CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2137, 17 May 1889, Page 2

CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN

Oount In iaya, Uta Minlatet of Foreign Aff ilr» ia Japin, is » uativo of tbo (own of Yam»Kuoh , la the Proviuoe of Seuvu, about 12 miles distant from the loiuad Se». la this town the Americans b*ve oatabllshed a groat Eluoational luatttate, vrith primary aohoola, a rn'dfile-o'aift "ohool, an agricultural oliHgo, n tiro »l schools for teachers of various brunches, •vid other educations! appllsnooß M.i'.iy hundreds of Japanese yoa r g uaeu wre here trained by Amor'oin profes§ora aod t-achoijN Tho prioolp*l, tho Rev. Be H.ok, han held high postn m Miohlgau oud In California When he firat was app>iated to the schools m J»p»n, he oponed a Bible clans In his own hotre, which wasso n numerously extended. Not long >igi Cbnnc laoayo visited his formir home aud white In the olty Inspected the Bohooln and addreaaed both teaiihera and papllg. To tho a« oalshmont Of moot of his hearero, he said very emphatically that one of the great need* of Japan ia tho future is a oew and belter system of ethics. He doolared that the religions whioa have hitherto been taaaht m J*pan were Inadequate to foroUb a basis for a tcoty prosperous people, and tho adoption of the leaohioga of Christianity was the only remedy, fie Wrts mnoh pleased to hear of Dr Book's Bible olass, and cmnaeoded saoh tnstruo tlon. He also proposed that a new building be oreoted expressly for Christian teaching. As might be expected tho vlali of Ojunt lnouye has produced a < very marked change. The former prejudice and opposition seemed to be largely femjved *nd,a spirit of candid inqalry hcs takon their pUoe.