KAGAWA ON JAPAN’S WAR.

Western Star, 2 August 1938, Page 3

KAGAWA ON JAPAN’S WAR.

What does Kagawa, the leader of ths Christian Church in Japan, think of the war in China? Miss Helen M. Topping, writing in the 'Christian Century,’ supplies the answer:— All through his life Kagawa has maintained the same position. In 1928 he prganised. th<j - All*Japan Anti-war . League, with many organisations participating, with the centre the Japan Federation of Labour he had organised a few years earlier. When be found the conflict was on between Japan and China, with' many being swept from their moorings by the outburst of Rational feeling, Dr Kagawa wept for literally half a day. ■ ‘ lam sure that all of us who have . been associated with Kagawa m ms ministry in Japan feel that a major catastrophe in the • history _ of the world ■flag taken- place, or.-is taking place, te the Orient. Kagawa in bis preface to the Chinese edition of Love, the Law of Life’ expresses bis feeling. He face for the Chinese edition of ‘Eove, the Law of Life.’ ‘it has made me ■very sad, -for my nation is constantly breaking" the law of love the Middle Kingdom. I myself love China as I love Japan. And for a Jong tun; I have been .praying for the epeedy coming of .. peace in Ghijia.- . “It causes me intolerable; shame t< reflect: upon the, violence that Japanese militarism has ' done and is doing in China, in spite of all my prayer’s. And I am surprised at the ■ leniency of my Chinese brother who has translated my book, in spite of Japan’s immoral arts. “Though a million times I should ask pardon it would not be enough to cover the sins of Japan. ■ I am .ashamed, because I am too impotent to influence the, militarism of Japan. Chinese leaders I may well- accuse-me of impotence I deserve the charge. “If only Japan will repent, and establish and keep permanent friendship with China. There is no other way than by the law Of love. Nay, not only in the relations China and Japan if we hope for a progressive uniting of all the cultures of the nations and races of the whole world, there is no other way than through the principle °f I,e ' ; demptive love. “The law of redemptive love is the fundamental law of the universe. Kro.potkin’s; instinctive love is not enough. .Instinctive love does not transcend race. It is the redemptive, love that Christ lived and practised that alone transcends race. This type of redemptive love must grow in us and acquire universal consciousness, and Ebour to save the most unhappy peoples ,of the world. “Since the Japanese nation was unable, to. taste that great redemptive love, I suffer the sorrows of the prophet Jeremiah. Forgive us! Yon sons of Con-, fucius and Bok Su, forgive us in the name of your great peace-loving sages! Some day the Japanese, will'cast away sword and gun and awaken to the love of the Cross. Just now I can. think of nothing but to beseech your pardon. And there are an uncounted number of young souls in Japan who, like myself, are asking for pardon.” Writes Kagawa on January 7, 1 in a book of prayers for each of the days of the year:—

“O God, our. Father, we beseech Thee for peace in the East. Bring to an end the present agony of conflict. Cause us to renounce the error of depending on brute force and militarism for ultimate solutions. That peace through love is the only way to ultimate victory—make i this clear to all souls. Teach the Japanese nation that its one and only way to make a contribution to the world is through the Cross. “Reveal this fundamental truth not only to • Japan, but to Europe, to. America, aiid to the whole world.”