., of Laos
<4^0ME words of counsel for our new missiona-
^ vies!" A young man might give them with
confidence. When he has passed his seventy-fifth
year, he will do it with diffidence. Tbe most start
ling chapter would probably be his own blunders
and mistakes, but probably be might bury them.
But all tbe same I will draw as largely from my
own failings and defects as from my successes,
more from my ideals than from past attainments.
But, first of all, let me give you a hearty wel
come, and most sincerely congratulate you on your
choice of your life work.
My first advice would be, like tbe Great Apostle
to the Gentiles, "Magnify your office!"
We shall presume that your choice has been
made after deep heart-searcliings, and earnest
prayer, and against strong temptation to other
lines and fields of work. Such victories, when
gained, are likely to be permanent. They give
stronger assurance of a divine call, You may not
be many years in most fields, before the enemy will
suggest that you missed your calling. Well will
it be for you if, in some desponding moments, you
be not tempted to wonder if, after all, you might
not be doing more good if preaching to your own
people in your own tongue than in spending use-

Counsel to New Missionaries
less years in acquiring an uncouth and difficult
language, to preach doctrines distasteful to those
who do not thank you for coming. No Christian,
much less a Christian missionary, can live on past
experiences, but at times it may be both comfort
able and wise to fall back on them. The victory
will be well nigh gained if you can confidently
assert, as Bishop Thoburn could to his sister, when
tempted not to return to his field in India, "Yes,
I was never more sure of anything than of my call
to India."
You will find, my brother and sister, that it is
a heart experience that you will need to support
you in a life work on a foreign field. You do not
even have the romance of a four months' voyage,
in a small brig, with poor accommodations and a
cross captain, as many of your predecessors had.
True, there are yet to be found some unevangelized
regions where you mav still be many months with
out hearing a word from loved ones at home.
Should you be called to be a pioneer in such fields,
let me assure you that God's gracious promises and
presence will not fail you. But more probably it
will be your lot to work in fields where the novelty
has worn off, to do the humble work of reconciling
husbands and wives, or healing dissensions among
Christians, — a duty, alas! not unknown in Chris
tian lands. I pray you to bear with such weak
nesses, and be not too much discouraged, if needed
among those just emerging from the darkness and
breaking the chains of hereditary weaknesses
entailed by centuries of ignorance and supersti
tion. Some of you are physicians, and you will
not be surprised to find the binding of heathen
wounds and ulcers not less revolting to sensitive
8

Counsel to New Missionaries
natures than Christian wounds. You have already
learned that the Master was sent to heal the broken
limbs as well as the broken-hearted. Only ease the
bodily pains, and you can preach any doctrine you
please to the sufferer.
I see before me young women from refined homes
and surroundings, luxuriously supplied with all that
ministers to taste and comfort. Knowing, as you
cannot yet know, the opening fields and the great
work awaiting you, we bid you a hearty welcome.
You may have your sensibilities tried in visiting,
as I trust you will, among the homes of poverty
and want. You will find, as the Master did before
you, that it was the common people who heard
Him gladly, and that it will be from among them
that your converts will largely come. When Chris
tianity has not yet become popular, you will not
be surprised that not many mighty, not many noble
are called. But I remember that the history of
Christian missions abounds with- numerous exam
ples of many from the highest stations in life,
who have adorned the rank from which tbey came,
by the most self-denying service on foreign fields,
as well as in home lands. The stoop from the
throne above to the manger in tbe stable puts to
shame every other sacrifice possible or conceivable.
And as with tbe Master so with the servants, when
either heaven or home has been left for saving the
lost, what matters it, whether we find them in huts
or in palaces? Witb reverence be it said, even
Christ Himself was never so great as in His lowest
humiliation. "Therefore doth my Father love me,
because I lay down my life for tbe sheep." It is
tbe Lamb that was slain that is worthy of all glory
and honor, dominion and power. The Master was
9

Counsel to New Missionaries
loved for His sacrifice. The servant is honored in
following His steps. And I intensely realize that
no other advice will be of any avail, uuless you
have brought to your calling an exalted idea of
its dignity and responsibility. If you have, not
much more advice will be needed. It can be no per
version of Scripture to exhort you, to give all dili
gence to make your calling and election sure.
It can have none other than a salutary effect on
you, always to remember that you are Christ's
chosen ambassadors to preach unto the nations
the unsearchable riches of Christ, in posts of great
est difficulty, sometimes of danger, always of
responsibility. Of all the foolish attempts ever
made, none so futile as the attempt to overthrow
the kingdom of tbe strong man armed, in his own
stronghold, by any power short of divine. But
he was seen as lightning falling from heaven. The
cross has despoiled principalities and powers, and
made a show of tbem openly. By an eternal decree
in the counsel of eternity, the nations have been
given to the Son for an inheritance and the utter
most parts of tbe earth for a possession. He shall
see of tbe travail of His soul and shall be satisfied.
That is the divine origin, tbe divine authority and
the divine assurance of success in the work in
which the Church is engaged, and in the labor of
which and to the honor of which he is calling you.
So, of all enterprises, yours is the most certain. It
matters not to what race you go, or what its degree
of civilization or degradation. lias not history
wonderfully confirmed the promise? In what race
of people, language or clime has a missionary spent
a devoted life in vain? So long and so surely as
you rely on the word and promise and oath of God,
10

Counsel to N e tv Mission ar i e s
there can be no failure. Anything else will prove
a refuge of straw. I have often wondered what
can sustain a missionary other than tbis eternal
counsel ordered in all things and sure, that Christ
has a people given to Him in every land; that all
that hath been given to Him shall come to Him;
and that him that cometh, He will in no Avise cast
out. Will that assurance cut your nerve or
strengthen it? Work confidently because God
works, because sure of success and sure of a
reward. Nothing could make the external call stronger.
It comes from many more millions of men to-day
than when first beard in Troas. Come over and
help us, from arctic snows and tropical plains. The
inward call is one that you must settle yourself
in your closet witb your open Bible, the Divine
Command, and a lost world before you.
Presuming that you have settled your call, and
that you will continue to give all diligence to make
it sure, and that you have diligently prepared your
self for it, as far as your literary and theological
course can prepare you, may I still insist on one
other preparation above all others? And remem
ber again that you cannot have too much of secular
learning, and never was there a subject to which
it was so well applied as in making tbe cross of
Christ plain even to tbe ignorant savage. Angelic
tongues cannot do it justice. But remember still,
my brother, that however gifted you may be in
speech, bow manifold soever your stores of learn
ing, yet there is one other more important still.
Even the divine Teacher Himself did not enter on
His work till He was baptized with the Holy Ghost.
"For their sakes I sanctify myself, that tbey also
11

C o u n s el to New Missionaries
may be sanctified through the truth." And if a
long service, in tbe work on which you are entering,
gives me any right to offer advice, here you have it
in a nutshell, first, middle and last, Go as the
Master did in the power of the Holy Ghost. And
if I were assured that this one counsel was heeded,
I might go no further. Tbe adversary may not
quail before your logic; he quails before your
prayers when "he sees tbe weakest saint upon bis
knees." He would doubtless say to the godless mis
sionary, "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who
are you?"
In tbe request for this paper some advice drawn
from experience in long-protracted touring was
hinted at. But then circumstances are so varied
in different fields that what would apply to one
would . not be appropriate to another. My expe
rience in tropical forests, over mountains, on ele
phants, or on foot, would be of no service to Brother
Egerton Young, on bis dog-cart sledges, among tbe
Esquimaux of Baffin's Bay or the frozen regions
of arctic snow and ice. But the consecration that
will sustain tbe Moravian missionary in Green
land, will sustain you in Africa, Turkey, China, ,
or Laos. And it is alike needed in all. You know
that it is characteristic of the Saviour's teaching,
that He laid down great principles that are to guide
our lives, as distinguished from Mohammed or
Buddha and all ethical teachers who gave specific
rules ad nauseam. In this He showed bis omnis
cience. Room is left for the application of these
rules, to meet every individual case in every con
dition and station in life. Had He taken a differ
ent course, and descended to particulars, , the field
would have been boundless and the task hopeless.
12

Counsel to N e w Missionaries
But I would like to say a few words on evange
listic tours before closing. Whether taken in boats,
dog-carts, or on elephants, be sure to take them.
Whether your work be in large emporiums, trans
lating tbe Scriptures or teaching, it will be to the
advantage of any one to spend two months of tbe
year in the great country, its towns and villages,
visiting, if possible, in tbe homes of tbe people.
I believe you will return better prepared for any
kind of work. Rusticating will be a? change from
the strain of other work. It may save tbe neces
sity for a home trip.
In large cities you see the conventional man
dressed up as he wishes to appear to one whom he
is waiting to fleece or outwit in a bargain.
Go to tbe country to see nature — man as be is.
There, too, you will hear tbe language and idioms
spoken by tbe great body of the people who must
use your translations. Whether you adopt them
or not, you will be a better translator thereby.
For tbe best work in translating one must be versed
in tbe language both of tbe people and of tbe books.
And, last but not least, in all probability it is there
that you will find most of God's chosen people, his
precious jewels. Jerusalem was tbe capital, but it
was Galilee where our Lord spent most of His time
and from which He gathered most of His disciples.
If you will excuse a personal reference, Cbiengmai,
the Laos capital, is neither a very large nor, com
paratively, a very wicked city, and altogether, in
thirty-seven years, I have spent months and years
in laboring in it. It was necessary labor and, from
some standpoints, not unsuccessful. Yet, of the more
than fifteen hundred baptized members of tbe First
Church I can almost count on the fingers of my two
13

Counsel to New Missionaries
hands the Christians residing in tbe limits of the
city proper. And I would not be surprised if some
of the masters and rulers there have received their
clearest ideas of Christianity from their depend
ents — Christians living in tbe country. Tbey learn
from them what tbe missionary is and what he is
doing, and in tbem see Christianity as I want tbem
to see it in its power over their own people. Said a
governor of a large province once to me: "If all
your Christiaas are like  I would wish all my
people to become Christians."
But no fast rule can be laid down. Fields are
not alike. Tbe qualifications of tbe workers are not
the same. But I believe you will not make a mis
take by spending a portion of your time in the
country villages. Take a small district. Become
interested in tbe people themselves, in their work
and their children. Note the names of those most
interested. Pray for them and repeat tbe visits.
If you have a talent for remembering names and
faces, cultivate it. People like to be recognized
and called by their own names. I have lost a great
deal by not being able to call tbe names of people
that I ought to know. Not indirectly connected
with this is the question of our general bearing to
the natives. In most eastern nations you will be
tempted to regard tbem as your inferiors. But do
not look down upon tbem. "Behold, God is mighty
and despiseth not any." Put yourself in their place
and imagine if you would be willing to be converted
by a man who treated you with contempt. The
lowest races have some traces of the divine image
in tbem yet, and, after all, who hath made us to
differ? And, as Dr Hodge used to tell us, "the

14

Counsel to New Missionaries
difference between two grains of sand is not very
great." But I have already gone beyond my limit, and
must stop. I will simply mention one or two other
points. Dread, above all things, the evils of dis
sensions in your own body. Stations, possibly mis
sions, have been rent asunder or broken up by
dissensions among those who have left their homes
to teach tbe religion of love. You may not find
all your associates always lovely. Be lovely and
loving yourself. It is not always tbe clearest eye
that sees tbe most motes in the brother's eye.
The first year is largely devoted to study, but
not too exclusively. It is a mistake to have nothing
to do beside; ask for some work that you can call
your own. Take a class in the Sabbath or day
school. Begin to pray by learning the Lord's
Prayer ; pronounce the benediction. Do something
in tbe line of work. The longer you put off the
beginning, the harder it will be. Pride will come
in at last. What is to be your demeanor toward
foreigners, people of your own race? Nowhere is
there greater need for sanctified common sense
than on tbe mission field.
In everything, by prayer and supplication, let
your requests be made known unto God.
I will let you find out for yourself the fallacy of
your preconceived idea that it must be very easy
to live a holy life on a mission field. Every condi
tion in life has its temptations. In every one, grace
is an exotic. Experience has shown that a high
degree of consecration may be attained in all. God
is to make all grace abound. That His grace may
be sufficient for you, and that you may be spared
15

Counsel to New Missionaries
to do a great and useful work, is our prayer for
you all.
Study the Word — live the Word — preach the
Word — disseminate the Word, and read Isaiah lv.
10-11 for the result.
May tbe Lord make you to increase and abound
in love one toward another and toward all men.
Broad charity, deep sympathy and love for tbe
people are very essential on mission fields.

16

II
THE RELATION OF THE MISSIONARY TO
HIS FELLOW-WORKERS.
By the Rev. J. J. Lucas, D. D., of India.
rpHE relation of missionaries in the field to one
-1- another is close and intimate. Now and then
two families live in tbe same house, although this
is not usual nor, as a rule, wise. In the same com
pound may be found two or three mission homes,
and thus each looks largely to tbe other for society,
counsel and help. In tbe mission meeting each may
have a vote after tbe first year, and thus decide and
control in a measure tbe work of others. The first
question concerning tbe new missionary on bis
arrival in tbe field is bis station, and out of, per
haps, half a dozen places bis home is fixed for the
year by a majority vote ; and at every annual meet
ing of the mission the needs of a station or au
institution, tbe furlough or death of a missionary,
may force the consideration of a redistribution of
tbe work. It takes only a glance at all tbis to see
how close and delicate is tbe relation of the mem
bers of tbe same mission, and how much need there
is of prudence, tact, wisdom from above, and, bet
ter than all, fervent and unfeigned love one for tbe
other. It is well worth while then to ask how this
union of missionaries in the field may be made most
helpful, each comforting, strengthening and inspir
ing tbe other.
Let us settle in our hearts first of all, that wo
17

Counsel to New Missionaries
have not been thrown into tbis close fellowship
in service by chance. The Lord of the harvest has
brought us together. He has given gifts to each,
as seemed best to Him: one to plant, another to
water, while yet another reaps the long years of
others' labor. Each has his part to do, and each
is needed to fill out that which is lacking in the
other. The Spirit Himself has guided the steps
of each to tbe mission, of which he is now a mem
ber, and given gifts to each for the good of all.
If we train our hearts to think of our fellow-mis
sionaries, as sent by the Spirit to work witb us and
to do a part of it wbicb none other of us can do so
well, we shall have the open eye to recognize and
appreciate his gifts and work. We shall be kept
from thinking lightly of his services, and be ready
more and more to esteem bim better than our
selves. And thus will be born generous respect
for one another. Without this our tone in speak
ing to others may have this note of, "I have no need
of thee," and when that note is detected, as it surely
will be, the heart of our fellow- worker is closed to
us, no matter what our learning, eloquence or zeal.
Our first word then to the missionary joining a
mission circle is, not to cease his bunt until he has
found in each of his fellow-workers some grace or
gift, something lovely and of good report, and to
dwell on these things so constantly that true
respect and hearty appreciation of each shall
spring up in the heart and find expression from
time to time. Then the word spoken in private or
in mission meeting, and tbe vote following, which
may defeat some cherished plan, will leave no sting
and no bitter memory.
How ready the great missionary to the nations
18

Counsel to N e w Missionaries
was to see and praise the things that were lovely
and of good report in his fellow-workers! Epa
phras is tbe "beloved fellow-servant, always striv
ing for you in bis prayers, for I bear bim witness
that he hatb much labor for you and for them in
Laodicea"; Onesimus is "the faithful and beloved
brother"; Onesiphorus "oft refreshed me and was
not ashamed of my chain"; Philemon, "the hearts,
of tbe saints have been refreshed through thee,
brother" ; "Salute Apelles, tbe approved in Christ" ;
"Salute Perses, tbe beloved, which labored in tbe
Lord" ; "Luke, the beloved physician" ; "Take Mark
and bring him witb thee, for be is useful to me
for ministering"; Aristarcbus, Mark, Justus, "my
fellow-workers, men that have been a comfort unto
me." And so Paul bad a word of praise for bis
fellow-missionaries ever ready to break from his
lips and pen. He was ever looking for and longing
to find something lovely and of good report in each
of them, and his search was not in vain. Nor will
it be now. The missionary who keeps in mind that
"God hatb set tbe members each one of them in tbe
body, even as it pleased Him," is not likely to think
lightly of "tbe brother of low degree," nor fail to
see the value of his work, and to give the praise due
bim for it.
In tbe "Life of Rev. Ashbel Green," once presi
dent of Princeton College and also for many years
co-pastor of a large church in Philadelphia, is a
letter from his friend of sixty years, Dr. Samuel
Miller, of Princeton, in wbicb Dr. Miller pays this
tribute to his friend: "There is, perhaps, hardly
anything that puts a man's real spirit to a more
decisive and even severe test than being placed in
tbis relation (viz., tbe associate of other pastors
19

Counsel to New Missionaries
over a large congregation). An ambitious,
encroaching, selfish man can hardly ever sustain
it, without bearing much discomfort himself, and
inflicting quite as much, if not more, upon bis col
leagues. The excellent man of whom I speak, had
large experience of this relation in various forms,
and in every case acquitted himself in a manner
which manifested much amiableness of natural
temper, as well as a large measure of the Christian
spirit. With his first colleague, he served as a son
witb a father ; without jealousy, without rivalship,
and witb the utmost cordiality of affection. With
later colleagues . . . his connection was no
less affectionate and pleasant." Dr. Green himself
tells us how it was that he was enabled to live in
closest association of work witb his colleagues,
"without jealousy, without rivalship and with tbe
utmost cordiality of affection." This is the secret
put on record near tbe close of bis life. "Tbe diffi
culties attending collegiate pastoral charges have
nearly, if not wholly, banished them from tbe Pres
byterian Church. Why is tbis? . . . The
primitive churches, even in the Apostolic age,
appear to have bad more than one pastor.. . . .
For myself I can truly say that of the three col
leagues with whom I have been connected, I never
had a difficulty witb one of tbem. We lived together
in uninterrupted brotherly affection and con
fidence. Let no pious minister consent to be tbe
colleague of a man whose piety he thinks very ques
tionable. But witb one of whose personal religion
be has no doubt, let bim make an agreement that
each shall pray earnestly for the other in tbe daily
prayers that be offers for himself, and that each
shall defend bis colleague's character, as if it were
20

Counsel to N e w Missionaries
bis own, and there will be between such men very
little danger of alienation. To tbis practice and
under the blessing of God, and not to my own pru
dence or good nature, I attribute my happiness in
the several collegiate charges that I have sus
tained." If the missionaries of the same station
or missionwlll put into practice tbis rule of Dr.
Green, praying daily by name for each other,
defending each tbe good name of tbe other as bis
owuf then will be smitten to death, in the presence
tbe Lord, not a few of the common causes of
leart-burning and alienation. It is a simple rule.
Try it. Every missionary who has tried it faith
fully for years, will bear witness how it has many
a time saved him from hot words and foolish
actions. Tbis seems to have been Paul's rule. He
tells Timothy, "How unceasing is my remembrance
of thee in my supplications, night and day." He
tells Philemon, "I thank my God, always making
mention of thee in my prayers." He tells tbe
Philippian bishops and deacons, "I thank my God
upon all my remembrance of you, always in every
supplication of mine on behalf of you all, making
my supplication witb joy."
Within a year or two of bis arrival in the field,
the missionary is given a vote, and by a vote of tbe
mission nearly every question is settled. Tbis puts
power into his hands, and because of personal ties
often causes painful and perplexing questions. Is
there any principle to guide in tbe use of tbis
power? Yes, in everything put first the interests
of Christ. Whatever action seems best for the
upbuilding of His Church and work, give voice and
vote for that. Personal affection, family ties, old
and sacred friendships — these are things which
21

Counsel to New Missionaries
have tbe sanction of nature and Scripture alike.
They have their place and use. Tbe Master Him
self bad His three beloved disciples to whom He
gave an access and intimacy not given to tbe other
apostles. Peter and John worked together rather
than Peter and Andrew, though they were brothers.
All tbis freely granted, there yet remains tbe fear
that these affinities may now and then lead to
action wbicb is not for tbe upbuilding of Christ's
Cburcb and tbe highest interests of His work, and
bence tbe need of constantly being on guard, lest
they incline us to put personal friendship above the
interests of tbe work. We read that tbe contention
between Paul and Barnabas over tbe question of
taking John Mark witb tbem on a missionary tour
was so sharp that tbey parted asunder, the long
friendship with Barnabas broken by Paul, rather
than yield to tbe very natural desire of Barnabas
to take bis nephew with bim. If Paul thought that
Mark would be a hindrance rather than a help in
the difficult work before tbem, he was right in not
listening to the appeal wbicb tbe friendship of
Barnabas made to him. And the missionary to-day
may not be long in tbe field before be is called on
to face just some such question as that which
divided Paul and Barnabas. For such an emer
gency be will need courage, humility and love, and
that in equal proportions: courage to stand for
what seems to bim for the highest interests of tbe
work,, even at tbe risk of alienating a friend;
humility, lest, after all, he be mistaken, and lest
he fail to pray earnestly and constantly for tbe
guidance of tbe Holy Spirit; and tbe love which
dotb not behave itself unseemly, seeketb not its
own, and is not provoked. Again and again a bless-
22

Counsel to New Missionaries
ing is forfeited by failure to make a prayerful effort
to be of one mind witb our fellow-workers. Such
an effort would often bring a richer blessing than
days spent at a convention for deepening the spir
itual life, full of blessing as such days have often
proved. How suggestive tbe words of tbe Apostle
Peter, setting forth one of the ways in which we
may "inherit a blessing." "Finally, be ye like-
minded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tender
hearted, bumble-minded: not rendering evil for
evil, or reviling for reviling, but, contrariwise,
blessing; for. hereunto were ye called, that ye
should inherit a blessing."
Some years ago a young missionary, a few weeks
after bis arrival among bis brethren on tbe field,
wrote back to friends that tbe spiritual state of
tbe missionaries was very unsatisfactory. And yet,
some who had long been in tbe field were giving
thanks at what seemed to tbem the working of tbe
Spirit of God in tbe hearts of the missionaries in
such measure as they had rarely experienced or
observed. The life bid with Christ has many ways
of showing itself. If tbe manifestations of tbe
Spirit in tbe foreign field are not just those we are
accustomed to in the circle where we have hitherto
moved, let us not infer that tbe Spirit is not work
ing. "There are diversities of workings." The
young missionary who condemned as barren every
preacher who could not show converts, forgot that
the refusal to baptize sometimes shows a far deeper
life than tbe ambition to report a large number
of baptisms. He forgot, too, that it is still true
that "one soweth and another reapetb." George
Bowen preached in tbe streets of Bombay for forty
years and everywhere he could get a heaning, and
23

Counsel to New Missionaries
yet, at last bad to say witb his Master, "Lord, who
bath believed our report?" John xii: 38.
May we add a word on tbe relation of tbe young
missionary to bis fellow-workers from tbe people of
tbe country? Do not learn to call tbem or think of
tbem as "natives." Although it is not so meant
by many who use it, yet tbe word has so often a
slight ring of contempt in it that it is better not
to learn to use it, lest, at tbe wrong time, it slip
from tbe lips and bar tbe entrance of our message
to tbe heart. Try to put yourself in the place of
the "native brother" and ask, Would you like to
be called a "native" by members of tbe ruling race?
The English language is not so poor that it will
not furnish equivalent terms, in most cases. Tbis
is a little matter, but tbe use of the word has often
grated on sensitive ears and closed tbem to tbe
speaker. It is resented at heart by the Christian
community, and that is enough of itself to con
demn it.
A young missionary once addressed tbe late Rev.
Ram Chandra Bose as "Ram Chandra." There
was no intention to slight Mr. Bose, and so no
notice was taken of it. Moreover, Mr. Bose was
too great a man to condescend to notice such a
slight, even bad it been intended.
Tbe same courtesy we show to fellow-missiona
ries should be shown to fellow-workers of the coun
try, and failure in this has largely brought to
nought tbe eloquence of more than one evangelist.
Not long ago in a vernacular paper was a letter
from a Christian worker telling of a long journey
and arrival at a mission bouse in tbe early morning.
Had it been a brother missionary a cup of tea
would have been offered, but, for some reason, it
24

Counsel to New Missionaries
was forgotten in this case, and the missionary let
this fellow-worker go away witb a heart so ruffled
by tbis neglect, that it tried to find relief in a letter
to the paper. Not so would Paul have treated
Timothy, bis Eurasian fellow-worker.
Henry Drummond has said that "tbe greatest
thing in tbe world is love." It is certainly tbe
greatest thing in dealing witb our fellow-workers,
whether of our own nationality or another. Years
ago a young missionary at the end of tbe first year
in the field broke down and had to leave tbe coun
try, never to return. Tbe law of love so ruled tbe
tongue of that young missionary that it was never
beard to speak a word against a fellow-worker,
and the influence of that example is felt and is
bearing fruit to this day in that mission.
The sum of it all is tbis : Whether your fellow-
laborer be of your own nation or another, receive
bim as sent of God to work with you, respect bim
and show it, giving it expression now and then
through pen or tongue, remember bim in your
prayers day by day, defend bis good name as your
own, in lowliness of mind esteem him better than
yourself, value highly bis friendship, but when tbe
choice must be made between that and the interests
of tbe work, with courage and humility withstand
bim, saying ever to yourself, until it is burnt into
your heart as your greatest need, to be sought
unceasingly and witb prayer, from the beginning
to the end of your missionary life^—
"Love suffereth long, and is kind;
-•Love envieth not;
Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up;
Doth not behave itself unseemly;
25

Counsel to N e to M i s s i o n a r i c s
Seeketb not her own;
Is not easily provoked; \
Thinketb no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in tbe truth ;
Bearetb all things, believetb all things, hopeth all
things, endureth all things."

