The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-05-16

l1anchuria by the Y. M. C. A., with
contributions given at first in the
main by interested Americans, but
later, with equal generosity, by the
Japanese themselves. Long ago reli-
gious liberty was officially granted;
but it takes more than an imperial
edict to alter the attitude of people
and their atmosphere, SO to speak.
Despite the exaggerated reports in the
past of Japans having been won to
Christianity, it has remained true, un-
til this war, that missionaries have
encountered many definite obstacles,
as we'll as hostile spirit not infre-
quently displayed
Emperor Strikes Blow at His Own
Deity.
The most remarkable outcome of
the work which is herein described,
was the gift of the emperor of 10000
yen ($5.0OO) towards the army work
of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation. What this means the west
ern world can scarcely comprehend.
1t has given face" to the whole move
ment All possible criticism has
been stilled by it. The Young Mems
Christian Association has been identi-
fed with the national life. Followed,
as it was, by the empress gift of
5000 yen to the Okayama orphanage,
a Christian institution, with a pledge
of 1000 yen each year for five years,
the impression made upon the Jap
anese mind has been profound. A
man who keeps posted upon affairs
at the capital, Rev. Dr. John H. De
Forest, assures me that, so far as he
can learn, the emperor has since
made no gift to any Buddhist OBJ
iect.
The curious feature of this extraor-
dinary episode is that it is like an
idols putting lighted dynamite
bomb under its own pedestal. At
least that is the way it strikes west
erner. For the emperor of Japan is
considered deity by the vast ma
jority of his subjects. His picture is
the most popular figure in the ma
tons pantheon. Yet here he in
dorses and supports an avowedly
Christian movement, which, If sue.
cessful, must overthrow all other wor-
ship than that of the Christians God.
Truly, among the innumerable anom-
alous conditions in modern Japan this
is not the least anomalous.
Americans to the Front.
AS is generally known, the Y. NC.
"A. work in Japan was planted and is
fostered by the international commit
tee, having its headquarters in New
York. With skill which some older
missionaries find it difficult to emu
late, the American association even
have kept themselves in the back
ground and have put the work entire
ly in the control of the Japanese; yet
the American secretaries are still
here, and recognized by their native
associates as real leaders in the work
The associations that exist in Toxic,
Osaka, Nagasaki, Kioto and Kobe
have American as well as native Sec
retaries. 1t was American alertness
that prompted the offer to the gov
ernment at the outset of the war, by
the national Y. M. G. A. of a work
for the army similar to that among
American and British soldiers.
All sorts of organizations and
agencies and persons wanted to go to
the front. Religious bodies were
especially eager But, like the war
correspondents, they were kept wait
ing. the Y. M e. A. among them. In
deed, 1t had been said that the opposi-
tion to Christianity in the army had
been pushed to the vsry limit of treaty