THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN JAPAN Sixth Annual Issue ERNEST W. CLEMENT, A.M., Editor PUBLISHED FOR THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF TOKYO METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE PREFACE The editors of the present issue of THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN JAPAN accepted their position with no little reluctance and anxiety. In the first place, they were already well laden with other duties. In the second place, they fully realized, that it would be a very difficult task to follow the veteran missionary statesman, Rev. D. C. Greene, D.D., who has, from the very first issue of THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT, been its editor. The present editors lack his varied experience in Japan, his profound knowledge of Japanese civilization and his sagacious grasp of the situation. And yet, while they could scarcely be expected to fight in Saul's armor, they have attempted to adhere as closely as possible to Dr. Greene's general plans for this volume. In some of the details, however, they have presumed to vary slightly from the previous issue. They have not maintained in form the distinction between "The Environment" and 'The Christian Movement " proper, which were separated into Part I and Part II of the Fifth Issue (1907). They abolished this distinction, chiefly because it was almost impossible to draw an exact line of demarcation. But they have really continued the distinction in fact, because the first few chapters are devoted principally to environment, but gradually advance into subjects which treat of the strictly Christian movements. This suggests a fundamental question: "What is the real scope of this volume?" It is entitled THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN JAPAN; but how much does that include? It is published under the auspices of the Standing Committee of Coöperating Christian Missions; but it certainly ought not to limit its purview to the fields and the work merely of the missions that are represented on that Committee and entirely leave out of consideration the work of missions which, for various reasons, are not represented. That would give a very incomplete and unfair view of the Christian Movement in Japan. It follows, therefore, that this volume should cover thoroughly all the organized Christian work for Japanese everywhere. But there are organizations, not nominally under Christian auspices, but with a more or less powerful Christian element, with some few or many Christian members of influence. Such an organization, for instance, is the Japan Peace Society, which does not by any means restrict membership therein to Christians. But it was started largely on the initiative of Christians, both Japanese and foreigners; and Christians are among its most active members and officers. Therefore, the editors believe that the Japan Peace Society should be represented in THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT. *This volume should attempt to report the important "movements of individual Christians even under non-Christian, but not antiChristian, auspices. But the editors go still further and insist that this volume should include more or less secular articles, like the "General Survey," "What Japanese are Reading," "Girls' Education," "Charities It may be added that, if there should be published a "Buddhist Movement," the same society would be entitled to representation therein. |