THE NEW SPIRIT IN ASIA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 9

THE NEW SPIRIT IN ASIA.

GROWTH OF NATIONALISM

The now spirit in Asia and tho astonishing growth of Nationalism 'in Asia are the subjects of an article by the Rev. C. F. Andrews, of Delhi, of quite extraordinary interest in "The Ea.it and the West" for October:

—"Two years ago," he says, "I ventured to write an article on the effect of tho Japanese victories upon India and the East. In certaiu directions 1 may claim to have made a true forecast. There has been a distinct unsettlement in Mahometan lands and a growing restlessness , under European domination; there has beon also in India itself an increasing movement towards the liberalising of Islam, without apparently any nearer approach to Christianity; and on the Hindu side there has been a remarkable revival of reforming Hinduism, especially among the members of the Arj'a Suinaj in.the North; lastly, there has beon a still more remarkable development of nationalism, of which I stated the opinion that 'it is still a tender plant, but when it is grown it may cover the land.' The ono dominant factor, resulting from the Japanese war, has been the growth of the spirit of nationality and the desire among the enlightened in all Eastern lands for national progress. This spirit has literally passed from of A'.— u> the other, and is strong in Egypt.' "\\7iilo taking colour from the religion of each country, it is primarily a political and racial movement, though at . tho samo time 1 believe it to bo full of religious import. There is a striking similarity in tho forms of the new thought and the new literature that is being produced. I have seen wuvsnaper extracts fr,om Teheran, Cairo, and l'olvin, and the subjects discussed are almost identical with tho leading articles of the 'iJonpleo' or tho 'Hindu.' They may bo roughly, summarised as a desire for Western institutions and scientific training, national aspiration, ami a raco longing for freedom from European control. Sometimes race fooling predominates, sometimes the passion for Western culture, -sometimes the simple desire for national progress. From one point of view, the Renaissance in Europe is the nearest parallel to what is now taking phlco in Asia; for, as Bishop Creighton has pointed out, along with the breaking up of old systems and tho intellectual impulse of that age, there came.an awaknning of the nations to self-consciousness and thn formation of Modern Europe on national linos. ■

OLD SYSTEMS BREAKING UP.

- "The breaking up of old systems of thought and government has begun in every part of Asia. An Indian friend lms told mo only to-day that bo has just finished reading twelve different Persian newspapers and reviews, and the chief subjects of discussion in each wero 'Parliamentary Government,' 'Persia for the Persians,' 'National Progress,' and such liko; Tho .v,isit of the Amir" of -Afghanistan-to: India lias boon followed by tho inauguration in Cabul of a system of elementary and advanced education on Western lines. In Pokin a Parliamentary constitution has been promised, scientific 'and technical institutions have beoii erected, nearly. 20.1)00 students have gone-to Japan for training, and Western education has already taken-the' place of the old classics in tho civil service examinations.

