The Missionary | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 23, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 49.

The Missionary.

THE ENTRANCE OF THE GOSPEL IN JAPAN.

How many times can the Christian student of history see instances of where the hand of Providence has guided and shaped various influences till they have culminated in glory to God and the salvation of souls. In fact, it is specially marked in nearly all countries where God has had many people. This is true of Japan. To Commodore Perry, an American, is ascribed much of the work of opening Japan to the gospel, but Commodore Perry and America were one line of influences. Another equally important was working within the island empire.

Yokoi, the Japanese statesman and true man, was one of the agencies used of God to open Japan to the gospel. Rev. W. E. Griffis, of Boston, Mass., in a little pamphlet entitled, "New Japan and the Gospel," gives a brief sketch of Yokoi's life and work, which we know will be of interest to our readers. We give the substance of Mr. Griffis' words:—

To tell a long story briefly, Yokoi was born in 1808, and remained a bachelor until forty, that he might become a masterful scholar. Hating mere pedantry and erudition, Yokoi sought to know truth, and to reform his native land, so sunk in heathenism, idolatry, superstition, sensualism, and despotism. He waited long years vainly for an opportunity that never came until the American flag mirrored its stars and stripes in the waters of Yeddo Bay. Then, rising to the occasion, and brave as a lion, Yokoi, despite dangers to his life, declared in favor of intercourse with foreigners, reform of hoary abuses and cruelties, and the lightening of the people's burdens. One of the first to recognize his character and abilities was the Baron of Echizen. Inviting Yokoi to be his teacher and counselor, this enlightened nobleman made his court at Fukui, the center of light, learning, and reform. When called to be premier in Yeddo, the Lord of Echizen made Yokoi his right-hand man, and noble were their labors in the interest of reform; but the time of cleansing the Augean stables had not yet come, and on the premier resigning office, Yokoi retired to his farm in Higo.

There he conceived the plan of sending Japanese lads to study in the United States, and his nephews, Isé and Numagawa, the first of hundreds to follow, arrived at New Brunswick in 1866. He also taught the people to improve the products most in demand in Europe and America, and thus increase Japanese commerce.

Greatest of all, this admirer of the American Constitution, government, and people, obtained from missionaries in Shanghai a copy of the Bible in Chinese, and, reading it, was convinced of its truth. Though disapproving of some of the forms which Christianity had assumed in the history of Europe, we may say truly that, without having seen a missionary, and when there were no Christians whom he knew of in Japan, and no church, Yokoi was essentially a Christian. In a letter to a friend he wrote: "In a few years Christianity will come to Japan, and capture the hearts of the best young men."

On the 3d of January, 1868, the crisis of a century and a half of internal preparation, hastened powerfully by the advent of Perry and foreigners, was precipitated; the Tycoon was overthrown; feudalism received its first blow; and the government which rules Japan was inaugurated. Yokoi was at once summoned to the new cabinet, and made a counselor of the emperor. Even before he arrived the new constitution had been proclaimed, the mikado taking oath to enforce the five articles on which it was based. These, proposed by Mr. Yuri, of Fukui, a young disciple of Yokoi, were:—

The formation of a congress, or deliberative body.
The decision of government measures according to public opinion.
Abolition of uncivilized customs.
Impartiality and justice displayed in nature to be made the basis of action.
Intellect and learning to be sought for throughout the whole world to establish the empire.

New Japan was thus born. Arriving promptly in Kioto, Mr. Yokoi, then sixty years of age, and the oldest of his colleagues, began his incessant labors in the interest of morality, freedom, reform, and justice. He proposed at once the elevation to citizenship of the degraded Yéta class, who, though human beings, had been treated for centuries as beasts. He plead for freedom of speech and the press, the equalization of taxation, and the noble ideas which, on the 11th of February, 1889, were settled in the present constitution of Japan.

In one year he had done a mighty work in building up New Japan, despite threatened assassination; but his end was near. On the 15th of February, 1869, on his return from the palace, he was set upon by six men, and shot, beheaded, outraged, and his headless trunk left in the streets of Kioto. The only reason given by his assassins and by Japanese historians for the dastardly deed is that Yokoi was suspected of harboring "evil opinions," by which was then meant Christianity. Thus died a patriot, and we think we may say (not a church member, but) a Christian. He died for Japan, for freedom, for man, for Christ.

"The noblest place for man to die Is where he dies for man." The blood of this martyr was the seed of New Japan. Shall it be the seed of the church of Christ also?