The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-16
RELIGION IN JAPAN.


Yoknhsna 0,rrespoedencs Bosepn Tssnsesip<
Among fhe factors in the futurs rslig1cus
history 81 Jspan, the Greek Or Russian
church h 10 - couutsd. and that. too. -
ore 81 no small imporfauce- II - b<yond
aaessiou that M foreigner. except perhaps
Francis xasIsr. h1s ever exerted - much
influences In needing he religious life Of the
peepIe - Bishop x;coiaI His zeal and Sue
cess l. truly marvellous. Win bat two or
three foresgn assistants. he has built mp m
educasiouni work here oi immense power.
and established churches in nearly every
paYt Of the empire. According 70 the last
statissics there Are twenty native priests.
IL esaneelisfs, 10 churches and upwards
Of n 100 church members. Besides iasti-
tutions for ordinary education. there Is .
theological school. wosaAn's training
school and . pYecarat0ry and advanced
school for svxugelists. One feature OF
this church II that the BIZ
bIe Is given . prominent place.
and not ignored, ss with the catho-
lies. At the request Of the bishop, the man
in charge Of their Publishing agency WAS
regularly supplied with scriptures from the
Americas Bible Society: and when the
Cl1ina~J apanese version Of the Old Iesta-
inent was printed. the bishop subscribed
for 800 copies N advances. He also made .
translation Of the Book Of Psalms" that
was published in advance OF thar made by
the COMMITTEES appointed by the Protestant
missionaries for the same work. In note
sent 70 the agent Of the American Bible So
ciety, the bishop expresses the wish that
Almighty God would help To- successfully
prosecute the noble work of distributing
The Holy Scriptures In this country.
When the bishop breaches he insists that
the ordinances Of the church have 20 say
Ing value. and only true holiness OF lie
can avail before God for the salvation OF
the soul. But the one weak point in tie
work Of The Russian church is the practice
Of baptism on a mere profession of faith In
the doctrines OF the church On that ac-
count considerable part OF the member
sasp do not live essentially different from
the heather. and 20 bring Christianity into
general disgrace. The reasons for such
great success are first, the energy, devotion
and tact Of the bishop. and also the ample
supply OF means that have been placed ct
his command By the government that
supports the mission as . part OF the
state church. For this reason there
has been prejudice against the. move
ment. and more or less uneasiness In
the minds Of some Of As to what may be
Ing last year that there was great excite
iDent In Toxic on account OF the building
Of the cathedral on one OF the most promi-
nent sites in the city. and where II VIII
overlook the imperial palace. To prevent
such q state Of things various schemes
were suggested. One Of them was 70 build
aud artificial mound between the church
and the palace; Smother, that the church
should be purchased and pulled down, and
the third that II should be shut in
by brick wall. 1t il also said that Ger
tain persons have been endeayoring to
rersuade the authorities 10 expel
Bishop Nicoiai, aud others suggest the
most radical measures. While the weight
10 be given to these reports Is uncertain, II
il nevertheless true that the mission OF the
Russian church IN Japan Is regarded with
who look upon il in the light OF a semi
political organization.
Il II supposed that Peter the Great rec
commended religious propagandism rs the
most eNicient means OF undermining the
patriotic morale Of a nation, and SO IL is
surmised there may come from this relig
ious movement serious political troubles in
the future. should the anti-i0reign feeling
continue 20 increase IL Is not improbable
that disturbances may arise in connection
with the erection of . cathedral that viii
he one of the most conspicuous objects in
the city Of Toxic. 10 Is to he hoped that
the spirit of liberty and liberation will take
the place of blind opposition and hostility.
ard that no interference with religious
freedom will ever occur. The new cabinet
has been apparently getting the reins of
government veil in hand. ana thus far
have taken no steps that would fairly in
dictate what their future policy Is To
be. People OF all nationalities and of every
class await with anxiety the course that is
going TO he pursued. 60 diverse and strong
are the feelings OF the different political ele-
ments that. whatever policy Is adopted it
seems TO be improbable that trouble
may occur. IL remains 90 be seen IL the
nssion, that has gone so far with safety
and credit. viii be able 10 continue course
that will insure . future OF peace and pros
rerity.
Recently over 1000 members of the
Young Mems Christian Association in
Gumma Ken necsnie interested in the sub
jeet OF licensed prostitution, and after sew
erai meetings ON the subject. persuaded
the members of the local assembly 70 pass
a measure aholishing 1t. This action has
received the approval OF the governor.
Stimulated by such success. the Christ
ian members of other local assemblies
have brought forward similar proposals
In three OF the provinces they have
been rejected. but in Saiatana the
measure 8a4 p31st1 aHf AWAITS the sfg1H-
sare OF the governor. Meetings have been
held in several places for the discussion of
this subject and already much interest has
lseen aroused. A prominent editor in Tskio
ard former consul at the Hawaiian
Islands are leading In the discussion
et this question and meeting with the
most cordial support. The CITY OF kyofo
~ the eeatsr OF Buddhism IN japan. and
is condition there Is an index of its consii-
ton in the rest OF the country. In fact, a
decline in the strength at the center ui
power would indicate an even greater loss
where the influence was less promsnen.
and able 10 meet all opposition. recent
report shows that in 1879 there We're ST
BUDDHIST temples IN kyoto province.
Five wears later there were s.sS
aud last year only S,geo This is
certainly not an encouraging outlook ior
the followers Of the Light Of Asia in
Japan. Ii Il no wonder that IL was fel,
that something snust be done To check fhi.
ssaie OF things. and 81 Colonel oicott va.
sent for to reinvigorate the waning cause