New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-06
A REJOINDER TO DIR. IMBRIE.
sATORI KATO REITERATEs HIS CHARGES
OF RATIONALISM.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Cir. When I wrote my letter for The Tribune OF
November 6 | expected that 1t would be rephed 10
by one of the three following persons; The Rev
Drs. William lmbrie. George W. Knox or James H.
Amerman because they once formed the uiu"-
vrate in the japanese Presbyterian Church' p''
Imbrie has taken 1t upon himself to answer my let
tor He would give the impression to the readers
of The Tribune that / have endeavored to attack
parties who absent. and so he answers o"
behalf of these absent ones. He evidently WISHES W
make the impression that l have attempted 10
take advantage of some who are not present 10 uc-
fend themselves.
would ike to ask him whether or not DTS
Imbrie Knox and Amerman are absent at present
and whether the Presbyterian and Reformed Doards
are not supposed to be posted In reference 10 the
state of their work In Japan. The truth is, this
trumvirate would be only too glad 10 nave 'he
real state OF affairs in Japan kept secret Ana
they propose to smirch the reputation OF any man
who undertakes to tell what the real condition
OF the Church OF Christ In japan is have no
hestancy In affirming that these three arc NANNY
responsible for the present sad condition In the
Church of Christ in Japan.
II is a very interesting question to know just
how familiar Dr. lmbrie Is with the inner affairs
of the Church He certainly Is not sufficiently ac-
ouainted with the Japanese language TO read the
daily newspapers. And he cannot read his own
creed in the Japanese language without assistance.
He is the one who showed his knowledge OF the
Japanese language by repeating the bapusmai
formula. baptizing the congregation In the name
Of the Father. Son and Hoy Spirit when requested
to pronounce the benediction SO maintain that
he is not qualified TO pronounce upon the orthodoxy
of the creed when written In the japanese IAN
guage.
The main question Is the Imbrie Confession and
it's results. II was accepted In the following man
ner: The twenty-four articles OF the Presbyterian
Church Of England had been under consideration
for six months. When at last. on December T. 1871.
the Synod met at Toxic the Rev. Mr.. lnagaN
suddenly moved the acceptance OF the Apostles
Greed. with brief preface as formula. instead
OF these twenty-four articles. II was said that he
was directed do this by some eminent persons
I'm the Church. Great confusion resulted. and was
described by II native Christian paper Ike "A
drunken row" Early in the morning or Decem-
Der G. 1890 Or Imbrie's secretary presented to the
Synod "A preface to the Apostles creed undoubt-
sily prepared the previous night by DIR. lmbrie. at
his residence. upon the suggestion OF the so-calcd
leaders | could give other details In the history
of this Confession 10 substantiate my statements
in saying that DR. Imbrie himself Is responsible
for the adoption OF the present Confession In the
Church OF Christ in Japan
Either from Ignorance or because OF his extreme
desire to make me seem to msreprcsent the facts.
DR. Imbrle uses the word worship" In referring
to Christ. where IT IL "exalt' IN the Japanese.
There is great difference I'm vorshippng one ana
exalting Him. Furthermore. he intinates that !
have quoted only parts OF sentences. for the p"f-
pose OF incorporating facts. AMI he hnish'a the
sentence to prove that the creed teaches the
Divir q az Christ and the personality OF the ROY
Spirit why. then. does he msrepresen, the tea'h-
ing % the creed In saying 1t reads: BY Him
uhe Holy Ghost, the prophets ana apostles ana
sacred men OF old were insplred"' lie r. decidedly
mistaken. II says. The Holy Ghost speaking
I'm the New and Od Testamcnts. Is the lnfallibic
lutlf at
Ghost speaks Tn the Word OF God While insnuai-
ing that / have nisreprcsented statements, why
does he msrcprescnt them? In my letter dld
not pretend 70 say that the creed IS heterodoN one
looked at from the standpoint OF the ordinary
readers But when considered by, theologians. II
certainly opens the door for Inl,arianis'n ana
railroads.&c. Views.
HETERODOX CONFESSION
What said concerning II not simply my
opinion. but ~ is IA" opinion OF the he' Mr'
Hosh.no the great advocate OF the Inbrie con
fession and the opinion OF other ministers a. veil
Mr. Hoshino says: TIL" prcdc-iination theory
was the philosophical notion upon winch IN"
Church OF Christ In Japan had been based. But
In the articles cannot discover THIS theory.
although We have profoundly searched FOR H.
IIenccforih ArIninians may freely Join the Church.
And IT Is also remarkable that. IN the new Confes
sion the theory OF the Trinity vas not spoken OF
The new articles say OF Christ a.. the Lord jesus
Christ. whom "xalt a. Goa tpr. imhfl" says
Worship. and in consequence the rnltarians. VINO
do not exalt Christ God. are unable to enter the
Church But there are nowadays In the world
many OF those VINO believe that God IL fun In
the universe and who think that Christ is Ia"
manifestation OF God, on account OF His sinle7s-
ness and perfect humanity. and who DO not ven
ture TO commit themselves TO the theory OF the
Trinity These men may be easily accepted by
the Church. And also those who do not anirma-
IA n one
head however they repeat the names Father
Son and Holy Spirit. and thereby are held TO
adopt the Son and Holy Ghost as the manifesto
ton Of the Father and 20 may be received into
the Church. Again. II speaks OF sin. but nothing
OF the original sin OF Adam. and consequently
those who do not believe in Adams original sin
may enter the Church without any difficulty. We
are exceedingly surprised at the liberal statement
in reference to the Bible. 1t says. The Holy
Ghost speaking In the New and old Testaments
Is the infallibe supreme Judge In things pertain
ing to religion. Then those who insist that there
are errors In the historical narratives OF the Old
and New Testaments. and also critics who hold
the universal belief OF to-day that errors In re-
gard TO authors and dates In the Tcstaments are
unavoidable. may easily approve this Confession
II Is said In the Confession. BY the Holy Ghost
the prophets. apostles and holy men OF old were
Inspired. But II Is not said that their state
ments and writings are nfably inspired by the
Holy Ghost. Accordingly. those who acknowledge
that even the Apostle Paul might not be free
from making erroneous impressions may be adj
mitted to the Church We rejoice that the men
OF the Church dared TO make this new Confession
with such IA liberal and free sprlt."-Datcd Dec
L. 1890.
How does Or. Imbrie like the statements above
quoted from OF his followers? Is he too mis-
representing the facts? We could give very much
more after the same order. had space at our
disposal.
Dr. Imbrie's main effort In his letter. has been to
show that my statements were untrue and there
fore ! am not to be trusted. The acts and pro-
ceedngs OF the General Synod of the Dutch Re
formed Church. 1894. In statement concerning the
japanese Mission page 81. bears out the truthful
ness OF my statement. And ] have no hesiancy