I expected a higher degree of Christian simplicity and purity than exists either among them or among ourselves.

I was not anxious for a deeper insight in detecting shams than others, but I expected character, such as we imagine the primitive disciples had--and was disappointed.* When, however, I passed on to the true heathen in the countries beyond the sphere of missionary influence, and could compare the people there with the Christian natives, I came to the conclusion that, if the question were examined in the most rigidly severe or scientific way, the change effected by the missionary movement would be considered unquestionably great.
* The popular notion, however, of the primitive Church is perhaps not very accurate.

Those societies especially which consisted of converted Gentiles--men who had been accustomed to the vices and immoralities of heathenism--were certainly any thing but pure.

In spite of their conversion, some of them carried the stains and vestiges of their former state with them when they passed from the temple to the church.

If the instructed and civilized Greek did not all at once rise out of his former self, and understand and realize the high ideal of his new faith, we should be careful, in judging of the work of missionaries among savage tribes, not to apply to their converts tests and standards of too great severity.