MISPLACED BENEVOLENCE.
“The sympathies of Christian people are always deeply stirred when they come into personal contact with individuals who, in foreign lands, have come out of the superstitions and darkness in which they were reared and are seeking help for themselves or their people in this country. The touching stories that can be truthfully told of struggles in the past, and of difficulties under which they now labor, appeal strongly to all who hear them, and it is quite natural that gifts should be made in response to these pleas with little thought of certain nearly inevitable results which, were they aware of them, the donors would deeply deplore. The matter is a delicate one to treat. On the one hand, we would have earnest sympathy expressed for those who are seeking to elevate themselves and their people, whether educationally or religiously, and would have them wisely aided. It seems ungracious to do or say anything to check the outpouring of money in response to these appeals. But, on the other hand, when we see how, by reason of the reception given to these special appeals, the work of our missionaries is hindered, and their plans for the education and elevation of the people to whom they are sent are imperiled, we are constrained to utter again a word of caution.”
The above is quoted from a thoughtful article in the August number of the Missionary Herald. It presents in a very careful manner a warning that is at once delicate and needful. We find the same difficulties in our work at the South, and take this opportunity of adding our word of caution to our friends in regard to special appeals from that quarter. Money intended for our mission work in the South, or for student aid, can be more judiciously dispensed by us, knowing the whole field and its wants, than if sent by the donor directly in response to an appeal that may be overdrawn, or relatively less important than some others, and in some cases entirely unworthy of confidence. We have no reference in these words of caution to the professors and representatives of our Institutions, who visit the North duly accredited by us.