The log cabin Democrat., 1907-05-09

 American ministers, and, in conse- quence, Christian union in Japan is | far ahead of the same movement any where else in the world; and the mis- 1 sionaries are more catholic, cosmo. | politan and large-visioned than any ! similar body of clergyman of whom l have knowledge.
 Roosevelt and Bryan as Missionaries. As illustrative of their broad views of the situation take their sentiments concerning MT. William J. Bryan, whose recent visit is a vivid memory with the nation. The Japanese fell in love with MT. Bryan because of his smile and suavity; good manners go farther than a private car in this land. The missionaries, without re- pect to creed or party, are enthusi- astic over the religious influence of MT. Bryans tour of Japan: every where he committed himself unequi- vocally to the Christian position, and his addresses and printed comments on missions were published in native newspapers throughout the empire, as his biography and speeches had been i printed upon his appearance.
 Now the missionaries are talking of possible visit from President Roosevelt at the close of his term; he will be formally invited. and an emin- ent missionary now en route to America is charged with the mission i of representing to the President the attitude of the Japanese towards him. For there is no man, outside of the emperor and a few war heroes, who is so popular in this country today, with all classes of people, as Theo- dOre Roosevelt. Taking advantage of this, the missionaries have circulated widely, in Japanese, the address on the Bible delivered at Oyster Bay, and other religious utterances of the Presi dent. His letter to the interchurch Conference on Federation in New York was immediately printed by most of the Japanese dailies. Tn these ways it may fairly be said that President Roosevelt and Mr Bryan are more potent influences in the religious evolution of Japan than many professional missionaries com i bined.
 The Japanese Press and Religion.
 The use the latter make of these men I cite as evidence of their alert ness and broad-mindedness. Anoth- CT progressive plan which waits only special donation from America to put it into immediate execution is the use of the advertising columns of the daily Japanese newspapers for pur- poses of religious propaganda. Pub fishers of leading journals have agreed to place from one to two col umns a day at the disposal of the missionaries for the insertion of l Christian teaching in popular form. The expense of publication for year in a newspaper of 10000 daily circu- lation, including the preparation of the material, would be less than the salary of an ordinary preacher in America Only by this method, a leading missionary assured me today can the churches hope to reach great masses of people who will not attend Christian churches.
 Missionaries Not Crafters.
 Novel ideas in church work I found to be common in Japan. l heard con siderable here about the ''P. and R.. Building assOciation,' which inquiry showed is not a thrifty scheme for laying up money for a rainy day, as it is on the other side of the Pacific, but missionary enterprise by mis- sionaries Subscribers, chiefly mem- beYs of the missions, pay i've dollars a year for each share; then, whenever a native congregation needs help in putting up a church building, it ap- plies to the building association, which advances a sum equal to not more than one-third of the total cost of the structure. For each grant so made every shareholder is assessed ono dollar, the aggregate assessment for a year being limited to five dol lars. In return the shareholder gets the privilege of paying another ten dollars the next year!
 Considering the charge that the missionaries are "grafters," 1 am in- terested to find many evidences like this of the gifts by missionaries to their own work. l have met at least one wealthy man who supports him. self and contributes to his mission besides. Another prominent mission ary is maintained and the expenses of his work are paid by his brother, a well-known American manufacturers.
 Facing the Facts.
 Most of the missionaries here are Americans and Canadians, and it is gratifying to find that they seem still to retain their level-headedness. They are not fanatics. Their attitude is one of a sober confronting of the things as they are" They suffer no delusions concerning their work or concerning the Japanese To cite an