Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-07-22
JAPAN.
Some of the Peculiarities of the Coun-
try and People.


try and People.
Rev. DIR. Brown, a missionary to Japan,
gave in recent sermon preached in Chi
cago some interesting statements in regard
to that nation, which is now attracting so
much attention. A brief abstract of the
address is appended:
We find in japan people who date back
seven centurie before Christ $500 years
from the preset era. There has been but
one reigning family on the throne in all that
time. While IN other kingdoms the scep-
ter passes intoother hands, here is King
who is descendant of the King of seven
centuries befde the Christian era. The
island of Japal looks small upon the map,
but it is great IN reality. We call ourselves
great, becaus, If we took census, we
should have 10000, 900 people in our land.
The Japanese have as great a population
to day as we hive, and they have the most
perfect system by which to take census
at any time. This most ancient of people
are but twentydays from us. They have
had written laws for 1900 years. They have
a literature, and books on all manner of
subjects. Ther have had time TO do the
best thing; ano have done what no other
heather nation has ever accomplished.
They are very polite, and from the noble
man to the pea,ant show much culture and
breeding. TIL, writings of Confucius have
been translated from the Oh nese and tho
roughly studid. They have acq uired
such degree o. skill in many things as to
be unequaled by any people in the world.
The japanese have keen intelleets, and
can argue as CLEARLY, and drive as sharp a
bargain as anypeopie in the world. And
here is a mistake made by churches, in
supposing, because a man is not smart
enough to suit, home congregation, he
will do for missionary to the heaten.-
They need as smart a man as we do.
The speaker was located at Yokohama,
and there learned the Japanese language.
The people were very reticent about them
selves and their country, but ask all man
ner of questions concerning other people
and lands; they are inquisitve and employ
every means to learn, Their knowledge
of the outer wohd is also astonishing. The
history of Washington is well-known, and
his memory is Invered by them.
Whenever the Governor of province
goes ont he is attended by body. guard of
armed men, wlD are in turn we'll watched
by others. He visited the missionaries on
their arrival and desired to know what
they wanted. He could not see what men
wished there ifit was not money, and his
curiosity was gleat to see whatever the min
listers had brought with them from Amer
lea. The piano excited great admiration.
Chinese books were particularly inquired
after, and Bible printed in the Chinese
language being shown the Governor, he
declared them to be Roman Catholics, who
were driven ont 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
lish language; but soldier was constant
ly present to see that they did not teach
Christianity The guard could not, o.
course, speak word of English, and Chris
tianity was Taught. A few young men came
to get Bible primers; when next seen they
had carefully obliterated the word Chris
tianity." Their heads would lave pait
| the forfeit had it been seen. They arc af
raid of 1.-THE very name of Christianity
/ is a terror to them. No one can buv, sell
or even live, if he is known to have any
thing to do with it.
At last the missionaries were permitted
to teach what they preached. Some hun
dred of them have been taught, and few
of the. are of noble families and heads o
departments; SO Christianity is getting q
foothold in the high places. The country
is divided into sections, each one being
governed Ivy prince who has standing
army of his own. Could these princes b,
converted, now much good would there be
accomplished. as they have control of 81
many people?
There are now twenty japanese in thi,
country, sent here for an education by
princes, who pay all expenses. No othel
country had done what this has within ten
years after its being opened to civilization
The Emperor of Japan has ordered that 81,
young men be educated at his expense IN
English in each of the principal pro
fessions. These men do not want to &c
into the military, or other profe ssions, bu
to preach.
In the year 1920 much happiness was oc
casioned by the news that in the Sandwich
Islands the people had agreed to abolish
their idols. Now 40000,000 of heather
people swere ready to receive the gospel
The Chinese Emperor has ordered that nc
new Buddhist temple shall be erected, and
no decayed Buddhist idolrepaired in China
Tue Chinese have decided that Buddhist
should no longer be the state religion.