The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-01-05
working Of that resolution. or viii.

Japan a FIowery Kingdom.
This choice does not necessarily NEAR
that all must turn right about face and
go in the opposite direction to that il
which we have been going I am no
Il believer in the theory of mans tota
depravity. Wherever | travel l per
ceive marks Of sin, deprayity. human
imperfection. weakness, but | also per
ceiVc evidences Of good intentions, good
endeavors. noble resolves. :
is it NOT because sin ut the present
time is profitable, advantageous. pleas
urable, or seems to be one or all OF
these. that it is sought after. desired
and given so large n control in human
affairs?. Is not this true because We
are now under the domination of the
Prince of darkness, the Prince OF this
world, whom the Scriptures declare
shall be bound for Il thousand years
and deceive the nations no more, by
putting light for darkness?
When the deception shall pass away
and mankind shall see clearly the joys
and rewards of righteousness, will they
not prefer them? And if in that glo
rious Epoch right doing brings bless
ing and pleasure, and wrong doing
brings all the disadvantages and
stripes, may we not expect that the
majority Of humanity will seek right
eousness, seek harmony with God, and
thus seek the joys and blessings OF
Divine favor and everlasting life?
Ny brief stay in Japan has given me
a keen appreciation Of what the Japa.
nese have already attained as peo-
ple-entirely aside from Christianity
I perceive many things in Japan. close
" connected with your religious Gus
toms. which put to the blush certain
conditions prevalent in Europe and
America, where Christianity has been
dominant for centuries. We are to &C.
knowledge the good wherever we see
it. and so now freely acknowledge
that perceive amongst your people al,
esthetic taste, gentleness of demeanor
and a loyalty of heart which ] fully
appreciate, even though these quail
ties came to the japanese, not through
Christianity, but through Shintoism
and Buddhism. Indeed. I must apollo
gize for much Of the rudeness and
crudeness of the so!called Christian ma
tons, OF which you have heard through
your learned men and of which you
know something through contact with
the soldiers and sailors of these lands
who come to your ports.
] would have you understand that
tie teachings of Christianity cover
every form of courtesy. gentieness'
brotherly kindness and hospitality.
The very keynote Of Christ's instruc'
ton to His followers is lore. out of a
pure heart-and that each should, do
unto his neighbor as he would that his
neighbor should do to him. The fruits
and graces of the. Holy Spirit OF
Christ are prominently set forth in the
Bible-meekness, gentleness. patience
long suffering. faith. hope, JOY, love. =.
You should know, moreover, that,
while these qualities are very general
~ ignored amongst the representatives
Of Cbristendom, there are. neverthe-
less, faithful disciples Of Jesus who
study daily to put into practice all
these qualities marked by Divine ap-
prevail. The difference. seems to he
that these esthetic qualities or graces
i'm your land have become national
trait with the japanese, while in
Christendom, so-called, they are prac-
ticed only by proportionately small
number. the remainder rather boasting
OF and cultivating qualities the reverse
Of these. as more helpful in the battle
for life and for money which is mani,
fest everywhere among them. -.
Disaarees With Missionaries.
l find myself unable to agree with
the teachings of the missionaries
which have reached you, however hon
est some of them may have been.
Knowing that an essential feature OF
Shintoism is reverence for deceased
ancestors. many missionaries, / fear,
have done violence to your tenderest
feelings and most deeply seated con
yictions when they told YOU that your
ancestors, instead of being objects OF
worship. are damned of God and have
begun their experiences of torture
which will last to all eternity, because
they did not know and therefore did
not accept Jesus Christ as their Mes.
siah and Savior, and did not become
His followers. ~
l will not discuss the sincerity Of
these brethren in thus doing violence
to your most sacred and tender senti-
ments; / will merely say that to my
understanding they have misinterpret-
ed our great Creators Plan and the
explanation thereof furnished us in our
sacred Scriptures. Instead, IzgiSe you
the Bible Message. that your forefa-
theirs. whom you so deeply venerated,
are, according to the Bible. asleep IN
death. sweetly resting from all labor
strife. vexation and turmoil awaiting
the morning light of new Epoch.
That glorious period, when they will
be awakened and come forth under
more favorable conditions than the
present, under q reign Of righteousness
and to a clear knowledge Of the Truth,
is to be inaugurated by the coming OF
Christ. the worlds Messiah. He comes
to establish His Kingdom and to over
throw the Prince Of darkness. He
comes to break the shackles of igno-
rance and sin. sickness and death. and
to set mankind free FROM these. His