The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-29
MISSIONARIES IN JAPAN.
The Report of the Board of Foreign Mis-
sions Upon the Subject.

Boston, January 2S.-The prudential
committee of the American Board of
Foreign Missions made public yesterday
the report Of it's recent Reputation to
Japan, consisting of Rev. James L. Bar
ton, D. D., secretary OF the foreign de-
partment; Hon. William P. Ellison,
member of the prudential committee;
Rev. A. Il. Bradford, D. D., Montclair.
N. j., and Rev. James G. johnson, D.
D., of Chicago.
The question forced upon US by our
investigations says the committee, is
not. How may the American Board with
draw it's missionaries from Japan? but
more wisely and efficiently? That can
be best accomplished in existing condi-
tions, not by an increase in the resident
missionary force, but by certain changes
in methods.
We recommend that the number of
missionaries in the service cfythe Ameri-
can Board in Japan be not increased at
present Evangelistio work can be better
do ne py the Japanese, but the training
can better be given by professors and
pastors from abroad.
We recommend that the prudential
committee take measures to send annual
ly to Japan men of established ability
and reputation to speak on various sub
iects in furtherance of missionary work,
and that in this plan the endeayor to Sc
cure the cooperation of other mission
airy societies.
Ihe most of the work in Japan has
been done since 1871. The nation has
been disarmed of its suspicious against
Christianity. The missionary is now
free to go at VIII to all parts of the en-
pire The Bible and Christian literature
have free circulation everywhere The
prisons are open for the Christian evan
gelists. Christian teachers are in many
of the government schools. with full
liberty to teach Christian ity to the pupils
outside of school hours. Prosecutions
are thing OF tn past. except as it occa-
sionally appears in disguise. The theO-
logical problems of the world are now
discussed in Japan, and that, too, with
out balancing foundation Of Christian
faith and life. The evidence is complete
that our missionaries have been emil
nently faithful in presenting the truths
of the gospel, and none of the present
conditions are due to any lack OF fidelity
upon their part. A human movement
would have been terminated by the
period of popularity of Christianity
which swept over Japan previous to 1890.
The fact that few leaders In the Kumi-
al churches are not now in accord in
their beliefs with the Congregational
churches in the United States would not
Justify cur5ailing our work in Japan, but
rather furnishes reason why it sh ould
be strongly maintained. The men refer
red to ara connected with iudepen dent
eh riches over which the board has no con-
81, and they do not seem to he carry ing
churches with them into their radical
ositions. OF the SO Kumi-al churches
an provisional churches, only 80 are self
supporting. They all are 20 ing in years
some have small mem bership.f The
work 5egun by the American board and
now connected with the Kumi-al church.
es is by FAR the strongest of any mission
work in Jnpan fhe number of Chris
tians is about the same as that reported
by the seven allied i'resby terian bodies
under the name Of 'sThe Church of
Christ in Japan but the number of
independently chucrhes is much larger.
Such visits as we made to Japan ought
often to be made to the various mission
fields, both ior the sake Of the mission
aries and still more for the sake of those
charged with the duty OF carrying on
the work. The problems of missionary
policy in almost ali lands are so compli-
caleit tDso Stuuy Oh rue SfOilHu dlOH6 can
give prc mise of satisfactory solution.
We unite in suggesting that under the
auspices Of the prudential committee
occasional visits be made to the various
missions of the board; first, by the secre-
tary and members Of the prudential COM
,uittee, that they may better understand
the responsibility resting upon them
and, second, by such pastors and laymen
as may be selected. in order that the
ohuroes may be helped to appreciate the
dslicaoy and difficulty Of the service COM
lands.