The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-12-25
Japan's Christianity.

90 II appears that Japan is not likely
70 become Christian nation after all.
~ the opinion of writer in Hampton S
magazine the SIr ure religion" of that
pre- is destined to be rationalism. a ra-
Ilolallsm having for it's foundation
strictly scientific rC>earch and scientific
reasoning. Efforts to establish Chris
tiahlty among these pagans have failed
Notwithstanding the willingness at one
time by leading men of the empire to
nave Christianity established as the
state religion. 1t is said by DR.. Thorn
as h. Green, noted traveller, that the
experiment was made some years ago.
some OF the Japanese statesmen be-
came Christians with the avowed pur-
pose OF ascertaining what the results
would he and what benefit would be
gained by its adoption as the religion
OF the state. 1t was the intention to
nave the crown prince adopt Chris
llanlty in order that with the accession
OF the next emperor Japan would be-
come Christian power This pro-
gram, however, has been abandoned
from what the writer in Hampton's
says we gather that the lack of unity
among Christian churches is what
caused the failure. Here is what he
says on this point: Fad we been
able two decades ago to approach
Japan with a Christianity united in
It's operation, agreed in its dogmas,
one In its structure, this story would
not nave been written. Had we pos
sessed united religion instead OF
one hundred and fifty-seven different
sorts and kinds of religion-even
though much of our practical morality
might not have consistently conceded
with much of our theoretical doctrine
irrl,%
carried out" Thus, it is in vain that
the Christian sects appeal to the pa
gan nations. There are so many varl-
etles, so many brands" of Christani-
~ on the market, that the reasoning
pagan finds Christianity unreasonable.
Is he far wrong? The SectS calling
themselves Christians are forever di-
vlding up and disintegrating since the
beginning of Professionalism. This has
been going on and will go on no mat
ter how many Bossuets arise to write
the History of the Variations" AL
this moment in the Philippine islands
the Protestant sects are hard at work
trying to Convert a Catholic PEG
pie to Methodism, to Prebyterianisln
and to all the other isms which have
spruN up since Martin Luther, Hen
ry thy Eighth and John Calvin start.
ed the business of setting up new and
false religions. If Japan ever be-
comes Christian nation it will be "a
Catholic nation, for here is a Chris
ianity united in its operation, agreed
in its dogmas, one in its structure"
The sects are always tIaring down
while they pirate about building up.
Cardinal Moran of Sydney, New
South Wales, recently celebrated his
S0th birthday, and all the papers of
the British possessions are devoting
whole pages to the event, and one of
them says: Visit where you will, and
in every town and city of Australia,
you feel his remarkable influence He
has been a captain of men as well as
shepherd of his flock, serving his coun-
try while he served his Church. As an
patriot alone, his twenty
five years in this country have been of
more service to US than the gold in our
mines. Add to his patriotic record his
wonderful achievements for religion
education and charity-his inspiring
leadership of the whole Catholic body
and can people wonder that the wells
Of love, loyalty and gratitude in the
Catholic heart overflow at the very
thought of him ?"-Canadian Freeman