The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-03-05
JAPANESE CONVERTS ADVICE

A very interesting little book In its
way is The Diary Of a Japanese Con-
vert" (Revell Coz. by Kanzo Uchimura,
whose education in English enables
him to express himself clearly and
forcefully. The history of hts awak-
ening to the truths OF Christianity, and
OF his progress In the Christian life, In
told IN a simple and straightforward
way, the style being enhanced rather
than weakened by occasional foreign
idiom. Mr.. Uchimura touches upon
many vital questions connected with
Christian missions in heather lands.
and this part of his volume seems to
offer the best material for quotation.
He supposes the asking OF the Ques-
ton: DO you heathens like to have
Christianity" To which he replies;
Yes, We sensible heathens do; and the
lnsensible among us. though they throw
stones at the missionaries, and do other
mischievous things upon them. as soon
a. as they resume SUI, their sensibility. will see
not like many things that come under
the name of Christianity. Hosts. sur
piiices, compulsory prayer books. theolo-.
TO convey Christianity itself to us IN our
present state of mental development, we
ike ut to have 20 ne spared from We also
canianity Imposed upon us as Christlani-
ty. 1 hope none of us ever threw stones
at the Almighty Throne itself. and we
zhall have the truth itself to condemn
- But chide us not for throwing stones
Christ teach us their own views-theolo-
gies they call them--and also their own
manners and customs, such as free mar
more or less Questionable to U.S. We do
Ehis for self-preservation. You who toll
crate Catholicism, but not Roman Cath
and newspaper editorials right at the me
face OF Pulses and Leos for their inter-
| ference In your school and other public
| test against Americanism, Anglioanfsm.
| and other foreign isms
Then, when you come to US. come with
strong common sense. Do not believe
| the words of those circus-mission men
who tell you that nation can be con-
yertsd In Q day. There Is no spiritual Ell
whore can souls be converted by dozens
and hundreds. The same matter-of-fact
te stumble here as know
some missionaries who preach to us as
| IL we were their own countrymen. They
| seem to think that the method of Moody
and Sankey, that goes so successfully with
Americans and Englishmen, should sue
| coed equally as well with Japanese and
not Americans, as YOU well know. They
had not their childhood mothered with
Lord Is my Shepherd, Now lay me
dies They take as much delight in gong
| bells as In Estey pipe-organs. They are
'heathsns' and you must teach them ac-
| cordinRly. But some preach Jesus Christ
| to them. give them a copy of the New
/ Testament persuade them to be baptized,
get their names enrolled In church mem
| bership, and SO have them reported to
home churches, and think they are safe.
and Will go to heaven somehow Per-
hma IA they may may, perhaps they may not.
/ sizes, social environments, to say nothing
| of the same old Adamic propensity to sin
in them, are not so readily conformable to
| tha and atranpa d0CtrfnaS that
| preached to them. Though we despise
Goddess science, yet scienceless evangeli-
believe tn is wholly compatible with
common sense. and all jealous and sue
cessful missionaries have had this sense
In abundance"
Mr.. Uchimura relates that he knew q
Quaker professor in America who.
when he told him of the doubts and
difficulties which had been overcome in
his struggles Christianward, thought
1t all very strange and very unneces-
sary, seeing that Christianity Il no
simple a thing as to be contained I'm
one monosyllable-Love." Upon this he
remarks:
only a monosyllable. but the universe
itself cannot contain It! An enviable man
ne! His ancestors had fought out the
battles for him. He came into this world
Christian Like as millionsire's son
can not comprehend the miseries and
strifes OF a self-made man, so this pro
lessor and many like him in Christen-
dom cannot comprehend what we hea
thens have to fight out in our souls be
fore we get settled In peace in that mono
syllable. l advise such as he to stay al
nome as professors, and not come to us
: as missionaries, for our complexities an(
sinuosities may confound them. as theil
simpiicities and straight-cuttedness con
found us. We can appreciat,
Pilgrims Progress but as for that hap
: Ply, happy, honeymoon style religion. W,
: know not what 1t Ia, but that II Ia no
: the Christianity of the Crucified One
1 | Heathenism first subdued in your owl
I SOUL then you can subdue 1t right sue
, cessfully in us. With your Christianit,
! stfted from your own isms. and you
common sense well sharpened Qf no
sharp already, and best of all. wit
t devils fought out In your own souls.
E see no reason why you should fail to d
/ Immense good to heathens."
Q In concluding this part OF his sui
: Ject, the author says:
I'VE need Christianity to intensity vi
!, to swear fealty to our God, and emit
u toward devils. Not a butterfly life, bu
an eagle-life; not the diminutive perfe,
ton Of pink rose, but the sturd
strength of an oak Heathenism will d
:. for our childhood. but Christianity alon
fer manhood. The world Is growing. an
Or We with the world. Christianity Is gel
: ting to be necessity with all of US"