"India has developed the Swadeshi movement; from ono Bengal society alone 100 students were sent abroad this year for technical instruction; in every college and in every newspaper 'nationalism , is the one subject of interest and discussion; in many parts .a racial; antipathy against tho foreignor has grown !iip, which has called for.the sternest measures of repression. The growth' of nationalism in Egypt for men the principal theme of LonP Cromcr's farewell address in' Cairo. Tlieso events, and instances might be multiplied, are ,no passing phase. They arc the beginnings of a movement which will extend, in mightier and mightier circles among tlio'i myriads of the unlettered peoples.' To take India as an example, the village peasants in the' North to-day arc discussing political qucstjpjis which were only known tq' t-liti' educated fivb years ago.' What has been told in the ear is being proclaimed upon the housetop. It may ho that there •■will be reactions and oddyings in tho current; but the great tide wljinh has started from Japan will swoop away all temporary barriors. and wo shall witness in our own generation tho awakening of half the population' of tho world. Tho breaking up, then; of the East has begun, tho awakening is already in progress. With vej-y, much 'of , this Renaissance—frith tho longing for freedom and 'enlightenment, the dpsiro for a true and healthy' , national existence, tbrt wish- to elevate-'the 1 countless myriads of the common people—no ■'t-hbn'pht-ful Christian can fail to sympathise.': The progress of the East may check his sense of rneo superiority, and bring most difficult questions as to government and control, but as a Christian first, and an Englishman afterwards, he cannot but rejoice. For in all that is happening ho can recognise tho transplanting of Christian thought in Eastern soil. Nationality, liberty, enlightenment, the raising of the multitudes', these are seeds which have hitherto only struck deep and permanent root in Christendom. They have eoino , to-day to: the East from the Christian AWst. They have touched the 'anima naturaliter Christiilna'-in-India, China and Japan, and have begun to fertilise. The" process 'of thought can' be seen in such writers as Keslmb Chamlor Son in India and Dr. Nitobn iir Japnn, but in the,practical field the witness is still more apparent. The red cross on the hospital-vans of the Japanese armies in Manchuria was itself a striking testimony. It is possible, of course, to take a superficial view and'call those national movements purely secular; yet I cannot see how this can bo dono by anyono who holds intelligently tho faith of the Incarnation, and-who believes that Jesus is the Son of Man. ■ Movoments of spirits which arc taking place in an area including 500,000.000 of the human race cannot bo without religious significance to tho believer in Him who is 'the Light •■ that lighteneth every man, coming into the world. , ' Tt is indeed possible, to lot tho Christian element in the now movomonts go by default through indifference and neglect, through failing to 'discern the of tho times' and 'buy up the opportunity'; it is sadly possiblo for Christian nations to act in un-Christian ways and propagate race-hatred; it is only too possible for tho non-Christian nations to return that hato a hundred-fold. In this way the progress of humanity may be set back, and a new crop of evils may tako the nlaco of the old; but, on the other hand, if tho Christian nations are faithful to high principles, and tho Christian messongers inako clear their message, bringing forth out of their treasures things now as well as things old, then it may come to pass that, amid the shaking of the nations'of the East, wo shall see the Son of Man coming in His glory, and shall 'weloomo one of those 'days i of the Son of Man' for which the 'whole- creation waits. On the chui-eh itself in the East the new movement is already beginning to leave'its mark.

CHRISTIANITY BECOMING ACCLI-

MATISEI).

, .' ■ ■ ■ "All that ono hears of China and Japan shows that Christianity is at last becoming acclimatised and indigenous. The same, is taking place more slowly in India. Those who have novel , seen the mission liekl can scarcely understand what an exotic Christianity remains until the spirit and genius of the nation enter, into it. I shall not soon forget the shock of finding the rubric, concerning the 'authority of the Parliament of the second year of the reign of Ring Edward Vl' translated bodily into tlio Indian prayer-, hook, along with the Thirty-nine Articles and Saints' Days, such as 'Edward, King of the West Saxons.' The shock was greater when I Found many Indian Christians adopting European names and passing off as Eurasians. No Indian bishop or even archdeacon, no distinctive Indian prayer-liook, and this after a hundred years of missionary effort! The denationalising process has run often to an extreme point; and the witness of a living and indigenous Christianity has been sorely hindered. But the national movement of the last two years is awakening in Indian Christians a sense of responsibility,, to their, nation. A purely Indian missionary society is beginning to send out its own missionaries. Church govornmont is coming' more into tho hands of Indians themselves. In every congregation there are signs of the stirring of new

