Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09

c.
ON THE TRAIL OF THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY

] AAA/0AO4 " IA \ /
to have recognized place in the life of
the nation. 1t is a factor in the present
thought and development of Japan which
no japanese leader pretends to ignore.
Broadly speaking, there Is now no hostility
to Christianity; yet I yesterday saw one
OF the old edict boards which fifty years
ago decorated the highways, threatening
with death any one accepting Christianity
or harborlng Christian. All of the many
Japanese writer's and teachers with whom
l have thus far talked freely concede at
least an important place In JapanS future
10 Christianity; while Christian authors,
It is bound to swallow up Buddhism and
Shintoism. japanese Christians are be-
ginning to have their own schools and
orphanages, supported by themselves as
well as their own religious books and
periodicals.
There seems to be some jingoism about
e., certain type Of Japanese preacher. He
tinct type of Christianity, and about ia
pans forthcoming substantial contribu-
uon TO the sum of Christian knowledge.
He demands considerable theological IL
cense for himself. The spirit of Christian
ity seems to appeal to him more strongly
than its definite doctrines. Liberty" is
MS word; he cares little for the Old Tesla
rule for Japanese Christians to shut I'D
their shops on Sunday. The old straw of
the similarity between Christianity, Budd-
hlsm and Confucianism has been pretty
preacher, whose national pride is intense
One famous clergyman-who, like most
Japanese, feels that he holds a brief for
Japan and will admit little that seems in
that from Of old the Japanese samurai
have held belief in one Supreme Being,
and that Christianity was but q little
fuller expression of this teaching
The
native minister and in the short history
OF the Japanese church there has been
deal OF swaying to and fro theo!ogically;
ton training and tradition has something
to do with this want of theological balance
Many who were once shining lights in the
Christian church shine no more; the aban-
donment Of their religious position was
In the case of many Japanese part of
the reaction of a few years ago. At pres
ent there seems to be a more distinctive
evangehsdc trend among the Japanese
churches; and revivals are reported from
several directions. One ecclesiastical lead
er, who had come to be regarded as outside
the orthodox fellowship, is now reported to
be veering back to his old mornings.
X X
The foregoing is an endeavor to give a
clear glimpse of situation that seems to
be understood very slightly in America
Back here one hears echoes Of fervid re-
ports Of "Japans Religious Awakening"
and "Japans Plea for Missionaries" Over
these 1 have seen old missionaries shake
their heads. At the recent meeting of the
council OF missions of the PRESBYTERIAN
and Reformed churches, which struggled
with the present burning issues, it was de-
clared openly that no more new missionaries
should be sent here until the present
promenade situation has been adjusted
1t may be that some men already mere
will have to return home. To a mere OBJ
server 1t appears reasonable that a man
who has been In Japan many years without
having learned the language, or acquired
the japanese viewpoint, or attained SYM
pathetic and fraternal relations with the
native Christians, should consider himself
called to some more congen.a. field of
labor. A recent issue of Mission News"
a monthly published in Kobe in the inter-
ests of the American board mission, con-
tanned these striking sentences: THE time
for 'extra-territorial' Christianity IN Japan
Is rapidly drawing to an end If 1t is not
already passed. Missions and mission
aries are being tested. They have accom-
pNshed mighty work in the past. and it
is In their power to do even greater work
In the present and immediate future Will
they meet the test and rise to the oppor-
tunity that is theirs?"
On this last point the Japanese are quite
insistent They say the new day demands
a new kind of help from America Instead
OF men to do preaching and .eachsae-for
which some assert there are now sufficient
character and calber of President Charles
Cuthhert Hall of Union Seminary. Nev |
York. who made pronounced impression
during his recent visit to japan Thew
want statesmanlike leaders, men of large
culture, great learning and broad sym-
pathies. The best that America has in
the way of teachers and pastors NAV
proftably be sent to Japan to lead her ma
tive leaders and inspire her native in |
spirers
In the meantime the majority of mis-
sionaries. as well as many Japanese. de- |
clare that Japan still needs the mission !
aries. The native church is not strong
enough, either in men or money to go Il |
alone Japanese preachers from OUTLYING
parts OF the empire say frankly that this
whole uproar Is a 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 Of funds could not be turned over
to Japanese until the latter, as a nation
have learned new ideas OF trusteeshin- He
cited the case of treasurer who used
trust funds to pay his fathers debts so ".
ing naiyely that his obligations to his
Iather took precedence over al; other obli- /
salions On the other hand, some mission- /
aries assert that such charges are the mere |
race prejudice OF the white man.
Out OF the confusion Of hundreds OF con-
melting opinions upon this au-absorbine
topic of japanese ecclesiastical independ
ence l have gathered at least one con-
v1ctiOn, namely, that so long as the pres
ent state of uncertainty and turmoil exists
the American missionary organizations
would do well to send no more young
preachers to Japan. although the field for |
unordained teachers Is large.