The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-14
CHRISTIANS IN JAPAN
Rev. David S. Spencer's Ac-
count of Condition
OCCIDENT V S. ORIENT
Protestant Civilization Must
Fight for Its Life.

pan and Russia has been called in some
quarters struggle between Christian
ity and heathenism. But it is d well
known fact that Christian Missions have
been agressiyely at work among the Jap
anese, and the following statement by
the Rev David S. Spencer. for twenty
years a missionary of the Methodist
Episcopal church in Japan. and now in
the United States on Through, is espec-
tally pertinent at this time
Japan is now practically at war with
Russia This condition of things in the
East is the natural outcome of Russia's
long-continued land-grabbing schemes.
She has pushed eastward until Manchur-
ID is, she thinks, hers; and this admitted
Korea is hers; and the nation which con-
trolls Korea-most OF all. the nation which
can possess and 4Ortify Masampho, at the
southern point of Korea-practically con-
trolls Japan. Japan is therefore lighting,
not for name, not for popular applause,
not for the independence of Korea, not
for the integrity of China even, but, in
the last analysis. for her own national
existence. She knows that for hun
dred years Russia has iied, deceived, and
crushed weaker peoples where she de-
sired territory, and Japan must strike
now.
But it would be folly to regard this
as merely a quarrel between Japan and
Russia. 1t is this and more. It is the
clashing of two civilizations, the Orient
as represented by Russia, the Occident
by Japan Stated a little more broadly,
it is Protestant civilization forced to meet
the onward movement of the Greek
church. for the power behind the Rus
sian government is the Greek church
hierarchy. Stated a little differently, ia
pan stands as the representative of Eng
lish and American Christianity and COM
merce against the religion and commerce
of the East. If the collision had been
avoided today in Korea, it must come
tomorrow on the borders of India, or at
some other point where England and
Russia touch. The battle must have
come sooner or later. Brave little Japan
ought to have our sympathy.
The growth of the Japanese people in
the last half century is matter of great
interest to every student of national and
social conditions From the coming of
EIdlltIS -AdNlci " lildl pCbpAC III 4oSt ACA
we must go back to that period in order
to understand the development of relig-
ious conditions, we find that heroic mis-
sionary of the Roman Catholic faith be-
ginning the work of evangelization with
little or no knowledge of the language,
and with few helpers and appliances by
which to evanSehze the people. Yet in
the brief period until 1896. when the per-
secutions against the Christians began,
that handful of Christian missionaries
had pushed their way from Kagoshima
in the extreme south through hamlet and
village and city, to the capital of kyoto
and had added to the church mare than
a million of converts. These We're from
all classes. including that Of the ruling
Daimyo. Then began that relentless per-
secution of the Christians, growing out
of the attempt on their part to control
political affairs The story of that per-
secution is well known. The government
of Japan, closing its gates against the
foreigner permitted none of the hated
foreign devils to put foot upon the soil
of Japan. For almost 80 years this her
nit life Christianity a hated
religion, the foreigner a representative of
the hated creed. his institutions despised,
himself considered unfit to associate with
the Japanese people. Then in 1854 came
that splendid naval commander. Com
modore Perry who, with consummate
skill. and without the firing of Il gun,
opened the gates of Japan to the civilized
world. From that point TO the present
day the japanese people have gone
through a social. educational. and po-
litical revolution. making such an adj
vance as it required the Anglo-SaXon
race 800 years to make. In truth, the
japanese Of fifty years and above lives
today in a social atmosphere and in pO-
hticsl surroundings totally different from
those he knew in his boyhood. To Ger
tain extent he is a foreigner in his own
country Nor has this advancement Of
the people been mere whitewashing OF
their institutions to change their appear
ance. white at the core they remain the
same as in the past. The Japan II today
is essentially new Japan. 1t is occi-
dental rather than oriental. progressive
rather than conservative, living aud aC-
tive rather than stagnant. containing i'm
mense possibilities both for good ana
evil.
Protestant missionaries began their
work in this country in $50. In the early
years their wor-. was exceedingly diff
cult. IS The hatred Of the foreigner was
still strong. The pubic notice. boards for
babe the japanese subject To believe in
the hated foreign religion. yasukyo, and
offered large rewards to those exposing
believers in the new faith. To overcome
this hatred Was the work Of years. but
by 1888 Christianity had gained something
% q foothold and it, progress began TO
be- manifest This progress increased Un-
I'll 1873 when the failure Of treaty re-
vision caused serious setback 10 the
nation and awakened a conservative re-
action which fer twelve fol owing years
seriously imreied Christian work and
caused great national unrest But the
successful issues ~ Japan struggle with
China in 1885, ard rs awakened rev in
terest in Japan on the part q the entire
civilized world. ard gave 10 the nation
new impulse The successful revision II
the treaties between Japan and other
civilized natiors taking effect in 1893
threw wide oren Ihe doors % religious
progress and Ia eli worthy lines of level-
oumert No clear understanding of the
problem OF evanselisation can be mad IN
less We take into account the eo2se-va-
tive spirit and the reactions mentioned. .
These have had a mishty determined e.
feet upon Christian propa gard-s-n. and
have been in some serseS an INJURY 20
The peoYIe But. in SPIKE q these resc-
tiors. Christianity has mad great Prog
rcss. among the people There are strong,
se,f-supporrirs churches strong schools.