The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-07-13
A GIFT TO
THE Y. M. C. A.

TRANSLATED Tor 10 FORWARD Dy MI.
Nishimura.)
In consideration of the work done at
the front by the Y. M. G. A. his Ma
jesty, the Emperor of Japan, has given
ten thousand yen to this organ
ization. Christianity has not been
long in Japan, but it has shown its
power by the influence which it has
exerted over education and Japanese
life in general.
Not only in educational lines, but
also in benevolent enterprises, Chris
tianity has been so active and the re-
suits have been so evident that its
success cannot be denied. At present
there are a great many schools for
young men and women in Japan man
aged by Christians and supported by
the money of Christians. While there
are a few benevolent institutions man
aged by the government, most of them
are in the hands of Christians. Not
only in times of peace are the Chris
tians active, but in this our great war
these young men of the Y M. G. A.
have extended so much real help on
the field that we shall never be able
to estimate the great amount of COM
fort which they have given our sol
diers. Many people doubtless thought
of this work they are doing with de-
sire to do it themselves; but these
bright, jealous men have seized the OPP
portunity. The success of this work
shows that they are fulfilling their
mission. OF course such work de-
mands active men and money, and
these young men are bearing this ex-
pense without asking for help; but if
hindered for lack of funds, they can
not do their best work. So just at
this time our emperor, seeing the value
of their work, has given this sum for
their use. So it must follow that he
is anxious for this work to continue
on the field
Now, in view of this gracious gift of
our emperor, we hope that also in
times of peace they will be even more
Jealous in educational, benevolent,
and evangelistic work.
The Japanese have only one religion
namely Buddhism. There are those
who say that Shintoism is a religion.
1t is not the case. It is but a rite for
paying respect to the dead Notice,
as an example, the annual memorial
service at Yasukuni Shinsha. The
rites at Shinto; but many of the sol
diers in whose memory the service is
held were Buddhiststs, and some of
them Christians The Shinto rites
are not regarded as religious serv-
ice, but simply as a means of showing
our respect for our dead We see,
then, that until within a few years
prevailed; now it is Chris
tianity. and we welcome it.
Russia has often urged the appro-
priateness of European and American
for herself on the ground
that the Japanese are heathens and do
not welcome foreign civilization, and
that the Japanese are free to believe
anything. The Japanese are free to
believe anything without pressure
rom the government, which accounts
for the fact that Christianity exists
alongside of Buddhism. This is the
ruth no matter what scurrilous re-
ports are circulated about us by other
nations. This position of our govern
nent is clearly shown by this recent
gift from our emperor. This shows:
rst, that Christianity is successful
md useful; secondly, that our en-
error so considers it, and does not op-
pose it; thirdly. that our civilization
S superior to that of Russia, because
L one becomes a Greek Catholic he