Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-16
MISSIONS TO THE ORIENT.

pan seems to have made quite flut-
ter in many circles, 1t is long time
since the Church sent missionaries to
the Orient, excepting those who have
labored In Asia Minor.
On August 2S, 1862, special confer
ence was held In this city, at which a
number OF Elders were selected to go
on foreign missions, Among them We're
nine to Calcutta and Hlndostan, four
to China, and three to Siam. Previous
to that Elder Joseph Richards, a soldier
in the British army. who arrived in CAL
cutta. India, about the first Of June,
1851, introduced the Gospel there, and
before the month was out, baptized
Patrick Meik, Mary Ann Meik, Matthew
Mccune and Maurice White. The breth-
rem were ordained TO the Priesthood
and commenced missionary work them
selves.
On the 25th OF December the same
year, Elder VIM. Willis arrived in Cal
cutta from England, having been sent
there as missionary by Apostle Lo-
renzo Snow. In May, 1859 he reported
1870 members Of the Church In Calcutta,
including 10 "Ryots" who had pre-
viously embraced Christianity. On Aug
ust II, 1852, Elder Matthew McCune ar
rived In Rangoon and introduced the
Gospel to Burmah. This was followed
by the appointments already mentioned
Of missionaries from this city. In Sep
TENDER. 1852, Elder Hugh Flndlay or
ganized branch of the Church with
twelve members in Poonah. British In
dia.
On April 90, 1853, Elders n " Jones.
A. Milton Musser, Richard Ballantyne,
Robert SHELTON, Robt. owen, VIM. f..
Carter. VIM. Fotherlngham, Truman
Leonard, Samuel A. Wo0Iley, Chauncey
W. West Elan Luddlngton. Levi Saw
age and Benjamin f. Dewey, arrived at
Calcutta from Utah after SO days yoy-
age from San Francisco. Next day Ell
der Hosea Stout, James Lewis and
Chapman Duncan, arrived at Hongkong
from Utah TO labor in China. They
were unsuccessful and not very long
after returned to California, The mis-
cionaries TO India were sent TO differ
ent parts Of that country, where they
labored with varied, but not very en-
couraging success
Japan was not included in the fields
Of labor then opened up, In recent
years great changes have occurred In
the land Of the Mikado. and many ma
lives have visited the United States and
Europe. In 1872 Japanese embassy
to Washington spent few days In Salt
Lake city, and others Of their country
men have visited us. who were much
interested In our religion and social
customs. The way has been gradually
prepared for the step now decided to be
taken. and Japan will be offered the
EVERLASTING Gospel. under the direction
OF a latter-day Apostle.
The religious conditions in Japan
form a subject Of considerable interest
Ten years ago Professionalism had very
bright prospects in the empire, many
OF the most educated Japanese being
favorably impressed with 1t, hut a
,hange has come, according to all ac-
counts.
One evidence OF this was shown last
fall, when q government measure in
tended 20 place all religions In Japan on
an equal footing before the law, was
rejected by the house OF peers,
though II had the support Of
both Christians" and progressive Bud
dhists. The entire number of Chris
tians" IN Japan Is given as somewhat
over 10000. OF which $4,000 are Roman.
$4,000 Greek Catholics, and $4,000 Pro-
testants. But few though they are.
they are represented In the most i'm
portant offices in the empire, even in
The cabinet. And the rejection OF the
bill intended to grant perfect religious
liberty and equality. was h surprise to
all.
Another evidence OF the retrogression
OF at least Protestant Chris;ianity in
the empire is presented in the status
OF the churches. A Japanese Journal
LIST says he examined the roll Of one OF
the churches. and found that out OF a
total membership OF 1923, no less than
SO were marked absent" And Of the
remainder, 1923 were said TO be mon
active" The average attendance at
the church was II. The number, OF SELF
supporting churches had fallen in sew
years, from 20 to q or 25.
Several reasons are assigned for this
decline. One Is that the morality Of
those who have embraced Christians
lily" has not proved much superior to
that Of the followers Of the native
teachers. The discrepancy between
theory and practice has been a great
stumbling block in Japan as elsewhere
Another reason Is said TO be that
missionaries In Japan very often turn
out agnostics, and their converts fol
low them. This sounds strange But
the fact seems to be substantiated. Mr.
Penman, a literary man who lives IL
Japan, says he visited personally th'
trustees OF a fine educational institu'
ton, and that they told him, they di'
not believe In the divinity Of Christ
Leading native ecclesiasties have be
come advanced thinkers" and there l
q clash between them and the repre-