Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-01-08

oil SutuclGnt aDilily ~ cOihHhHu lhe
respect. of the intelligent natives or
convince their reasoning faculties OF
the advantages -of the Christian reli-
gion. They see that their own eduJ
Gated men are superior IN intelligence
ana learning to thcse preachers OF the
European creeds, and decline to be
convinced The Nippon says that the
Protestant propagandisis also leave
much TO be desired in respect OF abil
ity and learning among their mission
aries There Is, in fact, no great
teacher of a foreign religious faith
now. in Japan, The editor says. THE
Greek church made some sembiance
OF success at one time, but It has
come 10 be associated with a policy
Of aggression. and until Russia purges
herself completely of her evil reputa-
tion the church she obeys Will remain
discredited."
This candid commentary upon work
in Japan should set the missionars
boards to thinking. 1t is question
in the minds of many Catholics and
Protesiauts whether they are making
such progress M should he expected
from the number of lahorers and the
size of ihe vineyard. A bishop told
me not long ago that the growth Of
Christianity generally during the last
ten years had not been so rapid as
formerly; that the number Of CON
Yerts was smaller than for ten years
previous, although ihe educational In
stitutions under the care of the Pro
testants were more largely attended
and had greater influence than ever
before. He attributed this not to any
lack of zeal ON the part OF the mis-
sionaries OF respect for Protestant.
ism on the part Of the people, but
to the revival of patriotism and to The
auti.forelgn wave that swept over
the empire In 1896 and 1896, when
Russia. France and Germany inter
vened 10 prevent Japan from enjoy
ing the fruits OF her victory over
China He did not suggest any snc
reason as IS given by the c1itnr o'
the Nippon, although the Japanese
point OF view is worth considering
and II is true. as he states that there
is no great Christian teacher in Ja
pan today; none that will compare
for instance. with Or Hepburn, one
OF the pioneers and perhaps the ablcst
and most useful of all foreigners whe
over appeared in that field
The recognition of Christianity q.
factor in the national life by the
Japanese government during the re
cent war was very significant Chris
ilan chapisins were appointed for the
| army, and for the hospitals ant
| agents of the Bible society were per
| mitted 10 distribute copies Of the gos
pels and other portions of the scrip
| lures in the Notifications, in the hos
pitals, In The camps and even in m,
| trenches The Young Mems Chris
tiau association not only wns per
mitted. hutwas assisted in its worl
among the soldiers aud was encour
aged in every possible way TO cstab
lish headquarters in the camps, Al
one time the secretary of war called
upon the Y. NJ. c. A at Toxic 70 fur
chief of the army. and Admiral Togo
fess that faith and Toeos recent
appearance nj a celebrated Shrine Il
address the. spirits Of his feadi Off
GERS and soldiers indicates hat lie
still adheres 10 the ancient suporstl
lions OF his people. r -.4 NOR
The people of tde ciry of Washing
ron should take notice thar thsuclt
sens of Toxic have subscribed 1000,
900 ven Cs5oo.Go0l for ttreHcon true
,ion OF. public hall IN thar city
Washington, needs such a hail more
than Toxic. and has. been talking
about one longer The population ui
Toxic is larger than that OF Wash
'ngton. but we have much greater
wealth.