The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13


profit eremiah 1913
There is no doubt that jeremiah felt
the truth of his statement, although
things looked pretty discouraging at
the time he made it. Almost the en-
tire world was heather at that time,
and even his own pepOle We're gwen
over to wickedness and idolatry.
But little by little tremendous
change has taken place. ldolatry mas
been abolished from a large portion OF
the earth's surface, and now the ola
nations of the Far East are accepting
Christianity. Here is the testimony of
J. Ingram Bryan. a professor IN the
Imperial College of Commerce at Ma
gasaki, Japan, who is in position 70
know whereof he writes. In a recent
article in Earper's Weekly he says:
.sJapanese observers assert that at
,,v.ese3t buddhism has no influence in
China and the statement IS Sun NOR
tr,le Of Japan. The average japanese
who has any conception OF the uilLet-
ence between one religion and another.
feels that Buddhism has scant mess
age for the twentieth century the rear
religion of Japan is Ancestor " orshlI,-
a reverence for. and service OF, the de
parted ones whose spirits are DeHeeeu
the life of today. To large numpef OF
the more intelligent japanese, TINS
creed is no more satisfying 10 the spir-
itual nature than the anniversary OF
funeral would be to US and as Tor the
masses, they are slaves to the mos
lOOd-curdling superStltlons, dliioul4t :
ing in many cases to worship u
demons In a very able article IN the
shin jim New NAM, Mr. Eblna con
tends that Notwithstanding its phloso-
phical excellence, Buddhism Is destlleu
to be overcome by the practical eTIlcl-
ency of Christianity. Japanese Cnfis-
tians are now exerting powerful m
huence at home, and that influence has
cOnspicuously followed the nag into
Formosa, Korea, and Manchur1a. W men
the main points of the ethlcs OF GU
Japan, loyalty and filial plety' are con
secrated by the social service OF a pur e
and noble character, great and last
ing leadership viii be assured to Japan,
not only in craftsmanship, but IN reils-
ion and morality
1t will be noticed that this Japanese
authority says it is the practical eff
ciencyu Of Christianity that viii win.
It is the practical efficiency OF Chris
tianity that makes it superior to other
religions.
There is a. great deal of Christianity
that is counterfeit. There was also when
the Great Teacher denounced the Phari-
sees OF MS udy-LAtC AlclAAS--S fF-@ $500
sanctimonious class, but the aeFznowl-
edged sinners were not so severely con-
demned as they.
And there are many Pharisees today.
There are those who make pretense OF
Christianity and yet have none OF its
spirit. The grafters, the commercial op :
pressors, no matter how great their pro-
LESSONS, have no more Of the real spirit
of Christianity than did the Pharisees
of Judea.
It is not this pharisaicaI or counterfeit
Christianity that is conquering the
world. That has none Of the practical
efficiency promulgated by the Great
Teacher in the two great command
ments of love to ones Maker and to
ones neighbor. 1t is the spirit Of the
Golden Rule that wins, and the Golden
Rule has nothing in common with graft
and doing i'll to ones neighbor.