The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-08

Bishop Francis, Of Indiana, spoke on
1.-THE Japan Mission" at special mis-
sionary meeting last evening at Christ
church, and, in the course of a stirring
address, declared his belief that the time
will again come when Christians will be
put to death In Japan because of their
religion. Bishop Francis was introduced
by Bishop M. N. Gilbert, who told of the
Indiana prelates experience as mission
airy in the Japan field.
"A church that Is not a missionary
church is dead church, declared Bish-
op Gilbert. 1.-The missionary spirit must
be kept alive
There Is not much difference between
missions in Japan and missions in Indi-
ana, !" said Bishop Francis. IT find there
is Just as much need of missions in In
diana as in Japan. There is only one
thing that can interest any one in mis-
sions and lead them to work and pray
for missions. That is sincere love Of
Almighty God. 1t used to worry me when
/ came home from Japan and was met
with the complaint, We need our money
at home. Why should we send it to ia
PAM? My answer was that the reason
was because Jesus Christ gave His life
for the world. 1t was devotion to Jesus
Christ that started the Japan mission.
After the Jesuits had been expelled from
the country and the preaching of the gos-
pei of Christ had been prohibited it was
missionary of the Protestant Episcopal
church who was first to enter the field
That was the noble Bishop Williams.
Now men and women who travel through
China and Japan find comfortable hotels
and every convenience. 1t was not so
thirty years ago, when Bishop Williams
entered upon his life work The man
who can go on year after year, in the
face Of opposition and persecution, is a
hero That is the history of Bishop Will
liams' work He went there alone, with
nothing to help him, not understanding
the language, and with price set upon
his head should he preach Christ He
faced these difficulties and overcame
them.
In the thirty years since then, there
has been an enormous change. People
say that they don't think the results JUS
tify foreign missions. I don't say that
Japan has been a model mission, but I
do say that the mission has justified it.
self. Today there are in the country five
missionary bishops, fifteen native clergy
men and 1900 COMMITMENTS. Has that
mission been failure? The record
stands for itself
MANY wonder what sort of Christians
are made Of the converts l don't want
you to think that every man confirmed
leads model life We do not But I
should be perfectly willing to take those
fifteen native clergymen in Japan and put
them beside any fifteen clergymen in the
world for intellectual and moral compar-
ison. I have seen examples of self deny
ing Christianity among the native clergy
that made me blush for shame
=. You hear great deal about the re-
markable strides that Japan is taking in
the direction of an advanced civilization
Within short time the Japanese Chris
tians will be able to take care of them
selves, and there will be no necessity for
foreign missions, as far as Japan Is con-
cerned, but l believe that the great
struggle of Christianity is coming now.
The thirty years work has been prepare
tory. The japanese officials say that they
are not fighting Christianity, but they
are The first thing the Japanese govern
ment did after the treaties went into eff
feet was to strike a blow at our schools
The field just now needs more money, and
more men and women, who will have to
take their lives in their hands. should
HOT pe surprised IL the DAY Snould again
come when Christian will be put to
death for his religion. The spreading of
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the
grandest work that God has for man to
do"
At the conclusion of Bishop Francis ad-
dress, Bishop Gilbert made an earnest ap-
peal for foreign missions.
In the morning Bishop Francis deliver
ed strong sermon, at the Church of st.
John the Evangelist, on 1.-THE Power Of.
Example