The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-27

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
When this topic was framed there
were two nations; now there is but
one. By annexation Korea has become
part of Japan, losing her ancient iden-
tity.
However much opinions may differ
concerning the desirabillty Of ASiatic
coolie immigration, there can only
be one view with serious-miaded per-
sons as to the desirabiIitY and import
ance of welcoming students from the
East to the education of the West
Even on the low plane of comm ercial
sagacity, it is desirable that these fu-
ture rulers of China, Japan and Korea
should acquire a sympathy with our
institutions and ideals. and establish
alliances with our people. All the
bonds that diplomacy may weave will
not be so strong in binding us to the
Orient of the next generation, as would
be the simple fact that We had edu-
Gated her dominant spirits. Still more
important though is the social and re-
lig1ous aspect of this opportunity. This
is an unequalled chance to lay the
shaping hand of Christianity upon the
Eastern nations. The most direct, eff
mission work that Christian America
and Canada can do is to welcome to
their higher schools of learning the
students of the Far East.
Where Gods man goes, there God
goes also
counts as he deposits in the lives of
others. That way comes immortality
of influence. So men will read, so long
as Japan endures, the names of the
Christian missionaries who helped
make her a modern nation.
Not to convert men to western civ
ilization and Occidental fashions, but
to win them to Jesus of Nazareth, the
Oriental Christ, is the object of for
eign missions.
Fifteen years ago DIR. Samuel Moi
felt went to Pyeng Yang in Northern
Korea. with one Christian helper from
Seoul. The latter found an old friend
In Pyeng Yang, who came frequently
to call. Naturally the new religion
was frequently discussed. After some
do this doctrine"-"Doing this doc
trine" being a happy Korean phrase
for becoming Christian. To his
amazement DIR. Moffett's helper re-
Joined. You can't do the doctrine"
Not until after some discussion was
the point made clear to the inquirer
that unaided human power is unable
to live the Christian life. and that only
Christ can enable a man to do the
doctrine" The conviction gripped the
man, and he clearly laid hold upon
the strengthening grace Of Jesus, be-
coming the first convert in all that
wonderful group of Pyeng Yang be-
| levers.
There is probably more of sapping
and mining and besieging and flank
movements in the Christian war upon
| hon hoy no &c nf onf
frontal attack. The Book of Tactics
calls for farsighted skill as well as for
exhaustive patience.
| The japanese people have learned to
! sing, as a result of missionary teach
| ing. Korea and China are likewise
| learning. Much Christian truth has
been sung into consciousness of. the
non-Christian peoples. Literally, the
gospel has put a new song into the
mouth of the Orient.
! The first protestant missionaries in
Japan were Williams and Liggins, of
the American Protestant EPISCOPAL
church, who arrived in Japan in June,
1859; Hepburn. of the American Pres
byterian church, who arrived in Oc-
tober, 1859, and Verbeck, Of the Amer
lean Dutch Reformed church, who ar
rived in November, 1859.
DR.. Hepburn, who is still living, re-
Gently celebrated his ninetieth birth
day. The emperor of Japan has con-
ferred upon him the Imperial Order of
the Rising Sun, in recognition of his
valuable services to Japan.
The present period of progress in
Japan has markedly increased the
spirit of religious liberation. Chris
tan missions were never III so high re-
Dute as thew ara today Tho ralf1fou
OF the West mas had an opportunity to
prove itself in the East, and it has
done SO magni1cently.
The comparative slowness Of the
growth Of Christianity III Japan is by
some persons attributed to the fact
that for long period missionaries oc-
cupied themselves almost exclusively
with the upper and official classes. The