COMBATING COMMUNISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 121, 24 May 1935, Page 8

COMBATING COMMUNISM.

"KLYGDOM OF COO" .MOVEMENT.

The launching of the "Kingdom of God" movement in Japan about five years ago in order to combat the materialistic teachings of the C'oinmuni*ts was inteiestingly dealt with at a Y.M.C.A. Optimists' Club luncheon by Dr Kagawa, who «aid that as the result of the launching of the movement and the teaching of Christianity there were today in Japan 300,000' Christians, 1800 churches or chapels and 2000 minister.;, The movement had its national headquarters in Tokyo, and a cooperative movement had been brought about nnrl this bad resulted in 15 committees beiii" set up, representing various denominn' ! tions which had adopted one creed. In a few years it was hoped to have one big united church in Japan. In the first three years the activities of the movement were devoted to the cities and towns, and in the four islands covered there were 120 cities, 1600 towns, and 9000 villages. Dr. Kagawa said that he had given four lectures n day for 3(1 days without rait, lint the effort had been worth while, because in four years OO.ODO people bad signed their names, signifying their willingness to become Christians. To-day they had between 18,000 and 10.000 new baptism? yearly to the Christian Church. "The progress made and the (spread of Chiistianity in Japan caused other religions to awaken, and they commenced to attack me," said Dr. Kagawa, " but I like being attacked, because then I know I am living. The Government did not regard me with favour at the start, and twice they had me imprisoned and once fined. Xow they like me, because they have found someone to fight the Communist materialistic, teachings. The Communists were verv strong, and the Government had 00,000 labourers arrested and 2500 students imprisoned." With the coming of Communism the membership of college boys was taken from the churches, and Christian leaders then established co-operative association* and gospel schools for the farmers. Were they were taught the .Sermon on the Mount, the history of Chiistianity and agriculture. The result had been a wonderful spreading of Christianity throughout the country.