26

Ill
MISSIONARIES AND THE LANGUAGE
By the Rev. Calvin W. Mateer, D. D., of China
rkNE of tbe tasks, and to many one of tbe trials,
" of missionary life is tbe learning of a new,
and often a difficult, language. So far as the mes
sage of the gospel is concerned, the tongue is tied
until tbe language is learned. I set it down as a
first principle that every missionary should go out
witb a distinct and fixed determination to learn
tbe language, and to learn it well. Let there be no
shrinking from it, no aversion to it, no half meas
ures witb it. Laxity of purpose in this matter is
unworthy of any one who is called to be a mis
sionary. When I bear a young missionary, after
a few years or months on the field, saying, "I bate
tbis language; who can learn such outlandish gib
berish as tbis?" my opinion of bis fitness for the
work at once suffers a heavy discount. Every
young missionary should consider it his or ber
special business to fall in love with the language
as quickly as possible.
EVERY MISSIONARY CAN LEARN THE LANGUAGE.
Some languages are harder to learn than others ;
but anyone who is deemed worthy to be a mis
sionary, can, if be sets himself steadfastly to tbe
task, learn any language in tbe world. Many are
unnecessarily appalled at tbe thought of learning
to speak a foreign language. Tbey have dug at
27

Counsel to New Mission a ric s
Latin and Greek with grammar and dictionary,
until tbey have gotten tbe idea that it is a wonder
ful feat to learn a new language so as to speak it,
quite forgetting that tbe Greek and Roman chil
dren learned to speak their language as easily and
glibly as possible, without either grammar or dic
tionary. No doubt a good memory is a great
advantage, but an ordinary memory witb a steady
purpose is quite equal to tbe occasion. A faint
heart courts failure. A vigorous and determined
effort always brings success.
Not only learn the language, but learn it well.
No other thought should be entertained for a
moment by either man or woman. Other things
being equal, a missionary's success will be in direct
proportion to bis skill in handling tbe language.
There is no excuse for half measures. It is nothing
less than a shame for a missionary to stammer bis
way through life, exciting by turns tbe ridicule
and disgust of his bearers. Such talking and
preaching is not only a shame, but it is an enor
mous waste of time and force, as well as a serious
handicap to the message itself. He whose knowl
edge of tbe language is inadequate, has to resort
to continual circumlocutions and awkward make
shifts in order to express bis ideas at all; and when
at last the shot is discharged, it is often little bet
ter than a spent ball. The heathen are none too
eager to hear, so that the man who halts and blun
ders in his use of the language will be unable to
bold his- audience or impress his message. He
who commands the resources of the language will
say the same things in one-fourth of the time, and
say them far more effectively.
If a man is to live and preach and teach for a
28

Counsel to N e tv M i s s.i o n a r i e s
score or two of years, it is a wise economy for him
to spend an extra year at tbe start studying the
language, by which he will ultimately save tbe
equivalent of several years of time, to say nothing
of gaining a very great addition of power in deliv
ering bis message. Some men, eager to begin their
real work, take to preaching on a very slender
stock of words; and finding the work less irksome
and more to their taste than digging at the lan
guage, they neglect their studies, and step by step
they fall into tbe habit of doing business on a very
small capital. They go on grinding the same grist
of words over and over again for all customers,
and so, without realizing it, go laboring through
their lives at an immense disadvantage for want of
an adequate command of tbe language. Others
allow themselves to be drawn aside from tbe study
of tbe language by secularities, such as house
building, housekeeping, accounts, etc., which
break up their habits of study, and tbey presently
lose their taste for the language, and before long
grow content witb their meager vocabulary and
their makeshift manner of speech.
A special word needs to be said witb regard to
ladies. Other things being equal, they generally
at tbe start learn tbe language with greater facility
than men. What tbey need is the ambition and the
perseverance to keep on. Married ladies are, of
course, more or less handicapped with household
cares, and by and by witb children; nevertheless,
witb reasonable health, it is quite practicable for
tbem to learn tbe language, and learn it well.
Many have done conspicuously well in this regard,
not always those who have bad the best opportuni
ties, or tbe highest gifts, but always those who had
29

Counsel to New Missionaries
a high sense of their duty in this regard, and who
bad a mind to succeed. In most heathen lands
domestic service is plentiful and cheap, so that
ladies may generally be relieved of much of the
work of housekeeping, though not, of course, of its
cares. Every woman who marries a missionary
ought to do it with the distinct purpose that she
is going to be a missionary herself. She is gen
erally so regarded and so called, and she ought to
fulfil ber calling, which she cannot do without the.
language. I once examined a young wife with her
husband after six months at the language. I was
much impressed, and a little amused, at tbe set
determination of tbe lady not to fall a whit below
her husband. Nor did her after-life fall below the
start she made. In an experience of nearly forty
years, I have occasionally seen missionary wives
grow somewhat discontented, and all too willing
to go home and remain there, but I never saw one
such who had learned the language, and put her
hand to mission work.
HOW TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE.
Vicious or inadequate ideas on tbis subject do
much barm, and account for many inefficient lives.
A few hints on the subject will not be amiss.
1. Make the learning of tbe language your sole
business until such time as you have a "working
knowledge of it. Put away for the time your Greek
and Hebrew and theology and history and novels
and magazine stories, and then, morning, noon and
night, give yourself to the business of memorizing
tbe words and phrases of the new language, saying
to all intruders, "Tbis one thing I do— I press
toward tbe mark" of talking and reading tbis lan-
30

Counsel to N e tv M i s s i o n a r i e s
guage. By so doing, your memory will not be dis
tracted by the intrusion of other things. You will
soon become interested in your work, and your
mind will presently catch tbe glow of a new enthu
siasm. This will make tbe work easy and pleasant.
You will come to it each day like a hungry child
to its dinner. When I see a missionary only giving
bis forenoons to tbe language, devoting the rest
of the day to English studies and general reading,
I expect in a few months to hear bim complaining
that tbe language is dry and uninteresting, that
he forgets it as fast as be learns it, etc. Such symp
toms, once seated, generally grow worse, tbe result
being that tbe language is never properly learned.
Those who do not learn it at first, generally do not
learn it at all. You need not be alarmed about
giving your whole strength for a year or eighteen
months to tbe language. When you have a good
working knowledge of it, it will be time enough to
look around and see whether or not you have for
gotten everything else.
In behalf of physicians, a special word needs to
be said. They are often robbed of tbe proper oppor
tunity to learn the language, by the too early prac
tice of their profession. Every medical missionary
should claim, and his colleagues should accord him,
full opportunity to learn the language. Prac
tically, be needs to know it quite as well as bis
clerical brother, in both its spoken and written
forms. On the mission field, preaching loses its
technical character. Every missionary, male and
female, is a preacher. Doctors should also preach,
and if they do not get the language well enough for
this purpose, their career is generally short.
2. Practice what you learn, or rather learn by
31

Counsel to New M i s s i o n a r i e s
practicing. Lesson books and dictionaries are a
very important help, but they are also dangerous,
in that tbey tend to draw you too much away from
your teacher, tbe living exemplar of the language.
Tbe words you learn each day, use in talking to
your teacher, asking and answering questions to
the full extent of your vocabulary. Teachers of
heathen languages are not generally teachers at
all. They are simply animated sticks. It is your
business to train your teacher as well as possible,
and to extract from bim all you can get. Insist on
bis always correcting your mistakes, and then do
-not get either vexed or discouraged when he does
bis duty. Out of study hours, every man, woman
or child you meet will give you an opportunity to
practice what you know. If tbe opportunity does
not come of itself, seek it. Do not be afraid to try.
Never stop for mistakes. A child learns to walk
only after innumerable falls. Practice loosens tbe
tongue, confirms the memory, and gives zest to tbe
process of acquiring. He who confines himself to
a lesson book will learn the language both slowly
and laboriously.
3. Take pains to acquire tbe art of hearing and
discriminating new sounds. Many of the languages
of tbe heathen world contain sounds and combina
tions not known to the English language. It is
very important to learn to speak without a dis
agreeable foreign brogue that will hinder a perfect
understanding of what is said, and prejudice the
hearer's disposition to listen. The ear must be
trained by careful and oft-repeated listening, until
every sound can be distinguished and analyzed.
A somewhat extended experience leads me to the
conclusion that in cases of incorrect rendering of
32

Counsel to N e tv M i s s i o n a

/• i e s

tbe sounds the fault does not lie in any disability
to produce tbe sound, but in tbe failure to bear it
correctly. A sound once properly heard will soon
be produced by tbe voice. Careless listening,
together witb tbe underlying false assumption that
every possible sound must, of course, exist in tbe
English language, account for most of the faulty
pronunciation of foreign languages. It need hardly
be added that a clean-cut and not too rapid enun
ciation is of prime importance.
4. Cultivate the art and the habit of catching
up new words. It is one thing to acquire what is
called a working knowledge of a language, and
quite another thing to know it well ; that is, to com
mand its resources, so as to use it fluently and effec
tively. To achieve tbis latter power, at least in
the case of cultivated languages, requires prolonged
effort. When you hear a native speaking, keep
your ears open to catch any new words and phrases
you hear bim use. If not fully apprehended, note
them down, and take tbe first opportunity to inves
tigate, and so fix them in your memory. For this
purpose, a pocket note-book is invaluable. This
process will rapidly enlarge your stock of words,
while it will make tbe acquisition easy and pleas
urable. Tbe neglect of this principle accounts for
tbe narrow round of words that many missionaries
are able to command. I once called the attention
of a brother missionary of over twenty-five years'
experience to a certain phrase used by a native
preacher in our bearing. He expressed bis satis
faction at getting the phrase, adding, however, that
be bad never beard anyone use it before. It is
safe to say that it had been used in bis hearing
many hundreds of times, yet be bad never heard
33

Counsel to New Missionaries
it! When a missionary reaches such a stage as
this, his progress in the language is at an end. He
will remain a dwarf.
HOW TO USE THE LANGUAGE.
Three lines of activity open before tbe clerical
missionary : preaching, teaching and tbe making of
books. Which shall engross his time, or what pro
portion shall be given to each, is an all-important
question. Beyond controversy, preaching is tbe
prime business of the missionary. Here all should
begin, and while some may by and by teach or make
books, none should ever cease to preach as cir
cumstances may permit. For preaching, the spoken
language is the prime requisite, and its acquisition
should be tbe first ambition of every missionary.
No amount of book learning can take its place,
or justify a missionary in neglecting it. In many
non-Christian countries the written language is
more or less different from tbe spoken, and in some
cases tbe two are quite distinct. In such countries
there is occasionally a danger that men will waste
time in trying to reach a high style of speaking,
such as literary men affect and admire. Very few
foreigners are able to achieve tbis end, and in tbe
attempt, often lose more than they gain. Tbey
sboot over tbe beads of the mass of their bearers,
and so fail to make tbe gospel message effective.
It is quite possible to speak fluently and accurately,
without any parade of high-sounding classical
elegance. A greater danger, perhaps, lies in an opposite
direction; namely, preaching in>a slovenly and
uninteresting way. The missionary falls into this
serious and all too common fault, from underesti-
34

Counsel to N e to Missionaries
mating the intelligence of his hearers and the high
responsibilities of his office. He should never allow
the pressure of other things, or a low estimate of
tbe capacity of his hearers, or reliance on bis ability
to extemporize some pious talk that will meet the
occasion, to serve as an excuse for indifferent prep
aration, especially when he preaches to Christian
hearers. In missionary life, preaching means more
than formal discourse in a church or chapel. It
means telling the story of tbe gospel to all bearers,
on all occasions, to men, to women, and to children,
at home and by the wayside. For tbis purpose,
there is nothing, aside from the love of Christ in
tbe heart, that is so effective as a fluent and natural
use of the language.
Tbis is not tbe place to discuss tbe relative claims
of preaching, teaching and book-making. Suffice
it to say that some should, no doubt, teach, and
some make books; — who should do so, must be
determined by the conditions of work, and the
talents and tastes of the individual. All are not
called to the same work. Each has bis special gift.
It is a great thing for a man to be able to estimate
himself for just what he is worth. A few fail to
achieve, because tbey think tbey cannot, when, in
fact, tbey could; but many more fail because tbey
think they could, when, in fact, tbey cannot. Every
missionary should study tbe situation that con
fronts him, and, if possible, get himself into tbe
right place. On tbis depends his highest success.
Making books is a very important branch of mis
sionary effort, which I would by no means depre
ciate; but he who would undertake it should be
sure of bis call, and should not begin too soon.
There is a temptation to forego active evangelistic
35

Counsel to New M i s s i o n a r i c s
work for tbe less laborious and, perhaps, more con
genial work of sitting in a study translating, or
studying tbe literature of tbe language. Much
precious time is sometimes wasted in tbis way,
especially in the earlier stages of a man's lifej
before he is quite able to weigh himself against
bis work. It is a rare thing indeed that a mis
sionary should undertake writing or translating
a book inside of flve years, and then be should be
supported by the advice and approval of bis older
associates. Translating in a tentative way is some
times resorted to as a means of learning tbe lan
guage, but, in general, it is not good policy. The
beginner is certain to use many foreign idioms,
and there is great danger that they will afterward
adhere to bim to tbe permanent injury of bis style.
Tbe above ideas, in tbe way of assistance and
advice to a new or prospective missionary, are tbe
outcome of well nigb forty years' experience in
nearly every branch of missionary work. More
might easily be said, but tbis is as much as, perhaps
more than tbe missionaries just entering tbe
field will be able to understand and appreciate.
The place to learn the full lesson is on the field, in
the midst of tbe varied experiences that tbe work
itself brings.

36

IV
THE SPIRIT. AND METHODS OF
E VANG ELIZA TION.
By the Rev. Hunter Corbett, D: D., of China.
rpHE supreme aim of every missionary should
A be to preach Christ so that every one must
hear, and that souls will be won for Christ and
believers established in the faith.
"Do the work of an evangelist," testifying to
everyone "repentance toward God and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ," should be ever
beard as God's voice from heaven, constraining
everyone to labor with untiring zeal, in the con
fident hope that by tbe blessing of God the entire
land will be soon filled with self-propagating and
self-governing Christian churches.
"Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves," is tbe
first imperative duty. Every missionary should
be ruled by an unchanging purpose to live in close
and constant fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ,
and, if it be possible, "live peaceably with all men."
"The people that do know their God will be strong
and do exploits." They will ever have a growing
desire to know more of Christ, "the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings."
The life Jesus lived on earth will be a subject of
constant study and meditation. "It came to pass
that Jesus also being baptized and praying, tbe
heaven was opened and tbe Holy Ghost descended
in bodily shape upon Him." Is not tbe lesson here
37

Counsel to N r iv M i s s i o n a r i e s
taught that tbe Holy Spirit is given in answer to
prayer, and that all workers in the Master's vine
yard must from first to last "be filled with tbe
Spirit"? Tbe Holy Spirit is represented as tbe
quickener, tbe enligbtener, the comforter, tbe
guide, the helper and the life of every true believer.
Might not the Holy Spirit uuite with Jesus in
uttering the words never to be forgotten, "Without
me ye can do nothing"?
With joy every earnest worker will delight to
study bow Jesus prayed, when on earth went about
doing good, preached, healed, entreated, warned
and constrained all to listen, so that "tbe common
people heard Him gladly." "Never man spake like
this man" was given as a sufficient reason for
disobeying the command to arrest Jesus.
Constant meditation on these things will unques
tionably fill the mind with high ideals, and exert
a powerful influence over tbe heart and life, and
compel us, as it did Paul, to say, "I press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus," and aid in "bringing into captivity
every thought to tbe obedience of Christ."
After Jesus, the command is, "Take those who
have spoken in the name of tbe Lord for an example
of suffering, affliction and patience." Living in
daily fellowship, not only with Jesus, but witb the
prophets, apostles and others, of whom the world
was not worthy, should by tbe blessing of God fill
the heart with enthusiastic hopes, unquenchable
zeal, undaunted courage, tireless energy, persist
ence and every noble quality which will make work
men "that need not to be ashamed, rightly divid
ing the word of truth." Such will strive to imitate
the apostles in tbe resolve, "But we will give our-
38

Counsel to New M i s s i o n ar i e s
selves continually to prayer and to the ministry
of the word." Men of prayer are men of power.
They will give their whole hearts to the main mat
ters of life, and not suffer their energies to be
dissipated by even so good and praiseworthy
objects as distributing alms to the widows and
other good and innocent things urgently claiming
attention. No one has physical and mental strength to do
well everything he might wish to do, nor does God
hold any one responsible for the work committed
to the entire Church. God surely expects each one
to ponder tbe truth, "He that is faithful in that
which is least is faithful also in much."
Every missionary should resolve to give self-
denying, hard and persistent study in learning well
the languages and everything that will give him
influence and power. Not only during the early
years of missionary life but to the end of life he
should be always learning. Failure to start right
may handicap throughout all coming years, and
diminish the success and joy which might have
been. THE MISSIONARY AT WORK
Jesus said unto Simon and Andrew, "Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men." The skilful
fisherman goes where the fish are found; studies
their habits, and adopts tbe best methods of
speedily capturing as many as possible. Missiona
ries are called to fish for men that tbey may be
saved. One method which God has blessed in
preaching to the heathen has been work in the street
chapel, as distinct from the church building where
Sabbath services witb tbe Christians are held. To
39

G o it n s el to N c 10 M i s s i o n a r i c s
be able daily to secure an audience is a matter of
great importance. An attractive building in a
good location is a requisite of no secondary impor
tance. The chapel should be well lighted, well ven
tilated and comfortably seated. The walls should
be adorned with scripture texts, printed in large
type. In some cities a museum and reading-room,
connected witb tbe chapel, have helped to attract
multitudes, and secure a large daily attendance
from year to year. The entrance should be only
through the chapel where all are seated for a time
to rest and listen to preaching before tbe doors are
opened into the inner rooms. To secure and be able
to hold the attention of people untrained to listen
to public speaking requires special training, tact
and power of adaptation. To speak so as to com
pel the dullest intellect to understand requires a
wide and varied vocabulary, clear articulation,
forcible utterance, and the skill to use apt illus
trations. Love, sympathy, good cheer and hopeful
ness should overflow like an unfailing fountain.
Each hearer should be made to feel that tbe gospel
message is for him and opens a door of hope.
The value of a thorough knowledge of the people,
their religious beliefs, hopes, fears and environ
ments cannot be overrated. Not only should the
missionary know tbe peojile but should use every
right effort to make the people understand him
and to convince them that he is their true friend,
able to sympathize witb tbem in their trials, bur
dens and all of life's sorrows.
Without this mutual understanding there is dan
ger of sealing hearts which otherwise might have
been opened to heed and receive tbe truth. So long
as tbe people are suspicious of our motives, despise,
40

C o it n s e I to N e to M i s s i o n a r i e s
hate and revile us, their ears are closed to the gos
pel we preach.
On the day of Pentecost tbe apostles "were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak
with other tongues, as tbe Spirit gave them utter
ance." Does not every missionary need the Holy
Spirit's constant help, and unite witb Paul in
request for prayer "that utterance may be given
unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make
known the mystery of the gospel"?
A very great and easily besetting danger which
every missionary should prayerfully and carefully
guard against in chapel and outdoor preaching is
preaching practically the same sermon day after
day and to tbe end of life. The constantly changing
audience and manifold duties always pressing,
making new preparation very difficult, is not a
valid reason for lack of constant preparation.
Freshness, variety and new and growing power
can only come from intellectual effort, careful,
prayerful and diligent study. Without tbis the
speaker does an irreparable wrong to himself, and
robs his audience of the freshness, variety and
charm which are their due, and which should be
expected from all who are called to be "ambassa
dors for Christ."
The missionary should be like the householder
"who bringetb forth out of his treasure things new

*&

and old." God said to Jonah, "Rise, go unto Nine
veh, that great city, and preach unto it the preach
ing that I bid thee." Should not the missionary
daily ask and expect from God tbe message that
God will bless? "A word fitly spoken is like apples
of gold in pictures of silver."
"Tbe preacher sought to find out acceptable
41

Counsel to N e w M i s s i o n a r i e s
words." Words of wisdom do not come sponta
neously to tbe ordinary person, but only to those
who search as for bid treasures. Every sermon the
missionary prepares should first nourish bis own
soul and give him clearer views of God and duty
and the needs of men. All should guard against un-
waranted applications of Scripture and the temp
tation to rely upon spontaneousness and inspira
tion. "Take no thought how or what ye shall speak :
for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall
speak. For it is not ye that speak, but tbe Spirit
of your Father wbicb speaketb in you." I cannot,
for a moment, believe that our Saviour meant by
this that men are warranted in going into tbe pul
pit to speak for God and plead with men in Christ's
stead to be reconciled to God "without, first by
earnest prayer and study, making the best prepara
tion possible." God commanded the children of
Israel "that tbey bring pure olive oil, beaten for
the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually."
Surely the Lord desires, and is worthy of, tbe very
best we are able to give. It is true He does not
need our learning, much less does He need our
ignorance. Certain fundamental truths must be constantly
kept before tbe people, and illustrated and empha
sized with all the power God has given us. There
is only one living and true God who hates sin and
loves righteousness.
Jesus Christ, tbe only mediator between God
and man, came into the world and died to save
sinners; rose again; is seated at God's right hand,
and is able to save unto the uttermost all who .conie
unto God through Him. He invites whosoever will
to come. Tbe universality and exceeding sinful -
42

