Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
Gifts From This Country
Established Work Among
the Soldiers That Revo1u-
tionized the Nations Atti-
tude oward Christianity.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Copyright. 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.)


TOXIC, Japan.
Before the war is as much a stock
phrase in Japan today as it ever was in
the United States after the struggle of the
sixties. The war has made all things new.
Now Japan is a ship that has found herself.
And what are mostly guesses on the part
Of the rest of the world concerning Japans
purposes and future are intensely inter-
esting present problems with persons on the
scene. The situation here is complex and
rather bewildering, but there are certain
unquestioned facts which stand out clearly
a result of the war.
One of the wonders wrought by this
wonderful war takes rank as perhaps the
most conspicuous achievement of its kind
in religious history. For the conflict lately
waged in Manchuria has been the means of
winning the whole nation to friendliness
for Christianity. This amounts to nothing
less than a vast Christian conquest. It
justiies the sanguine reports which mis-
sonaries sometimes send home, without
any such ground as they may stand upon
In the present case Representatives Of
many denominations, from all parts of the
empire, natives as we'll as foreigners. have
assured me that practically the last vestige
of active opposition to Christianity has
gone from Japan, thanks to the work done
in Manchuria by the Y. M. c. A, with
COutIlDutiOuS given at HISt III the main Dy
interested Americans. but later, with equal
generosity, by the Japanese themselves.
Long ago religious liberty was officially
granted; but 1t takes more than an imperial
edict to alter the attitude of people and
their atmosphere. so to speak. Despite the
exaggerated reports in the past of Japan's
having been won to Christianity, 1t has re-
manned true, until this war. that mission
aries have encountered many definite OBJ
stacles aSwell as hostile spirit not infre-
quently displayed.
The most remarkable outcome of the
work which is herein described was the
gift Of the emperor of 10000 yen ($5O OO)
toward the army work Of the Young
Mems Christian Association. What this
means the western world can scarcely
comprehend. 1t has given face to the
whole movement. All possible criticism has
been stilled by 1t. The Young Mems Chris
tan Association has been identified with
the national life. Followed as 1t was by
the empress gift of 5000 yen to the Okla
yama orphanage a Christian institution,
with pledge of LOCO yen each year for
five years. the impression made upon the
Japanese mind has been profound. A man
who keeps posted upon affairs at the cap
| ital, Rev. DIR. John H. De Forest, assures
me that so far as he can learn, the empe-
ror has since made no gift to any Buddhist
object
The curious feature of this extraordinary
episode Is that it is like an idols putting
| lighted dynamite bomb under its own
pedestal. At least that Is the way it strikes
westerner. For the Emperor of Japan Is
considered deity by the vast majority of
| his subjects. His picture is worshiped in
the school rooms. He is the most popular
figure in the nations pantheon. Yet here
he indorses and supports an avowedly
| Christian movement, which, II successful
| must overthrow all other worship than that
/ of the Christians God. Truly, among the
/ innumerable anomalous conditions in mod
| ern Japan this is not the least anomalous.
l
| As is generally known, the Y. NJ. c. A.
work in japan was planted and is fostered
/ by the International committee. having it's
headquarters In New York. With skill
| which some other oder missionaries find it
| difficult to emulate, the American associa-
| ton even has kept themselves in the back
ground and have put the work entirely in
I the control of the Japanese; yet the Arneri-
| can secretaries are still here. and recog-
nized by their native associates as real
leaders in the work. The associations that
j exist in Toxic, Osaka, Nagasaki Kioto and
Kobe have American as well as native sec
retaries. 1t was American alertness that
/ prompted the offer to the government at
/ the outset of the war by the national Y.
| III. c. A. of a work for the army similar to
| that among American and British soldiers.
All sorts of organizations and agencies