CHRISTIANITY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1921, Page 4

CHRISTIANITY

THE convention IN JAPAN

A FORCE IN. INTERNATIONAL

PEACE.

The Rev. Frederick A. D atrling, who has recently returned from Tokyo, Japan, after representing the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales at the. Sunday School Convention says the convention was a pronounced suc-

cess. “The reason for meeting m lolcjo, said Rev. Mr Darling, “was that ov. r seven years ago Dr Ibuka and Dr Kozaki travelled to Zurich, in Switzei land, to urge that the next conference met in Tokyo, and hacked up their appeal for representation by pointing mu what it would mean to Japan. Before the delegation left the country abundant testimony was forthcoming that beneficial results bad already accrued. The hundreds of missionaries in Japan had received a stimulus and inspiration for further work. Representatives from over 30 nations, gathered from ill over the world, had impressed Japan with the powier and universal spread of Christianity. The exchange of courtesies between individuals- Japanese and foreigners—and between represent lire Japanese bodies and the World Sunday School Association tended to promote goodwill and allay some of the friction that so easily leads to war. Referring to the great fire which destroyed the Convention Hall, Mr Darling said the outbreak took place about 2£ hours before the Convention met. “The Convention Hall was a spa-ions temporary building, immediately adjacent. to the Tokyo Railway Station,’ said Mr Darling. “The workmen were busily engaged on it right up Vo the day of opening. The first time the electric current was switched on the wires fused, setting alight a large screen on the rear wall of the platform As the building bad only been mad. available the previous day, the various officials were adapting themselves to their offices and pushing forward with the registration of delegates, and the adjustment of numerous details. The c hoir of 500 voices was practising on th" platform for the first pageant. A Japanese lady heard the sputtering of fused wires, saw the screen blaze and gave immediate wa/rning. Prompt action allowed the removal of valuables and. though delegates were standing six

deep at the registration office, by a smart piece of drill they were safely transferred to the plaza. W it-hin i_ minutes the building was a collapsed mass of blazing ruins.’ Mr Darling added that the burning of the Convention Hall proved a blessing in disguise, as it gave the convention widespread publicity, and resulted in Baron Okura offering the use of the Imperial Theatre in the name of the board of directors. Referring to the part which the Japanese took in the convention, Air Darling said:—“To my mind one of the finest papers read at the Convention was that by Rev. Dr. Uyemurn, principal of the Theological College in Tokyo. The title was “The Sufficiency of Christ for the New Day.” Hr l yenuira presented the topic from the standpoint of the Orient, and President Webster Kurtz from that of the Occident.

■'Before the Convention opened committees of Japanese, aided by American missionaries, handled the necessary business arrangements. During the daily sittings of the executive com--inittee, distinctly able men, like In Ibuka, Dr Ukai, Mx Ebara M.P.. (Japanes® Diet, and Mr H. Nagao, a rail - * way magnate, made their counsels felt, and were of distinct service to the whole movement. “It was a Sunday-School Convention and the higher aspects of Sunday-School life were treated; but it seemed to me that after a little time the Convention largely lost its special character, and rather took on that of Christianity as a great international religious force, a philosopv that warranted international amity, and in its proper conception and action excluded war; that asserted the practicability of a world brotherhood, and that ‘Christian altruism must take the place of enlightened self-interest in the settlement of all international con-

tentions.’ “Dr. Prank L. Brown, general secretary of the World’s Sunday-school Association was the controlling spirit of t’Je Convention. His great affection for Japan, where he had spent considerable periods of time, is well known. He received the tlegre L.L.D. ‘For • litigious work and for bettering international -relations between Japan and America.’ At the time the Convention was held, the strain between Japan and America over the California question was very considerable; and Dr Brown emphasised this feature of international goodwill so far that the fact of the gathering being a Sunday-school conference, was largely overshadowed. Personally I felt- that Count Ucliida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in bis ad dross at the Patrons’ banquet, pressed resolutions and expressions of Christian goodwill so far that his interpretation would be more than either America or Australia would readily concede.” Speaking with regaijrd to the interest taken in international affairs in Japan, Mr Darling said:—“A Japanese gentleman, seated next me at the dinner table, learned I was from Australia, and in a minute or two fully debated the AA r hite Australia policy.

"Viscount Shibusawa issued invitations to some twenty delegates to meet the Concordia of Japan at his home. There were present distinguished statesmen, professors of the Imperial University, admirals, and members of: the Imperial Diet. The graceful words of welcome from our host, so charmingly translated by Prof. Anezarki, raised immediately the question of the concord of nations, and how difficulties me to be surmounted. -The gathering expended its very best powers on the discussion of the problems. .Viscount Sakata ni spoke very ably for Japan. Dr. Poole, a Ballarat boy who has spent most of his life in America, and is successor to -F. B. Meyer of Christchurch, AVestminster, London, was die first to speak for the foreigners, and more particularly from the Britidi standpoint. His address was admirable in its spirit, expression, and delicate handling of difficult issues. The Australian . delegate* was cialled upon to follow him. But the address that was to me the most impressive was delivered