C o u n s c I to N e to Missionaries
ness of sin and man's utter helplessness, except bj
faith and trust in tbe Lord Jesus Christ.
The duty of prompt and whole-hearted obedience
to all of God's commands, which were given to be
obeyed and not disputed nor disregarded,
The assurance that God is our heavenly Father
and "like as a father pitieth bis children, so the
Lord pitieth them that fear Him" ; that "the mercy
of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon
them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto
children's children."
"How shall we escape if we neglect so great
salvation?" The above are truths that not only the heathen
but also professing Christians imperatively need to
hear and to keep in constant remembrance. There
must be line upon line and precept upon precept
so lovingly and earnestly pressed upon every bearer
that whether we are to tbem the "savour of death
unto death" or the "savour of life unto life," we
shall be "pure from the blood of all men." All
should be made to feel that the missionary believes
witb tbe whole heart the truth be preaches, and
therefore cannot but warn and endeavor to per
suade everyone without delay to yield the heart to
Jesus as the only possible hope.
My earnest conviction is that tbe cherished
beliefs and religious rites and ceremonies which
for generations all have been trained to regard as
sacred should be treated witb the deepest respect.
Tbe habit of making the audience laugh by ridicu
ling tbe worship of idols, ancestors and whatever
have for generations moulded and swayed tbe lives
of millions I regard as a fearful mistake and posi
tively injurious. "There is a time to laugh," but
43

Counsel to N e to M i s s i o n a, r i e s
religious convictions instilled from infancy are too
deep and serious for laughter.
Tbe missionary must "learn to put himself in tbe
place of his bearers" and see from their viewpoint.
Learn to admire and appreciate whatever is good
and praiseworthy. There is nothing like tbe rising
sun to dispel mist and darkness. Is not tbe faith
ful, earnest and persistent preaching of the gospel,
enforced by a consistent and Christ-like life, tbe
divinely appointed means for the fulfilment of the
glorious promise, "The Gentiles shall come to thy
light and kings to the brightness of thy rising";
"And I, if I be lifted up from tbe earth, will draw
all men unto me"?
When tbe gospel is fully and faithfully preached,
with entire dependence on the Holy Spirit, whose
office it is to "convince of sin, of righteousness and
of judgment," "commending ourselves to every
man's conscience in tbe sight of God," fully believ
ing that the Gospel is "tbe power of God unto sal
vation to every one that believetb," and that "it
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe," surely we have a right to
claim and expect God's blessing, and that He will
use our message in awakening sinners and building
up believers in the faith.
No audience should be expected to derive great
profit from listening to a complete outline of Bible
truth in a single discourse. Every sermon should
aim to lodge a few vital truths in every heart.
Short, clear, crisp and carefully prepared sermons,
in language that all can understand, are what the
people imperatively need.
Every sermon should come from a loving and
sympathetic heart and be preached with an over-
44

Counsel to New M i s s i o n a r i e s
powering earnestness that will compel thought and
tbe conviction that the truth vitally concerns every
individual and requires immediate attention.
Every sermon should be all aglow with the love
of God "who will have all men to be saved."
Tbe conviction should ever abide witb the
preacher that probably many in the audience are
hearing for tbe first time of salvation through faitb
in the Lord Jesus Christ and, possibly, may never
have another opportunity to hear tbe Gospel
preached. This feeling of fearful responsibility
will compel us to "gird up tbe loins of our mind,
be sober," and make rambling and long, wordy
discourses an impossibility.
All should cultivate the habit not only of think
ing clearly and speaking so as to compel attention,
but of being able at any moment to ask vital ques
tions, compelling all to think and making it most
difficult for anyone to sit listless, or for mind or
body to slumber and sleep. Questions properly
asked may call forth answers giving a clue to the
needs and difficulties of the hearers, and an oppor
tunity to give tbe message and instruction most
needed at tbe time. It may be well at intervals to
stop speaking and request tbe people to follow in
a few words of earnest prayer to God for mercy
*and for the Holy Spirit to convince of sin, and
open every heart to believe in Jesus, and resolve
to accept Him as He is offered to all who wish to
be saved.
The singing or repeating of a hymn written on
a large scroll, and requesting all to join, may lodge
in the heart truths that cannot be forgotten. If
possible tbe street chapel should be kept open tbe
entire day and every day. 45

Counsel to N e to Miss i o n a r i e s
In some centres the magic lantern has helped to
fill tbe chapel in tbe evenings with business men,
clerks and laborers who could not attend during
the day.
There should be a room convenient to the chapel
where any who have been awakened or become -
interested can be invited to enter for closer per
sonal work, for further explaining and riveting tbe
truth upon the awakened conscience and for
prayer. Every sermon should be preceded and
followed by earnest prayer, and not only future
but immediate results expected from it. God has
said of His word, "It shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
The command "Compel tbem to come in" has
never been cancelled. "Now is tbe accepted time."
"Say not, there are yet four months and then
cometh harvest; behold I say unto you, lift up
your eyes and look on the fields: for they are
white already to harvest." Is tbis truth fully
realized? There should always be kept a good assortment
of well-written tracts, also portions of scripture;
and used freely, not only in the hope of benefitting
the person who receives them, but of finding en
trance in shops and homes far distant.
Wherever the conditions are favorable for daily
chapel preaching, by the blessing of God faithful
and persistent work there may accomplish much.
1. I know of no better school in which to train
missionaries and native preachers to become wide
awake and forceful speakers and workers; also to
help break down prejudice, win confidence and
influence men. 40

G o u n s el to N e tv M i s s i o u a r i e s
2. It furnishes a grand opportunity to preach
to -many from far and near, who otherwise would
probably never have so favorable an opportunity
to hear.
3. It is a» means of keeping the'truth continually
before tbe people; also of making known the time
and place where tbe Sabbath services are held, and
assuring all who can come, of meeting witb a
hearty welcome.
4. A great help in preparing tbe surrounding
country for itinerating under favorable circum
stances. All who have received courteous and
kindly treatment at tbe chapel will welcome visits
from the missionary and native preachers to their
villages, and will assure their friends and neigh
bors that tbey have no cause to fear, but can safely
and profitably spend a little time in seeing and
hearing for themselves.
5. "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters."
During the wave of excitement which swept over
China after tbe Tientsin massacre, in 1870, a man
living five days' journey in the interior resolved
to visit Cbefoo and learn all he could about for
eigners and their errand to China. One day when
passing tbe chapel on tbe main street, his atten
tion was arrested by the sight of a missionary
preaching in the chapel. He entered, listened for
a time, and received some Christian tracts. When
he returned to his borne, tbe people of his village
assembled on the street in tbe evening to hear his
report. He told of his visit to the chapel and all
that be could remember of having heard about
God and Jesus Christ. He was unable to read,
but gave tbe tracts to a school teacher. Tbis
teacher became so interested that at the close of
47

G o u n s e I to N e iv M i s s i o n tt r i e s
the term he came to Cbefoo as au inquirer. After
months of study be was received into tbe Church,
aud returned to bis home to preach Jesus. That
was the beginning of a work which, notwithstand
ing almost constant persecutions, has Tit the end
of thirty years grown until there are in that and
an adjoining couuty six organized churches, sup
plied with well-educated and faithful pastors,
receiving their support Avbolly or largely from the
churches tbey serve. There are also a number of
Christian schools and members, scattered singly
or in groups, over much territory.
itineration
In beginning a work in a new district where all
are strangers to tbe truth, Barnabas and Paul have
left an example of priceless value.
Traveling from city to city, preaching the Gos
pel in season and out of season, at tbe inns, tea-
shops, on boats, by the wayside at public markets,
to crowds and to individuals, seeking in every way
to disarm prejudice, win confidence, and make
friends especially of men of good reputation and
zealous of good works, — all tbis will soon show
the wisdom and necessity of the Lord's command,
"Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as
doves." It may be wise to make long journeys, remain
ing only a short time at important centres, in
order to get an accurate knowledge of the location
of the cities, towns and villages; the occupations
of the people, their virtues, as well as their defects,
in order to consider the best methods likely to
influence and win the people. Unless there is a
strong force of missionaries and trained helpers
48

Counsel to N e to Mission a r i e s
to divide tbe field and begin active work in each
section of it, it may be best for a time to confine
the work to a limited territory, so as to be able
to visit the same places again and again, at short
and regular intervals. Systeinutic, definite and
continuous work should ever be kept in view. The
seed must not only be widely sown, but guarded
like fields enclosed by walls and hedges.
A matter of vital importance is to make friends
in every place of tbe children and youth, and seek
to influence their hearts and lives by the stories of
Christ's love, His life, parables and precious prom
ises. Whoever succeeds in winning tbe children's
hearts has tbe key to tbe parents' hearts.
In one village, where a missionary stopped for
noon, a package of foreign needles distributed
among some little girls playing on tbe street, soon
brought not only the older sisters, but tbe mothers
to the inn, and gave an opportunity to tell them
for tbe first time of Jesus and His love. In another
village, where tbe night was spent, the sending of
a well-printed and beautifully illustrated primer
to a school brought all tbe teachers, pupils and
their parents to the inn, where tbey had an oppor
tunity to hear the glad tidings of salvation. "Feed
my lambs," was tbe commission our risen Lord first
gave to Peter, as though tbis claimed tbe first place
in pastoral and evangelistic work. "Tbe great
man is be who does not lose bis child's heart,"
said Mencius.
When and wherever hearts are opened to receive
the -truth, tbe utmost care must be taken promptly
to lead tbe soul into the light, establish it in the
faith, and guard against its yielding to tbe mani
fold temptations wbicb beset tbe young convert.
49

C o u u s c I to N e 10 M i s s i o n a r i e s
bible and inquiry classes
May be tbe most effective and practical means
of instructing and teaching souls, awakened by
the truth. Care should be taken to arrange for
the classes at a time which will least interfere witb
the daily vocations of the people.
Let all who desire to know Jesus be cordially
invited to come for a month or more as guests to
the class, either at the home of tbe missionary or
in some central station. Let all who are able to
read be put in classes, and assigned special les
sons to study and prejiare to be examined upon.
Those who cannot read must be taught as children
in the kindergarten. All should be kept busy from
morning till night, learning of God and of Jesus
Christ and what is involved in living a Christian
life. Scripture texts should be memorized and all
taught daily to pray and to sing". The evenings
might be profitably spent by each one in turn,
repeating a Bible story, and drawing from it tbe
lessons intended for all. Every one should be con
stantly instructed in the individual responsibility
of every soul to God, and tbe obligation be is
under to faithfully teach each member of bis own
household and, so far as possible, his friends and
neighbors tbe truth be himself has learned.
It may be well to invite those who have fully
accepted the truth and shown themselves able to
teach others to attend yearly advanced classes that
they be trained to become efficient and well-
instructed station leaders, and still -later be quali
fied to bold office when churches are organized.
All who receive persons into tbe Church on a
credible profession of faith, and baptize tbem in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
50

Counsel to New M issionaries
Holy Ghost, should, with all their hearts, strive
to fully obey the Saviour's positive injunction,
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you." To stop with baptism
and committing tbe young converts to the Lord's
care, and leave tbem to struggle and study alone,
perhaps where no church or other Christians are
within reach, is to assume a fearful responsibility.
Every missionary should be a faithful shepherd,
and strive to imitate the Good Shepherd of whom
Isaiah prophesied, "He shall feed His flock like
a shepherd; He shall gather tbe lambs witb His
arm and carry tbem in His bosom." "The care of
all the churches" seemed to be tbe heaviest work of
the great apostle.
Is not one of the lessons taught by tbe sudden
and terrible persecution which swept over North
China in 1900, tbe imperative need of more pas
toral oversight and grounding in scriptural truth?
If all tbe converts had been more fully instructed
in tbe use of the sword of tbe Spirit and daily
prayerful waiting upon God, probably there would
have been fewer to compromise the truth or deny
Jesus when tbe missionaries were massacred or
compelled to flee for their lives.
native evangelists
Soundly converted, trustworthy, earnest Bible
students, in whose hearts there is a quenchless love
for Christ and love for souls, will be found of
priceless value, and enable the faithful missionary
to do a work he never could have done without
them. These men know the language; they understand
their own people ; are able to visit homes and come
51

Counsel to N e 10 M i s s i o n a r i e s
in close touch with many, as tbe most gifted mis
sionary cannot do. Tliey can help, as none others
can, in guarding the Church from unworthy mem
bers. Tbey can go out into the highways and
hedges; search for tbe sick, the aged, tbe helpless,
and "compel them to come" to Jesus, as no others
can. The missionary who has bad the joy and privi
lege of leading men, called of God, to know and
accept of Jesus, and of helping to educate aud
train tbem for effective work, will love them as
Paul loved Timothy and others who shared bis love
and friendship and, under bis direction, were able
to organize churches and ordain pastors and elders.
In assigning the native helpers their special
fields of labor, tbe missionary will, naturally, visit
and be a co-laborer with them whenever possible,
and will try to arrange for their spiritual nourish
ment and growth in grace by assigning special
courses of Bible study to carry on at all times, and
will have all to meet at stated periods, for a few
days or weeks, for tbe special study of God's word,
for prayer and conference and whatever may prom
ise to hasten the coming of Christ's kingdom. His
joy will overflow when tbe churches have reached
the point of self-support and have God-called and
qualified men fitted for tbe pastoral oversight.
education
Christian schools for tbe education of the chil
dren of converts and for others who can be per
suaded to attend, where tbe Bible daily holds au
important place, are a necessity for aggressive and
permanent work. Every missionary who is called
to itinerate and superintend large districts, will
53

G o ti n s e I to N e to M i s s i o n arte s
be compelled to give attention to tbe establishment
and carrying on of Christian schools. If possible,
tbe educational work should be chiefly under tbe
control of men and women who love tbis work;
have ability to teach ; and thoroughly believe in
education as a powerful means of preaching the
Gospel and evangelizing the nations.
Only Christian teachers, established in tbe faith,
able to live consistent lives, and well qualified to
teach, should be employed. Tbey should be taught
how best to instruct, stimulate and encourage every
pupil to make the best possible use of every hour,
and so to train them that, whatever may be their
future calling, Jesus will ever hold the chief place
in their thoughts and be glorified by their lives.
Every school should be well organized. A cur
riculum carefully prepared and followed. The
pupils should be carefully examined on each study
by tbe missionary or some qualified and reliable
man. A careful record should be kept, so that at
a glance tbe standing and conduct of each pupil
can be known. Discipline should be enforced and
tbe school so superintended that tbe teacher,
pupils, parents and everybody will know beyond a
doubt that such schools require faithful and con
stant work from tbe teacher and bard work from
pupils, and that idleness and failure on tbe part
of anyone means dismissal from "the school.
Better have no schools than tbose»wbere no true
and useful education is given, or where habits of in
dustry and energy are not formed. There should be
an unceasing guard against shallowness. Heart-
work in education is a necessity. Parents should,
from first to last, be taught the duty, the privilege
and blessing of each doing bis full duty in con-
53

Counsel to N e to M i s s i o n a r i e s
tributing to tbe support of the school. Help should
only follow and supplement tbe gifts of tbe people
themselves. Every Christian convert should be well
grounded, from the first, in regard to what the
Scriptures teach in giving to the support of the
Gospel. The blessing promised to tbe liberal giver
should not be denied even to those in the deepest
poverty. medical work
Jesus "ordained twelve that they should be with
Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,
and He gave them power to heal sicknesses."
There can be no question as to the importance
and value of medical work as a powerful evan
gelizing agency.
The wards of a hospital certainly give a grand
opportunity for direct personal dealing with pre
cious souls. This work itself is a form of preach
ing that every individual, however ignorant or
superstitious, can understand and appreciate. It
is a visible exemplification of love, tbe greatest
power in the world.
In tbe year 1871 it was my great privilege to
spend some time with the late Dr. J. G. Kerr at
Canton, and witness his method of work.
On dispensing days all who came for treatment
first entered the chapel and were seated in tbe
order of arrival. Evangelists took turns in preach
ing, telling of the great physician of souls, and
pressing the truth upon every hearer. When the
hour arrived to open the dispensary, ten persons
at a time, in the order in which they arrived, were
allowed to pass through a side-door, which led into
the dispensary. Tbey were received by ten native
54

Counsel to N c to M i s s i o n a r i e

physicians, in independent practice either in tbe city
or adjacent towns. These men bad received their
medical instruction from Dr. Kerr and, instead
of paying tuition, had pledged themselves to return
on dispensing days and give their services free
during a period of three years. The native doctors
were able to deal witb the great majority of tbe
patients; only the most difficult cases were shown
into Dr. Kerr's room. Tie either prescribed for
them, or sent them to tbe hospital. Upward of
two hundred came each day during my visit there.
Tbe hospital, at that time, had accommodation
for one hundred patients, and every bed was occu
pied. Dr. Kerr seemed to improve every moment
during tbe day. His skill in surgery has given
him a world-wide reputation. When not using tbe
knife, bis frequent visits among the patients and
kindly and sympathetic greetings seemed to bring
joy and hope to all the suffering ones. Often was
he seen kneeling beside a bed, in earnest prayer,
and telling of tbe Saviour's love.
All the native physicians and nurses seemed to
know just what to do, and, like their chief, con
cerned for both the body and soul of every patient.
Every day of the week, and every hour, seemed
to be spent in trying to save life, alleviate suffering,
and in preaching and living tbe Gospel as Christ
preached and lived it.
On Sabbath morning, after prayers witb the
patients, I went with Dr. Kerr to a large chapel,
on a great thoroughfare. As soon as the door was
opened, people began to assemble, and continued
until I had counted about five hundred persons.
Many of them had been treated at the dispensary
or hospital, or some of their kindred and friends

Counsel to New Mission a r i e s
bad, and tbey felt that the doctor was their true
friend and would not deceive them.
Dr. Kerr took the story of the prodigal son as bis
subject, and spoke with such tremendous earnest
ness that all were compelled to listen, and the
majority of tbe audience remained seated until be
bad finished.
Dr. Kerr came to China when a young man,
after taking the most thorough course in medicine
our country afforded. He prepared himself by
such a thorough study of tbe language, as not only
to be able to speak well, but also to be able to trans
late and write medical text-books and train class
after class in medicine in their native tongue.
He also knew his Bible thoroughly; believed with
bis whole heart that the imperative need of every
one is to knoAv Christ, and continued for forty-
seven years to glorify bis Saviour, by giving him
self so unreservedly to saving tbe bodies and souls
of the Chinese that, except in emergency cases, he
had no time to engage in practice in the families
of foreign merchants, officials and others who
would gladly have paid richly for tbe skill of such
a physician but who had other doctors.
The missionary physicians should have the
hearty sympathy and cooperation of all co-laborers.
And this should be mutual.
The ordained men, native evangelists, Bible
women and all church members should unite, so
far as possible, in visiting homes, itinerating, and
in every way make tbe most of the good impres
sions made by the medical work, and present to all
tbe divine remedy for sin-sick souls.

56

C o u n s e I to N e to M i s s i o rwa r i e s
in conclusion
All should constantly remember that "there is
diversity of gifts, but tbe same spirit."
Watchwords for all coining years should be bid
den in every heart. More love for Christ ; stronger
faitb; instant obedience to tbe call of duty; ever
about "my Father's business."
"Without Me ye can do nothing" ; "I can do all
things through Christ wbicb strengthened me";
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that wliich was lost."
Our resources are in God with whom "all things
are possible." "I will never leave thee, nor for
sake thee."
All must "lay hold upon the hope set before us,
. which hope we have, as an anchor to the soul, both
sure and steadfast,"
There must be wise adaptation to present condi
tions. Methods successful in former years may
require modification or entire change.
Every missionary is called upon to "endure hard
ness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Every
believer is chosen to be a soldier, and must strive
lawfully for masteries. "Tbe weapons of our war
fare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strongholds." Yet, valuable
lessons may be learned from military life. A field
officer conducting a campaign aims for impreg
nable positions. A missionary must plan to attack
heathenism in strongholds, and plan for victory.
An aggressive and incessant struggle cannot be
long carried on by remaining in fortified positions.
Lord Kitchener's conquest of tbe Soudan was
preceded by years of the most careful and pains
taking preparation. "So carefully were the dif-

Counsel to New M i s s i o n a r i e s
ferent branches of the service coordinated, so thor
oughly did each serve and support every other
arm, that tbe invasion went forward witb all tbe
irresistible steadiness of a tidal wave." Napoleon
won victories by concentrating his troops on one
point. Tbe ablest general cannot conquer without
well-trained and loyal soldiers. Neither can the
missionary accomplish bis work unaided and alone.
His study should ever be to develop and employ to
to tbe utmost the talents of every member, so as
to ably assist in tbe Church's development and
aggressive work. There should be united hearts,
genuine sympathy and cooperation among all the
missionaries and native members. Each one should
do his utmost to make Christ glorious, and unceas
ingly remember that "Where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty." Each is called to be an ambas
sador for Christ, and use tbe special talent God
has given bim to .lead men to Christ. The Church
is Christ's body. Every member has its specific
work. "To every man his work," is the divine
order. Everyone who thanks God, as Paul did,
for appointing him aspreacher: — and "a teacher of
the Gentiles" — will be so intent in running tbe
race set before him, "ever looking unto Jesus tbe
Author and Finisher of our faitb," that there will
be no room for jealousy, envy and cold criticism,
which are like a dagger to the sensitive heart.
The keynote to all noble character is masterly
self-control. Failure here means to be a captive.
Strife among missionaries is a fearful obstacle to
the spread of the Gospel and the death-blow to tbe
calmness, peace and mutual help, all so much
needed.

58

C o u n s <¦ I to N e 10 M i s s i o u u r i e s
Happy indeed is the missionary who lias learned
the art of living at peace with his colleagues and
with all others. Much of tbe happiness of life
consists in the ability to make true and lasting
friends, and being able to keep friendship always
in good repair. Tbis requires such a bridling of
the tongue as to remain silent in regard to each
other's weaknesses, and to be tolerant and tender
in regard to points of difference. What a changed
world this would be if it could be said of every
Christian as Solomon said of tbe virtuous woman,
"In ber tongue is the law of kindness."
Obedience to Christ's often-repeated command,
"Love one another," will help us to obey the com
mands, "Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted,
forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's
sake, hath forgiven you." "Let tbe word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom." "And let tbe
peace of God rule in your hearts."

