23 “The only reason I can ascertain for the constant recurrence of the
lotus in Buddhist art and ceremonial is the idea of its being the
symbol of purity. Its scent and aspect are alike delightful, and
though rooted in mud and slime it abhors all defilement. If,
therefore, men would but take it as their model, they would escape
all the contamination of this corrupt world. Every man, it is said,
has a lotus in his bosom, which will blossom forth if he call in the
assistance of Buddha.” _Unbeaten Tracks in Japan_, Vol. i. p. 292.
24 Buddhists believe in the existence of a personal wicked spirit,
named Mara, whose object is to solicit men to evil.
25 Cf. the following extract from the speech of the Bishop of Exeter at
the Annual Meeting of the C.M.S. 1892:—“If you had been asked to
sketch an ideal land, most suitable for Christian Missions, and when
itself Christianized more suited for evangelistic work among the
nations of the far East, what, I ask, would be the special
characteristics of the land and people that you would have desired?
Perhaps, first, as Englishmen or Irishmen, you would have said,
‘Give us islands, inseparably and for ever united, give us islands
which can hold their sea-girt independence, and yet near enough to
the mainland to exert influence there.’ Such is Japan—the Land of
the Rising Sun. ‘Give us a hardy race, not untrained in war by land
and sea; for a nation of soldiers, when won for Christ, fights best
under the banner of the Cross—for we are of the Church militant here
on earth: give us brave men;’ and such are the descendants of the
old Daimios and two-sworded Samurai of Japan. ‘Give us an industrial
race, not idlers nor loungers, enervated by a luxurious climate, but
men who delight in toil, laborious husbandmen, persevering
craftsmen, shrewd men of business;’ and such are the Japanese
agriculturists, who win two harvests a year from their grateful
soil—such are the handicraftsmen there, whose work is the envy of
Western lands; such are the merchants, who hold their own with us in
commerce. ‘Give us men of culture, with noble traditions, but not so
wedded to the past that they will not grasp the present and salute
the future;’ and such are the quick-witted, myriad-minded Japanese,
who, with a marvellous power of imitation, ever somehow contrive to
engraft their own specialities upon those of Western lands. Witness
their Constitution, their Parliament, their 30,000 schools in active
operation; witness their museums and hospitals; witness their
colleges and universities. ‘But,’ you would also have said, ‘give us
a race whose women are homespun and refined, courteous and winsome,
not tottering on tortured feet, nor immured in zenanas and harems,
but who freely mingle in social life, and adorn all they touch;’ and
such, without controversy, are the women of Japan. Above all, ‘give
us a reverent and a religious people, who yet are conscious that the
religion of their fathers is unsatisfying and unreal, and who are
therefore ready to welcome the Christ of God;’ and such are the
thoughtful races of Japan.”
26 See on this subject Study VI in the late Dean Plumptre’s _The
Spirits in Prison_. The Christian can scarcely doubt that Gautama
has, long ere this, fallen at the feet of the Crucified,—knowing at
last the Name whereby he has been saved,—and has heard from the
Divine lips the gracious approval, waiting to be bestowed on all men
of good-will, of whatever age, of whatever land, who have “worked
righteousness,” and have faithfully responded to whatever measure of
light and opportunity has been accorded them by God.
27 I may observe that the language, not only of the New Testament, but
of the _Athanasian Creed_, was quoted to me in this connexion by a
Buddhist priest in Japan. I endeavoured to point out to him,—how far
convincingly I cannot say,—what at the present day at least is
generally recognized amongst us; that for the Christian Church to
warn her own children, in terms the most emphatic just because the
most loving, against becoming entangled in the deadly errors
prevalent at the time when the Creed was drawn up, is a thing wholly
distinct from passing any sentence of eternal condemnation on, or,
indeed, expressing any opinion as to the future state of, such as
live and die without ever having been brought to a knowledge of the
Faith. I added, of course, that any acquaintance with the claims of
Christianity is a responsibility for which we believe all will have
to give account.
28 I doubt if the speaker, in his long absence from England, quite
realized the extent to which, of the last few years, bitterness and
intolerance have effaced themselves, at any rate within the limits
of the Church of England; or was aware of the marked improvement
that is exhibited amongst us in dealing with such matters of
controversy as still remain.
29 In the course of a letter appearing in _The Christian_ of April 20,
1893, the Rev. H. Loomis writes, “Let the _forty thousand_
Christians of Japan but dedicate themselves to the welfare of the
country in all its relations, and the true new Japan will be
founded.” But Mr. Loomis himself has placed the total membership of
“Protestant Missions” at 35,500, of the Orthodox Church at 20,300,
and of the Roman Church at 44,800. To which sixty thousand of these
does Mr. Loomis—presumably—refuse the title of “Christian”? and are
we justified in acting thus towards any who believe in the Holy
Trinity, and have accepted Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the World,
Very God and Very Man?
30 Even Mr. Loomis’ list does not appear to be exhaustive! The
“Plymouth Brethren,” e.g., are certainly represented at Tokio.
31 The above is an abridgement of a passage in the _Conquests of the
Cross_ (Messrs. Cassell & Co.).
32 In the course of the present year (1893), the Rev. J. McKim has been
raised to the American Episcopate in Japan; Dr. Williams continuing
to reside at Tokio. It is also announced that two new Anglican
Bishops are to be consecrated for the Islands of Kyushu and Yezo
respectively. One of these is the Rev. H. Evington, Examining
Chaplain to Bishop Bickersteth, who has been connected with the C.
M. S. Mission to Japan since 1874.
_ 33 Pastoral Letter to his Clergy_, Advent, 1892.
_ 34 Occasional Paper_, Guild of St. Paul, Oct. 1893.