SEEKING A RELIGION.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1412, 17 November 1904, Page 6

SEEKING A RELIGION.

HOW JAPAN MAY ESTABLISH A NATIONAL FAITH. Now that Japan is taking her place among the groat nations of the worid she feels that she should have a State religion of her own. Apparently, however, she does not desire to adopt wholesale the creeds of the foreigner, and hence there is an idea that some attempt will be made to evolve a set of recognised beliefs mid observances from the commingled doctrines of Christianity and Orientalism.

In the course of a conversation with an 'Express' representative, the Rev. 11. E. l-'ox, secretary of the Clhivli Missionary Society, said that there were very ninny Christians in .lapin, and that the work of spreading the Gospel there was progressing stead ; !y. ■•Especially." lie added, "has this been noticeable during the war. Miss A. C. Bosan<c|,tiet, in a letter from Hirosinia. which appears in the •Church Missionary Intclligeii.er.' says:-"It is touching to see how the Christians, prize their New Testaments, almost always carrying ilnni in breast-pocket or knapsack, and using them well." "The Bishop of Tokio," Mr Fox continued, "thinks that the sense of having won the right to claim c.|irilily with the Western Powers may induce the native Christians of .Lip.in to wish (o rule their own ehuieli | without the assistance of foreigners."

Mr W. 11. IJuilliiun. of Liverpool, the Sheikh-ul-lslnni of the P.riti-h Isles, is about to write a primer of first principles in the Mahometan faith, which the .Japanese at .Mi.wg hai will translate for circulation in •fapnu. He is convinced that the 1,1-imic faith will make very great progrc-s in Japan.