The Elbert County tribune., 1907-05-23

CIV PiaeAitaitg independent ne
American board makes to them an
annual grant of money for specific
term of years. at the end of which
time. II is presumed, the churches will
have become self-supporting. The en-
tire independency movement faces to-
ward the day when the Japanese
churches will be "self-governing. self
supporting and self-propagating." The
missionaries of the American Board
very generally yield themselves to the
counsel of their japanese associates
One man told me the other day that.
in council with the native pastors,
they had assigned him his work 70.
the coming year. He says that he
finds this relation perfectly satisfac-
tory and that the attitude of the jap
anese is in no wise dictatorial. but
that all are together seeking the one
end of the works welfare.
The Japanese Type of Christianity.
All this Is no mere racial jealousy
1t goes deep. Are the Japanese quail
fed for ecclesiastical self-government,
as they have proved their fitness for
political self-government? Akin to
this is the consideration whether a
mission land is forever to remain a
mission land. nurtured by outside
agencies. The native church in Japan
covers the entire empire. II has many
self-supporting congregations, and
powerful leaders not a few 1t Is said
that in remote government schools
where there was not single Chris
uan. the students are nevertheless
divided into Uenura and Ebana camps
these latter being the names of the
preachers who are the leaders of two
parties in the churches. whose vigor-
Gus newspaper controversies are ia
miliar to wide constituency The
Japanese church has an established
foreign mission work of its own in
Formosa and Korea
have been at pains to inquire as TO
the character of Japanese Christians.
On all sides | hear that the intelligent
devotion of Japanese Christians to
the central truths of Christianity is
unquestioned. Whatever the outcome
of the present controversy. the native
church will remain loyal to the teach
ings which 1t has had from the mis-
sionaries. | personally have seen con
gregations of Christians here. of sew
eral denominational names. whose de-
votion and sincerity was apparent to
any observer. A riper or more sanity
character 1t would be hard to find
than one old blind man with whom
talked. who has been through long
persecution for the sake of his faith.
Undoubtedly, too. Christianity has
come to have recognized place in
the life of the nation. 1t is a 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 | have thus far
talked freely concede at least an i'm
portant place in Japanis future to
Christianity; while Christian authors.
like Matsumura. confidently declare
that 1T 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 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 | 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 1t 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 1t appears reason.
Japan many years without having
learned the language. or acquired the
Japanese viewpoint, or attained sym
pathetic and fraternal relations with
the native Christians. should consider
himself called to some more congsaial
field of labor. A recent issue of Mis-
sion News" a monthly published in
Kobe in the interests Of the Ar-eri.