The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-29
CHRISTIANITY AND PROGRESS IN JAPAN

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CHRISTIANITY AND PROGRESS IN JAPAN
An educated Japanese has recently con
tributed to the japanese H'eekly Nail, Of
YokohOma, very interesting series of ar.
ticles in relation TO his countrymen, but
more especially referring to the young and
their future in connection with their coun
try, discussing the aims, Instruments, in
tellectual equipments, guides, leaders, diff
ferent beliefs, schools, sections, etc. The
writer gives no certain outward sign that
ne is Christian. yet he pays great atten-
tian to describing the two great opposing
sections of Japan, one of which looks to
Christianity to supply the nation with a
new moral system, the other depending
upon science and philosophy. He refers at
length to the leaders on both sides, men
tons their individual strength and weak
ness, the periodicals and books pub
lished b, each, the degree of their popular
ity and the influence on the public mind
which they respectively exercise.
In reference to the attitude of the nation
regarding Christianity, the writer takes oc-
casion to say that the wonderfully changed
condition of Japan in this respect is not
very well known, if at all; that it is only
within the last two or three years, or since
the waking up of the rising generation, that
the new creed has became pronounced and
vital element of the country's civilized life
He says its influence is now felt through
the growing age, not merely by reason of
the fast increasing numbers of young con-
verts, but also, and it may be to a greater
extent, by, reason of the creation of
powerful literature thoroughly imbued
with the Christian spirit. So far the liter
AZURE on the Christian and I'M Christian
sides is confined chiefly to journals and
periodicals. The principal share in spread
ing the influence of Christian culture and
thereby making 1t aiying political and social
power, has so far devolved upon two news
papers called in English. Friend of the People
and the UntrersC. The editors and chief
writers Of these are described, careers
views, etc. The same thing is done, ap-
parently with the utmost impartiality,
with the cases of writers and journals op-
posed to Christianity, and the general i'm
preston left on the mind Of the reader
often having read the articles referred to,
is that japanese Christianity is not con-
fined to the nneducated or the poor, but
that it has taken fast hold in the minds of
many of the most influential, wealthy and
intellectual of the rising generation; more
over, that thesemeH do not entertain be-
lief in Christianity as recuperating power
for their country merely because of a pious
or formal opinion, but because they have
thrown all their grand intellectual
force and energy into the task
of preaching it to their country
men; that they have established papers
relating to the subject which are read far
and wide, that they have a large following
among men OF their own stamp, those
who are destined to be leaders of the
country; and that they have established
and are consolidating and increasing a
school of thought at the foundation of
which lies belief in the truths of Chris
tiauity; or putting it otherwise and per-
haps palmer, Christianity has become an
intellectual force of the first order among
the Japanese, and in the fight against the
schools which would like to have a new
moral system on scientific and philosophical
bases, its champions are mer who are un-
doubtedly worthy of the cause they repre-
sent and also worthy of their antagonists
The writer does not mention the Christian
missionaries from the United States and
elsewhere in connection with the contest
now being waged on both sides in Japan,
aided to a large extent no doubt
in the field of PROSECUTING by grad
yates of the theological universities and
other institutions of'that country.
This all goes to show that the adoption of
modern constitution and other civilized
advantages by the Japanese are not the
only lines of division which separate them
from their nearest neighbors, the Chinese,
leaving aside all question of the portion of
the Pacific ocean which intcrvenes. 1t
seems that the former race are instinctively
progressive, that they have within their
natures the disposition to grasp and retain
all that is beneficial and elevating to man.
What could be more gratifying to the
ethnologist and philanthropist in one than
the spectacle of race of people who, few
years ago, were counted among the uncivil-
lied and unenlightened among our species,
all at once emerging from the intellectual
darkness and decrepit traditions which en-
vironed them and coming forth among
the nations of the earth with a
constitutional national charter-a bill of
rights and priyileges-almost equal to that
of Germany or Austria, and thus placing it
self ahead of Russia and Turkey, which have
no constitutions at all and no such innate
progressiveness: 1t is wonderful subject |
all through; but not the least wonderful !
part Of it is the vo luntary acceptance ard |
cultivation of Christianity among the !
japanese They certainly give great |
promise of becoming mighty and prosper
Gus race, and that too in the not PARKWAY |
future.
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THERE ARE always strong contrasts be
tween great men. CLAY said: II would |
rather be right than be President" Pow |
Fps eayS. IiT wOuld rather carry tho cleo