The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-21
For THE DEMOCRAT.
CHRISTIANITY AND THE WAR.
China is to be Benefited.
By Reu. n. II. d. Wilson.

Many of your readers, doubtless, who
are hearing day after day the rumors o1
war from the far East, have asked
~ hat effect will this have on the civ
lliZatiOn and religion Of these nations p
Rev. H. Loomis, Agt. American Bible
Society, writing from the ground itself
Japan, gives an answer which l beg
leave to condense and quote for the
benefit Of your more thoughtful read
ers He says in substance
at is too early to foretell what will
be the result. AS far as can now be
seen, it will give precedence to advanced
ideas In civilization and religion like
nothing else. The anti-foreign and
unpIogressive spirit will be buried out
of sight, and the life and teaching OF
Him who is the Light of the world will
be studied and followed as never before.
This does not mean, however, that
Japan is to become Christian nation
at once. But it does mean that as a
nation they are facing toward the Sun
of Righteousness, and the thoughtful
ruling men no longer look with favor
on the systems that have prevailed so
long in the land and have failed to
elevate and purify the hearts and lives
of the people. This means, then, to
the workers IN Japan larger and
brighter outlook for the future and
greater responsibility for the use of the
wi.est and most effective means of
evangelizing the people. This is now
an imperative duty, and the religious
future of the country depends upon the
efficiency OF the men and means now
being used to spread the knowledge of
Christ and his salvation.
But not to Japan alone Is this
momentous struggle. It means, as far
as can now be seen, a new life and
civilization for Korea. No one who
has closely watched the conduct of
Japan can doubt but that it is her pur-
pose to make an end of the wretched
state of political corruption that has 80
long cursed and impoverished that
unfortunate people. And when the
obstacles were found to be too great for
the men engaged in the work of recon-
struction, one of the first statesmen OF
Japan was appointed to take charge of
this most difficult and important un-
dertaking. And so Count Inouye with
two Christian associates has gone to
Korea to fully establish a new and
better order of things No better man
could have been found for such
position, and his appointment means
that this country is determined that
her demand for better order of things
in Korea is not to be thwarted for the
want of competent mon to carry it out.
And whatever way the war may end
it is likely to be benefit in the end
to China. Nothing but the most
crushing defeat, the complete humbIing
of the native pride, and the enforced
conviction that other nations are not
only their equals but superiors will
ever arouse that people from their leth-
argv and convince them that their land
is not the center Of the universe and
the most favored spot under heaven.
Such a revolution in the public mind
will be costly, but it will in time lift
the veil of pride, prejudice, and error,
and open the way for a better day than
the Land of Sinim has yet known.
But the best and most wonderful
results seem to be the help that is likely
to be gwen to Christianity. The sick
and wounded Chinese prisoners were
filled with astonishment at the kindnes.
which they had received, and so when
I brought them copies of the Scriptures
they were evidently greatly pleased to
receive them. Among those at Hlro-
shima was colonel who was bright,
fine-looking man. Some one had al
ready given him copy OF the New
Testament. and he had read nearly one
half of it. He expressed by his action
as well as by his words that he was
deeply grateful for the gift, and said
that he believed much of it. He will
also tell his companions what he has