Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-22
Christianity an Intellectual Force
In Japan.
lErara, L Inr,do HiIraaa

Recently japanese has contributed
most interesting and pregnant series of artf-
cles to the Japan Weekly Mail of Yokohama
on the rising generation of his countrymen,
its aims, instruments, intellectual equip
ment, guides and leaders, beliefs, different
schools and sections, and so on. The writer
who gives no indication that he is himself
Christians especially detailed in de-
scribing the two great and opposing Sec
tions, one of which looks to Christianity to
supply Japan with new moral system, the
other to science and philosophy. He men
tions the leaders on both sides, their indi-
vidual strength and weakness, the periodi-
calls and books published on each side, the
degree of their popularity. and the influence
on the public mind which they respectively
exercise Referring to the attitude of the
nation to Christianity, the writer remarks
that the wonderfully altered position of Ja-
pan in this respect is now we'll known; but
it is only within the last two or three years,
or, in other words, since the awakening of
the rising generation, that the new creed has
become a vital element of the nations civil
lized life 'Its influence is now felt through
the rising generation, not only by reason of
the fast increasing number of young con-
verts, but also, and perhaps to greater ex-
tent, by means Of the creation of a powerful
literature thoroughly imbued with the Chris
tian spirit"
AS yet the literature on the Christian and
non-Christian sides is mainly confined to
journalistic publications. The chief share
in spreading the influence of Christian cul-
ture and thereby making Christian culture
living political and social power, has fallen
to two journals called Tin translation) the
Universe and the Friend of the People.
The editors and principal writers in these are
described, their career, views, style, infu-
enee, etc. The same is done, apparently
with perfect impartiality, in the case of nom
Christian writers and journals, and the gen.
eral impression left on the mind by a peru
sal of the articles is that in Japan Christian
| ity is not confined to the poor or uneduoated,
but that it has taken fast hold on the minds
of many of the most ardent, intellectual and
| influential of the men of the rising genera
| tion; and, further, that these men do not
| entertain belief in Christianity as a regen-
| Grating force for their country merely as a
pious or formal opinion, but that they have
| thrown all theipenergy and great intellectu-
| al force into the task Of preaching this to
their countrymen; that they have established
| journals which are eagerly read far and wide;
| have large following among men of their
| own stamp, the future leaders of the coun-
try and that they have, in fact, established
and are engaged in consolidating and in
ersasipg a school Of thought, at the founda-
tion of which lies belief in the truths of
Christianity; Or, to put the matter in anoth-
er way, Christianity has become an intellec.
tual force of the first order in Japan, and in
the fight against the school which would
have new moral system ON scientific ani
philosophical bases, its champions are mel
who are worthy of their cause, and worthy
it may be added, of their antagonists. N
mention is made of the Christian rissiona
ries in connection with the contest, which 1
being waged on both sides by Japanese
many Of whom are graduates of foreign uni
| versities