evangelization of the masses must be chiefly by her effort. The
standing of Christianity in the empire will depend upon her. If true
to her Lord, and faithful in the discharge of the task which He has
given, the result will probably be good. Now what is the condition of
the native church in Japan to-day? There are 100,000 Christians,
including Protestants, Greeks, and Romanists. These Christians have
manifested commendable zeal, earnestness, and {308} piety. The native
church is organized, hopeful, and aggressive, yet in many respects not
what her friends desire and what they pray she may be. Very much is
yet to be desired in the matters of orthodoxy, self-support, and
internal harmony, but it is not sure that this native church is more
lacking in these respects than native churches in other mission fields.
Church history seems to indicate that the church in every land must go
through a certain period of doctrinal development. The old heresies of
Arianism, Pelagianism, and Sabellianism spring up in their order on
each mission field, and are finally succeeded by orthodoxy. Japan is
now in that developing period, and loose theological views are to be
expected. There are many men of unorthodox views in the native church,
who exert a strong influence; but there are also many men of sound
evangelical views, who will be able probably to restrain the radicals
and determine the future development. I think in time there will come
to the church in Japan a sounder faith and a fuller Christian
consciousness, and that she will faithfully bear her part in the
evangelization of this land. Although there are now many elements in
the church which should not be there, we must have faith to leave the
removal of them to the influence of time and the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. God will take care of His church {309} and endow her for the
work He has given her to do.
The foreign missionaries in Japan can be depended upon to do all in
their power to bring about the triumph of Christianity. They are a
large body of earnest, consecrated workers, led by the Spirit of God.
With but a few exceptions, a more faithful and talented body of men
cannot be found. There are in all branches of the church, including
Greek and Roman Catholics, 876 European missionaries. This number
includes single and married women. Such a force, led by the Holy
Spirit, ought to be able to do much to hasten the coming of the kingdom
in Japan.
Besides the native and foreign workers, all the machinery and
institutions of various kinds necessary for the growth and expansion of
the church are now in operation. A good Christian literature is
rapidly forming, numerous Christian schools of various grades are
planted over all the empire, and a large number of Christian colleges
and theological seminaries are already open.
When we thus review the human forces upon which the future depends we
have reason to feel encouraged.
But no matter how strong and consecrated the body of workers, the
success of the work will in some degree be conditioned by the
hindrances {310} which are placed in the way. There may be certain
social or governmental oppositions, certain combinations of militating
circumstances, which will prove insurmountable to the best workers,
effectually hindering the future of a work otherwise promising.
Formerly, as has been shown, the government put every opposition it
could in the way of Christian work. Long after the prohibitions of
Christianity were removed governmental influence was exerted against it
in many ways. Even after religious liberty was granted by the
promulgation of the constitution it was far from being realized. In
certain departments of the governmental service, especially in the
military and educational departments, until very recent years
persecutions were still practised in a mild but effective way. But all
this is now a thing of the past.
The attitude of the government has changed recently, and instead of
hindering it has actually encouraged and in several ways helped in our
work. During the late war with China it permitted the sending to the
army of three native chaplains, and on the field encouraged and helped
them all it could. These men were not officially styled "Christian
chaplains," but were called _imonshi_, or comforters. It is not true,
as has recently been affirmed by a minister in New York, {311} that
there are regularly appointed permanent Christian chaplains to the
Japanese army. None but these three have ever been appointed, and
their appointment was only temporary. But the fact that the government
granted them permission to accompany the armies and encouraged their
work shows clearly a changed attitude toward the Christian religion.
The same is indicated by the fact that the authorities willingly gave
permission for the distribution of Bibles to the soldiers in every
department of the army. They even aided in the distribution, and often
arranged for those who distributed them to preach to the soldiers. I
think few non-Christian lands have ever gone so far as this in their
encouragement of Christianity.
From these facts I infer that the government will no longer place
obstacles in the way of our work. Such obstacles have in the past
prevented many from favoring Christianity, and their removal augurs
well for the future.
The native religions have very much hindered the evangelization of
Japan. Their militating influence is still active and powerful, but I
think it is gradually declining. Buddhism will die hard, but she is
too old, effete, and corrupt permanently to withstand her younger and
more powerful foe. The inherent truth of Christianity must ultimately
give it the victory. As Japanese education and {312} enlightenment
advance, the intrinsic superiority of Christianity over Buddhism must
appear and must recommend it to the people.
The hope of our religion in this land lies largely in the fact of the
insatiable desire of the people for Western learning and civilization.