V
t'REREQUI SITES AND PRINCIPLES OF
EVANGELIZATION
By the Rev. S. A. Moffett, D. D., of Korea
rpo the missionary, of all persons, is given tbe
-*- position of greatest privilege, provided that
bis whole heart and life are given unreservedly to
the preaching of the unsearchable riches of Christ.
He cannot unduly magnify bis office, for be is "the
glory of Christ." In so far as be appreciates tbe
greatness and tbe honor of bis calling, just so far
will be appreciate also his own insufficiency, and
thus be led, in all sincerity, to seek that sufficiency
wbicb is in Christ.
Twelve years on the mission field, in tbe midst
of a work which wonderfully evidences tbe great
power of the Gospel as tbe God-ordained means
for the salvation of man, have impressed me with
the profound importance of a few ideas which
should dominate tbe missionary and determine the
attitude of mind and the spirit most essential to
him. I shall ever be grateful to Dr. Herrick Johnson
for tbe expression, "A vivid and abiding sense of
the divine reality of the Gospel message," for
therein he has clearly expressed what it is most
important that the missionary should cultivate.
The man who has obtained from a reverent study
of tbe Scriptures, as the Word of God, a deep
impression of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, of
60

Counsel to N e w ^f i s s i o 11 a r i e s
the awfulness of its punishment, the wrath of Cod,
of the reality of repentance, and of God's promise
of absolute remission of sin to the truly penitent,
of the one and only way of salvation through faith
in Christ; who lias reached the profound convic
tion that God is able and willing to save all who
come unto Him by Christ, and that this gospel
only is tbe power of God unto salvation; and who
combines with this a vioid and an abiding sense of
tbe reality of these truths, has the first and chief
requisite for usefulness as a missionary, a requi
site without which, however energetic and gifted
and studious be may be, he will fail to affect pro
foundly the people to whom he goes ; that is, affect
profoundly for their salvation.
One needs to cultivate and conserve tbis con
viction, for upon this Satan makes his chief attack,
knowing that in so far as be weakens this convic
tion, in so far he has blunted tbe most formidable
weapon in the hands of the missionary in his war
fare against sin and Satan's dominion over heathen
dom. I am convinced that tbe greatest need to-day is
unquestioning reliance upon tbe gospel itself, tbe
Word of God^ in its principal teachings of Sin and
Salvation; a belief that when God ordained that
by tbe foolishness of preaching men were to be
saved, He ordained that wbicb He knew to be the
best agency for the leading of men to Christ; a
belief that tbe Spirit of God does and will honor
the use of the Word of God alone, and that in so
far as we trust in secondary agencies for reclaim
ing tbe heathen, in so far we have given up faith
in tbe primary agency, and have prevented the
Spirit of God from making use of that which God

61

C o u n s c I to N <¦ iv- M i s s I o u a r i e s
ordained should be tbe means for the salvation of
the world.
I believe that what has militated most against
the evangelization of the world has been a lack of
faitb in tbe power of the gospel itself, a belief
( not acknowledged, nor consciously held, but never
theless real) that there must be something used
as a bait to bring people under the power of the
gospel, that secondary agencies which appeal to
the natural man must be used as an attraction
which will dispose favorably to a hearing of the
gospel, and that then tbe gospel is to be presented.
There has been too often a relegating of the
gospel (not avowedly, but practically) to the
secondary place, an elimination to too large an
extent of the very means and the only means which
the Spirit of God has given us to believe that He
will use to bring souls into reconciliation with
God. The missionary needs to cultivate, by thought
and prayer and reading, this conviction as to the
primary place of the gospel, making it a practical
reality in bis mental and spiritual life, and watch
ing constantly against everything that may tend
to weaken this conviction.
With such a conviction dominating one's life
and deepening as tbe years go by, and with the
determination to make it the one chief interest,
the all-absorbing task of one's life to preach this
gospel and to bring it into contact with the people,
knowing for a certainty that it cannot fail to have
its effect upon their hearts and lives, the missionary
has before him a field of effort which promises a
life of the very greatest satisfaction and happiness.
He will find, however, that coincident with this
02

Counsel to New Miss i o n a r i e s
life there will be required the maintenance of his
own spiritual life, tbe deepening of his own spiri
tual convictions, and tbe resistance of most subtle,
unexpected and uuprovided-for temptations.
Should his field of labor be in a treaty port or
in a city where be is brought much into contact
with the world of western life and institutions, be
will find one set of temptations, while if in the
interior, isolated from all contact witb the western
world, and thrown for companionship upon tbe
resources of a small missionary community and tbe
native Christians, be will meet with other tempta
tions, less marked, but, perhaps, so much tbe more
insidious. If tbe former, tbe Master's prayer for us that
though in tbe world we may be kept from tbe evil
must be ever before us. One cannot be too par
ticular in keeping out of touch with the evil of the
world; in maintaining that sanctity of character
which makes the things of tbe world something
apart from bis life, even though brought, into con
tact witb men of tbe world in many relations. Dr.
Maltbie Babcock's reasons for not smoking give
expression to a principle upon which many of tbe
temptations to a conformity to the world can be
met and conquered : "A man cannot afford as the
ambassador of Christ to compromise bis influence
for that which is highest, holiest, best."
The natural, frank, sincerely courteous and po
lite attitude of one whose life has been lifted above
an inner contact with the world, however much of
association there may be necessarily in the daily
life, is the attitude which will establish and main
tain one's spiritual influence. The "Sky Pilot" was
in closest sympathy and touch witb bis fellow-men,
63

Counsel to N e w M i s s i o n a r i e s
but wholly untouched by the evil which surround
ed bim and engulfed tbem.
No man can maintain this attitude and exert a
real spiritual influence under such circumstances
unless he spends much time in conunuuion with the
Master in prayer and devotional reading, and he
who must necessarily spend a part of his time in
such contact witb the world needs to spend a double
portion of time in contact witb the holiest and pur
est in order to counteract the unconscious deterior
ation in bis own spiritual ideals.
Doubtless tbe missionary has a, duty to bis fel
low-countrymen on mission fields, but a far greater
and more important duty — the primary duty —
wbicb faces him is that of coming into contact with
and living for the native people. His fellow-coun
trymen, however much in need of spiritual influ
ence, have all beard the Gospel, and tlie missionary
is there primarily that be may preach the Gospel
to those who have not heard; and nothing ought to
stand between him and the close contact with them,
the sympathetic entrance into their inner life, their
ways of thinking, their weaknesses, prejudices and
preferences, their trials, sorrows and spiritual
struggles. We must cultivate a real love and sympathy, not
an abstract interest, in the heathen as so many
people to be converted, baptized and reported upon
as so much in the way of mission assets, but a liv
ing, real, close, sympathetic touch with individuals
with a view to tbe transforming of their lives
through a personal faith in Christ. This is some
thing which cannot be feigned; it must be real, for
heathen are like children in that they know intui
tively whether you love tbem. Such a real sympa-
64

Counsel to New Missionaries
thy and love must be the outgrowth of deep per
sonal convictions of truth and of a personal life of
faitb and of fellowship with Christ.
Given this sympathy and love, recognized by tbe
people, and one's influence can be tremendously ex
erted as an influence for righteousness. Plain,
frank presentation of the truth of their awful con
dition in sin and of their personal responsibility
will be met with deepest respect for tbe man, even
though the message rouses anger and hatred against
the plain truth spoken: Erring, sinning Christians
may be most plainly and firmly dealt with, and tbey
will love and respect you, even though tbey may
deeply resent the admonition and discipline admin
istered. We need to cultivate a strong faith, a victorious,
enthusiastic faitb — a faith in the power of the Gos
pel itself to' carry conviction to the heart of any
man and to do for the heathen all that it has done
and now does for us. We need to believe and act
upon thei belief that it can transform character,
lead to< true repentance and hatred of sin, give
strength to resist temptation and overcome sin, up
hold in a, consistent Christian life, and comfort and
sustain in the midst of persecution, trial, sorrow
and loss.
In the face of prominent failures, in spite of dis
appointments, one needs to grasp witb a firm faith
the fact that the Spirit of God can and does show
his own great power in the lives of others and that
through the exercise of faith these people can and
do reach the same heights of spiritual attainment
and enter into the same appreciation of spiritual
truth which we do. Alas ! too many lose faith, ex
pect little, grow almost discouraged. I am in re-
65

Counsel to New Missionaries
ceipt of a letter from a friend in another mission,
who writes of "some whom long years of waiting
have, rather, not discouraged, but disciplined to ex
pect little." Against such a, state of mind I would
strive with incessant prayer. However long tbe
period of waiting, I believe Ave should cultivate a
faith which expects great things and knows that
God will grant great things. Faith is tbe evidence
of things not seen, and although the results may not
have come, the Spirit-filled vision- can see them, and
with a buoyant enthusiasm can conquer all feelings
of depression and discouragement. The heart is
taken out of one's work; it becomes mere routine
and drudgery if faith has been undermined.
Enthusiastic faith should be cultivated. Enthu
siasm may be more natural to some natures than
to others, but it is an element which adds to one's
influence for good and to one's power in communi
cating faith and zeal. How a real faith can fail of
enthusiasm is a. mystery to me. There is far more
of unbelief in our minds than Ave are often aware
of, and this unconscious or unrecognized unbelief
will often explain the failure to receive a blessing.
"He could not do many mighty Avorks there because
of tlieir unbelief."
God delights to honor faith. He cannot work
mightily in the presence of unbelief. Our own lack
of faith shuts out the poAver of God.
I Avould urge also concentration of effort upon
the one great object of the missionary's life, viz. :
tbe evangelization of the people. Here the tempta
tions are innumerable, but recognizing one's limita
tions and knoAving that be cannot be a, specialist
in many departments, if he is to* give himself pri
marily to the evangelization of the people, be must
66

Counsel to New Missionaries
be willing to cut himself off from many attractive
lines of study in order that be may acquire tbe lan
guage well, may give thorough study to tbe Bible,
and may have time for contact with and life among
the people.
Tbe temptations to turn aside from the one great
commission to "preach tbe Word" are constant and
plausible. Education, literature, language, science,
history and philanthropy all present their claims,
and unless they are determinedly recognized as sec
ondary or as side issues and kept in their proper
place, tbey will supersede the primary work in tbe
amount of time and effort that tbey monopolize and
will relegate that which is first to tbe second place.
Even tbe education of men witb a view to tbe min
istry, an essential part of the evangelistic work,
may become merely educational instead of evangel
istic — education rather than evangelization becom
ing the end.
Often the side issue is taken up as a recreation
thoroughly legitimate and profitable, but these side
issues are always what appeal to the natural man
and before one knows it bis zeal for the preaching
of the gospel has become cooled, bis chief work
loses its attraction, and his main interest is being
absorbed in tbe side issue, Avhile the spiritual work,
the soul and soul contact with the heathen, becomes
a sort of drudgery or mere professional work. What
we need is to have our life interest, our all-absorb
ing passion the work of soul-saving, of soul-develop
ing. When one's best efforts go into some secon-
dairy line of work his power for evangelization has
been surrendered. There are a few of course: whose
time must be given to literary work in the transla
tion of the Scriptures, preparation of Christian lit-
67

Counsel to New Missionaries
erature and text-books, and to the educational and
medical Avork as factors in the great work of evan
gelization, but tbis is the call of but few.
The temptations to separate one's self from the
first and most essential work of the direct evangeli
zation of a people are so constant, so plausible, so
insidious, that it Avill require the most positive con
victions, tbe most exalted idea of the magnitude of
the office, the most careful cultivation of a deter
mination not to be turned aside, if one does not find
himself yielding to these temptations and settling
down to a life of routine Avork apart from the peo
ple, to a contact witb very feAV, to a life supposedly
of more far-reaching influence, relegating the direct
evangelistic work to a secondary place and leaving
it to be carried on only by the native preachers
and helpers.
The time will come when the native church will
be able to cope Avith the problem of evangelization ;
but with the great mass of heathen in China, India,,
Korea, Japan, Africa and elseAvhere, Avbo have not
yet even beard of the1 gospel, tbe missionary must
himself preach the gospel and establish the church
as bis first Avork, in the belief that the gospel itself
is the primary need of tbe heathen Avorld. Then
Avill the church thus established be imbued Avith the
same belief and become a great evangelizing agen
cy- In order to do this certain distinctions must be
clearly made and kept constantly in mind. One
must clearly see that reformation is not redemp
tion. Salvation from sin, not mere moral reforma
tion, is the essence of tbe gospel message. Again,
Civilization is not Christkittity. Western ideas,
customs and inventions are not an essential part of

Counsel to New Missionaries
Christianity. In fact, many Oriental ideas and cus
toms conform much more nearly to tbe scriptural
ideas than do some of tbe peculiar notions and cus
toms of the Western world, and the introduction
of much that is considered a part of Western Civili
zation is a hindrance rather than a help to spiritual
life. We are not commissioned to introduce West
ern Civilization, but Scriptural Christianity.
Another vital distinction to be made is that Edu
cation is not Regeneration. We are not called upon
to provide a secular education for heathen, but Ave
are commissioned to preach the gospel to the heath
en and to establish the Church of Jesus Christ. We
might educate the heathen for centuries and yet fail
to establish the church, but Ave cannot establish tbe
church Avitbout seeing Christian education for its
oAvn people a natural and necessary outgrowth.
We need to recognize also that we are not sent to
apologize for Christ or for Christianity. We are to
proclaim Him and it. We can rest upon the self-
evidencing power of the Bible, upon the teaching of
nature and conscience as to the existence of God
and the fact Of sin. We need not argue these points;
but preach what God has revealed, believing that
the Spirit of God, not our arguments, will convict
of sin and lead to faitb in Christ. God, the inspira
tion of the Scriptures, sin, and man's need of salvai-
tion, are facts to be proclaimed, not propositions to
be proved. Let us accept Dr. Chalmers,' statement
and act upon it : "We firmly believe that there is
no one position in theology Avhicb can be more
strongly and more philosophically sustained than
tbe self-evidencing power of the Bible."
There is need on tbe mission field of men who will
not compromise with sin — men who will set up> the
69

Counsel to New Missionaries
scriptural standard which God has set up> and will
not deviate one whit from that standard in their re
quirements. Whatever may be tbe peculiar con
ditions in heathendom, Ave have no authority for let
ting down the divine standard on moral questions,
on tbe marriage relation, on drunkenness, on the
Sabbath. Lenient and loving as we may be in deal
ing with Christians Avbo have fallen into sin and
come short of the requirements of God's law, yet in
the discipline of those who sin, the failure to set
up the one standard and to brand as sin anything
short of that standard, is to undermine tbe Avhole
foundation of Christian morality and Christian
character, and to build a church on no spiritual
foundations, weak, and poAverless as a moral or
spiritual force. Better for a Gideon's band of men
thoroughly determined to strive for the highest and
holiest attainments along these lines than a whole
host of nominal Christians, satisfied to come short,
taught that they may witb impunity come short of
tbe divine standard — men who have committed
spiritual suicide by a deliberate giving up of the
law of God as the standard of Christian living.
"Never couple faith in the atonement of Christ with
a feeling of security in the violation of a single com
mandment," is an exhortation given by Dr. Chal
mers, which we need to reflect upon.
A missionary should be Avilling to make great
personal sacrifice for the work's sake. Tbe life of
sacrifice only begins with the renunciation of tbe
home land and the sharing of the lives of loved ones
at home Avhen all tbe ties formed from childhood up
to the time of departure for the field are broken.
Hard as that one supreme act of sacrifice may seem,
it is vastly easier than to lead a life of daily sacri-
70

Counsel to New Missionaries
fice, of daily self-renunciation, of daily self-efface
ment for the Avork's sake ; and yet perhaps no one
attitude of mind Avill do more towards making one
a telling factor in the work and a helpful, useful,
lovable member of a mission station.
The relation to, one's fellow missionaries is one
of the most delicate and yet most pertinent ques
tions which meets one on the mission field — a ques
tion of daily and hourly importance. One's fellow-
workers are not of one's own choosing. The exi
gencies of the Avork and the conditions of the field,
not his own personal preferences, determine who< are
to be bis co-laborers, Avhere be is to labor, Avhat is
to be his work and what the relation of that work to
the Avork of others. In such circumstances a man
needs all the consecration, self-control, high resolve
and generous unselfishness Avbich tbe fullest bap
tism of tlie spirit of God may enable him to secure.
Jealousy, envy, personal ambition, self-seeking, love
of ease, laziness, the desire for applause, the deter
mination to have bis own Avay, presumably, of
course, in the belief that it is the right Avay, malice,
evil speaking, selfishness, are sins which are not
absent from the mission field, and one may be sur
prised to find how many of these ignoble traits of
character will be found lurking in his own heart
and asserting themselves witb surprising power,
unless they are recognized and checked and striven
against in prayer.
There should be the cultivation of an apprecia
tion of the Avork of others, of an interest in anoth
er's work, of a, Avillingness to alloAv others to re
ceive credit for their own and perhaps for your
work, without fretting or growing impatient under
a sense of injustice, of a Avillingness to yield one's
71

Counsel to New Missi o n a r i e s
own wishes and preferences and that, too, in a gra
cious spirit, of a, Avillingness to submit to< have one's
own convictions of Avhat is right and best overruled,
and of an ability to sacrifice one?s personal feelings,
prejudices, vieAvs, plans and ambitions and to sub
ordinate them to tbe good of the work as a whole.
By all means possible one should strive for the
spirit of harmony in station and mission and native
church. Tbe determination of one man to carry
out bis oAvn plans at all hazards may develop such
a lack of harmony as to shut out the blessing of the
Spirit of God. One should be Avilling to make very
great personal sacrifices in order to maintain har
mony, peace, and good Avill, for where such a spirit
prevails the Spirit of God can grant His blessing
upon the work. I know not in how many mission
stations missionary quarrels have prevented a bless
ing, but certain it is that if differences! of views and
differences in convictions as to what is best are not
held in the spirit of brotherly love and mutual con
cession, but lead to malice and envy and evil speak
ing, tbe Spirit of God is grieved and that station
cannot expect ai blessing upon its work. Mutual
co-operation in the spirit of self-effacement in the
interest of one harmoniously developing work is
the spirit Avhich will call forth a blessing and give
the very greatest joy in the midst of work.
In view of the character of the work to be done I
would not in the least discountenance the very best
and most ample preparation in tbe study of the lan
guage, the history and literature of the people and
the study of comparative religions in order that one
may intelligently meet the conditions', but I feel
that there is need for caution along this line, lest
the missionary find the very advice given to' him a

Counsel to New Missionaries
temptation and a hindrance to* most effective work.
Far more important than tbe study of comparative
religions or the religious thought and life of the
people is a deep and thorough study of tbe religion
of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that one's mind and
life become saturated witb its spiritual ideas. When
oner's study of heathen religions and philosophy
becomes so absorbing that be knows more of tbem
than be does of bis Bible, so that he places more
stress upon the ethical- teachings common to both
than upon the spiritual teachings peculiar to tbe
Scriptures; Avben be is more concerned to sboAv that
other religions have parts in harmony Avith Scrip
ture than be is to show that Cbristianity meets that
which is lacking in them, then his power and useful
ness as a. missionary of tbe gospel of Jesus Christ
are at an end.
When I read of all that a missionary is advised
to study and master in preparation for his Avork it
seems to me that the presumption is that every mis
sionary is an intellectual giant whose Avhole time is
to be given to study, and that be is to be always pre
paring for work, instead of working.
While constant study and constant efforts to
wards better equipment for service should be the
rule, one cannot always be laying foundations only,
always looking towards work to be done in the fu
ture. Activity in work is itself a preparation for
better work. The preaching of tbe gospel, tbe es
tablishment of the Church of Christ, must be held
as taking precedence of everything else, and what
ever sacrifice is necessary for tbe accomplishment
of this object should be freely made. The statement
so often made that health is tbe first consideration
expresses a, sentiment Avhicb to my mind is totally
73

Counsel to New Missionaries
at variance with the right attitude. Nothing is of
first consideration but the one thing, the getting
of the gospel to tbe people, and if to accomplish this
the sacrifice of health is necessary, let health be
sacrificed — yea, life itself — but come Avhat may,
preach the gospel, and see to it that tbe great com
mission is obeyed. Of course, it is worse than folly,
it is sin, to' sacrifice health or life Avhen that is un
necessary, but personal comfort, ease, luxury,
health and even life itself must be held subordinate
lo tbe accomplishment of one's chief object.
Above all things, however, the missionary's OAvn
spiritual life is the most important consideration
as a factor in evangelization. As Dr. Dale, Avriting
of the evangelist, says : "What tells most is neither
bis earnestness nor his perfect certainty of the
truth of the Christian gospel, but the fact apparent
to those who listen that his certainty rests on his
own direct and personal knowledge of the eternal
relations of which he is speaking."
If to us tbe spiritual blessings of reconciliation
with God, our fellowship with Jesus Christ, and
the assurance of eternal life are our chief joy and
privilege and Ave daily experience their power in
our own lives, then we can go forth to present in all
faith these spiritual privileges and blessings as the
supreme gift of the gospel unto a people Avhose de
spair can be exchanged for hope, Avhose darkness
can give AA-ay to the light, Avhose fear and misery
and degradation in sin and inquity can be dis
placed by love and joy, peace and righteousness.
These privileges and blessings Avbich we value
most and Avhich satisfy man's spiritual nature, not
tbe incidental temporal adArantages of Christianity
Avhich appeal to the natural man, should be kept
74

Counsel to N e to Missionaries
constantly in the forefront as that upon which our
appeals are based in urging the acceptance of tbe
gospel. A church thus established will be a power
ful spiritual factor in a nation and the people them-
selves Avill value these spiritual blessings as their
chief joy and privilege. They will be ready to make
any sacrifice in order to secure and retain what has
become of supreme interest to them.
The Spirit of God delights to honor such appeals,
and Ave may confidently expect Him to> Avork the
regeneration of the people to whom Ave thus present
tbe gospel in reliance upon His power alone.

