Saving Heathens from Themselves
Missionaries in Shanghai 1902
Oh, to have been a Missionary in the good
old days! Imagine
boarding a ship in Salem Harbor, right here in Massachusetts. You took your whole
family, and trunks and trunks of books, clothes, pots, pans, and all the food
you would need for a few years.
Your voyage would take you to ports in
the Caribees, and then down the coast of South America to Cape Horn. If you were lucky enough to make it
around the Horn, after several months you would make it across the South
Pacific Ocean and make landfall near the Straits of Malacca, then into the
Indian Ocean until you arrived at Hindoostan, which would be your home for the
next several years.
Or, perhaps you might land in Cathay,
which we now call China.
Missionaries that nations and churches have sent all over the
world have done a world of good, in bringing medical care, and better health
practices, and teaching people better ways to farm, and to protect themselves
from disease, and in many ways missionaries have carried a message of hope and
faith that has truly improved the lives of people the world over!
Today, however, we may look back at those times, and think
that some of our missionary work may have been a little heavy-handed.
As long as America has been a country, we have been so sure of ourselves that
we wanted everyone else in the world to join us.
After all, how can they live without joining us in our religious
faith? I mean, it’s only
right that we lead them into the light.
Never mind that they have been
Hindoos, Buddhists or Mohametans or even tree-worshippers, or fire worshippers
--- for many centuries!
Well, we really didn’t want those
yellow and brown people to come over here, mind you --- but we felt that we needed to make
good Christians of them. While
we went to great efforts to give them the wealth of our knowledge and
experience, our immigration laws severely limited their coming to live here.
Our missionaries have sailed all over
the world, taking Bibles and trinkets to win the hearts and minds of the rest
of the world. We were so
terribly sure that if we could turn them into good Christians, they would stop
killing each other, and marrying multiple wives, and putting widows on the
funeral pyre to be burned alive with their dead husbands. If we could make everyone in the world
into good, God-fearing, teetotaler Christians, the world would be so much
safer!
American Baptist Magazine, May 1820
If you read a few of the books,
magazines and papers that religious groups published in the nineteenth century,
you may get the impression that our missionaries went forth to Siam and
Hindoostan, Persia, Cathay and Africa--- and to the Indian tribes all over
America and Canada --- without knowing much about these people, and with very
little respect for their religious
faith or culture. Americans
sitting at home here read with eagerness about the adventures in these far-off
places.
I invite you to read a little about
the problems of building a missionary college in Serampour, India early in the nineteenth century.
Read about missionaries among the
Indian tribes right in North America, and read a translation of a letter of
King Otaheite of the Society Islands (Tahiti), telling about a comet that has
struck his people.
Serampore College in India, founded 1818.
American
Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, May 1820, Vol. 2 No. 9 Boston, MA: Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts. Memoir of Rev. Henry
Jessey. Review of sermon delivered at the ordination of Rev. Stephen Chapin by
Jeremiah Chaplin, Professor of Divinity in the Maine Literary and Theological
Institution, at North Yarmouth. Extract of letter from Missionary College, Serampore by W. Ward. [Note:
Ward was among founders of this College in India in 1818. It still exists in 2008.]
College is open to all denominations of Christians, and to as many heathen
scholars as choose to avail themselves of its exercises and lectures. Letter
from Pomare, King of Otaheite, Society Islands. Report on efforts to
Christianize American Indians of the Oneida and Stockbridge; letter signed with
marks by Oneida Indians asking to embrace Christianity.34 pp. 15 x 24 cm. Paper periodical,
edges frayed, page corners curled, poor. (6399)
$36.00. Religious/Missionary
King of Otaheite, Society Islands
American
Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, September 1820, Vol. 2 No. 11 Boston, MA:
Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts.
Frontispiece engraving of Rev'd James Manning Winchell, A.M. late pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston.
Memoir of the death of Mrs. Tamma Winchell, Rev. Winchell's widow. Tribute on death of Rev. Edward W. Wheelock, who, dying of
consumption, left Rangoon for Calcutta,
and died at sea. Letter from Mrs. Colman on the Burman Mission, mournfully
relates last days of Rev. Wheelock. In letter to her sister she chides her for
not answering for "nine
long months" and goes on
to tell her about revival of Buddhism in Burma,
and building of pagodas. 32 pp. 15 x 24 cm. Paper periodical,
edges frayed, page corners curled, poor. (6400)
$36.00. Religious/Missionary
American
Messenger, June 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 6 New York, NY: The American Tract Society.
Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news,
religious commentary. Missionary news. Report on desperate condition of women
of China, by Rev. John C. Lord of Ningpo: They are slaves. Story about a dog who saved a store from
burning in Troy, NY. War in Europe is ended, Treaty
signed in Paris March 30 by Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Sardinia, Turkey, France, Prussia. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper, spine fold torn 24 cm, good. (5361) $20.00. Religious/History
American
Messenger, July 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 7 New York, NY: The American Tract Society.
Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news,
religious commentary. Missionary news. Colporteurs* among the
Cherokees. Work of Grace among the Karens of Burmah. The Chinese Language and
Dialects. Agent of American Bible Society in Turkey sees declining interest in
Mohammedanism and increased interest in the Christian religion among Moslems. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper, biopredation in horizontal fold, fair.
(5362) $20.00. Religious/History
*Colporteurs
were peddlers or distributors of religious booklets and tracts.
American
Messenger, August 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 8 New York, NY: The American Tract Society.
Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news,
religious commentary. Missionary news. Letter from a
Slave--Thanks for the
American Messenger! Report of Mexicans in Metamoras (sic) who are willing to
read. Progress in the North-west, among Romanists who have renounced Popery and
then united with Protestant churches. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper, very good. (5363) $20.00. Religious/History
American
Messenger, April 1857; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 15. No. 4 New York, NY: The American Tract Society.
Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news,
religious commentary. Missionary news. Florence Nightingale,
her upbringing, and her service in the recent war in the Crimea. The Rev. Dr. Eli Smith died
Jan. 11 in Beyrout, Syria, aged
55. His work was in translating, preparing and issuing a Bible in Arabic. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper, very good. (5365) $20.00. Religious/History
American
Messenger, June 1858; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 16. No. 6 New York, NY: The American Tract Society. 4 pp.
38 x 56 cm. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National
news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Bishop McIlvaine's
Address at 33rd anniversary of the Society. Position on "anti-slavery".Minnesota was admitted into the confederacy of
the United States May 12, making the number of states in
the Union 32. Russia to adopt the new style of calendar, so
that by 1912 their calendar will coincide with the Gregorian. The children's missionary vessel,"Morning
Star" since arriving at
the Sandwich islands in 1857 has made two important
cruises. Newspaper, very good. (5372)
$20.00. Religious/History
Boston
Investigator, The; Devoted to the development and promotion of universal mental
liberty. Boston, Massachusetts, June 2, 1869 Seaver, Horace, Editor 1869Boston, MA: Josiah P. Mendum. Unique
newspaper, now in its 39th year, dedicated to Rationalism, fighting bigotry and
superstition. Originally founded by the noted atheist Abner Kneeland, J.P.
Mendum carried on the cause of fighting religion and religiosity. Editorial on
benefits and advantages of Atheism. "Why
should we not applaud the heroism of Atheistical martyrs... who were burnt by
their Christian enemies?" Paganism: "It would be difficult to
prove that Paganism contained a greater mass of absurdities, follies,
immoralities, madness, and fanaticism than modern Christianity." Report of circulation of the
Gospel and the Holy Bible in Spain. Upwards of 5,000,000 tracts have been
given away, and on Good Friday the Puerta del Sol resembled a vast reading
room. Report of Indian fight. Seven companies
of the Fifth Cavalry, led by General Carr, while moving from Kansas toward Fort
McPherson, struck a camp of about 500 Cheyennes, and a big fight ensued, in
which the Indians were badly defeated. The YMCA of Milwaukee has decided to
leave its reading rooms open on Sunday, and Lake
Michigan has not risen its banks
and inundated the town. 8 pp. 36 x 42 cm. Newspaper, tiny holes
in intersection of folds; letter "c" pencil on about five articles. Good. (7402) $49.00. Religious/Atheism
Christian
Register, The, Boston and Chicago,
Saturday, April 4, 1874 Boston, MA: Christian Register Association.
