170 Boundaries and Beyond
opportunities for observing the abbots’ devotions. From time to time,
Jackson argued with them about what he considered “the folly of idolatry
as the object of their worship”. The reply was generally a laugh, and they
made no attempt to defend their beliefs.^84
Given Welton’s aggressive style of Evangelism, it was a blessing for
him that local religious leaders, Buddhist and Taoist, were tolerant
and restrained. As Bishop George Smith had observed, Chinese priests
watched “with complacency” and “with a remarkable absence of bigotry”
as their beneβice and grounds were transformed into a foreign residence.^85
During Smith’s earlier visit to Fuzhou, he had had several encounters
with local Taoist and Buddhist monks who showed him hospitality and
procured religious literature from him. One venerable abbot remarked
that all religions were in principle the same. Smith was surprised that
there was “the total absence of any alarm [among the Chinese priests]
at the possible diminution of their inβluence by the dissemination of
Christian tenets in these publications”.^86
There were moments of frustration when Welton did not hesitate
to advocate the use of force in dealing with the Chinese authorities. For
instance, when two married missionaries of the Methodist Church in
America arrived in Fuzhou in July 1851, they were treated with civility
but strictly forbidden to erect a church building. Welton commented that,
unless the American chargé d’affaires in Guangzhou, Dr Parker, sent a
man-of-war, it was unlikely that the Chinese ofβicials would give way.^87
Welton was highly critical of Vice-Consul Walker and even Governor
Bonham for failing to protect missionary interests. Chinese ofβicials
prevented Welton from converting his house into a place suitable to be
used as a hospital, from which he might also distribute books and the
scriptures, and also prevented him from carrying out repairs. He referred
these problems to the Vice-Consul, who positively refused to intervene.
The Vice-Consul even demanded that Welton abandon the building
altogether. Welton pointed out that he had hired the place legally and
part of the agreement was that he should be allowed to move to another
temple. He criticized the apathy and neglect of British interests by the
consular authorities and expressed incredulity that they could evade
responsibility in such matters. He also discovered that Governor Bonham
of Hong Kong would at one time have sacriβiced missionary rights and
interests in Fuzhou to evade active intervention, had it not been for the
- CMS, C CH M2, Jackson to Venn, received June 20, 1851.
- Smith, A Narrative, p. 332.
- Ibid., pp. 350‒1.
- CMS, C CH M2, Welton to Venn, January 9, 1852.
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