The ever-increasing introduction of Western literature, the adoption of
our civilization and institutions, will necessarily bring about a
better acquaintance with Christianity, its spirit and aims. Then the
prejudice against it will gradually die out, and it will, appealing to
them in its true light,--the germ and base of all true civilization,
and the foster-mother of education and enlightenment,--be readily
accepted.
The social hindrances operating against Christianity to-day are all
local and personal, and will probably become less and less until they
die a natural death. Every part of the empire is absolutely open, and
there is nothing to hinder a full and free proclamation of the gospel
in every town, village, and hamlet in Japan.
The superior position of Christianity at present to that which it held
a few years ago is striking. Professor Chamberlain, a very close
observer, whose experience in Japan has extended over many years, says:
"To those who can look back thirty years, or even only twenty years,
the change in the position of Christianity in Japan {313} is most
striking, indeed well-nigh incredible." From a hated and despised
thing it has risen to a position in which it commands the respect of
many of the best men in the land.
But there is another element which must be taken into consideration in
making up an estimate of the outlook, and that is the natural
adaptability or inadaptability of the people for Christianity. The
farmer may labor long and hard; he may sow the best seed; sunshine and
rain may lend their encouragement; but if the soil is uncongenial the
yield will be small. In the same way, a strong, consecrated working
force may labor, unopposed, with might and main in the mission field,
but if the soil is not congenial the results will be small.
Are the Japanese people well or ill adapted by nature to the reception
of Christianity? The strongest opposition to our work, and the one
which makes us most anxious for the future, lies in the natural
constitution of the people for whom we labor. Many natural
characteristics of this people predispose them to reject Christianity.
I must again refer to that strong nationalistic feeling which is inborn
in every Japanese and which hinders the rapid progress of the gospel.
This principle, operating within the church, threatens to destroy the
orthodoxy and integrity of the faith. Animated by a patriotic feeling
{314} that is more blind than enlightened, the creeds, the polity, the
life of the church of the West, are considered as of little worth, and
many parts of the native church are extremely anxious to cut off
everything possible that has a foreign flavor, and to create a form of
Christianity peculiarly Japanese.
Again, the nationalistic feeling prompts many, both in the church and
out of it, to chafe at the presence of foreign religious teachers in
their midst. The very presence of these teachers is looked upon as an
implication that the Japanese are not competent to instruct themselves
in religious matters, and this is much resented. As a prominent
Japanese put it not long ago, "What could be more inconsistent or
improper than for great Japan, that has so recently humbled China and
forced the admiration of the world for her skill in arms, as well as
for her educational, commercial, and industrial development, to be
instructed in religious matters by foreigners?"
Operating in these ways, Japanese patriotism ill adapts the people for
a reception of Christianity.
Another feature of the native character which is not favorable is its
lack of seriousness and stability. Religion is a serious, solemn
matter, but the Japanese are not a serious-minded people. Their
beliefs have always sat lightly upon them, to be taken off and put on
at will. Where these {315} characteristics are largely wanting the
progress of Christianity will probably be slow.
At present the Japanese are too materialistic properly to appreciate a
religion so spiritual as ours. In religion, as in all other things,
they desire to receive some present material benefit; and when the
rewards of Christianity are found to be chiefly spiritual, and most of
them not realized in the present life, a deaf ear is turned. This is
an era of great material prosperity in Japan, and the minds of the
people are fully occupied with commercial and industrial questions, to
the exclusion of moral and religious ones.
The most common attitude of the Japanese public toward Christianity
to-day is one of absolute indifference. The people think that if the
government permits this religion it cannot be so very bad; it is making
little progress anyway, and they need give it no notice whatever. If
others care to go and hear about it, all right, but as for themselves,
they have no relations with it. The usual experience now when a new
chapel is opened and preaching begun is that for a few times large
numbers of people will come out of curiosity; then after a little they
stop, and no further regard is paid to the chapel or the preaching.
The conflict of religions, the inconsistencies and shortcomings of the
old faiths, the advancing knowledge, have combined to bring about a
state {316} of indifference, wide-spread and hard to overcome. It is
in many respects more hurtful than a position of open antagonism.
The natural tendency of the Japanese mind to be skeptical in regard to
all supernatural questions has been fostered by education to such an
extent that educated Japan is to-day largely a nation of atheists, or
at least of agnostics. The proud pharisaic spirit is abroad,
indisposing the race to accept Christ.
The course of Christianity in the future will not be an unopposed, easy
march to victory. There yet remains a great deal to be done, Many
clouds still linger on the horizon, making us anxious about the morrow.