life and a desire to throw off-as far'us possihlo dependence upon .foreign aid. ;and control. In our own college 'at. -Delhi aii Indian l Christian has been appointed permanent principal, with English professors, under him. The time cannot,.' be far distant when we. 'shall- seo : Indian bishops and an Indian iTljpre are great difficulties .still. ; in opr-own, church, on account of the Stfi.t^Qjf<jstfiblislime^t,!',an<i other Christian communities. ' npj .far ri\ore advanced in self-government.' Yet the learner is surely working, and the new movement of national life has had o most healthy influence among Indian Christians. Outside the Christian fold in the great, mission, field of the non-Christian world, a whole scries of now problems confronts the missionary., to the cdueatod classes. How 'far can nationalism be welcomed without trenching .upon,spheres which are purely, political?,.. How far can the new aspirations be shown to have a Christian bearing and to po'jjt'.to a Christian conclusion? How far eanjhe | p,hristia]i..inission : ary dissociate, himself foreign .'ties' of an English Government'' ih: l'onjpr.. to' be one with the people iif j,l;Ke',country'? flow; far can Christianity itself.,,he.'.strippcd of its foreign accretions so as to appeal to Eastern life and thoucht? How far can the new movement itself bo boldly claimed for Christ ? AN AWAKENING EAST. / "These and a thousand".'other, problems Ihn'vo to bo faced to-day ;,by, tbo '.missionary who endeavours to reach, and influence..the contres of thought and ' mo.v!emont': in'. the East. The. intellectual..; Indians,; who . are strong ,ami independent;', ,and who, by their character and' originality, will bo the of the future, are not .troiibljng. themsolvcs about the sanctity of j:ljeiYedak.'or:the verbal inspiration of the Quran': "Traditional.Hin- : diiism and Islam have, .ceased. 'to. play any important part in thejn Jives', though : they may still ho compelled'to bow down in 'the House of Rimmon. Their, spiritual.nature j.s at' present absorbed in/jibb' .pnbspect'.pf an ■awakening East, of- an J,(idian .nationality,; of,ia free and enlightened people, of a deliverance from the nightmare..o.f-.supprstiti.on. and. the tyranny of. caste. '"They ;'s:ee;'"tho-!nioun-tains of difficulty, confronting'! tliem, : iiiid as ago advances they often giyp,up the'stvugglo'; yet each fresh generation presses, forward with renewed ardour and.yputhfnl ■enthusiasm. Those Vmiriority evoii among the otlii'cfl'tqd |'' yet, nhnijiarctl with the jearned Pandit''jiyririg , over tne. Vβdas or ..the subservie|i,C, ljjitfjl.lictual firin'gmg. for' Government favo?iiri;] | the'y,. n aro' J tho' rhen in India who are alivo'i. thoy!;hr,e".tliq'.inen who will mould and shape' ; ;tlio'.!;"futufe.':. Sadly' enough, however, thcsp.art'the;very men who' are repelled by tho l.pr'oscnt aspect of the Christian church in India. Though Christ is' venerated by them, the church apnears the church of the foreigner, with the £roat' pronortioh of its clergy inothwpa'-y df-a foroicn Government and' actinc ae;'Sfcati"ii.o{ficials."':To, become'a member of church ..is. to them to hp'como a denationalised and semiEuronean. They turn , ,-:therefore, from.their o\vn 'lend religions and try to-moke n. kind of new religion of ■nationalism > itself: They fail by this 'means either io'.>work..out their : own or their country's:'salvation,-for the foundation is ! not strong ononghrto carry tho superstructure.-: -Yet all tlmnvhile.' if .tho.y could only grasp the. sovrroisini truth, Christianity contains within itself tliasunrome solution of all 'heir difficulties. -nTirro; barriers of casto can bo broken down by'theties.'of Christian brotherhood alone, whereinithepariali.'kneels side by side with the;-.Brahuiih and,.partakes of tho one Bread. The gulf between tllo Hindu and Mussulman :cn.n;nnly be bridged over within the Body •ofaChiiist , . The Fatherhood of God, revealed in Jcsusv-the :Son ';ofJltin, .would unito IndiaJ'inlißnc 'faihily.i.bf nations; , '::. ■•>:;■.':■■■. ''■ Uiin.rw •:*■; <■;: u* ...