The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-07-12

| baptism, and q few Christian cooks
and emblems. The ways in which
this was done were most ingenious.
Sometimes crosses and pictures Of
the Virgin were placed in shrines, and
then locked. Over the door of the
shrine was placed q warning that
it must never be opened. Here for
two centuries Christian and heather
worshiped, the latter of course, all
| ignorantly. Certain of these shrines
became, with the passage of time, ia
vorite places of worship, and as clear
belief passed into dim tradition, no.
body knew definitely to whom these
shrines were erected, or why. Some
of the favorite Japanese deities have
since proved to be Christian personal
tiles! Only with the spening of
many shrines in receEs rears has
the real nature of their contsnts been
| discovered.
This momentous chapter of yeli-
gious history has several bearings,
but at the present critical period in
Japan's religious life it is an impor.
tant evidence to the fidelity of the
ton whether the native Christians
will hold out, should missionaries de
part, have only to read this unparal-
lelled page of the church's annals to
learn lesson in heroism and stead.
fastness that is nothing less than
thrilling.
Persecution and Prosperity.
Lulled into sense Of security by
the coming of the missionaries, the
Christians openly avowed themselves.
But in 1868 the present emperor re.
iterated the ancient Christian
edicts, in the following proclama.
tons:
"The evil sect, called Christian, is
strictly prohibited. Suspicious per.
sons should be reported to the proper
officers and rewards will be given"
with respect to the Christian sect,
the existing prohibition must be
strictly observed. Evil sects are
strictly prohibited"
For several years the Christians
who refused to forswear their faith
were again called upon to pass
through the fires of persecution.
They were exiled and imprisoned and
tortured to the number of more than
100000 again paying 'the last
full measure of devotion" Full re-
ligious liberty was granted, however,
in 1873, and since then the Roman
Catholic church has made remarkable
progress in Japan, especially among
the poor and lowly, to whom it has
particularly ministered.
There are 243 Roman Catholic mis-.
sionaries in Japan, all members of
the Society of Jesus, and practically
all French. Some antagonism was
shown to them during the late war,
because of Frances alliance with
Russia, but this was generally over.
come by the tact of the missionaries
themselves. The self-sacrifice and
zeal of these men is praised by every.
body. A frequent subject of remark
is the manner in which they share
the poverty of the natives among
whom they live. One of the fathers
himself says on this point:
The mission requires that it's
workers should live according to the
precepts of evangelical poverty, and
so, aside from lodging, it allows only
% yen ($11.50) month to Euro
pean missionaries. 1t is misery to
those who have no private means.
Nevertheless, there are several who
must content themselves with this pit.
lance and live on such modest re-
sources. Strange to relate, it is just
these last who succeed best in evan
gelization. The Japanese people, be-
ing themselves poor, listen more read
lily to an apostle who lives life Of
privation than to one who has a
modest competence" Repeatedly I
have heard the contrast made be-
tween the style of living adopted by
the Roman Catholics, and that of the
Protestant missionaries, and always
in favor of the former.
Nuns came in 1872, and their first
postulant, as also the first nun to die,
was a young woman named Kataoka,
known as SISTER Margaret" who was
"the sister and daughter of mar
tyrs," and whose death was has
tened by the ill-usage she had en-
dured as a child in Jail, where she
saw her father executed for his faith.
The Cistercian Trappists, whose or
der dates from the twelfth century.
have two colonies, one of monks and
one of nuns, in the northern island of
Yezo, not far from Hakodate. These
are all engaged in agriculture, and
their farms are regarded as models
by the Japanese government. Their
time is divided between prayer and
farm work. They arise at two a. M.
During several hours daily they OBJ
serve the rule of silence.
Of Roman Catholic churches in
Japan-usually more prepossessing in
appearance than the Protestant
there are 145, with SS5 preaching sta
lions in addition. The membership is
now $4,000, ministered to by 243