Change of Sentiments - Progress Reported on May 13, 1899 From Japan
May 13, 1899, from Louisville, Ky, the Japan missionaries report to the board:
The year just passed has witnessed some remarkable changes in Japan, but none of these changes has more importance for the future than the gradual change of front with reference to Christianity. A year ago the newspapers (native) almost without a single exception, welcomed with peculiar pleasure any opportunity to regale their readers with articles abusive of missionaries, Christians, and Christian teaching. Within the last few months, however, some few of the leading statesmen have voiced sentiments which can be construed in no other way than favorable to Christianity, while two of the leading dailies, published at Tokyo, have time and again urged, as the only hope of the reformation of society, the adoption of Christian ethics. The reading and thinking Japanese public has been more or less influenced by the large number of Christian periodicals and tracts, as well as the broadcast proclamation of the Gospel. The missionaries and other Christian workers are accorded a respectful, though quite frequently cold, hearing, and there is a manifest desire to know something about the truths which Christianity teaches.
BUDDHIST ACTIVITY
The Buddhist forces are keenly alive to the situation. Their publications teem with appeals to the people to prove themselves loyal to the faith of their fathers, while they cease not, day and night, to warn the public against the encroaching influence of Christianity.
The renervation of temples, the organization of schools for the better training and equipping of Buddhist priests, together with lecture courses by noted Buddhists, mass-meetings in the interest of Buddhism at the large cities, and extended tours of inspection by influential priests are some of the evidences that Buddhism proposes to contest stubbornly the ground.
ACTIVITY AMONG CHRISTIANS
Never before has there been manifested so ardent a desire for the salvation of the lost as now. All expedients, such as schools and colleges, are being relegated to their proper places, and more reliance is placed in the proclamation of the Gospel. Prayers that plead for the manifestation of the Spirit's power, hand to hand work with those who will hear, a larger view as to the provision of the Gospel, together with the gradual obliteration of caste distinctions, are some of the evidences that Christ is being enthroned in the hearts of His followers.
The fight is on. It's to be a hand to hand conflict, in which no quarter is or can be given or taken. The battle will be long and severe. But the victory is assured. "I have overcome the world."
Today, the fight is still on, it is still a long & severe battle, but victory is still assured...HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD.
The year just passed has witnessed some remarkable changes in Japan, but none of these changes has more importance for the future than the gradual change of front with reference to Christianity. A year ago the newspapers (native) almost without a single exception, welcomed with peculiar pleasure any opportunity to regale their readers with articles abusive of missionaries, Christians, and Christian teaching. Within the last few months, however, some few of the leading statesmen have voiced sentiments which can be construed in no other way than favorable to Christianity, while two of the leading dailies, published at Tokyo, have time and again urged, as the only hope of the reformation of society, the adoption of Christian ethics. The reading and thinking Japanese public has been more or less influenced by the large number of Christian periodicals and tracts, as well as the broadcast proclamation of the Gospel. The missionaries and other Christian workers are accorded a respectful, though quite frequently cold, hearing, and there is a manifest desire to know something about the truths which Christianity teaches.
BUDDHIST ACTIVITY
The Buddhist forces are keenly alive to the situation. Their publications teem with appeals to the people to prove themselves loyal to the faith of their fathers, while they cease not, day and night, to warn the public against the encroaching influence of Christianity.
The renervation of temples, the organization of schools for the better training and equipping of Buddhist priests, together with lecture courses by noted Buddhists, mass-meetings in the interest of Buddhism at the large cities, and extended tours of inspection by influential priests are some of the evidences that Buddhism proposes to contest stubbornly the ground.
ACTIVITY AMONG CHRISTIANS
Never before has there been manifested so ardent a desire for the salvation of the lost as now. All expedients, such as schools and colleges, are being relegated to their proper places, and more reliance is placed in the proclamation of the Gospel. Prayers that plead for the manifestation of the Spirit's power, hand to hand work with those who will hear, a larger view as to the provision of the Gospel, together with the gradual obliteration of caste distinctions, are some of the evidences that Christ is being enthroned in the hearts of His followers.
The fight is on. It's to be a hand to hand conflict, in which no quarter is or can be given or taken. The battle will be long and severe. But the victory is assured. "I have overcome the world."
Today, the fight is still on, it is still a long & severe battle, but victory is still assured...HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD.
