RELIGIOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 7

RELIGIOUS.

THE QUESTION OF RELIGION IN JAPAN.

The question of tho day in Japan is religion. recently the subject of general discussion was the advisability of adopting the European style of dress ; now eminent publicists are debating whether the Japanese ought not to become Christians. Those who favour the change do so on tho ground of expediency. Like the eccentric character Soloman Maimon, they would adopt the Christian faith, not because they believe in itß truth, but because of its beneficial effects, worldly and otherwise. They admit that ‘ Christian dogmas are a bitter pill to swallow,’ and.that religion is only a ‘garment to be put on or taken off at pleasure but they point out that Christianity is identical with civilisatio t and the t it may help to revive morality in J apan. On the other hand, those who are

-against the change declare that the Japanese have no.taste for religion at all, and they urge, that it would be far better for the yoiith of Japan, free‘ : aß they are from the thraldom of-the creeds, to go abroad and preach their religion of jreason to other nations. As this religion of reason seems to be Agnosticism, such propaganda would be superfluous in countries which car boast of a Huxley, a Herbert Spencer, and a Heckel. Europe has nothing to learn from Japan on this subject. On the other hand, if the Japanese can only accept religion as the necessary concomitant of progress, they had better leave it alone. * Religion is not a hatchet to chop wood with.’ Perhaps such ideas as the Tiinity and the Incarnation are too tough for Japanese digestion. In that case a higher religious fare might be tried with advantage. Why not engage competent exponents of various religious systems to go out to Japan and explain their beliefs, as the South Place folk have been doing of late and as the King of the Khozars did of old? We all kuow what the result was with the Khozars. They all became Jews.—Jewish Chronicle,

THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIANS AND EVOLUTION.

Considerable interest, both soientifio and theological, attaches to the recent action of the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian church, in the case of Dr Woodrow. This clergyman, who was until recently a professor in a southern ins itution of learning, was some two years since, by the Synod of Georgia, pronounced guilty of the offence of teaching an uuscriptural doctrine, namely, the evolution of man from the lower animals. From this action Dr Woodrow appealed to the General Assembly. Before the latter be seems to have pleaded his case with much ability and. eloquence, showing by various incontestable instances that Christian bodies had often in the past made the mistake of condemning as unscriptural scientific theories which are'now universally accepted as demonstrated truths. Several strong speeches were made 'by other ministers in support of Dr Woodrow’s position, and a few did not hesitate to declare boldly their absolute belief in thd theory- of evolution. Nevertheless the appeal was rejected by a vote of 109 to 34. The action does not speak well for the education and broad-mindedness of the Southern Assembly, as however far the theory in qnestion may be, as yet, from haviug been demonstrated, it.is clearly a scientific rather .than a theological question, and should be treated as such by lovers of truth and freedom. Dr Woodrow’s appeal was for liberty of thought and investigation.—Toronto Week.

The Pool of Bethesda has been satisfactorily identified at Jerusalem, according to the statement of the Chairman of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Bolivia should be a virgin field for the exploits of missions. It contains a popula. tion of 2,000,000 and there is not a Protestant missionary iu the whole land. Germany has eighteen foreign missionary societies, supporting 522 missionaries that care for 210,000 converts. The total receipts last year were 700,Q00dols.

Two men'who had been Roman Catholic priests of unblemished character and good standing were recently received into the Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rome.