Having made ready for return to Siam, Boon Itt met another severe
test of his consecration in the question of appointment by the
Foreign Board. Unfortunately the problem was made more difficult
for him by the very kindly intentions of his friends in America who
apparently did not recognise the fundamental principle involved. As
the work in foreign lands had developed it had become the policy
of mission Boards to magnify the native church, and to place
upon it as rapidly as possible the increasing responsibility for
managing its own affairs, as distinguished from the affairs of the
missions. The development of a strong native church in each country
necessitated that ordained natives should share, not the supposed
advantages of foreign missionaries, but the actual conditions of
their fellow native Christians. For this reason, along with others
of a kindred nature, the Board had arrived at the policy not to
commission as a missionary any native, however well qualified.
Provision was made that the mission in the field might employ such
workers according to their judgment.
While, therefore, the Board declined to issue a “commission” to
Boon Itt they heartily recommended him to the mission in Siam for
appointment on equality with his fellow Siamese Christian workers.
That the principle involved is wise finds testimony in the words
of Boon Itt himself who, when he reached a position of leadership,
said: “To make Siam completely Christian must be ultimately
the work of the Siamese Christian Church, self-supporting,
self-directing and responsible to God—not dependent always on
foreign missions.”