Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-12-15

ton he added petty acts of dishonesty
practiced uon native ana foreigner
alike, he WAS sent home on a furlough
by the community he had scandalized
IN the eyes of the natives. Previous
10 that In spite Of efforts at conceal
ment, the attention of Japan, and In
fact the whole east was attracted TO
a shocking moral scandal affecting
the occupant Of a Yokohama pulpit,
But In an the foreign settlements of
Japan yonu hear such stories, which
together withsrumors and whispers of
suspicion eventually cauacs one TO be-
lieve, that the heather is actually
morally superior 10 his teacher in ev-
cry respect save one-tho art of rot
being easily found out.
In America the opinion largely pre-
walls, that the missionary is actuated
by the supremcst Of all altrulstic mo-
iyes; that he gives up all the pleas
ures Of life to aid the poor heather;
that he worries and s,arVes while di-
viding his pittance with the poor,
among whom he goes TO proffer suIh
consolation and sympathy as suffer
ing fellowship may suggest. But
coming on this side, one finds a quiet
contrary opinion prevalent among
people who are supposed 10 derive
so much benefit from our mission
aries. lie is told by the natives, tlat
the missionaries as "A class, are sell
fish, grasping set Of beggars; that
hny 1iupg V,ffa- 70
and spectators. He Is informed that
they occupy a very low social plane,
that they are held I'm contempt and
open scorn by the merchants and so
ciety in general. He Is assured upon
all sides by whites and natives alike,
that the native newspapers are now,
and always have been filled with ac-
counts Of the disgraceful conduct and
escapades Of those calling themselves
missionaries. This is not the talk of
the street or tavern, for the very elite
among society ladies turn up tn, jr
noses with whiffs of contempt, when
the thread-bare topic Of missionary
scandal is introduced. That this is an
extreme view, need not be emphasized
here. 1t is presented as a contrast to
the opposite extreme in America, The
truth lies between the two. That the
movement as a whole aas
done considerable good in an indirect
way Is what no unprejudiced observ-
er will deny. on the other hand
Incompetent, indiscreet fanatlcal and
the terror Of the cautious brother who
has learned after years of residence
among the japanese, how Thoughtful
and careful one must be to avoid CIV
ing offense to the customs and be-
liefs Of highly sensitive people. Af-
ter more than so years Of Christian
among this people, what
is the result? A mere handful Of So
called native Christians according to
Japanese accounts less than onP-
fourth of Christian estimates), and
whose belief at last is strange mkt ire
Of Christian precept and japanese
Question any nine out
Of ten of these so-called Christians,
ana they will answer: Yes, | be-
Iieye in all the Christian teaching, eX-
.epting its miracles. When ques-
TONED more closely YOU find they
la-, Other reservations; in fine they
alu accept e. D. 80 uUoh Of the i'm
.ol,oI bcNct 4a tAey fin reodirl to
and round Of the c.ef Of
heir fathers. This is distinctive
rait of this people, displayed in ev-
'ry line of thought and cNdeaVor For
o the mastery way in which foreign
customs and institutions, have been
iimplified and assimlated to suit
popular needs, the palm must go
without question to the japanese.
3ring a method, invention or discov-
,ry to Japan which the people can
Use to advantage, and you do not
iave to advertise and preach it, on
he contrary you can not conceal it,
md no patent or copyright ever de-
'ised, will protect you against them
lsing it in some form.
1t is not because they have not
ieard all about our religion and seen
,ur missionaries, that they refuse to
.ccept our belief, but rather because
hey have seen and heard enough to
atisfy them that their own belief is
,etter. Among the more ignorant
asses this opinion is further con-
irmed by the conduct of the foreign
'hristian merchant and business
nan, who always prefers to employ
he non Christian native in preference
o one protesting Christianity. You
night read the want columns Of the
ocal papers all your life and not see
IN ad where the native applicant for
my position in a foreign settlement
itates that he is a Christian. There is
Tot a Japanese in all Japan so igno-
ant but what he knows better than
hat. Ask tht japanese merchant why
his is so, and he tells you without the
slightest hesitation, that the naive
Christian, with very few exceptions Is
dishonest and unreliable. He will tell
'ou that japanese who are real Chris
ians are as scarce as hens teeth;
hat with nlnety-nine out Of one hum
lred Christianity is a pretense; that
business men have learned from sad
experience that the japanese who re-
lounces tn faith and customs of his
,.f nj