The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-31

Of many scientific volumes Of the con-
troversial sort can be purchased in any
Japanese bookstore for much less than
they cost in England. There are weekly
and monthly publications devoted to
the discussion OF scientific topics which
are not only open but able anita gontsts
OF the Christian faith. and 1t II from
them that the missionaries meet with
the greatest opposition and discourage
ment.
One OF the native faculty of q Chris
tian university. founded by the prayers
and contributions Of pious people In the
United States and managed by the
American board Of foreign missions.
himself a graduate Of Yale college. has
recently renounced the church that pays
his SALARY and Is now making frequent
public addresses that would do credit
to Colonel lngersol.
These things are discouraging. but
the progress CT Christianity in Japan
has been greater than In any other
country. Church spires may be seen
over the roofs Of every. city. and
through the schools the greatest good
has been and viii be done. A child who
is trained In the truths OF the Bible
seldom fails to follow Its teachings in
after life, and to close the missionary
schools Of Japan would be to deprive
the Christian faith of the fountain that
feeds 1t there.
Teachers. Not Preachers. Needed.
1t would be better to take the preach
ers away and leave the teachers here,
especially those who manage the kim
dergartens and the primary and the
normal schools. The portrait of the
emperor hangs in every schoolhouse in
japan. and the children are required to
bow before 1t as they enter and leave
the building, as the true Catholic bows
before the cruiflx and the figure of the
Virgin. Patriotism Is taught In every
possible form and on every possible Oc-
casion. The Shinto religion, which is the
original faith in Japan, Is SIMPLY pa
triotism, and It Is utilized for political
purposes. There are 100000 or more
gods in the Shinto pantheon, consisting
Of the ancestors Of the emperor, includ-
ing his uncles. his cousins and his
aunts. and nearly all the famous SOL
d,ers, statesmen. poets, philanthropists
and heroes that have had a place among
this people or appear upon the pages OF
their history. Their spirits are sup
posed to exercise an influence over the
destinies Of the nation and all its in
habitants, and shrines, tablets, urns.
and other memorials are erected to
them upon which their virtues and
their achievements are inscribed. Some
| Of these shrines are as majestic in their
way as the Washington monument or
the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the
people kneel before them and invoke
the favor and intercession Of the spirits
those who were kind to the poor or
promoted the good of the country.
There Is an element of worship In II
that permits one to call it religion,
but those who kneel and mutter prayers
before shrine or a tablet or an image
do not ask for salvation, nor for the
forgiveness Of sins, but fer temporal
relief and benefit.
The other day we saw an old country
woman praying before the fountain that
stands opposite the entrance Of the ex-
position building at Kyoto. She stood
where the spray could fall upon her,
and. with clasped hands. besought the
intercession of a. group of cherubs
| which were holding the waterspouts
supposing they represented some spirits
| Of good omen. She probably thought
they were rain gods, and prayed fol