But so much has already been done that the churches at home should feel
encouraged to renew their energies for the final contest. When one
division of an army has forced a breach in the enemy's lines, it is not
left to hold the position alone, but reinforcements are hurried forward
to its assistance, and the advantage gained is instantly followed up.
The attack has been made in Japan; the enemy's lines have been broken,
but the victory is not yet. This is no time for retreat, for
hesitancy, or for cavil; this is a time for prompt reinforcement and
liberal support. Let the home churches feel that such is their present
duty toward the work in Japan.
{317}
Although the outlook to-day is not to the natural eye very bright, to
the spiritual eye all is as noonday. The victory has been assured from
the beginning. However indisposed by nature the people among whom we
labor may be, whatever hindrances may oppose our work, the word of the
Almighty has gone forth--_the kingdoms of this world shall become the
kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ_. The victory is sure, because
God reigns. In His own good time every opposing influence will pass
away, and the banner of King Immanuel will wave over all this fair
land. It may not be in the present century; it may not even be in the
lifetime of any now living; but it will surely be when God's time is
fulfilled.
With an assured faith, built upon the firm promises of God, we
confidently look forward to the time when the empire of Japan shall no
longer be a mission field, but shall herself send the message of light
and life to the darkened millions around her.
May God hasten the day.
{319}
INDEX
Ainu, 10, 33.
American Board (Congregational), 171; history of work, 179; strained
relations with native church, 182.
Ancestors, worship of, 117, 270, 301.
Animals, 29.
Art, 95.
Asama, 11.
Ashikaga, 42.
Ballagh, Rev. Mr., baptized first convert, 175.
Banking, 103.
Baptists, 171, 187.
Bathing, 83.
Beautiful, love of the, 59.
Belief, missionary's, 198.
Berry, Dr. J. C., opinions on vacations, 218, 220, 223; his medical
work, 265.
Bible, first portions translated, 147, 174; translation of, essential,
162; translation committee and work, 175; distribution to soldiers, 311.
Bible and tract societies of America and England, work of, 190.
Bicycle, 245.
Birds, 30.
Biwa, 14.
Bridges, 16.
Brotherhood, universal, unknown, 136; repugnant, 273.
Brothers, relation of, 134.
Brown, Rev. Dr. S. R., 170; drafts of New Testament, 174.
Buddhism, introduction of, 40; principal features of, 126; history of,
127; formative power of, 128; temples and priests, 129; and
Christianity, 126, 130, 279; vitality of, 278, 311.
Camphor, 26.
Census of 1893, 9.
Chamberlain, Professor, on advance of Christianity in Japan, 312.
Chaplains, Christian, appointed by the government, 310.
Character, missionary's, 200.
Cheerfulness, native, 53.
Children, an allowance for, 214.
China, early influence of, 39; ancient civilization of, 90; recent war
with, 49, 310.
Christianity, first introduction of, 144; early successes, 148;
attempted extermination of, 154; cannot be extirpated, 156;
prohibitions of, 157, 172; edicts against, removed, 176; reaction
against, 178; by nature diffusive, 243; revolutionizing tendency of,
267; exclusiveness of, 269; past record of, 274; advance of, 312.
Church, first organized, 175; sifting of, 178.
Church of Christ in Japan, 184.
Civilization, definition of, 89; Japan's compared with Western, 106;
adoption of Western, 177.
Climate, 19-22.
Clothing, 73, 82.
Commercial honor, 67; morality, 120.
Confucianism, and Japanese morality, 109; ethics of, 110; history of,
130; basal principles of, 131; nearest approach to Christianity, 135;
contrasted with Christianity, 243.
Consecration of missionary, 197.
Constitution of Japan, 47, 96.
Converts, first, 175; social ostracism of, 279; requirements of, 288;
indigent, 289.
Curiosity, native, 212.
Customs, bearing of, upon mission work, 70, 269.
Davis, Rev. and Mrs. J. D., 180.
Death, not afraid of, 65.
Disappointments, missionary's, 226.
Doshisha University, 180; rationalistic teaching of, 181.
Duty, ours to the missionary, 229; joy of doing, 231.
Earthquakes, 12, 13.
Educational system of Japan, 93, 255; antagonistic to Christianity, 276.
Educational work of missions, compared with evangelistic, 250;
criticism of, 253; hinders self-support, 260.
Embassy to Rome, 149.
Emperor, power of name, 55; worship of picture, 112, 301.
Environment, missionary's, unfavorable, 227.
Episcopalians, 170, 183; five branches of, 186; native church, 187, 303.
Ethnology, 32, 33.
