The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-18
OrientaIs Have Curiously
Misinterpreted The
Christian Religion
Think IT POLITICAL
Little Real Religious
Headway Has Been
Made in East
Ry PAUL N. WILSON
N, e. A, Staff Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. Nov. IS
Christianity as a religion is not
making, and probably will not make
for a long time to come, any ap-
preciable headway in the Orient.
But as a misconceved political
system, Christianity is taking enor'
nous strides among the Japanese
and Chinese where It is belnS
taught by American and English
missionaries, according to Charles
A. Trumbull, editor Of the Sunday
School Times, Philadelphia, VINO
has Just returned from the Inter
national Sunday School Convention
held in Tokyo, Japan, recently:
Japanese are looking upon Chris
tianity as similar in purpose to
that Of the two major political
parties OF the United States. Ac-
cording to Trumbull the Japanese
reason that since the Americans
and British are Christians and
have become such powerful ma
tions, the acceptance OF Christian
ity will bring like result for the
Japanese.
This profession Of Christianity, says
Trumbull Is only superficial, and
would fall away within twenty-four
hours in case of international cris-
Is, with the nominal converts drop
ping back to their fundamental and
traditional Buddhism, Shtntoism and
Confucionism.
This misconception OF Christiant-
ty's true purpose Trumbull ascribes
to- the conduct of many Americans
living in the Orient. With very few
exceptions, he says, Americans in
that part of the world soon reach
the moral standard prevailing there
so that Japanese are justified in
accepting as true Christianity the
practices with which they are ia
miliar.
The delegates to the convention
were very cordially received by the
Japanese, says Trumbull. 1t was
looked upon in Japan primarily as
political gathering and means
Of gathering ard means of bring
ing about better relations between
the two countries. In an address
the president Of the Japanese
House Of Peers said that he was
glad to welcome the visitors be-
cause the event presaged better
good feeling; that it was not nero
ly Christian propaganda but the lar
ger religion of humanity.
Although no open antagonism
was expressed by the leaders OF
the non-Christian religions in
Japan, and although these leaders
were accepted at the convention,
Trumbull says keen competitive en-
tertainmens were conducted by
Oriental religionists. When co.
900 Japanese Christian children pa
raded the streets OF Tokyo, rival
parade was engineered by the Bud
dists, with even more juvenile par
ticipants.
Chinese who have professed
Christianity absolutely refused to
attend the convention in Tokyo,
says Trumbuu, on account OF its
close connection with the politi-
cal life OF Japan. So severe was
the Chinese boycott on anything
Japanese that American missionar-
les who attended did so at the risk
of their further usefulness in
China.
Japanese officials though pro-
Tossing to be very much interested
in the welfare OF tho visiting dele
gates, refused to allow communi-
cation between the Americans ana
the Korean Christians when the
former made a tour Of inspection
through Korea. No Americans were
allowed to speak with the Koreans,
says Trumbull, on account of the
fear that the Koreans would d.
vulge some Of the atrocities they
assert are practiced upon them by
the Japanese.
Upon request of tho delegates
that they be allowed to see some Of
the Korean Christian Sunday
School children, says Trumbull, the
children were lined up alongside
Of the road for inspection, but
closely guarded with drawn swords
to prevent the children speaking
TO the delegates.
OF Chinese students in the Unit
ed States who have professed Chris
tianity before leaving their native
land, more abandon Christianity af-
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