75

VI
THE HOME LIFE OF MISSIONARIES
By Mrs. Helen S. C. Nevius, of China
TN these days of "advanced views" one hardly
-*- dares to profess tbe old-fashioned belief that a
wife's first duty is to be a. helpmeet to- her husband,
to assist and encourage him in his Avork, and to
make bis home to him the happiest spot in all the
world. Yet this is Avhat I do believe, and Avbat I
hope I have in some degree accomplished.
But the happiest missionary homes, as I have
observed them during almost fifty years, have not
been those Avhere the Avife has devoted herself ex
clusively to the care of her husband and children.
On tbe contrary, they have been those where hus
band and AA'ife have alike been Avorking mission
aries. If a Avoman is content to be merely a care
ful housekeeper and a faithful mother and nurse,
she may indeed be conscious of having fulfilled a
very sacred duty ; but I think she has not reached
the highest ideal. All this she might have done
without leaving the other undone.
HoAvever, comparatively few women are satisfied
not to make some effort for the good of the people
tbey live, among, and, as a rule, the homes of the
missionaries, both of single Avomen and married, are
real "object lessons" — very bright spots in the sur
rounding darkness, Avhere often heathen Avomeu
learn for the first time the meaning of the word
home. First of all a missionary's home should be a place
76

Counsel to New Miss i o n a r i e *
where the love of God reigns supreme, Avhere in
Avork, rest or recreation the joy of the Lord and the
consciousness of His presence are our strength ; and
it ought to be a centre from Avhich good influences
radiate in all directions. There heathen men and
women should alAvays be made welcome. There
should, if possible, be a bright, cheerful, native re
ception room, Avhere they can be entertained and
feel at home, as they do not in our foreign rooms.
Visits from the natives, especially from AAromen,
take a great deal of time, and are so barren of im
mediate results, that one often feels that they do not
pay for the exhaustion of mind and body which en
sues. Yet feAv kinds of work are more important.
Returning these calls or seeking to extend our ac
quaintance among Avomen is a kind of work requir
ing a great amount of patience and physical
strength, together with a knowledge of the habits
and customs of the people. Without this knowl
edge AAre are apt to be guilty of Avhat the Chinese
consider great rudeness, and shall probably do more
harm than good by our efforts to be sociable.
One plan Avhich I have tried for getting a hold on
the women and girls is gathering them into indus
trial classes. My object is not primarily to teach
tbem to soav, nor indeed to be industrious, but
merely to get the chance of teaching them.
Whether tbe natives should often be invited to
eat Avith us at our tables is an open question. If
they dislike foreign food as much as I, for one, dis
like the native, they would be glad to be spared the
infliction. In China, I doubt if the men of our
families ought to sit at table Avhen we are enter
taining native women, or if foreign women ought to
appear Avhen men guests are being entertained.
77

C o u n s e I to New Missionaries
Young women at least make no mistake in being
very punctilious in observing the customs of the
country. In the open ports nothing Avhich the foreigner
can do now greatly surprises the natives, so used
have they become to balls, picnics, races and sports
of all kinds Avhere men and women appear together
in easy intercourse. A most important question for
missionaries to settle is "What concessions ought
Ave to make to the customs of the country we have
adopted as our own?" In China men and women
do not sit together at table. A woman walking the
street leaning on her husband's arm is never seen.
Ladies do not entertain gentlemen callers. And so
in innumerable instances our foreign customs come
into conflict Avith those of all Orientals.
Our costume does not seem to the Chinese as mod
est and beautiful as their own, nor perhaps is it.
Shall we then adopt theirs, as has been done by
many missionaries? I think not ; for what we gain
by this in certain respects we lose in others. A
lady by Avearing an outside native garment, or a
loose wrap of her own may at any time avoid disa
greeable criticism. But what can be said of the
dress of a foreign man ! I am sure I do not know.
But as the Avorld over it has been adopted by every
superior race, and has some advantages over east
ern costumes, its stiff lines and want of grace must
be condoned, and the natives must get used to it.
One thing Avhich as missionaries Ave ought never
to forget is that tbe natives are not to be blamed for
watching our conduct, and questioning our mo
tives. For this reason, if for no other, certain
amusements common at home, such for instance as
dancing and cards, are never allowed in a mission-
78

Counsel to New Missionaries
ary's family. Others, such as tennis, croquet and
the like are common, though in the eyes of the Chi
nese they are undignified if not positively immoral.
Personally, I think I should taboo all such games
in places where the curious eyes of the natives —
strangers at least — could witness and comment on
them. But in so doing I should probably find my
self in a, minority of one! Lam quite willing to ad
mit that the importance of vigorous and agreeable
exercise makes these games almost a necessity. But
certainly in interior stations, especially in the be
ginnings of work, the greatest care should be exer
cised in all such matters.
As is Avell known, the line of separation between
missionaries and other foreign residents in the East
is very broad, and tbe result is a marked estrange
ment betAveen the tAvo classes. I do not think mis
sionaries are entirely free from blame for this. They
hold themselves aloof, possibly sometimes saying
by their manner, "I am holier than thou," which,
though often literally true, is not always so; for
there are good religious people outside of the mis
si onary communities. We blame them for not be
ing in sympathy Avith missions, yet take little pains
to make them so. I believe that a good proportion
of the foreigners in China, at least of the women,
are religious — that is, as much so as "the rank and
file" of church members at home. They are in
great danger from the adverse influences which
meet them on every side. Have we -as missionaries
no duties toward tbem? I think it possible for us,
without encroaching on our more direct work, to be
on most friendly or even intimate terms with mem
bers of the foreign, communities ; not, perhaps, par
ticipating in many social functions, and certainly
79

Counsel to N e tv Missionaries
not entertaining in the luxurious. way so common in
the East, but to> be true friends, sympathizing in
their joys and sorrows, and at all times trying to
help them to lead brave and earnest Christian lives.
In such intercourse anything like "pious talk," and
the least. approach to "cant" which is so* distaste
ful to any one not accustomed to it must be avoided.
On the other hand there is real danger of our inter
course degenerating into mere frivolity, doing no
good to ourselves or any one else.
A small missionary establishment, and a very
meagre salary, Avould prevent any one Avithout pri-
Arate means1, from mingling very extensively in the
society of the foreign settlements, even if he desired
to do so.
The place Avhich should be given to' music and
other accomplishments, such as drawing and paint
ing, is also rather a difficult question, and one on
wliich directly opposite views are held. Suppose a
young Avoman with an unusual gift for music, after
years of careful training and great expense, has be
come proficient in it; shall she when she enters on
her life-work as a missionary, give this all up? In
my opinion the answer to this qeustion should be
emphatically no. Should she do so it Avould be
burying a talent which ought to be used for the sake
of Him Avbo gave it. Moreover it would be sure to
cause shrinkage and deterioration of character, and
consequently loss of power to' do good Avork in oth
er lines. Moreover it is voluntarily relinquishing
one means of giving pleasure to others and of mak
ing cheerful the homes which from the necessities, of
the case must be comparatively uninviting.
No one would deny the importance of music as a
means of doing good to the natives. For teaching
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Counsel to New Missionaries
the Christians, whether for schools or church, or
merely as a means of entertaining visitors, it is of
great use. But for these purposes "a little goes a
long way," and does not require much time or prac
tice. If a person is not truly musical, by Avhich I
mean that she does not care enough for it to be
Avilling to take for it many of tbe hours she Avould
otherwise give to reading, sewing, out of door
games:, or visiting her neighbors — such an one I
think need not force her music farther than to keep
enough of it to use in her strictly missionary Avork.
But to the feAV who love music as one of the dearest
things in all the world, I am not afraid to give the
advice to keep it up from the time you leave your
teachers at home, until you are called to join in the
harmonies of heaven, Avhich possibly you Avill un
derstand and appreciate as others cannot.
During the earlier years of missions in China the
duty of economy was practised more rigidly than it
is now. More than one family suffered both in
mind and body from the want of nourishing food ;
and this not always from necessity but from mo
tives of economy, or the belief that it AA'as a meri
torious thing, or if not quite that, that a certain
amount of asceticism was required in every good
missionary. This belief prevails still to some ex
tent. I have lately received a letter from the Rev.
W. A. P. Martin, D.D., LL. D., in which occurs the
following : "One of the saddest instances of mistak
en asceticism is that of the eminent Scotchman,
Rev. W. C. Burns, who fell a victim to false notions
of economy. He is in fact reported to have said
during his last illness that if he recovered he Avould
change his mode of life."
It is my opinion that people living in these east-
si

Counsel t o New M i s s i o n a'r i e s
era countries — China, Japan and Korea — Avhere
servants are plenty and comparatively cheap, are
inexcusable if their homes are ill-kept and their
tables uninviting. Even a moderately good house
keeper can Avith care provide plenty of nourishing
food, and if she is a person of refined tastes, she Avill
make some effort to, beautify the "social board."
Even more important, I regard it, that she should
make these hours, snatched from the work of the
busy day, times of mental refreshment and delight.
Here, if anywhere, the house-mother or hostess will
do ber best in the art of conversation, giving out
from ljer own stores of reading or memory, and
drawing out from others still more. How often in
the years Avhich are passed has one tired man been
interested and diverted by a resume of some book
which his Avife had been reading ! It may.have been
from Livingston or Stanley, or tbe life of Bishop
Patteson; or just as probably it Avas a good story
of Avhich she gave him the plot from beginning to
end with as much of detail as time allowed. The
wearied brow would lose its lines and a merry laugh
Avould show that she had not failed in her purpose;
while may be long afterwards she would find that
her husband to all intents knew about as much of
the book as she had retained in her memory. I cer
tainly do not advise making meal times a, time for
mental effort, but even that Avould be better than
the totally inane, uninteresting occasions they are
apt to become, especially in missionary homes,
where monotony often is quite as injurious as ma
laria or contagion.
Of course, I do not limit the importance of good
conversation to the time spent at table. Far from
it, I am sure it is a much ueglected duty at other
82

Counsel to New Missionaries
times. The indolent quiet in Avhich many women
allow themselves to indulge seems to me not quite
the admirable thing it is sometimes thought, and it
certainly does not add to the brightness of home.
In the early clays of missions each young man
coining abroad brought with him a library as well
filled as that, of any young clergyman at home. He
brew, Greek, theological works — heavy tomes
arranged on the shelves always in beautiful order,
because seldom touched, stood ever after staring re
proachfully at us, who so sadly neglected them.
Present-day libraries seem more inviting. How
much time it is right to spend in reading is a ques
tion which each person must settle for himself or
herself. Certain it is that the missionary who does
not read, and read Avith a purpose, must deteriorate.
Tbe importance of faithful Bible study "goes with
out saying." If Ave allow our missionary work, even
what seems most imperative, to interfere with this,
our Christian characters must be cramped and im
perfect, and our souls will suffer. If there is time
for nothing else let this never be neglected.
But with regularity, punctuality, and a, judicious
division of the day, every one who has a real fond
ness for intellectual pursuits, can find time for a
certain amount of study either of languages, sci
ence, or whatever one craves, and also for "light
reading." I am sorry for the missionary who gets
no pleasure from works of fiction. Not even the
best books of travel, history or biography can so
completely take us out of ourselves and make us for
get our uncongenial surroundings. A home where
such books are not allowed I have generally found
to be rather a dull one, where mirth, Avit and ready
repartee are conspicuous only by their absence.
83

&

Counsel to New Missionaries
Few are the homes in any land where sickness
and sorroAv do not at some time, make their en
trance. The sanitary conditions, too hard study,
overwork, together Avith the monotony of life in
most eastern countries are by no means favorable to
good health, and there are few foreign residents
who do> not have to serve an apprenticeship at one
time or another in nursing the sick.
When I first came1 to China fifty years ago the
profession of "trained nurse" Avas almost unknown.
We looked after our sick as best Ave could ; and I
am glad to think that by devotion and faithfulness,
we made up in some measure for Avhat Ave failed in
from ignorance. But good lessons and experience
in nursing are at all times invaluable. I cannot
recommend too strongly the importance to either a
man or a, woman looking forward to being a mis
sionary, of learning to take care of the sick. Not
every one need become a trained nurse, but every
one! avIio' Avishes it may obtain some lessons and
practice in the art of nursing the sick. No other ac
complishment will prove more useful in the long
run; and it also gives one much influence among
the natives.
My own home has been many times a temporary
hospital, and I speak from actual experience when
I urge the inportance of a knowledge of nursing.
It was once my privilege to entertain an Ameri
can gentleman, Avho will forgive my mention of his
name — Dr. Phraner— Avhose knoAvledge of minis
ter's manses in the1 United States has been excep
tional. ' He assured me that the homes of mission
aries were not as commodious and good — on an
averages — as those of clergymen at home. Yet it is
well known that our houses and way of living have
84

Counsel to New Missionaries
been most severely criticized by travelers and globe
trotters as unsuitable and extravagant. Did these
critics realize more fully our circumstances, I think
they would judge us more kindly.
Those of us Avbo live in central stations or the
open ports are constantly obliged to "use hospitali
ty." This, if our houses are large enough, and our
servants are Aveill trained, in, most cases, is not a
burden, but rather a pleasure. While my present
home Avas, being built we lived in a four-roomed
small bouse, where five times in one year Ave gave
up' our bedroom to guests, — once' for a month — and
made the study do duty as a sleeping room, to tbe
great detriment of our Avork. The experiment con
vinced us that for us a house double the size was
none too large, About the same time there Avas an
other person aaIio built his house just as small as
be could possibly do with, because thus it was un
likely that he should be burdened Avith guests. Per
haps once or twice during the passing years I have
thought him wise, and envied him, but not often.
Then comes the question of furnishing and style
of living. I have already emphasized tbe impor
tance I attach to making the missionary's home at
tractive, while at the same time avoiding scrupu
lously all ostentation and extravagance. In the na
ture of the case there Avill be a great difference in
the houses of the same mission; one having an air
of refinement and beauty, another the same in size
and kind remaining to the end destitute of orna
ment, the Avails without pictures, the floors bare or
ill kept, no musical instruments Avith their sweet
sounds and suggestions, and, worse than all, a gen
eral air of untidiness. The third house, and the
kind most common, will be neither one of the above,
85

B

Counsel to New Missionaries
but somewhat betAveen the tAvo. Individuality
stamps itself upon houses, just as it does on one's
garments. Even the house Avhich seems to us most
unattractive is so superior in most respects to tbe
next-door Chinese neighbor that to him there is per
haps little perceptible difference. In matters of
this sort much must be left to the individual taste,
judgment and conscience.
If punctuality and regularity in the conduct of
affairs are important elsewhere, they are doubly so
in a. missionary's home, and their absence is soon
felt. Time seems of little value to Eastern peoples,
and it is Avasted witb surprising prodigality. But
Avhile this is so it is equally true that it is not dif
ficult to train them to, habits of punctuality ; and it
is tbe missionary's fault if breakfast is late, lunch
eon delayed, and dinner any time between daylight
and dark, Avhile family prayers are moved about to
suit the convenience of master or servants. I con- .
sider it as most important that young missionaries
from the very first should regard punctuality and
regularity in the light of duties never to be ne
glected. The limits of this chapter will not allow me to
suggest particular lines of Avork or methods. But
I wish negatively to point out one or tAvo things.
Except in extreme cases of illness no one ought to
encroach very much on the time and strength of the
stronger members of the mission. There is room
here for self-denial ; and, as a rule, most cheerfully
and willingly have missionaries borne it. Another
thing Avhich more particularly concerns married
women is this: Let them never be clogs nor hind
rances to their husbands. If for instance the hus
band's duties call him to be often absent from home
86

Counsel to New Missionari

e s

on long itinerating tours, on which she cannot ac
company him, let her on no account Aveaken his
courage by her wails of loneliness. If a woman
cannot do itinerating work herself she ought at
least to be willing to "stay by the stuff," thankful
that she in her comparative uselessness has ai brave
soldier to send out to fight in the great battle Avith
sin. That this means sacrifice no one knoAvs better
than the writer of these Avords.
The sin of overwork is not confined to mission
aries, but I think it is more dangerous for them
than for people in Western lands, Avbo necessarily
and in spite of themselves get a certain amount of
recreation and relaxation every day. A missionary,
to begin Avith, has the language to acquire, and this
often taxes both mind and body beyond endurance.
After that come the long weary years of teaching,
preaching and incessant "giving out," with little op
portunity to repair waste. But if the home is Avhat
it ought to be it will in a great measure make up
for all this.
As I glance back over the pages of this chapter I
can but notice that I have written too exclusively
for women — a natural consequence, perhaps, of my
old-fashioned notions of the impropriety of a wo
man's presuming to attempt to teach men! But
perhaps I may be allowed a few words of sugges
tion in closing. No one can realize more deeply
than I do that tbe happiness of home depends
chiefly upon the man Avho is its, head. It is in his
power to make or mar it. No amount of work, how
ever important, no preoccupation of mind, no
theories, as to different spheres of labor, can absolve
him from his paramount duties in his home. It is
by no means enough that a, man should be a faith-
87

Counsel to New Missionaries
ful, hard working missionary. It is a sad confes
sion to make, but a true one, that there have been
missionaries who have done their duty everywhere
but in their own families. Mistaken I believe them
to have been, but conscientious no doubt. If ever
there is a place Avhere divine guidance is needed
surely it is here; and well it is, for us that we have
the promise, "If any man lack Avisdom let him ask
of God Avho giveth to all liberally and upbraideth
not; and it shall be given him."

88

VII
SOME COUNSEL TO WOMEN TEACHERS
By Miss Hattie V. Noyes, of China
A S one Avho has traveled through a pleasant coun-
¦**- try enjoys meeting those Avho are commencing
the same journey, I take pleasure in greeting you at
the threshold of your mission life. You have chosen a
good work, and it is your Avish to' make the most and
best of life, and 1 am glad indeed to have the privi
lege', through these pages, of extending to you a wel
coming hand, hoping that it may also be a helping
one, and to pass on to you through this medium
some of the thoughts and experiences which have
proved helpful to, me. You and the Master alone
know the full measure of what has been involved in
your decision, and the sacrifice you may be making,
but I doubt not that you are glad and happy, and
feel that it is a great privilege to be one of His chos
en messengers, and the promise of the hundredfold
is yours. I well remember how, during, my first
voyage to the mission field, made before the days of
rapid transit, as the days grew into weeks, and the
weeks into months, and the dear home-land seemed
to be going very far aAvay, the beautiful lines were
constantly in mind
"I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air ;
I only know I cannot drift,
Beyond His love and care."
89

Counsel to New Missionaries
The promise, "Lo, I am. Avith you always," is your
sure possession, so' you can never be left alone.
The first step in your neAV life Avill be the acqui
sition of the language, and its importance cannot
be overestimated. The usefulness and efficiency of
the missionary worker depend to a, great extent
upon familiarity Avith the language of the people.
The gospel message is neAV and strange to, their ears,
and if not clothed in familiar words is not likely
to reach their hearts. It is difficult enough for
them to grasp and understand it Avhen expressed in
the best possible way. Do not feel impatient to be
gin work, or that the time is Avasted Avhich is neces
sarily given to this most important preparation for
your chosen Avork. The waiting time is valuable
in many Avays; it gives time for adaptation to> neAV
surroundings, and becoming familiar Avith tbe
thoughts and feelings of those Avhose highest good
you are seeking.
The very first requisite for a successful mission
ary life is a Christ-like love for those for Avhom you
labor. The heathen women and girls Avill read very
readily and accurately your feelings toAvards them,
and unless there is a genuine interest and love for
them in the heart, the effort to reach them is hope
less. There is a heart language, Avhich can communi
cate without the aid of Avords, and Avhich is under
stood by all. The kindly smile, the loving glance of
the eye, the sympathy manifested in looks and
tones, even if in unfamiliar Avords, are eloquent ex
pressions of the love that is in the heart, and are
readily understood and appreciated. Could there
be a more beautiful tribute to' the life and spirit of
any one than Avas paid to a dear missionary sister,
90

C o u n s e I to New M i s s i o n a r i e s
who bad returned to the home-land hoping to re
gain health and strength for longer service? When
the message came back that her earthly Avork Avas
finished and she had gone to receive the heavenly
reAvard, one of the native Christian Avomen said of
her that it Avas through her life she had learned to
understand the love of Christ for sinners ; it had al
ways seemed a strange, incredible story until her
love for tbe poor heathen women, soi unlike herself,
had been such a revelation of the power and
strength of human love, that it had made it possi
ble to' understand the divine love of the Saviour.
It must ever be borne in mind that you are the ex
ponents of the Christianity Avhich you profess, liv
ing epistles, which will be known and read by those
about you, who will be quick to detect any incon
sistencies in life or example.
If you have been engaged in educational work at
home you will doubtless realize from the first the
different character and object of the educational
work of the missionaries, Avhich .should ahvays be
largely evangelistic. In many mission schools
much of the teaching corresponds nearly Avith the
Sabbath School work in the home-land. The con
ditions on the mission field are so different from
those in Christian lands, where the pupils in the
schools have tbe home influence and teachings, the
church, the Sabbath school and Christian friends,
while for many of those Avho attend the mission
schools it is the one opportunity of a lifetime to
learn the priceless lessons, which are so infinitely
more important than the learning which pertains
to the earthly life. Fifty years hence it will matter
very little how much or little they have learned of
the higher mathematics, or the different sciences,
91

Counsel to New Missionaries
if they have only obtained that knowledge Avhich
will make them wise unto salvation.
Whatever they find, or do not find, in the school
curriculum, be sure that they are taught how to
find the way that leads to heaven. It is a comfort
ing thought that it does not necessarily need much
teaching to insure this. With tbe blessing of the
Holy Spirit a single text of Scripture has been suf
ficient to point the Avay.
Let the words of the Bible enter largely into the
instruction given. As Frances Havergal has writ
ten, "God's promise that 'My Avord shall not return
unto me void,' is not made of our words, but of His
own." While it is desirable to' give to the pupils in
mission schools all the general information possi
ble, let us never for a moment lose sight of the su
preme object. After this the amount of instruction
which can be given in other lines will depend upon
the different conditions of the schools.
In schools Avhich are composed of tbe children of
Christian parents, there is a good foundation to
commence Avith, and in those where tbe pupils ra
main under instruction for many years, it is possi
ble to give them in addition to the religious instruc
tion what Avould be considered a good education in
Western lands.
The words of an eminent educator of England are
especially applicable to> mission schools : "A school
should be first, of all a place for the formation of
character, and next a place for learning and study,
as a means for the attainment of this higher end.
Discipline and guidance should be still more pre
eminently the business of a school teacher, than the
impartation of knowledge." Unquestionably the
aim of educational work in the mission field is "to
92

Counsel to New Missionaries
raise up Christian leaders." And Avhile it is most
desirable that these leaders should have all the
education in every line that they can obtain, yet
when their opportunities are limited we can remem
ber that there may be quite different standards of
tbe amount of education necessary, varying with
the classes avIio are to be led by these Christian
leaders. It is as true to-day as when the words
were Avritten nearly nineteen hundred years ago,
that "not many wise men after the flesh, not many
mighty, not many noble, are called. But God hath
chosen the foolish things of the world to confound
the wise, and God hath chosen the Aveak things of
the world to confound the things Avhich are mighty,
and base things of the world, and things which are
despised, hath God chosen; yea, and things Avhich
are not to bring to naught things that are." And
every true believer through all the ages may claim
the fulfillment of the Saviour's promise, "I Avill
send the Holy Spirit unto you, and he shall teach
you all things, and guide you into all truth." So
Ave. may believe that no one who has obtained suf
ficient education to be an intelligent, earnest Chris
tian need fail to be a Christian leader of some.
It is of the highest importance that the pupils for
their own spiritual development, as well as the good
of others, be trained from the first to realize that it
is their duty, having heard the gospel message, to
tell it to others as they have opportunity, "Let him
that heareth say, come." A missionary society is
very helpful in leading them to think of others.
You Avill Avish to know each pupil as intimately
as possible, and to have them all feel that you are
their friend — one to whom they may always come
for help and comfort. Let them be assured of your
93

Counsel to New Missionaries
sympathy in their trials, and feel that you Avill al
ways follow them AArith loving interest. The im
portance of making the best possible use of tbe time
while they are directly under the influence' of the
missionary cannot be overestimated, and every ef
fort should be made to lead them to decide for
Christ, and to prepare them for the trials, which
they will be almost sure to meet, Avhen they go out
among heathen relatives and friends.
During a, time of bitter persecution it was very
noticeable that the native Christians Avho were
most familiar with tbe Bible, were strongest to bear
the trial of tlieir faith, and could be cheerful and
trustful, Avhile others were timid and dismayed.
As they finish their studies and go out to take
their places in the Avorld, let them feel that they
will never be forgotten, and thus holding fast your
influence OAer them, without doubt through them
you will be able to influence many whom you may
never know.
You Avill feel the paramount importance of find
ing the best method of presenting the gospel mes
sage, remembering that your hearers are as little
children, to Avhoui it is all neAV and strange. It will
not be surprising if they do not realize the sin of
neglecting to love and worship a God of Avhom they
have never heard, or if the beautiful story of a Sav
iour's love seems at first incredible to them.
Oftentimes a Avay that seems to appeal naturally
to their hearts is to present the hope of a happier
life than they have known here. For many of them
the earthly life has been filled Avith sadness, as they
are ready to admit, and the hope of something bet
ter, of a place of perfect happiness to Avhich they
may go, appeals to them strongly, and they are
' 94

Counsel to New Missionaries
ready and eager to learn how they may find the way,
and thus their interest is gained.
Many questions Avill necessarily come up for de
cision, and yqu will often feel the need of that wis
dom Avhieh God promises shall be given liberally to
those avIio ask. It is Avell not to be hasty in form
ing opinions, as oftentimes questions, which at first
seem easy of solution, may be found to have per
plexing conditions, Avhich must affect and perhaps
modify, if not change, the decision which at first
seemed right. You may meet with experiences
which would naturally tend to make you suspicious
of the motives and acts of those about you, but do
not allow them to' unduly influence you, or you will
surely find that your own influence for good will be
lessened. I remember hearing a very successful
missionary say, "The law considers a man innocent
until he is proven guilty, and missionaries surely
should not be less generous."
It is not likely that any one for Avhose good you
are earnestly seeking can seem dull and uninterest
ing, but if it should ever be so remember how much
has been given to you, and how little has fallen to
their lot, and be thankful and charitable.
You will doubtless find "trials by the Avay," and
they Avill very likely come in ways which you will
not expect. But endeavor under all circumstances
to "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may
be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." There may
be disappointments, but remember that they are His
appointments, and it will help you to bear them.
Some one has said that "In the missionary's vocabu
lary there is no such word as discouragement,"
"The battle is the Lord's," and victory in the end is
assured from the beginning. In a field Avhere there
95

Counsel to New Missionaries
are such boundless opportunities, surrounded by
millions who are in such dire need, of the gospel, it
often seems trying that one can do so little to meet
the need. But Avhen it is remembered that God
Himself has set the limitations of strength and abil
ity, they can be accepted cheerfully.
It has been truly said that the real measure of
any one's work is not Avhat can be done directly,
which must, necessarily be very limited, but Avhat
can be accomplished through others. This is espe
cially true on the mission field, where the compara
tively few Avorkers from the home-lands can never
hope to reach directly more than a very limited
number of the vast multitudes of heathen. And the
very best Avay to> develop the Christian life in those
who have accepted Christ for themselves, is to lead
them to Avork for the salvation of others. Once as
sured that there is really the love of Christ in tbe
heart no one need be considered as unable to' be a
worker in some capacity. And if you are careful
to secure the very best helpers that are attainable
you may confidently hope that the Lord of the har
vest will bless their labors. It must be remembered
that the imperfections of Christian Avorkers are
only in degree, for no one can claini to be perfect.
From the first use all your influence to lead them
to feel their personal responsibility, and how bind
ing upon them is the Saviour's command, "Freely
ye have received, freely give."
You will doubtless have varied experiences in
your missionary life. For the bright, happy days
you will be glad and thankful, and if sadness or
trials come to you you can always feel that it is all
in the present and will soon be past, and then the
joy of service will remain forever. And you will
96

Counsel to New Missionaries
often find comfort and help in the thought of tbe
many friends who "do' not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled Avith the knowl
edge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual under
standing." "Give me to know Thy Avill, 0 God!
And may I see each day
A light from Heaven upon the road
To clearly point the way !
That I may know just what to do
And what to leave undone,
And be unto' Thy service true
From dawn to setting sun."

