EXPULSION OF MISSIONARIES FROM JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 5 February 1894, Page 2

EXPULSION OF MISSIONARIES FROM JAPAN.

A section of the Japanese is going to petition the Governmenb to banish all mission" ariea from Japan on tho ground that they are a hindrance to bhe advance of religion. To those who have a curiosity with regard to Japanese affairs beyond, even what M r W. S. Gilbert can satisfy, a few facts in the history of Christian missions in the Empir.6 of the Rising Sun will be interesting, lb is altogether a somewhat remarkable history. About bhe middle of the 16th conbury Sb. Francis Xavior, the Apostle of the Indies, introduced Christianity into Japan, and his mission was Crowned with greab success. A hundred yeara after his death, however, when Christianity had taken such a hold on tbe people of Japan that the number of converts is variously estimated to have been between six hundred thousand and two millions, a sudden change in the temper of the ruling bodies took place. Declaring thab the foreigners impoverished the country, and that their religion struck at the root of the political and religious system of Japan, the high authorities expelled the Portuguese, then only aliens, shut their ports againsb all outsiders, and instituted one of the most bloody persecutions againsb the native Christians. Over 50,000 of these are said to have perished by crucifixion and other means before tbe Governmenb ceased their onslaughb in the belief that they had extirpated the new faith. It is certainly wonderful that they did nob extirpate it, and thab two hundred years afterwards, when the Japanese ports were forced, several communities should have been discovered who had preserved certain Christian rites and books.

The advent of European war vessels gave the Christian missionaries an opporbuniby Of again propagabing the faith which had been almost miraculously kepb alive hi some parts of Japan. Bub from tho fact that another abtempb waß made in 1867 bo crush oub Christianity by exile and imprisonment, ib would nob seem that the people were universally pleased with its reintroduction.

Sinco bhb date just mentioned, Japan has been rapidly imbibing European notions. German experts have drilled her army, and English ber navy ; English is the official language, and English, German, French and American professors chiefly compose bhe teaching staffs of her higher educational institutions. Christian missionaries have established themselves in various parts of the country. No longer are they the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church only, as waa in the days before bhe bwo hundred years exclusion. Protestants of various denominations are carrying on an acbive propaganda, and the Groek Church has obtained a firmer footing in the country than either Catholics or Protestants.

Bub though for nearly the lasb twenty five years the Japaneso Government has been remarkable for its toleration in religious matters, and though the leader of the Progressionists and the head of tho Radical party are both uhristians, ib cannon bo said thab the new faith has received any warm encouragement from the chief men ot Japan, who are inclined bo bo materialistic. They submit to Christianity, bub they do nob think it necessary for their salvabion as a nabion bo accept and pub into practice our religious ideas as they have our knowledge in engineering, military or adminiatrabivo affairs. Nay, as the recent cablegram shows, there is yeb a party in Japan who wish to have nothing to do whatever with our missionaries, and the doctrines they tpach. Thab is, no doubb, the Conservative party, who aro not favourable to Western innovations. The charge broughb by thorn againsb the missionaries cannot, of course, be without strong foundation if these are zealous teachers ; and the Conservatives have far more reason to make ib than one would ab firsb sight suppose.

Shintoism, though less importanb in Japan than Buddhism as far as regards the number of its followers, is the religion of the courb and of the higher classes. To maintain ib in its integrity is the aim of bhe patriotic Conservative of Japan, tor it is a faich intimately interwoven with reverence for ancestors and patriotic ideas. Ib is, ai a recenb writer has said, rather an instrument of Government than a religion. Regarding it in that light, we can easily imagine that many of the Japanese would view with hostility any new faith likely to supersede that on which the chief authority of the land was based. Ie is also by no means improbable thati the sectiou which has expressed its intention of petitioning tbe Government for bhe expulsion of all raisaionarioa, may fear bhab the contentions of rival Churches may lead to moro serious complications bebwoon rival nations.

The Huddart-Parkor Company's steamer Tasmania and the Union Company's s.s. Mararoa arrived in porb this morning from Sydney again well patronised by the travelling public. Among the passengers by the Tasmania were tho Rev. Canon MaoMarray, who has been attending the Anglican Church Conference at Hobart, and Captain McKenzie, of the ill-fated brigantine Eillnn Donan, which was wrecked last month off the coasb ot Long Island, Chesterfield Group. Included among those who returned were many Aucklandere, who have been on holiday visits to the Australian colonies.

