Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-07-29
JAPAN.
Some OF tho Pee uliarlties OF the Coun.
try and Poodle.

Some OF tho Peculiarities OF the Coun.
try and People. ~e
Row. DIR. Brown, q missionary TO japan,
gave i'll recent sermon preached in Chi
cago some interesting statements in regard
much attention. A brief abstract of the
address is appended: =: =
We find in Japnn people who dntc back
seven centuries before Christ $500 years
from tho present cru There has been but
ono rigning family on tho throne in all that
time. While III other kingdoms tho scop-
tor passes into other hands, hero is q King
who is descendant of tho King of seven
centuries before tho Christian ora. The
island of Japan looks small upon the map,
but it is great III reality. We call ourselves
great, because, if we took census, we
should have 40, OO0, 600 people in our land.
Tho japanese have as great population
o-day rs We have, and they have tho most
perfect system by which to tnko census
Mt my timo. This most ancient Of people
are but twenty days from us. Thoy have
had written laws for 1900 years. They have
q literature, and books OH all manner of
subjects. They have had time to do the
best thing; and have done what no other
heather nation has over accomplished
They nro very polite, and from the noble
man to tho peasant show much culture and
breeding. Tho writings Of Confucius have
boon translated from tho Oh nese and tho
roughly studied. They havo acquired
such n degree Of skill in many things rs to
The Japanese have keen intellects, and
can argue as clearly, and drive rs sharp q
bargnin M any people in tho world. And
hero is a mistake made by churches, in
supposing, because n man is not smart
enough to suit homo congregation, he
will do for missionary to tho heAten. -
They need as smart n man ~ we do.
The speaker was located Mt Yokohama,
and there learned tho Japanese language.
The people were very reticent about them
selves and their country, but ask all man.
her of questions concerning other people
and lands; they are inquisitive and employ
every means to learn, Their knowledge
of tho outer world is also astonishing. The
history of Washington is well-known, and
his memory is revored by thom.
Whenever tho Governor of province
goes out he is attended by body-guard of
armed men, who are i'll turn we'll watched
by others. He visited the missionaries on
th cir arrival and desired TO know what
they wanted. He could not sec what men
wished there if it was not money, and his
curiosity was great to see whatever the min
listers had brought with them from Amer
ica. The piano excited great admiration.
after, and Bible printed in the Chinese
language being shown the Governor, he
declared them to be Roman Catholics, who
were driven out of that country long ago.
A continual visiting was kept up for the
purpose of spying out what the mission
aries were doing, Finally the Governor
desired that young men connected with the
custom house should be taught the Eng
lisil language; but soldier was constant
ly present to see that they did not teach
Christianity. The guard could not, of
course, speak word of English, and Chris.
tianity was taught A few young men came
to get Bible prlmors; whom next seen they
had carefully obliterated the word 'tChris-
tianity." Their heads would have pnid
tho forfeit had it been seen. They are af-
raid Of 1.-THE very name Of Christianity
is terror to them. No ono can buy, sell,
or even live, if he is known to havo any-
thing to do with it.. Il: 49,.
AT last the missionaries were permitted
to teach what they preached. Some hun
dred Of them have been taught. and few
/ of them arc of noble families and heads of
departments; so Christianity is getting a
toothold in the high places. The country
is divided into sections, each ono being
governed by n prince who has standing
army of his own. Gould these princes be
converted; how much good would there be
accomplished. rs they have control Of so
many people? .s..-., e.,
There ore now twenty Japanese in this
country, sent here for m education by
princes, who pay oil expenses. No other
country had done what this has within ten
years after its being opened to civilization.
The Emperor of Japan has ordered that six
! young men be educated ut his expense in
English homo in each of the principal pro-
LESSONS. These men do not want to 90
into the military, or other profe ssions, but
to preach.
In tho year 1920 much happiness was &C.
casioncd by tho news that in tho Sandwich
Islands the people had agreed to abolish
their idols Now 4O,O00, 600 of hcathon
people kworo ready to receive the gospel
The Chinese Emperor has ordered that no
new Buddhist temple shall be erected, and
no decayed Buddhist idol repaired in China
! The Chinese have decided that Buddhist
should no longer be the state religion,