Ellsworth American., 1921-06-22

and maple leaves cannot be described
hungout, covering part of the ceiling,
while on each side of the entrance
staircase were banks of yellow and
white chrysanthemums. Flags of all
the nations represented were draped
artistically over the canopy outside
and in the lobby itself. The entire
theatre had been decorated for the oc-
casion, and tables had been put up in
every available room and bit of lobby
space for the dinner which was served
after the main part of the ceremonies
was completed
In opening the afternoons meeting,
Baron Sakatani, vice president of the
Patrons association, emphasized the
fact that Japan was glad to have at
this time the largest international
gathering ever held in that country.
He expressed the opinion that to him
the present World Sunday school con-
vention looked greater and more
respectable than the peace conference
which was held at Versailles after the
great war.
During his address, he said, Il am
not a Christian yet; but, thinking most
frankly and impartially, I do not hesi-
tate in the least to call your religion
the world religion, not national or
state religion. One great and funda-
mental cause which most strongly con-
tributes to the realization of the world
perpetual peace, which we all expect
and are most eagerly looking forward
to. is the unity of moral and religious
sentiment among the whole people of
the earth. To attain this unity, we
must have one common world religion
which is believed in all parts of the
world in more or less degree. We, the
people of the whole world, regardless
of race or religion must rejoice at the
appearance of the great world religion,
Christianity
In saying this, I do not mean to
undervalue the merit of all other re-
ligions, some of which are older than
Christianity but limited to a special
corner of the earth and not world wide
What 1 mean is this: In order to have
the whole perpetual peace. there must
grow up one international mind, and
the Christian religion has succeeded in
attaining that for the first time in the
history of the world"
Count Uchida. the foreign minister
was the guest of honor. He greeted
us as missionaries of international
good will and ambassadors of peace
He told us that the Japanese govern
ment and her people had been much
interested in the success of the conVen-
tion, because it was the first interna-
tionai conference ever held on such
large scale in Japan. He prophesled
that the united efforts of so many
nations for the good of mankind must
prove a blessing to humanity, and II
all the nations of the world should
! adopt the Christian principles OF
| Justice and mercy in their national
| policies. there would be no problems
incapable of solution.
Viscount Shibasawa was unable to be
| present and his address was read to the
convention delegates. Some OF you
wonder" he said, why l, a follower of
! Confucian teaching, should be inter-
| ested in the Sunday school movement
and should be giving support to this
convention. My purpose will be clear
| if l repeat to you part of my con-
| versation with Mr.. Wanamaker five
years ago 1t was on Sunday, Nov. 2S,
1915, l visited Mr.. Wanamaker in
Philadelphia. After few hours of
| conversation, he asked: Baron
| Shbasawa, you say that you are
| neither a religious educator nor
Christian. but a follower of Confucian
| teaching. Why is it that you are so
much interested in the Sunday School
| convention in Tokyo?" In reply to this
| said: From my childhood, I have
been trained in the ethics of Confucius,
and his teachings have been the guild
| ing principles of my life. Confucius
teaches us that man should be benevo-
lent and faithful to his fellow man.
! and should give his consideration first
to the interests of his fellowman and
his country, and, secondly to his own
| interests. The spirit of Confucian
| teaching is in some respects Identical
| to the teaching of Oh hriStianitY ="