At the Police Courb this morning before Mqsara T. Tudehope and A. Walah, Justices, two firsb offenders were fined 5a and costs and another was discharged with a caution. William Montgomery, for being an habitual drunkard, waa sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. John Wilson for a like offence was lined £5 or in default 14 days imprisonment with hard labour.

Tho German warship Busaard steamed oub of the harbour this morning for big gun practice. The target, which is a large conical one built of wood, was made by Mr C* Bailey, and ia similar to the one constructed by him for the use of the same warship last yoar. While outside, the machinery of the Bussard, which has been thoroughly overhauled hero, will bo tried, and it ia probable that it will be two or three days before sho returns to porb.

A special sitting of tho R.M. Courb was held this morning at 10.30, to take evidence in a case againsb bhe Board of Education instituted under the Contractors and Workman's Lien Act, 1892, by Mr H. Lane, _>f Opua, Russell, for £71 4a 9d. The evidence of the architect of the Board, Mr Mitohell, and the secretary of the Board, Mr Rice, was taken, and it will be remitted to the Kawakawa Courb for the trial of the case on the 23rd inst. The plainbiff was nob represented. Dr. Laishley appeared for the Board.

Nearly a score of polo players, including the Curacoa beam, meb ab Potter's Paddock on Saturday, and had a few hours of good practice. It had been in bended tbab there should bo a match between bhe local and bho Curacoa teams, bub aa bbc latber wiis deficient in its numbers the contest did nob come off. Ib is expected that a match can bo arranged for nexb Saburday. During the afternoon many interesting games were played, and the contestants and their friends wero entertained ab afternoon tea by Misses Ireland, Walker and Power. We understand thab tbe annual club sports will come off at an early date in order to afford bhe officers of the Curacoa an opportunity to take parb in the events.

A correspondent writes complaining of lads firing ab cabbie ab Obahuhu with catapults, and urges thab abepe be takes to put a stop to this sorb of thing.