Europeanization of Japan, 46, 91; our hope, 312.
Evangelization, 234; missionaries must be evangelists, 235;
subordinated to educational work, 236; local, 237; itinerating, 242.
Exiles, missionaries, 225, 228.
Exports, 27.
Facial expression, 53.
Farms, 23.
Festivals, religious, 302.
Feudalism, rise of, 41; conditions under, 145.
Fish, 30.
Food, 80.
Foreign pastor, 230.
Foreigners, treatment of, 44, 136; country open to, 170, 171; ungodly
example of, 282.
Formosa, 9.
Franchise, limited, 96.
Friends, 135.
Fuji-san, 12.
Fujiwara family, 41.
Funerals, 84.
Geography of Japan, 9-15.
Girls' boarding-schools, 255; purpose of, 256; end defeated by
etiquette, 257; reasons for and against, 258, 259.
Goble, Rev. J., translation of Matthew, 174.
God, Japanese word for, 249, 262.
Government, Japanese, 95; paternalism of, 58; hostile to Christianity,
172, 173, 313.
Gratitude, 66.
Greek Church (Russian), 165; its founder, 166; its cathedral, 167; its
work, 168.
Greene, Dr. and Mrs., 180.
Greetings, 88.
Gulick, Rev. O. H., 180; story of his teacher, 172.
Hara-kiri (belly-cutting), 85.
Haughty bearing of missionary, 241.
Health of missionary, the first qualification, 193; medical
examinations, 195; allowance for, 215; and vacations, 216.
Heathen faiths opposed to Christianity, 277, 311.
Hibachi, 80.
Hideyoshi, 43; persecutor of Christians, 150.
Hindrances to Christianity, 266; common to all fields, 267; peculiar to
Japan, 271; the greatest, 313.
Hiroshima, 18.
Hollanders, 10, 44, 156, 158.
Homes, mission, necessity of as examples, 207, 211; comfort of, 210; a
Western home, 212.
Hondo, 9.
Houses, Japanese, use of, 76; construction of, 78; furniture, 79.
Human life, cheap, 64.
Imitativeness, 64.
Imperial University, 94.
Inconsistency, 63.
Inland Sea, 10.
Inns, Japanese, 245.
Inquirers, how to deal with, 238, 286.
Instability, of people, 61, 314; of civilization, 105.
Intellectual life, 54; open-mindedness, 59.
Islands of Japan, 9, 10, 11.
Itinerating, 242; greatest hindrance to, 246; kinds of, 247; objections
to, 249.
Iyeyasu, 43, 109; and the battle of Sekigahara, 153; persecution of
Christianity, 153.
Japan, the land of, 9; new, birth of, 45; religions of, 122.
Japanese, reliable history of, 40; characteristics, 51; manners and
customs, 69, civilization, 89; morality, 107; skeptical, 316.
Jesuits, introduction of Christianity by, 45.
Jimmu Tenno, 36, 38.
Jingo, Empress, 39.
Jinrikisha, 63, 244.
Joys of the missionary, 231.
Kagoshima, 18.
Kanagawa, 18.
Kasatkin, Bishop Nicolai, founder of Greek mission, 166.
Korea, subjugation of, 39.
Kyoto or Saikyo, 10, 17, 18.
Kyushu, 9; Dutch residence on, 10.
Lakes, 14.
Land, cultivated, 11, 22; picturesque, 14; irrigation of, 22;
terracing, 23.
Language, structure of, 55; difficult to learn to read, 93; first
dictionary of, 174; talent for, essential to the missionary, 203;
difficult to master, 262, 284.
Lawrence, Dr. E., on common sense, 204; on exiles, 225; "axioms of
missions," 292.
Laws, 96.
Libraries, how regarded, 72.
Life, chief of all evils, 127.
Liggins, Rev. J., 170.
Lights, 103.
Literature, native, 92; Christian, 261, 263.
Love of humanity, missionary's, 199.
Loyalty, first moral principle, 111, 132.
Lutherans, missionary problems of, 188; purpose in Japan, 189.
McDonald, Dr., on furloughs, 224.
Mails, 101, 246.
Manufactories, 104.
Marriage, customs, 75; relation, 133; essential to missionary, 206.
Martyrs, 115.
Materialism in Japan, 277, 315.
Maxims, 117, 272.
Medical missions, 264; no longer needed in Japan, 265.
Mental qualifications of the missionary, 201.
Methodist Church in Japan, 171, 183; branches of, 185, 304; present
status of, 186.
Mikados, 41.
Minamoto, great clan, 41.
