The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-05-23

tnan one OLD 0llnd man With whom l
talked, who has been through long
persecution for the sake of his faith.
Undoubtedly, too, Christianity has
come to have a recognized place in
the life of the nation. 1t is factor
in the present thought and develop
ment of Japan which no Japanese
leader pretends to ignore. Broadly
speaking, there is now no hostility to
Christianity; yet yesterday saw one
, of the old edict boards which so years
ago decorated the highways, threat
ening with death any one accepting
Christianity or harboring a Christian.
All of the many Japanese writer's and
teachers with whom l have thus far
talked freely concede at least an i'm.
portant place in Japan's future to
Christianity; while Christian authors,
like Matsumura, confidently declare
that it is bound to swallow up Budd-
hism and Shintoism. Japanese Chris
tians are beginning to have their own
schools and orphanages, supported by
themselves, as well as their own re.
ligious books and periodicals.
Why No More Missionaries.
The foregoing is an endeavor to
give a clear glimpse of a situation
that seems to be understood very
slightly in America. Back here one
hears echoes of fervid reports of
"Japan's Religious Awakening" and
"Japan's plea for missionaries" Over
these l 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 declared
openly that no more new missionaries
should be sent here until the present
problematic situation has been ad.
justed. 1t may be that some men al.
ready here will have to return home.
To mere observer it appears reason.
able 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 fraterHal relations with
the native Christians, should consider
himself called to some more congenial
field of labor. A recent issue of Mis-.
sion News" monthly published in
Kobe in the interests of the Ameri.
can Board Mission, contained these
striking sentences: "The time for
'eXtra-territoriaI Christianity in Japan
is rapidly drawing to an end, if it is
not already passed. Missions and mis-.
sionaries are being tested. They have
accomplished 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 opportunity that
is theirs ?''
On this last point the Japanese are
quite insistent. They say the new day
demands new kind of help from
America Instead of men to do preach.
ing and teaching-for which some as.
sert there are now sufficient qualified
Japanese-they want men of the char.
1
Cuthbert Hall, of Union Seminary,
New York, who made a pronounced
impression during his recent visit to
Japan. They want statesmanlike
leaders, men of large culture, great
learning and broad sympathies. The
best that America has in the way of
teachers and pastors may proftably
be sent to Japan to lead her native
leaders and inspire her native inspir.
erS.
In the meantime the majority of
missionaries, as we'll as many Japan
ese, declare that Japan still needs the
missionaries. The native church is
not strong enough, either in men or
money, to go it 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 lat.
ter, as a nation, have learned new
ideas of trusteeship. He cited the
case of a treasurer who used trust
funds to pay his fathers debts, saying
naively that his obligations to his
father took precedence to all other OBJ.
legations. On the other hand, some
missionaries assert that such charges
are the mere race prejudice of the
white man.
Out of the confusion of hundreds of
conflicting opinions upon this all-ab
sorbing topic of Japanese ecclesiastic
al independence, have gathered at
least one conviction, namely, that SO
long as the present state of uncer
tainty and turmoil exists, the Ameri
can missionary organizations would
do we'll to send no more young preach.
ers to Japan. although the field for
unordained teachers is large.