India's Problem, Krishna or Christ

by John P. Jones

1. Physical Fitness.

Is a man physically qualified to be sent out into missionary work? For an enterprise like this, where [pg 195] a man practically enlists for life, it is of much concern to the Society which appoints him, and of great importance to the work which he is to take up that he be possessed of good health. This is preëminently true in the case of all those who are appointed to India. The climate of India is trying, though it is neither dangerous nor as fruitful in difficulty, as many believe. It is not necessary that a man who is sent out to India be possessed of robust health. Indeed, I have often noticed that the most robust are the most likely to yield, through ill-health, to climatic influences there. This is chiefly owing to the fact that such people are usually careless in all things pertaining to health. They place too much reliance upon their stock of vigour, and ignore, until too late, the insidious influences of the tropical sun. We ask not for a man of great bodily vigour; but he should be possessed of organic soundness. Such a man may stand the climate longer and work with fewer interruptions than his more vigorous brother; simply because he knows that his health is delicate and appreciates the necessity of taking suitable care of himself. On the whole, my experience has led me to two convictions about this matter; the first is that the less robust and more careful missionaries stand well that tropical climate; and in the second place, that to those who do take adequate care of themselves, the climate of India is neither dangerous nor insanitary.

There are, however, certain precautions which missionaries should take in that land in order to insure the proper degree of efficient service. Annual periods of rest at hill “sanitaria” are not only desirable, [pg 196] but are necessary, in order to preserve the health and add to one's usefulness. Many of the best missions in India, at present, not only arrange that their missionaries take this rest, but demand it of them. They have learned by experience that it is a reckless waste of precious power for their missionaries to continue working upon the hot plains until compelled by a break-down to seek rest and restoration. It is much easier, in the tropics, to preserve, than to restore, health. Many a noble service has been cut short, and many a useful career has been spoiled by recklessly continuing work for a few years without rest or change in that land. The youngest and the least organized missions, and consequently those which have not perfected arrangements for the rest and health of their members, are those which have the largest number of break-downs, and which lose most in labour and money on account of the ill health of their missionaries.

Visits to the home land every eight or ten years are also desirable, not only for restoration of physical vigour, but also, for a recementing of domestic and social ties and for a renewed contact with and a new inspiration from the Church of God in the West. Life in all its aspects has a tendency to degenerate in the tropics; and one needs occasional returns to northern climes for the blessings which they alone can give.

Shall the missionary indulge in recreations? Among missionaries themselves this is a much debated question. Some maintain that all forms of recreation are unworthy of a man engaged in this holy calling. I do not agree with them. I have seen many missionaries [pg 197] helped in their work by such recreation. There are some men and women who have no taste for such diversions. To them they may have little value or usefulness. But, to the ordinary missionary who has done a hard day's work an hour's diversion in tennis, badminton or golf has often been a godsend. It has brought relief to the tense nerves and a new lease of life to the organs of the body. In a similar way an interest in carpentry, in geology, photography, or any other set study, brings to the jaded mind a diversion and a new lease of power, and prepares one to go back to his work with fresh pleasure and renewed enthusiasm.

One should carefully avoid entering inordinately into any such recreation. There is danger, and sometimes a serious danger, that such lines of diversion may be carried to an excess, and the mind and heart be thereby robbed of, rather than strengthened for, one's life-work.

2. His Methods of Life.

There are questions of importance which come under this consideration and which are much discussed at the present time. It is asked, for instance, whether a man should go out as a married, or as a single, missionary. A few years ago the American Board showed very decided preference for the married missionary, and hesitated to send, except under special circumstances, bachelors. Missionary societies connected with ritualistic churches, on the other hand, have given preference, almost exclusive preference, to the unmarried missionary. At the present time there is a growing feeling, in all Protestant denominations, [pg 198] that there is a demand, and a specially appropriate field of usefulness, both for the married and the unmarried missionary. The supreme argument in favour of the married man is connected with the home influence which he establishes and which, in itself, is a great blessing to the heathen people among whom he lives. The light and beauty of a Western Christian home is always a mighty testimony, not only to the Gospel, but to the civilization of the West which is a direct product of the Gospel. Through the wife is also conserved the health of the husband who is thereby rendered more efficient. And to his activity is added her equally beneficent one among the women of their charge. The missionary home constitutes a testimony and a power which no mission can be without.

On the other hand, there is a large and an attractive field of usefulness which can best be worked by the unmarried man and woman. There are forms of activity and lines of self-denial which can best be met by those who are not tied down by home life and who are more free to meet the rapidly changing necessities of certain departments of work. It is also true that the unmarried life represents to the Orient that type of self-denial which has always been associated, in their mind, with the highest degree of religious attainment; and it may, for this very reason, be in the line of highest influence upon the people of the land.