The Gospel of Mammon.—
By Editor
In the very interesting article on Japan in our Missions department, the writer says, “The gospel of Mammon is the gift of modern civilization;” and so it seems to have come to Japan. But it is the fruit of human greed, for which true civilization is no way responsible. It has cursed modern civilization; it has cursed ancient civilization, as profane history and the warnings against it in God’s Word amply demonstrate. But it is a vampire parasite on civilization, for which we can not hold true civilization responsible. It was but a generation ago in America that one’s word was considered as good as his bond, as Mr. Hasegawa declares it used to be in Japan; and generally speaking it was better than his bond is now. And this sterling honesty generally manifest was not the result of fashion or sentiment, but of sound principle. True civilization is one of the fruits of the true recognition of God, and man’s right relations to his fellows. It is an indirect result of the work of Christianity. It is not an object or end of the Christian missionary; it is not necessarily a means. It fails of results and is ever perverted when so used. Let Christianity preach Christ and save souls. All the blessings of true civilization will follow. But this will not necessarily be an American or a German or a French or a Japanese or an English civilization; but a better civilization, better adapted to the race, the people, the land, the climate than any plant of foreign graft. God has many better things for missions if missionaries would depend on Him more. We hope our readers will note the need of industrial work and education in Japan, to which attention is called. It is a need everywhere. If our brethren there do not get the help they feel they need from without, let them do all in their power, starting in a small way, and in co-operation with God it will grow.