Evening star., 1898-04-22
Saks sandConnpany
"Saks' Corner"
NEW LIFE IN JAPAN.
Thirty Thousand Children Enrolled
in Its sunday schools.
From Ieslie's Weekly.

fF'n Leslie Weekly.
The development of Japan is the wonder
of the age. While the new regime nominal
ly dates from the victory of the imperial
troops over the Shotgun in 1868. the feudal
system was practically in force until fully
three years later. SO that the writer's OBJ
servatidn may be said TO haze covered the
whole period of-the history of the new gov
ernment
There can be no doubt that there is a new
life liz Japan. The most striking evidence,
Perhaps TO he seen in the new navy
which is attracting SO much attention
Another evidence of the new life is seen
In Japan's political reforms. Less than
thirty years ago there was d feudal gov
eminent under which there was little room
Tor personal freedom. All below the mill
tary class constituting about ) per cent of
Ine population. had relatively few rights
Ihey could not even petition for the re-
E.oEtil OF abuses except at the risk of i'm
mediate death. Now they enjoy a constitu-
tional government which has already
bioddened out far beyond the limits pre-
sorIbed by its written charter. and which
exhihits Il decided tendency toward the
IIitIsh system. A judiciary has grown up
before which even the highest officers of
state may be brought at the instance of
the humblcst citizen.
Japan ; system Of education, reinforced
by practically free press. has given a de-
w
most foreign observers fail to realize
Japan is not a Caristian nation-far from
IL ihe christian population is probably
rot NOR" tnan One-half of | per cent of the
"hpie' yet what may be called, and is
called even by many non-Christian Japan
eSe- CHRISTIAN sentiment is acting strongly
ioh every department of life II has bro
dhced an eieemosynary movement of re-
h'drkdble power, which deals with MANY
ana varied social problems. Ii is represent
ed by the strong and most admirably or
s"nized Red Cross Society. fiourishiny
temperance society, :. priscn-reforrn league
College settlements, hospitals dispense ries
Orphan asylums, etc.
Ihe diStinctiveiy religious work has been
pressed with visor in Japan, until there are
hedfsS iN' Protestant churches scattered
all OYER the empire. including about 1O,mD
enrolled Christians. with over :,OtsD chill
Creh III sunday schools and over 10000
seh9:1rs in day and boarding schools.
II Is III An important degree because of
tht faith OF the Christians That each indi-
N'duS-l stands face TO face with his God
mat CHRISTIAN individualism has gained
scch currency Il. Japan. In spite of their
ie'ati. ely small numbers. they are found
III t's- most influential positions. In TN,
III = --ar!itfnent. out cf :3n members of the
Io"ti mouse. thirteen were Christians and
among them the speaker ana the pcrma-
itlJ chairman of tEc committee of th,.
Nt.ol" lnere has been air. adv a Christian
t,'piet minister and a chief justice OF the
supreme court. The Christians are found
IN dis9ror0rtiOnate numbers in the ImDarial
tHiNsfSltE. Both among professors and stu
dtftS- Among the countless; daiIies of la
Pan. some SIX or eight are called THE great
Faptra- Oi these so-cdlled great pa
pers. not less than three were last an
tInIn published I ader Christian a.snic.,
1 he great charitable movements. while T,-
CEristian control.