116 



EEV. F. BAYLIS, M.A., ON 



Commission on Education, that since " Heathenism is a debased 

 form of life, accompanied by distorted views of material 

 phenomena," therefore, " in the educational policy of missionary 

 societies, emphasis should now be laid . . . upon systematic 

 study of nature," is in general the principle of Christian 

 missions. 



It is a claim as true as it is splendid, that Professor 

 Gwatkin makes* for our religion, that " it is a plain matter of 

 history that modern science is the nursling of Christianity " ; 

 and his suggestion is a notable one that " Christianity is the 

 only religion which could become quite supreme without 

 limiting the field of science." 



Christian missions are, on ever new ground, maintaining this 

 happy relation with all useful branches of scientific education, 

 and presumably as the demand grows, so will the supply, if only 

 the ranks of missionaries with scientific qualifications can be at 

 all adequately recruited. It is a great appeal that the missions 

 make on this account to our Universities. Perhaps it is a little 

 surprising that up to the present the extent has not been greater 

 and the standard higher of science teaching in the mission-field, 

 whether in Government or mission schools. But a recent 

 enquiry at the Student Volunteer Offices for a possible science 

 teacher for a mission school elicited the remark that just at 

 present it is especially science teaching that is in demand. The 

 scientists with the Christian missionary spirit seem likely soon 

 to be, as would naturally be expected, the most needed men and 

 women in the Church of Christ. Commission V of the Edin- 

 burgh Conference, on the Preparation of Missionaries, came 

 across the need of scientific knowledge for modern missionaries, 

 and strongly advocated an element of science in the training of 

 all missionaries. They quote one missionary as saying,f " I do 

 not think any missionary should be allowed out who has not some 

 grounding of knowledge of the constitution of the physical 

 universe in which we live. Such knowledge is being diffused 

 all through the east, and it is deplorable when a missionary's 

 ignorance is shown up thereon. ' If you cannot tell me of 

 earthly things, how shall I believe when you tell me of heavenly 

 things ? ' " 



It has been intended in this paper to avoid the discussion of 

 mutual relations between science and religion as such. Christi- 

 anity has been as far as possible always viewed in the one aspect 



The Knowledge of God, vol. ii, p. 272. t Repoo^t, vol. v, p. 111. 



