The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-01-05
M,rning Star and Catholic Messenger.
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M,rning Star and Catholic Messenger.
new oRLEGSs. SUNDAY, JANUARY 5. 1873.
Japan. /,
The history of the Church of God is per-
petually repeating itself. When nations
were lost to her in Northern Europe, nations
were won to her in newly Undiscovered
America, and the century of the great apos.
tastes was also the century of the great
Econversions. In our time we are witnessing
similar phenomena. While "faithful" and
"Catholic" Princes are wagipg war on the
religion of Christ, Japan has once more
opened a way for the conversion OF her oOO
millions; and the extraordinary changes OF
the last few scare, which have occurred 40
those islands, fill US with the liveliest hopes
and anticipations.
In a recent number of the Edinburgh Re
CSssc we find an account of political ana
aocial revolution, SO sudden, and SO giganuc
a. Il to astonsh and almost alarm even the
American Secretary Of Legation . VINO tbr re
years the established religion (Buddhism)
has been despoiled of its revenues and pres
aige, and the formidable BONES" VINO
resisted S. Frances Xavier, and egged on
the bloody prosecutions Of the 18th century
are now landless and imp0tent. The
Mikado, or spiritual Sovereign, has eman-
gcipated himself from the thraldom Of his
sMayor of the Palace. He has abolished the
dual Government, deposed on his own au
.thority the Shogoon, or temporal hing, ana
person, at his own capital, with his own
court. With the assumption OF the reins OF
mower came also the determination that IL
showed he felt. We hear of vast changes,
4 Improvements, and reforms; OF ten ne"
steamships of war, two of which are IRON
Siads: of railways completed, and others
In progress; of telegraph lines constructed
and worked by natives; of lighthouses,
docks, colleges. and scientific estaoiish-
5ments, all begun, and some IN nourls9Isg
condition. Nor is this all: the distlnct'ona
Of class which but ten years ago maze tne
social life and customs of Japan aimost
sidentical with those of the middle ages IN
Europe, are gradually disappearing under
the influence of the imperial reformer. Ine
privileges of caste are made to give way e
news laws; although, apparently, there II
- still much to improve in the administrator
81 Justice; and even the distinctions o.
dress, such as the colours of robe, or tns
wearing of swords, important trifes In tn
eyes of an eastern people, are aoohshed
In the colleges for yonth, which are mum
arous aud we'll attended, for there are NJ
less than 1000 students in the Goyernmen
schools at Yeddo alone, every lnducemen
IN given for the study of European hlstor
and languages. The emperor sets the eA
ample himself Of rising early and s slaa
foreign languages, and in conversation VII
= their nrofessors. French, hitherto forbid
den, is now encouraged. and at this presel
moment, there are in London, beside I'll
ambassadors, 200 japanese.
sists look with dismay on the sweepln
audiences of such a reform, and dou'
whether deeply rooted traditions ana PR
iudices can safely be disposed OF IN coup
of years, even by Mikado with all d p
sanctity and prestige of divine right. %
o)lf hasa oh
but hope. With the weakening OF the raj
relipions may come also the toleraSion
che true one. AS yet, indeed, japan is
from having arrived at this necessary co
religion, adapted to modern IDEAS Wnica =
TO be framed after consultation with e
representatives of the different native sec
and promulgated by the Mikado; and co
formity to which is to be enforced on 7
Japanese. Persecution, at least for tin
nav he the result but the introduction
Western literature must intalloiy orl
with it by degrees the federation OF Weste
II thought. Thus a power will be relntI
duced into Japan which no failures IN
natural order, if only TINS toieIasion
maintained, can seriously affect, much II
Withstand.
Reaction may set in, and mere civlilz
aabe disappointed: but we know that WI
once the Church is free, she is trluEn Pn q
III and we cannot but trace the nnger Oh =;
ii IN COIuCluenCo WHICH
such a revolution with the solemn cano
cation of the blessed martyrs who SOW
the seed with their blood, ana WltH II,
n lscsndalous misuse of their talent by We
B srn potentates, which has so often :"
taken from them, and given to others ie e
suspected, aud least known.-Lo"os" L
Jet.
---T----- HOME AFFEcTToNs.-Where family
children are taught from childhood to M
hood and womanhood to be kind ana
- one To another. and see the daily e4