The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-07-26

belief and life of the people; and,
since the missionaries rely on the
supernatural aspect, which official.
dom ignores, it may come to pass that
even the next emperor will be a
Christian, just as many persons in all
branches of government service have
become believers in the gospel OF
Christ. AS the seed in the crack be-
comes tree that splits the rock, SO
by it's inherent vitality and growth
Christianity in Japan will overthrow
alike the devices of statesmen and
tie old creeds of the nations.
How the Movement Works.
In the next breath, after telling you
Japan, the statesmen will confess tt
their perplexity over moral and social
conditions in the country. Japan
needs badly a new set of moral ideals
how badly the west cannot possibly
understand. Unquestionably, Chris
tianity is erecting these in a large
body of the people. I have been al
pains to assure myself that the Anglo
Saxon standards of virtue prevail
among the Japanese Christians as
they certainly do not among the peo
pie generally, or ev-:o the Buddhist
priests. The place of women must
be radically changed if Japan is tt
rank with the civilized nations; ad
mittedly tho most potent force II
effecting the alterations already &C
complished are the mission schools
and the churches.
With respect to eleemosynary insti
tutions-the care of the insane, o.
lepers and other incurables, the rc
form of incipient criminals, the pro
vision for orphans and destitute, the
display of kindness to dumb crea
lures, etc.-Japan has scarcely emery
ed from barbarism. Practically every
advance in these particulars has beer
made by the missionaries. Despite
endless twaddle that has been writer
about the Japanese home life, 1t Ii
| undoubtedly true that the Christian
or, say, the American conception o.
! a home is only now being learned, anc
that from the missionaries. The dis
ingenuousness and subterranean ma
ture of the Japanese character, which
has brought shame upon the nation
in it's business dealings with the
world, is being replaced by straight
forwardness and integrity on the par
of the thousands who are accepting
the bible standard of conduct.
The Situation as It Stands.
So far as figures may do so, thu
missionary situation in Japan may Ii
set forth very briefly. There are 3:
denominations, or organized religious
bodies, doing work in Japan. These
maintain a force of 8S9 white mis-
sionaries and a still greater number
of native workers. They possess
property, in the way of churches
schools, residences, etc., to the value
of $1,379,902. OF native Christians
enrolled in the Protestant churches
there are 60,862, ircluding catachu
mems; in the Roman Catholic church
59,437 and in the Greek church, 29,115
Roughly speaking, this means a Chris
aan force of 100000 persons, who
look forward to the evangelization of a
nation of 45,00O,000 people. While
Japan is not going to become Chris
tian in day, she has made a sub
stantial beginning in that direction
The Japanese Protestant churches
display certain characteristics which
require mentioning in this resume
First is the tendency toward union
All Presbyterian bodies are one in
Japan. All Methodist bodies formally
unite next May. The Episcopalians
and the Church of England are one
The Congregationalists, United Breth
rem and Methodist Professionals are
uniting, as in America. Left to them
selves, the Japanese Christians will
undoubtedly form one church, since
UNCONVENTIONAL and doctrinal distinc
tons of ecclesiastical government
mean little to them. The missionaries
in this country also are ahead Of
America in respect to united religious
efforts.
Copyright, 1907, by JOSEF B. Bowles)