The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-08
BUDDHlSTS PLAN ] PAGA710N OF
 FAITH IN CHINA
Church in Japan Undertakes Great Religious Campaign
 With Zeal.

Tolxfo, Oct. s.-There is increasing
 evidence that Japanese Buddhists are
 to undertake propagation of the faith in China with greatly renewed zeal The movement is one of several dem onstrations with which the Japanese people are trying to emphasize their Rational spirit, in connection with the forthcoming ceremonies of acces- sion of the Emperor Yoshihito, and the movement is singu1arly note worthy because it was through China and Korea that Buddhism came to Japan.
 The force of Japanese missionaries in China has already been increased. and the cam paign for further mis- sfonary work is in full swing. The movement is frankly explained as both religious and political Japan has apparently come to the realiza- ton that her missionaries can ac- comp1ish great things in spreading the infiuence Of Japan in China and in impressing in a. friendly way the desires of Japanese to increase their prestige there
 The Buddhfstic leaders, especially the progressivess contend that the propag agation of religion in China has been monopolized too much by Chris
  csc The object of Buddhistic pro- pagation in China should be attained, they declare, on the principle of hu- n1anity and charity.
 The Buddhist views have been set forth in a memorial which has. been presented to the government and to every member of the Diet. It points out that the western powers, reaIiz- ing the great importance of grasping 1eaf extending their rights and interests in China. are giving every protection to their missionaries. For the exten-y sion of her religious propagation the Buddhists emphasize the fact that Japan is in very convenient position Geographically. Nevertheless neither eOvernrnent nor publicist seems to lave attached any importance to the matter The attention of public spirited men has been too much con centrated on the material side of Japanss interests; not enough men have turned their attention to the spiritual side of Japan's interests. represented by the extension of re-. lie1on in China
 The memorial goes on to affirm that the past efforts Of the Buddhists have not been appreciated, and have prov ed of little avaiE Enormous sums of money had been expended in erect ing religious headquarters in China and in sending missionaries to that country Noble leaders had penetrat- ed into the far interior and not a few had perished there as martyrs to the cause of Buddhism
 In conclusion the manifesto appeals tc~ the government to help tstfle great work of propagation, believing 1t cer- tain to lay a strong foundation for the establishment of permanent peace i'm the Far East and the happier re- 1ationshfp between the Japanese and Chinese peoples
 A good deal of interest has also been created by a manifesto issued by the Nfchiren sect, the most radi- cal and zea1ous sect of Buddhism The tract is couched in unusual terms and bears the heading::s
 Japan will soon be destroyed Sound the alarm !-Eound the Alarm !''
 The Japan Evangelist which is the organ of the Christian workers here. publishes a translation of the tract with the comment that it slstains the reputation of the NicIiren sect that 1t possesses zeal without knowledge.' The pamphlet declares:4 The. people of Japan are proud of their heavenly origin but behold, before the God of Christianity, the holy Emperor who is great god and holy, and the one lord in the universe, is slandered as a child of sin,' and is regarded as being without any authority in the sphere os nlorality.s The manifesto continues:
 ..H is not true that Christian thought which threatens to destroy and grind into the dust our incom- parable and supreme Japanese na-# tionaIity is now spreading throughout all classes? Truly this is a sign that reveals the spiritual downfall of the Japanese state. If there is in us a drop of loyalty to the emperor how can we be indifferent to the pre- Esumptions of these eretfcs? The true followers of our national saint rNiehierem. perform his VOW in which he said. sK will be a pillar of Japan. IT will be eyes for Japan. will be tthe great ship of salvation Of Japan 7 The tract concludes with a trumpet call to protect the nation by a deeper study and truer practice of N1chiren's doctrines,