CHRISTIAN MISSIONS,

AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON CIVILIZATION.

As the connexion between Christianity and civilization may, in the course of the present work, frequently come under our notice, it seems well that we should, at the outset, make the reader acquainted with the view of this important matter which the missionary societies have taken, as well as with that which we have ourselves been led to entertain.

It is obviously of the utmost importance to know to what extent, in what manner, and on what principles, the various societies are prepared or not prepared to undertake, or to assist in, the civilization of those nations which, not less in a moral than in a spiritual sense, "sit in darkness and the shadow of death."

Christianity in order to lead to civilization-Mr. C. observed

"Most distinctly with Christianity, in order to the civilization of a savage people, in any proper sense of the term civilization. Of course a good deal will depend upon what is meant by civilization. If civilization be intended to mean the moral and social improvement of a people, my opinion is, distinctly, that Christianity is the instrument by which to bring it about. I form this opinion from several reasons, derived partly from the nature of Christianity itself, and partly from the history of Christianity.

"I find the preceptive part of Christianity tends to make men peaceable, honest, sober, industrious, and orderly. These, in my opinion, are the very elements of civilization, in the moral sense of it. I find in the Christian scheme the doctrines of man's fallen state through sin, redemption by Christ, renovation Now, the societies have been led by circum- by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the great and stances to make up their minds on the subject, and awful sanction of an eternal judgment. Now it is have been anxious to promulgate the views on which clear to my mind, that the impression of these great they have acted in this matter, and on which they principles on the heart of man tends directly to make still intend to act. Their several secretaries must him humble, self-denying, philanthropic, beneficent, be considered as the organs of their opinions, and apart from the consideration of those effects of the among them we find a remarkable unanimity in the doctrines which may be considered more strictly of principal conclusions-that civilization, beyond a a religious or theological kind. Those principles, I certain limit, is not possible without Christianity-apprehend, cannot exist in force, in any community, that Christianity inevitably leads to civilization-without the moral and social well-being of that comthat civilization is itself no necessary preparation to munity being greatly promoted. I look again into Christianity-and that, therefore, they will not at- the Christian scheme, and observe the very emphatic tempt to prepare barbarous nations for Christianity description of the Gospel: it is declared to be 'the by civilization, but are willing to promote and foster power of God.' I think that the phrase must be civilization as an effect and consequence of Christi- understood to imply, in any reasonable interpretation anity. of the words, a Divine influence accompanying the In the year 1836 the secretaries of the several preaching of the gospel. I see, therefore, in that an societies were examined before the select committee of the House of Commons, appointed to "consider what measures ought to be adopted with respect to the native inhabitants of countries where British settlements are made, and to the neighboring tribes, in order to secure to them the due observance of justice, and the protection of their rights; to promote civilization among them, and to lead them to the peaceful and voluntary reception of the Christian religion."

arrangement and process by which the human mind is to be operated upon, in a more powerful manner than any other agency that can be imagined. I look further into the Christian scheme, and find it to be a revelation from God: now if God be, as the Bible teaches us that he is, supreme in benevolence and beneficence, as well as in power, wisdom, and knowledge, then I think the inference is most clear and irrefragable, that to bring that revelation to bear upon mankind, is to promote their temporal welfare, as well as to provide for their eternal salvation.

The important and valuable evidence given before this committee, of which Mr. (now Sir) T. F. Bux- "But I pass to the second series of reasonston was chairman, will be of great service to us in those which are' derived from the history of Christithe progress of this inquiry. Among the witnesses anity. This is a branch of the subject of such imexamined were the secretaries of the various mis- mense extent that it would be quite impracticable sionary societies. Mr. Coates, the lay secretary of for me to do more than to glance at it. If I look at the Church Missionary Society, brought the matter the state of the world when, at the rise of Christianforward in an able and luminous statement, to the ity, it found Rome in the zenith of her power and principles contained in which the secretaries of the glory, in the highest state of civilization, as civiliWesleyan and London Societies declared their ad-zation could exist in a heathen land, that mankind was hesion, and which they supported by a variety of arguments and illustrations. We will endeavor to produce the substantial matter of this truly "great argument," reserving the particular illustrations to be produced as we come among the various nations by which they are supplied.

