The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-07-19

L
a Christian nation. This confidence
on the part of the Christians is rather
inspiring; they have the faith Of their
creed.
Missionaries are quick to point out
the weakness of the official predict.
ions. The latter are all based on the
assumption that Christianity may be
treated as an entity, and dealt with
as the government would deal with a
monetary system, or a naval code.
| Christianity may not be considered
thus, say the missionaries. 1t does
not thrive by the approval of cabinets,
or succeed by imperial edicts They
do not want official sanction or en-
| dorsement; that would be as danger
Gus to the church as it was in Con-
stlntines day. Christianity is slowly
but steadily growing in Japan, and it
| will continue to grow increasingly, by
being accepted as the personal belief
of individuals. It's appeal is not to
men in the mass, but to men one by
one. AS personal, vital experience,
taking first place in the individuals
life, it will exert its power and ind
it's place.
Thus all the plans of the govern
ment may be upset by the change N
belief and life of the people; and,
since the missionaries rely on tue
supernatural aspect, which official
dom ignores, it may come to pass that
even the next emperor will be
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
that Christianity will never conquer
Japan, the statesmen will confess to
their perplexity over moral and social
conditions in the country. Japan
needs badly new set of moral ideals;
how badly the west cannot possibly
understand. Unquestionably, Chris
tianity is erecting these in large
body of the people. 1 have been at
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 even the Buddhist
priests. The place of women must
be radically changed if Japan is to
rank with the civilized nations; ad>
mittedly tho most potent force in
effecting the alterations already &C.
complished are the mission schools
and the churches.
With respect to eleemosynary instf-
tutions-the care of the insane, of
lepers and other incurables, the re-
form of incipient criminals, the pro-
vision for orphans and destitute, the
display of kindness to dumb crea-
lures, etc.-Japan has scarcely emers.
ed from barbarism. Practically every
advance in these particulars has been
made by the missionaries. Despite
endless twaddle that has been written
about the Japanese home life, it 10
undoubtedly true that the Christian,
or, say, the American conception Of
home is only now being learned, and
that from the missionaries. The dis
righteousness 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 part
of the thousands who are accepting
the bible standard of conduct.
The Situation as 1t Stands.
So far as figures may do so, the
missionary situation in Japan may be
set forth very briefly. There are 80
denominations, or organized religious
bodies, doing work in Japan. These
maintain a force of $50 white mis-
sionaries and 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,S62, including catachu-
mems; in the Roman Catholic church,
59,437 and in the Greek church, 29,115.
Roughly speaking, this means a Chris
tan force of 100000 persons, who
look forward to the evangelization of a
nation of 45,000,OO0 people. While
Japan is not going to become Chris
tian in a day, she has made 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. AL 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