The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-11-14
DAP SPECULATION
on Christianity
b tie Present Form The
Final One, Baron
Goto Asks.

5QIl tGuS Japanese SsSA@-S'
i.te the ideas OF the occident and
bend them to his own needs and pur-
poses much has been written, but the
5ap as q bold and independent think
81 about western philosophers and re-
liEions Is practically unknown IN TINS
country. There probably will be much
popdiar interest therefore in report
81 speech Baron Shimpei Goto, OF
ToIgio. Japan, made at dinner given
lin by the Presbyterian board OF
foreign missions In New York which
vas printed In recent number OF
tho Missionary Review Of the World
The outstanding points in that address"
are as follows:
II embrace this opportunity to
speak Of three points regarding Chris
ian missionary work in japan. ~
What Christianity has done in Japan.
f2j What japan has done for Chris
Etahity, or rather our attitude towards
Id (3) What hope missionaries may
for our people.
eThe work Of Christian missions in
Jspan has not been properly recog-
lfized by our public men. This Is not
81 much from lack Of appreciation on
their part as from the fact that work
RI religious character is necessarily
wrought in silence and privacy. II
glll Justice Is impossible, we can still
bear witness to such labors as were
rot hidden under bushe!, but have
hem as lights shining before "an.
tIn no field OF activity, or enter
mise, have missionaries accomplished
more than in that of education. At
least to layman this has been most
apparent. In the carly seventies when
our government and people we're en-
crossed i'll reimbursement, both II home
and IN foreign relations, and You
could pay but scant attention to the
an important question. Of education,
missionaries rendered inest.Gab.n
service, especially in the lines then
most neglected by us--the education
of women and of the poor. Even after
our school system was more or less
perfected, they continued to make
good deficiencies in our general
soheme OF Instruction. We own, with
no small sense OF shame, that the
country cannot satisfy all the de-
mands for education among our own
people,
Among the late Emperor's five ar
ticles of oath, which were practically
the Magma Charta Of new Japan, it
was stated that the low, as well as
the high, should have their desires sat
Isfied, and no desire has been strong
.er with both than that for education.
This, Sot course, not only means the
expa ion Of the soul, but the less
SPIT opening Of careers. The gov
Il has by no means neglected
3 schools, but has never been able
to keep pace with the growing needs.
Only last spring Parliament voted
some 40, 100000 yen and the Emper-
or ave out Of his own private purse
10,000.Q00 yen more for tie erection
OF higher institutions of learning
Even then the intellectual demands
pf young Japan cannot be adequately
met We must for some time depend
upon private enterprise and upon mis-
sionary efforts to remedy the insult
ficieney. AS to the education of wom-
en-, missionaries have been pioneers
incur country.
.'But missionary activities are in
no way confined to strictly religious
and educational lines. What they
have done and are doing in the field
Of philanthropy is comparatively lit
tle known. AS ! have myself always
been interested in public charities, I
have watched with peculiar interest
the development of Christian effort in
this line. The many institutions con-
nected with church organizations,
started with the purpose of assisting
the poor, of comforting widows and
orphans, are innumerable. Their en-
deaFor TO overcome moral and physl-
cal degradation-sucn as prostitution
on one hand and tuberculosis on the
other-may well serve as an example.
The Salvation Army is constantly
widening its sphere Of work, while
the Young Mems Christian Assocla-
ton and Young Wonsn Christian
Association are contributing val
liable quota to the uplifting of our
youth and the anticipation of social
miseries.
II am well aware that with all that
Americans may have achieved in ed
ucation and philanthropy, they are
not satisfied unless they have at the
same time brought our people to
Christ.
The Oriental mind is vague and
abstract Christianity has been pre-
scented to US in so concrete, definite
md exact a form, that it has been
unacceptable to US. l have read the
Nov Testament and / have sometimes
wondered how Christianity came to
assume It's present form, and then l
begin to doubt whether this is its
tinal form. Christianity, like any or
ganic body, will, under varying condi-
& ions, take forms fit for the time anu
place Of its woFR. 1t may thus be-
K come more local in color; but the un-
lEeEsal and the infinite can best mani
lest Itself In the finite, definite, in or
der to be comprehended by beings
hat are themselves limited in power.
the Great Being has been speak
lng to Us in different languages. HI
6as been manifesting Himself to us
IA different forms. Shuttle off the
rStment In which He is clothed by