The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-06
SUNRISE IN JAPAN.
BY THE REV. EDGAR LEAvITT.
(Universalist Mission, Tokyo.)

1t IS sunrise IN Japan! For sever
al years there has been nationalis-
tic reaction against "foreignism." The
japanese were willing to get all the
benefit possible from foreign science
and art, but objected to becoming
foreignized-to having their customs,
beliefs and habits replaced by for
eign ones. "Japan for the japanese"
was the cry. The heather priesthood
took advantage of this feeling to in
culcate prejudice against the foreign
religion, Christianity, as tending to
undermine and destroy japanese
national characteristics. 1t was said
that Christianity is inimical to 10y
atty and patriotism because it teach
es "One God and Father of AL" and
that "all men are brethren" How"
it is asked "can Japanese be good
patriots if they look upon foreigners
as their own brothers? Christianity
must destroy Nationalism and pro-
duce cosmopolitanism therefore
Christianity is opposed to the patri-
otic interests of Japan. The Em-
peror is a descendant of the gods
and an object of divine worship; but
Christians will not pay him divine
honors; therefore they are enemies of
the government and religion of
Japan"
The same difficulties are thus en-
countered here by Christianity that
confronted it in the Roman Empire
under the heather Emperors. Other
religions easily comply. They there
fore are tolerated. Christianity can
not comply. In sense it is intoler-
ant; therefore it does not receive toll
Grafton.
The unpatriotic disposition of Ro-
manism was cited, in it's attempts at
rebellion under the oppression 200
years ago. The conflicts it had
caused in Europe, were also cited.
Romanism was identified with
Christianity and the latter suffered
also from the condemnation. There
was an apparent fondness on the
part of some Christian Japanese for
foreign things which gave offence
and increased the prejudice.
The effect upon Christianity for a
few years preceding the war was very
discouraging. All Christian progress
seemed nearly to cease. But the war
has wrought great changes in senti
ment every where and especially in
military circles. The Christians
showed themselves equal in patriotic
spirit and superior in reliability to
their non-christian fellow subjects.
High officials made this matter of
inquiry. Corps of trained Christian
nurses offered themselves at the hos
pitfalls, and though other nurses were
also present, the Christians showed
themselves superior. The result has
been fright about face" move ment
on the subject of Christianity.
"The Japanese Evangelist of
March 1st has most encouraging
news for all who are friendly to the
spread of Christianity, written by
Rev. HI. Loomis, of Yokohama.
cat Hiroshima in three days he
distributed 1000 portions of the Bible
among the soldiers"
"An Assistant Secretary of the
Navy has forwarded 1000 Gospels
and fifty New Testaments to be dis
tributed among the feet"
"Both Chinese prisoners and the
Japanese sick and wounded in the
hospitals at Tokyo and other places
have been visited and given copies of
the Scriptures. The Chinese are be-
ing treated by the Japanese in the
kindest and most generous manner,
receiving the same care and comforts
that the japanese themselves re-
ceiye."
"Gen. Kodama, Vice Minister of
War, has granted permit to visit all
the garrisons in Japan and supply
the men with copies of the Gospels"
"Four chaplains have been selected
according to the latest report from
Hiroshima and will be sent to China
with consent of Government) to
teach Christianity to the soldiers"
son the 23rd of January regi-
ment of | 200 men at Nagoya (Naug-
oya) was drawn up in line, and after
an address concerning the Bible and
Christianity, each of the men was
supplied with copy of the Gospels.
Arrangements were made to supply
the following Sabbath a second regi-
ment of l, 400 men in the same way"
ain connection with the work of
Bible distribution regular Christian
services have been established in the