p. 352 | A New Peril in Japan by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 22.

"A New Peril in Japan."

By Editor

IN the Missionary Herald for May there is an interesting article, under the above heading, by Rev. J. H. Pettee, of Okayama, Japan. He asserts that Japan is so eager to be called a Christian nation that there is danger of her adopting some "low, loose species of nominal Christianity," even the Catholic or the Russo-Greek, if she cannot find any other that will receive her readily enough. He says that a private letter received "speaks of a movement among the local officials favoring a nominal acceptance of the least exacting form of Christianity, the Roman Catholic." He says a "mere assent to the name of Christian is regarded as sufficient evidence of a change of heart and life," and that "the most progressive, secular paper in the Sunrise Kingdom has openly advocated baptizing the Emperor and a few of the nobles, that Japan may be considered a Christian nation." It is said, "Christian blue is the fashionable color and not Buddhist brown; therefore let us put on a blue coat." And in closing, Mr. Pettee adds this weighty sentence: "The last thing a true Christian desires to see in Japan is, Christianity proclaimed the State religion." True, or in any other country, but that is just what the National Reform Party proposes to establish in this country, and to create here the identical condition of affairs as that into which Japan is about to plunge. And when it shall be done, that will be the darkest day that Christianity has ever seen in America.