Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-24


wife, and by some II was considered
their duty to support more when they
were able.
Now the speaker wished to stop, but
again he was urged to talk. which he
DID. And this time he told 1; all. At
least 50 much Of his knowledge as had
been depressing him with the keeping,
for II was evidently with feeling Of
relief as well as IN words OF no little
eloquence that he made his disclosure.
National Heassertion.
He had passed to the subject of gov
eminent schools FOR women which In
former years under Christian Influence
done much to ameliorate the condition
OF the Japanese women and bring her
In sympathy with the Christian thought
OF the world. For a while there had
been an enthusiastic desire for West
ern Ideas on every hand. and every
thlng from Europe and America had
been eagerly received for years 1t
seemed indeed at one time that the ma
tion was about TO be transformed SO
rapidly were the changes coming about
and 80 marked In their effects upon the
national life and character. The con-
serVauve forces OF the nation were
stirred up TO resistance by the very
speed with which advancement pro-
crossed for while. ana in fear that
the old Jopan should be swept out of
existence. began vigorous opposition
where they had only before offered a
passive resistance TO new ideas. 1t
was about four years ago that this
movement began. Since then this re-
assertion OF national spirit had devel-
oped into distinctly antl-foreign
spirit From the universal acceptance
Of Western ideas the nation had in
these four years swung around to ex-
treme opposition TO eNtraneous teach
ings Of every kind Including the doc
trines OF Christianity. The Buddhists
how for the first time in recent years
had become Violently active and had
turned the popular antl-foreign feeling
against Christianity 50 that mission
aries had never had 10 confront greater
obstacles than those which We're being
raised up in Japan at this time. And
IN some places the opposition had OF
late assumed a very serious aspect for
the missionaries, and In some localities
life itself was in danger.
Denying Christ.
Now In a manner most grave and
impressive the missionary related how
when the difficulties and dangers were
greatest, and even when peril seemed
Imminent to Christian missionaries in
Japan there had arisen within the
bosom Of the church there most dam
Eerous tendency. According to his
Wow Congregationallsm was drifting
towards rationalism, and this tendency
the Cungregationalist missionaries had
carried with them to Japan. where be-
Ing impaired to the native missionary
preachers they had gone to starting ex-
tremes in the reconciliation OF cardinal
principles Of Christian belief. They
oven went so far as TO dlscrcdlt the
divinity Of the Lord Jesus Christ and
deny the atonement Of His blood. Con-
tinuing he said the Christian mission
nry could face persecution and death
II need be In defense Of the faith In the
redeemer, but It was sad indeed to
think Of n weapon being placed in the
hands Of the heather adversarles In
this way. For a while back the church
In Japan had been getting more close
TO the spirit OF the apostolic age It had
seemed to him than the church I'm
America, so great was their zeal and
power, but now this reaction had come.
The heather women who had been con-
verified In years gone by with so much
pains and labor, We're beginning
TO abandon their Christian simplicity
of manner and pattern after their un-
converted heather sisters He thought
there was a special call at this critical
time for noble Christian women. one
OF the missionaries who presided In a
Congregational chapel had progressed
so far In the departure from the Chris
toan faith towards extreme liberalism
that he did not find It necessary any
longer to name the Lord Jesus Christ
In his prayers. Methodism was needed
there In it's purity to combat these
strange doctrines. In conclusion the
speaker again urged that n noble
Methodist woman be sent by the assoc
citation to combat this new form OF on
position to Christianity which had It's
OH In a 1thgru1ta
* some OF the protested Christians OF
this Christian land.