The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-25
&S I: w. G. A. WORK IN THE JAPANESE ARMY 81 5
Gifts From America Established
Work Among Soldiers
That Has Revolutionized
Attitude Toward
Christianity.
christianity.
By William T. Ellis

tCopyrght. 1915. ay Joseph j.. Bcwles)
DklO. Before the war.
ls as much a stock phrase in
Japan to-day as 10 ever was in
tAe United States after the strug-
Eie 81 the sixties The war has
made aI 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 Japan's pur-
poses and future are intensely interesting
present problems with persons on the
scene The situation here is complex
and rather bewNderlng. but there are Ger
tain unqlesuoned facts which stand out
clearly as 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 late
y waged in Mancnuria has been the means
OF winning the whole nation 70 friendli-
ness for Christianity. This amounts TO
nothing less than a vast Christian con-
quest. 10 justifies the sanguine reports
which missionaries sometimes send
home. without any such ground
as they stand upon in the pres
ent case. Representatives Of many
denominations. from all parts OF the en-
pire. natives as well as foreigners have
assured NE that practically the last yes
tige OF active opposition To- Christianity
has gone from Japan. thanks 10 the
work done in ManOnurla by the Young
Mems Christian Association. with contri-
buttons given at first ia the main by in
terested Americans. but later with
equal generosity, by the Japanese
themselves Long ago religious liberty
was officially granted; but il takes more
than an imperial edict TO alter the at
utude OF a people and their atmosphere
So 10 speak Despite the exaggerated re
norris ~ T..s 20
won TO Christianity. IL has remained true
until this war. that missionaries have
encountered many definite obstacles as
well as "A hostile spirit not infrequentIy
displayed.
Emperor Strikes Blow at His
Own Deity.
The most remarkable outcome Of the
work which IS herein described was the
gift of tine Emperor OF 10. 600 yen (s5 600,
towards 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 it. The Young Mems
Christian Association has been Identified
with the national life. Followed as IL
was. by the Empress's gift OF 5000 yen
% haTOkayama Orphanage, a Christian
institution with q pledge of 1000 ven
made upon the Japanese mind has been
profound. A man who keeps posted upon
sffairs at the capital. Rev. Dr. John II.
De Forest. assures me that. so far as
be can learn, the Emperor has since made
no gift 20 any Buddhist object
The curious feature OF this extraordi-
nary episode Is that Il IS like an IDOLS put
Ting a lighted dynamite bomb under its
own pedestal. At least. that is the way
II strikes a Westerner. For the Emperor
Of Japan is considered deity by the vast
majority Of his subjects. His picture is
worshiped IN the schoOlrooms. He is the
most popular figure In the nations pam
theOn. Yet here re indorses and sup
ports an avowedly Christian movement.
which. II successful. must overthrow all
other worship than that Of the Chris
tian's Cod Truly. among the innumera-
bic anomalous conditions In modern ia
pan. this is not the least anomalous.
Americans to the Front.
AZ is generally known. the Y. II. c. A.