Writing in this newspaper is as tart and alert, educated with a good sense of
humor, that one can observe even after all these years. "A Sunday among the Szekler Unitarians" by Robert S. Morison reports of visit
to religious community in Almas on Homorod, Transylvania. Nearly everyone in these
villages is Unitarian...visit to funeral of old woman. "A Burman Dandy" description of a man who thinks
himself the most worthy to be admired of
any dandy in all of Burmah. "An Answer to 'T.H.’ on
Darwinism" gives erudite argument to earlier
statements. Editorial
reports decision of the Brooklyn Trinitarian Congregational Council which
justifies and approves the course of the churches of Rev. Dr. Storrs and Budington, and favors the
continuance of fellowship with Plymouth Church, with stipulations. Letter from Michigan reports the Festival of the
Annunciation in Ann Arbor, one of
the most solemn and joyous festivals of the Catholic Church. Writer compares
celebration to one in Nazareth, Palestine, with little Syrian
children, 20 years ago. 4 pp. 54 x 70 cm. Newspaper, small holes in folds, fair. (7721) $20.00. Religious/Unitarian
Connecticut
Evangelical Magazine, Volume III; bound volume of numbers 1-12, from July 1802
to June 1803; Williams, Nathan, D.D. Editor et al 1803
Hartford, CT: Hudson and Goodwin, Printers. Evangelical magazine by Missionary
Society of Connecticut to support of missions in the new American settlements
and among the heathen. Report on attempts to Christianize the Indians; Thomas
Mayhew among the Indians on Martha's
Vineyard, continued from Vol. II. On
the Revival of Religion in Yale-College, New
Haven. On the Comfort of
the Holy Ghost. Reflections on God's Feeding his ancient church with Manna.
Revival in Middlebury. Thoughts on the Angel of the Lord. Memoirs of Miss
Deborah Thomas. Extract of a Letter from Rev. David Bacon, Missionary to the
Indians, dated Machilimakinak, July 2, 1802. Ottawas and Chippeways. Account of Japhet
Hannit as teacher of the first Indian church on Martha's Vineyard. Life
and dying exercises of Mrs. B-----, who died July, 1802 in one of the towns of
the state of Massachusetts in the
30th year of her age.484 pp. w/ index 12 x 21 cm. Calf on board, worn, pencil notations
on front inside pastedown. Good. (4844) $74.00.
Religious
Connecticut
Evangelical Magazine, The; Vol. IV, Consisting of 12 numbers, to be published
monthly, from July 1803 to June 1804 Williams, Nathan, D.D.; Smalley, John,
D.D.; Day, Jeremiah, D.D.; Trumbull, Benjamin, D.D.; Parsons, Elijah, D.D., et
al, Editors 1804. Hartford, CT: Hudson & Goodwin Bound volume
of twelve issues of Evangelical Magazine. "Attempts to Christianize the Indians in New-England & c."continued from the previous year. Mention of attempts by Romish priests,
which are opposed to actions of Protestant priests, include "teaching them the Pater
Noster and rubbing a few beads, then baptising them." In November 1803 issue is description of
Religious exercises in the Indian Congregations, from a letter from Dr.
Increase Mather in 1687. Before
he died, Rev. Mr. Atwater of Westfield wrote an Advice for his only son,
William. That advice is published in the October 1803 issue. Report of Revival of Religion in Lebanon, New York, in 1799. "Reflections of a Youth once
dissolute, brought to serious consideration" published in April 1804
issue. 484 pp. 12.4 x 21.5
cm. Whole calf on board, edges lightly worn, text block slightly fanned;
contemporary signature of Elijah Loomis written three times on front endpapers,
with "Cost 11/". Text block tight, slight
foxing. Good copy. (5260) $66.00. Religious/Missionary
Journal of
Missions "The Field is the World" Boston,
September, 1855 Boston, MA: American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Summary of Intelligence: North American Indians. Choctaws, 121 have professed their
faith as Christians. Cherokees: Four have joined the church, and the cause of
temperance wears "a
somewhat brightening aspect." Ojibwas.
