The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-26
(From the Congregationalist.)
Joseph Cook in Japan.
BY REV. NJ. L. GORDON, NJ. D.

BY REV. NJ. L. GORDON, M. d.
We have below a fuller account of
Mr.. Cooks lectutes in Kobe than last
week. 1t comes through Rev. Horace
Leavitt, of Andover, formerly a mission
airy in that country:
Mr.. Cook first spoke in Kobe at a
special preaching service which had been
arranged for in connection with the an
nual meeting of our Japanese Home
Missionary Society. He spoke in the
evening to full house, and for two
hours, on The Religious Signs of the
Times. His address was most admirably
interpreted by Mr.. Ichihara of our school,
and there is every reason to believe that
an excellent impression was produced on
the japanese. In his address he laid
down two propositions: % The Japa-
nese cannot shut out Christianity if they
would, and (2) they Che hoped) would
not if they could.
Under the first he dwelt on the great
and widely felt power of Christianity.
Under the second he spoke of its rela-
ton to the civilization, freedom, and
prosperity of Europe and America.
Japan is soon $500 to have a parlia-
ment; no other religion than Christianity
can prepare the people for so great a
trust. Only belief in the true God
will give the sobriety and conscientious
ness which such trust demands" The
next day the same lecture in substance
was delivered in a well-flled. theatre in
Osaka, and three or four days later to a
still larger audience in Kioto
The Kioto meeting was remarkable in
several respects. First, you must know
that while national parliament has not
yet been established, there are already
local assemblies where representatives
elected by the people, discuss and decide
many matters of local interest. That
which meets in Kioto includes the city
and two or three outlying provinces.
Leading members of this assembly in
vited Mr.. Cook to deliver the address,
and they provided the building and as
sumed all the expenses. They issued
tickets of admission, and many members
of the assembly and leading officials of
the city government were present the
vice-governor being on the platform.
Some Buddhist priests were invited and
were present, as were many of the most
intelligent men of the city. The largest
building that could that day be secured
was theatre holding 200 to 1900, and
it was filled to its utmost capacity. Mr..
Cooks address, with its Interpretation,
occupied three hours and three quarters,
during the whole of which time, with
perhaps the exception of the last twenty
minutes when some began to leave the
room, there was the most perfect order.
The address was the same as that given
in Kobe. only fuller and more nutspol<en
1t was indeed rare day, and as he sowed
with full hand those seeds of Evangeli-
cal Christian truth into minds which, if
they had heard at all, had heard from
afar, one could not help the feeling that
the hand of God was in it and that He
would not suffer His word to return unto
Him void.
1t is probable that the address was
more distinctively religious than some
expected it to be, still they knew what
his addresses had been elsewhere and
they invited him without even a shadow
of a suggestion that he should trim his
speech.
Coming out of that meeting with the
recollection that that great audience OF
| legislators, Vlce-goVernor ana many
lower officials, physicians, lawyers, edi-
tors, teachers, pupils, priests, merchants,
etc., have been sitting in perfect quiet
ness and attention for four hours, listen
ing to Christian preacher, foreigner,
too, at that, declaring here in this old,
sacred city of Kioto that Christianity
alone can give them the civilization they
seek, the safe constitutional freedom to
which they aspire, and then recalling the
fact that within ten years Protestant
Christian, imprisoned for his faith alone,
died in the prison of this same city, one
could hardly help shouting: What
hath God wrought" Mr.. Cook also
gave a question-box lecture to the stu
dents of our school, which was very in
terestiDg and profitable.
R5otO, Japan.
Punishment for Sin.