In reply to the question,-does experience lead to the belief that it would he advisable to begin with civilization in order to produce Christianity, or with

ever advanced to, perhaps with the exception of Greece, which was already on the decline from her glory, and therefore I do not more particularly refer to Greece: in Rome, at this period, among other practices which I will not dwell upon, that of selling their prisoners of war into slavery prevailed, and that of exposing their prisoners of war in their public games. I find, too, in Rome, at that period, their gladiatorial games-man opposed to man in mortal

conflict. And this is not an accidental occurrence, legislation, the glory of which redounds exclusively but an established order of things, exhibited, not in to Christianity." private, not only occasionally, but habitually, at their After this, Mr. Coates proceeds to take up the theatres, and to the most polished and distinguished question under a different aspect-namely, as illusof the whole population. What do I find at the ex-trated by the effects of modern protestant missions. piration of a few ages? Christianity attains the ascendency, and these things are extinct.

"I dwell on no other topic of ancient history, but come down to modern times. I contrast the state of the European nations with, I will not say, those of Africa, but with the more civilized nations of Asia; and here I trace a distinction so broad and obvious that it need not be insisted on. I see clearly that it is Christianity which has conferred upon the European nations this distinction.

The evidence is clear under this head; but as it is derived from various nations which in due time we hope to visit, we shall not produce it in this place. Mr. Coates was then asked

"Although you laid the principal stress upon the introduction of Christianity, you do not overlook civilization, but you consider that civilization will be the natural companion and consequence of the effect of the introduction of Christianity? Though I have a very clear opinion as to the efficacy of Christianity "I would only attempt further to illustrate this as an instrument of civilization, I should not be disbearing of the subject from three or four facts of re- posed to represent Christianity as preceding civilizacent date. At a recent period suttees prevailed tion, because the moment Christian principle begins throughout our possessions in India; they are now to bear upon the mind of man, from that moment his prohibited. The voice of Christianity in this coun- condition as a civilized being advances, and hence try unquestionably wrought the change. The abom- Christianity and civilization advance pari passu. It inable pilgrim-tax is suppressed in India by author- is, therefore, I conceive, impossible that civilization ity, and this was effected by the expression of should stand still, or not go on in its due ratio, so Christian opinion and feeling in this country. I long as Christian principle is duly brought to bear look back on the enormous evils of the slave trade: upon the population." the slave trade is suppressed, and suppressed unquestionably by the force of Christianity in this country. I come to a still more recent period-a very recent one indeed: I see slavery abolished throughout the colonies, and that at the cost of 20,000,000l. of public money; the result, most unequivocally, of the state of Christian principle and feeling in the country-a national act, I will venture to affirm, unparalleled in the whole history of human

The committee then desired to hear the sentiments, on this subject, of the Rev. John Beecham, one of the secretaries of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. He said :

"My attention has been long directed to this subject, and the firm conviction of my mind that Christianity must precede civilization, is the result of the inquiries and observation which I have made. So far has my experience been from proving that civil

ization is necessary to prepare barbarous nations for listen to the Gospel, and several of them have already the reception of the Gospel, that it has led me to the given proof, by a change in their tempers and their conclusion that the only effectual way to civilize lives, that they have experienced its saving efficacy. them is first to evangelize them. I regard Christi- "Do you find that the plan of beginning with the anity as the parent of civilization, and am persuaded Gospel generally succeeds ?-Yes; not only with that true civilization cannot be produced without it; the aborigines of America, but also among the deI say true civilization, because I am aware that a graded negroes of the West Indies, as well as the certain kind of civilization may exist unconnected remains of the Carib race which formerly peopled with Christianity. I have heard reference made to those colonies; among various tribes and nations ancient Greece and Rome, for the purpose of show-of West and Southern Africa, among the Hindoos of ing that there may be civilization without Christian- India, the Budhists of Ceylon, the savage cannibals ity; but if all true civilization includes the humani- of New Zealand, and the other islanders of the ties of life, then I must conclude that those cele- South Sea. In the Friendly Islands the results of brated nations had not attained unto it. When I our missionary operations are very remarkable. It look, for instance, at the theatres of Rome, and wit- is scarcely ten years since we commenced our misness the gladiatorial shows, and fights of men with sions in that part of the world; and the ancient idolwild beasts, which were there exhibited, and recol-atry of the people has been already, to a very great lect that such spectacles of cruelty constituted the extent, abolished. In the whole of the Habai group amusements of the Roman public; and when I more- there is not a single idolater remaining, and about over remember that in Rome there were no hospitals, 8000 of the inhabitants of Habai, Vavou, and Tonga, no dispensaries, no almshouses, no asylums for the have become communicants; while many hundreds deaf and dumb and blind; in short, none of those of them are so far advanced in Christian knowledge humane and charitable institutions which adorn our that they are now engaged in assisting the missionown Christian land; I cannot conclude that the aries to preach the Gospel, or in other ways teaching civilization of the classic heathen was anything their countrymen. I would further remark upon the better than a splendid barbarism; and whatever may plan of beginning with the Gospel, and say, that sucbe advanced in its praise, I must still, notwithstand- cess, to a certain extent, has invariably attended our ing, hold that true civilization, the only kind of civil- missionary exertions among the heathen. I do not ization that the Christian philanthropist can be sup-know an instance in the experience of our society posed anxious to promote, cannot be originated but by means of Christianity.

