The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-09
ReStive Under Foreign Con-
troll, and Jealous of Mis-
Sionary's Place---Crisis
That Affects Future.

TO be understood very slightly in Amer
lea Back here ono hears echoes OF
fervid reports OF "Japan.s reiieiops
awakening and 'Japan's plea for mis-
sionaries." over these I have see, old
missionaries shake their heads. AT tha
recent meeting az the Council OF Mis-
sions OF the Presbyterian and Reformed
Churches. which struggled with the pres
ont burning issues. IL was declared onanf,r
that no more new missionaries should be
sent here until the present probiematio
situation has been adjusted. It may be
that some men already hero will have
90 return home. To a mere observer ~
appears reasonable that a man who has
poen I'm Japan many years without hav-
ing learned the language, OF acquired the
japanese Viewpoint. or attained sympa-
tneuc ana fratcrral relations with tho
native Christians. should consider him
self called TO some more congeniaI field
of labor. recent issue Of Mission News.
q monthly plbished iu Kobe IN the in
terests of the American Board Of Mis-
sions. contained these striking sem
fences:
"The time for 'extTa-territorial Chris
taniy in Japan is rapidly drawing 10 an
end. II IL Us not already passed. MIS-
sions and missionaries are being tested.
They have accomplished a mighty work.
in the past. and it ia I'm their power "a,
immediate future VIII they meet the
test and rise 20 the opportunity that IS
theirse'
On this last point the Japanese ara
quite insistent. They say the new day
demands a new kind OF help from Amer
lea Instead Of men to Do preaching and
teaching-for which some assert there
are now sufficient qualified japanese
they want men OF the character and cali
| bre OF President Charles Cuthbort Han.
/ of Union Seminary. New York. who made
| a pronounced impression during his re-
/ cent visit TO Japan. They want states
/ manlike leaders. men Of large culture.
/ great learning and broad sympat TILES.
! The best that America has in the way os
! teachers and pastors may prodtabiy be
/ sent TO Japan 10 lead her native leaders
/ and inspire her native insplrers.
/ In the meantime the majority OF miss
sionarics. as well as many japanese. de-
clare that Japan stiu needs the mission
aries. The native church is not strong
enough. either in men or money, TO go
IL alone. Japencse preachers from outlv-
ing parts Of the empire say frankly that
this whole uproar is Toxic product.
/ and they hint at the ambition OF certain
/ Toxic leaders To control the Japanese
church. An English missionary told me
that the control 81 funds could not be-
turned over To Japanese until the latter.
as a nation. have learned new ideas OF
/ trusteeship- He cited the case OF n
treasurer who used trust funds to pay
his fathers debts. a saying naively that
his obligations 90 his father took pre-
cedence to all other obligations. On the
other hand. some missionaries assert that
such charges are the mere race prejudice
Of the white man.
Out OF the confusion OF hundreds OF
conflicting opinions upon this all-absoTb-
ing topic OF japanese ecclesiastical indie
pendence I have gathered at least one
conviction. namely. that so long as the
present state OF uncertainty and turmoil
J exists the American missionary organiza-
/ lions would do well % send no more
young preachers TO Japan, although the
field for unordained teachers is large