The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-20
Religious Tolcra ton In Japan.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
As your paper Is the great medium by which the
public is set right on all public questions beg
leave, through your columns, to refer to the re-
cent report generally made, Of the publication in
Japan OF universal religious federation. There is
not one word OF truth in this statement. The same
edict was published throughout the empire three
years ago, and was only at that time intended for
foreigners. The ambassadors Of the different ma
tons interp0sed their offices to have the decree
made to include the native Christians; but they
only succeeded in obtaining the release OF those
Christians who would consent. before receiv-
ing their liberty to apostatize, the prisons
the faithful, to the exclusion Of u Criminals,
and over one thousand five hundred have died OF
want and torture. This in the neighborhood OF
foreign settlements. how many thousands in the
interior ii would be impossible to tell. All this
horror would cease without difficulty II the foreign
and strongly in demanding the rights OF Christian
liberty for the native as well as the foreign ee-
oa me acs 1neLe - neng played az the
tie jealousy OF our American influence Is ielt. The
European Ambassadors fear to demand anything
unpopular with the Court, and 1t remains with our
American representative TO obtain equal rights for
ALL both native and foreign Christians. Why not
send q HERALD correspondent 10 interview the
Mkado. and give us all the facts about Japan and
Its religious liberation. AN OCCASIONAL
BOSTON Mpr no Z, lS,s. r.ners or ,,,o.n ono
HERALD in the publication Of sunday sermons; but
1t Is very poor imitation, one sided. and will
expansion. They have become blistered by their
great fire and their foundations are weak
The Genealogical Records OF Our sa-
vi0ur.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The explanation given by your correspondent Of
last Sunday in regard to the disagreement of the
genealogical records OF Jesus Christ as given by
Matthew and Luke. seem to be, at the first glance,
a very good one, and no doubt, one which Will re-
lieve the perplexity OF great many persons. But
many so constituted that they cannot accept any
statement which is not based upon demonstrates
facts, much less upon reasonable assumption. The
explanation OF IL. A. CO.. will never satisfy those
who are given to reasoning Something more po-
tent than hearsay evidence Is needed to convince
divine divine that one record was traced through
through. Joseph, the husband Of Mary. But
when asked If he knew this to be
vey ,ae sp Inc cas mo yepv
BILE that this Is the correct theory for In other
way can we reconcile the records" This tells the
whole story, Jesus may or may not have been
descendant Of David. 1t Is merely matter OF
opinion, think your correspondent OF last sun
day will admit that nowhere In the whole New
Testament, or IN any history whatever has nc seen
anything which VIII tend to prove that he hts
Is just as reasonable to suppose that Jesus
q descendant OF David, as that he was. No
proof can be brought to bear upon either
this question has been shrouded In impenetrable
darkness. Our opinions may be Affirmative or
negative; but not soul can say that mis- belief Is
the true one The darkness VIII never be dispeled
until we have ''shufiied on this mortal coli, and
we sleep the sleep that knows no waking. Then we
may hope That all the mysteries surrounding the
theological questions viii be revealed to ms. But
in this life there is no prospect OF our knowing
more OF Jesus Christ than we already know. That
He was 3 coed man and great ref0rmer few
doubt; that He was the SON OF God or the descend
ant Of David many disbelieve. IL win take more
reas enable hypothesis than that contained in your
correspo ndents letter to convince them that they
are In error. The world 10 full OF scepticism, and
the use OF assumption to combat IL only makes the
reasoning dOubter more sccptcal than ever.
J. Ii. COLLOQUE.
The Whale Of Modern scepticism.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Why does not Mr.. Talmsge, instead OF wasting
the time OF his large audiences by sneering at
sceptics, calling them fools, and other clown
ish or clerical compliments, attempt to show them
wnere they are In error, LAS Jonas was three
days aud three nights In the whale, N belly M aha