Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-06

without foundation could have started is mys-
terry TO us here.
The general course Of events for the past year
has been such that we should not be surprised
at any time by the appearance of a procama-
ton giving all the liberty TO the converts to
Christianity which any in the land enjoy, but il
has not appeared yet, and hundreds are still
suffering in prisons for nothing else than being
Christians.
know that some people have been endeavor.
ing to throw discredit upon the reports of the
persecution of Roman Catholic Christians at
Uajasski as being exaggerated, and in some
points evidently false. We are told that they
could not have been tortured, because that
since the accession of the present mikado, the
custom Of examination by torture has been
wholly given up. Any one who is convinced by
this assertion, could learn something should he
examine the records Of the United States consul
lar court at Yokohama for the last three months
of last year, or the reports as they are TO be
found in the Yokohama papers. Such a one
would find that a certain United States citizen
named Rogers, was brought before the court
for making and uttering counterfeit kinsatz, as
the japanese paper money is called. There APP
peared against him certain Japanese who were
supposed TO be his accomplices. These Japan
csc were in a most pitiable condition on account
of the fortunes to which they had been subjected
10 make them confess the crime, so that the
consul, c. o. Shepard, Esq, refused to accept
their testimony against an American citizen,
and remanded Rogers to Jail until such time
as the Japanese witnesses might recover from
their injuries.
In the Spy account of the proclamation, it
was stated that its appearance had been re-
tarded by "the misconduct of certain foreign mis-
sionaries, who Systematically baptised persons
convicted of Infamous crimes and then attempted
to avert just punishment by raising cries of
Christian persecution, and invoking foreign in
reference" This representation must have
been started by some one not well acquainted
with japanese affairs, for while have been in
position to hear nearly all the complaints
against missionaries, since the revival of the
persecution, two years and n half ago, no such
complaint has come TO my ears. 1t is common
enough in China, but think not in Japan.
These Christians, with but few exceptions, if
! am rightly informed, and my information
little TO do with missionaries, Catholic or
Protestant, but they are the descendants of
those who became Christians under the labors
Xavier, his associates and successors, and
their crime, as stated by the Japanese ministers
Of state, at a conference with the various
foreign ministers, held in Yedo, January, 1870,
was simply this, that they refused to pass
through a certain gateway, to do homage to
the goddess TenSio Daijn, in accordance with
an imperial edict. One man with whom was
personally acquainted, was arrested simply be-
cause he was accustomed to go up into the attic
Of his house every day, that he might be alone
for prayer.
1t is very easy to say that these were not per-
secuted for being Christians, but only punished
for disobedeDce to the imperial edictS, but dis
obedience to such edicts is Christian duty, and
the punishment Of such disobedience is what we
are accustomed to call religious persecution,
whether it is done by Nero or Bloody Mary, his
majesty the Tenno. In all this do not mean in
the least to disparage the progress of the Japan
csc, for it is a standing marvel to every think
ing man that the government is so near to the
issuing Of such a proclamation as 1t manifestly
Is.
On the 90th of April last, Shintooism, the state
religion, was disestablished, and, with reference
to the state, it occupies essentially the same
position as Buddhism. The worship of the
mikado's ancestors is no longer obligatory upon
any one. 1t will still be maintained within the
palace, but not outside at the expense of the
state. 1t is quite question whether this decree
will not be found eventually to be virtual re-
peal of the laws against Christianity, but it is
not yet recognized as such, by the Japanese
themselves.
Some time since took occasion to contradict
statement which appeared In some American
paper, to the effect that shintooism had been
disestablished, and within few months that
which was not true as statement of fact was
proved TO be correct If read as a prophecy; and
the same will doubtless prove to be true of this
report of the issuing of decree of federation.
Before many months it must come; and while
we do not expect it so soon, it would surprise no
one if before this letter reaches you, you should
hear by telegraph that it had already appeared.
kIYOgAI,