Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-26

from the power Of sin save where the
word Of God, living and powerful,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
smites sin hnd expels lust from the
throne Of the soul.
In 1856 the United States Govern
ment was compelled to send Commo-
dore Perry to protect its citizens who
had been shipwrecked upon the Jap
anese coast. Out of his voyage came
the open door for missions to this be-
nighted people. Japan soon sought
to be admitted to the fraternity Of ma
tions, but was plainly told in WASH
ington city by Secretary Fisk that no
admission was possible till those who
had accepted the word of God were re-
leased from prison, where they had
been cast on account Of their loyalty
to Christ. The treaty, which at first
embraced only five cities, was soon
extended, till England, following in
the wake of the United States, estab-
lished herself on the islands. The jap
anese possess wonderful power to as
simulate themselves to our institutions.
are ready to accept our education.
The pride Of opinion, so strong among
the Chinese and their resistance to
all power to pitch their national and
social life upon our plane, is not found
in Japan. Indeed, the readiness of
these people to embrace the truth
makes them enemies of the Celeslials.
Railroads. telegraphs, steamboats,,
schools and courts Of justice are mod
eled after our institutions. When they
first saw steamboat, they supposed
that the Americans had tanned vol
cano and put it into the hold of the
vessel to do their bidding. Four years
ago the government was paying hun
dreds of thousands Of dollars for
the support of idolatry. Now the
law divorces the religion of the
land from the government and
in this regard places the uation ahead
of England. The Christian era has
been adopted. Banks, schools and all
public work is suspended on the
Lords day. The law is in some Sec
tions in advance of puclic opinion, but
it is performing the functions Of an
educator. The material progress has
no equal in the history of the world.
The religious progress at first was
slow. In the first ten years only one
was converted. To day the intelligent
people are not idolaters to conviction.
Faith in idols is destroyed. Growth
in truth has shaken off many fetters;
but there is much yet to be done.
There are $50 missionaries in the
island. There are 20 of these from
the United States and 30 from England.
An article written by an intelligent
native editor reduces the elements Of
influence which mold a nation to
five wealth, intelligence, purity,
energy and custom. In all of these
save custom, he argued, that the mis-
sionaries had the advantage over the
priests. The Buddistis are ignorant,
unchaste, poor and lazy. The mis-
sionaries at work are or should be
backed by the wealth of the COM
bined hosts OF God. In spite of all
social opposition, all priest craft, it is
thought, that by 1900 the whole OF
this race will bow at the foot
of the cross. Whatever is done by any
religious people must be done at once.
The sickle must be thrust in now or
the reaper will be too late to save the
golden grain. There are now thirty
seven selt-sustaining churches among
these people. What has been one OF
the hindrances in that land is the dis
union among the missionaries. There
has been demsnd for united front
to meet united foe. Concessions
have been made but more are required
to secure the greatest success. Three
Presbyterian missions sustained by
different bodies united to form the
"First Church of Christ" Then with
this a Congregational mission united
to form what is called "The United
Church of Christ" The Protestants
had givensthese heathens one book and
they demanded that there be one
body or one church. This demand
could not be met but by concession
and closer return to the prayer of
Christ: 81 pray that they all may be
one, as thou Father art in me and
in Thee, that the world may believe
that Thou didst send me-" We as
sumo no special goodness, we asperse
the character of no one, we give credit
to all for whatever good they may
possess; but it is our special mission
to call for a return to the Apostolic
platform, to the church of God as it
was in the beginning, divested of all
denominationalism, and possessing all
the characteristics of the church be-
ginning at Jerusalem, the miraculous
local and contingent elements ex-
cepted. He who does what God COM
mands in His word must be just what
men were who did this in the days of
the apostles-no less, no more. We
rejoice in the good done by all lovers
of truth, but long and pray for a
union that shall take all reproach out
of the mouth of the heather. Many
touching incidents were related by
Mr.. Smith, and after an appeal to the
audience a liberal contribution was
made for foreign missions. Mr..
Eugene Snodgrass, graduate OF
the University of Kentucky, and his
wife, were also present at the services,
and are on their way to this distant
land as missionaries.
The Flower Festival.
The fourth annual flower festival
will commence at Hazards Pavilion