97

VIII
OBSERVATIONS UPON INFLUENCES AF
FECTING THE HEALTH AND EFFI
CIENCY OF MISSIONARY LAB0RJ3
By George W. Holmes, M. D., formerly of Persia
TT\ HE most serious of the hurtful influences which
-¦- confront the missionary on his arrival on the
field are those due to insalubrity of climate. In
North China, Korea and Persia these are less harm
ful than in tropical climates, yet even then they must
be taken account of, and in the case of Persia in
particular on entering the country, either by way
of the Caspian or the Persian Gulf, where unhealth-
ful zones must be passed through. In tbe interior,
the altitude of our stations, ranging from 3,500 to
(>,000 feet, proves to many a disturbing element. The
air in such altitudes as Persia. Mexico, Guatemala,
and Colombia, is much rarer than at sea, level, and
is less rich in oxygen. It therefore becomes neces
sary to inhale, so fai* as possible, only pure air, and
as much of it as possible. Much out-door exercise is
important in order to secure these results, and to
increase tbe capacity of tbe lungs for air. This,
with the difference in atmospheric pressure . and
other causes, throws on the heart a greater burden
thjan customary, and functional disturbances or
dilatation may result. The circulation in the
brain and nerve centres is impeded, and insomnia
and nervous prostration result, aggravated by the
anemia due to a malarious atmosphere, which is
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Counsel to N e w Missionaries
everywhere present. The hot sun of summer, whose
rays the rare atmosphere but feebly intercepts, and
the constant glare from dead walls and barren
plains intensify these troubles, Avhen once the nor
mal tone of the nervous system is impaired. The
preventive measures indicated are, first, to cover
all garden Avails, if possible, with vines, woodbine,
hop or grape. This cannot be done, however, without
an abundance of running Avater, and unless that is
secured in purchasing property, it can hardly be ac
complished in some stations at all. Second, to
spend much time out doors AAdiere the eye can rest
on verdure and foliage and the other benefits of out
door life mentioned may.be secured. Third, to elim
inate as far as possible every influence, internal or
external, which disturbs the tranquility of mind
and heart, which is so important an element in the
missionary's well-being. More will be said on this
topic later on.
The water supply must be made a matter of con
stant care and watchfulness ; first, to see that it is
obtained from a source, which cannot be contami
nated through wells higher up; second, to see that it
is kept pure after being brought into the house.
Boiling does not alone insure its purity. The jugs
in Avhich the boiled water is kept are, very porous,
and thus they cool the Avater by its constant evapo
ration from the outside. But for the same reason
the substance of the vessel becomes filled with the
impurities, as Avith a filter, and the jug must either
be "fired" from time to time, or replaced by a new
one. I need not say that typhoid fever, malaria/
dysentery and other diseases are propagated by im
pure Avater. That is now well enough understood
by all. 99

C o u n s e I to N e to Missionaries
It is well to remind you that though the climate
of some stations, such as those we occupy in Persia,
is very dry, and therefore favorable in itself for
consumptives, there is notwithstanding a great
deal of tuberculosis prevalent in these lands. This
is doubtless due in Persia to the dampness of the
houses, which are buiTrofeartb, often impregnated
highly Avith hygroscopic alkalies, and in which the
simplest principles of ventilation are svstematically
violated. See to it that the Avails and floors of your
houses are kept dry, and that the rooms are capable
of good ventilation.
OAving to the dryness of the atmosphere radiation
is very rapid, and if overheated one cools very
quickly on sitting down in the shade. Therefore,
extra care is needed to avoid chills and congestions,
and either light Avoolen under garments should be
worn in summer or wraps should be always at hand
when out doors.
He Avas a Avise man Avhose thought found expres
sion in the maxim, "When in Rome do as the Ro
mans do," no matter how many persons justify
themselves by it in doing things when abroad that
they would be ashamed to be suspected of doing at
home. It is easy to criticise the unstudied Oriental
for his primitive methods in manufactures, and in
agriculture, for the deliberation with which he sets
out on a journey, and proceeds from stage to stage,
for his habit of sleeping directly after each of his
principal meals, for the seclusion of his women, and
the narrowness and crookedness of his streets. We
are apt to forget that the eternal fitness of things
requires co-ordination and correlation of the differ
ent members of an organism. The armor of Saul
was only a, burden to the youthful David, and West-
100

Counsel to N e to M i s s i o n a r i e s
ern civilization would only shackle the Orient until
the conditions out of Avhich that civilization Avas de
veloped had also become the possession of Eastern
peoples. So long as the atmosphere of the harem
prevails, the seclusion of AAromen, the zenana, the
veil, and the despotism of the mother-in-law are
necessary. The narrow, crooked streets of an Orien
tal city are an offence to the American, newly ar
rived,, but tbey have the advantage that under a
blazing noonday sun one cannot pursue their tor
tuous courses far in any direction Avithout meeting
Avith a good many bits of Avelcome and refreshing
shade. The plowman prefers the crooked stick,
pointed with iron, to the best product of our Amer
ican manufactories, for various reasons. To begin
with he has no money with wliich to buy an Ameri
can plow. If the ploAv Avere given him his thin yoke
of steers could not draw its share through the hard
sunbaked soil. If a second yoke of cattle were given
him, he would have nothing Avith Avhich to feed
them, and would perhaps have no second boy to sit
on the yoke and hold it doAvn in place on the shoul
ders of the oxen. Then when the share or tbe
woodwork needs mending he has no money for that
purpose, even could he find a smith or carpenter
who knew how to do the work. So he wisely con
tents himself with the ploAV his fathers used and
leaves the use of agricultural machinery to those
for whom God has provided such things.
The Persian never undertakes to "beat the rec
ord," when he sets out on a journey, but he does try
to make himself as comfortable as possible Avhile
on the road, knowing that there are many com
pensations to be got from its weariness and its dis
comforts if one make the best of bis opportunities.
101

Counsel to New Missionaries
It is true he puts himself to some unnecessary in
convenience in waiting for an auspicious conjunc
tion of the stars before making bis first stage, but
his first "menzil" is usually but a few miles distant,
and thence, having formally inaugurated his jour
ney, he is at liberty to go farther when it pleases
him. He therefore has time to inspect his equip
ment, to add to Avhat is lacking, and discard what
is found superfluous. This done, he proceeds on
his way quietly and without confusion, and Avith the
reasonable prospect of arriving at his next menzil
before the heat of the sun has proved exhausting,
for he has set out several hours before sunrise, and
has a large part of tbe distance covered before the
cool of the morning has passed.
He finds many other advantages in this early
start. He doesn't wait to' prepare a hearty meal,
which Avould necessarily cause considerable delay,
but partakes of a. light repast of tea, dry bread and
cheese, and is quickly in the saddle. If the Avay is
long, he stops about ten o'clock, has his breakfast,
and takes a short nap ; otherwise he makes sure to
reach his next menzil in time for an afternoon
siesta, and, should he chance to be a Behai mis
sionary, in time to gather around him afterwards a
little audience, and explain to them the principles
of the new faith. He gets to bed early, as do his
servants and animals, and arises early after a re
freshing rest, to repeat the order for the next day.
The occidental, taking the same journey, doesn't
consult the stars. He fixes upon a, day for his de
parture, divides the number of miles to be traveled
by the number he thinks he can force his animals to
cover in a day, and, if he can find menzils for the
night to correspond, decides to "be there" in so
102

Counsel to New M i s s i o n a r i e s
many days. He doesn't like early rising, so he gets
up late, and he doesn't like traveling on an empty
stomach, so he has a full breakfast prepared. He
consequently begins his journey when it is already
hot ; he has no time to stop for his mid-day nap ; he
arrives at his menzil late, and is tired, hungry, and
cross, and servants and animals are in like condi
tion. His ill-humor is aggravated on finding that
bis favorite horse has a loose shoe, and that his
hostler, in the hurry of departure, had forgotten
the bag of horse shoe nails and shoeing instruments.
He is a missionary, but -he has arrived so late that
after the necessary things are done, there is no time
left to gather the people together to tell them of
Christ ; he gets a late supper, goes late to bed, gets
up late, gets off late, and repeats the story of the
first day to the end of the journey. He arrives
there a day or two in advance of his Persian Jellow-
traveler, notAvithstanding he has rested on the Sab
bath, but his Sabbath's rest has not compensated
for the wear and tear of his Western methods of
travel. He has gained a day or two of time, and has
shortened bis period of effective service by some
weeks or months. He may possibly have lost an
eternity of opportunity, in passing by on the other
side, in his haste to get on, some who Avould have
gladly received the word into good and honest
hearts, had lie waited long enough to find them out,
In carrying on Avork Avithin the station it is bet
ter, if possible to bring it about, to adjust your
hours for eating and sleeping to synchronize Avith
those of the people. In Persia, they usually arise
with the sun or earlier, say their prayers, eat a, very
light repast of tea and dry bread, and from then
till nearly noon they are ready for business or so-
103

Counsel to New Missionaries
rial intercourse, and if tbe missionary Avere able to
accustom himself to the taking of so unsubstantial
and so' early a morning meal, be Avould find that the
intervals during Avhich he was at liberty to make
and receive calls Avere greatly lengthened, a point
of great importance in making appointments with
people so unpunctual as the Persians.
Anything which will smooth the way toward
bringing the missionary most effectively into in
dividual personal contact with men will, if he have
the faculty of dealing with men Avhen he meets
them, result in the greatest good to the work, and
in diminishing the employment of Avasteful effort.
To one, this personal Avork Avill be exhausting; to
another exhilarating. It should be made the aim of
every one to minimize the friction attending it. For,
hoAvever eloquent he may be as a preacher, however
skilful a physician, or learned a scholar, it will not
be upon masses but with individuals that his Avork
will count for most in the end. The missionary
should make it easy for his native acquaintances to
drop in upon him frequently without feeling that
they are intruding, or without compelling them to
choose an hour inconvenient to themselves, and
their friends Avhom they may wish to bring with
(hem. Tjxe_P_ersiaji_takes his first hearty meal near mid
day, and then sleeps, or is in seclusion for several
hours, His sleeping after a full meal impairs his
digestion to the same extent that it does in the case
of an infant or of one of the lower animals. From
the middle of the afternoon till sundown be is again
at leisure', or at Avork, as the case may be. Could
the missionary's evening meal be postponed till sun
set he/re is another considerable interval, in which
104

Counsel to New M issionaries
his own freedom from household duties and that of
the people harmonize.
But it is not ahvays easy to bring this about. In
stations where the homes of the missionaries are
scattered, the streets are often closed betAveen tbem
by gates, Avhich are prohibitory to passage through
them not long after dark, so if there are social or
religious meetings to attend in the evenings, supper
must be eaten before going, which makes it very
early, or after returning, Avhich brings it very late.
I do, not propose a solution of the difficulty, but
only to, present an ideal which I wish it were possi
ble to Avork out. I have frequently spent a month
or more at a time as a guest at native houses, and
have been surprised to observe how much longer the
day appeared, and how much more time I had for
making and receiving calls than when at home, even
after making allowance for the usual details of
"~fisi£mess Avhich consume time so often in the morn
ing. The more nearly the missionary can conform to
the ways of the people, in so far as their ways are
not hurtful, the more readily will he overcome prej
udice, and prejudice is, next to original sin, the
most serious obstacle he has to encounter in his
work for souls. I do not think that in Persia any
thing Avould be gained by wearing native costumes.
It would probably create distrust ; yet I would rec
ommend, earnestly, for medical missionaries visit
ing tbe harems, or even in the dispensaries, where
many Avomen come1 for treatment, at such times
only, the adoption of the Prince Albert coat, well
buttoned, rather than the cutaways so commonly
worn, and which are regarded by orthodox Persians
as hardly decent, even for the society of men. So
105

Counsel to New Missionaries
the use of a head covering and light veil, by tbe mis
sionary ladies Avhen passing through the streets,
and of a light Avrap' Avhen tight-fitting Avaists are
worn, and their avoidance of traveling alone, with
only menservants in attendance, are to my mind
sufficiently slight concessions to prejudices which
exist in the minds of the native Avomen as well as
men, and Avhich must needs be conciliated if Ave
are to reach their hearts. We do not dispel preju
dice by ignoring it, much less by deliberately run
ning counter to it, The fable Avhich shows how
easily the sun persuaded the traveler to remove his
overcoat, when the strongest efforts of the north
wind had only resulted in making him cling to it
the more tenaciously, is Avell worth the careful con
sideration of the missionary Avho would win tbe peo
ple's hearts to' Christ. We must get down off our
high horse of self-conceit if Ave Avould be yoked to
gether in a common service with Him Avho is meek
and loAvly in heart. Our efforts to remove causes
of prejudices operating against ourselves Avill also
bear fruit in helping us to overcome our own preju
dices against tbe people, without wliich Ave can nev
er make a beginning of rendering them effective
help. These things have a very important bearing on
the subject of my paper. The ultimate ideal of me
chanical science is to produce a frictionless engine,
wbicb shall convert the sum total of the? force it
generates into working power. An engine that con
sumes half its fuel in getting up steam enough to
move its OAvn Avbeels, can find no place for itself in
the Avorld's Avork of the twentieth century. So the
missionary who expends a large share of his poten
tial energy in overcoming obstacles Avhich bis own
106

Counsel to New Missionaries
hand has planted in his pathway, needs well to con
sider whether in so doing he is following Christ, or
that most hateful and most deceitful of the enemies
of Christ, self. Self love in the hearts of Christ's
messengers is at the bottom of more of our failures
in evangelizing the nations thus far, than any eleL
ments of our physical or political environment. It
was said of a distinguished contemporary artist,
that he Avas "master of the gentle art of making ene
mies." It is not desired that his pupils should
find their way to the mission field. If it be objected
that the duty of the missionary is not to conciliate
falsehood, but to overthrow it, I would reply that
the impact of a projectile is not augmented by the
friction of a rusty bore.
There are many things in the relation of mission
aries to one another, particularly in isolated sta
tions, which tend to jar upon delicate sensibilities,
and Avhich demand the constant exercise of gentle
ness, patience and forbearance. The work is wear
ing and exhausting, and its demands endless, and
the moral as well as physical tone of the missionary
suffers from lack of opportunity for recreation and
lack of many accustomed aids to faith found in the
social and religious institutions of the home-land.
Under such circumstances it is not difficult for one
to fall into a querulous and critical attitude toward
one's fellow-missionaries, to misconstrue their mo
tives, to forget that they are subject to like demands
upon their time, and like deprivations. The charity
that rules its own spirit, that bridleth the tongue,
that beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth
all things, endureth all things, has a, positive ther
apeutic value, both for its possessor and for the en
tire circle avIio are blessed by its exercise. At home,
107

Counsel to New Missionaries
if a chosen companionship prove uncongenial, one
can turn to others, but in the limited circle of the
mission station this resource fails, and one must
either adjust himself to his environment or pay the
penalty. The most unhappy feature of it is that the
penalty must also be exacted of all his fellow-mis
sionaries likewise, by so much diminishing their col
lective power for work. Herbert Spencer's defini
tion of life, as translated into* common terms by
Drummond, is "The adjustment of interior rela
tions to exterior relations." In proportion as the
missionary is able to accomplish this, in that pro
portion does he possess the more abundant life, for
he cannot do it truly unless his environment is God
and his teacher is His Spirit. Truly does the poet
say, "He most lives who thinks most, feels "the no
blest, acts the best."
There can be no safeguard provided for the health
of the body so perfect and so sure as that the organ
ism shall find in love its perfect environment. For
"he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God." And
nothing can so certainly insure the perfect co-ordi
nation of the poAvers of the organism itself, as love
— not love in the abstract, a compound of hysterical
emotion and sentimental cant, but love which, first
given of God, is reflected back to Him through the
only medium by Avhich it can outwardly express it-
selfjfe our felloAv-men ; love which is not easily pro
voked, thinketh no evil. To love one another is the
old commandment Avhich becomes new'Avith each
new opportunity for its fulfillment, of which the
wise man has said that "length of days, and years
of life, and peace shall (it) add to thee."
He was a Avise traveler Avho, on setting out upon
his journeys, ahvays laid aside a definite sum to
108

Counsel to New Missionaries
meet losses incurred by overcharges, exactions,, and
petty robberies under various names. It was in
evitable, he said, that these offences should come.
Y\ hy should he allow them to rob him of all the en
joyment of his trip,. He preferred to pay all such
exactions out of the fund set aside for them, and
then to dismiss them from his mind. I should
count this man's philosophy an indispensable part
of every missionary's outfit. When tempted to in
veigh against the conditions, moral, social, political,
sanitary, that one is confronted with constantly in
missionary lands, bear in mind that you were not
sent to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
If these things Avere non-existent, together with the
causes Avhich produced them and other evils, your
being there in your present capacity Avere an imper
tinence. Decide before you leave home whether you
are prepared, in little things as Avell as great, to en
dure hardness for Christ's sake. If not you are not
called to the foreign field.
You Avill be tried by the slowness of your servants
and the deliberation with which citizens and labor
ers of every kind do their work. If you are a proved
. mechanical genius you may venture to introduce
some modifications into their ways of doing things.
But I Avould recall Kipling's warning lines, which
you will enjoy reading better after a few years
than now. .«
"O it is not good for the Christian's health
To hustle the Aryan broAvn ;
For the Christian riles, and the Aryan smiles,
And he Aveareth the Christian down.
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, 'A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East.' "
109

IX
MEDICAL ADVICE TO NEW MISSIONARIES
By W. J. Wanless, M. D., of India
TF1 HE missionary should remember always that the
¦*- care of his health is a matter of great import
ance, for the Avork's sake as well as his own. The
missionary is the most valuable property the church
possesses abroad and its careful preservation is a
sine qua -non to continuous and successful service.
This does not mean that the missionary should cod
dle himself. It does mean that he be sensible and
reasonable. The proper care of the health on the mission field
involves first —
Exercise. — Exercise should be (1) systematic —
not a. haphazard attempt to get a, little exercise oc
casionally. There should be a set time for exer
cise, and this should be given up only in obedience
to mo?t urgent calls to other duty. The tendency
in all tropical and semi-tropical climates is for the
circulation to grow sluggish, the liver torpid and
tlie muscles relaxed and flabby; for all this system
atic exercise is the only preventative. Of course
some missionaries who travel and tour constantly
will get tbe major part of their exercise in the per
formance of tlieir regular Avork, but frequently get
ting exercise in one's work is an unsatisfactory
makeshift if the Avork is not done continually out
of doors. Systematic exercise is necessary in order
to a diversion of the mind, if for no other reason;
( 2 ) The. form of exercise is not a matter of great im-
110

Counsel to New Missionaries
por tance, provided it is not indulged in to the point
of exhaustion or profound fatigue, and is carried
out in the open air. Lawn tennis, badminton, horse
back riding, brisk club-SAvinging, Avalking on level
in company, hill climbing, gardening, chopping
Avood, etc., are commonly used forms of exercise;
(3) The time to be given to daily exercise will vary
with the form of the exercise; half an hour to one
hour Avill be generally sufficient ; ( 4 ) A cold plunge,
shower or sponge bath after exercise, followed by a
brisk rub Avill improve the value of the recreation ;
(5) Persons suffering from heart or lung disease
should not indulge in active exercise without con
sulting a physician; (6) For the relief of chronic
constipation, if general exercise is not sufficient, it
is well to employ exercises which act mechanically
upon the abdomen, such as standing erect with
arms above the head and then trying to touch the
floor without bending the knees, or lying upon the
back and trying to sit up without using the hands,
etc., each exercise to be repeated a number (10)
of times daily.
Bathing. — Most missionaries in tropical or semi-
tropical climates bathe at least once a day, which
is a good rule. In tbe hottest months more fre
quent bathing may be called for. Persons accus
tomed to bathing in hot water at home should accus
tom themselves to the cold or tepid bath on the mis
sion field. Persons Avho use only the hot bath are
more susceptible to colds than those who use the
cold bath. Harm is frequently done to young chil
dren by the constant use of the hot bath. From
birth children should be bathed in tepid and prefer
ably cool or cold water. It is not necessary or ad
visable to change suddenly. Lowering the tempera-
ni

Counsel to New Missionaries
ture of the bath gradually, a degree a week for ex
ample, Avill soon enable any child to bear cold bath
ing to advantage. Any evil effects of a cold bath
are avoided by a brisk rub folloAving the bath and
tbe proper clothing of the body afterwards. A chill
from a bath will not cause malaria.
Clothing. — Little may be said under this head
except that Avhatever kind of clothing is used the
abdomen, chest and spine should be properly pro
tected by clothing which Avill not allow rapid evapo
ration of perspiration and cooling of the surface.
Generally light flannel is the safest and most satis
factory material to wear next the skin over the
vital parts. A flannel binder is in common use as
a protector of the abdominal organs and is to be
commended. The legs and arms of children in hot
climates are better left exposed. Children who run
barefoot for the whole or part of the day are health
ier as a, rule than those who do not. Prickly heat
is best relieved by frequent bathing and change of
clothing and the use of a non-irritating dusting
powder, such as starch, talc, etc.
Food. — Common sense will usually dictate as to
what may or may not be safely taken as an article
of diet. A mixed diet is usually tbe best. Unripe
fruit, fresh bread, strong teas and coffee and rich,
highly seasoned foods are common causes of indi
gestion, diarrhoea and dysentery. On the other
band persons who are subject to constipation may
eat of certain fresh fruits, such as figs,, prunes, etc.
Fruit as a corrective is best eaten early in the morn
ing. In tropical climates less flesh is required than
in a temperate zone. Meals should be lighter as a
rule and more frequent than at home. Overeating
is always harmful; underfeeding less so.
113