"You are distinctly of opinion that the communication of Christianity must precede an attempt to convey civilization through the understanding of man merely?-Certainly.

where our endeavors have proved wholly abortive."

Mr. Beecham then produces some instances in which civilization has followed the exertions of the missionaries in Africa and America.

himself formerly, and for many years, been actively employed on these missions in the South Seas, where the finest results of Christian civilization have been produced.

The Rev. William Ellis, one of the secretaries of the London Missionary Society, was next examined "Will you give the reasons why you think the with reference to this question. His testimony posplan of civilization cannot succeed?-I would assesses a peculiar interest, from the fact that he had sign two reasons. In the first place, the want of a suitable agency would alone go far to secure its failure. The mere civilizing plan does not, in my opinion, furnish motives powerful enough to induce men to give up the comforts of Christian and civilized society, and dwell among barbarians, merely to teach them civilization. There is nothing, as I think, but the love of the souls of the heathen that will prove a motive powerful enough to induce individuals to make such sacrifices, and risk even life too. Men may be found who are ready to lay their lives upon the missionary altar, but I think you would not find any considerable number of persons who are prepared to sacrifice their lives merely to civilize and instruct the heathen.

"Has your society endeavored to introduce Christianity where the mere civilizing process had failed? -Yes. To begin with the Foulahs: although Dr. Coke was not able to find men who were willing to give up the comforts of civilized life in order to teach them civilization, we easily found men who would leave their native country, and go into the interior of Africa, and settle among them, for the purpose of teaching them the Gospel. We commenced a mission amongst this people about two or three years since. I am happy to say that the mission is of the most hopeful character; the Foulahs

He observes: "True civilization and Christianity are inseparable; the former has never been found but as a fruit of the latter. An inferior kind of civilization may precede Christianity, and prevail without it to a limited extent: such, for instance, as the adoption, by comparatively rude tribes, of the dress and modes of living of more cultivated society, a taste for their arts, manufactures, and comforts. All this may occur without any change of character. This kind of civilization is only superficial: it may polish and smooth the exterior of human society, but it leaves the deep foundations of crime and wretchedness, the vices of human nature, which are the causes of all barbarism in every part of the world, untouched, and, consequently, supplies no sufficient remedy for the evils to be removed. My experience would lead me to regard this inferior kind of civilization as a very inefficient means of promoting the improvement of the native inhabitants of different countries. The communication with members of a more advanced state of society, by which it is produced, has often occasioned the most serious impediments to the introduction of Christi

anity, and it certainly would not predispose men to are the great deformities of uncivilized societies, and admit the moral claims of the Christian religion. the most fruitful sources of their miseries. ChristiThe advantages this kind of civilization offers have anity purifies and changes the heart, and thus most not proved inducements sufficiently powerful to over- effectually removes these evils, while it makes ample come the long-confirmed habits of uncivilized nations, provision for the cultivation of the higher affections while their intercourse with Europeans has generally of our nature, love to God, our benefactor, and to our added the vices of the latter to those of the aborig- fellow-creatures, urging all on the understanding and ines, and has increased in a fearful degree the the conscience by the revelation of a future state, miseries which prevailed before. If the introduction (with which the heathen, however far advanced in of Christianity, therefore, be the object contemplated, civilization, are altogether unacquainted,) and sancthat kind of civilization which results from inter- tions of reward or punishment according to the concourse between the natives and those who have duct of men in the present life. Upon that ground it gone among them solely for purposes of traffic or is my conviction that Christianity supplies materials colonization, is an impediment, and not a means of and machinery for promoting civilization, of the preparing them to receive it. highest order."