During the passage of tho Mararoa from Sydney an enjoyable concert was improvised by the Frank Clarke Alhambra Company, who open here this evening. The proceeds, amounting to £5, go to the Alert disaster fund ; this sum making a total of £3210s collected by Captain Chatfield for bhe sufferers by the wreck of the Alert near' Melbourne. An elderly man named George Sievewright, who said he was a gumdigger, down trow the Wairoa with a holiday, was charged on remand ab the Police Court this morning, before Messrs T. Tudehope and A. Walsh, J,P.'a, with having stolen one silver watch, valued at £3 10s, tbe prdperty of John Mulvihill. This watch had been recovered from Mr Lindsay, pawnbroker, Wellesley-streob, to whom ib had been taken by the accused. The labber stated that a woman named Eliza Lestrange had asked him to pawn the watch, 1 they having been old friends. He was under the influenoe of_ liquor ab the time. H3 had lived with the womau in question some seven or eight I years on the, gumflelds. Eliza Lestrauge was called, and gave an emphatic denial to all these-statements. She had never seen accused in her life before. The Bench diemioSed the caee for wanb of sufficienb evidence. On Saturday nighb, While the horse and 1 buggy oi Mr John Colbeck, of Remuera, were left standing on one of the side streets off Grafton Road, the animal bolted and careered down into Newmarket and along the Remuera Road. The boras had been i tied to a post, bub by some means the rope became loosened, aud the horse, freed from the restraint, made in the direction of home. It was stopped along the Remuera road by some young men, who in driving back towards town met the owner and restored his property. Neither the horse nor buggy was damaged, although some collisions were narrowly averted. A young man named Frederick Ellis appeared on bail before Messrs T. Tudehope, C. A. Walsh, J.P.s, at the Police Court this morning to answer bwo charges. The firsb was for assualbing Constable McMahon while in tbe execution of his (the constable's) duty, and for thelorCeny of tbe sum of £25, the latter being an indictable offence. Mr J. O'Meagher appeared for tbe accused, and on his application tho case was adjourned until Tuesday wees, bail being enlarged. The first instalment of paraphernalia, horses, etc. belonging to Mr Fillis's new enterprise will arrive by the Pukaki this evening, and the balance of the stock, together with the performers and Mr and Mrs Fillis, will reach Auckland on Friday next. At Nelson during the lasb New Zealand tour of the Company, Mr Fillis purchased the thoroughbred horse Viotory, which, with careful training has now become one of bhe mosb valuable of his fine collection, and on which Mrs Fillis performs her celebrated haut-e'cole act. Many attractions have been added to the Company's repertoire since last here, notably the amusing water pantomime and several arenio dramas euqh as " Mazeppa." and the exciting equestrian spectacle of the stag hunt, which latter will be produced on the opening night. A gorgeous street pageant will be one of tbe novelties introduced on arrival, which will give some idea of the magnitude of the new organisation. Tbo firsb performance takes place nexb Saturday evening. The locality of bhe show will be the Harbour Board reclamation adjoining the Railway Station. The usual weekly meeting of the Council of tho National Association (Auckland section) was held on Friday afternoon last, when there was a large attendance, 14 oub of bhe 15 members comprising the Council being present. Much of the business before the meeting was of an important character as affecting bhe exbension of bhe organisation, and several resolutions remitted from tbe Political Committee were submitted and referred back for further consideration at a meeting to be held on Tuesday evening nexb. After disposal of the ordinary business, the Council unanimously passed a resolution to be entered in the minutes according to the organising Secretary its hearty thanks for his zealous and efficient services. Mr Hastie expressed his thanks and surprise at such a spontaneous and unexpected acknowledgement, and stated that any extra effort made during the recenb election was only natural and necessary as perbaining to the duties of bis office and obligation to the Association. A man who has bsen posing ab Christchurch during the past woek as the special correspondent of the Yorkshire " Post," and who represented that he had a special mission to fulfil in reporting on the resources of the colony, was arrested on Friday for obtaining money by false pretences from W. A. MacLaren, traction engine proprietor. He represented that he had arrived in Wellington by tho Rimutaka in January; but when arrested bills wero found on him dated January 16th, Occidental Hotel, Dunedin, and Johnstone, chemist, Manse-sbreeb, Dunedin. He has victimised a number of people here, on Wednesday night gavO a banquet to a number of Yorkshiremen at Arend's Cafe de Paris. He obtained a watoh from a local jeweller, and showed it round as having been presented to him when leaving home by the men of the Yorkshire " Post." Ho appears to have several aliases, having gone as both Wickson and W. Robertson at Dunedin. He was broughb up on Saburday and remaiided for a week. He is supposed to be identical with Robertson, who gob six months in Duaedin for a similar offence. Tho Auckland-owned schooner Sovereign, which reburned to Sydney lasb week from a cruise to the New Guinea Island, reported thab native troubles were going on, and tbab six islanders had been killed. The annual picnic of Sb. Paul's Anglican Sunday-school was hold on Saturday at Lake Takapuna, and was very successful. The ferry steamer Victoria conveyed the children and their friends round to the Lake beach in the morning, and a second boat followed from town in the afternoon. A pleasant iay was spenb on the beach, in games und races for the children. Shortly before 6 o'clock a start was made for home again, the wharf being reached shorbly after 7. At St. Patriok's Cathedral yesterday a pastoral was read by Bishop Luck to the congregation, bhe letter dealing chiefly with Socialism. The Bishop explained thab in the compilation of tho pastoral he had drawn largely from the article by Mr W. Snell in the September number of the " Globo Review " entitled " Certain Social Ideals." The Bishop expressed himself of the opinion thab "attempts to make war on the classification of society were worse than unreasonable." The concluding portion of the pastoral was a roview of Church work during the pasb year. Reference was made to the removal of the mortuary chapel of Sb. Francis de Sales from Symond-street Cemetery to Devonporb, " in the teeth of silly opposition and blind bigotry." The Devonporb Ferry Co.'s steamer Eagl** will run an excursion trip to St. Helier's tomorrow. BiJef Bags, Gladstone Bags, Portmanteaux, aud all kinds of Travelling Trunks in great variety and splendid value.—At Geo. F-wlds'.— (Advt.) Mother ! These boys of ours must have some new clothes before going back to school. Better take them down to Geo. Fowlds ; he gets the name of giving the besb value in Boy's Clothing.—(Advt.) Four days only in Auckland ! Bottom of Queen-streeb, near the New Zealand Shipping Co.'s. Commencing Wednesday, 7th February. See Walcot'a nine-tool pocket knife. It contains a scale that will weigh any article up to lSlbs.—(Advt.)

Seao-less Merino Sox, double heels and toes, 9d per pair ; Summer Merino Under-; shirts, Is 3d each; India Gauze Undershirts and Pants at 2s lid, are exceptional value. —At Fowlds'.Victoria Arcade.—(Advt.) Boya' and men's caps at 3d each, men's bard bats from Is 6d, and boys' washing suits ab cosb price ab Smith and Caughey 8 clearance sale.—(Advb.) Men's tweed suits at 10s 6d, and tweed trousers ab 4s lid, at Smith and Caughey's clearance sale.—(Advb). A nice Summer Drink. Hob or cold. | 2 "Reliable Teas." , (Advt.)