CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN INFLUENCE FOR PROGRESS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 5

CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN

INFLUENCE FOR PROGRESS

DR. KAGAWA AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

NOTED SOCIAL REFORMER.

Christianity, even though its followers are numerically swamped in a population of 65,000,000, has exerted an influence of progress and emancipation in the life of the Japanese people to-day. How that influence is exerted, and why, Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa, distinguished Japanese philosopher and social reformer, told an audience of more than 1200 people at the Opera House, New Plymouth, yesterday. More than an hour of absorbed silence, broken only by laughter here and there at some witticism or odd turn of phrase, was the tribute paid the personality and brilliance of the speaker. Dr. Kagawa, who'was enthusiastically received, traversed broad ground in his address—the foundation, growth and present position of Christian philosophy in his own country, Japan’s economic and population problems, its changing morality and its emancipation from Oriental feudalism. Even with such wealth and diversity of material the speaker found a few minutes for amusing digression in philology and the opportunity to compliment Taranaki on its mountain. - * On his voyage from Nagasaki to Australia, said Dr. Kagawa, he had had the opportunity of reading a book by a Japanese author who had studied New Zealand social legislation and concluded .that the country was “next to heaven." He was indeed glad to make a visit to , such a place and, naturally, felt very much at home. (Laughter.)

DOCTRINE OF LOVE.

An American, professor of sociology who had recently visited him in Japan had inquired if it was his opinion that the Japanese people really needed Christianity. He had replied, unhesitatingly, “Of course!” because Christianity was the one religion which postulated the doctrine of love, peace and personal purity, and the one that gave respect to labour. Christianity had its beginning. in Japan four centuries ago when Francis Xavier, -friend of Ignatius i Loyola, had made his first converts in the land. After, him had come many missionaries from Mexico, Spain and Portugal, and in 50 years half a million people had been converted to the Roman Catholic faith. Unfortunately for the development of that faith, its followers had been involved in a revolt against the Shogun, and thence for three centuries Japan had been forbidden territory for the missionary. Even to-day, the prejudice that had its roots in that unhappy rebellion persisted among teachers, and advance was blocked. Seventy-five years ago, however, the first British consul to Japan had advised freedom of faith and his advice had been taken by the Government. Despite this liberty, however, in a population of 65,000,000 there were only 450,000 Christians, file prejudice against Roman Catholicism- persisted, and of these two-thirds were members of evangelical sects. Numerical weaknesses, however, did not mean that Christianity had not exerted an immense influence in Japanese social affairs. While the Buddhists had countenanced immoral sexual institutions, Christianity had been instrumental in abolishing 542 communities comprising no fewer than 52,000 prostitutes. Official tolerance had been withdrawn in April of this year.

DECLINE IN DIVORCES.

Divorce statistics also had shown startling decline. In 30 years divorce figures had dropped from 32 per cent, per annum to less than 11 per cent This, in effect, compared most favourably with New York. He had visited America in 1924, said Dr. Kagawa, and had found the divorce rate 24 per cent, per annum —twice that of Japan. This had no doubt been in a large measure due to a reaction from the Great .War when people had lost faith in doctrines of Christian morality. In. 1826 Moscow had had no less than 90 per cent, of divorces per annum- Communism had tried hard to

kill conscience in sex matters. As against this, Dr. Kagawasaid he-had been pleasantly surprised to find the divorce 'rate in Australia and New Zeeland to be the lowest in the world. Another result of the Christian influence in Japan had been the almost total abolition of polygamy and the evolution of the family system io permit women at least partial equality with men. Among labouring classes the granting to women the right to use dishes equal in size to those used by men had resulted in distinct physical improvements. In the last 15 years the stature of girls in State high schools had increased on an average two inches because of a fairer division of the food; and this despite the theory that the stature of races was determined by heredity. • Dr. Kagawa also made mention of the abandonment of the feudal system 75 years ago, and the formation of labour unions whose leaders, he said, had chiefly been Christians. The spirit of peace, he claimed, was in the face of strong official militarism growing among young people constantly. Not only had Christianity directly affected the- social structure of 'Japan; it had actually affected the constitution of th* original religions. Christianity had supplied the concept of’ God as Creator, Preserver and Redeemer. Even Buddhism, Confucianism and Shintoism were

introducing this concept into modern teaching. The Buddhists had borrowed Christian hymns as a groundwork for Buddhist hymns and had borrowed the idea of the Bible as a compendium of religious philosophy.

STORY OF CONVERSION.

Dr. Kagawa told the story of his own conversion, emphasising that for all his knowledge of other religions Christianity had provided the one code whereby he felt that he could live morally. His father had been secretary to a State official and had married two wives, there being no children by the first. This had necessitated his legal adoption by the first wife and a degree of unhapj piness in a home where he had found no love. He had been unable to believe Buddhist and Confucian teachings and had gone to a high school where the morality of his fellow students was startlingly corrupt. His belief in the theory of evolution, and his knowledge of the habits of monkeys had hardly helped him in his unconscious search for support in the desire to “be a good boy.” He had found that when, as the student of a missionary, he had been converted to Christianity—first saying his prayers furtively under the bedclothes, but later avowing his faith openly in baptism. “I have never regretted becoming a Christian,” said Dr. Kagawa, “despite the fact that it is harder to be one in Japan than here. Christ is giving the people of .Japan the spirit to live a life of purity and peace and sincerity and devotion.” His conclusion was an appeal for devotion to the Christian faith—as great a devotion as was within the power of the individual. • 1

The address was preceded by two hymns, the accompaniments of which were played by Mrs. R. L. Cooper, and a prayer led by the Rev. J. D. McL. Wilson. The Rev. F. Copeland presided and introduced the speaker. Among others on the platform were Mr. R. M. Brasted, national secretary of the Y.M.C.A., AdjuCanty and Mr. J. A. Valentine.