New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-09

abont 900 converts. while the Greek Church
claimed g 900. and the Roman Catholics no fewer
than 10000. OF these denominations, howe'e.'
their prospects, methods and rate of increase, she
unfortunately tells us nothing. She adds IN ho'o
that in ten months after her departure the nulioer
of Protestant Christians was increased by l,ooo u
surprising acceleratiOn in the growth OF the CDurcn
which needs to be accounted for. Perhaps Tue eA-
PLANTATION may be found in what she calls 'he
practical sagacity with which the Americans in'n
ace their Missions There are hundreds of men and
women near Kiyoto who arc practically Cnrlstlans
and Bble-readers, but have never been baptized
because the missionaries require as preminares
tests of sincerity, that they should build their own
churches. support their own pastors, and sustain
their own poor. As soon they succeed in raising
the necessary funds there is thus sudden increase
OF some hundreds in the roll of converts.
The making the congregations self-snpp0rtlng
and training the japanese CHRISTIANS 10 lIuePe;n
dence. part Of the work OF al the AlneIieah his
siOnarics Probably after Il time, when the h'iIH-
Der of converts is largely increased they may ~ oHo
both theology and church order when VIII sur
PRISE their teachers nay au soErri n snen
English well and | aather from them thaG encl
earnestly desire to establish national chufch noI
altogether the lines OF the pattern suppiicu w
hrm: and it is not impossible that in religion as III
Their matters. the foreigners may first be uSeu' ana
then be dispensed with.
There is complete separation between the mis-
sionaries and the rest of the foreign community
and the consequences of this antagonlSm cannot p'
Inc disastrous In one respect Miss Bird thinks the
policy of some CT the missionaries ~ inlhdlclous'
They discourage the japanese forms OF pollteneSs,
and their young men and women are apt 10 DC ru'e
and uncouth to an extent which, i'll country
where etioucttc is so much regarded, Is stigmalzeu
"A diepusting This is what her servant ITO meant
bv missionary Manners" The Christian schools
for girls are criticised by the natives because lhey
omit that instruction in domestic dutleS Whl'h 10
looked upon in Japan as one OF the most Important
branches of female education; aud some OF theni'
moreover, inculcate the use OF chars knives anu
forks dining tables, beef. and other Injuries
scarcely to be obtained in japanese family. Inc
girls are not better Christians III consequence Oh
the ACQUISITION Of these expensive habits ana lhey
are unfit ted to become wives. 10 foreigners Il
gil in some degree accustomed to our usageN' ana
speaking a little English is in mnay cases, more
attractive than one solely japanese in her language
and habit4 and with misguided female ambition
on the one side and the habits which prevail in
the Last on the other, there is much reason to fear
that results may occur which would lie to none 50
painful as TO the missionaries Themselves
Hero we must reluctantly take leave of Miss
Birds fascinating book. The ancient mystery
which onvelopcd the dual Empire of Mikado and
Tycoon was long ago dispelled, but tins ent"rprlS-
ing English lady has brought out for us revelations
hardly less curious than those of the travellers who
first forced n way into that strange land. The
character Of the scenes she has depicted is well
summarized as follows in her own words: An
Imperial throne founded on an exploded religions
fiction, State religion receiving an outward
homage from those who rdioule it, sceptlciSm ram
pant among the educated classes, and an ignorant
priesthood lording it over the lower classes; an
Empire with splendid despotism for its apex and
naked coolies for its base, bald matcrasm Its
highest creed and material good its goal reforming,
destroying constructing. appropriatng the fruits
of Christian civilization but rejecting the tree from
which they sprng-such are among the contrasts
and incongrutIcs every where"