Counsel to N e w Missionaries
Water. — It is generally unsafe to take Avater from
public Avells and tanks in Asiatic countries. Most
mission stations have private sources of water sup
ply, but in all cases it is a good rule never to drink
unboiled Avater. Do not depend, on filtered water.
Filters are often nothing less than germ traps. Nev
er boil water and then filter it. If the Avater is
murky filter, then boil. Boiling renders any water
safe, but be sure it is boiled, not merely heated. It
may be alloAved to cool before drinking. Earthen
Avater containers soon become contaminated with
germ life; they should be cleaned and scalded fre
quently. Glazed lined vessels should be used to
store the water after it is boiled; these should be
kept clean by scalding.
Rest and Sleep. — The missionary more than the
home pastor needs regular sleep and rest. The
bracing atmosphere of the home climate Avill in part
atone for wakeful and sleepless nights, but the ener
vation of a tropical or semi-tropical climate will
add insult to injury due to loss of sleep. Few
missionaries find that they can continue uninter
ruptedly and with impunity the Western pace. A
mid-day break in the' form of a few minutes' to an
hour's nap-, Avith a couple of hours of recumbency,
will greatly help to safeguard the strength, increase
endurance and prolong life. The eight-hour period
of sleep in twenty-four should be faithfully pre
served and guarded.
The Care of the Eyes and. Head. — All new mis
sionaries " who have had the slightest trouble with
their eyes or avIio have suffered from persistent
headaches, should have their eyes examined for
glasses by a competent oculist (not an optician).
The study of the characters of a neAV language Avill
113

Counsel to New Missionaries
often develop latent errors of refraction in the eyes,
Avhich otherwise might show no symptoms. It is
generally unAvise to study by lamplight the charac
ters of a language with Avhich one is unfamiliar.
Ahvays study in a good light, It is Avell to protect
the eyes from the glare of a tropical sun Avhen out
of doors, by the use of London smoked glasses. A
solution of boracic acid (10 grains to the ounce), in
clear Avater is a useful non-irritating lotion for all
forms of inflamed or irritable eyes,
Maternity. — The most important considerations
in this regard are given in another paper. In ad
dition to the advice there given it may be said em
phatically that pregnancy should be avoided by
women in a Aveak state of general health and dur
ing the presence of any exhausting disease, such as
chronic dysentery, malaria, anemia, persistent in
somnia, etc. During pregnancy, particularly dur
ing the time that the usual monthly period would
occur, violent exercise should be avoided and no
quinine should be taken. In tropical and semi-trop
ical climates the enervation and relaxating con
ditions are such that miscarriage is more likely to
occur than in a temperate climate. Otherwise the
rules observed in the home-land should be carried
out on the mission field.
Medicines. — Missionaries should avoid drugging
themselves, especially in the case of chronic head
ache or continued pain of any sort. Physicians' di
rections only should be followed under such circum
stances. HoAvever, most missionaries, where a phy
sician is not available, are called upon to take medi
cines at some time or other for acute illness. A few
household remedies and their common use are sug
gested below. All are simple and well-known reme-

114

Counsel to N e to Missionaries
dies. For further uses simple books on family medi
cine, such as "Moore's Family Medicine for In
dia," or "Warren's Household Physician," may be
consulted. Mustard Flour — Useful for poultices, blisters
and emetics.
Linseed Meal, Two Pounds. — Useful as a poul
tice. The seeds may be used to make linseed tea,
useful in cough and scantiness of urine.
Turpentine, Eight Ounces.- — Useful for fomenta
tion. A taiblespoonful to a pint of hot water. May
be used in flatulent diarrhoea, a, few drops in a cup
of hot water occasionally.
Castor Oil, Eight Ounces. — May be applied to
sores and ulcers by adding one part of carbolic acid
to thirty of the oil. Best known remedy as cathar
tic at outset of diarrhoea,, dysentery, bronchitis,
croup, colic in children, etc.
Santomin, One-Quarter Ounce. — For intestinal
worms. Dose for child five years, two grains, fol-
loAved in eight hours by cathartic. Give on empty
stomach. Calomel, One-Quarter Ounce. — Useful as cathar
tic in torpid state of liver and constipation. Gen
erally best given at night (three to six grains for an
adult), folloAved by a dose of Epsom salts or castor
oil on rising. Not to be repeated without doctor's
orders. Epsom Salts ( Magnesium Sulphate), One Pound.
—Useful simple cathartic for adults. Useful in
dysentery, diarrhoea and constipation.
" Ipecacuanha, One Ounce. — Specific for dysen
tery. Must be taken in 20 to 40 grain doses on emp
ty stomach. Repeat if vomited, and remain perfect-

115

C o u n s e I to N e to M i ssionaries
ly quiet in bed, Avith head low, for four hours. Con
tinue use tAvo to three times daily till cured.
Wine of Ipecac, One Ounce. — Useful in cough,
croup, bronchitis, etc. Dose for child of one year
five to ten drops every two, to three hours.
Paregoric, One Ounce. — Useful for colic in in
fants, cough and bronchitis. Dose for child of one
year, five to ten drops.
Spirits of Camphor, Two Ounces. — Useful in
cough, in fainting spell, cholera, diarrhoea, a. heart
stimulant. Dose, five to ten drops dissolved in
liquor, AArater added afterAvard.
Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia, Two Ounces. — Use
ful in bilious headache, flatulence, Aveakness, faint
ing, etc. Dose1, 20 to 40 drops in water.
Sweet Spirits of Nitre, Two Ounces. — Useful in
cough, colic, irritability of bladder, flatulence and
colic. Dose, 10 to> 40 drops in water. v
Strong Ammonia, One-Half Ounce.- — For insect
bites, scorpion stings, etc. Dose, five to ten drops
dissolved in eight to ten ounces of water and re
peated every ten minutes till relieved.
Dill Water, One Ounce. — Useful for colic in in
fants.
s Quinine, Ten Ounces. — For malaria, etc. Dose,
£ve to fifteen grains betAveen attacks of fever. Dose>
''one to two grains (one-grain tablets) thrice daily,
' as preventive. Tablets or powders are preferable
to pills.
Phcnaectin, One-Half Ounce. — For headache,
rheumatism, fever, etc. Dose, five to ten grains, not
to be given to persons Avith weak heart.
Chlorate of Potash, One Ounce. — Twenty grains
to the ounce as mouth Avash and gargle in sore
mouth and throat. Not to be swallowed.
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Counsel to N e w Missionaries
Borax and Hotiey, One Ounce: — For sore mouth
in infants. Apply on clean linen rag.
Vaseline. — General use in sores and skin diseases.
Sulphur Ointment. — Application in itch and
parasitic skin diseases.
Zinc Ointment. — Useful in inflammatory skin
diseases. Carbolic Acid, Two Ounces. — Antiseptic lotion.
One-half a teaspoonful to 15 ounces of water for
washing Avounds, sores, etc.
A Davidson Syringe.
A Fountain Syringe.
A Couple of Two-Ounce Glass Syringes.
Measure Glasses.
Glass Droppers.
Books. — "Moore's Family Medicine for India,"
or "Warren's Household Physician."

117

X
SPECIAL MEDICAL COUNSEL TO WOMEN
MISSIONARIES.
By Bertha Caldwell, M. D., Formerly of India.
XT OU have applied to the Board of Foreign Mis-
-*- sions for service in that portion of God's
vineyard, and I, as one who has been "on the
field," have been asked to give you a. feAV private
suggestions regarding your health and how to fit
yourself physically, both before starting and after
you have reached your destination. Not all the sug
gestions, hoAvever, that Avould fill volumes will do
any good unless they are coupled Avith sound com
mon sense, on the part both of the giver and of tbe
receivers, and so, in the few suggestions I am privi
leged to give you I shall take it for granted that
you are richly endowed with a practical mind, and
really wish the best equipment in the way of health
that it is possible for you to have.
Let me begin, then, with the subject of eyes and
ask you whether, when you have been studying at
college or teaching or doing any close work, your
eyes have given you the least trouble. If so, do not
dream of coming to a foreign country without con
sulting a leading oculist. Your family doctor will
not do' in this case, though he may be very clever,
but it is a. specialist you heed now. You may be sta
tioned in a country Avhere there is no such person
as an oculist, and you know the day for buying
glasses in tbe bazar is over. See to it, then, if you
have the slightest doubt of your eyes, or if you are
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Counsel to New Missionaries
a, sufferer from headaches which cannot be traced
to any other cause, that you have them tested. If
you find you need glasses, procure tAvo pairs to
bring with you, and leave your prescription with
the optician in case of accident. The Oriental lan
guages have very fine characters, most trying to the
beginner, and you will need to be extremely careful
and shut up your books on tbe first symptom of eye
strain. And I Avish to say to those who already
wear glasses that it Avill be a wise precaution to
have your eyes retested, and wear and get used to
your glasses a few Aveeks before sailing. I have
known several sad cases where the young mission
aries put off the final test till the last thing before
sailing and suffered the penalty for years after in
badly fitted glasses.
Regarding your ears, nose and throat, I Avant to
ask you questions that your examining physician
may not have deemed necessary, or may not have
thought essential in relation to your general health.
And so they may not be — in America — but remem
ber, you are probably going to a country where
there is not a, single specialist in nose, throat and
ear diseases, and if you have been, even in the very
slightest degree annoyed by these troubles at home,
a treacherous tropical climate will lay hold on these
weak spots of yours and increase your annoyance
tenfold. Are you slightly deaf, or if you have a
"cold," do your ears ever "run"? Remember, you
will need the very keenest hearing to get the lan
guage perfectly. Do you have a slight catarrh in
the winter, having to do considerable "hawking"
when voii, rise in the morning? Then allow me to
suggest that you consult your doctor and become
cured of this annoyance before you start, or the first
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Counsel to New Missionaries
rainy season Avill see you laid up for days, and prob
ably weeks, with a weak throat. Every form of mis
sionary work is dependent on much talking and
singing, and if your throat gives out and you be
come exhausted after the first lesson or the first
song, you Avill be poorly equipped indeed for your
work. Cases of this kind in missionaries come un
der my notice only too frequently.
It seems almost superfluous to mention the teeth,
yet some missionaries come out to foreign fields
very badly equipped in this particular, because of
ignorance of tbe fact that foreign countries, such
as you and I are interested in are not over-stocked
with dentists. In India there are a feAv American
dentists scattered at long distances, but even in
a. sudden emergency it is agony to go a day's travel
by rail and several hours by tonga, and dandi, in
search of some one to relieve the pain. You should
have your teeth examined just before you start and
lay in a large stock of tooth brushes, which are gen
erally both expensive and inferior in quality outside
of England or America,
And now I ask, have you the faintest suspicion
of a goitre? You may smile at that and wonder
Avby I ask it, but it is astonishing how common it
seems to be in young women, and if I had not seen
several young missionaries just out from home suf
fering Avith slight goitres, which had to be treated
for months by painful methods, I, too, might not.
have deemed it important enough to mention. In
dia, especially is the country for large goitres in
Avomen, due to certain drinking waters, and even
the smallest goitres increase very rapidly. So let
me recommend you to remain out of a tropical
country until every trace of it has disappeared.
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Counsel to New Missionaries
Tropical countries play havoc Avith people of
sedentary habits in the Avay of producing most ob
stinate constipation, and constipation produces a
train of symptoms,, such as headache and listless-
ness. Nature seems to have provided for this in
the abundance and character of her fruits; exer
cise, too, in some shape or form is absolutely nec
essary and ought to be taken Avith the same regu
larity as the daily bath. Missionaries overlook, the
fact that the reason Government officials stand hot
climates so> Avell is because they believe in a. great
deal of exercise after work hours. It is a. well dem
onstrated fact that Avith a stipulated amount of ex
ercise the bowels Avill be kept in good order and the
pores of the skin Avell open. If, coupled with exer
cise, a daily cold bath be indulged In, the body will
be in the best possible condition to combat serious
illness or sudden epidemics.
And now I am going to overlook any weakness
of heart, lungs, liver, spleen or kidneys, knowing
that these are points upon Avhich your examining
physician Avill place much stress, and upon which
you also will naturally be most particular, and I
will speak to you of several things especially per
taining to you as a woman. I want to inquire if
you suffer from backache, low down in the spine,
which makes you perfectly miserable at times; or
AAdten tired, do you have a, dragged down feeling for
which you cannot account, accompanied by other
signs of female weakness? You ought not to come
to your appointed place until all this is remedied,
and it is Avisest to consult a good woman physician
on the subject. You may find far more ailing you
than you ever dreamed of. You have no more right
to be laid up at "certain periods" in the month with
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Counsel to New Missionaries
pain and backache Avhile on the field — pain which
could have been remedied at home had you been con
scientious about it — .-than you have to take several
days from your school or office work in your own
country. Your employer would not permit your be
ing absent periodically ; neither ought you to expect
the Board to allow you such a privilege. It is
necessary for missionaries to be all the more con
scientious as to their time, though the Board is not
a hard taskmaster. There are medical missionaries
to help you if anything happens to you on the field,
but it is your duty to lighten their burdens all you
can by coming to your Avork as Avell equipped in
body as you are expected to be in mind.
You may be expecting to come out married, or to
be married soon 'after landing, and for you I Avant
to say just a Avord : The first year on any mission
field is a hard one; the process of acclimation, of
beginning on years of language study, of settling in
a neAV home, of learning the natures and customs of
the people for whose souls' good you have come to
work — you Avill find all these very trying, and if
you attempt to assume the responsibilities of moth
erhood at the same time, you will surely find you
must neglect some one important thing that you
will regret all your missionary life. One's body
goes through a changing process in acclimation.
"Why, then, put it to a further strain Avith the
changes Avhich come Avith approaching motherhood?
I Avould not for an instant have you shirk this re
sponsibility for all time, but, in general, I can
scarcely think of anything so debilitating to a
Avoman in a tropical country, so trying to her
temper, so deadening to her interest in her mis
sionary work, so prone to shorten her period
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Counsel to New Missionaries
of usefulness to the mission cause, or to her
children themselves, as child bearing at frequent
intervals. A sick person does not recover from
the slightest illness in a hot country as quickly
as in a cold one. It stands to reason, then,
that it takes some time for a Avoman's genera
tive organs to recover tone after such a great
change. It has been estimated by those Avho have
been interested in the subject that fully three years
ought to elapse between children, both for the good
of the mother and the child. You may think that
such an arrangement may not be in your power.
Careful consideration of the subject with the man
you love and who has promised to protect you in
every way, and a perfect and prayerful understand
ing Avith each other Avill show you your duty. A
woman will neither be able to do the work God has
sent her out to do, nor to give tbe care and attention
to the children God Avill give her, unless she keeps
her body in the best tone possible.

123

XI
SUNDRY PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
By the Rev. H. H. Jessup, D.D., L.L.D., of Syria
A S you enter on your work as a missionary begin
-"- humbly. Tbe message you bring is divine,
but the messenger is human. You are a stranger in
a strange land. You cannot speak a Avord of the
language. I. The people think that because you do not
know their language you do not know anything.
They pity you, and, perhaps, despise you. After
• all the years of your study and preparation you
must begin at the ABC, and like a child learn to
talk and read and Avrite again.
You will be Avise if you gracefully accept the sit
uation and take the attitude of a learner, not only
in language, but in social customs and business
relations. You will soon find that "they didn't
knoAV everything down in" your town or country.
When I came to Syria in 1856 I thought the
people foolish in always boiling their fresh milk
before using it, and in their dread of consumption
as an infectious disease. They had, however,
learned by ages of experience what Western bac
teriologists have just found out, Do not think
everything American necessarily good, or every
thing Asiatic or African necessarily bad.
The three years spent in language study will be
no loss. If you could plunge into your Avork on
your first arrival, knowing the language, but knoAV-
ing nothing of the habits, prejudices, customs, cour-
124

Counsel to New M issionaries
tesies, proprieties, religious tenets and superstitions
and national tastes of the people, you Avould make
more enemies in a year than you could unmake in
many years. Your blunders Avould stick to you and
be associated Avith you in tbe minds of the people,
and they Avould have a nickname for you Avhich you
could not shake off. A stranger in any land needs
to Avalk cautiously, especially if he conies as an
avowed reformer. In 1856 I took lessons in Arabic
grammar in Tripoli, Syria, of Sheikh OAvad, Avhose
room was near the great Mosque. We sat on the
floor, the Avindow opening on a, level with the street.
He had his feet drawn up under his flowing robe.
I could not sit cross-legged, and sat Avith my feet
extended. He turned red in the face, and, apolo
gizing, begged me to hide my feet, "For," he said,
"if the Eff endis pass and see a man's feet projecting
that way, I shall lose their respect." To enter a
Moslem house or a mosque Avith shoes soiled from
the street and step on their clean rugs, on Avhich
they press their foreheads in prayer, is looked on
as utter boorishness. Far better wear overshoes
and take them off at the door. A true Moslem Avill
not wear laced shoes, Avhich require so much time
in putting on and off.
Study the national customs while you are study
ing the language1, and remember AAdiat you learn. A
few colossal blunders Avill promote your growth in
humility. It Avould be of more value to you to hear
their remarks about you than for them to under
stand your remarks about them. It takes men of
different nationalities a long time to understand
each other's tastes, customs and virtues.
II. Hold on. Dr. Van Dyck was once asked,
What is the most important qualification of a mis-
125

C o u, n s e I to New Mission a r i e s
sionary? He said: "Do one thing and stick to it."
Regard your Avork as a life Avork. The successful
men are those avIio begin right and persevere. Let
nothing turn you aside. You may have offers from
home churches or professorial chairs or diplomatic
office or lucrative commercial posts, or may be as
sailed by doting family friends Avho are sure you
are too good a man to be "throAvn away on the
heathen, where any dolt Avould do as Avell," etc.
But "set your face steadfastly" forward. Your
usefulness Avill increase as you grow older and
wiser. A half-hearted missionary had better stay
at home. Let it be understood that nothing but the
band of God can separate you from the work. It is
a life enlistment. Trials and bereavements may
come. They will come. But let them fit you the
better for more sanctified and holier service and
not frighten you away from your post, I knew of
a missionary AArho Avas invited to a theological pro
fessorship at home after being less than tAvo years
on the field. His old professors said to him : "We
want a man of a genuine missionary spirit in this
seminary." He replied: "If I took this post I
could not open my mouth on missions, for when I
would say to the students, 'You ought to go abroad,'
they Avould reply, 'Why didn't you go?' T did go.'
'Then, Avhy did you return?' 'To take this professor
ship.' 'Very Avell, AveTl stay and take professor
ships without all that expense to the churches.' "
No man should leave the missionary Avork unless
driven out of it by the clear indications of God's
providence. And Avhen your mind is fixed you will be happier.
This is to be my country and my people. Here I
will live and die. All I am and have shall be de-
126

Counsel to New Missionaries
voted to their interests, Avith no looking back for
happiness or service to my dear native land.
III. Identify yourself as far as possible with
the people. You cannot Avell imitate the dress of
African savages, or eat the food of Bedouin Arabs,
but you can become one of them in the higher and
nobler features of love, sympathy and service, of
helpfulness and brotherly counsel. And avoid dis
paraging remarks about them as contrasted with
your own people and country.
In matters of morals and sanitary rules and
measures you should be Avise, firm and kind while
uncompromising. Try and love what seems unlove
ly. Try to like their customs and language.
IV. At the Missionary Conference of Christian
Avorkers, held in Bramana, Mount Lebanon, August,
1901, all Avere requested to Avrite briefly tbe three
ch ief characteristics of the ideal missionary. Nine
ty papers were handed in. Among the features
mentioned Avere the folloAving:
The ideal missionary should be "sound in body
and mind, able to eat all kinds of food, pre
pared to rough it, if necessary." When Dr. Will
iam Goodell and Rev. Daniel Temple Avere young
men under appointment to Syria and Smyrna
they visited the churches in NeAV England pre
vious to sailing. At one house the lady offered
them a rocking chair. Temple declined, saying, "A
missionary must learn to deny himself." Goodell
sprang up and took it, saying, "A missionary must
take Avhat is offered him without question." They
were both right. Both did good work and Goodell
was a model of Christian cheerfulness and vivacity.
Other papers read as follows: "An adequate
knoAvledge of the language," "A natural gift of lan-
127

Counsel to New Missionaries

s

guages," "Bible -study, heart study, language
study," "A student of the problems of his field."
"The gift of humor in being able to laugh at your
self and begin again," "Able to preach Christ and
not laugh at the superstitions of the people."
The following were on the subject of consecra
tion: "Perfectly surrendered to God," "Willing to
efface self and exalt Christ," "A Christlike humil
ity," "A bond-servant of Christ," "Emptied of self,"
"A keen ear to detect. God's Avhisper," "Gentle to
all," "Apt to teach," "An unadvertised self-denial,"
"Devotion to Christ," "A firm belief in the people,
ever striving to find the angel in the rough block of
marble," "A life laid down at the feet of Christ,"
"Of a single purpose," "Earnestness in prayer and
soul Avinning," "A hunger to bring souls to Christ,"
"Christlike." Much along the same line Avere these: "Filled
with the Spirit," "Baptized Avith the Holy Spirit,"
"A Avitness of AAdiat God has Avrought in him," "An
overflowing spirit-filled life," "Much in prayer and
intercession for others."
The need of strong faith and hope seemed to be
the leading thought in the minds of others. "Un
failing faith," "Holds on, though he sees no fruit,"
"Believes in the possibility of human nature,"
"Holds on cheerfully to tbe end," "Belief in the pos
sibilities of human nature," "Belief in God that He
will have all men to be saved," "Sure of the ulti
mate triumph of the Gospel," "Constrained by the
love of Christ," "A Christlike love for souls."
Then — undoubtedly taught by experience— oth
ers have written that the ideal missionarv "needs
tact, courtesy and kindness to other' missionaries
and the people," "Common sense" and "sanctified
128

Counsel to New Miss i o n a r i e s
common sense," "A Avise sympathy with others,"
"The wisdom of Solomon," "Able to understand the
people and Avin their confidence," "Interested in
every one he meets," "Be made all things to all
men," "Keep' near his fellow-missionaries and near
the people," "Patience," "Compatibility," "The abil
ity to set others to Avork," "PoAver of living at peace
with all men," "A divine sense of proportion, put
ting things first Avhich are first," "One Avho lives up
to what he preaches," "A warm heart, a hard head,
a thick skin," "Power to quench the thirst of
others," "He keeps at it," "Selflessness in accept
ing the station assigned," "Work wisely; neither
wear out nor rust out."
In the discussion Avhich followed the reading of
these papers, Mr. Ellis, of Jerusalem, stated that
an elderly member of a missionary Board in London
was requested to examine a young missionary can
didate. He replied : "Send him to me at four
o'clock to-morrow morning." Promptly at four A.
M. the young man rang the door bell and Avas ad
mitted to a cold, dimly-lighted Avaiting-room. Five
o'clock came, then six and seven and eight, and
Anally the venerable man entered, and Avithout a
word of apology said to him: "Can you read?"
"Certainly." "Then take this book and read." He
did so. Then the examiner said : "Have you stud
ied arithmetic?" "Yes." "How much is two mul
tiplied by two?" "Four." "What is the capital of
England?" "London." "Write your name and ad
dress." He did so-. "That is sufficient. I will re
port on your case. Good morning." The young
man retired in great amazement at this singular in-
tervieAv. The clergyman reported favorably on the
candidate: "First, I found him prompt — on hand
129

