Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-01-06


Japan a Flowsry Kingdom.
This choice does not necessarily mean
that all must turn right about face and
20 IN the opposite direction to that In
which we have been going. J am not
a believer in the theory Of mans total
deprayity. Wherever 1 travel per-
ceIye marks Of sin, deprayity, human
imperfection, weakness but also per-
celve evidences Of good intentions, good
endeavors noble resolves.
Is It not because sin at the present
time is profitable advantageous, pleas
urable. or seems to be one or all or
these. that It IS sought after, desired
and given 80 large a 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 Lound for a 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 aud everlasting llfei
My brief stay in Japan has given me
a keen appreciation Of what the Japa-
nese have already attained as a peO-
ple-entlrely aside from Christianity
perceive many things in Japan, close
ly 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 ac-
knowledge the good wherever we see
It, and so now freely acknowledge
that | perceive amongst your people an
esthetic taste, a 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, | must apollo
gize for much of the rudeness and
crudeness Of the so-caled Christian ma
tlons, 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
the teachings Of Christianity cover
every form Of courtesy, gentleness,
brOtherly kindness and hospitality.
The very keynote of Chrlst's instruc-
tlon to His followers Is lore, out Of
pure heart-and that each should do
unto his nelghbor 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, genteness, patience.
long-sufferlng, faith, hope, Joy, love.
You Should know, moreover, that,
while these qualities are very general
ly ignored amongst the representatives
OF Chrlstendom, there are, neyerthe-
less, faithful disciples Of Jesus who
study daily to put into practice all
these qualities marked by Divine ap-
prOval. The difference seems to be
that these esthetlc qualities or graces
In your land have become national
trait with the japanese, while in
Christendom, so-called, they are prac-
ticed only by proportlonately small
number, the remainder rather boastlng
of ana cultlvating qualities the reverse
of these, as more helpful in the battle
for life and for money which Is mani
fest everywhere among them,
Disagrees 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
Shlntoism is reverence for deceased
ancestors, many missionaries, | fear,
have done violence to your tenderest
feelings and most deeply seated con
yictlons 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 aud therefore did
not accept Jesus Christ us their Mes
siah and Savior and did not become
His followers.
| 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 mlslnterpret-
ed our great Creators Plan and the |
explanation thereof furnished us In our
sacred Scriptures Instead, | give YOU
the Bible Message that your forefa |
Tiers, whom you so deeply venerated. |
are, according to the Bible. asleep IN
death, swectly resting from all labor,
strife, vexation aud turmoil, awaiting
the morning light Of new Epoch.
That glorious period, when they win !
be awakened and come forth under
more favorable conditions than the
present, under Il reign of righteousness.
ana TO 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 Uc