Evening journal., 1911-05-27

Ionic for sunday, May y, MISSIONS
IN Japan aud Korea. Acts Il;
iii.
Our Missionary topic for this month
is Japan and Korea. two countries
That havc recently become ono, and
which will i'm the course OF Few
wears be ono Of the leading nations OF
ihe world Ten or fifteen years ago
japan was hardly noticed by the other
nations. but since the war with Rus
sia. she has become a nation TO be
rcckoned with
The question is often asked, What
is tho secret of Japan's success? Why
is Il that she has risen in ten or nj
teen years 10 become one OF the lead
inr nations?" Many things are the
cause of this, principal Of which IS
their Christian way of living and their
willingness and ability TO learn. ia
nan is today considered one OF the
hest educated nations OF the world.
II has been frequently said that there
is no more open minded people on
earth than the Japanese. We all
know how backward Japan was when
Commodore Perry visited them a half
century ago. Look at her now. NO
other nation has made the progress
Japan has made I'm fifty years And
il is because she is so open minded
and willing to learn from any and
every one who has anything TO teach
The children are anxious for knowl-
edge and will do most anything 20
get a chance 10 learn. DR.. Clark
tells a story about the last time he
visited Japan. While he was waiting
for the boat TO sail for San Francisco
Japanese youth came up the gang
plank and besought him 10 take him
to America that he might get an
American education DR.. Clark says
he was an utter stranger TO him, but
was we'll dressed and of good man.
nore He was so anxious for DIR.
Clark to take him that he would do
anything for him, be his servant
black his boots, anything, IL he might
only be taken 10 America and given
n chance to study. Dr. Clark says
the boy was so earnest In his en-
treaties that it was very hard TO say
"No."
Christianity ia Japan began at the
ton and came down, that is TO say, al
the start most OF the converts were
from the best Japanese families, unit
now II has reached the masses. II Il
said that there are more than a mil
lion Christians in the Japanese En-
pire The Japanese people have ;
real and definite desire 10 reach ou
toward a better day and state o
things. Just at the present time ia
nan Il in a state of unrest which
might be compared TO the might,
rivers. There is noise and unrest
and turmoil and confusion and strife
Many Japanese look on Jesus Christ
as their ideal. The sermon on the
mount compels their admiration and
assent. A professor Of the Tokyo
University recently computed the
number Of those who took Jesus as
their model as one million. But not
yet DO these look on him as the source
OF power that makes for righteous
ness in life. Whence that power comes
IS yet an indefinite idea with them.
We can sec what Christianity is doing
for Japan by noting the recent
changes there.
Fifty years ago, II a famine occur
red IN one province, it would receive
no help from the other provinces In
the Empire. So changed have mat
ters become in this respect that when
San Francisco met her recent dis.
aster, the stricken city received 5000
eeo from Japan for her relief. TODAY
no people handle a famine withir
tfeir own borders in a more scientif,
and successful manner than the Sun
rise Kingdom. The same Christian
spirit has revealed itself in numerou