Evening star., 1901-01-22
CONDITIONS IN JAPAN
Views of a Bishop of the Southern
Methodist Church,
FOREIGNERS TREATED WITH RESPECT
Remarkable Progress Noted in the
Past Forty Years,
MEETING OF MISSIONARIES

Bishop A. W. Wilson of the Southern
Methodist Church, who is in the far east,
has sent to friend in Washington an ac-
count of "a meeting of missionaries in Japan,
which in part, follows:
1.-The missionaries in Japan have had
general conference in Tokyo There was
large number present, nearly every Pro-
testant mission being represented. The DIS
cussions were free, and the underlying
unity of the various sections OF Protestant
ism was brought into the light. Every as
pect and relation of mission work in the
empire was considered, and there was no
reticence nor want of decision in the views
expressed in the papers read and the less
formal utterances from the floor
There was quite much freedom, COM
bned with the utmost respect for the pow
ers that be- in the statement of relations
between the missions and the government
as there would have been in a similar as
sembly in the United States. There was
perhaps in some instances rather an eX-
aggerated estimate put upon the character
and standing of the nation. This is not sur
prising, in view of the remarkable progress
made in the last forty years, and of the
opinions current in the press of the western
world during the last few months; and 1t is
not to be attributed 10 any ulSpuSitioi "
use fiattering words The body was quite
manly. and the members Christian enough
to speak in all sincerity They only wished
to render honor where honor was due.
Continuing, the bishop writes
THE significance of such gathering or
men in full freedom in the capital of the
empire can hardly fail to be recognized
They were there to discuss questions pro-
foundly affecting the social order and the
religious faith of the people, and therefore
the whole future of the nation. The meet
ings were held under the eye of the gov
ernmeut, with full knowledge of all officials,
and, indeed. received personal recognition
and courteSieS from some OF them.
Freedom of Speech Assured.
mo obstacles were cast In the way, nor
any restrictions laid upon speech. The
popuace was friendly-at least not hostile.
No threatening crowds, no insulting cpl
thets attended the presence and movements
of foreigners in the streets.
ITO those who have witnessed such DEM
onstrations in neighboring lands and have
memories of them in Japan itself, little
more than generation ago, TINS change
in conditions is striking and of high i'm
port. Just beyond the narrow sea that
divides from the continent of Asia the
situation is altogether different Threaten
ings, tumult, disorder and murder confront
the foreigner throughout vast sections of
the land, and there are uneasiness and ap-
prehension everywhere. The two peoples
Hardly more than a generation ago these
now divided nation were entirely as one
in their conception OF things lying beyond
the circle of their own Immediate secluded
life. Today they are at deadly strife upon
the very questions involved in their former
way of looking at such matters. How far
apart they really are-whether the differ
ences between them are fundamental, rad
ical whether there is anything in common
left TO them-these are not curious inqui-
ries; they are practical, and upon the an
swers to them depend the future of civiliza-
ton and Christianity in the east.
THE first element in the answer Is found
in the fact that Japan is as much and as
truly heather nation as is China. The
faith and worship of the two peoples are
almost identical. MISUNDERSTANDING but
little from Taoisn-the old national religion
of Japan, still, together with Buddhism,
commands the allegiance of the masses
while Confucianism, through Its literary, as
well as its ethical, qualities, holds the mind
of the cultivated classes. The Gospel has
done great work, whose influence and
effect can be traced in continually widen
ing circles, but 1t has by no means attained
to anything approaching the proportions of
the old systems. The government and the
social conditions are as yet but lightly af-
fected by ii. In the court and among the
people thought worship and life are, with
Slight notifications, what they have been
for many centuries. The supersttions and
vices of idolatry are dominant. Even the
divine idea and honor attaching to the i'm
Old Roman days.
Where Changes Are Noticeable.
1T is true that many things have come In,
altering materially the forms of life. The
arts and arms of modern civilization have
supplanted the old agencies Of and
commerce. The later systems of education
have been introduced and in all grades ex-
tended over almost the whole empire. A
constitution, parliamentary government and
code of laws have been granted TO The
people. All this amounts to revolution, and
ii is to the credit of the state that 1t has
been effected with so little bloodShed and
disturbance of the order and movement OF
life.
The situation presents some autonomies
difficult of reconciliation What fellowship
is there between the notion of the divine
descent and divine authority of the en-
peror and a cons sutution restricting his pow
crs and resting the right of government in
the people? By what logic can the large
liberation for all religions professed by the
government be harmonized with the claim
of right to control the ethical thought and
religious worship asserted by the home
and educational department? AS matter
of fact, the fundamental conception of free
dom has not yet made good its place in the
japanese mind. 1t is hedged about with too
many restrictions and safeguards. 1t is al
ways conceded with due reservation OF the
imperial prerogative. In the higher regions
OF thought and worship, where alone true
freedom Is 10 De IOunu, the government
claims the right of absolute control. 1t
makes minute inspection of creeds and cere-
monies, we'll of property, members
and organization. An order from the home
or educational department may fix the ethi-
cal principle and determine the ground of
moral obligation for all faiths Education
is strictly secular, and, of course one
sided The only philosophy-if ny-in
vogue is materialistic There is careful ex-
clusion from their system of all the better
elements that go to the making of q man.
In brief. IL may be said that 1t is the aim of
the government to incorporate into the life
of the country everything that the western
world can offer that may consort with the
old pagan faith, worship and customs.
Admitted to Fellowship.
Upon this basis Japan has come into the
fellowship of the civilized nations. For the
first time In modern history a distinctly
heather people has been admitted to COM
munity upon equal terms with the order of
life founded upon "a better covenant
Japan has this advantage: BY reason of
Its singular affiliation with the family of
Christian nations. the resources of modern
civilization are at its command. The gov
ernment has opportunity to learn by what