St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-14
CHRISTIANITY NEEDED
TO ENABLE JAPAN TO MAKE THE
PROGRESS " SHOULD.
SO SAWS BISHOP JOHN sE.KIm.

An Interesting Sermon by the
Youngest Prelate of the Epis-
copal Church-Buddhism In
adequate to the Spiritual
Needs Of the Docile Japanese
Wives Have q Hard Time.
Last night at Christ church Bishop
John Mckim, from Japan, addressed q
very large and appreciative audience on
the subject OF his work in that interest
ing country. The bishop took his text
from st. Matthew 20, verses 10 and 20.
He first spoke of Perry's explorations,
and the progress that had been made in
Japan since that time, by the introduce
ton Of the telegraph, telephone and
electricity. He said that at the present
time there were 1000 miles of railroad,
and also spoke of the progress that the
people had made in an educational way,
and the methods employed. Children
are compelled by law to attend school
up to the age of fourteen, when they
are supposed to have acquired sufficient
knowledge to enable them to read the
Koran, and other books pertaining to
their religion.
He referred to the decay in their own
religion that had been so noticeable
since there had been any progress made
in education, and since civilized customs
had been introduced. The FREEDOM
mating religion, lie said, Is Buddhism,
which is in reality more philosophy
than religious creed. and is now in a
state of decay. Only perhaps
One Man in "a Thousand
can still be found who will admit that
he is Buddhist and sticks to it. In re-
gard to the treatment of women in ia
pan, he quoted, as an illustration, an IN
scription which he once came across
written over Buddhist place of wor-
ship: mo dogs, cattle or women al
lowed" This certainly speaks for
itself, and shows the degradation to
which the weaker sex is reduced. In
fact, the only thing that their treatment
of their wives can be compared to is
that which a North American Indian
bestows upon his Squaw. The wife has
simply no privileges at all, the
husband even being able TO divorce
his wife without the assistance
OF any court, and for such trivial causes
az his parents falling to like her, or for
any act that he deems childish. or any
little thing about the management of
her household that does not just suit
him. The result is that divorce is
much more common thing with the
Japanese than it is in the United
States.
From all this. the reverend gentle
man said, we could very naturally see
that the word home and all that it
means to US conveys no idea to the
Japanese; In fact he says that the word
is not contained in their vocabulary.
OF course with the Introduction of
Christianity all this Is improved. and
the women of Japan are not slow to APP
preciate the improvements that are
being made i'll their condition.
Budd hIsm Not Sufficient.
The idea that Buddhism is sufficient
for these people. said the bishop, is a
mistaken one, for, from the teachings
of their church they get no idea what
ever of doing for their fellow men and
it has only been with the progress of
Christianity in the country that charita-
bic institutions have sprung up, Christ
ian Sects now have i'll the principal
cities orphanageS, industrial schools,
hospitals, theological academies and
schools for girls.
Bishop McKim has spent thirteen
years i'll this wonderful country as
missionary and is the youngest Eplsco-
pal bishop, having been consecrated in
New DIRK, June IA, 1893. He will re-
turn to his laborS some time next month,
and in the meantime is doing his utmost
to interest the people of this country in
his work. He says that in the fifteen
years, with the assistance of fiji
teen more missionaries the boys
who are now attending the Divinity
schools will be ready to enter the field
of work, themselves and the country
will thus be able to do without further
assistance from abroad. Many natives
are already engaged III missionary
work, and with very encouraging
results