THE GOSPEL IN JAPAN

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1932, Page 9

THE GOSPEL IN JAPAN

LECTURE AND MOTION PICTURE. RELIGIONS OF THE PEOPLE. An address illustrated by motion pictures was given in the New Plymouth Baptist Church last night by Mr. Hessell Troughton. His subject was The Progress of the Gospel in Old Japan. The .speaker drew a vivid picture or life as it is to-day in Japan. Education for the masses was receiving much attention, so that to-day 98 per cent, of the children were attending school, he said. Their high schools compared favourably with New Zealand s. The Japanese people were bold, courageous and determined, but among a population of 66,000,000 only 220,000 or approximately 1-3 per cent, were Christians. They had three popular religions in Japan, Confucianism, Buddhism and Shintoism. These religions did nothing for the - spiritual welfare of the people. For example, Shintoism encouraged the workship of about 8,000,000 gods and goddesses, including their ancestors and the Emperor of Japan. If they died fighting the people believed they would go to heaven, which belief, although it encouraged activity, was not likely to promote peace and goodwill. All those religions were based on fear. It was a case of the blind leading the blind. Outside one temple were 2000 stone lamps placed in rows, each costing 200 yen (about £2O) and dedicated to the gods. People tied pieces of paper on which their prayers were written to the altar rails, hoping to receive divine reward. In one place was a huge idol of Buddha, 70 feet high and perfectly cast in bronze. Mr. Troughton said that the people to-day did not look down upon Europeans, nor did they look up to them. They expected to be treated as equals. There were three ' missionary bodies Operating in Japan. The Anglican mission, known as “New Live Hall,” under the Rev. Murray Walton was concerned mainly with newspaper propaganda. The Salvation Army had 1600 native soldiers, 500 native officers and six white workers in the field. Fine work was being done in the slums and among the poorer people. The native Japanese leader, ' Yamamura, was a man of wonderful power. There were further several imdenominational faith missions doing good work. The aim of all the missionaries was to influence the private lives of individuals and by this means spread their influence. An interesting' film showed the conditions of life under which the workers were called upon to carry on.