Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1909-04-16

Manchuria by the Y. NJ c. A, with
contributions given at first E 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 a people
and their atmosphere, so to speak.
Despite the exaggerated reports in the
past of Japan's having been won to
Christianity, it has remained true. I'M
til this war, that missionaries have
encountered many definite obstacles.
as well as a 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 ($5,000) 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,
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
ject.
The curious feature of this extraor-
binary episode is that it is like an
IDOLS putting a lighted dynamite
bomb under it's own pedestal. At
least that is the way it strikes a west
erner. For the emperor of Japan is
considered a deity by the vast ma
jority of his subjects. His picture is
worshiped in the schoolrooms. He 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 anon
alous conditions in modern Japan this
is not the least anomalous.
Americans to the Front.
AS is generally known, the Y. M. c.
a work in Japan was planted and is
fostered by the international commit
tee, having its headquarters in New
York. With a 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
The associations that exist in Toxic,
Osaka, Nagasaki, Kioto and Kobe
lave American as well as native Sec
'etaries. 1t was American alertness
that prompted the offer to the gov
eminent at the outset of the war, by
the national Y. M. c. 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. c. A. among them. In
deed, it had been said that the opposi-
ton to Christianity in the army had
been pushed to the very limit of treaty
rights. While various self-esteeming
gentlemen of the press were being de-
ported for manifestations of their i'm.
patience, the association patiently
waited and worked. Finally its day
came. All other Christian enterprises
were debarred from the scene of war.
farce. But three representatives of the
Association, two Japanese and one
American, with their equipment, were
started for Antung. During two weeks
detention at chinampo they spent
their time in serving the garrison. So
when the three secretaries resumed
their journey it was with the cordial
endorsement of the commandment at
the latter place. At Antung the au-
thorities gave the best located build
ing in the city for the Y. M. G. A.