The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-20
The "New Idea In the Orient.

United StatesnSt'
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The "New Idea In the Orient.
A missionary agent Of our American
Bible Society at Shanghai reports that
q very great change has come over the
spirit of China as consequence OF tho
Japanese victory over. Russia His in
formation simply confirms intelligence
to the same effect from many Oriental
sources, but he gives some interesting
precise facts and draws from them
conclusions NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The victory of Japan over China,
20 soon succeeded by its defeat OF 2
great Western and Christian Power,
has started Cinnamon to inquiring as to
the causes of so extraordinary a mani
festation of prowess, and by an Oriental
nation which is small relatively to
China, itself so long the easy prey Of
European Powers. Accordingly great
numbers OF Chinese students have been
sent to Japan to learn how, at last,
such mastery was attained by a people
Of the Orient. OF the thousands OF
students many have returned to China
to disseminate the knowledge they &C
quired and to propagate in books and
newspapers their larger and more en-
lghtened views Of Oriental needs and
destiny. At the time this report Of the
agent OF the Bible society was written
there were as many as 1883 Chinese
students still in Japan.
q A a result of this Japanese propa-
ganda, the Chinese. more especially in
Pekin, but also in the country districts
TO very considerable extent, are getting
new ideas Of progress; but it Is Of prog
ress without Christianity. The MASTER
full development Of a nation without the
aid Of Christianity is provoking very
serious thought far outside of China
and in Christendom itself. @Heathen-
ism is coming TO the fore and il teach
ing the whole world lessons, not merely
in the art OF war, but also in patriotism,
in self-sacrifice, in fidelity to duty, in the
organization OF national strength.
Unquestionabiy there has been con.
siderable progress Of Christianity in
Japan, but relatively to the whole pop
ulation it is still slight, The Japanese
people seem to take slight interest in
our theology Even when they profess
conversion,to Christianity it does not
seem to produce any radical change in
their religious conceptions, and officially
they remain about the same as before
They are particularly tolerant regard
ing religious belief, for they seem to
be Indifferent as TO its varieties. The
Japanese in this country are not at all
influenced in their associations by the
preference Tor Christianity or for the
old order OF things. Christians and
"heathen' ara on close terms Of COM
radeship, and the. heather" do not
seem to take very seriously hereligious
change protested by the. others. They
are both interested rather in the me-
chanical and material lessons our civili-
cation furnishes for their instruction,
but our Western grandeur and luxury
Of living proyokes little or nc, admiration
from them. The simple life Is Illus
trated among the Japanese more than in
any other country which has yet pushed
itself into prominent place among the
Powers Of the world. ~, :. %.
The missionary Of The Bible society
has reason for misgivings, therefore,
as to the consequences Of this new
Oriental birth, so far as concerns Chris
tianity. Will it help or hinder the propa-
cation of Christianity! Will it not. az
he suggests, because Of its cause, tend
to induce feeling that paganism is
sufficient to itself, is superior, and needs
no Characterization? He speaks of Chi
,nese publications, printed in Japan and
circulated widely in China, as leading to
great misunderstanding of truth" and
~ bringing "more or | IS contempt on
the Christian religion and it's represent
atives. -,...., .t
The demonstration that'a pagan civil
yation of the East is superior in prowess
to the Christian State Of the West which
Il strongest numerically. and had long
terrorized the Orient must have a pro-
found effect on the history of the world,
moro especially as respects the relative
value Of religions. As this missionary
points out, "a new idea-new at least to
the Chinese-that of progress without
Christianity" has been generated among
the Chinese by the superlative triumph
OF Japan over Russia, and to his mind
It 10 a dangerous idea.