The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-03
JAPAN.

Professionalism lies In their treatment OF
the Scriptures. The Romanist has no use
for the Bible; liFe the Pharisee, he lives
on system of traditions. The Protestant
appeals to the Bible for everything; it is
to him the only rule of faith what
teacheth the Scriptures?" 1t is to him
never-exhausted mine of instruction
never-failing source of comfort. He
opens the Bible with the feeling that God
is about to speak. The Roman Church,
on the contrary, discourages the reading
OF the Scriptures as tending merely to
disputation and strife. This has always
been the policy of the Church of Rome.
1t you want to know anything, Ask the
Priest.
Three hundred years ago Romanism,
through Francis Xavier, the apostle of
the Indies" had established itself in ia
pan, and had made 100000 converts !;
but 1t neither gave nor attempted to give
the Bible to these converts. On the other
hand, the Protestant missionaries, long
before they gained access to the islands,
made repeated efforts to prepare the
Scriptures in the japanese language.
The first of these attempts was made by
the Rev. Charles Gutzlaff, who translated
the Gospel of John at Macao in 1885,
Other TRANSACTIONS were made by the Rev.
DIR. Williams and the Rev. B. J. Bethel
helm, the latter of whom printed one of
the Gospels in japanese at Hong Kong
and subsequently the four Gospels and
Acts.
Various efforts We're made after the
Protestant missionaries became settled in
Japan, but the first successful attempt
was the publication of the Gospel of Mat
thew, in 1871, by the Rev. ]. Goble, from
wooden blocks. DIR. Hepburns transla-
ton of the Gospels was begun in 1872
In September of that year joint COM
mittee was appointed to translate the
Scriptures into the Japanese language, of
whom DIR. Hepburn, of the Presbyterian
Board, was chairman. The New Testa-
ment has been translated and printed, as
well as three of the minor prophets
The Book of Joshua is in press, and the
Psalms will be ready this year. DR.. Gu
lick reports that in 1880 he printed H.
2O6,486 pages of Scripture, making u.s.
O66 volumes, besides 1906 volumes fur
nished to the British and Foreign Bible
Society, and &c. 90 furnished to the Ma
tional Bible Society of Scotland.
They use two-wheeled Bible carriage,
drawn by horse to circulate the Scrip
lures. The Rev. ]. Goble, in eighteen
months, sold 5000 Portions in this way.
In Toxic this work was begun on the 2lst
September, 1880, and the vehicle Gin
charge of Kew. A. Riddubelke) sold by
January lst, 1881, 1O,203 Portions, and
121 Testaments.
There is nothing so free in Japan"
says the Rev. Mr.. Goble in the Gospel IN.
'aH Lands cas- the propagation of the
Christian faith and the sale of the Chris
tian Scriptures" 1t is remarkable fact
that all other books are taxed, but the
Government mill not accept any license
tao for Christian books, even when offer
ed by native dealers. The Rev. Mr.. Gu
lick writes:
4" And the other day, in the city of Kuana,
when | went to the police office to ask for a
guard to keep order at our evening lectures,
forgot to say that the subject of my lectures
was the Christian religion, and when the officer
duty reported the matter to the chief of police
in his office upstairs, he sent back word that
foreigner could not be allowed to lecture unless
some native would be responsible for what
might be said. ] insisted that l had heen hold
ing similar lectures all over the country for
near two years past and that l had enjoyed
freedom to do so everywhere and in the course
of my remarks | said that was selling Chris
tan Scriptures. The chief of police, upon hear
ing this came down the stairs in great hurry
and grasping my hand in the most cordial man
ner, said you lecture upon the Christian
faith, you are entirely at liberty to do so as
much and as often 'as you please, and l will
send officers to protect you from noise or dis.
turbance."
There are now in Japan 25,459 ,ele-
mentary schools, with 10000 teachers and
100000 pupils.