THE RELATION OF SCIENCE TO CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. 107 



way or another, staff itself with trained doctors. At present 

 the chief and the best channel is the Christian Mission, but the 

 Missions' day of opportunity may not last long. While they 

 have their day they are doing splendid service to science, by 

 opening its door of usefulness. 



Seeing that this is so, it may be permitted to missions to plead 

 for one measure of special consideration in the medical schools. 



From homes and schools where they are brought up in the 

 Christian religion, there pass into the hospitals a number 

 of young men and women to whom the experience must 

 inevitably bring a severe testing of the faith of their childhood ; 

 particularly is this the case with young women. To some of 

 them who are led to this experience by their sense of a Divine 

 call to the Mission field it may be the most heart-searching 

 period of their lives. No true friend of both religion and 

 science would, of course, appeal against any freedom for fair 

 give-and-take influence of each upon the other. The religious 

 belief which cannot find room for science, truly so-called, does 

 not seem worthy of its name. But the faith may be a tender 

 plant. Its growth and vigour may be quite adequately tested 

 and hardened by the inevitable interchange of ideas and opinions 

 within the circle of student life. It might experience both a 

 disastrous and an unfair struggle if it had to maintain itself 

 against anything that seemed to come with the voice of authority, 

 from the staff of teachers. 'Now, happily, there is good reason to 

 believe that the noble body of scientific teachers are most 

 honourable in this respect. They would have no desire to 

 raise gratuitously doubts and difficulties for a believer in 

 Christianity : and if occasion arises for any utterance on points 

 in dispute they would be careful that when they speak ex 

 cathedra it is only uj)on subjects which are within their proper 

 province. The appeal is made that such care should be deliber- 

 ately made universal. 



Let it be felt that the convictions of the would-be missionary 

 are, at least in this one respect, a precious possession for the 

 whole medical profession. They may prove the most open 

 channel by which its best may be given to the most needy of 

 the world's sufferers. Let, then, the path of the missionary be 

 looked upon as one where only malice or folly could think of 

 deliberately placing a stumbling block. To embody this appeal 

 in a paper before the Victoria Institute will, it is hoped, 

 ensure it against any appearance either of enmity against 

 science, or of fear lest true science be found in conflict with 

 true religion. 



