The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-24
FREE THOUGHT IN JAPAN
Col. CockerilI Writes on the Sub
iect From the Mikado's Realm.
The "Senshin Sakuin" of Tokyo.
Founded by Americans. The Chris
e tians Buddhists. ShinIoists and
Confucianists are Working
Together in Unity.

There is in Tokyo, the capital OF the
Japanese empire, an institution unique
i and remarkable. 1t is the "Senshun
3 Sakuin, !" or School For Advanced Learn
i ing 1t is part of the work OF the Amer
lean Unitarian association in Japan, and
its chief support and inspiration come
81 it is hardly necessary to say, from Bos-
ton. This school was established four
years ago.
Az the head OF the Senshin Sakuin
stands MIR. Clay MacOaulcy, president
and founder, whose published essay on
The Religious Problem In Japan; How
Solve Itr' 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 il perfectly free
inquiry, no prejudice being manifested
toward any existing religion. It is the
only school of tho kind in Japan, aud
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
Ohristians, Buddhists. Shintois;s and
Canfucianists by education and aRsocia.
tion in the faculty, but all have tho
sazne object in viow-scarch for tho
truth wherever it may DO found Mr..
MaoCaules is Christian, but he inter
prets Christianity as largo enough to in
clude the abject.
The building in which the school is
maintained is called Yuiitsukwan( Unity
halD. Its value, with the grounds, is
az, 900 yen. 1t was built ont of tho sub
scriptions Of the American Unitarian
association. The Japan mission of the
American Unitarian association has
publication department and church OK
teasion department, besides Mr.. Mac
Cauley's Free Thought school. Under
these auspices pamphlets and boohs are
printed and sent ont, 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 i'll existence about
four years, and it is n decided formative
force in the literature of Japan. Its list
OF contributors contains some of the
ahlest and most advanced thinkers in
Japan, native aud foreign
What il known as the church extern
sion department exists for the encuur-
agement and mild support OF liberal re-
hSlous movements originating and do
veloping among the japanese 1t does
not build churches, impose creeds or
pay salaries TO preachers. 1t does not
Import church organizations from the
United States or reproduce foreign cults
1t waits for and helps along native eff
fort which is honestly directed toward
gaining the highest truth and securing
the best life in religion and in morals
Tho 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 nge. In this direction the Uni
tarian mission has 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 talk with DR.. 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 how so eagerly nppropriating
from Europe and America. The jap,
anese, In their eagerness to become a
power, have been appropriating rail.
ways telegraphs, machinery, physical
seienco, utihtarian appliances Of oil
sorts Meanwhile science has been de.
stToying their traditional religion and
ethics. The Japan Unitarian mission
wss established to offer the higher things
which 60 along with the mechanical and
Unitarian forces Of the western world.
That is the main reason for its existence
and o valid reason for the work It is
doing"
A student in DR.. MacCauley'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 crystaTlized truth
40 his hand he selects or rejects. He has
ali that has been revealed-all that the
anxious, inqu!ring world knows of
things mysterious and divine. John A.
CockeriIl IN New York Herald.
DcfucIfzine Wood.