Mr. Ellis then proceeds to corroborate these sentiments by instances drawn from the South Sea Islands, to which we shall have great pleasure in hereafter calling the attention of our readers.

It is well known that the excellent Society of Friends, (Quakers,) although foremost in every work of benevolence and philanthropy, and anxious to promote the civilization and happiness of men, are quite indisposed to co-operate, in any direct way, in the vigorous efforts for the evangelization of the world, which all other religious bodies are now making. This does not arise from any indifference. to the diffusion of Christianity; but from the conscientious belief that the evangelization of the world, or of classes or individuals in it, is purely a spiritual work; that the Spirit of God not only will but does act cogently in due season, raising up and working through whatever agencies are deemed proper, without needing or approving our puny and prepared plans and operations, towards the accomplishment of a work which is purely and specially His own.

"This view of the subject is forced upon me, by my own experience during a number of years spent partly among tribes who had scarcely seen a European before, and partly among others who had been for a long time in communication with foreigners, for barter and other purposes. I am not aware of a single instance in which the kind of civilization thus produced has led any tribe to desire a knowledge of Christianity, or has predisposed them to receive it. On the other hand, there are instances, satisfactory and decisive, of numbers having been brought to embrace Christianity without this previous process of civilization. I advert to those furnished in the history of the introduction of Christianity among the North American Indians, by the labors of Brainerd, Elliott, and others; also to the introduction of Christianity into Greenland by the Moravians, where they had not been preceded by any civilizing process, and where the most decided results have followed. It is thus clearly shown that it is neither necessary nor advantageous for civilization to precede Christianity; and it is a fact of great importance in the present in- Now, of course, we think that these are sound prinquiry, that Christianity has never been introduced ciples worked out into most impotent practical concluinto any nation or tribe where civilization has not sions. If we thought otherwise, this work need not invariably followed. The process may be rapid, or have been undertaken. However, the Friends having the reverse, according to circumstances; but in pro-excluded themselves from the field of direct missionary portion as individuals receiving Christianity yield labor, have thrown themselves on other fields with themselves to its influence, just in that proportion all the more ardor, and have worked in them with they must be civilized. No man can become a untiring labor and perseverance. No one is ignorant Christian, in the true sense of the term, however how importantly they contributed to the (legal) abosavage he may have been before, without becoming lition of the slave trade, and to the emancipation of a civilized man. Christianity produces civilization the English slaves; and every one knows how much of the best and most durable kind, by supplying motives and considerations which overcome the vicious propensities and habits of the uncivilized, and furnishes a safe and certain rule for its attainment. This rule is given in a form so simple as not to be above the capacity of the lowest intellect, and yet so comprehensive as to include the widest range of social obligations: Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' In the motives it implants, and the precepts it inculcates, Christianity furnishes a complete moral machinery for carrying forward all the great processes which lie at the root of civilization. It teaches the practice of humanity, purity of heart and life, honesty, truth, industry, and justice; the promotion of peace on earth, and good will among men. It is well known that impurity, and deeds of atrocious cruelty,

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the Bible Society, and all plans for general education, have owed to their support. They have also taken interest in the civilization of barbarous nations; and have not been unwilling to co-operate with the mis sionaries as long as they understood that the means supplied by themselves were appropriated, not to spiritual teaching, but to education and civilization. And as they are not unwilling to consider means of this secondary character as tending in some degree to prepare the way of the Lord, their testimony as to the effect of such operations is of great value.

