Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1909-06-18

thus, say the missionaries. 1t does
not thrive by the approval of cabinets,
or succeed by imperial edlcts. Tney
do not want official sanction or en-
dorsement; that would be as danger
Gus to the church as it was in Con-
st-ntine's day. Christianity is slowly
but steadily growing in Japan, and 1t
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 a personal, vital experience,
taking first place in the individuals
life, it will exert it's power and find
its place.
Thus all the plans of the govern
ment may be upset by the change in
belief and life of the people; and,
since the missionaries rely on the
supernatural aspect, which official
dom ignores, 1t 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 a tree that splits the rock, so
by its 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 a new set of moral ideals
how badly the west cannot possibly
understand Unquestionably, Chris
tianity is erecting these in large
body of the people. l 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 ev-l 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 ac-
complished are the mission schools
and the churches.
With respect to eleemosynary 1nsu'
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 emerg
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 is
undoubtedly true that the Christian,
or. say. the American conception OF
a home is only now being learned, and
that from the missionaries. The dis
ingenuousness 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 a 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, %, lis.
Roughly speaking, this means a Chris
tan force of 100000 persons, who
| look forward to the evangelization of
nation of 100000 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. All Methodist bodies formally
unite next May. The Episcopalians
and the Church of England are one.
The Congregationalists, United Breth-
rem aud Methodist Protestants are
uniting, as in America. Left to them
selves. the japanese Christians will
undoubtedly form one church, since
denominational 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
efforts.
copyright, 1907. by Joseph B. Bowles)
Precious Heritage.
Sweetness of temper is precious