The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18

thirty three temples ito which pilgrim
ages are made. Some estimate can be
formed of the ardor of those who wor-
ship here when it is known that the
immense timbers used in the construc-
ton of the building were dragged thru
the streets and lifted into place by
cables made of human hair contributed
by Japanese women for that purpose.
One of these cables, nearly three inches
in diameter and several hundred feet
lcng, is still kept in a room adjacent
to the temple, the others having been
destroyed by fire. Japanese women
pride themselves upon their hair and
arrange it with great care-what a
poem Of piety-what a strong sacrifice
III these myriad strands Of mingled
black and gray!
within a walled inclosure, entered
thru gorgeous gate, which contrasts
sharply with the simplicity of the
Shinto gate. The Buddhist gate has a
roof resembling a temple roof and Is
often ornamented with animals, birds
and fantastic figures carved in wood.
AS an illustration Of the superstition
to be found among the ignorant, the
following incident is given. An Ameri-
can, Frederick w. Horne, who lives at
Yokohama, and who has built up
large importing business in American
machinery, has a handsome new homo
modelled after Buddhist temple. At
one gable he put DEVILS head. The
servants Of the man living next door
threatened to leave because the devil
looked over into that yard. But they
| were quieted when the neighbor put
two brass cannon on his roof and point.
ed them at the DEVILS head. The story
| seems too absurd to believe, but we
were shown the cannons when we called
at Mr. Horne's.
But Buddhism is losing its hold UPON
the Japanese; its temples are not
crowded as they once were; its cere.
monies do not interest and it's teach
ings do not satisfy the new generation.
Christianity VIII appeal more and more
to the educated element Of the Japan
csc population. Already favor is tax
ing the place of liberation, as tolera.
ton thirty years ago supplanted per-
secution.
The Catholics, who have been the
pioneers of the cross in SO many lands,
brought Christianity to Japan thru
Portuguese missionaries about the mid
die of the sixteenth century. The sue
cess of the Jesuits was so pronounced
that in thirty years they estimated
their converts at 100000. In fact, the
adherents to Christianity became SO
numerous and so influential that the
shotgun, Hideyoshi, began to fear for
his temporal power, and, having alb
solute authority, he expelled the for.
eigners, closed the ports and estab-
lished thepolicy of non-intercoursew with
other nations-a policy which was fol
lowed until 1853. When the country
, was again opened to Christian mission
aries it was found that some 10000
men and women were still worshipins
according to the forms of the Catholic
church, altho for two and a half cen
turtles there had been no communica
), tion between them and the church out
side. Even after the opening Of the
country to foreign commerce there wal
some persecution Of Christians ant
several thousand were imprisoned. Bu
in 1853 the prisoners were set at lib
erty and the exiles allowed to return
, since that time there has been abso
| lutte religious freedom and many mel
prominent in official life have Beer
devoted Christians. The most noted
of these native Christians was Mr.
, Kataoka, who was four times chosen
, speaker Of the popular branch Of tht
. Japanese congress or diet. He was al
elder in the Presbyterian church, AMI
when it was suggested that it would
? advance his political chances to resign
1 his eldership, he replied that if com
: PEELED to choose between them hi
would rather be an elder than speaker
The Catholic population Of japan
numbered $4,000 in 1903; at the last
report the Protestant communicate
: numbered nearly $1,000. There are
. among the natives 442 ordained minis
! ! tiers, $50 unordained ministers and
:. helpers and 1876 theological students
= I met number of japanese Christians
and was profoundly impressed by theil
: earnestness and devotion. There is &
9 large Y. M. C. A. at Toxic and small
q er one at Kioto; at Kogoshima l fount
4 a Woman's Christian association
a While / have met American mission
!. aries everywhere, / have tried to gath
n er information from Japanese source,
t as well and have been grstifed to fine
s such cordial cooperation between for
e eign and native Christians. A physi
n clan in the navy introduced himself
Y and volunteered the information tina
n one American woman had undertaken
the establishment of Christian clubs a
the various naval stations and within
l. five years had gathered together NOR
d than 500 members. He said that sh
f met with opposition from the authori
e ties at first. but now had their heart.
: support. The war with Russia, Will
? retarding the work of the Greek churcl
among the japanese, had been utilizet
by other denominations to reach
large number of sailors with Bible
: and pamphlets.
Japan needs the Christian religion;
nation must have some religion, an,
,. she has outgrown Buddhism. The ideal
, presented by these two systems are i
X many respects Numerically opposed t
. each other. One looks forward, tn
= other backward; one regards life as
: blessing to be enjoyed and an oppo1
il tunity to be improved; the other see
e in it only evil from which escap
v should be sought; one crowns this lif
II with Immortality, the other adds to
d gloomy existence the darker night o
h humiliation; one offers faith as tn
), - -oh1o do,5s he az he