The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-07-31
THE MIKADO'S REALM
COLONEL cockERILL WRITES OF FREE
THOUGHT IN JAPAN.

fhe '.Senshin sakuin" Of Tol;yo-Founded
by Americans Christians, Buddhisss,
shintoists and Confucianists Working
Together In Unity. 4
There is in Tokyo, the capital Of tho
Japanese empire, an institution unique
and remarkable. 1t is the ''Senshun
Sakuin, /" or School For Advanced Learn
ing. 1t is part of the work of the Amer
lean Unitarian association i'll Japan. and
its chief support and inspiration come,
it 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
end founder, whose published essay on
1.-THE Religious Problem In 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 philosophic-
al study of religion, ethics and social
science. The method is perfectly free
inquiry. no prejudice being manifested
toward any existing religion. 1t is the
only school Of the kind in Japan, and
there are few like it in the world. The
faculty is composed Of seven members,
and the examinations are rigid. There
are no textbooks, all teaching being
through lectures and essays. There are
Christians, Buddhists, Shintoists and
Confucianists by education and associa-
ton in the faculty, but all have tho
same object in view-search for Il
truth wherever it may be found. M
MaoCauley is a Christian, but he inter-
prets Christianity as large enough to in
clude the abject.
The building in which the school is
maintained is called Yuiitsukwan( Unity
hall). It's value. with the grounds, is
20, 900 yen. 1t was built out Of the SUBJ
scriptions of the American Unitarian
association. The Japan mission Of the
American Unitarian association has a
publication department and church ex-
tension department., besides MI. Mac
Cauley's Free Thought school. Under
these auspices pamphlets and books are
printed and sent out, designed to fur
Their the study Of religious ethics and
social science, and a 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. Its list
Of contributors contains some Of the
ablest and most advanced thinkers in
Japan, native aud foreign.
What is known as the church extern
sion department exists for the encour-
agement and mild support of liberal re-
ligious movements originating and de-
veloping among the Japanese. It does
not build churches, impose creeds or
pay salaries to preachers. Il doe not
United States or reproduce foreign cults.
1t waits for and helps along native ef-
fort which is honestly directed toward
gaining the highest truth and securing
the best life in religion and in morals.
The Japan Unitarian mission is in con.
slant correspondence with associations
and individuals throughout the empire
who are known to be affected by the
leading religious and ethical influences
Of the age. In this direction the Uni
tartan mission has a very important rea-
son for being. Its influence for good in
this direction is indeed great. 1t is the
only organization Of the kind in Japan
and is worthy Of the generous support
Of all who recognize truth and sound
morals as the basis Of true religion.
In a talk with DIR. MacCauley that
gentleman said to me: "The Japan
Unitarian mission exists to supply to
Japan in its new era the religious, moral
and social forces which the Japanese
people are now so eagerly appropriating
from Europe and America. The Jap
anese, in their eagerness to become a
power, have been appropriating rail-
ways, telegraphs, machinery, physical
science, utilitarian appliances of all
sorts. Meanwhile science has been de-
stroying their 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 the western world.
That is the main reason for its existence
and a valid reason for the work it is
doing"
A student in DIR. Mac auley's school
is afforded an opportunity to know and
study every known creed. He is left to
judge as to the faith he requires. No
question Of orthodoxy is raised. He will
find good in all With crystallized truth
in his hand he selects or rejects. He has
all that has been revealed-all that the
anxious, inquiring world knows Of
things mysterious and divine. John "A.
| CocRerill in New York Herald.
Defuelixins Wood.
LIBERALIZATION" is q new word added
to the language, told in q story by Sem
| 0for pQlOpQr ah0nf mn I1iunic forpo~