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ship! Think what this statement means. Probably nowhere upon the face of the globe are Sabbath observance, Bible reading, and daily family worship so nearly universal as among the Fijians! Of course, the type of piety is not especially high, for the race is tropical, and generations are

required to eliminate from the blood the virus of rank paganism. But, what a marvelous transformation has been wrought! What power but the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the might of the Spirit, could work a miracle so stupendous. This Christian conquest of Fiji is a living apologetic for missions.

THE MISSIONARY PROBLEM IN JAPAN
BY REV. T. P. MOORE, D.D., TOKIO, JAPAN
Missionary of the Reformed Church of America

It may be denied by some that there is any "missionary problem" in Japan other than what is found in any other field where missionary work is carried forward. But to any one who understands and fully appreciates the true situation of things and who knows the temper of the Japanese people, it is evident that we are confronted with certain conditions; that certain facts stare us in the face that must be carefully considered and reckoned with in order to pursue that line of policy in mission work which will meet with the approval of our Japanese coworkers, fit into present circumstances, and thus insure the greatest success in the way of immediate results.

This missionary problem involves at least two questions, the answer of which is attempted in this article.

1. Should the present number of missionaries be maintained, increased, or, perhaps, decreased?

2. The relation of the foreign missionary to the native worker.

I. As to the first question, it may be said that there is a difference of opinion on the part of the different missions in the field, and even among individual members of the same missions. This difference, as far as it

exists, is founded in part upon the difference of views as to the relative importance of the work of the missionary, as over against the work done by the native, and depends somewhat, also, upon the views held in reference to the second proposition viz., the relation of the two classes, or kinds, of workers.

Considered from the standpoint of the proportion of foreign missionaries to the whole population, there can be but one opinion, and that is, that the present force is inadequate. The population of Japan is, in round numbers, 48,000,000. Divide this, say by seven hundred, and the result would be about one missionary to every 70,000 of population. Some one has put the figures at one to every 100,000. Let us take 75,000 as a general average, and one can easily see that the country is not yet overstocked with missionaries. That it is not possible for the present force to evangelize and Christianize, and to look after the spiritual needs of the whole people. Leaving other questions, for the time being, out of consideration, and looking at the matter from this somewhat superficial standpoint, one may with propriety adopt the language of Scripture, and

say: "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth laborers into this field."

Or, if considered from the standpoint of the number of important places-of towns and communitieswhere no missionaries reside; rarely, if at all, visit; where no regular, systematic work has been or is being carried forward, we are forced to the same conclusion that there is still a scarcity of workers in Japan.

The mission to which the writer belongs, that of the Reformed Church in the United States, and which represents the Council of Missions (Presbyterian and Reform) in the territory of northeast Japan, has, again this year, reiterated its former appeal to the home board for four additional missionary families, to occupy that many new stations to be opened at strategic places within the bounds of Tohoku Chiho, as it is called. The mission is unanimous in its opinion that in order to meet its responsibilities and do its work with. the greatest success possible, such an increase of the force is absolutely necessary. It is possible that our field may form an exception. Because of its geographical position and consequent isolation and backwardness, its supply of foreign and native workers may be smaller than that of other parts of the country, and yet it is a known fact that there are somewhat similar conditions in the other parts of the country, and, in so far, calling for a similar increase of the mission force.

My own mission has no hesitation in asking for more missionaries. We have no doubt whatever that the

Christianization of that part of Japan requires more workers, native and foreign-more money than hitherto spent, the greater part of which for a long time must come largely from the home Church.

While other parts of the empire may have a better supply, and there may be less demand for an increase of the force than with us, there is not much doubt that if a consensus of opinion were obtained it would not be in favor of a decrease, but rather of in increase, to the extent of the financial ability of our home churches.

But what is the position of the native workers? Granted that it is the opinion of the mission bodies that Japan, for yet many years to come, needs needs a steady increase of workers and funds, the question arises: Does the native Church agree with us? In certain sections there is found a radical body of men (Japanese) who give us to understand that not more men, but fewer, picked men are wanted. That missionary rule should come to an end, and the sooner the better.

A Japanese committee of inquiry and investigation made a report, the substance of which was that for work at central places a limited number of picked men, men of eminent ability and fitness, are needed; that the Japanese, at the present time, will not receive instruction and advice from any other, but that for remote places not yet supplied with preaching, men of the ordinary type, who are able to use the Japanese language, can find a good work to do. Outside of the radicals referred to, the report of this committee embodies what might be called a consensus of opinion among the the Japanese Chris

tian workers throughout the country. A strong nationalistic sentiment, always existing and greatly intensified by the late war; greater self-consciousness on the part of a self-reliant people, developed by the nation's late experiences, have greatly modified the missionary question in Japan, and have helped to make the missionary problem here under dis

cussion.

