Another factor that must be taken into consideration is the
restriction which local custom puts upon social mingling of the sexes
in heathen lands. Most missionaries live in near contact with the
people, and it is only right that they should do so. The missionary
who prefers to withdraw from the people is not likely to make many
converts. Local people, both Christian and heathen, are encouraged to
come freely into the missionary's home, and much of his work may be
done by just such quiet contacts. The missionaries come in as
strangers. They present a new way of life. Is it any wonder that, as
much as is possible, everything that they do is watched? Sometimes the
watching is in order to criticize; sometimes it is in order to
imitate; but always they are watched. If what the watchers see seems
good to them, they may give themselves to the One about whom the
missionaries preach. If they see things that offend them, they may
stumble and turn away. Because of this, local conventions _must_ be
taken into consideration; and in many heathen lands what we would call
only ordinary friendliness between two persons of opposite sex would
be looked upon not only with disapproval, but even with suspicion.

Mission rules in regard to such matters are usually very strict, as
the following quotation from _The Overseas Manual of the China Inland
Mission Overseas Missionary Fellowship_ (1955) will show!

It is important that the missionary in his daily life among
Eastern peoples should maintain a standard of dignity and
courtesy which is essentially Christian and not merely
Western. It must be remembered that a careless disregard of
local conventions will give offense to nationals whose good
opinion is of value, and may prove a serious hindrance to
the progress of the Gospel. Great care should be taken
particularly by lady workers when extending hospitality to
missionary brethren or _vice versa_, lest any action lead to
misunderstanding and injury to the work. Engaged couples
should also be especially careful of their deportment,
remembering that they will be setting a standard of behavior
for young Christians no longer bound by old conventions and
looking, perhaps, for guidance to their missionary
friends.... Engaged couples will not be designated to work
in the same center (pp. 21, 22).

So, between the limitation that a narrow circle of eligible
acquaint