To the Biitor of the Sim,—Your leading article on this subject, a fow days ago, appeared to mo to Contain a fair plea in favor of Missions.
My only regret was that you failed to point out the fact that Missionaries in China labour under greater disadvantages than do Missionaries in India, albeit that the disadvantage is similar in nature. For, notwithstanding the impassioned eloquence of the American orator whom. you quoted, I believe that the wars of England in China have been more unjust than her wars in India; and, as a necessary result, the impression that Christianity, (preached. by fellow-countrymen of the conquerors), is a political affair, must. be more intensified in Chinese than in Indian minds, My. surprise was great, however, to find that your correspondent " Liberal" had rend your article in the light of argument against Missions. Surely, if your facts are correct, and if H. M. Consul in Shanghai (who is, J imagi educa ted" man) be correct also in his opinion that Protestant Missions in China have met with remarkable success, then the argument is wholly for Missions, not against them, "Liberal" adds however his own argu-reler to finish the work which he you, Sir, have too feebly under-"And that argument, though resting, as he asserts on facts not to be contested, e both as to data and as (1) [have yet to learn that the great majority of educated people in Christian countries reject Christin doctrines because 80 mitch diversity of opinion amongst different sects, Even if this the fact, yet when we find indi of the highest intellect and educated in the broadest and deepest sense, still clinging to these doctri the Babel of tongues, the unbelief of the noisy majority of the so-called educated would not move me. Your correspondent's urgnno doubt urged by these educated Christians; but it is a mere aubterfuye, I venture to say. They cry out about "religious intolerance," and protest thnt they know not what to believe; the fact is they are intolerant of religion" and therefore will not believe.
The opiate of educated complacency makes them dream that Christians are all at loggerheads, and that Christian dogma is all antiquated. I hope thole awaking will be pleasanter than that of Chinese opium smokers, 'Let me remind your ' Liberal" correspondent, that bad as opium is, evil as religious intolerance is, there is yet a more deadly drny, a more evil thing, and that is intolerance of religion, that Inst giant agency which shall shake' the world before Christ comes.
(2) Secondly, Imake bold to assert that, if educated men in China will honestly investigate the subject, they will find that there is no diversity as to essential doctrines amongst the 200 or more Protestant Missionaries in China, Liberal" of cannot refer to Roman Catholic lions, for he must know that itis the mark of a liberal mind to laud Missions and depreciate Protestants. Now Protestant Missionaries differ greatly as to their outward forms of worship and administration of Christian rites, but as to doctrines to be believed, they ave one; for they appeal to and freely distribute' one
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.