Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-08-11


 shintoists and Confucianists Working
 Together In Unity.
 There is in Tokyo, the capital of the Japanese empire, an institution unique and remarkable. It is the "Senshun Sakuin, " or School For Advanced Learn ing. It is part of the work of the Amer iean Unitarian association i'll Japan. and its chief support and inspiration come, 1t is hardly necessary to say, from Bos- ton. This school was established four years ago.
 At the head of the Senshin Sakuin stands Mr. Clay MacCauley, president and founder, whose published essay on The Religious Problem Ill Japan How Solve It?" has been widely read and quoted. His school has so far had more than 40 students, who have devoted themselves to scientific and phi1osophic- al study of religion, ethics and social science. The method is perfectly free inquiry, no prejudice being manifested toward any existing religion. It IS the only school of the kind ill Japan, and there are few like it i'll the world. The faculty is composed of seven members, and the examinations are rigid. There are no textbooks, ali teaching being through lectures and essays. There are Christians, Buddhists, Shintoists and Gonfucianists by education and associa- tion in the faculty, but all have the same object in view-search for the +r1,tL xr,boroxyo, # y,,ax bo fO,,,J Mr. MacCauley is Christian, but he inter- prets Christianity as large enough to in- c1ude the abject.
 The building ill which the school is maintained is called Yuiitsukwan( Unity hall). Its value, with the grounds, is 22, 900 yen. It was built out of the sub scriptions of the American Unitarian association. The Japan mission of the American Unitarian association has a publication department and church ex- tension department, besides Mir. Mac Cauley's Free Thought school. Under these auspices pamphlets and books are printed and sent out, designed to fur ther the study of religious ethics and social science, and monthly magazine called Shukyo (Religion) is published, which is an open arena for thinkers, dealing with themes concerning the higher life of the Japanese people This magazine has been in existence about four years, and it is decided formative force in the literature of Japan. It's list of contributors contains some of the ablest and most advanced thinkers in Japan, native and foreign.
 What is known as the church exten- sion department exists for the enoour- asement and mild support of liberal re- Ggious movements originating and de- veloping among the Japanese 1t does not build churches, impose cxecds or pay salaries eo preachers It doos nos import chnYch organizations from the United States or reproduce foreign cults. 1t waits for and helps along native ef- fort which is honestly directed toward gaining the highest axuth and securing she best life in religion and in morals. The Japan Unitarian mission is in oun- stant correspondence wish associations and individuals throughout the empire who are known to be affected by the laading religious and ethical influences of shc age In shis direction the Upi- tartan mission has very important req sGn for being. Its influence for good In this direction is indeed great. xt is the only organization of the kind in Japan and is worthy of the generous support of sn who recognize truth and sound morals as tho basis of true religion
 h 9 talk with Ds. MacCaulcy that gentleman said to me: "The Japan UnitariMn mission exisse so supply to Japan in It's new era she religions, moral and social forces which the Japanese people are now so eagerly appropriating from Europe and America. Tho Jap anese, in their eagerneas to become a power, have been appropriating rail ways, seleaEsphs, machinery, physical science, utilitarian appliances of all soTte. Meanwhile science has been de- stxoying sheir traditional religion and ethics. The Japan Unitarian mission was established to offer the higher things which go along with the mechanical and Unitarian forces of thc western world. That is the main reason for it's existence and . valid rcaeon fox the work it is doing.
 X student in Dr. AacCauley's school is afforded an opportunity to knew sud study every known creed He is left to judge as to the faith he requires. No question of orthodoxy is raised. He will And good in all With crystaliized truth in bis hand he selects or reiecse He has all that hss been revc@led--A0 that tho anxious, inquiring world knows of things mysterious and divine. John A. Cockerill in New York Herald
 DeEwsli~ina Weed
 "Defuelization" is . new word added