An American member of this body, Mr. Elisha Bates, was examined before the committee. He was asked

"Have you had any opportunities of forming an opinion upon the subject of whether it is advisable, among savage tribes, to introduce civilization in

order to open the way for Christianity, or to begin | employ the same word for a condition of moral feelwith Christianity in order to facilitate the approach ing; and if, therefore, the word must be retained, we to civilization?-I think I have. The Society of should like to distinguish this last application of it as Friends have been engaged, for many years past, in civilization of heart-say heart civilization:-but efforts for the civilization and improvement of several we would rather abandon this application of the tribes of Indians in the United States. word, and give to this moral condition the name of "The plan which the Society of Friends adopted HUMANIZATION: and very properly; because the in their early intercourse with the [Shawnee] In-more-a man advances in this condition, the more he dians, was to attempt civilization first. The religious resembles man as he originally came clean from the communications, so far as I am informed, and I have hands of his Maker. made it a subject of some investigation, were those CIVILIZATION describes that condition of life in of a very general character, recognising the being of which men abandon the wild life of savages and a God, and the accountability of man, but not with barbarians-of hunters, and even of shepherds; and special reference to the peculiar doctrines of the cultivate the ground, build houses and towns, estabChristian religion. An idea seemed to have been lish organized governments, and apply themselves formed that civilization was to make way for the in- to those arts which tend to increase the welfare and troduction of the doctrines of the Christian religion. comforts of their condition. To this the fine arts, The establishment to which I have had my attention science, literature, philosophy, are in due time added, more particularly directed was in the western part and form parts of the higher state of civilization. of the State of Ohio. At this place there has been | We do not say of "true civilization." All civilizaduring the last twenty or thirty years, (the precise tion is true, as distinguished from the savage and time I cannot give,) a family maintained by the So- barbarous conditions; even as a blade of grass is not ciety of Friends among the Indians, having steadily less a "true" plant than a rose, although they differ in view their improvement in civilization. In the greatly. year 1832 the Indians, having sold their reservation in the State of Ohio, removed to a location on the west of the Mississippi. About the time of their leaving that reservation, a delegation of the committee to which I have referred visited them; they were then in a state of some improvement in civilized life; they had made some advances in agricultural pur- What is meant by HUMANIZATION, no one, scarcely, suits, and in an improved mode of living; and, in a need be told. There is not a point it would embrace council which they held, they expressed, in warm which has not already been given by an apostle, in terms, their gratitude to the Society of Friends, and his description of the sort of character which Chrisearnestly requested that we would continue our at- tianization produces. It is, then, "first pure, then tention to them; in their peculiar phraseology, that peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of we would hold them by the hand, and not let them mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and withgo;' that is, continue our attention and kindness to out hypocrisy." Some one or more of these qualities them beyond the Mississippi. To this location we may be possessed by characters not yet humanized have concluded to follow them; but, within the last or Christianized-whether with or without civilizafew years, we have had occasion to review the whole tion; but in the well humanized or well Christiancourse of proceedings, and we have come to the con-ized character, they are all combined and inseparably clusion, from a deliberate view of the past, that we connected; and the interweaving of these fine golden erred, sorrowfully erred, in the plan which was threads in the fabric of civilized society produces originally adopted, in making civilization the first that humanized civilization which is meant by that object; for we cannot count on a single individual "true civilization," the imperfect exhibition of which that we have brought to the full adoption of Christi- in the best-conditioned communities is acknowledged anity." and deplored.

The question, "What is this civilization, of which so much is said ?" meets us at the very outset, and a difficulty seems to us to lie in the fact that two things perfectly distinct, and which may or may not be found together, are usually involved in the one name of "civilization;" so that in this, as in a thousand other matters, difficulties are created by the absence of a precise distinction of terms. These two things are-first, the civilization of the outward life, apart from any moral sentiments, good or bad: this is CIVILIZATION, properly so called. The other is the amelioration of the moral sentiments, which has an important, but not an essential or inseparable connexion with the external civilization. Now, seeing that CIVILIZATION properly describes a condition of outward life, and nothing else, it is an evil thing to

To this civilization, that which we have called humanization is a crowning grace, an ornament, a beauty, a blessing;-essential to its blessedness, but not essential to its existence and not further essential to its blessedness, than as it is essential to the blessedness of every condition.

Now, to prove that civilization may exist without humanization, we need only refer to Greece and Rome, whose highly civilized condition none who know anything will dispute. In our own day, China is undoubtedly a civilized country: but that it is not humanized, is sufficiently indicated by the prevalence of infanticide and of torturous punishments. In fact, look at the description which the Apostle Paul applies to the most civilized nations of antiquity, as evincing the general absence of the humanized character. In one distinct and horrifying statement he opens the mystery of their condition; and there is not one point of his enumeration which is not capable of the most ample corroboration from the surviving pages and pictured monuments of the countries to which he refers: "They became vain in their ima