St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-12-18
tians in America and Of the Japanese

into discussion regarding the hospi
tai and nurses training school. We
see no reason for changing the state.
ment made in the report of the depu.
tation.
Regarding the change that had
taken place in the spirit OF the
Doshisha." Nothing in the history
OF the work in Japan had so panied
the friends of the Board as the
marked change in the spirit of the
Doshisha. That such a change has
taken place seems to be the almost
universal opinion of the Japanese
pastors and prominent Christians of
various denominations in Japan, as
well as large numbers Of other mem
bers of the churches and almost the
entire body Of foreign missionaries
of all Boards. Certainly, the Ameri-
can Board and the American
Christians would not have con
tributed to found, endow or build up
an institution in Japan in which pro.
fessors or others, under the auspices
OF the school, were permitted openly
and publicly to attack the principles
OF Christianity which the constitu-
ency of the Board regard as vital to
the faith. We would not deprecate
free discussion nor deny the right Of
free speech, but school founded and
endowed to strengthen and build up
Christianity in Japan cannot be used
directly or indirectly for attacking
the faith without a misappropria-
ton and misuse of sacred trust funds.
A single man upon the faculty can
do more harm to the pupils of the
school in a week than all the rest OF
the faculty combined can correct in
years. We would not always insist
that every member of the faculty
must be an earnest Christian, al
though. that would be most desirable,
but it does seem to us that no
one connected with the teaching
corps of the school should be per.
mitted to maintain his position and
assault in the presence of his pupils
or elsewhere the very principles
which the institution was founded to
promulgate. We do not believe the
founders would have permitted it;
we are sure the missionaries would
never have sanctioned such action;
and we know the American Board
would not have given money to aid
or endow such an institution.
Herein lies the change, which leads
TO such solicitude and anxiety on the
part of those who have had the in
terest of the Doshisha so much at
heart. These changes involve the
entire question of Christian influence
of the school and are apparent to the
world. We regret that you did not
quote more fully and consecutively
from the writings of Mr.. Neesima,
the founder of the school. Had you
done so, it seems to us the spirit OF
the institution at that time would
have been more clearly manifest.
When he said in one OF his published
statements, THE most important
work to carry out Christ's kingdom
is to raise men after Gods own
heart. If you raise up strong and
truly pious men to work for Christ,
Japan will be ours in his name"
there can be no doubt as to his spirit
and purpose
Regarding the missionaries. The
many letters from their pen printed
in the religious press of America, to-
gether with the large correspondence
on file here in the rooms and the an
nual reports OF the mission are con-
elusive evidence that they have al
WAYS attributed the great progress
OF Christianity in Japan to the eff
cheney of the japanese workers. If
they have ever taken the glory to
themselves, it does not appear in
their writings nor in their addresses
in the United States, but quite the
reverse,
Withdrawing aid, Your favor OF
Nav 10Th, in which the trustees ex-
press gratitude to the American
Board for assistance hitherto rem
dered and request the discontinuance
of its aid of money and foreign teach
ers from the close OF 1896, was duly
received. 1t has never been the pol
icy of this Board to aid institutions
which did not desire that aid. 1t
would indeed be embarrassing and in.
excusable for it to insist upon con-
tinuiug the subsidy or forcing it's
a., ,,,,., ,Lo DnSb;Sho n ftpt. I he