Counsel to New Missionaries
at the appointed time. Second, he Avas patient. He
waited for me four hours. Third, he was meek. He
did not complain, though I insulted him and treat
ed him as a child. Fourth, he knows tbe principles
of arithmetic and geography. Fifth, he has the
Spirit of Christ in not pleasing himself or asking
an explanation of my conduct, or being offended
at my insults. I recommend that he be appointed."
And he Avas.
Be willing to go where you are sent. Neither the
Board of Missions nor the mission to which you are
going Avill be likely to designate you to a post where
you can not do good work for the Master. But be
willing to go anywhere.
Let us go in a tractable spirit, ready to take ad
vice and yield to the voice of a majority of our
brethren. Dr. Rufus Anderson, of the American
Board, told me in 1857 that a young man once came
to the missionary house in Boston as a candidate
for the foreign mission field. Dr. Anderson invited
him to walk with him to Roxbury and spend the
night with him, as he-was accustomed to invite neAV
candidates in order to satisfy himself Avith regard
to their character. As they were walking, the
young man suddenly said: "I prefer to walk on
the right side." Dr. Anderson at once yielded the
point, and soon inquired : "May I ask why you
prefer to Avalk on the right side — are you deaf in
one ear?" "No," said the young man ; "but I prefer
to walk on the right side, and I always will walk on
the right side." That young man Avas not sent
abroad. It was evident that a man who Avas bent
on having his OAvn way without giving reasons
would be likely to make mischief, and his right side
would be pretty sure to be the wrong side.
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Counsel to New Mi ssionaries
Some men can only work when alone. Let us re
joice to work with others and yield to others. One
self-opinionated, arbitrary, Avilful man may bring
disaster upon a station. The majority should de
cide every question. Intractable men make trouble
enough at home, yet in a Christian land they more
quickly find their level under the tide of "public
opinion; but in a little organized, self-governing
body in a distant corner of the earth such men work
great mischief.
Let us also be ready to do anything in our power
to help on the work — teach, preach, edit, translate,
travel, build, or print.
Let us go forth as hopeful laborers. A class once
graduated in Cambridge consisting of three men, "a
mystic, a skeptic, and a dyspeptic." The mission
ary work does not want pessimists who, like cuttle
fish, darken all the waters around them with inky
blackness. Mr. Moody said, at the meeting of the
American Board in Madison, Wis., in 1894: "Pes
simists have no place in the Christian pulpit. We
want hopeful men." And we can say with equal
truth, pessimists have no place in the foreign mis
sionary work. We want hopeful men in this glori
ous agressive Avarfare. There is quite enough to
weigh you doAvn without carrying lead in your hat.
Let us go Avith level-headed, Christian common
hcv.sc. Nothing Avill supply the want of this. A
misplaced and misnamed "missionary" in India
once wrote home to his friends that he could get on
well enough but for these miserable natives, Avho
kept crowding into his house; but now he had a
bulldog and hoped to keep them off.
A missionary once sailed for the East from an
American port. He had packed and marked all his
131

Counsel to New Missionaries
boxes, and shipped them in advance of his own sail
ing. When half-way to his field he Avas attacked by
a serious illness, Avhich obliged him to return to his
native land. As his boxes contained various ar
ticles for missionaries already on the field, he wrote
to them the following lucid directions : "Observe,
when you open the boxes, that No. 1 contains only
my goods; No. 2, my goods and books for Mr. — ;
No. 3 is all for Mr. and Mrs. — ; No. 4 is for Mr. — ¦
and Dr. — ," and so on up to tAventy boxes. Then he
added a, postscript as follows : "The boxes are not
numbered." Do not be carried aAvay by visionary dreamers.
Use Avisdom, patience, and good sense in selecting a
sight for the permanent mission station. Avoid low,
malarial spots as Avell as inaccessible locations.
A feAV years ago a medical student in Toronto
wrote to me, inquiring about Jericho as a proper
site for a medical mission. A certain Dr.  pro
posed to send out twenty-five medical missionaries
to Jericho, promising to pay their expenses and
guarantee them an income from the natives of $25 a
week and great opportunities for doing good. The
writer said that his father doubted the soundness
of the enterprise, and wished my opinion of the
scheme. I wrote him somewhat as follows:
"I have been to Jericho, and knoAV all about its
surroundings. "Jericho is the lowest spot on the earth's surface,
geographically, intellectually, and morally.
"It is the hottest place, being one thousand three
hundred feet below the sea-level, and uninhabitable
for white men six months in the year.
"The inhabitants number from one hundred to
two hundred, and are half-naked, savage Arabs, who
132

Counsel to New Missionaries
make a living by higliAvay robbery and by dancing
around the tents of travelers for bakhshish.
"The inhabitants north of them, in the Jordan
valley, are not inferior to them in degradation and
thievery, being all predatory Bedouin.
"The inhabitants of Moab, on the east, and the
SAvampy plain south of the Dead Sea, even surpass
other Bedouin in poverty, robbery, and wretched
ness. "As to the proposed doctors supporting them
selves from fees from the people, it is not probable
that the entire population of Jericho could raise $3
in cash any month in the year.
"It is usual to send missionaries to places where
there are men, not to a hoAvling wilderness.
"If you and your companions come, I would rec
ommend that you bring pine boards enough to' make
coffins for all, as you Avould probably all die within
a, year, and not a foot of lumber could be found
within ten miles of Jericho."
V. I would emphasize the necessity of courtesy
to all. The Golden Rule is the key to all true cour
tesy. Treat the people as you Avish to be treated. A
Christian is the highest type of man, and should be
a model of courtesy, as were Christ and St. Paul. If
you don't know Avhat the people think is courtesy
find out as soon as you can, and meantime act out
the laAv of kindness.
VI. In learning the language, learn to read,
speak and write it. I have known many mission
aries who read the language and preach in it, but
who could not write a letter in the vernacular, and
had ahvays to employ a scribe to write their Arabic
letters. This is a bondage and an embarrassment,
133

Counsel to New Missionaries
which you should avoid. Be sure to master the lan
guage, or it will master you and enslave you.
Let us perfect ourselves in the native languages,
and not trust to' an intrepreter in preaching. Dr.
Wolff traveled in the East some eighty years ago,
and on reaching Tripoli, in Syria, he employed one
Abdullah Yanni to act as interpreter. One morn
ing he said: "Abdullah, I am going to the bazars
to preach to the Moslems." Abdullah said : "I beg
you not to go, for they will mob us." But the doc
tor insisted, and Abdullah himself told me of the
incident in 1858. He said :
"We walked around the bazars, and Dr. Wolff
mounted a stone platform and said : 'My friends,
I have come to preach to you the Gospel of Christ.
He that believeth shall be saved, and he that be-
lieveth not shall be condemned.' I translated as
follows : 'The Khowaja says that he loves you very
much, and that the English and the Moslems are
fowa soma' (all alike). Whereupon the Moslems
applauded, and Wolff thought he had made a deep
impression." I said to Abdullah : "How could you deceive a
good man in that way?" He replied : "What could
I do? Had I translated literally we should have
been killed ; and Wolff may have been prepared to
die, but I was not."
VII. Canon Ball, of Calcutta, in a recent ad
dress to neAV missionaries, gave some excellent ad
vice. "A young missionary should not be nervous
about his health." "Some are constantly resorting
to their medicine chests and taking their tempera
ture." This reminds me of a remark of the famous
Dr. Bethune, in an address before Yale Phi Beta
Kappa in 1849, on the premature death of literary
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Counsel to New Missionaries
men. The world says, "Died of too much study ;"
the truth is "Died of too much meat and too little
exercise." Prevention is better than cure. Adapt
your diet to the climate. Beer and beef have cov
ered India with British graves.
But to return to the Canon : He also says : "By al I
means, Secure the advice of an experienced mission
ary in your first meeting with native Christians.
Never loan money to natives, nor promise to aid in
the education of their children. If you have proof
that a worthy man is in need, give him help, but
never loan money. Nor should you keep aloof from
the people. You have come to them, and are to live
with them and should keep near to them. Yet, be
wise. Outward salaams and civility on the part of
natives do not necessarily mean profound respect
and admiration of you. The old native pastor, Avho
salutes you so gushingly, may be thinking, 'Ah, dur
ing these forty years I have seen many come and go,
and I have noticed that they are all Avise in some
things and very foolish in others, and I suppose
thai: you are no exception to the rule.'
"Seek advise as to the customs and etiquette of
the people. Never gossip with your language teach
er and others about the virtues or faults of your
felloAv foreign missionaries or their families, or
about the native Avorkers, unless you Avish your re
marks to be repeated Avithin twenty-four hours.
VIII. I Avould also suggest that you avoid par
tiality and favoritism in dealing with the people,
whether in the parish, the church or the school.
Treat all alike Avith uniform kindness. Some are
more lovable and attractive than others, but do not
please yourself, for "even Christ pleased not Him
self." If teaching the young, you will be sorely
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Counsel to New Missionaries
tempted to sIioav partiality to the bright, docile and
studious. But keep' your head level. You belong
to them all, and tbey, all alike, have a, right to your
love and care.
IX. Why should a missionary ever meddle with
the local politics of the land he has adopted? It is
neither Avise nor safe to do it. You enjoy the protec
tion of your own flag, and at times Avhen you see na
tives oppressed and unable to secure justice you are
tempted to interfere in their behalf. But it is not
wise. It was the bane of the mission Avork in
Syria, in the early years of the mission, that the
Syrians thought that becoming Protestants would
secure them English or American consular protec
tion. Many "false brethren" in this way professed
Protestanism, expecting the missionary or foreign
consul to defend their law cases right or Avrong.
This misconception is noAV passing away. It should
never have existed. Let the local civil authorities
understand that Protestant Christians are as
amendable to the laAvs as others. Above all, do
not attempt to browbeat the officials, or carry
a case by foreign influence. The Jesuits inter
fere in courts and intrigue to get foreign influ
ence for their converts, right or Avrong. Ahvays
pray for the "Powers that be." Teach the people
loyalty to their sovereign. Teach them to speak the
truth and avoid litigation if possible. Local of
ficials often stand in terror of foreigners and Avill
pervert justice to please them. But never use your
influence or prestige simply to gain power. Let the
officials know you are a man of peace, and of in
flexible integrity and respect for law.
When Christians are persecuted or defrauded
you feel greatly tempted to interfere. If you are
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Counsel to New Missionaries
ever obliged to do so, do it by private interviews
with the local official and in the most re
spectful manner, and show confidence in his sense
of justice and right. But never use threats of a
foreign flag or battleship. Christ lived under Cae
sar, and Paul under Nero, and yet both taught obe
dience to Caesar. Your converts can hardly have a
ruler more cruel than Nero. Let them be patient
and loyal, and you should be their example.
X. The late Rev. Gerald F. Dale, Jr., Avas styled
by Dr. Hodge of Princeton "The model scholar, the
model Christian and the model gentleman of Prince
ton." And be Avon his Avay to the hearts of the
townsmen and peasantry of Syria as he Avould have
done to the polished people of his native Philadel
phia. Be assured that no gifts, graces or talents
are superfluous on mission fields.
XI. Be careful of your bodily health. You
would be surprised to read a catalogue of the mis
sionaries Avho have broken down prematurely
through Avant of care or ignorance of the laws of
health. It has been said that "the best thing for
the inside of a man is the outside of a horse." You
must take proper and regular exercise. It is your
duty to live as long as you can. Your years of prep
aration, outfit and initiation into the field have been
expensive to you and to the church. Care then for
your health. Do not get into a rut or formal rou
tine. Vary your employments. If you have a
mechanical bent get carpenter's tools and use them.
If you are fond of botany, geology, zoology or ento
mology, develop this heaven-implanted taste. I
have traveled hundreds of miles on horseback in
Syria, through dreary, rocky regions, Avhere all
sense of weariness and monotony has been quite re-
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Counsel to New Missionaries
moved by the excitement of finding new geologi
cal formations, strange distortions of the strata,,
and exquisite fossil fish, shells and silicified Avood.
You Avill see neAV plants and flowers, strange birds
and animals, curious land snails, and grotesque
and brilliant colored fishes, the study and collec
tion of which Avill refresh your mind, give pure and
wholesome recreation and help- you in directing the
apathetic minds of the people to habits of observa
tion and of admiration of the Avonderful Avisdom of
God. The time given to such things is not lost.
It devotes the spare intervals of travel and tedious
itinerating to profitable, inspiring and yet restful
mental exercise. Yet it goes without saying that
such recreations should not become exacting or en
gross too much of one^s attention. The busiest
men usually have the most time for these forms of
mental diversion. They act on system and have no
waste hours. Whatever kind of oil you burn, do
not burn midnight oil. Rise early and retire early.
XII. As to personal comforts, avail yourself of
such as Avill relieve your mind of anxiety, and set
you free for higher matters. Many years ago Dr.
R. Anderson of the A. B. C. F. M., visited Syria..
He told the brethren one day that good Christians
in New England disapproved of missionaries keep
ing horses, and said he, "I think you had better
make your tours on foot." They acquiesced, and
tbe next day proposed a trip to a mountain station
some nine miles off. They all set off boldly on foot,
but after climbing rocky stone ledges and down diz
zy precipices, the Syrian sun pouring down upon
their heads, they sat doAvn to rest. They then set
out again over even a harder part of the road. Dr.
Anderson Avas about exhausted, and at length said,
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Counsel to New Missionaries
"Brethren, I should say on the whole that for such
a journey as this you Avould be justified in riding
horses." Tbey said, "Exactly so, and we thought
of it before we started, and we shall find horses
awaiting our Avhole party just around the next
turn in the road." The result was that the Ameri
can Board after that time required Syrian mission
aries to own horses and use them. The missionary
had to buy his own horse, but the Board supplied
the barley to feed him.
In February, 1856, just after my arrival in Sy
ria, Dr. Eli Smith invited me to lunch and imme
diately after, asked me if I would like to take a
walk. I gladly accepted, and we set out, I on foot,
but he on horseback. We soon entered on the great
sand dunes west of Beirut and I went wading and
struggling through the light, deep, drifting sands
about a mile to the Pigeon Islands on the point, and
then south another mile through still deeper sands
to the sea beach, and then up again over sand hills,
in the hot sun, and I reached home after nearly two
hours, drenched with perspiration and ready to give
up, exhausted. As we neared home Dr. Smith told
me the above anecdote of Dr. Anderson's visit, and
said, "You see that walking in Syria is not so easy
as it seems."
I have known some men to come to Syria deter
mined to "endure hardness," by walking unpro
tected in the sun, but the hardness Avas of their own
making, and they succumbed to it and died. Such a
death is suicide, not martyrdom.
XIII. It is well to keep in touch with the home
churches. Write down your first impressions and
send them to your own pastor and church at home.
After all their interest, help and prayers it is but
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Counsel to New Missionaries
the part of simple good manners, not to' say Chris
tian wisdom and filial gratitude, to keep them in
formed of your Avelfare and the progress of your
work. While you are studying the language, and
not yet able to do much, you can write of Avhat oth
ers have done, and what needs to' be done. Some
one has said that every educated man must sooner
or later write a book. Alas that it should be so !
But if you do write a book Avait until you have
been at least eight or ten years in the service, and
then be sure that you have something to say that is
worth saying.
XIV. Music is a power for good in this blessed
work. If you are fond of vocal or instrumental
music, you have a gift which ought to' be used Avith
great effect. If the people find it difficult to learn
our Western music, then learn their tunes, and
adapt them to Christian hymns. I have suffered
great aesthetic torture in hearing an unmusical
teacher lead a congregation of sturdy peasants in
singing "Ortonville." But having asked them to
sing the next hymn to a Syrian air, have been sim
ply delighted to hear the whole crowd, old and
young, and little children, almost raise the roof,
singing with the greatest zeal and accuracy, one of
their faA'orite Syrian airs. I heard a missionary
say in 1856 that "the stately Arabic could not be
brought down to the level of a Sunday School
hymn." But it has been brought down, and is still
pure Arabic, and thousands of children are singing
children's hymns in Arabic all over the land.
XV. As to Bible study, and your own spiritual
life — the tAvo go together. You must knoAV the
Bible, digest it and assimilate it. Study it to use in
preaching, but study it more to use in practising in
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Counsel to New Missionaries
your oAvn life and experience. You Avill have to
study the Scriptures in a new language, and this
will be a great advantage. Old truths will appear
in new lights ; familiar texts Avill have neAV mean
ing Ariien rendered in the idioms of another tongue.
But this must be done systematically. This last
summer, when teaching theology every forenoon in
a Lebanon village, half an hour distant, I have
risen Avith tbe sun every morning and taking a cup
of coffee, spent tAvo hours in Bible study and class
room preparation before the family breakfast. And
Iioav SAveet and refreshing these quiet morning
hours Avhen one can commune Avith God and have
retirement for Bible reading and prayer before the
active duties of the day begin ! Saturate your mind
and thoughts with the Bible. Commit to' memory
all the choice gospel texts and passages in the lan
guage of the people, and thus arm yourself with the
panoply of God's truth at the very outset. Re
member that your office and Avork Avill not sanctify
you. They may blind your eyes and even hinder
your spiritual growth by leading you to neglect
Bible study and prayer. Remember tbe devil. He
will gladly assure you that a missionary is all right.
Perhaps he has stirred up your admiring friends
and relatives to flatter you for your great piety and
self-devotion in going abroad and you fall into spir
itual self-satisfaction and sloth.
Dr. Post of the Beirut College once asked a stone
mason, if, in taking a contract for erecting a stone
building, he Avould agree to lay up the Avails for so
much a square yard ; he, the mason, to furnish la
bor, stone, sand and lime? He replied : "All but
the lime. You must furnish that or the full quantity
may not get into' the mortar." The Doctor asked :
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Counsel to New Missi o n a r i e s
"Why? Are you not honest?" "Yes," said he, "I'm
honest, but then — Subhan Allah, es Shaitan mow-
jood !" ( Praise to God, there is a devil ! ) And it will
not do to imagine that this roaring lion has lost
either bis teeth or his claws or his brains !
Your success as missionaries Avill depend on your
likeness to Christ. A Christlike character is always
lovable. Heathen, Mohammedans, and other non-
Christian people knoAV the difference between a
Christlike man and a selfish, haughty, unsympathiz-
ing man. If men love the messenger, they
will learn to love the message. If a herald of the
truth Avishes to Avin men's minds, let him first win
their hearts. The logic of controversial argument
never convinced men half so much as the godly
lives of Christian believers.
Rev. Simeon Howard Calhoun, for thirty years a
missionary in Mount Lebanon, Syria, Avas called
"The Saint of Lebanon." He gained such an in
fluence over the Avarlike and haughty Druzes that,
had he died in Syria, they Avould no doubt have
made his grave a holy shrine of pilgrimage. In
April, I860, I Avas in his house Avhen the dreadful
Avar of that massacre summer began between
Druzes and Moslems on the one side and Christians
on tbe other. We had entered the church on Sun
day morning, and I was reading the hymn, "My
Faith Looks Up to Thee," in Arabic, when a Druze
shot a Christian in the street near by, and in a mo
ment every person had left the church. The men of
the village, Maronites, Greeks, Catholics, and Prot
estants, ran for their lives down over the cliffs and
mountains six miles to the seashore, and then on to
Beirut, Their Avives ran home, and in a few min
utes came in crowds to' Mr. Calhoun's house, bring-
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Counsel to N e w M i s s i o n a r i e s
ing their jeAvels and money; these they threAV in
bundles inside tbe door without marks or labels,
nor even asking for receipts. Three months later,
after fifteen thousand Christians had been mas
sacred in Damascus, Deir el Komr, Hasbeiya, and
other towns, a French army came to Syria and
marched into Lebanon. Then the Druzes in turn
were terrified, and they also came in crowds to Mr.
Calhoun's house, bringing their money and val
uables to Mrs. Calhoun.
Last. August, at the funeral of the Rev. William
Bird, long the colleague missionary of Mr. Cal
houn, the Druze begs and sheiks came in large num
bers to attend the services in the church of Abeih.
At the close, the leading Druze beg addressed the
missionaries present, as follows:
"Sirs, Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Bird were our broth
ers and friends. They loved us, and Ave loved
them. On behalf of the Avhole people of Lebanon,
Ave entreat you to allow Mrs. Bird and her daughter
Emily to remain here among us, for we need them,
and Abeih would be orphaned Avithout them."
Among the Druzes was one haughty warrior, Ali
Beg Hamady, avIio took a regiment of rough-riders
to the Crimean War in 1854. At the massacre of
Deir el Komr, in June, 1860, when two thousand two
hundred unarmed men Avere hewn in pieces, the
house of Mr. Bird Avas spared, and a Druze guard
was placed at the door. He had left two days be
fore by order of the United States Consul, and thir
ty Protestant men had fled there for refuge. The
next day the Druze begs of Abeih, nine miles away,
took Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Bird to Deir el Komr to
bring away these imprisoned Protestants. This

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Counsel to New Missionaries
they effected by the help of Ali Beg, climbing over
piles of dead bodies to reach the door.
TAventy-five years later, in 1885, I called on Ali
Beg in Baaklin. He was a tall, stately man, Avith a
white turban, a long beard, and flowing robes. He
received us with that beautiful courtesy for which
the Druzes are so famous, and asked : "Do you
know AA'by Mr. Bird's house was not attacked dur
ing the massacre of 1860? It Avas because of the
character of Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Bird that I saved
that house."
Years afterward a Druze called at my house in
Beirut one day before- sunset. He brought a mes
sage from Ali Beg, who Avas ill and Avished to see
me, and requested me to bring the NeAV Testament.
I hastened to the house, and found him lying on a
bed on the floor, and bolstered up with cushions.
Fixing his piercing eagle eyes on me, he said : "I
am a dying man. I honored and loved Mr. Calhoun
and he loved the Injil (New Testament). Read to
me the passages he loved." I read the sweetest of
the gospel invitations and promises. He listened
like one hungering and thirsting. "Read more and
more. Is there pardon for a great, a mighty sinner
like me?"
I was deeply affected, and asked him to pray to
Christ for pardon and salvation. He repeated the
prayer after me. After a, long interview, I left the
New Testament with him. The next morning, as I
started to call on him again, I met his funeral pro
cession in the street. Mr. Calhoun has been dead
for nearly fifteen years, but I doubt not he wel
comed to glory this aged man of war and bln,nd, ran
somed through their common Savior, Jesus Christ.
The whole history of missions is full of instances
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Counsel to New Missionaries
of the melting and molding influence of a Christ-
like life.
In conclusion, live as you pray. You may live
among coarse, half-naked barbarians, and you
shrink from, the thought of contact with them. In
1853 or 1854 I heard the sainted Dr. Goodell of
Constantinople deliver the charge to a young mis
sionary going to the Gaboon mission, West Africa.
He said : "When you land in Africa and first meet
those naked savages whose filth and repulsive hab
its fill you with utter loathing, and you say within
yourself, Lord, is it necessary that I bear even this ;
that I spend my life among such beastly and im-
bruted creatures? then remember, that you every
day ask the pure and ineffable Holy Spirit of the
Eternal God to whom tHe thought of sin is abhor
rent, to come down, not simply to visit, but to abide
in your sinful, polluted heart. Let this make you
humble, patient, loving and contented."

Fokm 618 145

HOL