The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-20
CUMBERLAND BAPTIsTs.
Rev. Jonn L. bearing Speaks Of
Japan of Today
Meeting of the Association at Water
boro.

Yesterday and today oooEr the meeting
Of the Cumberland County Baptist Asso-
ciaton at South Wsterboro. One of the
| most interesting addresses of yesterday
was delivered by Rev. John l.. bearing,
native of Maine and graduate OF Colby.
who Ia now president OF the Baptist The
| illogical Seminary at Yokohama, Japan.
He spoke Of the remarkable progress of
Japan along the lines OF modern civilizs-
ton. In the first place sine has estab-
lishsd an educational system modelled
after that of Germany, and running
through all the grades from the common
schools open to all up to the Imperial
University. That university has techni-
cal schools for all departments OF modern
Investigation. The chairs of this univer-
sity are filled by native professors who
have graduated from Harvard, Yale,
Johns Hopkins In this country, Oxford
and Cam bridge In England. and Leipsic
and Berlin In Germany. They also are
assisted Dy learned American, English
and German professors. This university
is situated at Toxic, and has several
l tASaoNh4 ctANChtos 4uC CDkubuVH anu
termediate schools are thorough and
ample for the commodation OF the boys.
There IL less opportunity FOR the girls,
especially in the higher grades of study.
There Is, however, an advanced school
| In Toxic for the daughters of the peers
exclusively. The effect of Japan's school
I system has been to awaken the people
/ nh A he.
study. There is no flattery for a Japa-
nese father like a simple question as to
how his boy is getting along in school.
| Commercially Japan Is also remark
ably prosperous. Less than fifty years
ago Japan had no intercourse with the
rest of the world. Now she has her own
lines of steamships to all parts of the
world. She has the capital, from what
her people have and what their credit en-.
ables them to borrow, to manage her
commercial affairs herself.
Japan's preparations to defend herself
In war were illustrated In the war with
China. Since then the navy has beer
greatly enlarged, and she is now build.
ing as good ships Of war as she can get
In England. The oounsry's prowess In
war is only illustrative of her advanced
standing in all material affairs.
Along one line. however, there has
been no advance. In moral and religious
thought there is even retrograde move
ment. With the abolition of the old leu.
dial system thinking Japan discarded hei
old religions. AS yet she has failed to
| oe ar.t axs 9th In Hail asa.,
Gated Japanese. whether merchants, pro.
feesors. students or statesmen are ngnos-
tics. The statistics Of the schools go fan
to prove this. Buddhism Is the old re.
ligion Of Japan. but the young and edu-
Gated people are failing away from even
the profession of 1t.
Christianity is making long strides
in Japan. In that country, in contrast
to NEST other countries. Christianity II
getting it's first hold among the higher
classes rather than the lower. Although
there ara now only about 10000 Chris.
tians in population of forty three mil
lions, there are many leading men who
are Christians. In the recent Diet Of
three hundred members, nine were Chris.
tians. One of these was Eata Okla, the
president OF the lower house of the Diet.
This man is almost the only man who
has been continuous member of the
r'st since 1t was organized ten years age.
He was thrown IN prison for writing an
anti-government pamphlet about fifteen
years ago. While In prison he read the
Bible and became converted. Judge Mey.
aki, q the Supreme Court, Mr.. Shimada,
a leading politician OF the Progressive
party. and ex-psesident Of the lower
heuse of the Diet, as. we'll as sew, RI
cit Ct lea secular pap RS are At /
Christians. These men do not suffer es