Minerals, 28,
Missionaries, lives in danger, 171; qualifications of, 192; private
life of, 209; extent and variety of work of, 234; number of, in Japan,
309.
Missions in Japan, modern Roman and Greek, 160; Protestant, 169; the
"happy time" of, 177; differing policy of, 182; small bodies, 190;
results of, 191; projected on too high a plane, 260; hindrances to,
266; special problems of, 286; the outlook of, 306.
Morality, compared with West, 109, 117; chief defect of, 121.
Music in the Greek Church, 167.
Mutsuhito, 47.
Mythological history, 36-39.
Mythology, 34, 122.
Nagasaki, 10.
Nagoya, 18.
Native church, its relation to the missionary, 182, 228, 299, 314;
missionary's crown, 232; development of, 242; hurtful national feeling
in, 273; problem of, 290; polity of, 290; self-support, 293; reasons
for dependence, 294; attitude toward national habits and customs, 300;
condition of, to-day, 307.
Native ministry, educated, 251; how provided, 295; how trained, 297.
Neesima, Dr., 181.
Newspapers, Japanese, 92; value of Christian, 263.
Nihon, native name of empire, 10.
Nihon-bashi, center of empire, 16.
Nobunaga, 43; patron of early Christianity, 148; assassinated, 150.
Obedience, result of, 58.
Official honor, 68,
Okayama, 18.
Omiiki, founder of Tenrikyo, 138.
Open ports, 19.
Originality, native, 63.
Outlook in Japan, 306; bright to spiritual eye, 317.
Parental relation, 133.
Parental respect, 57; great ethical principle, 116.
Passports, 246.
Patriotism, extreme, 55; hinders Christianity, 272, 313.
Perry, Commodore, and the opening of Japan, 44.
Persecutions, causes of, 150; Christians exiled, 172; United States
government and, 176; cessation of, 177; memory of, 275.
Physique, native, 33.
Politeness, the exalted virtue, 85; ridiculous extremes, 87.
Portuguese, discovery of Japan, 43; captain and Hideyoshi, 150.
Prayer, 169.
Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in the United States, 169, 170.
Problems, special, 286.
Railways, 97.
Rainfall, 21.
Reformed Church in America, 170.
Religion, Japanese, composite, 123; influence of, 142; and morality,
268.
Rivers, 13.
Roads, 15, 16.
Roman Catholic Church in Japan, pioneer work of, 144; driven out, 154;
early mistakes, 158, 161; the work resumed, 160; peculiar hindrances
to, 163; prosperity of, 164.
Ronins, story of the forty-seven, 112.
Sake, 119.
Salary of the missionary, 213; when on furlough, 219.
Schools, Sunday, 239; mission, 251; academical, 253; girls', 255.
Sectarianism, a hindrance to missions, 281; disappearing, 303;
advantages of coöperation, 304.
Self-control of missionary, 205.
Sermons, kind of, 249.
Sexes, relation of, 73.
Shikoku, 10.
Shimabara, fall of, 155.
Shinto, revival of, 45; morality, 108; history of, 123; state religion,
125; ancestors, 270; opposing Christianity, 278.
Shogun (tycoon), 42; abolition of the office, 46.
Sign language, graceful, 76.
Simmons, Dr. D. B., 170.
Sin, no word for, 249, 262.
Society, missionary's need of, 216, 217, 225.
Spiritual qualifications of the missionary, 197.
Steamers, 99.
Suicides, 65, 120.
Taira, great clan, 41.
Taylor, Dr. W., 265; opinions on missionary's qualifications, 194;
furloughs, 220, 221, 224.
Telegraphs, 99, 246.
Tenrikyo, missionary religion, 137; origin of, 138; teachings of, 139;
distinguishing characteristics, 141.
Theological training, necessity of, 251; in English language, 252;
abroad, 252, 299; place of native religions in, 298.
Theology, native, rationalistic, 181; desire for, 274; formative stage,
308.
Tidal waves, 13.
Tokaido, most famous road, 16.
Tokyo, the capital, 10, 17.
Tone-gawa, largest river, 14.
"Topsyturvydom," 70.
Treaties, American, 45, 107; English, 170; revision of, 48, 178.
Typhoons, 22.
Vacations of missionaries, summer, 216; furloughs, 218, 224; argument
against, 219; medical opinions in favor of, 220; from an economic
standpoint, 221; useful to native and home churches alike, 222.
Vegetarians, 80.
Verbeck, Rev. Dr. G. F., 171, 175.
Visitation, advantages of, 239; and Japanese etiquette, 240.
Volcanoes, 11.