2. But in the next place, what as to the relation of the foreign missionary and his native brethren and coworker? This has been for years in certain quarters a vexed question, engendering heartburnings and sometimes bitterness of feeling. Some one has described mission work in Japan as "an attempt to establish in the East our Western denominational churches and Western creeds, with governing boards in the West, legislating for Christians of the East; and bodies of foreign missionaries holding their secret sessions in which to decide the policy and methods of native Christians and the places and salaries of native evangelists." And then goes on to say that "this extra territorial system is responsible for the larger part of the misunderstanding and friction between the native. and foreign workers. That there have been friction and misunderstanding goes without saying, and that they have grown out of the dissatisfaction of the Japanese with methods hitherto followed, is also certain. They do object to missions deciding the policy and methods of their churches wherever and whenever that is attempted; and to missions selecting, stationing, and removing evangelists and fixing their salaries without their having any say in these matters. And they

have been clamoring for a change. The missions may be right in their positions when they say: "We provide the money and pay the bills; we are responsible to the home churches, and so we should decide certain questions; and as long as we carry on the work directly and are responsible for it, financially and otherwise, we are entitled to decide as to the methods to be pursued." But all the same, our Japanese brethren think that, for certain reasons, to them well founded, they ought to have more of a voice. and a greater share in the specific, direct work of the missions; and some of us sympathize with them and are disposed to yield more than the majority is willing to yield.

The question resolves itself into this: What shall be the manner and form of cooperation between the foreign and native Christian bodies? Shall the larger experience of the foreign worker and the fact that he pays the bills entitle him to the principal say? Or shall the fact that the Japanese worker, because he is a Japanese, with a greater knowledge of the language, customs, and needs of his people, and his greater influence over them, entitle him to the greater say and greater share in all the affairs of the work? I believe there are a few Japanese who want all the say; and there are very few in these days who are satisfied with less than an equal share, in the direction of the work-even that work which is directly carried on by the missionaries themselves.

The matter of cooperation in connection with the work of the "Church of Christ in Japan" (Presbyterian and Reformed) has been a vexed question for years.

For the last few years it has been the leading topic of discussion before the Synod of the native Church, and the Council of Missions in affiliation with that body.

In a series of resolutions the council, in 1905, defined its position relative to the matter of cooperation. The synod of the native body the same year dissented from this position, and proclaimed itself and the Church it represents, independent, and called upon the people to aid to their utmost in the fuller establishing of this independent body.

That such a step indicates progress in the right direction and is praiseworthy no one will gainsay; but that it was mixed up with the other question of cooperation, and grew out of it, was unfortunate, so far as it effects the continued, harmonious relation of the foreigners and Japanese.

In conclusion, What, then, is the solution of "The Missionary Problem in Japan"? A categorical answer to that question can not, in the opinion of the writer, be given. There are several things, however, which the writer believes to be helpful and necessary factors in the solution of the problem:

1. A due recognition of the fact that the Japanese seek, in their church work, independence and liberation from all foreign control; that berause of a greater national self-consciousness developed by recent startling events, the Japanese demand, and it would seem, are entitled to, such an adjustment of mission work as will give the foreign worker a less promiment and the Japanese worker a more prominent place in the affairs of the Church until such time when there shall be complete independence. In

a word, there must be a willingness on the part of us missionaries to decrease while we see the Japanese increase, not of necessity numerically, but in point of place and influence.

The Japanese Church is growing in self-consciousness, growing in numbers as well as in faith and resources, and the time is fast coming when they will gradually take over the full direction of all Christian work in the empire. Indications on all sides point that way; and that mission will be most successful which recognizes this, and that missionary enjoy the greatest usefulness and influence, other things being equal, who sees this rising star and shapes his course accordingly.

2. By the sending out of men who are mentally equipped to meet the philosophic demands of earnest inquirers after the truth as it is in Christ; to combat the materialism and skepticism so rampant and rife among the higher classes, as well as earnestly to preach the Gospel of Christ.

3. Last but not least, men and women of broad sympathy, who can think and feel and sympathize with the Japanese in the settlement of the great questions which now challenge the Japanese nation, and who can see eye to eye and face to face with their Japanese brethren in their desire to be their own masters in things spiritual and ecclesiastical, as they now are in things political; in their desire to have an independent Japanese Church, having the settlement of the things of faith, of the Church, and of creeds and forms of worship in their own. hands. In a word, those who are willing, within reasonable limits, to follow where the Japanese may lead.

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"There is a future for Latin America immense as her mountains and her seas, brilliant as her skies and her resplendent stars." So wrote Marmol, one of her own poets.

The leader of all the republics will be the Argentine. Because of her progressiveness, her adaptability to European customs, her liberality of thought, and generosity to the foreigner sojourning in her midst, she will become the pioneer in real, permanent civilization and evangelization of most of the other republics of South America.

Marmol's prophecy applies more to Argentina than to any other republic.

Her past history gives indications of this in the part she has taken in the emancipation and independence of neighboring peoples, as also the

rapid progress made toward the attainment of high ideals in the government of the country and the wellbeing of her people during the last few years.

The marvelous changes

made during the past twenty years morally, commercially, and materially, if continued at the same rate, will bring Argentina into the front rank of nations.

She was the first of Spanish colonies in South America to declare and vindicate her independence. She gave Chili and Peru their independence, and from her midst much Gospel light has gone into these same countries. With the exception of Brazil, it is the largest country in South America, having an area of 1,138,000 square miles. Its extreme northern limit is in latitude S. 22° and its south

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