Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-01
MoRMoNIsM IN JAPAN.

The Mormon mission to Japan Is
attracting some attention outside the
dominions Of the Mikado. 1t VIII
doubtless make a stir In that empirt,
and II # does not achieve what Is com
monty called success. that is, extensive
proselytlsm, It will accomplish It's pur-
pose. which Is the publication OF the
fact that new dispensatlon from God
to man has been opened, for the benefit
of ali nations, and the warning OF that
part of the world OF the approaching
advent Of the Son OF God.
The following editorial on THE Ad-
vent OF Mormonism In Japan" is taxi
en- from the Springfield Republican;
"By His authority we turn the divine
key which opens the kingdom OF heaven
10 the inhabitants OF Japan. We say TO
them ALI come TO the light which mas
been shed forth from the sun OF rignte-
ousn.ss! We offer YOU blessings thal
are beyond price. We brlng 70
You the truth in all It's effulgence, direct
from the great Luminary OF the day =
From the Mormon manifesto to the
japanese.
Apostle Hcber j. Grant Of the Nor
mon Church OF Utah began his Held OPP
erations In Japan late In August win d
manifesto 10 the long-b enighted inhabl~
tants OF that country. He told theh
what he had come for, and the japanese
heard him with that exquisite politeness
for which they are distinguished. The
missionary activities Of the Mormon
Church are well known, and It must bu
admitted that they are not without
tangible results. But this Is their FIRST
invasion OF the oriental field and how
they WIN succeed with the japanese
must be q question that Will interest us
all.
missionary Grant and his associates
from Salt Lake City will find most am
pie liberation for all religions In that
pagan land, although the other Chrl~
tian missionaries refused TO permit
them TO live In the same boarding house
with themselves In Yokohama. The
Japanese will give them respectful
hearing, II only' because OF their in.
satlahle curiosity as the japan Week
ly Advertiser expresses II. OF the out
come, however, what may be expected
In this connection the editor OF the "A.
yertiser. who is evidently an English
man of somewhat extended residence la
Japan, pronounces the opinion that the
japanese people will care just about az
much for the theological doctrines Of
tn new sect as they do for those Of The
old ones whose teachers have already
invaded the land The people VIII
closely watch the personal character OF
the newest missionaries and the new
faith will be judged entirely by ia
practical fruits But, apart from this,
when the question Is raised whether
Mormonism Is to bring about rcto-
luton In the religious thought Of Japan.
the means for accomplishing such an
object are perhaps more ludicrously In
adequate than any which have ever
been tried 10y foreign propagandists' \
people which has failed thus far 20 D,
much impressed with the digndei SD
pefnatufal substructure Of Christianity
win be likely TO be interested yet at
the same time Immensely amused b,
the supernatural claims ~ q religion
that rests upon the curious adventures
Of Joseph Smith with a hole In the
ground. IN the State of New York
early IN the last century
"The view taken by the Advertiser
seems sound. Among the iSo000o
Japanese II would be strange n few
converts 20 Normonism could not be
netted. Almost anything can end con-
verts somewhere. provided the preacher
% II is Jealous and persistent enough.
But Mornonism, one may be sure, will
never make appreciate Roadway IN
Japan. The complete liberation the
japanese win give TO Il IS likely to be-
terrible handicap. on the other hand,
II Is only fair 20 say that pure and self
sacrificing lives on the part Of the Nor
mon missionaries themselves would ok
ercisc some effect, while their charac-
feristic financial and executive abilities
would aid stlll more. IN giving 10 the
propaganda q sort OF footh0ld Any
degree % success IN Japan for the
Mormons must mean an extension Of
their missionary zeal 20 China and 9TH
or parts o. the Orient"
The flippant manner In which many
writers for the press approach the sub
ject Of "Mormonism" and It's mission
work in the world. indicates their lack
Of appreciation Of It's Importance, and
their imperfect understanding Of It's
principles and spirit The Republican
Is mistaken IN It's assertion that this Is
the frst invasion Of the oriental Geld
by Mormon missionaries. In 1853 a
number Of Elders we're sen, 10 India
China and Slam. and while they wer'