Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-01
BY BISHOP
w. A. GAMBLER

ments and convictions are asserted
publicly or at the ballot box.
This case of General Nogfs sui
eide suggests several things which
we should lay to heart For one
thing il is evident that the religion
of Japan has a most intimate con-
nection with the political institu-
tons and habits of the japanese
The abolition of extra-territorial
jurisdictions in the old port cities
of the Japanese empire was perhaps
premature, but nevertheless 1T is an
accomplished fact. 1t means that
Americans and all foreigners are
to be tried in unmixed Japanese
courts in which men sit as pagan
in religion and as determined in
purpose as General Nogi. In issues
OF life. liberty. and property our
nationals in japan, and the ma
tionals of other governments must
submit to the authority of tribunals
not one whit better than the courts
of pagan Rome in the days Of the
emperor
We have gone too far, not to go
lurther. Having agreed that Japan
shall stand among the modern ma
tions on the same basis as the
christian powers. Japan must be-
come christian in life really and
truly, or much injustice and in
jury be done the world.
Japan's present position is higher
than the level of her moral and
religious life Tt behooves the
churches, therefore. to press mis-
sionary work in the empire of the
Mikado to the end that the lap
anese may not become peril to
themselves and menace to man
kind They have the arms or
christendom and they know how to
use them. They must now have
the motives of the christian relig-
ion or their progress in science and
warfare will become a danger to
the world Men who can coolly
commit suicide to honor the MEM
DRY of a deceased emperor will not
hesitate to march into the very
jaws Of death to serve a living SOW
ereign.
There is a new world in the Far
East, and it can not be safely DOM
mated and directed by the ancient
faiths. The new era calls for new
and greater men such as the old
religions can not produce. The en-
peror who has recently passed away
called the period in which he
reigned 'the era of enlightenment
the new emperor has announced that
his reign shall be known as 1.-The
era of Justice" May II be so. But
if il is so, higher standards of eth
les must prevail in Japan than those
now prevalent. What will the fol-
lowers of Christ in our country do
in the face of the situation in ia
pan and the conditions existing
throughout the Orient2 Those great
heather nations are brought to our
very doors by the modern methods
of transportation and communica-
tion. 1t lacks a good deal of being
a hundred years, since Commodore
Perry opened the doors of Japan
to the outside nations. Who would
then have dreamed that in 1912 our
government would send the secre-
tary of state as the personal repre-
sentative of the president to attend
at less than sixty years of age)
whose father sat on the throne
when Perry's fleet sailed into the
Japanese ports? How significant
are all these events as they hurry
to yet more meaningful things ahead
of us.
The whole world is swiftly
changing. Christianity must run
to the uttermost parts of the earth.
as rapidly as science and commerce
and the arts of war are running.
Missionary work must move faster.
or disasters will overtake us
speedily.