Not so good, little interest in education for their children. But we have noted
a marked change for the better in temperance. We have not seen a drunk Indian
for two years. Report from Ceylon:
Cholera has abated, but still prevails at Tillipally. Small-pox is prevalent. "Has anything been done by the Mission to Syria in 25 Years?" Report by G.B.W. from Beyroot
notes that work has been attempted and steadily persevered in. Reports from
Hindustan, Burmah, China and Siam.
Facts about the Island of Bonabe,
or Ascension by one of the Micronesian Missionaries. 4 pp. 38 x 55 cm. Newspaper, paper very
durable, with small stains, good. (7142)
$26.00. Religious/Missionary
Massachusetts Missionary Magazine, July 1804, Vol.
II No. 2 Boston,
MA: Massachusetts Missionary
Society. Biography: Life of
Lieutenant John Wills, late of the Royal Navy, d. 1764. He fell asleep in the
embraces of God his Saviour, to his eternal gain. "Letters on Solitary
Devotion-- From Pascal to Julia, letters XIII and XIV.”"Narratives by a
Young Lady" After our
pastor died in 1800 the religious attention declined, till an unusual stupidity
took place... youth were gliding down the stream of dissipation and
carelessness. In 1803 vice
and immorality seemed to rise to greater height than ever. At this time God was pleased to send a
faithful pastor to guide the flock... "The
Pilgrims"--- Primus from
Europe, Secundus from Asia, Tertius from Africa and Quartusfrom America. Says Quartus: "My blood chills in my veins
while I contemplate the danger to which the Southern states are exposed. The
debt contracted is great, and must be paid." Talk against slavery and idea for Negro missionaries from America returning to Africa to preach the Gospel. Quartus also talks about how Americans
have mistreated the Indians in America. 38 pp. 13 x 21 cm. Paper booklet, no
wraps, worn, good. (7522) $43.00. Religious
Massachusetts Missionary Magazine, The June 1807,
Vol. V No. 1 Boston, MA: Massachusetts Missionary Society. Religious and
interesting communications calculated to edify Christians and inform the rising
generation; profits of this work are to be applied to the support of
Missionaries in the New Settlements and among the Indians of North America.
Memoirs of Dr, Witherspoon. The Pious Negro Woman. Edinburgh
Society's Mission to Tartary: a
letter from Pinkerton in Karass. Group of missionaries crossed the Pod-Kuma,
dined with Circassian shepherds, engaged in discussion of the New Testament
with Muslim men. Found Tartars "miserably
ignorant" of Christ and
His works. Eulogium on the
Late Chancellor Wythe. 40 pp. 14 x 23 cm. Paper periodical, pages uncut, edges
frayed, rough, poor. (6397) $44.00.
Religious/Missionary
Missionary
Herald, The; Vol. XXXV No. 10, October, 1839 Boston, MA: American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions.
Journal of Mr. Thomson at Beyroot; gets in trouble handing out tracts. Visit
from Arab and long, circular conversation aimed at getting a Bible.
Recommendation of Antioch as a field for missionary labor.
Mahrattas. Letter from Ahmednuggur. Journal from Mr. Riggs, missionary among
the Sioux Indians at Lake Travers. "the Sioux love dog-meat as
well as white people do pork." 32 pp. 16 x 24 cm. Paper periodical, name
of "Miss Sally Howe" inscribed on cover wrap, very
good. (6097) $28.00. Religious/Missionary.
Missionary
Herald, The; Vol. XXXV No.
11, November, 1839 1839 Boston, MA American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions 48 pp. 16 x 24 cm. Report from Syria and the Holy Land,
discouraging and daunting task; The Druzes continue to throng our
dwellings until they are
persecuted by the Maronites. Work
in Beyroot. Letter from Broosa (probably Bursa, Turkey) among the Armenians and
Greeks, burning of missionary books in public bonfire. Report from Borneo of a sea voyage to the mouth of the
Sambas river. Six precise and strict Mohammedans, "apparently honest and sincere
followers of the false prophet and his delusions." Paper periodical, name of "Miss Sally Howe"
inscribed on cover wrap, very good. (6095)
$28.00. Religious/Missionary [p.
417: The Dyaks of this village (in Borneo) still continue the barbarous
practice of cutting off heads, and boast of bringing in two or three fresh ones
every year. In the verandah
where we have our lodgings, there are
15 or 20, and some suspended immediately over the place assigned us to
sleep."]
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