Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-23
cnRlsTIAN ENpEAvoR.

GT-Comsaent by Rev. s. Il. Doyle.
Toplc.-Au evening watts Japanese mis-
sious--Maf iv g.
The prominence OF Japan among the
nations Of De world, its rapid progress
In modern civilization and the success
fll propagation OF Christian in the
empire all 20 20 make this subject an
unusually interesting one. Every mis-
1!ouary committee should arrange q
programme Of snecial attract.veness
and thereby interest all in the meeting
and. wha e still moro impor ANT. in
the winning OF the empire Of Japan to
Jesus Christ
Japan Is composed Of a number of
islands wlich stretch in crescent
shape along tie northeastern coast of
Asia froc kamchatka to Korea.
Their ARA Il about 10000 square
miles. In lae3t0n and climate the
islands Of Japan resemble Gre3t Brit
ain. The climate Is temperate the soil
fertile. the air h'althful and food
album 5nt Flowers aud fruits abound.
and tue skies arr beautiful and clear.
The Japanese people are kindly inn
pressible Quick TO observe ard tate,
ready to adopt whatever may sem TO
promote their present good. magma
tive. fond Of changes, yet withal loyal
60 their government and traditions.
The people are divided into two general
clssses-the samuraL including the
military and literary classes. and the
hei-min or agricuiturists, merchants and
artisans. The Japanese ere intellectu-
ally Of a high order but ~ a low moral
standard Truth. purity, temperance.
unselfish devotion. self denial are all
sadly wanting. which demonstrates
their need 90 the gospel 81 Christ.
shintoism. Buddhism AMI Confucian-
ism are the principal religions Of
Japan.
Catholic missionaries under Francis
Xavier went 10 Japan "a 1852 by
making the transition to papai Christi
aniy very easy. merely the suostltu-
ton of one superstition Tor another
many converts were soou won. But
the political ingrigues Of the Jesuits
soon aroused opposition. the Catholics
were extermlna ted. Christianity and
foreigners forbidden an entrance into
Japan and the island empire became
shut OF from the world until won over
to different policy by our own Com
modore Perry in 1854.
The Christian church soon took ad-
vantage of the opening Of the japanese
ports. Missionaries were at once sent
In. and after years of faithful labor
81
Japan was born in prayer In Janu-
airy, 1872. the English speaking resi-
dents OF all denominations united in
observing the week Of prayer. The re,
suits were tremendous. Past suspicion
and prejudice passed away and for the
first time the japanese were on their
knees in a Christian prayer meeting.
pleading to God for His spirit. From
that time on the work has been sue
cessful. In 1877 a number Of mission
ary agencies combined their efforts.
There are now seven denominations in
this union, which is called the church
of Christ in Japan" They include the
Reformed and Presbyterian denomina-
tons of the United States, and this
union is one of the strongest bodies
OF ChristiS.as in the empire.
Recent events have made Christiani-
ty more powerful than ever in Japan.
The empire has come closer TO the
great Christian nations of England and
tie United States. Many japanese
students are being educated In these
countries. Unlike China and India, in
Japan the educated and cultured class
es have been favorably disposed TO the
gospel. A great revival has within
recent years been in progress In the
island and thousands have been won
for Christ Let us earnestly pray for
q continuance OF this revival spirit
until the entire land shall have be-
come Immanuers land May the sun
Of Righteousness come indeed TO the
empire of the Rising Sun and with
healing In His wings.
RIRLE READINGS
lisa. XIV. 1-10: xlh. 1o-1T; III. Z: II.
8, 8: Nah. l. Is; Matt. v. Ia. Is; xviii,
"a, 20: Acts 1. Is: Rom. I. IA. Is.