The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-03
CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN

priest named Ivan came to take charge
OF the consulate church., This same
the missionary movement for his
branch OF Christianity In Japan. While
his Japanese converts recognize the
Metropolitans OF the Orthodox Church
there Is but one foreign priest besides
the archbishop, and there are thirty
eight ordained Japanese priests besides
1874 evangelists.
Undoubtedly the Christian Church in
Japan has a greater influence In the
country to-day than the statistics Of
membership indicate. but It Is also true
that many Japanese who profesa adj
to Ghrisanity are stu large
thought. and the influence OF Shinto
with his ancestor worship Is mighty
In the Japanese mind. Notwfthstand-
ea s s and md deSoted Japaness ehrsl
,tians who are Arm in the belief that
there is. no other hope for the future
.of Japan than the acceptance OF the
religion OF the lowly Nazhrene-
Eminent Japanese who do not pro.
fess Christianity agree that the work
done In Japan by tho missionaries has
been OF great benefit to the Japanese
sope ea And has 6f ssa a hs u nearer
brotherhood Of man. The Japanese has
received from the American Protestant
missionary, especially. all that he need
ea 70 sau gt Modern to ken s step S s s
s!onary gave him education. gave him
medical Neutrality-suspicious. the adoption
OF Occidental medical science by the
Japanese--and instructed him In the
ways OF the outside world. Whether
the particular Japanese who received
these things did or did not accept the
religion preached by the missionaries,
|considerate. The missionaries and the
Japanese live together on terms ri such
close FELLOWSHIP that neither Will per-
nit criticism OF the other as a class
IT Is interesting as a historical study
to look into the early Christianity OF
Japan. In 15ia. more than $50 years
ago. that prince of missionaries. ST.
Kasper. arrived In Japan. They came
on the advice OF Japanese refugee
whom they had met at the Portuguese
colony of Goa. in India. They preached
the faith with all the feryor OF that
great age OF missions. and .Sith such
tsuccess tina. within forty years there
were 100000 Christians in the land. Just
!, twice as many as have been gained in
the last forty. years. The dtimyos or
tfeudal lords of one portion OF the coun-
try espoused Christianity, and it be-
came the popular religion among the
higher classes OF Central Japan.
But the Jesuits could not refrain
| from mingllng with politics. for a sep
aration between the spheres of church
and state was wholly incomprehensibia
Ito Europeans Of that epoch. Their ac-
ltivity in political afYairs became
the first sta or the Toknga asos family %ose
| last deposed scion is still living, began
to suspect them. The Protestant Dutcf,
| traders. who had obtained a slight ad-
vantage with the government. did not
a blow to their rivals. hated both be-
cause they were Catholics and because
| they were Portuguese. They told the
iShogun that the Jesufts had plotted to
Japan to the dominion OF Rome. That
Infatuated the Shotgun and he began to
| prosecute the Christians and prohibited
1.-THE profession OF the faith on pain of
Christians were slaughtered wholesale.
land in 1898 the religion was wholly
stamped out.
| 1t was e35 years afterwards that the
prohibition then placed upon Christian
tity. but It is said that when the first
missionaries slipped into the country
latter Perry opened IT. they found few
Church OF Rome. handed down to them
In secret by their forefathers.
Contrast the persecution Of that elder
day with the. tolerance Of this. Just
Russia there was meeting in Tokyo
,of the Association of Japanese Re-
ll!gionists. which passed resolution
Iiustifying Japan's position in the war
Side by side In this association were
lshintoists. Buddhists, Confuciansl and
.lChristians.. The organization was made
permanent under its comprehensive
little, and meets annually. When mobs
damaged some Christian churches In
Tokyo this association made good the
losses, intending thereby to emphasize
1.-THE fact that the riots were not re-.
rlliglous. and that the Shintoists and
4 nuddhtsts Of Japan are at peace with
1.-THE Christians.
tcopyright, 1905. by Frederic J.
Haskin.)
To-morrow-The Anglo-Japanese AL
slliance.
4 49,